Moving to a new city can be full of anxiety and excitement. When you feel scared, you cant enjoy the... Most real estate agents have an obligation to market their business to potential clients. You have to make sure that... Were sure you already know, but lets repeat: Burlington is a city located in the Halton, Ontario area. It is... A personal injury occurs when a person's body, mind, or emotions are injured due to the negligence, carelessness, or wrongful... I Agree This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy Newlywed Deepika Padukone, who got hitched last month to actor Ranveer Singh, has said that marriage itself is a beautiful celebration. After their lavish wedding in Italy, Deepika and Ranveer hosted one wedding reception in Bengaluru and two in Mumbai. When asked whether celebrations have finally come to an end, she said: "I think marriage itself is the beautiful celebration and literal celebrations are done at least from our end. "But December anyway, I think is very festive time and as a newlywed, the celebration continues for a while." So, how things have changed post marriage, Deepika said: "I think that will be a long conversation but most importantly I am thankful for all the love. "It's been very magical and special. We are so happy that we got to share it with all of you (media and the audience)." Deepika married Ranveer in November at a private ceremony in Italy and on January 5, she will be celebrating her 33rd birthday. And were there some more big celebration -- as it will be her first birthday after her marriage, she said: "I don't know.. We haven't planned anything as of now. Right now, we are looking forward to his (Ranveer) film's release (Simmba)." Deepika will be next seen playing the role of an acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal in Meghna Gulzar's yet untitled film. 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. Fake news vs fact in online battle for truth Paris, Dec 15 (AFP) Dec 15, 2018 Since US President Donald Trump weaponised the term "fake news" during the 2016 presidential election campaign, the phrase has gone viral. Increasingly it is used by politicians around the world to denounce or dismiss news reports that do not fit their version of the truth. But as news outlets defend their work, false information is saturating the political debate worldwide and undermining an already weak level of trust in the media and institutions. The term has come to mean anything from a mistake to a parody or a deliberate misinterpretation of facts. At the same time, misinformation online is increasingly visible in attempts to manipulate elections. - Misinformation - The build-up to Trump's 2016 victory, for example, saw numerous examples of hoaxes and false news stories: from Hillary Clinton's alleged links to a child sex ring to a false report the Pope had endorsed Trump. Misinformation had "a significant impact" on voting decisions, according to Ohio State University researchers, who questioned voters. But it was impossible to prove that false information swung the election for Trump. As president, Trump still denounces any information that displeases him as "fake news". Experts say his aides, meanwhile, have offered a mixture of truth and distortions, sometimes described as "alternative facts". "Lies and fabrication even seem to bolster one's reputation and political prowess among their core supporters," said John Huxford of Illinois State University, who researches false information. Some studies even suggest that, as partisanship has risen, more people are willing to believe falsehoods. One 2017 survey, for example, showed 51 percent of Republicans still believed that Barack Obama was born in Kenya, despite the hoax having been debunked. - Eroding trust - In 2018, the average level of trust in the news, across 37 countries, remained relatively stable at 44 percent, according to a poll by YouGov for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. But false information spread by authority figures has not helped matters. In Ukraine, for example, authorities staged the death of Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko at the end of May, to foil a real plot to assassinate him. Reports of the fake death made in good faith by mainstream media were "a godsend for paranoid people and conspiracy theorists," said Christophe Deloire, secretary general of media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders. Trust in traditional media remains higher than for social networks, according to the YouGov poll. Only 23 percent of those polled said they trusted the news they found on social media. But a study released by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in March found that false news spreads more rapidly on Twitter than real news does. - Social networks in crisis - Many believe Facebook is the main vehicle for false information. It was forced to admit that Cambridge Analytica, a political firm working for Donald Trump in 2016, had hijacked the data of tens of millions of its users. Some critics of the Brexit referendum accuse Cambridge Analytica of having used that data to swing voters towards the "Leave" vote. In the US, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Trump's campaign links with Russia has targeted Facebook accounts and private pages managed by the Internet Research Agency, a Russia-based "troll farm". Such was the level of concern that Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has been questioned by the European Parliament and the US Congress. The US giant in 2018 announced new measures to improve technology for tackling false information around the world. Another country where Facebook has come under fire for spreading false information is Brazil, the scene of a giant truckers' strike last May. Fake audio of people supposedly connected to the strike was spread widely, said Cristina Tardaguila, founder of the Brazilian Agencia Lupa fact-checking organisation. Most of the messages during the strike were spread on WhatsApp, a messaging service with more than one billion global users, owned by Facebook. - Under pressure - WhatsApp has also been accused of circulating false information. It came under immense pressure after the lynching of more than 20 people accused of child abduction in recent months in India, its largest market. They were sparked by false news reports. WhatsApp took out full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers offering "easy tips" to identify fact from fiction. But the company stands by its policy of protecting the privacy of its users with encryption technology. Google, also under pressure for spreading misinformation, announced in March that it was investing $300 million over three years to support a series of projects to tackle false information and support "credible" media organisations. Its search engine promotes verifications carried out by fact-checking organisations. Despite the creation of dozens of fact-checking initiatives in recent years, journalists have to run just to keep up as misinformation techniques evolve. A relatively new development is deep fakes -- manipulated videos that appear genuine but depict events or speech that never happened. For now, deep fakes are technically difficult to create and have not yet had a big impact, but with progress they may further blur the online line between true and false. gd-rl/jj/pma Facebook Kosovo votes to create its own army, enraging Serbia Pristina, Dec 14 (AFP) Dec 14, 2018 Kosovo on Friday passed laws to build an army, asserting its statehood in a US-backed move that prompted outrage in Serbia, which does not recognise its former province's independence. Kosovo has been guarded by NATO-led peacekeeping troops since it broke away from Belgrade in a bloody separatist war in 1998-99. Now, new legislation will transform a small crisis-response outfit, the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), into an defence army with 5,000 troops. "This vote today begins a new era for our country," parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli announced as MPs embraced each other after the session, boycotted by minority Serb politicians. The vote has delighted many Kosovo Albanians, with several hundred gathering in the main street of capital Pristina to celebrate the army as a new pillar of their independence, declared in 2008. "This is an enormous emotion, we are happy that the creation of our country is being completed," Vlora Rexhepi, a 23-year-old student, told AFP as a group of musicians dressed in traditional costumes played for the crowd. Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci hailed it as "the best gift for the end of the year season". "We are finally closing down the state-building process," he wrote on Facebook. - 'Crossed the line' - While it will take years for the troops to be fully trained, Serbia has cast the move as a dire threat to regional stability. NATO and the European Union have also criticised the move as hasty. But Kosovo felt free to move ahead with strong backing from the United States, its most important ally. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lashed out at the move. It is "absolutely clear that behind everything that (ethnic) Albanians have been doing are the United States, Great Britain and, in the case of creating the army, Germany as well," Vucic said in a televised public address. "They do not understand that they all crossed the line," said Vucic, who called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on the issue. He added that Serbia would only be "ready to talk" once everything was "back in the previous status". In particular, Belgrade has been sounding the alarm over the safety of 120,000 Serbs still living in enclaves across Albanian-majority Kosovo, mainly in the north near their contested border. Those Serb communities are loyal to Belgrade and also broadly against the army plan. Several hundred students protested Friday in the Serb-half of the divided city of Mitrovica, which was decorated with Serbian flags in response to the American stars-and-stripes draped across much of the rest of Kosovo in a sign of gratitude for Washington's support. Goran Rakic, a Serb political leader in the flashpoint city, called Pristina's decision "a gunshot into peace". But he urged local Serbs to "exercise restraint". President Vucic vowed that Belgrade would protect them if needed. "If they attack you, the state of Serbia will have strength to protect you," he said. NATO, who had warned the move was "ill-timed", said the alliance would now "re-examine" its relationship with the KSF, which it helped train. The alliance nevertheless remains committed to securing Kosovo's safety through KFOR, the peacekeeping force is has led since the war with Serbia, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. The EU echoed the regret, saying "the mandate of the KSF should only be changed through an inclusive and gradual process in accordance with Kosovo Constitution". Kosovo's government circumvented having to make constitutional changes to create the army, which would have required support from Serb MPs, by voting on a package of laws that kept the name of the KSF but changed its mandate. - Faltering talks - The US Embassy was quick to welcome the news but also urged Kosovo and Serbia to take "immediate steps to lower tensions" and make progress in their ongoing dialogue. The neighbours have struggled to make progress in faltering EU-led talks to normalise ties -- a condition for either to eventually join the bloc. Their relationship took a serious plunge last month after Kosovo slapped a 100-percent tariff on Serbian goods in retaliation for Belgrade's attempts to undermine its standing on the world stage. Serbia has blocked Kosovo from various international organisations, including the UN, and also lobbied foreign governments to revoke their recognition of its statehood. Analysts say the army move is also partly an attempt by Kosovo's government to make up for recent setbacks. In November, global police organisation Interpol rejected Kosovo's application to become a member. Another source of public frustration is the lack of visa-free travel status in the European Union, which other Balkan states enjoy. "After the failure to join Interpol and visa liberalisation, the transformation of the KSF is their only card left," said political analyst Imer Mushkolaj. burs-ssm/dl Ukrainian fighter pilot dies in crash: army Kiev, Dec 15 (AFP) Dec 15, 2018 A Ukrainian fighter pilot died when his plane crashed during a training flight, the army said Saturday in what was the second such death in two months. The Sukhoi-27 crashed on Saturday while coming in to land in the northern Jytomyr region at around 1300 GMT, the army's central command said. On October 16, a Ukrainian and a US pilot died when their Su-27 crashed during the Clear Sky 2018 military exercises involving eight NATO countries. The drills were held as Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country face off in a conflict that has already claimed more than 10,000 lives. os-ant/jj/hmw Ankara calls on Iraq to help in fight against PKK Ankara, Dec 15 (AFP) Dec 15, 2018 Turkey on Saturday called on Baghdad to help it fight the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), invoking its right to self-defence to justify an incursion into Iraq. "Turkey assumes all its responsibilities in the fight against terrorism" and supported Iraq in this regard, said a foreign ministry statement, which said Ankara expected the same from Baghdad. Turkey's defence ministry on Thursday said it had carried out airstrikes against PKK positions in northern Iraq, hitting tunnels and shelters in the Sinjar and Mount Karajak regions. The PKK has waged a three-and-a-half decade insurgency against the Turkish state seeking independence, and more recently autonomy, for Turkey's Kurdish minority, that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is investigating potential claims against Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Our investigation concerns whether Johnson & Johnson has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices. On December 2, 2018, Reuters issued a report headlined Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder. Reuters reported that internal company documents reveal that scientific tests of the talc it used to manufacture baby powder and other products from as early as 1957 showed asbestos contaminants. As reported by Reuters, the information concerning the asbestos contaminated talc was slow to come to light because [m]any were shielded from public view by court orders that allowed J&J to turn over thousands of documents it designated as confidential. On this news, Johnson & Johnsons share price fell by more than 10%, closing at $133.00 per share on December 14, 2018. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Johnson & Johnson shares and suffered a loss, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at investigations@bespc.com , or telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form . There is no cost or obligation to you. Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a New York-based law firm concentrating in commercial and securities litigation. For additional information concerning our investigation into Johnson & Johnson please go to http://www.bespc.com/jnj/ . For additional information about Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., please go to www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts Washington, December 15, 2018 The US administration renewed its interest and commitment to resolve Western Sahara conflict, insisting on "stronger, more effective mandate" of Minurso to push forward the UN process. The US position has been reaffirmed Thursday by Ambassador John Bolton, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs who expressed "frustration" over the stalemate of the Sahrawi question, 27 years after the UN has instituted MINURSO for the organization of self-determination referendum in this territory. Speaking at a Heritage Foundation meeting on The Trump Administrations New Africa Strategy, Ambassador John Bolton has explained the new US approach to resolve this stalemated conflict. He said that the MINURSO is now tied to substantive political progress. "If we are truly committed to protecting innocent life in conflict zones, then we must insist on accountable, robust, and effective peacekeeping operation," said John Bolton while presenting this new strategy, which a part was on the peacekeeping missions deployed in Africa. "In April, the United States did just that regarding the decades-old U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara. We demanded a six month, rather than annual, renewal period for the mission, and we insisted on a stronger, more effective mandate tied to substantive political progress," he added during his presentation at this Washington-based Think Tank Thanks to this approach, the "parties to the conflict and key neighboring countries agreed to meet for the first time since 2012. Last week, the U.N. Envoy hosted these talks in Geneva and the participants agreed to hold additional talks in early next year, said Bolton who discussed the question with UN Special Envoy Horst Kohler who has "creative ideas" to resolve the conflict. Bolton announced that the "United States will also reevaluate its support for U.N. peacekeeping missions. We will only back effective and efficient operations that we will seek to streamline, reconfigure, or terminate missions that are unable to meet their own mandate or facilitate lasting peace." Bolton who knows very well Western Sahara issue, as he participated in 1991 to the writing of Minurso mandate, has regretted that the mandates of the unproductive missions are renewed systematically every year without reaching the set objectives, which are ending conflicts. Former US envoy to UN said in Western Sahara for example, the self-determination referendum should have been organized 27 years ago. "27 years of deployment, 27 years and the mission is still there, how can you justify that?," he asked addressing African ambassadors, US NGOs and figures. Bolton said that we need to "reframe" the means enabling the UN peacekeeping missions to successfully accomplish their mandates. Ambassador Bolton said that the "resources, the time and attention" that are being devoted to this mission "could much more be productively used" in the development and the economic betterment of the people of the region. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS TORONTO, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On December 14th 2018, the Power Workers Union (PWU) served OPG a strike notice in response to the final offer rejected yesterday by 59.8% of the membership. The primary issue is OPGs refusal to provide over 300 term workers the rights of full-time employees at both the Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Plants. Our members have been committed to the public, meeting the electricity needs of the people of Ontario and keeping Ontarios lights on for decades, said president of the Power Workers Union Mel Hyatt. Our members are a highly skilled and trained workforce, added Mr. Hyatt. OPG has failed to treat over 300 of its highly trained workforce fairly or responsibly. These employees, like all PWU members, are the backbone of Ontarios reliable electricity sector and should not be treated as second class employees, said president of the Power Workers Union Mel Hyatt. Our union has a solid, proven track record of negotiating fair and responsible employment agreements. Our priority has always been the strength and health of Ontarios electricity sector. This is reflected in both how we negotiate on behalf of our members and in our public statements about energy issues affecting the people of Ontario, concluded Mel Hyatt. PWU members at OPGs nuclear facilities will continue to fulfill their responsibilities in compliance with all safety guidelines in preparation for pending job action. Media Contact: Paul Reece, Chief of Staff Communications Department Julianne Vondrejs jvondrejs@pwu.ca 416-520-1187 CSE on naughty list View(s): In a bid to make listed firms accountable, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) will be communicating the reasons as to why a company is on their naughty list or Watch List. Firms are now transferred to this list, but it doesnt show as to why they are in it. We will be introducing a new column on the CSE website to inform the reasons for the transfer to the Watch List, Head of Trading, Market Surveillance and Corporate Affairs Nilupa Perera told a group of media professionals at a CSE workshop recently. She said with this latest addition, investors will be better advised when buying shares of such firms. It was noted that companies are now more regimented after the CSE introduced new rules on incorporate governance. Most of them accept the rules now unlike earlier. This also means now there are better listed firms with more accountability. Analysts say that corporate governance rules can elevate the legal and regulatory norms for governance, allow companies to differentiate themselves in the market, and increase their access to capital. Renuke Wijayawardhane, Chief Operating Officer CSE noted that now most listed firms are prompt with their disclosures. (DEC) ISB seminar on Shaping Local Economy Through Lessons Learnt View(s): The Kurunegala-based Industrial Services Bureau (ISB) successfully conducted a national level Experience Sharing Forum on Local Economic Development in Practice under the theme of Shaping Local Economy Through Lessons Learnt on November 28 at the Centre for Banking Studies, Central Bank, Rajagiriya. The objective of this forum was to create an opportunity for various development agencies and individual experts to share their experience on four important themes of local economic development. K.C. Logeswaran, Governor, North Western Province was the Chief Guest while Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank delivered the keynote address as the Guest of Honour. In his address, Dr. Coomaraswamy discussed the current status of the national economy and showed how the performance of the national economy affects the local economic development, the ISB said in a media release. The forum consisted of four technical sessions and each session consisted of a paper presentation for about 30 45 minutes and a panel discussion for about 45 60 minutes. A group of nationally recognised experts in local economic development joined in the panel discussions. The panel comprised representatives from academia, policy makers, Ministry Secretaries, INOs/NGOs, development agencies, public and private sector. More than 100 participants representing various government organisations, bilateral and multinational development agencies, UN agencies, local NGOs, government and private banks, private sector organisations, government projects, embassies, etc. participated in this event. NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Aphria Inc. (Aphria or the Company) (NYSE: APHA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and indexed under 18-cv-11427, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities, other than Defendants and their affiliates, who purchased or otherwise, acquired Aphria securities between October 18, 2018, and December 3, 2018, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Aphria securities between October 18, 2018, and December 3, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until February 4, 2019, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Aphria is headquartered in Leamington, Canada. The Company produces and sells medical cannabis in Canada and internationally. The Company offers sativa, indica, and hybrid medical marijuana products, as well as cannabis oils. It serves patients and health professionals. The Company also sells its products online. On January 29, 2018, the Company announced its acquisition of Nuuvera Inc. (Nuuvera) for approximately C$826 million, which was completed on March 23, 2018 (at a reduced price valued at approximately C$425 million). Announcing the acquisition, the Company touted Nuuvera as a leading, global cannabis company with a strong presence in Europe, Africa and the Middle East[.] Then, on July 17, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing its planned expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean, through a massive transaction whereby Aphria acquired Scythian Biosciences Inc. (Scythian) for approximately C$280 million, in cash and Company stock. According to various public statements by the Company and media reports, Andy DeFrancesco (DeFrancesco), controller of the Delavaco Group (Delavaco), a purported private equity fund, participated in the founding investment of Aphria. DeFrancesco and the Delavaco Group have purportedly invested or advised on every Aphria equity financing. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Aphria engaged in numerous fraudulent acquisitions and transactions in order to provide undisclosed benefits to its insiders; (ii) Aphria substantially overpaid for the assets it acquired in 2018, which in reality had questionable value or were worthless; (iii) Aphria acquired these assets from undisclosed related parties, including Andy DeFrancesco; and (iv) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On December 3, 2018, Hindenburg Research (Hindenburg) published an article entitled Aphria: A Shell Game with a Cannabis Business on the Side, alleging that Aphria is part of a scheme orchestrated by a network of insiders to divert funds away from shareholders into their own pockets. The article cited a thorough, on-the-ground investigation into Aphrias latest investments and described in detail the poor quality and questionable value of those investments. Following publication of the Hindenburg article, Aphrias stock price fell $1.85 per share, or roughly 23.4%, to close at $6.05 per share on December 3, 2018. Then, on December 4, 2018, the Financial Post published an interview with DeFrancesco to address the allegations described above. DeFrancesco seemingly confirmed his participation in the transactions, stating that the use of shell companies was not unusual in private equity transactions and defending the quality of the assets. On this news, Aphrias stock price fell an additional $1.54 per share, or 25.45%, to close at $4.51 per share on December 4, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 9980 Linking business studies to the needs of the industry is vital today By Jayampathy Jayasinghe View(s): View(s): Although business education has lasted for a long period in the country very little has changed in terms of the components of business. There is a divide between business education and what the industry needs today, said Prof. Lalith P. Samarakoon, Secretary General of the National Economic Council making the keynote address at the launch of the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)s Business School logo at the Trace City, Colombo 10 last week. Chancellor of the Moratuwa University Prof. K.K.W.W. Perera; Chairman of the Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), Kumarasiri Sirisena and SLTC President/CEO Ranjith Rubasinghe among others participated at the event. The SLTC is part of the SLT group. Prof. Samarakoon said following the recession in 2008 in the US universities it was difficult to enroll students in business education. There is competition among many business studies in Sri Lanka at present. Today employers look at the value the employees are going to bring to the company. Entrepreneurship and innovation have become the most important elements today. SLTC President /CEO Mr. Rubasinghe said there are more than 700 students with 20 full-time PhDs and 22 Masters and 45 other graduates at the SLTC university. The engineering faculty has more than 100 full-time students following courses. He said that SLTC has 19 degree programmes and SLT is providing all resources to run the university independently. Of the 300,000 students who want to pursue university education in Sri Lanka we only cater to about 20,000-25,000 students at this university. We are a research-led university. he said. The SLTC is based at Padukka, near Avissawella and is a large university providing many facilities to its students. We have plans for future development of the university to build a bigger one in this scenic 40 acres of land at Padukka. The SLTC is located in an ideal surrounding at Padukka which is not close and not so far from Colombo, Mr. Rubasinghe said. Referring to the background of the university, he said the campus has had a short history having started on 2015 but have done a vast deal during that short period of time. He said the old Satellite building at Padukka was converted into making the present SLTC by adding more buildings to accommodate students. The university is equipped with a Tissue Culture Laboratory and a Fibre Optic Laboratory in addition to other facilities. The SLTC is also linked to Microsoft and other international universities in the world such as those in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam. SLTCs portfolio programmes include Electronics and Software Engineering, Bio Tech and Management, and Tourism and Hospitality. The newest programme at the university is the Business School. This is a residential university and we encourage students to come and stay with us. he said. Tourism industry facing multiple issues View(s): Sri Lankas tourism industry is facing multiple issues with the latest being a Presidential order to ban state functions in tourist hotels. The new rule by President Sirisena banning state organisations from holding events in hotels, to cut costs, is hurting the MICE industry, according to Ziyan Ameen, President of the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Event Organisers. This is in addition to multiple issues that we are facing. In the MICE market, while bookings have not been cancelled, some however have been postponed and there are no new bookings and inquiries, he said. MICE refers to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events. The December 6 directive came on the back of a likely boycott of the state tourism awards show by industry officials in which the President was to attend as the chief guest. Fearing a boycott by key personalities as a mark of protest over his recent executive actions, President Sirisena skipped the event and instead directed his chief of staff to attend. There was no boycott after industry associations urged members to attend. Another official said that MICE business makes up about 25-30 per cent of the hotel business. We organize many programmes in hotels involving government bodies and this ban would affect hotels, he said. The constitutional cum political crisis has also led to delays in the launch of the new SO Sri Lanka destination marketing campaign. 21 SLFP MPs want to join UNP-led Govt. View(s): A ding-dong debate is under way at the highest levels of the United National Party (UNP) on whether the party should accept all 21 Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs who want to support the UNP-led government. Some say they should pick and choose and have given the names, too. Others, however, contend that the entire lot would bolster their majority. This is in the light of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), expressing support for Ranil Wickremesinghe to become Prime Minister but saying the aliance would not serve in the government. Among the SLFPers tipped to be picked, UNP sources say, are Duminda Dissanayake, Faiszer Musthapa, Vijith Vijithamuni de Soysa, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Angajan Ramanathan and Lakshman Seneviratne. President Sirisena who met the 21 SLFP MPs told them that he would not allow the SLFP to have a formal agreement with the UNP though they were free to support the government and would not face disciplinary action.Moves to form an electoral alliance between the SLFP and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have also not materialised. The two successive Supreme Court rulings have put paid to the moves. Even before the ruling, a Committee of the two sides was to meet this week to discuss the matter further. However, convenor Thilanga Sumathipala had not informed the participants and, therefore, only two from the SLPP attended. Top police officer barred from high-level meeting A top police officer was recently barred from taking part in a high-level conference where matters of national security were discussed. The move, insiders say, is till the conclusion of an inquiry for allegedly leaking information of matters discussed at a previous meeting. It is being conducted by the Ministry of Defence. Concerns have been raised at a recent meeting over the presence of some former members of guerrilla groups after the political turmoil in Sri Lanka. Some are living in a leading hotel and they have been identified. A probe is under way to determine the purposes of their visit. Harsha politically twists his twitter handle UNP Parliamentarian Harsha de Silva may now be forced to revise his official twitter handle again after the latest political developments. It was only last week he revised it, responding to an item which appeared on this page. He also made the change and informed the Sunday Times of the amendment made. Last week, the Sunday Times reported that the MPs official Twitter handle referred to him as State Minister although the earlier cabinet had been dissolved. He revised his Twitter profile, by calling himself a legally appointed but illegally removed State Minister. He explained that he had not changed the description on his Twitter handle earlier since it was an act of defiance. However, with a new cabinet, state ministers and deputies being sworn in he will need to make changes again. LECO deaf to regular blackouts Power failures have become as common as day following night for residents in Nugegoda and its wider environs. Just last week, a drunken motorist knocked against a lamp post. It took the Lanka Electricity Company a whole day to restore connections. The worst affected are schoolchildren who cannot study ahead of their class the next day. At least one household faced the worst. One had a patients injection, worth over Rs 100,000 in the refrigerator. It could not be used for it was not kept under refrigeration for over 12 hours. When power is disrupted, a common feature is that the LECO depot telephones are off the hook. Callers end up receiving an engaged tone. GMOA pulling out surgical knives if Rajitha comes back The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) is again on the warpath, this time over the possible appointment of Rajitha Senaratne as Health Minister. There is strong speculation that Dr. Senaratne, who was the Health Minister in the Cabinet prior to the events of October 26, will retake oaths as Health Minister tomorrow. The GMOA hierarchy, which had been at constant loggerheads with Dr. Senaratne during the past three and a half years, is not pleased with the news. The possibility of Dr. Senaratne being reappointed prompted the association to send out a statement yesterday hinting that the GMOA may even resort to trade union action if he was appointed. The statement noted that the GMOA had earlier handed over to the President, a petition signed by 14,000 medical professionals requesting the President to refrain from appointing Dr. Senaratne as Health Minister. The GMOAs move also raises questions as to whether it is planning to revert to its pre-October 26 days of island-wide strikes. In direct contrast to its role before October 26, GMOA officials met publicly with those from the Rajapaksa camp, praised the appointment of Chamal Rajapaksa as Health Minister, and even submitted meekly when Mr Rajapaksas short-lived government announced that the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement would not be cancelled. The only time the GMOA sounded a voice of protest was over the decision taken by the Rajapaksa government to cut down the sugar tax on soft drinks. Even then, its protest amounted to a letter sent to Mahinda Rajapaksa, kindly requesting him not to come to a final decision. With the previous government set to resume office, the same GMOA that submitted meekly to the Rajapaksas has again found its voice. Iranamadus Senanayake plaque restored after ST expose President Maithripala Sirisena took swift measures to restore the distorted plaque of the late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake and Dudley Senanayake at Iranamadu, following an expose by the Sunday Times. Last week, this newspaper reported that the old plaque was removed to make room for a new plaque that bore the name of President Sirisena. However, following a series of instructions, the old plaque was restored the very next day but this time at a different location. One wonders what would have been the fate of that monumental plaque had it not been highlighted by the media! A court that stood tall above the political frenzy View(s): As former President Mahinda Rajapaksa ignominiously retreated following the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal delivering a richly deserved lesson on constitutional propriety to President Maithripala Sirisena, the nation faces sobering questions close to the dawn of a new year. Betrayal of the electoral compact Euphoria in preventing the President from tossing the Constitution into the waters of the Indian Ocean in front of his Secretariat on the advice of legal experts who should be hanging their heads in shame, is understandable. But relapsing comfortably into complacency when the excitement subsides is not an option this time around. The absence of civic vigilance and a forthright critique of yahapalanaya failures was precisely the reason why the 2015 democratic gains were frittered away by the unity coalition, long before both partners ferociously turned on each other. Lest we forget, the attempted extra-constitutional capture of political power by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26th 2018 did not come upon us in a vacuum. Instead, it was a consequence of betrayal of the 2015 electoral contract by both the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This must be underscored. Due responsibility must be borne by both parties. Even so, it is particularly amusing that Rajapaksas Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) should position itself as the constitutional victim on an entirely disingenuous argument that, by precipitating this turn of events, it was only trying to enable an election to be held so that the people could vote for the party of their choice. Just as much as patriotism is the clarion call of scoundrels, the call to the Supreme Court by the SLPP to respect peoples sovereignty is the height of political depravity. Sovereignty of the People The context and meaning of that much abused term sovereignty of the People was put in proper perspective by the Supreme Court this week. Writing for five of his colleagues on the Divisional Bench, Chief Justice HNJ Perera dismissed multiple objections to the Court entertaining the fundamental rights petitions challenging the dissolution of Parliament. He stated that, in honouring this duty to inquire into fundamental rights challenges, the Supreme Court was only giving tangible and effective life and meaning to the sovereignty of the People. Rejecting also the submission of the respondents that, by declaring the dissolution unconstitutional, the right to franchise will be affected, the Chief Justice stressed the fact that the fundamental premise that any exercise of franchise, must be at an election which is duly and lawfully held and which satisfies the Rule of Law. He pointed quite rightly that, a departure from that rule will result in the negation of the requirement of the Rule of Law that an election must be lawfully called and be lawfully held and, thereby, adversely affect the results of an ensuing election. The basic principle is that nothing valid can result from an illegality. Meanwhile the argument relating to immunities of the President received commendably short shrift by the judicial referencing of the proviso to Article 35 (1) in the 19th Amendment affording the right of citizens to file fundamental rights petitions in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by the President, in his official capacity. Thus, the concept of absolute immunity of the President, (which had anyway been jettisoned long before the 19th Amendment), was held emphatically not to be the case any longer. Interestingly it was asserted that judicial review would extend to several other executive powers given to the President in Article 33 (2) (c), apart from what has been expressly excluded and certain other purely ceremonial functions. Core of the constitutional dispute Unsurprisingly, the Court declined to accept the argument of the Attorney General that the President, in his capacity as the Head of State, had unrestricted omnipotent power which is akin to royal prerogative power held by a monarch. Indeed, it is astounding that such an argument had been made at all, given the established cursus curiae of the Court militating against this reasoning for decades. This testifies to the very bad brief in the hands of the chief law officer. Another ludicrously outdated argument advanced by an intervenient that relief under Article 12 (1) only arises on unequal treatment among the equally circumstanced was dismissed with equal force as a long discarded notion. The Court reminded that an act that is prohibited by the law receives no legitimacy merely because it does not discriminate between people. The core of the constitutional dispute was dealt with succinctly. Pronouncing on its sacred duty to uphold the integrity and supremacy of the Constitution, it was opined that Article 33 (2) (c) describes the manner in which the President is entitled to exercise the power of summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament but the specific manner of the lawful exercise of that power is set out in Article 70(1) through the issuance of a Proclamation. On a harmonious reading of the constitutional text, Article 70(1) was held to prevail with the result that the President cannot dissolve Parliament during the first four and a half years of its term unless there is a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Members of Parliament, including those not present. Consequentially the presidential gazette was ruled as being in contravention of Article 70 (1) of the Constitution and a violation of the petitioners rights guaranteed under Article 12 (1) of the Constitution. The reinvention of the beast This week decision of the Court goes beyond a mere clinical discussion of relevant constitutional articles. In particular, its affirmation that the fundamental rights jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is a cornerstone of the sovereignty of the people and the Grundnorm of the Constitution follows in line with the revered Kesavananda Bharati articulation of the basic structure of the Indian constitutional document (1973, Supreme Court) several decades ago. That by itself is an exemplar upholding of the Courts constitutional role. But the law can only do so much. True, a catastrophe was prevented by intrepid judges who declared that they cannot be motivated by political considerations and an undaunted Speaker who faced down vulgar abuse thrown at him in the House. Next time around, the nation might not be that lucky. Therefore it is the political culture that should be confronted head-on by citizens. Voters should not be asked to choose between unholy characters who threw chillie water in the eyes of policemen guarding Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in the House and multiple stupidities of a select few around Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe taking bad decisions that enrage the populace. These are unenviable alternatives. And if the recent tumultuous happenings are not eminently teachable moments for Sri Lanka, then nothing will suffice. For this is just one setback for the xenophobic political beast that stalks the land. At each time it is thought that the beast has been fettered, it reinvents itself and returns with force. This we have learnt, time and time again. It is best not to forget just how close we came to the brink. A new UNP-SLMC national government to be formed A Vote on Account to presented before yearend Mahinda Rajapaksa may be Leader of the Opposition Motion in Parliament on December 18 to expand Cabinet President Sirisena to swear in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Premier today Many are the untold stories during the days when President Maithripala Sirisena held secret talks with his predecessor and arch enemy Mahinda Rajapaksa paving the way for a new government. It ended the same way it began in chaos. The final stages of such talks took place at the Battaramulla residence of S.B. Dissanayake, the juggler of words that he is. He first denied that such meetings took place. Two weeks ago, however, he was self-congratulatory and took pride that he was the man behind the making of a new government. That boast was short-lived. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned as Prime Minister yesterday, berated Dissanayake just days ago in choice Sinhala, some of the words unprintable. He had promised numbers for a majority in Parliament but could not deliver. The Sunday Times of October 7 revealed exclusively that during talks, President Sirisena had told Rajapaksa it was extremely difficult for him to work with the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. He charged that he was scuttling many of his efforts. Cynics called our story an inspired leak. A concerned western diplomat in Colombo telephoned Wickremesinghe who had by then arrived in London after a visit to Oslo, Norway. The former Premier, who will take his oaths once again this morning, did telephone party seniors from the British capital but decided to go through with his programme. Perhaps he did not think the issue was serious enough to return. Matters could well have taken a different turn if he did. Sirisena told the Sunday Times (Political Commentary) in an interview published on November 25 that it was between October 20 and 25 that he took a decision that Wickremesinghe should be removed as Prime Minister. He pointed out, not that I was having discussions with Mr Rajapaksa. Even to the dumbest, it would be abundantly clear that without any prior knowledge Rajapaksa would not have driven to Presidents House from a wedding at the Shangri La Hotel to take his oaths as Premier on the night of October 26. He was waiting for a telephone call. Yet, in the same interview, Sirisena said I did not attend that meeting at the residence of Dissanayake in Battaramulla. A public admission would have been acute embarrassment for him. It is now well known that he did go. After all, he was the head of a National government as well as leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). None was aware (of the secret talks). It is better explained by a telephone call I received from a Sirisena ministerial confidant. I am sorry to tell you that your story is wrong. I would have known if there was such a thing, he declared. Sirisena, the lone negotiator, kept it close to his chest. It is now history. In the ensuing melee for 52 days, President Sirisena vowed he would under no circumstances reappoint Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. He took his decree further when he told an SLFP convention on December 4 that even if all the 225 MPs in Parliament wanted, he would not swear in Wickremesinghe. Then he told a delegation of United National Front (UNF) that he would not even appoint anyone from Wickremesinghes clique. He also said would not wait an hour is office if Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister. New PM and Cabinet Today at 11am the President of Sri Lanka, the Head of Government, the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Maithripala Sirisena will just do the opposite of what he propagated he will swear-in Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister. It was originally planned for Friday night but Premier Rajapaksa had not resigned. Yesterday, President Sirisena was in Diyatalawa at an military ceremony. Either this evening or tomorrow, he will also swear-in members including those of that clique in his own Cabinet of Ministers. He has thus proved that he triggered the countrys worst political crisis, rode the high horse, plunged the country into economic chaos and restored the status quo ante without as much a murmur. No speeches, no address to the nation nor an apology to his Hitha Mithra or dearly beloved people. If he threatened that he would return to Polonnaruwa instead of swearing-in Wickremesinghe, he still remains in Colombo. It is only after the Sirisena-Rajapaksa political marriage did they discover that the new government did not have a majority in Parliament. Sirisena prorogued Parliament until November 16. Later, amidst a howl of protests, he advanced the date to November 14. There were teething troubles after a Cabinet of Ministers were sworn-in. The posts of Minister of Health and the Minister of Petroleum Resources remained vacant. The Attorney General had opined that the two ministry secretaries could not be appointed until the ministers were named. Premier Rajapaksa offered Pavithra Wanniaratchchi the Health portfolio and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Petroleum Resources. Both refused. He then rushed Chamal Rajapaksa (Health) and Gamini Lokuge (Petroleum Resources) to take their oaths. As Parliament began debating two motions of no-confidence against Premier Rajapaksa, one after another at different intervals, the lack of numbers was the subject of major concern. The sessions showcased to the world some of the worst of rowdy behaviour in the well of the House. The lack of numbers led to a string of discussions between Sirisena and Rajapaksa supported by their own parliamentarians and advisors. It was those from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) who opined that President Sirisena should go for a dissolution of Parliament. The proposal was in keeping with the SLPPs stated policy of demanding early elections. Both sides got working on the move and to examine the legal position after Sirisena was in agreement. The first to give an opinion was former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva. He said in terms of the existing Constitution, it was possible to dissolve Parliament. He gave Sirisena a thick file interpreting different clauses of the Constitution and citing provisions that would facilitate dissolution. Hard on the heels of that came another two-page opinion by Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Presidents Counsel. He also declared dissolution was possible. He was a former Justice Minister and has waxed eloquent as an expert on many a legal matter for the SLFP, the UNP and in Parliament. Profer another to legal advice was Professor G.L. Peiris, once head of the Law Faculty of the Colombo University. At a discussion chaired by Sirisena, the two opinions were discussed. Faiszer Musthapha recommended that instead of a dissolution, they should go for a referendum. Susil Premjayantha (SLPP), the last Justice Minister and lawyer, was silent. The referendum was to ask voters whether they needed a general election. However, President Sirisena had made up his mind and signed a proclamation to dissolve Parliament. It was gazetted (2096/70) on November 9 and called for elections on January 5 next year. Ironic enough, Sirisena rejected fervent appeals from some of his close aides to go to the Supreme Court for an interpretation of the relevant Constitutional provisions before dissolving Parliament. They advised him that it would take at most three days. The President is constitutionally empowered to seek such an interpretation. But an earlier communication to the Supreme Court over his term of office receiving a negative response seemed to have deterred him from taking that course. Dissolution order challenged Sirisenas proclamation was challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) by ten different parties who complained their fundamental rights were violated. They included Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, United National Party (UNP) Chairman Kabir Hashim, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal (Peoples) Congress leader Rishad Bathiuddin, National Elections Commission member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan. The names of other members of the parties also appeared in the petition. There were also eight intervenient petitioners. At a time when corruption has reached dizzy heights, there is an increase in abuse of power, a deteriorating economy, a drop in tourist arrivals, all adding to a poor image to the country here and abroad, there was one thing that made Sri Lankans proud. That was the Supreme Court, the highest in the judicial hierarchy that serves as a Constitutional Court. It acted boldly and independently. This was in the face of veiled intimidation by government leaders. A three-judge SC bench on November 13 issued a stay order on the dissolution of Parliament. Thereafter, an extended seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Nalin Perera unanimously ruled on Thursday evening that President Sirisenas proclamation dissolving Parliament was unconstitutional. Other members were Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare, Justice Sisira de Abrew, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Prasanna Jayawardena, Justice Vijitha Malalgoda and Justice Murdu Fernando. The decision in this case, the SC ruling said, rested on the correct manner in which Article 33 (2) (c), Article 62 and Article 70 of the Constitution are to be read, understood and applied. The 60 Petitioners complain that the Proclamation has been issued ultra vires and in contravention of the powers and procedures set out in these Articles and that, therefore, their fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 12(1) of the Constitution have been violated. The essence of the task before us, it pointed out, is to examine these Articles and determine whether or not the Proclamation has been issued in terms of and in compliance with the powers and procedures set out in these Articles. Here are edited excerpts of significant highlights of the 88-page ruling. The SC said it is based on the analysis of the nature, effect and meaning of Articles 33 (2) (c), 62 (2) and 70. It is concluded that: 1. The enumeration of the Presidents powers in Article 33 (2) includes and specifies the power vested in the President to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament; 2. The President may exercise that power only within the terms of the Constitution and by acting in accordance with the procedure specified in Article 70 and subject to the limitations specified in Article 70; 3. Any dissolution of Parliament by the President can only be effected by way of a Proclamation issued under and in terms of the first paragraph of Article 70 (1); 4. By operation of the second paragraph of Article 70(1), the President cannot dissolve Parliament during the first four and a half years of its term unless he has been requested to do so by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Members of Parliament [including those not present]. Even upon receipt of such a resolution, the President retains the discretion to decide whether or not he should act upon such a request; 5. After the expiry of four and a half years of Parliaments term, the President is entitled, at his own discretion, to dissolve Parliament by issue of a Proclamation; 6. Upon the expiry of five years from the date of its first meeting, Parliament will dissolve automatically and without any intervention of the President by operation of Article 62 (2); 7. Upon such dissolution at the end of the five year term, the President must act under Article 70 (5) (b) and forthwith issue a Proclamation fixing a date for the General Election and summoning the new Parliament to meet within three months of that Proclamation. Chief Justice Perera with his colleagues agreeing noted that To my mind, the reasoning and conclusions set out above give effect to the first principle of statutory interpretation that the words of a statute must be given their plain and ordinary meaning and that the clear and unequivocal language of a statute must be enforced. The rule that provisions in the Constitution must be harmoniously read and applied so that the scheme of the Constitution can be made effective without rendering any provision superfluous or redundant, is complied with. Further, the reasoning and conclusions set out above ensure that the words in the relevant provisions are not strained or twisted in an attempt to reach a conclusion which is not justified by the provisions themselves. To my mind, the effect of this interpretation also accords with the duty cast on this Court to read and give effect to the provisions in the Constitution so as to uphold democracy, the Rule of Law and the separation of powers and ensure that no unqualified and unfettered powers are vested in any public authority. As stated earlier in this judgment, it is an undisputed fact that the Proclamation has been issued before the expiry of the period of four and a half years from the date the Eighth Parliament had its first meeting. It is also undisputed that no resolution has been passed by Parliament requesting that Parliament be dissolved. Therefore, on an application of the reasoning and conclusions set out above, I am compelled to hold that the Proclamation has been issued in contravention of the provisions of Article 70 (1) of the Constitution and is, therefore, null and void.. Justice Abrews judgment Justice Sisira de Abrew in a four-page judgement with reference to a petition from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) declared, For the above reasons I hold that the Proclamation issued by the President of the Republic published in the Government Gazette .dissolving Parliament has violated fundamental rights of the Petitioner guaranteed by Article 12(1) of the Constitution. I have earlier held that the Proclamation issued by the President of the Republic published .. dissolving Parliament, is contrary to Article 70(1) and 70(3) of the Constitution; is therefore null and void ab initio; and of no force or effect in Law. For the aforementioned reasons, I make order quashing the proclamation issued by the President of the Republic..published in Government Gazette .. dissolving Parliament and declaring the said Proclamation null and void ab initio and of no force or effect in law. The Supreme Court also rejected the submission made on behalf of the Attorney General and by the added respondents that Article 33 (2) (c) confers a sui generis, independent, overarching and unfettered power upon the President to dissolve Parliament at his sole discretion and without reference to Article 70. The ruling said It must also be stressed that, as set out earlier when identifying the relevant principles of the law and statutory interpretation, this Court has, time and again, stressed that our law does not permit vesting unfettered discretion upon any public authority whether it be the President or any officer of the State. The suggestion that Article 33 (2) (c) vests in the President an unfettered discretion to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament at his sole wish and without reference to the clear and specific provisions of Article 70 is anathema to that fundamental rule and therefore must be rejected.. The Supreme Court room was packed and a tight Police security cordon was in place when the Chief Justice read out parts of the order on Thursday evening. Riot Squads and water cannon trucks were on standby. Additional security was also provided that night at several strategic locations including areas outside Temple Trees, the Presidential Secretariat and Sirisenas official residence at Mahagamsekera Mawatha. As is the case since he swore in Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26, shocks and surprises came almost daily or in intervals of hours for President Sirisena. Soon after the SC declared that his proclamation to dissolve Parliament was not constitutional, he went into a meeting with legal advisers. The discussion was on what measures he should adopt next. Thereafter, he chaired a meeting of the government parliamentary group at the Presidential Secretariat. It was also attended by Premier Rajapaksa. An angry Sirisena told MPs that he would not allow the SLFP to sign any agreement for a government with the UNP. If anyone wants to join, he said, no disciplinary action, however, would be taken against them. Sirisena in for a shock President Sirisena was in for some shock when the meeting ended. The 21 parliamentarians of the SLFP stayed behind to talk to him. They had met separately earlier and discussed the current political situation. They told Sirisena that they saw no political future for them in the opposition since they would only be left with espousing the cause of the SLPP. Moreover, they said, it was only by serving a government that they could reach out to the grassroots level and strengthen their party. Yet, they said, they would support Sirisena. Otherwise, they warned, they would also find themselves at a disadvantage to defend Sirisena and extend continued support. Sirisena appeared somewhat shocked but declared thats your decision. He once again made clear there would be no formal agreement with the UNP to form a government. The point here being that if the SLFPers joined with the UNP in forming a government, it would be a National Government and therefore the Cabinet can go beyond 30, the upper limit stipulated by the 19th Amendment for a single party Government. However, highly placed UNP sources said they will not in toto accept the 21 SLFP MPs and thus trigger another controversy with President Sirisena. These sources said nine names from the SLFP have been picked and only they would be taken in. These sources also said there would otherwise be strong opposition from the UNP too. We are also exploring the possibility of asking the SLFP members to come in their individual capacity, these sources said. Whilst most in the SLFP group have remained steadfastly loyal to Sirisena and thus to their party, there were more than a handful who were not. They maintained a continuous dialogue with those in the UNP leadership making them privy to what was going on within their ranks. Of course, that was not a one-way street. President Sirisena, too, benefited from a group of UNPers who turned close and influential advisors to him. They kept him apace regularly on what was going on in the UNP leadership levels. They also often told him what steps should be taken to address issues. Their main focus remained activities of ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his close allies. Senior SLFPers who attended meetings of Sirisena were surprised he had a hands on knowledge of matters being discussed at Temple Trees. In turn, advisors to Wickremesinghe identified those involved. He was livid. These developments were reminiscent of the government of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga between 2001 and 2004. In the latter years, her relationship with the then Premier Wickremesinghe became very acrimonious with frequent bickering at Cabinet meetings. After triggering off the crisis and days went by, President Sirisena began to feel deeply concerned about sustaining the new government. A Vote on Account could not be passed and this meant there would be no money from January 1 next year for any expenditure, not even to pay salaries of state officers. That kept worrying him. A UNF-dominated Parliament would not support him. The two successive Supreme Court rulings and the Vote of Confidence passed with the support of TNA helped thaw relations with Sirisena. Now, Parliament will sit for one day after Christmas (i.e. on Wednesday, December 26) to pass a Vote on Account. Behind-the-scenes consultations The composition of a new government was the subject of behind-the-scenes consultations until late on Friday night. Some significant arrangements have been worked out. The 21 SLFP MPs want to join the new government and will retain the same Cabinet, Deputy and State Minister portfolios. They said they would still support Sirisena. In addition, also wanting to join will be six other MPs who joined Sirisenas side Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Ananda Aluthgamage, Ashoka Priyantha, S.B. Nawinna, Dunesh Gankande and former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian S. Viyalendran. Since Sirisena has prohibited a formal SLFP-UNP tie up, a case is being made for a national government by the UNP seeking to form an unusual alliance one with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarian Ali Zahir Mowlana. Earlier, he was on the verge of being sworn in as Deputy Minister of Health by President Sirisena. Whilst all other SLMC members have contested under the UNP ticket, it is only Mowlana who was a candidate from the SLMC in the east. Thus, funny enough, the UNP alliance under consideration will be with the SLMC through Mowlana and that is to be called a national government a requirement in terms of 19 A to expand the Cabinet of Ministers. Its virtually an exercise to provide more jobs for the boys. Another significant change most likely is the recognition of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Leader of the Opposition. After the matter was discussed, the UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera is awaiting the approval of President Sirisena to write to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that they are in favour of recognising Rajapaksa. The move will mean the ouster of Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, leader of the TNA. Of course, a final decision lies in the hands of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. The climate of rapprochement appears to favour Rajapaksa. The TNA has already run into deep controversy after its 14 MPs signed a letter and later supported the Vote of Confidence on Ranil Wickremesinghe to be the Prime Minister. The Central Committee of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), a constituent partner, has sent an ultimatum. A resolution adopted by the party says that the TNA should obtain from Wickremesinghe in writing a document demanding, among other matters, the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the release of prisoners, rescind the Prevention of Terrorism Act as well as release land belonging to Tamils. Three TNA parliamentarians Dharmalingam Siddharathan, E Saravanapavan and Sri Skandarajah have told the Tamil media in Jaffna that during a meeting with Wickremesinghe, they had sought guarantees in writing over their demands. They are naturally concerned about votes during an election. However, Abraham Sumanthiran, the main architect who ensured TNA support to the UNP denied the claims and said they would not accept even if a document is given to them in writing by Wickremesinghe. The TNA support is only to protect democracy, Sumanthiran was quoted as saying. Another highly placed TNA source said, before deciding to back Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, the alliance had consulted our supporters and friends abroad. We have received their full support, the source said. Initially, the Cabinet of Ministers, likely to be sworn in this evening or tomorrow, in keeping with provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution will be 30. It is to be expanded to a larger number thereafter with a proposed motion being moved in Parliament on December 18 to form a national government. Since President Sirisena has declared that the SLFP would not have any formal agreement, in an unusual move, the UNP wants a formal tie up with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) for a national government. This seems the only way out for a larger cabinet though it will remain a burden on the taxpayer and go against the spirit of 19A. Earlier, Sirisena told an SLFP Central Committee meeting that he would seek an electoral alliance with the SLPP if the Supreme Court ruled that the dissolution of Parliament was constitutional. He said all electoral organisers of the party would cease to hold office. He would personally name successors with the help of a committee, he told the meeting on Friday (December 7). Thereafter, the on again and off again alliance was first discussed between President Sirisena and Premier Rajapaksa. Later, Sirisena remained as representatives of the two sides continued their meeting. Another planned meeting for last Wednesday (December 12) between the SLFP and the SLPP over the matter did not take place. Convenor Thilanga Sumathipala had not been able to inform members of the committee. Yet, both Basil Rajapaksa, the SLPP ideologue, and Dullas Allahapperuma had turned up. Now, there will be no forward movement on the proposal for an SLFP-SLPP alliance. The SLPP will go ahead with its own plans now. Late on Thursday night, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya sought a meeting with President Sirisena. Together with ousted Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, they met Sirisena. It was to request that Wickremesinghe be sworn-in as Prime Minister on Friday. They said the Cabinet of Ministers could be sworn-in thereafter on Monday. A source privy to the discussion said Sirisena had told the duo that he would see what could be done and did not commit himself. A source close to the Presidency said Jayasuriya proposed a Leadership Council made up of UNP leaders as well as other heads of political parties. They would take decisions on matters of importance like the sale of national assets matters relating to ports, the Trincomalee oil tank farm etc. Forget the past and we will move forward, Jayasuriya told Sirisena. He said the new government should be disciplined, clean and transparent. Jayasuriya also disclosed that a system of Leadership Council that existed in India was available with him and that was an example to follow. He said there would be consultation by the Prime Minister in any major decisions taken. The source said Wickremesinghe concurred with Jayasuriya that he will maintain a close dialogue with Sirisena. Earlier, Speaker Jayasuriya has been in close telephone contact with President Sirisena. This was perhaps in the hope as far as Sirisena was concerned that the Supreme Court would issue an order on Friday vacating the Court of Appeal order that the Prime Minister (Rajapaksa), Cabinet of Ministers, Deputies and State Ministers should not function until the outcome of a Quo Warranto against them is determined. However, the Court unanimously rejected the request for such an order but allowed leave to proceed with the case with two judges in favour. The third, Justice Malalgoda, dissented. The other two members were Justice Eva Wanasundera and Justice Buweneka Aluvihare. The SC also restrained the Court of Appeal from hearing the case until it is determined by them. Rajapaksas resignation Earlier on Friday afternoon, a call from President Sirisena prompted Premier Rajapaksa to hurriedly leave a wedding reception at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Throughout the afternoon, the two discussed matters arising from the Supreme Court ruling over the dissolution of Parliament. Rajapaksa had hoped that there would be an SC ruling vacating the Court order. Plans were to summon an emergency meeting of the Cabinet on Saturday (yesterday) and declare that he and the Cabinet would resign on the same day. This was to allow Sirisena to swear in a new UNF Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Monday. However, that was not to be. On Friday afternoon, when the Supreme Court was still hearing the case involving the Appeal Court ruling, Rajapaksa summoned a meeting of leaders of the SLPP and their partners. Chairing the meeting at his Wijerama residence, he told them I cannot embarrass President Sirisena. I will have to pave the way for him to take a decision. In his speech, Rajapaksa cited ancient kings like Walagamba and Wimala Dharmasuriya and said they had been forced to abandon their kingdoms. However, they had re-captured them later. He said he was looking at his actions in this spirit. Among those in favour of his resignation was Udaya Gammanpila. Ranjit Soysa declared that he was opposed to the tie up but still supported Rajapaksas actions. An exception was Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who said Rajapaksa should step down only after a Vote on Account is passed. Obviously, the absence of a majority in Parliament was lost on him. Just after the SC rejected pleas to vacate the CA stay order, Rajapaksa summoned a meeting of the SLPP parliamentary group together with other allies on Friday night. He told them he would submit his resignation on Saturday morning (yesterday) after addressing the nation. If President Sirisena, by ousting Wickremesinghe, thought he would cause disarray in the UNP, he has ended up consolidating the UNP and Wickremesinghes own position more than ever before. That would naturally enhance Wickremesinghes claim to be his partys candidate at the 2020 presidential election. There is no gainsaying that he would have to work hard to go beyond the circle of his close friends, deal with corrupt activity amongst some of his then ministers and be more assertive. Instead of outsourcing to young UNPers the task of speaking out for the party, he should take over the leadership challenges and erase the bad image created. Otherwise, the hurdles he has surmounted would be of no avail and he will be at the centre of another confidence crisis. On the other hand, President Sirisena has lost face because without good advice or guidance, he has plunged Sri Lanka into a 52 day long chaos. He has been talking on the telephone this week to Wickremesinghe, who will be his Prime Minister again. One is not wrong in saying that the nation expects more deeds from President Sirisena than words. The one who spoke of forming a Cabinet on a scientific basis should profit by the blunders he has made. More so when he is aware that he has provided strong grounds for an impeachment after the Supreme Court ruled that he violated the Constitution. The government that will now be appointed has more than two years (February, 2020) in the minimum according to the 19th Amendment and till August 2020 for a full term and therefore has a greater responsibility to re-calibrate the nation. Recovering from the crisis and rebuilding the economy View(s): It is easy to destroy, difficult to rebuild. This incontrovertible truism is particularly applicable to the current economic situation. Whenever and however this crisis is resolved, restoring political and economic stability and international confidence is enormously a challenging task. Three prerequisites Rejuvenating and rebuilding the economy after the economic consequences of the political crisis is a Herculean task. Three prerequisites for rebuilding the economy are the restoration of international confidence in the countrys political stability, clear cut, certain and sound macroeconomic policies and achieving a reasonable fiscal balance. International confidence Restoring international confidence and stabilising the economy cannot be achieved as fast as it is being destroyed. A precondition is strong indications that there will be political stability. This is a difficult task owing to the manner in which the political crisis was brought about and it is being prolonged by unruly behaviour. These factors make it difficult to inspire international confidence in the countrys commitment to democracy and constitutional governance. From now onwards, Sri Lanka will, no doubt, be considered a fragile democracy. Why international confidence? Restoring international confidence and trust is crucial for our economy as it affects our trade, aid and tourism, among others. International confidence will play an important role in enabling the flow of foreign assistance and loans that were agreed on before the political crisis. The Japanese and US aid disbursements that are being withheld would also be released. It will improve international ratings that will reduce international borrowing rates and would improve the investment climate. IMF loan The IMFs tranche of US$ 500 million of a loan of US$ 1.5 billion is vital to restore international confidence and provide balance of payments support. It will assist in improving the ratings of international agencies that would in turn improve the investment climate and reduce international borrowing rates. The release of the loan also requires compliance with agreed conditions that have been flouted. Policy certainty Once political stability is restored, economic policies must be focussed on stabilisation of the economy with sound macroeconomic policies. There must be certainty and predictability in economic policies. The initial objective should be short term substantial and inclusive economic gains rather than visions and dreams of making the country a rich and prosperous one in the distant future. The need of the hour is a 2020 vision for economic stability and growth. Macroeconomic stability In the light of the political disruption, it is vital for the postponed budget for 2019 to have a clear one-year programme of economic recovery. It should focus on increasing near-term production and exports. No doubt the budget that was prepared for presentation on November 5 would have to be modified. Combining the political compulsion of a populist budget with one that keeps to fiscal consolidation targets is an enormously challenging task. This is especially so as much damage has been done by the interim government by reducing taxes and increasing expenditure. Consequently the fiscal deficit target of 4 percent of GDP is unlikely to be achieved. A large fiscal deficit would destabilise the economy and retard economic growth. IMF conditions Apart from the adverse economic consequences of a larger fiscal deficit on the stability of the economy, the deviation from fiscal target would not be in conformity with the agreed conditions for the IMF facility of US$ 1.5 billion. The postponement or even cancellation of this IMF loan would not only have direct adverse impact on the external reserves and debt repayment capacity, but also affect the countrys credibility in international financial markets and among investors. Therefore, drastic fiscal measures to cut expenditure are vital to achieve fiscal consolidation. The revenue enhanced fiscal consolidation programme must be adhered to as the economic consequences of high fiscal deficits are serious. Fiscal slippage must be avoided at all costs. Balance of payments The reversal to the balance of payments owing to the recent disruption has to be remedied. Political stability and restoration of parliamentary democracy will play an important role in enabling the flow of foreign assistance and loans that were agreed on before the political crisis. The IMFs tranche of US$ 500 million of a loan of US$ 1.5 billion is vital to restore international confidence and enhance the balance of payments. Political stability and return to a constitutional propriety is vital. Political reform A political reformation is needed to restore such confidence as in 2015. However, the way in which law and order was undermined by the same actors as those who were credited with the change makes the polity a highly untrustworthy one. Therefore, a new wave of leadership is needed to restore international confidence. A strong government committed to democracy and constitutional governance is imperative. This foremost task is no easy one as the countrys political divisiveness, party interests and political self-interests supersede the national interests. In spite of the enormous difficulties of achieving good governance, it is imperative to achieve it, as we did in January 2015, as the countrys future depends on it. Admittedly, it is a more difficult task this time around. It is one of making the impossible, possible. Way forward Although resolving the economic consequences of this political crisis is a Herculean task, early action to achieve political stability, restore international confidence, achieving macroeconomic stability and pursuing a certain and predictable economic development programme are vital to save the country from an economic crisis. Political stability is the foremost and prior condition. It is a precondition for international confidence. A foremost economic condition is to ensure that there is no fiscal slippage. Although this a politically difficult task, it is vital to achieve it for both the short term and long term economic interests. Inability to achieve political stability, restore international confidence and pursue sound fiscal and macroeconomic policies could lead the country to economic stagnation and an economic abyss. President, PM must learn to work together View(s): What President Maithripala Sirisena was thinking when he embarked upon his extra-constitutional misadventures seven weeks ago is anybodys guess. That it would draw to this ignominious end as far as he was concerned with his actions being called to question in the apex court of the land was much less uncertain. A man who crowed that he had voluntarily curtailed the powers of his office should have known better than to put his own assertions to the test unless absolutely certain he had been wrong in the first instant. Mr Sirisena had once unequivocally pronounced that, after the passage of the 19th Amendment, the President could not dissolve Parliament until four-and-a-half years was up. The problem with everything that played out since October 26 was that one could never be sure what new delusion the President was labouring under. He allowed himself to be guided by whatever fantastical and, frankly, beggarly interpretations of the Constitution his coterie of advisers drip-fed him. And look where it got him. Mr Sirisena will occupy a space in history as a President who wilfully violated the countrys constitution, and repeatedly. He is now impeachable. And when he swears in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister once again this morning, he has to eat his own words and swallow his pride, with the full enormity of his failed experiment hitting home. We are talking about two months of futile machinations interspersed with self-aggrandising public statements claiming that he, the President, was motivated by a genuine desire to protect the nation from vaguely-defined threats. He talked of an assassination attempt, of which we have yet to hear something substantial. It soon became clear that the real reason was a personality clash with his Prime Ministernot uncommon in mismatching coalitions and cohabitation governmentswhich he feared had rendered him politically impotent. But the constitution, naturally, makes no provision for personality clashes. So various other premises were floated (after each fact) to justify what, in effect, was a gross abuse of power and Presidential position. One mans complex destabilised an entire nation of 22 million people and brought public administration to its proverbial knees. There is still no budget for the next financial year, credit ratings have slipped, foreign capital has flown the stock market (although that discharge started earlier this year) and lending is on hold till a Government is in place. Since December 4, the country has had no administration, no proper Prime Minister and no one to turn to, but the Supreme Court, since the writ of Parliament was being held in utter contempt by the President and his appointed Prime Minister no less, and their backers. The Speaker was unfairly vilified and the Legislature brought to the level of a Billingsgate. On Thursday, the apex court delivered. Asked to delve into whether the dissolution of Parliament had violated the fundamental rights of multiple petitioners, the seven-judge-bench unanimously held in the affirmative. The stinging ruling, amply citing case law, dismissed key arguments made in the public domain by legal pundits in academia and more self-proclaimed practitioners as well who try to argue black is white with disastrous consequences to the non-legal minded leaders of theirs. Sri Lankan law does not recognise that any public authority, whether it be the President or an officer of the State or an organ of the State, has unfettered or absolute discretion or power, said the decision authored by Chief Justice Nalin Perera. The President is subject to the Constitution and the law, and must act within the terms of both. That is the Basic Law and that is basic common sense. This, of course, was a foregone conclusion. That the Sirisena-Rajapaksa camp even attempted to circumvent inviolable provisions as well as cardinal principles, spirit and provisions of the foremost law of the land gives a hint to the type of administration they might have run, had their reckless plot succeeded. There is a silver liningand that is that the scheme did not succeed. The system fought back, and how! One arm of the State may have gone rogue. But the other two prevailed as proof of how robustly Sri Lankan institutions, if left unfettered, will perform in the face of adversity. Out of all this mud, a lotus has emerged, unfortunately not the symbol of the party that was party to the constitutional coup. In Parliament, disparate political groups fell behind motions brought forward to establish that Mr Rajapaksa and his administration did not command a majority in the House. While the independence of the Supreme Court bench was questioned and discounted by some commentators, the upright judges delivered a unanimous decision upholding the rights of the citizenry. It was also a message to detractors overseas, governments, NGOs and diaspora lobbies which have been mouthing platitudes on the question of the independence of the judiciary of Sri Lanka. If Mr Sirisena proved just how far an individual would go to abuse the powersincluding, ironically, authority he did not holdof the Executive Presidency, the system showed just how well-geared it was to quell it. Peacefully and with the dignity and decorum that again and again, had failed to be displayed in Parliament. It was clear that, had they been allowed to entrench themselves, the new dispensation that President Sirisena foisted upon the nation would again have set about weakening, if not dismantling, the checks and balances that are so vital to democracy. Early incidents of take-overs of state media; violence at the Petroleum Corporation; the Finance Minister giving letters to allow foreigners take away foreign currency against Customs regulations; a shady multimillion dollar LNG deal fast tracked through the Cabinet; a young MP sauntering into the Financial Crimes Investigation Division in gym gear displayed disdain to the principles of good governance in that short period in office. In the meantime, it is vital that the events of October 26 be viewed and examined in their right perspective. This was not a noble endeavour to salvage the nation from destruction. This was a poorly disguised power grab, carried out on the most outrageous political and legal advice by a group of conspirators gambling heavily that the citizenry will meekly fall in line. What will happen now remains to be seen. It is anticipated that, with Mr Wickremesinghe taking oaths afresh today, a new Cabinet will be installed. But the jaundiced dynamics between him and the petulant Head of Government, who is also head of State, could make it difficult, if not impossible to do any meaningful governance in the months to come. Both seem to wear separate crowns of thorns. Let us hope for a new beginning. If the President could have made-up with his bete noire of yesteryear and made him his Prime Minister, theres no reason he cannot emulate the feat with Mr. Wickremesinghe. And you cannot shake hands with one hand either. AIC campus joins hands with deakin university- Australia Ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide View(s): View(s): AIC Campus one of the leaders in higher education in Sri Lanka has opened another chapter in higher education by partnering with the Deakin University, Australia by articulating business and engineering programmes to provide pathways to Sri Lankan students. This milestone partnership makes AIC Campus in Sri Lanka, where an educational institution to partner with a highest ranked Australian university to offer globally recognised, affordable and Quality Education to Sri Lankan students. The launch event held at Orchid Hall Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on Thursday, 06th December 2018, and was graced with the presence of Mr. Peter Coleman, Trade Commissioner, Head of Education South Asia, Australian Trade and Investment Commission and Mr. Carl Jones International Manager Deakin University, Australia, Mr. Kanishka Padidilian, Business Development Manager, Sri Lanka & Maldives, Australian Trade & Investment Commission, Ms. Arosha Kulatunga Marketing Assistant Deakin International, Dr. Dharangan Bakthaseelan Executive Director/Director Finance AIC Campus, Dr. Gishan Sumanasiri, Executive Director/CEO AIC Campus, Mr. Amila Kulatunga, Chief Operating Officer AIC Campus Dr. Inoka. C. Perera, Dean AIC Campus, and other officials of AIC Campus. Collaboration between AIC Campus, Sri Lanka and Deakin University, Australia AIC Campus is delighted to collaborate with Deakin University, Australia and provide pathways for students to commence their first year of studies in Sri Lanka in the Business stream at AIC Campus and transfer to the Deakin University, Australia to complete the remaining two years of study. Upon completion of the two years of study at Deakin University, Australia students will be awarded with an Bachelors Degree from Deakin University, Australia. Students will also have the privilege of starting their engineering degree at AIC with the similar arrangement with Deakin university in time to come. Why obtain a Degree from Deakin University, Australia? Ranked Victorias #1 University under 50 years old by Times Higher Education (2014-2018) and QS Top 1% in global rankings in the major international university rankings. Leader in graduate satisfaction in Victoria for the eighth consecutive year (in the Australian Graduate Survey (201015) and the Graduate Outcomes Survey, QILT (201618) 89% of Deakins research is rated at or above world class (Excellence in Research for Australia 2015) Education and training provider of the year (in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Governor of Victoria Export Awards) For a personalized counselling session on education pathways, parents and students are encouraged to visit our state-of-the-art campus located at No. 154, Havelock Road, Colombo 05. For admissions and inquires, contact us on 0777 33 55 11 (Colombo), 0777 23 00 33 (Kandy), 0759 66 64 44 (Negombo). Help dementia patients live life as best as they can By Sashini Rodrigo Alzheimers Disease International chairman Glenn Rees was in Colombo to address the 21st Asia Pacific Regional Meeting View(s): View(s): Ageing is an undeniable truth of life, bringing about many changes in a person. Many of these changes are positive, such as amassing a wealth of experiences and knowledge. But it can also mean declining health, and a particular vulnerability to memory loss and cognitive issues that are serious enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia itself is not new, and yet, very little has been known about it for centuries. Alzheimers is the most common cause of it, and the greatest known risk factor is ageing, but it must be stressed that it is not a normal part of ageing. A very important point to make, according to chairman of Alzheimers Disease International Glenn Rees, is that it is a social disease as well as a chronic medical one. Without the involvement of social agencies as well as medical agencies in dementia, there is a slim chance of success in dealing with it. People live with dementia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Youll hear them say I have no purpose in life and that makes me very sad, so what can you do about that? You can try and help them continue their activities in the community, he explains. Glenn was in Sri Lanka as a speaker at the 21st Asia Pacific Regional Meeting for Alzheimers Disease International in November where leading figures in the field of dementia and Alzheimers gathered to promote awareness and erase stigma. The meeting was hosted this year by the Lanka Alzheimers Foundation. The focus of the meeting was the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Dementia Action Plan, to recognise the economic and social impact of dementia and on health and long-term care systems globally. Adopted in May 2017 by all members of WHO, the Plan requires that 75% of countries will have adopted or updated their national dementia plans by 2025. Priority areas of the plan include collaboration with government on public health response to dementia, safeguarding human rights, empowering people with dementia and carers, evidence-based risk reduction, universal health and social care coverage, equity and awareness for prevention, cure and care. Glenn has been involved in aged care and dementia since 1985 when he was asked by the Australian government to review the countrys balance of aged care provision. A former CEO of Alzheimers Australia, his work spanned from developing ideas despite the complete lack of intellectual capital, to implementing, learning and advocating at a high level. The view of Alzheimers Disease International is that National Dementia Plans are essential, Glenn adds. First, it makes awareness of dementia and increases its profile. Secondly, you want to show all the action thats interconnected across a range of programmes.He believes that if you want real change in dementia, you have to get backing from political leadership. Unless you have somebody providing political leadership that pulls people together, you wont succeed. You also want the community and government to be interested in how to get people to continue with their everyday lives as best they can, and to have their human rights protected, he explains.He adds that he felt quite positive about what the mental health system in Sri Lanka looks like and that from his brief experience and meeting with the Ministry of Health that theres something to build on in the mental health area. Another vital aspect of a good national dementia plan is risk production, with evidence linking dementia with chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Physical activity to help avoid or slow the process, coupled with mental and social activity, is currently the best chance of reducing the risk of dementia and in cost-effective ways. So all the things that make sense to you, you should be doing. While we have a long way to go, the development of a plan that considers the consumer perspective of people with dementia and family carers who do most of the work is essential. The concept of a dementia-friendly society is based on the simple idea of reducing barriers to help people with dementia feel engaged with the community and reduce the rampant issue of social isolation. From innovative concepts like the 250-300 memory cafes in the Netherlands where people with dementia and the community meet and quite often people with dementia work, to simple design principles and colour schemes for dementia-friendly buildings the fundamental principle is to help people with dementia have control over their daily lives. Training people to help people with dementia is arguably the most vital aspect however, and Glenn stresses the importance of training for staff of services like banks and hospital as well as emergency services, so that they understand dementia and people with cognitive issues arent made to feel silly. Concepts like buddy systems, training videos, ID bracelets, return home systems for people who are lost, and trained support animals are not revolutionary. They already exist, and can be adapted to any culture. Its not a bureaucratic programme with guidelines, Glenn says of the plans. The only thing important about it is the fundamental principle of ensuring that people with dementia have their human rights respected and ensure that they have absolute freedom in terms of access to legal services, information, and continuing activities of various kinds so they can participate in the community. Worrying statistics According to research by Alzheimers Disease International, there are around 50 million people living with dementia worldwide, with a projected rise of 150 million by 2050 due to the lack of a cure. The cost of dementia both direct and indirect is already at the 1 trillion USD mark, with a projected rise to 2 trillion by 2030. It is a shockingly costly and disabling disease, particularly when considering that 68% of people with dementia live in low to middle income classes. Developing countries, particularly South Asia, also have the fastest growing elderly population. Killings send shudders thru Kilinochchi By Chris Kamalendran and Asiri Fernando in Kilinochchi Locals reject the return of the LTTE, drought and unemployment their main concerns - Army determined to keep hard-won trust in east View(s): View(s): Once a bustling farming village, the northern town of Kilinochchi was the heartland of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the near three-decade long separatist war. It is here that Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his family spent time in secret hideouts, at least one with a swimming pool and other luxuries. It was the nerve centre of a virtual parallel government. The separatist guerillas military defeat in May 2009 saw the dawn of a new era green paddyfields and vegetable plots grew again around Kilinochchi and it has become a bustling township with government officials and a burgeoning centre for small traders. Now, however, memories of the war years have been ignited with police and security forces launching a manhunt to unravel the mystery of the killing of two police constables in the sleepy village of Vavunativu, near the centre of Batticaloa. Dinesh Algaratnam, 28, from the Kalmunai area, and Niroshan Indika, 35, a father of one from Udugama in Galle, were killed at dawn while on duty at a police checkpoint in a desolate spot in Vavunativu on November 29. Their hands were bound. They were shot and had multiple lacerations. Both men had been armed with service revolvers which have not been found. Vavunativu, dotted with small villages and surrounded by the lagoon and waterways, lies few kilometers south of the Batticaloa Police Station. The 30,000 residents of the suburb of Manmunai West, where the incident took place, make their livelihood mainly through paddy cultivation and fishing. On Thursday, November 29, the two police officers were stationed at a checkpoint at the southern entry to the Vavunativu bridge on the Karaveddy-Manmunai West road that leads to Batticaloa airport, a few kilometers away. The checkpoint, made mostly of corrugated roofing sheets, has no modern facilities, just a plastic water tank donated by an international organisation. Nearby is a small bo-tree with a worship area. The incident shocked the security establishment. Both constables were posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. There was widespread speculation on the resurgence of the terrorists. As events unfolded in the following days these fears were laid to rest but police suspicions settled on a few ex-LTTE cadre. The backdrop of the incident was Maveerar Day (Great Heroes Day) which commemorates the LTTE dead. Police prohibited public displays of slain LTTE leader Vaillupillai Prabhakarans picture, LTTE flags and the like, visiting villages to ask people not to display the banned images and flags. Despite this, some decorations and monuments were erected. Police removed some, infuriating the sponsors, all former LTTE cadre. Two suspects have been arrested over the shooting of the two police officers; one, Rasanayagam Sarvendran, 48, is a resident of Kilinochchi. Both suspects are being questioned under a detention order issued under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). A CID team team is still on the ground in Batticaloa. A jacket used by one of the suspects was found by a Police K9 team last week although no weapons have yet been recovered. Police have questioned 18 people, mostly former LTTE activists who have been through the rehabilitation process. There is a heavy police presence in Batticaloa with buildings searched and vehicles checked in the Vavunativu area. In Kilinochchi, the situation on the ground seems calm as the public hurry about their day-to-day business. As in many townships across the country, the Sunday Times heard complaints about the lack of development, investment and employment opportunities. The citizens seem to be busy with their own livelihood battles. Residents were baffled about what transpired in Vavunativu and none we spoke to voiced support for the LTTE in fact, many wanted to move on from wartime memories and recoiled from rumours of a revival of terrorist activity. We are closely monitoring the police investigation, said Major-General Vijitha Ravipriya, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 57th Division, when asked about Rasanayagam Sarvendrans arrest. We must not overreact and jump to conclusions. We need to let the investigation run its course, he said, adding that the murders were an isolated incident. We have built up links with grassroots leaders in the community. The army has built up trust with the population, Major-General Ravipriya explained, pointing out that the army had changed strategies from yesteryears highly-visible armed presence on the streets. The army is more approachable, he said. We are building a public-oriented relationship with the aim of fostering development and reconciliation while being vigilant. As soon as there is any suspicious activity, the message reaches us, Major-General Ravipriya said. We have not found any rogue LTTE elements or any other such groups in our area of responsibility. The commander asserted the trust between the public, administrative stakeholder and the military in Kilinochchi was paying off. He said the military kept a close eye on ex-LTTE cadre, explaining that a major obstacle in successfully reintegrating them back to society was their general lack of skills and education. We have to help them to get basic education and skills that will help them to find employment or become entrepreneurs. There are 1,517 registered male ex-LTTE activists and 318 females in the Kilinochchi district. The army employs a number of them on a 120-acre farm, offering skills development and helping them find work. The Maveerar Day celebration took place with a number of participants but there were no emblems, flags or inflammatory speeches this year, said a police source in Kilinochchi who wished to remain anonymous. The attendees came and left peacefully within a few hours. We have worked hard to build trust between the public and the police, the source said. Even if a farmer finds a piece of unexploded ordnance, ammunition or buried weapons, we are promptly notified. When a serious crime happens in the south of the country, most of the time a deserter from the armed forces in involved and no-one makes a big issue out of it. When a similar incident happens in the north or east theres a similar chance that an ex-LTTE cadre is involved, he argued, pointing out that there had been several murders of police officers and Prisons Department officers in the south in the recent past involving deserters from the armed forces. The police officer said the biggest law enforcement problems in Kilinochchi were illegal sand-mining, illegal logging and low-level use of Kerala ganja. He said police recruitment in the area was a challenge and wished there were more officers with local knowledge and language skills. A fine thread of cross-racial interaction runs through the local community. R. Kumarasami, a 74-year-old vegetable vendor at the Kilinochchi market is a link between the north and the south. He speaks fluently in Sinhala and Tamil and has been delivering vegetables between the north and south for decades. Although there is a lot of talk about arrests we still dont know much: no-one is giving out information, he said when asked about the arrest of Sarvendran. The LTTE is in the past: our people want progress, not violence, he said. We are alive because the war is over. The LTTE took away one of my daughters I brought her in to surrender to the authorities, he said gesturing with his hands that he handed over his child. Speaking about day-to-day affairs, Mr. Kumarasami said business was slow compared to last year. One of the major problems is the drop in demand for contract workers this year, so unemployment is on the rise, he said. He lamented the state of government facilities in Kilinochchi, particularly in the hospitals. We are sent from one place to another to obtain treatment. Sometimes were asked to go to Colombo to get certain drugs, Mr. Kumarasami complained. Life was not perfect but the old gentleman was content. The people are unemployed but are living in peace, he said. The deaths of two police officers is a heavy price to pay to be reminded that security should not be taken lightly and that vigilance, not panic is the need of the hour. Despite all odds the approach of the security forces and the Police has nipped in the bud the growth of rumors of a resurgence in terrorist activity. Suspect went under the radar Once an LTTE instructor who trained guerillas for combat, 48-year-old Rasanayagam Sarvendran, who stands accused of killing of two policemen, went through a years rehabilitation programme in Welikanda when the civil war ended in 2009.After rehabilitation he returned to his village, Vattakachchi, 11km from Kilinochchi town, to settle down. Six years ago he married, and now has four children. He seemed to have left the LTTE behind. He had joined the militant movement in its very early stages and despite his lack of education he had been in school only until Grade 8 had risen though the ranks to be a trainer of raw recruits. Following rehabilitation, after a spell as a day labourer doing odd jobs, he had settled down to work collecting vegetables from the village and surrounding areas and transporting them to the Kilinochchi main market in a hired lorry. Military sources said Sarvendran had been monitored along with other former LTTE cadre but seemed to be socially active and no adverse reports about him had been received. His name came up in the investigation of the shooting in Batticaloa because police knew he had been involved in the LTTE commemorative programmes. Last Friday, police visited Sarvendrans home at Wattakachchi and left a message as he was not in. On the following day, he was placed under arrest. Work, not war, is needed A short drive from Kilinochchi, Kumarasooriya Wimalachandran, a 42-year-old father of two, stands guard on the Iranamadu tank sluice gate. The recent rains had brought much-needed water to the district and the Iranamadu tank held water to a depth of 34 feet, two feet short of overflow limit. Mr. Wimalachandran is a rehabilitated LTTE fighter employed as a security guard by a private firm. He joined the LTTE at the age of 14 and was part of its military wing in the north for 14 years. Now disabled, he showed extensive injuries sustained during the war. Having this job is very important: it pays well, he said, explaining that it was difficult to find permanent employment with decent wages in Kilinochchi. Following rehabilitation in October 2016, he had tried to run his own business but had been unsuccessful. Now, he said, his monthly take-home pay averaged Rs. 21,000. We are not worried about the LTTE thats in the past. We need employment, the former guerilla said. LTTE return? No chance! Kaleiwani Bavandran, 35, is a former LTTE operative who now works at a farm run by the army in Kilinochchi and is a mother of two. When asked the possibility of a resurgent LTTE she responded, in English, No chance!. She carries a scar on her forehead from an explosion. Forcefully recruited to the LTTE during the latter stages of the war, she was assigned to nurse the injured, having been studying nursing at the time of conscription. She claims her monthly wage is comparable to that of an army soldier and the wage, wage, job security and benefits were better than a contract labourer would receive. When asked why she is not working as a nurse, Mrs. Bavandran said her course of study was not recognised by the state and it was hard to find employment in the medical sector. She would, however, like to return to nursing one day. Tamil diaspora clings to bloody vision that locals reject P. Kanagasivam, a vendor, who moved from Colombo to Kilinochchi in 1980, said unemployment and drought were the two main causes of concern for the local people. The establishment of garment factories was a welcome addition to Kilinochchi, providing much-needed employment for many of the youth, he said. With many banks and financial institutions now operating in Kilinochchi town there was support for business as loans were available, he said. Mr. Kanagasivam claimed the LTTE would not rise again. Never again will parents allow their children to be taken by the LTTE they saw what happened during the war, he argued. We need this freedom. We didnt have that with the LTTE. The young in Kilinochchi are not interested in the LTTE any more they want jobs, a decent income and good lifestyle. Mr. Kanagasivam did, however, express concern about many in the Tamil diaspora who still subscribe to the LTTE ideology. NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until February 8, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (OTC: NSANY), if they purchased the Companys American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) between December 10, 2013 and November 16, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. What You May Do If you purchased ADRs of Nissan and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/otc-nsany/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by February 8, 2019. About the Lawsuit Nissan and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On November 19, 2018, news reports revealed Nissan CEO and Chairman, Carlos Ghosn and former Board member and Senior Vice President, Greg Kelly, had been arrested by Japanese authorities for financial crimes. The Company later disclosed that its internal investigation over the past several months uncovered numerous wrongful acts by both spanning many years, including improperly reporting expenses and personal use of company assets. On this news, the price of Nissans ADRs plummeted. The case is Jackson County Employees Retirement System v. Ghosn, et al., 18-cv-01368. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com . Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Misfit directors and over-intrusive politics caused SriLankans fall: Witness By Abdullah Shahnawaz View(s): View(s): Over-intrusive politics and a director board with little or no experience in the industry have been the chief reasons for a maimed national carrier since the 1980s, it was alleged. The allegations were made by Rajeewa Jayaweera, a former SriLankan Country Manager in France and Qatar, while testifying before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka on Friday. He said that, except for the period when SriLankan was managed by Emirates, and during the tenure of an American Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the late 1980s, the directors utter lack of understanding of how the industry worked coupled with their obligation to appease the government at any cost resulted in systematic mismanagement pulling the national carrier down. This continuing ailment reached its peak in the period between 2008 and 2015, following the end of the contract with Emirates. The governments interference in staff appointments and promotions, and the low wages paid to workers meant SriLankan was plunged into a situation where it could not attract well qualified employees, Mr. Jayaweera said. The CEOs, who were Sri Lankan nationals, lacked knowledge and experience in the aviation industry. Commenting on the airlines marketing strategy, the former country manager said marketing division employees dressed well and spoke in an elegant manner, but their approach was poor and affected dealings with foreign travel and tour operators. The question of SriLankans poor marketing approach came up when Mr. Jayaweera was asked why the airline was not able to seize the opportunity and capitalise on the cessation of European carriers to Colombo. Theoretically yes, the airline should have capitalised on it, but what happened was different, he said. Another factor that crippled the airline was the boom in the market share of Middle Eastern carriers, with Emirates and Qatar Airways leading the way. Adding to this blow was the Sri Lankan Governments inability or reluctance to be firm on air traffic rights. Air traffic rights comprise the nine freedoms of the air and determine where and how an airline is permitted to operate. Traffic rights dont belong to the airline. They are the property of the state, and it is a government-to-government agreement that determines this. It is part of the two countries bilateral agreement, Mr. Jayaweera said. The government authorities were not strict on this and some flights from Jordan, Lebanon and Oman landed at the BIA without proper permission in the 1980s and 1990s. Nothing was done. A countrys interests are more important than those of an airline, Mr. Jayaweera said. But the truth is that all these factors combined together caused huge losses, and millions were pumped into this loss-making airline. He also brought up the issue of excess aircraft. When Mihin Lanka ceased operations due to substantial losses, 10 routes of the budget airline and two of its flights were absorbed by SriLankan. Since these flights were those of a budget airline, the cost to run them by a fully-fledged airline went up. The handling of this issue was inefficient. Further, when SriLankan suspended its Paris, Rome and Frankfurt routes, many flying hours were saved, the witness stated. This called for the retirement of at least two aircraft. We had 21 aircraft in 2015/16 and when we ought to have retired three aircraft, three more were added, increasing the fleet to 24 aircraft for 2016/17. Meanwhile, another witnessed claimed that Mihin Lanka chose one General Sales Agent (GSA) for each route it flew, despite not having a manual stating so. The GSA is the airlines sales representative for a specific country or region. The GSA bags in commissions of 35 percent on all tickets and units of cargo space sold in the region it represents. We didnt have a manual for appointing GSAs and never attempted formulating one, said Rohana Perera, a former head of Mihins Commercial Division. After 2015 they told us to follow the SriLankans GSA manual. Therefore, Mihin CEOs Sajin de Vass Gunawardena (2006-08), Kapila Chandrasena (2008-14), Nishantha Ranatunga (2014-15), Rakitha Jayawardena (2015) and Suren Ratwatte made almost all the appointments themselves, it surfaced. Mr. Jayaweera earlier said SriLankan Airlines made profits only on a mere six out of 30 plus routes in the financial year 2017/18. He added that the previous year had been worse with only five routes carrying a surplus. Short routes generated our profits. However, most of these profits were the result of side businesses like ground handling and catering, he said. This was the case even when Emirates operated. Mr. Jayaweera said that apart from a brief period between February 2002 and December 2004, European routes made continuous losses. Mr. Jayaweera pointed out that SriLankan did not have a Corporate Planning Division, which takes into account many factors before deciding on new routes or the closure of unprofitable ones. On Monday, giving evidence before the Commission, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy elaborated on past and present practices that were adapted by the Central Bank pertaining to the issuance of various debt instruments. Deputy Solicitor General Neil Unamboowe raised concerns over the validity and approval of the Central Banks debt department operation manuals issued in 2005 and 2007. The governor said that, at present, such manuals were prepared by the Public Debt Department (PDD) of the Central Bank and then presented to the Monetary Board for approval. He added that the operational manuals of the PDD would be reviewed and updated, on a yearly basis. Prisons chief explains blunder in the death-row prisoner list sent to President By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s): Prisons Department Commissioner General H.M.N.C. Dhanasinghe claimed the department was severely inconvenienced in tracking the records of prisoners on death row for narcotics offences, as the convicts are sent to prisons by Courts sans the relevant documentation. He was responding to an allegation made by President Maithripala Sirisena that some of the names of prisoners forwarded to him by the department had their appeals pending and, therefore, could not be hanged. The Commissioner General claimed that this was the reason why the inclusion of names of prisoners who had appealed against the conviction, were included in the list sent to the President. He conceded that the department had sent the names without determining the status of the 18 convicts on death row. His excuse was that the department had sketchy details on the prisoners. In July this year, the President, in a bid to implement the death penalty, requested the department to send in names of prisoners on death row for repeated drug-related offences. The move followed reports that some of them were carrying out drug trafficking whilst in prison. The implementation of the death penalty was stalled due to opposition from the European Union, human rights and civil society groups. However, the topic was recently raised again when the President again stressed the need to curb underworld drug trafficking by implementing the death sentence as a deterrent. Mr. Dhanasinghe said the 18 names in the list were those of convicts with repeated drug offences from Welikada, Mahara and Angunukolapelessa and they were underworld drug kingpins. He added, however, that even if the death penalty was to be implemented the department had no hangmen among its cadre. Previous attempts to recruit hangmen to the department had proved unsuccessful. Two men recruited for the job in 2014 had vacated post after two weeks on the job. The department had called for applications in July 2018 but had to shelve the idea, with the Government backtracking in the face of protests. Meanwhile, Mr. Dhanasinghe commenting on the plan to deploy the Special Task Force (STF) to monitor the prisons, said the department was ready to work with the STF. Meanwhile, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera said the proposals he had submitted included the need for an efficient international network to nab drug dealers. He spoke of the need to have a binding treaty to urge foreign countries to extradite those wanted here for drug smuggling offences. The existing extradition agreements are slow and most often the investigations are hindered by this, he said. According to the 2017 annual report of the Prisons Department, during the past three years (2015 -2017) 23 prisoners had been sentenced to death for narcotic drug offences. Rajapaksa quits but vows to put together anti-UNP power bloc View(s): Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa bid adieu to his highly contentious stint as Prime Minister yesterday vowing to put together a power bloc to take on the UNP. The change of government the people expected has now had to be put off, but the people will definitely get the change they desire. The coming together of the Joint Opposition and the SLFP group that was in the government has now created a power bloc that commands around 54 percent of the vote base, Mr. Rajapaksa, who is also a UPFA Kurunegala District MP, said. Shortly after his speech at his Wijerama Mawatha residence, Mr. Rajapaksa signed a document, which he said was his letter of resignation from the post of Prime Minister. However Mr. Rajapaksa ceased to hold the post of Prime Minister from November 15 after Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he did not recognise him or his Cabinet after a No-Confidence Motion against them was approved by Parliament. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal also issued an interim order, suspending Mr. Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning in their posts. Mr. Rajapaksa said he and his supporters were now in direct confrontation with a group of political parties that have continuously engaged in various subterfuges to avoid facing elections, first delaying the Provincial Councils polls and now depriving the people of a general election. He said the UNP, which has 103, seats had been taken hostage by the TNA and that the TNA held the remote control in Parliament. He also spoke of a purported new constitution that the UNP planned to bring in, claiming it would divide the country into nine semi-independent federal units. He said he had been sworn in on October 26 in an interim arrangement that would have lasted two months before an election was held and defended President Maithripala Sirisenas move, saying that the President cannot stand by and do nothing when the country is facing destruction at the hands of the people running the country. Mr. Rajapaksa said that as their plans were aborted by the Supreme Court rulings, they could not implement any of the measures they had planned to prevent the country from becoming another Greece. The UNP brought our country to the brink of economic collapse through foreign borrowings, he said. Mr. Rajapaksa said one success of the Oct. 26 events was that the UNP no longer commanded a two-thirds majority in Parliament and hence it was now possible to block the passage of a new constitution that had been drafted by the same individuals who turned the country into an ungovernable mess through the 19th Amendment. Ranil may form national govt. By Our Political Editor Swearing in today as PM; 21 SLFP MPs also wish to join new administration View(s): View(s): Ranil Wickremesinghe, who will be sworn in today as Prime Minister, is likely to head a national government where the Cabinet will comprise those from the United National Front (UNF) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Initially, 30 ministers are to be sworn in later today or tomorrow (Monday). A motion to increase the number of ministers, now under consideration, is to be introduced in Parliament when it resumes sittings on December 18. In keeping with a directive issued to SLFP parliamentarians by President Maithripala Sirisena, the SLFPers will not enter into any formal agreement with the UNP. Whilst serving the national unity government, they said they would support President Sirisena. However, highly placed UNP sources said they would only take nine SLFP parliamentarians. Thus, the new national government is expected to be on the basis of a tieup between the UNP and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). A party to this with the UNP will be Ali Zahir Mowlana, the only SLMC member to contest an eastern constituency under the SLMC ticket. All others, including the SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem, contested on the UNP ticket. There are 21 SLFP MPs. In addition, wanting to join the new government are six other MPs five from the UNP and another from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). They had joined Sirisena. They are now to support Mr. Wickremesinghes new government. These measures were discussed between the UNP and the SLFP during consultations late Friday night. Another significant move is the naming of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned as Prime Minister yesterday, as the new Leader of the Opposition. Since he still remains a member of the UPFA, its Secretary General Mahinda Amaraweera is awaiting approval from President Sirisena to write to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. That move may see the ouster of Rajavarothayam Sampanthan. However, the final decision on the matter rests with Speaker Jayasuriya.TNA spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran said the allaince would not have any issue in foregoing the Opposition Leaders post.Yesterdays resignation by Mr. Rajapaksa and todays assumption of duties by Mr. Wickremesinghe as Premier end 52 days of chaos and confusion triggered by President Sirisena. SC gives leave to proceed, but CAs interim order remains By S. Rubatheesan View(s): View(s): A three-member Supreme Court bench has granted special leave to proceed with a petition challenging the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal preventing Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 other respondents from functioning as prime minister, cabinet ministers, ministers of state and deputy ministers. But after lengthy sittings on Friday, the Court refused to grant the interim relief sought by petitioner by revoking the interim order given earlier this month by the Court of Appeal. Ruling that the Interim Order would stand until the case is concluded, the countrys highest court said it would take up the case on January 16, 17, and 18. The three-member bench comprised Justices Eva Wanasundera, Buwaneka Aluvihara and Vijith K. Malalgoda. Justice Malalgoda, who made a dissenting order, rejected the petitions on the basis that those are in limine. The Appeal petition was filed by Parliamentarians Johnston Fernando, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Dinesh Gunawardena and Chamal Rajapaksa challenging the interim order issued by the Court of Appeal on December 3. An intervening motion on behalf of five respondents was filed, raising serious concerns over the case being taken up before Justice Eva Wanasundera. The motion cited a newspaper interview where she had explained how she was appointed as Supreme Court Justice by former President Mahinda Rajapakasa, the main respondent named in the Quo Warranto petition. At the outset, the petitioners urged Justice Wanasundera to recuse herself from the bench and refer the case to the Chief Justice for a full bench to hear the petition. However, the bench rejected the request and continued to hear the case throughout the day. The respondents main counsel K. Kanag-iswaran said that in terms of the Constitutions Article 48(2) if Parliament passed a vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister, the cabinet of Ministers stood dissolved. Ignore the Hansard of Parliament for a moment 122 MPs who constitute the majority of Parliament have come before the Court of Appeal to say that they do not have confidence in the purportedly appointed PM. What more evidence is needed, Mr. Kanag-iswaran asked. The petitioners senior counsel Romesh de Silva asked whether the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to suspend the functioning of the prime minister and the cabinet. He said the Appeal Courts action was not lawful and it had resulted in a situation where there was no government or cabinet. Parliamentarian and Counsel M. A. Sumanthairan, one of the respondents who appeared in person, argued that the petitioners had asked the Supreme Court to look into Parliamentary proceedings to determine whether the vote of no-confidence was carried out according to the law or not. He claimed that the court did not have the power to do so. The petitioners submitted stenographers notes and videos of parliamentary proceedings while questioning the official record of Parliamentthe Hansard. But Parliament jealously guards the judicial power of the people vested with it, he added. Gamini Marapana and Navin Marapana along with Romesh de Silva and Manohara de Silva appeared on behalf of the Appellants. K. Kanag Iswaran, (instructed by Mohan Balendara) and M. A. Sumanthiran, Ikram Mohamed, Viran Corea, J. C. Weliamuna, Niran Anketell, Suren Fernando, Rauf Hakeem and Hijaz Hisbullah, appeared for the Petitioners. Tea estate workers return to work; talks on unresolved wage issue resume today By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s): Negotiations to try and resolve the estate workers wage dispute will resume today (16) between regional plantation companies and estate sector trade unions. The Employers Federation of Ceylon, which is negotiating on behalf of the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), has invited the three trade unions who are party to the collective wage agreement, for talks at 10.30 a.m. today. Representatives of all three unionsthe Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU) and the Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre (JPTUC) are expected to attend. Negotiations are set to resume after a majority of the workers returned to work by Friday. Earlier, calls by CWC Leader and MP Arumugam Thondaman were ignored by most workers. The CWC had announced on Wednesday that the strike was temporarily called off. Most workers, though, still refused to come to work, claiming that trade unions had continually failed to secure their demand for a 100% salary increase. Estate workers went on an indefinite strike on December 4, demanding that their daily basic wage be increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000. The strike, which went on for over a week crippled work at plantations and factories. Plantation companies said the daily revenue loss from the strike stood at Rs.250 million, with a weeks revenue loss adding to Rs.1.25 billion. The Planters Association of Ceylon, the collective body representing the RPCs have however, refused to go beyond a 20% basic salary increase, which would see the daily wage being increased from Rs.500 to Rs.600. The demand has been rejected by trade unions. Meanwhile,some estate workers, frustrated over the failure of unions to secure their demands, have now threatened to cancel their union membership and say that they will no longer pay their monthly union membership fee. The collective agreement between the unions and RPCs is revised every two years. Unions had earlier promised to bring relief to workers when the agreement was being negotiated this time, taking into consideration the rising cost of living. To cope with higher maritime traffic, Sri Lanka Customs launches Vessel Rummaging Team View(s): The Sri Lanka Customs last week commissioned a newly-trained Vessel Rummaging Team with assistance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and in partnership with the UK Border Force. The Customs had not fielded a dedicated Vessel Rummaging Team since the early 1990s due to the closure of their Marine Branch (the seagoing enforcement arm). The 10-member team is headed by Mr Buddhadasa, Director of the preventive directorate. The training was conducted by two trainers from the Commercial Vessel Rummaging Team from the UK Border Force based in Liverpool. Vessel rummaging refers to the search of a commercial vessel when it enters the jurisdiction of a coastal state. Commercial vessels can be used to transport illicit contraband across borders either with or without the complicity of its master and crew. Further, it is important to ensure that vessels plying Sri Lankan waters have their documentation in order, which a Vessel Rummaging Team can check. Under international law, commercial vessels need to maintain a number of up-to-date licences, insurances and certificates, Mr Buddhadasa pointed out. It is important that documentation is in order, he explained. These documents enable us to authenticate the cargo, last port of call, details of crew, passengers and the stock of controlled items or weapons carried on board the vessel. Foreign liquor, cigarettes, high-value consumer items such as electronics are frequently smuggled via sea routes, costing the government revenue. Sri Lankas Customs Ordinance empowers customs officers to board and search vessels in port and within the 12-nautical mile territorial waters of Sri Lanka. We make a threat assessment to prioritise which vessels we rummage; there are tell-tale signs we look for to classify which vessels are deemed high-risk of trafficking or hiding contraband, he said. There are also other vessels, like fishing vessels, tug boats, yachts and pleasure craft that frequent Sri Lankan waters and ports which can be used for smuggling. According to Mr Buddhadasa, the Customs has a long history of vessel rummaging and anti-smuggling operations at sea. The Customs Marine Branch, established in 1956 had functioned till 1989 with 85 officers, divers and boat crew. In 1991, the fleet of 17 Customs launches were taken over for military duties as the war reached the maritime domain, effectively shutting down the Marine Branch. We are at an initial stage; more resources, specialised equipment, training and coordination between stakeholders is needed, a Vessel Rummaging Team member, who wished not to be named, said. We need specialised equipment to board and search a range of commercial vessels, he said, pointing out that this was a high-risk task. Deep inside a vessels hull, there are fumes that may escape from hazardous cargo such as petroleum products and chemicals. If we are not careful, we run the risk of serious harm or death, he explained. Once aboard vessels, specialised safety gear is needed to check air quality, the presence of petroleum or chemical vapours, acids and other corrosive cargo. Given Sri Lankas push to become a maritime transshipment hub, invariably the increased traffic will bring with it an increase in maritime crime. An increase in vessel traffic in the region can have a corresponding effect on the movement of illicit cargo, both in terms of trafficking on small craft and commercial vessels, said Shanaka Jayasekara of the UNODCs Maritime Crime Programme (MCP). The training in vessel rummaging involves safety aspects in vessel searching, identifying concealed compartments, cavities and confined spaces, and most importantly common methods used for concealment, explained Mr Jayasekara. He added that specialised training was needed for different types of vessels such as container carriers, bulk carriers and oil tankers. Given the increase in vessel passage and trafficking around Sri Lanka, the Customs needed to expand their reach, capabilities and capacity, Mr Buddhadasa stressed. There is a strong need for patrol vessels, he said. Mr Jayasekara added that Sri Lanka needed to strengthen its overall maritime operational capability to effectively enforce its jurisdiction within its territorial waters. He explained that there was a need for a well-thought out maritime strategy which defined the roles and responsibilities of the respective agencies. Within Sri Lankas territorial sea, the Navy, Coast Guard, Police Marine Unit, Police Narcotics Bureau, Customs, Fisheries Department, Marine Pollution Authority, Merchant Shipping Secretariat, and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) all have different roles which are important, he said. Given Sri Lankas ambition to become a key maritime player in the Indian Ocean region, the importance of a well-formulated maritime strategy to coordinate maritime law enforcement efforts is essential. Vote-on-Account for two months View(s): The United National Front (UNF) Government will present a Vote on Account, a mini budget, effective for two months before presenting a formal budget for the rest of next year. UNP parliamentarian Eran Wickremaratne said the Vote on Account would make provision for payment of public sector salaries, emergency purchases, including fuel, and repayment of foreign loans. It is expected that the Vote on Account would be presented on December 26. He said the UNF had already decided that the remaining two weeks were not sufficient to present a full budget as a 29-day period was required to debate and pass the budget. He said that if a vote on account was not passed the Government would face issues in carrying out day-to-day functions in the public sector due to the non-availability of funds. Mr. Wickremaratne said that during 2019, the government was expected to repayan estimated foreign debt of US$ five billion and the payments were due to begin from January. Last week, the Sunday Times reported that lending institutions that had initially pledged money to Sri Lanka were now holding back till court decisions offered some clarity on the political situation. Mr. Wickremaratne, earlier the minister of state for finance, said the Government expected to obtain some of the financial facilities that had been held back. India elections: A fiercely contested landscape By Vidya Subrahmaniam The Congress has struggled to subdue the BJP in these State elections, but the setback to the BJP is indisputable View(s): View(s): If celebrations have broken out in Congress offices across the country, few will grudge it, considering that its success in the Hindi heartland comes after four years of defeats, self-doubt and a feeling of being under siege by a perennially turbo-charged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Yet the Congresss victory is not without caveats. It swept only Chhattisgarh, was stretched to win Rajasthan, and it sweated to be able to be in a position to lay claim to forming the government in Madhya Pradesh. It was routed in Telangana and Mizoram. For the BJP, there may not even be a consolation prize, in its biggest electoral setback since capturing power in 2014. For both the national parties, there are also discomfiting portents in the verdict. The only clear winner The one winner without a shadow of doubt is K. Chandrashekar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, who decimated the Mahakutumi, or the mega alliance formed by the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as a possible model for future Opposition strategy. A return to power for Mr. Rao, who had played a stupendous role in the birth of Telangana, is remarkable, and all the more for coming against a combined Opposition. If there is a second man with a stand-out performance, it is Shivraj Singh Chouhan, of the BJP but in many ways more than the BJP at least in Madhya Pradesh where his writ ran for three terms, unchallenged by the Opposition and, most unusually, almost autonomous of the power duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Mr. Chouhan came within a whisker of winning outright in M.P., which under him had taken on the characteristics of an incumbency-advantage State. The longer he was in power, the more entrenched he seemed to have become. One of the reasons for this is Mr. Chouhans invaluable contribution to agriculture in a State where 70% of people depend on it. Even so, the near-miracle story had turned sour in the last year thanks to the Centres intervention to stop bonus for farmers, and a demonetisation-induced cash crunch that delayed payments down the line. Hours into the counting in M.P., the suspense lingered, highlighting that Mr. Chouhan was fighting every inch of the way. The bigger story of this election may well flow from the outcomes in Telangana and M.P. The defeat of the Mahakutumi, if not an irretrievable setback for the Mahagathbandhan efforts nationally, certainly means that Rahul Gandhi and N. Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP leader, will have to go back to the drawing board to rework alliance strategy for 2019. M.P., on the other hand, is an example of a popular Chief Minister Mr. Chouhan dominated the posters where he was compared to Lord Shiva paying the price for decisions that were not of his making but were imposed from above by a government that had unconscionably pushed through measures like demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) without thinking through the double whammy of depriving people of liquidity while simultaneously subjecting them to an arbitrary and ever-changing tax regime. The Congress has won in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the latter by a landslide. In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, written off by most people, held her ground before caving in. The Congresss near loss in M.P. was brought about by a refusal to acknowledge that it needs partners, in this case the Bahujan Samaj Party. The party will have to introspect on its behaviour of seeking alliances where it is too weak to contest by itself and rejecting them in places where it feels it is in a commanding position. Steadily losing ground The latest round of elections reinforces the trend of the BJP losing ground, which started with its narrow victory in the Gujarat election. In the Karnataka election that followed, the BJP not only stopped short of an absolute majority but its patented government formation manoeuvres, successful in many earlier instances, too bombed. The party also lost a string of by-polls across the country. The BJPs last big victory in an Assembly election was in Uttar Pradesh in early 2017. In that election, the BJP exceeded the most optimistic projections to win 312 of 403 seats. The U.P. election provided an insight into the partys changed strategy under Prime Minister Modi. In the 2014 general election, which Mr. Modi single-handedly won for the BJP, his image was of a capitalist-reformer. He spoke of prosperity and jobs. However, the Modi campaigns stress on development notwithstanding, it made overt and covert attempts to polarise, as for example in Muzaffarnagar in western U.P, the scene of a horrific communal conflagration in 2013. Indeed, even as Mr. Modi sweet-talked the electorate with lofty promises, Mr. Shah stoked Hindu passions in that sensitive area, which earned him a police case as well as a ban by the Election Commission of India. In the 2017 U.P. Assembly election, Mr. Modi cast himself as a friend and saviour of the poor to runaway success. He portrayed demonetisation as an effort to downsize the rich in favour of the poor. But as the campaign drew to a close, the old chestnuts came out and the Prime Minister began to talk the language of minority appeasement and Hindu deprivation. This has since become the BJPs formula to win elections: a pro-poor approach combined with an unhidden agenda of communal polarisation. In Gujarat Mr. Modi spoke of Pakistans interest in promoting a Muslim Congress Chief Minister. He also insinuated that respected Congress leaders, including the former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, were in league with Pakistan to destabilise the country. The strategy worked only partially. The BJP barely touched the half-way mark. In Karnataka, the formula was even less of a success. In the current round of elections, Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah went a step further and unleashed U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with the express intention of dividing the electorate. Mr. Adityanath, whose single claim to fame is his anti-Muslim approach in all things, did exactly that. In M.P., he said the fight was between the Congresss Ali and the BJPs Bajrangbali (Hanuman). In Hyderabad, he promised to drive out Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen should the BJP get a majority. It didnt matter to Mr. Modi or Mr. Shah that Mr. Adityanath had failed the electoral test in his own State and had lost a critical by-election in his home turf of Gorakhpur. The bad news doesnt end here for the BJP. In a majority of Assembly elections held since 2014, the BJPs vote share has dropped well below what it polled in the Lok Sabha election, a pattern seen in the current elections whether in Rajasthan, M.P. or Chhattisgarh, the BJPs vote share is nowhere near what it polled in the Lok Sabha. Looking to 2019 Assuming the vote shares repeat themselves in the Lok Sabha election, the BJP would lose over 40 seats in these States alone. In north India, the BJP had reached saturation levels in 2014, a feat it will be hard put to replicate. In the south, where the BJP has historically been weak, it looks increasingly like a washout for the party: the TDP has broken with it while the TRS, with a solid Muslim vote to draw upon, is clearly unwilling to play ball. In Karnataka, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress are going steady. The disenchantment of the poor is hard to miss, as is the ferment among Dalits and farmers. Theres been an exodus of institutional heads, all of whom have given the thumbs down to Mr. Modis disastrous economic policies. But the silver lining for the BJP is Mr. Modi himself. He continues to be popular through the wavering fortunes of his party. (Vidya Subrahmaniam is Senior Fellow at The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy. E-mail: vidya.subrahmaniam@thehinducentre.com) Courtesy The Hindu, India The story of a simple village headman View(s): Once upon a time, a long time ago in a country far away, there lived a simple village headman. He was not the cleverest man in the village. All he had to do was keep the peace and collect revenue, allowing the prominent families in that village to wield influence and power. Now the particular village where he functioned as a Headman (the equivalent during colonial times of todays grama niladiris) belonged to a small kingdom which was being ruled by the head of one of that nations prominent families, a charismatic man known as Prince Percy. The kingdom itself had a funny system of rulership every so many years, the people of the kingdom would get together and vote to decide which of the many princes in the kingdom would function as their King. For the past several years, the moustachioed Prince Percy (now known as King Percy) had been ruling the nation, his popularity being largely due to the fact that some years ago he had single-handedly fought and destroyed a fierce and ruthless Tiger Monster that had been ravaging the kingdom for nearly a quarter century. Waiting in the wings and hoping to succeed King Percy when the latter finally retired was the head of another prominent family, the visionary but dull Prince Toddy-Blue. Sadly for the people of that democratic kingdom, they had no other choice. Their only options were to be ruled by one of the two princes Percy or Toddy-Blue, a situation that many compared to Hobsons choice or a choice between the Devil and the Toddy-Blue sea. While the two princes would falsely smile at each other when they met while they plotted to outmanoeuvre each other, our simple headman was content to remain in the background, busying himself with looking after the Agriculture and the Health of the people in that area. He lived a quiet and unostentatious village headmans life. As the people used to say in their classic manner, eyaa thamange paaduwethamai unnay. Unfortunately for the village, some mischief-makers who wanted to create trouble secretly came to the village headman one day and gave him the idea that he too could elevate himself to the same level of prominence as the two princes, Percy and Toddy-Blue. Why they asked him, should privilege and power alternate only between those two houses? Dont we all know that in this country, if you wash the mud off a farmer he is as good as a king? So, just as the three witches tempted Macbeth, these mischief makers and false prophets tempted our village headman to usurp power. Around this time the courtiers around Prince Percy were blatantly making use of his popularity and making lots and lots of money for themselves. The people began to feel that King Percy had passed his Use By date. So our wily headman paid a courtesy call on King Percy and was invited to stay for dinner. After they had enjoyed a sumptuous meal of hoppers (King Percy being well known for his bonhomie and generosity), the headman went home and the following day he went round, ungratefully proclaiming from the rooftops and platforms to all and sundry that King Percy was actually a VERY BAD person. He exhorted the people to reject Percy and vote him into power instead and promised to rule Most Benevolently. So believing that our headman was a genuine and honest man who was loyal to his country and had the welfare of its people at heart, the people hailed him as a hero and voted to oust King Percy. He was helped to fulfil his plans by Prince Toddy-Blue, who (being well aware that he could not replace the popular Percy via an election) judged that it was better to have the simple headman as king rather than putting up with Percy as King for another six years. The fact that the headman had betrayed his King was lost on the gullible people. Within a short time the man was proclaimed King. He anointed himself with the pleasing name of King Benevolence- and to reward Prince Toddy-Blue for his assistance proclaimed him chief of his council of ministers. Both Prince Percy and Prince Toddy-Blue had to accept the headman (just as in Simon Nawagaththegamas play Suba saha Yasa) as the new ruler of their land. Both however secretly looked down on him as just a jumped up village headman. It was not for nothing that Baron Acton said Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Just as Macbeth, the once honorable Thane of Glamis, underwent a transformation from good to evil after he became King of Scotland, our simple village headman gradually got used to the taste of power. Despite loudly proclaiming in the presence of respected members of the clergy and within the temples of his gods that he would only rule for one term, King Benevolence decided as he neared the end of his term that he would like to stay on as King. But herein lay a problem. How could he ensure that the two Princes Percy and Toddy-Blue would not challenge him? The answer was easy. King Benevolence decided, just as Macbeth engineered the killing of his friend Banquo, that he would get rid of his ally Prince Toddy-Blue by stabbing HIM in the back. What better way to remain King than to kill two birds with one stone or to emasculate two princes with one stroke? All he had to do was to dismiss Toddy-Blue as his Chief Minister and appoint his former enemy Percy as the new Chief Minister, thus ensuring that Percy would not challenge him when the time came to seek the mandate of the people for a second term as King. Sadly for the people of the country, King Benevolence had miscalculated and over-reached himself. Despite being King, he still had the mind of a village headman and like Americas Donald Trump he was used to thinking with his gut rather than his brain. He had never bothered to understand the rules and regulations of government that he was supposed to exercise. He had never bothered to educate himself by watching Simon Nawagatththegamas play Suba saha Yasa or Shakespeares play Macbeth nor had he read the works of Kautilya or Machiavelli. History often shows us that those who find themselves in high political office often become deluded into believing that they can control events and that they do not need to follow rules and laws. So, pursuing his ambition with scant regard for the welfare of his people, the village headman plunged the entire nation into chaos. It was a state of chaos that not even the late evil Tiger Monster could have created. Tracing the Origins of Venezuelas Crisis By Allison Fedirka Summary Just over a month from now, on Jan. 10, Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to be sworn in again as president of Venezuela. The occasion wont be without controversy some 50 countries failed to recognize the elections in May that set Maduro up for another term in office raising familiar questions about his governments staying power. For the past year, Maduros administration has appeared to be hanging on by a thread, and Venezuelas various crises show no sign of abating. It is, by now, an all too familiar story, that of the countrys seemingly inexorable slide deeper and deeper into chaos . Low oil prices are the scapegoat most commonly assigned to the countrys recent decline. The narrative explains how the economy can now be on the brink of collapse after flourishing for years under high oil prices, but it fails to account for all of Venezuelas problems. The price of oil does little to explain, for example, the degradation of the countrys institutions, the tenacity of its despotic leadership or the lack of a united opposition despite the publics resounding rejection of the government. To understand these phenomena, one must first understand the structural design that has been in place since the earliest days of modern Venezuelas existence. The centralized power, military presence, weak institutions and economic overreliance on commodities that characterize current government are not unique to it . Rather, they are rooted in Venezuelas colonial past and early years of independence. This Deep Dive examines the interplay between these factors that has dictated the behaviors and actions of governments past and present. A Strongmans Game Venezuelas precedent for totalitarian rule long predates Maduro or his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. In fact, in its nearly two centuries of existence, Venezuela has functioned as a modern, Western-style democracy for only 40 years, from 1959-1999. (Though Chavez won power in democratic elections in 1998, his presidency brought a decisive end to the period of democracy.) More often, the country has operated under a strong central government led by a single individual empowered through a patronage network, an idea that traces back to the caudillo system in the colonial period. Caudillos were affluent men who owned or oversaw production on land and rejected Spanish rule. Because they were too few in number to fight on their own, they used their elite social status to enlist the help of the lower classes, whom they organized and led as militias against Spanish troops. The tradition continued even after Venezuela won its war for independence. Without their Spanish overlords or a reliable national government to provide security, local landowners established patronage systems and local fighting forces, which they used to seize control of assets, such as customs houses, and territory. The most successful caudillos became generals in their militias and could project power beyond their region to compete on a national level. The caudillo system reinforced the need for a strong centralized government in Venezuela and gave rise to the dozen or so revolutions in the countrys history. The constant jostling for ascendancy made the caudillos in power, and those aspiring to it, vulnerable to attack. At the same time, the systems emphasis on regionalism made it difficult for leaders in one area to secure buy-in elsewhere in the country. Maintaining power required a firm hand. Still, schisms and shifts in allegiance were common, and when an opposition group wanted to challenge the government for power, a revolution broke out. Strongmen rulers rose and fell in this way, for much of the countrys history. (A push for decentralized power among the caudillos led to civil war in the mid-19th century, followed by a brief period of federalism in the 1860s.) Even Venezuelas first attempts at democracy began with an uprising, known as the October Revolution of 1945. Chavezs Bolivarian Revolution in 1999 built on this tradition and today Maduro draws on that legacy through his rhetoric and invocations of the now-idolized late president. Institutional Deficiencies With this kind of turnover in the government, Venezuela has struggled to build firm and enduring institutions. Many dictators have managed it during their tenures, but usually by exerting strong influence over government institutions, which, as a result, were not accountable to the public. Furthermore, these institutions typically have lasted only as long as the government that put them in place. It became the norm in Venezuela that a revolution or major political transition would usher in a new constitution engineered by the new administration to suit its aims. Since independence, the country has had 27 different constitutions, the most recent of which came about in 1999, under Chavez. What institutions have emerged in Venezuela have rarely had a chance to take root, much less flourish. Part of the challenge is the patronage system that has underpinned nearly all of Venezuelas rulers, from the caudillos to Maduro. Throughout Venezuelas history, leaders have incentivized loyalty among their constituents and officials by offering them various rewards. The practice has made corruption a rampant problem in the country. It has also made organizing political movements around issues difficult, since people are accustomed to looking not for the candidates who best represent their beliefs or concerns but for those who can give them the best deals. In the latter half of the 20th century, those deals centered on agrarian reform, public works in poor urban neighborhoods and military funding. Maduro has adapted to Venezuelas current economic difficulties by offering followers preferential access to food and U.S. dollars and by allowing pro-government armed groups to operate in the country. The trouble, of course, is that if government revenue drops off and the countrys leaders dont have enough money to subsidize their supporters, their fortunes can quickly turn. Hooked on Commodities And in Venezuela, government income depends largely on commodities prices its economy has centered on commodities exports from the very start. Colonies like Venezuela served two purposes for the Spanish crown: to provide raw materials to feed nascent industry back home and to buy up Spains finished goods. To ensure that its needs were served, Spain restricted colonial trade, first limiting the colonies to trade with only Spain and then permitting them to trade with one another as well. So it was that coffee, cacao, sugar, tobacco and leather became the mainstays of Venezuelas economy. The pattern continued even after Venezuela won its independence, only with new trade partners. The United Kingdom and other European powers, eager to hasten the Spanish Empires decline, had funded Venezuelas efforts against Spain, offered it flexible financing to promote economic recovery in the conflicts aftermath, and opened trade with Venezuela. But the basis of their trade was the same exchange of raw materials for finished goods that Venezuela had had with Spain. In addition, the foreign financial assistance put Venezuela into debt, which continued to grow because of servicing costs and rollovers, along with the countrys attempts to modernize its agricultural sector. When commodity prices dropped particularly for coffee as Brazil increased production they set off Venezuelas first major debt crisis in 1903. The discovery of oil reserves in the country a decade or so later alleviated its debt problem and gave Caracas a robust new source of revenue. In other words, the government found a new commodity to hitch the economy to. Commodity price fluctuations have plagued Venezuela ever since, causing recurring debt crises. When oil prices are low, the government borrows to cover its costs; then in more prosperous times, it devotes much of its revenue to paying down its debts and fortifying its pillars of support. (During an oil boom in the 1970s, for example, Caracas focused its public spending on educational programs related to the oil industry.) This leaves the government with little money to invest in developing other areas of the economy, thereby perpetuating the cycle. The combination of low commodity prices and mounting debt has been the downfall of numerous administrations over the years. Commodity dependence makes any government vulnerable to market forces beyond its control. But that goes double for the Venezuelan government , since it derives much of its legitimacy from the patronage system. A crash in coffee prices in the 1830s and 1840s brought down the administration of President Jose Antonio Paez, a hero of Venezuelas war for independence. A similar fate befell President Rafael Caldera in the 1990s, when lower oil prices and higher debt levels sapped the popular support that had won him a second term in office, paving the way for Chavezs rise to power. And today, Maduro who assumed the presidency in 2013, just a year before global oil prices tanked finds himself in the same position. Languishing oil prices, coupled with high debt, will eventually be his undoing. Defending the Government In the meantime, Maduro is drawing on his ties with the military to maintain his grip on power a time-honored tradition among Venezuelas leaders. The bond between the countrys government and military, like its commodity dependency, also goes back to colonial times. Having conquered local forces and rival powers for control of Venezuela, Spain crafted a military-centric administrative structure for the territory to defend it and its resources against the many foreign competitors in the surrounding area. High-ranking generals took control of the territory in 1777, when Venezuela gained autonomy as a captaincy, and, after independence, the military continued to play a prominent role in the country. Most caudillos had at one time been commanding officers in the armed forces. Since then, plenty of leaders have turned to the military to help keep or restore order. Gen. Juan Vicente Gomez Chacon, for instance, depended on security forces to suppress the roughly 20 armed domestic rebellions he faced while in power. President Romulo Betancourt, likewise, had to rely on the military to repel attacks from leftist guerrilla groups even during Venezuelas democratic phase. And Chavez came to power after a career in the military. Though Maduro never served in the military, he has aligned himself with it and stayed close to it. He selected Vladimir Padrino Lopez, an officer loyal to Chavez, as his defense minister on taking office and has made sure to share the spoils of power with the security forces to ensure its support for his government. Over the course of his administration, Maduro has extended the militarys reach by giving it prominent roles in areas such as the energy sector and food distribution programs. He also has turned a blind eye to its illicit activities, including drug trafficking. In return, Maduro has used the militarys intelligence branch to imprison opposition leaders and suspected dissidents among the security forces. If the presidents favor hasnt been enough to eliminate dissent in the armed forces, it has at least kept the military largely invested in the Maduro administrations survival. What Comes Next Even so, the end of Maduros tenure is inevitable. Geopolitics tells us that, based on the forces and realities the president is up against, his days are numbered at this point, even a sudden spike in oil prices wouldnt necessarily save him. When and how his government meets its end is harder to say, but history may serve as a guide. Venezuelas past is replete with examples of fallen governments and the many causes of their demise. Civilian-military coups have spurred government transitions on multiple occasions. Indeed, in 2017, brewing dissent in the security forces prompted the government to crack down on military personnel who broke rank. But Venezuelas opposition is too divided to overthrow the government, despite its efforts to unify, thanks to infighting and institutional defeats. Each party in the opposition, like any other coalition, has its own views on the governments ideal end state and is reluctant to subjugate them to those of another group. The daylight between conservative and liberal factions in the opposition has led to power vacuums and political chaos in the wake of even successful coups, such as the ouster of the Monagas brothers in 1858. The opposition in contemporary Venezuela, moreover, has struggled to wrest power from Maduro under better circumstances like when it won a majority in the National Assembly in late 2015. (Parliament, after all, is only one of five branches of Venezuelas government, and the rest are still firmly under the presidents control.) Having run itself ragged with public protests and fruitless dialogue with Maduro and his supporters, the opposition took a break over the past year to regroup. Its expected to resume its protests in January, and if it pulls together, it may yet be able to push for a democratic transition. Otherwise, any number of contingencies could bring Maduro down. Someone could seize power while hes out of the country, for example, though the presidents several recent trips abroad suggest hes not sweating that possibility. Direct foreign intervention also seems unlikely. And while Colombia and the United States will continue to increase pressure on the Venezuelan government through sanctions, doing so probably wont be enough to cause its collapse, unless they take direct aim at state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela. Instead, the eventual power transition in Caracas is liable to be a domestically driven affair. There is even the possibility that the current administration eventually comes around to orchestrate its exit and set the stage for a new government, as longtime Spanish dictator Francisco Franco did before his death and as the Brazilian military junta did before ceding power in 1986. When a new government does take over in Venezuela, it will have its work cut out. The next administration will need to rebuild from the ground up, a task that may prove an opportunity to break the patterns that have shaped Venezuelas government for most of its history. That it spent four decades as a democracy the result of various political factions uniting to overthrow an authoritarian government and to rule instead by coalition suggests Venezuela is not predestined for dictatorship. Breaking old habits and establishing new ones isnt easy, but neither is it impossible, as countries such as South Korea, which managed to industrialize its economy decades after major Western countries had done so, can attest. US sanctions and new dimensions of human rights violations By Mohammad Zaeri Amirani, Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran View(s): View(s): Almost every day when we browse the media, we see reports that the US government has imposed sanctions on one country or another. They are imposed so frequently that it seems imposing sanctions has become the favourite pastime of the United States. The sanctions or the so-called punitive measures are imposed on any state that acts against the US interest. Although such measures are meant to target the governments and force them to back down, the ultimate victims are the people. The sanctions and their political, economic and legal aspects have been widely addressed by politicians and the mass media, but their impact on the people of the target nation has received less attention. It is significant to note that sanctions are a form of human rights violation as they undermine the basic rights of the people. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, entitles all people to have the right to life, liberty, nationality, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the right to work and to be educated and the right to food and housing. All economic sanctions targeting a state will directly affect the people and their quality of life, depriving them of a normal life and this is a contradiction of universally accepted human rights principles. When it comes to Iran, sanctions go beyond the limits and take newer forms to fulfill multi-pronged purposes. It appears that the US and its allies compete with each other to impose the strongest sanctions on Iran and then boast about their actions. The history of sanctions against Iran dates back to almost four decades. The first set of sanctions against Iran was imposed in 1979. It came along with freezing of Irans overseas assets. The situation was aggravated by eight years of war imposed by Saddam Hussein on Iran. It inflicted heavy casualties and grievous sufferings on the Iranian people. Imposition of severe sanctions on Iran, which at times are eased in parts and reimposed again, has been an inalienable part of the US policy towards Iran during the past forty years. However, it is not the sanctions per se that are important here. We need to highlight Washingtons double standards. On the one hand, it makes philanthropic gestures towards the Iranian people, but, on the other, it has no qualms about violating the human rights of the Iranian people. The US came under international criticism for its unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. It was also criticised for its refusal to accept the International Court of Justice ruling ordering that the restrictive measures on Iran, especially those linked to humanitarian trade, food, medicine and civil aviation, be lifted. The nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was finalised in 2015 in Vienna by Iran and six world powers and endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 to restrict Irans nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Needless to mention that all member states are required to commit themselves to implement the JCPOA and normalise their economic, trade and banking relations with Iran. The US pulled out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions on Iran. Its so much surprising that a UN member slaps sanctions on a country which abides by the UN Security Council resolution. Worse, it also persuades other signatories to cease implementing the JCPOA, urges they cut their ties with Iran and threatens to punish countries and companies which cooperate with Iran. This is a true indication of unilateralism, disrespect for international norms and a clear breach of international law. It goes without saying that violation of international treaties, imposition of oppressive sanctions against innocent people, bullying, intimidation, and lack of basic decorum for nations and cultures all result in extremism in the world which, in turn ,leads to turmoil, bloodshed and finally violation of human rights. As the famous 13th century Iranian poet Saadi rightly puts it: Human beings are members of a whole In creation of one essence and soul If one member is afflicted with pain Other members uneasy will remain If you have no sympathy for human pain The name of human you cannot retain Once again, the lights in Calle Larios are a major attraction of Christmas in Malaga city. The city councillor for Festivals, Teresa Porras, says they are so successful that, for the first time in 15 years, opposition councillors haven't complained about them. She is proud that Malaga is a highly-recommended winter destination and is already making plans for Christmas next year, predicting that she will still be in her post because "Paco de la Torre will win the election and be the mayor again". It is undeniable that you have been one of the pioneers in Spain in terms of Christmas lights being a type of show in cities. In Europe, not Spain. "Every city in Spain has copied Malaga's Christmas lights; they all imitate Malaga" Don't you think that on this occasion the mayor of the Galician city of Vigo, Abel Caballero, could claim that? Absolutely not. The mayor of Vigo, what has he got? A Christmas tree and decorations? Calle Larios is unique, look at the arch above us now. We have spent years making different arches, this is unique in the whole of Europe. That's why we have just been designated the best city in which to spend a sunny Christmas. Vigo doesn't have that; it has the same as all the other cities, a Christmas tree and some movable balls, some pretty, some ugly... the streets of Vigo have decorations which we in Malaga had six or eight years ago. We don't have anything of Vigo's. Vigo, on the other hand, does have things from Malaga. Well, the mayor of Vigo has challenged the mayor of New York, saying that his lights will be seen over there. Posturing, or augmented reality? Posturing. You can't please everybody all the time. Why has Calle Larios had the same lights for the past few years? Only two years, last year and this one. Two years ago we did the starry sky; that was sold on outside Spain afterwards. And last year we introduced the dome of Malaga cathedral, which is here again this year. Bear in mind that a dome like this doesn't cost 60,000 euros like a Christmas tree does; that can be paid off in two years. We paid 300,000 euros for Calle Larios, within our overall budget. How much is the overall budget? 733,000 euros. Would you like to increase the budget so you could expand the lights to other parts of the city? All the city's districts have their Christmas lights, and a budget for them. Where I live for example, Cruz de Humilladero, there is a Christmas feature in every area. But that's just one place, not in general. Well, in the Bailen district there are Christmas lights, in Carretera de Cadiz, in the Eastern district... But not like Cruz de Humilladero, Mrs Porras. That depends on how much each district wants to allocate to it. I'm only responsible for the entrances to the city, through Ciudad Jardin, Barriguilla, Carretera de Cadiz and the centre. Do the Christmas lights attract business? What do shop and restaurant owners say? You only have to go to Calle Larios to see that. If we are capable of putting more than 30,000 people in the street every day, there is bound to be more business, in shops, bars and restaurants. Did you count the number of visitors last year? Last year, for the early-December holiday weekend, I have the figure of more than 250,000 people staying in Malaga city. So this is definitely a success? Remember. This is the first time in 15 years that the opposition has not made a single complaint about the lights. I believe that is a success. I believe the opposition is now aware that the Christmas lights are an investment, not just a way of spending money. You don't think they'll bring it up at the next council meeting? I understand that they won't, because the members of the opposition, both PSOE and Malaga Ahora, have congratulated me. That's the truth. In fact Oviedo has copied us, Seville, which didn't used to have Christmas lights, has copied us; every city in Spain has copied Malaga's Christmas lights. Seeing how successful our 45 days of lights are, Madrid has invested 500,000 euros more this year. All the Spanish cities are increasing their budgets and imitating Malaga. And next year we will have to increase ours as well because we will have to change the dome, and we have to make an important innovation in Calle Larios. In view of the recent regional electoral results, don't you think this could be the last year of you putting up Christmas lights? I think that's a bit of a mischievous question! Regional elections cannot be extrapolated to council ones because when we talk about local elections we are talking about very personal ones; so far the mayor of Malaga has had nobody to overshadow him, and people value what he is doing and the way he has been transforming the city. So, presuming you will still be Councillor for Festivals, what innovations would you like to see next year? We're working on that. We plan to put LED screens along the whole of Calle Larios, and we want to do something important and spectacular in the city of Malaga, maybe the full Christmas story, for instance. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Sport Lionel Messi wins Ballon dOr 2021, claims record seventh trophy Messi, 34, held off the challenge of Bayern Munichs Robert Lewandowski, Real Madrids Karim Benzema and Chelseas Jorginho to collect the prize and move two clear in his long-running battle with five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who was among the 30 players shortlisted but did not feature in the top three for the first time in 11 years. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. By President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on Dec. 14 at a meeting with representatives of the Russian media spoke about earlier proposals for participation of Russia and Belarus in settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports citing BelTA. He noted that the issue was discussed in Yerevan at one of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) summits at the time when Serzh Sargsyan was the president of Armenia. Lukashenko called on the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to solve this problem together, by making compromise decisions. At the same time, Belarus and Russia took a consolidated position and promised to deploy a military contingent, if necessary, to provide certain guarantees, Lukashenko said. The president of Belarus added that he with Putin asked Sargsyan to return five occupied Azerbaijani districts. Sargsyan replied that if he does this, Azerbaijan will take Nagorno-Karabakh by using these districts and rejected Lukashenkos proposal. The president of Belarus said he was really surprised why Sargsyan rejected this proposal, because this was a first step, and if it succeeded, both Armenia and Azerbaijan would be in the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and the CSTO. He stressed the importance of a peaceful settlement of the conflict, including as an important factor for attracting foreign investments. Lukashenko said that the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to resolve the conflict, adding that international mediators did nothing actually to resolve the situation over the past years. 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. By Trend On the eve of a possible Turkish counter-terrorism operation in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Friday agreed on the need for more effective coordination in Syria, according to an official statement, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. According to the statement by the Turkish presidency, the two leaders discussed bilateral issues, security and anti-terrorism issues, especially regarding recent developments in Syria, during a phone call. President Erdo?an expressed Turkey's legitimate concern over the actions and presence of the PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. Erdo?an said earlier Friday that Turkey will conduct an anti-terrorist operation in Manbij if the U.S. fails to clear the YPG from the northern Syrian region. He also reiterated Turkey's determination to bring peace to the area east of the Euphrates River in Syria. Earlier this week, Erdo?an announced that Turkey would launch another anti-terrorist operation in northern Syria, targeting the area east of the Euphrates within a few days. Saudi Arabia aims to bring several states lining the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden into a bloc to improve trade and maritime navigation, reported Bloomberg, citing state news agency. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz met at his Riyadh palace with foreign ministry officials from Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Jordan to look into establishing an entity for Arab and African states on the Red Sea coast, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. They discussed ways to promote commerce and investment, as well as to protect shipping, Al Ekhbariya said. Gulf states have been taking a more active role in the Horn of Africa, which got a special mention in the communique issued at the end of Sundays Gulf Cooperation Council summit, stated the Bloomberg report. Saudi Arabia, for example, brokered a peace deal in September between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Eritrea is located near the near Bab Al Mandeb, a shipping choke-point on the Red Sea used by oil tankers and other cargo vessels en route to Europe and the US through the Suez Canal, it added. Jordan-based STS, a leading provider of comprehensive information technology (IT) solutions, said it has signed an agreement with Nuqul Automotive to deploy its cloud customer relationship management (CRM) as a service. The unique STS Cloud CRM as a Service was customized to cater to the needs of the automotive industry and more specifically to Nuqul Automotives standards and requirements, said a statement from the company. In addition, the cloud solution enables users to access the various internal communication channels via a single platform; create, execute and track marketing campaigns; and coordinate between the marketing and sales teams, it added. The solution aims to assist the car distributor in analysing the data of existing and new customers, while enhancing the quality of extended services, said Mohammad Adnan, the general manager of cloud and advanced solutions at STS, after signing the deal with Imad Hanania, the general manager of Nuqul Automotive. Leveraging smart reporting capabilities, STS Cloud CRM as a Service boasts a comprehensive and integrated customer database - including a detailed analysis of behaviors and preferences, xstated Adnan. As part of the solution, STS also offers an in-built support hub to help Nuqul Automotive employees access work data around the clock, as well as a mobile application that permits real time data updates, anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, STS Cloud CRM as a Service presents Nuqul Automotive with a clear overview of leads, detecting new opportunities, analyzing marketing campaigns and keeping users in full control of their data, said the top official. "Our collaboration with Nuqul Automotive is testament to the technological advancements of our cloud solutions. As we look to support various local sectors, this step marks our first entry into the automotive industry," stated Adnan. "We are confident that STS Cloud CRM as a Service will add great value to Nuqul Automotive, revealing new opportunities, elevating customer experience and facilitating follow-up on all details related to the decision-making process via one integrated platform," he added. Hanania said: "As part of our ongoing commitment to finding new ways to upgrade our services, we signed an agreement with STS to launch STS Cloud CRM as a Service, which signifies an important step in Nuqul Automotives unwavering efforts to deliver the best, most distinctive and comprehensive services in the region. For three decades, STS has led the market in the provision of diverse IT solutions. Based in Jordan with offices in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Palestine and Iraq, and with its longstanding partnerships with industry pioneers such as Cisco, DellEMC, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Corning and others, STS has positioned itself as a key player in the digital transformation of the IT sector, stated the top official. "With a wide range of offerings in infrastructure integration, software and professional services, STS also boasts IP in ecommerce and compliance products and solutions, cementing its standing as one of the best providers of turnkey solutions in the region - serving over 1,000 customers within the Financial, Government, Health and Education, Telecom and Commercial sectors," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of UNDP, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude for inviting UNDP to be part of this important forum for Migration and Development. I would like to recognize the excellent achievements of two-year mandate of Co-Chairs of the GFMD, Your Excellencies, Ambassador Gotz Schmidt-Bremme and Secretary General Mr. El Habib Nadir. You started your co-chairmanship with a clear vision and thrust of contributing to the adoption of the Global Compact for Migration, as well as recommendations for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Throughout your mandate, you have steadfastly led the international community in working together towards these goals. The 360 degrees vision of the Global Compact for Migration and the Sustainable Development Goals is an excellent framework for development actors to contribute in migration governance in support of the GFMD Ladies and Gentlemen, This Summit with its theme: Honouring International Commitments to Unlock the Potential of All Migrants for Development, has come at a momentous time for us all to rally behind the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. UNDP has long been supporting countries of origin, transit and destination in various contexts without even calling it a migration issue. Issues now identified as the drivers of migration, such as poverty and economic opportunities, poor governance, climate change and environmental degradation, and conflict have always been at the heart of UNDPs mission. However, the Global Compact for Migration will bring us to the next stage in dealing with migration. It has brought new lenses to work even more closely with migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and vulnerable host communities. Working together with partners, UNDP intends to attach specific focus on its support to member states implementation of the GCM on the following: Objective 1 on Addressing the drivers and structural factors that force people to move; Objective 19 on Contribution of migration to sustainable development, and; Objective 21 on Enabling sustainable reintegration. Most of our policy and programme support to countries are already addressing the above objectives and key commitments under them. For instance, we have been working with IOM for the last 7 years to support 8 countries in mainstreaming migration into local and development plans. We plan to continue working together to better measure and make more visible human development impacts of migration in our programme countries. Let me cite an example. In Moldova, as you may know, about 80,000 children have at least one parent working abroad. With the help of Moldovan diaspora abroad, UNDP and the Moldovan government are piloting an initiative to boost local entrepreneurship and to create sustainable livelihoods in the countrys emerging tourism sector. We are also working with local authorities on service delivery. To date, over 200,000 people have benefited directly and indirectly from better services as a result of migrants/diasporas substantive participation in local planning processes and their financial contributions to poverty reduction and sustainable development programmes. This initiative addresses the three dimensions of our focused interventions; namely change adverse drivers of migration to contributions of migrants to sustainable development, and create an enabling environment for sustainable return to Moldova. Let me cite another example. In Niger, UNDP is working together with national institutions and local NGOs to support the resilience of communities, particularly youths and women-headed households. We are strengthening our work around Lake Chad Basin to prevent and mitigate the negative impact of current insecurity, including through improving core government functions, justice and rule of law, supporting livelihoods diversification, and community early warning mechanisms. Support is also provided to inter/intra community social cohesion and dialogue for peaceful coexistence at local level. Such initiatives are happening in many other countries. We hope to build on these interventions and use the experiences and lessons that we are learning during the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration and in our collaboration with the GFMD, our UN partners, the World Bank and civil society and all others. Ladies and Gentlemen, The era of SDGs and Agenda 2030 brought us a new dimension in our pursuit of international cooperation and partnerships. Supporting and accelerating progress in SDG implementation through integrated approaches has become critical. UNDP is currently helping Governments to identify priorities, accelerators and develop plans for achieving national SDGs through a tool called Mainstreaming Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS). For instance, in Jamaica, diaspora investments and remittances were identified as key accelerators for the SDGs. In Sudan and Ukraine, addressing forced migration/displacement issues and leaving no-one behind were highlighted in the SDG acceleration plans. It is our belief that UNDPs integrator mandate serves both as a foundation for a strong and coherent UN development system, and as a key provider of integrated services and platforms to the achievement of the SDGs. Working with our partners, UNDP wishes to seize this opportunity to ensure that migration is a priority when we support countries to localize SDGs. We intend to play an active role in the newly-established UN Network on Migration. Ladies and gentlemen, UNDP thus looks forward to a strengthened partnership with the Global Forum on Migration and Development under Ecuadorian chairmanship in 2019. UNDP is committed to continuing working closely together with our partners to support member states in the Global Compact Migration implementation, which is rightly anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thank you. More than 46,000 households in Zambia to require food assistance, relief agency says Lusaka, Dec 14 (Xinhua) About 46,800 households in Zambia will require food assistance for three months due to projected dry spells and droughts during the rainy season, the country's disaster relief agency said on Thursday. The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit said the households, spread across 35 districts in nine of the country's 10 provinces, will require 2,810 tons of maize from December 2018 to February 2019. According to a report on the situation during the 2018/2019 season, 64 of the country's 114 districts will be hit by various disasters. Forty-two of the districts will be affected by floods and 52 by the drought and dry spells due to the El Nino weather phenomenon affecting the southern African region. Doha, Dec 15 (UNI) Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari affirmed that Qatar National Day is a glorious occasion, during which the people of Qatar celebrate their original values and the great achievements in all fields. Speaking to QNA on the occasion of Qatar National Day, the Minister said that on this timeless national occasion, Qataris are inspired by the glory of great leaders who have written the glorious history of Qatar and take advantage of their fragrant biography and sincere work to build the nation on solid foundations, to enhance its national identity and to achieve great achievements with strong will despite the difficulties they have faced. Ms Al Kuwari noted that from this point of view, all the meanings of loyalty and love for the dear homeland and for the wise leadership are embodied in the National Day, as all the people of Qatar spontaneously express themselves in an inspiring scene that reflects the unique cohesion between the leadership and the people as well as to strive for the sincere work of the dear homeland. She pointing out that the achievements of this blessed march and the foundations of modern Qatar, which was laid by the founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, continue to achieve progress and prosperity. Romania to host informal summit on Europe's future on May 9: Foreign Minister Doha, Dec 15 (UNI) Romania will host an informal summit on the future of Europe on May 9, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor-Viorel Melescanu said on Saturday. According to Sputnik, "We will have a chance to organize a high-level meeting I am speaking about the level of heads of date and government in Romania on May 9 in Sibiu. It is an informal summit. The main subject that will be discussed is the future of Europe. What should Europe do in order to play a much more important role, taking into account the number of population, the place in the international economy, and very important developments in the field of peace and security," Melescanu said at the Doha Global Forum. He said that one of the priorities of Romanias 2019 presidency of the Council of the European Union would be "the opening and increasing" of EU relations with Central Asia, Gulf states and the Arab world as a whole. UP STF take Nepal's help to nab Bulandshahr violence prime accused Lucknow, Dec 14 (UNI) The sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh police reportedly sought the help of the Nepal police to arrest the local Bajrang Dal chief of Bulundshahr, Yogesh Raj, one of the key accused in the violence that claimed life of two people, including the station house officer of Syana police station. "We had inputs that to avert his arrest, Raj had shifted to Nepal, confirmed a senior STF officer posted in Western UP here on Friday. He said that they were in contact with their counterparts in Nepal and were trying to lay a trap on the `mastermind of the Bulundshahr violence. On Thursday also, the STF team claimed to have received success in laying a trap on one another wanted accused, identified as Saurabh Payal. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 15, 2018 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 15, 2018 | 12:19 AM | PADUCAH The Guess Foundation and MAKE Studio are working together to make Christmas a little happier and warmer for those in need in Paducah. The two organizations will host an opportunity for volunteers to come to MAKE Studio at 626 Broadway from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, to create handwritten notes which will be added to the scarves and to create felt scarves. All materials will be provided FREE to participants. The Foundation will then host the second "Scarf in the Park Project" at 1 pm on Christmas Eve for members of the community to hang scarves in the trees at Dolly McNutt Plaza (across from City Hall) for Paducah's homeless and for families in need. In addition to the scarves, hats and gloves are also being collected and will be available that afternoon. Participants can then enjoy hot cocoa and hang scarves on the trees throughout the plaza. "We know there are people in our community who will have nowhere to go on Christmas Eve," said Guess Foundation Co-Founder Morgan Guess. "We also know they will be cold, and likely sad and lonely. When we thought about hosting this project, we thought Christmas Eve would be the best night to show them that they are seen and cared about. No one should go without a present, and we believe no one should be cold. We want this project to give those with the most need in our community a way to stay warm and to give them hope. Last year our community helped us bless 500 people with warm items for themselves and their children." The Guesses learned that many of Paducah's homeless spend time at the McCracken County Library, and this is the reason Dolly McNutt Plaza was selected as the site for the project. "This project began in Indiana and has quickly spread around the country to other communities," said MAKE owner Kijsa Housman. "Each of us, as friends and neighbors, should continuously look for even small ways we can reach out to those in need at this time of year and all through the year." Scarves, hats, and gloves are being collected at MAKE at 628 Broadway and the McCracken County Library. "We believe this event can become a treasured tradition in our community," said Susan Guess. "Morgan, Kijsa, and I also believe that Christmas is truly about giving, and this is a meaningful and memorable way to be a part of something bigger than ourselves." Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 14, 2018 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 14, 2018 | 03:12 PM | PADUCAH Paducah police are asking for the publics help to identify a pickup truck involved in the theft of two trailers last month. Police say surveillance video showed the truck pull up at Mercy Regional Ambulance on Coleman Road, stop for a few minutes, then leave. About two hours later, police say the same truck drove past the business pulling a trailer with a four-wheeler on it. A few minutes later, surveillance showed the four-wheeler come onto the property, hook onto one of the 16-foot-long trailers and leave with it. Police say the four-wheeler returned again a little later and towed away the second trailer. Police describe the truck as a light-colored Dodge with dual rear wheels, an extended cab, and lights on the cab. Anyone who can help identify the truck should call Paducah Police at 270-444-8550. Information also may be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers by texting WKY and your tip to 847411 (tip 411) or by downloading the app WKY Crime Stoppers from the Apple Store or Google Play. Tipsters also may access the online tip form through the City of Paducah website at http://paducahky.gov/west-ky-crime-stoppers. Information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000. Lions honor one of their own in Mayfield Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 15, 2018 | CALVERT CITY By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 15, 2018 | 09:13 AM | CALVERT CITY Work zone and lane restrictions on the I-24 Tennessee River Bridge are remaining in place through the holiday season, so local drivers are being encouraged to take alternate routes. For several months, traffic in both directions has been reduced to one lane between exits 27 and 31. Ongoing problems with joint repairs on the bridge won't allow the work zone to be removed during heavy travel times. Detours from Calvert City to Grand Rivers (US 62 and KY 453), and from Draffenville to Cadiz on US 68 can add up to 18 minutes of travel time, but could still be preferred when I-24 gets too congested at the bridge. Through the week, peak delay times were between 3:00 - 8:00 pm, with typical delays on Saturday of 10-15 minutes. Message boards will be in place to alert drivers to possible delays as they enter Kentucky from Tennessee or Illinois. Additional message boards will also provide traffic information. KYTC has issued a nationwide alert that will help to notify truckers and other cross-country travelers. Here are suggested alternate routes from KYTC: Eastbound I-24 drivers: 1. Take exit 27 at Calvert City and take US-62 east to KY 453 north. This will allow re-entry onto I-24 at exit 31 near Grand Rivers. 2. Take I-69 south at exit 25, then get onto US-68 at exit 47 in Draffenville. Follow US-68 east to Cadiz and re-enter I-24 at exit 65. Westbound I-24 drivers: 1. Detour onto KY 453 south at the Grand Rivers exit 31 interchange. Follow KY 453 to US-62 west to reconnect with I-24 at exit 27 in Calvert City. 2. Take exit 65 in Cadiz and travel on US-68 west to Draffenville. Use the exit 47 interchange onto I-69 north to rejoin I-24 at exit 25 interchange. Maps showing these routes are included with this article. While the first choice for each is a shorter route, it may also become congested. The second route adds about 18 minutes of drive time, but will be advantageous if delays on I-24 become significant. Advertisement By The Associated Press Dec. 15, 2018 | FRANKFORT By The Associated Press Dec. 15, 2018 | 03:38 PM | FRANKFORT A Kentucky appeals court says the secret testimony from a former president of one of the world's largest manufacturers of dangerously addictive opioid painkillers must be released to the public. A three-judge panel ruled Friday the deposition of Richard Sackler must be unsealed, along with about 17 million pages of other documents that were part of Kentucky's complex lawsuit against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma. The testimony could reveal more information about what company officials knew about the drug when they were selling it. The documents will not be released immediately. The appeals court upheld a lower court ruling, which ordered the release but said the documents would stay sealed as long as there is a pending court challenge. Friday, Purdue Pharma spokesman Robert Josephson said the company was disappointed with the decision and intends to appeal. "The documents in question were never entered into evidence and did not play a role in any judicial decision. Under Kentucky law, such documents should remain private," Josephson said. The ruling is a victory for STAT, a national health publication owned by Boston Globe Media. Jon Fleischaker, an attorney for STAT, said it's important for the public to know about the behavior of Purdue Pharma and to examine why the state settled the lawsuit. "The public does not have to show a particular interest, a particular need to know. It's got a right to know. Period. And that's an important fact," he said. Sackler is a former president of Purdue Pharma and is a member of the family that still controls the privately-held company. Purdue Pharma marketed OxyContin for its ability to slowly release its effects over a 12 hour period, which it claimed made it less addictive and safer for patients. But users discovered they could bypass the time-release qualities by crushing it. The pill, along with other opioid-based painkillers, unleased a wave of addiction across Appalachia. Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio now have among the highest overdose death rates in the country. In Kentucky, 1,565 people died from a drug overdose in 2017, a 40 percent increase in the past five years. In 2007, Kentucky sued Purdue Pharma, claiming its deceptive marketing practices contributed to the opioid epidemic. The case settled in 2015 for $24 million. After the settlement, The Associated Press and STAT were among news outlets that sought copies of Sackler's deposition through the state's open records law. But the state denied those requests, citing an agreement with Purdue Pharma to seal all records in the case. STAT sued. In 2016, a state judge ordered the documents unsealed. Lawyers for Purdue appealed that decision, arguing the only reason the company agreed to hand over information and offer Sackler's testimony is because they were assured the documents would never be made public. They said releasing the documents would betray that trust and make it difficult for other civil lawsuits in the future. Friday, the appeals court disagreed. "Every claim of the Commonwealth against another, including the claim against Purdue, is the property of the people regarding which the public has a legitimate concern," Judge Glenn E. Acree wrote for the court. "On that basis, the right of access supersedes even the right to privacy." OxyContin has been the world's top-selling opioid painkiller, generating billions of dollars for Purdue Pharma. In February, the company announced it was eliminating half of its sales force and would no longer market the drug to doctors. Advertisement By The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2018 | LOUISVILLE By The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2018 | 09:13 AM | LOUISVILLE If the smell of Kentucky Fried Chicken roasting on an open fire appeals to you, you're in luck. KFC tweeted on Thursday that it is offering an 11 Herbs and Spices Firelog, saying it's the best way to make your fire smell less like fire and more like chicken. The 5-pound fire log is available on the company's website and is limited to one per customer while supplies last. KFC says the $18.99 fire log can burn for up to three hours, but there are some warnings that go with it: It may result in cravings for fried chicken and attract hungry neighbors or bears. And even though it smells great, it's not safe to eat. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page DORAL, Fla. (WTXL) - A Florida teacher has been arrested after becoming "aggressively romantic" with a 13-year-old student via text messages. Andrea Jimenez, 47, turned herself into police on Friday. According to the police report, Jimenez, who was a science teacher at Doral International Academy of Math & Science, began sending text messages to a male student in May 2018 when he was 12-years-old. During the summer, Jimenez became "aggressively romantic" with the victim on social media platforms, Instagram and Snapchat, by messaging him nightly comments such as "I will go to hell for U. Die for U stop eating to feed you. My love for u is so real and huge!!! I don't mind facing the devil himself for u." On several occasions, Jimenez told the victim not to speak with other girls his age and bought him gifts, including clothes, shoes, toys, and electronics. The police report stated Jimenez tried to kiss the victim while grabbing his face after luring him into her classroom. The victim expressed no desire to engage with Jimenez, stating that he was in fear because he believed he was actually doing something wrong, which is why he never told his parents. The parents of the victim eventually found the messages between the two on the victim's IPad and contacted school personnel, who in turn contacted law enforcement. Jimenez admitted to some members of the school staff that she had acted inappropriately and was worried about her job before she was reported to the school. When Jimenez was told not to contact the victim or his family, she still texted the victim's mother, begging for forgiveness and saying she was embarrassed. Jimenez was fired by the school and turned herself in to authorities Friday. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - With the prospect that the Florida Supreme Court will be without a black justice for the first time in 36 years, Senate and House Democrats want to revamp the process for nominating judges. Legislation filed this week would reduce the governors influence over the judicial-nominating process. Under current law, the governor names five members to each of the 26 judicial nominating commissions, while an additional four members recommended by The Florida Bar are subject to approval by the governor. The Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission last month advanced a list of 11 nominees for three upcoming vacancies on the states highest court but did not include any black nominees. Among the three justices who are facing mandatory retirement in January is Justice Peggy Quince, the only black justice. Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson says there are many highly qualified African-American judges suitable for nomination to the Supreme Court. Quality and qualifications are present, so there is no reason we should find ourselves in this place. In almost 40 years, its never happened," said Gibson. Critics of the current process say Governor Rick Scott has used his appointment power to populate the nominating commissions with like-minded members who have advanced conservative judges, while ignoring racial diversity in the court system. On Thursday, Scott appointed Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Eric Hendon to a seat on the 3rd District Court of Appeal in South Florida. Hendon is the first African-American judge Scott has appointed to a state appellate court since taking office in January 2011. During that time, Scott has made 34 appointments to the five state district courts of appeal. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Quincy woman has been arrested for bank fraud and criminally using an elderly person's identification. Janna Lashar Makayla Fryson, 19, was booked into jail on Thursday. Law enforcement officers are seeking Jonathan Vance, a Tallahassee man, based on charges of having helped Fryson commit the criminal acts. On Nov. 6, 2018, Fryson, a member of First Florida Credit Union, went into three different FFCU locations and cashed four checks totaling $3,700, according to a probable cause affidavit. Each check she presented was returned on Nov. 21, 2018, as a closed account, resulting in a loss to the credit union of $3,748. She said that on Nov. 16, 2018, Vance contacted her and told her to meet him at her bank, FFCU, and she did. There he handed her two checks, one drawn on Envision for $1,000 and the other on Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union for $1,000, and she cashed them. They then drove to another FFCU location as well as to a Sunshine Savings Bank location and cashed two more checks. Both checks were drawn on the Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union, one for $800 and the other for $900. After cashing all four checks, Fryson left Vance and drove home. Fryson's bank, FFCU, called her on Nov. 21, 2018, to notify her that all the checks were from closed accounts, she told the investigator. Fryson first told the investigator she and Vance did not know each other, then that they were co-workers, and finally that they were just friends. In a post-Miranda Rights interview, Fryson told the investigator she knew that cashing the checks was criminal in some way. She said she kept $1,000 of the $3,700 and Vance kept $2,700. Fryson said Vance was experienced in "popping the bank," which she explained as Vance being experienced in getting money from banks. During her interview, Fryson said she did not notice that none of the checks had Vance's name on them. Three checks had the name of a man and one check had the name of a 75-year-old woman. There was no report of any burglary of theft from the man whose name was on the three checks. But there was a burglary report of the elderly woman's purse being stolen from her vehicle. A bank employee reached out to Fryson and got in contact with Vance, who denied all involvement. Vance was told by the bank employee that he would be given an opportunity to take care of the charges by Nov. 23, 2018, but he did not. Fryson's charges are criminal use of personal identifications information (victim over 60) possession of counterfeit payment instrument (4 counts), uttering (4 counts), bank fraud (6) and organized scheme to defraud. She remained in the Leon County Detention Center on Friday on a $23,000 bond. Vance has been charged with criminal use of personal identifications information (victim over 60), possession of counterfeit payment instrument (4 counts), bank fraud and ortganized scheme to defraud. Vance has not been booked into jail. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee woman is facing DUI and child endangerment charges after crashing her car into pole while a child was in the front seat. Kindle Fletcher was arrested early Wednesday morning after Leon County deputies responded the intersection of North Meridian Road and Maclay Road for a crash. According to arrest documents, Fletcher was still sitting inside her car when deputies arrived while her child passenger was waiting outside of the car. When they spoke with Fletcher, authorities detected the odor of alcohol on her breath and noted that her eyes appeared glassy and blood-shot. As they spoke to her, Fletcher said she didn't know how she got into the accident or what happened. Documents say she appeared to be shocked that her car had hit a utility pole and didn't know how the car got there in the first place. Fletcher later refused to submit to sobriety exercises. When asked if she had anything to drink, Fletcher stated that she had one glass of wine, but later admitted that she had two glasses. She told investigators that alcohol affects her more because of her small size. Based on the evidence, Fletcher was arrested and transported to the Leon County Detention Center. Documents say her child passenger was transported away from the scene and the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified. Fletcher is charged with DUI, child endangerment, and a warrant for violation of an injunction. She has since gotten out of jail on a $4,500 bond. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-14 17:14:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday succeeded in capturing the entire town of Hajin, one of the last Islamic State (IS) strongholds in eastern Syria, a war monitor reported. After an intense fight, the SDF dislodged the IS militants from Hajin in eastern Deir al-Zour province, as part of a wide-scale offensive launched by the SDF with the backing of the U.S.-led coalition, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The battles for Hajin ratchet up over the past 48 hours and the IS militants failed to stand in the face of the SDF despite their attempts to blow up suicide car bombings to keep the Kurdish-led forces from advancing. The SDF had previously lost the town to the IS during the U.S.-backed dragging campaign on the eastern bank of Euphrates River, which started on Sept. 10. Since then, 911 IS militants and 531 SDF fighters have been killed in the last IS-held pocket in eastern Deir al-Zour, the observatory said in a report on Thursday. The recent advance of the Kurdish-led groups came as Turkey, a key opponent of the Kurdish influence in northern Syria, said that there will be a campaign against "terrorists" in the eastern Euphrates region. "It is time to realize our decision to wipe out terror groups in the east of Euphrates," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. "We will start the operation to clear the east of the Euphrates from separatist terrorists in a few days," Erdogan added, referring to the territory held by the Kurdish militias. The Kurdish self-administration in northern Syria issued a statement on Thursday, calling for mass mobilization in areas under its control and urging the Syrian government to respond to Erdogan's remarks. In this file photo taken on Nov. 8, 2018, Nigerian refugee Aicha Younoussa poses with a smartphone in front of her tent in Bol. Due to Boko Haram's threat, Aicha and her family left Nigeria four years ago finding a shelter in the refugee camp of Baga Sola in Southern Chad. (Xinhua/AFP) UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- A UN humanitarian official said Thursday that out of the estimated 181 million people living in Central Africa, nearly 26 million will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2019, representing a dramatic increase of 22 percent from 2018. To put this into perspective, Director of Operations and Advocacy division of the UN relief wing (OCHA), Reena Ghelani, said one person out of seven in Central Africa is caught up in crisis and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection, compared to one out of 70 people globally. She told the Security Council that violence, extreme poverty, climate change and population growth are behind these humanitarian crises affecting countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad and Cameroon. DRC: EBOLA AND CHOLERA About half of the projected 26 million people in need are found in the DRC, as the humanitarian situation in the country has deteriorated further in 2018 and is one of the world's largest and most complex crises, Ghelani said, blaming Ebola and cholera for worsening the situation. She said the Ebola epidemic in the northeast of DRC has claimed 289 lives and is still spreading and the response is particularly difficult given the extremely challenging security environment, with attacks against civilians by non-state armed groups interrupting Ebola containment efforts. In the meantime, the current cholera outbreak is the largest on record in the past 15 years, she said. "With more than 26,000 cases and almost 900 deaths this year, cholera has killed even more people in the DRC than Ebola." In addition, the security situation has deteriorated in the east of the country, causing new large-scale displacements of people in search of safety and protection, she said. Further, the influx of more than 360,000 Congolese nationals returning from Angola is adding pressure to the fragile Kasai province, already affected by years of inter-ethnic conflicts. CAR: RELAPSE AND SPILLOVER In CAR, the humanitarian situation is also extremely dire. Areas relatively stable in the past, such as the southeast, have this year relapsed into conflict. The escalating violence has taken a heavy toll on the people in CAR, Ghelani said, with 2.9 million people - well over half the population - now requiring humanitarian assistance. "The number of internally displaced people has reached 643,000 -- an increase by over 60 percent this year alone. One in four children in the country is displaced," the UN official said. The worsening situation in CAR has also had a significant impact on neighboring countries. Cameroon is today hosting 268,000 refugees from CAR while Chad is hosting 101,000, according to Ghelani. This translates into a significant burden on already vulnerable host communities. CHAD AND CAMEROON: BOKO HARAM AND SEPARATISTS Further, Chad and Cameroon - in addition to Nigeria and Niger - are seriously affected by the crisis involving Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin. "Now in its ninth year, this regional crisis has led 2.4 million people to flee their homes, and some 10.8 million people currently require humanitarian assistance and protection," Ghelani said. Beyond the regional crisis in the Lake Chad Basin and the influx of refugees from CAR, Cameroon is facing an additional humanitarian crisis in its southwest and northwest regions. In recent months, fighting between the separatists and Cameroon's forces has sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing, with hundreds of people killed in the two English-speaking regions in the largely Francophone country. "Internal displacement in this part of Cameroon has tripled, and today counts 437,000 internally displaced people. In addition, over 30,000 Cameroonians have fled across the border to Nigeria seeking refuge. This is now one of the fastest growing displacement crises in Africa," she said. The majority of the displaced are hiding in dense forests, without adequate shelter and lacking food, water and basic services. Schools and markets are also disrupted, and there are alarming health needs, she noted. Despite limited access, humanitarian partners are scaling up their presence in Cameroon. Ghelani said food distributions have so far reached more than 17,000 people and some 4,000 people have received shelter materials. LACK OF HUMANITARIAN FUNDING However, Ghelani lamented severe underfunding has a significant impact on the humanitarian community s ability to respond to the escalating crisis. She pointed out this year, every single Humanitarian Response Plan in Central Africa -- for Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo -- is funded at less than the global average of 56 percent, and Cameroon is the least funded of all, at 39 percent of requirements. "This needs to change for the humanitarian response in the region to be fully effective, and I am calling on member states for their urgent support," she urged. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 01:11:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss government said Friday that it had approved the text of a trade agreement with Britain, aiming to maintain existing economic and trade relations with the United Kingdom after it leaves the European Union (EU). The Federal Council, the Swiss cabinet noted that the United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union on March 29 next year and it said that it would abide by the agreement even in the event of a "no-deal Brexit" between Britain and the EU. "This agreement guarantees, as far as possible, the continuation of the economic and commercial rights and obligations arising from the agreements between Switzerland and the EU, and provides for exploratory discussions aimed at developing these bilateral relations in the future," the government said in a statement on Friday. It noted that current relations between Switzerland and the UK are based mainly on the bilateral agreements that exist between Switzerland and the EU, particularly on an economic and commercial level. In 2017, the UK was Switzerland's sixth largest export market valued at 11.4 billion Swiss francs (11.44 billion U.S. dollars) and its eighth largest supplier with imports of 6.1 billion Swiss francs. "If the transition period between the EU and Britain comes into effect on March 29 next year, the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU will continue to apply between Switzerland and Britain." Under this scenario, the text of the agreement approved by the government will serve as a basis for economic and trade relations between Switzerland and Britain after the transition period expires on Dec. 31, 2020. It will also apply at a later date agreed between Britain and the EU, or until the parties can reach new trade agreements. "However, there is a possibility that the UK may leave the EU in a disorderly manner ('no deal' scenario) on March 29 next year, and that no transition period would come into effect," the Swiss government acknowledged. In that situation, the text of the agreement approved by the government makes it possible to replicate in substance the bulk of the trade agreements that currently regulate relations between Switzerland and Britain. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 04:52:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad and handed him a letter of protest over "repeated aerial violations" to border areas in northern Iraq. "The ministry condemns the violations of the Turkish aircraft to the Iraqi airspace that targeted several sites in Sinjar Mountain and Makhmour area in northern Iraq, which caused human casualties and property damage," the ministry said in a statement. It said "such actions are violation to Iraq's sovereignty and its security and citizens, and are contrary to the principles of good-neighborliness." "The Foreign Ministry also reiterates its refusal to use Iraqi territory as a base or a corridor to carry out acts that reflect the security of neighboring countries," it added. Earlier, Kurdish media reported that Turkish warplanes on Thursday night bombed sites belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the town of Sinjar and Mount Qarachokh near Makhmour area near the city of Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. According to Kurdish media, the bombing targeted a camp of displaced people, who are Kurds displaced from Turkey, and resulted in the killing of four and the wounding of three others in Makhmour area. Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardment against the positions of PKK militants in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the PKK. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 05:22:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States is in no hurry regarding its talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "Many people have asked how we are doing in our negotiations with North Korea (the DPRK) - I always reply by saying we are in no hurry," Trump tweeted. He added that "there is wonderful potential for great economic success for that country... Kim Jong Un sees it better than anyone and will fully take advantage of it for his people." "We are doing just fine!" said the U.S. president. Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington saw little progress in the past few months, as differences between the two sides remained over key issues like the scale of denuclearization, U.S. sanctions, and whether to issue a war-ending declaration. A planned high-level meeting between Pompeo and a senior DPRK official in New York was cancelled, citing scheduling issue. Meanwhile, momentum for talks continued. Trump revealed on Dec. 1 that his second meeting with Kim Jong Un, the DPRK's top leader, was likely to happen in January or February next year. The first-ever Kim-Trump meeting occurred in Singapore in June, followed by a joint statement in which the United States agreed to provide security guarantee to the DPRK in return for Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearization. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said recently that China encourages the United States and the DPRK to advance denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 06:52:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Problems with a multi-million dollar IT-based recruiting project has led to the British Army being thousands of troops short of its required strength, an investigation by the government's National Audit Office (NAO) reported Friday. The government set the army of a target size of 82,000 regular soldiers and 30,000 reserves by 2020, but by July of this year it was 5,600 or 7 percent below its required strength, and will fail to meet the 2020 target, said the NAO. The NAO report found it can take as long as 321 days for recruits to go from starting an application to beginning basic military training, and that many potential soldiers drop out of the process while waiting. The investigation found that significant problems with a recruiting project between the army and a private company, Capita Business Services, meant the army has not recruited the number of soldiers it needs to replace retiring soldiers or troops who leave the military. The NAO said both the army and Capita had underestimated the complexity of the project which has been beset with problems, such as the delayed introduction of an online recruitment system. The report said over the last year significant changes to the approach to recruitment have been introduced, but these have not yet resulted in the army's requirements for new soldiers being met. The 1.71 billion U.S. dollars 10-year project was meant to reduce the costs of recruiting, while at the same time recruiting more soldiers and officers to the military. Capita, which won a 624 million-dollar contract for its expertise in recruitment and marketing, missed the army's targets for recruiting new soldiers and officers every year since 2013, with the total shortfall ranging from 21 percent to 45 percent of the army's requirement each year, the report found. The report said a core part of the project was online recruitment, but the Ministry of Defense (MOD) failed to provide Capita with the necessary IT infrastructure to enable this. It resulted in the online recruiting system launching over four years later than originally planned, at a cost of 143 million dollars, triple its original budget. The army estimated the problems resulted in 13,000 fewer applications between November 2017 and March 2018, compared to the same period in the previous year, which in turn could lead to up to 1,300 fewer people enlisting as soldiers. As part of what had been intended a money-saving exercise, the number of army recruitment centers around the country was reduced from 131 to 68, with a preference for a more centralised and online recruitment process. The NAO report said: "The army and Capita believe changes to the recruitment approach will lead to an increased number of recruits. It said applications have increased in the last two years, but given the time it takes to complete the recruitment process, these have not yet been converted into new recruits." Capita recruited only 2,400 regular soldiers compared to the army's target of 5,300 in the first six months of 2018-19, added the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 07:42:53|Editor: Liu Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday named budget director Mick Mulvaney as acting chief of staff, a week after he announced John Kelly's scheduled departure. "I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction," Trump tweeted. The president added that he looked forward to working with Mulvaney in the latter's new capacity, and that Kelly will stay until the end of the year. Mulvaney, 51, is a former Republican congressman from the U.S. state of South Carolina. He has been the budget director since Trump took office, and was acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau between Nov. 25, 2017 and Dec. 11, 2018. The latest announcement came as Trump spent almost a week considering a nominee to fill the vacancy left by Kelly, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general. His previous candidates, including Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers and former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, refused to take the post. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 07:47:54|Editor: Liu Video Player Close HAVANA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the left-wing Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) regional bloc gathered in Havana on Friday to discuss consolidation, political integration and better economic cooperation amid an "adverse regional scenario." The summit, which opened with the presence of the presidents of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, discussed various political, social and economic issues of the group founded in 2004. In the inaugural words of the event, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel urged the group to "act with boldness and realism," as well as to articulate viable plans to focus the available resources on the most urgent projects. He warned on the need to "build a front as wide as possible" to deal with the "risks and threats" that surround the nations of the area which look to prevent progressive and left forces from advancing. "ALBA is a genuine Latin American and Caribbean mechanism and has demonstrated as an efficient space for concertation, unity, defense of just causes, integration, cooperation and solidarity," said Diaz-Canel. At the same time, he criticized U.S. interference in the internal affairs of the member states of ALBA as well as the "political subversion" and the "economic aggressions" coming from Washington. According to Diaz-Canel, the current situation demands even more unity and political concertation among the member countries of ALBA to stop the return of "old practices" by Washington in coordination with regional right-wing governments. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the development of an economic model of integration for Latin America and the Caribbean is the great task of ALBA. Maduro called to forge an economic partnership beyond social solidarity the bloc already has. He also said Latin America is today disputed by the United States in its quest to undermine the continent's unity. Also, Bolivian President, Evo Morales, said the bloc faces the "urgent task" of coming together to launch new economic cooperation with mechanisms like cryptocurrencies. "We have to move on from words and expand our trade and cooperation with real initiatives. We need to exchange our own products and goods," he added. Founded initially by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004, ALBA is associated with socialist and social democratic governments wishing to consolidate regional economic integration based on a vision of social welfare, exchanging goods and mutual economic aid. In this file photo taken on January 20, 2018, Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, speaks during a briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (Xinhua/AFP) WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday named budget director Mick Mulvaney as acting chief of staff, a week after he announced John Kelly's scheduled departure. "I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction," Trump tweeted. The president added that he looked forward to working with Mulvaney in the latter's new capacity, and that Kelly will stay until the end of the year. Mulvaney, 51, is a former Republican congressman from the U.S. state of South Carolina. He has been the budget director since Trump took office, and was acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau between Nov. 25, 2017 and Dec. 11, 2018. The latest announcement came as Trump spent almost a week considering a nominee to fill the vacancy left by Kelly, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general. His previous candidates, including Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers and former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, refused to take the post. Photo taken on Dec. 13, 2018 shows pigeons flying during the state memorial ceremony for China's National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims at the memorial hall for the massacre victims in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng) MANILA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Holding ceremonies to commemorate the Nanjing Massacre that happened 81 years ago can send a message of peace, expose the ugly side of war and teach the youth to embrace peace so as not to repeat the tragedy, a Philippine expert said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Michael Charleston Chua, a history professor at the Philippine De La Salle University, told Xinhua that teaching and learning history like the Nanjing Massacre is vital in making the youth understand the importance of peace. "Every time we teach and learn history, we cultivate peace. We send the message that we need peace. History tells us that wars waste lives. Communications and dialogues can resolve conflict or differences in opinions," Chua said. China held a national memorial ceremony on Thursday to mourn the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre committed by Japanese invaders in 1937. Chua said that the Philippines also suffered during World War II. "A lot of tragedies happened in the Philippines like Manila Massacre and Bataan Death March." On Oct. 30, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed a bill into law making Sept. 2 of every year as a non-working holiday in Ifugao province to mark the surrender of the Japanese Imperial Army at the end of World War II. "Setting up a memorial day, like the National Memorial Day of Nanjing Massacre victims in China and non-working holiday marks the end of World War II in the Philippines, is very important and meaningful," the Philippine historian said. Chua said that there is still the need to commemorate that part of history to keep the memory alive to the Filipinos and Chinese people about the dark past. "The meaning of memorial events is to send a message that we should remember what happened and what the aggressors did, so we don't let history repeat itself again in the future," Chua said, adding that remembering the past is not prolonging hatred. "The reason that why we are trying to remember the tragedies is to learn a lesson from history and to understand what happens in the present better," Chua added. He lamented that the remaining few survivors of the massacre are dying every year because of old age. "We should collect and study their stories, take videos and keep records. So people can know what happened even some people are denying it," he said. Chua also expressed concern that the youth in many countries are learning about wars through video games and social media nowadays."It's very dangerous because they will take wars as games," Chua said. "It's important to teach the young people especially the students to remember the history and what really happened during World War II so that they will keep the culture of peace and anti-war sentiments instead of saying go to wars easily," Chua said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 10:58:20|Editor: mmm Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Department on Friday announced the death of a soldier who had been supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel, a U.S. military mission in Afghanistan. The Pentagon said in a statement that Pfc. Joshua Mikeasky, 19, died Thursday at Bagram Airfield in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, from a "non-combat related incident." The incident is under investigation, the statement added. The tragedy followed a string of similar incidents. On Nov. 27, three U.S. soldiers were killed in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle in Andar, Ghazni Province. Three other U.S. service members and one military contractor were also wounded in this attack. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 11:13:21|Editor: mmm Video Player Close SYDNEY, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 people were arrested in a three-day major crackdown on shoplifting across Australia's New South Wales state capital Sydney, in the run-up to the busy year-end festive retail season when the offenses are expected to rise, police said on Saturday. The operation this week targeted main retail areas in the city including the central business district and popular Bondi Junction beachside spot, with more than 17,000 Australian dollars (12,200 U.S. dollars) worth of stolen goods recovered, according to a police statement. "The busy period of Christmas with the influx of shoppers can often be seen as an opportunistic time for potential shoplifters to target retailers while staff members are busy with customers," said Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell. "While significant improvements in surveillance technology and an increase in loss prevention officers have made an impact on the rates of retail theft, it continues to cost the industry billions of dollars each year," said Bell. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 11:28:23|Editor: mmm Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) --- Brazilian President Michel Temer signed on Friday an order to extradite Italian citizen Cesare Battisti, a long-time fugitive in the country. The decree follows an order from Supreme Court judge Luiz Fux to arrest Battisti on charges of tax evasion and money laundering at the request of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). Battisti was accused of four murders in the 1970s and sentenced to life in prison. He fled to Brazil in 2004 and was identified and arrested in 2007. Italy requested extradition and Battisti called for refuge, denying the accusations and claiming that he was being persecuted politically. Though the Supreme Court approved the extradition, the then president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, granted him asylum in Brazil. Police are seeking Battisti, but so far have no clue about his whereabouts, or if he is still in Brazil. Though Battisti's defense called for an end to the extradition, the order will still be carried out even after Temer leaves office on Dec. 31. President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has already declared to Italian authorities that he plans to carry out the extradition as soon as possible. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 11:33:24|Editor: Liu Video Player Close BERLIN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Christmas in Germany could be less delightful as many regions are suffering a severe shortage of Santas, according to recruitment agencies. The Berlin Santa Claus Office, which typically receives about 2,500 bookings per year, has now fewer than 200 Santas on its books, down from 500, one of the agency's employee Petra Henkert told German local media Der Tagesspiegel. "We are suffering a Santa drought," Henkert said. A student services organization in Berlin has already stopped its recruitment of Santas due to lack of candidates, it said in a statement released on the Internet. Santas in Germany are often hired by families to recite festive poems, stories and songs. The role has traditionally been considered a nice source of income for students. An elite Santa could usually earn 100 euros (around 113 U.S. dollars) per visit and up to 500 euros per day. The shortage, "particularly severe in eastern German states such as Saxony and Brandenburg, has been caused by long hours of study, the busy lives of modern students and a decline in the Christian faith," according to Britian's daily The Times. The drought has led to many desperate online pleas from local parents for a Santa to come to their rescue, The Times reported. "If you have red robes, thick boots, a long beard and the time and inclination to visit our family on Christmas Eve we would be thrilled," one of the online pleas said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 11:33:24|Editor: Liu Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Friday that her agency will investigate the death of a migrant girl who died after being detained at a U.S. Border Patrol station. Calling the incident a "very sad example of the dangers of this journey" and accusing her family of "choosing to cross illegally," the DHS head said while appearing on the "Fox & Friends" TV program that they will "continue to look into the situation." The 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, whom the Guatemalan foreign ministry identified as Jackeline Caal, died on Dec. 6 in El Paso, Texas, two days after she was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol with her father as they crossed the border into the United States. The DHS said in a statement on Friday that Caal died from dehydration and septic shock after having gone days without food and water. Immigration officials said the girl didn't appear to be ill when detained separately with his father. She reportedly began having seizures eight hours after being detained, and died less than 24 hours after being flown to a hospital in El Paso, Texas. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the girl's death, but the results may take weeks to come out. Nielsen said the DHS would also continue its unannounced inspections of detention facilities built by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those facilities were built to cope with a rising number of migrants along the U.S. southern border, and were meant to "handle mostly male single adults in custody, not families and children," according to CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 11:58:27|Editor: Liu Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A fierce gunfight between militants and Indian troops Saturday broke out in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight erupted at village Kharpora-Sirno in Pulwama district, 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "A gunfight started this morning between militants and joint contingents of police and army here," a senior police official posted in Pulwama told Xinhua. "Two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area." Authorities have suspended mobile Internet service in the district and closed roads leading to the site. "The exchange of fire is going on and details are awaited," the official said. Meanwhile, media reports said two troops were wounded in the standoff. Officials said the village was cordoned off in the morning following intelligence suggesting presence of militants. On Wednesday, two militants were killed in a similar gunfight in the region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 12:28:31|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Wang Xinyi, Zhong Ya BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two oceans, four continents, 60,000 km, 70 hours, over 100 events ... the numbers bear witness to Chinese President Xi Jinping's flights in less than a month's time, which took him to the Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America. This is just one glimpse of Xi's packed diplomatic schedule this year featuring four major home-court events and multiple overseas visits, in which Xi's diplomatic visions, collectively known as Xiplomacy, are becoming increasingly understood and shared by other parts of the world. FLAGSHIP VISION On the sidelines of the just concluded G20 summit in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, Xi told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he has long pondered how countries around the world can work together for shared benefits, achieve harmony in diversity and cooperate for win-win results. This has led to his proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Guterres said China has always adhered to a multilateral approach to global affairs, supported international cooperation in tackling climate change and other areas and played an exemplary role in implementing the Paris Agreement. The UN, Guterres added, acknowledges China's role in world affairs. The brief interaction between Xi and the UN chief was a recognition of China as an enthusiastic supporter of global cooperation. Furthermore, it highlighted China's call for reforming existing international mechanisms for greater fairness and justice. At the beginning of 2017, the Chinese president made a keynote speech at the UN Office at Geneva titled "Work together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind," at a critical moment when global growth had been strained by unilateralism and protectionist policies. Xi's remarks let the world know that China is willing to work with other countries to form a blueprint for the future, one based on cooperation. Put into practice at various multilateral occasions over the past two years, the vision has gained wider international recognition and traction as a Chinese solution to cope with global challenges. David Gosset, founder of the Europe-China Forum, said China has been pursuing the concept of "Datong," or "the world of great harmony," since ancient times, and the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind is a reinterpretation of "Datong" in the 21st century. With China's continuous development, the idea -- doused in Chinese wisdom -- will definitely have a profound influence on the world, Gosset said. LEADING EFFORTS Based on the conviction for a shared future, Xi has reiterated China's pledge to greater openness on several occasions. On that front, China is walking the walk. By hosting the first-ever China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November this year, China reaffirmed its commitment to free and balanced trade, and once again demonstrated that the country will not close its door to the world. China remains a stabilizing factor in the world economy through rigorous changes at home as it marks the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening-up policy, experts have observed. Globally, China has been leading efforts in building an inclusive and reasonable multilateral system. From the BRI to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, from championing dialogue and consultation on pressing global issues to advocating regional cooperation and integration, China has infused a dose of confidence and certainty into the world through a series of practical endeavors. China is offering new models of growth by promoting a more open global economy and stepped-up cooperation, Enrique Dussel Peters, head of the China-Mexico Studies Center at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, told Xinhua. Who is better than China to champion these measures, Dussel said, noting that over the past 40 years, China has undertaken a "very successful" reform and opening-up process that has been acknowledged across the globe. CREATING SYNERGY Xi's diplomatic visions have increasingly become an inspiration for other countries, while more and more governments are motivated to participate in China-proposed initiatives and willing to align their development plans with those of China. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated that the BRI and its flagship project in Pakistan, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, will be a win-win in the region and beyond. The Nation, an English-language daily in Pakistan, quoted him as saying that he has followed Xi closely as a statesman, and that his government is also keen to learn from China's experience in combatting poverty and fighting corruption. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in an interview with Chinese media before Xi's state visit to his country that he thinks the BRI holds relevance for Portugal. "I think we have enabled convergence in this regard," Rebelo de Sousa said, citing the strategic location of Portugal as a gateway to Europe on the sea. The BRI, proposed by China five years ago, has grown into a platform for all parties to share opportunities and pursue common development. Over 140 countries and international organizations have signed BRI cooperation documents with China. "Most economists recognize you cannot have long-term, even medium-term growth without investment in infrastructure," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club said. The BRI "is transformational because it's transnational," Perry said, "so infrastructure development under the framework can become more inclusive in development." (Xinhua writers Yuan Liang, Fone Ying Kyu, Wang Huihui, Jin Jing, Sun Xiaoling, Edna Alcantara, Wu Hao, Wang Zichen, Zhang Yadong and Zhang Liyun also contributed to the story.) Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:13:36|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Delegates attend the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Conference, co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy and Canadian Carleton University, in Ottawa, Canada, Dec. 14, 2018. The conference brought together nearly 200 attendees including diplomats, experts, researchers and business people to discuss and share their insights on the BRI. (Xinhua/Li Baodong) OTTAWA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Conference, co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy and Canadian Carleton University Friday here, brought together nearly 200 people, including diplomats, experts, researchers and business people to discuss and share their insights on the BRI. The conference is meant to focus on economic, diplomatic and human impacts as well as opportunities for Canada to achieve trade diversification and tap the vast Asia Pacific market, according to the conference organizers. At the conference, Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye delivered a keynote speech to elaborate the core connotations of the BRI, introduced in detail its achievements over the past five years, and refuted various sorts of preposterous arguments against the BRI. He said that the BRI provides a broad platform to promote policy coordination, facilities connectivity, trade, financial integration, and strengthen people-to-people bonds. "The BRI is not only highly welcomed by Asian and Europe countries along the Belt and Road route, but also by many African and Latin American countries which are also eager to join it," said Lu. Russian Ambassador Alexander N. Darchiev, President of Canada China Business Council Graham Shantz, Pakistani Acting High Commissioner Muhammad Saleem and Belarus' Charge d' Affairs Dmitry Basik also delivered speeches to introduce their countries' future development plan which could connect with the BRI. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:13:36|Editor: mmm Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "has taken note with concern" of the adoption by the Kosovo parliament of three draft laws aimed at strengthening the role and capacity of the Kosovo Security Force, a UN spokesperson said Friday. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo as its own province. The secretary-general underscores that "Security Council resolution 1244 provides the sole legal framework for the international security presence, the Kosovo Force (KFOR), entrusted with the responsibility to ensure a safe and secure environment in Kosovo," said Farhan Haq, the UN deputy spokesperson. The UN chief calls on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could raise tensions and cause a further setback in the European Union-facilitated dialogue for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, he added. Earlier Friday, the Serbian government condemned the Kosovo parliament's decision to form the "so-called Kosovo army" and promised that Belgrade will strive to maintain peace. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:23:37|Editor: mmm Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three militants and two civilians were killed Saturday in clashes with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:23:37|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Wang Chen (2nd R), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with a delegation of the Friends of Hong Kong Association in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Senior lawmaker Wang Chen met with a delegation of the Friends of Hong Kong Association in Beijing Friday. Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, noted the progress made in all areas of Hong Kong since its return to China in 1997. The special administrative region system stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) works effectively and the practice of "one country, two systems" has been a resounding success, he said. He called on the association to continue to support the government and chief executive of the HKSAR in exercising law-based governance and to play an active role in the development of the country and Hong Kong. He also expressed hope that the association would keep supporting Hong Kong in integrating its own development into the development of the country, and make significant contributions to the practice of "one country, two systems." The association was founded in 1989 to promote exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the HKSAR, and support the lawful governance of the region's government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:28:38|Editor: mmm Video Player Close HAVANA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua)-- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) concluded its XVI Summit here Friday with a declaration in defense of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez read the declaration at the closing ceremony of the one-day summit at the Havana Convention Center in the presence of Cuban Communist Party First Secretary Raul Castro, President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other heads of state and senior officials of the 10 ALBA member countries. The document reiterated the regional organization's willingness to continue the construction of a "new international order, democratic and fair", with respect for the sovereignty of the states and the self-determination of peoples. The ALBA leaders and other representatives ratified their commitment to political coordination, cooperation and integration which enable the region to face the "interference and political and economic domination imposed by the global powers." They also reaffirmed the need to strengthen the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a mechanism for political consensus in the region, while demanding the United States lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba imposed since 1962. Founded initially by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004, ALBA was designed to reduce Latin America's reliance on Western aid by promoting intra-regional alliances and cooperation in key sectors such as energy and trade. The bloc now consists of Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:48:42|Editor: mmm Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three militants and two civilians were killed Saturday in a fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The gunfight erupted in village Kharpora-Sirno in Pulwama district, 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "A fierce gunfight started this morning between militants and joint contingents of police and army here," a senior police official posted in Pulwama told Xinhua. "Three militants were killed in the stand-off and so far two bodies have been recovered." The identity of slain militants was being ascertained. Reports said two troops were wounded while fighting militants in the village and both of them were immediately removed to hospital. Police said the village was cordoned off Saturday early morning following intelligence suggesting presence of militants. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:48:42|Editor: mmm Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday talked with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over phone on Friday, as unusual war of words has erupted between the two NATO allies over U.S. military presence in Syria. The two presidents "discussed bilateral issues, including the security concerns of Turkey and the United States in Syria and the fight against terrorism," according to a statement issued by White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders. Trump and Erdogan agreed to continue coordinating to "achieve our respective security objectives in Syria," the statement read, without further details about the call. A separate statement issued earlier by the Turkish presidency noted that during the call, Erdogan expressed Turkey's legitimate concern over the presence and actions of People's Protection Units (YPG) and other Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Also on Friday, Erdogan said during an international conference in Istanbul that his country has run "out of patience" with the United States over its support for the Kurdish militia in Syria, threatening a renewed military offensive soon and the seizure of the northern Syrian town Manbij if Washington fails to remove the YGP from the area. "We will no longer tolerate a single day of delay. We are determined to bring peace and security to areas in the east of the Euphrates," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkish troops will be marching soon into northern Syria to "free the east of the Euphrates from the separatist terrorist organization." In an unusually harsh response, the Pentagon said hours later on Friday that "unilateral military action into northeast Syria by any party, particularly as U.S. personnel may be present or in the vicinity, is of grave concern. We would find any such actions unacceptable." "Uncoordinated military operations will undermine that shared interest" of the U.S. and Turkish sides, it added. Ankara has long regarded the YPG as Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party that has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, arguing that its presence along Turkey's southern border poses a serious security threat to Ankara. Turkish and U.S. forces last month started joint patrols in Manbij. In a separate move, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Nov. 21 that the U.S. military is building observation posts along the Turkey-Syria border, in an effort widely seen to reduce tension with Turkey. However, such efforts appeared to have been made in vain after the Turkish Armed Forces fired artillery shells at YPG positions east of the Euphrates in northern Syria last month. Ankara accused Washington of dragging its feet on implementing a deal brokered with Turkey to clear Kurdish fighters from the small town of Manbij near the Turkish border. File Photo: Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (L) attends a Parliament session in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Nov. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/A.Hapuarachic) COLOMBO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's challenged Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will step down from his premiership on Saturday after the Supreme Court earlier Friday continued a suspension order on him and his cabinet from continuing in office. Rajapaksa's son and parliamentarian from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Namal Rajapaksa said that his father will be stepping down from his post to ensure the stability of the nation. "Former President Rajapaksa has decided to resign from the Premiership tomorrow after an address to the nation. The SLPP with the former president, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and others will now work to form a broader political coalition with President Maithripala Sirisena," Namal said in a statement. SLPP members said Rajapaksa is scheduled to address the nation on Saturday morning. The Supreme Court on earlier Friday ordered to continue the temporary suspension on Rajapaksa and his government till the case is further heard on Jan. 15, 16 and 17. The Supreme Court issued the order after hearing the petition filed by Rajapaksa who sought the Supreme Court's verdict after the Court of Appeal on Dec. 3 issued a temporary suspension order on the government. The suspension order was issued after 122 lawmakers filed a petition saying the government had been defeated in two no-confidence motions in parliament and they could no longer continue to function as ministers. Political analysts said that Rajapaksa's resignation on Saturday is also likely to end a nearly two-month political crisis which erupted after President Sirisena on Oct. 26 sacked his cabinet and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa to the post. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 13:58:44|Editor: mmm Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least six security personnel have been killed and 14 others injured during an operation against terrorists in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, the military said. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan army, said late Friday in a statement that an operation was conducted on a terrorists' hideout after an intelligence information in Wakai area in Turbat region of Balochistan. The terrorists targeted one of the vehicles of the security forces with an improvised explosive device which killed six of the security personnel who were conducting the operation, the ISPR said. At least four terrorists were also killed and 14 security personnel were injured during the intense fire exchange following the attack at the vehicle. Information Minister of Balochistan Zahoor Buledi told media that security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site soon after the incident and shifted the bodies and injured to hospital. Following the attack, security forces launched a search operation in the region against the terrorists who had managed to run away in the mountainous region after attacking the military convoy. Earlier this month, the ISPR announced that the deployment of security personnel has been increased in the remote areas of the province to take action against the militants. Remarks: My favourite Adele song to date. It was the #1 song in the US and UK for most of this month, November 2021. See also: songs: the 2020s Adele: Hell... 1 day ago Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 14:13:46|Editor: mmm Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Dec.15 (Xinhua) -- Clashes between armed groups killed eight people near the western Libyan city of Msallata, some 120 km east Tripoli, a local security source said. "The town Amamra near Msallata witnessed violent clashes between armed groups that killed 8 people," the source told Xinhua later Friday. "All those killed are gunmen. The reasons for the clashes are unknown. Many armed vehicles were burnt in a civilian agricultural area," the source said. The bodies of those killed were taken to hospital for forensic inspection, the source said, confirming that the attorney general has been notified about the clashes. Libya has long been troubled by armed groups operating independently from the authorities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 14:28:49|Editor: mmm Video Player Close HELSINKI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A court here Friday gave a teacher a one-and-a-half-year suspended sentence for sexual harassment of children. Most of the nine victims were his pupils, and the crimes were committed during 2013-2017, Finnish media reported. The school gave him a warning in 2014, but did not contact the police until 2017. The headmaster of the school is facing court charges for neglecting supervision. In Finland, the age limit of being regarded as a child in harassment cases is 16 years old. The court said a suspended sentence was given as he had no previous convictions. The teacher has to pay the victims compensations ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 euros (about 1,357 to 1,696 U.S. dollars). A political process is underway in Finland to raise the punishment level in sex crimes involving children. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 14:58:52|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close TAIYUAN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Shaniu enjoys watching open-air plays, particularly the Yuju folk opera. The 83-year-old remembers the plot of each show that has been staged in his village. The latest one, he says, was about bidding farewell to poverty. The tiny village of Kongwang, tucked away deep in the mountains of northern Shanxi Province, has just won a long anti-poverty battle. By the end of 2017, the per capita annual income hit 6,100 yuan (890 U.S. dollars), way above the national poverty line. Food is now abundant. Life is good. And it is time to celebrate. Like many people his age in China, Zhang has lived through one of the greatest stories in human history -- the world's most populous country went from rags to riches. China maintained fast growth for four decades, avoided social turmoil and managed to let economic growth trickle down to benefit the population, solving governance issues commonly faced by developing countries. The secret, experts say, is nothing other than the reform and opening-up policy which was launched 40 years ago and has since been developed and carried forward. "IT'S THE ECONOMY" In December 1978, the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a key meeting and decided to shift work priority to economic development, ushering in the era of reform. At a time when planned economy was dominant, market forces were gradually introduced into the economy, creating private businesses in cities and dissolving communes in rural areas. Farm workers were allowed to keep the extra they produce on the contracted farmland. Zhang's family contracted a 0.67-hectare farmland in 1978 and just in a year, they had harvested enough to eat. Three years later, he had saved enough to buy a radio. Across China, enthusiasm among workers and peasants shot up, so did productivity. China's economy grew by 9.5 percent a year on average between 1978 and 2017, and Justin Yifu Lin, a former World Bank chief economist, said this is a feat not matched by any other country in history. In only 40 years, China has transformed from a poverty-stricken country to the world's second-largest economy. "Why has China succeeded but others failed?" Lin often tossed this question to his audience in talks and lectures. Experts say that the reasons are myriad: CPC pursues long-term continuous development instead of electoral victories, allows people to orderly take part in state governance via democratic centralism system, and explores a development path of its own other than the ones prescribed by the West. "Development holds the master key. Turmoil stems from the lack of development and disrupts the development," said Hao Yongping, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. "China's governance boosts growth and development while maintaining stability." FOR PEOPLE An ancient Chinese saying goes, "The key to running a country is to make its people better-off." Zhang Chengfu, a professor of public administration at Renmin University of China, said he believes "the greatest strength" of China's governance lies in a ruling party dedicated to wholeheartedly serving the people and its people-centered philosophy of development. "Economic growth is not for the mere accumulation of capital but for the well-being of the people," Zhang said. "That distinction sets socialism apart from capitalism." China's reforms always target the areas in which people have most concerns or high expectations. By addressing these issues, authorities gain people's trust and support for its governance, the experts said. When the reforms were first initiated in the late 1970s, the focus was on economic growth as authorities found that society's backward productivity could not meet people's rising material and cultural demands. As society progresses and people's needs for a better life grow, corruption, pollution and unequal wealth distribution emerge as the top areas of concern for present reforms. Kongwang is battling in China's epic fight against poverty, which is helping about 30,000 people out of poverty every day across the country. Funding and know-how were provided to jump-start a mineral water plant, a gourd farm and a solar power station in the village. A 5-km paved road was opened. 4G Internet signals can be picked up. To Zhang's delight, a large outdoor theater is also being built. "Our village is rich now. We can put on shows as often as we want. No more waiting for opera fans," said Zhang Shuansuo, the village Party chief. A GIFT TO THE WORLD In 2012, Lin returned to teach at Peking University after his stint at the World Bank. He began to research on "new structural economics" based on China's development model and the experience of developing countries. "It is very valuable for the developing world," Lin said. "Because it derives from the experience of developing countries and suits their needs." Lin's students include foreign scholars and officials who come to study at the university's Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development. The institute was created in 2016, with a goal to share governance experience among developing countries. "China has achieved great progress after the reform. What they did and how they transformed are the reasons why I came here," said Said Haji Mrisho, head of Macroeconomic Unit under the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance and Planing who enrolled in a doctorate program. Mrisho and his classmates -- coming from five continents around the world -- went on field trips from time to time. One of the recent ones took them to the Xiaogang Village, the birthplace of rural reforms in 1978. "What they did was a remarkable thing for us to learn," he said. "We are all developing countries, so I can learn a lot from China as opposed to Western countries." He Wenping, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China has managed to tactically handle stability, development and reform in its governance, offering valuable lessons for developing countries. Mrisho said a key message he learned from China's reform is that countries need to explore their own development path. "You cannot copy everything. You need to make modifications according to the local context," he said. Malawian doctoral candidate Donasius Pathera said he believed China's development success comes from its confidence and its independent mind of deciding how to develop. Those qualities are badly needed in countries which had been told what to do rather than doing things on their own, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 15:18:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Moscow has not received any response from Washington to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's proposal to discuss disagreements concerning the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The proposal was related to one of the two notes recently sent by Shoigu to U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis. The other note was about Syria, according to the ministry. "It has been emphasized that Russia is ready for an open and detailed dialogue with the Pentagon on all the pressing bilateral issues. However, three days after the notes were received, the Russian Defense Ministry has not received even a formal response to this proposal from the U.S. military," the ministry said in the statement. The lack of a U.S. response showed Washington's unwillingness to maintain a professional dialogue with Moscow on solving pressing regional and global security issues, the ministry said. In early December, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States would suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty in 60 days unless Russia returns to full compliance with the agreement. Moscow has repeatedly denied that it has violated the treaty. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. Moscow and Washington have been accusing each other of violating the arms control agreement in recent years amid increasing tensions between the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 15:33:59|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KIEV, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The year of 2019 would be a decisive year for Ukraine as the country will elect a new president and a new parliament. The two elections, slated to be held on March 31, 2019, and Oct. 27, 2019, respectively, will determine the country's domestic and foreign policy for the next five years. Although more than ten hopefuls have already announced their intentions to run for the presidency, most analysts consider incumbent President Petro Poroshenko and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as two obvious front-runners. The potential results of the parliamentary race are less predictable. It is unclear how many political parties will participate in the elections and which party will pass the threshold to enter the parliament. However, signs indicate that all current parliamentary forces and several newcomers, including liberal democratic opposition, populist parties and nationalist movements, will try to get seats in the new parliament. No matter who wins the presidential and parliamentary races, they would have to solve three dominating issues -- the socio-economic problems, corruption and the conflict in Donbas. While there is no doubt that the next authorities will continue the reforms which are proved to be effective to further boost economic growth and root out corruption, resolving the Donbass issue is a much more complicated task. Most likely, Ukraine will push forward political and diplomatic efforts aimed at settling the conflict, but the instruments to achieve peace will differ depending on which of the candidates wins. Taking into account the public statements of the presidential hopefuls, it can be assumed that those instruments may include establishing a new format of international talks on the Donbas crisis, giving more administrative and financial powers to the region and deploying an international peacekeeping mission in the conflict zone. Anyway, the return of the region to Kiev's sovereignty will be neither quick nor easy, experts say. Ukraine's future foreign policy is unlikely to change much after the elections despite the presence of many opposition candidates in the race. The partnership with the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was defined as the country's top foreign policy priority in 2014, will apparently continue due to a relatively strong support for it among citizens. In November, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill in the first reading on including Ukraine's intention to join both organizations in the country's Constitution. If the bill is adopted in the final reading, it would mean that Ukraine officially gives constitutional affirmation to its Euro-Atlantic course. "Most likely, this course will be preserved after the elections as most Ukrainians are loyal to the European and Atlantic integration. If a pro-Russian candidate wins he would have to face a rigid opposition," Grygoriy Lugovsky, a Ukrainian historian and independent political expert, told Xinhua. However, Ukraine's continued course towards the West does not mean that the country will abandon its pragmatic cooperation with other countries after the elections. After all, each of the candidates is well aware that a stable growth of Ukraine's export-oriented economy could be achieved only by developing a mutually beneficial partnership with different countries. According to Ukrainian experts, cooperation with China, Ukraine's second-largest trading partner in the world, will flourish regardless of the results of the elections. "There is a high interest in Ukraine to promote cooperation with China ... China may become one of the main economic and geopolitical priorities of Ukraine for the next decade," Liliya Brudnytska, an analyst at the political studies center Vybir, told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 15:39:00|Editor: ZX Video Player Close XINING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Residents in the city of Yushu are familiar with a sweet melody that is played every day at dawn. Many might not be aware of the Disneyland song "It's a Small World," but when the sound begins, they know a garbage truck will appear. Garbage trucks are new to the locals, so are waste treatment plant, sanitation workers, sewage treatment and heating system in this city on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level. Located in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province, Yushu has a population of over 111,000, and nearly 95 percent of them are ethnic Tibetans. On April 14, 2010, a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Yushu, toppling thousands of houses and leaving around 3,000 people dead or missing, and more than 10,000 injured. Thanks to support from all over the country, the city has been rebuilt over the past few years, from a remote, backward town to a modern city. The city has seen new buildings with Tibetan characteristics, new hospitals, commercial areas and broad avenues emerge out of the debris, standing in striking contrast to the cityscape before the earthquake. "There was very little urban construction in the city before the earthquake. The streets were packed with cars, pedestrians and yaks. I've never heard about a waste treatment plant or heating system. We used to just throw our trash into rivers," said Ngange. "Our lives have changed greatly. We have now modern schools and hospitals, and the Yushu Airport has shortened the distance between the city and the world," he added. Tseyang Tsang, a 30-year-old mother of three kids, said life has become much better and more convenient. "There wasn't a nursery in the city before. Housewives needed to take care of their kids while doing housework. But now I can send my kids to the nursery and then go shopping. The market is just a short walk away from my home, and it sells products from across the country," she said. Ju Chagxi, director of Yushu's urban construction bureau, said there were hardly any tall buildings in the town. Most buildings were constructed using dirt and wood. "I remember the roads were very narrow and some were only able to let motorbikes pass through," Ju Chagxi said, adding that people suffered power outages frequently, carried water from wells and burned yak dung in the winter for heating. According to the city's urban construction and management authorities, more than 1 million square meters of residential areas have been developed to relocate about 14,000 households which had been affected by the earthquake. So far, 15 schools, 10 hospitals, 10 iconic buildings, streets and roads, a leisure square, a museum, and an art center have been completed and put into use. Water and sewage pipe networks have been completed, too, while the gas pipe network is under construction. "As a participant and a beneficiary of the construction of the new city, having personally experienced the earthquake, I really believe the new Yushu has experienced a 20-year leap in city development over the past few years. Our citizens are much happier now," said Ju Chagxi. In the process of reconstruction, Beijing has played a significant role, bringing talents from a wide range of fields including city planning, urban construction and management, and pouring tremendous investment into the construction of infrastructure. "Beijing experts coming to Yushu have done their utmost to improve local people's living conditions, help lift impoverished residents out of poverty, and protect the local environment," said Wang Duwei, who heads a Beijing team in charge of poverty relief in Yushu. In recent years, Yushu has seen a growing number of domestic and foreign tourists since the city has pushed tourism to the forefront of its economy. "The prefecture is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang (Mekong) rivers. It is also home to the Hol Xil Nature Reserve and the ancient Tang-Tibet Road, linking inland cities with Qinghai, Tibet, Nepal and India during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). So tourism will become a vital engine of the new city's economy," said Ashak Yumpon, director of the prefecture's tourism bureau. The director said Yushu is expected to be built into an international tourist destination. Wu Dejun, the prefecture Party chief, said the reconstruction of Yushu would not have been done without support from all over the country. "We will protect the sources of the major rivers and the ecological environment while developing the economy," Wu said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:09:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NICOSIA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot lawmakers on Friday passed the 2019 state budget by a majority vote after the highly partisan parliament blocked reforms of the state bureaucracy and took control of a plan to reduce non-performing loans (NPLs). After a three-hour voting process that lasted into the night, 30 deputies in the 56-member chamber voted in favor, 24 voted against and two abstained. The last stage of the three day-debate on the budget was marred by an unprecedented demonstration inside the parliament by people who were protesting against bank foreclosures and poverty. They hung banners from the balcony of the public gallery, prompting the Speaker Demetris Syllouris to denounce the incident and instruct security to take down the banners and remove the demonstrators from the building. The incident ended within minutes and no arrests were made. The governing party, Democratic Rally, which has only 19 seats in parliament, had to rely on other parties to approve the budget, after accommodating some of their demands. After dozens of amendments, 48 of them coming from the government, the budget revenue came to about 9.5 billion euros (10.74 billion U.S. dollars) and expenditure was kept close to 7.9 billion euros (8.94 billion dollars), leaving a surplus of 3 percent of the total gross domestic product. The greatest change was that deputies stroke out of an expenditure earmarked for more reforms of the government apparatus, such as the Cyprus Stock Exchange, the government lottery and part of the public telecommunications. Cyprus brought about an extensive reform of the public sector under the supervision of technocrats from the Eurogroup and the International Monetary Fund, as part of the 2013 bailout of the eastern Mediterranean island. However, opposition parties which have the majority in parliament prevented the privatization of state businesses. The left-wing AKEL party spearheaded the drive to block any new privatizations and secured the support of all other centrist and socialist opposition parties. It also introduced an amendment which was supported by all opposition parties, which in effect gave the parliament the power to implement a plan to reduce NPLs by 3.5 billion euros (3.96 billion dollars) by helping low-income borrowers to repay loans. Deputies "daggered" 33 million euros (37 million dollars) set aside to help pay the installments of borrowers, meaning that the money cannot be spent unless permission is given by the parliamentary budgetary committee. The plan, which could reduce NPLs by 17.5 percent, has already been approved by the European Union's Competition Directorate, but deputies want to introduce a scaled system in a way that borrowers with lower family income will receive more subsidies than eligible borrowers with a higher income. Despite the amendments brought about by deputies, Finance Minister Haris Georgiades said he was satisfied with the passing of the budget, as its approval safeguarded stability and promised positive prospects for the economy. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:19:05|Editor: ZX Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Sino-Mongolian Foundation of Culture, Education and Social Development and the Union of Chinese Immigrants in Mongolia organized an annual charity event called "Warm Winter" here on Saturday. According to the organizers, the event aims to promote China-Mongolia ties by helping poor Mongolian households and Chinese immigrants in Mongolia survive the harsh winter. Speaking at the event, Li Yanjun, political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, said that the "Warm Winter" event is one of the important events aimed at strengthening Sino-Mongolian humanitarian ties and friendship as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. This year marks the sixth year the event is being held. White flour, rice, sugar, sunflower oil and other necessities worth 31 million Mongolian tugriks (11,780 U.S. dollars) were donated for a total of 201 poor households in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, including 30 families of Chinese immigrants. Altogether 3,674 households in the city have benefited from the annual event over the past years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:19:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close COLOMBO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's challenged Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his premiership on Saturday, paving way for a new government to be established under President Maithripala Sirisena. Rajapaksa signed his resignation letter, surrounded by his party members at his official residence in capital Colombo, television footage showed. Shehan Semasinghe, a lawmaker, from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a party to which Rajapaksa belongs, said Rajapaksa signed his resignation after making a special statement, which will be shown to the nation through a televised address on Saturday afternoon. Semasinghe said Rajapaksa and his group will function as a strong opposition at the parliament and will continue their call for a parliamentary election to end the political instability which was facing the country. Rajapaksa decided to resign from his premiership after the Supreme Court on Friday continued a suspension order on him and his cabinet from continuing in office. The Supreme Court issued the order after hearing a petition filed by Rajapaksa who sought the Supreme Court's verdict after the Court of Appeal, on Dec. 3, issued a temporary stay order on him and his government. The stay order was issued after 122 lawmakers filed a petition saying the government had been defeated in two no-confidence motions at the parliament and they could no longer continue to function as ministers. Meanwhile, the United National Party, led by Ranil Wickremesinghe who was sacked as the prime minister on Oct. 26 by President Maithripala Sirisena, in a small statement on their official Twitter account said Wickremesinghe would be sworn in as the premier once again on Sunday morning. A new cabinet is expected to be appointed there after. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:24:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces launched offensive killing at least 10 militants affiliated with the Taliban and wounding 15 others in the country's southern Kandahar province, an army spokesman in Ahmad Sadeq Eisa region said Saturday. The operations, according to the official, were launched late on Friday, in Khakriz district of the restive province and so far 10 militants have been killed and 15 others wounded. The Taliban militants fighting government forces in the area, have not commented on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:29:09|Editor: ZX Video Player Close CHENGDU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- ReachNow, the BMW-owned car-sharing service, launched a ride-hailing service in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Friday. The move makes BMW the first foreign enterprise given the green light for online ride-hailing operation in China. Aiming at the huge high-end online car-hailing market, the company said a fleet of 200 BMW 5 Series models had hit the road in Chengdu at the preliminary stage, and half of the vehicles were plug-in hybrid ones. Customers can hail a car after installing the ReachNow app. Jochen Goller, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China, said China's high-end car-hailing service market has great development potential. China's ride-hailing market is dominated by Didi Chuxing, which offers services to 550 million users worldwide, but a rising number of car makers are making their way into the market. Wu Chungeng, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Transport, said in October that more players in the market was good for competition and would bring consumers more choice. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:34:10|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities have seized more than 3.2 tons of trafficked elephant tusks at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, a senior customs official said on Saturday. The ivory tusks were found on Thursday hidden in an abandoned container that had sat unopened at the port since July, said Sun Chhay, director of the Customs and Excise Office at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port. "A total of 1,026 pieces of elephant tusks, weighing 3,230 kg, was found when the authorities decided to open the container on Dec. 13," he told Xinhua. The smugglers were likely to abandon the illegal goods after they suspected that the authorities were waiting for them, he said, adding that the ivory tusks had been imported from the southern African nation of Mozambique. "Cambodia is just a transit point and the elephant tusks are destined for a third country," he said, adding that he did not know the intended destination of the illegal ivory. Large hauls of smuggled wildlife goods are not uncommon in the Southeast Asian nation in recent years. In May 2014, the country seized three tons of ivory at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in Southwestern Preah Sihanouk province, and, in Dec. 2016, confiscated another 1.58 tons of elephant ivory, tiger bones and pangolin scales hidden in hollowed-out logs imported from Mozambique. Also, in Dec. last year, the authorities seized 941 kg of elephant tusks concealed in timbers inside three containers, which was also imported from Mozambique. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:44:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers have discovered eight bodies and have been searching for missing persons after landslides hit North Sumatra province of western Indonesia, head of provincial disaster management agency Riadil Lubis said on Saturday. Heavy downpours triggered soils in a hill slid down and hit four houses in Holado village of Toba Samosir district, Lubis told Xinhua via telephone from the province. "The soil buried and brought the houses downward into a ravine," he said. A total of eight corpses, who had been buried by the soils, have been pulled by the rescuers, and search for two missing villagers is being undertaking now, involving soldiers, police, search and rescue personnel, and disaster management agency as well as volunteers. "The focus of the search operation is to find the missing persons in the area of the ravine. Some small heavy equipment, which can reach and operate at the site, will be deployed into the spot," said Lubis. A total of five people survived the natural disaster and sustained injuries, he said. Indonesia is frequently stricken by landslides and floods during heavy rains. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 16:59:13|Editor: ZX Video Player Close HOHHOT, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- There are various ways to help people out of poverty, but Bai Wenjun, a poverty relief cadre, has created a way of his own, shooting short films. Bai, 31, was assigned to the village of Aotegin in Horqin Zyoyi Houqi, northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in May 2016. "When I first came here, I found that the most difficult thing in poverty relief work was to change villagers' minds and encourage them to work hard," he said. "How can I clearly explain poverty relief policies to villagers? And how can I help them kick their old bad habits? What is the way that is more effective than words?" Bai often asks himself. Bai, who likes to shoot videos in his spare time, came up with the idea of making short films. In November 2016, he created his first film script. "The main character of the film, Amor, didn't like working. The local government gave him loans to raise cattle, but he didn't make good use of it. Later, with encouragement from his daughter and help from poverty relief cadres, he finally found a way to work out of poverty," he said. Although the film only tells the story of one household that was living under the poverty line, Amor's story is actually based on the real stories of four to five households in the village, he said. The film was made in Mongolian so that it can be better understood by villagers, mostly ethnic Mongolians. "We had the similar difficulties that Amor had with loans and cattle raising. After watching the film, we now better know how to solve these problems," said Han Wenming, a villager. Bai's team is made up of over 30 members, mostly his colleagues and friends, who have taken part voluntarily. "We have named our team 'Up Studio' because we want to spread more positive stories about poverty relief work though the camera," he said. Since 2016, Bai has shot a total of 18 short films explaining poverty-relief policies and getting rid of bad habits. Villagers not only watch the films, but have also started to take part in film-making. Han, for example, offered his own bungalow as a filming spot for one of the films. "I was afraid that my room would be too shabby, and it wouldn't look good in the film. But Bai told me not to worry as a real scene would be the best," he said. "My bungalow was in the film. Next time, I want to play a role and show the changes and the new look of our village after we have all walked out of poverty," he said. The village had 43 households that were living under the poverty line. So far, 36 households have come out of poverty through methods including raising cattle and developing solar energy. "I will still shoot short films even when all the villagers are out of poverty. I want to present their new life and tell stories about rural revitalization," Bai said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 17:24:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's envoy to the United Nations (UN) Ma Zhaoxu on Friday applauded the outcome of the intra-Yemeni talks and called for its implementation by the international community. Speaking at a Security Council meeting on Yemen, Ma, China's permanent representative to the UN, praised the talks held in Sweden as a good start that has the potential to become a key turning point in the Yemeni situation. While noting breakthroughs made during the talks, Ma also warned that political efforts to settle the Yemeni issue continue to face multiple challenges, and proposed that the international community should "rise to action on three fronts." "The first prong is to implement, in good faith, the outcomes of the Sweden consultations," he said, adding this entails urging an immediate ceasefire by the Yemeni parties in Hodeidah governorate, complete the redeployment of their forces, and implement the prisoner exchange agreement, among others. "By fully exercising the UN's oversight function at the Port of Hodeidah and taking advantage of the favorable external conditions ... The United Nations should strive for safe, rapid and unhindered access to Yemen for commercial and humanitarian supplies as soon as possible," he added. Second, the international community should build on the consultations and facilitate a sustainable and effective dialogue and negotiation process, Ma said. "We look forward to the Yemeni parties reaching an agreement on the negotiation framework at the end of this coming January, so ceasefire can prevail across the whole of Yemen and a comprehensive package, including political and security arrangements, can be worked out," said Ma, referring to the next round of intra-Yemeni talks which are scheduled for January 2019. Third, the Chinese envoy said that the UN should continue to play a leading role in mediation and food aid, and that the Security Council should keep up its political support of the peace talks and urge regional countries to continue to provide constructive assistance. Ma also expressed China's commitment to supporting the UN in advancing "the Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned" political settlement process along with the international community. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 17:59:22|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HAIKOU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A direct flight will be launched Sunday between the city of Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, and Melbourne. The Hainan Airlines route will use an Airbus 330, and is the second direct international route between the island province and Oceania. Flights will depart from Haikou at 18:40 p.m. and arrive at Melbourne at 7 a.m. the following day every Wednesday and Sunday. Return flights will take off at 9 a.m. local time and arrive in Haikou at 4:05 p.m. every Monday and Thursday. From Jan. 16, a flight linking the city of Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, and Haikou will be added to the trip. A direct flight between Haikou and Sydney was launched in January. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 18:04:23|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BANGKOK, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Thai air force organized tactical airborne operations contests in central Thailand on Saturday. The contestant squadrons from all air wings throughout the country conducted mock tactical operations over a tactical airborne training facility in Chai Badan district of Lopburi province, about 160 km north of Bangkok. Air force chief ACM Chaiyapruk Didyasarin presided over the event, which was viewed by air force personnel and civilians. Participating in the tactical operation contests were F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-5 Tiger and JAS 39 Gripen jet fighters, among other combat aircraft, as well as transport and utility aircraft and helicopters. Apart from combat missions, such as mock bombing attacks and air-to-surface, air-to-air and tactical air support missions, the contestant units also engaged in non-combat operations, such as mock search, rescue, VIPs lifting and brushfire fighting operations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 18:29:26|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- International envoys have called on Somali leaders to pursue dialogue to resolve political differences ahead of regional elections in South West State. The envoys from the United Nations, EU, Africa Union, U.S., Britain, Germany, and France, among other nations, expressed concern over recent clashes in the regional state that led to the arrest of al-Shabab co-founder Mukhtar Robow. "We extend our deepest condolences for the death of the South West State assembly member and others who have died in the violence in Baidoa. We deplore all violence and any other acts that could exacerbate the humanitarian situation," they said in a joint statement issued on Friday night. Robow was arrested and handed over to the Somali National Security Intelligence Agency (NISA) on Thursday after being flown from Baidoa, about 270 km outside capital, Mogadishu. The ex-al-Shabab leader was one of the candidates vying for presidency in Somalia's South West regional elections scheduled for Dec. 19. His arrest sparked demonstrations between pro-Robow and Somali security forces on Thursday and Friday in Baidoa town. A parliamentarian and a young boy were among more than 10 people killed in the ongoing clashes. In a joint statement, the international partners underscored there should be unified support for the agreed framework governing the elections, and urged all parties to respect the integrity of the electoral process. "We encourage constructive dialogue to resolve political differences and address other challenges in order to advance the political and economic progress of the country," said the partners, also including those from Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Italy. The electoral commission in Baidoa, South West State has confirmed it planned to carry out the elections despite the arrest of Robow. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 19:19:33|Editor: ZX Video Player Close KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue was held here on Saturday with security, stability and development taking the center stage. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the dialogue that the three sides have been actively implementing the consensus reached in the first trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue convened in December last year in Beijing, with progress achieved in Afghanistan's reconciliation process, continuous improvement witnessed in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as well as the connectivity and communication in the region further pressed forward, demonstrating the vitality and the bright future of the cooperation among the three sides. With the complex and changing regional and international situation, the three sides are facing new challenges and opportunities in their security and development, said Wang, hoping they will further strengthen dialogue and promote mutual trust. Wang also hoped that the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue will reach new consensus on promoting the realization of the inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned political reconciliation in the country at an early date, strengthening the momentum of the improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, pushing forward the pragmatic cooperation and deepening cooperation in fighting terrorism so as to promote regional security, stability and development. Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi agreed with Wang's remarks and highly appreciated the long-term efforts China has been making in promoting the peaceful reconciliation and development in Afghanistan and in encouraging Afghanistan and Pakistan to enhance mutual understanding and improve bilateral relations. The foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan also fully acknowledged the positive results the three sides have achieved since the first dialogue between the three foreign ministers. The Afghan and Pakistani sides will maintain the good momentum of improving bilateral relations and faithfully implementing the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, they said. The two sides said they are willing to work with China to expand trilateral cooperation within the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and push forward the trilateral cooperation on anti-terrorism so as to jointly safeguard the peace, stability and prosperity in the three countries and in the region. During the dialogue, the three sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on jointly combating terrorism and issued a joint statement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 19:29:34|Editor: ZX Video Player Close KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed here on Saturday to enhance trilateral cooperation to support Afghanistan's peace process, boost connectivity and fight terrorism. The pledge was made during the 2nd China-fghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue held in Kabul, attended by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The three sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening relations, deepening cooperation and advancing connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and other regional economic initiatives, according to a joint statement issued after the dialogue. The three sides reiterated their support for the inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process as it is the most viable way to bring peace to Afghanistan. In this regard, China and Pakistan appreciated the efforts of Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani especially for the comprehensive peace plans that came out of the second meeting of Kabul Process and the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, and therefore called on the Afghan Taliban to join the peace process at an early date, said the statement. While efforts are underway to start the peace process, the three sides called on the parties concerned to end violence and the loss of innocent lives in Afghanistan, it said. Regarding economic development cooperation, the three countries pledged to implement and expand the "soft" projects such as exchange and capacity building programs, and explore "hard" projects of livelihood facilities and connectivity. China supports enhanced coordination between Afghanistan and Pakistan on major energy and connectivity projects, said the statement. On the fight against terrorism, the three sides expressed strong determination not to allow any country, organization or individual to use their respective territories for terrorist activities against any other countries. They also underlined the need to further strengthen counter-terrorism coordination and cooperation in an effort to combat all terrorist groups and individuals without any discrimination. To this end, the three sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Counter-Terrorism. They also agreed that the 3rd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue would be held in Islamabad in 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 19:29:35|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A Kashmiri woman wails near the body of a civilian during his funeral at Prichoo village of Pulwama district, about 45 km south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15, 2018. Three militants including a commander, a trooper and seven civilians were killed Saturday in fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes between the militants and government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar) by Peerzada Arshad Hamid SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three militants including a commander, a trooper and seven civilians were killed Saturday in fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes between the militants and government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The gunfight erupted at village Kharpora-Sirno in Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Three militants were killed today in a fierce gunfight with army and police in village Sirno of Pulwama," an Indian army spokesman said. "One trooper was also killed fighting these militants." The identity of slain militants was being ascertained, however police said of them one was a local commander. Police said the village was cordoned off early on Saturday morning following specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants. Officials said no sooner the gunfight began local residents took to roads, shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. The protesters clashed with government forces by throwing rocks and brickbats on them in a bid to end cordon and help the holed up militants to escape, police said. Police fired dozens of tear smoke shells, warning shots and used pellets to chase the protesters. "Seven civilians were brought dead to the hospital and all of them had fire arm wounds," a health official posted in Pulwama hospital said. "Besides this 20 other civilians were brought here in injured condition." People assembling at gunfight sites in support of militants and attacking government forces with stones has evolved as a new phenomenon of resistance in the region during recent years. Despite reprimand from police and army to stay away from gunfight sites, people continue to ignore calls and readily defy restrictions. Authorities have snapped mobile internet services in Kashmir province including the Srinagar city and limited the speed of broadband internet, fearing it would mobolize youth to stage anti-India protests. Locals said the situation was tense in Pulwama and restrictions have been imposed in the town to prevent further clashes. However, the clashes were going on at several places in the district until last reports poured in. The region's separatist groups have called for a three-day shutdown and mourning in the region against the Saturday's killings in Pulwama. "From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across," a senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement said. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a march to Badamibagh cantonment, the headquarters of the Indian army in Srinagar on Monday. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris. Irate residents often take to roads and clash with police. The youth throw stones and brickbats on contingents of government forces, who respond by firing tear smoke shells, pellets and bullets, which often proves fatal. Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 19:34:36|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) outfit including two group commanders in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province were killed on Friday, spokesman for provincial government Ataullah Khogyani said Saturday. The government, according to the official, targeted the hideouts of IS fighters in parts of Haska Mina district by fighting aircrafts, killing 10 armed insurgents including two commanders Zahid and Khalid on the spot and injuring several others. No troops or civilians were harmed during the raids, the official said. Militants loyal to the IS outfit are yet to make comments on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 19:44:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethnic clashes near Moyale town in southern Ethiopia have left 21 people dead, said a state media report on Saturday. Surewe Mohammed, Deputy Head of Communications Head Office of Somali regional state, said several days of ethnic clashes in Moyale town on the border with Kenya left 21 people dead and 61 others injured, reported state media outlet Ethiopia News Agency (ENA). Surewe said the injured are being treated in nearby medical institutions and discussions are being held among local and federal government and security officials to prevent a recurrence of the ethnic violence. ENA didn't name the groups that were involved in the ethnic clashes, but activists on social media are claiming the clashes involved ethnic Somalis and ethnic Oromos. Moyale town is claimed by both ethnic Oromos and ethnic Somalis. Oromia and Somali regional states have been locked in a wider dispute over the demarcation of their 1,500 km long common boundary for almost two decades. A referendum in October 2004 was supposed to demarcate the boundary between the two regional states, but its implementation has been stalled ever since, with both sides accusing each other of non-compliance with the referendum results. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 19:54:42|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces demolished early Saturday in the West Bank the four-story house of Islam Abu Hmeid, charged of murdering a soldier, said a report by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The demolished building, owned by Abu Hmeid and his family, is located in the Palestinian refugee camp of Al-Am'ari, near the city of Ramallah. The soldier Ronen Lubarsky was murdered in May during an operational activity, from a marble slab that was thrown from the roof of a three-story building in Ramallah. The IDF blocked a large area to carry out the demolishing operation, as the house is located at the heart of the dense refugee camp. During the operation, dozens of Palestinians rioted and threw stones at the soldiers. They were responded by riot dispersal means. A notice of the intention to demolish two floors of the building was already given to the family in November. Then, after another check, it was decided to demolish the entire building. Two weeks ago, the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition against the demolition, and the family was given 10 days of organizing and preparing to leave the house. Walid Assaf, chairman of Palestinian commission against the wall and Jewish settlements, announced that Abu Hmeid family would be provided with an alternative home. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 20:09:44|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China will boost its geroscience research and develop more geroscience-related academic disciplines to respond to its ageing population, according to a symposium Saturday. The country will explore the establishment of a new discipline cluster of geroscience, as announced at the symposium on geroscience discipline development, which was jointly held by the China Research Center on Aging (CRCA) and a research department under the Development Research Center of the State Council. "The Ministry of Education will encourage appropriate universities and colleges to set up majors and courses on elderly care such as in the psychology of aging, gerontological nursing and palliative care," said Liu Ying, an official with the ministry. The ministry will provide assistance to vocational colleges to train elderly care service personnel that are in short supply, Liu added. China has world's largest aged population, also growing at the fastest speed. By 2050, it is estimated that one in every three Chinese will be a senior aged over 60. The CRCA is working with other institutions to establish exchange platforms for geroscience research and a system for research result releasing. "Our current research on ageing lacks concrete and specific data," said Wang Jianjun, an official with the National Health Commission, who stressed that an information network should be set up quickly. The symposium also announced that a national gerosciene congress was scheduled for next year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 20:19:47|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli tension in the West Bank has resulted from the absence of a political process for peace and the United States' weakening role as a mediator, observers have said. Six Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in a series of incidents in the West Bank and East Jerusalem beginning this month, including four in the past two days. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and two others were wounded, one of them seriously, in a Tarif shooting near the settlement of East Ramallah on Thursday -- the fourth shooting within the past two months in the West Bank. Besides the shooting, the region has also seen an escalation in stabbings and assaults carried out by Palestinians. Hani al-Masri, director general of Masarat, the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, attributed the current tension to certain Israeli practices, especially the expansion of settlements, and "insults" to the Palestinian Authority. He listed field killings, arrests, house demolitions and "racist" laws among factors that are fueling tension or inviting retaliation in the region. The expert predicts a further escalation of tension in the coming days, the severity of which depends on reactions from both sides. "It is not easy to go to an open confrontation, especially as the Palestinian Authority continues to bet on political action, negotiations and popular resistance," he added. Israel has accused the Islamic Hamas Movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, of masterminding the recent attacks on the Israeli army and settlers in the West Bank. A senior Israeli official said on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed messages on Thursday to Hamas via Egypt and other channels that Israel cannot have a cease-fire in Gaza should tensions in the West Bank continue. The official said that Netanyahu also conveyed messages to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, demanding that the Palestinian security services avoid anti-Israel operations in the West Bank. "The events in the West Bank reflect the deterioration of the relationship between the Palestinians and Israelis which is caused by Israel's continued disregard for the rights of the Palestinian people and the agreements signed between the two sides," Ghassan al-Khatib, a political science professor at Birzeit University in Ramallah, told Xinhua. "I think ...this deterioration will continue, especially in the absence of a third-party role that used to intervene in previous circumstances when the relationship between the parties deteriorated," he added. The professor warned that the United States' siding with Israel means it "can no longer play a role of a mediator between the two sides," giving rise to a "political vacuum." The Palestinian Authority has boycotted the U.S. government since last December, when President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city. The Palestinians have also called for holding an international conference to resume the peace process based on a multiple sponsorship mechanism. The last direct peace negotiations between the two sides halted in April 2014 after being sponsored by the United States for nine months. The talks led to no tangible results due to differences on major issues like settlement, security, borders and the recognition of the Palestinian State. The Palestinians have also warned over the past few months they would suspend their recognition of Israel and halt security coordination with the Israeli government in response to the U.S. policy. "What is happening now is an extension of a new stage that began three years ago, based on the Palestinian popular response to Israeli plans and Washington's approach and moving from a mediator to Israel's partner undermining the Palestinian rights," Khalil Shahin, a political observer from Ramallah, told Xinhua. Shahin said that as long as the Israeli aggression continues, the Palestinians at the grassroots level will be forced to resist as they did in the previous uprisings. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 20:49:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 26 fighters from the Taliban, the Islamic State (IS) and government forces have been killed in the conflict-ridden Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, officials said Saturday. The government forces in the latest crackdown against anti-government insurgents air-bombed Taliban hideouts in Qala-e-Zal district of northern Kunduz province on Saturday, killing four insurgents on the spot and injuring two others, an army spokesman in northern region Ghulam Hazrat Karimi said. According to Karimi, a Taliban group commander Mullah Nawab is also among those killed in the air raids. Similarly, the government forces backed by fighting aircrafts pounded the hideouts of the IS outfit in Haska Mina district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, killing 10 armed militants including two group commanders namely Zahid and Khalid on the spot, and injuring several others, provincial administration spokesman Ataullah Khogiani said. In an identical operation, government forces targeted Taliban hideout in Faizabad district of northern Jawzjan province on Friday evening, killing five militants including a shadow district governor Qari Mohammad Rasoul on the spot, provincial police chief Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani confirmed. However, Taliban militants, in counter-attacks, stormed security checkpoints outside Jawzjan provincial capital Shiberghan in the wee hours of Saturday, killing seven security personnel and wounding five others, deputy to provincial police chief Kamaludin Yawar said. In the same way, a Taliban attack against police in northern Takhar province injured two policemen including district police chief for the restive Ashkamish district on Friday evening, provincial government spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hajri said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 20:54:53|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States military said it conducted an airstrike in Somalia on Saturday, killing eight al-Shabab terrorists. The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said the no civilian was killed in the latest drone strike which was carried out in coordination with Somali government in the vicinity of Gandarshe, about 48km southwest of Mogadishu. "We currently assess this airstrike killed eight militants with no civilians involved," said the U.S. army in a statement. "This airstrike was conducted in close coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia to degrade al-Shabab's freedom of movement and to increase pressure on the terrorist network," it added. The U.S. army, which has been partnering with African Union peacekeeping troops and Somali forces, said it's committed to preventing al-Shabab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia. "In particular, the group uses portions of southern and central Somalia to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists," said Africom. It said the American forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to protect the Somali people, including partnered military counter-terror operations with its local and international partners. Somali and African Union peacekeeping forces have also intensified military operations against the insurgents, flushing them in their Lower and Middle Shabelle region bases as part of efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 20:59:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to the press after attending the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 15, 2018. China, Afghanistan and Pakistan reached broad consensus on trilateral cooperation during the foreign ministers' dialogue between the three sides, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday. (Xinhua/Dai He) KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China called here Saturday for new steps and new breakthroughs in pushing forward the Afghan peace process. Speaking to the press after attending the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said peace is the strong desire of the Afghan people and the important precondition for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. China welcomes the peace initiatives put forward by the Afghan government and appreciates the assistance the international community has provided for the peace process in Afghanistan, Wang said, adding China supports all efforts aimed at bringing an end to the war and conflict and realizing peace in Afghanistan. The reconciliation in Afghanistan is ultimately a matter of the Afghan people, and Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and the will of the Afghan people should be fully respected. The principle of the inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process which is recognized by the international community and the Untied Nations Security Council should be honestly implemented, Wang said. "We urge the Taliban in Afghanistan to respond to the peace initiatives and return to the negotiation table as soon as possible." Wang said China is a good neighbor of Afghanistan and helping Afghanistan achieve peace, stability and economic development is China's sincere desire. China is willing to continue using its advantages to serve as a supporter, mediator and participant of Afghanistan's reconciliation on the basis of respecting the will of all the parties in Afghanistan, he said. Pakistan is an important neighbor of Afghanistan and China is willing to work together with Afghanistan, Pakistan and the international community to push forward the peace process in the war-torn country for new breakthroughs, Wang added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 21:14:57|Editor: ZX Video Player Close VIENNA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China has changed incredibly over the last four decades and will do well to continue the reform and opening-up policy launched by late leader Deng Xiaoping, former Austrian President Heinz Fischer has said. China in 1974 was on the same footing with countries in Latin America or North Africa where technical equipments were insufficient, medical care at low level, and peasants lived a poor life, Fischer told Xinhua in a recent written interview, recalling his first visit to China as a young Austrian member of parliament. In Beijing and Shanghai, houses of one or two stories were predominant, while the Beijing Hotel was one of the tallest buildings in the Chinese capital, Fischer said. Over the last 40 years, China has been growing at a fast pace, and is now in competition with the world's leading industrialized countries, said Fischer, who visited China 10 times between 1974 and 2017. As a jurist, Fischer attached great importance to the progress that China has made on the rule of law. After leaving office in July 2016, Fischer started to serve as president of the Austria-China Friendship Association (ACFA). The ACFA held a symposium with a delegation of the China Society for Human Rights Studies in Vienna in June. The two sides will meet again next year. A well-dosed re-evaluation of Confucius also seems to be important, Fischer said. In a turbulent world, the love for peace upheld by Confucius and his idea of a large, harmonious -- and for the time being added -- equal international community is of great importance, he said. Fischer believes that people should not limit themselves to a single cultural theory and Chinese and Western knowledge should complement each other. A further opening of China on the basis of reciprocity is to the advantage of all participants in the international arena, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 21:14:58|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to the press after attending the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 15, 2018. China, Afghanistan and Pakistan reached broad consensus on trilateral cooperation during the foreign ministers' dialogue between the three sides, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday. (Xinhua/Dai He) KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China, Afghanistan and Pakistan reached broad consensus on trilateral cooperation during the foreign ministers' dialogue between the three sides, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday. Wang made the remarks when speaking to the press after attending the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue in Kabul. Firstly, the three sides agreed to make use of the foreign ministers' dialogue and relevant mechanisms to strengthen coordination and communication in planning and promoting trilateral cooperation in various fields, Wang said. Secondly, amid important opportunities in Afghanistan's reconciliation process, the three sides are willing to strengthen coordination and push for the Taliban's early return to the negotiation table and reintegration into mainstream politics, Wang said. Afghanistan is willing to continue push forward the peace plan and push for the resume of peace talks, while China and Pakistan firmly support the Inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process, he said. Thirdly, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to further improve bilateral ties, implement the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, boost positive interactions in political, military, economic and security fields, handle disputes through friendly consultation, and properly manage temporarily intractable differences to avoid undermining the improvement of the bilateral ties, said Wang. Fourthly, the three sides committed to a tightened trilateral cooperation, promising to explore possibilities for projects regarding people's livelihood and transportation infrastructures, on the basis of personnel exchanges and training, Wang said. Fifthly, the three sides agreed to promote the construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiatives in a bid to boost regional connectivity and economic development, said the Chinese top diplomat. China and Pakistan supported Afghanistan to make itself a regional pivot by giving a full play of its geographical advantages and to benefit from regional cooperative projects including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he noted. Sixthly, the three sides also vowed to implement the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Counter-Terrorism, enhance dialogues on counter-terrorism policies and push forward pragmatic counter-terrorism cooperation, while taking a strong and firm stand against terrorist organizations including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, said Wang. China would offer support and help to Afghanistan and Pakistan regarding counter-terrorism causes and cooperation, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 21:45:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- As Turkey announces an imminent cross-border operation to eliminate the U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria, analysts differ on whether the move would face opposition from Washington and lead to a clash with U.S. troops. DIVERGENT VIEWS "The possibility of a clash between Turkish and U.S. troops is nonexistent," Erdogan Karakus, a former general in the Turkish Air Force, told Xinhua. Noting Washington's special envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, was in Ankara last week, he said, "The U.S. appears to have given the green light to a limited operation." Turkey sees the presence of the Kurdish militia, known as the People's Protection Units (YPG), along its border in northeastern Syria as an existential threat. Ankara has long stated its opposition to a "terror corridor" along its border and repeatedly urged Washington to stop arming the fighters. The threat of a military operation was made most strongly on Wednesday by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as he spoke of an operation within a few days to kick the Kurdish militia from the eastern part of the Euphrates River. The U.S., which has supported the YPG as a ground force against the Islamic State during the Syrian war, has several thousands of troops and around 20 bases in the Kurdish area. "Clashing with the U.S. troops would be inevitable," argued Haldun Solmazturk, a former army general. He maintained that the U.S. would neither withdraw its troops nor remain silent even on a limited operation, as Washington is now bounded by its previous statements indicating opposition to a military operation against the YPG. U.S. officials had stated that Washington would stand by its Kurdish ally in case of an attack. Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson said on the same day Erdogan talked about Ankara's plan that any military operation into Syria's northeast would be a grave concern for Washington, particularly because some U.S. personnel may come under fire, and that any "uncoordinated military operations" would harm shared interests. In Karakus' view, the Pentagon discourse is to save appearances. "It is natural that the Pentagon would like to show in its discourse that it will stand by the YPG," he said. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are spearheaded by the YPG, vowed that it would fiercely fight against a Turkish intervention. The SDF is estimated to have 60,000-70,000 fighters trained by the U.S. President Erdogan had a phone call with his American counterpart Donald Trump on Friday evening, in which they reportedly agreed to have a more effective coordination regarding Syria. The phone conversation came after Erdogan once again voiced Ankara's determination to eliminate the terror threat on the eastern side of the Euphrates if the U.S. would not do it. The Turkish leader also warned that the Turkish military would drive the Kurdish militia from Manbij, a Syrian town on the western bank of the Euphrates, if the U.S. fails to do so. In the view of Solmazturk, Erdogan's remarks signaling U.S. troops would not be targeted have no significance once the operation begins, as it would be impossible to predict how things progress on the ground thereafter. Arguing Ankara's discourse may well be politically oriented, he stated, "The U.S. may take some symbolic steps -- sort of concessions without much value -- to strengthen Ankara's hand ahead of the upcoming local elections." Turkey is scheduled to have local elections at the end of March next year. OPERATION IMMINENT? Turkish jets hit targets linked to the YPG in northern Iraq on Thursday evening. Iraq's north, where the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has bases, serves as a corridor linking the PKK and the YPG. Ankara says the YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK, which has been fighting since 1984 for an autonomous, if not independent, Kurdistan in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast. The announcement of the operation several days in advance is Ankara's message for Washington to take measures to protect its troops from being harmed, said Murat Bilhan, a former diplomat. The U.S. has built lately some observation posts on the Syrian side of the Turkish border, which it said would prevent the YPG from posing any threat to Turkey. Bilhan does not think the U.S. would intervene to block a Turkish operation against the Kurdish militia. "The U.S. would not wish to have Turkey as yet another hostile power against itself in Syria," observed Bilhan, who serves as the vice chairman of the Istanbul-based Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies. Russia and Iran, supporters of the Syrian government, have insisted on U.S. forces leaving Syria, while Turkey has avoided criticizing U.S presence in Syria. "The U.S. cannot afford to lose Turkey which is a regional ally with much strategic importance," said Karakus. "That's why it would not say no to an operation." In contrast, Solmazturk, who heads the Incek debates at the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute, feels that the West would stand by the Kurdish militia rather than siding with Ankara, since the West plans to create a Kurdish state in the region. Russia would not be pleased with Turkey's operation against the YPG either, Solmazturk said, arguing Moscow would not wish to lose the Kurds either. It is widely estimated that Turkey's operation would primarily aim to disconnect the two YPG cantons along the border and prevent the militia from getting logistical support from northern Iraq. Despite threats already made, Solmazturk does not think Ankara would launch an offensive against the YPG. He stated that it would be a totally adventurous move putting Turkey on a shaky ground as Ankara lacks a sound political target in Syria. Other than Manbij, the Kurdish militia has established two self-declared autonomous cantons on the eastern part of the Euphrates during the war. The Turkish military has launched two operations inside Syria since 2016, targeting the Islamic State and the Kurdish militia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 21:50:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ROME, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Demolition of the remains of the Morandi Bridge, a busy highway viaduct in the northwestern port city of Genoa whose August 14 collapse killed 43 people, has officially begun, Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci, who also serves as bridge reconstruction commissioner, announced Saturday. In a statement posted on Twitter, Bucci called the inauguration of the demolition site "a key step, demonstrating "we intend to keep our promise: to have a new bridge ready by Christmas 2019". Giovanni Toti, governor of the Liguria region where Genoa is located, tweeted photos of the official inauguration of the demolition site, which was attended by Bucci and Deputy Infrastructure Minister Edoardo Rixi. Wearing hardhats, the officials can be seen inspecting the site and shaking hands with the workers who will take apart what is left of the viaduct. Bucci has entrusted the demolition job, which should give way to reconstruction by March, to a consortium of five companies, and it will cost a total of 19 million euros (21.5 million U.S. dollars), according to the mayor's statement and RAI News 24 public broadcaster. Bucci has already chosen which consortium will rebuild the bridge, and will make his decision known via a decree by December 18, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The Morandi Bridge was a vital piece of infrastructure built in the 1960s that linked Genoa's busy industrial port with the rest of the city, the region, and Europe. It fell apart on a busy day in mid-August, causing dozens of deaths of men, women and children. Over 200 families were displaced from their homes below the bridge and hundreds of local businesses were devastated, causing direct and indirect damages of 422 million euros in the wake of the collapse, the city of Genoa said in November. Rebuilding the bridge is an economic priority, because its absence is costing Genoa and Italy's wealthy industrial northwest 784 million euros a year in lost gross domestic product (GDP), Confindustria, a Italian industrialists association, said in a November report. According to a joint Confindustria-Genoa Chamber of Commerce study out last month, the absence of the bridge will cause estimated losses of 178 million euros a year in added value for the port, plus 117 million in losses for the tourist sector and 54 million in losses to industrial activities. In addition, with every year that goes by without a new bridge, Genoa residents will shell out 64 million euros annually in extra commuting costs, while the city will suffer a 27-million-euro reduction in consumer spending, Confindustria analysts said. A criminal investigation into the causes and responsibilities behind the collapse is ongoing. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 21:50:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TOKYO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki pledged Saturday to continue the fight to block the central government's controversial plan to relocate a U.S. military base within the island prefecture despite recent setbacks. "Dialogue will continue, but when fight is needed, we will fight," said Tamaki when addressing a gathering of citizens protesting against the Futenma base relocation plan. "Although it might be difficult to win, we will never cave in," said the governor who was elected in September on a platform of opposing the relocation plan and lessening Okinawa's base-hosting burdens. The governor intimated earlier that the prefectural government still had ways to halt the construction work for the relocation plan, including not giving approval to specific ground improvement work the central government may need to conduct inside the landfill site, and holding a prefectural referendum in February next year. The central government, meanwhile, continued Saturday unilateral landfill work that began a day earlier for building replacement facility for the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, despite angry protests from local people. Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya reiterated Saturday the central government's commitment to pushing forward the relocation plan, claiming that it is "not for the Japan-U.S. alliance but for the Japanese people." More than 100 citizens gathered Saturday in front of the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Schwab near which the replacement facility will be built, calling for halting the "illegal landfill work." Okinawa hosts the bulk of U.S. bases in Japan while accounting for only 0.6 percent of the country's total land mass. Japan's central government has planned to transfer the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the Henoko coastal area of Nago from a crowded residential district in Ginowan, Okinawa, saying that it is "the only solution" for removing the dangers posed by the base without undermining the Japan-U.S. alliance. The Okinawa people, however, have called for the base to be removed from the prefecture and be moved out of Japan, complaining of sufferings caused by aircraft noise, crimes committed by the U.S. servicemen as well as safety concerns. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 22:15:07|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Palestinian artist Walaa Abu al-Eish uses cooking spices to create an alternative painting in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 9, 2018. A Palestinian woman from the Gaza Strip nontraditionally uses fruit and spices as tools for paintings in a sophisticated and interesting way. The experience of artist Walaa Abu al-Eish, 24, is unprecedented, especially as she developed her skills through online research after graduating from the Faculty of Fine Arts of a local university in Gaza. (Xinhua/Stringer) GAZA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian woman from the Gaza Strip nontraditionally uses fruit and spices as tools for paintings in a sophisticated and interesting way. The experience of artist Walaa Abu al-Eish, 24, is unprecedented, especially as she developed her skills through online research after graduating from the Faculty of Fine Arts of a local university in Gaza. Al-Eish, who lives with her parents and nine brothers in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, told Xinhua she showed drawing talent when she was young and has been working hard on developing her painting skills. "I learned a lot and made many paintings with oil, water and charcoal colors and I used all the drawing and art tools," she said. "It happened to me by chance when I could not remove a spot of pomegranate juice from my shirt, so I extracted the color from a pomegranate fruit and painted with it. It turned out to be beautiful," she explained. She later searched on the internet for videos of drawing using natural materials and fruits, before finding spices that served her well in coloring her paintings. She added that the smell of spices attracted her as they gave the paintings a distinctive touch of art. "Smell lasts even after a long period of time," she said. Using spices such as cumin, cinnamon and pomegranate, she replaces the high-priced materials with cheaper ones. "I used spices to replace normal colors because they cost a lot of money. The Israeli blockade blocks the entry of many things and drawing tools are rare," she complained. Al-Eish noted that each type of tools and colors is different from another in the way of use, adding that spices need special drawing paper to absorb the colors so they will remain longer. "After many attempts, I managed to draw on the biscuit paper, which gave a natural touch to the painting, and over time the painting retained the smell of spices, which distinguished the painting from the others," she said. She drew prominent Palestinian figures and paintings bearing messages about the Palestinian cause and national and social concerns. She has won first place in a local exhibition on the Palestinian Earth Day, a renowned national Palestinian occasion. She also participated in a number of local exhibitions related to national events such as the Palestinian Nakba, or catastrophe, and the Israeli blockade which has been imposed on the Gaza Strip since mid-2007. Along with painting, al-Eish recently started carpentry and woodworks, which were among the most important subjects during her college studies. "This has also attracted me to make paintings in a different way," she said. She started to produce simple woodworks at her family's home. She is marketing her pieces through social networking sites, which later enabled her to work as a carpenter trainer in a local institution. Al-Eish took advantage of her tools she has at the institution's workshop to develop her talent by producing paintings that combine wood and embroidery. Despite her success, her professional road is not garnished with roses, as the society views her work as male only. "My success made those who criticized me be impressed by my work," she said, adding that she is happy to be a working woman who earns an income in light of the low unemployment rate in the impoverished Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 61 percent of young graduates in the Gaza Strip suffer from unemployment. "I hope I will start my own store where I can sell my artworks," she added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 22:20:08|Editor: ZX Video Player Close HANGZHOU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- German markets regulator BaFin has ended its investigation into the purchase of Daimler's stake by Chinese carmaker Geely and decided not to impose fines against Geely over disclosure practices, the Chinese company said Saturday. Citing investigation results, Geely said it strictly followed German laws and regulations in its acquisition of a 9.7-percent stake in Daimler AG for 9.2 billion dollars and disclosed information timely and accurately. The Chinese auto maker added that it has been cooperating with BaFin in the investigation into the transaction. BaFin said in February that it was reviewing whether Geely's acquisition of Daimler's stake was in line with Germany's disclosure rules. Geely, headquartered in eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, is best-known for reviving the Volvo brand. The Swedish-Chinese brand has enjoyed a renaissance since Geely acquired the brand several years ago. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 22:40:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close A Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplane is delivered to Air China at a ceremony held at Boeing Zhoushan 737 Completion and Delivery Center in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 15, 2018. Boeing Zhoushan 737 Completion and Delivery Center in east China's Zhejiang Province delivered its first plane of the 737 family to Air China on Saturday. The delivery marked the U.S. aerospace giant and its Chinese partner Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd (COMAC) put into operation of their joint plant, the first such Boeing facility outside the United States. The 737 MAX 8 airplane was assembled at Boeing's Renton plant in the United States. It flied to China's coastal city of Zhoushan and received the completion works. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) ZHOUSHAN, Zhejiang, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Boeing Zhoushan 737 Completion and Delivery Center in east China's Zhejiang Province delivered its first plane of the 737 family to Air China on Saturday. The delivery marked the U.S. aerospace giant and its Chinese partner Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd (COMAC) put into operation of their joint plant, the first such Boeing facility outside the United States. The 737 MAX 8 airplane was assembled at Boeing's Renton plant in the United States. It flied to China's coastal city of Zhoushan and received the completion works. "The moment signifies our growing partnership with China that stretches back over nearly half a century," said Kevin McAllister, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Zhao Yuerang, president of COMAC, said this opened a new era of the collaboration between the two airplane manufacturers. The Boeing Zhoushan project includes two parts -- a Boeing 737 completion center and the delivery center. In the Boeing-COMAC joint completion center, Boeing 737 family aircraft will receive interior installation, painting, maintenance and delivery. It took only around 20 months for the Boeing Zhoushan project to put into operation after the ground-breaking in May 2017. Its maximum capacity is the annual completion and delivery of 100 airplanes of the 737 family. In 2017, Boeing delivered 202 new airplanes to Chinese customers, representing 26 percent of its global commercial aircraft deliveries. China is now the world's second largest civil aviation market. By the end of last year, the country's in-service civil aviation fleet reached 3,296. The International Air Transport Association forecasts that China will be the largest civil aviation market by the mid-2020s. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 22:50:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met here Saturday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with both sides expressing willingness to deepen cooperation and combat terrorism. Wang said the Chinese side is willing to work with the Afghan side to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and push forward the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership for further development. Afghanistan is China's important partner to jointly implement the Belt and Road Initiative, and China is willing to expand bilateral trade and investment with Afghanistan and help Afghanistan speed up its reconstruction and development process, Wang said. China appreciates Afghanistan's efforts in fighting the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, and will continue to offer support and help for Afghanistan's anti-terrorism capacity building, he said. Wang said the Chinese side appreciates the measures of the Afghan government in promoting the reconciliation process and supports the international community to play a constructive role on the matter. China is willing to work with Afghanistan and Pakistan to seriously implement the results achieved at the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, promote the continuous improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and further push forward the development of the trilateral cooperation. For his part, Ghani said his country is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China, expand trade and increase personnel training. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Counter-Terrorism signed by Afghanistan, China and Pakistan will strongly push forward the regional anti-terrorism cooperation, and the Afghan side will continue to firmly strike all forms of terrorism, the Afghan president said. Wang also met with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah here on Saturday. The Chinese state councilor said the two countries have witnessed friendly development of bilateral relations thanks to the support from the leaders of both sides and the two peoples. China is willing to work with Afghanistan to further strengthen personnel training, enhance local-level cooperation, improve people's livelihood, steadily advance the aid programs for Afghanistan and further push forward the cooperation in all fields between the two sides, he said. Wang said the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue has achieved positive results and reached consensus. On the basis of fully respecting the willingness of the Afghan side, China is willing to continue playing a constructive role and support the Afghan government in pushing forward the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process so as to achieve the inclusive political reconciliation at an early date. China appreciates the progress achieved in the improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, supports the two countries to strengthen dialogue, promote mutual trust and continue to improve bilateral relations. China is willing to work together with the two countries to deepen anti-terrorism cooperation and fight terrorism in all forms, Wang said. Abdullah, for his part, said the two countries have witnessed the sound development of bilateral ties with cooperation in every sector yielding fruitful results. Afghanistan will continue to support China on issues concerning China's core interests, Abdullah said. Afghanistan is devoted to pushing forward the peace process in the country and is willing to continue improving ties with Pakistan, Abdullah added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 23:00:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LAGOS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian Army has reversed a decision to suspend activities of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) from the restive northeast part of the country. The army premised its rethink on intervention by stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians, Onyema Nwachukwu, a military spokesperson said in a statement reaching Xinhua on Saturday. The army had accused the organization of "sabotaging the counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts of troops," and slammed on Friday a three-month suspension on its activities in the northeast region, which was heavily hit by insurgence of Boko Haram. According to the latest statement, the army convened and held an emergency meeting with representatives of UNICEF on Friday evening. During the meeting, the army "admonished the representatives of the organization to desist from activities inimical to Nigeria's national security and capable of undermining the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency," said the statement. The army also urged UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with "relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre." Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria, killing some 20,000 people and displacing millions of others. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 23:15:16|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will step down at the end of this year. "Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years," the president tweeted. In a follow-up tweet, Trump added that his administration will announce a new secretary of the interior next week. The president did not give a reason for Zinke's departure, but the official, a champion of Trump's environment policy, has been engulfed by several investigations involving alleged managerial misconduct and conflicts of interest. The most serious of the allegations, according to U.S. media reports, focuses on whether Zinke used his power as interior secretary to gain personal profit in a land deal in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 23:20:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The cooperation between the Arab world and China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has yielded positive results over the past few years, including the publishing sector. One of the successful experiences in this field is a digital platform called "That's Books" created by China Intercontinental Press, which has obtained over 10,000 digital licenses from 100 Arabic local publishing houses to post their Arabic e-books and audio books. "On the platform of That's Books, you can find Chinese books translated into Arabic as well as original Arabic books given by Arab publishing houses," Liang Chuang, content manager at China Intercontinental Press told Xinhua on the sidelines of the International Beirut Book Fair 2018. That's Books, first launched in Sharjah International Book Fair in 2017, aims at building a strong Chinese brand in the world publishing sector, according to Liang. "We had initially an interest to increase the penetration of Chinese books into the Arab market," said Liang, adding that "when we participated in the international book fair, Arabic publishers asked us to place their e-books on the platform." Now, That's Books plays an important part in exchanging and cooperation between Arabic and Chinese publishers, he said. As Amazon and other applications do not support Arabic e-books, That's Books provided a channel to Arabic e-books to reach the whole world, according to Liang. Since the start of the BRI, Chinese people have been more interested in the Arabic Language. Many more colleges and universities have set up Arabic language schools this year, he said. "The Chinese government has also subsidized the translation of Chinese books into Arabic and vice versa," added Liang. "We also noticed a great demand by Lebanese people in the book fair for books that teach Chinese language," he said. Digital Future Company, a publishing house in Lebanon cooperating with lots of Chinese publishing houses in the cultural and education fields, distributes Chinese books in different Arab countries. Mohamad Khatib, manager of the Digital Future Company, told Xinhua that his company has published more than 250 Chinese books translated to Arabic till now and currently have 250 other books that are being translated in different fields. "We also sold more than 500,000 books of Chinese origin translated to Arabic in the Arab world," he added. Khatib said that this kind of cooperation has created a bridge between the Chinese society and the Arab world. The BRI transferred the Chinese culture to the rest of the world, in particular, to the Arab world which created a bond and mutual understanding of Arab and China. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 23:20:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SARAJEVO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and 17 others injured when a bus overturned on Saturday morning near the city of Nevesinje, 165 km southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH's) capital Sarajevo. There were 23 people in the bus which transferred passengers from the Serbian capital Belgrade to the city of Mostar in BiH, Vanja Antelj, spokesperson of Nevesinje Police Administration told local media on Saturday. The accident happened at 8 a.m. local time when the driver lost control over the vehicle due to the icy road and the bus overturned into a pitch. Two citizens of Serbia, 66-year-old woman and 48-year-old man, were killed and 17 others were injured, of which five were in severe condition, local hospital confirmed to the media. The injured mainly had fractures and frostbites. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 00:05:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Nepali Congress party convened its top level meeting on Saturday to discuss future development after a defeat in the country's recent elections, party leaders said. Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the party, inaugurated the five-day meeting of Mahasamiti, the highest policy-making body of the party, in the Nepali capital with the presence of hundreds of party leaders, cadres and well-wishers. Addressing the event, Deuba vowed to bolster the party's image by bringing internal reforms. The crucial meeting of the party, currently the major opposition in the parliament, took place after a gap of six years, the party leaders said. The party leaders will hold deliberation on the party's future course of action during the meeting, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, the party's spokesperson, told Xinhua on Saturday. The Nepali Congress party suffered a defeat in the provincial and parliament elections in 2017. This is the 12th Mahasamiti meeting of the Nepali Congress party since its inception in 1950. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 00:40:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has revealed preparations to honor its former long-serving president Girma Wolde-Giorgis with state funeral as tributes continued to flow following his death on Saturday. Wolde-Giorgis, who was the East African country's president for more than decade until 2013, passed away in the early hours of Saturday at the age of 94. Following the announcement of his death by state-run broadcaster early Saturday, tributes have continued to pour in from various walks of lives, including senior Ethiopian government officials. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in his message of condolence that followed the death of the veteran politician with more than 50 years of service in higher government posts, said that Wolde-Giorgis "will be laid to rest in a state funeral." The premier also said that details of the former president' state funeral will be shared soon through a national committee that has been formed to oversee the memorial service. "It is with deep sadness that I share the passing," Ahmed said in his message. Wolde-Giorgis had been Ethiopia's president for twelve years from 2001 to 2013. He had also performed various state duties throughout the country in different capacities for many years. "President Girma rendered his service to people and country through his knowledge and experience with an exceptional sense of service and determination, making him a role model for many," Ahmed said. Ahmed also extended "sincere condolences" to the family of Wolde-Giorgis as well as to the people of Ethiopia. Wolde-Giorgis, with a military background in the Ethiopian Air Force, had served his country in various senior positions since the imperial period of Haile Selassie I, the last emperor of Ethiopia. The late president had also served as the head of civil aviation in the federated government of Eritrea in 1955, as well as the director-general of the Ethiopian civil aviation in 1958. Wolde-Giorgis was also appointed as the director-general of the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Planning following his service at the Ethiopian civil aviation. In 1961, he was elected to the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, where he served as president for three consecutive years. Apart from serving in government positions, Wolde-Giorgis had also an important role in a number of non-governmental organizations in Ethiopia, including board member of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and president of the Eritrean branch of the Ethiopian Red Cross. Regarded as one of Ethiopia's long-serving leaders as well as a renowned philanthropy, Wolde-Giorgis was survived by his five children. Wolde-Giorgis, after serving two consecutive terms as president of Ethiopia since 2001, stepped down in 2013 and was succeeded by former President Mulatu Teshome, who resigned in Oct. this year. The east African nation on Oct. 25 had elected its first female President Sahle-Work Zewde following the resignation of Teshome. This combination of file pictures shows (L) President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan deliverling a speech during a meeting in Ankara, on January 26, 2018 and U.S. President Donald Trump (L) looking on during a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, July 30, 2018.(Xihua/AFP) WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday talked with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over phone on Friday, as unusual war of words has erupted between the two NATO allies over U.S. military presence in Syria. The two presidents "discussed bilateral issues, including the security concerns of Turkey and the United States in Syria and the fight against terrorism," according to a statement issued by White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders. Trump and Erdogan agreed to continue coordinating to "achieve our respective security objectives in Syria," the statement read, without further details about the call. A separate statement issued earlier by the Turkish presidency noted that during the call, Erdogan expressed Turkey's legitimate concern over the presence and actions of People's Protection Units (YPG) and other Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Also on Friday, Erdogan said during an international conference in Istanbul that his country has run "out of patience" with the United States over its support for the Kurdish militia in Syria, threatening a renewed military offensive soon and the seizure of the northern Syrian town Manbij if Washington fails to remove the YGP from the area. "We will no longer tolerate a single day of delay. We are determined to bring peace and security to areas in the east of the Euphrates," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkish troops will be marching soon into northern Syria to "free the east of the Euphrates from the separatist terrorist organization." In an unusually harsh response, the Pentagon said hours later on Friday that "unilateral military action into northeast Syria by any party, particularly as U.S. personnel may be present or in the vicinity, is of grave concern. We would find any such actions unacceptable." "Uncoordinated military operations will undermine that shared interest" of the U.S. and Turkish sides, it added. Ankara has long regarded the YPG as Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party that has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, arguing that its presence along Turkey's southern border poses a serious security threat to Ankara. Turkish and U.S. forces last month started joint patrols in Manbij. In a separate move, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Nov. 21 that the U.S. military is building observation posts along the Turkey-Syria border, in an effort widely seen to reduce tension with Turkey. However, such efforts appeared to have been made in vain after the Turkish Armed Forces fired artillery shells at YPG positions east of the Euphrates in northern Syria last month. Ankara accused Washington of dragging its feet on implementing a deal brokered with Turkey to clear Kurdish fighters from the small town of Manbij near the Turkish border. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 01:40:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry welcomed the recent preliminary agreement between the conflicting Yemeni sides as "promising" for continuation of talks, Tehran Times daily reported on Saturday. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the Yemeni parties had reached an agreement on ceasefire in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. "This agreement shows that the Yemeni groups who attended the talks have understood the disastrous situation of the oppressed Yemeni people and prioritized humanitarian aid and prevention of the worsening the situation," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Bahram Qasemi, was quoted as saying. Qasemi expressed hope that the port city of Hodeidah and other Yemeni ports and airports, including Sanaa airport, would be prepared as soon as possible to receive humanitarian aid. "We hope the agreements would be implemented within the framework of the specified timeframe and provide necessary ground for the next round of talks in the near future to reach a final deal," he added. After a week of consultations in Sweden, the Yemeni warring parties agreed to stop fighting in the rebel-held port city of Hodeidah, on which millions of Yemenis depend for imports of food and fuel. Yemen has been in a civil war in the past three years, pitting Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition to support the Hadi government. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 01:55:40|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close CAIRO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) condemned in a statement on Saturday Australia's recent decision to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "The decision is a dangerous violation of the international legal status of the city of Jerusalem and the relevant legitimacy resolutions," Saeed Abu Ali, AL assistant secretary general for the occupied Palestinian and Arab lands, said in the statement. Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced earlier on Saturday his country's official recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, amid rejection of domestic opposition as well as Arab and Muslim condemnation. "The decision shows blatant bias toward the positions and policies of the Israeli occupation and encouragement of its practices and constant aggression," Abu Ali said. However, Morrison also announced his support for a future Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, reassuring that the Australian embassy will remain in Tel Aviv until the status of Jerusalem is determined under a peace deal between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on since the Western-backed creation of Israel by occupying Palestinian territories in 1948. The deadlock of the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis is largely attributed to the debatable status of Jerusalem, the issue of the Palestinian refugees and Israel's settlement expansion policy that has always been rejected even by its strongest ally, the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 04:05:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BUJUMBURA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Burundi will attend a forthcoming summit of heads of state of the six-member East African Community (EAC) due on Dec. 27 in Tanzania's Arusha, after it was postphoned due to Burundi's absence, Burundian president spokesperson Jean Claude Karerwa said Saturday. Burundi had enough time to prepare for the 20th summit of EAC heads of state, said Karerwa during a live radio program of spokespersons from Burundi's senior institutions. Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza may attend the summit or designate a senior government official to represent him, he said. The summit originally scheduled to start on Nov. 30 in Arusha was postponed due to a lack of quorum after the absence of representatives from Burundi. Nkurunziza had requested more time for preparing the summit in a letter to Ugandan President and EAC chairperson Yoweri Museveni. He said the invitation letter to the summit dated on Oct. 30 reached his office on Nov. 21, while the rules of procedures of EAC heads of state summit provide that an ordinary summit gives member states at least four weeks for preparation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 04:25:56|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close OSLO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Norway's major business organization expressed worry about increased risk of a chaotic British exit from the European Union (EU) and alerted Norwegian companies to be prepared for its consequences, online newspaper E24 reported Saturday. "There are chaotic conditions and we are very worried," said Tore Myhre, international director of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). According to Myhre, there is an increased chance of a "no deal" in case of chaotic British exit from the EU on March 29, 2019, which can lead to changes in equity and currency markets that can affect economic growth and the market for Norwegian companies. Norway is not a member of the EU but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). It remains subject to the same single market regulations and the fundamental principles of the free movement of goods, services, people and capital as the 28 full EU member states. "(For Norway) It means even greater uncertainty and even greater risk of the British leaving the EU and the EEA without any agreement. Then there can be chaos on the boundaries," Myhre said. "We might get new customs duties on goods overnight and we may risk that approvals, certifications and contracts are no longer valid," he said, adding that NHO has "urged Norwegian authorities to work actively to put in place temporary emergency solutions that could prevent some of the worst results." "We have the impression that the Norwegian authorities work well with this, but uncertainty is about whether the UK has the capacity to make such agreements in the shortest time remaining," Myhre said. As for the Norwegian industries which might be affected by Brexit, Myhre mentioned finished goods manufacturers, furniture and seafood. "Then there may also be indirect effects by impacting subcontractors and value chains," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 04:25:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Navy on Saturday morning christened its new combat ship USS St. Louis in Marinette, Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said. The ship, designated LCS 19, is a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, meaning it is designed for operation in near-shore environments as well as the open-ocean. Senator Roy Blunt from the U.S. state of Missouri attended the ceremony, and Barbara Taylor, wife of Chairman of Enterprise Holdings Andy Taylor, christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow, conformed with the Navy's tradition, the DoD said in a press release. The christening ceremony also marks the formal commencement of the ship's combat duty. It will carry a crew of 50 to 75 sailors, according to U.S. media reports. "This christening marks the transition of USS St. Louis being a mere hull number to a ship with a name and a spirit, and is a testament to the increased lethality and readiness made possible by the combined effort between our industrial partners and the Navy and Marine Corps team," Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer was quoted by the DoD as saying. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 04:25:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- While around 50 "yellow vests" protesters began demonstrating in Brussels for the third time Saturday, the far-right party Nation made an unwelcomed presence around 3 p.m. The Belgian newspaper Le Soir reported that the far-right Nation party had made a formal request for the right to demonstrate in the streets of Brussels, which was refused at the last moment by the mayor of Ixelles. The yellow vests, whose actions are motivated by rising fuel prices and high cost of living in Belgium, denounced the movements of the far-right Nation party for altering the purpose of the protests. Blocked by the police at Arts-Loi, Saturday's protesters were evacuated to the Luxembourg station district in central Brussels, escorted by an important security device. The police filtered access to train stations, where around 50 arrests were carried out in the previous weeks. The police has advised people not to go to the city centre of Brussels until the protests are over. Last Saturday, the police administratively arrested 450 people and judicially arrested ten others. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 04:46:01|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close "Yellow Vests" protesters gather at the Opera Square in Paris, France, on Dec. 15, 2018. French government planned tough security measures by mobilizing thousands of officers and using armored vehicles to handle more threats of violence as "Yellow Vests" are set to stage a fresh round of nationwide protests on Saturday, despite President Emmanuel Macron's measures seeking to quell public anger over poor revenue and soaring living costs. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) PARIS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people wearing yellow vests took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest against rising fuel prices and high costs of living. But the movement appeared to be waning days after French President Emmanuel Macron offered more concessions. By 6:00 pm local time (1700 GMT) on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said nationwide marches had mustered 66,000 participants compared to 125,000 on Dec. 8 at the corresponding time. In Paris, by 2:00 pm local time (1300 GMT) the number was put at 2,200, down from 10,000 a week ago. Saturday was the fifth weekend day of protests coordinated by "Yellow Vests", the high-visibility jackets all motorists in France carry in their cars, via social media against the French president's economic reform and fiscal strategy. Despite determination of some to continue the action, the movement seemed to have lost momentum. "The mobilization has weakened, which is from my point of view, it's necessary because it has been overwhelmingly responded to their demands and because the time for dialogue has come," Richard Ferrand, the National Assembly president told CNews television. Unlike the last weekends which have been marred by vandalism and violent scruffles with security forces, the fresh wave of countrywide protests were relatively calm. According to Paris prefecture, 168 people had been detained in the French capital, while more than 100 were still in police custody. Seven demonstrators were injured in Paris and several others were reported wounded in Nantes in southwestern France. Defying freezing temperatures, demonstrators walked in the Champs Elysees avenue, waving tricolor flags and chanting the national anthem and anti-Macron slogans under the watch of security forces poured massively in the capital to prevent chaotic situation that have dented the world top tourist destination for weeks. Some of them held a sit-in near the Palais de Tokyo museum in the 16th district of Paris after a brief standoff with anti-riot police who fired tear gas to push back the crowd which tried to break through security cordons. Gathered in the Opera square, they called for a "citizens' initiative referendum" to allow people to have stronger say to define the economic and social roadmap for the eurozone's second main powerhouse. By nightfall, security forces used water cannon to disperse the crowd in the Champs Elysees where traffic resumed and metro stations reopened after last protesters and small groups of troublemakers had quit the area. "Yellow Vests" movement began on Nov. 17 to denounce the squeeze on household spending triggered by the president's plan to hike fuel tax to encourage motorists to switch to cleaner vehicles. Despite having no leader, it has since turned into a bigger uprising which has lured people of all ages and backgrounds, with many criticizing the ex-investment banker for pursuing policies they say favor the rich and do nothing to help the poor. With the social action posing a serious challenge to his leadership, Macron had offered a series of concessions that began with a review of the rate of tax on diesel and petrol every three months to take into account changes in global prices. Failed to quell the anger, he capitulated earlier this month over plans for higher fuel taxes, his major U-turn since he took office about 18 months ago. In a televised address to the nation on Monday, the president offered more concessions to dampen social roar via "an economic and social emergency plan," offering an increase in minimum wages and tax breaks. He also decided tax-free status of overtime hour, cut taxes for pensioners and end-of-year bonus offered to workers. Two polls published on Tuesday, following Macron's concessions, showed almost half of people thought that the protests should end to pave the way for dialogue with the government. "France needs calm, order and a return to normal," the 40-year-old president told a news conference after a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels on Friday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 04:46:03|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close ACCRA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ghana and its northern neighbor Burkina Faso agreed here on Friday to deepen their bilateral and economic cooperation in various fields. The agreement came after a three-day Ghana-Burkina Faso Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation by 43 senior officials from Burkina Faso and 47 from the Ghanaian side. A press release issued early Saturday said Burkina Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Alpha Barry, and Ghana's Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation Anthony Akoto Osei signed on behalf of their governments four broad agreements for cooperation. "President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso have expressed very strong commitment to cooperate in all these sectors for the mutual benefit of our peoples," Akoto Osei said in his closing statement. He said the two countries are quite advanced in their discussion to team up in developing Railway Interconnectivity Project linking Ghana and Burkina Faso to ensure greater cross-border trade and regional integration. The two countries also reaffirmed the commitment to enhancing the long-standing and friendly bilateral relations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 05:16:07|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close HARARE, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 17th ZANU-PF annual national people's conference ended in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province on Saturday, with all Provinces endorsing President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the party's sole candidate for the next elections due in 2023. The conference was being held under the theme "Zimbabwe Is Open for Business: Peace, unity towards an Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030." Reading out the resolutions, Politburo member Jacob Mudenda said the party would start restructuring next year in preparation for the next elections. "All wings re-affirmed that first secretary of the party comrade Mnangagwa be the sole candidate of the party in the 2023 harmonised elections," he said to wild applause. Other resolutions passed included developing creative and relevant mobilisation strategies to attract the youth to join the party as well as youth organisations and associations and other affiliate groups who associate with ZANU-PF. All party members are also expected to be knowledgeable about the provisions of the party constitution and adhere to it. "(The conference also resolved) that the party put in place penalties for perpetrators of factionalism, tribalism, regionalism and similar vices that seek to advance the individual at the expense of the unity of the party," he said. On the economic front, the conference resolved that the government should adopt and implement zero tolerance to corruption and that the annual national people's conference be held before the national budget presentation, usually done in November, in order to allow the party to have some input into the budget process. The conference also recommended that government monitors the implementation of vision 2030 periodically and immediately creates an enabling environment for investment. The delegates further implored government to review the current taxation system to make it less punitive. In a brief address to the delegates, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said the conference had been fruitful. "We have met, discussed and formulated far reaching resolutions for our country for the year about to begin. I am sure all of you do agree that thanks to the excellent organisation by our host province of Matabeleland South we have had a very fruitful and emphatic end of year," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-16 06:01:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) granted Morocco 148 million euros to address the hike in irregular migration, Moroccan official MAP news agency reported Saturday. Granted as part of the EU emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the new funding is part of the EU's "continuous support" for Morocco's National Strategy on Migration and Asylum, the report said. Citing a statement from the European Commission, MAP said this funding "helps step up the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings, while improving the Moroccan authorities' capacity to manage their borders." The EU is intensifying its support to the kingdom to address irregular migration "in response to increased migratory pressure along the Western Mediterranean Route," the same source noted. According to the International Organization for Migration, 111,237 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea till now in 2018, including 55,206 irregular migrants through Spain's Mediterranean coasts. Since 2014, the EU has committed 232 million euros through different funds and instruments to support migration-related actions in Morocco. Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-15 06:17:41|Editor: mmm Video Player Close LONDON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May returned almost empty handed from Brussels Friday, knowing that on Monday she faces trying to convince MPs at Westminster that her under-fire Brexit deal can still succeed. With just over 100 days to go before Britain ends its 46 year membership of the European Union (EU), a future UK-EU trading relationship is far from winning the green light. NO GUARANTEES ON BACKSTOP May returned to 10 Downing Street Friday night after a so-called charm offensive to win more support for the Brexit deal she has brokered with the EU. Her reassuring words delivered at a press conference in Belgian capital failed to win over critical MPs at Westminster, with concerns that the EU has insisted that the Irish border safety net proposals, known as the backstop, must remain as part of the deal. May was unable to win any cast-iron guarantees that the backstop would never be applied. Both sides agreed that efforts will be made in a near two-year implementation period to reach a permanent future trade deal. If that fails, the EU has said even for a temporary period, Northern Ireland would have to follow EU rules rather than build a hard border with the neighboring Irish Republic. The Democratic Union Party (DUP) which helps give May's minority government at Westminster its slender majority, has insisted it will not accept a backstop. Their main concern is that it would mean different rules are applying in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the British mainland. In Brussels Friday, May said the EU had made it clear it is their firm determination to work speedily on a future relationship or alternative arrangements which ensure there is no hard border by Dec. 31, 2020 so the backstop will not need to be triggered. May added the EU stands ready to embark on preparations so that negotiations on the future partnership can start as soon as possible. She added that as the conclusions were formal, the EU commitments have legal status and therefore should be welcomed. "There is work still to do and we will be holding talks in coming days about how to obtain the further assurances that the UK Parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal," said May. CALL FOR BREXIT DEAL VOTE The main opposition Labour Party will press May in the House of Commons on Monday to give MPs a meaningful vote on her Brexit deal before Christmas. That would mean a vote before Thursday, with MPs heading home afterwards for the Christmas and New Year holiday. With politicians returning to Westminster on Jan. 7, May has promised a vote on the deal before a crucial deadline of Jan. 21. Labour Party poured cold water on what May had achieved during two days of talks with EU leaders and European heads of state. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The last twenty four hours have confirmed that Theresa May's Brexit deal is dead in the water." Corbyn said the prime minister had utterly failed in her attempts to deliver any meaningful changes to her botched deal. He added: "Rather than ploughing ahead and dangerously running down the clock, the Prime Minister needs to put her deal to a vote next week so Parliament can take back control." Tom Brake, Brexit spokesman for the minority Liberal Democrats, said: "Having watched the Prime Minister's botched attempt to negotiate with EU leaders, people up and down the country will be more concerned by Brexit than ever before." A 2ND REFERENDUM? AND POLITICAL STORM? Meanwhile, former British prime minister Tony Blair, a strong supporter of Britain remaining in the EU, said in a speech Friday there would soon be a majority in the British parliament for a second referendum on EU membership. Addressing a meeting at the Royal Academy in London, organised by the People's Vote Campaign, Blair said: "What has been revealed by the whole negotiation process is that all the Brexit options have significant drawbacks compared with staying in the EU. This pursuit of incompatible ends through inept means has led us to the present impasse." Blair told the meeting: "My advice to her (May) is there's no point literally in carrying on banging your head against this brick wall. It's sensible to take your head off the brick wall and think creatively." May survived a confidence vote among Conservative MPs this week by a vote of 200 to 117, but a second political storm could lie ahead. Keir Starmer, chief Brexit spokesman for the Labour Party, said in media interviews Friday it was clear the Prime Minister would not secure any meaningful changes to her deal and that she should face the music and put her deal to a vote next week. Starmer said on Sky News that confidence in May was "seeping away on all sides" and "it is a question of when, not if" the Labour Party will table a vote of no confidence in the Conservative government. David and Falaka Fattah, founders of the House of Umoja. David died on Dec 5th. Read more Since David Fattahs death, stories of who he was and how his life mattered are crowding the Facebook pages of those who loved him. Theyre on the lips of the crying men paying condolence visits to his widow in the West Philly home she shared with her husband of 50 years. Theyre being repeated in the neighborhoods where Phillys gang wars raged in the 1970s. Their details differ, but their theme is the same and needs to be heard by anyone who cares about this city: David Fattah gamely met people where they were at, saw who they were and all they could be and thousands of lives changed for the better because of it. I cant stop thinking of how Philly would change for the better if more of us did the same. Fattah, 75, who died on Dec. 5 from cardiac arrest, was known in the city long before his son Chaka the former U.S. congressman made their surname famous (and then infamous, after his 2016 corruption conviction). Fattah and his wife, Falaka, now 87, gained notoriety in the 1970s after they learned that one of their six sons had joined one of the growing number of Philly gangs whose members were killing one another. Terrified and wanting to understand the dangerous world their boy had entered, they invited his gang to live in their familys West Philadelphia home. The move was beyond audacious. But audacity was called for in a city trying and failing to defuse the gang violence that was terrorizing communities. They christened their home the House of Umoja in honor of the Swahili word for unity. And they left the front door unlocked so that gang members could find sanctuary from violence their own and others any time of the day or night. Their experiment ballooned over the subsequent decades as the Fattahs became surrogate family to thousands of young men hungry for what they offered freely: Love both tender and tough. Stability and encouragement. A hot meal or warm jacket. Mediation with volatile relatives or angry girlfriends. Help finding work, a lawyer, a tie for a job interview, or the courage to turn themselves in for pulling a trigger. And, mostly, respite from the deadly influence of the macho gangs whose regard the young men valued too highly. In those pauses, they were able to make a different choice about how to handle a slight and to imagine a more hopeful future than one that ends in a barrage of bullets. The couple couldnt save every young man seduced by the faulty glamour of life on the corner. But as gang-related homicides slowly dropped in the city thanks in part to a remarkable peace treaty written by David Fattah and signed by 32 warring street gangs the couple counted more victories than losses. David and Falaka were a team, so its impossible to honor the one without including the other. But the team never would have come together had David not done something remarkable shortly after he met Falaka in 1968 at a community gathering. He was a single, childless 25-year-old college student who wanted to write for the small magazine Falaka was editing. She was a 37-year-old widowed mother of six sons with no desire to wed again. They knew each other only a few months when he handed her an article to edit. Embedded in the copy on page 2 was a question he was too shy to ask in person: Will you marry me? Falaka was flabbergasted. We had never been on a date, had never even kissed, she says. I thought he was crazy. Nonetheless, she scribbled a neutral response in the articles margin Ill take it under consideration and handed it back. She softened to his proposal as they spent more time together and as she watched him court her sons writing a comic book for one, playing chess with the others, talking and listening to them the way a father would. Within eight weeks, they were married. That move alone cements David Fattah in a Great Men Hall of Fame, says City Councilman Curtis Jones, one of the former gang members David mentored. Its one thing to be a good father to your children. Its another to marry a woman with six sons and adopt them as your own, says Jones. But if you then invite close to 3,000 young men into the fold, theres no word for how special that is. David showed boys, by example, how to be men. He did the same in the decades he spent as a Philadelphia public school teacher, retiring early to care for Falaka, who is bedridden by a host of medical maladies. In late November, when he was rushed to Lankenau Hospital, where he was found to be in kidney failure and eventually lapsed into unconsciousness, his only thought was of her well-being. Who will take care of you? he said woefully on his way out the door. Those were the last words he ever said to me, says Falaka, who is surrounded by family and says she is not worried about how she will fare, physically, now that David is gone. But emotionally, she can take life only one moment at a time without the man who met her where she was at and spent their entire marriage doing the same for others. Which helped so many of them get to someplace better. Sleep in peace, David Fattah. Youve earned a rest. Jay's Shear Magic barbershop is pictured in the 4500 block of North Broad Street in North Philadelphia on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Four people were shot at the barbershop, one fatally, the night before. TIM TAI / Staff Photographer Read more Antoinette didnt think the gunshots came from the barbershop. But when she went outside Thursday night, she learned two friends were among four men who were shot inside Jays Shear Magic Barbershop in Logan, just five doors from her house. I grew up with the guys in there, said Antoinette, who did not give her last name for fear of retaliation. A couple of them have been there for about 20 years. Around 7 p.m. Thursday, a masked gunman walked into the shop in the 4500 block of North Broad Street and sprayed more than 20 bullets around the storefront before fleeing on foot. A 28-year-old man, who police suspect was the target, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and remained in critical condition at Einstein Medical Center Friday. Three other victims a 42-year-old man who was shot in the chest and leg; a 46-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and arm; and a 45-year-old who suffered a graze wound to the shoulder remained in stable condition at Temple University Hospital Friday. Antoinette identified the 45-year-old victim as one of the barbers who works in the shop. Police did not publicly name the victims. They said they are reviewing surveillance video, but have no motive or suspects in the shooting. The shop is set in the middle of a strip of storefronts, including a pizza parlor and a womens hair salon, where the owner said she locks her front door during the day as a precautionary measure. To Antoinette, a Logan native, the barbershop is a neighborhood social hall. She said she has known the shops owner, Jay Holland, for years and was terrified when she heard the shots and sirens near the business Thursday night. Jays is like a staple. It used to be one of Philadelphias favorite barbershops, she said. When I came out, it gave me an anxiety attack. Mohamed Diaey, who lives four doors from the shop, says he only comes home to sleep because of increasing drug and gun violence in the area. He said he is looking into moving. Diaey said he has concerns about raising his three children, who range in age from 5 to 16, in the area. Its not safe here, he said. Climate activists shout slogans as they stop in front of the COP24 UN Climate Change Conference venue during the March for Climate in a protest against global warming in Katowice, Poland, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. (Alik Keplicz / AP) Read more KATOWICE, Poland - Negotiators from nearly 200 nations drew close to a deal Friday that would nudge the world toward stronger targets for reducing carbon emissions and enshrine a clearer set of rules for how to get there. But even amid the glimmers of progress at this year's climate summit, where more than 25,000 people have gathered in the heart of Poland's coal mining region, there was a deeper undercurrent of dismay. The world's best efforts, some participants concluded after two weeks of nonstop talks, would not nearly match the urgency of a problem that scientists have said will bring catastrophic consequences without major action over the next 12 years. "Climate change is not something in our future. It's happening to us now," said Mohamed Nasheed, former president of the Maldives and chief of the island nation's negotiating team here. "We will not survive if business goes as usual." Despite the lingering questions about the world's overall resolve, Friday brought signs that the gridlock that has defined much of these talks was beginning to ease. Delegates worked through the night, scrambling to produce the latest draft of a detailed "rule book" that will serve as a road map for how countries collectively implement the 2015 Paris climate accord. The drafts released Friday morning, which stretched hundreds of pages, showed that diplomats had apparently reached key compromises. Those included language that would recognize the importance of an October U.N. report finding that the world would need to take "unprecedented" action by 2030 to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. According to one negotiator early Saturday, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks were ongoing, one major roadblock involved a standoff with Brazil over the details of carbon trading markets. The report, produced by the nearly 100 scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, set an increase in temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels as the outer limit of what the world can tolerate without cataclysmic results. (The planet has already warmed by 1 degree.) The U.S. delegation - which has been engaged in the talks, despite President Trump's vow to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement - had blocked acceptance of the report over the weekend. "There is no documented historic precedent" for the sweeping changes to energy, transportation and other sectors that would be necessary to hold warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the scientists said, citing the need for a "rapid and far-reaching" transformation of human civilization. But in Poland, the IPCC's findings on what the world would need to do to hold off the worst impacts of climate change collided with the reality of a bureaucratic process that requires consensus among nearly 200 nations. It was never designed to be nimble. Instead of dramatic new commitments, diplomats were left to wrestle with what to outsiders may seem like semantics, arguing about whether to "welcome" or "note" or "recognize the role" of the report. "You can't negotiate with the laws of physics," said Nasheed, who called the debate over how to acknowledge the report "madness." "You can't cut a deal with science." Even as some were frustrated Friday with the seemingly plodding approach of the international process, others noted reasons for optimism. Laurence Tubiana, a French diplomat who presided over the 2015 Paris talks and is considered a key architect of the landmark agreement, said that if drafts of this year's deal hold together, the summit will be judged a success. The language she had seen, she said, was "pretty much right in line with what we need to implement Paris properly." The achievements of Katowice, she acknowledged, were highly technical in nature, with no new grand pronouncements. But that, she said, was not what was required. "Sometimes we want everything to be a big splash," she said. "But that's not reality." Before delegates could claim success, sticking points remained. Plenty of divisions lingered Friday, the last official day of the 24th annual U.N. climate talks, known as COP 24. Nations continued to hash out the particulars of rules governing how transparent countries will have to be in reporting their emissions, how richer nations will help finance climate action in poorer nations and how countries can hold one another compatible on their progress. Bedraggled diplomats and weary journalists braced for those last-minute fights to unfold into the weekend inside the sprawling Spodek conference center. "Nobody is going to be 100 percent satisfied," Gou Haibo, a top Chinese negotiator, said early Friday afternoon. "But we hope [a compromise] can be accepted." Gou called the proposed agreement "a balanced plan" and suggested that it would have been unrealistic to expect any monumental achievements at this year's gathering, since that kind of leap was never on the agenda. "It's a process," he said, adding that a solution to climate change is "not going to be achieved only through this COP." The United States, which played a pivotal role in brokering the Paris agreement under President Barack Obama, took on a far more understated position in the talks in Katowice. The U.S. made waves early in the negotiations by its stand on the U.N. report - which was shared by Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kuwait - and by putting on a deliberately provocative defense of coal, oil and gas. But behind the scenes, participants and observers said, the U.S. delegation generally played a quiet and, by some measures, constructive role. It focused its energies, for instance, on a push for transparency in countries' accounting of their emissions reductions. Although Trump has made a pastime of railing against the Paris deal, observers said there was little evidence that his diplomats were trying to sabotage it. Still, the dramatic change in U.S. climate policy under Trump was certainly felt here - if only for the void it left behind. "It's not so much that they're throwing sand in the gears," said Steve Herz, senior international policy adviser for the Sierra Club. "It's that big global issues require U.S. leadership and resolve. When that's not there, it's a lot harder to broker deals." One central question that remained Friday was how firmly the assembled nations would signal their intent to hold true to the emissions-cutting promises in Paris - and whether they would commit to ramp up those pledges in 2020. The idea that countries would increase their ambition over time was a critical element of the Paris agreement. Scientists say that countries will have to triple their efforts if the world is going to stay below a 2-degree Celsius temperature rise. They will need five times more commitment to stay within 1.5 degrees. That stark reality explains why many here came away disappointed by the apparent lack of urgency among governments. Negotiators arriving at talks Friday were greeted at the cavernous conference hall by local Polish high school students who had gathered for a protest. They unfurled red-and-white letters spelling out "12 years left," and quietly made their plea. "What about us?" they sang plaintively as impassive delegates hurried past. "We wanted to be here when they decided our future," said Paulina Zurawka, 18. "But they're doing nothing." The youth protest was spearheaded by Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old Swedish climate activist who became somewhat of a celebrity at these talks with her impassioned calls for action. "We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis," she said in a rousing speech. Kim van Sparrentak, a youth activist with the European Green Party, noted that the draft agreement made no mention of young people. "For whom are we here?" she asked. "Are we just here to protect big corporations, or are we here to protect the future of the planet?" Despite the disappointment, some who push for more ambition in the fight against climate change said they were willing to treat Friday's apparent outcome as a qualified success. The planned withdrawal of the world's largest economy - the United States - hadn't stopped the process. Negotiations were yielding results. Countries were finding common ground. "To me it's often a miracle that they do find consensus and a way to move forward," said David Waskow, director of the international climate initiative at the World Resources Institute. "And when you make progress it actually moves the world forward." The Washington Posts Chris Mooney in Washington contributed to this report. Einstein is pacing on a muddy driveway in Bucks County, occasionally stealing kisses from a tall woman, but mostly looking like hes got somewhere better to be. The clock is ticking on his 15 minutes of fame, and everyone wants a piece: car dealerships, local bars that made drinks in his honor, and even universities that hire him so stressed-out students can pet him before finals. Then there are the nativity scenes. Einstein cant keep track of all the wise men hes known, if a camel could keep track of things. Einstein is a dromedary camel, a one-humper, his owner says. His kind is native to Egypt, Africa, and Australia, places where winter requires, at the most, a cardigan. But Einstein, who was born in Florida 11 years ago, took a brief journey in the snow on Nov. 15 after his trailer got stuck on Route 309 north in Souderton, Montgomery County. He was on his way to a Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia event at the Kimmel Center. People took pictures, the internet swept them up into its own bizarre storm, and while Einstein never made it to Philly, he made it to something. I never knew what a meme was before this, says Charis Matey, owner of Peaceable Kingdom Petting Zoo in Perkasie. "Hes got about 20 of them now, and one of them is with the Flyers mascot. Somebody posted the two of them together. Matey, sporting fresh scratches on her neck from a reluctant groundhog, flashes a dinged-up flip phone to prove she doesnt know what a meme is. For $1,000, Einstein will show up for two hours. Hes done company picnics, school functions, fall festivals. Kiss a pig? Why not a camel? People usually pose for selfies or just gawk at the absurdity of a camel standing amid a sea of new Fiat 500s in a dealership lot. Megan Hudock and Matey are using this moment to ask for help because Einstein needs new wheels, something far larger than a Fiat, preferably with four-wheel drive, unlike their van. Theyve created a Team Camel Tow GoFundMe page thats asking for $35,000. The Jewish Federation was gracious, she says, but Einstein has never missed a performance before and it bothers her. It doesnt have to be new, we just need different, Matey says. Some people thought he was abandoned. He wasnt. Some people thought he was towing my truck. He wasnt towing my truck. Some people thought he was walking to the Kimmel Center. I could have rode him there and got there faster in that weather, she says. When it comes to nativity scenes, most churches and religious groups opt for the smaller critters, the usual donkeys and cows and a chicken or two. Matey has all of those animals. But camels are the real deal, the ride of choice for the three kings who came bearing gifts, though Matey says its not so wise for these actors to ride them. Einstein weighs in at 1,500 and eats pounds of grain and all the hay he wants. Its scary for the people and scary for the animals. They get spooked, she says. Hudock, Einsteins handler, said she went to school for business, but her passion was animals, so she made a career U-turn back to what she loved. Giraffes are her favorite, she said, but camels are like one step away, and Peaceable Kingdom has two other ones, Percy and Ding-a-Ling. Theyre very inquisitive. We have a lot of cattle and theyre often just content to sit in the field and chew their hay. These guys are interested. They want to see whats going on. They want to be part of the action, Hudock says of camels. Both women want Einstein to be part of the action, too, before he fades back into relative camel anonymity like his two zoo mates. They mentioned shirts and Christmas ornaments and Einstein replacing the groundhog as a Pennsylvania mascot. Theyre wondering if Gritty can saddle up. I really want to contact the Flyers, Matey says. On Dec. 22, Einstein will join the Bethlehem Mounted Patrol at their annual holiday fund-raiser. Theyre giving him an award for bravery, Matey says. , The Congress has yet again postponed the announcement of the Chhattisgarh chief minister and will now decide on the top post on Sunday. Speaking to reporters, Chhattisgarh Congress state in-charge, PL Punia confirmed that the announcement will take place after the legislature party meeting that will take place on Sunday. The Congress leader said that Governor Anandiben Patel has given the time of 4.30 pm on December 17 for the oath ceremony and hence there is no hurry in taking the decision. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will take place at 12 pm, added Punia. "A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow (Sunday). Then we will inform (Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh). Governor has given us the time of 4.30 pm on December 17 for the oath ceremony. So what's the hurry?" asked Punia. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been holding meetings with top party leaders to decide on the post. Rahul met Chhattisgarh's four potential chief minister candidates -- T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu, Bhupesh Baghel and Charan Das Mahant -- at his Tughlaq Lane residence and held discussions with them. A third round of discussion was held by the Congress chief before selecting the chief minister for Chhattisgarh, where the party romped home to power after 15 years with two-third majority. Congress' central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC in-charge for party affairs in Chhattisgarh P L Punia were also present at the meeting. The sources said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the Congress chief's residence. Earlier, they had said that a meeting of the CLP would be held at 4 pm in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. However, it was not clear whether the announcement would be made in the national capital or in Raipur. With multiple claimants to the Chief Minister`s post in all the three states, there have been tussles between the rival camps, with each of them strongly staking their claims for the post. The Congress Friday named Ashok Gehlot Rajasthan's next chief minister after several rounds of discussions lasting more than two days. In Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Kamal Nath was made chief minister-designate on December 13. There was high drama both in case of selecting Kamal Nath and Gehlot as the respective chief ministers. Congress ended the BJP's 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh in the recently concluded Assembly elections by winning 68 of the 90 seats. Outgoing Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh said that he will not move to the Centre but remain in state politics. The Congress, in the recently concluded election, ended the BJP's 15-year rule in the state. "Mai yahi tha aur yahi rahunga (I was here and will stay here)," Singh said at a press conference. Patna: A Bihar court on Saturday convicted RJD legislator Raj Ballabh Yadav in connection with the rape of a minor in February 2016, officials said. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on December 21. Biharsarif court judge Parshuram Yadav found Raj Ballabh and five others guilty of raping a minor in Nalanda. The court had reserved its verdict after hearing both sides on December 4. There had been 22 witnesses from the prosecution and 15 from defence. The case was filed against Raj Ballabh Yadav on February 9, 2016. Yadav, who had been suspended from the party, was lodged in jail. According to the police complaint filed by the girl, on February 6, 2016, a woman named Sulekha Devi took her to an undisclosed location in Nalanda and forced her to have liquor, after which she was raped by a man, later identified as Yadav. After she was raped, the girl said, the woman gave her Rs 30,000. She then went home and told her parents about the incident. New Delhi: It was recently reported that Deepika Padukone has been roped in to play the lead in Meghna Gulzar's next untitled film, which is based on acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. The report claimed that the tall and talented actress will not only play the protagonist but also produce the venture. Speculations were there that there was a race between Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao to play the male lead opposite Deepika. And now, as per latest reports, Rajkummar has bagged the role of male lead in the biopic. A source told Bollywood Hungama, that Deepika Padukone and Meghna Gulzar were in search since from a long time, for the male lead for their biopic. As Rajkummar Rao has been the face of unconventional cinema, it seems like he was the right fit for the role opposite Deepika Padukone in the biopic of Laxmi Agarwal. An official confirmation is yet to come from the makers. The untitled film based on the real-life incident of the acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal is being co-produced by Deepika Padukone and Meghna Gulzar. Reportedly the film will be helmed by Meghna herself. Earlier, Mumbai Mirror quoted Deepika talking about the project, as she said, "When I heard this story, I was deeply moved as it's not just one of violence but of strength and courage, hope and victory. It made such an impact on me, that personally and creatively, I needed to go beyond and so the decision to turn producer." Laxmi Agarwal was attacked way back in 2005 when she was only 15. The 32-year-old assailant was known to the family and after Laxmi rejected his advances, he attacked her. The brave soul fought for a long time and in 2006 filed a PIL seeking a ban on the sale of acid. In the wake of the Nirbhaya incident in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in her favour. The SC ordered the central and state governments to regulate the sale of acid, and the Parliament to make prosecutions of acid attacks easier to pursue. The minimum punishment is 10 years imprisonment which can extend up to life imprisonment with a fine. Acid cannot be sold without an ID proof and to anyone below 18 years of age. An acid attack survivor, Laxmi is currently successfully running her NGO Chhanv Foundation. She fell in love with social worker and activist Alok Dixit and together they have a daughter named Pihu. A Delhi court on Saturday extended by four days the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the graft-tainted AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case. The Patiala House Court extended the remand for his custodial interrogation by the CBI. The court will hear Michel's bail application on December 19. The CBI had urged the Patiala House Court to grant it further custody of Michel for five more days. CBI sought further remand of him to collaborate with some evidence. The probe agency also wants to take Michel to Mumbai. The 57-year-old British national was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. The probe agency told the judge he needs to be confronted with various documents in the case. Michel's lawyer, Rosemary Patrizi, arrived at the court and argued that she represented him for almost five years in Italy and Switzerland following which the court allowed her to talk to Michel for 10 minutes. Patrizi will be appearing for the alleged middleman. However, the CBI raised questions on her credentials. The court has, however, refused Patrizzi's request to visit Michel. Patrizi claimed that she has some more documents regarding the case that she wants to submit in the court. Michel was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced before the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended to five more days. Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Hyderabad: The Indian Army proposed to increase intake of women in more non-combat roles such as interpreters and cyber specialists, its Chief General Bipin Rawat said here on Saturday. Besides, it also was mulling recruiting women for the military police, he told reporters here on the sidelines of the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the city outskirts. We are saying, we are going to increase the intake. Women are already there in the Army. We are now going to take them more into some other cadres gradually, we are expanding the Indian Army to women officers," he said. Women were there in the legal and education areas already and the army wanted interpreters, cyber specialists, people in the information warfare domain and in accounts and audit services, the General said, replying to a question about Army increasing intake of women. "I am also looking at women jawans in the military police. Women joining as soldiers in the military police service and then we will see whether there is any scope for expansion later," the army chief said. Earlier last month, speaking on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy in Pune, Gen. Rawat had said the army was not yet ready to have women in combat roles. Extending best wishes to the young officers who joined the services here, Rawat expressed hope they would make the defence force proud. I am confident that the Air Force will continue to touch the sky with glory always and every time, he said. Earlier in his address at the parade, he referred to 24 women among the graduating cadets and said it was heartening to see so many being commissioned. "As empowered women of our great nation, you all are becoming a member of the prestigious Armed forces which will act as a source of inspiration to others to look up to and emulate," he said. The Army chief told the graduating officers that the modern-day battlefield needed 'technologically adept' airmen, sailors and soldiers. As the nation aspired for its rightful place in the global and regional power structure, the need to protect its security interests would always be paramount, Rawat said. This would increasingly mandate 'synergised employment' of the capabilities of all three services, he said. The potent capabilities, especially the lethal punch of the Indian Air Force, would continue to grow with infusion of new technology into the war-fighting systems, Rawat said. Besides, the defence force was witnessing acquisition and operation of latest weapon platforms and revamped force structures, he said. The army, navy and air force were increasingly pursuing aggregation of individual service capabilities, he said. Among the graduating officers was a woman fighter pilot Priya Sharma, who is the seventh woman fighter pilot in the IAF and the third from Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. She was inspired by seeing Jaguars and Hawk aircraft flying since her childhood, the young pilot said recalling her childhood days when her father was posted in Air Force Station in Bidar, Karnataka. "It was initially difficult to adapt to a different cockpit (as part of training) and changing aircraft but I got used to it... It is wonderful flying," she added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is scheduled to hold several press conferences across the nation in a move to "expose the Congress party for plotting conspiracy against the Centre and messing with nation's defence". According to news agency ANI, the saffron party will hold the press briefings in at least 70 locations throughout the country on Monday. After the Congress's consistent accusations alleging corruption by the Narendra Modi government in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, the Supreme Court's on Friday observed that it was "satisfied" with the decision making process in concluding the jet deal and rejected demands for a probe. The observation by the apex court that it found no reason to intervene on what it called the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets came as a political victory for the BJP. PM Modi had come in for a relentless attack from Congress President Rahul Gandhi who alleged corruption in the procurement of the fighter jets for the IAF from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, calling it a scam which allegedly benefitted industrialist Anil Ambani. Holding it did not find any substantial material on record to show there was "commercial favouritism" to any party by the Indian Government in choosing an offset partner, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said perception of individuals cannot be the basis of a "fishing and roving enquiry" by the court and it cannot "sit in judgement" over the wisdom of the decision to go in for purchase of 36 aircraft in place of 126. "We are satisfied that there is no occasion to really doubt the process, and even if minor deviations have occurred, that would not result in either setting aside the contract or requiring a detailed scrutiny by the court," it ruled. Shortly after the observation that comes ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls was pronounced, BJP President Amit Shah launched a blistering attack on the Congress, saying it was a "victory of truth" and demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi. The court decision is a slap on the face of those who had alleged corruption, Shah told reporters. But the Congress claimed the Supreme Court has vindicated its stand that the issue of "corruption" in the Rs 36,000 crore Rafale contract cannot be decided by it and challenged the Centre to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the deal. Rahul Gandhi stuck to his allegation there was massive corruption in the contract and wondered why the CAG report on the deal was not yet shared with the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament even though it was cited by the apex court. At a news conference, Gandhi also reiterated the Congress' demand for a JPC probe and claimed if it was conducted the names of Narendra Modi and businessman Anil Ambani will crop up. Both the government and the Ambani's Reliance Group have been outrightly rejecting Gandhi's allegations of any wrongdoing. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley maintained only a judicial body can carry out such a probe as there has been an experience in the past of JPCs working on partisan lines. "The SC verdict is conclusive and leaves no scope for any doubt on the deal, "he asserted at a joint news conference with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Jaitley dubbed allegations on the Rafale deal as "fiction writing" that compromised national security, Sitharaman said the matter of Rafale deal has been put to rest through the court verdict. The apex court gave its 29-page judgement on pleas seeking lodging of an FIR and a court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the jet deal, in which both India and France entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) in 2016 after Modi's summit talks with the then French President Francois Hollande in Paris the previous year. The three-judge bench dealt with "three broad areas of concern" raised in the petitions, identifying them as "the decision making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners (IOP)". Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday ordered a probe into the death of seven civilians when security forces allegedly opened fire at a mob that thronged an encounter site in Pulwama district, an official spokesperson said. He appealed to people to stay away from encounter sites while directing Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to inquire into the Saturday incident, the spokesman said. Seven people were killed in alleged firing by security forces during post-operation clashes at Simoo village in Pulwama district after a gunfight with terrorists left three extremists and an army jawan dead. In the wake of the incident, the governor chaired a high-level meeting of senior officers of the state and central police forces at the Raj Bhavan where he reviewed law and order and other security related issues. Expressing grief over the loss of lives during post-operation clashes, the governor directed the security forces to minimize collateral damage during anti-terror operations. He also reviewed the latest security scenario in Kashmir including details of the counter-infiltration and counterterrorist operations undertaken recently, the spokesman said. He recommended people-friendly measures during such operations, asking the security forces and the administration to address the post-operation complications. The governor emphasized the importance of maintaining a sustained and close watch on the ground situation and lauded the real-time coordination between the security forces and the civil administration. Pained by the unnecessary and avoidable loss of civilian lives in operation, the governor appealed to the people to not go near such areas during or immediately after such operations, the spokesman said. He said the governor directed security forces to give time for people to evacuate an area during an anti-militancy operation as per the laid down procedure. An IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Lucknow via Delhi was grounded Saturday after a bomb threat call, airport sources said. The aircraft was taken to an isolated bay for a secondary ladder point check after a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) found the threat as "specific", the sources said. Later, security agencies declared the plane "safe", they said. Repeated attempts for IndiGo's reaction on the development did not fructify. The flight was scheduled to depart at 6.05 am. It was immediately not clear as to how many passengers were on board. "A woman passenger travelling to Delhi on Go Air flight G8 329 approached an IndiGo check-in counter at T1 and informed that there was a bomb in IndiGo's flight 6E 3612 (operating on Mumbai - Delhi/Lucknow route)," an airport source said. The woman passenger also showed photographs of a few people and claimed that they were a "threat" to the nation, the source said. Thereafter, CISF personnel took her to the airport police station for questioning. "A BTAC was convened in CISF Assistant Commander's office which declared the threat a specific one," the source added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. PM Modi's attack on the opposition party came even as the Congress accused the government of "misleading" the Supreme court by presenting wrong information about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government apologise for it. The Congress has also said the Supreme Court, which gave the government relief in the Rafale jet case, has not gone into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and it is only a joint parliamentary committee that can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal. Targeting the main opposition party in an interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu through video conference from New Delhi, PM Modi alleged that the (Congress) leaders call the army chief names and mock at the (2016) surgical strike on the one hand. "On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others," he said. "All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source," he said. PM Modi said the country was proud of the forces and have faith in them and the government has ensured operational freedom for them to deal with "those who are our harming the country." "The surgical strikes show how capable our forces are to give a strong answer to those who attack us," he said. During an election campaign in Rajasthan recently, PM Modi had slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "raising doubts" over the cross-border surgical strike carried out by the Army in September 2016. The PM on Saturday also said it was the BJP-led NDA government that fulfilled the long-pending demand for One Rank One Pension for armed forces and veterans that was lying unattended for 40 years. Apparently referring to the previous UPA government, PM Modi alleged that after much persuasion, it left a mere Rs 500 crore aside for the OROP "which was nothing short of a cruel joke." "When we got the opportunity to implement the OROP, we did it with full sincerity," he said. As part of his nation-wide dialogue with BJP workers in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said "ours is a government that values your safety and well-being above everything. We will do everything possible to protect India and the 130 crore Indians." "We are a peace-loving nation but will not hesitate to give a fitting reply to anti-social elements who harm our people and disturb our development," he said. The prime minister said when it comes to national security, the morale of the forces was important. "Among the first things that the government did after coming to power was that we have conveyed to the soldiers that we value them. The soldier who is standing at the border knows that the country is standing behind him," he said. The Maoist terror, which had once affected many districts, was on the decline and there has been a major crackdown against Maoists and their sympathisers, PM Modi said. "Forty-four districts, which were earlier affected by Left-wing terrorism, show zero incidences of violence in the last four years," he said. "It has happened because, on the one hand, there has been sustained campaign by the security forces to fight back, while on the other, the government is making efforts to develop these regions," PM Modi said. "In Kashmir, while we have reached out to the people in full measure, the army has struck a heavy blow to terror and eliminated terrorists in record numbers," he pointed out. Recently, panchayat polls were held peacefully which show great participation (of people), he said. "Striking terrorists where it hurts them the most has become a new normal in India's anti-terror policy," he said. As part of enhancing the country's security, PM Modi said, India's pride, nuclear submarine INS Arihant successfully completed its first deterrence patrol on November 5. "The success of INS Arihant enhances India's security needs and it is a major achievement for our entire nation and with INS Arihant, India's nuclear triad is complete," the prime minister said. "True to its name, INS Arihant will protect Indians from external threats and contribute to the atmosphere of peace in the region..Will ensure peace," he added. The National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside Tamil Nadu governments order for closure of Sterlite plant in Tuticorin. The tribunal further directed Vedanta Limited to spend Rs 100 crore over a period of three years for welfare activities in the area. While setting aside the state governments closure order, the NGT directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to pass fresh order of renewal of consent, reported news agency ANI. According to the court, closure of the Sterlite plant was unjustifiable. At least thirteen people had died during the police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests, demanding closure of the Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin over pollution concerns, turned violent. Days after the death of the protesters, the Tamil Nadu government in May itself had ordered the closure of the plant. Soon after the issuance of the Government Order (GO), top Tuticorin district officials had sealed the copper smelter unit premises and pasted the order at the main gate. Chief Minister EK Palaniswami had then told reporters in Chennai that the "plant has been permanently closed". Asked what he had to say to the people of Tuticorin, he said, "Peace has returned to the town and it must continue, and people should cooperate with the government. Their demand has been fulfilled by Amma's government." Reacting to the closure, Vedanta Ltd had termed the move by Tamil Nadu government as "unfortunate", adding that it would decide the future course of action after studying the development. "Closure of Sterlite Copper plant is an unfortunate development, especially since, we have operated the plant for over 22 years in most transparent and sustainable way, contributing to the Tuticorin and state's socio-economic development. We will study the development and decide on the future course of action," Vedanta Ltd had said in a statement. Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday met Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha, fuelling speculation the Bihar leader may join the opposition grand alliance in the state to take on the ruling combine. Kushwaha had recently severed ties with the BJP. Rashtriya Lok Samta Party spokesperson Fazal Imam Mallick said it was the first round of talks between Kushwaha and the Congress and his party is hopeful of a "positive" outcome. Patel, a key leader of the Congress, met the former union minister at the latter's residence. The RLSP had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in an alliance with the BJP and had won three seats. However, the ties between the two parties strained after the BJP joined hands with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and offered Kushwaha only two seats to contest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The RLSP on Saturday received a major setback with all its members in the bicameral legislature of Bihar declaring that they were still with the NDA as they accused the party president of pursuing personal interests in announcing a break up with the coalition. Both the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs-- Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan-- and its lone MLC-Sanjiv Singh Shyam- made a statement to this effect at a joint press conference. They also pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three. "We will also approach the Election Commission (EC) with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party," Shyam said making it clear that the RLSP was heading towards a split. RLSP which fought the 2014 general election as well the 2015 state polls as a NDA constituent has altogether three MPs, including Kushwaha, two MLAs and One MLC in Bihar. While the three Legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, among the two other Lok Sabha members--Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi--the former has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when he had announced his resignation from the cabinet and also severing ties with the NDA in Delhi. "We had been stating since long that we were in favour of the RLSP remaining in the NDA but Kushwaha, who was more interested in his personal gains, paid no heed," Shyam said pointing to the RLSP chiefs quitting announcement on Monday. The RLSP MLC alleged that Khushwaha had of late been making noises about the RLSP bot being considered for a ministerial berth after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA last year. At least three terrorists were on Saturday killed in an encounter in Kharpora Sirnoo area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. The three neutralised terrorists belonged to terror group Hizbul Mujahideen. According to news agency IANS, two youth also got killed in the incident. As the encounter began, the terrorists were trapped in an open area. Two Army men also suffered injuries during the gunbattle. The operation was conducted by joint team of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. One of the terrorists, Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, was earlier a soldier in the Indian Army. He fled from an Army camp with an AK-47 last year. Sirnoo is the native village of the slain terrorist. There were also reports of stone pelting in the area as the encounter took place. The forces had to resort to tear-gas shelling to disperse the protesters. News agency IANS reported that two youth, identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain, sustained gun shot injuries in the clashes which erupted at the gunfight site between protesting civilians and the security forces. Ahmad and Hussain were shifted to hospital they were declared dead on arrival. Three other youths were also injured in the clashes, the police said. The authorities have suspended mobile internet in Pulwama and rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region were cancelled. In a blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the West Bengal government on Saturday denied permission to the saffron parfty hold the 'Rath Yatra' in the state. A division bench of the Calcutta High Court had on December 7 directed the state's chief secretary, the home secretary and the director general of police (DGP) to hold a meeting with three representatives of the BJP by December 12, and take a decision on the matter by December 14. In a letter addressed to the Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, the letter reads, The areas proposed to be covered by the Yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into a propaganda. The state government in its letter has blamed that the other right-wing organisations such as the RSS, VHP and the Bajrang Dal may join the 'Yatra' and disrupt peace and lead to communal tension in the areas where the 'Yatra' will pass through. The letter further states, Intelligence reports further indicate that in several districts, organisations with overtly communal agenda like the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP would actively join the 'Yatra'. This is grave apprehension of breach of peace and communal violence during and in the aftermath of the Yatra. Furthermore, the state has said it is not in a position to provide police personnel because of the festivals in the state around the same time. The state BJP chief has said that they will once again knock the doors of the court on Monday and seek its intervention. The ruling TMC is not allowing any opposition party to function in the state. There is no democracy in the state. We will discuss this situation with our lawyers tomorrow i.e. Sunday and move court on Monday, said Ghosh. However, as far as the public meetings that were to be held in the course of the Yatra is concerned, the state has said that the district Superintendents of Police will decide whether permission can be granted or not. A week after the Congress and its senior party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu accused Zee News of doctoring a video, the media organisation issued a legal notice to him for his defamatory and false allegations against Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) and its editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary. Zee News had promptly shut the Congress when they alleged that the video, which showed 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans being raised at an election rally addressed by Sidhu, was a fake one. After Zee News brought to light the video, the Congress leaders remained defiant and instead accused Zee News of playing a 'fake video'. .@ZeeNews issues 1000 crore defamation notice to Navjot Sidhu for his defamatory and false allegations against Zee Media. If he doesnt apologise we shall use all legal recourses to take this case to its logical conclusion. pic.twitter.com/MUSqjNJuYJ Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) December 15, 2018 ZMCL on December 10 issued a Rs 1,000 crore defamation notice to Sidhu for his defamatory allegations against Zee Media. The organisation asked him to apologise within 24 hours of receiving the legal notice, failing which ZMCL will use 'all legal recourses to take this case to its logical conclusion'. Earlier, a video had shown 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans being raised at an election rally addressed by Sidhu. After the stand taken by Zee News amidst the accusations by Congress, Sudhir Chaudhary made a live video on social media platform Facebook and reiterated that the stand taken by the media organisation is influenced by truth and truth alone. The video has garnered the support of thousands of people on the social media platform. The post has had 3.2 million hits till Tuesday 10 pm, shared at least 55,884 times and 91,000 likes. After Chaudhary shared the video on Twitter, the post was retweeted by at least 1K people and liked by 2.8K people. Earlier too, standing tall amid the allegations, Chaudhary had said, "I outright deny the allegation that the video is fake. It is 100 per cent authentic. To prove this, we have at least seven other feeds that were being recorded live and every feed has the same slogan at the same time. It has become fashionable now that when a leader of Congress is caught red-handed, the party comes to his defence by terming the video to be a fake. This is nothing but yet another Congress tactic to get out of the situation. Zee News completely stands by its video." But Congress leaders were defiant and accused Zee News of playing a doctored video. Sidhu even threatened to file a defamation case against Zee News. Congress supporters launched a campaign against Zee News on social media which was also supported by a few media houses and journalists. Congress leaders went as far as possible to tweet suitably edited videos that omitted the part where the slogans were raised. Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress on Saturday announced Rs 1 lakh compensation to the kin of the victims in Chamarajanagar temple tragedy. The announcement was made by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao. At least 11 people were killed and 72 others hospitalised on Friday after they consumed 'prasad' at a temple at Sulavadi village in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. New Delhi: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is going all out to promote his upcoming romantic-drama 'Zero', which is all set to arrive in theatres on December 21. Only last week, the superstar returned from the promotional tour at the Middle East, following which he held several media interaction at Mumbai. On Friday, Shah Rukh visited the sets of reality show 'Bigg Boss 12' and shook a leg with host Salman Khan. The duo grooved on the song 'Issaqbaazi' from his film 'Zero'. And now, he is all set to begin the next leg of promotion of his film in Lucknow. The actor was on Saturday captured by the shutterbugs arriving at Kalina airport. The King Khan made a dashing entry in a faded blue denim shirt with military green cargo pants. He teamed it up with red sneakers and a pair of black sunglasses. The 'Raees' star waved at the shutterbugs as they clicking him in their frames. Take a look at his photos here: (Photo courtesy: Yogen Shah) Speaking of the film, Shah Rukh will be seen as Bauua Singh, a short, 38-year-old man from Meerut who has trouble finding a marriage partner. After using matrimonial agencies, he eventually finds his companion in Aafia Bhinder, a NASA scientist with cerebral palsy. However, at the same time, leading female superstar Babita also gets close with him, testing his first relationship. A love triangle forms between the three, taking them to far-off cities and thrusting Bauua on an adventure to discover both his true love and the measure of a man's true worth. 'Zero' is written by Himanshu Sharma and directed by Aanand L Rai. It has been jointly produced by Colour Yellow Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment's Gauri Khan and also features Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Abhay Deol, R Madhavan, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub among others. Not many know that initially Salman Khan was approached by the makers to play the lead in the film. However, the role later went to Shah Rukh. Shah Rukh is the fifth actor of normal stature in Indian cinema to play a little person after Kamal Haasan in 'Apoorva Sagodharargal', Johnny Lever in 'Aashiq', Jagathy Sreekumar in 'Athbhutha Dweepu' and Anupam Kher in 'Jaan-E-Mann'. Open source On Saturday, December 15, a Ukrainian soldier died from a sniper's bullet, another one was wounded in Donbas conflict zone. This was announced by the Joint Forces Operation HQ press center on Facebook. During the current day, the Russian occupant forces violated the ceasefire nine times. Three cases of the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements were reported, the message said. In particular, the enemy fired at positions of the joint forces in the area of Vodyane, Hnutove settlements in the Mariupol sector, using mortars. The strongholds of Ukrainian troops near the village of Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhansk region came under fire from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. It is noted that the militants continue using weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements. In particular, the enemy opened fire from 120mm mortars at the positions of the Joint Forces near Novooleksandrivka in Popasna District. Commissioner of the Ukrainian Parliament for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova asked the Head of Russias FSB Aleksandr Bortnikov to let her visit the detained Ukrainian sailors. Denisova claimed this on Facebook. I have addressed the FSB Head once to give me that opportunity but there is no answer yet. This is why I appealed to head of Russias FSB Oleksandr Bortnikov once again, with a request to provide me, as the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, with a written permission to visit the Ukrainian POWs, the ombudsman claimed. Related: Another Ukrainian captain refuses to plead guilty before Russian court She added that she had also sent an appeal to Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova to organize this visit. 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: Detained Ukrainian sailors write letters from Russian prison 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. 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 the international law. Earlier it was reported that thousands of people are waiting for the decisions of the Unification Assembly Svyatoslav Tsegolko, the spokesman for the president of Ukraine published a photo of Unification Assembly of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, which is being held in Kyiv. Tsegolko posted the photo on his Facebook page. "The Assembly, which is aiming to create a single local Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues at St. Sophia Cathedral," Tsogolko wrote under the photo. The layman Yuri Doroshenko, who is present at the event, said that the delegates of the council carefully studied the statute regarding the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox church. The most dramatic Assembly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church since the beginning of the 1930s kicks off. God's speed! The delegates of the cathedral are studying the statute. The situation is tense, Doroshenko wrote on his Facebook page. The first two churches took part in the council at the level of their bishops' councils, the last one (UOC MP) is represented by individual representatives of the episcopate, clergy and laity, stated in the message. It is also noted that before the beginning of the cathedral, the Divine Liturgy was served in the church of Little Sofia, after which the participants of the Unification Assembly were registered. The Cathedral in Kyiv can be a decisive step, which summarizes the years of efforts aimed at creating a local autocephalous Orthodox church in Ukraine, reads the message. It should be noted that the Unification Assembly should have started yet at 10 a.m., but the registration of participants took longer. Related: SBU search vicar of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, seize printed materials The head of state recalled this became possible due to the unshakable position of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko announced the creation of the Ukrainian local Autocephalous Orthodox church. He said this after the Unification Assembly at Sofiyska Square in Kyiv, 112 Ukraine TV channel reports. "The representatives of the UOC Kyiv Patriarchate, the UAOC and a group of bishops of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate have just established a united church. The miracle became possible thanks to the unshakable position of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and our Mother Church of Constantinople", he noted. At the same time, the head of state stressed that this is a united and independent Ukrainian Orthodox church. "This is a church without Putin. This is a church without Kirill (leader of Russian Orthodox Church, - 112 International). This is a church without a prayer for the Russian authorities and the Russian army that kills Ukrainians. But this is the church with God and Ukraine!", he said. The Unification Assembly of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church was held in the Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, said the message published on the website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate. The Unification Assembly of Ukrainian Orthodoxy takes place in Kyiv on December 15, where church hierarchy, priests and laity to take part, reads the message. It is specified that the participants of the assembly represent three Orthodox churches, which now exist in Ukraine: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate. The first two churches took part in the council at the level of their bishops' councils, the last (UOC MP) is represented by individual representatives of the episcopate, clergy and laity, stated in the message. It is also noted that before the beginning of the Assemby, the Divine Liturgy was served in the church of Little Sofia, after which the participants of the Unification Assembly were registered. The Assembly in Kyiv can be a decisive step, which summarizes the years of efforts aimed at creating a local autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine, reads the message. The Unification Assembly should have started yet at 10 a.m. but the registration of participants took longer. Open source A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft crashed in Zhytomyr region (northern Ukraine) during a scheduled flight. The pilot deceased. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine press service on Facebook. "Today, December 15, 2018, the Su-27 crashed in Zhytomyr region during the scheduled flight. The pilot died. The circumstances and causes of the incident are being investigated," the report said. The deceased was a first-class military pilot, Major Olexander Fomenko. This was reported by the press office of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "Pilot data: Major Fomenko Olexander, CO of the Combat and Tactical Training of the Tactical Aviation Brigade. Born in 1975, in Shostka, Sumy region, he served in the Armed Forces since 1992. He was the First Class Military Pilot,' the message says. It is noted that the deceased had a wife and a daughter. Ukraine cuts the fetters that tie it to the Russian Empire, and will never be the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this during the speech to the participants of the Unification Assembly of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. "The Mother Church of Constantinople realizes its mission according to the canons - to approve the autocephalous local Orthodox Church of Ukraine as an equal among equals to the family of local Orthodox churches. Ukraine never was and never will be the canonical territory of the Russian Church!", he stressed. At the same time, the head of state added that the issue of granting the autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a matter of Ukrainian national security. Earlier, we reported that the Unification Assembly of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church kicks off at the Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv. The Unification Assembly should have started yet at 10 a.m. but the registration of participants took longer. The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, who participated today in the Unification Assembly of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Kyiv, no longer have any relation to the Moscow Patriarchate. This was stated in the commentary to BBC News Ukraine by the chairman of the Synodal Information and Education Department of the UOC-MP, Archbishop Clement (Vecherya). According to him, they "create a new church and go there." On the question of whether any sanctions would be taken on these hierarchs, Clement replied that "they no longer have any relation to the UOC". "If they were in the UOC, then some actions could be applied against them ... We only state that they have moved to the schism, and we will inform the local churches that they no longer appear in the diptych of canonical bishops of Ukraine," he said. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv congratulated Ukraine on the creation of the United Local Autocephalous Church. This is stated in the message of the diplomatic department on Twitter. "Congratulations to Ukraine on today's historic Assembly and the creation of a local independent Ukrainian Orthodox church; we also congratulate Metropolitan Epifaniy on his election as head of the new church," the message reads. The diplomatic department supports "the opportunity for all Ukrainians to choose independently how to practice their religion." YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. During the period from December 9 to 15 the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact nearly 250 times by firing more than 2500 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions, Artsakhs defense ministry told Armenpress. The Defense Army forces fully control the situation in the frontline and confidently conduct their military service. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The number of tourists who visited Armenia in the first nine months of 2018 comprised 1 million 275 thousand, which is an increase of 8.8% compared to the figure of the same period of 2017, Mekhak Apresyan chairman of the Armenian Tourism Federation, told reporters today, reports Armenpress. In the first nine months of this year the number of incoming tourist visits to Armenia comprised 1 million 275 thousand. This is an increase by 8.8% compared to the figure of last year. I hope the annual growth figure will be nearly 10%. However, we will see the results of increase of Armenias recognition after the revolution next year. It [the revolution] could not have a major effect for this year, Apresyan said. He noted that the growth rate of the visits is not so great. He explained that although the tourists saw that the country was safe during April-June, but maybe something prevented them to visit the country. Apresyan added that most of the tourists were also waiting for the results of the parliamentary elections to see what will happen. The visits mainly from Russia and a number of European countries contributed to the increase of tourist visits. There has been a great tourist flow from China and India, the increase is almost double from these countries. This year there has been a decline in tourist flow from Iran, and this is linked with the economic situation in that country. And the decline of visits from Iran also effected the decline of the growth rate of this year, he said. The number of US tourists visiting Armenia also increased this year by 20%. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump named Mick Mulvaney, the director of the office of management and budget, as acting White House chief of staff, BBC reported. Mick Mulvaney will replace General John Kelly, who is leaving by the end of the year. In a tweet, Trump described Mr Kelly as a "great patriot", who had served the country with distinction. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan This tall and handsome young German was the first martyr of the Papua New Guinea highlands - slain at Bedume in Upper Simbu over a dispute about a pig killed by another priest, Fr van Baar SVD. In the middle of a busy street crowded with people, the poster pushed me into a deep reminiscence of the life and tragic death of Fr Morschheuser on this day - Sunday 16 December - in 1934. It was the day we had been waiting for. The poster, hanging on a rope at the stationery shop on the other side of the road, read Fr Karl Morschheuser. Memorial Mass at Mirane Catholic Church. Starts at 9 am, 16 December 2018. All welcome. KUNDIAWA - It was a hot day here in Kundiawa town and I was walking to the provincial government building when my eyes caught a poster about Fr Karl Morschheuser SVD. Fr van Baar had left for Alexishafen and Fr Morschheuser became a sacrifice because of Fr van Baars error. As my mind delved further, I questioned myself, Why did God allow him to die so young in a strange land without fully accomplishing his missionary work. Fr Morschheuser had first settled in Simbu just a year before he died. On the day Fr Morschheuser was killed, he was travelling with carriers heading to spend Christmas in Alexishafen in Madang. As the party climbed the rugged mountain and were passing Womatne towards Bedume, they were confronted and attacked by the local people in revenge for the pig shot dead by Fr van Baar. The attack came suddenly and the arrows were aimed at Fr Morschheuser. He tried to communicate with the people to make peace but it was in vain. One of the arrows penetrated his neck and he died from loss of blood. As recalled by an eye witness, a carrier named Johannes Miugle: The first arrow missed. The second arrow got my hand as I put my hands up to stop them from shooting. The third arrow got Fr Morschheusers neck. He died a brave mans death with his eyes fixed towards the people who killed him as a sign of forgiveness. His lips moved in prayer drawing our attention. My heart broke when he shouted with a loud voice. Ayamanaho (Mamma in Kuman the dialect). And that was his last word before closing his eyes. As you travel toward Mt Wilhelm, you will see a memorial symbol at Bedume mountain valley. It is a wooden cross and marks the place where Fr Morschheuser was killed. Further up, towards his burial site at Kangre village, you will see local churches and feel the friendliness of the people. You will know that the seed of peace and harmony sowed by the prince of peace Fr Karl Morschheuser had taken root and multiplied. Before Fr Morschheuser left Mirane for Alexishafen, he had promised the Mirane congregation that he would be back in the next month (ba ta ikene unagka). The people called him kua kuruwo (white bird) and waited vainly for him to return to achieve his dream of establishing a mission station at Mirane. But the faith of the people filled a vacuum in the parish of Mirane and the lemon tree Fr Morschheuser planted in 1933 still stands and bears fruits while an underground fountain he discovered has never run dry. A memorial church took time to build. It was Thomas Kama, son of the old man who gave land to Fr Morschheuser, who in more recent times initiated the Karl Morschheuser memorial church. He was supported by Joe Kunda Naur, former Simbu provincial administrator and others. The parish priest of St Marys Church in Kundiawa also assisted in building the church. Fr Morschheuser was described by many as the mustard seed of the discipleship of Jesus Christ as, through him, many local people became priests, brothers, nuns, catechists and dedicated lay workers. Travellers to Gumine see small children picking flowers at Wara Dokor and ask out of curiosity, what are they for? The children reply theyre for Fr Karl Morschheuser to say mass. It is the faith of the Catholics at Mirane that Fr Morschheuser is spiritually present among the Christians, especially the children. The invisible church already exists with the unseen priest but it will be made visible in the new church building. It is now left to Bishop Anton Bal of Kundiawa Diocese and SVD missionaries to declare Mirane a separate parish in memory of Fr Karl Morschheuser SVD as a tribute to his family, the SVD missionaries and the people of Endugla and Simbu. Read here a detailed account of the life of Fr Morschheuser Squatter settlement areas of towns and cities are particularly dangerous. Robbery, assault (including sexual assaults), bag snatching and car-jacking are common. 'Bush knives' (machetes) and firearms are often used in assaults and thefts. The crime rate tends to increase leading into the Christmas holiday period. Crime is particularly common in urban areas, such as Port Moresby, Lae and many areas of the Highlands, including Mt Hagen and Hela province. PORT MORESBY - Crime levels are high and police responses can be slow. Most crime is opportunistic but some robberies target expatriates in their homes or workplaces. Local authorities advise of a heightened risk of armed robbery at well-attended shopping centres, hotels, restaurants and other areas frequented by Westerners in urban areas, including Port Moresby. Most armed robberies involve firearms. Sexual assault, including gang rape, is prevalent. Foreigners are sometimes targeted. In major urban centres such as Port Moresby and Lae, it is dangerous to walk the streets, particularly after dark. Car-jacking is common, in Port Moresby and Lae. Known high-risk areas include the area around Parliament House in the Port Moresby suburb of Waigani (particularly outside working hours) and at night, along the highway between Lae and Nadzab Airport. Criminals use roadblocks on roads outside of towns to stop and loot vehicles, and attack the occupants. Police response times can be slow. Many businesses, including the [Australian] High Commission, employ private security companies to help deliver a prompt response to calls for assistance and as security escorts. Australian officials in PNG adopt heightened security measures at all times. This includes at home, at work, in public places and while travelling domestically. Officials receive security training and adhere to strict security guidelines. Closely monitor your personal security in PNG and ensure you have appropriate security measures in place. Avoid high crime risk areas and activities. Assess your personal security arrangements. Make sure you have appropriate security measures in place, in public and private spaces. Consider engaging a private security company. Carry only what you need. Leave other valuables, including your passport, in a secure location. Don't tempt thieves avoid obvious signs of wealth. Keep your car windows and doors closed and locked at all times, including when moving. If you need to travel at night, consider using a security escort or travelling in convoy. Secure your home or other accommodation, including when you're inside. Be alert to your surroundings at all times. Females are particularly vulnerable to assault and theft. Avoid travel by taxi or public transport especially if you're female. Civil unrest and political tension Tension between tribal, communal or clan groups can occur without warning. Fighting sometimes follows, often involving the use of firearms, rioting and looting. Outbreaks of violence have occurred in squatter settlements and marketplaces in Port Moresby, Lae, Bulolo, Mt Hagen, Mendi, Porgera and other major towns in the Highlands, as well as in Oro Province, and Central and South Bougainville. Clashes can result in widespread destruction of property, serious injury and disruption of normal services, including transport services. Opportunistic crime often increases in these circumstances. On 14 June 2018, civil unrest and violence broke out in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, following a court decision on a disputed election outcome. Rioters looted and burned an Air Niugini aircraft and several buildings. On 15 June, authorities declared a State of Emergency in Mendi and deployed additional security resources to enforce law and order. Tensions between supporters of rival political candidates remain and could turn violent without warning. Monitor local reports on security, avoid protests and follow the instructions of local authorities. Violent tribal clashes are ongoing in Tari in Hela Province. Porgera Township in Enga Province is under a State of Emergency because of ongoing violence (related to illegal mining at the Porgera gold mine) that has led to several deaths and injuries. For Sonoma, which grew from humble beginnings into a school affiliated with Pacific Adventist University, celebrating 50 years of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in PNG and the South Pacific region is a significant achievement for the institution and the Papua New Guinea Union Mission. Former students from PNG and the Solomon Islands came together in September to commemorate the occasion. Pioneering principal Alexander Currie, his wife, Beverley, and two sons, Gavin and Philip, were special guests. To return after 50 years to celebrate Sonoma Adventist Colleges golden anniversary is an unexpected privilege and honour, Mr Currie said. He went on to describe some of the challenges and improvements the college had seen since his time there. "Fifty years ago, in February 1968, we commenced the college with 21 students in two courses theology and building construction. There were no ladies among the initial students. I congratulate the administration in developing the college so that it [now] has 661 tertiary students, a third of whom are young ladies. The college then had no electrical supply now you have 24-hour power. We taught students typing skills on second-hand typewriters. Today every student is computer literate. We commenced with only expatriate teachers but had the vision that the college would be staffed with only indigenous teachers. That dream has largely been realized except for three Filipino staff, for whom we are most grateful for their extended service. Sonoma graduates have established a record of service to the Adventist Church that is remarkable. Its first small graduating class of 1968 gave the church a combined total of over 350 years of service. May God continue to use Sonoma as a powerhouse for service. A variety of activities was held during the celebrations. Former students and staff shared spiritual devotions and services on the theme, Reflecting and celebrating Gods leading for eternity. They reminded attendees of Gods leading in their lives. Not only was there a spiritual revival but also plenty of time to socialize, meet other former students, and see old friends and classmates, organisers said. Despite rain falling on the day, many participants took a walk to Vunaling the site where Sonoma was initially established. Standing among the remains of the old buildings, Currie explained the historical significance of buildings erected in 1968. The anniversary coincided with PNGs independence celebrations, so students displayed their traditional heritage, food, and songs, to be judged by representatives from each province. School departments had displays and ball games as some participants refreshed skills from their school days. The participants also visited the nearby war cemetery, an observatory, a volcano, and the hot springs at Matupit. Program organising committee chairman Joros Sawi said he attributed the programs success to the assistance and commitment of all the staff members who were part of each designated committee, but above all to God who was with them in the planning. The major project fundraising at the reunion program was for a new church building. Local media team the Kingsmen including former Sonoma students captured the anniversarys events on video. Copies were sold after the program. At the close, Mr Currie unveiled a monument that stands as a memorial of the occasion. Current Sonoma principal, Isako Esekia, concluded: Together we thank the good Lord for keeping His promises in leading, guiding, and blessing Sonoma College during the past fifty years. Certainly we have nothing to fear for the next 50 years, except when we forget how the good Lord has graciously led us thus far. May the spirit of unity, friendship, respect, and genuine concern for the well-being of one another continue to prevail as we celebrate, plan, and build for another 50 years and beyond even in the life to come for eternity. Australia now recognises west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved. Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital when the city's status is determined in a peace deal. "Australia now recognises west Jerusalem -- being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government -- is the capital of Israel," Morrison said in a speech in Sydney on Saturday. "And we look forward to moving our embassy to west Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination," he said, adding that work on a new site for the embassy was under way. In the interim, Morrison said, Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city. "Furthermore, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem," he added. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations have avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status -- until US President Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. Morrison first floated a shift in foreign policy in October, which angered Australia's immediate neighbour Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation. The issue has put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. Canberra on Friday told its citizens travelling to Indonesia to "exercise a high degree of caution", warning of protests in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and popular holiday hotspots, including Bali. Morrison said it was in Australia's interests to support "liberal democracy" in the Middle East, and took aim at the United Nations he said was a place Israel is "bullied". Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia now recognises west Jerusalem "is the capital of Israel" Customs officials at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport say they found 70 live finches hidden inside hair rollers. Authorities say a passenger arriving from Guyana on Saturday had the songbirds in a duffel bag. The New York Times reports officials believe the birds were brought to the US to participate in singing contests. Customs officials say people bet on how many times the finches chirp, and a winning male finch can sell for up to $10,000. The birds were turned over to veterinarians to the US Agriculture Department, and the passenger was sent back to Guyana. Customs officials found 70 live finches hidden inside hair rollers. Source: AP US Customs and Border Protection says bird smuggling could threaten agriculture through the possible spread of diseases such as bird flu. Birds Customs officers have seized about 184 finches this year. A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev has created a new Ukrainian church independent from Russia, President Petro Poroshenko announced on Saturday. The announcement came after Ukrainian priests held a historic synod in Kiev's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral to work towards establishing an Orthodox church independent from Moscow. "It happened," Poroshenko told a crowd awaiting the council's decision in central Kiev. He also announced the council had chosen the head of the new church: 39-year-old Metropolitan Yepifaniy, whose secular name is Sergiy Dumenko. "I would like to call on all our brothers, bishops and all believers to the newly created united Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Yepifaniy told the crowd outside the cathedral. "The doors of our church are open to all." Poroshenko said the event will "go down in history" as the day Ukraine "finally received (its) independence form Russia". Earlier, he addressed the synod of bishops, saying Kiev's national security depends on "spiritual independence" from Moscow. The Ukrainian leader, who has made an independent Church a campaign pledge ahead of an unpredictable election next year, told the bishops that the state "did everything it could" towards the creation of the church. But he also said that those wishing to remain loyal to the Russian Orthodox church could do so. "I guarantee that the government will respect the choice of those" remaining faithful to the Moscow patriarchate, and "protect" those preferring to break away, Poroshenko said. Several thousand Ukrainians had rallied outside the cathedral throughout the day, awaiting the synod's decision. "The people have been waiting for this. Our Ukrainian church should finally be independent from Moscow," 65-year-old Mykhaylo Khalepyk, who travelled to Kiev from the southern Kherson region, told AFP. Vitaliya Popovych, also at the rally, said she hoped Ukraine would have a new independent church "that will have a pro-state position". Several in the crowd said local churches across the country had encouraged parishioners to travel to the capital, even offering free transport. Ties between Russia and Ukraine have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev. This year, those tensions spilled over into the religious arena. - Throwing off Russian oversight - The synod sought to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraine's independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years. It led the Russian Orthodox Church to cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The synod aimed to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. But Ukraine's Moscow-loyal church said it would snub the event and banned its priests from going to the synod. Despite that ban, a cleric of the church, Archbishop Kliment, told AFP he had recognised two bishops from the Moscow patriarchy in a photograph from the synod. The meeting was dominated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, the country's largest branch by number of believers. Its leader, Patriarch Filaret, founded the church after the fall of the Soviet Union, but it remained unrecognised by other Orthodox churches until recently. The smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church also took part. In Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church dismissed the synod as uncanonical. Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, told Russian state television the Kiev synod had "no church, religious or evangelical meaning" and that it will have "no canonical consequences". - 'Provocations' - Ukraine's SBU security service warned this week that Russia was planning to stage "provocations" in the country as the clerics were meeting. The SBU's deputy head Viktor Kononenko asked Ukrainians to "refrain from holding any (political) gatherings during this period" to avoid them being "used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country". Earlier this month, Ukrainian security services raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia as religious tensions grew between the two countries. The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to wrest Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries into its control. Ahead of the council, Russia's Patriarch Kirill appealed to the Pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from "persecution". Kiev officials have framed the Church issue as one of national security, with Poroshenko in the past referring to the branch loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate as a "threat". The synod comes shortly after a fresh crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was present at the historic synod as it created a new Ukrainian Orthodox church independent from Russia Outside Kiev's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral, priests said prayers while thousands of worshippers gathered ahead of the historic decision Russia's Patriarch Kirill has appealed to the Pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from 'persecution' The synod was dominated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate People came from all over the country to rally outside St Sophia's Cathedral in Kiev ahead of the historic synod to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia NASA's InSight lander successfully touched down on Mars last week, ending a journey of more than six months and 300 million miles. The path to the successful landing, of course, started much earlier than that. It was the eighth successful Mars landing since Viking 1 in 1976, and each mission builds on the one before it. You can go back even further, too, to the beginnings of the space program, to the first satellites launched nervously into orbit, to the eventual landmark landing of a manned spacecraft on the moon, and to every mission and experiment that came after. All that experience and success may have over time made space exploration seem routine oh, look, we landed on Mars again. However, it is anything but. It takes state-of-the-art technology operated by people with high levels of expertise and focus and even then, only about 40 percent of Mars landings are successful. Anyone watching this week can see why. InSight entered the Martian atmosphere traveling at about 12,300 mph. It had to do so precisely at the entry angle of 12 degrees; otherwise, it would have either burned up or bounced back into space. The entry into the atmosphere begins the "seven minutes of terror," as NASA officials call it, named after the time from entry until the landing of earlier Mars missions. In that time, through the use of a parachute and rockets, and with the help of atmospheric drag, the lander dropped from 12,300 mph to 5 mph right before it settled into the soft soil. InSight, launched in May from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California, landed at Elysium Planitia, a flat, barren landscape from which the lander will begin the first-ever investigation of the interior of Mars, sending images at regular intervals back to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Working slowly with only those occasional images as guides, NASA operators will over the next few months confirm that InSight is working. Then it will get to work. An arm on the lander will be used to place seismometers on the ground to listen to the planet's tremors, or marsquakes the red planet's equivalent of earthquakes. A separate instrument will burrow 16 feet into the ground. In that way, InSight is like a time machine, taking us back to see what Earth might have been like millions of years ago, providing elusive answers to our own origins. It is an amazing accomplishment, one that should be free of rancor and cynicism. When we want to, we can reach the stars. The Sentinel, Rome The report of the special committee setting Albany pay gets a grade of A-minus for power-washing a filthy Capitol. Tom DiNapoli, Scott Stringer, Carl McCall and Bill Thompson earned the thanks of all New Yorkers. If legislators don't like it, tough noogies. They're the ones who cravenly punted to a panel. Lawmakers' base salaries, unchanged at $79,500 for 20 years, will rise in three steps while corruption-inducing outside income will be strictly capped and most of the extra lulu payments for favored members nixed. Eighty-seven Senate lulus (for 63 senators!) will winnow down to six; 108 Assembly lulus will be cut to nine. There should've been fewer. In Congress, there are just three lulus per chamber the majority getting two, the minority one. Happily, new Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger is declining her $34,000 lulu. That leaves Senate Democrats with two lulus, for Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins ($41,500) and Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris ($34,000). Minority Republicans should limit themselves to one lulu for leader John Flanagan ($34,500) and dispense with the two other $20,500 lulus. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie ($41,500) not only gets to award the $34,500 majority leader lulu, but the panel also wrongly gave him lulus for the speaker pro tempore and the chairs of Ways and Means and Codes, while Republican Leader Brian Kolb gets his own, which is OK, and three more to hand out, which is not OK. Imperfect, but progress. The Daily News, New York For the third time this year, a federal government shutdown looms as President Donald Trump demands more money for a Southern border wall in exchange for a budget deal with congressional leaders. How can Trump blame Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, who is likely to be speaker of the House, for not paying up when he's always promised that Mexico would foot the bill? Tuesday at the White House, Trump met with Pelosi and Schumer. The Democrats have offered $1.3 billion for border security, approximately the same amount appropriated for this year, but mostly not spent. But the math didn't dominate a meeting that turned into a confrontation. Trump needled Pelosi by implying she is weak in her caucus, and he seemed blown back when she hit hard on his party's House losses. The president also taunted Schumer with threats of a shutdown, only to have the grimacing senator say of his budget offer, "It's called funding the government, Mr. President." Then Trump pounced on the idea of a shutdown, saying, "I will take the mantle, I will be the one to shut it down," if they won't fund more wall construction. In January, Schumer offered Trump $25 billion for the wall in return for protection from deportation for 800,000 immigrants brought here as children. Trump turned it down, and much of the federal government shut down for three days. The president often wants to fight, especially over the wall, more than he wants to win. But the American people do not want a shutdown. Polls show they do want a path to legal residency for "Dreamers," whose lives are so important that it would be worth giving Trump more wall money to secure their futures. If Trump wants that deal, Democrats ought to listen. If not, they ought to let him put his shutdown on his shoulders. Or he can get the money from Mexico, as he's always promised. Newsday, Long Island Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Singh is the founder of the Forsyth Imaging Center in Winston-Salem. Dr. Singh opened this facility in 2017 to offer patients medical imaging services at cheaper rates than those offered by other providers in the area. He was able to purchase most of the equipment needed to fully stock his imaging center, except an MRI machine, which is regulated under North Carolina's [Certificate of Need] CON laws. North Carolina's CON laws state that in order for a new facility to be built or changed substantially, the private individual must show a state planning board that there is a demand for this service in the service area. If the state does not believe that there is sufficient demand, the board will deny the request for a certificate of need. Dr. Singh was told by N.C. Department of Health and Human Services regulators that there are a sufficient number of MRI scanners in Forsyth County and that he was not permitted to purchase, install, and operate one there. One explanation is the presence of a special interest effect that occurs when there are opportunities for government regulators, in this case a central planning board, to choose market participants. When the state mediates access to the market, the result is a government-sanctioned monopoly that controls the output of certain health care services. That monopoly providers have an incentive to lobby the government planning board to keep competitors, such as Mr. Singh, out of the market. If there is a single, state-sanctioned provider of goods and services, the artificial suppression of supply will lead to artificially high prices. No person shall be ... deprived of his life, liberty, or property but by the law of the land. No person or set of persons is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community but in consideration of public services. Perpetuities and monopolies are contrary to the genius of a free state and shall not be allowed. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution implies a hierarchy among rights. Nevertheless, the federal courts have insisted on relegating economic rights to second-class status. By means of this piece of judicial activism, the federal courts made it possible for Congress and the agencies administered by the federal executive to engage in blatant cronyism, despite various constitutional guarantees-like the right to due process and the right to the equal protection of the law-that would otherwise forbid such favoritism.Fortunately, state courts are not bound by federal precedent when it comes to interpreting their own constitutions, and, while most state courts used to blindly follow the federal courts' lead when it comes to protecting economic rights and preventing cronyism, that's beginning to change in some states. In 2015, for example, the Texas Supreme Court held that a law designed to protect the state's cosmetologists from competition violated the Texas Constitution. As I've reported before , cronyism is vulnerable to a similar attack under North Carolina's Constitution, and a recently filed lawsuit, Singh v. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services , illustrates exactly how it can be done. In a previous Update , my colleague Jordan Roberts described how the plaintiff, Dr. Gajendra Singh, fell victim to a particular form of cronyism authorized by North Carolina's certificate of need (CON) laws Jordan went on to explain why the CON laws remain on the books despite the fact that they restrict the public's access to and raise the cost of health care services:Rather than give in to the regulators and the interest groups, Dr. Singh turned for help to the Institute for Justice (IJ), a national public interest law firm that has successfully defended entrepreneurs' economic rights in other states. With the local assistance of Shanahan McDougal , IJ filed a complaint on Dr. Singh's behalf asking the Wake County Superior Court to declare that North Carolina's CON laws violate North Carolina's Constitution The complaint alleges two separate violations of Article I, Section 19, which states:The North Carolina courts have consistently interpreted this clause to guarantee both the right to due process and the right to equal protection. According to the complaint, requiring Dr. Singh to obtain a certificate of need in order to purchase an MRI machine violates his right to due process because the requirementand it violates his right to equal protection becauseThe complaint also alleges a violation of Article I, Section 32, which states:According to the complaint, North Carolina's CON law violates this section because it "grants certain providers an exclusive privilege to provide MRI services in their areas" for no purpose other than "to protect incumbent MRI providers from competition."Finally, the complaint alleges a violation of Article I, Section 34, which states:The plaintiffs contend that by "conferring an exclusive privilege to provide MRI services in the service areas and flatly prohibiting other providers from doing so," North Carolina's CON law grants the former a monopoly in plain violation of Section 34.In addition to asking the court to declare that North Carolina's CON law violates North Carolina's Constitution in each of the ways listed above, Dr. Singh's complaint also asks for a permanent injunction blocking the enforcement of those laws and an award of attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses.If Dr. Singh prevails, he will finally be able to realize his dream of providing low-cost imaging services in Forsyth County, but that's not all. A win for Dr. Singh will open the door for other medical entrepreneurs throughout the state, thereby making health care cheaper and more accessible for all North Carolinians. It will also encourage challenges to other forms of cronyism, and, if those challenges are successful, many other types of goods and services will also become cheaper and more accessible.There's a lot at stake in this case. Those who benefit from cronyism will be hoping and praying that Dr. Singh loses. That means the rest of us need to hope and pray that he wins! Quoting a Dr. Seuss character, a panel of 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges vacated a vital U.S. Forest Service permit developers of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline need to continue work on the 604-mile natural gas transmission line from West Virginia to North Carolina. The matter was returned to the Forest Service for further review.Chief Judge Roger Gregory, James Wynn, and Stephanie Thacker issued the opinion Thursday, Dec. 13. Gregory was appointed by President George W. Bush, Wynn and Thacker by President Barack Obama.In ordering the permitting process returned to the Forest Service for a review consistent with the panel's findings, the judges' decision quoted from the 1971 Dr. Seuss fable about the Lorax, a character with an environmentalist disposition.the order stated.the order stated.Aaron Ruby, spokesman for the pipeline coalition of Virginia-based Dominion Energy, Southern Company Gas, Duke Energy, and Duke affiliate Piedmont Natural Gas, said the energy companies will immediately appeal the decision to the full 4th Circuit.About 195 miles of the $6.5-billion pipeline would traverse eight North Carolina counties, from the southeastern Virginia border to just south of Lumberton. The pipeline is embroiled in political controversy over whether Gov. Roy Cooper coerced pipeline developers to pay extra money to get a state permit.Ruby said in a news release.The U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Park Service, and Forest Service had agreed the Forest Service can approve the pipeline's crossing of the Appalachian Trail. Several environmental groups challenged the Forest Service permit.Ruby noted 56 other oil and gas pipelines have operated across the Appalachian Trail for decades under Democratic and Republican administrations. Thursday's opinion brings into question whether or not those pipelines can remain in place, he said.Ruby said opposition legal tactics don't protect the environment.Ruby said. The pipeline would carry 1.5 billion cubic feet of West Virginia fracked gas daily.The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Forest Service's pipeline route. The 42-inch pipes would cross 16 miles of the George Washington National Forest, and five miles of the Monongahela National Forest, as well as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.The three-judge panel said the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act and National Forest Management Act, and did not have authority under the Mineral Leasing Act to grant permission to cross the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The judges remanded the matter to the Forest Service for further proceedings.D.J. Gerken, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, who argued the case before the judges, applauded their decision. He painted a picture of political pressure leading to a faulty Forest Service decision.he said.Other lawsuits are challenging the pipeline. Gerken expects it will be some time before they all work their way through the courts. The nearly two-year battle over the Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement may come to a close soon with the General Assembly essentially handing Gov. Roy Cooper a victory in the separation-of-powers struggle.Lawmakers approved legislation Wednesday, Dec. 12, to return the elections and ethics boards to two separate agencies with the governor having majority appointment power over the elections board - the situation which existed before December 2016, and after a host of legal actions pitting the legislature against the governor.Jonathan Kappler, executive director of the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation, said it doesn't look like the Republican leadership is interested in continuing this particular battle.Kappler said.Andy Taylor, a political science professor at N.C. State University, said the Republican leadership likely figured it wasn't worth spending too much political capital on the elections/ethics board with questions over voter ID legislation still in the works.Taylor said.Kappler said this lame-duck session has set a different tone than the previous one when Cooper was elected.It was during a 2016 lame-duck session that Republican lawmakers passed a bill merging the elections and ethics board into one bipartisan board and stripped the governor's ability to appoint a majority. The governor sued and argued the changes violated his constitutional appointment powers. The courts agreed and ruled the board unconstitutional.The General Assembly placed a constitutional amendment on this fall's ballot to keep the merged board in place, but the measure didn't pass.Even so, Republican lawmakers weren't happy with the outcome of the elections-board battle. They introduced House Bill 1029 to essentially turn the clock back to before the 2016 lame-duck session, perhaps, as Taylor suggested, admitting more court fights weren't worth the trouble.Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, said.The Superior Court panel overseeing the legal battle over the board has delayed dissolving it, giving lawmakers time to come up with a legislative fix. At first the courts gave legislators until Dec. 12 to pass new legislation, but the court agreed to extend the deadline to Dec. 28 because of the ongoing investigation into alleged absentee ballot irregularities in the 9th Congressional District.Under the bill, the governor would appoint all five members of the State Board of Elections. No more than three members can be from the same party. The governor would also appoint the chairs of all 100 local elections boards.H.B. 1029 passed with bipartisan support, with only a handful of Democratic legislators and a few Republicans voting against the measure. Kappler said this doesn't give the governor much room to oppose the bill.Kappler said.After the 2018 midterm, Republicans lost their veto-proof majorities and now Kappler said they are going into the next session with a weaker hand than they did when Cooper was initially elected.Kappler said. This warped ideological distribution among college administrators should give our students and their families pause. To students who are in their first semester at school, I urge you not to accept unthinkingly what your campus administrators are telling you. Their ideological imbalance, coupled with their agenda-setting power, threatens the free and open exchange of ideas, which is what we need to protect in these politically polarized times. Everyone knows about the kudzu-like growth of the administrative bureaucracy in higher education over the past three decades. What most don't know is that at many colleges, the majority of administrators directly involved in the lives of students - in dorms, conduct hearings, bias-response teams, freshmen "orientation" programs, and the like - got their graduate degrees from education schools. Undergraduates can avoid or drop a course that's less about inquiry than inquisition, or at least balance it with courses that put ideas above ideology. Students can't drop their dorm supervisors, though, or escape the long arm of the more than 200 "bias response teams" presuming to micromanage their conversations. Nor can they opt out from the authority of conduct-review boards or evade first-year "orientation" programs - sometimes lasting an entire semester - that too often resemble clinics in ideological groupthink. This incident is an example of a concerning phenomenon: college administrators going soft on free speech in an effort to appease a handful of aggressive students. Administrators should take greater care to avoid explicit ideological bias and they must defend free speech rights of professors who speak about against it. While learning, discovery, and personal growth benefit when students engage with others with varied backgrounds and perspectives, Professor Abrams' data remind us that curricular and co-curricular spaces can become ideological monocultures in which the benefits of viewpoint diversity cannot be realized. The administrators and faculty charged with fulfilling the missions of our institutions must ask whether such monocultures truly support student learning and development. Evidence suggests they do not. Campus leaders may fear that unequivocally defending the right to speak out on controversial topics may be misconstrued or trigger a backlash, but this is precisely what college stewardship demands...Abrams's op-eds fall squarely under his right to academic freedom and free expression. Students, faculty, and administrators at Sarah Lawrence have every right to disagree with his arguments and counter them with robust debate and peaceful protest, but it is the duty of college leaders to offer swift, public defense of faculty members facing harassment. That famous line from the movie A Few Good Men-"You can't handle the truth!"-applies more and more to the world of higher education. If you doubt that, consider the case of professor Samuel Abrams of Sarah Lawrence College.Abrams, a tenured professor of political science who admits that he "leans conservative" has been studying the political landscape of American higher education. In an op-ed piece for The New York Times, Abrams argued that the heavy imbalance toward leftism that we see among faculty members is even more pronounced with respect to college administrators, especially those who directly interact with students.He wrote,(Italics in original.)It has been known for more than a decade that zealous administrators with an ideological agenda are moving into administrative positions where they attempt to influence student beliefs. The University of Delaware's blatantly political "Residence Life" program had young administrators pushing students to accept leftist beliefs on politics, race, sexuality, sociology, philosophy, and environmentalism-with sanctions for those who resisted. (The National Association of Scholars exposed the program in 2007 in a series of articles , which eventually led to its suspension by Delaware's president. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education applauded the apparent end of that "chilling" program in this release .)But the attraction "progressives" have for positions of influence did not end with their setback at Delaware. Eager administrators across the country continue to use their positions to inculcate their views among students.Abrams continues,That is the exact point that professor Lyell Asher of Lewis & Clark College made at considerable length in a Chronicle of Higher Education article earlier this year entitled "How Education Schools Became a Menace." (Sadly, Chronicle articles are available only to subscribers so I'll quote the key passages.)Why are ed schools a menace? Because, Asher writes,He continues,Education schools have become bastions of "progressive" theory about education and everything else. As Heather Mac Donald showed in her 1998 essay " Why Johnny's Teacher Can't Teach ," what's mostly taught in education schools is not how best to instruct students, but instead to see the world through leftist grievance lenses. And many of those students find jobs in the burgeoning ranks of college administrators.Of course, there are ideologues in faculty positions, but Asher notes,Both Abrams and Asher deserve a round of applause for pointing out a serious educational problem-serious at least to those who believe that education should teach people how to think, not tell them what to think. But professor Abrams has been put through a nasty ordeal at Sarah Lawrence for having stated incontrovertible facts and speaking his mind.His torment began soon after the publication of his New York Times article when "woke" students trashed his office door, not even sparing a photo of his infant son. Then the student senate convened an "emergency" meeting to demand that Abrams be stripped of tenure and fired.Moreover, posters appeared around campus insisting that Abrams be terminated and made a libelous accusation against him of sexual misconduct with students.Amid this firestorm, Abrams asked the college's president, Christie Judd, if she wouldn't say something in defense of free speech and civility. Her first response, however, was to tell him that his op-ed had "created a hostile work environment" at Sarah Lawrence. That's the new norm for "hostile work environment"-saying something that campus Social Justice Warriors dislike.When Judd finally agreed to meet with Abrams, she suggested that he might look for another job, apparently unaware that he held tenure. She also said that he should have cleared his public writings with her first. Academic freedom is obviously a low priority at Sarah Lawrence College.Weeks after the protests began, Judd finally sent out a campus-wide email that offered only a lukewarm defense of free speech while mainly emphasizing her support for "diversity and inclusion."Should Americans worry about this? Quite a few commentators think so.Writing for Reason magazine, Robby Soave said,Commenting on the Abrams case , Debra Mashek, executive director of Heterodox Academy, said,And Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, a group that defends academic freedom, stated If zealous students who think they're entitled to harass and slander professors (or anyone else) who say or write things they dislike are not rebuked by college officials, our current free speech problem will escalate into a full-blown crisis. A Lamborghini here, a Lamborghini there, sooner or later it starts to add up. A former pastor at the megachurch founded by "prosperity gospel" superstar Joel Osteen is having a hard time defending his purchase of a $200,000 Lamborghini for his wife Aventer Gray, to celebrate their anniversary. This Houston Chronicle article detailing John Gray's lavish taste in wedding anniversary gifts is funny, until you remember how people who are poor give their money to these churches and make these guys rich: At Lakewood Church, pastor Joel Osteen proclaims, "It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty." Osteen, who lives in a $10.5 million mansion in River Oaks, practices what he preaches. Apparently. so does his former associate pastor, John Gray. While the traditional theme for an eight-year wedding anniversary present is pottery, on Sunday, Gray took it to a whole new level, gifting his wife, Aventer Gray, a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus. Mr. and Mrs. Gray were roasted on social media after they posted boast videos about the ultra-luxury Lamborghini Urus, which travels zero-to-62-mph in 3.6 seconds. The good pastor posted a video to Instagram capturing the the moment he handed The Missus keys to the bow-wrapped SUV. Aventer Gray posted this defense of her husband's purchase of new car on Instagram, and it's full of silliness. Gray is currently the pastor of Relentless Church, and insists he didn't purchase the vehicle with church money. "God helped me to make my wife's dream come true," Gray said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. "Why not? She's made mine come true!" In a Facebook Live video Thursday, the pastor said "not a nickel, not a penny" of church money went into the car purchase. "First of all, it wasn't a pastor that bought the car. It was a husband that bought the car," said Gray in the Facebook Live stream. "I'm a husband first. Don't confuse what I do with who I am. What I do is I pastor God's people. Who I am is a husband and a father and I'll do anything to honor them. And I won't ask permission from anybody to do it." "My wife has pushed for my dreams and my vision, and she has toiled with a man who is still trying to find himself," Gray went on, and on, as someone who's done nothing wrong tends to do. "That carries a weight. I wanted to honor her for how she's covered me." Okay then! Guess that settles it. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed his shock over the judgement issued on Thursday by a High Court judgement declaring the contract between Wickneil Chivayo's Intratrek Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Power Company valid."There is a person who was given a contract to come and erect a solar plant here in Matabeleland South. The person came and erected some shacks and left. I was shocked to read in the papers that the same person has won a court case. I don't understand how our courts work to permit the granting of an order of $25 million in favour of a person who received $5 million advance payment and did nothing."The High Court declared the contract signed between the parties for the Gwanda solar project valid.ZPC was ordered to engage Intratrek and discuss progress on the Gwanda solar project in the next 60 days or alternatively pay $25 million damages to Intratrek.Chivayo had been hauled before a magistrate to answer charges of fraud on the way he handled the 100 megawatt (MW) Gwanda Solar Project contracted by ZPC.The State case was that Chivayo received $5 million advance payment for the project from ZPC without a bank guarantee, but ZPC stated on court record that they were not a complainant in the matter.Chivayo and Intratrek then turned the heat on ZPC and told the court that the power utility was in fact, in breach of contract by wantonly causing delays and impediments to the implementation of the solar project.But in an opposing affidavit to Intratrek's High Court application, ZPC denied causing Chivayo's arrest, technically meaning there was no complainant in the Gwanda Solar Project case.In his judgment, Justice Tawanda Chitapi said ZPC had acted unlawfully and in bad faith, possibly under external influence from parties who were not part of the contract. About Me William Kelly I am a freelance writer, journalist and historian whose major interests are music and history, with a special emphasis on the assassination of President Kennedy. View my complete profile Blog Archive News / National by ZimLIve Traditional leaders will continue to support Zanu-PF and are ready to be taken to court for their defiance, the President of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, said on Friday.Justice Clement Phiri of the Harare High Court earlier this year ordered Charumbira to withdraw a public statement that traditional leaders would support Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zanu-PF presidential candidate, in general elections held on July 30.The judge said Charumbira's remarks made on October 28, 2017 and on January 13, 2018, were a violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which says traditional leaders must be apolitical.Speaking during the ongoing Zanu-PF annual conference in Esigodini, Chief Charumbira declared: "The problem is that some in the audience are nervous. They were actually saying, chiefs, why don't you leave politics' and I said no, chiefs are doing their job.'"Those in Zanu-PF must not be more nervous than the chiefs themselves when we're working with you. Some of you are nervous and are actually discouraging the chiefs We will not stop coming. Those who want to go to court, we'll meet in court. Zanu-PF is the party of chiefs."MDC spokesman Jacob Mafume said last night: "What Chief Charumbira is saying is in contempt of court. It is pointless bravado that brought Robert Mugabe to the brink and that will bring Emmerson Mnangagwa to the brink faster than anyone can imagine."It's uneducated and uncontrolled arrogance that precedes a fall. It doesn't help the traditional leaders' cause nor the Zanu-PF cause that the head of chiefs can be blatantly partisan in violation of the constitution."If he had wanted to play a respectable role he should have gone there, if he had to, to raise the concerns of his subjects, and the subjects of many chiefs, who are suffering from the economic collapse." News / National by Mandla Ndlovu Harare City Council has announced that it has reduced the debt it owes $809 million to $792 million. The Council reported that was aided by the 50 percent discount campaign which it ran, where residents where offered 50 per cent discount if they cleared their Owings during the campaign period."Harare City Council thanks all its stakeholders who participated in the 50 percent discount offer for the spirited efforts in clearing debts and ensuring that service delivery is maintained and sustained." The Council said in a statement."Before the 50 percent discount campaign collections averaged 12 million per month. We noticed an incremental improvement in collections during the campaign period."In August $12.3 million was collected with figure rising to $15.2 in September and 27.2 in October. In November we managed to collect 19 million. We have so far managed to reduce the debtors book from 809 million to 792 million."Recently the Council announced that it had engaged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to facilitate the release of $3,1 million meant for 16 refuse compactors being held by the supplier, FAW Group Corporation.Harare has been failing to secure the foreign currency required to collect the refuse compactors which were bought from the automotive manufacturer early this year.FAW has already delivered nine refuse trucks and 10 skip trucks using its own resources after it received $300 000 from the central bank. News / National by Staff reporter MDC Alliance's losing council candidate for Ward 7 in the July 30 elections, Felix Mashavele has been convicted of malicious damage to property and jailed for nine months.Magistrate Honest Musiiwa convicted Mashavele (34) of burning down the houses of his in-laws following a misunderstanding.Mashavele, who resides in Ranganai village under Chief Neshuro, pleaded guilty to all the three counts but three months of his sentence were conditionally suspended, leaving him to serve an effective six months behind bars.The State's case as presented by prosecutor Caroline Pasipanodya, was that on November 26 this year at around 18:00hrs, Mashavele went to Tivahlire village where his father in-law, Isaac Tivahlire resides.He told Tivahlire that he had come to collect his wife but a disagreement arose and an angry Mashavele used a match stack to start a fire on a kitchen hut before fleeing.The fire destroyed 5x50kg of sorghum worth $300.On that same day, Mashavele proceeded to Ranganai village where he torched two houses belonging to two of his brothers-in-law, destroying property as well as some bags of maize and sorghum that were inside the huts.The value of the property that was destroyed at the two houses amounted to $855. A police report was made at Sarahuru Police Base leading to Mashavele's arrest.In the July harmonised elections, Mashavele contested for Ward 7 and lost to Zanu PF's Killion Murabharari. News / National by Staff reporter First lady Auxillia Mnangagwa last week donated 1 000 goats to kick-start a massive goat-rearing project for schools and children's homes in the province.The project was unveiled at Helen McGhie Primary School where Mnangagwa interacted with children from various schools; teaching them on tradition, storytelling and other cultural practices.Through her Angel of Hope Foundation, she also handed over groceries and blankest to a children's home and two special needs schools namely Alpha Cottages, Alfred Walter Hostels and Henry Murray."As a way of ensuring sustainable forces of assistance for the homes in this province, I have launched a provincial project which will help generate income and other resources for the sustenance of these institutions."The Angel of Hope Foundation was formed upon realisation that there are so many children in need of assistance and support in shaping up a good child regardless of one's background, hence we are gathered here in that same spirit."Children are at the centre of my heart and it is also my desire that you grow up well and be empowered in all spheres of life. Storytelling (ngano) was a very important part of our lives as we were growing up. It provided an opportunity for families to gather together during the evening after a day's work and instil discipline in children," said Mnangagwa. By Nichola Saminather and Yawen Chen TORONTO/BEIJING (Reuters) - Luxury parka maker Canada Goose said it is delaying the opening of its first store in China, originally planned for Saturday, putting its shares on track for their lowest close in six weeks. The delay was the latest setback for Canada Goose, which is the target of a boycott sparked by the arrest of a Chinese technology executive in Canada. The opening of Canada Goose's Beijing flagship store, in the city's swanky Sanlitun district, has been postponed due to construction work, according to a statement from the company. The statement did not specify when the Beijing store would open, saying the company will update the market as plans progress. Canada Goose announced its plan to open stores in Beijing and Hong Kong in May, reaching directly to customers whose strong demand had boosted the company's sales at department stores on the mainland and its outlets globally. It has since opened the Hong Kong shop. Chinese customers account for more than a third of spending on luxury products worldwide, and are increasingly shopping in their home market rather than on overseas trips. More recently, however, sentiment has soured on the mainland toward the maker of $900 goose-down coats. Chinese social media users called for the boycott of its products following Canada's arrest of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's chief financial officer. Meng Wanzhou, also the daughter of Huawei's founder, faces U.S. allegations that she misled multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating U.S. sanctions. A Canadian court granted her bail on Tuesday. Some media reports have linked a slump in Canada Goose's shares and the delay of its Chinese store opening to reprisals against the company by mainland customers for her arrest. Canada Goose spokesman Alex Thomson did not respond to requests seeking comment on the reports or the share slump. Canada Goose shares fell as much as 4.7 percent and were trading down 2.8 percent at 10:46 a.m. EST (1546 GMT) in Toronto, capping a 22 percent slide since Dec. 5 when news of Meng's arrest first broke. Earlier this week, the hashtag "Canada Goose share plunge" became the second-most trending topic on the Twitter-like Chinese microblogging website Weibo with 1.15 million mentions, after Chinese media reports on how the Huawei dispute had hammered the company's shares. But it did not come up as a top trending topic on Friday. "With these high-growth, high-valuation, high-expectation stocks, the tiniest little change in sentiment may have an outsized impact on the price," said Brian Madden, portfolio manager at Goodreid Investment Counsel, who does not own Canada Goose shares. "Even the mere hint of a suggestion that Chinese people may boycott can take ten multiple points off a high-expectation stock like this." (Reporting By Nichola Saminather and Yawen Chen; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis) A bellowing "hello" is what gets your attention the minute you step into the reception area of Night Owl Bird Hospital, on Vancouver's west side. The greeting isn't from a staff member. It's from a brilliant blue and gold macaw named Amara. The 10-year-old parrot is one of dozens of resident birds at one of Canada's only animal clinics devoted soley to the treatment of birds. It houses dozens of birds, ranging from rescues and maimed birds found in the wild, to feathered pets like budgies and cockatoos. Some of these birds here have been visiting the hospital for "16-plus years," said Dr. Anne McDonald who operates the clinic. But now the clinic is in jeopardy. McDonald needs to hire more staff, but she can't find qualified veterinarians to hire in Canada. And the federal government won't give her the approval to bring in a bird specialist from overseas. Feds thwart overseas search Night Owl has twice attempted to recruit an Australian avian specialist but the hire wasn't approved by Employment and Social Development Canada. A Canadian company wanting to hire a foreign worker must first prove that efforts have been made to find a qualified Canadian. The process, called a Labour Market Impact Assessment, must be completed by the employer and approved by federal officials. Night Owl has twice been denied in its bid to hire a foreign bird specialist. McDonald said the application was rejected because the government said the hospital hadn't looked hard enough to find a Canadian candidate. A spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada said the ministry doesn't comment on individual cases. "What is most frustrating is that we are just another number to whoever is doing our application," said McDonald. "We are not a living, breathing organization. We are a number." In the meantime, the hospital's client base continues to grow. Two years ago, it inherited hundreds more birds when a Vancouver Island parrot sanctuary closed unexpectedly. Story continues Tamara Baluja/CBC The hospital has been actively looking for additional veterinarians to join the practice for the past five years. But two years ago, a nation-wide ad campaign resulted in just one response. McDonald said the facility needs another one or two veterinarians. The demanding workload has taken a toll on McDonald's health. In the past two years, McDonald, 66, has been hospitalized twice for exhaustion. If McDonald can't continue to work and no replacement vets are found, the hospital will have to close, said hospital manager Niki Montgomery. Lifelong passion McDonald has loved birds since she was a child, and was only 15 years old when she got her first job in a vet's clinic. From there she went on to study at the University of British Columbia, then onto a veterinarian school in Saskatchewan. For years, she performed surgeries at the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic, and in 1990, she bought Night Owl Bird Hospital. Last year, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association honoured McDonald with its 2017 Humane Award. Demand is high The Night Owl hospital is small but the workload is huge. Tamara Baluja/CBC "We are crazy busy," said Montgomery amid a cacophony of chirps and tweets from an array of birds. Clinic staff see an average of 45 birds a day, six days a week. McDonald said birds can suffer from an array of issues with their heart, liver, vascular and respiratory systems. "Birds get sick," McDonald said. "Nobody realizes it and, then they collapse." The hospital provides everything from ultrasounds to laser therapy to surgery. Watch an exotic bird veterinarian in action: Need more help The work is done by McDonald, an associate veterinarian and a rotation of 32 technicians. The hospital consistently needs more staff, and especially needs another avian-trained veterinarian. "There aren't very many people who really want to work with birds or if they do want to work with birds, they're usually afraid," said McDonald. Tamara Baluja/CBC Range of clientele It's estimated the hospital has a roster of more than 10,000 birds who depend on it for their health needs. In June 2016, McDonald stepped up after more than 560 exotic birds unexpectedly became homeless when the World Parrot Refuge, in Coombs, B.C., on Vancouver Island was forced to close. The refuge's owner had died without leaving a plan in place to care for the birds. About 160 of those birds are still in care at Night Owl Bird Hospital. McDonald spent a lot of her own money rescuing and caring for the African greys, lovebirds, cockatoos, budgies and macaws from Vancouver Island. Tamara Baluja/CBC Unhealthy situation But the workload has taken a toll. "She is consistently working 12-plus hours a day," said Montgomery. "It's not something that is sustainable for anyone, let alone someone who should be looking to retire." If the hospital closes, all 32 employees will be out of work. Montgomery said the hospital won't make another application for a foreign employee. The process costs $1,000 for each attempt plus legal costs. McDonald doesn't want the hospital to close, but would love to scale back her hours. "I've done it all these years," she said. "It's not something you can just walk away from." Protesters rallied in front of Hungarys Parliament building in Budapest on December 12, to voice their opposition to Prime Minister Viktor Orbans plan to overhaul the countrys labor laws and courts. On Wednesday, Hungarian Parliament passed legislation that called for the creation of a new court system with judges appointed by the justice minister who would rule over elections and corruption cases, the New York Times reported. Hungarys parliament also approved an amendment to labor laws, which has been dubbed the slave law by labor groups and opposition politician, amid chaotic scenes in the chamber. The amendment rises the maximum overtime employees can work to 400 hours a year, or one extra day a week, the Times reported. This video shows police guarding the entrance to Parliament as a large group of protesters rallied in front of the building. Police are seen spraying a substance at the group, uploader Todor Gardos told Storyful tear gas was used against the protesters. Credit: Todor Gardos via Storyful By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Eric Knecht DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar said on Saturday it remained committed to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) but the bloc needed to enforce its own rules better, signaling a reformed alliance could help end a row between Doha and some of its neighbors. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar was still counting on Kuwait and other regional powers to help solve the row that has seen Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-GCC member Egypt impose a political and economic boycott on Doha since June 2017. "We believe that we are more relevant as a bloc" for the West than as separate and fragmented countries, he told the annual Doha Forum, but said the GCC had "no teeth" and needed a dispute resolution mechanism. "They have mechanisms in place and never trigger them (to hold people accountable) because some countries believe they are non-binding, so we need to make sure all the rules we are submitting to are binding to everyone in this region." The four states accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism and cosying up to regional foe Iran. Doha denies the charges and says the boycott aims to curtail its sovereignty. The dispute has eluded mediation efforts by Kuwait, which along with Oman is a part of the GCC, and the United States, which believes Gulf unity is essential to containing Iran. In a sign the dispute still festered, Qatar's emir did not attend an annual Gulf summit on Sunday. Doha earlier announced it was quitting OPEC to focus on gas in a move seen as a shot at the oil exporter club's de facto ruler Saudi Arabia. "In the Gulf crisis our position remains unchanged - lifting the blockade and settling the differences via dialogue," Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani told the forum. POSSIBLE EU HELP The boycotting states say the dispute is not a priority and insist Qatar meet a list of demands submitted to it at the start of the crisis that include closing Al Jazeera TV, reducing ties with Tehran and closing a Turkish military base in Qatar. Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Muslim Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the Middle East, while Turkey's ties with the kingdom have been strained by the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. Foreign ministers from Iran and Turkey, which both supported Qatar in the row, are attending the two-day forum. Romania's foreign minister, Teodor-Viorel Melescanu, told the gathering that Romania, which takes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from January for the next six months, was working on organizing a conference that could help solve the Gulf rift. "We are thinking about a joint event for the EU and Arab countries and we would like to have a direct discussion with the GCC countries. We hope to hold it in April and in principle it would take place in Bucharest," he later told Reuters. It was not clear yet whether the EU would endorse the conference. Bahrain's foreign minister said on Saturday there was no need for mediation as the solution lay in Doha's hands. "It is not our crisis, it is Qatar's crisis. So there is no need for a mediator to solve it, what it needs is for a wise person from its (Qatar's) people," Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa tweeted. (Writing by Saeed Azhar, Additional reporting by Asma Alsharif in Dubai, Editing by Ghaida Ghantous, William Maclean) Alphonse Ahola recalls feeling apprehensive as he and his family made the four-day bus journey across Canada's wintry landscape after arriving from Cameroon. But his doubts melted away when they landed in Edmonton and went straight to the centre for francophone newcomers, the Centre d'accueil et d'etablissement du nord de l'Alberta (CAE). That was five years ago. "Centre d'accueil was the best thing that could happen to me," said Ahola. "I felt like, 'Yeah I can survive here.' It was like, 'I'm home.' " In October, Immigration Canada pulled the centre's funding after an allegation of sexual misconduct surfaced against the former director. Leading up to 2016, the centre's federal funding averaged over $1 million a year. Staff at the centre are now being laid off at the request of federal government, said Luc Amoussou, human resources manager at CAE. All employees will lose their jobs by the end of March, and Amoussou worries about the impact on their mortgages and families. He said the board has resigned and the organization has changed its name and vision. He argues the centre's 15 years of expertise and experience would still best serve francophone Edmontonians. But three other groups Francophonie Albertaine Plurielle (FRAP), Acces Emploi and The Africa Centre are competing for the federal funds. Radio-Canada Ahola, now president of FRAP, said his group has earned the trust of the federal government through previous work together and would hire staff laid off at CAE. Nathalie Beauregard, director general of Acces Emploi, said her group should be considered for funding as its strength is providing employment services to immigrants. "Employment and settlement of newcomers go hand in hand," she said. However, critics complain the agency is a private entity and not accountable to the general public. Radio-Canada Samy Mukadi, co-founder of The Africa Centre, said support for vulnerable immigrants requires hands-on experience. Story continues The Africa Centre offers employment services, daycare and youth programming, but only some services in French. "If we obtain this funding, we will create a whole new French branch," he said. "That's what we call Africa Center 2.0." Provincial funding, which accounts for only a small portion of the CAE's financing, is in place until the end of the year. Alberta Labour said it will announce on Dec. 21 which organization it will fund to offer the services. The province said it is working with francophone communities to avoid a disruption in service. Srinagar: Three militants and a soldier were killed on Saturday in a gunfight in south Kashmirs Pulwama district, while seven civilians died after forces opened fire on protesters in subsequent clashes in the area. The gunfight broke out in Kharpora Sirnoo village after the government forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation following a tip-off about the presence of militants. An army spokesman in Srinagar said that three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight. The identities of the slain militants were being ascertained, said a police officer. Sources said that six civilians were killed after forces opened fire on protesters near the site of the gunfight. The slain civilians were identified as Shahbaz Ali, resident of Monghama village, Suhail Ahmad of Bellow, Liyaqat Ahmad from Parigam, Murtaza of Prichoo, Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad. News agency GNS reported that a civiian, identified as Touseef Ahmad Mir, who was critically injured in the forces action succumbed at SMHS hospital. Mir, it said, was injured in forces action in Sirnoo and was taken to district hospital Pulwama where from he was referred to SMHS Srinagar. However, he succumbed due to grave injuries. I will be joined Live in-Studio by Carleton University Women's & Gender Studies Masters Student D. DiTecco to discuss the effects of sex robots on the Canadian sex worker industry. More new music, as well.. Intro ODESZA - Summer's Gone It's A War Blackbird Blackbird - Boracay Planet Lady Luck Richard Swift - The Atlantic Ocean - The Atlantic Ocean Birmingham Shovels & Rope - O' Be Joyful Life Crisis River Whyless - We All the Light Oom Sha La La Haley Heynderickx - I Need to Start a Garden Big Fat Mouth Arlie - Big Fat Mouth Baby, It's Cold Outside Dean Martin - A Winter Romance Emotions and Math Margaret Glaspy - Emotions and Math What Light (Never Goes Dim) Aidan Knight - Each Other Holy Roller Theo & The Get Down Stay Down - We the Common The Hustle Van McCoy - Van McCoy: The Hustle and Best of Baby Ariel Pink - Mature Themes Ohio - filous Remix Damien Jurado, filous - Ohio (filous Remix) The Roundabout Ryley Walker - Golden Sings That Have Been Sung (Deep Cuts Edition) Love Survive Michael Nau - Love Survive Ultimate Painting Ultimate Painting - Ultimate Painting Lying Has To Stop - Single Version Soft Hair - Lying Has To Stop Sorry About the Carpet Agar Agar - The Dog and the Future Ever Again Robyn - Honey Geen Genade De Ambassade - Wat Voel Je Nou Home Movies KAMI - Just Like The Movies Confetti Cold Cave - Cherish The Light Years Play God Sam Fender - Play God Almost Was Good Enough Magnolia Electric Co. - Trials & Errors Chinese Translation M. Ward - Post-War 18 dead, 16 injured in mini-truck plunge At least 18 people died when a mini-truck swerved off the road and fell some 400 metres at Ghyangphedi in Dupcheshwor Rural Municipality-1, Nuwakot, on Friday evening. Sixteen others were injured, some critically, in the tragedy. Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for seeking 30% reservation for women in Parliament and State legislative assembly. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, urging the Centre to enact it. The bill would ensure the representation of men and women equally in national electoral process. Key facts The women Reservation Bill will ensure the balanced representation of women in electoral and decision-making process. The bill would reserve 180 seats out of 543 seats in Lok Sabha and 1370 seats out of 4109 seats in State Assembly. Apart from that, State will give more parole holidays for prisoners extending from 12 weeks to 16 weeks during 550th birth anniversary celebration of Guru Nanak Dev. Other Resolutions passed Call to revoke Citizenship Bill Stake-holders have called upon the government to revoke the Citizenship Bill-2075, arguing that it is against the national interest. How does one proceed with Chinas determined bid to enter India? How does Beijing fulfill its mission? To this author, whatever be the long-term consequences and outcome therefrom, the Chinese bullying and forward thinking will keep India under permanent pressure, which willultimately do more harm to India and help China in a big way. The books title says it all: China is inside India, a malefic presence that has penetrated the country and seeks to destroy it from within. The author, a former customs official turned foreign policy analyst, believes the Chinese leadership will not rest until it has finished off India, either by breaking it into pieces or rendering it inconsequential in the Asian scheme of things. The sad part, according to him, is the role of a set of Indians who have conspired with the Chinese grand strategic aim of crippling India. This has happened before and is happening now. China In India By Abhijit Bhattacharyya Pragati Publications, pp 363; Rs 895 The authors mindset appears to have been greatly affected by the Naxalite uprising in West Bengal and their slogan: Chinas chairman is our chairman. He writes that he has been a firsthand witness to, and the victim of, Communist Chinas deep penetration into West Bengal, which began in the 1960s. West Bengal, according to him was a living laboratory of (a) political experiment where China got readymade foot soldiers in an alien land, fighting for them and espousing their unethical, illegal and aggressive cause, with dedication, devotion and determination even if it resulted in their (the Indian Hindu Bengalis) decimation. The Chinese threat has not receded and the Chinese leadership still looks to Mao for guidance, the author argues. Does not India know that the 21st century Chinese supremo Xi Jinping is the political reincarnation of Mao Zedong of the 20th century? ...who wholeheartedly has endorsed Mao, with the open backing of the sole ruling party of Beijing? The book progresses along similar alarmist lines. In the chapter on One Belt: One Road, he reiterates the continued existence of the lurking danger from the Chinese side as Beijing, to this day, has not reconciled to Indias rise as an independent sovereign nation to stand up to the pulls, pressures and bullying of the Hans of mainland China. No doubt India (at its best) is hardly 30 per cent of China in every sphere of nation-building enterprise, yet India does exist where it was never to be seen before. And this is the real cause of the rabid anti-India action of Beijing. Chinas economic rise too is viewed as a clear and present threat: The Chinese seem to be in no mood to restrain their economic and commercial march over India. One rarely has seen such a helpless India before. The Indian governments decision to allow Chinese companies, including banks, to operate within India and open the floodgates to China imports is fraught with great risk, the author feels. He points to the fact that India already has a $50 billion trade deficit with China. This in the long run will harm India no end, the author opines, and there may come a time, and not too distant in the future, when India will regret the colossal loss caused due to industry, employment, macro-economic policy and planning, leading to possible internal turbulence, civil unrest and political chaos, resulting in unforeseen and unanticipated dislocation in society. Indias penchant for opening doors to contemporary China is akin to the way India was prised opened by foreign invaders in the 8th century through the sword and again through the sweet words of initial charm offensive of the Europeans in the 17th century, to ultimately surrendering to both, thereby losing both economics and sovereignty for hundreds of years. The author is equally pessimistic about the future: How then does one proceed with Chinas determined bid to enter India? How does Beijing fulfill its mission China in India? To this author, whatever be the long-term consequences and outcome therefrom, Chinese bullying and forward thinking will keep India under permanent pressure which ultimately will do more harm to India and ultimately help China in a big way. A major shortcoming of the book is its terrible editing. The book does not appear to have passed through the hands of a competent editor as a result of which its serious intent is greatly diluted. The wrong grammar in some places and a certain amount of repetitiveness should have been avoided. The book is written in the style of the 19th century European pamphleteers who wanted to rouse their often disinterested public and phlegmatic Parliament. They took to writing highly provocative, often exaggerated accounts of real and imagined threats such as the Russian threat to British India, which ultimately triggered the Great Game in Central Asia. The idea was to foment outrage against a particular country or domestic policy, thereby setting the agenda and influencing public debate. Mr Bhattacharyya appears to be set upon the same path. He is convinced that already it might be too late to save the country: China already appears to have dug too deep to be uprooted. Yet India may still try. It may look to be a tad late in the day; but it is never too late for a nation of 1.25 billion heads to try to correct the mistakes of the past and the proposed misjudgements of the present. The writer is an independent commentator on political and security issues I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 44 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Vietnams largest private firm Vingroup launched four new phone models Friday, saying it aims to sell them internationally. The four new Vsmart phones, manufactured at the groups VinSmart factory in Vietnams northern city of Hai Phong, are priced from 2.49 million ($107.18) to 6.29 million ($270.76) in the introductory phase. The prices will later increase to VND2.59-6.59 million ($111.49-283.67). Tran Minh Trung, CEO of VinSmart, said at the launching event that his company wants to branch out to markets outside of Vietnam. "We will not stop at the Vietnam market. We will bring out products to the world with five business departments in five continents. A sixth department will be in charge of e-commerce. We are capable of competing and we want to be accepted in both local and international markets," he said. Vsmart VND2.49-million Joy 1 has a 13-megapixel camera. Photo by VnExpress/Huy Duc VinSmart acquired the intellectual property rights for the four phones from Spanish technology firm BQ, in which VinSmart owns a 51 percent stake. VinSmart is set to be a new competitor in the Vietnam market of 95 million people, currently dominated by Samsung and Apple phones. Vietnam is the largest smartphone production base for Samsung, while key Apple supplier Foxconn is also considering setting up a factory in the country. The launching of the phones has happened at rapid speed, just six months after Vingroup established the VinSmart company in June to produce smartphones and other smart electronic devices with a registered capital of VND3 trillion ($131.54 million). Vingroup, once a real estate and retail focused conglomerate, also became the countrys first full-fledged domestic car maker in October, introducing three new car models. VinSmart factory is capable of making five million phones a year in its first phase of operations, the company has said. It has also said that the factory will produce smart TVs and other smart products in the future. VinSmart also signed a multimode global patent license deal on Friday with chip producer Qualcomm. A British man and his Vietnamese wife were sentenced to 5 years in jail in Cambodia for soliciting and sexually abusing four Vietnamese girls last year. Photo by Shutterstock/NATNN A British man and his Vietnamese wife solicited and sexually abused four Vietnamese minor girls last year. The Khmer Times reported Thursday that the couple have been sentenced to five years in jail each. Clive Robert Kingsley, 69, is guitly of engaging in child prostitution under Cambodias Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, and his wife Chea Sokthy, 27, received soliciting charges, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled. The report did not explain how the Vietnamese woman acquired a Cambodian name. The couple would have to jointly pay a total of $12,000 in compensation to the victims; and Kingsley would be deported after serving his sentence. Both defendants declined to comment on their sentences. In April 27 last year, the municipal anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection police arrested Kingsley and Sokthy after raiding their rental apartment in the Phnom Penhs Chamkar Mon District. Four Vietnamese girls under 15 years of age were discovered in the apartment and rescued. Police reports said that in 2016, Kingsley told his wife to persuade the families of the four girls to let him raise them and teach them English. But he offered the girls between $2,000 and $3,000 each to have sex with him on demand, with his wife getting $1,000 in commission from each child. At a local trial last month, both defendants denied the charges. Kingsley said he was an English Literature teacher who came to Cambodia in 2015 and had already taught the subject at a private school there. The couple claimed that the reason they adopted the four Vietnamese girls was because the girls families were poor and learning English could help them find work in the future. Vietnam recorded 670 human trafficking victims last year, down almost half from 1,128 in 2016, according to official statistics. Most of the victims were uneducated women and children from poor areas, reports have said. Changu Narayan to get disaster rescue centre The International Organiza-tion for Migration and Changu Narayan Municipality in Bhaktapur District have begun work on a multi-purpose evacuation centre to accommodate displaced people in the event of a disaster. Two former deputy ministers are being probed for alleged involvement in violations committed by jailed property tycoon Phan Van Anh Vu. Criminal investigations were launched Friday into former deputy ministers of public security Bui Van Thanh, 60, and Tran Viet Tan, 63, for "negligence of responsibility, causing serious consequences." Both former officials were placed under house arrest. Authorities said the probes into the two former officials are part of an ongoing investigation into jailed real estate tycoon Phan Van Anh Vu and accomplices for "abuse of power or position while in performance of official duties." The latest investigations come four months after the Prime Minister dismissed Thanh from his position as Deputy Minister of Public Security and retroactively stripped Tan of his title as Deputy Minister of Public Security for the 2011-2016 term. Former Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Thanh. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Thanh was also dismissed from all Party positions and demoted from lieutenant general to colonel, while Tan lost his former Party position and was demoted from colonel general to lieutenant general. According to the Politburo, the Communist Party's highest decision-making body, Thanh had committed violations that resulted in "very serious" consequences, negatively affected the reputation of the Party and the public security forces. Thanh, as the deputy public security minister responsible for the ministry's General Department of Logistics-Engineering and as the department's former general director, was responsible for violations committed by the Standing Committee of the department's Party unit. He was found to have violated the principle of democratic centralism and shown irresponsibility in leading, managing, inspecting and supervising the department, enabling violations. Thanh also violated regulations on protecting state secrets and the ministry's working regulations, and broke laws in signing documents proposing the sale of several properties and land lots that belonged to the ministry. He was also found to have signed a decision allowing Vu to travel abroad and requested a diplomatic passport for him, although the latter was not qualified to get one. Former Deputy Minister of Public Security Tran Viet Tan. Photo courtesy of Cong An Nhan Dan Meanwhile, Tan, during his time as member of the Executive Committee of the Public Security Force's Party unit, had shown irresponsibility in leading, managing, inspecting and supervising the force. He had also signed a number of documents that violated regulations on protecting state secrets. Vu, 43, used to be one of the biggest property developers in Da Nang, serving as the chairman of three large property companies and a shareholder in a number of projects in the city. Last December, authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him for revealing state secrets after he left the country. He was detained in Singapore the same month for violating that country's immigration laws and deported to Vietnam, where he was arrested upon arrival. He was sentenced to nine years in prison for "deliberately disclosing state secrets" in July. An appeal court in late October commuted his sentence to eight years. Vu is also under investigation for several charges including "tax evasion," "abuse of power or position in performance of official duties," "abuse of power or position to appropriate property," and "violating regulations on the management and use of state-owned property that led to losses or waste." Some of the cases include alleged graft at Dong A Bank and violations of land regulations in Da Nang and HCMC. He is currently standing trial for allegedly appropriating over VND200 billion ($8.6 million) from Dong A Bank, for which he could spend 15-17 years in prison if found guilty. A U.K. court Wednesday sentenced 16 Vietnamese nationals to prison for running illegal cannabis farms worth $1.2 million. According to the indictment, the gang, 11 men and five women, used false identities and fraudulent documents to rent 21 homes in small towns in the Lancashire County before turning them into cannabis farms and raking in hundreds of thousands of British pounds from the illegal business. Some of the gang members presented themselves as a couple with a new-born child to gain their landlords confidence. Later, they turned the rented properties into cannabis farms, the Lancashire Evening Post reported. In March this year, police officers in Lancashire raided a number of properties leased by the gang members as part of their investigation to crack down on the large-scale drug ring. Police also seized cannabis worth around 1 million ($1.2 million) and $315,639 in cash. Police said the operation was run by Jack Nguyen and his female accomplice Trang Nguyen with the assistance of two women Hoai Nguyen and Thanh Thi Nguyen, Jacks girlfriend. The court sentenced Jack Nguyen to seven years and four months in jail for money laundering and cannabis production and supply. Trang Nguyen and Hoai Nguyen got jail terms of three years and nine months for producing and supplying cannabis. Hoai Nguyen was imprisoned for one year and six months after she pleaded guilty to two counts of "money laundering." The remaining 12, involved in the illegal cannabis operation, were jailed from eight months to two years. "Many defendants claimed to be trafficked and some claimed to be children, (but) all of these defenses were proved to be lies and simply just a tactic used to avoid detection," the court ruled. Be patient, your bowl of noodles will come in an hour A Saigon eatery that serves a single dish is so popular that people queue up to eat. The popularity of Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyens eatery for 40 years belies its simple looks. It is in a small alley off Tran Ke Xuong Street, Phu Nhuan District, not far from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Foodies come to the place mainly for a bowl of spicy noodle or vermicelli soup. The eatery is open from 11 a.m. to late evening. Customers fill up every space available at 1 p.m. People even queue up to wait for their turn to eat despite the scorching mid-day sun. "We came here to have lunch," say Tien Thanh and Xuan Hoa, two customers. "We were prepared to wait, but we didnt expect the place to be this crowded." Getting a seat does not end the wait. The queuing and waiting for the food could sometimes add up to an hour though the staff and cook are quick and serve many people at the same time. "Its normal for me to make 50 plates at the same time," says the owner. Why is a simple noodle dish so tasty? The answer lies in the harmonious combination of different ingredients, including ground beef, crunchy beef slices, ground shrimp, and egg. All cooking activities operate in a small space.The owner has a low table for her cooking utensils. The ingredients are simple, with the highlight being the fresh beef slices. Next to it is a bowl of ground beef. According to the owner, the meat is bought every day and so is always fresh. "Since there is already a recipe for the dish, the most important thing is to use fresh ingredients to make the dish delicious." The dish also has ground shrimp shaped in big meat balls. The cook poaches the raw shrimp balls when customers place orders. Spring onion, which gives it a lovely green colour, is the first ingredient to be placed in the bowl. A pack of instant noodles is dunked in a pot of boiling broth. The price of a bowl is VND52,000 ($2.23). One can order for a larger bowl with two packs of noodles for VND60,000 ($2.57). The owner explains that the price of each dish can vary depending on a customers order. "Whoever wants more quantity can order some more of each ingredient." Thus, a customized dish could contain more beef, eggs or shrimp. The dish originated in the southern province of Binh Dinh. The main ingredient is instant noodles, but customers who like a twist can order with vermicelli instead. The noodle strands are white, smooth and considered big compared to normal rice noodles. The poached eggs showcase the talent of the cook. The eggs are poached quickly, but they are always well cooked and intact. "This is my first time," says Xuan Hoa. "It is a bit tiring to wait, but this is very attractive; I will definitely come here again." The restaurant serves a variety of beverages at affordable prices. Sugarcane juice and centella juice are the most popular, and cost VND15,000 ($0.64) a glass. The restaurant is a legacy passed down to Huyen by her mother. It was one of the first spicy noodle eateries to open. It has now become well-known as a purveyor of Saigonese cuisine. The restaurant has moved several times, but patron foodies always find a way back to it. The "yellow vest" revolt in France over the high cost of living has sparked copycat protests abroad -- as well a swarm of fake reports. AFP's fact-checking service sorts the real from the imagined: Copycat protests The month-long French demonstrations, which have led to repeated rioting in Paris, have inspired protesters in a number of mostly European countries. On December 8, some 400 people were detained in Brussels after protesters wearing high-visibility fluorescent vests briefly clashed with police. There have been several copycat 'yellow vest' protests in other European cities, including Brussels. Photo by AFP/Aris Oikonomou Others reportedly blocked a highway linking Brussels to the town of Rekkem in Flanders, near the French border to protest high taxes. On the same day in the Netherlands, "yellow vests" turned out in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague to protest the high cost of living, but they were few in number and the demonstrations were peaceful. In Hungary, some of those protesting a new law, which increases the amount of overtime employers can require of workers, also dressed up in yellow vests on December 12 outside parliament. And in Poland, farmers wearing the distinctive jackets on Wednesday blocked a motorway to demand government compensation for a swine flu outbreak. In Germany, both Alice Weidel, one of the founders of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, and the radical left-wing Die Linke party have expressed support for the French movement. And some yellow vests were seen among a 1,000-strong crowd of right-wing demonstrators when the Pegida anti-migrant movement when it held a rally on December 1 in Berlin. In Belgrade, a handful of opposition members of parliament also donned yellow on December 4 to protest petrol price increases. In South Africa, where some protesters have been spotted wearing yellow vests during demonstrations against the low quality of public services, the Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) spoke out in favour of the French movement, saying it was a model for future protests. The French movement kicked off on November 17 over higher fuel taxes, but quickly morphed into a nationwide grassroot protest against the high cost of living and the government. The 'yellow vests' protests in France have forced concessions from President Emmanuel Macron. Photo by AFP/Pascal Guyot President Emmanuel Macron has since offered tax and wage concessions in a bid to end the protest. Worried governments In Egypt, authorities fearing possible protests on the anniversary of the uprising that toppled Egypt's longtime president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, have sought to restrict the sale of yellow vests. "We received instructions from the police around a week ago to sell yellow vests to companies only, and not to individuals," one importer said. And a human rights lawyer, Mohamed Ramadan, was remanded in custody earlier this month over charges including the distribution and possession of leaflets and yellow vests. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, defended the jailing of an elderly rights activist over calls to protest, stressing he wanted to prevent events like France's "yellow vest" revolt. Fake yellow news But not every sighting of a high-visibility jacket should be seen as political. Many social media accounts wrongly reported on Monday that German rail workers, who held a one-day strike for higher pay, wore yellow vests in solidarity with the French. The vests are mandatory to ensure they are visible when on the railway tracks. Other reports were pure fakes. An internet platform, 24jours.com, published a photograph showing 300 motorcyclists in yellow vests purportedly demonstrating in the capital of the Central African Republic against "the French neo-colonial system" and against the local French-linked currency. The picture was in fact taken in May when motorcyclists in Bangui attended a first aid training clinic. The willowy contestant is making history since the pageant reversed a longstanding policy in 2012 that participants must be 'naturally born' women. Photo by AFP Miss Spain's Angela Ponce is blazing a trail as the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe's 66-year history. The willowy beauty is making history since the pageant reversed a longstanding policy in 2012 that participants must be "naturally born" women, carrying a bold message of inclusion, transgender rights and a sharp rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump. Explaining her broad appeal the plain-speaking 27-year-old says "who hasn't suffered from prejudice? Who hasn't had to deal with bullying?" Outside the walls of Miss Universe -- whose finals will be held early Monday in Thailand's capital Bangkok -- the transgender community continues to be marginalised and misunderstood, with high rates of suicide. A leaked White House report said President Trump's administration is considering pushing changes to the law to define gender by biological traits at birth, while trying to block transgender people from military service. Ponce is defiant about how to respond to Trump, a former owner of Miss Universe, and others who would try to box her in by physical traits. "I always say: having a vagina didn't transform me into a woman. I am a woman, already before birth, because my identity is here," she told AFP, gesturing to her head. She also took issue with the classification of trans people by large sections of society based on prejudice and narrow assessments of gender. "Outsiders say what I can and cannot do, what I am and what I am not,'" Ponce said. "No, I'm sorry. To be a woman is your identity. It doesn't matter if you are white, black, if you have a vagina... if you have a penis." Ponce, who works with a foundation in Spain helping children struggling with stigma linked to being trans, is aware of the visibility she brings to the Miss Universe platform. Her performance has so far drawn praise, from her portrayal of a flamenco dancer during the national costume portion of the competition to her strut down the runway in a shimmery mermaid-like gown in the evening dress category. "You can empower yourself like I have and turn something negative into your biggest strength," she said. "Children are born without prejudices and I think that if we talk to them about diversity from a young age... we can create a new generation of human beings who are raised a lot better, more tolerant and respectful." This year's event, which critics say is a throwback to stereotypes of the the pre #MeToo era, has largely preached a message of inclusivity. It boasts an all-women panel of judges made up of business leaders and former Miss Universe titleholders. But gaffes still abound -- Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers got in hot water for appearing to mock the contestants from Vietnam and Cambodia on social media for not being able to speak English. She has since posted an apology on instagram, saying she did not "intend to hurt" her fellow competitors. Monday's event will see last year's winner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa crown her successor among 94 countries in a live televised event hosted by American comic turned TV host Steve Harvey and supermodel Ashley Graham. Ukrainian goods exports soar to almost US$38.8 bln in 10 months The growth of the exports was 10.3%. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Sefcovic said it was important to build on the positive momentum created in July. European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic has invited Ukraine and Russia for the next round of trilateral gas talks at a political level in January. Read alsoEU's Sefcovic reveals when next Ukraine-EU-Russia gas talks to be held "Have invited Ukraine and Russia to Brussels for the next round of TrilateralGasTalks at a political level in January. Expect that commercial entities will also attend. Important to build on the positive momentum created in July," he wrote on Twitter on December 14, 2018. As UNIAN reported earlier, the existing gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia's Gazprom was signed in 2009 for a period of 10 years. After it expires (starting 2020), the Russian monopoly intends to minimize volumes of gas transit via Ukraine. On July 17, the first gas stage of gas talks was completed where the parties exchanged views on a new transit contract that could be concluded from 2020, and agreed to continue talks in the fall. Chief district attorney faces corruption case The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a case at the Special Court against Kosh Hari Niraula, chief of District Attorney Office, Rupandehi, Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezai said on Saturday December 15 that the bill drafted to pave the way for Iran to join the International Convention against Funding Terrorism (CFT) has not reached the council, therefore, council members cannot pass a judgement on it. This means more ambiguity and delay in a lengthy process in Iran, that has pit President Hassan Rouhanis administration and a majority of parliament against hardliners who have launched a campaign to prevent Iran from signing up to a serioes of international conventions aimed at money laundering and financing terrorists. The presidium of the Iranian Parliament (Majles) had announced earlier that Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani sent the bill to the Expediency Council, a body that has the final say on legislations if the Majles and hardline-dominated watchdog Guardian Council cannot agree on its. Rezai told the Iranian news agency that council was reviewing the bills on combating money laundering which were sent to the Expediency Council because of disagreement between the Majles and the Guardian Council. Meanwhile, Tehran's interim Friday Prayer Leader has once again called for keeping Iran out of international anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering rules and regulations. A mid-ranking cleric appointed by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader as temporary Friday Prayer Leader of the Iranian capital, the Expediency Council to reject the bills concerning the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), money laundering and financing international terrorism. Kazem Seddighi, who had earlier the bills as "humiliating", insisted on Friday, December 14, that the endorsement of the bills equals "self-imposed sanctions". Claiming that Iran has been capable of bypassing U.S. sanctions imposed on Tehran, Seddighi maintained, Joining FATF will increase the enemy's information about our banking sources." Seddighi's comments echoed his remarks on November 10, when he compared joining FATF with capitulation. "Today, we are demanding from the authorities to reject the humiliating FATF bills, which are similar to a capitulation treaty, Seddighi noted. The word capitulation has a special connotation in Iran. During the weak Qajar Dynasty in late 19th and early 20th centuries, European powers demanded immunity from prosecution for their subjects in Iran, forcing the country to capitulate to their demands. However, there was no modern justice system in Iran at the time, which could partly explain why Europeans demanded an exemption. But in Iranian political culture, capitulation became a synonym with lack of sovereignty and national indignity. Rouhani's proposals, if passed, would pave the way for the country to meet FATF requirements -- as well as those of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes -- in the hope of reducing international pressure on Irans deteriorating economy. Originally proposed in November 2017, the bills have met with staunch resistance from hardliners, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who says the agreements were cooked up by foreign enemies. The opponents are mainly Friday Prayer leaders, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commanders, and other conservative allies of Khameneis. They argue that passing the bills will threaten Irans security, whereas analysts say the real fear in circles loyal to the Supreme Leader is that adhering to rules for financial transparency would prevent Tehran from funding the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas militant groups. But there are also the financial interests of powerful regime officials and their businesses that have functioned in an environment free of international standards. The fate of the proposals is currently in the hands of the Expediency Discernment Council which is assigned to resolve differences between the Majles (parliament) and the Guardian Council, but its true power lies more in its advisory role to the Supreme Leader. Meanwhile, a member of EDC, mid-ranking cleric Majid Ansari said that the council is set to debate FATF on Saturday. Speaking to the monopolized state-run TV, pro-reform Ansari predicted that EDC will stamp Rouhani's proposal to amend money laundering laws. The speaker of Majles, Ali Larijani has repeatedly asserted that not only European banks but also "friendly" countries' banks have repeatedly announced that their condition for cooperating with Iran is the endorsement of President Rouhani's proposals, collectively known as "Palermo bills" in Tehran. Rouhani has also repeatedly defended the proposals and lambasted critics for blocking the government's plan to join international anti-money laundering conventions such as FATF. Without cooperation with foreign banks, the cost of living would be 20 percent higher. By passing FATF bills costs would decrease 20 percent, Rouhani said on December 10 at a meeting with officials from the Roads and Urban Development Ministry, official news agency IRNA, reported. It is not acceptable that some organizations come up with rhetoric (against passing such bills) without telling people the consequences of not doing so, he added. FATF has given Tehran until February to either endorse UNTOC or be added to its blacklist of countries refusing to cooperate in the fight against money laundering and financing terrorism. The International Monetary Fund is urging Tehran to endorse the bills. Iran and North Korea are the only countries on the FATF blacklist, but the Paris-based organization has suspended countermeasures against Tehran while it works on reforms. The body of a political prisoner who died while on hunger strike was buried on Friday under heavy surveillance of security forces in Qom, 127 kilometers (79 miles) south of Tehran. Vahid Sayadi Nasiri died recently and the family was notified on Wednesday, December 12, after 60 days on hunger strike. Several civil activists and former inmates of Sayadi Nasiri had traveled to Qom to attend his funeral. Scores of security forces were also present at the ceremony. Speaking to Radio Farda, Sayadi Nasiri's sister, Elahe, said, "Plainclothes security personnel were closely watching the ceremony and followed us." Sayadi Nasiri had gone on hunger strike to protest "unbearable condition" of the prison, demanding his return to the political ward of Tehran's Evin prison. However, the prosecutor-general of Qom has insisted that Sayadi Nasiri's was suffering from "liver malfunction" and taken to a hospital where he died seven days later. Iranian prosecutors and prison authorities have little accountability to any independent body, especially when it comes to cases of political detainees. Deaths in prison are rarely investigated in a transparent manner and relatives or defense lawyers are usually kept in the dark. The relatives were told to go to the "Behesht-i Masoumeh cemetery" and collect the body of their loved one. Vahid Sayadi Nasiri was initially arrested in September 2015, and sentenced to eight years on charges of insulting religious sanctities, including the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and propaganda against the state, on his Facebook account. Benefiting from an Iranian New Year pardon, he was released last March, after spending two and a half years behind bars. However, his release was short-lived, and the Intelligence department's agents in Qom arrested him again for the same charges last August. Nasiri went on hunger strike in late October 2018 to protest being locked up with ordinary criminals which violated the Islamic Republics own regulations on the principle of separation of inmates. In a statement on December 13, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said Vahid Sayadi Nasiri, who died on December 12, had been "arbitrarily detained" by Iranian authorities after his arrest four months ago. Nasiri had "no access to legal counsel, was held in inhumane conditions, and was charged with spurious national security offenses such as 'insulting the Supreme Leader,'" the statement said. The State Department statement said he was "just one of many more unjustly detained prisoners held at the mercy of the Iranian regime's whims." "The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the Iranian regime for its unceasingly flagrant human rights violations," it said. "We demand that the regime stops subjecting Iranians who are peacefully voicing their opinions to brutal conditions and slow deaths, and release all those unjustly imprisoned," it added. The statement referred to two other detainees, Farhad Meysami -- who it said was also on hunger strike -- and Nasrin Sotoudeh. GENEVA, Dec 14 (Reuters) The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will hold talks with high-level officials from Iran, Russia and Turkey in Geneva early next week on setting up a constitutional committee, a U.N. statement said on Friday. The talks on forming a "credible, balanced, and inclusive" committee to draft a new constitution for Syria and usher in elections will take place ahead of his monthly presentation to the U.N. Security Council set for Thursday Dec. 20, it said. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Tom Miles) Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 21 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Dec. 15. The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.15 Trend: Another master class was held by Nargis magazine. Representatives of foreign embassies and representatives of international organizations participated at the charity event. On Friday, December 14, a private workshop on decorating traditional Hungarian gingerbreads was held at Ay Qonsu restaurant, organized by the Nargis magazine and the charity foundation in cooperation with the Hungarian embassy. At the invitation of Mrs. Timea Pashzternak (the spouse of the Ambassador of Hungary to Azerbaijan), the spouses of foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Azerbaijan took part in the masterclass. Especially for this day, a famous Hungarian pastry chef Marianna Kadar arrived from Budapest. The guests watched a video of making gingerbreads, then under her conduction, they prepared sweet glaze, trained in drawing curls on separate cardboards and then proceeded to decorate gingerbread angels, bells and hearts. Two hours flew by without notice behind laughter and warm talks. In addition to honey, eggs, flour and spices, a lot of love was invested in each cake, because they will delight children from boarding school No. 5 with disabilities. The master class was held as part of a charity project, which will on Saturday, December 15, with a concert of famous Hungarian musicians - pianist Endre Hegedus and violinist Felix Lajko. Funds collected from the sale of tickets, will go to the purchase of Braille devices that help blind and poorly seeing children to obtain reading and writing skills. Mrs. Timea Pashzternak kindly shares with us the recipe of the gingerbread: Sift 700 gr. flour Above steaming water, heat 250 gr. honey together with 50 gr. margarine. Heat until the mixture almost burns the lips. Break 2 eggs. Sift 100 gr. caster sugar together with spices: 10 gr. cinnamon, 1 tsp. ground allspice, 10 gr. honeybread mixture. Different mistresses add various spices from cloves to ginger. Add the caster sugar - spice mix to the whipped egg, pour on the honeyed margarine and add the flour. Mix all the ingredients with scissor-cutting motion. Use a much larger dish than the ingredients would otherwise need, thus youll have ample space to easily mixer. Cover and make it rest for 24 hrs. Make rolls from the prepared dough and put them in a plastic bag to avoid drying. Spread flour on your working board and roll the dough to 3 mm. thickness. With cutters, cut the desired shapes from the rolled dough. Place them on a baking sheet, leaving a finger-size space between them. Bake them in 170-175C. oven until golden brown. Decorative icing: Whisk one egg white 150-170 gr. caster sugar. Pour the mixture into a small plastic bag, cut a small hole at one of the bottom corner and start decorating. Photos: 1. Timea Pashzternak (the spouse of the Ambassador of Hungary to Azerbaijan) 2.Linda Benmoussat (Algeria), 3. Maria Ciopraga (spouse of TRACECA Secretary General), 4. Norma Isaczai (resident coordinator spouse UN offices in Azerbaijan), 5. Susana Stalder (Switzerland), 6. Alya Leuca (Moldova), 7. Gabriella Solti (spouse of the ambassador of the Council of Europe), 8. Dorottya Gruber-Kovacs (spouse of a diplomat on cultural and educational affairs, Hungary). The detailed information is on the official pages of Nargis Magazine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nargis_magazine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nargismagazine/ Tehran, Iran, Dec.15 Trend: Iran and Iraq are finalizing one of the biggest electricity contracts, to meet the needs of Iraq for turbines and electrical equipment at its power plants. "The quality of Iranian electrical equipment is so high, that the Iraqi government has canceled its contract with the American General Electric company, to import Iranian equipment, vice president of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Alireza Kolahi said, Trend reports citing ILNA. "Unfortunately, previous Iraqi Energy Minister did not cooperate with Iran in expanding bilateral trades. The minister prevented work of Iranian companies but the new Energy Minister is keen to cooperate, until now several agreements have been signed in the fields of energy which would be a positive step if they turn them into contracts," he added. "Iranian companies have been popular among Iraqi Shiites and Kurds, after the defeat of IS in Iraq, the positive role of Iran in supporting Iraqi people created interest even among Sunnis and only those with Ba'athi affiliations have problem with Iranians," he said. Kolahi noted the trade volume between two countries during past eight months has been effected by lack of private sector trust in government and the foreign currency revenue return declaration between customs and Iran exporters. "According to statistics, during past eight months Iran exported items to Iraq worth $64 billion. Oil and petrochemical products and steel were the major exports, while small part of it belonged to the country's private sector. However the pressure of foreign currency rate effected Iran private sector, he said. "The government needs to control the public companies, according to reports the allocated foreign currency of these companies did not return to Integrated System for Hard Currency Transactions (NIMA), from $27 billion exports only $7 billion of revenues returned to the NIMA system. The public factories produce most of raw materials and their share in non-oil exports were $60 billion, while private goods share was $7 billion," he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend: The number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan for therapeutic and recreation purposes will increase by 18 percent in 2019, chairman of the Association for Support of Medical and Thermal Tourism of Azerbaijan, President of the World Health Tourism Organization Ruslan Guliyev told Trend. He said that in January-November 2018, the number of tourists who visited Azerbaijan for health purposes increased by 30 percent compared to the same period last year. "More than 45,000 tourists from over 70 countries visited the Recreational Center Naftalan alone," he noted. "This figure is expected to grow by the end of the year." He added that among the tourists who visited this center, the Russian, Kazakh and Uzbek citizens constitute a majority. In addition, he noted that in Azerbaijan there are conditions for the development of all major areas of health tourism, and the development of this sphere is an important issue for the country. "Health tourism differs from other types as it is not seasonal, and here, unlike other types of tourism, the number of overnight stays of tourists is greater," he added. "Tourists stop for at least 12 days." He also said that in Azerbaijan it is necessary to develop a map of health tourism, which will contribute to the development of this area. It is also necessary to expand the use of innovative solutions in the medical and health centers of the country, he noted. "There is a need to apply innovations in the field of management, in structural innovations, technological as well as market innovations," said Guliyev. He expressed confidence that the work in this direction will bring results in a short time. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @TalehMursagulov Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend: The Pirallahi Industrial Park of Azerbaijan is expected to become an important center for the local production of pharmaceuticals, Executive Director of the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan) Tobias Baumann, told Trend. Baumann added that Germany together with Switzerland and Turkey are considered the worlds most important suppliers of pharmaceuticals, measured by the value of imports. Further, he stressed that German companies are interested in this sector and are observing the market considering the possible market entries in 2019-2020. Azerbaijan plans to produce pharmaceutical products worth 1.3 million manats in 2019. The production will be expanded in subsequent years. Thus, the output will reach 38.8 million manats in 2020, 39.5 million manats in 2021 and 40.2 million manats in 2022. The reason for the expected sharp increase in production is that pharmaceutical plants will start operating in the country's Pirallahi Industrial Park from 2019. The industrial park, which was established in 2016, specializes in the production of pharmaceutical products. Here, as in other industrial parks, investors are exempted from paying various taxes and customs duties for seven years. The Pirallahi Industrial Park currently has four residents: the joint Azerbaijani-Russian plant Hayat Pharm, the Azerbaijani-Iranian plant Caspian Pharmed, the plant of Diamed Co., and the plant of IFFA. These plants are under construction. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: Italy is the leader in the import of Kazakh products in January-September 2018, the Kazakh National Economy Ministry told Trend. Exports from Kazakhstan to Italy in the reporting period amounted to $8.83 billion. The top three also include the Netherlands ($4.81 billion) and China ($4.23 billion). They are followed by Russia ($3.83 billion), France ($2.69 billion), Switzerland ($2.08 billion), South Korea ($2.02 billion), Spain ($1.48 billion), Uzbekistan ($1.2 billion) and Romania ($1.11 billion). In general, the trade turnover of Kazakhstan in January-September 2018 totaled $68.2 billion, an increase of 21.9 percent compared to the same period in 2017. Exports totaled $44.5 billion, an increase of 28.4 percent, while the share of commodities in the exports of Kazakhstan amounted to 74.2 percent. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines has launched flights from Astana to the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Trend reports citing Kazakh media. According to the Civil Aviation Committee, flights will be operated 2 times a week, on Fridays and Sundays, on the CRJ-200 aircraft. Regular flights between the two cities are also operated by Tajikistan's Somon Air (frequency of 3 flights per week) and Tajik Air (frequency of 2 flights per week) airlines. From the Kazakh side, Air Astana operates flights on the Dushanbe-Almaty-Dushanbe route with a frequency of 5 flights per week. The airline also plans to launch flights on the Astana-Dushanbe-Astana route with a frequency of 3 flights per week in the 2019 spring-summer navigation period. Presently, SCAT Airlines, which is one of the largest airlines in Kazakhstan, operates passenger flights within Kazakhstan, as well as to Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Lithuania, China and Armenia. The airline's fleet consists of 15 Boeing and 6 Bombardier aircraft. Annually SCAT Airlines opens up to 10 new flights, with an average increase in passenger traffic by 40 percent. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid Civil society group protests transitional justice junket A section of civil society, which is against the attempts being made to form a high-level mechanism to facilitate the transitional justice process, has expressed serious reservations over the Swiss-funded transitional justice interaction held in Bangkok. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Daily 2,000 trucks are loaded with 50,000 tons of the main products in Irans Imam Khomeini Port, Director General of Imam Khomeini Port Customs Office Rahmatali Fallah Khoshdel said. There is no delay in the supply of animal feed and bird food through the customs, Trend reports citing Mizan News Agency. Presently, animal feed and bird food is usually carried directly from the ship to the truck, he said. Khoshdel said that Imam Khomeini Port stores more than two million products. Among these products are corn, vegetable oil, sugar, rice and so on, he said. Imam Khomeini port has two entrances for freight shipment and operates 24 hours a day, Khoshdel added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistans carmaker Uzavtosanoat has registered an additional issue of shares worth 529.95 billion soums ($63.94 million), the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Assistance to Privatized Enterprises and Development of Competition told Trend. The total value of the carmaker's accounted shares increased by almost 60 percent to exceed 1.41 trillion soums ($170.53 million). The Committee said that as of Dec. 14, 2018 the securities of 602 joint stock companies were taken into account at the Central Securities Depository, the total volume of which amounted to 6,150 trillion with a nominal value of 58.81 trillion soums. The financial sector (banks, stock exchanges, investment funds, leasing and insurance companies) accounted for 3.36 trillion shares with a nominal value of 16.07 trillion soums. A large majority of corporate bonds in Uzbekistan fell on the share of commercial banks. According to the Committee, the Central Securities Depository accounted for 500,000 corporate bonds totaling 198.06 billion soums, of which 450,000 bonds or 148.06 billion soums were issued by only three commercial banks (Ozsanoatqurilishbank, Kapital Bank and National Bank of Uzbekistan). Uzavtosanoat issued 50,000 corporate bonds for 50 billion soums. It was earlier reported that at the Dec. 3-7 trade week at Uzbekistan's Toshkent Republican Stock Exchange, 265 purchase and sale transactions were carried out on shares of 30 joint stock companies. As a result, 17.4 million ordinary shares and 62,900 privileged shares worth 6.1 billion soums were sold against 28.7 billion soums last week. (8312.64 UZS = 1 USD on Dec. 14) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Adviser to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Victor Mayko, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The parties, noting the high level of bilateral relations between the two countries, stressed the need to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, the report said. At the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas. In 2016, Ukraines foreign trade with Turkmenistan amounted to $440.04 million, according to the Ukrainian side. The main export items to Turkmenistan are railway cars, agro-industrial products, goods of the chemical, pharmaceutical and woodworking industries. Exports from Turkmenistan to Ukraine consisted mainly of oil refining products, wool and cotton, as well as textiles. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 15 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The delegation led by Egyptian Ambassador Ihab Ahmad Talaat Nasr was received at the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIET), Trend reports with reference to the Union. There are good prospects for expanding business contacts in the trade and economic sphere, in agriculture, food and textile industry, as well as other industries, the report said. Turkmenistan grows cotton, wheat, rice and sugar beet. In this context, the productivity of the meeting between Turkmen and Egyptian businessmen on the sidelines of a business forum, held for the first time in Cairo in the last decade of November, was emphasized. Noting stability of the local economy, attractiveness of the investment climate created in Turkmenistan and huge potential for the development of the Turkmen-Egyptian mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, the ambassador spoke in favor of expanding contacts between businessmen of the two countries. The two countries intend to expand relations in energy and processing sectors. Meanwhile, medicine and pharmaceutics are considered as the fields of mutual interest. Tehran, Iran, Dec.15 Trend: An Iranian official has indicated that Iran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Subsidy Reform Plan left a $1.4 billion worth of debt for the current government. "The government has to pay for the $1.4 billion budget deficit that was caused by the previous administration's subsidy plan. How can we raise subsides while we are facing this debt?", head of Plan and Budget Organization of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said, Trend reported via ILNA. Ahmadinejad himself has recently spoken about the subsidy plan, calling for the increase of monthly subsidies from $10 to $214. "The Central Bank of Iran constantly demands that the current government pays its debts, and has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Audit Court," he said. As part of the Subsidy Reform Plan that was established in 2010, the Ahmadinejad's government paid 450,000 rials ($10) to each and every Iranian on a monthly basis. Tehran, Iran, Dec.15 Trend: Commander of Iran's Army Aviation (Havanirooz) Brigadier-General Yusef Ghorbani has announced the Vatanpour Training Center is ready to start accepting foreign students. "The Vatanpour Training Center, is the biggest helicopter training center in the Middle East, the center has previously trained foreign students, and now is looking to train more students from foreign countries," he said, Trend reports via Fars News Agency. Ghorbani made the remarks during a meeting with aviation elites and heads of knowledge based companies in Iran. The commander noted that in the times of sanctions, Iran should launch the spare parts manufacturing programs. "Foreign currency and investment problems, delay in projects operation and loss of opportunities are the challenges we must face," he added. The official noted that the knowledge-based companies and veterans can move towards new horizons to manufacture parts for Iran's aviation. "The experience of eight year Iran-Iraq war could be valuable in repair and productions of spare parts," Ghorbani believes. "Projects should be operational and have early results. Some industries have a profit-oriented approach and in some companies there is no approach toward the country's security," he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif left Tehran for Doha, Qatar on Saturday to attend Doha Forum 2018, Trend reports referring to IRNA. The event is slated to be held with the attendance of prominent figures on December 15-16. Doha Forum is to focus on regional challenges and international security. The United Nations Secretary- General Antonio Guterres is also scheduled to participate in the event. Australia formally recognizes West Jerusalem as Israels capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy, but will not move its embassy there immediately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday, Trend reports citing Reuters. Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel, Morrison said. We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, he told reporters in Sydney. Morrison said in October he was open to shifting Australias embassy from Tel Aviv. Morrison said Australia would not move its embassy to West Jerusalem until the citys final status was determined, but said trade and defense offices would be opened there. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met here Saturday with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with both sides expressing willingness to deepen cooperation and combat terrorism, Trend reports with the reference to Xinhua. Wang said the Chinese side is willing to work with the Afghan side to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and push forward the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership for further development. Afghanistan is China's important partner to jointly implement the Belt and Road Initiative, and China is willing to expand bilateral trade and investment with Afghanistan and help Afghanistan speed up its reconstruction and development process, Wang said. China appreciates Afghanistan's efforts in fighting the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, and will continue to offer support and help for Afghanistan's anti-terrorism capacity building, he said. Wang said the Chinese side appreciates the measures of the Afghan government in promoting the reconciliation process and supports the international community to play a constructive role on the matter. China is willing to work with Afghanistan and Pakistan to seriously implement the results achieved at the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue, promote the continuous improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and further push forward the development of the trilateral cooperation. For his part, Ghani said his country is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China, expand trade and increase personnel training. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Counter-Terrorism signed by Afghanistan, China and Pakistan will strongly push forward the regional anti-terrorism cooperation, and the Afghan side will continue to firmly strike all forms of terrorism, the Afghan president said. Wang also met with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah here on Saturday. The Chinese state councilor said the two countries have witnessed friendly development of bilateral relations thanks to the support from the leaders of both sides and the two peoples. China is willing to work with Afghanistan to further strengthen personnel training, enhance local-level cooperation, improve people's livelihood, steadily advance the aid programs for Afghanistan and further push forward the cooperation in all fields between the two sides, he said. Wang said the 2nd China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue has achieved positive results and reached consensus. On the basis of fully respecting the willingness of the Afghan side, China is willing to continue playing a constructive role and support the Afghan government in pushing forward the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process so as to achieve the inclusive political reconciliation at an early date. China appreciates the progress achieved in the improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, supports the two countries to strengthen dialogue, promote mutual trust and continue to improve bilateral relations. China is willing to work together with the two countries to deepen anti-terrorism cooperation and fight terrorism in all forms, Wang said. Abdullah, for his part, said the two countries have witnessed the sound development of bilateral ties with cooperation in every sector yielding fruitful results. Afghanistan will continue to support China on issues concerning China's core interests, Abdullah said. Afghanistan is devoted to pushing forward the peace process in the country and is willing to continue improving ties with Pakistan, Abdullah added. France will deploy tens of thousands of police nationwide and around 8,000 in Paris on Saturday to handle a fifth weekend of yellow vest protests, although the movement appears to be losing steam after concessions by President Emmanuel Macron, Trend reports citing Reuters. The chief of police in Paris said concerns remained about violent groups infiltrating the protests. Anti-riot officers will protect landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and prevent people getting close to the presidential palace. We need to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, police chief Michel Delpuech told RTL radio. He expected businesses in the capital to be less affected this weekend after heavy disruption over the past three weeks when major stores shut, hotels suffered cancellations and tourists stayed away during the usually busy run-up to Christmas. Nicknamed Acte V of the protests, the yellow vest demonstrators will take to the streets this weekend as France recovers from an unrelated attack on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Strasbourg on Tuesday, when a gunman shot and killed three people and wounded several others. Hundreds of police officers were redeployed to Strasbourg to search for the gunman, who was shot dead in an exchange of fire on Thursday evening. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said it was time for the yellow vests to scale down their protests and accept they had achieved their aims. Police officers also deserved a break, he added. Id rather have the police force doing their real job, chasing criminals and combating the terrorism threat, instead of securing roundabouts where a few thousand people keep a lot of police busy, he said. 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. It is impossible to resolve energy issues facing Europe without Russian gas supplies, Director General of Serbias natural gas provider Srbijagas (or Serbiagas) Dusan Bajatovic told reporters during an energy roundtable in the city of Novi Sad, Trend reports referring to TASS. "It is impossible to solve the European gas equation without Russia," he said, adding that Serbian and other countries of the region had contracts with Russias Gazprom valid until 2020-2022. According to Bajatovic, the year 2020 will be crucial, when gas supplies through Ukraine will end. "Everyone has technical and other solutions so that no one is left without gas," the Srbijagas director general said. When asked whether gas pipeline projects were consistent with the EU requirements, Bajatovic noted that Serbia abided by the national energy law, which was in line with the European Unions Third Energy Package. "France, Germany, Austria, who have extended contracts with Russia, as well as Hungary and Bulgaria, want to ensure gas supplies through the TurkStream and the Nord Stream pipelines, while Brussels makes most of its statements under Washingtons pressure," he said. Bajatovic said earlier that Serbia was technically ready to build the TurkStream gas pipeline. The countrys Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, in turn, said that Belgrade welcomed Moscows plans to build the pipeline through Serbia. Hundreds of demonstrators wearing fluorescent safety vests came out in Tel Aviv on Friday to protest Israel's high cost of living, borrowing from the Yellow Vest movement that has shaken France, Trend reports citing Haaretz. In Tel Aviv, the demonstrators blocked the Azrieli intersection in the city center; 10 were arrested on allegations of disorderly conduct during clashes with the police. "Next week there will be 10,000 people here," said one of the organizers, David Mizrahi, as he was arrested. The organizers added: "We are taking to the streets to stop price increases, to strip the monopolies of their power, and to lower the cost of living that weighs on all Israelis. This is the heart of the struggle." The protests are focusing on recently announced price hikes. The Israel Electric Corporation is putting up rates by between 6.9 percent and 8.1 percent, and the Water Authority is increasing prices by 4.5 percent in January. Several food manufacturers have also announced price hikes. Food maker Osem said this week that it would increase prices by 2 percent to 4.5 percent at the start of the year, while rival Tnuva is opting for 2 percent to 3 percent. Also, bakeries have asked that the retail cost of price-controlled bread be allowed to rise 3.4 percent. An estimated two million Venezuelans could join the ranks of migrants and refugees next year, swelling the total to 5.3 million as the countrys meltdown continues, the United Nations said, Trend reports citing Reuters. About 5,000 Venezuelans flee their homeland daily, down from a peak of 13,000 in August, said Eduardo Stein, a joint special representative for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Stein described the two million figure as a planning estimate for migrants and refugees leaving for neighboring countries in the next 14 months who will need aid. The region had to respond to an emergency that in some areas of concern was almost similar to a massive earthquake. We are indeed facing a humanitarian earthquake, he told a news briefing. The U.N. appealed last week for $738 million in 2019 to help Venezuelas neighbors cope with the inflow of millions of refugees and migrants who have no prospect for return in the short- to medium-term. About 3.3 million Venezuelans have fled the political and economic crisis in their homeland, most since 2015, the UNHCR said. About 365,000 of them have sought asylum, U.N. refugee boss Filippo Grandi said. The reasons these people left are ranging from pure hunger to violence and lack of security ... We at UNHCR believe many have valid reasons to seek international protection, he said. Colombia has taken in one million Venezuelan nationals, with most others going to Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators proposed on Thursday giving temporary protected status to Venezuelan migrants to the United States. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blames its economic problems on U.S. financial sanctions and an economic war led by political adversaries. The U.N. aid plan, presented to donors on Friday, aims to help Venezuelans to become productive contributors in host countries, said Antonio Vitorio, director-general of the IOM. This means focusing on access to the labor market, recognition of qualifications and also guaranteeing that the provision of social services in those countries - especially housing, health, and education - are up to the stress that derives from the newcomers, he said. Entry to the Taj Mahal - unquestionably one of the world's most exquisite landmarks, and thus also among the most visited - has soared in price for Indian residents as part of an ongoing government initiative to bring visitor numbers down, Trend reports citing The Telegraph. As of Monday, an all-inclusive ticket to access the 365-year-old main mausoleum in Agra will rise from 50 rupees (55p) to 250 rupees (2.20) for Indian nationals, and from around 13 to 15 for foreigners. Domestic tourists make up the vast majority of visitors to the Taj Mahal, and the decision by authorities to increase the entry fee will likely have a significant impact in a country where the average daily wage is just 270 rupees (3.14). The price for international visitors only rose by 15 per cent. "We want people to pay more to limit the footfall," said an official from the Archaeological Survey of India, the government body responsible for its maintenance. "This will cut down the number of visitors to the mausoleum by at least 15-20 percent and generate revenue for its conservation." Earlier this year, in another crowd-control move, the government capped domestic visitor numbers to 40,000 a day. Before this, up to 70,000 tourists would flood the Unesco-listed site on weekends and holidays. The cap was partly sparked by a small stampede at the east entry gate last December that saw five people sustain injuries as late-comers tried to force their way into the complex just before closing time. In July, India's Supreme Court threatened to either shut or even tear down the monument over the failure of the authorities to protect it from degradation, according to AFP. Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers returned to their home airbase after their flight to Venezuela, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday, Trend reports citing Sputnik. "Tu-160 strategic bombers returned to their home airbase in Russia after carrying out an international visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," the Defense Ministry's press service said in a statement. The aircraft flew from Venezuela over the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, Norwegian and Barents seas. They covered over 12,000 kilometres (7,500 miles) and performed aerial refuelling during their flight. Norwegian Air Force's F-16 jets accompanied the Russian aircraft for some time during their flight, according to the ministry. The Russian military maintained that the flight of the Tu-160 strategic bombers had been carried out in line with international regulations. During their visit to Venezuela, the Russian long-range aviation units carried out a planned flight over the Caribbean Sea and held an exercise in the equatorial area in the conditions of high humidity and temperature. Moreover, Russian and Venezuelan aircraft carried out joint flights during which the Venezuelan Air Force jets accompanied the Russian warplanes. "On the final day of the international visit of the Aerospace Forces delegation, Russia's Long-Range Aviation Commander Lt. Gen. Sergei Kobylash held a meeting with Venezuelan Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Pedro Alberto Juliac Lartiguez," the Defense Ministry added. During their meeting, the parties exchanged opinions on the flights of Russian and Venezuelan aircraft and discussed bilateral military cooperation. Moreover, Kobylash invited his Venezuelan colleagues to participate in the international Army-2019 games, which will be held by the Russian military. Direct communication channels have been established between Russian military and defense ministries of the UK, France, Finland and Sweden to prevent dangerous military activity and decrease the likelihood of incidents in the Baltic Sea region, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Lt. Col. Alexander Fomin said on Friday at the meeting with military attaches, Trend reports referring to TASS. "With the aims of preventing dangerous military activities and decreasing the likelihood of incidents in the Baltic Sea region, direct communication channels over telephone were organized between Russia's National Defense Management Center and defense ministries of the UK, France, Finland and Sweden," Fomin said. According to Fomin, this work allows to avoid serious developments. "Contacts continued between US military leadership and commanders of NATO forces in Europe, and the Chief of Genral Staff of Russia's Armed Forces, deputy defense ministers and central military authorities, during which the sides discussed the issues of Syrian settlement, as well as relevant problems of global and regional security," he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 15 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkish Air Force conducted airstrikes against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Zap and Hakurk districts of northern Iraq, the General Staff of Turkey told Trend on Dec. 15. According to the information, 7 terrorists were killed as part of the operation. The conflict between Turkey and 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. The incident happened when they and two others were chasing wild boars out of their land, the locals informed the police. Freed Kamaiyas await better livelihood After years of rehabilitation, the freed Kamaiyas (bonded labourers) at the Bani Camp in Kanchanpur are still struggling to earn their living. I like to experiment with a bit of shock value Mrigaja Bajracharyas art is loud. Pierced eye balls drenched in blood stare at you while a girl with her bleeding third eye looks on imploringly. With pen and ink, Bajracharya details her imagination for the world to see. Medical doctors warn of protest over new health secretary appointment Medical doctors across the country have warned of a protest against the governments decision to appoint Kedar Bahadur Adhikari as the new health secretary. (Bloomberg) -- U.S. companies paid $1 billion more in tariffs on technology products imported from China in October than a year earlier, as new duties imposed by the Trump administration took effect. The tariff costs rose more than seven-fold to $1.3 billion, as the worlds two biggest economies became embroiled in a trade war, according to data provided by the Consumer Technology Association and analyzed by consulting firm The Trade Partnership. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese imports since early July. The duties have been implemented in three tranches, the latest of which applied to $200 billion in goods and took effect Sept. 24. A new round of talks between the two governments has raised hopes of a lasting truce. After Trump met President Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires on Dec. 1, the U.S. agreed to put off raising the tariff rate on the $200 billion of imports from 10 percent to 25 percent. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is leading talks to reach a deal on structural changes to Chinas economy by March 1. Technology products now subject to higher tariffs include everything from printed circuit boards to computer servers and vacuum cleaners. Apple Inc. has so far avoided tariffs on popular products it manufactures in China such as the iPhone and Apple Watch. To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Mayeda in Washington at amayeda@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Murray at brmurray@bloomberg.net, Sarah McGregor, Ben Holland For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. The Apple logo is shown during an Apple launch event in the Brooklyn borough of New York, U.S., October 30, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/Files By Aishwarya Venugopal (Reuters) - Apple Inc said on Thursday it would spend $1 billion to build a second campus in Austin, Texas, that will house up to 15,000 workers as part of a broader push by U.S. companies to create more domestic jobs. The iPhone maker also said it plans to expand in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City, California, and add hundreds of jobs in Pittsburgh, New York and Boulder, Colorado, over the next three years. Apple said at the start of the year it would invest $30 billion in the United States, taking advantage of a windfall from U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tax code overhaul. The 133-acre campus in Austin will be less than a mile from Apple's existing facilities and initially have 5,000 employees. The jobs created would be in engineering, research and development, operations and finance. Amazon.com Inc in November said it will create more than 25,000 jobs in both New York and the Washington, D.C. area by opening massive new offices. The two technology companies chose cities with a wealth of white-collar workers and high employment, bypassing other regions that may have required more investment. Austin is one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities with a population of nearly 1 million, and is home to the University of Texas and other tech companies including Dell Technologies Inc in nearby Round Rock, Texas, and IBM. Apple's existing facility in north Austin has more than 6,000 workers, the most outside its headquarters in Cupertino, California. With the new campus, the company will become the largest private employer in the city. "Apple has been a vital part of the Austin community for a quarter century, and we are thrilled that they are deepening their investment," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said on Thursday. Corporate America has been under political pressure to ramp up investments at home as part of Trump's "America First" policies, which have led to a bitter trade war with China. Trump has also warned of possible tariffs on iPhones and other Apple products imported from China. It is in the interest of U.S. companies to tout job creation because those that move positions overseas or shutter factories have drawn sharp rebukes from Trump, who has championed job creation. Most recently, the president said he told General Motors Co Chief Executive Mary Barra he was unhappy with her decision to cut production at an Ohio factory. Story continues APPLE PICKS TEXAS The new Austin campus marks a turnabout from Chief Executive Tim Cook's earlier comments that Texas would be an unlikely choice for a new campus. "Apple is proud to bring new investment, jobs and opportunity to cities across the United States and to significantly deepen our quarter-century partnership with the city and people of Austin," Cook said. Apple could be getting some incentives for the Austin expansion in the form of a $25 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund, a source familiar with the matter said. The fund awards "deal closing grants" to companies looking at new projects in Texas, according to its web site. The Austin American-Statesman newspaper reported that Apple is also seeking a 15-year property tax abatement for the new campus and said the city did not provide incentives. Unlike tech rival Amazon, Apple did not hold a public bidding process to choose the site of its new campus. Amazon last month ended a more than year-long bidding war for a $5 billion second headquarters, splitting that investment between Long Island City in Queens, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, for offices that could each house 25,000 jobs. Amazon's plans for its New York City headquarters met with backlash from some city officials and state representatives due to the project's large tax breaks and potential impact on the neighborhood's infrastructure. Last year, Apple moved into its sleek "spaceship" campus in Cupertino that cost about $5 billion. The company has added 6,000 U.S. jobs this year and is on track to reach the goal it set out in January of adding 20,000 domestic jobs by 2023. Shares of Apple rose 1.3 percent to $171.43 in midday trading. They have tumbled more than 20 percent since Nov. 1, when Apple warned sales for the crucial holiday quarter would likely miss Wall Street expectations. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik, Aishwarya Venugopal and additional reporting Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Meredith Mazzilli) By Melanie Burton MELBOURNE (Reuters) - BHP (BHP.AX) on Monday said it had signed an agreement with Australia's tax authorities to settle a long-running dispute over the global miner's operations in Singapore. As part of the deal, the world's largest miner is paying a total of about A$529 million ($386.43 million) in additional taxes on income for 2003 to 2018, BHP said in a statement, adding that it had already paid A$328 million of that. The settlement removes a thorn from the side of BHP which alongside fellow miner Rio Tinto (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) was accused of not paying its fair share of tax as governments cracked down on multinationals in the wake of the global financial crisis. Both companies denied the accusations. Tax authorities had been in dispute with both firms over the amount of Australian tax payable from sales of Australian commodities to their Singapore marketing businesses. "It's good to resolve, no admission of liability but small in the overall scheme for BHP," said Rohan Walsh, a Melbourne-based investment manager for Karara Capital. BHP had threatened court action after the Australian government earlier demanded it pay $767 million in back taxes and penalties. "This is an important agreement and we are pleased to resolve this longstanding matter," BHP CFO Peter Beaven said. Additionally, BHP will raise its stake in BHP Billiton Marketing AG, which is the main company conducting the miner's Singapore marketing business, to 100 percent from 58 percent. The change in ownership will make all profits made in Singapore from Australian assets owned by BHP fully subject to Australian tax, the miner added. "This is a landmark and precedential development in the execution of our marketing hubs strategy, and sends a strong signal to other industry participants," the Australian Tax Office (ATO) said in a statement. "Given the importance of mining and natural resources to the Australian economy, it is critical that exporters of Australian commodities, whether iron ore, coal, gas or other commodities, pay the correct tax in Australia on their profits." A spokesman for Rio Tinto said that its discussions with the ATO were ongoing and otherwise declined to comment. "(The deal) fully resolves the longstanding dispute ... with no admission of tax avoidance by BHP, and provides certainty in relation to the future taxation treatment," BHP said. (Reporting by Melanie Burton and Sonali Paul in Melbourne and ditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Joseph Radford) ethereum difficulty bomb Hundreds of government buildings, schools and businesses in the United States and Canada were on Thursday targets of extortionists who threatened to detonate explosives unless they were paid thousands of dollars in bitcoin. In most of the emailed bomb threats, the sender claimed that they had an associate who had planted an explosive device at the premises of the recipient and this would go off if a payment of US$20,000 in bitcoin was not made, according to ABC News. 20,000 dollars is the price for your life. Tansfer (sic) it to me in BTC and I warrant that I will withdraw my recruited person and explosive will not explode. But do not try to deceive me my warranty will become valid only after 3 confirmations in blockchain network, one of the emailed bomb threats said. Not Credible Most law enforcement agencies dismissed the threats saying they were not credible. This included the New York Police Department which tweeted that after searches had been conducted in numerous locations that had received the threats, no explosive devices were discovered: At this time, it appears that these threats are meant to cause disruption and/or obtain money. Well respond to each call regarding these emails to conduct a search but we wanted to share this information so the credibility of these threats can be assessed as likely NOT CREDIBLE. However, the counterterrorism department of the NYPD disclosed that monitoring of the bomb threats was ongoing: We are currently monitoring multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city. These threats are also being reported to other locations nationwide & are NOT considered credible at this time. pic.twitter.com/GowGG4oZ9l NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) December 13, 2018 Nuisance Value Story continues But before being determined to lack credibility, the bomb threats had resulted in evacuations in some institutions, facilities and extensive sweeps of buildings. In Toronto, Canada, the King subway station had to be cleared after the bomb threat was received. The University of Washington in Seattle also conducted building sweeps before releasing information across the campus that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had deemed the threat not to be credible. Some schools across the United States also resorted to closing early while others were placed in lockdown or evacuated. Other places that were evacuated included a county courthouse in Olympia, Washington; a city hall in Aurora, Illinois and news outlets such as Utahs Park Record newspaper and North Carolinas News & Observer. It could not be immediately established who sent the hoax bomb threats or their country of origin though some media outlets noted that they were written in a choppy style reminiscent of the Nigerian prince email scam. On the other hand, an email to a middle school in St. Louis, Missouri bore an internet protocol address which was traced to Moscow, Russia. However, this was not deemed conclusive evidence of the origin as the sender could have laid a false trail to scuttle investigators. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Bitcoin Bomb Threats Target Educational Institutions, Businesses and Govt. Buildings in US, Canada appeared first on CCN. By Lesley Wroughton and David Ljunggren WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said China should free two Canadian citizens who were detained this week after authorities in Canada arrested a senior Chinese technology executive on a U.S. extradition warrant. Pompeo's comments were the first by a senior U.S. official on the arrests, which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said could escalate a growing trade conflict between China and the United States. "The unlawful detention of two Canadian citizens is unacceptable," Pompeo told reporters after Washington talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. "They ought to be returned. ... We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly." Canadian officials were granted consular access on Friday to one of the two detainees in China and are still trying to contact the second, the Foreign Ministry said. China detained the two - businessman Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, an adviser with the International Crisis Group and a former diplomat - after Canadian police arrested Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's [HWT.UL] chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on Dec 1. U.S. prosecutors accuse Meng of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating U.S. sanctions. Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has said she is innocent. Potentially complicating the case, President Donald Trump made comments this week that legal experts say may have undermined the U.S. basis for extradition. Freeland, asked about the remarks, said, "We all agree that the most important thing we can do is to uphold the rule of law, ensure that Ms. Meng's right to due process is respected and that the current judicial process in Canada remains apolitical." Trudeau, in his strongest comments on the matter to date, said China's detention of the two men was "not acceptable." China rejects Trudeau's insistence that the government cannot interfere with the judiciary. Meng was released on bail this week but has to remain in Canada. "This is one of the situations you get in when the two largest economies in the world, China and the United States, start picking a fight with each other," Trudeau told City TV in Toronto. "The escalating trade war between them is going to have all sorts of unintended consequences on Canada, potentially on the entire global economy. We're very worried about that," he said. Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to Canada, on Friday told a university conference that the prospects for deeper business ties were good despite the dispute. He declined to comment when pressed by reporters about Trudeau's remarks. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and David Ljunggren; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and David Alexander in Washington; editing by Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler) NC Mahasamiti meet begins The Mahasamiti meeting of main opposition party Nepali Congress kicked off in Kathmandu on Saturday. MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Bank and First Tennessee Bank today announced the launch of new digital websites for merchant services. Capital Bank and First Tennessee Bank are part of the First Horizon National Corp. (FHN) family of companies, which also includes FTB Advisors and FTN Financial. Capital Bank and First Tennessee business clients can now enroll in merchant services, get credit approval and shop for Clover point of sale system solutions through the new digital enrollment websites. We are pleased to offer this new digital channel to our clients, improving client experience and simplifying the process to enroll in merchant services and access Clover solutions, said John Levesque, First Horizons merchant services executive. This is a win, especially for small business owners, because Clover solutions are smart, easy to use and can be customized by business owners to best manage their companies and employees. By understanding their unique operational needs, this is one more way we are helping equip our clients with solutions designed to enhance their cash flow. The service, processed by First Data, is built on an online platform where new and existing business clients can shop for merchant solutions, enroll in a merchant account and get credit approval all in a matter of minutes. The websites fully digitize the merchant enrollment process, expedite merchant onboarding and provide instant access to First Datas Clover solutions, which include in-store, online, and mobile solutions. Clover merchants also have access to Clovers app market, offering more than 300 unique apps that aim to simplify daily tasks for business owners. First Datas digital enrollment platform is helping Capital Bank and First Tennessee transform the client experience by delivering simplicity and efficiency to their merchant clients online, said Neal Korzekwinski, senior vice president, Head of FI Partner Collaboration at First Data. In a matter of minutes a business owner can shop for Clover products, enroll in a merchant account, and get credit approval. Story continues For more information, visit https://www.clover.com/partner/capital-bank for Capital Bank clients and https://www.clover.com/partner/first-tennessee for First Tennessee clients. About First Horizon First Horizon National Corp. (FHN) provides financial services through its Capital Bank, First Tennessee Bank, FTB Advisors, and FTN Financial businesses. First Horizon operates approximately 300 bank locations across the southern U.S. and 28 FTN Financial offices across the entire U.S. Our banking subsidiary was founded in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country. Our First Tennessee and Capital Bank brands have the largest deposit market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. We have been ranked by American Banker as No. 5 among the Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Banks. Our FTB Advisors wealth management group has more than 300 financial professionals and provides services to about $4.8 billion in assets under management. FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. We have been recognized as one of the nations best employers by American Banker magazine and the National Association for Female Executives. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com . FHN-G VAN NUYS, Calif., Dec. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capstone Turbine Corporation ( www.capstoneturbine.com ) (CPST), the worlds leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, announced today that it has secured an order for one C1000 Signature Series unit that will be shipped to Australias leading oil and gas exploration and production company. The order secured by Optimal Group, Capstones Australian distributor, will be used for the production of crude oil. The system will be replacing a gas turbine power plant to power linear sucker rod pumps. Due to the type of load, Capstones solution was seen as the best option. This is the first microturbine that will be used in a project that includes hundreds of kilometers of underground transmission lines, train transportation, and storage facilities that have been supplying gas for Australian and Asian markets since 2015. To meet the increased production and demand, more wells are being drilled and producers are looking to improve efficiency. The region is currently undergoing a gas supply shortage that is driving new investments from producers seeking ways of lowering operating cost while still meeting the demand, said Darren Jamison, President and CEO of Capstone Turbine. In recent years, Australias energy exports have grown by 4% as new infrastructure to support the increased demand continues to come online. Apart from crude oil, Australia is forecasted to become the number one exporter of natural gas. According to Australias Energy Market Operator, by 2020 approximately 80% of natural gas production in the country will be exported, making Australia one of the biggest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world. In recent years, Australia has emerged as a leader in gas production, said Jim Crouse, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Capstone Turbine. We anticipate this region to continue growing in terms of export, concluded Mr. Crouse. Story continues About Capstone Turbine Corporation Capstone Turbine Corporation ( www.capstoneturbine.com ) (CPST) is the worlds leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems and was the first to market commercially viable microturbine energy products. Capstone has shipped over 9,000 Capstone Microturbine systems to customers worldwide. These award-winning systems have logged millions of documented runtime operating hours. Capstone is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Combined Heat and Power Partnership, which is committed to improving the efficiency of the nation's energy infrastructure and reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. A DQS-Certified ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified company, Capstone is headquartered in the Los Angeles area with sales and/or service centers in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. For more information about the company, please visit www.capstoneturbine.com . Follow Capstone Turbine on Twitter , LinkedIn and YouTube . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is used in the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as expects, believes, objective, intend, targeted, plan and similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in Capstones filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that may cause Capstones actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such statements. Capstone cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Capstone undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Capstone and Capstone Microturbine are registered trademarks of Capstone Turbine Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Capstone Turbine Corporation Investor and investment media inquiries: 818-407-3628 ir@capstoneturbine.com By Laurence Frost PARIS (Reuters) - The French government is seeking candidates to replace Renault's embattled boss Carlos Ghosn, as some board members began to voice doubts about keeping him in office after his indictment in Japan for suspected misconduct, several sources told Reuters. In a statement on Friday, interim chairman Philippe Lagayette said Renault's board did not consider replacing Ghosn at a meeting the previous day and denied reports of boardroom divisions. At Thursday's meeting, Renault directors were briefed on an investigation by alliance partner Nissan that led to Ghosn's arrest last month. He was charged this week over the company's failure to declare $43 million in deferred income he had arranged to receive. Nissan fired Ghosn as chairman three days after his detention, but Renault has resisted pressure to dismiss him, as the scandal strains their carmaking alliance. The Renault board stuck by its earlier decision to keep him on, with its lead director standing in as interim chairman and deputy CEO Thierry Bollore heading operations. In an initial statement issued by Renault after the meeting, the board "noted that, at this stage, it does not have information concerning Carlos Ghosn's defence." But during the five-hour session, several directors led by Cherie Blair, wife of the British former prime minister Tony Blair, began to express impatience with the situation, two people with knowledge of the matter said. "What she said, in effect, was that we can't remain in this situation forever," one source said of Blair. "At some point you need to move forward and move on." Lagayette "refutes the press rumours reporting differences of opinion" among board members at the meeting, Renault said in its statement on Friday. In a separate statement to Reuters, Blair said she was "saddened that the confidentially of board meetings has been breached in particular in respect of your entirely inaccurate description of my contribution." She added: "I can confirm that I, along with other members of the board, asked a number of questions of Renault's lawyers concerning their knowledge of the Japanese legal system, their estimation as to how long Mr Ghosn will be held custody, and their best estimation of when Mr Ghosn would be available to resume his duties." Story continues SHORTLIST French officials have already begun listing possible candidates to replace Ghosn as CEO, the two sources and a third person close to the company said. Senior Toyota executive Didier Leroy will be considered, one of the sources said. "There's nothing official yet but the government is working on a lineup," the source said. "They're ready to turn the page." A finance ministry official declined to comment. The government, Renault's biggest shareholder with a 15 percent stake and two board seats, typically plays a major role in succession planning. "I have no comment on speculation, and I am 100 percent concentrated on my job at Toyota," Leroy told Reuters. The boardroom crisis has shaken the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, with Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa calling for changes to weaken the French parent's control. Renault owns 43.4 percent of Nissan, whose reciprocal 15 percent stake in its French parent carries no voting rights. Nissan in turn controls Mitsubishi via a 34 percent holding. Blair's board intervention was echoed during the meeting by two other independent directors as well as Renault staff representatives, two of the sources said - with some also voicing misgivings over management's handling of the crisis. BOARD COUNSEL At the risk of worsening tensions, Bollore instructed Nissan to refrain from contacting Renault directors ahead of the meeting, Reuters reported on Tuesday, as the Japanese carmaker sought to share its findings. Directors had also clashed with Renault managers over their right to hire independent board counsel with access to Nissan's findings, two other people said. Company attorneys answering to Mouna Sepehri - who doubles as board secretary and head of Ghosn's CEO office - have so far declined to share the report with directors or their lawyers, citing the secrecy of the investigation. Interim chairman Lagayette played down talk of tensions. "The board of directors, contrary to certain press allegations, has congratulated the company's managers" for their handling of the situation, Lagayette said. The meeting had "not considered the potential succession of Mr Ghosn", he added. Under French government pressure, Ghosn had been exploring a deeper tie-up or even a full merger between the alliance partners, despite strong reservations at Nissan. Whether or not they broke the law, Ghosn's undisclosed compensation plans - doubling his total Nissan package for the five years to March 2015 - are politically sensitive in France, where President Emmanuel Macron has been battling protests. Defence arguments advanced by Ghosn's lawyers and supporters have not contested the plans' existence. His Japanese lawyer Motonari Otsuru said in a media statement that the pay agreements had not been properly ratified. Nissan has said its whistleblower investigation also uncovered personal use of company funds and other misconduct, detailed in the report shared with Renault lawyers this week. Renault, which launched an audit into its own payments to Ghosn after his arrest, said on Thursday its "preliminary conclusion" was that his compensation had been "in compliance with applicable law" and governance guidelines. Ghosn and an alleged accomplice, Nissan director Greg Kelly, remain in custody and have had limited opportunity to respond to the allegations or defend themselves, particularly in public. (Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Alexandra Hudson/Keith Weir and Nick Tattersall) FILE PHOTO: Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, attends the Tomorrow In Motion event on the eve of press day at the Paris Auto Show, in Paris FILE PHOTO: Carlos Ghosn attends the Paris Auto Show, in Paris, France, October 1, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo By Laurence Frost PARIS (Reuters) - The French government is seeking candidates to replace Renault's embattled boss Carlos Ghosn, sources told Reuters, as board members began to voice doubts about keeping him in office following his indictment in Japan for suspected misconduct. At a meeting on Thursday, Renault directors were briefed on an investigation by alliance partner Nissan <7201.T> that led to Ghosn's arrest last month. He was charged this week over the company's failure to declare $43 million in deferred income he had arranged to receive. Nissan fired Ghosn as chairman three days after his detention, but Renault has resisted pressure to dismiss him, as the scandal strains their carmaking alliance. The Renault board on Thursday stuck by its earlier decision to keep him on, with its lead director standing in as interim chairman and deputy CEO Thierry Bollore leading operations. In a statement issued by Renault after the meeting, the board "noted that, at this stage, it does not have information concerning Carlos Ghosn's defence." During the five-hour session, however, several directors led by Cherie Blair, wife of the British former prime minister Tony Blair, began to express impatience with that position, two people with knowledge of the matter said. "What she said, in effect, was that we can't remain in this situation forever," one source said of Blair. "At some point you need to move forward and move on." A Renault spokesman said he could not comment on board proceedings. Cherie Blair could not immediately be reached for comment. SHORTLIST French officials have already begun listing possible candidates to replace Ghosn as CEO, three sources close to the company said. Senior Toyota executive Didier Leroy will be considered, one said. "There's nothing official yet but the government is working on a lineup," he said. "They're ready to turn the page." Story continues A finance ministry official declined to comment. The government, Renault's biggest shareholder with a 15 percent stake and two board seats, typically plays a major role in succession planning. "I have no comment on speculation, and I am 100 percent concentrated on my job at Toyota," Leroy told Reuters. The boardroom crisis has shaken the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, with Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa calling for changes to weaken the French parent's control. Renault owns 43.4 percent of Nissan, whose reciprocal 15 percent stake in its French parent carries no voting rights. Nissan in turn controls Mitsubishi via a 34 percent holding. Blair's board intervention was echoed during the meeting by two other independent directors as well as Renault staff representatives, two sources said - with some also voicing misgivings over management's handling of the crisis. BOARD COUNSEL At the risk of worsening tensions, Bollore instructed Nissan to refrain from contacting Renault directors ahead of the meeting, Reuters reported on Tuesday, as the Japanese carmaker sought to share its findings. Directors had also clashed with Renault managers over their right to hire independent board counsel with access to Nissan's findings, two other people said. Company attorneys answering to Mouna Sepehri - who doubles as board secretary and head of Ghosn's CEO office - have so far declined to share the report with directors or their lawyers, citing the secrecy of the investigation. Under French government pressure, Ghosn had been exploring a deeper tie-up or even a full merger between the alliance partners, despite strong reservations at Nissan. Whether or not they broke the law, Ghosn's undisclosed compensation plans - doubling his total Nissan package for the five years to March 2015 - are politically sensitive in France, where President Emmanuel Macron has been battling protests. Defence arguments advanced by Ghosn's lawyers and supporters have not contested the plans' existence. His Japanese lawyer Motonari Otsuru said in a media statement that the pay agreements had not been properly ratified. Nissan has said its whistleblower investigation also uncovered personal use of company funds and other misconduct, detailed in the report shared with Renault lawyers this week. Renault, which launched an audit into its own payments to Ghosn after his arrest, said on Thursday its "preliminary conclusion" was that his compensation had been "in compliance with applicable law" and governance guidelines. Ghosn and an alleged accomplice, Nissan director Greg Kelly, remain in custody and have had limited opportunity to respond to the allegations or defend themselves, particularly in public. (Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Stranded commuters wait for trains during a rail workers' strike across the country due to a pay dispute with Deutsche Bahn in Munich, Germany December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Martin Hangen NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German railway Deutsche Bahn said on Saturday that it had reached a wage agreement with the EVG union following a walkout earlier this week. Employees will get a 3.5 percent raise from July 2019 and a further 2.6 percent increase a year later. The deal also includes a bonus payment of 1,000 euros ($1,130.60). The 29-month deal puts an immediate end to the threat of stikes for the state-owned rail company. On Monday, German rail workers staged a four-hour stoppage that brought long-distance rail traffic to a standstill and disrupted commuter and freight trains. The EVG union had initially demanded a 7.5 percent pay , increase for some 160,000 Deutsche Bahn employees. ($1 = 0.8845 euros) (Reporting by Tom Sims, editing by Louise Heavens, William Maclean) By Gernot Heller BERLIN (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz on Friday lauded positive developments in the German banking sector in recent months, and said his ministry was not overly concerned about the future of Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest bank. Talk of a possible merger between Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, the country's No. 2 bank, has heated up in the past few weeks as both lenders struggle to improve their performance a decade after the global financial crisis. Asked about the speculation, Scholz told Reuters he never spoke about specific companies, but added, "Perhaps I can add this: No one in the finance ministry is having sleepless nights because of Deutsche Bank - not me either." Scholz said Germany needed strong and successful banks to work with the many German firms active around the world. He cited "many positive developments in the German banking landscape in recent months," but did not elaborate. Officials at both banks have declined to comment on the merger speculation. They say they want to focus on getting their own houses in order before considering any tie-up. Scholz's comments were his most direct to date about a possible merger. He told a banking congress last month that Germany needed a strong banking industry. Those comments were seen by some bankers as a sign that Berlin wanted to support the finance industry and could back a merger. Scholz's ministry is looking at ways to increase the competitiveness of German banks, including a possible change to tax laws to make mergers less costly, people with knowledge of the matter said this week. The government owns a stake of more than 15 percent in Commerzbank after bailing it out during the financial crisis. Shares in both banks have lost around half their value so far this year amid concerns about their profitability. (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Maria Sheahan) LONDON (Reuters) - La Mancha Group plans to buy more underground gold mines in Africa and is ready to snap up mines that Barrick Gold (ABX.TO) and Randgold Resources (RRS.L) will sell after their merger, its billionaire chairman Naguib Sawiris said on Tuesday. "(The Barrick disposals) might be in geographies where we are very strong and that makes sense for us," Sawiris told reporters on the sidelines of the Mines and Money conference in London. "We can extend the mine lives." Sawiris said he was looking for mines with lives of at least 10 years and with output of 150,000 to 250,000 ounces per annum. La Mancha is a private gold company with investments in Toronto-listed Endeavour Mining (EDV.TO), Australia's Evolution Mining (EVN.AX) and in August bought a 30 percent stake in Ghana-focused Golden Star Resources (GSC.TO). Golden Star will look for assets in east Africa and mainly Sudan, Sawiris said. Canada's Barrick has said it will sell some non-core assets following its $6.1 billion takeover of Africa-focused Randgold in a deal set to close on Jan. 1. Sawiris said the mining industry still needed some consolidation even after the Randgold-Barrick deal which will create the world's top gold producer. "We believe today is the problem is the whole mining industry needs consolidation and the proof to that the two big ones decided to merge but what about the smaller ones," Sawiris said. "There is more sense and more urgency for the smaller mining companies to come together than for the bigger ones." Sawiris also said he could pursue a secondary listing for Endeavour Mining (EDV.TO) or one of the gold companies he plans to invest in Africa on the London Stock Exchange. Sawiris said he would not work with Chinese companies in gaining a bigger footprint in Africa as China had "closed its borders" to investors. (Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; Editing by Jan Harvey and David Evans) Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. Robert Muellers investigation has cost just over $25 million in the first 16 months of its investigation, according to CNBC. The Special Counsels Office released new an expenditure report Friday which revealed that the six months between the beginning of April through September cost about $4.5 million. More than half of the total cost is attributed to personnel compensation and benefits. Since beginning the probe in May 2017, investigating whether Russia was linked to the Trump presidential campaign, Mueller has filed more than 100 criminal charges. Though the investigation comes with a hefty price tag, it may have actually paid for its own investigation, with its probe leading to monetary estimated gains of up to $48 million for the government through the tax evasion the investigation has revealed. Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, was sentenced for conspiracy and obstruction of justice in September. As part of his plea deal, Manafort agreed to forfeit assets that amount to between $42 million and $46 million, including about $22 million in property, CNBC reports. The case revealed how Manafort avoided paying more than $15 million in taxes by laundering $60 million from pro-Russian Ukrainians, CNN reports. Manafort reportedly violated the conditions of his plea deal, and last month prosecutors said that he could face more charges. Earlier this week, Trumps personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to financial crimes including paying hush money to a porn star and Playboy model. As part of his deal, Cohen agreed to pay $1.4 million in unpaid taxes and hand over $500,000 in assets as well as pay $100,000 in fines. Throughout the investigation, Trump has called efforts by Muellers team a witch hunt and has blasted the special counsel for its growing cost. A.P. has just reported that the Russian Hoax Investigation has now cost our government over $17 million, and going up fast. No Collusion, except by the Democrats! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2018 With Muellers investigation not yet completed, its difficult to say how much it will ultimately cost American taxpayers. An investigation into President Bill Clinton, which took place between 1994 and 1998, reportedly cost about $40 million. OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, will no longer exclude Cairn Energy Plc (CNE.L) and Kosmos Energy Ltd (KOS.N) from its portfolio of investments, the Norwegian central bank said on Tuesday. The companies were excluded in 2016 based on advice from the fund's ethics watchdog, which found "an unacceptable risk related to petroleum prospecting off the coast of Western Sahara". The companies made it clear they had discontinued their business in the area and the exclusion was revoked, the central bank, which manages the fund, said in a statement. The fund was created from the proceeds of Norways oil industry and operates under ethical guidelines set by parliament. It owns shares in 9,100 companies, 1.4 percent of the worlds listed equity, so its decisions to drop or reinstate firms from its investments carry considerable weight among investors. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Gwladys Fouche and Edmund Blair) Nepal can quadruple exports, says World Bank Nepals exports to South Asia are far behind its potential, and they can be increased fourfold if manmade barriers to tradetariff and non-tariffare removed, said a new report from the World Bank. Currently, shipments to South Asian countries are valued at $0.5 billion, and they can be boosted to $2.1 billion if the hindrances holding back intraregional trade are addressed by the countries in the region. MOSCOW, Dec 5 (Reuters) - A Russian government commission on foreign investments did not make a decision on Wednesday about U.S. oilfield services giant Schlumberger's bid for Eurasia Drilling Company (EDC), news wire reported citing Russian anti-monopoly service (FAS). TASS news agency said that, according to the FAS head, Igor Artemyev, the deal could be still approved by the end of the year if Schlumberger responded to certain requirements. This is a second attempt by Schlumberger to acquire Russia's leading oilfield services provider. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin Editing by Edmund Blair) Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) looks promising ahead of its earnings report next week, according to Wedbush. The Analyst Analyst Christopher Svezia maintains an Outperform rating on Nike with a $90 price target. The Thesis Ahead of the Nike second-quarter report scheduled for Dec. 20, Svezia said underlying revenue growth and continued improvement in gross margin should yield EPS upside. (See the analyst's track record here.) Wedbush expects 7-percent revenue growth and EPS of 47 cents per share, a penny above consensus, in the print. Nike should reiterate its outlook for high single-digit revenue growth fueled growth in North America; sustained gains in EMEA and China driven by key product franchises; channel mix; higher average selling price; and digital momentum, the analyst said. Nike is seeing record engagement on social media, he said. From a valuation perspective, FX headwinds and China trade war fears remain a key concern but have been priced in at current levels, Svezia said. Overall, there are several underlying positives for investors to focus on that illustrate the true momentum of the business." Nike's diversified manufacturing capabilities make it one of the least affected footwear companies when it comes to its dependence on Chinese manufacturing, NPD group analyst Matt Powell recently told Benzinga. Nike is one of the most diversified sneaker companies in terms of their manufacturing and where they manufacture products," Powell said. Wedbush's Svezia said Nike sources roughly 25 percent of its goods from China, a figure that likely continues to fall. Incremental 25-percent tariffs could create anywhere from an immaterial impact to up to 16 cents in annual EPS, the analyst said but he's largely bullish on the company heading into the new year. The underlying outlook for the company has again improved and there continues to be upside opportunity in FY19 on both sales and gross margin, key ingredients to generate multiple and share price expansion." Story continues Price Action Nike shares were down 0.56 percent at $72.53 at the close Friday. Related Links: Under Armour Slides After Five-Year Plan Fails To Excite Investors A Post-Sneaker World: How 'Small' Footwear Brands Are Beating The Giants Latest Ratings for NKE Oct 2018 Oppenheimer Upgrades Perform Outperform Oct 2018 HSBC Downgrades Buy Hold Sep 2018 Bank of America Maintains Underperform Underperform View More Analyst Ratings for NKE View the Latest Analyst Ratings See more from Benzinga 2018 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. FILE - In this July 29, 2016 file photo, people attend an open house at the new Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., built to replace the one that was demolished where 20 first graders and six educators were shot and killed in on Dec. 14, 2012. The school was evacuated on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 -- the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting -- after a bomb threat to the school. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) The Galleria mall in Hoover, Ala., a Birmingham suburb, seemed as much a carnival as it was a shopping center. It opened on a Wednesday in February 1986, two weeks after the space shuttle exploded. The size of a big-city airport, it was the biggest in the Southeast, in an era when malls were cathedrals for the Me Generation. The killing of a young black man there on Thanksgiving night takes me back, and it makes me wonder what it means to the debate about guns and race in Colorado. I sold shirts and ties at Parisian, one of the Gallerias four high-end anchor clothing stores. For opening day, we filled it with Coca-Cola-labeled apparel. That was inexplicably a big thing, millennials, along with acid-washed jeans and Swatch watches. An hour north of Selma and 21 years from Bloody Sunday, the three swans in the Galleria logo gave the veneer of moving on. Hoover was the southern gate of white flight out of Birmingham after the collapse of the steel mills in the 1970s. Corporate headquarters were flocking to the newly built suburbs outside the tired city for the cheap taxes and grateful labor. Hoover had it made. All these years later, my mind went to the exact spot, to the inch, where Emantic Bradford Jr. drew his last breath. Two people were shot, and cops and chaos ensued. The series of events apparently unrelated to him, except for his gun, led to his death seconds later. Bradford had a license to carry a gun in a state that doesnt require you to conceal one. The 21-year-old former soldier and son of a cop had the pistol at his side, the authorities eventually said. The familys lawyer said he was trying to usher others to safety. The first cop he encountered shot him dead. He was a good guy with a gun, by all accounts. He also was a young black man with a gun. His mother said she believes if he were white, he would have been given the benefit of the doubt. She didnt say it, but perhaps she meant the way James Holmes, with his orange hair and booby-trapped apartment, was left unharmed after the Aurora theater shooting in 2012. Circumstances vary, so those dots are hard to connect, but one son is dead and the other was spared death that night and later by the courts. The Bradford case got messier as the story unfolded. At first, Hoover police said it was Bradford who wounded an 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl who was just a bystander. The cop was the good guy with the gun, they said. Then they said Bradford wasnt the shooter, but he was involved in an altercation somehow. Then police said he wasnt involved in any of that. But he wielded a gun in a tense situation. We can say with certainty Mr. Bradford brandished a gun during the seconds following the gunshots, which instantly heightened the sense of threat to approaching police officers responding to the chaotic scene, the department said in a statement. Then they walked that back, saying on Facebook, Earlier, we stated that Mr. Bradford brandished a gun. To clarify, the word brandish was used because Mr. Bradford had a gun in his hand as police officers responded to the active-shooter situation between mall patrons. For at least a week after, no suspected shooter was in custody even though the giant mall had brought in extra cops to help manage Black Friday crowds. While they were taking down and blaming an innocent man, the real assailant slipped out with the crowd. This relates to Colorado, and not just because weve had a fair share of racially charged fatal encounters between law enforcement and people of color. This wounds a theory that will be argued at the Colorado Capitol when the new and more liberal General Assembly convenes in January. Democrats are likely to have something to say on gun violence. And Democrats will control the House, Senate and Governors Office for the first time since 2014. I expect to see, at a minimum, a red-flag gun bill, to allow authorities to take weapons from those deemed to pose a risk to themselves or others. I also expect a ban on assault rifles or similar weapons this year or next. Lawmakers tried that at the end of the last session. When Rep. Cole Wist co-sponsored it, gun advocates and some of his fellow legislative Republicans turned against him. He was supported by Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler, who prosecuted Holmes and tried in vain to get the death penalty. Both Republicans live in the district where cops were ambushed at an apartment complex last year, and Douglas County Deputy Zackari Parrish was killed. The shooter, Matthew Riehl, was known as a threat to cops. Brauchler ran for state attorney general, and he and Wist were voted down. Expect money and influence to flow into the Capitol over guns. In 2013, two key Democrats, Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo, were recalled, and Sen. Evie Hudak of Westminster resigned as pro-gun groups were turning in her direction. This cauldron was politically hot, and now it takes on racial overtones about who should be allowed to safely carry a gun. Bradford was denied that right with a death penalty. The National Rifle Association presents the good guy with a gun argument as a reason to arm more people against attacks. But the NRA was mum for at least a week about the shooting of the good guy in Alabama. Rolling Stone magazine declared in a headline: The Good Guy With the Gun Is Never Black. The scars of the Old South still bleed, and it can seep into Colorados corridors of power. Is that political baggage the gun lobby here dreads or welcomes in the era of Donald Trump? We shall soon see. Of birds and flights of fancy Halfway into the middle of his ill-fated mission, in the middle of a nowhere desert, Major Ellie crashes his plane. Momo, a Cherokee-driving, gun-toting, 15-year-old from a nearby refugee camp, stumbles across him. Bringing them both to each other is Mutt, a philosophical dog who once had his brains fried due to a mishap. On her birthday, Nancy Traylor received an unwelcome surprise. The real estate agent and her husband were celebrating about 90 minutes from ho A child homicide case against a 23-year-old Fountain mother is at a standstill because the El Paso County Coroners Office hasnt determined what killed her 14-month-old daughter, a judge said Friday. Attorneys for Lauren Olivia Sierra argued that a delayed autopsy report adds to extreme uncertainty whether she did anything to contribute to the Aug. 4 death of Sophia Eliana Fundora. Fourth Judicial District Judge Marla Prudek, meanwhile, asserted a wider problem affecting homicide prosecutions in El Paso County. This seems to be a pattern with the Coroners Office, Prudek said. They never seem to be able to get an autopsy together in anything less than months and months and months. The complaints surfaced in court after attorneys announced that Sophias autopsy report remains pending more than three months after the girls death. In response, Prudek postponed a key evidentiary hearing over the issue for the third time and granted a defense motion to lower Sierras bond, cutting it from $50,000 to $25,000. The judge didnt identify other cases held up by autopsy delays. Reached by phone after the hearing, El Paso County Coroner-elect Dr. Leon Kelly defended the Coroners Offices track record. In 2017, the average turnaround time for autopsy reports was 25 days from exam to completion, according to figures he supplied. The office exceeded a standard set by the offices accrediting body, The National Association of Medical Examiners, which requires that fewer than 10 percent of cases exceed 60 days, he said. In El Paso County, less than 5 percent fell into that category. Child deaths in alleged abuse cases are the most complicated cases that medical examiners ever deal with, Kelly said. Our offices job is to get the results right. Its far more important to be right than to be fast. Completing Sophias autopsy report requires additional genetic testing to rule out possible contributors to the death, Kelly said. That testing should be complete within a week, he added. A spokeswoman for the District Attorneys Office did not respond to a request for comment on the delay. Sierra called 911 on Aug. 4 after finding her daughter unresponsive with blue lips in her familys room at the Ute Motel, 599 Crest Drive, Fountain. Among points of contention in the case is whether brain trauma identified after the childs death was from abuse or neglect. A felony child abuse charge alleges that she failed to seek medical care even as the toddler battled fevers for several weeks before her death. The girls body was also covered in bruises. If convicted, Sierra faces up to 24 years in prison, and possibly more if prosecutors allege aggravation or special circumstances. Sierra told Fountain police that her daughter fell sick after eating at the fast-food restaurant where she worked. The woman admitted that she knew she should have brought her daughter for medical care but wanted her to get better on her own, police said in an arrest affidavit. Public defender Cayce Duncan said her client did nothing wrong and is eager to clear her name. Sierra and her family had recently moved to Colorado from Florida. Her youngest child has since returned to Florida with the childs father, and her oldest child is in the custody of Sierras mother in the Colorado Springs area. The woman has been in the El Paso County jail since Aug. 28. If she posts bond, Sierra is required to stay at a womens recovery shelter, where she must submit to random drug tests and make daily check-ins with a residential manager. She is expected to return to court on Jan. 31 for a preliminary hearing. Entrance fees for Colorado state parks will increase Jan. 1, the first price hike since 2010. The revised fees will help to fund increased operating costs, provide adequate staffing and address park maintenance needs, a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife said. Daily vehicle and individual passes will each increase a dollar. The price of annual passes will also bump up by $5. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also will roll out a new pass option that is attached to the individual rather than the vehicle. The changes approved in May in Senate Bill 18-142. State parks in Colorado have seen record visitation, with nearly 15 million visitor in 2017. Since 2010, state parks have not received funding from state general tax dollars except occasional small amounts (less than 1 percent of the budget) for special projects. Colorado Parks and Wildlife relies heavily on park fees. Financial woes are also affecting parks at the federal level. The National Park Service announced in October 2017 plans to more than double entrance fees to 17 parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, to address $11.3 billion in backlogged maintenance. The proposal was heavily criticized by public commenters, and, in April, park officials bumped up prices by only $5 to $10. Daily passes for vehicles, individuals and off-leash dogs will increase by $1. The 2019 charges are up to $10 per vehicle, depending on the park; $4 for an individual and $3 for an off-leash dog. Annual vehicle passes are increasing from $70 to $80 while a hang tag that can be used on any vehicle will cost $120. Coloradans are almost out of time to purchase health insurance that takes effect New Years Day. Shoppers have until Saturday to purchase health insurance if they want that coverage to begin Jan. 1. It marks the first deadline of this years open enrollment period the only time people who dont have coverage through their employer or the government can purchase health insurance. Anyone living here who misses that deadline can still purchase coverage through Jan. 15. However, that coverage will not take effect until Feb. 1. Colorados health insurance exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, will have its call center open until midnight Saturday for people who need help signing up for coverage, said Luke Clarke, the exchanges spokesman. He implored shoppers to search for plans, noting that many people remain eligible for federal financial assistance. We see a large number of people who assume they dont qualify that they make too much money when in fact they can get a nice advanced premium tax credit to help them with their monthly premium, Clarke said. So far, 46,332 medical plans have been purchased on the states exchange, a 6 percent increase from 2017. Of that total, 15 percent were purchased by customers new to Connect for Health Colorado. Across the state, rates for insurance premiums went up an average of 5.6 percent in 2019 a distinct change from the 20 percent and 30 percent rate increases of the past couple years. Still, actual rates vary widely by insurance company. And the amount of financial assistance also increased for most Coloradans to help offset those modest increases. Many bronze-level plans can be had for free, after accounting for those tax credits (though out-of-pocket expenses may still arise during doctors visits). For the most part, people who were enrolled in coverage this year on the exchange, and whose plans are still available in 2019, will automatically be re-enrolled Dec. 15. Still, consumer advocates say its always best to check for better options. English French Press release 14 December 2018 The first of two EPR reactors at China's Taishan nuclear power plant enters into commercial operation On Friday 14th of December 2018, CGN and EDF announced, at a joint press conference in Beijing, that unit 1 of Taishan nuclear power plant had become the world's first EPR to enter into commercial operation. This last milestone was reached on Thursday 13th of December 2018 after the final statutory functional test of continuous operation at full power for 168 hours. The successful outcome of this test marks the achievement of all prerequisite conditions for the reactor's safe operation. Comprising two 1750-MW EPR reactors, Taishan nuclear power plant is the biggest cooperation project to have taken place between China and France in the energy sector. Taishan's two reactors are capable of supplying the Chinese power grid with up to 24 TWh of CO 2 -free electricity a year, tantamount to the annual electricity consumption of 5 million Chinese users, whilst at the same time preventing the emission of 21 million tons of CO 2 a year. The Taishan project is being led by TNPJVC, a joint venture founded by CGN (51%), EDF (30%) and a regional Chinese utility called Yuedian (19%). The EDF Group and its Framatome subsidiary supplied the third-generation EPR technology, which meets the highest international safety standards. EDF also contributed operating experience from the construction of its Flamanville-3 EPR. The use of this operating experience was a crucial factor in successfully completing the initial phases of the Taishan 1 construction project. CGN, which oversaw the construction phase of the project, capitalised on more than 30 years of experience in the construction of nuclear power plants. Taishan 1 has benefited from 35 years of strategic cooperation between EDF and CGN, which started with the construction of China's very first commercial nuclear power plant at Daya Bay. Both companies also took advantage of the complementary relationship between the French and Chinese nuclear industries, thereby increasing their knowledge base and offering new business opportunities. Taishan 1 is providing EPR reactors around the world with its experience in project management and technological expertise. The first reactors to benefit from this experience are the two Hinkley Point C units currently being built in the UK. The two companies are also partners in the Sizewell C EPR project, as well as in the Bradwell B project which is based on Hualong technology. He Yu, Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Group: "Taishan 1's entry into operation marks the accomplishment of the task set by the Chinese and French heads of state. As the world's first EPR project, Taishan offers valuable lessons and solutions for the construction of similar reactors worldwide and it will play a demonstrative and supportive role in the joint construction of the Hinkley Point C project in the UK by CGN and EDF." Jean-Bernard Levy, EDF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: "The commissioning of Taishan 1, the world's first EPR to enter into commercial operation, is a key achievement for the entire French nuclear industry as it demonstrates its capacity to develop this third-generation nuclear technology in line with the highest safety and quality standards. EPR is a major asset in addressing the challenge facing many countries: reconciling the growth of electricity demand with the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Taishan project also illustrates our approach to developing EPRs worldwide, in cooperation with valued partners such as CGN." Construction of the Taishan-1 EPR: latest key milestones 10 April 2018: Authorisation granted to fuel the reactor 6 June 2018: First chain reaction 29 June 2018: First grid connection 13 December 2018: Start of commercial operation at Taishan 1 Taishan nuclear power plant in figures: Two 1750-MW EPR reactors, the most powerful in the world The plant is able to generate 24TWh of electricity a year, tantamount to the power consumed by 5 million Chinese users The plant will prevent the emission of around 21 million tons of CO 2 a year More than 200 French engineers were involved throughout the project's duration More than 15 000 workers were mobilised during the busiest periods of the construction phase Nearly 800 people will be required to operate both reactors Nearly 40 French companies were involved in the construction of the reactor The site covers a surface area of 400 hectares This press release is certified. You can check that it's genuine at medias.edf.com About EDF : A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed a diversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 35.1 million customers, of which 26.5 million in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of 70 billion in 2017. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. About Framatome : Framatome is a major international player in the nuclear energy market recognized for its innovative solutions and value-added technologies for designing, building, maintaining, and advancing the global nuclear fleet. The company designs, manufactures, and installs components, fuel and instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants and offers a full range of reactor services. With 14,000 employees worldwide, every day Framatome's expertise helps its customers improve the safety and performance of their nuclear plants and achieve their economic and societal goals. As the majority shareholder, EDF owns 75.5% of Framatome's shares. About China General Nuclear Power Group : China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) is a large-scale clean energy group focused on the clean energy sector and environmental protection industry. It is the largest nuclear power company in China, the third-largest in the world and the world's largest nuclear construction contractor. As of the end of September 2018, CGN oversees 46.69GW of installed clean power, including 21 operating nuclear units with installed capacity of 22.55GW, all of which maintain a long-term track record of safe and stable operation, and seven under-construction nuclear units with installed capacity of 9,180MW. The company has established a "4+X" industry map comprising nuclear power, nuclear fuels, new energies, finance and new key state-nurtured industries. As at the end of August this year, the Group has total assets of 661.5 billion yuan and a workforce of 41,000. Its total assets, turnover and profits have achieved continuous double-digit growth for the last several years. IMO B Bunuel wrote: (A) \(9 \frac{1}{2}\) days (B) \(9 \frac{2}{3}\) days (C) \(10\) days (D) \(10 \frac{8}{12}\) days (E) \(12\) days Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions Jack and Jill working separately complete a work in 8 days and 12 days respectively. If they work on alternate days starting with Jill on the first day, in how many days will the work be completed?(A) \(9 \frac{1}{2}\) days(B) \(9 \frac{2}{3}\) days(C) \(10\) days(D) \(10 \frac{8}{12}\) days(E) \(12\) days I find the best way to do such questions is to take the rates of each member.Assume total work = LCM(8,12) = 24 units.Now Jack completes 3 units of work in a day and Jill completes 2 units of work in a day.The question asks how many days will it take if they work alternately with Jill starting the work.On 1st day, 2 units of work is completed and on second day 3 units of work is completed.So, a total of 5 units is completed in 2 days. and 20 units will be completed in 8 days.On the 9th day, Jill will complete 2 units.Now, a total of 22 units has been completed and 2 units out of 24 units is remaining.Jack has to do only 2 units of work out of the 3 units that he completes daily.Time taken by Jack = \(\frac{2}{3}\) days.Total time taken to complete the work is \(9 \frac{2}{3}\) days. Grand Old Partisan salutes Harrison Havens, born near Columbus this day of 1837. After studying law, he settled in Iowa to set up a practice and edit a newspaper. During the Civil War, he enlisted as captain in that state's 47th Volunteer Infantry. "The bravest and best men of all times have perished in the struggles against tyranny and despotism, and free government has never secured even a feeble existence save at a most fearful cost. The experiment of republican government in our own country is similar to that of all others. Here, however, liberty has won her grandest triumphs. Here freedom is enthroned securely and is the unchallenged boon of every inhabitant. But we contemplate the cost of victory with mournful and pitying hearts." Peace restored, Havens relocated to Missouri and edited the Springfield Patriot. In 1880, this enterprising Republican won the first of two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was delegate to his party's 1884 national convention. Later ventures included managing a railroad and editing a pro-statehood newspaper in Oklahoma. Havens died in Cuba after ten years there owning a farm and heading the national horticultural society. Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vYkbWUL0EbQ Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement. Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far. Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision. Buy the book at Amazon See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party. "This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!" "Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before." and "one of the best books I ever read" Oil theft persists despite advanced locking system The tankers are locked after loading cargo at the Indian Oil Corporations depot in India, and are unlocked when they arrive in Nepal Reading in a group As a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania with the declared intention of qualifying in modern South Asian history, I took several interesting and challenging courses during the two academic years, As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ On Monday, Abouzar Nasrollahi, the lawyer who represents Arash Keykhosravi, told state-run IRNA news agency that he was sentenced to five years in prison for assembly and collusion and an additional year for spreading propaganda against the state. He added that Shole Saadi was also sentenced for the same crimes. Abolghasem Salavati, the head of Branch 15, Tehrans Revolutionary Court issued the verdicts on Sunday. Human rights lawyer Mohammad Najafi was imprisoned for publicly arguing that local police tried to conceal the cause of a detainees death, and his laywer, Payam Derafshan, claims that an additional 13 years was added to his sentence for two other sets of charges. According to Human Rights Watch, the Arak revolutionary court in Markazi province sentenced Najafi to 10 years in prison on the charge of cooperating with an enemy state through transferring information and news to anti-revolutionary networks and to another 3 years for propaganda against the state and insulting the Supreme Leader. Although Najafi claims that he was not referring to the Supreme Leader, the court used his confession of chanting death to the dictator during a demonstration to charge him with insulting the Supreme leader. Deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, Michael Page said, Now Iran is not only arresting dissidents, human rights defenders, and labor leaders, but their lawyers as well, criminalizing their fundamental freedoms. He added, Lawyers should be the cornerstone of protecting the rights of the accused, but in Iran, they are just another enemy of repressive authorities. On November 20th, after his home and office were searched, and some of his client cases were confiscated, human rights lawyer Amir Salar Davoudi was arrested. Sources allege, security forces have threatened Davoudis family not to publicize his arrest. Davoudi, who is in Evin prison, is facing charges of propaganda against the state and insulting the Supreme Leader and that authorities are also trying to charge him with assembly and collusion to act against national security according to his lawyer. As well, on August 31st, as they visited the home of another recently jailed lawyer, Arash Keykhosravi, in the city of Karaj, north-west of Tehran, human rights lawyers Payam Derafshan and Farokh Forouzan were arrested. Derafshan, Forouzan, Sholehsadi, and Keykhosravi have all been temporarily released on bail. Hoda Amid, the human rights lawyer and womens rights activist, was arrested on September 1st, at her home. Amid has published widely on gender-based discrimination, and advocates for gender equality in marriage through equal marriage contracts. Beginning in June, the Intelligence Ministry have arrested several human rights lawyers and activists in what Amnesty International calls part of an escalating crackdown to crush civil society in the country. Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been held in Evin Prison since June 13, 2018, facing national security charges for representing Iranian women who removed their headscarves in public in protest against the compulsory hijab law, while her husband, Reza Khandan, is also been imprisoned for their peaceful activism against compulsory hijab laws. Seven dead, 12 injured in separate road accidents Seven people died and 12 others were injured, some critically, in two separate roadaccidents in Palpa and Udayapur districts on Thursday night. Nayak Paudel is a crime reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2018, he has also written on health issues. - Being a country with a large number of internet users, it is not a wonder that Catriona Gray trended recently - In the Miss Universe Preliminary Competition, Miss Philippines' Lava walk and slow-mo turn were among the most tweeted topics - Filipinos expressed their support for Catriona through their epic tweets PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Catriona Gray have the advantage over other candidates having the enormous support of the Filipino people. This is evident with the online poll posted in the Miss Universe Facebook page. Netizens were stunned with Catriona's performance during the Miss Universe Preliminary Competition. Her 'lava walk' and slow-mo twirl trended worldwide. Here are the most epic Twitter reactions to Catriona Gray. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! Born on January 6, 1994, Catriona Gray is a Filipino-Australian actress and beauty queen who already joined and became a finalist in Miss World 2016. She is currently dubbed as the strongest contender from the Philippines in Miss Universe so far. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Filipinos Answer Funny Tricky Questions Tagalog: Who Is Neil Armstrong? | HumanMeter Do you think you can answer them correctly? These individuals from the Philippines have their answers! Click Play and find out the answers to these tricky questions from the Tagalog speakers Source: Kami.com.ph 1. Yes. The new strain spreads quickly; experts are concerned. It might be in our area soon. 2. Yes. The new variant may be vaccine-resistant, which would be a huge threat. 3. No. Health experts have moved quickly to contain it; it may not reach our community. 4. No. Even if the variant arrives in Texas, researchers may have some answers by then. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until experts have had a chance to monitor it for a while. Vote View Results Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Every year in the autumn months, we're bombarded with seasonal drinks. Here is a small -- by no means exhaustive and highly subjective -- list of a few of them. Dark Chocolate Orange Mocha - Peet's Starbucks is a coffee chain for people who don't actually like coffee. At this point, it's basically a purveyor of milkshakes and flavored syrups. -- and I have no problem with that. But I want caffeine in my coffee so I go to Peet's, the Norcal-based chain that owns Stumptown and Intelligentsia. Their Dark Chocolate Orange Mocha isn't simply the best holiday beverage I've tried this year. It is the Best Holiday Beverage In The History Of The World, no hyperbole whatsoever. Why? Because orange and dark chocolate is my favorite flavor combo ever and has been since I tried Swiss Orange Chip ice cream at Swensen's when I was five years old. I think Peet's invented this beverage just for me... and maybe you. Cookie Butter Latte -- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf One moment, you'd never heard of speculoos. The next, it was in everything at Trader Joe's -- cookies, candy bars, ice cream, salad dressing. CBTL has done a fine job translating the hard-to-describe flavor into a warm, wintry beverage. Cranberry White Mocha -- Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen Fruity yet holidayish, this is a great seasonal drink that plays on winter flavors without making them overbearing. The Windsor Hills cafe also makes a mean gingerbread latte. The Sexual Chocolate cocktail at E.P. & L.P. (Courtesy of E.P. & L.P.) Sexual Chocolate -- E.P. & L.P. The rooftop at this fancy West Hollywood spot is a good place to sip this twist on a Mexican hot chocolate, created by bartender Sergio Gonzalez. It's Cafe de Olla spiked with spiced rum, coffee liqueur, coffee bitters, amaro, cinnamon syrup, cacao powder, chocolate, almond milk, and torched marshmallows. Holiday Scoundrels -- The Walker Inn In Koreatown inside the Normandie Club, there's a secret back door that leads to the Walker Inn. If you make it into the speakeasy, you can try its Holiday Scoundrels cocktail menu. I haven't actually tried them, because these days, I almost never drink anywhere besides my apartment, but they sound great: "Thoughtful, intricate and outrageously fun drinks named after holiday-movie villains and antiheroes." They're available Wednesdays through Saturdays, until New Year's. Eggnog -- The Hungry Cat I'm not a big eggnog fan -- but the once or twice a year I drink the stuff, I want it to taste like a high-octane, liquid Snickers bar. Hungry Cat's version, using a recipe from chef/owner David Lentz's dad, hits the spot. You'll pay $12 for a glass, or $40 for a 1-liter bottle. It's a helluva lot more than what you pay for a grocery store eggnog, but this stuff is a helluva lot better than those thick, gluey concoctions. Peppermint Bark MilkQuake -- Milk Bar Since opening an outpost in L.A. in September, Milk Bar keeps cranking out the hits. For those who prefer something sweet and cold, they're offering a limited-edition milkshake made with Cereal Milk soft-serve, peppermint pieces, hot fudge, and double chocolate cookies, topped with a mini candy cane. Baby, it's cold inside. Whole Pint Milkshakes -- Salt & Straw The Portland-based chain with outposts in downtown L.A., Studio City, West Hollywood, Venice and Larchmont will happily make you one of their whole pint milkshakes with any of their holiday flavors, which include Sugar Plum Fairy, Cinnamon Coconut Eggnog, Gingerbread Cookie Dough, Apple Brandy & Pecan Pie, Peppermint Bark Cocoa. Circa 1850: Mr. Micawber making punch after the dinner party given for him by David Copperfield in the novel "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens. Artist: Fred Barnard. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The Blood Of Your Enemies The quality of mercy is not strained -- unless it involves squeezing fresh limes into a boozy libation. This holiday season, if you aren't lucky enough to see your adversaries brought low, make this drink and pretend. I spotted the recipe for this delicious gingery pomegranate punch years ago in Real Simple and I've been making it ever since. I like to sip it slowly and visualize my enemies devastated and weeping. Oh... is that just me...? Awkward. INGREDIENTS 4 cups pomegranate juice, chilled 4 cups vodka, chilled 3/4 cup fresh lime juice 6 cups ginger beer, chilled 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 1 lime, thinly sliced PREP In a large bowl, combine the pomegranate juice, vodka, and lime juice. Chill for up to 12 hours. Just before serving, add the ginger beer, pomegranate seeds, and lime slices. You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe By Frank Stoltze and Paul Glickman The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has reverted to less stringent deputy discipline guidelines that were in place in 2012, pursuant to an order by the County Employee Relations Commission. Gone, at least for now, are guidelines adopted in 2013 to stop jailhouse beatings by deputies and 2016 guidelines to deter lying. The commission voted on Nov. 26 to accept a hearing officer's recommendation that the sheriff's department had violated the commission's rules by failing to first negotiate the new guidelines with the deputies union, which had filed a formal complaint to the commission. [FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Sheriff Villanueva ordered the change in the discipline rules prior to the Employee Relations Commission making a ruling. Commission staff initially provided LAist with erroneous information.] The panel also endorsed Hearing Officer Sheri Ross' recommendation that it order the department to "meet and confer" with the union about what to do with the 2013 and 2016 changes. The rules "may come back or they may not," said Ray Leyva, Sheriff Alex Villanueva's pick for undersheriff. "We'll go back to the table." Villanueva assured LAist he will hold deputies to account for violating policies. "We have been ordered to revert to the old standard, but we are not removing any safeguards," the sheriff said in a text. He did not elaborate. Leyva said when it comes to reviewing deputy discipline cases, "the facts will speak for themselves, and that's what we're going to base everything on." During the election campaign Villanueva criticized former Sheriff Jim McDonnell's handling of some discipline cases, arguing that good deputies were treated harshly for minor violations. Some of the rules being eliminated, at least for the time being: This rule had merited a penalty from five days' suspension up to termination: Violating the inmate anti-retaliation policy These rules had merited termination: Documenting false information in a crime or investigative report Documenting false information in any court document Documenting false information in a force report Falsification of inmate safety checks Making false statements under oath Violating the department's "core values" Some of the rules being weakened, at least for the time being: The maximum penalty for failing to safeguard individuals in custody had been termination; it reverts to a 10-day suspension. The penalty for failure to report use of force had been a 15-30 day suspension for the first offense and termination for the second offense; it reverts to a 5-25 day suspension. The penalty for making false or misleading statements during an administrative (internal) or criminal investigation had been termination; it reverts to a minimum penalty of a 15-day suspension, with a maximum penalty of termination. The minimum penalty for lying to a supervisor had been a 20-day suspension; it reverts to a 10-day suspension. The maximum penalty for using a county vehicle without authorization had been termination; it reverts to a 5-day suspension. The maximum penalty for driving a county vehicle or an individual's personal car for county business while impaired was termination; it reverts to a 30-day suspension. The maximum penalty for careless or negligent handling of a weapon resulting in the weapon's discharge had been a 20-day suspension; it reverts to a 5-day suspension. Derek Hsieh, executive director of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said the rank and file want to ensure that they're "treated fair whether they're right or wrong, and that the other deputies can respect the discipline that their colleagues got, not because it's a small amount of discipline or a lot, but it's administered in a way that they feel is just." The union leader said hundreds of deputies and former deputies could be affected by a return to the 2012 guidelines, raising the question of whether deputies who were fired or suspended will get their jobs back or receive back pay. A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE The changes are significant. The 2013 standards were imposed in the months before former Sheriff Lee Baca resigned and were designed in part to address jailhouse beatings and cover-ups by deputies. Some were recommended by a blue ribbon panel convened in the wake of the jail violence scandal that led to the criminal convictions of former Sheriff Lee Baca, Undersheriff Paul Tanaka and about 20 other sheriff's officials on charges of corruption and obstruction of justice. Among the violations that have been eliminated was one called "violating the Inmate anti-retaliation policy" and another called "falsification of inmate safety checks." Both were fireable offenses. The 2016 standards were the work of McDonnell, who was elected in 2014 on a reform agenda. Many of them addressed honesty by deputies. McDonnell added "documenting false information in a crime report" and "violating the department's core standards" as offenses meriting termination. He had also increased the minimum suspension for lying to a supervisor. CONCERNS RAISED The employee relations commission has not yet voted on two of Ross' other recommended remedies: Order the department to alter any discipline imposed under the newer guidelines to conform to the 2012 rules, and amend employees' personnel records to reflect the changes. A permanent return to the 2012 guidelines would worry Patti Giggans, chair of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. "We don't want to go backwards, where deputies in custody are brutalizing inmates in any way," she said. Peter Eliasberg, senior counsel for the ACLU of Southern California, also voiced concerns, particularly about the potential loss of the guideline that prohibited sheriff's personnel from retaliating against inmates. There is "substantial evidence in both the [2012] Citizens Commission on Jail Violence report and reports put out by the ACLU that there was a pattern of sheriff's personnel retaliating against inmates in the jail for among other things filing complaints or talking to ACLU staff," said Eliasberg. "So this is a very important provision to protect the rights of inmates, given the history of jail abuse by the sheriff's department." In addition, a consent decree that arose from a 2014 class action lawsuit known as Rosas v. Baca requires the department to have a policy that prohibits sheriff's personnel from retaliating against inmates," Eliasberg said, adding that if the department fails to resurrect that rule, the department will be "in violation of the federal consent decree." The Rosas v. Baca class action lawsuit led to a 2014 settlement that included the creation of the consent decree. Eliasberg said the Rosas settlement also "talks about having a zero tolerance policy for lying and failing to report use of force, so weakening the discipline for those acts is inconsistent with what the Citizen's Commission recommended, and again, the thrust of the Rosas lawsuit." Watchdog groups had credited the tougher discipline guidelines for playing a role in a significant reduction in violence against inmates in L.A.'s jails. But the deputies union's Hsieh rejected that idea, arguing that the reduction was mainly a result of more supervision and better training of guards. The reforms went beyond changes to the discipline system. The sheriff's department has installed hundreds of surveillance cameras in its seven jails, meaning almost any use of force is caught on tape, according to jail sources. A TOTAL OF 45 RULE CHANGES The department had made a total of 45 changes to the rules in 2013 and 2016, according to Ross' Aug. 31 report. Besides creating several new rules, it had toughened some existing ones, sometimes by increasing the possible number of suspension days and sometimes by toughening the punishment for some offenses to termination. [See the breakdown of some of those rule changes above.] The move back to the 2012 guidelines also eliminates certain criteria for determining discipline. So for the time being, the department will no longer take into consideration off-duty conduct that affects the department's "reputation" or actions that may cause "harm to public trust," according to Ross' report. The new sheriff has carried out a series of changes since taking office on Dec. 3. He replaced the entire top tier of the department's leadership, and he ordered all of the nearly 500 mid-level managers -- lieutenants, captains and commanders -- to essentially reapply for their jobs. Villanueva had those officials temporarily remove from their uniforms the pins that signify their rank. The sheriff also reassigned the department's two constitutional policing advisors, saying he will replace them. This story was updated on Dec. 18, 2018. READ MORE: Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now. Friday, December 14, 2018 A former judge's participation in a matter in which he previously had presided has drawn a 30-day suspension from the Oregon Supreme Court. The Oregonian (Aimee Green) reported The Oregon Supreme Court decided Thursday to suspend the law license of retired Clackamas County Circuit Judge Steven Maurer for 30 days, finding that after he left the bench and went into private practice, he wrongly represented a divorced man in a child custody case. Maurer had presided over the couples divorce case while working as judge in 2007 and 2008. In 2013, after 25 years as a judge, Maurer retired and began working as a lawyer again in Lake Oswego. In 2015, the ex-wife went to court based on her allegation that her ex-husband was continuing to subject their daughter to a cat even though the girl was allergic. The ex-wife asked a judge to order that her ex-husband must allow his home to be inspected for the presence of a cat before visits from the daughter. The ex-husband hired Maurer to represent him. Maurer told the ex-wife that he was a retired judge, but he didnt remind her that hed presided over her divorce case. He also he didnt get her signed consent to proceed as her ex-husbands lawyer, according to a Supreme Court summary. Failing to do so would be a professional conduct violation -- if the divorce proceedings were considered similar and related to the more recent dispute. Maurer contended they were different, but the Supreme Court found that the two were connected. Maurer didnt respond to a phone message Thursday left with his office. Maurer has been a lawyer in Oregon for 43 years. In deciding the length of his suspension, the Supreme Court noted that he had no prior disciplinary record. The high court also said Maurer had no dishonest or selfish motive and he is of good character and has a good reputation in the community. Maurers 30-day suspension will begin in two months. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/12/a-former-judges-participation-in-a-matter-in-which-he-previously-had-presided-has-drawn-a-30-day-suspension-from-the-oregon-s.html Friday, December 14, 2018 The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a legal malpractice claim The Exoneration Rule provides that a criminal defense attorney may not be sued for legal malpractice in a case resulting in the conviction of his or her client unless the client has been exonerated by direct appeal or upon postconviction relief. The rationale for the rule is that the sole cause of the conviction is the criminal conduct of the client rather than the poor performance of the defense counsel. Thus, absent subsequent exoneration, the convicted defendant cannot establish that his attorney was the cause of his conviction. The Exoneration Rule, with slight variations discussed below, is the majority rule across the nation. For the reasons stated below, we follow the lead of the Court of Appeals and most of our sister-state jurisdictions in adopting the Exoneration Rule. The convicted plaintiff was an attorney Lawrence was formerly an attorney and a member of the Kentucky Bar Association. In 2012, he was found guilty in federal district court of violating 26 U.S.C. 7206(1), a felony offense involving false and fraudulent tax returns which Lawrence allegedly filed between 2004 and 2006. He was sentenced to twenty-seven months in prison and ordered to pay $128,253 in restitution to the United States Treasury. ...the complaint alleged that Lawrences attorneys were negligent by failing to comply with a scheduling order relating to the disclosure of expert witness testimony; by failing to object to certain testimony presented at trial; and by failing to move for a bill of particulars. This negligence, according to Lawrences complaint, caused the utter failure of his trial defense and subjected Mr. Lawrence to ineffective assistance of counsel. But he remains convicted It is the but for causation element of a legal malpractice case that provides the most important justification for the Exoneration Rule. A criminal defendants own actions constitute the sole, proximate, and producing cause of the indictment, conviction, and resultant incarceration. Stone, 952 S.W.2d at 224. Because the defendants own actions are deemed to be the exclusive proximate cause of his injuiy, public policy prohibits him from maintaining a legal malpractice action against his criminal defense attorneys unless he has been subsequently exonerated. Id. Holding we adopt the following articulation of the Exoneration Rule: to survive a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim in a professional malpractice case against a criminal defense attorney, the convicted client must plead in his complaint that he has been exonerated of the underlying criminal conviction. He or she need not prove actual innocence, but they also may not rely solely upon a claim of actual innocence in the absence of an exonerating court decision through appeal or post-conviction order. Further, the statute of limitations on the legal malpractice claim does not begin to run until the postconviction exoneration occurs. Because Lawrence failed to allege that he had been exonerated of his convictions through post-conviction proceedings, the trial court correctly dismissed his legal malpractice claim without prejudice. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/12/the-kentucky-supreme-court-the-exoneration-rule-provides-that-a-criminal-defense-attorney-may-not-be-sued-for-legal-malpract.html We present the short story "After Twenty Years," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. The cop moved along the street, looking strong and important. This was the way he always moved. He was not thinking of how he looked. There were few people on the street to see him. It was only about ten at night, but it was cold. And there was a wind with a little rain in it. He stopped at doors as he walked along, trying each door to be sure that it was closed for the night. Now and then he turned and looked up and down the street. He was a fine-looking cop, watchful, guarding the peace. People in this part of the city went home early. Now and then you might see the lights of a shop or of a small restaurant. But most of the doors belonged to business places that had been closed hours ago. Then the cop suddenly slowed his walk. Near the door of a darkened shop a man was standing. As the cop walked toward him, the man spoke quickly. Its all right, officer, he said. Im waiting for a friend. Twenty years ago we agreed to meet here tonight. It sounds strange to you, doesnt it? Ill explain if you want to be sure that everythings all right. About twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this shop stands. Big Joe Bradys restaurant. It was here until five years ago, said the cop. The man near the door had a colorless square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye. He had a large jewel in his necktie. Twenty years ago tonight, said the man, I had dinner here with Jimmy Wells. He was my best friend and the best fellow in the world. He and I grew up together here in New York, like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West. I was going to find a job and make a great success. You couldnt have pulled Jimmy out of New York. He thought it was the only place on earth. We agreed that night that we would meet here again in twenty years. We thought that in twenty years we would know what kind of men we were, and what future waited for us. It sounds interesting, said the cop. A long time between meetings, it seems to me. Have you heard from your friend since you went West? Yes, for a time we did write to each other, said the man. But after a year or two, we stopped. The West is big. I moved around everywhere, and I moved quickly. But I know that Jimmy will meet me here if he can. He was as true as any man in the world. Hell never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand here tonight. But Ill be glad about that, if my old friend comes too. The man waiting took out a fine watch, covered with small jewels. Three minutes before ten, he said. It was ten that night when we said goodbye here at the restaurant door. You were successful in the West, werent you? asked the cop. I surely was! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a slow mover. Ive had to fight for my success. In New York a man doesnt change much. In the West you learn how to fight for what you get. The cop took a step or two. Ill go on my way, he said. I hope your friend comes all right. If he isnt here at ten, are you going to leave? I am not! said the other. Ill wait half an hour, at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth, hell be here by that time. Good night, officer. Good night, said the cop, and walked away, trying doors as he went. There was now a cold rain falling and the wind was stronger. The few people walking along that street were hurrying, trying to keep warm. At the door of the shop stood the man who had come a thousand miles to meet a friend. Such a meeting could not be certain. But he waited. About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long coat came hurrying across the street. He went directly to the waiting man. Is that you, Bob? he asked, doubtfully. Is that you, Jimmy Wells? cried the man at the door. The new man took the other mans hands in his. Its Bob! It surely is. I was certain I would find you here if you were still alive. Twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant is gone, Bob. I wish it were here, so that we could have another dinner in it. Has the West been good to you? It gave me everything I asked for. Youve changed, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall. Oh, I grew a little after I was twenty. Are you doing well in New York, Jimmy? Well enough. I work for the city. Come on, Bob, Well go to a place I know, and have a good long talk about old times. The two men started along the street, arm in arm. The man from the West was beginning to tell the story of his life. The other, with his coat up to his ears, listened with interest. At the corner stood a shop bright with electric lights. When they came near, each turned to look at the others face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and pulled his arm away. Youre not Jimmy Wells, he said. Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change the shape of a mans nose. It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one, said the tall man. Youve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob. Chicago cops thought you might be coming to New York. They told us to watch for you. Are you coming with me quietly? Thats wise. But first here is something I was asked to give you. You may read it here at the window. Its from a cop named Wells. The man from the West opened the little piece of paper. His hand began to shake a little as he read. Bob: I was at the place on time. I saw the face of the man wanted by Chicago cops. I didnt want to arrest you myself. So I went and got another cop and sent him to do the job. JIMMY. Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How much do people change over time? What is it like to try to connect with a friend you have not seen in a long time? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ QUIZ Quiz: After Twenty Years Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz For Teachers Download activities for teaching with this story here. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cop n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests shop n. a building or room where goods and services are sold necktie n. a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and under a collar and that is tied in front with a knot at the top coat n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry In the words of comedian James Corden, every so often a song comes along that defines a generation: Baby shark doo doo doo doo doo doo. Baby shark doo doo doo doo doo doo. The late-night television host, carpool karaoke king and father of three young children was talking about the childrens song Baby Shark. Maybe you have not heard the song, but that seems impossible. In 2015, a South Korean educational content maker, Pinkfong, released its first Baby Shark video. Later, it broke the internet with a version that mixed animation and two loveable human kids. The video shows them dancing to the story of a shark family, K-pop style. The video has more than 2 billion views on YouTube. A group called Super Simple also has well-loved versions of the song, and YouTube provides a huge number of other Baby Shark offerings to choose from. And then came #babysharkchallenge. People began to record themselves performing the song and dance, and posting the recordings on social media. Now, stores are selling Baby Shark childrens clothing, books and toys. Our toddlers shark video addiction is a huge issue in our household, said Columbus, Ohio mom Kitty French. She said the song was cute at first but now has become an earworm that the adults have tired of. Not all adults feel that way. Many are continuing to post Baby Shark-linked videos of themselves and their children. In one, a little girl urges the electronic assistant Alexa to play her favorite shark song. The girl becomes upset by the smart devices not-so-smart lack of understanding. In another video, a family in the U.S. state of Texas has designed its Christmas lights to go on and off with the beat of the Baby Shark music. Baby Shark, helper shark Some parents of special needs kids think Baby Shark is more than fun. They argue it has helped their young ones. Holly Anderson of the U.S. state Utah is a mother of four. Her 3-year-old son has autism, a disorder that can affect social skills, speech and other areas. His therapist uses childrens songs on YouTube, including Baby Shark, to help patients. Anderson said her son has a very difficult time staying still, even for a moment, and usually spends his time running around in therapy. But she said the Baby Shark song and video helps her son calm down. Bob Cunningham is an educator and adviser for the nonprofit Understood.org. The organization supports parents of kids with learning and attention issues. He praised Baby Shark as catchy and colorful. He added, Both the music and the animation are predictable, with repeated words, phrases, colors and movements. The combinations can capture and keep childrens attention, even for children who have trouble paying attention, Cunningham said. The song and video also occupy most of the senses at the same time and combine language with music and movement. This combination can appeal to kids who struggle with any of those things individually. For example, the movement can support less-developed language, and the music can offer support when movements are difficult, he said. Corden, host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, is not the only star to get involved with the baby shark craze. He invited Sophie Turner, Josh Groban and a choir to perform the song on his show. TV entertainer Ellen DeGeneres also used the song on her show. Baby Shark, rich shark In addition to being famous, Baby Shark sells. A Montreal-based company, WowWee, has a Pinkfong license for North America to sell the shark family in soft toys. The toys sing when pressed in the middle. The online marketplace Amazon took orders for the toys with a guarantee that they would arrive by Christmas. WowWees chief technology officer, Davin Sufer, said they sold out in less than three days. Each toy costs just less than $20. Sufer would not say how many were sold. Many of the buyers, however, are now re-selling the toys for more than $100 each on Amazon. The privately-held WowWee was already in talks with Pinkfong as far back as nearly a year ago when Baby Shark truly exploded, said Sufer. The businessman has three kids of his own. Last summer, his 9-year-old daughter who came home from camp last summer singing the song before she knew his involvement. He said of the song, You hear it once or twice and you hear yourself singing, 'doo doo doo doo doo doo.' I could see maybe parents getting a little tired of it, but kids arent. I'm Pete Musto. And I'm Anna Mateo. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story host - n. a person who talks to guests on a television or radio show car pool - n. a group of people who regularly share a car when they are going to and from their jobs or who take turns driving each other's children to school, activities, etc. karaoke - n. a form of entertainment in which a device plays the music of popular songs and people sing the words to the songs they choose animation - n. a way of making a movie by using a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of objects (such as puppets or models) that are slightly different from one another and that when viewed quickly one after another create the appearance of movement K-pop - n. popular music originating in South Korea and encompassing a variety of styles toddler - n. a young child who is just learning to walk addiction - n. a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble) earworm - n. a song or melody that keeps repeating in one's mind therapist - n. a person who helps people deal with mental or emotional problems by talking about those problems : a person trained in psychotherapy kid - n. a child The last African elephant at the Johannesburg Zoo, Lammie, lost her male partner to a sickness in September. Lammie was born in the zoo 39 years ago. She had lived for 17 years with Kinkel, who died at age 35. Kinkel had been rescued in the wild after his trunk was caught in a trap in 2000. Around the time of her partners death on Sept. 4, Lammie had stopped eating. The day before Kinkel died, she was seen trying to help him get up. Elephants are known for their intelligence, strong social ties and even the ability to mourn. Some people argue Lammie should be sent to another place where she can be with other elephants. Audrey Delsink is wildlife director of Humane Society International/Africa. She said Lammie is in desperate need of a happier existence and the chance to live out her years with other elephants. Delsink added that a wildlife rescue place is ready to take Lammie if the Johannesburg Zoo agrees to let her go. But the zoo says Lammie is staying. The zoo says it serves an educational purpose, especially for the poor who cannot pay to visit wildlife parks. Michele Pickover disagrees. She is director of the EMS Foundation, a South Africa-based African wildlife rights group. She said nobody learns anything by seeing an elephant in captivity. She said that watching a film about elephants would be more educational. But, a spokeswoman for the Johannesburg Zoo, Jenny Moodley, says it is looking for a new partner for Lammie. She said the zoo is following guidelines in its search set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She added that experts are closely observing Lammie and that the elephant might not adapt well to a new environment. Moodley said of Lammie: She is coping incredibly well, considering that she has lost her partner. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story desperate adj. very severe or strong adapt v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation cope v. to deal with problems and difficult situations and try to come up with solutions incredibly adv. extremely Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's 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of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Hijacking computers to illegally mine cryptocurrencies has overtaken ransomware as the biggest cyber threat in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, according to Kaspersky Lab. Research by the Russian cyber-security firm shows crypto mining attacks have risen almost fourfold in the region, from 3.5 million in 2017 to 13 million this year. Such incidents are likely to continue given the increased use of digital currencies, Kaspersky said. Cyber criminals can use malware to gain access to other peoples computers and start running mining operations undetected in the background, keeping any digital coins produced. Earlier this year, criminals commandeered massive processing power to unlock new Monero coins, and in the process unleashed an epidemic of malicious software. The META region is becoming more appealing to cyber-criminals, with financial and malicious cryptomining attacks taking center stage, said Fabio Assolini, Kasperskys senior security researcher. Such crimes are increasing because mining is silent and causes less impact that ransomware, making it less noticeable. Kaspersky is itself not without controversy. Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned use of its software by federal agencies amid concerns about the companys links to the Russian government. Kaspersky challenged the ruling. A company official wasnt immediately available to comment today. Now read: Bitcoin scammers send bomb threats worldwide NPP will not shy away from ... Amber Gehrer wasnt sure what else she could do. Moneywise, shed given what she could, but her hometown of Paradise wasnt just damaged by the Camp Fire that struck Butte County in early November; it was gone. Though she now lives in Ukiah and had no family still living in Paradise when the fires erupted, We have a whole lot of friends that we consider family, Gehrer said. So its very near and dear to my heart. More than a month after the fire began, many of those friends are still in need of aid, she said. Not knowing how she could help them beyond her donation, Gehrer turned to a friend. I saw what Jenni was doing and just kind of hopped on board with her, she said. That friend is Jenni Karakasevic, a St. Helena native who is one of the founders of Stand for Kindness, a non-profit vehicle for fire relief donations. Karakasevics group was eager for Gehrers help. Now shes working to track down families in need of Christmas gifts, writing sponsorship letters, using social media to organize aid and recruiting others who want to help but dont know how. And its kind of turned into an all-day, every-day, cant-respond-to-emails-fast-enough thing, she said. Unlike many groups that spring to action post-fires with immediate, temporary aid, Stand for Kindness, which has been helping victims of last years North Bay fires, needed only switch gears to channel their work toward victims of the Camp Fire. With the holidays approaching, the group is seeking sponsors for over 300 children affected by the Camp Fire and putting on two toy and clothing drives, one on Dec. 17 in Petaluma and the other in Healdsburg Dec. 19. Plans are to deliver the gifts to Chico the Saturday before Christmas. But while the group is turning their focus momentarily on relief for Camp Fire survivors, after the holidays their whole attention will return to about 30 families still recovering from the 2017 North Bay fires, including several from Napa. Co-founded by Karakasevic, Chaela Ciongoli and Lauren Karlowsky in the wake of the earlier blazes, Stand for Kindness is today working toward what is often overlooked by other aid groups: the long run. Karakasevic said that in her experience, when a disaster strikes, everybody jumps into action and wants to help the people who just lost their home or whatever it is. There is a surplus of supplies and volunteers at first, she says. But what happens is as soon as those people find a permanent home or something, or in this situation where another fire happens everybody jumps then to help the next people. Meanwhile, the families from the earlier fires are still recovering and in need of aid, albeit less urgently, she said. What happens is, the other ones, once their aid runs out, thats it. Thats all theyve got and they just have to do their best to rebuild on their own. Affected families tend to face about a five-year timetable for a full return to normalcy, Karakasevic said. And although all of the families from 2017 that they fundraise for have found housing, she said, nearly all have gone into debt during the process. One family moved eight times around Santa Rosa before finally leaving California and the states higher costs of living behind. Another family is facing a much smaller insurance payout than they expected. They all need financial assistance still in a big way, Karakasevic said. Its so complicated, every situation. So were just trying to stick by them and help them until they get back to normal. A St. Helena native now living in Ukiah, Karakasevic has also used her ties to the local drinks industry to help bring in aid. Theres the friend at Top It Off Bottling, a mobile bottling company in Napa, who recently donated $20,000 to the group, and the owner of Elixir Saloon in San Francisco, who has been making a cocktail specifically for fire relief and donating the sales to Stand for Kindness, and Walter Inman with Heaven Hill Distillery who has helped with organizing some of the groups efforts. Along with Heaven Hill, Karakasevics own Charbay Distillery will co-sponsor the upcoming toy and new clothing drive Monday, Dec. 17 at Mario & Johns Tavern in Petaluma from 5 8 p.m. The two distilleries will also sponsor the second drive on Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 5 8 p.m. at Dukes Spirited Cocktails in Healdsburg. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The return next month of the Napa Lighted Art Festival will bring more art and light to city streets as well as music, lectures and a new parade to lead visitors through the events open-air gallery. Organizers will increase the scope of the outdoor festivals second edition to at least 16 installations in downtown, the Oxbow neighborhood and other areas, up from the nine that comprised its December 2017 debut, the Downtown Napa Association announced last week. Each display will include a Napa building or landmark transformed into a giant canvas through the use of projectors throwing animated images, motifs or patterns. Jointly organized by the city and the Napa Tourism Improvement District, the Lighted Art Festival will run Jan. 12-20, 2019. Exhibits will be displayed from 6 to 10 p.m on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Event planners moved the exhibition back from its original December date to attract visitors in a less hectic time of the winter, and to separate it from Christmas-season attractions such as holiday light displays, the city Parks and Recreation department has said. Highlighting the festival will be the debut of the Lantern Parade, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18. The procession will pass by light exhibits on a route that begins and ends at downtown Veterans Memorial Park, and marchers are asked to carry homemade lanterns to illuminate the parade route. Those wishing to march in the Lantern Parade can find an online lantern pattern guide at cityofnapa.org/lanternparade, and New Technology High School students are creating more lanterns for business owners to display in downtown store and office windows, according to city officials. Any such lighted devices should be battery-powered, and no open flames will be allowed. Joining the festival slate is Art After Dark, a nighttime stroll of the Napa Valley Art Trail to view seven murals created as part of the Rail Arts District. The January event also will debut a series of symposia on projection art, light, stained glass and other topics, and live concerts will be scheduled downtown during the festival. Among the artistic backdrops at the new festival will be some of the hot-air balloons that float tourists on aerial tours of the wine country. Night Bloom, slated for the Oxbow Commons downtown park, will feature tethered balloons arranged to light the evening sky. Balloons will be displayed starting at 6 p.m. Jan. 12-13 and Jan. 19-20, weather permitting. The festivals reach also will extend farther south in the city to The Village at Vista Collina Resort, which will host the artwork Constellation by Christopher Schardt. The light sculpture will take the form of a canopy dotted with numerous light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. Other showpieces will include Museum of the Moon, an illuminated one-to-500,000 image of the moon by Luke Jerram that will be shown at CIA at Copia; Hyperbinary, which the Czech artist collective Triton Genos will exhibit at Napas Riverfront on Main Street; and a return engagement at First Presbyterian Church of Birgit Zanders The Language of Love, a depiction of the words for love in numerous languages that was shown during the 2017 Napa festival. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dr. Seuss creatures have arrived at the Napa County Library wall, a visual feast of Seussian beasts just hanging around to enthrall. The downtown library on Sunday hung 16 sculpture reproductions from the Dr. Seuss Unorthodox Taxidermy series. Theodor Geisel known as Dr. Seuss created the originals during the 1930s with horns, bills and other parts of deceased zoo animals. This is wildlife unlike anything seen in nature. Theres the smiling, blue Carbonic Walrus, the ram-like Goo-Goo-Eyed Tasmanian, the devious-looking, razor-toothed Sludge Tarpon and the toucan-in-a-Beatles-wig Andulovian Grackler. Its just a celebration of reading and the imagination, Library Director Danis Kreimeier said as she watched the sculptures being mounted by the library stairway, near the DVD collection. Help is on the way for admirers who cant differentiate between the Anthony Drexel Goldfarb and the Semi-Normal Green-Lidded Fawn. Kreimeier said the library will have a brochure describing which beast is which. Steve and Sarah Aylard, who are retired from their 29-year careers as Napa dentists, donated the collection and four framed Dr. Seuss prints. The county estimated the worth at $130,000. The Aylards saw one or two of the Dr. Seuss sculptures in 2000 in a Chicago gallery. They fell in love with them, bought them and continued buying new pieces as they were released. They hung the Dr. Seuss sculptures in their childrens dental office. But, Sarah Aylard recalled, patients from the adult side would come to admire them too. When we retired we have left Napa we wanted to be able to give something back to the community that had given so much to us, she said. Sarah Aylard has trouble naming a favorite Seuss beast. Theres the sleepy, smiling Blue Green Abelard, the stylish Turtle-Necked Sea Turtle and the small, rust-colored Tufted Gustard that looks like it has a bristly shaving brush growing out of its head. I think everybody loved touching the Tufted Gustard, Sarah Aylard said. Admirers wont touch any of the Seuss creatures at the library, though, not unless they have a ladder. Lori Bowling of Friends of the Napa Library was walking by on the Sunday when the Seuss sculptures were being hung. She zeroed in on the aptly-named Kangaroo Bird because she liked the little baby in the pouch. This is so cool, she said as Jefferson Eisenberg and Brian Gardner hung the pieces, using their experience installing art at such places as the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art. In addition to the 16 Unorthodox Taxidermy sculptures, the Aylards donated four framed prints featuring such Seuss favorites as the Cat in the Hat and Horton the elephant. These are displayed in the library childrens room. So come to the Napa County library, where fans of the offbeat can happily see this whimsical Dr. Seuss menagerie, this Seuss-twisted, uplifted taxidermy. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. 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Lucky for us, firefighters stopped the flames at the far edge of the asphalt road, just yards away. Ive since seen that same hillside burn four times. My childhood home in Santa Barbara, perched atop the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains with jaw-dropping views of the Channel Islands, burned to the ground in 1991, along with its entire neighborhood. In 2007, my stepfathers house in Malibu was incinerated by a brush fire fanned like a flamethrower by fierce Santa Ana winds. Those houses were rebuilt, using the same materials. When the next fire comes, they will probably burn again. We live in denial about the fact that most of California is a fire landscape. After the horrific loss of life and property in 2017 and 2018, we have to ask: Can we learn to live with fire? Will we restructure our communities to accept fire as something as inevitable as sun and rain? Building charming wooden houses among the trees as we like to do (see Topanga Canyon, Big Bear, Big Sur, Marin County, etc.) is a cultural hangover from wet Northern Europe, but totally inappropriate here. Our vegetation evolved to stoke flames: Much of it is referred to as pyrophytic, literally fire-loving, because the plants make themselves more flammable in order to encourage fire as a means of reproduction. Even coast redwoods have evolved to resprout after their trunks are burned because fire is present even in the rainforests where they grow. The hardened masonry towns of the fire-prone Mediterranean are a much better model: Residences are clad with stone or stucco, roofed with tile, without deep eaves that can catch embers, and frequently clustered together to form a united front against both fire and human invaders. In the Woolsey fire in Malibu, such structures, both free-standing houses but especially stucco and tile-roofed condo or townhouse complexes most built over the objections of neighbors worried about too much density in their rural-feeling city fared much better than their wooden neighbors. The key to fire survival is, in fact, planning for wind. Although defensible space and fire-resistant landscaping are important, no amount of brush clearance can prevent wind-carried embers from igniting susceptible buildings. With winds like Santa Anas roaring and humidity low, embers frequently can travel a mile through the air out ahead of the fire line and land on a house. Burning houses ignite their flammable neighbors in turn, leading to the kinds of nearly unstoppable structure-to-structure firestorms seen in Santa Rosa, Paradise and parts of Malibu. The Pepperdine University campus, explicitly modeled by architect William Pereira after the fire-hardened, pedestrian villages of Patmos, Greece, is an example of fire-conscious architecture and landscape design. Even though flames of the Woolsey fire ate up the surrounding hillsides, burned into parts of the campus, and actually blackened walls in numerous places, the university escaped essentially unscathed. Its buildings constructed with steel frames, concrete, stucco, tile roofs, no exposed wood, no deep eaves to catch flying embers occupy just 330 of the campus 830 acres and are clustered around paved plazas and lawns. They embody the architects vision of tightly knit buildings and protected open spaces. Since its construction in the early 1970s, the campus has survived six fires. Pereira crafted a master plan for the development of Malibu in 1965 along the same principles, calling for clustered houses surrounded by expansive natural preserves. The plan, commissioned in secret, was never made public, much less implemented, and Malibus hillsides and canyons were developed piecemeal and haphazardly, ignoring the reality of fire. If the plan had been used, many of Pepperdines neighbors might have fared better. Cities have learned in the past and changed when they rebuilt. The white villages of the Mediterranean, which evolved their defenses over millennia from simple wooden antecedents as the region was deforested and fire became endemic, offer one such example. After the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed London, timber buildings were banned. After Chicago burned in October 1871, losing 17,500 buildings and one-third of its wealth, new kinds of fireproof construction, including safety elevators and low-cost steel frames, allowed it to rebuild, upward, and the skyscraper was born. Neither city has suffered large conflagrations again. In California, changing our building types will help. As important is de-incentivizing scattering homes across high-hazard zones. That would include shifting the true cost of providing utilities, services and even firefighting, now subsidized by the more centralized majority, to those who choose to live in isolated locations. Clustering together into safer, more defensible communities would also allow people to shelter in place, as thousands did at Pepperdine during the Woolsey fire. That would mean avoiding the dangers of crowded evacuation routes as tragically seen during the recent Camp fire, when hundreds of people had to abandon their cars on choked roads and flee on foot. Native Californians for at least 10,000 years used fire as a tool to manage the land, and, by burning frequently and in small patches, to limit the severity of unintentional wildfires. With more fireproofed and denser, semi-urban spaces, well be able to welcome fire back into our midst, in the form of managed (controlled is a bit of an overreach) burning. This is easier done in the forested landscapes of the north, where low-intensity undergrowth burns are possible, than in the dense chaparral of the south, and we may in fact be forced to retreat from some of the most fire-prone landscapes of Southern California. But if were to survive in an overheating California, we will have to become a fire-embracing society, no longer a fire-denying one. Wade Graham is the author of American Eden, a cultural history of gardens in America; Dream Cities: Seven Urban Ideas That Shape the World; and Braided Waters: Environment and Society in Molokai, Hawaii. He teaches urban and environmental policy at Pepperdine University. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. Markedonov: Moscow seeking to show Baku, Yerevan and world that it will be the main resource for conflict settlement Aivazovsky's scenic painting sold for $1,015,000 Armenia Supreme Judicial Council declares strict warning against Judge Zaruhi Nakhshkaryan France's Macron is revaccinated Scotland reports first cases of Omicron infections Iran-Turkey high commission to hold session during Erdogan's visit to Tehran Erdogan says '21st century will be the century of Turkey' Storm in Istanbul leaves 4 dead Erdogan says Turkey is ready to become mediator between Russia and Ukraine Armenian court postpones court hearing over case of Goris mayor and officials until Dec. 27 NEWS.am daily digest: 29.11.21 CSTO Parliamentary Assembly might hold next meeting in Yerevan Erdogan talks about idea of road leading to Igdir through Armenia Resident of Armenia's Kajaran says mayor saved his son's life during 44-day war Head of village of Armenia's Syunik Province renounces false testimony given against Goris mayor Armenia official: New power station will enable reducing electricity prices Iran FM describes meeting with Azerbaijan counterpart as positive and friendly Armenia armed forces conduct battalion tactical exercises Helicopter bursts into flames in Iran Armenia parliament speaker nominates Russia State Duma chairmans candidacy to post of CSTO PA head ARF-D Bureau member states conditions for not allowing emptying of Armenians from Artsakh Yerevan mayor leaves for Saint Petersburg Azerbaijan army holds tactical military exercises Jean-Christophe Buisson: Syunik is Armenia, and Erdogan is a warmonger Dollar goes up in Armenia Armenian National Committee rep Elizabeth Chouldjian on cooperation with Armenia's Ambassador to the US 11 new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh Former prosecutor for case of Armenia 2nd President appointed judge of Criminal Court of Appeal ARF-D Bureau representative: Azerbaijan, Turkey will do everything to bury the Artsakh issue through delimitation USAID official meets with people displaced from Artsakh (PHOTOS) Armenia deputy PM, France diplomat discuss Karabakh conflict settlement issue Armenia ballet dancer wins main prize in Belarus Demonstration being held in Yerevan Armenia PM attends opening of new power plant (PHOTOS) Protest being staged outside court of Armenias Goris Search for remains of fallen soldiers resumes in Karabakh since November 22 Armenia ex-defense minister to remain in custody for another 2 months Anna Ter-Hovakimyan: Middle East Classical Music Academy in Dubai helped us successfully organise Academy in Armenia 189 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia European Parliament official: There are prospects for successful diplomatic solutions, EU will stand with Armenians Australia parliament to debate on Armenian Genocide recognition Russia peacekeepers in Artsakh carry out measures against coronavirus US Congressman Schiff says he will not rest until many Armenian captives are returned from Azerbaijan USSR Marshal Baghramyan monument be unveiled in Russia WHO: Those who recovered from COVID-19 can catch Omicron variant Armenia opposition MP: Probability of new aggression by Azerbaijan remains World oil prices going up Armenia opposition party to hold urgent press conference Rolls Royce introduces car worth $28M Carrot that kills Covid Ebrahim Raisi, Ilham Aliyev hold their first meeting in Ashgabat Meeting of Erdogan and Aliyev held in Ashgabat Armenia opposition "5165" movement to not work with Liberation Movement anymore, to act alone and meet with forces Armenian newspaper: Identities of remains of 11 servicemen transferred to Armenia established South African doctor states unusual symptoms of new Omicron coronavirus variant Francis Fukuyama: Ukraine's use of Turkish drones could be a complete game-changer Tehran, Baku sign agreement on natural gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan through Iranian territory Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker, member of ARF-D holds meeting in Hrazdan city of Kotayk Province Armenia Parliament Speaker touches upon need for Karabakh conflict settlement at IPU Assembly Iran President: Any change of political geography of the region will incite further tension Erdogan declares that so-called 'Zangezur corridor' is 'important' Pro-government alliance of parties in the lead during parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan Raisi: Cooperation with countries of Asia and the Caucasus is a priority for Iran Fire breaks out in kindergarten in Armenia's Kartchevan village Aliyev believes 'Zangezur transport corridor is becoming a reality' "Arush Arushanyan" Alliance calls on residents of Armenia's Goris to support arrested mayor Iran declares need to revive natural gas deal with Turkmenistan Isn't Moscow concerned about Turkey's attempts for control over natural gas route from Turkmenistan to Europe? Turkey seeks to enhance relations and increase trade with Turkmenistan up to $5 bln Two Azerbaijani soldiers blow up on mine in Karabakh's occupied Varanda region Iran FM welcomes holding of trilateral meeting of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Sochi Iranian and Turkish presidents discuss regional issues Members of Armenia's Liberation Movement initiative take pilgrimage to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin New Zealand MP cycles to hospital to give birth Russians create rock that can track Russia's enemies 25-year-old citizen's suicide attempt prevented at Yerevan bridge Iran's Raisi to meet with his Turkmen counterpart 409 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Guterres talks Russian role in continuation of contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan Cavusoglu and Bayramov discuss situation in Ashgabat region More than 30 flights delayed or canceled at Moscow airports Aliyev told Lukashenko over Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia leaders' meeting Artsakh citizen returning from Azerbaijan is under medical supervision World Medical Association boss compares new strain of COVID-19 with Ebola ECHR rules on application of interim measure in respect of 4 Armenian POWs Armenia PM participates in Board of Trustees of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund meeting Gyumri ex-mayor's son found and apprehended Russia and China call for peaceful coexistence of countries with different ideologies 517 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Armenia per day Ombudsman rejected after applying to initiate proceedings against Armenia Security Council Secretary Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of one serviceman found in Varanda Armenia defense minister meets with Karabakh President, situation on Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact discussed Armenia State Revenue Committee ex-chief appointed Armavir Province governor Putin to inform Russian Security Council about meeting with Aliyev and Pashinyan Putin: Russia attaches importance to strategic and allied nature of relations with Armenia Aliyev: A 'thorough and sincere conversation' was held with Putin and Pashinyan Pashinyan: I affirm Armenia's and its government's willingness to open an era of peace Meeting of Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan kicks off Putin gifts Pashinyan and Aliyev olive branches Armenia's Pashinyan, Russia's Putin and Azerbaijan's Aliyev adopt joint statement A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who crossed the US-Mexico border with her father last week has died after being taken into custody by the US Border Patrol, NBC News reported. She was apprehended with her father after crossing the border illegally into New Mexico, with her family and more than 160 other migrants. The girl died of dehydration and shock, more than eight hours after she was arrested by agents near Lordsburg, New Mexico. She had waited 1.5 hours before receiving emergency medical care after showing symptoms. Before the group left the Antelope Wells checkpoint by bus to be transferred to a border station, her father reported that she was ill and vomiting. By the time she arrived at the border station 1.5 hours later, she was not breathing. She was revived twice by emergency workers and then transported by air to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where she died of cardiac arrest. YEREVAN. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia has not yet received the capital city Yerevan Court of General Jurisdictions decision on denying the petition that former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-Secretary of the National Security Council, Armen Gevorgyan, be remanded in custody. Arevik Khachatryan, head of the public relations division at the attorney generals office, told about the above-said to Armenian News-NEWS.am. Once getting the court decision, it will be discussed at the prosecutors office, and it will be clear whether or not it will be appealed, Khachatryan added. The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction on Friday denied the Special Investigation Services petition that Armen Gevorgyanwho was serving as Secretary of the National Security Council during the events that occurred in downtown Yerevan, in March 2008be remanded in custody. It became known Wednesday that several new criminal charges had been filed against Gevorgyan; they are: taking a very large bribe by an official, committing very large-scale money laundering, and aiding in breaching Armenias constitutional order. Gevorgyan was already charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the criminal case into the tragic events that occurred in Yerevan, in March 2008. The investigative agency had enforced a signature bond to not leave Armenia as a preventive measure for him. On March 1 and 2, 2008 the then authorities of Armenia used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown Yerevan, and against the results of the presidential election on February 19, 2008. Eight demonstrators as well as two servicemen of the internal troops were killed in the clashes. But no one had been brought to account for these deaths, to this day. Armen Gevorgyans lawyer: Courts decision is expected and fair Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 478514 12-15-2018 06:57 AM Post: #1 america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa Advertisement https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-t...SKBN1OC1XV The United States plans to counter the rapidly expanding Chinese and Russian economic and political influence in Africa, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday, calling business practices of the two nations corrupt and predatory. Washingtons No 1. priority will be developing economic ties with the region to create opportunities for American businesses and protecting the independence of African countries along with U.S. national security interests, he said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation. Great-power competitors, namely China and Russia, are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa, Bolton said. He said the United States was developing the Prosper Africa initiative to support U.S. investment in Africa and a growing middle class in the region. He gave no details. as Trump wants to help the African middle class before he helps the American middle classThe United States plans to counter the rapidly expanding Chinese and Russian economic and political influence in Africa, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said on Thursday, calling business practices of the two nations corrupt and predatory.Washingtons No 1. priority will be developing economic ties with the region to create opportunities for American businesses and protecting the independence of African countries along with U.S. national security interests, he said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation.Great-power competitors, namely China and Russia, are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa, Bolton said.He said the United States was developing the Prosper Africa initiative to support U.S. investment in Africa and a growing middle class in the region. He gave no details. as ashes emerged from the BT lop guest User ID: 459308 12-15-2018 07:16 AM Post: #2 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa Thanks for posting this OP. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 478512 12-15-2018 07:31 AM Post: #3 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa just like in 2012,africa became the sanctuary.usa already spent billions electrifying subsaharan africa.chinese have interstate.ebola may clear the place out for the new immigration. Upside Down Just hangin out User ID: 442719 12-15-2018 07:35 AM Posts: 51,693 Post: #4 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa i miss Obama. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 478512 12-15-2018 07:42 AM Post: #5 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa Upside Down Wrote: (12-15-2018 07:35 AM) i miss Obama. i dont.he tried to bankrupt and destroy usa. i dont.he tried to bankrupt and destroy usa. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 478609 12-16-2018 02:04 AM Post: #6 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa LoP Guest Wrote: (12-15-2018 07:42 AM) Upside Down Wrote: (12-15-2018 07:35 AM) i miss Obama. i dont.he tried to bankrupt and destroy usa. Obama era was best era 1. Gasoline prices were at 14 year lows. 2. US mortgage interest rates were at historic lows. 3. US inflation was at record lows. 4. US auto and truck sales and profits were at record highs. 5. The US stock market tripled. 6. We went from a federal deficit of 10% of GDP to 2.5%. 7. We went from DOUBLE DIGIT unemployment to 4.9% (a 12 year low). 8. Americans paid the smallest percentage of their income in debt. 9. We went from over 21% of Americans not having health insurance to 8.7%. 10. The US economy grew while Russia, Japan, the Middle East, Europe and South America declined or remained stagnant. 12. We went from 1 in every 4 mortgages being underwater to 1 in every 16. 13. The highest percentage of high school graduates EVER went to college. 14. American families percentage of spending on food decreased to 9.7%. 15. Federal spending % of GDP decreased to 22.8%. 16. Because of automation and downsizing at the US Postal Service, Obama had FEWER Federal employees than Reagan, Clinton and both Bushes. 17. He reduced Bush's $1.4 trillion deficit to $438 billion. 18. Average annual GDP was over 2%, and never negative, for a total of over 17% during his presidency. 19. He made America strong again by increasing military spending 35% 20. Only 1 of 2 US President to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize Obama era was best era1. Gasoline prices were at 14 year lows.2. US mortgage interest rates were at historic lows.3. US inflation was at record lows.4. US auto and truck sales and profits were at record highs.5. The US stock market tripled.6. We went from a federal deficit of 10% of GDP to 2.5%.7. We went from DOUBLE DIGIT unemployment to 4.9% (a 12 year low).8. Americans paid the smallest percentage of their income in debt.9. We went from over 21% of Americans not having health insurance to 8.7%.10. The US economy grew while Russia, Japan, the Middle East, Europe and South America declined or remained stagnant.12. We went from 1 in every 4 mortgages being underwater to 1 in every 16.13. The highest percentage of high school graduates EVER went to college.14. American families percentage of spending on food decreased to 9.7%.15. Federal spending % of GDP decreased to 22.8%.16. Because of automation and downsizing at the US Postal Service, Obama had FEWER Federal employees than Reagan, Clinton and both Bushes.17. He reduced Bush's $1.4 trillion deficit to $438 billion.18. Average annual GDP was over 2%, and never negative, for a total of over 17% during his presidency.19. He made America strong again by increasing military spending 35%20. Only 1 of 2 US President to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 444068 12-16-2018 02:11 AM Post: #7 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa It's Israel First you dumb antisemitic bit*h ashes emerged from the BT lop guest User ID: 459308 12-16-2018 02:32 AM Post: #8 RE: america last! trump to spend millions countering russia and china in Africa There are more people in Texas than Russia. We got a ol aircraft carrier just layin there. African raid from the Koon ass navy maybe. Just dreaming here I guess Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread YEREVAN. The problem of extradition of the Armenian third presidents nephew Narek Sargsyan will be solved in he near future, and he will stand a trial, head of National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan said. He dismissed the rumors that criminal authority Andarnik Soghoyan (aka Zap) told police about whereabouts of Narek Sargsyan. Narek Sargsyan was found in Prague thanks to the efforts of Interpol. Danek said the 37-year-old man was detained in the presence of an attacking unit, as they suspected he could be armed. As reported earlier, the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia had received information that a large number of drugs and weapons were hidden at an apartment belonged to Narek Sargsyan, 31the nephew of third President Serzh Sargsyan. In addition, the NSS received a report that, back in 2013, Narek Sargsyan, abusing the trust of an heir of renowned Armenian painter Martiros Saryan, had taken fourteen drawings of Saryan from this heir, promising to pay $28,000 for them, and to jointly establish a casino with the rest of the money, and to sponsor its activities. After getting these paintings, however, Sargsyan did not fulfill his promise, and he refused to return these drawings. Within the framework of the respective criminal case, a search was conducted Wednesday at the place where Narek Sargsyan is registered, in capital city Yerevan. The abovementioned paintings, as well as $115,000, 27,000, expensive watches, numerous gold coins, and jewelry were discovered at this place. YEREVAN. The cases of illegal crossing of the Armenian-Turkish border that have become more frequent in recent months are due to the activation of migration flows, head of National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan believes. The trespassers are discovered by Armenian border guards, not Russian border guards only, he said during a meeting with reporters in Tsakhkadzor. There are cases when the trespassers are detained by Armenian border guards, in many cases they have fake documents. We often do not make public statements and return them [trespassers] to their countries, he said. Vanetsyan assured that the cases of illegal border crossing are not related to the changes that occurred in Armenia. Migration flows have increased. Illegal migration is one of the evils of the modern world. We say evil, but we somehow understand that people are forced to change the country in order to ensure their own safety. And our business is to prevent this, he said. Russian border guards have detained several large groups who attempted to illegally cross the Armenian-Turkish border over the recent months. Maria Butina attended NRA events in the hope of building links to high ranking officials A Russian woman has admitted to acting as an agent for the Kremlin to get close to the Republican party in an effort to influence US policies. Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy in a court in Washington on Thursday, admitting to working under the direction of a top Russian official to infiltrate the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful gun rights group closely aligned with senior Republican politicians. She is the first Russian citizen to be convicted of working to shape US policy in the run up and through the 2016 election campaign, agreeing to co-operate with prosecutors for less prison time. Appearing before Judge Tanya Chutkan, she admitted to conspiring to work with Alexander Torshin, a former deputy governor of Russia's central bank, and two US citizens as a Russian agent from 2015 until her 2018 arrest. Butina, a former graduate student at American University in Washington who publicly advocated for gun rights, was arrested in July and has been held in jail without bail ever since. Maria Butina was said to be directed by Alexander Torshin, previously described as Vladimir Putin's "emissary" Credit: AP She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against her but in the last week it was revealed she had reversed course and agreed to co-operate with prosecutors. Her aim was to make contacts with officials at the NRA, conservative figures and 2016 presidential candidates in order to set up unofficial back channels with high-ranking American politicians. Butina is known to have met with the president's son, Donald Trump Jnr, during one of the NRA's conventions as well as reportedly hosting a party in Washington attended by Trump campaign aides in November 2016. Prosecutors told the court that Butina drafted a March 2015 "Diplomacy Project" that called for establishing unofficial channels of communication between high-ranking American politicians in order to help advance Russia's interests. In this courtroom sketch, Maria Butina, left, is shown next to her attorney Robert Driscoll Credit: AP To carry out the plan, Butina requested $125,000 (98,000) from a Russian billionaire to attend conferences and set up "separate meetings with interested parties" such as other Russian businessmen or people with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they added. Story continues The prosecutors said Butina invited "powerful members" of the NRA for a visit to Moscow where they met with high-level Russian officials. Apparent photos of the NRA Moscow trip are posted on her social media accounts. After the visit, according to court records, she sent a Russian official a message apparently referencing the NRA saying, "We should let them express their gratitude now, we will put pressure on them quietly later." The alleged Russian agent was arrested in July Credit: Reuters Butina also hosted "friendship dinners" in the hope of establishing ties with people who "would have the ear of the next US presidential administration," prosecutors said. After the 2016 election, she proposed creating a dialogue with President Donald Trump's advisors, but the Russian official told her he did not think the foreign affairs ministry would "go for it," prosecutors said. The actions occurred during the same time period that US intelligence agencies have concluded Russia engaged in a campaign of propaganda and hacking to sow discord during the 2016 presidential race and boost Mr Trump's chances against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Butina was a gun rights activist Butina's lawyers previously identified the Russian official as Alexander Torshin, who was a deputy governor of Russia's central bank and was targeted with US Treasury Department sanctions in April. One of the two Americans referenced in the prosecution's case was Paul Erickson, an conservative political activist who was romantically linked to Butina. His lawyer William Hurd said: "Paul Erickson is a good American. He has done nothing to harm our country and never would." Russian officials hit back at the case, calling it a "modern political inquisition" in comments quoted by the RIA state news agency. She faces a maximum of five years in prison and deportation. As part of her agreement prosecutors dropped a second charge of violating a law that requires foreigners working for their government to register with the US Justice Department. Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, estimated that under sentencing guidelines for similar crimes Butina could face up to six months in prison. Because of Butina's ongoing co-operation, the judge did not set a sentencing date but scheduled a hearing for February 12. The national government has earmarked P150 million to support Boracay Islands continuing environmental restoration and to safeguard the world-class tourist destinations coastal and marine ecosystem, a party-list lawmaker said on Saturday. The fresh funding is a go, even if the government temporarily runs on a reenacted budget next year, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said. Atienza, a senior deputy minority leader, said the fresh funding is meant to establish the Boracay Island Critical Habitat; put into operation the Boracay Water Quality Management Area; oversee landfills and materials recovery facilities; monitor water and air quality around the island, and support research on environmental pollution. The designated Boracay Island Critical Habitat covers some 750 hectares of forestland and coastal marine areas, said Atienza, a former Environment secretary. A critical habitat is a specific geographic area that contains features essential to the conservation of endangered or threatened species. Boracays endemic species that require special protection and management include flying foxes and marine turtles, Atienza said. He said at least three species of flying foxes inhabit Boracay: the giant golden-crowned flying fox, the giant fruit bat, and the small flying fox. The demarcated critical habitat is mainly in Barangays Balabag and Yapak, where the flying foxes are concentrated, Atienza said.Balabag and Yapak are two of Boracays only three barangays, the third being Manoc-Manoc. The island forms part of the Municipality of Malay in Aklan province. In the case of marine turtles, they may not produce offspring if their natural habitat gets disturbed by too many people around, Atienza said. The lawmaker also stressed the need to renew Boracays severely eroded coral cover. In the past, unchecked diving and snorkeling spoiled the islands natural underwater habitat, he said. Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila, previously backed the six-month shutdown and rehabilitation of Boracay. He even urged President Duterte to extend the environmental recovery plan to include Laguna Lake and Manila Bay. Boracay was reopened last Oct. 26, but an inter-agency task force has restricted to 19,215 the total number of tourists allowed to stay on the island at any given time. Footwear News For the December issue of Vogue Hong Kong, Paris Jackson wore a Burberry one-piece outfit. The ensemble also included a sheer fabric and a circle cutout that appeared on the side of her legs. The actress paired her look with Bulgari jewelry and nude pointed-toe stiletto heels. She styled her hair to the side and let a few strands drape the side of her face. Neutral makeup was a great choice as her outfit deserved all of the attention. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Former Vice President Joe Biden initially refused to run with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a decade ago, but his family ultimately convinced him he had to support an African-American candidate with a real chance of winning, he said Thursday at the University of Utah. Biden, 76, was greeted with a standing ovation as he took the stage amid speculation about whether he will launch his own 2020 campaign for president. He did not directly address the possibility of another run in the speech that marks his final scheduled public event in 2018. Instead, he spoke about the pain of losing his son to brain cancer in 2015 and reminisced about his eight years serving with Obama. Joining the ticket "turned out to be the best decision my family ever made for me," he said with a smile. His son Beau was 46 when he died of a brain tumor in 2015. Joe Biden decided not to run for president the following year despite having assembled a team to run a campaign. "I thought I was best to continue what Barack and I started," he said. Beau Biden, a political figure in his own right as Delaware attorney general, had wanted his father to run for president in 2016, but the elder Biden wasn't ready for the demands of a campaign so soon after his death. Still, he made a promise to his dying son that he wouldn't withdraw from the world. "It was, 'Promise, Dad, you'll stay engaged,' " he said. "Beau, did in a sense, did save me." Biden is expected to make a decision about 2020 after spending time deliberating with his family over the holidays, sources have told The Associated Press. University of Utah professor Mark Matheson moderated the Thursday talk and told reporters he decided not to ask him about 2020 in order to keep the talk focused on education and inspiring students. Biden did not take questions from reporters. During the speech, Biden looked back at his eight years serving with Obama, calling it a time without "one little skinny inch of scandal." Story continues He joked that online memes about his close relationship with the president were all true, except that "he made the first friendship bracelet, not me." Biden, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29, said he was propelled into public life by the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. He served in the Senate for 36 years before becoming vice president. After his tenure ended in January 2017, he released a memoir about his son's fatal illness titled "Promise Me, Dad." Biden has maintained a packed schedule this year, campaigning for Democrats ahead of the midterm elections and taking trips to promote the book. He has done little to refute speculation about a possible presidential run, saying last week in Montana that he'd be "the most qualified person in the country to be president." WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When the Democrats take over the U.S. House of Representatives in three weeks, their first order of business is expected to be a wide-ranging bill about political corruption, voter disenfranchisement and cleaning up campaign finance. Aimed at sending a message, the legislation is unlikely to become law with Republicans still in control of the Senate and the White House. But it will offer guide posts to aggressive oversight to come later in 2019 of Donald Trump and his presidency. An outline of the bill, titled H.R. 1, shows it would require presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns, which Trump has refused to do despite decades of precedent. Members of Congress would be barred from serving on the boards of for-profit corporations under the bill. It would also overhaul the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, create a new ethical code for the U.S. Supreme Court and strengthen oversight of lobbyists and foreign agents. The bill calls for automatic, early and online national voter registration, as well as an end to partisan gerrymandering of House voting districts, the practice of changing electoral district boundaries to favor a party. Political groups would have to disclose their donors. The largely ineffective Federal Election Commission would be overhauled. Disclosure rules for digital political ads would be harmonized with rules for broadcast ads. "H.R. 1 is about putting a positive set of reforms out there to fix some of the systemic problems we have," said Democratic Representative John Sarbanes, who is leading the effort. "We want to make a declaration early that we bring a different cultural standard," he told Reuters. The bill is expected to be introduced soon after the 2019-20 Congress convenes on Jan. 3, with hearings to follow. House committees will prepare separate segments of the bill for a House floor vote, due within the first 100 days of 2019. U.S. voters ended Republican control of the 435-member House in congressional elections on Nov. 6 and handed it to Democrats. Republicans expanded their majority hold on the 100-seat Senate. Winning control of investigative committees, House Democrats are preparing to probe Trump's businesses, his taxes and allegations of corruption among top administration officials. House committees involved in crafting H.R. 1 are expected to examine oversight themes in the early weeks of 2019. While the bill addresses long-standing problems in Washington, House Democrats say that Trump's presidency has increased the need to strengthen democratic institutions. (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Frances Kerry) By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A rash of bomb threats were emailed on Thursday to hundreds of businesses, public offices and schools across the United States and Canada demanding payment in cryptocurrency, but none of the threats appeared credible, law enforcement officials said. Initial jitters sparked by the wave of awkwardly worded messages, threatening to set off explosives unless $20,000 were delivered in bitcoin, subsided within hours as some local authorities began referring to the electronic extortion notes as a scam. One email targeting a St. Louis-area middle school was traced by local investigators to an internet protocol, or IP, address in Moscow, the sheriff's office in Lincoln County, Missouri said. But U.S. government sources speaking on background to Reuters said that such findings were inconclusive and that federal investigators doubted that Russians or the Russian government were involved. The officials cautioned that such an IP address does not prove it came from Russia because the sender could have electronically laid a false trail to cover up its true origin. They suggested instead that the flurry of emails were part of a wide-scale digital hoax. The security scare began shortly before 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) as police departments in major U.S. cities coast to coast began reporting on Twitter that numerous local businesses had received the menacing emails. Six hours into the security scare, no actual explosives had been found, authorities said. But the threats prompted brief evacuations of a Toronto subway station and a newspaper office in Raleigh, North Carolina. Some public schools and businesses also were evacuated as a precaution. Lincoln County, Missouri, sheriff's spokesman Lieutenant Andy Binder said authorities bused the students from a middle school receiving one of the threats to another campus as a precaution, but the school was later determined to be safe and classes will resume there on Friday. Among other cities where bomb threats were reported by authorities were Washington, New York, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Grand Rapids, Iowa, Denver, Ottawa, and Calgary, Alberta. Several hours after North America was hit, similar email threats were showing up in New Zealand, according to police there. 'SCAM HAPPENING NATIONWIDE' Police at the University of Wisconsin in Madison tweeted an image taken of one email threat found to be circulating that said in part: "Good day. There is an explosive device (lead azide) in the building where your company is conducted. It is assembled according to my guide. It is compact and it is covered up very carefully. It can not damage the structure of the building, but in case of its explosion you will get many wounded people." The campus police tweet concludes by referring to the emails as "a SCAM happening nationwide." The FBI and other federal agencies were alerted to the email chains, officials said. "We are aware of threats being made in cities across the country," Rukelt Dalberis, an FBI spokesman in Los Angeles, told Reuters separately. "We remain in touch with our law enforcement partners. We encourage the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that could represent a threat." A similar wave of emailed hoax bomb threats in December 2015 prompted officials in Los Angeles to close the city's public school system, which national law enforcement officials later criticized as an overreaction. Two weeks previously, a married couple inspired by Islamic State had killed 14 people at a California county office building in a shooting rampage. A teenager with dual Israeli-U.S. citizenship was arrested in Israel in March 2017 for making bomb threats to more than 100 Jewish organizations and Jewish community centers in dozens of U.S. states over several months. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles, Makini Brice in Washington, Gina Cherelus and Gabriella Borter in New York and Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool) bitcoin cryptocurrency tax IRS Every time you convert Bitcoin to anything, be it goods or services, other cryptocurrencies, or even tax payments, it might be a taxable event, depending on your local regulations. Its not something a lot of cryptonaughts think about when carrying out their daily lives, but potential penalties can be steep for tax evasion. Node40 is a company that originally started out hosting Dash Masternodes for a fee and they still do this but then realized that their background as coders could potentially help people in the US blockchain industry accurately assess their cryptocurrency tax liabilities. Node40 is one of the few providers in the space, having developed what amounts to a QuickBooks for blockchain tokens. CCN spoke to Perry Woodin and Sean Ryan, the co-founders of the company, recently about the significant increase in demand for their product since Bitcoin blew up last year and many thousands of Americans, potentially millions, entered the cryptocurrency market for the first time. In Seans view, there is a woeful lack of education among cryptonaughts as regards their tax liabilities and burden to the US government. If people are transacting in digital currency, its important that anyone understands that theres a tax obligation on their part. Whether theyre paying their taxes or whether theyre day traders trying to make it big in the crypto world it doesnt matter. Any time youre interacting with digital currency, its important that people understand there is a tax liability. The software allows a user to easily integrate with the crypto exchanges and wallets that they use, determines the values that were traded and what needs to be reported. It streamlines the process for the users, who may otherwise find it very difficult to determine what amounts were actually traded. Ryan believes that the 1099-K forms that traders will be receiving from exchanges in the next tax season will be quite inaccurate, not telling the whole story, and that his company can help people by enabling them to have a much more detailed picture of their trade history. Perry Woodin said of the forms: Story continues Many people are going to be receiving 1099-K forms this year from the exchanges theyve interacted with, and we know that those forms are likely not going to be accurate. Our system will be able to deliver a more accurate number, and people are likely to need that. The QuickBooks of the Blockchain World IRS bitcoin tax crypto Node40 has three product tiers, and users who just want the basic service can sign up for free. Users who need more advanced features can pay $750 a year, although right now its 50% off. They believe that demand for their product is only going to increase. Unlike most blockchain industries, they say, tax accounting software doesnt rely on market performance. If Bitcoin goes down, people need them. If the Bitcoin price goes up, people need them even more. Sean Ryan said that Node40 had seen a serious increase this year in the number of professional accountants and law firms who have had requests from their own clients on how to deal with cryptocurrency and the government. He said, While we are not lawyers or accountants, weve developed a product that serves them. What were seeing is an increase in CPAs and law firms who want to see how we can fit into their world. On the subject of Ohios tax collectors accepting Bitcoin in lieu of fiat payment, Ryan said that it actually creates a federally taxable event for the user, so the user has to consider whether they are saving enough in fees to pay in that method to offset the obligations that might be created at the federal level. Ohio doesnt care, he said, pointing out that in some cases it could be beneficial to spend cryptos in that manner. This is a good year because if I receive Bitcoin from my customers paying my January invoices in Bitcoin, I am receiving it at a very high value. Say $8,000. Now the price of Bitcoin is plummeting throughout 2018, Im continuously getting less and less value. So the cost basis of what Im receiving changes. Every time I receive it, it has a different value. So at the end of the year when it comes time to pay taxes, Im using that Bitcoin that Ive received at all different cost bases, and Ohio doesnt care, but the federal government certainly cares that Im disposing of Bitcoin now. In a press release put out after our interview which focuses on how 2018 will be the year that a lot of people report crypto losses to offset their other tax liabilities, co-founder Perry Woodin said: It is clear that, with the huge falls in cryptocurrency markets during 2018, many people will be weighing up whether this is a good opportunity to reveal the losses they have suffered. In doing so, they will be looking to take advantage of these losses in order to offset other tax liabilities. Having not reported their crypto activity up to now though, those choosing to reveal losses this year will need to report their crypto positions every year from now on, giving the tax authorities much better visibility of peoples crypto involvement. One thing is for sure: neither cryptocurrency nor the federal government are going away anytime soon, and the IRS has shown a definitive willingness to adapt to the changing times. Ryan and Woodin believe that people will be more willing to pay their taxes if they have an easier means to do so, and that by solving the education gap that intersects taxation and crypto, they will help create a more equitable and sane environment for blockchain entrepreneurs to operate in. Images from Shutterstock The post Bitcoin Tax Confusion Has Accountants Turning to Specialized Software appeared first on CCN. Blippar's app used augmented reality - Blippar The future of Blippar, once one of Britain's brightest tech startup hopes, is hanging in the balance this weekend as it battles to secure a 4m funding lifeline. Fraught negotiations between investors in Blippar, the London-based augmented reality start-up, are set to continue into a third week, according to sources familiar with the situation. Investors including property tycoon Nick Candys Candy Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures and Lansdowne Partners are attempting to resolve a dispute with Khazanah, a state-backed Malaysian investment firm that has blocked a crucial funding worth 4m. One shareholder said on Friday they did not expect anything to happen this side of the weekend. Another source close to investors said things were moving quickly. A third source said they expected any deal to go down to the wire. Khazanahs preference shares grant the fund a veto over any new raise, to prevent their value being diluted. Last week, sources close to Blippar said the company had days not weeks left if it did not raise more money. Administrators have been lined up if the company cannot raise funds, while there is speculation of a pre-pack administration sale to Mr Candy. Nick Candy is a major shareholder in Blippar Credit: Bloomberg Founded in 2011, Blippar has raised $150m (120m) from investors to fund its growth. The companys app uses augmented reality technology, which imposes virtual images over the real world. The start-up runs an augmented reality brand advertising service, but has also invested heavily in artificial intelligence and computer vision technology. Several former and current Blippar employees took to social media to defend the reputation of the company and its founders. Danny Lopez, the companys former operations head, said the start-up had been run by passionate, innovative and decent people, although with the benefit of hindsight things could have been done differently. Several former insiders have privately raised questions about decisions made by the company, including heavy investment into artificial intelligence technology rather than its core augmented reality advertising business. The start-up has burned through cash, losing around 37.5m in the year ending March 2017 for just 5m of revenue. In its last accounts, for 2017, it reported headcount of more than 260, although that number is now said to be around 75. Blippar and Khazanah did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Candy Ventures declined to comment. By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May remonstrated with Jean-Claude Juncker at a Brussels summit on Friday, and the EU chief executive had to placate her after publicly calling Britain's Brexit demands "nebulous". Speaking several hours later, at the end of the two-day meeting, Juncker went out of his way to say he had meant no disrespect to May, whom he called "courageous". "We sympathize with Mrs May," he told a news conference. "I have the highest respect for the British PM." The previous evening, he had told a news conference that British calls for EU help on Brexit were "nebulous" and "vague". Diplomats said other leaders made similar complaints directly to the beleaguered British leader during the talks. Under huge pressure at home as British media on Friday described her largely unsuccessful plea for help from EU leaders as a humiliation, May appeared anxious to make a point to Juncker before a new session in the morning. What they said was not audible, but official video of their exchange as other leaders took their seats showed May agitated while Juncker held her by the arm, shook his head and raised his palm in an apparent effort to calm her down before the Dutch prime minister arrived to interrupt them. May told journalists later on Friday that they had had a "robust discussion" -- "the sort of discussion you're able to have when you have developed a working relationship". The European Commission president had assured her, she said, that what he was describing as nebulous was the "general level of debate" in Britain on Brexit, not her own pitch to leaders. Juncker joked that they had kissed and made up. The chairman of the summit, Donald Tusk, referred to the often stormy debates in the House of Commons and the Conservative party's failed no-confidence vote in May on Wednesday, saying: "We have treated PM May with much greater empathy and respect than some British members of parliament, for sure." May had on Thursday evening appealed to the other 27 national EU leaders for some legally binding amendments to the Brexit deal that she agreed with them just last month but seems unable to get through the UK parliament. But the EU stuck by its refusal to do anything that might water down the so-called "backstop", designed to avoid extensive border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The leaders issued a statement stressing they hoped it would not be used, or only for a very short time. That has failed to satisfy critics of May's plan, who say the backstop opens the risk of Britain being bound by EU trade rules indefinitely, unless the two sides can agree on another way to keep their borders almost totally open. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald, Elizabeth Piper, Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Kevin Liffey) Mission accomplished. Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in effect said this as the House of Representatives under her leadership passed several legislations that promote President Rodrigo Dutertes legacy in his first three years in office. With only a few session days left before the 17th Congress ends on June 30, 2019, the Arroyo-led House processed a total of 1,426 measures since the Third Regular Session of the 17th Congress began on July 23, 2018 and adjourned on Dec. 12, 2018 for a Christmas break. This translates to an average of 35 measures processed each day during the 41 session days. At the adjournment on Dec.13, Speaker Arroyo addressed members of the House to congratulate them on their hard work as the House succeeded in processing all the priority measures of President Dutertea promise Speaker Arroyo made when she was elected to lead her fellow Representatives. My concern is not my legacy as Speaker. My concern is to support President Dutertes legacy in the year that I have as Speaker. And as of yesterday, the House can report with confidence that we have already passed the Presidents entire legislative agenda as he announced in his 2018 State of the Nation Address, Arroyo said. Of the total measures processed, 95 were enacted into law, 16 of which were of national significance and 79 of local import. These include Republic Act 11054, or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a landmark legislation that was based on House Bill 6475. Also enacted was RA 11148, or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act based on HB 5777, which scales up the national and local health and nutrition programs through a strengthened integrated strategy for maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a childs life. Others are RA 11106 or the Filipino Sign Language Act based on HB 7503; RA 11127 or the National Payments Systems Act based on HB 5000; RA 11131 or the Philippine Criminology Act of 2018 based on HB 7191; RA 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act based on HB 6221; RA 11057, or the Personal Property Security Act based on HB 6907; RA 11058, An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards based on HB 64; and RA 11059 or the Retirement Law of the Office of the Ombudsman based on HB 6578. Additionally, 39 more measures were transmitted to the President, awaiting his approval for them to be enacted into laws. The House also ratified a total of 30 bicameral reports during this period. Twenty-six of the reports were of national significance and four were of local import. These include HB 7735 and SB 1998, Revised Agricultural Tariffication Act; HB 7402 and SB 1363, Telecommuting Act; HB 8239 and SB 1477, Positive and Nonviolent Discipline of Children Act; HB 8139 and SB 1431, Tulong-Trabaho Act; HB 5675 and SB 2081, Simulated Birth Rectification Act; HB 8636 and SB 1850, National Integrated Cancer Control Act; HB 6617 and SB 1390, Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act; HB 4113 and SB 1305, Increasing the Maternity Leave to 100 Days; HB 7652 and SB 1636, Mobile Number Portability Act; HB 8374 and SB 1280, Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines and House Joint Resolution 26, which seeks to extend the period of availability of funds intended for victims of Human Rights violations under the Marcos Regime until December 2019. Also pending at the bicameral conference are 22 measures comprising 19 national bills and 3 local bills. The national bills include HB 7449, An Act Appropriating The Sum Of P1,161 Billion as Supplemental Appropriations For Fy 2018 And For Other Purposes which was certified as urgent; HB 8417, Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act; HB 8419, Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act; HB 8637, Regional Investment and Infrastructure Coordinating Hub of Central Luzon; and HB 8715, Philippine Innovation Act. In terms of plenary approval, 228 measures hurdled third and final approval. Of these, 85 were national bills, 141 were local bills, one was a resolution of both Houses, and one was a joint resolution. Among the national bills approved on third reading is HB 8169, Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Act which provides for a national budget of P3.757 trillion for fiscal year 2019. Meanwhile, other bills of national significance that hurdled third reading are: HB 7512, Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI) Act; HB 7437, Anti-Privatization of Public Hospitals, Health Facilities and Health Services Act; HB 8143, Tourism Sites Accessibility Act; HB 7774, Bill of Rights of Taxi, Tourist Car Transport Service and Vehicle for Hire Passengers; and HB 8322, Mandatory Automatic Headlights On for Motorcycles Act. Similarly, the House approved on third reading the draft federal charter or Resolution of Both Houses 15, proposing the revision of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, as well as House Joint resolution 32, extending the availability of the 2018 appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlays to Dec. 31, 2019. The House also approved on second reading 37 measures consisting of 25 national bills and 12 local bills. Among the national bills approved on second reading were: HB 8727, Family Tree Planting Act; HB 8682, Transnational Higher Education Act; HB 8794, Safe Street, Public and Online Spaces Act; HB 8791, Collective Investment Schemes Law; HB 8785, Philippine Indigenous or Traditional Writing Systems Act; and HB 8733, Comprehensive Nuclear Regulation Act.The House likewise rescinded the approval of one national bill and consigned one national bill to the archives. Finally, the House adopted a total of 44 resolutions consisting of 32 regular resolutions; seven concurrent resolutions; three resolutions on inquiries, in aid of legislation; and two resolutions of both Houses. The Resolutions of Both Houses adopted during this period were RBH 16, informing President Duterte that both chambers of Congress convened in a joint session to consider the request of the President for the further extension of the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao for one year, and RBH 17, extending the declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao for a period of one year from Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019. Meanwhile, House leaders lauded the strong and competent leadership of Speaker Arroyo in steering the House to accomplish so much in just a short period of time, while beating the odds, which is indeed an unprecedented feat to beat. They said Arroyos leadership provided inspiration and clear direction to the House in pursuing priority measures since she took over last July 23, 2018. Rep. Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, praised Speaker Arroyo for providing inspiration and good example to House Members which were essential in the timely approval of vital measures, including tax bills that will generate additional revenues for the government. Good leaders like Speaker Arroyo are trailblazers who make a path for others to follow, said Suansing. Suansing said Arroyo exemplified effective leadership through the following traits and policies: 1) she wants everyone to be on time; 2) she is workaholic; 3) she is a hands on and supportive leader; 4) she wants everything done right away and refuses any delay; and 6) she personally monitors every bill because she believes that what is monitored gets effectively done or finished. Suansing recalled that Speaker Arroyo closely followed the hearings of the Committee on Ways and Means on vital tax measures which were eventually approved in the committee and finally in the plenary. These include : House Bill 8400, entitled An Act Establishing the Fiscal Regime for the Mining Industry; HB 8453, entitled An Act Instituting Reforms in Real Property Valuation and Assessment in the Philippines, Reorganizing the Bureau of Local Government Finance, and Appropriating Funds Therefor; HB 8554, entitled Granting Amnesty On All Unpaid Internal Revenue Taxes Imposed By The National Government For Taxable Year 2017 And Prior Years; HB 8645, entitled Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act; HB 8677, entitled An Act Increasing The Excise Tax Rate on Tobacco Products; and HB 8618, entitled Increasing and Restructuring the Excise Tax Rates on Alcohol Products. As an economist, Speaker Arroyo knows the importance of these measures in helping our economy. The tax measures are vital in raising more revenues for the government to fund its pro-people and pro-development programs. In addition, HB 8618 and 8677 will help fund the Universal Health Care Program of the government while at the same time reduce consumption of sin products which are detrimental to public health, by increasing their excise taxes, said Suansing. Describing further the Speakers brand of leadership, Suansing quoted former PepsiCos CEO Indra Nooyi which said tht that Leadership is hard to define and good leadership is even harder. But if you can get people to follow you get the ends of the earth, you are a good leader. Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said Arroyos no-nonsense leadership style is what is needed in these trying times. Barbers, chairman of the House dangerous drugs committee, said Arroyo managed to effectively lead the House members despite their big number and different backgrounds. Its not easy to handle 300 House Members with different opinions and interests; but with diligence and motivation to pass the important legislation needed by President Duterte, all well-meaning Members are easily swayed and convinced to support the call of Speaker Arroyo to pass and approve these important legislative measures, said Barbers. Rep. Gus Tambunting of Paranaque City, chairman of the Committee on games and amusements, lauded Speaker Arroyo for remaining committed and dedicated to fulfilling her mandate as the leader of the House. Speaker Arroyo has stayed true to her word in focusing on the priority bills of President Duterte, as she, being a former President very well knows how important it is for Congress to support the President for anything to get done. In only half a year, the House has done so much under her good leadership, and this is something we can be proud of, said Tambunting. Committee on agriculture and food Chairman Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr. of ANAC IP party-list said Speaker Arroyo exemplified her trademark sense of hard work even during the hearings and deliberations on the 2019 national budget. The House Members deliberated overnight on the budgets of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of National Defense (DND), and Speaker Arroyo stayed with the lawmakers. Then the next day, she attended a committee hearing at 9am. Thats how hardworking and professional she is, said Panganiban. Panganiban said the House is expected to accomplish more when session resumes in January. For now, he said the House can proudly say it has done its part in passing the priority legislative measures of President Duterte through the competent leadership of Speaker Arroyo. We salute Speaker Arroyo for effectively leading the House in passing all the measures in the priority agenda of President Duterte. Such an unprecedented feat to beat, he said. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - If Britons would just make their minds up about what they want for Brexit, the European Union will help make it happen, one EU leader said in a light-hearted tweet as a pre-Christmas summit got under way. "Brexit Christmas wish: finally decide what you really want and Santa will deliver," Lithuania's ever pithy president, Dalia Grybauskaite, tweeted as Prime Minister Theresa May began 24 hours of meetings with her 27 EU counterparts in Brussels. Having agreed a treaty last month to ease Britain's path out of the bloc in March, the EU was exasperated that May failed to get the package through parliament this week and has come to the summit seeking tweaks that they show little sign of giving her. May survived a confidence vote by her Conservative Party on Wednesday, but a mutiny by more than a third of her lawmakers indicated parliament was heading toward deadlock over Brexit. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; editing by Martyn Herman) By Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said a second Brexit referendum is now the most likely outcome because plans to leave the European Union face deadlock in parliament. Less than four months before Britain is due to leave the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May called off a parliamentary vote on her deal with Brussels this week after admitting it would be heavily defeated. May's attempt to win assurances from European leaders on her Brexit deal was cast at home as a humiliating failure after they rebuffed pleas for fresh concessions on the so-called Northern Irish backstop. "Our present situation is unique in modern British politics," Blair said in a speech in London. "The government is not in control - not of the agenda, not of the events and not of the outcome. "What seemed a few months ago unlikely is now above the 50 percent likelihood," he added. "We will go back to the people." Addressing EU leaders in Brussels, Blair said they should offer to reform to make it more attractive for Britain to remain, including making changes to immigration rules, a key driver behind the vote to leave the bloc. An offer by the EU to change would show "that the political leadership of Europe and Britain had listened to the underlying concerns of those who voted (for) Brexit, not disrespecting the concerns but meeting them in a way which is not damaging". Blair has repeatedly called for reversing Brexit since the 2016 referendum, echoing other critics including French President Emmanuel Macron, who have suggested Britain could still change its mind. The former prime minister, who won three general elections for Labour, remains a deeply divisive figure in Britain for joining the United States in the Iraq conflict in 2003 after the invasion was found to be based on flawed intelligence. Blair said in most other situations, such as the time between engagement and marriage or accepting a job offer and taking it up, people can change their mind. "If our knowledge of reality in any of these situations changed, in any of these situations would we really abhor the prospect of reconsideration?" "Given all that has happened, the undemocratic thing is to deny people a final say." (Editing by Stephen Addison) Santiago (AFP) - British Golden Globe race sailor Susie Goodall -- who was rescued from the Southern Ocean by a Hong Kong-flagged ship after her yacht lost its mast in a huge storm -- arrived back on dry land in Chile on Friday. Relatives were waiting for Goodall in Punta Arenas, her sponsor DHL announced. "I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to all those involved in my rescue and to DHL for supporting me throughout my journey," Goodall said in a statement. "Although I wasn't planning on ending up in Chile, it's great to be here now." Goodall was brought back to Punta Arenas by the cargo ship Tian Fu, which plucked her from the stormy seas earlier this month. The youngest competitor in the race and the only woman, the 29-year-old was briefly knocked unconscious when towering waves upended her yacht DHL Starlight in early December, tearing off its mast and trashing much of her equipment. At that time, she had spent 157 days at sea, sailing about 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) in the Golden Globe Race -- a grueling solo circumnavigation of the world with no modern technology save communications equipment. She had done about two thirds of the race when she ran into trouble trying to navigate the southern Pacific's notorious Roaring Forties. In text messages to race organizers, she said: "The boat is destroyed. I can't make up a jury rig. The only thing left is the hull and deck which remain intact. "Taking a hammering! Wondering what on Earth I'm doing out here." The race participants set off in July from Les Sables-d'Olonne on the west coast of France. The route takes competitors south through the Atlantic and eastward -- passing South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, Australia's Cape Leeuwin and Chile's Cape Horn -- before heading back up through the Atlantic to France. The first boats are expected back in April next year. CBS secretly reached a $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku to keep her quiet about her complaints of sexual harassment by one of the networks leading actors, Michael Weatherly, according to a New York Times report published Thursday. The harassment reportedly occurred while Dushku, 37, was contracted to appear in three episodes of the networks prime-time show Bull, in which Weatherly plays the lead role. There were also plans for Dushku to continue working on the show as a regular cast member, according to the draft of an investigators report obtained by the Times. The actress told investigators looking into misconduct at CBS that Weatherly, who rose to fame starring in the networks hit drama NCIS, made inappropriate comments to her in front of cast and crew members. The alleged harassment included Weatherly making a remark about her legs, saying he wanted to bend her over his leg and spank her and suggesting he wanted to have a threesome with Dushku. Dushku confronted Weatherly about his behavior, according to the Times. Weatherly then sent a text message to CBS Television Studios President David Stapf. Later, Dushku was written out of Bull, which the actress believes was done in retaliation for speaking out about the harassment. Through mediation, Dushku and the network reached a secret settlement of $9.5 million in January. The amount was what she wouldve been paid if she stayed on the show for four seasons, according to the Times. Details of the confidential settlement were revealed during an investigation into allegations of forced oral sex and unwanted groping by former CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves. That investigation also looked into misconduct across the network. She told investigators her story, apparently for the first time, after the settlement was reached. Youre all I have at this point, she said, according to the Times. My story is true, and its really affected me, and I cant talk about it. Story continues Weatherly apologized to Dushku in a statement to the Times, saying he was mortified that his jokes and humor offended her. After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate, and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza, he said. Dushku has appeared in hit shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Dollhouse. Dushku spoke out amid the Me Too movement when she revealed that a stuntman coordinator molested her when she was 12 and working on the 1994 thriller True Lies. Also emerging during the Me Too movement is CBS history of alleged harassment. In addition to Moonves ousting, former CBS News host Charlie Rose was fired from the network after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault. CBS also terminated former 60 Minutes producer Jeff Fager after a New Yorker report accused him of threatening a CBS reporter looking into sexual assault claims. Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website. Related Coverage Dozens More Women Say Charlie Rose Sexually Harassed Them: Report '60 Minutes' Chief Jeff Fager Ousted Amid Allegations Of Inappropriate Conduct Les Moonves Attempted To Keep An Assault Accuser Quiet, NYT Reveals NYT: CBS Paid $5 Million In Settlement Over 60 Minutes Creators Alleged Sexual Assault Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced Friday that Mick Mulvaney, the administration's top budget official, will serve as acting White House chief of staff taking over a daunting task of managing a president who doesn't like to be managed. Mulvaney, 51, director of the Office of Management and Budget, will take over the high-profile and difficult job from John Kelly, who is expected to leave by the end of the year. The president said in a tweet that Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff. "Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration," Trump said in a tweet Friday, ending days of speculation about who would fill the position. "I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Mulvaney, a former South Carolina congressman, will have to accommodate a boss who likes to stage events on a moment's notice, often overrides aides' advice, and makes policy and staff announcements by tweet. Trump has made the chief of staff "a more difficult job than it's ever been," said Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution who specializes in White House staffing. Chris Whipple, author of "The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency," said, "Trump is a president for whom focus and discipline are anathema" yet those are the very qualities any chief of staff needs to instill in any administration. "That's why it may be Mission Impossible," Whipple said. Trump and aides said for days that the president was close to a decision, with candidates including presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney, and former campaign aide David Bossie. "Really good ones," Trump said this week. "Terrific people. Mostly well known, but terrific people." One candidate for the job New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie issued a statement Friday saying now is not the right time for me or my family to undertake this serious assignment." Story continues The selection process began Saturday after Trump announced that Kelly would be leaving by the end of the year. A day later, however, Trump's favorite for the job Nick Ayers, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence turned down the presidential job and said he planned to leave the administration instead. The coming year will present new challenges for any chief of staff, given ongoing investigations of the administration, the Democratic takeover of the U.S. House, and Trump's tendency to chart his own course. Just two of the outside pressures: Special counsel Robert Mueller continues to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election. And federal prosecutors in New York have implicated Trump in a scheme to pay hush money to women who claim to have had affairs with him, with the goal of keeping them quiet during election season and evading campaign finance laws. Then there are the internal pressures that created problems for Trump's first two chiefs of staff, Reince Priebus and John Kelly. Both tried to give structure of Trump's schedule and restrict access to him, officials said. But Trump used his cellphone to reach out to friends and informal advisers, allowing them to go around the chief of staff to make their cases directly to the president. The results included sudden schedule or policy changes (and leaks to the news media). Trump will be the first president to have three chiefs of staff in less than two years, assuming the new person starts before the Jan. 20 anniversary of his 2017 inauguration. "The chief of staff job is very difficult in a normal time," said David Cohen, political scientist professor at the University of Akron. "Being chief of staff to Donald Trump is extremely challenging ... An impossible job became even more impossible." A good chief of staff tells presidents hard truths and things they don't want to hear, Cohen and other analysts said, but Trump has not always been receptive to that sort of thing. Trump has told aides he wants someone with a more political bent, both to cope with the Democratic House and to help prepare for the president's 2020 re-election campaign. "It's not enough to have just a 2020 campaign manager," Whipple said. The chief of staff should be "someone who can help you govern effectively." Trump has pushed back on the idea that some people don't want the job, saying he has a wealth of candidates for what has been, traditionally, one of the most sought-after jobs in government. Boris Epshteyn, former special assistant to Trump at the White House, said many are eager to take the job, and that Trump is "a great boss to work for and with." The president "gives those working for him a lot of leeway," said Epshteyn, now chief political analyst for Sinclair Broadcast Group. "It's a job many people would be honored to have." Previous White House chiefs of staff have gone on to bigger and better things: Future Vice President Dick Cheney served as chief of staff for President Gerald Ford. Future CIA director Leon Panetta worked for President Bill Clinton. James Baker, chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan, went on to be Treasury secretary and secretary of State (before returning to the chief's job for his long-term patron, President George H.W. Bush). Trump's men, Priebus and Kelly, probably haven't had their reputations enhanced by their White House service, analysts said, something their potential replacements will have to consider. "You can't ignore what two chiefs of staff went through," Dunn Tenpas said. She joked that Trump might as well change the title. "He's not hiring a chief of staff in the traditional sense," she said. "Just call it 'aide to the president.'" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Donald Trump names Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China will temporarily suspend additional 25 percent tariffs on U.S.-made vehicles and auto parts starting Jan. 1, 2019, the finance ministry said on Friday, following a truce in a trade war between the world's two largest economies. The Ministry of Finance, in a statement on its website, also said it hopes China and the United States can speed up negotiations to remove all additional tariffs on each other's goods as it reduces tariffs from 40 percent to the 15 percent level that was levied before the current trade fight began. The suspension will last for three months. U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the announcement. "China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended U.S. Tariff Hikes," Trump said in a tweet. "U.S. is doing very well. China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" Shortly after the Chinese announcement, Tesla Inc said it had cut prices on its Model S and Model X vehicles in China. "This is a good signal that China and the United States are on track to solve the trade war," said Wang Cun, director of the China Automobile Dealers Association's import committee. "Car makers might be ordering a large number of imported cars now." Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Motor Co's global operations, also welcomed Beijing's announcement, noting that the U.S. automaker exported nearly 50,000 U.S.-built vehicles to China in 2017. "We applaud both governments for working together constructively to reduce trade barriers and open markets," Hinrichs said. Ford shares rose 2 percent on Friday. In July, China hiked its tariffs on U.S. autos and parts after the United States raised its tariffs on Chinese vehicles and parts to 27.5 percent. Automakers do not expect the United States to immediately cut its higher tariffs on Chinese imports in response to China's move. Story continues Auto exports between the two countries are relatively small. China exported 53,300 vehicles to the U.S. market last year and imported 280,208 U.S. manufactured vehicles, according to data from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), a government-affiliated think-tank. In contrast, in the first 11 months of this year, China produced 25.3 million cars, down 2.6 percent from the same period last year, industry figures showed. Wang said car makers in China that imported cars from the United States had seen a 30 percent decline in volume in the first 10 months of 2018, but the tariff cut would bring imports back to previous levels. German automaker BMW said it welcomes the temporary reduction of tariffs on vehicles imported to China from the United States, adding it is in talks with partners in China how to respond. The financial impact by fees in China for cars imported from the United States is expected to amount to almost 300 million euros ($338 million) for the BMW Group in 2018, the company has said. The latest announcement on the planned tariff suspension followed China's first major purchase of U.S. soybeans since Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping's landmark talks on trade in Argentina on Dec. 1. The tariff suspension and soybean purchase are early signs that the bitter trade war between China and the United States may be starting to thaw. In Argentina, Trump and Xi agreed to a truce that delayed the planned Jan. 1 U.S. increase of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods while they negotiate a trade deal. China's tariff cut was communicated earlier this week during a phone call between Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a Trump administration official said. China will now suspend 25 percent tariffs on 144 U.S. vehicle and auto part items and 5 percent tariffs on 67 auto items between Jan. 1 and March 31, the Chinese finance ministry said. (Reporting by Ryan Woo, Yilei Sun, Min Zhang and Lusha Zhang in Beijing and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Grant McCool) Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Friday blamed the family of a 7-year-old migrant girl for her death in U.S. custody, saying the group never should have tried to come to the U.S. without authorization. Nielsen said Jakelin Caal Maquins death was heart-wrenching and said her heart goes out to the childs family. But she also used the opportunity to argue against migrants and asylum-seekers making the journey to the U.S. You know, this is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey, Nielsen said on Fox & Friends. This family chose to cross illegally. The girl, whose identity was revealed Friday morning, came from Guatemala with her father in a group of 163 migrants, according to DHS. She died from shock and dehydration roughly 24 hours after being brought to a hospital, the Washington Post first reported. DHS faced a flurry of condemnation after news broke of Jakelins death late Thursday. In multiple statements, the agency argued it had done everything it could to prevent Jakelins death in the relatively brief time she was in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. On Dec. 6, Jakelin, her father and the rest of their group went to a closed port of entry to cross illegally into the U.S. They then turned themselves in to Border Patrol agents and were taken into custody in New Mexico. A Customs and Border Protection official told reporters that the child initially appeared well and her father signed a form stating she had no significant health problems. A Guatemalan official told Buzzfeed News that the form was in English and the father, who speaks a Mayan language, may not have understood Border Patrol agents explanations. They waited several hours to be transported to Lordsburg, New Mexico, and had access to water and restrooms in the meantime, officials said. During the three-hour bus ride, Jakelin began to vomit and suffer seizures. She had a fever of nearly 106 degrees, according to DHS. Her father said the child had not been able to consume water or food for days, the agency said in a statement. Story continues Jakelin was then taken to a hospital by helicopter. She died there on Dec. 8. Nielsen told Fox & Friends that there were complications with providing care to the child because she was part of a large group far from the processing location, again turning the blame around on the migrants. We gave immediate care, Nielsen said. We will continue to look into the situation, but again, I cannot stress how dangerous this journey is when migrants choose to come here illegally. Although details about Jakelins familys specific circumstances are not yet known, immigrant rights advocates have argued for years that border enforcement strategies drive migrants to take more dangerous routes to reach the U.S. The number of migrant deaths rose by about 20 percent from 1998 to 2016, while the number of those captured crossing illegally plummeted 70 percent during the same period, ProPublica reported last year. A significant source of the problem is the effort by authorities to deter migrants from using easy-to-cross, hard-to-police urban corridors, and instead push them into barren, isolated terrain, the outlet wrote. This year, asylum-seekers trying to ask for help at ports of entry have faced increasingly long wait times, sometimes being told they must wait in Mexico for weeks or months. Those policies contribute to people trying to get to the U.S. through other means, Amnesty International Tactical Campaigns Manager Ashley Houghton said in a statement. What wouldnt you do to save your familys life? This childs father made a dangerous journey spanning almost 2,000 miles in hopes of ensuring safety and security for himself and his daughter, she said. When ports of entry are all but closed, forcing asylum seekers to wait for weeks just to seek protection, families will be forced into taking more dangerous routes to reach the United States. Related Coverage Quakers, Rabbis, Imams Protest For Migrant Rights Because 'Love Knows No Borders' Donald Trump Claims Money Saved By New NAFTA Deal Will Pay For The Border Wall 7-Year-Old Migrant Girl Dies Of Dehydration In Border Patrol Custody Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Gabriela Baczynska and Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders assured Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday that the Brexit treaty she agreed last month but is struggling to get through UK parliament should not bind Britain forever to EU rules. The leaders, meeting over dinner in Brussels, were responding to a plea from May, 24 hours after she survived a bid in her own party to oust her. She sought help to overcome resistance at home to the treaty's "Irish backstop" - an insurance clause obliging Britain to follow EU trade regulations until a better way is found to avoid a damaging "hard border" across Ireland. The meeting seemed only to stall for time until after Christmas, when May must win parliamentary approval for her deal or face a risk of a chaotic Brexit in March. Many diplomats expect further high-stakes talks in the new year. It is questionable the EU has done enough to ensure May can win a vote due within five weeks in a House of Commons bitterly divided over how and even whether to leave the European Union. But it was not clear what more Brussels might offer because they cannot be sure what London still wants, EU officials said. In a break with the norm of the past couple of years when May's statements to the other 27 leaders have been met largely with silence, she was peppered with demands for close to an hour to spell out more clearly what she was seeking. Leaders all ruled out new, legally binding accords to amend the package. Some EU officials also ruled out any further movement. Leaders quashed a line in an earlier draft of their statement which had held out the prospect that further "assurances" could be given in January. British officials said they were still holding out hope for further help. "Trust me," May had told her peers, according to a British official. Warning of the risk of an "accidental" failure to get a deal, she said a majority in parliament wanted to avoid that but needed assurances the backstop was not a "trap". One person briefed on the exchanges said May was "grilled" by leaders. "Everybody asked: What exactly do you want?," he said. "She had no solid answers." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others ruled out any reopening of last month's treaty aimed at easing Britain out of the bloc on March 29. May pulled a parliamentary ratification vote this week facing a heavy defeat. If she cannot turn that around, Britain could crash out chaotically into legal limbo. It could also ask to stop the clock or, just possibly, hold a new referendum to reverse its 2016 vote to leave - something May herself has insisted her government will not do. BACKSTOP PLEDGE "It is the Union's firm determination to work speedily on a subsequent agreement that establishes by Dec. 31, 2020, alternative arrangements, so that the backstop will not need to be triggered," the 27 EU leaders said after hearing May out. The date refers to the end of a status-quo transition period when a new EU-UK free trade pact is supposed to take effect. "If the backstop were nevertheless to be triggered, it would apply temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement that ensures that a hard border is avoided," the statement added, before concluding: "The backstop would only be in place for as long as strictly necessary." For now, that assurance of what is already obvious in the treaty seems unlikely to appease its British opponents. But EU diplomats said leaders were unwilling to go further. "Our British friends have to tell us what they want," said EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker. "We often find ourselves in a nebulous, vague debate and it is time we got clarity." Diplomats said May indicated she would want to come back for a second bite of "assurances" with "legal force" and some said they would be willing to listen and try to accommodate her. But leaders also warned that the EU was prepared for Britain to leave without a deal rather than to risk unraveling its own system of close integration: "We have postponed the showdown moment. It will come back in January," one EU diplomat said. "There is little we can actually do to save the deal -- if it falls it's because there is no will in the UK parliament." May won Wednesday's party ballot among Conservative lawmakers 200-117 but the size of the vote against her deepened divisions. Victory also came at a price - May promised she would step down by the next election scheduled for 2022. (Additional reporting by Kate Holton, Kylie MacLellan, William James and Paul Sandle in London and Elizabeth Piper, Jan Strupczewski, Alissa de Carbonnel, Michel Rose and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Writing by Alastair Macdonald, Editing by David Stamp and Sonya Hepinstall) Predominantly Christian Philippines, a nation of 106 million multi-ethnic people, begins tonight the celebrated nine-day Midnight Masses in Aglipayan and Catholic churches from Batanes down to the Christian towns in Mindanao. Christians gather in their respective parishes to celebrate the birth of Jesus, that moment, in the words of Roman Catholic Archbishop Diartmuid Martin when the God who had existed before all ages took on human flesh for our salvation. Theologians say God took on human flesh and taught the believers what it meant to be human: the Christmas story getting past a fascinating fairy tale: a wonderful story of simplicity set in the bleak and austere beauty of a cold winters night nearly 8,800 kms away from this Land of the Morning. Earlier on, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle reminded the Catholic faithful of the true essence of the Midnight Masses, saying these are expressions of filial devotion that prepare the faithful as they receive Christ in their lives. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also underlined to the young Filipinos that they must put God in their friendship because the Midnight Masses were for worship and not for courtship. Aglipayan and Catholic priestsfrom Gonzaga in Cagayan to Paoay and Pinili in Ilocos Norte down to Munoz City in Nueva Ecija, Binalonan in Pangasinan to Moncada and Gerona in Tarlac as well as Camalig in Albay and Minglanilla in Cebu and the other Christian towns in the countrywill intone yet once more the significance and message of the Midnight Masses which culminate on the eve of Christmas. There will be those who talk of the simplicity the shepherds displayed, the first to go to Jesus in the manger and encounter, according to Christians, the worlds Redeemer, without even saying transeamus usque Bethlehem. At the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, the parish priest Fr. Jaime Padilla has been talking about the Holy Year of Mercy and Compassion, wishing everyone should be able to welcome into their lives the mercy of God that Jesus had given to the faithful. Priests, Aglipayans and Catholics, are one in saying while the Christmas story is captivatingly engrossing, there is something, the inroads of technology despite, that makes believers stop and think and realize that life is deeper than Yuletides commercialized portrayal. And the cold winds from the Mongolian steppes, which have started to be felt in this tropical country in mid September, have been an apt reminder that before much too long the Church bells would start chiming the Midnight Masses. In some streets of historic San Juan City, particularly Gilmore, Ortigas Avenue, Pinaglabanan and F. Blumentritt, including the square fronting the Agora Public Market, the colors have become a reminder that Yuletide indeed is here. Christmas songs as well have taken the night atmospherelike the song Joy to the World, whose lyrics were written in 1719 by English hymn writer and theologian Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Joy to the World, the Lord is come!/ Let earth receive her King;/ Let every heart prepare Him room,/ And Heaven and nature sing,/ And Heaven and nature sing,/ And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.// Elsewhere in the city, the Tagalog Christmas song Pasko Na Naman is being sung by young boys and girls in front of lantern-decorated houses. Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw./ Paskong nagdaan, tila ba kung kailan lang./ Ngayon ay Pasko, dapat pasalamatan./ Ngayon ay Pasko, tayo ay mag-awitan.//(Its Christmas once again, the days roll by fast./ The past Christmas, twas like it had just passed by./ Now that its Christmas, only proper we give thanks./ Now that its Christmas, lets sing carols.//) As in many other Christian towns of this Southeast Asian republic, discovered for Europe by Ferdinand Magellan on March 16, 1521, San Juan City has its share of lanterns and carols in the runup to the celebration of Midnight Masses.Exotic foods at home after the Midnight Mass or the Misa de Gallo, the mass of the Roosterfollowing nine successive night masses in Church will enrich plates of Filipino homes. On the front yards of the Catholic churcheslike the Santuario del Sto. Cristo in Kabayanan and the St. John the Baptist Church near the City Halland the other churches, rice cakesthe native bibingka and other home-made cakes and steaming cups of chocolate and coffee are sold to those attending the masses. Many say Yuletide in this countryone of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia, the other being East Timoris a mixture of Western and native Filipino traditions. Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, sending Christmas cards, and singing carols have all been inherited from the cultures of the West although these have been adapted to fit the nature and character of the Christian Filipino. Perhaps not as many attend the first to the eighth nightor dawnmasses, but the ninth which falls on Christmas Eve, one of the traditions most Filipino families celebrate, is on the main a night without sleep and a continuing celebration sliding right into Christmas Day, when, ironically, dishing out of Christmas carols become already anti-climactic. Some say as Dec. 24 dawns, the last Mass of Simbang Gabicalled Miatinis in many Ilocano towns and Misa de Gallo among Cebuanos in Central Philippines and in Mindanaois attended by the elderly, those in mid-life and even the young ones. In many towns, preparation begins for Noche Buena, a family feast that takes place after midnight, where near relatives and close friends are welcome. Plates of rich foodsserved often in buffet styleare aplenty on the covered dining table, including, but not limited to, lechon (pan-fried roast pork); kare-kare (oxtail stew in peanut butter sauce); gupi or igado; mechado; rellenong manok (baked stuffed chicken); pinakbet; crispy pata; pata tim; fried prawns and other sea foods which make a fishermans platter; pancit; barbecue; rice; adobo; cakes (Western and native rice cakes), lumpia (spring rolls) and fruits in season. There are also bottles of basi, the fermented sugar cane juice, among the Ilocanos, or tapuy, tuba and lambanog in other regions and even bottles of imported hard drinks. Not far from the Noche Buena table, the lyrics of the song O Holy Nightin some houses the version of Korean So Hyang is listened toare being wafted: O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,/ It is the night of the dear Saviors birth./ Long lay the world in sin and error pining./ Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth// Given the Christian orientation of nearly 93 percent of the 106 million people, the celebration of Christmas is understandably important and revered holiday for most Filipinos. Some say whether you are in a small town or in the urban areas, Christmas is a time for family, for sharing, for giving, and a time for food, fun, and friendship. The fiesta mood is underscored by scores of lanterns in different sizes and with different bulbs, anda new innovationa lantern parade during an assigned night in December. Star lanterns, with all dazzling colors available, and other Christmas decors, are an essential element of the Filipino celebration, a lengthy one by standards of other countries, the celebration ending on Epiphany. READ: NCRPO cops on alert as Simbang Gabi starts Brussels (AFP) - The European Union's foreign policy chief on Saturday asked Turkey to forgo any unilateral military action in Syria, where Ankara has threatened a fresh offensive against a US-backed Kurdish militia. "The statements of a possible Turkish military operation in northeast Syria are a source of concern," Federica Mogherini said in a statement. "We share the goal of ending violence, defeating terrorism and promoting stability in Syria and the wider region. We expect the Turkish authorities therefore to refrain from any unilateral action likely to undermine the efforts of the Counter-Daesh Coalition or to risk further instability in Syria," she said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey will launch a new operation in Syria within days against Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which have Washington's support but which Ankara considers a terrorist group. The Pentagon warned Wednesday that any unilateral military action in northern Syria would be "unacceptable". Mogherini, calling Turkey "a critically important actor in this crisis and in the region", said that "as the fight against Daesh is entering its final stages, all parties must work towards the goal of ensuring its upcoming defeat". Any Turkish military move against YPG would be complicated by the likelihood of Ankara's armies coming face to face with US troops deployed with the Kurdish militia. Although Turkey and the US are NATO allies, their relationship has come under strain in recent years, notably as Washington's help for the Kurds triggered Ankara's anger. On Friday, Erdogan appeared to stick to his guns, saying that Turkey was "determined to bring peace and security to areas east of the Euphrates" river in northern Syria. Chicago (AFP) - The Republican governor of Wisconsin signed into law Friday a package of bills that limit the powers of his Democratic successor, who promised a court challenge. The measures were passed by Republicans during a lame-duck session of the Midwestern US state's legislature last week, in what they said was an effort to level the power balance with the Democrat who will take over the governor's office in January. Tony Evers defeated incumbent Governor Scott Walker in the November midterm elections -- a stinging loss for the GOP in a key swing state that helped Donald Trump win the presidency in 2016. The new laws will, among other things, curtail the incoming governor's ability to set certain rules and policies after he is sworn into office. Critics said the bills were part of a concerted effort by Republicans in a handful of states where they control the legislature but have lost executive offices to deny power to incoming Democrats. "Despite all the hype and hysteria out there, these bills do nothing to fundamentally diminish executive authority," Walker said in a statement. Governor-elect Tony Evers vowed to fight the new laws in court, criticizing Republicans for "petty, political fights." "Governor Walker chose to ignore and override the will of the people of Wisconsin. This will no doubt be his legacy," Evers said in a statement. Hundreds of protesters descended on the Wisconsin capitol last week as the legislature debated the measures. A similar scene played out in Michigan this week when the Republican-controlled legislature also passed limits on the incoming Democratic governor. WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors are investigating whether U.S. President Donald Trump's inaugural committee misspent some of the record $107 million it raised from donors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people it said were familiar with the matter. The early-stage investigation by the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office is examining whether some of the committee's donors gave money in exchange for policy concessions, influencing administration positions or access to the incoming administration, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. A spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office declined to comment. Asked about the report, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Reuters the president was not involved in his inaugural committee. "The last thing a president-elect has time for is inaugural fund-raising," he said. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders also said the inauguration had nothing to do with Trump or his wife, Melania. "The biggest thing the president did in his engagement in the inauguration was to come here and raise his hand and take the oath of office," Sanders told reporters. The probe into the inaugural committee comes as Trump and his White House are already facing investigations into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia, hush-money payments to women claiming to have had affairs with Trump and spending by Trump's foundation, among other issues. According to the Journal, the investigation into the inaugural committee partly stemmed from materials seized in a probe into the dealings of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison for crimes including orchestrating the hush payments in violation of campaign laws. Although campaign finance laws restrict the size of campaign contributions, inaugurations can accept unlimited donations, including from corporations. The amount raised by Trump's inaugural committee, chaired by real estate developer and investor Thomas Barrack, was the largest in history, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The Journal said there was no sign the probe was targeting Barrack. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The event-planning business of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former unpaid advisor to Melania Trump, was the highest-paid vendor to the committee at $25.8 million, the Journal reported. A recorded conversation between Wolkoff and Cohen in which she expressed concern about the committee's spending was seized from Cohen, the Journal said, citing a person familiar with the matter. Prosecutors have questioned former campaign aide Richard Gates, who served as deputy chairman of inaugural committee, the Journal reported. Gates pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy charges relating to his foreign consulting work with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Tom Green, a lawyer for Gates, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Journal said prosecutors are also seeking documents from Franklin Haney, a Tennessee developer who gave $1 million to the inaugural committee and later hired Cohen to help him obtain a $5 billion U.S Department of Energy loan. A loan application by Haney's company is still pending with the department, the Journal reported. Larry Blust, a lawyer for Haney, declined to comment. Other major inauguration donors included casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who gave $5 million, and investment firm founder Charles Schwab and mining investor Christopher Cline, who gave $1 million each, according to FEC filings. There is no indication any of the three are part of the investigation. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson, Ginger Gibson, Karen Freifeld, Jeff Mason and Makini Brice; editing by Anthony Lin and Eric Beech) Abuja (AFP) - Leaders of countries in the Lake Chad region met on Saturday in Nigeria to give fresh impetus to their fight against Boko Haram, the Nigerian presidency said. The summit meeting, grouping Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin and the Central African Republic, is a follow-up to a November gathering in Chad called to tackle a surge in Boko Haram attacks in the restive region. "Today's meeting is in continuation of our joint efforts to address the prevailing security challenges in our sub-region," President Muhammadu Buhari said in his opening remarks. He said the meeting was "a clear demonstration of the resolute commitment that we all attach to the fight against our common enemy, Boko Haram, and the restoration of durable peace and security to our sub-region". At the November meeting in NDjamena, leaders had focused on overhauling current strategy in their fight against Boko Haram, Buhari said. "This was necessitated by the resurgence of attacks, particularly on the military, and the abduction of civilians for ransom across our borders by Boko Haram with the support of international terrorists who have infiltrated our sub-region," he said. The Nigerian leader said Saturday's meeting "will consider the report of the committee we set up during our last summit on the way forward", adding he hoped that its recommendations would bring a new dynamism in the fight against Boko Haram and their international affiliates. In a communique at the end of the meeting, the leaders "renewed their commitment to the fight against Boko Haram terrorists with a view to bringing a definite end to the insurgency". They agreed to provide relief to communities affected by the violence "within the limits of available resources" and urged international partners to provide additional assistance to the regional military force fighting the jihadists. The heads of states also appealed to local communities to provide information that would assist in ending the violence. Story continues Troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Benin along with Cameroon's are operating in the Lake Chad region in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to counter the Islamic State-affiliated Boko Haram. Since July there has been an upsurge in Boko Haram attacks on military bases, almost all of them in the region around Lake Chad. Last month, militants raided a base in the Nigerian village of Metele, near the border with Niger, leaving at least 44 soldiers dead, although troops who survived put the death toll at more than 100. The nine-year Boko Haram jihadist rebellion has claimed more than 27,000 lives and forced at least 1.8 million to flee their homes, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis in the region Mexico City (AFP) - The first woman elected mayor of Mexico City was sworn in Wednesday for a six-year term leading one of the world's largest cities, in a country with a deep tradition of machismo. Claudia Sheinbaum, a 56-year-old scientist and environmentalist, rode to victory in the July elections on the same anti-establishment wave that brought her ally and mentor to power, Mexico's new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Grinning, Lopez Obrador -- himself a former Mexico City mayor -- raised Sheinbaum's hand in a sign of victory after she took the oath of office before the city legislature. It was a potent symbol of the radical shift in Mexican politics, now dominated by the left-wing party he founded four years ago, Morena. Sheinbaum echoed Lopez Obrador's fervent anti-corruption message in her inaugural address. "We are beginning a new era of honesty and eradicating the privileges long enjoyed by top officials," she said. "The first thing we will do is put an end to abuses. As of now, we are reestablishing democracy and political freedom." She vowed to end "the privatization of public spaces" in the sprawling capital of more than eight million inhabitants, whose greater urban area is home to some 20 million people. And she promised to fight violence against women, in a country where gender inequality runs deep and more than seven women and girls are murdered each day, according to the United Nations. Another woman previously served as Mexico City mayor on an interim basis -- Rosario Robles, from 1999 to 2000 -- but Sheinbaum is the first woman elected to the post. - Rapid rise - Sheinbaum, who hails from a family of Jewish scientists, studied physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, earning a doctorate in energy engineering and going on to work as a consultant for the United Nations. She was active in the university's student movement, which rose up against an unpopular series of reforms at the institution in 1986. Story continues She was one of many veterans of the movement to go into politics. When Lopez Obrador was elected Mexico City mayor in 2000, he named Sheinbaum his environment minister. She followed the fiery leader when he split with Mexico's established left-wing party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), to launch Morena in 2014. The following year, she won an election for district mayor of Mexico City's Tlalpan neighborhood, Lopez Obrador's own district and one of the 16 "delegations" that make up the city. That was her launch pad for her mayoral campaign. But her rapid rise has not been without controversy. When a private elementary school in her district collapsed in the earthquake that rocked Mexico on September 19, 2017 -- killing 19 children and seven adults inside -- it emerged that the local government had granted dodgy construction permits to the school's owner, who is today on the run from the law. A group of victims' families has brought criminal charges over the case, and wants Sheinbaum to face investigation. After she cast her ballot in the July 1 elections, a protester shouted "Murderer!" at her as she left the polling station. Sheinbaum vehemently denies responsibility for the school's collapse, and accuses her opponents of exploiting the tragedy for political gain. Fox & Friends worries what Michael Cohen had taped, says Trump needs an "A Team" of lawyers given that Cohen might have corroborating evidence, and attacks Cohen for being disloyal to Trump. pic.twitter.com/9H9FaBT9bQ John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) December 14, 2018 After President Donald Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen appeared Friday on Good Morning America to explain his cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller, the folks on Fox & Friends said he was being disloyal to the president. On Friday mornings Fox & Friends, hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade questioned how truthful Cohen could be now that hes been found guilty of lying to Congress. Youre supposed to able to talk to your attorney about anything, and its not supposed to get out into the public, Earhardt said. And he was recording the conversations. Now hes being disloyal to his client, and giving these interviews and talking about what he was confidentially discussing with his client. Why is he taping everything? Kilmeade jumped in. If he can take a bullet for him one minute, why is he taping him for years? You know what? Maybe he considered it his insurance policy, Doocy added. The hosts brought on lawyer and reporter Geraldo Rivera for his legal expertise, and Geraldo did not have kind words for Cohen, calling him a serial manipulator, con man and self-serving rat. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday for breaking campaign finance laws, tax evasion and lying to Congress. Cohen says Trump directed him to pay hush money to two women during the 2016 campaign to protect his bid for the presidency. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Paris (AFP) - The "yellow vest" revolt in France over the high cost of living has sparked copycat protests abroad -- as well a swarm of fake reports. AFP's fact-checking service sorts the real from the imagined: - Copycat protests - The month-long French demonstrations, which have led to repeated rioting in Paris, have inspired protesters in a number of mostly European countries. On December 8, some 400 people were detained in Brussels after protesters wearing high-visibility fluorescent vests briefly clashed with police. Others reportedly blocked a highway linking Brussels to the town of Rekkem in Flanders, near the French border to protest high taxes. On the same day in the Netherlands, "yellow vests" turned out in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague to protest the high cost of living, but they were few in number and the demonstrations were peaceful. In Hungary, some of those protesting a new law, which increases the amount of overtime employers can require of workers, also dressed up in yellow vests on December 12 outside parliament. And in Poland, farmers wearing the distinctive jackets on Wednesday blocked a motorway to demand government compensation for a swine flu outbreak. In Germany, both Alice Weidel, one of the founders of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, and the radical left-wing Die Linke party have expressed support for the French movement. And some yellow vests were seen among a 1,000-strong crowd of right-wing demonstrators when the Pegida anti-migrant movement when it held a rally on December 1 in Berlin. In Belgrade, a handful of opposition members of parliament also donned yellow on December 4 to protest petrol price increases. In South Africa, where some protesters have been spotted wearing yellow vests during demonstrations against the low quality of public services, the Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) spoke out in favour of the French movement, saying it was a model for future protests. Story continues The French movement kicked off on November 17 over higher fuel taxes, but quickly morphed into a nationwide grassroot protest against the high cost of living and the government. President Emmanuel Macron has since offered tax and wage concessions in a bid to end the protest. - Worried governments - In Egypt, authorities fearing possible protests on the anniversary of the uprising that toppled Egypt's longtime president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, have sought to restrict the sale of yellow vests. "We received instructions from the police around a week ago to sell yellow vests to companies only, and not to individuals," one importer said. And a human rights lawyer, Mohamed Ramadan, was remanded in custody earlier this month over charges including the distribution and possession of leaflets and yellow vests. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, defended the jailing of an elderly rights activist over calls to protest, stressing he wanted to prevent events like France's "yellow vest" revolt. - Fake yellow news - But not every sighting of a high-visibility jacket should be seen as political. Many social media accounts wrongly reported on Monday that German rail workers, who held a one-day strike for higher pay, wore yellow vests in solidarity with the French. The vests are mandatory to ensure they are visible when on the railway tracks. Other reports were pure fakes. An internet platform, 24jours.com, published a photograph showing 300 motorcyclists in yellow vests purportedly demonstrating in the capital of the Central African Republic against "the French neo-colonial system" and against the local French-linked currency. The picture was in fact taken in May when motorcyclists in Bangui attended a first aid training clinic. burs-gd/fc/jj The giant boulder fell and smashed through the wall of a mans bedroom (Picture: PA/East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service) A man had a lucky escape after a giant boulder weighing several tons smashed through the wall of his bedroom. The boulder was part of rockfall on in White Rock on the seafront in Hastings, East Sussex on Thursday afternoon. It hit the back of the building and broke through the wall into the bedroom, covering the bed with broken masonry and debris, the fire service said. The man who lived in the property told East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) it had been a lucky escape because he would usually have been home at the time of the rockfall, but had been out for the day. Lucky escape the man would usually have been home at the time of the rockfall but was out for the day (Picture: ESFRS/PA) The incident left the building structurally unsafe and all residents had to be evacuated. ESFRS said: At 3.06pm firefighters from Hastings and Battle were called to a residential property on White Rock, Hastings, following reports of a dangerous structure. MORE: Amber warnings as Britain told to expect blizzards, snow and freezing rain over the weekend MORE: Mother on trial after drowning daughter, 4, as a sacrifice to God Following a significant rockfall at the rear of a property, a rock weighing several tons had hit the building and destroyed a bedroom. The occupier explained to the crews that he would normally have been home when the rockfall occurred, however he had luckily gone out for the day. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK A further structural assessment of the building as well as an inspection of the cliff face was due to be carried out by Hastings Borough Council. Firefighters are urging the public to take extra care around cliffs, keep away from edges, never try to climb them and to read and pay attention to warning signs. JINGLING BELL. President Rodrigo Duterte, his left fist clenched and raised in the air, rings one of three church bells of Balangiga during a ceremony in the sleepy town Saturday, with residents (above) waving placards in the shape of bells in a knockabout celebration in 27C temperature as the bells looted from its church more than a century ago by vengeful troops, are turned over to the community and allowed to chime again on their home soil. AFP Residents of Balangiga in Eastern Samar this weekend finally had their three historic bells again after they were taken away from their towns church 117 years ago.I am sure that our ancestors are celebrating [with] us here in this remarkable history, said President Rodrigo Duterte during the formal turnover ceremony at the town public square. According to Duterte, the return of the bells signified full restoration of our dignity as a Filipino. READ: Duterte call hastened bells return But he warned that no one should take credit for the return of the bells except the American and Filipino people through their fervent prayer. Today, we remember our past and look forward at our enduring relationshipWe dont take this friendship for granted, said Assistant Secretary of US Defense Dr. Philip Felter who represented US Defense Chief James Mattis. Rev. Crispin Varquez, the bishop of the Diocese of Borongan, thanked the American and Philippine government officials who have been working on the return of the bells. Please be assured that we will return the bells to their original purpose, and care and cherish them for its precious legacy, said Varquez. He lauded the faith and heroism of the Balangiga residents who rose against the American forces on Sept. 28, 1901 which is now famously known as Balangiga Encounter. The bells bridge us to God and to one another. They are part and parcel of our daily life in this community, courage, heroism love for freedom and democracy. We owe it to our forebears, the bishop said. According to Varquez, the arrival of the bells will help bolster our dignity and socio-economic progress. We courageously express our commitment that we will do everything we can that these bells will not be separated from us again. They will remain in this church. Never again, Balangiga, these bells will be taken away from you, he added. Many Filipinos of good heart and goodwill work tirelessly for decades for the return of the bells The bells are home now in Balangiga where they belong. These bells are yours, said John Law, deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy in the Philippines. The return of the bells underscores the enduring friendship of our two countries, said Law as he acknowledged the American veterans groups who also lobbied for the return of the bells. While he said that the bells regrettably caught up in the conflict during the Philippine-American War in 1901, Law said the US and the Philippines had become partners and allies.Our relationship has withstood difficulty and it flourishes today, said the US official. The bells repatriation underlines deeper appreciation of respect and friendship, added Romulo Valles, the archbishop of Davao and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Valles then called the turnover ceremony as a very joyful event. READ: 'Balangiga' back in time for ' ' Meanwhile, Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza expressed his gratitude for the magnanimity of those behind the return of the bells. We know what happened to these bells. For over a century, Balangiga waited. The bond between Balangiga and these bells were never broken, said Graza. According to Graza, the dream of his townmates is now finally turned into a reality. The Balangiga bells have returned because of goodwill. The Balangiga bells will not ring again for what it tolled 117 years ago, the mayor said. With their return back to the belfry where they once hang, this sad episode in our nations history comes to a close, reiterated Jude Acidre, second nominee of Tingog Sinirangan and whose family roots come from Balangiga. According to Acidre, two of his ancestors were among the Filipino soldiers who were in the Balangiga Encounter. Both are well-remembered as heroes, Acidre said. Earlier, Leyte First District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez filed a House resolution recognizing the heroism and legacy of the brave sons of Balangiga. Romualdez called for the recognition and commendation of the bravery, courage, and sacrifice of the unarmed heroes of Balangiga and the Parish of Saint Lawrence, Deacon, and Martyr. READ: Balangiga bells bound for Samar from Okinawa WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - A 7-year-old girl from Guatemala died of dehydration and shock hours after she was taken into U.S. Border Patrol custody, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. The girl and her father had been detained by immigration authorities on Dec. 6 in New Mexico as part of a group of 163 people who approached U.S. agents to turn themselves in, the Post reported. Early on Dec. 7, the girl started having seizures, and emergency responders measured her body temperature at 105.7 degrees, the Post said. She was taken to a hospital, where she died, according to the Post. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment. A spokesman at Providence Hospital in El Paso, Texas, where the Post reported the child was taken, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The names of the girl and her father were not released. The agency, which typically provides food and water to migrants in its custody, is investigating the incident to ensure whether appropriate policies were followed, the Post said. U.S. President Donald Trump has made toughening immigration policies a central tenet of his presidency and has vowed to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico. This summer, his administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy, which resulted in separating children arriving at the border with their parents, caused a national outcry. The policy was mostly reversed. (Reporting by Makini Brice and Eric Beech Editing by Leslie Adler) Ohid Sarder prises a rusted nail from a tree and drops it into his bucket, another eyesore scrubbed from the countryside as he embarks on a one-man mission to clean up Bangladesh. The 53-year-old self-professed tree hugger has been riding his bicycle across the country, in a grassroots effort to free trees of the billboards and clutter nailed to their trunks. Trees in Bangladesh are often used as free advertising space, with every available inch of wood plastered with placards until the trunk is barely visible. The billboards might disintegrate over time but the nails remain embedded deep in the wood -- agitating tree-lover Sarder, who has devoted his life to healing these wounds. "Trees have life. They feel pain just as we do," the self-styled conservationist told AFP in Jessore district in the country's southwest. "I have seen how these nails have killed trees, and how they are causing them pain." Sarder grew up idolising Jagdish Chandra Bose, a prominent Bengali botanist who wrote about the emotions of plants in the early decades of the 20th century. Inspired, Sarder began planting trees in Jhenaidah, his home district, and neighbouring Jessore, a passion he kept up for decades. But this year it occurred to him that planting trees was not enough -- he needed to protect those already under threat. Traversing battered roads with a bicycle, bucket and a metal rod welded with prongs, Sarder began prying thick nails and spikes from abused trees across the country. Since he began his beautification drive in July he has collected more than 80 kilogrammes (176 pounds) of them. "It looks easy, but it isn't. It takes a lot of effort to pull out a rusted nail that has been there for years," he said. - Seeking to inspire - It is arduous and thankless work. His wife complains that Sarder, a mason by trade, spends more time with his trees doing unpaid volunteer work than earning a wage. Often, he doubles back on a section of road to discover fresh billboards hammered into his beloved trees. Story continues "You know what breaks my heart the most? Most of these banners are advertising doctors, lawyers, tutors and other clinics," he said. "They all are well educated. Why on earth can't they refrain from destroying a tree?" Sarder often attracts crowds of curious onlookers as he goes about his work. "No one really does this work. People thought I was crazy," he said. But sensing an opportunity to educate the public about his mission, he attached a placard to his bicycle extolling the benefits of trees and merits of conserving nature. "I try my best to explain the importance of having more trees and inspire them to plant and save more trees." Sarder has appealed to local politicians to try and outlaw this form of vandalism, but has not had much success. But he intends to keep up the fight, saying a growing awareness of climate change and environmental conservation in his impoverished homeland could spur change in the future. Bangladesh, a low-lying riverine country of 160 million, is particularly prone to floods. Experts say trees, by soaking up water and reducing soil erosion, can help mitigate the devastation brought by yearly deluges. "What we have failed to understand is that to keep the balance in nature, we need more trees," he said. How do you pick the next stock to invest in? One way would be to spend hours of research browsing through thousands of publicly traded companies. However, an easier way is to look at the stocks that smart money investors are collectively bullish on. Hedge funds and other institutional investors usually invest large amounts of capital and have to conduct due diligence while choosing their next pick. They don't always get it right, but, on average, their stock picks historically generated strong returns after adjusting for known risk factors. With this in mind, lets take a look at the recent hedge fund activity surrounding Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC). Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) investors should pay attention to an increase in hedge fund sentiment of late. Our calculations also showed that MFC isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 18 percentage points since May 2014 through December 3, 2018 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in our short portfolio. Story continues John Overdeck of Two Sigma We're going to review the new hedge fund action surrounding Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC). What does the smart money think about Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC)? At Q3's end, a total of 21 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 31% from the second quarter of 2018. By comparison, 17 hedge funds held shares or bullish call options in MFC heading into this year. With hedgies' sentiment swirling, there exists a few noteworthy hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes significantly (or already accumulated large positions). MFC_dec2018 More specifically, AQR Capital Management was the largest shareholder of Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC), with a stake worth $97.7 million reported as of the end of September. Trailing AQR Capital Management was Citadel Investment Group, which amassed a stake valued at $69.2 million. Arrowstreet Capital, Two Sigma Advisors, and Renaissance Technologies were also very fond of the stock, giving the stock large weights in their portfolios. As industrywide interest jumped, some big names have been driving this bullishness. BlueCrest Capital Mgmt., managed by Michael Platt and William Reeves, initiated the largest position in Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC). BlueCrest Capital Mgmt. had $2.1 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Jeffrey Talpins's Element Capital Management also made a $1.3 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Matthew Tewksbury's Stevens Capital Management, Paul Marshall and Ian Wace's Marshall Wace LLP, and Alec Litowitz and Ross Laser's Magnetar Capital. Let's now take a look at hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) but similarly valued. These stocks are Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR), National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG), Public Storage (NYSE:PSA), and American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NYSE:AEP). All of these stocks' market caps match MFC's market cap. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position NTR,35,818245,8 NGG,11,237302,-2 PSA,15,679829,-2 AEP,36,1257422,10 Average,24.25,748200,3.5 [/table] View table here if you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 24.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $748 million. That figure was $389 million in MFC's case. American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NYSE:AEP) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG) is the least popular one with only 11 bullish hedge fund positions. Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. In this regard AEP might be a better candidate to consider a long position. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. Related Content Hemp is on track to being legal across the United States, probably on Jan. 1, 2019, which should spark massive growth in the cannabis space. Like its cannabis cousin, marijuana, industrial hemp can be used to extract cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive chemical that has been linked with many wellness benefits. Hemp, however, contains negligible concentrations (less than 0.3%) of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana. Some cannabis companies have been positioning themselves to profit from what looks like the imminent legalization of hemp in the U.S. One such company is Canadian grower Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC), the largest cannabis player by market cap. Let's explore Canopy's activities and potential plans in the hemp arena. Close-up of rows of hemp in a field. Image source: Getty Images. Hemp is one step away from U.S. legalization On Tuesday and Wednesday, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, passed the 2018 Farm Bill. This legislation contains a provision that would make it legal across the country for farmers to grow industrial hemp. Specifically, it removes industrial hemp from the federal government's list of controlled substances. (Currently, it's only legal to grow hemp in certain states, provided a grower possesses a state license.) President Trump is expected to sign the bill by year's end, and possibly any day now. If or when -- and it seems safe to say "when" -- the current Farm Bill becomes law, the U.S. hemp market should balloon in size. The market for hemp-derived CBD in this country is projected to rocket from about $591 million in annual sales this year to $22 billion by 2022, according to the Brightfield Group. That's a 37-fold increase in four years. Canopy Growth's business and recent financial results Canopy Growth grows marijuana and processes it into dried flower and oil products for the medical marijuana market in Canada and some other countries, most notably Germany. It also began selling recreational marijuana products in Canada when that market opened on Oct. 17. Story continues Last month, Canopy reported its fiscal second-quarter 2019 results. Revenue jumped 33% year over year to $23.3 million Canadian, equal to about $18.1 million at that time. Revenue growth was solid, but not spectacular, because the quarter ended more than two weeks before Canada's adult-use market opened. The company's net loss expanded to CA$330.6 million from CA$1.6 million, which translates to a loss per share of CA$1.52, compared with CA$0.01 in the year-ago period. Net (and operating) loss ballooned because Canopy Growth is aggressively investing in growth initiatives -- including in the hemp space. "CBD" and its molecular structure in white overlaid on a hazy cannabis plant background. Image source: Getty Images. Canopy Growth's hemp activities and potential plans Canopy's founder, chairman, and co-CEO, Bruce Linton, shared some information on the earnings call about the company's activities and potential plans in the hemp arena. Here are three things you should know. 1. U.S. legalization of hemp will allow Canopy Growth to enter the U.S. market From Linton's remarks: [H]emp [legalization] in the U.S. could be sooner than you think. ... I think hemp [legalization] is going to happen in the U.S. It's looking as if Linton will be right on both counts. It wasn't long ago that it appeared iffy whether Congress would be able to agree on a Farm Bill before the end of the year. Moreover, it wasn't a given that the provision in the bill that would make it legal on a federal level to grow industrial hemp would be included in a compromised bill. U.S. legalization of hemp has huge implications for Canopy Growth, along with most of its peers, as it will allow the company is enter the U.S. market. Despite medical and recreational marijuana being legal in a good number of U.S. states, Canopy can't currently enter the U.S. cannabis market because of the stock exchanges the company is listed on, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE). Both exchanges prohibit their listed companies from engaging in any enterprise in the U.S. that's illegal on a federal level. 2. Canopy is ready to enter the U.S. hemp derived-CBD product market From Linton's remarks: I think hemp [legalization] is going to happen in the U.S. When it does, that's not the time to start. You should have already been started up and ramped up and [be] ready to revenue up. We think we are. Based on Linton's comments, it seems the company is ready to launch hemp-derived CBD products in the U.S. market. With the green flag likely to go up on the U.S. hemp market on Jan. 1, 2019, investors should probably expect some concrete news from Canopy Growth in early 2019. As to what products the company might release, it seems likely CBD-infused beverages will be on the docket at least eventually. Canopy and its alcoholic beverage giant partner, Constellation Brands, are already developing cannabis-infused beverages for the Canadian market, where they're expected to be legal next year. (Constellation invested $3.8 billion in Canopy in August, increasing its ownership stake to 38%.) For the U.S. market, it makes sense that Canopy would initially release a hemp-derived CBD-infused wellness beverage, rather than an alcoholic beverage. Indeed, Linton suggested as much, as he specifically mentioned "sports drinks." Green beverage in a clear cup sitting on a wood surface with a cannabis leaf next to it. Image source: Getty Images. 3. Canopy has a "substantial hemp operation" in Canada and has IP around managing hemp From Linton's remarks: [W]e have a substantial hemp operation that we've been working on in Canada. We have intellectual property that we've developed around how to manage hemp. Canopy has been farming hemp in Canada and has developed intellectual property (IP) in the hemp space, including "processes involving [CBD] extraction," Linton said. His comments suggest that a good portion of the company's core hemp IP was obtained from its acquisition of Saskatchewan-based Green Hemp Industrie, which closed in January. He didn't name the company, but a Google search based on his comments indicate that he was referring to Green Hemp. According to the press release announcing the deal: [Green Hemp founder and owner Jason] Green has developed an optimized process to grow, harvest, collect, and extract the whole hemp plant at field-scale and in a fashion that meets a high standard for product quality. In late November, Canopy closed on another hemp acquisition. It bought Colorado-based ebbu. Canopy claims that Ebbu's IP has the potential to enable it to "vastly reduce the cost of CBD production" from its hemp operation in Saskatchewan. In short, Canopy Growth appears well positioned to be a leader in the hemp-derived CBD product space in the U.S. It certainly has a huge cash advantage relative to its peers, thanks to the Constellation investment. But it's too early to tell how management will execute on its plans. More From The Motley Fool Beth McKenna has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Days after a seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died after complications from a septic shock she experienced while in Border Patrol custody, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the childs family was to blame for her death. This is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey, Ms Nielsen said on Fox News. This family chose to cross illegally. FOX & FRIENDS: What do you know about the 7-year-old girl who died in Border Patrol custody?@SecNielsen: "This is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey. This family chose to cross illegally... I cannot stress [enough] how dangerous this journey is." pic.twitter.com/bjFMdFlW3E Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 14, 2018 Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquint travelled with her father, Nery Caal, from a rural indigenous community in the Alta Verapaz region in Guatemala. After crossing the US-Mexico border, the father and daughter joined 163 other migrants and turned themselves in to Border Patrol agents in a remote base in the New Mexico desert. Two days later, while under US Customs and Border Patrol custody, Ms Caal Maquint died after suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and a fever. What happened was they were about 90 miles away from where we could process them, Ms Nielsen added. They came in such a large crowd that it took our border patrol folks a couple times to get them all. We gave immediate care, well continue to look into the situation, but again, I cannot stress enough how dangerous this journey is when migrants choose to come here illegally. Ms Nielsen, while appearing on the Fox and Friends, said Border Patrol agents gave immediate care. But reports show that the child was held in Border Patrol custody for eight hours before her she stopped breathing and was then rushed to a hospital. Story continues According to the Associated Press, the seven-year-old and her father turned themselves in on the morning of December 6, where there was a small Border Patrol base with water, food, and bathrooms, but did not have medical services. Her father filled out an intake form. The father and daughter were part of two groups that were being transferred to a Border Patrol base about 90 miles east from where they were found, and did not start the long journey until almost an entire day later on December 7am at 4:30am. The child was vomiting on the bus during the journey, and by the time she arrived at the base at around 6:30am, she was not breathing. Emergency medics discovered fever at an alarming 105.7 degrees, and subsequently airlifted her to a hospital, where she died on December 8 shortly after midnight. Ms Nielsen did not specify exactly when the seven-year-old girl received immediate care, whether that may be when she and her father turned themselves into CBP, or if it was eight hours later after she started having seizures. But base on these reports, it seems that the little girl did not receive care until she stopped breathing. Last night, Homeland Security doubled down on its attack on the dead girl's family in a statement released on Thursday night. As we have always said, travelling north illegally is extremely dangerous, the statement said. Drug cartels, human smugglers and the elements pose deadly risks to anyone who comes across the border illegally. Once again, we are begging parents to not put themselves or their children at risk attempting to enter illegally, the statement added. DHS statement tonight on the death of a 7-year-old girl in Border Patrol custody: pic.twitter.com/FzC6VftKVe Hamed Aleaziz (@Haleaziz) December 14, 2018 As Splinter pointed out, the very fact that migrants are embarking in long treacherous journeys to cross into the US prove the desperate and dangerous situations these migrants and asylum seekers are fleeing from or are trying to escape. Their situation are put in even more danger when Nielsens Homeland Security makes it impossible for these migrants to seek safe refuge. In their statement, Homeland Security said Border Patrol always takes care of individuals in their custody and does everything in their power to keep them safe. A DHS official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on Friday that the Office of Inspector General, an agency that investigates allegations of misconduct by public employees, will look into the young girl's death. The death of the child is the most recent death in a string of fatal incidents involving children dying either while under custody of Homeland Security agencies or some time later. Earlier this year, a Guatemalan toddler died from a respiratory illness she contracted while detained under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The toddler and her mother were detained in ICE custody for 20 days, and shortly after being released, she was hospitalised for six weeks until her death. The mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the US government. Vienna (AFP) - Buoyed by healthy polls and a booming economy, Austria's right-wing coalition is riding high on an extended political honeymoon a year after joining forces to push their anti-immigration agenda. With the opposition weakened, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's centre-right People's Party (OeVP) and its far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) partner have suffered few domestic setbacks since being sworn in December 2017. But the government has faced criticism abroad -- notably for its perceived closeness to Russia -- and it may yet face some roadblocks at home as divisions emerge and policies risk fraying support among the working-class part of its base. Kurz's People's Party won 31.5 percent of the vote in last year's elections, but now scores around 35 percent in the opinion polls. The Freedom Party, led by Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, has slipped only slightly from the 26 percent of the vote it won last year to around 24 percent. "A real asset has been that they have been able to continue with their campaign messages in government," said political analyst Thomas Hofer, in contrast to horse-trading that characterised previous right-left "grand coalitions". The OeVP and FPOe have made harmony their watchword, as have Kurz and Strache. At one press conference earlier this year where the duo were finishing each other's sentences, Strache said: "Even I'm surprised at how quickly and brilliantly we're working". "The effort that they've made to appear as united as possible is very popular with the public," said political scientist Fritz Plasser. Kurz's polished style and the self-restraint shown by Strache have also helped the two men. Part of that popularity is due to the economy. With growth of 3 percent expected for this year and one of the eurozone's lowest unemployment rates at 5.6 percent, the government rode a wave of European economic growth. Story continues Despite generous tax break for families and pension rises, this year the government looks set to eliminate its budget deficit, a year earlier than planned. Civil servants can also look forward to a pay rise of 2.8 percent, with most other workers receiving rises of more than 2.5 percent -- even up to 3.5 percent for metalworkers. - Sacrificing values? - Anti-immigration rhetoric was a key part of the platform of both right-wing parties in last year's election and the government has been keen to live up to its promises. Boycotting the UN's migration pact, increasing expulsions of rejected asylum seekers and cutting benefits for refugees -- the government has rarely missed an opportunity to burnish its tough credentials. As the Kurier daily pointed out, many say the OeVP has "sacrificed its Christian-democratic values" along the way, as well as annoying some businesses who blame deportations for the loss of apprentices they need to plug labour shortages. Since last year's election the opposition has struggled to be heard. The main opposition SPOe has also lacked unity, said Hofer, and was dealt a blow by the departure of its leader to run for European Parliament elections in May. Even a law extending the maximum working week to 60 hours (or 12 hours per day) didn't spark enough opposition to trouble the government. Several thousand people take part in protests outside the Chancellor's office every Thursday and organisers plan an anti-government demonstration for Saturday in Vienna to mark the administration's first anniversary. Hofer cautions the 12-hour workday reform "was not easily swallowed by the FPOe" due to its more working-class voter base, even if for now any disagreement in the alliance has been kept behind closed doors. - From Russia with love - While at the top of the party, the FPOe's ministers have tried to present a professional image, there has been a steady supply of embarrassing stories about party members caught making sexist, anti-Semitic or racist remarks. And its ministers have not escaped criticism either. Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, one of the party's chief ideologues, had barely been appointed when he sparked a row by saying he wanted to "concentrate" asylum-seekers, employing a word widely associated with Nazi camps. Kickl is also at the centre of a row over raids on the BVT domestic intelligence agency in February during which numerous documents were seized, raising fears among Austria's Western partners about the possibility of leaks to Moscow. The FPOe has a co-operation agreement with President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl -- who is not a member of the FPOe but was nominated by the party -- also raised eyebrows by inviting Putin to her wedding over the summer. Images of her curtseying to the Russian leader and enjoying a waltz with him raised questions over her neutrality. Closer to home though, the FPOe has cheered the emergence of similar populist movements in other parts of Europe and has enthusiastically echoed rhetoric used by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban in neighbouring Hungary. That has led to some of the rare awkward public moments for Kurz and Strache, with the chancellor distancing himself from his deputy. "Don't mistake harmony on the outside for harmony on the inside," said Hofer. "The European elections will be a test for them, as obviously the two parties' messages will differ." A young girl stands in front of fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as they attend the funeral a fellow fighter killed in the town of Hajin during battles against the Isil - AFP The last Syrian town under the control of Islamic State fell on Friday, marking a defeat for the jihadists which will prove difficult to come back from. The flag of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US and UK-backed fighters battling Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), was erected in the central square in Hajin, eastern Deir Ezzor province. The Kurdish-dominated SDF faced one of their toughest battles in the war against Isil in Hajin, a nondescript town which had become the site of Isils last major stand in Syria. Just about every Daesh we came across had a suicide belt, said one commander involved in the battle, using the Arabic acronym for the group. They saw it as end of days and were using every weapon they had. Isil is thought to now only have a few hundred militants left holding out in villages around Hajin and in the small sliver of land left between Syria and Iraq. A Syrian displaced woman carries her child inside a refugee camp of al-Hol in Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria Credit: AFP Most of Isils remaining senior leaders had been in the town in recent months, but it is not clear whether they have been killed or managed to escape to desert land along the border before the SDF established its chokehold. All recent US intelligence also suggests Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Isils leader, is alive and hiding out among the groups final vestiges. This was always going to be a fight to the death, Nouri Mahmoud, spokesman of the Syrian Kurdish militia known as People's Protection Units or YPG - the main component of SDF, told the Telegraph during a visit trip to northern Syria. A lot of senior fighters and commanders had spent months preparing for this fight and were not about to give up. The operation on Hajin was launched on September 10 and took a heavy toll, according to figures collected by the UK-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which show at least 900 jihadists and 500 SDF fighters were killed in the fighting. Isil launched a particularly deadly counterattack in early November, which saw the jihadists use the cover of a sandstorm to overrun an SDF base and capture dozens. Story continues The battle was then briefly paused after Turkey, which considers the YPG a terrorist group because of its organisational links to the insurgent Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), began shelling Kurdish troops over the border. Fresh Turkish threats could jeopardise the last stage of the SDF offensive. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, this week warned it is planning a new assault on the Kurds - this time east of the Euphrates river. A spokesman for the Turkish-backed opposition National Army said up to 15,000 Syrian rebels were ready to join Turkey's forces. The US, which has warned Turkey against such a move, will have to decide whether to back the Kurds and risk confrontation with a Nato ally, or effectively give Turkey a green light. The Kurds have warned that any attack from Turkey would distract the SDF from the battle against Isil, which could risk giving the group the oxygen to regroup in Deir Ezzor. Brett McGurk, the US anti-Isil envoy, also cautioned earlier this week that the battle against (Isil) in the Middle Euphrates Valley was not over yet. Its going to take time, but it will get done, McGurk continued. Its a very difficult campaign. The Trump administration has said it will remain in Syria for as long as it takes to defeat Isil, but it remains uncertain if the SDF has the manpower and resources to keep control of the vast territory it has captured once their ally is gone. Chris Christie has been touted as a replacement for John Kelly - AP Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Jared Kushner are reportedly on the shortlist for the job of White House chief of staff. Donald Trump met with Mr Christie on Thursday and considered him a top contender for the role, sources told Reuters, confirming a report by Axios. Mr Christie, a brash, tough-talking politician, was a contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but abandoned the attempt after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary and subsequently endorsed Mr Trump, becoming his adviser throughout the 2016 campaign. Other sources said Mr Trump was hearing appeals from some advisers to consider Mr Kushner, a top White House aide who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, for the chief of staff job. Mr Kushner met with the Republican leader to discuss the job, according to the Huffington Post, which first reported the story. "I am not aware that he is under consideration but, as I think all of us here would recognise, he would be great in any role that the president chooses to put him in," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said of the news, which was also reported by CBS. Some advisers believe Jared Kushner should be Donald Trump's chief of staff Credit: AFP "He has done a tremendous job on a number of fronts, whether it was on trade or what we've seen play out over the last week on criminal justice reform. He's done a great job on all those efforts," Sanders said. But one source told Reuters Mr Kushner was currently not inclined to pursue the position. On Thursday, Mr Trump said he was considering as many as five people to fill the vacancy that will be left when his current chief, retired General John Kelly, leaves the job early in the new year. One source said that over the last few days "numerous people have reached out to the president to suggest" picking Mr Kushner on the thinking that he is close to the president and has had a number of successes, such as helping negotiate a new trade pact with Mexico and Canada and advancing prison reform legislation.Those urging Mr Kushner include some of the president's outside advisers and some administration officials, the source said. Story continues "It's possible that this is why this is appearing at this moment in time, especially because what everyone knows you need is someone who has a good relationship with the president," the source said. U.S. President Donald Trump arrives with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly Credit: Reuters Mr Kushner and wife Ivanka had been advocating for Nick Ayers, the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence. But Mr Ayers turned down an offer for the position last weekend because he could not commit to the full two years Mr Trump wanted. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican who heads the hard-right Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives, showed more interest - but also ultimately withdrew his candidacy. One Trump confidant, who asked to remain unidentified, said Mr Trump should just pick his son-in-law. "You want consistency, knowing he'll be here for two more years, just name Jared and let him do it the way he wants," the confidant told Reuters. Another potential pick as chief of staff, former campaign adviser David Bossie, was at the White House for meetings on Thursday, but was not believed to have met with the president. A sleepy central Philippine town erupted in joy on Saturday as bells looted from its church more than a century ago by vengeful US troops were turned over to the community, and rang once again on their home soil. Children waving bell-shaped signs and tearful residents in Balangiga welcomed home the three bells that are a deep local source of pride, and which the US flew to Manila this week after decades of urging by the Philippines. "Nobody, but nobody, can claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans," Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said after ringing one of the bells before a crowd of thousands that included US and church officials. "The bells are returned. The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people -- period," he said, striking a rare positive tone regarding the nation's former colonial master. American troops carted away the bronze objects as trophies, after razing the town and killing potentially thousands of Filipinos, in reprisal for a surprise 1901 attack that left 48 of their comrades dead. For the people of Balangiga the bells are a symbol of the Philippines' long struggle for independence, and a dark chapter which is the subject of an annual re-enactment and remembrance event locally. "It's not just me but the whole town is walking in the clouds because the bells are finally with us," 81-year-old Nemesio Duran told AFP. "We are the happiest people on Earth now," he added, noting he is descended from the boy who rang one of the bells, long said to have signalled the attack on the Americans. The return of the bells prompted a massive street party in Balangiga with singing, children waving bell-shaped placards and even vendors selling wooden souvenir bells and T-shirts. - 'We can never forget' - Yet Saturday's handover ceremony took place far from the town plaza that holds a monument with statues of the American soldiers having breakfast as the Filipino revolutionaries raise their machetes at the start of the onslaught. Story continues Manila had pushed for the bells' return since at least the 1990s, with backing from Philippine presidents, its influential Catholic Church and supporters in the United States. But the repatriation was long held back by some American lawmakers and veterans who viewed the bells, two of which were in the US state of Wyoming and the third at a US base in South Korea, as tributes to fallen soldiers. A confluence of factors earlier this year, that included a key veterans' group dropping its opposition, culminated in the bells landing in Manila aboard a US military cargo plane on Tuesday for a solemn handover. Duterte, 73, bluntly called on Washington in a 2017 speech: "Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are not yours." His arrival in power in mid-2016 was marked by moves to split from Manila's historical ally and former colonial master the United States. At the same time, Duterte signalled an end to the standoff with Beijing over the disputed South China Sea. Yet for some in Balangiga the bells' return is also a somber occasion tinged with the pain of the past, which has been passed from generation to generation. "It's mixed emotions because the bells also remind me of what happened," Constancia Elaba, 62, told AFP, adding how she grew up hearing stories of the episode from her father. "It was painful and you cannot take it away from us. We can never forget that," she said. "Are beauty pageants incompatible with feminism?" "Are beauty pageants incompatible with feminism?" As the Miss Universe Pageant unfolds today in Bangkok, Thailand, Filipinos are eagerly watching the nations candidate Maria Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray as she competes against the delegates of 93 other countries. In the preliminary events leading up to todays competitionevening gown, swimsuitGray was a standout for her charming smile and fluid facial expressions ranging from sweet and sincere to seductive and sexy. But she captured the worlds attention with her now-signature moves. In the swimsuit walk, wearing a fuchsia-pink bikini, Gray executed a slow spin while quickly whipping her head around, causing an amazingly buoyant hair flip. Fans dubbed this the Slo-Mo Twirl. In the evening gown portion, Gray, her curves accentuated by a beaded flame-colored dress, seemed not so much to walk the runway but rather ooze across it, undulating like lava flowing down a mountain. This move, called the Lava Walk, was another hit. The terms should be copy-righted. Both moves are so popular with viewers that videos are appearing on the internet showing Gray doing them over and over in a loop, as fans dissect each frame of movement and arc of motion. Gray is seeking to be the countrys fourth Miss U titleholder after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), and Pia Wurtzbach (2015). But each time pageant season rolls around, the debate on whether beaucons (beauty contests) advance or retard the feminist cause reignites. Are beauty pageants incompatible with feminism? They promote objectification and body shame. Many, if not all, contestants, have undergone cosmetic surgery, dental and skin treatments, and other invasive and manipulative procedures to bring their appearances closer to the culturally-imposed beauty standard which is Western in its ideals. In the Philippines, contestants who are mixed-race with predominantly Caucasian looks have better chances of winning or placing, favoring those whove won the genetics sweepstakes. Overall, African- and Asian-looking candidates, particularly those who are dark-skinned, do not fare well in international pageants, pointing to the racism and lookism that are at the core of the events.But the question of being pro- or anti-beaucon is complicated because of other factors that enter into the equation. One is freedom of choiceas some women may decide to burn their bras and eschew makeup, others may choose to enter pageants if they wish. As suffragist Lucy Stone said in 1855, in a statement that cuts both ways: It is very little to me to have the right to vote, to own property, etcetera, if I may not keep my body, and its uses, in my absolute right. Another factor to consider is national pride. With little to boost our collective spirits nowadays and much to dampen it, seeing our compatriots triumph on the world stage bearing our flag uplifts and inspires. When it comes to global accomplishments, the majority of Filipinos are concerned with two categoriessports and beauty. Achievers in other fieldsscience, music, artsattract less attention. Manny Pacquiao (boxer) and Wurtzbach get more recognition from the person on the street than Reina Reyes (astrophysicist) or Lisa Macuja (globally acclaimed ballerina). This reflects the battle between low-brow and high-brow, between the pop culture of the masses and high culture of the elites. Given this, putting down beaucons can be perceived as being elitist. Pageant contestants, like competitors in other fields, work hard with determination to accomplish personal goals and achieve fame and fortune, albeit within an entrenched patriarchal system that rewards genetic luck and augmented beauty over skills, character, and intelligence. In time this may change as we mature as a people. Certainly we must not raise our daughters to believe that their worth lies in superficial attributes such as appearance. Such an attitude is discriminatory, counter-productive, and demeaning. But the fact is that at the moment Miss U is happening whether we object to pageants or not, and we might as well support our manok. Gray is a strong contender. Missosology on Twitter, which prides itself on having correctly predicted the winner of this years Miss World contest (Mexicos Vanessa Ponce de Leon), held Dec. 8 in China, tweeted two days ago: Miss Philippines Catriona Gray is Missosologys Choice for Miss Universe 2018! May she of the Slo-Mo Twirl and Lava Walk bring home the crown! Dr. Ortuoste is rooting for the Pambansang Muning, CAT-riona Gray. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO DETROIT (AP) The Latest on a man convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman on a plane (all times local): 2:40 p.m. A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during an overnight flight from Las Vegas to Detroit. Prabhu Ramamoorthy was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Detroit. He was jailed after being accused of molesting a woman on an overnight flight in January. The 23-year-old victim says he unzipped her pants, unbuttoned her shirt and molested her with his hands while she slept. Investigators say Ramamoorthy was in a middle seat sitting next to the victim, and his wife was sitting next to the aisle. Prosecutors called it a "brazen" assault. Ramamoorthy is a native of India. He came to the U.S. on a work visa in 2015 and will be deported after the prison term. ___ 5:40 a.m. Federal prosecutors in Detroit are seeking nearly 11 years in prison for an Indian man convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during a commercial flight. Prabhu Ramamoorthy is expected in federal court Thursday in Detroit. He was jailed after being accused of molesting a woman with his hands while she slept on an overnight flight from Las Vegas to Detroit in January. Ramamoorthy was in a middle seat sitting next to the victim, and his wife was sitting next to the aisle. Prosecutors called it a "brazen" assault. Defense attorneys are seeking a prison term of less than 10 years, arguing Ramamoorthy's "life as he knew it is over." Ramamoorthy had been in the U.S. on a work visa. He'll eventually be deported to India because of the conviction. (Photo: Ji Sub Jeong/HuffPost) After nearly three decades of raising awareness about heart disease in women, cardiologist Dr. Nieca Goldberg still has female patients who said they hesitated to call for help at the onset of a heart attack. Often many women I meet tell me they just took an aspirin and checked out the symptoms on the internet, said Goldberg, the medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Womens Health at NYU Langone. And truly, if you think you have a heart attack, you need to call 911 and not waste time going online to check your symptoms. Its not just Goldbergs patients. A study released this week by the European Society of Cardiology found that women having a heart attack wait approximately 37 minutes longer than men before contacting medical services. Researchers performed the retrospective analysis on 4,360 patients 20 percent of whom were women treated at Triemli Hospital in Switzerland from 2000 to 2016. (The study did not find that the delay was associated with higher rates of death.) One of the reasons women wait longer to call for help is that they dont know that heart attack symptoms for women are sometimes different from mens, according to the studys author and experts interviewed by HuffPost after its release. Men often get crushing chest pain. Its kind of clear. Theyll call for help or go to the ER, said Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, an expert in female cardiovascular medicine at New Yorks Mount Sinai hospital who works with the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women initiative. Its possible for women to experience the classic chest-clutching, arm-numbing signs of heart attack, but sometimes theyre far less obvious. Womens symptoms could be more subtle, like shortness of breath or jaw pain, back pain, nausea, vomiting, even flu-like symptoms. Signs can also include throat, neck, chest, stomach or shoulder pain that lasts for more than 15 minutes and cold sweat, dizziness and weakness. The subtleties of these symptoms sometimes lead women to believe maybe they will feel better soon or its going to pass, and they dont reach out for help, Steinbaum added. Story continues Goldberg said women might hesitate because theyre worried about looking silly if they show up at the hospital and arent having a heart attack. But she and Steinbaum agree that the risk is far too high to ignore the symptoms. The head of my fellowship program used to say, Remember, time is muscle, Steinbaum said. The longer you wait, the higher the chance of damaging a bigger part of your heart, and if that happens, the greater chance of really becoming quite sick with heart failure or death. Despite the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, heart disease has been historically perceived as a mans disease and has been studied and treated as such. Its not that women dont have heart attacks, said Goldberg. Its that they differ in women, presenting differently and often later in life. The most common time for [women] to have them is about 10 years after menopause, whereas in men, the prime time to have a heart attack is their 40s and 50s. Heart attack rates are rising among people ages 35 to 54 and those rates are rising faster among women. About 80 percent of cardiovascular disease can be prevented. That is why its important to raise awareness about heart disease in women, its prevalence and how it differs from heart disease in men not just among patients but among members of the medical and research community as well, where womens needs arent getting the attention they should. A Womens Disease Too During her residency, Goldberg once heard a doctor say women dont get heart disease. Then in 1990 a female patient came in with what she suspected were symptoms of a heart attack. While other doctors told the patient she was likely just stressed, Goldberg wasnt convinced. After a stress test came back abnormal, she persuaded the patients doctors to do further cardiac testing. The patient was found to have a 99 percent blockage in a major heart artery on the precipice one of the deadliest types of heart attacks there is. Goldberg said a lot of advances have been made since then but more has to be done to dispel the myth that heart disease affects mostly men. Gender disparities in diagnosis and treatment are still considered a significant issue. A study published by the American Heart Association in February found that when women sought medical care for heart attack symptoms, 53 percent of the time, their health care providers did not believe their symptoms were health related. Thats compared with 37 percent of men who were told the same thing. In August a report from Stony Brook University in New York found that women having a heart attack waited 20 percent longer than men did from the moment they arrived at the hospital to when they began to receive care. That month another study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, showed that women are more likely to survive a heart attack if their cardiologist is a woman. Heart attack symptoms in women can include throat, neck, chest, stomach or shoulder pain that lasts for more than 15 minutes. (Photo: Zinkevych via Getty Images) I think its become important to understand there are studies that have shown that doctors have really not been as proactive about taking care of their women patients compared to their male patients when it comes to heart disease whether its because theyre not as aware or perhaps because there is an unconscious gender bias to it, Steinbaum said. I would like to believe in the medical world, [bias] doesnt exist, but the problem is we are all human beings, she added. Part of the problem, Goldberg said, is a lack of female cardiologists, who have thus far led the way when it comes to researching and raising awareness of heart disease in women. I think a lot of the movement on cardiovascular disease in women has been led by women who are cardiologists, she said. But we make up only 12.5 percent of the board-certified cardiologists in our country. And I think our male colleagues have to also get involved. Giving women the knowledge and language to communicate their symptoms is an important way to overcome possible bias, Goldberg and Steinbaum stressed. Women themselves, theyre not educated about the symptoms. Theyre not really good advocates for themselves to even go and say, Im not sure, but I might be having a heart issue, Steinbaum said. I think personal advocacy becomes a very, very important part of this. The Knowledge Gap Steinbaum said the conversation around heart disease began to shift in 1984, when more women began dying of the disease than men. Before then, all heart disease research was done on men, she added. Women were just not part of those trials and certainly not part of the major preventive trials. So weve gone from not having women in trials to now beginning to study womens hearts and realizing there is a fundamental difference [between women and men], and we are learning. For instance, it is known that conditions such as diabetes, lack of exercise and cigarette smoking increase both mens and womens risk for heart attack. But research has revealed that there are others conditions, including gestational diabetes and autoimmune disease, that can increase the risk of heart disease specifically for women, according to Goldberg. Both cardiologists said to learn more about the unique issues in heart disease among women, more research must be done regarding prevention, risk factors, and treatment. Steinbaum said this includes having women represented in clinical trials for pharmaceuticals and devices that are used in treatment and surgery. Womens participation in research studies is only about 20 percent, Goldberg said. Its especially low among black women, who are disproportionately affected by strokes. Almost 50 percent of African-American women ages 20 or older have some form of cardiovascular disease. But Steinbaum said they get less care and are less likely to be involved in clinical trials than white women. Unless we have women represented in clinical trials, we wont have enough information about treatment and diagnosis for women in heart disease, Goldberg said. Neither she or Steinbaum knows why so few participate in clinical trials, but they hypothesize that at least part of it is that many women are still the primary caretakers for their families and are too busy juggling work, children and more to participate in trials that are time-consuming. We have to make research easier for potential individuals to engage in and give them a better understanding about participation in research and how it will drive important changes in health care in women, Goldberg said. In the meantime, spreading the word about the particular ways heart disease can manifest in women is crucial to making sure they recognize the signs and get the help they need and fast. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. PHOENIX (AP) Sen. Jon Kyl is resigning from the seat he was appointed to less than four months ago following the death of John McCain, Gov. Doug Ducey announced Friday, a development which gives Ducey a second opportunity to fill the position. Kyl, 76, had said he was only committed to serving through the end of the year, although Ducey said he had hoped to persuade him to serve through 2020. His resignation is effective Dec. 31 and forces a pivotal decision by the state's Republican governor. That's because voters in 2020 will get to decide who fills McCain's seat for the final two years of its six-year term. Democrats picked up Arizona's other Senate seat in November and are already targeting the state in 2020 as part of their possible path to re-taking control of the Senate, increasing the pressure on Ducey to select someone who can hold the seat for the GOP. Ducey said he will pick a replacement "in the near future." His office has been typically tight-lipped about who might fill the seat, leading to frenzied speculation in Arizona and Washington. There may be pressure on Ducey to select a woman, because the three most prominent possible Democratic challengers are men. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, former astronaut and current gun control advocate Mark Kelly and former state Attorney General Grant Woods, who left the GOP to become a Democrat this year, have all mulled running for the seat in 2020. Women voters are seen as key to both parties, and Ducey took pains in his state of the state address early this year to highlight prominent women. Under state law, the governor must appoint a Republican because McCain was elected as a member of the GOP. The most prominent Republican politician whose name has been floated is Rep. Martha McSally, who just lost a race for the state's other Senate seat to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema last month. A former air force colonel who was mentored by Kyl, McSally has drawn criticism from some Republicans for running a campaign that focused on her closeness to President Donald Trump and tried to portray Sinema as a radical liberal. Story continues Still, McSally only lost the race by two percentage points in a bad year for Republicans, and she's long been seen within the party as a possible senator. Other Republican women whose names have been floated do not have her experience running in competitive elections, especially statewide. They include Eileen Klein, a former health care executive appointed state treasurer by Ducey last year. She did not run for re-election. Some Republicans have also speculated about an appointment for Barbara Barrett, a former Ambassador to Finland and businesswoman who unsuccessfully ran in a GOP gubernatorial primary in 1994. Some Republicans have urged the appointment of McCain's widow, Cindy, to the seat. Notably, Ducey did not select her in the weeks after the senator's death, and there remains widespread animosity toward the McCain family from the GOP's conservative base. One of the most often-mentioned names is Ducey's chief of staff, Kirk Adams, a onetime state lawmaker who resigned from the governor's office on Nov. 26 and whose last day working for Ducey was Friday. Other names that have surfaced include Bill Montgomery, who leads the top prosecutorial office in Maricopa County, the state's largest, and former Rep. Matt Salmon. Ducey's selection of the well-respected Kyl following McCain's Aug. 25 death allowed him to dodge the controversy over a replacement during his own re-election campaign. But Kyl, who had previously served in the Senate for Arizona, made it clear he only agreed to the appointment out of a sense of duty and had no plans to stay in the job for long. Kyl's brief resignation letter said he decided to resign at the end of 2018 so that Ducey's new appointee "can begin the new term with all other senators in January 2019 and can serve a full two (potentially four) years." Kyl noted that when he accepted Ducey's appointment that he agreed to serve through December and then re-evaluate whether to serve longer. "Senator Kyl didn't need to return to the Senate," Ducey said in a statement. "His legacy as one of Arizona's most influential and important political figures was already without question. But he did return, and I remain deeply grateful for his willingness to step up and serve again when Arizona needed him. I wish him and his family all the best." McCain died at age 81 at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona just over a year after he announced he had glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer that came with a dire diagnosis. ___ Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Paul Davenport contributed to this report from Phoenix. WASHINGTON A senior Trump administration official told reporters on Friday that the president had decided to give his new pick for chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, an interim title. The official spoke to reporters minutes after President Trump announced on Twitter that Mulvaney, his current budget director, would be the new acting White House chief of staff. Despite the acting designation, Mulvaneys appointment is not limited in scope and will include all of the responsibilities of a position that is widely considered one of the most powerful in the White House, the official said. Theres no time limit. Hes the acting chief of staff, which means hes the chief of staff, the official said. He got picked because the president liked him. They get along. The official also cited Mulvaneys experience as a former congressman who knows Capitol Hill as a reason Trump chose him for the job, while also praising Mulvaney as fiscally responsible. In a White House that has seen a record amount of turnover, Mulvaney will be Trumps third chief of staff, following John Kelly and, earlier, Reince Priebus. On Dec. 8, Trump announced that Kelly, a former Marine Corps general who was Trumps first secretary of homeland security, would be leaving his post at the end of the year. Kellys departure came after widespread reports of tensions with Trump. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 18, 2018. (Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) The official who discussed Mulvaneys selection with reporters said Kelly was pleased with the decision. The current chief is happy. The current chief is fine. The current chief will stay till the end of the year, the official said. The official was pressed on why Mulvaneys title was acting chief of staff and replied, Because thats what the president wants. Another senior administration official then piped in to discuss the distinction. Well see, the other official said of the importance of the word acting. Its what the president wants right now, and if we have anything else well let you know. Story continues Both officials declined to speak on record. Trump has previously given a temporary title to another senior staffer who later was upgraded to a permanent position. In August 2017, the presidents longtime aide Hope Hicks was named interim communications director following the abrupt departure of Anthony Scaramucci. The White House announced that Hicks would have the position on a permanent basis the following month. Hicks held the communications director post for six months before resigning in February. Mulvaney has served multiple positions in the Trump administration. In February 2017, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. He took over as the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in November 2017, leading to a legal battle with opponents of his selection. Mulvaney has scaled back the activities of the financial watchdog agency, which was renamed the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection under his leadership. Mulvaney served as one of South Carolinas representatives in the House from 2007 until 2017, when he was confirmed to lead the OMB. The senior administration official said Mulvaneys deputy, Russell Vought, would take over the helm of the OMB. In June, the White House announced that Trump planned to nominate Kathleen Kraninger to lead the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraninger, who worked under Mulvaney, had his endorsement, and she was sworn in after a tight Senate confirmation vote earlier this month. Trumps chief of staff announcement came after an arduous week of speculation about who would head the White House staff. After Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff, turned down an offer for the job, the White House scrambled to identify another candidate. Several people were reportedly under consideration, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the presidents son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. On Friday morning, White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley told reporters Trump was considering multiple options and could even ask Kelly to stay on. The president said yesterday he has about five names in the hopper. We expect him to make an announcement pretty quickly, Gidley said, adding: Obviously, if the president and the chief of staff make another deal and extend it, they can do that. Its their prerogative to do so. Right now, currently, John Kelly is expected to leave at the first of the year. The president is also expected to make an announcement imminently. Im not going to tell you who thats going to be, and I definitely dont have any tips for you. Trumps tweet on Friday evening came less than an hour after the White House press office declared that the president would have no further public activities, and the announcement sent reporters sprinting through the White House. The senior official said that Mulvaney met with Trump face to face on Friday and that the new chief of staff didnt find out about it on Twitter. Mulvaney did take to the social media site to react to the news. This is a tremendous honor. I look forward to working with the President and the entire team. Its going to be a great 2019! Mulvaney wrote. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Men next to a sign reading A seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died hours after being taken into custody for illegally attempting to enter the US, officials said. The girl, named as Jackeline Caal by Guatemala's foreign ministry, died of dehydration and shock around nine hours after being taken into US custody. Jackeline and her father, identified as 29-year-old Nery Caal, were part of a large group of migrants who were detained by border patrol agents after they were found along a remote stretch of the US-Mexico border. Border officials as saying she had not eaten or consumed water for several days. Jackeline's death raises questions over how officials assess the welfare of migrants they take into custody at a time when increasing numbers of children and families are making the difficult journey north from Central America. Many of them say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries. Honduran migrants sit after crossing the US border wall and turning themselves into US border patrol agents in San Diego Credit: AP President Donald Trump's administration has come under fire for its hard-line stance on immigration, including stating that he had authorised US troops to use "lethal force" on the border if necessary. Jackeline and her father were taken into custody at about 9.15 pm on December 6 in a group of 163 people in remote New Mexico, about 90 miles from the nearest Border Patrol station in Lordsburg. A Border Patrol form completed shortly after she was detained said she showed no signs of sickness but the agency confirmed the girl later started experiencing fever and seizures while in its custody. Jackeline's father said she began vomiting hours after being placed on a bus to a border patrol station and had stopped breathing by the time she arrived at the facility. Emergency medical technicians revived her and she was flown to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, where she suffered cardiac arrest and died shortly after midnight on December 8, officials said. A U.S. Border Patrol agent patrols Sunland Park along the U.S.-Mexico border Credit: AP They added that Jackeline's father was driven to El Paso and was at the hospital when she died. Story continues It comes after a toddler died in May just after being released from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Texas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the girl was "apprehended with her father for illegal entry with a group of 163 illegal aliens" on Thursday of last week. Kirstjen Nielsen, the DHS chief, told Fox News: "It's heart-wrenching. This is a very sad example of the dangers of this journey. This family chose to cross illegally." A department statement earlier said: "Our sincerest condolences go out to the family of the child. "Border Patrol agents took every possible step to save the child's life under the most trying of circumstances. As fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, we empathise with the loss of any child." The DHS watchdog will review the incident and an autopsy into Jackeline's death has been scheduled. The head of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection, will appear in front of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee next week, Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the panel, said on Twitter. "We will be demanding immediate answers to this tragedy," Mr Nadler said. Guatemalan consular officials said they have spoken with the father who was deeply upset. "It is important to show that, unfortunately, the places where migrants now enter are more dangerous and the distances they travel are greater," they said. In a separate development, it emerged this week that authorities arrested 170 immigrants who came forward to sponsor migrant children in government custody. ICE said that the arrests were of people suspected of being in the country illegally and were the result of background checks. Nearly two thirds of those arrested, 109 in all, had no criminal record, the agency said. Another 61 of those arrested did have criminal records, but ICE said it could not break down convictions by violent and nonviolent offences. The arrests follow a move by Mr Trump's administration earlier this year that allowed immigration authorities to examine the criminal background and legal status of anyone who steps forward to sponsor unaccompanied migrant children, usually parents or close relatives already in the US, as well as any other adults living in their home. London (AFP) - A senior government minister called Saturday for British MPs from all parties to "forge a consensus" on Brexit to avoid a potentially damaging "no deal" withdrawal from the EU in March. Work and pensions minister Amber Rudd said Brexit could succeed "if politicians are willing to try a different way and only if a coalition of those who want what's best for this country argue a little less and compromise a little more". Her comments, in an article in the Daily Mail newspaper, come after Prime Minister Theresa May returned from an EU summit without the reassurances she said she needed to get her Brexit deal through the House of Commons. Few people now believe the agreement, forged over 17 months of tough negotiations with Brussels, will pass in a vote of MPs planned for January. That raises the prospect that Britain could leave the European Union with no arrangements at all on March 29. Rudd opposed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, and was reported by The Times newspaper to be among five cabinet ministers discussing whether another referendum is necessary if May's deal fails. The prime minister has repeatedly ruled out holding a second referendum, but there is growing support for the idea among opposition Labour MPs. In Brussels, EU leaders refused to renegotiate the Brexit deal and several said the problem of its ratification could be resolved only by MPs. But the ruling Conservative party is deeply divided, and hardline Brexiteers this week forced a confidence vote in the prime minister. May won but 117 of her colleagues -- more than one-third -- voted against her. Afterwards, she called for MPs on all sides to come together, but aides said this referred to Conservatives and their Northern Irish allies, who are also opposed to the Brexit deal. Some Labour MPs have complained that May has failed to engage with them to get a deal through parliament. But many Conservatives accuse Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of opposing the Brexit deal for political rather than substantial reasons, hoping the chaos in government will bring a snap election. For now, Corbyn is demanding MPs have a vote on May's deal next week, and on Friday accused her of "recklessly running down the clock" as Brexit approaches on March 29. He is under pressure to launch a confidence vote in the government in the Commons, but has held off so far because he believes May would win. The interview that Michael Cohen gave ABC News on Friday morning should show Donald Trump one thing; that until he surrenders to begin a three-year prison sentence next March, he is unlikely to go away. Cohen said that he was done being loyal to the president having been sentenced over a number of charges, including campaign finance violations for arranging payments during the 2016 election to silence women who have claimed to have affairs with Trump. Im done with the lying, the presidents former lawyer said. Im done being loyal to President Trump. My first loyalty belongs to my wife, my daughter, my son and this country. Cohen has implicated Trump in his criminal conduct, although the president has said he has done nothing illegal and the payments are a civil matter at worst. Asked why he should be believed, Cohen said: Because the special counsel stated emphatically that the information that I gave to them is credible and helpful. Theres a substantial amount of information that they possess that corroborates the fact that I am telling the truth. Up until now, as Mr Trumps former associates including former campaign manager Paul Manafort have faced convictions or agreed plea deals with special counsel Robert Mueller, the president has sought to distance himself and move past the news as quickly as he can. While his anger at the Mueller-Russia probe has run into hundreds of tweets, individuals such as Cohen, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Manafort appear relatively rarely. Trumps White House did the same on Friday, as it sought to play down another reported federal investigation, this one into spending for the presidents inauguration in 2016 and whether some of the inaugural committees donors made contributions in exchange for political favours and access to the Trump administration. Any such behaviour, according to The Wall Street Journal, which broke the report of the investigation, would be a potential violation of federal corruption laws. Story continues When asked if there were any improprieties with the inauguration funding, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said: The president of the United States has one job at the inauguration. Its to show up This charge has nothing to do with the president of the United States, and it has nothing to do with this administration. The inaugural committee said it was unaware of any investigations. However, if Cohen is pledging to be a thorn in the side of the president, the mounting investigations become difficult to ignore. Muellers probe into election meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign appears to be gathering pace, with Flynn another one to be criticised by the special counsels office on Friday. Muellers team was responding to the suggestion from Flynns lawyers that he had lied to federal investigators a crime he is due to be sentenced for next week as he had not been made aware that it is a crime. As the various elements of the probe such as hearings and sentencing begin to come thick and fast, the Trump White House cannot deal with them individually. The news cycles overlap and any strategy to compartmentalise them becomes less tenable. Trump has denied any guilt in all elements of the investigations involving his associates, declaring no collusion and calling Muellers probe in particular a witch hunt. But as the latest developments fill the news day after day, the president can seemingly no longer try to ignore them. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has urged a federal judge to reject an attempt by Michael Flynn to minimise the seriousness of him lying to the FBI. Mr Muellers team was responding to a sentencing memo from Flynns lawyers criticising the FBI interviews with their client, saying agents did not provide him with a warning of the penalties for misleading investigators. Mr Mueller, who is heading an investigation into Russias alleged interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign, hit back, saying: A sitting national security advisor, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lt Gen, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents. In a note to a judge in Washington DC, he added: He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth. The defendant undoubtedly was aware, in light of his many years working with the FBI, that lying to the FBI carries serious consequences. Earlier this month, Mr Mueller told a court that the 60-year-old former general, who last year pleaded guilty to one charge of lying to the FBI over his contacts with Russian officials, among them Russias former US ambassador Sergey Kislyak, had been so cooperative he should not go to jail. His early cooperation was particularly valuable because he was one of the few people with long-term and firsthand insight, prosecutors wrote. The defendant deserves credit for accepting responsibility in a timely fashion and substantially assisting the government. They added: Given the defendants substantial assistance and other considerations set forth below, a sentence at the low end of the guideline range including a sentence that does not impose a term of incarceration is appropriate and warranted. Despite Mr Muellers request that the judge should leniency when Flynn is sentenced on December 18, earlier this week, the former military officers lawyers filed their own document, claiming that then-FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe pushed Flynn not to have an attorney present during the questioning that ultimately led to his guilty plea on a single charge of lying to federal authorities. Story continues The agents did not provide General Flynn with a warning of the penalties for making a false statement under 18 USC 1001 before, during, or after the interview, the lawyers wrote. Prior to the FBIs interview of General Flynn, Mr McCabe and other FBI officials decided the agents would not warn Flynn that it was a crime to lie during an FBI interview because they wanted Flynn to be relaxed, and they were concerned that giving the warnings might adversely affect the rapport, one of the agents reported. In his response to the filing, Mr Muellers team attached two partly redacted documents, including notes typed on January 24 2017 by Mr McCabe about his conversation with Flynn. I explained to [Flynn] that my desire was to have two of my agents interview him as quickly, quietly and discretely as possible. He agreed and offered to meet with the agents today. We had some discussion about timing and ultimately agreed to conduct the interview at his office in the White House at 14.30 this afternoon, Mr MCabe wrote. I explained that I thought the quickest way to get this done was to have a conversation between him and the agents only. I further stated that if [Flynn] wished to include anyone else in the meeting, like the White House Counsel for instance, that I would need to involve the Department of Justice. He added: He stated that this would not be necessary and agreed to meet with the agents without any additional participants. In his message to the judge, Mr Mueller wrote that the seriousness of the defendants offence cannot be called into question. He added: While the circumstances of the interview do not present mitigating considerations, assuming the defendant continues to accept responsibility for his actions, his cooperation and military service continue to justify a sentence at the low end of the guideline range. The travails of Flynn are among several setbacks relating to people previously close to the president or his campaign. This week, a court in New York ordered Mr Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen to go to jail for three years, after he admitted paying hush money to women on the eve of the election, at the behest of the man now sitting in the Oval Office. Meanwhile, his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, is due to be sentenced in March after the the collapse of his plea agreement on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. In September, the 69-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. That plea followed his August conviction in federal court in Virginia for bank and tax charges related to the work in Ukraine. He faces sentencing February 8 on those eight counts. USA Today said the combined punishments could become a life sentence. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Twas the night before Christmas and in the White House, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes Border Wall funding soon would be there. POTUS was sleeping, all tucked in his bed, While visions of tariffs danced in his head. He dreamed of the year that had just run its course, A travel ban upheld, the launch of Space Force. Trump kept his word no nuke deal with Iran, And warned of invasion from a rogue caravan. He and the Dems bickered over immigration, As migrant families faced border separation. There were summits abroad with Putin and Kim, And support for the Saudis despite a murder so grim. Twice in two years came a SCOTUS nomination, As the country witnessed a wrenching confirmation. In the Oval, Kanyes rant was rambling and blue, While the First Ladys jacket claimed I dont care do U? Trump said goodbye to Generals Kelly and McMaster, A wonder he didnt fire Jeff Sessions any faster. The West Wing was rattled by a New York Times release, Citing quiet resistance in an unsigned op-ed piece. Trump rallied his base during midterm travel, But soon Speaker Pelosi will again hold the gavel. Day after day, POTUS lashed out on Twitter, Sending out tweets, often hurtful and bitter. Melanias new platform tells kids to Be Best, But Donalds remarks put her cause to the test. More rapid than eagles, the insults they came, He shouted at critics, while calling them names: Now, Lowlife! now, Horseface! Low-IQ Maxine! Youre the most corrupt politician Ive ever seen! Sloppy Steve, Weak Person youre nothing but talk! Tillerson was lazy and dumb as a rock! Trump badgered Mueller, his language was biting, Still, he gave Angry Democrats his answers in writing. Hush money payments and contact with Russians Made impeachment a topic in D.C. discussions. All of a sudden, there arose such a clatter, POTUS jumped up to see what was the matter. When, who should appear but a rude, terrible person; It was reporter Jim Acosta things surely did worsen. The tension was thick and tempers did spike, When Acosta refused to give up the mike. And I heard Trump exclaim on the North Lawn grass: Merry Christmas to all! Im revoking your pass! Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will legalise thousands of settlement homes built without even Israeli permits in the occupied West Bank following a deadly attack, he announced Thursday. All settlements are considered illegal under international law, but Israel draws a distinction between those it sanctions and those constructed without permission. Netanyahu's office said in a statement he would seek to legalise thousands of homes built without Israeli permits in the West Bank. He would also look into building 82 new homes in Ofra, a settlement near to where Thursday's attack took place. "They think they can uproot us from our land, they will not succeed," he said in a statement. Netanyahu also said they would be seeking to speed up the process of destroying homes of Palestinian attackers, so it takes place within 48 hours, as well as withdrawing Israeli work permits for family members of assailants. The international community considers Israeli settlement building a major obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace, though Netanyahu's government denies this. Managua (AFP) - Nicaraguan police have raided the offices of an opposition daily and then stripped human rights and activist groups' permission to operate, those targeted said Saturday. Nine police officers armed with rifles entered the offices late Friday and started pushing people, beating others and making fun of reporters after journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro challenged them to take on his media outlet without a search warrant in his online daily Confidencial and news broadcasts Esta Semana and Esta Noche, he said. What you are doing "is just de facto. If you have the order, I ask you to show it," Chamorro said from the street to the agent who barred him and other colleagues from entering the offices. "Police did not show any order at all... so this is an armed assault on private property, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and free enterprise," he later told reporters. Confidencial's front door was sealed with tape following the raid. Police seized work equipment and documents. Chamorro went to the police headquarters to demand the return of equipment, noting that the newspaper and television programs "are private companies attached to the commercial register, and have nothing to do with organizations that are being persecuted." The offices of the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) and four other NGOs in Managua were also occupied, and lawmakers cancelled their permits to operate. "Brutal display of brute force against journalists from @confidencial_ni in Nicaragua... this regime... aims to demolish critical voices in its country," Human Rights Watch director Jose Miguel Vivanco said on Twitter. Leftist President Daniel Ortega first came to power in 1979 as a leader of the leftist Sandinista rebels that toppled the US-backed Somoza family dictatorship. After leaving office in 1990 he returned to power in 2007. By Ismael Lopez MANAGUA (Reuters) - Nicaraguan authorities on Friday said they had seized the assets of 10 blacklisted organizations, dealing another blow to civil society after months of protests against President Daniel Ortega that were met with a heavy-handed crackdown. Nicaraguan lawmakers allied with Ortega banned the 10 non-governmental organizations critical of the government from legal status earlier in the week, blocking them from operating. The interior ministry said in a statement on Friday their assets will be put into a "fund for the victims of terrorism," without elaborating. The government had described the people who took part in mass demonstrations against Ortega over some eight months, many of which grew violent, as "terrorists." One group critical of Ortega, the prominent Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, or Cenidh, said on Friday that police had taken over its headquarters and that of an affiliated site. Cenidh estimates that this year's protests left at least 322 people dead and more than 500 people in jail. Prominent journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, the son of former President Violeta Chamorro, said police stormed his offices on Friday after making an initial raid the night before. Chamorro, a frequent critic of Ortega, runs the digital newspaper Confidencial and hosts television news programs. He blamed the Thursday raid, when he said police seized his equipment, on increasingly authoritarian efforts to purge the country of domestic dissent. "This was an absurd attack on free expression," Chamorro told Reuters. Police seized computers and other equipment after breaking open door locks purportedly seeking to enter the offices of Cinco, a separate organization run by Chamorro that was ordered closed by lawmakers loyal to Ortega, he said. Cinco, described on its website as a research organization focused on communications, culture, democracy and public opinion, had moved to another location years ago, but the police were not deterred, Chamorro said. Earlier in the week, Nicaragua's telecommunications regulator ordered a satellite television network to remove from its offerings the opposition television news channel 100% Noticias. Ortega's opponents accuse the veteran leftist of attempting to cement an authoritarian family dynasty along with his wife, Rosario Murillo, who he chose to be his vice president. Chamorro is the son of slain journalist and businessman Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, who opposed right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza in the late 1970s while at the helm of La Prensa newspaper. The younger Chamorro won an award from the Columbia Journalism School in 2010 for his watchdog coverage of Nicaragua. Ortega was also a fierce opponent of Somoza but many of his critics today accuse him of employing similar tactics of repression. (Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by David Alire Garcia and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Bill Trott and Sam Holmes) Abuja (AFP) - The Nigerian military lifted a ban on UNICEF operations in the ravaged northeast late Friday after earlier suspending the aid agency and accusing it of training "spies" supporting Boko Haram jihadists. The military earlier Friday said the United Nations children's agency had this week held workshops in the northeast city of Maiduguri training people for "clandestine" activities that were "sabotaging" counterterrorism efforts. Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency has killed more than 27,000 people since it began in 2009 and has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the wider Lake Chad region, where the jihadists have stepped up attacks in recent months. But after a meeting between the military and the aid agency late Friday, army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said the ban had been revoked following an "intervention by well meaning and concerned Nigerians". "During the meeting, the Theatre Command admonished the representatives of the organisation to desist from activities inimical to Nigeria's national security and capable of undermining the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency," he said in a statement. "The Command also urged UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre,"Nwachukwu said. He said after extensive deliberations "the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF activities in northeastern Nigeria". Nwachukwu had earlier said there was "credible information that some (UNICEF representatives) are indulging in unwholesome practices that could further jeopardise the fight against terrorism and insurgency, as they train and deploy spies who support the insurgents and their sympathisers" and that UNICEF operations would therefore be suspended until further notice. Story continues Boko Haram's bloody uprising in northeastern Nigeria has spread to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, leaving 1.8 million people homeless and millions dependent on aid for survival. Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in 2015 pledging to end the violence, is under increasing pressure to act as he gears up to seek re-election in a February ballot. He has come under attack for previously claiming the Islamists were "technically defeated". The Nigerian military has hit out at media reporting casualty figures of the attacks and even threatened legal action against organisations for publishing unofficial death tolls. It has also dismissed reports from international human rights organisations that it has committed rights violations and war crimes during its fight against Boko Haram. Amnesty International had on Friday condemned the suspension and called on Nigeria to reverse the decision. "We see the suspension of UNICEF as part of a wider drive to intimidate international humanitarian and human rights organisations who are working to save lives in this devastating conflict," said Amnesty's Nigeria director Osai Ojigho. "The Nigerian army has accused UNICEF of 'aiding Boko Haram' - an absurd charge. The suspension of UNICEF will in fact deprive those whose lives have been devastated by the Boko Haram conflict from receiving much-needed humanitarian assistance," Ojigho said. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a court decision against Obamacare as "a great ruling for our country," while a U.S. government official said the decision by a Texas judge would have no immediate impact on health coverage. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday said that Obamacare, known formally as the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional based on its mandate requiring that people buy health insurance. In a decision that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court, O'Connor sided with a coalition of 20 states that argued requiring people to pay for insurance coverage is illegal because a change in tax law last year eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance. "It's a great ruling for our country. We will be able to get great healthcare. We will sit down with the Democrats if the Supreme Court upholds," Trump told reporters during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a rainy Saturday. Trump offered no details on the potential for healthcare talks with the Democrats, who are poised to take majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives in early January. The Senate will remain in Republican hands. O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law. The head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Affordable Care Act, said there were no changes and exchanges were open for business. "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court," CMS Administrator Seema Verma wrote on Twitter on Saturday. "Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place. "There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan, she said late on Friday. HIGH POLITICAL STAKES Since the law's formative stages amid concern about millions of Americans lacking health insurance, Republicans have opposed Obamacare, calling it a costly and unneeded government intrusion into Americans' lives. Trump campaigned against it in 2016. They have repeatedly tried, but failed, to repeal the law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Even with control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2017, Republicans could not push through a repeal. The O'Connor ruling underscored the high political stakes involved in the divide over healthcare, especially for Trump and his fellow Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election. If the Supreme Court were to uphold O'Connor's ruling, it would go a long way toward dismantling Obamacare. That would be a political victory for Republicans, but it would also likely strip millions of Americans of their health coverage, a policy problem for which Republicans have offered no clear solution. About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012. Two days after the Nov. 6 U.S. congressional elections, a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll found that healthcare was the top issue Americans wanted the U.S. Congress to address. 'SILLY, IRRESPONSIBLE' On Friday, O'Connor ruled that after the enactment last year by Trump of a landmark tax bill, the ACA's individual mandate requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax could no longer be considered constitutional. He said because the individual mandate was an "essential" part of Obamacare, the entire law, rather than just the individual mandate, was unconstitutional. Timothy Jost, a health law expert and emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, said it was silly and irresponsible for OConnor to find that the individual mandate could not be separated from the rest of the ACA. He said judges who find that portions of laws are invalid are required to do as little damage as possible to the rest of the law, and OConnor had ignored that principle. Jost noted that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear any appeal in the case, is considered the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. But, OConnor is so far off the reservation here that virtually any (appeals) panel will reverse him, Jost said. Jost noted that in the 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, a lower appeals court had found the individual mandate unlawful, but ruled it could be severed from the rest of the law. That ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is at least as persuasive and probably more persuasive than a decision by a single judge in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jost said. He said the U.S. Supreme Courts conservative wing has been skeptical in the past of striking down entire laws because of a single problematic provision, and at least a bare majority of five justices would likely agree that OConnor was wrong. (Reporting by Caroline Stauffer, Dan Wiessner, Lesley Wroughton, Katanga Johnson, and Kevin Drawbaugh in Washington; additional reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Jonathan Oatis) bitcoin bomb hoax On Friday, as the Bitcoin price fell by around six percent against the U.S. dollar, several reports claimed that the dominant cryptocurrency dropped in value due to bomb threats. One report from Business Insider Australia, for instance, stated that following an email blast of bomb threats in New York, the price of the crypto asset endured a correction. Wrong Argument Against Bitcoin A common misconception that Bitcoin (BTC) by nature is anonymous or impossible to track is simply not correct. As a consensus currency, Bitcoin is based on a decentralized network called the blockchain that is sustained by an open-source community of developers, miners, and node operators. When a miner approves the settlement of a transaction by including it in a block, the transaction is broadcasted to the public blockchain network via nodes which relay information across the network. Through the utilization of the public blockchain network and blockchain explorer tools, anyone on the network is able to track, trace, evaluate, and analyze the wallets that receive a suspicious transaction. Some startups like Chainalysis place tags on certain wallets or transactions that are said to be related to criminal operations and follow the trail. If a tagged wallet sends a transaction to a Know Your Customer (KYC)-enabled fiat-to-crypto exchange, then the authorities can request the exchange to freeze the funds until the investigation comes to an end. Last month, when an initial coin offering (ICO) that raised over $20 million turned out to be an exit scam, major mainstream media outlets in South Korea notified Upbit, the countrys largest crypto exchange, on the situation. Almost immediately after receiving the information, Upbit froze the wallet and the funds in it. The inability of the operators of the exit scam to liquidate their Bitcoin holdings to fiat ultimately led the criminal group to plead guilty to the authorities and reimburse investors affected by the exit scam. Story continues In the case of New York bomb threats, wherein individuals were asked to pay a Bitcoin ransom, the transaction can be traced to the group that issued the threats if the group ever tries to convert the dominant cryptocurrency into the U.S. dollar. The NYPD said in an official announcement: Please be advised there is an email being circulated containing a bomb threat asking for bitcoin payment. While this email has been sent to numerous locations, searches have been conducted and NO DEVICES have been found. Moreover, if the bomb threats caused the price of Bitcoin to decline in an unlikely situation, the termination of the investigation would have led the value of the asset to recover because it discovered no devices connected to the bomb threats. Bad Narrative Most of the criticism against Bitcoin with ties to the potential use case of the asset in criminal cases remains a weak argument because the infrastructure around the asset class has strengthened and it has become nearly impossible to convert BTC to USD without triggering KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems. The post No, the Price of Bitcoin Didnt Drop Because of Bomb Threats appeared first on CCN. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation passed by a lame-duck GOP state Legislature. (Photo: Julie Dermansky via Getty Images) Outgoing Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) on Friday signed off on legislation gutting paid sick leave and minimum wage provisions in the state, the culmination of his partys strategy to keep the popular measures off the ballot last month. Passed by a lame-duck GOP state Legislature, the bills are meant to replace stronger measures that hundreds of thousands of Michigan voters had pushed for in a grassroots effort this fall. The new laws provide mainly a cosmetic lift to the wage floor and a gutted paid sick leave measure that leaves out an estimated 55 percent of the states workers. In a statement on Friday, Snyder said that the original ballot proposals were well-intentioned but would have resulted in burdens for employers. He touted both bills as a win for Michigan workers. I look at legislation presented to me through a policy lens is it the right policy for the state of Michigan and Michiganders as a whole? Thats what I did with these bills and have now signed them into law, Snyder said. The idea that this legislation will help the states working men and women is Orwellian, said Peter Ruark, senior policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy, which backed the original ballot measures. We are extremely disappointed the governor did this, he told HuffPost on Friday. We hoped that he would end his eight years as governor by standing up for working people. Republican lawmakers in Michigan are also considering a host of other measures meant to kneecap the incoming administration the newly elected governor, attorney general and secretary of state are all Democratic women including ones weakening unions and relaxing environmental regulations. Activists had garnered a total of 800,000 signatures on two petitions seeking to put meaningful paid sick leave and a strong minimum wage hike on the ballot in November. Instead, they were thwarted by GOP legislators in September. The lawmakers initially adopted the proposal and passed it into law. But they made it clear at the time that they planned to amend and gut the measures after the election. Story continues And thats what happened. The ballot measure, called One Fair Wage, sought to raise the minimum wage from $9.25 to $12 by 2022. It would have also eliminated the tipped minimum wage, raising it to $12 an hour by 2024, from the current $3.52. The version of the bill Snyder signed delays raising the minimum wage to $12.05 an hour until 2030. That means the minimum wage will go up 23 cents each year. The tipped minimum wage will stay put. Similarly, the paid sick time bill Snyder signed is threaded with holes that leave many part-time workers and family members out in the cold. The ballot measure would have provided for guaranteed paid time off for sick workers and those who need time to care for ailing family members, including domestic partners. Both full-time and part-time workers would have been able to earn paid time off one hour earned for every 30 worked. The version of the measure that was signed makes it more difficult for part-time workers to get coverage, eliminates domestic partners and caps the amount of paid sick time a worker can earn at the lowest level in the nation, according to an analysis done by Danielle Atkinson, the founding director of Mothering Justice, a local activist group that fought to get the measures on the states November ballot. Worse, it allows employers to require advance notice for sick leave. That isnt ideal if your childs school calls in the middle of the day because hes just broken his arm, or if you get sick suddenly. The sick leave bill excludes 55 percent of Michigans workers, according to Ruark. The Time to Care Initiative, which was behind the sick leave proposal, is considering a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the GOPs strategy. Atkinson said she and her group are hardly giving up and will fight for a new ballot measure in 2020. She said theres growing unease with how state lawmakers handled this whole affair. We know we have more people interested in helping us, she said. The Michigan GOPs moves to keep voters from getting to decide on wage and sick leave measures is part of a nationwide push by conservatives to tamp down growing demand for fair wages and real paid sick leave. The U.S. is the only developed economy in the world that provides no guaranteed paid time off for workers who are ill. This is a vicious attack on democracy, said Ellen Bravo, director of Family Values @ Work, a paid sick and family leave advocacy group. Exactly what democracy does not look like. Related Coverage Midwestern Republicans Try To Kneecap New Democratic Governors How The Michigan GOP Gutted A Minimum Wage Hike And Paid Sick Leave Michigan Republicans Rush To Weaken Unions In Lame-Duck Session Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Palestinian security forces scuffled with Hamas supporters as they broke up a protest Friday in the West Bank city of Hebron, witnesses and police said. The protest in the southern West Bank city was planned in support of the Islamist group on the anniversary of its founding. On social media sites, activists posted videos showing the security forces using batons against both male and female demonstrators in Hebron. In Nablus in the northern West Bank, protesters from other factions clashed with Hamas demonstrators after they raised its flag, witnesses said. Adnan al-Damiri, spokesman for the Palestinian police, confirmed they prevented a pro-Hamas protest in Hebron, called initially to demonstrate against Israel. "But Hamas... demonstrated against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its security services in the city centre and not against the (Israeli) occupation." The PA, led by president Mahmud Abbas and his Fatah party, cooperates closely with Israeli security, while Hamas has fought three wars with the Jewish state since 2008. Hamas cells operate in the West Bank despite the PA and Israel seeking to arrest them. Two Israeli soldiers were killed Thursday and two other Israelis injured when a man opened fire at a bus stop at a settlement in the West Bank, before fleeing. Hamas has claimed two other recent shooting attacks in the West Bank but has so far not taken responsibility for Thursday's attack. The Islamist movement has controlled the Gaza Strip since forcing out Abbas's forces in 2007, with the two at loggerheads since. An Egyptian security delegation visited the West Bank's main city of Ramallah to meet with Abbas late Thursday to try to calm tensions. - AFP Defiant yellow vest demonstrators took to the streets of Paris and other French cities on Saturday, but the anti-government protests appeared to be losing steam after major concessions by President Emmanuel Macron and another deadly terror attack on French soil. Riot police fired tear gas and fought with protesters on the Champs Elysees and elsewhere in the capital, but these were minor incidents compared with the widespread rioting and looting that took place a week ago. More than 66,000 took part in demos across the country, half the number of a week ago, and in Paris 2,200 people participated, far fewer than the 10,000 who turned out last Saturday, according to interior ministry figures. Face-off: Police stand guard as 'Mariannes' from the feminist group Femen join the Paris protests Credit: ZAKARIA ABDELKAFI/AFP/Getty Images On Place de la Republique in Paris, a few hundred yellow vests congregated in rain and near-zero temperatures after being pushed out of the Opera district by riot police. They unfurled a banner with the slogan: We want a president of the poor, a jibe at Mr Macron who many French accuse of being a president of the rich who has neglected the small-town and rural voters who make up the bulk of the yellow vest movement. The former investment banker, who is facing the biggest crisis of his presidency, unveiled a series of concessions on Monday to defuse the yellow vest crisis, which takes its name from the high visibility jackets all drivers in France are legally obliged to keep in their cars. He was hoping that the package of tax and minimum wage measures for low-income workers would help bring calm to the country after more than a month of clashes and disruption. French security forces intervene as protests weakened in the face of terror threats Credit: Anadolu His move appeased many French, with public support for the yellow vest protests dropping from more than 80 percent to around 50 percent. But many others, who say the new measures will still not enable them to make ends meet, were set on continuing the protests to try and squeeze more concessions out of the 40-year-old president. His (Macrons) taxes will cancel out the rise in the minimum wage, a 49-year-old computer technician, who declined to give his name, told The Telegraph on the Place de la Republique. Story continues Five 'Mariannes' - the national symbol of the French Republic - confront the gendarmerie Credit: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images He said he had no intention of giving up the fight, and rejected the governments call for calm in the wake of a terror attack this week in Strasbourg in which a gunman shot dead four people before being caught, two days later, and shot dead by police. Thats merely an excuse to try and keep us off the streets. The attack and this protest have nothing to do with each other, he said. Protesters wearing yellow vests (gilets jaunes) demonstrate against rising oil prices and deteriorating economic conditions along the Champs-Elysee About 8,000 police - four times the number of demonstrators - and 14 armoured vehicles were deployed across Paris for Saturdays demonstration, and many streets in the city centre were honeycombed with checkpoints where officers in riot gear checked bags and coats for weapons and helmets. Police said 112 people were taken into custody in Paris. The number of deaths linked to the protest rose to seven after Belgian police said a man accidentally crashed his car on Friday night into a truck that had stalled at a yellow vest roadblock on the Franco-Belgian border. Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen was sentenced this week. A federal judge sentenced Cohen to three years in prison. The president's former fixer previously pleaded guilty to several charges, including violating campaign finance laws, lying to Congress and tax evasion. The campaign finance charges stemmed from hush money payments to women who allegedly had sexual affairs with Trump. The president responded after Cohen's sentencing and said he "never directed" him to break the law. Other major headlines of the week included a jury recommending life in prison for the man convicted of murder for driving into counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally, a deadly shooting at a French Christmas market and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May winning a confidence vote from her Conservative party. Click through the slideshow above to see photos from all of these events and more, and be sure to check back next weekend for our selection of the best photography from the week. Doha (AFP) - Qatar called Saturday for a new regional alliance following the failure of the four-decade-old Gulf Cooperation Council to resolve an 18-month rift between the emirate and its neighbours. Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the boycott imposed on the emirate by Saudi Arabia and its allies had irreparably damaged the existing six-nation structure set up at the height of the Iran-Iraq war in 1981. "The regional alliance has been undermined by the crisis," Sheikh Mohammed told policymakers at the two-day Doha Forum. "Therefore the alliance that existed needs to be reshaped and redesigned to ensure future stability and security of the region." The minister said the GCC had "no teeth" to resolve any dispute. "They have mechanisms in place and never trigger them because some countries believe they are non-binding." He said that despite the failings of the GCC, he still expected a regional solution. Kuwait has been leading diplomatic efforts but has so far been unable to resolve the crisis. The minister was speaking after Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, stayed away from the GCC's annual summit in Riyadh last Sunday despite receiving an invitation from its Saudi hosts. Sheikh Mohammed lashed out at the reasons advanced by Saudi Arabia and its allies Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates for imposing their sweeping boycott. "It was based on lies, it was based on crimes... it was based on creating propaganda to create fear among the people," he said. Riyadh and its allies accused Doha of supporting "terrorist groups", including the Muslim Brotherhood which they blacklist but with which Qatar has longstanding ties. They also accused the emirate of advocating improved relations with Saudi arch rival Iran, with which Qatar shares important offshore gas fields. They set out their complaints in a 13-point list of demands that has been rejected by Doha as an assault on its sovereignty and its right to conduct an independent foreign policy. Story continues In his opening remarks to the forum, the emir said Qatar's Gulf partners needed to show respect for the country's independence. "Our position has not changed on how to solve the Gulf crisis," the Qatari leader said. "This can be achieved by lifting the siege and resolving difference through dialogue and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs." The forum also heard from Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor-Viorel Melescanu who said the European Union was working on organising talks to try to resolve the crisis. Sanaa (AFP) - Huthi rebels on Saturday hailed a ceasefire accord for a vital Yemeni port agreed at UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden, although the deal's implementation remained fragile. The breakthrough agreement at the first round of negotiations since 2016 was a "success", said Daif Allah al-Shami, information minister for the rebels' unrecognised national salvation government. Reached Thursday between the Huthis and a delegation for the internationally recognised government, the accord called for an "immediate" ceasefire in Hodeida city and its lifeline port, a key gateway for aid and food imports in a country where 14 million people stand on the brink of famine. But the fragile truce has already been shaken by sporadic clashes around the Red Sea port city, initially in its eastern and southern neighbourhoods on Friday evening. Although calm returned to Hodeida the next morning, a resident in the eastern part of the city told AFP on Saturday evening they could hear a continuous exchange of fire and artillery. "Did they sign an agreement to end the war or to start it?" he asked. Fighters are to withdraw from the area in the next few days, according to the deal. A prisoner swap involving some 15,000 detainees is also planned and a "mutual understanding" has been struck to facilitate aid deliveries to Yemen's third city Taiz -- under the control of loyalists but besieged by rebels. The two sides agreed to meet again in late January, for more talks to define the framework for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement. Quoted by the rebel-run Saba news agency, Shami said the accord highlighted the desire of the Huthis' political leadership to "alleviate humanitarian and economic conditions and the people's suffering". Mehdi Mushat, head of the rebels' supreme political council, called the breakthrough "a positive step towards achieving the aspirations of the Yemeni people", according to Saba. Story continues Impoverished Yemen has been mired in fighting between the Huthi rebels and troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi since 2014. But the war escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition stepped in on the government's side. The conflict has since killed nearly 10,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. But rights groups believe the toll to be far higher. "October lived up to its scary reputationthe S&P 500 falling in the month by the largest amount in the last 40 years, the only worse Octobers being '08 and the Crash of '87. For perspective, there have been only 5 occasions in those 40 years when the S&P 500 declined by greater than 20% from peak to trough. Other than the '87 Crash, all were during recessions. There were 17 other instances, over the same time frame, when the market fell by over 10% but less than 20%. Furthermore, this is the 18th correction of 5% or more since the current bull market started in March '09. Corrections are the norm. They can be healthy as they often undo market complacencyoverbought levelspotentially allowing the market to base and move even higher." This is how Trapeze Asset Management summarized the recent market moves in its investor letter. We pay attention to what hedge funds are doing in a particular stock before considering a potential investment because it works for us. So lets take a glance at the smart money sentiment towards one of the stocks hedge funds invest in. Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA) investors should be aware of an increase in support from the world's most elite money managers of late. RGA was in 21 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of September. There were 20 hedge funds in our database with RGA holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that RGA isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds. Hedge funds' reputation as shrewd investors has been tarnished in the last decade as their hedged returns couldn't keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. Our research has shown that hedge funds' large-cap stock picks indeed failed to beat the market between 1999 and 2016. However, we were able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the market by 18 percentage points since May 2014 through December 3, 2018 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 24% through December 3, 2018. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. Story continues Dmitry Balyasny We're going to go over the new hedge fund action surrounding Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA). How are hedge funds trading Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA)? At the end of the third quarter, a total of 21 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of 5% from the previous quarter. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards RGA over the last 13 quarters. With hedgies' positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists a few key hedge fund managers who were adding to their holdings meaningfully (or already accumulated large positions). RGA_dec2018 Among these funds, AQR Capital Management held the most valuable stake in Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA), which was worth $276.7 million at the end of the third quarter. On the second spot was Citadel Investment Group which amassed $114.8 million worth of shares. Moreover, Balyasny Asset Management, Diamond Hill Capital, and Polar Capital were also bullish on Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA), allocating a large percentage of their portfolios to this stock. As aggregate interest increased, key money managers have jumped into Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA) headfirst. Interval Partners, managed by Gregg Moskowitz, established the largest position in Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA). Interval Partners had $12 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Daniel Johnson's Gillson Capital also initiated a $5 million position during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Steve Cohen's Point72 Asset Management, Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke and John Campbell's Arrowstreet Capital, and Brandon Haley's Holocene Advisors. Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA). These stocks are Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH), Paycom Software Inc (NYSE:PAYC), A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS), and West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (NYSE:WST). This group of stocks' market valuations are similar to RGA's market valuation. [table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position MOH,30,1522847,1 PAYC,23,213612,2 AOS,33,738739,12 WST,17,252641,4 Average,25.75,681960,4.75 [/table] View table here if you experience formatting issues. As you can see these stocks had an average of 25.75 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $682 million. That figure was $674 million in RGA's case. A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (NYSE:WST) is the least popular one with only 17 bullish hedge fund positions. Reinsurance Group of America Inc (NYSE:RGA) is not the least popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still below average. This is a slightly negative signal and we'd rather spend our time researching stocks that hedge funds are piling on. In this regard AOS might be a better candidate to consider a long position. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. Related Content Following a successful test launch of Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo Thursday, Richard Branson said hes planning on heading up to space in the middle of next year and that space tourists will also make the trip shortly afterward. Thursdays test, the fourth so far by Virgin Galactic, carried two pilots and a passenger dummy on a spacecraft more than 50 miles into the air, high enough to meet the Federal Aviation Administrations definition of space. Afterward, Branson was asked on CNBC when the company would start ferrying human passengers. Branson said that SpaceShipTwo would first be examined to see if changes are needed before facing a few more rounds of tests. Then we will move the operation to a space port in New Mexico, he said. Then I will then go up, and well do another set of tests. If every box is ticked we will start to be able to take members of the public up. In the past, Branson noted, his timing estimates have erred on the side of the optimistic. I always get these estimates wrong. Its been 14 years to get to this stage. I thought it would be seven, he said. But I would hope sometime in the middle of next year, Ill be going up and quite soon after that members of the public will go up. The cost of a trip on a Virgin Galactic spacecraft has been estimated to be between $200,000 and $250,000. In the interview, CEO George Whitesides said that the price for early trips might be higher than that range, although the company hopes it will eventually be lower in the longer term. To accommodate more passengers, Virgin Galactic is building two more spaceships. Branson said all three may be taking humans to space in the not too distant future. WASHINGTON Russia special counsel Robert Mueller Friday rejected any notion that former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn was tricked by FBI agents into lying about his communications with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, resulting in his prosecution. "The interview was voluntary, and lacked any indicia of coercion," Mueller's prosecutors asserted in new court documents, referring to the Jan. 24, 2017 interview at the White House just days after President Donald Trump's inauguration. The new filings come after Flynn's attorneys suggested earlier this week that the FBI duped the former national security adviser by not warning him about the criminal consequences for lying to agents during the interview in which Flynn has now acknowledged falsely denying that his conversation with Kislyak included a discussion of Russia sanctions. "A sitting national security adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired lieutenant general and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents," prosecutors said. "The court should reject the defendant's attempt to minimize the serious of those false statements to the FBI." The new filings come in advance of Flynn's Dec. 18 sentencing. Prosecutors have recommended no prison time for the former Trump administration official who they said has provided substantial cooperation in the ongoing Russia investigation. Flynn's attorneys also have asked that he be spared prison time. Before the interview, FBI officials had decided that they would not warn Flynn about the potential criminal jeopardy he faced for making false statements. The interview, according to court documents, had been arranged by then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who was subsequently fired for unauthorized disclosures to reporters. The primary interviewing agent was Peter Strzok, a senior counterintelligence official who was later dismissed for making disparaging comments about candidate Donald Trump in text messages exchanged with an FBI lawyer who was Strzok's girlfriend. Story continues "Even when circumstances later came to light that prompted extensive public debate about the investigation of General Flynn, including revelations that certain FBI officials involved in the Jan. 24 interview of General Flynn were themselves being investigated for misconduct, General Flynn did not back away from accepting responsibility for his actions," Flynn's attorneys said. Mueller's prosecutors, however, noted that in the weeks before the FBI interview Flynn had also lied about his discussions with the Russian ambassador to reporters, Vice President Mike Pence and members of the president's transition team. During the interview, according notes of an FBI interview with Strzok, the agent reported that Flynn appeared "unguarded and clearly saw the FBI agents as allies." "Flynn was so talkative, and had so much time for them, that Strzok wondered if the national security adviser did not have more important things to do than have such a relaxed, non-pertinent discussion with them," according to the FBI notes. At various times, according to Strzok's recollection of the encounter, Flynn "talked about various subjects, including hotels where they stayed during the (presidential) campaign and the president's knack for interior design." "Throughout the interview, Flynn had a very 'sure' demeanor and did not give any indicators of deception," Strzok told agents. Despite the questions raised about FBI tactics, prosecutors continued to support leniency for the former administration officer, who will be the first former White House official to be sentenced in Mueller's continuing inquiry. Last week, Mueller's prosecutors provided an account of Flynn's extensive cooperation, citing the former three-star general's "substantial" assistance to the Russia inquiry and at least two other undisclosed investigations in recommending that he serve no prison time. Flynn, according to prosecutors, has met with investigators 19 times since he pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Kislyak during the run-up to Trump's inauguration. Prosecutors have lauded Flynn's assistance, claiming that his early guilty plea and decision to cooperate "likely affected the decisions of related firsthand witnesses to be forthcoming with the (special counsels office) and cooperate. More: Michael Flynn re-emerges as major witness in Robert Mueller's inquiry and at least two others More: Mueller probe: Michael Flynn has offered 'substantial' assistance to investigation; no prison time recommended "The defendants record of military and public service distinguish him from every other person who has been charged as part the (special counsel's) investigation," prosecutors said. "However, senior government leaders should be held to the highest standards. The defendants extensive government service should have made him particularly aware of the harm caused by providing false information to the government, as well as the rules governing work performed on behalf of a foreign government." Flynn, who memorably called for the jailing of Democrat Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Republican convention, discussed U.S. sanctions with Kislyak on Trumps behalf during the presidential transition and said members of the presidents inner circle were aware of, and in some cases directing, his efforts, according to the plea. Flynn had urged Kislyak not to respond to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to Russian election interference. Flynns FBI interview came just weeks before he was forced to resign in February 2017. The White House said he was fired for misleading Pence and other senior officials about the content of his conversations with Kislyak. As part of his plea, Flynn also admitted to lying about Turkish lobbying and research work. He belatedly registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for the work weeks after he left the White House. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robert Mueller: No 'coercion' in Michael Flynn FBI interview; urges court to reject attempt to downplay crime Ryan Zinke will be leaving Donald Trumps White House administration amid pressure to step down from the Interior Department over allegations of ethics violations. It was originally believed the US interior secretary would announce the decision on Wednesday, but on Saturday morning the president tweeted: Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation. The move arrived amid vows from Democrats to launch numerous ethics probes, which would have resulted in costly legal fees for Mr Zinke a factor in his decision to resign from the department, Bloomberg reported. The president also tweeted that a decision about his replacement would be announced next week. Mr Zinke, a former Republican congressman from Montana, is leaving his post weeks before Democrats take control of the House, a shift in power that promised to intensify probes into his conduct. He played a leading part in the presidents efforts to roll back environmental regulations and promote domestic energy development. His departure comes amid a staff shake-up as Mr Trump heads into his third year in office. The president on Friday named budget director Mick Mulvaney as chief of staff, replacing John Kelly, who will be leaving his post by the new year. Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation....... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 The interior secretary previously declared this year he was 100 per cent confident no wrongdoing would be found in the pending investigations against him. Story continues Mr Zinke faces a number of probes by federal investigators, including one involving dealings between a foundation he created and the chairman of an energy company. Im 100 percent confident that every investigation will always end up in the same conclusion, which is that I follow all rules, procedures and, most importantly, the law, Mr Zinke said in a November interview. I have no desire to leave. I know Im effective and doing the right thing. Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva, who is poised to become chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has said he wants the committee to investigate Mr Zinke as well as the administrations pro-industry policies, which he said has profited mining, oil, gas and other companies. Its the conflicts that are inherent in that policy who it favours and the undercutting of basic environmental laws, Mr Grijalva said. The lawmaker said he intends to expand the committees staff to have the capacity to handle the investigations. Mr Grijalva said hes particularly troubled by the Montana land deal, which involves a foundation Mr Zinke created and the chairman of Halliburton, a major player in the energy industry that has frequent dealings with Interior Department. At least one of the pending investigations against the interior secretary has reportedly been referred by the departments inspector general to the Department of Justice. That move signalled a potential escalation of the investigations ahead of the Democratic takeover in 2019. Industry leaders and Republicans in Congress have remained supportive of Mr Zinke, notwithstanding the stream of investigations. Since taking office, hes answered their calls to scale back regulations imposed under former president Barack Obama, easing restrictions on greenhouse gas pollution and safety rules for offshore oil and gas drilling. Additional reporting by AP Washington (AFP) - A seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died in American custody after being detained by US border police in New Mexico, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. The girl who illegally crossed the border from Mexico along with her father and dozens of others died last week of "dehydration and shock," the newspaper reported, citing US Customs and Border Protection. She had "reportedly had not eaten or consumed water for several days," the CBP told the Post, who said she began having seizures more than eight hours after being detained. Emergency responders had measured her body temperature at 105.7 degrees (41 centigrade), the Post said. She died after being flown to hospital. The name of the girl and her father have not been released. The father is in El Paso, Texas awaiting a meeting with Guatemalan consular officials, the Post said, quoting CBP, which said it is investigating the incident. President Donald Trump has made hard-line immigration policies a central plank of his presidency, drawing fire from critics who accuse him of demonizing migrants for political gain. Much attention has been focused on caravans of thousands of Central Americans who have made their way to Tijuana, Mexico, just south from San Diego, California in a challenge to Trump, who criticized them as posing an "invasion". But migrants fleeing poverty and gang violence also continue to cross over in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona after enduring dangerous treks through Mexico. The CBP expressed its condolences for the death of the Guatemalan girl, the Post said. "Border Patrol agents took every possible step to save the child's life under the most trying of circumstances," CBP spokesman Andrew Meehan said in a statement to the Post. "As fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, we empathize with the loss of any child." Trump has vowed to build a wall on the border with Mexico, deployed thousands of US troops there and separated more than 2,000 migrant children from their parents as part of a "zero tolerance" policy on illegal immigration. PARIS (AP) -- A protest movement that has brought the French into the streets for five Saturdays in a row in a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron lost momentum in its latest nationwide outcry, but the smaller crowds pushed fervently for one of their expanding demands, a citizen's referendum to help define policy. The most resonant call Saturday was a leap from the demand for relief from fuel tax hikes that gave birth to the protest in mid-November by rank-and-file French wearing yellow safety vests to slow vehicles at the traffic circles that dot France's countryside. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced in a tweet the death of an eighth person since the start of the protests, implying it occurred at a traffic circle, some of which have been manned day and night by protesters. "Traffic circles must be freed and the security of all must again become the rule," he said, in a new effort to tamp down a movement that appears to be losing momentum. The government put 69,000 security forces into the streets and called for calm after the last two Saturdays of major violence, including vandalization of the outside and inside of the Arc de Triomphe, which cradles the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "Protesting is a right. So let's know how to exercise it," the French government tweeted. Some 8,000 police, with 14 armored vehicles and water cannons, were out anew in Paris to guard against property destruction and looting that marred the two previous protests. They fired rounds of tear gas into crowds on the famed Champs-Elysees, where chic shops and restaurants were boarded up, and at dusk turned water on protesters bundled against frigid weather to disperse them. Police said 115 people were taken into custody in Paris, most for banding together to commit acts of violence. Seven people were slightly injured. Police in riot gear were seen tackling one protester and dragging him off the Champs-Elysees. Police estimate Paris protesters numbered 3,000 maximum less than half the number a week ago and the sharp downturn in violence was reflected in demonstrations across the country. Story continues But the smaller crowds were fervent and more demanding, with signs carried high or scrawled on the backs of vests calling for a referendum system that would let citizens directly impose national policies. Among the yellow vests on the Champs-Elysees was Francis Queruel, a 70-year-old retiree from the small town of Goussainville, about 35 miles (60 kilometers) southwest of Paris, who said he was angered by "the violence of money," whereby the rich thrive and the rest are squeezed. "There are 9 million poor in France and people who work but have no money at the end of the month to eat," said Queruel. While he said he has a good pension at 3,600 euros a month, he complained it's not indexed to the cost of living. Above all, Queruel worries for his grown children and the French who can't make ends meet. "When you're hungry, it's terrible," said Queruel. "People were silent for a long time and now it's the eruption of a volcano," he said. Pricillia Ludosky, one of several figures credited with helping trigger the movement, spoke to hundreds of people filling the square at the Paris Opera house and denounced "colossal fiscal oppression ... while a small elite constantly escapes paying taxes." Without any clear leadership, the yellow vest movement has attracted a wide range of disgruntled people across France's political spectrum, including political parties trying to win new backers. On Monday, Macron, whose popularity is plummeting, offered a package of measures in a bid to placate protesters, including a 100-euro monthly increase to the minimum wage. However, he refused to reinstate a wealth tax he slashed at the start of his presidency, a move that enforced a perception that he is the "president of the rich." Lionel Fraisse, 63, a retired worker for the state agency that runs Metros and suburban trains, said the measures were simply "to put the people to sleep." Fraisse, who arrived from the Essonne region south of Paris with former colleagues, said what he wants most is for Macron "to validate his legitimacy" with a referendum. Until then, "the movement must lose neither its vigor nor its legitimacy," he said. ___ Elena Becatoros and Raphael Satter in Paris contributed to this report. ___ For more coverage of France's yellow vest protest movement, go to: https://www.apnews.com/FranceProtests WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that he "never directed" his longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, to break the law. And he's insisting that he "did nothing wrong." Trump's comments in an interview with Fox News Channel's Harris Faulkner and several morning tweets came a day after Cohen was sentenced to prison for crimes including arranging hush money payments to conceal Trump's alleged affairs to help his 2016 White House bid, a campaign finance violation. Cohen and federal prosecutors say the payments were made at Trump's direction. Trump, in the Fox interview, insisted the campaign finance charges Cohen pleaded guilty to are "not criminal" and were included solely to "embarrass him." And he said he'd "made a mistake" hiring Cohen years ago. Earlier, Trump tweeted that Cohen "was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called 'advice of counsel,' and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made." Trump had originally denied any knowledge of the payments, but later changed his tune, arguing that the payments weren't campaign contributions and therefore weren't illegal. Prosecutors have implicated Trump in a crime, but haven't directly accused him of one. Trump also suggested, without providing evidence, that Cohen cooperated with prosecutors to kept his father-in-law or wife out of trouble and adds that, "In retrospect," he "made a mistake" by hiring Cohen. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday met with former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and considered him a top contender for the job of White House chief of staff, a position some advisers urged him to give to senior aide Jared Kushner, sources said. A source familiar with Trump's thinking said the president had a positive meeting with Christie, confirming a report by Axios.com, and considered him a top-tier candidate for the position. Christie, a brash, tough-talking politician, was a contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but abandoned the attempt after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary and subsequently endorsed Trump, becoming his adviser throughout the 2016 campaign. Other sources said Trump was hearing appeals from some advisers to consider Kushner, a top White House aide who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, for the chief of staff job. But one source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kushner was currently not inclined to pursue the position. On Thursday, Trump said he was considering as many as five people to fill the vacancy that will be left when his current chief, retired General John Kelly, leaves the job early in the new year. One source said that over the last few days "numerous people have reached out to the president to suggest" picking Kushner on the thinking that he is close to the president and has had a number of successes, such as helping negotiate a new trade pact with Mexico and Canada and advancing prison reform legislation. "I'm not aware that he's under consideration," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. "But as I think all of us here would recognize, he will be great in any role that the president chooses to put him in." "He has done a tremendous job on a number of fronts, whether it was on trade or what we've seen play out over the last week on criminal justice reform. He's done a great job on all those efforts," Sanders said. Story continues Those urging Kushner include some of the president's outside advisers and some administration officials, the source said. "It's possible that this is why this is appearing at this moment in time, especially because what everyone knows you need is someone who has a good relationship with the president," the source said. But Kushner is happy with the work he is doing. "He's not currently inclined to pursue it," the source added. Related: Donald Trump and Chris Christie: Kushner and wife Ivanka had been advocating for Nick Ayers, the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence. But Ayers turned down an offer for the position last weekend because he could not commit to the full two years Trump wanted. One Trump confidant, who asked to remain unidentified, said Trump should just pick his son-in-law. "You want consistency, knowing he'll be here for two more years, just name Jared and let him do it the way he wants," the confidant told Reuters. Another potential pick as chief of staff, former campaign adviser David Bossie, was at the White House for meetings on Thursday, but was not believed to have met with the president. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler and Clarence Fernandez) Washington (AFP) - US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats is leaving his post after a tenure in which he was regularly at odds with President Donald Trump. Dozens of White House aides -- from attorney general Jeff Sessions to press secretary Sean Spicer and chief of staff Reince Priebus -- have either left or been sacked from their positions since Trump took office on January 20, 2017. Here is a sampling of senior departures: - Intelligence chief Dan Coats - Dan Coats, who previously served in the US Senate and the House of Representatives, was viewed as apolitical and enjoyed bipartisan support, but did not see eye to eye with Trump on a range of issues and at times appears to have been kept in the dark by his administration. He backed the US intelligence community's conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election that brought Trump to office -- something the president was long loath to acknowledge -- and also disagreed with his decision to hold a two-hour closed-door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018. Coats also said he does not believe that North Korea is willing to give up its nuclear arsenal, as the president does, and has warned that the Islamic State group -- despite Trump's assertions to the contrary -- was hardly vanquished and could easily rise again. - Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen - Kirstjen Nielsen previously served as a cyber security specialist in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), then as assistant to Trump's first DHS secretary, John Kelly. When Kelly moved to the White House as Trump's chief of staff in July 2017, Nielsen went with him as his deputy -- but by October was back at DHS, this time as secretary. She would become the front-line defender of the administration's immigration policies and the face of its widely condemned practice of separating migrant children from their parents. Despite remaining steadfast in her loyalty, her ability was long said to have been questioned by Trump and her eventual departure -- coming months after her mentor Kelly's resignation -- was not a shock. Story continues - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke - Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL and ex-member of the House of Representatives, was one of the main executors of Trump's efforts to reduce environmental protections in the United States. He left at the end of 2018. He managed to hold onto his post for some two years despite a series of scandals over expenditures, including reports that his department was spending nearly $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in his office -- a cost he later said he negotiated down to $75,000. - Chief of staff John Kelly - John Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, has been credited with helping restore a degree of order to the often-chaotic Trump White House before his exit at the end of 2018. But in the process he clashed with members of the Trump clan, and at times infuriated Democrats with his blunt comments. Kelly made it known he did not always love the job -- one of the most vital in any White House -- quipping, "God punished me, I guess." - Attorney General Jeff Sessions - Jeff Sessions, a Republican senator from Alabama, was the first member of the Senate to back Trump's insurgent bid in 2015 for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump rewarded Sessions by naming him to head the Department of Justice. But relations quickly soured after Sessions recused himself from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump presidential campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected. Trump personally attacked Sessions on several occasions for failing to protect him from the Mueller probe. - UN Ambassador Nikki Haley - Nikki Haley, who left the administration at the end of 2018, was a shining star from the start. Thrust onto the international stage, she quickly became an astute advocate for Trump's foreign policy, using forceful language against North Korea, Syria and Iran. The former South Carolina governor was also unafraid to speak her mind, often in fairly undiplomatic language, and built a reputation for standing up to Trump when she felt it was warranted. Her aggressive criticism of Russia won plaudits, even as she stepped beyond the position held by the White House. - Environment chief Scott Pruitt - Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt's tenure was beset by scandal, and Trump pushed him out in July 2018. A former Oklahoma attorney general with ties to fossil fuel industries, Pruitt was accused of using his position to enrich his family's lifestyle in violation of federal law. - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson - Rex Tillerson was fired by Trump in March 2018, ending a rocky tenure for the former Exxon chief executive as the nation's top diplomat. Tillerson was frequently at odds with the mercurial president. They notably disagreed on the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in May 2018. During his brief stay at Foggy Bottom, Tillerson frequently found himself out of the loop and caught unawares by policy shifts announced in Trump tweets. In one of his first public criticisms of the president since stepping down, Tillerson told a gathering in Texas in December 2018 that Trump was undisciplined, did not like to read briefing papers and sometimes asked him to do things that were illegal. Trump shot back on Twitter that Tillerson was "dumb as a rock." - Chief strategist Steve Bannon - The architect of Trump's nationalist-populist campaign and his election victory, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was nicknamed the Prince of Darkness and the Shadow President. His economic nationalism became the lynchpin of Trump policies, even as many of Bannon's other ideas were rebuffed by policy rivals. Bannon's constant clashes with other advisors became untenable, as did his ties to the extreme right. He left in August 2017. - National Security Advisors Flynn, McMaster - Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, was being investigated for his contacts with Russians and eventually pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. He lasted only 22 days as national security advisor. Flynn's replacement, HR McMaster, also a lieutenant general, lasted barely a year. He never really clicked with the president, who bristled at McMaster echoing the US intelligence establishment consensus that Russia meddled in the 2016 election. Eight years ago, in the town of Van Buren, Arkansas, newly retired resident John Pope walked six blocks and picked up 1,085 cigarette butts. The unsightly, unpleasant litter problem as we're all acutely aware isn't confined to Pope's quiet community in western Arkansas. Cigarette butts have the proud distinction of being the most common form of litter on America's beaches. Some 6 trillion cigarettes are manufactured on Earth each year, and between 750 million to 1,500 million pounds of cigarette butt waste largely made of a plastic-like material called cellulose acetate are ultimately flung to the ground annually, according to the World Health Organization. To be fair, not all cigarettes are flung or flicked to the ground. Over a quarter of littered cigarette are stomped, while around 35 percent are "dropped with intent." Just one percent of smokers shoot for a receptacle, but like Shaq at the free-throw line, miss. Dumping your waste on the ground, which is at best a lame and short-sighted activity, isn't some mindless, subconscious habit. It's a committed effort, explained Wes Schultz, a social psychologist who has diligently observed and researched the phenomenon of people's propensity to litter cigarettes. Broken bottles, plastic toys, food wrappers ... During a walk along the coast one finds any of these items, and more. In all that litter, there is one item more common than any other: cigarette butts.https://t.co/AweR6PsrzQ pic.twitter.com/LTqLvde7qU NOAA's Ocean Service (@noaaocean) November 2, 2018 "People know what theyre doing, but they choose to do it anyway," Schultz, a professor of psychology at California State University San Marcos, said in an interview. Story continues And it's quite common. In formal, peer-reviewed studies, Schultz and other researchers observed smokers littering cigarette butts a whopping 65 percent of the time. "That's a shocking number, right?" he noted. Can the scourge be stopped? Convincing a fully-grown adult to alter their behavior even when that behavior is senseless is often difficult. But when it comes to littering, the cause is not lost. Rather than trying to convince someone not to toss their depleted carcinogens on the ground, the solution is making it easier to throw the butts into a receptacle of some sort. "It's not a matter of convincing people not to do it," said Schultz. "It's a matter of making the trash disposal easy." In Van Buren, Pope applied for a grant from the anti-littering campaigners Keep America Beautiful. They gave him $1,500 to put out public cigarette receptacles over a six-block area. He's been devoted to the cause for eight years, and there are now 12 urns on this stretch of sidewalk. Pope's efforts, it turns out, have been a smashing success. He recently walked around the same six-blocks this year, counting cigarettes. "The count was 125," said Pope. For reference, that's a 90 percent reduction from eight years previous. Cigarettes brimming from a cigarette ashtray in Germany. Image: Robert Seitz/imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock But it's not just cigarette urns that do the trick. It's the overall environment the cigarette smoker finds themselves in. When one is strolling around a litter-strewn plaza, they're considerably more likely to flick a burned-down butt than if they're walking through a well-kept square. "It's related to conformity," Renee Bator, a social psychologist that has also researched people's littering habits, said in an interview. "When people see other cigarettes at a beach, it sends a message that littering is not such a bad thing to be doing," Bator, a professor at The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, added. Conversely, litter-free places have the opposite effect. Disneyland, a place ripe for the dumping of litter on the ground by its tens of thousands of daily visitors, combats the problem with employees who are constantly sweeping, all the while clad in bright, sterile white janitorial attire. Just the presence of the sweepers alone might discourage littering, mused Bator. "How could you drop something in front of them?" Bator said. "Youd feel horrible." Quelling disorder Some might perceive the problem of litter to be an inconsequential thing especially in light of a pervasive, looming environmental mess like climate change. But the veins of litter run deeper than we'd like to think. Social psychologists have found littering feeds social disarray, and even criminal behavior. "It's the spreading of this sense of social disorder," said Schultz. This was tested, and observed, in Europe. In a variety of city settings, social psychologists threw different public environments into disarray, with strewn-about shopping carts, graffiti, and litter. They even left out open envelopes filled with money, to see if petty theft might occur. Indeed, in littered, disrupted environments, theft occurred twice as much. "We found that, when people observe that others violated a certain social norm or legitimate rule, they are more likely to violate other norms or rules, which causes disorder to spread," the authors wrote. For his part, Pope is doing his best to contain local disorder. He hands out 300 to 400 portable "pocket ashtrays" each year, which gives folks a place to deposit their cigarettes, wherever they might be. When Pope spots someone smoking in town, he'll pull up in his car and offer one of these mobile ashtrays, free of charge. "I seldom have anyone that refuses," he said. Butts collecting in a street grate. Image: Carlos Sanchez/imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock As for the smoker who's on the fence about still flicking their cigarette onto the pavement, it might be of benefit to consider that a vast quantities of butts aren't picked up by cleaning fairies overnight, nor Pope. Rather, like many consequences, they collect in the lowest of places. That means sea level. Specifically, beaches. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a Marine Debris Program that collects and counts litter on beaches. Cigarette butts always find themselves near the top of the list. "There's a common misconception that the litter you see on beaches is from people smoking on beaches," Sherry Lippiatt, who works at NOAA's Marine Debris Program, said in an interview. Instead, rivers, storm drains, and the inexorable movement of things downriver brings someone's flicked cigarette butt to the beaches. It's the modern beach of the Anthropocene, an often-expected, unfortunate part of the landscape. But, at least the problem is solvable. And perhaps one day it will be viewed as just a backwards, 21st Century taboo. "Cigarette butts seem to be the last socially acceptable form of litter," said Lippiatt. Beirut (AFP) - Kurdish-dominated forces backed by air strikes by a US-led coalition retook full control of a key jihadist hub in eastern Syria on Friday, a war monitor said. The Syrian Democratic Forces secured Hajin, the largest settlement in what is the last pocket of territory controlled by the Islamic State group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "After a week of heavy fighting and air strikes, the SDF were able to kick IS out of Hajin," Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring organisation, said. The operation was completed at dawn, he said, a day after SDF forces fanned out across the large village in the Euphrates valley. The last IS fighters on Thursday were confined to a network of tunnels and the edges of Hajin, which lies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the border with Iraq. The area held by IS is sometimes referred to as the "Hajin pocket", the last rump of a once-sprawling "caliphate" the group proclaimed in 2014 over swathes of Syria and Iraq. According to Abdel Rahman, a total of 17,000 fighters from he Kurdish-Arab SDF alliance are involved in the operation to flush IS out of its last bastion. Legal woes mount as NBC also reports Trump was present for talks over National Enquirer payments Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on 20 January 2017. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images Donald Trumps inaugural committee, which managed the $107m celebrations in Washington to mark the start of his presidency in 2017, has become the latest focus of federal prosecutors who, according to the Wall Street Journal, are now investigating whether the money was properly spent. The Journal reports that Manhattan-based prosecutors are in the early stages of a criminal investigation into how the record sum for such a presidential inauguration was used, as well as whether huge donations were made in return for easy access to the Trump administration as it entered power. The newspaper says that were evidence found of improper spending or quid pro quo, it could amount to a criminal violation of US anti-corruption laws. The scrutiny of Trumps campaign finances will intensify after reports that prosecutors are investigating whether Trumps inaugural committee and a pro-Trump super PAC received illegal donations from foreigners hoping for influence over US policy. Citing people familiar with the inquiry, the New York Times reported on Thursday night that the inquiry was focusing on individuals from Middle Eastern nations using straw donors to hide their own gifts to the Trump funds. The new focus on Trumps inauguration is the latest trouble to beset the president as a result of the dramatic downfall of his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen who was sentenced to three years in prison this week. Cohen had pleaded guilty to federal crimes that included paying hush money to two women alleging sexual affairs with Trump in order to silence them during the 2016 election. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FBI raid on Cohens home and office in April resulted in the disclosure of a recorded conversation between the lawyer and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former adviser to Melania Trump. In the conversation Wolkoff, one of the main producers of the 20 January 2017 inauguration celebrations, is alleged to have expressed concern about how the inaugural committee was spending the money it had raised. Story continues The Journal also reports that in their new inauguration inquiry, prosecutors are drawing on the help of Rick Gates, the former deputy chairman of the Trump inaugural committee. Gates pleaded guilty in February to a number of charges brought against him by the special counsel in the Russia investigation, Robert Mueller, and as part of his plea deal agreed to cooperate with the US justice department. Many of the top donors to Republican causes in general, and to the 2016 Trump presidential campaign in particular, were represented among those who gave large sums to the inaugural fund. They include the Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, whose wife, Miriam, was last month bestowed by Trump with the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The inaugural committee was headed by another major conservative donor, the real estate developer Thomas Barrack. There is no suggestion that either Adelson or Barrack are subject of the federal investigation. The Trump family after Donald Trump took his oath of office. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters The legal peril for Trump is now piling up as a result of the Cohen fallout. Cohen himself, as well as federal prosecutors and the judge in his case, are agreed that the lawyer paid the hush money to the two women alleging affairs, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, at the direction of Trump personally an allegation that Trump has denied. Further legal misery has landed on Trump after the publisher of the National Enquirer admitted in an agreement with federal authorities that it had also coordinated with the Trump presidential campaign to pay $150,000 hush money to kill off a story of Trumps alleged adultery. American Media Inc, which owns the Enquirer, said the magazines publisher, David Pecker, had offered to buy the story and then suppress its publication, in a so-called catch and kill deal. Deepening the hole for the president, NBC reported on Thursday that Trump himself was present in the room in August 2015 when Pecker and Cohen discussed how the supermarket tabloid could play a part in quashing stories about Trumps alleged affairs as the presidential election got under way. NBC said it had confirmed that Trump was at the meeting when a $150,000 payment to be made in concert with the campaign was discussed. The mounting evidence places him increasingly at the center of campaign finance violations that have already led to prison time for Cohen. While criminal charges are unlikely to be brought against the president while in office, it does raise the risk that he could face charges when he leaves the White House. Washington (AFP) - Outraged Democrats vowed to appeal a federal judge's ruling that could undo the US health care law known as Obamacare, saying on Saturday that they will use their new power in Congress to hold Republicans responsible and "expose their lies." Related Video: Federal Judge Rules Obamacare Is Unconstitutional US District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled late Friday that the health insurance reform, officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is unconstitutional. The White House said it expects the ruling to be appealed to the Supreme Court. For now, it said in a statement, "the law remains in place." But Democrats, who have seen the law survive scores of legal and legislative attacks, vowed to fight back, saying the health coverage of millions of Americans is at stake. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tweeted that Republicans had pretended to care about those protected by Obamacare "while quietly trying to remove that support in the courts. Next year, we will force votes to expose their lies." Democrats see the law as a signature achievement of former president Barack Obama, while Republicans dismiss it as governmental overreach. Donald Trump made abolishing and replacing the program a central pledge of his presidential campaign. In a separate Obamacare case in 2012, five of the nine Supreme Court justices upheld the law. All five remain on the court. Still, it remains unclear how they might rule in the new case. If the decision is upheld, it could significantly disrupt the US health care system. In his ruling Friday, the Texas-based judge said that the full Obamacare program was unconstitutional because Congress, in its 2017 tax overhaul, eliminated a penalty for anyone lacking health insurance who failed to sign up for the program. The 2012 case was over whether such a penalty was legal -- but now that it is gone, O'Connor said, the whole ACA should be stricken down because that provision is "the keystone" of the program. Story continues Trump expressed delight at the court's ruling on a complaint brought by several Republican attorneys general and two Republican governors. "It's a great ruling for our country. We'll be able to get great health care," Trump told reporters. "It was a big, big victory by a highly respected judge." "As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster!" he tweeted the previous day. Trump urged Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the House of Representatives speaker-designate, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, to "pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare." - 'Monstrous endgame' - The court ruling came on the eve of the deadline for people to sign up for ACA coverage for 2019. Angry Democrats blamed Republicans for what they see as a debacle that could leave millions of Americans without health care. Republicans "know that they can't repeal the ACA in Congress. So they've continued their crusade through the courts," tweeted Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, a consumer-protection activist. "The ACA is still the law of the land." Polls consistently show strong public support for the ACA guarantee of coverage regardless of pre-existing health conditions -- an issue Democrats used with great success in last month's midterm elections as they won control of the House of Representatives. "#Republicans' legal crusade against the #AffordableCareAct is a political stunt, but a dangerous one that puts health coverage and vital health protections for millions of Americans at risk," Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse tweeted Saturday. Democratic Representative Joe Kennedy said "they found one judge to agree, and now Medicaid expansion could be gone, pre-existing condition protections could be wiped out, prices skyrocket and millions lose insurance. And they call that success." O'Connor's ruling "exposes the monstrous endgame of Republicans' all-out assault on people with pre-existing conditions and Americans' access to affordable health care," Pelosi said in a statement. While the court's "absurd ruling will be immediately appealed, Republicans are fully responsible for this cruel decision," she said. She vowed that when Democrats take control of the House next month, lawmakers "will move swiftly to formally intervene in the appeals process" to uphold Obamacare. Opposing the Republican lawsuit were 17 Democratic attorneys general led by Xavier Becerra of California. They argue that the tax law changes do not mean that the whole Affordable Care Act becomes unconstitutional. The Texas ruling "is an assault on 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions" and on all who rely on Obamacare coverage, Becerra said in a statement. "Our fight to save Obamacare is far from over." Doha (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday said US sanctions will have no impact on the policies of the Islamic republic at home or abroad. "It is obvious that we are facing pressure by the US sanctions. But will that lead to a change in policy? I can assure you it won't," Zarif told the Doha Forum policy conference in Qatar. "If there is an art we have perfected in Iran and can teach to others for a price, it is the art of evading sanctions," he added. The US imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran this year, after earlier unilaterally pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal with global powers. Discussing the Yemen conflict, Zarif denied Tehran had ever armed the Huthi rebels battling pro-government forces in the country. "We have never provided weapons to Huthis," he said when challenged on what arms it had supplied. "They have enough weapons, they don't need weapons from Iran," Zarif said. He said there were only "allegations" that Iran had sent weapons to Yemen, whereas there were "facts" that other countries had shipped arms. "I don't need to show any evidence about the jets that were flying in Yemen bombing the Yemenis. "Those are American-made jets and those are Saudi fighters, I assume, which are piloting those jets," Zarif said. "If there are allegations about Iranian weapons, there are facts about US weapons, facts about Saudis bombing the hell out of the Yemenis," he added. Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015 as part of a coalition backing the government. Zarif said the United States and its ally Saudi Arabia were responsible for the "humanitarian nightmare" in war-torn Yemen. He also accused Riyadh of seeking "tension" with Iran. Zarif also alluded to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, saying Saudi Arabia believes "it can get away with murder". Khashoggi, a palace insider turned critic of the regime, was killed shortly after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Hodeida (Yemen) (AFP) - Residents of Yemen's flashpoint port of Hodeida and other cities fear a UN-brokered ceasefire could collapse at any moment, saying that after four years of conflict any accord is deeply fragile. On Friday morning, a day after the breakthrough agreement was penned in Sweden by representatives of the Yemeni government and the Huthi Shiite rebels, many held their breath. The Red Sea port of Hodeida, a main frontline between rebels and loyalist forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition and a key conduit of aid, had woken to calm after weeks of confrontation. But hours later scattered clashes broke out with artillery and machinegun exchanges heard through the south and east of the city, residents said. It was the first test of the fragile ceasefire. Saturday morning saw calm return to Hodeida, but shops and schools remained shuttered as gunmen deployed in the south and east. And on Saturday evening a Hodeida resident told AFP he could hear "continuous sounds of fire exchange and artillery" in the east of the city. "Did they sign an agreement to end the war or to start it?", the resident asked. Others had earlier voiced scepticism that the deal would hold. "I was so happy they had reached a solution for Hodeida but our happiness was short lived," 28-year-old Hodeida resident Noha Ahmad told AFP after Friday night's clashes. Omar Hassan, 40, said residents of the beleaguered city have been "desperately waiting for calm and security to be restored". "Now we are afraid that clashes will return and persist," he said. Thursday's ceasefire accord has been seen as the most significant step towards ending Yemen's devastating conflict, but analysts warned its success depends on sustained international pressure. Under the terms of the accord, an "immediate" ceasefire is supposed to be implemented in Hodeida and fighters are due to withdraw in the next few days. Story continues - 'Treacherous enemy' - A prisoner swap involving some 15,000 detainees is planned and a "mutual understanding" struck to facilitate aid deliveries to Yemen's third city Taiz -- under control of loyalists but besieged by rebels. The two sides also agreed to meet again in late January, for more talks to define the framework for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement. Some believe Thursday's hard-won accord will come to nought. "We don't expect the enemy to abide by the agreement because the enemy is treacherous and not peaceful," said Mohammed Abdo, a fighter patrolling a Hodeida street and holding a rifle. "Peace comes through guns," he said. Elsewhere in the city -- in central and northern districts -- it was business as usual on Saturday with markets thronged with shoppers, but even there residents were cautious. "Truces are always broken and the current agreement could collapse at any second," said a resident who declined to be identified. Rebel-controlled Hodeida has been the target of an offensive launched by the Saudi-led coalition in June. "The talks in Sweden were a positive step in light of the humanitarian hardships of Yemen and Hodeida in particular," said shop owner Marwan Halissi. But he too agreed that more should be done to cement the ceasefire, calling for a bigger UN role and more "pressure on coalition countries" to pave the way for a lasting settlement. - 'Ready and prepared' - In other parts of the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country, there were also concerns that the ceasefire struck in the Swedish city of Rimbo could be short lived. In the rebel-held capital Sanaa, the ceasefire agreement was met with mixed emotions. On Friday, the day of the main weekly Muslim prayers, clerics issued calls on citizens to enlist in the ranks of the Huthis, pro-rebel media reported. The Huthis also issued a statement saying "we are prepared for any option and to retaliate against any violation by the enemy". Ismail al-Ghobeiri, strolling in a Sanaa market, struck a hopeful note. "We hope that both sides will respect what they agreed on and, if this is done, then the next round of negotiations" due to be held in January, will have a chance, he said. Further south in the loyalist-held second city of Aden, residents welcomed the ceasefire and hoped it would hold for the sake of war-weary civilians. "We hope that the warring sides will think of the people who are on the threshold of despair," said Hassan bin Attaf. "We pray to God to calm everyone -- politicians, military commanders and coalition forces -- so that the ceasefire will hold and the war will stop," he said. The UN says the conflict has killed some 10,000 people and brought 14 million to the brink of famine in the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Human rights groups say the death toll could be five times as high. This Jan. 20, 2012, file photo, near Cloverdale in New Mexicos Bootheel region shows a gated part of the Diamond A Ranch 77 miles south of Lordsburg, N.M., the nearest U.S. Border Patrol station. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl picked up with her father and dozens of other migrants along the remote stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border has died, federal officials said Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. (Photo: Russell Contreras/AP) What happened to Jakelin Caal Maquin? The death of the 7-year-old Guatemalan girl in Border Patrol custody has sparked an investigation and renewed questions about the detention and treatment of migrants, as well as the consequences of strict border policies that encourage more of them to attempt entry via more dangerous routes through unguarded sections of the border. According to the Washington Post, which first reported the incident on Thursday night, the girl and her father were apprehended by Border Patrol agents one week earlier after crossing, as part of a group of more than 150 people, at a remote area of the desert in New Mexico. Customs and Border Patrol records obtained by the Post reportedly showed that the child began having seizures more than eight hours after she was taken into Border Patrol custody and that she was transported via helicopter to a childrens hospital in El Paso, where she went into cardiac arrest and was revived before dying of dehydration and shock the next day. The news prompted a media effort from the Department of Homeland Security to defend its actions, and a range of reactions from immigration advocates. Some, like Gregory Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, drew the lesson that the Trump administrations efforts to restrict access to asylum and other forms of humanitarian relief at the border are forcing people to make dangerous crossings through the desert. Others, like Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, tried to keep the focus on Jakelin. Discussing policy is the conversation CBP would rather be having, he said. While there are lots of problems with the administrations asylum policy and the ways in which it works to put people in more danger, the real question here is: What happened to this girl? After midnight Friday, just hours after the Post story was published, a DHS spokesperson offered sincerest condolences to the childs family while suggesting that the girls father was to blame for her death. Story continues As we have always said, traveling north illegally is extremely dangerous. Drug cartels, human smugglers and the elements pose deadly risks to anyone who comes across the border illegally, read the statement. Border Patrol always takes care of individuals in their custody and does everything in their power to keep them safe. Once again, we are begging parents to not put themselves or their children at risk attempting to enter illegally, the statement continued. Please present yourselves at a port of entry and seek to enter legally and safely. Migrants who do that, however, often end up on a waiting list to be processed that may take weeks to clear. Honduran migrant Erly Marcial, 21, who is eight months pregnant, lies on cardboard as she waits with her family and fellow migrants in Tapanatepec, Mexico, Nov. 6, 2018. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) During a background briefing with reporters Friday, officials with CBP and DHS declined to be quoted on the record, while laying out a timeline of events and challenging circumstances leading up to the childs death that seemed designed to absolve the Border Patrol agents of responsibility. Without lifesaving measures taken by Border Patrol, this child wouldve likely died alone in the desert, a DHS official claimed at the outset of the call, despite the already established fact that the girl did not begin displaying signs of illness until several hours after being detained in the United States. A CBP official then proceeded to set the scene, starting with the apprehension of a group of 163 undocumented migrants by three Border Patrol agents at around 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 6. The agents encountered the group near the Antelope Wells Port of Entry, an official crossing station in the southernmost region of New Mexico that closes at 4 p.m. every day. Its unclear whether the group of migrants had intended to present themselves at this remote port of entry in an effort to legally request asylum, as DHS officials repeatedly encourage them to do. The Washington Post article described the group as having approached U.S. agents to turn themselves in and the fact that they arrived in such a large group near an official port of entry suggests that they were not attempting to evade authorities. However, the small port in the middle of the desert had been closed for hours by the time the migrants arrived at the border, so they were apprehended for illegal entry and taken to a forward operating base nearby for initial screening. This initial assessment, conducted by the Border Patrol agents on scene, consisted of about 20 questions as well as a visual examination. The CBP official said that there was no medical staff present at the base and emphasized that the agents were greatly outnumbered by the migrants, 50 of whom were unaccompanied minors. But the official said water, food, and restrooms were available. Because Jakelin was with her father, the two were assessed together, with the Border Patrol agent relying on the father to answer questions about his daughters health and well-being. Not only were they examined, said a DHS official, but the girls father signed a form I-779 saying the child had no current sickness. A group of undocumented immigrants whom officials said were caught in the southwestern corner of New Mexico wait in a holding room in Lordsburg, N.M., for transport to El Paso, Texas, on April 3, 2004. Lordsburg agents had apprehended 80 percent more people in the first three months of 2018 than in the same period the previous year. (Photo: Leslie Hoffman/AP) In response to a follow-up question about the language used on the form, a CBP official said All our forms are in English, but that Border Patrol agents have to be proficient in Spanish. Its unclear whether the girl and her father understood Spanish or, like many migrants from Guatemala, spoke one of the various indigenous dialects used in different parts of the country. The CBP official said only that the interview was conducted in Spanish because it is the primary language of Guatemala, and the answers were translated into English and placed on U.S. government forms. There was no indication she had health conditions, said the CBP official, adding that there were plenty of opportunities during the period of time while in custody if [her] father noticed anything to bring to attention. He already had been asked about her health, [so he] knew it was something we were interested in. The original Washington Post report cites a statement from CBP noting that the girl reportedly had not eaten or consumed water for several days, a detail that is also included in lengthy statement posted to DHSs Facebook page Friday afternoon. However, its unclear when and how, exactly, this information came to light. According to the timeline of events provided by DHS and CBP, they began transporting the migrants by bus in groups of 50 at a time to the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station after midnight on Dec. 7, with the unaccompanied minors in the first group. Apparently because of poor road conditions, the first trip took more than three hours to complete. It wasnt until around 5 a.m. that the second group, which included Jakelin and her father, was ready to depart the base, at which time the father reportedly first notified Border Patrol agents that his daughter had begun vomiting. Out of an abundance of caution, reads DHSs Facebook post, agents immediately requested that an EMT meet the bus on arrival at the Lordsburg station. By the time they reached the station at about 6:30 a.m., the child had reportedly stopped breathing. Emergency responders who began treating her at the station said the young girls body temperature was 105.9 degrees. Border patrol agents look on after migrants traveling in the Central American Caravan crossed through the Mexico-U.S. border fence from Tijuana to San Diego County, as seen from Playas de Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on Dec. 13, 2018. (Photo: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images) In June, the U.S. Border Patrol reported that heat-related deaths among migrants on the southwest border had risen by 55 percent over the previous nine months, projecting that the rising temperatures over the summer, combined with the large numbers of families and unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border, would result in a year-on-year increase in migrant deaths in 2018. Historically, humanitarian groups have traced the rise in migrant deaths near the border to increased security at traditional crossing points in urban areas like El Paso-Juarez, Tijuana-San Diego and Nogales-Nogales. When those started becoming more heavily enforced, rather than deter people, it rerouted their trajectories, said Daniel Martinez, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Arizona, and an expert on migrant deaths near the Mexican border in Arizona. It sent them to more dangerous areas. This, he said, forces migrants to spend several days traversing desert or mountainous terrain before making it across the border, which has meant that some have succumbed to the elements along the way. Often we want to blame individuals for their own deaths, blame coyotes, smugglers, Martinez said, referring to DHSs initial response to the news of the childs death. But its important to consider that people are responding to structural changes, large economic, political, social factors beyond their control. While it might be easy simply to say that no parent should take their child on such a risky journey, Martinez argues, For them, it makes sense. This is a rational response to a situation of hopelessness that theyre encountering back home. He suggested that one need only look at the situation in Tijuana, Juarez and other major border towns where migrants are being turned away and forced to wait for days, weeks, even months for a chance to seek asylum at the port of entry, to understand why migrants might want to find an alternative route. At the end of the day, this is a consequence of failed immigration policy, our inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and increased border enforcement efforts over the last two and a half decades, said Martinez. A Central American migrant boy traveling in a caravan walks among the tents of a makeshift camp against the U.S.-Mexico border fence, in a street near a closed shelter in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on Dec. 7, 2018. (Photo: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images) While the overall scope of the numbers of people coming to borders is far lower than in past years, the lawyers associations Gregory Chen noted, the arrival of large migrant groups has become a daily occurrence at ports of entry along the southwest border. In fact, a CBP official told reporters Friday that even in the remote desert region where Jakelin and her father were apprehended, Border Patrol agents regularly encounter migrants traveling in groups of 100 to 300. It is preposterous that the U.S. government and this administration doesnt have the resources to be able to manage the Ports of Entry effectively to accommodate the numbers now coming and to ensure these families are screened adequately for humanitarian protection, said Chen, noting the recent deployment of U.S. military troops to the southwest border, in addition to the nearly 17,000 Border Patrol agents already staffing the region. The administration continues to put an inordinate amount of resources into enforcement, including repelling people at the borders or detaining people who are able to enter into the country, rather than improving the ability of our government to screen people properly for asylum, said Chen. That over-emphasis on enforcement is having dramatically harmful consequences, and placing the lives of asylum seekers at risk. Theres no denying that. The ACLUs Jadwat emphasized that, in addition to issues with current asylum policies and restrictions along the border, Jakelins death should be considered in the context of long-running and well-documented problems with Customs and Border Protection detention facilities at border and how it treats people once they are in their custody. In 2015, the ACLU joined a handful of other groups in a class-action lawsuit alleging unconstitutional conditions at CBP detention facilities on the border, where detainees reported being held for prolonged periods in freezing cold, unsanitary cells without beds or blankets, limited food, water or medical care. A report published in May by the ACLUs Border Litigation Project and the University of Chicago Law Schools International Human Rights Clinic specifically highlights problematic treatment of children in CBP custody, including reports of physical and verbal abuse, denial of medical care, and inadequate food and water. Jadwat noted that much of the data referenced in that report predates the Trump administration but added that there has certainly been no indication that the administration has made it a priority to address these longstanding problems and fix the problems they have around detention conditions and the way people are treated when theyre first apprehended. Just this week, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the agencys holding cells are incompatible with the record numbers of migrant families and children who have been apprehended at the border in recent months. Our Border Patrol stations were built decades ago to handle mostly male single adults in custody, not families and children, McAleenan said. On Friday, the Office of the Inspector General for DHS announced that it was launching an investigation into the 7-year-olds death in Border Patrol custody. In addition to an investigation of the specific circumstances of the childs death, the announcement also stated that DHS OIG will continue its ongoing program of unannounced inspections of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. The results of these inspections will also be reported publicly. Read more from Yahoo News: 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 (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. says a Chinese ban on sales of the iPhone will force it to settle a long and bitter licensing battle with Qualcomm Inc., an outcome that may end up harming the countrys smartphone industry and give its fiercest legal rival a boost. The U.S. company was responding to a Chinese court that ruled this week Apple infringed two Qualcomm patents and issued injunctions against the sale of six older versions of the iPhone. Apple, which has filed a request for consideration, argues the decision harms Chinas interests by potentially raising the royalties and fees that phonemakers pay Qualcomm. The ruling from a local court -- which came as Washington and Beijing are locked in sensitive trade negotiations -- pivoted the battle over patent fees to the worlds largest mobile arena. Apples response underscores the importance of the Chinese market, as well as Qualcomms crucial role as a technology provider to the likes of Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Corp. On Friday, Apple said it will push out a software update for its Chinese users early next week, to address functions covered by the patents in question. Apple will be forced to settle with the Respondent, causing all mobile phone manufacturers to relapse into the previous unreasonable charging mode and pay high licensing fees, resulting in unrecoverable losses in the downstream market of mobile phones, the iPhone maker said in the Dec. 10 filing to the court. The document was submitted in Mandarin with an English translation that Bloomberg verified. Apple didnt respond to requests for comment. The two U.S. companies are locked in a worldwide dispute over licensing fees that Qualcomm charges for use of technology that the chipmaker says underpins all modern phone systems. Apple has argued its former supplier unfairly leverages its position as the biggest supplier of chips for smartphones to force payment. Qualcomm has countered that Apple is using its intellectual property without paying for it, and the legal cases are aimed at forcing it to lower licensing charges. Story continues Like Apple, Chinese smartphone makers had argued for years that Qualcomm -- which owns a swathe of patents essential to modern wireless communications -- is abusing its position and levying punitive fees. Most have since struck an agreement with the U.S. company. Qualcomm successfully argued to the Chinese government its intellectual property coverage would protect those handset makers, allowing them to penetrate overseas markets. Apples shares fell as much as 2.9 percent Friday following the report of Apples filing. The stock was down 2.1 percent to $167.39 at 11:30 a.m. in New York. Qualcomm stock rose as much as 1.6 percent. Qualcomm said that, regardless of software updates by Apple, the company is still in violation of the Chinese court order. They are legally obligated to immediately cease sales, offers for sale and importation of the devices identified in the orders and to prove compliance in court, said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm general counsel. Now, Apple is saying Chinas latest ruling could influence a broader global conflict. While iPhones remain on store shelves pending a decision on Apples appeal, a negative outcome could affect its sales in the worlds biggest market for smartphones, where the company generates about a fifth of its revenue. And it will come at a time when demand for Apples most important product is slowing. This legal response back to the Chinese courts highlights the potential seriousness of this ruling for Apple. Its all a game of high-stakes poker and Apple is going to fight this Qualcomm case with an iron fist, said Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush. A settlement would be the last resort but losing this appeal would be another gut punch for Apple and potentially force their hand. China is also the production base for most iPhones as well as the iPad and Mac. Apple warned that the ban would hurt manufacturers like Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. -- known also as Foxconn -- and other suppliers. A ban would cost Apple millions of dollars a day and affect both the Chinese government and consumers, the company added, noting it has created 5 million jobs across the countrys supply chain and third-party software developers. Apple and many other companies, consumers, and government will suffer truly irreparable harm, the company said in the filing. The Chinese government may suffer hundreds of thousands of tax losses from the iPhone ban because of lost taxes from sales of the devices, it said, citing estimates of 50 million units sold in the country in 2017. Qualcomm has also brought patent suits in China and other jurisdictions, seeking bans on the sale of iPhones to force Apple to the negotiating table. In addition to the Chinese case, its filed complaints against Apple in Munich and Mannheim, Germany, and lodged another one with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington. All three venues offer it the chance -- if successful -- to shut down or limit the sale of the iPhone, a product that generates the majority of Apples revenue. This is what Qualcomm needed to get some leverage to try to get Apple to finalize a deal, said Mike Walkley at Canaccord Genuity LLC. My understanding is the ban should be enforced and could extend to new models based on recent Qualcomm court filings. (Updates with comments from Qualcomm in the ninth paragraph.) --With assistance from Edwin Chan. To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net;Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, ;Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr, Andrew Pollack For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. My bf kinda looks like a thiccer taller version of him what's his ig sis? what's his ig sis? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Edited at 2018-12-15 03:49 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Alicia Keystoyourmanshouse would. Reply Parent Thread Link damn. that hair is something else. Reply Thread Link you can say it. ugly as fuck. Reply Parent Thread Link it's fun Reply Parent Thread Link Zombieland didn't need a TV series and it definitely doesn't need a sequel. I am too old to be attracted to Avan, Tyler, and Jacob, but I will probably watch their dumb show just for shirtless scenes. I hate the hair, but I get it. I would do the same if I was planning to shave my head. Probably the only way I would add color to my black hair. Reply Thread Link i find animal prints tacky in every context across the board, but he's hot af so i'll forgive it this once Reply Thread Link For some reason I saw this hair and I was like, "Brad Mondo is either going to do an entire video trashing it or try to replicate it on himself." But Brad Mondo has gone downhill since the days when all he did was critique ANTM makeovers. Reply Thread Link There's much I can allow, but I draw the line at hair dye abuse. Reply Thread Link Im sorry but he looks like an idiot and this look is trash. Reply Thread Link Oh Reply Thread Link The hair is ridiculous but he is sooo fine Reply Thread Link Men should not have opinions about hair. He shouldve never been allowed to cut it in the first place :( Reply Thread Link Should have been Aladdin. Ugh. Reply Thread Link What kind of early 00s faux pop punk revival in the vein of Good Charlotte Reply Thread Link Ugh Im glad they arent being kept alive like panic at the disco or maroon 5 Reply Parent Thread Link ikr benji madden is laughing rn Reply Parent Thread Link Whyyyyyyyyyyyy would you do this beautiful Prince why Reply Thread Link EXCLUSIVE: Nicki Minaj's boyfriend, Kenny Petty, served 4 years in prison for a sexual assault and the 16-year-old victim told cops Petty abducted her at gunpoint and raped her, according to records obtained by The Blast. https://t.co/63M2jWCmZh The Blast (@TheBlastNews) December 14, 2018 Disturbing new details have emerged from the rape conviction against Nicki Minaj's boyfriend, Kenneth Petty, after 'The Blast' uncovered a previously-unreported statement from his victim.According to the court records, the testimony his 16 year old victim gave to police details how in 1994, Petty abducted and violently raped her, which led to him being sentenced to 4 years in prison.- On September 16, 1994 in Queens, NY, the young victim says she was walking down the street when Petty came up behind her and placed a hard circular object against her back and made a clicking sound He instructed her to enter a house down the street where the victim says he laid his weight on top pinched her sides and squeezed her neck causing her to sustain bruises and pain and then forced his penis into her vagina.- When she tried to escape, Petty brandished a knife and held it against her stomach, threatening her not to leave. Eventually she struck Petty with a plastic bottle and escaped.- She reported the incident to police, and that same day they arrested Petty.- He was charged with 5 crimes, rape in the 1st degree, sexual abuse in the 1st degree, unlawful imprisonment in the 2nd degree, assault in the 2nd degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree. He later pled down and was convicted of attempted rape in the 1st degree, and served 4 years in prison. Petty is still a registered sex offender and will remain on the New York sex offenders list for life. Chinas demand for cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels is on track to skyrocket over next few years as the government continues to make strategic moves toward a greener future. As part of this initiative, it is projected that China will more than triple its capacity for production of ethanol in little over a year. According to a Dou Kejun, a researcher at the China National Renewable Energy Centre, the nation is already constructing or seeking approval to construct new ethanol plants with a total production capacity of over 6.6 million tonnes of the mostly corn- and cassava-based biofuel each year. 6.6 million tonnes is an especially stunning figure when you consider that Chinas entire ethanol production in 2017 was just 2.8 million tonnes. Feng Wensheng, a manager at Henan Tianguan Group Co Ltd., a major Chinese producer, estimates that current capacity has already risen to about 3.38 million tonnes, including some plants that are still under construction after very recent approval. A major factor in this massive uptick is the governments announcement last year that they would now be requiring gasoline supplies nationwide to be blended with ethanol by just 2020. This requirement alone will require about 15 million tonnes of ethanol per year. Unlike ethanol in the United States, the vast majority of which is corn-based, less than half of Chinas current ethanol production is derived from corn, a larger portion (1.7 million tonnes) being sourced from cassava. Other sources of Chinese biofuels include wheat, sorghum and rice. Chinas newly soaring demand for ethanol has garnered quite a lot of attention from the international biofuels industry, as most believe its highly unlikely that China will be able to produce enough ethanol on domestic soil to meet the nations soaring thirst. Contrary to the predominant belief within the industry, researcher Dou reported to Reuters that Chinas planned growth in production capacity would take the country quite close to the volumes necessary to meet its 2020 objective. He hedged this statement by saying the process is not set, but dynamic and subject to change. Meanwhile, many industry insiders predict that China will need to import large volumes of ethanol from other major international producers of the biofuel such as the United States and Brazil, the worlds first and second biggest ethanol producers, respectively. Related: Saudi Arabias Biggest Geopolitical Error This dynamic is muddied considerably, however, by the ongoing trade war between China and the United States. After Chinese President Xi Jinping imposed tariffs on U.S. ethanol imports and the U.S. takes a step back from overall trade in China, a surprising player has stepped up to fill Chinas unflagging demand. Over the course of just two months, Malaysia--a nation with negligible levels of use or production of ethanol--has shocked the industry by displacing the United States and Chinas biggest ethanol supplier. Where is Malaysia getting all of this ethanol? From the very same nation they displaced. Far from becoming an ethanol producer the size of the United States or Brazil, Malaysia is just playing go-between between the quarreling superpowers, as the Southeast Asian nation has simultaneously ramped up their imports of U.S. ethanol to record quantities. Malaysia serves to fill a loophole in the complicated trade relations between the U.S. and China, as shipments from Malaysia to China are tax-free. Heather Zhang, an analyst for global biofuel industry research firm PRIMA, based in Singapore, says that the sudden and extensive involvement of Malaysia has been an unforeseen shock to the industry, but, it shows some merchants are enthusiastic in their effort to generate profitability and adapt to change in the international trading environment during this unusual trade war event. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Rampant cryptocurrency mining is threatening the shaky electrical network in the tiny, mostly unrecognized republic of Abkhazia, forcing officials to call for putting regulatory shackles on the money-making scheme in order to stave off power supply interruptions this winter. Abkhazia has recently emerged as a cryptocurrency enthusiast, much like the country from which it broke away, Georgia. Cryptocurrency-producing operations have been set up in abandoned Soviet factories left behind in the territorys rocky period of quasi-independence. We have the so-called mining farms, set up on the premises of abandoned or partly abandoned factories, said Aslan Basaria, head of the state-run energy company Chernomorenergo, as he was filling in the regions de-facto leader Raul Khajimba on the energy situation, Ekho Kavkaza reported. The computers that churn out cryptocurrency are guzzling up electricity. This puts additional load on our grid, the transmission lines and substations that are loaded to capacity even without it, Basaria said. If temperatures fall, there is a risk that electricity will not reach regular customers. Cryptocurrency may be giving energy officials headaches, but some in Abkhazia see it as a solution to their many economic woes. Civil war, a mass exodus of the pre-war population, and the consequent international isolation have turned Abkhazia into a shell of what used to be the Soviet Unions prime fun-under-the-sun destination. Russia accompanied by a handful of countries geopolitically indebted to Moscow recognizes Abkhazia as a nation independent from Georgia and guards that independence with thousands of troops. To the rest of the world, Abkhazia remains a de jure part of Georgia run by an unrecognized separatist regime. Related: No, The U.S. Is Not A Net Exporter Of Crude Oil But what Abkhazia and Georgia proper both share is a fervor for cryptocurrency, as well as a large hydropower complex, which straddles the de facto boundary and provides the main fuel for cryptocurrency electricity. The complex cant meet either sides need for power in the winter, when water levels in giant Jvari Reservoir are low and electricity consumption is high. Not least thanks to low electricity costs, Georgia has become a surprise cryptocurrency powerhouse in recent years, ranking as the worlds second for cryptocurrency mining in terms of power consumed, behind only China. In Abkhazia, electricity is even cheaper. Households pay 40 kopeks (about 0.6 cents) per kilowatt-hour. On top of that, Abkhazian officials say that stealing electricity remains a major problem and that between 30 to 40 percent of customers dont pay for power at all. The long-troubled energy supply system is now groaning under the weight of cryptocurrency prospecting. But, on the other hand, cryptocurrency is offering the secluded region a chance to plug into an international money-making network. Related: Saudi Arabia Can Outwait The Khashoggi Crisis Being free of state regulations, cryptocurrency is reportedly helping twilight zones like Abkhazia and the Donetsk Peoples Republic, a breakaway part of Ukraine, skirt international restrictions and attract investment and trade. There is even an effort underway to digitally mint Abkhazias own cryptocurrency, Abkhazia Republic Coin. One start-up presented the coin idea at a blockchain conference in Moscow last year. Yevgeniy Galiakhmetov, head of blockchain company BCSG, said at the conference that cryptocurrency is destined to entirely transform Abkhazia, delivering the region into the future of economic prosperity and bustling international trade, reported the news service Meduza. Given the limitations associated with the status of the republic, we always seek nonconventional solutions to reach an acceptable level of [economic] development, Abkhazias de-facto Economy Minister Adgur Ardzinba told Meduza. The Abkhazian authorities, chief among them Ardzinba, appear to support the cryptocurrency plans and even sought Russian President Vladimir Putins imprimatur to proceed, Meduza reported. How Abkhazia is going to reconcile its big cryptocurrency plans with the problem of electricity shortage remains unclear. As far as the energy company is concerned, regulations are needed to keep the digital money farming in check and to keep the lights on in Abkhazia. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Cuadrilla has halted fracking operations for a fourth time in the last two months as yet another tremor was recorded near the shale gas companys Preston new Road site in Lancashire, after seeing its first natural gas flows from that site in early November. Cuadrillas new natural gas operation has been shuttered four times since October, and this time will see production halt for at least 18 hours after the event was recorded, Cuadrilla stated on Friday. Cuadrilla shut down its site three days ago after a 1.5 magnitude tremor in what is considered a red event under Britains traffic light system that calls for mandatory shutdowns to all fracking operations. Todays seismic event was a magnitude 0.5 quake, the minimum threshold for requiring a shut down, which is described as the equivalent of mixed traffic on a busy road in the University of Liverpools Seismic Context Measurements for Induced Seismicity. While imperceptible to most people, this still triggers a red light situation which requires frackers to halt operations. A 1.5 magnitude tremor was described as the equivalent of a honeydew melon dropping. In the beginning of October, these stringent requirements that frackers must adhere to may be relaxed, moving the minimum magnitude that would trigger a red-light situation to a 1.5 or a 2.0 on the Richter scale. Cuadrilla has had a tough road in the last seven years as it has fought hard to overturn temporary injunctions when a minor quake first halted operations. Operations restarted October 13 of this year, defeating the opposition that sought to ban all fracking in the UK. The October startup was met with protestors after being defeated in court, but ultimately Cuadrilla was victorious. With the bar being set at 0.5 magnitude, Cuadrilla is likely to experience frequent outages unless the threshold is revised upward. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Hong Kongs leader promised to help four city residents a day after they were sentenced to life in prison in the Philippines on what they claim are trumped-up drug possession charges. Urging the Southeast Asian nation to guarantee fair and humane treatment for the men, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor stopped short of saying whether she would seek central government help when she visits Beijing from Saturday. The four Hong Kong men, aged 31 to 51, are now seeking to appeal the sentences handed down by a regional court in Olongapo, a city four hours drive from Manila. The court convicted them of possessing half a kilogram of methamphetamine, which they have denied since they were arrested at sea near the popular tourist resort of Subic in July 2016. A few days ago, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would pay great attention and seriously follow up should Chinese nationals suffer unfair treatment overseas, Lam said on Saturday. The Hong Kong government will also definitely provide assistance to Hongkongers facing difficulties abroad. She did not specify what steps her administration would take. Wang had been speaking in relation to the case of Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, who was arrested in Canada at the behest of the US over allegations she sold telecoms equipment to Iran, in breach of sanctions. Lam said she would actively follow the case, as she did the case of another Hongkonger, Tang Lung-wai, four months ago. We have actively followed up on the case of another Hongkonger who got into trouble in the Philippines. And I am personally willing to follow up on the four Hong Kong mens case with the same attitude, she said. Families of 4 jailed for life in Philippines urge Beijing to intervene She added that the quartets case had been referred to the Security Bureau, which sought to meet the families. She said the administration would focus on fair trials and humane treatment for the affected city residents. Story continues Yet I cant directly intervene in the judicial system and procedures of foreign countries, she added. I cant directly intervene in the judicial system and procedures of foreign countries Chief Executive Carrie Lam Lam wrote to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte In August to ask for compassionate consideration in expediting a request to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration so Tang could receive a fair and just trial. Tang, 47, was arrested in the Philippines in 2000, and has been jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of possession of methamphetamine. His ordeal took a surprising turn after Lams letter in August. Philippine immigration authorities released a critical piece of evidence and Tang launched a final appeal. The four men in the more recent case Lo Wing-fai, 44, Chan Kwok-tung, 31, Kwok Kam-wah, 49, and Leung Shu-fook, 51 were detained aboard a 50-metre fishing boat about 3km off the coast of Zambales province, northwest of Manila, in an operation led by then Philippine police chief Ronald dela Rosa. The arrests came at a time of high tension over territorial claims in the South China Sea and a pledge by Duterte to wage a relentless and sustained war on drugs and crime. Authorities said the men were part of a racket smuggling drugs to mainland China, but the families complained it was a set-up. The mens relatives said officers found nothing in an initial search but later claimed to have discovered the drugs in one mans backpack, which had been taken from the mens sight for a few minutes. The defence suggested during the trial that the drugs were planted in the bag. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said on Saturday afternoon whether the central government would intervene depended on the cases development. The Hong Kong government is highly concerned about the case and will seriously follow up on it, Cheung said. The Immigration Department has visited the four men several times through the Chinese embassy in the Philippines. The government will continue to keep an eye on the case through Chinas foreign ministry and central government. A spokesman for the Security Bureau said Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu would contact Chinas foreign affairs commissioner in Hong Kong in person and write to the Philippine consulate in the city to urge a fair trial and protection of the prisoners legal rights. The Immigration Department also asked Chinas embassy in the Philippines to help arrange consular visits, according to the spokesman. This article Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam pledges help for city residents jailed in Philippines first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. More from South China Morning Post: Somali-American Amazon workers demanding better working conditions protest at the the company's fulfillment center in Shakopee, Minnesota on December 14, 2018 A group of Amazon workers in Minnesota who are Somali refugees resettled in the Midwestern US state demanded better working conditions Friday during a protest outside one of the retailer's warehouses. Hundreds braved frigid temperatures to demonstrate outside of the Amazon warehouse in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopeehome to a sizable Somali immigrant population from which Amazon has heavily recruited. The protest was the latest effort by the workers, who say East African immigrants make up a majority of the workforce at the massive warehouse but go unheard. "We don't have rights in the company," worker Abdulkadir Ahmad, 30, told AFP. The workers, many of whom are practicing Muslims, say the required productivity rate is too high, the company is unconcerned about worker injuries and that the conditions don't allow practicing Muslims to pray as they otherwise would. "We do not have enough time to pray. There is a lot of pressure. They say your rate is too low," Ahmad said. The workers timed their protest during the busy holiday shopping season, hoping to force the online retailer to make changes. Amazon's accommodations They already have had some success. Amazon says it has offered accommodations such as providing prayer mats for workers, converting a conference room into prayer space during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and approving shift transfers for fasting workers. Hundreds braved frigid temperatures to demonstrate "Additionally, we've continued to hire and develop East African employees. We're a leader in this space and we feel really good about our record here," Amazon spokeswoman Shevaun Brown told AFP via email. The company previously agreed to meet with workers to hear their concerns. The New York Times reported that it was the first known instance of any group succeeding in forcing Amazon to negotiate. But workers say Amazon's efforts so far have fallen short. "We are appreciative they've sat down and talked with us, but we are not seeing real action," activist Abdi Muse said. Muse is the executive director of the Awood Center, a union-backed non-profit that organized the protest and helps East African workers in the state. Protesters decry 'hurt and harm' Demonstrating workers and community leaders who joined them in support on Friday say conditions at the warehouse are leaving people with serious ailments. "When workers leave Amazon, they still live with the back pain, chronic illness, and hurt and harm caused during their employment," said Ahmed Anshur, the imam at the Al-Ihsan Islamic Center in the nearby state capital of Saint Paul. The workers timed their protest during the busy holiday shopping season, hoping to force the online retailer to make changes Protesters said they want the multibillion-dollar company to give back to the struggling community that has been a major source of its workforce in the Minneapolis area by giving money to a community fund to help struggling immigrant families. "It's not a handout or a donation," said Mohamed Omar, imam at another Minneapolis suburban mosque. "This is so Amazon can give back into the community a portion of what they have taken so much of." The retail giant has faced past complaints from warehouse employees about working conditions. It has more than 100 "fulfillment centers" across the country where purchased merchandise is packaged and shipped. The centers employ more than 125,000 full-time employees, according to Amazon. Bloomberg reported this week that warehouse workers in New York have announced plans to unionize. 2018 AFP Privacy Policy Objective and Scope Jagran Prakashan Ltd (we, us, our, Jagran) values the trust placed in us by data subject (you, your, user, subscriber) and therefore, we follow the highest standards of privacy guidelines to protect the information shared by you with us. This privacy policy describes the usage of information provided or collected by Jagran and/or its subsidiary (ies) and/or affiliate(s) (collectively referred to as the "Company"), which operates various websites/ Mobile applications & other services including but not limited to delivery of information and content via any mobile or internet connected device or otherwise (collectively the "Services"). We follow this privacy policy in accordance with applicable law in the places where we operate. In some cases, we may provide additional data privacy notices specific to certain services or regions. Those terms are to be read in combination with this policy. Jagran.com is a property of Jagran Prakashan Limited, an Indian Company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 having its corporate office at Building No. 9 & 11, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi-110020.With a view to offer most enriching and holistic internet experience to its users Jagran offers a vast repository of services. You may read 'About Us' to know more about Jagran This Privacy Policy should be read in conjunction and together with the Terms of Use applicable to the Jagran Service that you are using. What does this privacy policy cover? The objective of the privacy policy is to inform you regarding the processing of your personal information which is collected during your visit to our website/ mobile application. This policy applies to current and former visitors of the website/ mobile application, users who register on Jagran in connection with use of our services, or whose information Jagran otherwise receives in connection with its services. I. Collection and Use of Personal Information Personal information (PI) - means any information relating to an identified or identifiable living person (data subject here in referred as you/your). In particular using a common identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person or any other piece of information as per applicable laws and regulations. The Company respects the privacy of the users of the Services and is committed to reasonably protect it in all respects. The information about the user as collected by the Company is: A. Information you provide to us Information Collected when you use our Website We may hold personal information about you including, but not limited to the following: Name Postal Address Profile Image Contact Number Email Home/current Town Gender Information Collected when you use our Mobile Application When you download our mobile application we collect the below information, but not limited to Device ID Device Location Microphone access Name Email Contact Number Date of Birth Citizens / residents Gender Photograph To add certain content, like pictures, you may allow us to access your camera or photo album Information you provide to us voluntarily We may collect additional information at other times, when you provide feedback(s), modify your content or email preferences, respond to surveys, participate in contests, or communicate with us by posting a comment on our website/ mobile application or asking us a question through or e-mail. This information may include personal information such as, but not limited to, your name, e-mail id, mobile number, comment, postal address etc. Information Automatically Collected/Tracked while Navigation Cookies To improve the responsiveness of the "Services" for our users, we may use "cookies", ( a small text file that may be used, for example, to collect your information about Website/ mobile application activity. Some cookies and other technologies may serve to recall Personal Information previously indicated by a user) or similar electronic tools to collect information to assign each visitor a unique, random number as a User Identification ("User ID") to understand the user's individual interests using the identified computer. Our advertisers may also assign their own cookies to your browser(s) (if you click on their ads), a process that we do not control. We receive and store certain types of information whenever you interact with us via website(s), Application(s) or Services through your computer/laptop/notebook/ mobile/tablet/pad/handheld device or any other electronic device capable of connecting to internet. You may set most browsers to notify you if you receive a cookie, or you may choose to block cookies with your browser, but please note that if you choose to erase or block your cookies, you will need to re-enter your original user ID and password to gain access to certain parts of the Website/ mobile application and some sections/features of the site/ application may not work. For more details you can refer to our Cookie Policy Log File Information We automatically collect limited information about your computer's connection to the Internet, mobile number, including, but not limited to, your IP address, browser software ,operating system types; clickstream patterns; and dates and times that our site/ application is accessed, whenever you visit(s) our website(s), application or services. Clear GIFs We may use "clear GIFs" (Web Beacons) when you use our website to track the online usage patterns in an anonymous manner, without personally identifying the user. We may also use clear GIFs in HTML-based emails sent to our users to track which emails are opened by them. We also collect information from you passively using Google Analytics and Google search console for collecting information about your usage of our website. C. Inferred Information through usage and log data We may collect and track certain information about you based upon your behaviour on the Jagran Services We use this information for conducting internal research on our users' demographics, devices, interests, and behaviour to better understand, protect and serve our users. We may also collect your Information to track user behaviour and preferences for internal analytics and research. We may also use your information: i. To evaluate your interest for various genres of content, services, offers; ii. To perform analytics and conduct customer research, to determine your interest, for identifying content that generate sales and to analyse traffic patterns. If you choose to post messages on social media accounts, message boards, chat rooms or other message areas or leave feedback, we will collect that information you provide to us. We retain this information as necessary to resolve disputes, provide customer support and troubleshoot problems as permitted by law. If you send us personal correspondence, such as emails or letters, or if other users or third parties send us correspondence about your activities or postings on the Jagran Services, we may collect and store such information. D. Information obtained from other Sources We may receive information about you from other online sources. We may add it to our account information system and treat it in accordance with this policy. If you provide information to the platform provider or other partner to whom we provide services, your account information including, but not limited to, your name, email ID, may be passed on to us. We may obtain updated contact information(s) from third parties in order to correct our records and fulfil the Services or to communicate with you or share the information with any third party. If you link or connect to Jagran Services with a third party service such as Google or Facebook, they may send us information such as your registered e-mail id and public profile information from the service as stated above. In case you choose to decline to submit personal information on the Application/Websites, we may not be able to provide certain services on the Application/Websites to you. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you of the same at the time of opening your account. In any case, we will not be liable and or responsible for the denial of certain services to you for lack of you providing the necessary personal information. II. Processing of personal information We will only collect and process personal data about you where we have lawful basis. Lawful basis on which we would process our personal information includes obtaining explicit consent from you for processing your personal information or processing for legitimate interests where processing is necessary by us to provide you with services (For e.g. processing your information by our group companies/affiliates). If you no longer wish to receive a specific newsletter, follow the "unsubscribe" instructions located near the bottom of each newsletter. We use information collected from cookies and other technologies, like pixel tags, Google Ads to improve your user experience and the overall quality of our services. When showing you tailored ads, we will not associate an identifier from cookies or similar technologies with sensitive categories, such as those based on race, religion, sexual orientation or health. Send alerts and newsletter(s) to you. If you no longer wish to receive a specific newsletter, follow the "unsubscribe" instructions located near the bottom of each newsletter. (Provided you subscribe to the same) You may also raise a request to the Jagran team by filling the data subject form. Send alerts and newsletter(s) to you. If you no longer wish to receive a specific newsletter, follow the "unsubscribe" instructions located near the bottom of each newsletter. (Provided you subscribe to the same. To unsubscribe, please visit your account settings) Send notification(s) to you on your handheld devices (To turn off the notifications, please visit your account settings) Communicate with you concerning our service (for example by email, push notifications), so that we can send you news about Jagran, details about new features and content available on the Jagran Services, promotional announcements, marketing purposes and surveys, other services of Jagran affiliates and to assist you with operational requests such as password reset requests. Improve our website/ mobile application and its content to provide better features and services Conducting market research and surveys with the aim of improving our products and services Preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting crimes (including but not limited to fraud and other financial crimes) in any jurisdiction, identity verification, government sanctions screening and due diligence checks Establishing, exercising or defending legal rights in connection with legal proceedings (including any prospective legal proceedings) and seeking professional or legal advice in relation to such legal proceedings. Our automated systems analyse your content to provide you customised search results, recommendations and specific promotions and offers To help advertisers understand our audience and confirm the value of advertising on our websites or Applications, (however it is usually in the form of aggregated statistics on traffic to various pages within our site) Notify you about changes in terms of service or privacy policy Allow you to participate in interactive features offered through our Services , including contests, news uploads and surveys Sharing with our customer support team to resolve your queries/concerns related to your rights or services provided to you. III. Third party services Third parties provide certain services available on Jagran on JPLs behalf. Jagran may provide information, including Personal Information that Jagran collects on the Website/ mobile application to third-party service providers to help us deliver programs, products, information, and services. Service providers are also an important means by which Jagran maintains its Website/ mobile application and mailing lists. Jagran will take reasonable steps to ensure that these third-party service providers are obligated to protect Personal Information on Jagran behalf. Jagran does not intend to transfer Personal Information without your consent to third parties who are not bound to act on Jagran behalf unless such transfer is required for legal purposes or for providing relevant services. Similarly, it is against Jagrans policy to sell Personal Information collected online without consent. When you are in a relationship with Jagrans, your personal information may be transferred to European Economic Area (EEA) or outside EEA, for the purposes mentioned in this policy or to their local service providers for support in the pursuance of such purposes. Transfers to EEA or outside EEA are covered by standard data protection laws. We present information to our advertisers to help them understand our audience and confirm the value of advertising on our website/ mobile application. It is usually in the form of aggregated statistics on traffic to various pages within our website/ mobile application. When you register with Jagran, we contact you from time to time about updation of your content to provide the users such features that we believe may benefit you. We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website/ mobile application. These companies may use information (such as but not limited to your name, email, photos/media/files on your device, location, audio etc.) about your visits to this and other websites/ applications in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. However, we do not store this data in our environment. The Jagran app contains a software development kit (SDK) from a third party, Red Brick Lane Marketing Solutions Private Limited (RBL). The SDK is integrated with this app for the purposes of profiling the device on media consumption and other device data and utilizing the same to target relevant content and ads to the device (Services) pursuant to the terms and conditions of RBL Services. Further details can be obtained at http://www.zapr.in/privacy/. If you do not wish for RBL to identify media content viewing around your mobile device, please opt out of all RBL Services via the following link: http://www.zapr.in/privacy/. RBL does not collect any personal information or audio/video/image/contact files from your mobile device. For any questions or clarifications please reach out to: privacy@zapr.in. Please keep in mind that when you provide information to us on a third-party site or platform (for example, via our applications like social media login the information we collect is through those third-party sites linked with our applications is covered by this privacy policy, and the information the third-party site or platform collects is subject to the third-party site or platforms privacy practices. Privacy choices you have made on the third-party site or platform will not apply to our use of the information we have collected directly through our applications. Please also keep in observance that our sites and applications may contain links to other sites not owned or controlled by us and we are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of other sites that may collect your personal information. All capitalized terms that have not been specifically defined herein shall have the same meaning as provided under the Terms of Use. Jagran.com does not provide any personal information to the advertiser when you interact with or view a targeted ad. However, by interacting with an ad you are consenting to the possibility that the advertiser will make the assumption that you meet the targeting criteria used to display the ad. IV. Children To use the website/ mobile application you agree that you must be the minimum age (described in this paragraph below) or older. The minimum age for these purposes shall be 16, however if local laws require that you must be older in order for Jagran to lawfully provide the services in the website/ mobile application to you then that older age shall apply as the applicable minimum age. In all jurisdictions outside the European Union, if you are under the age of 18 or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you must use Jagran under the supervision of your parent, legal guardian or responsible adult. V. Information Sharing We restrict access to your Personal Information to employees who we believe reasonably need to know/or that information in order to fulfil their jobs to provide, operate, develop, or improve our products or services Jagran does not rent, sell, or share personal information about you with other people or non-affiliated companies except to provide products or services you've requested, when we have your permission, or under the following circumstances: We provide the information to trusted partners who work on behalf of or with JPL under confidentiality agreements. These companies may use your personal information to help Jagran communicate with you about offers from Jagran and our marketing partners. However, these companies do not have any independent right to share this information. We respond to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process, or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims; We believe it is necessary to share information in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of Jagran terms of use, or as otherwise required by law. We transfer information about you if Jagran is acquired by or merged with another company. In this event, Jagran will notify you before information about you is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy. Jagran works with vendors, partners, advertisers, and other service providers in different industries and categories of business. For more information regarding providers of products or services, please refer the section Third party services of this policy. VI. Retention of personal information Your personal information processed by Jagran are kept in a form which permits your identification for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal information are processed in line with legal, regulatory, contractual or statutory obligations as applicable. At the expiry of such periods, your personal information will be deleted or archived to comply with legal/contractual retention obligations or in accordance with applicable statutory limitation periods. VII. Monitoring To the extent permitted by law, Jagran may record and monitor your communications with us to ensure compliance with our legal and regulatory obligations and our internal policies. This may include the recording of telephone conversations. VIII. Your Controls and Choices (As applicable under GDPR) A. Accessing and Rectifying your personal information When you use the Services on our Website/application (or any of its sub sites), we make reasonable efforts to provide you, as and when requested by you, with access to your personal information and shall further ensure that any personal information or sensitive personal data or information found to be inaccurate or deficient shall be corrected or amended as feasible. We ask individual users to identify themselves and the information requested to be accessed or corrected before processing such requests. We may decline to process requests that are unreasonably repetitive or systematic, requiring disproportionate technical effort, jeopardizing the privacy of others, or would be extremely impractical (for instance, requests concerning information residing on backup tapes), or for which access is not otherwise required. In any case, where we provide information access and correction, we perform this service free of charge, except if doing so would require a disproportionate effort. You can make such requests by sending us an e-mail B. Right to Rectification You have the right for inaccurate or incomplete data we hold to be updated. You shall have the right to obtain from Jagran without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal information concerning you. C. Data Portability You may also be entitled to request copies of personal information that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and have the right to transmit to another controller, wherever feasible D. Data Erasure We retain your personal information as long as necessary for us to provide services to you or you ask us to not retain your data. If you no longer want us to use your information then you can request that we erase your personal information and close your Jagran Services account. Please note that if you request for the erasure of your personal information; We may retain some of your personal information as necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as fraud detection and prevention and enhancing safety. For example, if we suspend Jagran service account for fraud or safety reasons, we may retain certain information from that account to prevent that user from opening a new account in the future. We may retain and use your personal information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations. For example, we may keep some of your information for tax, legal reporting and auditing obligations. Information you have shared with others (e.g., Reviews, forum postings) may continue to be publicly visible on the Jagran Services, even after your account is cancelled. However, attribution of such information to you will be removed. Additionally, some copies of your information (e.g., log records) may remain in our database, but are disassociated from personal identifiers. Because of the way we maintain certain services, after you delete your information, residual copies may take a period of time before they are deleted from our active servers and may remain in our backup systems. E. Withdrawing Consent and Restriction of Processing For withdrawing your consent at any time during the tenure of your services with us, you may choose to do so by sending us an e-mail. We shall review your request and may ask you to verify your identity. Post verification we will withdraw the consent for which request was made by you and stop any further processing of your personal information F. Right to Object to the Processing Except in very specific cases where provided by law, you have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning you. Such right can be exercised at any time where your personal data is processed for direct marketing purposes. G. Right to object being subjected to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you, except in specific cases provided by law. Jagran shall provide information on action taken on a request pertaining to the rights above without undue delay and in any event within one month of receipt of the request. That period may be extended by two further months where necessary, taking into account the complexity and number of the requests. Jagran shall inform the data subject of any such extension within one month of receipt of the request, together with the reasons for delay. H. Complaints If you have any complaints regarding processing of your personal information you may contact our Privacy Officer at contactus@jagrannewmedia.com. You have the right to complaint about the data processing activities carried out by Jagran before the competent data protection authorities. To invoke your data subject rights, please click here IX. Security and Compliance with Laws We take appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data. These include internal reviews of our data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures, including appropriate encryption and physical security measures to guard against unauthorized access to systems where we store personal data. All information gathered is securely stored within the Company controlled database. The database is stored on servers secured behind a firewall on the cloud; access to the servers is password-protected and is strictly limited. However, as effective as our security measures are, no security system is impenetrable. If you know or have reason to believe that your Jagran Services account credentials have been lost, stolen, altered, or otherwise compromised or in case of any actual or suspected unauthorized use of your account, please contact us by contacting our customer support team. X. Social media Jagran operates channels, pages and accounts on some social media sites to inform, assist and engage with you. Jagran monitors and records comments and posts made on these channels about Jagran in order to improve its products and services. Please note that you must not communicate with Jagran through such social media sites the following information: Sensitive personal data including (i) special categories of personal data meaning any information revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation and (ii) other sensitive personal data such as criminal convictions and offences and national identification number ; Excessive, inappropriate, offensive or insulting information towards individuals. Jagran is not responsible for any information posted on those sites other than the information posted by its employees on its behalf. Jagran is only responsible for its own use of the personal data received through such sites XI. Changes in the Policy Jagran reserves the right to update, change or modify this policy at any time. The policy shall come to effect from the date of such update, change or modification. XII. Contact Information Support If you require any information or clarification regarding the use of your personal information or this privacy policy or grievances with respect to use of your personal information, please email us at contactus@jagrannewmedia.com Postal Address Jagran Prakashan Ltd. First floor, 9, 11- Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase 3 New Delhi 110020 XIII. Disclaimer Jagran shall not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by reason of any disclosure (inadvertent or otherwise) of any information concerning the user's account and / or information relating to or regarding online transactions using credit cards / debit cards and / or their verification process and particulars nor for any error, omission or inaccuracy with respect to any information so disclosed and used whether or not in pursuance of a legal process or otherwise. Any other personal information shared by you which is not asked by Jagran during registration, either mandatorily or optionally; accounts to wilful and intentional furnishing; and Jagran will not be liable for breach of such information. Disclaimer User Agreement These Terms of Use govern your use of the websites, content and other services offered through http://www.jagran.com (Site) You (the user) agree to access "the site", subject to the terms and conditions of use as set out here. JPL may add to or change or update these Terms of Use, from time to time entirely at its own discretion. You are responsible for checking these Terms of Use periodically to remain in compliance with these terms. Your use of a Site after any amendment to the Terms of Use shall constitute your acceptance of these terms and you also agree to be bound by any such changes/revisions. Changes JPL reserves the right to suspend / cancel, or discontinue any or all channels, products or service at any time without notice , make modifications and alterations in any or all of the content, products and services contained on the site without prior notice. Charges JPL reserves the right to charge subscription and / or membership fees from a user, by giving reasonable prior notice, in respect of any product, service or any other aspect of this Site. Copyright and Trademarks Unless otherwise stated, copyright and all intellectual property rights in all material presented on the site (including but not limited to text, audio, video or graphical images), trademarks and logos appearing on this site are the property of JPL., its parent, affiliates and associates and are protected under applicable Indian laws. You agree not to use any framing techniques to enclose any trademark or logo or other proprietary information of JPL; or remove, conceal or obliterate any copyright or other proprietary notice or any credit-line or date-line on other mark or source identifier included on the Site / Service, including without limitation, the size, color, location or style of all proprietary marks. Any infringement shall be vigorously defended and pursued to the fullest extent permitted by law. Limited Permission to Copy JPL grants you permission to only access and make personal use of the Site and You agree not to, directly or indirectly download or modify / alter / change / amend / vary / transform / revise / translate / copy / publish / distribute or otherwise disseminate any content on JPLs Site / Service, or any portion of it; or delete or fail to display any promotional taglines included in the Site / Service either directly or indirectly, except with the express consent of JPL. However, you may print or download extracts from these pages for your personal / individual, non-commercial use only. You must not retain any copies of these pages saved to disk or to any other storage medium except for the purposes of using the same for subsequent viewing purposes or to print extracts for personal / individual use. JPL forbids you from any attempts to resell or put to commercial use any part of the Site; any collection and use of any product listings, descriptions, or prices; any derivative use of the Site or its contents; any downloading or copying of account information for the benefit of any other merchant; any renting, leasing, or otherwise transferring rights to the Site / Service; displaying the name, logo, trademark or other identifier of another person in such a manner as to give the viewer the impression that such other person is a publisher or distributor of the Service on the Site, or any data gathering or extraction tools; or any use of meta tags. You may not (whether directly or through the use of any software program) create a database in electronic or structured manual form by regularly or systematically downloading and storing all or any part of the pages from this site. No part of the Site may be reproduced or transmitted to or stored in any other web site, nor may any of its pages or part thereof be disseminated in any electronic or non-electronic form, nor included in any public or private electronic retrieval system or service without prior written permission. Requests to republish JPLs material for distribution should be addressed to feedback@jagran.com Individual Registration, Access and Exchange of Information For certain services such as personal web pages, contests and shopping, registration by the visitor is required. To register for these services you have to open an account by completing the registration process (i.e. by providing us with current, complete and accurate information as prompted by the applicable registration form). You also will choose a password and a user name. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account. By registering, you agree to the following terms in addition to any other specific terms which shall be posted at an appropriate location of the Site. Each registration is for a single individual user only. To access these services, you will be asked to enter your individual User Name and Password, as chosen by you during your registration. Therefore, we do not permit any of the following:- Any other person sharing your account and Password; Any part of the Site being cached in proxy servers and accessed by individuals who have not registered with JPL as users of the Site; or Access through a single account and Password being made available to multiple users on a network. If JPL reasonably believe that an account and Password is being used / misused in any manner, JPL shall reserve the right to cancel access rights immediately without notice, and block access to all users from that IP address. Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify JPL immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. JPL will not be liable for any loss that you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account. However, you could be held liable for losses incurred by JPL or another party due to someone else using your account or password. No unlawful or prohibited use As a condition of your use of the Services, you will not use the Services for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use the Services in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any JPLs server, or the network(s) connected to any JPL server, or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of any Services. You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any Services, other accounts, computer systems or to any of the Services, through hacking, password mining or any other means. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available through the Services. Material Posted/transmitted at JPLs Site All information, data, text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages or other materials (Content), whether publicly or privately transmitted / posted, is the sole responsibility of the person from where such content is originated (the Originator). By Posting any material which contain images, photographs, pictures or that are otherwise graphical in whole or in part ("Images"), you warrant and represent that (a) you are the copyright owner of such Images, or that the copyright owner of such Images has granted you permission to use such Images or any content and/or images contained in such Images consistent with the manner and purpose of your use and as otherwise permitted by these Terms of Use and the Services, (b) you have the rights necessary to grant the licenses and sublicenses described in these Terms of Use, and (c) that each person depicted in such Images, if any, has provided consent to the use of the Images as set forth in these Terms of Use, including, by way of limitation, the distribution, public display and reproduction of such Images. You represent that you have valid rights and title in any and all Content/Images that you submit on the Site, that you have not infringed on any IPR belonging to any party and further that you will indemnify JPL or its affiliates for all claims arising out of any content that you post on the Site. JPL accepts no responsibility for the said Content / Images. However, you understand that all Content / Images posted by you becomes the property of JPL and you agree to grant/assign to JPL and its affiliates, a non-exclusive, royalty free, perpetual, irrevocable and sub-licenseable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such Content / Images (in whole or part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed throughout the world. Limitations of Liabilities Under No circumstances will JPL be held responsible or liable, in any way, for any content which in Legal opinion is derogatory, threatening, defamatory, obscene or offensive or offends public sensibilities or morals and shall also not assume liability for any errors or omissions in any content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any content posted or uploaded on the Site, or any infringement of another's rights, including intellectual property rights. You specifically agree that JPL is not responsible for any content sent using and/or included in JPLs site/service by any third party. Termination of Account JPL reserves its right to refuse service, restrict, suspend,terminate your account; (Terminate this Agreement; Terminate or suspend your access to the JPLs Web Sites; Refuse, move or remove for any reason any Content / Image that you submit on or through the Services; Refuse, move, or remove any Content / Image that is available on or through the Services; Deactivate or delete your accounts and all related information and files in your account; Establish general practices and limits concerning use of the Services) at any time and, remove or edit contents or cancel orders (entered by you) in its sole discretion with or without cause, and with or without any prior notice for any violation of the Terms of Use. Upon such termination or suspension, your right to use the JPLs Web Sites will immediately cease. You can also terminate your account at any time but your information may remain stored in archive on our servers even after the deletion or the termination of your account. User Conduct and Obligations You hereby agree and assure JPL that the Site/Services shall be used for lawful purposes only and that you will not violate laws, regulations, ordinances or other such requirements of any applicable Central, State or local government or any other international laws. You further concur that you will not, through Site/Service: Post, distribute, or otherwise make available or transmit any software or other computer files that contain a virus trojan horses, time bombs, bots, botnets, malicious content, content theft, data manipulation, threats or any other harmful programs or elements or component. Delete from the Site any legal notices, disclaimers, or proprietary notices such as copyright or trademark symbols, or modify any logos that you do not own or have express permission to modify; Not use the Site / Service in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair and not to undertake any action which is harmful or potentially harmful to any JPLs server, or the network(s), computer systems / resource connected to any JPL server, or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of the Site/Service; Obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available through the Site/Service. Engage in any activity that causes / may harm minors; or Perform any activity which is likely to cause such harm; Impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, JPLs official, forum leader, guide or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity. Take any action which encourages or consists of any threat of harm of any kind to any person or property. Carry out any "denial of service" (DoS, DDoS) or any other harmful attacks on application or internet service or. Make any inappropriate, illegal or otherwise prohibited communication to any Newsgroup, Mailing List, Chat Facility, or other Internet Forum. Use the Site/Service for illegal purposes. Disrupt, place unreasonable burdens or excessive loads on, interfere with or attempt to make or attempt any unauthorized access to any JPL website or the website of any JPLs customer. Transmit through the Site, any unlawful, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind or nature. This includes text, graphics, video, programs or audio, etc. Collect or attempt to collect personally identifiable information of any person or entity without their express written consent and you shall maintain records of any such written consent throughout the terms of this agreement and for a period of 2 years thereafter. Engage in antisocial, disruptive, or destructive acts, including "flaming," "spamming," "flooding," "trolling," and "griefing" as those terms are commonly understood and used on the Internet Forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any content transmitted through the Site. Upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," duplicative messages or any other form of solicitation. 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Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Pending future revelations from the Mueller investigation, the most pressing legal threat to Donald Trump stems from the campaign-finance laws his former attorney Michael Cohen has admitted he violated at Trumps direction. The question of Trumps criminal liability in a hypothetical prosecution for these acts largely revolves around the degree of his personal knowledge of, and involvement in, the evasion of these laws. If, as Trump claims, this was all a simple private transaction that had nothing to do with the fact that he was running for president at the time, hes probably in the clear. Alternatively, if the payments were something Cohen cooked up without much understanding of the details from his client, thats good for Trump as well. Cohens first interview (with ABCs Good Morning America) after being sentenced to three years in prison damaged both of these potential avenues for presidential exoneration, as the Wall Street Journal reports: In the interview, Mr. Cohen gave his fullest public description of Mr. Trumps involvement in payments Mr. Cohen had admitted to coordinating during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence two women who said they had sexual encounters with Mr. Trump. Nothing at the Trump Organization was ever done unless it was run through Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen said. He directed me to make the payments. He directed me to become involved in these matters. Mr. Cohen said Mr. Trump dealt directly with David Pecker, chief executive of publisher American Media, the parent company of the National Enquirer, to silence former Playboy centerfold Karen McDougal. Ms McDougal says she had a nearly yearlong affair with Mr. Trump. So much for the idea of the busy mogul who left all the messy business of hush payments to the help. Cohen also made it clear that the effect of these transactions on Trumps campaign was front and center in his clients mind, certainly with respect to the Stormy Daniels payments: Mr. Cohen said Mr. Trump was concerned about Ms. Cliffords allegations after an Access Hollywood video of Mr. Trump talking about groping women became public in October 2016. He was very concerned about how this would affect the election, Mr. Cohen said, adding that Mr. Trump knew the payment was wrong. In other words, Cohen is directly alleging that Trump shared his criminal intent. That could be the basis of an indictment, though probably not while Trump is president. (Some legal scholars argue the president cant be indicted while in office, though the issue hasnt been settled.) As the legal clouds darken above Trumpworld, the presidents associates are trying hard to dismiss the whole thing as a sort of multimillion-dollar parking violation. His latest attorney, Rudy Giuliani, actually served up that analogy: Nobody got killed, nobody got robbed This was not a big crime, Giuliani told The Daily Beast on Wednesday. He added, sardonically, I think in two weeks theyll start with parking tickets that havent been paid. Giuliani later walked that comment back by saying there was no crime at all, big or little. The effort to treat what Trump did as routine is often accompanied by sos-your-old-man references to violations for which earlier campaigns notably Barack Obamas were fined. Election law expert Rick Hasen knocked that one down pretty firmly: These were not paperwork errors, as both Trump and Rand Paul have spuriously claimed. Campaigns do make paperwork errors all the time, especially large campaigns like Obamas or John McCains, which failed to file some reports within 48 hours of making some campaign expenditures. When campaigns make these minor errors, they promptly file a corrected report with the Federal Election Commission and then pay civil fines if necessary. What they dont do: Deny for more than a year that they made an error, and try to hide campaign payments by funneling money through unreported corporate loans, LLCs, and payoffs falsely described as legal and technical services. These are serious criminal activities for which others have gone to jail, and for which Cohen apparently will spend time behind bars following his guilty plea. Hasen also deals with the claim that John Edwardss acquittal by a jury on similar charges somehow means Trump will be exonerated as well: [I]t is the John Edwards prosecution which itself strengthens the case against Trump. Everyone knew that Edwards was on trial for having donors make payments to his mistress to help fund his campaign. This put Trump and everyone else on fair notice that federal prosecutors were treating such payments as reportable campaign expenditures in certain circumstances. Trump even tweeted about the case at the time. At the very least, the Edwards precedent should have caused Trump to seek advice of counsel on whether payments made to hush up mistresses timed specifically to help his election campaign were illegal. Maybe he did, and went ahead anyway. Yes, the hypothetical prosecution of Donald Trump over campaign-finance violations raises all sorts of difficult questions about the appearance it would create of political vengeance questions that will be even more pressing if Trump isnt indicted, but instead faces possible impeachment. But its getting hard for Trump and his satraps to credibly claim he was an innocent bystander in the crimes Cohen is confessing. And every time Cohen opens his mouth, the case against his former boss gets stronger. In the current environment of a prolonged crypto selloff, mining offers an alternative and more predictable way to make money in the high-risk industry. Mining really is an energy arbitrage play where the miners profits are dictated by three main factors: electricity costs, cost of mining equipment and related overheads such as cooling costs. As long as the combined costs of mining a bitcoin remain below the price of bitcoin, a miner is able to make money. Mining usually demands higher upfront costs but can offer more sustainable longer-term returns than trading. Unfortunately, even miners eventually start feeling the pinch whenever things go to the dogs. Bitcoin has been in a dangerous tailspin over the past five months, and many bitcoin miners have been forced to close up shop as is clearly evident by the alarming decline in bitcoin hash rate since August. (Click to enlarge) Source: CoinBase (Click to enlarge) Source: BlockChain Not everyone is out for the count though Miners in countries with low power costs can continue doing business long after everyone else has hung up their boots. Take Iran, for instance--a country blessed with dirt-cheap power thanks to an over-abundance of even cheaper natural gas. Power costs in Iran can go as low as $0.006 per kilowatt-hour, about 6 percent the U.S. average. Energy costs account for 90-95 percent of bitcoin mining costs, which implies that miners in these countries are at a distinctive advantage compared to the vast majority of miners in other parts of the globe. Related: Gibraltar Flare-Up Could Further Complicate Brexit When bitcoin prices get as squeezed as they are right now, miners seek out countries like Iran which can support much lower prices. American sanctions against Iran have led to the rial plunging more than 10 percent and made the cost of living unbearable for the average Iranian. Yet, Irans competitive power advantage is so great that its even luring miners to relocate. Indeed, Nima Dehqan, a blockchain researcher at a Tehran-based Areatak, has told CoinDesk that the migration process is underway, with Chinese miners beginning to set up base there. Chinese crypto mining millionaire Chandler Hongcai Guo has even posted a video on his Weibo account encouraging miners to take advantage of Irans cheap power. Meanwhile, bitcoin investors from Spain, France, Armenia and Ukraine have paid a visit to their farms to do some reconnaissance. Sanction Complications For investors who find Irans mining promise too alluring, theres a big riskthe countrys geopolitical instability. The countrys Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retains a significant sway on the border and has power to decide which shipments come into the country. Dehqan sought to temper the idea that miners from all over the world are flocking to Iran saying the immigration process as well as getting the equipment in is anything but straightforward (Iran lacks mining gear, which is mostly imported from China). The risk is especially high for large operations with equipment worth millions of dollars, meaning that only miners operating on a smaller scale find such a move feasible. The second risk is regulatory mainly because crypto mining in the country is still a gray area and not well defined under Iranian law. Perhaps that explains why no large Chinese mining operation has set up base in Iran despite an abundance of such miners in China--and also the fact that the two countries enjoy relatively cordial relations (China is Tehrans top oil customer and recently chose to defy Trumps call to halt imports). For investors who would like to explore alternative locations with low mining costs, Bangladesh, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kuwait and Venezuela all offer sub-$2,000 costs per bitcoin, according to this chart by Elite Study. (Click to enlarge) Source: MarketWatch By Alex Kimani for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com He came, he disrupted, he declared victory. Ask Donald Trump and he'll tell you 2018 was a roaring success. "Nobody's ever done a better job than I'm doing as president," Trump told Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward. Classic Trump. Best ever or not, there's no denying this most unusual White House resident left quite a mark in the second year of his administration. From trampling near-sacred allies like Canada to trying to make good with rival Russia and enemy North Korea, Trump's foreign policy shook up the world. And at home, he stoked populist fires with "Make America Great Again" rallies that made it seem his 2016 election campaign had never ended -- or that his 2020 reelection campaign had already begun. Trump's 2018 on the international stage was "a very important year in terms of the disruptive nature," Georgetown professor Mark Rom says. For all the drama, though, his domestic accomplishments were slender and he ends the year with approval percentage ratings in the low 40s. Now with signs of economic wobbles, Democrats taking over the lower house of Congress in January, the Russia collusion investigation peaking, and his former lawyer going to prison, uncertainties are mounting. The one easy prediction for 2019, though, is that whatever happens "Trump's going to be Trump," Rom said. And in 2018, at least, this is what Trump being Trump looked like: - G7 mayhem - Annual G7 summits, which group the world's seven richest democracies, are usually cozy affairs. But the June G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, ended in unprecedented acrimony after Trump attacked allies for using the US as a "piggy bank," defended his imposition of tariffs against western trading partners, and got in a name-calling spat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. With a final flourish, Trump torpedoed the traditional joint communique -- usually a dull document reaffirming common values, suddenly turned into the hottest controversy around. A photograph showing the president sitting grumpily in front of other G7 leaders came to epitomize what some saw as an unraveling of western unity. - Nukes and love - Days later, Trump flew to Singapore for a far more upbeat summit with... North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Kim's country technically remains at war with the United States and his rule has been characterized by executions of disloyal relatives and mass repression of the population. The mold-breaking US president reckoned his charm and business instincts could get Kim to give up his country's nukes and make peace. Many ridiculed Trump, pointing to the absence of concrete steps afterward by Kim. But after decades of unproductive US saber rattling and military standoffs, Trump also won plaudits for trying something new. Certainly he thinks his gamble will work. "We fell in love," Trump said later, waxing lyrical over an exchange of letters with his unlikely new friend Kim. - Kremlin controversy - Another month, another diplomatic bombshell. This time, it was a July meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki where Trump publicly accepted the Kremlin leader's denial of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. "President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be," Trump told a press conference. No reason at all, except for the awkward matter of Trump's own intelligence experts having declared that Russia was guilty. Trump's siding with Putin sparked uproar on both sides of the political aisle back home. And it worried European allies already nervous about the Kremlin's multi-layered efforts to infiltrate western democracies. The episode was only the latest example of Trump's personal refusal to take on Putin -- all the more mysterious given his government's often tough line over Ukraine and other flashpoints. - Court of Donald Trump? - Trump won few legislative victories in 2018, despite his Republicans controlling both houses of Congress. For example, his endlessly trumpeted "wall" with Mexico has yet to find funding. But Trump did score big in getting approval for his nominees to fill two Supreme Court seats, as well as dozens of federal judge vacancies. Justices and federal judges are for life, so Trump's conservative picks will influence US society and politics for a long time. The stakes became dramatically clear in the fight over the second Supreme Court candidate, Brett Kavanaugh, who was almost derailed by unproven, decades-old sex assault allegations. As public concern fueled by the #MeToo movement mounted, Trump wavered. Not for long, though, before he came out fighting to belittle the woman accuser. The Senate's tense approval vote of 50-48 marked a massive victory for Trump, but also yet another deepening of partisan divisions. - 'The witch hunt' - Given Trump's in-your-face style, it's ironic that his potential nemesis is Washington's quietest man, special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller heads the probe into alleged improper links between Trump, his 2016 election campaign and the Kremlin. And as 2018 winds down, the signs are that the ultra-discreet Mueller is gearing up for big revelations. "Phony Russia Witch Hunt" and "conflicted prosecutor gone rogue" are just two snippets from the president's recent torrent of anti-Mueller tweets. But if Trump used to believe himself untouchable -- once boasting that he could get away with shooting someone in public -- that confidence has to be slipping. On Wednesday, his longtime former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to crimes that included paying hush money to a porn actress and Playboy model who said they had had affairs with Trump. Prosecutors are clear that they believe the president was involved, while Cohen warns he has much more dirt to dish on his former employer. Current legal understanding is that a sitting president cannot be indicted. But that's a debate which is sure to light up 2019. John Kelly and Mick Mulvaney were not exactly friendly. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images One morning earlier this year, minutes after White House chief of staff John Kelly left a meeting among a small group of senior officials in the West Wing, he learned that details from the meeting had already been leaked to reporters, who emailed his aide with an inquiry. Kelly printed out the email and used a highlighter to trace over the information that most upset him. He addressed the paper to another senior White House official and, in the margin, wrote a note LEAK? then left it for the official to find on their desk. The implications of the act were clear to the recipient: Kelly, in his passive-aggressive style, was making an accusation. In doing so, he was undermining the very sense of unity he was supposed to be fostering among his colleagues. Hed been hired the previous summer with an uncomplicated but impossible mandate: bring order to Donald Trumps White House, a place run by amateurs and defined by chaos. Leaks had functioned as both a cause and a symptom; leaks described a state of chaos and paranoia, which created more chaos and paranoia, which prompted yet more leaks, and then leaks about the leaking, pointing fingers at suspected leakers. Readouts of meetings held to address the leaking epidemic were often leaked immediately after they ended. Kelly never managed to fix the place or even to make many tangible improvements during his more than 16 months on the job. But as his time there comes to an end, its clear that he was a transitional figure, under whose rule the West Wing became an insular environment that is more dysfunctional than ever. And now he has been replaced by another transitional figure, the acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who already holds two roles in the administration, as the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The decision followed a week of speculation after Trump announced that Kelly would be leaving at the end of this year but admitted he wasnt sure who would take his place. Mulvaney does have one advantage: He has demonstrated his loyalty to the president since the beginning. Its cultish. Its Stockholm syndrome, said one person close to the White House. Theres this thing thats set in of a bunker mentality. Theres less infighting because of the bunker mentality. Nevertheless, as the incoming Democratic Congress prepares to challenge Trump, and various law enforcement investigations draw ever closer to him, it seems unlikely that Mulvaney will be able to do much to change the place. What has historically been a prestigious and powerful job in any administration is, in Trumps, a death sentence: too visible, too difficult, too much legal exposure, and so on. Thanks to Trumps uncertainty, the search to replace Kelly became an inverse pageant in which there were many contestants, but none who wanted to win. Suddenly even the career strivers who, under ordinary circumstances, would kill for the gig, were preoccupied with their families. Leading candidates announced that they could not take the job at this time mere hours after they were identified as such in the media. Yet even as it reflected poorly on him, Trump seemed to welcome the drama as a distraction from news about federal investigations and his former lawyer going to jail. The caveat in his Friday announcement Mulvaney is acting chief of staff, not chief of staff left room for the guessing game to continue. Its a hard job under the present circumstances, the person close to the White House told New York, referring to the clannishness of the remaining senior staffers inside. They dont like a new person in there. Kellys predecessor, Reince Priebus, was a Republican National Committee alum from the Midwest who performed the job with a putty fist. He lasted six months, and in that time, it was unclear he did anything other than spar with his colleagues, like Steve Bannon, who frequently sought to humiliate him anonymously, of course in the press. On one occasion, with nothing better to do, Priebus and Bannon spoke at length to New York about how, despite how it looked, they were in fact the best of friends: Reince is giving me my daily back massage, Bannon had joked; Priebus assured me, I dont have time to play the double-reverse-agent role and run the White House at the same time. Priebus never seemed sure about how to address the toxicity of his workplace, and so he didnt try to. Reince just pretended it wasnt happening, one former senior White House official told New York about the leaks. There was optimism, at first, about replacing Priebus with a four star general whod commanded U.S. forces in Iraq. But quickly, it became clear that however fraught it felt, the West Wing wasnt a battlefield, and the mere ability to issue orders doesnt mean anyone will follow them. And then what do you do? Shortly after Kelly was named chief of staff, he entered a meeting to find the man who would one day succeed him, Mick Mulvaney, was there despite not being on the approved list of attendees. Kelly flipped out on Mick and said, You wanna be the fucking chief of staff? Here, Ill just leave because you wanna be the chief of staff, the second former official said. Mulvaney and the president were both confused by Kellys reaction, according to this person, who recalled the president saying, But hes Mick. What do you mean hes not on the list? What are you talking about? Kelly was always trying to instill some sense of order and wanted things to be very regimented, the second former White House official told New York. In meetings with the president, Kelly would conduct: Okay, you talk now. You talk now. You talk now and thats not how Donald Trump works, obviously, so there was always a tension in meetings, because Kelly was trying to lead the meetings but Trump leads any meeting or conversation hes in. These changes had a practical purpose: Kelly had cut down on the number of meetings in general and made the meetings that were held a more exclusive affair, reasoning that with fewer people as witnesses, there would be fewer leakers and the identity of those who did leak would be more obvious. The nature of leaking has changed, a third former White House official said. Some of it can be attributed to this bunker mentality, where theres not a lot of people left and theyre getting a hailstorm of bullets on them every single day and people are generally less likely to leak when theyre getting shit on every day. He would come into a meeting and say, Youre probably going to leak this, the first former senior White House official said. I dont think he ever really understood how it actually worked. It was kind of weird that the people he gravitated towards in terms of becoming his allies were some of the most prolific leakers. An irony of the Kelly era was that even those around the president who had been desperate for help supervising him, like Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, were never able to overcome their differences with Kelly. The disunity that plagued the White House in its first few months never went away; the feuding just moved further and further out of view. In recent months, the circle of trust containing Trumps most senior advisers has contracted to exclude almost everyone outside of the core group. The president has even been advised that he can no longer speak freely about what certain aides are thinking or have said in conversations with him, since the risk of a leak is too high. Its really solidified, the person close to the White House said. You just get that feeling from listening to them that theres no air. Theres no movement. Theres no concession about anything anymore. Everything is sort of the propaganda: We bring it home. We dont leave it. Whereas before, there would at least be an, Oh god, he did this. Ah, hes making it hard there was a little normality to it. Now, this person said, either the presidents agents are reluctant to break character, or their character itself has changed. Theyre all hunky-dory together. Its from being in the bunker together. With cat-like humans, soldiers infiltrating an art gallery and brainwashed cadets, dystopian "Ten Years Thailand" is the latest in a pan-Asian film series aiming to stir political debate that debuted in the kingdom Thursday. The original in the "Ten Years" series came out in Hong Kong in 2015 on the back of the "Occupy" pro-democracy protests, with versions from Japan and Taiwan exploring nuclear fallout and socioeconomic problems. The premise asks film-makers to wrestle with the subject of what their country will be like 10 years from now, resulting in unsettling visions of bleak futures. Big guns from Thailand's new wave cinema, including Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Wisit Sasanatieng, worked on the four short, dark satires on army rule, censorship, mob mentality and cramped free expression, that premiered at Cannes in May. The creators of the omnibus movie, which made it past Thailand's unpredictable film censorship board, see it as a clarion call to encourage critical thinking in a nation run by generals since a 2014 coup. The target audience are "people worried about the direction the country is going and unhappy with the military being so powerful for the next 20 years", director Aditya Assarat told AFP. Aditya's episode, "Sunset", shows soldiers scouring an art gallery for politically incendiary works, inspired by a real-life confrontation last year in which security forces showed up at a show and ordered exhibits to be removed. Thailand's junta has kept a tight lid on any form of dissent since seizing power, bringing with them a culture of censorship and banning gatherings of more than five people, an order it only lifted this week. Censorship "harms the artists and... it harms the military as well", Aditya told an audience at an early screening this week in Bangkok. - 'Catopia' - The Hong Kong version made a splash, picking up the top prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards in the aftermath of the massive pro-democracy protests in 2014. The film, which painted a picture of a city under Chinese control, drew condemnation from mainland Chinese authorities. The Thai directors hope to reach an audience beyond the arthouse crowd and strike a wider chord at a time when the country is at a turning point. The military has set elections for February 24 but has used its four years in power to dilute the checks and balances of the country's democratic institutions. The country also remains bitterly divided between pro-junta elites and supporters of the Shinawatra clan -- whose political parties have won every election since 2001 but have been hit by military coups and court cases. Director Wisit explores that rift in the ghoulish "Catopia", which imagines a world in which a man has to try and blend in among a society of human-like cats. Dressed in suits with cat heads they represent the groupthink that takes hold among fractured political classes. "Thailand is divided between pro-democracy and pro-dictatorship people," he said. "Some people think that if you fight for democracy you are a dirty guy." Apichatpong's "Song of the City" focuses on groups milling around a statue of former dictator Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat while using a soporific device that dulls their senses. The most fiercely anti-junta vignette is "Planetarium" by Chulayarnnon Siriphol. It uses 80s sci-fi imagery to envision cadets trained to spy on citizens and report to a female general in a pink uniform. Opponents are expelled into space through a system controlled by a monk whose face is concealed with a motorcycle helmet. Monks are venerated in Buddhist-majority Thailand and use of their images is considered inappropriate. Viewers of the early screening were surprised it emerged unscathed from the censor's red pen. "I am surprised that the film has passed censorship," Bangkok entrepreneur Naya Adam-Ehrlich told AFP. "We need these young intellectuals, this film makes you want to act politically," she said. A sleepy central Philippine town erupted in joy on Saturday as bells looted from its church more than a century ago by vengeful US troops were turned over to the community, and rang once again on their home soil. Children waving bell-shaped signs and tearful residents in Balangiga welcomed home the three bells that are a deep local source of pride, and which the US flew to Manila this week after decades of urging by the Philippines. "Nobody, but nobody, can claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans," Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said after ringing one of the bells before a crowd of thousands that included US and church officials. "The bells are returned. The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people -- period," he said, striking a rare positive tone regarding the nation's former colonial master. American troops carted away the bronze objects as trophies, after razing the town and killing potentially thousands of Filipinos, in reprisal for a surprise 1901 attack that left 48 of their comrades dead. For the people of Balangiga the bells are a symbol of the Philippines' long struggle for independence, and a dark chapter which is the subject of an annual re-enactment and remembrance event locally. "It's not just me but the whole town is walking in the clouds because the bells are finally with us," 81-year-old Nemesio Duran told AFP. "We are the happiest people on Earth now," he added, noting he is descended from the boy who rang one of the bells, long said to have signalled the attack on the Americans. The return of the bells prompted a massive street party in Balangiga with singing, children waving bell-shaped placards and even vendors selling wooden souvenir bells and T-shirts. - 'We can never forget' - Yet Saturday's handover ceremony took place far from the town plaza that holds a monument with statues of the American soldiers having breakfast as the Filipino revolutionaries raise their machetes at the start of the onslaught. Manila had pushed for the bells' return since at least the 1990s, with backing from Philippine presidents, its influential Catholic Church and supporters in the United States. But the repatriation was long held back by some American lawmakers and veterans who viewed the bells, two of which were in the US state of Wyoming and the third at a US base in South Korea, as tributes to fallen soldiers. A confluence of factors earlier this year, that included a key veterans' group dropping its opposition, culminated in the bells landing in Manila aboard a US military cargo plane on Tuesday for a solemn handover. Duterte, 73, bluntly called on Washington in a 2017 speech: "Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are not yours." His arrival in power in mid-2016 was marked by moves to split from Manila's historical ally and former colonial master the United States. At the same time, Duterte signalled an end to the standoff with Beijing over the disputed South China Sea. Yet for some in Balangiga the bells' return is also a somber occasion tinged with the pain of the past, which has been passed from generation to generation. "It's mixed emotions because the bells also remind me of what happened," Constancia Elaba, 62, told AFP, adding how she grew up hearing stories of the episode from her father. "It was painful and you cannot take it away from us. We can never forget that," she said. The courtship of another Chinese carrier to enter the same global airline group as Cathay Pacific Airways might pay off, as Oneworld acknowledged it could deepen its coverage in China, the alliance boss said in an interview with the Post. Rob Gurney, the CEO of Oneworld, said it had yet to start formal talks with the mainlands biggest airline China Southern Airlines, after the groups biannual board meeting in New York last week. The alliance indicated it had spoken to the carrier but not since it announced its exit from the rival Skyteam alliance. There are no formal discussions underway with China Southern, Gurney said, despite the alliances obvious lack of presence in mainland China, the worlds second-biggest air travel market, unlike the rival Skyteam and Star Alliance groups. There are still areas where we can potentially deepen our coverage, there is no doubt about that. We are talking to potential members to help meet some of that, he said. This has meant its members have sought deals outside its core grouping, such as Qantas pairing with Skyteams China Eastern. There are still areas where we can potentially deepen our coverage, there is no doubt about that. We are talking to potential members to help meet some of that Rob Gurney, CEO, Oneworld But Gurney acknowledged that the alliance had been speaking to the mainland carrier. We havent spoken to them [China Southern Airlines] since it has happened. And you know we have got a fantastic partner in Cathay Pacific, a Chinese airline, and they remain really important to us, he said. Gurney name-checked the Hong Kong carrier, which stands to be most affected, highlighting the sensitivity of adding a mainland Chinese airline which could serve Oneworld better and provide its members with more access to domestic flights in China, even for Cathay fliers travelling within the country. The pair of Chinese airlines would overlap increasingly on long-haul flights and share similar strategies of competing for transfer passengers and operating from the same region at neighbouring airports. Story continues Oneworld is currently represented by 13 airline members including founding carriers Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong, British Airways, Australias Qantas and American Airlines. The group last week announced the addition of its first African carrier, Royal Air Maroc. Cathay Pacific would not be drawn on China Southerns intentions when speaking behind closed doors to financial analysts late last month in the first comments it offered. It is seen by observers as being at risk of leaving Oneworld due to the overlap with its nearby Chinese neighbour or it might at least exercise a veto on China Southern joining. Cathay addressed the possibility of the Guangzhou-based carrier as a new member as pure rumours. Chief customer and commercial officer Paul Loo Kar-pui added that Cathay was very happy being part of Oneworld, dampening fears it might leave, noting it was working in its alliance with quality carriers. China Southern could not be reached for comment. Most major carriers choose one of three airline groups, with Oneworld most familiar to Hongkongers thanks to Cathay Pacifics membership. Last year, American paid US$200 million (HK$1.5 billion) for a 2.76 per cent stake in China Southern, seen as an attempt to get the carrier to join Oneworld. The deal cast doubt on its existing membership when Skyteam alliance members Delta Air Lines joined forces with China Eastern and Air France-KLM to create a global pact without the Guangzhou carrier. The Oneworld boss noted that a number of member airlines were lining up to work with China Southern on bilateral deals. American Airlines announced an expanded partnership with the mainland Chinese airline soon after the latters Skyteam exit was made public. Customers of member airlines share benefits across the wider grouping, including air miles for flights and access to facilities such as airport lounges. Oneworld member carriers engage in a basic form of cooperation as part of the alliances rules and requirements. This includes recognising fellow airlines frequent fliers, offering the same benefits such as lounge access and other types of services and customer support. China Southern has 580 aircraft and carried 126 million passengers last year, making an operating profit of US$1.1 billion last year. At the same time, Cathay Pacific has around 200 planes and carried 34 million people, but registered a loss of HK$1.25 billion (US$160 million). This article Oneworld confirms it has sounded out China Southern Airlines to join the alliance, potentially giving Cathay Pacific regional competition first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Protesters demonstrated outside Parliament in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday, December 14, chanting to register their dissent against a new slave law that allows employers to demand overtime. Video shows the demonstrators marching at a Christmas market on Vorosmarty ter in Budapest before gathered outside the Parliament building. Police dressed in riot gear formed a line to hold back the hundreds assembled. At several points, they sprayed tear gas in an attempt to control the crowd. Thousands have gathered outside Parliament for three consecutive days, angrily decrying a law passed by Viktor Orbans Fidesz party. The new legislation allows employers to demand 400 hours of overtime work per year, a 150 hour increase from the previous threshold. Additionally, new laws, passed on Wednesday December 12, create a government-controlled court system. Credit: Lisa Erzsa Weil via Storyful A website reporting independent Singapore news has allegedly been banned in Singapore, according to its owner. Singapore Herald, a website that started after another independent news platform, the States Times Review, was shut down, was inaccessible after Coconuts Singapore made attempts to access the site on Saturday. Coconuts Singapores attempt to access the Singapore Herald website on Saturday using a Singapore-based connection was not successful (Photo: Screenshot of https://www.singapore-herald.com) The site was unable to load on a web browser, with the error being attributed to an SSL protocol error. In a Facebook post Saturday morning by States Times Review, using the Facebook username @SingaporeHerald, the pages administrator said the Singapore Herald website was allegedly blocked by the Singapore government because of articles painting the authorities in a negative light. According to Singapore Herald, at the crux of the ban are eight articles written by the sites writers that the site claims are in contention by Singapores Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). In another Facebook post, the page claimed that IMDAs contention with the articles were that they misrepresented the Peoples Action Party (PAP) ministers and their position. The articles had allegedly touched on multiple aspects of the maritime dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, including allegations that the Singapore government was threatening to use military actions over the dispute. Singapore Heralds Facebook page said that the IMDA had reportedly asked the website to take down the posts, but it has since not complied with the rule. Following an internal review, the alleged offending articles are factual and accurately painted the actual state of affairs, stated the Facebook post by Singapore Herald. Singapore Herald will require a court order, and arbitrary orders by any government agency will not be complied, the post also stated, noting that the website will continue publication as usual. Coconuts Singapore has reached out to IMDA to obtain additional information to verify the allegations. This article, Singapore Herald website allegedly banned in Singapore: website owner in Facebook post, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. For more Coconuts stories, you can download our app, sign up for our newsletters, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Biden has certainly bridged an inspiration gap in the past, but could he bridge an even bigger generation one? Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images As everybody knows, one of the problems the 2020 presidential candidacy of two-term vice-president (and six-term senator) Joe Biden is facing is his age. At 76, he is luckily for him a year younger than likely fellow-candidate Bernie Sanders. But either of them would make Donald Trump the unlikely youth candidate in 2020, and if elected would soon become the first octogenarian in the White House. So its an issue for Biden, and the Associated Press reports that some of the people around him think they may have a solution: Past and current advisers to Biden have held frequent conversations about options to alleviate concerns about age, including teaming him with a younger running mate. One option that has been floated, according to a source with knowledge of the talks, is outgoing Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, who at 46 has become the subject of intense 2020 speculation after nearly beating GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. Whether or not this particular pairing makes any ideological or geographical sense, it is apparently based on the idea that a younger political partner will make Biden look younger, too like those older people who engage in so-called May-December romances as a way of tapping into a psychological fountain of youth. But would the age difference be so large that its more disconcerting than charming or intriguing? Thats hard to say. The 30-year age difference between Biden and ORourke would match the all-time record set in 1856 when 65-year-old James Buchanan ran on a ticket with 35-year-old John C. Breckenridge and won. Breckinridge went on to run for the top job in 1860, carrying most of the slave states, and served in the Confederate military and then as Confederate Secretary of War. There have been a few recent May-December political partnerships that involved slightly less dramatic age differences. In 2008, 72-year-old John McCain chose 44-year-old Sarah Palin as his running mate. That generation gap was matched in reverse in 1904 when, at 52, Democrat Alton Parker ran with 80-year-old Henry Gassaway Davis, the oldest person to appear on a major-party ticket so far. Mitt Romney was 23 years older than his 2012 running mate Paul Ryan, the same gap that separated George H.W. Bush from Dan Quayle in 1988. Totally aside from any alleged youthfulness a kiddie veep might lend his or her chief, the vice-presidential role in campaigns has traditionally involved the sorts of highly energetic and aggressive campaign tactics that a 40-something candidate might pull off more naturally than a coot. But in the end, its the geezer running for president who will get the bulk of attention, and having a relative youngster at the bottom of the ticket might just draw further attention to the age of the oldster at the top. Beyond all that, its unclear whether Beto ORourke has any interest in serving as a trophy pol to glamorize someone elses presidential campaign. If he chooses, he will first get his own chance to get onto the potluck circuit in Iowa and brave the winters of New Hampshire. Once again, the fate of Obamacare could soon be in the hands of one John G. Roberts. On Friday night, a federal trial court judge in Texas struck down the entire Affordable Care Act, ruling that it had been rendered unconstitutional by the tax bill Republicans passed in 2017. The decision was widely anticipated and will certainly be appealed, potentially setting up a final showdown at the Supreme Court, where the health law has already been tested twice before. Is this the beginning of the end of the Affordable Care Act? The coolheaded analytical part of me would like to say absolutely not. After all, the chief justice has already turned down two previous opportunities to drive a legal stake into the health law. And this case is, by many accounts, even more tenuous than the ones that came before it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other hand, its 2018. Logic no longer applies, everything is permitted, and for all I know Roberts might have decided its a good time to strip health care from a few million of his fellow Americans. So lets talk about the case. The suit was filed by a group of 20 GOP-led states arguing that Obamacares individual mandate, which required Americans to buy health insurance or pay a fine, had been left unconstitutional after Republicans reduced the IRS penalty to zero as part of their tax bill last year. Their argument had three parts: 1) In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the mandate on the grounds that it was a tax. 2) Now that theres no more tax associated with the mandate, it cant possibly be constitutional. Advertisement 3) Because the mandate was considered essential to making the rest of Obamacare functionin legal terms, it was non-severablethe court should junk the rest of the health law too, including its expansion of Medicaid and protections for patients with pre-existing conditions. In his tediously lengthy opinion Friday, Judge Reed OConnor, a George W. Bush appointee who presides in Fort Worth, concluded that the red states were right: The mandate was unconstitutional, and the rest of Obamacare had to go. Advertisement Now, as University of Michigan professor Nicholas Bagley has pointed out, the question of whether or not the mandate is still constitutional actually isnt all that important in the scheme of things. I mean, its fascinating in a dorm room bull session senseis a $0 tax still a tax? We can debate that all day. But back in the real world, Republicans have functionally killed off the mandate, and Obamacare is managing to lope along without it. The really important question, from a legal and policy standpoint, is whether the rest of Obamacare can still stand if the mandate is ruled unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement The answer to that key question should be: Yes. Congress may have thought that the insurance-buying requirement was essential to Obamacare when the law passed in 2010. But Republicans pretty clearly decided otherwise in 2017, when they tried and failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, then decided to kill the mandate alone as a convenient way to help fund their tax bill. Not a single Republican member of Congress got up at the time and said: We just repealed all of Obamacare. They said, We repealed the individual mandate. OConnor, however, did not see things that way. He concludes that Congress believed the mandate was essential to all of Obamacare in 2010, and that the mandate cannot be severed from the rest of Obamacare, in part because Congress intent in 2017 was a complete and utter mystery: Advertisement Advertisement Looking for any severability-related intent in the 2017 Congress is a fools errand because the 2017 Congress did not repeal any part of the ACA, including the shared responsibility payment. In fact, it could not do so through the budget reconciliation procedures that it used. (The only thing that we know for sure about Congress intent in 2017 is that Congress wanted to pass a tax cut.). So, asking what the 2017 Congress intended with respect to the ACA qua the ACA is unhelpful. There is no answer. One notable thing about this paragraph from OConnor is that its factually incorrect. As Democratic Budget Committee staffer Bobby Kogan points out, Republicans could have repealed large parts of Obamacare, including the Medicaid expansion, under the reconciliation process they used to pass their tax bill. Some conservatives, such as former Republican Senate staffer Chris Jacobs, are equally unimpressed with OConnors reasoning on the severability issue. Advertisement It's good policy -- but awful law. Congress acted last year to repeal the mandate, but leave everything else in place, and the courts should have deferred to that. The reasoning behind the ruling is FROM A DISSENT in #NFIBvSebelius, for Pete's sake... https://t.co/68dUBFfobG Chris Jacobs (@chrisjacobsHC) December 15, 2018 Higher courts will have to decide whether this ruling is truly as ridiculous as it seems to be. In the meantime, there is one piece of good news: OConnor wont stop Obamacare from running while the appeals process unfolds. Sign up while you still can. It took a minute, but America is finally warming up to a revolutionary construction paradigm that could shorten commutes, lower housing costs, and ease the way to racial and socioeconomic integration in cities and suburbs: the apartment. A week after Minneapolis moved to become the first U.S. city to end single-family zoning, Rachel Monahan of Willamette Week reports that the speaker of the House of the Oregon Legislature, Rep. Tina Kotek, is drafting a bill that would require Oregon cities to allow apartments in all residential neighborhoods. Advertisement Koteks proposal would compel cities to permit duplexes triplexes, fourplexes, and cottage clusters as-of-right in all urban areas zoned for detached single-family housing (with an allowance for reasonable design and siting regulations). Jurisdictions with over 10,000 residents would have 16 months to revise their zoning codes accordingly, or else be governed by a state code enabling the construction of missing middle housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states housing crisis requires a combination of bolder strategies, Kotek, who represents Portland, said in a statement provided to Slate. Oregon needs to build more units, and we must do so in a way that increases housing opportunity for more people. Allowing more diverse housing types in single family neighborhoods will increase housing choice and affordability, and thats a fight that Im willing to take on. Advertisement When it convenes in January, the Oregon statehouse will become the latest forum for an escalating national debate on the wisdom of single-family zoning. Driven by high rents, long commutes, and a growing awareness of the racist history of American city planning, lawmakers are questioning the codes that have long kept apartments out of wealthy, white neighborhoods. In California, the state legislature permitted accessory dwelling units statewide last year, spurring a granny-flat boom in the states expensive coastal areas. This session, State Sen. Scott Wiener has proposed SB 50, a revised version of his bill to force the states municipalities to permit denser housing near transiteffectively legalizing apartment buildings in all of San Francisco and much of Los Angeles. Advertisement Seattle will vote to allow larger buildings in two-dozen neighborhoods in March. And in Portland, activists and homeowners have sparred over a plan to build more, as the city government has dawdled and delayed. Advertisement Could the state beat them to it? Homelessness in metro Portland, where almost half of Oregons population lives, was a major issue in the 2018 gubernatorial race. Housing affordability is also a problem in the states smaller cities and rural areas. Democrats have a big majority in both houses of the legislature, though the sanctity of the single-family home neighborhood has traditionally cut across party lines. One encouraging precedent is SB 1051, a 2017 law that legalized accessory dwelling units statewide, including in single-family home neighborhoods. That law initially was written to permit duplexes statewide, but was pared down to gain support. Ultimately, it passed unanimously in the Oregon House, drawing support from deregulation-friendly Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Infill building types such as townhouses, duplexes, and small apartment buildingsknown as the missing middleare increasingly seen as the most equitable and sustainable way to promote population growth in U.S. cities. In places where infill housing is all but forbidden, like Los Angeles, homelessness has skyrocketed, traffic has worsened, and development has been pushed to natural land on the urban fringe. Transportation is now the nations largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. In Portland, as in many cities, neighborhoods that forbid attached housing tend to be considerably wealthier than the city at large. Their restrictions are also holding down the citys collective housing stock growth. In a November analysis, consultants concluded that Portlands plan to allow bigger buildings would over 20 years approximately triple the number of new units, to 38,000, and lower the average rent of a new unit by 56 percent. Approximately 45 Oregon cities would have their local zoning preempted by Koteks proposal. Netflix can be strangely shy about recommending brand-new content. Watching every previous episode of BoJack Horseman, for example, is apparently not enough for the services vaunted algorithm to prevent me from having to search for new episodes on the day theyre released. But launch the app right now, and youll find the entire login screen devoted to alerting you that Roma is now available for streaming. Netflix clearly intends for Alfonso Cuarons movie, a lyrical black-and-white story set in Mexico City in 1970 and 71, to be its first Best Picture nominee, and its put a ton of resources behind that goal, throwing a lavish party, complete with dedicated mezcal bar, at the Toronto International Film Festival to introduce the film to critics, and even coordinating a screening campaign with the National Domestic Workers Alliance to head off complaints that Cuaron, who based the films protagonist on his childhood maid, might be exploiting her story. But its most dramatic commitment to Romas Oscar campaign was granting an exclusive three-week run in movie theaters before it debuted on the servicean unprecedented break with the sites core mission of instant availability. In the past, Netflix had granted limited theatrical runs to movies like Beasts of No Nation, but only simultaneous with their streaming debut, and it actually pulled Roma from the Cannes film festival in May after the festival insisted it would not be allowed in competition without a theatrical release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after Romas premiere, it became clear that the films crystalline images (captured with the ultra-high-definition Alexa 65 camera) and elaborate sound design were key to the films successand that with those elements diminished by the transition to the smaller screen, Cuarons deep-focus shots and leisurely pans might prove more soporific than engrossing. Netflix not only put Roma in movie theaters but sought out cinemas that could project the movie in 70 mm with Dolby Atmos sound, a combination that gives the film an almost hallucinogenic clarity. The sound of dripping water or the whistle of a passing knife salesman sounds as if its coming from a few rows behind you, and when the camera pans across the bookshelves that dominate the central familys home, you can practically read the titles on every spine. Advertisement Roma isnt necessarily a lesser movie without these qualities, but it feels, subtly but significantly, like a different one. Backing Netflixs decision, and perhaps sensing a chance to claw back some territory, movie critics took up Romas theatrical release as a crusade. I rarely get evangelical about viewing modalities, wrote Slates Dana Stevens in her review, but if theres any way to do so where you live, please get yourself to a real theater to see this. Critics are advocates for their art form, if not every instance of it, so its not surprising that theyor, OK, wewould pounce on the opportunity to promote the theatrical release of a movie that exploits the potential of theatrical viewing to its fullest. But this call rankled some prospective viewers, especially those without an easy way to see Roma in theaters. Suggesting it was best to see Roma in a movie theater meant that seeing it at home was inferior, and that, the argument went, was elitist, or privileged. Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen Roma three times now, first on a massive screen in Torontos 2,000-seat Princess of Wales Theatre, second in a Dolby screening room, and the third time in my living room. Its been a different movie every time, in part because of circumstances having nothing to do with the quality of its exhibition: Its hard to compare the electric atmosphere of a films North American premiere with the tranquil perfection of a private screening room, and hard to measure either against the experience of snuggling up on a couch with my wife and two pets, a freshly mixed cocktail near at hand. But all else being equal, Roma is more the movie its supposed to be on a theater screen. Thats not to say its better, exactly. At home, with a Netflix-provided DVD approximating the quality of streaming, I took in pieces of dialogue Id missed on previous viewings, so absorbed was I by the uncanny texture of the films images that I neglected to take in what characters were saying off screen. The sound, meanwhile, was still intricately mixed, but my non-Atmos speakers never instilled the urge to swivel in my seat and check if the ceiling had sprung a leak. Those qualities are an integral part of Cuarons vision, and along with the sprawling wide shots in which the films central character is only one figure among many, they unsettle the idea of Roma as a naturalistic nostalgia piece, or a straightforward tribute to a beloved childhood figure. Roma isnt necessarily a lesser movie without them, but it feels, subtly but significantly, like a different one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics sometimes talk as if the brightness of a projector bulb and the gleam of a fresh 35 mm print were the only variables, but they can only reward attention if its paid. Its easier to give yourself to a movie in a theater, but its not a given, especially with a smartphone burning a hole in your pocket, and its possible to replicate, or at least simulate, that intensity at home. Its just a lot harder. You can watch Roma in optimal theatrical conditions and get nothing from it, just as you could stand in front of Guernica or Starry Night and come away with little more than bragging rights. There will be people who watch Roma on their laptopsor, horror of invariably evoked horrors, on their phonesand have insights I never would. They wont see the film in the same way, but they might see it more clearly. Tidings of comfort, joy, and a partial government shutdown in Washington. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc. Funding for nine Cabinet departments and assorted federal agencies runs out on December 21, next Friday. If nothing is done and big chunks of the federal government shut down, it will create some holiday misery for selected federal employees and people who rely on them, and wont be at all popular. Yet nothing much is happening to head it off, as Politico reports: The House and Senate left town Thursday with no strategy to avert a partial government shutdown next week, putting Congress on the brink of an intractable conflict that could drag out through New Years Day furloughing hundreds of thousands of workers and costing taxpayers millions. Everybody agrees this impasse only occurred because the president lost his temper during a photo op with Democratic leaders earlier this week and vowed to shut down the government if his demands for border wall funding were not met. And so Congress suddenly has to defuse a crisis no one saw coming, with no assurances that anything they could come up with would satisfy the truculent man in the White House: Frustrated lawmakers in both parties are complaining that congressional leaders have made zero progress since Tuesday, when Trump stunned even his fellow Republicans by boasting that he would take the blame for the closure of a dozen federal agencies if he doesnt get money for his border wall. Lawmakers say there is no public plan to prevent a partial government shuttering. And no secret plan either. There is no discernable plan. None thats been disclosed. said Sen. John Cornyn, the Senates No. 2 Republican, as he threw his hands into the air. Everybodys looking to [Trump] for a signal about what he wants to do. So far, its not clear. And that could be because Trump surprised himself with his public outburst, which contradicted all the signals he had been sending indicating that his wall is already being built or could be built without congressional appropriations. He let the Democrats bait him into a belligerent posture that made the kind of compromise in the works behind the scenes difficult if not impossible. There had been talk of quick passage by the House (which Trump insisted he easily had the votes to execute) of an appropriations measure containing Trumps full $5 billion in border wall money, to get the ball rolling. But as Nancy Pelosi tauntingly said during the Oval Office fracas, Republicans dont seem to have the votes. And without House action, Senate leaders are sitting on their hands: [T]heres no indication that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are even talking. Senators in both parties said they were unaware of anything cooking between the two leaders, and the often-chatty Schumer was tight-lipped when asked if there were ongoing discussions. No comment, he said Thursday. Normally in this kind of situation youd see movement toward a very short-term solution, and there has been speculation about another stopgap bill that would run until some point in January or February. What complicates that scenario is the fact that Democrats take control of the House on January 3, which will reduce Trumps leverage considerably. Perversely enough, that could be perfectly fine with POTUS, Politico is now reporting: ARepublican source on Capitol Hill said that the White House could still have its border wall fight in January and also disrupt the new Democratic majority in the House from starting fresh with their own agenda. It would also more clearly pit Trump against Democrats, rather than members of his own party. In other words, Trump may prefer another food fight like the one that created this impasse, after saving the Christmas peace he disrupted. This is probably the sort of leadership we can expect from the White House now that his party has lost its Washington trifecta and its ability to claim that its in charge of a federal government that cant even keep its doors open. This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist. The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission. Finding the perfect holiday gift can be maddeningis this the color theyd want? Is it something they already have? Is it so last year?but really, once you have a sense of a persons taste, its not impossible. This season, well be talking to members of various tribes (were calling them the Hard-to-Shop-Fors) to find out exactly what to get that serious home cook, skin-care Redditor, or gamer in your life. Think of it as a window into their brain trustor at least a very helpful starting point. Advertisement Today, two Skincare Addiction Redditors, krismencowho describes her skin-type as dehydration-prone, fungal acne-prone, sensitive, combination, rosacea subtype 1 and 2and ver0nikaawhose skin skews extremely dry and sensitivetell us about the skincare gifts theyre looking forward to this year. Were also adding in our own skincare favorites to help round out the list with some buzzy gift ideas that have been talked about this year. Best Skincare Gifts If youre shopping for someone in need of a new cleansing oil, you could go the DHC routeits a good onebut ver0nikaa tells us you might be sleeping on this Kiehls product, which she hopes to re-up on for the holidays. Holy cow, removing my makeup has never been so satisfying, she shares. This product comes out very easily and the smell is so nice and relaxing. I use it first to remove makeup and dirt, and then I use a very gentle gel-based soap to remove any excess or residue. Krismencos more of a dedicated K-beauty and J-beauty person. And since shes already a fan of other Amorepacific brandsits the parent company that owns Sulwhasoo, Laneige, and Etude Houseshes been wanting to test this essence from Amorepacifics house line, because the anti-aging main ingredient, Camellia sinensis, sounds promising. This has less than ten ingredients, which is a boon for someone with sensitive skin, she adds. For the person whos more into French beauty, ver0nikaa shares that she recently tried and FELL IN LOVE with this booster serum from French pharmacy brand Vichy. Wow, wow, wow, my skincare routine and results drastically changed after I started using it. My skin has never been so soft, moisturized, and glowy, she says. For the holidays, she wants as much of this stuff as she can get her hands on. Ver0nikaas also been hearing a lot about this Clarins serum and wants to see if it actually works for minimizing her pores. Now that my skin feels healthy, hydrated, and without any redness, I feel the need to take care of the visible pores. I heard this serum really works and that you can see the results almost immediately. And if youre shopping for someone whos already hip to the benefits of squalane oil, you might get them Biossances squalane rose oilwhich was popular enough this year to sell out at Sephora for weeks at a time. Its one that krismenco has been eyeing because she likes the concept of using an oil blend with vitamin C in it (a favorite antioxidant of mine) to maximize her skincare results. Theres also been a lot of buzz around Peach & Lilys new line of skincare productsIm a huge fan of their glass skin serum, as is the rest of the internet. But if theyre looking for something AHA and BHA-heavy, this is another standout product from P&L that people are really excited about for exfoliating sans irritation. Heres a nice stocking stuffer that would make a good Cosrx pimple patch alternative: a $3 pack of basically invisible blemish patches thats been raved about by Skincare Addiction redditors. And if theyre in the market for a new ampoule, heres one considered HG, or holy grail, within Reddits Asian Beauty community, for its moistening and softening effects on the skin. If youre shopping for a sheet mask person, weve heard that My Beauty Diarys birds nest masks are the best. As one Redditor, privatecaboosey, puts it: I dont see effects from some masks, but my personal favoriteMy Beauty Diary Imperial Birds Nestbrightens my skin noticeably and helps shrink any pimples/marks on my face. For the die-hard skincare person whos still looking for the ultimate moisturizer, this one designed by a scientist and physician has made the rounds online (and won over several beauty editors) for its ability to reduce age spots and wrinkles over time. It bills itself as the future of skincare. Ive tried the rich cream, and can agree that the moisturizer is very nourishingbut the price is definitely not for the faint of heart. Its just shy of $300 for the full-size version. New Beauty Launches And for fans of Dr. Jart+ (which has many passionate followers in the Asian Beauty community for its tiger grass and Ceramidin creams), ver0nikaa tipped us off to this very well-rounded beauty gift set from the brand that just launched at Sephora. I already purchased this for myself and should be getting it in the mail in the next couple of days! Shes also keeping tabs on this lip oil from Kiehls. I learned Kiehls is coming out with a new lip treatment called Love Oil For Lips, which is kind of a tinted oil treatment formulated with coconut and Moringa oil, plus acerola cherry extract. I would like to get this not only for the hydrating treatment, but also because I can use it everyday as a lip tint. Incidentally, it would make a nice stocking stuffer. And for the latest in retinol, theres been some excitement over these Elizabeth Arden retinol serum capsules, which have a twist-tab top for enhanced freshness. Ver0nikaa says shes into the concept because of the packaging and the type of vitamin A used: I havent had any luck with retinol products. They all seem to irritate my face, but Im not giving up on it yet. She also recently stumbled upon Korean brand Momiji and is intrigued by their colorful sheet masks and eye patches: Momijis new line of sheet masks is called Sweet Sixteen and has three varieties (brightening/hydrating, anti-aging/firming, and poreless/repair). Devices and Skincare Accessories In the realm of skincare devices, krismenco hasnt dipped a toe in derma-rolling yet, but thinks it might be worth trying for her stretch marks: When I saw this one I was immediately intrigued because it combines red LED light with the microneedling tool. It also has all of those cool attachments and Im a low-key sucker for tools that can be used in different ways. Speaking of LED light devices, heres one of the fanciest ones you can buy on the market. Most use either blue or red light, or both, but this one uses three: a medley of red light (for inflammation), blue light (for acne), and yellow light (for brightening). I own it and think it really helps for making my skin look less flushed. And for those in the market for a facial cleanser, heres one in a mini form that ver0nikaa wants this year. The Cut described it as efficient and good for travel: Its so compact that the entire thing can fit into your pocket, plus it only needs a charge once every five monthsa big travel bonus. For the person whos already into jade rolling, the next big thing in massage tools is a pocket-size gua sha tool for increased circulation and improved lymphatic drainage. I keep seeing the heart-shaped rose quartz ones pop up on Instagram this year. For someone who loves getting facials, Dr. Dennis Grosss steamer would make another good gift. Its supposed to help with clearing your pores and soothing your complexion. Rio tried it already and liked it: The steam pressure is gentle but effectiveit opens up your pores without being too aggressive and scalding your face off. And the ultimate skincare person should have a mini-fridge to store their creams and serums in: Alison Freer recently invested in a slightly cheaper Cooluli fridge, while ver0nikaa has her eye on this retro-looking version. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. Within weeks of the ignition of the #MeToo movement last fall, activists with ties to evangelicalism began pointing out that abuse in Christian contexts often has its own awful dimensions. Church leaderstypically menare generally assumed to have God-given authority, for example. Scripture and theology can be used as weapons to perpetuate silence and shame. And institutions pressure whistleblowers and victims to muffle potential scandals in the name of protecting Gods work. The activists called their movement #ChurchToo. Advertisement At an event on Thursday, #ChurchToo was embraced on a prominent stage by a series of influential evangelical leaders, though the hashtags founders were not among them. The occasion was a one-day summit at evangelical Wheaton College on how church leaders can respond to sexual harassment, assault, and violence. The magazine Christianity Today called it the largest inter-denominational response to sex abuse since #MeToo took off last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too many in our churches feel silenced or ignored, said Laurie Nichols, the director of communications for the colleges Billy Graham Center and a co-organizer of the event. Organizers said they made an effort to prioritize the voices of survivors of abuse on their speaker list, which included many Bible teachers and pastors, along with a handful of experts in trauma recovery and psychology. More than half the speakers were women, and about a third were people of color. Nichols, who identifies as a survivor herself, said that more than half the speakers were survivors, though not all discussed their experience from the podium. She said about 700 people attended the event in person, and thousands tuned in via livestream, including dozens of groups like universities and denominational headquarters. Advertisement The past year has seen the downfall of multiple well-known men within mainstream evangelicalism. In March, Memphis pastor Andy Savage resigned after admitting to a sexual incident with a high school student in his care in the 90s. In April, respected megachurch pastor Bill Hybels stepped down after multiple former employees came forward to accuse him of sexual harassment and misconduct. (The churchs elder board and the two pastors set to succeed him in leadership also eventually resigned.) Over the summer, longtime Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson was ousted from his position at a seminary in part over his mishandling of domestic abuse as a pastor. And the revelations show no sign of slowing down. Just last week, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram published a bombshell investigation cataloguing hundreds of accusations against 168 leaders in the independent fundamentalist Baptist movement. Advertisement Advertisement These are all scandals that emerged from within the church. But many speakers at the Wheaton summit focused on how to make the church a safe haven from the perils of the outside world, rather than on rooting out harm coming from its own ranks. Beth Moore, a Bible teacher who has become a prominent voice on misogyny and abuse within Christian circles, described her childhood church as a harbor that contrasted with her unsafe home. Still, she said, I have often wondered what a difference it might have made if that safe harbor had not only been a place to hide but a place to heal. What if Id heard my pastor or my teachers or any of my leaders address what I was going through, call it what it was, say that I wasnt to blame and not to be ashamed? What if Id known I wasnt alone? What if Id known there was help? Advertisement Advertisement Some of the speakers attracted criticism before the summit began. Christine Caine, the founder of an antisex trafficking organization, spoke about the perils of choosing to ignore certain stories because the narrative makes us uncomfortable. Caine is a staple of the Christian conference scene, with longtime ties to the global church brand Hillsong. But Caines critics point out that she has never spoken up about Hillsong founder Brian Houstons alleged failure to report his own fathers history of abusing young boys. Its disheartening to see a conference bring in a person like her, who isnt willing to speak up about abuse in her own camp, Ashley Easter, a victim advocate who has been critical of the summit, told me. Advertisement Advertisement Critics like Easter say that evangelicals cannot begin to confront abuse in their midst without asking larger structural and theological questions. Can sexual justice coexist with complementarian theology, which holds that men are uniquely suited to leadership in homes and churches (and which is espoused by some if not most of the speakers at Thursdays summit)? How do conservative sexual ethics, which reserve sex for heterosexual marriage, contribute to shame that fosters abuse? Many speakers focused on how to make the church a safe haven from the perils of the outside world, rather than on rooting out harm coming from its own ranks. Unfortunately, [evangelicals] are coming to this fight with both hands tied behind by their backs by their own theology, said Emily Joy, a poet who co-founded the #ChurchToo movement last year. She said she was not invited to participate in Thursdays event. Instead, she and others critiqued the conference online over the course of the day. Were saying evangelical theology is part of the problem here, she said. It feels to us that they want to fix the problem using the ingredients of the problem. Advertisement One issue is that a conference that only welcomes evangelicals to the stage is excluding the voices of those who have been wounded by evangelicalism so badly that they have left it. Still, there were signs on Thursday that conversations are changing within some evangelical circles. Several speakers identified abuse as a systemic problem rather than primarily a matter of individual sin. Others emphasized the importance of placing women in leadership roles. Kelly Rosati, a child advocate and former lawyer, spoke in part about mandatory reporting laws, proclaiming that where we the church has failed, the law has stepped in, and thats a very good thing. (Rosati also identified herself as a survivor publicly for the first time at the opening of her talk.) Others spoke about toxic leadership dynamics, and the danger of enabling abusers in power. Nancy Beach, one of the women who made allegations against pastor Bill Hybels, said that while it may be tempting to retreat to a comfort zone where the sexes are separated as much as possible, any overcorrection along those lines would be a huge mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the last session of the day, best-selling author and Texas pastor Max Lucado shared his own story of abuseas a young boy by someone he called a community leaderfor the first time in public. He spoke about how conversations over the last year have led him to think about his own failures to listen and to comprehend. Now is the time for across-the-coffee-table conversations that begin with the words, Help me to understand what its like to be a female in this day and age, he said. Help me to understand what its like to never go on a jog without carrying a canister of Mace. Help me to understand what its like to always be outnumbered in the boardroom. Help me to understand what its like to be hugged chest to chest, unable to break free. Help me to understand what its like to fear filing a workplace complaint because my supervisors are all male. Help me to understand. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has become the latest White House official to step down from his post. Zinke will be leaving at the end of the year, President Donald Trump said on Twitter Saturday, without specifying whether he was fired or resigned. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation, Trump wrote. In a second tweet, Trump said that Zinkes replacement will be announced next week. Advertisement Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation....... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement .......The Trump Administration will be announcing the new Secretary of the Interior next week. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 Advertisement Zinke is stepping down at a time when he is facing multiple ethics investigations having to do with real estate deals in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana as well as actions he took during his two years in office. Since becoming interior secretary, Zinke has faced at least 15 investigations. Although he has been cleared in some of them the Justice Department is reportedly investigating Zinke for using the office for personal gain following a referral from the Interior Departments inspector general. He will also be stepping down as the Democrats are getting ready to take over the majority in the House, which will give them greater power to launch investigations. Some key Democratic lawmakers had already made clear they would seek Zinkes testimony about the numerous accusations against him. Last month, Zinke directly attacked Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, who is set to take over as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the Interior Department, and pretty directly called him a drunk. Its hard for him to think straight from the bottom of the bottle, Zinke tweeted. After a week of drama over the question of who would replace John Kelly as the White House chief of staff, Donald Trump has announced that he will name Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction, Trump said in a tweet Friday afternoon. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the AdministrationI look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear what exactly Trump means by acting chief of staff. The position is not a Senate-approved one, and the president can therefore appoint whoever he wants on a permanent basis. The choice of words may signal his and Mulvaneys understanding of the appointment as a short-term one, but, according to the Associated Press, Mulvaneys term will be open-ended. According to NBC News, Mulvaney asked for the acting title, as he wanted to ensure an easy escape from the position if it became necessary. On Sunday, news outlets reported that Nick Ayers, Mike Pences chief of staff, declined an offer from Trump, as he was unwilling to commit to two years in the job as the president demanded. According to CNN, Ayers had wanted to be an acting chief of staff, to take the position on an interim basis for a few months. Trump rejected that counterproposal. Advertisement Mulvaney, who also led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an body he once tried to eliminate, has long been a hardline conservativehe was elected to the House of Representatives as part of the Tea Party movementand a fervent Trump supporter. In his role for the administration, he has worked to curtail regulations on financial institutions and, as budget director, slash the budget, particularly entitlement programs. (He once called cutting aid to the poor compassionate.) Advertisement Mulvaney will be the presidents third chief of staff in two years. Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, was fired by Trump last week. Trumps first chief of staff, Reince Priebus, served for six months before leaving in July 2017. According to Bloomberg, OMB Deputy Director Russell Vought will replace Mulvaney as head of the office. Advertisement Just hours before the Mulvaney announcement, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was rumored to be up for the chief of staff job, took himself out of the running, joining Rep. Mark Meadows in doing so. The string of rejections by potential candidates for one of the most powerful jobs in politics appeared to underscore the image of chaos in the White House at a time when Trump is being investigated for his campaigns ties to Russia and his own participation in hush payments to women who alleged affairs with him. According to NBC, when he tapped Mulvaney for the position, Trump was eager to put an end to a news cycle in which it was commonly observed that no one appeared to want the job. In what critics are calling a bald-faced power play, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, signed a set of bills Friday that restrict the powers of the governorjust as a Democrat is set to replace him. In exchange, the laws will expand the power of the Legislature, which remains in Republican control. According to the Associated Press, the measures will effectively prevent Governor-elect Tony Evers and incoming Attorney General Josh Kaul from delivering on some of their campaign promises to withdraw from a multistate lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, as the governor will no longer have the ability to withdraw from certain legal actions without facing a potential veto from the Legislature. The governor will also be stripped of his ability to get rid of the states Medicaid work requirement and will no longer have full power to appoint members of a state economic board. In other areas of governing, the Legislature will have to sign off on his changes to certain programs as well as certain settlements by the attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The laws also eliminate the state Department of Justices solicitor generals office, which outgoing Attorney General Brad Schimel used to file partisan lawsuits challenging Democratic laws, according to the AP. The elimination of the office will limit the means Kaul has to challenge Republican-authored laws. Separately, the other laws in the lame duck package will restrict early in-person voting to just two weeks before an election, when previously voting could take place as early as almost seven weeks in some cities. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder promised later Friday that his advocacy group, the National Redistricting Foundation, would sue to block the limitation on early voting. Upon learning Walker had not vetoed the laws, Evers accused him of betraying the will of the public, a majority of whom voted in a Democrat. He also said he would explore his options, and he has not ruled out a legal challenge. Walker has dismissed the criticism as hype and hysteria, arguing in a statement that the laws did not fundamentally diminish executive authority and that the new governor will continue to be one of the most powerful chief executives in the country. Advertisement The news broke as a similar plot appeared to unfold in Michigan, where the Republican lawmakers are scrambling to limit the power of their state executives ahead of the governor and secretary of state positions flipping to Democrats. On Friday, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation from a lame-duck session to scale back minimum wage and paid sick leave laws that once began as more ambitious citizen-led initiatives. The Republicans in the Legislature have not yet passed laws meant to curtail the power of the governor, but a number of measures to do so have advanced to the final scheduled session days. We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies , click here. The University of Texas at San Antonio Through a partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the University of Texas at San Antonio offers a Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering. The program requires at least 32 credits and has available concentrations in biomechanics, bioimaging and biomaterials. The program also focuses on biological areas in neural systems, orthopedics/dental tissues and cardiovascular systems. Students can choose from a thesis or non-thesis option, but either option still requires a research seminar and non-thesis students must complete a comprehensive exam or a biomedical project. Texas A&M University Texas A&M University in College Station has an MS, Master of Engineering (ME) and dual ME in Biomedical Engineering/Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The MS program totals 32 credits and requires a thesis that students must also defend. The ME program offers tracks in clinical immersion, industry immersion or translational immersion and includes an immersion experience and opportunities for additional certifications. The dual ME/MBA program can be completed in 2.5 years and Texas A&M only offers a few slots for prospective students. University of North Texas Denton's University of North Texas provides an MS in Biomedical Engineering that also offers an optional Certificate in Health Services Management. The certificate program requires 4 additional courses that are completed online. The MS program has a thesis option that totals 30 semester hours or a non-thesis option that totals 33 semester hours. All students in the program take a required seminar and laboratory courses in biomedical engineering, as well as clinical instrumentation. University of Houston At the master's level, the University of Houston has a 30-credit MS program in biomedical engineering. The program has a thesis and non-thesis option and offers tracks in bionanoscience, neural engineering and rehabilitation and biomedical imaging. Students in both the thesis and non-thesis options take core courses in biomedical engineering, math and statistics and then students in the thesis option take additional thesis and research hours (including a seminar). Both options also allow students to choose from a variety of courses for electives that discuss topics in microdevices, global healthcare, genomic engineering, drug design and more. The University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas at El Paso offers a 36-credit MS in Biomedical Engineering program. Students in the program must choose a thesis track or non-thesis track that requires a final project or internship experience. Both tracks require clinical research, seminars and core coursework in areas such as anatomy, device design, physiology and entrepreneurship. All students also complete clinical rotations and a device practicum. Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy 7 hours ago Wall Street steadies following omicron slide; stocks rise NEW YORK (AP) Wall Street is steadying itself Monday from last week's slide caused by the newest coronavirus variant, as investors wait for more clues about just how much damage it may do to the economy. The S&P 500 was 1.6% higher in afternoon trading to recover more than two-thirds of its drop from Friday, which was its worst since February. Read Article The Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has apologised and retracted same on his comments that there was no parliamentary notification with regards to a recent trip, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo embarked on to South Africa. The young lawyer cum politician took a swipe at President Akufo-Addo for secretly and unceremoniously attending the Global Citizen Concert held in Johannesburg, South Africa with his relatives. Mr. Gyamfi in a statement accused the President of failing to inform Parliament about this trip contrary to the Constitutional imperative to do so whenever the President intends to leave our jurisdiction. On December 2, 2018, Global Citizen brought together its largest contingency of heads of state, dignitaries, a group of the worlds most talented artists and influencers, and thousands of global citizens to celebrate the centenary of Nelson Mandela. It was aimed at raising $1 billion for causes such as ending hunger and increasing access to good nutrition, ending neglected tropical diseases, reducing HIV transmission rates, ensuring every child receives a quality education, reforming and repealing sexist laws, providing funding for womens health and family planning, and ensuring access to clean water and safe sanitation worldwide. But Gyamfi asserted that it was entirely wrong for the President to attend such an event especially when there were pressing issues begging for solutions. This is the height of insensitivity and irresponsibility on the part of our President. This act also underlines the misplaced priorities of this government, he said. What breaks my heart more is the fact that in times like this, when the cost of fuel is so high, coupled with rising import charges and worsening exchange rate, our President finds it expedient to fly out secretly to enjoy a concert by Jayzee and Beyonce in far away South Africa. Lets we forget, CETAG is still on strike, all Colleges of Education and the GIJ remain closed. Yet the President is unperturbed, and rather chose to cool off in a foreign land. How does this sit well with the conscience of the President? he asked. However, it turned out that Sammy Gyamfis claim was false as the President in a letter dated November 30, 2018 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament actually informed Parliament of his decision to honour an invitation to the program. The letter had indicated that the President would be out of the country on December 1, 2018 and return on December 3, 2018. Following the backlash, Sammy Gyamfi has admitted his wrongs and withdrawn on the parliamentary notification claims asking the President to pardon him on that false claims. Admittedly, I got the point about the lack of Parliamentary notification for the Presidents SA trip wrong. I hereby retract and apologise for same. However, that point is only one of the many issues I raised in my post. As a matter of fact, it doesnt change or impair in any way the substance of my post. Our NPP friends cannot therefore hide behind this to exonerate the President from blame in this matter. The crux of my case is that, it was a misplaced priority and an abuse of the public purse for the President and his family to have attended the SA musical concert at the expense of the Ghanaian. I maintain that it was insensitive and inappropriate for the President to have attended that concert at a time that Ghanaians are reeling under excruciating and torrid economic hardships, Mr Gyamfi wrote in a statement. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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 Parkhouse will continue his job at the head of the professional services giant for another four years. Pricewaterhouse Coopers Luxembourg (PwC) are keeping their CEO. Thursday night, the company confirmed that John Parkhouse will continue to head the Big Four firm for another four years. PwC is a pillar of Luxembourg's economy and a key player in audit, tax and advisory services. According to the national statistics agency Statec, PwC is the 8th largest Luxembourgish employers, boasting 2,870 employees from 77 different countries. PwC also caused international headlines in the context of Luxleaks, when two former employees had leaked sensitive information about controversial international tax deals. Parkhouse replaced Didier Mouget at the top of the firm in 2015. In 1994 he had started working for Coopers&Lybrand, which then became PwC in 1998. Wonder Caves: Ideal Spot for Hikers and Cave Explorers Welcome Guest! You Are Here: The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) inaugurated a US$43-million expansion of the terminal at Phu Quoc International Airport, off the southern Vietnamese province of Kien Giang, on Saturday after more than two years of construction. The ACV had spent VND1 trillion ($43 million) on the expansion since September 2016 in a bid to help increase the capacity of the airport from 2.6 to four million passengers per year. Currently, Phu Quoc International Airport is serving nearly 60 flights a day by 17 domestic and international airlines, according to Vu The Phiet, ACV general director. Phiet complained that the number of passengers surged around 27-47 percent each year. The airport only served 685,000 passengers in 2013 but it has had to handle 3.4 million passengers, of which nearly 400,000 are international visitors, by 2018, exceeding the designed capacity. With this terminal expansion, it is expected that from three to five more airlines will open new routes to the airport next year. Upon the inauguration of the new terminal expansion, the ACV also organized a ceremony to welcome the 100 millionth passenger on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Noi Bai Internatinal Aiport in Hanoi to the airport, located on Phu Quoc a paradise island. It is reported that the 99,999,999th passenger was Kawse Hiroyuki from Japan. The 100 millionth passenger to Phu Quoc Internatinal Aiport is welcomed upon his arrival on December 15, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the state-run Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), the countrys largest commercial bank by assets, have agreed on a US$300-million loan to support the growth and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, ADB announced this week on its website. The agreement was signed by Michael Barrow, director general of ADBs private sector operations department, and Le Ngoc Lam, BIDVs senior executive vice-president in charge of the board of management, at a ceremony in Hanoi. According to the deal, the facility is comprised of a senior trust A loan of $200 million provided by ADB and a B loan of $100 million from 12 commercial lenders from South Korea, mainland China and Taiwan and divided into a three-year tranche and a five-year tranche. ADBs partnering with BIDV, the largest lender to the countrys SME sector, will boost lending to businesses, which often find it challenging to gain access to finance, the website on Wednesday quoted Barrow as saying at the signing ceremony. BIDVs effort to make SME lending a key strategic priority is aligned with ongoing endeavors by ADB and the Government of Vietnam to improve access to finance for SMEs, thereby contributing to inclusive economic growth. The loan also marks ADB as the first development finance institution to provide long-term lending to BIDV. The facility will support SMEs in Vietnam and also reaffirms our partnership with ADB in achieving poverty reduction, economic growth, regional integration, and environmental protection, said Phan Duc Tu, chairman of BIDV. The loan symbolizes the long-term cooperation between ADB and BIDV for sustainable development in Vietnam. SMEs account for a majority of businesses in Vietnam, contributing around half of total employment and 40 percent of gross domestic product. Despite their significant contribution to the economy, SMEs still encounter numerous obstacles that inhibit their economic potential, including lack of access to finance needed for expansion. In recent years, BIDV has increasingly served the SME segment, which has resulted in positive outcomes. The state-run bank had 250,000 SME customers, accounting for almost 40 percent of the total SME customers in the Southeast Asian country, as of June. Its lending portfolio to SMEs reached over VND240 trillion ($10.4 billion), giving it the largest share of SME lending among the countrys banks. It has also been awarded Best SME Bank Vietnam 2018 by the UKs online and print magazine Global Banking and Finance Review, SME Bank of the Year by Singapores Asian Banking & Finance, and Best SME Bank Vietnam 2018 by the institutional investment magazine Alpha Southeast Asia. At the Wednesday signing ceremony, ADB also said that it would work with BIDV to maximize the positive social and environmental impacts of the assistance by implementing an environmental and social management system. ADB stated that it is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members, 48 of which are in the Asian region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in co-financing. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! HO CHI MINH CITY - Vingroup, Vietnams top listed firm by market value, underlined its technology ambitions on Friday with the launch of its first smartphones, which it plans to sell around the world. Once a real estate and retail focused conglomerate, Vingroup became Vietnams first fully-fledged domestic carmaker two months ago with a business called Vinfast. Its four Vsmart phone models are being made in its factory in Vietnams northern city of Hai Phong, with a capacity to produce 5 million phones a year in the first stage. If Vinfast starts our industrial business, Vsmart is the starting point for Vingroup to develop an ecosystem of electronics and smart products, Nguyen Viet Quang, Vingroups chief executive and vice chairman, said. The Vietnamese firm wants to sell its smartphones and other smart products to all continents and has identified Russia and Spain, where it owns 51 percent of Spanish technology firm BQ, as potential markets in Europe. In Vietnam, which has a population of 95 million, Vingroup will be looking to win market share from Samsung and Apple with its new smartphones. Vietnam is the largest smartphone production base for Samsung, while key Apple supplier Foxconn is also considering setting up a factory. The four Vsmart phones launched on Friday use Qualcomms Snapdragon 435, 430 and 660 chips and Googles Android operating system. They will go on sale in Vietnam from Saturday with a price range of VND3.39-6.59 million (US$145.57-282.99). Qualcomm and Vingroups technology unit Vinsmart also signed a multimode global patent license deal on Friday. We will not stop at smartphones and will gradually roll out other smart products, VinSmarts chief executive Tran Minh Trung said at the launch. Your browser does not support the audio element. A Vietnamese-French academic was presented with the Maurice Audin mathematics prize in Paris on Wednesday for his great contribution to the field, after a two-year wait. According to the French website Images des mathematiques (or Images of Math), Prof. Ngo Bao Chau, 46, a Vietnamese-French mathematician at the University of Chicago, was announced the winner of the 2016 edition of the Maurice Audin prize. Images des mathematiques is published by the French National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) and devoted to popularization in mathematics, with an aim to show the diversity of the science in an attractive way words and pictures. Prof. Chau is best known for proving the fundamental lemma for automorphic forms proposed by American-Canadian mathematician Robert Langlands and Australian mathematician Diana Shelstad. He is the first Vietnamese national to have received the Fields Medal, which is dubbed mathematicians Nobel Prize, in 2010. In 2011, he became the youngest professor appointed by the State Council for Professor Titles of Vietnam. In the same year, he was also honored with the Legion of Honor, the highest French order for military and civil merits, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, conferred by Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France at that time. Created in 1958, after the death of Maurice Audin, a French mathematics assistant at the University of Algiers in Algeria, the Maurice Audin prize was awarded annually until 1963. It was reactivated in 2004 and remained annual until 2012, but is now presented every two years. The prize is sponsored by the French Mathematical Society (Societe mathematique de France SMF), the Society of Applied and Industrial Mathematics (Societe de mathematiques appliquees et industrielles SMAI), and the Maurice Audin association. Traditionally, two awards ceremonies are held, one in Algeria and the other in France. But circumstances meant that the 2016 prize-giving ceremony could only be held in Algeria, and only for the Algerian laureate - Bakir Farhi, who currently works at the Department of Mathematics, Bejaia University, Algeria - on February 7, 2016. It was finally possible for the French side to hold the award presentation ceremony at the Henri Poincare Institute in Paris on Wednesday after a two-year delay. The next edition of the Maurice Audin prize was also launched on this occasion. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. A four-hour drive from Hanoi, the border district of Binh Lieu in Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam is emerging as a new paradise for backpackers for its untouched and one-of-a-kind beauty. Located around 100 kilometers from the world-famous heritage site of Ha Long Bay in eastern Quang Ninh and bordering China, Binh Lieu is personified by its admirers as a girl at the prime of her youth who has just woken up from a long sleep. Travelers from Hanoi can depart early in the morning and reach Binh Lieu by road before noon the same day, as good transport infrastructure has shortened travel time to only four hours. The trip itself offers visitors the unique pleasure of watching the vastness of countryside roads, paddy fields, rural villages and towering mountain ranges open up and disappear before their own eyes. Your correspondent's tour guide, a lady of the Tay ethnic group native to northern Vietnam, said Binh Lieu is one of the rare places in Vietnam that remain alluring to tourists all year round, with each season offering a different shade of its ever-changing grace. Visiting Binh Lieu in the spring, tourists get to experience a variety of traditional festivals of the Tay and Yao minorities of northern Vietnam as part of their month-long observation of the Lunar New Year. A girl of the Yao ethnic group in Binh Lieu District in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre With summer comes the magnificent blossoming of the mu oil tree flowers, coating the mountainous district with a cloud-white blanket that mesmerizes tourists and locals alike. The terraces in Binh Lieu are at its greenest in the autumn, when cool weather allows for pleasurable trekking trips across the regions most beautiful waterfalls and endless fields of purple reeds. In the winter, locals harvest their crops and celebrate a year of abundance with colorful festivals that attract participants from across the region. More adventurous travelers can opt to take a motorbike ride on the dinosaur spine, a mountainous path notorious for its narrowness and difficulty to navigate through, but which rewards visitors with a spectacular view of rolling clouds below their feet and a guaranteed sense of thrill and adventure. Visiting Binh Lieu, tourists can stay at one of many homestays run by ethnic people and experience living like a true Vietnamese highlander. A homestay in Binh Lieu District in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Some say Binh Lieu is like a mini version of Sa Pa, while others compare it to other tourist hotspots such as Ha Giang and Yen Bai Provinces, said Trieu Thi Hoang Nga, a tourism official in Binh Lieu. In a sense, such comparison is justified because Binh Lieu encapsulates all the positive attributes of these places but in a more humble manner, she said. Binh Lieu welcomed nearly 62,000 visitors in 2017, about 23 percent of whom stayed overnight, according to a report by the local administration. Nearly 41,000 tourists visited the border district in January-July, according to the same source. A border marking on top of a mountain range in Binh Lieu District in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Ministry of Public Security said on Friday its investigative police agency had launched criminal proceedings against two former deputy ministers for lack of responsibility in a case linked to jailed Da Nang business tycoon Phan Van Anh Vu. Tran Viet Tan and Bui Van Thanh were prosecuted and banned from leaving their places of residence for lack of responsibility that led to serious consequences under Article 285 of the Penal Code, the ministry said in a statement. Tan, 63, was Deputy Minister of Public Security from 2011 to 2016, while Thanh, 60, served in the position between 2014 and 2018. Their wrongdoings were discovered during an expanded probe into the case of abusing positions and powers while performing duties involving Phan Van Anh Vu and accomplices. Vu, a.k.a. Vu nhom, is a business tycoon known for owning different companies and multiple pieces of prime real estate in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang. He was on July 30 sentenced to nine years in prison for deliberately disclosing state secrets by a court in Hanoi. Vus prison term was reduced to eight years by a Peoples High Court in Hanoi on October 31. Vu was also charged for abuse of positions and powers while on duty, tax evasion and violating regulations on the management and use of state assets, causing losses and wastefulness. A number of people have faced charges for their alleged links to Vu, including former deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Huu Tin. In August this year, Thanh was dismissed from his post as Deputy Minister of Public Security for his serious violations and shortcomings in the workplace. Tan was also stripped of his title as deputy minister in the 2011-2016 term for the same reason, according to a decision signed the same month by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Tan and Thanh had been found by the Partys Central Inspection Committee to have signed a number of documents that violated regulations on protecting state secrets. Thanh also requested the issuance of a diplomatic passport for Vu, who was not qualified to carry the travel document. Vietnam is intensifying its drive to eliminate graft at all levels, with many top officials having gone to prison in recent times. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. Imprisoned for nearly 20 years, 11 of which was spent in isolation, Dang Van The escaped the death penalty thanks to a pardon from the state president. Now he strives hard at work and is determined to lead a good life. On August 15, 1997, The from My Son Commune, Do Luong District, Nghe An Province in north-central Vietnam and his accomplice Nguyen Tat Dung were caught red-handed smuggling 20kg of illegal drugs. The two were sentenced to death the following year, but only Dung was executed. On July 7, 1999, Thes execution was officially postponed pending further investigation. He was placed in a special housing unit for the next 11 years, during which time his good behavior qualified him for an appeal to the president of Vietnam for a sentence reduction. On June 23, 2009, his sentence was officially lowered from the death penalty to life imprisonment. The inmate fought hard for more sentence reductions by maintaining his good behavior and positive attitude until he was released in June 2016. Dang Van The performs a car damage inspection. Photo: Tuoi Tre Finding his feet in a taxi fleet The was locked up at age 22 and got out at age 41, ready for a completely new and changed world. It is not easy to rebuild your life after youre released from jail, The said. His wife left him three years into his prison stint, but The had seen it coming. Some people asked me to work for them, but I thought that such work would just lead me back to a cell, the man said. Determined to truly blend in with the society, The managed to secure a meeting with the chairman of Lac Hong Trans Cargo & Freight Company in Nghe An Province suggest the company expand their service to the mountainous Tuong Duong and Ky Son districts, as he knew these areas quite well. After answering the chairmans questions on the projects potential and tentative pricing, The said, Well only need five taxis or so, priced low enough so that the mountain people here can afford them. The idea worked and the taxi fleet has since expanded to 16 cabs in Tuong Duong and Ky Son. The good boss At that time, no one in the company knew that The was a freshly released death-row prisoner. Only until his wedding ceremony in March 2017 did Nguyen Cong Nha, the chairman of Lac Hong Taxi Company, find out about his background. Surprisingly, The was appointed a new post at the company accident damage inspection officer. He [the chairman] told me later how he defied objections to take me in. Clearly their objections were well grounded, The said. I was a death-row inmate. I barely finished grade 4. Giving me a driving job would be normal. But the position of a damage inspection officer is just so powerful. Commenting on his decision, Nha said, When people voiced their objection to my decision to recruit The, I told them that such selfishness meant hed have no second chance to mend his broken life. If we turn our backs on him, this society will just have one more smuggler. No chance to rehabilitate and no way to become a good citizen again.. Dang Van The received a certificate of recognition from the company thanks to his contribution. Photo: Tuoi Tre Determination for a fruitful life The position of an inspection officer demands utmost transparency at work. I have to deal with police officers and third parties, then finish off all necessary paperwork, The explained. I have to screen more than 500 drivers to sort out their attitudes and honesty. When under extreme pressure, I remind myself of Nhas words. He said that I have to prove to everybody that his choice [of recruiting me] is right. In late 2017, The received a certificate of recognition for his contribution from the chairman and management board. Right now The is on both the inspection and customer service teams of Lac Hong Huyndai Garage in Do Luong Town, Nghe An Province. Recently, he was promoted as head of sales. The endeavors of the middle-aged man bore fruits. Now he has a promising job and a loving family. He named his first daughter Dang Hoai An and his second girl Hong An, both meaning blessings from heaven. I always tell myself that I will have to live a life worthy of those who have chosen to help and love me. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Christmas is coming fast, and it's a time when we think of Christmas miracles and divine intervention. Either that, or we just wonder how lucky some people can be. Babies born on Christmas day are often referred to as miracles even though babies are born every day. People who survive a fatal accident in the holidays think it's a Christmas miracle, but thousands of people walk away from terrible accidents every day. However, there are some things that happened at Christmas that even the grinches cannot steal from us. Some of them are inexplicable. 1 Amazing escape from Korea SS Meredith Victory, was captained by Leonard LaRue. On December 21st, 1950 the war boat was based in Korea. Thousands of Koreans were trying to flee from Hungnam to get safely to the south. Emptying his ship of weapons and supplies, the captain took on 14,000 Koreans. Jam-packed in the holds and deck, there was standing room only. The ship, designed to carry 47 crew and 12 passengers, made it safely to Busan on Christmas Day. Five babies were born along the way. 2 Buried alive in the snow for three days The Star reported that in 2008, a Canadian woman decided a snowstorm was a great time to go and buy some baking supplies. Her vehicle was later found but she was not in it. Later on, the woman was also found after an intense three-day search. Somehow she ended up buried in a snowdrift. Miraculously, she was still alive on (you guessed it) Christmas Day. Rushed to hospital, she survived the ordeal. 3 The walking miracle 4 Christmas Miracle 2018 5 The odds of finding a baby in the desert ALL RIGHTS RESERVED For the program Observers Direct, Derek Thomson travelled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in November 2018 to film reports on three stories brought to us by our Observers. The first was about preachers who claim to perform miraculous healings. Watch his report, then read his reporters notebook. Click below to watch the report: Read Derek Thomson's reporter's notebook here: > Its an image Ill never forget. Jonas Bito, a young father, looking straight at our camera, holding his dead baby son in his arms. He told us the child had a fever and was sleeping and we believed him. In fact, he was waiting to see a self-proclaimed prophet named Mackenson Dorilas, who claims to be able to bring people back from the dead. Jonas Bito holds his son Youbi while waiting for a consultation with self-acclaimed prophet Mackenson Dorilas. > Let me be clear: if we had known the child was dead, we would have stopped filming immediately and told Jonas to take him to a hospital. Jonas was holding his 16-month-old son Youbi; his girlfriend Shedline was there too, with their two-month-old, Lovens, who also had a fever. I would have wanted a doctor to explain to the young couple how Youbi had died, but above all to immediately examine his brother Lovens. > > Suffering from an illness that was 'not natural' > > But we didnt know. When we asked Jonas why he had brought the boy to a church, not a hospital, he told us he was certain that he was suffering from an illness that was not natural. He told us officials at the Eglise de Dieu Les Envoyes (Church of Gods Envoys) told him hed have to pay 2500 Haitian gourds (30) to see Prophet Mackenson because it was an emergency. That was a huge amount for the couple, more than their combined monthly earnings. (Jonas sells second-hand trainers for a living; Shedline sells second-hand plastic dishes.) > > When Prophet Mackenson arrived in his Lincoln Navigator SUV, red and blue police-style lights flashing, he greeted us politely. The 32-year-old has been preaching since he was 15. He told us he had been chosen by God, and that his Tuesday services regularly attract thousands of followers. Videos on his Facebook page show hundreds, not thousands, of congregants at the services. But they are streamed live to more than 90,000 followers. Every Haitian we spoke to had heard of him. A video on the Facebook page of Prophet Mackenson Dorilas shows a service at his church Eglise de Dieu Les Envoyes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. > Mackenson told us he could heal people who were suffering from madness and physical diseases. He said he regularly performs miracles at his services, and also performs healings at his office. He agreed to see Jonas and Shedline for a consultation. > > The young couple told him they believed there was bad air where they lived, and they suspected their neighbours of wishing them ill. Shedline said she hadnt cried over the boys fever. After taking the childs pulse, Mackenson confirmed their fears: that the boy was the victim of a curse that someone had sold his soul to the devil so they could win the lottery. > > 'Many Haitians practice Christianity but in fact believe in vodou' > > Two days later, just before we were about to interview Mackenson about his healings, Jonas told us his son had died that he had in fact died the morning of the consultation. He said they had brought him to Mackenson in the hope that he could bring him back to life. He said the preacher did not charge them for the consultation. > > Our Observer Aristilde Deslande, a religion specialist who writes for Netalkole.net, explained that what we had witnessed was vodou, a religion brought to Haiti by slaves from West Africa under French colonial rule. We have Christianity here, but also vodou, he told us. Many Haitians practice Christianity but in fact believe in vodou. They retain their vodou beliefs. > > He decoded some what had been said: > > * When Jonas called his sons illness not natural, he was saying he believed he was the victim of a vodou curse. > * When Shedline referred to bad air in their courtyard, she meant evil spirits. > * When Shedline said she had not cried over their sons illness, it was because vodou followers believe that crying amounts to an admission that someone has died. If you cry over someones death, they cannot be brought back to life. > > > Prophet Mackenson did not show up for our interview. His aides told us he was unable to come because of political unrest in the city following violent demonstrations held November 18. He later told us via WhatsApp message that he had realised the baby was dead when he examined him. I wanted to see if I could help them. For people who have died a supernatural death, I can appeal to forces to bring them back to life. But if its a natural death, theres nothing I can do. Prophet Mackenson Dorilas says in a WhatsApp message to France 24 that he is capable of reviving people who have died a "supernatural death." A Palestinian uses a sling to hurl stones during clashes with Israeli troops near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman Thomson Reuters RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian during stone throwing clashes on Friday in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said. The clashes followed a surge of violence on Thursday when a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli soldiers, and Israeli forces killed two Hamas fugitives whom it blamed for earlier deadly attacks. Israeli forces also killed two Palestinians that Israel said had tried to carry out attacks. On Friday Palestinians gathered in protest in the West Bank, throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, witnesses said. One Palestinian, aged 18, was killed by Israeli fire, health officials said. The Israeli army did not have any immediate comment. In the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Hamas militant group, thousands of Palestinians also gathered along the border with Israel. Gaza health officials said 75 people were wounded by Israeli live fire during the weekly border protests. An Israeli military spokesman said Gazans hurled rocks at soldiers and the security fence. A fire bomb and several grenades were also thrown, the spokesman said, though none of them crossed into Israel. "Troops responded with riot dispersal means and operated in accordance with standard operating procedures," he said. Gazas health ministry said more than 220 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli troops since March at border protests demanding an end to an Israeli-led blockade of the coastal strip. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Nidal Almughrabi; Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Richard Balmforth) See Also: Yellow Vest protests took place around Paris on Saturday, December 15, for the fifth weekend in a row. Near the southern city of Perpignan, demonstrators riding motorbikes blockaded the highway on approach to the Spanish border. 85 people were detained in Paris, with scuffles breaking out between police and protesters on the side streets of the Champs-Elysees. In Toulouse, airport authorities were forced to suspend flights on Friday, December 14, after disability rights and Yellow Vest protesters invaded the runway. Credit: LastLife via Storyful FILE PHOTO: Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani attends a side event at the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Eric Knecht DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar said on Saturday it remained committed to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) but the bloc needed to enforce its own rules better, signalling a reformed alliance could help end a row between Doha and some of its neighbours. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar was still counting on Kuwait and other regional powers to help solve the row that has seen Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-GCC member Egypt impose a political and economic boycott on Doha since June 2017. "We believe that we are more relevant as a bloc" for the West than as separate and fragmented countries, he told the annual Doha Forum, but said the GCC had "no teeth" and needed a dispute resolution mechanism. "They have mechanisms in place and never trigger them (to hold people accountable) because some countries believe they are non-binding, so we need to make sure all the rules we are submitting to are binding to everyone in this region." The four states accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism and cosying up to regional foe Iran. Doha denies the charges and says the boycott aims to curtail its sovereignty. The dispute has eluded mediation efforts by Kuwait, which along with Oman is a part of the GCC, and the United States, which believes Gulf unity is essential to containing Iran. In a sign the dispute still festered, Qatar's emir did not attend an annual Gulf summit on Sunday. Doha earlier announced it was quitting OPEC to focus on gas in a move seen as a shot at the oil exporter club's de facto ruler Saudi Arabia. "In the Gulf crisis our position remains unchanged - lifting the blockade and settling the differences via dialogue," Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani told the forum. EU OFFERS TO HELP The boycotting states say the dispute is not a priority and insist Qatar meet a list of demands submitted to it at the start of the crisis that include closing Al Jazeera TV, reducing ties with Tehran and closing a Turkish military base in Qatar. Story continues Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Muslim Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the Middle East, while Turkey's ties with the kingdom have been strained by the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. Foreign ministers from Iran and Turkey, which both supported Qatar in the row, are attending the two-day forum. Romania's foreign minister, Teodor-Viorel Melescanu, told the gathering that the European Union is working on organising a conference that could help solve the Gulf rift. "We are thinking about a joint event for the EU and Arab countries and we would like to have a direct discussion with the GCC countries. We hope to hold it in April and in principle it would take place in Bucharest," he later told Reuters. Romania takes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from January for the next six months. Bahrain's foreign minister said on Saturday there was no need for mediation as the solution lay in Doha's hands. "It is not our crisis, it is Qatar's crisis. So there is no need for a mediator to solve it, what it needs is for a wise person from its (Qatar's) people," Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa tweeted. (Writing by Saeed Azhar, Additional reporting by Asma Alsharif in Dubai, Editing by Ghaida Ghantous, William Maclean) FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at an opening ceremony in Istanbul FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at an opening ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey December 8, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo By Daren Butler ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 267 people, mostly military officers and defence industry staff, for suspected links to the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016, state media said on Friday. The orders marked an escalation of what has been a steady stream of raids against alleged supporters of preacher Fethullah Gulen since the coup attempt in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed. Gulen, a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, has denied any involvement with the putsch. Since the coup attempt more than 77,000 people have been jailed pending trial, and widespread arrests are still routine. Authorities have suspended or sacked 150,000 civil servants and military personnel. Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey would start new initiatives abroad to target the financing of Gulen supporters. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office sought the arrest of 219 soldiers on active service, including four colonels, five lieutenant colonels and 10 majors, state-owned Anadolu news agency said. Over half of the suspects were sergeants, it said. The operation was based on investigations into pay phone communications between alleged Gulen network members, it added. On the orders of the Istanbul chief prosecutor, an operation was launched at 1 a.m. (2200 GMT) to seize the suspects, the Hurriyet newspaper website reported. Another 48 people were facing arrest in an inquiry by Ankara prosecutors targeting mostly defence industry company personnel who were suspected of supporting Gulen, Anadolu said. This investigation was also related to pay phone communications. It was not clear how many people had so far been detained in the two operations. Turkey's Western allies have criticised the crackdown, which was pursued mainly under a state of emergency that was declared after the coup and remained in effect until July this year. Erdogan's critics accuse him of using the failed putsch as a pretext to quash dissent. Turkish authorities say the measures are necessary to combat threats to national security. Story continues Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, the former chief of staff, told parliament last month more than 15,000 military personnel had been dismissed since the July 2016 putsch, including 150 generals and admirals. Turkish authorities have taken control of hundreds of firms accused of links to Gulen and his supporters, and shut down more than 130 media outlets as part of the purges. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by David Dolan and Mark Heinrich) It owns some of the world's most luxurious hotels, including the Cipriani in Venice, the Splendido in Portofino, the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro and Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, as well as operating the Venice-Simplon Orient Express and Royal Scotsman luxury train services. And soon Belmond Group, which is based in the UK but listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will have a new owner equally steeped in the world of luxury. The company has agreed to a takeover by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, the French luggage, perfume, fashion, champagne and cognac combine, in a deal worth a total of $3.2bn (2.5bn) once Belmond (NYSE: BEL - news) 's debts are included. The deal further extends the reach of LVMH in the luxury travel market. The company, which is 46% owned by the family of Bernard Arnault, France's richest man, already owns the Bulgari hotels brand and Cheval Blanc, a set of luxury properties in locations such as Courchevel and the Maldives, that cater for the super-rich on their travels. It also confirms the growing importance of the luxury travel category which, after experiencing a period in the doldrums following the financial crisis, is growing strongly. For LVMH, the acquisition is something of a coup, as it beat off interest from many deep-pocketed competitors, which are thought to have included the private equity firms Blackstone (NYSE: BX - news) and KKR as well as sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East. Accor (EUREX: 485822.EX - news) , the French hotels giant, was said to have been interested at one stage, while in February this year, The Times reported that Belmond had held initial sale discussions with Britain's Intercontinental Hotel Group, owner of the Holiday Inn chain. America's Hilton Hotels was also thought to have taken a look at the business too. The takeover also marks a return to mergers and acquisitions for LVMH after a major 12.1bn deal last year, which united the whole of the Christian Dior (Swiss: CDI.SW - news) brand together under a single owner for the first time in 70 years. Story continues Mr Arnault said: "Belmond delivers unique experiences to discerning travellers and owns a number of exceptional assets in the most desirable destinations. This acquisition will significantly increase LVMH's presence in the ultimate hospitality world." Yet there is another dimension to the deal from LVMH's perspective: it is a recognition that younger consumers, especially millennials, are more interested in experiences than in possessions. They are viewed as being more likely to pay for a stay in a luxury hotel than they are a luxury handbag. The story of Belmond is as interesting as the luxury assets it owns. The business was created in 1976 when James Sherwood, the American-born but British-based entrepreneur who founded the shipping giant Sea Containers, bought the then loss-making Cipriani from the Guinness family for $1.4m. Following an outcry over the closure of the service, in 1977, Mr Sherwood followed this by buying a number of railway carriages from the original Orient Express with a view to reopening it. The logic underpinning this was that the service would bring more customers to Venice for the Cipriani. He launched the Venice-Simplon Orient Express - the original Orient Express brand name remains owned by the French national rail operator SNCF - running restored carriages from the original service between London and Venice in 1982. Other acquisitions followed along the way including 21, the luxury New York club and restaurant, before Mr Sherwood decided to float off Orient Express Hotels as a separate company on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2000. Sea Containers retained control of the business for a while but, after its profits collapsed following the terror attacks of September 2001, it reduced its holding in Orient Express Hotels to below 50% in late 2002. It sold the last of its shares in 2005 - months before Mr Sherwood resigned from all his positions with Sea Containers which, in late 2006, collapsed after its GNER rail franchise became the first of several operators to come a cropper running the East Coast main line. Rumours of possible takeover bids for Orient Express Hotels came and went over the years and, in 2012, Mr Sherwood resurfaced to support a bid by Ratan Tata, the Indian billionaire whose company owns Jaguar Land Rover. That attempt was seen off and, in 2014, the company renamed itself Belmond after SNCF announced plans to launch a number of products, including luxury luggage, under the Orient Express brand. That renaming, with hindsight, was a hint that the company saw its future under another owner as it was an acknowledgement that some owners might be reluctant to buy into a business whose main brand and very name was actually owned by a third party. Fans of the company's hotels, resorts and services will doubtless be relieved that Belmond has fallen into the hands of an owner unlikely to break it up, as a private equity buyer would have, or compromise on its standards as some rival hotel operators might have been tempted. LVMH's ownership is likely to represent continuity. The World Poker Tour Kicks Off the New Year with WPT Russia December 15 2018 Matthew Pitt The luxurious Sochi Casino is getting ready to host the WPT Russia festival that runs from Jan. 18-27 where a cool 184,500,000 is guaranteed to be won (~$2,795,196) across seven scheduled events. Sochi Casino is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and restaurants and is in a beautiful mountainous region of Russia that is fitting to such a prestigious poker festival. WPT Russia Schedule Highlights After a handful of online Day 1s, hosted at partypoker, WPT Russia kicks off in style with the WPT Opener featuring seven starting flights that cost 33,000 to enter. A total of 30 million (~$454,500) is guaranteed to be won in the WPT Opener. The highlight of the WPT Russia festival has to be the WPT Russia Main Event with its huge 90 million guarantee (~1.4 million). Players can play in two online Day 1s held at partypoker, or battle across three live Day 1s at Sochi Casino. Other key events include a 618,000 buy-in High Roller event and the 30 million guaranteed WPT DeepStacks. 2019 WPT Russia Schedule Date Time Tournament Buy-in Clock (Mins) Chips Sun 13 Jan 8:00 p.m. Main Event Online Day 1A: 90M GTD 198,000 24 30,000 8:00 p.m. WPT Opener Online Day 1A: 30M GTD 33,000 12 30,000 Mon 14 Jan 8:00 p.m. WPT Opener Online Day 1B: 30M GTD 33,000 12 30,000 Tue 15 Jan 8:00 p.m. WPT Opener Online Day 1C: 30M GTD 33,000 12 30,000 Fri 18 Jan 12:00 p.m. WPT Opener Day 1A: 30M GTD 33,000 30 30,000 5:00 p.m. WPT Opener Day 1B: 30M GTD 33,000 30 30,000 Sat 19 Jan 12:00 p.m. WPT Opener Day 1C: 30M GTD 33,000 30 30,000 5:00 p.m. WPT Opener Day 1D: 30M GTD 33,000 30 30,000 Sun 20 Jan 12:00 p.m. WPT Opener Day 1E: 30M GTD 33,000 30 30,000 2:00 p.m. Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 10 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 5:00 p.m. WPT Opener Day 1F: 30M GTD 33,000 30 30,000 8:00 p.m. Main Event Online Day 1B: 90M GTD 198,000 24 30,000 Mon 21 Jan 10:00 a.m. WPT Opener Day 1G: 30M GTD 6-Max Turbo 33,000 15 30,000 2:00 p.m. Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 15 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 2:30 p.m. WPT Opener Day 2 40 3:00 p.m. Main Event Day 1A: 90M GTD 198,000 60 30,000 6:00 p.m. Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 15 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 Tue 22 Jan 12:00 p.m. Main Event Day 1B: 90M GTD 198,000 60 30,000 12:00 p.m. WPT Opener Final 40 2:00 p.m. Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 20 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 6:00 p.m. Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 20 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 Wed 23 Jan 12:00 p.m. Main Event Day 1C: 90M GTD 198,000 60 30,000 2:00 p.m. Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 10 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 6:00 p.m, Main Event 1 in 10 Satellite: 10 seats GTD 19,800 20 20,000 Thu 24 Jan 12:00 p.m. Main Event Day 2 60 12:00 p.m. WPT DeepStacks Day 1A: 30M GTD 99,000 40 30,000 5:00 p.m. WPT DeepStacks Day 1B: 30M GTD 99,000 40 30,000 6:00 p.m. High Roller 1 in 10 Satellite: 5 seats GTD 66,000 20 20,000 Fri 25 Jan 12:00 p.m. Main Event Day 3 60 12:00 p.m. WPT DeepStacks Day 1C: 30M GTD 99,000 40 30,000 1:00 p.m. High Roller 1 in 10 Satellite: 5 seats GTD 66,000 20 20,000 2:00 p.m. High Roller Day 1: 18M GTD 618,000 60 30,000 5:00 p.m. WPT DeepStacks Day 1D: 30M GTD 99,000 40 30,000 Sat 26 Jan 10:00 a.m. WPT DeepStacks Day 1E: 30M GTD 6-Max Turbo 99,000 15 30,000 12:00 p.m. Main Event Day 4 60 2:00 p.m. High Roller Day 2: 18M GTD 618,000 60 30,000 2:00 p.m. WPT DeepStacks Day 2: 30M GTD 60 3:00 p.m. WPT Ladies Event 13,200 25 30,000 Sun 27 Jan 12:00 p.m. Main Event Final Day 90 1:00 p.m. Pot Limit Omaha: 3M GTD 66,000 30 30,000 2:00 p.m. High Roller Final Day 60 2:00 p.m. WPT DeepStacks Final Day 60 3:00 p.m. 6 Max Turbo 33,000 20 30,000 PP LIVE Dollars Promotions Thanks to the partnership between partypoker LIVE and the World Poker Tour, there are a couple of value-packed promotions for you to enjoy. The first gives you the chance to win $1,000 worth of PP LIVE Dollars by correctly guessing the number of entrants in the WPT Russia Main Event. Submit your guess here and if it is correct, $1,000 worth of PP LIVE Dollars are yours. Promotion number two also revolves around PP LIVE Dollars. If you are one of the first 100 players to use PP LIVE Dollars to buy into the WPT Russia Main Event, partypoker will put $300 into your account towards your expenses! The current exchange rate means youd need to spend $2,982 worth of PP LIVE Dollars to take part in this promotion, but youll receive $300 back for what is essentially 10 percent cashback! Download partypoker Today If you want to get involved in the online Day 1s for the WPT Russia events, youll need a partypoker account. Download partypoker via PokerNews, enter the bonus code UKPNEWS16 when making your first deposit and youll receive four $5.50 satellite tickets. Kathmandu, Nepal: Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali is going to visit southern neighbor India on January 8 to participate in the program- Indias flagship geo-political and geo-economics conference- to be held in New Delhi of India. It is said that Indias External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has already invited Gyawali for the conference. He is scheduled to deliver a speech in the conference, which is being organized by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with Indias Ministry of External Affairs from January 8 to 10. Gyawali has already accepted the invitation of Indias External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the conference, sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. He is leaving for New Delhi on January 8. The 1993 Academy-Award-winning movie Schindler's List showed again in select theaters last week to honor its 25th anniversary. In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt the film's director, Stephen Spielberg said the story resonates more now than at the time of the film's release, citing the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue this year. We have to take it more seriously today than I think we have had to take it in a generation. The past is prologue Last year the Washington Times made a similar point owing to a reported 86 percent spike in anti-Semitic incidents. It isn't a good time to be a Jew in America, the paper said. The Anti-Defamation League also noted a whopping 106 percent leap of such incidents in the same period at elementary, middle and high schools nationwide. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL told the Washington Times, We are very concerned the next generation is internalizing messages of intolerance and bigotry. Pointing out the increase in hate-crimes during the run-up to the election of Donald Trump, he recalled a sign in Denver that said, Kill the Jews, Vote Trump. Greenblatt went on to say, These incidents need to be seen in the context of a general resurgence of white supremacists activity in the United States. Behind the scenes of polite society All that said, I have to wonder if Spielberg's Holocaust movie is the one of choice to warn Americans that history may be repeating itself. The film recounts the true story of German businessman Oskar Schindler who resolutely employed 1,200 Jews to save them from the Nazis. A more pointed cautionary tale for our time should take place after WWII. And I'm thinking of the 1947 film Gentlemen's Agreement, also an Academy-Award winner, directed by Elia Kazan. Based on the best-selling novel of the same title by Laura Z. Discuss this news on Eunomia Hobson, a daughter of Jewish immigrants, it tells of anti-Semitism in postwar America when Jew-hating was not seen in the street but was hidden in the minds of a polite society that restricted Jews from housing, hotels, schools, and jobs. Gregory Peck played the part of an investigative reporter who posed as a Jew to experience the bigotry first-hand. A cautionary tale for contemporary America Variety drama critic Hobe Morrison, considered "Gentlemen's Agreement" better than the popular book because it's more graphic, lending the story greater emotional impact. He gave, as an example, a scene when the Peck character tries to explain anti-Semitism to his young son: Even the least-informed and least sensitive filmgoer can hardly fail to identify himself with the characters on the screen, and be profoundly moved. By contrast, Schindler's List may be wrongly dismissed as some bloody chapter in a history book. More insidious is the bloodshed in "Gentlemen's Agreement" because the bleeding is internal. And if hate-crimes against Jews continue, America is liable to bleed out. We and our partners use cookies as indicated in our cookie policy . With your consent, we process data such as IP addresses, identifiers, and geolocation data to identify you as a user, track your browsing habits, provide personalized ads and content based on your interests, and measure website performance. To consent to cookies, you can I) click Accept or II) continue browsing this site. For more information, or to revoke your consent (in part or in whole), or modify your previous settings, click Preferences Karen Hao in the MIT Technology Review: David Duvenaud was collaborating on a project involving medical data when he ran up against a major shortcoming in AI. An AI researcher at the University of Toronto, he wanted to build a deep-learning model that would predict a patients health over time. But data from medical records is kind of messy: throughout your life, you might visit the doctor at different times for different reasons, generating a smattering of measurements at arbitrary intervals. A traditional neural network struggles to handle this. Its design requires it to learn from data with clear stages of observation. Thus it is a poor tool for modeling continuous processes, especially ones that are measured irregularly over time. The challenge led Duvenaud and his collaborators at the university and the Vector Institute to redesign neural networks as we know them. Last week their paper was among four others crowned best paper at the Neural Information Processing Systems conference, one of the largest AI research gatherings in the world. More here. Daniel Callcut in Aeon: I am glad, wrote the acclaimed American philosopher Susan Wolf, that neither I nor those about whom I care most are moral saints. This declaration is one of the opening remarks of a landmark essay in which Wolf imagines what it would be like to be morally perfect. If you engage with Wolfs thought experiment, and the conclusions she draws from it, then you will find that it offers liberation from the trap of moral perfection. Wolfs essay Moral Saints (1982) imagines two different models of the moral saint, which she labels the Loving Saint and the Rational Saint. The Loving Saint, as described by Wolf, does whatever is morally best in a joyful spirit: such a life is not fun-free, but it is unerringly and unwaveringly focused on morality. We are to think of the Loving Saint as the kind of person who cheerfully sells all of her or his possessions in order to donate the proceeds to famine relief. The Rational Saint is equally devoted to moral causes, but is motivated not by a constantly loving spirit, rather by a sense of duty. The Loving Saint might be more fun to be around than the Rational Saint, or more maddening, depending on your own personal temperament. Would the constant happiness of the Loving Saint make being with her easier, or would it drive you around the bend? More here. It's up to you to get ready. Unless you are already receiving Social Security benefits and then will be automatically enrolled in the program, you won't get a letter in the mail reminding you that it's time to start making these decisions. What's more, the timetable is specific and important. You can start signing up three months before you turn 65, and you'll have until three months after your birthday month to enroll. If you miss that deadline, you may end up paying higher premiums. If you are still working and have employer-sponsored health coverage, you can probably wait to sign up but more about that later. Taking control of your health care You'll need to do some homework before you start assessing options and picking plans. Make a list of your doctors and decide how important it is to you that you can continue seeing them once you are on Medicare. Also make a list of any medications you take so you can make sure any prescription drug plan you select will meet your needs. Think about your lifestyle. Are you a homebody and never travel outside the U.S.? Or are you an adventurer who goes abroad frequently? Do you split your time between residences and need medical care in different states? All these factors are likely to figure into the decisions you make. Your financial situation also is important. You'll learn through this guide that Medicare helps pay for medical care for older Americans and people with disabilities. But it's not free. You'll want to choose an option you can afford and build the array of out-of-pocket costs into your budget. And take time to review the ways the federal government can help you pay Medicare's costs if you can't afford them. You need to pay attention to all of Medicare's parts: Part A covers hospital and hospice care and some skilled nursing services after you've been in the hospital. Part B includes doctor visits and other outpatient services. Part C is Medicare Advantage, which is a combination of Parts A and B and usually Part D, which helps pay for prescription drugs. Medicare adapts to the coronavirus Medicare is also an evolving program. Medicare officials have made changes in some of the programs rules and procedures in an effort to help enrollees cope with the needs and uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. Among more than 500 start-up companies, age discrimination is more widespread than sex or racial discrimination, according to founders of those start-ups. In a study commissioned by venture investor First Round Capital, 529 founders of venture-backed firms were asked about their experiences. Some 37 percent of founders say that age bias exists in the start-up community, while the figures were 28 percent for gender bias and 26 percent for racial bias. But when asked about the tech industry as a whole, 89 percent of founders agree that older people face age discrimination. As for what passes as old in terms of discrimination, the average age given was 46. On other workplace issues, answers depended in part on the sex of the respondent. For example, 66 percent of male founders said that tech companies are inclusive for parents and their needs; that belief was shared by only 34 percent of female founders. Founders also took out their crystal balls about the immediate economic future. When asked whether the tech industry is highly overvalued or in a bubble, they were roughly evenly divided in three possible responses: yes, and it wont pop any time soon (29 percent); yes, and its close to popping (33 percent); no, definitely not (39 percent). Forecasting the state of development in the bigger world over the next decade, 39 percent of founders predicted that China will be the center of tech in 2028. Milbank native Kalen DeBoer named head football coach at Washington Washington has hired Kalen DeBoer to lead a Huskies program that has struggled offensively to a coach with a track record of productive offenses. The Vortex Theatre has had so much success with Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams Tuna plays that it has remounted some of them multiple times since 2007 when it staged the original Greater Tuna. I was lucky enough to catch the third time round for Greater Tuna in 2017, which featured two extraordinary actors playing 18 characters. As I wrote then, they would often leave the stage in a suit and tie only to return seconds later wearing a dress. It was one of the funniest productions Ive ever seen, and it had me, with the rest of the audience, laughing so hard it hurt. No wonder the Vortex stages these plays again and again. Besides Greater Tuna, there are three others, including A Tuna Christmas, which the Vortex produced in 2007 and is staging again this year. Tuna refers to the third-smallest town in Texas, and the plays mercilessly satirize the small-town denizens for their narrowness of mind, bigotry and moral rigidity (or moral laxness, as the case may be). Bertha Bumiller is one of the morally rigid, as her strict Baptist conscience forbids her to drink or dance. Her husband, however, whom we never see, is sexually voracious and unfaithful. So, for that matter, are the two aspiring career women Inita Goodwin and Helen Bedd, who work at the Tastee Kreme (one of them even plans to get her GED). In case you missed it, their names sound like, I Need a Good One and Hell in Bed. Both of them have trouble keeping their legs together. The Tuna plays are light on plot, and consist mostly of a series of sketches that leave much room for comic invention on the part of the actors. A Tuna Christmas revolves around a mysterious phantom who is expected to spoil this years Christmas lawn display contest. That contest is indeed spoiled when someone puts boxer shorts on the holy family in Vera Camps yard and pins a feminist button on the Virgin Mary. The satire of A Tuna Christmas is not as sharp as that of Greater Tuna, and the play ends with sweet sentimentality as the forlorn Bertha and the lonely Arles end up dancing in each others arms at the annual OKKK Christmas party, the only two to attend. The acting is not nearly as accomplished as it was in the production of Greater Tuna that I saw last year. The success of this show depends on virtuoso comic performances, and unfortunately, the two actors here are unable to lift the show to the comic heights it needs to climb to succeed. Precise physical and vocal mannerisms are necessary to distinguish characters, and with one of the actors, at least, I could not discern the sex of the characters he was playing except through the gendered costumes. The rhythm of the show was sometimes spoiled, as well, either from poor memorization or simply a stumbled line. This is a hard show to do, and these actors, good enough for most purposes, were not quite up to the challenge here. A Tuna Christmas is playing through Dec. 23 at the Vortex Theatre, 2900 Carlisle NE. Go to vortexabq.org or call 247-8600 for reservations. SANTA FE Someone should get coal in their stocking this year. At a Santa Fe Walmart store Thursday afternoon, a thief ran off with one of the Salvation Armys red kettles, with an undermined amount of cash donations inside. The bell ringer at the Walmart at 3521 Cerrillos Road was talking with a donor when the thief snatched the kettle and ran away through the parking lot, said Scott Johnson, public relations director for the Salvation Armys Southwest Division. He said witnesses couldnt say if the thief was male or female. The important thing is that no one was hurt in the incident, and we are grateful for that, Capt. Ned Ortiz, corps officer of The Salvation Armys Santa Fe Corps Community Center, said in a statement released by the organization. The famous red kettle collections during the holiday season, introduced in 1891 as a means to provide holiday dinners to the poor, now account for about 25 percent of annual donations to The Salvation Army in New Mexico. The Salvation Army says it uses the money for provide a range of social service programs, including food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. A red kettle also was stolen in Minneapolis on Dec. 4. Police there on Friday identified two suspects who were seen on store video. Someone took a kettle from a Smiths grocery store in Albuquerque last year. One of the Salvation Armys own bell ringers in Fort Collins, Colo., was charged earlier this month with stealing the kettle hed been staffing. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Authorities say a man drugged, raped, beat and prostituted a woman repeatedly for nearly two years holding her captive in brothels and bouncing between states. They say he fled to Arizona after she tried to commit suicide. The New Mexico Attorney Generals Office extradited Mario Morales, 35, from Maricopa County, Ariz., on Nov. 27. He has since been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center. A district judge ordered Friday that he remain behind bars until trial. Morales faces numerous charges, including kidnapping, promoting prostitution, extortion, human trafficking and multiple counts of criminal sexual penetration, aggravated battery and false imprisonment. Agents say the accusations against Morales came out during multiple interviews and safe house examinations with the victim, who was trembling and would often burst into tears as she recounted the years she spent with him. According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in 2nd Judicial District Court, the victim began dating Morales sometime in 2015, and it wasnt long before the relationship became unusual. The woman told agents it started with Morales asking her to have sex with another woman and, when she refused, coaxing her with meth and alcohol. The woman told agents she and her two children were already living with Morales when he began to regularly beat her, give her drugs and force her to have sex with dealers for free drugs. According to the affidavit, Morales sent her children to live with their father in Hobbs, as the relationship became much more violent and he forced her into multiple unwanted sexual encounters. From there, agents say, the volatile relationship followed a trend that carried on for nearly two years and saw the pair evicted from apartments, homeless on the streets and living in brothels. The woman told agents that at one such home, Morales would lock her in a room without food and water where she would hear women screaming throughout the day and he forced her to have sex with multiple people on countless occasions. According to the affidavit, the woman was eventually hospitalized, and given a safe house examination, in April 2016 after Morales left the state. During the examination, agents say the woman told a nurse about the many ways Morales abused her and forced her to have sex with several people; but she did not want to file a report, saying she feared for her safety. Although it is unclear when, the woman told agents that she and her children reunited with Morales because she still had an emotional attachment and bounced between New Mexico and Arizona. The woman told agents she ended up in a safe house in Albuquerque before she got back together with Morales and the two moved from home to home around Albuquerque. During this time, agents say the violence was so loud that neighbors would call police but when officers showed up Morales would tell them the woman was mentally ill and the officers believed him. (She) would go along with Morales lie because she was fearful that he would hurt her if she did not, an agent wrote. She and Morales were eventually evicted from the apartment because of excessive police response to her apartment. The woman told agents she and Morales were homeless for a time before moving into a home that was being renovated in southwest Albuquerque in December 2017. Agents say a trailer on the property housed many women, and the victim believed they were prostitutes. The victim told agents that Morales forced her into commercial prostitution. The women told agents the pair became homeless again, and Morales left the state after taking her to a hospital when she tried to kill herself. During interviews, the victim had a hard time recalling specific dates, which agents say corroborates her claim that she was held against her will in a locked room for long periods of time. However, agents said they were able to corroborate several of the locations where the woman stayed with Morales through property managers and neighbors who remembered the couple. Albuquerque police have identified two of the four men officers shot over the past two months. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, confirmed 18-year-old Anthony Chavez was the man police shot and killed at an apartment complex parking lot on Nov. 4. Officers had responded to reports of shots fired and shot Chavez during a confrontation. Chavezs family had previously discussed the shooting with the Journal. Gallegos also identified Anthony Juarez, 30, as the man who police shot and injured during a domestic violence call at a home on the 3900 block of 67th street NW in the early morning hours of Nov. 18. He said when officers contacted Juarez he made threats and fired multiple shots at officers. Shots were fired by at least one officer on scene, Gallegos said. Juarez was taken to the hospital where he is recovering from non life-threatening injuries. Gallegos did not identify any of the officers involved in the shootings and did not say how many were involved. Gallegos did not identify the man police shot at Lins Grand Buffet during a hostage situation on Oct. 7, saying investigators are working with federal authorities on the case. He also did not identify the man shot and killed after a robbery and foot chase through a Northeast Albuquerque neighborhood Wednesday. WASHINGTON Is this the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency? On Nov. 7, federal prosecutors dropped two bombshells. First, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York filed a sentencing memo regarding Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, stating as a fact that the president himself had been involved with hush-money payments to two women with whom hed allegedly had affairs. And second, special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs office issued a document saying Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, had lied to prosecutors even after agreeing to cooperate. For administration-watchers hoping to watch the administration fall, the documents added to the mounting pile of tantalizing hints at that possibility. But it is still a very long way from these documents to the presidents door, and the journey is likely to be perilous for all involved. The danger to Trump is obvious: that prosecutors will tie him to offenses serious enough to warrant impeachment and that the Democrats who will take control of the House in January will quickly oblige. Even if Trump manages to hold on to enough Republican votes in the Senate to avoid being removed from office, the process is likely to be humiliating. Impeachment would also be dangerous for Senate Republicans. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is a wizard at using Senate procedure to protect his caucus from hard votes. But if the House impeaches the president, McConnell cant simply refuse to hold a trial. Which means that if Trump is impeached, each Republican senator would ultimately have to justify either voting to get rid of a president still popular with much of the Republican base, or endorsing whatever transgression had put him in the dock. Some of these senators, such as Lindsey O. Graham, R-S.C., would be haunted by their comments advocating President Bill Clintons impeachment two decades ago. Many others would be haunted by the nations suburbs, where voters have been swinging more firmly toward Democrats with every obnoxious @realDonaldTrump tweet; they would probably react badly to any offense that plausibly spurred the presidents impeachment. Few Republican senators would want to anger those voters by defending the presidents behavior. But they would be equally loath to infuriate Trumps rural and exurban base by throwing the president to the wolves. But the greatest danger may be the one facing Democrats: that the investigations end up with not quite enough evidence to justify impeachment and the Democrats nonetheless go ahead and impeach Trump anyway. If the Mueller investigation ends without a credible, direct link between the president and Russian interference in the 2016 election, the Democratic base would still clamor to impeach him over the campaign finance violations that prosecutors have connected to the hush-money payments. If the activists clamor loud enough, impeachment may well happen simply because no one in the Democratic caucus wants to be the one who breaks the bad news to them. The result would be a replay of the Clinton impeachment, only with each team taking the other side of the field. Democrats would have their own Lindsey Graham problems Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., trying to explain why Trumps behavior is worse than a president having sex with a 22-year-old White House intern and then concealing the affair with a spot of perjury. But those arguments, no matter how ingenious, wouldnt travel well outside of the lefts ideological bubble. Explaining that everything has changed since the #MeToo movement arrived wouldnt be much help. If the push for impeachment is about the legal violations involved in covering up some sexual impropriety instead of Russias election interference, it will probably backfire, just as the Clinton impeachment blew up for Republicans. Democrats can piously intone that theyre worried about campaign finance, not sexual misbehavior, but in the public square the debate will be over the sex. And while #MeToo may have changed the calculus in Washington, there are still millions of less politically engaged voters across the country who dont necessarily thrill to the call of identity politics or want Congress to undertake a forensic investigation of the presidents sexual history. If thats where all this ends up, Democrats are likely to regret it. Yes, this is a lot of ifs all strung in a row. Unfortunately, none of them can be resolved until Mueller speaks, revealing the extent of the possible allegations. About the only thing thats certain right now is that the next year is going to be one of the uglier, angrier entries in the annals of American history. This column is dedicated to issues of crime and justice. But this time of year, it seems out of place to talk about murders, wrongful convictions, child abuse, the scourge of drugs and all the other topics I usually opine about in this space. Because this is the pre-Christmas season, Id like this column to be about families with children all families even if they dont look like yours. This is also a column about meaningful journalism. The Marshall Project, which also focuses its publication on crime and justice topics, recently ran a deep-dive look into the unintended consequences of The Adoption and Safe Families Act. What their reporters found was disturbing. A bit of background about the legislation. It was passed in 1997 and requires any child held in foster care for more than 15 months be put up for adoption. The idea behind the act, which is still in effect today, was to strip unworthy parents of their parental rights and place their vulnerable children into a stable home as soon as possible. Up until that point courts had followed a 1980 dictum to make all reasonable efforts to reunite children with their biological families, oftentimes without regard to whether that was really the best or safest place for the child. The 1997 act gives incentives to states that increase their adoption numbers. For each child adopted above the previous years number the state gets $4,000. The amount goes up to $6,000 for each adoptee who is older or physically or emotionally disabled. This award is a mighty inducement to states that seek ways to reduce their foster care costs. So far the feds have given out more than $630 million in bonuses. The unintended consequence of the Adoption and Safe Families Act hit incarcerated parents particularly hard since get-tough sentencing often results in prison terms longer than the adoption trigger point of 15 months. Single mothers with no relatives to take their children are affected most often, although fathers rights have been revoked, too. For these people it is a double whammy a prison term plus the pain of losing their children. There is a lot of talk these days about the Trump administrations family separation policies at the U.S. Mexican border. There is next to no discussion about the family separation policy that has been going on for more than 20 years right here at home. Now, you might say that any parent who gets themselves sentenced to prison is unworthy of consideration. But youd be surprised at some of the back stories of those who have lost the right to see their children after being convicted of even minor crimes. The Marshall Projects in-depth investigation into this problem begat an article titled How Incarcerated parents Are Losing Their Children Forever and included heart-wrenching personal stories. One North Carolina woman with four children wrote bad checks and fraudulently applied for federal disaster relief after Hurricane Floyd destroyed her trailer home. She did it just to get by, she said, and had never faced any child abuse or neglect charges. Her oldest child went to live with her father while her three toddlers were adopted out. The woman was banned from seeing them again. I know what I did was wrong, and I had to pay the price for my actions, she said. But this is the most extreme price there is. Losing parental rights has happened to thousands of parents and has become almost routine. A Philadelphia woman, sentenced to just under 15 months for receiving stolen property, had to shout from the back of the courtroom at a judge who was just about to terminate her parental rights, (Their) mother is sitting right here! Im here! She got to keep her children. After the Marshall Project analyzed some 3 million child welfare cases from across the country, members realized a most startling fact: incarcerated parents who have not been accused of neglecting, abusing or endangering their children or even drug or alcohol abuse are more likely to have their parental rights yanked than those who have physically or sexually assaulted their children. Imagine, someone who has sexually abused their own kid has a better chance of maintaining their rights as a parent than someone who forged a few checks. It is a fact that some people should never have children. They are not equipped, not responsible enough, and some are simply career criminals. Their offspring should be given a better chance at life through adoption. But something is clearly wrong with the bigger picture. Laws get passed, laws get enforced, and when we clearly see the flaws in those laws it is imperative that the situation be fixed. An incarcerated parents bill of rights is expected to be introduced in Congress soon by Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisc. It should be passed for the sake of these children who deserve to have a relationship with their parents. www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com. Fired former FBI Director James Comey is at it again. Last week, Comey testified before members of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In a single appearance, Comey, on 245 separate occasions, while under oath, stonewalled questions with I dont know, I dont remember or I dont recall, according to a congressional interrogator, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. If any private citizen tried Comeys gambit with federal IRS auditors or FBI investigators, he would likely be indicted for perjury or obstruction. Why did Comey, the nations former top-ranking federal investigator, avoid telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth while under oath? The answer is, unfortunately, obvious. Comey has been called to testify before members of Congress on numerous occasions. He has written a long book and gone on an extensive book tour, and his paper trail is long. He tweets almost daily and is often on television and in those venues never seems to admit to any memory lapse. And Comey has been at the center of every major scandal involving the 2016 election. In other words, Comey is realizing that almost anything he might say will likely be at odds with something he has said, done or written prior and could potentially subject him to perjury charges. So, Comey dodges and hedges. Oddly, Comey has long posed as a modern-day Jeremiah. He thunders almost daily about the moral lapses of his perceived antagonists mostly Donald Trump, the Trump administration and the Republican Party that Comey left. Comey has tweeted under the pseudonym Reinhold Niebuhr the celebrated 20th-century German-American theologian and ethicist. Comey apparently wishes to remind us of their similar moral insight. Comeys memoir is grandly entitled A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. He writes to remind readers of his sterling character, which has always guided his career. Most recently, the self-righteous Comey said that the interim attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, is not very bright. What is odd about the professed ethics of the sanctimonious Comey is that his assertions are belied by his own often-unethical conduct. The Justice Departments inspector general criticized Comey in a report for acting unprofessionally in his investigation of Hillary Clintons illicit private email server, improperly assuming the role of both investigator and prosecutor. Comey concluded, then opened, and then again concluded the Clinton email case at public press conferences in the midst of a presidential campaign. He drafted an exoneration of Clinton before he had even interviewed her or her top aides. Comeys testimony about FBI leaks to the press is at odds with his sworn statements from his former deputy, Andrew McCabe. Comey met with President Trump on several occasions and ensured him that he was not the subject of an FBI investigation amid mysterious leaks to the press that Trump was, in fact, part of the probe. Speaking of leaks, Comey made sure that his memos about his meetings with President Trump were leaked to the press. Comey said his bizarre behavior was designed to force the appointment of a special counsel, which resulted in the selection of Robert Mueller, a former FBI director and a longtime Comey acquaintance. A number of high-ranking FBI officials during Comeys tenure have either been fired, forced to resign, retired or were reassigned in some cases resulting from accusations of improper conduct or bias. McCabe was assigned by Comey to oversee the Clinton email scandal even though just months earlier, McCabes wife had run for a seat in the Virginia state senate with the help of nearly $500,000 in campaign contributions from a political action committee associated with the Clintons. Comeys FBI is largely responsible for the prominence and the leaking of the notorious dossier compiled by Christopher Steele. Yet Comey did not reveal to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that requests for warrants to conduct surveillance on a member of the Trump administration were based on an unverified dossier. The court was never informed that the dossier was funded in part by the Hillary Clinton campaign. Nor was the court informed that Steele, a British citizen, had been dropped as an FBI source for leaking to the press. Comey also misled the court by presenting news stories as proof of alleged Trump-Russian collusion, even though those stories were based on the contents of the unverified Steele dossier. There has been no explanation from Comey about why, when, where and how the FBI used an informant in hopes of gaining damaging information against Trump. Comeys sanctimoniousness and misdeeds pose lots of questions. Is Comey a mere hypocrite? Or in guilt does he project his sins onto others? Or does he by design pose as a moralist to help insulate himself from future legal jeopardy? Or all of the above? E-mail authorvdh@gmail.com. The 60-day legislative session in Santa Fe is still a few weeks away, but lawmakers are already crafting laws New Mexico residents will need to keep an eye on. Among the proposed bills is a massive omnibus crime package being crafted by Democratic state Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas and Republican Sen. Sander Rue. Their proposal would touch on a host of crime initiatives. The bills are still in development and, as with all legislation, the devil will be in the details. And it bears noting that although pieces passed both chambers last session, they were vetoed by the governor and her rationale is worth examining. That said, several parts of the bill look promising: The pre-prosecution diversion piece would add flexibility to put nonviolent offenders into probation-like programs with drug testing and other conditions, giving defendants an incentive as they avoid indictment upon completion. An expanded good Samaritan law would extend immunity to those on probation or parole to report an overdose. The requirement for a needs and risk assessment on probation or parole violators because of a failed drug test or technical violation would replace an automatic trip back to prison. This should apply to first violations, not repeats. The provision allowing prisoners to request a DNA test if their convictions did not involve one. All need to be crafted so they are not easily abused and dont overburden the states already taxed judicial system. All need a careful fiscal impact report. And victims deserve equal time with these defendant-centric proposals. While the bill would expand eligibility for who can apply for state crime victim compensation, lawmakers need to balance the needs of all in the legal system. To that end, they should consider prior legislation to see what deserves another look: Lawmakers still havent passed a bill that does away with the statute of limitations on second-degree murder. Last year a bill that would have stiffened child-abuse penalties made it illegal to show a child photos of anyones private parts and added life in prison for intentional child abuse resulting in death regardless of childs age failed. The too-narrow Three Strikes Law has never been used. Lawmakers should finally expand it judiciously to target the worst repeat offenders. A return-to-work law would get more law enforcement officers on the street. Recent iterations protected state pensions yet died in the Roundhouse. One-time monies for data-driven crime mapping advancements in the Second Judicial District Attorneys Office the states busiest need to be re-upped for that important work to really bear fruit. Then there are the organized gangs who steal $499 in merchandise to face a misdemeanor; out-of-control auto theft; rampant theft of wire and metal that burdens businesses and puts people in danger; and the ongoing need to address the root causes of crime, poverty, homelessness, etc., in a coordinated way that delivers results in the form of improved lives and livelihoods. Maestas, an attorney, said the overarching goal is to combat crime, and an omnibus bill sends a strong message to the people of New Mexico that crime is our top priority. It will, if it balances victims needs with defendants and is worded carefully to avoid unintended consequences. Battling crime has to be a top priority of the legislative class of 2019 but each piece, separate or combined, must be well-thought-out before becoming law. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. After the shock of Jennifer Riordans death faded to ache, after the condolences and the crowds thinned, after thinking about that funny snort she made when she laughed was almost bearable, her husband was left to wonder what came next. Five days after the popular 43-year-old Albuquerque banking executive, bright light and mother of two died April 17 in a bizarre accident aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1380, Michael Riordan stood on the Popejoy Hall stage and told the near-capacity crowd that his wifes wonderful life was to be celebrated, not mourned, and that her kindness should live on in each of them including him. The love in the room, he gushed. I just want to keep this going for a long time. The memorial had kept him busy. It had kept him buoyed. Days after the service, he busied himself with how best to use the thousands of dollars in donations that had poured in from around the world in Jennifers name. Knowing the impact Jennifer had on this community, how much of a hero she was for this community, we knew we needed to do something good with this money, he said. One of those donations came in a letter from a child, a little boy, with $2 in it, and I knew that every single dollar had to go back to this community. In September, he handed out $50,000 from the Jennifer Riordan Memorial Trust to seven local nonprofits that focus on the four areas most important to her financial literacy, childhood education, womens empowerment and Albuquerque vitality. And then it was back to wondering what came next. He thought about what Jennifer used to say her mantra, a lesson she had taught her children: Always be kind, loving, caring and sharing. And he knew what came next. Today, Albuquerque will, too. During the New Mexico Bowl, Michael Riordan and members of the Jennifer Riordan Foundation will introduce the Spark Kindness campaign, which challenges Albuquerque residents to commit to a goal of 1 million acts of kindness. The acts are to be logged through a Spark Kindness app, which also officially launches today. Jennifer loved this community and believed in the goodness of its people, Michael Riordan said. She wanted Albuquerque to be known as the kindness capital, and she did so much to make that happen with her vibrancy, passion and love of philanthropy. Riordan said participants should use the app to describe kindness they see or carry out anything from opening a door to donating time to a homeless shelter with as much detail or as briefly as they please. They can also download photos of the act with the app. He encourages families, organizations and businesses to use the app to spark their own kindness challenges. Every act counts, he said. This should become a revolution. The announcement will be accompanied by a video honoring Jennifers life. In addition, the foundation has chosen five Albuquerque-area schools with special ties to Jennifer whose classrooms will compete for a $1,000 grant per school by documenting the most acts of kindness from now until June 15. The schools are Inez, Emerson and Carlos Rey elementary schools; Eisenhower Middle School; and Independence High School in Rio Rancho. The Spark Kindness campaign is the revitalization of a project begun by Michael Riordans former boss, then-Mayor Richard Berry, and the mayors Youth Advisory Council. That project, called ABQ Kindness, reached about 500,000 acts of kindness before it faded away as Berrys time as mayor and Riordans time as his chief operations officer came to an end in 2017. Preparing and promoting the Spark Kindness campaign has been a labor of love for Riordan, but its also been a way to cope with losing the love of his life, a woman with the biggest heart who stole his when they were both teenagers growing up in Vermont. Everybody out there deals with grief in their lives, he said. Our familys tragedy was very public. There are these big moments like the celebration of life and the first round of giving out grants, and you feel great. But the next day, you are just crushed. Some days, I just want to crawl into a ball. But you cant wallow in that. Jennifer, he said, would never go for that. When someone lives so well and loves so much, the world she leaves behind seems especially dark and empty without her. Its only when those she loves learn how to let her light and her legacy continue to shine that the darkness lifts and the way forward becomes clear. And so you look for that spark that illuminated her life. For Jennifer, that was kindness. It feels wonderful, this campaign, like its something she would support me doing, he said. Like shes telling me Im doing a good job. Like the darkness is lifting, at least enough to see what comes next. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Spark Kindness The Spark Kindness app is free and available at the App Store and Google Play. For information on the Jennifer Riordan Foundation: The Spark Kindness app is free and available at the App Store and Google Play.For information on the Jennifer Riordan Foundation: jrsparkle.org , JRiordanABQ on Facebook and on Twitter. Last call for angels This weekend is the deadline to submit nominations to our 10th annual Angels Among Us, which honors those unsung citizens who brighten the community with their selfless acts of kindness. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Jessica Kelleys attorney says a statement by the District Attorneys Office early this week sought to shift blame for the mishandling of the Victoria Martens homicide investigation from the state to his client. In a motion filed Wednesday, defense attorney Mark Earnest asks a judge to impose sanctions as severe as case dismissal against the state for once again purposefully generating pretrial publicity derogatory to Ms. Kelley and prejudicial to her right to a fair trial. Prosecutors in a response asked the court to deny the motion, which they say mischaracterizes the statement released by the DAs Office. Kelley is facing charges in the death of the 10-year-old girl who prosecutors now say was killed by an unknown man while Kelley baby-sat. She is set for trial Jan. 7 on charges including murder. The motion comes after local media, including the Journal, published stories this week based on a statement by DAs Office spokesman Michael Patrick. The spokesman wrote that the investigation into an unidentified fourth suspect in the case had stalled in the absence of Jessica Kelleys continued cooperation following the District Courts rejection of her plea agreement. Kelley had been set to plead guilty in September to child abuse resulting in death and lesser charges, but the agreement was rejected by Judge Charles Brown, who determined there was not enough evidence that she was guilty of one of the crimes she had agreed to admit to. Earnest also argued in Wednesdays motion that the DA made comments to reporters around that time that were calculated to shift blame to the court for his offices failings. But the carefully worded statement released Monday, Earnest said, was intended to imply that Ms. Kelley knows who John Doe is and that John Doe has not been apprehended, or perhaps never will, because Ms. Kelley is supposedly not cooperating with the state. Prosecutor Greer Rose wrote in a response that the DAs Office released a factual statement of the events in this case that led to a reduction in police resources dedicated to this investigation. She said it was sent in response to a media inquiry and was not a comment on Kelleys silence, nor did it blame her for any stall in investigation. It instead shows that she tried to cooperate but was unable to for reasons beyond her control. Earnest has requested a hearing on the motion, at which he said he intends to subpoena the spokesman to testify about the creation and release to the press of the statement from the District Attorneys Office. He wrote that New Mexicos rules of professional conduct prohibit lawyers and their employees from making extrajudicial statements such as this, particularly on the eve of a criminal trial. The egregiousness of the states misconduct, Earnest says, merits dismissal of the case. Alternatively, he said, the court should consider monetary sanctions and an order blocking the state from speaking to reporters about the case through the trial, among other things. Rose wrote that the DAs Offices comments were limited and tailored to inform the public of developments in the investigation and nothing else. The DAs Office has not made any statements relating to the facts of defendants case and has specifically refrained from doing so during the course of this litigation, she wrote. A hearing has not been scheduled. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY, Idaho A nuclear test reactor that can melt uranium fuel rods in seconds is running again after a nearly quarter-century shutdown as U.S. officials try to revamp a fading nuclear power industry with safer fuel designs and a new generation of power plants. The reactor at the U.S. Energy Departments Idaho National Laboratory has performed 10 tests on nuclear fuel since late last year. If were going to have nuclear power in this country 20 or 30 years from now, its going to be because of this reactor, said J.R. Biggs, standing in front of the Transient Test Reactor he manages that in short bursts can produce enough energy to power 14 million homes. The reactor was used to run 6,604 tests from 1959 to 1994, when it was put on standby as the United States started turning away from nuclear power amid safety concerns. Restarting it is part of a strategy to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by generating carbon-free electricity with nuclear power initiated under the Obama administration and continuing under the Trump administration, despite Trumps downplaying of global warming. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 98 nuclear reactors at 59 power plants produce about 20 percent of the nations energy. Most of the reactors are decades old, and many are having a tough time competing economically with other forms of energy production, particularly cheaper gas-fired power plants. Some nuclear plants have closed in recent years, and Illinois, New York and New Jersey have approved subsidies in the past two years to bail out commercial nuclear plants. Officials in some areas are considering carbon taxes on coal and natural gas to boost nuclear power. U.S. officials hope to improve nuclear powers prospects. They face two main challenges: making the plants economically competitive and changing public perception among some that nuclear power is unsafe. Biggs said Japans Fukushima nuclear disaster, caused by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, was a primary reason U.S. officials restarted the test reactor in Idaho. The cores of three reactors at the Japan plant suffered meltdowns after cooling systems failed. But what if, researchers say, nuclear plants produced energy with accident-tolerant fuels in reactors designed to safely shut themselves down in an emergency? Thats where the Idaho labs test reactor comes in. Dan Wachs, who directs the labs fuel safety research program, said only three other reactors with fuel testing abilities exist in France, Japan and Kazakhstan. He said none can perform the range of experiments that can be done at the Idaho labs Transient Test Reactor, also called TREAT. The world is suffering from a very acute shortage of testing that TREAT fills, he said. At the Idaho test reactor, pencil-sized pieces of fuel rods supplied by commercial manufacturers are inserted into the reactor that can generate short, 20-gigawatt bursts of energy. Workers perform tests remotely from about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) away. The strategy is to test the fuels under accident conditions, including controlled and contained meltdowns, to eventually create safer fuels. The tiny fuel rods, including those that melt, are sent to the labs Hot Fuel Examination Facility, where workers behind 4 feet (1.2 meters) of leaded glass examine them. Additional work is done a short walk away at the Irradiated Materials Characterization Lab, where powerful microscopes can examine the fuel at the atomic level. Wachs and his team of about 15 scientists get the results and consult with both the fuel manufacturer and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which licenses nuclear fuel. The 890-square-mile (2,300-square-kilometer) Energy Department site that holds the test reactor, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Idaho Falls, also is the proposed location for an energy cooperatives small modular reactors. The small reactors are intended to be economically competitive and safer than current reactor designs. Because theyre modular, additional reactors can be built as energy demands in a region increase, reducing initial construction costs. While the Idaho lab looks to the future, the sprawling Energy Department site in Idahos high desert sagebrush also contains some of the nations nuclear past. The core from Pennsylvanias Three Mile Island nuclear plant was buried there after it underwent a partial meltdown in 1979 in one of the nations worst nuclear mishaps. The Three Mile Island facility still produces energy, but its owner has said it will shut it down in 2019 unless Pennsylvania comes to its financial rescue. Besides economics and safety, another problem for nuclear energy is what to do with the radioactive spent fuel rods. The U.S. has no permanent repository for about 77,000 tons (70,000 metric tons), stored mainly at the commercial nuclear power plants where they were used to produce electricity. Idaho won federal court battles in 1990s to prevent the Energy Departments Idaho site from becoming a repository for spent fuel and other nuclear waste. Other states dont want it either. I think the Idaho National Laboratory is more optimistic about the future of nuclear energy than is warranted, said Beatrice Brailsford of the Snake River Alliance, an Idaho-based nuclear watchdog group. Still, nuclear energy has been identified by U.S. officials as having a key role in reducing the nations greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear is a primary way to get there, said Wachs. Its really the only way to get there. Valerie Bustamante is staff writer for the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail her at valerie.bustamante@seguingazette.com. CHICO, Calif. - 200 people turned out Thursday evening for a Camp Fire Firefighter Appreciation Dinner in Chico. One of the messages they heard was a videotaped Thank You from Action Star and Martial Arts Expert Chuck Norris, who called them heroes. The message brought a round of applause. Several volunteers and businesses joined forces to host the dinner, including Broadway Pawn Owner Teri DuBose, The Palms Owner Rabina Kahn, Northern California National Bank, The Terraces and Interstate Oil among others. The event was held at The Palms. Assemblyman James Gallager and State Senator Jim Nielsen were among the speakers who expressed appreciation for the life-saving efforts of firefighters during the deadly fire. Representatives from the Paradise Town Council, Chico City Council and Butte County Supervisors were also on hand. In addition to dinner, the firefighters also received handmade quilts delivered to the Annie's Star Quilt Guild, made by quilters across the country. Appreciation dinners are also planned for police, teachers and nurses. The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Aiming to inspire air travelers to not settle for second best, Vistara, Indias finest full-service carrier, today announced its new high-decibel multimedia brand campaign dubbed Fly Higher. The Fly Higher campaign builds on Vistaras brand promise, which is to make people look forward to flying again, and to expect the same level of class, quality, and attention to detail in the air as they expect in their other career, lifestyle, and travel choices. Conceptualized by Vistaras creative agency FCB India, the creative concept of the brand campaign is based on wide-ranging customer insights suggesting that discerning customers today are not willing to settle for less than the best. Successful Indians of all ages today live a life of a certain standard they choose offbeat and challenging careers, create their own success stories, dine at fine restaurants, wear the best brands, pick uncommon holiday destinations, stay in the most stylish hotels, and expect the best quality and service in everything they select, but when it comes to flying, there is generally a compromise to select basis simply the fare, in the absence of compelling reasons to select basis additional attributes. Vistara challenges this by giving flyers a reason to select their airline too with the same discerning eye to quality and customer experience: Why settle for second best when you can fly the best? Fly Higher is an extension of Vistaras tagline Fly the new Feeling. Vistara offers travellers a flying experience like no other, thereby taking flying to the next level. As stated in the text that accompanies the inaugural campaign ad: Smart was never for you. You went for smarter. Your rides became faster. Your tastes became finer. Your holidays turned grander. But when it comes to flying, why settle for the same old standard? Come aboard Vistara, where we have taken flying to the next level. Where the seats are plusher, the music nicer, the food tastier, the coffee smoother, the welcome warmer, and the entire experience classier. The new integrated campaign is scheduled to go on-air on 14th December 2018 and will run for approximately 75 days from the launch. The campaign will be deployed across multiple platforms including digital, TV, cinema print and outdoor, aiming to target the diverse range of travelers. Commeting on the new brand campaign, Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, Vistara said, At Vistara, we deliver a flying experience like no other airline in India. Our frequent flyers know this and tell us we have really made flying something they can look forward to again. We want to bring this message to a larger audience through this new campaign. You have a choice of airlines when it comes to flying why not choose the one that aims higher, treats you better, and continues to find new ways to delight customers? Good enough is not good enough for the corporate high flyers and successful millennials of today, why not choose an airline that thinks like you do, that understands you and respects your needs? Why not Fly Higher? Note: While most media is using "HULK HURT!" headlines to report on actor Lou Ferrigno's hospitalization as a result of a pneumonia vaccine injury, I decided to go with a straight forward headline, no mention of his most famous role. Why? Because vaccine injury is a real phenomenon that strikes and strikes down real people. Like the man, Lou Ferrigno, who happened to play The Hulk 30 years ago. Or my daughter Mia, who turns 24 years old today. When a child is injured, the media calls us parents morons looking to blame someone, something, anything. I am glad to see the reporting on this injury. While fluid in the bicep is probably not life threatening, any American hospitalization costs significant time and money. And what better place to catch a disease, maybe even pneumonia. Makes me see.... green. (Yeah, I had to go there. ;) ) ### Even the Hulk isn't invincible. "The Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno was hospitalized this week after he claimed a pneumonia vaccine was administered to him improperly. "Went in for a pneumonia shot and landed up here with fluid in my bicep," the 67-year-old former bodybuilder captioned a photo of himself with an IV in Providence St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday. Read more here. A new report in Nature News tells of the continuing row between scientists from the University of Padua and the Italian National Order of Biologists (ONB) who have donated 10,000 to CORVELVA - an organization that has campaigned for vaccine freedom since 1993 - to investigate the safety of vaccines have so far collected 50,00o towards this project. The Paduan scientists evidently do not want their work double-checked! Earlier this year a study commissioned by CORVELVA found that five out of seven vaccines they investigated were non-compliant with manufacturing standards including three vaccines manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline: Priorix Tetra (GSK's MMR brand), Infanrix and PolioInfanrix. In October Vincenzo D'Anna of the ONB told the Corriere de Veneto that GSK had given the University of Padua 150,00o in the last three years. GSK have also been at the heart of political mistrust over vaccines and mandates in Italy since a pharmaceutical journal reported an interview with the boss of GSK Italy, Daniele Finocchiaro: "Recently I accompanied our global CEO, Andrew Witty, to Matteo Renzi. The premier told us clearly that he considers - and rightly so - the pharmaceutical sector as strategic for Italy. Further, he said that the pharmaceutical is precisely the future of our country ... I then met also Minister Lorenzin and other members of the government who reiterated the sensitivity of the government to those who invest, create jobs and opportunities for young people. So we started on the right foot. To find such sensitivity in Roman palaces is not to be discounted. As for us, Andrew Witty asked few things: certain rules and stability in the face of very strong investments in advanced research and production equipment. We understood each other." A lot of scientists are now giving "science" a bad name. The article in Nature by Giorgia Guglielmi also reports: "The Italian Senates health committee is currently debating two bills that would change the 2017 mandatory-vaccine law. One, introduced by Lega senator Paolo Arrigoni, would scrap the requirement to provide proof of vaccination. The other, introduced by Five Star Movement senator Stefano Patuanelli, calls for obligatory vaccinations only in areas where vaccination rates are low, or in cases of epidemics. If approved by the Senates health committee, the bills would then have to be voted on by the Senate and the House before they become law." Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Birminghams family of cocktail bars has a new addition. Paper Doll, located in the Magic Citys Loft District, is set to have its grand opening Dec. 14 and 15. The plush new bar is in the former Tavern on 1st space in the Raymond Rose building. Co-owner Joel Cheatwood and his family bought the lease from Tavern on 1st in December 2017. While they have completely redesigned the bar with a luxurious and vintage feel--- fabric couches with tables and chairs now line the walls, replacing the former bars booths and wooden tables-- co-owner Jason Koenig says the family wanted to continue the Tavern on 1st reputation of attention to cocktails. A selection of signature cocktails at Paper Doll " Many people agree that {Tavern on 1st} had some of the best cocktails in the city. So what we want to do is create a space that matched the quality of the cocktails. And hopefully weve done that. Its still in the design stage, but Paper Dolls final menu will be 20 pages. The bar boasts an ambitious beverage program of signature, seasonal, and classic cocktails. The collaborative menu was designed by some of the citys best bartenders, spearheaded by bartender Ryan Abrams. Koenig calls the program a labor of love. It covers all of the classics and all of the spirits from hot drinks to cold drinks and Italian liqueur drinks. We make a lot of our own bitters and syrups. We're going to have an ice program, said Koenig. So theres even attention to detail on the ice. We're going to hand cut ice. The Violet is one of Paper Doll's signature cocktails, made with Brooker's dry gin, creme de violette, and Fentiman's tonic (PHOTO: Kristin Greene) For the non-cocktail drinker, there is a full section of beers and wines, and even a specially crafted tea for those who choose not to imbibe. The bar has light fare, including cheese flights and charcuterie. There is also a chocolate flight-- an assortment of chocolates curated by Birminghams own artistinal chocolatier, Chocolata. Of course, patrons who wish to order the simpler mixed drinks, like Jack Daniels and coke, will be able to do so. But the Paper Doll experience, says Cheatwood, is dedicated to the beauty and art of craft cocktails. The Sgt. Pepper, made with Broker's dry gin, firewater tincture, orgeat syrup, lime juice, and pineapple juice That's the attention to detail part we're doing. Its all about the experience of making an amazing cocktail. Watching a bartender that's an artisan. That's really the focus of what we are. It's a craft cocktail bar and we built the experience around that for sure. Cheatwoods family has crafted that experience down to the interior design. Paper Doll is a far cry from the industrial chic style of some of its modern counterparts. The exposed brick wall behind the bar is one of the few remnants of Tavern on 1st. The former wooden bar surface is now white marble. Chandeliers and plush velvet curtains hang from the ceiling. In the front, patrons are now greeted by art and vintage furniture. The interior, while smaller, is cozy and inviting. I think due to the nature of us getting older, we're not really into the crowded bumping elbows and fighting for a drink, said Koenig, laughing. We really wanted to create a space that's comfortable and kind of felt like you were just having a drink in your living room, but maybe more like a sophisticated boutique hotel. A chandelier at Paper Doll Cheatwood and Koenigs mission was to make Paper Doll as unique as possible to downtown Birmingham. To them, the space needed to be a reflection of Alabama. In addition to using Alabama-based distilleries and locally-sourced produce, they also recruited Birmingham interior designer Andrew Brown, whose vision Koenig describes as brilliant. The design also includes local fabrics and the work of Alabama artists. In the lobby hangs a portrait by William Mclure. The final beverage menu will have botanical sketches from artist Lindsey Porter. The interior of Paper Doll cocktail bar (PHOTO: Kristin Greene) More of the bars perks: happy hour from Tuesday to Thursday with $5 select cocktail and house wines. There will also be valet on weekends. For parties, patrons can reserve a private room in the back. Cheatwoods mission is for Paper Doll to become part of the creativity thats blossoming downtown. He says the cocktail bars concept fits perfectly into the Loft District. "There's going to be even more of a groundswell in downtown Birmingham and we need a variety of places for people to go. And we just felt like this atmosphere was missing. Behind the bar at Paper Doll For Paper Doll, the timing is ripe, especially with a city thats emerging from the shadows of breweries and expanding its cocktail palate. The Collins, which laid a lot of groundwork for downtown Birminghams cocktail bars, is a city favorite. The Magic Citys cocktail bars are also starting to get more national recognition. Less than a mile down 1st Ave, N., The Atomic Lounge was a semi-finalist for this years James Beard Awards. Two new cocktail bars also opened the latter half of this year: Pilcrow Cocktail Center opened in August. Queens Park, from award-winning bartender Laura Newman and Larry Mudd Townley, opened in September. Newman, who moved to Birmingham in 2017 from New York, was the first woman to win the U.S. Bartenders Guild World Class Competition, one of the worlds most prestigious bartending competitions. Now, its up to Paper Doll to secure its space in Birminghams evolving cocktail culture, as it presents its luxurious decor and signature beverage program to a curious city that will always have a thirst for the classics. Koenig says Paper Doll is up to that challenge. Signature cocktails at Paper Doll: (L-R) Sgt. Pepper, The Violet, Jack Rose, Irish Coffee, Mafia Peach, and the Miami Spice Pina Colada One of our best sellers is the Basil Smash. And I hear all the time that we have one of the best Old Fashioneds that people will ever experience. Which is a very simple, classic cocktail, said Koenig. And so I think when you can do that right, youre doing a good job. Paper Doll will host its grand opening on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15. Paper Doll is located at 2320 1st Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-close. For more information go to https://paperdollbar.com/. - Bishop Robert J. Baker, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, today released the names of six priests accused of sexual abuse of minors in its files. The priests named were ministering in this diocese when they committed these deplorable acts, Baker said. What they did, not only to the victims themselves but their families and friends, is inexcusable. Here are the names: Charles V. Cross (died in 2010) Cross was removed from ministry in 1985 and forced to retire without privileges in 2002. John J. (Jack) Ventura Ventura was removed from ministry after allegations received in 1985. Charles Bordenca (died in 2017) Bordenca was removed from active ministry in the Birmingham diocese in 1989. Kevin Cooke Cooke was removed from ministry in 2002. Jonathan (John) Franklin (died in 1986) Franklin was removed from ministry in the mid-1980s. Roger Lott (died in 2011) Lott was removed from ministry in 1997. We will not tolerate such sexual abuse, Baker said. We condemn it. We will continue to remain vigilant. The Diocese of Birmingham was established Dec. 9, 1969, and before that all the Catholic churches in north and central Alabama were part of the Archdiocese of Mobile. The Archbishop of Mobile released the names of accused clergy in that diocese last week. Some of the names of the accused priests in the Birmingham diocese have previously been published by The Birmingham News when they were released by the previous bishop, Bishop David E. Foley. A candlelight vigil will be held at 5 p.m. today for the family of Emantic Fitzgerald E.J. Bradford Jr., who was shot to death by police during a shooting incident Thanksgiving night at the Riverchase Galleria mall in Hoover. The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP is organizing the vigil, which will be in the parking lot of the Galleria adjacent to Sears. The shooting incident happened just before 10 p.m. on the second floor of the Galleria. Hoover police said an argument between several young men led to gunfire. Brian Wilson, 18, was wounded. A bystander, Molly Davis, 12, was also shot and was treated at Childrens Hospital and later released. Police initially said Bradford was the shooter but later retracted that and apologized to his family. Bradford did have a gun during the incident, authorities have said. On Nov. 29, authorities arrested Erron Martez Dequan Brown, 20, in Georgia. He is charged with shooting Wilson. Browns lawyer said Brown is not guilty. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the shooting. On Thursday, Attorney General Steve Marshall announced his office would handle the case in collaboration with ALEA. Marshalls decision sparked additional objections from those leading the protests over the death of Bradford, who was 21. Bradfords death and the aftermath has sparked numerous protests about the way authorities have handled the tragedy. Authorities have not released video of the incident. Benjamin Crump, a lawyer representing Bradfords family, said a brief portion of video he saw indicated that Bradford was shot three times from behind. Thats consistent with findings in a private medical review of Bradfords body conducted for the family, Crump said. This story was edited at 5:11 p.m. to say that the Alabama NAACP is organizing the vigil. Authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped from the Elba Work Release Center Friday afternoon. Terrance Leon Couch escaped the Elba Work Release Center around 3:40 p.m. Friday, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Couch is a 36-year-old black male. He stands 5-feet-7-inches tall and weighs about 154 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He also has tattoos including the initials IDG with two pitch forks and the number 666, ADOC officials said. He was last seen wearing all white clothing. Couch was serving a 2-year sentence on a third-degree burglary conviction from Coffee County, officials said. Anyone who knows where he is should contact your local law enforcement agency or the ADOC at 1-800-831-8825. A Huntsville man could face decades in prison after being convicted on two felony charges in a deadly triple shooting. A Madison County jury on Friday found Brian Andre Simpson guilty of manslaughter and first-degree assault. Madison County Circuit Judge Allison Austin scheduled sentencing Feb. 21, 2019. Simpson is held in the Madison County jail with bail set at $500,000 cash only. Im relieved were going to keep a killer off the street, said Assistant District Attorney Shauna Barnett. Defense attorney Marie Crissone said Simpson, 39, will appeal the convictions. She declined further comment. When the trial began Tuesday, Simpson was charged with murder, attempted murder and first-degree assault. The jury convicted on lesser charges of manslaughter and first-degree assault, while the prosecutor dropped an initial assault charge. The trial took a bizarre turn when Barnett dumped the assault charge that was tied to the gunshot wound suffered by one trial witness, Montez Holt. Barnett said Holt wasnt being forthcoming and honest when he told the jury he couldnt remember what happened and who was at the scene of the shootings. Im done with Montez (Holt) as a victim, Barnett told the jury during closing arguments. She said Holt wanted Simpson to be acquitted so they could resolve the shooting with street justice. Holt, 31, has more than 20 prior arrests and numerous convictions, court records show. Barnett said Holt has been injured in shootings multiple times. This building is not Montez Holts version of justice, Barnett said. You solve things on the street in Montez Holt world. Attempts to reach Holt for comment werent successful. During her closing statements, Crissone said Holt didnt have any reason to lie. The shootings happened March 31, 2017 at 3010 Brook Manor Drive in Huntsville. Ladarius Turner was 26 when he bled to death on the floor of a garage behind the home. He was shot three times in the back, neck and chest at close range, a medical examiner testified. Homeowner Cordarryl Toney suffered at least two gunshot wounds. He is paralyzed below the waist. Holt has recovered from his injuries, authorities said. The afternoon of the shootings, Holt and Toney were playing a video game in the garage. Toney and his friends often met in the garage to gamble, play games and more, prosecutors said. Turner was listening to music through headphones on a laptop. Trouble started when Simpson showed up with another man, who has yet to be identified and charged, prosecutors said. Barnett said the men were apparently seeking retribution for some kind of money or gambling dispute with Toney. Prosecutors said after a fight broke out between some of the men, Simpson and the unidentified suspect opened fire. Simpson and his accomplice fled the scene, according to testimony. Huntsville police were on the scene of the triple shooting at 3010 Brook Manor Drive on the evening of May 31, 2017. About a month after the deadly shooting, Simpson had been identified and was captured more than 200 miles from Huntsville in a Georgia city near Atlanta. Police in Conyers, Georgia were investigating a suspicious vehicle in a Motel 6 parking lot. Officers said they found Simpson with another suspect who was wanted in an unrelated California murder case. Both men gave false names to the officers, police said. Innocent people do not run and hide, Barnett told the Madison County jury this week. Guilty people run to Georgia and hide behind a false identity. Defense attorney Marie Crissone told the jury that Simpson didnt know he was wanted for murder when he went to Georgia. In her closing arguments, Crissone said prosecutors didnt have enough evidence to convict Simpson. The attorney questioned the lack of physical evidence, like DNA or fingerprints. She told the jury that the prosecution never found the murder weapon. No one really knows what happened in that garage, Crissone told the jury. She questioned whether Huntsville police Investigator Julian Johnson thoroughly probed the case. As for the unidentified suspect, Barnett said Johnson is still pursuing leads. She said once the suspect is captured, he, too, will be charged with murder. He does not give up, Barnett said of Investigator Johnson. He will not give up. Few details are available about the unidentified suspect. Witnesses described him as a dark-skinned, short Jamaican man. His street name may have been Jamaica, authorities said. Simpson faced up to two life sentences plus 20 years if convicted of murder, attempted murder and assault the crimes for which he was initially charged. Because the jury returned verdicts on lesser charges of manslaughter and assault, he faces up to 20 years in prison on each count. Barnett said Turners mother and other relatives are looking toward the sentencing date. They are appreciative of the jury, she said. Theyre moving on and waiting for February. A Montgomery County jury found a man accused of fatally stabbing a woman to death while they were riding in a car guilty of murder this week, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. Marcus Austin, 32, of Montgomery, was charged with stabbing 30-year-old Diamond Bethel 11 times while they were riding in a car on the evening of June 5, 2015. Bethel died from his injuries. According to witness testimony, Austin attacked Bethel while he was trapped and unarmed in the backseat of the moving car. Due to the hard work of our Violent Crime Team, the Montgomery Police Department, the witnesses and the jury, we were able to remove another violent offender from our community. Our community is tired of these senseless murders and it is my hope this conviction and the sentencing will reinforce the message that there are extreme consequences to violent actions, said District Attorney Daryl Bailey. Austin will be sentenced on Jan. 31. He is facing 20 years to life in prison, per Alabama law. Updated at 4:48 p.m. Dec. 16 to say Austin was convicted of murder. With revelations that our cell phones are constantly tracking and sharing our location, social media is consistently manipulating the information we are given, and that screens could be quickly degrading the brains of children, it seems like there are many important questions for tech companies to answer. However, when Congress hauled the Google CEO Sundar Pichai in for a hearing recently, many lawmakers seemed to only be able to ask questions about why rude things came up when they searched their names. Should we require our lawmakers to be digitally literate? PERSPECTIVES Members of the House of Representatives had the opportunity to question Google CEO Sundar Pichai about the myriad of ways the tech giant aids and manipulates modern life. Not only is the behemoth a major player in almost all aspects of modern life, the ways it functions are largely mysterious, even to those who work for the company, which leads to many concerns. Per New York Magazine: However, members of Congress seem to believe they are already well-informed about how the different internet technologies function. Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas felt confident enough in his knowledge of Google's inner workings to argue with Pichai. Yet, that confidence seems to be misplaced. Rep. Steve King asked Pichai -- again, the CEO of Google -- why a rude message about him popped up on his granddaughter's iPhone. Pichai reminded King he did not work for Apple. Not all members of Congress seemed confused about the way Google worked. Rep. Ted Lieu posited that "if you don't want negative search results, don't do negative things," pointing out the inanity of complaining to the CEO of Google about negative news. Knowing the ways tech companies work is becoming increasingly important. Technology has changed faster than legislation could possibly keep up. A recent bombshell New York Times investigation revealed that our cell phones are tracking our locations and sharing that information with businesses far more than most of us could imagine. According to Slate, several members of Congress did use their time during Pichai's hearing on more fruitful and important lines of questioning. 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. BALTIMORE (December 14, 2018)Khalil Ahmad, age 51, of Hanover, Maryland, pleaded guilty on December 12, 2018, to stalking his estranged wife. Ahmad admitted that he solicited another individual to have his wife killed after he violated protective orders she had obtained against him, but that he ultimately paid that individual to set her up to appear to be a terrorist and have her arrested instead. Ahmad further admitted that he paid the same individual to burn down the restaurant Ahmad owned in order for him to collect the insurance. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare. According to his plea agreement, Ahmad and the victim were married in July 2015. Before and after their marriage, the victim lived in Howard County, Maryland, and Ahmad lived separately in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. During their marriage, Ahmad threatened to kill the victim using a firearm. In April 2018, the victim informed Ahmad that she wanted a divorce. On April 24, 2018, Ahmad threatened to kill himself. He drove to the victim's residence, and in the presence of the victim and her children, poured gasoline over his body. Ahmad then produced a lighter and threatened to light himself on fire if the victim did not take him back. The next day, the victim obtained a temporary protective order in Howard County against Ahmad, which was served on April 25, 2018, and was effective through May 8, 2018. Ahmad violated the order by contacting the victim by mobile phone on April 29, and May 27, 2018, in Howard County. Ahmad also violated the order on April 30, 2018, by contacting the victim by mobile phone and by following the victim's vehicle as she drove in Prince George's County. Criminal summonses were issued in Howard County (two counts) and in Prince George's County (three counts) for violating a protective order. To further harass the victim and put her in fear of her life, Ahmad also contacted the victim's relatives, members of her religious community, and her ex-husband, and advised them that the victim was not a good person and that she was having a romantic relationship with another man; threatened to have the victim's brother killed in Pakistan; and threatened to have the victim killed if she returned to Pakistan, causing the victim to be afraid to visit her family in Pakistan. On May 8, 2018, the victim obtained a Final Protective Order from the Circuit Court for Howard County that remains in effect through May 7, 2019. The order directed Ahmad not to: abuse or threaten to abuse the victim; contact, attempt to contact, or harass the victim in person, in writing, or by any other means; or enter the residence of the victim. In addition, the order required Ahmad to stay away from the victim's place of employment. Ahmad admitted that beginning in May 2018, he solicited an individual (CW) to harass the victim. CW and Ahmad met several times, during which Ahmad expressed a desire to have his wife murdered. Ahmad subsequently decided to have the victim framed so that she would be arrested as a terrorist because she is from a Middle Eastern country. The plan was to place a ballistic vest, firearm, bottles of alcohol, and extremist jihad writings in her possession, without her knowledge, and then notify law enforcement to have her arrested. On May 10, 2018, following several discussions with Ahmad, CW reported Ahmad's plan to law enforcement. Thereafter, at the direction of and/or in the presence of law enforcement, CW's calls and meetings with Ahmad were recorded. Ahmad gave CW a total of $5,000 in cash over two separate meetings, as a down payment to have the victim set up to appear to be a terrorist. Ahmad also provided CW with a photo of the victim, her address, phone numbers, and the last two digits of her Maryland license plate number. Ahmad made numerous statements to CW that he wanted the victim arrested prior to his June 21 court date in Prince George's County for violating the protective order. If the victim were arrested, she could not testify, which would result in the court cases being dismissed. The recorded calls and meetings reflect that Ahmad also wanted CW to commit an arson at Ahmad's business (Allah Rakha Restaurant) so that Ahmad could collect the insurance payout from the fire. Ahmad advised CW that he recently had raised the amount of insurance on the restaurant by approximately $200,000. During one of their meetings, CW and Ahmad walked into the kitchen area of the restaurant to view the hot water heater and gas line, and discussed how CW would set the business on fire to make it look like an accident. On June 5, 2018, investigators staged a scene involving what appeared to be Anne Arundel County Police Department (AAPD) uniformed police officers and detectives searching the victim's vehicle on the side of a road. Photographs were taken of the victim's vehicle and provided to CW who then went to meet with Ahmad. CW showed Ahmad the staged photographs and told Ahmad that it was done. Ahmad told CW that he would pay $2,000 that day, but would pay the remaining $7,000 once Ahmad could verify that the victim had actually been arrested. Ahmad then drove to a bank, withdrew $2,000 in cash, and handed the money to CW. Later that same day, AAPD and FBI investigators went to Ahmad's residence to conduct a ruse, informing Ahmad that his wife had been arrested and asking Ahmad if investigators could talk to him about his wife. Ahmad told investigators that his wife had filed a protective order against him and retrieved the file he had in his home. Ahmad said that he had overheard his wife on the phone at night taking classes about terrorism over the phone and that his wife had attended a terrorist training camp. Ahmad agreed to meet with investigators at AAPD to talk more about his wife, her activities, and her possible associates. At the meeting at AAPD, an FBI Urdu-speaking linguist was present for the interview. Ahmad was provided his Miranda warnings and the FBI linguist translated for Ahmad. Ahmad spoke to investigators at length about his wife. Investigators then confronted Ahmad with recorded video of one of his meetings with CW, during which the two discussed the plot to kill his wife, the plan to set her up to look like a terrorist, and the scheme to burn down his restaurant. Ahmad stated that he wanted CW to make things hard for his wife and to engage in a romantic relationship with her. Ahmad falsely told investigators that the plot to kill his wife, to set her up to look like a terrorist, and the plan to burn down his restaurant were all CW's ideas. As a result of his guilty plea to the federal stalking charge, the Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and Prince George's County State's Attorney's Offices have agreed to dismiss their pending cases against Ahmad. Ahmad faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for stalking and is subject to removal from the United States upon completion of his sentence. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2019. United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Howard County Police Department, the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams; Howard County State's Attorney Dario Broccolino and Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy for their assistance in this prosecution. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Sandra Wilkinson, who are prosecuting the case. Women who sleep rough have no escape from sexual violence and struggle to deal with basic menstrual hygiene. Names marked with an asterisk* in this piece have been changed to protect the interviewees anonymity. Glasgow, Scotland Sitting under the railway bridge at Glasgow Central Station, Alison* watches the world go by as an ice-cold December night grips Scotlands largest city. Her eyes are sunken, her blonde hair matted, and her hands are calloused and caked with grime. As emphysema slowly takes its toll, her body is failing. At just 36, Alison* has been a rough sleeper on and off for more than 20 years. Homeless, roofless and almost forgotten, she exists only on the fringes of society. When I wake up in the morning, I need 20 fags [cigarettes] and a bottle of vodka just to get myself up and running, she said as distant shouts and the noise of traffic filled the air. Then I sit for the rest of the day, and then I try and get my head down and then I do it all over again. Its like groundhog day. Earlier this month, some 10,000 people staged the worlds biggest sleep-out in the Scottish cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee to aid and raise awareness of homelessness, which includes rough sleeping. In 2017-18, 2,682 individuals reported as having slept rough in Scotland at least once in the three months before registering as homeless. The true figure, say campaigners, is likely to be higher. It's not nice when you have your period as some places don't let you in to use the toilet. Sally, homeless woman and sexual abuse survivor Across the world, women rough sleepers face unique challenges living on the streets, and Scotland is no different. But many Scots are unaware of this dark underbelly of female existence where stories of sexual exploitation abound. Natalie Lee, a support worker for homeless charity Simon Community Scotland, said at 43, women have a lower life expectancy than men on the streets. Women on the streets face more complex challenges women are typically financially and sexually exploited by their male counterparts, she told Al Jazeera. They usually are able to fund their lifestyles by begging or prostitution, and this leaves them vulnerable to further violence and at risk of harm. They also face huge challenges in relation to their sanitary needs. Roughly 30 percent of rough sleepers in Glasgow are women [Alasdair Soussi/Al Jazeera] Alison, who is qualified as a hairdresser, told Al Jazeera that her hectic lifestyle, which has seen her sleep rough in towns and cities across Scotland and England, left her exposed to a sexual assault one night while she was staying at a Glasgow hostel for the homeless. I was in a hostel two years ago. Me and my man were lying in bed sleeping, and I got raped in my own bed next to my man, she said. Around the corner from Alison sits Barbara, who, propped up against a rubbish bin, is trying to keep warm as she tightly grips a hot coffee. She has been living on the streets for nine months after domestic violence saw her lose her accommodation. She whiles away the hours reading abandoned newspapers until tiredness forces her to find a safe place to bed down for the night. The 40-year-old mother-of-two said she is regularly approached and harassed by random men. I used to sleep in a doorway and I was chased round and round by a man once, and I got in and used some plywood, which I pulled across, explained the former drug addict. I could hear him raking about the bins. I never shook so much in my life. If he found me, I dont think Id be here today. Leanne has been sleeping rough for seven weeks and already faced sexual harassment [Alasdair Soussi/Al Jazeera] Charity worker Lee said women made up roughly 30 percent of rough sleepers in Glasgow. Historically, women [at risk of rough sleeping] will use creative ways as a means of avoiding sleeping on the street, she said. Women often choose to live in a chaotic environment, namely an unsavoury characters flat, as a means of self-preservation, she continued. Women are very street-wise using their mental strength to show little weakness to their male counterparts. Sally*, a drug addict, said she was raped after accepting an invitation from a man to go back to his flat. He offered me to have a bath at his place, said the 30-year-old, sat at a shopping precinct as her eyes glazed over from a recent heroin hit. But he wanted more than that he forced me to do all sorts. In November, the Scottish government published its Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan. The plan, seen by many charities as a world leader in the drive to end homelessness in Scotland, has prioritised preventing homelessness. The nations determination to ambitiously tackle health and social inequalities has proven form: earlier this year, government policy saw Scotland become the first country in the world to both implement minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol and announce the provision of free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities from the start of the 2018/19 academic term. Indeed, sanitary issues have proven to be another area of concern for many women rough sleepers. Sally, who has slept rough for five years, said she is often troubled by her period, despite being able to access free sanitary towels from charities. Its not nice when you have your period as some places dont let you in to use the toilet, she said. So, you need to go up the lane for a pee and its not nice when you have to wipe yourself, and when you have cramps, you cant get comfortable. These items, which belong to Sally*, include a sleeping bag, blankets, a sandwich she has been given and a packet of instant noodles [Alasdair Soussi/Al Jazeera] Leanne sits under the railway bridge at Glasgow Central Station. She has been bedding down on Glasgow concrete for seven weeks, in between sofa-surfing at friends. She told Al Jazeera that she turned to the streets after escaping a violent 13-year relationship. She is often offered money for sex, which she rejects, and is regularly pestered by male passers-by. Ive got 94 missed calls, said the 32-year-old, holding up her mobile phone. I gave my number to a guy because I thought he was a nice guy, but Im going to have to change my number now; hell appear down here anyway so thats probably not going to do it. Alison*, the 36-year-old with more than 20 years experience of street sleeping, said sexual abuse had been the mainstay of her life since she was a girl. The abuse saw her enter social care as a child. It started as a child and nothings really changed, to be honest, she said. Ive always been seen as an object. Follow Alasdair Soussi on Twitter: @AlasdairSoussi The BJP fears loss of popularity so much that it feels the need to ignite another communal conflict to stay in power. Twenty-six years ago, Hindu nationalists destroyed the Babri Masjid in the northern city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, sparking some of the bloodiest communal violence in Indias recent history, which killed some 2,000 people. The perpetrators claimed Mughal Emperor Babur had erected the mosque in place of a magnificent Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram in an attempt to humiliate Hindus. They argued the demolition of the Babri Masjid was not just an act of revenge but also a religious duty. The mobs that demolished the mosque were mobilised by the parent body of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and aided by numerous Hindu nationalist groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The man accused of leading the agitation was a cofounder of the BJP, Lal Krishna Advani. At the time, the BJP used the demolition to increase its support base among Indias Hindu majority. Advani, who later served as home minister and deputy prime minister of India, is currently facing trial for conspiracy charges in the Babri mosque demolition case. While Advani was the face of the BJPs Ram temple campaign at the time, Narendra Modi, Indias current prime minister, was the backroom manager of this divisive enterprise. He later used the political capital he gained as result of the Hindu nationalist wave triggered by the Ayodhya agitation to propel himself into national politics and eventually to the premiership. Today, he and his party are seeking to reignite the flames of the Ayodhya dispute, pushing the country towards a new period of unprecedented polarisation and conflict. Modi and his leadership know that the demolition of the Babri mosque helped make Islamophobia acceptable and mainstream and an effective political tool. The helplessness or unwillingness of state institutions to stop the campaign which led to the mosques demolition and deliver justice to the victims of the subsequent bloodshed across India have resulted in the political marginalisation of Muslims and other minorities. Even after the demolition of the mosque, the issue of the building of a Ram temple on its site remained unresolved. Then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao of the Congress party promised to rebuild the demolished mosque. The BJP, while never agreeing to the potential rebuilding of the mosque, put the plans for constructing a Ram temple on its site on the backburner to allow the backlash it faced because of the demolition and the consequent communal riots to die down. Meanwhile, a title lawsuit over the site of the mosque that has been ongoing since the 1950s was carried to the Supreme Court. All major political parties, including the BJP, eventually agreed to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on this title case before taking any action regarding the faith of the demolished mosque. For many years, the court case has been stuck in the Supreme Court, but something changed this year. Subramanian Swamy, a prominent BJP member, asked the court to expedite the matter. There were several reasons behind the governing partys new-found ambition to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya as quickly as possible. The BJP feels the need to pressure the courts to make a decision as soon as possible because the nationwide support for the party is diminishing rapidly and an important national election is just around the corner. Controversial economic decisions, like the demonetisation of high-value currency notes and the rollout of a Goods and Services Tax, combined with the ongoing discontent of the farmers and rising youth unemployment, caused the publics trust in Modi to visibly erode in the last couple of years. To counter this growing anti-incumbent sentiment and guarantee another general election victory in the national vote scheduled for April, the BJP and its parent body RSS focused their attention on the campaign to build a temple in Ayodhya the issue that propelled them to power in the first place. While campaigning for the December 11 regional assembly elections, they made sure the Ayodhya dispute is at the forefront of all discussions. On the campaign trail, Prime Minister Modi repeatedly accused the main opposition party Congress of terrorising the judiciary and preventing judges from reaching a pro-Hindu decision in the title case concerning the site of the Babri mosque. Amit Shah, the president of the BJP, vowed not to give even an inch on the issue, while leaders of the RSS and the BJP said that the court must give a judgement which respects Hindu sentiments. Despite all these efforts, the BJP lost power in three key states Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in recent local elections. However, the party still managed to avoid a wipeout in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, proving once again that their strategy of using Hindu nationalist agitations to counter the growing popular dissatisfaction with the government is working at least partially. The building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya is an emotive issue for the Hindus, potent enough to make many of them to ignore their economic woes and rally around any party that espouses this cause. Most Hindus believe it is their religious duty to back the campaign and many believe that Muslims, as the progeny of Babur, have to be kept in their place as subjugated people of India, living under the domination of Hindus. It is this feeling of dominance that the BJP seeks to stoke. In this sense, its strategy to mobilise around the issue of building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya is likely to turn even more aggressive as the 2019 general elections near. The opponents of the party, and anyone who cares for the unity, prosperity and wellbeing of India, should now be more alert than ever before to the dangers posed by this toxic dispute. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The three countries agreed a peaceful end to the war would have economic and trade benefits for the region. Officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan and China met in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday to discuss trade, development and solutions to end the regions relentless conflicts. The bitter relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan dominated the talks, with all three countries agreeing that a peaceful end to the war would have economic and trade benefits for the entire region. Pakistan and Afghanistan have long accused each other of failing to combat the Taliban and other armed groups that operate along their porous border. During a news conference after the trilateral talks, Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said that Kabul had yet to see tangible progress from Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. 181128100114901 He said Afghanistan wanted to see some specific measures from Islamabad to end the violence, without offering details Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Islamabad wanted a fresh start in its relationship with Afghanistan. The time has come to move on, to stop pointing fingers, join hands for a future, Qureshi said. If you want Pakistan to act for reconciliation then stop pointing fingers at Pakistan. One Belt, One Road China, which has hosted Taliban leaders in an effort to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table, sees an end to the war as critical to its One Belt, One Road policy of expanding trade links across Asia. It is the second such meeting of the three neighbouring countries. China is investing tens of billions of dollars in Pakistan, and the two have forged close economic ties. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a key cog of that policy, under which Beijing has pledged $60bn to build power stations, major highways, new and upgraded railways and higher capacity ports to help turn Pakistan into a major overland route linking western China to the world. Afghanistans Rabbani said his country also wants to participate in the Chinese initiative. Efforts to end the Afghan conflict have accelerated since the appointment in September of US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has shuttled across the region in an effort to revive Afghan peace talks. He has reportedly held several meetings with the Taliban at their political office in the Gulf country of Qatar. The State Department has neither confirmed nor denied the talks. Afghanistan and the United States also accuse Islamabad of providing support to the Taliban fighting the Afghan government and international forces in the country. Pakistan rejects this accusation. On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan confirmed that Islamabad was facilitating talks between the US and the Taliban. The talks are scheduled to begin on December 17, the Dawn newspaper reported. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump also asked Pakistan to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table in Afghanistan. WASHINGTON (December 14, 2018)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is awardedfor modification P00074 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-14-C-0038), to exercise an option for range engineering, operations and maintenance services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Atlantic Test Range, and the Atlantic Targets and Marine Operations Division. Services to be provided include system operations; laboratory and field testing; marine operations and target support; engineering; range sustainability; maintenance, data reduction, and analysis. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Fiscal 2019 working capital fund (Defense and Navy); and Major Range and Test Facility Base funds in the amount of $35,209,082 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awardedfor firm-fixed-price modification P00004 to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-18-C-1037), for long-lead parts and associated support for the full rate production of two Lot 7 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York (29 percent); El Segundo, California (29 percent); Melbourne, Florida (14 percent); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (7 percent); Menlo Park, California (6 percent); Greenlawn, New York (4 percent); Owego, New York (2 percent); Indianapolis, Indiana (2 percent); Edgewood, New York (2 percent); Woodland Hills, California (2 percent); Marlborough, Massachusetts (1 percent); Independence, Ohio (1 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2023. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $49,885,708 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awardedfor cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N0001919F2503, against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-19-G-0029). This delivery order provides for the development and delivery of a provisioning parts database of technical information to include 2D drawings that support all organizational, intermediate and depot levels in support of initial operational capability for the CH-53K program. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in November 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,600,000, will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is awardedfor modification P00004 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-18-D-0103) to exercise an option for technical analysis, engineering and integration on V-22 aircraft platform for the Navy, Marine Corps,. Air Force, and the government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (50 percent); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2022. No funds are being obligated at time of award, funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The, is the contracting activity., is awarded anot-to-exceed firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Phase 1 integrated logistics support for 22 F/A-18E and 6 F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft in support of the government of Kuwait under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (85 percent); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (8 percent); New Orleans, Louisiana (5.5 percent); China Lake, California (.5 percent); Patuxent River, Maryland (.5 percent); and Gulf Port, Mississippi (.5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2020. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $38,792,947 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code. 2304(c)(1). The, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0033)., is awarded ancost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for lead systems integrator contractor support services to perform engineering, technical and project management for a wide variety of new and existing programs and platforms in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's AIRWorks organization . Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in December 2023. No funds will be obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals; five offers were received. The, is the contracting activity (N00421-19-D-0026)., is awardedfor cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N0042119F0231 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0042119G0001). This order provides for engineering and engine system improvement in support of the F414 engine component improvement program. Work will be performed in Lynn, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed in December 2019. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation; and fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,817,305 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.No applicable data. Australia has recognised West Jerusalem as Israels capital but an embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. On Saturday, Canberra became one of just a few governments around the world to follow US President Donald Trumps lead and recognise the city as Israels capital. Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. Australia now recognises West Jerusalem being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government is the capital of Israel, Morrison said in a speech on Saturday in Sydney. The status of Jerusalem is one of the main sticking points in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel regards the whole city, including the eastern sector it unilaterally annexed after the 1967 Middle East war, as its capital while Palestinian officials, with broad international backing, want occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state they hope to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Most countries avoided moving embassies to Jerusalem to prevent scuttling peace talks on the citys final status until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination, Morrison said, adding that work on a new site for the embassy was under way. In the interim, the prime minister said, Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city. Furthermore, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem, he added. Morrison first floated a shift in foreign policy in October, which angered Australias immediate neighbour Indonesia the worlds most populous Muslim nation. The issue has put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. Canberra on Friday told its citizens travelling to Indonesia to exercise a high degree of caution, warning of protests in the capital Jakarta and popular holiday hotspots, including Bali. Morrison also took aim at the United Nations, which he said was a place where Israel is bullied. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously hailed Morrisons initiative. All risk and no gain The Jerusalem decision could help the embattled Australian PM who faces the prospect of an election drubbing next year with Jewish and conservative Christian voters and win him friends in the White House. The opposition Labor party slammed Morrison for putting self-interest ahead of the national interest. Recognising West Jerusalem as Israels capital, while continuing to locate Australias embassy in Tel Aviv, is nothing more than a face-saving exercise, shadow minister for foreign affairs Penny Wong said in a statement. This is a decision which is all risk and no gain, she said, adding it puts Australia out of step with the international community. Trumps decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv last year prompted widespread Palestinian protests. The Palestinian government will press for Arab and Muslim states to withdraw their ambassadors and take some meat and wheat style economic boycott measures over Canberras decision, Palestinian ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi told AFP on Friday. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) on Saturday said Morrisons move serves no Australian interest. This sabotages any real possibility for a future just agreement and further emboldens Israel to continue with its daily human rights violations of Palestinians, APAN president Bishop George Browning said in a statement. Economists say many issues currently plaguing Europe are rooted in policies that pushed citizens to the financial brink. Angry. Fractured. Fed up. Europe is storming into winter on a wave of discontent. The United Kingdom slipped further into Brexit chaos this week after Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly survived a leadership challenge by her own party. France is facing the fifth weekend of gilet jaunes (yellow vests) protests by citizens struggling to make ends meet. And in Hungary, thousands are up in arms over changes to overtime rules critics decry as slave laws. The lightning rods of revolt differ from country to country. But the tinder they feed on, economists say, is rooted in policies that have pushed a vast and growing swath of European citizens to the financial brink. This has been building for a while, Thomas Ferguson, professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, told Al Jazeera. If you squeeze people forever, they revolt. University of Texas progressive economist James Galbraith, who recently returned from France, also links the current unrest to policies that have created a dual economy of haves and have-nots. The status quo in Europe is just not sustainable, Galbraith told Al Jazeera. What we are seeing is a revolt of people who have been stressed for years and years by a series of austerity policies which have diminished their livelihoods and which have undermined their employment base. Austerity & Brexit Anti-globalisation and anti-immigration sentiment are often cited as the driving forces of Britains decision to leave the European Union. But research suggests that austerity policies likely tipped the scales towards Brexit by activating existing economic grievances born of increased competition from free trade and the free movement of labour. University of Warwick economist Thiemo Fetzer set out to quantify how cuts to social welfare programmes designed to help those left behind by globalisation influenced voter attitudes in Britains 2016 Brexit referendum. What we are seeing is a revolt of people who have been stressed for years and years by a series of austerity policies which have diminished their livelihoods and which have undermined their employment base. James Galbraith, University of Texas His research suggests that had it not been for austerity policies passed in 2010, support for leaving the European Union could have been up to 9.51 percentage points lower enough to have swung the vote in favour of remaining. Up until 2010, the UKs welfare state evened outgrowing income differences, Fetzer writes. This pattern markedly stops from 2010 onwards as austerity started to bite. Tax policy & the yellow vests Policies that exacerbate economic dissatisfaction are also evident in the yellow vests protests. Galbraith said flyers distributed in support of the movement carried demands to restore the balance between Frances urban wealthy and its struggling rural working classes. The ones Ive seen were a straight-forward defence of a France that used to exist for a large part of this population, he told Al Jazeera. One that provided high-quality public services, that provided an effective transportation system, that provided the quality of schools people wanted to have and things of that nature and that taxed in a much more even and fair way. 181214101345298 The yellow vests protests started as a backlash against a planned fuel tax hike and widened into a broader revolt against President Emmanuel Macron and his pro-business agenda. Last year, Macron abolished a decades-old wealth tax on households that own assets, including stocks and bonds, worth more than $1.5m and replaced it with one more narrowly focused on real estate. Supporters argued the move would stimulate the French economy by encouraging the well-off to invest in French firms. But such justifications ring hollow with critics, including the yellow vests who refer to Macron as president of the rich. Protesters wearing yellow vests sit on the Champs-Elysees Avenue during a national day of protest by the yellow vests movement in Paris [Christian Hartmann/Reuters] Its very much a movement of social justice, Celia Belin, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution told Al Jazeera. Who should pay for things, who should be taxed and who should contribute to the collective effort. Macron attempted to assuage the protesters by dropping the fuel tax hike and adopting policies to help the working classes, such as a state-funded supplement to the minimum wage and eliminating taxes on overtime pay. But the measures have failed to mollify many of the yellow vests. They wanted to see a symbolic gesture, said Brookings Belin. One of them could have been reinstating the wealth tax, which is something hes completely unwilling to do. A de-facto alignment Macrons concessions to the yellow vests could blow a sizeable hole in Frances budget, putting it on course to breach the EUs strict budget deficit ceiling. 181214120018250 That has potential ramifications for Italy where the populist, Eurosceptic coalition government has been in a standoff with the EU over a rule-breaking budget designed to offer relief to the countrys poor and working classes. The Italians are chortling, said Galbraith. Youre seeing a de facto alignment of French policy with Italian policy. Whether that alignment is temporary depends on many factors. But the European elections in 2019 could prove a decisive moment for an economic status quo which is increasingly under assault. The European elections of next year will be really meaningful, said Brookings Institutions Belin. It will tell us a lot of the direction that the EU will take. Officials say the attack against a Taliban commander was part of a series of operations targeting the groups leaders. At least 20 Afghan civilians, including 12 children, were killed in an air raid targeting a Taliban commander in Afghanistans eastern province of Kunar, local officials said. Fridays attack, against a local Taliban commander named Sharif Mawiya, was the latest in a series of operations targeting senior field commanders. Several Taliban commanders have been killed since the beginning of December by Afghan forces, backed by US advisers and air power but the tactic has also increased the risk of civilian casualties. 181130095042921 Abdul Latif Fazly, a member of the provincial council, said eight women and 12 children were killed and more than 15 civilians wounded in the incident late on Friday. Kunar governor Abdul Satar Mirzakwal said an operation by Afghan forces in the Sheltan district killed 38 Taliban and al-Qaeda members, including four foreign nationals, and wounded 12 more. He said the operation targeted Sharif Mawiya, a commander believed to be a facilitator with the al-Qaeda group. He said an unknown number of civilians were hit in the bombing but had no casualty details. We know that a number of civilians, including women and children, have been killed but we are sending a fact-finding team, he said. A spokeswoman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission said it had not carried out any air strikes in Kunar at the time of the incident. No comment was immediately available from the defence ministry. The number of Afghan civilians killed in US and Afghan air raids has risen sharply this year as Western-backed forces have stepped up aerial operations with the aim of forcing the Taliban to agree to peace talks. According to United Nations figures, 313 civilians were killed and 336 wounded in air attacks by US and Afghan forces in the nine months to the end of September, a 39 percent increase from the same period in 2017. Air raid casualties accounted for eight percent of the total 8,050 civilian casualties during the period. The overall number of civilian casualties was roughly stable. As a tumultuous week in British politics draws to a close, Brexit expert Anand Menon discusses what might happen next. London, United Kingdom Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said a week is a long time in politics. This week, the United Kingdoms ongoing political drama over its bid to depart the European Union has stretched that maxim to its fullest. On Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May pulled off a parliamentary vote on her widely criticised Brexit deal scheduled for the following day, acknowledging it would have been roundly rejected. She instead opted to go to Brussels and other European cities in a bid to win assurances from her EU counterparts over the withdrawal plans contentious backstop proposal. 181213181557235 But while she was away, disgruntled eurosceptic members of her ruling Conservative Party moved to trigger a vote of confidence on her leadership, which she survived during a secret ballot on Wednesday evening. By Thursday, May was back in Brussels for a European Council summit and pleading once more with the EU stakeholders to concede ground on the backstop clause. Throughout the melee, EU officials have maintained there will be no renegotiation of the divorce deal, which is now due to be put to a vote in the UKs lower chamber, the House of Commons, in early January. Al Jazeera spoke to Brexit expert Anand Menon, a professor of European politics and foreign affairs at Kings College London, to try and make sense of the ongoing maelstrom and get an idea of where the Brexit process may be heading next as the UK approaches its EU departure date of March 29. Al Jazeera: Will Mays plan to delay the parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal until January work? Anand Menon: Well, it doesnt look like May will get much help out of this ongoing EU council summit, but there has been talk of another summit in January, and things can change very quickly. The passage of time between now and January could cool tempers and give people time to reflect and it might be that the numbers in parliament shift. But May is going to have to bring this deal back with or without amendments to it. She is going to have to hope that even if she loses the vote the first time around [in parliament], she loses by an acceptable enough margin that she can give it another week or so after and then bring it back again. 181213141237594 The clever money now, although you wouldnt put money anywhere near this, is that it is very hard to see how this withdrawal agreement passes through parliament. Al Jazeera: Why is the backstop clause in the divorce deal so contentious? Menon: For several reasons. In a sense, the withdrawal deal contains two sorts of backstop. Theres an all-UK backstop and a Northern Ireland-only backstop. The problem with the all-UK backstop the customs territory proposal and the associated level-playing field conditions is that for Brexiteers, it leaves the UK tied to EU laws and will limit the countrys ability to strike trade deals outside of the bloc. They dont like that because they believe it essentially means the UK gets Brexit in name only and see it as a betrayal of the referendum. The other thing they dont like about it is even with the all-UK backstop, and particularly with the Northern Ireland-only backstop, Northern Ireland would be governed by some EU rules that wouldnt apply to the rest of the UK. They see that as the start of the breakup of the union. So its those reasons. Its a unity of the union argument and a purity of Brexit argument. Al Jazeera: What assurances does May need to win from EU leaders to satisfy parliament and win support for her withdrawal plan? Menon: Ideally, she would need to get rid of the backstop entirely but thats not going to happen. The second best she can hope for is some language on the backstop of the kind that it seems they deleted last night [at the EU council summit]. The EU seems to have hardened their line after talking to her [in Brussels on Thursday]. 181213101557924 But she needs something because I think there are a significant number of Conservative MPs who are looking for an excuse to support her. So, any language on the backstop, however tokenistic, will help. The other thing the EU could do, which would be useful for May, is to help her quash the idea that there is a better deal waiting to be had. There are many MPs who are opposing the deal not because they dont want Brexit or they want a no-deal Brexit but because they think they could get a better deal. Al Jazeera: The UKs main opposition Labour Party has threatened to put forward a parliamentary motion of no confidence in the prime minister. Why havent they done so yet? Menon: There are two reasons why Labour is holding off. One is, because they think they would lose. Labours best tactic for now is to stay out of sight and let the Conservatives fight among themselves. There is a calculation in the party that the best time to have a confidence vote is after Theresa Mays deal has failed to win parliaments support. {articleGUID} Then they might get pro-remain Conservative MPs to back the no-confidence vote because they are terrified of a no-deal Brexit. But the other reason Labour is holding off on this is, because if it calls the vote and loses it, they will have their bluff called on whether to call for a second referendum. Al Jazeera: How likely is it that there will be a second referendum or general election before March 29, when the UK is scheduled to formally leave the EU? Menon: Quite likely. All outcomes look roughly equal now in terms of likelihood because MPs dont know yet what they want to do. The problem is there are several things going on at once: there is a minority government, the most divisive issue parliament has arguably ever had to deal with, and a host of constitutional issues around Northern Ireland and Scotland [which voted in favour of remaining in the EU] in the air. Editors note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Outbreaks of violence in southern Ethiopia between the Oromos and other ethnic groups have escalated since April. At least 21 people have been killed in two days of intense fighting between ethnic groups in southern Ethiopia amid escalating violence that has sent hundreds fleeing across the border to neighbouring Kenya. The violence broke out on Thursday and Friday near the town of Moyale, on the border with Kenya, in a region claimed by both the Oromo, the largest ethnic group in the country, and the Somali ethnic group. The fighting also wounded 61 others, the state-affiliated Fana radio reported, citing the Oromia regional state communication office. Outbreaks of violence in the south between Oromos and other groups escalated since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the first Oromo leader in Ethiopias modern history assumed office in April. 180916192045591 An internal United Nations report, dated December 13 and reviewed by the Reuters news agency, also confirmed the fighting, with heavy artillery being used, and said there was likelihood the conflict could spill over into Kenya. An Ethiopian source in the capital in touch with people in Moyale said at least several dozen people had so far died in the fighting, which was more intense than previous clashes in the same area earlier in the year. Patrick Mumali, Moyale sub-county deputy commissioner, confirmed late on Friday that hundreds of Ethiopians crossed the border to Kenya. Early this year, at least 5,000 Ethiopians were forced to seek refuge in Kenya after several civilians were killed in what the Ethiopian army said was a botched operation targeting rebels in the countrys south. People have been killed, business premises bombed and torched, houses have also been set ablaze in the fight between Oromo and Somali Garre fighters, said Wario Sora, a human rights activist from Moyale on the Kenyan side. In the Oromiya region, the largest in the country, there are at least four separate conflicts along ethnic lines in addition to a border dispute that risks erupting into new violence, aid groups say. At least seven civilians, three rebels and an Indian soldier killed in India-administered Kashmirs Pulwama. Seven civilians and three armed rebels have been killed during a gun battle in Pulwama in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said. A senior police official told Al Jazeera that a soldier also succumbed to his injuries after the clashes in Sirnoo village, taking the total death toll to 11. Officials said the gunfight started early morning on Saturday after Indian forces launched a search operation for rebels in the area. They said the slain rebels belonged to the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen rebel group. Residents told Al Jazeera that villagers marched towards the site of the gunfight and Indian forces fired live ammunition at them. There is mayhem. The soldiers fired bullets at unarmed civilians without a second thought, said Ruby Hamid, a resident of Pulwama. Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama, Ghulam Muhammad Dar, said the situation was under control. Police said crowds of civilians came came dangerously close to the fighting, resulting in casualties. Unfortunately seven persons succumbed to their injuries, officials said in a statement. This year has been the deadliest in the disputed territory in nine years with more than 500 casualties, including 146 civilians. The dead from Saturdays violence included 14-year-old Aqib Ahmad, who lived in the village of Prichoo. He left with the others towards the site of the gunfight in the morning, one of his family members recalled At 11:00 am, we heard he had been shot. At the hospital, we found he was targeted in the head. This was a massacre of people. Why didnt they shoot them in the leg? Dr Abdul Rasheed Para of the district hospital in Pulwama described Saturdays clashes as disastrous. We have received six dead bodies since the morning. All of them had firearm injuries in the head, abdomen, and neck, he told Al Jazeera. 181109111719903 Most of them were in the age group between 18 and 23 years. They were all young. Twenty-five people were treated with different injuries, some of them had bullet injuries and some were hit with pellets. Anti-India slogans Hundreds of Kashmiri youths, protesting the killings and shouting anti-India slogans, clashed with Indian forces in the south of the region. Shops and businesses pulled down their shutters and Indian troops rushed to the streets to prevent further demonstrations. Mobile internet services were also suspended in the divided Himalayan region as authorities feared unrest would spread. The disputed territory has witnessed an intermittent cycle of violence over the last few months as Indian forces intensified their operations against rebels, killing a record 230 rebels in less than a year. Two days ago, the rebels shot dead four policemen when they stormed a security post in Kashmirs Shopian district. The region is currently under the direct rule of the federal government after India dissolved the state assembly. Fresh elections are expected to be held in the coming months. Separatist leaders, who demand an independent state or merger with Pakistan, have called for a three-day shutdown in the region to protest the latest killings. The leaders have also asked the residents to march towards the largest army cantonment in the main city of Srinagar. The Indian forces are armed with laws that protect them. They are trigger happy forces. They fear no prosecution, no accountability. They are here to kill people, especially youth, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, a senior separatist leader, told Al Jazeera. The youth have been shot in the head, in the neck, the abdomen. It was shoot-to-kill, not to disperse them, No one is talking about it. The world is silent. This is a complete colonial approach to suppress people. Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of the region, who served in coalition with Indias ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said that no country can win a war by killing its own people. How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama.I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this bloodbath, she tweeted. Abdulla Yameen questioned for first time over allegations of illicit financial transactions while in office. Police in the Maldives have questioned the countrys former President Abdulla Yameen for the first time in an investigation into allegations of engaging in illicit financial transactions while in office. The development came as hundreds of his supporters and opponents gathered for rival demonstrations in the capital, Male on Saturday. Yameen, who lost a presidential election in September, told supporters that investigators questioned him over 22 million rufiyaa ($1.5m) deposited in hard currency to a private account he owned prior to the contentious vote. This is politically motivated, the 59-year-old said outside the headquarters of his party. These are ordinary transactions I do not traffic in drugs or launder money. The investigation relates to a complaint from an anti-money laundering agency in September that suggested the transactions from Yameens account at the Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) violated the countrys election laws, which require candidates to set up separate accounts for and declare the source of campaign funds. A court in the Maldives placed a freeze on the former presidents accounts at the privately owned MIB as well as the Bank of Maldives over the case, two highly placed sources in the government told Al Jazeera on Friday. 180925194132476 Yameen, long dogged by accusations of corruption and human rights abuses, said on Saturday that the onus was on the police to prove if the funds in question were from illicit activities. He pledged to cooperate with the investigation. The police, in a statement, said investigators found that large sums of money were deposited into the former presidents accounts during his tenure. Confirming the freeze on Yameens bank accounts, the police said the suspended accounts contain more than $6.5m in local currency as well as US dollars. Supporters of the former president, who was questioned at the police headquarters, rallied near the building during the interrogation, while scores of his opponents gathered a few blocks away with placards calling for his arrest. The Maldivess new president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, won the September 23 poll after vowing to crack down on corruption and ensure justice for past rights abuses. After taking office in November, Solih established two powerful commissions to investigate allegations against Yameen and his associates. During his five year term, Yameen was accused of overseeing Maldives biggest-ever corruption scandal, in which at least $79m in tourism revenues was stolen from state coffers, as well as ordering the jailing of nearly all opposition leaders, including his half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Indian Ocean nation for 30 years. The tourism scandal was the subject of the 2016 Al Jazeera investigation Stealing Paradise. Yameen said on Saturday that investigators also questioned him over allegations that he received some of the embezzled money. The former president has denied any wrongdoing and blamed his former deputy for the theft. He tried unsuccessfully to annul the results of the September election. The Nigerian military has lifted a ban on UNICEF in the northeast of the country, hours after accusing the staff of the United Nations agency of spying for Boko Haram. Earlier on Friday, the Nigerian military said UNICEF had been training people to sabotage its counterinsurgency efforts by reporting alleged human rights abuses by soldiers. Nigerias northeast has been torn apart by a decade-long armed campaign by Boko Haram and its splinter groups. More than 30,000 people have been killed and many more driven from their homes. With millions displaced, the northeast is largely dependent on international aid. In its statement, the Nigerian military said UNICEF staff train and deploy spies who support the insurgents and their sympathisers. It said that UNICEFs operations were being suspended in the northeast until further notice but in a second statement hours later, the military said it held an emergency meeting with UNICEF representatives late on Friday. After extensive deliberations on the need to seek modalities to work harmoniously with the security agencies in the theatre of operation, the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF, the army said in a statement repealing the ban after the meeting. The military said it urged UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre. Earlier, after the allegation and suspension, a UNICEF spokeswoman said the organisation was verifying the information. In April, Nigerias military declared three UNICEF employees persona non grata in connection with alleged leaks about soldiers sexually abusing children in the northeast, people familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency. The declaration was rescinded days later after pressure from diplomats, the sources said. In Brixton, a pro-EU stronghold in south London, voters speak of dismay as the UK stumbles towards exiting the EU. London, United Kingdom Patrick Kelly is well accustomed to tall tales and pivoting plots. On the crowded shelves of his bookshop in Brixton, in south London, thrillers and dramas compete silently for the attention of a handful of quiet customers. But Kelly admits theres no story to rival the political twists and turns that have gripped the UK and threatened to topple embattled Prime Minister Theresa May this week. The events of the last week have marked a new chapter in the countrys dramatic bid to depart the 28-member European Union, after 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the bloc during a referendum in June 2016. And in Lambeth, the London borough that Brixton belongs to and where more than 78 percent of voters opted to remain, two-and-a-half years of unpredictable and unwanted outcomes have taken a toll. If you wrote it in a novel, people wouldnt believe it; they would throw it down and say its too far-fetched, Kelly says. I used to consider myself somebody who was politically savvy and could predict how things were going to happen; thats no longer the case. We are in uncharted territory. A real mess Kelly is not alone. From seasoned political reporters camped outside parliament in Westminster to public house pundits spread throughout the kingdom, Britons were left staring wide-eyed this week after the UKs Brexit crisis kicked into overdrive. Since Monday, May has pulled a parliamentary vote on a Brexit deal she brought back home after long and arduous negotiations with EU counterparts; survived a bruising vote of confidence on her leadership of the ruling Conservative Party; and dashed to Brussels twice in a bid to win legal and political reassurances on the exit proposals contentious Irish backstop clause. Through it all, EU officials have refused to blink and instead maintained that no amendments to the deal will be forthcoming. In Brixton, a cosmopolitan corner of London, the extraordinary turn of events has ushered in a mood of glum and alarm. As much as I would love to turn off the Brexit noise because its sometimes overwhelming, I have been following the developments over this past week and I feel it is turning into a real mess, says Patricia Hamzahee, a trustee at Brixtons Black Cultural Archives museum. I am very sceptical about all of the nirvana stories of the Brexiteers that the world is going to be a shiny, better place once we leave the EU. I really am worried about what future my children can look forward to, the 60-year-old mother of two adds. More than 78 percent of voters in Lambeth voted to remain in the EU during the UKs 2016 referendum on membership of the bloc [David Child/Al Jazeera] Hamzahees worries are also shared by other Britons. Everything thats transpired since former Prime Minister David Cameron officially announced in early 2016 the referendum on Britains EU membership from the spiralling rhetoric about immigration in the lead-up to the vote and the spike in hate crimes that followed it, through the Brexit-induced turnover of senior government officials (not to mention Cameron himself and two secretaries tasked with leading the negotiations with the EU), to broken fiscal promises and warnings over impending economic doom has only served to gradually ramp up a distressing mix of uncertainty and unease, and, at times, outright fear. There is no clarity around what the future is going to look like and because of the ongoing factionalism [in parliament] theres just no one clear direction and that is what is really frustrating, Hamzahee says. Calls for a rerun Having survived for now, May has promised to bring her withdrawal plan back to Parliament in early January and, in an effort to appease Conservative critics, stand down as prime minister before the UKs next general election, scheduled for 2022. The beleaguered-but-resilient prime minister still faces battles on numerous parliamentary fronts over a Brexit plan thats deeply opposed by both pro-EU MPs desperate to avoid exiting the bloc and Eurosceptic critics who say her deal fails to deliver a clean break from Brussels. The disparate views have produced political gridlock, with seemingly the only existing consensus in parliament being that it would be best for Britain to avoid a potentially catastrophic no-deal departure on March 29 next year, when the UK is scheduled to formally leave the EU. The Brixton Village shopping arcade [David Child/Al Jazeera] Five kilometres from Parliament, in the bustling Brixton Village shopping arcade, a Caribbean restaurant owner, who calls himself Brian, claims theres a simple solution for breaking the impasse, however. If the politicians cant agree, they need to take it back to the people to give them guidance, Brian says. Personally, I think this whole Brexit thing should never have happened [so] if they call a second referendum, Ill be happy, the 49-year-old adds. Its a view shared by others in Brixton, where the traces of immigration to the UK are boldly sketched out on the neighbourhoods myriad independently owned international restaurants and stores. We have to have a second vote, so many people who voted leave have told me they now want to remain, says Tom Kane, a supervisor at former Conservative Party social club turned public house the Effra Social. I would accept this deal (Mays Brexit plan) if there was support for it, not just because we have to sort of go with it, the 28-year-old adds. The arch-Brexiteers lied. They targeted people who were understandably fed up because of the way that they had been treated by successive governments, who just wanted change, and they told them beautiful little lies that were so easy to believe. Tom Kane (pictured) claims the architects of Brexit misled the British people about the benefits of leaving the EU [David Child/Al Jazeera] Recent polling conducted by the UKs National Centre for Social Research suggests the result of the 2016 referendum would be inverted in a second vote, with 53 percent now in favour of remaining in the EU and 47 percent wanting to leave. But some prominent Brexiteers argue a second referendum would amount to a treacherous subversion of democracy and the first result must be honoured. Last weekend, thousands of demonstrators converged in London for a pro-Leave Brexit Betrayal march, led by far-right figure Tommy Robinson. Meanwhile, several pro-leave MPs in Mays Conservative Party, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Brexit Secretary David Davis have likened holding a second referendum to installing a dictatorship and said the people have already decided on the EU. We lost the referendum Acknowledging the febrile atmosphere, some pro-Remain voters seem to have adopted a more fatalistic stance over a possible second vote, laying bare the extent to which British society has been divided along multiple lines over the singular issue of Brexit. I would have said yahoo to a second referendum a couple of weeks ago, but not any more, says Kelly from behind the counter in his bookshop, arguing that another such ballot could exacerbate the tensions ailing Britain today. Because, one, we (Remainers) lost the referendum; and two, if you have a second referendum and we (Remainers) win by a small majority, the country is going to be more divided than ever, so you really have to think these things through. Patrick Kelly (pictured) has lived in London for the past three decades after emigrating from Boston, USA [David Child/Al Jazeera] For Hamzahee, however, the situation is clear. The people who do the work in this place, the people who get things done, across the board, whether its in schools, hospitals, cafes and building sites and everywhere, are often people from elsewhere, Hamzahee says, visibly distressed as she weighs up the effect of quitting the bloc. I mean, take London. I love this city. I have lived in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and Ankara, and I can tell you that London is the hub of the world and thats what makes it the special place it is, she adds. So if this was about making those people say, This is not the place for me, well they (those who voted to leave) have maybe succeeded, but I think this whole country is diminished because of that. May tries to renegotiate Brexit deal in Brussels talks May survived a no-confidence vote triggered by her own partys MPs, but her hopes of reopening negotiations on the Brexit deal seem likely to founder on the continent. 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. Qatar has said it is committed to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) but that the bloc needed to enforce its own rules, signalling that a reformed alliance could help end the Gulf crisis. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Saturday that Qatar was still counting on Kuwait and regional powers to help end the crisis. We believe that we are more relevant as a bloc for the West than as separate and fragmented countries, he told the annual Doha Forum, but said the GCC had no teeth and needed a dispute resolution mechanism. They have mechanisms in place and never trigger them [to hold people accountable] because some countries believe they are non-binding, so we need to make sure all the rules we are submitting to are binding to everyone in this region. The remarks come amid an ongoing blockade on Qatar imposed in June 2017, by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt. The quartet has accused Qatar of supporting terrorism. Qatar has denied the charges and said the boycott aims to impinge on its sovereignty. Call for dialogue Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called on the Saudi-led alliance boycotting the Gulf country to start a dialogue, in order to resolve the dispute. Our position has not changed on how to solve the Gulf crisis, Tamim told the forum. This can be achieved by lifting the siege and resolving difference through dialogue and non-interference in other countries internal affairs. Kuwait, a traditional mediator in the region, has been attempting to resolve the diplomatic spat over the past year and a half, but to no avail. 181209185745664 The issue of the Gulf crisis had not taken precedence during a one-day GCC summit on Sunday, held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The GCC, a political and economic alliance of countries in the Arabian Peninsula, was established in 1981 to foster socioeconomic, security, and cultural cooperation. Meanwhile, Romanias Foreign Minister Teodor-Viorel Melescanu told the Doha Forum that the European Union (EU) is currently working on organising a conference to help solve the ongoing Gulf crisis. The southeastern European country is set to take over the rotating presidency role of the council of the EU for a period of six months, starting January 2019. More than 3,000 Central Americans in southern Mexico are under consideration for refugee status in country. Tapachula, Mexico Samuel Isai Mejias problems began last year with workplace sexual harassment, but things quickly snowballed from there. Facing intimidation from police and military forces as well as gangs, he fled Honduras this year. Mejia is from a dangerous area of La Lima, a city 16km southwest of San Pedro Sula, in northwestern Honduras. But his neighbours did not know two key things about him that carried heavy risks: where he worked, and his sexual orientation. Im part of the gay community, the 25-year-old told Al Jazeera in Tapachula, in southern Mexico. Discrimination and harassment aimed at Mejia and his LGBTIQ colleagues at the 911 call and dispatch centre in San Pedro Sula were fairly common but it goes unreported because people fear speaking up about harassment could get them fired or lead to further targeting outside the workplace, he said. More than 250 LGBTIQ Hondurans were killed between 2009 and 2017, according to local rights groups. Working at the call and dispatch centre can also place workers living in gang-controlled neighbourhoods at risk. Civilian employees taking 911 calls work directly with national police and military police officers, and that can cause gang members to consider them snitches, Mejia said. Eventually, this happened to Mejia, but his troubles first started when one of the civilian managers began harassing him. He was sexually harassing me. One time while out with colleagues, I felt suffocated. He was pressuring me to have sex with him, said Mejia, adding that he clearly told the manager that he was not interested and that he already had a partner. Thats where it all started, and it got out of control. I then didnt only experience sexual harassment but also labour harassment, he said. 181126132856413 In February, after a year and a half at the call and dispatch centre, Mejia was fired. He initiated legal proceedings against his employer, a Honduran state institution, for termination without cause, but the future of the case is uncertain now that he is out of the country. In retaliation for his pursuit of legal proceedings, Mejia believes the manager or someone else at his workplace began spreading the word that he worked there and that he is gay. Around that same time, Mejia and some of his relatives began to experience incidents of intimidation from military police and gang members in La Lima and San Pedro Sula. Thats when Mejia decided to leave. He is now in Tapachula with more than 3,000 other Central Americans, mostly from Honduras, fleeing poverty, violence and persecution. Collective exodus In mid-October, thousands of Hondurans set out together on a US-bound journey, travelling up through Guatemala and then Mexico on foot, in buses, and hitching rides on flatbed trailers and any other vehicle that would take them. There were several subsequent collective departures from Honduras and El Salvador, and other Latin Americans joined the groups along the way. 181123170408532 International attention has largely followed the advance of the front-most group. More than 6,000 migrants and refugees reached the US border in Tijuana last month, and have since dispersed significantly. Some remain committed to the weeks- or months-long wait to enter the US at an official port of entry to request asylum. Some have sought work in Mexico in the meantime, and others plan to stay for good. Hundreds have opted to return home. Others have made it across into the US outside of official ports of entry, both in the Tijuana-San Diego area and several border areas further east, and presented themselves to US border patrol agents to request asylum. But long before Tijuana, thousands of others turned themselves over for processing by immigration officials upon entering southern Mexico. They were initially held for two weeks in Tapachula and then released upon processing, pending a decision on their cases. Mexican officials were not immediately available for comment, but two representatives of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) in Tapachula confirmed to Al Jazeera that more than 3,000 Central Americans from the various waves of the collective exodus remain in the refugee status consideration process. The total is closer to 3,500, one official said. More than 3,000 Central Americans from the various waves of the collective exodus remain in the refugee status consideration process in Mexico, officials said [Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] [Daylife] Every week, individuals under consideration for refugee status and other forms of protection must report to two locations: the COMAR office in the city centre, and the immigration station just outside the city. Hundreds of people start forming lines outside hours before the offices open. Junior Rivera is one of them. He and dozens of his neighbours from the Lopez Arellano Sector, along with others from the northwestern region of Honduras, are opposition activists who fled political persecution and harassment, threats and violence from state security forces. Rivera and many others now receive a stipend of approximately $100 a month through the Mexican office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but when they were first released from detention, most did not even have the $0.34 needed for public transportation to their weekly appointments at the immigration office. 181120173546128 We would start walking at four in the morning, Rivera told Al Jazeera. The shelters filled up quickly, and hundreds of people slept in the Tapachula central park for a while upon their release from detention. Several families from the Lopez Arellano Sector have since decided to continue north and recently made it into the US, crossing between official ports of entry and presenting themselves to US border agents in New Mexico to request asylum. But Rivera and others are sticking it out in southern Mexico. The refugee status applicants are restricted to Chiapas[Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] By law, the refugee status application process can take up to 45 business days. Rivera and the majority of the exodus participants should find out whether they are accepted or not in January, but the process can be extended for another 45 business days. The process has been frustrating for many who do not want to remain in Tapachula, or even Mexico. Many want humanitarian visas to legally travel north through Mexico since individuals who followed the first wave of the exodus have been arrested and/or deported en route. Some hope to get asylum in a third country, neither the US nor Mexico. Violent crime rates are lower in Mexico than in Honduras, but it is not necessarily a safe country for many people, including members of the LGBTIQ community like Mejia and political activists like Rivera. 181117175706623 In the meantime, Rivera and the rest of the refugee status applicants are restricted to Chiapas. If they leave the state or miss two consecutive weekly visits to the immigration offices, their temporary immigration status will be revoked and they will be subject to deportation. The temporary immigration status given to refugee applicants grants them the right to work, but jobs are in short supply and the requirement to spend part of two days a week to visit the COMAR and immigration offices limits employment options. There is also widespread discrimination against Central Americans, Rivera and several other Hondurans told Al Jazeera. Clean up brigades To help combat the stigma and show Tapachula locals they want to make a positive contribution to the city, dozens of Central Americans have organised themselves into volunteer clean-up brigades. The idea many people had of us when we started was that we are all drunks or thieves, Rivera said Rivera and his crew from northwestern Honduras have been cleaning up public parks, church and school grounds, and streets several days a week for weeks, picking up rubbish, cutting weeds and grass with machetes, and sweeping walkways. They still get their share of insults, but more and more people now stop to chat or to give small donations of food or money to their volunteer brigade, said Rivera. They have used the donations to buy machetes, brooms and rubbish bags, and are hoping someone will pitch in paint donations to spruce up some of the flaking and faded painted surfaces in public parks. To help combat the negative stigma towards the exodus participants, dozens of Central Americans have organised themselves into volunteer clean-up brigades [Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] The crew had been sharing a two-room unused place in a public housing project between 16 adults and 5 children, but they are now in the process of moving into two smaller places in the same area and hope to find space as people continue to arrive. Mejia made it to Mexico just last week and moved in. After the sun went down, some of the makeshift collective members sat outside in the warm evening breeze, gathering around the guitar player in their midst. A young boy pretending to be Spiderman ran around them, shooting imaginary webbing from his wrists. Sitting on the floor inside the house, Mejia broke into a smile when he spoke of his partner. His partner headed north up through Mexico ahead of him with plans to make it into the US and work to support Mejias journey to safety. They will not be able to see each other anytime soon but hope to eventually meet back up in the US. Maybe we can even get married, Mejia said with enthusiasm. Ryan Zinkes exit will be the latest in a long list of high-profile departures from the Trump administration. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that his interior secretary will step down in the coming weeks. Ryan Zinke, who is facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity and potential conflicts of interest, will leave the administration at the end of the year, Trump said on Twitter. His exit will be the latest in a series of high-profile departures from Trumps administration. The president highlighted that Zinkes tenure less than two years was substantially longer than that of some other former top officials in the administration. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation, the president said, adding that a replacement would be announced next week. Under scrutiny Trump did not give a reason for Zinkes departure. The former Navy Seal and former congressman from Montana is one of several members of Trumps cabinet to come under fire over expenditures, including reports that his department was spending nearly $139,000 to upgrade three sets of double doors in his office a cost he later said he negotiated down to $75,000. 181214231351946 He has also faced criticism over costly US Park Police helicopter flights last year that allowed him to return to Washington, DC for a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence, and several other flights on non-commercial aircraft. Zinke, 51, has run the Department of the Interior since early 2017. He pursued Trumps agenda to promote oil drilling and coal mining by expanding federal leasing, cutting royalty rates and easing land protections. Zinke was among Trumps most active cabinet members, cutting huge wilderness national monuments in Utah to a fraction of their size and proposing offshore oil drilling in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic. He became a favourite of the US energy and mining industries and a prime target for conservationists and environmental groups. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer applauded Zinkes departure in a tweet. Ryan Zinke was one of the most toxic members of the cabinet in the way he treated our environment, our precious public lands, and the way he treated the govt like it was his personal honey pot, Schumer said. The swamp cabinet will be a little less foul without him. Ryan Zinke was one of the most toxic members of the cabinet in the way he treated our environment, our precious public lands, and the way he treated the govt like it was his personal honey pot. The swamp cabinet will be a little less foul without him. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 15, 2018 In July, the Interior Departments Office of Inspector General began investigating a Montana land deal between a foundation Zinke set up and a development group backed by the chairman of oil service company Halliburton Co, which has business with the Department of the Interior. In late October, that investigation was referred to the US Justice Department for a possible criminal investigation, according to multiple media reports. The Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior have declined to comment. There are two other continuing investigations of Zinkes conduct. Interiors watchdog is examining whether the department purposefully redrew the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in a way that would benefit a state legislator who owns adjoining property. The watchdog also is investigating Zinkes decision to block casinos proposed by two Connecticut Native American tribes. Critics allege he made that move, overruling his staffs recommendation, shortly after he met lobbyists for MGM Resorts International, which owns a new casino in the region. Zinke has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Series of departures The announcement on Zinke came just a week after another impending high-profile departure was made public. Trump announced earlier this month that his chief of staff, John Kelly, would also be leaving the White House. 180313160447342 Trump on Friday tapped Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, to fill the chief of staff job on an acting basis, setting him up to be the third person to hold the post since the president took office in early 2017. A series of other top officials have left the Trump White House, including a secretary of state, two national security advisers, an attorney general and the head of the US environment agency. Mick Mulvaney will take over from John Kelly, who will step down from the post in early January. US President Donald Trump has said that his budget chief Mick Mulvaney would take over as the White House chief of staff on a temporary basis after former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie abruptly withdrew from consideration for the post. Mulvaney, a former congressman who heads the White House Office of Management and Budget, would take over from retired Marine General John Kelly, who will step down from the top post in early January. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the administration, Trump said, announcing the decision on Twitter on Friday. I look forward to working with him in this new capacity. The decision came just hours after Christie, who had been considered a top candidate, withdrew his name. Christies announcement leaves the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as two top possibilities to replace Kelly on a long-term basis. Kushner has signalled his lack of interest, however. Mulvaney was also in the mix, as were other people, a knowledgeable source said. 181208192250309 Though deemed an acting attorney general, Mulvaneys term will be open-ended, according to a senior White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. The position does not require confirmation. Before he joined the administration, Mulvaney was an outspoken member of the House Freedom Caucus, a powerful bloc of conservative Republican politicians in the House of Representatives. This is not the first time Trump has turned to Mulvaney in a pinch. Last November, he named Mulvaney the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency that had been closely associated with former President Barack Obamas tenure. The appointment was fought in court, but Mulvaney prevailed and ran it until earlier this month, when Trumps official pick was confirmed by the US Senate. 180313160447342 Mulvaney often appears on Sunday TV talk shows to defend Trumps policies. Trumps first chief of staff, Reince Priebus, served for six months before leaving in July 2017. Orthodox bishops in Kiev choose leader of a new national church, marking an historic split from Russia. A council of Orthodox bishops has created a new Ukrainian church, marking an historic split from Russia which its leaders see as vital to the countrys security and independence. The announcement on Saturday came after Ukrainian priests held a synod in capital Kievs 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral to establish an Orthodox church independent from Moscow. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that 39-year-old Metropolitan Epifaniy of the Kiev Patriarchate church is the head of the new church. His secular name is Sergiy Dumenko. This day will go down in history as a sacred day the day of the final independence from Russia, Poroshenko told thousands of supporters, who shouted Glory! Glory! Glory! I would like to call on all our brothers, bishops and all believers to the newly created united Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Yepifaniy told the crowd outside the cathedral. The doors of our church are open to all. Matter of national security The newly formed community is now expected to receive independence from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Istanbul-based institution considered the so-called first among equals of leaders of the worlds Orthodox Churches. Poroshenko said he would travel with Epifaniy to Istanbul in January to receive an official Tomos from the head of global Orthodoxy granting the new church independence. Poroshenko, who has made the creation of a new church a key campaign issue before elections next year, told the bishops that the state did everything it could towards the creation of the church. Ukraine was not, is not, and will not be the canonical territory of the Russian church, Poroshenko said, adding that an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church was now a matter of national security. Ukrainian authorities have sought to portray Russian Orthodox priests in Ukraine as supporting Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, claims that the clerics have rejected. Ties between Russia and Ukraine have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev. This year, those tensions spilled over into the religious arena. The synod came shortly after a maritime crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. Ukrainian believers gather in front of Saint Sophias Cathedral in Kiev [Gleb Garanich/Reuters] Russia dismisses synod In Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church protested vigorously and dismissed the synod as uncanonical. Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, told Russian state television that the Kiev synod had no church, religious or evangelical meaning and that it will have no canonical consequences. 181205065424633 Representatives of Ukraines three Orthodox Churches attended the synod, but only two from the branch loyal to Moscow showed up. Russian bishop Metropolitan Hilarion in Volokolamsk on Saturday compared the two representatives of the Moscow-backed church to Judas. A spokesman for Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, vowed on Saturday that the Moscow Patriarchate will continue to work in Ukraine despite the creation of the new independent church. Meeting in Kievs Saint Sophias Cathedral aims to unite branches of the Orthodox church into a single independent body. Ukrainian priests are set to hold an historic synod on Saturday to work towards founding an independent church, in what Kiev authorities hope will be a further step out of Russias orbit. Ties between the ex-Soviet neighbours have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev and this year those tensions spilled into the religious arena. The synod will seek to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraines independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years, and saw the Russian Orthodox Church cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The meeting will take place in Kievs Saint Sophia Cathedral aiming to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. But Ukraines Moscow-loyal church has said it will not send any representatives to the synod. Gang of bandits Archpriest Anatoliy, the senior priest at the Cathedral of the Nativity, which is aligned with Russian Orthodoxy, told Al Jazeera that he would not back the new church. We will not recognise its legitimacy, he said. This is not a council, this is a gang of bandits who have gathered to take over the temples and destroy the church. That leaves the meeting between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, the countrys largest branch by the number of believers, and the smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Ukraines SBU security service warned this week that Russia plans provocations in the country when the clerics are due to meet. The SBUs deputy head Viktor Kononenko asked Ukrainians on Thursday to refrain from holding any [political] gatherings during this period so that they could not be used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country. Earlier this month, Ukrainian authorities raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia as religious tensions between the two countries grew. The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to wrest Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries into its control. before the council, Russias Patriarch Kirill appealed to the pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from persecution. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko who is expected to attend the council has made an independent church a campaign pledge as he looks ahead to an unpredictable presidential election next year. Kiev officials have framed the church issue as one of national security, with Poroshenko in the past referring to the branch loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate as a threat. The synod comes shortly after a maritime crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. If the attempt to create a unified Ukrainian Church is successful, it would be among the largest in the Orthodox world in terms of the number of believers. Yemen: UN official warns of daunting task to end four-year war A day after an interim peace deal in Yemen, Martin Griffiths feels there is still a long and difficult road ahead. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System has reported a horse has tested positive for strangles in New Brunswick. A veterinarian from the Provincial Veterinary Service who practices in the western half of the province of New Brunswick was called on November 5 to see a horse off feed and swelling of the right parotid area. The horse was cultured positive for Strept. equi equi four days later. This horse was euthanized for other health reasons. The premise was put under quarantine on November 5 as strangles was suspected with the clinical signs. Three other horses on the farm were exposed to the positive case. One horse (a pony) showed clinical signs eight days later and was cultured positive. The two remaining horses on the farm were also sampled and one out of the two horses also cultured positive but both showed no clinical signs. Currently the two horses have not shown clinical signs and the pony has made a full recovery. The farm continues to be under quarantine and serial nasal swabs are planned before the quarantine is lifted. Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease of horses characterized by abscesses in the lymphoid tissue of the upper respiratory tract. The causative organism, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, is highly host-adapted and generally produces clinical disease only in horses, donkeys, and mules. Strangles is an endemic disease in horses and circulates relatively commonly in the horse population. A significant number of affected premises in a relatively confined geographical area is a good reminder to horse owners and veterinarians to practise appropriate biosecurity procedures for horses and equipment coming on and off the farm AND infection control within the barn. Transmission occurs via fomites and direct contact with infectious exudates. Sharing of halters and brushes that may contact the fluid from draining abscesses can spread the disease. The source of Strangles on any of these premises could have been the entry of a new horse, contact with a carrier somewhere off the farm (e.g. at a show) or on the clothing, hands or equipment of a visitor (such as a feed supplier, farrier or veterinarian who had recent contact with an infected horse). Survival of the organism in the environment is dependent on temperature and humidity. Under ideal environmental circumstances, the organism can survive 7-9 weeks outside the host. Paddocks and barn facilities used by infected horses should be regarded as contaminated for about two months after resolution of an outbreak. Carrier animals are important for maintenance of the bacteria between epizootics and initiation of outbreaks on premises previously free of disease. Horse owners need to be aware that clinically recovered animals should have three negative nasopharyngeal swabs to be determined "Strangles-free". Recommendations regarding vaccination can be found in the OMAFRA disease factsheet. Strangles is a good opportunity to remind your clients that the best disease control is disease prevention. (with files from EDCC) In the Illinois Capitol Rotunda this month, several traditions are being celebrated. We find a nativity scene for Christmas; a menorah for Hanukkah; and, alongside these displays, an arm holding an apple, with a snake coiled around it. This snake sculpture is a gift from the Chicago branch of The Satanic Temple. Called "Snaketivity," the work also has a sign that reads, "Knowledge Is The Greatest Gift." This revolting travesty is a result of decades of decisions pertaining to the non-establishment of religion asserted in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. If a group of people incorporates as a non-for-profit religious organization to worship Medusa with her head covered with snakes, would those people be allowed to have a sculpture of Medusa in the Illinois Capitol? Looking at her would turn one to stone. Looking at Snaketivity turns this writer to stone-faced silence and outrage. Next to these displays is a statement to the effect that "[t]he State of Illinois is required by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to allow temporary, public displays in the state capitol[.] ... Because the first floor of the Capitol Rotunda is a public place, state officials cannot legally censor the content of speech or displays. The United States Supreme Court has held that public officials may legally impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions regarding displays and speeches, but no regulation can be based on the content of the speech." So, we ask, why did they not impose reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions? While speech must be allowed, speech must not necessarily be allowed wherever the speaker wants the speech. There are rules where public events may be held, and said laws must be consistent with the public order and user-appropriate. Lata Nott, an expert on free speech, has stated, "If you invite someone to speak on your campus and are a public university, you have to respect their First Amendment rights[.] ... That doesn't mean you can't put regulations on a speech, like dictating the time, place, venue and suggestions for subject matter. It just means you can't do so in a way that discriminates against a certain point of view." With this point in mind, it seems strange that no Christian or Jewish organization challenged the State Government of Illinois for allowing this complete mockery of the First Amendment. It seems certain that the American Center for Law and Justice or the Rutherford Institute or Liberty Counsel would have taken up this fight. Hanukkah and Christmas have been celebrated in December for many hundreds of years. Other religions do not have December events that are this significant, and especially the Satanic Temple, which is not even celebrating an event lifted up in the tenets, practices, or texts of its beliefs. Therefore, the requirement that its "snake" be displayed alongside a menorah or a creche is wholly bogus. The word "religion" comes from the Latin word ligare: to join or link, classically understood to mean the linking of human and divine. There is no linking of the human and divine for the Satanic Temple. There is no divine or supernatural appeal for the Satanic Temple. Instead, in its "Canon," "Satan" is declared a "theological metaphor" for free inquiry. When they say, "Hail Satan," they state that they are in effect hailing a metaphor, not a supernatural person. Ironically, born-again Christians would understand that they are hailing a supernatural being, albeit one defeated by Christ and eternally defeated. We understand that they are denying the very one they are praising. In Satanists' "Seven Fundamental Tenets," there is not one reference to any supernatural being or to the promulgation of evil. Rather, true to the biblical definition of Satan as someone who comes (masquerades) as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), their tenets name their raison d'etre as fighting for justice, having control over one's body (a not so veiled support for abortion), compassion, empathy, reasonableness, conforming with science (climate change acceptance implied), and some tepid thoughts about doing one's best even though we make mistakes. Their tenets finish with a call to the Stoic ideal of "nobility in action and thought." These platitudes are pap from the lips of the Deceiver. He is such a deceiver that he does not even claim to be ruler of "principalities and powers" (Ephesians 6:12), but takes a modest backseat as he proclaims himself just another secular humanist. By failing to constrain the so-called "free speech" of the Satanists, the State of Illinois has increased the likelihood that the American Atheists will have displays alongside Christian and Jewish displays even though, as this article is suggesting, they do not have a legitimate claim to be a religious organization or to offer time-honored celebrations that are as historically significant as those of Christians and Jews. The battle goes on and must go on. It is a battle that must continue to be waged in courts and in the public arena. It is a battle between the spirit of truth of Elijah and the wicked, impotent spirit of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40). We must remain alert to areas where the fight has not been waged and follow up. This writer will send a copy of this article to all three great legal organizations mentioned and encourages the reader to do likewise. As I noted here on June 30, 2017 Michael Flynn and Andrew McCabe have a past that predates the Trump presidency, one that provides ample motivation for the perjury trap that McCabe and James Comey set up after Flynns illegal unmasking. McCabe had a personal grudge against Flynn and the perjury trap was his revenge. It explains why McCabe would entrap Flynn in a seemingly harmless interview about contacts with Flynns Russian counterparts, advising Flynn he didnt need to bring a lawyer along to complicate things: The federal judge who will sentence Lt.-Gen. Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI has ordered the FBI to give him, by today, the notes written by the two FBI agents who interviewed Flynn in January 2017. Judge Emmet Sullivan also wants to see a January 24 memo that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe wrote about his own telephone conversation with Flynn, a conversation that happened just two hours before the FBI agents arrived at Flynn's West Wing office. This follows information in Flynn's sentencing memo to the court, which suggests that Flynn was deliberately set up: The sentencing memo says at 12:35 p.m. on January 24, 2017, McCabe called Flynn at his West Wing office to discuss a security training session the FBI had recently conducted at the white [sic] House. McCabe's written memo detailing that phone conversation says McCabe told Flynn "that we needed to have two of our agents sit down" with Flynn to talk about his communications with Russian officials. McCabe wrote: "I explained that I thought the quickest way to get this done was to have a conversation between [General Flynn] and the agents only. I further stated that if LTG Flynn wished to include anyone else in the meeting, like the White House Counsel for instance, that I would need to involve the Department of Justice. [General Flynn] stated that this would not be necessary and agreed to meet with the agents without any additional participants. To help cover up the setup, it also appears that multiple 302s, or FBI interview summaries, were created: The sentencing memorandum reveals for the first time concrete evidence that the FBI created multiple 302 interview summaries of Flynns questioning by now-former FBI agent Peter Strzok and a second unnamed agent, reported to be FBI Special Agent Joe Pientka While Flynns sentencing memorandum methodically laid out the case for a low-level sentence of one-year probation, footnote 23 dropped a bomb, revealing that the agents 302 summary of his interview was dated August 22, 2017. As others have already noted, the August 22, 2017 date is a striking detail because that puts the 302 report nearly seven months after the Flynn interview. When added to facts already known, this revelation takes on a much greater significance. Indeed, the existence of multiple 302s and the seven-month gap lends credence that the Flynn investigation was a setup motivated in large part by Andrew McCabes desire for personal revenge for Flynns past actions impacting McCabe at a personal level. The unmasking of Flynn in the Russia probe may indeed be retaliation against Flynn for perceived political sins, but not for what and by whom you might think, if reports from investigative watchdog site Circa News are correct. As Sara A. Carter and John Solomon of Circa News report: The FBI launched a criminal probe against former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn two years after the retired Army general roiled the bureaus leadership by intervening on behalf of a decorated counterterrorism agent who accused now-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and other top officials of sexual discrimination, according to documents and interviews. Flynns intervention on behalf of Supervisory Special Agent Robyn Gritz was highly unusual, and included a letter in 2014 on his official Pentagon stationary, a public interview in 2015 supporting Gritzs case and an offer to testify on her behalf. His offer put him as a hostile witness in a case against McCabe, who was soaring through the bureaus leadership ranks. The FBI sought to block Flynns support for the agent, asking a federal administrative law judge in May 2014 to keep Flynn and others from becoming a witness in her Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) case, memos obtained by Circa show. Two years later, the FBI opened its inquiry of Flynn McCabe eventually became the bureaus No. 2 executive and emerged as a central player in the FBIs Russia election tampering investigation, putting him in a position to impact the criminal inquiry against Flynn. Three FBI employees told Circa they personally witnessed McCabe make disparaging remarks about Flynn before and during the time the retired Army general emerged as a figure in the Russia case. In legal circles, thats called "motive". We have to factor in as well that McCabe and Flynn come from different ends of the political spectrum. Flynn became a key Trump supporter after accusing President Obama of facilitating the rise of ISIS through his policies and inaction. McCabe is a Democratic loyalist whose wife campaigned for state office in Virginia as a Democrat with heavy Democratic financial support. In fact, McCabes efforts on behalf of his wife became the subject of multiple federal probes: Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a central player in the Russia election case, is the focus of three separate federal administrative inquiries into allegations about his behavior as a senior bureau executive, according to documents and interviews. The allegations being reviewed range from sexual discrimination to improper political activity, the documents show Circa reported Monday that former supervisory special agent Robyn Gritz, a decorated counterterrorism agent, has filed a sexual discrimination and retaliation complaint that names McCabe and other top FBI officials Gritz also filed a complaint against McCabe with the main federal whistleblower agency in April, alleging social media photos she found show he campaigned for his wifes Virginia state senate race in violation of the Hatch Act In addition, the Justice Department Inspector General is investigating allegations from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, that McCabe may not have properly disclosed campaign payments to his wife on his ethics report and should have recused himself from Hillary Clinton's email case. McCabe certainly had no love lost on Michael Flynn, who was a potential witness on behalf of one of McCabes accusers. As PJ Media reports: In 2014, Flynn, then director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, personally intervened on behalf of Supervisory Special Agent Robyn Gritz by writing a letter vouching for her on his official Pentagon stationary and offering to testify on her behalf. He also supported her case in a radio interview in 2015 The FBI, for its part, claimed that Gritz had become "underperforming, tardy to work, insurbordinate, possibly mentally ill or emotional and deserving of a poor performance review." Flynn argued just the opposite in his May 9, 2014 letter: SSA Gritz was well-known, liked and respected in the military counter-terrorism community for her energy, commitment and professional capacity, and over the years worked in several interagency groups on counter-terrorism targeting initiatives. McCabe did not disclose Democratic contributions to his wifes campaign in Virginia in financial disclosure forms, donations that raised questions about both his integrity and objectivity. As Fox News Politics reports: The records, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, show FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe left the box blank for wife Dr. Jill McCabe's salary, as a doctor with Commonwealth Emergency Physicians. And there is no documentation of the hundreds of thousands of campaign funds she received in her unsuccessful 2015 Virginia state Senate race. As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, Clinton confidant and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe urged McCabes wife to run for statewide office shortly after news reports were published that Hillary Clinton used a private email server and address for all her government business while serving as secretary of State. For the reporting period of October through November 2015, McCabe's campaign filings show she received $467,500 from Common Good VA, a political action committee controlled by McAuliffe, as well as an additional $292,500 from a second Democratic PAC. Connect those dots, Democrats and others looking for Russians hiding under Republican beds. We have a former Deputy FBI Director, Andrew McCabe, campaigning for his wife who receives huge sums of money from the Democratic Party of Clinton political ally Terry McAuliffe. After Clinton blames Russia for her election loss, Flynn becomes a target of an FBI probe in which his identity is illegally unmasked. He was a character witness on behalf of one of McCabes accusers. Was the largesse to Mrs. McCabe a quid for a future quo? Is all this just the result of McCabes lust for personal revenge? Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. With Hanukkah just concluding and Christmas around the corner, we are in the midst of miracle season. I realize that many are unfamiliar with the story of Hanukkah and Jewish traditions, so Id like to share my Hanukkah miracle with you. But first, some background. Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights as it is commonly known, is not just about the liberation of Judean Jews from the oppression of Seleucid King Antiochus and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it had been defiled by the Syrian Greeks. As the letters on the dreidel symbolize (A Great Miracle Happened There), it is more about the miracle of having one days worth of oil to burn in the Temple menorah endure, instead, for eight days. The last night of Hanukkah this year was December 9th and happened to coincide with the third anniversary of my mothers death or yahrzeit as we call it in Yiddish -- a derivation from the German word Jahrzeit meaning anniversary or literally translated as year time. A very with it 83-year-old, my mother passed away unexpectedly three years ago on December 13th probably from a tear in the muscle of her heart. I am certain her torn heart was as much physical as emotional, watching my father deteriorate from dementia -- waking up after 61 years of marriage to a man partly flummoxed and partly terrified at the strange woman in the bed next to him, struggling to understand that he was in his home, the father of four grown children. Why the disparity in dates? Jews commemorate the death of a loved one on the anniversary of their passing, but the actual date is determined by the Jewish calendar which follows the moon, as opposed to the Gregorian calendar which follows the sun. The date of the deceaseds yahrzeit fluctuates from year-to-year depending on the Jewish calendar. Thus, her date of death was December 13th, but her yahrzeit this year was December 9th. To observe the yahrzeit, we light a special candle that burns for 24 hours starting on sundown the night before, and we recite the Kaddish, which is a special prayer for mourners. The Kaddish is a fascinating prayer. It curiously doesnt mention death but is more a reaffirmation of the presence and power of G-d. Here is one translation: Glorified and sanctified be Gods great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. Life goes on. G-d is omnipresent. He is with us always. May He grant us peace. The Kaddish is not just for funerals but figures prominently in the weekly Jewish liturgy. It is one of several important prayers every Jew who goes to Hebrew school learns. Over the Millenia it has moved people to tears, comforted them on their deathbeds, calmed countless mourners, and kept the Jewish People connected to their faith and each other in times of abject horror. In the year of mourning following a loved ones death, the mourner is supposed to recite the Kaddish every day. When I did it for my mother, I cried nearly every time the first few months. But the handful of minutes I set aside every day to recite the Kaddish, came to be sacrosanct -- even if I blasted through it or whispered it between bites of a sandwich. It forced me to dedicate a smidgen of time out of a busy day to her memory and my loss. Eventually, I started skipping days, then weeks. By the end of that first year of mourning, I didnt feel the need to recite it. In a sense, the daily mantra of saying Kaddish became a normalized part of my routine until her death became part of my daily existence. So on her yahrzeit this December 9th, my husband and I trekked to the cemetery to pay her a visit. In line with Jewish tradition, we left stones on the headstone to signify that we had been there and then, I dropped my husband off at home and headed towards the gym up the road. It so happens, I live in my hometown where my parents raised us and lived for 54+ years. I feel and see them in everything I do. Up until recently, I didnt believe one way or the other in an afterlife, per se. I just knew that if, as Judaism teaches, the soul joins with an infinite G-d and, if there was any way for my mother to contact me, she would because we were so close and her death was so sudden -- with so much left unsaid. There have been several instances where I believe she was sending me a message and I know people who have been through this will nod their heads in concert with me; those who havent had such an experience will think Im delusional. One such instance took place around my sons high school graduation. He was the only grandchild whose high school graduation she would not be able to attend -- and she traveled, come Hell or high water, to California, Maine, and Upstate New York to attend any and all graduations. Shortly before his graduation, after I drove by the cemetery and was discussing my sorrow with my husband, a song I hadnt heard in ages popped onto a radio station I normally dont listen to. It was Youll Never Walk Alone from Carousel which happened to be their wedding song and one she always used to sing to me. As if that werent crazy enough, as I was tearing up at my sons graduation and started paging through the graduation program to distract myself, I saw that the band would be playingYoull Never Walk Alone. To add to the irony, Carousel is about a man of questionable integrity who dies before ever seeing his daughter and gets a chance at redemption by traveling back to Earth where in the end, he attends her high school graduation where the students sing Youll Never Walk Alone. Okay, I get it. Maybe I was looking to connect these dots. Its not a popular song, but not totally obscure either. The radio station could be coincidence. Maybe its not unusual for this tune to be performed at a high school graduation. I was forced to chalk it all up to coincidence. But this December 9th miracle seems ironclad to me. As I was driving to the gym after visiting my mothers grave on her yahrzeit, thinking about how much I missed her, what a lousy few years it had been for me personally, and how dark it all seems now for this country, it was hard to miss an airplane flying overhead trailing a banner. Ive seen them at the Jersey shore, but never around the burbs. If Ive missed them, theyre not a common occurrence. My first thought was it must be for a local tree lighting event, but then as it got closer, I was able to read in large capital letters ROTHMANs with orthopedics underneath in smaller type. I damn near drove off the road. I pulled into a parking lot and took a picture with my iPhone, knowing that no one would believe me otherwise. Id never heard of this Rothmans Orthopedics. It is obviously a new business and someone thought an airplane banner would stand out. It just so happens that Rothman is my mothers maiden name. If there was ever a sign that she was watching over me and my family, it came in an airplane about 1000 feet above my head in my home town, on the third anniversary of her death two months after my father joined her, on the last night of a holiday about miracles. My mother and I were very close -- as much sisters as mother and daughter. As I said, if there was a way she could reach out to me from beyond the grave and say Here I am, she would. G-d said Hineni or Here I am to Abraham as he was about to plunge a knife into his son, Isaac. It was a test of Abrahams faith. Putting together the pieces, I now know that she is here and Ill never walk alone. I could laugh it off as just coincidence -- and maybe it is -- but then Id fail the test, the knife would slice me open and Id see darkness instead of the light. I cant help but think there is a national component to this as well. Without intending to turn my mothers death political, it is the G-ds honest truth that the last conversation we had on December 12, 2015 was about Donald Trump. A Democrat who usually voted for Republicans, a reluctant member of the teachers union, and a Tea Partier, my mother supported him from the very get-go. Do ya really think he can do it, Sal? Become President? It would be so good for America if he could. Yes, Mom. Donald Trump has been good for America, but what should be a time of jubilation, has been one of anguish and darkness. The Democrats are viciously attacking him, his family, and his supporters on all fronts with lies, exaggeration, and spin. They seem to control everything in our society and culture and we are all feeling beat down. It is as if there is a collective psychosis in this country that is making all the gains. Trump wasnt the mistake the establishmentarians and leftwing think he is. The old order was no longer working. It was leaving large swaths of America behind. He won against all odds fighting 16 experienced Republicans and a Clinton -- all of whom should have prevailed over him. Think about it: he came out of nowhere with no political experience at the right time to resurrect this country. Perhaps we need to open our minds to the possibility that Trump is a miracle, not a mistake; and, as long as he fights for us, we need to let him know that hell never walk alone. Lenin once said, "The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them." No doubt Hamas, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups are saying the same thing. Tech giant Cloudflare apparently doesn't care whose money it gets for its services, only that it's paid on time. The company counts among its millions of clients several known foreign terrorist groups, including al-Shabaab, the Taliban, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, al-Quds Brigades, and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). HuffPost: In the United States, it's a crime to knowingly provide tangible or intangible "material support" including communications equipment to a designated foreign terrorist organization or to provide service to an OFAC-sanctioned entity without special permission. Cloudflare, which is not authorized by the OFAC to do business with such organizations, has been informed on multiple occasions, dating back to at least 2012, that it is shielding terrorist groups behind its network, and it continues to do so. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other free speech advocates have long been critical of material support laws. The foundation described them as tools the government has used to "chill First Amendment protected activities" such as providing "expert advice and assistance" including training for peacefully resolving conflicts to designated foreign terrorist organizations. Many of the designated groups, the EFF has argued, also provide humanitarian assistance to their constituents. But so far, free speech advocates' arguments haven't carried the day which means that Cloudflare still could be breaking the law. The EFF's reasoning is specious. Providing "training for peacefully resolving conflicts" presupposes that the terrorist groups are interested in peacefully resolving anything. It's also a joke that the terrorist groups provide "humanitarian assistance." That impulse is not born out of an altruistic desire to help people. It's a political tactic to maintain control of the population. "We try to be neutral and not insert ourselves too much as the arbiter of what's allowed to be online," said Cloudflare's general counsel, Doug Kramer. However, he added, "we are very aware of our obligations under the sanctions laws. We think about this hard, and we've got a policy in place to stay in compliance with those laws." He declined to comment directly on the list of websites HuffPost provided to Cloudflare, citing privacy concerns. Cloudflare secures and optimizes websites; it is not a domain host. Although Cloudflare doesn't host websites, its services are essential to the survival of controversial pages, which would otherwise be vulnerable to vigilante hacker campaigns known as distributed denial-of-service attacks. As the tech firm puts it, "The size and scale of the attacks that can now easily be launched online make it such that if you don't have a network like Cloudflare in front of your content, and you upset anyone, you will be knocked offline." And this would be a bad thing? Allowing terrorists to easily and safely spread their propaganda makes Cloudflare complicit in the deaths of innocents. The only way you can escape that logic is to deny the reality of what these terrorist groups are espousing: violence and death for their enemies. Even the hacker group Anonymous is upset with Cloudflare: The international hacktivist group Anonymous accused Cloudflare of serving dozens of ISIS-affiliated websites in 2015, which Prince shrugged off as "armchair analysis" by "15-year-old kids in Guy Fawkes masks." In media interviews, he maintained that serving a terrorist entity is not akin to an endorsement and said only a few of the sites on Anonymous' list belonged to ISIS. Prince hinted that government authorities had ordered Cloudflare to keep certain controversial pages online. The FBI, Justice Department, State Department, Treasury Department and White House declined to comment on that assertion. Cloudflare is hiding behind the First Amendment as surely as militant terrorists do. Why the government hasn't even tried to prosecute the company is a mystery. A former American commando has been charged with the murder of an Afghan terrorist who was suspected of killing two Marines when a bomb went off in a market. Maj. Mathew Golsteyn has admitted to tracking down and killing the suspected bomb-maker and destroying his remains. Golsteyn was charged after an investigation that began following an interview about the incident with Fox News. He had his silver star stripped when, during a lie-detector test for CIA employment, he admitted to killing the suspect. New York Post: An Army Special Operations Command spokesman told Fox News on Friday that "sufficient evidence exists" to warrant charges against Golsteyn. But the former commando's lawyer said Golsteyn had been "betrayed" by the Army. Golsteyn explained in a 2016 interview that he killed the suspect, who had been turned over by Afghans cooperating with the US, because the man was likely to cause more violence. "There's limits on how long you can hold guys," he told Fox News for a special report titled "How We Fight." "You realize quickly that you make things worse. It is an inevitable outcome that people who are cooperating with coalition forces, when identified, will suffer some terrible torture or be killed." Asked if he killed the man, Golsteyn said, "Yes." ... The chain of events began in 2010 when an explosion took place at a bazaar. Two US Marines Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, and Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19 were killed. The next day, two Afghan men walked up to the US military compound with the suspect bound. They said he was responsible for the attack. The man, however, was released when no bomb-making material was found. But not long after, he was shot while walking along a path in Marjah. Technically, Golsteyn is probably guilty in that the rules of war grant some protection to the bomb-making suspect. But in hostile territory, with invisible hands raised against you, the "rules of war" mean little. Sure, the two Afghans who brought the suspect to the U.S. military might have just picked someone off the street or turned in someone they had a grudge against. But what if they had the right guy? Does intent matter in this case? Golsteyn obviously believed that the man was guilty of murdering two U.S. Marines and was capable of going on killing. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what Golsteyn believed at the time. There was no "just cause" in killing the suspect. As far as the Army and the U.S. government are concerned, Golsteyn murdered an innocent civilian. You would hope that the prosecutor in the case takes everything into account and won't recommend jail time for Golsteyn. It is always a bad idea to defy an order from a federal judge especially when the judge whose order has been blown off has a history of vigilance against law enforcement and prosecutorial abuse and has thrown out convictions that resulted from abuse. Yet the nation's premier, most powerful law enforcement agency has just done so. The Mueller Special Counsel Office's case against General Michael Flynn took a bizarre turn Friday when the FBI failed to provide Judge Emmet G. Sullivan with the original form 302 account of its interview with Flynn in the early days of the Trump administration. General Flynn's guilty plea was based on yielding to the FBI's contention that he lied to them about his (perfectly legal) conversation with Russia's Ambassador Kislyak, concealing their discussion of sanctions. At the point of his guilty plea, General Flynn had been bankrupted by legal fees, and his son was threatened with criminal prosecution. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan (official photo). But in defiance of Judge Sullivan's order, the FBI did not turn over that Form 302 and instead offered a Form 302 of its interview with Peter Strzok, six months later, referencing the original interview with Flynn that was conducted by Strzok and FBI agent Joe Pientka. Sean Davis of The Federalist has provided a Twitter thread that covers the key points and includes excerpts from the documents: Earlier this week, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordered DOJ to produce the FBI 302 of the FBI interview of Flynn. Those documents were just filed. There is no 302 of the interview. Instead, there's a 302 of an interview of *Strzok* talking about the interview 6 months later. pic.twitter.com/MCELRDlbti Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 14, 2018 The FBI 302 of the interview with Strzok about the Flynn interview, however, explicitly references a 302 written up about the Flynn interview by a redacted official, who is likely Joe Pientka. DOJ did not include that 302 in today's filing. Where is the original Flynn 302? pic.twitter.com/yRlkqOWhWp Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 14, 2018 But it's not just the missing Flynn 302 that raises red flags about this investigation. It's the fact that the Strzok 302 interview--the sole basis for the Flynn charge--was conducted just 4 days after Lisa Page was fired and days before Strzok himself was fired by Mueller. pic.twitter.com/8jplDKwouD Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 14, 2018 But the August 302 on the July interview of Strzok specifically references a 302 of the January Flynn interview and accompanying notes compiled by Strzoks interviewing partner (likely Joe Pientka). Where is that 302 and where are the notes? https://t.co/Nq7KvlRQER Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 14, 2018 TechnoFog added two important observations: Included is this interesting footnote: Strzok was interviewed on July 19, 2017 "in relation to other matters, not as part of the investigation of [Flynn] or any investigation of Strzok's conduct." pic.twitter.com/OAn5Kjlalp Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) December 14, 2018 Clarification: the *Strzok 302.@seanmdav pointed something out for me: the July 2017 302 mentions a prior 302, which wasn't filed with the court. Flynn's answers/demeanor were "documented in the 302." (see photo) No idea where that 302 is - but Mueller was req'd to file it pic.twitter.com/OREJ94vO8F Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) December 14, 2018 This raises many questions. What happened to the Form 302 of the Flynn interview? Does the FBI have it and is willfully defying Judge Sullivan? Or was the document "lost" or destroyed? If so, why? Retired FBI agent Mark Wauck tells me that Form 302s are not considered evidence, but are work documents that, in theory, are the property of the American people. They should not be destroyed. Even more critically, contemporaneous notes of the interview, which would appear to have been produced by Agent Pietka, are considered evidence. My observation is that the destruction of evidence in a criminal probe would be obstruction of justice, if that is what happened. Wauck comments in an email: Those notes are evidence. If destroyed, that's a very big deal. If withheld from the judge who demands them, also a big deal. General Flynn's sentencing by Judge Sullivan is to take place Tuesday. I have my fingers crossed that Judge Sullivan will throw out the guilty plea and the case and demand from the FBI an account of the fate of the missing Form 302. My fondest hope is that a special counsel will be appointed the investigate misbehavior of the Mueller team and the FBI. Obviously, such an appointment would be attacked as an effort to hobble Mueller. But if a federal judge demanded accountability, that would aid considerably in justifying a new special counsel. Update: One further thought occurred to me. Since the FBI has flouted Judge Sullivan, he may want to rely on the U.S. Marshals Service, which serves the federal courts, to interrogate FBI officials and members of Team Mueller. He could possibly charge the Marshals to obtain the documents from the FBI, though I confess to utter ignorance of the relevant law and regulations. Bit by bit, like the monument to Ozymandias chipped away by shifting desert sands, the Obamacare monolith is coming down. Friday, a Texas court struck down the law as "unconstitutional" based on Congress repealing the individual mandate in 2017. Rick Moran wrote about it here. For those of us stuck in the individual market with no choice but to buy the hellish Obamacare, that's a relief. Maybe it gets appealed successfully by lefty states such as California. Maybe it doesn't. But what's worth noting is that Democrats will continue to fight for it on the spurious "narrative" that it protects pre-existing conditions, something that most Americans sympathize with, as if such an end would never be achievable without the law, while wanting us to pay no attention to that little detail about those soaring costs. Fact is, if there ever was a law that didn't do what it promised to do which is to say lower costs and allow people to keep their doctors Obamacare is it. It taxes the poor, which is to say people who cannot afford it and who don't qualify as supplicants to its subsidies, and it lards up a lot of unwanted and unneeded services on buyers, which every buyer in that one-size-fits-all setup must pay for. As Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber explained, its gargantuan costs were hidden from voters because the law's creators considered Americans "stupid." It's all there on video. No wonder the public hates the law. Congress did strike down the poverty tax for those who cannot afford Obamacare on its own difficult terms earlier, so chip one has happened. People with incomes that might be high one month and very low the next got freed not to buy it. Now this judicial strike-down, based on the premise upheld by the Supreme Court earlier, saying the whole thing was within Congress's power to issue taxes, is built on Congress's new decision to repeal the tax. That's good news, because it potentially gets rid of the second-most detested thing about the nightmare of Obamacare: the low choice and one-size-fits-all insurance policies Obamacare offers, which force buyers to purchase services they will never need and likely do not want things like expensive and highly failure-prone treatment for users of illegal drugs and their addictions, pregnancy care for those who can never become pregnant, mammograms for men, and other people's children's dental care (dental care for actual Obamacare-buyers sold separately). These larded up mandates were brought on by lobbying and special interests that got their snoots in the trough and the influence to have such pet issues placed there, while others with less political clout, such as dental providers, got left in the cold. Buyers just want health care insurance that serves their needs. Since it's their own money being spent, they have a right to spend it as they know best. Obamacare has failed spectacularly on that front. It's not about serving insurance buyers, which is what would happen in a free market; it's about succoring special interests, the ones that were in tight with Democrats in Congress. Voters bearing the sky-high costs can see that, and now a judge has taken their side. One can only hope the ruling sticks, because without the mandate tax, and the one-size-fits-all setup, the stage is now set for ending the third most loathsome aspect of Obamacare, which is the low numbers of choices due to insurance companies not being able to make money on them. Let a hundred flowers bloom now, with interstate insurance pools to be formed to lower costs, because the market stands ready for that. More choices, lower costs, and a service that puts customers first is something only free markets can accomplish. Let's hope the judge's strike-down sticks. Contrary to what the Democrats are telling the press, a lot of us are rejoicing. Image credit: Christopher Mitchel via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. A seven-year-old migrant child died of shock and dehydration in Border Patrol custody last Dec. 6, and already the left is after them. The Washington Post (hat tip: Daily Caller) reports: The child's death is likely to intensify scrutiny of detention conditions at Border Patrol stations and CBP facilities that are increasingly overwhelmed by large numbers of families seeking asylum in the United States. ...and... The ACLU blamed "lack of accountability, and a culture of cruelty within CBP" for the girl's death. "The fact that it took a week for this to come to light shows the need for transparency for CBP. We call for a rigorous investigation into how this tragedy happened and serious reforms to prevent future deaths," Cynthia Pompa, advocacy manager for the ACLU Border Rights Center, said in a statement. Oh, what garbage. Next up, a $40-million lawsuit and some kind of taxpayer payout. What's obnoxious here is the left's quickness to blame the Border Patrol for the actions of her father, dragging a seven-year-old through one of the world's most hostile deserts like that, and using her as a human shield to avoid immigrant detention and to partake in "catch and release." The father was traveling with a group of 163 illegals and their human-smuggler escort, who broke into the U.S. unvetted and without authorization and turned themselves in to the lawmen in order to claim zero-fee asylum on the spot, playing the migrant game. Either they would get it or they wouldn't get it, but the honorable mention for the father if he didn't would be to get several free years to work in the U.S. and send remittances back home before the likely deportation. And what did he bring here? Zero skills, no education not even the Spanish language, let alone English and an appetite for all that free stuff the gringos hand out. With a prize like that on offer, yes, there are a certain number of people who would risk their children's lives with human-smugglers through one of the world's most dangerous and remote deserts, which is what went down. If an American did that, he would be charged with child abuse, and quite a few of them already have been. But break the law for entry, and somehow, the Border Patrol is the bad guy. That would be the same Border Patrol that tried to save the child, offering her food and water, as she apparently seemed in decent health, with her father saying nothing to help them figure out what was going on. It's quite possible he didn't know what was going on, either; some of these people have amazingly weak parenting skills. Once, when I was in Los Angeles, a non-English-speaking group of likely illegal Salvadorans spilled hot chocolate all over one of their toddlers at a Starbucks and didn't seem to understand that hielo was what she needed to avoid permanent burns. I saw that scalding hot chocolate go all over the child's delicate skin and was horrified more by that than by the toddler's screams of pain. And they just kept trying to shut her up as she screamed. I had to get up and tell them that hielo was muy necesario right now and went to the barista to insist that she give us some and then had to show the Salvadoran dad how to put it on the screaming child until she was able to calm herself. I suspect that the father of this now deceased child didn't know much about a seven-year-old's need for basic hydration. Over here, that would be child abuse, and some version of a Child Protective Services agency would be all over any American who dragged his kid through a dangerous desert, ruling such a person an unfit parent and taking the child away. But here the "narrative" is to blame the lawmen and probably sue for big bucks. One set of laws for them, one set for us got it. It also highlights the need for a border wall, something Congress refuses to fund, even as kids with parents who game the system and use its incentives put those incentives above the lives of their kids. What the left, of course, wants, is completely open borders with no enforcement whatsoever. It highlights is that illegal aliens are a sort of doll-toy for the left, easily manipulated in any direction by left-wingers, yet with nothing expected of them in return. Normal people expect normal parents to treat their children humanely. Nobody takes his seven-year-old into the dirty, dangerous, remote desert. Normal people alert lawmen that their children are in distress in order to get them some water or whatever it is they need. Normal people know where they are going and know the customs of the country where they are headed, particularly if they have kids. Yet according to this press and activist narrative, it's always OK when the illegals do it. Had the father stayed in Mexico, the Mexicans would have provided for him as they have shown they are willing to do with the caravan migrants of Tijuana. He ignored that just because he didn't want to wait his turn in line. Someone needs to be arrested for child abuse in this case, and it's not the Border Patrol. What was once an outstanding source of great conservative writing is no more. The Weekly Standard officially folded yesterday, making it the first actual fatality attributable to Trump Derangement Syndrome. That cause of death seems indisputable to me, even though John Podhoretz, who was involved in the creation of TWS and now publishes Commentary, vehemently disagrees, charging that TWS was "murdered": There is no real reason we are witnessing the magazine's demise other than deep pettiness and a personal desire for bureaucratic revenge on the part of a penny-ante Machiavellian who works for its parent company. There would at least be a larger meaning to the Standard's end if it were being killed because it was hostile to Donald Trump. But I do not believe that is the case. Rather, I believe the fissures in the conservative movement and the Republican party that have opened up since Trump's rise provided the company man with a convenient argument to make to the corporation's owner, Philip Anschutz, that the company could perhaps harvest the Standard's subscriber-base riches and then be done with it. That this is an entirely hostile act is proved by the fact that he and Anschutz have refused to sell the Standard because they want to claim its circulation for another property of theirs. This is without precedent in my experience in publishing, and I've been a family observer of and active participant in the magazine business for half a century. Though I am not familiar with its books, my understanding is that from the beginning, TWS was on financial life support, requiring million-dollar-plus subsidies to stay alive, first from News Corporation and subsequently from Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz, who also publishes the Examiner and other media properties. Conservatives may fiercely debate whether or not removing life support from a human in a coma is murder, but the Constitution offers no guarantee of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" to publications, only to humans. So removing the financial life support cannot be considered murder, much though those involved with publications consider them living organisms. Daniel McCarthy, who founded The American Conservative, sagely comments on why money-losing magazines about politics sometimes enjoy life support from billionaires: The Weekly Standard's value lay in the fact that it was an insider magazine. It was a top-down product there was never an independent mass audience clamoring for a second National Review or for a specifically neoconservative publication. (Commentary, as a monthly, already served that market as far as demand could justify.) What was important was that the magazine be read not by a mass market but by Republican officials and their staff and various other influential persons, primarily in Washington, D.C. If officialdom read the Weekly Standard, then it was worth continuing to spend millions on it. ... The person most identified with the brand is Kristol, by far. He stepped down as editor at the end of 2016, but his public persona still defines the magazine: his bitter, flippant, or sarcastic tweets about Trump and Trump supporters are the Weekly Standard's brand in the public's eye. Few people look at the masthead of a magazine closely enough to realize when a prominent editor such as Kristol has been replaced by a less prominent once [sic] such as Steve Hayes and because Kristol remains on the masthead as editor-at-large, ordinary readers have even more cause for confusion. ('Editor-at-large' sounds a lot like 'editor' to most people, but in fact usually means 'ex-editor.') Fairly or not, Bill Kristol is the brand. With Trump administration officials ignoring TWS, and Dems not interested in a conservative publication that is most closely identified with enthusiastic support for the Iraq War and occupation, what real benefit would any prospective owner of TWS be getting? From the standpoint of a wealthy subsidizer of conservative journalism, the subscriber database of TWS is far more valuable as a way of launching a new, not anti-Trump weekly magazine. That would help the new magazine reach the target audience that is worth spending money to reach. Selling the magazine or its subscriber database to others, would actually frustrate that initiative, as there would be competition for those subscribers and less reach for the new magazine. When I founded American Thinker, I resolved to not be dependent on a wealthy patron for our survival. The dangers involved in that sort of relationship are now apparent with the death of TWS. For better or worse, we depend on advertising revenue and the kind donations of individual readers. The press and its Deep State allies are all down in the weeds of high school-style politics, their crocodile tears glistening as they lament President Trump's supposed inability to get anyone to serve as his chief of staff. Here's the flavor from Business Insider: Following multiple rejections this week from candidates who were on his short list including former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers Trump became agitated by the news reports that painted an unflattering picture of what was supposed to be a highly sought-after job, the senior White House official reportedly said. Vice President Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers, didn't want the job. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie didn't want the job. As if either of those guys would be the right man for the job, what with Ayers's family obligations as the father of little kids, and Christie, well, because he is self-serving Chris Christie. I wouldn't trust the latter with a barge pole in even the shallowest swamp. Enter Mick Mulvaney, brightest star of the Trump administration, and up till now the chief of the Office of Management and Budget as well as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a man of zero scandals; the competence to run two tough green-eyeshade federal agencies at once, a toughness that can stand up to Deep State; and, most important, the fight in him to crush leftists. Mulvaney and Trump see eye to eye on the issues and know that the economy is Trump's hole in one. Trump picking this guy is just plain winning. Here's what we have seen of Mulvaney so far. I checked what I have written about him earlier and the man just stands out. Here, he's giving senator and fake Indian Elizabeth Warren a taste of her own lefty white-bread cooking on consumer finance and politics. Here, he's positively barbecuing rabid left-wing economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman on a spit over economics, of all things, with this smack-down. Here, he's effectively shaking sense into the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which had rapidly descended into a shakedown racket under the Obama Nightmare. Someone like this just plain rocks. And of course, the left and its media echo chamber are scared. Here's the Daily Beast digging up old dead cats about something Mulvaney said in the heat of the election two years ago. As if something as ephemeral as that would outweigh Mulvaney's stellar performance and President Trump's delight at his success. Grow up, bozos. Trump is an adult. So is Mulvaney. The two know it, and now they get along fine. The remarks are triggering speculation that Mulvaney is in the job only for the short run because he supposedly hates Trump, which is nonsense. I think Mulvaney is keeping his tenure potentially short as acting director because he's one of those green eyeshade guys who loves crunching the numbers more than anything at the Office of Management and Budget. Some people are like that, and Mulvaney has been exceptionally successful at it. Successful people always like to keep doing what they are good at. Mulvaney may be having doubts about whether he can be as effective at the extremely difficult task of serving as President Trump's chief of staff, which will involve doing a lot of people work, including massaging egos and keeping peace, and keeping leaks at bay. And to be fair, Trump probably isn't the easiest guy to work with, given his impulsiveness. But Trump likes and admires talent, he recognizes it well, and he's all about results. That's a bill Mulvaney can handle, given his record. For us, the American people, it's good that he's not completely resigning his Budget job, given that we want someone hyper-competent in it, as he is. We also want someone like him at CFPB, although that job has already been turned over, hopefully to someone competent. The only thing we worry about is that the talent might not be there in those offices if Mulvaney leaves. That's a small thing, given that chief of staff is a critical and visible position. We can count ourselves lucky that Mulvaney is doing that job now, serving all of us. Go, Mick! CFIUS or the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, is expected to approve the T-Mobile and Sprint merger deal next week. This is according to a report out of Reuters who stated that this deal is being approved after their parent companies agreed to curb use of Huaweis networking gear on their networks in Germany and Japan. T-Mobiles parent-company, Deutsche Telekom in Germany has been using Huaweis gear on its network for quite some time, and so has Sprints parent-company, SoftBank. The US government has been pressuring Deutsche Telekom more than SoftBank, to stop using Huaweis equipment on its network, over concerns that the company is controlled by the Chinese government and that equipment could contain back doors. This is of course, something Huawei has denied for many years, and will continue to deny. This is all part of CFIUS review on the potential merger, which was announced back in April of this year. T-Mobile is spending $26 billion to buy its rival, Sprint, and combine to be the third largest carrier in the US, and to better compete with AT&T and Verizon. Normally, CFIUS wouldnt be involved, since they are in charge of foreign investments in the US, but because both companies are owned by foreign entities, CFIUS does have jurisdiction here. In the proposed deal, Deutsche Telekom would be the majority owner of the company. And the US government is using this as a way to force Deutsche Telekom to stop using Huaweis networking equipment on its networks in Europe. If this sounds like a bit of a reach by CFIUS and the US government, that is because it is. But its a concession that Deutsche Telekom will need to make if they want to combine T-Mobile with Sprint and become a bigger competitor in the US wireless market. Deutsche Telekom did say on Friday that it was reviewing vendor plans in its European markets, after all of the fuss over Huaweis networking equipment. The company did not say which vendor it will use, but it is likely to be Nokia, Ericsson or Samsung. Speaking of which, Sprints parent-company, SoftBank said that it is planning to replace all of its Huawei 4G network equipment with Nokia and Ericsson equipment. Both of which are larger network equipment suppliers than Huawei and also are responsible for the US network, especially with 5G coming. Advertisement CFIUS is just one part of the review process for this merger, The FCC and Department of Justice still need to take a look at this merger and decide whether it wants to attempt to block it or not. The Justice Department may not attempt to block this merger, after how bad it looked in its trial against AT&T and Time Warner where it tried to block that merger. But the FCC could argue that three carriers is not enough for competition in the US. However, that was the FCC under President Obamas leadership, under President Trump, things could be a bit different. Background: Sprint and T-Mobiles merger was announced in April, but it actually started quite a few years ago. SoftBank purchased a majority share of Sprint in late 2012. After it purchased about 70-percent of the, then, third-largest carrier, SoftBank wanted to combine it with T-Mobile. But that wasnt going to happen under the Obama Administration. The FCC and other regulators were adamant that it wanted at least four national carriers, to keep things competitive. But that made little sense, seeing as AT&T and Verizon were both more than double the size of Sprint, and at the time, nearly triple the size of T-Mobile. After Obama left office, Sprint and SoftBank started talking with T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom once again about merging, but this time it was the other way around. This is because T-Mobile continued to grow adding over a million customers every single quarter while Sprint was cutting costs and slowly turning things around. Now with 5G on the horizon, T-Mobile says that it needs Sprint. This is partly due to all of the spectrum that Sprint has, including that coveted 2.5GHz spectrum which is going to do wonders with 5G speeds. But T-Mobile also needs Sprint, so that it can stand up to the duopoly as T-Mobiles CEO says, of AT&T and Verizon. This is because they are twice the size of both T-Mobile and Sprint and even combined, it would still be the third largest carrier in the US. Both companies really need this deal, but Sprint moreso than T-Mobile. And if Sprint doesnt get this deal, SoftBank is either going to continue hemorrhaging money, or need to put Sprint out of its misery and well still be down to three carriers in the US. Advertisement Impact: If this report is indeed true, and seeing as it is coming from Reuters, it is likely true, this is going to have a worldwide impact for Huawei. It is already having a hard time with the US government and trying to enter the US and get more of a foothold here. But between Trump waging that Trade War with China, and many believing that Huawei is part owned by the Chinese government (there is no proof of that), its making it pretty tough for Huawei. The reasoning behind Huawei getting this cold shoulder is because the US believes that Huawei has some back doors in its products, that send data to Chinese servers, for cyber espionage and such. But there have been numerous investigations into those allegations, and nothing came out of those investigations. In fact, there was one that lasted many years and found absolutely no proof. Which makes this all a bit weirder. For most of 2018, the US was waging war on Huaweis mobile division, basically kicking them out of the US. Now they are focusing on its other businesses, including its networking division which is one of its most lucrative divisions. And that is because wireless networks all over the world need this equipment, but now with many countries opting to stop using Huaweis gear, its making it tougher on the company. A new report reveals the model numbers of the 5G-capable version of the Samsung Galaxy S10, and it also states that the device will come to South Korea and the United States. According to the report, the 5G-capable variant of the Galaxy S10 has the model number SM-G977. In comparison, the Galaxy S10 Lite, the Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10 Plus are identified by the model numbers SM-G970, SM-G973, and SM-G975 respectively. The report also stated that there are two variants of the 5G-capable Galaxy S10. One of these models, which has the model number SM-G977N, will ship to South Korea, while another variant, which has the model number SM-G977U, will likely come to the United States. Background: This new report corroborates previous rumors which claim that Samsung will launch the 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 in the United States and South Korea. However, while the other three models of the companys flagship smartphone lineup will reportedly launch in February, Samsung Electronics will likely reveal the 5G-capable device at a later date. Some reports indicate that the launch of the smartphone may take place in March alongside the companys folding handset, the Samsung Galaxy F, while other reports state that Samsung will only reveal the device once 5G networks that will support the handset are already in place. Right now, rumors claim that Samsung is currently in talks with carriers in its home market, South Korea, as well as with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in the United States. Previous reports already provided details about the design and specifications of the 5G-capable version of the Galaxy S10. This device will reportedly sport six cameras, which includes two front-facing cameras and four separate sensors at the rear panel. The increased number of cameras in the Galaxy S10 allows the handset to offer richer colors and improved spatial perception compared to competing smartphones. Previous reports also indicate that the device, which is known internally as Beyond X, will ship with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of internal flash storage. In contrast, the Galaxy S10 Lite will reportedly sport 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal flash storage, while the more expensive versions of the device, namely the Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10 Plus, will likely include 6GB and 8GB of RAM. Furthermore, the 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 will reportedly feature a 6.7-inch display, and recent estimates show that the device will likely retail for $1,770 when it launches. Advertisement The US variant of the 5G version of the Galaxy S10 will likely utilize the Snapdragon 855 chipset, which is coupled with the Snapdragon x50 modem. On the other hand, the South Korean model of the device could potentially feature the Exynos 9280 SoC instead. Impact: The support for 5G networks is becoming a very important feature for flagship smartphones that will launch in the coming year, although instead of including the functionality in all units of the handsets, it will likely be restricted to specialized versions of the device, presumably due to the expensive cost of additional 5G hardware. For example, OnePlus noted that its 5G handset will cost around $200 more than its current flagship smartphone offering. Furthermore, when it launches in the coming year, the 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 will add to the growing list of devices compatible with the 5G network, which not only includes smartphones but also hotspots. However, going on a trail or 'crawl' as some would call it, isn't the only definition of off-roading. Depending on who you're talking to, it could refer to different things. Talk to a biker guy, and he could be thinking motocross. Others might just straight up say its about any place without a road. To some it might refer to rallying. For most, I'm assuming the first idea that will pop into your head would involve a lifted pickup truck or SUV going slowly along a rugged, muddy path. That, or there's a vehicle stuck in the dirt in the middle of nowhere needing to be winched out. Either way, you don't go fast. Going one step beyond rallying though, there are the more extreme off-roading experiences like the Baja and Dakar Rally. These trucks and SUVs are purposely built to go fast on any surface they encounter. This kind of extreme off-roading is what Ford built the Raptor name for. First applied to the F-150, the Blue Oval has now decided to give the same treatment to the Ranger pickup truck. When Ford Philippines told us we were going to test out the Ranger Raptor, I must admit, I already envisioned taking the performance truck at speed and even going sideways all while kicking up a dirt trail behind it. I mean, thats what that the Raptor was built to do anyway; go through any terrain, fast. That is what our editor-in-chief got to do as well when he first drove the Ranger Raptor in the Australian outback a few months back. Well, that thought of mine quickly vanished when I found out we werent going to just any off-road trail. Instead, Ford brought us to the lahar beds of Zambales, arguably one of the trickiest types of terrain for any vehicle to encounter. Our plan for the day was to drive around a special course setup by Ford while trying to push the Raptor to its limits. The course was divided into three different sections a tight technical section of mixed lahar and dirt with barely any run-off, a long banked dune followed by a jump, and a 2km long straight where we tried to reach our personal best top speed in the Raptor. Needless to say, it was not an easy course as even the smallest mistakes would be punishing. Considering how often trucks and even heavily modified 4x4s get stuck there, I already assumed that simply driving on lahar trails laid out by Mount Pinatubo would be quite the challenge, more so driving fast in it. And it certainly was, as I found out by walking on the makeshift course. Lahar happens to have a similar consistency to that of sand and concrete powder. Put too much weight on one foot, and youll quickly find your shoes digging in to the loosely packed lahar. I myself got stuck just by walking around the lahar bed trying to take photos of the scenery; what more the chances of a 2-ton truck in the hands of someone with little to no off-road experience? Thankfully, the Ranger Raptor was built for this. While Im sure the 4x4 Ranger Wildtrak would have easily gone through the lahar without a hitch, it certainly wouldnt have done so at the same pace as the Ranger Raptor. Thats because the changes on Ranger Raptor are more than just the widened fenders and a revised front and rear fascia. The suspension alone has been completely redesigned as the Ranger Raptor uses a multi-link suspension at the rear rather than the traditional leaf-spring found on the standard Ranger or the kitted out Ranger Wildtrak. It also uses specially built Fox shocks on all four corners, which are more than capable of taking the punishing terrain at speed. Wider wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich K02 all-terrain tires ensures that the Raptor can go through any kind of terrain ahead of it. While it does share the same 2.0-liter biturbo diesel engine and 10-speed automatic gearbox as the Wildtrak, the Raptor does have selectable driving modes. A feature not found on the Wildtrak. The same 2H and 4H selector switch remains but, the driver can also select the driving mode they want. Obviously, Baja mode was selected when we were out for our runs. Together with the difficult course, we also had to change our driving style in order to go fast. As logic (and actual driving) would dictate, putting the pedal to the metal would make you go faster. Do that on lahar though, and youll simply find yourself stuck in a deep hole. Instead we were told that the proper way to do it was to progressively depress on the pedal. Curiously we also had to run most of the course in 2H (two-wheel drive) as opposed to 4H (four-wheel drive). Apparently driving in 4H would only slow us down and should only be used when stuck, the same way as Baja trucks were driven - or so our instructor said. When it was my turn behind the wheel of the Raptor, I only had one goal in mind not to get stuck. Thankfully, I didnt. But, Im guessing that's mostly due to the Ranger Raptors more rugged setup. It also gave me confidence to take on the track faster than I initially would have have. Even though the first section of the course was very rough, the Raptor felt planted all throughout. Driving fast across the bumpy road of mixed lahar and dirt was relatively easy. The Raptor felt balanced all the time, with the rear end keeping its composure even through the tight, and narrow route. The real challenge started in the second section of the course which was purely lahar. In fact, I almost got stuck and had to switch to 4H mode in order to get the truck moving again. Despite taking the large banked dune at speed, the Raptor felt solid and didnt feel like it was going to tip over. Taking the jump, it didnt feel like parts were going to come off either. Not that I would want them to, especially since the high speed section on lahar was next, which would be the most challenging part of the course. Driving flat out on a straight piece of road is easy on tarmac. On the lahar beds, it was already a challenge getting the Raptor up to 80 km/h. Despite digging the pedal into the floor for around 2km, I only managed to bring the truck up to 105 km/h far from our instructor's record of 130km/h. At that speed though, the rough lahar surface felt a lot smoother as the extra travel of the Fox shocks absorbed the bumps easily. It also stayed poised and controlled even though we just jumped the truck a few minutes ago. I imagined at some point, some part of the Raptors suspension would likely give and we wouldnt see the Raptor anymore after that day. I mean, it did just endure two full days of punishing terrain and rough off-road driving. Something was bound to give right? To my surprise though, it actually went back to Metro Manila under its own power. In fact, it was even the lead car of our convoy heading back to Manila. While Im sure any other lifted and modified 4x4 could have done the same things we did, it's unlikely it would have done so at the same pace we were going. If so, something probably would have broken in the process. You could also order the same Fox shocks and running gear and fit on a standard 4x4 Ranger Wildtrak, but it still wouldn't be the same as driving a real Raptor. That's because the Ranger Raptor has been developed for the purpose of fast off-road driving, much like it's bigger brother the F-150 Raptor. In fact, most of the changes to the suspension and even the body have been designed in order to make it capable of doing so over and over again without fail. To that, I give credit to Ford for building a really tough performance truck deserving of the Raptor name. A truck ready to take on whatever terrain at speed, and come back home in one piece, ready to go at it again for another day. Or two. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. European nations and the U.S. may have developed the rules for refugees in the 1951 Refugee Convention, but developing nations host 85% of the world's refugees, according to UNHCR. Why it matters: "The biggest misconception is that America is bearing a disproportionate share of the burden," David Miliband, president and CEO of International Rescue Committee and former secretary of state for foreign affairs in the U.K., told Axios. Think about this: One-third of people living in Jordan and one-quarter of those in Lebanon are refugees, mostly from Palestine and Syria, according to UNHCR. "Imagine if the entire population of Canada and a third of Mexico would empty into the U.S. thats exactly what Jordan is going through." Jenny Yang, senior vice president at World Relief The top 5 destinations for refugees in 2017 were: Turkey: 3.5 million refugees were in the country in 2017. Most have fled the war in neighboring Syria. Turkey's unstable economy, however, is leading to some tension between the Turkish people and refugees. 3.5 million refugees were in the country in 2017. Most have fled the war in neighboring Syria. Turkey's unstable economy, however, is leading to some tension between the Turkish people and refugees. Pakistan: 1.4 million people. Almost all of them have escaped ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. While the government has been welcoming "over the last few years, there has really been a targeted campaign to make Afghan refugees feel insecure in Pakistan," Madiha Afzal, a Brookings Institution fellow, told CNN. 1.4 million people. Almost all of them have escaped ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. While the government has been welcoming "over the last few years, there has really been a targeted campaign to make Afghan refugees feel insecure in Pakistan," Madiha Afzal, a Brookings Institution fellow, told CNN. Uganda: Millions have fled from South Sudan as a civil war continues to rage. Millions have fled from South Sudan as a civil war continues to rage. Lebanon: Nearly 1 million people came from neighboring Syria alone. Nearly 1 million people came from neighboring Syria alone. Iran: Afghanistan was the primary source of nearly 1 million refugees in 2017. While refugee rights advocates praised nations like Jordan, Colombia and Uganda for openly welcoming refugees, they also told Axios that the sheer volume of people can strain a developing nation's resources and economy. A case study: Colombia, still recovering from a 50-year civil war, has taken in hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans on temporary residency permits. Its creating a huge, huge health problem, Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Francisco Santos Calderon told Axios. Its a ticking bomb. Hospitals are filling with Venezuelan children, pregnant women and others seeking access to health care. Venezuelans are taking jobs for lower pay, creating pressure on the labor market. While the government has been welcoming to the refugees, there is growing discontent especially with media coverage of crimes committed by a few Venezuelans. "Youre starting to hear it in the streets," the ambassador said. Editor's note: This graphic has been updated to clarify that it illustrates the total number of UNHCR-registered refugees in a country as of 2017, not arriving in 2017, and that this does not include asylum seekers and undocumented persons. The length of time people are living as refugees is now longer than ever. Day-to-day life for families in displacement poverty, fear, insecurity and discrimination can put the psychological and emotional development of the youngest refugees at risk. The big picture: "There are structural problems in the system policies around refugee residency, resettlement and employment that directly affect the way parents can care for children and in turn their mental health," Amanda Sim of the Center for Evidence Based Interventions at the University of Oxford tells Axios. Millions of refugees have been displaced for more than a decade, according to UNHCR data. As of 2017 half the worlds refugee population was under the age of 18. There are now second and third generations of refugees; children who have never known life outside of a camp or in their home nation. "When you go to East Sudan you have refugees since 1968 in the refugee camp. When you go to Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, there've been refugees there since 1991. When you go to Morocco, you have the Sahrawi people that have been there since 1975." Eskinder Negash, President and CEO of USCRI and former Director of the HHS's Office of Refugee Resettlement Help for the kids: UNICEF, the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies and other NGOs offer child services and art- or play-based activities in refugee camps to give kids coping skills to manage stress and to try to prevent mental health problems from arising. In Bangladesh, the NGO BRAC runs play labs where Rohingya refugee children from Myanmar play for a few hours each day, The programs which last week received added support from the Lego Foundation to partner with Sesame Workshop focus on learning and emotional development as well as building community for children in their host societies where they can face discrimination. Help for the parents: Parents too are chronically stressed by the struggle of trying to provide the most basic of parenting responsibilities safety, shelter and food. That can have a negative impact on how they interact with their children and, in turn, their emotional well-being. Investing in parents' mental health is key to supporting these children long-term, says Alexandra Chen, a graduate student at Harvard who studies the impact of trauma and stress on refugees in Lebanon. Psychologist Kenneth Miller of War Child Holland and his colleagues have run small caregiver support programs in Gaza and Lebanon that focus first on parents' well-being, then on skills for parenting. The research is in the early phases of testing but Miller says data from Syria suggests the program helped some parents "find greater calm and managing their stress freed them up to parent in ways they wanted to parent." "The problem is if you treat kids and send them back to the highly stressed families they are living in, you are undermining your own efforts," Miller tells Axios. The bottom line: "[The family] is the social unit that matters for people, for better or worse," says Yale anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick who works with refugee youth in Afghanistan and Syria. "That is our building block to make things better." By Leman Mammadova Establishment of industrial parks with modern production infrastructure envisages sustainable development of Azerbaijan's non-oil sector, increasing the export capability of the country's economy, as well as the production of competitive, import-substituting products, providing employment of local population. At present, Pirallahi Industrial Park, Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park, Balakhani Industrial Park, Mingachevir Industrial Park and Garadagh Industrial Park are operating in the country. The Pirallahi Industrial Park of Azerbaijan is expected to become an important center for the local production of pharmaceuticals, Executive Director of the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan) Tobias Baumann, told Trend. He went on to say that Germany together with Switzerland and Turkey are considered the worlds most important suppliers of pharmaceuticals, measured by the value of imports. Bauman also said that Germany's pharmaceutical companies are interested in this sector and are observing the market considering the possible market entries in 2019-2020. Azerbaijan plans to produce pharmaceutical products worth 1.3 million manats ($760,000) in 2019. The production will be expanded in subsequent years. Thus, the output will reach 38.8 million manats ($ 22.83 million) in 2020, 39.5 million manats ($ 23.24 million) in 2021 and 40.2 million manats ($ 23.65 million) in 2022 due to the operation of pharmaceutical companies here starting from 2019. The park, established in 2016, is specialized in the production of pharmaceutical products. Here, as in other industrial parks, investors are exempted from various tax and customs duties for seven years. The Pirallahi Industrial Park, located in the Pirallahi district of Baku, covers 30 hectares of land. The foundation of this park aimed at the development of the pharmaceutical industry in the country, reducing dependence on imports in this area, meeting the medicine demand of the population and increasing employment. The Pirallahi Industrial Park currently has four residents including the joint Azerbaijani-Russian plant Hayat Pharm, the Azerbaijani-Iranian plant Caspian Pharmed, the plant of Diamed Co., and the plant of IFFA. These plants are under construction. Gilan Holding and India's "SunPharma" are currently negotiating to establish such a venture in Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The annual volume of waste per capita in developed countries ranges within 400-500 kilograms, while in Azerbaijan, this figure is 350 kilograms, Chairman of the Board of Tamiz Shahar OJSC Etibar Abbasov said, Trend reports. He made the remarks at the 5th Inter-Parliamentary Union Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Baku on Dec. 14. He said that waste management plays a big role in protecting the environment. Depending on the development of a country, the waste per capita varies, said Abbasov. In less developed countries, the waste per capita ranges within 100-200 kilograms. He stressed that according to a UN report, eight million tons of plastic waste are thrown into the ocean annually. If this continues, in 2050, the plastic waste in the oceans will exceed the number of fish, which means an environmental disaster, Abbasov added. Abbasov also said the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan is looking for options to decrease the use of plastic bags. There are plans to gradually decrease the domestic use of these products," said Abbasov. In this regard, proposals were put forward to make the appropriate changes in the legislation. Not only the responsibility of a manufacturer, but also the responsibility of a citizen plays an important role in this, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 21 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Dec. 15. The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan will never produce a political outcome desired by Armenia, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said, Trend reports. He was speaking at 39th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States Dec. 14 in Baku, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. Azerbaijan firmly believes in the prosperous future of the Black Sea region and has no doubt that this future can only be built on the basis of the good neighbourhood, mutual respect, humanity and tolerance, the minister said. The biggest impediments for the regional cooperation, in particular, in the geography of BSEC are unresolved conflicts, he said. For Azerbaijan and Armenia it is Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The military occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan does not represent a solution and will never produce a political outcome desired by Armenia. The principle position of Azerbaijan is running in line with the norms and principles of international law, reaffirmed in the BSEC Charter as well, particularly in respect of states territorial integrity, sovereignty within their internationally recognized borders. The still ongoing occupation and policies of self-isolation also deprive Armenia of its potential for economic growth and trade in the region, Mammadyarov added. It also undermines our efforts to build a common regional trade in full respect to each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said. We hope whenever a new Government will be formed in Armenia upon the mandate of the people of this country we must make a breakthrough next year and build up a good opportunity for bringing peace, stability and prosperity to the region, he noted. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The 39th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) was held in Baku under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan, Trend's correspondent reported from the event. At the opening ceremony, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov expressed gratitude to the participants for accepting the invitation and arriving in Azerbaijan, and announced the agenda. "Among the main topics at the meeting, which is being held under the motto 'Boosting Trade through Connectivity', are increasing the efficiency of the organizations work, trade facilitation, promotion of cooperation in such areas as energy, transit, ICT, tourism, agriculture and other important topics," Mammadyarov said. At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on BSEC partners to follow Moscows example and transfer funds to a budget of mechanism for developing cooperation within the Organization. A mechanism on development of cooperation within the Organization has been created upon Russias initiative, to the budget of which Russia contributed $1 million, he said. Delegations headed by senior officials of the BSEC member states took part in the meeting. Following the meeting, a press conference was held with participation of Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev, BSEC Secretary General Michael Christides and Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Emilia Kraleva. Speaking at the press conference, Mammadguliyev stressed that during Azerbaijans chairmanship in BSEC, connectivity within the Organization was strengthened. In turn, Kraleva said that Bulgaria, which will chair BSEC from January 2019, will continue Azerbaijans work in the Organization. The interconnectedness, which is the priority of Azerbaijans chairmanship, is very important, Kraleva added. In turn, Christides stressed that the main task of the Organization is to promote economic development between the participating countries. It is important for the Organization to meet the current challenges, he said. Christides thanked once again Azerbaijan for chairmanship. During these six months a lot of issues were discussed and a number of important decisions were made, he said. After Azerbaijan, the chairmanship will be transferred to Bulgaria. The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation is an intergovernmental organization uniting 12 countries of the Black Sea and southern Balkans. The organization was founded in 1992. The headquarters of the organization is located in Istanbul. Azerbaijan assumed the BSEC chairmanship at the 38th meeting of the Organization's Council of Foreign Ministers, which took place on June 27. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva have viewed an exhibition marking the 90th anniversary of People`s Artist of Azerbaijan and the USSR, hero of Socialist Labor, holder of state prizes, world-renowned artist Tahir Salahov. Arranged at Baku Expo Center, the exhibition occupies a total area of 4,000 square metres, Trend reported. The exhibition features nearly 80 carpets, 40 paintings and drawings, as well as around 350 photographs highlighting interesting moments of Tahir Salahov`s life and his meetings with famous scientists, artists and statesmen. Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev maintained friendly maintains friendly relations with the world-renowned artist. Tahir Salahov, multifaceted creativity, fruitful social activity of which is highly appreciated by the people and the state, was awarded the highest awards of the Republic of Azerbaijan - the Order of Istiglal (1998), as well as the Order of Heydar Aliyev (2008), the Heydar Aliyev Prize (2015) and the Emek Order of the first degree (2018). President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva congratulated world-renowned artist Tahir Salahov on his 90th anniversary and wished him new successes. The corresponding decree of the President of Azerbaijan marks the 80th anniversary of the artist at the state level, his house-museum has started to operate in Icherisheher. In addition, the legendary artist has received numerous international awards, which is a clear manifestation of respect for his art. The great master and famous public figure, Tahir Salahov, as an outstanding representative of the modern school of painting, has written new pages in the chronicle of the country's rich culture with his many years of fruitful and inimitable work. With his works, which have forever occupied a worthy place in the golden fund of the treasury of national art, he also brought great glory to the Azerbaijani art in the world. The outstanding master is one of the founders of the "severe style". His views on the world, life and philosophical thoughts are reflected in the finest shades of colors. Tahir Salahov also synthesized the centuries-old traditions of Azerbaijani art with the achievements of the European school of painting. His delightful paintings, distinguished by a variety of topics, forms, genre and aesthetic perfection, instill humanistic thoughts in the name of the most important human values and higher goals. His works are included in the treasury of world culture, the golden fund of fine art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A delightful portrait work of the great master has always been highly appreciated by art lovers. The works of Tahir Salakhov, which constitute an entire stage in the development of Azerbaijani painting, now adorn famous museums and famous galleries of the world and are kept in private collections. And his solo exhibitions, which are becoming an important cultural event, play a big role in the promotion of Azerbaijani culture in foreign countries. He is also known as a great master, an excellent teacher. The great artist did a lot for the development of national painting. In this sense, his merits in the field of training young artists are commendable. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Up to 700 PKK terrorists remain in the southeastern mountainous parts of Turkey, the country's Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu said, Trend reports via Turkish media. Soylu noted that considering the intensity of military operations of the Turkish Armed Forces and severe weather conditions, it can be assumed that all PKK fighters will be completely eliminated during this winter. The minister underlined that Turkey is determined to fight PKK. Earlier, Soylu said that for the last two years (2017-2018), the Turkish Air Force eliminated 732 militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkmenistan is focused on diversifying the oil and gas sector, expanding its infrastructure by creating new modern plants, Trend reports with reference to a public appeal by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the employees of the oil and gas industry and the geology of the country on the occasion of their professional holiday. In this aspect, processing of natural gas and manufacturing of new types of products is a priority, reads the appeal. In this direction, several projects are being implemented in the fuel and energy complex of Turkmenistan. They include the gas chemical complex for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene commissioned this year in the Kiyanly village of the Balkan region, as well as the plant for the production of gasoline that meets Euro 5 standard, and this plants construction is at the final stage in the Ovadandepe village. These major plants will contribute to the integrated industrialization of the countrys regions, creation of new jobs, as well as building up the power of the national economy. In recent years, great attention has also been paid to the development of the petrochemical industry in Turkmenistan. A concrete example of this is the start of production of domestic diesel fuel of ECO 5 brand, fully compliant with Euro 5 standards, as well as polypropylene film, at the Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries. According to the BP report, Turkmenistan with its natural gas reserves ranks fourth in the world and presently, the country exports gas to China and Iran. At the same time, Russia, a traditional buyer, completely stopped to buy Turkmen gas in 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Turkish Air Force conducted an air operation in northern Iraq last night against PKK militants amid the expected new anti-terrorist operation against PYD/YPG, a Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Air Force operation was carried out in Sinjar and Makhmur districts, as well as in the Karaj mountains, located at a distance of 165 kilometers from the Turkish-Iraqi border. This operation can be considered not only as a last signal for the PKK militants, but also as a message that Turkey is determined to continue to fight against terrorism. As for the new anti-terrorist operation in northern Syria, it is not excluded that first of all, the Turkish Air Force will launch operations in three directions. First of all, this is the city of Tell Abyad. According to the Turkish intelligence, the US and French military contingents left that city. The second destination will be Ras al-Ayn, while the third destination is Ayn al-Arab. All three cities are in close proximity to the Turkish border. About 15,000 members of the Free Syrian Army are expected to take part in anti-terrorist operations in northern Syria. There are several main reasons forcing Turkey to launch new military operations. First of all, it is connected with the intention of PYD/YPG to create a new "state" on Turkeys southern borders, which will later become a real problem for Ankara. Presently, terrorists control 480 kilometers of the Syrian-Turkish border and 45,000 square kilometers of the territory are under their control. Another reason is that PYD/YPG forcibly changed the ethnic composition in northern Syria, expelling over 1.7 million of the Arab population from these lands. But at the same time, Arabs still account for over 70 percent of the population in these territories. Moreover, 60 percent of agricultural land, as well as the lands with abundant hydrocarbon reserves are located in northern Syria. The PYD/YPG terrorists also control Syrias main water resources. About 70 percent of the electricity in Syria is generated in the territories that are currently controlled by the PYD/YPG terrorists. PYD/YPG has all the vital resources for further activity and strengthening its positions. Taking all this into account, Turkey will not delay a new anti-terrorist operation in northern Syria. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend On the eve of a possible Turkish counter-terrorism operation in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on Friday agreed on the need for more effective coordination in Syria, according to an official statement, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. According to the statement by the Turkish presidency, the two leaders discussed bilateral issues, security and anti-terrorism issues, especially regarding recent developments in Syria, during a phone call. President Erdogan expressed Turkey's legitimate concern over the actions and presence of the PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. Erdogan said earlier Friday that Turkey will conduct an anti-terrorist operation in Manbij if the U.S. fails to clear the YPG from the northern Syrian region. He also reiterated Turkey's determination to bring peace to the area east of the Euphrates River in Syria. Earlier this week, Erdogan announced that Turkey would launch another anti-terrorist operation in northern Syria, targeting the area east of the Euphrates within a few days. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend World Bank's senior official stressed on Friday the keenness to actively contribute to development efforts in Egypt, Trend reports citign Xinhua. World Bank's Vice President for Infrastructure Makhtar Diop hailed the successful economic reform measures taken by the Egyptian government. Diop affirmed that the World Bank looks forward to intensifying cooperation with Egypt in three main fields, namely air transport, energy and electricity linkage projects among Africa's states, in light of Egypt heading the African Union in 2019 and its unique geographic location. Meanwhile, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli welcomed the cooperation with the World Bank in promoting the development agenda in Africa. He pointed out the importance of the World Bank contribution in funding the infrastructure projects in Egypt in the past few years. On Oct. 16, the World Bank has agreed a new financing deal of 3 billion U.S. dollars with Egypt. The deals came in light of the World Bank's trust in the reform measures that have been carried out by Egypt and the bank's keenness to continue support for Egypt, Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr said. The bank gives priority for some sectors like developing Sinai Peninsula and the infrastructure, transportation and agricultural projects, Nasr added. In 2016, Egypt has started a strict three-year economic reform program based on austerity measures including fuel and energy subsidy cuts and tax hikes, after several years of instability due to turmoil that caused economic recession. The liberalization of the Egyptian pound's exchange rate encouraged the International Monetary Fund to support Egypt's economic reform plan with a 12-billion-dollar loan, two thirds of which has been delivered already. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkmen Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Adviser to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Victor Mayko, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. The parties, noting the high level of bilateral relations between the two countries, stressed the need to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, the report said. At the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas. In 2016, Ukraines foreign trade with Turkmenistan amounted to $440.04 million, according to the Ukrainian side. The main export items to Turkmenistan are railway cars, agro-industrial products, goods of the chemical, pharmaceutical and woodworking industries. Exports from Turkmenistan to Ukraine consisted mainly of oil refining products, wool and cotton, as well as textiles. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines has launched flights from Astana to the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Trend reports citing Kazakh media. According to the Civil Aviation Committee, flights will be operated 2 times a week, on Fridays and Sundays, on the CRJ-200 aircraft. Regular flights between the two cities are also operated by Tajikistan's Somon Air (frequency of 3 flights per week) and Tajik Air (frequency of 2 flights per week) airlines. From the Kazakh side, Air Astana operates flights on the Dushanbe-Almaty-Dushanbe route with a frequency of 5 flights per week. The airline also plans to launch flights on the Astana-Dushanbe-Astana route with a frequency of 3 flights per week in the 2019 spring-summer navigation period. Presently, SCAT Airlines, which is one of the largest airlines in Kazakhstan, operates passenger flights within Kazakhstan, as well as to Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Lithuania, China and Armenia. The airline's fleet consists of 15 Boeing and 6 Bombardier aircraft. Annually SCAT Airlines opens up to 10 new flights, with an average increase in passenger traffic by 40 percent. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif left Tehran for Doha, Qatar on Saturday to attend Doha Forum 2018, Trend reports referring to IRNA. The event is slated to be held with the attendance of prominent figures on December 15-16. Doha Forum is to focus on regional challenges and international security. The United Nations Secretary- General Antonio Guterres is also scheduled to participate in the event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Commander of Iran's Army Aviation (Havanirooz) Brigadier-General Yusef Ghorbani has announced the Vatanpour Training Center is ready to start accepting foreign students. "The Vatanpour Training Center, is the biggest helicopter training center in the Middle East, the center has previously trained foreign students, and now is looking to train more students from foreign countries," he said, Trend reports via Fars News Agency. Ghorbani made the remarks during a meeting with aviation elites and heads of knowledge based companies in Iran. The commander noted that in the times of sanctions, Iran should launch the spare parts manufacturing programs. "Foreign currency and investment problems, delay in projects operation and loss of opportunities are the challenges we must face," he added. The official noted that the knowledge-based companies and veterans can move towards new horizons to manufacture parts for Iran's aviation. "The experience of eight year Iran-Iraq war could be valuable in repair and productions of spare parts," Ghorbani believes. "Projects should be operational and have early results. Some industries have a profit-oriented approach and in some companies there is no approach toward the country's security," he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Police in Tulsa, Okla., responded to six bomb threats Dec. 13, including one at Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates' Union Pines Surgery Center, Fox 23 News reports. Here's what you should know: 1. Union Pines Surgery Center received a bomb threat from an anonymous source sometime in the morning, according to a statement the organization provided to Fox 23 News. The threat was deemed not credible at 1 p.m. 2. Staff followed protocol as directed by the police and resumed patient care after police cleared the threat. 3. Cancer Treatment Centers of America and Hope Pregnancy Center were two other Tulsa-based facilities that received threats. Investigators found no evidence to support any of the six threats in the area. 4. Numerous organizations in multiple states and Canada also received bomb threats Thursday, but law enforcement agencies across the country said they didn't find the threats credible. 5. Here is the statement Tulsa Bone and Joint provided to Fox 23 News: "This morning, Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates' Union Pines Surgery Center received a bomb threat from an anonymous source. Tulsa Police Department responded quickly to the situation, and our staff followed protocol as directed by the police. TPD determined around 1 p.m. that the threat was not credible, and our facility safety resumed patient care. Tulsa Bone & Joint is grateful for the quick response from TPD." A 130,000-square-foot, mixed-use facility called River Oaks Surgical Center is being built in Houston, the Houston Business Journal reports. Here's what you should know: 1. Burton Construction filed a building permit for the $13 million development, which will feature two floors of medical offices and a surgical center atop four stories of parking and retail space. 2. The surgical center is slated for completion in August 2019. 3. River Oaks Surgical Center's owner and developer, Ancorian, purchased the property earlier this year. The medical office space is 70 percent pre-leased, but Ancorion isn't disclosing the names of tenants, a company representative told the Houston Business Journal. More articles on new ASC development: MedCore Partners developing medical office building, ASC Spine Team Texas to anchor Despite Ellis Hospital's protests, Albany Med wins preliminary approval for surgery center 5 insights Vestavia Medical Plaza development to include ASC 3 insights Addison, Texas-based United Surgical Partners International plans to build an outpatient surgery center in Citrus Heights, Calif., the Sacramento Business Journal reports. Here's what you should know: 1. The project is undergoing design review. The plans include a 16,000-square-foot outpatient surgery center with three operating room beds, three treatment bays and 11 recovery unit beds. 2. USPI has an ongoing partnership with San Francisco-based Dignity Health to bring more ambulatory centers to the region. The Sacramento Business Journal was unable to confirm whether the new surgery center is directly tied to the partnership. 3. The new outpatient surgery center would be the first of its kind in Citrus Heights. USPI has existing surgery centers in Roseville, Calif., and Folsom, Calif. More articles on new ASC development: MedCore Partners developing medical office building, ASC Spine Team Texas to anchor Despite Ellis Hospital's protests, Albany Med wins preliminary approval for surgery center 5 insights Vestavia Medical Plaza development to include ASC 3 insights An estimated $341 million was spent on unnecessary healthcare treatment in Washington state from July 2016-17, according to the nonprofit Washington Health Alliance. WHA's report examined 48 measures of common medical treatments, tests and procedures during the yearlong period. The organization estimated healthcare waste across a population of 4.3 million residents using the MedInsight Health Waste Calculator from actuarial consulting firm Milliman. The alliance found of the 2.9 million tests and procedures analyzed, 47 percent were "low-value" or overused medical treatments. In addition, 88 percent of the 48 treatments and services studied were attributed to only 10 common services. Nancy A. Giunto, executive director of WHA, said in a prepared statement: "Physicians and patients need to practice shared decision-making and have conversations about appropriate medical care that is both necessary and evidence-based. Those who provide and pay for healthcare need to undertake honest discussions and collaboration to identify the sources of waste and patient harm." More articles on healthcare finance: Kentucky hospital files for bankruptcy Michigan hospital CEO will take pay cut to boost facility's finances Partners HealthCare's annual operating income soars 489% Kaiser Permanente's striking mental health clinicians ended picketing on Dec. 14, according to the National Union of Healthcare Workers that represents them. Over five days, thousands of psychologists, therapists, social workers and other caregivers have protested at Kaiser Permanente clinics and medical facilities across California to call attention to what they say is understaffing that leads to long wait times for therapy appointments. "Our strike has sent a clear message to Kaiser that we will sacrifice for our patients and stand together to make sure they get the care they need when they need it," Brittany Rushin, a marriage and family therapist, said in a news release. "Hearing from patients this week talk about their struggles to access mental healthcare has strengthened our resolve to make Kaiser finally fix this problem." John Nelson, vice president of communications at Kaiser Permanente, called the strike "unnecessary and poorly timed, coming during the holiday season when many of our patients with mental health needs were seeking care." "It needlessly put our patients in the middle of the union's contract demands, which is especially disheartening because the unions principal demands at the bargaining table have not been about improving care and access," he told Becker's. "Rather, the union leadership is seeking even higher wages and benefits and demanding operational changes that would reduce the availability of mental healthcare for our patients." Both sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table next week. More articles on human capital and risk: Pennsylvania hospital nurse strike looms 4,000 Kaiser mental health clinic workers launch 5-day strike in California Massachusetts hospital alleges voter fraud in November union vote Nurses at Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.-based New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital voted for unionization after Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for a state investigation into alleged union-busting, according to The Journal News. The nurses reportedly voted to join the New York State Nurses Association on Dec. 13. Nurse and union organizer Susan Beck told The Journal News that staff looks forward to negotiations. In a statement to Becker's, hospital officials said NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital "physicians, nurses and staff provide patients with the best experience and highest level of care available. We will continue to maintain an open dialogue with our nurses to ensure that NYP Hudson Valley remains a great place to receive care, and a great place to work." The vote comes after Mr. Cuomo announced he was directing the state's labor department to launch an immediate investigation into nurses' allegations of threatening and coercive behavior at the hospital. The New York State Nurses Association represents about 43,000 nurses across the state. Editor's note: This story was updated on Dec. 17. More articles on human capital and risk: Pennsylvania hospital nurse strike looms 4,000 Kaiser mental health clinic workers launch 5-day strike in California Massachusetts hospital alleges voter fraud in November union vote A former UPMC physician will serve prison time for writing illegal prescriptions for Vicodin, a federal judge said Dec. 13, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Marios Papachristou, MD, wrote prescriptions to friends and family for Vicodin and then diverted them for personal use and to give to fellow UPMC physician Omar Almusa, MD. Dr. Almusa also wrote illegal prescriptions for Vicodin. Both physicians pleaded guilty to their charges. The physicians obtained 120 pills per prescription. Dr. Papachristou's wife, Sara Papachristou, filled the prescriptions at a pharmacy. UPMC Health Plan was billed for the drugs. In his plea, Dr. Papachristou said he wrote the illegal prescriptions due to a Vicodin addiction after a kidney infection 12 years ago, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab said the act was a "calculated plan by very smart people" and not a "'mistake,'" but a "crime." The judge sentenced Dr. Papachristou to two years in prison and ordered him to pay a $15,000 fine. He also lost his medical license. Dr. Almusa is awaiting sentencing. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Aurora Health will pay $12M to resolve improper compensation claims Feds join lawsuit accusing Sutter Health of Medicare Advantage fraud Ex-auditor claims Lee Health inflated physician pay to drive referrals UnitedHealth Group filed a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit claiming the health insurer unlawfully underpaid reimbursements for mental healthcare, according to The Recorder. Here are four things to know: 1. The class-action lawsuit filed against UnitedHealth's insurance and behavioral health businesses accuses the companies of underpaying certain psychotherapy services provided by master's-level counselors and psychologists, but not physicians. 2. In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, UnitedHealth said the allegations go against "the common sense practice that health plans reimburse healthcare providers with different training, experience, and licensure at different rates. Contrary to plaintiff's suggestion, it is not unlawful for [UnitedHealth defendants] to pay a social worker less than a licensed physician would be paid for the same service," according to the filing, which was obtained by The Recorder. 3. The original lawsuit also accused UnitedHealth of violating the ACA, which doesn't allow discriminatory coverage for psychologists and master's-level counselors who act within the limits of their state licenses, according to The Recorder. However, in its motion for dismissal, UnitedHealth argued that the allegation lacked standing to sue under the ACA. 4. On Dec. 11, U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. granted the parties' request to extend briefing deadlines in the case. A hearing is set for March 21 to review UnitedHealth's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, according to The Recorder. To access the full report, click here. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Aurora Health will pay $12M to resolve improper compensation claims Feds join lawsuit accusing Sutter Health of Medicare Advantage fraud Ex-auditor claims Lee Health inflated physician pay to drive referrals The American Medical Association, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Medical Society and Manatt Health, released a spotlight analysis of efforts to curb Pennsylvania's opioid epidemic. The spotlight analysis focused on Pennsylvania's progress with increasing evidence-based care for substance use disorder, providing comprehensive pain care,, and patient access to naloxone. Here are the four key areas where Pennsylvania made progress: 1. Pennsylvania provided comprehensive support for medication-assisted treatment. This included removing administrative barriers by establishing 45 Centers of Excellence across Pennsylvania. 2. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department better enforced mental health and substance use disorder parity laws. 3. Pennsylvania implemented a standing order to allow over-the-counter access to naloxone, which is used to treat opioid overdoses. 4. Medicaid patients with chronic pain received careful oversight of care plans and expanded access to alternative pain management strategies. Increased therapies include physical and occupational therapy and behavioral health services. More articles on opioids: Babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome have smaller heads, study finds Opioids top culprit as overdose deaths increase 54% from 2011-16, study finds Scientists use Google search to 'predict' heroin overdoses A California hospital that closed during the summer will not open by Jan. 1 as anticipated, according to the Press-Telegram. Community Medical Center Long Beach (Calif.), which opened in 1924, closed July 3 due to the inability to retrofit the hospital to meet California's seismic standards. While in August the hospital's new operator said it would reopen Jan. 1, Long Beach's Economic Development Director John Keisler said the hospital won't hit that deadline. The hospital's operator, Molina, Wu, Network, and Long Beach are negotiating a lease agreement for Community Medical Center Long Beach's property. Talks between the two groups are stuck on who will pay for the seismic retrofitting. The hospital operator and CEO Virgis Narbutas did not respond to the Press-Telegram's request for comment on the hospital's new reopen date. More articles on patient flow: Americans in this region have longest travel time to a hospital 'Staffing situation' forces Baylor Scott & White hospital to suspend labor, delivery services New Hampshire physician will probe why state's rural maternity care units are closing Cigna and Express Scripts gained approval from California and New York regulators to move forward with their $67 billion merger, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. California and New York regulators both issued their approvals Dec. 13. Cigna and Express Scripts said New Jersey is the last state from which the companies need approval to continue with the transaction. The health insurer and pharmacy benefits manager still expect their deal to close by the end of 2018, despite missing an original Dec. 8 deadline. The companies' new merger termination date is June 8, 2019, according to a Nov. 21 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. More articles on payers: CMS' final rule on risk adjustment payments: 3 things to know BCBS of Wyoming customers overcharged due to banking error ACA plan enrollment falls 11%: 3 things to know The California Department of Public Health cited St. Joseph Hospital, Eureka (Calif.) for using excessive measures to restrain patients, according to the Times Standard. Here are four things to know: 1. The state health department issued a citation against the hospital and required it to submit a written plan of correction, according to the California Nurses Association, which initially filed a complaint against St. Joseph Hospital on behalf of several former patients. 2. State officials found that hospital staff had been resorting to excessive patient restraints too quickly and too often. Under state and federal law, hospitals may only use restraints when "less restrictive measures" are not working and must discontinue use of such restraints at the "earliest time possible," according to the report. 3. Lesley Ester, RN, chief registered nurse at St. Joseph and member of the California Nurses Association, told the Times Standard nurses at the hospital "began to be concerned when we saw a push from management to, rather than use the least restrictive measures possible, push to use restraints in a lot of situations." 4. A St. Joseph Hospital spokesperson told the publication the hospital values the state health department's feedback, but denied the institution's use of excessive patient restraints. "It's important to note this was a single incident [from which the complaint stemmed] involving a patient with behavioral health needs and we have yet to receive a report from CDPH detailing their findings," the spokesperson said. "We do not agree with CNA's statement indicating a sitter would have been the solution in this case." To access the full report, click here. Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit will implement temporary visitor restrictions starting Dec. 14 to help prevent the flu's spread, reports The Detroit News. A rise in confirmed flu cases in the metro Detroit area spurred hospital officials to implement the policy, which will ban all individuals under age 12 from visiting inpatient floors or the observation unit. The visitation guidelines will remain in effect as long as there is a high volume of seasonal flu, according to a hospital press release cited by The Detroit News. "We can never be too safe when it comes to flu season," Rudy Valentini, MD, CMO at Children's Hospital of Michigan, said in the press release. "We're doing absolutely everything we can to prevent the spread of influenza and to ensure the safety of our patients." More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Wanaque Center adenovirus outbreak is over, but new patients still barred Stethoscopes carry broad range of bacteria even after cleaning How Atrium Health sustains a 4% reduction in readmissions annually Stamford (Conn.) Hospital was fined $55,000 for allowing a phlebotomist to draw blood at a clinic that lacked appropriate certification, according to the Stamford Advocate. Here are five things to know: 1. A Connecticut Department of Public Health inspection revealed in late January that a phlebotomist contracting with Boston Heart Diagnostics drew blood from patients before Stamford Hospital received necessary written certification to run its Feel Well Health Center in Southington, Conn. Multiple patients were treated at the center during the nearly four months the violations occurred, state officials allege. 2. According to a Sept. 7 consent order signed by the department of health and Stamford Hospital, the phlebotomist was paid by Boston Heart to collect and send specimens to the Framingham, Mass.-based diagnostic center. The violations occurred from Oct. 4, 2017, to Jan. 26, 2018, according to the department, as cited by the Stamford Advocate. 3. Stamford Hospital violated state law by running the blood collection center without having or displaying a state blood collection facility certificate, which has a gold seal of approval, according to the consent order. The center also did not have or display emergency procedures for patients, or have a supervisor visit the center monthly, according to the order. In addition, the order said the blood collection area had ripped chair arms and centrifuges that weren't calibrated properly. 4. Ruth Cardiello, RN, vice president of enterprise risk management and corporate compliance officer at Stamford Health, told the Stamford Advocate, "The staff members who were involved in the opening of the [Southington] draw station did so without any intention of violating legal requirements." 5. Stamford Hospital reported the violations to the department of health and "accepts full responsibility for these actions," Ms. Cardiello said. "We cooperated in every way possible with the department to rectify the situation and are complying with any resulting direction from the state. We have already reviewed all existing blood draw stations and instituted even more stringent policies for the review of new ones by our compliance and executive teams to ensure this isolated occurrence is not repeated. This unfortunate event in no way impacted the quality of care we provide our patients at Stamford Health." More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: Can vitamin-steroid cocktail cure sepsis? Trial aims to find out Human heart left on plane prompts commercial flight's turnaround Fetal tissue freeze may delay NIH cancer lab's research Fall River, Mass.-based Saint Anne's Hospital received The Joint Commission's national Gold Seal of Approval certification for its spine surgery program, The Herald News reports. Here are three things to know: 1. Saint Anne's is the only Massachusetts hospital to earn the certification. 2. A Joint Commission expert evaluated the spine surgery program for criteria including compliance with national standards, effective and consistent use of appropriate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for patients undergoing discectomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion, and spine surgery-specific performance measures. 3. Saint Anne's Hospital launched the state's first navigation-guided robotic-assisted spine surgery program in December 2017 with its installation of Globus Medical's ExcelsiusGPS system. Here are eight spine and neurosurgeons making headlines. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons selected Raqeeb Haque, MD, to serve on the faculty of its board review course. LiveMed Media, founded by board-certified neurosurgeon John Ruge, MD, launched the latest version of the Medeligo oncology search app. After deliberating for an hour and 20 minutes, a jury found Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare was not negligent in hiring neurosurgeon Denise Crute, MD. James Dwyer, MD, opened Spine/RX, a new spine surgery practice in Hoboken, N.J. Fayetteville-based Washington Regional's Northwest Arkansas Neuroscience Institute welcomed Daniel Shepherd, MD. David Wiles, MD, joined Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Parkridge Medical Center. St. Luke's University Health Network in Bethlehem, Pa., welcomed Roy Hwang, MD. Steven Beer, MD, was among the first surgeons in the U.S. to perform spinal surgery using the OsseoScrew spinal fixation system. Former neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, MD, who was convicted of maiming and killing more than 30 patients, lost his appeal and will remain in prison, D Magazine reports. Here's what you should know: 1. Nicknamed "Dr. Death," Dr. Duntsch is the first physician convicted for aggravated assault related to care provided in the operating room. Prosecutors identified an estimated three dozen patients who were harmed under Dr. Duntsch's care. He was charged with five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of injuring an elderly patient. 2. Dr. Duntsch's patient Mary Efurd, 53 woke up in severe pain after undergoing an operation to have two vertebrae fused. Another neurosurgeon asked to perform corrective surgery testified the spinal fusion hardware was left in her muscle, the nerve root was severed, her spine was riddled with screw holes and a screw was lodged in another nerve root. 3. After Dr. Duntsch was convicted in the case, his defense appealed on the grounds that the state failed to prove a culpable mental state beyond a reasonable doubt, the state used testimony from other procedures to secure the conviction, and the state improperly entered a drug-referencing email into evidence. 4. Justices Douglas Lang and Robert Filmore affirmed Dr. Duntsch's conviction Dec. 10, while Justice David Schenck dissented. The two that affirmed the conviction found a reasonably educated neurosurgeon like Dr. Duntsch would have likely known about certain risks and said the email in question helped the jury understand Dr. Duntsch's intent. Evidence from cases other than Ms. Efurd's helped prove Dr. Duntsch knew what he was doing, they ruled. The dissenting justice questioned whether the evidence presented in court was enough to prove culpable mental state and intent, rather than only criminal negligence. 5. Dr. Duntsch's life sentence will likely stand, but he has until Dec. 25 to appeal further. Hayley Atwell has described her latest venture as her "most liberating" yet. A notable departure from her portrayal of Marvel's Peggy "Agent" Carter, the London-born actress (36) is set to take viewers by storm as The Long Song's odious mistress, Caroline Mortimer. Adapted from Andrea Levy's award-winning novel, the three-parter - set during the final days of slavery in 19th-century Jamaica - follows the trials, tribulations and survival of wily, strong-willed slave July (Tamara Lawrance) on a plantation run by Caroline and her older brother, John Howarth (Leo Bill). By Atwell's own admission, it's her first villainous role to date. "That was the appeal," she says of the BBC drama. "(Caroline) was so big on the page - an almost panto villain, hysterical, grating, heinous monster. But I thought it would be a challenge, for me, if I could create some sort of pathos - or we could see her human side. "If we saw her desperate and pathetic attempt to control the world's opinions of her. And if we saw what she was like when she was on her own, and it was quite different, that would be a fascinating arc to play." For those in need of some background, the best-selling tale begins when soon-to-be heroine July is born to a field slave, Kitty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). On a whim, Caroline opts to take the young girl from her mother in a bid to keep her as a personal maid in the great house. Fast forward and July, now a teenager, has learned how to "handle" her mistress. But with the Christmas riots and the abolition of slavery on the horizon, her destiny is soon thrown into question. Welcome Robert Goodwin (played by Atwell's Measure For Measure co-star) - a new overseer, who looks set to revolutionise the plantation once order has been restored. But could this be a turning-point for Caroline? That would be telling - but the joy comes from playing a character who is intrinsically hard to like, Atwell insists. "I didn't like her, but I loved her and I found her dark side to be an opportunity to explore the damage done to the human psyche when you inflict damage on someone else," she claims. "She knows she's stupid - and I say that in a sense that she has no kind of real self-awareness and also no position within this circumstance to actually have any true power," she explains. "She doesn't own the land, because she's a woman, so she has nothing and she has no one, apart from July." Smiling, she adds: "It's quite obvious how much I enjoyed being her. Mahalia (Belo) was so wonderful as a director, because she gave us free rein to try things - and because I felt safe, it meant that I could take things really far just to find out where the line was. "Yes, I get to play a ridiculous character, but I was not ashamed to be doing it. I felt very relaxed. And you've seen so many of my ugly sides, so now I feel free." It's a fulfilling moment for the star, who trained alongside the likes of Jodie Whittaker and Michelle Dockery at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. "I think, because I'm proud of it, I can now say it has been my most liberating role," muses Atwell, who is also known for her stage work in such productions as Lindsay Posner's revival of A View From The Bridge. "It paid off to be able to steer the trajectory of what I've been doing and what I've done before, into new territory. "At this stage in my career, this has been a necessary tool for me. I have more ownership of the parts I take and, therefore, I can deliver the audience something that they will enjoy watching." A rarely-acknowledged part of British colonial history, however, how well does the series present the shameful subject of slavery to a modern-day audience? "Objectively speaking, there's been more talk of it over the last couple of years, especially with the Windrush generation and everything that's been happening around those issues. "It feels like it's a conversation that's starting to happen more and more explicitly and our project being part of that conversation just added extra layer to it, which I think is useful. "The lessons in it? We talked about it earlier and Tamara was saying about the fact that none of these characters have a monopoly on suffering or that, just because you are a victim or, in this instance, a slave, that doesn't mean you are a good person, or a better person, or you have a moral superiority next to someone who is an abuser. "Human beings are far more complicated than that." The Long Song, BBC One, Tuesday, 9pm DUP leader Arlene Foster last night warned the Prime Minister not to roll over in the face of EU intransigence. Mrs Foster called on Theresa May to stand up to fellow European leaders and demand changes to the UK/EU Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Read More Mrs Foster, whose party is keeping the Government in power through a confidence and supply deal at Westminster, has vowed to vote against the draft treaty if the contentious Irish border backstop is not binned. Mrs Foster's uncompromising message to the Prime Minister comes after Mrs May spent two days in Brussels unsuccessfully pleading with EU leaders for "further assurances" which might help her persuade UK MPs to back her Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. The DUP is vehemently opposed to the Withdrawal Agreement in its current form, which would see Northern Ireland kept inside the EU's regulatory framework if a wider trade deal between the UK and EU could not be agreed. The party believes the measure would create an economic border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Responding to the EU's refusal to countenance changes to the withdrawal deal and Mrs May's failure to secure legal guarantees that the backstop would only ever be temporary, Mrs Foster said: "The Prime Minister has promised to get legally binding changes. The reaction by the EU is unsurprising. They are doing what they always do. "The key question is whether the Prime Minister will stand up to them or whether she will roll over, as has happened previously. "This is a difficulty of the Prime Minister's own making. A deal was signed off which the Prime Minister should have known would not gain the support of Parliament. "If the Prime Minister had listened to our warnings and stood by her public commitments, we would not be in this situation." Mrs May's hopes of a legally binding commitment on the backstop from the EU27 were dashed when Mr Juncker said there could be "no real changes" to the Withdrawal Agreement. After listening to a presentation from the Prime Minister about MP's concerns, the EU27 leaders tore up a draft communique prepared by officials which would have offered Mrs May "further assurances". But she said yesterday talks with EU officials about changes to the Withdrawal Agreement would continue, despite the rejection of her requests by EU leaders including Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron. In a press conference in Brussels yesterday, the Prime Minister acknowledged that it would not be possible to reopen the agreement to alter the backstop provisions which have sparked mass rebellion among Tory MPs. She confirmed she had a "robust" discussion with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and insisted she had been "crystal clear" about the UK's need for firmer assurances that the backstop cannot become permanent. "The EU is clear, as I am, that if we are going to leave with a deal, this is it," she said. "But my discussions with colleagues today have shown that further clarification and discussion following the council's conclusions is in fact possible. "There is work still to do and we will be holding talks in coming days about how to obtain the further assurances that the UK Parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal," Mrs May said. But Mr Juncker criticised Mrs May's lack of clarity over what she was seeking from the future UK/EU relationship. He said: "We don't want the UK to think there can be any form of renegotiation, that is crystal clear. "We can add clarifications but no real changes. There will be no legally binding obligations imposed on the withdrawal treaty." Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May's plan was "dead in the water" and reiterated Labour's call for a vote on it before Christmas. Last night DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson MP hammered home his party's message to the Prime Minister. Speaking at a rally for Brexit campaign group Leave Means Leave, the MP said that the assurances Mrs May was seeking from the EU were worthless. "From the point of view of Northern Ireland, we're not going to accept a situation where we have to regard the rest of the UK as a third country: whether we find ourselves cut off from out main market; where we can't take part in trade deals; where we find that forever we will have our laws made in Brussels without any input or any ability to change them, regardless of how damaging they are. "That's not democracy, that's dictatorship, and we'll not have it." Northern Ireland-born Labour MP Kate Hoey also gave a speech where she said: "How could any UK Prime Minister agree a deal that separates out Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK? As someone who grew up in Northern Ireland, proud, very proud to be pro-Union, I feel very strongly about this. "We didn't spend in Northern Ireland 30 years stopping IRA terrorists killing soldiers, police and civilians in order to get a united Ireland, to allow a few jumped-up EU bureaucrats and a complicit Prime Minister to try to do the same thing by the back door." A car ended up on its roof after crashing on the A1. Credit: PSNI. Police have urged drivers in Northern Ireland to be cautious due to extreme weather conditions. The warning came after a car (pictured) ended up on its roof following a crash on the A1 road on Saturday morning. Read More Nobody was injured in the accident. "There is standing water on most roads and in particular on the A1. Reduce your speed and don't take any risks," a PSNI spokesperson said. A yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into effect at 6am this morning and will last until 6pm this evening. Between 30mm and 50mm of rain is expected to fall over a period of between six and 12 hours. Winds are expected to reach speeds of 50 to 60mph. 'The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it had received a report at around 8am on Wednesday that a man had been hit by a bull' (stock photo) The funeral of a Co Antrim farmer killed in an incident involving a bull will be held on Saturday. James Gibson, of Killycarn Road near Broughshane, died at the scene on Wednesday. Mr Gibson, who was in his late 60s, is survived by his wife Margaret and children Peter, Sarah, Stephen, Hannah and Lois. He was also the father-in-law of Aaron and Stephen, and was a grandfather. A funeral service will be held at Buckna Gospel Hall today at noon, followed by interment in Buckna New Cemetery. The family asked for privacy and no flowers, but donations can be made to the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance. Those who knew Mr Gibson said he was a "nice, quiet man" who was well-known and respected in the area. DUP councillor Beth Clyde added: "I really am sorry. I feel for the family's loss, especially at Christmas time. "It seems to be worse whenever something like this happens at Christmas time." "It is a devastating loss for the family and for the district." The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it had received a report at around 8am on Wednesday that a man had been hit by a bull. An emergency crew responded to the incident, as did the air ambulance. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating. Former Ulster Farmers' Union president Ian Marshall said the tragic accident was "a stark reminder" of the dangers associated with working in the farming sector. An application made on behalf of rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding to recover legal costs incurred during their lengthy rape case was dismissed in court yesterday. Judge Patricia Smyth - who presided over the trial at Belfast Crown Court earlier this year - was asked to consider defence applications on behalf of both men, requesting their legal costs be reimbursed by the Public Prosecution Services. Both Mr Jackson and Mr Olding were unanimously acquitted by a jury in March of raping a student in Mr Jackson's south Belfast home in June 2016. Neither man was in court for Friday's ruling, but present in the public gallery were Mr Jackson's parents. While Mr Jackson funded his own legal costs throughout the 10-week trial, Mr Olding financed his own defence up until February 19, when an application for legal aid was made and granted. In the aftermath of the trial, the IRFU terminated the pair's contracts with both the Irish team and Ulster Rugby. Both men subsequently secured deals with teams in France. Barristers for the pair each launched applications to recoup their client's legal fees from the PPS's purse. Among the submissions made, their barristers argued that both men had suffered huge financial loss and damage to their reputations as a result of the trial, and both had to move away to pursue their careers. During today's ruling at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Smyth pointed out there were no guideline cases in either the UK or Ireland with which to compare this application. The trial judge also said she had taken into account the "special facts and circumstances" of the case. Judge Smyth said: "This was a complex police investigation and the prosecution was warranted, albeit the jury did not consider that the charges had been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The evidence bore the characteristics of a Rubik cube, capable of bearing myriad conclusions, depending on the jury's view of the evidence. But those were conclusions for the jury to reach, and not the prosecution. "Having considered all of the relevant factors, I am satisfied that there is no basis for exercising my discretion in the applicants' favour. The applications are therefore dismissed." It emerged during yesterday's ruling that as part of the application made on behalf of Mr Jackson, the court was provided with information from both Paddy and his father Peter setting out what they paid in legal costs. The court heard Mr Jackson paid his mortgage off and had savings but had to draw on his mortgage and borrow from his father's retirement money to fund his defence. In her ruling, Judge Smyth said Mr Jackson's father "was not required to contribute his retirement monies". The judge also revealed: "Mr Jackson has declined the opportunity to provide evidence regarding his current financial situation, including the extent to which he has repaid the debt to his father." A man convicted of a brutal attack on his then girlfriend has received a six-year sentence, with three years in prison. Stephen McCarron (35) was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Londonderry Crown Court last month of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on his victim by biting her on the nose, causing a partial severing of her nostril, and of kicking and punching her in the face during a sustained attack in her Bogside flat. McCarron, from Moyola Drive in the Shantallow area of the city, showed no emotion when the sentence was handed down by Judge Elizabeth McCaffrey. The court was told that the assault was the culmination of a toxic, disjointed and tumultuous three-year long relationship between McCarron and his then girlfriend. McCarron, who had 74 previous criminal convictions, two of them for assaulting the same victim, attacked his girlfriend of three years on the night of August 15 of last year following a day-long drinking binge. The court heard that he and his victim had argued at a bonfire and McCarron had followed her to her flat, where he assaulted her for several hours. Judge McCaffrey described the assault by McCarron on his victim as brutal. "She described you kicking, punching and choking her and biting her nose, which she said you tried to bite off. "She then described how you strangled her and she described fighting for breath. "She said that you would leave her for a while and go for her again. "She said she truly believed that you were going to kill her." The judge said that McCarron, despite coming from a stable family background, had led an aimless and chaotic lifestyle, characterised by drugs and alcohol abuse, unemployment and offending and that he had been assessed as presenting a high risk of reoffending. She said it was not the first time McCarron had assaulted the same woman, but it was the most serious of the attacks and represented an escalation in the violence he perpetrated against his former girlfriend. "I consider that culpability in this case is high and the harm, while not the most severe, nevertheless left the victim with a disfiguring injury and in a bruised, battered and terrified state", she said. "The victim said in her evidence that the assault on her was sustained and involved kicking with shod feet, together with punching, slapping and biting." Judge McCaffrey said that given the serious breach of trust involved in this "appalling assault which took place in a domestic setting", she believed that the appropriate sentence was six years' imprisonment; three in custody and three years on licence. Police and forensic experts at the scene of the Antrim fire Neighbours heard cries of "help me" during a fire at an Antrim property early yesterday morning, according to a local resident. The PSNI said that a man was taken to hospital after a fire at a property in the town's Donore Crescent at around 7.30am on Friday morning. Detective Sergeant Lyttle said: "Officers attended the scene along with colleagues from the NI Fire and Rescue Service. "A man in his 20s was taken to hospital for treatment by ambulance. Enquiries are continuing and there are no further details at this time." A spokesman for the Ambulance Service confirmed it had been responding to reports of a male having sustained burns. They said that an emergency crew attended the incident, and after an initial assessment and treatment at the scene one patient was taken to hospital. Former Antrim mayor Adrian Watson owns a taxi company in the town and said one of his drivers who lives near the flat heard the man screaming for help as he was leaving for work. He found the door of the man's flat lying open and saw that he was "horrifically burned". He knew not to touch him and called for the emergency services. "He said the man was in a very bad state. He was in total agony," Mr Watson said. A local resident and mum-of-two told the Belfast Telegraph that she believed neighbours had responded to shouts, and said she was trying to shield her young children from what had happened. "I've lived here for a number of years and it's the first time anything like this has happened," she said. "I got a knock at the door at 8.30am from the police. "I live here with my two kids - my wee man saw the police there and wondered what was going on. I haven't told them. "Neighbours heard him shouting 'Help me'. "Everyone is just shocked, wondering what was going on. "There has never been anything this serious happening here. "To have this happen just outside the door, when I have two young kids, is scary." And a woman with a vulnerable adult daughter said she was "horrified" at the incident and feared for her child's safety. She said: "The place was all cordoned off with police swarming all over the place and the fire brigade. "Me and her brother are going to stay with my daughter tonight. "My daughter is afraid to be on her own. "It is worrying because you don't know what's going to happen next. "There are a lot of families and this happened in the morning when people were getting up for work. "It's sad for his family, especially at this time of the year," she said. Another neighbour said she had awoken to a sea of "blue lights". "It's terrible," she said. "I live here by myself with my dog but he didn't start barking. It is so quiet, especially that wee corner. "It's crazy to have something like that happen on your doorstep." Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan Marie Fox (centre) with her family at the funeral of her son Padraig. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan Marie Fox (centre) with her family at the funeral of her son Padraig. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan Marie Fox (centre) with her family at the funeral of her son Padraig. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan The funeral of Padraig Fox at St McCartans church in Loughinisland. Funeral - Press Eye - Loughinisland - 15th December 2018 Photograph by Declan Roughan Marie Fox (centre) with her family at the funeral of her son Padraig. The funeral has taken place of Padraig Fox who was found murdered inside a flat in Co Down. Mr Fox (29) was found dead at around 1.45pm last Saturday inside a property on Burrendale Park Road in Newcastle. He had only moved into the block of flats a few months ago. He was laid to rest on Saturday at St McCartan's Church in Loughinisland following a service. A 21-year-old man has been charged with Mr Fox's murder, while a 26-year-old and 20-year-old have been charged with perverting the course of justice. Earlier this week neighbours described Mr Fox as a "very vulnerable young man". Thomas Menagh (47), who lives in the same building, paid tribute to his friend who "never got into trouble" and "never drank alcohol". "I always kept an eye on him, he was a very vulnerable young man," he said. "He was a good kid who would do anything for anyone. He didn't deserve this." Mr Menagh offered his condolences to Padraig's mum Marie, who he said regularly visited her son at his new home. "She should have been looking forward to helping her son celebrate Christmas in his new home, but now she's getting ready to bury him," he added. The Taoiseach has dismissed one of Theresa May's suggestions aimed at winning parliamentary support for her Brexit deal. Leo Varadkar said he could not give Britain a legal assurance around a start date for a post-Brexit trade deal. Such an intervention could help the Prime Minister win over Parliament as it would clarify the date when the Irish border backstop was no longer needed. Mr Varadkar said some of Mrs May's proposals made sense and others would be "difficult". "For us to make a legal commitment to have a done deal at a particular moment or time, that is not possible because it is not in our gift to deliver that, we cannot promise anything that is not in our power to deliver." He said they would begin negotiations on the future relationship as soon as possible once the withdrawal treaty was dealt with. "We can commit to our best endeavours and say we will work towards a target date (for a trade deal). It is not possible to say that we will definitely meet that date. "The future relationship treaty will be more complicated, it will have to be ratified by 28 member parliaments." The backstop, which would come into effect if a wider trade deal between the UK and EU fails to materialise, will see Northern Ireland adhere to a range of EU regulatory rules in order to facilitate free-flowing trade across the border. Mrs May is facing widespread opposition to the measure at Westminster amid claims it will undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom by creating an economic border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Mr Varadkar said the British Government had to be clear about what Parliament needed to pass the withdrawal treaty, which assurances would be enough, and noted European leaders were not planning any extra summits before next March. "How can we be sure that it is going to be enough? We cannot have someone coming back every couple of weeks looking for something extra, looking for something more. We cannot operate international relations in this way," he added. In Brussels for the second day of the European Council meeting, Mr Varadkar said he was "very satisfied" with the summit conclusions on Brexit which made clear the withdrawal agreement was not "up for renegotiation". The Taoiseach said he still believed a no-deal was an "unlikely scenario" despite the EU ramping up preparations for such an eventuality. "An open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland can't be a back door to the single market. That's why European countries also very strongly support backstop. It is not just an Irish issue, it is very much a European issue as well," he said. Snow and ice could cause problems The road has been closed. Follow the latest updates from our travel feed below The Dobbin Road in Armagh has been reopend folowing an earlier crash. Diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted onto the Vicarage Road, delays are expected. Our live updates from across Northern Ireland are compiled by @TrafficwatchNI, @BBCNITravel and @PSNITraffic. Husband Keelan Burns carrying the coffin of his wife Laura at the funeral Mass in St Comgall's Church, Antrim A young Antrim mum who died suddenly on Monday was buried in her wedding dress yesterday after dozens of health service colleagues formed a guard of honour at her funeral service. Laura Burns (32) was in bed with her one-year-old son Lorcan in the early hours of Sunday when she developed a severe migraine. Read More Sadly, the former Ballymena Academy pupil lost consciousness and her heart stopped beating. Despite the efforts of staff at Antrim Area Hospital, where Laura was a nursing sister and ward manager, her condition deteriorated and her life support was turned off on Monday. Hundreds of people packed St Comgall's Church in Antrim yesterday, including large numbers of her colleagues. Laura's red nurse's uniform and name badge were placed at the church entrance, alongside pictures of her with Lorcan and her husband of four years, Keelan (29). Little Lorcan, who has cerebral palsy, was carried into the church behind his mother's coffin. Father Sean Emerson, who led the funeral service and had married Laura and Keelan in 2014, said the couple had "a good number of years together - but not as many as they would wish". "Our hearts break for them, we ask God to be with them, to help support her family and friends," he said. "The closer you were to Laura, the more you loved her, the more intense is your loss. "Even if you did not know Laura, there is shock and disbelief that a 32-year-old woman, wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend and nurse died so unexpectedly, so suddenly." Remembering Lorcan's baptism, Fr Emerson said the child was "so special and important" to Laura and Keelan. "Many of you who have rich memories of Laura will wonder why this happened, but will not be able to find an explanation," he continued. "There is no satisfactory explanation. Why did it happen? Why so young? "I have every confidence that Keelan will be with Laura in Heaven, that all of us will be united with those who have died and united in love again in the light of Christ." During the service a picture of Laura with Lorcan as a baby and her NHS uniform were carried to the front of the church and placed on the offertory table below the altar. Fr Emerson added that Laura's death was a "great blow" for her NHS colleagues. Offering sympathy to the health service staff, he said: "They're so used to dealing with healing it's very difficult to find that in some situations it's not possible to be healed." During the service the Northern Health and Social Care Trust choir sang Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace, and a recording of the song If I Die Young by The Band Perry was played. Laura's father John Brooker began his eulogy with a poem, which included the words: "She touched the hearts of everyone she knew. Letting her go was so, so hard to do." Mr Brooker thanked ambulance staff, A&E staff and staff in Antrim Area Hospital's intensive care unit for their care of Laura and the family. He said nursing was his daughter's "passion" and he had been told by several people that the direct assessment unit, of which Laura was in charge, "would not be where it is today without the passionate input of my Laura". He said: "I've been made even more proud than before, if that's possible, by hearing that." Mr Brooker, whose life Laura had saved after he suffered a stroke shortly before her 2014 wedding, said his only daughter's nuptials were "one of the proudest days of my life". "It was made particularly so by her life-saving actions on me four-and-a-half months earlier, which allowed me to be there to walk her down the aisle," he continued. "Those that have seen her over the past couple of days would have seen that the dress still fits - she would have been so, so chuffed. "She was the proudest mum on the planet when Lorcan was born on December 19, 2016. "The challenge that was presented when Lorcan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy was significant, and showed Laura as being the most loving, supportive, proactive, understanding, and also demanding when necessary, mum I've known. "Her undying love and commitment to Lorcan's development has been commented on by so, so many people." Mr Brooker said that "sometimes in life things happen that are just not right, with absolutely no room for debate, and saying goodbye to your daughter is certainly one of them". "My darling Laura, mum and I are missing you so, so much already, which I know will last forever," he added. "I would swap places with you in a heartbeat, but sadly I cannot." Mr Brooker was given a round of applause after he finished his tribute with another moving poem. Laura's health service colleagues then filed outside, where they lined the route as Keelan, Mr Brooker and Laura's loved ones carried her coffin before she was taken to her final resting place in Sixmile Cemetery. A fundraising page set up in Laura's memory to benefit Antrim Area Hospital intensive care unit and children's charity The Buddy Bear Trust, which supports Lorcan and other children with cerebral palsy and motor disorders, has already raised more than 8,500. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/laura-burns. A senior PSNI officer is at the centre of a Police Ombudsman probe, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. The officer is being investigated in relation to a motoring incident. The incident, understood to have happened a number of months ago, involved the senior officer - who is not being named due to legal reasons - and another police officer. Each has made allegations of impropriety against the other. Under normal rules the senior officer should have been referred to the Police Ombudsman by the Policing Board due to their rank. However, as there was no fully constituted Policing Board at the time, a decision was made that they should be referred to the Police Ombudsman by the PSNI. Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: "A road traffic incident occurred involving two police officers, both of whom made allegations against each other. In order to ensure full independence of the investigation and to maintain public confidence, the matter was referred to the Office of the Police Ombudsman." A Police Ombudsman spokesman said: "We try not to confirm or deny anything which would help in the identification of police officers. "That seems only fair." It is highly unusual for a senior officer to come under the scrutiny of the Police Ombudsman. Earlier this year the Chief Constable was exonerated by a Police Ombudsman investigation into alleged misconduct in public office. George Hamilton and a number of other senior officers were subject to the investigation. The Chief Constable said he was relieved at the outcome, but not surprised it had exonerated him. He said the investigation was to the highest possible standards, describing it as "quite intrusive". Michael Maguire's probe examined how the PSNI handled a bribery inquiry into the awarding of a contract to supply vehicles to the force. Police have said they are not treating the sudden death of a woman in Glengormley, Co Antrim as suspicious. It is understood the woman, believed to be in her 40s, was found dead in the Collinward Park area in the early hours of Saturday morning. "The sudden death of a woman at a house in the Collinward area of Newtownabbey in the early hours of Saturday, 15 December is not being treated as suspicious," a PSNI spokesperson said. A highly experienced psychiatric nurse who broke a patient's nose when he punched him was yesterday warned he will "almost inevitably" go to jail. Freeing Patrick Maguire on bail to be sentenced on Monday at Craigavon Crown Court, Judge Patrick Lynch warned that while he was "mindful of the extreme stress" faced by those dealing with mental health patients, it had to be "balanced against the nature of the trust that has been reposed in this situation". "This was a gross breach of that trust," added the judge. At an earlier hearing Maguire, from Tollymore Brae in Newcastle, admitted causing actual bodily harm to the male patient, wilfully neglecting the patient at the Bluestone Unit in Craigavon Hospital, and attempting to pervert the course of justice on October 27 last year. Prosecuting lawyer Nicola Auret yesterday told the court how the patient, who suffers from a bipolar disorder, had been admitted to the unit experiencing an "episode with psychotic features". She described how he had become "extremely distressed" at the hospital's emergency department, threatening a member of staff and setting fire to it. In the early hours of October 27, at around 4am, the man was standing against the wall in the corridor of the unit when Maguire took him by the elbow to guide him back to bed but the patient "threw a punch at the defendant". It was then, however, that Maguire "punched him three times to the face and he was put to the ground" where he remained for a short time until he was helped to his room. Ms Auret said the victim sustained an injury to his nose and there was blood on the corridor floor, which Maguire wiped up before changing his own top. Recounting how the incident was captured on CCTV, she said that at one stage a female staff nurse could been seen on the footage asking what had happened and was told that "a patient punched Paddy Maguire so had to be put to their room and in the process hit his nose off one of their knees". While the nurse could not remember who told her that account, Maguire reported "there had been an incident, that he had been punched, the patient was restrained and he had hit his nose" so needed medical attention. Ms Auret said at around the same time the patient phoned police to report that he had been assaulted. He later required an operation to his nose, which had suffered a displaced fracture. Investigating police seized the CCTV footage as well as various documents which Maguire had filled in, with Ms Auret telling the court that "in none of the documents did (Maguire) file a truthful account of what happened". It was that aspect of the case which formed the base for the charge of perverting justice, while it was Maguire's failure to get medical attention for the victim that formed the other charge of wilfully neglecting the patient. Arrested and interviewed, Maguire gave a prepared statement where he set out how he was attacked first, but then refused to answer further police questions. Ms Auret told the court that while Maguire had a clear record and had admitted his guilt, there were numerous aggravating features to the case, including the "gross breach of trust, the assault of a very vulnerable man that that defendant was supposed to care for", all of which was "compounded by his attempt to cover up what he had done". Defence QC Charles McKay revealed Maguire had been a qualified nurse for 38 years and said the assault had been "an impulsive reaction to being swung at by the injured party". "He impulsively reacted in a defensive way initially, but he would accept that he went beyond what would be proportionate in striking this man a number of times," said the senior lawyer. He said that Maguire "accepts that he lost his self-control in a situation where he should not have done so... he should have been able to cope," and had "expressed he is ashamed and disgusted at what he has done". Adjourning sentencing to Monday, Judge Lynch said he wanted to consider all the materials before him. Police have announced that they have arrested three men in connection with creeper style burglaries in Belfast. A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences following report of a creeper style burglary in Moira Road, Lisburn in the early hours of Saturday morning. He remains in custody at this time. Following the report of the theft of a car during a creeper burglary in the Brucevale Court area of Belfast on Friday morning police arrested two men aged 19 and 26 at approximately 9.30pm Friday night on the A1 road. They have been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and remain in custody at this time. Secretary of State Karen Bradley's relations with the DUP are said to be 'at an all-time low' Theresa May is coming under increasing pressure from the DUP and Tory backbench MPs to remove Karen Bradley as Secretary of State. Westminster sources told the Belfast Telegraph that Mrs Bradley, who is a close friend of the Prime Minister, could be shifted in a cabinet mini-reshuffle in the New Year. As she fought to save her leadership of the Conservative Party, Mrs May pledged to the backbench 1922 Committee on Wednesday night that she would rebuild relations with the DUP which keeps her minority Government in power. A group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs and DUP allies believe this cannot happen while Mrs Bradley remains Secretary of State. There is also speculation about a reshuffle of the whips' office with Government chief whip Julian Smith predicted to be a casualty due to his handling of events in the days preceding the abandoned Brexit deal vote. A senior DUP source described its relationship with Mrs Bradley as being at "an all-time low" and accused her of briefing against the party. Mrs Bradley strongly advocated the Prime Minister's Brexit deal to the business community in Northern Ireland at a series of meetings over the past month. A DUP source said: "It is a matter for the Prime Minister who she appoints as Secretary of State. But Theresa May is well aware that there is zero respect among unionists for Karen Bradley. She is here because she is the Prime Minister's friend and will always be loyal to her. There should be more to holding the job than that. "I don't think anybody could point to a single significant thing that Karen Bradley has said or done in the year since she's been here. She is totally out of her depth." Another DUP source said: "Karen Bradley hasn't handled things well. Relations between the DUP and the Secretary of State are at an all-time low. "The party has serious concerns about the Secretary of State briefing against it at Westminster and locally." Northern Ireland Office sources last night strongly denied this was the case. "It is categorically untrue that Karen Bradley ever has or ever would brief against the DUP," a source said. The DUP insider said that some Tory backbenchers believed Mrs Bradley was an impediment to a "constructive relationship" being rebuilt with Arlene Foster's party. The source said: "Some of her colleagues at Westminster see Karen Bradley as an obstacle to restoring the good working relationship that the Prime Minister pledged to the 1922 Committee." As Secretary of State, Mrs Bradley is not responsible for her party's confidence and supply agreement with the DUP and must be balanced in her dealings with all parties. The Belfast Telegraph understands that the possibility of previous Secretary of State James Brokenshire returning to Northern Ireland was raised in London but such a move was ruled out. Mrs Bradley's approach on legacy issues has made her enemies among right-wing backbench MPs. Mrs Bradley was appointed just 11 months ago amid hopes she would take a more proactive role in restoring devolution than her predecessor. However, the Secretary of State has drawn criticism from across the political divide for failing to take decisions. She was ridiculed for admitting in an interview with House magazine - a weekly Westminster publication - in the summer that she hadn't previously realised elections here were contested along sectarian lines. "I freely admit that when I started this job, I didn't understand some of the deep-seated and deep-rooted issues that there are in Northern Ireland," she said. "I didn't understand things like when elections are fought, for example, in Northern Ireland - people who are nationalists don't vote for unionist parties and vice versa. "So, the parties fight for election within their own community. "Actually, the unionist parties fight the elections against each other in unionist communities and nationalists in nationalist communities. "That's a very different world from the world I came from," Mrs Bradley said. Northern Ireland born Labour MP Kate Hoey has said that Prime Minister Theresa May and "a few jumped-up EU bureaucrats" must not be allowed to facilitate a united Ireland "by the back door". Mrs Hoey was speaking at a Leave Means Leave rally in London on Friday night. Among the other speakers were the DUP's Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson, former UKIP leader Nigel Farage and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. Mrs Hoey was born in Mallusk, Co Antrim and studied at the Belfast Royal Academy and University of Ulster before moving to England. She has served as the Labour MP for Vauxhall since 1989. Mrs Hoey has campaigned strongly for Brexit, despite her constituency voting overwhelmingly to Remain in the EU. The Labour MP was heavily criticised in February when she said that the Good Friday Agreement was "unsustainable". Speaking at the Leave Means Leave rally Mrs Hoey said she was "very proud to be pro-union". "We didn't spend 30 years in Northern Ireland stopping IRA terrorists killing soldiers, police, and civilians, in order to get a United Ireland to allow a few jumped-up EU bureaucrats and a complicit prime minister to try and do the same thing by the back door," she said. "Even more ridiculous is that it would not even be in the economic interests of Northern Ireland who depend so much of their trade, to and from Britain. Why is a British Prime Minister dancing to the tune of an Irish Taoiseach? There's no need for a hard border and there's no need for a backstop." Northern Ireland comedian Patrick Kielty, an outspoken critic of Brexit, reacted angrily to Mrs Hoey's comments. "Shes right. We didnt. Weve spent 20 years building peace in Northern Ireland. Then seen a United Ireland become more possible thanks to a few jumped up Brexiteers who say theyre actually Unionists," he wrote on Twitter. Expand Close Sammy Wilson AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sammy Wilson "You couldnt make it up (so they do instead)." Speaking at the rally East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said that the DUP did not want "assurances" on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal deal. Mr Wilson said that that they did not want Mrs May's deal "full stop". The DUP is unhappy that the deal will see Northern Ireland aligned with EU rules and remain part of the single market with checks on some goods coming in from the UK to Northern Ireland, if the Brexit backstop is implemented. It was thought we ten DUP MPs could make or break this deal. We have become an irrelevancy. Because there are that many MPs against it we might as well sit at home," Mr Wilson said. Former UKIP boss Nigel Farage told the rally that he felt a second referendum was now inevitable and urged people to vote Leave in even greater numbers so there could be no doubting the will of the UK to leave the EU. Irish police are concerned for the welfare of a woman whose newborn baby was found dead on a beach in Ireland. Police are concerned for the welfare of a woman whose newborn baby was found dead on a beach in Ireland. A local volunteer cleaning the area found the infant on Balbriggan strand north of Dublin at around 10am on Saturday morning. Detectives are appealing for the mother of the child to come forward. A Garda spokesman said: We are concerned for her safety and health given what she has gone through. The babys body was removed from the scene. A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out in the coming days and the force would not speculate on cause of death until that was complete. Expand Close Police are concerned for the welfare of a woman whose newborn baby was found dead in Balbriggan (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police are concerned for the welfare of a woman whose newborn baby was found dead in Balbriggan (Niall Carson/PA) Officers appealed for anyone with information to contact them. The main railway line between Dublin and Belfast runs along the inside of the beach. It comprises a mixture of sand and shingle coves, close to Balbriggan harbour on Irelands picturesque east coast. Lorraine Clifford-Lee, a senator in Irelands upper House of Parliament representing Irelands main opposition party Fianna Fail, said: Im distraught to learn of the discovery of the body of a baby on Balbriggan Beach today. Id appeal for the mother to come forward for medical treatment. Youll be treated with compassion. Irish police are concerned for the welfare of a woman whose newborn baby was found dead on a beach in Ireland. Gardai have issued an urgent appeal to the mother of a newly born baby, whose body was found on a beach this morning, to contact them. The baby was discovered on Bell's Beach near Balbriggan, north county Dublin at 10am today by a volunteer who was cleaning the beach along the sea shore. It is understood the remains were partially buried and gardai do not yet know the baby's gender. The baby is Caucasian. The infant's body was taken to hospital for a post mortem examination. Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Sergeant Fiona Savidge of Balbriggan Garda Station said: "A member of the public found the body of a newborn baby at Bells Beach in Balbriggan. I want to get in touch with the mother of this baby, I am reaching out to you. I know you need medical attention. "You need to go to your doctor, possibly a 24-hour doctor on call. "If you could also go to an accident and emergency 24-hour care is available there. "We are here at Balbriggan Garda Station at (01) 666 4500 or Tusla can be contacted 24-hours a day on 0818 776 315. "I can assure you you will be treated with the utmost of compassion, care and 100pc confidentiality. "I know you are a daughter, you are possibly a sister, a cousin. "You may have a husband or a boyfriend. You may just have confided in a friend, so to anybody out there who the mother of this baby has got in touch with I am appealing to you to make contact with us here." Local officers, headed by Det Supt Paul Scott, immediately began inquiries in the area to help establish the identity of the baby's mother. Gardai have also appealed to anybody else with information about the incident to make contact with them. A case conference, chaired by Chief Supt Mark Curran and Det Supt Scott, will be held at Balbriggan station this evening as officers review the outcome of their inquiries so far. Local Fine Gael Councillor Tom OLeary expressed his shock: Without knowing any of the circumstances I would appeal to the mother to come forward to seek the help and medical attention she needs. "Maybe she is under a lot of pressure, we dont know the circumstances and the matter is very delicate. "Maybe her family and friends are aware of her situation and they could assist her in coming forward. She needs to talk to somebody. "God almighty. We dont know the circumstances but to think of anyone that might have had to go through that alone and also in those terrible weather conditions, alone on a beach. "I cant bear to think of it. Its just so tragic. I am shocked. The whole of Ballbriggan will be in a state of shock. DUP leader Arlene Foster decided to proceed with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme without imposing cost controls, it was claimed yesterday. Mrs Foster, as the then Enterprise Minister, was responsible for the ill-fated scheme that exposed Stormont to a huge overspend by paying out more in subsidies than it cost to buy fuel. During one of her previous appearances before the panel investigating the botched scheme, she said she was not aware it was 200m more expensive than an alternative that she rejected. Her evidence has also suggested that her officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) did not raise enough red flags to cause concern. The former First Minister said she "read the information" given to her and took it "at face value" but that with hindsight she believed she should have received more information, and at the time she did not think she was signing a blank cheque. However, at the RHI Inquiry yesterday it was claimed by a barrister representing Fiona Hepper, the former head of the renewable energy team in Deti at the time, that she had been briefed on the dangers of proceeding without cost controls during a key meeting in June 2012. Peter Coll QC said while there were no minutes of the meeting, Ms Hepper told Mrs Foster that the scheme's administrators Ofgem had advised that interim cost controls should be put in place before it opened in November 2012. The energy regulator has told the inquiry that Stormont officials in Mrs Foster's department were repeatedly reminded about the issue of RHI cost controls. Mr Coll said Mrs Foster was also informed by Ms Hepper that cost controls had been introduced in Britain, which had been the model for the Northern Ireland scheme. He added that his client and her fellow civil servants had "absolutely" no possible motivation or reason to mislead Mrs Foster. He also rejected a suggestion by Mrs Foster's former special adviser Dr Andrew Crawford that officials withheld information from her, saying it "made no sense". In his evidence Dr Crawford denied attempting to delay RHI cost controls and said he couldn't remember if he warned Mrs Foster that "a tsunami" of applications was about to hit in the weeks before cost controls were introduced in late 2015. He has also accepted that some of his actions weren't appropriate, including the forwarding of confidential material about planned cost controls to a relative. Later addressing the inquiry on behalf of other Deti civil servants who took over the running of the RHI scheme, Jeremy Johnson QC appeared to take a swipe at previous remarks by Mrs Foster that she is "accountable but not responsible" for her former special adviser. On his clients' past errors in the running of RHI, Mr Johnson said: "None of them has sought in any way to shirk their responsibilities or accountability for their actions. They are not dancing about on the distinction between responsibility and accountability. They accept both." The inquiry's 114 days of oral hearings drew to a close yesterday, bringing to an end months of revelations which offered an eye-opening insight into local politics. The investigation into the botched green energy scheme has laid bare the inner workings of the Civil Service and Stormont's main parties, as well as revealing the key role of special advisers in the running of the devolved administration. Over 60 witnesses have appeared and more than a million pages of evidence were presented. Inquiry chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin said yesterday that he was "slightly amused" to hear the chair of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry announce that it is unlikely to resume for a year having received 200,000 documents, pointing out that was "less than a fifth" of what the RHI Inquiry has had to sift through. The inquiry returned for three days this week for legal representatives of the core participants to make closing representations. Sir Patrick also warned that it is "very likely that some individuals and/or bodies may be subject to quite significant criticism in light of actions or omissions relating to the scheme" but he reiterated his "complete determination" to ensure that no one is "treated unfairly". He added that it was "not possible" to provide a publication date for his report as there was still "a great deal more work to do" but said it would be made available "as soon as conveniently possible". "This will obviously be a significant undertaking and a painstaking process in the light of the amount and complexity of the evidence we have received. It will not be (published) before Christmas but I won't commit myself to say which Christmas," Sir Patrick said. Desmond OBeirne died six months after he was assaulted outside the landmark in Trafalgar Square (PA) A man has admitted his involvement in a fatal attack outside the National Gallery in London. Lucas Antunes, 21, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 51-year-old Desmond OBeirne, who died six months after he was assaulted outside the landmark in Trafalgar Square last year. Antunes, of no fixed address, had been extradited from the US before pleading guilty to the killing at the Old Bailey on Friday. Expand Close Lucas Antunes pleaded guilty to manslaughter (Metropolitan Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lucas Antunes pleaded guilty to manslaughter (Metropolitan Police/PA) A second man, aged 22, is due to appear at the court on Friday, also charged with manslaughter. Police launched a public appeal for information after Mr OBeirne, from Westminster, was left in a critical condition hospital following the attack in the early hours of June 3 2017. Expand Close Desmond OBeirne died six months after he was assaulted (Metropolitan Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Desmond OBeirne died six months after he was assaulted (Metropolitan Police/PA) He died on December 20 2017 and a post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a head injury. Antunes was eventually identified after detectives released CCTV. He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in February. Titians Diana and Actaeon was saved for the nation in 2009 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) New protections aimed at stopping some of the UKs most important artworks and artefacts being sold to overseas buyers have been outlined by the Government. The proposals, set out in a public consultation, would strengthen export deferral rules and give UK museums and buyers a better chance of acquiring items considered to be national treasures. The measures would bring-in a formal, legally binding agreement with private sellers to replace the current gentlemans agreement system, the Government said. Under the current rules, which have stood for 65 years, if a UK buyer puts in a matching offer on a national treasure set for export then they are given first refusal and time to raise the funds. NEWS: Plans to strengthen protections for Britain's most valuable treasures at risk of export https://t.co/KhmWmQ1AqR pic.twitter.com/nmSSWfpYLF DCMS (@DCMS) December 15, 2018 However, it is down to the seller to honour the commitment. The Government wants to introduce a mechanism to ensure that owners are legally bound to honour their commitment of accepting a matching offer from a UK buyer in order to remove the risk of reneging on the sale. UK museums and buyers would also get first refusal on acquisitions. Michael Ellis, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, said: Over the past 65 years our export bar system has saved hundreds of our most valuable cultural objects for the benefit of the nation. However, with many exceptional items increasing dramatically in value in recent years, it is right that we strengthen this process. These plans would protect museums that fundraise in good faith, and help to keep national treasures in the UK where they can be seen and enjoyed by the public. We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Queen Victorias stunning sapphire and diamond coronet designed by Prince Albert in 1840. pic.twitter.com/lBEBEDVnfL V&A (@V_and_A) August 27, 2017 Between 2007-2017, 40% of items at risk of export, worth a total of 97 million, were saved by UK museums and galleries. However, the remaining 60% of such items, worth 578.5 million, ended-up overseas. Items saved from export include a gold ring owned by Jane Austen, which was acquired by Jane Austens House Museum, and a steel dagger and scabbard owned by TE Lawrence which was bought by The National Army Museum. A sapphire and diamond coronet designed by Prince Albert in the year of his wedding to Queen Victoria, which she wore after his death, was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in August 2017 for 5 million. Items that are being sold abroad are assessed when the seller applies for an export license. A committee decides whether the object ought to be regarded as a national treasure, if it is of outstanding aesthetic importance or whether it is of academic importance. A public consultation on the proposals will run until February 24. Theresa May is expected to make a statement to MPs on Monday (Victoria Jones/PA) Theresa May has been told by a former minister not to run down the clock on giving MPs a proper say on Brexit. Jo Johnson urged the Prime Minister to let the Commons vote on her Brexit deal next week as he expressed concern at the way Downing Street is treating Parliament. The comments came as Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the EU would be more flexible on providing guarantees over the Irish border backstop proposals as Brussels could not be sure Parliament would stop a no-deal exit. And Cabinet colleague Amber Rudd said the UKs withdrawal from the EU is in danger of getting stuck as she called for MPs across the political divide to build a Brexit consensus in the Commons. Mr Johnson, who resigned as transport minister in protest at Mrs Mays EU withdrawal agenda, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The time has come for us to hold this vote. I am concerned that Number 10 is running down the clock. We need to get on with it. And the first step is to eliminate her deal from the tableJo Johnson Number 10 could try to leave that vote until the very last minute. Effectively, giving the country, giving Parliament no choice at all, except between her deal, flawed as it is and facing fundamental opposition across all sides of the House and no deal at all. And thats an unacceptable choice for Parliament. We need to get on with it. And the first step is to eliminate her deal from the table. Its simply unacceptable to run out the clock and face the country with the prospect of being timed-out. Mr Hunt said Mrs Mays deal could get through the Commons if the EU showed more flexibility on the backstop. WATCH LIVE: PM @Theresa_May holds a press conference following EU Council https://t.co/4irtqN7cSv UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 14, 2018 The backstop proposals, aimed at preventing a return to a hard border in Ireland, would see the UK obey EU customs rules if a wider trade deal had not been agreed with Brussels by the end of a transition period. Mr Hunt told the BBC: The thing that the House of Commons will not accept is any risk of us being permanently trapped through the Northern Irish backstop in the customs union. I think it is possible to get this deal through with those guarantees that we need on the backstop. The reason I think, in the end, the EU will want to help us as far as they possibly can is because it is not in their interest to provoke a further political crisis in the UK. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Because, although some people in the EU may say that Parliament would stop a no-deal scenario, they cant be sure of that. Ms Rudd, who recently returned to the Cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary, said it is possible Mrs May will ultimately be unable to persuade enough of her own MPs to back the Governments deal. The Cabinet minister said it is time to abandon outrage and accusations and try something different. PM @Theresa_May has met leaders including @donaldtusk and @Xavier_Bettel at @EUCouncil today and discussed what is needed to get the Brexit deal over the line pic.twitter.com/WMInAvAJkj UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 13, 2018 Ms Rudd said a practical, sensible and healing approach was needed for MPs to coalesce around a deal to avert the danger of Britain crashing out of the EU. Responding to the remarks, Mr Hunt said: Amber is absolutely right that we need all MPs to think about the national interest. But, I think we also have to be cautious about the idea that we are going to get large amounts of support from the Labour Party. A combative EU summit left Mrs May insisting she was still on track to win assurances on the controversial Irish backstop proposals. Putting a positive gloss on the bruising EU summit, the Prime Minister said further talks would take place in the coming days on measures she hopes will persuade MPs to back the Brexit agreement in Parliament. EU leaders acknowledged the need to bring down the temperature after appearing to rebuff her calls for assurances on the Northern Ireland backstop. EU tensions erupted into public view when a visibly angry Mrs May was seen berating European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker over remarks he had made during the press conference in the early hours of Friday. The Prime Minister was apparently infuriated after he described the British negotiating position as nebulous and imprecise, and called on the Government to spell out exactly what it wanted from the talks. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage said he believes the UK may face a second referendum in the coming months and urged Brexit campaigners to get ready for every situation. Speaking at the Leave Means Leave rally on Friday, the former Ukip leader said: My message, folks, tonight is, as much as I dont want a second referendum, it would be wrong of us on a Leave Means Leave platform not to get ready, not to be prepared for a worst-case scenario. Theresa May is expected to make astatement to MPs on Monday (Victoria Jones/PA) Theresa May is set for another tough political week as she battles to keep her Brexit plans on track after a bruising EU summit in Brussels. Ahead of an expected statement to MPs on Monday, the Prime Minister is assessing her EU withdrawal agenda in light of a tense showdown with European leaders. The Times reported that a number of Cabinet ministers now consider the Withdrawal Agreement to be dead in the water, and are reluctantly considering the prospect of a new referendum to settle the question. Nigel Farage said he believes the UK may face a second referendum in the coming months and urged Brexit campaigners to get ready for every situation. My message, folks, tonight is, as much as I don't want a second referendum, it would be wrong of us on a Leave Means Leave platform not to get ready, not to be prepared for a worst case scenarioNigel Farage Speaking at the Leave Means Leave rally on Friday, the former Ukip leader said: My message, folks, tonight is, as much as I dont want a second referendum, it would be wrong of us on a Leave Means Leave platform not to get ready, not to be prepared for a worst case scenario. Senior Tories such as former chancellor Ken Clarke urged Mrs May to reach out to Labour MPs to try to find common ground to move forward. It was also reported that Mrs May told EU senior figures she might as well put her Brexit deal before MPs next week if no further reassurances on the controversial Irish border backstop measures would be coming from Brussels. The PM cancelled a Commons vote on her Brexit deal scheduled for last Tuesday after she admitted it faced a significant defeat. The Financial Times quoted a close aide to the PM saying: At the point where there is no prospect of getting anything more from the EU, thats when you would have to put the vote. However, Government sources made it clear to the Press Association that there was unlikely to be a Commons vote on the Withdrawal Agreement next week. Mid-January has been suggested as a more likely date for such a showdown. But, Mrs May, who survived a bid by backbench Brexiteer Tories to topple her, could face a no-confidence vote from Labour. However, the Labour leadership has made it clear it will only strike when it considers the Government to be at its most vulnerable. Meanwhile, CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn expressed concern about the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, saying it could lead to food shortages. She told Channel 4 News: We need to find a way not to have no deal. Because the damage to jobs, and employment, and growth will be very significant indeed. So, we know that we would have delays at customs. We know that there could be a reduction of capacity of up to 80% at Dover. This means that businesses will not be able to get their parts. It means that food will not be on shelves. Expand Close Theresa May has appealed to the other 27 leaders to help her to get the deal through Parliament (Alastair Grant/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Theresa May has appealed to the other 27 leaders to help her to get the deal through Parliament (Alastair Grant/AP) A combative EU summit left Mrs May insisting she was still on track to win assurances on the controversial Irish backstop proposals. Putting a positive gloss on the EU summit, the Prime Minister said further talks would take place in the coming days on measures she hopes will persuade MPs to back the Brexit agreement in Parliament. EU leaders acknowledged the need to bring down the temperature after appearing to rebuff her calls for assurances on the Northern Ireland backstop. Many Tory Brexiteers, and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that Mrs May depends upon for a Commons majority, have rejected the backstop proposals. The backstop would see the return of a hard border in Northern Ireland avoided by the UK remaining under EU customs rules if no trade agreement is struck with the EU after a Brexit transition period. Expand Close The Prime Minister appeared infuriated by Jean-Claude Junckers remarks (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prime Minister appeared infuriated by Jean-Claude Junckers remarks (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP) EU tensions erupted into public view when a visibly angry Mrs May was seen berating European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker over remarks he had made during the press conference in the early hours of Friday. The Prime Minister was apparently infuriated after he described the British negotiating position as nebulous and imprecise, and called on the Government to spell out exactly what it wanted from the talks. Mr Juncker said he had been able to convince her that his remarks had referred to the wider Brexit debate in the UK, joking: After having checked what I said yesterday night, she was kissing me. One of many scenes of devastation in Belfast during the Blitz bombing raids of April and May 1941 Perhaps it is only in Belfast that a City Council committee could vote against a proposed memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz. Such a decision is singularly depressing, given that in a series of air raids in 1941 the Luftwaffe attacked military and commercial targets in the city. In the second raid, up to 200 aircraft dropped bombs north of Belfast Harbour during which over 950 people died or were seriously injured, and a total of 70,000 victims were treated in emergency centres. Read More Thousands of Protestants and Catholics sheltered together, and the dead were laid out together in makeshift morgues. This was one of the "shared" experiences of the city's relatively modern history. The German bombers did not discriminate between Protestants or Catholics, and it is immensely sad that our councillors cannot agree on what would be a fitting memorial to all the dead and injured. Elsewhere in today's paper, the historian Keith Haines paints an evocative portrait of life in Belfast in 1918 when the people were just beginning to shed the shroud of the Great War. As they tried to do so in the run-up to a subdued and painful Christmas, there were memories in many homes about family members who never came back from battle, and the burdens of those who were injured. At home and overseas, both World Wars took an enormous toll in death and suffering, and we should never forget the sacrifice of people from all backgrounds. How ironic and terribly sad that we are so fixated, some would say trapped, by our history that at times it hijacks the present and leaves us blindfolded to the future, and we cannot agree to remember fittingly the loss that affected us all. In recent weeks we witnessed the moving Centenary commemorations for the 1918 Armistice and recalled the almost unbelievable scale of losses on all sides. Yet only a short time afterwards our councillors failed to agree on a fitting memorial to those who suffered in the 1941 Belfast Blitz. We deserve better, and so do they. Mourners pray during the funeral for a civilian who was killed in southern Pulwama district of Indian Kashmir, Dec.15, 2018. At least seven civilians were killed and dozens injured on Saturday when security forces fired at anti-India protesters in Indian Kashmir following a gunfight that left three militants and a soldier dead, authorities said. After the killings, authorities said they imposed a curfew in southern Pulwama district, about 45 km (28 miles) from Srinagar, triggering widespread protests and condemnation from separatists and political leaders in the disputed Himalayan region. Rebel leaders under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), an alliance of top-ranked leaders that advocates the separation of Kashmir from India, called for a three-day shutdown in the region and planned a protest march to the army cantonment on Monday. Earlier Saturday, security forces ringed a village after being tipped about a group of militants. The militants hiding in an apple orchard fired shots at security forces, police said. While the forces were engaged in the gun-battle, dozens of protesters started hurling stones at the security forces from all directions in a bid to help the militants to flee, Additional Director General of Police Munir Khan told BenarNews. The police opened fire to stop the mob resulting in the death of seven civilians besides the three militants. A soldier was also killed in the gun battle. Despite an advisory issued by police from time to time asking people to stay away from gunfight sites, youths endanger their lives by thronging to such dangerous sites, Khan said. Fearing escalation in street protests, authorities on Saturday stopped internet services in south Kashmir. Smoke engulfs streets of Kharpora village in southern Pulwama district in Indian Kashmir after security forces sought to disperse protesters, Dec.15, 2018. (Sheikh Mashooq/BenarNews) Ongoing violence Seven civilians were killed on Oct. 22 when a bomb went off near the site of a gun battle between militants and security forces in southern Kulgam district. In addition, officials said 47 people, including militants, were killed in November. India and Pakistan have been locked in a territorial dispute over predominantly Muslim Kashmir since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947. An outbreak of insurgency in Indian Kashmir has claimed more than 70,000 lives mostly civilians since the late 1980s. The latest killings were condemned by separatist leaders and political leaders in Kashmir. The JRL and the people will march toward Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday to ask forces to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, tweeted. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also spoke out against the killings. This is a massacre and that is the only way to describe it. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none whatsoever, Omar tweeted. Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state, called for efforts to put an end to the killings. How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this bloodbath, Mufti tweeted. Priests and workers push a cart containing one of the three church bells during the return ceremony in Balangiga in Eastern Samar province, Dec. 15, 2018. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the predominately Catholic nations prayers were answered when three church bells seized by American troops more than a century ago returned to their home in Eastern Samar province on Saturday. The United States on Tuesday returned the bells to Manila, 117 years after American troops looted them from the Central Philippine town of Balangiga. The bells were displayed briefly in the capital city before being airlifted to the central Philippines Friday in time for the grand ceremony in Balangiga, an impoverished fishing and farming community. Joseph Felter, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, said the bells return reaffirmed the strength of the allies relationship moving forward. Felter said it was a gesture of respect from the U.S. government that the bells had been turned over in what he said was a solemn and joyful occasion. He noted that it is time for the nations to heal this divisive wound that strained our relationship for so long. Duterte, who earlier in the week said the return of the bells was a collective effort and not his alone, said Saturday was a time to be truly sentimental as we welcome back our Balangiga bells. It has been 117 years since these bell were taken away from us. Yet we never lost hope that someday these treasures will be returned to where they belong, the president said, adding that the getting them home was a long and tedious process. The bells are returned and it was really because of the fervent prayers of the entire Filipino nation, the president said. Nobody but nobody can claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans. The bells are returned, the credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people. Period. U.S. troops in 1901 were sent to Balangiga to avenge the deaths of 48 soldiers who were killed in a surprise attack by Filipino guerrillas. The troops overran the town under instructions to turn it into a howling wilderness. They later stole the churchs three bronze bells which were displayed at U.S. military bases in Wyoming and South Korea. Some U.S. veterans groups and lawmakers had opposed the bells return because they had symbolized the sacrifices of fallen American troops. The Philippines has been pushing for their return since the 1990s and Duterte continued the effort. He used the bells and past examples of American atrocities in response to Washington questioning his drug war. Duterte also signaled a diplomatic policy shift, saying he preferred to build closer ties to Washingtons traditional rivals China and Russia and warned of kicking out the last U.S. military advisers in the country. Dutertes tone softened when Donald Trump was elected U.S. president and the two leaders later agreed to the return. Anti-sex trade advocates Jackie Edmonds (center) and Mary Thrasher (left) ask restaurant manager Amanda Housley to display anti-sex trafficking awareness literature during an outreach program in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 27, 2011. Hundreds of Thai women were lured to the United States to work in brothels across the country, U.S. prosecutors said, as they announced that five people had been convicted of various charges for their involvement in modern-day sex slavery. Prosecutors said a federal jury on Wednesday found the five people guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and other charges after a six-week trial in St. Paul, Minnesota. The defendants participated in a massive yet brutally efficient criminal enterprise that trafficked hundreds of vulnerable Thai women for sexual exploitation and used sophisticated money-laundering techniques, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski told a news conference in Washington on Thursday. Busadee Santipitaks, spokeswoman for the Thai ministry of foreign affairs, told BenarNews on Friday that Bangkok was looking into the matter. We believe we have file of this case but we cannot comment now, she said. Lt. Gen. Worawat Watnakorn, commander of Thailands anti-human trafficking police, also declined to give a reaction. I have my deputy following up on this issue, he told BenarNews. The women, who were from impoverished backgrounds and spoke little or no English, were coerced to participate in the criminal scheme through misleading promises of a better life in the United States and the ability to provide money to their families in Thailand, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement. Once in the United States, the victims were sent to houses of prostitution where they were forced to have sex with strangers every day for up to 12 hours a day, at times having sex with 10 men a day, it said. The victims were not allowed to leave the houses of prostitution, unless accompanied by a member of the criminal organization, and were moved around the country and their families in Thailand were threatened, the statement also said. The suspects who were arrested as part of an international law-enforcement operation dubbed Bangkok Dark Nights helped the women obtain fraudulent visas and travel documents and lied to them about the size of their debts, often more than $40,000, according to the Star Tribune newspaper, quoting prosecutors. This was modern-day sex slavery, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda Williams told jurors Monday, according to the Star-Tribune. The DOJ, in its statement, said the suspects used fictitious backgrounds and occupations for the victims and instructed them to enter into fraudulent marriages to increase the likelihood that the womens visa applications would be approved. Authorities recovered U.S. $1.5 million in cash and about $15 million in judgments through plea agreements, prosecutors said. Michael Morris, 65, of Seal Beach, California; Pawinee Unpradit, 46, of Dallas, Texas; Saowapha Thinram, 44, of Hutto, Texas; Thoucharin Ruttanamongkongul, 35, of Chicago Illinois; and Waralee Wanless, 39, of The Colony, Texas, were convicted after being accused of running a sex trafficking operation that lasted more than a decade, prosecutors said, adding that 31 defendants had previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the sex trafficking operation. Lawyers for the five defendants have not disputed that their clients participated in the sex trade, noting that prostitution is not a federal crime, according to the Star-Tribune. Defense attorneys told reporters they would appeal, insisting that the Thai women were willful participants. Some of the victims testified during trial, narrating how they were forced to have sex with multiple men to pay off what they owed the traffickers, prosecutors said. Sex trafficking is a horrific crime that seeks to erode the human dignity of victims," Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband told reporters. The Grand Jury consisted of distinguished experts from the biotech industry and investment sector. The National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition, a national platform for bio-entrepreneurs to present their innovative business ideas with significant societal impact in the Life Sciences domain concluded recently. The competition which is in its second year is conducted by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms under the BIRAC Regional Entrepreneurship Centre (BREC), a joint initiative of C-CAMP and BIRAC. Rs 2.25 crore in cash prizes and investment opportunity have been committed by various partners and stakeholders for this competition. Conducted over four months the competition culminated today with a gala Grand Finale held in Bengaluru where 15 bio-entrepreneurs pitched to a Grand Jury. Vaishali Kulkarni, KBCols Sciences Pvt. Ltd and Nachiket, HelpUsGreen, are the joint winners of the LOreal India sponsored Grand Cash prize of Rs 15 lakhs. Chandra Sekhar Seelamantula has won the Rs 10 lakhs Digital Health prize sponsored by HealthVenture, USA. Pranav Chopra, Crimson Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. and Sachin Dubey, Module Innovations are joint winners of the Rs 5 lakhs Excellence Prize sponsored by Biocon. Asif Ahmed of Innaumation Medical Devices, LLP has won Excellence Prize of Rs 5 lakhs sponsored by GE Healthcare. Shivani Gupta, Inochi Care Pvt. Ltd., received the Rs 3.5 lakh Pfizer Entrepreneurship Award in Healthcare. Investment opportunity of $100,000 was announced by Social Alpha/Tata FISE for Renuka Karandikar, BioPrime Agrisolutions and Vaishali Kulkarni, KBCols Sciences. Manoj Sankar, NemoCare won $100,000 investment opportunity from HealthVenture in Digital Health and a HealthVenture Boot Camp participation opportunity for Bose Karthik, VRehab sponsored by HealthVenture. 45 finalists screened down from 2000+ registrations from across India participated in a 2 day Boot Camp and Mentoring Sessions. 15 of these were selected by the Pre-Final Jury to pitch at the Grand Finale. The Grand Jury consisted of distinguished experts from the biotech industry and investment sector and included Nitin Deshmukh, CEO and Founding Member, Kotak Private Equity, Deepthi Reddy, Head Investments & Governance, Social Alpha, Dr. Nita Roy, Head Advanced Research, LOreal India, Donna Lecky, CFO, HealthVenture, USA, Dr. Srinivasa Babu K, Regional Manager - Bioprocess, South India, GE Healthcare, Aindrila Dasgupta, Head of Business Development, Novozymes South Asia, Ashwin Raguraman, Co-founder and Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund, Dr. Gopala Krishna Dasika, Senior Vice President and Head, Pfizer Biologics Development Center, Naman Paithankar, Start-up Ecosystem, Amazon Web Services, and Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director, C-CAMP. Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary DBT, Government of India, and Chairperson, BIRAC in an inspiring message for the winners and all Finalists, said - The significance of a competition such as NBEC is in creating a vibrant pool of innovators. It helps connect various institutes in the country bringing in a pan-India flavour to the ecosystem. But the area where we have really succeeded is in projecting globally that Indias investment-ready startup market. I am very pleased that BIRAC and CCAMP are working together in this important initiative. I hope many other incubators become partners in this larger exercise. Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary, Department of IT, BT and S&T, Govt. of Karnataka, in his Keynote Address said Karnataka continues to attract a lot of attention from life sciences startups. Its important that academia, industry and the government work together closely to keep the ecosystem energised. CCAMP especially is like the nucleus of deep science research based bio ideas. The competition [https://www.nationalbioentrepreneurship.in/events/nbec2018] in its second edition had 11 industry partners including one international partner from the USA on board: LOreal India, HealthVenture (USA), Biocon, GE Healthcare, Pfizer Healthcare India, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Social Alpha, Kotak Private Equity, Novozymes, CIIE (IIM Ahmedabad), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO & Director, C-CAMP said NBEC is truly a celebration of bio entrepreneurship in India. The BIRAC Regional Entrepreneurship Centre, BREC at CCAMP that organises NBEC every year is amplifying the spirit of entrepreneurship through competitions such as this to build a critical mass of deep-science innovations across every state and UT in India. NBEC industry partners who have come forward to sponsor prizes, funding and mentorship also play a crucial role in the success of such a competition. Two generations of alumni celebrate at degree congregation A University of Birmingham alumnus who missed his own degree congregation because he was away fighting in the second world war will watch his grandson receive his masters degree at a ceremony at the University of Birmingham on Thursday 13th December. Brigadier Stephen Goodall, who is now 96, will receive a copy of his wartime degree a BSc in mining - after the ceremony, where his grandson Stephen Denbigh, 24, will graduate with an MSc in Mathematics. Grandfather, Brigadier Stephen Goodall, studied mining engineering at the University of Birmingham between 1940 and 1942. As mining was a reserved occupation during the World War II those in the industry were not called up, so Stephen volunteered to join up and served in the Royal Engineers, where he stayed for the rest of his career. He, like many of those who went to war, was awarded a degree in absentia from the University of Birmingham in 1944 while he was serving in Burma. He has fond memories of studying at Birmingham. He said: I enjoyed my time at Birmingham enormously. The staff were brilliant. I used to go to the hops on a Friday night, and met female students who taught me to dance. I used to play rugby, which was a good way to revive yourself after a hop and I played for the University in my 2nd year. We went to Wales, and York to play other university teams. He remembers his wartime experience of being on campus. The morning after the Coventry Blitz, with some fellow engineering students, we got on a bus and went over to Coventry to help extricate people who were trapped. Some of my friends found dead bodies there. I can remember helping someone to a medical dressing station. Thankfully there was not much bombing over our side of Birmingham. The Home Guard was formed while I was in Birmingham and some of us joined up and did fire watching from the top of Old Joe, the tower in Chancellors Court - our job was to report on the site of fires across the city. During vacations from University Stephen and other students worked in mines to gain practical experience. He worked for two months in the tin mines in Cornwall, as well as two weeks in a coal mine north of the midlands, and in a lead mine in the Lake District. During the war Stephen served in India and Burma and at the end of the war decided to stay in the military and served with the Royal Engineers for 31 years which included tours to Malaya, Germany, and two years in the USA as the British Liaison Officer to the US Corps of Military engineers, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1945 for bravery during the crossing of the Irrawaddy River on February 14th 1945, and for several days reconnaissance behind enemy lines. It was here that he almost lost his life, but was saved by his 21st birthday wristwatch which deflected a bullet away from the artery in his arm. His final army position was as head of the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham. After leaving the army he became controller of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. Stephen Denbigh, who will graduate with a masters degree on 13th December, and also completed his undergraduate study at Birmingham, said: I am delighted to have my 96 year old grandfather with me at my degree ceremony and to see me graduate in the Great Hall of the Aston Webb building. It has been wonderful to share my experiences of studying at the University with my grandfather who also has many interesting stories to tell about Birmingham. Ends For further information Kate Chapple or Beck Lockwood, Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel 0121 414 2772 Christmas custom in the air If you are on a long-distance flight on the Japanese airline Tatami Airways on Christmas Day, you may be in a for a surprise. No, that noise isn't coming from your headphones or the loudspeakers. On December 25th, it has become a Christmas tradition for all flight attendants to sing Carols while serving drinks and meals. This Christmas custom may not be very old, but it's remarkably popular and so probably here to stay. Many passengers organize their trips around Christmas Day just so they can be on one of the musical flights. It started in December in the year 1995, when a pilot on the Japanese airline Tatami Airways and his American wife were going on vacation to celebrate their anniversary. They had married at Christmas ten years ago, but he knew she was sad they would miss part of the holiday season in the US, so he asked the crew on their flight to sing a few carols while they were walking through the aisles. She loved the surprise and so did everyone else. The next year, many passengers asked if they would be doing it again, so the head of the airline decided to try hiring singing stewardesses every year. It worked; more people fly Tatami Airways than any other Japanese airline at Christmas Day. PR Newswire DALLAS, Dec. 14, 2018 DALLAS, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Leaders celebrated the announcement of a new private Christian school called The King's Academy in the Bonton/South Dallas community today with a reception at Buckeye Commons Recreation Center (formerly known as Turner Courts Recreation Center). In its inaugural year, 2019-2020, the school will welcome students in PreK-4 through first grade and continue to add a grade every year until completion. The King's Academy will offer families a faith-based education that focuses on the heart, mind and soul of each student. Prestonwood Christian Academy School System, through a collaborative effort with several existing ministries and programs such as Bonton Farms, BridgeBuilders, Prestonwood Baptist Church, has developed strategic partnerships to not only start a school but continue the authentic transformation taking place in the community. "We are humbled and excited about our partnership with The King's Academy, which will provide a rigorous academic program combined with an effective spiritual and character development plan," said Dr. Larry Taylor, Superintendent of Prestonwood Christian Academy School System. "Establishing a Christ-centered school focused on a child's mind and heart is our mission. What an honor it will be to develop these boys and girls into men and womenour future leaders in areas of law, business, medicine, engineering, education, ministry or any assignment in which God calls them to excel!" This school has been years in the making starting with the founding of BridgeBuilders under the direction of Mike Fechner bringing faith, hope and love to the Bonton community. Before Fechner lost his battle to cancer in 2014, he shared his vision to open a Christian school in Bonton. In 2013, Bonton Farms was formed under Daron Babcock providing an agricultural intervention to restore lives, create jobs and ignite hope in South Dallas. One of Bonton Farms' six pillars to transforming a community is education. In 2017, Norm Miller, Chairman of the Board of Interstate Batteries, contacted Babcock about starting a Christian School in Bonton, still interested in funding Fechner's original vision. Miller and Babcock met with Dr. Larry Taylor of Prestonwood Christian Academy, and a group formed to conduct weekly strategic planning sessions. In early 2018, Norm and Anne Miller committed to provide start-up funding for The King's Academy, and the school board was formed. Dr. Shailendra Thomas, a nationally respected educator has been announced as the inaugural Head of School for The King's Academy. She has more than 30 years of experience in education including serving for 13 years as Head of School at Fellowship Christian Academy under Dr. Tony Evans' church ministry. Dr. Thomas grew up in Bonton and is looking forward to returning to the place of her childhood. "I believe that education involves more than a child's intellectual abilities; it should ultimately inspire learners to fulfill God's purpose in their lives," said Dr. Thomas. The King's Academy's tuition model is based on a family's income in order for Kingdom education to be affordable for all children. In addition, breakfast and lunch will be provided for students as well as quality after-school programming from community ministries. Generous donors will make this funding model possible. For more information on how to enroll in or support The King's Academy, please visit http://www.tkadallas.org. About the Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) School System Prestonwood Christian Academy serves more than 1,600 students enrolled at three campuses as part of its school system. PCA Plano serves Pre-K3 through 12th grade. PCA North in Prosper (Pre-K3 through 8th grade) is celebrating its fifth school year with more than 170 students and is now enrolling through 9th grade as it grows to the first graduating class of 2023. PCAplus is celebrating record-breaking enrollment and has been serving students for 10 years. St. Timothy Christian Academy is a K through 12th grade school for students with learning differences which joined PCA's School System in 2017. Prestonwood Christian Academy School System has been recognized as having one of the strongest Christian education programs in the country providing intentional biblical worldview training and integration. Each school places great value on the growth of students' spiritual health in addition to their scholastic endeavors and co-curricular activities. Tantamount to its Spiritual Development plan is PCA's rigorous Liberal Arts academic program. SOURCE Prestonwood Christian Academy PR Newswire BROOKLYN, N.Y., Dec. 14, 2018 BROOKLYN, N.Y., Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Our competitor knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder. The company, which has pending lawsuits that claim its talc powder has toxic ingredients that may cause cancer and mesothelioma, possessed documents showing concern over positive test results for asbestos in its baby powder. The documents also show our competitor's leadership intentionally hid their knowledge of asbestos from the public, and the recent news is contributing to one of the largest negative declines to our competitor's stock in history. One brand is making a bold offer to help alleviate the fears of concerned parents. MADE OF, an industry newcomer that's disrupting the baby category, is offering a FREE replacement with purchase for your Talcum Baby Powder. The organic-first brand manufactures NSF Certified Organic baby care products, including an NSF Certified Organic baby powder made from corn starch. MADE OF believes that mandatory transparency standards for sourcing, manufacturing, testing, handling and certification results in safer products. They are dedicated to the highest organic standards and full transparency of every product. MADE OF is offering customers a free replacement, so they can have peace of mind that their baby powder is asbestos free. MADE OF launched a mission called ULTIMATE TRANSPARENCY, which makes them the first brand on the market to disclose the whole product development lifecycle. Unlike our competitor, the MADE OF website shows consumers the origin and safety of each ingredient, actual test results from an independent lab and actual locations where each product is made in the United States. MADE OF Co-founder, Igor Bekker, commented to today's news, "We commend the investigative rigor of Lisa Girion and her team at Reuters. While we can't comment to the specifics of the internal documents for fear of legal backlash from a major global consumer products manufacturer that has clearly demonstrated their muscle through the thousands of lawsuits and record-setting settlements, we can take great pride in knowing that incidents like this are exactly why we decided to create a brand rooted in ingredient transparency, supply chain transparency and testing transparency. All new parents deserve this level of transparency, and it's time for the next generation of consumer brands to put those parents and their children first. Our Ultimately Transparency promise has always been designed as both a wake up call as well as a call to action to the consumer products industry." While our competitor's cancer scare has caused quite a stir amongst concerned parents around the world, they can rest assured knowing there is a baby product brand that's stepping up to the plate with natural, NON-GMO, safe and transparent products. And the best part, they're putting their money where their mouth is by offering parents an opportunity to try their product. To learn more about MADE OF and recieve your free NSF Organic Certified Baby Powder, visit their website. Use code: powdergate at checkout. About MADE OF MADE OF is a certified NSF and EWG organic-first baby care brand offering baby shampoo and body wash, baby powder, diaper cream, nipple balm, baby sunscreen, baby lotion, diapers, baby wipes, multi-surface cleaner, dish soap and hand soap. All of their products are NSF Organic Standard certified, other certifications include EWG, Gluten Free, Vegan and USDA, All products are independently tested and made in the United States excluding diapers, which are manufactured in Mexico. MADE OF debuted to retail partners earlier in 2018 at Natural Products Expo where it took home the Editor's Choice NEXTY Award in Natural Personal Care. MADE OF was also the first baby care brand to successfully certify its complete line of products to the NSF Organic Standard. Contact: PR - Heather DeSantis Email: heather(at)publicityforgood(dot)com Phone: (718) 635-2695 SOURCE MADE OF After previously barring people from soliciting donations inside liquor stores, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries has reversed course and will now allow the Salvation Army to station manned kettles inside stores. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Longtime kettle coordinator Janice Cameron with The Salvation Army collects donations from shoppers at the Manitoba Liquor Mart on Victoria Avenue on Friday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) Long-time kettle coordinator Janice Cameron with The Salvation Army collects donations from shoppers at the Manitoba Liquor Mart on Victoria Avenue on Friday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) After previously barring people from soliciting donations inside liquor stores, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries has reversed course and will now allow the Salvation Army to station manned kettles inside stores. "Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries has reinstated Salvation Army volunteer-staffed Christmas kettles at Liquor Marts currently providing countertop kettles under the Coin Box Program in Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Thompson," said a spokesperson in an emailed statement. The spokesperson said the Salvation Army informed the provincial agency last week they were not seeing good results with the donations boxes they were allowed to station at cash registers and were behind on their financial goals. The reversal only applies to this years fundraising drive. In a previous interview with The Brandon Sun, Robert Kerr, a spokesman for the Salvation Armys Prairie division, said the charity raised $8,500 in Brandon Liquor Mart locations last year. They have a goal of raising $70,000 in the city this year but are currently around $30,000 short. Neither Kerr nor Kaitlan Adlam, community services officer for the Brandon Salvation Army, could be reached for comment Friday afternoon. "We continue to be very grateful for our good relationship with the Salvation Army and appreciate their co-operation during the past few weeks. We hope this change will result in a more positive response to their Christmas Kettle fundraising campaign." dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ TORONTO - The Ontario government is delaying the appointment of the man set to become the provinces top cop until an investigation into allegations of political interference in the hiring process is complete. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO - The Ontario government is delaying the appointment of the man set to become the provinces top cop until an investigation into allegations of political interference in the hiring process is complete. Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones says the government will respect Ron Taverner's request for a delay in his appointment, which was supposed to take place on Monday. The Ontario Provincial Police logo is shown in a handout. Sources in the premier's office say the man about to become Ontario's top cop has delayed his appointment until an investigation into allegations of political interference is complete. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO Instead, acting commissioner Brad Blair will be replaced at the helm of the OPP by Gary Couture, who is currently the force's deputy commissioner. "I understand the preference for an alternative Interim Commissioner and will co-operate in every respect," Blair said in a statement released on Saturday. Blair's lawyer, Julian Falconer, said in a conference call with media on Saturday that his client will be "regressed" from his role as interim commissioner on Monday. On Friday, Blair asked the courts to order Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube to investigate Taverner's hiring, after the ombudsman declined his request to carry out the probe. Falconer said Saturday that Blair will continue with the legal proceedings. Taverner, a longtime family friend of Premier Doug Ford, currently commands three divisions within the Toronto Police Service. The 72-year-old did not initially qualify for the role, but the government has said it lowered the requirements for the job to attract a wider range of candidates. Blair, who was among 27 candidates up for the commissioner position, has contended that only four did not meet the original threshold. However, the Progressive Conservatives have repeatedly denied that the premier's office had anything to do with Taverner's hiring. Taverner did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the delay, which he requested in an email to Jones that was obtained by The Canadian Press. "Out of the greatest of respect for the brave men and women of the Ontario Provincial Police, I am requesting my appointment as commissioner be postponed until as such time the integrity commissioner has completed his review," he wrote in the email. Falconer said he understands how it could look like Blair's push for an investigation is about his "personal agenda" but he said the commissioner is doing it to maintain the reputation and integrity of the OPP. The Opposition NDP said on Saturday that in addition to the integrity commissioner's investigation, it is calling for an emergency select committee of the legislature to look into the process. "We are relieved that Mr. Taverner will not be appointed on Monday," said NDP Deputy Leader Sara Singh. "However, we are still very concerned. I think this step will allow us to have some integrity and trust maintained within the Ontario police service." Falconer said he believes a committee of MPPs could also be a beneficial avenue to investigate the possibility of political interference. MONTREAL - Seven years after it was created, Quebec's anti-corruption unit is having difficulty recruiting members and filling a number of positions. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) interim-director Frederic Gaudreau speaks at a news conference presenting their annual report, Thursday, December 13, 2018 in Quebec City. Seven years after it was created, Quebec's anti-corruption unit is now having difficulty recruiting members and filling a number of positions. Gaudreau, the interim head of what's known as UPAC, admits bad coverage in the media hasn't helped. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot MONTREAL - Seven years after it was created, Quebec's anti-corruption unit is having difficulty recruiting members and filling a number of positions. Frederick Gaudreau, the interim head of the agency known by its French acronym, UPAC, admits unflattering coverage in the media hasn't helped. "Yes, it's a reason, I don't want to deny it," Gaudreau said at a recent news conference during the presentation of the unit's annual report. "I won't hide from you that it's a challenge to recruit people." The report also revealed that there was a 30 per cent rate of voluntary departures among permanent employees at UPAC. The unit, which has about 350 employees, was created by former premier Jean Charest in 2011 amid allegations of corruption in Quebec's construction industry and the alleged illegal financing of political parties. Gaudreau recently took over as the unit's director after his predecessor, Robert Lafreniere, tendered his resignation on Oct. 1 the day of the last provincial election. No reason was given for Lafreniere's decision to step down. He had been at the head of the unit since it was created. He was reconfirmed in the job in 2016 and his mandate was supposed to end in 2021. However, Quebec media have been reporting on turmoil within the anti-corruption unit for months, and the reports suggest the unit has a difficult work environment with low morale. Documents leaked to the press also revealed UPAC has for years been investigating Charest and Liberal party treasurer Marc Bibeau on illegal electoral financing suspicions. No arrests have been made in either investigation and Charest has denied any wrongdoing. Gaudreau was coy when asked on Thursday if the two men are still being investigated. "If we talk about an investigation that's underway, we could put the investigation at risk," he said. "It's important not to comment on an investigation that's underway." A Liberal member of the Quebec legislature, who says he was "destroyed" after being targeted by UPAC, is suing the provincial government for $550,000. In October 2017, Guy Ouellette was arrested by the anti-corruption unit on suspicion he was responsible for leaking sensitive information about the investigation into Charest and Bibeau. Ouellette, a former provincial police officer, denied the claims and was never charged. Gaudreau admitted that the negative media coverage has affected the recruitment of officers to join the unit, but it's something he hopes to change. "My objective, I would say, is to assure the population that the work is being done properly in the field (and) remove any uneasiness and any preoccupation that people have had in the past," he said. An internal report in December 2017, which was leaked to the media, talked of palpable tensions and a lack of confidence in management among the unit's employees. Quebec's public security department announced in October that the province's independent police watchdog, known as BEI, will investigate leaks of confidential information apparently coming from UPAC. Gaudreau said about a dozen positions for investigators and several support staff positions now need to be filled. He noted that there's little interest among the younger generation of police officers to fight against corruption because of the complexity of the inquiries, which take a lot of time. "People who have a tendency to work on short-term dossiers are not necessarily motivated by our inquiries," he said. Gaudreau said that, while he didn't have exact figures, a large portion of the police being hired by UPAC don't have any experience handling investigations. "It's clear to me that we need to evolve the model into UPAC 2.0," he added. Gaudreau also said he hasn't excluded the possibility of going outside Quebec to look for investigators. "We're open to considering anything," he said. "What we are looking for are highly-motivated people who are best qualified to do this type of an inquiry." With files from Caroline Plante Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version gave an incorrect date for Gaudreau's comments. OTTAWA - Justin Trudeau says his government hopes to make legal changes that will cement his transformation of the Senate into a more independent, non-partisan chamber, making it harder for a future prime minister to turn back the clock. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a year end interview with The Canadian Press on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Justin Trudeau says his government hopes to make legal changes that will cement his transformation of the Senate into a more independent, non-partisan chamber, making it harder for a future prime minister to turn back the clock. The prime minister says his government will amend the Parliament of Canada Act the law that spells out the powers and privileges of MPs and senators to better reflect the new reality in the upper house, where most senators now sit as independents unaffiliated with any political party. "We're going to try to make it fair," Trudeau said in a year-end roundtable interview with the Ottawa bureau of The Canadian Press. "We're going to try to do it before the election." Doing it before next fall's election is critically important for independent senators, who fear Trudeau's reforms could be easily reversed should the Liberals fail to win re-election. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has said that if becomes prime minister, he would revert to the previous practice of making overtly partisan appointments, naming only Conservatives to the upper house. Trudeau kicked senators out of the Liberal caucus in 2014. Since taking office in 2015, he's named only senators recommended by an arm's-length advisory body in a bid to return the Senate to its intended role as an independent chamber of sober second thought. Of the 105 senators, 54 are now independents who have banded together for greater clout in the Independent Senators' Group. Another 31 are Conservatives, 10 are Liberal-independents and 10 are unaffiliated. The Conservatives are the only remaining overtly partisan group in the chamber. Yet the Parliament of Canada Act recognizes only two partisan caucuses in the Senate: the governing party caucus and the Opposition caucus, both of which are entitled to research funds, dedicated time to debate bills, memberships on committees and a role in the day-to-day decisions about Senate business, such as when to adjourn debate. Senators have agreed on the fly to some accommodation of the growing ranks of independents, giving them some research funds and committee roles. But the leadership of the ISG has argued that their role must be explicitly spelled out and guaranteed in the Parliament of Canada Act. And, since the change would involve allocating financial resources, they say it can't be initiated by the Senate, only by the government in the House of Commons. Sen. Raymonde St. Germain, deputy leader of the ISG, said amending the act is the only way to give independent senators a "permanent voice" and to "secure this essential reform for an independent and non-partisan Senate." "The reform that Prime Minister Trudeau very courageously announced and implemented ... has to be completed," she said in an interview. "It won't come from within the Senate. The only way to complete it, to have it finished, is to amend the Parliament of Canada Act." Trudeau said he's pleased with the way the reformed Senate has operated, even though independent-minded senators are now more prone to amending government bills, which has slowed down the legislative process somewhat and occasionally sparked fears unrealized thus far that the Senate could defeat legislation outright. "Canadians have been able to see the benefits and the thoughtful amendments and engagement they've had with bills in a way that I think has been very positive. I think removing partisanship in a significant way from the Senate has been good for our democracy, good for institutions," he said. As for Scheer, Trudeau said: "If he really wants to go back to the kind of partisanship and patronage that we were able to do away with, well, that's something that he's going to have to explain." Just this week, however, Trudeau appointed two new senators with strong Liberal connections: a former Liberal premier of Yukon, Pat Duncan, and Nova Scotia mental-health expert Stanley Kutcher, who ran for the Liberals in the 2011 election and lost. "I don't think that membership in any given political party should ban them from being able to be thoughtful, independent senators who are not answerable to me but answerable to the values they have," Trudeau said, adding, "I'm sure we have also appointed people who've donated to the NDP or donated to the Conservative party." Conservatives have repeatedly questioned just how non-partisan the independent senators really are, noting that most seem to share Trudeau's values a charge Trudeau did not deny. "I'm not going to pick people who are completely offline with where I think my values or many Canadians' values are," he said. "A future prime minister of a different political stripe will certainly be able to appoint people ... who might have a slightly different ideological bent. I think that's going to naturally happen in our system." Nevertheless, he said the institution is better for the fact that most senators are not answerable to the prime minister and don't sit in partisan caucuses "to plot political strategy." The French government is seeking candidates to replace Renaults embattled boss Carlos Ghosn, as some board members began to voice doubts about keeping him in office after his indictment in Japan for suspected misconduct, several sources told Reuters. In a statement yesterday, interim chairman Philippe Lagayette said Renaults board did not consider replacing Ghosn at a meeting the previous day and denied reports of boardroom divisions. At Thursdays meeting, Renault directors were briefed on an investigation by alliance partner Nissan that led to Ghosns arrest last month. He was charged this week over the companys failure to declare 37.8m in deferred income he had arranged to receive. Nissan fired Ghosn as chairman three days after his detention, but Renault has resisted pressure to dismiss him, as the scandal strains their carmaking alliance. The Renault board stuck by its earlier decision to keep him on, with its lead director standing in as interim chairman and deputy CEO Thierry Bollore heading operations. In an initial statement issued by Renault after the meeting, the board noted that, at this stage, it does not have information concerning Carlos Ghosns defence. However, in the five-hour session, several directors led by Cherie Blair, wife of the British former prime minister Tony Blair, began to express impatience with the situation, two sources said. What she said, in effect, was that we cant remain in this situation forever. At some point you need to move forward and move on, one source said of Blair. Lagayette refutes the press rumours reporting differences of opinion among board members at the meeting, Renault said in its statement yesterday. In a separate statement to Reuters, Blair said she was saddened that the confidentially of board meetings has been breached in particular in respect of your entirely inaccurate description of my contribution. She said: I can confirm that I, along with other members of the board, asked a number of questions of Renaults lawyers concerning their knowledge of the Japanese legal system, their estimation as to how long Ghosn will be held in custody, and their best estimation of when Ghosn would be available to resume his duties. Theres nothing official yet but the government is working on a line-up. Theyre ready to turn the page, the source said. The French government, Renaults biggest shareholder with a 15% stake and two board seats, typically plays a major role in succession planning. - Reuters Gardai are appealing for witnesses after a man in his 40s died after he was struck by a car in Cork. The collision occurred on the Kinsale Road in Cork city between 5am and 5.45am this morning. Puzzles hub Visit our brain gym where you will find simple and cryptic crosswords, sudoku puzzles and much more. Updated at midnight every day. PS ... We would love to hear your feedback on the section right HERE Nurses were victims in 70% of assaults on hospital staff over the past 10 years, new figures released to Sinn Fein show. Data from the HSE revealed that between 2008 and the end of November this year, 10,744 staff reported assaults ranging from harm to "near misses". This year alone, 948 incidents have been reported, and of these, 61% were from nurses. Doctors reported 25 assaults, while other hospital staff, including those employed in housekeeping and catering, reported 339 incidents. Sinn Fein Health Spokesperson Louise OReilly TD said that the number of assaults on nurses in hospitals across the country is unacceptable, and that hospitals must take greater steps to ensure the safety of their staff. Nurses play a key role in the delivery of our public health services, and for them to face such high levels of assault is completely unacceptable," she said. "The recruitment and retention crisis in our health service is leading to understaffing and this must be making a contribution to the rising level of assaults. The HSE, and the Minister for Health, need to increase measures to reduce the number of assaults our nurses face. These people are on the front line of our health service and deserve the right to be able to do their jobs without fear of facing assault." Plans for tougher penalties for speeding offences are facing backlash after a growing number of TDs in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have expressed their concern over the proposals. Transport Minister Shane Ross is looking to introduce a number of new measures aimed at cracking down on motorists breaking the speed limit. Cork GAA chair Tracey Kennedy has claimed that the mountainous spending overrun on Pairc Ui Chaoimh will have no impact on the day-to-day running of Cork GAA. Ms Kennedy told tonights annual convention at the stadium that the audited accounts of the Board detailed a spend of 86.5m on the redevelopment of the Pairc. Despite revealing comments from Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna in the Irish Examiner this week, the Cork GAA chair insisted: There has been no takeover of the stadium. Ms Kennedy added: I want to categorically state again, and this has been said before, that there are absolutely no plans to levy clubs in any way in relation to the stadium project. The stadium has not had, and will not have any impact on inter-county teams, apart from providing them with an all-weather venue on which to train. The chair told a packed convention that was the whole point of creating a company to run the stadium - to separate the finances of the stadium from the finances of Cork County Board. The stadium will have no negative impact on the day to day running of this Board, the chair maintained. Opening the convention, Ms Kennedy stated that the stadium costs still reside entirely in the county board accounts, at least until the imminent transfer of the stadium to Pairc Ui Chaoimh companies. Those companies, and through them the stadium, are in the full ownership of Cork County Board. There has been no takeover of the stadium. As clearly outlined in the secretarys report, we have chosen to enter into a commercial agreement with Croke Park for a minimum of three years, which I consider to be a hugely positive step and development for this stadium. We are all part of this one great association and why would we not harness the expertise of our Croke Park colleagues, at least for the early years of the stadium which is now as well as a sporting venue, a vast commercial entity and with a potential to generate significant income for this Board. Personally I hope to see co-operation between the two stadia and others in a planned and strategic manner for the entire GAA family. The Cork GAA chair outlined the governance infrastructure of the stadium for delegates. It was now run by its own board of directors, all approved by Cork County Board, featuring the county chairman, incoming secretary Kevin ODonovan, and treasurer Diarmuid Gowan, along with three former officers Pearse Murphy, Ger Lane, and as of tonight, Frank Murphy, who has also been appointed secretary to the company. This structure has been approved by this board and we are very pleased with the calibre of the directors, all of whom bring a wealth of commercial knowledge and experience to the table which I am certain sill yield incredibly positive results. Prescott, Arizona: An award-winning Arizona newspaper publisher and his wife are locked in a bizarre divorce case that has morphed into something more: a journalism ethics saga. Joseph Soldwedel has accused wife Felice Soldwedel in a lawsuit of trying to kill him by poisoning him, and detailed the allegations in one of the small-town newspapers he owns, the 13,000-circulation Prescott Daily Courier. Joseph Soldwedel, the publisher of the Prescott Daily Courier. Credit:AP None of the three news stories in the paper named his wife. But the Courier ran an ad accusing her by name, with a photo of her, bordered with images of skulls and rats. The ad said she had an unnamed accomplice, and it offered a $US10,000 reward for tips. Soldwedel's wife of eight years calls the poisoning claims ludicrous and says he is retaliating against her for seeking a divorce. Ross Fitzgerald is the author of 40 books, most recently So Far, So Good, co-written with Antony Funnell and published by Hybrid. THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE Ross Fitzgerald. Credit:actlyndall.larkham While attending St Mark's Anglican Church in Brighton in Melbourne in the 1950s, I started reading The King James Version of the Bible.This inspiring translation had a huge impact on my appreciation of the wonders of the English language and the possibilities of reading and writing about history. Although I have been a devout atheist for decades, reading the King James Bible led me, in late 1969, to briefly being a teacher of Biblical Studies at Brighton High School. JOHN BARLEYCORN NIGEL KENNEDY IN RECITAL A living legend, virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy can lay claim to being the best-selling violinist in the history of music his recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons alone sold more than 3 million copies. He's returning to the Arts Centre Hamer Hall on Monday January 21 to perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Gershwin along with his own composition The Magician of Lublin. We have five doubles (worth $338 a double) to join this vibrant and colourful character as he establishes a dialogue between Bach and Gershwin in his trademark effervescent and often eccentric style. Send your details to di@dirolle.com before midnight tonight for your chance to win. Nigel Kennedy plays Bach and Gershwin, and one of his own compositions. BLESSED BY NATURE CHRISTMAS PAMPER PACK An organic skincare brand based in Melbourne, Blessed By Nature is created using natural, non-toxic ingredients obtained from local and sustainable sources. For the chance to reboot your skin after the Christmas festivities with one of three pamper packs on offer send your details to admin@blessedbynature.com.au before midnight tonight. Winners will score Re-Toning Facial Scrub, Purifying Face Masque, Deep Cream Cleanser, Hydrating Facial Mist Toner, Antioxidant Daily Renewal Cream, Antioxidant Night Restoring Cream, Antioxidant Soothing Eye Serum, Beauty Elixir Botanical Body Wash and Beauty Elixir Botanical Body Lotion. Please include your postal address (blessedbynature.com.au). TIDELANDS Netflix.com.au What will the international audience for whom it's clearly intended make of Tidelands? Well, the opening scene of Netflix' first Australian commission might well appeal to Quentin Tarantino. As a fan of Oz Schlock, he'd probably appreciate a babe in a skimpy bikini squeezing a chap's skull until his eyeballs pop. The next scene is straight out of Wentworth. Tidelands is like those B-grade Canadian fantasy/sci-fi series that have almost become a genre in themselves. Credit:Jasin Boland/Netflix And then we settle into Tidelands' natural rhythm, which is a little confusing. On the one hand, striving for a high concept vibe. On the other, labouring under a script that delivers gems like this (following a handover gone wrong): "Tom's not happy. He needs drugs to sell." Or this classic: "I'm back. And I want what's mine." Certainly the effort made to ensure the majority of the cast is hot and under 30 indicates a certain lack of faith in the material. (Never mind the quality feel the abs.) But the show has its own weird charm. In fact, what it most feels like is one of those B grade Canadian fantasy/sci-fi series that have almost become a genre in themselves. And if Tidelands is unlikely to develop the intellectual ambition of, say, Orphan Black, it may well attain the cult/camp status of Lost Girl. Perhaps that's what everyone was aiming for all along? SHERLOCK Season finale 8.30pm, ABC It's a question that has fans of this intense reincarnation of the deerstalker-toting detective as baffled as the man himself when he's in the midst of solving a sticky crime. Will there or won't there be a fifth season? If the reported feud between co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman really has spelled the end then this twisted chapter is one hell of a way to go. The Holmes siblings collide, turning whodunit into psycho thriller on crystal meth. Sherlock: The Holmes siblings collide in the season finale. Credit:Laurence Cendrowicz ATTACK OF THE TOYS: A LEGO BRICKUMENTARY 8.35pm, SBS Starting with this 2014 documentary that takes an inventory of the Danish building-block maker and charts its survival in the global market is a mini-festival of films about popular stocking-stuffer brands. At 10.20pm is Tiny Shoulders: Reinventing Barbie, which charts the 2016 reshaping of the plastic miss to more adequately reflect female bodies. Commentators include feminist writer Roxane Gay. Monday brings Greetings from Planet Smurf at 8.30pm, Tuesday, The Monopoly Story at 8.40pm, and Thursday, Lifesize Lego House at 8.30pm. A man has been taken to hospital in a stable condition following a truck crash on Canberra Avenue on Saturday morning. The single-vehicle crash happened just after 8.30am near HMAS Harman on the ACT and NSW border, after the truck struck a tree, causing the driver to be trapped inside. NSW and ACT fire and rescue crews and paramedics were called to the scene to stabilise the driver, using hydraulic equipment to free the man's legs. An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesman said the SouthCare rescue helicopter was called out to the scene. The driver was eventually freed from the truck and taken by ambulance to Canberra Hospital. They formed long, deep friendships with Aboriginal people, providing safe housing for their sacred objects and art in a museum in the University of Western Australia, where they worked together from 1956. The Berndts always welcomed Aboriginal visitors. Ronald published 35 books and Catherine 15, including their enduring classic, The World of the First Australians. It tells of ancient laws and ceremonies, of song and dance, religion, sorcery and magic, of death and the afterlife, of an ordered society that flourished for millennia as European warlords fought bloody battles for land and power on the other side of the world. The Berndts prodigious work made them international names, showered with honours and acclaim from people like the French intellectual Claude Levi-Strauss and American Margaret Mead, pioneering anthropologists of their era. Seekers after knowledge: the young Ronald and Catherine Berndt. The Berndts' literary executor is Adjunct Professor John Stanton, now retired after a long, distinguished career of his own at UWA. He is unhappy that he has had to refuse many people access to the contentious 87,000 pages of field notes, but he is simply obeying the law. Wills are sacrosanct documents. He tried to achieve a 10-year embargo on the collection, but Catherine would not be moved when writing her last testament. Ronald Berndt died quite suddenly of cancer in 1990 aged 74, with much of his planned writing unfinished, including a keenly awaited memoir. Catherine succumbed to heart problems four years later. The childless couple were famously devoted, passionately united by their chosen life's work. They met as students of the famed Professor A.P. Elkin at Sydney University. Ronald Berndt translated some of the worlds oldest poetry into English, the richly sensuous Love Songs of Arnhem Land. He dedicated them to Catherine. The Berndt field notes are priceless cultural history, Stanton says, which is the reason so many want to see them. As the Berndts' close associate since his student days, he speaks warmly of their tireless scholarship. Above all, they taught me how to listen to the Aboriginal people," he said. Returning to Light Square Vince Copley is the last surviving grandson of Barney Waria, who died in 1948 and was the last initiate of the Ngadjuri people, born in 1873. Their tribal lands once ran far across South Australia, through its fertile Mid North farmlands and the vineyard country of the Barossa and Clare valleys. The Berndt diaries are now secret until 2024. Copley hopes he will survive until then. When he travelled to Perth to see them in 2007, he was politely told they were embargoed under the terms of the Berndt will for another 15 years. "It was hard to learn that," he said. "We could see the notebooks in a corner of the room." Copleys father died when he was just two, and he was 10 when his widowed mother put him into the St Francis boarding school in Semaphore, near Adelaide, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Charles Perkins, the firebrand Aboriginal activist. Charlie Perkins (right) at Parliament House in Canberra, 1974. Credit:Peter Wells "We had a wonderful education there, and we worked together most of our lives. Charlie died young, just 64, of kidney problems. He became head of the Aboriginal Affairs Department. I helped him set up Aboriginal Hostels. Copley was an adult before he learned of the long friendship between his grandfather and Ronald Berndt and the remarkable notebooks. His source was a mining executive searching for clues about minerals in South Australia. He was very keen to read them. Barney Waria and the young Ronald Berndt often met between 1939 and 1944 in an Adelaide park, Light Square. Aboriginal people used to gather there every weekend, journeying in from reserves and missions to remember their happy, lost tribal days. There was no Native Title law then, no compensation for the beloved land they had lost to violent conquest. Nothing has changed for the Ngadjuris. His friendship with Waria set Berndt on his lifes work. Few white Australians socialised with Aboriginal people in those distant days, but the Elder was often a guest in the Berndt family home. Anthropologist Margaret Mead inspects the housing development that became The Block in Redfern, May 1973. Credit:Merv Bishop Stanton spent his academic life as Director of the Museum of Anthropology established by the Berndts to house their extraordinary, ever-expanding collection of Indigenous art and artefacts. A New Zealander, he moved to Perth to study for his doctorate under Ronald Berndt, on the recommendation of their mutual friend, the legendary Margaret Mead, who taught him for a year at the University of Auckland. Quietly spoken and courteous but tough-minded, say associates, Stanton has spent the past 24 years explaining to countless enquirers why they cannot access the Berndt field notebooks until 2024. The collection is a potential treasure trove for academics and Indigenous people, as well as mining companies that now spend millions on anthropologists to deal with Native Title issues. The once quiet academic backwater of anthropology is now a war zone, as experts battle over sacred site claims on rich mineral fields. Amidst a rising chorus of demands for access to the Berndt notebooks, Stanton has finally agreed to explain the decision to lock them away for three decades. Catherine Berndt in 1952. Credit:Fairfax Archive "It was the result of very long and serious discussions," he said. "As co-executor of their will, I argued for a 10-year embargo, long enough to prepare the materials for wider access, but Prof [Ronald Berndt] was adamant that it should be for 30 years. Catherine agreed with him." When the Berndt field notes are finally released, it will be a careful and responsible exercise, says Stanton. Access will be given only to those who can demonstrate their legitimate right to see them, with the approval of the relevant community in which the materials were collected. Drilling into distrust The source of the Berndts' decision was deep and abiding distrust of government of all political colours, born of their long career observing the changing world of Indigenous Australia. Governments, they firmly believed, were "innately hostile" to the interests of Aboriginal people and their rich, prehistoric culture. The infamous Noonkanbah dispute strengthened their conviction. It came to a head in 1980, when the Amax oil company wanted to drill on a far northern pastoral station owned by the Aboriginal Yungngora people, on a site they held sacred. When their protests were ignored, they locked their gates to protect their land, and the WA government of the day was infuriated, especially the hard-line Liberal premier, Charles Court. (Now dead, he is still a revered conservative hero.) September 1980: A sign at the gate of the Noonkanbah station after WA premier Charles Court visited a drilling site on Yungngora country. Credit:Fairfax Archive In action that made global headlines, Court sent a convoy of 45 trucks and drilling rigs with a massive police escort on a 2000-kilometre journey across the state to Noonkanbah, where drilling began. There were protests and arrests all along the route. The government also launched a full-blooded parliamentary attack on the Berndts because they supported the Yungngora claims, with government museum anthropologists silenced. Ronald Berndt was a prime target, because of his special authority. April 1980: A representative of the Amax oil company, Tom Lyon, tries to make a bargain with Noonkanbah community spokesman Ivan McPhee (right). Credit:Fairfax Archive "I have never seen him so angry," said Stanton. "He was normally a very self-controlled man. "We even learned our phones had been tapped, from a high-level telecom source. When Amax finally drilled for oil, the well was dry. But the Berndts could see what was happening to Aboriginal culture and life as they attempted to reclaim ownership and control of their customary lands. Their fears were realised after their death. WAs Aboriginal Heritage Act was castrated. Sacred sites were destroyed everywhere in a series of mining booms. The much-trumpeted federal Native Title Act became a lawyers picnic. Some Native Title cases have lasted 20 years; many have been dismissed. Families have been torn apart as legal actions drag on. Lawyers have made fortunes from the litigation, some charging up to $2000 an hour. Native Title judge and land rights commissioner Peter Gray was stinging in his criticism of the Act in his retirement speech in 2013, after 27 years working with Indigenous people. "The biggest disappointment in my career has been to see the opportunity given to us by the High Court in the Mabo case squandered," he said. Scathing words: Justice Peter Gray used his retirement speech in 2013 to lament the courts' failure to give proper meaning to native title. Credit:Penny Stephens "The concept of native title has been reduced to something of little practical significance by judges who have been unable to understand, and legislators who have been consciously averse to, the vital relationship between people and land in Aboriginal traditions." He called for a new system that respected the rights of the first Australians: Only such a system will allow those of us who have come later to this country to say that we truly belong. His words have made little impact. Flinders University archaeologist Professor Claire Smith firmly believes it is time for the University of WA to reassess the legal basis of the Berndt embargo. She is an old friend of Vince Copley after working with him for years recording ancient sites around his ancestral lands. For him, and other descendants of the people who shared their knowledge with Ronald Berndt, time is running out, she says. The University of WA told The Sunday Age that it had accepted a series of donations and bequests made by the Berndts in their entirety, in order to secure the material for future generations. With red dirt, endless starry skies and locals who treat you like family, a trip to Longreach is quickly becoming an alternative weekend-away destination. It was 30 years ago when resident Alan Smith saw an opportunity to share with visitors the rural area he called home. Time stands still at the Historic Railway Cafe in Longreach. Credit:Ruth McCosker Known by locals and visitors as "Smithy", Mr Smith was about 20 years old when he created Outback Aussie Tours and bought some swags and tents. But there was a quick lesson in that: what I loved doing wasnt what people wanted to pay for it didnt involve a swag and a tent, it involved accommodation and an en suite, he said. Two women who were reported missing overnight have escaped a Brisbane correctional facility. Police said Jade Hucman, 26, and Chloe Peterson, 27 who are prisoners at the Helana Jones Community Correctional Centre in Albion, were reported missing from the centre around 10pm on Saturday. Hucman is serving nine months for theft while Ms Peterson is serving 10 months for police assault. Hucman is described as having a fair complexion, is about 163cm tall, is of a slim build with black hair, brown eyes and has tattoos on her right arm, right hand and right leg. A 21-year-old man has been taken to hospital with a broken leg and injured shoulder after being hit by a car on the Gold Coast. Police are investigating a hit and run on the Gold Coast. Credit:Queensland Police Service - Twitter Police said the Burleigh Heads man was struck by a white Subaru liberty sedan about 6.30am on Saturday while he was walking across Guineas Creek Road at Elanora. He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment. The vehicle, possibly 2000 model with Queensland registration 581XUP, failed to remain at the scene, according to police. But the man who oversaw the RSPCA wildlife hospitals for a decade warned not to expect overnight changes. I used to have 8000 animals coming in my front door in 2012. This year it was 24,000 and next year it will be 26,000. Nothing we did at the meeting [on Thursday] is going to change that. "We have got to be realistic. I want to push it but I dont want to rush it. Mr Townend said he was not soft towards developers and insisted everyone on the Koala Advisory Council knows things will change. But [the World Wildlife Fund] is not going to get everything they want, the UDIA (Urban Development Institute of Australia) is not going to get everything they want," he said. Mark Townend at the launch of the Koala Advisory Council at Australia Zoo on Thursday. 'I want to push it, but I don't want to rush it.' Credit:Ben Beaden Everyone is going to have to shuffle a bit because the eyes of the voters of Queensland are watching. And Mr and Mrs Middle Australia do not want to see the habitat of this iconic animal and the species under it get destroyed. Pending development applications in Toowoomba, Morayfield and Deception Bay would result in known koala habitats being cleared. This has angered local communities who believe assessments downplay koalas. A female koala sits in an enclosure waiting release. Credit:Cole Bennetts Koala ecologist Grant Hamilton told 600 people at TEDxBrisbane that most koala spotters only found a quarter of the population when searching as part of development applications. Queensland opposition environment spokesman David Crisafulli said the council should begin in a climate of good faith but warned that the community wanted results. The conservation of habitat, absolutely; rehabilitation and rescue, absolutely; and research, he said. Loading What that might mean is the government acquiring strategic parcels of land. Ultimately, I want a body to be viewed as credible, to put forward their solutions, and my role will be to responsibly hold the government to account to make sure timelines are met and that they are serious about it, Mr Crisafulli said. Otherwise what we will see is paralysis by analysis. Applications in koala habitats Morayfield Lend Lease wants to build 2500 lots on 254 hectares of land along Oakey Flat Road at Morayfield for its Pine Valley proposal. Lend Lease's Pine Valley application at Morayfield Credit:Lend Lease That will add about 6750 residents and about 5000 cars along Oakey Flat Road. Moreton Bay Regional Council on December 11 told Lend Lease the development was not needed because there was enough residential land stock in the area. In total, there is sufficient supply to satisfy between 25 to 39 years of projected demand depending on the demand scenario," the council said. Lend Lease's Pine Valley estate. Lend Lease unsuccessfully lobbied the council to alter its planning scheme to change some land zoned rural and limited development to residential and rural living investigation. The developer's plans include a 100-metre-wide koala conservation zone running south-west to north-east across the 254-hectare site, a second conservation zone along the bottom of the development along Burpengary Creek and a third parkland snaking northwards. The council plans an overpass at Oakey Flat Road, which threatens the house of Erwin Hecht, who has started a Facebook page to let local residents know about the Lend Lease proposal and the state governments plans for a western bypass. Earlier this week, the page had almost 2000 followers. Some residents argued land was already being cleared and had sent photographs of land being bulldozed near the Jacko Place intersection with Oakey Creek Road. Lend Lease said while some fire breaks had been built, no clearing was under way. Toowoomba Defence Housing Australia plans to build 342 lots in a 379-hectare wedge of land on the edge of the Toowoomba escarpment at Mt Lofty. The proposed development area is on 53.635 hectares of the land and residents say this includes clearing 38 hectares of critical koala habitat, shown on their own maps. Defence Housing Australia plans to bulldoze 38 hectares of critical koala habitat on the Great Dividing Range. Jillian Meibuscher is part of Toowoombas Mt Lofty Toowoomba community and says the Koala Advisory Council has a vested interest favouring developers based on their industry impulse for urbanisation. This is the last-remaining bushland on the edge of the Toowoomba escarpment and is home to 38 hectares of critical koala habitat which DHA intends to destroy, she said. DHA have lobbied the federal and Queensland state governments, and now Toowoomba councillors will soon vote to approve the development application, she said. Public submissions are open until December 18. Toowoombas Planning and Development committee chairman Chris Tait said council knew there were koalas on the land. Koalas are known to occur in the region and according to the applicants ecological report have been identified in the vicinity of the proposed development area, Cr Tait said. The development is going ahead through normal processes. The application needs to have input from the Queensland government before land is cleared and must be approved by the federal government, Cr Tait said. Accordingly, the applicant will need to seek appropriate approvals under that legislation from the federal government. Deception Bay A second application to Moreton Bay Regional Council to build a childcare centre will clear a known koala corridor on Old Bay Road, Deception Bay, for Woodridge man David Lau. The plan for a proposed childcare centre in Deception Bay involves clearing a locally known koala corridor. A detailed ecological assessment by S5 Environmental finished on August 20, 2018, found no koalas despite hundreds of fauna scratch marks on trees on the block on Old Bay Road. No evidence of koala activity was found and due to the surrounding level of development it would be unlikely that the koala would occur. Due to the level of surrounding development, it is unlikely that the koala utilises the site. Removal of vegetation within the site is unlikely to have a significant effect on the koala due to the isolation of the site. However, the detailed tree cover plan shows hundreds of trees with fauna scratchings, which the assessors ruled came from possums. State MP Chris Whiting (Bancroft), a former Moreton Bay councillor, disagrees and says he personally has seen koalas at the site, even stopping to assist people helping a koala chased up an electricity pole. I have seen a koala crossing there at night to that particular lot, Mr Whiting said. Ms Agnoletto was disappointed that the proposed rebuilding of the union building block area would also take the theatre and cafe with it. "The Pizza Caffe was also so popular and busy, and the Schonell Theatre was Brisbanes art house and theatre before Dendy cinemas came along and began showing their own films," she said. Students and staff marching off campus for the 1970 Moratorium. Censorship protest at the Union Building in 1969. Students, staff and the public unite to protest UQ awarding Bjelke Petersen an honourary doctorate in 1985. "There wasn't anything in the campus where someone could eat and, with the theatre, we would have a movie and pizza deal for $25 back then. "Everyone from all over Brisbane used to come to the university for our pizza." Ms Agnoletto said the "Schonell Theatre family" would be heartbroken to see the theatre go. "Id hate to see the wrecking ball come in and knock it down. There's a lot of memories that have been made there and the Schonell has always been a lovely theatre," she said. "Its still being used even though theyve closed the cinema." A group of UQ staff and students are calling for the community to fight to keep the theatre as a historical building in the university. Alternatively, students are pushing to keep some form of a theatre at the university amid fears there may not be a replacement if the Schonell Theatre is destroyed. UQ Union president Georgia Millroy said community backlash stemmed from the master plan's lack of any replacement theatre. "As Schonell has a rich history of independent performance and student-led political and creative expression, UQU thinks it is vital that any new theatre continues to be operated by students for students, through UQU," she said. "UQU is appreciative that UQ has listened to the response from students and the community regarding the importance of the Schonell Theatre and keeping a creative space on campus." Ms Millroy said many students had chosen to study at UQ mainly because the university had its own student-run theatre. "Many law and arts students who use the space will be sad to see it go but if it has to go; we would like to preserve historical pieces from the Schonell Theatre to keep the memories alive," she said. "I think a lot of former UQ students have a soft spot for Schonell as it has been such a hub of activity since it was built." Many students would remember the 4ZZZ protests during the Joh era, watching a movie in the old theatre, or seeing a fantastic student-lead performance. "There is a significant group of current students who value Schonell due to what it represents," she said. "These include drama and performing arts students as well as those from the law and medicine faculty who utilise the theatre for the annual revue show." A UQ spokeswoman said the university was considering feedback as it continued to engage with students around their current and future requirements. "The university received 153 submissions during the 10-week public consultation period on its draft site development plan," she said. "Many of these submissions sought assurances that a performance space would continue to be provided on campus if plans for a new student hub proceeded. "The need for a new student hub was identified to meet the changing requirements of UQs students, and to provide them with world-leading education facilities so they can excel in the workplace of the future." The spokeswoman did not respond to questions on whether the university had plans to save the theatre or whether a replacement theatre would be created. Far-north Queensland residents are breathing a sigh of relief after dodging a bullet as Tropical Cyclone Owen passed through as a category 3 without intensifying. The Bureau of Meteorology is tracking the movements of Tropical Cyclone Owen as severe weather warnings remain in place on Saturday. Credit:The Bureau of Meteorology Tropical cyclone Owen crossed the south-east Gulf of Carpentaria coast between Kowanyama and the Gilbert River Mouth about 3am as a category 3 on Saturday despite predictions it would intensify to a category 4. Sweers Island Resort co-owner Lyn Battle said she was fearing the worst, listening to the warnings of copping a potential category 4 cyclone, which would have passed through before heading towards Kowanyama. "We were very nervous because we have never gotten anything higher than a category 3, so we were very prepared," she said. Aged care staff ratios would save at least $2.6 billion in productivity and other economic gains while also reducing preventable deaths and improving quality of life, according to an analysis commissioned by the nurses' union ahead of Labor's national conference. The study, by the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute at Flinders University, found that the cost of funding staff increases to ensure adequate care of the nation's elderly would be partially offset by savings in reduced staff turnover, fewer hospitalisations and an increased tax take. Nurses like Holly Rebeiro, Agaimalo Asalemo, Amy Alegria and Jocelyn Hofman are campaigning for aged care ratios. Credit:James Brickwood When non-economic gains were included, the analysis found the cost of implementing the proposed reforms would be more than offset, valuing the social benefits at a further $2.8 billion over six years. Annie Butler, federal secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said the study showed that "aged care ratios make economic sense". Australias housing shortage would get a $6.6 billion fix from a Labor plan to build thousands of new homes and bring down rents for those in need, in a major proposal that sharpens the policy contest ahead of the next election. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will vow to turbocharge investment in new housing with plans for 250,000 new homes over a decade for those struggling to pay the rent. Labor's housing affordability policy has been costed at $102 million over four years and $6.6 billion over the decade to June 2029. Credit:Louie Douvis The Labor plan replaces the Morrison governments housing affordability schemes with a direct subsidy of $8500 a year over 15 years for investors who build new dwellings and offer them to people in need on lower rents. The scheme is intended to benefit people on low and moderate incomes and will only offer subsidies to new homes with rents that are 20 per cent below the market rate. The NSW Labor opposition will ban "exploitative" unpaid internships if it wins government next year, as it looks to sharpen its appeal to young workers before the state election. Under a Labor government, businesses would be required to pay interns when they are hired for roles longer than two weeks that are not connected to a course of study. Labor Leader Michael Daley said the policy aimed to close a legal loophole exploited by some employers to fill entry-level jobs using free labour, while preserving "legitimate" internship programs. NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley. Credit:AAP "I want to ensure young workers are protected from exploitation and there are legal protections in place," Mr Daley said. Katowice: Weary climate negotiators have limped across the finish line after days of round-the-clock talks, striking a deal that keeps the world moving forward with plans to curb carbon emissions. But the agreement fell well short of the breakthrough that scientists - and many of the conference's own participants - say is needed to avoid the cataclysmic impacts of a warming planet. The deal struck on Saturday at a global conference in the heart of Polish coal country, where about 25,000 delegates had gathered, adds legal flesh to the bones of the 2015 Paris agreement, setting the rules of the road for how nearly 200 countries cut their production of greenhouse gases and monitor each other's progress. The agreement from the COP24 climate talks in Katowice, Poland, falls short of what many scientists believe is necessary. Credit:AP The agreement also prods countries to step up their ambition in fighting climate change, a recognition of the fact that the world's efforts have not gone nearly far enough. But, like the landmark 2015 agreement in Paris, it does not bind countries to hit their targets. And observers questioned whether it was sufficient given the extraordinary stakes. "We are driven by our sense of humanity and commitment to the well being of the earth that sustains us and those generations that will replace us," Micha Kurtyka, the Polish environmental official who presided over the two-week international summit, said late on Saturday as the marathon talks drew to a close. New York: The fog of scandal enveloping US President Donald Trump has grown thicker, with prosecutors examining whether his inaugural committee raised illegal funds and speculation mounting that Trump could face criminal prosecution when he leaves office. President Donald Trump waves as he walks with first lady Melania Trump during the inauguration parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. Credit:Evan Vucci Revelations about the criminal inquiry into Trump's inauguration came just a day after the President's former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for offences including organising hush-money payments to two women who claimed to have affairs with Trump. The chief legal analyst on Fox News, which is Trump's favourite television network, said it was clear that Trump had committed a crime by directing Cohen to make the payments. A New York judge found the payments contributed illegal campaign contributions and audio has been released of Trump and Cohen discussing the payments in 2016. Nissan Motor Co Ltd investigators are examining former Chairman Carlos Ghosn's use of an internal 'CEO Reserve' fund and the role of subsidiaries in the Netherlands and other countries as part of a probe into alleged financial misconduct, two people with knowledge of the inquiry told Reuters. Ghosn and close associates spent money from a fund that some insiders dubbed 'the CEO Reserve' to help pay for residences used by the Ghosn family as well as for other personal expenses, the people said. Investigators are separately checking whether capital from some ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor on Saturday said the ordering a status quo on its deal with does not impact the company's 31.1 per cent stake sale to the Malaysian firm. However, this order could have a bearing on IHH's proposed open offer to acquire an additional 26 per cent stake in Fortis. The open offer is scheduled to be launched from December 18 to January 1, 2019. On Friday, the had ordered status quo with regard to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis to by former Ranbaxy promoters and hospital operators -- Malvinder and ALSO READ: IHH Healthcare makes open offer for Fortis Malar at Rs 60 per share The apex court was hearing the plea of Japanese firm which is seeking to recover Rs 35 billion, awarded to it by a Singapore tribunal in its case against Malvinder and "We would also like to emphasise that this order does not impact the preferential allotment that was made to Northern TK Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of IHH Healthcare Berhad, by Fortis on November 13, 2018...consequent to which owns 31.1 per cent equity stake in Fortis," the healthcare major said in a statement. The company said that it is currently evaluating the order and seeking appropriate legal advice to decide its future course of action. ALSO READ: Fortis board approves appointment of four nominees of IHH Healthcare Fortis also clarified that it was not a party to the judicial proceedings in which the SC order has been passed. "As we have reiterated many times earlier, the ex-promoters are no longer a part of Fortis," the statement said. Fortis said the judicial proceedings on Friday were in matters solely related to Singh brothers, specifically, in connection with alleged transfer of their shares to Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd. Singh brother had pledged their shares in Fortis to Indiabulls Housing Finance. Daiichi Sankyo, which has filed the contempt plea against the Singh brothers in the apex court, has said that it was promised some shares of by the Singh brothers. The top court also issued notices to the Singh brothers asking them to explain as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against them for allegedly violating its earlier order by pledging the shares. The board of had approved in July a proposal from IHH Healthcare to invest Rs 40 billion by way of preferential allotment for a 31.1 per cent stake. As many as 10,500 restaurants have been de-listed by e-commerce firms like and for not having license or registration under the food safety law, Parliament was told Friday. Minister of state for health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or in July directed food e-commerce firms to de-list the the restaurants which don't have registration under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. "The Food delivery aggregators informed that they have already initiated action against the defaulting partner hotels/restaurants. "As per information received, has delisted 2,500, 4,000, Foodpanda 1,800, UberEats 2,000 and foodcloud 200 unlicensed/unregistered FBOs," he said in reply to a question. The implementation and enforcement of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 Rules and Regulations made thereunder, primarily rests with state and UT governments, he said. Commissioner of Food Safety of all states and UTs have been requested to take necessary action to bring all such FBOs or food business operators under the ambit of FSS Act through registration. No one shall commence or carry on any food business without license or registration under the Act, he said. Choubey stated further regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products are carried out by officials to check compliance of the standards and norms. In case where the food samples are found to be non- conforming, penal action has been initiated, he stated. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The toll has gone up to 13 from eight in the Friday's suspected food poisoning at a village temple in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. Two persons were detained for interrogation, a Minister said on Saturday. "So far, 13 devotees have died in the tragic incident at Sulavadi's Maramma temple in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Two persons have been detained for interrogation and the case is being investigated," tweeted state Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Home portfolio. Around 65 people -- men, women and children -- who also fell ill after taking the same adulterated food are being treated in state-run and private hospitals in the district, about 180km southwest of Bengaluru. "I have instructed the Muzarai (Endowment) department to be alert and avoid such incidents at any temple in the state," said Parameshwara. The temple deity Maramma, considered an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Durga, is worshipped for blessings before starting any work or function. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who announced Rs 5-lakh compensation to the kin of the victims, assured the sick devotees being treated in hospitals that the state government would meet their medical expenses. "I have directed the district administration, including the police to conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident and book the guilty," said Kumaraswamy in a statement on Friday night. State Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao announced Rs 1-lakh relief from the party fund to each of the bereaved families and assured them of stringent action against the guilty. Congress senior leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited one of the hospitals at Mysuru where some of the affected devotees are being treated and enquired about their well-being. "I never heard of temple prasada (offering) being poisoned. The incident of this magnitude is unimaginable. I am shocked over the tragedy. It's a most inhuman act and is deplorable," Siddaramaiah told reporters later. He also advised the priests and management of temples to ensure the safety of the prasada being distributed to devotees. The district police registered a case of negligence against a private trust managing the temple, belonging to the Lingayat community. Nations on Saturday inched towards a deal to implement the climate goals, after all-night negotiations over a plan to limit global temperature rises exposed a range of conflicts. Speaking to AFP at the COP24 summit in Poland, a senior negotiator said delegates from nearly 200 nations had reached a "landing zone" of agreement. But sources close to the talks said differences remained stark on the issues of ambition, how the climate fight is funded and how best to measure and ensure the fairness of each nation's efforts to reduce emissions. Delegates at the UN summit, held this year in the Polish city of Katowice, must agree on a common rule book to put the pledges made at the landmark 2015 talks into practice. This means all countries, rich and poor alike, must agree to action that will cap global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and stave off the worst effects of planetary warming, and to a safer cap of 1.5 C if possible. The final draft decision text was repeatedly delayed as negotiators sought to form guidelines that are effective in slashing emissions while protecting the economies of rich and poor nations alike. "Without a clear rulebook, we won't see how countries are tracking, whether they are actually doing what they say they are doing," Canada's Minister Catherine McKenna told AFP. Earlier in the day, Gebru Jember Endalew, chair of the Least Developed Countries negotiating group, said delegates had reached a "landing zone" of compromise after negotiations sailed past their Friday deadline and deep into the weekend. "It is a bit difficult to compromise when there are 190-plus countries," he told AFP. At the heart of the matter is how each nation funds action to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as how those actions are reported. Developing nations want more clarity from richer ones over how the future climate fight will be funded and have been pushing for so-called "loss and damage" measures. This would see richer countries giving money now to help deal with the effects of many vulnerable states are already experiencing. Another contentious issue concerns the integrity of carbon markets, looking ahead to the day when the patchwork of distinct exchanges -- in China, the Europe Union, parts of the -- may be joined up in a global system. "To tap that potential, you have to get the rules right," said Alex Hanafi, lead counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund in the "One of those key rules -- which is the bedrock of carbon markets -- is no double counting of emissions reductions." The Agreement calls for setting up a mechanism to guard against practices that could undermine such a market, but finding a solution has proved so problematic that the debate has been kicked down the road to next year. Some observers had accused of seeking to muddy the date by which the provisions should enter into force, although its chief negotiator told AFP it was working "constructively with other parties to find a workable pathway forward." Another stumbling block could be how ambitious countries are in their renewed emissions-cutting pledges ahead of a 2020 stock-take of the Paris deal's progress. Most nations wanted the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on (IPCC) to form a key part of future planning. It highlighted the need for to be slashed to nearly half by 2030 in order to hit the 1.5 C target. But the US, Saudi Arabia, and objected, leading to watered-down wording. The draft decision statement from the Polish COP24 presidency welcomed "the timely conclusion" of the report and invited "parties to make use of it" -- far from the ringing endorsement many nations had called for. "We need to be ambitious, we need to do more, we need to reflect the goals of 1.5 degrees of global warming," said McKenna. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking early approval of the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project, an official spokesperson said. The expressway, proposed as a greenfield project by the government of India, will connect the capital with the important religious cities of Amritsar in and Katra in Singh has urged the Centre to expeditiously approve the project as it would lead to improved connectivity and foster greater socio-economic development of the region, the spokesperson said. Earlier this year, the chief ministers of and Haryana had met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister to discuss the proposed alignment of the expressway, which would pass through the two states up till Amritsar, he said. Thereafter, the had conveyed its consent for the adoption of alignment starting from Amritsar and going straight up to the international airport in New Delhi, he said. However, the spokesperson said, the ministry is yet to take a formal decision on the approval of the alignment. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Saturday said the state will challenge in the an order of the Green Tribunal which set aside the government's closure of mining firm Ltd's Sterlite Copper plant at Tuticorin. The NGT Saturday allowed the appeal of the company challenging closure of its plant, saying the closure order was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified". ALSO READ: SC refuses to stay CBI probe against cops firing during Sterlite protests The tribunal has asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances. "The will appeal against this order in the Supreme Court," Palaniswami told reporters here. On May 28, the state government had ordered the TNPCB to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests over pollution concerns. At least 13 people were killed and several injured in during anti-Sterilte protests on May 22 and 23. The recently refused to stay a order for a CBI probe against police officials for firing during the protests. The Friday granted interim stay on orders passed by the (CIC) directing the Reserve Bank of to submit a list of wilful loan defaulters. A division bench of Justices B P Dharmadhikari and S V Kotwal also stayed a show cause notice issued on November 2 this year by the to former for non-disclosure of the information sought and for defiance of its orders. The RBI had petitioned the high court last month challenging orders passed by the directing it to disclose the bad debt details of defaulters worth more than Rs 10 billion at the beginning and those worth Rs 5 billion or less at a later stage. On November 2 this year, the had issued a show cause notice to Patel for "dishonouring" a judgement on disclosure of wilful defaulters' list. The notice was issued after the RBI failed to give the list. The CIC had in its notice said it considers the as deemed Public Information Officer (PIO) responsible for non-disclosure and defiance of CIC orders. The commission asked Patel to explain why maximum penalty should not be imposed on him. On November 16, the CIC once again asked the RBI to submit the list and also the previous Raghuram Rajan's letter on bad loans. The CIC was hearing the plea of one who had sought details of bank loan defaulters. Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, appearing for RBI, told the high court Friday that the CIC order has been passed without giving a hearing to RBI. "Information of such nature if disclosed could harm the national economy. In such situation, the CIC order and the impugned notice issued on November 2 are ex facie illegal, arbitrary and unsustainable," RBI said in its petition. The bench, after hearing brief arguments in the case, issued notice to CIC and posted the matter for further hearing on April 10. "Ad-interim relief sought in the petition for staying the operation, effect, finishings and other conclusions of the respondent (CIC) is granted," the court said. India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and France's IT services company Saturday signed a three-year industrial contract for designing, building and installing the BullSequana, its high-performance supercomputers, in the country. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Jean Yves Le Drian, French minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs and Ajay Prakash Sawhney, secretary - Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It was signed between Hemant Darbari, Director General of C-DAC, and Pierre Barnab, chief operating officer - Big Data & Security at Speaking at the ceremony, Jean said the agreement will deepen our bilateral ties. "India and France have a strategic partnership and we are two nations that innovate a lot. It is true that supercomputers are a necessity and not a luxury. We often say that data for the 21st century is what oil was to the 20th century, we are using data in a massive way and that raises questions of ethics. India and France share not only interests but also values that require us to use technology for good for humanity," he said. "India and France have the same vision of what cyberspace should and we would like to deepen our cooperation in areas of cyberspace in R&D or regulation for digital technology," Jean added. This contract has been awarded to under the (NSM), a scheme of Rs 45 billion, aimed at creating a network of over 70 high-performance supercomputing facilities for various academic and research institutions across India. This contract is of special importance as Atos has become India's preferred industrial partner in a highly strategic field, according to a statement by the French Embassy. The delivery of BullSequana supercomputers is expected to start in early next year, it said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Kamal Nath on Saturday said he would contest Assembly polls from his home turf Chhindwara but was yet to zero in on any particular seat from the district. According to rules, Nath, a Lok Sabha MP from Chhindwara, will have to get elected to the MP Assembly within six months of assuming any ministerial office. The district comprises seven Assembly seats of which four are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, making Nath ineligible to contest from them. While Chhindwara, Saunsar and Chourai are for general candidates-- from where Nath can contest-- Amarwara (ST), Parasia (SC), Junnardeo (SC) and Pandhurna (ST), are the reserved seats. "Of the seven seats in Chhindwara district, only three are unreserved. I had told them (party) that I would contest from the seat from where the Congress won with the largest margin (in the 2018 polls)," Nath told PTI Saturday. Incidentally, the seat in Chhindwara district from where the Congress won with the widest margin of 20,742 votes is Saunsar, which is also where Nath's home is located and from where he is listed as a voter. The nine-time Lok Sabha member from Chhindwara was Thursday night elected as the leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP). Governor Anandiben Patel invited Nath (72) to form the new government in the state, after he met her at the Raj Bhavan here Friday to stake claim to form the government. He will take oath as MP CM on December 17. Militant leader-turned-politician, Zoramthangas intense acumenship took his party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), to govern Mizoram, the country's second least populous state, for a third term. It also obliquely helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to accomplish its mission to make a "Congress-mukt (free) northeast". Mizo iconic leader and MNF founder Laldenga's closest lieutenant, Zoramthanga, 74, was elected for a fifth term on Tuesday from Aizawl East-I seat, defeating Independent candidate K. Sapdanga by a margin of 2,504 votes. The hardworking veteran tribal leader was earlier the Chief Minister of the Christian-dominated northeastern state for 10 years (1998-2003 and 2003-2008). "Zoramthanga's firm loyalty for the Mizo cause makes him a acceptable leader both among the young and old age, men and women in Mizoram," political analyst and academician K.Sailo told IANS. He said that the government's 10-year misrule, non-performance and Mizoram's under development, besides job crisis among the youth, fittingly convinced the people to change the regime. He was Laldenga's second-in-command during the secessionist movement in Mizoram and became the successor as party chief, after MNF was recognised as a political party. After the devastating famine of 1959 and the Centre's alleged "indifference towards Mizos", the MNF led by Laldenga "declared independence from the Indian Union" on March 1, 1966. Zoramthanga joined the outlawed MNF in the same year while waiting for his results in Bachelor of Arts course at the D.M. College under Manipur University in Imphal. He was also arrested during the clandestine movement. Zoramthanga accompanied Laldenga to Pakistan and Europe while the MNF was holding talks with the Indian government and was actively involved in the peace parleys. Coming overground, following the historic Mizo peace accord signed on June 30, 1986, between the MNF and the Centre, he was inducted as a minister in the interim government headed by Laldenga for six months. He was appointed as secretary to Laldenga since 1969 and as Vice President of the "Mizoram government-in-exile" since 1979 as well as the Vice-President of the MNF party. When the MNF under the leadership of Laldenga came to power in 1987, Zoramthanga became the Finance and Education Minister. He was elected as the MNF President after Laldenga's death in July 1990 from lung cancer. In the 1998 Assembly elections, the party won the polls and Zoramthanga became the Chief Minister. In 2017, the politician published his first book on the history of the Mizo nationalism movement in Mizo language and the book was sold out within a week of its release. Political analyst and writer N. Pachhunga told IANS: "As Zoramthanga is a devoted peace lover, he offered the Central government to negotiate with the underground outfits of northeast India," he said. "Zoramthanga had to take a firm pragmatic planning and mission to take Mizoram on the path of growth as the state is lacking behind in adequate infrastructures like roads and power plants. To move away from 'Jhum' or shifting-cultivation to settle farming and manage jobs for the educated youths are also a major challenges for the new Chief Minister," Pachhunga said. The MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). However, both MNF and contested the November 28 polls separately in Mizoram. The MNF had put up 40 candidates and 39, its highest ever. "Due to Christianity and traditional ethnic conviction, Mizos are very close-knit and deep-bonding society. A party like has no space in such a society. My government would make all-out efforts to further develop the Mizo society and the infrastructure of the state, specially the roads," Zoramthanga said. The November 28 elections' sparkling success came after MNF failed miserably in the past two elections, when its seat tally was reduced to single digits. In 2008, the MNF lost power to after a 10-year stint and managed to win just three seats and in 2013 polls the party managed five seats. With a population of around 1.1 million (2011 census), Mizoram is India's second most literate state (91.58 per cent), after Kerala (93.91 per cent). The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), which has called for a nation-wide strike on December 26 opposing the merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank, on Saturday said the move was unwarranted as it would not be beneficial to the economy and the people at large. "The merger will also affect the interests of employees, their jobs and job security. The move would also affect employment opportunities in the banking industry," the association's general secretary, CH Venkatachalam, said here. Noting that several villages were yet to receive banking services, he said, "There is a huge exclusion of people. need to be expanded. No need for consolidation." Referring to the government's contention that the merger would make the stronger, Venkatachalam said, "There is no evidence to this conclusion. Last year, six were merged with SBI. But SBI (State Bank of India) has not become any bigger." "After merger of the six banks with SBI, the non-performing assets have further gone up to Rs 2.25 trillion. Hence, it is also a wrong presumption," he said. The mergers of the banks would "surely" result in the closure of branches and would endanger job security, he added. Urging the Centre to take tough measures to recover bad loans, the association said the government was instead trying to divert the attention and focus on resorting to bank mergers. Claiming that the total NPA in Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and was Rs 800 billion, he sought to know if these bad loans would automatically be recovered if these banks were merged. Opposing the merger of these three banks, nearly one million bank employees and officers would take part in the nation-wide srike on December 26, he said. The (RBI) prefers fundamental changes to smoothen loan flow to micro-businesses through a public credit registry, rather than doling out forbearances, deputy governor Saturday said. The statement comes almost a month after the central board "advised" the monetary authority to consider a restructuring scheme for stressed standard assets of micro, small and medium enterprises borrowers up to Rs 250 million. The advisory was issued amid pressure from the government to do more to support small businesses, which have been impacted by the twin shocks of note-ban and GST introduction. The poll-bound government has also been pitching for easing the prompt corrective action norms, under which the RBI has placed 11 of the 21 state-run banks, which will enable to lend more. "At RBI, we are quite excited about how we can solve the credit problems at the grassroots for micro entrepreneurs in a fundamental way rather than saying that when they default we will just give them forbearance and give them another six or nine months to pay up," he said while addressing IIT-Bombay's annual Techfest. Acharya, an alumni of the premier engineering institute, said RBI is putting together a public credit registry that will give the entire profile, including past loan details, and also regular income flows of borrowers. This can make a lender more confident and also reduce the rate of interest for a borrower as the risk assessment becomes easier, Acharya said. When asked about privacy concerns of such a registry, Acharya admitted that it is a "delicate" matter and advocated an access rights design upfront rather than a lot of information being gathered by companies. The deputy governor also said in most countries which have a public credit registry, there exists a separate legislative framework that focuses on critical aspects including access rights. "We've not yet fully engaged with the government to get such a legislation through because the Reserve Bank already has certain rights under the existing legislations," he said. ALSO READ: New RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das buys time as worries on autonomy linger Work on the registry is happening in a "modular" manner and it will take three-five years before every financial transaction is recorded, he said. "We are starting with where the legislative rights are already there with RBI," he said, adding that work will happen parallelly on all other aspects, including creating a legislative framework and also taking care of technological changes. Acharya said there is a need to judiciously allocate to entrepreneurs rather than just give away money. He also said there is an urgent need to focus more on skilling, as it is a very important determinant for growth. Britains exit from the European Union was heading for an impasse, one senior minister said on Saturday, after a week in which Prime Minister Theresa May failed to win EU assurances on her deal and pulled a vote because UK lawmakers would defeat it. With just over 100 days until Britain leaves the bloc on March 29, Brexit remains up in the air with growing calls for a no-deal exit, a potentially disorderly divorce that business fears would be highly damaging, or for a second referendum. May pulled a vote on her deal on Monday after acknowledging it would be heavily ... The UN climate change conference was locked in a stalemate over a number of contentious issues relating to finance, loss and damage, and creation of a new carbon trading market, even as it went into an extra day on Saturday. ALSO READ: Climate Conference faces a crisis as differentiation is diluted in rulebook The two-week-long climate negotiations, named COP24, was scheduled to conclude on Friday, but negotiators have been unable to stitch together an agreement despite endless rounds of negotiations and back-room diplomacy. "The current draft texts are extremely weak on several issues of importance to the developing countries. Something as crucial as loss and damage has been completely ignored. This is of immense concern for developing countries, especially the small island states. There are problems elsewhere as well," Harjeet Singh, global lead on climate change for ActionAid International, told IANS. ALSO READ: The influence international NGOs wield in Katowice climate change talks Since Friday, the main plenary, which will take the final decisions on the Paris rulebook, has been deferred many a time, with negotiators spending the entire night in informal discussions with their counterparts. Several NGOs said Brazil's hardline on the provisions relating to creation of a new market mechanism for trading of carbon had been the biggest issue that was delaying the conclusion of the negotiations. Brazil has been demanding that the carbon credits it had earned under the existing market mechanism in Kyoto Protocol be allowed to be transitioned in the new market mechanism to be created for Some other developing countries, including India and China, are also in favour of such a provision. However, the developed countries are opposing the transition on the grounds that the quality of carbon credits earned under the existing rules was suspect. India has not been very vocal on this demand, though it too has lots of carbon credits which it wants to transition to the new market mechanism. On Friday, Indian head of delegation A.K. Mehta expressed confidence that all of India's concerns "were being adequately addressed". The debate over what will classify as has also remained unresolved till now, said a negotiator. In the current draft, even the loans given to developing countries can be counted towards the support that the developed countries are mandated to provide. ALSO READ: How cheap oil is pushing global efforts on climate change far off course Developing countries are strongly opposed to this. They want only grants or soft loans to be classified as The plenary is likely to convene late on Saturday evening. A final agreement is not expected before early Sunday. (Vishal Gulati is in Katowice at the invitation of Climate Trends to cover the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP24. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) A CAMCORDER VIDEO CAPTURES THE SETTING OF THE STORY, AN ANTIQUE PADDLE WHEELER BOAT ON THE MOVE - THREE TIERS OF WHITE EDWARDIAN ... leaders expressed deep doubts Friday that British Prime Minister can live up to her side of their agreement and they vowed to step up preparations for a potentially-catastrophic "no-deal" scenario. May cancelled a vote in the this week after it became clear the assembly would reject the deal she concluded with the EU last month. She travelled to in hope of wringing some concessions from her European partners that would help assuage doubts about the draft divorce agreement back in But EU leaders rejected any attempt to re-negotiate their agreement, a 585-page legal text settling things like the divorce bill and the rights next year of Europeans living in Britain or Britons living in the EU, plus a document laying out their hopes for future relations, which isn't legally binding. They did publish a short text with "assurances" about how the deal would work. "Very objectively, the signals that we heard yesterday are not especially reassuring about the capacity in Britain to be able to honour the engagement that was undertaken," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters. Expressing a "gigantic doubt" that May can get the deal through Parliament, Michel said: "we are going to be sure to prepare for all hypotheses, including the hypothesis of a no-deal." No country has ever left the 28-nation EU the world's biggest trading bloc and the rules laying out that process are sketchy. Essentially, is being made up as the process advances. Court challenges have clarified some of the rules. This week, Europe's top court ruled that Britain can change its mind about leaving should it want to. One thing is clear: Brexit will happen on March 29, although a transition period will help ease Britain out over almost two, and possibly up to four, years. The prospect of a no-deal has shaken markets and the British pound, and created uncertainty for investors and businesses. Brexit involves Britain leaving around 750 treaties drawn up over 40 years of membership. One of them is the EU's aviation market. Without a deal, British planes won't be able to land in on March 30. Nor will European planes be able to land in the UK. May didn't talk to reporters as she entered EU headquarters early Friday for talks with French Emmanuel Macron, after shuttling around earlier this week seeking support. Should she make clear her government's needs from the EU, and her plan to persuade Parliament to adopt the agreement in January, EU leaders could convene against next month. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that "if there is a need we can always convene." Plenkovic said the statement EU leaders released overnight "is a solid signal, first of all to the prime minister, but also to the "Luxembourg Prime Minister appealed to British MPs to keep the interests of their citizens in mind. "For internal political reasons some people try to gamble on the relations between the EU and the UK for the future. It's bad. This is the best possible deal," Bettel said. "They should think about the interests of their voters and people in their country." In Britain, Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, a senior May ally, insisted Thursday's talks in had been "a welcome first step," noting that the EU had said it wanted a "speedy UK trade deal" after Brexit. But opponents of the government said the meeting showed that May's deal would never get the support of Parliament. Scottish First Minister tweeted that May "has tried, credit to her for that, but, as expected, the EU is not open to renegotiation. It's time to stop this pretense, bring the vote to Parliament and then, when the deal is rejected, seek to bring majority behind a second EU vote. Anything else now is just wasting time. It was a message that federal authorities had grown accustomed to hearing: The global bank HSBC belatedly realised it had been processing financial transactions that might have run afoul of American law. HSBC had repeatedly been penalised for helping clients launder money. Now, though, there was a different problem. From 2009 to 2014, HSBC helped the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei move money in Iran, in breach of United States sanctions. This time, the bank said, it had a good excuse: Huawei, and one of its top executives, tricked HSBC into handling the business. This ... Pakistan's Supreme Court Saturday directed the federal and provincial governments to set deadlines for civil servants with dual nationalities to either give up their job or the second nationality. The apex court urged the governments to not appoint dual nationality holders on positions related to national security in order to "safeguard national security and interests". A two-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, announced a verdict in a case initiated by the court in January on the issue of dual nationals occupying sensitive posts. The apex court had reserved verdict in the case on September 24. The detailed 52-page verdict was authored by the chief justice. The court in its verdict asked the federal and provincial governments to legislate and take necessary measures to remove dual nationals. It also warned that failure to relinquish second nationality by government employees within the stipulated time should result in legal action. "We cannot lose sight of the fact that divided loyalty does not necessarily mean disloyalty to .. Nonetheless, a real concern as raised by the opponents of dual nationality is that of divided loyalties leading to potential national security risks," the verdict stated. "It is in light of both the advantages and disadvantages of dual nationality that leads us to consider the adoption of a balanced approach where certain important positions in government service and public offices where indeed complete and undivided loyalty to is required ought to be restricted to those who are citizens of only," it said. The court remarked that government employees who hold foreign nationalities during the course of their employment are a threat to the interests of the country. The court left a window to engage dual national or non-Pakistanis by saying that they can be employed with the permission of the Cabinet of necessary. Earlier, a report compiled by government in March showed that at least 213 government officers in departments of federal and provincial governments were dual nationals. Once a month for the last decade, Pepe Casanas, a 78-year-old Cuban farmer, has hunted down a scorpion to sting himself with, vowing that the venom wards off his rheumatism pains. His natural remedy is no longer seen as very unusual here. Researchers in Cuba have found that the venom of the blue scorpion, whose scientific name is Rhopalurus junceus, endemic to the Caribbean island, appears to have anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties, and may be able to delay tumour growth in some cancer patients. While some oncologists abroad say more research is needed to be able ... A special court here on Saturday extended the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, by four more days. During the hearing, the CBI requested the court to extend Michel's by five more days to collaborate him with some evidence. The premier investigating agency wants to confront Michel with certain documents and witnesses. Rosemary Patrizi, the lawyer appearing for Michel, argued in the court that she had represented him for almost five years in Italy and Switzerland. The court allowed her to talk to Michel for about 10 minutes. CBI counsel, however, questioned the credentials of Patrizi. Rosemary further argued in the court that she has some more documents relating to the case which she wanted to submit in the court. On December 11, the court granted the CBI, access to the handwriting and signature of accused Christian Michel. Raising questions over the same, Michel's lawyer Alio K Joseph had told the court that samples should be "sent to the right place," objecting to which the CBI's lawyer had said that Joseph's concerns were questioning the integrity of the institution. Michel's counsel had pleaded the court to allow him to speak with his step-brother who is a barrister. The court had declined the request owing to the step-brother's suspected involvement in the scam, and allowed Michel to only speak with his wife and children. The court had also specified that the medium of conversation will be English and all conversations will be held over a loudspeaker. Michel was extradited to India on December 4 after the Dubai Cassation Court approved his extradition on November 19. The Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, finalised during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure, was mired in allegations of kickbacks. The 54-year-old Michel is an accused in the case along with former India's Air Force Chief, Air Marshal SP Tyagi among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav trained guns at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party's job was to change its colours and create infighting among others. Speaking to reporters here, Akhilesh said: "Nowadays, the BJP is singling out some people over various issues. In the previous elections, the BJP created infightings among others to create unrest, be it between Yadavs and Patels, Yadavs and Mauryas, Yadavs and Kushwahas and Yadavs and Dalits. Since the BJP government came to power (in Uttar Pradesh), they changed the education system and changed the policies. But when the (recent assembly) elections happened, the people changed the 'changemakers'." Commenting on the Supreme Court's verdict on the Rafale fighter jets deal, the SP chief said: "Rafale is necessary for the nation. Not only Rafale, but there is a need for a fighter aircraft that will boost the country's air force. But, there has been a lot of issues over Rafale. Our ties with America and Russia are very good. They (BJP) should decide on a new aircraft. The money which they spend on Rafale and other things, that amount should be used for giving employment to the youth, unless the aircraft is delivered here." While Akhilesh remained non-committal on the tie-up with the Congress in next year's Lok Sabha elections, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister stressed that the BJP should be ousted from power. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should disclose the caste of other deities too, Akhilesh further said, while referring to Adityanath's 'Hanuman-Dalit' remark. During campaigning for recently concluded Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Adityanath in a poll rally at Alwar had said that Lord Hanuman was a Dalit. "Hanuman was a forest dweller, deprived and a Dalit. Bajrang Bali worked to connect all Indian communities together, from north to south and east to west," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazilian President Michel Temer passed orders for the extradition of former left-wing militant Cesare Battisti, a day after the Supreme Federal Tribunal of Brazil ordered his arrest on Thursday. Battisti, a former member of Armed Proletarians for Communism -- an Italian far-left terrorist group, escaped from a prison in Italy in 1981. Thereupon, he was convicted in absentia for four counts of murder. However, he had denied the charges alleged upon him despite acknowledging his membership with the Italian terrorist organisation. Soon after the news of Battisti's extradition broke, President Sergio Mattarella of Italy appreciated the efforts of the Brazil President. "Your gesture constitutes significant witness to the ancient and solid friendship between Brazil and Italy, and is testimony to the sensibility about a complex and delicate matter that arouses feelings of intense involvement by the public opinion of our country," Fox News quoted Mattarella as saying in a statement released by the presidential Quirinal Palace on Friday. Fearing extradition charges, Battisti had initially escaped to France and then Mexico before fleeing to Brazil. His arrest in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 further instigated the Italian government to request Brazil for sending him back to his homeland. In 2010, Battisti was granted asylum under the rule of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Battisti was detained in 2017 while trying to cross the Brazil-Bolivia border carrying a heavy amount of undeclared cash, approximately USD 7,500. He was, however, released within the next two days. Following this incident, the Supreme Federal Tribunal levied charges of tax evasion and money laundering on the former militant, followed by a warrant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Clashes erupted between the Iranian-aligned Houthis and the Saudi-UAE coalition forces on the outskirts of Yemeni port city of Hodeidah on Friday, breaking the ceasefire truce reached by the two sides during the Sweden peace talks. According to Al Jazeera, local residents of Hodeidah heard the exchange of gunfire and the sound of missiles between the two warring forces. After a week of consultations between the two parties in Sweden, the Houthis on Thursday agreed to stop the fight and withdraw their troops from Hodeidah. The peace talks backed by the United Nations aimed at ending the four years of civil war in Yemen. The crucial meet between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels was also attended by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom and UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths at Johannesberg Castle in Sweden. During the meeting, Wallstrom urged both parties to bury their differences and reconcile to end the conflict, which has claimed over 10,000 lives, including women and children. Griffiths, on the other hand, underscored that the two sides agreed to exchange prisoners as part of a confidence-building step. He also announced that both the warring forces would withdraw from the port city 'within days' and then from the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Jai Hind on Saturday wrote a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding a complaint received from a victim of gang rape and sexual assault on the insensitivity of Uttar Pradesh Police in the matter. "The bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and the insensitivity of the UP police to arrest the accused has urged me to write this letter," Swati said in the letter to Adityanath. Furthermore, the letter stated that the victim had submitted a written complaint five times in Bijnor's Chandpur police station, but the police refused to accept the same. However, later an FIR was registered in a police station in Meerut under relevant sections, but no arrests have been made till date. Sharing details of the girl and describing her plight the DCW chairperson wrote that victim is a 21-year-old survivor who was apparently sold to a 65-year old man by her father at the age of 12 was allegedly raped for ten years. "Until the age of 17 she was raped by in Chandpur and later she was shifted to a place in Bijnor. The girl was brutally raped by in turns by four men. She was physically assaulted for her attempt to escape followed by an act of extreme revengeful sexual abuse as a form of punishment. She conceived and gave birth at the age of 17," read the letter. Swati urged the state government to look into the matter, investigate the role of the police and take action against those found guilty, in order to do justice with the victim. She also hit out at the state as she claimed that it is "every other day" that DCW receives complaints from Uttar Pradesh about atrocities against women and girls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. The (ED) on Saturday seized assets worth Rs 102.8 million from Managing Director Shravan Gupta under Section 37A (1) of Foreign Exchange Management. "The assets were seized under Section 37A (1) of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 from brothers Shravan Gupta and Rajiv Gupta for holding US $ 15,40,650 in the bank account maintained with Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Switzerland," ED said. Shravan Gupta is an additional Managing Director of M/s Emmar MGF in lieu of Assets held abroad According to ED, the seizure order was issued in respect of immovable assets (agriculture land), after the investigation which revealed that Shravan Gupta, the Managing Director of Emaar MGF, had foreign exchange held to the tune of US $ 15,40,650 in his bank account in HSBC in contravention of provisions of Section 4 of FEMA, 1999 read with Regulations 3 of (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person Resident of India) Regulations 2000. The petition under section 37 A (2) was filed before competent authority with an appeal to confirm the seizure order. As per ED, Shravan Gupta had not shown this amount in the Income Tax (I-T) returns filed in India for the period of 2006-07. However, he had declared this amount in 2011-12 and paid appropriate taxes. After investigation I-T authorities filed a prosecution complaint against Shravan Gupta in the Court of Ld. ACMM and Tis Hazari Court in Delhi, which is still pending. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday fired a fresh salvo at the Congress party, accusing them of not fulfilling promises made to farmers and ignoring them when the party was ruling the country or any state. Interacting with BJP's booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu via video conferencing, the Prime Minister said: "Farmers asked for urea, but all they got was sticks. Farmers asked for higher minimum support prices (MSPs), but all they got was empty promises." "Farmers asked for increased income, but all they got was insensitivity. We are not like Congress, which will only pay lip service to the farmers but ignore their well-being. Wherever Congress is in power, farmers suffer. They have suffered when the Congress was in power," he added. The Prime Minister ridiculed the Congress, saying that they took security and defence sector either as a "punching bag or funding source." "Sadly, for the Congress, security and defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source," he said. "On the one hand, Congress leaders called Army chief names and mocked surgical strikes. On the other, they looted the defence sector, from the jeep scam back in 40s and 50s to Bofors in the 80s to the AgustaWestland scam and the submarine scam, among many others. All they see are ways to make money, even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Thankfully those days are gone," Prime Minister Modi told the BJP workers. He said that when it comes to security, the morale of the national security forces is important. "Among the first things that we did after coming to power, we have conveyed to the soldiers that we value them. The soldier, who is standing at the border, knows that the country is standing behind him," the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister further said that the BJP believed that the country can only develop when north, south, east and west all develop together. Stressing that a healthy India is a pre-condition for a prosperous nation, Prime Minister Modi said: "If we want to ensure the growth of India, we need to ensure that healthcare is affordable. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goeman Bind HTO, an international not for profit Think Tank and Research Advisory firm today held the Bi Annual Round table Conference on CSR, Ethics & Sustainable at The Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The aim of the round table was to bring in the leaders, policy leaders, academia, senior government officials and leaders from think tanks & NGOs on one platform to discuss and deliberate the opportunities and challenges of CSR. Some of the eminent personalities who attended the round table are Smt. Ratna Vishwanathan, Head, Strategic Partnerships - UNDP, Shri CS Ajay Goel, President, Society of CSR and Investor Protection, Dr. Samar Verma Sr. Program Specialist IDRC, Dr. Sanjay Goyal, Academician, Formerly Dean & Pro-VC, Dr. BBL Madhukar, Founder Director General of BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Former CMD, MMTC Ltd., Ms. Geeta Sekhon, Global Consultant, United Nations, Shri Rakesh Munjal, Managing Trustee, Delhi High Court Advocates Welfare Trust & Executive, Chairman, SAARCLAW - India Chapter, Shri. Hemant Batra, Founder & Chairman, Kaden Boriss and Vice President of SAARCLAW, Prof. Savita Gautam, Ph.D. Teri University, M.SC., JNU, Dr. Neeti Shikha, Expert Leader, Goeman Bind HTO to name a few. The opening remarks were made by Shri BBL Madhukar (Founder and Director General of BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry) wherein Shri Madhukar laid emphasis on, "We should aim to look at the motive behind the companies CSR programs. CSR activities should be designed not only to meet the needs of the target stakeholders but should also be sustainable which is paramount to companies' existence. It should also be noted that many organisations undertake CSR only to comply with the law and not in its spirit. Also there is a need to put in place a system to gauge compliance where the programs can be evaluated and reported." The panel discussion on "Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business" was moderated and chaired by Shri BBL Madhukar. The discussion majorly focused on accessing the mandatory CSR regime in India and evaluating their ethical dimension. The round table also talked about the CSR expenditure, its beneficiaries and drive towards sustainability. The panel also discussed about the role of having CSR as an alternative funding source for all developmental projects in the country. Commenting at the roundtable, Dr. Neeti Shikha, Expert Leader, Goeman Bind HTO said, "India's CSR landscape requires more evidence based research for channelizing funds effectively. There is a huge disparity in the need for CSR amongst various states and the channelization of funds. Often the funds are provided to states which are relatively well off or those states that have a huge industrial/resource base. As per our research paper it thus shows that CSR is not being used effectively to address the socio-economic needs of the Country. Various organisations along with the government should also look at creating a policy framework for effective allocation of funds in a need based manner and ways to measure on-ground effectiveness." Dr. Sanjay Goyal, Academician, Formerly Dean & Pro-VC Designate said, "We need to look at CSR in terms of its requirements not only today but 30- 40 years from now. It is important to engrain the concept of shared value between business and societies to make CSR more intrinsic to our society. We need to look at creating platforms where 100% of the businesses goals are aligned for value generation for both business and society." The round table discussion brought together various stakeholders to explore and deliberate on channelizing CSR expenditure by the companies as a new opportunity at hand. The group discussed how government policies should be designed to see the mandatory CSR contribution as an investment rather than a legislative burden. The panel also discussed that there is requirement to revisit the policies so that the distribution of such funds can be used for regions where development is needed the most. The panel also concluded that CSR contribution from India's listed companies can be used as a great source for funding development projects in India, which will eventually make both society and business more sustainable. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and France have agreed to fight terrorism together, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj said here in a joint statement. Swaraj further stated that Paris and New Delhi are also working together on multiple international forums including Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Committing to the partnership with India, Le Drain said, "This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing, and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark ten years since the deadly Mumbai attacks." Swaraj also informed that the two nations are jointly working on Jaitapur nuclear power project. "As President Macron and Prime Minister Modi had directed us in spring, we have reviewed the status of the EPR project in Jaitapur and adopted an action plan to guides our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant," said Le Drian. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference. The Jaitapur project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research, and training," he added. "We have also signed the Status of Progress for Implementation of Industrial Way Forward Agreement today," said Swaraj, adding "India and France have historic defence cooperation; both countries working together in several areas." Expressing her happiness, Swaraj also announced that Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCI) and Electricite de France (EDF) have reached new heights in accordance to the Industrial Way Forward Agreement, which was signed in 2018. Talking about the recently launched heaviest satellite GSAT-11, Swaraj thanked France for their help in the successful launch of the satellite. Revealing that Paris and New Delhi are launching projects in Africa, particularly in the area of sustainable development in connection with the International Solar Alliance, Le Drian said, "Our respective Joint Secretaries for Africa, who held very operational consultations earlier this week, will soon submit a progress report on these joint projects." The two leaders further asserted that France and India have joined hands to deal with climate change. "As you know, France considers that a strong India is in the world's interest. At the G20 as in climate change negotiations, and tomorrow, I hope, at the UN Security Council, India is a responsible power with which we discuss all key issues. This is what the agenda of our discussions today reflects," French minister stated. Stating that France and India are among the countries on the forefront of fighting climate change, Swaraj said, "India and France have been working together to deal with climate change." Two leaders also talked about Indo-French bilateral trade relations stating that the two nations agreed that bilateral trade should be increased between India and France. Swaraj also asserted that India wants to have better trade relations with France. Reiterating that "a strong India" is in the world's interest, Le Drain said that France hopes to discuss key issues with India at not only G20 but also at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). "As you know, France considers that a strong India is in the world's interest. At the G20 as in climate change negotiations, and tomorrow, I hope, at the UN Security Council, India is a responsible power with which we discuss all key issues. This is what the agenda of our discussions today reflects," the French minister said. Thanking Le Drian, Swaraj said, "France has consistently endorsed membership in the United Nations Security Council and membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, we thank them for this. Apart from this, we have discussed many issues of global and regional interests. Contributions made by Minister Lloyds in further strengthening India's strategic partnership are invaluable. We will be eagerly waiting for his next visit to India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Naval Ship Sunayna, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Southern Naval Command based at Kochi, while being mission deployed, successfully carried out a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operation on sighting a suspicious fishing vessel approximately 20 nm off the coast of Somalia in the Horn of Africa. The successful operation resulted in seizure of illegal arms such as five rifles that included AK-47 and 471 rounds of ammunition. After confiscation of the arms and ammunition to prevent their illegal use by the crew for piracy related activities, the fishing vessel was allowed to proceed further. INS Sunayna has been deployed for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since October 6 this year. The ship had earlier seized six AK-47s and one Light Machine Gun in a previous search operation conducted on November 9 and December 7. The vigilance exercised by the Indian Navy (IN) ships is aimed at ensuring safe seas for Indian as well as international seafarers in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The international effort to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden/ East Coast of Somalia region involves participation of many countries such as India, China, Japan, United States, Russia, Pakistan and the European Union Nations. Warships operating in this region for combating piracy are authorised by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2383 (2017) to board vessels suspected of illegal activities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rift within the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) appears to be widening with the party MLAs-Lalan Paswan and Sudhanshu Shekhar-having declared to stay with the Democratic Alliance (NDA). "Ours is the real RLSP," said Lalan Paswan, while pitching for a ministerial birth for Sudhanshu Shekhar, a first time MLA of the party. "We represent the real RLSP. We are all together. The party is ours," he told ANI on Saturday. Paswan's comment coincides with former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, who claims to be RLSP president, meeting Congress heavyweight and MP Ahmed Patel at his (Kushwaha's) residence in New Delhi. It is being claimed that Kushwaha is likely to join the Congress along with his supporters. "We have demanded that Sudhanshu Shekhar should be made a minister in the NDA government. I have been saying right from the beginning that we are in the NDA since the inception and will remain with it," said Paswan. "We want to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister again in 2019. We have no relations with Upendra Kushwaha Ji now, as he has joined hands the grand alliance," added Paswan. Kushwaha on Monday pulled out of the NDA and launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi led NDA's Central government, saying: "The promise of providing Bihar with a special package has been the biggest 'jumla' (empty promise)." He also accused the BJP and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of trying to destroy his party. Kushwaha, who also quit as the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, targeted the Prime Minister, saying: "Narendra Modi ji could not meet the expectations of the people of Bihar. Nothing was done on the front of granting special status for Bihar, which is still where it was earlier. Education and health system is non-existent. Nothing was done for Bihar." RSLP chief in November had said that he was upset over seat-sharing with the BJP in Bihar for the coming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Soon after BJP president Amit Shah announced that his party and Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) would fight on an equal number of seats, Kushwaha demanded a larger share in the Lok Sabha seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new lawsuit has been filed against American film producer Harvey Weinstein on Friday (local time) by an actress who claims that he repeatedly assaulted her. The woman, identified in the suit only as Jane Doe, stated that he forcibly performed oral sex on her, repeatedly masturbated in front of her, and threatened to harm her career if she objected over the course of more than two years, confirmed Variety. According to the suit, Weinstein pushed her to the ground during a meeting in his office in 2013. He then removed her underwear and began to perform oral sex, as she started to sob in protest. He then asked, "Do you even want to be an actress?" Weinstein also bragged about allegedly sleeping with Jennifer Lawrence and said that he was trying to help her and that he was the gateway to her dreams, according to the suit. In reference to the suit, Lawrence on Friday (local time) issued a statement denying that they had a sexual relationship. "My heart breaks for all the women who were victimised by Harvey Weinstein," Lawrence said. "I have never had anything but a professional relationship with him. This is yet another example of the predatory tactics and lies that he engaged in to lure countless women." The plaintiff said that she first met Weinstein at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. She said she went to his suite, where Weinstein barged in on her while she was using the bathroom and pulled down his pants and masturbated, eventually ejaculating on her skirt. Meanwhile, Weinstein's attorney denied that he engaged in non-consensual sex, and alleged that his accusers are lying about consensual relations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 18 people died while 16 others sustained injuries after a mini-truck plunged into a river from a height of approximately 400 metres in Central Nepal on Friday. The mini truck, ferrying passengers from Shikharbesi to Ghyangfedi in Nuwakot District, met with an accident at Dupcheshwor Rural Municipality, leaving 18 dead. Fatalities are expected to rise. "As of now we have got the report of 18 dead and 16 injured in the accident. The accident occurred at around 5 PM in the evening and we got the information about half an hour later. The death toll is expected to rise," Bhimlal Bhattarai, DSP at the District Police Office, Nuwakot, told ANI in a telephonic conversation. The ill-fated mini-truck is said to have been carrying at least 40 people. All passengers were returning from a funeral. The exact reason for the accident is yet to be ascertained. A rescue operation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There is "no evidence" against the family of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in AgustaWestland case, said Rosemary Patrizi here on Saturday. She is the lawyer of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in VVIP chopper deal scam and currently in the CBI custody. Talking to media persons in the Patiala House Court premises, Patrizi said: "I am afraid that they (government) will arrest me because I know everything about Michel. I want to fly back to my country and celebrate Christmas with my family." Patrizi on Saturday appeared in the CBI's Special Court of Arvind Kumar for Michel. Aljo K Joseph, the counsel for Michel in India, also sought the court's permission to execute Michel's power of attorney in Patrizi's name to initiate appropriate proceedings to quash the red corner notice issued by the International Police or Interpol. During the hearing, CBI's counsel told the court that consular access for Christian Michel is already under consideration of Ministry of External Affairs. The court will hear Christian Michel's bail plea on December 19. The court also extended the CBI's custody of Christian by four days. However, the CBI had asked for five-day custody saying that he is to be interrogated further and a number of documents are to be confronted with him. Patrizi argued in the court that she had represented Michel for almost five years in Italy and Switzerland. The court allowed her to talk to Michel for about 10 minutes. CBI counsel, however, questioned the credentials of Patrizi. Rosemary further argued in the court that she has some more documents relating to the case which she wanted to submit in the court. On December 11, the court granted the CBI, access to the handwriting and signature of accused Christian Michel. Raising questions over the same, Michel's lawyer Joseph had told the court that samples should be 'sent to the right place,' objecting to which the CBI's lawyer had said that Joseph's concerns were questioning the integrity of the institution. The Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, finalised during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure, was mired in allegations of kickbacks. The 54-year-old Michel is an accused in the case along with former India's Air Force Chief, Air Marshal SP Tyagi among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Organically farmed food always seemed like a better alternative when it comes to consuming healthy food. However, according to a recent study, Organically farmed food has a bigger impact on climate than conventionally farmed food, due to the greater areas of land required. As part of the study, the researchers developed a new method for assessing the climate impact of land-use, and used this, along with other methods, to compare organic and conventional food production. The results show that organic food can result in much greater emissions. "Our study shows that organic peas, farmed in Sweden, have around a 50 percent bigger climate impact than conventionally farmed peas. For some foodstuff, there is an even bigger difference - for example, with organic Swedish winter wheat the difference is closer to 70 percent," said Stefan Wirsenius, lead author of the study. The reason why organic food is so much worse for the climate is that the yields per hectare are much lower, primarily because fertilisers are not used. To produce the same amount of organic food, you, therefore, need a much bigger area of land. The ground-breaking aspect of the new study is the conclusion that this difference in land usage results in organic food causing a much larger climate impact. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of British Journal of Psychiatry. "The greater land-use in organic farming leads indirectly to higher carbon dioxide emissions, thanks to deforestation. The world's food production is governed by international trade, so how we farm in Sweden influences deforestation in the tropics. If we use more land for the same amount of food, we contribute indirectly to bigger deforestation elsewhere in the world," explained Wirsenius. Even organic meat and dairy products are, from a climate point of view, worse than their conventionally produced equivalents, claims Stefan Wirsenius. "Because organic meat and milk production uses organic feed-stock, it also requires more land than conventional production. This means that the findings on organic wheat and peas in principle also apply to meat and milk products. We have not done any specific calculations on meat and milk, however, and have no concrete examples of this in the article," he explains. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on counter-terrorism cooperation during the second trilateral ministerial dialogue here. The trilateral talks are being held in the Afghan capital to discuss the peace process, apart from bolstering anti-terrorism and economic cooperation. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is in Kabul for a day-long visit, signed the agreement along with his Chinese and Afghan counterparts, Wang Yi and Salahuddin Rabbani respectively, Geo News reported. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani. During the trilateral dialogue, Qureshi said that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China should come together to combat terrorism and achieve peace in the region. He also underlined the need for strengthening regional cooperation in various sectors. "Better border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan and intelligence sharing will be greatly beneficial for both the countries. Pakistan will continue to play a facilitative role on Afghan reconciliation process," the Pakistani minister said. This is Qureshi's second visit to Afghanistan after assuming the role as a Foreign Minister in August. He last visited Afghanistan in September when he held talks with the Afghan leadership over the country's peace process. On the other hand, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that Beijing would play an important role to narrow down the trust deficit between Islamabad and Kabul. He stated that China is in favour and supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Australia resumed their innings on day two of the ongoing second Test at the Perth Stadium, Tim Paine and Pat Cummins forged a 59-run seventh wicket stand. To break the momentum, Umesh Yadav sent Cummins back for 19 runs. While Jasprit Bumrah trapped the Australian captain as Paine departed for 38 runs. Following their dismissal, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood went back to the pavilion without disturbing the scoreboard much. Australia posted 326 runs in their first innings. Chasing the target, India dealt with an early blow as Starc dismissed Murali Vijay for a duck. Opener KL Rahul too fell cheaply for two as he got knocked over by a yorker from Hazlewood. As the onus to hold India's fort shifted on Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara's shoulders, the duo displayed composure to rescue their side. The Indian skipper started his innings on a positive note but later slowed down, while Pujara patiently batted with a bit of luck. Australia got their much-needed breakthrough as Pujara edged a Starc delivery but went down the leg side and returned back to pavilion for 24 runs. Following Pujara's dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane came on the crease. With masterly Kohli as an anchor, India's middle order pulled the team out of trouble into a position of strength. Kohli and Rahane remained unbeaten on 82 and 51 respectively and the visitors posted 172/3 at stumps. India will resume the third day trailing by 154 runs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is on a two-day visit to India called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Earlier in the day, Le Drian met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the two leaders held a bilateral delegation level meeting. Swaraj and Le Drain discussed various issues including terrorism, climate change, and Jaitapur Nuclear Power project. The two nations committed to partnership in bilateral trade and fighting terrorism. It was revealed that Paris and New Delhi are launching projects in Africa, particularly in the area of sustainable development in connection with the International Solar Alliance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday informed that it will conduct Press Conferences at 70 locations across the country on Monday, to "expose Congress for plotting conspiracy against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government and messing with country's defence." This comes after the government on Saturday filed an application before it, seeking a correction in the order to make it clear that the pricing aspect, examined by the CAG, has not been looked into by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as yet. The Union of India (UOI) sought urgent correction in the wording of a particular paragraph in the order "in the interests of justice and in the facts and circumstances of the case", while noting that "the observations in the judgement have resulted in a controversy." Earlier today, Indian Youth Congress workers marched to India Gate demanding the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the issue. On Nov 14, Supreme Court dismissed batch of petitions calling for a probe into the controversial Rafale Deal, by which the Centre procured 36 fighter jets for Rs. 58,000 crore from French company Dassault Aviation. "Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of fishing and roving inquiry by this court, especially in such matters," said a three-judge bench, while dismissing all the writ petitions which sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the deal. The court said it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favoritism to any party by the Government of India. The Congress party, however, continued to raise their demand for the JPC by saying that 'Supreme Court was not the forum to discuss such sensitive defence contract'. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not initiating JPC probe in the matter and challenged him to allow the Congress party to conduct the investigation into the case in a press conference held after Supreme Court announced the verdict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the Supreme Court verdict in the Rafale fighter deal case, the government on Saturday filed an application before it, seeking a correction in the order to make it clear that the pricing aspect, examined by the CAG, has not been looked into by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as yet. The Union of India (UOI) sought urgent correction in the wording of a particular paragraph in the order "in the interests of justice and in the facts and circumstances of the case", while noting that "the observations in the judgement have resulted in a controversy." In its application, accessed by the ANI, the union government pointed out that error in two sentences appears to have occurred, perhaps, on account of a misinterpretation of a couple of sentences in a note handed over to the Apex Court in a sealed cover. The government clarified that it had only submitted a "description of procedure" by the CAG, which the Supreme Court appears to have mistaken "is" for "has been". The government's application refers to Para 25 of the judgement which reads: "The pricing details have, however, been shared with Comptroller and Auditor General [hereinafter referred to as "CAG"], and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee [hereinafter referred to as "PAC"]. Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament and is in public domain." It said these statements "appear to have been based on the note submitted by the Union of India, along with the pricing details, in two sealed covers" to the Apex court. "In the said note, which was in the form of bullet points, the second bullet point carries the following sentences: 'The Government has already shared the pricing details with the CAG. The report of the CAG is examined by the PAC. Only a redacted version of the report is placed before the Parliament and in public domain'," the government application read. The government application added, "It would be noted that what has already been done is described by words in the past tense, i.e. the Government 'has already shared' the price details with the CAG. This is in the past tense and is factually correct. "The second part of the sentence, in regard to the PAC, is to the effect that 'the report of the CAG is examined by the PAC'. However, in the judgment, the reference to the word 'is' has been replaced with the words 'has been', and the sentence in the judgment (with regard to the PAC) reads 'the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee'." In the application, the government said, "the submission by the Union of India, to the effect that the report of the CAG 'is'examined by the PAC, was description of the procedure which is followed in the normal reference is to the procedure which will be followed as and when the CAG report is ready." It went on to add, "that unfortunately, an element of misinterpretation of the statement made in the note/bullet points handed over on behalf of the Union of India in the sealed cover, appears to have crept in. This has also resulted in a controversy being raised in the public domain." Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, has already said that no CAG report regarding the pricing aspect of Rafale deal had come before the PAC. He had accused the government of misleading the court on the issue. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Rafale deal signed two years back, alleging irregularities and corruption in the pact. The court said it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favouritism to any party by the Government of India. The deal was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France in April 2015 and the deal was concluded in 2016. The Congress and some other opposition parties had been alleging that the due processes were not followed in the decision to procure 36 aircraft from French company Dassault. The court, in a 29-page judgement, underlined that the need for the aircraft is not in doubt, neither is the quality of the aircraft in question. Earlier, the UPA government had issued tender for procurement of 126 aircraft and Rafale plane was finalised from among five bidders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26 after ousting Ranil Wickremesinghe has resigned from his post. Daily Mirror Sri Lanka quoted Member of Parliament Shehan Semasinghe as stating that Rajapaksa informed United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MPs that he has resigned as the Prime Minister of the South Asian island nation. Earlier, Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Namal confirmed on Friday that the former President would step down as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka "to ensure the stability of the nation". Ousted Prime Minister and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will take the oath as the Prime Minister on December 16. UNP MP Ashoka Abeysinghe said that the decision was taken after Sirisena and Wickremesinghe held a discussion on the phone. The island nation was engulfed in a constitutional turmoil after Sirisena, on October 26, abruptly ousted the then-Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa, the country's former President, as the new premier. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered a snap election. However, the country's Supreme Court overturned Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls. On December 3, the Sri Lankan court had issued an interim order against Rajapaksa and his cabinet, barring their functioning. The following day, Rajapaksa filed an appeal against the order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court on Saturday extended the interim bail relief to activists Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde, who were accused of fomenting violence in Bhima Koregaon that took place earlier this year. While Teltumbde's interim relief was extended till December 17, the High Court granted relief to Navlakha till January 14 next year. Earlier this month, the Pune Police registered a fresh first information report (FIR) at Shikrapur Police Station against five more accused in connection with Bhima-Koregaon violence case. The accused named in the case included human rights lawyer Surendra Gadling and four other activists - Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Rona Wilson, and Sudhir Dhawale. The Maharashtra government has told the Supreme Court that charges levelled against the accused in the case are very serious and, therefore, they cannot be granted bail. The apex court has adjourned hearing in the case till January 2019. On January 1, violence had erupted during the 200th anniversary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle, leaving one dead and several others injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A federal judge in Texas on Friday struck down the Affordable Care Act, terming it "unconstitutional." According to CNN, the judge stated that its mandate requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional and the rest of the law cannot stand without it. Celebrating the move to revoke Obamacare, United States President Donald Trump tweeted, "As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done!" "Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America!" he added. In July, the Senate had voted to repeal the Obamacare medical device tax. The House voted 283 to 132 to revoke the 2.3 per cent tax on the sale of medical devices. In an interesting turn of events, some of the Democrats had also joined in with Republicans to repeal the tax as they found the tax to be a harmful innovation. Last year, Trump had vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare after the Republican tax cut bill is signed into law. Trump's promise to repeal Obamacare came in the backdrop of an unexpected surge in the enrollment in the health-care law. Nearly 2.3 million people signed up for coverage through Obamacare exchanges during the first 18 days of the open enrollment period. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three terrorists and an Army jawan were killed in a fierce encounter in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, the police and the army said. The encounter in Sirnoo village erupted in the morning after the security forces initiated a cordon and search operation on the basis of an input about presence of terrorists, the army said. "Three terrorists eliminated. One soldier got martyred in the operation. Operation in progress," the Army tweeted. More details of the operation are awaited. There were reports about clashes between stone pelters and security forces following the encounter and some civilian casualties in police firing. However, there was no confirmation on this. Former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the reported civilian killings. "No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved," Mehbooba tweeted. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings , and once again appeal for efforts , to stop this blood bath," she added in another tweet. Mehbooba was a chief minister till June this year before her coalition government fell due to withdrawal by the BJP. Since then the state is under governor's rule. "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!," Omar said in his tweet. "6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads don't bring peace," he added in another tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to install four new statues in the state, including that of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Swami Vivekananda. A 25-feet tall statue of Vajpayee will be installed at Lok Bhawan here, while one of Vivekananda will grace the portals of Raj Bhawan, informed Special Secretary of Culture Department Shishir. It has been decided that 12.5 feet tall statues of Mahant Avaidyanath and Mahant Digvijayanath will be installed in Gorakhpur. As per an official, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given his approval for all the statues and the work has also begun. Meanwhile, former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav attacked Adityanath and said that it would be good if he talks about work and development. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By The 39th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) was held in Baku under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan, Trend's correspondent reported from the event. At the opening ceremony, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov expressed gratitude to the participants for accepting the invitation and arriving in Azerbaijan, and announced the agenda. "Among the main topics at the meeting, which is being held under the motto 'Boosting Trade through Connectivity', are increasing the efficiency of the organizations work, trade facilitation, promotion of cooperation in such areas as energy, transit, ICT, tourism, agriculture and other important topics," Mammadyarov said. At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on BSEC partners to follow Moscows example and transfer funds to a budget of mechanism for developing cooperation within the Organization. A mechanism on development of cooperation within the Organization has been created upon Russias initiative, to the budget of which Russia contributed $1 million, he said. Delegations headed by senior officials of the BSEC member states took part in the meeting. Following the meeting, a press conference was held with participation of Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev, BSEC Secretary General Michael Christides and Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Emilia Kraleva. Speaking at the press conference, Mammadguliyev stressed that during Azerbaijans chairmanship in BSEC, connectivity within the Organization was strengthened. In turn, Kraleva said that Bulgaria, which will chair BSEC from January 2019, will continue Azerbaijans work in the Organization. The interconnectedness, which is the priority of Azerbaijans chairmanship, is very important, Kraleva added. In turn, Christides stressed that the main task of the Organization is to promote economic development between the participating countries. It is important for the Organization to meet the current challenges, he said. Christides thanked once again Azerbaijan for chairmanship. During these six months a lot of issues were discussed and a number of important decisions were made, he said. After Azerbaijan, the chairmanship will be transferred to Bulgaria. The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation is an intergovernmental organization uniting 12 countries of the Black Sea and southern Balkans. The organization was founded in 1992. The headquarters of the organization is located in Istanbul. Azerbaijan assumed the BSEC chairmanship at the 38th meeting of the Organization's Council of Foreign Ministers, which took place on June 27. Congress president Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Army and Indian citizens for alleging irregularities in Rafale deal after the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the Central government, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said on Saturday. "The false allegations of the Congress on Rafale deal have been denied by the apex court. As we are ready to talk on Rafale deal in the Parliament, and the Supreme Court has cleared that government played no role in deciding partners for the deals and also dismissed all petitions seeking court-monitored probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, there was no reason to doubt the decision-making process in the deal," Vijay Goel stated. "Thus, the Congress should apologise before the Army and the people of the country. And they should stop at least now asking for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe," he said. "Earlier, the Congress claimed that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were tampered and now they are saying the Apex Court's judgment is tampered. If this judgment would've come earlier, the election results in five states would have been different," he added. It is worth mentioning that a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Friday said that there was no need to conduct an investigation into the details of Rafale pricing. "We are satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process. Joint exercises have taken place and there is no element of financial benefits. Detailed scrutiny of Rafale deal is not required," said Justice Gogoi. After the apex court's decision, Union Minister for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan told ANI: "If the Congress president Rahul Gandhi has some morals, then he must apologise to the nation." Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje took to the Twitter and said that the apex court's decision has exposed the lies of the Congress party. "Congress party for the sake of gain in elections has not only called an honest leader a thief but even misled the people of the country. If the party is left with some ethics, then it should immediately apologise," tweeted Raje in Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from December 21 to 24 to hold the first-ever meeting of India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. The meeting will be focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two Asian nations. In November, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had met in Chengdu for the 21st round of Special Representatives' talks between India and China where they agreed to look for "fair solution" to the border issues. The two sides focused on intensifying efforts to achieve a fair and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant Sheikh Naeem alias Sheikh Samir has been sentenced to death, confirmed a fast-track court of Bangaon in North 24 Parganas distrtict, West Bengal. The fast-track court Judge Binoy Kumar Pathak on Saturday awarded death sentence to Sheikh Naeem, an accused involved in an anti-insurgency case. As per the state Intelligence Department (ID), Sheikh Naeem was a resident of Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Sheikh Naeem had been convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the Government of India), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by Section 121 of IPC), and 122 (collecting arms). According to Bongaon court, Naeem was arrested by the BSF along with three LeT militants at international border of Bangladesh on April 4, 2007, as they all had a plan to attack army camps in Jammu and Kashmir. The other three accused were Sheikh Abdullah, Mohammed Yunus, and Mozaffar Ahmed Rathore. While arresting them, police seized arms and ammunition from them. They were slapped with the Indian Penal Code sections-419 (Punishment for cheating by penetration), 468 (Counterfeiting a device or mark used for authenticating documents), 121 (Waging war against the state) and 120B (Criminal conspiracy). According to a BSF source, the arrested terrorists had planned to destroy the Indian army camp in Kashmir after coming here from Pakistan. Criminal Investigation Department revealed that Naeem was involved in the blast in Mumbai's local train in 2006. Naeem had escaped from police custody in 2014. However, the three militants were sentenced to death by Judge Binoy Kumar Pathak on January 21, 2017. Last year in December, Naeem was arrested from Lucknow by the Investigation Agency (NIA). Since then, he has been kept in Tihar Jail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the Supreme Court's verdict in the Rafale jet deal, Indian Youth Congress workers on Saturday marched to India Gate demanding the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the issue. On Nov 14, Supreme Court dismissed batch of petitions calling for a probe into the controversial Rafale Deal, by which the Centre procured 36 fighter jets for Rs. 58,000 crore from French company Dassault Aviation. "Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of fishing and roving inquiry by this court, especially in such matters," said a three-judge bench, while dismissing all the writ petitions which sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the deal. The court said it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favoritism to any party by the Government of India. The Congress party, however, continued to raise their demand for the JPC by saying that 'Supreme Court was not the forum to discuss such sensitive defence contract'. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not initiating JPC probe in the matter and challenged him to allow the Congress party to conduct the investigation into the case in a press conference held after SC announced the verdict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mr Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, urged the private sector to invest liberally in the development of expressways, waterways, irrigation projects and 'Clean Ganga Mission'. Addressing the 91st Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Mr Gadkari said that for the development of expressways, the government had brought down the cost of land acquisition drastically to Rs 80 lakh per km from Rs 7.5 crore per km earlier. The minister invited industry to consider building industrial corridors along the expressways in view of the reduced land acquisition and labour cost. He said that the land can even be made available for Indian Railways for bullet trains routes. He said the access controlled expressway of Delhi would reduce automotive pollution by 60% in the city as the traffic will pass through the external ring roads without entering Delhi. The Bangalore-Chennai expressway would be operational from January next year and the 12-lane Bombay-Delhi expressway, currently under construction, would reduce the distance between the two metros by 120 km. He suggested the use of methanol and Lng as fuel to reduce the cost of logistics which is 16-18% as of now. The government intent to achieve the target of building roads at 40 kms/day by the end of this fiscal year. Mr Gadkari said that the government had decided to convert 111 rivers into waterways and sought industry's cooperation in transport of goods on waterways which would reduce the cost of transport to Re 1 per km, as against road transport cost of Rs 10 per km. and railways at Rs 6 per km. He said under the 'Clean Ganga Mission', about 10-15% of the 280 projects had been completed. A total of 150 bio-digester units were to be installed along the river to upgrade the sanitary conditions. Ganga rejuvenation, was now a success story, he said, adding that by March-end 2019, close to 80% of the river would be clean and in the following year the Ganga would be fully clean. He urged Indian industry to contribute to the mission through electronic fund transfer and help create employment opportunities for the local populace. The Minister said that his ministry will be starting the cleaning work in Yamuna shortly. WAPCOS has signed a MoU with the Australian company Dopplemayr, having technical expertise in building ropeways, cable cars for enhancing the public transportation in hilly areas like J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh thus positively impacting tourism in these states He said that the government is collaborating with a Russian company for the feasibility of introducing airboats. A pilot would be taken up on January 26, 2019 on river Yamuna from Delhi to Taj Mahal. The duration taken is expected to be one hour at an estimated speed of 80 km. per hour. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eleven people were killed on Saturday in a gunfight and subsequent clashes in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, in one of the bloodiest days in the valley's recent history. The gunfight erupted in Sirnoo village as security personnel surrounded the area after receiving a tip-off about militants holed up in the area. Three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight, the police said. Immediately after the gunfight, scores of civilian protesters clashed with the security forces who used firearms and pellets to control the agitating mob. Two youths identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain were declared brought dead in a district hospital where they were taken for treatment of gun shot injuries. Four other civilian protesters succumbed to their wounds, authorities said. The seventh civilian protester died in a hospital in Srinagar, according to the police. Reports coming in from the area said that more than 35 protesters have been injured in the clashes. Three of them were critical after receiving gunshot wounds. Authorities have imposed curfew in Pulwama town and deployed additional security personnel to maintain law and order in the wake of the civilian deaths. Mobile internet services were suspended in the district while rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region were cancelled. Reacting to the tragedy, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a tweet: "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. Six protesters killed, one soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the three militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!" Omar slammed Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration for its alleged failure to ensure that civilian casualties are avoided during gunfights. "The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only - to focus on the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns and full page ads don't bring peace," he said. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed serious concern over the day's incident. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts to stop this blood bath," she said in a statement. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq called the incident "a massacre of Kashmiris" and announced a three-day valley-wide protest shutdown beginning on Saturday. "#PulwamaMassacre,Bullets and pellets rain! As government of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, the JRL (Joint Resistance Leadership) and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday, Dec 17, to ask to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily," he said in a tweet. He also appealed to the world community to take cognizance of the serious situation in Kashmir. Other political leaders including Ghulam Hassan Mir of Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) also condemned the civilian killings. --IANS sq/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two security personnel were injured in a gun battle with Maoists in Seraikela-Kharsawa district of Jharkhand on Saturday. The state police had got information about the movement of the Maoists in the area. A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force and state police launched an operation in the area when the gun battle took place at Gatilipi-Jomro village. Maoists managed to escape after the gun battle. According to police, one security person belonging to Cobra was injured. He was air-lifted and brought to Ranchi for treatment. Another jawan of the state police sustained injuries in his leg. --IANS ns/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National carrier Air India's pilot union has urged the government to expand the airline's fleet and network for its revival. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu dated December 10, also sought fleet renewal as ordered in 2005 before Indian Airlines merged with Air India. "The need of the hour is to not order aircraft in piecemeal quantity but to order them with a futuristic view of at least next 5-10 years as a minimum. Sir, only when cost cutting and revenue generation go hand in hand, can Air India come back to its golden times," the letter said. "For our survival, and to make sure that our market share does not slip any further, increasing our fleet of new and modern fuel-efficient narrow and wide body aircraft is of paramount importance." Noting that Air India's market share dropped from 19.8 per cent in January 2014 to 11.8 per cent in September 2018, the lowest market share ever for Air India, ICPA said the airline continues to operate the 350 flights daily domestically, up from about 300 flights 10 years ago, whereas "IndiGo has gone from 0 to over 1,000 flights a day in the same period". "We have just five more A320-type aircraft to join us out of the 27 ordered on lease about three years back which have primarily worked for replacing the classic A320 ordered in 1986, with the last of those finally being retired in October 2018 after being in service for over 29 years," it said. The letter also noted that the airline should expand its international network, primarily in the Middle East, East Asian countries and Africa. "We may have expanded our network in America and Europe, but there is scope for a lot more which is evident by eagerness of the Middle East and East Asian carriers to increase frequencies to their hubs. Besides, Air Canada started 10 non-stop weekly flights to India last year. Wow Air and Air Italy are starting operations now," the letter said. "Africa is still untapped by us," it underlined. --IANS rrb-rv/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first recognition for an English writer, Amitav Ghosh has been announced as 2018's Jnanpith Award winner for "outstanding contribution towards literature". The 1956, Kolkata-born author was described as a "path-breaking novelist" by Bharatiya Jnanpith. The awarding body said that Ghosh, in his novels, treads through historical settings to the modern era and weaves a space where the past connects with the present in relevant ways. "His fiction is endowed with extraordinary depth and substance through his academic training as a historian and a social anthropologist. His major thematic concerns include migration and interconnections across places, cultures and races, and human distress and suffering caused by historical turbulences, especially at the level of girmitiyas, coolies and lascars," Bharatiya Jnanpith said in a statement. Ghosh has explored Indian protagonists ranging across a wide international field, including Bangladesh, England, Egypt and Myanmar in both his fictional and discursive writings. Some of his celebrated works include "The Circle of Reason", "The Shadow Lines", "The Calcutta Chromosome", "The Glass Palace", "The Hungry Tide" and the Ibis trilogy that includes "Sea of Poppies", "River of Smoke", and "Flood of Fire". The decision was taken in a meeting of Jnanpith Selection Board chaired by eminent novelist and scholar Pratibha Ray. Other eminent persons of the selection board included Girishwar Misra, Shamim Hanfi, and Harish Trivedi, among others. All the previous winners of the much coveted award have been writers in Indian languages, making Ghosh the first writer in English its winner. --IANS ss/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia on Saturday officially recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after a period of consultations at home and abroad, prompting criticism from Palestine against the move. "Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an address at the Sydney Institute. "We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical... and after final status determination," he was quoted as saying by the BBC. The country's embassy, however, will continue to remain in Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is achieved and Australia will instead establish a Trade and Defence Office in West Jerusalem. Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Secretary General Saeb Erekat decried the move, saying that Australia chose to join US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two other governments, voting against the two-state solution, Efe news reported. "All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while East Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory," Erekat said. "Australia's announcement to open a trade office in the city negates its very claim that it abides by UN Security Council Resolution 478, which refers to Israel's annexation of Jerusalem as null and void and calls upon countries to withdraw diplomatic missions from the city," the Palestinian leader added. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PLO Executive Committee who sent a letter to the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, on Friday to urge him not to move the Australian embassy to Jerusalem, said that Australia has become "a partner in the war crimes that Israel exercises in the West Bank" with this recognition. Morrison, in his address, also announced his support for recognising a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the future and added that Australia was supporting "liberal democracy" in the Middle East. The Saturday's decision, he said, was in line with Australia's commitment to the two states solution and its longstanding respect for UN Security Council resolutions. He said that Jerusalem "deserves better than the rancid stalemate and better than the polarization that marks its peoples", Efe news reported. Morrison's decision was also criticized by the opposition at home and rattled Indonesia, a historical ally of Palestine. Indonesian President Joko Widodo had earlier warned that recognizing Jerusalem could jeopardise Australia's relationship with his country, which has the largest Islamic population in the world. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump's administration shifted its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, although the latter had reversed the decision soon after, following a change in government. --IANS soni/sed (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Trend The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will hold talks with senior officials from Iran, Russia and Turkey, as guarantors of the Syria peace process, in Geneva early next week, a UN statement says, Trend reoprts citing Press TV. According to the Friday statement, talks among the UN diplomat and high-level officials from the three countries will focus on setting up a "credible, balanced, and inclusive" committee to draft a new constitution for Syria and usher in elections. It added that the meeting will take place ahead of de Mistura's monthly presentation to the UN Security Council set for December 20. Late in November, the guarantor states of the Astana peace process ended their 11th round of talks in the Kazakh capital, reiterating their strong commitment to Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Iran, Russia and Turkey also rejected "all desperate attempts" by foreign-backed militant groups to undermine the sovereignty of the Syrian nation. At the end of the tenth round of the two-day International Meeting on Syria in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on July 31, Tehran, Moscow and Ankara expressed their firm determination to counter any plot aimed at partitioning the Arab country. "The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey confirmed their strong adherence to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria," Russian Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said while reading a joint statement issued by representatives of the three countries. The Astana talks have so far resulted in the return of a succession of militant bastions to the government fold, the establishment of safe zones across Syria and the movement of civilians to those regions. Australia will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday. Morrison made the foreign policy shift almost two months after he declared that he was "open" to the idea, reports Xinhua news agency. However, the Prime Minister also announced his support for recognising a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the future. The Australian embassy will remain in Tel Aviv until the status of Jerusalem is determined under a peace deal between Israel and Palestine. The decision was made despite international pressure, most notably from Indonesia, to maintain the status quo. "Foreign policy must speak of our character and our values. What we stand for. What we believe in and, if need be, what we'll defend," Morrison said in a speech on Saturday. "The Australian government has decided that Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, as the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel. "And we look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of, and after, final-status determination. "Furthermore, recognizing our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government has also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem." The announcement comes almost exactly one year after US President Donald Trump announced the American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned that recognizing Jerusalem could jeopardise Australia's relationship with his country, which has the largest Islamic population in the world. Reports surfaced in November that moving the embassy could threaten Australia's pending free trade agreement with Indonesia but senior members of the government have repeatedly dismissed the idea. In addition to announcing his Israel decision, Morrison also declared that Australia would retain support for the Iran nuclear deal. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bhupesh Baghel, who is credited with playing a crucial role in a landslide victory of the Congress in Chhattisgarh, is understood to have been picked as the party's choice for Chief Ministership and a formal announcement in this regard is expected on Sunday. This emerged after hectic parleys between Congress President Rahul Gandhi and four contenders in the race for the CM post-- Bhupesh Baghel, T.S. Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant, at his residence. Congress' central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress in-charge for party affairs in Chhattisgarh P.L. Punia were also present at the meeting. Reliable sources said the leadership issue has been sorted out and name would be formally announced at the meeting of newly-elected legislators in Raipur on Sunday. The sources also dismissed reports that one of the contenders, Sahu, threatened to quit the party if he was not made the Chief Minister. The sources also indicated that unlike Rajasthan, there would be no deputy chief minister. Representing Patan Assembly constituency in Durg district, Baghel is the President of Chhattisgarh Congress since October 2014. Punia said the meeting of the newly-elected lawmakers will be held at 12 p.m on Sunday and the name of the new Chief Minister will be announced thereafter. Earlier in the day, Gandhi tweeted a picture of himself flanked by all the four claimants to the post, hinting at the end of tussle over who would be the next Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. Posting pictures of Baghel, Deo, Sahu and Mahant -- Gandhi quoted American internet entrepreneur Reid Hoffman saying: "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team." The Congress President had earlier tweeted similar pictures of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Kamal Nath and his rival claimant to the post Jyotiraditya Scindia as well as Rajasthan Chief Minister-designate Ashok Gehlot and his state party chief Sachin Pilot who has been named as the Deputy Chief Minister. Before the announcements of Kamal Nath and Gehlot as the Chief Ministers of their respective states, there had been power jockeying between the rival camps, with both Scindia and Pilot strongly advocating their stake to the post. Bangladesh's main opposition party has accused the government of cracking down on its workers to prevent them from campaigning for the general election set to be held end of the month. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is contesting the December 30 election, after boycotting the one in 2014, alleged that in several parts of the country its members were not able to begin their campaign because of police crackdown and attacks by workers of the ruling Awami League party. "I don't know even who their (BNP) candidate is. All I see here is just boat (the election symbol of Awami League)," said a rickshaw-puller Abdur Rahman. The BNP, in a statement cited by Efe news, claimed that its leaders and members were attacked in at least 20 of the country's 64 districts. Since the election schedule was announced on November 8, a total of 158 new cases were filed against BNP workers, while 2,546 were arrested, the report said. Since the start of the campaign on December 10, 556 workers have been arrested. Around 1,858 members of the Jamaat-e-Islami political party were also arrested between November 1 and December 13, non-profit Human Rights Watch said. "There is no environment for free and fair election. The much-talked about level playing field, we don't see any sign of it either," BNP spokesperson Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said. "This election is unique in many senses as first time all political parties are contesting the election," said Ataur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Political Scientists Association. The fact that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has had two terms in power and opposition leader Khaleda Zia is in prison, could affect outcomes, he said. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was a blood-soaked Saturday in Kashmir in which 11 persons, including seven civilians, an Army soldier and three militants, were killed and over three dozen civilian protesters sustained injuries in clashes with the security forces. The 11 deaths took place in a gunfight and subsequent clashes in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, in one of the bloodiest days in the Valley's recent history. The gunfight erupted in Sirnoo village as security personnel surrounded the area after receiving a tip-off that militants were holed up there. Three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight, the police said. One of the three slain militants, Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, had deserted the Army to join the militant ranks. Immediately after the gunfight, scores of civilian protesters clashed with the security forces who used firearms and pellets to control the agitating mob. Two youths identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain were declared brought dead in a district hospital where they were taken for treatment of gunshot injuries. Five other civilian protesters -- Suhail Ahmad, Shahbaaz, Liyaqat Dar, Tauseef Ahmad and Murtaza Bashir -- succumbed to their wounds later, authorities said. Reports coming from the area said that more than 35 protesters were injured in the clashes and three of them were critical after receiving gunshot wounds. Spontaneous protests broke out immediately after the news about the civilian killings spread in the Valley. Protesters clashed with the security forces in north Kashmir's Sopore town where the security forces used tear smoke to disperse the protesters. No injury to any protester or security man was reported during these protests. Protests also occurred in old city Nowhatta area of Srinagar where protesters shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Students of the Kashmir University also carried out peaceful protest in the campus over the civilian killings in Pulwama district. Markets, public transport and other businesses were shut in south Kashmir, Srinagar and Badgam district and some other places after the tension spilled over to these areas. Authorities have imposed curfew in Pulwama town and deployed additional security personnel to maintain law and order in the wake of the civilian deaths. Mobile internet services were suspended in south Kashmir districts and in Srinagar while its speed was brought down throughout the Valley. Rail services between the Kashmir valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region were also cancelled. Reacting to the tragedy, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a tweet: "Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. Six protesters killed, one soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the three militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!" Omar slammed Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration for its alleged failure to ensure that civilian casualties are avoided during gunfights. "The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only - to focus on the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore peace to a troubled Valley. Sadly, it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns and full page ads don't bring peace," he said. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed serious concern over the day's incident. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts to stop this bloodbath," she said in a statement. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq called the incident "a massacre of Kashmiris" and announced a three-day Valley-wide protest shutdown beginning on Saturday. "#PulwamaMassacre, bullets and pellets rain! As government of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, the JRL (Joint Resistance Leadership) and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday, Dec 17, to ask to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily," he said in a tweet. He also appealed to the world community to take cognizance of the serious situation in Kashmir. Other political leaders condemning the civilian killings included Ghulam Hassan Mir of Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) and Engineer Rashid, former MLA. --IANS sq/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of defeat by the Congress in Assembly elections in the Hindi heartland, with agrarian crisis as a major poll plank against his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of paying only "lip service" to farmers while ignoring their welfare. Video-interacting with booth workers from Tamil Nadu, Modi also hit out at the Congress for treating national security and defence sector as "a punching bag or a funding source". "If you ask me, what is among the most satisfying things of being in government, I would say it is to work for our hardworking farmers. After all, it is the farmers who are our 'annadatas' (food providers). "We are not like the Congress, which will only pay lip service to farmers but ignore their well-being. Wherever the Congress is in power, farmers suffer," said Modi interacting with booth workers from Kanyakumari, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Namakkal and Salem. "Four years ago, farmers asked for urea, but all they got was stick. Farmers asked for higher minimum support prices (MSP), but all they got was empty promises. Farmers asked for increased incomes, but all they got was insensitivity," alleged Modi. Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) losing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan to the Congress which promised waiving farm loans in all the three states within 10 days of coming to power. Crediting his government for boosting the morale of the armed forces, Modi also targeted the Congress which has been relentless in attacking him over alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the Rafale fighter jets deal with France. "Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source," he said. "Congress leaders call the Army chief names and mock the (2016) surgical strike, on one hand. "On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the Jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors scam in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others," he said, adding: "All they see is the way to make money even if it means that the morale of our forces is affected." "The surgical strikes show how capable our forces are to give a strong answer to those who attack us," added Modi. --IANS and/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking a probe into the Rafale deal, the political dogfight over the issue intensified with the Congress accusing the Narendra Modi government of "misleading" the apex court that resulted in "factual bloomers" in the judgment. The opposition party demanded that the Attorney General and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) be summoned by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in this connection. The Centre's ruling BJP, which has been touting the verdict as a "clean chit", hit back charging the Congress with trying to sabotage the country's security preparedness by raking up the deal again and again. The CAG report, relying on which the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions, turned out to be the latest flashpoint over the Modi government's decision to buy 36 French built fighters. While the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi-led bench in the verdict said that the "pricing details have been shared with the CAG, and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)", the Congress maintained that "no portion of the CAG report has been placed before Parliament or placed in the public domain". Keeping the pot boiling, PAC Chairman and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said he will press for summoning the Attorney General and the CAG to ask them when was the public auditor's report tabled and when did the PAC examine it. "The government lied in the Court that the CAG report was presented in the House and in PAC. They also told the Court that the PAC has probed it. They claimed that the report was in the public domain. Where is it," Kharge told the media here. He said the CAG will be questioned as to when was the report presented, when was it accepted, when was it brought to PAC, when was the evidence taken and when was it presented in Parliament. Subsequently addressing a media conference here, Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal said the Supreme Court verdict had "factual bloomers" for which the Modi-led Centre was responsible. "There are factual bloomers in the judgment for which the government is responsible and not the court. If you give wrong facts to the court and on that basis, the court makes factual assertions, in that case it's the government which is responsible," said Sibal. He also asserted that the apex court was neither the right forum to examine the corruption in the deal nor the verdict was a "clean chit" for the BJP-led Centre. "The Supreme Court is not the appropriate forum because, it cannot examine all the file notings or examine witnesses on oath including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who needs to be questioned as also defence ministry officials. "It is childish that the government and the BJP is claiming victory," Sibal said ridiculing Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their assertions that the verdict was a clean chit to the Modi government and accusing the Congress of jeopardising national security by politicising the defence deal. "The court said that it cannot go into issues of pricing and matters relating to technical suitability of the jets, so how can the government claim that the deal is clean and there is no corruption. The court nowhere said that," Sibal said iterating that only a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe can unearth the "corruption and crony capitalism" in the deal. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party continued its attack on the Congress saying the grand old party was trying to "sabotage India's security preparedness by raking up the Rafale deal issue, despite the Supreme Court ruling that there was no need for a probe". "This is nothing but sabotage of our security preparedness. We have already said that (Congress President) Rahul Gandhi owes an apology to the nation, to the defence forces and Lok Sabha also," Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar told the media in Panaji. "The Supreme Court has clearly exposed the falsehood of Congress and also gave a clean chit to the deal by saying that no further enquiry was needed. Still if the Congress persists with the issue, the only conclusion is that it wants to stop the deal which will weaken the security preparedness of the country," he added. The Supreme Court on Friday junked the pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged financial and procedural "irregularities" in the Rafale deal, but the issue has continued to reverberate both inside and outside parliament. --IANS and/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Saturday extended by another four days the CBI custody of British national Christian Michel, the middleman accused in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to quiz Michel till December 19. The middleman was presented in the court at the end of five-day CBI custody. He was extradited to India on December 4 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The CBI had sought another five days' custody of Michel. Special Public Prosecutor D.P. Singh pleaded with the court that Michel is required to be taken to Mumbai and also needed to be confronted with some documents. The CBI counsel said that Michel is required to be taken to the premises of Pawan Hans India Ltd at Juhu, Mumbai, for identification of WG-30 helicopters and verify his version for his attempted negotiation to buyback the WG-30 helicopters, to identify the shipper and to confront with officials of Pawan Hans India Ltd. The agency also told the court that voluminous documents have been received from five countries pursuant to the Letters of Request and a number of documents are yet to be confronted with the accused. The CBI said that Rs 92.3 lakh was given to some Air Force officials and Michel, through his shell companies, to bear the air expense of two serving/ retired Air Force officials during 2009-2013 which needs to be verified. Michel's custody is required to be confronted with witnesses as the probe agency has got different versions from witnesses which need to be corroborated. Michel's defence counsel had opposed the plea for further extension of custody. Michel's defence counsel Aljo K. Joseph and Vishnu told the court that there is no incriminating material against the accused and that the Italian court had found nothing wrong against him. Meanwhile, the court allowed Italian lawyer Santrolli Rosemary Patrizi Dos Anjos to meet Michel for 10 minutes in the court room. Anjos has represented Michel before different authorities in several countries. The court also allowed Michel to sign the Power of Attorney in favour of Anjos for representing the accused before Interpol and asked the defence counsel to place one copy of the Power of Attorney on record. Anjos, who wanted to represent Michel as defence counsel, was asked by the court to move a proper application and the court will decide it after hearing the arguments. However, the CBI has opposed the Anjos plea to represent herself as Michel's defence counsel and said that the agency might make her as a witness in the case on the basis of statement she has given to the media. Defence counsel Joseph told the court that the British High Commission has not received any communication from the CBI regarding consular access to Michel. The investigation agency informed the court that they have already sent no objection to the Ministry of External Affairs and the matter is pending before the ministry for consideration. "The CBI has no role in the matter. Therefore writing any letter of reminder to the Ministry will not serve any purpose. However, the agency will look into the matter," the CBI submitted before the court. The CBI also told the court that Britain has not responded to the Letter of Request sent by the agency. The court said that it will hear bail plea of Michel on December 17 asking the CBI to file a reply on his bail plea. --IANS akk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Saturday extended by another four days the CBI custody of British Christian Michel, the middleman accused in the Rs 36-billion AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to quiz Michel till December 15. The CBI had sought five days' custody of Michel. Special Public Prosecutor D P Singh told the court Michel is required to be taken to Mumbai and also needed to be confronted with some documents. Michel's defence counsel had opposed the plea for further extension of custody. The middleman was presented in the court after a five-day CBI custody. He was extradited to India on December 4 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A Delhi court on Saturday extended by another four days the CBI custody of British national Christian Michel, the middleman accused in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Special Judge Arvind Kumar allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to quiz the middleman named in the chopper scam till December 19. The CBI had sought five days' custody of Michel. Special Public Prosecutor D.P. Singh pleaded with the court that Michel is required to be taken to Mumbai and also needed to be confronted with some documents. Michel's defence counsel opposed the plea for further extension of custody. The middleman was presented in the court at the end of five-day CBI custody. He was extradited to India on December 4 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ---IANS akk/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Director Sharique Minhaj says his film "Delhi Bus" is a tribute to a young Delhi professional who came to be known as Nirbhaya after the horrific gang rape in 2012. Minhaj's film is based on the incident when she was brutally gang-raped in a bus in New Delhi on December 16, 2012. A Vipul Shah Production, the plot of the film is inspired by the charge sheet which was filed in a Delhi fast track court detailing the roles of the accused. It also raises questions about women's safety in the country. "Atrocities against women is one of the major topics of discussion in the country today. So, we thought of making (something) which can make a difference to the society, highlighting the problems in an artistic manner," Minhaj said in a statement. "We want to dedicate it to Nirbhaya who fought for her life and dignity. We are paying a tribute to her with the film," he added. The film, which will release on January 25 next year, stars Divya Singh, Aanjjan Srivastav, Neelima Azeem and Sanjay Singh. --IANS sug/nn/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Trend Italy is the leader in the import of Kazakh products in January-September 2018, the Kazakh National Economy Ministry told Trend. Exports from Kazakhstan to Italy in the reporting period amounted to $8.83 billion. The top three also include the Netherlands ($4.81 billion) and China ($4.23 billion). They are followed by Russia ($3.83 billion), France ($2.69 billion), Switzerland ($2.08 billion), South Korea ($2.02 billion), Spain ($1.48 billion), Uzbekistan ($1.2 billion) and Romania ($1.11 billion). In general, the trade turnover of Kazakhstan in January-September 2018 totaled $68.2 billion, an increase of 21.9 percent compared to the same period in 2017. Exports totaled $44.5 billion, an increase of 28.4 percent, while the share of commodities in the exports of Kazakhstan amounted to 74.2 percent. Actor Stoney Westmoreland, a 48-year-old actor who plays the grandfather on Disney Channel sitcom "Andi Mack", has been fired by the channel following his arrest for allegedly trying to arrange a sexual liaison with a 13-year-old he met online. "Stoney Westmoreland, an actor working on the series 'Andi Mack,' was arrested in Salt Lake City today," a representative for Disney Channel said in a statement Friday night, reports deadline.com. "Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week," the statement said. The age of the alleged victim is the same as the central characters on "Andi Mack" and young actors who play them. The comedy, created by Terri Minsky, follows 13-year-old Andi Mack and her best friends, Cyrus Goodman and Buffy Driscoll, as they attend middle school. Westmoreland was arrested on Friday in Utah, where "Andi Mack" films. According to TV station KSL, court documents state he was arrested for investigation of enticing a minor by Internet or text, a second-degree felony, and four counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony. An affidavit filed in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City indicated Westmoreland began communicating online with a user he believed was underage "on an Internet app used for dating and meeting people for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity". Police allege Westmoreland asked that person to engage in acts with him and to send nude photographs. Westmoreland also sent pornographic photographs, according to the affidavit. The Salt Lake City Police Department and FBI Child Exploitation Task Force arrested Westmoreland when he took a ride-sharing service to pick up the person he believed was a teen, the affidavit states. --IANS nn/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Dubai Police on Saturday detained Anwar Babu Sheikh, the brother of absconding mafiosi Chhota Shakeel, reports reaching here said. Sheikh, who is wanted in Mumbai and Thane in connection with several offences including the March 1993 Mumbai serials blasts, was detained and questioned by the Dubai Police at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Among other things, Sheikh is wanted for allegedly co-ordinating the Mumbai serial blasts from a location abroad. Incidentally, Chhota Shakeel is considered the trusted right hand of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. After search and interrogation, the Dubai Police are understood to have recovered a Pakistani passport from Sheikh, raising questions on his extradition to India. Both Indian and Pakistani embassies in the UAE are said to be in touch with the Dubai authorities seeking his deportation to their respective countries. It may be recalled that after the Mumbai serial explosions, Sheikh was among those against whom the Interpol had issued red corner notices. Mumbai and Thane police sources said that Sheikh is linked to Pakistan's ISI and was involved in several terror acts in India before he fled this country. Earlier this year, Thane Anti Extortion Cell chief Pradeep Sharma had nabbed couple of persons for illegally keeping AK-56 Army assault rifles in their Mumbai suburban home in Goregaon. Subsequent investigations by the Anti Terrorist Squad here revealed that the weapons may have been procured and used by Sheikh during the December 1993-January 1994 double-phased Mumbai riots. Despite repeated attempts to seek an official reaction to the developments in Dubai, Mumbai and Thane police brass remained incommunicado on Saturday. Meanwhile, in view of Sheikh's Pakistani passport, there was no clarity whether he would be repatriated to India or not. --IANS qn/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Emily Blunt says she is ready for a sequel to "Mary Poppins Returns". In an interview with Anthony Mason for show "CBS Sunday Morning", Blunt expressed her wish to enter the universe again, reports dailymail.co.uk. When Mason points out that most superhero movies have sequels, asking if she would like to play Poppins again, Blunt said: "Yes. I want to be her again. I like being her." Blunt described Poppins as "completely bizarre and unknowable". The actress added that she hasn't seen the original 1964 classic and she didn't want to revisit it before filming "Mary Poppins Returns". "Mary Poppins Returns" serves as a sequel to the 1964 classic, with Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer playing Michael and Jan Banks as adults. After the Banks family suffers a loss, their childhood nanny Mary Poppins magically comes back into their lives. The movie, set in Depression-Era London, also stars Lin-Maneul Miranda as a lamplighter named Jack, with Meryl Streep as Topsy and Colin Firth as Wilkins. Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns" will release in India on January 4 next year. --IANS sug/nn/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Emraan Hashmi, who is playing the lead role in the forthcoming film "Cheat India", says that the formal system of India is not good enough for the growth of young minds and believes that such cannot be a prerequisite for success. Asked what's his opinion on the relevance of formal education, Emraan told IANS here: "I know some of the stupidest people on earth who had great formal I also come across some of the smart and brightest individuals who had no great formal education and degrees. Formal education is not a norm that gets you success in life." "I think in the present time, the formal education that we are practising in the mainstream, is a waste of time. Just because in a building, a group of people promoting some kind of source for learning, does not mean our students are learning a great thing. "Our education system is still practising something that can only deliver average homegrown clerk that used to happen in the British era. That is not how we can develop young minds no sorry!" added the "Murder" actor. He believes that in the age of Internet, universities have moved into online education. Emraan said: "Without taking the name of any board, I just want to say, the system of our basic education is pretty useless. All we are practising is how to mug up the textbook and write it on the exam paper to get marks and grades. Is that the right way to educate mind?" Emraan, who started his career in 2005, used to be known more for doing on-screen kissing scenes in Bollywood films. He gradually made space for himself in Bollywood with films like "Gangster", "Aksar", "Kalyug", "Jannat", "The Dirty Picture" and "Azhar". Is he finally getting his due as an actor? "Well, earlier I had done films where I was satisfied with the process, the experience of making of the film, but the character I am playing in 'Cheat India' is quite close to my sensibility as an individual," Emraan said. "The character is not over the top. It's close to reality and at the same time, engaging. It is bringing an issue to the forefront through the film," he said. The film addresses the issue of existing corruption in the field of education. He felt that the film could be a conversation starter on the matter. Was that the sole reason for taking it up? The actor said: "I would say that is a by-product of a good story. Primarily, when I am listening to a script, it is about how I am reacting to the story as an audience member. If I am becoming part of a narrative, it has to appeal to me first. 'Cheat India' was apt for that." The story of the film revolves around cheating during examinations, especially in government colleges and in competitive tests where people use power and money to get degrees. Sharing his personal experience, Emraan said: "I have seen how exam papers are leaked during exams. Some of my friends' friends bought question papers in advance and later they failed in the exam because they got the wrong set of questions. I have seen how students paid money to invigilators to fill the answer papers I never got involved in such activities, but I have seen them happening." Directed by Soumik Sen, "Cheat India" is releasing on January 25 next year. --IANS aru/nn/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The western coast of the Goan capital is abuzz with conversations over different streams of art, as 13 locations here sprawled across Mandovi's shoreline opened their gates for the third edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival 2018 on Saturday. With free shuttle services and free entry into most events, the festival, which hosts over 90 projects curated by 14 noted curators, seems to be a hit among the visitors, with hundreds having visited the festival's venues on its first day of opening. The multidisciplinary festival aims to bring art out of gallery and museum spaces alone, and has chosen public spaces like the Kala Academy, Children's Park and the Adil Shah Palace -- places already frequented by the public for cultural events -- to encourage viewership and engagement. The eight-day affair presents a multitude of voices from the artistic and curatorial communities in genres like music, theatre, dance, photography, visual arts, culinary arts, and crafts. Many of the exhibitions in the visual arts, photography, and crafts genres, mounted in the venues opened for the public on Saturday and will run till its closing on December 22. What stole the show on the first day, however, was a theatrical rendition of the age-old epic Mahabharata, delivered with humour and wit. Dramatised through puppets, masks, and shadow puppetry, together with intriguing acoustic accompaniment, it saw a houseful under the open sky of the coastal city. The labyrinthine exhibitory spaces, falling in line with the festival's core idea, put the focus on the viewers and allow them to navigate through spaces as visitors, just as many creative traditions of the festival find a voice in the multi-cultural hub Goa is. Often-overlooked objects, like the 'charpai', Indian handicraft items, and photographs as documents of the personal and political, form part of the festival and are a must-see. Street art interventions in the form of murals and painted signboards, by arts organisation St+Art Foundation hold attention as visitors walk to different venues only minutes away from each other. What's also interesting is a focus on the local traditions of the state hosting the festival, with exhibitions showcasing Goan crafts and architecture, early Hindustani musical recordings by Goan musicians, and a contemporary art show on Goa's Portuguese connection -- "the most dominating chapter of Goan history". Apart from performances by seasoned Indian classical music and dance practitioners, a contemporary twist of electro funk, hip-hop, rap and jazz music will greet the festival audiences. The festival recently garnered controversy regarding a curator who "stepped back" from the festival in the light of an anonymous #MeToo allegations made against him on Instagram. The Serendipity Arts Foundation chairman and founder Sunil Kant Munjal, refused to comment on it when asked for a statement. He, however, iterated the position of the Foundation as "neutral" and "fair". "It wants to be fair, it wants to do the right thing, it wants to be a platform where creative individuals, organisations and institutions feel freedom and feel welcomed to come and work," he told IANS. The festival concludes on December 22 with a musical performance by multi-awards winning Bollywood composer Clinton Cerejo, presented by Coke Studio. (Siddhi Jain is in Goa on invitation by organisers of the Serendipity Arts Festival. She can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in) --IANS sj/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At a time when pressure is mounting on tech companies to utilise technology with care to avoid its misuse, has said it will not offer the controversial technology for now. Toeing Microsoft's line which has asked governments across the world to regulate this technology, said merits careful consideration. "Like many technologies with multiple uses, merits careful consideration to ensure its use is aligned with our principles and values, and avoids abuse and harmful outcomes," Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs at Google, said in a blog post on Friday. "We continue to work with many organisations to identify and address these challenges, and unlike some other companies, Cloud has chosen not to offer general-purpose facial recognition APIs before working through important technology and policy questions," informed Walker. Earlier this month, President Brad Smith said that given the potential for abuse of the fast advancing facial recognition technology, governments across the world need to start adopting laws to regulate this technology in 2019. "Unless we act, we risk waking up five years from now to find that facial recognition services have spread in ways that exacerbate societal issues," warned Smith in a blog post. "The time for action has arrived," he said, adding that the industry must also exercise restraint while using this technology. is one of several companies playing a leading role in developing facial recognition technology. The company, Smith said, would start adopting new principles to manage the issues surrounding facial recognition technology in the first quarter of 2019. According to Walker, Google has long been committed to the responsible development of AI. "These principles guide our decisions on what types of features to build and research to pursue. As one example, facial recognition technology has benefits in areas like new assistive technologies and tools to help find missing persons, with more promising applications on the horizon," he added. Telugu-Tamil actor Sundeep Kishans latest release "Next Enti" may not have performed as well as expected. But he is unfazed. "I would do the film all over again, if needed. I learnt so much working with Kunal Kohli. I grew up admiring his work. He may not be conversant in Telugu. But he was clued into every nuance of the characters played by me and Tamannaah Bhatia." So what went wrong? "I don't know if the word wrong is right here because I feel the film came out right. We somewhere missed out on marketing and promoting the film well. 'Next Enti' was a totally new language for Telugu audiences. It basically had my character and Tamannaah speaking on love life and sex. "The audience needed to be drawn into the film. That never happened. Telugu cinema is growing by leaps and bounds. Not only 'Baahubali', we have had 'Arjun Reddy', 'The Ghazi Attack' and 'Goodachari' all game-changers. So, it's not as though the audience in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is not ready for change. We just didn't give them reason to appreciate our attempt at a new cinematic language." Sundeep has already moved ahead. "I've now turned producer with a Telugu film 'Neenu Veedani Nenu Nene'. My leading lady in the film is Anya singh that very talented girl from 'Qaidi Band'. The film is again, a game-changer. It is partly a supernatural thriller, but it is so much more, it's hard to define. I am also shooting a courtroom comedy 'Tenali Ramkrishna BABL' with Hansika Motwane." Though Sundeep has done films in Tamil and Hindi, he regards Telugu as his home ground. "I was born and brought up in Andhra. Telugu is my mother tongue. But I also speak Tamil fluently. At the beginning of my career as an actor, I did a Tamil, a Telugu and a Hindi film. I think language is no longer a barrier to appreciating good cinema." Early in his career, Sundeep had done a Hindi film "Shor In The City", directed by Raj and DK. The directorial duo is now designing a fresh Hindi launch for Sundeep. "Raj and DK are like family. I thought their 'Stree' had such an interesting role for Rajkummar Rao. Not like a conventional hero, but a relatable character. That's the kind of role I'd like to play. Raj and DK are planning something completely out of the box for me in Hindi." Meanwhile, Sundeep is pleased that most of his Tamil and Telugu films are dubbed in Hindi. "I was shooting in Kashmir and I was very surprised when the locals recognised me as the guy in 'Prasthanam', my first release which is now being remade into Hindi or the guy in 'Maanagaram'. They had seen most of my Telugu and Tamil films dubbed in Hindi." Sundeep is also surprised by his swelling fan following. "I never thought of myself as particularly eligible when I was in college. But now even when guys come for selfies they say it's for their sister or girlfriend. I am happy with the female attention. But for now, I am very single." Sundeep also owns a restaurant in Hyderabad -- Vivah Bojnambu which offers what he calls the best food in Hyderabad. "I expect nothing, but the best from myself. I love to look beyond the expected," he signed off. --IANS skj/nn/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and France on Saturday reiterated their resolve to jointly fight the global scourge of terrorism following delegation-level talks headed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. "In our talks today, we reiterated our resolve to continue our fight against terrorism," Sushma Swaraj said in a joint address to the media with Le Drian after the talks. "Cooperation among us in this field is also there in international forums like the FATF (Financial Action Task Force)," she said. Le Drian said that India knows in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count on in the future. "This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing, and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks," he said. Over 170 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the series of terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit. In her address, Sushma Swaraj said that both India and France were implementing their outlined action in joint strategic vision cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. "This will not only benefit India and France, but also other countries and stakeholders in this area," she stated. She also described defence cooperation between India and France as "historical and comprehensive". "It includes institutional exchanges, joint production, joint military exercises and training," she said. "As you know, our Defence Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) visited France in October which was very useful. "Now the two sides are working towards deepening and expanding these large contacts, especially at the operational and service level." Sushma Swaraj said that joint vision on space cooperation is the cornerstone of space collaboration between India and France. Noting that space agencies of both countries are working hard in this direction, Sushma Swaraj said: "The recent launch of India's heaviest Satelite GSAT-11 is an outstanding example of our partnership in the space sector. On this occasion, I thank the government of France and the Ariane launch vehicle for all possible help provided to ISRO for the successful launch." She also said that today India and France were among the leading countries fighting against climate change in the world. "By holding the inaugural conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi in March and its first general assembly in October, our resolve has been strengthened to achieve the highest objective of this work," she said. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015, the ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach. It is open to all 121 prospective member countries falling between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Sushma Swaraj also said that Africa was a priority of foreign policy for both India and France. "Prime Minister Modi recently mentioned the principles of relations with Africa," she said referring to Modi's speech at the Ugandan Parliament in July this year in which he charted out 10 principles of India's African reach-out. "The second Indo-French dialogue on Africa held on December 11, 2018, explores the possibilities for joint efforts to exchange ideas for the latest developments in Africa and contribute toward peace and prosperity in Africa," Sushma Swaraj said. On trade ties, she said that India welcomed the role of French companies in smart cities, clean energy, environment, transport and infrastructure sectors. "The bilateral trade between us last year was 9.62 billion euros," Sushma Swaraj said. "If we have to achieve the target of 15 billion euros by 2022, then we need to do more work." She also expressed India's gratitude to France for its continued support for New Delhi's bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council and membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Le Drian said that French companies are investing and innovating in India under the Make in India programme. "On the fronts of urban development and digital economy, our companies are present and working to build the India - and the France - of tomorrow," he said. He also called for a joint collaboration between the two countries in the field of cinema which, he said, "cannot but produce masterpieces". "We firmly believe this: it is through culture, tourism and people-to-people ties that we will forge strong links between the French and the Indian peoples," Le Drian stated. --IANS ab/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's missile program is for defensive purposes and the Islamic republic will never negotiate over it, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said. "Primarily, Iran's missiles are for defence and we need them for deterrence," Xinhua quoted Zarif as saying to Press TV on Saturday. "Besides, we use resources for military expenses far less than any other country in the region. That is why we have announced from very beginning that our missiles are non-negotiable, " he said. Zarif is currently in Qatar to attend the Doha Forum 2018. He made the remarks in Doha in response to a question about U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's allegation on December 1, who claimed that Iran had test-fired a medium range ballistic missile in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231. Rejecting the allegations of breaching the UNSC resolution, Iran on Tuesday confirmed the missile test and vowed to continue development of its missile program. --IANS vin/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has announced a fresh investigation into Facebook, a day after the social networking giant admitted another security breach where nearly 6.8 million users risked their private photos being exposed to third-party apps. Facebook, which is already facing a probe from the Irish watchdog for a previous privacy leak in September that affected 50 million people, may end up with fine of 4 per cent of its annual turnover - the highest fine under the new European Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Independent reported on Saturday. In Facebook's case, the fine could amount to nearly 1.5 billion euros. "The Irish DPC has received a number of breach notifications from Facebook since the introduction of the GDPR on May 25, 2018," a spokesperson for the watchdog was quoted as saying. The fresh move came after Facebook on Friday said more than 1,500 apps built by 876 developers may have also been affected by the bug that exposed users' unshared photos during a 12-day-period from September 13 to 25. Facebook, in a statement, said it has fixed the breach and will roll out next week "tools for app developers that will allow them to determine which people using their app might be impacted by this bug". "Currently, we believe this may have affected up to 6.8 million users and up to 1,500 apps built by 876 developers. The only apps affected by this bug were ones that Facebook approved to access the photos API and that individuals had authorised to access their photos. "We're sorry this happened," said Facebook, adding that it will also notify the people potentially impacted by this bug via an alert. The disclosure is another example of Facebook's failure to properly protect users' privacy that may drew more criticism of its privacy policy. Earlier this month, Italian regulators fined Facebook 10 million euros for selling users' data without informing them. The competition watchdog handed Facebook two fines totalling 10 million euros, "also for discouraging users from trying to limit how the company shares their data". The Irish watchdog, which is Facebook's lead privacy regulator in Europe, in October opened a formal investigation into a data breach which affected 50 million users. "The investigation will examine Facebook's compliance with its obligation under the Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the security and safeguarding of the personal data it processes," said the DPC. The world's largest social media network has been grilled over the past year for its mishandling of user data, including its involvement in a privacy scandal in March when Cambridge Analytica, a British political consultancy firm, was accused of illegally accessing the data of more than 87 million Facebook users without their consent. The private information of Facebook users was alleged to be used to influence the US 2016 elections in favour of President Donald Trump's campaign. --IANS na/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. By Kazakhstan's SCAT Airlines has launched flights from Astana to the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Trend reports citing Kazakh media. According to the Civil Aviation Committee, flights will be operated 2 times a week, on Fridays and Sundays, on the CRJ-200 aircraft. Regular flights between the two cities are also operated by Tajikistan's Somon Air (frequency of 3 flights per week) and Tajik Air (frequency of 2 flights per week) airlines. From the Kazakh side, Air Astana operates flights on the Dushanbe-Almaty-Dushanbe route with a frequency of 5 flights per week. The airline also plans to launch flights on the Astana-Dushanbe-Astana route with a frequency of 3 flights per week in the 2019 spring-summer navigation period. Presently, SCAT Airlines, which is one of the largest airlines in Kazakhstan, operates passenger flights within Kazakhstan, as well as to Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Lithuania, China and Armenia. The airline's fleet consists of 15 Boeing and 6 Bombardier aircraft. Annually SCAT Airlines opens up to 10 new flights, with an average increase in passenger traffic by 40 percent. The toll has gone up to 13 from eight in the Friday's suspected food poisoning at a village temple in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. Two persons were detained for interrogation, a Minister said on Saturday. "So far, 13 devotees have died in the tragic incident at Sulavadi's Maramma temple in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Two persons have been detained for interrogation and the case is being investigated," tweeted state Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Home portfolio. Around 65 people -- men, women and children -- who also fell ill after taking the same adulterated food are being treated in state-run and private hospitals in the district, about 180km southwest of Bengaluru. "I have instructed the Muzarai (Endowment) department to be alert and avoid such incidents at any temple in the state," said Parameshwara. The temple deity Maramma, considered an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Durga, is worshipped for blessings before starting any work or function. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who announced Rs 5-lakh compensation to the kin of the victims, assured the sick devotees being treated in hospitals that the state government would meet their medical expenses. "I have directed the district administration, including the police to conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident and book the guilty," said Kumaraswamy in a statement on Friday night. State Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao announced Rs 1-lakh relief from the party fund to each of the bereaved families and assured them of stringent action against the guilty. Congress senior leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited one of the hospitals at Mysuru where some of the affected devotees are being treated and enquired about their well-being. "I never heard of temple prasada (offering) being poisoned. The incident of this magnitude is unimaginable. I am shocked over the tragedy. It's a most inhuman act and is deplorable," Siddaramaiah told reporters later. He also advised the priests and management of temples to ensure the safety of the prasada being distributed to devotees. The district police registered a case of negligence against a private trust managing the temple, belonging to the Lingayat community. --IANS bha-fb/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two prominent Maharashtra NDA allies, including a minister, were involved in a vicious verbal slanging match calling each other a 'dog.' The loud feud erupted between the Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) and ruling ally Shiv Sena's Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam after the latter made certain remarks against the MSP founder Narayan Rane and his family members. Questioning Rane's political locus standi, at a function in Ratnagiri late on Friday, Kadam pointed out that he had changed several political parties in his career and because of Shiv Sena, he (Rane) could make crores of rupees for self and family. "He left the Shiv Sena to join the Congress, and now he's with the Bharatiya Janata Partya. What're his political credentials to criticize the Shiv Sena top leadership?" Kadam remarked. "The Ranes' are a blot on the Konkan region and I will not rest till I erase it from here," he thundered. Peeved by the statement, Rane's son Nitesh Rane hit back early today by comparing Kadam with a 'dog'. "The late Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj Thackeray loved dogs, even Uddhav Thackeray has continued the tradition in Kadam's image. But he (Kadam) doesn't know that barking dogs don't bite," Nitesh Rane's biting tweet said. In response, Kadam hit back by calling Rane Jr. "a dog, and offspring of a dog" this afternoon, when asked for reactions by media-persons. "That's their culture," Kadam shot back before hurrying off. Incidentally, Nitesh Rane, who is a Congress legislator, described himself as "an MSP supporter from his core" and always standing by his father, a former Chief Minister and now a Member of Rajya Sabha. --IANS qn/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his condolences to the victims of a terror attack in France earlier this week when French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian called on him here. "The Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences for the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Strasbourg in France, and said that India stands with France in the fight against terrorism," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. At least three people were killed and 13 others injured when a man opened fire at a Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday. According to the PMO statement, Modi also warmly recalled the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India in March, as well as their recent interaction on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina. "Le Drian briefed the Prime Minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship, and French perspective on regional and global issues," it stated. "The Prime Minister welcomed the strengthening of bilateral ties in all spheres, including defence, space, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and civil nuclear cooperation." Earlier in the day, Le Drian held delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. --IANS ab/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country's first deputy Prime Minister, on his 68th death anniversary. "Remembering the great Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. His thoughts, rich work and strong effort towards India's unity inspire generations of Indians," Modi tweeted. The Congress party also remembered Patel. It said in a tweet: "Sardar Vallabhai Patel, known as 'Iron Man of India', was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India. "A stalwart of the Congress Party he valiantly fought the British & worked tirelessly to unite the country. We salute his valour and honour him today." Vallabhbhai Patel, known for his contribution in uniting the country through the merger of small princely states, was born on October 31, 1875, and died on December 15, 1950. --IANS akk/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian actress-filmmaker Nandita Das says she is disappointed that her film "Manto" will not be releasing in Pakistan. "Disappointed that 'Manto' will not be seen in theatres in Pakistan. I was keen as he belongs to both countries equally," Nandita tweeted on Saturday. With "Manto", Nandita traced the life of writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Nawazuddin Siddiqui had brought the character to life. The film followed the most tumultuous years in the life of Manto and those of India and Pakistan where Manto inhabited and chronicled. The film starred Rasika Dugal as Manto's wife along with Tahir Raj Bhasin, Rishi Kapoor and Divya Dutta in key roles. Nandita also shared link of an article -- which she penned for a news website, explaining why the film won't be crossing borders. "I just got the news that 'Manto' was not passed by their Censor Board. The reasons cited are that 'the film has anti-Partition narrative theme and explicit scenes, which is against the norms of Pakistani society'," she wrote. The "Firaaq" maker knows that she won't get an opportunity to present her "case to the Pakistani Censor Board". "In the last six years that I have been working on 'Manto', not only his family but many others in Pakistan have been waiting anxiously to see it on the big screen. So while this explanation is in defence of freedom, it is also for them." Manto, who died in 1955 at the age of 43, penned an impressive body of work touching various genres. He churned out about 22 collections of stories comprising a novel, essays, personal sketches and movie scripts. Out of his literary gems was a story on Mirza Ghalib, a poet who is often compared with the stature of William Shakespeare. His work also gained attention for weaving stories around the ordeal of partition as well as sexuality. "Manto", co-produced by HP Studios, Filmstoc and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, was the only Indian film in Un Certain Regard category at 71st Cannes Film Festival. The film released in India in September this year. "'Manto' had to fight for his freedom of expression 70 years ago and many of us are having to do the same today," said the actress, who garnered critical acclaim with films like "Earth" and "Bawandar". --IANS sug/nn/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that his party has given up its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal after Supreme Court verdict in the matter. Yadav said at an event here that SP had demanded JPC when the apex court had not given its judgement. "But now the Supreme Court verdict has come and it has looked at all aspects. If someone has to say something in the future, then the doors of Supreme Court are open," he said. "There is no bigger court than the Supreme Court and there is nothing bigger on which people have faith," he added. The stance of Samajwadi Party is at variance with Congress which is persisting with its demand for JPC into the Rafale jet deal with a French company. Yadav's remarks have come at a time when efforts are being made to bring opposition parties together against the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The SP has offered support of its lone MLA to Congress in Madhya Pradesh after the Assembly elections. --IANS ps/vsc/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese smartphone brand OPPO on Saturday opened its first India Research and Development (R&D) centre here. The R&D centre, which is the Chinese company's fourth centre globally and the largest outside China, will contribute towards bringing exciting innovation and advanced technologies to India. OPPO always attached great importance to R&D in cutting-edge technology and will build upon its global focus on the space through the centre in India, it said. The company will be looking at driving innovations at the Hyderabad R&D centre and will focus its efforts on the development and implementation of software localization for Indian consumers as well as device quality. "This centre will help us implement innovative and exciting technologies in future products that we introduce in India as well as help us build a local ecosystem for smartphone devices," said Tasleem Arif, Vice President and R&D Head, OPPO India. OPPO R&D centre will have experts from institutes such as the IITs to contribute to the better understanding of the Indian consumers and creation of products that will represent the best technology and design. OPPO recently announced a global investment of 10 billion yuan towards the R&D space for 2019. With this, OPPO will integrate its supply chain and build on its technical expertise to enhance the company's technological capabilities, as well as develop a range of smart devices, including smart watches and smart home technologies. --IANS ms/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan, China and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) vis-a-vis anti-terrorism cooperation during a second trilateral ministerial dialogue in Kabul on Saturday. The MoU was signed by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Chinese as well as Afghan counterparts Wang Yi and Salahuddin Rabbani, respectively. The signing of the document was witnessed by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Speaking at the trilateral dialogue, Rabbani said that collective efforts were required to address the common challenge of terrorism. "We desire to strengthen our relations with Pakistan," he said and also appreciated the Chinese One Belt One Road initiative. Qureshi, during a joint press conference, called for a joint strategy to eradicate terrorism from the region. He said he was visiting Kabul to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries, the Express Tribune reported. "We all want peace and stability in Afghanistan," the minister said, adding that Pakistan will continue to play facilitative role in Afghan reconciliation process. "We will do everything to support the growing momentum towards reconciliation provided others play their due role and share responsibility and create an enabling environment towards that end." Calling Afghanistan and Pakistan as "friends of China", Wang said that Beijing will extend "every possible cooperation to build trust and confidence between the two countries". China will also assist in establishing connectivity projects including a rail line between Peshawar, Kabul and Kandahar, he said, adding that Beijing "desires to make Afghanistan a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor". "We support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process," Wang said. This was the second meeting of the three foreign ministers after their kick-off meeting in Beijing last year. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Army should make terrorism its enemy as this will lead to internal and external peace, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat has said. In an interview with CNN-News18 channel, Gen Rawat said the Indian Army has not put women in combat roles where they can get isolated, where there is a large male population and where contact can take place with an adversary. He said there are women engineers in the Army carrying out mining and de-mining operations, and manning the weapon systems in Air Defence. "We have not put women in frontline combat," he said. Gen Rawat said it is not as if Army is not ready, but there are practical difficulties and asked if a woman, who is a commanding officer, can be away from duties for six months. "Do I put a restriction on her to say that in during command tenure, you will not be given maternity leave? Can I say that? A ruckus will be created," he said. Gen Rawat said if Pakistan can show it is not incentivising terror, it will be a step forward. "It is time for them to take steps. Unlike what they say, we should not take two steps. Let's take a step each. There is terrorist leadership openly making statements about India. They threaten us and say that disunity, terror will be the new normal in India. "Pakistan needs to see what is happening inside their country. Army owns Pakistan and the army has to be in power. For that you need an enemy, or else you're like the European Union nations. To remain in focus, you need an enemy. They have chosen a wrong enemy. They've chosen India. They have been caught out. They should make terrorism the enemy. Then there will be both internal and external peace," Gen Rawat said. He was asked about the call for improving ties made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Gen Rawat said Pakistan is inciting Kashmiris and aiding infiltrators but is in constant denial. "They doesn't respond to repatriation requests. They will not recognise their own, so we are in a confusion regarding who's the terrorist and who's an army man from Pakistan," he said. Answering a query on Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Gen Rawat said he keeps taking feedback about him. "They should bring some positives first, then only we can have some conversation. They have made inflammatory remarks, they say things that incite people... This isn't an environment to work. We know they are funding these terrorist activities," he said. To a query on China, he said the neigbouring country is validating its concept of theatre commands. "It (theatre commands) is something they are validating but when they are carrying out validation, any adversary should be alert, so we should be alert. We have to watch and keep a check. As of now they are just validating theatre command. They are doing a lot of movement for the western zone theatre of theirs as it faces us. Since both countries have to settle their border issues, both have to remain alert," he said. Gen Rawat also said that surgical strikes carried out against terror launch pads in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in September 2016 were celebrated because these were difficult. "Not recognising the feats of these people is a bad idea. Some recognition with less overhyping is not a bad idea," he said. Gen Rawat said that the government's acknowledgement of Army's operations has also brought the acceptance of the international community. "These operations have gotten the acceptance and now people want more of this. The confidence arises from the successful execution and acceptance of the first operation." Responding to a query about the Karatpur corridor across the border with Pakistan, he said India has to be very sure of the security concerns. Answering another query, he said that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has asked them to refer to her as "Raksha Mantri" and not as "madam". "I think she was quite strong and curt in saying you'll refer to me as Raksha Mantri, which I think was a good sign because she says don't look at me as a woman. Because when we say ma'am, we think she's a woman. I think she's come as strong as any male counterpart. When she has to make a decision, she does it in a very strong manner," he said. --IANS ps/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading publisher Penguin Random House India announced on Saturday the release of its publication "God of Sin: The Cult, The Clout and Downfall of Asaram Bapu" by Ushinor Majumdar. "The book faced opposition and its publication was challenged in court. The honourable court has refused to stay publication and has allowed the book to be released. Overcoming these challenges, the book will now be available in retail and online stores today, December 15, onwards," the publisher said, without explaining the details of the court where it was challenged and the names of the petitioners. Majumdar maintained that his book is a result of "reportage based on the probes made by various enforcement agencies and court decisions". "I have joined the dots through some first-hand reporting, digging into forgotten records and verification of facts. I am thankful that a court of law decided that there is no cause to keep a book from being released," he said. Penguin Random House India said they were delighted that the honourable court decided in favour of the book. The publisher could not be reached for further comments. "God of Sin " pieces together Asaram's journey to spiritual godhood, his fall from grace and the long and arduous road to bring him to justice. --IANS ss/oeb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State oil giant Saudi Aramco said it has signed an agreement with global technology and innovation leader Raytheon Company to set up a joint venture aimed at providing best-in-class cybersecurity services across the region. Raytheon Company is a specialist in defence, civil government and cybersecurity solutions with headquarters based in Masschussets, US. The company boasts sales of $25 billion and 64,000-strong work force as of 2017. The joint venture company, which is being established with the help of Raytheon's Saudi subsidiary, will market and provide integrated defensive cybersecurity software and hardware capabilities, and perform research and development activities, said a statement from Saudi Aramco. The JV will help increase the cybersecurity protections available to the Saudi oil major besides its suppliers, customers and affiliates. It will also help build world-class cyber capabilities in Saudi Arabia and the region, it stated. Saudi Aramco's senior VP for finance, strategy and development Khalid H. Al Dabbagh said: "We are excited about the joint venture which will support the kingdoms Vision 2030 by creating highly skilled jobs for Saudis in the cybersecurity sector and will support the foundation for the countrys economic development." Demand for cybersecurity services is expected to grow as companies move further into the digital space and embrace technologies such as Internet of Things and big data, he stated. "The partnership with Raytheon will help strengthen cybersecurity and enhance its infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the broader region," he added. Cybersecurity is critical to national and global security, remarked Dave Wajsgras, the president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "This MoU is an important step in creating a joint venture that we see becoming the cornerstone of cybersecurity defenses in the region," he added. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.-TradeArabia News Service The Congress on Saturday turned the heat on Narendra Modi government for "lying and misleading" the Supreme Court leading to "factual bloomers" in the Rafale judgment even as the Centre scampered to the top court seeking "correction of the errors" in the verdict. A day after the apex court, relying on "a CAG report", dismissed multiple petitions seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the deal, the Congress tore into the Modi government, saying "no portion of the CAG report has been placed before Parliament or was in the public domain". Amidst the Congress pressing for summoning of the Attorney General and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in this connection, the Centre moved an application before the top court seeking "correction of errors in the judgment" that it claimed "occurred, perhaps, on account of a misinterpretation". At the centre of controversy is paragraph 25 of the judgment in which Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi-led bench observed: "The pricing details have, however, been shared with the CAG and the CAG report has been examined by the PAC. Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament and is in public domain." Intensifying the attack, senior Congress leader and PAC Chairman Mallikarjun Kharge said he will press for summoning the Attorney General and the CAG to ask them when was the public auditor's report tabled and when did the PAC examine it. "The government lied in the court that the CAG report was presented in the House and in PAC," said Kharge, adding that the CAG will be questioned as to when was the report presented, when was it accepted, when was it brought to PAC, when was the evidence taken and when was it presented in Parliament. Subsequently, addressing a media conference here, Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal said the Supreme Court verdict has "factual bloomers" for which the Modi-led Centre is responsible. "If you give wrong facts to the court and on that basis, the court makes factual assertions, in that case it's the government which is responsible," said Sibal and asserted that the apex court is neither the right forum to examine the "corruption" in the deal nor the verdict is a "clean chit" for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre. "The Supreme Court can't examine all the file notings or examine witnesses on oath including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who needs to be questioned as also defence ministry officials. "How can the government claim that the deal is clean and there is no corruption? The court nowhere said that," Sibal said iterating that only a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe can unearth the "corruption and crony capitalism" in the deal. Facing the opposition's heat, the Centre, through Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, pleaded with the top court to rectify the errors in the paragraph 25 of judgment, which it claimed "occurred on account of misinterpretation" and "resulted in a controversy in the public domain". The Centre said the statements (in para 25 of the judgment) appear to have been based on the note, along with the pricing details, submitted by the Union of India to the court in compliance with the court's Oct 31 direction. While maintaining that it is "factually correct" that the government shared the price details with the CAG, the Centre added that the second part of the sentence in the judgment, with regard to the PAC, is to the effect that "the report of the CAG is examined by the PAC. Only a redacted version of the report is placed before the Parliament and in public domain". "However, in the judgment, the reference to the word 'is' has been replaced with the words 'has been', and the sentence in the judgment (with regard to PAC) reads 'the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee'." The government maintained that its submission to the effect that the report to the CAG "is" examined by the PAC, was a description of the procedure which is followed in the normal course in regard to reports of the CAG. It pleaded that the words "report on the CAG is examined by the PAC. Only a redacted version is placed before parliament and public domain" may be substituted in place of "and the report of the CAG has been examined by the PAC. Only a redacted portion of the report has been placed before Parliament and is in public domain". Meanwhile, the BJP continued its attack on the Congress saying the grand old party is trying to "sabotage India's security preparedness by raking up the Rafale deal issue, despite the Supreme Court ruling that there is no need for a probe". "This is nothing but sabotage of our security preparedness. We have already said that (Congress President) Rahul Gandhi owes an apology to the nation, to the defence forces and to the Lok Sabha also," Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar told the media in Panaji. --IANS and/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President on Saturday hinted at the end of tussle for the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, tweeting a picture of himself flanked by all the four claimants to the post. Posting pictures of the four contenders in the race for the CM post-- Bhupesh Baghel, T.S. Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant -- Gandhi quoted American internet entrepreneur Reid Hoffman saying: "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team." ALSO READ: How Ajit Jogi saved BJP from further embarrassment in Chhattisgarh polls The party is likely to announce the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister in the evening. Baghel, the state party chief, is said to be the frontrunner in the race. No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team. Reid Hoffman pic.twitter.com/TL5rPwiCDX (@RahulGandhi) December 15, 2018 Gandhi's tweet follows his hectic parleys with Chhattisgarh leaders, along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, party's observer for Chhattisgarh, and P L Punia, who is in-charge in the state. The Congress President had earlier tweeted similar pictures of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Kamal Nath and his rival claimant to the post-Jyotiraditya Scindia as well as Rajasthan Chief Minister-designate Ashok Gehlot and his state party chief Sachin Pilot who has been named as the Deputy Chief Minister. Before the announcements of Kamal Nath and Gehlot as the respective Chief Ministers, there had been power jockeying between the rival camps, with both Scindia and Pilot strongly advocating their stake to the post. Five days after the RLSP quit the BJP-led NDA, all three of its legislators in Bihar Assembly on Saturday formally announced that they are still with the NDA and would continue with the alliance. The development is a clear indication that RLSP is on the verge of a split, and all three party legislators hinted to join either the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon. In a major embarrassment to RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, who resigned as Union Minister on December 10, the three party legislators accused him of pursuing personal interests in announcing the walkout from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Both Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs -- Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan -- and its lone member of Legislative Council Sanjiv Singh Shyam made this statement at a press conference here. They also demanded a ministerial berth for Shekhar in the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar. "We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party," Shyam said. The RLSP, which contested the 2014 general election as well the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls as an NDA constituent, has altogether three MPs including Kushwaha, two MLAs and one MLC in Bihar. While the three legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, of the two other Lok Sabha members -- Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi, the former has been charting an independent course for the last two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of the NDA and Nitish Kumar, later changed his stance, and was seen with Kushwaha when he announced his resignation from the Cabinet. --IANS ik/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the two civilians killed in clashes with the security forces on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, leaves behind an Indonesian wife and a three-month-old baby. Abid Hussain of Karimabad village completed his MBA from Indonesia, and had returned home last year with his wife. Along with Hussain, another youth identified as Amir Ahmad, died in the clashes that occurred in Sirnoo village after a gunfight between the security forces and militants took place earlier in the day in the area. --IANS sq/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bihar court on Saturday convicted RJD legislator Raj Ballabh Yadav in connection with the rape of a minor in February 2016, officials said. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on December 21. Biharsarif court judge Parshuram Yadav found Raj Ballabh and five others guilty of raping a minor in Nalanda. The court had reserved its verdict after hearing both sides on December 4. There had been 22 witnesses from the prosecution and 15 from defence. The case was filed against Raj Ballabh Yadav on February 9, 2016. Yadav, who had been suspended from the party, was lodged in jail. According to the police complaint filed by the girl, on February 6, 2016, a woman named Sulekha Devi took her to an undisclosed location in Nalanda and forced her to have liquor, after which she was raped by a man, later identified as Yadav. After she was raped, the girl said, the woman gave her Rs 30,000. She then went home and told her parents about the incident. --IANS ik/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre on Saturday set up a tribunal to adjudicate matters related to a ban imposed on Manipur insurgent groups collectively known as the 'Meitei Extremist Organisations'. In a notification, the Home Ministry said the tribunal, which has been set up under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, will be headed by Delhi High Court Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. It said the purpose of the tribunal was to adjudicate whether or not there was sufficient cause to declare the Meitei Extremist Organisations as Unlawful Association. On November 13, the Centre extended the ban on the extremist groups, whose aim is to secede the state from India, by five years. The organisations, their factions, wings and front organisation were outlawed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The groups are the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its political wing the Revolutionary People's Front; the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its armed wing the Manipur Peoples' Army; the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and its armed wing the 'Red Army'; the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and its armed wing also called 'Red Army'; the Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL); the Coordination Committee (CorCom); and the Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak (ASUK). The organisations were blamed for 756 violent incidents and the killing of 86 persons, including 35 security personnel, from January 1, 2013, to July 31, 2018. The Ministry took the action "in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967)" and declared the Meitei groups as unlawful associations with immediate effect. --IANS rak-akk/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was shot dead by bike-bourne assailants in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday, police said. Nirmal Kundu, the TMC President for ward no. 6 of Nimta area, was allegedly shot twice in the head on an open road around 7 p.m. "According to primary investigation, four-five unidentified men on motorbikes shot Kundu twice. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead," said an officer from Nimta police station. While the local TMC leadership blamed the BJP for the murder, the officer added: "We are probing the case. So far, we haven't found any evidence to clarify the motive behind the killing." --IANS mgr/rtp (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian Orthodox priests will hold a historic council here on Saturday to create a new national church, a move condemned as schism by the Russian clergy. The move comes after the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodoxy, recognised the independence of the Ukrainian Church from Moscow, the BBC reported. In protest, the Russian Orthodox Church cut ties with Constantinople. It also fears that its 12,000 parishes in Ukraine could be seized. The council will be held in the ancient St Sophia's Cathedral - one of Kiev's best known landmarks. Ukrainian clerics of different Orthodox denominations - including some bishops from the Moscow branch - will be electing a leader of a new church. President Petro Poroshenko is expected to be an honorary guest at the council. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been under the Moscow Patriarchate for centuries, the BBC said. But tensions within the church mounted after Ukraine became independent in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Aramco underlined its vision to lead digital transformation in energy sector and also discussed the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where smart digital technology has become an inseparable part of businesses. The strategy of Saudi Aramcos Power Systems Department is in harmony with Vision 2030 objective of making the kingdom a global energy hub and the companys local content strategy represented in the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program, both of which require a comprehensive transformation in technical and vocational training, said senior company officials at a key event in Jeddah. The 8th Saudi Arabia Smart Grid Conference (SASG 2018) was held last week under the patronage of His Excellency Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources. Saudi Aramco was the strategic sponsor of the event held under the theme 'Smart Energy for Sustainable Development.' Speaking at the event, Abdulkareem Al Ghamdi, the VP for Power Systems, underlined Saudi Aramcos vision to lead digital transformation in the energy industry by delineating an approach that supports its technical and administrative activities based on the application of effective technologies. He cited a number of projects that the company is implementing, such as the use of robots and self-guided autonomous devices in remote inspection and maintenance in plant areas, and the installation of smart sensors with advanced analytic capabilities that are connected to advanced digital systems. Such technologies play an effective role in reducing operating costs and enhancing safety, he noted. Al Ghamdi also discussed the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), where advanced, smart digital technology has become an inseparable part of businesses and industries given its integration in the physical, digital and critical spheres. This connection is clear in robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology applications, computing and the Internet of Things, he stated. Al Ghamdi pointed out that Saudi Aramco deploys smart control systems in the area of power generation, including the construction of the smart digital control center (iPower) in Dhahran, which is involved in all the companys operations across the kingdom. The center aims to achieve a number of strategic goals, such as enhancing the effectiveness of power generation, transmission and distribution; asset management; and the improvement of safety and reliability through the implementation of real-time power management systems in all future power generation projects, he noted. In this regard, Al Ghamdi said that Saudi Aramco has entered into strategic partnerships with leading scientific institutions and universities specialized in technology and digital applications, including six training centers for girls in the technical and administrative fields. The partnership agreements will also help generate promising jobs for Saudi youth, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The is likely to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the appeals challenging a trial court's judgement in the in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was acquitted. A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel had on October 29 concluded hearing arguments on the appeals filed by the CBI, riots victims and the convicts, and reserved the judgement. Former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in the case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984 after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. The trial court had acquitted Sajjan Kumar in the case, but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Lal, and a three-year jail term to two others - former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar. The convicts had challenged their conviction and sentencing by the trial court in May 2013. The (CBI) had also filed an appeal, alleging they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". The agency and the victims have also appealed against the acquittal of Kumar. The high court had on March 29 last year issued show cause notices to 11 accused, including Khokhar and Yadav, in five 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which were earlier closed. The matter is being heard by another division bench. The accused, who were acquitted of the charges, were asked as to why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity". France's interior ministry said Saturday that the number of "yellow vest" protesters in France was estimated at 33,500 at midday, half the level of a week ago. The ministry said 77,000 "yellow vests" -- named after the fluorescent jackets they wear -- had been counted at the same point last weekend. Police in Paris said fewer than 3,000 had gathered in the capital for the fifth consecutive Saturday of demonstrations, which have so far been largely peaceful. In the early afternoon, security forces fired teargas on the Champs-Elysees, the epicentre of the protests on previous weekends, as around 500 "yellow vests" gathered to denounce the government of President Emmanuel Macron. There were also minor clashes at the Place de l'Opera in Paris where police detonated noise grenades to control crowds there. Macron announced a series of concessions on Monday to defuse the explosive "yellow vest" crisis, which swelled up from rural and small-town France last month. He was hoping the package of tax and minimum wage measures for low-income workers, as well as bitter winter weather, will bring calm to the country. The government had also called on people to stay at home to give stretched security forces a break after another terror attack on Tuesday in Strasbourg where a gunman killed four people at a Christmas market. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven civilians died in south Kashmir's Pulwama district Saturday when security forces allegedly opened fire at an unruly crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and an Army man were killed, police said. The 11 deaths took place after security forces laid siege to a locality in Sirnoo village following intelligence reports about the presence of three militants, including Army deserter Zahoor Ahmad Thoker who belonged to the same village. Several civilians were also injured in the firing that followed the encounter, officials said. Political parties in Kashmir condemned the killings, saying Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration has "failed" to secure people's lives. Authorities suspended mobile internet services in most parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, to prevent escalation in tension following the deaths. Local residents had thronged the encounter site after hearing that Zahoor Thoker was among the militants trapped there, police officials said. Though the encounter ended in 25 minutes with the killing of the three militants, the security forces faced a tough time as people started climbing onto Army vehicles, they said. Officials said warning shots were fired but that did not deter the mob, forcing the security forces to open fire at the civilians. Seven civilians were killed and dozens injured, including a youth whose condition was said to be critical. Thoker had gone missing from an Army unit in north Kashmir's Baramulla district in July last year. He had decamped with his service rifle and three magazines and joined the militant ranks. Security forces said Thoker was involved in several killings in Pulwama district. The identities of two other militants were being ascertained. Officials said an Army jawan was killed in the gunfight and two other soldiers were in a critical condition. No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians, Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? she added. No country can win a war by killing its own people, she said in another tweet. National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah questioned the way the operation was carried out. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? "he tweeted. Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir, he said, tallying the deaths of protesters, militants and the jawan. "The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing," he tweeted. Separatist-turned-politicians and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We can't afford a state of impunity," he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP is trying to reach out to farmers and traders of Haryana who, the party alleged, have been hit badly by the policies of the Manohar Lal Khattar government. The BJP government in Haryana has failed to give justice to the state's farmers and traders. A number of issues related to these sections need urgent attention, Sushil Gupta, AAP's Rajya Sabha member and in-charge of the party's trade wing, said. During his recent visit to the state, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also raised the issues of farmers and traders. The "poor" condition of schools and hospitals is another important issue in the state, he said. "We are trying to reach out to traders and farmers in Haryana through meetings and rallies in different parts of the state. These two sections have been hit the hardest by the policies of the Khattar government," Gupta said. The recent law and order problems like violence during the Jat agitation and protests over conviction of self-styled godman Ram Rahim have affected investments which ultimately hit local businesses and traders, he said. The state government is talking about replacing 'mandis' with e-markets. It will affect lakhs of farmers and traders, he said. Party leaders said Haryana being the home state of Kejriwal, the organisational work was going on at top speed. Gupta said units of the party at parliamentary, assembly, district, block and market levels are being activated in view of elections next year. The party cadre is also leveraging on the AAP government's achievements in Delhi, especially in education, health and power and water supply sectors, in reaching out to voters, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan, Afghanistan and China on Saturday agreed to boost mutual cooperation in combating all terrorist groups and individuals without any discrimination to eliminate terrorism from the region. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmoud Qureshi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani met here Saturday for the 2nd Pakistan-China-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers' dialogue during which they discussed trade, development, ways to end Afghanistan's 17-year war and regional cooperation. Following the talks, the foreign ministers signed a memorandum of understanding to boost mutual cooperation for elimination of terrorism in the region, Radio Pakistan reported. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani. The three sides also took stock of the trilateral cooperation in their fight against terrorism and "underlined the need to further strengthen counter-terrorism coordination and cooperation in an effort to combat all terrorist groups and individuals without any discrimination", it said. They also agreed to counter logistical capabilities of terrorists, deny terrorist use of the internet and take joint steps for de-radicalisation, as well as work together to break the nexus between the narco-trade and terror-financing. The ministers also reaffirmed their support to the Afghan-owned, and Afghan-led inclusive peace process that is fully supported regionally and internationally. China and Pakistan hailed the efforts of Afghanistan's President, especially for the comprehensive peace plans that came out of the second Kabul Process and the Geneva Conferences on Afghanistan. They also called on the Afghan Taliban to join the peace process at an early date. They underlined the need to further strengthen their relations, deepen cooperation and advance connectivity under the China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and other regional economic initiatives. The ministers agreed to promote China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral cooperation under the framework of jointly building the BRI. They agreed to continue the economic development cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The three sides will continue to implement and expand the "soft" projects such as exchange and capacity building programs, and explore "hard" projects of livelihood facilities and connectivity, it said. China expressed its readiness to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in building immigration reception centre and drinking water supply schemes at each side of the Ghulam Khan Khel crossing point, and to explore cold storages at Chaman and Spin Boldak. Wang said his country supports enhanced coordination between Afghanistan and Pakistan on major energy and connectivity projects, including the construction of Quetta-Kandahar railway and the Kabul-Peshawar Motorway and Railway. The three sides expressed their determination not to allow any country, organization or individual to use their respective territories for terrorist activities against any other countries. Later, Qureshi addressing joint conference along with his Chinese and Afghan counterparts after the dialogue, stressed on a joint strategy to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the region, reported Radio Pakistan. Only through collective efforts, terrorism can be wiped out and the objectives of peace and development could be achieved, he said. "We all want peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan will benefit the most from the peace and stability of the neighbouring country," Qureshi said, adding that Islamabad will extend its cooperation in bringing all the Afghan groups to the table of negotiations. Qureshi said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Wang said both Afghanistan and Pakistan are friends of China and his country was ready to extend every possible cooperation to build trust and confidence between the two countries. He said his country will also assist in establishing connectivity projects including a railway line between Peshawar-Kabul and Kandahar. The Chinese foreign minister said the Afghan reconciliation process can be taken forward by bringing the Taliban to the table of negotiations. Rabbani said Pakistan has an important role to play to bringing peace in Afghanistan, as the peace in his country was vital for the peace and security of the entire region. He said eradication of terrorism will pave the way for economic development and job creation and Pak-Afghan relations are rooted in common faith and culture. "We desire to strengthen our relations with Pakistan". Qureshi, along with Pakistan's foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua and other senior officials, reached Kabul on his second trip to Afghanistan since Prime Minister Imran Khan came to power in August. He held bilateral meetings with President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Rabbani and discussed, the recent efforts for initiating peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Qureshi underscored that bilateral engagement remains the most viable platform for addressing matters of mutual interest and in this regard the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) provides the most effective mechanism, a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Office said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A meeting of the working committee of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board here on Sunday is likely to deliberate on the Ayodhya issue. "The issue of Babri Masjid among various other matters will be discussed in detail at the meeting. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is concerned about the demand for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya through the ordinance route," Maulana Wali Rahmani, General Secretary, AIMPLB said Saturday. "Discussions will be held to chalk out a strategy in case the government brings an ordinance," he said. Rahmani also noted that the demand to bring an ordinance in the matter was "against the court" as the matter was sub judice. "The hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit is going on in the Supreme Court, and the board feels that the demand to bring an ordinance (for construction of Ram temple), when the hearing is going on, is against the court," he said. Ignoring the Uttar Pradesh government's request of an early hearing, the Supreme Court had on October 29 adjourned the hearing for the Ayodhya title suit case to January next year. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K M Joseph was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict trifurcating the disputed site at Ayodhya into three parts for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the original Muslim litigant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two arms smugglers were arrested with weapons and ammunition near the Indo-Bangladesh border at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said Saturday. Twelve air guns, 470 washers, 22 country-made pistols, 61 live rounds and 18 magazines were recovered from their possession on Friday night, the official said. Acting on a tip-off regarding smuggling of air guns from the area, the BSF carried out a special drive near the Indo Bangladesh Border Fence (ITBF) on Friday, he said. The BSF detected suspicious movement of three men who were carrying four bags with them. When challenged, the men fled leaving their bags behind. The seized items have been handed over to Krishnaganj Police Station in Nadia district, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army proposed to increase intake of women in more non-combat roles such as interpreters and cyber specialists, its Chief General Bipin Rawat said here Saturday. Besides, it also was mulling recruiting women for the military police, he told reporters here on the sidelines of the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the city outskirts. We are saying, we are going to increase the intake. Women are already there in the Army. We are now going to take them more into some other cadres gradually, we are expanding the Indian Army to women officers," he said. Women were there in the legal and education areas already and the army wanted interpreters, cyber specialists, people in the information warfare domain and in accounts and audit services, the General said, replying to a question about Army increasing intake of women. "I am also looking at women jawans in the military police. Women joining as soldiers in the military police service and then we will see whether there is any scope for expansion later," the army chief said. Earlier last month, speaking on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy in Pune, Gen. Rawat had said the army was not yet ready to have women in combat roles. Extending best wishes to the young officers who joined the services here, Rawat expressed hope they would make the defence force proud. I am confident that the Air Force will continue to touch the sky with glory always and every time, he said. Earlier in his address at the parade, he referred to 24 women among the graduating cadets and said it was heartening to see so many being commissioned. "As empowered women of our great nation, you all are becoming a member of the prestigious Armed forces which will act as a source of inspiration to others to look up to and emulate," he said. The Army chief told the graduating officers that the modern-day battlefield needed 'technologically adept' airmen, sailors and soldiers. As the nation aspired for its rightful place in the global and regional power structure, the need to protect its security interests would always be paramount, Rawat said. This would increasingly mandate 'synergised employment' of the capabilities of all three services, he said. The potent capabilities, especially the lethal punch of the Indian Air Force, would continue to grow with infusion of new technology into the war-fighting systems, Rawat said. Besides, the defence force was witnessing acquisition and operation of latest weapon platforms and revamped force structures, he said. The army, navy and air force were increasingly pursuing aggregation of individual service capabilities, he said. Among the graduating officers was a woman fighter pilot Priya Sharma, who is the seventh woman fighter pilot in the IAF and the third from Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. She was inspired by seeing Jaguars and Hawk aircraft flying since her childhood, the young pilot said recalling her childhood days when her father was posted in Air Force Station in Bidar, Karnataka. "It was initially difficult to adapt to a different cockpit (as part of training) and changing aircraft but I got used to it... It is wonderful flying," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A driver died in Belgium near the border with France on Friday evening after hitting a truck which had slowed down due to a blockade by "yellow vest" protesters, a local government official said. The death takes to seven the number of people who have died in incidents linked to the anti-government protests in France which began on November 17 over rising petrol and diesel costs. Most of the deaths have been in accidents at blockades or barriers set up by protesters on roundabouts or on roads leading to motorways. On December 1, an 80-year-old woman was fatally injured by a tear-gas grenade fired by police in Marseille. The accident on Friday night happened in the Erquelinnes area of Belgium at a junction between the N40 and N54 roads "after a slowdown in France caused by the 'yellow vests'," the local government office in northern France said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyatt Hotels Corporation said it has completed the acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality, a lifestyle hotel management company with a unique collection of distinctive brands, outstanding properties and a significant global development pipeline. With the addition of five established lifestyle brands - Alila, Destination, Joie de Vivre, Thompson, and tommie - Hyatt has expanded its brand presence into 23 new markets with management and license agreements for 74 open and operating hotels across North America and Asia, and a robust pipeline of signed management agreements. As part of the acquisition, Hyatt is establishing a new dedicated lifestyle division to combine the operations of Two Roads' and Hyatt's lifestyle brands. We will leverage the shared expertise of Hyatt and Two Roads across our powerful combined portfolio of 19 brands to bring best-in-class offerings for guests around the globe, said Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. For hotel owners, our platform will deliver opportunities for enhanced operational excellence and financial performance. We are pleased to have completed this exciting transaction, and we welcome Two Roads associates to Hyatt, he stated. Two Roads' brands are expected to join the World of Hyatt loyalty programme in the near future, expanding opportunities for World of Hyatt members to earn and redeem points across more leisure-focused stay options and also driving hotel occupancy from a loyal group of travelers who spend more, stay more and book directly. Prior to closing the transaction, the base purchase price for the acquisition was revised to $405 million from $480 million, and the aggregate potential additional consideration from Hyatt was revised to $96 million from $120 million. The revised consideration reflects the exclusion of certain properties from the transaction, including properties not operated under the Two Roads brands and properties that will continue to be managed or licensed directly by an affiliate of sellers. The total purchase price reflects an ebitda multiple of approximately 12x stabilized 2021 earnings, which Hyatt considers the best indicator of valuation based on anticipated synergies and growth. As a result of the revised transaction terms, Hyatt expects the 2019 adjusted ebitda contribution prior to non-recurring integration-related costs to be approximately $20-25 million. This compares to a prior estimate of approximately $25 million to $30 million. After including integration costs, the net contribution to 2019 Adjusted ebitda is expected to be flat to $5 million. Goldman Sachs & Company served as exclusive financial advisor to Hyatt foir the transaction, while Moelis & Company served as exclusive financial advisor to Two Roads Hospitality. The legal counsel to Hyatt was Latham & Watkins and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal counsel to Two Roads Hospitality. Based in Chicago, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 14 premier brands.-TradeArabia News Service Seeking to turn the tables on the over the Rafale issue, the will deploy its top leaders, including chief ministers and Union ministers, in 70 cities across the country on Monday to attack the opposition party. "The will unmask the Congress' conspiracy against the government and its attempt to play with security after the Supreme Court has categorically stated the truth about that the Rafale deal," the party's media head and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni said. The judgment, he said, has "nailed the lie" of those levelling allegations against the government over the fighter aircraft contract. Sources said Yogi Adityanath, Devendra Fadanvis, Vijay Rupani, Sarbananda Sonowal, its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Assam, respectively, will address the media in Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Agartala respectively. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Jaavdekar, J P Nadda, Smriti Irani, Suresh Prabhu, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and party's organisational leaders will also speak to the media on Monday at different places. In a boost to the BJP-led central government, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking probe into the The court said there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal with Following the judgement, president Amit Shah has sought an apology from chief Rahul Gandhi who, however, stuck to his guns and alleged corruption in the deal. The bureaucracy, military, industry and academia came together here on Saturday to speak in unison on the need to improve higher technical in India. Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, in his valedictory address at the conference on 'Upgrading Technical Education: The Essence of Make in India', emphasised on the need for the domestic system to focus on design and intellectual property (IP) creation, the organisers said in a statement. The conference was organised by Global Dialogue Review (GDR), a think-tank and an internationally reputed foreign affairs journal. Lt General P J S Pannu, deputy chief, Integrated Defence Staff, and the head of technology institutions in the armed forces, in his keynote speech at the conference, called for more forums to discuss the upgrading of higher technical to meet the country's needs for the next decade. Deepak Talwar, Global Vice President Procurement for Engineering of Thales, asserted that Indian skill creation will gain in ambition if decision-makers provide more encouragement for industries' participation in improving the academic infrastructure of the country. The possible involvement of higher technology importation institutions as part of offset requirement was raised at the conference by Air Marshal M Matheswaran (retd), former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. The conference sought to focus attention on the critical need to enhance the country's higher technical education through collaborations with globally reputed institutions of excellence in order to meet the challenges of domestic self-reliance, especially in strategic areas of defence. It took place as India embarks on the journey towards greater reliance on domestic industry to produce state-of-the-art equipment and systems, while being hampered in this endeavour by the "lack of world-class" teaching institutions. Speakers at the conference stressed on the fact that Indian educational infrastructure was fine-tuned to cater only to the engineering services segment, and was largely out of its depth in developing engineers for applications to match the challenges of innovation. The conference explored ways for local technology institutions to collaborate with their globally reputed counterparts to locally produce a large pool of engineering talent that could help bring to complete fruition the 'Make in India' doctrine. Those who addressed the conference included Air Vice Marshal Vivek Rajhans, Commandant, Military Institute of Technology, Pune, Dr. Eyal Benjamin, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studies at Tel Aviv University, Bertrand de Hartingh, Director of Institute de France, Ankur Kanaglekar, Head of Strategic Business Development, Boeing, and Sameer Sonpavede, CEO and Managing Director, AvioHeliTronics InfoSystems. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A nationwide campaign has been launched in the US to raise awareness on and bring down cases of bullying against people following the religion. Titled "I am Hindu American", the campaign was launched by the US-based Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and includes a social media campaign, a 30-second public service announcement and a companion website to provide resources about and Hindu Indian-Americans. During the campaign, the organisers would boost awareness and clarify common stereotypes and misunderstandings about through social media networks nationwide. "The goal of 'I Am Hindu American' campaign is to drive online conversation by putting a face on the Hindu American community. Despite the fact that Hindus are one of the most successful minority communities, knowledge about Hindus and Hinduism is very low among the US general public. Our own data shows that one in three Hindu-American students report being bullied for their religious beliefs," Suhag Shukla, the executive director and co-founder of HAF, said in a statement. He said that most of the bullying cases were based on misperceptions about Hindus and the narrative needs to be changed. Hate crimes in the US increased by about 17 per cent in 2017 as compared to 2016, according to the FBI. He said that Hinduism has contributed a lot towards the daily activities of humans. "There are many Hindu contributions to our daily lives: from yoga and meditation to the decimal system as well as an understanding of the law of cause and effect known as karma," the statement said. A Canadian delegation Saturday met Punjab Technical Education minister Charanjit Singh Channi and discussed the streamlining of migration process. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Punjab and the government of Alberta, Canada by next year to save the immigration aspirants here from unscrupulous commission agents, Channi said. It was in continuation of the initiative taken by the a high-level delegation that visited Canada this year to facilitate aspiring youths from Punjab to find jobs overseas and explore educational opportunities, he added. Earlier, Secretary Technical Education and Industrial Training D K Tiwari said the Punjab government was making all efforts to save youngsters from fraudulent agents. Led by Canadian Immigration Minister Christopher Kerr, the delegation later visited skill development centres run by the state government at Ludhiana and Amritsar, an official release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused the BJP and the Congress of "not taking steps" to ensure remunerative crop prices to farmers, employment generation and improving health and education services since Independence. Addressing a rally here on Saturday, he asked people not to vote for the BJP or Congress in the next Assembly elections and sought the support of youth for building a "new Haryana". "I want to ask the BJP and Congress why did they not improve the conditions of hospitals and schools in the last 70 years. Why work for the welfare of farmers was not done? Why efforts were not made for generating employment for youth? "The BJP and Congress did not undertake these works during last 70 years because their intentions were not right," Kejriwal alleged. "We (AAP government) are now carrying out (development) works in Delhi which was to be undertaken immediately after Independence. After running government in Delhi for the last three years, I have understood that these works are possible and we have shown by doing it in Delhi," he said. Asking voters not to repeat the mistake of "five year (Bhupinder Singh Hooda) and five year (Manohar Lal) Khattar", Kejriwal said with the support of the youth his party will make Haryana "corruption-free". "Youth is our biggest strength and with their help we changed Delhi. Now it is the turn of the youth of Haryana... We will build a new Haryana where farmers will get adequate price for their crops, good educational institutions and free medical treatment at hospitals, employment to youth," the AAP leader said. Terming the crop insurance scheme a "big scam", he claimed that farmers were deprived of their legitimate claims after their crops get damaged. "The crop insurance scheme, being run by the BJP government, is actually a big scam. Money is deducted from the accounts of farmers in the name of insurance which is like robbing them. Farmers tell us when they seek insurance claim on account of crop damage, they are told that they could not get claims until crop of 70 per cent villagers get damaged," Kejriwal alleged. Kejriwal said his government in Delhi pays direct compensation to farmers and ensures that Rs 20,000 per acre is paid within two months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly-appointed TRS Working President K T Rama Rao Saturday claimed that neither the Congress nor BJP would be able to get a majority after the general elections next year and said Telangana can get its interests safeguarded if his party wins 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state. BJP would not be able to get more than 150-160 seats and Congress, even if the 44 seats it won in last Lok Sabha polls doubles, would not secure more than 80-90 seats in 2019, he maintained. Even their combined tally would not cross 270, he claimed adding in such a situation every MP seat becomes important in the election. "If TRS wins 16 seats with people's blessings, it would be dictating to the government in Delhi (Centre) with those 16 seats," he said indicating a crucial role for the party. Telangana was not able to realise the assurances given to it in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act like setting up a steel plant in the state with the NDA government at the Centre having a comfortable majority on its own, he said. TRS would play a decisive role if a non-Congress, non-BJP government assumes office at the Centre, he said. The total number of Lok Sabha seats in Telangana is 17. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, an ally of TRS, traditionally wins from the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency. Rama Rao said his appointment as working president should not lead to speculation that something more was in store for him. On the party's stand that it would not hesitate to play a role in Andhra Pradesh politics, he said people of the neighbouring state would decide what was good for them. Rama Rao was speaking at a 'Meet the Press' programme organised at the Press Club of Hyderabad. He would formally take over as working president of TRS on Monday, party sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Saturday accused the Congress of playing into the hands of enemies of the country, like Pakistan and China, to force cancellation of Rafale jet deal. His comments came a day after the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets. The court said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. Unfazed by the apex court verdict, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract and asserted it will be proved by his party. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook the Rafale deal to strengthen the defence of the country and make its Air Force powerful but Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders are out to force cancellation of this important agreement," Raina told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Reasi district. "The Congress is playing with the security of the nation. Enemies of the nation like Pakistan and China are strengthening their defence by procuring arms and ammunition but when Modi entered into a deal with France for Rafale to give a befitting response to the neighbouring countries, the Congress tried to create obstacles to scuttle the deal," he said. He alleged that Gandhi and his party's leaders were conspiring with the enemy nations, which do not want India to be strong. The "hullabaloo" of the Congress "is at the behest of Pakistan and China. They are dancing at the tune of the enemies of the country," he said. The state BJP president visited Pouni block of the mountainous Reasi district to welcome over a dozen newly elected panches and sarpanches in the party fold. Raina exuded confidence about the BJP's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly polls. "The BJP will win the upcoming parliamentary and assembly elections hands down. We will form the next government on our own, given the success of our candidates in the recently held urban local bodies and panchayat elections," he said. "We are sure of a win to form a government with our own chief minister in the state," he added. The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly was dissolved by Governor Satya Pal Malik on November 21. The Election Commission has to hold fresh assembly polls in the state within six months, by May 21. Raina said the performance of the prime minister and his slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) has transformed the situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir and especially in the Valley. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Saturday that the BJP should not be allowed to change the "national narrative" in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress was the only alternative to the BJP, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said. "The Congress needs to shape the national narrative in the right direction and resist powerful attempts made by the BJP to change it. We have to focus on activating ourselves at the booth level," Tharoor said at an interaction with members of the All India Professional Congress here. The Congress is preparing a well-grounded manifesto which will be the party's map for governance and its focus will be job creation, he said. The Rahul Gandhi-led party was the only alternative to the "discredited" BJP, he said. To a question, Tharoor admitted that unlike in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh (where the Congress has now dislodged the BJP from power), his party is not the principal opposition to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. "We have to be realistic and work within our limitations. We have to sink our pride and work with parties who are more popular than us, since changing the government in 2019 is our priority," he said. However, as a long-term strategy, the Congress needs to reconnect with the masses in UP and Bihar and not rely only on its allies, Tharoor added. The party's social media presence is robust and Rahul Gandhi's tweets are more entertaining and punchy than Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, he said. Tharoor also blamed the BJP for 'losing' an opportunity to bring lasting peace to Jammu and Kashmir. "With the unholy alliance with PDP, BJPhad gained a foothold in Kashmir's political space and a stake in the government. There were perfect conditions to work on serious peace initiative. But the BJPlet it go by indulging in petty This is a cause of dismay to all Indians who care," he said. To a question about rumours that he could join the BJP, the Congress MP said it was not possible "because fundamentals are in variance". The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) demonized Mahatma's Gandhi's principles, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi understands the value of "Mahatma Gandhi brand", Tharoor said. "He pays a lip service (to Gandhi) but ignores the content," he said. On BJP's 'appropriation' of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he said, "The most divisive government yet constructed the Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Patel. Patel is being appropriated because he is not Nehru and is a Gujarati. "However, Patel as home minister banned the RSS. He was a Gandhian to the core. When confronted with communal violence, Patel's approach was different from Modi's," Tharoor said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Saturday extended by four days the CBI custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case. The 57-year-old British national was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. The probe agency told the judge that Michel needs to be confronted with various documents in the case and had sought further custody of for five days Michel was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days. Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Both the agencies notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI(M) has filed an intervention plea in the pending Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The intervention plea is filed through advocate-on-record Resmitha R Chandran. Senior advocate P V Surendranath will argue the matter in the apex court for the party. "The party is of the unequivocal opinion that Article 370 shall in no circumstance be annulled, modified or repealed. The party opposes the relief sought in the Special Leave Petition," CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami said in a statement. "The special status guaranteed to the State of Jammu Kashmir under the Constitution of India which has assumed the permanent feature of the Constitution requires protection as any alteration would be against the policy of federalism envisaged by the framers of the Constitution," he said. Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in unique circumstances and it poses a unique problem which requires a unique solution, he said. It was the only state to declare its intention to have its own Constitution drafted by its own constituent assembly as far back as March 5, 1948, he said. "Federalism is a basic feature and part of basic structure of the Constitution. To promote fraternity among all the citizens, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation is our constitutional motto as declared in the preamble of our Constitution," he said. Tarigami said the relative autonomy of states on federal principle was a pre-condition for preserving and developing unity and integrity of the nation. "Federalism also presupposes acknowledgment of historical realities and special nature and objective factors with respect to deferent states and their population," he said. Article 370 grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir while Article 35A empowers the state legislature to define permanent citizens. The next date for hearing on Article 370 is scheduled on January 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rosewood Hotel Group, one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has appointed Neil George as the strategic advisor for its development team based in Dubai. In his new role, he will support the group in managing key relationships with significant capital partners, developers and hotel owners, and also play a key role in the groups development in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), India and the Indian Ocean across its four brands. I am delighted to be associated with Rosewood Hotel Group at a time of such dynamism, growth and evolution in the company, remarked George. The MEA and the Indian Ocean all represent substantial opportunity for unique ultra-luxury experiences with the Sense of Place philosophy that the Rosewood brand offers, stated . An industry veteran, George has more than 25 years senior hospitality leadership experience, much of which has been spent in the MEA and India markets. Prior to joining Rosewood Hotel Group, he spent 10 years growing Starwoods presence in the MEA region. He also held senior hospitality advisory roles with Deloitte and Arthur Andersen in London. He first developed his passion for luxury hospitality at Taj Hotels in India, where he started his career. With his extensive on-the-ground experience in these regions, George will support Rosewood Hotel Groups expansion strategy across the MEA and India division, bringing the groups brands to new corners of the world. A British national of Indian origin, George holds a Master degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University Hotel School, New York.-TradeArabia News Service Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiityanath complaining about police inaction in the alleged gang rape of a woman in the state. Maliwal said the DCW received a complaint from a victim of gang rape and sexual assault and "the bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and the insensitivity of the state police to arrest the accused" has urged her to write the letter. She said the 21-year-old survivor was sold by her father to a 65-year-old private tutor for Rs 40,000 at the age of 12 and until the age of 17 she was raped in Chandpur (Bijnor). Later she was shifted to another place in Bijnor. Four men took turns to rape the girl. She tried to escape from their clutches a number of times, but got caught by her abductors each time. She was physically assaulted for her attempt to escape, followed by an act of extreme revengeful sexual abuse as a form of punishment, Maliwal said. The accused even abused and burnt the woman's minor daughter with cigarettes. In her FIR, the survivor has alleged that one of the accused is a serial rapist and has killed a 19-year-old woman when she tried to escape his brutality, Maliwal said. The woman underwent unimaginable form of oppression and torture for a decade. Eventually, she somehow managed to escape and sought police assistance, but they refused to take her compliant. She submitted five written complaints at Chandpur police station but each time the police snubbed her and ignored her pleas. "In light of this extreme horrendous incident, the Delhi Commission for Women requests you to urgently look into the matter and take action immediately against the perpetrators and deliver justice to the survivor," Maliwal said. "You are also requested to ensure urgent release of victim compensation as the woman does not hail from a financially sound background. Further, an inquiry should be conducted into the role of police in the matter and strictest action should be taken against those found guilty," she said in the letter to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Maliwal claimed that the DCW receives complaints from Uttar Pradesh every other day about atrocities against women and girls. "The Commission requests you to bring about immediate and effective change in the system to ensure that such dreadful crimes are not repeated," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The decomposed body of an Afghan national was found at his rented flat in southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar, police said Saturday. The deceased has been identified as 33-year-old Sultani Naseer, they said. On December 13, one Gurpreet informed the Lajpat Nagar police station that his tenant died at his house, police said. On reaching the spot, police found that the man was lying dead on a sofa and the body was in a decomposed condition, Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of police (southeast), said. Police suspect that the victim may have died some five to six days ago, he said. No apparent injury was found on the body. The house also seemed in normal condition, he said. On investigation, the police learnt that the house was taken on rent by one Abdul Rehman Noori, an Afghan national. He had been residing there since November 23. The officer said on December 6, Sultani joined Noori. The body has been sent to AIIMS mortuary and the Afghan embassy has been informed about the matter, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel Saturday slammed the BJP and the Congress for boycotting the silver jubilee celebrations of the house's first sitting, saying they have insulted the people of Delhi. Goel also wondered as to what was the reason behind BJP veteran L K Advani, who was invited to be the chief guest at the function, skipping the event. In his address during the function to mark the 25th anniversary of the Delhi Assembly's first sitting held on December 14, 1993, Goel hit out at city Congress chief Ajay Maken and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and BJP MLA Vijender Gupta for holding press conferences to announce their boycott of the function. "The Prime Minister calls Parliament a temple. This (Delhi Assembly) is a shivlinga. Vijender Gupta had stood on the top of a bench in the Delhi Assembly... (and) He is talking about keeping the dignity of the Assembly," Goel said. Gupta had in June 2016 created uproar by perching himself atop a desk of the Delhi assembly protesting "gagging" of opposition voice. Advani also skipped the Saturday event citing personal reasons. The BJP stalwart was the first chairman of the Delhi Metropolitan Council, the body that preceded the Assembly, from 1966 to 1970. The Delhi Assembly had its first sitting on December 14, 1993. "We wanted Advaniji to sit on the dais. He accepted the invite and I even have the copy of the acceptance letter. I do not know the reason why he declined later. After four days, he sent the letter saying he is busy and won't be able to come. The cards had been printed and we had to get fresh cards printed," Goel said. He said Maken had not attended many events organised in the Delhi Assembly. "By boycotting the Delhi Assembly, you are not insulting any party but Delhi's citizens. They have chosen you. It's a matter of shame," Goel said. Gupta had on Thursday said the BJP MLAs in a meeting decided to boycott the function over "disrespect" to the democratic values and the Constitution. Maken had said that the current speaker should have formed an all-party committee to hold the silver jubilee function. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facing flak over his recent controversial order, Meghalaya High Court judge S R Sen on Friday issued a "clarification", saying neither was his judgment politically motivated nor did he say anything against secularism and that his order had been "misinterpreted". In the 'clarification from the bench' posted on the high court website, Justice Sen said he does not belong to any political party and does not dream of getting a political berth after retirement. He said he had written the judgement based on truth, history and ground reality "to save the citizens of India, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language". The judge's observations in the December 10 judgement that India should have been a Hindu country after independence just as Pakistan became an Islamic country and that nobody should try to make India into an Islamic country had stoked a controversy. The CPI(M) had urged Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to remove him from his judicial duties and had alleged that his utterances were against the basic structure of the Constitution. Justice Sen, in the judgement passed on Monday while disposing of a petition of a man who was denied domicile certificate by Meghalaya, had also observed that he was confident that only this government under Narendra Modi will understand the gravity. However, Justice Sen said on Friday that when he mentioned the government under Modi, it was inclusive of the ministers and members of both houses of Parliament and his request was to policymakers and lawmakers of the country. . "Secondly, I would clarify here that in my judgement nowhere have I said anything against secularism and my judgement makes references to history and one cannot change the history," he said He also asserted that "I am not a religious fanatic rather I respect all the religions because to me God is one". In his order, Justice Sen had urged the Centre to bring a law to allow Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians and Khasis, Jaintias and Garos tribals who are presently residing in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to live in this country peacefully and with full dignity, without marking any cut-off year. The judge in his clarification said such people were coming to India due to religious persecution and they may get a right to live in in India but the process for this had to be determined by the authorities and by due process of law. "We should remember that whatever we call influx or foreigner, that is due to unwanted partition and without proper referendum and wrong boundary demarcation and mainly on religious persecution," Justice Sen said. He added all states should embrace such people and no particular state or region should take the burden of influx. He added that it was only his suggestion and "totally depends upon the polity and lawmakers of the country. At the same time he noted that the Constitution allows every citizen to settle in any part of the country. "I do not belong to any political party nor have I got any dream to get any political berth after my retirement and neither is my judgment politically motivated or influenced by any party," said Justice Sen who is due to retire in March. Although the Centre's Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 also seeks to make Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from the three countries eligible for Indian citizenship after a stay of six years, there was no mention of the bill in the court order. Noting that secularism is one of the basic structures of the Constitution, Justice Sen said, "It (India) should not further be divided on the basis of religion, caste, creed, community or language." He had in his judgement said the National Register of Citizens exercise in Assam is "defective" as many foreigners "became Indians" due to the exercise and "original Indians are left out". "Nobody should try to make India another Islamic country otherwise it will be a doomsday...," Justice Sen had said. The judge was, however, quick to add in his order that he was not against "my Muslim brothers and sisters" who are residing in India for generations and abiding Indian laws. "They should also be allowed to live peacefully". AIMIM leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi had reacted sharply to the court order. "This is a wrong judgment. We do not accept it. You cannot give such a judgement... India is and will remain a plural, secular country. What kind of judgement is this...will the government take note." Union Minister Giriraj Singh, however, had welcomed the judge's order saying his observations are in line with public sentiments. "What he has said is also the voice of crores of people of India," the BJP leader had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several prominent Pakistani dissidents currently living in various countries have gathered here at a conference to discuss ways of ensuring greater support for pluralist ideas, human rights, and democracy in Pakistan, organisers of the event said Saturday. The two-day deliberative conference titled 'Pakistan After The Elections' was opened by former Pakistan ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani and will end on Sunday with an event to be addressed by US Congressman Brad Sherman, Chairman Emeritus of the Asia subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, a statement said. "Terrorism and international isolation, not dissent, are the real threats to Pakistan but unfortunately Pakistan's establishment refuses to recognise that reality," said Haqqani. He said the heavy-handed suppression of diverse views in Pakistan would not end the country's economic crisis nor would it help the government's stated purpose of projecting a positive image for the country. "The best way to have a positive image is to build a positive reality, one that is free of the taint of terrorism, external dependence, and lack of democracy," he said. Attended by scholars, journalists, bloggers and social media activists, many of whom now live in exile, the conference is the third to be organised by South Asians Against Terrorism and for Human Rights (SAATH), a group of prodemocracy Pakistanis and is co-hosted by Haqqani and US-based columnist Mohammad Taqi. Earlier, the SAATH conferences were held in London in 2016 and 2017. This year, organisers scaled down the conference's size as some of the forum's Pakistani participants were legally barred or intimidated by authorities from participating. Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) member of the National Assembly Mohsin Dawar was detained at Peshawar airport as he was leaving Pakistan a few days ago. He informed the conference organisers that the government had unlawfully stopped him from attending the meeting, according to a SAATH statement. "Pro-democracy Pakistanis, including liberals and Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Seraiki, and Muhajir nationalists see the appointment of Imran Khan as Prime Minister as a virtual military takeover, with a very poor civilian faade," SAATH said in a statement. "In our discussions, we hope to address questions such as where Pakistan stands in the aftermath of the 2018 elections, what are the consequences to Pakistan of mainstreaming terrorists and terror groups, and how might the weakening voices for reform and a liberal vision be strengthened," it said. Taqi said the freedom-loving Pakistanis needed to join hands "to create space for intellectual and political discourse". "The Pakistani press remains in chains, electronic media is being coerced into submission, journalists are being hounded by the deep state, and the political parties have been tamed into submission," he observed, adding that "resistance would continue to the Pakistani establishment's totalitarian project". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A panel tasked with preparing the new (NEP) has completed its work, Union HRD Minister said here Saturday. He said the draft NEP would be handed over to the Central government "anytime from now". The Central government had constituted K Kasturirangan committee to prepare draft for the new NEP 2017. "The panel has prepared the draft of the policy which has five pillars namely accessibility, affordability, equity, quality and accountability", the minister said. He was speaking at the convocation ceremony of the Goa University here. "Our committee under K Kasturirangan today only said that the report is ready. They are ready to hand over the national educational policy at any day and any time", he said at the function attended by Chancellor of Goa University and Goa Governor Mridula Sinha. Javadekar said his ministry will frame a schedule for accepting and implementing the policy. "This will give a new feeling and a new direction to our education system. We have a long way to go", he said. TheNEP is aimed at promoting education amongst the common people of the country. The policy covers elementary to college education in both rural and urban India. The first NEP was promulgated in 1968 by the government ofthen Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the second by then Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhiin 1986. Javadekar further rued that India lacked in research and innovation, "due to which, many things that are used in the country are foreign-made". "Indian researchers are everywhere in almost all innovations like iphone, Facebook, Twitter and even Whatsapp kind of Apps. But despite all this, we are just the contributor for innovation. We are not the owners of innovation which should change", he said. The minister said the culture of innovation should be introduced at the level of schools. "That is the reason we have created 'Atal Tinkering Lab '(Under Atal Innovation Mission) in more than 3,000 schools", he added. "Under this project, students from class 6 to class 12 can work on 3-D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence and others", he said. The Union government has also launched 'Hackathon' at the college level wherein problem statements are given to students who are expected to find a solution. "During the first year (2016), 40,000 students participated in Hackathon while the number of students participating in the event last year (2017) stood at one lakh. This year, around 1.5 lakh students are expected to take part which will be the world's largest hackathon in three years", he said. The minister said Hackathon is producing results. "In the first year, 50 products were invented whereas more than 100 innovations happened in the second year. This year more innovations will happen", he added. Javadekar said innovation is the key for sustainable development of India. "That is why we have started a programme called Imprint, which is a public research programme. During a first Imprint event, we received 1,500 proposals of which 200 proposals were sanctioned. We are now funding them completely from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 4 crore", he said, adding that the second Imprint also received a tremendous response in the form of 2,000 proposals of which 300 have been accepted. Meanwhile, the minister said the HRD ministry is planning as many as 2,000 courses catering to professionals, students, professors and even senior citizens under new "Swayam" platform. "Swayam" is a "anytime, anywhere and learning forever platform", he said. "(Under Swayam), you will get a chance to learn further even after your formal education is over. You can upgrade your skills. Right from professors to senior citizens, anyone can learn", Javadekar said. The minister said his ministry waned to built Swayam platform further to incorporate 2,000 courses very soon. He said the concept of the National Digital Library (NDL) has done away with the need to search books at various colleges and libraries. "Now you have 1 crore 65 lakh books in your mobile phones and computers in the form of national digital library which are available for free", he said. He said the government was planning to give access of the digital library to all citizens to spread knowledge. Eight suspected cattle smugglers were arrested here when they were trying to move the livestock to Nepal, police said Saturday. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover said the police were tipped-off about the smuggling in Rupaidiha and Nanpare area of the district which is close to the India-Nepal border. On Friday, eight cattle smugglers, four of them history-sheeters, were arrested, while they were trying to flee to Nepal, he said. The members of the smugglers' gang had also unsuccessfully tried to attack the policemen, the SP said. He said four animals (cattle), unlicensed pistol, ammunition and a transportation vehicle have been recovered from the arrested accused. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a goal to be the number two player in the global air compressor market by 2027, the city-based Elgi Equiments is displaying a new product at the expo to be held in April 2019 in Hanover in Germany, a top company official said. The company, which stands number two in the country and number seven in the global market with its innovative compressors, wanted to move up the ladder and capture the second spot by 2027, Elgi Managing Director, Jairam Varadharaj told reporters here. The company has 12 installations of the new product in the country, he said. He said Elgi's technology breakthroughs will transform the conventional boundaries of compressor technology with a relentless focus on increasing performance and energy efficiency. Earlier, the company welcomed over 200 employees, students and industry representatives to the 1st edition of Technology Day 2018 and unveiled Elgi's "State of The Future Art"-a signature initiative focused on fostering innovation. Technology Day 2018 is a platform to engage and build collaboration between young engineering minds and industry experts and the day-long event recognised the significant contribution and complex engineering achievements of the company's technology team, he said. This year, as part of Technology Day 2018, Elgi invited engineering students to author papers on compressor efficiency, reliability and performance enhancements, Jairam Varadharaj said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Saturday said that libraries should be established widely so as to give a push to the reading habit among people. Naidu, who inaugurated the 'Hyderabad book fair' at NTR stadium here, said publications and the newspaper sector should try to gain new readers at a time when the reading habit was declining due to the spread of internet and TV. Against this backdrop, establishment of libraries would help, he said. The establishment of a library in every village and a toilet in every home should become a slogan, Naidu said. He recalled that setting up libraries in the form a movement promoted social causes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana decades ago. A good library should be available in every school, he said. Books about the lives of great personalities, history, culture and useful knowledge should be introduced to school children, along with their instruction in classrooms, he said. Highlighting the importance of books, he said books contribute to an individual's enrichment in life in a big way. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested three persons and recovered fake Indian currency notes with a face value of 4 lakh during a seizure in the central part of the city, police said Saturday. During a raid, the anti-FICN team of the STF captured the three persons near the crossing of Beadon street and Jatindra Mohan Avenue under Burtolla police station on Friday night. All the fake notes seized were in the denomination of Rs 2000, police said adding that efforts were on to find out if the arrested men belong to any gang. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyatt has announced the opening of Hyatt Place Riyadh Al Sulaimania, marking the introduction of the Hyatt Place brand to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Developed by Saudi Marhaba Hospitality & Tourism Company, Hyatt Place Riyadh Al Sulaimania joins Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Park Hyatt Jeddah and Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah, further strengthening Hyatts portfolio of brands in Saudi Arabia and overall brand footprint in the Middle East. Later this year, Hyatt House Jeddah Sari Street is expected to open, marking the introduction of Hyatts extended stay brand, Hyatt House, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Hyatt Place brand is rooted in the provision of stylish, comfortable and seamless experiences for guests, accommodating lifestyles and familiar routines with a promise of purposeful service and an uncomplicated stay. Centrally located in the upscale metropolitan neighbourhood of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Hyatt Place Riyadh Al Sulaimania provides the perfect location for casual leisure and business travellers and is close to many local attractions, including Thalya Street and Olaya business district. We are excited to introduce our select services portfolio to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the opening of the first Hyatt Place hotel, said General Manager Adnan Haider. This hotel strengthens Hyatts position in the region as a brand leader and showcases a different type of guest and hotel experience, one centred around casual hospitality and purposeful service in a smartly-designed environment. We are confident that both business and leisure travellers will enjoy the modern design, easy accessibility and pioneering service concepts offered at Hyatt Place Riyadh Al Sulaimania. Hyatt Place Riyadh Al Sulaimania offers: 88 spacious guestrooms, including 10 suites, fit with a Cozy Corner and sofa sleeper), as well as luxury bath amenities from KenetMD and high-tech amenities such as 49 flat swiveling screen smart IPTV to keep guests charged and connected at all times. A federal judge in Texas Friday struck down the entire Affordable Care Act, popular as Obamacare, ruling that the health-care law's individual coverage mandate was "unconstitutional", handing a major political victory to US President Donald Trump who has long been seeking its end. The ruling was over a lawsuit filed this year by a group of Republican governors and state attorneys general. It came on the eve of the Saturday deadline for Americans to sign up for coverage in the federal insurance exchange created under the law. In a ruling, that is likely to be challenged and was immediately opposed by the Democrats, District Court Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that the individual mandate of Affordable Care Act requiring people to have health insurance "can no longer be sustained as an exercise of Congress's tax power". Judge O'Connor, a George W Bush appointee, said that "the individual mandate is unconstitutional" and because the mandate cannot be separated from the rest of the law, Obamacare is invalid. "Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled unconstitutional by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great for America!" Trump exclaimed on twitter. Repealing and replacing Obamacare was Trump's election promise and he has been working on this in the first two years of his administration. "As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an unconstitutional disaster! Now Congress must pass a strong law that provides great healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done!" Trump said. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional in 2012 and 2015. The opposition Democrats were quick to raise their voice against the ruling by the federal district judge. "Tonight's district court ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of Republicans all-out assault on people with pre-existing conditions and Americans' access to affordable health care," said House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic leader. The Republicans tried and failed to destroy the Affordable Care Act and protections for pre-existing conditions. Then, in the midterm election, the American people delivered a record-breaking margin of almost 10 million votes against House Republicans' vile assault on health care, she said. "Now, the district court ruling in Republicans' lawsuit seeks to subvert the will of the American people and sow chaos in the final day of HealthCare.gov open enrolment," Pelosi said. "While the district court's absurd ruling will be immediately appealed, Republicans are fully responsible for this cruel decision and for the fear they have struck into millions of families across America who are now in danger of losing their health coverage," Pelosi said. After repeatedly trying and failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Congress, Trump and his Republican allies have turned to right-wing activist judges to try to overturn this vital law, alleged Democratic Senator Dick Durbin. "Instead of working to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions and ensure that all American families have choices when it comes to affordable, quality health care coverage, the Trump Administration has made it their mission for two years to destroy the law that has given 20 million Americans quality, affordable health insurance," he said. "Today's decision by a district court judge backed by President Trump is at its worst and threatens access to care for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions," Durbin said. The case against the ACA was brought by 20 Republican state attorneys general and governors, as well as two individuals. It revolves around Congress effectively eliminating the individual mandate penalty by reducing it to USD 0 as part of the 2017 tax cut bill. The mandate requires nearly all Americans to get health insurance or pay a penalty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Saturday asked private players to invest liberally in expressways, waterways and as well as towards the 'Clean Ganga Mission'. "Private players should consider investing in fast-growing expressways, highways, waterways, and projects under 'Clean Ganga Mission'," road transport and shipping minister Gadkari said while addressing the 91st Annual General Meeting of the industry body FICCI through video conferencing. The government had brought down the cost of land acquisition drastically to Rs 80 lakh per km from Rs 75 million per km earlier for the development of expressways, Gadkari said adding that private players should take advantage of the reduced land acquisition and labour cost. ALSO READ: Punjab CM urges govt to expeditiously clear greenfield expressway project He further said that land can even be made available to for bullet train routes. "Access controlled expressway of Delhi would reduce automotive pollution by 60 per cent in the city as the traffic will pass through the external ring roads without entering Delhi. The Bengaluru-Chennai expressway would be operational from January next year and the 12-lane Bombay-Delhi expressway, currently under construction, would reduce the distance between the two metros by 120 km," the minister said. He suggested the use of methanol and LNG as fuel to reduce the cost of logistics and added that the government intent to achieve the target of building roads at 40 kms/day by the end of this financial year. Gadkari said the government had decided to use 111 rivers for waterways and sought industry's cooperation in the transport of goods through this channel to reduce transportation cost. Under the 'Clean Ganga Mission', about 10-15 per cent of the 280 projects had been completed. A total of 150 bio-digester units were to be installed along the river to upgrade sanitary conditions. Ganga rejuvenation was now a success story, he said, adding that by March-end 2019, close to 80 per cent of the river would be clean and in the following year the Ganga would be fully clean. He urged the Indian industry to contribute to the mission through electronic fund transfer and help create employment opportunities for the local populace. The minister said his ministry will be starting the cleaning work in the shortly. WAPCOS has signed an MoU with the Australian company Dopplemayr, having technical expertise in building ropeways, cable cars for enhancing the public transportation in hilly areas like J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh thus positively impacting tourism in these states. He said that the government is collaborating with a Russian company for the feasibility of introducing airboats. A pilot would be taken up on January 26, 2019 on river from Delhi to Taj Mahal. Hindu religious leader Sadhvi Saraswati Saturday called for the ordinance route to construct Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, and claimed that Hindus are now being treated as aliens in their own land. She also accused the Trinamool Congress government of West Bengal of appeasing the Muslims. The TMC, however, said efforts to divide the people on religious lines would not work in the state. "Why is the government ignoring the sentiments of the Hindus? Hindustan belong to the Hindus but we are treated as aliens in our own land. The government should take the ordinance route for construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya," Saraswati said here today. There has been a growing clamour for ordinance by various organisations and political outfits such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), RSS and Shiv Sena. Addressing a 'Virat Hindu Sammelan' here, she demanded that the work for construction of Ram Mandir should start immediately and no one should try to test the patience of the Hindus. The Supreme Court has recently declined early hearing of petitions in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case. It had earlier fixed the case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. Saraswati urged the youths of the Hindu community to buy swords rather than spending money on purchasing expensive mobile phones. Alleging that the TMC government has been appeasing the Muslim community for the sake of vote bank, she said Hindus should unite and protest the "misrule" of the party. "The TMC tries to interfere in religious activities of the Hindus but won't dare to take action against Jihadi activities and infiltration," she said. Reacting to her statements, TMC secretary general and senior minister Partha Chatterjee said no effort to divide people on religious lines would work in Bengal. "No effort to divide people on religious grounds would work in Bengal. The people of this state knows that our government works for each and every community," Chatterjee said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The has so far succeeded in ensuring that India is least affected by challenges like and working visas unveiled in the under President Donald Trump, BJP leader said Saturday, stressing that foreign policies cannot be guided by emotions or romanticism. Congress leader Anand Sharma said that foreign policy should uphold, secure and promote a country's national interest, but not be an extension of or reflect domestic narrative. They made these remarks during a discussion at the release of a book titled "Open Embrace: India- Ties in the Age of Modi and Trump", by journalist Varghese K George. They were joined by academic C Rajamohan in the discussion moderated by journalist Suhasini Haider. "We are conscious of the challenges, whether it is his (Trump's) emphasis on domestic production, visa issues...We are negotiating, trying to ensure that India gets the best deal out of it. You cannot dictate Trump's policies. You can only try and ensure that India is least affected if there is anything adverse happening. We have more or less succeeded in ensuring that India is not affected," Madhav said. The BJP national general secretary said it could be easy to criticise the government but one must take note of the increment in trade and exports. "I am not saying that it has happened only in four years (of BJP), but we must acknowledge it," he said. Noting that the Indian diaspora played a role in the Indo- nuclear agreement in 2005 during the Congress-led UPA regime, he said the current government had felt that it should leverage that not just in the US but other countries also. "We felt why not make it (diaspora) an important dimension in the foreign policy and with that objective in mind we started engaging with different diaspora in different countries," he said. On a continuum in the foreign policy, Sharma, who had served as a Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009 in the UPA government, said there cannot be abrupt changes in strategic engagements of a country as big as India. "But I would also like to say that the foreign policy of this country has evolved over a long period of time, not written in one day or one government. "Foreign policy is meant to uphold, secure and promote your supreme national interest. It is not de-linked to your national ambitions but you have to be careful not to allow the domestic narrative to reflect in the foreign policy," he said. "It cannot be personalised, it cannot be an extension of domestic politics particularly in our neighbourhood vis-a-vis Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. We have to be careful there. It is easy to say that we have moved or walked away from non-alignment movement...," Sharma said. BJP's Madhav said a lot of changes in the foreign policy were made by the Congress and held that the direction should be guided by national interest. "Congress has changed many things in our foreign policy. Who changed the foreign policy's focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC? Congress! Did we oppose it? We said no India needs BIMSTEC to engage with extended neighbourhood because these are things that happen as per your requirement. "Foreign policy is not guided by emotions or romanticism, it is guided by national interest. Today your national interest demands, that you look for better platforms, look for reviving Commonwealth, which was also a Nehruvian-era creation, and we did it. "Where is the relevance of the NAM when there are no two poles in the world at all, it is a multi-polar world and who do we remain non-aligned with?" he asked. On the personal level relationship between PM Modi and President Trump, Madhav said, "The best relationship that we could have with the present leadership in the US we tried to establish it while maintaining strategic autonomy on many issues." On voting against the US on the Jerusalem issue in the UN, he said India is not influenced by any ideology except for the "nation-first" ideology and that is what happened. He said PM Modi is doing a stand alone visit to Israel, then visiting Palestine also separately even as the country has best of partners in the Middle East also. "We have strengthened relationship with Israel but today our strongest relations are with the countries in the middleeast, with the UAE, Saudi. We have a lasting strong legacy. We have strong ties with Iran also where we have not buckled under the pressure of any other power. "So, we are guided by the interest of our country. At that level it may be a continuum, but again it (BJP) is a new government, it has new ideas, it will implement them in a different way, that difference should be appreciated and the continuum should also be acknowledged," he said. The Congress Saturday charged the government with presenting "wrong facts" before the Supreme Court which led to "factual bloomers" in the Rafale aircraft deal judgment that gave the government relief. Addressing a press conference here, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the Supreme Court has not gone into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and it is only a joint parliamentary committee that can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal. Sibal pointed to a part of Friday's judgment in which the Court said the material placed before it shows the Centre did not disclose in Parliament the pricing details of the fighter jet but revealed it to the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Court also said the CAG report was even examined by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. Reacting to this, Sibal said Mallikarjun Kharge, the chairman of PAC, has said he never received any such report on Rafale jet. "Who is responsible for this? It was the government who said this. How did the attorney general pass the affidavit?" he said. "I call them factual bloomers in the judgment for which the government is responsible, not the Court. "If you give wrong facts to the Court, and on that basis the government makes a factual assertion, then the government is squarely responsible for it and I think that we need to call the attorney general to the PAC and get these issues clarified as to why they made these assertions before the Court through an affidavit and why such an affidavit was filed which did not reflect the true facts," Sibal said. He also rebuked the government for not reading its own affidavits. "This is a very serious matter and there should be an action in this case because the message among people is that CAG has cleared and Parliament has seen the deal, which is wrong," he said. Sibal said the Court has neither gone into pricing nor into the technical aspects of the deal. "The Congress party has always said that Supreme Court is not the appropriate forum to decide on issues of corruption, pricing, specifications, crony capitalism in the Rafale case," he said. Sibal noted that the Court cannot summon and examine all the files notings, examine witnesses on oath, including questioning the prime minister and the defence ministry. "How can they (the BJP) say that the Supreme Court has given a clean chit to the government. If you (the government) have not given the evidence, nothing, if the cross-examination has not happened then who gave you a clean chit. Only a JPC, which will be formed sooner or later, can probe this," he said. Earlier Saturday, Kharge said he will request all members of the panel to summon the attorney general and the CAG to ask them when was the public auditor's report tabled in Parliament. The Congress leader accused the government of "misleading" the Court by presenting wrong information about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government apologise for it. In relief to the Modi government, the Supreme Court Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for 36 Rafale jets, saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dealt with "three broad areas of concern" raised in the petitions the decision-making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners and said there was no reason for intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Greenpeace India has expressed hope that the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which proposes multiple strategies to tackle air pollution, will be announced soon and will have sectoral as well as emission reduction targets. The overall objective of the NCAP, which has been finalised by the ministry and is likely to be notified this month, is a comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network across the country. "After missing multiple timelines since last December, we hope at least this time the NCAP will be announced. "NCAP announcement will be a big achievement since not a single monitored location in the country complies with safe limits prescribed by WHO for air pollution and more than 80 per cent locations registering pollution levels beyond Indian standards, making air pollution a national health emergency," Greenpeace India's Senior Campaigner Sunil Dahiya said. The main components of the NCAP include city-specific air pollution abatement action plan for 102 cities of the country, increasing the number of monitoring stations, creation of technical assessment cell, technology support, public participation on planning and implementation, among others. Greenpeace India said for the NCAP to be effective, it has to have sectoral targets with clear timelines for pollution or emission load reduction for the next three years, five years and 10 years so that effective targeted absolute reduction in pollution levels are achieved across the country in a systematic and coordinated way. "The NCAP must have emission reduction targets of 35 per cent in three years and 50 per cent in the next five years as communicated by Minister Harsh Vardhan earlier this year," the green body said. It said approximately 76,000 premature deaths could have been averted if coal-fired power plants in India would have complied with the emission standard norms, notified by the ministry in 2015, on time. "The NCAP must include the deadlines given by the Supreme Court for implementation of the thermal power plants and ensure that monitoring if the implementation takes place to ensure time bound implementation," it said. Various international agencies, including some of the United Nation's, the World Bank and the Bloomberg Philanthropies, have indicated their intention to support the implementation of NCAP, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma had told the Lok Sabha on Friday. Sharma had told the Lower House of Parliament that discussions have begun with the agencies to evolve a 'Technical Assistance Programmes' to expedite the implementation of the NCAP. The total budget proposed for implementation of NCAP, which has been finalized by the ministry, for the financial year 2018-19 and 2019-20 is Rs 300 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Being bullied can change the physical structure of the adolescent brain, increasing the risk of mental illness, a study has found. Researchers from King's College London in the UK suggest that the effects of constantly being bullied are more than just psychological. The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, is the first to suggest that chronic peer victimisation during adolescence impacts mental health via structural brain changes. Researchers analysed data, questionnaires and brain scans of 682 participants from England, Ireland, France and Germany. As part of this project, high resolution brain scans of participants were taken when they were 14 and 19 years old. At the ages of 14, 16 and 19 these participants also had to complete questionnaires about whether they had been bullied, and to what extent. Overall, the results showed that 36 of the 682 young people were found to have experienced chronic bullying. The data of these participants were compared with those of the others who had experienced less chronic/severe bullying. Changes in brain volume as well as the levels of depression, anxiety and hyperactivity at age 19 were taken into account. The subsequent findings validate and extend the literature linking peer victimisation with mental health problems. However, the novel finding is that bullying is linked to decreases in the volume of parts of the brain called the caudate and putamen. These changes were found to partly explain the relationship between high peer victimisation and higher levels of general anxiety at age 19. "Although not classically considered relevant to anxiety, the importance of structural changes in the putamen and caudate to the development of anxiety most likely lies in their contribution to related behaviours such as reward sensitivity, motivation, conditioning, attention, and emotional processing," said Erin Burke Quinlan, lead researcher of the study. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and France Saturday held discussions on deepening bilateral strategic partnership through cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, space and civil nuclear energy sectors. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and French minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Yves Le Drian discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. "We had very fruitful talks. We closely looked at all the aspects of our mutual ties. We are taking our cooperation forward in the Indo-Pacific region, which will not only benefit these two countries but also other countries in the region," she told reporters. Noting that the foundation of India and France relations is based on "mutual trust", Swaraj said the two countries are looking to strengthen their ties in various sectors. "Our defence relations are historic and we have been involved in a number of exchanges in the form of training and joint exercises," she said. The External Affairs minister also reiterated the resolve of the two countries to jointly fight against terrorism. "We both are also working in strengthening our ties in space sector. We both are also leading fight against climate change," she said. "Last year, our bilateral trade was worth 9.62 billion euro, if we both have to reach the trade of 15 million euro by 2022 we both will have to work towards further strengthening our trade relations," she said. There will also be an exchange of 10,000 students between the two countries by 2020, Swaraj said. Her French counterpart Le Drian said the two leaders reviewed the status of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) project in Jaitapur, Maharashtra and adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference," he said. The Jaitapur project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training, Le Drian added. He said the discussion between the two leaders was "characterised as always by a great convergence of views and shared ambition". "It is not by chance that France and India are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. It is because we attach the same importance to multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, the same ambition to usher in a just and sustainable world," he said. "It is also because India knows that in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count in the future. This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks," Le Drian said. "This holds true on the economic front: our companies are investing and innovating in India under the Make in India programme. On the fronts of urban development and the digital economy, our companies are present and working to build the India and France of tomorrow," he added. His visit comes amid a massive controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace company Dassault Aviation under a Rs 58,000 crore deal. A senior MEA official said discussion over the Rafale deal did not figure out in the talks between the two leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and France Saturday held discussions on deepening the bilateral strategic partnership through cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, space and civil nuclear energy sectors. French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian said he and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reviewed the status of the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) project in Jaitapur in coastal Maharashtra. "We adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant," he said. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference," he added. In March, India and France inked an an agreement to expedite the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project, with the aim of commencing work at the site by year-end. The Indo-French nuclear agreement was signed in 2008 to build a nuclear power plant in Jaitapur, some 600 km south of Mumbai. The power plant will have six reactors with a capacity of 1,650 MW each Once installed, the Jaitapur project will be the largest nuclear power plant in the world, with a total capacity of 9,600 MW. The project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training, Le Drian added. Swaraj said the joint vision forms the basis of cooperation in the space sector. She thanked France for supporting the launch of Arianespace rocket from French Guiana, a territory located along the northeastern coast of South America. Noting that the foundation of India and France relations is based on "mutual trust", Swaraj said the two countries are looking to strengthen their ties in various sectors. "We had very fruitful talks. We closely looked at all the aspects of our mutual ties. We are taking our cooperation forward in the Indo-Pacific region, which will not only benefit these two countries but also other countries in the region," she told reporters. "Our defence relations are historic and we have been involved in a number of exchanges in the form of training and joint exercises," she said. The external affairs minister also reiterated the resolve of the two countries to jointly fight terrorism. "We both are also working in strengthening our ties in space sector. We both are also leading fight against climate change," she said. "Last year, our bilateral trade was worth 9.62 billion euro, if we both have to reach the trade of 15 million euro by 2022 we both will have to work towards further strengthening our trade relations," she said. There will also be an exchange of 10,000 students between the two countries by 2020, Swaraj said. Le Drian said the discussion between the two leaders was "characterised as always by a great convergence of views and shared ambition". "It is not by chance that France and India are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. It is because we attach the same importance to multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, the same ambition to usher in a just and sustainable world," he said. "It is also because India knows that in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count in the future. This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks," Le Drian said. "This holds true on the economic front: our companies are investing and innovating in India under the Make in India programme. On the fronts of urban development and the digital economy, our companies are present and working to build the India and France of tomorrow," he added. His visit comes amid a massive controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace company Dassault Aviation under a Rs 58,000 crore deal. A senior MEA official said discussion over the Rafale deal did not figure in the talks between the two leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin woman who admitted to lying to her family and friends about suffering from terminal brain cancer to con them out of over 250,000 pounds was sentenced to four years of imprisonment by a UK court on Friday. In 2013, Jasmin Mistry told her then husband, Vijay Katechia, that she had cancer, along with a supporting WhatsApp message what he thought was her doctor. Investigations later revealed that the message had been sent by her using a different SIM card. At the end of December 2014, she told her ex-husband that her severe brain cancer meant she had just six months to live, with further messages from another fictitious doctor suggesting that it could be treated in America - at a cost of around 500,000 pounds. Katechia, his family and members of the public went on to be conned out of money over a two-year period between 2015-2017 in the form of donations they thought she needed for life-saving treatments. Mistry's ex-husband became suspicious when a friend of his saw a picture of a brain scan she had said was taken at one of her consultations. The plot was finally unravelled after her ex-husband showed a "scan" to a doctor friend, who told him it had been lifted from Google. Katechia also discovered SIM cards Mistry used to send messages pretending to be other people, and when confronting her she admitted that she had lied. Police were contacted in November 2017, and Mistry was arrested. During interviews, she confirmed to officers that she was not terminally ill, and that she did not know why she had lied, according to Met Police reports. It was found that 20 members of her extended family and eight others were found to have given her money. The total fraud amount was calculated as 253,122 pounds. The 36-year-old had pleaded guilty to the crime after her arrest last year. Mistry, a medical secretary from Loughborough town in the Midlands region of England, was convicted of fraud by false representation and jailed for four years at Snaresbrook Crown Court this week. Mistry, described in court as a "pathological liar", created a fake online account of a fictitious doctor to message her husband and also posted "Stand up to cancer" messages on social media. "This is a terrible crime. To tell everybody you have cancer and take money from them... It's an awful situation," Judge Judith Hughes told Mistry in court. Investigators found that she had used money she was handed over for treatment by unsuspecting family members, including her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and others on fancy designer handbags. Mistry also defrauded a man she met through a dating website out of nearly 7,500 pounds, and two members of the public to whom she lied about being a trader who could invest their money, and who gave around 10,000 pounds. She was charged with one count of fraud by false representation on August 20 and pleaded guilty in October. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net The election results of five states on December 11 made good reading for people who have been wishing for the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in these states. Such wishes come with a silent satisfaction for many that the Congress came out as one big power in three out of five states: Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. But the much-talked issue on various media platforms (even celebrated to a large extent) is that the BJP failed to secure a winning margin in states which have been adding to their power and pride; the feeling that it was going to rule the country in every manner and for a long time. The reason which has been cited the most for Congress win is the factor of anti-incumbency which was highest in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Raman Singh held the Chief Minister post of Chhattisgarh for three straight terms of fifteen years and Shivraj Singh Chouhan held Chief minister post in Madhya Pradesh from 2005 until 2018. The factor about Rajasthan which has been cited most is that the state has a tradition of giving power to BJP and Congress alternatively in assembly elections and that the win of Congress is the result of the same tradition. Support TwoCircles However, these are not the regions where BJP was anticipated to fail. Reasons have been given from anti-incumbency to the tradition-following-voter to rule out the actual causes behind the BJPs huge loss in these elections, and believe me, the cited ones come last. And heres why. Hindutva agenda is not always plain sailing If assessed correctly, the politics and rhetoric of Hindutva were continuously prevailing in the campaign structure of BJP. Introducing Yogi Adityanathwhose image has never been of a politician but a campaigner of Hindutva reputeto campaign for BJP is part of the same agenda. Just a few days before the polls, BJPs sister organisations started lobbying in Ayodhya on November 25 actually trying to protest for the creation of Ram Temple. The chief organizers of the event were Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. When the question was put before the organisers that against whom they were protesting, there were no answers. The same is with the case with the politics of Hindutva. This has been the largest outcry in the election agenda of BJP, but the enemy to the Hindutva has always been imaginary. The Hindutva policies do not have the exact idea over to stand against whom, when and why? The pre-poll act in Ayodhya and the fiasco to erect Ramas statue along Saryu river had a clear goal: to polarise the voters in favour of BJP. But the party failed to acknowledge that not only Rajasthan and MP did not care much about this campaign, even UP did not take much interest in this issue. Moreover, the political idea of Hindutva works mostly in the minds of youth. The youngsters between 21 to 35 years have been the target of BJP, as it conducted several campaigns and rallies in these states with the help of its students organisation, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to create a young cadre. But the party surely failed to acknowledge that the idea of Hindutva would only work well if the youths get job opportunities. The unemployment rates have been highest in the recent past, and as one RSS Pracharak from Rajasthan told me, We could not console a disappointed vote by giving it something it does not need at all. Hindutvas tone could have worked well for the majority of votes if the youth was not disappointed with the basic problems and demands it has been raising. Why we must pay more attention to the agrarian crisis During the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, when everyone was talking about possible alliances, social equations, and caste politics in the state, one more agenda was one the table of the BJP: farm loan waivers. The BJP firmly promised to waive farm loans and the result of such a promise also reflected in the election results. But coming to 2018 assembly elections in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, BJP passed the agrarian baton to the Congress where it took the lead and promised to waive farm loans within a week of coming into the power. This tacticwhich was earlier exercised and excelled by BJPwas played well by Congress especially in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the states which have been hit the worst with the farmers issues. Madhya Pradesh has been facing farmers proteststhe major violent role in which was played by RSS-backed farmers groupsand Shivraj Singh Chouhan played out a high voltage drama of protesting against the protest last year, giving out idea to the rural population that he has been incompetent in dealing with farmers issues of the state. RSS backed organisations tried to destabilise Chouhans government with the help of Kailash Vijayvargiya, a veteran BJP leader who has waiting long to sit on CMs chair in MP, but RSS could not make inroads for Kailash or any other BJP leader, leaving out the turf open for Congress to address farmers issues. The situation with the Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh was similar. He reportedly did a fair job in implementing central government schemes on the ground level but failed to address issues of farmers during his tenure. Farmers picked up the tone of Congress that it would waive off loans in ten days and went against the incumbent Raman Singh. Moreover, the rural votes in these three states were chiefly affected by the Kisaan Long March which happened earlier this year under the umbrella of several socialist and left-leaning farmers organisations of the country. Combining the peaceful long marches, and the violent protests that happened in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Congress tried to cash the anti-BJP mood, which has been told just a matter of anti-incumbency. Nehru-Gandhi-70 years and negative publicity Narendra Modi and star campaigners in BJP have been projecting one image of a country that during its 70 years of rule, Congress did not give anything to this country. The dynasty politics of Nehru and Gandhi has also been one of the major focal points for the Narendra Modi. But Modi failed to notice that he was giving out a golden opportunity of Congress exploiting this negative publicity by him. Every time Modi used his tone to scold Congress, Congress was also in the news and social media along Modi. Moreover, the public in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, which was already trying to get rid of incumbent government and Rajes stubbornness, soon realised that even Modi did not have something concrete to deliver. He promised a few things from his rallies, but his tone used to return to Gandhi-Nehru bashing all the time, giving out the idea that it was tough for him to stand by the public side. BJPs failure to manage upper castes anger On August 28, a day-long meeting including BJPs chief ministers and deputy chief ministers was called in New Delhi. The meeting was being chaired by Narendra Modi and BJPs own Chanakya, Amit Shah. While many issues were discussed in this meeting, the pressure was given on the Upper caste anger in many of the states. The anger was the result of the SC/ST Act, which parliament brought to restore the original bill. Many of the Savarna pages on social media were urging upper caste voters to press NOTA in upcoming elections. The meeting on August 28 was essentially called to address this upper-caste anger. Instructions were given to CMs to reach out to upper-caste groups in their states and to make them aware of governments welfare schemes which are equally beneficial for them. Meanwhile, strategists inside the party would work on the way to bring back its core trust base back to the party. This way, BJP thought, it could resolve the anger. According to the partys sources, the party could chart out a clear strategy to reach out upper castes and to make them believe that BJP is their party, as it has always been. But as a result, the BJP could not lose the tag of upper caste partysame as that of Congresseven after several attempts. Not that many Savarna people pressed NOTA, but they went on to press the Congress button on EVMs knowing that the latter has also the same repute between the upper caste voters of India. Anti-incumbency, boredom and loss of Modi wave One Twitter handle named @zoo_bear has tweeted a series of tweets after the results of the election came out on Wednesday. The series of tweets compare Modis rallies in certain constituencies of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and the performance of the BJP candidates in those constituencies. In a majority of these place, the BJP candidates lost the election to Congress by huge margins and the others, the BJP won by small margins. On the television panels, BJP leaders and spokespersons have been claiming that there is no loss of Modi wave and state election reflecting the nations mood is not a wise way to think. But, seeing the actual performance of BJP candidates in those areas tells a completely different story. On the day of the elections results, Indian Express published a report telling if the mood of the nation goes like this, BJP can lose as much as 30 Loksabha seats from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. BJP has also sensed it quickly, that is why it has sent an emergency note Intelligence Bureau (IB) asking it to assess the mood of the nation and submit a detailed report in the following weeks. In the past as well, IB submitted reports to Modi-Shah predicting the mood of the voters before election results in these five states. Moreover, the IB reports are said to have taken as case studies to predict the election results and make strategies further. Another important factor has been the negligence of Schedule Tribes and Schedule Castes in these three states, especially Chhattisgarh. The continuous anti-reservation gimmicks played out by BJP in Telangana and Madhya Pradesh to attract Savarna votes in its favours turned badly against itself in Chhattisgarh, where the rural farming population is mostly tribe. As a political party, BJP must be mulling for future strategies. If sources are to be believed, it will also intensify the Ram Temple movement (with unstable and foggy agenda) to polarise voters in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttarakhand to regain its hold on Hindu votes. The sign is clear that BJP is facing a tough road ahead, but one can only wait to see if the new and aggressive campaign strategies will work or not. Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan have been lauded for providing lifesaving medical supplies to prisoners in the country's Malakal city. Indian peacekeepers deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) donated medical supplies, including antibiotics, fortified malnutrition supplements and bandages to a state prison in Malakal. "This medicine will go a long way in helping the vulnerable people who are here, said Major General Paul Puk Kun, director of the correctional facility, adding that the donated drugs would also provide a buffer to cover their shortages. A total of 32 cartons containing an assortment of multi-purpose drugs were handed over to the prison. The contribution was made possible by the proactive cooperation between the peacekeeping mission's Human Rights office and the hospital run by the Indian battalion, according to information on the UNMISS website. Colonel Anupam Tuteja, in charge of the Indian health facility, said that he remains committed to supporting the prison population as much as possible. Human Rights Officers who regularly visit the jail have noted that conditions have greatly improved, particularly related to health and cleanliness. India is currently the largest contributor of peacekeepers to UNMISS with close to 2,400 military and police personnel deployed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Inland Waterways Authority of (IWAI) has been working hard towards facilitating safe passenger movement for 2019, the government said Friday. is scheduled to be held at Sangam, Prayagraj (Allahabad) from January 15 to March 15, 2019. " has set up four floating terminals, one each at, Kilaghat, Sarasvati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat," the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. Further, two vessels CL Kasturba and SL Kamla will be deployed for pilgrim movement. "Fairway with navigational aids will be maintained between Prayagraj (Allahabad) and with targeted least available depth of 1 meter. "Five temporary jetties at Chatnag, Sirsa, Sitamarhi, Vindhyachal and Chunar have also been setup for embarkment and dis-embarkment of passengers," the statement said. has the mandate to provide safe and efficient mode of transport through inland navigation. As part of development of Waterway-1 ( to Haldia), is making substantial interventions to make navigable the - stretch of river Ganga. In this regard, IWAI is working on providing a sufficient draft of 1 metre for the entire channel in river Ganga between and This will ensure seamless and safe movement of vessels. Members of the Jammu and Kashmir United Peace Movement (JKUPM) Saturday protested here against the killings in the valley and advocated dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem. The protesters assembled at Exhibition Ground and staged a peaceful sit-in on a day when seven civilians, three militants and an army soldier were killed and scores of others injured in a gunfight and subsequent protests in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. "We have assembled here to seek an end to the killings, spread the message of peace and highlight the need to maintain communal harmony," chairman JKUPM Himmat Singh Singh told PTI. He said the unabated violence in Kashmir and the loss of human lives on a daily basis should be put to an end which was possible only when the concerned parties start a meaningful dialogue. "Kashmir has become a flashpoint in the sub-continent and a major hurdle in the development of south Asia. Bullet is not a solution to the problem," he said. Former minister Baba Singh said the unrealistic approach of the successive governments at the centre and state is the root cause of the prevailing situation in the valley. "We demand immediate end to the human rights violations. Kashmir is a dispute pending solution since 1947, he said advocating a trilateral approach involving India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir to address the issue. He said JKUPM will launch a massive campaign across the state and the country to press for solution to the Kashmir problem through a meaningful dialogue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company Saturday said Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation has terminated a contract with the company for construction of various stations falling under Nagpur Metro Rail Project. The company has received a letter from Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited informing it of the decision of the competent authority to terminate the contract for construction of seven elevated and three other metro stations of Nagpur Metro Rail Project, IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company said in a regulatory filing. The company said the contract was terminated due to "alleged slow progress". Commenting on financial impact, IL&FS said bank guarantees provided by it to the tune of around Rs 93 crore would be enchased by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will arrive here Sunday on a three-day state visit, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen bilateral ties. Solih, who surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in September, will arrive in the afternoon and hold talks with Modi on Monday after a ceremonial reception. He will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind the same day. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also call on Solih during his visit. The Maldivian president, who will be accompanied by his wife Fazna Ahmed, will visit the Taj Mahal on Tuesday before heading back to his country. Solih's visit comes about a month after Modi attended his swearing-in ceremony. Modi had said in the Maldives that he was looking forward to working closely with Solih as both the leaders expressed confidence in the renewal of the close ties and friendship between the two countries, which was briefly interrupted by political turmoil in the Indian Ocean island nation. Relations between India and the Maldives deteriorated further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year. India had criticised Yameen's 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A district court on Saturday sentenced Sheikh Abdullah Nayeem alias Sk Samir, who had links with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, to death for "waging war against the country". Additional district sessions judge of Bongaon fast track court, Binoy Kumar Pathak, passed the death sentence after finding Samir guilty of the charges against him. In April 2007, BSF had apprehended four persons, including Samir, on suspicion of being members of a terror outfit and handed them over to the local police. The West Bengal CID, which took over the probe, had charged them with waging war against the country and procuring arms and explosives, apart from other charges. The three others -- Mohd Younis, Sk Abdullah and Muzaffar Ahmed Rathore -- had been sentenced to death in 2017 by the same court. Samir had escaped police custody in 2014 during transit when being taken to Mumbai in connection with the trial in a different case in Maharashtra. He was again arrested in 2017 by NIA from Delhi and was handed over to the West Bengal CID. The court, which declared Samir guilty on Tuesday, was scheduled to announce quantum of sentence on Saturday. Apart from the death sentence, the court also imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Samir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused the Congress of paying lip-service to farmers' welfare and listed his party-led government's initiatives for their welfare. "We are not like the Congress which will only pay lip-service to farmers but ignore their well-being..whenever Congress is in power, farmers suffer," Modi said. Launching an all out attack on the opposition party during his interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu via video conference from New Delhi, Modi alleged that in Maharashtra, the Congress was at the forefront of an irrigation scam. Just a few days ago, a top Congress leader from Punjab said his party led government in Punjab was not serious about issues relating to sugarcane farmers, Modi alleged. Citing media reports on loan waiver for farmers, Modi said in Karnakata, where the Congress-JDS coalition government is in power, "only 800 farmers got mere benefits, is this a joke? is this how serious they are they about farmers." Only BJP understood farmers and agriculture issues, he said. On farmer friendly initiatives, he asked if noted agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan's report did not exist during the UPA rule. The BJP-led government is the most farmer friendly government, he said. "In a historic step, the MSP has been increased to ensure that farmers get at least 150 per cent of cost of production." The National Policy for Farmers, a policy framework, was prepared by Swaminathan, who was the chairman of the National Commission on Farmers during the 2004-09 UPA rule. The NPF's policy goals include improving the economic viability of farming by substantially increasing the net income of farmers and a better Minimum Support Price. During the UPA rule, when farmers asked for urea all they got was lathi-charge, he claimed. When they asked for higher MSPs, all they got was empty promises, he said. Farmers asked for increase in income but all they got was insensitivity, he claimed. From 2009-14, the UPA government allocated Rs 1.21 lakh crore for agriculture sector while in the last 4 years, the BJP-led government allocated Rs 2.11 lakh crore. During 2009-14, only a quantity of 7.28 lakh tonnes of pulses and oil seeds was procured under the MSP. In the last 4 years, the BJP government procured 93.97 lakh tonnes of pulses and oil seeds under MSP which is 13 times the quantity procured by UPA, Modi said. Overall, the NDA government has brought about a paradigm shift and is working hard to double the farmers income, he said. "This is happening by reducing input cost, wastage and ensuring fair price for crop and creating alternative means of income." He also referred to 'e-nam' (National Agriculture Market) for best market prices and said more than 1.27 crore farmers and sellers were already on the platfrom and get high returns. Focus was also on initiatives like cold chain and food park for value addition to increase profit, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hindutva leader Pravin Togadia Saturday blamed "wrong policies" of Narendra Modi government for farmers' suicides in the country. Togadia, who has recently floated Antar-Rashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), Saturday took part in a 20-km march from Dehgam to Gandhinagar in support of the farmers. Several locals and farmers participated in the protest which was organised by the Rashtriya Kissan Parishad (RKP), an AHP wing. While talking to reporters at Gandhinagar after culmination of the march, Togadia said the BJP should stop considering the farmers as a "vote-bank". "Government has betrayed and tortured the farmers to the limits. Enough is enough. Farmers are being crushed under a mountain of debt and are committing suicides due to wrong policies of the government. This government should resign if they cannot do justice to the farming community", demanded Togadia. He accused the prime minister of "betraying" farmers by "not keeping" promises. "Modi had promised that recommendations made by the Swaminathan Commission for farmers in its report will be implemented in toto. But, as usual, he betrayed farmers on this promise too. The government has also fooled farmers in the name of Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared recently", the former VHP leader said. Commenting on the problems being faced by the agriculturists in Gujarat, Togadia alleged the BJP government is favouring industries over farmers by supplying them water and electricity. "Though a canal passes from Dehgam, local farmers do not get water from it. On the other hand, industries are getting water generously. Crop insurance is a scheme to fill the pockets of some insurance companies. If this continues, such protests would take place across the country", he said. Togadia demanded a total debt waiver for farmers, a separate budget for agriculture, better MSP, and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendation. "If the government fails to act now, farmers would teach a lesson to the ruling BJP in the 2019 polls", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Myanmar's president said Saturday it had been an "auspicious" year for Rakhine state, the violence-scarred territory and epicentre of the Rohingya crisis. More than 720,000 Rohingya have fled the western state since August 2017 after the military conducted "clearance operations," sending a stream of refugees to neighbouring Bangladesh with accounts of rape, arson and mass killings -- acts that UN investigators say amounts to "genocide" by the military generals. Another 120,000 of the stateless minority, who are largely reviled by ethnic Rakhine and have garnered little sympathy among the Myanmar public, have been forced to live in displacement camps in the region with bleak conditions and a dire lack of food. But Myanmar President Win Myint painted a different reality in a statement Saturday when he congratulated the "ethnic brothers and sisters" on the 44th anniversary of the Rakhine State Day. With no natural disasters, "we can say that 2018 has been an auspicious year", he wrote in Myanmar's state-run newspaper. Rakhine, one of the poorest states in the country, is also the site of planned economic zones, he said, and the government is working to provide "24 hour electricity" to certain townships. He also praised a pact signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh to repatriate the Rohingya refugees and the arrangements made to receive "those displaced people who have gone over to the Bangladesh side". The process which was repeatedly delayed was supposed to finally commence last month but it fell flat when not a single Rohingya took up the offer of repatriation, with many on the returnee list going into hiding. The refugees fear returning home without guarantees of protection, citizenship or rights from the government and the powerful military. Rights groups have criticised repatriation as premature and "reckless". As for those within the camps in Rakhine state, many have attempted to leave by boats to Malaysia and Indonesia since the monsoon season ended last month, enduring a perilous journey to escape what rights groups call "open-air prisons". "I wish to urge all Rakhine ethnic nationals and citizens to participate... (in the) transformation of Rakhine State into a beautiful and happy state," Win Myint said at the end of his statement. Win Myint was appointed to his position by Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has faced international condemnation for her handling of the Rohingya crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Renowned scientist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar on Saturday advocated inculcating scientific spirit among school children, saying their interests should be created in science by changing the teaching method. Narlikar, a renowned astro-physicist, also called for building up a science movement across the country to help in moulding a scientific temperament which can only take the fruits of new scientific discoveries to the people. The Padma Vibhushan recipient was addressing a national conference, "Integrating Science with Society" at Jadavpur University. More than 30 scientists of international repute from various institutes of the country are attending the conference organised by 'Breakthrough Science Society', a voluntary body committed to propagate science and scientific outlook. Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Prof Suranjan Das in his inaugural address of the meet said scientific reasoning-based can help the country come out of the present crisis. Das referred to "the dialectics between science and society" and called for extending the fruits of science and technology for the welfare of people and not for destruction of society. He called upon social scientists, science researchers and academicians to work in tandem for building scientific temperament among the greater society and not merely confining among students and teachers. Science and policy should be people-centric, the academician said. Speakers Prof S G Dani, Prof G Nagarjuna and Dr Liaquat Ali delivered lectures on various topics in the first session of the two-day conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Srinagar, Dec 15 (IANS) It was a blood-soaked Saturday in Kashmir in which 11 persons, including seven civilians, an Army soldier and three militants, were killed and over three dozen civilian protesters sustained injuries in clashes with the security forces. The 11 deaths took place in a gunfight and subsequent clashes in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district, in one of the bloodiest days in the Valleys recent history. The gunfight erupted in Sirnoo village as security personnel surrounded the area after receiving a tip-off that militants were holed up there. Support TwoCircles Three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight, the police said. One of the three slain militants, Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, had deserted the Army to join the militant ranks. Immediately after the gunfight, scores of civilian protesters clashed with the security forces who used firearms and pellets to control the agitating mob. Two youths identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain were declared brought dead in a district hospital where they were taken for treatment of gunshot injuries. Five other civilian protesters Suhail Ahmad, Shahbaaz, Liyaqat Dar, Tauseef Ahmad and Murtaza Bashir succumbed to their wounds later, authorities said. Reports coming from the area said that more than 35 protesters were injured in the clashes and three of them were critical after receiving gunshot wounds. Spontaneous protests broke out immediately after the news about the civilian killings spread in the Valley. Protesters clashed with the security forces in north Kashmirs Sopore town where the security forces used tear smoke to disperse the protesters. No injury to any protester or security man was reported during these protests. Protests also occurred in old city Nowhatta area of Srinagar where protesters shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. Students of the Kashmir University also carried out peaceful protest in the campus over the civilian killings in Pulwama district. Markets, public transport and other businesses were shut in south Kashmir, Srinagar and Badgam district and some other places after the tension spilled over to these areas. Authorities have imposed curfew in Pulwama town and deployed additional security personnel to maintain law and order in the wake of the civilian deaths. Mobile internet services were suspended in south Kashmir districts and in Srinagar while its speed was brought down throughout the Valley. Rail services between the Kashmir valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region were also cancelled. Reacting to the tragedy, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a tweet: Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. Six protesters killed, one soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the three militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! Omar slammed Governor Satya Pal Maliks administration for its alleged failure to ensure that civilian casualties are avoided during gunfights. The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only to focus on the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore peace to a troubled Valley. Sadly, it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns and full page ads dont bring peace, he said. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed serious concern over the days incident. How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts to stop this bloodbath, she said in a statement. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq called the incident a massacre of Kashmiris and announced a three-day Valley-wide protest shutdown beginning on Saturday. #PulwamaMassacre, bullets and pellets rain! As government of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, the JRL (Joint Resistance Leadership) and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday, Dec 17, to ask to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily, he said in a tweet. He also appealed to the world community to take cognizance of the serious situation in Kashmir. Other political leaders condemning the civilian killings included Ghulam Hassan Mir of Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) and Engineer Rashid, former MLA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday hit out at the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. "For the Congress, national security and the defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source," he said in an interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu through video conference from New Delhi. The Prime Minister alleged that the (Congress) leaders mock at the surgical strike on the one hand while on the other, they have looted defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to the Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others. "All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished," Modi said. "We are proud of our forces and have faith in them," the Prime Minister said. During an election campaign in Rajasthan recently, Modi had slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "raising doubts" over the cross-border surgical strike carried out by the Army in September 2016. He had alleged that the military operation left the opposition party dejected instead of elated. His jibe at the Congress came after Gandhi accused him of shaping the Army's surgical strike across the LoC into a "political asset" and being "unsuccessful" in creating job opportunities for the youth. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 54-year old man has been charged with hate crime for assaulting an Indian-origin woman travelling in a subway and using homophobic slurs against her. Allasheed Allah, 54, was arraigned on Thursday and charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment against Avneet Kaur, 20, for the attack in New York City's Queens borough last month. If convicted, Allasheed faces three and one-half to 15 years in prison, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. "Queens County is the most diverse county in the nation. It is home to many races, nationalities and sexual orientations. Crimes motivated by bias particularly those involving violence will never be tolerated in this county. When they do regrettably occur, they will be vigorously prosecuted and those involved will be severely punished," Brown said. According to the charges, Kaur was travelling in a subway train in Manhattan last month Allah engaged her in a verbal dispute. During the dispute, he began making homophobic slurs towards Kaur and her friend. As the two women began to walk away, the defendant followed them and struck Kaur in the back of her head and then once in her chest causing her to fall and strike her head and neck on a pole before hitting the floor. According to the charges, the defendant admitted that he used homophobic language against Kaur and threatened her if she kissed her friend, travelling with her on the subway, again. Kaur was immediately transported to a local Queens hospital where she underwent treatment for a fractured spine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Saturday summoned Iran's ambassador Mehdi Honardoost to record protest against a terrorist attack on a paramilitary convoy on the Iranian border in which six soldiers were killed. On Friday, about 30 terrorists ambushed a convoy of the Frontier Corps along the Pakistan-Iran border when it was patrolling the area. Six soldiers were killed and 14 others injured in the "cowardly terrorist attack", the FO said, adding, "The Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan was called to the Foreign Office to lodge a strong protest against the ghastly incident." Claiming that the militants were operating from the Iranian border area, the FO demanded that Iran should carry out an effective operation against the terrorist group responsible for the attack on its side of the border. "The need for an effective border coordination mechanism to prevent such incidents in future was also underscored," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Palestinian leadership on Saturday described as "irresponsible" Australia's recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying it violated international law. The country became one of just a few to follow US President Donald Trump's lead and recognise the contested city as Israel's capital, saying. Australia said it would open a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city and Prime Minister Scott Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status -- until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement that the Australian decision to open a trade office in the city violated a United Nations resolution. "From the beginning, we've perceived the Australian government's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital as one wherein petty domestic steer irresponsible policies that contradict world peace and security," he said in a statement. "All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while east Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory," he added. Morrison earlier Saturday announced his country's move on Jerusalem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A local court here Saturday convicted suspended RJD MLA- Raj Ballabh Yadav- and five others in a case of rape of a minor girl two years ago. Special MP & MLA court judge-cum-Additional District and Sessions (ADJ)(IX) Parshuram Yadav convicted the MLA under section 376 of IPC and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) 2012. While five other co-accused were also convicted under section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court has fixed December 21 as the next date for hearing the arguments on the issue of quantum of punishment (sentence), Special Public Prosecutor Shyameshwar Dayal told reporters outside the court room. The prosecution would press for maximum sentence in the case as the MLA hatched a criminal conspiracy to rape the minor girl, he added. Raj Ballabh Yadav, the suspended RJD MLA, may lose his membership of the Assembly as he has been convicted under sections which attract minimum sentence of six years which may extend upto life term, Dayal said. Dayal said he would lose membership under section 8 (3) of the Representation of People Act, 1951. As per section 8(3) of RP Act, 1951, a person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release. It may be noted Yadav, who is Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA from Nawada, was named in a case of rape of a minor girl at his residence in Bihar Sharif on February 6, 2016. The RJD had suspended him from the party on February 14, 2016. After evading arrest for considerable time, the MLA surrendered after a local court issued proclamation notice and an order to attach his properties for not surrendering before the police. The Bihar Police, in its charge sheet had also named a woman and her relatives as accused on the ground that they were supplying women and girls to the RJD MLA. Notably, the Supreme Court on November 24, 2016 had cancelled Yadav's bail granted by the Patna High Court. The court had said that there is a "possibility of interdicting" fair trial by him if released. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday called for the ouster of BJD from power in Odisha, dubbing the present dispensation as "corrupt and inefficient" which has failed to deliver good governance. "It is time to change the government in Odisha as the BJD regime has failed to provide good governance during its 19-year rule," Pradhan said while addressing a public meeting at Bhismagiri under Digaphandi Assembly constituency in Ganjam, the home district of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Kick-starting the BJP's campaign for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections next year, the Union minister took part in the party's ongoing Jana Paramarsha Yatra' (people contact programme) in the village and said People have made up their mind to defeat BJD and to make a new Odisha. Hitting out at the Naveen Patnaik-led government, Pradhan said youths are forced to move out of the state in search of jobs as the government has failed to provide them means of livelihood. The government has also failed to provide irrigation facilities, while a large number of posts of doctors are lying vacant in hospitals, he said adding that in Ganjam district alone, as many as 34 primary health centres are running without doctors. Pradhan also slammed the state government for not joining the Centre's flagship health scheme -- Ayushwan Bharat Yojana. As a result, thousands of Odia people, who work outside the state, are deprived of its benefits, he alleged. Pradhan also criticised the state government's 'Mo Gaon Mo Bikash' (My village, my development) and the recently launched 'Peetha' (People empowerment enabling transparency and accountability) schemes, saying they are meant for distributing "wealth to party workers". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday paid tribute to late Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the former spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Santha (BAPS) Swaminarayan sect, on his 98th birth anniversary. The 11-day celebrations for the spiritual leader, who died in August 2106, started in Rajkot on December 5 and culminated Saturday. In a written message Saturday, PM Modi said, "I enjoyed a special relationship with him and looked up to him as a mentor. I spent memorable moments with him and will never forget my interactions with Pramukh Swami Maharaj ji." "During many such interactions, I always felt like a disciple before a guru and a son before a father. I have been fortunate to be blessed with his affection and have experienced his affectionate concern for my all round welfare and development on innumerable occasions," the PM wrote. He further wrote that though Pramukh Swami was not among us in physical form, "his life, thoughts, actions and ideals will continue to guide humanity for all times to come". Modi had visited the Swaminarayan Temple in Botad town near here following Pramukh Swami's death two years ago. The PM had paid an emotional farewell at the time by saying that, in Pramukh Swami's death, he had lost his father. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Prime Minister" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan Saturday said he has submitted a proposal to the Pakistan government for opening the religious sites for Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists in PoK on the pattern of the Kartarpur Corridor. PoK had more than 600 pilgrim sites of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhism like Sharda and Ali Baig and authorities were planning to renovate and recondition these places to open them for pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, Haider said at a reception in Mirpur. Tourism would get a big boost in the territory besides strengthening the confidence between the people and governments of two countries to resolve conflicts peacefully in the region, he added. Haider said he has asked the government of Pakistan to open all the traditional routes between PoK and Jammu and Kashmir for religious visitors like the Kartarpur corridor, recently opened in Punjab for Sikhs. On November 28, Pakistani premier Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur -- the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev -- to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. The corridor will facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims. Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mainstream political parties in Kashmir Saturday condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district, with National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah calling the incident a "massacre". Abdullah alleged that the Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration was apparently not doing anything for the security of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Seven civilians died in south Kashmir's Pulwama district when security forces allegedly opened fire at an unruly crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and Army man were killed. Abdullah said there was no explanation for such excessive use of force and "massacre" was the only way to describe it. "7 dead. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none what so ever. This is a massacre & that's the only way to describe it," he wrote on Twitter. Earlier, the NC vice-president said the encounter was "badly executed". "6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? (sic)" Abdullah tweeted. He said the Governor's administration appears "not doing anything on restoring peace" in the "troubled" Valley. "The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled Valley. Sadly, it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads don't bring peace," he tweeted. PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said no country can win a war by killing its own people. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath (sic)," Mufti said in a tweet. "No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months.Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved (sic)," she said in another tweet. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir expressed anguish over the killings and described them as very unfortunate, sad and highly condemnable. Calling for an end to bloodshed, Mir said it was "obvious that unabated innocent civilian killings in Kashmir valley has always been detrimental to peace initiatives initiated from time to time, besides vitiating the atmosphere, resulting in the deterioration of situation to a largest extent." "The civilian killings in Pulwama could have been avoided had the forces followed the SOP (standard operating procedure) properly, but unfortunately that has not happened," he said. The JKPCC chief said the central as well as the Jammu and Kashmir government have "miserably failed" to restore peaceful atmosphere in the Valley. He urged the forces to exercise restraint while dealing with the militant-related activities and ensure no harm to civilians. Separatist-turned-mainstream leader and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations. "Extremely disturbing coming from Pulwama. The administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of its operations. If there is even a remote chance of civilians getting killed during military operations it is better to call off such operations," Lone said in a tweet. He expressed hope that the administration abandons "its Rambo mindset". "My heartfelt thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. I just pray that Almighty takes us out of the perpetual state of mourning that we seem to have been sucked into. And also hope that administration abandons its Rambo mindset," Lone tweeted. "The preparedness of security forces would in the Pulwama context be the ability to make the distinction between combatants and non combatants. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We can't afford a state of impunity," he said in another tweet. CPI(M) leader and former legislator M Y Tarigami while expressing pain and sorrow over the "brutal killings", said "for the BJP, Kashmir is expendable for its narrow electoral interests." "Condemnation and ordering a probe after every killing is not enough.What is required is making security forces accountable and punishing those responsible for such unfortunate killings," he said. Tarigami said the BJP regime in New Delhi "has been treating Kashmir as only a security problem instead of having political approach to address the issues". "The youngsters have been pushed to the wall due to the mistakes and mishandling of Kashmir by BJP Government. Given the rising toll of casualties and no visible efforts by New Delhi to hold meaningful dialogue, there is apprehension that the situation may worsen further," he said. He demanded immediate steps for identifying those responsible for the killings so as to ensure that they are punished under law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several thousand people marched in Rome Saturday in protest at Italy's tough new anti-migrant law which makes it easier to expel new arrivals. The protesters waved flags and donned yellow vests emblazoned with the slogan "Get up! Stand Up! for your right" in a reference to the famous Bob Marley song. The new law would "only increase the number of people without papers in Italy and force people underground", protester Kone Brahima, originally from Ivory Coast, told AFP. Another, Tony Scardamaglia, from Palermo, said: "We are still building more walls, more barriers," adding that the anti-migrant and security degree adopted last month would just cause more "difficulties". The decree, adopted by parliament on November 28, also limits residence permits in a country that has become the main gateway for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. A populist coalition government made up of the far-right League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement took power in Italy in April 2018. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's anti-immigrant League has since surged in popularity, with opinion polls putting the party on 30 percent, up from the 17 per cent it won in the election. "First of all, we started two years ago criminalising those who save thousands of lives at sea" and ended up "closing ports to boats loaded with survivors", said Project Rights, a collective bringing together various human rights groups. "Today with the Salvini decree, we have abolished humanitarian protection, creating an endless stream of people forced into hiding," it said in a statement. The decree also ends two-year "humanitarian protection" residency permits -- a lower level of asylum status based on Italian rather than international law -- that were awarded to 25 percent of asylum seekers last year. Instead, residency permits will be awarded under stricter conditions such as a one-year "special protection" status or a six-month "natural disaster in country of origin" status. A new procedure to fast-track the expulsion of "dangerous" asylum seekers will also be implemented. The Italian Refugee Council has said it is "seriously concerned" by the new law. The United Nations refugee agency has also said it does "not provide adequate guarantees, especially for the vulnerable or those with particular needs such as victims of abuse or torture". This year some 22,500 migrants landed on Italy's coasts, representing a drop of more than 80 per cent compared to 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Separatists in Kashmir Saturday called for a three-day strike against the killing of seven civilians in security forces' action during an encounter in district. The separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, also asked people to march to the headquarters of the Army's Chinar Corps at Badamibagh here on Monday. "#PulwamaMassacre, Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiri's through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily (sic)," the Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter. In another tweet, he said, "From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across". Meanwhile, a spontaneous shutdown was observed on Saturday in many areas of Srinagar and south Kashmir following the killing of civilians. Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter underway between Security forces and terrorists in district. (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/vQ1ryAxODJ ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 Shops in several areas were shut, while a protest demonstration was taken out in Nowhatta area of the city this afternoon. Seven civilians died and several others injured after security forces opened fire on protestors near an encounter site in Sirnoo village of district in south Kashmir. Three militants were killed in the encounter in which a soldier also lost his life while two other armymen were injured. Qatar called Saturday for a new regional alliance following the failure of the four-decade-old Gulf Cooperation Council to resolve an 18-month rift between the emirate and its neighbours. Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the boycott imposed on the emirate by Saudi Arabia and its allies had irreparably damaged the existing six-nation structure set up at the height of the Iran-Iraq war in 1981. "The regional alliance has been undermined by the crisis," Sheikh Mohammed told policymakers at the two-day Doha Forum. "Therefore the alliance that existed needs to be reshaped and redesigned to ensure future stability and security of the region." His comments came after Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, stayed away from the GCC's annual summit in Riyadh last Sunday despite receiving an invitation from its Saudi hosts. The Qatari minister lashed out at the reasons advanced by Saudi Arabia and its allies Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates for imposing their sweeping boycott. "It was based on lies, it was based on crimes... it was based on creating propaganda to create fear among the people," he said. Riyadh and its allies accused Doha of supporting "terrorist groups", including the Muslim Brotherhood which they blacklist but with which Qatar has longstanding ties. They also accused the emirate of advocating improved relations with Saudi arch rival Iran, with which Qatar shares important offshore gas fields. They set out their complaints in a 13-point list of demands that has been rejected by Doha as an assault on its sovereignty and its right to conduct an independent foreign policy. In his opening remarks to the forum, the emir said Qatar's Gulf partners needed to show respect for its independence. "Lifting the blockade is based on mutual recognition and non-interference," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that any "doubts" over the Rafale aircraft deal should be raised in that court, a stance contrary to the Congress demand for a JPC probe of the defence agreement. The remark comes a day after the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas challenging the deal to buy 36 Rafale fighters from France. The court said there was no reason to "really doubt the decision-making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. But the Congress has insisted that the apex court did not go into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and only a joint parliamentary committee can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal. "The decision on Rafale deal has been given by the Supreme Court. Doubts, if any, should be taken up in the Supreme Court as it is supreme in the eyes of people," Yadav told reporters in Lucknow. The Samajwadi Party had previously demanded a JPC probe of the deal. Asked about the change in the party's stance, Yadav said, "We had made the demand when the matter was not raised in the apex court. "During a party programme in New Delhi, a journalist had asked me about it and I had said JPC should be set up as there can be many things in it. But now the verdict has come and the Supreme Court has deliberated on all angles," the Samajwadi Party president said. "I believe that if anyone has to say anything on it even in future it should be in the Supreme Court," he added. The Supreme Court Friday rejected the pleas seeking lodging of an FIR and a court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the Rs 58,000-crore government-to-government agreement for 36 Rafale fighter jets. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dealt with "three broad areas of concern" raised in the petitions the decision-making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners and said there was no reason for intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of the jets. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the run-up to next year's Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday told BJP workers in Tamil Nadu it was their duty to create awareness about the Centre's welfare schemes and hold meetings as well so that benefits of such initiatives reached more people. "The BJP believes in sabka saath sabka vikas," he said in an interaction with party workers from Tamil Nadu via video conferencing from New Delhi. "Imagine the kind of contribution we can make if we get a chance to serve people of Tamil Nadu," he said. "It is the duty of karyakartas to create awareness on these (central government schemes) and also enrol more people in these schemes and make them partners in the development journey," the prime minister added. No government at the Centre has done so much for Tamil Nadu as the BJP has done, he said. "From health to housing and from skill to sanitation, lives of people are being improved across all sectors," Modi said. Citing examples, the prime minister said more than 70,000 people from Tamil Nadu have received free treatment under Ayushman Bharat, a National Health Protection scheme. In less than three months more than 47 lakh toilets were constructed in Tamil Nadu and more than 12,000 villages were declared open defecation-free in four years, he said. More than 3,000 km of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana were constructed in Tamil Nadu in the last four years, Modi said. He said over four lakh youths have got skill training in the last four years, while lakhs of people have benefited from the loan schemes. In the last four years, over four lakh families have got a "pucca ghar" (home), the prime minister said. He also said under the 'Sagarmala' programme, three major port development works were awarded to Tamil Nadu. Modi, while beginning his address, said he was 'bowing' to the rich culture of Tamil Nadu. Describing Tamil as one of the most beautiful languages, he said Tamil culture and language were among the oldest in the history of mankind. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two minor sisters have died of an undiagnosed disease at a hospital in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, officials said Saturday. The of the minors' deaths put the district administration on alert, prompting the authorities to constitute a special medical team to ascertain the cause of the deaths. The deceased were identified as Ashruti Devi, 8, and her sister Asho Devi, 5. They breathed their last on Friday at Reasi District Hospital within two hours of being brought there by their father Prem Chand from far-flung Danour village in Arnas area, officials said. The bodies of the girls were handed over to Chand for last rites after a team of doctors conducted the post-mortem on Saturday. Superintendent of the hospital Pritam Singh said it was premature to say anything about the disease which led to the deaths. "The post-mortem report is awaited and only after getting it can we say anything about the cause of their death," he said. Chand said his daughters fell sick a few days ago, at the time the family believed it was a case of throat infection. "When their condition deteriorated, I took them to a local dispensary. There we were referred to Reasi District Hospital. However, my girls could not be saved," he said. Reasi District Development Commissioner Sagar Dattatray Doifode said he had ordered setting up of a special medical team to look into the deaths of the two minors. "The medical team visited Danour village on Saturday and conducted an inspection among the people for symptoms of diphtheria, but nothing of the sort was found," he told PTI. As the autopsy report was yet to be prepared, the officer said the medical team was carrying out a preventive vaccination drive for various life threatening diseases among the children in the village and adjoining areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside the Tamil Nadu government order for closure of mining company Vedanta Ltd's sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin, which was at the centre of massive protests over alleged pollution, saying it was "non sustainable" and "unjustified". A bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order of renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of environment in accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday. The tribunal, which had reserved its verdict on December 10, allowed the appeal of the company challenging closure of its plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. The green panel said the company should spend within three years Rs 100 crore on welfare of inhabitants of the area as it had offered to do. The bench also suggested that the company take steps for safeguarding environment, like creating a dedicated website where the stakeholders can lodge their environment related grievances. "Since we have independently held the impugned orders to be non-sustainable and closure to be unjustifiable, only further question for consideration is whether suggestions of the Committee... should be accepted and, if so, to what extent, the bench said. It said the company will also be entitled to restoration of electricity for its operations, subject to complying with various directions issued by the tribunal for the firm. 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. Earlier in April, TNPCB had rejected Sterlite's plea to renew the 'Consent To Operate' certification, saying the company had not complied with the stipulated conditions. At least 13 people were killed and several injured on May 22 when police had opened fire on a huge crowd of people protesting against environment pollution being allegedly caused by the factory. The tribunal had earlier set up an independent committee to look into the allegations of environmental pollution by Vedanta-owned Sterlite copper factory. The committee, headed by former Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Tarun Agrawal, had said that no notice or opportunity of hearing was given to Vedanta before the closure of the plant. The tribunal in its judgement said it does not find any merit in the objection raised on behalf of the state government or TNPCB that appointing of such a committee amounted to delegation of judicial functions. "This tribunal is certainly entitled to ascertain facts on the ground by a fair and credible expert mechanism. Section 19 of the NGT Act is to the effect that the tribunal is not bound by procedure laid down by the CPC but is to be guided by the principles of natural justice. The tribunal can regulate its own procedure. It is not bound by rules of evidence under the Evidence Act," it said, adding that it does not see any reason not to look into the report of the committee. The tribunal noted that during the earlier hearing, the company's counsel had made a statement that it was willing to spend a further amount of Rs 100 crores on welfare activities for inhabitants of the area as a goodwill measure. The amount may be spent on projects like water supply, hospital and health services and skill development in the area, the counsel had said. "We take the statement on record and in view of the said statement, we direct the appellant unit (company) to spend the amount of Rs 100 crore within a period of three year for welfare of the inhabitants in the area. The action plan prepared for utilisation of the amount be got approved from MoEF&CC which may also oversee the compliance thereof," the tribunal said. The bench also said the company may on "precautionary principle" take various steps in the larger interest of safeguarding environment. The steps to be taken by the company include creating a dedicated and interactive website with participatory public forum wherein the affected stakeholders can lodge their environment related grievance for time bound redressal and disposal by the unit. The website should be widely publicised and have links with the website of the district administration, TNPCB and CPCB which shall be the oversight body to monitor such public grievances and its timely disposal, the tribunal said. The company should regularly monitor the ground water quality as mandated by TNPCB and upload the data in comprehensible form without fail on the website, it said. The tribunal added that failure of timely analysis and uploading of the same shall result in appellant unit paying environmental compensation at the rate of Rs 10 lakh for every default with the District Legal Services which shall maintain a separate account for the same and supervise its spending in matters like environmental education and awareness. "The appellant unit shall also deposit a sum of Rs 2.5 crores as a token amount for their failures for Extended Procedures Liability for inappropriate handling 3.5 lakhs M.T of Copper Slag on patta lands with the State Legal Services Authority for creating and maintaining the environmental awareness in the area through the District Legal Services Authority by preparing a comprehensive action plan," it said. On August 9, the tribunal had allowed Vedanta to enter the administrative unit inside its sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The RLSP Saturday received a major setback with all its members in the bicameral legislature of Bihar declaring that they were still with the NDA as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing personal interests in announcing a break up with the coalition. Both the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs-- Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan-- and its lone MLC-Sanjiv Singh Shyam- made a statement to this effect at a joint press conference here. They also pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three. We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party, Shyam said making it clear that the RLSP was heading towards a split. RLSP which fought the 2014 general election as well the 2015 state polls as a NDA constituent has altogether three MPs, including Kushwaha, two MLAs and One MLC in Bihar. While the three Legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, among the two other Lok Sabha members--Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi--the former has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when he had announced his resignation from the cabinet and also severing ties with the NDA in Delhi. We had been stating since long that we were in favour of the RLSP remaining in the NDA but Kushwaha, who was more interested in his personal gains, paid no heed, Shyam said pointing to the RLSP chiefs quitting announcement on Monday. The RLSP MLC alleged that Khushwaha had of late been making noises about the RLSP bot being considered for a ministerial berth after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA last year. In reality, he never tried. When ministerial berths were being allocated among allies he was simply roaming around in Patna, Shyam claimed. Khushwaha was happy with his own ministerial berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention had been on getting a deal that served his interests better. He simply did not care that somebody from his party should get a ministerial berth in the state as well, he added. Replying to a query, he said neither he nor Paswan want ministerial berths. We would like Sudhanshu Shekhar's inclusion in the state council of ministers and we would be hugely disappointed if he is not considered for the same, he said. We are not defectors. Rather, we represent the real RLSP. Our stance is in line with the sentiments of most workers and office-bearers in the party. We will soon be approaching the Election Commission with our claim, he added. NDA leaders in Bihar were not immediately available for comments on the development. However, rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP legislature party held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Undeclared gold worth Rs 12 lakh was seized from an air passenger by the Customs officials at the airport here Saturday, officials said. Air Intelligence officials seizedgold bangles and chains totally weighing 338 grams and worth Rs.12 lakh from the baggage of Ummul Bargat who arrived here late last night from Malaysia. The passenger had been detained for attempting to carry the gold without declaring and investigations were on, the officials added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Russian Defense Ministry says that it wants to sit down with the Pentagon for "open and specific" talks on alleged violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty. The US claims Russia is violating the treaty, and on Dec. 4 issued an ultimatum that Moscow come into compliance with the accord in 60 days, or else Washington will withdraw. Russia denies it's in violation of the treaty. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sent his counterpart, US Defense Secretary James Mattis, a proposal for launching a dialogue three days ago, according to a statement Saturday. But Russia says it has has not received any official reply from the Pentagon, which spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said proves that the U.S. is unwilling to maintain professional dialogue with Russia on security issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Sarah Jessica Parker says she is currently not thinking about the third movie of "Sex and the City" franchise. During the New York Women in Film & Television's Muse Awards gala luncheon, the 53-year-old actor told Variety that she and her co-stars have not discussed the long-awaited threequel. "It's not something we are talking about right now. I just don't have a clue," Parker said. The first "Sex and the City" film was a major critical and commercial success. It featured Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, Kristin Davis as Charlotte York and Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones. However, its follow-up three years later, mostly set in Abu Dhabi, had an uneven reception. The third part is stuck, mainly due to Cattrall's feud with Parker. Cattrall has time and again made it clear that she does not want to be a part of the proposed threequel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Saudi citizen has pleaded guilty to visa fraud and making a false statement to the FBI by concealing he attended an Al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan in late 2000. Naif Abdulaziz Alfallaj, 35, a former resident of Oklahoma was taken into custody by the FBI in February based on a criminal complaint, the US Justice Department said in a statement Friday. According to the complaint, the FBI found 15 of Alfallaj's fingerprints on an application to an Al Qaeda training camp, known as 'Al Farooq', which was one of Al-Qaeda's key training sites in Afghanistan. The document was recovered by the US military from an Al-Qaeda safe house in Afghanistan and is also alleged to include an emergency contact number associated with Alfallaj's father in Saudi Arabia. Alfallaj is alleged to have first entered the US in late 2011 on a nonimmigrant visa based on his wife's status as a foreign student. According to the complaint, he answered several questions on his visa application falsely, including whether he had ever supported terrorists or terrorist organizations. Alfallaj has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in February. A grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Alfallaj, charging him with three counts of visa fraud and making a false statement to the FBI involving an offense of international terrorism, when he denied ever having associated with anyone from a foreign terrorist group. Alfallaj admitted he possessed a nonimmigrant visa from March 2012 to early 2018 that he obtained by fraud. He also admitted he falsely told agents during a December 2017 interview that he had never visited Afghanistan or participated in religious, tactical, or military training outside Saudi Arabia, and otherwise affirmed falsely that all of the answers on his nonimmigrant visa application were true and correct. Alfallaj faces up to ten years in prison on the visa-fraud offense and up to eight years in prison for making a false statement involving international terrorism. He could also be fined up to $250,000 on each count. As part of his plea agreement, Alfallaj agreed to be deported from the United States at the end of his prison term. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven civilians died Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed, police said. The militants killed included army deserter Zahoor Ahmad Thoker, who belonged to Simoo village where the gunfight took place. The Army laid siege around an isolated house in the middle of an orchard following an intelligence input about the presence of the militants. After the initial contact with the militants, the security forces completed the operation in 90 minutes, killing all three. The soldiers were taken by surprise as people started marching towards the encounter site from all directions with some of them trying to seize their weapons, police said. A police spokesman said while the operation was going on, security forces had to resort to firing at the crowd that came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site". Those injured in the firing were rushed to hospital, where seven civilians "unfortunately" succumbed to their injuries, the spokesman said. Unconfirmed reports put the number of civilians killed at eight. Among those killed was a young Kashmiri man, who had recently travelled back to his hometown with his Indonesian wife and a three-month baby. The youth was also a part of the stone-throwing mob, police said. About five more people have bullet injuries. Others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable," the spokesman said. Police again issued a general advisory, asking people to stay away from the encounter site and said there was significant danger to life there. Political parties in Kashmir condemned the killings, saying Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration has "failed" to secure people's lives. Authorities suspended mobile internet services in most parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, to prevent escalation in tension following the deaths. Thoker had gone missing from an Army unit in north Kashmir's Baramulla district in July last year. He had decamped with his service rifle and three magazines, and joined the militant ranks. Security forces said Thoker was involved in several killings in Pulwama district, including the abduction and murder of Rifleman Aurangzeb of 44 Rashtriya Rifles. Aurangzeb was on his way back home on June 14 to celebrate Eid when terrorists abducted him. Hours later, his bullet-riddled body was found at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora in Pulwama district. The identities of two other militants killed in Saturday's encounter were being ascertained. "No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians," Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule?" she said, adding "no country can win a war by killing its own people." National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah questioned the way the operation was carried out. "Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? "he tweeted. "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir," he said, tallying the deaths of protesters, militants and the jawan. The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only - to focus on the security of the people of JK and restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing," he tweeted. Separatist-turned-politician and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations. "If you end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We can't afford a state of impunity," he tweeted. He expressed hope that the administration will abandon "its Rambo mindset". Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir described the killings as "very unfortunate, sad and highly condemnable". Calling for an end to bloodshed, Mir said unabated killings of innocent civilians have been detrimental to peace initiatives begun from time to time. CPI (M) leader and former legislator M Y Tarigami expressed sorrow over the "brutal killings" and said "for the BJP, Kashmir is expendable for its narrow electoral interests". "Today's horrible incident is a big shock and setback to any effort to restore peace in the Valley. The civilian killings have become everyday norm in Kashmir now and it seems New Delhi is least bothered about this, he said. Tarigami said the BJP regime in New Delhi has been treating Kashmir as a security problem only instead of taking a political approach to address the issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Two men on a bike fired shots at a beauty parlour run by controversial south Indian actress Leena Mariya Paul here Saturday,but no one was injured, police said. The men, wearing full face helmets, came to the parlour in Panampilly Nagar at around 3 PM, fired two shots and sped away, police said. There were a lot of customers inside the beauty parlour at the time of the incident, they said. "We suspect the weapon was an air pistol," a police officer told PTI. The actress was in Thiruvananthapuram when the incident occurred. Leena Mariya Paul has acted in Bollywood film 'Madras Cafe', Tamil flick 'Biriyani' and Malayalam films 'Husbands in Goa' and 'Red Chillies'. The actress was an accused in a bank fraud case and was associated with alleged con man Sukesh Chandrashekhar, currently in Tihar jail in a matter related to a bid to bribe the Election Commission, involving Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader and R K Nagar MLA T T V Dhinakaran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six security personnel have been killed during an anti-terror operation in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, an official statement said on Saturday. The incident happened on Friday in Balochistan's Turbat area when terrorist targeted one of the vehicles of the security forces during an intelligence base operation on a terrorist's hide out. "Terrorists targeted one of the vehicles of security forces through IED. 6 security personnel were killed," Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of Pakistan armed Forces, said in a statement. Later, during an exchange of fire four terrorists were also killed. Balochistan is among the war-torn areas of Pakistan with the presence of several extremist groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate said Saturday it has seized assets worth Rs 10.28 crore of Shravan Gupta, former MD of realty major Emaar MGF, in connection with its FEMA probe in the HSBC blackmoney list unearthed a few years ago. The central probe agency said in a statement it has taken the action against Gupta under the Foreign Exchange Management Act for "holding USD 15,40,650 in his bank account maintained with HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Switzerland". The ED said it has seized an agricultural land worth over Rs 10.27 crore in Delhi's Bijwasan area as an equivalent amount of the asset held abroad. "The seizure order has been issued pursuant to investigation which revealed that prima facie Gupta had foreign exchange held to the tune of USD 15,40,650 in his bank account in HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Switzerland, situated outside India in contravention of provisions of Section 4 of FEMA, 1999. "Gupta had not shown this amount in the Income Tax returns filed in India for the period 2006-07. However, he had declared this amount in 2011-12 and paid appropriate taxes," the ED said in a statement. It added that Gupta "failed to produce any evidence of repatriating the entire amount to India till date." It added that the I-T Department had also filed a chargesheet against him in this case. In 2005, Emaar Properties entered Indian real estate market in partnership with India's MGF group and invested Rs 8,500 crore through the joint venture Emaar MGF Land. However, in April 2016, it decided to end this JV and two months later Gupta, the then executive vice chairman & managing director of the JV, resigned from the post. The agency added that the competent authority of the FEMA has also "confirmed" a similar seizure order of Rs 20.87 crore assets of Dabur group director Pradip Burman. These cases are part of the list of 628 Indians who figured in a list of account holders in HSBC's Geneva branch that India had obtained from the French government in 2007. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government Saturday said it would challenge in the Supreme Court the NGT order setting aside the closure of the Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin on pollution grounds in the wake of protests by locals. The opposition parties hit out at the state government, holding it responsible for the development with the DMK alleging that the 'negligent' attitude of the Palaniswami ministry resulted in the 'embarrassment'. The Vedanta group said it would take all steps required to restart the unit as per the guidelines of the tribunal and that the company would continue to adopt "best practices followed globally" in its operation. The National Green Tribunal Saturday set aside the order of the state government to permanently close the Sterlite Copper plant, holding that it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified". Allowing an appeal by Sterlite, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of the environment in accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday. The state government had on May 28 ordered the permanent closure of the factory days after violent protests by the locals against the Sterlite led to death of 13 people in police firing. In a terse reaction to the NGT verdict, Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that "the Tamil Nadu government will appeal against this order in the Supreme Court". Attacking the government, DMK President M K Stalin said it should not stop with merely saying it would appeal and take concrete action to permanently close the unit. The state cabinet should take a policy decision to ensure the permanent closure after gathering evidence of environmental threats and conducting scientific surveys to show continued operation of the copper unit would result in irreversible pollution, he said. In a statement, Stalin said despite the DMK's insistence on a policy decision by the state cabinet to permanently close down the Sterlite unit, Palaniswami government got the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to issue the order for the shut the unit. "By his negligent action, Palaniswami has not only brought embarrassment to himself but has also brought shame on the state officials known for their administrative efficiency," he alleged. Senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the government's stand was that there was a permanent closure of the copper plant. "We have already taken a decision that this plant should not be operated at any cost. That is our stand. As stated by the Chief Minister, we will make an appeal against the NGT order", he said. In Coimbatore, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani and Environment Minister K C Karuppannan said there was no change in the stance of the state government and the Chief Minister that Sterlite would not be allowed to function again. "The government will fight the issue legally and approach the court at the earliest", they said. A strong opponent of Sterlite, MDMK chief Vaiko alleged that the ruling AIADMK and the TNPCB were responsible for the NGT order. "Fearing huge public unrest over the issue, the government enacted a drama by closing the unit on May 22, he alleged. Vaiko, who was a party before the NGT and argued in support of closure of Sterlite unit, said he would approach the Supreme Court against the tribunal's order. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan said the state government should obtain a stay on the NGT order and convene an all-party meeting to discuss the future course of action. In its filing in the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Vedanta Ltd said the court had directed the TNPCB to pass fresh order of renewal of consent and restoration of electricity supply for the plant's operations within three weeks. "We will study the order in detail and shall take all the steps required to restart the operations as per guidelines given by the Honourable Court. "We have been operating our Smelter with the best-in-class technology adopting best practices followed globally and shall continue to do so," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tripura University has detected an anomaly amounting to Rs 10 crore in procuring of e-books and has formed a committee to investigate into the matter, a top official said Saturday. The anomaly came to light during the tenure of former Vice Chancellor Anjan Kumar Ghosh, who retired in July this year. "I have appointed a committee to review the e-book scam. Operation has started and law will take its own course. Everything will be clean," Vice Chancellor of Tripura University Vijaykumar Laxmikantrao Dharurkar said at a press conference here. In March this year, the Ministry of Human Resource Development ordered a visitorial inquiry against former Tripura University V-C Anjan Kumar Ghosh for alleged financial misappropriation of nearly Rs 10 crore in procuring e-books. Dharurkar said the committee would examine how the resources were misused and work on certain lapses and irregularities. "I have already declared that no e-book will be purchased in the next five years. We are fixing all the mistakes committed (till now)," he added. Dharurkar also said Tripura University is facing a fund crunch and his efforts has helped save Rs 10 crore during the last six months. He said the institution has taken initiatives to open 11 new courses in disciplines like archaeology and ancient Indian culture, tourism administration, liberal arts, social work for tribal development, entrepreneurship development, hospital management, nanotechnology, biotechnology, textile industry, bamboo craft etc to develop Tripura University into a centre of excellence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey's foreign minister said Saturday his country would "not give up" on finding out the truth about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. "We haven't received any new information or outcome of the investigation from the Saudi side," Mevlut Cavusoglu said on the sidelines of a conference in Turkish ally Qatar. "Turkey will not give up on this, we will go to the end." Earlier this month, the minister said Turkey was in talks over a possible United Nations investigation into the October 2 murder, which has provoked global outrage. The 59-year-old Khashoggi, a palace insider turned critic of the Saudi regime, was strangled and his body cut into pieces by a 15-strong Saudi hit squad, according to Turkish officials. The US Senate gave its unopposed backing on Thursday to a resolution holding the kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, responsible for the murder after the Central Intelligence Agency reportedly concluded he gave the orders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the killing was ordered at the highest levels of the Saudi government, although he has repeatedly absolved the ageing King Salman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next. Two people in the textile industry were honoured by the Textile Association of India (TAI) Saturday for their contribution to the growth of the industry. The awardees were chairman of Premier Mills R Jagadish Chandran and chairman and managing director of Lakshmi Machine Works Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu. Chandran was presented with the life-time achievement award for service in the industry while Jayavarthanavelu got the industrial excellence award for his contribution to the field of machinery. Presenting the award during the two-day 74th All India Textile Conference on 'Global Textiles, the Way Forward', president of TAI T K Sengupta said the association aimed at promoting the use of scientific knowledge in the field ranging from fibre to garment and implementing programmes of continued education in the textile technology management. Felicitating the awardees, managing director of Thiagarajar Mills Karumuthu T Kannan said there was an immediate need for an institute to train textile managers, as the industry was not getting textile graduates who preferred other jobs. Industrial bodies like Confederation of Indian Industry, Southern India Mills Association and South India Textile Research Association should take measures to start such an institute, he said. In his address, president of Tirupur Exporters Association Raja M Shanmugham said Tirupur, the knitwear hub of the country, struggled over the last few years to make Rs 45,000-crore business, both exports and domestic, last year and aimed to touch Rs one lakh crore by 2022, if not the targeted 2020. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Saturday told a historic synod of Orthodox bishops that Kiev's national security depends on "spiritual independence" from Moscow. Poroshenko addressed Ukrainian priests in Kiev's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral, where the clerics met to work towards establishing an Orthodox church independent from Russia. "This is a question of our Ukrainian national security, of our statehood," he said in a speech broadcast live on Ukrainian television. Poroshenko, who has made an independent Church a campaign pledge ahead of an unpredictable election next year, said the state "did everything it could" towards the creation of a new independent church. "Now the future of Ukraine depends on you," he told the bishops. "You have before you (the task) of choosing a primate." Several thousand Ukrainians rallied outside the cathedral throughout the day, awaiting the synod's decision. "The people have been waiting for this. Our Ukrainian church should finally be independent from Moscow," 65-year-old Mykhaylo Khalepyk, who travelled to Kiev from the southern Kherson region, told AFP. Vitaliya Popovych, also at the rally, said she hoped Ukraine would have a new independent church "that will have a pro-state position". Several of the rally's participants said local churches throughout the country had encouraged parishioners to travel to the capital, even offering free transport. Ties between Russia and Ukraine have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev. This year, those tensions spilled over into the religious arena. The synod will seek to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraine's independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years. It led the Russian Orthodox Church to cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The synod aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. But Ukraine's Moscow-loyal church said it would snub the event and banned its priests from going to the synod. Despite that ban, a cleric of the church, Archbishop Kliment, told AFP he had recognised two bishops from the Moscow patriarchy on a photograph at the synod. The meeting is dominated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, the country's largest branch by number of believers. Its leader, Patriarch Filaret, founded the church after the fall of the Soviet Union, but it remained unrecognised by other Orthodox churches until recently. The smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is also taking part. In Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church dismissed the synod as uncanonical. Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, told Russian state television the Kiev synod had "no church, religious or evangelical meaning" and that it will have "no canonical consequences". Ukraine's SBU security service warned this week that Russia was planning to stage "provocations" in the country as the clerics were meeting. The SBU's deputy head Viktor Kononenko asked Ukrainians on Thursday to "refrain from holding any (political) gatherings during this period" so that they "could not be used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country". Earlier this month, Ukrainian security services raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia as religious tensions grew between the two countries. The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to wrest Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries into its control. Ahead of the council, Russia's Patriarch Kirill appealed to the Pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from "persecution". Kiev officials have framed the Church issue as one of national security, with Poroshenko in the past referring to the branch loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate as a "threat". The synod comes shortly after a fresh crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. If the attempt to create a unified Ukrainian Church is successful, it would be among the largest in the Orthodox world in terms of numbers of believers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian priests will hold a historic synod on Saturday to work towards founding an independent church, in what Kiev authorities hope will be a further step out of Russia's orbit. Ties between the ex-Soviet neighbours have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev, and this year those tensions spilt into the religious arena. The synod will seek to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraine's independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years, and saw the Russian Orthodox Church cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The meeting will take place in Kiev's Saint Sophia's Cathedral and aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. But Ukraine's Moscow-loyal church has said it will not send any representatives to the synod. That leaves the meeting between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, the country's largest branch by number of believers, and the smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Ukraine's SBU security service warned this week that Russia plans "provocations" in the country when the clerics are due to meet. The SBU's deputy head Viktor Kononenko asked Ukrainians on Thursday to "refrain from holding any (political) gatherings during this period" so that they "could not be used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country". Earlier this month, Ukrainian authorities raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia as religious tensions between the two countries grew. The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to wrest Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries into its control. Ahead of the council, Russia's Patriarch Kirill appealed to the Pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from "persecution". Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko -- who is expected to attend the council -- has made an independent Church a campaign pledge as he looks ahead to an unpredictable presidential election next year. Kiev officials have framed the Church issue as one of national security, with Poroshenko in the past referring to the branch loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate as a "threat". The synod comes shortly after a maritime crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. If the attempt to create a unified Ukrainian Church is successful, it would be among the largest in the Orthodox world in terms of number of believers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Ukrainian fighter pilot died when his plane crashed during a training flight, the army said Saturday in what was the second such death in two months. The Sukhoi-27 crashed on Saturday while coming in to land in the northern Jytomyr region at around 1300 GMT, the army's central command said. On October 16, a Ukrainian and a US pilot died when their Su-27 crashed during the Clear Sky 2018 military exercises involving eight NATO countries. The drills were held as Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country face off in a conflict that has already claimed more than 10,000 lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several thousand Ukrainians rallied outside one of Kiev's main cathedrals Saturday ahead of a historic synod expected to establish an Orthodox church independent from Russia. Ukrainian priests were to meet in Kiev's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral to work towards founding the church, in what Kiev authorities hope will be a further step out of Russia's orbit. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko briefly came to the rally before going into the cathedral, where he is expected to attend the synod. "Let's stand and pray for a Ukrainian church to be created today," he said as he greeted several of the rally's participants. He has made an independent Church a campaign pledge as he looks ahead to an unpredictable election next year. "The people have been waiting for this. Our Ukrainian church should finally be independent from Moscow," 65-year-old Mykhaylo Khalepyk, who travelled to Kiev from the southern Kherson region, told AFP. Vitaliya Popovych, who also came to the rally, said she hoped Ukraine will have a new independent church "that will have a pro-state position." Several of the rally's participants said local churches throughout the country had encouraged parishioners to travel to the capital and even offered free transport. Ties between Russia and Ukraine have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev, and this year those tensions spilled over into the religious arena. The synod will seek to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraine's independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years, and saw the Russian Orthodox Church cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The synod aims to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. Ukraine's Moscow-loyal church said it will snub the event and banned its priests from going to the synod. But a cleric of the church, Archbishop Kliment, told AFP that he recognised two bishops from the Moscow patriarchy on a photograph at the synod despite the ban. The meeting is dominated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, the country's largest branch by number of believers. Its leader, Patriarch Filaret, founded the church after the fall of the Soviet Union but it remained unrecognised by other Orthodox churches until recently. The smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is also taking part. In Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church dismissed the synod as uncanonical. Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, told Russian state television that the Kiev synod has "no church, religious or evangelical meaning" and that it will have "no canonical consequences." Ukraine's SBU security service warned this week that Russia was planning to stage "provocations" in the country as the clerics were meeting. The SBU's deputy head Viktor Kononenko asked Ukrainians on Thursday to "refrain from holding any (political) gatherings during this period" so that they "could not be used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country". Earlier this month, Ukrainian authorities raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia as religious tensions grew between the two countries. The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to wrest Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries into its control. Ahead of the council, Russia's Patriarch Kirill appealed to the Pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from "persecution". Kiev officials have framed the Church issue as one of national security, with Poroshenko in the past referring to the branch loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate as a "threat". The synod comes shortly after a fresh crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. If the attempt to create a unified Ukrainian Church is successful, it would be among the largest in the Orthodox world in terms of numbers of believers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sterlite Copper, a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd, Saturday welcomed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order allowing the company to resume operations at its unit at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. In May, the company had to close its smelter plant in Tamil Nadu following a state government order. The company had challenged the order in the NGT. The state government had ordered permanent closure of the company's copper unit after 13 people, among protesters demanding its shutdown on environmental concerns, were killed in police firing. On Saturday's NGT order, Sterlite Copper CEO P Ramnath said, "We welcome the order given by the National Green Tribunal on allowing us to resume operations of our copper smelter at Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin)." The NGT set aside the Tamil Nadu government order for closure of the copper unit at Tuticorin, which was at the centre of massive protests over alleged pollution, saying it was "non sustainable" and "unjustified". A bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of the environment in accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday. Satisfied with the order, Ramnath further said, "We are happy that all those affected by the closure will get back their source of livelihood and the town of Thoothukudi will revert to normalcy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Saturday extended by four days the CBI custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case. The 57-year-old British national was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. The probe agency told the judge that Michel needs to be confronted with various documents in the case and had sought further custody of for five days. It also said that the accused was required to be taken to the premises of Pawan Hans India Ltd in Mumbai to verify his version of his alleged attempted negotiations to buy back WG-30 helicopters, to identify the shipper and to confront the officials of Pawan Hans India. The agency said that voluminous documents have been received from various countries pursuant to the 'Letter of Requests' and the accused was yet to be confronted with a number of them. The defence counsel opposed the CBI application for further remand saying already enough time was granted to the agency and nothing incriminating was found against accused. "Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, submissions mad by the parties, I deem it fit to grant further four days PC remand of the accused. Accordingly, the accused is remanded to PC for four days," the judge said. Michel was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days. Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Both the agencies notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal government Saturday refused permission for the BJP's proposed Rath Yatra, citing intelligence reports of possible communal violence in areas where the party is planning to take out the yatra. In a letter to state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, the West Bengal government said it was unable to allow the Yatra as proposed by the party. A division bench of the Calcutta High Court had on December 7 directed the West Bengal chief secretary, the home secretary and the director general of police to hold a meeting with three representatives of the BJP by December 12, and take a decision on the 'rath yatra' by December 14. Following the meeting between the two sides, state government officials had told the party that its decision will be conveyed to them by Saturday. Reacting to the development, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said the party would move a higher court against this decision of the Trinamool Congress government. The saffron party had proposed to take out three Rath Yatras in different parts of the state ahead of the Lok Sabha election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on Sunday after disputed Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa will resign on Saturday, signalling an end to the nearly two-month power tussle in the island nation. President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday, Colombo Page reported. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said that it was decided during the discussion that he will take oath as the Prime Minister at 10 am on Sunday. The President removed Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister on October 26 and appointed former president Rajapaksa as the Premier, plunging the country into an unprecedented crisis. Wickremesinghe refused to accept the sacking and challenged it in a court and in the Parliament. The daily reported that a new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday. The Cabinet will consist of 30 members and include six Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians, it said. Rajapaksa's son on Friday announced that the former strongman will resign on Saturday, after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled leader's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. The apex court on Friday refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. "To ensure stability of the nation, Former President @PresRajapaksa has decided to resign from the Premiership tomorrow after an address to the nation," Rajapaksa's son Namal tweeted. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with former president, SLFP and others will "now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena", Namal, a lawmaker, added. The apex court's Friday ruling came a day after it unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by President Sirisena was "illegal". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday he will mobilise public opinion over the next one year to earn full statehood to the national capital. He was addressing a function to mark the 25th anniversary of the Delhi Assembly's first sitting on December 14, 1993. Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, in his address, said Delhi's chief ministers from other political parties over the years had demanded full statehood for the Union Territory. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia echoed their views and said the government has to go to the court if it wants to work for the welfare of its people. Kejriwal said it's an insult to Delhi's citizens that the city does not have full statehood. "We will go out among people to unite them to raise the demand of full statehood for Delhi. We will also be organising events to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Delhi Assembly's first sitting. "In 1947, the country got independence and people got the right to choose their state governments which have power. But Delhi's citizens do not have independence. Why this step-motherly treatment for Delhi?" he asked. He expressed the hope that Delhi would get full statehood in the next five years. He said the Delhi government under Sheila Dikshit had powers but his government's powers were "taken away" through a notification issued by the Central government in May 2015. "In this Assembly, the former chief minister Madan Lal Khurana had said, 'i do not even have the power of a peon'. The chosen government here does not have the power to take decisions for the welfare of the people," he said. Kejriwal also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah. "The duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is dangerous for our country's present and future. If they are voted to power again, they would not even spare the Constitution of the country. It is the responsibility of every patriotic Indian citizen to ensure that they are defeated. We will do everything to ensure their defeat," he said on the sidelines of the event. Goel said that in the last two years, no bills have been brought to the Delhi Legislative Assembly. "Eighteen bills are lying with the Central government. It is really sad that Delhi's people are deprived of the benefits they would have got had those bills been passed by the central government. In the last two years, no bills have been brought to the Delhi Assembly," he said. He said the demand for full statehood for Delhi has resonated in the Delhi Legislative Assembly several times. He also used the occasion to highlight the fact that the MLAs have been working on salaries that were last hiked in 2011 and he alleged the central government was not bothered about it. Purushottam Goel, who was a chairman of the Delhi Metropolitan Council, the body that preceded the Assembly, was the chief guest at the event. "It is wrong that the Central government, through the LG, is trying to run the Delhi government. I can assure you that the BJP is not coming to power in the next five to 10 years," he said. Earlier, the Delhi Assembly had adopted a resolution on "full statehood" during a special session. At that time, Kejriwal had said he would campaign for the BJP if the Centre granted full statehood to Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman militant was arrested by a combined team of Manipur police and Assam Rifles at Tera Amudon area in Imphal West district and large number of Chinese-made hand grenades, detonators and ammunition were seized from her possession, police said Saturday. The militant is an active member of proscribed underground outfit Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), said Th. Krishnatombi, Additional Superintendent of Police (Commando), Imphal West district. He added that the security forces seized 20 Chinese-made hand grenades, 20 detonators and 1,120 AK 47 live rounds from the possession of the militant. A case has been registered at Lamphel police station for further investigation, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing gratitude to the Indian Armed Forces, members of a visiting Bangladesh delegation Saturday said that the country would not have attained liberation from Pakistan as fast as it did without the Indian forces. Stating that Bangladesh has not forgotten the contribution of Indian Armed Forces, Bangladesh MP Quazi Rosy said that India extended all help to the people of erstwhile East Pakistan to attain freedom. "Without you (Indian Armed Forces), we would not have been able to attain independence so fast. Vietnam fought for nine years and we fought for nine months only and it was possible because of you," Rosy, head of a Bangladesh delegation for 'Vijay Diwas' (victory day) celebrations to mark India's win over Pakistan in the 1971 war and birth of Bangladesh, said. A freedom struggle by the Bengali-speaking majority in East Pakistan against the atrocities committed by Pakistan forces had started in March 1971. The war between India and Pakistan, that commenced on December 3, 1971, ended within two weeks with Lt Gen AAK Niazi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) East Pakistan Army, signing the instrument of surrender on December 16. "The Rohingyas came to Bangladesh, we gave them food and shelter, but you gave us more during our struggle," she said while describing how two crore refugees who fled the Pakistani atrocities in which lakhs of Bengali-speaking people were killed and thousands of women raped, were given shelter, food and security in India. "We had no money and used to go to shops in the streets of Kolkata seeking medicines and dry food for the Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) who were fighting for our freedom and they whole-heartedly supported us with the provisions," an emotional Rosy said. Several other 'Muktijoddhas', who are part of the delegation along with officers of Bangladesh Armed Forces, are here to participate in the celebrations to mark India's win against Pakistan in the 1971 war and birth of Bangladesh. Former Army Chief General Shankar Roychowdhury, while recounting his experiences of the 1971 military operations, said that for mutual security interests and a secure future, the two countries must remain the best of friends. Lt Gen M M Naravane, GOC-in-C of Eastern Command, said that he was a young boy when the 1971 war took place. "My father was in the Air Force and was posted at the Operations (Ops) room in Delhi and I would wait eagerly for him to come back home to hear some more war stories," he said. "To hear first hand accounts by the Muktijoddhas and war veterans recount their first hand experiences send shivers down the spine," Lt Gen Naravane said at the Eastern Command headquarter Fort William, where the Bangladeshi delegation and war veterans came together to share their experiences. He said that the Indian Army would not have been able to achieve what it did within such a short time without the cooperation and participation of the Muktijoddhas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Youth wing of Congress took out a candlelight march at India Gate in the national capital on Saturday, demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe the Rafale fighter jet deal. The march started from Indian Youth Congress (IYC) office on Raisina Road and ended at India Gate through Janpath Road. The BJP government "lied" in the Supreme Court, stating they shared the price of the Rafale fighter jet with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the CAG report was examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), alleged Keshav Chandra Yadav, IYC president. "It has become apparent that the government has lied in the Supreme Court. Not only the Supreme Court, but the nation has also been kept in the dark," Yadav said while addressing the marchers. The government and the prime minister now need to answer the questions on Rafale deal, he demanded. IYC vice president Srinivas B V alleged the Rafale deal was a "scam" exemplifying "crony capitalism". Spokesperson of the outfit, Amrish Ranjan said there were "more questions" in the matter than Modi government could possibly answer, like why it filed an affidavit in the apex court after getting a "favourable verdict" in the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp believe their foreign owners' offer to stop using Huawei Technologies equipment will help with the United States clearing their $26 billion merger deal, sources said, underscoring the lengths to which Washington has gone to shut out the Chinese company. Like all major U.S. wireless carriers, T-Mobile and Sprint do not use Huawei equipment, but their majority owners, Germany's Deutsche Telekom AG and Japan's SoftBank Group Ltd <9984.T>, respectively, use some Huawei gear in overseas markets. People familiar with the deal ... DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar's private sector grew by almost 6 percent in 2018 despite volatile oil prices, its finance minister said on Saturday.Last year the economy saw outflows, but 2018 was a good year with most of the growth coming from the private sector, Ali Sharif al-Emadi told the Doha Forum on Saturday.Qatar's public sector institutions, including its sovereign wealth fund, had injected more $40 billion into Qatari banks during the the initial months of its rift with Saudi Arabia and its allies to help the banking sector mitigate the impact of fund outflows. (Reporting by Eric Knecht; ... Indian Railways opened the doors of India's first railway university in Vadodara, Gujarat on Saturday. Dedicated to the nation by Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, it is the first of its kind institution in the nation and the third in the world after Russia and China. Named the Rail and Transportation Institution (NRTI), this deemed university will offer professional courses in technology and management of transportation networks. The chairman of Railways Board Ashok Lohani has been named the Vice Chancellor, whereas it will host visiting faculty from renowned institutions like XLRI School of Management and Indian Business School, Hyderabad, among others. The NRTI started operation on September 5 earlier this year. The first batch of 103 students - 62 for BSc in Transportation Technology and 41 in BBA in Transportation Management - have already been shortlisted. Both courses are the flagship three-year programmes offered by the railway university. The students inducted in these full-time residential programmes hail from 20 states of India. The first batch of students has been awarded 50 per cent scholarship in the annual course fee of Rs 75,000. The actual annual fee of NRTI for one year is Rs 91,000, including all charges. There are plans to start masters' programme from the academic session 2019-20 Transportation and Systems Design, Transport Systems Engineering, Transport Policy and Economics, and others. The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned Rs 421 crore for the NRTI and its curriculum development for the next five years. A greenfield campus is also under development to house the university. Indian Railways has identified a 110-acre plot of land at Pipaliya village in Waghodiya Taluka, District Vadodara for the NRTI campus. "Considering the curriculum designed for this university, the students trained here will greatly benefit the Indian Railways if they join us," said Railways Minister Piyush Goyal at the event to dedicate the railway university to the nation. The government has moved the Supreme Court seeking correction in a paragraph of its judgement in the Rafale deal case which refers to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report regarding the pricing details of the deal being examined by the Parliament's Public Account Committee (PAC). The request from Defence Ministry comes as a controversy has started to brew over Supreme Court's statement that the PAC has examined the CAG report on Rafale deal's pricing details. In paragraph 25 of its verdict, the apex court said that the CAG has examined the pricing details of the Rafale deal, and its findings were then tabled before and have been examined by the PAC. This comment by the Supreme Court came from misinterpretation of a note submitted to the top court, the Defence Ministry said in its application for correction. One of the points on the note in question had said: "The Government has already shared the pricing details with the CAG. The report of the CAG is examined by the PAC. Only a redacted version of the report is placed before the Parliament and in public domain." The Defence Ministry had submitted the note along with the pricing details of Rafale deal to the Supreme Court in two sealed covers in compliance with an order by the court. ALSO READ: Dassault welcomes Supreme Court's ruling on Rafale deal The Supreme Court statement in reference to the CAG report suggests that it has already been examined by the PAC. In the application, however, the government has said that while the pricing details of the fighter jet deal have been shared with the CAG, the CAG report is yet to be presented to the PAC for examination. "The submission by the Union of India, to the effect that the report of the CAG 'is' examined by the PAC, was a description of the procedure which is followed in the normal course, in regard to the reports of the CAG. The very fact that the present tense 'is' is used would mean that the reference is to the procedure which will be followed as and when the CAG report is ready," the government said in the application to the Supreme Court. The application also sought correction in Supreme Court's statement that a redacted version of the report has already been tabled before the Parliament. The government tried to clarify that only a bridged version of the CAG report will be presented before the Parliament and in public domain, as and when it comes. Congress had cried foul after Supreme Court referred to a CAG report being examined by the PAC in its enquiry of the Rafale deal while dismissing all petitions challenging the propriety of the deal. Senior Congress leader and PAC chairman Mallikarjun Kharge had accused the government of "misleading" the Supreme Court by presenting wrong facts about the CAG report on the Rafale deal. ALSO READ: Rahul hits back at govt on Rafale deal, says Congress will prove the scam A major US-China trade deal is likely to happen soon, President Donald Trump said on Friday, asserting that Beijing wants to make it "big and very comprehensive". He also said China's position has been weakened by the economic impact of the tariffs war with America. Earlier in the day, China pressed on with its trade war truce with the US and announced that it will suspend extra tariffs added to 'Made in America' cars and auto parts for three months from January 1. "China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" Trump tweeted. "China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended US Tariff Hikes. The US is doing very well," he added. Earlier this week, top officials from the US and China had a conference call on trade negotiations. The phone call follows up on the 90-day tariff cease-fire agreed to by Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a meeting in Buenos Aires on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. The US-China trade conflict stems from the Trump administration's demands that China makes sweeping changes to its intellectual property practices, rein in high-technology industrial subsidies, open its markets to more foreign competition and take steps to cut a USD 375 billion American goods trade surplus. Also Read: Rahul hits back at govt on Rafale deal, says Congress will prove the scam Also Read: Government to stick with 3.3% fiscal target this year: Arun Jaitley Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Friday said there is a pressing need to modernise the "archaic and vaguely drafted laws", train bureaucrats in drafting precise and unambiguous laws and increase number of judges to expedite the judicial delivery system in the country. Delivering the third V R Venkatakrishnan Memorial lecture, Murthy highlighted the high number of vacancies across various courts and pending litigations and said it is important to also ensure productivity of judges for reducing delays. "We have to modernise our archaic and vaguely drafted laws, train our bureaucracy in drafting precise, concise, unambiguous and easily-understandable laws, train our law students, court associates of judges and entry-level judges better and introduce tools to improve the work productivity in courts," he said. He added that many of these laws were drafted during the British rule with the aim of curbing the freedom of the people. Murthy cited a personal incident from 12 years ago, where a case was filed against him alleging that he had insulted the national anthem when the instrumental version was played at a function in Infosys. "This went from the lowest level court to high court to Supreme Court over 18 months until the case was dismissed in my favour. I ended up spending Rs 48 lakh as lawyer's fees," he said adding that the cost of litigation in India is "unaffordable for the common man". Murthy also flagged the "low quality" of judgements at lower courts. "Many retired legal luminaries tell me that many judgements produced by lower level courts are vague, do not refer to the section of the law according to which the decision is made, and are full of opinions. Such decisions at lower courts are likely to result in a higher load on higher courts," he added. The technocrat said one of the solutions to these issues is to ensure that lower level courts do not admit appeals filed in routine matters and those based on opinions. "Second, re-appealing a case again at a higher court when an entity or a person has lost at lower court in a non-policy matter has to be discouraged. Alternate dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration should be encouraged," he said. Murthy suggested that it would be a good idea to send promising entry-level judges to courts in the US or UK to spend time observing how judges in those countries use technology and modern practices to provide speedy justice. "It may be a good idea to invite retired judges from the UK and the US as visiting professors to our law schools for a year or two to teach modern court room practices, logical reasoning, and precise, concise and unambiguous communication," he added. Murthy said such initiatives will essentially make Indian law students and entry-level judges become logical thinkers, communicators and users of modern technology and modern methods of managing court productivity. Also Read: Rahul hits back at govt on Rafale deal, says Congress will prove the scam Also Read: Union minister Nitin Gadkari says his 'chor' remarks on Mallya taken out of context Unfazed by the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract which he asserted will be proved by his party and claimed that the basis of the court judgement is a CAG report that has neither been seen by anyone, nor shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee. He also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he cannot escape action and only two names of Modi and businessman Anil Ambani will come out whenever a JPC probe is conducted into the deal. Gandhi used the barb of "chowkidaar chor hai" (watchman is a thief) against the prime minister, alleging that "massive corruption" has taken place in the defence contract and that Rs 30,000 crore of farmers has gone to Anil Ambani's Reliance group. Both the government and Anil Ambani's Reliance Group have rejected Gandhi's allegations of wrongdoing in the defence deal. Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, along with party's top leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, P Chidambaram and Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi said the Supreme Court in its verdict cited a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the Rafale deal that was submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), but he asserted that no such report was given to the House panel headed by Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge. Kharge also said that he as chairman of the PAC has not seen any such report of the CAG that the Supreme Court judgement has cited and termed it "strange" as well as "untrue". "When the CAG does not have the report, how will it come before the PAC. Who gave the report, where is the report. Where did the report come from," he wondered, alleging that "this is far from the truth". Gandhi said he failed to understand that the basic foundation of the Supreme Court judgement is the report that "no one has seen" and asked the government to show it to them and the PAC chairman. "I am seriously not able to understand. You are laughing, but I'm not able to understand this. When one speaks a lie somewhere it comes out. "The government has to make us understand, where is the CAG report. Please show it to us, to the PAC chairman. Or is it with some other PAC that PM Modi has set up in the PMO or some other Parliament in another country, like France. It is possible in today's world under Modi Ji," Gandhi asked in a dig at the government. He also accused the Modi government of destroying "all institutions" and asserted that corruption has taken place in the Rafale deal under its watch. "While the Election Commission says something, the Supreme Court says something else and the judges come out and say some other things," he said. "There is a theft of Rs 30,000 crore and it is farmers' money.. This money is taken by them, everybody in the country knows and understands. "The 'chowkidaar' has done a theft and we will prove it...People of India know that Prime Minister Modi is a friend of Anil Ambani...The people of India know the truth and they understand the truth. "Modi ji can run as much he wants, but no one can save him from being caught. The moment there is a probe by the JPC only two names of Anil Ambani and Narendra Modi will come out," he said. In a relief to the Modi government, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. The apex court rejected the pleas which sought lodging of an FIR and a court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, in which both the countries have entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA). It also said that material placed before it shows that Centre did not disclose pricing details in Parliament about the Rafale fighter jet procured through IGA but had shared with Comptroller and Auditor General. It said that CAG report was even examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. "The material placed before us shows that the Government has not disclosed pricing details, other than the basic price of the aircraft, even to Parliament, on the ground that sensitivity of pricing details could affect national security, apart from breaching the agreement between the two countries," a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said. "Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament," the bench said in its verdict. At the press conference, Gandhi also said farmers in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will soon get a loan waiver as promised by the party. "There has been a theft of Rs 30,000 crore and farmers, remember that in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, your loan is going to be waived. "This money that has been taken by thieves is your money," he said referring to the Congress' allegation that there was corruption in the Rafale deal. Also Read: Government to stick with 3.3% fiscal target this year: Arun Jaitley Also Read: Union minister Nitin Gadkari says his 'chor' remarks on Mallya taken out of context The Supreme Court on Friday ordered status quo with regard to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad by former Ranbaxy promoters and hospital operators -- Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. The apex court was hearing the plea of Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo which is seeking to recover Rs 3,500 crore, awarded to it by a Singapore tribunal in its case against Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. The Japanese firm, which has filed the contempt plea against the Singh brothers in the apex court, has said that it was promised some shares of Fortis Healthcare by the Singh brothers. "Status quo with regard to sale of the controlling stake in Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad be maintained," said a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. The top court also issued notices to the Singh brothers asking them to explain as to why contempt proceedings are not initiated against them for allegedly violating its earlier order by pledging the shares. The board of Fortis Healthcare had approved in July a proposal from IHH Healthcare to invest Rs 4,000 crore by way of preferential allotment for a 31.1 per cent stake. The Malaysian IHH Healthcare Bhd became the controlling shareholder of Fortis Healthcare Ltd by acquiring a 31.1 per cent stake in the company. Daiichi had bought Ranbaxy in 2008. Later, it had moved the Singapore arbitration tribunal accusing that the Singh brothers had concealed information that Ranbaxy was facing a probe by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice while selling its shares. Daiichi had to enter into a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice, agreeing to pay USD 500 million penalties to resolve potential, civil and criminal liability. The company had then sold its stake in Ranbaxy to Sun Pharmaceuticals for Rs 22,679 crore in 2015. Also Read: Rahul hits back at govt on Rafale deal, says Congress will prove the scam Also Read: Government to stick with 3.3% fiscal target this year: Arun Jaitley Also Read: Union minister Nitin Gadkari says his 'chor' remarks on Mallya taken out of context news, latest-news Off the Hume Highway, halfway between Canberra and the Victorian border sits an Australian icon - an unassuming, but beloved piece of folklore known across the land - the dog on the tuckerbox. For more than 80 years the bronze dog has been sitting obediently waiting for his master to return, a monument to the drovers and early pioneers who forged the road through the area. While the memorial itself hasn't changed much since prime minister Joseph Lyons unveiled it in 1932, time has not been kind to the site it sits on, now home to a potholed road, abandoned petrol station and a dilapidated site in need of attention. Now the Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council thinks it's time the old dog received a facelift and advertised in November for expressions of interest in development opportunities for the site. Mayor Abb McAlister said it was the perfect scenario: a tourist site right off one the nation's busiest highways. "It's just come to a stage now where it really wants a revamp; you can probably see it for yourself it needs money spent on it," Mr McAlister said. Of the 11,000 cars that pass the site on the Hume, about 3000 stop at the nearby petrol station - only about 630 stop by the dog. "[The new site] could be anything, it could include accommodation, restaurants; just a really good upgrade," Mr McAlister said. While there have been several iterations of the story over the years, the best known version involves Bill the Bullocky - a drover - who bogs his wagon nine miles out of Gundagai, gives up and goes to have lunch to find his dog sitting on his tuckerbox and refusing to move. A lot of the locals will tell you though that Bill didn't find the dog sitting on his tuckerbox; he found it relieving itself in it. An earlier monument to the dog appeared at the site in the early 1920s, a timber cutout hoisted on a tree, where locals had a donation box to collect money for the local hospital despite the council's protests. Before long an official monument was erected where it still stands today, continuing to collect money for the Gundagai District Hospital. The site's current leaseholder, Denny Allnutt, said she had had big plans for the site when she took it on board in 2016, but was letting the lease expire in July next year. "You're part of Australian history and part of an internationally known icon. There's enormous good will for the dog through Australia," Ms Allnutt said. "It's enjoyable and exhausting at the same time." She runs the small tuckshop next to the statue but now plans to get her old art gallery running again on Gundagai's main strip once the lease is up. Originally from Sydney, Ms Allnutt moved to Gundagai in 2004 and while she admits she was underwhelmed by the statue at first, she fell in love with it and the story behind it. "I love the fact that it's entirely grassroots," she said. Ms Allnutt said the site from the famous poem, where Bill gets bogged trying to cross Muttama Creek, has now been passed over by the Hume Highway. It wasn't until the Great Depression that a group of locals came up with the idea of putting up a statue to raise money for the hospital, despite the council hating the idea. The group decided putting the statue nine miles out of Gundagai would be too far and it needed to be closer, at the five mile mark and site of an old bullocky's camping ground, to help raise money. Finally the council came on board. "It's always been something that's loved by the community, has grown out of the community and is cherished and celebrated by the community. I just love that," Ms Allnutt said. Ms Allnutt said the poem captured the country's larrikin tradition. "It was definitely the misbehaving dog that spoiled the tucker. Only in Australia would that be celebrated," she said. The tradition of collecting money for the hospital lives on with Gundagai local Keith Turner, who has voluntarily been collecting money from the wishing well each month since 2015. It averages up to $350 a month with the money given to the hospital's emergency ward. Mr Turner remembers celebrating the 50th year of the dog in 1982 and helping organise a recording by musicians The Howie Brothers to celebrate the dog's birthday. "Y'know the dog's been sitting on that tuckerbox for over 50 years and it ain't dead yet," Mr Turner said, recalling the lyrics. He walked the streets of Gundagai taking donations for copies of the CD, raising $3000 for the hospital's children's ward, an effort that earned Mr Turner Gundagai's Citizen of the Year. Mr Turner said the site as it is needs looking after but everybody knew about Gundagai from Jack O'Hagan's 'Along The Road to Gundagai' and 'Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox'. Mr Turner sings it wherever he goes and remembers travelling to New Zealand for a function three years ago when he started 'Along The Road to Gundagai' to the locals. "At the end of the night, they were thanking everyone and I walked over and said I'll have the mic thanks," Mr Turner said. "I got on the mic and I told them where I came from and I sang Along the Road to Gundagai. Well, they all sang it. There were twenty Americans there too, young students, half of them were singing it word for word." The fabled tale is ready for its next chapter. The old dog is waiting. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/d0919c16-4df1-494e-b9a3-e4b1e5c899a8/r0_209_4032_2487_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 comment As pointed out by Helen Watchirs (Australia led the world, December 11, p16) human rights are important. But Dr Watchirs writes approvingly about the use of the Victorian charter of human rights by young criminals to challenge their transfer to a prison. However, if these individuals had paid more attention to their responsibilities as citizens, e.g. to obey the law and had respected the rights of others, e.g. to not be assaulted or robbed, then they wouldnt have been incarcerated in the first place. Interesting, is it not, that such individuals are obviously happy to invoke their own rights but are not at all concerned about the rights of the victims of their crimes or their responsibilities as citizens? The debate on this issue needs to be balanced by an equivalent focus on the responsibilities of citizens and the need to respect the rights of others. Rights come with responsibilities. We need an ACT Human Rights and Responsibilities Commission. Jim Derrick, Florey I cannot fathom why the ACT government is so obsessed with proceeding with Stage 2 of Light Rail, given the ballooning deficit to fund Stage 1 and this projects glaring logistical and technical deficiencies (e.g. electric buses are far more efficient, versatile and cheaper as they dont need ugly overhead wiring or expensive steel tracks that make intersections hazardous for cyclists and motorists on wet days). The trams financial viability is not helped by the lack of free parking for commuters who live in Yass, Murrumbateman, Hall and Canberras north-western suburbs (having to pay for parking and a tram ticket will be too expensive for most folk). Congested York, England, has free parking at outlying locations, so why not in Gungahlin and Mitchell? Increased travel times is another negative (Giralang and Kaleen residents will lose their direct bus service and have to travel via Dickson to Civic). The budget deficit will inevitably worsen as, unlike the Gold Coast, there arent any tourist attractions, hospitals, universities or mainline stations along the route to attract passengers. It is crazy not having a link to the airport. As Stage 1 is already showing signs of being a financial disaster, there is absolutely no hope for Stage 2. Inevitably, both will prove to be as ineffective as an ash tray on a motorbike. I find it galling that many generations are going to be saddled with having to pay dearly for a stranded asset. This lose-lose-lose scenario will inevitably increase the risk of the Chief Minister and his team being voted out of office. Peter Sherman, Aranda Last month the Prime Minister shovelled out, very swiftly, more than $200 million of taxpayer funds for some Queensland water projects in return for Bob Katters pledge of support for the minority Coalition government. In comparison, a $266 million spend over 12 years to expand and transform the National Museum of Australia is not a lot of money (National Museum 2.0, canberratimes.com.au, December 8), especially given how it will benefit millions of Australians, assist the preservation and promotion of our national heritage and history, and further develop our cultural image and reputation at home and abroad. The museum deserves this funding and much more government support to help it underpin and expand its highly accountable and creative operations and public service delivery. Many will look forward to hearing the federal government announce, with enthusiasm and pride, provision of the balance of funds needed to implement the museums plans, as well as a commitment to meet the additional ongoing operational costs associated with the expansion. The amount sought is, after all, a fraction of the $600 million that the government has provided recently for major new building and redevelopment projects at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and the Sir John Monash Centre for World WarI interpretation near Villers-Bretonneux in France. Sue Dyer, Downer Yet another drug death and many hospitalised at a recent youth festival should stop more such events.Senior toxicologist Dr Andrew Leibie of Safework Laboratories has told the Canberra community and Australia that pill testing is not safe (Oversold pill testing not a magic bullet: toxicologist, October 9, p2). According to Dr Leibie, the equipment used by the promoters and accepted by the ACT government infrared spectroscopy will tell you nothing about the dose, which is key to determining toxicity. More than 90 per cent of the total drug can be in less than half the volume of a pill. Before long, with proposed new cannabis laws, well have teenagers in cannabis land wandering off to youth festivals under the false impression their lives are safe. And while on the subject, the police have already expressed alarm at the bill to legalise cannabis, being concerned about therapeutic controls and driving under the influence. Given houses with multiple residents could have multiple cannabis plants each, how can non-user neighbours, visitors, workmen etc be fully protected? Colliss Parrett, member, Drug Watch International, Barton While there have been concerns expressed that only 49 per cent of patients are seen on time at ACT hospital emergency departments (Conditions critical for ACT patients, December 6), the situation is not nearly as bad as portrayed. People presenting at EDs are seen based on a five tier category of need: category 1 (resuscitation), requires they are seen immediately; category 2 (emergency), within 10 minutes; category 3 (urgent), 30 minutes; category 4 (semi-urgent), one hour, and category 5 (non-urgent), two hours. Our hospitals achieved 100 per cent for category 1 and 77 per cent for category 2, the most important categories. It is, nevertheless, a worry that category 3 was just 37 per cent. Many people still go to EDs when they really only need to see a GP possibly to avoid paying for a consultation but there are bulk-billing GP clinics in Canberra. This clogs up the ED and will contribute to longer waiting times for category 3 patients. In 2017-18 almost 70,000 attendances were for these lower categories, with category 1, 2 and 3 accounting for just over 84,000 presentations. Of the total of almost 150,000 ED presentations only about a third required hospitalisation. Colin Smeal, Holder The Australian Christian Lobby is increasingly a voice for reactionary extremists, not Christians. Nothing shows this more than posts on its website about climate change. On December 11 the ACL published a blog by managing director Martyn Iles criticising School Strike 4 Climate Action. In his usual supercilious manner, Martyn claimed the students were uninformed pawns in a political strategy by the social progressives. With galling hypocrisy he pontificated that young people should love wisdom and instruction. Martyn himself rejects the scientific and moral truth about climate change. He is blinded by his socially conservative and economically right-wing political ideology. As long as he thinks this ideology is Christian he will remain blind. Martyn would hate to admit it, but some leading climate scientists are evangelical Christians. Professors Sir John Houghton, Mike Hulme and Katharine Hayhoe are examples. They have promoted the truth about climate change and the biblical values and morality that demand action. The ACL hasnt always dismissed action on climate change. On December 5, 2006, an ACL page titled Climate Change is a Moral Issue announced its participation in Common Belief: Australias Faith Communities on Climate Change launched by the Climate Institute. The then ACL managing director Jim Wallace wrote, Christians recognise a moral duty to be stewards of the creation and to express Gods love and care to all people made in his image. At the next election, I think the Christian constituency will be seeking to weigh the degree of determination in each party to tackle climate change. Ian Morland, Kaleen So taxpayers shelled out $4.5million in severance fees as a result of the change of PMs in August. And a total of 607 staff members employment changed and 136 staff were terminated. The fallout is significant and no reason has been given for the leadership change. Malcolm Turnbull was not given the opportunity to run the full term of government without explanation. It is wrong that this is allowed to happen, the instigators, perpetrators of this fiasco should be made to foot the bill unless they can state just cause for removing the PM. Poor taxpayers should not have to pay the cost of the antics of over-ambitious politicians with inflated egos. Phil Nicolls, Monash While many of us will empathise with C. Williams (Letters, December 12) about downsizing Canberra, the dual reality of the world today and for the foreseeable future is that global population will continue to grow (predicted to reach at least 11billion from todays 7 billion) before stabilising and then perhaps declining, and that mass migration and the redistribution of that population will continue unabated. Through ignorance, greed or just the need to survive, most of these people will continue to trash our home world and I dont see how Australia, let alone Canberra, can escape the same fate. It will take enormous political will to hold the line. Malcolm Robertson, Chapman For the 160,000th time, a migration program of 160,000 not 190,000 is not in any real sense a strong signal or a cut. Its just the precipitously high number that Morrison, Shorten, and the rest of the growth lobby are pushing as the new normal. Evidently their shallow trick is working pretty well. Over 1972-98, our net overseas migration (NOM) averaged a tick over 80,000 a year. There was no end of the world, as chief spruiker Peter McDonald would have us believe. The last couple of calendar (or fiscal) years, its been well over 200,000. A migration program of 80,000, with a fairly similar level of NOM would be a real cut, or at least a return towards historical norms. But you wont see that happening. Only the environment and the electorate would want that. Stephen Saunders, OConnor As an official from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 20 years ago, I participated in annual consultations with state governments about Australias annual immigration program, drawing on detailed data about demands that any immigration would generate for infrastructure, education, health and for government services. This was, in effect, the Australian Population Council, although that name was not used, as officials just got on with the job of managing the well-known, positive nationwide impacts of immigration. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a process that doesnt seem to do anything more than what was done before, but is still not called Australias population council. Trevor Wilson, Chifley The head of Origin Energy, Frank Calabria, has said that he would not risk investing in the expansion of the Shoalhaven pumped hydro plant while the government waves the big stick of forced divestiture in his face (Origin Energy chief warns against PMs laws, Business, December 8, p28 & p29). In contrast, Mr Calabria commended Labors clear approach to energy and climate policy, which gives his company more certainty and confidence in its planning. As for climate policy, I find it very hard to understand why any administration would be reluctant, as is the Morrison government, to act on reducing emissions when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated in October that the world may have as little as 12 years to act seriously on climate change before we reach the point of no return. Meanwhile, a recent report in The Medical Journal of Australia about the effects of climate change on human health states that heat stress alone is costing the country $616 per employed person per year. Given that, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 12.67 million employed people, that means that climate change is costing us $7.8 billion a year in lost productivity. I cannot understand why any government would stand by and see that happen without taking appropriate action and I certainly could not forgive that inaction. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin Sesame Street always had its letter and number of the day but now Google has its word and image of the day.For some unknown reason a picture of President Trump appears when you do a Google image search for idiot. I wonder what words would be linked to other world leaders, perhaps handsome with Canadas Justin Trudeau or unemployed with Britains Theresa May and the use of profanities may produce a few of the worlds despots and dictators. The use of a single word to describe a person or action is too simplistic although after the latest White House office conference regarding votes and funding for the wall some words that could be used are bombastic, unrealistic, inappropriate, argumentative and even diplomatic so long as it is accompanied by a negative. Google provides information that is meant to be unbiased although the results are influenced by commercial interests and ads as well as previous searches so the worrying thing is why are so many people linking the words Trump and Idiot. The people have spoken or at least typed. D. Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Vic So, Theresa May has been given another year to do absolutely nothing. What a relief. Churchill would be proud. M. Strong, Yass, NSW /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/5ae86d28-863d-4bcb-bfc5-caa75fa6fd46/r2_0_618_348_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The St Vincent de Paul Society has called on all governments to do more to ease housing costs as Santa delivered Christmas presents to the charity via a tram in Gungahlin on Friday. The big man in red delivered presents donated by staff from Canberra Metro and Transport Canberra and City Services, arriving in downtown Gungahlin in style. "The ride was smooth and very enjoyable and comfortable,'' Santa told a media throng, after alighting from the tram. "All I'd like to say to everyone this morning is have a very, very merry Christmas and be kind to each other.'' St Vincent De Paul Society ACT president Warwick Fulton said the presents had come at a good time, with the society holding a Christmas party for children in need this weekend. "For a lot of them, this will probably be the only new gift they get this Christmas,'' he said. "So many families are struggling just to pay their rent and their utilities. Food is very difficult, to actually find food to put on the table. "So putting presents out for their children is a really difficult thing for them at Christmas time. So many of these people, without your help, would not be having joy and celebration this Christmas. "The Canberra community is incredibly generous.'' St Vincent's would also be distributing 3000 hampers full of donated festive food to people in Canberra next week. Mr Fulton said the need at Christmas was created, he believed by the twin problems of expensive housing and often inadequate welfare payments. There were 1600 homeless people in Canberra, some sleeping in the open or in cars, and their need was heightened at Christmas. "There's just not enough affordable housing in Canberra or in Australia,'' he said. "When you look Australia-wide, there's a shortage of affordable housing of over 400,000 houses. "The other issue is, people on Centrelink payments are struggling just to pay rent, so there's no money for food, little money for utilities. Through no fault of their own, they're just struggling through day after day, until we fix those two problems. "We need to fix Centrelink payments, get them up to a reasonable amount, particularly Newstart. In Canberra, you've got people asked to live off $272 a week and the median rent is $540. It's easy maths, people just can't do it. "If it wasn't for all the charities around Canberra who support these people, they'd be in really dire straits.'' "We would ask governments to put housing first. We believe housing is the first step to people getting back on their feet.'' Capital Metro CEO Glenn Stockton said the Christmas presents from staff to the needy was a chance for the organisation to "give back to the community''. "It's a great honour to be associated with an organisation that gives and supports others,'' he said, of St Vincent's. "As Capital Metro, we've been in the Canberra community for some time now, delivering your light rail, working hard to do so, and importantly, working hard to be members of your community.'' Chief Minister Andrew Barr also thanked the staff for making the donations. "It's another very practical and tangible example of the Canberra community pulling together at this time of year,'' he said. "And to welcome Santa to Gungahlin on a light rail vehicle is a great Christmas present in itself and we can look forward to one of the great Christmas gifts for our city in 2019, being light rail.'' /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f70c3f12-c9e4-4ea9-aa55-9963a66c2ec1/r0_295_5472_3387_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The people behind the ACT's initial push to open a safe injecting room almost 20 years ago say the current proposal is well overdue. A drug strategy report released this week flagged the possibility of Canberra finally getting a supervised injecting room, almost decades after legislation was passed. Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said feasibility work would take place over the next six months to a year, with possible locations yet to be scouted. Former Liberal chief minister Kate Carnell and independent health minister Michael Moore pushed to get a safe injecting room off the ground in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Legislation was introduced in 1999 and later passed, but political upheaval and budgetary reasons meant it never got off the ground. "It's absolutely overdue," Mr Moore said. "It was introduced when I was a member of the Assembly and I left the best part of two decades ago. "To me it's been frustrating the legislation has simply been sitting on the books stagnating." Mr Moore said he believed another policy stopped in its tracks - the prescription of heroin - would eventually come to fruition in the ACT. The policy - supported by Ms Carnell - was rejected by then prime minister John Howard, with the ACT needing the federal gocernment's support in order to supply the drugs. Mr Moore said he was pleased with the current government's attitude to drug reform and harm minimisation, but on an international level the ACT was still behind. He pointed to countries such as Switzerland which have successful prescription heroin programs that operate uncontroversially. Ms Carnell said she was pleased to see harm minimisation back on the agenda - with the introduction of pill testing and now the consideration of the supervised injecting room. She called for bipartisan support for the programs. "They are proven to save lives and they are also proven not to encourage drug use," Ms Carnell said. "I certainly believe that just like pill testing it should not be political. "It's really just about better health outcomes." Regarding her attempt to set up a safe injecting room, Ms Carnell said it was unfortunate politics at the time got in the way. "They are proven to save lives and they are also proven not to encourage drug use," Ms Carnell said. "I certainly believe, that just like pill testing, it shouldn't be political. It's really just about better health outcomes." The report said the government would "investigate the feasibility, need, effectiveness and appropriateness of establishing a medically supervised drug consumption facility (supervised injecting facility) in the ACT". Ms Fitzharris said the government needed to be prepared to listen to the experts and try new things when it came to harm minimisation. When asked about a timeline for a possible facility Ms Fitzharris said she would talk to stakeholders in the lead-up to the next budget. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/495a510a-f71d-49f1-b332-cf1bdec68df0/r0_289_5472_3381_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics The ACT could be headed for another expensive High Court challenge if cannabis is legalised next year, with experts warning the private members bill sets the territory on a collision course with federal law. Possession of less than 50g of cannabis would be removed from the ACT's criminal code and the number of legal plants doubled under the draft legislation from Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson. The bill has the support of the Labor executive and in-principle support from the Greens, meaning the legislation is likely to pass. However legal experts have concerns about the conflict the legislation creates with federal laws. Paul Edmonds - a member of the ACT Law Society's criminal law reform committee and principal of Canberra Criminal Lawyers - said while he supported the principle of the bill on a harm minimisation basis, it was inconsistent with section 308 of the Commonwealth criminal code, which outlaws the possession of controlled drugs. Cannabis and cannabis resin are among the almost 250 drugs outlawed under this provision. Section 109 of the Constitution also states that where a law of a state is inconsistent with laws of the Commonwealth, Commonwealth laws will prevail and the state law will be invalid. The rule also applies to the ACT via section 28 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988. It's the same one that landed the ACT in the High Court in 2013, after the territory passed the nation's first law allowing same-sex couples to marry. The experience cost the ACT more than $800,000 in legal bills. Mr Edmonds said there was a "real possibility" that if the ACT legalised cannabis in this way, the territory was headed for another High Court challenge. "I would hope I'm wrong on that. I don't profess to be an expert in constitutional law but prima facie, on the face if it, I can't see how it would be anything other than inconsistent," Mr Edmonds said. He also said it may mean ACT police can still charge people with cannabis possession, but under the Commonwealth rather than territory law. "The Commonwealth still allows states and territories to deal with criminal matters, these restrictions only deal with customs, waters, imported drugs or simply offences on Commonwealth land but legally there's no reason the Commonwealth Crimes Act can't apply to a personal in the territory who possesses cannabis," Mr Edmonds said. "Whether the AFP would do that or have some sort of memorandum of understanding with the territory government like with pill testing where they decide not to charge people in practical terms may have the same effect but again it would seem to me o leave things in a fairly unsatisfactory and legally unclear position." Constitutional law expert Professor Anne Twomey agreed that if the ACT law is inconsistent, then the Commonwealth law will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. "It is therefore possible that persons could be convicted of a federal offence, even though an ACT law treats their acts as non-criminal. However, it can be more complicated than that," Professor Twomey said. "For example, the Commonwealth law may deal expressly with potential conflicts. See, for example section 308.1(3) of the Criminal Code, which permits a person charged with the federal offence to be 'tried, punished or otherwise dealt with as if the offence were an offence against the law of the state or territory that involved the possession or use of a controlled drug'. "This was apparently included to allow drug users to be 'diverted from the criminal justice system to receive the same education, treatment and support that is available in relation to drug offences under state and territory laws'. "While it is hard to see how this would work if there was no longer any offence under the ACT law, it is possible that there is some other relevant provision that would affect how a conflict is dealt with." Asked whether they would seek to charge people under Commonwealth law if cannabis was legalised, an ACT Police spokesman said the organisation would not speculate on proposed legislation. "Any questions related to the mechanics of possible new laws would be best directed to the ACT government," he said. The ACT government was asked what legal advice they'd received regarding the legalisation of cannabis for personal use, and whether the territory would seek an MoU with police. A government spokeswoman declined to say whether they'd received legal advice before Labor pledged to support the bill, but said all members of the Legislative Assembly had the right to put forward legislation for consideration. "As is the usual course with private members bills, ACT government directorates are now analysing the proposed legislation, and will provide advice to Cabinet prior to the bill being debated in the Assembly," the spokeswoman said. Attorney-General Christian Porter would need to refer the legislation to the High Court for a challenge to take place. His spokesman has previously said it was to early to determine the bill's impact on Commonwealth law. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/4aae55f6-d505-4d51-923c-ec546ac83d8f/r0_102_1999_1231_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Since independence from the British in 1947, India and Pakistan conflicted with each other on four occasions. The military victory over Pakistan in 1971 during the Bangladesh War of Independence, also known as the Bangladesh Liberation War, is the most convincing one for the country. On December 16, 1971, around 93,000 Pakistani soldiers had accepted their defeat by raising white flags before surrendering to the Indian Army. This victory over Pakistan resulted in the creation of a new country in South Asia, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). Every year, December 16 is celebrated as the Victory Day of Bangladesh. To commemorate the victory over Pakistan in 1971, India decided to celebrate the day as Vijay Diwas. The day is also meant to remember the unsung heroes who laid down their lives during the 1971 war. Aspirants who are aiming to stand out from the crowd in the competitive entrance examinations should know everything about Vijay Diwas which will help in the general awareness/knowledge. Here are some interesting facts about Vijay Diwas. 13 Unknown Facts Students Should Know About The Statue Of Unity 1. On December 3, 1971, Pakistan attacked around 11 Indian airfields which led to the starting of the Indo-Pak war. 2. The Indo-Pak 1971 war was concluded in just 13 days with the great efforts of Indian forces that include the Air Force, Para Troopers, Navy and Army. 3. Bangladesh is believed to be the country that was created after World War II. 4. During the 1971 India and Pakistan war, Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. 5. Pakistan Army Commander Lt Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi surrendered around 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to the Indian Army Commander of Eastern Command Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, who is also considered as a lead for the allied forces of India. 6. Indian Air Force had executed more than 500 sorties in a day which is believed to be more than in World War II. 7. Indian Air Force jets bombed on the PAF airfields that disabled Pakistan to attack through the airfield. 8. Along with the eastern side, Pakistan had also started the attack on all fronts. Islamabad attacked Longewala in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district. 9. The attack on Longewala was withstood by an Infantry company 23 Punjab, which was led by Brigadier KS Chandpuri. The infantry has halted the hundreds of tanks until the assistance came from the Indian Air Force. 10. The outbreak of the Bangladesh Liberation was widespread of genocide against the Bengali specifically Hindu. Over nine million refugees entered India during the brutality. Constitution Day: 10 Facts Students Should Know About The Constitution Of India Can someone explain to me why an Athletic Department (UTC) that is always seeking new funding sends it's womens basketball team to Greeley, Col., to play a game in front of 741 people? There must be at least 50 womens teams within a bus ride of Chattanooga the Lady Mocs could have scheduled. Douglas Jones Just about the time our community begins to have some hope and feel good about what is beginning to happen in our Hamilton County Public Schools then the school board makes a lame brain immature decision. Thursday night at its December meeting the board voted 6 to 2 (with Joe Smith and Rhonda Thurman being the only ones with any mature common sense) to spend nearly a half million dollars to bring in MGT Consulting Group to tell us what we already know. So Mr. and Ms. Taxpayer here is what is about to happen. MGT Consultants will come in and tell the School Board what repairs need to be done, (information we already know backed by a $200 million deferred maintenance list developed almost two years ago) then they will tell us where our county population growth is and is going to be over the next 10 years (information we already know as a result of extensive studies of the Hamilton County Planning Commission). MGT will present this information in a beautiful power point and binder folder and you can bet the farm the price tag to address the issues they will discover will be staggering. Even Mr. Clark himself stated, "Ive never met a school district that had a big enough checkbook to address everything we find. Then Mr. Joe Clark, business services consultant with MGT, will fly back home to his Florida-based office with Hamilton County's half million dollars and his work will set on the desk of Dr. Johnson (superintendent) and Justin Witt (facilities director) and gather dust. Why? There is no money to pay for all the work that MGT is about to tell us we need that we already know we need. But here is a novel idea, it came out of the mouth of newly elected school board member young Tucker McClendon last night when he said, I think if we have a funding body that doesnt want to give us more funding for this then shame on them. A lesson for you, young school board member. It might be a good idea to not shame the hand that feeds you, and remember that the funding body that you are shaming just recently gave you $100 million in new capital. Come on School Board dont mess up some great things that you are currently doing in our public schools by making such immature, costly, useless decisions as you did Thursday night. Thank you Joe Smith and Rhonda Thurman for your wisdom and maturity. And to young Mr. McClendon, shame on you for shaming our county commissioners. Charles Hunt Soddy Daisy Families visiting the recently-opened Kennedy Outpatient Center at Erlanger Childrens Hospital will soon be able to experience the facilitys newest dining option: Choo Choo Cafe. With a name inspired by Steam Engine 349, a restored 19th century locomotive situated at the entrance of the center, Choo Choo Cafe will serve breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning on Monday. Procured by hospital officials from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, the goal of Steam Engine 349 is to help children feel less anxious when arriving for treatment. Choo Choo Cafe shares that mission, offering a welcoming, comfortable environment and tasty food for patients, families, and Erlanger employees to enjoy. The cafe will offer made-to-order sandwiches and wraps for breakfast and lunch, bagels, gourmet soups, an interactive frozen yogurt machine, and grab-and-go options. It will also feature a coffee, tea, and soda bar as well as a kids menu. Customers can order ahead online or via a fast lane kiosk to keep service at a speedy clip. Another bonus when the weather warms up: Choo Choo Cafe will be the only restaurant in the vicinity with outdoor seating. Making its debut at Choo Choo Cafe is Tennessees first and only Sally the Robot, which will offer customizable salads and grain bowls to customers via touchscreen interface. Created by Silicon Valley-based food robotics company Chowbotics, Sally offers thousands of custom meal and snack options from any combination of up to 22 ingredients, in addition to chef-crafted, pre-programmed bowls. Sallys proprietary technology also reduces the risk of foodborne illness, as ingredients are kept sanitary and separate. Each of Sallys ingredients is replenished on a regular basis and contained within the robot, greatly reducing the potential for contamination. Sally is an ideal alternative to a salad bar, especially in and around higher-risk facilities such as hospitals, said Dr. Deepak Sekar, founder and CEO of Chowbotics. Choo Choo Cafe will donate $1 from every Sally meal sold through the end of the year to Erlanger Childrens Hospital, through the Believe Campaign. Josh Patton, owner, said, We are thrilled to be part of the regions only childrens hospital, providing nourishment to those who need it most. In addition to our fresh, tasty menu, we pride ourselves on offering exceptional and quick service in a warm, friendly environment. State Dept. adds Russia to religious freedom 'watch list,' labels Pakistan a 'country of concern' Christian Post Contributor | 15 December, 2018 by Samuel Smith The U.S. State Department has added Russia to its "special watch list" for religious freedom violators and added Pakistan to its list of "countries of particular" concern. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Tuesday decisions made on Nov. 28 to list 10 countries as "countries of particular concern," a designation required under the International Religious Freedom Act to single out the countries where governments have "engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom." The CPC designation, the highest U.S. government designation for religious freedom violations committed by foreign governments, carries with it the potential for the U.S. government to enact sanctions and other diplomatic actions to pressure change in those countries. After years of outrage from human rights and religious freedom activists over the ongoing abuses against Christians and other religious minorities, Muslim-majority Pakistan was designated as a CPC for the first time. Pakistan ranks as the fifth worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's World Watch List. "This Administration has had the courage to hold Pakistan accountable for Pakistan's persistent and systemic failures to protect the civil and human rights of religious minorities," Republican New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, the author of the International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, said in a statement. "This designation gives hope and voice to suffering Shia, Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi, and other minority citizens whose very presence counters religious extremism in Pakistan." The other nine countries designated as CPCs Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan had already been listed by the State Department as CPCs. Russia, Comoros and Uzbekistan were named to the State Department's "Special Watch List," a designation created by the IRFA of 2016 to single out countries that are "deemed not to meet all of the CPC criteria but who engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom." Although Russia has been put on the "Special Watch List," some believe the U.S. should consider listing Russia as a CPC. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended a CPC designation for Russia earlier this year. Russia has been criticized for banning Jehovah's Witnesses and abusing its anti-extremism law to prosecute peaceful worshipers and nontraditional groups including Scientologists. Since the passing of Russia's 2016 law criminalizing missionary activity, NGOs have reported 156 cases of religious groups being targeted that also include Christian groups from various denominations, according to U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback. In a recent press briefing, Brownback explained that Russia has 145 prisoners jailed for religious beliefs, 106 of whom are Muslim. He stressed that Russia has "stepped up their oppression." "The violations of religious freedom in Russia are real, thoroughly documented, and at times brutal," Smith asserted a House hearing he chaired of the Helsinki Commission on 'Religious Freedom in Eurasia' on Tuesday. "The Russian government deserves this and next year we should consider carefully whether it belongs on the list of Countries of Particular Concern the 'CPC' list for the worst of the worst." Pakistan was the first country to be put on the "Special Watch List" last year. In 2017, Uzbekistan was listed as a CPC. Led by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, Uzbekistan took part in the State Department's Ministerial for Religious Freedom in July and has now been taken off the CPC list. However, USCIRF, a congressionally mandated advisory body consisting of religious freedom activists and scholars appointed by the president and congressional leaders, recommended that Uzbekistan stay on the CPC list. "We question whether Uzbekistan has sufficiently improved to be moved from the CPC list to the Special Watch List," USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee said in a statement. Among other things, USCIRF had voiced concern about thousands of Muslims prisoners being imprisoned on dubious charges in Uzbekistan and over harassment of Christians. In response to the State Department's designation, the government of Pakistan accused the CPC designation of being a "unilateral and politically motivated pronouncement." Read more about religious freedom on The Christian Post. In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. Anne Graham Lotz warns her cancer could be sign Israel is in danger of fatal attack Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Anne Graham Lotz has suggested there might be a deep significance attached to her battle against breast cancer, as it could be a warning sign that Israel is in danger of suffering a fatal attack. Lotz reasoned on her website Wednesday that she has long thought of herself and the modern state of Israel as entwined, given that both are 70 years old, with the latter having been established in 1948. The evangelist and author said she's questioning whether there is more to my cancer at the age of 70 than just a random coincidence. In the Bible, God often had His spokespersons live out the message He gave them before they delivered the message to the people, she said. Hosea was instructed to marry a woman who then became unfaithful to him as he lived out in a very personal way the broken heart of God over unfaithful Israel, Lotz said of one of her examples. Jeremiah was told to purchase a linen belt, wear it, bury it, then dig it up when it was ruined and useless to live out a demonstration that God had bound Jerusalem to Himself, but she would not listen to Him so He would ruin her and render her useless. Lotz noted that she was born not only in the same year, but one week to the day of Israels establishment in May 1948. Could it be that God has given me a message for her that I am living out in my own experience? she wondered. Just as my cancer is a potentially fatal disease, is Israel also in danger of being attacked in a potentially fatal way? Just as my cancer struck suddenly and unexpectedly through no fault of my own, will Israel also be struck by her enemies suddenly and unexpectedly through no fault of her own? She continued: Just as I have not been immediately and quickly delivered from cancer, will Israel also not be quickly delivered from her enemies as she was in the 1967 war? Just as I am having to fight the cancer with chemotherapy cell by cell, will Israel also have to fight her enemies region by region, village by village, street by street, house by house? The daughter of late North Carolina evangelist Billy Graham explained that she feels the warning deep within, that Israel is in danger of a surprise attack in this, her 70th year. She asked supporters to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, something which Lotz has done throughout her ministry. In the past, Lotz hasn't been afraid to make big biblical predictions, and in 2015 told CBN News that she believes Jesus Christ will return to Earth in her lifetime. "I believe with deep conviction that is my generation," Lotz said at the time. "I was born just a week apart from the time when Israel was reborn as a nation [1948]. We are the same age. And I believe that if I live out my lifetime, a natural lifetime, I believe I will live to see the return of Jesus in the Rapture when He comes back to take us to be with Himself, which means preceding that there are going to be some signs. There are going to be some warnings." Lotz's brother, Franklin Graham, meanwhile asked for prayers for his sister back in November, noting that she has been experiencing severe side effects from chemotherapy treatment. Graham admitted at the time that the side effects "may jeopardize whether she can continue" with chemotherapy. UMC bishops launch site in support of plan to alter Church's stance on homosexuality Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A group of United Methodist Church bishops have launched a website dedicated to promoting a plan meant to change the denominations official biblical position on homosexuality, stating that it is a sin. In February 2019, the UMC will hold a special session of General Conference meant to resolve the yearslong debate over the denominations stance on LGBT issues. A proposal known as the One Church Plan would remove the Churchs biblically-based opposition to homosexuality, allowing instead for regional bodies to determine their stance on the issue. The site includes content by bishops who support the One Church Plan, including Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr., president of the UMC Council of Bishops. A statement posted to the website by Bishops Carter, Cynthia Fierro Harvey and Sue Haupert-Johnson explained the site is meant to serve as an informational and resource point. The bishops maintain their commitment to their consecration vows to guard the faith and the unity of the church, the bishops said. They continue to focus their leadership borrowing the words from the Vision, Mission, and Scope that has guided their work through these two years: To multiply the United Methodist witness in as many places in the world as possibly while maintaining as much unity as possible. Carter told the United Methodist News Service in an interview published Tuesday that he hopes the site will prevent the debate over the One Church Plan from being hijacked by critics. If we have affirmed the One Church Plan but do not interpret or define it, it will be defined by those who do not support it on the right and the left, Carter said in his interview with the UMNS. In May, a majority of the Council of Bishops endorsed the One Church Plan, saying in a statement that the plan allows for contextualization of language about human sexuality in support of the mission; and allows for central conferences, especially those in Africa, to retain their disciplinary authority to adapt the Book of Discipline and continue to include traditional language and values while fulfilling the vision of a global and multicultural church. This plan also encourages a generous unity by giving United Methodists the ability to address different missional contexts in ways that reflect their theological convictions, added the Council. Groups like the theologically conservative Good News Magazine have been critical of the One Church Plan, arguing in part that it will fail to promote unity by alienating many in the denomination. In a column published earlier this week, GNM Vice President Thomas Lambrecht wrote that many members and congregations have told his organization that they plan to leave the UMC if the plan is approved. In a poll this year in North Georgia, fully one-fourth of the annual conference members said that they would leave the church if the OCP is adopted, wrote Lambrecht. I estimate that the U.S. part of our church could lose anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of its membership in this scenario, and it is possible that up to a half-dozen annual conferences might seek to withdraw. Lambrecht also warned that the One Church Plan does not have a provision for allowing congregations to leave the denomination with their property. If General Conference provides no exit path, it is likely that much money will be spent on court battles over local church property. Money that could have gone to mission and ministry will instead go to pay lawyers, continued Lambrecht. In addition to the One Church Plan, delegates for the 2019 special session of General Conference will also consider two other proposals, the Traditional Plan and the Connectional Conference Plan. The Traditional Plan would maintain the current standards of the UMC regarding sexual ethics while giving a gracious exit option for churches and clergy who cannot accept those standards. The Connectional Conference Plan would establish three loosely connected conferences, each with a different position on the debate, with local bodies getting to choose which conference to join. Lee Strobel, Former Willow Creek Pastor, Says Women Accusing Bill Hybels Are 'Godly and Credible' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christian author Lee Strobel, who served as teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church for more than a decade, has backed the women accusing Bill Hybels of sexual misconduct and abuse. "My heart breaks for Pat Baranowski and all victims of Bill Hybels at Willow Creek. I never saw any hint of misconduct when I was there. Still, I know these women and they are Godly and credible. I believe them and weep for them," he said on Twitter. Strobel, an atheist-turned-believer, famous for his The Case for Christ bestseller, which was also turned into a movie, served at Willow Creek in Illinois from 1987 to 2000 as a teaching pastor. Baranowski is the latest among several other women who accused Hybels, who founded the evangelical megachurch in 1975, of various forms of sexual misconduct. Baranowski, who was Hybels' former executive assistant, alleged in a New York Times report that she was subjected to back rubs, groping, pornography and one incident of oral sex with her pastor. Hybels, who resigned as senior pastor in April, has continued to deny all accusations. In response to Baranowski's claims, Hybels responded: "I never had an inappropriate physical or emotional relationship with her before that time, during that time or after that time." Willow Creek Lead Teaching Pastor Steve Carter, who was one of Hybels' successors, resigned on Sunday, pointing to a "fundamental difference in judgment" between himself and church elders over the handling of the allegations. Heather Larson, the executive pastor, revealed that a new investigation will be launched over Hybels' behavior. "It was heartbreaking yesterday to read about the new allegation against Bill Hybels in The New York Times. We have deep sadness for Ms. Baranowski. The behavior that she has described is reprehensible," Larson said in a statement. Strobel, who is now a teaching pastor at Woodlands Church near Houston, Texas, linked to the thoughts of another biblical scholar and former Willow Creek member, commenting: "Scot McKnight is right." McKnight attended Willow Creek for 10 years, but has been highly critical of the megachurch's leadership over how it handled the women's allegations. Elders initially backed Hybels and said an investigation cleared him of misconduct. They later admitted their mistake and apologized to the women for not believing them. McKnight argued in a blog on Monday that their "time is up," and that there must be leadership change. "The women told the truth. The former pastor called them all liars. Willow's leaders supported the narrative of liars. That story is no longer credible," he wrote. "The leaders are complicit. The leaders Heather Larson, elders, etc. supported that narrative and maligned the women. They, both Willow Creek Community Church/Elders and Willow Creek Association, refused an independent investigation. They chose not to be transparent. Their time is up." The scholar listed several reasons for why change is needed. "Because of truth. Because of the gospel. Because of the grace of God," he said. "Because of the women who have been wrongly maligned, unjustly accused, and publicly wounded." McKnight slammed the structures that have "led to the protection of a leader," rather than the women, and said that the Willow Creek congregation deserves better. "Hundreds have given up other jobs to work for less at Willow; hundreds are now doing the noble work of evangelism, compassion, ministry and it goes on and on. Thousands have given buckets of money to support the many wonderful ministries of Willow," he pointed out, calling for a "new future" for the church. Ninth Circuit partially lifts block on Trumps religious exemptions to Obamacare contraception mandate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A circuit court has refused to fully lift an injunction against the Trump administrations broad exemption for religious objections to the HHS contraception mandate that requires the coverage of birth control and abortion-inducing drugs. In October 2017, the Trump administration issued two new interim federal rules that allowed for any nonprofit or for-profit entity with religious or moral objections to get an exemption from the HHS contraception mandate. This was a contrast to the narrower religious exemptions under the Obama administration, which first instituted the HHS contraception mandate. The previous administration's action was met with dozens of lawsuits from organizations and businesses that held religious objections to providing coverage for birth control and abortion-inducing drugs. California, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia sued the federal government over the new exemption rules, with U.S. District Court Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. granting a nationwide injunction. In a decision released Thursday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled 2-1 to partially uphold Judge Gilliams injunction. Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace delivered the opinion of the panel, being joined by Circuit Judge Susan P. Graber. Senior Circuit Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld filed a dissent. Judge Wallace wrote that the panel agreed to affirm the lower courts preliminary injunction for the states involved in the litigation, but not nationwide. On the present record, an injunction that applies only to the plaintiff states would provide complete relief to them. It would prevent the economic harm extensively detailed in the record, wrote Wallace.[W]hile the record before the district court was voluminous on the harm to the plaintiffs, it was not developed as to the economic impact on other states. The Littler Sisters of the Poor and the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, pro-life entities affected by the debate over the conception mandate exemptions, intervened in the case in defense of the new rules. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that represented the pro-life groups, expressed disappointment at the Ninth Circuit panels refusal to fully remove the injunction in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia. The government shouldnt be forcing anyone to provide life-destroying drugs and devices, said ADF Senior Counsel Gregory S. Baylor in a statement released Thursday. The Ninth Circuit should have lifted that order and affirmed these protections, which simply ensure that pro-life organizations can pursue their missions consistent with their most foundational beliefs. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra celebrated the decision, stating that a womans health decisions should be made by a woman and her doctor not her employer or politicians. Becerra, however, didn't explain that women who have abortions don't meet the abortionist until the day of the procedure, and the majority of follow-up appointments are never kept. Poland grants asylum to mother and 2-y-o fleeing Norway's controversial child services Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Poland has granted asylum to a mother and her 2-year-old daughter who fled Norway after child services tried to remove the child from the mothers care based on what she says are false allegations of drug abuse. European family rights activists are rejoicing after Silje Garmo and her daughter, Eira, were granted asylum by Polands Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. The two had fled Norway because the mother was trying to retain custody of Eira as Norways controversial child services agency, Barnevernet, tried to take the child away from her mother in 2014, based of unfounded claims made by the father of Garmos first child. Garmos eldest daughter is 13 years old and remains in Norway as Barnevernet continues to thwart any attempts for a reunion, according to Norways Christian Coalition (Kristen Koalisjon). A spokesman for Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Christian Post that in Garmo's case, the agency took into account "the constitutional guarantees regarding the protection of motherhood and parenthood, protection of family life, protection of parents and parental authority against the arbitrariness of public authority and protection of the rights of the child that serve as our guidelines on how to proceed in matters related to children and families." "It must be stressed that the final decision to grant asylum rests with the head of the Office for Foreigners," the spokesperson explained. The Christian Coalition, an Oslo-based group that advocates for Judeo-Christian foundations and seeks to mobilize values-based Christians, reports that the asylum was formally granted about 10 months after Polish Immigration Services concluded that Garmo and her daughter needed protection in Poland. However, the government had to approve as well in [since this could hurt] Polands relationship with a friendly nation, Norway, Pastor Jan-Aage Torp, chairman of the Christian Coalition, told The Christian Post in an email on Friday. This week, Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, a devout Catholic, intervened and granted political asylum, making her the first Norwegian after World War II to seek and gain political asylum in a European nation. Torp, who visited with the family in July, believes there was no valid reason for what he calls a child abduction by the Norwegian government. As Garmo detailed in an interview with the Polish tabloid Super Express, she was accused by the father of her first child of abusing painkillers, leading a "chaotic lifestyle" and having "chronic fatigue syndrome. Garmo explained that while it was his word against hers, she had tests performed that were negative for painkillers. My medical records were broken in and nothing was found, she said. However, it is enough to denounce and the system works automatically, only later can you try to recover your child. Until 2014, for 10 years no one had any objections to my motherhood. Like other families in Norway, the Barnevernet is able to remove a child from the home and later get court approval. Garmo asserts that the Barnevernet was more inclined to believe her ex's words over hers because he's a very influential man, businessman, friend with lawyers. If he was an ordinary man a truck driver or a salesman it would probably be a bit different, she contended. It was he who reported my daughter's threat to life with my chaotic lifestyle. Barnevernet began to act. Someone once compared them to the speeding train as they begin, it's hard to stop. According to Torp, Garmo initially fled to Spain but was arrested because of an arrest order through Interpol. Luckily, insightful psychologists and investigators started to unravel what was going on when she returned to Norway. [And then], she fled to Poland with her baby, Torp, who is also president of the network European Apostolic Leaders and pastors a Pentecostal congregation in Oslo, explained. Garmo fled to Poland in May 2017. I rejoice with Silje Garmo that she had gained protection by the great Catholics of Poland, Torp added. In Norway, a massive ideological and political struggle is unfolding and Siljes victory this week inspires us all. Step Up 4 Children Rights, a Vienna-based organization, also praised the approval of Garmos asylum request. Torp notes that Garmos asylum was granted two days after the 70th anniversary of the University Declaration of Human Rights. [The granting of asylum indicates] that the atrocities of Norwegian Barnevernet and its accomplices in Norwegian society are serious breaches of human rights, Torp said. The Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights have this year made strong decisions and verdicts against Norwegian atrocities. Silje is one of many parents in Norway that are being harassed by the anti-family policies that are reminiscent of the Soviet Union of old. Garmo is not the only parent who has fled Norway just to keep custody of their child. Earlier this year, The Christian Post reported on another family that fled to Dubai based on accusations that the father abused one of the children. That is an accusation that the family denied adamantly. The father was also cleared by police in the matter, however, that didnt stop the Barnevernet from trying to take custody of their children. Additionally, American mother Amy Jakobsen Bjrnevag is still fighting to get her son back after he was removed from her custody in 2013 at the age of 19 months based on a minor weight discrepancy and vitamin deficiencies. She most recently voiced concern that the Norwegian government is beginning the process to allow another family to adopt her now 7-year-old child. The BBC has also done extensive reporting on other families who said their parental rights had been violated by Barnevernet. In 2015 and 2016, several protests were held at Norwegian embassies around the world after Barnevernet removed five children from the home of Ruth and Marius Bodnariu based on allegations they spanked their children as a form of discipline, which is illegal in Norway. The children were eventually returned to the family after the international outcry. Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe issued a report that was critical of Barnevernets family intervention practices. The assembly called for stronger safeguards against forced family separations. While child protection agencies often face difficult situations in keeping children safe from harm, removing children from the family without compelling reasons is contrary to international law, PACE rapporteur Valeriu Ghiletchi said, according to Alliance Defending Freedom International. The Christian Post's top 10 news stories of 2018 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Churches struggled through many contentious issues in 2018, some old, some new. Abroad, Christians encountered genocide in Nigeria and a crackdown on religious freedom in China. Missionaries and political prisoners also topped headlines. In the U.S., churches dealt with pastor suicides, sex scandals and disagreements over same-sex attraction. In politics, Christians were at the center of national debates over gay wedding cakes, Supreme Court appointments and President Donald Trump. The following ranked list was determined by the editors of The Christian Post to be the most important stories of 2018. They are a reflection of both what interested our readers and what the editors believe were important stories that will have a lasting impact beyond 2018. Here are The Christian Post's top 10 stories of 2018. 6 Christian organizations win legal battle against Obamacare birth control mandate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Six Christian organizations have won their years-long legal battles against an Obama-era federal mandate ordering the provision of contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs in their employee health care plans. U.S. District Court Judge Phillip Brimmer in Colorado issued an order granting the organizations an injunction against the Department of Health and Human Services Affordable Care Act contraception mandate that they felt required them to violate their organizations deeply-held religious beliefs about the sanctity of human life or be forced to pay millions in crippling fines. Those organizations include three Christian higher-education institutions Taylor University in Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan University and Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky and the Colorado Springs-based Association of Christian Schools International, an accreditation agency for evangelical primary and secondary schools worldwide. Also included were the Christian health care sharing ministry Samaritan Ministries International and the nonprofit legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which regularly takes on high profile First Amendment cases. These faith-based organizations no longer have to fear being forced to pay fines for simply abiding by the Christian beliefs that they teach and espouse, and they are no longer required to fill out forms authorizing coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization, ADF Senior Counsel Gregory Baylor said in a statement following the order. The government has many other ways to ensure access to these items without forcing people of faith to violate their deepest convictions. The court order comes as the Trump administration has stopped defending the Obamacare birth control mandate in federal court. According to the order, HHS has conceded that the mandate requires employers with sincerely held religious objections to abide by the mandate. Additionally, the HHS conceded that the Obama administrations accommodation process allowing the groups to opt-out but still forces them to allow insurers to provide their employees with contraceptive coverage directly was insufficient and violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It is declared that the requirements of [the mandate], as those requirements relate to the provision of sterilization or contraceptive drugs, devices, procedures, and related education and counseling to which plaintiffs have sincerely-held religious objections, violate plaintiffs rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the court order declares. The six Christian organizations are among others who have been granted court victories in their claims against the Obamacare mandate this year as federal courts in other districts have issued orders in favor of Christian organizations and institutions across the nation. Those rulings have come after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling against the Little Sisters of the Poor (a Catholic order of nuns caring for the elderly) in 2016 and remanded their case and that of other Christian groups with objections to the mandate back to lower courts. Last year, the Trump administration issued new rules that effectively expanded the religious exemption of the Obamacare contraception mandate that was available to churches to also be available to non-profit and for-profit organizations who claim religious and moral objections. Roger Severino, the current head of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, spoke this week at a Washington, D.C. lunch gathering for social conservatives and assured that the HHS was doing everything it could to respect human dignity. Severino, who previously served as the director of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, criticized the Obama HHS for its treatment of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other Christian groups. [The Little Sisters of the Poor were] dedicated to being there for the elderly in their last days, literally, so they do not die alone so that they know that they are loved, so their life has dignity and worth, Severino explained in his remarks at the American Principles Project Foundations State Lunch at the Mayflower Hotel. Instead of supporting this incredible organization, the HHS went after them, threatening to shut them down with millions in fines because they would not assist in the provision of contraceptives to their fellow nuns. I dont know how we got to this place but it is a very topsy-turvy world where that was the official position of the federal government and the Department of Justice for years until very recently when we undid the contraceptive mandate through regulatory rulemaking, he added. Chinese state-owned Unipec, the country's biggest importer of US crude, will resume imports from the US "very soon" and the volumes will likely be significant, a senior executive told S&P Global Platts. As American news agency S&P Global Platts writes in the article China's Unipec set to resume US crude oil imports 'very soon': executive, the executive did not provide details but said that once the purchases begin the volumes will likely be significant. .Unipec -- the trading arm of Sinopec, the world's biggest refiner by capacity and throughput -- is the state-owned enterprise (SOE) entrusted with implementing the government's side of the China-US trade deal to increase purchases of US crude. When asked how Unipec plans to import more US crude by March 1, the end of the 90-day window that the countries have agreed upon, the senior executive said: "We have our own plan". Although the 90-day trade war truce was announced by the Trump administration at the beginning of December, the Chinese government has yet to finalize the specifics with the respective SOEs in charge of different commodities. This week, Chinese SOEs made their first sizable purchases of 500,000 mt of US soybeans since the government imposed a 25% tariff in July, according to traders. That was followed by reports citing the US Soybean Export Council that China had bought up to 2 million mt of US soybeans in recent days. However, key US energy exports like crude and LNG have yet to see a surge in Chinese buying interest. "China and US have met agreements on agriculture, energy and automobile [trade]. More details will be released," Gao Feng, a spokesman with China's ministry of commerce, said in a media briefing on Thursday. Vice-premier Liu He got in touch with the US government on Tuesday to exchange ideas about the next round of trade talks, and the communication between the trade teams was smooth, Feng said. State-owned oil companies have started looking at their options and what crude cargoes and grades were available at different loading points in the US, a Shanghai-based trader with a US crude supplier said earlier this week. "It is a challenge to import a big volume by March 1, as the three-month window is too short, while a normal trading cycle between the two countries is much longer," a Beijing-based crude oil trader said recently, citing risks of cargoes being stranded on the water. It takes about 56 days for a vessel to travel from the US Gulf Coast, where most US export cargoes are loaded, to China. Moreover, Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year holidays also fall in the 90-day period, which may cause more logistical delays. The US-China voyage is shorter for cargoes from the US west coast, but availability is limited despite China importing Alaska North Slope grade occasionally. Another option is to purchase US crude shipments on their way to other Asian customers through swap deals. Given the higher risk, Chinese buyers have indicated to the government that they need more assurances to ensure the cargoes they buy will not attract tariffs, or that they will be compensated for losses or given a wider window to complete deals. China's customs data showed crude oil imports from US over January-September surged 155% year on year to 326,000 b/d, worth around $6.74 billion. The volume fell to zero in October amid rising trade tensions and threats of new tariffs. Judge Hatchetts son praises God, Congress for maternal health bill, 2 years after wifes death Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Two years after tragically losing his wife Kira shortly after she gave birth to their second child, Charles Johnson IV, son of TV judge Glenda Hatchett, praised God on Tuesday when Congress unanimously approved a bill to investigate Americas growing maternal mortality rate. The bill, H.R. 1318 also known as the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, is expected to help states improve how they track and investigate deaths of expectant and new mothers. Johnson, who along with his celebrity mother has powerfully advocated for the bill through his wifes unfortunate experience with treatment at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she died after a scheduled C-section despite going in with no prior medical issues. Congress, H.R.1318 The preventing maternal deaths act passed Congress. Thank you God. Thank you Kira. Thank you @herrerabeutler & @repdianadegette for your courageous leadership. Thank you to everyone for all your love and support, Johnson wrote on Facebook Tuesday after the bill was approved. This is a huge day for families all over the country. Im so grateful for all your support. This is just a testament to what it looks like when people come together and apply pressure. I just thank all you all who were just so relentless in your support in continuing to ask, reach out to Congress and to hold them accountable and make sure this was a priority, make sure this bill got passed, make sure they didnt send us over to the next Congress, he added in a video message. Advocacy from Johnson and his mother on the issue helped to make Kiras story go viral on social media which may have helped to move Congress towards the landmark decision on maternal mortality. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., one of the original sponsors of H.R. 1318, dedicated the bill to the mothers who we have lost such as Johnsons wife who lost her life just hours after giving birth to a healthy baby boy. I will never forget hearing from Kiras husband Charles who has been a tireless advocate on this issue. Who is a single father of two boys, now lives by the motto wake up, make mommy proud. Repeat. Stories like Kiras have struck at the hearts of many of us and have compelled us to action today. Today we honor the lives of these moms and the loved ones who remember them, Beutler said. I stand in strong support of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act a bill to save mothers lives and prevent more parents, husbands, grandparents and children from the profound loss of their mother. Today in 21st Century United States of America, she said in support of the bill. Beutler explained that the U.S. is ranked 47th globally for maternal mortality, and has a record on the issue that is worse than Irans. She also pointed out that black women and women living in rural America are disproportionately affected by the problem. Many are shocked to learn that the U.S. has not only the worst maternal mortality rate in the entire developed world but that these rates are on the rise. Seriously folks, were worse than Iran, she said. Every year between 700 and 900 maternal deaths occur in the United States and Ive seen tears brought to the eyes of many a colleague when they learn that over 60 percent of these deaths could have been prevented, according to the CDC, she continued. She urged Congress to make combatting maternal mortality a national priority and called the bill the biggest step taken by Congress to date on the issue. The bill will enable states to establish and strengthen maternal mortality review committees which bring together experts in public health, maternal health and infant health to investigate pregnancy related deaths and highlight best practices on how to save the lives of future mothers. Currently the available data is woefully inadequate which hinders our ability to understand why moms are dying and why certain women are more at risk. Right now, African-American women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes and women living in rural areas are also facing higher risk, she said. This bill will not only improve data collection but it will also empower states to participate in national information sharing, increased collaboration and to develop best practices. Town ignores atheists' warnings, keeps Christian cross in Christmas lights display Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment To the delight of many Christians, a town in Christian County, Missouri, has reversed its decision to take down an illuminated cross from its Christmas display. Many residents voiced their outrage when, under pressure from the Wisconsin-based atheist legal group the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the city of Ozark announced on Tuesday that it would no longer include the giant blue-lit steel cross in its Christmas light display at Finley River Park even though it has been included in the display for years. The decision was made after Ozark administrator Stephen Childers received a letter on Nov. 30 from FFRF legal director Rebecca Markert arguing that the cross display violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on the grounds that it amounts to a government endorsement of a religion. The town issued an initial statement in response to the FFRF's complaint in which officials agreed that having the cross on public property was a violation of the First Amendment. The town also said that leaving the cross on public property would result in a lawsuit that we will not win. While we respect the interests of those who have long enjoyed the holiday display in Finley River Park, we must acknowledge the federal Constitution and its interpretation by the U.S. Supreme Court, the statement read. This letter has brought a concern to our attention and we cannot ignore the First Amendment which protects freedom of speech, protects freedom of the press, protects the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and prohibits the government from making laws or taking actions that may promote or prohibit one religion over another. But later that day, the town updated its statement and assured residents that the cross will continue to be part of the holiday display as the city looks into FFRFs legal claims. We released a press release earlier with the facts as they have been presented to us thus far, the statement reads. As the day unfolded and citizens commented on this topic, we have determined that in the best interest of all parties we shall continue working through the legalities of the situation. Therefore, the cross in the Finley River Park will remain in place until a further due diligence can be completed regarding this matter. According to the Springfield News-Leader, Mayor Rick Gardner received hundreds of phone calls, text messages and other communications from members of the Ozark community following the towns initial announcement. One person reportedly told Gardner that the cross is a part of Ozark and this is Christian County, for Pete's sake." Gardner took to Facebook to sound off about FFRFs demand Tuesday. The controversy about the lighted Cross in the park is not over, Gardner said. The cross is NOT down and will be [lit] tonight. We have heard your thoughts and agree with them. We are now assessing all our options for addressing this situation. Stay tuned. FFRF, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state and regularly pressures local governments to halt any perceived entanglement with religion, was not at all happy with the citys updated announcement. Markert sent a second letter to Childers on Wednesday. Markert cited federal court decisions in which courts have ruled against the display of religious symbols on public property, such as the 1985 Seventh Circuit ruling in ACLU v. The city of St. Charles, Illinois. You may claim to be a Christian county but this is not true in any meaningful sense, FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor wrote to the mayor. More than 1.2 million Missourians are nonreligious. By erecting a large Christian cross, Ozark is alienating a sizable number of Missourians and Americans. In an interview with The Springfield News-Leader, Gardner assured that the city is sticking by our second press release. We are not thumbing our nose at them, he said. We're not ignoring them. We've got to look into this." Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The inventors of CRISPR are alarmed that the gene-editing technology is being used to . . . edit genes? Really? In late November, the MIT Technology Review broke the news that a Chinese scientist, He Jiankui, used the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR to genetically modify human embryos. The embryos were then implanted, and earlier this year a pair of twin girls named Lulu and Nana were born. At least thats Hes story. No one is 100 percent certain it actually happened. After all, there have been bogus claims of this magnitude before, most famously in 2004 when a South Korean researcher falsely claimed to have successfully cloned human embryonic stem cells. Despite their doubts, most geneticists have denounced Hes reported actions, calling them, among other things, profoundly disturbing and monstrous. While the assessment is correct, Im struggling to believe their professed shock. It brings to mind a scene from the movie Casablanca when Captain Renault declares that he is shocked, shocked to find there is gambling going on in here even as he accepts an envelope with his share of the take. According to reports, He used CRISPR to deactivate a gene known as CCR5, which the HIV virus uses as a doorway for infiltrating human cells. The stated goal was to render the offspring resistant to HIV, smallpox, and cholera. You may be wondering what exactly is monstrous or unconscionable about that. Good question. This is exactly the kind of potential use for which CRISPR has been hailed as a breakthrough and a game-changer. Yet, thats not what happened. Instead, He and his team were reviled. Jennifer Doudna, one of the inventors of CRISPR, said that she was horrified at what He had done. Julian Savulescu, who has called the kind of gene-editing made possible by CRISPR a moral necessity, called Hes actions monstrous. And thats only a few examples. Theyve made their feelings on the matter clear, but their reasoning is anything but. An article in the Atlantic entitled The CRISPR Baby Scandal Gets Worse by the Day, cited at least fifteen problems with Hes actions. But not a single of them was a moral concern, at least not in the sense that justifies words like horrified and monstrous. The problems were mostly about informed consent and ignoring ethical guidelines. But in the field of bioethics, guidelines arent worth the ones and zeros they are virtually printed on. As in the case of physician-assisted suicide, theyre more like suggestions. To put it bluntly, in CRISPR, weve created a technology that, in Doudnas words, makes the genome as malleable as a piece of literary prose at the mercy of an editors red pen. This technology was released into the world with no limitations except the equivalent of play nice. Well, what did we expect to happen? Making the outrage even more hollow is that Doudna and others foresaw this outcome. In her 2017 book, A Crack in Creation, Doudna acknowledged the strong temptation to use CRISPR to create perfect children, but settled for calling the prospect disturbing. Had Doudna and others spent more time reading, they might have come up with a stronger word than disturbing. Theres no shortage of books about the virtually irresistible temptation to play god despite the risks: For example, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. Or H.G. Wells The Island of Doctor Moreau. Or, if theyre more film buffs than readers, they can watch one of Chuck Colsons favorite films, Gattaca. When Vincent tells the audience that he will never understand what possessed [his] mother to put her faith in God rather than her local geneticist, he summed up where technologies like CRISPR can and, absent very strict controls, will lead: a world where foregoing designer babies is a kind of child abuse. So, while I share Dounda and companys abhorrence of what may have happened in China, I reject all of the rhetorical pearl-clutching. They could not, not have seen it coming. Resources The CRISPR Baby Scandal Gets Worse by the Day, Ed Yong | The Atlantic | December 3, 2018 Originally posted at Breakpoint. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment More and more scholars are becoming skeptical of Messianic prophecy in the Hebrew Biblethat is, the Old Testament. Michael Rydelnik notes that Although evangelical scholarship still recognizes that there is something messianic about the Hebrew Bible, for the most part it sees it as a story that finds its climax in Jesus, not as predictions that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled (Rydelnik, The Messianic Hope, 3-4). Yet, such skepticism is not justified. Sure, some passages in the Hebrew Bible have been stretched beyond its scope, something that can become a dangerous trend. Nevertheless, certain passages in the Hebrew Bible enjoy a status of being both Messianic in context and in its history. One such Messianic prophecy is found in Isaiah 7:14. Four schools of thought have developed on how one should interpret Isaiah 7:14. Some hold to direct fulfillment indicating that the text only speaks to the fulfillment found in Messiah. Others hold to a historical fulfillment which claims that the text only addresses a birth of a child in Isaiahs day. A third view holds to a double fulfillment in that the prophecy was fulfilled to a degree in Isaiahs day and later in the Messiah. A fourth view is espoused by Arnold Fruchtenbaum. He calls it double reference (Fruchtenbaum, Yeshua, 364). A double reference states that the one piece of Scripture actually contains two prophecies, each having its own fulfillment (Fruchtenbaum, Yeshua, 364). After researching the passage, I must agree that in Isaiah 7:14 one finds a double reference. Although Isaiah 7:14 is among the most controversial of Messianic prophecies (Rydelnik, The Messianic Hope, 147), several good reasons exist to accept the prophecy as Messianic in scope. 1. King Ahaz and House of David. To understand the passage, one must understand the chapter in which Isaiah 7:14 is found. Isaiah comes to King Ahaz while Ahaz and King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel were reigning. Yahweh (the personal name for God) tells Isaiah to bring his son Shear-jashub with him to meet Ahaz (Is. 7:3). Yahweh speaks to Isaiah again telling him to ask Ahaz for a sign (7:10-11) but Ahaz refuses (7:12). After Ahaz refuses, Isaiah turns his attention to the house of David (7:13) asking if they would try the patience of Yahweh. It is then that Isaiah delivers the Immanuel prophecy. From keeping the text in context, Yahweh through Isaiah is addressing two distinct groups of people. On the one hand, he is addressing King Ahaz. On the other hand, he is addressing the house of David. The Immanuel prophecy is given to the house of David and not to King Ahaz. King Ahazs sign was found in Isaiahs son Shear-jashub who already reached the age of accountability and chose to do what was right. Ahaz was much older and still chose to do what was evil. Thus, Ahazs kingdom was coming to an end. 2. Singular and Plural Language. A close examination of the Hebrew text shows a difference in the language used directed toward Ahaz as opposed to the house of David. When Isaiah is addressing Ahaz, he uses singular language and uses plural language when speaking to the house of David. As Fruchtenbaum noted earlier, the text appears to be giving two differing propheciesone to Ahaz and one to the house of David. Since the Immanuel prophecy is directed to the house of David, it is not necessary to hold that the prophecy only addresses Ahaz and even his time. 3. Present and Future Language. In the Immanuel prophecy, Isaiah uses the Hebrew imperfect verb yitten, which means he will give, to describe the timing of the prophecy. The imperfect verb in Hebrew describes something that is incomplete and will transpire at some point in the future. Thus, the sign for the house of David was a sign given by God to transpire at some point in the future. When? The text does not say. Therefore, it is completely appropriate to think that the text could find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah. 4. Almah and Parthenos. The Revised Standard Version translation made a great deal of waves in the Christian community when it translated almah as young woman instead of the classical translation of virgin. Does the term refer to a young woman or a virgin? The answer is both. Almah is almost always used in the Hebrew Bible to denote a young woman who has just reached the age of marriage who had not yet wed. Almah is used in the following passages in the Hebrew Bible: 1) Gen. 24:43 used of Rebekah; 2) Ex. 2:8 used of Miriam, Mosess sister; 3) Ps. 68:25 used in the divine royal procession, the virgins symbolize purity; 4) So. 1:3 refers to the purity in marriage; 5) So. 6:8 contrasts the purity of virginity with the impurity of concubines; 6) Pr. 30:18-19 also contrasts virginity with adultery; and 7) in Is. 7:14 (Fruchtenbaum, Yeshua, 364-365). In Jewish culture, a young woman who just reached the age of marriage most certainly implied the womans virginal status. The translators of the Septuagint (LXX) understood this to be the case. The LXX translates almah in Isaiah 7:14 with the Greek term parthenos which most certainly means virgin. 5. Current and Future Understanding. Isaiah connects the birth of the child from Isaiah 7:14 to the prophecies given in 9:6-7 and in 11:1-10. Thus, the prophet took the view at the time the prophecy was given that this promised child would come at some point in the future. This child would be linked intrinsically with God in some fashion. But not only did Isaiah understand the prophecy in this way, others did also. Micah is one such example. Micah, a contemporary of Isaiahs, linked his prophecy in some sense with that of Isaiah 7:14. Micah notes that Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times (Mi. 5:2). As already noted, the translators of the LXX understood Isaiah 7:14 to refer to a virgin in the 100s BC. Therefore, Isaiah 7:14 was recognized to be Messianic, or at least more prophetic than some modern scholars, as well as by early Christians, such as Matthew 1:23. Isaiah 7:14 is a glorious passage that prophesies the birth of a royal, divine king that was to be born in the most miraculous of fashions. In our attempt to properly interpret the Bible, let us not be drawn to a hyper-skepticism that very well could combat the very thinking of the writers of the New Testament. They held the text to be Messianic not because they made it that way, but because that was the prophetic intention of the text. Sources Fruchtenbaum, Arnold G. Yeshua: The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective. Volume One. San Antonio, TX: Ariel, 2017. Rydelnik, Michael. The Messianic Hope: Is the Hebrew Bible Really Messianic? NAC Studies in Bible & Theology. Edited by E. Ray Clendenen. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2010. 2018. BellatorChristi.com. Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com and is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University. Brian has been in the ministry for over 15 years and serves as a pastor in northwestern North Carolina. Weekly briefing: Pakistan expels charities, LGBT compromise, Darlene Zschech Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment We've compiled the top stories of the week. Here's what you need to know: Pakistan expels Christian groups Pakistan forced 18 charity groups, most of which were U.S.-based including World Vision and Catholic Relief Services, to leave the country this month. The groups were denied renewal of their registration and given a 60-day deadline in October to shut down. While no explanation had been given for the expulsion, Pakistans human rights minister, Shireen Mazari, indicated that the groups were spreading disinformation and accused them of having political agenda overtones. 2 major evangelical groups back LGBT compromise The National Association of Evangelicals and the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities voted recently to back Fairness for All, World magazine reported. Fairness for All would create legal protections for LGBT persons in federal nondiscrimination law while simultaneously protecting churches and religious organizations that hold to a traditional definition of marriage and gender. The move was strongly opposed by other evangelicals. Ever since it was first brought to the table in 2016, prominent evangelicals have spoken out against it, arguing that adding gender identity and sexual orientation as protected classes would ultimately leave churches and other religious organizations unprotected. Supreme Court rejects attempt to defund Planned Parenthood The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal against lower court rulings that stopped Louisiana and Kansas from defunding Planned Parenthood. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whom abortion activists saw as a threat during his confirmation process, joined the courts four liberals as well as Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority. While pro-life groups expressed disappointment, in both the decision and Kavanaughs vote, some argued that it does not signal the new justices position on Roe v. Wade. Former Hillsong leader Darlene Zschech opens up about cancer, struggles Darlene Zschech is well-known for her popular worship songs, which are sung in churches around the world. In her new book and interview with CP, she opened up about her difficult journey after leaving Hillsong Church when she was diagnosed with cancer. Just thinking about the presence of God and thinking about His kindness He doesn't want us to hide who we are and His work in our lives. We're not trying to hide our scars. Its not a shame, actually, that's the power," she said. The Australian pastor also recalled the time she received salvation, articulated what it actually means to be a Christian it's not just a lifestyle choice and shared her thoughts on how worship music has changed over the last decade. John Gray buys a Lamborghini, draws flak The Relentless Church pastor drew controversy this week after he gifted his wife with a Lamborghini Urus for their wedding anniversary. The gift came just after John Gray had criticized preachers who get fat off people and allowed congregants in need to take money from the offering baskets. Both he and his wife have defended themselves, assuring that the money did not come from the church and that Gray worked hard to afford the luxury car. Im gonna serve God and as long as what I do is honorable, ethical, and not illegal, nobody should worry about how I choose to bless my wife or how I choose to express my love. I dont ask you what you driving, what youre doing, said Gray. Pray for Nearly 100 Christians in China who were arrested; 3 were tortured Religious minorities in Pakistan, which was recently designated as a country of particular concern New releases Album: Greater Than All Pt. 2 by CRC Music (Dec. 14) Book: Modern Technology and the Human Future: A Christian Appraisal by Craig M. Gay (Dec. 11) Chinese pastor leaves letter before being detained with 100 Christians Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A letter written by a Chinese pastor who was detained alongside 100 other members of his congregation has been released, speaking of disgust at the Communist Party. Wang Yi, pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, apparently wrote the letter in the event that he would be taken by Chinese Communist authorities, which happened during a raid on Sunday. In the letter, published and translated on social media on Wednesday by Brent Pinkall and Amy Cheung, Wang says that he is filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at the wickedness of their depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience. But changing social and political institutions is not the mission I have been called to, and it is not the goal for which God has given his people the Gospel, he said, explaining that his role is to lead people to Jesus Christ. He said that following the Bible, he accepts and respects the fact that this Communist regime has been allowed by God to rule temporarily. As the Lords servant John Calvin said, wicked rulers are the judgment of God on a wicked people, the goal being to urge Gods people to repent and turn again toward Him. For this reason, I am joyfully willing to submit myself to their enforcement of the law as though submitting to the discipline and training of the Lord, he continued. At the same time, I believe that this Communist regimes persecution against the church is a greatly wicked, unlawful action. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely, the pastor wrote. The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God. My Savior Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws. As South China Morning Post reported, the church leader is under criminal detention for allegedly inciting subversion of state power. Chen Yaxue, Wangs 73-year-old mother, noted that it is not known where Wangs wife, Jiang Rong, was taken. Those arrested on Sunday included other church leaders and seminary students, with Communist officials detaining other Christians in Chengdu hiding in their homes as well. Police officials say that they are cracking down on illegal gatherings. Persecution watchdog groups, including ChinaAid, have said the actions are "a major escalation of religious persecution in China," targeting innocent religious believers. Chen revealed that she and her 11-year-old grandson are under constant surveillance by guards working with the atheistic government. They follow us whenever and wherever we go, the elderly woman said. The surveillance has taken a huge toll on my grandson. He is emotionally shocked with [his parents taken away]. He has not slept for two nights. Wang clarified in his lengthy letter that he has not been trying to change any institutions or laws in China, and that the only thing he cares about is the disruption of mans sinful nature by this faithful disobedience and the testimony it bears for the cross of Christ. Im not even interested in the question of when the Communist regimes policies persecuting the church will change. Regardless of which regime I live under now or in the future, as long as the secular government continues to persecute the church, violating human consciences that belong to God alone, I will continue my faithful disobedience, he wrote. For the entire commission God has given me is to let more Chinese people know through my actions that the hope of humanity and society is only in the redemption of Christ, in the supernatural, gracious sovereignty of God. He shared his hopes that God will use the persecution of Chinese Christians to help more Chinese people to despair of their futures, to lead them through a wilderness of spiritual disillusionment and through this to make them know Jesus. He said that the persecution of believers and followers of Christ is the most wicked and the most horrendous evil of Chinese society. This is not only a sin against Christians. It is also a sin against all non-Christians. For the government is brutally and ruthlessly threatening them and hindering them from coming to Jesus. There is no greater wickedness in the world than this, he argued. If this regime is one day overthrown by God, it will be for no other reason than Gods righteous punishment and revenge for this evil. For on earth, there has only ever been a thousand-year church. There has never been a thousand-year government. There is only eternal faith. There is no eternal power, the pastor declared. Pakistani Christian woman tortured, starved 4 years in solitary confinement on false blasphemy charge Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Pakistani Christian woman who was jailed on a false blasphemy charge recounted in a recent interview how she spent four years in solitary confinement and was periodically starved because of her faith in Christ. Going by the pseudonym Saima, the woman from the 97 percent Muslim-majority Asian nation detailed in an interview with the BBC how she was accused of desecrating Islams holy book. She said that the accusation she destroyed a copy of the Quran was made by her Muslim neighbors after their children had gotten into a petty fight. In Pakistan, defiling the Quran is a violation of Pakistans blasphemy laws, which are frequently used by Muslims to settle scores or persecute members of religious minority groups like Christians. Defiling a Quran is a violation of Pakistan's legal code section 295-B and is punishable by life imprisonment. Life in prison is exactly what Saima was sentenced to by a Pakistani court. But after four years locked away in chains in a tiny prison cell, Saimas conviction was overturned. "Even now I feel like I am in jail, Saima told the British news outlet. You can see the scars on my legs from when I was chained." Saima recalled that at times, prison guards would withhold food from her specifically because she is Christian. "They would say, 'You disgraced our religion,' Saima recalled. Despite the reversal of her conviction, Saima now lives her life under threat of severe persecution like many other Pakistani blasphemy victims. As reports indicate that over 70 people accused of blasphemy have been killed by lynch mobs in Pakistan (including a Christian couple burned alive in a brick kiln) since 1990, Saima explained that she is now living her life under another name since her release from prison. "I don't even go and visit my family in case it becomes dangerous for them too," she said. Life has become like death, she added. [P]eople come here and talk to me about what happened, I get happy that they're listening to me, but then what? Nothing changes. International human rights activists have long called for Pakistan to change its often abused blasphemy laws. At least two politicians who advocated for reform have been assassinated. One of laws' victims is Christian mother Asia Bibi (also known as Aasiya Noreen), a poor farm laborer from the Punjab province who was accused by Muslim co-workers of insulting Muhammad in 2009. Although she denied the accusation, she was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010. Under section 295-C, the use of derogatory remarks toward Islam or its prophet Muhammad is punishable by death. After spending nearly a decade in prison, Bibi was acquitted by the Pakistan Supreme Court in October. She has since been freed and is now in hiding with her family. However, Muslim radicals affiliated with groups like the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Party took to the streets to call for Bibis death and the death of the Supreme Court justices who granted her release. TLP, which staunchly supports the blasphemy laws, signed an agreement with the government that requires the Supreme Court review Bibis acquittal. Bibi is not allowed to leave Pakistan until the verdict is reviewed. The review process could take months or years. Pakistan ranks as the fifth worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs World Watch List. This week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the State Department designated Pakistan as a country of particular concern for religious freedom, a designation that signifies countries where the government has engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom. We are gratified that, after years of reporting systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom in Pakistan, the State Department has finally added that country to the list of the worlds worst violators, USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee said in a statement. The CPC designation enables the U.S. to use tools like sanctions to help hold those countries accountable for their actions. Pakistan denounced the designation as being politically motivated. Atheist parents awarded $12,000 in compensation after complaining about school's Christmas decorations A Canadian atheist couple who protested against religious-themed classroom decorations was awarded compensation. The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal awarded $12,000 to Gary Mangel and Mai Yasue after they claimed that their daughter's enrollment in the school was threatened due to their views. As Tribunal member Barbara Korenkiewicz explained in her decision on Tuesday, the dispute began in 2014 when the outspoken atheist parents complained that Bowen Island Montessori School included Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations in classroom decorations. Mangel told BIMS board members that it's not appropriate to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other religious/political event at preschool. He said his child is only 3 and thus "cannot consent to being involved in decorating military wreaths or Christmas trees or lighting Hanukkah candles." Mangel also cited atheist author Richard Dawkins and argued that kids do not have the ability "to understand the religious and political symbolism associated with those acts." After their complaint, the school asked the parents to sign a letter, affirming their "understanding and acceptance" of all aspects of the school's cultural program before their child's registration for the following year would be confirmed. The couple accused BIMS of discrimination on the bases of religion, race, ancestry and family status. Yasue is Japanese and Mangel is Jewish. According to court documents, longtime teacher at BIMS, identified as Ms. Davenport, "testified that the materials in the classroom are intended to offer information only and there is no insistence on what each child does. Rather, each child is guided by their own interest." The teacher also said cultural celebrations are done in the classroom throughout the year. "She testified that celebrations bring the greater world at large into the classroom and provide a way to offer information about the world. She testified that the curriculum is a reflection of the families at BIMS and the greater community," the court document states. Korenkiewicz said in her decision that she was "not persuaded that multiculturalism is BIMS' primary purpose, but rather a portion of one component of its program. The fact the issue became the focus of discussions between Dr. Yasue and Mr. Mangel on the one hand, and BIMS on the other, does not elevate the cultural element of the BIMS program to one of primacy." "Second, as already noted, this case is not about a challenge to BIMS curriculum or its approach to teaching about various cultural celebrations rooted in religious practices of diverse origin," she added. "At its core, it is about a letter which held Child A's registration hostage to a demand." Korenkiewicz dismissed the parents' claims that they were being discriminated against by individuals associated with the school. "I have given little weigh to the evidence that Dr. Yasue and Mr. Mangel say links their perception of ostracism in the community to the conduct of the Respondents which is the subject of this decision. I found it tenuous at best," she added. Stressing that the case was not about the cultural aspects of the BIMS curriculum, Korenkiewicz decided to award $12,000 to the couple due to the negative effects they experienced from the school's refusal to confirm the child's enrollment unless they signed the letter. BIMS School Board President Maria Turnbull told CBC News that the $12,000 awarded to the family is a "meaningful sum," and that officials would have to examine how to pay for it. "What the decision provides is a level of certainty that is valued by the school, and we look forward to getting 100 percent back to our focus on the young people," Turnbull said. Courtesy of The Christian Post Cuba using intimidation tactics against church leaders - report Cuban Christians are facing growing challenges as a result of ongoing religious freedom violations by the government, a new report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide warns. The report accuses the Cuban government of cracking down on church leaders who have criticised the draft constitution for placing restrictions on religious freedom. CSW said individual religious leaders, as well as members of their families and churches have faced increased harassment and threats after calling for stronger protections of religious freedom in the constitution. A public consultation is currently being held on the constitution, with a vote due in February next year. Proposed changes include the removal of freedom of conscience protections. CSW said that although religious freedom had been steadily declining in Cuba over the last 10 years, it has deteriorated rapidly since 2015, with over 1,000 churches being declared illegal in the last few years. The authorities have also demolished some churches and detained activists. In the past year, two registered churches, one in Santiago and the other in Havana, have been threatened with demolition. There are also reports that government informants have been infiltrating religious groups to spy on their activities. Mervyn Thomas, CSW's Chief Executive, said the situation in Cuba was 'highly concerning'. 'The fact that the currently proposed changes to the Cuban constitution are set to reduce protections for religious freedom is unacceptable,' he said. 'CSW calls on the international community to push Cuba to ensure that its new constitution, including provisions on thought, conscience and religion, is fully in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.' The report was issued in the same week that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called on the Cuban govenrment to cease harassment of religious leaders and strengthen religious freedom language in new constitution. USCIRF Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga said in a statement: 'The integrity of this historic process is in serious question if religious leaders are being ignored, then pressured to publicly support a new constitution that fails to protect their rights.' She added: 'We urge the Cuban government to immediately cease all intimidation tactics and to fully consider the proposals put forth by religious organizations to ensure freedom of religion and conscience for Cubans of all faiths or none.' How religion can help you be a better entrepreneur * Partner Post Religion plays a very important role in our day to day lives. It teaches us not just how to worship God but also how to take different decisions. In fact, religion also teaches us the right way to do business. Consider Christianity, the world's largest religion has provided followers with a guide in the form of Bible. It contains stories from the time of Jesus which can help us understand how we can be a better entrepreneur. Think of Jesus. Most of us look at him as a guiding source but very few of us understand what a great entrepreneur he was. He might not today be known for his business skills but he clearly had leadership skills, which are important to be a successful entrepreneur in today's time. It's quite clear that religion can help you be a better businessperson. Let's look at how: How Religion Impacts Your Behavior Before we move ahead, let's discuss the impact of religion on your entrepreneurship skills. A report titled The Role of Belief in Entrepreneurship A Christian Perspective discussed the impact of religion on entrepreneurship in detail. It studied "identified important Christian business practices and introduces the different approaches this Christian group of entrepreneurs has to that of the secular business equivalent. The research identified the benefit of the Christian belief in running a business as well as sustaining a business. It identified the concept of being called to be an entrepreneur." Another report titled 'Does religion influence entrepreneurial behaviour?' studied the same thing. It highlighted how 'Religion cannot be ignored in assessing the range of cultural and institutional influences that impact on entrepreneurial activity.' Let's now go ahead with how it can help you be a better entrepreneur: 1. Teaches you to be Kind It doesn't matter which religion you follow, they all teach us to be kind and empathetic towards other people. On the other hand, the world of business is cruel and many businesses earn profits by being 'less kind'. If you follow your religion, you will be a kind person and your employees will be happy with you. This can have a positive impact on your business as happy employees tend to be more productive and more productivity means more output, which can generate better returns for you. One of the representatives at Fbabee said, "Religion teaches us to be tolerant and understanding. From prayer breaks to religious holidays, as a business, we understand it all and it helps our employees feel connected." The fact is that your employees will be more loyal to you if you respect their religion. This can help you succeed as it's important to have a good team if you want to strive in any industry. 2. Gives You Newer Ideas Religion can give you new ideas on how to do business. It can even shape your entrepreneurial decision. A research recently concluded: "Religion shapes the entrepreneurial decision. In particular, some religions, such as Islam and Christianity, are found to be conducive to entrepreneurship, while others, such as Hinduism, inhibit entrepreneurship. In addition, the caste system is found to influence the propensity to become an entrepreneur. Individuals belonging to a backward caste exhibit a lower propensity to become an entrepreneur. Thus, the empirical evidence suggests that both religion and the tradition of the caste system influence entrepreneurship, suggesting a link between religion and economic behaviour." 3. Enjoy Support From Groups Religion helps bring people together. A research studying the impact of the Church on entrepreneurship concluded: "Ethnicbased religious spaces have become a fecund ground for stimulating a brand of religionbased ethnic entrepreneurship. This hybrid entrepreneurship is unique and offers a novel platform for constructing new understandings of ethnic entrepreneurship." The report also highlighted the impact of race and belonging on how you do business or how well your business goes. It said: "Churches have become a significant force in nurturing business startups and encouraging entrepreneurship among the population group. Social capital generated within the religious organizations has a catalytic effect on entrepreneurial propensities." This is not only seen in Christianity but in other religions as well where religious events can help entrepreneurs. Conclusion You do not need to turn to studies to see the impact of religion on your entrepreneurship skills. If you follow the path of Jesus, you will automatically be a good entrepreneur as he has taught us leadership skills. It's all about following what he's taught us. European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici has defended the French government going over the EU deficit to GDP limit after attacking the Italian budget for approaching the same limit. As Breitbar writes in an article "EU Defends France Breaking Budget Rules After Attacking Italy For Same", Mr Moscovici made his remarks following news that the new measures introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron to quell the Yellow Vest protests could take France beyond the three per cent limit. Exceeding the three percent deficit to GDP ratio for France in 2019, if we refer to the rules, can be conceivably limited, temporary, and extraordinary, he told Le Parisien in an interview this week. Every word counts: any exceeding of three per cent should not extend for two consecutive years, nor exceed 3.5 per cent in one year, he added. When asked if the Commission was giving France preferential treatment, Moscovici said, There is no indulgence, these are our rules and nothing but our rules. The Commissioner has been one of the main critics of the Italian populist governments recent budget, which has a deficit to GDP ratio of 2.4 per cent. Moscovici has previously claimed that the Italian populist coalition of the League and the Five Star Movement is a problem for the Eurozone and it should come up with a credible budget. He has also attacked the broader European populist movement saying the continent was beginning to resemble the 1930s. Clearly there is no Hitler, perhaps some small Mussolini. History, as Raymond Aron used to say, is tragic. We must prevent it from sinking into its darkest hours, he said. To solve the perceived problem with populism, Moscovici has advocated even further EU federalisation and the creation of a common eurozone budget saying, Having a eurozone budget is absolutely decisive if we want to address the populist challenge, the burning question of inequalities. Moscovici and other members of the European Commission have been repeatedly rebuked by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini who said, EU Commissioner Moscovici, instead of censuring his France that rejects immigrants in Ventimiglia, has bombed Libya, and has broken European parameters, attacks Italy and talks about many little Mussolinis around Europe. After rejecting the Italian budget, the Commission made it clear that Italy could face sanctions but when asked about France, Moscovici said a comparison between the two was tempting but wrong because the situations are totally different. Move to call abortion and assisted suicide 'human rights' is 'evil', says Princeton professor The United Nations Human Rights Committee has been accused of elevating individual freedom above moral considerations after recently including abortion and assisted suicide among the 'human rights' that should be protected by states. The committee's 'General Comment' on the right to life, issued at the end of October, argued for the decriminalisation of abortion and the removal of restrictions that could subject women or girls to 'physical or mental pain' if they are unable to terminate their pregnancy. It also put the rights of women and girls seeking an abortion before the rights of medical practitioners with conscientious objections to performing abortions. 'States parties should not introduce new barriers and should remove existing barriers that deny effective access by women and girls to safe and legal abortion, including barriers caused as a result of the exercise of conscientious objection by individual medical providers,' it said. In addition, it said that states had an obligation to ensure access for women and men and 'especially, girls and boys' to a 'wide range of affordable contraceptive methods'. On assisted suicide, the committee stated that where this was legal, 'robust' legal safeguards should be in place to protect patients from abuse. Although General Comments are not legally binding, they can be used by state courts to determine rulings on cases. Princeton law professor Robert George strongly criticised the document, telling Rome Reports that moral reasoning was being left out of the equation in the name of protecting freedom of choice. 'It mistakes our dignity for mere autonomy, for choosing. And it doesn't ask the question, what is the right thing to choose, but it simply valorizes the choice itself,' he said. He added that the General Comment denies that there are victims in abortion and euthanasia. 'I have a right to do whatever I like, so long as it doesn't harm others. Then they suppose that acts such as abortion and euthanasia do not harm others,' he said. 'Well certainly it's clear in the case of abortion that abortion takes the life of an innocent child in the womb. There is a victim. There is a third party. 'Even with euthanasia, we know that when a regime of medicalized killing is unleashed in society, it's not simply the people who wish to be killed who end up being killed.' He called on people of all faiths to work together in opposing further attempts to entrench abortion and assisted suicide as human rights. 'I think it's very important for people who see the truth of these matters and who understand how evil this move is toward recognizing abortion and euthanasia as human rights... it is incumbent upon all people of all traditions of faith to join together,' he said. Russia added to US State Department's religious freedom 'special watch list' The U.S. State Department has added Russia to its "special watch list" for religious freedom violators and added Pakistan to its list of "countries of particular" concern. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Tuesday decisions made on Nov. 28 to list 10 countries as "countries of particular concern," a designation required under the International Religious Freedom Act to single out the countries where governments have "engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom." The CPC designation, the highest U.S. government designation for religious freedom violations committed by foreign governments, carries with it the potential for the U.S. government to enact sanctions and other diplomatic actions to pressure change in those countries. After years of outrage from human rights and religious freedom activists over the ongoing abuses against Christians and other religious minorities, Muslim-majority Pakistan was designated as a CPC for the first time. Pakistan ranks as the fifth worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's World Watch List. "This Administration has had the courage to hold Pakistan accountable for Pakistan's persistent and systemic failures to protect the civil and human rights of religious minorities," Republican New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, the author of the International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, said in a statement. "This designation gives hope and voice to suffering Shia, Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi, and other minority citizens whose very presence counters religious extremism in Pakistan." The other nine countries designated as CPCs Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan had already been listed by the State Department as CPCs. Russia, Comoros and Uzbekistan were named to the State Department's "Special Watch List," a designation created by the IRFA of 2016 to single out countries that are "deemed not to meet all of the CPC criteria but who engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom." Although Russia has been put on the "Special Watch List," some believe the U.S. should consider listing Russia as a CPC. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended a CPC designation for Russia earlier this year. Russia has been criticized for banning Jehovah's Witnesses and abusing its anti-extremism law to prosecute peaceful worshipers and nontraditional groups including Scientologists. Since the passing of Russia's 2016 law criminalizing missionary activity, NGOs have reported 156 cases of religious groups being targeted that also include Christian groups from various denominations, according to U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback. In a recent press briefing, Brownback explained that Russia has 145 prisoners jailed for religious beliefs, 106 of whom are Muslim. He stressed that Russia has "stepped up their oppression." "The violations of religious freedom in Russia are real, thoroughly documented, and at times brutal," Smith asserted a House hearing he chaired of the Helsinki Commission on 'Religious Freedom in Eurasia' on Tuesday. "The Russian government deserves this and next year we should consider carefully whether it belongs on the list of Countries of Particular Concern the 'CPC' list for the worst of the worst." Pakistan was the first country to be put on the "Special Watch List" last year. In 2017, Uzbekistan was listed as a CPC. Led by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, Uzbekistan took part in the State Department's Ministerial for Religious Freedom in July and has now been taken off the CPC list. However, USCIRF, a congressionally mandated advisory body consisting of religious freedom activists and scholars appointed by the president and congressional leaders, recommended that Uzbekistan stay on the CPC list. "We question whether Uzbekistan has sufficiently improved to be moved from the CPC list to the Special Watch List," USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee said in a statement. Among other things, USCIRF had voiced concern about thousands of Muslims prisoners being imprisoned on dubious charges in Uzbekistan and over harassment of Christians. In response to the State Department's designation, the government of Pakistan accused the CPC designation of being a "unilateral and politically motivated pronouncement." According to Dawn.com, Pakistan's Foreign Office declared in a statement Wednesday that it has safeguarded the rights of its citizens through the use of administrative mechanisms. "Besides the clear biases reflected from these designations, there are serious questions over the credentials and impartiality of the self-proclaimed jury involved in this unwarranted exercise," the Pakistan government statement states. Brownback told reporters this week that Pakistan is home to half of the world's blasphemy law victims, as the law prohibiting insults against Islam is often used by Muslims to settle scores with religious minorities and can be punishable by death or life in prison. Christian mother Asia Bibi spent nearly a decade in Pakistan prison because her Muslim co-workers accused her of insulting the Muslim prophet Muhammad after an argument. Although she was acquitted from her death sentence by the Pakistan Supreme Court in October, she has been barred from leaving the country until her case can be reviewed. Courtesy of The Christian Post Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott (1969) A watershed moment for David Hockney David Hockneys double portrait of Geldzahler, a curator at The Met, and his partner, painter Christopher Scott, helped to secure his reputation. This masterpiece from the Barney A. Ebsworth Collection realised more than 37 million We shared a love of music, opera in particular... we became friends very quickly David Hockney Henry and I got on along instantly, Hockney would later recall of the Pop Art evangelist. We shared a love of music, opera in particular... and there was painting of course, and we became friends very quickly. The pair also bonded over their shared birthday 9 July and a love of Cuban cigars, as Hockney would explain in 2016. Over the course of their long friendship they visited England, Italy, Spain and France together. The two remained close throughout Geldzahlers 18-year tenure at The Met and his stint as New Yorks Commissioner of Cultural Affairs. Geldzahler died of cancer in 1994 at the age of 59. Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott is not only an extraordinary example from the artists most celebrated series, it is also a poignant representation of one of the 20th centurys greatest curators, says Marc Porter, Chairman of Christies Americas. Hockney captured Geldzahler at a particularly decisive moment when the curator was organising his most revolutionary exhibition. New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940-1970 received such fanfare that it would soon become universally known as Henrys Show. The 50th anniversary of that survey, which would ultimately alter the course of both Geldzahlers career and art history as we now know it, will be marked in 2019. It makes the sale of this painting extremely timely, adds Porter. Back in December of 1968, Hockney arrived at Geldzahlers New York apartment on 7th Avenue armed with his trusted Polaroid camera and sketchpad. At the time Geldzahler was working on the landmark show, which would lead to him being described in New York magazine as the most powerful and controversial art curator alive. Hockney started snapping pictures and making drawings of the couple and their apartment. Geldzahler recalled that, after working tirelessly for four days, Hockney fell apart with the flu. By the end of the month Hockney had returned to his London studio on Powis Terrace in Notting Hill, where he started the picture straight away, sketching the image's elements out on to the huge canvas which he propped against an interior wall. He began by drawing the outline of the Art Deco pink sofa from Geldzahlers apartment, which the curator had rejected for The Met but purchased privately. Behind this he taped out a square window frame next to which he stuck a Polaroid of New Yorks skyline, taken from the window of Scotts study. Over the following days, surrounded by cigarettes and coffee, unfinished canvases and a copy of G.P. Telemanns Overture in D Major, Hockney filled in skyscrapers, then the faces and torsos of Geldzahler and Scott. Hockney likened his depiction of Scott to an angel, which led the American curator Kynaston McShine to compare the picture to Italian quattrocento Annunciation triptychs, in which one figure may have a sense of permanence, while another feels transitory. David Hockney (b. 1937), Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott, 1969. Acrylic on canvas. 84 x 120 in (214 x 305 cm). Sold for 37,661,250 on 6 March 2019 at Christies in London. Artwork David Hockney By the beginning of February 1969 Hockney had taped 25 radiating lines from a point two inches above Geldzahlers head in the very middle of the canvas to the bottom of the stretcher. The effect, based on Renaissance principles pioneered by Piero della Francesca, established a precise one-point linear perspective that foreshortened the objects nearest to the viewer with great precision. It looked like an incredible radiant glow from a halo around Henrys head, Hockney said. Using these guide lines he planted the figures firmly in the scene by painting their shoes, and repainted the carpet from red to brown, then four shades of blue, before settling on wooden parquet. After the tape was removed he added a glass table and a vase of larger-than-life tulips to the images foreground, before finally painting the reflected vacant space between sitter and onlooker into Geldzahlers spectacles a nod to the painted mirrors of the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Eyck. The finished work was promptly shipped to New York before being unveiled at Andre Emmerich Gallery, whereupon New York Magazine heralded it as truly amazing and totally hypnotising. The plain-spoken Geldzahler would himself go on to say that the work was Hockneys watershed moment, a point when the artist decided to become the best artist he could be. The painting was bought from the show by Harry N. Abrams, a New York art-book publisher who returned the picture to London so that it could be included in Pop Art Redefined, one of the earliest shows at the newly established Hayward Gallery. It then remained with Abrams family until 1992, and was loaned for other shows including David Hockney: Tableaux et Dessins at the Louvre in 1974, and David Hockney: A Retrospective at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1988-89. Energy companies are worried new, especially large container ships will cause traffic jams on the Houston Ship Channel and ultimately hinder the shale boom. Enterprise Products, Targa Resources Corp., Kinder Morgan and others have formed the Coalition for a Fair and Open Port, which wants to cap the number of 1,100-foot-plus container ships that come to Houston. Houston Pilots, tasked with guiding vessels in and out of the Houston Ship Channel, have enacted safety measures that only allow moving these vessels during the day. The ship channels typical two-way traffic is also reduced to just one-way traffic when moving the larger container ships. So far, only four of these vessels have called on Houston, and one more is expected before 2019. But the coalition is concerned about impending traffic jams. Since more port activity is related to industrial and energy products than containers, the coalition hired an outside firm to forecast how one-way traffic would affect the overall flow of ships. The modeling is based on recent vessel activity, current pilot rules, weather, a projected growth of energy and industrial ships, and projected container ship growth as reported by the Army Corps of Engineers. It found that one-way traffic and the growing use of large container ships could suppress the energy sectors ability to grow at a time when the U.S. is poised to become an exporting powerhouse. To put that channel on one-way traffic is going to choke off our ability to export what wants to be and needs to be exported, said Jim Teague, CEO of Enterprise Products, who was speaking on behalf of the coalition rather than Enterprise. Companies ramping up production need to export. But if they arent confident that their product can move through the Houston Ship Channel, they might pull less out of the ground. And that could affect jobs across the state. The coalition submitted a resolution to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Ports of Harris County requesting that no more than one of these especially large container ships enter Houston each week. And that the ships be limited to one trip each day. We think the port commissioners need to show their customers, and they need to show them now, that theyre managing the port on an open and fair basis for all their constituents, said John Rutherford, an energy-sector adviser and the executive director of the coalition. Not just for the benefit of container shipping companies. Port Houston operates the ship channels two container terminals. The coalition initially didnt want any of these container ships to enter the Houston Ship Channel, but it revised this stance based on conversations in a working group created by Janiece Longoria, chair of the Pilot Board and the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. The Houston Pilots and other industry stakeholders are part of the working group. The resolution was not considered during this weeks Pilot Board meeting. Erik Eriksson, chief legal officer for Port Houston, acts on behalf of the Pilot Board as the working groups convener. He said port officials are looking for a consensus from the entire working group, which has not yet been reached, rather than just the coalition. He said delays from one-way traffic have so far been minimal, about half an hour. I think we will be able to reach a mutually acceptable way of handling all these vessels, maintain two-way traffic and continue to keep this growing as the busiest waterway in the country, Eriksson said. He said container ships arent the only vessels to get special measures from Houston Pilots. And this isnt the first time a larger ship has shaken up Houstons routine. In the past, pilots have put measures in place while they got more comfortable with the vessels. So Eriksson said when pilots have enough experience with the larger container ships, they could potentially take another look at the safety measures and ease them. Rich Byrnes, chief port infrastructure officer for Port Houston, noted that one out of every three containers exported from Houston have some sort of plastic resins. So energy companies are benefiting from containers, too. The bottom line is that every individual company wants to optimize its own economics, Byrnes said. And so if theyre getting delayed by something, theyre going to point that out. But everybody is on board with the bigger picture, which is that the ship channel needs to get widened ASAP. The coalition agrees with that last point, and its members are working with the port to speed up the widening process. But a wider channel is years away. And in the meantime, the coalition wants to make sure all of the ports stakeholders, including energy and container companies, can continue to grow at the channels current width. All agree that widening and deepening that channel is ultimately where Houston has to be to maintain its status as the premier port in the world, said Vincent DiCosimo, a senior vice president for Targa Resources. It is, today, the No. 1 energy exporting port in the world. Its one of the top ports in the United States. Why? Because of industry and energy. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/andrearumbaugh Jackson Racicot, 17, looked around before flashing a subtle smile to the camera. It would be his last day working at the Walmart in Grande Prairie in Alberta, Canada. In the one-minute video, he's seen punching in a code to boot up the store's intercom system. Racicot was about to announce his resignation in a way many disgruntled employees could only dream of. This would be his coup de grace. "Attention all shoppers, associates and management, I would like to say, to all of you today, that nobody should work here - ever." RELATED: Kid Rock says he's following Tyler Perry's lead as he pays for layaway items at Walmart The video, which was posted last Thursday, had more than 1,500 shares and 1,200 likes on Facebook as of Wednesday afternoon. It was posted with the caption "How I quit my job today. Like, much watch." Racicot's voice boomed through the loudspeakers as he claimed the store's management didn't care about the employees. He alleged that his boss, an assistant manager, called him a "waste of time." He further accused the store of cutting employee benefits to save money. "I've been a loyal employee here for over a year and a half, and I'm sick of all the bulls---, bogus write-ups, and my job," he said. He ended his rant using expletives to curse management, his job and Walmart as a whole. At least one person is heard cheering in the background after he slammed down the phone. Racicot did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday morning. In an interview with the Star Edmonton, Racicot said he wanted to raise awareness about labor issues faced by employees at the store and other corporations. He told the Canadian news outlet that since posting the video, he's been approached by numerous other Walmart employees who've expressed similar complaints. Before he began his rant, he handed a more formal resignation letter to the assistant manager, he said. The Edmonton Journal reports that Racicot had secured his new job before quitting, and knew that's the way he wanted to go out. Walmart did not respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post Wednesday morning. In a statement obtained by the Edmonton Journal, the company said they were looking into the incident and would address it internally. "We are aware of the video circulating online and are disappointed by this incident. Respect for all individuals including our associates and customers is a core value at Walmart," the statement read. "We are looking into this matter and will address it internally as required." In a Facebook post Wednesday, Racicot said he was seeking other Walmart employees who felt like they'd been mistreated by the company. "I have a plan but I need your help to go thru with it," he wrote. It was not immediately clear what the plan entailed. A homeless man was fatally shot in north Houston Friday evening, police said. Houston Police received a phone call from a third-party witness around 7:30 p.m. that shots had been fired under the North Freeway at Crosstimbers Street. Officers confirmed the victim was dead upon their arrival to the scene. Homicide Investigation: IH-45 @ Crosstimbers. Homeless male shot & killed. #hounews CC8 Houston Police (@houstonpolice) December 15, 2018 Before the shooting, the man was involved in an argument with the suspect, who was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes, police said. Homicide is currently investigating the shooting. Schiller, Dane/Harris County DA Office A Houston man was sentenced Friday to 30 years for robbing two men at gunpoint, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. In December 2017, Jermaine Rodrick Brown and Deaundra Dewayne Davis approached two men in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Winsome Lane, pulled out a gun and robbed the men's cell phones and one of their wallets. Although some may think of Christmas as a time for giving gifts to children, older citizens can be in need of generosity around the holidays as well. Home Instead Senior Care - a personalized senior care service - asked community members to buy gifts for seniors in need this holiday season as part of their annual Be a Santa to a Senior program, which launched in 2003. In communities nationwide, Home Insteads community partners displayed Christmas trees decorated with ornaments that each had the name of a local senior and their requested gift. Three local YMCAs were among Home Insteads partners this year, including the D. Bradley McWilliams YMCA in the northwest Houston area. Citizens could grab an ornament, buy the predetermined gift for their recipient and return their gift to the participating location by Dec. 12. Volunteers would then wrap the presents before delivering them to the seniors. Cara Delgado, owner of the Houston branch of Home Instead, said the event is needed for seniors who are lonely and do not have many family members around. According to the Administration for Community Living, 20 percent of men and 34 percent of women 65 and older lived by themselves in 2017. This is a good time and an important time to remember our senior loved ones and neighbors, Delgado said. Social isolation is a concern among seniors and the holidays often intensify feelings of distance and loneliness. When we deliver the gifts and spend some time with them, it makes a big difference. Delgado said the program is expected to draw at least 200 participants who want to donate, while other Home Instead offices in the country reach the thousands. Delgado said the organization relies on local nonprofits and senior care facilities, like VITAS Healthcare, to select which seniors need gifts and what gifts to bring them. We ask them for suggested gift items and sometimes theyre things that people want and sometimes theyre things they need, she said. I dont limit it to just socks and gloves and hats and blankets. The event is not restricted to Home Instead clients, she said. Its an important time to remember our seniors and all that they have done for us, Delgado said. So much of what we have to be grateful for is because of the people that came before us. chevall.pryce@chron.com The Liberty-Dayton Regional Medical Center is among numerous entities across the United States who have received a bomb threat compelling staff to make a large payment in digital currency, Matt Thornton, L-DRMC administrator and CEO said on Friday. The administration has been on high alert since Thursday after receiving word of threats to other hospitals in the state. We were on alert just because we had heard that there were threats to other hospital facilities, but every threat we have to take serioius because you just dont know, he said. At the time he wasnt aware the threats reached outside of just hospitals, but banks, schools, and cities as well. Then on Thursday morning, he was made aware of a threat that came into the hospital via email. The email arrived at the same time it went out to all of the other threats across the state and country, he said. Thornton immediately activated the hospitals bomb threat response policy. After reading the email, Thornton didnt want to put the word out over the air so he contacted the Liberty Police Department detective directly. We spoke, and he and his officers responded and assisted us in a sweep of the building, the administrator said. In a large building, Thornton said law enforcement works directly with the staff. They didnt bring in any dogs. If the threat was deemed credible, we probably would have evacuated, but there was nothing credible about this, he said. We didnt make a public address announcement over the speakers, but instead, chose to meet with each department of the hospital with a face-to-face announcement, he said. Announcing it over the speaker system might have caused some alarm, he thought. Thornton asked each department to open every drawer, cabinet, closet and search every room for anything suspicious. The campus was thoroughly swept and given the all-clear about 45 minutes later. Thornton said he wanted to share the information with the media to avoid any misinformation developing in the community. There was never any danger to our patients or staff, he said. Thornton said they followed protocol as if there was something serious just to be sure. The threat in the email requested payment be made in bitcoins, a growing method with hackers seeking anonymity and quick access to the money overseas. The email was not ransomware, a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid, but rather more like a spam, Thornton said. There is ransomeware that all hospitals are very concerned about and we are strategically looking at that, he said, and we have all of the security measures in place to take care of that. We believe that we are secure. Thornton couldnt release the actual email and complete text while it was still a part of the investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into the threat. It didnt threaten our hospital directly, he said. It was written so broadly to encompass whoever received it might take that it was meant for them, he said. No data or files at the hospital were jeopardized at any point. L-DRMC and the Liberty Police Department take the safety and security of our patients and community very seriously and will respond promptly and diligently to all threats, said Matthew Thornton, L-DRMC administrator and CEO. Thornton commended the work and response of the police department. The Liberty Police Department did a wonderful job securing the facility and calming fears, Thornton said. The administrator said he did a cursory search of Google to investigate other email bomb threats and noticed that the city of Austin had received 24 at the time of his search. Even Columbine High School had received a threat, he said. A post on the Cleveland ISD alerted parents that they had received a similar threat to the Middle School. On Thursday evening, the Montgomery County Fire Marshall performed the sweep of the school and proclaimed it clear. The safety of our students and staff is our first and foremost responsibility and concern, the post said. Dayton city manager Theo Melancon confirmed that the city had received a threat at the Dayton Community Center. The police department acted quickly to make sure that the community center was swept for suspicious packages, Melancon said. After looking at the email closely, we asked our IT department to quarantine the email, scan it and make sure there wasnt any malware or phishing mechanism involved, he said. With no specifics and requests for bitcoins, the city manager said he realized that it was a non-local type threat. He said he wasnt surprised that a town of Daytons size would be included in something so massive across the nation. With technology and the ease of access for directories, the world is getting smaller. The main thing for us was to secure our facility and ensure the safety of our community, Melancon said. The city also made sure that they were cyber safe, and no servers were affected. Hospital administrator Thornton went on to remind the community to always be vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to authorities. The hospital is owned by the Liberty County Hospital District. dtaylor@hcnonline.com A Katy man is scheduled for sentencing in February after recently pleading guilty in federal court for his central role in a wide-ranging bribery scheme linked to Venezuelas state-own energy company. Alfonso Eliezer Gravina, 56, was indicted in May 2017 after federal investigators accused him of using his position at Petroleos de Venezuela, SA., identified in court documents as PDVSA, to receive illegal payments from those hoping to do business with the company. Gravina also failed to report the bribes totaling more than $500,000 as additional income, federal prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of making false statements on his federal income tax return. He was the latest person to take a plea deal as part of an ongoing investigation that has resulted in 15 people admitting their guilt, officials said. From 1998 to around March 2014, Gravina held a number of positions within PDVSA related to the purchase of energy services equipment and services, including purchasing manager at one point. According to court documents, his job responsibilities included selecting companies for bidding panels, which allowed the firms to submit bids on individual projects. Federal prosecutors said Gravina and two unidentified businessmen concealed the nature of the bribes by referring to them as commissions. The bribe money came from bank accounts controlled by the two businessmen but not connected to any company that was part of the original deal. Gravina and the two businessmen also attempted to conceal the source of the bribes by having it routed to an account held in the name of a close personal associate of the defendant, officials said. In one case, $15,000 was transferred from a bank in Panama to a bank account in the Houston area held jointly by Gravina and a family member. The money was sent in exchange for him helping the company be in line for future business, officials said. Gravina was offered a plea deal by the federal government in exchange for him being cooperative with investigators. It could result in his jail time being reduced. Under the terms of the agreement, he said he would participate in interviews and provide truthful, complete and accurate information to federal agents and prosecutors. Court documents said he will forfeit to the federal government any property received as a result of the bribes. mike.glenn@chron.com As days of protest against austerity draw hundreds, security forces show an iron fist. The crisis highlights the countrys weak political institutions. Some fear criminal and jihadist infiltrations. The political class must be renewed and economic and social reforms must be implemented. Amman (AsiaNews) The atmosphere in Jordan is tense and things could get worse as hundreds of people continue their protest in the streets. What is more, old problems have been compounded by an unprecedented fragility of the kingdoms political institutions, this according to Amer Al Sabaileh, a Jordanian scholar who spoke to AsiaNews about recent demonstrations in Amman. Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has shown himself to be weak and incapable. The royal entourage is not up to it nor are the heads of the services. There have been disturbing signs for some time, but they were treated superficially." This has forced Jordanian authorities to deploy hundreds of anti-riot police in the streets of the capital, with activists and demonstrators urged to remain within the law. For their part, protesters intend to continue their action against austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The protest has begun in early June only to fizzle out until recently. A judicial source said authorities have detained several people for chanting slogans against King Abdullah, a first in the history of the country. In fact, demonstrations are not only targeting policies or the government but also the main institutions of the state. Reacting to the situation, government spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat warned against violence. There are those who want to sow destruction ... We must safeguard Jordans stability and security, she said. However, dissatisfaction is widespread across the country. Many Jordanians say the government, which faces a record public debt of around billion and desperately needs to raise revenue, is eroding the disposable incomes of poorer and middle-class Jordanian. For Al Sabaileh, "The government is no longer the issue but the person who appoints the prime minister. Anger has been slowly simmering but the authorities have reacted with an unprecedented use of force. They brought in Bedouin units, which had not been seen since the 1989 revolution. Not even during the Arab Spring was there such a violent response, and this shows the incapacity of political leaders to understand what is going on. People are "desperate" and there is a firm belief that "this system is unable to deal with the problem". And "King Abdullah is paying a high price for his alliance with certain circles none of whom understand the real extent of the challenges. This is one of the reasons anti-monarchy slogans can be heard during the protests. For now, This is still a domestic issue. Things are not bad enough to elicit the intervention of regional players either for or against the establishment. In addition, we should also not forget that there are protests all around the world and that they are liable to criminal or terrorist infiltration. In Jordan, there is a jihadist risk and extremist (Islamic) groups could exploit the situation." Jordan "is a closed, isolated country that has not been able to produce and renew itself," Al Sabaileh notes. It lacks a serious political class, capable of dialogue. It is at a crossroads and in need of change, first of all at the political level to bear fruit at the economic and institutional levels." Solutions must be found that can have an "immediate effect on people's lives. We need to go from a dependent economy to an independent one. We need development plans in agriculture, transport, infrastructures. "Jordan is strategically located the Middle East and must find a way to exploit this, including developments in the energy sector. It must attract again Chinese, European and American investment. We need to overcome immobility and if this does not happen the crisis is destined to get worse." Turkey reiterated on Friday its ongoing financial and technical support for the activities of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). As Anadoly Agency reports, speaking at the 39th meeting of the organizations Foreign Ministers' council in Baku, capital of term chair Azerbaijan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on members to take active part in blocs activities and fulfill financial obligations. "We will continue our joint efforts to transform our region into a zone of peace, stability and prosperity," Cavusoglu said. He added that Turkey expects members to provide technical support for the working groups of the organization. Citing progress in various projects on agriculture and trade as well as the functioning of BSEC, Cavusoglu thanked Ambassador Michael B. Christides, the Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat of the bloc, for his efforts and Azerbaijan for its term chairmanship. He wished success for Bulgaria as the organizations next term chair. Headquartered in Istanbul, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization was established in 1992 with the aim of acting in a spirit of friendship and good neighborliness and enhancing mutual respect and confidence, dialogue and cooperation among the member states. The group has 12 members; Turkey, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Following the meeting, Cavusoglu was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the presidential residence in Baku. Underlining the "perfect relation" between the two countries, Cavusoglu repeated Turkeys support for Baku in its ongoing dispute with Armenia over the occupied Karabakh region. Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with Armenian military support, and a peace process has yet to be implemented. Three UN Security Council resolutions and two UN General Assembly resolutions refer to Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe refers to the region as being occupied by Armenian forces. Thank you for the overwhelming response to attend the December RAD training class. The class is now full, and a waiting list has been established. Another RAD training is being scheduled for February 2019, for those of you that were not able to attend this session. Thank you for your interest and support of the RAD Program. Twinkle Light Parade The 2018 Twinkle Light Parade is quickly approaching. The parade is this coming Thursday, Dec. 20, beginning at Bunker Hill Elementary school at 6 p.m. The parade route will go east on Taylorcrest to Bunker Hill Road then south to Memorial Drive where it will turn west to Knipp, then North on Knipp back to Taylorcrest where it will turn west to Strey then south back to Memorial where it will turn west and conclude at Frostwood Elementary School. At Frostwood there will be additional performances by students from both elementary schools, Hot Chocolate, Cookies and sing-a-long Christmas carols. Put on your favorite Holiday sweater and join us along the route to support area students as the perform from floats in the parade. Impromptu parade/street parties are highly encouraged. Food Drive Canned food items: Our MVPD dispatchers have decided to collect canned food goods for an area food bank during the holidays. Yesterday, (Dec. 13), I went to look at how they are doing. Well, while they are giving it a valiant effort, I think they may need a little help as they would like to fill our lobby with canned goods. If anyone has any extra canned goods that you would like to donate to the MVPD food drive, please feel free to drop them off at the MVPD at any time between now and Dec. 21, 2018. The MVPD dispatch center never closes so they are there 24/7. We will deliver all of the food items to the food bank for use during the Holidays. Thank You. Being neighborly Over the next two weeks we expect there to be many parties and family gatherings, which will increase the need for guests to park on nearby streets. We are requesting that everyone be respectful of your neighbors property, grass and landscaping. Please ask your guests, not to park on private property without permission, block driveways or sidewalks, block Fire Hydrants, and to leave plenty of room for fire trucks to pass through should an emergency occur. And since we are mentioning landscaping, persons who are visiting St. Francis school or church are asked to not drive over the new landscaping recently installed on North Piney Point Road. Some of this area use to be an open drainage ditch and the ground is still very soft. Vehicles have been causing deep trenches. The project looks terrific and new sidewalks are a welcome addition to the community. Holiday House Watches Our house watch registrations are already increasing for the Christmas/New Years Holiday. Remember, if you are going out of town, to register your property for our house-watch program online at www.mvpdtx.org or by calling us at 713-365-3700. Police Commission This past Monday (Dec. 10) was the last Police Commission meeting for Commissioner (and Chairman) Chris Alexander. Chris (a resident of Piney Point) has been a part of the Memorial Villages Police Commission for the past six years and has served twice as the Commission Chairman, in addition to having served on the Technology Committee, Personnel Committee and Audit Committee. Commissioner Alexanders six-year commitment has served the Villages and the department well. His expertise assisted in the acquisition and implementation of a new Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD), and the negotiations of several service, maintenance and equipment contracts. While Chris will be missed on the Commission, the rumor is that Mayor Kobeland has another volunteer opportunity in mind. Our many thanks to Commissioner Alexander for his many years of support and guidance. Home alarms After last Saturdays 2 home burglaries, several residents have made inquiries about arming home alarms during the night? And whether you should do that while asleep at home? The answer is yes, if your alarm has a stay feature. The stay or at-home feature arms your alarm and usually turns off interior motion detectors. (This is so you can still move throughout your home without setting off the alarm) This way, should someone enter the home during the night, without the proper code, an intrusion alarm is generated. Most systems make some type of interior sound that wake/notify you of entry into the home and if monitored, they notify us here at MVPD. If your alarm is not monitored, be sure and have our number programmed into your home or cell phone as a speed dial option, and of course you can always call 911. We will always respond to these types of alarms as priority events. Remember that these types of crimes are rare in the Villages. Here at the MVPD we staff our night shift just as strong as we do our dayshift teams. Our patrols are active and visible throughout the night. Memorial Villages Police Chief Ray Schultz can be contacted at rschultz@mvpdtx.org. Its not very often that first responders have a chance to help with a special delivery for an unplanned child birth outside of a hospital. On Friday, a proud group of men and women who answered a mothers rare call for help finally had a chance to meet and hold a happy, healthy child they saved together. Its such a miracle and we are so thankful, the mother Lindsay DeHart said standing with the firefighters and paramedics gathered at the Montgomery Fire Station on Eva Street Friday, including Paramedic Karen Kimmey, whose name appears on her daughters birth certificate. It didnt hit me until I got home from the hospital that I kind of couldnt go into the bathroom anymore where I was laying for a little bit because it was very emotional thinking that something could have happened, she added. But nothing did. It was perfect, it couldnt have gone better, actually. Lindsey DeHart, 39, had a plan. She would go to her last day of work that Friday in April 2018 and have a scheduled labor induced at the hospital that Monday. But, her baby Addison had other plans. Instead of waiting for the hospital, Addison decided to make her grand debut to the world while her mother was showering at her home in Montgomery. After becoming aware of the unexpected change in plans that day, Lindsays husband Chris ran to ask the neighbor to watch their 4-year-old daughter Zooey until her grandparents, who were en route, could get there. Excited the baby was on its way, the neighbor, Megan Goodfellow, walked back with Chris to the couples home. As soon as we walked in the door Lindsay said, call 911 the babys head is coming out, said Chris DeHart who quickly made the call, which he was on for 10 minutes before handing the phone to the neighbor to talk to the operator. Our neighbor got the business end and was keeping the baby at arms- length while I was holding Lindsays hand. I was scared, Chris DeHart added. Obviously, babies have been born that way for quite a while but maybe not with great survival rates. It was a stressful situation. I havent been in many more stressful situations than that. Fortunately, Emergency Medical Dispatching training includes different instructions for different stages of delivery such as for a situation like DeHarts special delivery and the community has a team of trained first responders, said Montgomery County Hospital District Assistant Chief Jordan Anderson. We have over 1,000 responders in this county, so this is something we are all trained for, this is a level firefighter, paramedic, EMT can respond to its just not something we get very often, he said. Not too long after the 911 call to dispatchers who assisted the family with instructions, Lt. David King, a 16-year-veteran and Durward Cates III also arrived with the Montgomery Fire Department to the mother in labor. The firefighters updated dispatchers on the mothers condition then the paramedics arrived within five minutes. After a few minutes there appeared to be a break and the paramedics rolled the mother out on the stretcher to the ambulance in the driveway. But the baby was still determined to be delivered on her own schedule and decided she would go no further than the driveway to be born. It was very close, King said. The paramedics were not far behind us. It was a good effort between both of us and definitely a good result. During the delivery, Lindsay DeHart was in immense discomfort as she endured an unplanned natural child birth without an epidural. I was in my own world because it was very painful, DeHart said. It felt like it was two hours and it was less than 30 minutes (from the time of the call to delivery). It felt so long. I remember hearing get on her on her hands and knees and try it I would try anything at this point. She came right out. In-Charge Paramedic David Overstreet, an 18-year veteran who also attended a save reunion this week for a woman he helped during a cardiac arrest, made the suggestion to let gravity do the work. A grateful DeHart said Overstreets helpful and pivotal decision expedited the delivery, bringing Addison into the world safely. According to MCHD and Texas Department of State Health Services, only about 1 percent of the 382,438 live births to Texas residents in 2012 were delivered by EMS workers or relatives of the patient. These are the highlights of our careers, Overstreet said. These are rare to have. Anderson said the first responders receive over 70,000 calls a year, but also rarely have a chance to reflect on a positive outcome. The firefighters who helped with delivery had also been on their shift for about 36-hours and had even saved a 2-year-old child from a drowning earlier that day. King and Cates shared the long shift had been busier than normal that day and they were grateful to be able to assist with another happy outcome. It broke the run of hard calls that day, Cates said. Among the paramedics, included James Joublanc who was an intern during his first special delivery that he said sealed the deal on his decision to be a paramedic, if it already was not before. It was magical, Joublanc said. Seeing the fathers eyes light up, you cant recreate that. mellsworth@hcnonline.com A federal judge in Texas threw a dagger into the Affordable Care Act on Friday night, ruling that the entire health-care law is unconstitutional because of a recent change in federal tax law. The opinion by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor overturns all of the sprawling law nationwide. The ruling came on the eve of the deadline Saturday for Americans to sign up for coverage in the federal insurance exchange created under the law. If the ruling stands, it would create widespread disruption across the U.S. health-care system - from no-charge preventive services for older Americans on Medicare to the expansion of Medicaid in most states, to the shape of the Indian Health Service - in all, hundreds of provisions in the law that was a prized domestic achievement of President Barack Obama. President Donald Trump, who has made the dismantling of the ACA a chief goal since his campaign, swiftly tweeted his pleasure at the opinion. "As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster!" the president wrote just after 9 p.m. "Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions." Later, the White House issued a statement on the ruling, saying: "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place." For their part, congressional Democrats, who defended the law and its protections for people with preexisting medical problems as a major theme leading up to last month's midterm elections, lambasted the Texas judge and portrayed themselves as champions of American health-care consumers. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is expected to become speaker next month, issued a statement that said: "When House Democrats take the gavel, the House of Representatives will move swiftly to formally intervene in the appeals process to uphold the life-saving protections for people with pre-existing conditions and reject Republicans' effort to destroy the Affordable Care Act." A spokeswoman for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, D, who leads a group of states opposing the lawsuit, said that the Democratic defenders of the law are ready to challenge the ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. It was not immediately clear what the legal path will be from here. Technically, O'Connor granted summary judgment to the lawsuit's plaintiffs - the Texas attorney general, with support from 18 GOP counterparts and a governor. Because the judge did not grant an injunction, as the plaintiffs had asked for, "it's unclear whether this is a final judgment, whether it's appealable, whether it can be stayed," said Timothy Jost, a health-law expert who is a professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University. Jost, an ACA proponent, predicted that a stay would lock in the law during appeals, saying that, otherwise, "it's breathtaking what [O'Connor]'s doing here on a Friday night after the courts closed." Major segments of the health-care industry also decried the ruling. "The judge got it wrong," said Charles "Chip" Kahn III, president of the Federation of American Hospitals. "This ruling would have a devastating impact on the patients we serve and the nation's health-care system as a whole. . . . Having this decision come in the closing hours of open enrollment also sows seeds of unnecessary confusion." "Today's decision is an unfortunate step backward for our health system that is contrary to overwhelming public sentiment," said Barbara McAneny, president of the American Medical Association. "No one wants to go back to the days of 20 percent of the population uninsured and fewer patient protections, but this decision will move us in that direction." And calling the opinion "misguided and wrong," America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry's main trade group, sought to reassure consumers that their health coverage would remain "strong and stable" while the ruling is appealed. Since the lawsuit was filed in January, many health-law specialists have viewed its logic as weak but nevertheless have regarded the case as the greatest looming legal threat to the 2010 law, which has been on the GOP's whipping post ever since and assailed repeatedly in the courts. The Supreme Court upheld the law as constitutional in 2012 and 2015, though the first of those opinions struck down the ACA's provision that was to expand Medicaid nationwide, letting each state choose instead. No matter how O'Connor ruled, legal experts have been forecasting that the Texas case would be appealed and could well place the law again before the high court, giving its conservative newest member, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, a first opportunity to take part. O'Connor is a conservative judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He was appointed by President George W. Bush. O'Connor ruled once before on an issue arising from the ACA, issuing a nationwide injunction two years ago on an Obama administration rule that forbade health-care providers from discriminating based on gender identity. And in June, the administration took the unusual step of telling the court that it will not defend the ACA against this latest challenge. Typically, the executive branches argues to uphold existing statutes in court cases. The lawsuit was initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who describes himself as a tea party conservative. The plaintiffs argue that the entire ACA is invalid. They trace their argument to the Supreme Court's 2012 ruling in which Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority that the penalty the law created for Americans who do not carry health insurance is constitutional because Congress "does have the power to impose a tax on those without health insurance." As part of a tax overhaul a year ago, congressional Republicans pushed through a change in which that ACA penalty will be eliminated, starting in January. The lawsuit argues that, with the enforcement of the insurance requirement gone, there is no longer a tax so the law no longer is constitutional. "Once the heart of the ACA - the individual mandate - is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of the ACA must also fall," the lawsuit said. In his 55-page opinion, O'Connor agrees. He writes that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, saying that it "can no longer be fairly read as an exercise of Congress' tax power." The judge also concludes that this insurance requirement "is essential to and inseverable from the remainder of the ACA." The opinion goes beyond the administration's legal position in the case. In a June court brief and an accompanying letter to congressional leaders, Justice Department officials contended that, once the insurance mandate's penalty is gone next month, that move will invalidate the ACA's consumer protections, such as its ban on charging more or refusing to cover people with preexisting medical conditions. But the administration argued that many other parts of the law could be considered legally distinct and thus can continue. Just before the brief's deadline, three Justice attorneys involved with the case withdrew from it. In the letter to Congress, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that Justice was taking this position "with the approval of the president of the United States." Trump has vowed since his campaign to dismantle the law, a main domestic achievement of his predecessor, and the administration has been taking steps on its own to foster alternative insurance that tends to be less expensive because it skirts ACA requirements. The lawsuit has been opposed by a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general, led by California's Becerra, a former congressman. The Democrats contend that while the Republican tax law will eliminate the federal penalty for being uninsured, it does not negate the ACA's constitutionality. "Today's misguided ruling will not deter us. Our coalition will continue to fight in court for the health and well being for all Americans," Becerra said in a statement Friday night after the ruling. During oral arguments in September, O'Connor asked more pointed questions of the Democratic attorneys general than of the Republicans. The midterm elections last month have altered the political map in the case. In Wisconsin, an incoming Democratic attorney general, Josh Kaul, campaigned on a promise to withdraw the state from the lawsuit, but Wisconsin's Republican legislature and outgoing Gov. Scott Walker, R, have tried in a lame-duck session to block his ability to do that. In Maine, outgoing Gov. Paul LePage, R, joined the lawsuit, but the state attorney general's office told the court last month that the governor did not have power to do so on his own. Paxton issued a statement praising the ruling, saying that it "halts an unconstitutional exertion of federal power over the American health care system" so that Congress can have "the opportunity to replace the failed social experiment with a plan that ensures Texans and all Americans will again have greater choice about what health coverage they need and who will be their doctor." A new report by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows that more than a dozen gangs still maintain a presence in Houston and throughout southeast Texas. All of the most violent and threatening gangs recognized by law enforcement have strong ties to Houston and surrounding counties, according to the report. Those gangs including Tango Blast, Texas Mexican Mafia, MS-13 and Barrio Azteca have a high likelihood to engage in drug and human smuggling, violent crimes and sex trafficking. MS-13's numbers are dwarfed by those of Tango Blast, Texas Mexican Mafia and Barrio Azteca with as many as 1,000 statewide, according to the report. In contrast, Tango Blast is estimated to have up to 25,000 members across the state. While MS-13's numbers might seem insignificant, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo in a recent news conference said that the violent crimes committed by MS-13 gangsters are disproportionate to their membership. Since June, nearly 20 MS-13 members have been implicated in five murders including the machete-attack death of an informant. Acevedo said there are about 20,000 documented gang members in Houston, with approximately 300 in MS-13, during the September news conference. He estimated that the Gulf Coast region of the state has a total of about 800 MS-13 members. Other gangs, such as Crips, Bloods and the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, are listed as less significant gangs but still do violent crimes throughout Texas and have a significant presence in this side of Texas. Go through the slideshow above to see the top 14 gangs in the Houston area. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Police say a speeding vehicle, a dip in the road, and a tree made for a deadly combination Friday in northeast Houston. The driver was southbound on Majestic Drive near Cavalcade Street when he hit a dip in the road, began to swerve and eventually began to flip, witnesses told Houston police officers. Another expedition of the international volunteer program "Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World", initiated in 2015 by the Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language, has ended. This program's goal is to popularize Russian language, culture and literature in Russia and abroad, as well as to develop and strengthen inter-university and international partnerships, promote cultural values of tolerance and organize dialogue of cultures. Methodologist of this program, associate professor of the department of Russian literature and intercultural communication of the Pushkin State Institute discussed results of this program in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. - Did your expedition to Baku went well? - A little over a year ago we visited Baku for the first time. We had four expeditions since then. We have excellent partners, interesting projects. Our project evolves constantly, there's always something new. We began our work in one of the Baku lyceums, continued in schools, now we have a new format with Baku universities. We're working mainly with the University of Foreign Languages. We visited the Baku State University, the Slavic University, the Economic University. As for the results of all four trips to Baku, we have learned a lot about Azerbaijan. Students from the Russian Federation visited this city, ambassadors of Russian language participated in each expedition, and they brought their knowledge and love for Azerbaijan to many Russian regions. There are many interesting stories, they shared all of them through social networks. Of course, we have established friendly contacts. Young people got to know each other very quickly. Communication continues even after our trips. - Can students from Azerbaijan become ambassadors of Russian language? - It all depends on students' initiative. Representatives of any country can participate in this program if they are fluent in Russian, know Russian culture well and are willing to share this knowledge with their compatriots or representatives of other countries. We receive applications from representatives of different countries. But selection proccess is difficult, it has several stages. We had a boy who submitted application three times and became ambassador only on third attempt, proving his ability to work with audience. The most important thing is desire. You can find all information on our website. Our doors are always open. We would be very happy to meet new people. - Has Azerbaijani audience expressed interest in Russian language? - There's huge interest in Azerbaijan, thanks to cultural and economic traditions that have developed between our peoples. On the other hand, this interest also exists thanks to the fact that people there are always interested in something new, even if they have never learned Russian. This is their first experience in mastering such complex language, and they all enjoy the learning process. Azerbaijanis are very grateful. They love to learning new things, and they learn different languages easily. After all, they have to learn several languages in schools and in universities. - Do you plan to visit Azerbaijan once again? Next year we will try to continue development of our program in Azerbaijan. We visited several universities and were asked to continue our program. I think our audience will continue to grow. We're completing our current expeditions, and at the end of the year we will gather for a forum of ambassadors of Russian language, where we will sum up results of our work in various formats. Next expeditions will take place in 2019. Turkey intends to coordinate its actions with Russia and the United States in order to avoid confrontation in Syria, the Advisor to the President of Turkey, Ibrahim Kalin said. "We are the part of the international coalition against iSIS (banned in the Russian Federation) and we support the fight against terrorists, so we want to coordinate our efforts," he said on the margins of the Doha Forum. "Our Armed Forces will be in close contact with Americans, Russians and other members of the coalition in Syria, in order to precisely avoid any confrontation," he said, recalling the creation of a mechanism to prevent conflicts. Justin Jordan, a Houston lobbyist nominated to a Houston airport development agency, on Friday sued Houston Aviation Director Mario Diaz and the man he was set to replace, alleging they attempted to block him from his position by changing the aviation agencys bylaws. The suit, filed Friday in state district court, comes days after Diaz and Port of Houston Authority Commissioner Theldon Branch voted to change bylaws that could prevent Jordan from replacing Branch on the Houston Airport System Development Corp., a private nonprofit agency created by Houston City Council in 2000, that invests in and consults for airports around the world. It shares some of its revenues with the city airport system. Jordan had been tapped by Janiece Longoria, chairman of the Port of Houston Authoritys Port Commission, to replace Branch as the ports appointee to the aviation agency. Diaz and Branch, forming a majority of its three-person board, voted earlier this month to require the ports appointee be a port commissioner and have international business, finance, economic, logistics or diplomatic experience. It is hardly a conciden(ce) that Defendant Branch is a commissioner on the Port of Houston Authority and has international business experience from dealing with HAS Development Corporation, Jordans complaint reads. In the suit, Jordan asks the court to order Branch to vacate his position and allow Jordan access to offices, documents and any other object or thing that is necessary to fill the role. Meanwhile, Longoria has said she sought to replace Branch on the agencys board because his term expired in April 2017, and his business ties as a concessionaire at Houstons two major airports presented possible conflicts of interest. Branch has said he voted to change the bylaws to ensure the agency is run by experienced appointees, and it had nothing to do with a desire to keep his seat. He also said that his role with the aviation agency presented no conflicts of interest because it does not vote on matters even remotely close to the concession agreement. The agency is run by the city aviation director, a port appointee and a Greater Houston Partnership appointee, though the GHP seat has remained vacant since its prior occupant died in 2016. That seat has not been occupied, Jordan wrote in his legal complaint, because Diaz and Branch desired to operate the Corporation in secret and to their benefit. Longoria, who did not respond to a request for comment, on Wednesday said she views the bylaw changes as void because she sent a letter to Diaz nominating Jordan on Dec. 5, which she said effectively replaced Branch. The aviation agencys formation documents say the board must never have fewer than three members, Longoria noted. Diaz and Branch voted Monday to change the bylaws, two days before a Port Commission meeting at which Jordans appointment was to be confirmed by the board. Hank Coleman, the airport agencys attorney, said the timing of the airport development agencys regular quarterly meeting was a coincidence. Jordan contends in his lawsuit that Diaz and Branchs meeting to alter the bylaws was unlawful because Longoria already had made the appointment. I think this is a story that will develop over time once we get into the discovery aspects, said Oliver Brown, Jordans attorney. Right now, were simply asking that my client be allowed to serve the position he was rightfully appointed to. Diaz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mayor Sylvester Turner, a supporter of Branchs reappointment to the port commission in February, said Wednesday he was unaware of Diaz and Branchs actions to change the bylaws. Staff writer Mike Morris contributed to this report. jasper.scherer@chron.com twitter.com/jaspscherer A state district judge on Friday extended until next week a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of a voter-approved charter amendment granting pay parity to Houston firefighters. The court action will further delay the next step in a messy legal imbroglio between Houstons two major public safety unions the Houston Police Officers Union and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. Police union officials sought the TRO on Nov. 30, when they sued the firefighters union and the city of Houston, while seeking an injunction to block implementation of the Proposition B charter amendment, arguing it amounts to an unconstitutional amendment to the city charter. RELATED: Houston files legal brief claiming fire pay parity amendment unconstitutional The decision came after nearly two hours of tangled legal arguments between opposing attorneys over whether Prop B contradicted various state laws and testimony from Police Chief Art Acevedo and City Finance Director Tantri Erlinawati-Emo. The 157th Districts outgoing judge, Randy Wilson, said he wasnt prepared to rule on the injunction, but said he would do so by the middle of next week. City Attorney Ronald Lewis said the judges action was appropriate. Its a serious matter of consequence for all parties involved, Lewis said. The firefighters believe they have a position, and the city has a need to administer the correct law. That is our responsibility and function. The courts, whose job is to determine what the correct law is, to make sure we do what is correct. BACKGROUND: Judge blocks implementation of Prop B after police union sues HPFFA President Marty Lancton said he is looking forward to next weeks ruling. This is a long process, and right now we are waiting for the judge to rule, he said. Hes been very attentive to the things that were discussed today, and were looking forward to the judges ruling next week. St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com. A home invasion in north Houston left one man dead after gunfire erupted Saturday morning, police said. Around 5 a.m., at least two men burst into a home just off Interstate 45 near Moody Park, waking a man and woman to demand money and drugs at gunpoint, officials said. One of the suspects then shot the male victim in the head and fled the scene, Houston police Sgt. Matthew Brady said. FATAL WRECK: HPD says driver admits to drinking before crash It was not immediately clear whether the suspects made off with any items from the house, Brady said. The woman, who had been dating the male victim, survived without injuries. Investigators said the males were dressed in black, but they did not disclose any other details about them or the model of their getaway vehicle. The couple was renting the house and had lived there for only a couple months, Brady said. Lisa Krantz / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke is leading another delegation from Congress to a detention camp in Tornillo to draw attention to the growing population of immigrant children being housed there. Six months after the El Paso Democrat led a highly publicized Fathers Day tour of the facility, O'Rourke is expected to be joined Saturday morning at the camp by U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, a California Democrat, and Democratic U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, Jeff Merkley, of Oregon, and Tina Smith, of Minnesota. WASHINGTON - House Democrats on Friday sharply questioned the border patrols handling of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died last week after being detained in a remote desert border crossing in New Mexico, about 120 miles west of El Paso. The incident, first disclosed in press reports Thursday, has intensified scrutiny of the border patrols child and family detention policies, as well as the decision of Customs and Border Protection officials to hold off on notifying Congress, as required by law. The criticism mounted Friday as new details emerged of the death of Jakelin Caal Maquin, who was detained along with her father the night of December 6 after crossing the border illegally with a large group of people. Her death, reportedly of dehydration and shock after an arduous desert crossing, also has roiled the debate over the Trump administrations asylum policies and heightened the stakes in a potential government shutdown next Friday over funding for a border wall. Related: As Trump threatens shutdown, Sen. Ted Cruz pitches $25B border wall funding bill This death raises significant questions about the conditions in CBPs short-term holding facilities, and the general suitability of such facilities for families and children, a group of Democratic leaders, including San Antonio Democrat Joaquin Castro, said in a letter Friday to Homeland Security Acting Inspector General John Kelly. We are also troubled by the fact that we learned of this incident from the Washington Post, rather than through congressional notification as required under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations laws. In a statement Friday, CBP officials said they immediately notified the Guatemalan government following the girls death. However they said they did not issue a public statement out of respect for the family of the deceased. But under fire from Democrats and immigrant activists, CPB officials announced that the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General would conduct a review of the agencys disclosure and notification policies. Officials also defended the border patrols handling of the girl and her father, saying they did everything in their power to save the girl after her father notified them of her distress at a remote forward operating base near the Antelope Wells port of entry, 94 miles from the nearest border patrol station in Lordsburg, New Mexico. The girl died early Saturday morning, a day and a half later, at the Providence Childrens Hospital in El Paso, where she was flown by helicopter after a long bus ride to Lordsburg with her father and others in the group of detained immigrants. Border patrol officials gave the following account: Agents said they were first notified of her illness about 5 a.m. on December 7, about eight hours after a group of 163 immigrants was detained inside the sally port of the Antelope Wells base. There they were provided food and water. Officials said an initial overnight screening showed no evidence of sickness, and that the girls father claimed on government forms that she was in good health. But just as a group of immigrants was boarding for the hour-and-a-half bus trip to Lordsburg, the girls father told agents that she was sick and vomiting. Agents in Antelope Wells notified officials in Lordsburg to prepare to provide emergency medical care and continued with the bus ride. Due to the remoteness of the area, the CBP said in a statement, meeting emergency medical personnel in Lordsburg was the best means to provide the child with emergency care. When the group arrived in Lordsburg shortly before 6:30 a.m., the girl was not breathing. Emergency Medical Technicians revived her twice, and it was determined she had a temperature of 105.7 degrees. The decision was then made to airlift her to El Paso, where she arrived at 8:50 a.m. Her father followed her to the hospital in a border patrol vehicle. By 11 a.m., officials said, the girl went into cardiac arrest and had to be revived again. A CT scan showed brain swelling. She was breathing by machine and diagnosed with liver failure. She died the next day at 12:35 a.m. with her father present. Despite our trained EMT agents best efforts fighting for Jakelins life, and the work of the Hidalgo County and Providence Childrens Hospital medical teams treating her, we were unable to rescue her, CPB Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a statement Friday. The agents involved are deeply affected and empathize with the father over the loss of his daughter. In their letter to Kelly, Democratic lawmakers questioned the appropriateness of holding children in Border Patrol stations, which they said, were never designed to hold children. They noted also that in an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, McAleenan testified that the agencys short-term holding cells are incompatible with increased family migration and large numbers of unaccompanied children. Castro, the incoming chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, further questioned why McAleenan did not disclose the girls death in his testimony before the Senate on Tuesday - four days after she died. Related: More details that emerged on Friday Castro, who will be the chairman of the Texas Democratic delegation, said the episode also raises questions about Trumps hard-line policies for asylum seekers. He cited a recent Homeland Security Inspector General report finding that the Trump administrations policy of limiting asylum seekers at ports of entry forces families to cross the border between ports of entry, sometimes after making dangerous treks across the desert. This is a humanitarian crisis and we have a moral obligation to ensure these vulnerable families can safely seek asylum, which is legal under immigration and international law, at our borders, Castro said. We can and must do better as a nation. McAleenan said he welcomes the scrutiny. We cannot stress enough the dangers posed by traveling long distances, in crowded transportation, or in the natural elements through remote desert areas without food, water and other supplies, he said. No one should risk injury, or even death, by crossing our border unlawfully. This is why I asked Congress on Tuesday to change our laws so that the United States is not incentivizing families to take this dangerous path. A global forum on health tourism will be held in Azerbaijan in February 2019, chairman of the Azerbaijani Association for Support of Medical and Thermal Tourism, President of the World Health Tourism Organization Ruslan Guliyev said, AzerNews reported. He said that more than 100 participants will arrive at the event, in particular, heads of structures for health tourism of the participating countries, top managers of the medical and health sector of the countries, as well as authoritative scientists in this field. "As part of the event, which will be held for two days, a number of official meetings, plenary sessions, exhibitions, and also B2B meetings are planned," Guliyev said. He noted that Azerbaijan's potential in the therapeutic and health sector, real opportunities and prospects, startups, etc., will be demonstrated at the event. At the end of the event, it is planned to organize an info-tour for the participants to the Naftalan, Istisu, Galaalti and Duzdag medical and health centers, he added. SEVILLE, Ohio Wreaths Across America held its annual day of tribute on Saturday, honoring veterans by placing holiday wreaths at gravesites in more than 1,400 cemeteries across the nation. Family members and volunteers placed more than 13,000 wreaths at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, according to Nathan Gradisher of the Hospice of the Western Reserve. With flags at half-staff to honor the Nov. 30 passing of President George H.W. Bush, the program started at 9 a.m. with an hour for family members to place personalized wreaths at the graves of their relatives. At 10 a.m., volunteers began the wider placement of wreaths in the 273-acre cemetery in Medina County. The program concluded with a ceremony to honor all the branches of service. Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit whose purpose is to remind people how important it is to remember, honor & teach" about the sacrifice of veterans, began as the small effort of a group in Maine until 2005, when a photo of gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet. COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohios outdoors-minded folks, especially the ones who purchase fishing and hunting licenses, are already praising the appointment of Mary Mertz as Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) by Governor-elect Mike DeWine. Mertz is replacing James Zehringer, a southern Ohio farmer and former state legislator who has been roundly criticized by sportsmens groups since his appointment in 2012. In a move designed to appease them, Mertz acknowledged that DeWine has asked Michael Budzik, the popular former chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW), to return as a liaison between the ODNR and the governors office. Ohios First Assistant Attorney General, Mertz, 53, said in a phone interview she is excited about assuming the new post. Mertz is the ODNRs second woman director. The late Gov. George Voinovich appointed Francis Buchholzer of Akron as director in 1991. I have worked for Attorney General Mike DeWine for a long time, and he trusts me with such an important agency, said Mertz. He wants the problems with the ODNR fixed, and wants me to move the department forward. Mike Budzik is a good friend, and we respect his opinions. There is no doubt he loves Ohio, and he will help make the DOW and ODNR more effective. The agency should be about improving the quality of life in Ohio, providing recreational opportunities and protecting Ohios magic. Mertz said DeWine has already been asking about the dates for Governors Fish Ohio Day in 2019, a celebration of Lake Erie fishing that Gov. John Kasich often skipped. Mertz will have Lake Eries issues at the top of her list. She learned to sail and to fish with her father while growing up near Dayton, and often visits the big lake with her husband, Rob, cruising on their 23-foot sailboat. Her father and brothers were avid hunters, she said. The ODNR divisions include Wildlife, Parks and Watercraft, Forestry, Natural Areas and Preserves, Oil and Gas, Geological Survey, Water Resources, Mineral Resources, Engineering and the Offices of Coastal Management and Real Estate and Land Management. Sportsmen will be avidly watching the ODOW, whose administration was gutted in June 2017 for pointing out how badly license fees needed to be hiked to cover financial woes. The Sportsmans Alliance forecast the division would have a $220 million shortfall over the next decade, and successfully lobbied Ohio legislators to increase non-resident hunting and fishing fees. The feud caused the ODNR to fire popular Chief Ray Petering and reassign other officials. Budzik quit, after three decades with the ODOW, and wrote a scathing letter to Zehringer about the shortcomings of the ODNR. Ohio was short 25 wildlife officers at the time because of a lack of funds, and five of Ohios 88 counties did not have a wildlife officer. When the ODNR recently approved changes to fish and hunt license costs, it was an ill-advised move to begin selling multiple-year licenses. Mertz knows there will be challenges in getting the ODNR back on track. The diversity of the ODNR parallels the Attorney Generals office, said Mertz, who is in charge of legal and administrative operations. The AGs office deals with every state agency, including colleges and universities. The important thing is to hire great talent, people who are smarter than you, and can bring their expertise and do the job. It will be my job as director to inspire and empower them to be innovative. I cant wait to meet and engage the talent there. I love to learn, and I want to learn about everything the agency does. Im not an expert, but I want people who are experts on board. Mertz has a law degree from Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in International Affairs from George Washington University and a degree in political science from American University. Five governors, seven House speakers and seven Senate presidents later, nobody with a straight face claims Ohios made the complete systematic overhaul of public school funding Ohios Supreme Court ordered in 1997. The gist of the courts thinking: Ohio over-relies on property taxes to finance K-12 schools. (If youre a homeowner, maybe youve noticed.) But, hey, some things take time. Others things dont such as the legislatures whiplash-fast decision Thursday to give itself a pay raise. Now, base pay for an Ohio House or Senate member is $60,584. (Ohios median household income is $52,407 13 percent less.) Under Senate Bill 296, passed Thursday night, base pay for a General Assembly member would rise to $63,007 in 2019. Then, a legislators salary will annually increase: Base pay will peak at $76,208 in 2028, a House spokesman confirmed Friday. Almost all 132 state legislators (99 representatives, 33 senators) are paid more than base pay because of extra pay for chairing committees, etc. Those jobs (or are they leashes?) are controlled by the Senate president and House speaker (now each paid $94,437 a year). The pay-raise bill would also boost those extra-pay supplements for caucus officers and committee posts. Meanwhile, General Assembly members may enroll in the Public Employees Retirement System and the states employee health insurance plan, with the state contributing 85 percent of the cost and the [General Assembly] member contributing 15 percent, according to the Legislative Service Commission. The bill would also increase, also through 2028, salaries paid to Ohios elected statewide executive officers. The governors salary, for example, now $148,315, would rise to $154,248 when Gov.-elect Mike DeWine takes office on Jan. 14. The salary would then rise in annual steps. Senate Bill 296 would also give raises to judges and, the LSC reports, the majority of local elected officials. In fairness, yes, the Ohio Constitution forbids elected officials (except judges) from receiving pay raises during their terms of office. Also in fairness, only the General Assembly can set legislators pay. (In 2014, then-Senate President Keith Faber, a Celina Republican elected state auditor last month, proposed a constitutional amendment creating a Public Office Compensation Commission to recommend elected officials salaries. It never reached the ballot.) So, because new House terms (and half the Senates terms) begin on Jan. 1, the only way to give raises for 2019 is to approve them before Jan.1. The intellectually honest thing to do would have been to pass a pay-raise bill before Nov. 6s election, so voters could judge the raises. But if you were writing a guide to legislative politicking at the Statehouse, intellectual and honest arent the first words thatd come to mind. Fact is, raising legislative pay after the legislatures been re-elected is a dodge one reason Republican Gov. John Kasich may veto the bill. Heres another: SB 296, the bill legislators slipped the pay raises into, will (rightly) increase death benefits Ohio provides to survivors of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty something no one with a heart can oppose. Still, heres whats happened: A bill to help the families of heroic Ohioans is being cynically misused as cover by General Assembly members less-than-politically-heroic about their pay raises. Thats our legislature always keeping it classy. Ohio legislature also must muster 60 percent Republicans have slowed down House Joint Resolution 19, which would require a 60 percent statewide majority yes vote for Ohio Constitution amendments proposed by voters. Now, such amendments require a simple majority of yes votes. House Speaker Ryan Smith, a Republican from Gallia Countys Bidwell, said last weeks column failed to note that for more than 100 years at least 60 percent of Ohios Senate (20 of 33 senators) and 60 percent of Ohios House (60 of 99 representatives) must agree to place on the ballot amendments the legislature proposes. The speaker made a fair point. Still, Republicans have held 20 or more Senate seats since 1991, 60 or more House seats since 2013. Theyll hold 61 House seats in January. True, in a divided House GOP caucus, it may be tricky to nail down the 60th vote for a constitutional amendment. But isnt that what pork-barrel projects are for? Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-999-4689 Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. Gov. John Kasich should still veto Amended Substitute House Bill 228, the gun law awaiting his action, because of the way it broadens the state's ability to pre-empt local gun regulations and further erodes Ohio communities' home rule rights. The law adds a prohibition against "any ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action or any threat of citation, prosecution, or other legal process" to the list of ways in which localities could be found in violation of state law in trying to regulate gun ownership, sales, storage or transport. It also opens the door far wider to expensive civil claims against any municipality that adopts such rules or practices. But one of the reasons we cited for opposing the bill in an editorial this week was erroneous: While HB 228 if enacted would shift the burden of proof in Ohio to prosecutors when self-defense is claimed, that would not make Ohio an outlier among the 50 states. Quite the reverse: Ohio appears to be the only state that still hews to old common law standards by putting the burden on defendants who raise affirmative self-defense claims to show by a preponderance of the evidence that they were acting in self-defense. The constitutionality of Ohio's affirmative self-defense requirement was upheld in a 5-4 1987 U.S. Supreme Court decision that noted that prosecutors under Ohio law still must prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, in opposing HB 228, notes that the bill's advocates don't cite any cases where the current law has led to a miscarriage of justice, calling it a solution in search of a problem. But dissenters in the U.S. Supreme Court case noted that having a secondary burden of proof for a defendant in a gun case could potentially muddy the waters for jurors regarding who has to prove what. And defense lawyers have long argued that Ohio should align its self-defense requirements with that of most if not all other states. At a minimum, this portion of the bill is not as we characterized it, for which we are deeply sorry. That mistake aside, HB 228 still deserves a veto, for the way it inappropriately widens the state's ability to interfere with the ability of localities to engage in any practice that might be seen as impinging on gun rights -- and in how it seeks to use civil litigation as a cudgel against Ohio cities. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. * Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the "Follow" option at the top of the comments, & look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. An exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) opened in Tbilisi. The scientific conference entitled The First Secular Parliamentary Republic of the East: Heritage and Values" was also held in the Georgian capital. Then an official reception took place. The event organizers are the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia. Before the conference, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Georgia Dursun Hasanov and other officials visited the monument to the national Azerbaijani leader in Heydar Aliyev Park, located in the center of the capital of Georgia. Then the delegates visited the graves of the founders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in the Muslim cemetery. Addressing the conference, Hasanov spoke about the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which are being implemented both in Azerbaijan and abroad under the leadership of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. He noted that the Foundation pays particular attention to the development of cultural relations with Georgia, and carries out a complex of scientific and cultural events in this republic. Speaking about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador stressed that Georgia supports a just and based on the international law solution of the conflict, AzerTag reports. The diplomat also focused on the fact that Armenia should stop its aggressive policies and recognize the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas are the territories of Azerbaijan. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Levan Kharatishvili spoke about the high level of development that Azerbaijan has reached. He also stressed that the relations between the two countries are successfully developing in all spheres, including in the field of science and education. In conclusion, Kharatishvili, on behalf of the leadership and staff of the ministry represented by him, congratulated the Azerbaijani people on the 100th anniversary of the ADR creation. The consultant to the director of the Heydar Aliyev Center, Rashad Karimov, stressed that due to the successful policy of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan not only preserved but also strengthened its independence. In his speech, Karimov also conducted a comparative analysis of modern Azerbaijan and the ADR. The leading researcher at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Ph.D. Lamia Gafarzade, noted the successes achieved by the ADR in the fields of culture and education, as well as the achievement of equality of citizens of the country. The scientist recalled the national composition of the parliament of the ADR, as well as its true democracy. An official reception was held after the conference. Speaking at the reception, Hasanov told the story of the creation of the first democratic republic in the Muslim East, and the successes achieved during the period of its activity. The diplomat drew attention to the fact that during just 23 months of existence, the Republic achieved significant success, established diplomatic relations with the leading countries of the world, and also for the first time granted women the right to vote. Then Hasanov drew attention to the fact that the republic, which restored its independence in 1991, is now recognized in the world as a developing democratic state, pursuing a successful domestic and foreign policy. Pessimism among investors shouldn't deter people from carefully buying shares of high-quality companies that have endured massive declines, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Friday after a in the stock market. On Thursday, survey results from the American Association of Individual Investors pessimism among retail investors was at its worst in some 5 years, a symptom of the market's volatility in recent months. But Cramer, a longtime stock-picker whose mantra is "there's always a bull market somewhere," urged investors "to think a little more long-term." That means investors have to be exceedingly careful and choose their buys wisely, the "Mad Money" host said, choosing the stocks of , and to illustrate his point. "If you bought any of those stocks yesterday, you'd say, 'Wow, that had to have been the worst financial decision I've ever made,'" he said after all three stocks closed dramatically lower. "Adobe and Costco must've had shortfalls. [...] about the company knowing about asbestos in talc? Dreadful." But stock-pickers who are open to a wider frame of reference for these stocks say, several months rather than several weeks might have an easier time rationalizing why these stocks look "cheap" here, Cramer explained. "In reality, ... Adobe reported a terrific quarter, but the stock had already run up dramatically. Same with Costco. People just assumed the numbers were bad, though, because the stock went down. There was no rigor to the process at all. In short, Adobe and Costco are broken stocks, but they're not broken companies," he said. Click here to read more. Cramer's game plan: Fed in focus, bear-market bargains Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress," at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2018. Mary F. Calvert | Reuters The stock market's may not be over, but steel-stomached investors might still find some worthwhile stocks to buy if they're careful and know where to look, Cramer said Friday. "[This] is a treacherous market. It is a mean market. It is an angry market. It reacts horribly to even the slightest bit of troublesome news. It doesn't even like good news. We now sit at the lowest level since April and I don't think we're done with the decline," he warned after the plunged nearly 500 points. However, "there are bargains being created. You've just got to know where to look for them. The problem is there are just not enough to do the job" of reversing the market's bearish moves, Cramer said. Now, Wall Street is approaching a "peculiar junction" ahead of meeting next week, at which the central bank's leadership is widely expected to raise interest rates by a quarter-point, Cramer said. Reiterating about a lot of economic indicators sending conflicting signals, Cramer suggested that Fed Chair Jerome Powell taking a data-dependent, wait-and-see approach instead of hiking rates again. "The smartest thing Jerome Powell could do here would be to wait another month or two to see which of these indicators are telling the truth, ... especially when we know that there will be tens of thousands of layoffs in retail alone a month from now," he said. "Unfortunately, Powell wedded himself to a rate hike this month and now he can't back down, not without making the Fed look toothless." With that in mind, Cramer turned to his game plan for the week ahead. Click here to see the full rundown. Starbucks, Uber CEOs talk company culture Kevin Johnson, chief executive officer of Starbucks Corp., speaks during a media preview day at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in New York. Mark Abramson | Bloomberg | Getty Images The between coffee giant and Uber's delivery division, Uber Eats, came around in part because of Uber's continued efforts to improve its culture, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told CNBC on Friday. In a joint "Mad Money" interview with Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson, Khosrowshahi told Cramer that "culture work is never done." Still, he said, he believes Uber is in a stronger position now than last year, when Uber's founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick amid about widespread throughout the company and its upper ranks. When Khosrowshahi took over, he vowed to repair the company's Click here to read more about their interview. Okta CEO on competing with Microsoft: Value in 'neutrality' Todd McKinnon, CEO, Okta Olivia Michael | CNBC Cloud-based identity protection company Okta competes with similar offerings from giants like Microsoft with its "neutrality," the company's co-founder, Chairman and CEO Todd McKinnon told Cramer in a Friday interview. "The big difference between us and a company like Microsoft is we don't have a particular platform that we're trying to connect users to," McKinnon said. "We want to connect users to every technology that's the best for them, whether it's Salesforce or Workday or Amazon Web Services or Google or Office 365. So our value to customers is about neutrality." That enables Okta, which reported better-than-expected earnings results earlier this month, to help new clients like privately-held grocery chain Albertsons run an online platform for its customers to redeem coupons, the CEO said. Click here to learn more about what Okta does and watch McKinnon's full interview. Centene CEO on bipartisan benefits Michael F. Neidorff, CEO of Centene. Adam Jeffery | CNBC Health insurance giant Centene may have been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the 2018 midterm elections, in which Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives and brought some balance back to Congress. Chairman and CEO Michael Neidorff supported that idea in a Friday interview with Cramer after Centene's analyst day, saying that "everybody" in a bipartisan panel he hosted "was saying we're in the best position for anything that's going to happen, and we're talking on both sides of the aisle." A market leader in terms of revenue in the four largest Medicaid-affiliated states California, Texas, New York and Florida Centene has a unique look into the state of U.S. health care. Today, it's "saving the states a lot of money" while "improving the outcomes" for patients, Neidorff said. Click here to watch his full interview. Lightning round: Bear market strategies Pessimism among investors shouldn't deter people from carefully buying shares of high-quality companies that have endured massive declines, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Friday after a widespread sell-off in the stock market. On Thursday, survey results from the American Association of Individual Investors showed that pessimism among retail investors was at its worst in some 5 years, a symptom of the market's volatility in recent months. But Cramer, a longtime stock-picker whose mantra is "there's always a bull market somewhere," urged investors "to think a little more long-term." "We still have plenty of companies that are doing well and their stocks actually do get cheaper as they go lower," he said on "Mad Money." "Unfortunately, this is one of those times where you enter the house of pain the moment you buy a stock." That means investors have to be exceedingly careful and choose their buys wisely, Cramer said, choosing the stocks of Adobe, Costco and Johnson & Johnson to illustrate his point. "If you bought any of those stocks yesterday, you'd say, 'Wow, that had to have been the worst financial decision I've ever made,'" he said after all three stocks closed dramatically lower. "Adobe and Costco must've had shortfalls. [...] The J&J story about the company knowing about asbestos in talc? Dreadful." But stock-pickers who are open to a wider frame of reference for these stocks say, several months rather than several weeks might have an easier time rationalizing why these stocks look "cheap" here, Cramer explained. "In reality, ... Adobe reported a terrific quarter, but the stock had already run up dramatically. Same with Costco. People just assumed the numbers were bad, though, because the stock went down. There was no rigor to the process at all. In short, Adobe and Costco are broken stocks, but they're not broken companies," he said. The "Mad Money" host even had a cautiously positive outlook for Johnson & Johnson, which he said would "come out OK," though "not at first." All in all, negative sentiment shouldn't deter investors from buying into shares of top-notch companies, as long as they've done their homework and are sure the pain is unwarranted, argued the "Mad Money" host. "Sentiment is very negative here. Historically, that's made for some good buys, for some excellent opportunities, but this time might be different," he noted. "That said, even if the market keeps getting clobbered, some individual stocks have come down so far, so fast, that they're now getting too cheap to ignore. It's just that, right now, there aren't very many of them." Combination of file photos showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mandel Ngan, Nicolas Asfouri | AFP | Getty Images This much is clear as 2018 screeches toward a close: President Trump's foreign policy has shredded the status quo on a range of issues, from global trade and transatlantic relations to Iran and North Korea. Yet it is the Trump administration's tough turn on China, captured dramatically by Vice President Mike Pence's landmark speech at the Hudson Institute in October, that will have the most lasting global consequence, altering the terms of the epochal contest of our times. Global markets have underestimated the stakes, largely responding to momentary events Trump tariff tweets and tentative trade truces. They should instead be banking in the generational nature of this drama, and its potential impact on debt, currency, tech and equity markets of all sorts. And on global peace and prosperity. It isn't that individual events lack importance. Whether or not President Trump and President Xi can reach a trade deal that will satisfy both sides by their deadline of March 1 will be a signal of whether the two sides can negotiate modi vivendi on tough matters. However, the recent arrest in Canada of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou may be the more important indicator in the accelerating tech arms race. Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co., leaves her home under the supervision of security in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Ben Nelms | Bloomberg | Getty Images This is a struggle that will play out for years to come, with unpredictable outcomes, across security, trade, investment and cyber domains. The most significant test, however, and one that could determine who takes the global commanding heights, will be over matters such as 5G communication, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Think in terms of the first years of the Cold War from 1945, a competition that wasn't determined until four-and-a-half decades later, yet super-charged by the economic and technological capabilities of a far more robust and resourceful rival. This was already signaled in a memo leaked earlier this year to Axios, written by a National Security Council official that underscored the dangers posed by Huawei's rise to become the world's most significant supplier of next generation mobile communications gear. "We are losing," the memo read, noting that whoever leads in this race "will have a tremendous advantage toward commanding the heights of the information domain." U.S. leaders have come late to the recognition of the stakes and the evolving Chinese ambition to displace Washington as the dominant global player and rule-setter. For all the praise the Trump administration deserves for more clearly calling out and answering China's unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft and underlying intentions, President Trump began his term with an "own goal" for which he's still suffering. Sacrificing the TPP By pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he sacrificed the best and earliest chance he had galvanize allies around a 12-country trade and investment agreement that could have compelled China to play more by its rules. Ongoing trade tensions with Europe have been a second blow. If the Cold War taught us anything, it was that such historic moments aren't won without sturdy and purposeful coalitions and alliances. That is even more true now than it was then. This new competition with China will be far more challenging than the struggle with the Soviet Union -- and far more meaningful for markets and the global economy for three reasons. First, Chinese and the United States economies are far more integrated bilaterally than was ever the case with the Soviet Union, with whom there was only limited economic interaction. U.S.-China trade in goods remains the largest bilateral relationship in the world. Second, the global economy's crisscrossing trade, financial and investment agreements rest more heavily on these two leading players than any others. So, their disputes and agreements have almost immediate impact on prices and markets elsewhere. Finally, while the Cold War struggle focused heavily on nuclear weapons, amassed militaries and opposing ideologies, today's emerging confrontation is being played out primarily on economic and technological grounds. It is less likely to be settled militarily, but as with the Cold War the winner can set the terms for the future. Kevin Michael Rudd, president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former prime minister of Australia (2007-2010, 2013). Valery Sharifulin | TASS | Getty Images "We seem to be walking into another war," said former Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd in a must-read San Francisco speech on the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I. "Beginning with a trade war, developing into an investment war, before metastasizing into a new 'technology war' as China and the United States now struggle to secure the commanding heights of the new technologies that will either drive, or destroy, the economies of the 21st Century." Speaking to a recent, high-level European visitor, President Xi Jinping recounted a history of China falling far behind major countries of the West during three, previous industrial revolutions: water and steam-powered mechanization; electricity-powered mass production; and digital and information powered automated production. President Xi made clear to this visitor that China wouldn't be left behind again, but instead make it a national purpose to lead a machine-learning, data-driven Fourth Industrial Revolution powered by the fusion and acceleration of all technologies that have come before it, in the visible and virtual space. China's view of the technological arms race as the central battleground for the future is growing clearer every day, and the Huawei arrest and the storm of controversy around it must be seen in that light. During a recent speech at the National Cybersecurity and Informatization Work Conference, Xi Jinping reiterated the importance of cybersecurity to national security, economic and social stability. Competition collision course The new partnership between coffee giant Starbucks and Uber's delivery division, Uber Eats, came around in part because of Uber's continued efforts to improve its culture, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told CNBC on Friday. In a joint "Mad Money" interview with Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson, Khosrowshahi told CNBC's Jim Cramer that "culture work is never done." Still, he said, he believes Uber is in a stronger position now than last year, when Uber's founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick resigned amid ongoing revelations about widespread problematic behavior throughout the company and its upper ranks. When Khosrowshahi took over, he vowed to repair the company's "moral compass." "The fact is that some of the Uber culture was good in that it created an incredible company that grew extraordinarily fast [and] innovated very quickly," Khosrowshahi, former CEO of Expedia, told Cramer. "But I think that what happens is success sometimes imprints faster than failure, and sometimes, when you succeed too fast, you don't take the time to kind of rebuild the frameworks from within." "Now, I think we're at a much better point in time. We get to have partners like Starbucks that are extraordinary partners that we can align with," the Uber chief continued. "The culture work is never done, but I'm much, much happier where we are today than where we were a year ago." Company cultures are top of mind for many investors and consumers at a time of moral reckoning around the world. For Uber, partnering with a company like Starbucks known for its high moral standards is a major win as the ride-hailing service readies itself for a potential initial public offering in 2019. That commitment to social responsibility is what makes Starbucks so successful in China despite flares in the trade dispute between the People's Republic and the United States, its CEO, Kevin Johnson, told Cramer from Starbucks' newest Roastery in downtown Manhattan. "We've always been a company that invests in our partners and takes care of our partners," Johnson said, referring to his 250,000-plus employees around the world. "As we talked to our Starbucks partners in China, one of the things that they said was important to them was being able to care for their aging parents," the CEO said. "So we created a completely new form of insurance, which is parental illness insurance to help with catastrophic illness of parents. And now our partners have that ability to take care of their parents. It really is a family-oriented culture." Starbucks shares shed 2.35 percent on Friday amid marketwide weakness, settling at $65.34. At its investor meeting on Thursday, Starbucks lowered its long-term earnings forecast, but highlighted some of what management saw as its more promising growth strategies, including its delivery partnerships with Uber Eats in the U.S. and Alibaba in China. To read the transcript from Johnson and Khosrowshahi's complementary interview, aired on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Friday, click here. An insurance agent from Sunshine Life and Health Advisors, speaks with a customer as she shops for insurance under the Affordable Care Act at a store setup in the Mall of Americas on November 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. A federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, potentially threatening health-care coverage for millions of Americans and setting up a new legal showdown over former President Barack Obama's signature policy initiative. U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor of Texas issued the decision, declaring that key portions of the legislation were inconsistent with the Constitution. O'Connor's ruling argued that the health-care law can not stand on its own since Congress last December repealed the individual mandate, which imposed a tax penalty on consumers who went uninsured. The mandate, which remains in effect for 2018, was a key part of ACA legislation, otherwise known as Obamacare. The mandate is the greater of $695 person per adult, or 2.5 percent of household income. The lawsuit was backed by the Trump administration, and is likely to be appealed which could mean the legislation will heard anew by the Supreme Court, which upheld Obamacare in a narrowly divided 2012 ruling. Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma told reporters earlier this month that CMS has a plan to protect pre-existing conditions if the law is struck down. A CMS spokesperson late Friday told CNBC, "The recent federal court decision is still moving through the courts, and the exchanges are still open for business and we will continue with open enrollment. There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan." The ruling came hours before the ACA's final open enrollment day to get health coverage next year. Sign-ups on the federal health insurance marketplace have been low this season, tumbling 11.7 percent from the same time last year, according to the latest figures from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. While President Donald Trump was previously unable to repeal Obamacare, he was able to dismantle key parts of it that several health policy researchers are blaming for much of the drop in enrollment this year. He applauded the judge's ruling in a tweet late Friday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement praising the ruling. "Obamacare has been struck down by a highly respected judge. The judge's decision vindicates President Trump's position that Obamacare is unconstitutional." Democratic California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who led a group states in intervening to defend Obamacare, called the decision "an assault on 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the ACA's consumer protections for healthcare." The American Medical Association called the ruling "an unfortunate step backward for our health system" and warned the decision could "destabilize health insurance coverage." "No one wants to go back to the days of 20 percent of the population uninsured and fewer patient protections, but this decision will move us in that direction," AMA president Barbara L. McAneny said in a statement. Larry Levitt, senior vice president for Health Reform at the Kaiser Family Foundation said the ACA is still in effect, "so this court case should certainly not discourage people from signing up for insurance." Andy Slavitt, a former CMS administrator under the Obama administration, said the ruling is a political statement, noting that the ruling does not include an injunction. "This feels like picking a scab the American public wants healed," Slavitt said. "The most important thing is nothing changes for consumers," in the short term he said. "This (case) is to going to go on and likely drag on for a couple of years." --CNBC's Bertha Coombs contributed to this report. The U.S.-Mexico border stretches 1,954 miles. About 700 of those miles have some sort of barricade or fence. The rest of the border is rugged landscapes and natural barriers like the Rio Grande River. While the debate over Donald Trump's proposed wall continues, government money is flowing, and tech companies are looking to cash in. Companies like Quanergy and Anduril are working on electronic border solutions that would be more effective and cheaper for taxpayers than building a physical wall. CNBC traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border town of Del Rio, Texas to see a prototype of a virtual wall, and also found out why locals in the area would rather electronic surveillance over a physical barrier. President Donald Trump talks to the media on the South Lawn of the White House, December 8, 2018. President Donald Trump late Friday applauded a federal judge's ruling in Texas that ruled former President Barack Obama's signature health-care law was unconstitutional, and called on Congress to replace the current mandate with a new bill. U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor of Texas issued the decision, declaring that key portions of the legislation were inconsistent with the Constitution. O'Connor's ruling argued that the health-care law can not stand on its own since Congress last December repealed the individual mandate, which imposed a tax penalty on consumers who went uninsured. Trump, who has long opposed Obamacare and failed to rally the GOP behind an effort in 2017 to repeal and replace it cheered the Texas decision. In response to the ruling, the president urged Congress in a tweet to pass a new "strong" health-care law that provides "great health-care and protects pre-existing conditions." As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done! Although a repeal and replace effort failed in the Senate, Trump was able to dismantle key parts of the law, and several health policy researchers have blamed his actions for much of the drop in enrollment this year. Sign-ups on the federal health insurance marketplace have been low this season, tumbling 11.7 percent from the same time last year, according to the latest figures from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Democratic California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who led a group states in intervening to defend Obamacare, called the decision "an assault on 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the ACA's consumer protections for healthcare." Iran called out its regional rival Saudi Arabia in response to accusations that Tehran is a leading state sponsor of terror, accusing Riyadh and the United States of fomenting 'dangerous escalations' in the Middle East. Speaking to CNBC's Hadley Gamble at the Doha Forum in Qatar, Iranian foreign Minister Javad Zarif rejected the label of the world's top sponsor of terrorism ascribed to it by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. "I think actions speak much louder than words; what is happening in our region, now people are witnessing the source of instability in region, be it in Yemen, be it elsewhere," the minister said. "It's the wrong policies that are being followed, not only by Saudi Arabia but by its allies in the West who have given it a blank check to continue to make these very dangerous escalations in the region," Zarif added. Zarif's hit at Saudi Arabia was unsurprising, given the recent years of escalation between the Shia and Sunni powerhouses grappling for greater influence in the Middle East. His comments referred to the four-year long civil war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led bombing campaign has contributed to thousands of deaths, economic collapse and what the U.N. has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. For their part, the Saudis have blamed Yemen's Houthi rebels, who receive support from Tehran. Kuwait maintains an important role in reuniting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amid the ongoing blockade of Qatar, Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani said Saturday. "The (Kuwait) Emir has had a big leadership role in calming the situation which is highly appreciated by Qatar. We continue to count on the role of Kuwait and on the countries in the region to bring it back together," the minister told attendees at the annual Doha Forum. Relations between the oil-rich states of the GCC have been fraught since Saudi Arabia, joined by Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, imposed an economic and diplomatic blockade on Qatar in 2017. Riyadh and its allies accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which Doha consistently denies. Kuwait, however, did not take part in the blockade. Its government maintains smooth relations with Doha and has made several attempts to mediate between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors to help quell the conflict thus far to no avail. "Kuwait has shown willingness to play a diplomatic role in some of the most complex contexts in the region including Qatar and Yemen," Cinzia Bianco, GCC analyst at London-based Gulf State Analytics, told CNBC earlier this month. On December 3, Qatar announced its planned departure from OPEC, the 15-member cartel of oil-exporting countries whose largest producer is Saudi Arabia. Qatar and the Saudi-led bloc both blame one another for preventing a solution from being reached. "We believe that we are more relevant as a bloc for those countries than we are separate and fragmented," the minister added. Qatar saw foreign deposits in its commercial banks drop by $13 billion in the six months following the blockade; it's now regained about $9 billion of that, according to Fitch ratings. Analysts at the ratings agency say the blockade forced Qatar to diversify its revenue sources, ultimately making it more self-sufficient. A Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives with Nancy Pelosi at its helm isn't as bad for the Trump administration as it might sound, according to former White House press secretary Sean Spicer. Speaking to CNBC on Saturday, he described what he felt would galvanize Republicans to throw more support behind the president. "Politically this does benefit the president," Spicer told CNBC's Hadley Gamble at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar. "Obviously as a Republican I was sad to lose the House, but the reality is that this gives us something to run against." In late November, the House Democratic caucus voted 203 to 32 to nominate Pelosi as Speaker of the House, a position she first held from 2007 to 2011. Over the California native's tenure as both House minority leader and Speaker, many have come to see her as a divisive lightning rod within the party. Several members of Pelosi's caucus pledged not to support her latest bid. Pelosi still needs to win the support of more that a dozen Democratic dissenters before a January 3 floor vote where she'll need to win the majority of the whole House not just Democrats. Republicans frequently paint Pelosi as a top adversary of their agenda and a boogeyman of sorts, and often attaching their Democratic opponents to her as a campaign tactic. President Donald Trump has accused the lawmaker as having an "extreme job-killing agenda", among other things. "This really juxtaposes that idea of the binary choice that exists within elections," Spicer said. "If you want the agenda that delivered 3-plus percent economic growth quarter after quarter, lower unemployment, the take down of the regulatory state, then you need to vote Republican and for the president's policies to continue," he told CNBC. "I think Nancy Pelosi is going to show the American people what it's all about, which is investigation after investigation and a lot more big government that won't go anywhere," the former Trump administration official added. The protest actions in four large cities of Georgia will be held by the opposition association Strength in Unity, on the day of the inauguration of the 5th Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, the representative of the association, one of the leaders of the former ruling United National Movement Party, Zaal Udumashvili reported. "There will be a large-scale rally, and we will protest against the fact that the authorities deprived the citizens of Georgia right for elections, he said. According to him, the opposition will hold actions not only in Telavi, where the inauguration will take place but also in Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Batumi. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. 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 The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has detained a citizen of Russia for a drug crime in Georgia, InterPressNews reported. As the Ministry told InterPressNews, G.B. (DoB 1994) was detained in Zhinvali for illegal purchase and keeping of narcotic drugs. The police seized half a kilogram narcotic drug alpha-PVP as an evidence. He planned to sell drugs via the Internet. An investigation is underway under Article 260, Provision I of Criminal Code of Georgia, involving illegal purchase and keeping of narcotic drugs. Brexit and Ireland: The Dangers, the Opportunities, and the Inside Story of the Irish Response by Tony Connelly Boris Johnson expressed enthusiasm for this book when interviewed the other day by ConHome, though I have just listened to the tape again, and find he must have done so after I turned it off. We were discussing how much better prepared ministers and officials in Dublin were for Brexit than their opposite numbers in London. Connelly, who lives in Brussels and has been reporting on Europe for RTE for the last 17 years, unfortunately provides ample evidence for this view. The Irish knew the referendum held on 23rd June 2016 could go either way and prepared accordingly. I recall hearing a lucid and persuasive speech by Dan Mulhall, then Irish Ambassador in London, now their man in Washington, at an Irish Embassy reception, in which he outlined the devastating effects which Brexit could have not only on the Irish economy, but on relations between the Republic and the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. It was plain then that there was a conservative, or Burkean, case for remaining in the EU, as an imperfect accretion of laws and customs which although impossible to defend in strict democratic theory, were in some ways well adapted to the circumstances of Irish and British politics. At the start of Connellys account, the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, tries to warn David Cameron that referendums are different to general elections. People dont fear the consequences of referenda in the same way they fear the consequences of a general election. We have some experience of this kind of thing. Dublin had a few years before held a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in order to undo the rejection of it in the first. Micheal Martin, the Leader of Fianna Fail, who ran the campaign in the second referendum, says they learned a lot from their exhaustive research into what went wrong first time round, and realised the message now had to be: Weve heard you, weve listened to you, weve done the changes because of your message. It is not clear the advocates of a second referendum on this side of the Irish Sea have realised they need a message like that. If they are not careful, they will be found to be telling the British people, We have not listened to you, and consider you to be a lot of ignorant fools who had better now do exactly as we tell you. After the British voted for Brexit, Irish ministers became frustrated by jockeying in London between Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis, and the consequent inability to determine the British Governments position: Worse than the jockeying was the fact that they had different messages. That was of no use to us. We were trying to establish what exactly they wanted. There had been no preparatory analysis in London of the problems Brexit would pose and the choices which would need to be made. Nor did Irish leaders find, when they met Theresa May, that she was communicative. She was very, very cautious, as an Irish official puts it. At the outset, the Irish expected to solve some difficulties through bilateral talks with the British Government, and others by negotiating as part of the EU 27 with London. But by the end of 2016, as Connelly relates, The Irish government was realising that if Irish and European Commission officials were working away diligently, scoping out technical solutions, looking at ways of getting around customs checks and requirements regarding animal health, food safety and rules of origin as a way to soften the Irish border, then the main beneficiary was the UK. Having come to this realisation, the Irish undertook a subtle distancing from London. It began at the end of 2016 and was increasingly discernible in the first part of 2017. The Irish stopped trying to solve the British Governments problems, notably over the Northern Ireland border, and instead aligned themselves completely with the EU 27. As Connelly puts it, There would be two steps: fully apprising the EU of the complexities of the Northern Ireland peace process, and then turning the Irish position into the European position. Michel Barnier already has considerable experience of the complexities of Northern Ireland politics, for as an EU Commissioner he oversaw between 1999 and 2004 the spending of 531 million euros in EU funding for Northern Ireland under the PEACE II programme, as well as tens of millions of euros in regional and structural payments. The EU became a kind of imperial power (not a word used by Connelly), more trusted, or at least more accepted, because it was more remote, and seemed therefore more neutral. Barnier sees himself as a benevolent proconsul: He spoke fondly about the 13 million euro Peace Bridge in Derry, part funded by Brussels. The Irish are brilliant at manipulating the imperial power, while the British, having quite recently been an imperial power themselves, are enraged by its claim of ultimate authority, and have voted to liberate themselves. How one wishes the late lamented T.E.Utley, blind seer of The Daily Telegraph, could bring his wisdom to bear on these paradoxes. Who now in the London press has any understanding of, let alone sympathy with, Ulster Unionism in its various manifestations? In Brussels, the Irish lobbied Barniers Task Force intensively. As a source tells Connelly, The Irish had privileged access For other stakeholders the criteria had to be that it was a pan-European association The Irish came well prepared, and with a wish-list. They were impressively well prepared A number of them could have worked for the Task Force straight away. The Irish had done their homework, and knew what they wanted. The British had not done their homework, appeared to want to have their cake and eat it, and found themselves steered towards the major problem which emerged in November 2017, when they were told that in order to avoid a hard border, Northern Ireland will have to remain de facto inside the single market and the customs union. Connellys book is almost 400 pages long, first appeared in 2017 and was updated in May this year. It contains some vivid reporting about the threat posed by Brexit to the Irish beef, lamb, milk, cheese, fish, mushroom, duck and racing industries. For the general reader, it contains too much. From September 2017, gruelling sessions were held in Brussels to examine how the 142 different dimensions to North-South co-operation on the island of Ireland relate, if at all, to EU law. Even to read about this stuff is quite gruelling. As a reporter, one has to get to grips with at least some of the detail, then cultivate people who are prepared to tell one what it all means, and Connelly clearly has an admirable range of Irish and Brussels sources. For the British reader, it is painful to be reminded at such length that under Mays insultingly opaque leadership, our Government has never worked out how to operate as a team, for a long time did not get to grips with the detail, and then did not realise what it meant, or at least refused to be candid about what it meant, until very late in the day, and is in many ways not being candid now. The trouble with not being candid with the wider world is that there is then a temptation not even to be candid with oneself. David Snoxell is Co-ordinator of the Chagos Islands (BIOT) All-Party Parliamentary Group. Before Mauritian independence in 1968, the UK detached the Chagos Archipelago in 1965 to create a new colony, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), for the construction of a US military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia. The UK promised to return the territory to Mauritius when no longer required. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher told Parliament that sovereignty would revert to Mauritius when the islands were no longer needed for defence purposes. That commitment has been repeated by successive governments. In 1968-73 the Chagos Islanders were deported to Mauritius and Seychelles, although they could have remained on the 54 Outer Islands which have never been required for defence facilities. It is 45 years since the last of the Chagossians living in the British Indian Ocean Territory were deported, 42 years since the issue was first raised in Parliament, 20 years since the most recent litigation began, 18 years since the High Court re-instated the right of abode, 14 years since the Foreign Secretary used the Royal Prerogative to overrule that decision and 10 years since the Chagos Islands (BIOT) All-Party Parliamentary Group was established. Since my last piece in ConservativeHome in December 2017 a resolution of the UN General Assembly in June 2017 referred the issue of decolonisation and Chagossian resettlement to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). I have been dealing with Chagos since 1995 and never expected it to reach the ICJ. I attended the hearings in The Hague, 3-6 September. The Mauritian team, led by Sir Anerood Jugnuath QC, PC, former Prime Minister and President, supported by Philippe Sands QC, spoke with passion and vigour, the UK team led by Robert Buckland QC, the Solicitor General, with detached forensic analysis. But how could the UK team do otherwise? Their unenviable task was to defend the UKs conduct of 53 years, which continues to violate the human rights of the Chagossians and avoid a diplomatic resolution of the sovereignty question. Mauritius and the UK were each allocated three hours on the first day; 22 states then made oral submissions followed by the African Union, representing 55 member states. The UK was supported by the US, Israel, and Australia, and on the jurisdictional point by Germany. All other states supported Mauritius. The UK and its supporters argued from technical legal grounds, leaving Mauritius and the Chagossians occupying the ethical high ground. A Chagossian contingent was part of the Mauritian delegation. None spoke but the Court was shown a moving video of Marie Liseby Elise, who was present, describing her experience of being deported from Peros Banhos (Outer Islands) in 1973 and the death of her baby as a result. Both the UK and US expressed sympathy with the Chagossians, the US referring to their sufferings and the UK to their shameful and wrong treatment. As the new Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC, has been a member of the APPG since 2008 and Standing Counsel for Mauritius, the UK was represented by the Solicitor General. The UK arguments were predicated on four assertions: no legal right to self-determination existed in 1965 or in 1968; the people of Mauritius had repeatedly consented to detachment (freely expressed will of the people in UN language); territorial integrity did not exist as a concept for non-self governing territories at that time; and the Mauritian authorities were not put under duress to agree to detachment. These historical arguments were strongly contested by Mauritius and her allies. It was unfortunate that in addressing the Court, one UK lawyer noted that it was being asked to form an Opinion in the absence of the witnesses to the key meetings, as they have long since died. He was standing near the only surviving politician who was at the 1965 Lancaster House Constitutional Conference, a point Sir Anerood had made in his opening address. The UK proposition that the people gave their consent is preposterous. In 1965 few Mauritians knew about the Chagos Archipelago. There was no referendum or plebiscite and Chagossians were neither consulted nor consented. The 1967 Mauritian general election was about forthcoming independence and economic issues. And yet the UK legal team claimed that The UK sought and obtained consent in multiple steps, with time for reflection and consultation by the people of Mauritius and their representatives. On duress the UK cited several comments by Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam, the then Chief Minister, in support of its claim. No mention was made of what he later told the 1982 Select Committee of the National Assembly that the prime reason he had accepted the excision was that he felt he had no legal instrument to prohibit the UK Government from exercising the powers conferred upon it by the Colonial Boundaries Act 1895, which powers could not be resisted even by India when the partition of that country took place before its independence. The Court could decide that it does not have jurisdiction to give an Advisory Opinion. If it gives one I would expect the APPG to mount pressure in Parliament to ensure that the Government respects it. As a founding member of the ICJ and strong advocate of the rule of international law it is unlikely that the UK would ignore an Advisory Opinion. A decision is expected before the end of March 2019. Whatever the legal outcome the profile of Chagos and the Chagossians has been raised to the international level and is back on the UN agenda after 52 years. At its 70th meeting on 10 October the APPG agreed proposals for breaking the political impasse which it hoped the Foreign Office would consider in anticipation of an Advisory Opinion. A judicial review of the Governments decision in November 2016 not to restore the right of abode and allow resettlement is being heard in the High Court, commencing 10 December. This will be the seventh case which Governments have contested since 1999. Had they stood by Robin Cooks decision in 2000 to accept the High Court judgment much of this costly litigation could have been avoided. At a time when the UKs standing and future in the world is uncertain an ICJ Opinion offers a diplomatic way forward with the potential for compromise and negotiation. Esther McVey is a former Work and Pensions Secretary, and is MP for Tatton. Resigning from Cabinet is often described as one of the most difficult decisions that a politician can make, but for me it was entirely logical. From the outset, it was clear that the Withdrawal Agreement failed to honour the outcome of the EU referendum, secure our long-term economic independence and take full advantage of the UK leaving the constraints of the EU. How could I remain in the Cabinet knowing that? I could not, hand on heart, sign up to a deal that sells the UK short. So keeping my job paled into insignificance compared to the enormity of the effects that this bad deal will have on the future prosperity of our country. Its effects will last far longer than any of our careers; it will shape the UKs future for generations to come. Concerns about the agreement around the Cabinet table were palpable, and the legal advice from Geoffrey Cox was damning. This was the one chance that the Cabinet had to avert the UK accepting a bad deal. But when I tried to focus these concerns by calling for a vote to see if this deal did indeed have the agreement of Cabinet, opposition crumbled and my colleagues fell silent. In politics, trust is paramount. Once it is lost you cannot get it back. Leaving the EU on the terms set out in the Withdrawal Agreement would see us lose public trust on the biggest issue of our age. And we were risking that trust on an agreement which had zero chance of passing a vote in the Commons. Even now, I find it hard to believe that my colleagues could not see that this deal was doomed from the outset. Since I left the Cabinet, I have watched with disbelief as events have unfolded like everyone else. The attempts to sell this fundamentally bad deal through a full Ministerial tour and PR campaign actually saw opposition harden. The Government was left with no option this week but to pull the meaningful vote to avoid a defeat of historic proportions. In her statement on the delay to the vote, the Prime Minister spoke of the need to provide reassurances on the backstop for the Northern Irish Border. This was a major misreading of the concerns which I and many others have over the backstop and of the deal which will see us hand over 39 billion with zero guarantees over a future trade agreement. The Prime Minister has now won a confidence vote of Parliamentary colleagues, but it is clear there are significant concerns over what remains a bad deal for the UK. However, rather than using this moment to reassess the Governments approach to the terms of our exit, the Prime Minister continues to talk about seeking further reassurances. Mere reassurances fall far short of addressing what is wrong with this deal. We need fundamental changes, including to the legally binding agreement. The Prime Minister must now do what she should have done when it was clear that the deal she presented to Cabinet did not honour the outcome of the referendum, failed to secure our long term economic independence and risked missing the huge opportunities of leaving the constraints of the European Union. She must use the clear domestic concerns about the agreement to push for two fundamental changes That the backstop is ultimately unacceptable and must be removed and, That the 39 billion must be linked to a future trade agreement. The clock is ticking, so we simply do not have the time to pretend that, with a little bit of tinkering, this fundamentally bad deal can be made acceptable to the British people. The more time we waste on an agreement which cannot meet the wishes of both sides, the more likely it is that we will default to an abrupt departure at the end of March. t is better to focus our time, resources and energy on preparing a planned Brexit now and to come up with a clear plan for what will follow. To continue with a charade that tweaking here and there and tacking on assurances will somehow make this flawed agreement better risks the Government failing properly to prepare for what comes next. With little over three months remaining, we must pursue these two conditions with the EU and, if they are rejected, then we must accept that it has not been possible to secure a deal which satisfies the interests of both the UK and the EU. In the event of this outcome, we must focus all our resources on securing an orderly exit from the EU. Moving to a planned Brexit should follow these recommendations to ensure that it is as orderly as possible in the time that we have available: Identify the pragmatic and tactical agreements based upon mutual interest which we can make with the EU and bi-laterally with individual member states to minimise disruption to both parties upon the UKs exit from the European Union. Put in place the contingency measures that we can begin to implement now, giving clarity to people and businesses. Immediately review all no deal planning conducted to date and scale up planning in key areas before 29 March to allow the UK to mitigate known areas of impact. Negotiate a no deal implementation period, like the one in place for a deal situation, and pay the EU our membership fee during that time (circa 10 billion a per year net). Identify investments in new systems, such as those in operation at the border which need to be implemented, scaled up or brought forward to support an orderly Brexit. Begin immediate discussions with the Republic of Ireland on the operation of an open border post-Brexit, since both the UK and the Republic have committed to no hard border even in the event of no deal. Start an immediate study of the policy changes needed to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the UK, including the reduction of burdensome regulations on business and, where required, divergence from the EU, while maintaining alignment in areas of national interest. Issue immediate reassurance to all EU nationals residing in the UK to remove any doubts over their future and rights once the UK has left the EU. Moving to a planned Brexit will allow us to reallocate the 39 billion to implement contingency measures, introduce new systems to ensure long term success and provide a cushion to those areas of the economy which need more time to adjust to the change. It will also allow us to move beyond the discussion over the flawed backstop arrangement and look for practical solutions for the Northern Irish Border. The EU has cynically used the backstop to leverage a deal which will allow them to keep the UK tied into their rules indefinitely. Shifting the focus to a planned Brexit would give a clear focus on the practical arrangements that authorities on both sides of the border need to take to keep the border open. The current Withdrawal Agreement does not fulfil our vote to leave the EU, is not in our economic interests and, ultimately, its inherent flaws mean that it increases the chances of the UK defaulting into an abrupt no deal Brexit. It is increasingly clear that an alternative approach is required. Some have suggested that Norway, Norway for now, Norway Plus or EFTA/EEA membership could present that alternative, yet this would keep us even more closely tied to the EU and would genuinely ensure that we remain in the EU in all but name. This is not delivering on the referendum and would destroy the publics faith in democracy. Without agreement from the EU that it is willing to remove the backstop and accept that the 39 billion payment must be linked to a future trade agreement, a planned and orderly Brexit as outlined above is the only option which prioritises our economic interests, is achievable within the time frame left and which actually delivers on the public vote to leave. The best way to broaden access at grammar schools is to build more of them Yesterdays Times carried a story about a campaign by Birmingham parents against proposals to lower admission standards to local grammar schools. The King Edward VI Academy Trust, which apparently runs six selective schools in the city, has unveiled proposals to give priority to disadvantaged and local children, rather than selecting purely on academic merit. Such initiatives have the Governments support. When ministers announced that existing selective schools would be allowed to expand, one of the conditions attached to the 50 million per annum fund was that they take steps to, in the Times words, admit more pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is presumably intended to appease those who argue that, on current evidence, grammar schools arent the engines for social mobility theyre often portrayed as. However, this simply highlights the fact that the Government has misunderstood the argument for expanding grammar schools. Until very recently, places at grammar schools were severely restricted but, of course, highly sought after. Just as in any other market where supply is unable to expand to meet demand, competition for the scarce commodity rose and kept rising. This gave a big advantage to those parents who could afford to provide their children with extra tuition for the entrance exams. It also meant that the remaining grammars received applications from a much broader radius than ordinary schools, increasing the competitive pressure still further. As a result, todays grammars can look as if they simply amplify middle-class advantage. But it is a poor argument against grammar schools which can be resolved by building more of them. Expanding existing selective schools, and opening new ones, would ease competitive pressures and help bright children living on the doorstep of the school gain admission without cutting standards. One of the unfortunate side-effects of Brexit has been that the energy seems to have gone out of the Governments education agenda. Making any move on grammars was a bold choice, but as I wrote a few years ago the case to be made for them today is very different to the original tripartite model of the 1950s. Where once children were sorted into academic, technical, and miscellaneous, modern selective schools can find their place in a diverse spectrum of specialist schools which cater to a much broader range of learning styles. The way to solve the challenges posed by academic selection is to make sure that there are sufficient places for those that need them, and first-rate alternatives (such as the new T-Level) for those who dont. Not to lower standards. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. Iranian Ambassador to Dublin Masoud Eslami said that Ireland is determined to broaden cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehr news agency reported. He pointed to the trip of Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Group to Ireland and said, high-profile talks made in this regard shows that Ireland is seriously determined to broaden its cooperation and interaction with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this regard, a high-ranking delegation, headed by the Head of Iran-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group Mostafa Kavakebian, comprised of Iranian Parliament representatives visited Irish capital Dublin last week for bilateral talks. Iranian ambassador pointed to the first official trip of Iranian parliamentary delegation to Ireland and said, currently, a new chapter of cooperation has been opened between Iran and Ireland for broadening and enhancing bilateral cooperation. In this bilateral meeting, outlooks of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regard to the regional and international issues were discussed, he said, adding, Ireland is keen on boosting its ties with Iran in all levels. On Saturday, the solemn laying of flowers in memory of the dead journalists took place in the square near the Press House in Grozny. According to the first deputy minister of Chechnya on National Politics, External Relations, Press and Information, Said-Selim Abdulmuslimov, the names of the dead are forever inscribed in the history of the Russian and world journalism. Today, on December 15, is the Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty in Russia. Every year on this day, in Russia, there are commemorative events in honor of journalists who died in line of duty. Grenada welcomed a double call earlier this week when two cruise ships both made inaugural calls to the destination, with the Celebrity Reflection and MSC Preziosa combining to bring more than 5,000 guests. The captain and crew of the Celebrity Reflection were greeted by a local delegation including the CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) Patricia Maher, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, local agents George F. Huggins & Co.Ltd, the Grenada Ports Authority, Customs and the Royal Grenada Police Force. They met with Reflection Captain Panagiotis Skylogiannis, handing over the traditional welcome plaque. "We are delighted that your passengers are enjoying such perfect weather today. They are spoiled for choice when visiting Grenada from experiencing bean to bar chocolate tours and rum factories to waterfalls, white sandy beaches and so much more," Maher said. Similar plaques were handed over by George F. Huggins & Company Ltd. and the Ports Authority. The team then boarded the MSC Preziosa for a short inaugural commemoration ceremony. Welcoming the captain and crew and handing over a commemorative plaque was GTA Communications Officer Ria Murray. MSC Preziosa Captain Corrado Iaconis told the gathering that this was not his first visit to Grenada though it was the ships inaugural visit. He said: Our passengers always enjoy Grenada and we are happy to be visiting today. The visits of Celebrity Reflection and MSC Preziosa bring the number of new cruise ships to Grenada to six for the 2018-2019 seaso. At global employment of more than 2.6 million people and helping insurance companies and families save $1.5 trillion over the past decade by one count, generic drug producers have become a major pillar of the pharmaceutical industry. Will an offshoot of the generic sector provide a boost to one of southwestern Connecticuts biggest employers? Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals intends to find out -- and the Ridgefield giant is not following the script of its competitors. Boehringer Ingelheim is pressing on with its quest for an immediate end to patent protection for Humira, the blockbuster AbbVie arthritis drug that is second all time for global sales. In August 2017 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a Boehringer Ingelheim biosimilar medicine dubbed Cyltezo that would act like Humira in treating arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions. Boehringer Ingelheim has yet to begin selling Cyltezo, however, due to ongoing legal claims by AbbVie on what it says is patent protection for Humira extending through 2023. In the past year, AbbVie has reached legal settlements with several other companies that have developed Humira competitors, with financial terms undisclosed, leaving Boehringer Ingelheim to carry on the legal fight on its own. Boehringer Ingelheim believes the introduction of high-quality, lower-cost biosimilars is critical for both patients and the sustainability of the (health) system, stated Susan Holz, a Boehringer Ingelheim spokesperson in Ridgefield, in an email response to a Hearst Connecticut Media query on the companys plans. Our immediate focus is on bringing Cyltezo ... to the U.S. market where alternatives to Humira are still not available. We are committed to making it available to U.S. patients as soon as possible and certainly before 2023. Humira was the best-selling drug worldwide last year with Abbvie expecting $10 billion in sales this year, $13.5 billion in the United States. All time, the drug is topped only by Pfizers Lipitor treatment for high cholesterol. Advance expansion at $220M Boehringer Ingelheim has its U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield, employing some 2,000 people there at last report of about 8,000 at 14 U.S. facilities, including its veterinary pharmaceutical business with operations in Duluth, Ga., and St. Joseph, Mo. The company is expanding a pharmaceutical production facility in Fremont, Calif. where it will produce Cyltezo, at a total investment of close to $220 million. Like Humira, Cyltezo is designed to be packaged in pre-filled syringes, with Boehringer Ingelheim also planning an auto-injector version for patient use. A decade ago, the FDA created a regulatory process for the emerging category of biosimilars, which are produced from biological material like proteins, versus chemical-based formulas used in traditional drugs. Biologic drugs accounted for 37 percent of U.S. drug sales in 2017, according to IQVIA, a Danbury-based company that tracks pharmaceutical sales and market trends. IQVIA has estimated that over the coming four years, drugs with $37 billion in annual sales will be exposed to new competitors as patents expire. Generics in general make up 90 percent of U.S. prescriptions, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines. A true scientific achievement AbbVie has been asserting its patent claims against Boehringer Ingelheim and other competitors in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, with depositions continuing this month in the case first filed in August 2017 when Boehringer Ingelheim won FDA approval to sell Cyltezo. In court documents, Boehringer Ingelheim attorneys described AbbVie as creating a packet thicket numbering more than 100 patents, many of them overlapping or otherwise non-inventive in the words of Boehringer Ingelheims lawyers, as a way to delay other companies bringing competing drugs to market. Humiras success is not due to the alleged inventions of the patents (AbbVie) now assert, ... but rather is because of the properties of its active ingredient, Boehringer Ingelheim stated in its original complaint filed last year. Adalimumab was the first fully human monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA, and as such represented a true scientific achievement. The formulations, production processes, and dosing regimens claimed in (AbbVies) patent estate are not. AbbVie is pressing ahead with its own quest for a judicial declaration that its patents are enforceable for Humira, with U.S. sales up 11 percent in the first nine months of the year, with AbbVie citing favorable pricing as one factor for the double-digit growth in revenue, and its efforts to differentiate Humira from a raft of expected competitors in 2023. Or sooner, if Boehringer Ingelheim has any say in how that script is written; but AbbVies CEO expressed confidence his company will prevail in any court verdict. We dont fundamentally believe (in) the essence of what (Boehringer Ingelheim) is describing: if you get a large number of patents on a product, that in and of itself is a problem, said AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez, in a November conference call with investors. Look, we have five settlements now. We have very sophisticated companies who have made a decision based on our (intellectual property) to do a settlement agreement with us. I think that speaks for itself about the magnitude and the power of our IP, and we remain confident in our position. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman NEW HAVEN - A Stratford man is facing up to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in federal court to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Tymon Peterson, 29, of Stratford, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall. MILFORD Plans are underway for a Big Y supermarket to be built at 150 Boston Post Road next to the plaza housing an Aldi store and a few blocks from a Super Stop & Shop. Big Y Foods announced this week that, pending local approvals, the store will be a free-standing supermarket of about 55,000 square feet. It will be the 73rd Big Y market in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Mayor Ben Blake said it will be good for the city and its location is ideal because it will open up the commercial corridor in that area of the road. Its part of our good economic development, Blake said, noting the city is in such sound economic shape that taxes have decreased the last three years. Asked what he thought of another supermarket in a city where there are two Shop & Shops, a huge Shoprite and an Aldis, Blake said such store chains use sophisticated research to determine what the market needs. A news release from the company said Big Y maintains a strong presence in New Haven County and this will be the chains 10th Big Y World Class Market, as the company calls its stores, there. Another store is scheduled to open in Derby in 2019 and there are Big Y stores in Ansonia, Branford, Cheshire, Guilford, Meriden, Naugatuck, North Haven and North Branford. The release said the proposed store will provide numerous opportunities for local contractors and more than 130 full- and part-time positions once the store opens. The project is moving through the local approval process. The market will rival the finest markets in the world with superior customer service, locally sourced fruits and vegetables, fresh sushi, an extensive gluten free assortment and organic items along with other locally produced offerings, the release said. We look forward to bringing Big Ys world class service, quality and selection closer to shoppers in Milford and surrounding communities, said Charles DAmour, Big Ys president and chief operating officer. The store will focus on saving customers time, energy and money, he said. The property is owned by Metro Star Properties, a popular city developer. We see the proposed Big Y market as a wonderful addition to the Milford retail landscape, said Robert Smith Jr., managing director of Metro Star. Big Y is a first-class organization, committed to quality products and warm friendly service to their customers. Company officials say their market highlights include prepared meals, including freshly made pizzas and rotisserie chicken dinners, stir fry, fresh cooked-to-order fish and chips, a broad selection of specialty and local foods, a wide array of organic and gluten-free products, a full-service butcher shop andseafood direct from New England piers. The produce department, company officials said, Offers over 500 different items, including organics as well as fruits and vegetables from local farms and orchards. Big Y produce buyers work with local growers to sell as much native produce as possible throughout the growing season, the release states. The company is committed to giving back to the communities it serves, the release said, and it donates food valued at more than $4.5 million to local nonprofit organizations, schools, churches and educational programs each year. The company also awards 300 scholarships worth $250,000 annually to academically outstanding students in their market area. Another of Big Ys educational initiatives, the Education Express Program, has helped more than 2,000 local schools earn more then $11.5 million in teaching materials and educational equipment. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald DAmour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Mass., where two roads converge to form a Y, company officials said. HARTFORD, CT Today was supposed to be the last day to purchase health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, but according to an internal memo sent to brokers by Access Health CT, Connecticut is extending the deadline to Jan. 15. The deadline for Connecticut residents to enroll was originally midnight Saturday, but officials with the state health insurance exchange are discovering lower enrollment and more sticker shock this year. The memo to brokers that was obtained by CTNewsJunkie Saturday morning states: "Q: Is Access Health CT promoting (advertising) this extension actively? A: There will be an official announcement to the media on 12/17, after that time, we will be contacting customers directly (email, direct mail, text, etc.) but we will not invest in media efforts." Access Health CT sent a press release Saturday at 1 p.m. confirming the decision to extend the deadline. Access Health CT has spent about $4 million in its marketing efforts this year, which is similar to amounts they've spent in past years. Consumers will have an additional month to choose plans as they experience bigger increases in monthly premiums even though the increases approved by insurance regulators were lower. "The average rate filings this year were lower than they have been before, but changes to plan options and subsidies have made some plan premiums go up this year," the internal broker Access Health CT memo announcing the deadline extension states. Access Health CT reported Friday that 102,412 residents had completed the enrollment process for 2019 or renewed their 2018 plans. That's down from the 114,000 residents at the end of open enrollment last year. The enrollment extension means anyone who signs up for coverage by midnight tonight will have coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2019. Anyone who signs up after that date but before Jan. 15 will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2019. "With this extension, Access Health CT is encouraging customers who are currently covered by an insurance plan for 2019 to come and evaluate their options as they may find savings or lower premiums by choosing a different plan that better fits their needs and budget," Access Health CT CEO James Michel said. Meanwhile, a ruling by a Texas judge late Friday night threw out the 2010 Affordable Care Act in its entirety less than 24 hours before the end of its sixth open enrollment. The judge agreed with a group of 20 Republican attorneys general who felt a change in tax law last year that eliminated the penalty for not having health insurance invalidated the entire law. Outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, whose administration oversaw implementation of the ACA, said the decision "defies logic and puts health coverage for millions of people and tens of thousands of Connecticut residents at risk." He said if this decision is allowed to stand people with pre-existing conditions will once again be denied coverage when they get sick. "Republicans in Washington and Connecticut have spent years trying to do exactly what this ruling would impose," Malloy tweeted. "It's nothing short of despicable, and Connecticut will fight in court to preserve the #ACA." The White House issued a statement Friday saying "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place." Attorney General George Jepsen is representing Connecticut in appealing the decision along with a group of Democratic attorneys general across the country. "The decision in the Texas ACA case is flat-out wrong, contrary to the law and contrary to the democratically expressed will of the people," Jepsen said Saturday. "We are actively discussing next steps in the case with our colleagues in other states, and we anticipate joining them in appealing this decision." Access Health CT wants to let Connecticut residents know that the Texas ruling does not affect their ability to sign up for and use 2019 health insurance plans through Access Health CT. "Access Health CT is the official marketplace under the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut and we are committed to upholding the ACA and the support it provides to the residents of our state," Michel, said. "We will not let this news get in the way of fulfilling our mission to reduce the rate of the uninsured and help Connecticut residents get health insurance coverage for them and their families." NEW HAVEN Yale New Haven Hospital is promising to expand use of Uber, advocate for enhanced public bus service and continue financial help for current hardship cases in answer to questions about its proposed New Haven Primary Care Consortium. The hospital is proposing to relocate its primary care clinics, facilities that serve more than 28,000 mainly low-income patients, to 150 Sargent Drive where the pediatric unit will be run by Fair Haven Community Health Care and adults will be served by the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center. Transportation difficulties for some of the low-income users was cited as a problem at a hearing on the proposed consortium, as was concern over the charges at the Fair Haven and Hill clinics as compared to Yale New Haven Hospitals billing policies. The answers were sent to the states Office of Health Strategy, which has to approve the proposal if it is going to go into effect. The plan is to transition the pediatric and womens services to the new site in September 2019 and the adult medicine clinic in spring 2020. The hospital, in a survey of patients, found that 66 percent drive to appointments, while 15 percent use public transportation and 10 percent walk. The 33 percent of patients who do not use a car are distributed over 23 city neighborhoods. Advocates had asked that the hospital run a shuttle service for those who will have difficulties getting to the new site, which has less-convenient bus service, with several routes requiring bus transfers. The hospital told the health office that it did not believe implementation of a shuttle service will materially improve access. It said a shuttle would have to run from a designated pick-up point to a designated drop-off point, which means patients still would have to walk or take transportation to the shuttle site. Even if a shuttle ran every 30 minutes, it could add significant wait time. A bus or a ride-sharing service will provide more direct access and reduce waiting time, it wrote. The 150 Sargent Drive location will have 250 parking spaces, one-third of which will be handicapped-accessible. Yale New Haven Health System, which oversees its multi-hospital affiliations, now has a contract with Uber for certain Bridgeport Hospital patients. It plans to offer Uber, free of charge, to all of its current clinic patients who transition to the new site, if they cant get there by car, dont require special transportation assistance and meet certain criteria. Those criteria include: patients must live within 10 miles of 150 Sargent Drive and where currently available public transportation requires one or more transfers or a trip of 40 minutes or longer. It will be paid for on a mileage or flat-fee basis and will not be publicaly marketed or advertised. It does not include ambulance-level transportation; it will not allow tips. Medicaid patients with HUSKY A, C and D, and limited benefit members that cannot drive themselves, and/or do not have a neighbor, friend, relative or voluntary organization that can transport them ... are eligible for Veyo non-emergency medical transportation assistance, the hospital wrote. Veyo includes a combination of public transportation assistance, ride-share vehicles, wheelchair-accessible vans and mileage reimbursement. The hospital said it will have staff identify patients with special transportation needs who would not be eligible for ride-sharing and and enroll them in Veyo. Jim Haslam of Connecticut Legal Services said it was good that the hospitals plan states a clear intent to improve the system. Haslam, however, feels YNHHs plan will create an added burden on that system. We have a tremendous concern about the timing of this move and its impact on the residents who will no longer be able to access care because the current NEMT (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation) system is failing, and many will need to travel further to see their doctors. The hospital said this type of transportation also is being studied by the Greater New Haven Community Health Improvement Plan. On the availability of buses, the hospital said it will advocate for a greater number of direct routes to 150 Sargent Drive as well as increased frequency of stops during off-peak times. Sheldon Toubman, an advocate at the New Haven Legal Assistance Association, said lobbying for improved bus service and actually getting it in place are two different things. It could be many years before any benefit at all would come from such advocacy. In the meantime, patients will go untreated because, as the hospital recognizes, bus service today to the proposed location is inadequate, Toubman said. He also asked how disabled patients will get to the site, as Uber is not equipped for that kind of service. The hospital said it will identify patients eligible for a medical van who are not currently utilizing this benefit and assist them in enrolling in it. The hospital and the federally qualified clinics in Fair Haven and the Hill have different fee waivers for certain patients who cant afford to pay for health services. At the Yale clinics, 78 percent of its patients at the clinics on York Street and 68 percent at the St. Raphaels clinic are covered under Medicaid. The hospital said there will be no changes in out-of-pocket expenses for these patients. The Fair Haven Community Health Clinic and the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center say they are mandated by federal rules to charge everyone, while Yale has a more generous forgiveness plan across a wider range of family income levels. The hospital said it is committed to continuing its policy for patients who have used its clinics during the previous three years. It said this will mitigate any additional charges tied to the billing policies of the federally qualified clinics. Yale said it has also promised to cover losses to the clinics through a yearly Community Benefit Grant. Ellen Andrews, executive director of the Connecticut Health Policy Project, said she remains concerned about the cost of transferring the administration of the Yale clinics to the Fair Haven and the Hill centers. She said she worries that it will negatively impact the states Medicaid contribution and could lead to cutbacks elsewhere. The federally qualified clinics get a higher Medicaid payment level than hospitals. Under the new arrangement, the clinics will lease the medical and administrative personnel who now report to the hospital and the almost 30,000 patients get added to their patient load. Andrews recommends that the state not approve this proposal until there is a better understanding of the cost. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has held a press conference on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels. The EU heads of state had two subjects on the table at their Thursday meeting the EU long-term budget for 2021-2027 and mainly Brexit. On Friday, the summit has been dealing with immigration, "fighting disinformation," single market and external relations. The eurozone difficulties, notably with the Italian and now French budgets out of pace, has also been on the agenda. The EU summit has come to the conclusion that there is no basis for cancellation or easing of sanctions against Russia, Merkel told reporters. The pastor at the Early Rain Covenant Church drafted the letter over time, asking that it be made public two days after his arrest. In it, he expresses his disgust for Communist persecution of Christians, but says he is not interested in changing the countrys social system. His goal is to bear witness through non-violence and slam violations of religious freedom. God will bring down the communist regime. The Church has existed for thousands of years, but no political power has lasted thousands of years. Chengdu (AsiaNews) Wang Yi, pastor of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, wrote a letter before his arrest last week-end along with about a hundred members of his congregation. Although he expresses his disgust for the Communist Party of China and its persecution of Christians, he reiterates his support for non-violence and accepts Chinas social order whilst claiming the right to proclaim the Gospel. The clergyman drafted the letter over time and asked that it be made public 48 hours after his arrest. In it, Wang says that he is filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at the wickedness of their depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience. At the same time, he notes that changing social and political institutions is not the mission I have been called to, and it is not the goal for which God has given his people the Gospel. Following the Bible, he accepts and respects the fact that this Communist regime has been allowed by God to rule temporarily. Indeed, As the Lords servant John Calvin said, wicked rulers are the judgment of God on a wicked people, the goal being to urge Gods people to repent and turn again toward Him. For this reason, I am joyfully willing to submit myself to their enforcement of the law as though submitting to the discipline and training of the Lord. At the same time, I believe that this Communist regimes persecution against the church is a greatly wicked, unlawful action. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely. The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God. My Saviour Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws. In his long letter, Wang says that he is not trying to change any institutions or laws in China. The only thing he cares about is the disruption of mans sinful nature by this faithful disobedience and the testimony it bears for the cross of Christ. Im not even interested in the question of when the Communist regimes policies persecuting the church will change. Regardless of which regime I live under now or in the future, as long as the secular government continues to persecute the church, violating human consciences that belong to God alone, I will continue my faithful disobedience. For the entire commission God has given me is to let more Chinese people know through my actions that the hope of humanity and society is only in the redemption of Christ, in the supernatural, gracious sovereignty of God. For the clergyman, the persecution of Christians is driving many Chinese to lose hope in their future; yet, it is leading them through a wilderness of spiritual disillusionment and through this to make them know Jesus. The persecution of Christians is the most wicked and the most horrendous evil of Chinese society. But This is not only a sin against Christians. It is also a sin against all non-Christians. For the government is brutally and ruthlessly threatening them and hindering them from coming to Jesus. There is no greater wickedness in the world than this. If this regime is one day overthrown by God, it will be for no other reason than Gods righteous punishment and revenge for this evil. For on earth, there has only ever been a thousand-year church. There has never been a thousand-year government. There is only eternal faith. There is no eternal power. Finally, Jesus is the Christ, son of the eternal, living God. He died for sinners and rose to life for us. He is my king and the king of the whole earth yesterday, today, and forever. I am his servant, and I am imprisoned because of this. I will resist in meekness those who resist God, and I will joyfully violate all laws that violate Gods laws. A public bus following the route Azov-Rostov, burned down in Azov. When the fire started, the driver released the passengers and tried to cope with the fire on his own, but failed. When rescuers arrived at the site of the accident, the fire had already captured the entire minibus. Soon the fire was extinguished. According to AIF Rostov-on-Don, no casualties have been reported. Biden: Omicron variant a 'cause for concern, not a cause for panic' Politics The United States and Canada promised a fair judicial process for a Chinese tech executive who was arrested earlier this month in Canada, Voice of America reported. In talks at the State Department, the U.S. and Canadian foreign and defense ministers put on a united front, following a growing diplomatic dispute between the United States and China, in which Canada finds itself in the middle. Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland defended her country's detention of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, saying it was "not a political decision," but "a matter of following the rules." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was also "respecting the rule of law each step along the way" as it seeks Meng. Canada arrested Meng at the request of the United States, which says Huawei violated U.S. sanctions on Iran. She has been released on bail and is awaiting possible extradition to the United States. The United States will take action against those representatives of Saudi Arabia who are responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said. "President Trump is determined to defend America, while bringing to justice those who committed the horrific murder of Jamal Khashoggi," TASS quotes him as saying. Earlier, Donald Trump stressed that the United States intends to remain a reliable partner of Saudi Arabia, despite the situation caused by the assassination of Khashoggi. A mother was left unable to walk, talk or even see after being struck down with a serious brain infection on her dream Caribbean holiday. Cathrine Ndlovu, 32, from Manchester, flew out to the Dominican Republic with her elderly mother Musa, aunt Tendai and eight-year-old son Brodie, when she was struck down with the mystery illness on her second day. After being misdiagnosed several times while she was away, Cathrine, who works as a Border Force Officer worker at Manchester airport, flew back to the UK, where she was told she had a life-threatening condition called rhombencephalitis. The mother-of-one spent months in intensive care but while the brain infection has now gone, she remains in hospital as she recovers from the brain damage - and is now learning to walk and talk again. On returning to the UK, Cathrine was admitted straight to hospital where she was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain stem infection known as Rhombencephalitis At first, doctors thought the mum-of-one needed her wisdom tooth removed, but as the days passed, her condition quickly deteriorated When Cathrine first started experiencing painful symptoms including severe earaches and headaches on day two of her holiday, she decided to visit the local doctor. There, she was told her wisdom tooth was the cause of the pain and she was advised to have it taken out at the hospital. 'The next day Cathrine was still very sick and started to lose her eye sight,' explained her friend, Kelly. 'Cathrine thought this was a side effect from the medication and persevered with the pain, but as the pain got worse and her eye sight still hadn't returned, she went back to the hospital where they ran various tests on her. A few days later she was told she had suffered a stroke and had Multiple sclerosis.' Kelly, who is also godmother to Cathrine's son added: 'Cathrine's health continued to deteriorate. 'She lost control of her right arm and had no sight in her right eye, but was still discharged from hospital three days later and told she would be fit to fly home on her booked flight eight days later. Cathrine Ndlovu, 32, from Manchester, was on holiday in the Carribean with her mother, aunt and eight-year-old son when she was struck down with the mystery illness on her second day 'Incredibly the hospital also stated that she did not need any medical assistance to return home on the eight-hour flight.' To make matters worse, when Cathrine was discharged she was asked by the hospital to pay 6,000, on top of her initial hospital fees. Unable to fly home straight away - as there were no direct flights available which would've offered the medical support she felt she needed - Cathrine had no choice but to stay in her hotel room for the remaining eight days. 'On the day Cathrine returned home, she had no eye sight, had not drunk or eaten for one week, was unable to swallow and could not walk,' explained Kelly. 'However, being the true fighter she is, Cathrine was determined to get home with her eight-year-old son and by a miracle survived the flight.' After months of treatment, Cathrine is now able to walk and is working towards swallowing and regaining her full eye sight and the use of her arm Back in the UK, Cathrine was admitted straight to Manchester Royal Infirmary where her family was informed that she had a life-threatening condition that was rapidly progressing. While doctors confirmed she hadn't suffered from a stroke, nor did she have MS, they explained that she had somehow contracted a serious, rare, brain stem infection called Rhombencephalitis, which had been left untreated for two weeks. The mother-of-one was was put in a medically induced coma and doctors began her treatment. Cathrine remained in Intensive Care for two months and while her infection has gone, she is still in the ward recovering from the damage caused to her brain today. Miraculously, Cathrine is now able to walk and is working towards swallowing and regaining her full eye sight and the use of her arm. Still in recovery, Cathrine has been off work since August 2018. Close friends and family have now launched an urgent GoFundMe campaign to help with her financial status But as a result of her illness, she has been off work since August 2018. Unable to return to her job a Border Force Officer, Cathrine's close friends and family have now launched an urgent GoFundMe campaign to help her financially until she can return to work. 'Work has been amazing; colleagues and friends have visited and even come up with the GoFundMe fundraising idea for me,' said Cathrine. 'I've had so much support it's been wonderful, but I really want to get to Salford Neuro Ward now and take the next steps on the rehabilitation journey. 'I'm determined to be home by Christmas and reunited with my son. Thank you so much for all you help it's very much appreciated.' To support the campaign, please visit: gofundme.com/hzdps2-1000 A glass of cream liqueur is the ultimate Christmas guilty pleasure. According to industry magazine The Spirits Business, Brits are set to drink more than 80 million bottles of Baileys by the end of the year. The brand might have invented Irish cream liqueur in the Seventies but rival blends of cream and Irish whiskey are everywhere many looking suspiciously like . . . Baileys. Femails drinks expert HELEN McGINN puts a selection to the test. The Baileys clones All of these are made from a blend of cream and Irish whiskey, just like Baileys. Enjoy a glass over ice as it helps to dilute it a little, leaving the taste less cloying on the tongue. Irish Cream Liqueur 1l, 13, M&S This has more going on in the glass than most. The liquid is thick and velvety with chocolate and vanilla flavours. And even with all that sugar, it manages to leave the mouth feeling fresh rather than sickly. 5/5 Taste The Difference Irish Cream 1l, 10 (reduced from 12.50), Sainsburys Pleasingly thick when poured into the glass, it smells of coffee and chocolate and leaves the taste buds revelling in its triple distilled whiskey. Balanced, smooth and rich. 4/5 Left, Baileys Irish Cream: Invented back in the 1970s when two drinks inventors mixed Irish whiskey with cream, this is the original and, in this line up, still among the best. Right, Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur: The label looks like clip art. But, whats inside is really impressive Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur 70cl, 6.49, Aldi Love this smart looking bottle but whats inside is just a little too bland. Theres plenty of kick from the booze but the flavours are muted compared with other premium bottles. A bit like cold, milky tea. 3/5 Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur, 6.49, Lidl More creamy and unctuous than the cheaper one in the range, this is thicker and noticeably more boozy and chocolately on the aroma more like Baileys. The packaging lets it down the label looks like clip art. But, whats inside is really impressive. 4/5 Fancy making your own? Simple and quick to do, you can tweak the ingredients to create a recipe that suits your taste, whether thats upping the alcohol or dialling down the sweetness. Youll need: l 250ml single cream l 1x 397g tin condensed milk l 350ml Irish whiskey l 1 tsp coffee essence l 3 tsp chocolate sauce l 1 tsp vanilla essence l 1 tsp almond essence (opt) Stick everything into a blen-der and whizz it up until its all mixed together (about 30 seconds should do it). Then pour the liquid into sterilised bottles (you can do this by running them through the dishwasher on a hot wash first) and store them in the fridge. This will keep for a couple of months and they make great presents for Irish cream-loving friends. If you can bear to part with them in the first place, of course! Advertisement Baileys Irish Cream 1l, 15 (reduced from 20 until Jan 1, 2019), Tesco Invented back in the 1970s when two drinks inventors mixed Irish whiskey with cream, this is the original and, in this line up, still among the best. Theres a good kick from the whiskey, the creaminess is creamy without being too overwhelming and theres a comforting Angel Delight-like butterscotch character to it. 5/5 The cheaper country creams These are made from a blend of cream, whiskey and white wine. Lower in alcohol and price than the premium Irish Creams. Ballycastle Irish Country Cream 70cl, 3.75, Aldi This starts well, really thick and creamy when you pour it out. But the smell is too synthetic and leaves a really cloying feeling in the mouth. Its very sweet and theres really not much flavour to it at all. Disappointing. 2/5 Dundalgan Country Cream, 3.75, Lidl This is lighter in every way. At 12 per cent abv compared with the premium blends at 17 per cent, its blended with white wine and Irish spirits and labelled as a country cream rather than an Irish cream. Tastes a bit like melted mocha ice cream. Nice enough but lacks depth and flavour overall. 3/5 Irish Meadow 70cl, 4.75, Morrisons Like the Dundalgan, this is a blend of white wine, Irish whiskey and cream, so not a proper Irish cream. Its slightly punchier than the cheaper one in the Lidl range, with 14.5pc alcohol, which helps balance the flavours. What lets it down is the packaging. It looks like a 70s throwback and next to the other bottles, looks really quite naff. 2/5 Left, Ballycastle Irish Country Cream: Its very sweet and theres really not much flavour to it at all. Right, Irish Meadow: A blend of white wine, Irish whiskey and cream, so not a proper Irish cream Flavoured Cream Liqueurs These are all a variation on a cream liqueur theme. Some are more successful than others. Here are three to try. Egg Nog 70cl, 12, M&S This is another style of cream liqueur but with the addition of eggs. Basically, think boozy vanilla milkshake and you get the idea. The stand out white bottle makes it look smart enough to be taken seriously. Id just like a bit more booze in it. 3/5 Mince Pie Cream, M&S This is bonkers but completely brilliant. For a start you cant miss the bright yellow bottle. Pour it out and you can smell the spices straight away. And taste-wise it manages to combine sweetness and spice brilliantly, with a buttery feel to boot. I cant even bring myself to look at the calories in this one. Given that its Christmas, I wont. 5/5 Specially Selected Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur, 8.99, Aldi Whereas the other smart one in the Aldi range disappoints with its bland flavour, this more than makes up for it by way of one of my favourite things. Chocolate. One sniff and itll have you wanting to slug it into a boozy hot chocolate. Really delicious. 4/5 A baby was born so premature, weighing just one-pound, that she would have been classed as a miscarriage if she had died. Ayah Malik, born at 23 weeks in February 2017, spent weeks in hospital but defied the five per cent survival chance given to her by doctors. Her parents, Christie and Wajahat, were told their baby would likely be severely disabled, if she did survive. Ayah, who could fit 'in the palm of the hand with spare room', spent 22 weeks in intensive care, suffering bleeding on the brain and the risk of blindness. But now, at 21 months, Ayah is thriving, and will be spending her first Christmas at home with her family. Ayah, born at 23 weeks in February 2017, spent weeks in hospital but defied the five per cent survival chance given to her by doctors (pictured with her mother Christie recently) Her parents, Christie Malik and Wajahat, were told their baby would likely be severely disabled, if she did survive (pictured in hospital) Ms Malik and Wajahat, from Wales, had been trying for a baby since their second daughter, Aaliyah, was stillborn at 27 weeks in 2013. When they found out they were expecting, they were overjoyed. But Ms Malik's pregnancy was tainted with constant worry. WHAT DISABILITY RISKS ARE THERE FOR PREMATURE BABIES? About ten percent of babies born in the US, and eight per cent in the UK, are born premature each year. The World Health Organisation gives the following definitions for the different stages of preterm birth: Extremely preterm: before 28 weeks Very preterm: from 28 to 32 weeks Moderate to late preterm: from 32 to 37 weeks. Premature babies or 'preemies' are often underweight and small. They sometimes continue to have delayed physical growth and development. Some extremely premature babies do very well and develop into healthy children. However, one in ten of all premature babies will have a permanent disability such as lung disease, cerebral palsy, blindness or deafness. One in two of premature babies born before 26 weeks of gestation will have some sort of disability (this includes mild disability such as requiring glasses). Early birth has also been linked to broad behavioral and personality issues, thought to be caused by abnormalities in brain development. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, neurological disorders and autism are all more common in preemies. The lungs are one of the last vital organs to fully develop - only becoming mature after 32 weeks - so preemies frequently suffer from asthma and other pulmonary problems. Children born premature are also more likely to later have intestinal, hearing, vision and dental problems and get frequent infections. Premature birth is the largest cause of infant mortality in the US. In 2015, preterm birth and low-birth weights accounted for approximately 17 percent infant deaths. Advertisement The mother-of-one, to Aisha, had regular check-ups, all of which showed the baby was growing healthily, Ms Malik told WalesOnline. At 22 weeks, only two weeks after a scan where they had found out the gender of the baby, Ms Malik began to bleed whilst decorating. Bleeding is the first sign of a miscarriage, and so under her midwife's instructions over the phone, Ms Malik rushed to hospital in a panic. Examination at the hospital showed that she was 4cm dilated, on her way to beginning labour. Ms Malik and her partner were in a consultant room when they were told what they already had suspected - Ayah had a very small chance of surviving. She was so small, that if she did die, she would be classed as a miscarriage. Around eight per cent of births in the UK are premature, and 10 per cent in the US. Of the births that were premature in the UK, five per cent are 'extremely preterm', which is born before 28 weeks. According to the NHS, a miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. The parents feared having to go through the trauma they had four years previously when their baby, Aaliya, was stillborn. They begged the doctors to try and help Ayah when she was born, who agreed on the basis that she was showing signs of life and trying to breathe for herself. Ms Malik and her partner waited in anticipation for two days after being transferred to Swansea. On the evening of the second day, at 23 weeks and one day of pregnancy, Ms Malik's waters broke and within minutes Ayah was born weighing 1lb 1oz. There was no time to cuddle Ayah, as she was taken away to be assessed immediately. Ayah had a potentially lethal grade three and four bleed on the brain, according to her parents. Ms Malik told WalesOnline: 'We saw her for only a few seconds before she was taken away and all I can honestly remember thinking was "how possibly can something that tiny survive?" Ayah, who could fit 'in the palm of the hand with spare room', spent 22 weeks in intensive care, suffering bleeding on the brain and the risk of blindness (pictured in intensive care) But now, at 21 months, Ayah is thriving, and will be spending her first Christmas at home with her family (pictured recently) Ms Malik and Wajahat, from Wales, had been trying for a baby since their second daughter, Aaliyah, was stillborn at 27 weeks in 2013 (Ayah is pictured with her older sister Aisha) 'She would have fitted with room to spare in to the palm of my hand.' Ms Malik spent every moment she could by her babies side, worried every minute would be her last. She said: 'But the whole time, I couldn't get the image of burying her (Aaliya) out of my head. 'I'd been through losing a baby before and I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone, but the emotional pain of having your baby alive in front of you but knowing that you could lose her literally at any second is a level of pain I can only describe as numbing.' Ms Malik only left to sleep or eat, but not without constant anxiety she would lose her baby. When she had to spend a night away from her baby, she would often get a call in the middle of the night with the news that something had happened. The couple were always on guard, waiting for the next bad thing to happen. Over the next 22 weeks, Ayah was hit with a storm of complications. She was transferred to four different hospitals for various types of care and procedures. As Ms Malik watched on as her baby struggled to function independently without machines keeping her alive, she wondered if it was wrong to keep tiny Ayah alive. Now baby Ayah Aydah, who's two names mean 'amazing miracle' and 'returning gift' in Arabic - is 21 months old, and hitting developmental milestones (pictured with her mother in hospital) Around eight per cent of births in the UK are premature, and 10 per cent in the US (pictured in hospital when she was born) WHEN IS A BABY SURVIVING ON ITS OWN? Around eight per cent of babies are born prematurely, which is considered to be when they are born before the 37th week of a pregnancy. The standard expected length of a pregnancy is 40 weeks. The NHS considers babies to be 'viable' at 24 weeks or later into the pregnancy this means it's possible for them to survive being born from this point onwards. Babies can still legally be aborted in the UK until the 24th week of pregnancy. Babies born very early will need intensive care in a specialist neonatal hospital unit. They may have serious health problems particularly affecting the lungs and brain because they haven't had time to develop properly in the womb. Source: NHS Advertisement She said: 'At that point I started to wonder whether I was being selfish to want her to stay alive. I wondered whether she was in pain and whether she had the strength to endure it all.' Two weeks after her birth, Ms Malik and Wajahat were told doctors were discussing placing a shunt in Ayah's head to relieve the pressure on her brain. They were also told that, should she survive the bleeds, Ayah would probably be severely disabled. One in two of premature babies born before 26 weeks of gestation will have some sort of disability, including mild disability, such as requiring glasses, according to the charity Tommy's. But the bleeding on Ayah's brain miraculously began to resolve itself as she gained strength over the next few weeks. Ayah had developed a condition, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature babies that weight less than 3lbs, born before 31 weeks. But in June, when she was referred to for an operation to correct the condition, the family was given new hope. Rigorous examination by consultant ophthalmologist Dr Patrick Watts led to the decision that the procedure would be postponed to see whether the condition would correct itself and it did. Ayah continued to show hopeful signs, until at 22 weeks, when she was finally sent home. She was able to breathe and eat by herself, however her parents knew complications would possibly arise. She had an intensive course of physiotherapy the moment she left the hospital due to a cyst on the brain, caused by a brain bleed, which could have caused cerebral palsy. Now baby Ayah Aydah, who's two names mean 'amazing miracle' and 'returning gift' in Arabic - is 21 months old, and hitting developmental milestones. Although not religious, Ms Malik said she believed her stillborn daughter, Aaliyah, was watching over her. She said: 'I'd often speak to her and ask her to send us a rainbow if she was there and I can honestly say that I've never seen so many rainbows than I did during that time. 'I remember breaking down in the shower one evening just filled with this overwhelming feeling that I couldn't cope with losing another baby like Aaliyah, and when I walked into the bedroom after there was the biggest brightest rainbow outside our window.' On the outskirts of Paris, in an area dubbed the 'Slough of Paris' by its English employees, is the 40,000 square foot Photobox factory tucked in the corner of an industrial estate. Inside this Sartrouville hub, a huge operation is underway. It is currently in the middle of its 'peak' period, preparing Christmas gifts to be shipped around the world. Throughout this busy spell, which encompasses November and December, the factory is working at 100 per cent capacity, compared to just 20 per cent throughout the rest of the year. It comes as the smartphone generation - young and old - upload photographs to be printed as a thoughtful yet simple gift for Christmas, with personalised albums a key seller for Photobox. A massive 18,000 - 21,000 photo books are made every single day in the run up to Christmas In order to cope with this enhanced demand, the factory, that usually has 100 members of staff, has to recruit an extra 250 people for the peak period. This is Money went to Paris in December in the middle of the rush to see exactly how Photobox copes with the extraordinary surge in sales... Sales of photo books quadruple this time of year Photobox, founded in 2000 as a next day delivery service for photo prints, is Europe's largest digital personalised printing business. The company has five different factories in North London, Spain, Jersey, Munich and Paris. It also owns popular personalised greetings card website Moonpig. It opened the doors to its Paris factory in 2005, after merging with its French counterpart, Photoways. The company offers a range of products including personalised calendars, canvases and mugs - but the star of the show is their photo books, an album of photos created by the customer. The Photobox factory, based on the outskirts of Paris, has to hire 250 extra staff for Christmas This is what the Paris factory specialises in and to support the tremendous demand for these albums in the run up to Christmas, the factory is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A whopping 18,000-21,000 photo books are produced every day over the peak period four times more than what is created daily throughout the rest of the year. The extra 250 workers are hired in October to leave plenty of time for them to be expertly trained up before the Christmas rush. Close up: Our reporter, Grace, takes a look at the photo books before they have been covered Claude Hanocq, the production director of France and Spain, who conducts the tour of the factory, said that not only does this mean there is more staff to look after, but the logistics of the whole factory have to be adjusted. He said: 'The cafeteria has to be moved from where it usually is, to a bigger room, so that there is enough room for everyone. 'We also need to make sure that everyone is in the right place at the right time. It is a big operation.' Before the tour, Claude proudly shows off a mug that has the record for the most amount of photo books made in a day printed on its side. The record was set in December 2016 when an impressive 27,715 photo books were made. Claude said confidently: 'I think we'll beat that this year though.' How the photo book process works The huge factory floor is bustling with hundreds of members of staff hard at work, operating large machines. Printing room: Looking at the printers that can print around 100-200 pictures a minute In the printing room, they churn out around 100-200 pictures a minute. It is home to the largest amount of the HP Indigo roll-to-roll printing machines in any one room in Europe - no mean feat considering each of the large machines costs roughly 1million. The printers are, Claude claims, the best on the market and print four colours, which is more costly, but does mean that they come out much clearer. It is no surprise the factory has decided to splash out on expensive printers, as demand from the company is high with a total of 1.7million photo books printed each year. Once the images have been printed, the covers of the photo books are created. The inners and covers of the photo books are printed separately, so throughout the whole process, the two have to be placed side by side on a trolley, to ensure that they don't become separated. There is a total of 800 different combinations of photo books that customers can create, including soft and hard back options that can be personalised. It has the largest amount of 'HP Indigo roll to roll' printing machines in any one room in Europe Up to 40 orders will be handled every minute across the peak period as 11million photos are uploaded to the site each day. After the images are printed, they go through a vicious cutting machine, snipping them to size. Claude tells us to step back - it is powerful and could easily break a man's leg. The images are then bound together into a book, before going through yet another machine that glues the cover onto it. A barcode is then stuck on the book, which is passed over to an employee who conducts a rigorous quality check. The worker scans the barcode, which tells them exactly what should be included in the photo book and checks that there are no glaring errors and the cover is in good condition. A huge 4.5million parcels are shipped in the peak period, lasting over November & December Any book that has the slightest scuff mark is quickly discarded and sent to be re-printed. Once the quality check is complete, all that needs to be done is for the product to be shipped. What is the output for the Photobox factories? The Sartrouville (Paris) factory produces: - 1.7m photo books per year - 20k photo books each day in the peak period - 68m prints a year The Willen Field Road (London) factory produces: - 800k canvas' - 600k mugs - 550k posters - 63m prints A huge 4.5million parcels are shipped in the peak period from the large shipping area at the back of the factory. Claude admits that the recent Paris protests over the Government's fuel tax hike have hit the shipping from Photobox, but is quick to reassure that there has only been a slight disruption. Parcels are put through a machine that can then tell if any photos are missing by scanning the barcode and weighing it before they are divided up and collected by the courier. Claude tells us he is proud of the work that they achieve, especially over the Christmas period - although I am sure he will be glad of the rest after working seven days a week in these two hectic months. Company stagnated Photobox admits it had a period where it became 'lazy in its approach' and wasn't delivering the swift operation it does now. That's the opinion of Rory Scott, head of communications, who admitted: 'After 15 years of double-digit growth, the company stagnated somewhat a couple of years ago and lost sight a little bit of what was truly important to customers. 'The online photo printing market is saturated and so we had to re-evaluate what we were doing.' Jody Ford took over as the Photobox chief executive in 2016, leaving his previous position of vice president of global growth marketing at eBay, and Rory said his arrival revived the brand. Rory said: 'Jody has been great for the company. We are now taking a softer approach and are focusing on creating more premium products for our customers. 'The care we have for customers is what makes us stand out from the crowd from our competitors. 'We've been going for years now and we are determined to make quality products that our customers will love for years to come.' This renewed energy in the company has been helped along by it releasing 95 new products this year, including an artist collection, their first range of gallery quality prints. It doesn't look like the company is slowing down as Photobox Group has now expanded to own five standalone brands, including Photobox, Hofmann, Moonpig, posterXXl and Greetz - the Dutch equivalent of Moonpig. The group acquired Moonpig, which was responsible for 90 percent of the online greeting card market in the United Kingdom in 2007, in July 2011 for 120million in a cash and shares transaction. Looking forward to the future, the group is hoping to grow even further and continue to break its own records. In 2007 'mystery blonde' Renata Laureano became a household name in a town gripped with intrigue over the final bloody chapter of Melbourne's gangland war. As the Informer 3838 scandal continues to enthral the nation, Daily Mail Australia went about tracking down the women left behind after the bloodshed ended. When Ms Leareano was spotted supporting killer Carl Williams at one of his final court appearances in 2007, it left Melburnians believing he was still calling the shots from behind bars. Williams was just about to go down for the murders of Mark Mallia, Jason Moran and Lewis Moran when Ms Laureano hit the scene. Roberta Williams (yellow beanie) abuses Renata Laureano (centre) as she leaves court in 2007. Carl Williams' mother Barbara is pictured left, with George Williams at the back Renata Laureano leaves the Melbourne County Court, in May, 2007, after supporting Carl in court at one of his final appearances before a judge The tubby killer was already in jail after previously been found guilty of the murder of Michael Marshall, who was shot dead outside his Toorak home in October 2003. Renata Laureano-Lovett went on to marry and have a family after her brief moment of fame By April 2007, the caged Williams had split with his wife Roberta and the lonely criminal had bragged about being written to by a swathe of other women. Williams taunted his ex-wife with letters from his jail cell writing: 'I can still pull 'em even when I'm in jail'. Ms Laureano had appeared on the front page of a Melbourne paper supporting Williams in court. It sent the press into a frenzy and it was soon revealed who the stunning 21-year old was. Despite Ms Laureano apparently never having any form of physical relationship with Williams, she came under the wrath of Roberta, who reportedly called her a 'trashy piece of effing carnage'. Moments before the beginning of Williams's Victorian Supreme Court pre-sentence hearing that year, Roberta tapped on the glass window behind her husband in the courtroom dock and said to him: 'Pick her or your daughter.' Carl Williams in the prison dock upon his sentence to 35 years in jail Roberta Williams (far right) gives Renata Laureano (L) a spray outside the Supreme Court in 2007 Ms Laureano was sitting just metres from her at the hearing - separated only by the gangster's parents, George and Barbara Williams. After the hearing, Roberta hurled abuse at a young Ms Laureano. He told her she would have a 'fun relationship behind bars' and warned her not to buy her daughter gifts. 'Don't go near my daughter,' Roberta barked. At the time, Ms Laureano's father, Renato, said reports identifying his daughter as Williams' girlfriend were 'wrong'. 'How could she have a relationship? He's in jail,' he said. 'She's just taken an interest in (Williams') court case, that's all.' Ms Laureano married two years later and became Ms Laureano-Lovett. Renata Laureano-Lovett has got on with her life outside of the criminal underworld spotlight Mark Malia, Jason Moran and Michael Marshall were all murdered on the orders of Carl Williams Williams was murdered the following year in a secure unit of Barwon Prison after he agreed to turn rat against fellow criminals in exchange for extraordinary concessions from Victorian authorities. Today, Ms Laureano-Lovett has kids of her own and continues to keep fit. When approached by Daily Mail Australia at her home, Ms Laureano-Lovett was polite, if not a little shocked that journalists were still seeking her out years after her brief moment in the spotlight. 'No, no thanks,' she said to questions about her thoughts on recent events. To be fair, Williams appeared to have more interest from behind bars in another woman - a qualified hairdresser name Stacey Vella. 'I loved her with all my heart, never in my life have I loved anyone like I did her,' he wrote at the time. Carl also wrote about another woman, who some might argue indirectly caused his own death. In a letter published by Daily Mail Australia last month, Williams revealed he believed his lawyer was a double agent who had helped police turn his hitman into a police snitch. Carl Williams' letter outlining his fears that his lawyer was a double-agent Carl Williams usually had his then wife Roberta in tow when he got about town Roberta Williams (right) is seen with daughter Dhakota (centre) and friend arriving at the Melbourne Supreme Court in Melbourne this year Today Roberta continues to do it tough, filing an urgent injunction to halt the sale of an Essendon family home seized by the tax office. In the wake of the Informer 3838 scandal, Williams believed she could still get back the Primrose Street property, which was seized to repay her family's tax debt. The house had belonged to her father-in-law George, who left the property to granddaughter Dhakota when he died. But he'd also promised it to the tax office as collateral for his debt, and on Saturday it was sold before auction for an undisclosed amount. Roberta and daughter Dhakota are set to star in a Kardashians-style reality TV. Danielle Mcguire was played by the stunning Madeline West in 2008s Underbelly series. Danielle McGuire pictured at around the time Tony Mokbel did a runner to Greece Renata Mokbel (left), sister-in-law of Tony Mokbel and Danielle McGuire leaves court in Melbourne in 2006 after Mokbel skipped town on bail McGuire was splashed across newspapers at the height of the Gangland War when she went arm-in-arm with none other than Fat Tony himself. McGuire fled to Greece to meet Tony Mokbel - the father of her daughter Renate - when he went on the run in 2006. 'Im not an angel but I just want to keep my private life private and my business life business,' McGuire said at the time. 'Im an adult. Ive made my own choices in life and I have to live with that.' She was jailed for three years in 2002 with an 18-month minimum, for trafficking drugs and possessing illegal drugs. Danielle McGuire visits her then boyfriend bikie enforcer Toby Mitchell in 2011 Today McGuire works alongside Brittany in a Port Melbourne hair studio. Brittany angrily protected her mother when contacted by Daily Mail Australia this week. 'Why on earth would she want to talk with you?' she barked. 'Leave us alone'. Gangland lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson not only survived the Gangland War, but continues to practice law to this very day. Zarah Garde-Wilson in 2006 when she caught wind a lawyer had gone rogue Garde-Wilson, who was portrayed in the Underbelly series by actress Kestie Morassi, represented a who's who of gangsters during the bloody war, including Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel. No stranger to controversy, Ms Garde-Wilson became a household name in Melbourne when her boyfriend Lewis Caine became a victim of the Gangland War in 2004. Then in 2011, her former partner, Lansley Simon, was charged with murdering Paul Thornell in Cockatoo. The pair have three children together. He was subsequently cleared. Zarah Garde-Wilson is pictured leaving the Magistrates Court in Melbourne in 2007 Zarah Garde-Wilson remains a regular sight at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court Ms Garde-Wilson, who remains a regular sight at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, had been pushing for a royal commission on the controversial lawyer for the past four years. 'Like the High Court says, it's unprecedented. It's unheard of. It is not allowed to happen,' she said. A royal commission into the sordid saga has been announced. The number of attacks by inmates on prison officers has soared across Britain, it was revealed today. There were a total of 1,838 recorded incidents of physical assaults in 2017 compared to 1,529 in 2016. According to a Freedom of Information request, the region with one of the biggest rises was Yorkshire with 380 incidents in jails in 2016, compared to 542 last year. The number of attacks by inmates on prison officers has soared across Britain (file picture) In London and Thames Valley, it rose from 695 attacks in 2016 to 884 a year later. There were 522 assaults last year in the South West, compared to 423 in 2016. Last year inmate Sadiq Gure had his sentenced extended for attacking a prison officer while under the influence of Spice at Channings Wood Prison in Devon. In Wales, 180 were recorded by prison bosses in 2017, compared to 132 in 2016. And there was an increase of 192 in 2016 to 208 in 2017 in women's prisons, according to the Ministry of Justice statistics. 9 OF 11 REGIONS WHERE ASSAULTS ON PRISON GUARDS HAVE RISEN REGION 2016 2017 Yorkshire 380 542 London & Thames Valley 695 884 South West 423 522 Wales 132 180 East Midlands 102 112 Tees & Wear 93 132 Kent & Essex 204 259 Midlands 540 695 North West 285 307 Out of 11 regions of the country, attacks have risen in nine of them, the Ministry of Justice data showed. Mark Fairhurst, national chair of The Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers (POA), said: 'Levels of violence against prison officers are at unprecedented levels and show no signs of diminishing. 'The POA are pleased that Pava (pelargonic acid vanillylamide) incapacitant spray will be issued to frontline staff to enable them to keep themselves and prisoners safe. 'We need to ensure that perpetrators of assault are fully prosecuted and those staff who receive life changing injuries both physically and mentally are cared for appropriately.' The alarming figures also showed in the East Midlands, the figure increased from 102 in 2016 to 112 in the following 12 months. In Tees and Wear, the number was 132 last year compared to 93 the previous year. The number rocketed to 259 in 2017 in Kent and Essex compared to 204 in 2016. In long term and high security jails, the increase was from 465 in 2016 to 707 last year. Sadiq Gure had his sentenced extended for attacking a prison officer while under the influence of Spice at Channings Wood Prison And the number increased from 540 to 695 in the Midlands and rose from 307 cases in 2016 compared to 285 the following year in the North West. In October, a prison officer was left unconscious after being strangled by an inmate. He was one of two officers assaulted in separate attacks at HMP Lindholme in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Following the attacks, staff refused to go back into the category C jail and staged a protest. Between 2010 and 2015, the Prison Service lost a quarter of its budget and nearly 30 per cent of its staff. Ministers passed their target in April to recruit 2,500 new prison officers, but the number of middle-ranking prison officers who left in the year to June was up by 10 per cent on the previous 12 months. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'Assaults on our hardworking staff will never be tolerated. 'We are ensuring prison officers have the tools they need to do the job, rolling out body worn cameras, 'police-style' handcuffs and restraints, and trialling Pava incapacitant spray. 'Our recruitment drive is vital to ensuring prisons are safe, secure and decent so they can successfully rehabilitate offenders, and 90 per cent of our additional 3,111 prison officers are due to be on landings by the summer.' In August, prisons minister Rory Stewart vowed to quit in 12 months' time if his crackdown on drugs and violence in Britain's ten worst jails has not worked. Mr Stewart staked his job on the success of a drive for Governors to be given military-style training on how to tackle disruptive behaviour. Levels of violence against prison officers are at unprecedented levels and show no signs of diminishing Mark Fairhurst, The Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers Millions of pounds is being spent on body scanners and sniffer dogs to spot hidden packages of drugs. A report in July by Peter Clarke, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, said jails were rife with violence, drugs, suicide and self-harm, overcrowding and squalor. It also revealed that a 'shockingly high' one in seven inmates became hooked on drugs while behind bars. And in September, a protest by prison staff over violence and safety concerns was called off by their union after the Government agreed to drop the threat of court action. The walk-out was triggered by a damning report which warned of a 'dangerous lack of control' at HMP Bedford. Around 50 officers stood outside the prison, with members recalling how one colleague's arm was broken with a pool cue while another had his head stamped on. A drug-addled predator kidnapped his ex-lover and tied her to a tree while he raped her and forced her to 'dig her own grave'. Jason John Smart, 43, also shocked her numerous times with a taser and broke her eye socket with one punch during the 20-hour ordeal in rural South Australia. Much of the shocking attack was filmed on his mobile phone and sent to his friends and another ex-girlfriend. Court documents revealed Smart met the woman, who lived in Perth, through a friend and she flew to Adelaide on October 15, 2015, after he offered to provide her with drugs. Jason John Smart kidnapped his ex-lover and handcuffed her to a tree while he raped her and forced her to 'dig her own grave' The woman moved in to his house in Mannum, 85km east of Adelaide. They began a sexual relationship that 'quickly soured' and she left on November 7. Smart's friend, who wasn't named in court documents, offered her drugs and a place to stay, successfully luring her back to Mannum the next day. However, he and Smart cooked up a plan to kidnap her and the friend drove her to a car park where Smart ambushed her. 'You're dead, b**ch,' he said as he approached her wearing latex gloves, then dragged her to his car and slapped her in the face when she resisted. Smart handcuffed the woman behind her back and drove her to Pellaring Flat in his car, tasering her on the right arm and right thigh as they travelled. When they arrived at bushland, he forced her out of the car and handcuffed her to a tree and told her to start digging in the dirt with her hands. 'You're digging your grave, b***h,' he said in footage recorded on his phone and played in court. The woman moved in to his house in Mannum (stock pictured), 85km east of Adelaide, and they began a sexual relationship that 'quickly soured'. Smart then told her to 'keep digging, mole' and called her a 'f****** mouthy w***e' as he tasered her and hit her forehead while laughing. He later said 'this is a freebie, b***h' before anally raping her without a condom, after which he said 'I bet you enjoyed that'. The woman was then bound with wire, which cut into her wrists, as Smart drove her back to his house. Once they were inside his house, the woman tried to escape by running out the door but was chased down and hit her in the back of her head, causing her to fall on the driveway, before dragging her inside. Smart then punched her in the face, breaking her eye socket, chained her leg to a table, and said 10 of his friends were going to gang-rape her. He then called his friend from earlier and said: 'I'm having a big party. Come and see what I've been - I've been having lots of fun.' The friend and his girlfriend arrived and Smart showed them the videos and CCTV of her escape attempt before they all did cocaine and the couple left. Smart handcuffed the woman behind her back and drove her to bushland in Pellaring Flat (stock pictured) in his car where he handcuffed her to a tree to abuse her Smart then dragged the woman to the bedroom by her hair and anally raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on him. She asked for a glass of water which he got her, but then splashed in her face. She was forced to sleep in the corner chained to the bed. Smart sent several photos of her chained up to his friends and an ex-girlfriend. One of the people who received the photos alerted police, who arrived the next morning with a search warrant. Smart claimed to be looking for his door keys while he unchained his captive, and told her to sit on the couch and tell officers she had been mugged. However, as soon as she was taken away by police she told her harrowing story to a female officer. She was treated at Royal Adelaide Hospital the same day. Police later found a broken handcuff, latex gloves, tape, a tree with marks consistent with someone being tied to it, the beginnings of a hole, and a beer can with Smart's DNA on it when they searched the bushland. Smart destroyed his phone before police could seize it but some videos sent to others were recovered, or described at trial by friends who saw them. Justices at his recent appeal in the Supreme Court of South Australia described his excuses as 'bizarre', 'incredible', and 'fanciful beyond belief' At trial, Smart admitted to kidnapping the woman and cuffing her to the tree, forcing her to dig the hole and slapping and tasering her. However, he claimed this was just a plan to scare her out of her drug addiction and denied raping her at the scene. Justices at his recent appeal called this explanation 'bizarre' and his claim that he didn't mean to hurt her when he knocked her down in the driveway 'incredible'. '[Smart's] explanations for his admitted and/or objectively proved conduct are fanciful beyond belief,' they wrote, denying his appeal. Smart was jailed for 20 years with a non-parole period of 15 years after admitting to or being found guilty of all but one of 12 charges. The son of a prominent MP has admitted to coaxing underage girls to send him nude photographs. Daniel James Knuth, 21, pleaded guilty to 35 child sex offences when he fronted Townsville District Court in northeastern Queensland on Friday, the Courier Mail reported. The son of KAP Member for Hill Shane Knuth has pleaded guilty to 27 counts of using internet to procure a child, seven counts of involving children in making child exploitation material and one count of possessing child exploitation material. The court heard Knuth made a Facebook account in 2016 and posed as a personal trainer named Jack Thomason. Daniel James Knuth, 21 (pictured), pleaded guilty to 35 child sex offences when he fronted Townsville District Court in northeastern Queensland on Friday, the Courier Mail reported The son of KAP Member for Hill Shane Knuth (centre, with Daniel) has also pleaded guilty to 27 counts of using internet to procure a child, seven counts of involving children in making child exploitation material and one count of possessing child exploitation material '(On one occasion he sent) ''show me your tits so I know you are serious'',' Crown prosecutor Dominique Orr said said of Knuth's sexual conversation with the girls Knuth lives with dwarfism and created the fake profile after no one would talk to him on his real social media account. Crown prosecutor Dominique Orr said Knuth used the profile to engage in sexually explicit conversations with 27 child victims between October 2016 and September 2017. Ms Orr said Knuth was a 'sexual predator' who had preyed on vulnerable children between the ages of 12 to 15. The court heard Knuth would call girls 'hot' or 'sexy' before he asked them for their age. In exchange for nude requests of the girls, Knuth would send photographs of often naked male models and pretend they were of him. '(On one occasion he sent) ''show me your tits so I know you are serious'',' Ms Orr said of Knuth's sexual conversation with the girls. Some girls were even asked to perform sexual acts on him in the case that they might meet. 'He asked a child if she would give him good head and she declined,' Ms Orr said. Knuth allegedly became aggressive when two of the girls refused his requests for nudes. The crown prosecutor said Knuth threatened to have one of the girls raped and bashed. On two separate occasions, adult relatives of girls had messaged Knuth demanding answers as to why he was speaking to a child. Knuth (centre) allegedly became aggressive when two of the girls refused his requests for nudes The court heard Knuth's victims were spread over a large region with some from interstate. NSW Police were the first to become aware of Knuth. When Queensland Police subsequently raided his Charters Towers home on September 24, 2017, Knuth handed over his phone and computer. Police found 14 images sent from the children and other visual material categorised as exploitation material. Defence barrister Bruce Gillan said his client had only negative experiences with women. Knuth had undergone 17 surgeries to correct his bone deformities. Mr Gillan argued Knuth did not grasp the severity of his actions and did not know he was engaging in child porn. Furthermore, he had never intended to meet the girls. He argued prison would be a difficult environment for Knuth. Judge Greg Lynham brushed aside the defence barrister's suggestion and said he would consider handing down a jail sentence. Though he would first seek advice from Corrective Services about vulnerabilities of people with dwarfism in prison before he made his decision. He said it was the first time he had seen this type of criminal behaviour. Knuth's father MP Shane was present at the court and appeared emotional at times. Walking out of the courthouse he said: 'We love our son, obviously we dont condone what hes done well move on from here but obviously I cant say anymore because its before the court.' Knuth was given bail. He will return to court in February 2019. In exchange for nude requests of the girls, Knuth (front) would send photographs of often naked male models and pretend they were of him Miss Spain's Angela Ponce is the first transgender contest in the 66-year history of the Miss Universe competition - and she says she wants to send a message to US President Donald Trump. The willowy beauty, 27, is making history since the pageant reversed a longstanding policy in 2012 that participants must be 'naturally born' women. Explaining her broad appeal, she said: 'Who hasn't suffered from prejudice? Who hasn't had to deal with bullying?' The finals of the competition will be held early Monday in Thailand's capital Bangkok and Miss Spain wants to highlight how the transgender community continues to be marginalised and misunderstood, with high rates of suicide. The willowy contestant is making history since the pageant reversed a longstanding policy in 2012 that participants must be 'naturally born' women She earned praise for her portrayal of a flamenco dancer during the national costume portion of the competition A leaked White House report said President Trump's administration is considering pushing changes to the law to define gender by biological traits at birth, while trying to block transgender people from military service. Ponce is defiant about how to respond to Trump, a former owner of Miss Universe, and others who would try to box her in by physical traits. 'I always say: having a vagina didn't transform me into a woman. I am a woman, already before birth, because my identity is here,' she told AFP, gesturing to her head. She said she also took issue with the classification of trans people by large sections of society. She claims that these ideas are based on prejudice and narrow assessments of gender. Miss Spain wants to highlight how the transgender community continues to be marginalised Ponce, who works with a foundation in Spain helping children struggling with stigma linked to being trans, is aware of the visibility she brings to the Miss Universe platform 'Outsiders say what I can and cannot do, what I am and what I am not,' Ponce said. 'No, I'm sorry. To be a woman is your identity. It doesn't matter if you are white, black, if you have a vagina... if you have a penis.' Ponce, who works with a foundation in Spain helping children struggling with stigma linked to being trans, is aware of the visibility she brings to the Miss Universe platform. Her performance has so far drawn praise, from her portrayal of a flamenco dancer during the national costume portion of the competition to her strut down the runway in a shimmery mermaid-like gown in the evening dress category. 'You can empower yourself like I have and turn something negative into your biggest strength,' she said. 'Children are born without prejudices and I think that if we talk to them about diversity from a young age... we can create a new generation of human beings who are raised a lot better, more tolerant and respectful.' This year's event, which critics say is a throwback to stereotypes of the the pre #MeToo era, has largely preached a message of inclusivity. She said she also took issue with the classification of trans people by large sections of society Ponce works with a foundation in Spain helping children struggling with stigma linked to being trans She says: 'To be a woman is your identity. It doesn't matter if you are white, black, if you have a vagina... if you have a penis' It boasts an all-women panel of judges made up of business leaders and former Miss Universe titleholders. But gaffes still abound -- Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers got in hot water for appearing to mock the contestants from Vietnam and Cambodia on social media for not being able to speak English. She has since posted an apology on Instagram, saying she did not 'intend to hurt' her fellow competitors. Monday's event will see last year's winner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa crown her successor among 94 countries in a live televised event hosted by American comic turned TV host Steve Harvey and supermodel Ashley Graham. Palestinian security forces beat Hamas supporters with batons as they broke up a protest Friday in the West Bank city of Hebron, witnesses and police said. The protest in the southern West Bank city was planned in support of the militant Islamist group on the 31st anniversary of its founding. Around 50 activists carried Hamas flags confronted Palestinian Authority security forces and blocked traffic following noon prayers. On social media sites, activists posted videos showing the security forces using batons against both male and female demonstrators in Hebron. Palestinian security forces arrest a demonstrator from his car, after they announced the centre of Hebron as closed military area. Several protesters were injured Palestinian security forces pull a man out of a car as they try to disperse a rally of Hamas suporters, marking the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Islamist movement Palestinian security forces scuffle with a Hamas supporter during protests on December 14 2018 In Nablus in the northern West Bank, protesters from other factions clashed with Hamas demonstrators after they raised its flag, witnesses said. Adnan al-Damiri, spokesman for the Palestinian police, confirmed they prevented a pro-Hamas protest in Hebron, called initially to demonstrate against Israel. 'But Hamas... demonstrated against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its security services in the city centre and not against the (Israeli) occupation.' A Palestinian woman shields her injured husband in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron Palestinian movements, including Hamas, called for protests in the West Bank after the weekly Friday prayers The PA, led by president Mahmud Abbas and his Fatah party, cooperates closely with Israeli security, while Hamas has fought three wars with the Jewish state since 2008. Hamas cells operate in the West Bank despite the PA and Israel seeking to arrest them. Two Israeli soldiers were killed Thursday and two other Israelis injured when a man opened fire at a bus stop at a settlement in the West Bank, before fleeing. Palestinians burn tires in response to Israeli intervention to a protest against the Israeli raids to Palestinians' homes in Hebron, West Bank In overnight raids, the Palestinian army said it arrested 40 people, most of them affiliated to the Islamist movement Hamas Palestinian security forces intervene in a march organized to mark the 31st establishment anniversary of Hamas Hamas has claimed two other recent shooting attacks in the West Bank but has so far not taken responsibility for Thursday's attack. The Islamist movement has controlled the Gaza Strip since forcing out Abbas's forces in 2007, with the two at loggerheads since. An Egyptian security delegation visited the West Bank's main city of Ramallah to meet with Abbas late Thursday to try to calm tensions. Palestinian security forces scuffled with Hamas supporters as they broke up a protest Friday in the West Bank city of Hebron, witnesses and police said The US Coast Guard is searching for a man who went overboard a cruise ship near the Florida Keys on Friday morning. Thomas McElhany, 26, was reported overboard early on Friday morning from the Carnival Victory cruise ship off the coast of Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reported. 'He didnt fall. According to authorities, it was an intentional act,' Kimberly Wyatt, a news director who happened to be on board the cruise ship, said. The ship was about 35 miles away from Islamorada in the Florida Keys when McElhany is believed to have gone overboard. The US Coast Guard is searching for Thomas McElhany, 26, (pictured) who was reported overboard early on Friday morning from the Carnival Victory cruise ship off the coast of Florida Passengers aboard the Carnival Victory cruise ship were alerted that a passenger was missing at around 3.00am Eastern on Friday, according to people who were on board the ship. 'We were woken up by the public announcement system paging an individual a bit after 3am,' a passenger identified on Twitter as Diana Jorio tweeted. 'It was determined he went overboard at 5:30 am and 6:am we turned around. I was such a sad way to end an otherwise wonderful trip.' A helicopter, vessel and surveillance aircraft are being used in the search effort. A tweet confirming the tragedy by news director Kimberly Wyatt is shown uthorities said that he did not fall, and it was an intentional act, according to journalist Kimberly Wyatt, who was on board the ship Passengers aboard the Carnival Victory cruise ship were alerted that a passenger was missing at around 3.00am Eastern on Friday, according to people who were on board the ship A photo of McElhany was shown on televisions all over the cruise ship. A letter signed by Captain Roberto Tine was delivered to each guest's cabin on Friday, confirming that the man was shown on camera going overboard. It added that the ship's CareTeam had been assisting the man's family, on board and thanked guests for their patience. 'Please continue to keep our guest and his family in our thoughts and prayers,' it read. Wyatt tweeted that said she had seem McElhany between 1.00am and 1.30am. A letter signed by Captain Roberto Tine was delivered to each guest's cabin on Friday, confirming that the man was shown on camera going overboard. Passengers are shown holding the letter from the captain on Friday It added that the ship's CareTeam had been assisting the man's family, on board and thanked guests for their patience 'Please continue to keep our guest and his family in our thoughts and prayers,' the captain's letter read. A view of the top deck of the Carnival Victory cruise ship is shown The Coast Guard says a helicopter, vessel and surveillance aircraft are being used in the ongoing search. The cruise ship participated in search efforts before being relieved by the Coast Guard, Carnival said. The ship was heading back to its homeport in Miami after a four-day cruise when the passenger was reported missing. The stops on the route included Key West and Cozumel. For confidential support in the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here. For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here. For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here. This is the moment an argument which caused a plane to be sent back to Stansted Airport just 15 minutes into the journey breaks out on a Ryanair flight. Footage from inside the Lisbon-bound aircraft shows two passengers shouting at each other while several others stand around them in the plane aisle. Another short clip shows a man wearing a cap being taken off the flight by armed police officers as other passengers cheer, clap and shout 'out.' Footage from inside the Lisbon-bound aircraft shows two passengers shouting at each other A man who was on the flight said: 'There wasnt an actual fight, no one got punched it was just threats. 'Apparently one of the guys was stepping on the other, so he pushed him. The witness then explained that a mobile phone was dropped and the men started to threaten to fight each other. He said: 'We all had to leave the plane and wait for 14.15 to board the next one. The first plane was schedule to arrive at 14.40 to Lisbon. 'The guy on the last clip was immediately taken of the plane, while the second stayed inside answering some questions to the police. One man was taken off the plane while police officers kept the other man on board to question him 'While we never saw the first guy again, the second one was able to board the second flight. 'I dont know what he said, but they were both involved in this whole situation, and despite one being more aggressive than the other, he didnt behave correctly. 'He might have started it but the other didnt help with the situation, he just made it worse.' Other customers on the flight to Lisbon yesterday described the 'scary' moment the jet was turned back to Britain after just 15 minutes in the air. Witnesses said police with guns entered the jet 'like something out of a movie' to remove the fighting men in an incident that left children in tears. The Ryanair flight (file picture) to Lisbon had to return to Stansted Airport after two men started arguing on the plane One witness said the situation was 'very intense and scary, kids crying, looked like something out of a movie.' The flight, FR1886, heading towards Lisbon, Portugal, from Stansted, departed at the scheduled time at 11.50am but then had to divert back to the airport. A spokesman for Essex Police said: 'We were called to reports of a passenger being disruptive on a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Lisbon at around 12.45pm today (Thursday, December 13). The flight redirected back to Stansted Airport. 'We established there had been an argument between two passengers. 'After speaking to both individuals, one was removed from the flight and reported for a public order offence.' A Ryanair spokesman said: 'This flight from London Stansted Airport to Lisbon returned to Stansted shortly after take-off after a number of passengers became disruptive inflight. 'The aircraft landed normally and was met by police upon arrival. The aircraft will depart to Lisbon shortly. 'We will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority. This is now a matter for local police.' A judge has spared comedian Artie Lange jail time even though he tested positive for cocaine and amphetamine. Despite the positive test Friday in Newark, the judge ordered Lange's attorney to apply to have his client admitted to drug court. If Lange is denied acceptance into drug court, he could end up in jail. Lange, who was in court Friday for a probation violation, appeared with what looked like a collapsed septum. Chronic use of cocaine can caused the septum - the wall of cartilage and bone that separates your two nostrils - to become misaligned. The Hoboken resident was ordered to serve four years' probation in June after he pleaded guilty to heroin possession stemming from a 2017 traffic stop. NJ.com reports Lange told the judge Friday that heroin is out of his life. The 51-year-old is a cast member in the HBO series Crashing. He also performed on the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV and spent nearly a decade as a co-host on The Howard Stern Show. Artie Lange, 51, is a cast member in the HBO series Crashing. He also performed on the Fox sketch comedy series Mad TV and spent nearly a decade as a co-host on The Howard Stern Show. He is seen above in February 2017 Lange's lawyer, Frank Arleo, said the comedia tested positive for cocaine, amphetamine, benzodiazepines and Suboxone. Arleo told the judge that Lange had prescriptions for benzos and amphetamine, according to NJ Advance Media. Suboxone is used to treat opioid addiction. Prosecutors argued that if Lange tested positive for cocaine, he would have had to have used it sometime within the last two days. 'I wouldnt be arrogant enough to come in here after using cocaine for two days,' Lange told the judge. 'Its in my system and it shouldnt be.' In the '90s, Artie starred in the comedy sketch series MADtv but left after being arrested for alleged cocaine abuse. Quincy Jones, who was a producer of the show, tried to support Lange in his recovery. A number of other friends in show business also offered their support. Judd Apatow, the producer of Crashing, pledged his support for Lange last year on Twitter after he was arrested for drug possession. Others who chimed in with well-wishes for Lange included fellow comic Norm Macdonald, who took to Twitter to express his concern for his longtime friend, who he shared the screen with in the 1998 film Dirty Work, as well as ABC's The Norm Show. 'I want you to know @artiequitter that I was heartbroken by the [news] this morning and am praying for you,' the Canadian comic, 57, tweeted. The comedian and author has been open about his drug issues and in 2010 was hospitalized with an eight month stay in a psychiatric ward after attempting to commit suicide. In 2013 he released his second book titled Crash and Burn about his 'descent into drug addiction, life-threatening depression, and ultimately, his recovery'. After his arrest in Hoboken last year, the unabashed comic took to Twitter to address his fans, saying he was 'doing great' and has 'never wanted to live more.' He added: 'I wish I could tell u how my story ends. I hope it's being old & smiling cuz of unique memories. But I'm such a flawed person guys. Tryin!' Lange's former boss of eight years, Stern, has not commented on the comic's troubles. Lange told NJ.com last year that he and the King of All Media were no longer on speaking terms, in the wake of Lange's 2009 departure from the show amid a previous drug crisis that manifested into a suicide attempt; as well as his criticism of Stern's on-air product in recent years. 'Like any other friendship, they ebb and flow, but right now it's a big ebb. Howard doesn't talk to me,' he told the outlet. 'I became a full-blown junkie, and when you do that, after helping me and trying to help me immensely, they tell you in rehab, you might lose some relationships that you cherish, and Howard is one of them.' Ex-Chicago white police officer Jason Van Dyke, convicted of murder in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald, is to be sentenced January 18th. Van Dyke appeared in Cook County Court on Friday looking a changed man and sporting a beard, after more than a month behind bars. A jury in October found Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery for the 2014 shooting. Jason Van Dyke, convicted of the murder of black teenager Laquan McDonald, is to be sentenced January 18th. Van Dyke (pictured on the left) has grown a beard while in custody A jury in October found Jason Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder. Second-degree murder usually carries a sentence of less than 20 years Van Dyke, 40, was the first Chicago officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in more than 50 years. Dashcam video showed Van Dyke firing his weapon 16 times as 17-year-old Laquan McDonald walked away from police while holding a knife. McDonald was surrounded by police officers on South Pulaski Road on October 20, 2014. The African-American teen was carrying a three-inch knife and he allegedly ignored officers' orders to stop. Van Dyke, 40, (on the left) was the first Chicago officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in more than 50 years. He fired at 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times But witnesses reportedly say he never threatened the officers or even turned in their direction before a white police officer shot him. During the trial Van Dyke spent more than an hour on the stand answering questions during a tearful and at times defensive testimony. He testified that he thought officers were under attack and said he shot McDonald after the teen came toward him with a knife. However, several members of the jury said Van Dyke, as a veteran police officer, should have taken more time to evaluate the scene when he arrived. The video showing McDonald's death was released in 2015 prompting protests and nationwide outrage. It also drew federal scrutiny of policing in the nation's third-largest city The video released in 2015 prompted protests and nationwide outrage. In the aftermath Chicago's top officer was fired, the local state's attorney was voted out and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Chicago Police officers were poorly trained. After nearly three years of pretrial hearings, lawyers spent less than three weeks presenting their cases to the jury. Second-degree murder usually carries a sentence of less than 20 years. Van Dyke could also be granted probation. Judge Vincent Gaughan on Friday denied defense motions for an acquittal and a new trial. A Montana man pleaded guilty Friday to stabbing two people to death, including a teenage girl, dismembering their bodies and then trying to dissolve them in tubs filled with acid in the basement of a home. Augustus Standingrock's plea was part of a deal with prosecutors, who will recommend the 26-year-old be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide and accountability to deliberate homicide in the deaths last year of Marilyn Pickett, 15, and Jackson Wiles, 24. Prosecutors have said Standingrock believed Wiles had sexually abused a young girl close to him. Augustus Standingrock's plea was part of a deal with prosecutors, who will recommend the 26-year-old be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole Marilyn Pickett, 15, and Jackson Wiles, 24, were killed at the Missoula house of co-defendant Tiffanie Pierce (above), who still faces charges of deliberate homicide During Friday's court hearing, Standingrock told District Judge James Wheelis that he stabbed Wiles (left) and that Pierce killed Pickett (right) Video courtesy of KRTV The two were killed at the Missoula house of co-defendant Tiffanie Pierce, who still faces charges of deliberate homicide. She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in March. During Friday's court hearing, Standingrock told District Judge James Wheelis that he stabbed Wiles and that Pierce killed Pickett, the Missoulian newspaper reported. The judge asked if Pickett had been free to escape the home. 'She tried,' Standingrock answered. He said he handed Pierce the knife and didn't stop her when she attacked the teen. Pierce's roommate told police he was awakened by a woman's screams in August 2017, according to court records. He said he found Pierce and Standingrock in the bathroom washing off blood and that Pierce told him there was a dead woman in the basement. Pierce has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in March. Standingrock and Pierce dismembered the bodies and tried to dissolve them in tubs filled with chemicals that she bought, prosecutors said Pierce later told her roommate that Standingrock brought over a couple of people and that he took them to the basement and attacked one while Pierce attacked the other, the roommate told investigators. Standingrock and Pierce dismembered the bodies and tried to dissolve them in tubs filled with chemicals that she bought, prosecutors said. Officials said the coroner needed dental records and DNA to identify the bodies. Investigators also found knives and an ax covered in blood and human tissue. Standingrock had been scheduled for trial on Jan. 4. Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst previously said she would not seek the death penalty. A young mother who was violently separated from her toddler at a Brooklyn social services office used the child as a 'shield' so she wouldn't be arrested, a report states. Jazmine Headley 23, was arrested earlier this week for a number of offences and had been held at Rikers Island before being released on Wednesday. Footage of her arrest, posted to social media by an onlooker, caused outrage from those who say its indicative of how low-income social service recipients are treated. Jazmine Headley, 23, who was separated from her son a Brooklyn social services office used the child as a 'shield' to prevent her arrest, a police report states It showed Headley ending up lying face-up on the floor as officers try to take her baby from her arms, with officers pulling a stun gun out at the crowd. Now statements from two Human Resources Administration officers at the SNAP center claim Headley acted 'disorderly' and 'irate' when she refused to move from the floor of the facility. She also bit a city police officer on the arm and she was later taken to hospital, according to an internal agency report obtained by The New York Post. She claimed that she got into a fight with the HRA officers because she was sitting on the floor with her 17-month-old son, Damone Buckman III, because there were no chairs available. Statements seen by The New York Post claim a peace officer 'made several attempts to calm client Headley down and to just have a seat to avoid [the] situation from getting worse'. One report states that 'she began to use her baby as a shield from getting arrested and was telling the officers, 'You better not touch me'. Another report says Headley 'intentionally used her toddler son as a shield. He was sitting in his stroller, but she took him out once she knew the police were called'. The video (above) shows Headley on the floor at a SNAP center in Boerum Hill, New York At one point in the struggle they tried to take her one-year-old out of her arms as the woman cried: 'I'm begging you please' Before the NYPD arrived Headley was told that she could not sit on the floor of the facility 'because its a passageway and should be free of obstruction'. But according to the statement, Headley countered by 'saying she is not f*****g moving anywhere'. Another supervisor tried to talk to Headley but she refused to comply and became very loud, irate. She also used a profanity at security supervisors. Headley was released from Rikers Island jail on Wednesday where she was held on charges including obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child and trespassing. But on Wednesday Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said that in deciding to drop the case against Headley, he was acting 'in the interest of justice'. Gonzalez pointed a finger of blame at the guard, accusing him of escalating the situation as Headley was getting ready to leave with her 18-month-old child, and as a result 'creating an awful scenario of a baby being torn from is mother'. A report seen by The New York Post states that staff called the NYPD when the mother did not immediately comply with the guards orders that she either stand up or leave. The video of Headley's (left and right) arrest, posted to social media by an onlooker, caused a furor, spurring outrage from those who say its indicative of how low-income social service recipients are treated Jazmine Headley, center, joins attorney Brian Neary and her mother, Jacqueline Jenkins, outside a courthouse in Trenton, New Jersey Two responding NYPD cops had 'approached client Headley to get up and leave the facility several times, but she insisted on getting service before she leaves the facility,' the report states. A witness report described the moment police wrestled with Headley and her baby. It states: 'As the NYPD officers were picking her up she began to flare up her arms. While resisting she put the baby between her legs in a tight grip. 'NYPD officers tried to get the baby off her but she was putting up a fight', the report states, adding that Headley then 'kicked me on my right shoulder'. Another peace officer got bitten on her left arm. A photo obtained by The Post shows an HRA peace officers arm with visible bite marks. The officer was taken to Methodist Hospital after the incident, according to the report. In one of the reports, an HRA officer states: 'The officers were careful while handling her not to harm the baby. 'The female client was the one putting him in a tight hold, grabbing his clothes and even wrapped her legs around his body so that he couldnt be detached from her. Headley said she was excited about being reunited with her son following her release from Rikers Island jail on Wednesday 'The female officers grabbed her arm in order to cuff her but the female client kept pulling away to keep a grip on the bay. 'Additional NYPD officers were called to the scene. As soon as they arrived the baby was released from the female client and she was arrested and escorted out of the facility'. Officials have said the situation is being reviewed by the New York Police Department and the Department of Social Services. Two city employees at the Boereum Hill SNAP center have been placed on modified duty in connection to the incident. At one point during the struggle seen in the now-viral video posted to Facebook, in order to arrest Headley, officers tried to yank her son out of her arms as she cried: 'They're hurting my son... I'm begging you please.' Other people can be heard screaming in the background as one woman shrieked: 'Oh my God, oh my God, look what they're doing to us, look what they're doing to her.' One officer pulled out a stun gun as an onlooker shouted: 'There's a f***ing baby in her hands!' On Wednesday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio broke apologize to Ms Headley, to criticize the way she was treated and to defend his response to it. 'I want to apologize to her on behalf of all 8.6 million New Yorkers,' de Blasio said during his weekly news conference on Wednesday, at a public housing complex in Bushwick, Brooklyn. He added: 'What happened to Jazmine Headley and her son Damone should never have happened, should never happen to anybody'. A convicted terrorist who once proclaimed he and his wife were the 'jihadi Bonnie and Clyde' denies his newfound Christianity is a plot to reduce his sentence. Sameh Bayda and his wife Alo-Bridget Namoa, both aged 21, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out a terror attack in Sydney on New Year's Eve 2015, and are currently awaiting sentencing. During a sentencing hearing Bayda and his wife both renounced their Islamic faith. Bayda said he turned to Christianity while in incarceration, and told the court he regularly reads the Bible. 'I believe in Christ, what he did on the Cross,' he testified under oath. Scroll down for video Sameh Bayda (left) and his wife Alo-Bridget Namoa (right), both aged 21, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to carry out a terror attack in Sydney on New Year's Eve 2015 But crown prosecutor Nicholas Robinson questioned the legitimacy of his claim during a sentencing hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday. Mr Robinson said: 'Your assertion you have found Christianity is no more than a pretence to mitigate the penalty you fear you may face,' The Daily Telegraph reported. Bayda denied the prosecution's allegations, instead insisting he regularly visits the prison chaplain and wanted to embrace the new religion. He said while he still loved his bride Namoa, he no longer recognised their marriage, because it was completed under Shariah law. 'The marriage was broken since we have both left the religion,' he said. Bayda has since renounced his Islamic faith and turned to Christianity in the time that he has been detained, and told the court he regularly reads the Bible On the first day of their trial Mr Robinson said the pair had a large volume of extremist material including Islamic State and al-Qaeda magazines. 'They considered Islam under attack around the world and they had an obligation to respond,' the prosecutor told the jury on Monday. Mr Robinson said a 'goodbye note' Namoa had written to her husband was found on one of the couple's phones, while Namoa authored a neatly handwritten and unsigned note found at Bayda's home. Addressed to 'my Boo Boo', the handwritten note in effect told Bayda she'd never give evidence against him. 'Allah is my legislator, I don't follow their corrupt laws,' the note stated, according to the prosecutor. Mr Robinson said the evidence included thousands of images, numerous graphic videos of executions and other deaths, and social media profiles that showed the pair had adopted alternate names or kunya. A self-confessed alcoholic who choked and stabbed his estranged girlfriend to death, staying with her 'until she went cold', has told police no AVO was going to stop his violence. Russell Brian Wood, 27, viciously attacked his partner Sarah Brown, 34, with a kitchen knife over an argument he 'couldn't remember' in her Whalan Western Sydney home. In the aftermath of the murder, Wood made a series of bizarre and chilling confessions to police, admitting that 'no AVO was ever going to keep me away from her,' and 'I just did a domestic violence course'. Russell Brian Wood (pictured) who choked and stabbed his estranged girlfriend in Sydney, made a series of bizarre and chilling confessions to police Ms Brown had taken out an apprehended violence order against her future killer, prohibiting him from approaching or making any contact. But it wasn't enough to deter the deranged former lover from turning up to her home on the night of September 30 in 2017 to lie in wait until she returned. 'I grabbed her, spun her around, grabbed her by the neck, dropped her to the ground, wrapped my legs around her legs and stretched her out,' Wood, who had Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, said. After pleading guilty to the murder in October, Wood was sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday to 25-and-a-half years in jail with a non-parole period of 19 years and one month. Wood will spend at least 19 years in jail after attacking his partner Sarah Brown, 34, (pictured) with a kitchen knife over an argument he 'couldn't remember' in her Western Sydney home He said he couldn't remember what they had been fighting over but she had told him to get out of the house. Police were called to the property hours after the stabbing where they found Wood, curled up next to Ms Brown, crying and saying 'please don't be dead, baby, you can't be dead' among other things. Justice Geoffrey Bellew said Wood had a 'flagrant disregard' for the orders made to protect Ms Brown. 'The deceased was murdered in an atmosphere of serious domestic violence,' the judge said. In the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Geoffrey Bellew jailed him for 25-and-a-half years with a non-parole period of 19 years and one month He concluded the murder was further aggravated by Wood's intoxication. The 'on-again, off-again' couple had been drinking together earlier that evening at a tavern in Mount Druitt but Woods left before Ms Brown and waited at her home until she arrived after midnight. Their relationship had ended one week prior to the murder, according to the agreed facts. It was 'inconceivable' - based on his record of domestic violence assaults - that the self-confessed alcoholic 'did not realise his ingestion of excessive alcohol would cause him to become violent', Justice Bellew said. Wood's sentence was backdated meaning he'll be eligible for parole from October 2036 when he'll be 45. It's a far cry from the sequins and sparkle of the Strictly studio. But Claudia Winkleman had no qualms about rolling her sleeves up and getting stuck in when she spent the afternoon helping out at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The BBC presenter wanted to give a few hours of her spare time to the NHS after reading about the Daily Mails Christmas campaign to recruit more volunteers. Inspired by the pledges of thousands of readers, she fetched coffees, pushed patients in wheelchairs, made beds, scrubbed a mattress and even checked heart rates during her three-hour stint on the wards at the hospital in west London. Claudia Winkleman made tea for the nurses with Olivia Lambert 'staff nurse' and Emily Eastwood 'nurse in charge' during her trip to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Claudia helps patient Thelma who is sitting in a weighing chair during her three-hour visit There arent many things that absolutely spring out at me but the Helpforce campaign with the Daily Mail seems like the most brilliant idea in the whole world, she said. Who wouldnt want a visit when youre in hospital? As soon as I arrived at the Chelsea and Westminster they said can you pass some tea round?, so straight away youre in there with drinks, talking to patients, then youre making beds, then youre offering lunch or supper. The Mail and charity Helpforce are asking readers to pledge three hours a week or one day a month to their local NHS for six months. The campaign has received backing from a host of celebrities including JK Rowling and Sir Cliff Richard, alongside Theresa May and Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England. Taking patients to cinema helps me and them Ian Chandler, 63, a retired security guard, has volunteered at the cinema in Londons Chelsea and Westminster hospital for two years: My mum Doris was in and out of Chelsea and Westminster so Id spend quite a bit of time there. During one of her stays, I heard about the MediCinema charity, which builds and runs cinemas in hospitals for patients and their families. Ian Chandler is a volunteer at London and Chelsea Hospital and works in the Medi Cinema Mum couldnt go as shed gone blind, but the hospital said I was welcome. Going to the hospital cinema gave me a break from the ward and worrying how ill mum was Id been her carer for five years. 'It was lovely to see patients of all ages having such a nice time there and when I discovered that they were picked up from the wards by volunteers, sometimes even in their beds with drips still attached, I thought, What a great thing to do. Mums death in January last year left a huge gap in my life Id given up my job of 32 years to look after her. I also wanted to give something back by way of thanks for the brilliant care shed received, so I got in touch with the cinema manager. I do two five-hour sessions a week, escorting patients and sitting with them during the film if they want company. Some are extremely ill but you wouldnt know it in the cinema. They seem to forget about their troubles and just enjoy themselves. We show all types of film the latest releases, golden oldies, comedies and musicals. Sometimes film stars will do a Q&A session and give out toys. You should have seen the childrens faces when Chewbacca walked in. Moments like that are priceless. When I see them smiling, I feel like Ive achieved something worthwhile and leave with a great sense of satisfaction. Advertisement So far, 22,742 kind-hearted readers have signed up since the recruitment drive was launched two weeks ago, pledging a combined total of 1,293,588 hours over six months. Some 13,191 people have promised to give three hours a week, while 9,551 have pledged one day a month. They will carry out vital hospital roles such as mentoring patients, collecting prescriptions, providing friendship and even transporting blood. Prospective volunteers can register their interest by filling out a simple form online. They will be matched with an NHS Trust with placements likely to run from the spring. Applications are open until the end of the month. Miss Winkleman wanted to do more than just offer her support, and asked if she could lend a hand to staff and patients at Chelsea and Westminster days ahead of tonights Strictly Come Dancing final. She chatted to patients and met fans on St Mary Abbots Ward, a surgical assessment unit that specialises in gastroenterology and colorectal surgery. One patient, Imogen, 22, was thrilled when the star recorded a video message on her phone for her best friend Jess. She said: Jess is a huge fan of Strictly, she never misses it, so shell be amazed when she gets that message from Claudia. She also joined healthcare assistant Dan on his rounds as he took another patients blood pressure. Dimpy, 30, said: You can tell by how fast my heart is beating how excited I am. You make me smile just by being here. Miss Winkleman, whose daughter Matilda needed burns treatment after her Halloween costume caught fire in 2014, heaped praise on the NHS. I believe in the NHS more than I believe in anything, she said. It has helped me, helped my family, helped so many friends of ours and I dont want us to take it for granted. The people employed by the NHS work incredibly hard. The nurses Ive seen working around me today put in long shifts and they never stop. Theyre superheroes and I dont use that term lightly. They show enormous kindness and sensitivity and are beacons of light in our darkest times. Im grateful to the NHS every single day, Im happy to volunteer myself and wholeheartedly support hospital helpforce. The role of volunteering will be a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan, due out later this month. There are obvious benefits to staff and patients, but Miss Winkleman said she also came away with a sense of well-being. She said spending time with patients when they were being assessed, treated or recovering from an operation felt truly worthwhile. When it came to doing work on the ward, I dont think I was too much of a let-down with the cleaning and bed-making, Miss Winkleman said. But it was the conversations I had with the patients that I really enjoyed and which I hope the patients enjoyed too. The TV host also spoke with Dimpy Punihani and took her blood pressure while on rounds I felt I connected with lots of them just through chatting and getting to know them in a very short space of time. Anyone can do the same, and brighten up somebodys day, by signing up for the volunteer scheme. Its a privilege to help and support this brilliant campaign. Any help we can give the NHS would be great, anything we can do to lighten their load by volunteering would be fantastic. I just want them to feel appreciated. How helpers could prevent new Mid Staffs Volunteering is paramount to making the NHS more transparent, according to the chairman of the Mid Staffordshire hospital inquiry. Sir Robert Francis said volunteers improved the understanding amongst the rest of us about whats actually going on in there. He also said volunteers improved hospitals humanity and ensured they could better respond to patients needs. Sir Roberts inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire hospitals scandal was published in 2013. Hundreds of patients died needlessly at the trust between 2005 and 2009. Some were left so dehydrated they drank water from vases and doctors admitted they became immune to the sound of pain. Sir Roberts inquiry prompted major reforms of the NHS to undo the culture of secrecy and encourage doctors and nurses to report concerns. He has now thrown his weight behind the Mails Christmas campaign. He said the Mid Staffordshire hospitals had very strict visiting hours and kept the outside world out. An organisation that welcomes people in to help ... is less likely to be a place where things go wrong, he said. Referring to the benefits of volunteering, Sir Robert said: Not only does it provide extra helping hands, and helps with the humanity, but it helps with the transparency. It increases the understanding within the service about what people need and it also increases the understanding amongst the rest of us about whats actually going on in there. Sir Robert is now chairman of Healthwatch, a charity which recruits volunteers to find out what patients think about their local hospital or health service. He said: Were not asking people to volunteer to be the regulator but its simply that any member of the public ... should feel free to raise the issues and make suggestions about how things could be made better. He added: People can bring to the service so many things, they can bring their help, they can bring experience and they can bring views. Theresa May is facing calls from ministers to delay Brexit, it can be revealed today. Amid cabinet divisions over how to break the deadlock, she has been warned there is no way Britain will be ready to leave the EU on March 29 next year. Downing Street has insisted there will be no extension to the two-year Article 50 process, but one minister last night said it was inevitable. The politician told the Mail: We are running out of time, we will have to extend Article 50. Once we get through Christmas there will be less than 100 days to go and there is just no way we can get this deal through on time. Tense: With little more than 100 days to go until the Brexit departure date, The PM was seen locked in a tense standoff with the EU commission chief Jean Claude Juncker on Thursday after the EU accused the UK of offering 'nebulous' negotiating positions There are people talking about extending it by three months, or six months, its not clear what will happen but it does look like it will have to be extended. Mrs May will gather her Cabinet on Tuesday to discuss ramping up preparations for the possibility of a no-deal exit in the wake of the decision to postpone the Commons vote on the withdrawal agreement. But ministers are divided on how the Government should move forward. David Lidington, the Prime Ministers de facto deputy, yesterday twice refused to rule out resigning if she pursues a no-deal Brexit. Asked if he would be prepared to take the UK out of the EU without a deal, he told Sky News: That is not the policy of the Government or the Prime Minister who I support and work for. The policy of the entire cabinet, which includes colleagues who both campaigned to leave and campaigned to remain, is that we do not want no deal, we want to have a deal, that is what we are continuing to work towards. In a separate interview, Mr Lidington left the door open to holding a series of non-binding indicative votes on different Brexit outcomes including the so-called Norway and Canada options as well as no deal to test the opinion of MPs. Asked if the Government could support indicative votes if the PMs Brexit deal is voted down in Parliament, Mr Lidington told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Certainly I will be supporting the Prime Minister in campaigning vigorously for Parliament to approve the deal that has been negotiated. Mrs May embarked upon a whirlwind tour of European capitals this week in an attempt to win further concessions over the Irish backstop, but was rebuffed Were that not to happen then obviously the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, would need to take stock and come to Parliament accordingly. Another cabinet minister yesterday suggested a second referendum, while unwanted, may be a better option than risking a no-deal outcome. The minister also criticised Mrs Mays decision to announce she would stand down before the next election in 2022, arguing it could play into the hands of hardline Brexiteers trying to oust her. The senior politician told the Mail: Its just bad advice, thats the problem. Its not helpful. Michael Gove said the Prime Minister's deal - a vote on which was pulled when whips warned it would be defeated by more than 100 votes - can survive On a visit to Glasgow, Michael Gove yesterday insisted he believes the Prime Ministers Brexit deal will survive. The Environment Secretary said: Yes I think it can. The Prime Minister has been conducting negotiations on behalf of the country with the tenacity, determination and focus on the national interest that has always characterised her approach. And absolutely we will have an opportunity to hear from the Prime Minister when she is speaking in the House of Commons next week and I know that she will have the enthusiastic support of the Cabinet for the course that she is on. Asked how the deal can be passed, given the arithmetic of the Commons has not changed, he said: Well see. The idea of an indicative vote would be to assess whether any alternative to the Brexit deal from a no-deal exit to a Norway-style close economic partnership with the EU could command a majority in the House of Commons. However, some Tories fear the ballots would show there is no majority for any option and would lead towards a second referendum which could result in Britain remaining in the EU. Costa Rican media outlets report that up to four perpetrators may have played a part in the sexually-motivated murder of a 36-year-old Miami woman late last month. Airbnb security guard Bismark Espinosa Martinez, 32, was taken into custody last Tuesday, a day after Carla Stefaniak's body was found half-naked and covered in plastic bags near the San Jose vacation rental she had been staying in. Forensic examinations conducted since then have led investigators to believe that multiple people, likely all men, were involved in the killing. Police, however, have released little details due to the confidentiality of the case. Q Costa Rica reports that Stefaniak was murdered with more than one weapon, including a knife that left her with cuts on her upper extremities, and a metal pipe, which caused her to have a stroke after suffering a blow to the head, all while she fended off a sex assault. Investigators reportedly received a tip from an Airbnb guest who said they heard noises coming from the rental the night Stefaniak was murdered. Family and friends last heard from her the evening of November 27. Scroll down for videos Up to four perpetrators may have played a part in the sexually-motivated murder of 36-year-old Miami woman Carla Stefaniak (pictured) Her Airbnb security guard, Bismark Espinosa Martinez, 32, (pictured) was taken into custody last Tuesday Martinez was placed in handcuffs before police in San Jose loaded him into a police van The local outlet said the guest heard 'furniture being moved and cleaning inside the villa.' The day the victim's body was found December 3, the Organismo de Investigacion Judicial entered the villa and said it had been cleaned, aside from the traces of blood found left behind, which led them to the security guard's next door villa. Stefaniak described the vacation rental as 'pretty sketchy' in a text message to her sister-in-law November 27, when she said the power was going out. Stefaniak also told a friend in a FaceTime call that night she was planning to meet up with the guard to ask him to buy water because of the storm. That was the last the friend heard from her before her phone battery died around 9pm. Investigation found the insurance agent (pictured on her social media pages) was killed with multiple weapons Stefaniak's body was found half-naked and covered in plastic bags last Monday near the San Jose vacation rental she was staying in Traces of blood were found left behind in the Airbnb, which she described as 'sketchy' in a text to her sister-in-law Stefaniak, who was employed at a Miami insurance agency before her death, was celebrating her 36th birthday in Costa Rica with her sister-in-law, April Burton. She was scheduled to fly home alone November 28 - a day after Burton left Costa Rica. Stefaniak dropped Burton at the airport and returned their rental car before taking a 30-minute Uber to an Airbnb that she had checked in to for her final night. The victim checked into her 1pm flight but never made it to the airport - and never responded to a number of birthday messages from concerned family and friends. Her loved ones said in a statement regarding her death: 'Words cannot express the devastation within her family and friends. 'We want the world to know that we will never forget Carla... we will never forget the joy she brought into our lives, how much she made us laugh. 'We will always be with her and we know she will always be with us. May god bless her soul.' They may be facing turmoil in the Commons but at least the party leaders' Christmas cards are peaceful. Theresa May has chosen a tranquil scene of snow falling around a glowing Christmas tree for her festive message. The design was drawn by nine-year-old Dexter Van Elkan. It was hand-picked by the Prime Minister and her husband Philip from competition entries in her Maidenhead constituency. She also chose two other children's drawings to adorn the cards she will send to world leaders and top executives. From jaunty winking face in the corner to happy smiling snowman, Theresa May's greeting card gives little indication it's a tough Christmas for the PM Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn has picked a photo of his cat for the front of his Christmas card. Curled up in front of a roaring fire, El Gato Spanish for 'cat' is shown on the rug of the Opposition leader's living room. The cat is pictured relaxing on a rug before a decorative, stocking-hung mantelpiece in the opposition leader's festive offering. The card, which bears the message 'Merry Christmas' on the front and wishes for a 'happy and peaceful 2019' inside, was released on Monday. Mr Corbyn said: 'Christmas is a special time of year to spend with family and friends. Jeremy Corbyn's Christmas card features a photograph of his cat El Gato on the front 'But we also remember those going through difficult times, people experiencing loneliness, poverty, homelessness, or ill health. 'Let us commit ourselves this Christmas to do all we can so that next year there is greater peace, fewer people are suffering and more enjoy the warmth and comfort of security and community.' The card is a more homely affair than last year's, which was a festive adaptation of the party's 2017 general election manifesto artwork, with people picked out in red and white sporting Santa hats, crowns and reindeer antlers. The average Australian loses between $170 and $340 in notes a year Up to eight per cent of the stash is tied up with criminal activity and drugs A staggering $76 billion in missing banknotes has gone missing in Australia Australia's banknotes are mysteriously disappearing into illicit drug deals, a thriving underground black market and hoarding, a new report has revealed. A staggering $76 billion in missing banknotes has stumped the reserve bank who are struggling to account for the missing cash. Up to eight per cent of the stash is tied up with criminal activity, tax evasion and drugs, the Reserve Bank of Australia has found. Scroll down for video Australia's banknotes are mysteriously disappearing into illicit drug deals, a thriving underground black market and hoarding, a new report has revealed (file photo) For the average Australian, this equates to losing between $170 and $340 in notes a year. The figures also imply every Australian has $3,000 in cash on hand - either in a wallet, hidden, buried or forgotten. Cash - which can remain anonymous and is near impossible to trace - fuels Australia's shadow economy where large amounts are concealed or used to pay for illegal goods and services. Estimates put the size of the nation's shadow economy to be worth $41.5 billion. Cash used to facilitate dodgy transactions is estimated to be between $3.5 and $6 billion worth of Australian banknotes, split between underground production, purchases of illegal drugs, and storing profits of criminal activity. A staggering $76 billion in missing banknotes has stumped the reserve bank who are struggling to account for the missing cash (file photo) Much of the black market cash is tied up in drugs - a finding supported by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission who estimated the size of Australia's illicit drug market through wastewater analysis. Australians spent $13.5 billion on illicit drugs in the year through August 2017, with methamphetamine and cannabis accounting for over 70 per cent of purchases. More than $6 billion was spent on methamphetamines. 'Excluding cannabis, methamphetamine -- also known as meth or ice -- is the most used illicit drug in Australia by weight, followed by cocaine, MDMA -- also known as ecstasy -- and then heroin,' the report said. Australians spent $13.5 billion on illicit drugs in the year through August 2017, with methamphetamine and cannabis accounting for over 70 per cent of purchases (stock photo) Another surprising finding saw half to three-quarters of total outstanding banknotes were being hoarded, either domestically or abroad. Up to 20 per cent of total outstanding banknotes are said to be tied up in domestic hoarding and up to 15 per cent is said to be hoarded internationally. These figures are still likely to be an underestimate. Evidence from the 2016 Reserve Bank's Consumer Payment Survey suggests that around 70 per cent of Australians hold cash outside of their wallets, and that they do so for a variety of reasons, including as a store of wealth, for use in emergencies, a desire for privacy and as a back-up in case of problems with electronic payment systems. The existence of asset means-testing for various social benefits in Australia, and more generally the desire to hide assets from tax authorities, also provides an incentive for Australians to hold assets in a form that is hard to trace. A busy Michigan mother had enough of her son's inability to get up in the morning for school and took a tougher stance by calling the authorities on him. Crystal Towns, resident of Grand Blanc, Michigan, didn't want to hear her 14-year-old son Zachary's excuses one morning when he would not get up for school, so she called the school resource officer to come get him, according to NBC25. 'He blamed his sister for not waking him up, and I had it,' Crystal told the news station. 'So I called the school resource officer to come pick him up. He wasn't bad, he just thought he was gonna not go to school again.' 'I woke him up. He thought he was just going to not go and I said 'nope you're learning today boy,'' said Towns. Zachary Towns, 14, (left) learned a lesson not to laze about on a school morning from his mother, Crystal Towns (right), when she had him taken to school in a police vehicle The officer with the Grand Blanc Township showed up shortly afterwards and addressed the teenager at the door telling him he was there to give a ride to school in the backseat of his car. 'I'm pretty lazy can't lie,' Zachary Towns told WEYI in honesty. 'I like to sleep in.' For the chastened middle-schooler, who like many teens are up late playing video games and using his smartphone, his mom's tough love tactic was not surprising since she's promised to use it in the past. 'I don't think I should have pushed my mom's limits because that's the 100th time I've done it this year,' Zachary said. Crystal Towns (left) warned her son that she would call the school resource officer to come fetch him, and she snapped a photo (right) of his police escort when she finally did 'I wasn't very shocked at all I was just like, 'oh Officer Dan',' Zachary recalled seeing his school resource officer. 'She does a lot of things like this.' Crystal, a mother of two working three jobs, has no regrets pushing her son to get up and go learn. 'I did what I needed to do I would do it all over again and feel good about it,' Crystal said. As for a Christmas gift for the boy who can't seem to drag himself awake, NBC 25 reports that mom has that covered as well with a plan to present him with a loud, old-fashioned alarm clock. Zachary Towns, right, often blames his sister (left) for not waking him in the morning on school days ' Jasmin Mistry defrauded her ex-husband, his family and members of the public out of more than 250,000 A woman who pretended to have terminal cancer and claimed more than 250,000 from her husband, his family and other men has been jailed for four years. Jasmin Mistry, 36, from Loughborough, claimed she had cancer and told her husband she only had six months to live. She said she needed to go to the US for treatment - but spent the money she received on Prada and Chanel handbags. She was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court in north-east London on Friday December 14, after pleading guilty to one count of fraud by false representation on October 24. The total fraud amount was calculated by the Met Police as 253,122, with 20 members of Mistry's extended family and eight others found to have given her money. Mistry first told her husband, Vijay Katechia, 40, she had cancer in 2013, using a different Sim card to send herself fake WhatsApp messages pretending to be her doctor confirming the diagnosis in order to support her claim. Using further fake messages from her doctor, Mistry said she could be treated in the US but it would cost around 500,000. Her husband then contacted family and friends to ask for donations for her treatment. According to the Mirror, prosecutor James Benson said: 'She displayed to her husband the apparent symptoms trips to the toilet to vomit, describing blood in her stools, requiring help walking up and down stairs. The defendant has plainly done some research.' Suspicions were raised about the story when her husband's friend found her brain scan on Google. According to the Met Police, search results claimed that 'the tumour was so severe that it would be fatal for the person with it'. Her now ex-husband then found the fake Sim cards his wife had been using to send the fictitious doctors messages and when he confronted her, Mistry admitted she had lied. She told her husband she had brain cancer and only had six months to live, even using another SIM card to send herself fake texts Mistry also posed as single on a dating app to lure two men. One is believed to have given her 66,000, after she tricked him into believing she had cancer when he picked her up from a hospital - where she was wearing a medical wristband. After pocketing the cash, she sent him a message from a fake persona claiming she had died. She was also found to have defrauded another man she met on a dating website of 7,500, and two members of the public of 10,000 after pretending to be a trader and saying she could invest their money. Mistry was arrested in November 2017 after police were contacted and, when interviewed, she told officers she was not terminally ill and did not know why she had lied. She conned two other men on dating apps, as well as 20 members of her husband's extended family Reading his victim impact statement in court, Mr Katechia said: 'This has totally ruined my faith in humanity. 'Psychologically and emotionally, it's something I will never recover from.' He added: 'She's a real risk to the public and I would not wish for any individual to suffer what we have.' His mother Pushpa gave her daughter-in-law 32,000 after inviting her to the family home in Ilford, east London. Mistry's sister-in-law gave her a 4,700 Omega watch, which Mistry then pawned. Detective constable Jon Bounds said: 'I am glad for the victims of this deceit that they have seen justice. 'Jasmine Mistry went to extreme lengths to manipulate those closest to her emotionally and financially to defraud her now-former husband and his family out of a large sum of money. 'This is a bizarre, shocking case. 'Our investigation revealed the scale of the fraud and the severity of the offending which has resulted in a substantial custodial sentence.' Adree Edmo will become the first Idaho inmate to receive gender confirmation surgery while in custody A federal judge says Idaho must provide gender confirmation surgery to a transgender inmate who has been living as a woman for years but who has continuously been housed in a men's prison. Barring any appeals, under the ruling Adree Edmo, 31, will become the first Idaho inmate to receive gender confirmation surgery while in Idaho Department of Correction custody. The ruling in Idaho's U.S. District Court was handed down by Judge B. Lynn Winmill on Thursday. Winmill said the Idaho Department of Correction and Corizon's refusal to provide Edmo with the surgery puts her at risk of irreparable harm. 'For more than forty years, the Supreme Court has consistently held that consciously ignoring an prisoner's serious medical needs amounts to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment,' Judge B. Lynn Winmill wrote in his ruling issued Thursday. Edmo showed she had a serious medical need and that failure to treat her medical condition could result in significant further injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain, Winmill found. She also showed that prison officials were aware of and failed to respond to her pain and medical needs, causing her to suffer harm. Edmo previously tried to commit suicide in 2014. The state has six months to provide Edmo with the surgery, which will restructure her penis into a vagina so her physical characteristics match her gender identity. Idaho Department of Correction spokesman Jeff Ray said IDOC will be addressing some of the issues raised by the ruling - including whether the state will appeal, and where Edmo will be housed after her surgery - in the days to come. There are currently 30 inmates with gender dysphoria in state custody, according to the ruling. Edmo suffers gender dysphoria. She wears makeup and styles her hair in a feminine manner. In 2015 she tried to remove her testicles with a razor and she tried again in 2016 'I hope that this makes clear to IDOC and also to prison systems around the country that they can't deny medically necessary care to transgender prisoners - that is a requirement under our constitution,' said Amy Whelan, an attorney with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which represented Edmo in the lawsuit. 'They need to start evaluating people appropriately, and providing care to them.' Not all transgender people have gender dysphoria, Winmill noted in the ruling, and not all transgender people desire or need surgery to make their physical body match their gender identity. But for some, gender dysphoria - which occurs when the incongruity between a person's assigned gender and their gender identity is so severe that it impairs their ability to function - can only be fully addressed through surgery. She was sentenced in April 2012 for sexual abuse of a child under 16, and in June 2012 was diagnosed with dysphoria. She will be released in 2021. Prior to her imprisonment, she lived as a woman. Edmo had already undergone some treatment for her gender dysphoria, including long-term hormone therapy. She has also tried to present herself as feminine while incarcerated, modifying her undergarments, styling her hair and wearing makeup. Prison officials gave her disciplinary reports for those actions, however, and as a result she was denied parole, according to the lawsuit. Edmo testified that she feels depressed, embarrassed and disgusted by her male genitalia. Edmo has been housed with men here at the Idaho State Correctional Institution in Kuna Her gender dysmorphia was so severe that in 2015 she tried to remove her testicles using a disposable razor blade. She was unsuccessful at that time, though she continued to be troubled by thoughts of self-castration. In December 2016 she made another attempt, studying anatomy, boiling her razor blade in an attempt to make it sterile and managing to remove one of her testicles before she began to lose too much blood and called for help. That's when prison officials had her transported to a nearby hospital, where the testicle was repaired. 'I think the thing that makes this case so important is that this is a procedure that is necessary for some transgender inmates, and in fact is lifesaving care, but it's almost universally denied and banned by prisons across the country,' Whelan said. 'There is no state that I'm aware of that has ever provided the surgery without being ordered by a court to do so.' Winmill also noted that Corizon, the Brentwood, Tennessee-based private company that handles medical care for inmates in Idaho and 21 other states, has never provided gender confirmation surgery at any of its facilities in the United States. Juul, the electronic cigarette company that has dominated the American vaping market, is banning vaping in its offices. The company announced the ban in an email to staff at its San Francisco offices this past Tuesday. Juul told employees that anyone who wants to vape on company property must do so at a specially erected tent outside, according to The Wall Street Journal. 'It may feel nonsensical to prohibit at-work use of the very products we work hard to create and promote,' Juul CEO Kevin Burns told staff in an email. Juul, the electronic cigarette company that has dominated the American vaping market, is banning vaping in its offices 'But the bottom line is we need to comply with legal requirements the same as any company.' The company was founded by ex-smokers and many employees vaped openly inthe office until this. Burns also told employees to 'rest assured that we are committed to exploring options for team members who desire to vape while at work.' He wrote in the email that his company received an inquiry from the city about vaping practices in its office. Juul is a company whose signature product is a thumbnail-size cartridge filled with flavored nicotine juice. It is designed to give users the same effect of smoking a traditional cigarette but without the smoke, tar, and ash. In the three years since it was introduced to the market, Juul has become worth $15billion. 'Can people please stop vaping in the office?' this Twitter user said Another Twitter user wrote: 'I went to the back office to microwave my ramen noodles and 1 of my coworkers was vaping back there' This Twitter user wrote she was surprised to see a co-worker vaping 'I don't mean to be a jerk but who thinks vaping inside in a shared office space is acceptable?' wrote another Twitter user, who added 'WTF?' It has grabbed more than 70 per cent of the e-cigarette market in the United States. It currently has 800 employees worldwide, according to Inc. Companies have had to grapple with whether to allow employees and customers to vape. Exxon Mobil has specially designated smoking areas that allow employees to vape, while CVS bars its workers from using e-cigs and regular cigarettes anywhere on company grounds, according to the Journal. Vaping is considered a safer alternative to cigarettes. Users like it because it allows them to transition away from the original Starbucks and Walmart don't allow customers or employees to vape, though McDonald's says its workers and diners are welcome to if they wish. In the U.S., 24 states and the District of Columbia have banned smoking in the workplace, but just three - New Jersey, Utah, and North Dakota - have added e-cigarettes to the laws. Vaping is considered a safer alternative to cigarettes. Users like it because it allows them to transition away from the original. But office colleagues are unhappy with vapers because of the noise they make while vaping. So far, 12 states and several cities have banned vaping in the workplace, though the ban doesn't appear to be rigorously enforced. Last month, Juul bowed to public pressure and stopped selling most of its flavored nicotine products after backlash grew over its appeal to children and teens. When fire ripped through Grenfell Tower resulting in a tragedy that claimed 72 lives, the generosity of those who came forward with offers of time, money and much-needed supplies was humbling. An entire community locally and more widespread responded in an instinctive, heartfelt way that helped shine a symbol of hope amid great sorrow. But, wherever in life there are those who demonstrate the very best of human nature, there are others who show it in its darkest light. For as a string of recent court appearances have proven even as firefighters negotiated the smouldering ruins of the West London tower block, as medical staff and emergency services began the harrowing task of identifying those who lost their lives, and families mourned together a small group of unscrupulous, utterly callous individuals were calculating how they could capitalise on the tragedy. The Grenfell Tower fire (pictured) claimed 72 lives, but some have used the tragedy to claim money meant for victims This week father-of-five Abolaji Onafuye became the 14th person to be convicted of fraud following the blaze in June 2017. The total taken from funds intended for victims by those convicted stands at around 670,000. Not only is it unlikely ever to be recouped but there are more cases in the pipeline. Onafuye said he witnessed the blaze, and that two genuine victims to whom he had no relation were his sister and nephew. He used his fictitious tale to claim more than 30,000 from Kensington and Chelsea council and charity Rugby Portobello Trust, and when his ruse was rumbled, insisted he had been rendered temporarily insane because he had been fasting for Ramadan. Speaking after his conviction, Detective Constable Carlos Araujo said the fraudster shamelessly took advantage of the support being offered to those who were directly affected by the Grenfell tragedy. But Onafuyes ill-gotten gains pale compared to the 88,000 another conman racked up after claiming he had slept rough in the tower and the 62,000 totted up by a seemingly respectable finance manager who skimmed the funds set up for survivors, which she was supposed to manage. The remains of Grenfell Tower (pictured), which claimed the lives of 72 people. At the public inquiry today Members of the public lay tributes at a memorial at the base of the Grenfell Tower as part of commemorations on the first anniversary of the Grenfell fire in west London on June 14, 2018 Shamelessly, fraudster after fraudster took rooms in four-star hotels meant for those in need (and stayed there for months at a time), racked up bills for room service, demanded better food, took prepaid credit cards to cover expenses even submitted bills for Netflix while pretending to be traumatised and bereaved. More cases seem likely: Kensington and Chelsea council has several other investigations under way, another man is awaiting trial and several more cases are being probed by police following a series of arrests in the summer. Deputy council leader Kim Taylor-Smith said: Fraud is an issue the council takes very seriously, not just because taxpayers money is being used to support people, but because genuine survivors and bereaved families have raised concerns with us. It is hugely important to me, and to the council, that public perception of survivors and bereaved is not tarnished by the acts of what is a very small minority. Beth Hale takes a look at the rogues gallery of those who have been exposed so far. 1. ABOLAJI ONAFUYE, 54 From Hammersmith, West London TOTAL: 36,000 Father-of-five Onafuye insisted he was traumatised witnessing the blaze, but was in fact 12 miles away when the fire broke out. The Nigerian property consultant said he was living in the tower even claiming that victim Zainab Deen, 32, and her two-year-old son Jeremiah, who both died in the blaze, were his sister and nephew. As a result, he was housed in the four-star Grosvenor Hotel for nearly a year, at a cost of 23,500, before racking up another 13,000 after he was rehoused. When he was arrested in June, he claimed temporary insanity, caused by not eating during Ramadan, and denied fraud. He will be sentenced later next week. Abolaji Onafuye (left), 54, insisted he was traumatised witnessing the blaze, but was in fact 12 miles away when the fire broke out. While Sharife Elouahabi (right), 38, told social workers that he suffered from constant nightmares after losing his uncle, aunt and three cousins to the blaze 2. SHARIFE ELOUAHABI, 38 No fixed address TOTAL: 103,475.60 Elouahabi told social workers that he suffered from constant nightmares after losing his uncle, aunt and three cousins to the blaze. He only survived, he said, because he was out breaking his fast for Ramadan. In reality he lived three miles away and concocted the ruse because of the similarity between his own surname and that of genuine victims the El-Wahabi family, who lived on the 21st floor.He lived in three different hotels for a year and was kicked out of two for bad behaviour racking up enormous bills for accommodation, travel and maintenance, including 300 a week for food. Elouahabi admitted fraud on the first day of his trial last month and was sentenced to six years. 3. KOFFI KOUAKOU, 53 Chelsea, South-West London TOTAL: 33,821 When Kouakou was arrested in June, the newspaper cutting found in his rucksack couldnt have been more apt: it was entitled Pure greed of Grenfell fraudsters and related to the jailing of a pair of fraudsters a week earlier. He falsely claimed to have been in a relationship with Zainab Deen, the same victim fraudster Onafuye had claimed was his sister. But Kouakou simply concocted his story in order to benefit from hotel accommodation, rent in a council-funded flat, food and emergency cash. He admitted two counts of fraud in October and was sentenced to four years in prison. Koffi Kouakou (left), 53, alsely claimed to have been in a relationship with Zainab Deen, the same victim fraudster Onafuye had claimed was his sister. While Syed Rinku (right), 46, pretended he was having a gay love affair with a man on the 20th floor, who died in the fire, to swindle cash from the disaster fund and stay in the UK 4. SYED RINKU, 46 Bethnal Green, East London Total: 5,070.26 Bangladeshi over-stayer Rinku pretended he was having a gay love affair with a man on the 20th floor, who died in the fire, to swindle cash from the disaster fund and stay in the UK. Quizzed about his affair by police, it became clear that the illegal immigrant had researched who had died in the fire and officers subsequently found heterosexual porn and dating apps on his phone. By then Rinku had already spent 5,070 on a prepaid credit card provided by the authorities and been granted temporary leave to remain in the UK under the Grenfell Survivors Immigration Policy. He was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court for 18 months for fraud in October, with 11 months to run concurrently for obtaining leave to remain by deception, after pleading guilty to both offences. 5. ABDELKARIM REKAYA, 28 Chelsea, South-West London TOTAL: 88,183.70 Tunisian illegal immigrant Rekaya took advantage of a Government amnesty policy for those living in the block. After claiming hed been sleeping rough in a stairwell, he enjoyed 209 nights in a four-star hotel before landing a council-funded studio flat in Chelsea for a further six months. He was given furniture, his bills were paid and he even asked that his subscription to the TV streaming service Netflix be paid. He admitted fraud by false representation and obtaining leave to remain by deception and was jailed last month for four-and-a- half years. Abdelkarim Rekaya (left), 28, claimed hed been sleeping rough in a stairwell. While Jenny McDonagh (right), 39, began stealing days after starting her job at Kensington and Chelsea council 6. JENNY McDONAGH, 39 Abbey Wood, South-East London TOTAL: 62,000 Recruited by Kensington and Chelsea council to manage a public fund for survivors, McDonagh began stealing days after starting her job even treating herself to five-star holidays to Dubai and New York over 10 months. Photos were found of her posing in a 99 Hobbs dress bought on a credit card set up for a victim. She blew 16,000 on gambling. She admitted theft, money laundering and a second fraud charge while employed by an NHS trust in Kent, and was jailed for five and a half years in September. 7. DERRICK PETERS, 58 No fixed address TOTAL: 40,000 Brazen burglar Peters was put up in a 192-a-night four-star hotel for six months after claiming to have been living with a resident who had died. During his stay, where he racked up a 5,200 bill on drinks, food and laundry, he burgled a nearby flat. He admitted the crime and was remanded in custody before sentencing, but he soon got out after writing a letter to the judge asking for leniency, explaining he had been a Grenfell resident. When his duplicity was uncovered, it was branded repulsive and he was jailed for six years. Derrick Peters (left), 58, was put up in a 192-a-night four-star hotel for six months after claiming to have been living with a resident who had died. While Antonio Gouveia (right), 33, claimed to have lived with 80-year-old Hermine Harris in Flat 42, on the seventh floor of the tower 8. ANTONIO GOUVEIA, 33 No fixed address TOTAL: 53,456.76 The homeless cleaner claimed to have lived with 80-year-old Hermine Harris in Flat 42, on the seventh floor of the tower. Mrs Harris was there on the night of the tragedy, with her daughter, and they both escaped. Despite the Portuguese father-of-two not even knowing her, he managed to land a nine-month stay at a 155-a-night hotel, emergency cash and even a 249.99 laptop. He admitted two counts of fraud by false representation and was jailed for three years and two months. 9. YONATAN EYOB, 26 Notting Hill, West London TOTAL: 86,831 Eyob claimed to have lived in a flat on the 21st floor of the block that was actually home to the El- Wahabi family, a married couple and their three young children who all perished in the disaster. In a ruse lasting nearly a year he was housed at a Hilton hotel, and refused several offers of housing because properties were too small or didnt meet his needs. He asked for a clothing allowance of 500 after complaining the hotel food had caused him to put on weight and outgrow his clothes. When the scam was finally rumbled, police discovered a haul of drugs in his hotel room. He was jailed for six years and eight months in September. Yonatan Eyob (left), 26, claimed to have lived in a flat on the 21st floor of the block that was actually home to the El- Wahabi family, a married couple and their three young children who all perished in the disaster. While Mohammad Gamoota (right), 32, pretended to be the heartbroken son of a man who died after becoming trapped in his flat 10. MOHAMMAD GAMOOTA, 32 Pimlico, Central London TOTAL: 6,264 The business student pretended to be the heartbroken son of a man who died after becoming trapped in his flat, claiming he had only survived because hed been attending midnight prayers at his mosque. In reality he took the details from a newspaper story about 77-year-old Abdeslam Sebbar, whose real sons had been at the mosque, and who had a heartbreaking final phone call from their father, who told them: I cant breathe. Gamoota was given 500 and booked into a Holiday Inn hotel for nine days, racking up a 374 room service bill. He tried to claim a further 5,000, but a technical issue with his bank account prevented it being paid in. He admitted two counts of fraud and was jailed for 18 months. 11. ELAINE DOUGLAS, 52 Elaine Douglas (left), 52, and Tommy Brooks (right), 52, plucked two names from the list of the dead and claimed they lived with them on the 19th floor when the Government announced an amnesty for illegal immigrants living in the tower 12. TOMMY BROOKS, 52 No fixed address TOTAL: 125,522.24 The callous pair plucked two names from the list of the dead and claimed they lived with them on the 19th floor when the Government announced an amnesty for illegal immigrants living in the tower. They had entered Britain illegally from Jamaica on separate flights 16 years ago. Douglas visited Grenfell community centre The Curve with her tale, six weeks after the disaster, and Brooks followed suit. They were granted temporary leave to remain running up bills of 67,125 (her) and 58,397 (him) during eight months at a 400-a-night hotel, with meals and clothing on pre-paid cards given to them by authorities. Douglas even had the gall to complain about the quality of the food at her hotel, after spending more than 267 on room service. They admitted fraud and obtaining leave to remain by deception and were sentenced to three years (Douglas), and three years and three months (Brooks). 13. JOYCE MSOKERI, 47 Sutton, South London TOTAL: 19,000 Msokeri travelled 14 miles from her own flat to the smouldering tower block, claiming she had lost her husband in the tragedy. Feigning trauma, she was given cash, food, clothing, three mobile phones and a room at the Hilton and splashed out on her hair, beauty treatments and handbags. When police became suspicious, she claimed her husband had been found alive, miraculously, in a cave in Margate, in Kent. She was branded callous and contemptible when she was convicted of fraud and possessing a false document in March. She was jailed for four and a half years. Joyce Msokeri (left), 47, travelled 14 miles from her own flat to the smouldering tower block, claiming she had lost her husband in the tragedy. While Anh Nhu Nguyen (right), 53, gave tearful interviews about his own escape and the horror of climbing over dead bodies 14. ANH NHU NGUYEN, 53 Bromley, South-East London TOTAL: 11,270 With a tale of losing his home, wife and son, Nguyen gave tearful interviews about his own escape and the horror of climbing over dead bodies. The serial conman had never lived in the tower block and didnt have a wife or children. Yet he even shook Prince Charless hand when the royal visited a relief centre. He scammed more than 11,000 in the fortnight after the fire. It later emerged he had 17 aliases and 28 convictions for 56 offences over more than 30 years. He admitted two counts of fraud by false representation and was jailed for 21 months in February. GRAND TOTAL: 670,894.56 Congregation numbers across the country are already spiralling downwards. So plans by a cathedral to introduce a helter skelter to boost visitors could be seen as, well... an ironic twist. The 40ft traditional fairground ride will be installed in the western end of the nave at Norwich Cathedral in August. An artists impression of the 40ft traditional fairground ride will be installed in the western end of the nave at Norwich Cathedral in August An artists impression has been used to show how it might look inside the 873-year-old building. The diocese says the plan is to give visitors the chance to experience the space in a new way and open up conversations about faith. Thrill-seekers will be treated to unique views, including close-ups of the medieval ceiling. It is part of the cathedrals Seeing It Differently initiative, which will also encourage visitors to lie on yoga mats to gaze upwards. It is part of the cathedrals Seeing It Differently initiative, which will also encourage visitors to lie on yoga mats to gaze upwards The Rev Canon Andy Bryant said: We will be doing what cathedrals have always done: helping people see things differently and make connections with the things of God. But Jenny Roope, 42, who lives near the cathedral, said: I cant quite believe this is it an early April Fools joke?' Another resident said: It is basically dumbing down our faith. Whatever next goldfish in the font so kids can feed them? Next year Dippy, the Natural History Museums much-loved dinosaur, will be erected inside the 12th century cathedral as part of a national tour. A family whose son died from suicide expressed outrage after a priest suggested he might not get into heaven and 'called him a sinner' at his funeral, according to the boy's family. Maison Hullibarger, an 18-year-old from Temperance, Michigan, died on December 4 after taking his own life. Hullibargers grieving family said Reverend Don LaCuesta would not stop bringing up his cause of death during the teenagers funeral on December 8, the Detroit Free Press reports. Reverend Don LaCuesta (left) provoked outrage after suggesting that Maurice Hullibarger (right) who died from suicide, may not get into heaven at his funeral mass 'It was his time to tell everybody what he thought of suicide, (and) we couldnt believe what he was saying' said Jeff Hullibarger, Maisons father, according to the Free Press. 'He was up there condemning our son. He wondered if he had repented enough to make it to heaven. He said suicide upwards of six times'. 'There were actually a couple of younger boys who were Maison's age who left the church sobbing,' Hullibarger said. Maisons parents said they spoke with LaCuesta before the funeral about what they wanted to be said during the ceremony at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Temperance. He jotted down notes during the conversation, according to the Free Press. During the funeral, Maisons father tried to put a stop to the talk of suicide by approaching the priest and whispering to him, but he said the priest ignored him, WTVG reports. The family has called for LaCuesta to be removed altogether. 'Its not OK,' Jeff Hullibarger added. 'He needs to be held accountable'. Maison's parents Linda and Jeff Hullibarger were outraged at the priest's tone during their son's funeral homliy and felt like he was condemning Maison Maison Hullibarger, an 18-year-old from Temperance, Michigan, died on December 4 after taking his own life. He was a straight A student and played football in high school After the service, the family told the priest not to come to the cemetery, WTVG reports. Linda Hullibarger, Maisons mother, said: 'He basically called our son a sinner. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Temperance where the teenager's funeral took place She said: 'It was what he wanted. He said nothing about what we asked him to say'. In a statement, the Archdiocese of Detroit said that LaCuesta wont be allowed to give sermons at funerals indefinitely. 'We understand that an unbearable situation was made even more difficult, and we are sorry', the archdiocese said, according to the Free Press. 'For the foreseeable future, he will not be preaching at funerals and he will have his other homilies reviewed by a priest mentor. 'In addition, he has agreed to pursue the assistance he needs in order to become a more effective minister in these difficult situations'. A GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses surpassed its fundraising goal of $10,000, bringing in $17,280 from more than 300 people in just a week. A Connecticut landscaper, who videoed himself having sex with a married woman after dribbling maple syrup over himself has been rearrested for allegedly threatening to go public with her name. Robert Somley, 52, from Monroe, Connecticut, was receiving help from the woman, a 48-year-old co-worker to move out of the home he had been evicted from when Somley said he needed to take a break, as reported by The New York Post. The duo had been loading wood into a trailer. The woman had gone looking for Somley and found him in the home, naked and watching porn on a laptop, police said. When asked what he was doing, police said Somley replied that he needed to relieve himself before continuing work. The woman was helping Somley move out of his house when he said he needed a break and was later caught by the woman naked, watching porn and smearing maple syrup on himself The woman left but returned to see Somley smearing maple syrup on himself. The woman described the sight as a 'turn on' and demanded to participate, according to police. Somley filmed everything and refused to delete the video when the woman asked The woman described the sight as a 'turn on' and demanded to participate, according to officers. The food sex also involved foreplay with blueberry jelly. The woman didn't realize that Somley was videoing proceedings but when she found out demanded that he deleted it. He refused. The woman's complaint to police led to Somley's arrest and he is facing a pending charge of voyeurism. On Monday he was rearrested after allegedly threatening 'to out' the woman. During Somley's arraignment hearing on Monday, Senior Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Dunn announced that in addition to the pending charge, Somley is also charged with violating a protective order, imposed a week before, and tampering with a witness. Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton ordered Somley held in lieu of $150,000 bond. 'You called a witness's home and indicated to the witness that the victim better drop the case,' Dayton said when Somley protested. Somley said he had gotten an invitation to be on the Howard Stern satellite radio show Monday night. He never appeared. Police said Somley told the victim's best friend that she needed to tell the victim, 'that if she did not drop all the charges he would completely destroy her, that he would go public with her name.' Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton ordered Somley held in lieu of $150,000 bond. A 40-year-old man who allegedly tried to smuggle meth hidden inside the walls of an esky has been arrested and charged. The Malaysian national appeared at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with allegedly importing of 3.9kg of methylamphetamine on October 27. He was arrested at Perth International Airport after he was allegedly found to be carrying several packages of the drug and has since been dubbed 'Pablo Esky Bruh'. A 40-year-old man who allegedly tried to smuggle meth hidden inside the walls of an esky (pictured) has been dubbed 'Pablo esky Bruh' The Malaysian national (pictured right) appeared at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with allegedly importing of 3.9kg of methylamphetamine on October 27 An initial swab of his esky allegedly showed traces of the drug and a subsequent X-ray and a full baggage search confirmed the positive result. The man's visa was cancelled and he was arrested by Australian Federal Police officers. He was then charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, which police allege was methylamphetamine. A subsequent post on the Australian Federal Police Facebook page mocked the man's alleged preferred method of transportation. 'Looks like Pablo Esky Bruh won't be on Santa's n-ice list if convicted he'll get a maximum penalty of life imprisonment!' the caption stated. The post garnered plenty of reactions, with many social media users taking to Facebook to applaud AFP for their witty humour. 'Pablo esky bruuuh.. i am crying!!!' one person wrote. 'AFP absolutely nailing this one,' another person said. A third person said: 'Hahahaha love the AFP.' Despite the light humour, police said the maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment. The man was arrested at Perth International Airport after a full baggage examination confirmed he was carrying several packages that allegedly tested positive for meth An initial swab of the 40-year-old's esky allegedly showed traces of the drug and a subsequent X-ray and a full baggage search confirmed the positive result Australian Border Force Regional Commander for Western Australia, Rod O'Donnell, said AFB officers are always on alert for illicit drugs coming through Perth Airport. 'Our officers are highly trained and use a range of assessment techniques to identify travellers of interest and then utilise cutting edge x-ray and detection technology to identify prohibited items crossing the border,' Commander O'Donnell said. AFP State Manager Western Australia Greg Harrigan said Australia's strong economy compared to the rest of the world makes it an easy target for organised crime. 'Drugs are a great burden on our community, especially through drugrelated crime and the associated health and social costs. 'This arrest shows that police and our partners remain diligent in identifying, arresting and prosecuting those involved in this type of activity,' Mr Harrigan said. A shivering queue is snaking its way around a car park on the outskirts of Leeds. A yo-ho-hoing Father Christmas is lit up on the side of a lorry but there is no sign of the man himself this afternoon, despite the SANTA 1 numberplate. A dozen freezing elves stand around handing out cans of fizzy drinks as hundreds of people queue to have their photo taken next to the truck. Watching the excitement on so many young faces, I feel faintly Scrooge-like objecting to what is, superficially, a bit of Christmas fun. But then, so were the classic Hamlet cigar ads, and those are no longer much missed [File photo] Because this is not any old truck this is the CocaCola Christmas truck. And to many people here, this is as much a part of Christmas as turkey and mince pies. To health campaigners, however, it is a deeply depressing monument to the clout wielded by the junk food industry in a country where one child in three now leaves primary school classified as obese. Indeed, thousands of British children are now so morbidly overweight that they are developing diabetes. And what has been the response of Britains leading charity in this sector? Astonishingly, Diabetes UK recently announced a 500,000 partnership with Britvic, makers of two of Cokes biggest rivals, Pepsi and Tango. Chief executive Chris Askew has attempted to defend the deal, saying: We cannot tackle the diabetes crisis in isolation. The arrangement to fund the charitys education programme, he insists, offers opportunities to influence industry. Coca-Cola, for its part, points out that its tour is focusing on its new Coke Zero Sugar brand; that no one under 12 is handed a free drink; and that less than half of the Coca-Cola now sold in the UK is the full-fat stuff. A truck is pictured in a Christmas advert [File photo] In which case, why not just wave the white flag now and hand round the crisps and fizz? We are in the midst of a huge health crisis, for Heavens sake. The days of trying to influence this slick, multi-billion pound industry are long past. What is needed is a tough new set of rules, not a friendly chat. Many of those involved in the fight against child obesity have been appalled at the charitys decision, likening it to a cancer charity jumping in to bed with Silk Cut. If the charity does not hand back this money, its a disgrace. Weve got to have some consistency on this issue, says Helen Clark, author of the AllParty Parliamentary report on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, published last month. Supported by politicians on all sides and with input from five universities, the lengthy document insists that the Government needs to be much tougher on the food and drink manufacturers when it comes to targeting youth. For it is abundantly clear that the industry has few problems with the existing legislation. Takings from the Governments new sugar tax on fizzy drinks, introduced in April, have been much lower than the 500 million expected because so many manufacturers have reduced the amount of sugar in their products [File photo] Look at the way manufacturers use online channels such as YouTube to reach young consumers. Significantly, YouTube is not subject to regulation by Ofcom. Yet the All-Party group has found it is now the most popular channel for youngsters of all ages. Certainly, my three all under 12 invariably go straight to YouTube to find something rather than fiddle around with terrestrial channels. In addition, millions more children will watch terrestrial programmes that are not specifically for children like ITVs The X Factor than will watch, say, an episode of Thomas The Tank Engine. The junk food giants are brilliant at exploiting gaps like these. The nationwide Coca-Cola truck tour is just another example of this cynical exploitation. If that does not count as a child-centric advertising campaign then what does? Not that the people in Leeds are making that connection when I arrive. You know Christmas is coming when you see that truck, says Darren Brown who has three-year-old Alfie in his arms. Its part of the tradition. And I dont even like Coke. In this case, it is a tradition which dates back through the mists of time to . . .well, 2010. Thats when Coca-Cola first started despatching a festive juggernaut around the country inspired by a television ad which first ran in 1995, showing a fleet of trucks rumbling across a wintry snowscape to the jingle Holidays Are Coming. In 2000, there were just a handful of cases involving children. The latest figures from Diabetes UK as it happens, just last month show more than 700 receiving hospital treatment for the condition [File photo] People have been flocking to take selfies next to it ever since. Half a million people, mainly families with young children, turned out to see the Coca-Cola bandwagon here in 2017. The tour ends in Birmingham and Croydon tomorrow, and this year the truck drivers (there are two trucks, one for the north and one for the south) have had a rather easier time of it. A third of the usual stopovers have been removed from the tour following a concerted outcry from a cross-section of health organisations. Increasingly, local authorities feel that it is simply no longer acceptable for one of the worlds most famous brands to forge an association in young minds between Father Christmas and tooth-rotting sugared fizz. Nearly all this years stops have been on private land, notably the car parks of Asda and Tesco superstores. The number of visits are down, but wed be much happier if the truck wasnt here at all next year, says Sonja Woodcock of the Leeds Food Partnership, which asked local retailers not to host the Coke bandwagon, pointing to the prevalence of dental problems in the area. Coca-Cola, for its part, points out that its tour is focusing on its new Coke Zero Sugar brand; that no one under 12 is handed a free drink; and that less than half of the Coca-Cola now sold in the UK is the full-fat stuff. Some might argue that theres something pretty Bah Humbug-ish and petty about picking on Coca-Cola when all parts of the food and alcohol industries are inviting us to indulge in Christmas gluttony and excess of one form or another. Besides, if it is deemed immoral to promote a link between Christmas and fizzy drinks, then where does that leave the Easter egg? How can it be OK to foster a childhood connection between one Christian festival and fatty foods but not another? All of which may be valid points until we look at shocking statistics such as the number of British children with Type 2 diabetes. This chronic condition, which triggers a host of health problems and can lead to amputation and blindness, used to surface in the middle-aged after years of over-eating poor-quality food. In 2000, there were just a handful of cases involving children. The latest figures from Diabetes UK as it happens, just last month show more than 700 receiving hospital treatment for the condition and nearly 7,000 being treated by GPs. That, in turn, is a reflection of an even more alarming trend. According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), almost a quarter of British children are overweight or obese when they start primary school. That figure has risen to a third by the time they are 11 and go on to secondary school, where it is very much harder to exercise any influence over what they eat and drink; an eight-year-old might have to nag to be allowed a packet of crisps and a can of Coke whereas a teenager will just go and buy them. Or take another statistic: the rise in hospital admissions for tooth extractions among children between the ages of five and nine more than 26,000 of them last year. The Government has announced a possible ban on selling under-18s energy drinks which contain vast amounts of caffeine and sugar but precious little genuine energy. A 500 ml can of the popular Monster Energy drink has the equivalent of 13 teaspoons of sugar [File photo] Tooth decay at that age is almost wholly preventable and treatment is free. No amount of bleating about austerity can excuse the simple fact that more children are consuming more unhealthy foods. We already lament the fact that todays children will be the first modern generation likely to end up poorer than their parents. What is far more lamentable is that many will die younger. The data just keeps on coming. In October, a study involving 350,000 by the universities of Oxford and Hong Kong showed that people living within half a mile or so of clusters of fast food outlets were 11 per cent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. In 2016, the Government reported that the cost of treating obesity was greater than the bill for the entire criminal justice system. Public Health England, for example, was spending 5.1 billion a year on weight-related medical problems. It is now predicted that the total for 2018 will reach 6.1 billion. According to food and drink industry lobbyists, its not all doom and gloom. Takings from the Governments new sugar tax on fizzy drinks, introduced in April, have been much lower than the 500 million expected because so many manufacturers have reduced the amount of sugar in their products. But campaigners say that adapting the formula for fizzy drinks to lower sugar levels is just a sticking plaster approach. Using artificial sweeteners is only a short-term measure that does nothing to shift tastes and still causes dental problems, says Vera Zakharov, of the Sugar Smart campaign run by the food charity, Sustain. In the case of Coca-Cola, she argues that the Christmas truck tour is just a stunt to bolster the main brand anyway. The new Coca-Cola Zero Sugar product looks very much like the traditional version but with a black band round the can. However, visitors who turn up on the truck tour asking for the original will be handed the classic red variety (which contains seven teaspoons in a regular 330ml can). Here in Leeds, no one seems too bothered what they are drinking. It is just free fizz. I dont really drink it and the kids only have it as a treat, says Daniel Mullan, whos here with three children aged 13, ten and five. Asked if he feels exploited or is fearful for his childrens health, he replies: Youve got to be kidding! Thats political correctness gone bananas. Were just here for a bit of Christmas spirit. Is that truck going to make you obese? And there is something particularly galling about Coca-Colas vast, gaily-lit circus of junk consumerism with its over-hyped message of peace, goodwill and dental cavities [File photo] After sun-down, the lorry looks much jollier brightly lit up while a machine puffs out occasional bursts of fake snow. Watching the excitement on so many young faces, I feel faintly Scrooge-like objecting to what is, superficially, a bit of Christmas fun. But then, so were the classic Hamlet cigar ads, and those are no longer much missed. Things are certainly starting to change for the better. The Government has announced a possible ban on selling under-18s energy drinks which contain vast amounts of caffeine and sugar but precious little genuine energy. A 500 ml can of the popular Monster Energy drink has the equivalent of 13 teaspoons of sugar and roughly four times as much caffeine as a shot of espresso. Meanwhile, Londons mayor has announced a ban on all junk food advertising on the capitals transport network. Many of us recoil from the idea of banning anything that is legal and a matter of personal choice. But the terrible health prospects of millions of young people mean that we have to take a much tougher line on changing attitudes. And there is something particularly galling about Coca-Colas vast, gaily-lit circus of junk consumerism with its over-hyped message of peace, goodwill and dental cavities. The holidays are coming, goes Cokes jingle. Perhaps, though, its now time for its trucks to be going for good. British taxpayers are still funding lessons in hate at Palestinian schools more than a year after ministers were told they could be inciting violence against Israel. It emerged last year that the Department for International Development has helped pay the salaries of officials who drew up a new curriculum that teaches children the virtues of becoming a jihadi. Plays put on at schools and summer camps have even included pupils staging mock executions. One in Hebron featured a child draped in Palestinian colours shooting another dressed as an Israeli soldier. Staged execution: One in Hebron featured a child draped in Palestinian colours shooting another dressed as an Israeli soldier Textbooks teach five-year-olds the words for martyr and attack, while teenagers are told that those who sacrifice themselves will be rewarded with 72 virgin brides in paradise. But despite promises earlier this year that the curriculum would be reviewed, the books are still being used by the ministry of education on the West Bank, activists revealed. Joan Ryan MP, chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel, said aid to the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, should be suspended until the books are removed. It is absolutely appalling that the Palestinian Authority is using British taxpayers money to teach these lessons in hate, she said. I simply cannot understand why ministers have spent over a year dragging their feet, coming up with excuses for the Palestinian Authority, and allowing this to continue. They need to get a grip and suspend the money we pay to the ministry of education until we have a cast iron guarantee this vile content has been removed once and for all. Britain is giving the Palestinian Authority 70million in the current financial year and some of this is being used to help pay the salaries of 33,000 teachers and education officials in the West Bank. In the spring, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt admitted that these officials were involved in the implementation process for the revised curriculum. Textbooks teach five-year-olds the words for martyr and attack, while teenagers are told that those who sacrifice themselves will be rewarded with 72 virgin brides in paradise. Stock image The school books, which were introduced in September 2017, teach ten-year-olds that drinking the cup of bitterness with glory is much sweeter than a pleasant long life accompanied by humiliation. Terrorists including Dalal Mughrabi, who led the 1978 Coastal Road Massacre in which 38 Israelis including 13 children were murdered on a bus are described as heroes. The books also contain violent poems which extol the virtues of sacrificing blood. Miss Ryan first raised the issue of the textbooks with Mr Burt in September 2017. In March, Theresa May promised a review of the curriculum, pledging that it would only take several months. Mr Burt later said he would establish a review which would not report until September 2019. This review has still not been commissioned. Last month he said the Palestinian Authority has taken action to help address concerns raised, including piloting new textbooks. But research by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education shows that there have been no major changes in the school year that began this September. The Department for International Development said: We have always been clear that we expect textbooks used by the Palestinian Authority to be academically rigorous and they must not incite racial hatred or violence under any circumstances. We will continue to raise our concerns about incitement. With the ruins of a hellish Islamic State prison behind them, children clutching balloons sit in the playground of their bombed-out school reading text books. Inside their rubble-strewn classrooms are the remnants of a fierce battle, masked only by a few colourful drawings hung on bullet-ridden walls. Not too long ago, the screams from Yazidi women taken as sex slaves and imprisoned in the building next door could be heard from the streets below. The pupils of Rabya al Adawia school will not easily forget what life was like under the iron fist of Islamic State in the Syrian city of Raqqa when children were denied an education. There was war and fighting, they killed people. Everything was bad, Yazin Al Asaf, 11, tells me. Haunted by the past: A bombed building used as an Isis prison is the backdrop to head Ibrahim Ismails talk with pupils School children in Raqqa catch up on studies in the playground of their school, adjacent to a building used by ISIS for Yazidi women prisoners His friend Khawla Hussein, the same age, cries next to him as she talks of her two brothers who went to fight with the terrorists and never came back. I remember Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the group], I remember a war and I remember my brothers, she sobs. We talked to them two months ago but now nothing. It has been just over a year since the city hub of the militants self-styled caliphate was freed from their three-year rule. Backed by British and American airpower, a Kurdish-led coalition of militias known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) invaded from the north. But liberation came at a cost, with Raqqa, the base from which Isis plotted attacks against the West, largely reduced to ruins. School children in their Raqqa classroom damaged by the fighting and the bombing of a building next door The school was closed under Isis and the children had to stay at home. It is one of 32 reopened at the end of September after volunteers spent months rebuilding parts of it and clearing out the debris. The school receives no aid. Money for books comes from the Raqqa Civil Council. Yazin, who likes learning about the past, says he studied at home with his mother but adds: I was sad when I could not go to school. I wanted to learn and play with my friends. Ten-year-old Hala, an orphan, beams as she looks at her teacher Reem adoringly. I like going to school, she adds. Children from a Raqqa school. The Syrian City had been the capital of the Islamic State caliphate Scarred city: Children go to school through the debris in Raqqa, Syria Today is a special day because the best-behaved children were awarded prizes. Desks from the classrooms were taken into the school yard for children and their families to sit and watch. Anas Al Abdullah, 11, cannot remember life before the militants took over. Tightly gripping three balloons given to him at the prize-giving ceremony, he says proudly that he wants to be an engineer in Raqqa just like his father. The headmaster of Rabya al Adawia, Ibrahim Shaik Ismail, gives us a tour of the two-storey building. Children who came to this school have gone on to become scientists, he says with pride. Children from a school in Raqqa. It has been just over a year since the city hub of the militants self-styled caliphate was freed from their three-year rule. One of the Raqqa classrooms damaged by the fighting. The school receives no aid. Money for books comes from the Raqqa Civil Council His pupils learn subjects such as Arabic, English, maths and social studies, where they are taught about life in Syria before Isis. Mr Ismail has his own story to tell about the brutality of their regime. Having been arrested for smoking a cigarette, he was lashed 30 times and so was his young son. Daesh asked me if I had been smoking and I said no, he said. My boy was five and they asked him if I had been smoking and he said no. They smelt my fingers. They beat me and my boy with a stick. The war with Isis may be won thousands of its fighters languish in Syrias jails but Raqqa is a city on edge. Soldiers patrol the ruined streets, while signs warning of explosives in kettles and water containers are a stark reminder of what the terrorists left behind. Mr Ismail's pupils learn subjects such as Arabic, English, maths and social studies, where they are taught about life in Syria before Isis The Raqqa school, adjacent to a building used by ISIS for Yazidi women prisoners which was subsequently destroyed during the time the Syrian City was the capital of the Islamic State caliphate Just ten minutes in one location and we are forced to move on. Our guard doesnt like the people watching us after they started chatting on their mobile phones. Hours earlier a house was blown up by a bomb and two days ago a soldier was killed at a checkpoint. Isis spies still lurk in the shadows, says Maher Khalil, Raqqas chief of security. We cannot say Raqqa is safe. They have a lot of sleeping cells and carry out a lot of operations, he tells me. The SDF chief, who spent three years on the frontline fighting the militants, adds: Raqqa was the capital of Daesh so we think there are a lot of spies here. The citys inhabitants lived in fear under Isis rule until the city was recaptured in October 2017. It is now under the control of the SDF and hundreds of thousands of civilians have returned from refugee camps to try to rebuild their lives. School children's artwork in a Raqqa school used to hide damage caused by fighting and the bombing of a building next door Blitzed buildings without doors or windows are being lived in by families who had their homes destroyed. Shops have been reopened in the remnants of buildings hit by 500lb Paveway bombs. They could still quite easily collapse on to those working below. A minutes drive from the school is the square of Al-Naeem, or Paradise, the infamous site of executions and beheadings. It was renamed Hell Square among locals and it is easy to understand why. Prisoners were thrown from buildings, beheaded, lashed, or shot while crowds were forced to watch. Amar Ali, 35, works in a juice shop on the square and was witness to hundreds of killings. Does he have nightmares? No, he says. When the first person was killed we were shocked but then it became very ordinary. 'Paradise' or Al-Naeem Square in the Syrian City of Raqqa, formerly the capital of the Islamic State caliphate. It was the scene of many of the groups public executions When they had a big battle and arrested some soldiers they would bring them here and kill them. The mass execution of 300 captured fighters from the regime of President Assad is his worst memory. The soldiers brutal deaths were played out in the square their heads chopped off and put on steel spikes for everyone to see. I watched, says Mr Ali. There were lots of screams. The juice bar was a regular haunt of the Britons who flew out to fight for Isis, he says, who were unmistakable with their British accents and limited Arabic. We liked the British guys, he says. The British gave the children candy and money and were smiling with them and playing with them. He says the British jihadis were also less interested in punishing them for petty crimes such as smoking because they had come to fight the kaffir non-believers. Khalid Al Omar, another worker at the juice bar, says a British jihadi tried to recruit him. He identified him only as Abu Dujana. Documents previously uncovered identified a British Isis fighter who went under the same name as being from Manchester. Mr Omar says Dujana boasted of having four wives in Raqqa and urged him to join the terror group, saying: He told me he came here to fight the kaffir. They forced us to watch He said I came from Britain for jihad and you are here from Raqqa and you must fight with us. I just told him inshallah [if god wills it]. We told them they were welcome we couldnt say anything else. Bar owner Zaid Hamadee, 27, adds: It was very bad because you cant talk, you cant give your opinion. They force us just watch. Another local who lived in fear for three years says he was arrested after his wife was shouted at for lifting her veil slightly so she could tighten her shoes. The Isis fighter grabbed her wrists, so he grabbed the fighters arm and told him not to touch her. He was imprisoned for a week. Now, women can walk without headscarves and people can smoke again in the streets. British executioner Jihadi John whose real name was Mohammed Emwazi also lived in Raqqa with other members of the notorious Beatles terror group. He was killed in a street off the main square in a drone strike in 2015. The hit by a Hellfire missile fired from a US Predator drone from 10,000ft was so precise that it struck his car with no collateral damage. But other operations by the coalition aircraft were less successful, say locals. Mr Ali, at the juice bar, echoes what others tell us as we tour the city. They made a lot of mistakes and kill civilians, he says. A minutes drive from the school is the square of Al-Naeem, or Paradise, the infamous site of executions and beheadings. It was renamed Hell Square among locals and it is easy to understand why. Prisoners were thrown from buildings, beheaded, lashed, or shot while crowds were forced to watch We welcome the coalition but they have good technology and they can destroy just Daesh why did they destroy our houses? According to Airwars, a monitoring group based in London, Western warplanes dropped more than 20,000 bombs on Raqqa. Around 80 per cent of the city was destroyed and more than 1,400 civilians were estimated to have been killed. Volunteers are rebuilding homes and schools but the authorities dont have the international funds needed for the mammoth task. Was it worth it though? Mr Khalil believes so. I am very sad to see my city destroyed but on the other side when I think we have liberated a lot of civilians from Daesh I am happy, he says. Theresa May warned EU leaders yesterday that she would allow MPs to kill off her Brexit deal next week unless they agreed to consider further concessions on the Irish border issue. The Prime Minister said Britain could be forced to leave the EU without a deal if they did not give ground. Mrs May issued her dramatic ultimatum at a private meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Emmanuel Macron, EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Council president Donald Tusk and Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. The Prime Minister said Britain could be forced to leave the EU without a deal if they did not give ground She said that without the promise of help she would put her Brexit deal to a vote in the Commons next week. With more than 100 Tory MPs and her DUP partners currently opposed to it, the deal faced certain defeat on a scale likely to kill it off forever. Downing Street last night refused to confirm that Mrs May had threatened to crash her own deal. But sources said she was preparing to bring back the vote to the Commons next week if they had continued their hardline stance. Last night the gamble appeared to have paid off, with Mrs May telling reporters she was now convinced the EU was willing to budge on the Irish backstop, which critics claim could leave the UK trapped in a customs union against its will. It came after a stormy Brussels summit at which EU leaders stonewalled on help to save the PMs Brexit deal and she rounded on Mr Juncker for apparently describing her demands as nebulous and imprecise. Downing Street last night refused to confirm that Mrs May had threatened to crash her own deal Mrs May had appeared to come away virtually empty-handed from the summit. But, speaking at a defiant press conference, she insisted she could get the refinements needed in time for a vote on her deal, which she has promised by January 21. I never said it was going to be easy, she added. Speaking after her private meeting yesterday with the EU chiefs, the PM said: My discussions with colleagues today have shown that further clarification and discussion following the Councils conclusions is in fact possible. There is work still to do and we will be holding talks in coming days about how to obtain the further assurances that the UK Parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal. The Irish backstop is designed to prevent the emergence of a hard border on the island of Ireland if trade talks falter. Mrs May had appeared to come away virtually empty-handed from the summit But critics fear it could leave the UK trapped in a customs union against its will for years. It is understood Mrs May asked for assurances on a future trade deal which would negate the need for the backstop to be added to the withdrawal agreement. Mrs May was seeking assurances with legal force that the backstop could only be temporary. EU leaders were supposed to sign up to a series of summit conclusions declaring that the backstop does not represent a desirable outcome for the EU. A proposed phrasing also suggested that if the backstop were used it would only apply for a short period. But both of these phrases were stripped out of the final conclusions following a row over dinner between the other 27 leaders. Police chiefs are enjoying a pay and pensions bonanza as council tax is hiked to give their forces an extra 1billion, a Daily Mail investigation reveals today. Almost two thirds of chief constables from the 39 English police forces earned more than the Prime Ministers annual pay of 150,402 last year. They also received an additional total of at least 1.37million in pension contributions in the last two years with some getting more than 40,000 a year. This is despite only half receiving a contribution last year, with many of the others pension pots thought to have reached the maximum threshold. 205,479 (total annual pay package): Stephen Kavanagh, who retired from Essex Police in October. 'I hope and expect that we all treat it as a matter of shame that Essex has the lowest funding per head of population of any police force in the country' Tens of thousands of pounds more of public money was also spent on private healthcare, housing and car allowances for senior officers with one police chiefs package worth nearly 300,000. Details come after it emerged that council tax bills could rise by as much as 107 a year for a typical Band D household. Of this, 24 a year will help pay for policing as bills increase from April to hit an average of 1,778 a year for Band D. Many chief constables with the largest pay and pension contributions have been outspoken about police funding and branded the Government pension proposals crippling, utterly extraordinary and unfair. 231,503: Bill Skelly of Lincolnshire Police. '[We face] stark choices and significant cuts to services' Senior officers have already threatened legal action and warned that 10,000 jobs could be axed after the Treasury proposed making forces fund a 420million pension shortfall in the service. However, the Mail can reveal that: Twelve police chiefs had total annual packages worth over 200,000 last year, including pension contributions, expenses and allowances; One pay package included a stipend, car benefits and housing allowances worth almost 35,000, on top of a salary of 170,623; The head of one of Englands smallest forces, with just over 1,000 officers, had a package worth 230,000; Another chief constable received almost 90,000 in relocation expenses to move from Norfolk to Hertfordshire. Chief constables had reacted with fury after the Treasury recently proposed recalculating the money each force needed to pay into pension schemes. The change landed forces with a 420million bill on top of the overall 19 per cent cut in police funding since 2010. 201,743: Olivia Pinkney of Hampshire Police. 'National funding for policing does not deliver a fair deal' The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), which represents police chiefs of the 43 local forces in England and Wales, warned the bill would mean 10,000 fewer officers on Britains streets. But Home Office Minister Nick Hurd told the Commons: I think the number is exaggerated, which is not unusual for the police. Police pension schemes include a taxpayer-funded employer contribution of 21.3 per cent of their pay, on top of an officers contribution. Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, who has received 92,000 pension contributions over the past two years as well as a 200,000 salary claimed the squeeze would force him to cut his officer numbers to the lowest level since 1975. Merseyside Police chief Andy Cooke received a pension contribution worth almost 40,000 last year, plus a 171,621 salary and 16,980 expenses for cars. 228,434: Andy Cooke of Merseyside Police. 'The impact of the proposed changes on police officer pensions cannot, and should not, be underestimated' Essex Police chief Stephen Kavanagh, who retired in October, received basic pay of 170,623 last year, a 17,640 stipend, a 6,921 housing allowance and 10,295 benefits in kind for cars. He had similarly sized extras the previous year, meaning in two years he has pocketed an extra 69,209 of public money on top of his salary. Bill Skelly, the chief constable of Lincolnshire Police, which has just over 1,000 officers, had a package worth 230,000 last year. It included 42,170 for relocating from Devon and Cornwall after he took over the force in February last year, 153,101 in salary and a 36,234 pension contribution. Charlie Hall, chief constable of Hertfordshire Police, received the highest total package, which included 87,191 in expenses to relocate from Norfolk. He also had 3,900 benefits in kind on top of his 164,259 salary and 38,762 pension contributions, taking his full package to 294,112. 251,000: Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester. '[Pension changes would leave] little alternative but to cut posts, both officers and staff' Olivia Pinkney, chief constable of Hampshire Police, saw her pay jump by 18,683 from 147,854 in 2016/17 to 166,537 the following year. She took her role three days into the 2016/17 financial year, but this still fails to explain the huge rise. She also received a 34,356 pension contribution in 2017/18 and 3,266 in benefits in kind over the past two years. John OConnell, of the TaxPayers Alliance, said that workers in the private sector are paying for their public sector counterparts to enjoy a retirement they can only dream of. Chief constable Andy Rhodes, chairman of the Chief Police Officers Staff Association, said: The provisions for pay, allowances and expenses are set by the Home Office based on independent advice by the Police Remuneration Review Body. Police forces defended the pay packages uncovered by the Mail. A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said: The chief constables pension contributions are wholly in line with the appropriate regulations. And David Lloyd, Hertfordshires Police and Crime Commissioner, said: I am certain that taxpayers are always prepared to pay for those with expertise in their role and I believe Charlie Hall to be one of the best Chief Constables in the country. A Home Office spokesman said: It is for the independent Police Remuneration Review Body to consider the appropriate levels of police pay and make recommendations to ministers. Cabinet ministers are at war as to whether there should be another Brexit referendum - or whether the Prime Minister should be making 'No Deal' a top priority. High-profile ministers including Philip Hammond, David Gauke, Amber Rudd, Greg Clarke, and Theresa May's unofficial deputy David Lidington have all stepped up discussions on whether to offer another public vote on Brexit, The Times reported. Among those urging the Prime Minister to boost preparations for a no deal include Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, claim The Sun. The divisions in the Cabinet come at a crunch time, with little over 100 days until Britain leaves the EU. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured) said the time had come to make compromises, which she described as 'something that people do in the real world all the time Amber Rudd today called for Tory MPs to reach across the aisle if necessary to avoid the country 'crashing onto the rocks' under a No Deal outcome. Work and Pensions Secretary Ms Rudd said today that while she expects to be accused of 'treachery' from some quarters, she is unsure the Prime Minister's deal will ever enjoy sufficient support from Conservative MPs to get through a deeply divided Parliament. None of the five cabinet ministers - all of them May loyalists - have committed to a second public vote and all might back a Parliamentary deal, a source told The Times. They are suggesting the Prime Minister reschedule her meaningful vote for the first week of the new year, to allow time for the House to debate other options. The PM's de facto deputy, David Lidington, is understood to be holding meetings with Tories as well as members of other parties to see how a second referendum might come about They are understood to believe that if a series of votes on alternative deals do come to Parliament, and all are rejected, then a referendum might become the only way to break the nationwide deadlock. One cabinet minister said: 'There should be a vote on all the options. 'I'd expect them all to be voted down. Then once you've taken out all the options, and the lack of support for no deal, the House of Commons is deadlocked. 'Another vote is another means of resolving the deadlock.' Another cabinet source said: 'The strategy here is step by step to take every other option off the table so there is no option but a second referendum.' And Amber Rudd, writing in today's Daily Mail, said: 'There may be lost votes along the way as we edge towards a solution, but so be it. Each one will help us get to something that is workable and possible.' She said Tory colleagues 'might not' be persuaded in sufficient numbers to back their leader's deal, and added: 'We need to try something different. Cabinet ministers including Chancellor Philip Hammond (left) Lord Chancellor David Gauke (centre) and Business Secretary Greg Clarke (right) are all understood to be reconsidering the case for a second referendum - once all other options have been debated and rejected Labour's next move? Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn accused Mrs May of 'dangerously running down the clock'. He said: 'The last 24 hours have confirmed that Theresa May's Brexit deal is dead in the water. 'The prime minister has utterly failed in her attempts to deliver any meaningful changes to her botched deal.' On Wednesday Mrs May won 200 votes to 117 among her own MPs in a no confidence motion, leaving her immune from challenge for a year. But she is still potentially vulnerable to a no confidence motion in Parliament moved by Labour. Labour's moment to strike has now drawn 'much much closer' according to one shadow cabinet member. But he added it would depend on the stance of the DUP, whose votes provide Mrs May her Parliamentary majority. 'We are watching like hawks,' he told The Guardian. Advertisement 'Something that people do in the real world all the time, but which seems so alien in our political culture to engage with others and be willing to forge a consensus.' In contrast to the incrementalist plan emerging in cabinet, yesterday Mrs May threatened EU leaders with a snap Parliamentary vote on her own plan unless they offered her further concessions on the Irish backstop. She would almost certainly lose such a vote, a result which could would kill off negotiations and trigger a no-deal Brexit. Mrs May issued her ultimatum to German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Emmanual Macron, Dutch PM Mark Rutte, EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Council president Donald Tusk in a closed-doors meeting in Brussels. Downing Street last night refused to confirm that Mrs May had threatened to torpedo her own deal, but sources said she was considering a Commons vote as early as next week. Of the five cabinet minister considering a second referendum, David Lidington is understood to be among those holding talks both within and without his party on how it might come to pass. He is likely to face considerable opposition from fellow Conservatives, 117 voted to remove Mrs May from the leadership on Wednesday night. Former rail minister Jo Johnson has threatened that as many as 100 Tory MPs would back a second referendum if the alternative was a no deal Brexit But Jo Johnson, who resigned as transport minister last month, said there was 'serious thinking' by senior figures on what question might appear on the ballot should a second referendum be held. Saying there had been a shift in mood of late, he acknowledged there was nonetheless no evidence Mrs May has softened her opposition to a public vote. But, he added: 'Two thirds of Conservative MPs are absolutely terrified of a no-deal Brexit. 'If it's still seriously on the table near March then at least 100 of us will vote for a second referendum. Then she'll have to do it.' Oxford University elections expert Stephen Fisher told The Guardian that a second referendum, offering a choice between Brexit on her terms and remaining in the EU, might by Mrs May's least bad option. Two brothers have been indicted on charges that they suffocated a Louisiana man by wrapping him in duct tape. Saleh Omar, 40, of Gretna, Louisiana, and Yazan Omar, 18, of Harvey, Louisana, were charged Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of 29-year-old Mohamed Mezlini, according to The Times-Picayune. Mezlini was a former employee of Saleh Omar, who owned a cellphone business in Terrytown, Louisiana. Brothers Saleh Omar, 40 (left), and Yazan Omar, 18, were charged with second-degree murder in the asphyxia death of Saleh's former employee, 29-year-old Mohamed Mezlini Mohamed Mezlini was said to have been an employee of Saleh's cellphone business. Police said that Saleh believed that Mezlini had wronged him in a financial way A detective testified during a preliminary hearing that Saleh believed Mezlini wronged him in some financial way. Authorities said Saleh lured Mezlini to a vacant store and attacked him on September 8. Yazan Omar then held Mezlini while Saleh wrapped Mezlini's head and body with duct tape. Police testified that the duct tape covered Mezlini's face from the bridge of his nose to his chin and that his body was covered from his shoulders to his waist. The brothers then apparently left Mezlini alone in the vacant store, where he was eventually found unconscious by witnesses who entered the store later that day after realizing that Mezlini never exited it. Saleh owns Wireless Hub (pictured), a stripmall store in Terrytown, Louisiana Authorities said Saleh lured Mezlini to a vacant store and attacked him there. Yazan was said to have held Mezlini down while Salah wrapped his face and torso with duct tape Mezlini was taken to the hospital, where he was declared clinically brain dead and pronounced dead on September 9. An autopsy determined he died of asphyxia by strangulation and smothering. Yazan was arrested at the cell phone store and Saleh, who had fled to Panama City, Panama, was apprehended there on October 3 and extradited back to Louisiana. The Omar brothers are being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna with bonds of $1million each. It's unclear if the brothers have lawyers who could comment. GUILTY: Denise Williams looked straight ahead and doesn't react as the verdict is read on Friday A Florida widow was convicted of helping mastermind the killing of her husband nearly two decades ago as the victim's family wept and hugged each other inside the courtroom. After less than a day of deliberating, jurors convicted Denise Williams of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder on Friday for her role in a case that has recalled the plot of the Hollywood classic 'Double Indemnity.' Prosecutors contended Denise Williams plotted the killing in a scheme seeking a $1.75 million life insurance payout. Brian Winchester testified he had an affair with Williams and shot her husband in December 2000. Mike Williams, 31, was pushed from his boat, then shot point blank by Winchester, his best friend, during a hunting trip 18 years ago this Sunday. Winchester eventually married Williams but the relationship later soured. Ms Williams showed little emotion and stared straight ahead as the verdict was read out. In the courtroom the victim's wheelchair-bound mother Cheryl Williams cried and clung to her son Nick, Mike's brother. 'We got justice for Michael,' Cheryl Williams told Assistant State Attorney Jon Fuchs after the three guilty verdicts were read. Video courtesy of WCTV She was convicted on all three charges - conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder and accessory after the fact She faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment Cheryl Williams, the mother of Mike Williams, cries after a jury returns a guilty verdict against her former daughter-in-law, Denise Williams, in Tallahassee on Friday Cheryl Williams is comforted by her son, Nick Williams (left), whose brother, Mike Williams, was murdered 18 years ago. 'We got justice for Michael,' Cheryl said after the three guilty verdicts were read A flood of emotions poured out into the courtroom as the verdicts are read. Mike Williams' family friends white-knuckle gripped each other Denise Williams has claimed all along that she is innocent and that Winchester acted alone. She accused Winchester of implicating her only after he was sent to prison for kidnapping her at gunpoint in 2016. She plans to appeal. Mike Williams was fatally shot in the head by Winchester while the two were on a duck hunting trip near Tallahassee in December 2000. Mike and Denise Williams were high school sweethearts who married in 1994. They attended North Florida Christian School, a private school in Tallahassee. Two of their classmates were Brian Winchester and Kathy Thomas, who would also go on to wed Florida prosecutors have said Denise planned the 2000 slaying of her husband Mike (pictured together on their wedding day) so she could get a $1.75million insurance payout Denise, 48, (left, in court on Thursday) conspired to kill her husband Mike Williams with the help of her married lover Brian Winchester (right, in court Wednesday) nearly two decades ago in Florida It was speculated at the time that he drowned and his body was devoured by alligators. His buried body was found last year. Denise Williams was convicted on all charges, which included conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder and accessory after the fact. She faces a maximum life in prison. As the verdict was read, Denise Williams was stoic and did not express emotion. During the closing arguments earlier on Friday, prosecutors reminded jurors of how Denise Williams showed little emotion when her former lover testified how he shot and killed her husband. 'She sat here stone-faced. Didn't bat an eye. Didn't shed a tear,' Assistant State Attorney Jon Fuchs told jurors. Kathy Thomas testified on Thursday about her husband Brian Winchester's affair with Denise Williams. Photo courtesy of WCTV On December 16, 2000, Brian Winchester and Mike Williams went duck hunting at Lake Seminole. During testimony, Winchester recalled how he shot Williams in the face from a yard away. Mike (pictured) disappeared in December 2000 while duck hunting near Tallahassee He then stuck his best friend's body into a dog crate and quickly traveled to Tallahassee to bury the body at a familiar hunting spot. Winchester tried to make it appear as if Williams went missing in a boating mishap - and the plan appeared to work. Authorities kept searching for weeks and were unable to find Williams. Almost three weeks after he went missing, Denise Williams filed an insurance claim. 'That's a cold individual. That's a person who is involved in a homicide,' Fuchs said of Denise Williams. Kathy Thomas, who was married to Brian Winchester, testified on Thursday that she began to suspect her husband was having an affair with Denise. She revealed in court how she suspected an affair between her husband and Denise, after Winchester suggested they have a threesome together. Thomas said that in 2003, three years after Mike Williams' disappearance, her husband, Brian Winchester, told her what really happened. After Mike's death, she acted as a police informant to bring down her husband's mistress. The two couples had been close because they all attended North Florida Christian School together, but Thomas, also a longtime friend of Mike, testified on Thursday that Denise and Winchester's 'friendship' had begun to make her uncomfortable. Thomas confirmed that she went on a spring break trip to Panama City Beach with Denise and Winchester in 2001 after Mike's death. The court had earlier heard that photos were taken during the trip of the two women kissing at a strip club. 'Whenever it was just me with Brian and Denise it was uncomfortable,' Thomas said, speaking about her suspicions of an affair. 'I felt like the third wheel, I felt like I was on a date with the two of them.' Thomas eventually split from Winchester and he then later married his friend Mike's widow five years after his death. Their relationship soured and they later divorced in 2015. Mike, Denise, Winchester and Winchester's ex-wife, Kathy Thomas, were all close friends and attended North Florida Christian School together. Mike, Denise, Winchester are seen in their yearbook photos When Mike first disappeared, it was initially believed he had fall from his boat and that his body had been devoured by alligators. It was revealed years later that Williams had died from a shotgun blast to the head and had been buried near a lake. Winchester confessed last year to the cold case murder, which resulted in Denise's arrest in May on murder, fraud, conspiracy and accessory after the fact charges. Mike's body wasn't found until last year after prosecutors offered him immunity in the murder case while he was being sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping Williams at gunpoint. He had kidnapped Denise and made her promise not to reveal their alleged secret. Thomas testified on Thursday that a week after Winchester was arrested in 2016, Denise had contacted her and asked her to tell him that: 'I'm not talking'. After Mike's body was discovered, Thomas said she began working as an informant to record phone conversations with Denise. Denise, now 48, was arrested back in May and charged with murder, fraud, conspiracy, and accessory after the fact in the relation to Mike's death During one call, Thomas read from a script given to her by police where she asked Denise about the murder plot. 'Brian told me that ya'll planned it,' Thomas told Denise. Denise responded: 'Planned what? Oh my God.' Thomas later said: 'I know that you know something Denise'. Her testimony on Thursday brought an end to the prosecution's case against Denise. Earlier in the trial, prosecutors argued that Winchester was the person who helped Mike fill out forms for a $1 million life insurance policy. He also helped Denise apply for $1.75 million in insurance funds following Mike's death. Winchester also took to the stand to detail how he and Denise allegedly plotted the murder during their three-year affair. Winchester told the court that his friend Mike told him Williams had stopped having sex with him and that he was growing suspicious about her activities. He said the growing suspicion and the fact that one of Mike's insurance policies was about to lapse led him and Denise to kill him. 'We knew our window of opportunity was closing,' Winchester testified. Winchester then tearfully described the plot to kill Williams. He had invited Mike duck hunting on a cold December morning and Winchester said he had intended to drown him by pushing him from his canoe. But he said he panicked when he saw Williams struggling in the water to get out of his jacket and duck waders and shot him. Mike married his high school sweetheart Denise in 1994 and welcomed a daughter with her five years later. The child was 18 months old when her father vanished and is now aged 18 'He started to yell and I didn't know how to get out of that situation. I had my gun in the boat, and so I loaded my gun and I just made one or two circles around and I ended up circling closer towards him and he was in the water, and as I passed by, I shot him,' he said. He said he dragged Williams' body back to shore, put him in his truck and buried him hours later. 'When I shot him, it was dark and there was a bright flash,' Winchester testified, adding later, 'I had to make it happen, I had no choice.' Denise's attorney, Philip Padovano, told jurors on Tuesday there is no evidence his client was having an affair with Winchester or that she helped plot the killing He also described helping the rescue crews search for his friend's body. 'I think (my father and I) were the last ones. My dad didn't want to give up... He loved Mike.' Denise's attorney, Philip Padovano, told jurors on Tuesday there was no evidence his client was having an affair with Winchester or that she helped plot the killing. 'There's no tangible evidence or physical evidence to connect Denise Williams to this crime,' Padovano said. He told them that Winchester has been given immunity from murder charges in exchange for his testimony and that he was given a lighter sentence in his kidnapping case. In order to find Williams guilty, Padovano told the jury that 'you will have to rely on the word of a murderer and a convicted felon.' On cross-examination, Denise's attorney asked Winchester if he was a murderer and a liar, to which Winchester said: 'Yes, sir'. Mike and Denise were high school sweethearts and married in 1994 before welcoming a daughter five years later. The child was 18 months old when her father vanished and is now aged 18. He disappeared on what would have been the couple's six wedding anniversary. Authorities launches an exhaustive 44 day search for Mike's body after he vanished in 2000. Six months after his disappearance, waders believed to belong to Mike were found floating in perfect condition in the search area. They reportedly showed no signs of an alligator attack. Without a body, Denise petitioned to have her husband declared dead due to accidental drowning and she collected his death benefits. She married Winchester in December 2005 before they divorced in 2016. They wont admit it in public, of course, but several Cabinet ministers are flexing themselves to stand as the next Tory leader whenever Theresa May decides to step down. The PM herself put them on standby after foolishly signalling that her days in No 10 are numbered by making it clear she wont lead the party into the next General Election. Home Secretary Sajid Javid openly covets the top job. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt would like to be PM one day but is more discreet about his ambitions. Theresa May admitted she should not fight the next election earlier this week, despite admitting she would 'love' to stay on as Tory leader for the 2022 campaign Nevertheless, although voting Remain, he has repositioned himself as a Brexiter a move calculated to help him appeal to the Eurosceptic grassroots Tory membership, which will decide who succeeds Mrs May. Of those not in the Cabinet, Boris Johnson leads the charge. Fellow Brussels-baiter David Davis is another on manoeuvres. In their runners-and-riders coverage this week, the Press have also touted Esther McVey, Dominic Raab, Amber Rudd, Andrea Leadsom and Jacob Rees-Mogg. However, I believe that another Tory one who shuns the limelight is the favourite to be the next PM. I am referring to David Lidington. David Lidington is Cabinet Office Minister. He is pictured visiting Core Systems in Belfast to speak with the Northern Ireland Federation of Small Businesses last week Officially, he has the relatively lowly title of Cabinet Office Minister, but in practice he is deputy prime minister. David Lidington, 62, has been the MP for Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire since 1992 The 62-year-old Buckinghamshire MP is the most modest of men, with such a low-key reputation among the public that in an opinion poll in the autumn he was 14th in a list of choices to be the next party leader. He was chosen by 0.6 pc of those questioned. To update Winston Churchills damning view of Clement Attlee, Lidingtons detractors probably say he has a great deal to be modest about. But the former employee of oil giant BP knows every secret of government. And hes a brainbox. Hes won the TV quiz show University Challenge twice. First as a student in 1978, then in 2002 in a tournament to mark the programmes 40th anniversary. Crucially and very rarely at Westminster he has few enemies. Also, after the chaos of the past two years of Brexit negotiations which have made them look incompetent, it is without doubt that the Tories will choose a safe pair of hands as their next leader. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is second place favourite to succeed Theresa May. Oborne writes that Hunt would like to be PM one day but is more discreet about his ambitions That day looks increasingly close as Mrs May suffers rebuff after rebuff from the Commons and from the EUs other 27 leaders as she did yet again yesterday. It is still possible she can pull an iron from the fire, but the odds are stacked hugely against her. I have known David Lidington for more than a quarter of a century. I first came across him when he was bag carrier for Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd during the Major government. At the time, I thought he was utterly dull. Over lunch, I discovered a man who was totally loyal to his boss, straightforward, never bad-mouthed colleagues and was obsessively discreet. (I must confess, to my discredit, that I found his discretion frustrating.) The fact is that David Lidington has been trusted by everyone he worked with, and liked even by political opponents. Nearly seven in ten Tory councillors said Conservative MPs were wrong to try to oust Mrs May An example of this is how, when he was David Camerons Europe minister for six years, he still retained amicable relations with hardline Brexiters such as Bill Cash MP, even though they had profound disagreements. After the Brexit referendum, Mrs May appointed Lidington to be Justice Secretary. He was moved to the Cabinet Office following Damian Greens resignation after claims of sexual harassment and a pornography scandal. Since then, Lidington has been the master of Downing Street. He performs the same kind of role for Mrs May as William Whitelaw did for Mrs Thatcher in the Eighties. In other words, hes the PMs loyal and trusted second-in-command. In normal times, unsung people such as him never get the top job. But we are entering an exceptional period in British politics when the usual rules do not apply. If Theresa May cant get her EU exit deal through the Commons, we will be in uncharted constitutional territory. In such an emergency, there will inevitably be a need for a degree of cross-party cooperation. Indeed, I do not think we should dismiss the possibility of a Tory/Labour deal to get Brexit through. In those circumstances, divisive figures such as Boris Johnson would be an obstacle to progress. Not so with David Lidington. Without doubt, he has never harboured a desire to lead his party but I can envisage a scenario in which, like Churchill in 1940, he would move into No 10 without the need for a leadership election, and maybe with the support of Labour. Further, history tells us that the initial favourite to become Tory leader invariably doesnt get the job. Boris Johnson fell in 2016. David Davis dropped out in 2010. Michael Portillo stumbled in 2001. And John Major was an unfancied 20-1 shot after Michael Heseltine challenged Mrs Thatcher in 1990. Its vulgar to boast, but I have picked the winner of three out of the last five Tory leadership contests (William Hague at odds of 10-1 outsider in 1997, Iain Duncan Smith at 33-1 in 2001, then Michael Howard at 10-1.) According to the bookies, Mr Lidington is 33-1 to be the next prime minister. I suggest you grab these odds! They will shorten fast if Theresa Mays deal goes down in flames. A British sailor who was rescued after her boat capsized during a solo round-the-world race has said she would do it again 'in a heartbeat'. Susie Goodall's said she would still go back out to sea hours after arriving back on dry land in the Chilean southern city of Punta Arenas this afternoon, where she was met by her mother and brother. Despite spending two days stranded in the Pacific Ocean the 29-year-old said she would still agree to take part. The family smiled and hugged in an emotional reunion before they joined her in an ambulance for a medical check-up in the port city, which is located about 1,200 miles from Santiago. Yachtswoman Susie Goodall was taken to Chile after getting stranded in the southern Pacific Ocean for two days. The 29-year-old was competing in a 30,000-mile round-the-world race when her boat lost its mast during a 'ferocious' storm 2,000 miles west from Cape Horn in southern Chile's Tierra del Fuego archipelago. British solo sailor Susie Goodall walked into the waiting arms of mother after arriving on the cargo ship MV Tian Fu in Punta Arenas, Chile, today Goodall arrived in Chile today where she embraced her mother after arriving on the cargo ship MV Tian Fu in Punta Arenas The moment Susie Goodall was rescued by the Tian Fu cargo vessel in Chilean waters in the Southern Ocean two days after her mast snapped She was rescued by a 40,000-tonne Chinese cargo ship before being brought ashore in Chile by the country's navy. Goodall, from Falmouth, Cornwall, was lying in fourth place in the Golden Globe Race when 60-knot (69mph) winds destroyed her Rustler 36 yacht DHL Starlight on December 5. She said she was knocked unconscious and was 'thrown across the cabin and was knocked out for a while' during the 'massive seas'. The vessel's mast snapped, ending her dream of winning the 30,000-mile contest, and she was forced to cling to her bunk for two terrifying days as cargo ship Tian Fu raced to her rescue. She was hoisted from her stricken vessel and taken aboard the cargo ship where to was transported to Chile. Her joy at being rescued from her crippled yacht in the Pacific was tempered when she was forced to scuttle the 200,000 vessel earlier this month. She arrived in Chile today where she embraced her mother after arriving on the cargo ship MV Tian Fu in Punta Arenas. Goodall is welcomed by her mother and TV camera crews after arriving from the cargo ship MV Tian Fu today She also embraced the Chilean Navy Comdr. Carlos Cerda after disembarking from the cargo ship MV Tian Fu in Punta Arenas, Chile Goodall, who is an ocean sailing instructor who took up the sport at the age of three, also embraced Chilean Navy Comdr. Carlos Cerda after disembarking from the cargo ship. Goodall said in a blog post she arrived in Chile: 'After arriving in Punta Arenas today, I'm still a little wobbly both emotionally and physically as I find my land legs again. 'I arrived with a heavy heart, no longer a competitor in the Golden Globe Race but here is certainly a lot better than the alternative. And I wouldn't be here today without the incredible support and seamanship shown by so many people over the past 10 days. 'Thank you so much to everyone who has followed the race and sent messages of support. 'If you asked me if I would I do this again, now knowing what it's really like, I would say yes in a heartbeat. 'You may ask why?! Some people just live for adventure it's human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies. 'Every seafarer understands the risks involved but that's what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life.' Goodall said she was knocked unconscious and was 'thrown across the cabin and was knocked out for a while' during the 'massive seas' which broke her yacht's mast Goodall's mast on her yacht snapped, ending her dream of winning the 30,000-mile race The 29-year-old was the youngest entrant and the only woman in the Golden Globe competition that began on July 1 in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. The cargo ship rescued Goodall last week after a violent storm ripped off her mast and flung her yacht end over end in the Southern Ocean. Goodall told officials soon after the storm: 'I have been dismasted. Thought I had holed the hull because the boat filled with water, but the hull is not holed. 'The hull is OK. The boat is destroyed. I can't make up a jury rig. The only thing left is the hull and deck which remain intact. 'We were pitchpoled [rolled end over end] and I was thrown across the cabin and knocked out for a while.' Her family said in an earlier message a day after she was rescued: 'We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the successful rescue of Susie. 'She managed to get a few hours sleep last night but is struggling to eat or drink. Because of the damage on deck, water is making its way into the boat. The bilge fills every hour, but she can easily pump it out.' Despite being stranded in the Pacific Ocean for two days, Goodall said she would take part in the race again 'in a heartbeat' DHL Starlight yacht as she set off from Les Sables d'Olonne Harbour in July at the start of the solo around-the-world Golden Globe Race Goodall also thanked those who supported her and described her family as her 'rock', adding she did not know what was next on her horizon, apart from spending time with her friends and family over Christmas, but said she still had 'fire in her belly'. Ms Goodall added: 'After 157 days alone at sea and a very emotional week to follow, I was fighting back the tears as I stepped off the ship and saw my mum and oldest brother. 'I have put them through a lot, and I know I have a lot of making up to do. 'I can't tell you what is next beyond spending time with family and friends over Christmas and enjoying a glass of glogg, but that fire in my belly is far from out, so watch this space!' The Golden Globe race encompasses the three great capes of the Southern Ocean: Chile's Horn, South Africa's Good Hope and Australia's Leeuwin. Goodall was the fifth Golden Globe Race entrant this year to have abandoned the race due to their boat being dismasted. Terrified drivers witnessed the moment a lightning bolt struck a telegraph pole, blowing it up. The group screamed as the bolt blasted down onto the pole, just metres from a busy intersection in Holsworthy, south-west Sydney. One female passenger jokingly told her friends she loved them as the rain poured down on them. The dashcam footage showed the sky flash a silvery-white and heard the rumble of the thunder before the single strike came down. Nobody was out and about in the residential neighbourhood and park area save for the car and another motorbike, which safely passed through the explosion. Social media users were quick to commend the biker for his unflinching determination to continue riding through the storm. Terrified drivers witnessed the moment a lightning bolt crashed down onto a telegraph pole, blowing it up 'Glad that wasnt me on the bike! New underwear would be required,' one user wrote. It comes in the midst of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the entire east coast of Australia. BOM NSW forecaster David Wilke told Daily Mail Australia, 'We've seen quite a lot of rainfall and severe storms prevalent in the last few days and we're expecting this general pattern to continue in Sydney today.' He said the thunderstorms are likely to continue tomorrow before clearing up on Monday. The elderly lady sitting in front of me waved her magazine. Ive been doing lots of crosswords, puzzles and Sudoku, doctor, she said proudly. Every day. Im doing everything I can to stop dementia. She paused and looked at me warily: Im not wasting my time, am I? This is a question Im asked frequently and until this week Ive never been 100 per cent sure of the answer, as Ill explain. Many patients tell me theyd rather develop any manner of physical illness instead (file picture) When I first started work, dementia was very much an overlooked speciality and certainly not a condition widely discussed outside medical circles. How things have changed! We are now all much more aware of the illness and of how devastating it can be, so there is inevitable anxiety as we age. Have you only misplaced the car key or is it the first sign of Alzheimers? Is forgetting why you walked into a room just a slip of the mind or does it herald something more sinister? Did you take the wrong route to the supermarket because you were distracted or . . .? People absolutely dread dementia. Many patients tell me theyd rather develop any manner of physical illness instead. And, of course, the natural response is to want to do something to prevent it. Scientists at Aberdeen University suggested that puzzles do work, at least in part. They found that they wont prevent dementia, but they do raise the point at which cognitive decline starts (file picture) As the sole carer for her frail 84-year-old husband, my patient had every reason to want to stay as sharp as possible. If she were to be incapacitated, it would be a tragedy for both of them. She wanted to be proactive to do something positive to reduce the risk of this happening but would ploughing through puzzle books really help? For a long time, scientists thought of the brain as being like a muscle, and that the more you used it, the stronger and more resilient it would be. The use it or lose it theory and, of course, that would surely ward off dementia. When being lonely is good for children One in ten children are often lonely, if we are to believe the latest Office for National Statistics figures. This was described as heartbreaking by the Childrens Society, and the usual suspects have rushed to wring their hands and declare that an epidemic of loneliness is sweeping through the youth of today. Loneliness is not a pleasant experience for anyone, young or old, but it is a normal and transient part of growing up. One in ten children are often lonely according to Office for National Statistics figures (file picture) It is the usual consequence of change, be it moving home, changing schools, or a family break-up. Feeling lonely can be exactly what motivates a person to do something about their circumstances and adapt. It is the drive behind getting out, meeting people and establishing new social circles, and it helps young people develop resilience and resourcefulness. We already mollycoddle children too much, and it is creating a generation who lack the basic skills required to survive emotionally. Lets not try to protect them from loneliness, as its often what encourages them to start living to the full. Advertisement This idea took hold and a lucrative industry sprang up to cater for the demand for brain teasers for the middle-aged and elderly. They fill pages in publications popular with this age group, and book stores have whole sections dedicated to every kind of puzzle book. The problem was the lack of evidence that this actually worked. Individuals who did daily Sudoku or who could complete difficult crosswords in record time still got dementia. Gradually, the official line among scientists was that these fun mental challenges conferred little protection. However, Ive always had my doubts about this and, like many of my colleagues, Ive encouraged my patients to keep on doing puzzles if they enjoy them. Now research published this week vindicates this position. Scientists at Aberdeen University suggested that puzzles do work at least in part. They found that they wont prevent dementia, but they do raise the point at which cognitive decline starts, meaning that an individual stays mentally well for longer. In other words, it takes longer to reach the threshold for developing noticeable symptoms. This fits with our understanding of neurobiology. The brain has great plasticity; it is constantly growing, changing and adapting throughout our lives. It doesnt matter if youre eight or 80, your brain will retain this capacity, although it does slow down and more nerve connections are lost than are created. What the new study shows is that regularly using the brain for complex tasks including practising memory games and other mental challenges creates a greater number of connections between brain cells. It means that when the wiring of the brain starts to break down with age, or if dementia develops, the brain has back-up networks to use instead. Not only does this show how amazing the brain is, it also offers some hope in a condition where hope is often in short supply. And the best thing of all? Its never too late to start building those brain connections, so if youre in need of stocking fillers this year for an elderly relative, why not pop in a puzzle book? Legalising cannabis could lead to one million under-25s trying the drug and 100,000 new addicts, according to a report by the Centre for Social Justice think-tank. Its a terrifying prospect. The prefrontal cortex of the brain which governs personality and emotions, and which inhibits inappropriate behaviour is still maturing right through to the mid-20s. Its the part of the brain that makes us who we are. And we know that cannabis use affects brain development. If there was ever a reason to oppose the vociferous lobby demanding the decriminalisation of this toxic drug, then this is it. Dr Max prescribes... You can have your sore throat checked out at one of the 200 Superdrug pharmacies nationwide offering an innovative new service. The free ten-minute consultation with a pharmacist involves a full examination. If necessary, a swab will be taken to determine if your sore throat is bacterial and may require antibiotics or viral, which is the case in nine out of ten sore throats, and so doesnt need antibiotics. This service has both the potential to reduce pressure on GPs as well as the number of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. Great stuff! Our care nightmare Did you see Care, Jimmy McGoverns new drama about dementia that aired on Sunday on BBC TV? It told the story of a daughters (Sheridan Smith) battle to get appropriate care for her mother (Alison Steadman) after a stroke that left her partially paralysed and with vascular dementia. It was desperately sad, but unsparing in its exposition of just how inhumane the process of applying for social care can be; the ludicrous bureaucracy and the endless frustrations. And I was surprised that the programme attracted so much criticism because of its sometimes harsh portrayal of health care and social workers. To me, it seemed damningly accurate, since professional standards in this sector arent always what they should be. As anyone who has had responsibility for a loved one with dementia will attest, often you feel as if youre on your own. Yes, Care made difficult viewing, but it should be compulsory for those in Government to watch it. Advertisement Heal the NHS with mind control Newly released files on the CIAs sinister Project MKUltra a unit set up in the Fifties and Sixties to investigate mind control has revealed the scandalous extent of the experiments. Scientists subjected human guinea pigs to a range of biological and chemical techniques in an attempt to control thoughts and actions. The experiments were largely failures, though, and youd assume the idea of mind control would be consigned to the history books. In fact, its still very much present and Im a fan because I think it could really benefit the NHS. Today, mind control focuses on nudging people towards choices that are beneficial to them and for the greater good the so-called nudge theory. For example, scientists at Imperial College London showed that pumping the smell of soap into an intensive care unit made staff and visitors much more likely to wash their hands; while a fruit bowl by the till in a hospital canteen will influence more people to buy a piece of fruit. At Barts NHS Trust in London, the cost of missed appointments is included in reminder texts sent to patients, reducing the number of missed appointments by nearly 25 per cent. Small changes but together they can have a huge impact. Harvey Weinstein allegedly ejaculated on a woman in a bathroom stall and later left her in tears while he forcibly performed oral sex on her, according to another bombshell lawsuit. TMZ first reported Friday that the unnamed woman, under the alias Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the former film producer for the alleged sex assaults that took place at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 in Utah and months later in New York City. Doe, who was an aspiring actress at the time, said in the suit she first met Weinstein at the festival, where they attended a business meeting together at the five-star Waldorf Astoria in Park City. During the meeting, the woman got up to use the restroom, where she was abruptly greeted by an erect Weinstein in a stall. Weinstein allegedly pulled his pants down and made sexually explicit remarks to her. Harvey Weinstein (pictured right with Managing Partner, CAA Kevin Huvane, CAA Agent Chris Andrews at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Utah) allegedly ejaculated on a woman in a bathroom stall and later forcibly performed oral sex on her Actress Jennifer Lawrence (L) and former producer Weinstein are pictured in 2013 in Los Angeles. Weinstein allegedly bragged to his sexual assault accuser that he had slept with Lawrence Lawrence, pictured with Weinstein in 2013 in Los Angeles, has denied ever having a sexual relationship with him The woman, meanwhile, was still sitting on the toilet with her skirt around her ankles, according to the suit. Weinstein then allegedly told her: 'My d**k is nice and hard for you' and asked: 'Do you like my d**k?' Despite rejecting his advances, Weinstein allegedly masturbated in front of her and inched closer to her on the toilet. Moments later, he allegedly ejaculated on her skirt then insisted the pair should remain friends. Doe alleges she was promised meetings about potential acting roles afterward. She claims Weinstein also forced her hand on his erect penis later on at the business meeting. The Waldorf Astoria Park City hotel in Park City, Utah is pictured in a Facebook image Main Street is pictured during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in January 2013 Another alleged attack happened months later in New York City, where Weinstein invited Doe to discuss a movie role for the 2014 film, Vampire Academy. The woman claims she broke down in tears after Weinstein got on his knees and performed oral sex against her will. Weinstein allegedly assured her: 'I slept with Jennifer Lawrence and look where she is; she has just won an Oscar.' The Red Sparrow actress has denied ever having a sexual relationship with Weinstein. Lawrence told TMZ: 'My heart breaks for all the women who were victimized by Harvey Weinstein... I have never had anything but a professional relationship with him. 'This is yet another example of the predatory tactics and lies that he engaged in to lure countless women.' Doe further claims in the suit that Weinstein masturbated in front of her again in 2015 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he allegedly forced her into a restroom and told her 'you don't want to f**k this up' when she tried to run out of the place. Police would like to speak to this man in connection with the incident which took place at around 3.10pm on Sunday, December 9 Police are hunting a man who painted an Asian woman's face white while posing as a bogus make-up artist at a department store. The shock incident took place at Beales in Bournemouth, Dorset at around 3.10pm on Sunday, December 9. Where the smartly-dressed man is said to have asked the victim - an Indonesian woman aged in her 50s who lives in the town - if she would like a makeover. The woman, believing him to be genuine and from the MAC counter, politely accepted the request. But according to police, the man 'roughly caked' her face in white make-up before he was spotted, challenged by a member of staff and ran out. A spokesman for Dorset Police said: 'The racially-aggravated assault caused the woman a great deal of irritation and reddening to her face.' Police have now released a CCTV image of someone they would like to speak to and who appears to be wearing a black top, coat and blue jeans at the time. The man is said to have posed as a MAC make-up artist at a Beales department store (pictured) in Bournemouth, Dorset PC Alex Knapp, of Bournemouth Police, said: 'The victim is understandably very upset by the incident and I am now in a position to issue a CCTV image of the man I would like to speak to in connection with the incident. 'I would ask that anyone with information, or who can identify the man pictured, contacts Dorset Police. 'We take hate crime very seriously and we are carrying out a full investigation to identify the man responsible.' EU Council president Donald Tusk claimed yesterday that EU leaders and negotiators have shown Theresa May more respect than her own MPs. It came as EU leaders sought to blame Parliament for the present Brexit impasse - which led to Mrs May 'handbagging' an unusually-uncomfortable looking Jean-Claude Juncker after he described her positions as 'nebulous'. Mr Tusk's reference to Wednesday's vote of no-confidence among Tory MPs came as he closed this week's EU summit in Brussels. The European council president said: 'We have treated Prime Minister May with the greatest respect, all of us, and we really appreciate the efforts by the prime minister to ratify our common agreement. 'My impression is that in fact we have treated prime minister May with a much greater empathy and respect than some MPs, for sure.' European Council president said: 'We have treated prime minister May with a much greater empathy and respect than some MPs, for sure' The French President Emmanuel Macron piled on the pressure, saying the Brexit deal was now 'in the hands of the British parliament' and he called on MPs to take a clear position on whether to accept or reject it. 'This agreement, I believe, is truly good for both parties and it is the only one possible,' he said. It came after Theresa May warned EU leaders she would allow MPs to kill off her Brexit deal next week unless they agreed to consider further concessions on the Irish border issue. The Prime Minister said Britain could be forced to leave the EU without a deal if they did not give ground. Mrs May issued her dramatic ultimatum at a private meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Emmanuel Macron, EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Council president Donald Tusk and Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. The Prime Minister said Britain could be forced to leave the EU without a deal if they did not give ground She said that without the promise of help she would put her Brexit deal to a vote in the Commons next week. With more than 100 Tory MPs and her DUP partners currently opposed to it, the deal faced certain defeat on a scale likely to kill it off forever. Downing Street last night refused to confirm that Mrs May had threatened to crash her own deal. But sources said she was preparing to bring back the vote to the Commons next week if they had continued their hardline stance. Last night the gamble appeared to have paid off, with Mrs May telling reporters she was now convinced the EU was willing to budge on the Irish backstop, which critics claim could leave the UK trapped in a customs union against its will. It came after a stormy Brussels summit at which EU leaders stonewalled on help to save the PM's Brexit deal and she rounded on Mr Juncker for apparently describing her demands as 'nebulous and imprecise'. Downing Street last night refused to confirm that Mrs May had threatened to crash her own deal Mrs May had appeared to come away virtually empty-handed from the summit. But, speaking at a defiant press conference, she insisted she could get the refinements needed in time for a vote on her deal, which she has promised by January 21. 'I never said it was going to be easy,' she added. Speaking after her private meeting yesterday with the EU chiefs, the PM said: 'My discussions with colleagues today have shown that further clarification and discussion following the Council's conclusions is in fact possible. 'There is work still to do and we will be holding talks in coming days about how to obtain the further assurances that the UK Parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal.' The Irish backstop is designed to prevent the emergence of a hard border on the island of Ireland if trade talks falter. Mrs May had appeared to come away virtually empty-handed from the summit But critics fear it could leave the UK trapped in a customs union against its will for years. It is understood Mrs May asked for assurances on a future trade deal which would negate the need for the backstop to be added to the withdrawal agreement. Mrs May was seeking assurances with 'legal force' that the backstop could only be 'temporary'. EU leaders were supposed to sign up to a series of summit conclusions declaring that the backstop 'does not represent a desirable outcome for the EU'. A proposed phrasing also suggested that if the backstop were used it would only apply for a 'short period'. But both of these phrases were stripped out of the final conclusions following a row over dinner between the other 27 leaders. The tragic mother of a 21-year-old year American college student stabbed to death while studying in the Netherlands has spoken how she 'kind of knew' what sheriffs were going to say when they came to her door. Donee Odegard said the sheriffs asked her a few questions about her daughter, Sarah Papenheim, who was studying at Erasmus University, Rotterdam before telling the shocked mother she had been had been stabbed to death. 'He was sad to inform me that my beautiful daughter had passed. I kind of knew it was coming when you have done this before,' said Odegard, referencing the way she learnt her son had taken his own life at 21, three years ago, in an interview with ABC's 'Good Morning America.' Donee Odegard told how sheriffs asked her a few questions about her daughter, Sarah Papenheim, who was studying in Rotterdam, before telling her she'd been found stabbed 'He was sad to inform me that my beautiful daughter(Papenheim pictured) had passed. I kind of knew it was coming when you have done this before,' said Odegard Papenheim had been due to return to Minnesota for the holidays and her mother had put the Christmas tree up in anticipation Papenheim, of Minnesota, died Wednesday afternoon after she was attacked at her Rotterdam apartment. She was found covered in blood and pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers, who responded to her residence after hearing loud noises and arguing coming from the young woman's room. A 23-year-old Dutch man, Joel Schelling, who lived in the same building as Pappenheim was arrested after being located at the Eindhoven train station about 60 miles from Rotterdam, shortly after the body of the 21-year-old was discovered. Donee Odegard's son Josh took his own life three years ago aged 21. Sarah Papenheim was studying psychology with an emphasis on suicide The suspect and victim were both residents of De Snor, a building that largely housed students studying at Erasmus University. Papenheim, who had been studying in Rotterdam since 2016, occupied a studio apartment on the third floor of the building. At the railway station, the suspect was ordered on his knees and held his hands behind his back as police handcuffed him and conducted their search before taking him into custody. A 23-year-old Dutch man, Joel Schelling, who lived in the same building as the Pappenheim was arrested after being located at the Eindhoven train station Papenheim was in a relationship with another student at the university, Nico Karsemeijer, who was majoring in business administration. A musician who took a photo of Schelling described his appearance. 'Maybe he was just in a psychotic state of mind. He did not speak and almost didn't blink his eyes.' Authorities believe that Papenheim was still alive when Schelling fled the scene, leaving her to bleed to death. Odegard said she was becoming increasingly concerned about Schelling and her daughter had complained about the suspect, who she was good friends with, having a bad temper. Odegard said her daughter had complained about the suspect, who she was friends with, having a bad temper She said she told her daughter to get out, but Papenheim would say that she was 'his only friend. He would get angry, but I can always talk him down and change his mind.' Odegard said the man was a cello player and her daughter was a talented jazz drummer. Both were studying and shared a love of music. Odegard said her daughter could 'make friends with anybody.' 'Nothing concerned me until the last time I talked to her when she told me this story,' Odegard said. 'She said, 'Mommy he did this. He is acting strange.'' It was a worry shared by Papenheim's friend, Adam Pryor, who said he received a text message from Papenheim on December 6, saying her roommate threatened to kill three people. In the messages, shared with The Associated Press, Papenheim said she was going to have to go to the police. Pryor is not sure if she ever did. Papenheim was committed to helping people with mental problems, said to be in the wake of her brother's suicide. She was studying psychology with an emphasis on suicide. Papenheim's friend, Adam Pryor, (pictured left) said he received a text message from Papenheim on December 6, saying her roommate threatened to kill three people 'I know that everyone says that their daughter or son is the sunshine in everybody's life, but my daughter lights up the world,' Odegard said The Papenheim family lost their son, Josh, in 2015, who took his own life just days after their mother remarried. 'I've been through this before,' Odegard told Fox 9. 'I've cried so much my ducts are dry. I am in the angry stage now.' Odegard praised Papenheim's boyfriend, Nico, for the support he'd provided, both emotionally and as a native Dutch speaker. 'He has been a rock for her,' Odegard said. 'He was there when my son committed suicide; he has been there for her so much. I don't know what would have happened for both of us if he wasn't there. He helped us so much.' 'I know that everyone says that their daughter or son is the sunshine in everybody's life, but my daughter lights up the world,' Odegard said. Papenheim had been due to return to Minnesota for the holidays and her mother had put the tree up in preparation. Sarah Papenheim who was a talented drummer was studying in Rotterdam after meeting her Dutch boyfriend, Nico Karsemeijer, online A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral costs for Sarah Papenheim (pictured with her brother Josh) The family wanted to raise $40,000 to help cover expensive travel costs to bring Papenheim home. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the costs of bringing Papenheim home along with funeral expenses. As of Saturday the account has exceeded $41,000. 'Sarah was a beautiful, vibrant young woman and a talented musician with a smile that could light up a room,' the GoFundMe read. 'She played with some of the best musicians on the scene in the Twin Cities and had many close relationships with them. Her presence is irreplaceable. We love you, drummer girl.' Odegard flew to Rotterdam on Friday. A spokeswoman for Erasmus University released a statement: 'The university is shocked by this terrible incident and is taking care of upset students and employees and will act towards relatives according to our protocols. 'We encourage our students and staff not to let each other alone in this difficult time and to get in touch with student-advisors and psychologists if they want to,' the statement read. Adam Pryor met Papenheim in Minneapolis' music scene and the two quickly became friends. They continued to be close friends after she decided to move to the Netherlands in 2016 to live with her boyfriend and study music. Stoney Westmoreland, who stars as the grandfather in the popular Disney Channel series Andi Mack, has been arrested for trying to lure a 13-year-old in for sex A 48-year-old actor who portrayed the grandfather of a middle school girl in a popular Disney Channel series was arrested Thursday for attempting to lure a minor in for sex. Stoney Westmoreland, who stars in Andi Mack, began communicating with the 13-year-old he matched with on a dating app commonly used for arranging hookups, according to a police affidavit. The affidavit states that the middle-aged man requested naked photos from the teen. He also sent the victim pornographic images in return. Westmoreland later attempted to meet the victim for sex through a ride-sharing app he used to order the victim a car. That's when he was taken into custody by the Salt Lake City Police Department and FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. He has been charged with four counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor and one count of enticing a minor by internet or text. Further investigation is currently underway. Westmoreland is seen starring in the American comedy series next to main character, Andi Mack, played by Peyton Elizabeth Lee The series follows 13-year-old Andi Mack and her friends around their middle school Westmoreland has also starred in the TV series Scandal, NCIS: Los Angeles, Weeds and Gilmore Girls, to name a few. The American comedy series, Andi Mack, first aired on the Disney Channel in April 2017 and is currently still running. The series, which has positive viewer ratings on IMDb and Google, takes viewers into the everyday life and drama of 13-year-old Mack, played by Peyton Elizabeth Lee. Disney cable network announced late Friday that Westmoreland has been fired. 'Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week,' a representative said. Andi Mack cast photo is seen. Westmoreland, pictured far right, was arrested Thursday A photo has emerged of the seven-year-old girl who died hours after she was arrested with her father at the border, though the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol is refusing to take responsibility for her death. The Guatemalan government identified the girl as Jackeline Caal Maquin on Friday. A photograph of her was obtained and confirmed by NBC News. The photo shows a little girl in blue jeans and a blue top, staring at the camera while standing outside. The child died of dehydration two days after being arrested at the border. She stopped breathing on a US government bus and was not taken to hospital for more than an hour later. Her father is 29-year-old Nery Caal, and both were arrested as they tried to enter the US at the Antelope Wells Port of Entry in New Mexico at 9.15pm on December 6. They were among 163 migrants who were met by four Customs and Border Patrol Agents. At 10pm, she was checked over by an agent who did not observe that she had any health issues or visibly concerning attributes. According to DHS and CBP officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Friday during a conference call with reporters, the girl's father also told an agent in Spanish that she did not have any health problems and it was marked on a form used to process them. The DHS official who repeatedly refused to go on the record said the girl would have 'died alone in the desert' had it not been for the 'life saving measures' that were taken by agents, despite the fact that she died 36 hours after entering their custody. Scroll down for video Photo of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, the 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection after waiting an 90 minutes before receiving emergency medical care Between 10pm and 4.30am, she remained at the Port of Entry, apparently with access to food, water and restrooms, until both she and her father were put on a bus to be taken for processing 95 miles away at the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station. At 5am, the child started vomiting and her father alerted the agents on the bus but there was nothing they could do other than carry on, according to government officials, and alert medical staff to be prepared at the other end of the journey. Ninety-minutes later, the child's father told agents that she had stopped breathing at the same time they arrived at the patrol station. 'There wasn't a whole lot for them to do. Really, in that part of the border, there is no faster means to get her to where she needs medical treatment,' the official said on Friday. Jackeline Caal Maquin died on December 8th a day after being detained on the border with her father. Her death has sparked humanitarian concerns about the US's treatment of illegal migrants in their custody. Above is an illustration of her final hours The child was airlifted from the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station in New Mexico (shown) at 7.45am on December 7 but she had stopped breathing more than an hour earlier while being transported on a bus from the Antelope Wells Port of Entry where agents say she was checked over, showed no signs of illness and had access to food and water They say it was around the time that they arrived at the patrol station but the exact number of minutes between her stopping breathing and their arrival is unclear. She was then airlifted to hospital in El Paso, Texas, at 7.45am - more than an hour later - and went into cardiac arrest. After being revived, a CT scan revealed that Jackeline had brain swelling. She died the next day, early in the morning, from liver failure. They insist that there was nothing else they could have done to save her and that she was properly checked over despite the border agents not having medical training. 'The initial screening revealed no evidence of health issues. There is no indication that it was a lack of attention. The questions were asked... there were plenty of opportunities in that period of time for her father to alert agents. 'He had already been asked questions about her health, he knew we were interested in it,' the CBP official said. GOVERNMENT TIMELINE OF GIRL'S DEATH December 6th, 9.15pm: Jackeline is detained at the Antelope Wells Port of Entry 10pm: She is looked over by border agents who clear her and say she has no signs of ill health December 7th, 4.30am: Jackeline is put on a bus with her father to be taken to the Lordsburg Patrol Station 5am: The child begins vomiting on the bus Agents call ahead to the Lordsburg station and keep driving 6.30am: Jackeline's father tells agents she has stopped breathing 6.45am: EMTs treat Jackeline at the border patrol station 7.45am: She is airlifted to Providence Children's Hospital in El Paso, Texas December 8th: Jackeline Dies in the early morning after a CT scan revealed brain swelling, liver failure, dehydration, and septic shock Advertisement OUTNUMBERED AGENTS AND NO MEDICAL STAFF Asked by DailyMail.com if it was possible the girl was not thoroughly checked over due to the fact there were so few agents and so many migrants to process, the official denied that there was a lack of care. 'Our agents are almost always outnumbered in the middle of the night on the border,' they said. There were no medical staff on the scene when they were first apprehended and the checks carried out boiled down to a visual observation and a list of questions, the officials said. FATHER SAID SHE HAD NO HEALTH PROBLEMS One thing that has been repeated by officials on and off the record is that no one raised the alarm that the girl was ill until she was being sick on the bus. During the call on Friday, agents said that the girl's father was interviewed and answered, like others, around 20 questions. Because she was a minor, he answered on her behalf. Crucially, the officials said that the interview was conducted in Spanish and that 'all' border patrol agents had to be 'proficient' in the language in order to keep their jobs. His answers were translated and used to complete the form where it was written that the girl had no medical problems. LONG WAIT TO GET ON BUS IN REMOTE, UNDER-RESOURCED BASE The first group, which contained predominantly unaccompanied minors, was taken from Antelope Wells to Lordsburg at 10pm. There was only one bus that was available to agents in the area which is extremely remote. While she was waiting for her ride, the girl and her father had access to food, water and restrooms, according to the officials. 'The resources that we have to use, we have to use as efficiently and effectively as we can. These are difficult and remote areas,' the official said. 'Antelope Wells is a forward operating base, it is different to a station. 'These are locations we put in very remote regions. No one lives out there and the roads are very limited.' The agency previously said she 'had not eaten or drank any water' for days but they did not indicate how they knew that. By the time she arrived at the border patrol station, after the journey, her temperature was 105.7 degrees. When she was flown to hospital, her father was driven to be with her. He was present for her death but has since been returned to custody. A group of migrants are arrested at the border in Tijuana on December 2 by US Border Patrol Agents. The child who died has not been named INSPECTOR GENERAL LAUNCHES PROBE INTO GIRL'S DEATH In a statement on Friday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan said his agents did 'everything in their power' to save her once they knew she was ill. 'Despite our trained EMT agents best efforts fighting for Jakelins life, and the work of the Hidalgo County and Providence Childrens Hospital medical teams treating her, we were unable to rescue her. 'The agents involved are deeply affected and empathize with the father over the loss of his daughter.' The Department said it would review its procedures for releasing information such as this one in light of the delay in announcing the child's death. REPUBLICANS SAY IT WAS THE FAMILY'S FAULT FOR TRYING Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen reiterated the government's previous statements on the matter during an interview on Friday, saying it was 'an example of the dangers of this journey. 'Its heart-wrenching, is what it is. And my heart goes out to the family. All of DHS. You know this is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey. 'This family chose to cross illegally. What happened here was that they were about 90 miles away from where we could process them. 'They came in such a large crowd it took our Border Patrol folks a couple times to get them all.' She insisted that she and the other migrants were given 'immediate care' but did not go into further detail. 'We'll continue to look into the situation, but again, I cannot stress enough how dangerous this journey when migrants choose to come here illegally,' she said. White House Deputy Press Secretary John Hogan Gidley described her death as 'horrific'. 'It's a horrific, tragic situation. Obviously, our hearts go out to the family and to anyone who's suffered any type of danger and peril that they see so often when they make that trek up from the southern border. It's a horrific situation. 'There's no two ways about it and it's it's a sad time, but it's also senseless. It's a needless death and it's 100 percent preventable. 'If we could just come together and pass some common sense laws to disincentivize people from coming up from the border and encourage them to do it the right way, the legal way, then those types of deaths, those types of assaults, those types of rapes, the child smuggling, the human trafficking that would all come to an end. 'And we hope Democrats join the president.' All CBP would say on Friday when contacted by DailyMail.com earlier in the day was that its agents 'were unable to stop this tragedy.' 'As we have always said, traveling north illegally is extremely dangerous. Drug cartels, human smugglers and the elements pose deadly risks to anyone who comes across the border illegally. 'Border Patrol always takes care of individuals in their custody and does everything in their power to keep them safe. Every year the Border Patrol saves hundreds of people who are overcome by the elements between our ports of entry. 'Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and the best efforts of the medical team treating the child, we were unable to stop this tragedy from occurring. 'Once again, we are begging parents to not put themselves or their children at risk attempting to enter illegally. Please present yourselves at a port of entry and seek to enter legally and safely,' a spokesman said. FURY FROM DEMOCRATS AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS The case has outraged civil rights groups including the ACLU and sparked further concerns over the humanitarian component of the ongoing border crisis. Senator Dianne Feinstein said in a statement was among the first to abhor the incident and demand answers. 'It's heartbreaking and unacceptable that a 7-year-old girl died of dehydration and shock last week in Customs and Border Protection custody. 'It's illegal and simply barbaric to deny water to a young girl in custody, particularly after they turned themselves in to authorities. 'Families walking hundreds of miles across the desert for a chance of refuge in the United States are desperate. This country owes them compassionate, humane treatment. 'We will be demanding answers from Commissioner Kevin McAleenan as to how this was allowed to happen,' she said. Cynthia Pompa, advocacy manager for the ACLU Border Rights Center, said migrant deaths increased last year even as the number of border crossing dropped. 'This tragedy represents the worst possible outcome when people, including children, are held in inhumane conditions. 'Lack of accountability, and a culture of cruelty within CBP have exacerbated policies that lead to migrant deaths,' Pompa said. Tourists are being warned to steer clear of a popular holiday destination over fears of an increased risk of Islamic violence. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a new warning for Australians to exercise greater caution when in Bali over the holiday period, concerned that protests in the nation's tourist hotspots could turn violent. The protests come after Prime Minister Scott Morrison endorsed a formal recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Saturday morning. With Indonesia being the biggest supporters of the Palestinian Authority outside of the Middle East, DFAT are making tourists aware of potential protests. The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued an urgent alert to tourists in Bali (pictured) Those travelling through Indonesia are warned to exercise a 'high degree of caution' (pictured), largely in part to potentially violent Islamic protests in tourist hotspots DFAT did not increase its travel warning level - which sits at 'high degree of caution' - but did issue an urgent alert. 'Protests may continue at the embassy in Jakarta or at any of Australia's consulates-general in Surabaya, Bali and Makassar,' the alert said. 'We haven't changed our level of advice exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia overall, including Bali.' The alert also highlighted recent demonstrations, which were peaceful, carried out the front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. The Consulate-General in Surabaya, northwest of Bali, was also targeted by protesters. 'Exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including in Bali, Surabaya and Jakarta, because of the high threat of terrorist attack,' another warning reads. 'Avoid protests, demonstrations and rallies, which can turn violent without warning.' The alert comes as Scott Morrison formally endorses west Jerusalem as the Israeli capital Indonesia, being the biggest Palestinian Authority support outside of the Middle East, has erupted in protests and rallies. Pictured is a stock image of a tourist at a Bali temple Mr Morrison made the controversial announcement in Sydney on Saturday afternoon. 'Australia now recognises west Jerusalem - being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government - is the capital of Israel,' Mr Morrison said. 'And we look forward to moving our embassy to west Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination.' For the time being, the embassy will remain in Tel Aviv, as are majority of international consulates. Israel itself designates Jerusalem as its capital and seats its government there. Renowned and controversial photographer Spencer Tunick has released images he took of hundreds of stark naked Melburnians braving winter in nothing but their birthday suit. The photo project, Return of the Nude, has just been released but took place back in July during the Chapel Street Provocare arts festival. In total, 860 people took part, having been hand picked by the New York-based artist from 12,000 applicants in order to achieve a cross-section of ethnicities, ages and sexual orientations. Scroll down for video Renowned and controversial photographer Spencer Tunick has released images he took of hundreds of stark naked Melburnians (pictured) In total, 860 people took part, having been hand picked by the artist from 12,000 applicants in order to achieve a cross-section of ethnicities, ages and sexual orientations 'I believe these final images have captured an extraordinary moment in the timeline of Melbourne,' Tunick said. The images show nude participants in different locations across the suburb of Prahran - a Woolworths car park, Greville Street and Bromley Ballroom. In some photos participants are in sheer red cloth and in another they are painted from head to toe in bright colours. Tunick said he needed to work quickly in the cold weather so nobody would freeze but felt he still achieved a beautiful artwork as a result. The participants will be given a print of the image they appeared in at an event in Prahran this weekend. Tunick has created similar en masse nude art installations in iconic locations across the world. In some photos participants are in sheer red cloth and in another they are painted from head to toe in bright colours (pictured) The former home of murdered underworld figure Carl Williams has been sold prior to auction after his former wife's bid to stop the sale failed. The Essendon home was set to go to auction at midday on Saturday as the Australian Tax Office tried to claw back money owed by Roberta Williams' former father-in-law. But the two-storey townhouse in Melbourne's north west ended up being sold beforehand by real estate agents Nelson Alexander for an undisclosed amount. Scroll down for video The former home (pictured) of murdered underworld figure Carl Williams has been sold prior to auction after his former wife's bid to stop the sale failed Ms Williams (Pictured) had gone to the Supreme Court to stop the sale to pay off a $959,714 tax debt owed by George Williams' estate, linked to money he made importing drugs The home was set to go to auction at midday on Saturday as the Australian Tax Office tried to claw back money owed by Roberta Williams' (pictured right) former father-in-law Ms Williams had gone to the Supreme Court to stop the sale to pay off a $959,714 tax debt owed by George Williams' estate, linked to money he made importing drugs. Her daughter with Carl, Dhakota Williams, was bequeathed the house in her grandfathers' will. Justice Steven Moore on Friday rejected the claim to block the sale, allowing it to go ahead. The property had a reserve price of $750,000, which he said would fall short of the amount owed to the tax office. Nelson Alexander described the property as delivering an 'outstanding low-maintenance lifestyle opportunity with its spacious floorplan'. The website also stated the home has 'quality features throughout and private surrounds', which includes 'motorised security shutters all-round'. Nelson Alexander described the property as delivering an 'outstanding low-maintenance lifestyle opportunity with its spacious floorplan' The website also stated the home has 'quality features throughout and private surrounds', which includes 'motorised security shutters all-round' Other highlights of the home include ducted heating and cooling throughout, along with solid hardwood floors and a full-size laundry with under-stair storage space Other highlights of the home include ducted heating and cooling throughout, along with solid hardwood floors and a full-size laundry with under-stair storage space. George Williams was first notified of the debt after he pleaded guilty to trafficking in November 2007. The original debt proceedings were dropped, but fresh ones were brought in 2011 and in 2013 he agreed to mortgage the home for $576,000 to cover the debt. With interest, the figure is now just shy of a million dollars. Jonathan William Herbert, 30, reached a plea agreement with Georgia prosecutors on Friday A former middle school teacher will serve 30 days in jail and four years probation for getting drunk, swimming underwater, and biting a 14-year-old girl in her buttocks. Jonathan William Herbert, 30, reached a plea agreement with Georgia prosecutors on Friday. Herbert, a resident of Dacula, Georgia, entered a first offender plea to charges of battery, public drunkenness, and bribery, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Initially, Herbert was charged with sexual battery, but that charge was dropped because prosecutors were concerned they would not be able to secure a conviction. On the evening of July 4, Herbert was swimming at the Lake Lanier Island beach in Buford, Georgia. According to the Hall County Sheriffs Office, Herbert swam underwater and bit the buttocks of a 14-year-old girl, who was playing volleyball at the time. Investigators said that Herbert had no known connections to the girl or her family. The incident was witnessed by a number of beachgoers, who reported it to police. At around 8:30pm, Herbert was taken into custody. Sheriffs deputies said he was drunk at the time of his arrest. On the evening of July 4, Herbert was swimming at the Lake Lanier Island beach in Buford, Georgia (above). According to the Hall County Sheriffs Office, Herbert swam underwater and bit the buttocks of a 14-year-old girl, who was playing volleyball at the time After he was arrested, Herbert tried to bribe a deputy with $200. He was indicted on August 13. Herbert was a teacher at Snellville Middle School. Gwinnett County Public Schools, which oversees Snellville, began an internal investigation after his arrest. A few weeks after his arrest, Herbert resigned his position as a teacher at Snellville Middle School in Snellville, Georgia Herbert resigned from the school district on August 1. The girls family did not object to the plea deal because it had no desire to see her testify, WSB-TV reported. As per the conditions of his sentence, Herbert is not permitted to work as a teacher or to be seen in areas where children congregate, court documents state. Since Herbert is a first-time offender, the charges will be wiped from his record if he successfully completes his sentence. Charles Penn, 41, a former economics teacher with Harper Woods High School is charged with one count of accosting children for immoral purposes A high school economics teacher said he would pass a 15-year-old girl if she performed a sex act on him, according to authorities. Charles Penn, 41, who taught at Harper Woods High School, allegedly promised the student she would pass his class if he received the sex act, according to Click on Detroit. He was then heard by another female student who backed up the other girl's story and Harper Woods police began and completed an investigation. When the Harper Woods police started investigating him in June of this year, Penn then reportedly left the school district to begin teaching at John R. King Academy, a performing arts school in the Detroit public schools system. Harper Woods High School where teacher Charles Penn allegedly propositioned a student for a sex act in exchange for a passing grade The former teacher made a court appearance in Harper Woods on Thursday charged with a count of accosting children for immoral purposes with a bond set at $50,000 with personal conditions attached. Penn was placed on leave by the Detroit Public Schools Community District after his arraignment, who released in a statement that it 'takes seriously any allegations of sexual misconduct and will address to the fullest extent possible.' Despite the investigation into Penn's actions taking place at the end of the previous school year, Click on Detroit reported that many of the school's parents were unaware of the charge. 'I mean, you can't trust nobody,' one woman told the station. 'If he was arrested, they're going to find out,' another mother said, expecting additional victims. 'All the girls may come out. It might be some boys, too.' Penn faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the crime. After the June incident was under investigation, Penn left the district and took a job with John R. King Academy in Detroit Two people have been arrested after a man was found dead in his home. Emergency services were called to a home in Nathan Court in Morphett Vale in Adelaide's south just after 9am on Saturday to check on the welfare of the occupant. Police located a man, 63, deceased inside his home under what South Australian Police described as 'suspicious circumstances'. Detectives arrested a Morphett Vale woman, 41, at the scene. Police remain at the scene where a man was found dead in his Morphett Vale home A man, 43, was arrested a short time later at his home in the nearby suburb of Christie Downs. The pair are expected to be charged later on Saturday. Police don't believe it was a random incident. Superintendent Yvette Clark said the three people knew each other but police are yet to determine the relationship between them. 'It appears to be a targeted issue,' she told reporters. 'We are in the early stages of talking to family members and friends. We don't believe there's any further danger to any members of the public and we will continue to investigate and proceed with the matter from there.' The cause of the man's death is yet to be determined, which will be investigated by pathologists. A man and a woman have been arrested by police and are expected to be charged 'It's too early to tell but he had some injuries to his body,' Superintendent Clark told reporters. 'We'll know more as the investigation continues.' She was unable to provide more details about the man's injuries or say whether a weapon was involved. Nathan Court remains closed while crime scene investigators are at the scene. A car at the home has been seized and taken away for forensic testing, 9 News reported. 'We don't believe there's any further danger to any members of the public and we will continue to investigate and proceed with the matter from there,' Superintendent Yvette Clark said One neighbour in the quiet suburban street told the Adelaide Advertiser the victim recently became wheelchair-bound. 'He kept to himself,' Mandi McGlynn told the publication. 'This has been a great shock. I've never seen anything like it.' Superintendent Clark urged anyone in the area who saw or heard anything late Friday or in the early hours of Saturday to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Australian filmmaker James Ricketson has described how he was 'packed like sardines' alongside paedophiles and murderers during his time in a Cambodian prison. Mr Ricketson, 69, was accused of spying and sentenced to six years in a notorious Cambodian jail. He was pardoned by the Cambodian government in September after serving 14 months of his sentence, and was able to return to Australia. Scroll down for video Australian filmmaker James Ricketson (pictured) has described how he was 'packed like sardines' alongside paedophiles and murderers during his time in a Cambodian prison Mr Ricketson, 69, was accused of spying and sentenced to six years in a notorious Cambodian jail He was pardoned by the Cambodian government in September after serving 14 months of his sentence, and was able to return to Australia He has revealed the horrifying conditions in which he lived during his time behind bars from the safety of his Palm Beach home, in an interview with News Corp. Mr Ricketson said he was 'packed like sardines' alongside some of the world's worst criminals in Phnom Penhs Prey Sar jail, and had to endure squalid conditions. According to Mr Ricketson, the stench of stale urine in the prison was 'overpowering' as the tank holding water to flush toilets often ran out. Each prisoner was only allocated one metre square of space in the cell, the floor of which was crawling with rats and cockroaches. Living in the extreme, unhygienic conditions caused Mr Ricketson to deteriorate in health and lose a significant 20kg. He has revealed the horrifying conditions in which he lived during his time behind bars from the safety of his Palm Beach home Mr Ricketson said he was 'packed like sardines' alongside paedophiles, murderers and rapists in Phnom Penhs Prey Sar jail, and had to endure squalid conditions Almost three months on from his release, the filmmaker continues to suffer from body aches and chronic headaches. Despite his ordeal, he is looking forward to a Christmas spent with his son and adopted daughter. Mr Ricketson was arrested in June last year after flying a drone without a permit over a political rally in the lead up to an election. The arrest came after Prime Minister Hun Sen's leadership began to crackdown on political rivals and critics. The ruling party won the recent general July election by a landslide and numerous political prisoners have since been released. Pardons are typically issued at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen who has been power for 33 years. Mr Ricketson, who has been filming documentaries in the country for the past 20 years, was intending to use the drone footage in a film about street kids but the government believed the footage could threaten the country's national security. A former top rugby league player will spend at least eight-and-a-half years behind bars over his involvement in one of Australia's biggest illegal drug importing busts. Former Eastern Suburbs Roosters lock forward John Tobin, 59, was among 15 men arrested following a multi-million dollar cocaine ring bust on Christmas Day 2016. Around 500kg of cocaine with an estimated value of $150 million was seized by police as an inflatable dingy pulled up to a Brooklyn boat ramp north of Sydney. Former rugby league player John Tobin has been jailed for at least 12 years. He played 125 first grade games for Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the 1970s and 1980s Police alleged the group used a fishing trawler to transport drugs to a 'mother ship', which had travelled from South America. Tobin was charged for his involvement in the alleged operation which attempted to smuggle more than a tonne of cocaine into Australia from South America. Police alleged at the time that the 'robust syndicate' had gone to great lengths to avoid detection but had been under police investigation for two and a half years. Tobin, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug was sentenced for a maximum of 12 years in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday. Two of his co-accused, Joseph Pirrello and Simon Spero were jailed for at least 14 and nine-and-a-half years respectively, Fairfax Media reported. Justice Helen Wilson told the court the trio were part of a wide-reaching syndicate based at Sydney Fish Markets that had organised at least four unsuccessful missions to import large quantities of illegal drugs into the country. Around 500 kilograms of cocaine was seized in the multi-million dollar cocaine ring bust One of the failed operations was a bizarre and unsuccessful plan where a boat travelled 200 nautical miles from Sydney to collect 400kg of cocaine from a Colombian submarine. Pirrello and others made plans to covered the drugs with fish 'so that it looked normal' when the haul returned to the Fish Markets, the court was told. But the plan didn't eventuate as the submarine mysteriously failed to turn up. Six men were arrested on Christmas Day 2016. Another nine men were later arrested 'It was not known what happened to the Colombian vessel,' Justice Helen Wilson told the court. In a separate unsuccessful mission in March 2016, a 600kg shipment of cocaine was intercepted by the French navy off Tahiti. Several other members of the alleged syndicate are still before the courts. Tobin played 125 first grade games for the Roosters in the 1970s and 1980s. A McDonald's worker with Down syndrome who has become an icon at his local fast food restaurant will hang up his apron after 32 years. Russell O'Grady first donned the chain's uniform in 1986 as an 18-year-old - and quickly became a popular employee at Northmead McDonald's in Sydney's West. He was often seen cleaning tables and greeting customers, who have dubbed him the 'best-known person in Northmead'. Russell O'Grady (pictured) has been bringing smiles to customers' faces at his local McDonald's for 32 years He's often seen cleaning tables and greeting customers and quickly became the 'best-known person in Northmead' since he started working at McDonald's Now at 50 years of age, he will be leaving behind sad customers, many of which make the trip into the store just to see him, the The Daily Telegraph reported. McDonald's supervisor Courtney Purcell said Mr O'Grady has become an icon in Northmead. 'We've got regular customers who come in to see Russell on Thursday and Friday, and the staff look after him, so we're going to miss him,' she said. Mr O'Grady's brother Lindsey told the paper his dedication to work had made his family incredibly proud. 'He's kind of blase about it but loves his work very much. He's pretty cheeky sometimes. He's my big brother and he keeps me in line,' he said. The beloved employee's father, Geoff O'Grady, previously told Daily Mail Australia people used to stop his son on the street to shake his hand. 'He's very affectionate, dearly loved and appreciated, to such an extent that we just don't believe it.' Geoff said his son's career has given him a different outlook on life. 'Somebody said to him ''are you handicapped?'' and his answer was ''I used to be when I went to school, but now I work at McDonald's'',' he said. He's often seen cleaning tables and greeting customers and quickly became the 'best-known person in Northmead' since he started working at McDonald's Now at 50 years of age, he will be leaving behind sad customers, many of which make the trip into the store just to see him Mr O'Grady began his job at the local restaurant during a time when people with disabilities were seldom in the workforce. His career began with work experience, but when he showed how hard he worked he moved into a secure job with McDonald's packing party boxes. He also tried his hand at other duties in the restaurant, even having a go in the kitchen. The 50-year-old is just one among hundreds of people living with a disability who have had the opportunity to be trained and put in a job through Jobsupport. After a lot of contemplation, Mr O'Grady came to the conclusion retirement was the best decision for his health. He's an avid tenpin bowler and spends lots of his time at Northmead Bowling Club, the men's shed at Richmond, where he'll be spending lots of his free time. A series of spectacular beach landings have been completed by a 120-ton RAF carrier testing its capabilities on sand. The A400M Atlas manned by pilots from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, took to Pembrey Sands beach in Southern Wales to perform take off, taxiing and landing manoeuvers. Spectacular pictures shows the clunking Airbus-made beast zipping over the wet sand, touching down before quickly taking off again. It was being flown by 06 Squadron and LXX (70) Squadron pilots. The A400M Atlas during beach landing trails at Pembrey Sands beach in Southern Wales The 45 m long plane is vital in Ministry of Defence aid missions, with room for 66 patient stretchers. The four-engine turboprop aircraft can also deliver 25 tonnes of cargo over 2,000 nautical miles at impressive speed. The craft was being tested for its ability to land on unprepared runways, as it was also last year in South Wales. The RAF said: 'Beaches are routinely used by the RAF for training operations with other tactical airlifters. The 45 m long plane is vital in Ministry of Defence aid missions, with room for 66 stretchers 'The A400M showcased its superb tactical capabilities on natural surfaces by performing take-off, landing and taxiing manoeuvres.' Footage from a similar capability test on a Welsh beach last year show the true scale of the impressive machine. The UK will operate 22 aircraft in total, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The RAF carrier was testing its capabilities on sand, including taxiing, take off and landing DE&S (Defence Equipment and Support) teams are managing the ongoing delivery of the aircraft and overseeing trials to increase the range of operations it is qualified to perform. James Dowson, DE&S Atlas Team Head, said: 'UK Forces are known worldwide for their ability to be deployed rapidly and effectively the Atlas aircraft, which our people are instrumental in delivering, will be central to this in the future.' A top-secret Christmas card sent to Bletchley Park codebreakers from the family of the MI6 security chief has been uncovered. It was sent by Lady Evelyn Sinclair, wife of Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair, the chief of MI6, in 1938 and an expert has said the secretive, and somewhat unusual festive card, was 'sent with a wink'. It doesn't bare the hallmarks of a traditional Christmas card. It depicts several men in suits milling around a tidy lawn in the sun, but a research historian at Bletchley Park said this is entirely intentional. 'It is very much sent with a wink to the people who know its significance, without giving anything away to those who don't,' David Kenyon told The Guardian. The picture used for the Christmas card sent by Lady Evelyn Sinclair with a 'wink' to codebreakers in Bletchley Park (pictured) 'It is the way the British intelligence services have always worked. Whether it's speaking or writing, they've always been indirect so if you know what's going on you'll understand. If you don't, nothing has been given away,' he added. 'Captain Ridley's shooting party' was the guise used to describe the summery gathering. In reality, it was a collection of early spies, which numbered 150 in total, and codebreakers using a Buckinghamshire mansion as a training school as war seemed imminent. The handwritten card, addressed from the Sinclair's Westminster mansion, read: 'Wishing you a very happy Christmas & New Year, Evelyn Sinclair.' David Kenyon said: 'It is exciting to have a photograph of what was such a secret event. One of the problems we have here at Bletchley, because of the nature of the work, is that very few photographs of what was going on survive. Wrens working in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, During the 2nd world war Bletchley Park was the wartime home of the enigma code-breaking operation, which through intercepting Nazi messages shortened world war II Bletchley Park produced vital intelligence that played a huge part in swinging the war in the Allies favour - and cutting it short by an estimated two years. As Winston Churchill was quoted as saying the Bletchley staff were the geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled. Intelligence from Bletchley played a vital part in the defeat of the U-boats in the six-year Battle of the Atlantic, British naval triumphs in the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941 and the Battle of North Cape off the coast of Norway in 1943. By 1944 British and American commanders knew the location of 58 out of 60 German divisions across the Western Front. Modern day Bletchley Park Buckinghamshire where the enemy codes where broken In addition, a great deal of information was decrypted about General Erwin Rommels Nazi forces in North Africa. The German commander enjoyed a great deal of success against the British but with the help of intelligence from the codebreakers General Bernard Montgomery's British forces were able to drive him back in 1942. The success of Bletchleys cryptanalysts was partly due, however, to German operators failing to encrypt messages properly. Had they not been so sloppy, the outcome of the war could have been very different. Alan Turing, a British mathematician, was pivotal in capitalising on the German sloppyness. His work gave Allied leaders vital information about the movement and intentions of Hitlers forces. Historians credit the work of Turing and his fellow codebreakers at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire with shortening the war by up to two years, saving countless lives. Turing is also widely seen as the father of computer science and artificial intelligence. A father who fell to his death while hanging up festive lights on a town centre Christmas tree was due to become a grandfather again that day. Tree surgeon James Ogilvie, who was in his 50s, was found dead at the bottom of the 20ft tree in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in the early hours of yesterday. The Scot tragically passed away on the day his daughter Amber Mitchell, 23 - who has two boys aged three and two - was due to give birth to her third child. Tree surgeon James Ogilvie, who was in his 50s, was found dead at the bottom of the 20ft tree The Scot tragically passed away on the day his daughter Amber Mitchell was due to give birth to her third child He was found at the bottom of the tree in Kirkcaldy Town Square. Some of the top branches had snapped off and fallen to the ground Hours before his death, Mr Ogilvie wrote on Facebook: 'Looks like I'm going to be a grandad in the next 24 hours x.' Ms Mitchell posted two photos of the tree surgeon with the caption 'RIP dad' on her social media yesterday. Nightclub owner Mario Caira, who runs Kitty's in Kirkcaldy, witnessed James's fall and tried to help him as he lay on a patch of grass. He said: 'He'd climbed the tree. He was up in the tree, holding on to the top. 'When he fell, I thought he was actually winded. I went over to check on the guy and when he wasn't coming round I phoned an ambulance. A police officer stands in front of the scene where the tragic grandfather fell to his death Hours before his death, Mr Ogilvie wrote on Facebook: 'Looks like I'm going to be a grandad in the next 24 hours x' 'It's just a tragedy. Any time of year is bad, but this time of year is worse and falling from a Christmas tree is probably even worse.' The club owner said James had not been in Kitty's before he fell and appeared to have been on his own. He said: 'I'm not medically trained in terms of what happened when he fell, but I reckon you could do that thousands of times and you would walk away.' The tree, located by Fife Council's offices (pictured), was tilted slightly to one side yesterday Councillor Neil Crooks, convener of the Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said: 'This is a tragic thing to have happened, especially at this time of year. 'Our thoughts are with the family at this time.' The tree, located by Fife Council's offices, was tilted slightly to one side, and branches at the top had snapped off and were lying on the ground. The tree's lights were in a tangled mess about half-way up, with some dangling to the ground. It seemed that Mr Ogilvie had fallen off when top branches of the tree snapped off A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Police in Fife were called to a report of an unresponsive man in the Hunter Street area of Kirkcaldy around 2.55am on Friday December 14. 'The man was treated at the scene then conveyed to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy by the Scottish Ambulance Service where he later sadly passed away. 'The death is being treated as non-suspicious and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. 'A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.' Sgt Tracey Holloway and PC Alex Collins rushed to scene of the Novichok attack Two police officers who rushed to the side of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter after they were attacked with a nerve agent have spoken in detail for the first time. Sergeant Tracey Holloway and PC Alex Collins, from Wiltshire Police, began their shift just an hour and 15 minutes before Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed on a park bench in Salisbury on March 4. The pair have now said 'we were very lucky' there were not more casualties in the Novichok attack - and admitted something 'didn't feel right' when they arrived. Tracey Holloway and Alex Collins, from Wiltshire Police, began their shift just an hour and 15 minutes before the Sergei Skripal and his daughter collapsed on a park bench on March 4 (Pictured, military personnel in protective suits and gas masks working on the scene in March) Bourne Hill police station was recovering from a busy week of heavy snowfall when Sgt Holloway received a medical call for two officers to attend the Maltings shopping centre at 4.15pm. PC Collins, a police medic, said it took the officers two minutes to get to the scene on lights and sirens, the Guardian reported. They drove through the pedestrianised area of the city centre and across a bridge where they found Skripal's daughter, Yulia, on her side. A member of the public, a doctor, was maintaining her airways when the pair arrived - PC Collins believes this may have saved her life. He said: 'The male was in a very unusual position. He was sat on the bench, rigid, catatonic, staring into space. He was breathing but totally unresponsive. We tried to help medically and to find out what had happened. Our first thought was that it was drugs.' The officer put on gloves to handle the patients, but Holloway remembers examining Sergei Skripal's wallet with her bare hands. The pair have now said 'we were very lucky' there weren't more casualties in the Novichok attack A cordon was in place within minutes, and police pushed people far away from the scene as they endeavoured to uncover what had been the cause of the incident. The officers then examined the pair's possessions further, finding unfamiliar names in a situation they said 'wasn't quite normal'. Collins said: 'We looked at their wallets to try to find their ID. There was a phone with Russian writing on it. The names werent familiar. That was strange. It didnt feel right. It wasnt quite normal.' Other detectives went to the Skripal house at the other end of Salisbury - where UK authorities said the highest concentration of Novichok was found. It was here that an officer, Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, was left critically ill after coming into contact with the nerve agent after it was sprayed on the door handle. Neither Collins or Holloway, who attended the scene at the Maltings, noted suffering any illness. PC Collins, a police medic, said it took the officers two minutes to get to the scene on lights and sirens Sergei Skripal (pictured) and his daughter Yulia were targeted with the nerve agent Novichok in a failed assassination attempt Army personnel wear protective outfits to take away ambulances at the South Western Ambulance Service building in Salisbury, Wilts, during March 2018 But, concerned by the lack of information about the Skripal's illness, Holloway called firefighters in hazmat suits to work on the scene around the park bench. Collins then went off shift and said instinct told him to change his clothes - which he left in his garage. He then received a phone call two days later telling him to bring his kit, his clothes, his watch, wallet and mobile phone to the station. The officers only heard that Novichok was involved from media reports after Mr Skripal's name emerged on March 5. But, like most, the pair feared the victims would not recover. Collins said: ' When I heard that Yulia had woken from her coma I was elated. The fact that both recovered was brilliant. It meant the attackers didnt succeed. Lives were saved.' Other detectives went to the Skripal house at the other end of Salisbury where one of them, DS Nick Bailey, was left critically ill after becoming exposed to Novichok at the property Both Collins and Holloway knew Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess, who were poisoned three months later after finding a bottle of the nerve agent disguised as a perfume bottle. Ms Sturgess, 44, died in hospital a short time later and Charlie Rowley, 45, remained critically ill following his exposure. Mr Rowley, who has suffered several strokes and is losing his eyesight, was eventually discharged from hospital before becoming critically ill again with meningitis. But for Holloway, the attack hit even closer to home, as the Skripal house was close to her property. She described going 'home to a crime scene' and said she never really felt she left the situation at work. Collins put on gloves to handle the patients, but Holloway remembers examining Sergei Skripal's wallet with bare hands But the pair said they were both proud of the job the police did on March 4, and Holloway thanked her team for their work that day. Both Collins and Holloway said police were lucky they didn't have more casualties that day. It comes after Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey described of the 'emotional battering' he has suffered after he became an accidental victim of the attempt to kill the former spy. The Wiltshire Police officer said last month: 'I describe it as emotional battering and psychological impact. 'It's taken longer to deal with just because of everything that has happened to us. Not only did we lose the house, we lost all of our possessions, including everything the kids owned, we lost all that, the cars. 'We lost everything. And yeah it's been very difficult to kind of come to terms with that.' Two former scout leaders have been jailed within a week for sexually abusing youngsters in the same group. Philip Levi, 73, was handed an 11-year term last week for 'predatory and persistent' abuses against children at his troop in Harrow. Yesterday 68-year-old Paul Santon, who had worked at the same north-west London scout group in the 1970s, was jailed after admitting two indecent assaults. The abuses in the 1970s and 1980s have only now come to light, the Metropolitan Police said. Paul Santon, pictured outside Harrow Crown Court yesterday, was jailed for 20 months after he admitted two indecent assaults dating back to when he was a scout leader in the 1970s Levi, who now lives in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, preyed on boys in his care between 1972 and 1984. He admitted one indecent assault against a child under 16 and two counts of indecency towards another youngster when he was a scout master. One of the male victims finally came forward in November 2016 to say that Levi had abused them as a child. Sentencing Levi to 11 years and three months last week, the judge described him as a 'predatory and persistent offender'. Parents had put their boys in Levi's trust 'assuming he would be a role model' but he had chosen to systematically abuse them, the judge said. Yesterday Santon, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to two assaults on a child under 16. He was jailed for 20 months for the historic sex abuse. Paul Santon (left) was jailed yesterday while Philip Levi (right) received an 11-year sentence after subjecting children in his group for 'systematic sexual abuse' Met Police officer Alyson Suddick said: 'Philip Levi abused his position within the Scouting Organisation to prey on young boys under his care, subjecting them to systematic sexual abuse at a time in their lives when they should have been carefree and enjoying the many benefits of being a Scout. 'Santon abused his position within the Scouts and carried out these sexual assaults. 'We are grateful to the victims for having the courage to come forward and assist police in this investigation. 'All suffered severe psychological trauma as a result of their experience and I would like to commend each and every one of them for their dignity throughout. 'I sincerely hope that the outcome of this case and the sentences imposed bring them a measure of comfort. 'Outcomes of this nature proves that men like Levi will not evade justice no matter how much time has passed. 'We would like to urge any other victims of Levi to come forward with information. All allegations will be treated with sensitivity and in the strictest of confidence.' A father who egged-on his four-year-old daughter to shoot a .45 calibre pistol before taking the gun and pretending to open fire on the child has been jailed for almost three years. Shocking footage shows a small girl holding the gun while a male voice in the background tells her 'go, go, go' and 'kick it back, come on you know what to do'. The young girl laughs before handing the weapon, which did not discharge, back to her father saying 'your turn, your turn'. The 33-year-old man, from the Sydney suburb of Revesby, is then seen in the footage pretending to shoot his daughter, who plays dead on the ground. The father was arrested and the footage seized by police after he was pulled over for a roadside breath test last year, according to Channel 9. He will be eligible for parole in March after being sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. The sentencing came after a number of photos were also found where he is seen posing with illegal guns. His lawyer, Ahmed Dib told the network the young father had made a 'foolish' decision. He said: 'He accepts that that was the wrong approach as a father and he shouldn't be teaching her those type of things.' Shocking footage shows a small girl holding the gun while a male voice in the background tells her 'go, go, go' and 'kick it back, come on you know what to do'. The father was sentenced after encouraging his daughter to play with the pistol and posing with guns During the investigation NSW Police assistant commissioner Mark Murdoch said 'allowing a child to play with a firearm of any kind is reprehensible and a serious criminal offence'. Gun control advocates have criticised the father's actions, claiming people often think guns are not loaded when they actually are. Charles Watson from Gun Control Australia also told Channel 9 playing with guns with children set a dangerous precedent. He said: 'It introduces them to the idea guns actually can be considered to be toys.' The 33-year-old Revesby man, who has now been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, is then seen in the footage pretending to shoot his daughter who plays dead on the ground The father will be eligible for parole in March after being handed the jail term for the footage and a number of photos where he is seen posing with illegal guns Detectives seized a .25 calibre Walther TP-model pistol, two Colt 1911 45 calibre automatic pistols and a Bentley-brand 12-gauge shotgun as part of their initial inquiries into the footage Advertisement Fighting erupted in central Paris today as thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of France for the fifth Saturday in a row. Tear gas and baton charges were used by riot police around the capital's famous Opera district on a so-called 'Act V' Day of Rage, and by midday more than 60 protesters were in custody. But by the evening there were close to 170 arrests in central Paris as mounted police, water cannons, and 14 armoured vehicles capable of spreading high-intensity gas meanwhile gathered in around the city's landmarks. There had been 168 arrests by 6pm, far down on the roughly 1,000 protesters taken into custody following last Saturday's demonstrations in Paris. Around 69,000 security forces were mobilised across France, down from 89,000 last Saturday when 2,000 people were detained at various demonstration around the country. High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were all boarded up around the Opera, along with banks and post offices. In the late afternoon, a water cannon in a line of police vans confronting protesters sprayed water into a crowd in frigid weather to disperse them. Firefighters put out a fire on a side street leading to the Champs-Elysees and small scuffles broke out between protesters and police. As night closed in this evening, there were brief disturbances along the Champs Elysee - the most famous shopping avenue in France. A spokesman for the Paris prefecture said at 7pm: 'There have been 168 arrests so far, with 115 held for public order offences. Seven serious injuries have been reported.' Most were so-called Yellow Vest fuel price demonstrators, who are named after the high visibility jackets they wear. French riot police disperse demonstrators with tear gas during a demonstrations in Paris today as clashes between protesters and officers broke out across the country Women dressed as the 'Marianne', the national symbol of the French Republic, face French Gendarmes in the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris Tear gas floats in the air during clashes with police at a demonstration as a man shelters from the debris storm with an umbrella while staring at an incoming smoke bomb Protesters wearing yellow vests (gilets jaunes) clash with French riot police during a demonstration on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. One masked man prepares to launch a smoke grenade in the direction of police tackling the protesters Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt in front of the Opera as one woman is tackled to the ground French Gendarmes surrounded protesters kneeling on the ground and spray the with tear gas during in Paris. One yellow vest member had his hands raised in submission and despite the noxious substance manage to keep hold of his cigarette A protester dressed as Santa Claus kicks a tear gas canister away as smoke is released into the air during clashes in the French capital this afternoon Fireworks explode on French riot police vehicles launched by protesters wearing a yellow vest as they demonstrate in Bordeaux in southwestern France Health team members carry an injured protester with a stretcher during yellow vests' (gilets jaunes) protest against rising oil prices and deteriorating economic conditions in Paris A protester wearing a gas mask throws a tear gas canister during a demonstration today against rising costs of living blamed on high taxes Minor clashes in the cities of Toulouse, Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux were reported, while protesters snarled traffic on motorways in the south of the country and on the A16 near the port of Calais in the north. They have been protesting since November 17 and, despite a range of concessions by President Emmanuel Macron including scrapping green taxes of diesel and petrol, continue to call for him to step down. The demonstrations against France's high cost of living - sapped by cold weather, rain and recent concessions by Macron - were significantly smaller Saturday than at previous rallies, some of which scarred parts of Paris with vandalism and looting. 'Macron Resign', a crowd of around 1,500 chanted today in the streets around the 19th Century Opera Garnier, which is normally a huge draw for tourists. Around 8,000 police officers have been deployed ahead of a fifth consecutive week of demonstrations. France's interior ministry said earlier today that the number of 'yellow vest' protesters in France was estimated at 33,500 at midday - half the level of a week ago - but by 6pm it was up to 66,000. The ministry said 126,000 'yellow vests' - named after the fluorescent jackets they wear - had been counted at the same point last weekend. Police in Paris said fewer than 3,000 had gathered in the capital for the fifth consecutive Saturday of demonstrations, which have so far been largely peaceful. Protesters end up in a stand off with police forces armed with riot shields during the fifth consecutive weekend of protests A police officer pepper sprays protesters as several guards tackle demonstrators the the floor in Paris this afernoon French security forces intervene in protesters during yellow vests' protest against rising oil prices and deteriorating economic conditions Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate on the place de l'Opera, in Paris today against president's policies and top-down style of governing Smoke grenades are let off as police march forward towards yellow vest protesters in front of the Opera Garnier in Paris today French riot police try to disperse yellow vest protesters during a demonstration in Bordeaux today A police water cannon sprays water on demonstrators today as tear gas billowed across the French capital's protest-scarred Champs-Elysees after a day of largely peaceful demonstrations Five of France's top-flight football matches have been postponed due to violence across the country. Today Paris Saint-Germain's games in Dijon was called off, as Amiens match against Angers, and Montpellier trip to Nantes. Tomorrow Guingamp v Rennes and Marseille's home game against Bordeaux has also been rearranged, while Reims v Strasbourg will still go ahead and hold a minute's silence for the victim's of Tuesday's Christmas market terror attack in which four people were killed. In this early afternoon in Paris, security forces fired teargas on the Champs-Elysees, the epicentre of the protests on previous weekends, as around 500 yellow vests gathered to denounce the government of President Macron. There were also minor clashes at the Place de l'Opera in Paris where police detonated noise grenades to control crowds there. Macron announced a series of concessions on Monday to defuse the explosive 'yellow vest' crisis, which swelled up from rural and small-town France last month. He was hoping the package of tax and minimum wage measures for low-income workers, as well as bitter winter weather, will bring calm to the country. The government had also called on people to stay at home to give stretched security forces a break after another terror attack on Tuesday in Strasbourg where a gunman killed four people at a Christmas market. Monaem Zarhouni, a 43-year-old father-of-two, in the capital today said: 'I've come to demonstrate peacefully; as soon as there's violence, I'm leaving. 'My wife's unemployed too and we live on 700 euros ($800) a month. It's tough, we're always struggling.' A protester wearing a yellow vest (gilet jaune) gestures in front of police forces during a demonstration against rising costs of living blamed on high taxes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris Protesters clashed in with police in Paris (pictured), Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, and near Calais Mounted police, water cannons, and 14 armoured vehicles capable of spreading high-intensity gas gathered in around the centre of Paris and the city's landmarks A protester dressed as Santa Claus and wearing a yellow vest take part in a demonstration in Paris today A protester wears a yellow vest with a graphic message against taxes during a demonstration in Nantes this afternoon Police vans block off the Champs Elysees Boulevard to prevent yellow vest protesters from vandalising the monument French Gendarmes clash with protesters and apprehend a man during violent protests in the French capital this morning Protesters wearing yellow vests kneel on the cobbled streets of Paris. Around 8,000 police officers have been deployed ahead of a fifth consecutive week of demonstrations French police apprehend yellow vest protesters who block the road as part of the so-called 'Act V' Day of Rage this morning in Petit-Fontaine An elderly high-vis demonstrator is escorted away after blocking off the road as part of a protest in Petit-Fontaine this morning A protester wearing a yellow vest and holding flowers talks with French riot police during a demonstration in Paris A protester wearing a yellow vest offers flowers to French riot police during a demonstration by the 'yellow vests' movement in Paris this morning A protester dressed as Santa Claus, holding a sack of presents, stands on the steps of the Opera Garnier in Paris and chants for President Emmanuel Macron to resign Smoke grenades are hurled in the streets of Paris as riot police and protesters clash for the fifth consecutive week A 28-year-old 'yellow vest' called Jeremy who joined a group gathering in freezing cold on the Champs-Elysees shortly after 8am, said: 'Last time, we were here for taxes. This is for the institutions: we want more direct democracy.' He added that people needed to 'shout to make themselves heard'. Throughout the morning, riot police played a game of cat-and-mouse with groups of protesters who moved around the centre of Paris, much of which has been cordoned off for traffic. There were isolated incidents of tear gas being fired, but a fraction of the amount used on the weekends of December 8 or December 1 when graffiti was daubed on the Arc de Triomphe in scenes that shocked France. Until this week, a clear majority of French people had backed the protests, which sprung up initially over tax hikes on transport fuel before snowballing into wide opposition to Macron's pro-business agenda and style of governing. But two polls published on Tuesday - in the wake of Macron's concessions - found the country was now split broadly 50-50 on whether the protests should continue. 'We expect slightly less people (in the streets) but individuals who are slightly more determined ,' junior interior minister Laurent Nunez said late Friday. A group of women, dressed in reference to France's emblematic Marianne figure (a personification of liberty and reason), face a line of police officers during a Yellow Vest demonstration in Paris A protester with a bloodied face is escorted away by riot police after clashes in the streets of the French capital Protesters climb on each others shoulders during a Yellow Vest demonstration on the Champs Elysees in Paris Around 8,000 police officers have been deployed ahead of a fifth consecutive week of demonstrations. Police pictured securing an area in Nantes, where demonstrations have also taken place A French riot police officer aims at protesters wearing yellow vests (gilets jaunes) with a non-lethal hand-held weapon (LBD40) during a demonstration against rising costs of living blamed on high taxes Yellow vest protesters take to the streets of Paris this morning for a fifth consecutive week of protests against the government A man wearing a yellow vest tackles a protester as tear gas floats in the air during clashes with police at a demonstration by the 'yellow vests' movement in Nantes Protesters wearing yellow vests give and one-handed gesture of defiance to riot police during a demonstration in Paris A masked protester carrying a Star Wars Lightsaber raises his arms as he walks with hundreds of protesters in Paris this morning Potential weapons including gas canisters, flash ball guns, baseball bats, and petanque balls have been confiscated today, said the spokesman. Around 90,000 security forces were mobilised last Saturday across France and 2,000 people were detained, around half of them in Paris. They have failed to prevent widespread disorder over the past few weekends, as roads including the Champs Elysee exploded into intense violence. There were almost 750 arrests in Paris alone last Saturday, with rioters and looters also taking to the streets of major cities such as Bordeaux and Marseille. 'There have been 61 arrests so far, mainly of those carrying potential offensive weapons,' a spokesman for the Paris prefecture said at 12 midday. Eric Drouet, a senior figure in the yellow vest movement, said in a video posted on Facebook: 'What Macron did on Monday, was a call to carry on because he has started to give ground, which is unusual for him.' Richard Ferrand, parliament speaker and a close ally of Macron, told the Cnews channel this evening: 'The turnout was lower, which was necessary from my point of view. It's not a time for combat, but debate.' A yellow vest demonstrator poses with an effigy of French President in front of the Negresco Palace this afternoon Demonstrators hold a sign reading 'Enough of taxes, take on your own privileges' next to a man dressed as Santa Claus in Marseille Female campaigners wave the French flag as they march down the Champs-Elysees avenue this morning Protesters wrap themselves in French flags and lay on the ground in front of the Paris Opera in the French capital this morning Protesters and riot police face each other during a small clash during a Yellow Vest demonstration on the Champs Elysees in Paris Prominent activist Jean-Baptiste Redde, aka Voltuan, 61, wearing a yellow vest (gilet jaune) holds a cardboard reading 'Macron go away' French riot police tussle with a protester during demonstrations in Nantes against rising costs of living the activists blame on high taxes French riot police clash with a demonstrator wearing a yellow vest as they protest taxes in Nantes in western France A protester dressed as Santa Claus takes a seat on a street bollard in Paris today as demonstrations continued across the country A protester holds up a bunch of flowers as he runs through the smoke of tear gas during a demonstration on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris A demonstrator gestures to riot police with a cigarette in his hand in Paris today 'The police are trying to funnel us into secure areas, but we're ignoring them,' said Philippe Berger, a 34-year-old Yellow Vest from Brittany. 'We've come a long way, and want to demonstrate in our own way. The establishment has let us down, and needs a complete change. Macron has to go, and we won't stop protesting until he does.' As Mr Berger spoke, police fired gas canisters in to the air, filling streets with white smoke. The Vests have been joined by extremists from the far Right and the ultra-Left, as well as anarchists intent on causing as much damage as possible. Maria, who manages the Le Vin Coeur restaurant near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris said this morning: 'That people demonstrate, no problem, but the vandalism is appalling.' Like thousands of other business and restaurant owners across the capital, she was apprehensive and ready to pull down her shutters and close at the first whiff of teargas. A French police officer aims his Lanceur de balle de defense (LBD40) weapon, which fires rubber bullets, as protests kick off in the capital this morning A unit of mounted police officers stand guard in front of the Opera during the Yellow Vest demonstration today A French police officer holds a rubber bullet weapon as she patrols in the centre of Paris with guards clutching riot gear and shields Riot police watch yellow vest protesters guard the Place Pey Berland during a demonstration in Bordeaux French plain clothes policemen wearing balaclavas, helmets and holding batons, block a protester as they demonstrate in Nantes A single yellow vest protester in Paris stands in front of a row of gendames as small scuffles broke out around the city Around 8,000 police officers have been deployed in Paris ahead of a fifth consecutive week of demonstrations today Driver dies as Yellow Vest protesters block off road in Belgium A driver died in Belgium near the border with France Saturday after hitting a truck which had slowed down due to a road blockade by 'yellow vest' protesters, a local government official said. The accident happened in the Erquelinnes area of Belgium at a junction between the N40 and N54 roads 'after a slowdown in France caused by the 'yellow vests',' the local government office in northern France said. Advertisement Many of the 'yellow vest' figureheads, along with leaders of the far-left Unbowed France party, urged protesters to turn out on Saturday to pressure the government into making further concessions. Others suggested that the mostly small town and rural protesters should show resolve by rallying in the regions rather than heading for the capital. France 'needs calm, order and to go back to its normal functioning', President Macron said last night. On Thursday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux had called on protesters to stay at home on what is normally a busy shopping weekend ahead of Christmas. He said: 'It would be better if everyone could go about their business calmly on Saturday, before the year-end celebrations with their families, instead of demonstrating and putting our security forces to work once again.' He was speaking in the wake of an attack Tuesday in the eastern city of Strasbourg, which left four dead and 12 wounded. In a bid to end the protests, Macron announced a package of measures on Monday estimated by economists to cost up to 15 billion euros ($17 billion). He cancelled the planned fuel tax hikes, offered a rise in the minimum wage, tax relief for pensioners and tax-free overtime for workers in 2019. Protesters wearing yellow vests march during a demonstration to protest against rising costs of living they blame on high taxes in Marseille, southern France A man dressed as a King punches the sky as he stands in front of the Paris Opera where hundreds of protesters in high-vis vests congregate For a greater Claus: Santa in a high-vis jacket joins in on demonstrations outside the Opera in Paris this morning A false electoral card was burned during a demonstration as yellow vests protesters worse gas masks and demonstrated against high taxes in Nantes, western France A demonstrator wearing a yellow vest vandalises 'Macron resign' on a wall during Saturday morning protests A protester standing amid smoke of tear gas as he faces French riot police during a demonstration on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris today Crisis-ridden Mr Macron has not only climbed down on imposing green surcharges, but increased the national minimum wage by seven per sent, and scapping tax on bonuses. But the Yellow Vests said their protests would continue indefinitely as they campaign for even more concessions. There have been calls for a State of Emergency to be announced, and for the Army to take to the streets. The current spate of Paris violence is considered the worst since the Spring of 1968, when President Charles de Gaulle's government feared a full-blown revolution. The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election in a landslide in 2017, but he is now dubbed the 'President of the Rich' with polls showing his popularity rating down to just 18 per cent. The yellow vest movement, which began as a protest against fuel taxes and then grew into an anti-Macron alliance, appears to have calmed since the president announced a series of measures to help the working poor. There was a strong police presence outside the central Saint Lazare station today, where police in riot gear checked bags for helmets and other potential signs of trouble. Protester wearing a yellow vest take part in a demonstration against rising costs of living blamed on high taxes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris Demonstrators run away through tear gas launched by riot police in Lyon, central France, today French Gendarmes apprehend yellow vest protester during a demonstration by the 'yellow vests' movement in Paris Riot police and yellow vest protesters line up alongside riot vans as a small fire burns in the street during demonstrations in Bordeaux as night fall sets in Protestors wearing yellow vests demonstrate on the the Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge) in the centre of Rotterdam, Netherlands The so-called gilets jaunes, who started in France, are protesting over rising fuel prices and taxes and have spread throughout Europe (pictured in Rotterdam) Here, they march along the the Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge) in the centre of Rotterdam during somewhat peaceful protests 'Respect my existence or expect my resistance,' read one banner held aloft by some of the thousands of protesters who began converging on the Champs-Elysees on Saturday morning. Max Werle, a 56-year-old father of nine, said the protests were his first-ever demonstrations. He said, adding that his daughter had given birth in a firetruck on Monday because the local hospital in Loiret outside Paris had closed years ago: 'I'm here for my children. '(We are) here to defend our cause ... it's not a left and right thing.' 'We're here to represent all our friends and members of our family who can't come to protest, or because they're scared,' said Pierre Lamy, a 27-year-old industrial worker wearing a yellow vest and with a French flag draped over his shoulders as he walked to the protest with three friends. 'Everything's coming up now,' Lamy said. 'We're being bled dry.' He added the protests had long stopped being about the fuel tax and had turned into a movement for economic justice. Riot police survey the damage as they and their vehicles have been left covered in paint during demonstrations in Bordeaux A riot officer with a huge yellow paint mark on his shield standing in front of protesters in Bordeaux today Riot police take a yellow vest protester into custody during a demonstration in Bordeaux A protester dressed as Santa Claus walking among yellow vest demonstrators at a demonstration against rising costs of living on the Champs-Elysees in Paris Police monitor the situation as demonstrators wearing yellow vests blocked the highway near the French border with Spain today The protesters caused traffic chaos in Biriatou, southwestern France, this morning during the fifth consecutive week of demonstrations French Gendarmes apprehend yellow vest protester as tear gas surrounds them and they drag him away during a demonstration in Paris A man lying on the pavement is helped by police forces during a demonstration near the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris The French government tweeted, showing a 34-second video that began with images of historic French protests and recent footage of 'yellow vest' protesters rallying peacefully before turning to violence: 'Protesting is a right. So let's know how to exercise it.' 'Protesting is not smashing. Protesting is not smashing our heritage. Protesting is not smashing our businesses. ... Protesting is not smashing our republic,' the video said. Julie Verrier, a protester from Picardie in Normandy in northern France who went to Paris for today's demonstration, said: 'I think that Macron isn't in touch with what the yellow vests want. I think the yellow vests need to continue speaking out. 'Local city halls are closed, so we can't go there to express and write our complaints,' she said. 'So coming here is the only way we have to say that French people need to be heard.' Protesters wearing yellow vests shout slogans as they gather at the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid during a demonstration calling for better pensions Advertisement Party revellers will be nursing a hangover today after hundreds enjoyed a night of heavy partying across the country on the second to last Friday before Christmas. Drunken scenes were seen in the cities of Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds as Christmas celebrations erupted across the UK. The cities were seen bursting with young revellers as they took to the bars and clubs for the latest installment of the festivities. As many donned Christmas fancy dress for their booze-fuelled night out, it appeared some party-goers had consumed a few too many of the festive wine. Some revellers were spotted slouched in doorways, sprawled on the cold street pavement and carrying each other home. In other unsavoury scenes, intoxicated party-goers were seen vomiting in the streets while others lay motionless outside club and bar entrances after a hefty night of drinking. For some festive revellers it all proved too much, with some being helped by paramedics and others taking a rest on the street pavement. One ambulance technician who attended a patient was spotted wearing a Santa hat while another woman was spotted swigging from an alcohol bottle as she walked along the nightclub strip in Birmingham's Broad Street. A man wearing a Father Christmas and reindeer costume walks up Broad Street in Birmingham as revellers party the second to last Friday before Christmas One woman and her friend wearing a Santa hat lie on the pavement after a heavy night on Broad Street in Birmingham as thousands party the second to last Friday before Christmas A party-goer lies on the floor after a fight breaks out in a queue outside the nightclub Popworld on Broad Street in Birmigham One woman in a Santa themed costume is helped to her feet by a man in a wrapping paper patterned suit on Broad Street in Birmingham ( In Leeds, one Christmas reveller was taken away in handcuffs by police as Christmas celebration erupted across the UK Paramedics attended to two drunken revellers and gave them foil blankets after they looked worse for wear on the streets of Liverpool Another woman takes a swig of alcohol as he walks along Broad Street in Birmingham to enjoy the last Friday before Christmas In Blackpool the festive Friday saw boozers wearing face paint and dressed in fancy dress as they joined revellers That's the festive spirit! Two women don snowman and Christmas tree outfits as they join the crowds of drinkers in Newcastle last night Also in Blackpool one woman is helped up as she falls crouches on the ground on a festive night out. The scenes were one of many across the country A drunken reveller decides the Christmas partying has been a bit too much and decides to take a nap on the street in Manchester Mistletoe and...wine! Revellers embrace the festive season and look happy to be partying in Newcastle on the second to last Friday before Christmas Two Christmas elves look for a taxi, one with his leggings down to his knees on Broad Street in Birmingham One woman was spotted carrying her shoes in her hands as she was carried across the street on a night out in Blackpool Too much mulled wine? One man staggers out of the doorway in a pub after a heavy night drinking in Newcastle Police deal with an altercation in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning as Christmas celebration erupt across the coutry Hungry ladies dressed to impress devour some takeaway food after a night of partying in the bars and clubs of Newcastle Party-goers lie across the pavement on the penultimate Friday night before Christmas as clubbers hit the bars of Newcastle upon Tyne A West Midlands Ambulance Technician is seen wearing a Santa hat as they pick up a patient from Broad Street in Birmingham One woman doesn't appear to be in the Christmas spirit as she sits on the pavement and clutches her legs in Newcastle Despite the cold weather three young ladies took to the streets in dashing Santa outfits as they partied in the pubs and clubs of Newcastle A man is put into the back of a police van in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning as hundreds hit the streets to join the festive celebrations Tis the season to be jolly! A group of friends erupt into laughter while taking a break from partying in Newcastle Revellers get into the festive spirit on the penultimate Friday night before Christmas as they hit the bars of Newcastle upon Tyne last night Revellers in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning as hundreds descended upon the city centre for a booze-fueled night A man was spotted climbing a statue in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning as celebrations erupted across the country Festive fancy dress revellers walking along Broad Street in Birmingham as thousands party the second to last Friday before Christmas Christmas party antics have caused three women to teeter on the roads in their high heels as they head to another bar in Newcastle Scenes in Manchester Deansgate show a woman dressed in a green Santa costumes enjoying the festive celebrations Two rather cold looking women in festive fancy dress get into a taxi on Broad Street in Birmingham as thousands party the night away In Liverpool city centre emergency services were seen patrolling the streets in in the early hours of this morning Partygoers eat a takeaway whilst wearing festive antlers on Broad Street in Birmingham as revellers descended on to the city centre This drunken reveller wishes it could be Christmas everyday as she dons her festive jumper and Santa hat in Newcastle Santa's little helper! A woman dressed in a red Father Christmas outfit happily munches on a takeaway - and her friend appears to want some too It's Father Christmas! One man carries his friend like Santa's sack after a heavy night of drinking and dancing in Newctasle Two men in Christmas suits walk along Broad Street in Birmingham as party-goers enjoy their Friday night Revellers help each other in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning after a heavy night of partying Advertisement Mesmerising images showing the beauty of bubbles being frozen in real time and becoming solid have been captured on camera. The fascinating pictures, taken by photographer Don Komarechka, 32, from Barrie, Canada, show soap bubbles at various points of freezing, with beautiful filters giving them a stunning glitter. Mr Komarechka had to film the transforming bubbles under the right conditions in order to capture the rare sight. The fascinating images captured by Don Komarechka show the beauty of frozen bubbles as they become ice in real time The 32-year-old photographer was able to capture the soap bubbles at different points of freezing, with beautiful filters giving them a stunning glitter Mr Komarechka filmed the bubbles illuminated by different colours of light as they froze in real time, with each photo providing a rare insight into the world of frozen bubbles He said: 'I was amazed to see how quickly these bubbles would freeze solid. 'Coming from a background of photographing frost and snowflakes, creating these freezing soap bubbles was a natural progression. 'The ideal conditions to freeze the bubbles are between -8C and -20C with absolutely calm air. The photographer from Barrie, Canada, said he was amazed to see how quickly these bubbles would freeze solid The photographer said that coming from a background of photographing frost and snowflakes meant that creating the freezing soap bubbles was a natural progression Mr Komarechka, who had to carefully conduct the experiment under the correct conditions, said the ideal conditions to freeze the bubbles are between -8C and -20C He said: 'The bubbles, made with a mixture of six parts water to two parts dish soap, and one part white corn syrup, are blown through a drinking straw and placed strategically where the light will hit them best' The extraordinary images capture the beauty of frozen bubbles as they become ice in real time and were taken by 32-year-old Don Komarechka 'A tiny whisper of wind can easily shatter these fragile creations. 'The bubbles, made with a mixture of six parts water to two parts dish soap, and one part white corn syrup, are blown through a drinking straw and placed strategically where the light will hit them best. 'Behind the bubble is a very bright flashlight to back-light the growing crystals and make them glow. 'I've always been fascinated about the world beyond our own perceptions, and my photography is often an exploration of that. 'While this subject wouldn't naturally occur in the world, the physics at play is beautiful - and it's rare that people associate 'physics' with 'beauty'.' Mr Komarechka added: 'Behind the bubble is a very bright flashlight to back-light the growing crystals and make them glow' The photographer said he had always been fascinated about the world beyond our own perceptions and that was what led him to take up this new form of photography Middle class drug users should not receive favourable treatment in courts as they are fuelling knife crime, the Lord Chief Justice claimed. There is a growing belief among law enforcement that efforts should not just be focused on suppliers, but on those buying the goods, Lord Burnett of Maldon said. Met Police chief Cressida Dick was 'absolutely right' that affluent drug users should bear in mind the 'social damage' they are doing to others 'down the chain'. Lord Burnett, the most senior judge in England and Wales, said: 'I speak to the Commissioner from time to time, so these are topics that we have discussed. There is a growing belief among law enforcement that efforts should not just be focused on suppliers, but on those buying the goods, Lord Burnett of Maldon said 'She's obviously absolutely right in her observations which were directed at affluent drug users, principally. 'That they should bear very much in mind the huge social damage that they are doing further down the chain. 'She had in mind all the county lines problems that we have at the moment, where particularly young, vulnerable kids are being used to run drugs all over the country.' Speaking at a press conference in London, Lord Burnett said there is an 'interesting difference of view' on sentencing. He said: 'On the one hand one hears all the time from some people "well, you should be focusing only on the drug suppliers and not on the drug users". That's usually the chorus that is heard. 'Now there is a growing recognition that the users perhaps should be looked at in a less benign way. 'I think it's important to look at all cases individually. But if ever it was thought, for example, that affluent people caught with class A drugs should be viewed as really not very serious offenders, I certainly don't agree with that.' He also expressed concern about the rise in knife crime, which is up 16 per cent in a year and at its highest level in eight years. Met Police chief Cressida Dick was 'absolutely right' that affluent drug users should bear in mind the 'social damage' they are doing to others 'down the chain' (stock image) Lord Burnett said: 'There's an increasing number of knife cases coming through our courts. A distressingly large proportion of these cases involve young people or children. 'We as a society have to come to terms with the fact that increasing numbers of people are carrying knives as a matter of habit.' A total of 3.4 per cent of households which earned more than 50,000 said they had taken cocaine in the past year. Two ghosts of British politics past were spotted at a London haunt this week as David Cameron and Alastair Campbell met up at a carol service. The former Conservative prime minister and Tony Blair's ex-spin doctor were seen arriving at a candlelit carol service in London free from the pressure of a week of political drama. The two political heavyweights both wore ties matching the colours of their respective parties - Campbell in red, Cameron in blue. Neither wore a coat despite the cold weather but Campbell had a waistcoat to match his suit while Cameron kept warm with a jumper. Rivals reunited: Alastair Campbell, a former spin doctor to Tony Blair, and former Conservative prime minister David Cameron arrive at a carol concert in Notting Hill last week You here as well? Campbell looks round as Cameron walks behind him to the church in west London for the carol service, a charity event for a blood cancer organisation No worries: David Cameron, who resigned as PM in the wake of the referendum result in 2016, enjoys his free time with a trip to the carol service where he met Alastair Campbell The 35-per-person festive event was held at St John's church in Notting Hill, West London, in support of cancer charity Bloodwise. Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was listed among the high-profile guests scheduled to give a reading at the carol service. Channel 4 presenter Kirstie Allsop, actress Sophie Winkleman and comedian Ben Miller were also among the listed guests. Campbell, who was press secretary and then communications director for Tony Blair between 1997 and 2003, once said 'We don't do God'. He and the ex-Tory leader were on opposite political sides in the 2000s, with Cameron challenging the dominance of the New Labour movement Campbell had helped to create. The pair were on the same side of the EU referendum debate, with both backing a Remain vote in 2016, but they have taken different paths since then. Cameron resigned as PM in the wake of the Brexit vote, quitting as an MP later that year, and has largely kept a low profile since then. On the day of the carol service he said he did not regret calling the referendum, saying he had delivered on his manifesto promise at the 2015 election. Campbell has been more active, as one of the leading voices in the People's Vote campaign backing a new referendum on the final deal. His former boss Blair has also been back in the fray this week, saying Theresa May should stop 'banging your head against this brick wall' over Brexit. Let's be friends: Two of the political titans of the last 20 years - one a kingpin of New Labour and the other Tory leader for more than a decade - meet up in west London on Monday Festive cheer: Campbell and Cameron arrive at the service where the guests scheduled to give readings also included former deputy PM and ex-Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg Advertisement This picture shows the gaggle of journalists and TV presenters who have camped out on College Green in Westminster amid the political drama of the last week. Westminster had another week of turmoil as Theresa May faced a confidence vote from her own MPs, cancelled a Commons vote on her Brexit deal and raced around Europe in a bid to salvage the agreement. Broadcasters including the leading political reporters from the BBC, ITV and Sky were parked on the lawn, right by the Palace of Westminster, all week. Settled in: TV crews set up gazebos and platforms to cover the political drama at Westminster, in a week which saw Theresa May face a confidence vote from her own MPs, after she dramatically called off a Commons division on her Brexit deal It is frequently used by camera crews to interview MPs and ministers, but this week the networks set up more permanent platforms as they settled in for a busy week. In this image Sky News have a gantry set up on the grass with political presenters Kay Burley and Beth Rigby wearing coats as darkness falls. In a BBC tower on the far-right of the picture, chief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss - who backed the PM in the confidence vote, which she won by 200 votes to 117 - is facing questions. Broadcasters from further afield including Ireland's RTE and Fox Business from the United States were also seen on the lawn. A combative EU summit yesterday left Mrs May insisting she was still on track to win assurances on the controversial Irish backstop proposals. EU tensions erupted into public view when a visibly angry Mrs May was seen berating European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, accusing him of calling her 'nebulous'. The Prime Minister said further talks would take place in the coming days on measures she hopes will persuade MPs to back the Brexit agreement in Parliament. Advertisement Dozens of Central Americans are still preparing to scale the border fence from Mexico into the United States, three weeks after the border patrol and US military shut down the crossing between Tijuana in Mexico and San Ysidro in California. Migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have been heading northward by the tens of thousands for the past three years, with an increasing number of families with small children and unaccompanied children making the trek and hoping to gain asylum inside the United States. 'We will NOT let these Caravans, which are also made up of some very bad thugs and gang members, into the U.S. Our Border is sacred, must come in legally,' Trump tweeted as they approached the border. Migrants from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, walk next to the border fence as they prepare to cross it illegally, in Tijuana, Mexico Honduran migrants including a family with a young baby jump over a border fence into the U.S. from Tijuana, Mexico December 14 Photographs from Friday show groups of families some with young children and babies, trying their luck before the sun has risen in the hope of successfully entering the US. Those that get across face arrest. Children are separated from their families and, along with unaccompanied children who enter the country illegally, are sent off to a web of special camps. They held there until a family member or sponsor already residing in the United States agrees to take care of them. The sheer volume of undocumented immigrants - which topped 520,000 in fiscal 2018 - has pushed the number of children in the camps to nearly 15,000 currently. Officials say on average it takes 60 days to resettle them. Migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have been heading northward by the tens of thousands for the past three years A migrant child sleeps while he is carried by family to the border fence in order to cross into the U.S. from Tijuana, Mexico Those that get across face arrest. Children are separated from their families and, along with unaccompanied children who enter the country illegally, are sent off to a web of special camps The death of a seven-year-old Guatemalan girl last week in the custody of US border agents sparked furor Friday and raised new pressure on the Trump administration's efforts to halt the migration of Central American families. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the December 8 death of the girl, saying she died in an El Paso, Texas hospital less than 24 hours after being detained as part of a group of 163 illegal border crossers in a remote New Mexico border area. A Guatemalan official identified her as Jackeline Caal, who was traveling with her father Nery Caal, 29. A Honduran mother and child walk next to the border crossing between Tijuana in Mexico and San Ysidro in California Children are separated from their families and, along with unaccompanied children who enter the country illegally, are sent off to a web of special camps Children are carried by their parents as they head toward the border in the hope of crossing into and eventually claiming asylum in the US White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley called Caal's death 'a horrific, tragic situation,' but also said it was avoidable. 'It's a needless death and it's 100 percent preventable,' he told reporters. 'If we could just come together and pass some common-sense laws to disincentivize people from coming up from the border and encourage them to do it the right way, the legal way, then those types of deaths, those types of assaults, those types of rapes, the child smuggling, the human trafficking that would all come to an end.' Workers on the U.S. side, work on the border wall between Mexico and the U.S.,as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, December 14, 2018 An increasing number of families with small children and unaccompanied children making the trek and hoping to gain asylum inside the United States A family with a young child run next to the border fence as they prepare to cross it illegally, in Tijuana, Mexico, December 14 But Democrats in Congress assailed the administration's get-tough policies on immigrants attempting to cross the border illegally. 'This could be my daughter or yours, let that sink in America,' said newly elected Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, herself a refugee from Somalia. Senator Kamala Harris condemned the 'tragic' death. 'We need a thorough account of what happened before this 7-year-old girl died of dehydration and exhaustion in CBP custody,' she tweeted. Qaisar and Amoon Ayub have been in Jhelum Jail since 2015. The sentence was read in prison for security reasons. Their lawyer, this could be another Asia Bibi case. Lahore (AsiaNews/Agencies) Two Christian brothers have been sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) announced today. Qaisar and Amoon Ayub, from Lahore, were arrested in 2015 after one of the two was accused of posting offensive material against Islam on their website. Qaisar and his wife Amina have three children, whilst Amoon is married to Huma, a teacher at Lahore Cathedral School. The allegations surfaced in 2011 when they were accused of posting disrespectful material on their website; however, the accused say that their website was not active since 2009. The two brothers have been held in Jhelum District Jail since their arrest. Additional Session judge Javed Iqbal Bosal informed them of the sentence directly in the prison for security reasons. CLAAS, an interdenominational organisation dedicated to the victims of religious intolerance, has been representing the accused and now plans to appeal the sentence before the Lahore High Court. Blasphemy charges tend to trigger violent reaction among Islamic radicals, who interfere with the proper operations of the court system and threaten judges. Unfortunately, because of threats from hardliners lower courts pass their responsibility to the higher court and then it takes years to prove the accused innocent, said CLAAS-UK director Nasir Saeed. We have seen this in the recent case of Asia Bibi. A rise in venomous spiders crawling their way into homes has driven up bite cases. Around 310 calls have been made to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre this year, The Herald Sun reported. Melbourne University School of Biosciences professor Mark Elgar blamed the warm weather for the surge. Scroll down for video Around 310 calls have been made to Victorian Poisons Information Centre this year (stock photo) He said the pleasant conditions after a relatively dry winter made the perfect environment for the eight-legged creatures. He said all types of spiders were active in the warmer season as they hunted for food and went on the prowl to find other spiders to mate with. Professor Elgar flagged the redback and white-tailed species as some of the more dangerous ones. Even so, he said spiders were not normally aggressive and would only bite someone out of defence. Dawsons pest control general manager Troy Dawson said the number of bite cases in October this year were significantly higher than during the same month last year. The pest controller said the company had performed 494 spider treatments, up from 376. 'Our busier months are yet to come,' Mr Dawson said. He noted suburbs on the fringe of a city were often busier than regional towns or cities. 'We get a lot of huntsmans and white-tailed spiders often in the newer estates where theyre disturbing a lot of soil, places like Melton or Cranbourne.' Centre manager Jeff Robinson noted there was no specific way of knowing just how many bites happened in the country. He said while some people phoned the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, most didn't even know they had been bitten. Others even skipped the phone call and immediately admitted themselves to the emergency department. Advertisement Indigenous rioters clashed with police officers armed with shields during protests in the streets of Chile against the government. The Mapuche people were joined by human rights activists in Santiago yesterday to demonstrate after the recent killing by the police of a young indigenous man. Camilo Catrillanca, 24, was shot dead in November during a police operation while driving a tractor to work in the Araucania region, the epicentre of the Mapuche conflict. A Mapuche indigenous activist attempts to stop the movement of riot policemen during a protest demanding justice for Camilo Catrillanc, a young Mapuche man killed by police Members of the Carabineros Special Forces walk within a cloud of tear gas during a rally in Santiago, Chile, yesterday. Catrillanca, 24, was shot dead in November during a police operation while driving a tractor to work in the Araucania region A riot police water truck is hit by a molotov bomb during the protests yesterday. Police said they fired while pursuing people who stole three vehicles. Catrillanca's family said he was shot in the back in cold blood Cyclists ride past burning debris set on fire during a demonstration by Mapuches indigenous people and human rights activists against the Government A Mapuche indigenous activist is detained during a protest demanding justice for Camilo Catrillanca Police said they fired while pursuing people who stole three vehicles. Catrillanca's family said he was shot in the back in cold blood. Indigenous activists accuse the government of using heavy-handed tactics against the Mapuches, some of whom have been agitating for greater land rights. The government of Sebastian Pinera will send to Congress this month a bill that constitutionally recognises the indigenous peoples of Chile, in response to a historic demand from the Mapuche community, Interior Minister Andres Chadwick announced on December 11. Two senior police officials resigned after the discovery that officers destroyed video showing the shooting of Catrillanca. Mapuche indigenous people are joined by human rights activists as they wave flags and march through the streets of Santiago during a demonstration against the government yesterday A Mapuche indigenous activist attempts to stop the movement of riot policemen during a protest demanding justice for Camilo Mapuche indigenous activists react to tear gas released by riot police during the chaotic scenes yesterday A young Mapuche boy plays a musical instrument amid the violent protests going on in Santiago yesteday Interior Minister Andres Chadwick said via Twitter last week that destruction of the memory card from a monitoring camera was 'unacceptable.' He said Gen. Mauro Victoriano and Col. Ivan Contreras Figueroa and four members of special forces unit resigned. Thousands of people attended the funeral of 24-year-old Catrillanca. A mother-of-two spent the night in custody after allegedly making bomb jokes before a domestic flight. Richelle Penny, 42, from Knoxfield in Melbournes eastern suburbs, allegedly made two threats about carrying explosive devices in her luggage as she boarded a flight on Friday afternoon. She was arrested and forced to spend the night in custody in Hobart, the Herald Sun reported. Richelle Penny, 42, (pictured) from Knoxfield in Melbournes eastern suburbs, allegedly made two threats about carrying explosive devices in her luggage as she boarded a flight Perry was boarding a Virgin flight from Hobart Airport to return to her home in Victoria when the alleged incident occurred around 12pm on Friday. The woman told journalists she had just been repeating a joke a taxi driver had said to her on the way to the airport. She sat down in her seat on the plane before being removed by airport staff. Ms Pennys defense lawyer described his client as a 'bit of a larrikin' who didn't understand that acting like a 'smart arse' at an airport was not acceptable behaviour. Ms Penny was granted bail and will face Hobart Magistrates Court again on February 7. Orangutans and gibbons were wrapped in blankets and whisked away from the flames at Chester Zoo today as staff battled to save all 21,000 animals following a huge blaze. Staff at the zoo, in the north-west of England, confirmed that all of the orangutans were accounted for following the fire. Crocodiles and snakes were among the other animals under threat as 15 fire engines tried to bring the blaze at the Monsoon Forest area under control. A statement from the zoo said: 'Critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and other mammals are all accounted for and being looked after by the zoo specialist conservationists and vet. 'The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but we will be helping the relevant authorities with the investigation that will take place over the coming days and weeks.' Firefighters at Chester Zoo after a fire broke out in the Monsoon Forest habitat area and destroyed the roof Reports from the scene claimed that zoo staff led away orangutans and gibbons from the fire, after covering them in blankets. Earlier, thousands of visitors and animals were evacuated from Chester Zoo after the huge fire broke out at the attraction. Pictures and video showed huge clouds of black smoke pouring out of the Cheshire venue, which is home to 21,000 animals. The fire service said all the mammals had been accounted for - with reports of endangered Sumatran orangutans being led outside in blankets - while one person was treated for smoke inhalation and zoo workers checked on other species. Fire crews spray water on the Monsoon Forest habitat area at Chester Zoo after the fire broke out at around 11.30 on Saturday morning Flames and plumes of smoke pour out of the building at Chester Zoo Chester Zoo was evacuated after a huge fire broke out at the attraction north-west England By early afternoon the blaze appeared to be largely out with fire crews working to bring the animals to safety, with armed police also on the seen. The creatures were rushed to safety as the blaze spread rapidly through the polymer roofing material. One witness at the 125-acre park said they had seen 'orangutans coming out and the gibbons swinging around the netting on the enclosure' but emergency services have said the mammals are all safe. Another guest evacuated, Daniel Murphy, told MailOnline that smoke had already been visible when he was allowed into the zoo. He said: 'Having just been evacuated from the zoo I can confirm the fire looked to be contained and controlled. 'Was clearly burning when we were admitted and half an hour later evacuation ordered.' Emergency tend to the large fire that ravaged the roof of the Monsoon Forest habitat area Crocodiles, orangutans and snakes were among the animals under threat as 15 fire engines tried to bring the blaze under control By early afternoon the blaze appeared to be largely out with fire crews working to bring the animals to safety 'Appears the fire crews have reduced the size of fire. Heavy police and ambulance presence all around as well, unclear if any people were caught up.' The fire service said: 'The zoo has been evacuated and all animals are accounted for. There are no reports of any injuries at this time. 'Drivers are advised to avoid the area. There are currently 15 fire appliances in attendance at the scene. Chester Zoo said in a statement: 'Chester Zoo can confirm that the fire services are attending to a fire inside its Monsoon Forest habitat today. 'Visitors were evacuated immediately and the zoos response team worked alongside the emergency services to help bring the situation under control. 'The zoos teams are now assessing the situation. Critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and other mammals are all accounted for. We are working hard to account for all other species. 'The zoo remains closed. The zoos The Lanterns event this evening has been cancelled and ticket holders notified by email' A firefighter is lifted in a crane above the Monsoon Forest enclosure after the blaze broke out there on Saturday morning Chester Zoo after the fire broke out in the Monsoon Forest habitat area Fire engines and a police car at the scene of the fire at Chester Zoo on Saturday afternoon 'Our response team is working alongside emergency services to bring the situation under control. The zoo is now closed. We'll update as soon as we can.' Another witness said it had 'started off as a little fire'. Sophie Flynn said: 'Staff and keepers working hard to deal - hope the animals are all OK!!! It started as a little fire in the which we saw but it's obviously much worse now!!!' Emma Flanagan, another of the guests, told the Liverpool Echo: 'We saw the fire as we arrived, we thought it may be the zoo but we went into the car park anyway. 'One of the members of staff said it was one of the islands where the fire was. 'He said around 40 animals had been evacuated, people were still in there but they were getting told to leave.' Another said: 'It's very upsetting to see and judging by the speed I watched the fire grow, I'll be surprised if there are no animal casualties.' David Clough told said he could see the blaze from his house, saying he was 'very worried for the people and animals that would have been inside'. Mr Clough, 50, who lives across the road from the zoo, said: 'We first saw signs of the fire shortly after 11.30. Flames and smoke pour from the building in what one witness said had 'started off as a little fire' but grew until the park had to be closed and evacuated A blaze broke out at the zoo in north-west England on Saturday morning with smoke pouring out of one of the buildings 'The Monsoon Forest building in the zoo's new Islands development was on fire. It has an inflatable roof that was burning. Lots of flames and smoke.' 'It was spreading across the roof in strong winds for a while. Lots of fire engines arrived quickly. 'By about 30 mins ago the main flames had gone, but there's a smaller fire still burning at the southern end of the roof.' Another zoo visitor said: ''We were in the Monsoon enclosure when it happened and were rushed out due to an electrical fire. It spread very quickly. 'The staff ensured all the members of the public were safe. Many staff (were) running towards the fire, (I'm) assuming to help with evacuating animals. 'The entire zoo is closed - a shame as we've travelled up from Plymouth.' The enclosure at Chester Zoo - which is home to around 21,000 animals - which caught fire today is seen from the air The Monsoon Forest enclosure, part of the zoo's Islands section, includes crocodiles, a tentacled snake and an Asian forest tortoise. A Sulawesi crested macaque, rhinoceros hornbill and Sumatran orangutans also feature in the exhibition along with an underwater viewing area. Chester Zoo has described the 40million attraction, which opened in 2015, as the 'largest indoor zoo exhibit in UK history'. The 5,000 square metre area includes raised forest walkways and underwater viewing areas where visitors can see the crocodiles. It is clad in a giant polymer dome, much of which was destroyed in Saturday's blaze. The conditions inside mimic the climate in South East Asia, and also contains exotic plant species including starfruit, mango, paw paw, orchids and palm trees. Video taken by witnesses at the scene showed the roof of the enclosure - which is home to animals including crocodiles and orangutans - on fire Another of the guests said: 'Thank you for an amazing job with a safe evacuation whilst inside the Monsoon enclosure. We wish all the staff and animals a safe incident.' One person has been treated for smoke inhalation. A spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service said it was called to the scene at 11.42am on Saturday. 'We had two rapid response vehicles and one ambulance on the scene, all of which cleared as there were no patients,' she said. 'There is one patient with smoke inhalation. We've got an officer on the scene.' No further details were provided about their condition. A Welsh Plaid Cymru MP was among the people evacuated, saying: 'Hope all staff & animals are OK. Evacuation handled excellently.' The zoo, which first opened its doors to visitors in 1931, receives around 1.9million visitors a year. The zoo's website crashed this afternoon as people searched for information about the fire. Friends and neighbours have expressed their devastation and grief after a much loved community identity and grandmother was shot dead in a suspected murder-suicide. The stall once run by Edith McKrill at Western Australia's Fremantle Markets was turned into a shrine in her memory on Saturday after she was killed by her estranged husband the night before. Her elderly mother, who had been visiting from France, watched on in horror before racing into the street to ask for help in limited English. Fremantle Markets stallholder and Perth grandmother Edith McKrill (pictured) was remembered as a 'beautiful woman, worldly and earthly' following her death on Friday night Emergency services were called to a home in Scouler Way in Bateman in Perth's south just before 7pm on Friday night following reports a person had been shot, and that a man also appeared injured. Ms McKrill, 59, died at the scene while her estranged husband, 67, was rushed to Perth Royal Hospital for gunshot wounds to his head after turning the gun on himself. A bystander found him laying against a fence at the property with a 'big hole in his head', the told Perth Now. He died in hospital on Saturday afternoon. A firearm was located at the scene and seized. Kenneth Cheok was walking his dog along the street at the time when he heard Ms McKrill's mother's screams for help and saw a man lying in the front yard. The home remained a crime scene on Saturday as it was examined by forensic officers 'I walked a little further and I see this poor lady she is lying on the ground,' he told the ABC. 'She wasn't breathing at all. It was quite a traumatic experience. You don't see these things every day.' Ms McKrill was remembered as a 'beautiful woman, worldly and earthly' who loved arts and sold new-age gifts at a stall called Moon Rhythm. The Fremantle Markets website describes the stall as an inspirational new age gift shop with a 'vast collection of unique gemstone jewellery, crystal specimens and tumbled gemstones'. Her vacant stall was covered in floral tributes, candles, handwritten messages and a French flag on Saturday, Perth Now reported. Tributes were laid outside her home (pictured) and at Ms McKrill's market stall on Saturday 'No one has the right to take away another person's life... How dare you take the light from us. My heart is broken right now and I'm finding it hard to breathe... Rest now beautiful one,' fellow Fremantle Markets stallholder Katie Bailey posted on Facebook. Ms Bailey later told 9 News: 'It's a real loss to the world. She'll be remembered for her light that's for sure. You don't realise how someone's touched your life until something like this happens ... she really did touch my life and I know many others too.' Others who knew Ms McCrill also took to social media to pay tribute. 'She was such a gentle soul who deserved so much happiness. We would chat so much in French about our past. I will miss her so much,' one woman wrote. Customers also posted heartfelt tributes. 'She was so warm and friendly and inviting! Her shop was my favorite in the whole of Fremantle Markets,' one commented Another added: 'This is so sad. I used to buy gemstones and crystals from her as a teenager, I took my own children there just weeks ago to purchase their stones.' WA Police said there was no ongoing safety risk to the public. Anyone with information or may have seen or heard anything in the vicinity between 5pm-7pm on Friday night, is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Edith McKrill's (pictured) death was described by a friend as a real loss to the world Egyptian archaeologists have discovered the tomb of a priest decorated with hieroglyphs and statues dating back more than 4,400 years in a pyramid complex. The private tomb belonging to 'Wahtye', a high priest who served during the fifth dynasty reign of King Neferirkare, was unearthed today in a buried ridge at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, south of the capital Cairo. His brightly painted tomb is decorated with scenes showing the royal priest alongside his mother, wife and other members of his family, the Egyptian antiquities ministry said. It also contains more than a dozen niches and 24 colourful statues of the cleric and members of his family. The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The entrance of a newly-discovered tomb belonging to the high priest 'Wahtye' who served during the fifth dynasty reign of King Neferirkare between 2500 to 2300 BC Statues are seen inside inside the tomb which dates from the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai, at the Saqqara area near its necropolis, in Giza, Egypt A view of statues inside the newly-discovered tomb of 'Wahtye', which dates from the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai The rightly painted tomb is decorated with scenes showing the royal priest alongside his mother, wife and other members of his family The tomb contains more than a dozen niches and 24 colourful statues of the cleric and members of his family The 33 ft (ten metres) long, 9.8 ft (three metres) wide tomb has just under three metres high walls which are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs. The tomb was untouched and unlooted, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters at the site today. He described the find as 'one of a kind in the last decades' as the tomb was unique due to the type of statues and its near perfect condition. Archaeologists removed a last layer of debris from the tomb on Thursday and found five shafts inside. The tomb has only partially been uncovered and officials expect more discoveries when archaeologists excavate the site further in coming months early next year and even as early as tomorrow. One of the shafts was unsealed with nothing inside, but the other four were sealed. Waziri was hopeful about one shaft in particular would reveal more secrets, adding: 'I can imagine that all of the objects can be found in this area. The 33 ft (ten metres) long, 9.8 ft (three metres) wide tomb has just under three metres high walls which are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs The well-preserved tomb is decorated with scenes showing the royal priest alongside his mother, wife and other members of his family The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom Scenes in the ancient tomb depicted life during the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai during the Fifth Dynasty The tomb is described as 'one of a kind in the last decades' as the tomb was unique due to the type of statues and its near perfect condition 'This shaft should lead to a coffin or a sarcophagus of the owner of the tomb. 'The colour is almost intact even though the tomb is almost 4,400 years old.' In November archaeology officials announced the discovery in Saqqara of seven sarcophagi, some dating back more than 6,000 years, during excavation work started in April by the same archaeological mission. Three of those tombs contained mummified cats and scarabs - an ancient Egyptian gem cut in the shape of the beetle. The Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo is home to the famous Djoser pyramid, a more than 4,600-year-old construction which dominates the site and was the country's first stone monument. The tomb, built by the master architect Imhotep for the Pharoah Djoser, stood 62 metres (203 feet) tall originally and is considered the oldest building in the world built entirely of stone. Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany said: 'Today we are announcing the last discovery of the year 2018, it's a new discovery, it's a private tomb. The tomb has only partially been uncovered and officials expect more discoveries when archaeologists excavate the site further in coming months The Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo is home to the famous Djoser pyramid, a more than 4,600-year-old construction which dominates the site and was the country's first stone monument The biggest tomb in the pyramid complex, known as Djoser, was built by the master architect Imhotep for the Pharoah Djoser, stood 62 metres (203 feet) tall originally and is considered the oldest building in the world built entirely of stone Egyptian camel owners wait for tourists at King Djoser's step pyramid, also known as the Saqqara pyramid in Saqqara area of Giza Saqqara served as the necropolis for Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt for more than two thousand years 'It is exceptionally well preserved, coloured, with sculpture inside. It belongs to a high official priest... (and) is more than 4,400 years old.' Antiquities minister Khaled al-Anani announced the find, just west of Cairo, which is also home to the famed Step Pyramid. The Fifth Dynasty ruled Egypt from about 2,500 BC to 2,350 BC, not long after the great pyramid of Giza was built. Saqqara served as the necropolis for Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt for more than two millennia. Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, while animal mummies were used as religious offerings. Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient discoveries this year. Guests enter a newly-discovered tomb at the Saqqara necropolis, 30 kilometres south of Cairo, belonging to the high priest 'Wahtye' who served during the reign of King Neferirkare The tomb is decorated with scenes showing the royal priest alongside his mother, wife and other members of his family, the ministry said in a statement The country hopes the finds will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travellers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who fled after the 2011 political uprising. In recent years, Egypt has heavily promoted new archaeological finds to international media and diplomats in the hope of attracting more visitors to the country. The vital tourism sector has suffered from the years of political turmoil since the 2011 uprising. This is the astonishing moment a jet of flowing water appears to freeze in time - before the illusion is broken by the touch of a hand. Dario Bonzi, 28, from Brescia, spotted the rare natural phenomenon when he was visiting Val Camonica, a large valley in the central Alps. The video shows a jet of water coming out of a public tap - as it appears as still and glimmering as ice. The video shows a jet of water coming out of a public water tap looking as still and glimmering as ice However, when Mr Bonzi moves his hand through it, you can see stream breaking and flowing over his fingers. The Italian filmmaker and photographer posted the video to social media, where it gathered more than three million views. Mr Bonzi said: 'I had never seen anything like it, it looked like ice, but it was flowing water! 'It's a rare phenomenon which has to do with fluid dynamics. When Dario Bonzi moves his hand through the water, you can see stream breaking and flowing over his fingers 'It's called a laminar flow and it is completely natural.' According to the filmmaker, for a laminar flow to occur the water has to be free from impurities and the speed of the stream constant. The internal surface of the tube the water is flowing from also has to be smooth. Mr Bonzi said: 'Every water molecule follows the trajectory of the one in front in a very precise way, the absence of wind also helps. 'It all seems still, but it's flowing.' The U.S. military says it has killed eight members of the al-Shabab extremist group with an airstrike south of Somalia's capital. The U.S. Africa Command statement says the airstrike occurred on Saturday near Gandarshe, a coastal community. The statement says no civilians were involved. The U.S. military has carried out at least 40 airstrikes this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, Africa's most active Islamic extremist group. The U.S. military says it has killed eight members of the al-Shabab extremist group with an airstrike south of Somalia's capital. The attack occurred on Saturday near Gandarshe, a coastal community (file photo of Al-Shabaab militants) It controls parts of rural southern and central Somalia and continues to stage deadly attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and other cities. The U.S. airstrikes have picked up dramatically since President Donald Trump took office and approved expanded military operations in the Horn of Africa nation. Airstrikes also target a small presence of fighters linked to the Islamic State group. American forces have been back operating in Somalia for more than a decade. Since 2007, Al-Shabaab has been fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Somalia. Somalia, which borders restive Kenya and lies across the Gulf of Aden from conflict-wracked Yemen, began to fall apart in 1991, when warlords ousted dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other. Years of conflict and attacks by al-Shabab, along with famine, shattered the country of some 12 million people. It has been trying to rebuild since establishing its first functioning transitional government in 2012. Al-Shabab, which is fighting to impose Shariah law across Somalia, was pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, and other major urban cities more than two years ago. But the extremist group still carries out suicide attacks across Somalia. Mark Salerno, 61, has been missing from Phoenix since October 12 A doctor who famously faked his own kidnapping in 2002 by locking himself in his car trunk has now gone missing again. Mark Salerno, a 61-year-old pediatrician, left his home north of Phoenix on October 12 and hasn't been seen since, leaving his friends and family worried about what might have befallen him, the Arizona Republic reports. In May 2002, Salerno was facing a stolen car charge when he went missing for three days. He told authorities he was contemplating suicide at the Hoover Dam, but instead drove to San Diego and wandered aimlessly doing drugs. Salerno crawled into his car truck and slept for several hours before waking up and kicking and screaming to be let out. He told police that he had been kidnapped and driven around in a van before being locked in his truck by his captors. But the story fell apart when a witness reported seeing him getting into his own trunk. Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio heightened the drama by sending a helicopter to San Diego to bring Salerno back to jail, and billing the doctor $8,000 for police overtime wasted on his case. Salerno pleaded guilty to a felony count of unlawful use of means of transportation, but a judge was convinced of his remorse and felt the incident was a result of the doctor's suicidal state, and sentenced him to three years of probation. Soon after his sentencing, Salerno went missing again, and was found wandering through back yards in a rural area north of Pittsburgh. He was arrested for violating his probation. Though his medical license was suspended for a time, it was eventually reinstated, and Salerno went on to run a substance abuse and mental health clinic. He became the poster boy for mental health recovery in a 2011 Phoenix New Times profile that highlighted his work to help others. Then, in October, he disappeared again. Salerno is described as five-foot-eleven, 240 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair that he usually wears in a ponytail. He may be driving a green 2001 Ford Explorer Sport with Arizona tags CAE 1773. Anyone with information about Salerno's whereabouts is urged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 and refer to case number 2018-1814745. For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255 The family of an Indian male nurse who boarded a plane within hours of a 24-year-old woman's body being discovered on a Queensland beach have pleaded for their son to return home and 'tell them the truth'. Last week it emerged married father-of-three Rajwinder Singh had quit his job and flown to India about 24 hours after Toyah Cordingley's body was found on October 22. Singh has been named as a 'person of interest' by Queensland Police, and Indian police have confirmed they have formed a special unit to locate the father. The family of an Indian male nurse who boarded a plane within hours of a 24-year-old woman's body (pictured) being discovered on a Queensland beach have pleaded for their son to return home and tell them the truth The formation of the task force followed a request to find and arrest the nurse, who had lived in Innisfail. His father Amar is also trying to track down his son, having gone to India's Punjab region and knocked the doors of family in search of answers. 'We want him to surrender himself and come home and tell us the truth,' Singh's brother-in-law Harpreet Singh told The Sunday Mail. Rajwinder Singh (pictured) had quit his job and flown to India in the aftermath of Toya Cordingley's body being discovered on October 22 His relative previously told the publication Singh was not 'capable of murder' and the fact he had disappeared so close to the discovery of the young woman's body was coincidental. His brother-in-law said: 'If he has to divorce his wife, he should do that, too, but he needs to make everything clear. 'He has left behind a lot of heartache and trouble.' Singh reportedly left behind his wife two children, a baby and his full-time job - and his family believe he could be camping out in a Sikh temple where he would receive free accomodation. A Toyah Cordingley (left and right) supporters group meanwhile has warned against threats aimed at a male nurse who flew to India after her body was found on a Queensland beach Meanwhile, a Toyah Cordingley supporters group has warned against vigilante threats aimed at a male nurse. The Honour Toyah Facebook page has urged its members 'not compromise the investigation' and refrain from 'abuse, accusations or threats towards' Singh. 'Police are still pleading for information via Crimestoppers - obviously evidence is needed. Let's keep our focus on that,' a recent post reads. Married father-of-three Rajwinder Singh boarded a plane hours after Ms Cordingley was found dead at Wangetti Beach on October 22 Pharmacy assistant Ms Cordingley (pictured) was walking her dog along the secluded beach when she was attacked The Honour Toyah Facebook page has urged its 10,500 members 'not compromise the investigation' 'Let's be aware this will be an immensely challenging time for Toyah's family and friends, many of whom are members of this page.' Neighbours of Singh have joined his family in saying the father-of-three is not a murderer, describing the hospital worker as a quiet family man. 'I still can't believe it, until he is actually charged, I cannot believe it because to me he was just a normal bloke,' neighbour Bill Liddell previously told Nine News. 'The community will never give up': The Honour Toyah Facebook group is fighting for #justicefortoyah Miss Cordingley, who was described as a 'beautiful soul' by those close to her, was murdered on October 21 Kathleen Liddell said the whole family were sociable. 'They're always out the front and waving to us and asking how we are, they're really friendly,' she said. 'It's awful and I feel sorry for the family.' Mr Singh's home in Innisfail, Far North Queensland was raided four weeks ago, with police reportedly confiscating a number of personal items. He had been working as a nurse at Innisfail hospital for seven years and had a wife and three young children, including a baby, when he boarded a flight for his hometown of Amritsar in Punjab, India. The body Ms Cordingley (left and right) nearby her dog, which was found alive and tightly bound to a tree The tickets were purchased on the day of Ms Cordingley's death and he flew out less than 24 hours later, The Courier Mail reported. Queensland Police said speculation surrounding the case was unhelpful. 'The Queensland Police Service will not be providing anything further other than the investigation is continuing,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 'Speculation surrounding elements of the investigation are not helpful and have the potential to jeopardise it.' Ms Cordingley's body was found by her father Troy on Wangetti Beach (pictured) Miss Cordingley, who was described as a 'beautiful soul' by those close to her, was murdered on October 21. The pharmacy assistant was walking her dog along the secluded beach when she was attacked. Her body was found the next morning by her father Troy almost one kilometre from where her car was parked. Her dog was found alive and tightly bound to a nearby tree. The far-north Queensland community rallied around her family, making hundreds of separate reports to Crime Stoppers, who continue to appeal for information. With the retirement of last U.S. Air Foce McDonnell-Douglas QF-4 Phantom IIs back in December, 2016, one could be forgiven for thinking that date marked the final operational activities for this magnificent multi-purpose combat aircraft. However, the type still soldiers on with a handful of military air arms in other nations, albeit in small numbers and living on borrowed time. The Republic of Korea Air Force has three active squadrons of F-4Es with the 17th Fighter Wing at Cheongju, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force is believed to have a few dozen operational Phantom IIs (originally ordered as F-4Ds, Es and RF-4s), the Hellenic Air Force has two squadrons of F-4Es (338 and 339 with the 117th Combat Wing at Andravida), the Turkish Air Force has a single squadron (111. Filo Panter at Eskisehir). The other operator is the island nation of Japan, which has three operational squadrons of F-4EJs within the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (301 and 302 Squadron with F-4EJs and the RF-4EJs of 501 Squadron at Hyakuri Air Base). However, as they begin transitioning to the F-35A Lightning II, Japan is now preparing to retire their fleet of Phantoms. 302 Squadron will disband in February, 2019. The other two units will follow suit before too long with all Samurai Phantom operations due to come to a close by March, 2021. 301 and 302 Squadrons will reform at Misawa Air Base, operating some of Japans expected force of 42 F-35As. With respect to 501 Squadrons RF-4EJs, their aircraft will likely be replaced with F-15Js updated with a synthetic aperture radar. In celebration of their nearly half century Japanese Phantom II operations, 302 Squadron held a special air show on December 2nd at Hyakuri Air Base just north of Tokyo. Several of their aircraft were painted in commemorative liveries to mark the event, which was attended by huge numbers of Phantom Phanatics from around the world. Well-known and highly regarded photographer Richard Cooper led a small number of these enthusiasts to Japan with the Center of Aviation Photography (COAP), in part to cover the event. He has been kind enough to let us use a few of his images here. The family of a Florida woman who died after falling off the back of a motorcycle has filed a lawsuit against the man who left her for dead. Jennifer St. Clair, 33 went on a date with Miles McChesney, 34, after meeting him on the Tinder dating app, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her family. They allege he was the driver of a 2001 black Harley Davidson which St. Clair was a passenger on the night of December 6. She fell off the motorcycle and her body was run over by as many as nine vehicles, her family's lawyer Todd Falzone told a news conference on Friday. Jennifer St. Clair (left) went on a date with Miles McChesney (right) who took her for her ride on a motorbike. She fell off and he allegedly left her for dead on the I-95 highway Lawyer Todd Falzone (above) claims Miles McChesney did nothing to help Jennifer St. Clair Only three drivers pulling over to help and notify authorities of what had happened. St. Clair was later found dead on Interstate 95 in Pompano Beach at 3.00 am on December 7. Todd Falzone said Friday that McChesney, from Schenectady in New York was visiting a cousin in Fort Lauderdale when he met St. Clair. According to the lawsuit, the pair met with two other couples and visited a few bars in the area. The suit claims that McChesney 'drank alcohol to the point where he became impaired'. McChesney is accused of 'carelessly and negligently' operating the motorcycle, causing St. Clair 'to be expelled from said motorcycle into oncoming traffic' on Interstate 95. At a news conference on Friday, Falzone explained that the drivers of the other two motorcycles had ridden ahead and reportedly did not witness St. Clair fall off the bike. He claimed it was his understanding that McChesney had not provided information to law enforcement officials. Falzone said that that McChesney served time in in prison in New York up to mid November. St. Clair was run over by nine vehicles, with only three drivers pulling over to help and notify authorities of what had happened. Todd Falzone said Jennifer's loss and lack of information about her death has been extremely difficult. Her brother Jack (left) and aunt Amy Gamber (right) attended the conference Falzone said Jennifer's death and the circumstances of what happened on the night she died had been difficult to take Falzone said that McChesney did not call police and did nothing to help her. Instead, he left the scene and called one of the other drivers who had ridden ahead, who has been identified as his cousin, Bill Young. Young then called 911 as he believed his cousin had been in an accident. Falzone claimed: 'My assumption is that he had received a phone call from his cousin or had just realized that they were separated and had assumed there had been some kind of an accident'. He added: 'The only person out there at that time was Mr McChesney and we would obviously call on him to do the right thing and to tell the truth to both law enforcement and to this family about what happened out there'. Falzone said police had not yet shared the 911 call with the family. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, St. Clairs body was found in the center lane. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Falzone explained that it remained unclear exactly how St. Clair ended up off the bike and whether she was killed instantly. John E Lewis is the second defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit because as the owner of the motorcycle, he is legally responsible for whatever happens concerning that vehicle. Lawyer Todd Falzone hope that the lawsuit helps bring St Clair's family closure and justice The lawsuit is seeking $15,000 in damages from McChesney. Falzone explained that it remained unclear exactly how St. Clair ended up off the bike and whether she was killed instantly. The motorcycle was previously owned by Mcchesneys cousin, identified as Bill Young. He had sold the bike to a man identified as John Lewis, but asked to borrow it back while McChesney was in town. The motorcycle was described as a 2001 Harley Davidson. It had a back seat and backrest for a passenger. Falzone explained that McChesney did nothing to help Jennifer St. Clair after she went off the bike. Instead, he called his cousin, Bill Young, who then called 911. At a conference on Friday, Falzone said: 'We have come forward at this time, we have filed this lawsuit in an effort to once again ask for help from the community. 'This will assist us in our ability to get information. It is our intention to utilize this lawsuit to gain information about what took place and will now have the ability to subpoena witnesses. St. Clair had two siblings and was 'surrounded by a big family that loves her so much' She was also a dog lover and had a dog named Lily who she loved very much, according to her family 'All we can do again is ask for help from anyone who saw anything, there were six of them who were out that night. We understand they were at three different establishments in Del Rey. 'There have to have been witnesses. We have already been in contact with some but we need more information'. During a separate news conference on December 11, St. Clairs aunt, Amy Gamber, spoke about her niece. She described St. Clair as 'full of live, silly and funny'. She added that St. Clair was a 'very sweet girl who would do anything for anybody'. The bike (pictured) Miles McChesney was allegedly driving was similar to this 2001 Harley Davidson model Gamber became emotional as she explained that St. Clair had two siblings and was 'surrounded by a big family that loves her so much' She stated that the family is looking for closure and justice for St. Clair and urged whoever was responsible to 'do the right thing'. Jennifer St. Clairs sister-in-law, Ashley St. Clair, also started a fund on Facebook to help the family with their expenses. She wrote a touching tribute to Jennifer, writing: 'Jennifer Amy St. Clair was a loving caring friend, niece, sister, cousin, daughter, and granddaughter whose life was taken way too soon. 'Jennifer was an avid dog lover and owner. Her heart for her family, friends, and animals showed every day. 'Her laugh and smile could light up any room. We will treasure the joyful passion for life that she shared with all of us. 'Her free spirit and loving nature will help guide us for years to come. We love her forever and well miss her dearly'. Two men have died after the luxury hire car they were travelling in slammed through a barrier and plunged off an overpass. The Mercedes Benz wagon veered off the Western Ring Rd in Altona North, Melbourne at about 8.45pm on Saturday, the Herald Sun reported. Inspector Adrian Healy a paramedic and a police officer jumped into the water about half an hour later, but the car's doors were jammed shut. The vehicle is currently underwater after it veered off the road at Altona North at about 8.45pm on Saturday night Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Butler earlier told The Age the car was submerged in water, with fears passengers may be trapped inside. 'It is understood the car was travelling southbound along the freeway at Altona North when it went off the bridge and into water,' she said. Police are understood to be investigating if speed was a factor in the crash. The victims are yet to be identified. Social media giants could be held accountable for cyber-bullying and distributing violent online content - and are being urged to tighten their policies. A $17 million-dollar package is being introduced in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) by the Australian government with an aim to create safer online spaces. The change is putting pressure on companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter to rid harmful behaviour from their websites, The Daily Telegraph reported. Social media giants could be held accountable for cyber-bullying and distributing violent online content, and are being urged to tighten their policies (stock image) An online safety charter is going to be implemented for the big technology giants in hopes standards will be lifted and stop cyber-bullying. Although the charter isn't legally binding, it's believed it will include accountability measures for the social media companies. These measures will push the companies to take stronger action against violent content and harmful practices online. If the companies refuse to adhere to the new guidelines, the government may follow-up with laws that do make them liable for harm caused online. If these laws are implemented victims may be able to take legal action against the social media giants, as is already seen in parts of Europe. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield insists the new charter will set a high industry standard that the big companies will need to meet. 'Businesses who interact with children in the real world have to meet high standards of safety and digital businesses should be treated no differently,' Mr Fifield said. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield (pictured) insists the new charter will set a high industry standard that the big companies will need to meet 'Nothing can be more important than protecting our children and this means defending them from dangers from the online environment.' Discussion of the guidelines arose following a 2018 Senate inquiry into bullying laws. It was recommended that the federal government 'maintain regulatory pressure' on social media giants and implement duty of care laws. The Committee insisted it was the role of the social media companies to ensure their platforms were safe across the board and reduced cyber-bullying. The change is putting pressure on companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter to rid harmful behaviour from their websites (stock image) The inquiry found in 2017, Kids Helpline received 3000 calls in regards to cyber safety. with up to 1000 of them being from children about cyber-bullying. It was also found that complaints spiked by 133 per cent when children returned back to school at the beginning of the year. The federal government was also recommended to urge social media companies to consistently publish data related to user complaints and their responses. To ensure the development of the charter runs smoothly, the Government have plans to consult with the companies as well as parents to collaborate on the guidelines. The online safety charter is expected to be unveiled prior to the next election. Thousands of illegal immigrants who arrived in Australia by boat have sent $5million in welfare payments designed for the most vulnerable migrants back home to their families. About 8,000 asylum seekers are currently being investigated by authorities for lying about their financial situation in order to receive the payments. Of those, 44 cases have been earmarked by national security agencies because of the size of the overseas transfer - including one refugee who claimed to be stateless and sent more than $450,000 to Ghana and Bangladesh. Scroll down for video Thousands of illegal immigrants who arrived in Australia by boat have sent $5million in welfare payments designed for the most vulnerable migrants back home to their families. Pictured: Iranian asylum seekers who were caught in Indonesian waters while sailing to Australia in 2013 Another case reported by The Daily Telegraph involved an illegal boat arrival who transferred nearly $220,000 to Iraq and Switzerland. The funds intended to assist the most desperate asylum seekers have cost Australian taxpayers in excess of $1.5 billion in the last five years. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the government is intent on preventing the illegal immigrants rorting the system getting away with it. He said: 'These people came to Australia illegally by boat, claim to be penniless, take taxpayers hard-earned dollars in welfare and then inexplicably have access to large amounts of money that they transfer around the world.' The government is now in the process of removing asylum seekers caught moving around significant amounts of money from the funding scheme. Labor, meanwhile, is set to announce its policy of giving permanent protection to asylum seekers and getting rid of their temporary visas at its national conference on Sunday. Home affairs minister Peter Dutton said the government is intent on preventing the illegal immigrants rorting the system from getting away with it Last week, it also emerged opposition leader Bill Shorten had pushed for asylum decisions to not include considerations of the applicant's character. The government and the opposition are due to clash on what has been dubbed the 'medivac bill' when it passes through the lower house in February. In response, Mr Dutton said: 'Under Labor's law, a person who has been convicted of serious offences would have to come to Australia and there is nothing the minister could do to stop it.' Ted Bundy may have died almost 30 years ago but the late serial killer is having another moment in the spotlight as the notorious murderer features in a new biopic starring Zac Efron called Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Netflix is also producing their own true crime docuseries called Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. The series features audio from 'exclusive, never-before-heard interviews from the 'Jack the Ripper of the United States' himself,' according to Netflix. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes will feature never-before-heard audio from interviews with the serial killer Netflix is set to release a four-part docuseries based on Ted Bundy in January The docuseries will explore how Bundy's 'personality, good looks and social graces defied the serial-killer stereotype' and allowed him to slip by unnoticed while he committed the sex-crime slayings of more than 30 women before he was caught in 1978. Just hours before he was strapped into the electric chair and put to death on 24 January 1989, he gave his final interview and spoke to campaigner Dr James Dobson about his early life and what drove him to commit his atrocities. In a chilling 45-minute interview Bundy talked about how his obsession with pornography drove him to become a sinister, calculating killer. He said: 'As a young boy - and I mean a boy of 12 or 13 certainly - I encountered outside the home softcore pornography. From time to time we'd come across pornographic books of a harder nature, more graphic you might say. And this also included such things as detective magazines. The new series will be constructed around confession tapes, and use interviews never before heard by the public, to shed new light on the killer 'The most damaging kinds of pornography are those that involve sexual violence, because the wedding of those two forces, as I know only too well, brings about behavior that is just too terrible to describe.' As his obsession grew, he explained to Dr Dobson, the kind of porn he was looking at became more aggressive and explicit. He said: 'My experience with pornography that deals on a violent level with sexuality is that once you become addicted to it - and I look at this as a kind of addiction - like other kinds of addiction...I would keep looking for more potent, more explicit, more graphic kinds of materials. 'Like an addiction, you keep craving something which is harder, harder. Something which gives you a greater sense of excitement. Until you reach the point where the pornography only goes so far.' 'You reach that jumping-off point where you begin to wonder if maybe actually doing it will give you that which is beyond just reading about it or looking at it,' Bundy added. He claimed he was stuck at this 'jumping off point' for about two years before he began assaulting and murdering young women and girls according to Ladbible. The four-part series will also look at Bundys two escapes from prison, as well as the media frenzy surrounding his trial, and the women that became infatuated with him Serial killer Ted Bundy raped and murdered dozens of young women during a reign of terror in the US in the 1970s He said: 'I was essentially a normal person. I had good friends. I lived a normal life, except for this one small, but very potent, very destructive segment of it that I kept very secret, very close to myself, and didn't let anybody know about. 'And part of the shock and horror for my dear friends and family, years ago when I was first arrested, was that there was no clue. They looked at me, and they looked at the all-American boy. 'I think people need to recognise that those of us who have been so much influenced by violence in the media - in particular pornographic violence - are not some kinds of inherent monsters. 'We are your sons, and we are your husbands. And we grew up in regular families. And pornography can reach out and snatch a kid out of any house today.' While on trial, Bundy received extraordinary adoration from American women, which made his gruesome crimes doubly haunting, even in an era of anything-goes mayhem. His graphic slayings garnered national attention, and in 1979, his trial for the gruesome murders and assaults at Florida State University's Chi Omega sorority house became the first to be nationally televised. Bundy was a law student who was convicted of killing and raping several women across seven states from at least 1974-1978. He was put on trial in 1977 and convicted of murder in Colorado. He escaped from prison and was on the run until he was arrested later in Florida. Bundy eventually confessed to killing 30 women, although the real total of murders is unknown. r: Ted Bundy at the Leon County sheriff's office in Florida, shortly after after his arrest on a charge of theft, on February 19, 1978, left. Ted Bundy animated in a courtroom after the judge had departed. Bundy confessed to killing 28 women before he was, right, executed in 1989 Bundy hopes that his confessions would delay his execution, but he was put to death in Florida's electric chair in 1989. Prosecutors and investigators believe Bundy may have been responsible for as many as 100 murders. Even as recently as 2011, police were using his blood sample to try to solve cold cases. Conversations with a Killer will also offer up new insight into Bundy's horrific killings and the media frenzy surrounding his case. While standing trial, Bundy saw numerous women profess their love for him and he even married Carole Ann Boone, who testified on his behalf. The life of Bundy who was known for his charm and good looks still remains a fascination in pop culture, with long-lost photos of the killer making headlines in April 2017. Conversations with a Killer will also look at how Bundy received attention from women admirers. The Netflix original is set to air on January 25. True crime is a big draw for viewers. The streaming service series Making a Murderer: Part 2 was its second most binge-watched show in 2018. A mother and five other adults, who all lived together, were arrested for systematically beating and throwing scalding water on a three-year-old boy as punishment. The boy's mother, Natacha Smith, 43, of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child after the boy's alleged abuse was reported by his public preschool, authorities said Wednesday. Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, and Homer Searcy, aka Omar Searcy, 39 who all lived in the same home as Smith were also arrested and face the same charges. Natacha Smith, 43, and boyfriend, Homer Searcy, aka Omar Searcy, 39, were among the six arrested and charged for allegedly abusing Smith's three-year-old son Mary Buchan, 55 (left), and her sister, Patricia Gamarra, 62, were also arrested and charged with the abuse of the child. The Buchans lived in the home before Smith and Searcy moved in Prosecutors said the six adults used a belt and their fists in the 'systematic and coordinated beating' of the boy and that they also punished him by pouring scalding water on him, according to NJ.com. Police said that the preschool's nurse discovered burns and blisters on the boy's legs, leading to the school notifying authorities about the alleged abuse, NBC New York reported. The boy was also said to have had bruises on his stomach, back and face. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and has since been released to child protective services custody, police said. Mary's daughters, Patricia Buchan, 28 (left), and Bridget Buchan, 23, were also arrested The apartment building where the alleged abuse took place. All six adults lived in a three-bedroom unit in the building, alongside five other children Five other children were said to have lived in the same apartment, all of who are now in child protective services custody as well. It's unclear who the parents of these children are. Neighbors told WPIX that they didn't notice any excessive traffic in and out of the home. It's speculated that that could imply that there was drug activity. Smith was said to have been staying with her boyfriend, Searcy, in the three-bedroom apartment in which the Buchans already lived. Mary Buchan is the mother of Patricia Buchan and Bridget Buchan. Gomarra is Buchan's sister. Searcy, who is not the boy's father, was already in custody on an unrelated issue when he was charged for abusing the boy. The body of a newborn baby was recovered from a Dublin beach earlier today. Gardai have sealed of the beach in Balbriggan, north county Dublin after the discovery of the body at 10am. Officers have said they are incredibly concerned about the safety of the infant's mother and ask her to come forward. Gardai have sealed off a beach in Balbriggan, north county Dublin after the body of a newborn infant was recovered at 10am. Officers are concerned about the safety of the baby's mother The baby's body was found in a beach in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, file photograph Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Gardai in Balbriggan on 01 802 0510. Garda forensic officers are completing a full technical examination of the scene. Local Fine Gael Councillor Tom O'Leary told the Irish Independent that he hopes the woman comes forward for urgently-needed medical attention. He said: 'Maybe she is under a lot of pressure, we dont know the circumstances and the matter is very delicate. 'Maybe her family and friends are aware of her situation and they could assist her in coming forward. She needs to talk to somebody. 'God almighty. We dont know the circumstances but to think of anyone that might have had to go through that alone and also in those terrible weather conditions, alone on a beach.' Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke will be leaving the administration by the end of the year, President Donald Trump has confirmed. Trump tweeted on Saturday that Zinke 'accomplished much during his tenure' and that a replacement would be announced next week. The Cabinet post requires Senate confirmation. The President's tweets continued an hour later the subject of the press, with Trump writing: 'Never in the history of our Country has the 'press' been more dishonest than it is today. Stories that should be good, are bad. Stories that should be bad, are horrible. Many stories, like with the REAL story on Russia, Clinton & the DNC, seldom get reported. Too bad!' Zinke is facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity and potential conflicts of interest. His departure is just the latest shakeup in Trump's cabinet since the midterms, following the removal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke will be leaving the administration by the end of the year Zinke, a former Republican congressman from Montana, is leaving weeks before Democrats take control of the House, a shift in power that promised to intensify probes into his conduct. Zinke played a leading part in Trump's efforts to roll back environmental regulations and promote domestic energy development. Democrats angrily called for his resignation, including one congressman whose op-ed on the subject drew an extraordinary rebuke from Zinke, who accused the Arizona Democrat of drunkenness and using taxpayer money to cover up inappropriate behavior. Zinke sent his tweet after Rep. Raul Grijalva wrote an opinion column, published in USA Today last month, saying that Zinke must resign because of what Grijalva called 'ethical and managerial failings.' 'It's hard for him to think straight from the bottom of the bottle,' Zinke tweeted in response. Trump tweeted on Saturday that Zinke 'accomplished much during his tenure' and that a replacement would be announced next week Zinke continued: 'This is coming from a man who used nearly $50,000 in tax dollars as hush money to cover up his drunken and hostile behavior. He should resign and pay back the taxpayer for the hush money and the tens of thousands of dollars he forced my department to spend investigating unfounded allegations.' The tweet also included the hashtag #TuneInnForMore, a reference to a legendary Washington, D.C., dive bar frequented by Grijalva, who was reportedly inside the bar when he read Zinke's tweet. During his tenure, Zinke increasingly opened up public lands for oil, mineral and gas exploration. His use of expensive flights and other expenditures as secretary of the interior came under scrutiny in September 2017, when if was revealed that he chartered a private jet belonging to an oil industry executive to travel home from an event in Las Vegas. The private jet cost taxpayers $12,375, while commercial flights would have started at around $300. The Interior Department's Office of Inspector General found that the event in Las Vegas, a speech at the NHL Golden Knights, did not appear to be an official government event because Zinke did not discuss the Interior Department or his role as secretary. The OIG referred the case to the Justice Department for investigation. Zinke served as a Navy Seal for 22 years, retiring in 2008 with the rank of commander. He was a congressman for Montana's at-large district from 2015 to 2017. Meghan Markle's sister has taken another swipe at the Duchess of Sussex, hinting the Royal has 'turned her back on her family'. Samantha Markle took a swipe at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Christmas card, which is a photograph of the couple with their backs to the camera watching fireworks from their wedding day. The 53-year-old sister of Meghan was not impressed with the candid photograph. Kensington Palace released this image of Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day, which will be used as their Christmas card photograph She said: 'Interesting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have their backs turned. 'Is this towards the world or just the Ragland and Markle family? It's a bit sad. Face the Christmas spirit.' Prince Harry and Meghan shared the photograph on social media this week, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a family photograph featuring George, Charlotte and Louis. Samantha Markle has launched a series of verbal attacks on her sister since she was not invited to the Royal Wedding earlier this year. Her father Thomas has not seen his daughter since she tied the knot to Prince Harry and was expected to walk her down the aisle, but pulled out due to ill health. Samantha Markle accused people who critised her of 'brown nosing' the Duke and Duchess of Sussedx The only family member of Meghan's to attend her wedding was her mother Doria Raglan, who is reportedly moving to the UK to help her daughter with the birth of her child with Prince Harry in spring 2019. Despite rumours of a rift between the couples, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be joined by Prince William and Kate to celebrate the festive day with the Queen in Norfolk. The news comes amid reports of a significant falling out between Kate and Meghan and a growing strain between the two couples. Samantha Markle (pictured) has taken aim at her sister on a number of occasions since Meghan married Prince Harry Kensington Palace today confirmed the couples would be spending the day at the royal estate but could not confirm where they would spend the remainder of the festive period. Last month rumours began to surface of a growing tension between Kate and Meghan after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were moving out of Kensington Palace to live in Frogmore House in Windsor. There were also reports of a falling out between Meghan and Kate during Princess Charlottes bridesmaid dress fitting before the royal wedding earlier this year. A Lesbian couple are in police custody after the death of a four-month-old boy who was found unconscious and unresponsive in the lobby of a New York City hotel. Dominic Greene, of Wilmington, Delaware, was taken to the hospital by ambulance from the Hotel Pennsylvania in midtown Manhattan around 1.10am Saturday. Police said a hotel employee called 911 after noticing that Dominic wasn't moving while the women were trying to book a room. Four month old Dominic Greene, of Delaware, was declared dead after having been found unresponsive in the lobby of Manhattan's Hotel Pennsylvania while with his stepsister, 24 Authorities were called to the hotel where they said they found the boy's stepsister and her fiancee, 26, in an incoherent state. It was reported that the women had heroin on them Dominic was pronounced dead at the hospital. He had no obvious signs of trauma. Police said the women, ages 24 and 26, also from Delaware, were practically incoherent and unsteady on their feet when officers arrived. Sources told the New York Daily News that the women had heroin in their possession when they were seen by a hotel employee. The 24 year old was said to be Dominic's stepsister and the 26 year old is her fiancee, according to the New York Post. Neither woman has been named yet and they have not been charged. It does not appear that Dominic's mother was with him and the two women at the hotel at the time when he was discovered to be unresponsive and it is unclear why the siblings were in the city, CBS New York reported. Dominic's cause of death is expected to be determined by the medical examiner. Authorities told ABC7 that the women would likely be charged with child endangerment, but the charges could changing pending the autopsy results. Dog owners are being warned to avoid feeding their pets mince pies this festive period. The warning, issued by Pride Veterinary Centre in Derby, came after a facility was left treating a Belgian Shepherd for food poisoning earlier this month. While the festive period can be a particularly exciting time for the four-legged animals, owners are being encouraged to keep a watchful eye over their pets. Owner Pauline Warren, from Swadlincote, had to call for advice after the one-year-old Mickey ate the festive desert this month. The one-year-old canine ate the mine pie and was later kept at the vets over the weekend This month, owner Pauline Warren, from Swadlincote, had to call for her vet for advice after one-year-old Mickey ate the festive desert. She told Derbyshire Live: 'I knew mince pies, chocolate and Christmas cake are bad for dogs but I didnt know just how bad mince pies are.' The dog had to spend a weekend at the centre and was fed charcoal so that his stomach would not absorb the chemicals. Debs Smith, Senior Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon, told The Sun: 'There is lots of advice available online about what foods your pets need to avoid this Christmas, but you can always talk to your vet too if you are unsure. According to The Kennel Club some of the food that canine's should refrain from eating are: Chocolate, grapes, raisins, currants, sultanas, blue cheese, alcohol, bones and macadamia nuts 'If you think your pet has eaten something it shouldnt, contact your vet straight away as the sooner toxins are treated, the better.' According to The Kennel Club some of the food that canine's should refrain from eating are: Chocolate, grapes, raisins, currants, sultanas, blue cheese, alcohol, bones and macadamia nuts. An Iranian man has appeared in court accused of buying a knife and chemicals in preparation for a terror attack in the UK. Fatah Mohammed Abdullah, from Arthur's Hill in Newcastle, was accompanied by three police officers in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Saturday. The 33-year-old is alleged to have bought a knife, balaclava and 'explosive pre-cursors' including chemicals, more than 8,000 matches and a number of fuses. He is also alleged to have searched online for components, including a pressure cooker, to make an explosive. An Iranian man has appeared in court accused of preparing a terror attack, after an SAS raid in Newcastle on Tuesday (pictured) led to his arrest Adbullah, who represented himself, wore a grey tracksuit, sported dark stubble and sat with his hands clasped behind his neck for most of the hearing. He faces one count of engaging, between April 9 and December 11, in the preparation of an act of terrorism, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Asked if there was anything he wanted to say Abdullah replied: 'I just want to go home.' The defendant was arrested in Newcastle on Tuesday during an intelligence-led operation planned as part of an ongoing investigation by the counter-terror unit. The court heard Adbullah came to the UK from Iran in 2005 and was granted leave to remain in 2010. District Judge Kwame Inyundo remanded Abdullah in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on January 14. A dog needed emergency surgery to remove a large section of its abdomen after it gobbled up a pine cone from its owner's Christmas decoration. Two-year-old Springer Spaniel Moscow was rushed to the vets after its owners found their beloved pooch collapsed at home. Vets discovered a large 'foreign body' was lodged in the dog's intestines and were stunned when it turned out to be a pine cone from a festive display. Moscow with veterinary nurse Oliva Crowther after surgery, the young spaniel remained in critical care for the next 48 hours Moscow swallowed the decoration which had been put up at its owner's home in Wakefield, West Yorks., last Wednesday. Vetinary surgeon Ben Lord, who operated on Moscow at Calder Vets in nearby Dewsbury, said: 'Moscow was first examined by my colleague Rachael McGregor at our branch surgery in Wakefield. 'He was vomiting, lethargic and off his food and Rachel could feel a firm mass in his abdomen, consistent with a foreign body in the intestines. Rotting cone was lodged in the Springer Spaniel's intestines, 50cm of which needed removed 'He was immediately sent to us in Dewsbury where we took some blood for analysis and started him on a drip and administered pain relief and pre-operative antibiotics. 'I performed exploratory abdominal surgery, and we found a pine cone was stuck in Moscow's small intestine. 'However, as it had been there for many days, the intestines in the region had turned black and were no longer healthy or viable, so I had to remove about 50cm of them and then stitch the healthy intestines together. The scale of the surgery, the damage and infection caused by the cone, and the risk of developing peritonitis, meant the young spaniel remained in critical care 'Moscow was still a critical case given the extent of the damage to his intestines, the surgery itself given how ill he was on presentation and the high risk of developing peritonitis. 'Because of this, he was closely monitored by the team who kept him on IV fluids, antibiotics and lots of pain relief for the next 48 hours. 'Thankfully he gradually improved, started eating again and made a full recovery. 'But this case shows why we are always advising dog owners about the dangers of their pets swallowing cones, stones, bulbs and all sorts of foreign objects. 'The case was a timely reminder to dog owners of the dangers of swallowing foreign objects especially at Christmas, when pine cones are popular festive decorations.' Video has emerged showing incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney trashing Donald Trump as a 'terrible human being' during the 2016 election. The video, which surfaced on Friday just hours after Trump named Mulvaney to fill the post that will be vacated by John Kelly, shows Mulvaney at a public forum days before the election. Then a Republican Congressman, Mulvaney was running for re-election to South Carolinas 5th District when he and his Democrat challenger made their last-minute appeals to voters at the forum. 'Do I like Donald Trump? No,' says Mulvaney in the video, which was first reported by the Daily Beast. 'Is he a role model for my sons? Absolutely not.' Mulvaney went on to say that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was even worse, both personality and policy-wise, and that he was throwing his support behind Trump's candidacy despite the Republican's shortcomings. 'Yes, I'm supporting Donald Trump. I'm doing so as enthusiastically as I can given the fact that I think hes a terrible human being,' Mulvaney said. Video has emerged showing incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney (seen in January) trashing Donald Trump as a 'terrible human being' during the 2016 election Mulvaney's remarks were reported at the time by local newspaper The State, but the video did not surface online until Friday. He went on to win his re-election handily, but resigned to become Trump's director of the Office of Management and Budget. Trump said Friday in tweets that Mulvaney will lead the West Wing until he can find a permanent replacement for Kelly. A senior official indicated that Mulvaney's tenure will be indefinite, however, telling reporters at the White House minutes after the announcement, 'Theres no time limit.' Just that morning, the White House was claiming that Kelly could stay longer than planned, having already agreed to extend his tenure longer than Trump initially said to ensure a smooth transition. Trump said in an early evening tweet that he had changed his mind and Kelly would be departing at the end of the year. 'I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration,' he announced. Hours later he sent a follow-up tweet insisting 'MANY' people wanted the job. President Donald Trump says his Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney will lead the West Wing until he can find a permanent replacement for John Kelly Trump effectively let Kelly off the hook on Friday, saying in a tweet that Mulvaney would serve as 'acting chief of staff' once the retired general leaves the administration Hours after naming Mulvaney, the president tweeted that 'MANY' people wanted the job Mulvaney has a lot on his plate as Office of Management and Budget head. A White House official said Friday that his job at OMB will be filled by his deputy Russ Vought Mulvaney is seen here chatting up Mark Meadows, a Republican congressman that Trump denied the job this week In naming Mulvaney, the president went on to say, 'I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service!' Mulvany still heads the Office of Management and Budget, OMB, within the White House and earlier this year wore two hats as he filled the top job at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. OMB would oversee a partial government shutdown in the case that Congress and the president are unable to resolve their differences ahead of a Dec. 21 deadline to pass legislation to pull unfunded areas of the government out of limbo. Trump was said on Friday to be shopping a two-week delay in hostilities after declaring on Tuesday that he would 'absolutely' preside over a shutdown until Congress approves $5 billion for his border wall. That would push the fight that could furlough federal workers over the Christmas holiday into early next year. Trump will have lost much of his leverage by then, as Democrats take the majority in the House, but as he made clear in a Thursday tweet, he now sees the value of avoiding an expensive and potentially toxic government closure. 'Lets not do a shutdown, Democrats do whats right for the American people!' Trump had tweeted. His appointment of Mulvaney to Kelly's post on Friday evening suggests that Trump, whose White House is already stretched thin, is seriously considering his options. A senior official told reporters on Friday evening that the OMB job will be filled for now by Mulvaney's deputy Russ Vought. The White House has since clarified that Mulvaney will remain OMB head and Vought will merely manage the day-to-day operations of the budget office. The official who briefed press on Friday stressed Mulvaney's credentials for chief of staff as a former Member of Congress, who served from 2011 until the president appointed him OMB head. 'He knows Congress. He knows Capitol Hill,' the official said. Mulvaney and Trump met at the White House on Thursday afternoon prior to the announcement to discuss the impending fiscal cliff. Trump said in a tweet hours later that Mulvaney would be his interim chief of staff. Hours prior to the president's announcement that Kelly would be succeeded by Mick Mulvaney, the White House said Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner was not under consideration. Kushner is Ivanka Trump's husband and a senior adviser to the president like she is Trump promoted the job as a temporary assignment, but White House officials signaled that Mulvaney could fill the position for an extended period of time. 'Hes the acting chief of staff, which means hes the chief of staff,' a senior official who requested anonymity said. 'He got picked because the president liked him they get along.' The person said that Mulvaney was named 'acting' chief instead of permanent chief, 'because thats what the president wants.' 'Well see,' a second official said of the appointment. 'Its what the president wants right now.' Prior to holding federal office, Mulvaney served as a state representative and state senator in South Carolina. Before that, he practiced law and worked for his family real estate business. Mulvaney and his wife Pamela have three children. In Congress, he was known as a fiscal-hawk and social conservative who ran with the right-wing Freedom Caucus and was willing to shut the government down to trim down the federal deficit. Since joining the Trump administration he has taken flack for claiming that there is such a thing as a 'good shutdown' that could permanently fix the appropriations process. He has also been dogged by a claim that he says was meant to be a joke that he would only meet with lobbyists as a congressman who'd contributed to his campaigns. Chris Christie became the latest contender for chief of staff to take himself out of the running on Friday, saying in a statement that it is an honor to have been considered, but it's not the right time in his life for the assignment Mulvaney was the obvious choice for acting White House chief of staff after having been one of two rumored picks for the position for close to six months. The other contender, Nick Ayers, turned the job down last weekend. Chris Christie also took himself out of the running, saying in a Friday afternoon statement that it is an honor to have been considered, but it's not the right time in his life for the assignment. He told the New York Times that he had asked Trump 'to no longer keep me in considerations for this post' following a meeting on Thursday to discuss the position. Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway meanwhile confirmed that Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner was not under consideration. 'I haven't heard either Jared or the president mention Jared on the list,' she asserted. 'But I think he's doing a great job at what he's doing.' Asked whether the president spoke to Christie and what exactly happened she said: 'I do know the answer, but I can't comment. They had a great meeting last night.' She smiled and said nothing as DailyMail.com asked if she is interested in doing the job that no one else seems to want. Kushner's potential candidacy emerged shortly after the president claimed he had five candidates who actually want the job fighting it out. 'Five people. Really good ones. Terrific people. Mostly well known, but terrific people,' Trump told reporters on Thursday. The claim was met with skepticism in wider Washington D.C. given that Trump pushed out Kelly without a successor in place and was turned down by his first choice. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly attends a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Governors-elects in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Thursday Trump told the only Republican openly expressing interest in the job that he wants him to stay in Congress this week. A White House statement on Wednesday said that Trump ruled out North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows for the top White House position. 'Congressman Mark Meadows is a great friend to President Trump and is doing an incredible job in Congress. The President told him we need him in Congress so he can continue the great work he is doing there,' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. Trump's plans were turned upside down when Trump's first pick for the position, Nick Ayes, unexpectedly turned the president's proposition down. The White House subsequently said that Kelly would be staying on until early January 'at least' to the manage the West Wing while the president conducts his search for a replacement. The president claimed Tuesday that more than 10 people were competing for the chief of staff job but none appeared to be in the lead and it was unclear how much any of them actually wants to do it. 'We are in no rush. Over a period of a week or two or maybe less we'll announce who it's going to be, but we have a lot of people who want the position,' Trump said in a Oval Office meeting with Democratic leaders on Tuesday morning that Kelly attended. He said, 'A lot of friends of mine want it. A lot of people that Chuck and Nancy know very well want it, I think people you'd like,' Trump said, talking up the post. 'We have a lot of people that want the job of chief of staff. So we'll be seeing what happens. We're in no rush.' Kellyanne Conway told reporters this week that Kelly will stay on as chief of staff 'at least' through the beginning of the year The reason, Trump said: 'Because we have a wonderful chief of staff right here.' Conway had said during an appearance on 'Fox & Friends' on Tuesday morning just days after the White House said Kelly's tenure was nearly over that he wouldn't be leaving at the end of the year as planned. 'He will stay on the job through January 2nd at least, and I think there were will be a very peaceful and pragmatic transition to the next chief of staff,' Conway said. 'But the president has many people who want to serve here.' Later in the day, the president held a bill signing in the Oval Office that Mulvaney and Meadows were a part of. The two men allegedly competing for the same job who worked closely together in Congress stood side by side as the president talked. By Wednesday afternoon, the White House had announced that Meadows, at least, was out of the running, and on Friday, ex-congressman Mulvaney appeared to be the last candidate standing. Advertisement The terrible wintry conditions soldiers were forced to fight in during the last major German offensive of World War Two have been brought to light thanks to a series of colorised images to mark the 74th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Striking pictures show three gunners prepare to fire a shell on New Year's Eve in 1944 with the inscription 'For Adolph, unhappy new year', American GIs are pictured resting on railway tracks after combat in Duren and two soldiers can be seen inspecting a deserted Panther tank formerly of the Panzer Division Das Reich near Grandmenil, Belgium. Other vivid colour photographs show a US half track cross a temporary bridge over the Ourthe River, members of the US 101st Airborne Division move out of Bastogne and Panzergrenadier-SS Kampfgruppe Hansen in action during clashes in Poteau against Task Force Myers. GIs of the 413th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division 'Timberwolf Division' are pictured resting on railway tracks after combat in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on December 21, 1944. The photo was captured during the Battle of the Bulge 82nd Airborne Div 325th glider regiment soldier with an M1919 browning 30-cal gun in Odrimont, Belgium Panzergrenadier-SS Kampfgruppe Hansen in action during clashes in Poteau against Task Force Myers, 18 December 1944 The original black and white photos were painstakingly colourised by Welsh electrician Royston Leonard ,55, from Cardiff, Wales, with each snap taking between four and five,hours to complete. 'As time goes by I find I am doing more World War Two pictures and giving them a bit of colour helps the younger generation to connect and not just see them as something that happened long ago,' he said. 'In the images I see a world that has gone mad and men and women pulled from their lives to sort out the mess. 'World War Two shows people at their best and at their worst. We must look and learn and not let it happen again.' During the Battle of the Bulge a US Army half track crosses a temporary bridge over the Ourthe River in the war-torn Belgian city of Houffalize in January 1945 99th inf div 535th soldier and his dog in Belgium in pictured here in a moment of calm between the two James Gordon and Private Rainwater inspect a deserted Panther tank formerly of the Panzer Division Das Reich near Grandmenil, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge, at the end of 1944 The Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 25 January 1945) was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg, towards the end of World War II. The furthest west the offensive reached was the village of Foy-Notre-Dame, south east of Dinant, being stopped by the British 21st Army Group on 24 December 1944. The German offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favour. Once that was accomplished, the German dictator Adolf Hitler believed he could fully concentrate on the Soviets on the Eastern Front. After holding a woodland position all night near Wiltz, Luxembourg, against German counter attack, three men of B Co., 101st Engineers, emerge for a rest. 14 January 1945 Members of the US 101st Airborne division move out of Bastogne The Third Reich was not as politically sound as people had originally thought. Physically they were prepared for this battle. The surprise attack caught the Allied forces completely off guard. American forces bore the brunt of the attack and incurred their highest casualties of any operation during the war. The battle also severely depleted Germany's armoured forces, and they were largely unable to replace them. German personnel and, later, Luftwaffe aircraft (in the concluding stages of the engagement) also sustained heavy losses. A 'democratic' private school in Margate has divided opinion in a seaside town becoming popular with well-heeled London exiles. East Kent Sudbury school, set to open its doors in January, will allow students to 'self-determine' their activities, acknowledging they 'could spend all day playing outside'. Pupils will 'self-assess' their goals, with staff regarded not as teachers but as 'friends, facilitators or mentors', and alleged miscreants will have a 'trial' with a jury. Charging fees of up to 9,700 a year depending on parents' income, the school says its model will allow children to 'take responsibility for preparing themselves for their lives as adults'. But critics said the school would create an 'elite community' of people with no interest in improving Margate, the Guardian reported. Margate, pictured, has become a popular destination for hipster London exiles, leading to the nickname of 'Shoreditch-on-Sea', as a new 'democratic' school opens in the town According to the Margate school's website it will function as a 'self-directed democratic learning community' where pupils and staff will be treated equally. Rule-breakers will be punished by a 'judicial committee' in which those 'on trial' will have to plead guilty, not guilty or no contest to the accusations against them before a jury decides their fate. Describing their model, they said: 'We trust students to make their own choices and to learn from those choices. 'Any interest or activity, provided its within the laws of the community, are considered worthy and equal. 'We do not have a hierarchy of subjects with academics at the top, craftsmanship and arts in the middle and play or hobbies at the bottom. 'We recognise that learning can come from any interest and often happens as a by-product rather than as the goal. Kezia Cantwell-Wright, the school's founder, said its model would allow children to 'practise being responsible for the well-being of the whole community 'So yes a child could spend the whole day playing outside, on a computer game, reading, chatting or just about any other activity you can think of.' The school said 'skills such as reading, writing and numeracy that we consider essential for success in the modern world are learnt easily when children are directing their own learning and play precisely because they are essential these skills occur all the time.' The school is managed by the Community Meeting - which includes pupils - where issues such as rules, budget and staff appointments are decided. Its founder Kezia Cantwell-Wright said the model would allow children to 'practise being responsible for the well-being of the whole community'. However, the school has come under fire amid claims it will exacerbate the divide between wealthy and poorer parts of the coastal town. The growing number of migrants from east London has led to Margate being dubbed 'Shoreditch-on-Sea' but it also has many deprived areas. Paul Luxmoore, head of five state schools in the area, said wealthier parents could do more good by becoming governors of existing schools. He said: 'Youre coming down to live in Margate and opting out of any responsibility for the future of Margate by sending your kids to a private school. 'Isnt this an example of Down from Londoners creating an elite community so that they dont have to interact with the community they have chosen to live in?' Mitchell William Adkins, 21, was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison after he attacked students at a Kentucky university with a machete A Cincinnati man charged in a 2017 machete attack on the campus of Kentucky's Transylvania University has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported 21-year-old Mitchell William Adkins apologized for his actions when he was sentenced in the Fayette County Circuit Court on Friday. He has already served 68 days in jail, according to Lex 18. In April 2017, Adkins walked into the Jazzman's Cafe coffee shop at Transylvania University at about 9am, armed with a machete and knives. Witnesses said Adkins, a former student, asked people about their political affiliations; then he attacked. Two female students, who claimed to have been Democrats, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One was treated at the hospital and the other was treated at the scene. Adkins, seen in court Friday, apologized for his actions during his sentencing He allowed a male to walk after after he said he was a Republican. Adkins had a history of complaining about the treatment of conservatives on the college campus and claimed to have dropped out due to 'the constant bullying and lack of friends,' according to a community post he wrote on BuzzFeed in November 2015. In the post, titled 'Discrimination Of Conservatives In Liberal Arts,' he wrote that 'I am proud of who I am, but this school has shown me that it's not okay to be a Republican anymore.' Adkins added, 'All of these people who are all about non-discrimination and against bullies and all for equality, are more than happy to turn around and scream at someone for being different, kick him to the ground, and leave him there. Adkins (in an undated picture) was charged after he allegedly grilled university coffee shop patrons about their political affiliations, before attacking them or letting them walk away Two female students who claimed to have been Democrats received non-life-threatening injuries, while one male student who said he was a Republican was allowed to leave 'I am not the bigot at this school, it is those who go back on their beliefs in order to encourage them.' Four months after writing the post, Adkins updated it, stating that he had dropped out of Transylvania due to 'the constant bullying and lack of friends,' which he claimed 'drove me to an overdose, a trip to the hospital, and two trips to a mental hospital. The constant thought of knowing I'd never fit in was too much for me to bear.' Adkins pleaded guilty in November to assault, terroristic threatening and menacing. He will be eligible for parole after serving 20 percent of his sentence. President Donald Trump has bashed one of the loudest neoconservative 'Never Trumpers', Bill Kristol, seizing on news that Kristol's anti-Trump Weekly Standard magazine is folding. 'The pathetic and dishonest Weekly Standard, run by failed prognosticator Bill Kristol (who, like many others, never had a clue), is flat broke and out of business. Too bad. May it rest in peace!' Trump tweeted on Saturday morning. It follows an announcement on Friday that the Weekly Standard, which Kristol co-founded in 1995, will be ceasing publication. Kristol, an avid Twitter user, responded to Trump's tweet simply: '@ me next time'. Neoconservative 'Never Trumper' Bill Kristol (above) co-founded the Weekly Standard in 1995. On Friday the magazine announced that it is ceasing publication In April 2016, Kristol's Weekly Standard called the prospect of a Trump presidency 'unthinkable'. The neocon magazine perpetually attacked Trump on foreign policy Trump's attack on Kristol came amid multiple tweets trashing his critics in the press. 'Never in the history of our Country has the press been more dishonest than it is today,' he tweeted earlier in the day. 'Stories that should be good, are bad. Stories that should be bad, are horrible. Many stories, like with the REAL story on Russia, Clinton & the DNC, seldom get reported. Too bad!' A later tweet referring to fired FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was lead investigator for Robert Mueller, read: 'Wow, 19,000 Texts between Lisa Page and her lover, Peter S of the FBI, in charge of the Russia Hoax, were just reported as being wiped clean and gone. Such a big story that will never be covered by the Fake News. Witch Hunt!' Weekly Standard parent firm Clarity Media, led by billionaire Philip Anschutz, said on Friday the magazine's last edition would be December 17. Clarity chief executive Ryan McKibben said the news magazine 'has been hampered by many of the same challenges that countless other magazines and newspapers across the country have been wrestling with,' and had seen double-digit declines in circulation in recent years. Trump, seen on Wednesday, called Kristol a 'failed prognosticator' and celebrated the downfall of Kristol's neocon magazine. It came amid several tweets bashing Trump's media critics 'For more than 20 years The Weekly Standard has provided a valued and important perspective on political, literary and cultural issues of the day,' said McKibben. 'The magazine has been home to some of the industry's most dedicated and talented staff and I thank them for their hard work and contributions, not just to the publication, but the field of journalism.' The magazine was founded by writers Kristol and Fred Barnes, who remain a part of the editorial team. Kristol tweeted on Friday: 'All good things come to an end. And so, after 23 years, does The Weekly Standard... We worked hard to put out a quality magazine, and we had a good time doing so. And we have much more to do.' The magazine strongly supported the policies of president George W. Bush during his two terms in office, but has opposed Trump, notably on issues of tariffs and trade. A recent editorial harshly criticized Trump as well as the Republicans who have gone along with the president in the face of an investigation linking him to potential criminal acts. 'It is a commonplace, in the Trump era, to say that the old criteria of decency and honor no longer appear to apply,' the magazine said in its December 10 editorial. 'The president's mendacity is so aggressive, his malfeasance so common, that his everyday behavior no longer surprises and these days rarely elicits condemnation from other Republicans.' Founded under News Corp, The Weekly Standard was acquired in 2009 by Clarity, which also owns the Washington Examiner, Colorado Springs Gazette and Colorado Politics magazine. Scientists are a step closer to creating a bionic eye which could help millions of blind people to see using a microchip implanted in the retina and a pair of glasses. A team at the University of New South Wales in Sydney are also hoping to start human trials next year and plan to test the device in a dozen patients by 2020. The Phoenix99 bionic vision system consists of a camera, attached to glasses, which transmits high-frequency signals to a microchip implanted in the retina. Scroll down for video The Phoenix99 bionic eye device links a camera attached to a pair of glasses to a microchip implanted in the retina and was developed in Sydney, Australia The dotted image on the scientist's computer screen shows what a person might see when using a bionic eye Electrodes on the chip convert these signals into electrical impulses to stimulate cells in the retina that connect to the optic nerve. These impulses are then passed along the optic nerve and are interpreted as an image in the brain. In an explainer video of the high-tech device scientist Nigel Lovell said: 'The image that is presented is by no means perfect, but it allows a degree of independence. 'It will be able to restore some form of vision to tens of thousands of people in Australia and millions throughout the world. It's a very exciting device.' Biomedical engineering professor Gregg Suaning added: 'We hope it will allow people with vision loss to identifying if a person, doorway or window is nearby. 'We aim to offer new hope with the introduction of the Phoenix99 bionic eye system.' The two by four millimeter chip is mounted onto a tiny carrier which is then implanted A map of the tiny neuro-simulator chip, which is only two by four millimetres in size, shows the complexities of the device, which contains close to a million wires. Proffesor Lovell said the map took 'three or so PhD students six months of their lives to do. 'There's about a million wires there and is one of the most complex neuro-stimulation chips ever designed.' He added: 'It's an enormous task but we've been doing it for ten years and we believe we have the most advanced electronics technology that is in use today around the world.' Surgery to have the device implanted is estimated to take two to three hours, reports Science Alert. The black chip (left in a square carrier package) is turned upside down and put on the smaller carrier (right) when it is put in the retina of the eye A map of what's contained in the neuro-stimulator chip shows almost a million wires Australian Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair recently visited the Sydney labs to meet the scientists working on the exciting project. He said: 'The idea of bionics first leapt into the public imagination with the 1970s science fiction action television series the Six Million Dollar Man. 'But Professor Gregg Suaning and his team at the University of Sydney are helping bring it to reality after developing microchip technology to give a sense of vision for those who have lost theirs. 'This is fantastic NSW innovation with potential to change the lives of millions of people who are losing sight from conditions like retinitis pigmentosa or macular degeneration.' Scientists have been testing and working on the device, which uses a camera attached to glasses, for ten years Lovell and Suaning's research helped to form Bionic Vision Australia, which operated between 2009 and 2016. By 2012 the research team had implanted their first partially implanted prototype into three patients with retinitis pigmentosa and allowed them to see spots of light. The professors then joined forces with a team of surgical experts and began work that in 2015 became the UNSW Phoenix99 bionic eye system. Now three years on Professor Suaning said the team was preparing an application for ethics approval in the hope of conducting a first-in-human trial next year, reports UNSW engineering. A yacht washed ashore on a beach in South Africa with a dead man onboard - with police saying it may have been sailing for three days with nobody at the helm. Tourists and locals worked together to get a line out to the yacht and pull it onto the beach in the coastal town of Southboom, KwaZulu-Natal, before clambering on board to find the decomposing body of the sailor slumped below deck. South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala revealed that the dead sailor was a 69-year-old French citizen after finding his passport stowed on board. Tourists and locals worked together to pull the yacht to shore after they spotted it drifting near the beach in South African coastal town Southboom As rumours of pirates and murder on the high seas swept through the town, detectives mounted an investigation - but now suspect natural causes. The elderly Frenchman was sailing the Papua New Guinea registered yacht named Cherch ou L.S. 600 miles from Port Elizabeth to Durban and washed ashore with less than 100 miles to port. Tourist Greg Marshall, 44, who was on the beach when the boat was spotted being battered by the surf close to shore said: 'People were shouting to the yacht but they got no reply. 'It had shades of the Mary Celeste with a boat sailing the seas with nobody apparently on board and people were talking about pirates or the sailors on board having been killed. 'Everyone was enlisted to help the coastguard and police who got a line aboard the yacht to pull it into shore and ground the yacht so that somebody could go on board to check it out. 'Then we heard that there was a body on board and it got even more spooky' he said. Captain Gwala said: 'A yacht washed up at Southbroom beach at about 6.30am and upon investigation the decomposed body of a 69-year-old man from France was discovered. The decomposing body of a 69-year-old French sailor was found after the yacht was pulled onto the beach 'The log revealed he was sailing from Port Elizabeth and could have been sailing 3 days'. National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon in a statement said its Port Edward duty crew were activated after reports of the vessel washing ashore at about 06:30am. Police at the scene confirmed the body of a man was found on the yacht and Captain Gwala said the corpse had already started decomposing and could have been on board 3 days. Initially, a murder investigation was opened but police have confirmed they are now treating the death as natural Mr Lambinon said the remains had been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services for a post mortem but could not comment on reports the sailor suffered a heart attack. An inquest docket has been opened. He said: 'The NSRI, police and emergency services secured the yacht which was hard aground and it is being assessed by the South African Maritime Safety Authority and salvors. 'When it has been assessed and secured it will be removed to a secure holding site'. Police are withholding releasing the name of the sailor until next of kin have been informed. Police hunting for missing mom Kelsey Berreth insist her fiance poses no risk to their daughter despite cops searching his property with diggers and K9 search dogs. Kelsey Berreth, a 29-year-old flight instructor from Woodland Park, Colorado went missing on November 22. Her fiance Patrick Frazee was was the last known person to see Berreth before she went missing when she dropped their young daughter Kelsey at his 35 acre ranch in Florissant. Police hunting for missing mom Kelsey Berreth insist her fiance poses no risk to their daughter despite cops searching his property with diggers and K9 search dogs Frazee seen in public for the first time with his daughter leaving his attorney's office last week Meanwhile police continued to search Frazee's property for the second days in the hope of finding information that could lead to her whereabouts. In a statement today, WPPD said they have no evidence that the couple's daughter is at risk while she remain's in her father's care. 'The Woodland Park Police Department has been in contact with the Teller County Department of Human Services in regards to Kaylees custody as recently as yesterday morning. 'At this time the Department of Human Services does not have evidence that Kaylees safety is at risk while in Patrick Frazees custody. 'The Woodland Park Police Department is still working on establishing a reward for information leading to the location or safe return of Kelsey Berreth. 'We still have not found Kelsey and continue to search for her'. They did not give any information about the search of Frazee's house, but said that the investigative team continues to conduct interviews and other casework in the effort to locate Kelsey. Details about what the search would cover on Saturday were not released, but Chief Miles J. De Young said the case 'is the number one priority for the Woodland Park Police Department'. Police have not ruled him out as a suspect , saying they are 'considering every possibility'. Chief De Young said on Friday: 'There have been numerous questions about whether Patrick is a suspect or a person of interest, at this point we are considering every possibility and I'm not willing to jump to conclusions or label people involved in this highly complex investigation.' He added: 'He is communicating with us through his attorney and that's about all I can say.' He claimed Frazee, 32, is yet to sit down with detectives probing Kelsey's disappearance despite his lawyer telling the media he had been co-operating. Berreth, a 29-year-old flight instructor, has been missing since November 22 On November 25, Berreth's cellphone signal was recorded in Gooding, Idaho, some 700 miles from where she vanished At the ranch Friday Frazee was driven away in a blacked out sheriff's department SUV with Kaylee in his arms - but was not arrested and did not answer officer's questions. He used the conference to ask Frazee to sit down and talk to investigators 23 days after her disappearance. The chief said they wanted to ask Frazee if he traveled at all in the days after Kelsey was last seen. And asked why it took 12 days for them to search Frazee's home, he said: 'Thats a very good question why did it take so long to search the home, there are a number of other things that we have done up to this point that have led to us being able to search the residence at this point.' The police chief also revealed Frazee has not yet allowed Kelsey's mother - the grandmother of their one year old baby Kaylee - to see the child since her disappearance. On Monday police released footage of Berreth entering a Safeway in Woodland Park with her baby on November 22, which is the last visual confirmation police currently have of her He said: 'Good question, no the grandmother has not seen her baby, her granddaughter at this time.' Asked if it was wise to leave the baby with Frazee when they don't know if he was involved in her mum's disappearance, he said they did 'see Kelsey's daughter last week, yes we are looking into that', adding: 'I have no information at this time that I need to take that child away at this point.' Kelsey was last seen on surveillance footage with her one-year-old entering a Safeway store in Woodland Park around 12.30 pm on Thanksgiving Day On November 25, co-workers got a text message from Berreth's phone saying she would not be coming to work the following week. Frazee told police he received a similar message. That same day, Berreth's cellphone signal was recorded in Gooding, Idaho, some 700 miles from where she vanished. Police from Teller County Sheriff's Office (pictured) talk at a sealed off area of Patrick Frazee's ranch Law enforcement agencies moved in Friday with digging equipment and a K9 dog search team in the hope of finding Kelsey Berreth It was not until December 2, however, that police searched Berreth's home after her mother reported her missing. Frazee had never contacted police. It remains unclear when Berreth, who is a flight instructor, was meant to collect her daughter from Frazee's home or what the text he received from her said. Police are yet to officially rule her disappearance suspicious and said they have no evidence to indicate anything other than she is a missing person. When they searched Kelsey's home, they found cold cinnamon rolls which had been left out, presumably to cool. The only thing missing was her purse. 'She's not the kind that runs off. This is completely out of character. She's reliable, considerate and honest,' Cheryl, Kelsey's mother, said at the press conference on Monday. Footage emerged on Friday morning of an FBI team arriving at Frazee's property to search for information which could lead to the mother-of-one being found. Deputies arrived and cut the lock on the gate that leads onto Frazee's property, according to ABC News Correspondent Clayton Sandell. Kelsey's mother Cheryl Berreth (pictured) said her disappearance is highly out of character On Thursday the Woodland Park, Colorado community held a candlelit vigil for missing mother Kelsey Berreth who was last seen grocery shopping with her baby Frazee was present when they arrived and later left the house with his daughter in the back of a sheriff's vehicle, according to ABC News. Several law enforcement vehicles - including a K9 search dog unit and an FBI pick up with a wheelbarrow in the back- were seen driving up the dirt road towards the farm where Frazee keeps cattle and horses. Asked if police gave digging equipment on the farm for the search, he added: 'I'm sure they do, what we're looking for is any evidence at all, whether it's above ground or below ground. 'It's a county search and rescue team but they are going to be run by the FBI's evidence recovery team. 'Cadaver dogs, item dogs any item laying out there that could be of value'. Frazee's attorney Jeremy Loew said that he is cooperating with law enforcement. In addition to the FBI, local police, officials with Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Teller County Sheriff's Office were also at the scene. Ted Kennedy's dream of one day becoming president continued even after the Chappaquiddick scandal. This is the focus of the new episode of Scandalous airing this Sunday on Fox News, which takes a look at how the then-sitting president Richard Nixon used the tragedy to killed Kennedy's aspirations for a spot in the Oval Office. 'The Nixon White House was obviously very interested in this case because it had always been assumed that Teddy would be running against Richard Nixon when he sought reelection in 1972,' explains Boston herald columnist Howie Carr in an exclusive clip from the episode. Thomas Whalen, the Associate Professor of Social Services at Boston University then points out how documents and recordings that are now in the public record show how Nixon and his team plotted to bring Kennedy down following the crash. Kennedy had escaped unscathed, while his passenger, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne, lost her life. 'They saw this as kind of a silver bullet to end Ted Kennedys political career forever,' says Whalen of the Nixon administration. Scroll down for video At odds: Richard Nixon used the Chappaquiddick scandal to kill Ted Kennedy's plans to possibly challenge him in the 1972 election (Nixon and Kennedy above in August 1969, just weeks after the Chappaquiddick scandal ) Low blow: In a memo from one administration member, the victim herself is accused of possibly committing an 'immoral act' that could have impacted her afterlife Nixon was also considering going after the victim, with one file at the time stating that she likely died after performing an 'immoral act.' That memo, from administration member Jack Caufield, went on to state that since Kennedy fled the scene a priest was not able to read the victim her last rites. 'The extreme importance ... needs no explanation here,' reads the memo, hointing that the victim's afterlife might have been impacted by her and Kennedy's actions that night. Nixon's aggressive line was no surprise to those who were familiar with his tactics explains Whalen. 'Nixons reputation for being a pretty tough counter puncher, now if youre going to challenge him for the presidency, everything is on the table here, including what happened in Chappaquiddick,' Whalen points out. Nixon was able to kill Kennedy's plan of a possible run, but not derail his future in the Congress. At the time, Kennedy was the Majority Whip in the Senate, seven years after he won a special election in Massachusetts for the seat vacated by his brother John when he was elected president. He would hold that seat until his death in 2009, and did once attempt a run for president against incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980, a race he lost. Carter then subsequently lost to Ronald Reagan in the general election Kennedy had been the frontrunner due to Carter's abysmal approval rating at the time, which at one point dipped below 20 percent. That lead began to narrow however when the Chappaquiddick scandal was revisited and Kennedy failed to adequately address the tragedy. Kennedy had gone Martha's Vineyard to race in the Edgartown Regatta and on the evening of July 18, 1969, attended a party at a rented house on Chappaquiddick Island. Guests included Kennedy friends and several women, including Kopechne, who had worked on the presidential campaign of his brother Robert F. Kennedy, assassinated a year earlier. Kennedy and Kopechne, 28, left the party together and a short time later their car plunged into Poucha Pond. Kennedy escaped from the submerged vehicle and said he made several futile attempts to rescue Kopechne, who was trapped inside. Kennedy, who died in 2009, later described his failure to report the incident to police for 10 hours as 'indefensible.' Scandalous: Chappaquiddick airs Sunday at 8pm on Fox News. Advertisement Photo of Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, the 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection after waiting an 90 minutes before receiving emergency medical care Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has blamed the actions of a family of a seven-year-old girl who died coming across border into the U.S. for her death. 'This family chose to cross illegally. What happened here was that they were about 90 miles away from where we could process them,' said Nielsen. 'It's heart-wrenching, is what it is. And my heart goes out to the family. All of DHS. You know this is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey. 'We'll continue to look into the situation, but again, I cannot stress enough how dangerous this journey when migrants choose to come here illegally,' she said. A photograph was released on Friday of Jackeline Caal Maquin who died hours after she was arrested with her father at the border. The Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol is refusing to take responsibility for her death. The child died of dehydration two days after being arrested at the border. She stopped breathing on a US government bus and was not taken to hospital for more than an hour later. Nielsen reiterated the government's previous statements on the matter during an interview on Friday, saying it was 'an example of the dangers of this journey.' 'They came in such a large crowd it took our Border Patrol folks a couple times to get them all.' She insisted that she and the other migrants were given 'immediate care' but did not go into further detail. 'The initial screening revealed no evidence of health issues. There is no indication that it was a lack of attention. The questions were asked... there were plenty of opportunities in that period of time for her father to alert agents. 'He had already been asked questions about her health, he knew we were interested in it,' the CBP official said. Asked by DailyMail.com if it was possible the girl was not thoroughly checked over due to the fact there were so few agents and so many migrants to process, the official denied that there was a lack of care. 'Our agents are almost always outnumbered in the middle of the night on the border,' they said. There were no medical staff on the scene when they were first apprehended and the checks carried out boiled down to a visual observation and a list of questions, the officials said. White House Deputy Press Secretary John Hogan Gidley described her death as 'horrific'. Jackeline Caal Maquin died on December 8th a day after being detained on the border with her father. Her death has sparked humanitarian concerns about the US's treatment of illegal migrants in their custody. Above is an illustration of her final hours The child was airlifted from the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station in New Mexico (shown) at 7.45am on December 7 but she had stopped breathing more than an hour earlier while being transported on a bus from the Antelope Wells Port of Entry where agents say she was checked over, showed no signs of illness and had access to food and water GOVERNMENT TIMELINE OF GIRL'S DEATH December 6th, 9.15pm: Jackeline is detained at the Antelope Wells Port of Entry 10pm: She is looked over by border agents who clear her and say she has no signs of ill health December 7th, 4.30am: Jackeline is put on a bus with her father to be taken to the Lordsburg Patrol Station 5am: The child begins vomiting on the bus Agents call ahead to the Lordsburg station and keep driving 6.30am: Jackeline's father tells agents she has stopped breathing 6.45am: EMTs treat Jackeline at the border patrol station 7.45am: She is airlifted to Providence Children's Hospital in El Paso, Texas December 8th: Jackeline Dies in the early morning after a CT scan revealed brain swelling, liver failure, dehydration, and septic shock Advertisement 'It's a horrific, tragic situation. Obviously, our hearts go out to the family and to anyone who's suffered any type of danger and peril that they see so often when they make that trek up from the southern border. It's a horrific situation. 'There's no two ways about it and it's it's a sad time, but it's also senseless. It's a needless death and it's 100 percent preventable. 'If we could just come together and pass some common sense laws to disincentivize people from coming up from the border and encourage them to do it the right way, the legal way, then those types of deaths, those types of assaults, those types of rapes, the child smuggling, the human trafficking that would all come to an end. 'And we hope Democrats join the president.' When contacted by DailyMail.com on Friday, agents simply said that they were 'unable to stop this tragedy.' 'There wasn't a whole lot for them to do. Really, in that part of the border, there is no faster means to get her to where she needs medical treatment,' the official said. 'As we have always said, traveling north illegally is extremely dangerous. Drug cartels, human smugglers and the elements pose deadly risks to anyone who comes across the border illegally. 'Border Patrol always takes care of individuals in their custody and does everything in their power to keep them safe. Every year the Border Patrol saves hundreds of people who are overcome by the elements between our ports of entry. 'Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and the best efforts of the medical team treating the child, we were unable to stop this tragedy from occurring. Migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have been heading northward by the tens of thousands for the past three years with more than 280 having lost their lives, main through heat exhaustion 'Once again, we are begging parents to not put themselves or their children at risk attempting to enter illegally. Please present yourselves at a port of entry and seek to enter legally and safely,' a spokesman said. Maquin's death is one of more than 280 migrant deaths recorded by border officials in 2018 according to ABC News. 50 deaths this year were marked as 'water-related' - presumably people having drowned trying to cross sections of the border marked by rivers. 27 deaths were skeletal remains which were discovered by American authorities. Heat exhaustion was the largest cause in the 281 deaths which were logged until September 30. A further 32 people have died since that time with four, so far, in December. 117 migrants were from Mexico. 116 people were 'unknown.' 19 people came from Guatemala, 14 from Honduras and eight from El Salvador. The figures paint a grim picture for the caravans of migrants making their way to the U.S. border. ctivists have called for colonial artefacts in British museums to be sent back They are priceless artefacts from across the globe that have long been carefully preserved at Britains great museums. But now there is a growing campaign by Left-wing activists for items of stolen loot to be returned to their original homes despite the fact that some countries do not want the relics back. Treasures such as the British Museums Elgin Marbles taken from the Parthenon in Athens 200 years ago have long been claimed by Greece, but more objects are being drawn into the row. Taken from Easter Island in 1868, the 1,000-year-old Hoa Hakananaia sacred statue was given to the British Museum by Queen Victoria. Easter Islands governor and the government of Chile now want it back Hundreds of bronzes including this brass plaque of the king and attendants, above, were taken from what is now Nigeria by a British expedition in 1897. The BBCs Civilisations presenter David Olusoga says holding them in British museums is a very clear case of theft Last month, a delegation from Chile demanded the return of a four-ton Easter Island statue held at the British Museum. And last week at the same museum, protesters called for the repatriation of indigenous artefacts to Australia. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron has urged that thousands of French museum exhibits be sent back to Africa prompting Labour Shadow Minister Diane Abbott to insist that the UK should do the same. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has told a Greek newspaper that under his government the Elgin Marbles would be returned to Athens, along with other treasures to their country of origin. The British Museum's Elgin Marbles, ancient Parthenon sculptures brought to Britain by Lord Elgin in the early 19th Century. Jeremy Corbyn has said he would return them from the British Museum to Greece The giant ground sloth was named after Charles Darwin, who discovered the remains of the extinct species in a cave. Now Chiles government is demanding the return from the Natural History Museum of the fossil, held by David Attenborough, above, in 2009 The V&A in London and the Natural History Museum are also facing demands that could empty their shelves. But even in the countries from which artefacts have been taken, there are those who say the treasures are best left in Britain. A caravan of elephants and mules was needed for the British to cart away treasures including this gold crown from Ethiopia after the defeat of Abyssinia at the battle of Maqdala in 1868. Activists claim the V&A display is a criminal endeavour Discovered by Napoleons army but then taken by Britain, this stone slab of text was vital in decoding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Now Egypts government want it for Cairos new Grand Egyptian Museum Last week the mayor of Easter Island said the British Museum is a better home for the disputed statue because his people are struggling to preserve the hundreds of others they have there. And in Nigeria, Iheanyi Onwuegbucha, the curator of the Lagos Centre for Contemporary Art, said: Nigeria is not ready to receive anything. We have rundown, leaking museums and insect-infested storage facilities. Nevertheless, the campaign continues to grow. In a recent TV discussion, writer Afua Hirsch author of the bestseller Brit(ish): On Race, Identity And Belonging said: Isnt it amazing that in 2018 things looted by imperialist Brits are still being shown off in our museums and galleries? Pointing to looted items from Greece, Ghana, Ethiopia and the Solomon Islands, she said: This should not be a subject for debate. Where is the moral dilemma in returning stolen property to its rightful owners? Ligali, a London-based group of revolutionary pan-African activists, has demanded the V&A return the priceless Maqdala treasures that it claims were stolen from Ethiopia by the British in 1868. On the organisations website, its leader, British-Nigerian activist Toyin Agbetu who got within a few feet of the Queen when he gatecrashed a 2007 commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade at Westminster Abbey has accused the V&A and other UK institutions of being involved in a criminal endeavour. Under the heading Decolonise the museums, he wrote: Even if we put the moral issues of theft, racism and gross cultural misappropriation to one side, any institution that continues to exhibit stolen ethnographic items is abusing its audiences by making them enabling participants of a criminal endeavour. Historian David Olusoga, who presented the BBC series Civilisations, has said that the presence of the Benin Bronzes from Nigeria in the British Museum is a very clear case of theft. He has also urged the return of the Elgin Marbles. But Arts Minister Michael Ellis is unconvinced. In a recent TV discussion, writer Afua Hirsch author of the bestseller Brit(ish): On Race, Identity And Belonging said: Isnt it amazing that in 2018 things looted by imperialist Brits are still being shown off in our museums and galleries? He told The Mail on Sunday: I think the UKs museums have made a strong argument that they are the best place for the artefacts. Our national museums do an outstanding job in highlighting individual cultures within a global context and present objects from across the world alongside the stories behind them. Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum, added: The spirit of the British Museum and its statutes and the laws of the country do not provide for the return of these objects. The trustees hold these collections in trust for the public. Its a global audience. Southwest Airlines caused palpitations when it failed to offload a donated heart from a connecting flight, resulting in five hour delays after the second flight was forced to turnaround mid-journey. A courier service delivered the cooler containing the donated heart to California's Sacramento International Airport, where it was then placed in the cargo hold of a departing December 9 Southwest flight heading to Seattle, where a tissue bank was waiting to collect and process the heart valve tissue. When the flight landed in Seattle, however, the heart was accidentally left in the plane, which then took off for Dallas. Scroll down for video A donated heart was placed on a Southwest Airlines from Sacramento, California, to Seattle. But when the plane landed, the heart was left on board while the plane traveled to Dallas The heart was placed in the Southwest plane's cargo bay in a box labeled just like this one The Southwest plane was more than an hour into the second flight when its pilot turned the plane around to return to Seattle to drop off the heart. Passengers aboard the flight were said to have been horrified by the notion that the plane was carrying a heart intended for a transplant patient and, once on the ground again, were later told to deplane due to a supposed mechanical issue, according to the Seattle Times. All told, the heart was delivered to the Seattle LifeNet Health destination within 12 hours well within the 48-hour, post-donor death window necessary for heart tissue preservation and processing. The fact that the heart was being transported so that its valve tissue could be collected for future use, as opposed to a heart transplant patient, was said to have been a relief to some passengers, while others questioned why it was necessary to turn back around for non-critical reasons, as it resulted in a five-hour flight delay. More than an hour into the Dallas flight, the Southwest pilot turned the plane around to return the heart to Seattle. Southwest's logo includes a tri-colored heart It's not immediately clear why the heart wasn't offloaded when the plane initially landed in Seattle. 'It's clearly labeled that this is human tissue for transplant so that the handlers are aware to treat this very carefully,' Deanna Santana with Sierra Donor Services, the organ-procurement company which shipped the heart, told CBS Sacramento. Santana noted that 'Everybody involved is going to evaluate the process' to make sure that this incident won't get repeated. In statement to CBS Sacramento, Southwest Airlines said, 'the shipment was delivered to its destination within the window of allotted time by our cargo customer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and the safe delivery of the precious cargo we transport every day.' The heart valve tissue has not yet been earmarked for a recipient, but it could be used to save three lives in the future. Leaked emails have linked Ivanka Trump to negotiations between the Trump Organization and the presidential inaugural committee, which paid to use the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC. The negotiations, which saw the Trump Organization take a slice of the inaugural's record-busting $107 million in donated funds, took place in mid-December of 2016, a new investigation by WNYC and ProPublica reveals. The revelation comes as federal prosecutors probe the finances of President Donald Trump's inaugural committee and whether foreigners contributed to its events using straw donors. A spokeswoman for the inaugural committee said its finances 'were fully audited internally and independently and are fully accounted. These were funds raised from private individuals and were then spent in accordance with the law and the expectations of the donors.' Leaked emails have linked Ivanka Trump (above) to negotiations between the Trump Organization and the presidential inaugural committee Ivanka Trump's role in the inaugural planning negotiations was previously unknown. At the time, she was an executive vice president at the Trump Organization. After Trump took office, she left the company to serve as a senior advisor in the White House. Prior to Trump's inauguration, massive donations flowed into his inaugural fund, which pays for the events and festivities surrounding the swearing-in ceremony. The $107 million raised was almost double President Obama's 2009 inauguration, which was the most expensive in history at the time. At least some of the money went to the Trump Organization. The newly leaked emails show that Ivanka Trump, the president's eldest daughter, was involved in negotiating the prices Trump International Hotel charged the inauguration. In one email, a top inauguration planner, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, emailed Ivanka Trump and inaugural committee deputy chairman Rick Gates expressing 'concern' that the hotel was overcharging them and worry about public reaction 'when this is audited.' She asked that the price of renting a ballroom and meeting rooms for four days be further lowered from $175,000 per day to $85,000 per day, after hotel proposed a reduction to the $175,000 rate. It's not clear what the original proposed fee or the final agreed price were from the leaked emails. If the Trump Organization were found to have charged the inaugural committee above market rates for the rental, it could trigger heavy fines from the IRS. Peter Mirijanian, a spokesman for Abbe Lowell, Ivanka Trump's ethics lawyers, said the first daughter's role was minimal. 'When contacted by someone working on the inauguration, Ms. Trump passed the inquiry on to a hotel official and said only that any resulting discussions should be at a 'fair market rate,' he said in a statement. 'Ms. Trump was not involved in any additional discussions.' White House spokesman Hogan Gidley was asked by reporters Friday prior to the ProPublica/WNYC report if there were any 'improprieties' with the inauguration funding. 'The president of the United States has one job at the inauguration. It's to show up, to thank everyone for the service to get him elected, and then also dance with the first lady,' Gidley said in response. 'He did all of those things. This charge has nothing to do with the president of the United States, and it has nothing to do with this administration.' The White House did not immediately respond to a subsequent request for comment. Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that prosecutors in New York are investigating whether some of the committee's donors made contributions in exchange for political favors and access to the Trump administration- a potential violation of federal corruption laws. Trump and Ivanka are seen in October. She left the Trump Organization to become a senior advisor in the White House following his inauguration The inquiry, which the newspaper said is in its early stages, is also focused on whether the inauguration committee misspent some of the $107 million it raised to stage events celebrating Trump's inauguration. As well, the New York Times reported that prosecutors are examining whether people from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries made illegal payments to the committee and a pro-Trump super political action committee in a bid to influence American policy. Foreign contributions to inaugural funds and PACs are prohibited under federal law. Both newspapers cited anonymous sources familiar with the inquiry. The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan did not respond to a request for comment Friday. The inaugural committee said it has not been contacted by federal prosecutors and is not aware of any investigations. The committee 'staged a celebration of our democratic processes and did so in full compliance with all applicable laws and disclosure obligations,' it said Friday in a statement. 'The inauguration's accounting was provided both to the Federal Election Commission and the IRS in compliance with all laws and regulations,' it said. 'These were funds raised from private individuals and were then spent in accordance with the law and the expectations of the donors.' It added that the names of donors were given to the election commission and have been public for nearly two years. It said the donors were vetted and no improprieties were found. It comes as Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner faces scrutiny as well, after it was claimed that he was the primary point of contact between Donald Trump and National Enquirer boss David Pecker after the 2016 presidential election. Kushner's role, reported by the Daily Beast, is gaining exposure just as Pecker's participation in a 'catch-and-kill' arrangement to bury negative stories about Trump is being examined as a potential criminal liability for the president. This is the disturbing moment a man produces a knife after approaching two men in a van and unleashing a torrent of abuse. Mobile phone footage shows a man in a black coat approach the vehicle's window, believed to have been parked in Tower Hamlets, east London, and accuse the person in the driver's seat of being on 'wacky backy'. The 'resident' outside the vehicle, who claims to live in Bow, then swears at the two men inside multiple times before pulling out a blade and jabbing it at the window. A knifeman claiming to live in Bow, Tower Hamlets, produced a blade after ranting at a van driver who was parked 'minding his own business' in the east London borough Footage was uploaded to Liveleak and Twitter - with one user claiming the incident took place on Old Bethnal Green Road. The clip begins with the two men inside the van stating they had just been 'sitting here, minding our own business', claiming the man they're filming had told them he was a police officer. The man in the black coat approaches the van and asks: 'Still here?' 'Yeah,' the man in the driver seat says. 'You on drugs mate?' the man outside asks, continually accusing the driver, who appears to be completely sober, of being on illicit substances. The man outside, who said he is a 'resident' of the area, continues: 'You've been on the old wacky backy, ain't you... or cocaine, ain't you?' The 'resident' continues to ask what the man behind the steering wheel is doing in the area, and the van driver accuses him of claiming to be a policeman. 'You said you was a copper,' the driver says. The men inside the van accused the 'resident' of claiming he was a policeman, but he denied this, before saying: 'I believe I'm gonna f***ing hit you one' 'No, I didn't say that,' the 'resident' responds. They continue in a similar manner before the 'resident' says: 'I believe I'm gonna f***ing hit you one... I believe I'm going to f***ing hit you, you c***.' He then begins an extemporaneous rant about how the man in the van was 'just sitting here being an annoyance to people' and 'causing trouble', referencing cases of lorry drivers parking in the area years ago, causing noise. 'And you're that f***ing c*** ain't ya?' the 'resident' says, as the driver politely disagrees. The man outside continues swearing at the driver before thumping his fist on the van's window, pulling out the knife and jabbing it against the glass. 'You want to f***ing put that away,' the driver says before starting up the vehicle and driving off, as the 'resident' kicks the side of the van. 'And Tower Hamlets is f***ing safe, is it?' the cameraman says as the footage comes to an end. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or tweet to @MetCC. Sinister smartphone apps are allowing snoopers to spy on partners phone, monitor their childrens messages or track employees. Apps sold on the Apple and Google Play stores enable eavesdroppers to record other peoples calls, map a targets location and monitor messages on social media. Many can also be used to reveal a targets internet browsing history and even see how much battery life their phone has left. Accessing a computer device without someones permission is an offence under the Police and Justice Act and can carry a two-year prison sentence. But it is clear from user reviews that the apps are often being used for covert surveillance by people who suspect their partner is cheating [File photo] One app, called mSpy, which costs up to 149.99 a year, boasts it is a leading parental control app for smartphones that allows parents to monitor text messages, calls, current GPS location, Snapchat, WhatsApp and much more. It is only in the small print of the apps terms and conditions that it states the person doing the spying must own the device being tracked, or the person being tracked must give their permission. One key feature of the app is that its icon can be hidden away from the phones home screen with the user needing to make a detailed search of the phone to discover it. Accessing a computer device without someones permission is an offence under the Police and Justice Act and can carry a two-year prison sentence. But it is clear from user reviews that the apps are often being used for covert surveillance by people who suspect their partner is cheating. One UK-based reviewer of the mSpy app said last week: I found out my significant other was cheating on me The app was actually able to obtain deleted WhatsApp notes. Another app available on the Google Play store, called Text, Message, Notification, Location Remote Spy, is marketed as the best in discrete [sic] and complete surveillance and costs 20 a month. Apps sold on the Apple and Google Play stores enable eavesdroppers to record other peoples calls, map a targets location and monitor messages on social media. Many can also be used to reveal a targets internet browsing history and even see how much battery life their phone has left [File photo] One reviewer wrote: My girlfriend had been receiving text messages late at night. Was getting very defensive but this app allows me to find out what I need to know. Other apps, including Phone Tracker Spy Phone, enable people to track locations and movements by harvesting a targets GPS data from their smartphone. They are marketed as devices to keep children safe. But domestic-abuse charities have warned that victims are being targeted because of the apps. Leanne Higgins, of Solace Womens Aid charity, said one man recently turned up at a womens refuge after tracking his partners phone. She said: The phone was given to her by him, and he was messaging her saying, I know where you are, I am in the area. She was definitely at risk of harm. Theresa May's approval rating is the highest since she became Prime Minister despite a tough week in office, a new poll has found. Nearly half of electors, 47 per cent, view the Prime Minister as someone who is brave and sticks to her principles, an Opinium Research survey found. It comes after a tough political week in which she faced a vote of no confidence in her leadership and was reportedly called nebulous by Jean-Claude Junker, president of the European Commission. The survey also found that more than half of voters, 53 per cent, disapprove of the way the PM has handled Brexit, compared to 28 per cent who approve. She is pictured here arriving for a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels on Friday Although the sound was switched off, TV cameras caught Mrs May and Mr Juncker exchanging what looked to be heated words on Friday for at least a minute The term, which means vague or ill-defined, led to the two clashing in Brussels on Friday with video footage showing the two engaged in a heated exchange. But her recent difficulties appear to have boosted her popularity with voters and is the highest Mrs May has achieved since becoming PM in 2016. The Tories also cut the Labour lead to one point as the party climbed two points to stand at 38 per cent, while Labour stayed steady on 39 per cent. However, more than half of voters, 53 per cent, disapprove of the way the PM has handled Brexit, compared to 28 per cent who approve. In a bruising week for Mrs May, the PM drew fire for pulling a crunch Commons vote on her Brexit plans, survived a confidence motion bid to oust her among Tory MPs, and was largely rebuffed at an EU summit in Brussels. Mrs May said she had decided to pull the vote because she would have lost if it had gone ahead on Tuesday night. But just the day after she faced a vote of no confidence in her leadership after Sir Graham Brady, chair of the powerful Tory 1922 committee, secured the 48 letters from MPs needed to trigger the process. There were cheers as 1922 committee chairman Graham Brady announced the result in the Commons on Wednesday Theresa May put a brave face on her situation on Wednesday as she reacted to the outcome of the Tory no-confidence ballot She won the ballot that evening, but admitted she had suffered a 'significant' rebellion after being backed by a margin of 200 to 117 in a no-confidence ballot The win staved off what would have been an ignominious end to her time as leader - and means she cannot be challenged by her own party again for 12 months. But with more than a third of Conservative MPs refusing to support her and a civil war raging over Brexit, the outcome still underlines the scale of the problems she faces. She has also been forced to admit that she will not lead the party into the next general election. Desperate to seek concessions over her Brexit deal, she travelled to Brussels the next day for meetings with other EU leaders. On Friday, however, she was seen having 'robust' showdown in full glare of cameras with Jean-Claude Junker as she demanded to know why he had branded her 'nebulous' and 'imprecise' in a late-night press conference. Theresa May (pictured) gestures as she speaks during a press conference on Friday in Brussels on the second day of a European Summit aimed at discussing the Brexit deal, the long-term budget and the single market But as the summit in Brussels drew to a close this evening, Mr Juncker insisted Mrs May is a 'great friend' and the incident was down to a misunderstanding. 'I did not refer to her but to the overall state of the debate in Britain,' he said. 'I was following the debate in the House and I cannot see where the British Parliament is heading at.' The Prime Minister is now desperate to seek further concessions on the Irish border issue, in the hopes it will allow her to get the Brexit deal through parliament. But a third of voters, 33 per cent, think the UK will quit the EU without a Brexit deal in March, according to the Opinium Research. The survey was carried out online and involved 2,016 UK adults on December 13 and 14. The friend of an American student stabbed to death in the Netherlands said she texted him about her roommate's desire to kill just a week before she died. Sarah Papenheim, 21, from Minnesota, died Wednesday afternoon after she was attacked at her apartment in Rotterdam where she had been studying. A 23-year-old Dutch man and Sarah's roommate, Joel Schelling, was arrested after being located at the Eindhoven train station about 60 miles from Rotterdam, shortly after the body of the 21-year-old was discovered. Sarah Papenheim (left) was allegedly killed by her roommate Joel Schelling (right) and had told her he was going to 'kill three people' a week before her death Adam Pryor (right) said Pappenheim had text him expressing concerns about Schelling's behavior Adam Pryor met Papenheim in Minneapolis' music scene and the two quickly became friends. They continued to be close friends after she decided to move to the Netherlands in 2016 to live with her boyfriend Nico Karsemeijer and study music. Pryor told ABC News that Papenheim text her to say he was 'gonna kill 3 people. So I'm gonna have to go to the police.' 'I could tell she wasn't doing right because she was just being weird over text and then I asked her what's wrong and she said she never talks to anyone anymore,' Pryor told Good Morning America. '[She said], 'I work full time and I have school full time and everything is just so f****d up right now. 'My roommate told me is going to kill three people so I'm gonna to have to go to the police'. Pryor said she never gave any indication that she was in danger, or that her roommate was threatening her. Papenheim had been due to return to Minnesota for the holidays and her mother had put the tree up in preparation The apartment complex (pictured) in Rotterdam where Pappenheim lived with Schelling 'After she told me that I thought he got mad at some people. I didn't feel like she was in any danger,' he said. 'I never could've guessed it was her. Just the way she made it seem like, it was some other people he was mad at or something happened. I had trust in her. 'She was very responsible, that she would go to the police and take care of everything. I didn't ever think something like this was going to happen'. Pryor said he is in shock about his friend's murder, calling her 'the best friend anyone could ask for'. He last spoke to Papenheim on Monday and talked about concerts she was planning to go see in Europe, saying she 'was just so excited'. Friends left touching tributes to murdered US student inside the building where she lived. A number of messages were left on the walls expressing their grief over Pappenheim's death Flowers were also left inside the 'De Snor' student accommodation complex where she lived Sarah's mother Donee Odegard arrived in Holland from Minnesota on Saturday to ensure police carried out a full investigation into her death. The anguished mom is demanding to know whether police were alerted to threats that he was 'gonna kill three people'. Odegard said she had been growing increasingly worried about Schelling's 'strange' behavior after conversations with her daughter. She said she told her daughter to get out, but she would say that she was 'his only friend. He would get angry, but I can always talk him down and change his mind.' The grieving mother, whose arm is in a sling after a shoulder injury, said her daughter could 'make friends with anybody.' Donee Odegard told how sheriffs asked her a few questions about her daughter, Sarah Papenheim, who was studying in Rotterdam, before telling her she'd been found stabbed 'Nothing concerned me until the last time I talked to her when she told me this story. 'She said: 'Mommy he did this. He is acting strange'. One student said Schelling, a talented orchestra musician, would cut a curious figure around the student campus as he would march up and down the path with his double bass. He added: 'I saw the picture of his arrest and he was still with his double bass. If he was in his right mind, he would have realised that being on the run with his double bass would have easily marked him out'. A shrine in memory of Papenheim, who traveled to Europe to study psychology and focused on mental health, was set up inside De Snor building where she and Schelling shared an apartment. Under a blue poster which had three pictures of Sarah, one in a love heart, friends said it with flowers as they placed their tributes in the main reception. One message revealed the sadness that her warnings had been ignored. It read: 'Dear Sarah, even though we were neighbors, we hardly knew each other. 'Im so sorry I have not clearly recognized your cry for help. Donee Odegard's son Josh took his own life three years ago aged 21. Sarah Papenheim was studying psychology with an emphasis on suicide 'My heart is broken, but hopefully yours is playing the music you loved in heaven. Another friend wrote: 'Thank you for your beautiful smile Sarah. You will be greatly missed. Rest in peace angel. A third tribute which came with a heart drawn on to it said: Dear Sarah. I didnt know you, but it feels like I did. This is so incredibly sad. 'I hope youre in a better place now. May you rest in peace. Prayers and my deepest condolences for your family'. Sarah had been committed to helping people with mental problems, said to be in the wake of her brother's suicide. She was studying psychology with an emphasis on suicide. The Papenheim family lost their son, Josh, in 2015. He took his own life just days after their mother remarried. 'I've been through this before,' Mrs Odegard told Fox 9. 'I've cried so much my ducts are dry. I am in the angry stage now.' Mrs Odegard praised Sarahs boyfriend, Nico, for the support he'd provided, both emotionally and as a native Dutch speaker. 'He has been a rock for her,' Mrs Odegard said. 'He was there when my son committed suicide; he has been there for her so much. I don't know what would have happened for both of us if he wasn't there. He helped us so much.' Odegard said her daughter had complained about the suspect, who she was friends with, having a bad temper 'I know that everyone says that their daughter or son is the sunshine in everybody's life, but my daughter lights up the world,' she added. The murdered student had been due to return to Minnesota for the holidays and her mother had put the Christmas tree up in preparation. The family wanted to raise $40,000 to help cover expensive travel costs to bring Papenheim home. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the costs of bringing Sarahs body home along with funeral expenses. As of Saturday the account has exceeded $44,000. 'Sarah was a beautiful, vibrant young woman and a talented musician with a smile that could light up a room,' the GoFundMe read. 'She played with some of the best musicians on the scene in the Twin Cities and had many close relationships with them. Her presence is irreplaceable. We love you, drummer girl.' A court has agreed that Schelling be held in custody for 14 days while police try and establish whether Sarah had been sexually attacked before being killed or if her alleged attacker had suffered mental health issues. The suspect and victim were both residents of De Snor, a building that largely housed students studying at Erasmus University. Sarah, who had been studying in Rotterdam since 2016, occupied a studio apartment on the third floor of the building. Schelling, 23, was arrested after being located at the Eindhoven train station about 60 miles from Rotterdam and was believed to have been heading to his family home. His former tutor Ruud van der Meulen, who taught him weekly for eight years, said he was a bright musician, but was short of friends. SHE GOT PROMOTED TO OUR 'PERMANENT REGISTER' THIS IS THE LINE OF THINKING OF YOUR 'FUTURE BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP'. She does NOT value "Black lives". She ONLY cares about RE-RATIONALIZING HER MIND - using a WHITE REFERENCE. I WILL RE-WATCH THIS VIDEO WHENEVER I BELIEVE THAT 'MY LOVED ONES' ARE SAFE FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL MOLESTATION - AS A WEAPON. Black Inferiority / Progressive Nationalism Foreign Colonization Is AMERICAN DOMESTICATION RIZZO IS DEAD IN PHILLY. LONG LIVE FRAUD IN THIS GOD FORSAKEN CITY. America: One Big INTEREST ONLY Loan US Government USED Americanized Blacks' To Achieve Its African Goals Why Did You Hear This Admission About The US/NATO Actual Destructive Goals From 'WHITE TRiUMP', While The "We Are In The White House Negroes' Never Pushed President Obama To Admit That The Coup In Libya North Africa WAS NOT A 'Humanitarian Mission', As 'The Black Commander In Chief' Told The World? What Is The 'American Containerized Black' Tribe GIVING UP In The Name Of PROGRESSIVE DISARMAMENT, Which Will Later Be Used Against Them Toward Their Destruction, That Will Be Called 'Social Justice'? A Major Step In Protecting Black Valuables Investmented We Are Now In The "Or Else WHAT" Stage Slavery In Libya North Africa 2017 6 Years After The "Humanitarian Mission" - Not A Peep From "Black Grievance Studies" Professors Perfect 1.0 'Spiritual Whiteness' Is No Respecter Of Skin Color The "Blackest" Moment In American Jurisprudence A Ninja Got Himself Kilt Last Night Few Colonial Subjects Will Ask "Who Were They Fighting Against Between These Two Historical Points" The Qualifications For Admission Have Increased Street Pirate Adverse Community Experience Creator When The Colonizer Becomes Aware Of The Need To Find A NEGRO CONFIDENCE MAN PARTNER The Revenge Of LBJ After MLK "Stabbed Him In The Back" Over Vietnam #BlackLivesMatter Is NOT A GOVERNANCE Movement It Is ONLY A POLIITCAL OPPORTUNISTIC Movement With Up To 75% Of The Homicide Victims In Philly Being Black This Means That About 126 Black People Murdered In 2015 Have Not Triggered More National Awareness Than The Cherry Picked Small Number Of Inductees In The "Black Civil Rights Homicide Victim Martyr Hall Of Fame" That Is Used As A Reference Of The Status Of Black People With Reference To White Americans "#All Killers Of Black People Are Equal Street Pirates" The "#BlackLivesMatter" Movement Must Prove That It Is More Than The 'Ideologically Bigoted' Analog To "Police Racial Profiling" By Eliminating Its Propensity To 'Walk Past Dead Black Bodies That Don't Fit Their Agenda' On Their Way To The Protest Rally On The Downtown Public Square. The Flag Of A New Colonizer Is Hung At Full Staff Sudan - To-Damned-Day The Manifestation Of Progressive Feminism As A Cultural Replacement Download Video: .mp4 CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK UNIVERSITY Agrees With Her Logic As A Logical Extension Of Her "Progressive Fundamentalist"/'Social Justice' Inference BUT It Is An Assault Upon The 'Functional Culture' That Is Needed For The Black Diaspora To Find Its Purpose From "My Queen" To "My Bitch" In A Few GenerationsCONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK UNIVERSITY Agrees With Her Logic As A Logical Extension Of Her "Progressive Fundamentalist"/'Social Justice' Inference BUT It Is An Assault Upon The 'Functional Culture' That Is Needed For The Black Diaspora To Find Its Purpose THE NINJA WHO GOT HIMSELF KILT YOU ARE A WITNESS TO A REVOLUTION IN "HAMSTERDAMN" Thanks To The Progressives I Can Now Breath Getting Your Ass Whipped In Prison Is Not A Choice. Silence In Public Reaction To It Is Kermit Asks That You Be Consistent A Friend Of "Black Community Development" The Capture Of The Assassination Killer Of Kim Jones Of Philadelphia Should Be Top News Among Those Who Value "Black Lives" Maybe You Are Being "Colonized" Today? The Henry Dee & Charles Moore Martyr Hall Of Fame & Last Chance NIT Tournament "Black Consciousness" Is NOT Proven By A Large Headcount A Black Man Seeing Crying In Philly After A Loss At The Hands Of A Street Pirate A Question Of Personal Values And Community Priorities And Black Media Agenda I Want To Be Allowed To Develop Into Maya Angelou Dr King's Pulpit Then And Now The Americanized Negro Has Known No Rivers Beyond The Urban Water Supply Spigot The Fire Hose As A GPS Coordinate Depicting Black People's Coordinates Upon "The Struggle" If After 20 Years Of Observations I Am On To Them, The Fact That The Media Has Been Echoing Them For 50 Years Without Challenging Them About The DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEAST OF THESE UNDER THEIR CARE - Points To A Conspiracy Converting "Safe Passage" From Municipal Street Sign To A Consciousness Within The People The Embedded Confidence Man's Press Agents Blow Smoke Rings As Circular References The SUPERIORITY Of White People's Thoughts Material Access To Consumer Comforts Is Not Indicative Of A Greater Consciousness Mayor Nutter's Lessons Learned Gen Edmund Pettus C.S.A. - Thanks You He Cracked The Code On Black Progressive Outrage In This House We Still Believe In God!!! Tavis-You Blacks Need To Fire The Negro Generals Who Have Failed & Get New Leadership The Inside Threat That Lurks Outside Of The Window Of Community Consciousness My Faith In Institutions That I Once Trusted To Indoctrinate My Children Will Forever Be Shattered Regulatory Capture The Black Racial Services Machine A Miscalculation On The School Busing Program To Social Justice Full Faith And Confidence Of The Office Of The President Of The United States The First Black Man In World History Who Is Able To Execute The Foreign/ Military / Economic Policy In The Name Of The United States Of America And Not Get Arrested In Doing So Because He Runs The Federal Prison System. His Power Is So Venerated That "The Blacks" Have Even Stopped Protesting Against The Actions Of The US Government Because They Fear That Their Outward Expression Of Discontent Against The Government Might Hurt His Chances At Reelection. The First Black Man In World History Who Is Able To Execute The Foreign/ Military / Economic Policy In The Name Of The United States Of America And Not Get Arrested In Doing So Because He Runs The Federal Prison System. His Power Is So Venerated That "The Blacks" Have Even Stopped Protesting Against The Actions Of The US Government Because They Fear That Their Outward Expression Of Discontent Against The Government Might Hurt His Chances At Reelection. Who Diverted The Community's Eyes Off Of The Prize In Pursuit Of Shortsighted Political Gains? As I Increase The Scope Of My Sample For Observation It Is Becoming Clear To Me That The "Machine Effect" In Metro-Atlanta That Distorts And Disrupts The Development Of Black People Is Not A Geographic Phenomenon But Instead Is Rooted In Lack Of Conscious Awareness Beyond One's On Provincial Interests And, More Importantly, The Absence Of A GOVERNING OVERLAY That Can Push Back Against These Misappropriations Of "The Black Community Development Consciousness" NYOil - Ya'll Should All Get Lynched Why Haven't Those Who Claim To MANAGE Your Community Told You The Dimensions Of The Space? The Rabid "Embedded Black Fox Confidence Man" The Mayor Of Philly Learned What The Korean Merchants Already Know A Black Man Is Not Equal Until He Can Commit A "Civil Rights Violation" With His Actions The Elephants In Africa Are Not Republicans Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Obama - The First American President To Bomb Africa w/o Massive Protests From "The Blacks" Prison Radio Speaks To BLAX News A Foreshadowing In "The Motherland" What About All Of The Black Executions That The Police Or The State Did Not "Sponsor"? The Pathway Upon Which The Hijacking Occurs With The Loss Of Black American Consciousness Comes This Detachment With the failure of the institutions within the Black Community to develop ORGANIC COMPETENCIES domestically there is no chance that the interests of the diasporatic Blacks can be protected by American Blacks who are more focused in domestic political affairs. The main utility of this video will be to make the American Negro "angry", increasing his resolve in "VOTING HARDER" as his means of fighting against racism, this according to his present consciousness. :'( The "Mission Accomplished" Banner Hung By The Black Progressive-Fundamentalist A People's Consciousness Fused To An Agenda Not Of Their Own My Relative Ideological Position Malcolm X Called You A "Race Traitor". CF Calls You A "Racial Consciousness Misappropriator"` The "Racial Consciousness Mis-Appropriators Malcolm X Picture On Your Blog" Removal Project Racism Chasing - The Ultimate Hustle The Nationalization Of The Black Community Consciousness The PPP&HWBC Blog Supports The BAOHPEH, Inc Evaluate The Varacity Of The PROCESS Of Judgment Not Merely The Verdict Rendered Community Management 101 Profiles In Community Consciousness Make Black America Happy Once Again When We Were Colored Schuyler And X The 10P's In The Pod Of The Black Establishment Progressive Politicians * Perpetual Protesters (Civil Rights orgs) * Policy Influencers (lobbyist groups, think tanks) * Press Operatives (the Black Press - "The Progressives Town Criers") * Performers (singers, rappers, actors) * Preachers w/ and w/o Pulpits * Public Intellectuals (Humanities Professors) * Public School Teachers * Pro-Union Labor Forces * Posters (Bloggers) (Civil Rights orgs)(lobbyist groups, think tanks)(the Black Press - "The Progressives Town Criers")(singers, rappers, actors) Don't Shoot Me Street Pirate! I Am Attempting To Be A Positive Asset To My Community Will The Black Comunity Recover From The Hijacking Of Its Consciousness? The Use Of "Slave/Jim Crow Images" In Black Political Debate - Evaluate The Agenda The use of "slave imagery" is common in ideological discourse among Black people today. The best way to appraise the veracity of the agenda of the presenter is to distinguish between those images which are used to cajole Black people into "Ideological Unity" versus those images used to bring consciousness to the sad fact that in far too many cases today - the man holding the gun is a Black man, his disturbed consciousness allowed to fester because the balance of our community organizers are focused on external political affairs. They sell us on the notion that when our people assist their political/ideological external partners in their success that these individuals who suffer from BENIGN NEGLECT will be cured - no longer terrorizing us. In the circular reference that is their struggle - the more damaged individuals that matriculate through the local institutions that they now control per their struggle, the louder their call for continued UNITY and redirection lest our community's long time external adversaries start terrorizing us again. They successfully avoid community scrutiny of their stewardship of our key "Human Resource Development" institutions. I Am A Man!! The Photographic Negative Of The Black Progressive Blogs That Focus On What White Folks Are Doing Black Racism And Race Hatred Blog Stuff Black People Don't Like Chicago Lady 216 - The Crisis Of Consciousness WITHIN The Black Community You probably do not have the Flash Player ( Get Adobe Flash Player Here ) installed for your browser or the video files are misplaced on your server! Consciousness Mission Accomplished I Support The "Corporate Premise Security Equality Project" New York Times Demographic Mapping The Antidote For Fear And Ignorance Antidote to the use of the tactics of FEAR as propagated by 'confidence men' to prompt a people toward a certain direction that is against their permanent interests is the development within these masses a base of Knowledge. When this knowledge is applied to their daily lives this builds up their Competencies. As a result their "Standard Of Living" is increased toward the a favorable level. Obama Commemorative Plate = "Mission Accompished - An Ensnared Black Community" Black Male Un-Demployment Rates In "Mission Accomplished" Cities The Conflict Between The Civil Rights Pharisees Vs The Neo-Progressive Establishment Players You probably do not have the Flash Player ( Get Adobe Flash Player Here ) installed for your browser or the video files are misplaced on your server! From Reactionary Transactionalism To Management Of Our Community Ideologically Polarized Vision Ted Kennedy & Black Independent Consciousenss People Who Aide & Abet Street Pirates Need To Hear These Words & Instead Pursue Absolute Justice THe NAACP & Rachael Maddow See These Guns As INFERIOR To Guns Used By Right-Wing Militias ** No matter how many guns these Street Pirates gather and no matter how many Black people are killed - these "equal human beings" will never been EQUAL in the mind of Civil Rights Pharisees and their White Snarling Fox Liberal co-conspirators because there is no ideological and political advantage in going after them. The Rallo Tubbs Fan Club Blog Archive Those Who Have Their Conciousness Focused "Within The Black Community" Page Views - Last 7 Days The Duchess of Sussex has made no secret of her enduring obsession with Audrey Hepburn. Meghan artfully photographed and uploaded stacks of books on the Hollywood star described as bedtime reading to her now-closed Instagram account. Her defunct blog The Tig also paid glowing tribute to the aesthetics of the fashion icons preppy chic look. Think Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, she wrote in a post three years ago. But no one could have imagined then that she would follow so closely in Hepburns footsteps by becoming the muse for fashion house Givenchy. The Duchess embraces Givenchy designer Clare Waight Keller at the British Fashion Awards last week. She is wearing a bespoke black velvet gown by the fashion house estimated to be wroth 20,000 Meghans latest appearance at last weeks British Fashion Awards where she presented Keller with a trophy for British womenswear designer of the year Today, there is no doubt that the Duchess has played a central role in reviving the fortunes of the fading French brand. Not only did she choose Givenchys British artistic director Clare Waight Keller to create her wedding dress, but she has continued to be an ambassador for the brand, wearing the label at public outings around once a month. Her collection is estimated to be worth more than 250,000. Meghans latest appearance at last weeks British Fashion Awards where she presented Keller with a trophy for British womenswear designer of the year saw her, once again, in Givenchy. So close are the pair that Keller was permitted to stroke the (impeccably well-dressed) Royal baby bump. Thanks to their partnership, the label is enjoying its highest prominence since its heyday in the 1950s and 60s, when its classic style was synonymous with Hepburn. Now, it is associated instead with The Duchess of Givenchy. Meghan wowed her groom - and the world - in May in a bespoke Givenchy wedding dress and 16ft-long train stitched with flowers from 53 Commonwealth countries. The estimated cost is 200,000 Last month's visit to meet chefs at the Hubb Community Kitchen, who collaborated on her community cookbook, saw Meghan finish off her outfit with Givenchy's 790 'GV3' black ankle boots Another wedding, another Givenchy outfit. the Duchess wore this bespoke navy coat dress to Princess Eugenie's nuptials in October, worth an estimated 8,000 The labels parent company LVMH appears to be reaping the benefits. Turnover on fashion and leather goods is up from 9.7 million last year to 11.7 million in the first three quarters of this year. In its interim financial report, for the first six months of this year, it states: Givenchy benefited from the success of Clare Waight Kellers first collections, presented with an exclusive staging at several emblematic boutiques. The main highlight... was the design of the Duchess of Sussexs wedding gown, with media coverage of the event generating extremely high visibility for Givenchy. So who is Clare Waight Keller, and how did her partnership begin with one of the worlds most closely scrutinised women? A return to the trusted Givenchy for Meghan's first solo outing at the Royal Academy of Arts' Oceania exhibition in September. The velvet appliqued midi dress with sheer panels cost 2,960 This elegant Givenchy cape dress, estimated to be wroth 8,000, was Meghan's choice fr her first joint engagement with the Queen in June. Her accessories are also Givenchy: a 899 clutch and 340 'Double G' belt It started in such secrecy that Keller, a mother of three, didnt even tell her American architect husband Philip. Even the Arnault family, which owns the brand, were kept in the dark. Birmingham-born Keller, 48, who studied at the Royal College of Art before working for Calvin Klein in New York, became the creative head of the fashion house in May last year and had been burying herself in the brands archives when she received a phone call. It was November 2017, immediately after Prince Harry and Meghans engagement. The request came completely out of the blue: the Royal bride-to-be wanted Keller to design her wedding dress. I think she had seen my work and knew what I did, the designer said after the wedding. Arriving in Ireland in July, Meghan wore the first of four jaw-droppingly expensive outfits for her Irish tour. The Givenchy 1,199 patch pocket skirt was matched with a 600 crew-necked top, also Givenchy The Duchess opted for a 1,885 Givenchy trouser suit for a trip to Dublin's Croke Park in July. There's also her trusty 340 'Double G' belt and a new 1,765 'GV3' frame bag - plus her trademark sky-high heels I think she loved the fact that I was a British designer and working in a house such as Givenchy, which has got its roots in a classical, beautiful style of course from the time of Hubert [de Givenchy] himself. The pair met late last year to discuss possibilities. But it was in January, while Keller was designing her debut couture collection for Givenchy, that she found out she had just four months to produce this years most famous dress. Meghans vision, which was elegant, classical and timeless, was true Givenchy. All seven or eight fittings with the bride were done personally, in secret, in London. In a magazine interview published yesterday to promote the opening of Givenchys new flagship store in Londons Bond Street, Keller said: The dress went backwards and forwards to Paris to be worked on in the atelier. Channeling My Fair Lady at Ascot in June with a bespoke white Givenchy dress, worth about 8,000. Her accessories are also Givenchy - 375 'Infinity' pumps, a 340 belt and a 1,390 satin 'minaudiere' clutch On a balcony overlooking the Cenotaph for last month's Remembrance Sunday, Meghan wrapped up in a black Givenchy coat, worth about 2,000 But no one in the team knew who it was for, because after the couture show in January, a number of high-profile orders had come in. Keller only told her husband of her coup the day before the wedding when she had to drive down to Cliveden House to spend the night with the bridal party. It was only when Meghan stepped out of the car into the Windsor sunshine that the secret was revealed. Keller, who was wearing dark navy, emerged from the shadows to place the train on the steps of St Georges Chapel, Windsor, prompting headlines around the world. The wedding dress was to be just the beginning of Meghan and Kellers collaboration. Givenchy has become a key part of the Duchesss signature look, setting her apart from other Royals who rarely, if ever, wear the label. when meeting the King and Queen of Tonga in October, Meghan wore a Grecian-inspired white gown coupled with a 1,390 black silk 'minaudiere' clutch with a jewelled clasp The Duchess has worn Givenchy for many of the key events in her Royal calendar, such as her first Royal tour to Australia and New Zealand, and her first joint engagement with the Queen in Cheshire in June. Meghan and Kellers closeness was evident to all observers at the British Fashion Awards. Addressing the audience, Meghan said: I feel especially proud to announce tonights winner who, yes, is a British designer leading on the global stage with vision and creativity but, also, with incredible kindness which is why, when I met her for the first time 11 months ago, I knew that wed be working very closely together. Their bond is clearly based on a shared love of fashion. Both have a similar sense of style and a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes. Meghan has the designers BB pumps in five colours and Clare has a lizard pair she loves. Their joint interests extend to the great outdoors and their much-adored pets. Still, their heritage makes them unlikely bedfellows. Another entirely Givenchy outfit for the Duke and Duchess's public walkabout in Rotorua, New Zealand, this October. She has the same 600 to in green, and the matching pleated skirt worth 1,199 is bespoke Meghan hails from Hollywood while Keller comes from the industrial West Midlands, where she grew up the eldest of three children. It was a childhood she would later describe as very ordinary, very humble, surrounded by flyovers. However, she had two talented parents: her mother Diana, a legal secretary, from whom she inherited her skills as a seamstress, and her engineer father Russell, who was a talented draughtsman. After completing a degree at Ravensbourne College of Art and a masters in knitwear at the Royal College of Art, a tutor sent her portfolio to Calvin Klein. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in May. It was November 2017, immediately after Prince Harry and Meghans engagement. The request came completely out of the blue: the Royal bride-to-be wanted Keller to design her wedding dress Prince Harry and Meghan wave from the Ascot Landau Carriage. Meghans vision, which was elegant, classical and timeless, was true Givenchy. All seven or eight fittings with the bride were done personally, in secret, in London There, she worked alongside another of Meghans muses Carolyn Bessette, who married John F. Kennedy Jr. Four years later, the ambitious designer was off to Ralph Lauren for the launch of his bespoke mens Purple Label collection. Then, in 2000, at the age of 29, she returned to London to work for Guccis Tom Ford. Her big breakthrough came when she turned around the fortunes of Scottish knitwear brand Pringle. Her work there won her the coveted Designer of the Year trophy at the Scottish Fashion Awards. But it was only in 2011, when she took over as creative designer at Chloe, that she began to achieve public acclaim. She is rumoured to have left because the label wouldnt give her salary increases proportionate to sales but was keen, too, to return to Britain for her twin girls education. These days, she spends half the week in the family home in Worlds End, Chelsea, the rest in Parisian hotels for Givenchy. She has immersed herself in the brand and befriended its founder, the late Count Hubert de Givenchy, who told her that Givenchy was all about the shoulders, darling. Sadly, he died in March, two months before Meghan walked down the aisle in a dress which showed to the world that it was indeed all about the shoulders. Talking about being the first female designer at Givenchy, Keller said recently: I can understand why people touch on it, because of course whenever women get into higher positions its always something to be applauded. But I dont think we should anchor everything on that, because its so important to actually think of women as strong creatives: people who can bring and contribute something, rather than just purely for the fact that theyre female. Its through the work that I do that Im able to push up higher and be so successful. A mantra, it seems, which is not so different from that of the Duchess of Sussex herself. he Scottish sailors defeat of the Dutch in 1797 was hailed one of the most significant actions in naval history The Scottish sailors portrait looks proudly down on a briefing room in several of the shows scenes He was one of our greatest naval heroes whose exploits paved the way for Nelsons victory at Trafalgar. But to the dismay of TV viewers, Admiral Adam Duncan has been expunged from Channel 5s documentary about life on board HMS Duncan, the Royal Navys 1billion warship named in his honour. The Scottish sailors portrait looks proudly down on a briefing room in several of the shows scenes, but while the audience has been treated to footage of the vessels weapons, it has been mystified by the blurring out of his image. Was the admiral, whose defeat of the Dutch in 1797 was hailed one of the most significant actions in naval history, guilty of some heinous crime that might offend in these sensitive times? Not so, it transpires. Initially, the Navy said the painting was obscured because of copyright, but it usually lasts only 70 years after the creators death and its artist, Sir Henry Raeburn, died nearly 200 years ago. Admiral Adam Duncan has been expunged from Channel 5s documentary about life on board HMS Duncan, the Royal Navys 1billion warship named in his honour Then Channel 5 said the painting is owned by the National Portrait Gallery which wanted 1,500 for each episode of Warship: Life At Sea in which it appeared. But that wasnt wholly correct either the gallery said it was not one of its paintings. Last night Channel 5 was unable to shed any further light on the mystery and the Navy could provide only partial clarification. It is a copy of the original but still subject to image rights, said a Navy spokesman. Yulia Skripals life was saved by the passing medic after she collapsed on a bench in Salisbury, according to an account given by the first officers on the scene [File photo] The daughter of Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal would have died had an off-duty doctor not come to her aid when she was struck down by novichok poisoning, police have revealed. Yulia Skripals life was saved by the passing medic after she collapsed on a bench in Salisbury, according to a detailed account given by the first officers on the scene. Miss Skripal, who had just arrived on a visit from Russia, and her father were targeted by a Kremlin hit squad who smeared the deadly nerve agent on the door of his home on March 4. But at first, the emergency services thought the pair had suffered a drugs overdose when they were seen collapsed in the Maltings shopping centre in the Wiltshire city. Sergeant Tracey Holloway told how she had said to her colleagues Lets have a relaxed day during a shift briefing at Bourne Hill police station shortly before they got the call at 4.15pm. PC Alex Collins said they reached the scene in two minutes after driving through the pedestrianised area of the city centre with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring. The female was on the floor on her side, he said. There was a member of the public, who turned out to be a doctor, helping her, maintaining her airway. I believe if that doctor hadnt done that, she would have died. The female doctor is believed to have placed Miss Skripal in the recovery position after discovering her vomiting and fitting on the bench, and tended to her for almost 30 minutes. But at first, the emergency services thought the pair had suffered a drugs overdose when they were seen collapsed in the Maltings shopping centre in the Wiltshire city [File photo] Sergei Skripal (pictured) and his daughter Yulia were targeted with the nerve agent Novichok in a failed assassination attempt. Yulia Skripals life was saved by the passing medic after she collapsed on a bench in Salisbury, according to a detailed account given by the first officers on the scene [File photo] PC Collins went on: The male was in a very unusual position. He was sat on the bench, rigid, catatonic, staring into space. He was breathing but totally unresponsive. We tried to help medically and to find out what had happened. Our first thought was that it was drugs. But they soon realised that the couple were not locally known addicts, were well dressed, and had a phone with Russian writing on. It didnt feel right. It wasnt quite normal, said PC Collins. The officers put a cordon in place and helped get the patients into an ambulance, but then ensured that the scene was cleaned up by firefighters wearing hazmat suits for fear the highly toxic drug fentanyl may have been involved. Sgt Holloway said: There was a pile of vomit underneath the bench. I wasnt happy about leaving that there because we didnt know what could have been in it to make these people ill. Alexander Petrov, left, and Ruslan Boshirov, right. They are suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack [File photo] PC Collins took the precaution of leaving his uniform in his garage when he got home. He said: Im glad I did that. I was intending to have a shower but I was so knackered I just climbed into bed and fell asleep. Ive got little kids and they were climbing all over me the next day, so the missus wasnt particularly happy with that when it all came out. He was later told to bring all his kit to the station in case it had been contaminated. Sgt Holloway told how the case continued to affect her as she lived near Sergei Skripals house, which is still being decontaminated. She said: I would go home to a crime scene. I was never really out of it. I did think about Sergei quite a lot. I used to wonder if Id ever come across him in the street. Im more upset for both of them. They cant lead a normal life. Advertisement President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to Arlington National Cemetery Saturday with a large umbrella to protect himself from the elements. Trump arrived around 2.15pm to observe the activities taking place there for Wreaths Across America, which decorates the graves of fallen troops for Christmas. It came a month after Trump drew heavy criticism for skipping an appearance honoring fallen World War One soldiers at a U.S. military cemetery in France because of the weather. Trump said at the time poor visibility and steady rain had grounded Marine One, and that the Secret Service was unable to make security arrangements for the 55-mile drive to the cemetery. Trump visits Section 60 in Arlington Cemetery on Saturday in a surprise visit during Wreaths Across America Trump shakes the hand of a US military member during an unscheduled visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday Trump talks with Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director Army National Military Cemeteries, while visiting on Saturday Trump carries his trusty umbrella and walks gingerly through the muddy grass in a light rain at Arlington cemetary Trump's surprise visit to Arlington (above) comes a month after he was criticized for skipping a cemetery visit in France Trump carefully steps over a puddle during a surprise visit to Arlington in the rain on Saturday Trump walks past tombstones on Saturday during an unscheduled visit to Arlington National Cemetery He was also criticized for failing, upon his return from France, to visit Arlington to mark Veterans Day. Trump later explained that he was 'extremely busy on calls for the country' that day, but added, in an interview with Fox News, 'I should have done that.' On Saturday, Trump arrived at Arlington unannounced, and was escorted through part of the cemetery by an official. Trump walked gingerly though the rain-soaked grass and conversed with the female official, as two uniformed soldiers and a Secret Service agent trailed behind. The President was the only one of the small group who had an umbrella. France: Low clouds and a light rain ruled out the use of Marine One in France last month. Rather than drive, which he said the Secret Service wouldn't allow, Trump sent Chief of Staff John Kelly, left, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, to the ceremony (above) 55 miles outside of Paris President Donald Trump pauses in the rain among holiday wreaths at graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Trump pays a surprise visit to Arlington Cemetery in Arlington on Saturday, a month after his cemetery blunder in France The press look on as Trump walks past tombstones on Saturday during an unscheduled visit to Arlington National Cemetery Trump visits Section 60 in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington on Saturday as a Secret Service agent walks behind him Trump drew widespread criticism for failing to attend a memorial in France last month. He is seen above braving the rain on Saturday during a surprise visit to Arlington National Cemetery Every December, Wreaths Across America places wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers at Arlington and other cemeteries. More than 75,000 volunteers placed wreaths at 245,000 Arlington gravesites last year. The Pentagon says that this year the group shipped 1.75 million wreaths to 1,640 locations across the U.S. 'They do a great job, a really great job. Thank you,' Trump said during the visit at Arlington. In brief remarks to reporters, he said the government was working to expand Arlington, where more than 400,000 men and women are buried, by purchasing nearby land. 'We're working very hard on it. We'll get it done.' Trump speaks as he visits Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on Saturday Trump speaks to media as he visits Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington on Saturday After walking through the cemetery and chatting with the official for several minutes, Trump took a question from a reporter on the recent federal court ruling that found Obama's health care plan unconstitutional. 'On the assumption that the Supreme Court upholds, we will get great, great health care for our people,' President Donald Trump told reporters. 'We'll have to sit down with the Democrats to do it, but I'm sure they want to do it also.' Arlington, on land once owned by a descendant of George Washington, lies directly across the Potomac River from the capital, just a few minutes' drive away. It marked the latest time that Trump appeared in public with his trusty black umbrella, which has been the subject of considerable controversy several times. In January, Trump was accused of abandoning First Lady Melania Trump and son Barron to the elements after he boarded Air Force One under the comfort of the umbrella, but leaving the family members exposed. In October, the President baffled observers by appearing unable or unwilling to collapse the umbrella, leaving it on the rolling stairs to Air Force One to blow in the wind. Jade Hutchings was a child who adored acting and animals, friends and family. But she suffered from anxiety and sometimes struggled to fit in socially, so her loving family rallied round with trips to the seaside, community events and outings to historic attractions. After she hit adolescence, she became a target for bullying by a group of boys at her school in Birmingham. The attacks sent the teenager spiralling into depression and made her feel suicidal, so her parents sought medical help. Teenager Jade (right) looking happy at her birthday party with a friend. But as she hit adolescence, she became a target for bullying by a group of boys at her school in Birmingham At 14 she ended up in a psychiatric hospital, where she was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome a form of autism often missed in young women that can leave them with severe emotional and social difficulties. Her parents were told she would be away six months at most. But 13 years later, Jade is still locked away like the many others with autism and learning disabilities as reported by this newspaper. Its like a bereavement except our daughter is not dead, Linda, her distraught mother, told me. Jade has been held in lonely seclusion, forced to wear just a rubber gown and pumped full of powerful drugs. She has piled on weight and her state of mind is deteriorating, trapped amid the tumult and chaos of a secure psychiatric unit, say her family. She was allowed to leave one unit briefly when she travelled to Abu Dhabi and Paris on foreign holidays, which she calls her last time of freedom. She has self-harmed while locked up but never attacked anyone else yet is seen to be such a risk she has not been allowed outside beyond a tiny courtyard for four years. She was not permitted to visit her beloved grandfather as he lay dying from cancer, nor even allowed out for a short walk in the park with her family and their dog. When her parents visit her at the psychiatric unit in Newark, Nottinghamshire, after travelling almost two hours to see and talk with their distressed daughter, they must sit crammed in a small room with two staff present. Linda, 54, a support worker for people with acquired brain injuries, said: When she went in at first we were desperate, but they have taken away her childhood. She went in as a teenager and now she is 27 years old. Where is the humanity in what they are doing to her? It is so painful seeing her friends go to university and settle down with partners. One has a young daughter. Jade has missed all these things, which she desperately wants and I am so scared for her future. This model of care does not work... she's getting worse. Surely they could try something else after so long Her story is a tragedy. Yet she is just one among hundreds of teenagers and young adults with autism and learning disabilities torn from their families and forced into secure mental health units that make massive profits for their distant owners. The Mail on Sunday has revealed that, despite repeated Government pledges to reduce the numbers of such people in secure units, private firms are opening up new centres and fast expanding their share of a lucrative health sector. Jades current home is Farndon, a secure unit owned by Elysium with beds for up to 48 women. Latest accounts show that last year Elysium Healthcare (Farndon) earned revenues from the NHS of 7 million, giving them operating profits of 1.6 million. Elysium is backed by BC Partners, a private equity group, through a firm in low-tax Luxembourg. Although only launched in December 2016, it operates already at 55 English locations and last year handed 361,774 to one of its directors. The most recent annual report for Elysium Healthcare (Farndon) said the firm would focus on delivering growth through expansion and leveraging the investment to attract new patients. It pays some support staff at Farndon less than 16,000 a year. Little wonder that campaigners fear patients are seen as cash cows to be milked by a flawed system at the expense of taxpayers. Linda and her husband Chris believe the cost of their daughters care is 416,000 a year. Elysium declined to comment. Linda said they had lovely memories of their daughters childhood before becoming engulfed in a nightmare 14 years ago. She recalled: We thought the professionals knew what they were doing and she would soon be out. Jade is pictured here (centre) after another birthday with friends after 12 years in hospital. Her family are desperate to free Jade. We are suffering agonies, said Linda. Im heartbroken. After a suicide bid at school, Jade was taken to a psychiatric unit for patients with eating disorders. She started to mimic them in an attempt to fit in a common trait for females with Aspergers and shed so much weight she had to be force-fed through a tube. The family was told Jade needed to be sectioned and sent to St Andrews, a major psychiatric centre in Northampton. Social services said if we did not agree they would take us to court and have us legally removed as nearest relatives, said Linda. They were threatening us. It was terrifying, like being beaten with a stick. Jade received decent treatment at St Andrews, where she could enjoy the grounds, for three years. Then she was moved to a specialist autism unit near Bath that allowed her out for shopping jaunts with her sisters and those family holidays abroad. But then she was sent to another secure unit outside Cambridgeshire where, her parents said, she was locked for weeks in a secluded attic room with just a television and rubber-sheeted bed and clad in a rubberised gown. They didnt even give her a pillow, said her mother. She was watched all the time, even doing the most personal things. She was also restrained physically, which was very traumatic for a girl who had been bullied. Next she was shifted to a privately run unit in Wales, where a mental health tribunal asked Birmingham City Council, her home funding authority, to look into a community-based care package. Instead, two years ago, she was sent to Farndon. One reason for the failure of Transforming Care an initiative launched after a 2011 abuse scandal at Winterbourne View in Gloucestershire to get people with autism and learning disabilities out of such places is that cash-strapped local authorities prefer to see the NHS paying for psychiatric units rather than fund care packages in the community. Yet community support is often more effective for patients and cheaper for taxpayers. Jade is being held because of self-harming tendencies in the past but has never shown any signs of being a danger to herself when she is with her family. One psychiatrist told the family that private health providers often say anything to keep their patients locked up. The end justifies the means, said Linda. Birmingham Council said it would not discuss individual cases. There are always safeguarding measures in place when somebodys liberty is limited due to illness or disability, said a spokesman. When Jades younger sister Rosie had leukaemia eight years ago, Jade provided bone marrow for a successful transplant. Ill defend the NHS with my last breath, Linda said. But this model of care simply does not work. Shes convinced her daughter would be better off back with her family and friends in Birmingham, backed by a care package. Surely after 13 years they could try something else? She has definitely become worse, which is so worrying to see over all these years. She is medicated, really tired, and sleeps a lot. She put on loads of weight due to powerful anti- psychotic medicines and lack of exercise, then they say she does not have the capacity to go for a walk with the dog. She sleeps and watches TV. Her family are desperate to free Jade. We are suffering agonies, said Linda. Im heartbroken. She is the first thing I think about in the morning and last thing I think about at night. When will this torment end? The father of a teenage girl with autism locked for months in solitary confinement and fed through a hatch like a wild animal is suing the NHS for breach of human rights laws on torture and inhumanity. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is backing the landmark case after the teenagers horrific plight was highlighted by a Mail on Sunday investigation into the abuse of people with learning disabilities. Beth, 17, is among hundreds of children and young adults with autism and learning disabilities taken from their families and held in tiny cells, forcibly injected with powerful drugs and violently restrained in secretive secure psychiatric units at a cost of up to 730,000 a year per patient. Bethany (pictured), 17, is among hundreds of children and young adults with autism and learning disabilities taken from their families and held in tiny cells Bethany's father Jeremy, pictured right, with his autistic daughter Bethany, pictured left, is suing the NHS for breach of human rights laws on torture and inhumanity It is very distressing that a parent has to contemplate the drastic action of taking the people responsible for his childs care to court, said Jeremy, Beths father, who has already thwarted an attempted legal challenge from Walsall, his local authority, to gag him from speaking in public about his daughters case. The NHS is designed to treat and help people in the greatest need so why am I having to sue them for inhumane and degrading treatment? You do not expect to see such things in this country and this century. Last week he joined Julie Newcombe, another parent, and three people with autism and learning disabilities, giving evidence on detention to the Joint Committee on Human Rights. MPs wiped tears away as they listened to their harrowing stories. In another development, The Mail on Sunday has learned that the Childrens Commissioner plans to use statutory powers to make surprise visits to secure units after hearing from families about misuse of court-imposed gagging orders and children trapped in intolerable conditions. Meanwhile, Labour has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock demanding he disclose the full cost to taxpayers of sending people with autism and learning disabilities into supposedly short-stay assessment and treatment units (ATUs). This newspaper revealed how one man with autism has been incarcerated for 18 years, costing the NHS more than 10 million. And we also exposed how giant US healthcare firms, hedge funds and fat-cat charity chiefs have been accused of profiting from misery by families. Lawyers for Beths family have sent letters warning of legal action to NHS England, Walsall Council, the local health commissioning body and St Andrews, the controversial charity holding the teenager in its new 90-bed secure unit. Bethany enjoying a Christmas grotto five years ago, with her father in happier times. He claims the NHS and other care providers have breached her human rights He said Bethany, pictured here shortly before she was sectioned two years ago and placed in St Andrews in Birmingham, said it is 'distressing that a parent has to contemplate the drastic action of taking the people responsible for his childs care to court' The case also backed by the charity Mencap is based on Article 3 of the Human Rights Act, which guarantees freedom from torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, along with Article 8 protecting freedom and family life. This is one of the biggest domestic human rights abuses of our time, said Kari Gerstheimer, Mencaps director of advice and information. It is like something out of Victorian times. At the Joint Committee at Westminster, Jeremy described how he had to kneel to speak to his daughter through a small hatch in her padded cell. He was unable to hug his child and said she was pumped full of unnecessary medication. She was watched at all times, even on the toilet. It is understood Beth was moved into a new two-room cell nine days ago following national outcry over her treatment, yet incredibly staff cut another feeding hatch into the door beforehand. Julie Newcombe told MPs her son Jamie was placed in an ATU for what she thought would be a few weeks but was held for a horrific 19 months of punitive treatment. During this time, Julie was repeatedly accused of lying by staff. Jamie suffered a broken arm in one restraint that went undetected for 24 hours and Julie said he still suffered severe post-traumatic stress three years later. Baroness Lawrence, a committee member, said she could relate to their lonely fight as parents after her familys struggle to gain justice following the infamous murder of her son Stephen. In fighting the system, the system is stacked against you, she said. Anne Longfield, the Childrens Commissioner for England, is also probing the issue. I place a big emphasis on shining a light on children hidden from view and none are more so than those in ATUs, she told The Mail on Sunday. She has had held meetings with parents to hear their stories. They described how it felt as if time had stood still as they fought for years with councils and institutions to get their children back, she said. Bethany has her food passed to her on a tray through a hatch in the door of her 12-foot-by-10-foot room for almost two years. Her father is now suing to improve her care The Commissioner plans to demand access for a series of urgent visits to ATUs to talk directly to youngsters with autism and learning disabilities sectioned in psychiatric units. Barbara Keeley, Shadow Care Minister, said she has been told it could save up to 330,000 a year for each person to be moved into more effective community care. She added: The continued detention of people with learning disabilities is not only morally and clinically unjustifiable, in the vast majority of these cases it is also unnecessarily expensive. Ministers have failed to meet pledges to empty ATUs of people with learning disabilities. They were made after an abuse scandal in 2011, at the now-closed Winterbourne View home in Gloucestershire. Last week a nurse who had worked at the unit was struck off for punching a patient so hard in the face that he lost teeth. That assault took place in 2009 and Mark Brown, co-founder of Rightful Lives, a group set up by parents, said the time taken to resolve this case was another stark demonstration of the low value put on lives of people with learning disabilities in this country. Former President Barack Obama responded to a Texas court ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional Former president Barack Obama responded to a Texas court ruling that Obamacare is 'unconstitutional' by assuring the millions of Americans that use the life-saving service that they would lose their health insurance. US District Judge Reed OConnor in Fort Worth on Friday said that Obamacare, formally known as the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), was unconstitutional based on its individual mandate - which was removed from the law by Republicans earlier this year. Obama joined many other prominent Democrats condemning the ruling, writing in a statement Saturday: 'As the decision makes its way through the courts, which will take months, if not years, the law remains in place and will likely stay that way. 'Open enrollment is proceeding as planned today. And a good way to show that you're tired of people trying to take away your health care is to go get covered!' The statement came just hours before the midnight Saturday deadline to sign up for 2019 plans via HealthCare.org. In a decision that could reach the US Supreme Court, OConnor sided with a coalition of 20 states that argued requiring people to pay for insurance coverage is illegal because a change in tax law last year eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance. Donald Trump praised the decision, saying it is 'a great ruling for our country'. During a rainy visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Saturday, Trump told reporters: 'We will be able to get great healthcare. We will sit down with the Democrats if the Supreme Court upholds. President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed the court ruling as 'a great ruling for our country' Trump offered no details on the potential for healthcare talks with the Democrats, who are poised to take majority control of the US House of Representatives in early January. The Senate will remain in Republican hands. OConnors decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law. The head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the Affordable Care Act, said there were no changes and exchanges were open for business. 'We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court,' CMS Administrator Seema Verma wrote on Twitter on Saturday. 'Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place.' 'There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan,' she said late on Friday. Since the laws formative stages amid concern about millions of Americans lacking health insurance, Republicans have opposed Obamacare, calling it a costly and unneeded government intrusion into Americans lives. Trump campaigned against it in 2016. They have repeatedly tried, but failed, to repeal the law, which was the signature domestic policy achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. Even with control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2017, Republicans could not push through a repeal. The OConnor ruling underscored the high political stakes involved in the divide over healthcare, especially for Trump and his fellow Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election. If the Supreme Court were to uphold OConnors ruling, it would go a long way toward dismantling Obamacare. 2019 open enrollment is available on the healthcare.gov website. officials say the ruling will not affect current healthcare laws That would be a political victory for Republicans, but it would also likely strip millions of Americans of their health coverage, a policy problem for which Republicans have offered no clear solution. About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012. Two days after the Nov. 6 U.S. congressional elections, a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll found that healthcare was the top issue Americans wanted the U.S. Congress to address. On Friday, OConnor ruled that after the enactment last year by Trump of a landmark tax bill, the ACAs individual mandate requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax could no longer be considered constitutional. He said because the individual mandate was an 'essential' part of Obamacare, the entire law, rather than just the individual mandate, was unconstitutional. Timothy Jost, a health law expert and emeritus professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, said it was 'silly' and 'irresponsible' for OConnor to find that the individual mandate could not be separated from the rest of the ACA. He said judges who find that portions of laws are invalid are required 'to do as little damage as possible' to the rest of the law, and OConnor had ignored that principle. Jost noted that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which will hear any appeal in the case, is considered the most conservative federal appeals court in the country. But, 'OConnor is so far off the reservation here that virtually any (appeals) panel will reverse him,' Jost said. Trump issued two celebratory tweets shortly after the ruling Jost noted that in the 2012 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, a lower appeals court had found the individual mandate unlawful, but ruled it could be severed from the rest of the law. That ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is at least as persuasive and probably more persuasive than a decision by a single judge in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jost said. He said the U.S. Supreme Courts conservative wing has been skeptical in the past of striking down entire laws because of a single problematic provision, and at least a bare majority of five justices would likely agree that OConnor was wrong. On Friday, Trump responded to the ruling on Twitter with glee. He first tweeted shortly after 9 pm, 'As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done!' He followed that up eight minutes later with a second Tweet. 'Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America!' O'Connor's decision was issued the day before the end of a 45-day sign-up period for 2019 health coverage under the law. 'The Individual Mandate can no longer be fairly read as an exercise of Congress's Tax Power and is still impermissible under the Interstate Commerce Clause meaning the Individual Mandate is unconstitutional,' the judge wrote. 'The Individual Mandate is essential to and inseverable from the remainder of the ACA.' 'Without [the individual mandate], Congress and the Supreme Court have stated, the architectural design fails,' according to O'Connor. 'It is like watching a slow game of Jenga, each party poking at a different provision to see if the ACA falls.' A year ago, Trump signed a $1.5trillion tax bill that included a provision eliminating the individual mandate. In the 55-page opinion, O'Connor ruled Friday that last year's tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under 'Obamacare' by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. About 11.8 million consumers nationwide enrolled in 2018 Obamacare exchange plans, according to the U.S. government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The coalition of states challenging the law was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, both Republicans. Republicans have opposed the 2010 law, the signature domestic policy achievement of President Donald Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, since its inception and have repeatedly tried and failed to repeal it. The White House hailed Friday's ruling, but said the law would remain in place pending its expected appeal to the Supreme Court. 'Once again, the president calls on Congress to replace Obamacare and act to protect people with preexisting conditions and provide Americans with quality affordable healthcare,' White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. In June, the Justice Department declared the healthcare law's 'individual mandate' unconstitutional in federal court. The decision was a break with a long-standing executive branch practice of defending existing statutes in court. A man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after falling from a hotel balcony while reportedly intoxicated. The accident took place on Saturday night when the 28-year-old man was climbing between two balconies at the Rydges hotel in Cronulla, south of Sydney. He fell eight metres and landed on a lower balcony, suffering serious head injuries. A man has been treated for head injuries after falling from a balcony at a Cronulla hotel Paramedics treated him at the scene before rushing him to hospital. He was taken to St George Hospital in a serious condition, where he remains. Police are treating the incident as 'misadventure'. According to Seven News, the man may have been intoxicated and trying to jump onto a neighbouring balcony when he fell. An Alabama woman has gone viral for sharing a hilarious post about how she got the ultimate petty revenge on a 'terrible' customer who tried to haggle the price of a 50 cent Christmas ornament. Sarah Belanger Demaneuf was working at a local retail store in Huntsville, Alabama 17 years ago when she ran into a customer who wanted to purchase a 50 cent star ornament for 25 cents, and threw a tantrum when she didn't get her way. 'A terrible woman (dressed to the nines and driving a high-end Lexus, so pretty well off) came into the store and wanted four star ornaments, but wanted to only pay 25 cents a piece,' Demaneuf said in a Facebook post on December 6. Alabama woman Sarah Belanger Demaneuf has gone viral for her Christmas revenge story where she bought all the yellow star ornaments in town to get back at a rude customer The incident took place 17 years ago while Demaneuf was working at a local retail store in Huntsville and a customer wanted to purchase this 50 cent star ornament for 25 cents, and threw a tantrum when she didn't get her way 'As we weren't at a yard sale I said no and she started arguing with me, becoming increasingly rude and belligerent,' she added. The woman then threatened to take her business to another branch of the store in town the following day. Demaneuf responded: I can't guarantee they'll still be here'. 'There are 12 in the store. No one is going to buy all 12. I'll get what I want, prepare to feel stupid tomorrow,' the defiant customer replied. Enraged by the rude customer, Demaneuf then hatched a master plan to ensure the woman wouldn't get hold of a single star. 'In an anti grinch moment my heart shrank three sizes and I bought all 12 star ornaments. I then called the other Huntsville store and bought ALL their ornaments. And just to be extra spiteful I bought all the star ornaments in Decatur and Florence,' she said. 'It was the most vengeful $30 I ever spent,' she added. She shared the hilarious story on Facebook on December 6 which has gone viral with over 7,000 shares The next morning when the customer returned, she was dumbstruck to learn all the star ornaments were sold. 'The next morning she was at the store as soon as we had opened. I had the pleasure of telling her that ALL of the star ornaments in North Alabama had been sold to one customer. The look on her face was worth every penny spent,' Demaneuf said. She added that she gave away the star ornaments to family and friends but kept one for herself. '17 years later, I still smile when I hang it on my tree,' she said. She shared the hilarious tale on Facebook where it went viral with over 7,000 shares and 26,000 reactions. And fans cheered her on in the comments. 'I love it. The star of Vengeance,' one Facebook user said. 'I wish I could donate the cost of one because I LOVE this story so much. I am sure her cheap black heart is just as disgusting today as it was 17 years ago. Merry Christmas to you,' another added. 'Karma on a platter,' another added. 'OMG! You are my hero! I have spent the last 5 holiday seasons dealing with customers like that!' one woman wrote. 'I would have helped fund this if I'd been your coworker...best $30 ever lol!' another fan added. 'This is 100% the kind of stunt Id pull just to spite that one a**hole customer. Calling all the other stores to buy their stock too,' one store employee added. A British entrepreneur who made his fortune in raw fish has joined Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Celine Dion by buying his own island. Simon Woodroffe, founder of restaurant chain Yo! Sushi, has set up a new business, Yo! Island, and bought a 70-acre slice of paradise in the Bahamas. The Mail on Sunday has learned that 66-year-old Mr Woodroffe is now the proud owner of Cockroach Cay which was hastily renamed Wild Berry Cay by estate agents when they started marketing the site to potential buyers. Simon Woodroffe with his daughter Charlotte. The 66-year-old bought a 70-acre slice of paradise in the Bahamas Mr Woodroffe wants to develop the uninhabited island into a holiday destination and make it more affordable to visit a private Bahamian resort, until now a privilege available only to the worlds super-rich. Bahamian government documents show that Mr Woodroffe spent 2 million on the island, which is just a mile long and half a mile wide. He bought it from Bahamian development firm TH-PY. Mr Woodroffe, who aspires to emulate the success of billionaire tycoon Sir Richard Branson, says the cay was being offered for twice the price, but he managed to land it for just $2.5 million because on an impulse he said he could pay in cash the next day. Explaining the islands two names, Mr Woodroffe said: Wild Berry is a name the estate agents made up it has always been Cockroach and no one knows why. Certainly no cockroaches there. Mr Woodroffe, a former star of TVs Dragons Den, founded Yo! Sushi in London in 1997 shortly after getting divorced from his wife, Clare. Mr Woodroffe wants to develop the uninhabited island into a holiday destination and make it more affordable to visit a private Bahamian resort He sold off his controlling stake for a reported 10 million in 2003 and offloaded the remainder of his shares five years later, cementing his status as a multi-millionaire. In addition to Yo! Sushis 70 restaurants across the country, Mr Woodroffe also founded Yotel, an international luxury hotel chain with miniature rooms to make them more affordable. In more recent years, he has been building up Yo! Home, which specialises in interior designs to maximise the use of small apartments, such as sunken living rooms and bedrooms perched on platforms. Mr Woodroffe lives on a houseboat in Chelsea with his girlfriend, Mairenui de Font-Reaulx, whom he met five years ago in Tahiti. He said that having bought Cockroach Cay, the couple plan to hang in the Bahamas with his sailing boat for now and will develop the island into a commercial enterprise in time under the Yo! Island brand. Ill be able to say, Youve eaten in Yo! Sushi, youve slept in Yotel, you live in Yo! Home now come and visit us in our island in the Bahamas, he said. Mr Woodroffe, a former star of TVs Dragons Den, founded Yo! Sushi in London in 1997 shortly after getting divorced from his wife, Clare What Ive always said is that the brand value of Yo! is, first of all, it reinvents things and, secondly, it gives to everybody what very rich people have. I want to do an island which is not for everybody obviously, but for more people than just the very rich. He will be assisted in his new project by his daughter Charlotte, a 29-year-old interior designer. Mr Woodroffe has previously said he wants to follow in the footsteps of Sir Richard, whose Virgin brand encompasses the leisure, travel, finance and technology sectors. Branson bought 74-acre Necker Island part of the British Virgin Islands in the 1970s for just $180,000. Mr Woodroffe said he had been looking to buy his own island for some time before stumbling upon Cockroach Cay. Mr Woodroffe said he had been looking to buy his own island for some time before stumbling upon Cockroach Cay in the Bahamas He first visited the Bahamas after his boat was destroyed by Hurricane Irma last year while he was sailing across the Atlantic. While his vessel was being repaired in the British Virgin Islands, the entrepreneur quickly became enchanted. He said: A really good sailing friend of mine said I could spend the rest of my life sailing in the Bahamas and never get to the same island twice. So I thought, Im not going to go across oceans any more which is a very stressful thing to do, because I sail my own boat were just going to hang in the Bahamas. Richard Branson bought 74-acre Necker Island part of the British Virgin Islands in the 1970s for just $180,000 There are more than 700 islands and cays there, a number of which are privately owned. Mr Woodroffe joins a star-studded cast who own islands in the area. Actor Johnny Depp bought a 45-acre Bahamian island in 2004 after reportedly falling in love with the area while filming Pirates Of The Caribbean. US magician David Copperfield was reputed to have spent $50 million on a private island with five homes on it in 2006. His list of famous guests is said to include Oprah Winfrey and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. And pop star Shakira and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd reportedly spent $16 million on Bonds Cay in the Bahamas to turn it into a luxury resort in 2011. Getting news coverage can prove to be a herculean task. 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The best way to get the best news coverage is to hire an investigative journalist who is an expert in the area of reporting news. It will enhance the quality of the news. Agora media offers for hire, the services of investigative journalists who are all well verified. The investigative journalist provided by Agora media make sure no part of the news is ignored or repressed. Theresa Mays chief of staff has triggered a civil war in Downing Street by telling Cabinet Ministers that a second EU referendum is the only way to break the Brexit deadlock. Gavin Barwell, the Prime Ministers most powerful and influential adviser, is understood to have decided that plans should be drawn up for another public poll. But his incendiary suggestion has been greeted with fury from Brexiteers in the Cabinet. Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Mrs Mays deputy, David Lidington has held a series of secret meetings with Labour MPs to build a coalition of the willing to force a new EU vote. Theresa May (pictured today in Maidenhead with husband Philip) has repeatedly insisted there cannot be another referendum on Brexit Gavin Barwell (left), the Prime Ministers most powerful and influential adviser, is understood to have decided that plans should be drawn up for another public poll. Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Mrs Mays deputy, David Lidington (right) has held a series of secret meetings with Labour MPs to build a coalition of the willing to force a new EU vote Yesterday, the Prime Minister tried to distract attention from the splits in her Government by launching a blistering attack on Tony Blair, accusing him of undermining her negotiations by encouraging Brussels to think that the UK will opt for a second referendum if her deal falls. Mrs May said: There are too many people who want to subvert the process for their own political interests rather than acting in the national interest. For Tony Blair to go to Brussels and seek to undermine our negotiations by advocating for a second referendum is an insult to the office he once held and the people he once served. We cannot, as he would, abdicate responsibility for this decision. Parliament has a democratic duty to deliver what the British people voted for. I remain determined to see that happen. I will not let the British people down. No 10 is primed this weekend for an attempt by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to try to capitalise on Mrs Mays problems by calling a vote of no confidence in the Government before Christmas. If a majority of the 650 MPs of all parties in the Commons backed the motion, it could lead to a General Election. Aides nerves were not calmed by a poll released last night giving Labour a three-point lead. The Populus poll put Labour on 40 per cent, the Conservatives on 37 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on seven per cent. The pivot towards a possible second referendum will enrage the pro-Brexit backbenchers who led last weeks failed attempt to topple Mrs May. Mrs May had to endure a vote of no confidence in her leadership of the Tory party on Wednesday. She nwon by 200 votes to 117 The Prime Minister was forced to pull the meaningful Commons vote on her Brexit deal after party whips told her she was likely to lose by a large margin, prompting backbenchers, led by Jacob Rees-Moggs hard-Brexit European Research Group (ERG), to force a vote of no confidence in her leadership of the Tory party. Mrs May won by 200 votes to 117. The Prime Minister subsequently failed to persuade the EU to offer a compromise on the notorious Northern Ireland backstop, leaving aides to conclude that she is unlikely to win the Commons round to her deal. That leaves just three realistic options: a softer Norway-style Brexit, a No Deal exit or a second referendum. With large sections of the Tory party adamantly opposed to Norway, and a majority of MPs set against No Deal, The Mail on Sunday understands that Mr Barwell is considering the second public poll. Sources say that Mr Barwell has told the pro-Remain gang of five Cabinet Ministers Mr Lidington, Chancellor Philip Hammond, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, Justice Secretary David Gauke and Business Secretary Greg Clarke that a second vote is the only way out of this. But the idea is being fiercely opposed by pro-Brexit Cabinet ministers led by Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Commons leader Andrea Leadsom and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who argue that it would be greeted with fury and possibly civil disorder by people who had voted for Brexit two years ago. And it puts Mr Barwell at loggerheads with the Prime Minister, who told this newspaper last week that the 2016 referendum was the only peoples vote required. The husband of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, Philip, stands with Number 10 Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell, as Mrs May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after a confidence vote by Conservative Party Members of Parliament on Wednesday However, Mrs Mays political capital has been damaged by the size of the vote against her on Wednesday. One senior source said: The PM is just a hostage of the Cabinet and her feuding aides. Ms Rudd hinted heavily about her support for a second referendum yesterday when she said that MPs across the parties should try to forge a consensus over Brexit. She said: We need to find a plan that a majority in Parliament can support. We need to try something different. Something that people do in the real world all the time, but which seems so alien in our political culture to engage with others and be willing to forge a consensus. Could we even agree the question? Before a second referendum could take place, there would be a bitter row over how it would work. Some in No 10 see a chance to bypass Parliament and get public support for Theresa Mays deal by pitching it in a straight fight with No Deal. But Remainers say there must be an option to stay in the EU on the ballot paper a scenario we have imagined above and would use the Commons to try force it. Three options: How a second referendum paper might look However a three-way question would not produce a conclusive result and would probably fall foul of electoral law. Therefore there could even be multiple rounds of voting, like a French presidential, election that would see No Deal go head-to-head with Remain in round two, if Mrs Mays deal was rejected in a first vote. Ministers are divided over whether Brexit could be delayed or stopped without new legislation. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told Cabinet a new Act would have to be passed, but secret Government legal advice says Mrs May could unilaterally halt our exit using Royal Prerogative. How the 2016 ballot looked for the EU referendum Advertisement Cabinet Office Minister Mr Lidington has led the secret efforts to drum up support for a second poll by meeting senior Labour figures such as former Europe Minister Chris Bryant. Other back channels have been established between Tory former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Labours Yvette Cooper and between Tory Anna Soubry and Labour leadership hopeful Chuka Ummuna. But the discussions have revealed bitter differences over the wording of any referendum question, with No 10 indicating that it should be between Mrs Mays deal or No Deal. Labour MPs have made clear that the price of their support would be including Remain as an option. Downing Street has been warned that some members of the ERG would be prepared to vote with Jeremy Corbyn in a Commons confidence motion, or abstain, rather than allow a second referendum. Last night, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith described Mr Lidingtons manoeuvring as utter madness. He told The Mail on Sunday: I dont believe he has ever accepted we will leave. Doing deals with a Labour Party run by Jeremy Corbyn is literally madness, utter madness. All the polling says if there is a second referendum we will plunge at the next Election. We will not be re-elected if we do not deliver Brexit. Mr Duncan Smith said Mr Lidingtons actions encouraged the EU to play hardball in negotiations in the expectation that MPs would call a second referendum rather than risk No Deal. They are making it very hard for the PM to negotiate, he said. The EU just dont believe we are willing to walk away. Meanwhile, Brexit supporting Cabinet Ministers such as Ms Leadsom and Ms Mordaunt are pushing for a managed No Deal option. It would involve the UK paying up to 20 billion for a standstill two years in which Britain would mirror all EU rules to allow both sides to prepare for a hard exit. Mrs Mays allies accuse Mr Rees-Moggs ERG of making a second referendum more likely by sabotaging the Withdrawal Agreement. One Brexiteer Minister described the anger in Government over the abortive coup: They like to present them as Jesuitical true believers, but they are more like jihadists. The Populus poll, carried out for Best for Britain, a pro referendum group, found that while 74 per cent of Labour voters support a second referendum, a majority of Tory voters, 51 per cent, are against. A U.S. tech giant is offering cybersecurity services to at least seven foreign terrorist organizations and militant groups, according to the Huffington Post. Cloudflare, which says it directs almost 10 percent of all internet traffic, counts the Taliban and Hamas among its customers. The firm has previously come under fire for its closely guarded free-speech policies, which meant it provided services for neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, until it decided to boot the site. Scroll down for video A U.S. tech giant is offering cybersecurity services to at least seven foreign terrorist organizations and militant groups, including the Taliban and Hamas (pictured) WHAT IS CLOUDFLARE? Cloudflare in a US content delivery and internet security company. It helps 6million websites securely push their content around the internet including Uber, Ok Cupid and Fitbit. The company spreads these sites for better security against Distributed Denial of Service attacks that could knock them offline. Cloudflare is largely considered a secure company to host big websites and store private data with. Advertisement Cloudflare doesn't host websites, but it does provide security services for webpages, such as protecting them from things like denial-of-service attacks, which involve flooding a server with traffic requests in order to cause an outage. Aside from the Taliban and Hamas, it counts several other groups on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations as customers, including al-Shabab, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, al-Quds Brigades, the Kurdistan Workers' Party and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The organizations have been found to own and run websites that are protected by Cloudflare, four national security and counterterrorism experts told HuffPost. It's a crime to provide 'material support', such as communications equipment, to foreign terrorist organizations, as well as those that fall under the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Cloudflare hasn't been authorized by the OFAC to provide these services to these groups. Pictured is Matthew Prince, CEO of CloudFlare. The firm has been informed for years that providing its services to terrorist organizations is considered shielding terrorist groups It's been warned for several years that doing so would be considered shielding terrorist groups behind its network, but it continues to offer its services, according to HuffPost. Some free speech advocates argue that companies that offer their services to terrorist organizations are providing 'expert advice and assistance,' like training for peaceful conflict resolution. However, it's possible that Cloudflare could be breaking the law by continuing to work with these groups and organizations, HuffPost said. 'We try to be neutral and not insert ourselves too much as the arbiter of whats allowed to be online,' Doug Kramer, Cloudflare's general counsel, told HuffPost. 'We are very aware of our obligations under the sanctions laws. Cloudflare doesn't host websites, but it does provide security services for webpages, such as protecting them from things like denial-of-service attacks, which involve flooding a server with traffic requests in order to cause an outage 'We think about this hard, and weve got a policy in place to stay in compliance with those laws,' he added. Matthew Prince, CloudFlare's CEO, has previously been confronted about it providing services to terrorist-affiliated websites. At the time, Prince defended the move by saying it's not 'sending money' or 'helping people arm themselves.' Brazilian actor Marco Pigossi took on his first English-speaking role for Australia's Netflix original series, Tidelands. And the 29-year-old has revealed he struggled with mastering the Australian accent while filming the show in Queensland. Starring alongside of primarily Australian and New Zealand actors, Marco told Daily Mail on Tuesday: 'I was like, "Oh my god, this is never going to work!"' Scroll down for video 'I thought it was never going to work!' Brazilian actor Marco Pigossi (right) has revealed he struggled with the Australian accent during his first English-speaking role in Tidelands While Marco is widely known in Brazil for appearing in soap operas, his decision to act in English has become his 'most beautiful challenge as an actor'. Claiming to have picked up some weird and wonderful phrases on set in Queensland, Marco recalled a moment with a stunt director that left him stumped. He explained: '[The stunt director was] full Queenslander. Super Aussie. He came to me and said, "Can you roarde a bork?"' Marco had no idea he was being asked if he could 'ride a bike' and responded, 'What's a bork?' 'Just fly me back!' Speaking to Daily Mail Australia earlier this week, Marco recalled a moment with an Australian stunt director that left him stumped. Pictured with co-star Charlotte Best Lost in translation: Marco explained, 'The stunt director was full Queenslander. Super Aussie. He came to me and said, "Can you roarde a bork?"' What he meant was, 'Can you ride a bike?' The actor has to ask for clarification several times, and ended up thinking to himself: 'Oh my god, this is never going to work - fly me back, just fly me back!' Marco said he eventually got used to the Australian accent, and even caught himself adopting a slight Aussie twang on set. On the red carpet at Sydney's premiere on Monday night, he also told Daily Mail Australia that he hopes to continue with English-speaking roles in the future. Rising star: On the red carpet at Sydney's premiere on Monday night, Marco also told Daily Mail Australia that he hopes to continue with English-speaking roles in the future He's also hoping that a second season of Tidelands, which also stars Elsa Pataky in the lead role, will be commissioned. Tidelands follows the journey of an ex-con who uncovers the secrets of a fishing town and its half-siren, half-human residents after a dead body washes up on shore. Tidelands - the first Australian original series for Netflix - debuts on December 14 MasterChef star George Calombaris has celebrated his Greek heritage by enjoying a singalong in the car. The 40-year-old took time out while sitting in his vehicle to belt out a Greek language song, in a video shared to Instagram on Friday. The celebrity chef put on quite the display and let fans know he still isn't that well-versed in the Greek language. Scroll down for video 'As an Aussie boy, I didn't go to Greek school': MasterChef star George Calombaris, 40, (pictured) sang to a Greek tune, while in the car on Friday 'As an Aussie boy, I didn't go to Greek School,' he confessed, 'so to teach myself Greek, I listen to Greek music and sing along.' In the short video, George first started out confidently singing the lyrics of the song before he started appearing a little stumped. It turns out, however, he was spotted singing by a pal. 'Only problem is when you get busted by a mate,' he finished. 'Only problem is when you get busted by a mate': Despite confidently belting out a Greek song, George then got busted by a pal George appears to be going down memory lane this week, reflecting on a number of personal points in his life. The restaurateur shared a throwback image of himself to Instagram on Thursday, sporting a full head of hair. George did not elaborate on the baby-faced photo, which showed him sitting on a circular table with a white tablecloth. Memory lane: George shared a throwback photo of himself in 2004, with a full head of brown hair to Instagram on Thursday The photo, taken in 2004, drew attention to the considerable amount of weight he has lost in recent years. It was revealed George had lost a whopping 20 kilos in recent years during an interview with OK! magazine in May. He said his motivation for slimming down came down to health and wanting to be there for his young family. 'I keep active because I've got two beautiful kids and a beautiful partner who I want to be around for,' he explained. George shares children James and Michaela with wife Natalie Tricarico, who he married in September. She recently revealed her secret battle with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition that results in extreme bouts of lethargy and anxiety in the two weeks before a period. And on Monday, Bridget Malcolm offered a glimpse at just how much she struggles with the condition on a day-to-day basis, and also opened up about her endometriosis diagnosis. In a blog post, the 26-year-old Australian model explained she needs at least 12 hours of sleep a night to function and can't stay up past 8pm. 'I have been finding it hard to stand lately, let alone work out': Bridget Malcolm has revealed her health struggles mean she can't stay up past 8pm and has to sleep 12 HOURS a night 'I have been finding it hard to stand lately, let alone work out, but being active really does take away energy dips. When I am fit, I have no issues with energy,' she wrote. 'Having PMDD and endometriosis means that I cannot remember the last time I was able to go out for dinner with friends. I am usually in bed by eight, and easily sleep around 12 hours often more.' The Victoria's Secret model added that in addition to doing a small cardio workout in the evenings, she also stops drinking coffee after midday, goes to bed early each night and avoids consuming refined sugars. Ordeal: 'I have been finding it hard to stand lately, let alone work out, but being active does take away energy dips. When I am fit, I have no issues with energy,' she wrote in a blog post 'Keeping your blood sugar relatively stable and off the roller coaster of refined sugar will do wonders for your energy,' she added. In June, Bridget revealed that she was 'unknowingly' suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) during a swimwear photo shoot. She captioned a behind-the-scenes snap on Instagram: 'During this shoot I was battling PMDD unknowingly. Everyone on set was absolutely amazing, so sweet and the trip went well. I am so thankful for that. However, I was an anxious wreck, second guessing myself and terrified of the dark.' Diagnosis: In June, Bridget revealed that she was 'unknowingly' suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) during a swimwear photo shoot What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and what are the symptoms? While most women with PMS find their symptoms uncomfortable, a small percentage have symptoms severe enough to stop them living their normal lives. This is the result of a more intense type of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The symptoms of PMDD are similar to those of PMS, but are more exaggerated and often have more psychological symptoms than physical ones. Symptoms can include: feelings of hopelessness persistent sadness or depression extreme anger and anxiety decreased interest in usual activities sleeping much more or less than usual very low self-esteem extreme tension and irritability As depression is a common symptom of PMDD, it's possible that a woman with PMDD may have thoughts about suicide. PMDD can be particularly difficult to deal with as it can have a negative effect on your daily life and relationships. Source: NHS choices Advertisement 'It has been a hellish couple of weeks for my anxiety and general mental well-being. But I finally have a diagnosis - PMDD,' she added. Bridget explained that she was 'struggling' with the condition that affects three to eight per cent of women. 'I am struggling. It is OK to admit that. It is when we hit the dark, rock bottoms that we are forced to find a new way, and to stop living life in a reactionary state. I love my life. And I will get it back,' she concluded. 'I am struggling. It is OK to admit that': Bridget explained that she was 'struggling' with the condition that affects three to eight per cent of women In a separate blog post, Bridget delved deeper into the symptoms of PMDD. 'Basically, for two weeks out of every month (during the luteal phase of my cycle), my mental state gets hijacked by darkness; this shifty shadow sits on my shoulder, and tells me I am a terrible human who doesn't deserve anything good,' she wrote. 'It also drums up some epic anxiety, lethargy, a lot of sleeping, catastrophic thoughts and anxiety attacks. Each morning during this time, I get handed this platter of debilitating emotional pain, and I have to navigate my way through.' She attended the wedding of Today Show host Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough in Mexico last weekend. And on Friday, model Montana Cox shared with Instagram fans that she was back home in Sydney. Standing along the shore of a hidden beach, the 25-year-old drew attention to her pert derriere in a sheer white slip dress. Scroll down for video 'Back to the sun': Montana Cox, 25, (pictured) highlighted her pert derriere in a sheer white slip dress in an Instagram photo on Friday, as she returned from Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough's Mexico wedding The brunette beauty offered the camera a sultry look and accessorised with a bamboo-inspired tote bag and headscarf. Montana appeared happy to have returned home, writing in the picture's caption: 'Back to the sun.' It comes after the Next Top Model winner joined a slew of other celebrities at Karl and Jasmine's nuptials in Los Cabos, Mexico over the weekend. Dazzling: Montana (pictured with Ronnie Flynn) was one of many celebrities who attended Karl and Jasmine's Mexico wedding over the weekend The Melbourne-based star shared a photo to Instagram of herself with pal Ronnie Flynn, prior to attending the nuptials. Montana dazzled in a plunging blue evening dress that accentuated her cleavage. The IMG model kept her look high-glam by styling her locks in an elegant up-do. Star-studded: Montana joined high-profile guests at the nuptials including Richard Wilkins (far left), Julie Bishop (second right) and Christian Wilkins (far right) Daily Mail Australia understands that Montana and Jasmine have been friends for several years. Karl, 44, and Jasmine, 34, tied the knot at a picturesque chapel at the One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabo, Mexico, on Saturday. Karl and Jasmine held a glamorous reception under a futuristic gazebo-like structure on the beach outside of the resort. The reception was followed by a Studio 54-themed wedding recovery party on Sunday evening. He has been dating jewellery designer Laura Byrne for more than a year. And The Bachelor's Matthew Johnson hinted on Friday that the couple could be expecting a child when he joked about baby names. Speaking on his Nova 96.9 summer breakfast show, the 31-year-old said he wants to name his firstborn 'something crazy'. Scroll down for audio He said what?! The Bachelor's Matthew Johnson (pictured) hinted on Friday his girlfriend Laura Byrne could be pregnant after joking about choosing a 'crazy' name for their first child 'I wanna call my child something crazy like Moon, or Phoenix, or River,' he told co-hosts Sarah McGilvray and Matt de Groot. Sarah confirmed that her colleague was quite serious about giving his child an unusual name. 'I said he should go with something like Bear. I feel like Bear is an under-used name here,' she said. Matt de Groot then asked: 'Is Laura a more conventional traditionalist or is she into this alternate naming?' How unusual! 'I wanna call my child something crazy like Moon, or Phoenix, or River,' Matty told his Nova 96.9 co-hosts Sarah McGilvray (centre) and Matt de Groot (left) Something to tell us? Starting a family may not be far off for Matty, following rumours his partner Laura (right) could already be pregnant 'Good question, I'm going to take the reigns on this one - I haven't even consulted her for when the time comes!' Matty replied. He explained his reason for wanting a unique name for his child was because he and his siblings - Tom, David, Matt, Adam and Kate - have 'quiet boring' names. Starting a family may not be far off for Matty, following rumours his partner Laura could already be pregnant. Ready to settle down: Back in November, the former marketing manager said he planned to propose to Laura 'next year' Back in November, the former marketing manager said he planned to propose to Laura 'next year'. 'It will definitely be next year,' Matty told Daily Mail Australia, adding that a wedding would not be too far behind. 'I've always been a fan of a quick turnaround. I've never been a fan of a long engagement,' he added. 'If you're going to do it, you should have the occasion take place within 12 months.' Julie Bishop is well-known for her impeccable style and love of designer labels. But on Friday, the 62-year-old made the surprising decision to recycle one of her outfits as she returned to Sydney from Mexico with her boyfriend David Panton. The former Minister for Foreign Affairs wore the exact same tweed jacket and black trousers for her flight home that she wore during her earlier flight to Mexico last week for Karl Stefanovic's wedding. She's back! Julie Bishop returned to Sydney from Mexico on Friday in the same tweed jacket and black trousers that she wore during her outgoing flight last week Julie even wore the same sunglasses as last time, but her earrings were noticeably different. She also opted for a different pair of high heels, swapping the $930 Nicholas Kirkwood heels from her outgoing flight for a new pair of sparkly stilettos. No doubt happy to be home after a week spent overseas, Julie was beaming as she strolled out of Sydney Airport with property developer David. Looking good: The 62-year-old was joined by her property developer boyfriend David Panton Globetrotters: The genetically-blessed couple exuded style as they stepped out of the airport VIPs: Julie and David were among the high-profile guests at Karl Stefanovic's wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico last weekend Shady lady! The popular politician concealed her famous face behind a pair of dark sunglasses Sleek and chic! The stylish lawmaker showed some panache as she adjusted her tweed jacket At one point, the high-profile couple shared a discreet kiss on the cheek. The pair were met by photographers as they left the airport, but Julie avoiding answering a question about whether or not she thinks Karl Stefanovic is 'the best journalist in the world'. 'I just got home guys,' she said as her boyfriend smiled. Shine bright like a diamond! Julie swapped the $930 Nicholas Kirkwood heels from her outgoing flight for a new pair of sparkly stilettos Sweet smile! The 'Minister of Fashion' flashed a smile for her friends in the paparazzi pack What's so interesting? Julie and David appeared to be engaged in a deep discussion In a good mood? Both Julie and David appeared to be in good spirits despite the long flight Since flying to Mexico for Karl's nuptials to Jasmine Yarbrough last week, Julie has made headlines for her impeccably stylish outfits. She came close to upstaging the bride by wearing a sparkling, one-shoulder silver dress to the wedding and official reception. And on Tuesday, she was spotted heading to the exclusive members-only club Soho House in West Hollywood carrying a $2,850 Chanel bag. 'I just got home guys!' Julie avoided a question from photographers about Karl Stefanovic Amanda Stanton has hit back at body shamers who call her too thin. Taking to Instagram stories on Thursday, the Bachelor alum first thanked everyone for the 'kind messages' she received for her work out post. But 5ft2 tall Amanda hit back at 'nasty ones' as well, insisting: 'I do not have an eating disorder and I am naturally skinny. I've gotten skinnier throughout the years since having kids.' Standing up for herself: On Thursday Bachelor alum Amanda Stanton, seen at The Bellagio in Las Vegas, hit back at bodyshamers who called her too skinny in a long Instagram rant And the 28-year-old added: 'That happens sometimes as people age. Everyone has different body types and everyone is beautiful exactly the way they are. 'Our differences and flaws are what make us unique. If you see someone making an effort to be healthy and take care of themselves, why hate on that? 'And for anyone that comments about how I looked "healthier" and better on the Bachelor, it may have LOOKED that way. But I am 100x healthier now that I was then,' she continued. 'I was drinking wine and mimosas every day and not working out whatsoever. I am healthy and happy and whatever number it says on the scale isn't an indicator of that. 'I encourage everyone to love themselves just the way they are and to be proud of yourself if you're making an effort to be healthy and strongerregardless of what that looks like for you on the outside.' Shaming the haters: Amanda, who looked slender at the Revolve Awards in Las Vegas in November, continued, 'I do not have an eating disorder and I am naturally skinny' Amanda came fourth in the 20th season of The Bachelor in 2016 and also appeared in Bachelor In Paradise the same year. She shares daughters Kinsley and Charlie with ex husband Nick Buonfiglio, to whom she was married from 2012 to 2015. Now she's dating pro-beach volleyball player Bobby Jacobs, 32, who towers over her at a lofty 6ft 6ins. They went through a highly publicized split back in 2016. But Flip Or Flop stars Tarek and Christina El Moussa have patched things up enough to give gave first joint interview since their divorce on Monday. But it wasn't all smiles - Christina, 35, laughed as she joked that there were days when she wanted to 'kill' her 37-year-old ex-husband. Back in the same room: Tarek and Christina El Moussa seemed to have patched things up enough to get back to their show Flip or Flop when they gave their first joint interview since their divorce on Monday In August the former couple revealed that they would be returning for another season of their hit series Flip Or Flop, and Today anchor Natalie Morales asked why the couple thought it was worth returning to the show. 'It was up and down, up and down,' admitted Taked, explaining. 'We shot the pilot in summer of 2011, so we've been doing this for a really long time. It's part of who we are and what we do, and for us to just throw everything away, it just wasn't worth it.' 'And most importantly, we have two amazing kids together. So it's just easier to work together and get along.' added Christina. The 35-year-old blonde beauty even revealed that there were days when she wanted to 'kill' her 37-year-old ex-husband Flip or Flop stars Christina El Moussa and Tarek El Moussa talked to @nmoralesnbc in their first interview together since their split. pic.twitter.com/UFRO4XzVrj TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 14, 2018 We;re back: In August the former couple revealed that they would be returning for another season of their hit series Flip or Flop, and Today anchor Natalie Morales asked why the couple thought it was worth returning to the show Up and down: 'It was up and down, up and down,' admitted Taked, explaining. 'We shot the pilot in summer of 2011, so we've been doing this for a really long time. It's part of who we are and what we do, and for us to just throw everything away, it just wasn't worth it.' Wondering about their relationship now, the host asked if there are days when Christina wants to 'kill' Tarek. 'Yeah, of course. Maybe today might be one of them,' responded Christina with alacrity. Tarek jokingly responded, 'The question is, are there days when I don't want to kill her?' Moving forward: 'And most importantly, we have two amazing kids together. So it's just easier to work together and get along.' added Christina Not always easy: Wondering about their relationship now, the host asked if there are days when Christina wants to 'kill' Tarek The exes then were asked about Christina's boyfriend, British TV presenter Ant Anstead, and Tarek referred to him as, 'Great,' adding, 'He seems like a good guy. My kids seem to like him.' He then shared that he is currently dating, but it will probably be awhile before he gets into anything serious again. 'I don't think I'm gonna have a relationship for quite some time,' he said. Day by day: 'Yeah, of course. Maybe today might be one of them,' responded Christina with alacrity Getting better: The exes then were asked about Christina's boyfriend, British TV presenter Ant Anstead, and Tarek referred to him as, 'Great,' adding, 'He seems like a good guy. My kids seem to like him.' Besides hosting Flip or Flop, Christina will also be going solo with her new spin-off Christina on the Coast. Christina and Tarek married in 2009, and have two kids together, eight year old daughter Taylor and three year old son Brayden. The couple split in 2017 citing irreconcilable differences, following a 2016 incident where Tarek fled their home with a gun, and finalized their divorce in January this year. Christina has been dating Anstead since November 2017. Her husband John Krasinski jokingly hit out at Hugh Jackman in November, after the Wolverine star cosied up to his wife on the red carpet. And this week, English-American actress Emily Blunt weighed in on the humorous feud while promoting her new movie, Mary Poppins Returns, on Australian breakfast program Sunrise. The faux feud began on Twitter when the Australian actor Tweeted a snap of himself standing on the Actors on Actors red carpet with Emily. Emily Blunt weighs in on her husband John Krasinski's feud with actor Hugh Jackman after her beau threatened the Wolverine star with violence following a cosy red carpet moment 'Had the pleasure of chatting with the amazing Emily Blunt today,' Hugh captioned the harmless picture next to the blonde stunner. But Emily's actor husband John quickly responded with another picture of the pair - where Hugh is seen pressing his nose against Emily's face. 'Eeeeeeasy Hugh not sure this is what @Variety meant with #ActorsonActors Don't make me think I can hurt you,' John comically Tweeted. Ryan Reynolds, who regularly shares banter with Hugh on social media, also piled on, Tweeting: 'This is a call to action. This man must be stopped.' 'Don't make me think I can hurt you': Emily's actor husband John Krasinski jokingly threatened to fight the Wolverine star for getting close to his wife on the red carpet He must be stopped! Ryan Reynolds even got in on the feud, Tweeting his support for John with a comedic post What started it all: The initial spat occurred over Twitter when the Australian actor Tweeted an innocent snap of himself standing on the Actors on Actors red carpet with Emily When asked what she thought about the quarrel, Emily admitted that it was quite exhilarating: 'I think it's going to be muskets at dawn tomorrow. It's quite exciting actually.' She was then quizzed about how it felt to be in the middle of a tussle between two of the greatest contemporary actors. 'I'll take it,' the star simply answered. 'It's quite exciting': When asked what she thought about the quarrel, Emily admitted that it was quite exhilarating. (Pictured with husband John) Emily is playing the iconic role of Mary Poppins, 54 years after Julie Andrews first stepped into the character. The actress has said she refused to watch the original film ahead of her performance, as she was concerned she would end up mirroring Julie's iconic portrayal of the role. The all-star cast is rounded off by Meryl Streep as Mary's eccentric cousin Topsy, Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Jr. and Angela Lansbury as The Balloon Lady. Mary Poppins Returns will be released in Australia on December 19. Kim Cattrall has killed all hope of another installment of the popular Sex And the City movie. And now Sarah Jessica Parker has also confirmed the third movie is not in the works when she spoke to Variety on Thursday in New York City. The 53-year-old was attending the Women In Film & Television's Muse Awards gala luncheon when she revealed it wouldn't be happening at this time. Sorry fans! Sarah Jessica Parker confirmed on Thursday that a third Sex In The Movie was not in the works, when she attended the Women in Film & Television's Muse Awards gala luncheon in NYC 'It's not something we are talking about right now,' she said. 'I just done have a clue.' In September last year DailyMailTV exclusively revealed that just days before filming of the third Sex And The City movie was set to start, Cattrall pulled out. She was said to have demanded Warner Bros produce other movies she had in development or she wouldn't sign up for the project - something she has denied. No take three: Sarah Jessica's statement comes after co-star Kim Cattral (who played Samantha Jones) has openly refused to have any part in the project (L-R: Cynthia Nixon [Charlotte York], Sarah Jessica Parker [Carrie Bradshaw], Kim Cattral [Samantha Jones], Kristin Davis [Charlotte York]) An E! source explained. 'It was a combination of not great money and a bad storyline for Samantha. It was a bad script.' The publication also revealed that the script had called for Samantha to be on the receiving end of sexting and 'd**k pics' from Miranda's (played by Cynthia Nixon) 14-year-old son Brady - and that was the final straw. It's been previously reported that the main focus of a third SATC film was going to be the sudden death from a heart attack of Chris Noth's character Mr. Big and how Parker's character Carrie Bradshaw dealt with the loss of her one true love. Two was enough: 'Kim never wanted to really do the movie to begin with,' E!'s source explained. 'It was a combination of not great money and a bad storyline for Samantha. It was a bad script. Kim, it was claimed, felt that the movie relegated the relationship between Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) to a secondary level of importance while Parker as Carrie would get the primary attention. Sarah Jessica, 53, confirmed last year that there was a 'beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, joyful, very relatable' script but that the third movie was not happening. It's also been claimed that Cattrall has long been upset that she was paid less than Parker. Not getting the girls back together: 'Its not something we are talking about right now. I just dont have a clue,' the actress told Variety on Thursday at the New York Women in Film & Televisions Muse Awards gala luncheon Storyline: It's been previously reported that the main focus of a third SATC film was going to be the sudden death from a heart attack of Chris Noth's character Mr. Big and how Parker's character Carrie Bradshaw dealt with the loss of her one true love Speaking on the Origins podcast, Sex And The City executive producer Michael Patrick King confirmed she was paid more than her co-stars because she was the lead. 'The show doesn't exist if Sarah Jessica wasn't the blonde star of the show, that's number one,' King explained. 'Kim was not at the height of her career, Kristin was under her in terms of notability, Cynthia was a theater actress and their contracts reflected that status.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hired Clare Smyth to take charge of the menu at their evening wedding reception Chosen by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to take charge of the menu at their evening wedding reception in May, Clare Smyth declared the experience completely surreal, adding that it was really fantastic to have worked with the royal couple. Regrettably, however, some of Smyths would-be customers at her two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Core, have been left with a sour taste in their mouths. Thats not because of any deficiency in the dishes served by Smyth, named the Worlds Best Female Chef 2018, but because of the swingeing financial penalties levied on those having to cancel reservations through no fault of their own sometimes in distressing circumstances. Indeed, several of those who had hoped to enjoy Smyths exquisite cooking at the restaurant in Notting Hill, West London, have taken to social media to express intense dismay and to warn others. We had to cancel at the last minute as a close family member was taken into hospital, writes one. When my husband phoned to cancel the table, he was told that we were going to be charged 320 as we hadnt given 48 hours notice. Sympathy, adds this critic, was in short supply. The restaurant pretty much said that was just too bad, she says. We werent offered the option to rebook to use the 320 as a credit. Smyth's (pictured) restaurant Core in Notting Hill, West London, has a 48-hour cancellation policy which has seen some people charged up to 320 when they cancelled The Duchess of Sussex and chef Clare Smyth are pictured at the Hubb Community Kitchen We do feel that the restaurant could have made some form of exception considering the circumstances. Another thwarted customer records cancelling when his wife, then eight months pregnant, fell ill. On telephoning Core to apologise, he was told that he would be charged a 150 cancellation fee. It seems sad and greedy, he concludes. His disappointment might have been still more acute if, like another would-be diner, afflicted by a medical problem, he had cancelled 45 hours in advance only to be charged 130 as he had failed to comply with the 48-hour deadline on its website. A Core spokesman says: We have a standard 48-hour cancellation fee policy, which is clearly communicated when a reservation is made. Happily, there seem to have been no cancellations for Harry and Meghans reception at Frogmore. The smart set's talking about... Prince's pal Daisy Jenks Daisy Jenks, pictured at Mappin & Webb's flagship boutique store opening in London, was spotted strolling around in Kensington Palace's grounds after she was hired to make a film of a Christmas party The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge usually watch like hawks for paparazzi lurking outside Kensington Palace. So courtiers were surprised last week to see a young lady, casually clad in a grey jumper and dark trousers, strolling round the grounds with a video camera like she owned the place. However, I can reveal that she had special permission to be there, because she is Daisy Jenks, the wife of Prince Williams old friend Charlie van Straubenzee. Daisy, 27, is a society videographer and was hired to film a Christmas party hosted by William and Kate for the families of Armed Forces personnel. She volunteered to help create a video of the event that could be given to families attending the party, confirms a palace source. The royal appointment will, no doubt, do wonders for Daisys video business, Jenks & Co, which she runs with her 24-year-old sister Kitty. They were born in Surrey to businessman and publisher Philip Jenks and Alexandra Nicol, daughter of the German aristocrat Christiane Freiin von Canstein. Daisy studied robotics at Cambridge, but found her calling making quirky wedding videos. If any courtiers should doubt her status, at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles nuptials, Daisy was seated in the Quire of St Georges Chapel, opposite HM. With Pippa Middleton for a sister-in-law and model Vogue Williams as his wife, reality TV star Spencer Matthews is truly blessed. And the erstwhile Casanova says things have got even better since Vogue gave birth to their first child, Theodore. Weve been sent loads of baby stuff, says the Old Etonian, 30. I am thinking of opening a second-hand shop. I have got, like, nine prams. More children may soon be on the way, as Spencer boasts of his fecundity: We did think it would take longer [to conceive], as Vogue had been on the Pill for years. Four days later pregnant. She's been enviably open when it comes to talking about herself on her show Red Table Talk. And Jada Pinkett Smith once again has delved into a sensitive subject in two clips from the new episode. The 47-year-old Gotham actress opened up about her battle with severe depression in the latest short video. Not shy: Jada Pinkett Smith, 47, once again has delved into a sensitive subject in two clips from the new episode of Red Table Talk She was also joined by her daughter Willow, 18, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones. For the talk, the mother-of-two opted for a double denim ensemble, along with a sequined tank top. 'I was severely depressed, severely,' the Hollywood star admitted to the other two women, before adding 'and that was something that I battled with for years. Waking up in the morning was like the worst part of the day.' All together! She was also joined by her daughter Willow, 18, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones (left) Tough talk: 'I was severely depressed, severely,' the Hollywood star admitted to the other two women, before adding 'and that was something that I battled with for years. Waking up in the morning was like the worst part of the day' She then described how she struggled to make it through each and every day. 'By the time the evening time came I was at least like, 'OK, I'm good, but then you go to sleep again and then you gotta...you gotta restart,' she admitted. A related discussion also showed up in a clip released earlier in the week. Heartbreaking: She then described how she struggled to make it through each and every day New information? Jada shares with her mother and daughter that she came to a realization about having had a mental breakdown years before In that teaser video, Jada shares that she came to a realization about having had a mental breakdown years before. 'It's like when you just don't have control over emotions, your thoughts, you feel completely and utterly out of control,' shared the wife of Will Smith. As the other woman echoed her sentiments, she lightheartedly continued 'I don't even think at that particular time I understood that it was what people would consider a nervous breakdown.' Stephanie Davis has 'confirmed' that she is dating her Hollyoaks co-star Owen Warner after the duo 'fell head over heels' during filming on set. The actress, 25, has been single since her turbulent relationship with Jeremy McConnell came to an end in 2017 but found romance with Romeo Quinn actor Owen after she returned to Hollyoaks earlier this year. A spokesperson for the star, who plays Sinead O'Connor in the show, revealed to The Mirror on Saturday: 'They are in a relationship and they are very happy.' New love?: Stephanie Davis 'CONFIRMED' romance with Hollyoaks co-star Owen Warner... after duo 'fall head over heels' during filming on set This comes after a source told The Sun: 'It's well known among the cast that they're dating but it's very early days for them both. 'Steph is being really cautious and has wanted to keep their relationship out of the public eye. 'They make a really nice couple and all of their friends and co-stars have been really supportive. Everyone just wants Steph to be happy.' Cosy: After returning to Hollyoaks earlier this year as her character Sinead O'Connor, the actress, 25, is said to have found romance with Romeo Quinn actor Owen (pictured together far right) A source told The Sun: 'It's well known among the cast that they're dating but it's very early days for them both.' MailOnline has contacted Stephanie's representative for comment. The reports come after the duo have been pictured on each other's Instagram accounts and even liking each other's photos. Owen also appeared to go Instagram official with Stephanie, as he posted a video of her singing on his Instagram on Friday, and referred to her as 'my girl'. In October, Stephanie shared a picture of herself with some of her co-stars which included I'm A Celeb star Malique Thompson-Dwyer and Owen. She captioned the picture with: 'These guys, Beautiful inside and out,' followed by a heart emoji. Busy bee: The reports come after the duo have been pictured on each other's Instagram accounts and even liking each other's photos While Owen shared a group picture on Halloween, in which he had his arms wrapped around Stephanie, with the duo both in costume, he said: 'Start of the night end of the night.' Stephanie's last relationship was with Jeremy McConnell after the duo met on the 2016 series of Celebrity Big Brother. The duo went on to have a son together, Caben-Albi, but their turbulent relationship ended once and for all in 2017 after public spats, domestic violence and a consequential three-year restraining order. More than just friends?: Owen shared a group picture on Halloween, in which he had his arms wrapped around Stephanie, with the duo both in costume Jeremy was charged for domestic violent in August 2017 after being accused of assaulting Stephanie in a drug-fuelled row, and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and 200 hours community service. After their high-profile split, Stephanie bravely entered rehab for alcohol addiction and she celebrated 90 days sober in mid February. Fuelled by achieving fame at the tender age of 17, the brunette became addicted to alcohol and was consequentially booted off Hollyoaks as she arrived on set 'unfit for work' in July 2015. But after turning her life around and entering rehab for alcohol addiction, Stephanie returned to the soap in October and has received huge praise from her fans. Strictly Come Dancing star Neil Jones has reportedly fired back at Seann Walsh over gay jibes the comedian recently made about him during a stand-up performance. The professional dancer, 35, has reportedly made it clear to the comic, 33, that he was not impressed with his comments and is also said to have banned his wife Katya from speaking to Seann after the series final. A source told The Sun: 'Neil made angry comments backstage and complained about Seann to the other pro dancers. Talk: Strictly Come Dancing's Neil Jones, 35, has reportedly made it clear to the Seann Walsh, 33, that he was not impressed with his recent gay jibes 'He had kept a dignified silence until now but he has also had words with Katya, 29, to tell her that once this final commitment is over he doesnt want her to see or talk to him again.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Neil and Strictly Come Dancing for comment. Seann drunkenly shared a passionate kiss with his Strictly dance partner Katya shortly after the series again and promptly split from girlfriend Rebecca Humphries. They issued an apology shortly after the kiss was made perfect. Tension: A source said: 'Neil made angry comments backstage and complained about Seann to the other pro dancers' No more: Neil has reportedly told his wife Katya not to speak to her dance partner Sean after the Strictly Come Dancing final During a recent stand-up performance in Kennington, the 33-year-old was reported to have said: 'You know who I am now motherf****r, I'm the guy who kissed a gay man's wife.' The comic quickly added to the audience: 'don't report that' and insisted he was only joking. Seann and Katya were the fifth couple eliminated from the series on October 28. Neil joined Strictly as a new dancer in 2016 and has been with the series since. Controversy: Seann drunkenly shared a snog with his Strictly dance partner Katya shortly after the series again and promptly split from girlfriend Rebecca Humphries Professionals: Neil joined Strictly as a new dancer in 2016 and has been with the series since The German-born TV star has been dancing since the age of 3 and has represented the UK, the Netherlands and Finland during his dancing career. Neil and Katya tied the knot in 2013 after five years of dating. They first started dating in 2008 after a chance meeting in Blackpool. The Strictly Come Dancing final airs on Saturday with this year's finalists made up of Ashley Roberts, Faye Tozer, Joe Sugg and Stacey Dooley. She is a talented actress who is currently dating Hollywood superstar Chris Pine. And Annabelle Wallis looked sensational as she touched down in Los Angeles on Friday. The Peaky Blinders actress, 34, looked chic in a black t-shirt paired with black skinny jeans which showcased her slender legs. Strut: Annabelle Wallis looked sensational as she touched down in Los Angeles on Friday She added a pop of colour with some scarlet lace-up boots. Bundling up, she slipped on a camel woollen coat and carried a black studded bag. Her caramel locks were styled in loose waves while her pretty features were enhanced with a radiant dusting of make-up. She covered her eyes with futuristic shades. Happy: The Peaky Blinders actress, 34, looked chic in a black t-shirt paired with black skinny jeans which showcased her slender legs Cosy: Bundling up, she slipped on a camel woollen coat and carried a black studded bag Annabelle was first rumoured to be dating Star Trek actor Chris back in April. A source told US Weekly magazine at the time: 'They kept it casual for the beginning. Chris was very attentive and wooed her.' The couple were pictured together for the first time later that month when they attended a dinner party in Malibu, California, but have remained under the radar ever since. A source divulged: 'Chris and Annabelle hardly separated throughout the evening and couldn't take their eyes off each other.' Glowing: Her caramel locks were styled in loose waves while her pretty features were enhanced with a radiant dusting of make-up Annabelle was previously in a long-term relationship with Coldplay's Chris Martin, 41; the couple dated for two years before calling times on their romance in June 2017. The Peaky Blinders actress has explained in the past that she prefers to keep her dating life private. 'It becomes hard when you know about someone's personal life - it's just distracting. It's a whole other job in itself if you go down that road,' she said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in June 2017. 'I love the person I love, but it means so much to me that I like to keep it safe. I have nothing to hide. 'It's just that when you have people in your life that you care about, you get very protective of them, and it's not about you any more, it's about other people, and the ones you love are the ones you protect like a lioness.' Chris was most recently linked to actress Sofia Boutella, 36, and in the past has dated model Dominique Piek, Big Little Lies star Zoe Kravitz and actress Olivia Munn. Bachelor couple Matthew 'Matty J' Johnson and Laura Byrne are expecting their first child in June. And the expectant parents have revealed the heartwarming moment they first saw their baby's heartbeat during an ultrasound session in October. Matty J, 31, shared the sweet video to Instagram on Saturday, with his pregnant partner Laura heard giddy with excitement: 'That's a baby heartbeat!' 'That's a heartbeat!' Bachelor Matty J and partner Laura Byrne have shared a heartwarming ultrasound video of their unborn child after making their baby announcement on Saturday Laura, who is now 15-weeks pregnant, was first speculated to be pregnant in November at the Australian Fashion Laureate Awards. In the Instagram video of the ultrasound showing the heartbeat, the father-to-be can be heard whispering, 'that's crazy.' 'That's a baby heartbeat,' Laura said. 'Beat faster,' Matty joked, she added, 'Oh it's pretty fast.' In the caption of the video, he wrote, 'This is the very first time we saw our baby's heartbeat at eight weeks,' along with love heart emojis. Heartbeat: Matty J, 31, shared the sweet video to Instagram on Saturday, with his pregnant partner Laura heard giddy with excitement: 'That's a baby heartbeat!' Proud parents! After sharing the good news on Saturday, the couple were spotted walking hand-in-hand leaving their Bondi home 10 weeks! Matty J couldn't help but share more photos of their child via ultrasound photos He followed up the video post with a sonogram picture of their child at 10 weeks old. The couple surprised their legions of followers early on Saturday with series of photos from a beach side photo shoot announcing their baby joy. In the snaps, Matty can be seen giving his radiant looking partner a loving embrace as she held up a picture of their child. Another photo of the shows the pair holding up the photo while sharing a sweet and tender kiss. Matty demonstrated his happiness in one photo by jumping for joy as Laura giggled with glee. Surprise! The couple surprised their legions of followers early on Saturday with series of photos from a beach side photo shoot announcing their baby joy. In the snaps, Matty can be seen giving his radiant looking partner a loving embrace as she held up a picture of their child Protecting the bump: On Saturday, the couple were later spotted walking hand-in-hand leaving their Bondi home On Saturday, the couple were later spotted walking hand-in-hand leaving their Bondi home. The brunette beauty kept her baby bump hidden under a billowing, black maxi dress teamed with black cat-eye sunglasses. Laura kept her look low-key with a pair of stylish slides and carried a red pouch for a pop of colour. Maternity chic: The brunette beauty kept her baby bump hidden under a billowing, black maxi dress teamed with black cat-eye sunglasses. Laura kept her look low-key with a pair of stylish slides and carried a red pouch for a pop of colour Excited for fatherhood: Beaming alongside her was her beau who dressed to match the jewellery designer in an all-black active wear ensemble with sunglasses as well Beaming alongside the jewellery designer was her beau who dressed to match her in an all-black, active wear ensemble with sunglasses as well. The parents-to-be appeared positively excited as they made their way to their car after sharing their happy news on social media. Earlier in the morning, Laura expressed her excitement at becoming parents in her Instagram post, writing in the caption: 'Happy doesn't even come close.' 'Happy doesn't even come close!' Laura first sparked pregnancy speculation when she was pictured in November with a visible bump at a Sydney event 'We're having a baby! Old mate @matthewdavidjohnson and I are beyond excited to finally be able to share that I'm cooking an orange sized baby Johnson-Byrne.' The couple also showed off their quirky sense of humour by editing in a Christmas hat on the photo of their baby who appeared to be waving in its ultrasound photo. Laura added in the caption, 'It's little hand is waving at everyone, my heart.' Equally excited, Matty J wrote in the caption of his Instagram announcement: 'I'm so bad at keeping secrets so I'm EXTREMELY excited to let everyone know, we are having a little baby!' Tying the knot? Laura said a shotgun wedding would not be happening any time soon, 'I have never been the type of girl to envisage my wedding day... but I have definitely thought of myself as a mum.' Pictured: Matty giving Laura a promise ring in the 2016 Bachelor finale News of their baby joy comes after Laura told The Daily Telegraph that a shotgun wedding would not be happening any time soon. 'I have never been the type of girl to envisage my wedding day, or the dress, but I have definitely thought of myself as a mum,' she said. But Matty noted that eventually: 'It will happen.' Coincidentally, Matty revealed that he wants to name his firstborn 'something crazy' during a conversation about baby names on Friday's edition of Nova's summer breakfast show. 'I wanna call my child something crazy like Moon, or Phoenix, or River,' he told co-hosts Sarah McGilvray and Matt de Groot. Matt de Groot then asked: 'Is Laura a more conventional traditionalist or is she into this alternate naming?' 'Good question, I'm going to take the reigns on this one - I haven't even consulted her for when the time comes!' Matty replied. He explained his reason for wanting a unique name for his child was because he and his siblings - Tom, David, Matt, Adam and Kate - have 'quiet boring' names. She is reportedly set to become engaged to boyfriend Chris Martin. But Dakota Johnson looked unfazed by the chatter, as she headed to a gym in Burbank, CA on Friday. The actress appeared to be in a cheery mood as she sported a bright smile on her face. Keeping fit as always! Dakota Johnson was ready for a workout as she headed to a gym in Burbank, CA on Friday The beautiful brunette wore a comfortable pullover sweater and leggings. Dakota completed her look with matching sneakers and shades. In lieu of a ponytail, the daughter of Melanie Griffith wore her long locks down and straight. Her look: The beautiful brunette wore a comfortable pullover sweater and leggings. Dakota completed her look with matching sneakers and shades Daily routine: Dakota was also seen on Thursday heading to a gym in Los Angeles Rumors continued to swirl about a future engagement for Dakota, as a source told US Weekly, 'Theyll be engaged soon.' 'Chris is head over heels,' the source continued. According to the insider, Martin was waiting for his ex Gwyneth Paltrow to wed Brad Falchuk on September 29 before making any plans of a proposal. 'He wanted to make sure the kids didnt have too much change all at once. Hes a great dad,' the source added. Wedding bells? Rumors continued to swirl about a future engagement for Dakota, as a source told US Weekly , 'Theyll be engaged soon' And according to People magazine, Dakota Johnson spent Thanksgiving with the British rocker as well as his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow and their two children Apple and Moses. 'They're a total modern family and had a great time celebrating together,' the source told the publication. The Fifty Shades franchise star was first linked with Martin, 41, in October 2017. Modern family: Dakota Johnson spent Thanksgiving with the British rocker as well as his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow and their two children Apple and Moses When it comes to her personal style, she never leaves home without a pair of heels. And on Friday, Sofia Vergara went shopping in Beverly Hills, clad in a pair of bright pink platforms. Later that day, the beauty traded retail therapy for work on set. Retail therapy: On Friday, Sofia Vergara went shopping in Beverly Hills, clad in a pair of bright pink platforms The Colombian beauty, 46, looked cozy in a green sweater with billowy sleeves. Sofia paired her comfy top with a set of cropped camouflage pants and a brown handbag. The brunette beauty wore her, chestnut locks down and in soft, loose curls. Winter comfort: The Colombian beauty looked cozy in a green sweater with billowy sleeves Getting work done: That same day, Sofia headed to the Modern Family set That same day, Sofia headed to the Modern Family set. The star documented her last day of filming for the year, with an Instagram post. 'Last day of shooting of 2018,' she said. The set was a garage, which was filmed on a sound stage. Making memories: The star documented her last day of filming for the year, with an Instagram post to her Stories Since 2009, Sofia has starred as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family. The series was reportedly set to wrap after its current tenth season, but it looks like another one's coming along the way. While on Busy Tonight, Sofia's co-star, Jesse Tyler Ferguson spoke of the news. 'We might do one more, he began. Maybe, I don't know. Breaking news!' Ashley Tisdale was spotted out and about in West Hollywood on Friday. The 33-year-old actress looked rocker chic in a dark overcoat and polka dot shirt as she enjoyed some holiday shopping in the tony Los Angeles neighborhood. And the Disney alum debuted a fabulous new bright pink hair color for her fun outing of retail therapy. Stunner: Ashley Tisdale, 33, was spotted out and about in West Hollywood on Friday Daring to impress, the sensational beauty looked every inch the small screen star as she sported a pair of ripped pants. Meanwhile, Ashley and her husband Christopher French were seen pursuing the goods at Little MoonHaylie Duff's apparel shop - in Studio City on Sunday. Ashley, who wore her hair in crimped waves, teamed her edgy ensemble with a polka dot blouse, distressed denim, and patent leather loafers. The Disney vet accessorized with vintage cat eye sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton pet carrier. New color! The Disney alum debuted a fabulous new bright pink hair color for her fun outing of retail therapy Old school: Ashley rocked her trademark tresses just earlier this month Lovebirds: Ashley Tisdale was spotted out and about in Los Angeles with husband Christopher French on Sunday Meanwhile, Christopher was responsible for carrying the couple's toy dog, Maui. French and Tisdale grabbed lunch before the High School Musical star met up with her hairstylist, Nikki Lee. The blonde duo sauntered into Little Moon, where they found Haylie Duff tidying up her boutique. Ashley appeared to leave the shop empty handed. Supportive friends: The blonde duo visited Little MoonHaylie Duff's Studio City boutique Bundle of joy: Ashley looked enamored with Lee's baby girl Parker Tisdale is currently promoting her new single, Voice In My Head. In an interview with Build, the New Jersey native discussed her nine-year hiatus from music and her upcoming album Symptoms. 'For the last four years, I've been trying to find my sound,' she explained. 'My album Symptoms is about my journey through anxiety and depression. The album is all upbeat pop with some electronic feel to it. I'm really proud of it.' She was recently rushed to hospital for a medical emergency while filming in Hungary. And on Friday, after her shock ordeal, Ruby Rose took some time out of her busy schedule to do enjoy some sightseeing around Budapest. The actress, 32, shared a photo of herself swinging from a pillar and dressed in warm winter clothes, along with the caption 'Hungary' and a heart emoji. Scroll down for video Feeling better! Ruby Rose goes sightseeing around Budapest after she was rushed to a Hungary hospital for a medical emergency while filming Ruby also shared a glimpse of her stroll through a market square and a stall selling crystals. Her next short video showed the beautiful Christmas lights decorated around on the roofs of stalls, light posts and trees around the area. She also shared a slightly foggy video from the top of the Matthias Church and snaps from St. Stephen Statue. The next day captured footage from her drive on the Megyeri Bridge showing the cloudy view from the passengers seat and across the video 'stunning drive'. Sightseeing: Ruby also shared a glimpse of her stroll through a market square and a stall selling crystals (left). She also shared a slightly foggy video from the top of the Matthias Church (right) and snaps from St. Stephen Statue Set life: She also shared a photo of herself sat on the back of a vehicle, in what appeared to be a military costume and under a makeshift barn She also shared a photo of herself sat on the back of a vehicle, in what appeared to be a military costume and under a makeshift barn. This comes after Ruby was rushed to hospital for a medical emergency when a silicon earplug had become stuck in her ear. She wrote: 'I've had a couple co-stars end up in hospital because of ear plugs from films with gunfire and other loud noises [that] ended up being lodged in their ear canals. I always made fun of them... I will never make fun of them again!' Medical emergency: This comes after Ruby was been rushed to hospital for a medical emergency after a silicon earplug had become stuck in her ear Ruby also shared footage of herself walking into the hospital, which she captioned: 'I have a silicon ear plug inside my damn brain and I think this is the scariest hospital I've ever seen.' Fortunately, the Orange is the New Black star saw the funny side of the situation. She later posted a photo of herself in the empty emergency room, alongside which she wrote: 'If you never see me again... I hope my organs went to wonderful people.' Finally, the ear plug was successfully removed and she was able to leave hospital. 'I will never make fun of them again!' She explained that ear plugs getting stuck is quite a common problem on film sets, adding that she found it quite funny until it happened to her Dark humour: Ruby shared footage of herself walking into the hospital, which she captioned: 'I have a silicon ear plug inside my brain and I think this is the scariest hospital I've ever seen' 'It took over an hour, three doctors and a lot of screaming, crying and fainting': Finally, the ear plug was successfully removed and Ruby was able to leave hospital Ruby explained after the ordeal: 'It took over an hour, three doctors and a lot of screaming, crying and fainting to remove what had become glue around my ear drum - but they did it!' 'Now, to fix my TV... it doesn't seem to have sound working,' she added, jokingly. Ruby appears to have been filming a project in Hungary since late November. She's considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. And Paris Hilton proved worthy of the title as she commanded attention during an outing in Beverly Hills on Friday. The scintillating socialite, 37, showed off her gorgeous gams in a fabulous black couture dress in the tony neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stunner: Paris Hilton, 37, commanded attention during an outing in Beverly Hills on Friday Daring to impress, the natural beauty swathed her famous figure in the fantastic frock which boasted a white striped collar. This comes just weeks after Hilton and her fiance Chris Zylka called off their engagement. She also told E! News that she's doing fine, and she isn't even focusing on dating again, at least not for the time being. 'I'm amazing,' Hilton said. 'I am busy being a boss-babe, running an empire. That is all I have time for.' Beauty: The scintillating socialite showed off her gorgeous gams in a fabulous black couture dress in the tony neighborhood of Los Angeles 'I barely have time for myself, let alone anything else,' Hilton added. 'I am not even thinking about [dating] right now. I am literally so busy.' 'I hardly have time to see my own family, let alone do that,' Hilton added. 'I am so happy. I just love my life. 'My advice is to always be happy and feel good about yourself - because life is truly too short.' Hilton and Zylka had been dating for a year before the actor popped the question with a $2 million engagement ring in January 2018, during an Aspen vacation. After pushing the wedding date into 2019, it was announced that the engagement was called off in November 2018, Hilton just recently launched her new fragrance line, Platinum Rush. After wishing her nephews Reign and Mason Disick a happy birthday on social media, Kim Kardashian joined them in the celebration at Disneyland. Kourtney Kardashian's sons with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick share the same birthday, with Mason turning nine years old and Reign turning five years old. Also joining in on the fun was Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, along with Kim's own kids, Saint and North. Birthday celebration: Kim Kardashian pushes her kids North and West while celebrating nephews Reign and Mason's birthday at Disneyland Kim, 38, was wearing a brown hoodie plus grey pants and white shoes, while pushing her kids in a dual stroller. Kourtney, 39, was wearing a black top, leggings and a jacket during the outing, while holding a Starbucks coffee cup. Kris Jenner, 62, was also spotted at Disneyland, playing with her grandkids North and Saint. Kim at Disneyland: Kim, 38, was wearing a brown hoodie plus grey pants and white shoes, while pushing her kids in a dual stroller Kourtney at Disneyland: Kourtney, 39, was wearing a black top, leggings and a jacket during the outing, while holding a Starbucks coffee cup Kourtney was also seen riding a rollercoaster during her Disneyland outing, and walking with her sons at the resort. Jenner also took to Instagram, sharing a collage of shots of her grandsons, captioned: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful boys, Mason and Reign!' Auntie Kim Kardashian West posted a two-photo slideshow of herself with the birthday boys. Rollercoaster time: Kourtney was also seen riding a rollercoaster during her Disneyland outing, and walking with her sons at the resort. Kris and grandkids: Kris Jenner, 62, was also spotted at Disneyland, playing with her grandkids North and Saint. 'Can't wait to celebrate with you guys': Auntie Kim Kardashian took to Instagram on Friday to wish her nephews Mason and Reign Disick happy ninth and fourth birthdays respectively She wrote: 'My two nephews born on the same day!!!! Mason & Reign I love you to the moon and back! 'Watching you grow up has been the best journey ever! Cant wait to celebrate with you guys!' Meanwhile, proud grandmom Kris Jenner, 63, shared a collage of shots of her grandsons, captioned: 'Happy birthday to our beautiful boys, Mason and Reign! 'I love you so much': Proud grandmom Kris Jenner, 63, shared a collage of shots of her grandsons, captioned, 'Happy birthday to our beautiful boys, Mason and Reign!' 'It brings me so much joy to watch you grow. You are the greatest blessings in our lives and I love you so much. Happy birthday,' adding two heart emojis. As for Khloe Kardashian, she wrote: 'Happy Birthday Mase and Reign!!! I love how our family has grown 'I love how amazing you both are! We are so lucky to have the both of you!! Until the end of time, I love you!" And Khloe seemed particularly excited about Mason opening his birthday card, posting a short video of him opening his card on her Instagram stories. 'Happy birthday my loves': Scott shares this instagram shot of his sons on the back of a speedboat as he celebrated their birthdays from far away Saudi Arabia 'Happy birthday to one of the coolest people I know,' the Revenge Body host wrote in the card. 'You are one of my most favorite people in the world! Auntie KoKo.' Meanwhile, their dad, Scott Disick, who is presently in Saudi Arabie with girlfriend Sofia Richie, 20, also reached out to his boys via instagram. The 35-year-old shared a snapshot of his sons on board a speedboat, which showed Reign whispering something in Masons ear. 'Happy birthday my loves!' he wrote along with a heart emoji. Scott also shares daughter Penelope, six, with his ex, Kourtney. Seann Walsh has angered Strictly fans once again after interrupting an interview with fellow former contestants when appearing on the series spin off show on Friday. The comedian, 33, who was booted off the BBC programme in week six following a steamy smooch with his married dance partner Katya Jones, was interviewed alongside Graeme Swann, Vick Hope and Lauren Steadman. But he was up to his usual pranks as he later gatecrashed a separate segment of Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two. What a joker! Seann Walsh has angered Strictly fans once again after interrupting an interview with fellow former contestants when appearing on the series spin off show on Friday Co-host Gethin Jones was speaking with Charles Venn, Lee Ryan, Danny John-Jules and Kate Silverton when during their conversation, Seann sneaked behind them. The funnyman was captured weaving in and out of chairs before pulling strange faces and mouthing words to the camera crew. But the silly actions interrupted Gethin's talk with Casualty actor Charles about his time on the ballroom dance floor. Scandal: The comedian, 33, was booted off the BBC programme in week six following a steamy smooch with his married dance partner Katya Jones Trying to be funny: Seann was up to his usual pranks as he gatecrashed a segment of Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two Unimpressed viewers were keen to share their frustration with Seanns actions and took to Twitter to express their annoyance. One wrote: Oh Seann, you joker ........ [messing] around in the background during someone else's interview - hilarious. Another tweeted: #scd #ittakestwo What is Seann doing? A third said: Seann being an attention seeking p*** as usual. #itt #ittakestwo Reaction: Unimpressed viewers were keen to share their frustration with Seanns actions and took to Twitter to express their annoyance While one user added: Someone get rid of Seann fed up of the attention seeker especially after what he said about Neil #strictly #ItTakesTwo Seann hit headlines again last week after the comedian branded his love rival, Neil Jones, 35, gay during a stand-up routine. The comedian returned to the stage just weeks after facing public backlash for kissing his dance partner, and Neil's wife, Katya on a drunken night out during his stint on the BBC show. Making jibes: Seann hit headlines again last week after the comedian branded his love rival, Neil Jones, 35, gay during a stand-up routine Seann was performing at The Tommyfield in Kennington, South London when he made the comment about Neil's sexuality, before backtracking, telling the audience he was 'only joking', according to The Sun. The publication reports he said: 'Before the show, the newspapers were complaining they didnt know who I was, you know who I am now, motherf******. 'Im the guy who kissed a gay mans wife- please dont report that, Im only joking, Im just here trying to make you laugh.' She's a fashionista who can rock any outfit to perfection. And Gabby Allen stunned as she took posed for Boohoo's Christmas party at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester on Friday. The Love Island star, 26, looked the part at the fashion bash in a monochrome dogstooth minidress clinched at the waist with a black belt. Stunning: Gabby Allen, 26, stunned in a clingy dress as she took posed for Boohoo's Christmas party at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester on Friday Gabby slipped into a pair of snakeskin thigh high boots and rocked a matching hat to perfection. The blonde beauty wore her signature crop loose and opted for plenty of bold eye makeup to highlight her perfectly scuplted brows and sultry lashes. She sported pink lips and a healthy dosage of bronzer which she wore with long earrings and a beaded handbag. Head turner: The Love Island star looked the part at the fashion bash in a monochrome dogstooth minidress clinched at the waist with a black belt Style: She slipped into a pair of snakeskin thigh high boots and rocked a matching hat to perfection The glammed up outing comes as Gabby gushed about her romance with Rak-Su's Myles Stephenson who she confirmed she was dating three months ago. She said: 'I mean hes the first person that Ive really thought about having a long term relationship. Were talking about future things too. 'It doesnt feel weird talking about it, its not forced in any way. Its not put on. Happy: The blonde sported pink lips and a healthy dosage of bronzer which she wore with long earrings and a beaded handbag Loved up: The glammed up outing comes as Gabby gushed about her romance with Rak-Su's Myles Stephenson (pictured with Love Island's Alexandra Cane and Ellie Brown) 'I think theres a lot of time, people used to say things about me and Marcel and I believe that was right at the time. But when you feel like this about someone, thats when you know!' Gabby previously dated fellow Islander Marcel Somerville but the pair split when he cheated on her while the couple were on a trip to Mexico. Marcel previously spoke out about the incident and apologised but Gabby looks to have found happiness with her boyband beau. She recently hit back at fans after she came under fire for her nose job. But Kendall Rae Knight didn't let the criticism bother her, as she dazzled on the red carpet of the Boohoo Christmas party at Hilton Deansgate in Manchester, on Friday. The Love Island star, 26, was sure to turn heads as she made her grand entrance at the event in a sparkling one-shouldered silver jumpsuit. All that glitters: Love Island's Kendall Rae Knight turned heads in a dazzling one-shouldered jumpsuit as she arrived at the Boohoo Christmas party in Manchester on Friday Keeping to her dazzling theme, Kendall complemented her ensemble with a pair of silver heels, while she accessorised by wearing dangling earrings. Her outfit was cinched at the waist with a thin silver belt to highlight her trim figure, while she finished off her look by wearing an array of rings. The reality star wore her brunette locks in a slicked back ponytail, and she wore a glamorous palette of make-up to accentuate her pretty features. Stylish: Keeping to her dazzling theme, Kendall complemented her ensemble with a pair of silver heels, while she accessorised with dangling earrings Kendall's outing comes after she hit back at judgemental fans following her revelation she had a nose job because she couldn't breathe through her left nostril. Often taking to Instagram to promote clothes, the Love Island bombshell didn't mention the surgery until earlier this month. She penned in the post: 'Your damned if you do, your damned if you don't... so do what makes you content in life because at the end of the day, your inner happiness is all that matters. (sic)' The reality star, who had her procedure done at the Elite Cosmetic Surgery in Turkey, insisted she'd been planning the surgery since she was 16. Gorgeous: Her outfit was cinched at the waist with a thin silver belt to highlight her trim figure, while she finished off her look by wearing an array of rings She elaborated: 'So last week it came out that I had a bump removed from my nose a few months ago (not a couple of weeks ago). I've never denied this or done this in secret as all my close friends and family had known I was planning on doing this for years and they saw me through it all. 'I have had so many questions about it so thought I would answer these and put up a few stories about my little nose journey and why I wanted it doing.' The reality star, who rose to fame on this year's Love Island, added that she had a nose job due to 'personal reasons'. She added: 'I would like to say I did this for personal reasons only as I haven't been happy with my nose for many years now, along with the fact I struggled to breath through my left nostril so decided to go ahead with the procedure. 'This is not a decision I made lightly or quickly and want to stress I'm not trying to glamourise cosmetic surgery as I have never had any form of surgery before!!!' Kendall continued: 'I just wanted to share this as I'm not hiding the fact I've had it done as I'm a very open and honest person. 'I wanted to keep my results very subtle, natural and successful by opening up my left nostril package. for this I did my research and decided on @elitecosmeticsurgery. 'Everyone in this day and age has such strong opinions on surgery so I expect both the positive and negative that will come...' She then added: 'Before you tell me "you've ruined your face" etc...which is the kinder of the comments haha...think about the words you're about to use. 'I have made this decision for myself only and if I'm honest I have never been in a happier, more content place in my life. If you have any questions regarding the procedure I've had done, contact myself or @elitecosmeticsurgery.' Kim Kardashian waded into her husband Kanye West's Twitter feud with Drake on Friday. And according to TMZ, Drake has now 'beefed up' security at his home as Kanye lives in the same neighbourhood. According to the publication, the Canadian rapper, 32, has at least two new bodyguards posted outside his house in Southern California. Taking precautions: Drake has now 'beefed up' security at his home as Kanye lives in the same neighbourhood The publication also claimed that an SUV is stationed outside of Drake's home, and said the increased security comes as the feuding pair live very close to one another. MailOnline have contacted representatives for Kanye for comment, while Drake's representatives declined to comment. The feud between the pair was reignited after Kanye spent much of Friday evening posting tweets about what he claimed were 'threats' made against him by Drake. Drama: According to TMZ, the Canadian rapper has at least two new bodyguards posted outside his house in Southern California, which is very close to Kim and Kanye's house He wrote: 'So drake if anything happens to me or anyone from my family you are the first suspect So cut the tough talk.' In an earlier tweet, addressed to no one in particular, Kanye claimed 'Drake called trying to threatened [sic] me.' Another post read: 'Never threaten north saint and Chicago's dad bro'. The Power rapper also took aim at Drake's legacy, writing, 'There would never be a drake without a Kanye west so never come out your mouth with a threat [sic]'. In later tweets, the Gold Digger hitmaker again made claims about threats of violence, writing 'You threatened the safety of me and my family'. He also cried foul financially, writing, 'You tried to hurt my pockets' before he then posted a lengthy Bible verse from Revelations 2. Hitting out: The feud between the pair was reignited after Kanye spent much of Friday evening posting tweets about what he claimed were 'threats' made against him by Drake Kim even waded in on the dispute, as she tweeted directly to Drake: 'Never threaten my husband or our family. He paved the way for there to be a Drake.' She also added in another post: 'My husband is the most brilliant person, the most genius person that I know. He has broken so many boundaries, everything from music, stage design, fashion and culture and will continue to change the world.' Kim married Kanye, her third husband, in 2014 and they share three children - North, five, Saint, three, and Chicago, who was born this January. Family photo: Kim even waded in on the dispute, as she tweeted directly to Drake: 'Never threaten my husband or our family' Stand by your man: The KUWTK star took to Twitter to vent out her frustrations The barrage was sparked when the Canadian rapper apparently reached out to Kanye's team asking for permission to use a sample from the West's song Say You Will. It triggered a series of annoyed tweets from Kanye, who claimed among other things that he had been trying to meet with Drake for six months. 'Still need that apology for mentioning the 350s and trying to take food out your idols kids mouths,' he stated, following with 'been trying to meet with you for 6 months bro You sneak dissing on trav records and texting Kris talking bout how's the family.' He then went on to remind Drake that he was in fact not the one who informed Pusha T about Drake's low-profile son, adding 'It's all love bro bro but don't play with me. You stay too close to be playing all these industry games bro.' Jennifer Lawrence looked serious as she walked around New York City a day after she adamantly denied alleged claims that she slept with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. The actress, 28, is at the center of a lawsuit that says Weinstein, 66, bragged about having sex with Lawrence as he sexually assaulted another woman, identified by the alias Jane Doe. Both Lawrence and Weinstein denied the claims made in the lawsuit filed on Friday by an actress in Los Angeles County. The Oscar winner set the record straight in a statement on Friday saying the allegations are false. 'My heart breaks for all the women who were victimized by Harvey Weinstein... I have never had anything but a professional relationship with him.' Jennifer Lawrence, 28, looked serious as she shopped in New York on Saturday, a day after she denied claims that she slept with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein The Oscar Winner kept her head down and texted on her phone as she walked through Manhattan a day after she said she and Weinstein 'never had anything but a professional relationship' On Friday she said: 'My heart breaks for all the women who were victimized by Harvey Weinstein... I have never had anything but a professional relationship with him' Weinstein also denied the allegations made in a lawsuit filed on Friday that he and the Red Sparrow actress slept together The lawsuit alleges that Weinstein boasted about sleeping with Lawrence while he was sexually assaulting another woman. He allegedly said: 'I slept with Jennifer Lawrence and look where she is; she has just won an Oscar' Lawrence defiantly continued: 'This is yet another example of the predatory tactics and lies that he engaged in to lure countless women.' A spokesperson for Weinstein also furiously denied the allegations. 'This lawsuit was filed and updated strategically with no notice given or any attempt to reach out to Mr. Weinstein's attorneys for one reason; It was meant to embarrass Mr. Weinstein and garner unchecked media attention,' the statement released to TMZ said. 'There is absolutely no truth to the malicious claims made in this lawsuit, and we are reviewing our options with an eye on filing for an immediate dismissal,' it added. Weinstein's lawyer's insisted that the Hollywood giant had a 'respectful' and 'professional' relationship with Lawrence. 'Mr. Weinstein is embarrassed for Ms. Lawrence with whom he has only had a professional and respectful relationship, who has sadly been dragged into this ugly attempt at defamation. This filing further proves that anyone can say whatever they want in a lawsuit for maximum shock value, to defame and debase, without having to offer any facts or reality,' a spokesperson for Weinstein said. On Friday she denied the allegations saying: 'This is yet another example of the predatory tactics and lies that he engaged in to lure countless women' In a statement, the Oscar winner revealed: 'My heart breaks for all the women who were victimized by Harvey Weinstein. I've never had anything but a professional relationship with him' MailOnline as contacted representatives for Lawrence and Weinstein for further comment. According to the lawsuit documents, Jane Doe alleges Weinstein ejaculated on her in a bathroom stall and left her in tears as he forcibly performed oral sex on her and repeatedly masturbated in front of her. He threatened to harm her career if she objected and asked her 'Do you even want to be an actress?' During the alleged assault he bragged about hooking up with the Red Sparrow star. 'I slept with Jennifer Lawrence and look where she is; she has just won an Oscar,' he allegedly said, according to Variety. Claims: The actress is at the centre of reports that the disgraced movie mogul bragged about having sex with her as he sexually assaulted another woman, known only by her alias Jane Doe TMZ first reported on Friday that the unnamed woman filed a lawsuit against the former film producer for the alleged sex assaults that took place at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 in Utah and months later in New York City. Doe, who was an aspiring actress at the time, said in the suit she first met Weinstein at the festival, where they attended a business meeting together at the five-star Waldorf Astoria in Park City. During the meeting, the woman got up to use the restroom, where she was abruptly greeted by an erect Weinstein in a stall. Weinstein allegedly pulled in pants down and made sexually explicit remarks to her. The woman, meanwhile, was still sitting on the toilet with her skirt around her ankles, according to the suit. Reports: Harvey Weinstein (pictured right with Managing Partner, CAA Kevin Huvane, CAA Agent Chris Andrews in 2013) allegedly ejaculated on a woman in a bathroom stall and later forcibly performed oral sex on her, according to the lawsuit filed by Jane Doe on Friday Where it reportedly happened: The Waldorf Astoria Park City hotel in Park City, Utah is pictured in a Facebook image Location: Main Street is pictured during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in January 2013 Weinstein then allegedly told her: 'My d**k is nice and hard for you' and asked: 'Do you like my d**k?' Despite rejecting his advances, Weinstein allegedly masturbated in front of her and inched closer to her on the toilet. Moments later, he allegedly ejaculated on her skirt then insisted the pair should remain friends. Doe alleges she was promised meetings about potential acting roles afterward. She claims Weinstein also forced her hand on his erect penis later on at the business meeting. Another alleged attack happened months later in New York City, where Weinstein invited Doe to discuss a movie role for the 2014 film, Vampire Academy. The woman claims she broke down in tears after Weinstein got on his knees and performed oral sex against her will. Doe further claims in the suit that Weinstein masturbated in front of her again in 2015 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where he allegedly forced her into a restroom and told her 'you don't want to f**k this up' when she tried to run out of the place. Stanley Johnson shocked viewers when he joked that it was okay to 'hit your wife over the head if she's got the scrambled eggs wrong.' The I'm A Celeb star, 78, made the shocking statement during his appearance on Loose Women on Friday, when he discussed helping to campaign for a convicted man to be freed in France. He explained: 'One chap told me his son had committed a terrible crime, like murdering someone, and he was in prison in a French jail and would I kindly help. Shocking: Stanley Johnson shocked viewers as he joked it's OK to 'hit your wife over the head if she got the scrambled eggs wrong' during his Loose Women appearance on Friday 'And, I wrote to the French Minister of Justice, and the French Minister of Justice said, well, Ive let him out. 'So, I thought that was superb, so I wrote a letter to the father to say: Good news, your son has been let out of jail and I never got an answer. Panellist Stacey Solomon was not convinced by his explanation of the different French laws regarding murder, as she quipped: 'I mean, murder is murder to me.' The former politician then made his controversial joke, as he said: 'You're allowed to hit your wife over the head if she's got the scrambled eggs wrong.' Controversial: The I'm A Celeb star made the shocking statement when he discussed helping to campaign for a convicted man to be freed in France Viewers were understandably aghast about what Stanley had said, and they took to Twitter to describe their disbelief at the comment. One wrote: 'I *think* Stanley Johnson just said on #LooseWomen that its ok to murder your wife if she makes eggs wrong. And he got a murderer freed from jail? I hope I've got that wrong. I really do.' While another bashed the politician as they said: 'HANG ON!!! Did Stanley Johnson just admit to getting a murderer freed in order to justify that politicians have emotions????? Wtf am I witnessing #LooseWomen.' In shock: Viewers were understandably aghast about what Stanley had said, and they took to Twitter to describe their disbelief at the comment Another user added: '@loosewomen Stanley Johnson that was shocking! And neither @nadiasawalha or @StaceySolomon challenged that?? It will be on talking heads tv clip shows for years to come, the man has lost his marbles!' One user then slammed: '@loosewomen Who on earth thought that having Stanley Johnson on the panel of Loose women would be a good idea? What a dinosaur the man is, who wants to listen to his outdated opinions?!!' Stanley was joined by rapper Professor Green on the show, as the two took part in their Loose Women and Men's panel on Friday. Reprimand To The Supreme Court Of The United States Assem A. Abulkhair Dear Clerk: Per our phone conversation on (October 19, 2018) to inquire the status of the delayed filing petition, the supreme clerk claimed that the primary "petition was received on October 10, 2018 and sent back on October 17, 2018." According to the USPS Tracking confirmation, it was delivered on Tuesday, ("October 9, 2018 at 11:14 am"). If, in fact, the petition does not comply with the "mandatory" rules, it must be noticed immediately and sent back on the same day. However, to withhold it for approximately nine (9) days to read then give the green light to the Circuit Court to reject the other appeal inseparable to this one, is an immoral and satanic act, practice and misconduct expected from those "professional liars" and "sexual predators" with a very low "obtuse" mentality. This is what we exactly indicated and perfectly predicted in our petition and you easily fell into our trap voluntarily. Since you returned it, you have given us the golden and excellent opportunity opposite the malicious motive intended to achieve [.] Based on the clerk's account, it took the Circuit Court three (3) business days to rush itself to issue an opinion of three (3) useless and frivolous pages we have no idea what it is all about since the extensiveness and complex of the issues involved there require at least 300 pages opinion to fit covering them, except a trash one, especially after waiting more than six (6) and a half months until this petition was filed to authorize the "FBI" surveillance with[out] (FISA). Followed by another swift (3) business days denial [t]o protect the corrupt "State of New Jersey" under the "delusional", "fake", and elusive "Eleventh Amendment" the "State did [NOT] ratify" [i]n the first place [.] What [a] "Kangaroo Court" or rather "Daddy Judiciary" [w]e end with in the "shithole country" !![!] What [a] "supreme" coincidence the "supreme" clerk withheld the petition from the 10th until returned on the 17th of October, 2018 and the Circuit Court's opinions issued on the 15th and 18th of October, 2018, just "two" (2) days prior and "one" (1) day after it returned. You need [a] mentality of [a] moron "professional liar" or an idiot "sexual predator" to swallow your satanic coincidence, definitely [not] us. While the morons have no problem at all to footstep on the rule of law, at the same time, they demand litigants to obey their "rules" !![!] If the court sought to game the wrong litigant and the broken system like the Circuit and the District [,] the little integrity left of the judicial system would be impaired and eroded [.] Henceforth, without reviewing the reason(s) for returning, if a petition was deliberately withheld for nine (9) days, it must be read and analyzed by the "law clerks" to determine whether the questions presented on their bare and clear face are interested or important to the welfare of the public and worth review before returning it under any deficiency or technicality. If they are not the type of interesting questions, an automatic "denial" order should be entered to lift up the unnecessary burden of time and money from litigants as well taxpayer's shoulders who are paying your unearned exaggerating salary. But, if the evil minded court has the leverage and intention to burden a pro se litigant to get even with him and retaliate against his unparalleled moral courage and unattainable "strong language", the "supreme" then does [not] represent or even stand for its "low" *title. The "United States" itself, [not] the "supreme" court, does [NOT] have the power to defeat Abulkhair's language [.] If this is the case, which is, Abulkhair must yield to Anatole France to respond better. He meritoriously earned to have streets named after him; so Abulkhair would have the same honoree with merit on every corner of the court with integrity, not for his oldest, prestigious, historical, and pharaonical supernatural last name, but for his unique, outstanding and unattainable moral courage and "strong language" to stand in the face of the evil and most satanic, corrupted, oppressive and injustice judicial tribunal ever assembled on the face of the earth [.] The "first born Satan" "professional liar" who unethically engaged in conversation with one of this Court's clerks together with others who filed oppositions to our petitions, none of their frivolous filings ever complied with any "format" of "Rule 33" or other rules. The "moron" even went as far to contact and tamper with the expert witness, who is a dentist, to prevent his testimony in court during a jury trial after he was defeated badly by a pro se litigant at the Appellate Division since he knew well the absence of any consequence that distinguished the "Kangaroo Court" he represents as the "Officer of the Court". To retaliate against Abulkhair's bitter "reversal" in the appellate court, the satanic, corrupt or useless trial judge refused to extend the trial one single day to allow the tampered witness' testimony, who, by the way, had faxed his expertise report weeks earlier directly [t]o his shameful "chamber", because the interests of the "professional liars" must supersede the interest of justice in the "American Kangaroo Court". Henceforth, if you have the desire and/or malice to enforce rules, you must impose the same upon yourselves first, and the licensed "professional liars" like you are [NOT] pro se nonprofessional [.] Litigants must [not] be dragged into "perjury" to "alter" or modify any court's order or document to satisfy any or all "rules" or circumstances for which is [a] felony [.] Enforcement of the "rules" must begin from there (initial order), not from here (final appeal) [.] Because the Court must have forgotten about its "liberal" standard of review to "liberally construe pro se documents" by imposing what appeared [t]o "discriminate" by distinguishing and enforcing "certain" litigants compliance with its rules, we as the rest of the public should wonder whether the court that mandated and demanded to adopt and enforce its useless and frivolous rule, would be compelled itself to the same standard to comply, embrace, adhere, and abide by [t]he rule of law [t]o be upheld by the court as written !![!] However, "Rule 33" references to "case" [not] "petition" when it refers to the number of copies based on filing in forma pauperis where the "case" grandfathered and originally generated to begin with. Why are forty (40) copies needed to trigger any ignorant court to impose upon any litigant to sort out whether the question presented requiring an answer or not when and where in the computer age one single copy is more than enough to be scanned and passed upon all obtuse brains on the bench as well as behind the desk where the real reviewers remain. If the court feels offended enough by the embarrassing questions rather than the "strong language", it has the absolute "discretion" to escape the responsibility and the question altogether as it had in the past, time after time; instead of its latest moronic maneuver of returning this particular petition where the others preceding were not, despite they were filed properly in the same fashion. Even the "Kangaroo Court" everywhere has established its "relaxation rule" long time ago to make sure no important complaint or question is left behind without an answer "in the interest of justice" hidden somewhere. The obvious distinction and far differentiation is that, the judges are [not] appointed by [a] corrupt "sexual predator", "bully" politician as here. It is the same satanic "Kangaroo Judiciary" strategy to appoint an "independent counsel" to investigate the ignorant, (bully) [ARBUGY] "President" for constitutional and law violations [h]e himself committed against others when and where litigation(s) still remain pending against him and his former employer ("FBI"). [A] violator of the law investigate[s] one another [!] You asked for it and we must deliver on [a] silver plate as [a] matter of principle [.] More importantly though, moronically ironic, the "Guardians of the Constitution and Law" appointed [t]o protect them have become the first one [t]o violate and abuse them. To this end, enforcing a pro se litigant to comply with "Rule 33" or any other rule infringed his/her Due Process Clause they appealed and complained of, despite it showing how a hypocrite court says something and stands for an opposite thing. How the bilingual New Yorker litigant "The FBI killed my wife" or the African American Pennsylvanian "converted" Moslem "The FBI do the same shit with me" when and where both have filed their pleadings in an old fashion "handwriting" [,] could possibly comply with this kind of sophisticated computer "format" or [a] "booklet" designed only for the licensed "professional liars". This is obviously a clear violation and obstacle to the foundation of both due process and equal protection of the laws, does not only turn the Constitution on its head, but also put it on the surface of the toilet to be flushed. The corrupt Congress should put aside partisanship and supervised its court carefully to assure and ensure the public that their Constitution remains in operation no matter what or how the "sexual predators" and the "perverters of justice" maneuver may be to challenge otherwise [.] Speaking of "sexual predators", and we clearly declared to the clerk our reluctant to add or change a single word within the petition, in addition to our recusal demand of the Chief Justice, the New Jerseyan Justice, and the bilingual New Yorker Justice, the new "sexual predator" Justice must recuse himself as well from this matter and the upcoming matters too. We may the first to demand his recusal, but unlikely to be the last. We made the same prediction regarding "Google" to find out during our search of this docket that many others, [a] total of (64) "litigious" petitioners so far preceded us, which came with no surprise at all. How many others out there decided to give up following the District's dismissal or the Circuit's affirmation after the failure system miserably failed and let them down ??[?] Certainly, without doubt, they are unlikely to involve a "recusal" substance or factor since the "professional liars" always reluctant to file a recusal against themselves to leave it to [a] courageous pro se layman [.] If they refuse or resist their recusal as we expected, how will they be able to review or decide with [an] "open mind" [a] matter that root[ed] its core substance in [a] recusal issue [?] What kind of a remarkable ruling would that be? We made our similar demand below to recuse judge, magistrate judge, law clerk, and secretary who has [a] GM account with the Defendants to stay far from the case They refuse to honor it How about here [?] To this end, if any other Justice offended by the "sharp language", the core "integrity" of the judiciary or any "Kangaroo Court" requires him or her to step down. With that in mind, at some point in life, anything and everything must step down [but] language [.] Imposing a paltry "fee" or frivolous "rule" does [not] function [.] What else the immoral, satanic, "sexual predators" and "professional liars" will be eager to even think of to retaliate against the oppressed and disadvantaged to deprive them of their rights , deny justice and avoid to answer the meritorious embarrassing questions they have no answers for because their bribery put them up there, not their qualification [.] Your usual denial will take off your hypocritical fake mask to expose your actual identity to the entire world to recognize the best place and frame to put your face where it belongs (!!!/???) [.] The straightforward New Yorker Judge clarified, intensified, and simplified the type and quality of the American Judicial System with the "Rule of Law" [w]e have come [t]o regret an[d] live [i]n and with [,] with or without our consent [:] "Every decision of the trial court was arbitrary and capricious, the entire case was held in a cloak of secrecy with the letter of the law in the dumpster." Id. Our constitutional rights and privacy are deliberately violated and invaded because the idiotic and moronic "FBI" with the accomplice "Google" gang targeting [a]t the heart of [t]he "Islamic" faith, and failed to distinguish between the language of moral courage and evil hatred. [U]nless they recognize the differentiation divorcing both to draw contrast [,] the bloody scene [i]n school, church, synagogue, mosque, and everywhere else will never end together with its preposterous excuse "The suspect was never on the law enforcement or the FBI radar before today," as long as the blind radar is focusing and zooming [i]n on [t]he [wrong] "target" [.] Dismissing legitimate complaints and denying meritorious petitions, does not protect the wrongdoers rather than encourage the fanatic satanic "Second Amendment" defenders to show and celebrate more and more of their barbaric brutally heinous and ugly bloody massacres [.] [T]he "Daddy Judiciary" [must] live with [that] forever [.] [W]e defeated you with or without your "denial" Your irresponsible act and conduct are no different from the one we appeal have proven. [N]o one ever created below or above dare[s] to intimidate us in order to please or appease [.] [T]here is [NONE]. [T]he *["SATAN"]* Himself understood perfectly [,] so should the "supreme" [.] [W]e demand [justice] [NOT] beg [for] it [.] Thanking you for returning our petition and offering the opportunity to reprimand in this matter, I remain, Cordially, /s/ Assem A. Abulkhair She's recently jetted back to the UK after a stint on I'm A Celebrity's Extra Camp. And Scarlett Moffatt was back to work as she travelled to County Durham to meet a brain tumour sufferer on Friday. The reality personality, 28, was all smiles as she met Lyla, six, on behalf of her role as ambassador for charity, The Angel Trust. Happy: Scarlett Moffatt travelled to County Durham to meet a brain tumour sufferer Lyla, six, on Friday on behalf of her role as ambassador for charity The Angel Trust Scarlett sported a black jumper by the charity and black tights which she glammed up with her long gold nails. She scraped her raven tresses back into a casual ponytail and opted for minimal makeup for the meeting with the family. The former Queen Of The Jungle also met Lyla's sisters Lilley, ten, and Olivia, 12, after their father sent the charity a plea to raise awareness of the deadly disease. Scarlett showed off her tan as she smiled for pictures and even took a selfie with the siblings to mark the meeting. Pose: The former Queen Of The Jungle also met Lyla's sisters Lilley, ten, and Olivia, 12, after their father sent the charity a plea to raise awareness of the deadly disease Beaming: Scarlett sported a black jumper by the charity and black tights which she glammed up with her long gold nails More recently rumours of a feud between Scarlett and former Queen Of The Jungle Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo surfaced. According to sources, animosity started backstage earlier this month while Toff, 24, was in Australia for I'm A Celebrity spin-off series Extra Camp, which is hosted by Scarlett. 'She flew out to Australia for Extra Camp but she was upset while she was there because of Scarletts attitude towards her,' The Sun reported. 'There were major issues on set and theres a lot of bad blood between them. Falling out: More recently rumours of a feud between Scarlett and former Queen Of The Jungle Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo surfaced 'Toff doesnt know what sparked it but she was made to feel very unwelcome and was upset by the way Scarlett treated her.' Meanwhile another source, close to Scarlett, rebutted the claims. They said: 'Scarlett loves Toff and they have never had a falling out. For someone who herself was bullied at school this is very upsetting.' MailOnline have contacted reps for the girls for comment. Tom Cruise has been filming the new Top Gun movie for the past several weeks. And on Friday the 56-year-old actor was seen shooting with his co-star Miles Teller, 31. Both were in their flight gear as they walked side-by-side on set. And at 6ft tall, Miles towered over the 5ft7in acting legend. Top Gun: Maverick is slated for release on June 26, 2020, having been pushed back from next July. Ready to take flight: Tom Cruise has been filming the new Top Gun movie for the past several weeks. And on Friday the 56-year-old actor was seen shooting with his co-star Miles Teller, 31 Tom looked fit and trim as he wore the green jumpsuit which had straps and pockets everywhere. He added black boots and his helmet, which was red, white and blue, was attached to his side. Miles had on an identical look. There was snow on the ground as they were shooting scenes in Lake Tahoe, California, which is several hours north of San Francisco. Still looking like a movie star: Tom looked fit and trim as he wore the green jumpsuit which had straps and pockets everywhere. He added black boots and his helmet, which was red, white and blue, was attached to his side. Teller plays pilot trainee Bradley Bradshaw, son of Maverick's late partner Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, played in the original by ER's Anthony Edwards. Some 32 years after the 1986 blockbuster, Tom is reprising his role as Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell. But now he's a captain and a flight instructor, rather than a fighter pilot. The son: They have been shooting the sequel for several weeks in the location, which is known for its high mountains Dad: Teller plays pilot trainee Bradley Bradshaw, son of Maverick's late partner Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, played in the original by ER's Anthony Edwards; Tom and Anthony in the original film Tom has been shooting scenes running through the forest. He's also filmed some dialogue in the mountains looking down at the local airport south of the lake where military aircraft have been landing for the shoot. Not much is known about the plot as Paramount's been keeping specifics of the sequel under wraps but Tom has also been seen filming in San Diego and Nevada Val Kilmer will also reprise his role as Maverick's rival and frenemy Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky, once a Lieutenant, now a Commander. High flyer: Tom stole hearts as Maverick in Top Gun in 1986, kicking off his career as an action hero Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris and Jay Ellis also co-star. The movie is directed by Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion, TRON: Legacy). Tony Scott, who directed the original, was going to helm the sequel but he committed suicide in 2012 just as production talks were beginning. Idris Elba has admitted he thought his hit TV series Luther would be over if he didn't make a new series. The actor, 46, has been away from the crime drama since the end of 2015, taking time out to focus on his DJ'ing career. But the Londoner told how if he didn't do another series, which is set to air in January, the show would end for good. Busy: Idris Elba, 46, has been away from the crime drama since the end of 2015, taking time out to focus on his DJ'ing career He told the Daily Telegraph: 'I remember going: "If I don't do it, that's the end of the show. I need to do it." ' DCI John Luther is known for sporting his trademark long tweed coat, something show bosses were originally planning to ditch. The actor said: 'They wanted us to change it: "He's not wearing this silly coat. He needs to wear a suit." 'And we were, "No. He's wearing this coat and he won't wear any other coat, and we won't even discuss why he never changes his clothes." ' Final: But the Londoner told how if he didn't do another series, which is set to air in January, the show would end for good Idris noted that, along with his acting and DJ'ing careers, he's hoping to branch out into the world of fashion deisgn. The Dark Tower star added he would like to create unisex clothing because his biggest fans are female. Speaking recently in Radio Times' Christmas issue, Idris spoke of the possibility of a movie version of Luther, saying a big screen adaptation would be on a more 'international' scale. He said: 'With Luther as a film, the scale is bigger the crime is bigger, the bad guys are bigger, Luther is bigger and theres a more international lens put on it. Return: He said: 'I remember going: "If I don't do it, that's the end of the show. I need to do it." ' Future: Idris spoke of the possibility of a movie version of Luther, saying a big screen adaptation would be on a more 'international' scale. 'Its filmed in London now because thats where we are, but if we do a movie version, it can be "Right, then he went to Brazil" and you can be in the favelas because its on this larger scale.' In a press release, BBC recently confirmed that the three year wait for new episodes is finally over. 'DCI John Luther is once more called to immerse himself in the deepest depths of human depravity in a new four-part series written by Neil Cross. Wunmi Mosaku joins as new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday,' the release reveals. Jonathan Cheban has been a busy man while in New York City this week. First the New Jersey native attended the DailyMail.com holiday party with Melissa Gorga and Donald Trump Jr. And then the best friend of Kim Kardashian was seen hitting the BUILD series. Peace man: Jonathan Cheban has been a busy man while in New York City this week. First the New Jersey native attended the DailyMail.com holiday party. And then the best friend of Kim Kardashian was seen hitting the BUILD series His future's so bright...: The TV star added blue tinted gold-rimmed sunglasses The FoodGod wore an olive green down jacket with silver zippers over a hoodie that read It's A Lonely Place. He added black slacks with zippers on them making him look ready for flight in a Top Gun plane. The TV star added blue tinted gold-rimmed sunglasses and even flashed a peace sign. Worn in sneakers looked ideal for a hike in Portland. Taking a bite out the world: This comes after Jonathan landed a very lucrative deal. This month he was announced as the new spokesperson for the chain BurgerIM This comes after Jonathan landed a very lucrative deal. This month he was announced as the new spokesperson for the chain BurgerIM. DailyMail.com sat down with the reality TV star to discuss the role and how it all came about (hint: social media was in his favor). New gig: Cheban is the new spokesperson for BurgerIM. On Monday he talked to DailyMail.com about his role in the company Her pal: Cheban is best known as Kim Kardashian's best friend who has served as the comic relief on Keeping Up With The Kardashians for the past 10 years. Seen in the summer 'I posted about BurgerIM because I loved it so much and then I got a call,' the FoodGod told DailyMail.com. 'The company asked me to work with them. I was surprised. One post and they noticed.' That led to a fat check. Lucky duck: 'I posted about BurgerIM because I loved it so much and then I got a call,' the star told DailyMail.com. 'The company asked me to work with them. I was surprised. One post and they noticed' A bite out of life: 'I signed a multi-million dollar contract and now my photo is in all their stores. It's crazy, my friends are sending me photos, my face is everywhere,' he added So much to love: The burgers have many sauces and options; the new one is the 3rd Pounder Eat up: 'And they are going to open hundreds more,' said the Celebrity Big Brother star Looks good: The burger restaurant has home made food with quality ingredients 'I signed a multi-million dollar contract and now my photo is in all their stores. It's crazy, my friends are sending me photos, my face is everywhere,' he added. There are stores in Miami and Los Angeles. 'And they are going to open hundreds more,' said the Celebrity Big Brother star. He also said it's just a great fit because he's FoodGod. 'The burgers taste great and they come in several different sizes,' he said. 'I created one called the Third Pounder, it's the right size, right flavors, I love it.' And there are the fries: 'They are round and fun. Who said fries have to be long? These are round and make me smile.' The prices are not crazy either. 'BurgerIM is affordable and they will be everywhere soon,' he said. 'I am so excited to announce that I am the face of BurgerIM - the fastest growing burger chain with hundreds of locations opening nationwide,' he shared on Instagram this month. Cheban is also hard at work on next season of KUWTK. He;s friends with the whole family: Kourtney and Khloe with Cheban earlier this year 'I shot some scenes recently with Kim and Kanye - they are so much fun to work with, they are a great team,' he said. 'We shot in LA and Kanye is just Kanye, he is fun, he has a lot of ideas, I love the guy, the conversations are inspiring and he has so much to say, so much on his mind - I take it all in. He thinks of things no one else would. And he's kind and generous. Kim is very happy, they're doing great.' This comes after he was the face of Dunkin' Donuts. He also is coming out with a candy club where people can order a new box of candy every month. And then there is a video game with Atari. 'I have been so busy I cannot even tell you, it's been a big year and I have been flying all over the place. I am taking the holidays off more or less but will be back at work in January 2019!' he said. Jonathan will be seen in season 16 of Keeping Up With The Kardashians which airs next year, Couples are always there for one another. And it seems Justin Bieber needed some emotional support from wife Hailey Baldwin when they were spotted boarding a private jet at Van Nuys Airport in LA's San Fernando Valley on Friday. The pop star, 24, who was dressed in an oversized pink hoodie and grey sweats, seemed fine as he walked up the steps to the plane. Making their arrival: Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Baldwin were spotted getting out of an SUV at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley on Friday He was followed by the 22-year-old model, who wore trendy black. But something was obviously wrong as the Canadian hitmaker turned around and was spotted standing on the steps again. Hailey followed him out and was seen hugging and kissing her husband before he got back into the jet for their flight. There was no indication of what the problem was. Going up: Justin, 24, lead the way as his 22-year-old model wife followed him up the jet's stairs Something wrong: The hitmaker, dressed in a baggy pink sweatshirt, made a hasty U-turn and started running back down the stairs Love saves the day: Hailey managed to stop Justin by wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a big hug Coaxing him: Hailey, the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, continued to soothe the emotional star Earlier in the day, the couple visited their manager, Scooter Braun, at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Scooter has just welcomed his third child, daughter Hart, with his wife Yael Cohen, so no doubt the newlyweds were excited to meet the youngster. Justin and Hailey secretly tied the knot in September, just two months after getting engaged, and have been pictured enjoying numerous PDAs since then Working wonders: She gently persuaded her husband to walk back up the steps A last hug: The couple got back on the jet and headed out. They gave no indication what caused the incident Recently, the couple were seen participating in a joint Vogue cover shoot. According to PEOPLE, the cover will be 'a celebration of their love.' 'They want to share with everyone how happy they are, how they make their marriage work and their plans for the future,' a source said. Jack Whitehall appeared in high spirits as he headed to a private members' club for a school reunion in London on Friday night. The 30-year-old comedian strolled into the club, Loulou's, with an unknown woman who was sporting a figure-hugging green dress following closely behind. The League Of Their Own panellist wrapped up warm during the evening in a smart grey jacket and a pair of lightly checked trousers. Stepping out: Jack Whitehall appeared in high spirits as he headed to a private member's club for a school reunion in London on Friday night Underneath his structured jacket he wore a maroon T-shirt and completed his look with a pair of grey suede boots. A representative for Jack told MailOnline that he does not know the woman pictured and left the venue alone. Earlier in the evening the group of school pals Jack was meeting dined out at Dishoom Carnaby and Jack shared a sweet snap of the reunion. Night out: The 30-year-old comedian headed into the club, Loulou's, with an unknown woman Glam: The female reveller sported a a figure-hugging green dress and studded stilettos He wrote alongside the shot: 'Annual school reunion. We all slept together in a dormitory once. So nice to hang out with these guys when no ones relieving them self Into a rugby sock. 'Apparently the comments underneath last time where pretty brutal. So please don't steam in this year...' The night out comes after Jack was pictured putting on an amorous display with a mystery blonde during a night out with Jamie Laing at Faces Nightclub. Statemet: A representative for Jack told MailOnline that he does not know the woman pictured and left the venue alone Party time: Jack hurried into the swanky club and out of the chilly London air Stepping out: As they stepped out on top the street the unknown woman quickly put her fur coat back on Jack was in good company as he cosied up to his female companion, before he and the Made In Chelsea star, also 30, appeared to head off in a cab with a bevy of girls. While enjoying his evening out , the Bad Education actor chatted up a storm with the blonde, who was clad in an animal print ensemble. The pair looked close as she stroked his hair and whispered into each other's ears. Chic: The unknown woman looked chic in the festive coloured frock Reunion: Jack sported a signature spattering of facial hair for his night on the town Jamie, who is in a relationship with model Heloise Agostinelli, 20, was in a lively mood as he wrapped his arm around Jack's neck while partying the night away. Speaking on Jack's display with the blonde, a source told MailOnline: 'She's a fan of Jack so approached him for a selfie'. Jack's reality star pal appeared to step into a taxi with a bevy of girls following their night out. MailOnline previously contacted Jack and Jamie's representatives for further comment. Advertisement Supermodel Candice Swanepoel sure is bring some heat to the cold months as Christmas approaches. The blonde bombshell from South Africa shared several photos to Instagram where she was modeling skimpy swimwear from her Tropic Of C line. This comes about six months after she welcomed her second child, Ariel Swanepoel Nicoli. Lovely to look at: Supermodel Candice Swanepoel sure is bring some heat to the cold months as Christmas approaches. The blonde bombshell from South Africa shared several photos to Instagram where she was modeling skimpy swimwear from her Tropic Of C line The 30-year-old Victoria's Secret alum wore a color she called 'sage.' She had on a low cut one piece swimsuit that fell of her tanned shoulders. The suit also made the most of her long, lean legs as she added a smart wide-brimmed hat on. And she was also seen in a two piece that fit her perfectly. She looked every inch the lingerie model as she sizzled in a skimpy bikini during her scintillating seaside frolic. Toned to perfection: Her tummy was put on display making it obvious she has been working out nonstop since welcoming her second child Her toned tummy and sculpted abs were on center stage as she posed on big boulders. Candice walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - which aired this months - after welcoming her son in June. The model - who also has son Anaca, two - has revealed the secrets to her pre-show preparations, saying she combines a strict fitness regime with the everyday stresses of parenting. A little 1950s vibe: She had on a low cut one piece swimsuit that fell of her tanned shoulders. The suit also made the most of her long, lean legs as she added a smart wide-brimmed hat on Candice quipped: 'Taking care of two kids will get you in shape real quick.' On top of looking after her children, the South African star also did about three to four workouts per week - which included training with ankle weights and doing squats - in preparation for this year's show. Candice is now a veteran of the runway and even though deep breathing techniques have helped to calm some of her nerves, she still feels anxious before a big show. One of the most elegant models in the business: The pinup wore large double hoop earrings and elegant makeup with red lips She told E! News: 'I'm a ball of nerves before the show. I feel like each year I get more and more nervous - I don't know why. 'But nerves are healthy. You need a little adrenaline to really kill it.' Meanwhile, Candice previously admitted that raising two young children is 'pretty intense' - but it's also an experience she's relishing. She has a look that sells: Here she is seen in a black bikini as she models her Tropic Of C line Her pride and joy: Here is a photo of her two children that are relatively close in age She said: 'It's pretty intense, but it's amazing. To see the love between them is amazing. It's a lot, I'm not gonna lie. The second one is a lot easier, but the situation of having two makes it harder.' Despite the challenges, Candice insisted she dreams of one day having a 'bunch of kids'. She said: 'I don't plan too much into the future. 'I believe a lot in destiny and that what happens - you can try to manifest certain things, but I definitely do want to continue having a great career and building my family as well because I'm really loving that. I definitely want to have a bunch of kids.' Catwalk time: Candice walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - which aired this months - after welcoming her son in June. The model - who also has son Anaca, two - has revealed the secrets to her pre-show preparations, saying she combines a strict fitness regime with the everyday stresses of parenting Victoria Beckham is facing a 1,000 fine from Companies House for failing to submit her latest accounts and the charge will double unless she hands them over by the end of the year. It was revealed last year that her fashion company, Victoria Beckham Limited, lost 8.4 million in 2016 and 4.6 million the year before that. The latest accounts cover 2017, before Poshs new team, including industry veteran Ralph Toledano, were appointed in the hope of turning around the firms fortunes. While Posh, 44, is clearly a fine model for her clothes shes seen here looking typically stylish in one of her black dresses alongside Penelope Cruz at a British Fashion Awards party last week shes not such a whizz at the money side of things. Victoria Beckham is facing a 1,000 fine from Companies House for failing to submit her latest accounts and the charge will double unless she hands them over by the end of the year Housewive among the upmarket Chipping Norton Set are rejoicing after hunky M&S model David Gandy moved to the area. Gandy, 38, and his lawyer partner Stephanie Mendoros have bought a 1.65 million Grade II listed property the perfect home in which to bring up baby daughter Matilda. The four-bedroom house is close to the Great Tew estate, where residents include the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. South Australian will seek further commitments from the federal government and other states to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full and on time. Environment Minister David Speirs will meet his state and federal counterparts in Melbourne on Friday and says the previously promised 450 gigalitres of extra environmental flows are a crucial part of the basin plan. "Environmental water flows are critical for the health of the Murray-Darling Basin and ensuring the River Murray remains sustainable and productive," Mr Speirs said. "The 450 gigalitre environmental water recovery target is critical to maintaining the health of rivers, lakes, major wetlands and floodplains within the basin as well as important habitats for animals and plants that rely on basin rivers." Mr Speirs also wants to see programs that foster the more efficient use of water opened up to allow for applications from farmers in all jurisdictions. Queensland's far north is battening down ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Owen, but that's taking longer than expected, leaving residents with a nervous wait. Owen has been tracking over the Gulf of Carpenteria for the last few days, reintensifying on Thursday into a category three with authorities predicting it could reach category four overnight into Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology's Laura Boekel told reporters on Thursday that Owen was expected to head back towards the Queensland coast by Friday but that hadn't yet happened. "The U-turn has taken a little bit slower and is a little bit further to the coast than we were expecting yesterday," she said. "Systems in this area are notoriously erratic and move quite quickly and the situation can move quite quickly as well." Residents in Pormpuraaw are on emergency alert, battening down for the destructive winds expected there from Friday afternoon. The cyclone could also spark flooding and landslides in other parts of the state which is still recovering from its recent bushfire crisis. Owen is expected to head south after crossing the peninsula, bringing rain that could cause flash flooding to Queensland's east coast. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says authorities are worried about heavy rain in central Queensland, where landscapes have been destroyed by recent bushfires. Eungella, inland from Mackay, is of particular concern. Queensland's disaster coordination centre has been activated and the state's disaster management committee will continue to meet as the cyclone nears. Extra rescue and emergency crews have been sent into the cyclone warning area. A new national integrity commission could soon be established to investigate criminal behaviour by politicians, police and public servants. But the prime minister may have a tricky time convincing crucial crossbenchers to support his new idea. Scott Morrison has announced plans for the commission after months of calls from Labor and the crossbench for a federal anti-corruption watchdog. Just weeks ago, Mr Morrison described debate over an integrity commission as a "fringe issue" and the coalition has spent years fending off calls for greater enforcement. On Thursday, Mr Morrison revealed work on the new commission had been underway since January. The prime minister said his proposed commission would not be a star chamber or "kangaroo court". "This is a real proposal, with real resources, real teeth," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney. "These are sensible changes we're outlining today. They learn the lessons, I think, from many of the failed experiments we've seen at a state jurisdiction level." Public hearings would only be held in some cases, and a new offence of aggravated corruption would be introduced, but not be retrospective. The commission would prepare briefs of evidence for prosecutors, but not have the power to instigate its own investigations. The new body will be split into two parts - one investigating corruption in law enforcement, and the other investigating the public sector. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the idea was too little, too late. "It is too limited in scope, too limited in power, and it has no transparency," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne. Labor, the Greens and independents pressured the coalition into passing a motion in parliament in November calling for an integrity commission to be set up. Support from the crossbench will be crucial to the minority Morrison government establishing its commission. Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie savaged the prime minister's plan as "fundamentally flawed and entirely unacceptable". Victorian crossbencher Cathy McGowan welcomed the "significant" proposal from but wants to see the details. "I will hold the government to high standards while working through the final details," Ms McGowan said. "Any national integrity body needs to be robust and transparent to ensure it enhances public trust in the parliament and public sector." The government has asked for public feedback by February 1, before laws creating the commission are introduced to parliament. Swimming's biggest names will assemble in London next week to create a new athletes association they hope will stand up to FINA after Australia's Cate Campbell slammed the world body's vice-like grip on the sport. Almost 40 current and past stars including 11 Olympic and 18 world champions from 10 nations will attend a Stamford Bridge summit from December 18-19 to establish a Professional Swimmers' Association (PSA). The athletes believe the PSA's creation will give them a united voice to demand better treatment from FINA after Campbell's criticism of the world body made international headlines. Former world champion Campbell ripped into FINA last week for threatening to ban swimmers from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics if they took part in an independent competition, the International Swimming League (ISL). Backed by Ukrainian billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin, the lucrative ISL was set to be launched in Italy this month but was scrapped after FINA issued the Olympic ban threat. A group of leading swimmers and the ISL are both suing FINA as a result with an aim to re-launch the ISL next year. Campbell's comments criticising the world body were cited in each of the separate lawsuits as "evidence that that elite swimmers were strongly in favour of the new league". Both class actions are suing FINA for "violating US antitrust law by engaging in anti-competitive behaviour". The ISL will host the two-day summit next week and issued an open invitation for any elite swimmer to attend and show their support. It is unclear whether Campbell will fly out to London. "Having a collective voice will help the swimmers create the foundation for a better future," an ISL statement said on Swimming World website. "This is the moment when athletes can make history as the pioneers who changed their sport for the better." Among the confirmed stars attending the summit are past champions Lenny Krayzelburg and Jason Lezak, both four-time Olympic gold medallists. "Efforts to establish the League have so far been blocked by FINA, the international federation threatening suspensions, but waves of world-class swimmers...have urged the global body that insists on monopoly rule to think again," the ISL statement said. "While global sport a lucrative business worth billions and swimming and swimmers generates hundreds of millions in revenue for FINA, swimmers work and compete as professionals but have, as Grigorishin puts it 'no salary, social guarantees, no welfare, no medical and life insurance, no pension rights'. "The League (ISL) has pledged to change all that, starting with the creation of a Professional Swimmers Association that will represent athletes to build a fair partnership with regulators and event organisers, the welfare of swimmers and their rights to earn a living from their work paramount." Chris Dawson is expected to apply for bail after he was charged with the alleged murder of his wife Sydney mother-of-two Lynette Dawson almost 40 years ago. The 70-year-old former rugby league player, who intends to plead not guilty, faced Sydney Central Local Court via video link on December 6 charged with the murder of his wife on Sydney's northern beaches in early 1982. His lawyer, Greg Walsh, said at the time he "strenuously asserts his innocence" and that Dawson was "anxious and stressed about the situation" and planned to plead not guilty. Dawson is due to face the same court on Friday. Ms Dawson was 33 when she disappeared in 1982 leaving behind two young daughters. Her husband reported her missing almost six weeks later, and her body has never been found. The case was the subject of The Australian newspaper's investigative podcast The Teacher's Pet. NSW Police, who reopened the cold case in 2015, said fresh statements from at least two witnesses led to the arrest of the former Newtown rugby league player on the Gold Coast on December 5. The accused killer, who lives at Coolum Beach, was extradited from Queensland on December 6. An emerging West Australian medical technology company has won global recognition for its efforts to help doctors treat breast cancer patients. OncoRes Medical has been named one of three joint winners of an international competition for entrepreneurs founded by Prince Andrew. The company is developing an imaging tool to help surgeons better identify and remove cancerous tissue. The technology aims to reduce the need for repeat surgery for breast cancer patients, which currently happens in 30 per cent of cases. OncoRes was named joint winner of the Pitch@Palace competition at an event at St James's Palace in London. The two other winning pitches are a portable device to diagnose malaria from Uganda and an Uber-style scheme for Vietnam's trucking industry. The Pitch@Palace competition was founded by the Duke of York in 2014 and aims to accelerate the work of emerging entrepreneurs through support and connections. Almost half-a-tonne of the drug 'ice' has been found stashed inside dozens of car bonnets shipped to Australia from Malaysia. Australian Border Force officers made the discovery inside a container that arrived at Sydney's Port Botany on November 28. Nearly 5000 packages were allegedly located in the skin of the bonnets, containing about 490 kilograms of methamphetamine. Federal police raided several Sydney properties last week over the shipment, arresting and charging two men - aged 17 and 19. It will be alleged they were set to receive the shipment before passing it on to other members of a criminal syndicated responsible for the importation, the AFP said in a statement on Friday. The 17-year-old is due to face a children's court on Friday, while the other man will front Central Local Court on February 6. "Whether it be in car bonnets, clothing, meat mincing machines or even highlighters - our officers have seen it all, and they have sophisticated technology at their disposal to identify these illicit substances no matter how criminals try to hide them," ABF Commander Danielle Yannopoulos said. Police have fired a shot while arresting a teenager allegedly armed with an axe during a Melbourne home robbery. Officers were called to a Point Cook address, following reports of a male at the house with an axe about 3.40am. The 40-year-old male resident received a minor cut to the arm during the incident and was treated at the scene. A 15-year-old male from Kew was arrested nearby a short time later and is assisting police. A police officer discharged a firearm during the arrest attempts. A teenager is in custody and professional command is investigating, as per protocol when an officer discharges their firearm. Emily Seebohm has secured another bronze medal for Australia at the world short-course swimming titles in Hangzhou, China. The long-course world champion took Australia's tally to four medals (one gold, three bronze) at the halfway mark of the six-day titles with a third placing in the 200m backstroke final. On a busy day three in which Seebohm contested a total of six races, the Australian veteran led the 200m final under world record pace but was swamped in the last 50m. Lisa Bratton claimed a surprise gold ahead of fellow American and hot-favourite Kathleen Baker. Hungary superstar Katinka Hosszu finished a shock fourth. Seebohm then backed up to scrape into the women's 100m individual medley final as eighth fastest. Seebohm was not done yet, chiming into the mixed 4x50m medley relay team - also featuring ex-partner Mitch Larkin, Grayson Bell and Holly Barratt - which came seventh in the final. US superstar Caeleb Dressel led the Americans to 4x50m medley relay gold in a new world record 1min:36.40sec. Night three began with Russian Kirill Prigoda claiming 200m breaststroke gold in a new world record (2:00.16). There is the promise of more medals for Australia on night four with Barratt qualifying second fastest for the 50m butterfly and Cameron McEvoy fourth quickest in the 50m freestyle. Barratt finished just behind top qualifier, the Netherlands' Ranomi Kromowidjojo, while the 50m freestyle field was topped by Dressel, who set a new American record (20.51). Larkin missed out on the 50m backstroke final, qualifying tied for 10th while Jack Gerrard failed to qualify for the 100m IM medal race. The US lead the medal tally at the halfway mark with nine gold (17 medals total) with Australia eighth. A Sydney university will open Australia's first indigenous residential college in an effort to encourage more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into tertiary education. The University of Technology Sydney announced on Friday plans to build the $100 million, 250-bed residence at a site near its Ultimo campus, with doors expected to open four years. A third of the project will be funded by UTS, while the NSW government will put in $10 million and federal Labor has pledged $20 million if it wins government next year. The remaining $37 million will be raised from donations. The university hopes the college will help break down the barriers hindering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from going to university, including cost and isolation. "By creating a place with indigenous culture at its heart - not on the periphery - the college will help Indigenous people 'see' themselves at university," UTS Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs said in a statement. "For the first time, Indigenous people will be the hosts, not the guests, in a place based around their traditions and identity." Labor Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek will launch the project at an event on Friday. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says a proposal to give union delegates paid leave to attend training would cost Australian businesses $1.3 billion if extended to all members. Labor insists the government is mounting a scare campaign against the proposal for delegates to receive training ahead of the plan being put forward at the ALP national conference next week. "It's a $1.3 billion hit on business that will put jobs at risk. It's just another example of ... Bill Shorten will always prioritise the interests of his union buddies ahead of the public interest," Senator Cormann told Sky News on Friday. Clive Kempson met with plenty of medical professionals during the weeks he spent in a rehabilitation centre after experiencing a stroke. There were experts at hand to help the Melbourne man learn how to walk again, regain movement in his arm and deal with speech issues. But something was missing. "At no point did anyone say do you want to speak to a counsellor, or a psychologist," Mr Kempson told AAP. That's an offer the now 54-year-old wishes had been made, given he spent several months after being discharged from a rehabilitation centre in December 2015 struggling with his mental health. Coming to terms with a new lack of independence, including an inability to drive, was among factors that made life challenging. He wasn't accustomed to asking for support and was tough on himself when he couldn't do what he used to, with his thoughts soon turning dark and his then-marriage put under strain. It was not until his occupational therapist suggested he see a psychologist that he did so and kicked off a process that turned things around. "Accepting what had happened and that it was never going to go back to the way it was, was probably the biggest hurdle," he said. "Once I'd got myself to a point where I could actually look forward...that's when my mental state sort of took a turn and we were in a better position then." According to a national annual audit of stroke rehabilitation services by the Stroke Foundation, Mr Kempson's experience is not unique. The data, published on Friday, has found a third of rehabilitation services don't have access to clinical or neuro psychologists, and one-in-three don't assess people for depression or anxiety. That's despite half of those who have experienced a stroke reporting problems with their mood. Stroke Foundation clinical advisor Natasha Lannin says the system is designed to focus on physical issues such as learning to walk and talk, and while that's important, it is not the whole picture. "Families are suffering because stroke survivors are being denied the specialist mental health assessment, information and care they need to maximise their recovery," Associate Professor Lannin said. The audit of 120 rehabilitation services in Australia found just four achieved all 10 elements of a best practice framework. But about a fifth of services met less than half of the elements. The Stroke Foundation is calling on clinicians, healthcare administrators and governments to work together to improve the quality of care provided. "We know what world-class stroke care looks like, now we must ensure all Australian stroke patients have access to it," foundation chief executive Sharon McGowan said. There are 56,000 strokes experienced in Australia each year. Overnight, a double Senate vote struck a blow to the White House's foreign policy. The Senate has "unanimously" established that bin Salman is involved in the death of the dissident journalist. And the majority want to stop military support of Riyadh. Trump determined to push ahead; parliamentarians promise battle. Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) Overnight, a double Senate vote struck a blow to President Donald Trump and to the American foreign policy impressed by the current administration in charge of the White House. The Senate voted - a non-binding choice, but with a strong symbolic value - the end of support (military and otherwise) to Riyadh in Yemen; in addition, hereditary prince Mohammed bin Salman (Mbs) is responsible for the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Last week the senators had already marked a clear distinction with respect to President Trump, stating that there is "no doubt" about the involvement of the crowned prince in the brutal assassination that took place on October 2nd at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The votes, even that of yesterday, have no legal value and to be able to become binding they need the approval of Congress. And in the assembly the Republican deputies have repeatedly blocked motions against Riyadh. However, it remains a historic decision, with 56 favorable senators (and 41 against) to stop supporting the Saudi Arab military coalition in Yemen which, according to the UN and humanitarian agencies, is responsible for the death of civilians, including children. For the first time, therefore, the two chambers are in favor of the withdrawal of the armed forces, using the powers provided by the War Powers Act. A 1973 law, which limits the powers of the head of the White House to dispose of the armed forces without the consent of Congress. Yesterday, seven Republican senators voted together with the Democrats. And the Senate voted a second motion in which he accuses Mbs of Khashoggi's death and urges Riyadh to punish those responsible, whoever they may be. "Unanimously, the Senate said that the crowned prince is responsible for the murder. It is a strong and clear statement ", said Bob Corker, president of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and leader of the motion. So far there has been no official reaction from President Trump, who backs support for Saudi Arabia and the number two bin Salman. There are also billion dollar weapons sales at stake, which the Senate has criticized for their use in Yemen. A White House spokesman recalled the "strategic interests" at stake with the kingdom that "remain" in spite of the senators' choices; however, proponents of the motion, including Republicans, promise to continue their battle. Three leading Melbourne institutions are joining forces to prevent the deaths of millions of children in the developing world each year. Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Royal Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne have created Melbourne Children's Global Health. The initiative, to be launched on Friday, will spur the development of vaccines and treatments for conditions such as rotavirus, pneumonia, meningitis and scabies; trial interventions for mental health issues; and more effective ways to detect and treat drug-resistant tuberculosis. "Melbourne Children's Global Health will work with 45 low-resource countries to improve child and adolescent health equity," Murdoch Children's Research Institute director Kathryn North said. "For example, we plan to bring our new rotavirus vaccine to millions of Indonesian children, and to tackle the growing global burden of adolescent mental health." The three organisations already have a long history of working together. In 1973, they discovered rotavirus, a diarrhoeal disease, and showed it was responsible for hundreds of thousands of child deaths. "The discovery enabled national and global efforts to tackle rotavirus, but each year the virus still kills over 215,000 children under five, mainly in the developing world, and it hospitalises millions," Professor North said. "That's why MCRI have developed a new vaccine that can be given to babies just days after birth." The virus kills 10,000 children and hospitalises 200,000 each year in Indonesia, and the new vaccine is being trialled there. Another focus will be on tuberculosis prevention, with about a million children falling ill and more than 200,000 aged under 15 dying from it in 2017. University of Melbourne researcher Kathryn Snow said, as a result of under reporting, the figure could be as high as three million cases. "Our next step is to try to understand the potential for targeting preventative measures specifically at young people in countries with intense TB epidemics," Ms Snow said. Melbourne Children's Global Health will work with partners in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region to develop models of care for prevention, detection and treatment of TB infection and disease in adolescents. The group also believes the initiative will help the three member institutes secure research funding and strengthen their standing at international forums. Melbourne Children's Global Health will be launched at the Royal Children's Hospital on Friday morning. One-in-seven Australians are expected to seek a charity's help for food, bills and other basics, new data suggests. The results of a Salvation Army-commissioned survey released on Friday also suggest close to a third of the country spends more than they can afford over the festive period while millions experienced social isolation, anxiety or depression last Christmas. "We see hardship at The Salvation Army on a daily basis, but these results are surprising and suggest the real picture of poverty in Australia is worse than previously thought," Salvos' Bruce Harmer said in a statement. KEY ISSUES TO WATCH AT THE ALP NATIONAL CONFERENCE ASYLUM SEEKERS The party looks likely to head off a messy debate on refugee issues and avoid major changes to the platform including maintaining boat turn backs and offshore processing. Key Left faction figures Tanya Plibersek, Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong have locked in behind the hardline policy ahead of conference. Debate could centre on increasing Australia's refugee intake, while Labor's parliamentary support for medical transfer legislation is expected to be officially endorsed as party policy. There is also a push to deal with 6000 asylum seekers whose claims were rejected under the "fast-track" assessment process. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Expect a heavy focus on the ALP's roots, as unions salivate at the prospect of Labor returning to government. Bringing back industry-wide bargaining is high on the ACTU's shopping list, but how widely Labor adopts the proposal remains to be seen. The Transport Workers Union is calling for aviation to be included, rather than just low-paid sectors. The TWU and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union want Labor to fast-track superannuation increases and commit to legislating 15 per cent employer contributions by 2030. The Australian Workers' Union, Bill Shorten's alma mater, are behind a push to mandate appointing union representatives on the boards of major private companies. A levy on employers to fund the retraining of workers could also win support. DOLE There is growing pressure for Labor to firmly commit to raising Newstart, rather than just its current pledge to have a review into the welfare payment which has been frozen in real terms since 1994. Advocacy groups have called for a $75-a-week increase on the current rate of $275. That would cost the budget $3 billion a year, which could make some reticent to support it with economic management a tried-and-tested attack line the coalition loves to smash Labor with during election campaigns. ENVIRONMENT Labor's draft platform contains a pledge to create a new Environment Act in the first term of a Shorten government, as well as establish an Environment Protection Authority and a national environment watchdog. Opponents say those inclusions were a mistake because some elements were not agreed on. The reforms were backed by 470 ALP branches, but opponents will either fight to have them overturned either on the conference floor or by factional agreement. Stop Adani protesters will also be out in force urging Labor to scuttle the proposed Queensland coal mine. Right faction heavyweight and environment spokesman Tony Burke has warned against committing to stop the project. KEY PLAYERS AT THE LABOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE * BILL SHORTEN - Likely the next Labor prime minister, the opposition leader doesn't need anyone to rock the boat * WAYNE SWAN - The new ALP national president will continue his push to combat income inequality * SALLY MCMANUS - The ACTU national secretary has been leading the charge to "change the rules" on workplace laws, including industry-wide bargaining * MICHAEL O'CONNOR - The CFMEU national president has factional muscle to use on industrial relations and border protection * BRENDAN O'CONNOR - Michael's brother and Labor's industrial relations spokesman * DANIEL ANDREWS - Winner of a thumping state election victory on a progressive platform, Labor will look to emulate his success federally * TONY BURKE - Key federal frontbencher and NSW Right factional heavyweight * TANYA PLIBERSEK - Labor's deputy leader and a Left faction figure * ANTHONY ALBANESE - Another Left faction figure but also a Shorten leadership rival * NOAH CARROLL - Labor's national secretary * KAILA MURNAIN - NSW Labor secretary New A-League club Western Melbourne say they'll waste no time getting to work on their new stadium, aiming to play matches there by season three. The successful consortium celebrated its inclusion as the league's 11th side on Friday, when bid spokesman Steve Horvat laid clear the club's ambition to sign marquees and challenge for the title in their first season, beginning in October. "We're looking at Alessandro Del Piero levels (of signings). We know we have to make an impact straight away. We've built that into our budget," Horvat said. Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission has released its report into corruption and mismanagement in the state's prisons. It's shone a light on overcrowding problems at the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, with problems there unresolved for years. MAY 2010 - Centre given unsatisfactory rating after a full inspection by Chief Inspector NOVEMBER 2011 - Follow-up inspection finds eight of 65 high- and medium-priority recommendations have not been completed AUGUST 2013 - Ombudsman highlights overcrowding problems, including cells housing twice as many inmates as they should APRIL 2015 - Ombudsman conducts a follow-up inspection. Finds overcrowding issues remain a major and ongoing concern. - Questions whether Queensland Corrective Services has done enough to tackle the problem NOVEMBER 2015 - Chief Inspector conducts another full inspection, five years after the first SEPTEMBER 2016 - Ombudsman publishes report saying overcrowding has worsened - Criticises Queensland Corrective Services for failing to act to mitigate serious effects on prisoners NOVEMBER 2016 - Chief Inspector reports on inspection carried out a year earlier. Gives centre a satisfactory rating. Says overcrowding is not an issue requiring attention. An alcoholic who choked and stabbed his estranged girlfriend in Sydney, then stayed with her "until she went cold", will spend at least 19 years in jail. Russell Brian Wood, 27, pleaded guilty in October to murdering 34-year-old Sarah Brown, who he attacked with a kitchen knife inside her Whalan home in September 2017. There was an apprehended violence order in place at the time prohibiting him from approaching or contacting Ms Brown. "No AVO was ever going to keep me away from her," Wood told police after the killing. He said he couldn't remember what they had been fighting over but she had told him to get out of the house. "I grabbed her, spun her around, grabbed her by the neck, dropped her to the ground, wrapped my legs around her legs and stretched her out," Wood, who had Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, said. Police were called to the property hours after the stabbing where they found Wood, curled up next to Ms Brown, crying and saying "please don't be dead, baby, you can't be dead" among other things. In the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Geoffrey Bellew jailed him for 25-and-a-half years with a non-parole period of 19 years and one month. He said Wood had a "flagrant disregard" for the orders made to protect Ms Brown. "The deceased was murdered in an atmosphere of serious domestic violence," the judge said. He concluded the murder was further aggravated by Wood's intoxication. The "on-again, off-again" couple had been drinking together earlier that evening at a tavern in Mount Druitt but Woods left before Ms Brown and waited at her home until she arrived after midnight. Their relationship had ended one week prior to the murder, according to the agreed facts. It was "inconceivable" - based on his record of domestic violence assaults - that the self-confessed alcoholic "did not realise his ingestion of excessive alcohol would cause him to become violent", Justice Bellew said. Wood's sentence was backdated meaning he'll be eligible for parole from October 2036 when he'll be 45. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Cronulla great Luke Lewis has described the night he watched his mother being dragged around by her hair in a disturbing insight into his childhood. In a bid to help others speak out and break the domestic violence cycle, the retired NRL star and White Ribbon ambassador has detailed a shocking incident in which his mother was brutally assaulted by her partner at the time. Lewis touched on his tumultuous childhood in his recently released book Cool Hand Luke Lewis but went into further detail on Friday, hoping it helped encourage others to find the courage to end toxic relationships. "There were a lot of bad times, but there's one night in particular that has always stayed with me," he told PlayersVoice website. "This person hit Mum right in front of me. She fell to the ground and he pulled her around the lounge room by her hair, threw her into a room and slammed the door shut. "I can still remember her screams." Lewis added: "He was ripping the place up. It was like a home invasion, but the crime was being committed by someone who lived with us. "The walls were getting smashed, doors were broken, glasses were being thrown around and broken all over the kitchen. "It was an awful night. There were a few like that." Lewis, who retired at the end of the 2018 season, said he could not sleep over at friends' places as a kid for years because he was nervous about leaving his mum and sister alone with the man. Lewis said the only person he told about the violence as a kid was his principal at Doonside Public School, in Sydney's west, who provided valuable emotional support. But Lewis said he largely bottled up his trauma and did not address it until he began ambassador work with White Ribbon as an NRL player. "I was only little, but it still killed me that I couldn't step in and stop this person from hurting my mum," he wrote. Lewis said their nightmare ended abruptly when he came home from school one day and the violent partner was gone. His mother is now happily married. "I've realised there's no shame in sharing my story," Lewis said. "There doesn't have to be a ripple effect with domestic violence passing on from one generation to the next - we have the power to stop it. "I also hope that it helps people find the courage to leave toxic relationships. "As difficult as it is to walk away from a violent partner, staying is so much worse, especially for the kids." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Israeli forces and forensic experts inspect the site of a Palestinian drive-by shooting in the West Bank on December 13, 2018 A Palestinian shot dead two Israeli soldiers at a bus stop in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the military said, sparking army raids in the city of Ramallah during which a Palestinian was killed. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'legalise' thousands of settlements homes considered unlawfully-built even by Israel. The attack came hours after security forces killed two Palestinian murder suspects. In total six people were killed in the most violent 24 hours to hit the West Bank and Jerusalem in months. The Israeli army said a Palestinian exited his car at a bus stop near the Ofra settlement in the West Bank before opening fire on soldiers and civilians. Two soldiers were killed and at least two other people -- including another soldier -- were wounded, the army said, with the attacker fleeing. "We are searching for the terrorist. We will find him," the military said on Twitter. Following the attack, the army raided the nearby city of Ramallah, home to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. A Palestinian uses a piece of wood to move a burning tyre during clashes with Israeli troops in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on December 13, 2018 Entrances and exits to the city were sealed for a number of hours and the army entered multiple neighbourhoods, before troops withdrew to the outskirts on Thursday evening. Clashes broke out in various spots but subsided later in the evening, AFP correspondents said. A 60-year-old man was shot dead by Israeli soldiers, in what the army said was an attempted car ramming. - Hamas claim - The bus stop shooting came only hours after Israeli forces killed two militants allegedly responsible for West Bank attacks that claimed the lives of three Israelis, including a baby. The armed wing of Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel in Gaza since 2008, claimed the two Palestinians as its "fighters". One of them was Salah Barghouti, a 29-year-old accused of shooting seven Israelis on Sunday, also at a bus stop near the Ofra settlement. The Shin Bet Israeli internal security service said that other members of Barghouti's group, all of them affiliated with Hamas, had been arrested overnight. A woman who was seven months pregnant was among those wounded in that attack. Doctors tried to save her baby boy with an emergency caesarean but he died on Wednesday and was buried in Jerusalem. An Israeli soldier is consoled at the site of a drive-by shooting at a West Bank bus stop on December 13, 2018 The mother remains in hospital in a serious condition. The other Palestinian killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday night had been suspected of shooting dead two Israelis in October. Ashraf Naalwa, 23, was killed when forces tried to arrest him near Nablus in the West Bank, Israel's Shin Bet security service said. In another incident Thursday morning, a Palestinian stabbed two Israeli border police in Jerusalem's Old City before being shot dead. - Netanyahu pledge - The violence came amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, with a former head of Shin Bet's intelligence and research division saying it appeared to be a "new front" opened by Gaza's rulers Hamas. While Abbas's forces control Palestinian cities in the West Bank, some Hamas cells continue to operate. Since Sunday's attack, Israeli forces have made a series of incursions into central Ramallah, where Abbas's Palestinian Authority is based. Abbas himself condemned the anti-Israeli attacks but highlighted Israeli raids as a potential cause of anger. A Palestinian boy checks a shrapnel-riddled room with blood stains in the West Bank refugee camp of Asker near Nablus on December 13, 2018 after Israeli forces killed a Palestinian suspected of having murdering two Israelis "The climate created by the policy of repeated intrusions into the cities, the provocations against the sovereignty of the president and the lack of a horizon for peace are what led to this unacceptable series of violence that we condemn and reject," he said. Hebrew posters have been pasted in the West Bank over the past week inciting the killing of Abbas. Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi accused Israeli forces of carrying out "summary executions" of the four Palestinians killed. "Israeli settlers are on the rampage, protected by the Israeli army. This reign of terror has compounded the pressure cooker effect," she wrote on Twitter. Israel's premier Netanyahu responded to the violence by vowing to legalise "thousands" of settlement homes built without even Israeli permits. All settlements are considered illegal under international law and are seen as a major obstacle to peace, but Israel draws a distinction between those it sanctions and those constructed without permission. "They think they can uproot us from our land, they will not succeed," Netanyahu said in a statement. He additionally said they would seek to destroy the homes of Palestinian attackers within 48 hours. Israel seized control of the West Bank and east Jerusalem in a 1967 war. Around 600,000 Israelis now live in settlements there considered illegal by the international community. Many Palestinians consider violence against Israelis in the West Bank to be a justified response to the growth of settlements on land they see as theirs. Yemen's foreign minister and the chief rebel negotiator shook hands watched by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Yemen's warring parties on Thursday agreed to a ceasefire on a vital port in a series of breakthroughs in UN-brokered peace talks that could mark a major turning point after four years of devastating conflict. If implemented, the deal on the Hodeida port, a key gateway for aid and food imports, could bring relief to a country where 14 million people stand on the brink of famine. In a highly symbolic gesture on the seventh and final day of the peace talks in Sweden, Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani and rebel negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam shook hands to loud applause -- although both later voiced scepticism. The two leaders gave contradictory readings of the Hodeida deal shortly after the announcement by UN chief Antonio Guterres. The week-long talks left a number of key issues unresolved. A new round of talks is scheduled for the end of January, with analysts predicting the US will continue to up the pressure on ally Saudi Arabia, a key backer of the Yemeni government, to end the conflict. Impoverished Yemen has been mired in fighting between Iran-backed Huthi rebels and troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi since 2014. But the war escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition stepped in on the government's side. - Withdrawal 'within days' - UN chief Antonio Guterres announced the Yemen government and Huthi rebels had agreed a ceasefire for the key port of Hodeida Under the Hodeida agreement, released on Thursday evening, an "immediate ceasefire" should come into effect in Hodeida and its three ports upon signing, followed by a "mutual redeployment of forces... to agreed upon locations outside the city and the ports". The UN will play a "leading role" in management and inspections at the ports, for four years under rebel control. The port will eventually be under the control of "local security forces" -- a term the rival parties disagree on. Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani, who agreed to the deal in Sweden, declined to specify whether the forces would be solely state security forces but told AFP they would report to the "central authority" -- the government. But the head rebel negotiator told AFP the phrase referred to the "security forces currently present in Hodeida" -- the rebels. Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse the rebels of arms smuggling from Iran through Hodeida and the capital Sanaa, charges Iran has denied. The Saudi led-military coalition currently controls Yemen's maritime borders and airspace. UN chief Guterres said the rivals had also reached a "mutual understanding" on Yemen's third city of Taiz, the scene of some of the most intense battles in the conflict, to facilitate the delivery of aid. No further details were given. - 'More than expected' - Conflict in Yemen No deal has been reached on the future of the airport in the capital Sanaa or on economic measures needed to spare the population from further hunger. Sanaa airport has been closed to commercial flights for nearly three years. The airport will be discussed at the next round of talks, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths said. Foreign Minister Yamani said the deal was the biggest step forward since the outbreak of the war but remained "hypothetical". "We will wait and see," he told AFP. The rebels' Abdelsalam told AFP his group was "bound by an agreement". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was upbeat, saying "peace is possible". "The work ahead will not be easy, but we have seen what many considered improbable begin to take shape," he said in a statement. "The end of these consultations can be the beginning of a new chapter for Yemen." Analysts said the Rimbo talks progressed better than anticipated, two years after the last negotiations hosted by Kuwait in 2016 collapsed with no breakthrough after three months. "The Sweden talks have achieved more than anyone expected," the International Crisis Group told AFP. "We have heard a different tone from the government of Yemen in these talks, and US pressure has clearly focused minds in the Gulf." - US Senate vote - Yemen's warring parties are in the rural Swedish village of Rimbo for UN-brokered talks The case of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, along with the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, were the turning point for the US. The US, Britain and France are still the biggest arms suppliers to Saudi Arabia. Both the rebels and government alliance are accused of failing to protect civilians. The UN last year blacklisted the Saudi-led coalition for the killing and maiming of children in air raids. The US Senate on Thursday approved a resolution to end American backing for the Saudi-led intervention. The largely symbolic resolution cannot be debated in the House of Representatives before January, and would likely be vetoed in any case by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly signalled his backing for the Saudi regime. Saudi Arabia and its Arab coalition partners "strongly support" the agreement, Riyadh's US ambassador Khalid bin Salman said, while Iran hailed the breakthroughs as "promising". Apple will spend $1 billion on its new Texas campus Apple unveiled plans Thursday for a $1 billion campus in Texas that will create jobs for the tech giant outside Silicon Valley, a move made without the fanfare of the recent Amazon headquarters bidding war. The new campus -- which will be used for engineering and other functions, but not manufacturing -- will be near the tech giant's existing facility in Austin and initially accommodate 5,000 new employees, with room to grow to 15,000. Currently, Apple employs some 6,200 in the Texas capital, the largest cluster outside its headquarters in Cupertino, California. In January, Apple said it would invest $30 billion in the US over the next five years and create 20,000 new jobs, using some of the overseas profits repatriated at a tax rate lowered under a law passed by Congress last year. The move comes amid intense pressure from President Donald Trump to move jobs, especially in manufacturing, to the US, with the White House imposing heavy tariffs to counter what he calls unfair trade practices. Trump in September singled out Apple, calling for the California giant to bring iPhone manufacturing back home. Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled plans for new facilities and jobs in the United States, but not for manufacturing of the iPhone "Apple prices may increase because of the massive Tariffs we may be imposing on China - but there is an easy solution," the president tweeted on September 8. "Make your products in the United States instead of China. Start building new plants now." Apple's announcement on Thursday does not concern manufacturing of its iPhone, which is assembled in China with components from various locations. - No 'Hunger Games' - The site of Apple's future billion-dollar campus in Austin, Texas Employees at the new campus will work in fields including engineering, research, operations, finance, sales and customer support, Apple said in a statement. "Apple is proud to bring new investment, jobs and opportunity to cities across the United States and to significantly deepen our quarter-century partnership with the city and people of Austin," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said. "Talent, creativity and tomorrow's breakthrough ideas aren't limited by region or zip code, and, with this new expansion, we're redoubling our commitment to cultivating the high-tech sector and workforce nationwide." Apple also said it plans to boost its employee base in regions across the United States over the next three years. Apple, which last year opened its "spaceship" headquarters in California, has announced plans for new facilities and jobs in Texas and elsewhere It will expand to over 1,000 employees each at new sites in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City, California, and add hundreds of jobs in Pittsburgh, New York, Boulder, Colorado, Boston and Portland. Apple said it plans to invest $10 billion in US data centers over the next five years, including $4.5 billion this year and next. The statement did not indicate whether Apple had received any tax incentives for its new facilities. Some reports said Apple could receive up to $25 million from the state's Texas Enterprise Fund. The iPhone maker steered clear of the public bidding war employed by tech rival Amazon, which last month unveiled two new locations for major investments in its selection of a second headquarters, or "HQ2" -- a process denounced by critics as a "Hunger Games" contest. Apple did not get into the bidding war for its new facility unlike Amazon, whose tax incentives have drawn protests in New York like this one in November Amazon selected Long Island City in New York's Queens neighborhood and Crystal City, across the Potomac River from Washington, for its $5 billion investment said to create 50,000 jobs. The Amazon deal was clinched with up to $3 billion in incentives from New York and $2.5 billion in Virginia, which have been criticized from both the political left and right. Saudi Arabia and its Arab coalition partners "strongly support" an agreement reached on Yemen in UN-brokered peace talks Thursday, which includes a ceasefire in the vital port of Hodeida, Riyadh's US ambassador Khalid bin Salman said. "The agreement announced today will help bring back security to the region including the security of the Red Sea, a vital water way for international trade," the envoy, who is the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said on his Twitter account. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced the breakthrough in Sweden, where representatives of the Saudi-led coalition and Huthi rebels held talks on ending the conflict in Yemen, which has triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Guterres said the warring sides agreed to a ceasefire in war-torn Hodeida, and that all forces would be withdrawn from the city and harbor. The United Nations, he said, would play a "leading role" in monitoring the rebel-held port and facilitate aid access for the civilian population. In a series of tweets, the influential Saudi ambassador to the United States expressed support for the agreement while defending the kingdom's role in the four-year-old war. "#KSA and the Arab Coalition strongly support the agreement announced in Sweden today," he wrote, using the initials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "The agreement is a major step towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis and reaching a political solution." He portrayed the Iranian-backed Huthis as the cause of the humanitarian crisis and maintained that "only consistent military pressure by the Yemeni armed forces and the Arab coalition forced them to agree" to UN supervision of Hodeida. "We hope that the Houthis accept a comprehensive political solution, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, that serves the interests of Yemen and its people rather than working on behalf of the Iranian regimes interests," the ambassador said. "We remain committed to ending the humanitarian crisis to help Yemen rebuild," he said. A new round of talks has been set for the end of January, with analysts predicting that Washington will continue to pressure Saudi Arabia to end the conflict. Sidibe came under fire in an expert report that described UNAIDS as being mired in "a crisis which threatens its vital work" Scandal-plagued UNAIDS head Michel Sidibe offered Thursday to resign in June, following an expert report that said his "defective leadership" had plunged the agency into crisis. The timeline for the departure, confirmed by the agency, amounted to a concession from a leader accused of fostering a work environment that has tolerated bullying, sexual harassment and a culture of fear among staff. Agency spokeswoman Sophie Barton-Knott confirmed Sidibe's proposal for an "orderly transition" in June in an email to AFP. Sidibe's term had been due to expire in January 2020. UNAIDS' oversight body, the British-led Programme Coordinating Board, met in Geneva this week to evaluate the scathing Independent Expert Panel report which also charged Sidibe with overseeing a "patriarchal" workplace and promoting a "cult of personality" centred on him as the all-powerful chief. - Funding threats - Sweden, a major UNAIDS donor, joined a chorus of activists this week in calling for the ouster of Sidibe, a Malian national who has headed the agency for nine years. "We have no confidence in him. He has to resign now," Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Isabella Lovin told daily Svenska Dagbladet, in a report confirmed to AFP by the ministry on Wednesday. A member of Britain's parliament from the opposition Labour party, Gareth Thomas, had been pushing his government to follow Sweden's example. "It is clear a change of leadership is essential at UNAIDS. If Mr. Sidibe is not prepared to recognise this then without doubt Britain should suspend our financial support until he goes," Thomas told AFP on Thursday. "Establishing a new culture within the organisation will not start properly with him still in post and given the importance of UNAIDS role this is urgent," he added. Britain's Department for International Development did not immediately respond when asked if it was satisfied with Sidibe's offer to leave in six months. The Code Blue pressure group, which has been at the forefront of exposing abuses at UNAIDS, said Thursday that the refusal to fire Sidibe amounted to a "failure of leadership" by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "Mr. Sidibe doesn't deserve to leave on his terms and on his timeline. A leader of any other major institution who was accused of the wrongdoing described in the Independent Expert Panel report would have been summarily fired," Code Blue's co-director Paula Donovan told AFP in an email. "The culture of impunity remains intact. Zero tolerance (for sexual misconduct) is nothing more than an empty slogan," she added. It was Sidibe who had pushed for the creation of the Independent Expert Panel, following the accusation that he and the agency mishandled sexual assault allegations against former deputy executive director Luiz Loures. But the panel's findings include a stunning indictment of Sidibe's stewardship, describing UNAIDS as being mired in "a crisis which threatens its vital work". The report also said that Sidibe "accepted no responsibility" for anything that had gone wrong under his watch and argued that the agency's leaders had to be replaced in order to "regain a culture of dignity and respect." The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, a civil society group, said UNAIDS "is currently in its darkest moment," which is particularly worrying given that attention paid to the epidemic is continuing to slip off the global health agenda. "We need a credible, intelligent and inclusive UN agency that gives voice to the fact that AIDS is not over," the group executive director, Christine Stegling, said in a statement. Michael Cohen (left) apologized for covering up the "dirty deeds" of US President Donald Trump Donald Trump tried to shield himself from rising legal heat Thursday with tweets insisting that he never ordered his former lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law. The US president enters his third year in office facing an increasingly perilous situation as federal prosecutors and the special investigation into alleged collusion with Russia close in on him and his inner circle. But he was as combative as ever on Twitter when he sought to distance himself from his longtime former attorney, saying: "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law." Cohen was sentenced Wednesday in New York federal court to three years behind bars for crimes including illegal hush money payments to a porn actress and a Playboy model who allegedly had slept with the married Trump. Trump has denied having sexual relations with either of the women. But according to Cohen, the payments -- which violated campaign finance laws -- were designed to bury potential scandal at the height of the 2016 presidential campaign in which Trump surprised many by defeating his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to all the charges against him, told the court that he had felt it was his "duty to cover up ... (Trump's) dirty deeds." In his first public reaction since the sentencing, Trump said he was the victim of the attorney's malpractice. "He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law," Trump tweeted. "It is called 'advice of counsel,' and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made. That is why they get paid." Later, he told Fox News in an interview that he was being singled out for a grilling over payments that would not cause a ripple elsewhere among politicians. "Nobody except for me would be looked at like this, nobody," he said. - Tabloid intrigue - Michael Cohen Trump's tweets Thursday offered another layer of defense: that he had done "nothing wrong with respect to campaign finance laws, if they even apply, because this was not campaign finance." In other words, Trump argued that even if money was paid out, it had nothing to do with his campaign. That would mean that not only did he not commit a crime, but neither probably did Cohen -- despite his guilty pleas. "Cohen was guilty on many charges unrelated to me, but he plead to two campaign charges which were not criminal and of which he probably was not guilty even on a civil basis," Trump said. According to Trump, Cohen pleaded guilty to unfounded charges "to embarrass the president and get a much reduced prison sentence, which he did." However, prosecutors paint a very different picture, tying the hush payments to the campaign and implicating the president in Cohen's crimes. The affairs allegedly happened years before, so the timing of the hush payments right before an election immediately raised questions. In the case of the Playboy model, Karen McDougal, her story was deliberately buried by the publishers of the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, which is cooperating with prosecutors. American Media Inc publishers said in their cooperation deal that they were paid to "catch and kill," meaning they'd buy rights to embarrassing stories about Trump and then not publish. Trump, who is also trying to fend off a huge probe of his election campaign's contacts with numerous Russian officials, describes the mounting legal assault as a "witch hunt." Experts mostly agree that a sitting president cannot be indicted for alleged crimes, while Republican control of the Senate currently means that conviction in an impeachment trial would also be unlikely. In theory, Trump could be liable to prosecution once he leaves office. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press conference following a UN Security Council meeting on Iran at the United Nations on December 12, 2018 in New York City Iran on Thursday urged the United States and its allies to stop their "absurd" accusations about Iranian missile tests, a day after Washington urged the UN to adopt punitive measures against Tehran. "US & allies should cease their hypocritical absurdities abt Iran's missiles," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter. "Facts speak for themselves. It's they who sell $100s of billions in arms to butcher Yemenis," he added, referring to the devastating Saudi-led war backed by the West against Yemen rebels. Beneath the text, Zarif published a graphic detailing arms exports to Saudi Arabia from 2013 to 2017 using figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The US accounted for 61 percent of those arms sales to Riyadh, Britain made up 23 percent of sales, and deals from France accounted for four percent, according to the chart. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged the UN Security Council to take punitive action against Iran to limit its ballistic missile programme, which Washington says poses a threat to the region and beyond. A day earlier, Iran confirmed it had carried out a missile test and reiterated its intention to keep up ballistic activities despite Western condemnation. Paris and London said Tehran's test was "provocative" but called for dialogue with Iran rather than sanctions as demanded by the US. Iran reined in most of its nuclear programme under a landmark 2015 deal with major powers, which the US walked away from in May, but has continued to develop its ballistic missile technology. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 adopted after the agreement calls on Iran to refrain from testing missiles capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, but does not specifically bar Tehran from missile launches. Tehran says it has no intention of acquiring atomic weapons and that its missile development programmes are purely defensive and comply with the resolution. Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo takes off for a suborbital test flight of the VSS Unity on December 13, 2018, in Mojave, California Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, flew higher than it ever has before on Thursday, surpassing what the US Air Force considers the boundary of space, and marking the first manned flight to space from US soil since 2011. The brief, suborbital flight -- with two pilots on board -- was a key milestone for the company headed by British tycoon Richard Branson, who is striving to send tourists to space at a cost of $250,000 per seat. No spacecraft with people on board has taken off from US soil since the American space shuttle program ended, as scheduled, seven years ago. Since then, the world's space agencies have relied on Russian Soyuz rockets to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. In the meantime, a burgeoning commercial space industry is rushing to close the gap, as companies hurry to complete spacecraft that can carry astronauts and tourists into microgravity. "Today, for the first time in history, a crewed spaceship, built to carry private passengers, reached space," Branson said in a statement afterward. "This is a momentous day and I could not be more proud of our teams who together have opened a new chapter of space exploration." Virgin Galactic's spaceship did not launch on a rocket but took off attached to an airplane from Mojave, California Virgin Galactic's spaceship did not launch on a rocket but took off attached to an airplane from Mojave, California. After reaching a certain altitude, higher than 43,000 feet (13,100 meters), it fired its rocket motors for 60 seconds and made it to a peak height, or apogee, of 51.4 miles (82.7 kilometers). "We made it to space," the company said on Twitter. The commonly accepted international definition of space is 62 miles high (100 kilometers), but the US Air Force considers the space boundary to be a bit lower, at 50 miles. Virgin Galactic has said it would use the US Air Force's definition of space as its standard. "What we witnessed today is more compelling evidence that commercial space is set to become one of the 21st century's defining industries," said George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company. "Reusable vehicles built and operated by private companies are about to transform our business and personal lives in ways which are as yet hard to imagine." - NASA payload - The US space agency paid Virgin Galactic to fly four space science and technology experiments on the VSS Unity, "making this Virgin Galactic's first revenue generating flight," the company added. After reaching a certain altitude, Virgin Galactic's spaceship fired its rocket motors for 60 seconds and made it to a peak height, or apogee, of 51.4 miles (82.7 kilometers) "Congrats to @VirginGalactic on SpaceShipTwo successfully flying to suborbital space with our four @NASA_Technology payloads onboard," NASA said on Twitter. "With a good rocket motor burn, the mission went beyond the 50-mile altitude target." In July, after burning the rocket motor for 42 seconds, the VSS Unity reached a height of 32 miles. Commercial airplanes typically fly at an altitude of about six miles, while the orbiting International Space Station is some 250 miles high. Another US rocket company, Blue Origin, founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, is also working to send tourists to space, but using a small rocket to get there. Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity comes in for a landing after its suborbital test flight on December 13, 2018, in Mojave, California SpaceX and Northrop Grumman operate cargo ships that launch from the United States, toting supplies and food to the space station, but not people. The first crew tests of SpaceX and Boeing's astronaut capsules are expected next year. Virgin's first flight date had been pushed back multiple times, following a test flight accident that killed a co-pilot in 2014. Branson told CNN in November he hoped to send people to space "before Christmas." More than 600 clients have already paid $250,000 for a ticket. The Federal Aviation Administration's acting head Dan Elwell commended Virgin Galactic on its successful flight. "Commercial space has great potential for American economic and innovative leadership," Elwell said. "We are pleased that Virgin Galactic is among the many pioneers of space flight helping write a new chapter in aerospace history." Maria Butina, pictured in her August 2018 booking photograph, launched a plan in March 2015 to develop ties with the Republican Party A Russian national who built a powerful network of Republican contacts via the US gun rights lobby that reached into President Donald Trump's circle admitted Thursday acting as an illegal foreign agent. Maria Butina -- the first Russian convicted in the sprawl of cases arising from Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election -- faces up to six months in prison, followed by likely deportation. Prosecutors said she launched a plan in March 2015 to develop ties with the Republican Party with the aim of influencing US foreign policy. She worked together with her American boyfriend, Republican operative and National Rifle Association insider Paul Erickson, to pursue the plan, they said. The plot was guided and financed in part by Alexander Torshin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin who was deputy governor of the Russian central bank until his retirement on November 30. At Torshin's direction and with Erickson's assistance, prosecutors said Butina "sought to establish unofficial lines of communications with Americans who having power and influence over US politics." "Butina sought to use those unofficial lines of communication for the benefit of the Russian Federation," they said. Butina's case was a spinoff from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign with the Russians. Her guilty plea came one day after the sentencing of Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who implicated the president in felony violations of campaign financing laws. Cohen alleged Trump directed him to make payments during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence two women who claimed to have had past sexual encounters with Trump, the Republican candidate. - High-level Republican contacts - Robert Driscoll(L), lawyer for Russian national Maria Butina, who has admitted to acting an an illegal foreign agent Butina's contacts took her into the high echelons of the Republican hierarchy. She started by setting up her own Russian gun rights organization, supported by Torshin, and then making contact with the NRA. In April 2015 she joined the NRA national convention where she had her picture taken with prominent Republicans and was introduced to an unidentified Republican presidential candidate, according to prosecutors. Eight months later she invited a number of current and former leaders of the NRA to Moscow where they were able to meet high-level Russian officials. Her contacts took her into close proximity with Trump. At a Trump rally in Las Vegas in July 2015 she was selected to ask him a question about his plans for ties with Russia. "I believe I would get along very nicely with Putin... I don't think you'd need the sanctions," he said, in possibly his first campaign trail pronouncement on the issue. In 2016 she entered graduate school at American University in Washington, and continued her networking as she lived with Erickson. He helped her contact a senior official on the Trump campaign, Rick Dearborn, proposing a meeting between Trump and Putin before the election. Following up that offer, in early May 2016, Torshin attended an official dinner during the NRA's annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky, where he reportedly spoke with Trump's son Don Jr. - Cause celebre - Butina was arrested on July 15, 2018 and became a minor cause celebre in Russia, with the foreign ministry putting her picture at the top of their Twitter account with the hashtag "#FreeMariaButina". She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to not register as an agent of a foreign government, a charge often used against foreign spies. But there was no evidence presented that she worked for any of Moscow's espionage agencies. The conspiracy charge, and prosecutors' vouching for her cooperation in a broader investigation, suggested others could be charged in relation to her case. She was to remain in US custody until her sentencing, in February or later, and was expected to continue cooperating with investigations. No other students or staff were harmed during a gunfire exchange between police and a teenager at a school in Indiana December 13, 2108, police said, in an incident that ended with the teenage suspect killing himself A teenage gunman killed himself Thursday at a school in Indiana, after being confronted by police officers who were alerted in advance of an armed suspect heading to campus. Police were tipped off at around 8:00am (1300 GMT) of potential violence at Dennis Intermediate School in the city of Richmond, according to the Indiana State Police. "Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the school, which had already been placed on lockdown," the agency said in a statement. Officers confronted a teenage suspect outside the school, who then reportedly shot out the glass of a locked entry door and ran inside. Officers chased him and exchanged gunfire with the teen, but police said they did not yet know if the suspect had been wounded by police. "The teenage suspect is deceased, the result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," the state police said. It was not immediately known if the teenager was a student at the school. No other students or staff were harmed, authorities said. Students were evacuated to another school campus where they were reunited with their parents. "Due to the result of advance notification ... the school had initiated their lockdown procedure which clearly prevented injury to students and faculty," the state police said. Eyewitnesses reported hearing several gunshots and saw a heavy police presence as the school day was commencing. Peggy Lewis, who lives across the street from the school campus, told local television station RTV6 that she saw police rushing into the school building. "I heard, I want to say like three gunshots, and I look out my door, and the police were shooting at the door," Lewis told the TV station. The Richmond school district said classes at all schools other than Dennis Intermediate would resume on a regular schedule. In a speech billed as unveiling a new US strategy on Africa, national security advisor John Bolton echoed Donald Trump's "America First" philosophy The United States lashed out Thursday at "predatory" Chinese and Russian involvement in Africa as it announced a leaner footprint on the continent that insists on accountability in trade and peacekeeping. In a speech billed as unveiling a new US strategy on Africa, national security advisor John Bolton echoed Trump's "America First" philosophy, showing a distrust of international institutions and a sense of stark competition with rival powers. Bolton denounced China for its aggressive quest for natural resources and its rising military and maritime presence -- warning that the balance of power in the Horn of Africa could shift to Beijing -- and accused Russia of using the continent to seek past imperial glory. "The predatory practices pursued by China and Russia stunt economic growth in Africa, threaten the financial independence of African nations, inhibit opportunities for US investment, interfere with US military operations and pose a significant threat to US national security interests," Bolton said at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He said that China used "bribes, opaque agreements and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing's wishes and demands." Kenya in 2017 inaugurated a Chinese-built railway, the country's biggest infrastructure project since independence -- China has made dramatic inroads in Africa with direct investment, aid and infrastructure projects China has found ready partners in part by promising not to interfere in internal affairs. Abe Denmark, a former assistant secretary of defense now at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, called Bolton's approach on China "particularly self-defeating" and said it may drive more African nations toward Beijing. "Can't we just engage Africa on its own merits and not make it part of the grand China competition chessboard?" he tweeted. - Self-reliance over aid - Bolton also told African governments to expect a tighter-fisted approach to aid, with an end to "indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent." Workers offload US aid destined for South Sudan from the World Food Programme (WFP) at Port Sudan on March 19, 2017: the United States warned it was considering cutting off aid to South Sudan unless its "morally bankrupt leaders" end their infighting "All US aid on the continent will advance US interests, and help African nations move toward self-reliance," Bolton said. Trump has vowed to slash foreign aid across the world and is not known for his interest in Africa, notoriously being quoted by lawmakers as calling some African countries "shitholes" when discussing immigration to the United States. But Bolton said that the tycoon turned president's "transactional history" of "making deals that are mutually beneficial" should be an encouraging sign to African nations. Bolton announced, with few immediate details, an initiative called "Prosper Africa" to boost US private sector investment across the continent with a goal of offering "high-quality, transparent, inclusive" trade. Bolton said the approach showed how the United States is "the least imperial power in the history of the world." "In America's economic dealings, we ask only for reciprocity, never for subservience," he said. Bolton also warned that the United States was considering cutting off aid to South Sudan, which has benefited from US largesse since its independence in 2011, unless its "morally bankrupt leaders" end their internal fighting. - Criticism of UN peacekeeping - The competition with China and Russia comes as Washington prepares to dial down its already modest military response to the spread of Islamist militant groups in Africa. Instead, Washington wants regional players to take more responsibility for their own security. The US says the G5 Sahel task force -- a US-backed security force consisting of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger -- is a good example of how regional players can handle their own security; Mauritanian soldiers are seen here Bolton cited as an example the so-called G5 Sahel -- a security force backed by the United States which consists of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. But Bolton, known for his hawkish criticism of the United Nations, said the United States would seek to "streamline, reconfigure or terminate" UN peacekeeping missions unless they "facilitate lasting peace." "Our objective is to resolve conflicts, not freeze them in perpetuity," he said. Bolton accused the world body of creating peacekeeping missions and then not looking further at how to resolve the underlying conflicts. "We will not provide legitimacy to missions that give large payouts to countries sending poorly equipped soldiers who provide insufficient protection to vulnerable populations on the ground," Bolton said. Attendees were treated to a world of cannabis-derived products, from medicinal oils, dog treats and even pure hemp clothing South Africa on Thursday held its first cannabis industry exhibition since the constitutional court ruled private, personal cannabis use was legal, attracting scores of entrepreneurs and consumers. Although no smoking was allowed at the venue, hundreds of people attended the trade show including producers, manufacturers, brand owners, distilleries and brewers. "It is an enormous opportunity and I don't think people realise how big it is. If we look at the market, it is enormous when you look at what is happening in America and Canada," said Steve Carver, 50, a director at U Can Grow Africa which sub-lets land for cannabis cultivation. Another attendee Sifiso Pretorius, who has a licence to cultivate the plant, said the profits derived from cannabis based products were "unbelievable". "It's a huge industry and its mainly export based, dollar based. The potential is huge," he said. The country's top court decriminalised private use and cultivation of the herb in September, although it did not decriminalise the use of the drug in public -- nor the offences of supplying or dealing. From medicinal oils, dog treats and even pure hemp clothing, attendees were treated to a world of cannabis-derived products from the southern Africa region. - 'Make this industry viable' - Zimbabwean-born fashion business owner Haanes Swan, 25, who sells tailored hemp clothing, praised the cost-effective nature of the plant. "The fabric is four times stronger than cotton and takes half the amount of water to grow." "Eventually we will grow hemp in Zimbabwe by the end of next year. We will be able to clothe people for almost next to nothing," Swan said. The country's top court decriminalised private use and cultivation of the herb in September For others, the decriminalisation is a chance to cash in on the budding industry in a country where unemployment is stubbornly high. "I wanted information about growing and cultivating because I want to do that myself. I'm quite happy with what I got because I know where to find seeds and everything else to start," law student Amogelang Shadi, 24 said. Dressed in Rastafari colours, director of the privately-owned Marijuana Board of South Africa, Rasta Sphesihle Madola, told AFP that the rasta community was also working with farmers and growers associations to profit from the plant. "As we are rasta we are about the economy of cannabis, we know that it makes money in the world. We call on international investors to invest and make this industry viable," Madola added. The South African parliament now has just under 24 months to draft new laws that reflect the decriminalisation court order. Cameroon President Paul Biya "has decided on... the halt of cases pending in military courts against a certain number of people arrested for offences committed during the crisis in the (anglophone) Northwest and Southwest" regions, a statement said Cameroon President Paul Biya on Thursday called a halt to the prosecution of 289 separatists from the West African country's western English-speaking regions, his office said. Biya "has decided on... the halt of cases pending in military courts against a certain number of people arrested for offences committed during the crisis in the (anglophone) Northwest and Southwest" regions, a statement said, adding that the measure concerned "289 detainees". Since the secessionists took up arms last years, attacks by their fighters and a crackdown by the authorities have led to the death of at least 500 civilians as well as more than 200 members of the security forces, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG). Separatist leader Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe went on trial on December 6 on charges of "terrorism" and "secession". Ayuk Tabe, president of the self-declared "Republic of Ambazonia", was arrested in neighbouring Nigeria and extradited to Cameroon in January this year along with 46 others. An annual beer tasting festival in Chicago, the US city with the most breweries Where is America's beer capital? Many cities claim the title, including Grand Rapids, Michigan and San Diego, California. But when it comes to sheer math, the title now belongs to Chicago. The "Third Coast" city -- situated along the banks of vast Lake Michigan -- is first in the US in the number of breweries it contains, according to new data provided by the Brewers Association, an industry group. Los Angeles and New York, two cities with bigger populations, come in fourth and sixth respectively. "It shows that Chicago has earned the right to be thought of as a top beer city," Bart Watson, the group's chief economist, told AFP. Chicago had 172 breweries as of the end of November, with Denver -- with less than a third of Chicago's population -- boasting the second highest number at 161. Overall, the country has seen explosive growth in the number of breweries -- 98 percent of them making craft beer. An attendee holds a beer sampling glass at the American Beer Classic Chicago at Soldier Field Their numbers have doubled or tripled since 2013 in the eight US cities with the highest number of new beer makers, according to Watson. "We've seen more breweries open in the last five years than in any other point in our country's history," Watson said. The sheer volume of brewers in Chicago makes a strong case for the Midwestern city to take the crown as the country's beer capital, said Danielle D'Alessandro, executive director of the Illinois Brewers Association. "We are really seeing our craft beer scene just thrive," she told AFP, calling the city an epicenter of innovation. D'Alessandro credits a number of factors -- from culture, to regulatory changes, to ready access to fresh water from Lake Michigan -- for helping Chicago's beer scene hop. "We're pretty excited about this designation," she said. "It's a testament to our brewers." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement he would seek to legalise thousands of homes built without Israeli permits in the West Bank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will legalise thousands of settlement homes built without even Israeli permits in the occupied West Bank following a deadly attack, he announced Thursday. All settlements are considered illegal under international law, but Israel draws a distinction between those it sanctions and those constructed without permission. Netanyahu's office said in a statement he would seek to legalise thousands of homes built without Israeli permits in the West Bank. He would also look into building 82 new homes in Ofra, a settlement near to where Thursday's attack took place. "They think they can uproot us from our land, they will not succeed," he said in a statement. Netanyahu also said they would be seeking to speed up the process of destroying homes of Palestinian attackers, so it takes place within 48 hours, as well as withdrawing Israeli work permits for family members of assailants. The international community considers Israeli settlement building a major obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace, though Netanyahu's government denies this. 'The worst isn't the wickedness of bad people but the silence of good people': investigative journalist Norbert Zongo Thousands of people demonstrated in Ouagadougou Thursday on the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Burkinabe investigative journalist Norbert Zongo. Participants marched down the city's main thoroughfares, occasionally stopping to shout slogans calling for justice for the journalist, who was killed while investigating another murder. The gathering, concentrated around Place de la Nation at the heart of the Burkinabe capital, was organised by two rights groups. Last week, a French court approved the extradition of the brother of Burkina Faso's ousted leader, Blaise Compaore, to face prosecution in connection with Zongo's death. Francois Compaore is wanted on charges of "inciting the death" of Zongo and three companions, whose charred bodies were found in a burnt-out car in the south of the country in December 1998. Zongo's family has long accused him of having had a hand in the killings, which triggered mass protests in Burkina Faso and drew international condemnation. Francois Compaore, brother of the deposed Burkinabe president Blaise Compaore, faces extradition from France to his homeland to face trial over the murder of Norbert Zongo Zongo, 49, was investigating the death of the chauffeur of Francois Compaore at the time of his death. Compaore was one of the most disliked figures in the regime of his brother. President Blaise Compaore was ousted in a popular revolt in October 2014 after trying to change the constitution to extend his 27-year grip on power. A few hours before the rally, about a hundred people including members of his family gathered to leave flowers at grave of Tongo and the three people slain with him. Addressing a rally after the march, Guy Zongo, one of the murdered journalist's sons, described his father's killing as one of those crimes that had shaken the country's collective consciousness. Compaore, who was arrested in Paris in October last year, could still challenge the extradition ruling by the Court of Appeal in a higher court. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro promises "tough" trade negotiations with China President Donald Trump's trade negotiators will hold "tough" talks with China, a senior White House advisor said Thursday, while cautioning against watching day-to-day reports on the negotiations. The whole world is watching the trade talks between Washington and Beijing, hoping the 90-day tariff truce will hold and the sides can end a dispute that could disrupt the global economy. "From our point of view, what we must do is hold fast, stay tough, and focus on a prize," US trade advisor Peter Navarro said on the Fox Business television network. "The prize for this country and for the world and for China really is complete structural reform to put an end to all these practices which are disrupting the global economy." Navarro, an anti-China firebrand, said the key will be to "trust but verify." The talks began after Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires on December 1. In followed-up talks by phone on Monday, Beijing pledged to lower punitive tariffs on US auto imports, resume purchases of American soybeans, and reform its 10-year economic program to allow more US investment, according to reports. Financial markets have alternatively recovered and slumped on each new hint of progress or increased tensions between the world's largest economies. Navarro said his advice to investors was "don't get hung up now in the day-to-day news about what China is saying it's going to do." "I would just focus on March 1st, when we'll have a complete offer from China that will be negotiated behind closed doors, not on the front page of The Wall Street Journal." He said the US wants China to buy more from the United States, but "much more importantly are the structural issues" including forced transfer and theft of American technology, "cyber intrusions," and "state directed investment." The two sides have exchange punitive tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in trade, and prior to the ceasefire Washington had been poised to more than double the rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods starting January 1. Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and President of the COP23, said nations who ignored climate science were endangering the entire world Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has presided over the UN climate talks since November 2017. He handed over the baton to Poland this month in the Polish city of Katowice, where negotiators in the 195-nation forum are struggling to bring the landmark Paris climate treaty to life. AFP spoke to him as the meeting moved toward an uncertain conclusion. Q. The United States and Saudi Arabia refused to endorse a landmark UN report on what it means to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Is backing the report within this forum a redline issue for Fiji? A. It is not about drawing a line in the sand but accepting the irrefutable science on human-induced climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on 1.5C had input from thousands of climate specialists. It is clear and unambiguous. The science on climate change is settled. To say otherwise is tantamount to arguing that the Earth is flat. Those who ignore the report and don't accept the science are being craven, irresponsible and selfish. Q. Climate change is worsening even as humanity keeps pumping ever greater amounts of greenhouse gases into the air. How does that make you feel? A. Very disappointed. Angry. Frustrated. We Fijians know what it means to be on the receiving end of extreme weather. In 2016, we were struck by the strongest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall in the southern hemisphere, a monster packing 300 km/hour winds. It killed 44 of our people and left thousands homeless. We live in constant fear of these storms, which could wipe out our nation altogether. When I come face-to-face with my people after these disasters, I don't know what to tell them about the world's lack of action on climate change. I see the fear in their eyes, and the sense of hurt they feel that they are suffering from something they had no part at all in causing. Q. If the UN process fails to deliver, what options remain? A. All we can do is to keep putting our case in global forums at every opportunity. It is a moral case as well as a practical one. It is simply not acceptable for some countries to put their interests before the interests of the whole world. We are a small nation of less than a million people. We can't threaten anyone or force them to bow to our will. But along with other climate vulnerable nations, we certainly have moral authority in the climate debate and we intend to exercise that authority at every turn. Q. If you were face-to-face with US President Donald Trump, what would you say? A. Mr. President, we are all in this together. We are all in the same canoe. So please accept the science and the evidence all around you and join us. America has always been a force for good in the world and -- with your help -- we can win this one. This is not a threat but an opportunity. The days of dirty energy are numbered. And you will be serving your industries and workers far better if you embrace a clean energy future because there is no other future. One day, I'm hoping President Trump will be able to see that. US lawmakers want China to open up Tibet to foreigners -- seen here is the Potala Palace in Tibet's regional capital Lhasa The US Congress has voted to demand access for US diplomats, journalists and tourists to Tibet, threatening to bar the Chinese officials responsible for the policy from the United States if the region remained walled off to foreigners. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, comes after years of concern over human rights violations in the predominantly Buddhist region, where foreigners are generally required to obtain a special permit to visit. Congress voted to require the State Department to verify each year whether China has granted access to Tibet and ethnically Tibetan areas in line with how it treats the rest of the country. If restrictions remain in place on Americans seeking to enter Tibet, the State Department would then be compelled to ban Chinese officials responsible for the policy from entering the United States. Senator Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the bill was "about fundamental fairness." "Chinese citizens enjoy broad access to the United States, and I think that is terrific," he said. "But it is unacceptable that the same is not true for US students, journalists or diplomats going to Tibet, including our Tibetan-American constituents just trying to visit their country of origin." The bill passed without objections by a voice vote this week after similar passage in the House of Representatives. The legislation needs the signature of President Donald Trump, which appears likely as it has wide support within his Republican Party. The bill comes amid frictions between the United States and China over trade and the arrest in Canada on a US request of an executive with Chinese tech giant Huawei on charges of violating US sanctions on Iran. A recent op-ed piece in China's state-run Global Times denounced the Tibet bill and accused the United States of "double standards or even multiple standards on human rights," pointing to how Washington pulled out of the UN Human Rights Council over the body's criticism of Israel. Matteo Mecacci -- the president of the International Campaign for Tibet, an advocacy group close to the exiled Dalai Lama that has pressed for the legislation -- said the measure was different from trade tensions as it will become part of US law. "Certainly this is a major step forward because now it is clearly on the agenda of the Chinese government," said Mecacci, a former Italian MP. "Our goal is not to stop Chinese officials from coming here. It is to open up Tibet to the world," he told AFP. "If they choose to scrap this system of additional permits, that would be, as they would say, a win-win." New York officials are seeking fines against Walmart and Target, as well as additional steps to prevent sale of toys containing toxic amounts of lead New York state authorities on Thursday announced a lawsuit against retail giants Walmart and Target for selling Chinese-made toys that had up to 10 times the legal limit of lead. The lawsuit seeks up to $6,000 in penalties for each of the thousands of Cra-Z-Jewelz jewelry kits the retailers and importer LaRose Industries sold from 2015 to 2016 before they were recalled. Authorities also are asking the three companies to take steps to prevent dangerous toys from reaching store shelves. "No parent should have to worry that their child's toy may be toxic. As we allege, these companies imported and sold toys with dangerous levels of toxic lead," New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in a statement. She said the jewelry kits had parts that contained 120 to 980 parts per million of lead, exceeding the legal limit of 100 ppm. LaRose Industries and Target imported the kits from China from August 2015 until April 2016. The toys also were sold by now bankrupt chains Kmart and Toys R Us. The suit alleges that the companies violated multiple New York state laws, including those related to selling hazardous toys, as well as deceptive acts and false advertising. The retailers said they removed the toys from store shelves as soon as they were notified of the safety issues and the recall. "We take our customers' safety seriously and require our suppliers to meet all safety standards," Walmart said in a statement to AFP. Target, which pulled the product voluntarily, told AFP in a statement: "We're committed to providing high quality and safe products to our guests and we require all of our vendors to follow safety laws... for the products they sell at Target." LaRose already adopted a number of measures to ensure imported toys do not contain dangerous amounts of lead. Underwood said the suit seeks additional measures from the three companies including testing requirements, unannounced audits of manufacturers and tighter rules on sourcing of dangerous material. Walmart shares lost ground after the lawsuit was announced, but recovered slightly to close with a decline of 0.2 percent. Target's shares closed 1.7 percent lower. US Senator Bernie Sanders, pictured in November 2018, described the vote as a "historic moment" The US Senate sent a fresh warning to President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia Thursday by approving a resolution to end US military support for Riyadh's war in Yemen. The largely symbolic resolution cannot be debated in the House of Representatives before January, and would likely be vetoed in any case by Trump, who has repeatedly signaled his backing for the Saudi regime. But the bipartisan Senate 'yes' vote sends a strong message to the White House over anger on both sides of the aisle towards Riyadh, intensified by the mounting civilian death toll in Yemen and the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a voice vote, with no opposition, the Senate also approved a resolution condemning Khashoggi's murder and saying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was "responsible" for it. Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who votes with the Democrats, described the vote as "a historic moment." "Today we tell the despotic government of Saudi Arabia that we will not be part of their military adventures," he said. "So let us go forward today... and tell the world that the United States of America will not continue to be part of the worst humanitarian disaster on the face of the earth." Anger at the human cost of the war in Yemen, as well as outrage over the killing of the US-based Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, have prompted a harder line in Congress about the US military's role in backing Saudi-led coalition strikes against Huthi rebels. The rebuke of the young heir apparent to the Saudi throne is a direct challenge to Trump, who has sought to cast doubt on the crown prince's involvement in the killing and has stressed instead the importance of US trade and military ties with Riyadh. Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell -- a Trump loyalist -- had called on his party to vote against the Yemen resolution although he did back the rebuke of Prince Mohammed, crafted by Bob Corker, a Republican who has been critical of the president. The US House of Representatives has said the Myanmar military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority constitutes "genocide" The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted a resolution Thursday calling Myanmar's expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims a "genocide." The lower house of Congress also accused the Myanmar military of "crimes against humanity" and called for the immediate release of two Reuters journalists who have been detained for covering the crisis. The resolution was backed by 394 votes from both parties, with a single Republican opposing. The United Nations has already classified the mass expulsions of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from their homes as a "genocide." Members of Congress called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "determine, based on available evidence, whether the actions by the (Myanmar) military in northern Rakhine State in 2017 constitute crimes against humanity, genocide, or other crimes under international law." It added that "all those responsible for these crimes against humanity and genocide should be tracked, sanctioned, arrested, prosecuted, and punished under applicable international criminal statutes and conventions." In November 2017, Pompeo's predecessor Rex Tillerson called the military's campaign against the Rohingya "ethnic cleansing" and in August issued sanctions against four commanders and two military units involved. Since then, the State Department has been examining whether the actions of the military can be classified as genocide, a tougher, more legally binding term than "ethnic cleansing." Vice President Mike Pence told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month that the actions of the military were "inexcusable." "That conclusion of ethnic cleansing... in no way prejudices any potential further analysis on whether mass atrocities have taken place, including genocide or crimes against humanity," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters this week. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled the violence in Rakhine state since the Myanmar military launched an offensive in August 2017. Myanmar denies the charge of ethnic cleansing, saying it was responding to attacks by Muslim rebels. Southwest Airlines began its return to Seattle immediately after discovering the heart A Southwest Airlines flight headed from Seattle to Dallas was turned back mid-flight after it was discovered that a human heart had been left on board, officials said Thursday. The plane had was over eastern Idaho -- around 600 miles (950 kilometers) into the journey -- when staff discovered the "life critical cargo shipment," meant for delivery back in a Seattle hospital after being transported from California. "Once we realized the error we immediately worked to return to Seattle," airline spokesman Dan Landson told AFP. The airline didn't provide the name of the company that shipped the organ, or confirm any further details. But the Seattle Times reported that the flight's captain told horrified passengers the cargo was a human heart. The error is thought to have squandered four hours -- three hours in the air -- and experts say a human heart can typically be stored for between four and six hours for a transplant. Andrew Gottschalk, a doctor with no connection to the incident, described fellow passengers' shock as those with internet connections discovered the small window of viability for a heart transplant. He told the Times the incident was a "horrific story of gross negligence." The newspaper was unable to locate the hospital where the heart was being sent. Seized Ukrainian military vessels, pictured on November 26, 2018 in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 The head of the Ukrainian navy is meeting his US counterpart this week in Washington, where they will discuss the Russian navy's recent seizure of three Ukrainian vessels, a US official said Thursday. Russian ships last month opened fire on three Ukrainian navy vessels as they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, and detained the 24 Ukrainian crew members. Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said Ukraine's Admiral Ihor Voronchenko is meeting Thursday and Friday with US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Nicholson. Nicholson and other Pentagon officials "will reiterate the US support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, as well as the right of its vessels to traverse international waters," Pahon told AFP. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis earlier this month blasted the Russian navy's "brazen" violation of a treaty that allows both Russian and Ukrainian ships free passage in the Kerch Strait. Pahon said the US government supports "Ukraine in its pursuit of a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the ongoing Russian aggression, including Russia's recent unprovoked attack on Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea." Ukraine's foreign minister on Thursday called for a speedy international response to Russia's "aggression" after it seized the three Ukrainian navy ships and 24 sailors. The confrontation at sea on November 25 was the first open military incident between Kiev and Moscow since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula and a conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russia separatists and government forces, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives. The Russian flag flies over a stadium in Bangui: Russia was fiercely critical of the French approach to negotiating renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed its peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic, after tough talks between the United States, France and Russia. Russia had slammed the French approach as "arrogant" and abstained, together with China, on the final vote, which was carried by the remaining 13 members of the Security Council. The mandate allows for the deployment of 11,650 military personnel and 2,080 police as part of the UN mission, known as MINUSCA, to be extended until November 15, 2019. The mandate was supposed to have been renewed in mid-November, but could only be extended for a month because of objections raised by Washington and Moscow. The administration of President Donald Trump said it needed to consult Congress and demanded that no extra costs be incurred by extending the mission to support a redeployment of security forces from the Central African Republic. Congress approved the move and the new resolution says the costs of the amended mission will be covered "by reallocating approved resources." Russia leveled more outspoken criticism at the resolution. It has in recent months increased the number of its bilateral agreements with the Central African Republic, providing weapons, training troops and carrying out parallel negotiations and providing protection for President Faustin-Archange Touadera. Moscow wanted recognition of these efforts, and for the soldiers it has trained to receive support from the UN mission. On Thursday, Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia lashed out at what he called France's "arrogant" approach toward the negotiations concerning its former colony, accusing Paris of refusing to seek out compromises. "This is not the first time we have been told, 'Take it or leave it,'" he said. One of the world's poorest nations despite a rich supply of diamonds and uranium, the Central African Republic has struggled to recover from a 2013 civil war that erupted when President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. In response, Christians, who account for about 80 percent of the population, organized vigilante units dubbed "anti-Balaka" in reference to a local machete. David Pecker (c), publisher of the National Enquirer For two decades, Donald Trump could count on the backing of his close friend David Pecker, publisher of the tabloid the National Enquirer. No longer. Faced with possible criminal charges, his former ally is cooperating with federal prosecutors examining payments made to suppress negative stories about Trump. The legal imbroglio has brought an abrupt end to a longtime friendship between two colorful New York personalities -- the boastful real estate tycoon and the dapper, mustachioed media baron. Unlike Trump, scion of a property magnate, 67-year-old Pecker is a self-made man, the son of a bricklayer. Trump, with his flair for self-promotion, has long cultivated friendships with media personalities -- he has expressed his admiration for Rupert Murdoch on numerous occasions -- and Pecker was among them. In 1998, as chief executive of Hachette Filipacchi, Pecker began publishing an in-house promotional magazine for Trump called Trump Style. Pecker took control the next year of American Media Inc. (AMI), publisher of the National Enquirer and a slew of other titles. Over the years, the National Enquirer faithfully chronicled the ups and downs of Trump's love life and business dealings. - 'Catch and kill' - During the 2016 presidential election, the Enquirer was one of the few media outlets to endorse Trump and it ran a steady stream of negative stories about his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. No caption Like other print publications, the National Enquirer has lost hundreds of thousands of readers over the years but it retains a prominent place at supermarket checkout counters. "The National Enquirer reaches that base, Trump's base," Stu Zakim, a former AMI senior vice president, told CNN. Alongside its fawning coverage of Trump, the Enquirer was also allegedly involved in a practice called "catch and kill" -- buying negative stories about him to ensure they did not get published elsewhere -- or at all. It was this practice which allegedly led Trump and Pecker's AMI -- like Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen -- to run afoul of campaign finance laws. According to federal prosecutors, AMI paid $150,000 to a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, who was going to go public during the election campaign with her claim to have had an affair with Trump. Prosecutors said AMI made the payment at the request of Cohen, Trump's attorney, who was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday. Among the crimes Cohen admitted was arranging the hush money payment to McDougal and another, of $130,000 to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who also claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump. - 'A survivor' - The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said that in exchange for AMI's cooperation it had entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the company. "As a part of the agreement, AMI admitted that it made the $150,000 payment in concert with a candidate's presidential campaign, and in order to ensure that the woman did not publicize damaging allegations about the candidate before the 2016 presidential election," the US Attorney's office said. Trump has sought to pin the blame on Cohen, saying he never instructed him to break the law. Trump has also insisted that the hush money payments should not be characterized as campaign contributions saying they were a "simple private transaction." The president also cast doubt on Thursday as to whether AMI ever received any money from Cohen. "I don't think we made a payment to that tabloid," Trump said in an interview with Fox News. According to US media, Pecker himself has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his cooperation. Which is no surprise to Zakim, his former colleague. "David Pecker looks out for David Pecker," Zakim told MSNBC in an interview. "So clearly the signs were saying to him -- time to take care of yourself. "David is a survivor." French writer Michel Houellebecq penned an essay praising Donald Trump, saying his presidency is perhaps "a necessary ordeal" Tension-stirring French writer Michel Houellebecq on Thursday published a defense of US President Donald Trump, calling him "one of the best American presidents I've ever seen." In the essay printed in Harper's Magazine, a New York-based monthly, Houellebecq praises Trump for his protectionist trade policies, his disdain for the European Union and his willingness to negotiate with iron-handed leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. "It seems that President Trump has even managed to tame the North Korean madman; I found this feat positively classy," Houellebecq wrote in the article translated from French. While he kicked off by labeling Trump an "appalling clown," the French provocateur also argued enthusiastically that the US president has ushered in the end of American imperialism: "The United States of America is no longer the world's leading power." "This isn't necessarily bad news for Americans," he wrote. "It's very good news for the rest of the world." "The Americans are getting off our backs. The Americans are letting us exist." The author -- whose nihilistic works replete with swingers' clubs, anonymous sex and misogynistic men have earned him global acclaim -- also cheered the Republican leader's threats to cut NATO funding. "France should leave NATO, but maybe such a step will become pointless if lack of operational funding causes NATO to disappear on its own," he said. "That would be one less thing to worry about, and a new reason to sing the praises of President Trump." The treatise drew mostly eye rolls on social media: "Michel Houellebecq liking Donald Trump is the least controversial position Michel Houellebecq has ever taken," tweeted New Yorker writer Alexandra Schwartz. "You would have to know literally nothing about him to be scandalized by this." Houellebecq's last novel triggered furor. In "Submission" he imagined the election of a moderate Islamist as president of France in 2022 -- a controversial tome published the same day jihadists attacked the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris in January 2015, killing 12 people including one of the writer's closest friends. He has since said he would "stop writing political books." His next novel titled "Serotonin," slated for publication next month, is about love. Despite commending Trump for his first two years in office, Houellebecq admitted he also empathized "with the shame many Americans (and not only 'New York intellectuals') feel." "On the personal level, he is, of course, pretty repulsive." But he concluded that "you have to get used to the idea, worthy American people: in the final analysis, maybe Donald Trump will have been a necessary ordeal for you." "And you'll always be welcome as tourists." Many experts point to the increased number of people going into the water as a reason for any increase in attacks Australian researchers believe they have detected a dramatic decline in shark numbers over the last half century, findings that could challenge the use of culls as a way of responding to attacks. The number of some shark species caught in nets off the state of Queensland have fallen between 74-92 percent in the last 55 years, according to a study published in Communications Biology on Thursday. Researchers led by George Roff of the University of Queensland studied the catch from government-installed mesh nets and drum lines designed to prevent attacks on humans near the Great Barrier Reef. An estimated 50,000 sharks have been caught by the programme. The team found that in 1962, an average of 9.5 hammerheads were found per year, declining to 0.8 by 2016. Hammerheads are more likely to get caught in nets because of their shape. Similar drops were seen in the numbers of whaler sharks. Catch rates for tiger sharks, which are involved in many more attacks on humans, were stable over the first thirty years of the study period, but have since fallen. Roff and his colleagues cautioned that the data was not standardised until 1992, and different baits and nets may have been used, making the data imperfect. But in 1992, the report showed the catch of "hammerheads declined by 68%, whalers by 69%, tigers by 69% and white sharks by 42%". The declines were largely due to the programme, as well as "depletion by recreational, and commercial fisheries". The falling numbers of apex predators like sharks could have a wide-ranging and as-yet understood impacts on marine ecosystems, the researchers warned. "The extent and magnitude of decline in apex predators in the marine environment is less well understood" than the decline of those on land, the study said. The fall, coupled with data showing continued or even increased shark attacks in the region, could be an argument against culls as a means of prevention. "The extent to which targeting shark populations reduces interaction rates with humans in coastal ecosystems is contentious," the researchers suggested. There have been 27 shark attacks in Australia this year, according to data compiled by Sydney's Taronga Zoo. One attack, in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, in early November, was fatal. There were 18 attacks in 2017 and 26 in 2016. Many experts point to the increased number of people going into the water as a reason for any increase in attacks. Despite tens of millions of trips to the beach taken in Australia every year, shark attacks are extremely rare. There's no denying President Donald Trump left quite a mark in the second year of his administration He came, he disrupted, he declared victory. Ask Donald Trump and he'll tell you 2018 was a roaring success. "Nobody's ever done a better job than I'm doing as president," Trump told Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward. Classic Trump. Best ever or not, there's no denying this most unusual White House resident left quite a mark in the second year of his administration. From trampling near-sacred allies like Canada to trying to make good with rival Russia and enemy North Korea, Trump's foreign policy shook up the world. And at home, he stoked populist fires with "Make America Great Again" rallies that made it seem his 2016 election campaign had never ended -- or that his 2020 reelection campaign had already begun. Trump's 2018 on the international stage was "a very important year in terms of the disruptive nature," Georgetown professor Mark Rom says. For all the drama, though, his domestic accomplishments were slender and he ends the year with approval percentage ratings in the low 40s. Now with signs of economic wobbles, Democrats taking over the lower house of Congress in January, the Russia collusion investigation peaking, and his former lawyer going to prison, uncertainties are mounting. The one easy prediction for 2019, though, is that whatever happens "Trump's going to be Trump," Rom said. And in 2018, at least, this is what Trump being Trump looked like: - G7 mayhem - Donald Trump boards Air Force One following the June 2018 G7 summit in Quebec, Canada -- which ended in unprecedented acrimony after Trump attacked allies for using the US as a "piggy bank" Annual G7 summits, which group the world's seven richest democracies, are usually cozy affairs. But the June G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, ended in unprecedented acrimony after Trump attacked allies for using the US as a "piggy bank," defended his imposition of tariffs against western trading partners, and got in a name-calling spat with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. With a final flourish, Trump torpedoed the traditional joint communique -- usually a dull document reaffirming common values, suddenly turned into the hottest controversy around. A photograph showing the president sitting grumpily in front of other G7 leaders came to epitomize what some saw as an unraveling of western unity. - Nukes and love - Days later, Trump flew to Singapore for a far more upbeat summit with... North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Donald Trump reckoned his charm and business instincts could get North Korea's Kim Jong Un to give up his country's nukes and make peace Kim's country technically remains at war with the United States and his rule has been characterized by executions of disloyal relatives and mass repression of the population. The mold-breaking US president reckoned his charm and business instincts could get Kim to give up his country's nukes and make peace. Many ridiculed Trump, pointing to the absence of concrete steps afterward by Kim. But after decades of unproductive US saber rattling and military standoffs, Trump also won plaudits for trying something new. Certainly he thinks his gamble will work. "We fell in love," Trump said later, waxing lyrical over an exchange of letters with his unlikely new friend Kim. - Kremlin controversy - Another month, another diplomatic bombshell. This time, it was a July meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki where Trump publicly accepted the Kremlin leader's denial of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. At a July 2018 meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Donald Trump publicly accepted the Kremlin leader's denial of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election "President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be," Trump told a press conference. No reason at all, except for the awkward matter of Trump's own intelligence experts having declared that Russia was guilty. Trump's siding with Putin sparked uproar on both sides of the political aisle back home. And it worried European allies already nervous about the Kremlin's multi-layered efforts to infiltrate western democracies. The episode was only the latest example of Trump's personal refusal to take on Putin -- all the more mysterious given his government's often tough line over Ukraine and other flashpoints. - Court of Donald Trump? - Trump won few legislative victories in 2018, despite his Republicans controlling both houses of Congress. For example, his endlessly trumpeted "wall" with Mexico has yet to find funding. Donald Trump's second Supreme Court candidate, Brett Kavanaugh, was almost derailed by unproven, decades-old sex assault allegations But Trump did score big in getting approval for his nominees to fill two Supreme Court seats, as well as dozens of federal judge vacancies. Justices and federal judges are for life, so Trump's conservative picks will influence US society and politics for a long time. The stakes became dramatically clear in the fight over the second Supreme Court candidate, Brett Kavanaugh, who was almost derailed by unproven, decades-old sex assault allegations. As public concern fueled by the #MeToo movement mounted, Trump wavered. Not for long, though, before he came out fighting to belittle the woman accuser. The Senate's tense approval vote of 50-48 marked a massive victory for Trump, but also yet another deepening of partisan divisions. - 'The witch hunt' - Given Trump's in-your-face style, it's ironic that his potential nemesis is Washington's quietest man, special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller heads the probe into alleged improper links between Trump, his 2016 election campaign and the Kremlin. Protesters in New York brandish a portrait of special counsel Robert Mueller -- who heads the probe into alleged improper links between Donald Trump, his 2016 election campaign and the Kremlin And as 2018 winds down, the signs are that the ultra-discreet Mueller is gearing up for big revelations. "Phony Russia Witch Hunt" and "conflicted prosecutor gone rogue" are just two snippets from the president's recent torrent of anti-Mueller tweets. But if Trump used to believe himself untouchable -- once boasting that he could get away with shooting someone in public -- that confidence has to be slipping. On Wednesday, his longtime former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to crimes that included paying hush money to a porn actress and Playboy model who said they had had affairs with Trump. Prosecutors are clear that they believe the president was involved, while Cohen warns he has much more dirt to dish on his former employer. Current legal understanding is that a sitting president cannot be indicted. But that's a debate which is sure to light up 2019. In this courtroom sketch by Jane Wolsak and released to AFP by the artist, Meng Wanzhou (L), Huawei's chief financial officer, speaks with lawyer David Martin in the courtroom in Vancouver, British Columbia The arrest of a top Chinese tech executive at the request of the US has snared Canada in the middle of a major international dispute involving Beijing and Washington. Ottawa confirmed on Thursday that China had detained two Canadian nationals under what Beijing has said is suspicion of threatening its national security. That came nearly two weeks after the arrest in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei, a move that infuriated Beijing. The resulting crisis is to blame on "a trade war between China and the United States," Fred Bild, a former Canadian diplomat and Asian studies professor at the University of Montreal, told AFP. "Washington is using Canada in its trade battle with China," he said. A recent portrait of Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou The detention of the two Canadian nationals have fueled suspicions that China is retaliating against Canada's arrest of Meng. She was released on Can$10 million (US$7.5 million) bail by a court in Vancouver on Tuesday pending a US extradition hearing. Beijing had warned of "grave consequences" if she was not immediately freed. Bild points to the exceptional circumstances of her arrest, saying Washington has been content in the past to impose fines on foreign companies found guilty of violating US sanctions on Iran. Meng faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. But US President Donald Trump said he could intervene in the US case against her if it helps seal a trade deal with China -- statements that displeased Canada. - 'A pawn' - Trump's comments have "really complicated" the situation for Canada, according to Bild. "It's sometimes difficult to persuade the Chinese that we are not acting on behalf of the United States. And this has reinforced notions that Canada is just a pawn." Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday indirectly criticized the statements by the US president. US President Donald Trump says he could intervene in the US case against Meng Wanzhou if it helps seal a trade deal with China -- statements that displeased Canada "Our extradition partners should not seek to politicize the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice and following the rule of law," she told a press conference. "Canada is caught in the middle of a China-US tech war," said Paul Evans, a global affairs professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The United States has been pressuring Canada for several months to ban Huawei equipment from its future 5G cellular networks over security concerns. Washington fears that Beijing may use the technology to disrupt US military communications. And the Trump administration sees a Huawei as a potential Trojan horse, a mistrust fueled by the fact that the group's founder, Ren Zhengfei, is a former Chinese army officer. He is also Meng's father. Canada is the only member of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes Australia, Britain and New Zealand, that has not shut out Huawei from 5G rollouts, noted Bild. The crisis comes as Canada's holding of the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven industrialized nations comes to a close and as Ottawa looked to China to diversify its trade, which is now heavily reliant on the US market. Instead of formally starting free trade talk with Beijing, Canada now faces threats of "trade sanctions," according to state-run Chinese media. Individuals with flowers exiting from a vehicle with consular plates arrive at the residence of Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou after she was released on bail in Vancouver, British Columbia Experts quoted by the Chinese tabloid Global Times, a mouthpiece of China's communist government, also raised the prospects of a decline in the number of visits by Chinese tourists and businessmen to Canada. Since Beijing approved Canada as a tourist destination for its citizens in 2010, the number of Chinese tourists has risen by 20 percent per year to almost 700,000 in 2017, and Ottawa hoped to double the figure by 2021. "But for now, Canadians are standing alone at the edge of an abyss, with a Chinese noose around our necks and American shivs sticking out of our backs," said an editorial in Canada's National Post. The US constitution does not answer the question of whether a sitting American president can be put on trial, but Donald Trump could force the Supreme Court to decide US prosecutors have made clear they believe President Donald Trump committed a crime. But can they prosecute him? The US constitution does not answer the question, and the majority of the legal community has long accepted that the answer is "no" -- that the president has immunity from prosecution while in office. But the issue has never been fully tested, and Trump could force the Supreme Court to decide it. Federal prosecutors say the president's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who was sentenced to three years in jail Wednesday, "acted in coordination with and at the direction of" Trump in making hush payments to two women in violation of campaign finance laws in 2016. - Policy against indicting president - Federal prosecutors say the president's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen "acted in coordination with and at the direction of" Donald Trump in making hush payments to two women in violation of campaign finance laws in 2016 But charges have not been filed, and might never be: the Department of Justice's official policy is the US head of state can't be prosecuted, and Trump's appointees run the department. That policy is rooted in a 1973 memorandum from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), written as president Richard Nixon was targeted in the Watergate investigation. The president's responsibilities are "so onerous that a president may not be able fully to discharge the powers and duties of his office if he had to defend a criminal prosecution," it said. "The president is the symbolic head of the nation. To wound him by a criminal proceeding is to hamstring the operation of the whole governmental apparatus." It also noted that since the president controls the Justice Department, he cannot, in essence, investigate himself. If there are serious charges, it is up to Congress to impeach him. In 2000, after president Bill Clinton avoided indictment but faced impeachment in the Monica Lewinsky investigation, the department renewed its stance. A new memo said that indicting and prosecuting a sitting president would "prevent the executive from accomplishing its constitutional functions." - 'No one is above the law' - Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff says the Justice Department is wrong to rule out indicting a sitting president Democrats in Congress are questioning that position: "I think the Justice Department needs to re-examine that OLC opinion," Congressman Adam Schiff said on CNN Wednesday. "I don't think that the Justice Department ought to take the position... that a president, merely by being in office, can be above the law." Legal experts, including former Justice officials, also say the policy is not so clear-cut. "Whether or not a president can be indicted or named as an unindicted co-conspirator should not be considered a settled question," Walter Dellinger, a former OLC head, wrote in a June analysis on the Lawfare website. He noted that a grand jury named Nixon as an "unindicted co-conspirator" in 1974. "The fact that it is permissible to name a sitting president as unindicted co-conspirator, moreover, tends significantly to undermine the only argument against indicting a sitting president." When special prosecutor Ken Starr investigated Bill Clinton in the 1990s, he was advised by legal scholar Ronald Rotunda that "it is proper, constitutional and legal for a federal grand jury to indict a sitting president." "In this country, no one, not even President Clinton, is above the law," Rotunda wrote. - Indictment, yes; trial, unlikely - Neil Katyal, a former top Justice Department lawyer, said that, logically, a president can't be immune from prosecution if he broke the law to win an election -- otherwise that would incentivize doing just that. Russia collusion probe Special Counsel Robert Mueller would have to obtain special permission from the attorney general to be able to indict the president He also notes that the Justice memos do not give the president immunity from be charged with a crime by states. In addition, he said, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who leads the Russia collusion investigation, can request an exception to the memos -- if the attorney general agrees to act against the president who appointed him. At the same time, Katyal points out, even if a president can be indicted, he probably cannot be put on trial until he is out of office. An indictment would serve to avoid the statute of limitations on alleged crimes, enabling a trial after the president steps down. For Trump, though, that would be more incentive to run for a second term in 2021. Australia is expected to announce as soon as Saturday that it will follow US President Donald Trump's lead and recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital Australia on Friday warned citizens to take care while travelling in neighbouring Muslim-majority Indonesia, ahead of an expected but contentious move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to announce -- as soon as Saturday -- that his government will follow US President Donald Trump's lead and recognise the contested city as Israel's capital. Scores of Australians preparing to jet off to Bali and other tropical island destinations for upcoming summer holidays should "exercise a high degree of caution", the Department of Foreign Affairs warned. Officials in Canberra told AFP they expected the announcement to come on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, but cautioned that events could yet alter those plans. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Critics say declaring Jerusalem the capital of either inflames tensions and prejudges the outcome of final status peace talks. Trump's decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv last May prompted tens of thousands of Palestinians to approach the heavily-protected Israeli border. At least 62 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire that day. Morrison is expected to stop short of actually shifting Australia's diplomatic corps to the Holy City, amid warnings from his own officials about the cost and security implications. But recognising Jerusalem would help the embattled Australian PM -- who faces the prospect of an election drubbing next year -- with Jewish and conservative Christian voters and win him friends in the White House. His supporters argue Israel has the right to choose its own capital and peace talks are dead in the water, so there is no peace to prejudge. But the move still risks heightening unrest, both in Australia's immediate neighbour Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation -- and further afield. The Palestinian government would press for Arab and Muslim states to "withdraw their Ambassadors" and take some "meat and wheat" style "economic boycott measures" if the move went ahead, Palestinian ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi told AFP. - Jakarta protests - Indonesia's government, facing domestic pressure at home, had reacted angrily earlier this year, when Morrison floated the idea of both recognising Jerusalem and moving the Australian embassy there. The issue has put the conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement on hold. In the meantime, Australia's foreign ministry has moved to prepare the ground. "Demonstrations have been held in recent weeks around the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and the Australian Consulate-General in Surabaya," it warned in a public notice Friday. "Protests may continue at the Embassy in Jakarta or at any of Australia's Consulates-General in Surabaya, Bali and Makassar," the Department of Foreign Affairs said."Exercise a high degree of caution." Tensions are currently running high between Israel and the Palestinians. At least 235 Palestinians and two Israelis have died during violence in Gaza since March, mostly in border clashes. On Thursday the Israeli army launched raids into the Palestinian city of Ramallah after a Palestinian shot dead two Israeli soldiers at a bus stop in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu vowed to 'legalise' thousands of settlements homes considered unlawfully-built even by Israel. In total six people were killed in the most violent 24 hours to hit the West Bank and Jerusalem in months. An Iraqi man waving the national flag in Baghdad to celebrate the end of the three-year war against the Islamic State group in December 2017 -- but experts warn IS is far from defeated and already morphing into a dangerous underground organization Even as the last pockets of resistance in eastern Syria hold their ground, the Islamic State group is shapeshifting into a new, but no less dangerous, underground form, experts warn. Also known as ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the group had long been ready to cede the territory it once held in its self-styled "caliphate," and has already begun the switch to a more clandestine role, closer to its roots. "ISIS anticipated its battlefield defeat and the loss of the caliphate and prepared accordingly," said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University in Washington. "Hundreds of ISIS fighters were able to flee Syria, bribe their way through Syria to Turkey and thereby disappear," he said. "Beneath the surface, ISIS has always played the long game." In a recent study entitled "ISIS's Second Resurgence," Brandon Wallace and Jennifer Cafarella of the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the jihadist group "has already restructured its operations to return to a regional insurgency." "ISIS is finding new sources of revenue and rebuilding command-and-control over its scattered remnant forces in order to prepare for a future large-scale insurgency in both Iraq and Syria," the report said. - 'We'll be back' - Mission accomplished? Iraqi security forces conduct a victory parade in the ruined streets of the Iraqi city of Mosul, on December 10, 2018 to celebrate the first anniversary of the "defeat" of IS, but experts tell AFP the group is far from finished The group has managed to smuggle funds to several countries around the Middle East, using front companies such as car dealerships, electronics stores, pharmacies and currency exchanges that it established in Iraq, experts said. "We're entering a very risky period," said Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "I have no faith that ISIS has been crushed, defeated." "They already have gone underground," he said. "They are doing what everybody does who faces a better equipped opposition, with air and naval capabilities: they have to face Russian air strikes, cruise missiles." "What do you do in a case like that?" he said. "You disperse, you don't operate in platoon-size positions the way they did in 2014, you go underground, you build your clandestine network, you conduct targeted assassinations, IEDs [roadside bombs] and you wait for opportunities." Data collected by the CSIS show that in some provinces in Iraq, such as Kirkuk in the northeast, the number of attacks attributed to IS doubled last year from 2017, with an average of 75 a month. The group has regularly picked off tribal leaders, government officials, police and members of the armed forces. Kurdish Iraqi leader Massud Barzani says the Islamic State group is far from defeated In a television interview last month, the Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani said that IS "is not defeated and will not be ended easily." "IS was on the ground, now they are underground," Barzani said, noting that they had returned to many areas they had been driven out of even stronger than before. An Islamic State fighter in Syria, who spoke to The New York Times via WhatsApp, echoed Barzani's grim message. "Do you think the Americans can defeat the caliphate?" said the fighter, who identified himself only as Yehya. "It's a war of attrition. When the coalition stops the air strikes, we will return immediately." "We didn't leave for good. We're still in Syria, even in the areas that you think we left. We still have our suicide bombers ready to attack. Our informers are active," he said. Hoffman agreed that the US and Russia are locked in a war of attrition against the Islamists, "and frankly we're losing it. There are nearly a quarter of a million salafi-jihadi fighters all around the world." That is four times the number of jihadists there were in 2001, when Al-Qaeda triggered the global "war on terror" with its jetliner suicide attacks on the United States. Hoffman said that while military operations may have held them at bay, Islamic State operatives "carry within their own DNA the seeds to constantly regenerate, to continue to attract, recruit." "Who would have thought in the immediate aftermath of September 11 that 17 years later, we would still be fighting?" he said. The resolutions cannot be debated in the House of Representatives before January, and would likely be vetoed in any case by Trump The US Senate dealt President Donald Trump a double blow over Saudi Arabia on Thursday, approving a resolution to end US military support for Riyadh's war in Yemen, and another holding the Saudi crown prince responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Though largely symbolic, the two bipartisan measures deliver a fresh warning to Trump, who has repeatedly signaled his backing for the Saudi regime even amid a mounting uproar over the Yemen conflict and the slaying of dissident Saudi journalist Khashoggi. On the Yemen measure, which more broadly attacks the president's prerogative to launch military actions, 49 Democrats or their allies voted in favor, along with seven Republicans, while another three Republicans abstained. Then, in a voice vote with no opposition, the Senate also approved a resolution condemning Khashoggi's murder and calling Prince Mohammed bin Salman "responsible" for it. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT, speaks after the Senate voted to withdraw support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen "What the Senate did today is say that the United States Congress is sick and tired of abdicating its constitutional responsibility on matters of war," said Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who votes with the Democrats. "We will not continue to have our military posture dictated by a despotic, murderous regime in Saudi Arabia." The resolutions cannot be debated in the House of Representatives before January, and would likely be vetoed in any case by Trump. But the Senate votes send a strong message to the White House over anger on both sides of the aisle towards Riyadh, intensified by the mounting civilian death toll in Yemen and the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Anger at the human cost of the war in Yemen has prompted a harder line in Congress about the US military's role in backing Saudi-led coalition strikes against Huthi rebels. The Yemen "resolution directs the president to remove US armed forces from hostilities in or affecting Yemen, except those engaged in operations directed at al-Qaeda, within 30 days," the resolution states. - 'Peace is possible' - The resolution came the same day as UN-brokered talks in Sweden saw some progress, with Yemen's warring parties agreeing to a ceasefire at the vital port of Hodeida. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the talks, saying "peace is possible." Armed Yemeni men gather in the capital Sanaa to show their support to the Shiite Huthi movement against the Saudi-led intervention Four years of war in Yemen have killed about 10,000 people and are threatening up to 20 million people with starvation. Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell -- a Trump loyalist -- had called on his party to vote against the Yemen resolution. But he did back the rebuke of Prince Mohammed, crafted by Bob Corker, a Republican who has been critical of the president. Under the resolution, the Senate "believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," the measure states. It also calls on the Saudis to release blogger Raif Badawi, his sister Samar Badawi, and Saudi women's rights activists who were arrested as political prisoners in 2018. The resolution notes "the United States-Saudi Arabia relationship is important to United States national security and economic interests" but calls on Riyadh to "moderate its increasingly erratic foreign policy." US Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, leaves a briefing from CIA Director Gina Haspel on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, on Capitol Hill on December 4 The rebuke of the young heir apparent to the Saudi throne is a direct challenge to Trump, who has sought to cast doubt on the crown prince's involvement in the killing and has stressed instead the importance of US trade and military ties with Riyadh. "Here's what I believe: Saudi Arabia needs us more than we need them," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said. It's "not too much to ask -- an ally not to butcher a guy in a consulate. This is not World War II. So I'm not going to look away at what MBS did," Graham added, using the abbreviation for the crown prince. UN climate change negotiations in Poland remain deadlocked UN negotiations aimed at preventing runaway global warming remain deadlocked less than 24 hours before the 12-day talks are set to end, China's top climate diplomat said Thursday. Ministers working overnight along parallel negotiating tracks struggled to weave dozens of strands into a "rule book" that would bring to life the Paris Agreement on climate change. The 2015 treaty vows to cap the rise in Earth's temperature at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and 1.5C if possible. "We are seeing deadlocks in certain areas," China's Xie Zhenhua told journalists in Katowice, Poland. "We need to avoid straying from the principles and spirit of the Paris Agreement... We cannot accept any backsliding," Xie said through a translator. The 195-nation Paris pact promises hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to poor nations already coping with extreme weather made worse by climate change, and -- more broadly -- to orient financial flows towards greening the global economy. The treaty, already ratified, goes into effect in 2020. Among the more nettlesome issues is how nations report progress in implementing voluntary national plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wealthy nations are pushing for the rapid adoption of a unified and "transparent" set of rules that apply to all nations. Developing countries favour a generous interpretation of the "flexibility" they are assured in the treaty. "Only the person wearing shoes knows whether they are comfortable," Xie said, citing an "old Chinese saying". "It should be up to each country to decide when, how frequently, and what content to provide." "Developing countries are not comfortable at this stage of the negotiations," he added. Nor are they likely to be reassured by the most recent attempt by Poland, which is presiding over the complex talks, to strike a middle ground. Current climate pledges, even if fulfilled, would still see Earth's temperature rise well above 3C, a recipe for widespread human misery, scientists say. - Loss and damage - A draft of the decisions, for example, to be adopted at the consensus talks -- released late Thursday night by the host nation -- gave short shrift to another red-line issue for poor countries exposed to the ravages brought on by global warming: so-called "loss and damage". President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Paris climate pact Cutting greenhouse gas emissions and helping nations prepare for a climate-addled future have long been the twin pillars of the UN climate forum. But more recently, a third plank of the regime was added to help nations cope with deadly heatwaves, drought and floods -- amplified by climate change -- happening today. Pulling the pieces of the climate puzzle together, said China's Xie, was harder with Donald Trump in the White House. "Of course I'm disappointed," he said when asked about the impending US withdrawal from the Paris pact. "How could I not be." "The United States has been an important player in the process," he added. "We would welcome them back to the climate change arena." Xie sidestepped a question on whether China would support a coalition of small island and least-developed states calling on all nations to raise their carbon cutting ambitions before 2020. Aid operations in Syria, the UN's largest relief effort, have continued despite little progress by UN diplomats to end the war The UN Security Council on Thursday approved a one-year extension of humanitarian aid deliveries across war-scarred Syria. The move came despite reluctance from Russia, which called to amend the period to six months. The United States along with the majority of the Council members, however, approved the one-year extension, citing Syria's dire need for humanitarian supplies. More than 4.3 million people need aid in areas not controlled by the government, according to the United Nations. That figure includes more than three million people who can only be reached via cross-border operations. During negotiations, Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said relief supplies were being seized by armed groups, subject to extortion at checkpoints and had generated millions in monthly revenue for the rebels. The authorization allows humanitarian organizations to cross borders after simply notifying the government. The US believes there is no credible alternative to such deliveries, and has accused the regime of distributing aid unequally at the expense of communities considered less loyal to Damascus during the eight-year conflict. The first resolution on cross-border aid was adopted unanimously in 2014. Aid operations in Syria, the UN's largest relief effort, have continued despite little progress by UN diplomats to end the war. Syria's war has so far killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions. Trump has staunchly backed the Saudi crown prince A murdered Saudi journalist. A scrapped Iran nuclear deal. The two events alone have undone years of diplomacy in the Middle East, testing old alliances and shaking up the regional balance of power, analysts say. In another turbulent year for the tinderbox region, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad appeared ever more powerful and Washington's promised Israeli-Palestinian peace plan seemed ever more elusive. Meanwhile, Russia -- buoyed by its 2015 intervention in Syria to prop up Assad -- has steadily asserted itself as a key powerbroker in the Middle East, stepping into a diplomatic void left by what observers see as a partial US retreat. US President Donald Trump, however, has staunchly backed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a key regional ally who has faced intense global criticism over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder in Istanbul's Saudi consulate in October. Trump has asserted the petro-state's importance as a lucrative buyer of US arms and a bulwark against common foe Iran, but furious American lawmakers appear in no mood to give the prince a free pass over the murder. The stakes are high for Trump and the prince, the heir to the Arab world's most powerful throne who the CIA claims ordered the killing. - Testing US-Saudi ties - Time named Khashoggi and other targeted journalists 'Person of the Year' "The killing has sparked multiple battles that are likely to shape relationships ranging from that between the US and Saudi Arabia to those between Trump, his Republican Party, the US Congress and the country's intelligence community," said James Dorsey, a fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. "The fallout of the killing could also shape Trump's ability to pursue his policy goals in the Middle East, including forcing Iran to its knees and imposing a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." The prince -- who sought to project he was no global pariah with an ebullient high-five with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the recent G-20 summit in Argentina -- is expected to weather the crisis. But the fallout is testing the alliance between Riyadh and Washington. "It looks set to really impact US-Saudi ties very negatively in 2019, regardless of what the Trump administration thinks it can do to stop or prevent it," said Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute in the United States. War-torn Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis The Khashoggi crisis has cast a renewed spotlight on a Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen, gripped by what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, piling pressure on Riyadh to kickstart peace talks this month in Sweden between the government it backs and Iran-aligned Huthi rebels. The Khashoggi affair has also given Turkey -- allied with Saudi rivals Qatar and Iran -- unusual leverage in regional power plays. - 'Dangerous and unstable' - Through his veiled attacks on Prince Mohammed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using the murder as a geopolitical opportunity to re-establish the balance of power in the Middle East, analysts say. With Russian and Iranian support, Assad has wrested back control of large swathes of Syrian territory "Between instability in the Gulf and a zero-sum game between MBS and Erdogan, the Middle East risks becoming even more dangerous and unstable," said Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst based in Washington. "It leaves every party with little option but to further entrench itself even as Trump seeks to use the Khashoggi murder as a catalyst to forge Gulf reconciliation and accelerate Yemen peace talks while seeking to pressure Iran." Turkey has also managed to consolidate its influence in Syria following an agreement with Russia to avert a regime assault on rebel-held Idlib province. With Russian and Iranian support, Assad has wrested back control of large swathes of Syrian territory while corralling what is left of the armed opposition in Idlib. "The Assad government had its best year since 2011" when the uprising against his regime began, said Nicholas Heras, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security. "The big battle in 2019 will be... over the aftermath of the war in Syria. For all of the gains it made in 2018, the Assad government still sits in the crosshairs of an American strategy that seeks to kill Assad's economy and the stability of his statelet." - 'Pressure on Tehran' - A key part of the US strategy is also to ensure that Iran does not emerge as the big winner from the Syrian conflict. A perceived threat of Iranian expansionism in the Middle East has prompted an undeclared alliance between Israel and several Arab states, observers say Earlier this year, Trump tore up the Iran nuclear deal -- a result of intense international diplomacy led by European allies and the previous Obama administration -- and imposed new sanctions on Tehran that kicked in last month. "The biggest and most far-reaching change that developed in 2018 was the aggressive American stance towards Iran," said Hussein Ibish, a scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "There is a lot more pressure on Tehran." A perceived threat of Iranian expansionism in the Middle East has prompted an undeclared alliance between Israel and several Arab states, observers say. That was reflected in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's surprise visit to the Gulf state of Oman in October, the first by a leader of the Jewish state in 22 years. He also sought to publicly defend Prince Mohammed following global outrage over Khashoggi's murder. Trump, whose administration in May controversially moved the US embassy to Israel to Jerusalem, has promised to deliver a so-called "deal of the century" to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Diplomats and analysts claim the deal, set to be unveiled early in 2019, is secretly backed by several Arab states. But with public opinion largely pro-Palestinian, many in the Arab world view the warming ties with Israel as a betrayal. New tensions have also erupted in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip since March 30 when Palestinians launched rolling protests demanding the right to return to homes now inside Israel. Some 235 Palestinians have been killed by Israel soldiers since then. Two Israelis soldiers have died in the clashes. burs-ac/ras/jkb/ach "My life is much better than that of my parents' generation" says retired factory worker Ou Banlan China's "reform and opening up" policy brought monumental changes to society in the world's most populous country since its launch 40 years ago under late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. As China marks next week the anniversary of the momentous shift agreed at a Communist Party gathering on December 18, 1978, AFP interviewed five people whose experiences provide snippets into how the policy transformed lives. These are their stories: - The factory worker - Ou Banlan, 52, is a retired garment factory worker in Shenzhen, a former southern fishing village that was the testing ground for the reforms and morphed into a major manufacturing and high-tech hub. "My life is much better than that of my parents' generation," said the diminutive woman with short black hair, standing in front of the factory where she once toiled. She was born and raised in a village outside Shenzhen. "Life was very tough. All of China was like this at the time. It was very poor. We had enough to eat, but just the bare minimum," Ou recalled. "I always wanted to live in a city, so I came here when they began to look for workers in Shenzhen." At first life wasn't easy for her in her new town, which was established as a special economic zone in 1980. "I was just a working girl, I ate cafeteria food and lived in dormitories... The environment at that time was a bit chaotic, dirty," she said, remembering that there were fewer skyscrapers back then. But in the past four decades, China's gross domestic product soared to transform the country into the world's second biggest economy, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty. "After a few years of work, I had my own house, I could do my own hobbies, I could go travel," Ou said. "I had spare time to go to the restaurant or go shopping, or travel. Before, I couldn't even imagine that." Men can usually retire at age 60 in China. Women at age 55. Factory workers five years earlier than that. "In the last 40 years, quality of life for normal people has changed," she said, "but the protection of the rights of the low-end population still faces a lot of problems." - The investor - Born not long after the reforms kicked off, Zhao Chen is now 34 years old and on top of the world. He holds court from an office building smack in the middle of China's tech corridor in the capital of what has become the world's second biggest economy. Beyond his desk are floors of entrepreneurs his firm has funded, tapping away at code for artificial intelligence, autonomous delivery robots, smart appliances, and other projects. Born not long after the reforms kicked off, Zhao Chen is now 34 years old and on top of the world As a child in 1980s Beijing, Zhao imagined he would someday enter a state-owned company or the bloated government bureaucracy, following in the footsteps of his parents. Instead he benefited from the transformative reforms under way, allowing him to join a wave of young Chinese going abroad for education: he earned a master's degree in computer science and an MBA from top American universities. After eight years in California, he returned to China to build Plug and Play, an investment firm and incubator for early stage tech startups. "Top reason was family, second was opportunities. The market opportunities are here in China," Zhao said, describing the pace as way faster than in Silicon Valley. "In China people are very hungry for success and very eager to work hard," Zhao said, with many people working the "9-9-6": toiling from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm six days a week. Zhao's firm helps budding companies grow, providing them the money, time, space, advice and services to expand. It would be a foreign idea in China pre-Deng, he acknowledges. His parents have gone from making purchases with food coupons to scanning QR codes with their smartphones or buying via e-commerce platforms. "We didn't have too many options in terms of food, vacations, holidays, global travel, e-commerce and delivery services like we have nowadays," he said. "We're the beneficiaries of China's reforms." - The artist - For Chinese artists like Jin Shan, reform and opening stripped away Mao-era shackles on expression, allowing art to flourish -- to a point. "We went from not having enough to eat, to having enough to eat and having the freedom to do and think many things," said Jin, 41, a prominent Shanghai-based mixed-media artist who has exhibited internationally. "There is more freedom to create." Mao famously declared that art exists for the masses, and in his day that meant works glorifying Communism. Jin's father, also an artist, painted propaganda posters and stage backgrounds for plays that promoted officially-approved values. For Chinese artists like Jin Shan, reform and opening stripped away Mao-era shackles on expression, allowing art to flourish -- to a point But reform has loosened those bonds, opening the door to outside artistic influences and allowing imaginations to run free again. "The charm of art lies in imagination. Without that, you can't create good art," said Jin, whose thick-framed glasses rest under an unkept mop of black hair. China is now one of the world's biggest art markets, with works selling for millions and stars made out of contemporary artists like Yue Minjun, Zhang Xiaogang and Ai Weiwei. Jin's signature pieces are humanoid sculptures of plastic, foam, and wire depicting figures stripped of their flesh and twisted beyond recognition by unseen forces, which he says are inspired by the fragmentation and disruption of the digital age. His materials feel "dirty", he said. "I feel like that overlaps with how we feel about life now." Jin has previously described his work as representing the "many absurd, terrible and amazing stories" that emerge daily in fast-changing China. Art that is overtly political or may offend the Communist Party remains taboo, however, and authorities occasionally close exhibits. "I don't make political figures, so there isn't much restriction on content for me. There is a certain level of freedom. But it's troublesome if you do the sensitive things." - The sex blogger - For Yi Heng, the advent of the internet was a godsend. The 29-year-old, who goes by the alias "Queen C-Cup", is a prolific columnist and online consultant on a byproduct of the transformative reforms -- a new openness to talk about sex. Yi Heng is a prolific columnist and online consultant on a byproduct of the transformative reforms -- a new openness to talk about sex She fields a wide range of doubts and concerns from Chinese netizens: fears of sex addiction, anguish over a cheating lover, the frustrations of a sexless marriage. On Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, some questions cost more than $20, others less than a dollar. Many are worried about being abnormal, Yi explained. "Why can't I orgasm when others can, why is this so small?" The Queen is a 1980s child, born during the wave of breakneck economic development from the reforms. But even as China's private sector raced ahead, awareness and education on sex remained stagnant. Teachers simply "skipped over" sex education, said Yi, while parents talked around the subject, unless it was about puberty, health, or the importance of modesty. But the internet changed everything. In university, Yi delved into overseas sex education websites, at a time when China's cyberspace had not yet been walled off by the censorship apparatus. It felt like "floating by different islands," she exclaimed, describing an almost giddy sense of discovery. Though many foreign websites, like Google, are now blocked, China's own internet companies have flourished and curiosity about sex is driving demand for services like Yi's. But online censorship has increased in recent months. "A lot of words are not allowed to be used, if you use those words -- including vagina, penetration, etcetera -- you will face censorship risks," she said. And while people have more discussions about sex, conservative views on female sexuality persist. Women in China lack power, she said, "while men have too much". - The dissident - The reform period was scarred by a dark and bloody chapter in China's history. Wu'er Kaixi was 21 and one of the student leaders among the protesters who occupied Tiananmen Square in 1989 to demand democratic reforms. Wu'er gained prominence as a hunger striker who stunningly rebuked then Chinese premier Li Peng on national television Wu'er gained prominence as a hunger striker who stunningly rebuked then Chinese premier Li Peng on national television. But their pleas ended with the June 4 military crackdown that left hundreds of people dead -- or at least 10,000 according to a British diplomatic cable. "We see in the last 40 years there hasn't been much opening and certainly not reform in the political aspect. And that's the reason students took to the street in 1989," said Wu'er, who now lives in exile in Taiwan. "Our hope for political reform, freedom and peoples' ability to take part in 'people's rule', that is the translation of democracy in Chinese, has been completely denied after 1989." After the massacre, he fled to Hong Kong and then to the United States before settling in Taiwan after marrying a Taiwanese woman in 1996. He has tried unsuccessfully to "turn himself in" to Chinese embassies in Japan and the United States and authorities in Hong Kong, but was ignored by Chinese officials. Unable to return home, Wu'er tried twice to run for a seat in the Taiwan legislature without success. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party remains firmly in control under President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, and civil liberties have been further tightened in recent years. "Political reform has to happen from the grassroots" in cooperation with "the people at the top", he said. The West hoped economic development would lead to democracy, but Wu'er sees this as "wishful thinking and the Western world's naivety". ewx-rwm-dma-ehl/lth/aph/gle The US has separated more than 2,000 children from their parents as part of a "zero tolerance" policy on illegal immigration A seven-year-old Guatemalan girl died in American custody after being detained by US border police in the state of New Mexico, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. The girl -- who illegally crossed the border from Mexico along with her father and dozens of others -- died of "dehydration and shock," the newspaper reported, citing the US Customs and Border Protection. The child -- whom CBP said "reportedly had not eaten or consumed water for several days" -- began having seizures over eight hours after being detained, was flown to a hospital and died there, the Post said. Donald Trump has made hard-line immigration policies a central plank of his presidency, drawing fire from critics who accuse him of demonizing migrants for political gain. He vowed to build a wall on the border with Mexico, deployed thousands of US troops there and separated more than 2,000 migrant children from their parents as part of a "zero tolerance" policy on illegal immigration. Okinawa residents have for years called for the relocation of a US base to somewhere else in Japan Japan on Friday resumed work to relocate a controversial US military airbase in Okinawa, prompting protests and "strong anger" from the local governor. Okinawa residents have for years called for the relocation of a US base in a populated part of the southern island, but they want it moved elsewhere in the country, rather than to the remote site on Okinawa favoured by the government. "I can't help but feel strong anger at the start of (land reclamation), which ignores the will of the Okinawan people," governor Denny Tamaki told reporters. The recently elected governor is strongly opposed to the base being relocated within Okinawa, and raised the issue earlier this year with both Japanese government officials and on a trip to the United States. Aerial television footage showed a mountain of soil piled up on the coast of Henoko in Okinawa's Nago city being ploughed into the sea as part of land reclamation work to build the new site. US bases in Okinawa Local media said protestors demonstrated at the site, including some who paddled out to sea to try to block the work. Okinawa accounts for less than one percent of Japan's total land area, but hosts more than half of the approximately 47,000 American military personnel stationed in Japan. For decades, residents have asked for some of the bases to be moved, with resentment growing after a string of accidents and crimes committed by US military personnel and base workers. As a solution, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has sought to move the unpopular Futenma base to a remote site, part of which will be built through land reclamation. But many in Okinawa feel the base should be moved to somewhere else in Japan, and say the task of hosting US troops should be more fairly shared. On Friday, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga repeated that the government regards the plan as "the only solution" to maintain an important US military presence while addressing local concerns. Okinawa is set to hold a non-binding local referendum on February 24 about the planned base relocation. Artist Kim Myeongbeom's installation is placed in a decommissioned ammunition store at Camp Greaves, a former US army facility in South Korea A stuffed deer stands in a former US ammunition store just outside the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas, tree branches spreading up from its antlers towards the roof. The work was installed this year at Camp Greaves, a former US army facility within the buffer zone that runs alongside the DMZ that has been converted into an arts centre and tourist attraction. American forces moved out of Camp Greaves in 2004, in one of the first steps of a plan to relocate many of the US units stationed in South Korea to Camp Humphreys South Korean artist Kim Myeongbeom listens to "the whispers of objects and their intimate conversations", a plaque explains, looking to juxtapose both man-made and natural objects and representations of life and death. American forces moved out of Camp Greaves in 2004, in one of the first steps of a wide-ranging plan to relocate many of the US units stationed in South Korea to Camp Humphreys, south of the capital Seoul. The transfers have now largely been completed, leaving a host of former bases in the hands of South Korean local authorities. The former officers' mess at Camp Greaves has been converted into a youth hostel The most prominent is the Yongsan base in the centre of Seoul, which is set to become a public park. At Camp Greaves, north of Seoul, Gyeonggi province is attempting to cash in on the steady stream of DMZ tourism nearby. The armouries-turned-art spaces are just one of its attractions -- the former officers' mess has been converted into a youth hostel. Gyeonggi province is attempting to cash in on the steady stream tourism nearby at the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean peninsula The hugely popular 2016 South Korean television drama "Descendants of the Sun" was partly filmed at the site, and it offers fans the chance to take selfies in front of key scenes' backdrops. "From just over there you can see a North Korean flag and also the South Korean flag," Southern tourist Kim Dong-in told AFP. "It makes me realise how close North and South Korea are and hope for unification." Before defecting from Somalia's jihadist Shabaab movement last year, Muktar Robow used to be one of its leaders and can be seen here giving a news conference in 2008 Demonstrators took to the streets of Baidoa in southwest Somalia for a second day Friday protesting the arrest of a former Islamist militant leader who was vying for the regional presidency. Tyres burned, roads were blocked and shots fired as police tried to break up crowds of hundreds of angry protesters in the city where regional presidential elections are due to be held on 19 December. Muktar Robow, who defected from the jihadist Shabaab movement last year, was detained by the government on Thursday, accused of "organising a militia" and seeking to "undermine stability", and flown to the capital Mogadishu. Demonstrations erupted immediately after his arrest and resumed Friday. "The situation is tense, and the demonstrations are getting bigger," said Baidoa resident Adaf Mumin. "There is still gunfire by the police who are trying to disperse the crowds. The whole city is in chaos." Several witnesses reported dozens of Ethiopian troops, some in tanks, from the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, known as the AMISOM, had been dispatched to calm the situation. There was no immediate confirmation from the AMISOM of any deployment. Some protesters waved posters of Robow and burned images of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed whom they accuse of meddling in federal state affairs. Abdulkadir Shekhuna, acting Southwest State regional president, said, "Those demonstrating are small in number and are against stability. We have instructed police to restore law and order." Police fired warning shots, with some witnesses claiming live rounds were also used. During the clashes, a regional MP was killed in uncertain circumstances. "I cannot confirm how he died, but there was a local legislator killed this morning as some violent demonstrators were blocking roads," said police officer Mohamednur Adan. But he said the police were "in control". Robow's run for office has exposed the tensions between Somalia's federal states, which want greater autonomy from a national administration keen to safeguard its central powers. Robow defected from the Shabaab, a group he helped found, in August 2017, years after splitting with its then leader Ahmed Abdi Godane. Robow is popular in his clan heartland of southwest Somalia where some see him as the best option for defending regional interests and defeating his former Islamist comrades. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received international praise for his reformist agenda, but a wave of intercommunal violence in several parts of the country has marred his first few months in office At least 21 people have been killed in two days of fighting between ethnic groups in southern Ethiopia, the state-affiliated Fana radio reported Friday, The violence broke out near the town of Moyale, on the border with Kenya, in a region claimed by both the Oromo, the largest ethnic group in the country, and the Somali ethnic group. On top of the fatalities, 61 people were injured in the fighting, Fana reported, citing the Oromia regional state communication office. Many more were displaced by the fighting in the region which has regularly been the scene of intercommunal violence. Last year fighting between members of the two ethnic groups left more than a million people displaced. While Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received international praise for his reformist agenda, since coming to power in April, a wave of intercommunal violence in several parts of the country -- mostly over land issues -- has marred the first few months of his rule. Three Ethiopian students were also killed and 34 others injured after a fight on a campus escalated into deadly ethnic clashes in the west of the Horn of Africa country, the government said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia now recognises west Jerusalem "is the capital of Israel" Australia now recognises west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved. Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital when the city's status is determined in a peace deal. "Australia now recognises west Jerusalem -- being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government -- is the capital of Israel," Morrison said in a speech in Sydney on Saturday. "And we look forward to moving our embassy to west Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination," he said, adding that work on a new site for the embassy was under way. In the interim, Morrison said, Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city. "Furthermore, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem," he added. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations have avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status -- until US President Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. Morrison first floated a shift in foreign policy in October, which angered Australia's immediate neighbour Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation. The issue has put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. Canberra on Friday told its citizens travelling to Indonesia to "exercise a high degree of caution", warning of protests in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and popular holiday hotspots, including Bali. Morrison said it was in Australia's interests to support "liberal democracy" in the Middle East, and took aim at the United Nations he said was a place Israel is "bullied". LOS ANGELES (AP) - In a story Dec. 11 about a large housing development approved in the mountains north of Los Angeles, The Associated Press reported erroneously that several environmental groups supported the deal. Audubon California, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and others signed an agreement not to challenge the Tejon Ranch development in exchange for wilderness preservation but did not actively back the plan. A corrected version of the story is below: Los Angeles-area development approved in fire-prone zone Los Angeles County supervisors approved a massive housing project in fire-prone mountains as the state continues to recover from devastating wildfires By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) - The conflict between the need for more housing in California and the danger of building in fire-prone mountains was decided in favor of homes Tuesday as Los Angeles County supervisors approved a massive rural housing development. The supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a 19,000 home project amid a statewide housing shortage, high rents and a very visible homelessness crisis even as recent wildfires have drawn attention to the danger of building in rural terrain that rings California's urban areas. The Centennial project at Tejon Ranch off Interstate 5 in arid mountains that separate Los Angeles from the Central Valley to the north has been in the works for two decades. While supporters touted the jobs that would be created building the new homes, including nearly a fifth set aside for the poor, opponents criticized environmental destruction in the undeveloped area and took aim at the fire hazard it presented. "Centennial can include all the safety measures they like in the new development, but the fires will not conform to these precautions," warned Lesley Goren. "The fires will not excuse our short-sightedness - rather our poorly thought-out mistakes will just burn like the fuel they are." County planners and fire officials signed off on the project, and developers said the community 65 miles north of downtown Los Angeles would be built to minimize fire hazards and roads would be widened to help people evacuate if there is a fire. Greg Medeiros, a vice president with Tejon Ranch Co., said the development was planned in the flattest areas nearest to highways and would use anti-ember construction and buffers around homes. Four new fire stations would be built in the several villages planned. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the area where the development would be built, spoke in favor of the project. She said she was confident concerns about impact on traffic would be alleviated and she was relying on the opinion of fire experts that the risk of fire was minimized. She cited the state's need for 180,000 new homes a year - a goal it falls shy of by 100,000 units. She said the shortage had put a strain on affordability and the homelessness problem and suggested Centennial would contribute to solving those problems without creating the runaway development associated with Southern California. "This is not just another sprawl project," she said. The state has deemed the area a "high" and "very high" fire hazard zone. There were 31 wildfires greater than 100 acres within five miles of the development, including four within its boundaries in the past half-century, county planning documents said. The project surrounded by miles of wilderness received a boost when several prominent environmental groups, such as Audubon California, Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council, agreed a decade ago not to fight the project in exchange for developers conserving nearly 90 percent of the 420-square-mile (1,085 square-kilometer) property. Groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity have opposed the plan and said they may sue to stop it. Supporters wore green "I support Centennial" stickers and opponents wore red stickers saying #stopcentennial and displaying the image of a condor, an endangered species in the area. Supervisor Sheila Kuehl cast the lone dissenting vote, saying the destructive Woolsey fire in her district had brought the project into focus for her. She said it wasn't wise to build a city in such a remote location. She also doubted promises that half the people living there would be able to work locally. "I think it's a little bit of pie in the sky," Kuehl said. "There's an enormous number of things wrong with this project." Construction that has spread into mountainous forests and chaparral-covered canyons outside urban areas in recent decades has frequently been criticized as short-sighted after destructive wildfires. Retiring Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott told The Associated Press on Monday that government officials should consider banning such construction, though he wasn't referring to any specific project. Fresh on the minds of many speakers at the board meeting was the death and devastation last month from the Woolsey Fire that ripped through Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains nearby and the Camp Fire in Northern California that killed at least 85 people, destroyed about 14,000 homes and laid waste to the city of Paradise. Vicki Kirschenbaum referred to the loss of Paradise when she asked supervisors to imagine months of drought, soaring temperatures and a neglected camp fire getting out of control. "Flames igniting highly flammable grasses, fire spreading house to house, consuming Centennial's 19,000 homes. Fifty-seven thousand people desperately trying to evacuate with one major road out," Kirschenbaum said. "You have the power to make sure that nightmare never happens." A look at where the investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him: WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT? Trump is facing criminal investigations in Washington and New York. Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. They say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign. ___ WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TODAY? President Donald Trump attends a ceremony where he signed an executive order establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Wednesday Dec. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Shaken and facing a prison term, Cohen said Friday that Trump directed him to buy the silence of two women during the 2016 campaign because he was concerned their stories of alleged affairs with him "would affect the election." He says Trump knew the payments were wrong. Cohen - who for more than a decade was a key power player in the Trump Organization and a fixture in Trump's political life - said he "gave loyalty to someone who, truthfully, does not deserve loyalty." Cohen spoke in an interview with ABC that aired Friday on "Good Morning America." ___ SO ... DID THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN COLLUDE WITH RUSSIA? There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and that several lied about the communication. There is also evidence that some people in Trump's orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. American intelligence agencies and Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Hillary Clinton's presidential effort. ___ OTHER QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: -WHAT ABOUT OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE? That is another unresolved question that Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey and his fury over the recusal from the investigation of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. -WHAT DOES TRUMP HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL THIS? Trump has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and insisted there was "NO COLLUSION" with Russia. He also says his now-former lawyer, Cohen, lied to get a lighter sentence in New York. In a Fox News interview Thursday, he also denied directing Cohen to break the law. ___ For more in-depth information, follow AP coverage at https://apnews.com/TrumpInvestigations FATUKOKO, Indonesia (AP) - The stranger showed up at the girl's door one night with a tantalizing job offer: Give up your world, and I will give you a future. It was a chance for 16-year-old Marselina Neonbota to leave her isolated village in one of the poorest parts of Indonesia for neighboring Malaysia, where some migrant workers can earn more in a few years than in a lifetime at home. A way out for a girl so hungry for a life beyond subsistence farming that she walked 22 kilometers (14 miles) every day to the schoolhouse and back. She grabbed the opportunity - and disappeared. The cheerful child known to her family as Lina joined the army of Indonesians who migrate every year to wealthier countries in Asia and the Middle East for work. Thousands come home in coffins, or vanish. Among them, possibly hundreds of trafficked girls have quietly disappeared from the impoverished western half of Timor island and elsewhere in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. The National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers has counted more than 2,600 cases of dead or missing Indonesian migrants since 2014. And even those numbers mostly leave out people like Lina who are recruited illegally -- an estimated 30 percent of Indonesia's 6.2 million migrant workers. On that night in 2010, Lina didn't seem to sense the danger posed by the stranger named Sarah. But Lina's great-aunt and great-uncle, who had raised her, were hesitant. In this Oct. 21, 2018, photo, a framed photo of Adelina Sau hangs on the wall of her family's home in Abi village in West Timor, Indonesia. Adelina had been working as a maid for a Malaysian family when a local lawmaker's office received a tip from neighbors who suspected she was being abused. Following her death, an autopsy determined she died of septicemia and cited possible abuse and neglect. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Sarah insisted they could trust her; she was related to the village chief. And Lina would only be gone two years. Lina's aunt, Teresia Tasoin, knew a Malaysian salary could support the whole family. Her husband - fighting both a teenager's excitement and a crushing headache - doubted he could stop Lina from going. Still, the couple wanted to hold a Catholic prayer service for Lina before she left. Sarah promised she would only take Lina to the provincial capital of Kupang for one night to organize her paperwork, then bring her back the next day. It was a lie. Less than one hour after Sarah walked into their home, she walked back out with Lina. And just like that, their girl was gone. Looking back on it now, Tasoin crumbles under the weight of what-ifs. "I regret it," she says through tears. "I regret letting her go." ___ When it comes to tracking the fate of migrants, Asia is the blackest of black holes. It has more migrants than any region on earth, with millions traveling within Asia and to the Mideast for work. Yet it has the least data on those who vanish. In an exclusive tally, The Associated Press found more than 8,000 cases of dead and missing migrants in Asia and the Mideast since 2014, in addition to the 2,700 listed by the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. More than 2,000 unearthed by the AP were from the Philippines alone. And countless other cases are never reported. These workers reflect part of the hidden toll of global migration. An AP investigation documented at least 61,135 migrants dead or missing worldwide over the same period, a tally that keeps rising . That's more than double the number found by the IOM, the only group that has tried to count them. While it's not clear how many left for jobs, in general workers make up about two-thirds of international migrants, according to the International Labor Organization; the rest are fleeing everything from drug violence to war and famine. Migrants may die on perilous journeys through deserts or at sea, while many others like Lina disappear into networks that traffic in people. In deeply Christian East Nusa Tenggara, the church has become one of the few advocates for the dead and disappeared. With the impoverished province home to the highest number of trafficking cases in the country, nuns and priests have transformed themselves into counter-trafficking crusaders. Inside a little church across from Lina's house, Sister Laurentina is praying before a riveted crowd. Slight and soft-spoken, the nun - who like many Indonesians goes by only one name - is nonetheless a giant presence before the parishioners. There is danger in trusting illegal recruiters, she warns. There is death. Her words are not hyperbole. She waits at the airport for the arrival of nearly every migrant worker's corpse that is flown back to Kupang, a ritual that has earned her the nickname "Sister Cargo." One day after her warning to parishioners, she will be back at the airport, praying over the 89th coffin this year that has returned from Malaysia with the remains of a local migrant. Some die from accidents or illness, she says. Others from neglect and abuse. Laurentina is one of the few people in West Timor even trying to track the missing. Since 2012, she has traveled across the island to educate villagers on the dangers of traffickers. She has held at least 20 meetings this year alone. Laurentina asks each audience if anyone has lost contact with a relative who migrated for work. And at every meeting, for six years, at least one or two people have told her: Yes, my child is missing. Most are girls. The remoteness of West Timor and a lack of education mean many people just don't understand the danger. But even for those who do, a trip through the drought-punished region makes clear why they risk their lives to leave. Gnarled trees cling to barren hills. Many of the rivers have run dry. Emaciated dogs lick desperately at cracked-open coconuts lying on the dusty ground. With no real industry here, generations of villagers have migrated to Malaysia to work as maids or on plantations. But in the past few years, migrant trafficking has picked up, as traffickers move to the most remote areas in search of fresh, unsuspecting prey. Many victims end up overworked and underpaid, and some are forced into prostitution. In the village of Oe'Ekam, priest Maximus Amfotis watches as locals line up at a water tank, filling containers some will have to lug several kilometers home. He regularly hears of local teens migrating to Malaysia for work, never to return. There was a new case just two weeks ago, he says. The cycle seems endless. "If we cannot stop this problem," he says, "I fear that the current generation will be lost." ___ Unlike Lina, Orance Faot was betrayed by her own flesh and blood. The road to her house is so rocky that by the time you arrive, it feels like you've gone through an hours-long earthquake. The sunny, hardworking girl was just 14 when she traveled down that same rocky path four years ago on a motorbike bound for Kupang. That morning, Orance told the grandmother she lived with, Margarita Oematan, that she was going with her older cousin Yeni to a priest's house to study the Bible. When she failed to return, her uncle went looking for her. He walked as far as the river where she sometimes swam, but found no trace of his niece or Yeni. A driver later told the family that the girls had hired a bike. When the family finally got hold of Yeni, she denied knowing what had happened to Orance. But the Faots suspected Yeni had turned Orance over to a recruiter. Eventually, they did something few here do - they went to the police. In much of West Timor's remote interior, electricity, phones and cars are a luxury. So absolute is the isolation that some islanders have never even seen the sea. So when a child goes missing, many families don't know who can help. Families also hesitate to contact officials because they often accept payment from the recruiters, who exploit a tradition known as okomama. The practice involves placing a small gift - a bit of money or betel nut - in a basket in exchange for a favor. The offering is a show of respect. It is also a contract. The Faots, though, say they never received anything for Orance. Yeni told police she had introduced Orance to a Chinese man, according to an investigator. The Chinese man told officials he had handed Orance over to a recruiter who often sends girls to work as maids in Malaysia. But the recruiter - who would later be convicted in a different trafficking case - denied knowing Orance, said the investigator, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the case. Orance's case is hardly an anomaly, the investigator says. In his visits to nearly 150 villages, most of the families he's interviewed say they have lost contact with at least one relative who migrated for work. And most of the missing, he says, are girls. The fact that Orance appears to have been lured by her own cousin is also typical. Field recruiters almost always have some connection to their victims, making them seem trustworthy. For each person they hand over, a field recruiter gets anywhere from a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars from agents up the chain, police and experts say. Officials searched immigration records for Orance, without success. That's not surprising, as traffickers often falsify names, birthdays and addresses on migration papers. Finding these girls is virtually impossible, says Among Resi, head of the IOM's counter-trafficking and labor migration unit in Indonesia. The families have almost no details on where their child has gone. They rarely even have a photo. The assumption, Resi says, is that many of the girls are trapped in their employers' homes. Domestic workers are highly vulnerable to abuse, because they toil behind closed doors for families who often take their passports to stop them from fleeing. Other girls, Resi says, may have run away and ended up in abusive relationships or encountered other dangers. Some answers to the fate of the missing can be found by talking to those who returned. Yunita Besi, the daughter of a village chief, was 18 when she went with a recruiter promising work as a maid in Malaysia. For months, she says, she and a group of girls were bounced from one locked house to another, forbidden from going outside or using phones. Those who broke the rules, she says, were beaten. She eventually ended up in the port town of Dumai, and knew she'd soon be shipped to Malaysia. One day, when the security guards were away, she managed to call her father. He ordered her to put the recruiter on the line, then threatened to call the police if his daughter was not released. Yunita was set free. Orance's family is still hoping for a call of their own. But after four years of silence, much of that hope has given way to dread. In their home today, Orance exists only on paper. A report card cataloguing her cleverness. A school photo capturing her big brown eyes. A birth certificate memorializing the day she entered their world, and a police report memorializing the day she left. "So many coffins are coming back with bodies," Oematan says. "I'm always afraid that someday, it will be Orance inside one." ___ Adelina Sau's long journey home came in a shrink-wrapped coffin marked "Fragile." Her grave lies along the side of a lonely road. Staring out from the tombstone's tiles is a blurry picture of her face, an image taken from a photo a cop snapped of her passport. That grainy picture-of-a-picture is the only photo of Adelina that her family has. A copy hangs on the wall of their tin-roofed house, above a few sacks of rice that will feed the family half the year. The rest of the time, they will survive on their corn and cassava crops. Tall and sturdy, Adelina was strong enough as a child to help her parents lug buckets of rice from the farm to their home. Though obedient, she grew tired of their poverty, and envied her friend's new clothes. So Adelina got excited when a recruiter visited her house in 2013, offering a babysitting job in Malaysia for $200 a month. At 15, Adelina was too young to legally migrate for work, but the recruiter promised he would take care of her documents. Which is how Adelina entered Malaysia on a passport listing her age as six years older, her family says. The recruiter's other promises fell apart. Adelina returned home after a year, having been paid just $200 total. A few weeks later, another recruiter came knocking. This time, her family says, it was a neighbor's friend named Flora. She offered Adelina a job as a maid in Malaysia, an offer flatly rejected by Adelina's mother, Yohanna Banunaek. Her daughter had just been cheated by the last recruiter, she told Flora. But the next morning, while Banunaek was working on the farm, Flora returned to the house and left with Adelina. When Banunaek came home, she was frantic. She ordered a relative of Flora's to try and contact her. A week later, she says, a gift from Flora arrived: Around $30. The family never heard from her again. They didn't report Adelina's disappearance because they didn't know how. A year passed with no news. Still, in 2015, Adelina's sister, Yeti, accepted a job as a babysitter in Malaysia. Two years later, Yeti returned home safely, having been paid what she was promised. For her, the deal had been a dream. For Adelina, a nightmare. Word of Adelina's fate finally arrived in February this year. So painful were the details that her mother couldn't eat for a week. Adelina had been working as a maid for a Malaysian family when a local lawmaker's office received a tip from neighbors who suspected she was being abused. Officials found bruises on her head and face and infected wounds on her hand and legs, police said. She was hospitalized, but died the next day. An autopsy found septicemia and cited possible abuse and neglect. A grim photo of Adelina on local news sites showed her sleeping outside the home on a ragged mat near the family's dog. A 59-year-old woman was charged with murder. Her trial is pending. Adelina's parents kept their daughter's coffin inside their home for two days before laying her to rest. A few months later, Yeti gave birth to a baby girl. She named her Adelina. Banunaek believes the baby holds her daughter's soul. Banunaek clings to this belief, and to the sweet memories of her lost girl. Along with the blurry photo, there's little else she has left. ___ Five years after Lina went missing, the military paid a chance visit to her village. Lina's uncle, Laurencius Kollo, told them about the night his niece walked out the door with Sarah. The soldiers alerted the police, who took an official report. Kollo and his wife waited for news. It never came. The years dragged on. Kollo prayed every night for his niece's return. He would walk and walk around the village to try and release his pain. And then, one day in March this year, word arrived that a neighbor's daughter was returning home from Malaysia. Maybe, Kollo thought, Lina was coming with her. In a rush of hope and excitement, the frail 69-year-old climbed a tree to pick some betel leaves. As he clung to the branches, he watched the sun set and daydreamed about Lina. Maybe this would be the day he could finally hug her. Lost in his memories, Kollo slipped. He crashed to the earth and blacked out. When he awoke, his arm was broken. And so was his heart. Because Lina never came home that day. In this Oct. 21, 2018, photo, Yohanna Banunaek, left, is comforted by her daughter Yeti, in Abi village in West Timor, Indonesia, while they grieve the loss of Adelina Sau, Banunaek's other daughter. Adelina died in February 2018, while working as a maid in Malaysia. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 21, 2018, photo, Yohanna Banunaek, cries as she talks about her late daughter Adelina Sau, in Abi village in West Timor, Indonesia. Sau had been working as a maid for a Malaysian family when a local lawmaker's office received a tip from neighbors who suspected she was being abused. An autopsy determined she died of septicemia and cited possible abuse and neglect. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 21, 2018, photo, Sister Laurentina, left, stands next to the tombstone of Adelina Sau in Abi village in West Timor, Indonesia. Adelina died while working as a maid for a Malaysian family. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 22, 2018, photo, two boys play a game of marbles in Fatukoko village, West Timor, Indonesia. Children in this impoverished region of Indonesia often must walk long distances to school. Upon graduation, their job opportunities are limited, leaving them with few options beyond a lifetime of subsistence farming in a land punished by drought. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 22, 2018, photo, students walk on dirt road after school in O'of village in West Timor, Indonesia. Children in this impoverished region of Indonesia often must walk long distances to school. Upon graduation, their job opportunities are limited, leaving them with few options beyond a lifetime of subsistence farming in a land punished by drought. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 23, 2018, photo, a man walks across a dry river bed in Fatukoko village in West Timor, Indonesia. The region is one of the driest parts of Indonesia, making farming difficult. Many villagers thus migrate to neighboring Malaysia in search of work. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 22, 2018, photo, a woman walks across the dry dirt grounds of O'of village in West Timor, Indonesia. The region is one of the driest parts of Indonesia, making farming difficult. Many villagers thus migrate to neighboring Malaysia in search of work. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 22, 2018, photo, O'of village is seen from a high point in West Timor, Indonesia. The region is one of the driest parts of Indonesia, making farming difficult. Many villagers thus migrate to neighboring Malaysia in search of work. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 23, 2018, photo, Laurencius Kollo, great-uncle of Marselina Neonbota, speaks to the Associated Press in Fatukoko village in West Timor, Indonesia. Marselina left home eight years ago for a job in Malaysia, a place where some Indonesian migrant workers can earn more money in a few years than in a lifetime at home. She never returned. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 23, 2018, photo, Laurencius Kollo, great-uncle of Marselina Neonbota, rests outside his home in Fatukoko village in West Timor, Indonesia. Marselina left home eight years ago for a job in Malaysia, a place where some Indonesian migrant workers can earn more money in a few years than in a lifetime at home. She never returned. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 23, 2018, photo, Sister Laurentina leads a prayer in a church in Fatukoko village of West Timor, Indonesia. Laurentina is one of the few people in West Timor trying to track migrant workers who have gone missing. Since 2012, she has traveled to villages across the island to run educational meetings about the dangers of traffickers. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 23, 2018, photo, Laurencius Kollo holds up a photograph taken in July 2009, which shows Marselina Neonbota, (third from left) posing with the district Bishop. Marselina left home eight years ago for a job in Malaysia, a place where some Indonesian migrant workers can earn more money in a few years than in a lifetime at home. She never returned. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 22, 2018, photo, Margarita Oematan, grandmother of Orance Faot, looks out of her home in O'of Village in West Timor, Indonesia. Orance's family says she was lured from their house by her own cousin, and is believed to have been trafficked to Malaysia. Her family has not heard from her in four years. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) In this Oct. 22, 2018, photo, a photograph of Orance Faot dressed in her school uniform rests on a table in O'of Village in West Timor, Indonesia. Orance's family says she was lured from their house by her own cousin, and is believed to have been trafficked to Malaysia. Her family has not heard from her in four years. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Opponents of Enbridge Energy's proposed Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement are turning their attention to fighting the project on other fronts after a Minnesota regulatory panel took one of its final steps Thursday and reaffirmed its approval of the project. The Public Utilities Commission unanimously rejected petitions by environmental and tribal groups that asked the panel to reconsider its 3-2 decision in June to approve a route permit for the line across northern Minnesota. Those opponents acknowledged ahead of time that they held out little hope, given the commission earlier this month unanimously rejected their petitions to reconsider the project's certificate of need. Supports of the project started arriving before 6 a.m. and grabbed most of 83 public seats in the hearing room. So only a few opponents, from environmental groups including MN350 and Native American tribes, were in the room to protest immediately after the decision. "Line 3 is a climate change disaster so we will stop Line 3," they chanted. Groups fighting the project conceded beforehand that persuading their people to show up and wait in line in the cold for an uncertain chance at a seat had gotten harder. But around 30 people from MN350 and other groups gathered near the hearing room afterward for a short rally. Now opponents are shifting their focus to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and preparing for demonstrations along the route as construction preparations ramp up. Supporters of Enbridge Energy, many wearing blue jackets, pack a hearing on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in St. Paul, Minn., on the Canadian company's plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) "This is not the last time I'll be seeing any of you," Andy Pearson, Midwest tar sands coordinator for MN350, vowed to the protesters. Enbridge wants to replace its existing Line 3 because it was built in the 1960s and is increasingly subject to cracking and corrosion. Line 3 crosses northern Minnesota and a corner of North Dakota on its way from the oil fields of Alberta to Enbridge's terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge persuaded the commission that it's a critical safety issue. "The replacement of Line 3 is a safety and maintenance driven project intended to protect the communities and the environment in northern Minnesota," Enbridge said in a statement afterward. "The approved route represents more than 115,000 hours of engineering and environmental study, ensuring the safety of communities and the protection of cultural and natural resources." Environmental and tribal groups say the project will aggravate climate change because the new line will carry Canadian tar sands oil, which generates more climate-warming carbon dioxide during the production process than regular oil. They also object because of the potential for leaks where it crosses the pristine Mississippi River headwaters region, where Native Americans harvest wild rice and claim treaty rights. They say the oil should stay in the ground. Native American activist Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth, renewed her prediction of mass protests patterned on those against the Dakota Access pipeline, which drew thousands of people to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota in 2016 and 2017. Those protests resulted in 761 arrests over a six-month span. Three Line 3 opponents were arrested late last month for blocking access to a pipe storage yard along the route near Carlton. LaDuke was among more than 20 pipeline protesters blocking an intersection in Bemidji in August. LaDuke issued a statement saying the commission had "recklessly acquiesced" to Enbridge. "Given what is at stake, history will not look kindly on their decisions," she said. "Nor should it." LaDuke has applied for a gubernatorial appointment to the seat on the Public Utilities Commission that's being vacated by Chair Nancy Lange, whose term ends Jan. 7. Environmental lawyer Leili Fatehi, who represents the Sierra Club against Line 3, has also applied. Tania Aubid, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, speaks at a brief rally by project opponents on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2018, in St. Paul, Minn., after the state Public Utilities Commission reaffirmed its support for Enbridge Energy's plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. Enbridge wants to replace its existing Line 3 because it was built in the 1960s and is increasingly subject to cracking and corrosion. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) Opponents of Enbridge Energy's plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota chant "Stop Line 3" after the state Public Utilities Commission reaffirmed its support for the project on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in St. Paul, Minn. Enbridge wants to replace its existing Line 3 because it was built in the 1960s and is increasingly subject to cracking and corrosion. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) WASHINGTON (AP) - It has been quite a week for Nancy Pelosi. The televised meeting with President Donald Trump. The deal with restless Democrats to secure their votes to become House speaker. The fashion statement of her burnt-orange winter coat, swooshing out the doors of the White House, going viral in social media memes. It all showed the staying power of the Democratic leader, who is relentless in her drive to reclaim the gavel and wield it with a strength that is nothing like Washington has seen - at least since the last time she did it. "We've seen some strong speakers like Pelosi and some weaker speakers," said Matthew Green, a professor of political science at Catholic University who has written a book about House speakers. "What we've seen this week is another demonstration of how effective Pelosi is, in both her negotiation skills and in her ability to stand up publicly to a president of the opposite party," he said. "The most dangerous place to be in Washington is between Pelosi and an undecided vote. It's like a beeline; she goes right for that person. That's her thing." Pelosi has said this time as speaker would be different. On the campaign trail this fall, she told The Associated Press she would "enjoy it" more because last time it was all "work." She said she wants to "show the power of the gavel." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., left, walk out of the West Wing to speak to members of the media outside of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, following a meeting with President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) But even before winning back the speakership, she is employing its strength. Pelosi used it during Tuesday's Oval Office meeting with Trump, refusing his $5 billion border wall money; on Republicans during their last days in the majority; and on her fellow Democrats to give her their support. The public display this week points to the return of one of the more powerful leaders in the history of the House, even if she's now term-limited herself to serving as speaker no more than four years. It's the start of a long final act of the 78-year-old mother of five and grandmother of nine, and she's more comfortable than ever taking her seat at the table. "Leader Pelosi really demonstrated this week why she is about to become the speaker of the House," said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., part of the newer generation of House leaders. "She had a great week." Not everyone on the Democratic side is pleased with the turn of events, and Republicans made clear they are more than eager to accommodate Pelosi's rise, employing the kinds of attacks they have for years used against her. They'll be targeting newly elected Democrats who vote for Pelosi for speaker when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, especially those who had vowed on the campaign trail to oppose her. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted that "So many Dem House candidates have proven themselves to be hypocrites." She tweeted, "Voters won't forget it." And some House Democrats, including members who have been waiting for Pelosi to step aside so they could rise in leadership, are grumbling over the deal she cut to impose term limits for top leaders. Democrats will vote on that proposal in the new year, and it could very well fail. Pelosi has promised to abide by the deal regardless of the vote. "I'm not for term limits," the No. 2 Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters. "Is anybody confused about - I am not for term limits." But Thursday, the speaker-in-waiting capped off the week-that-was by recapping what had just happened - in case anyone missed the social media memes of Pelosi in that coat, exiting the White House. Pelosi recalled the moment Tuesday in the Oval Office when Trump, arguing with her and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, finally relented and said he'd be "proud" to shut down the government before Christmas - the "Trump shutdown," as she called it - over the border wall. "Perhaps he doesn't understand people need their paychecks," she said Thursday. She all but eye-rolled at his insistence that Mexico would pay for it. "I mean really? Really?" And although Pelosi hasn't spoken to Trump since that day, she confided that he is in her prayers. "I did tell the president that I pray for him. He said, 'That's news, go tell the press." And so she did. In her deal with a group of rebellious House Democrats, Pelosi agreed to limit herself to four years, securing their votes to become speaker. Pelosi said, "They were saying six months." Pressed on whether she was making herself a lame-duck leader, she told reporters later: "What, four years? No, I don't think that's a lame duck." It's an assertiveness coming from the House side of the Capitol that has not been as evident under outgoing Speaker Paul Ryan, who insisted he never really wanted the job, or former Speaker John Boehner, who was sent to early retirement by conservatives in his ranks. She'll be the first House speaker in 50-plus years to reclaim the gavel after an absence, not since legendary speaker Sam Rayburn returned in 1955. One of the most preferred House office buildings next to the Capitol complex carries his name. As the first female speaker when she first held the office, it goes without saying - no woman has done what Pelosi is about to do. Pelosi has long been a polarizing figure, but in a lopsided way, more demonized by Republicans than beloved by Democrats. But that seems to be changing after an election that is bringing nearly 40 new Democrats for the House majority, many of them female candidates voted into office on a wave of energy from female voters. The election came against the backdrop of a #MeToo reckoning of women and men in power. Pelosi is emerging as a leader not only of Democrats on Capitol Hill but also of Democrats and Democratic women nationally -perhaps not quite at the iconic status of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has seen movies made about her life and tchotchkes forged in her likeness - but nonetheless, the face of the party, ready to go toe-to-high-heeled toe against Trump. "Nancy showed her value," said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. "She was steely, but a lady." ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Kevin Freking contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Pelosi said, "They were saying six months," not "They wanted six months." House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California holds a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Pelosi has all but ensured she will become House speaker next month, quelling a revolt by disgruntled younger Democrats by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four additional years in the chamber's top post. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California holds a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Pelosi has all but ensured she will become House speaker next month, quelling a revolt by disgruntled younger Democrats by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four additional years in the chamber's top post. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California holds a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Pelosi has all but ensured she will become House speaker next month, quelling a revolt by disgruntled younger Democrats by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four additional years in the chamber's top post. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) - Abandoned by two of his most powerful protectors, President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that he did not violate campaign finance laws and that the liability for hush-money payments to two women alleging affairs with him rests with his former fixer, Michael Cohen. Both Cohen and American Media Inc., the company that owns the National Enquirer tabloid, now say they made hush-money payments to a porn actress and a Playboy Playmate for the purpose of helping Trump's 2016 White House bid, a campaign finance violation. Trump, in recent months, has gone from denying knowledge of any payments to saying they would have been private transactions that weren't illegal. He offered yet another explanation Thursday. "I never directed him to do anything wrong," Trump said of Cohen in an interview with Fox News. "Whatever he did, he did on his own." Federal prosecutors say the payments were made at Trump's direction. The president, reiterating his claim that he is victim of an overzealous investigation, also argued that any payments were unrelated to his presidential campaign and thus not a violation of federal law. "Nobody except for me would be looked at like this," Trump said. Trump tweeted earlier Thursday that Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges "in order to embarrass the president and get a much reduced prison sentence." The president claimed the charges were "unrelated to me." In this Dec. 12, 2018, photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, leaves federal court after his sentencing in New York. Trump has gone from denying knowledge of any payments to women who claim to have been mistresses to apparent acknowledgement of those hush money settlements - though he claims they wouldn't be illegal. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) "In retrospect, I made a mistake" in hiring Cohen, Trump told Fox News. "I hire usually good people." Although prosecutors have implicated Trump in a crime, they haven't directly accused him of one, and it's not clear that they could bring charges against a sitting president even if they want to because of Justice Department protocol. Nonetheless, Trump's changing explanations have clouded the public understanding of what occurred and are running head-on into facts agreed to by prosecutors, AMI and Cohen, who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and other crimes and was sentenced on Wednesday . "You now have a second defendant or group of defendants saying that these payments were made for the primary purpose of influencing the election, and that it was done in coordination with Trump and his campaign," said Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine. Trump's first explanation of the payment that would eventually help lead Cohen to a three-year prison sentence came at 35,000 feet (10,700 meters) over West Virginia. Returning to Washington on Air Force One on April 6, Trump for the first time answered questions about the reports of $130,000 in hush-money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels, issuing a blanket denial to reporters while saying they would "have to ask Michael Cohen." Three days later, the FBI raided Cohen's office, seizing records on topics including the payment to Daniels. Furious, Trump called the raid a "disgrace" and said the FBI "broke into" his lawyer's office. He also tweeted that "Attorney-client privilege is dead!" The raid was overseen by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan and arose from a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian election interference and potential coordination with the Trump campaign. In May, Trump and his attorneys began saying Cohen received a monthly retainer from which he made payments for nondisclosure agreements like the one with Daniels. In a series of tweets, Trump said that those agreements are "very common among celebrities and people of wealth" and that "this was a private agreement." People familiar with the investigation say Cohen secretly recorded Trump discussing a potential payment for former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal two months before the election. On the tape, Cohen is heard saying that he needed to start a company "for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David," a possible reference to David Pecker, Trump's friend and president of AMI. When Cohen began to discuss financing, Trump interrupted him and asked, "What financing?" "We'll have to pay," Cohen responded. Prosecutors announced Wednesday that AMI acknowledged making one of those payments "in concert" with the Trump campaign to protect him from a story that could have hurt his candidacy. The company avoided prosecution under a deal with prosecutors. In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and other charges, saying he and Trump arranged the payment of hush money to Daniels and McDougal to influence the election. That next day, Trump argued that making the payments wasn't a crime and that the matter was a civil dispute, then took a swipe at his former employee. "If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!" he tweeted. Earlier this week, Trump compared his situation to one involving President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. The Federal Election Commission, which typically handles smaller campaign finance violations when the actions aren't willful and with civil penalties that are typically fines, docked the Obama campaign $375,000 for regulatory civil violations. The fines stemmed from the campaign's failure to report a batch of contributions, totaling nearly $1.9 million, on time in the final days of the campaign. But legal analysts said the accusations against Trump could amount to a felony because they revolve around an alleged conspiracy to conceal payments from campaign contribution reports - and from voters. It's unclear what federal prosecutors in New York will decide to do if they conclude that there is evidence that Trump himself committed a crime. The Justice Department, in opinions issued by its Office of Legal Counsel, has said a sitting president cannot be indicted because a criminal case would interfere with the duties of the commander in chief. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, and with Mueller's office, would presumably be bound by that legal guidance unless the Justice Department were to nullify the opinions. For the payments themselves to be a crime rather than a civil infraction, prosecutors would need to show that Trump knew that what he was doing was wrong when he directed Cohen to pay the women and that he did so with the goal of benefiting his campaign. Trump has not yet laid out a detailed defense, though he could conceivably argue that the payments were made not for the purposes of advancing his campaign but rather to prevent sex stories from emerging that would be personally humiliating to him and harm his marriage. That argument was advanced by former Sen. John Edwards, a North Carolina Democrat, in a similar campaign finance case that went to trial. But that may be tougher for Trump than it was for Edwards given the proximity of the president's payment to the election - timing that, on its face, suggests a link between the money and his political ambitions. Still, the cases aren't always easy, as proved by the 2012 trial of Edwards. Jurors acquitted Edwards on one charge of accepting illegal campaign contributions but couldn't reach a verdict on the five remaining counts, including conspiracy and making false statements. Prosecutors elected not to retry Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004 and a candidate for president in 2004 and 2008. ___ Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Tucker at http://twitter.com/@etuckerAP Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, leaves federal court after his sentencing in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Cohen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for an array of crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to two women that he says was done at the direction of Trump. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, leaves federal court after his sentencing in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Cohen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for an array of crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to two women that he says was done at the direction of Trump. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration on Thursday announced a sharp refocus of its Africa strategy to counter what it called the "predatory" practices of China and Russia, which are "deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage." National security adviser John Bolton laid out the new strategy in remarks at the Heritage Foundation, saying the U.S. will now choose its African partners more carefully. He took special aim at China, accusing it of wielding "bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing's wishes and demands." Russia, he alleged, is also "seeking to increase its influence in the region through corrupt economic dealings." Russia and China's efforts across the African continent, he said, "stunt" its economic growth. Some critics have said this administration has let Africa policy drift for too long, while the president is well known for his disparaging remarks about the continent that is home to 1.2 billion people. Addressing members of Congress on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy was the latest to warn of China's increasing economic, military and political influence in Africa, a continent with some of the world's fastest-growing economies and trillions of dollars' worth of natural resources. Africa's population is set to double by 2050, he said, a "demographic tsunami." Any renewed U.S. effort to counter China in Africa, however, comes years late. China became the continent's top trading partner nearly a decade ago and has invested billions of dollars in high-profile infrastructure projects. National Security Advisor John Bolton unveils the Trump Administration's Africa Strategy at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) In response to warnings by the U.S. and others about indebtedness to China, some in Africa have noted sometimes uncomfortable financial terms set out by Western powers in the past. Others praise China's no-strings-attached terms with no insistence on human rights reforms. Congress passed legislation earlier this year creating a $60 billion international development agency, widely viewed as a response to Chinese overseas development programs. Under the new "Prosper Africa" strategy, Bolton said, "we will encourage African leaders to choose high-quality, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable foreign investment projects, including those from the United States." He warned that the U.S. will "reevaluate its support for U.N. peacekeeping missions" as well as aid to countries whose governance it finds troublesome, including South Sudan. "The United States will no longer provide indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent," Bolton said. He added that "countries that repeatedly vote against the United States in international forums, or take action counter to U.S. interests, should not receive generous American foreign aid." On the military front, China opened its first overseas military base last year in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, the site of the only permanent U.S. military base on the continent. Bolton warned of a possible shift of the strategic region, along the lucrative and busy Red Sea shipping lane, to China. As Beijing and others seek to grow their military presence, the U.S. is pulling back. The Pentagon in November said it planned a 10 percent cut in the U.S. Africa Command's total force of 7,200 troops, to be carried out over several years, as its global focus shifts from counterterrorism to perceived threats from Russia and China. Whatever steps the U.S. takes next, perceptions are an immediate hurdle. The president is known for his reported unflattering remarks: comparing some countries to a filthy toilet, referring to the nonexistent nation of "Nambia" and saying Nigerians - from Africa's biggest economy and a top oil producer - would never return to their "huts" once they saw the U.S. While Congress has restrained some of his administration's proposed deep cuts in foreign aid, Trump has put forth no signature Africa project and there is no sign he intends to visit. Jennifer Cooke, director of the Institute for African Studies at George Washington University, said the U.S. should avoid trying to be too transactional. "We are not going to beat China at its own game, which is massive investments and in infrastructure and roads, ports, railroads and vanity projects," Cooke said. "What sets the U.S. apart has been a broader engagement, beyond government, looking at development, civil society and, frankly, serving as something of a moral authority on human rights, democracy and governance issues." African nations will ultimately benefit from this competition, Judd Devermont, who was the U.S. national intelligence officer for Africa until earlier this year, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. "Some of the current uproar over Chinese investment in Africa is overblown and ill-informed," he warned, saying many of China's infrastructure projects address desperate needs. While some of China's actions pose unmistakable threats to U.S. military operations and communications platforms, Devermont said, African leaders are not oblivious to risk. "The United States scores few points by talking down to African counterparts about the perils of Chinese engagement," he said. ___ Anna reported from Johannesburg. National Security Advisor John Bolton is asked a question as he unveils the Trump Administration's Africa Strategy at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators voted Thursday to recommend that the U.S. end its assistance to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen and put the blame for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi squarely on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a direct challenge to both the longtime Middle East ally and President Donald Trump's handling of the relationship. The succession of bipartisan votes came two months after the Saudi journalist's slaying at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and after Trump persistently equivocated over who was responsible. U.S. intelligence officials concluded that bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but Trump has repeatedly praised the kingdom. Senators made clear where they put the blame. The resolution, passed by unanimous agreement, says the Senate believes the crown prince is "responsible for the murder" and calls for the Saudi Arabian government to "ensure appropriate accountability." Senators voted 56-41 to recommend that the U.S. stop supporting the war in Yemen, a direct affront to the administration's war powers abilities. The floor action brought an unusual show of bipartisan resolve in the Senate over U.S foreign policy, even amid an uncertain outcome as the measures move to the House. Frustration with the crown prince and the White House prompted several Republicans to support the Yemen resolution as a way to rebuke the longtime ally. Seven Republicans and all Democrats voted for it. Some already had concerns about the war, which human rights groups say is wreaking havoc on the country and subjecting civilians, many of them children, to deadly disease and indiscriminate bombing. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., joined at left by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., holds a news conference after the Senate passed a resolution he introduced that would pull assistance from the Saudi-led war in Yemen, a measure to rebuke Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who co-sponsored the Yemen resolution with Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, called the vote a "historic moment." Lee said Khashoggi's death focused attention "on the fact that we have been led into this civil war in Yemen half a world away" and "we've done so following the lead" of Saudi Arabia. "What the Khashoggi event did was to demonstrate, hey, maybe this isn't a regime that we should just be following that eagerly into battle," Lee said. The resolution condemning Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's slaying was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Both Republicans opposed the Yemen resolution and voted against it. McConnell said senators have grave concerns about Khashoggi's killing, but "we also want to preserve a 70-year partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and we want to ensure it continues to serve American interests and stabilizes a dangerous and critical region." But McConnell urged colleagues to back the resolution on Khashoggi's death. Its passage, he said, provided "a clear and unambiguous message about how we feel about what happened to this journalist." The resolution also calls the war in Yemen a "humanitarian crisis" and demands that all parties seek an immediate cease-fire. It appears unlikely that the House would be willing to consider the Yemen resolution. House leaders added a provision to an unrelated House rule that would make it more difficult for lawmakers there to call it up. CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed House leaders on the Khashoggi slaying on Wednesday, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis briefed the full House on Thursday. Pompeo and Mattis briefed the Senate last month and told senators there was "no direct reporting" or "smoking gun" to connect the crown prince to Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate. But a smaller group of senators leaving a separate briefing with Haspel days later said there was "zero chance" the crown prince wasn't involved. House Republicans were less eager than their Senate counterparts to criticize Saudi Arabia and the Trump administration. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said after Thursday's briefing that he was waiting to see the outcome of the administration's ongoing investigation. Scalise said there had been "discussions" about action before the end of the year but wouldn't say if GOP leaders would consider Corker's resolution. Khashoggi, who had lived in the U.S. and wrote for The Washington Post, had been critical of the Saudi regime. He was killed in what U.S. officials have described as an elaborate plot as he visited the consulate for marriage paperwork. Saudi prosecutors have said a 15-man team sent to Istanbul killed Khashoggi with tranquilizers and then dismembered his body, which has not been found. Those findings came after Saudi authorities spent weeks denying Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate. Pressed on a response to the slaying, Trump has been reluctant to condemn the crown prince. He said the United States "intends to remain a steadfast partner" of the country, touted Saudi arms deals worth billions of dollars to the U.S. and thanked the Saudis for plunging oil prices. The Senate debate came as the United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed to a province-wide cease-fire and withdrawal of troops in Hodeida, a contested Red Sea port city. The agreement came during peace talks in Sweden. The brutal four-year-old civil war pits the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran-backed rebels known as Houthis. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who voted for the Yemen resolution, said he's "absolutely convinced" the Senate's action is applying pressure on the Saudis. He said that without it "there's a real possibility that there wouldn't be negotiations going on right now in Sweden." Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed to this report. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis arrives to give House members a classified security briefing, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, not shown, on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Israel's military launched a West Bank manhunt Thursday, setting up checkpoints and blocking roads, after a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli soldiers at a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement and sped away. The shooting added to a deadly week that claimed seven lives, including an Israeli newborn, a 60-year-old Palestinian businessman and three Palestinian assailants, two of them members of the Islamic militant Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would "settle accounts" with Thursday's attackers, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held Israel responsible for what he said was a violent environment. After consulting with top security officials for several hours, Netanyahu beefed up troop levels in the West Bank, ordered detentions of Hamas activists and called for demolishing the homes of assailants within 48 hours. Netanyahu also said he would legalize thousands of existing West Bank settlement homes whose status was in question, and ordered his attorney general to make arrangements for construction of 82 news homes in Ofra, the scene of one of this week's attacks. Most of the international community considers all Israeli settlements on war-won lands illegal, whether they have been sanctioned by Israel's government or not. "Our guiding principle is that whoever attacks us and whoever tries to attack us will pay with his life," Netanyahu said at a military ceremony. Israeli soldiers and emergency services stand at the scene of an attack near the settlement of Givat Assaf in the West Bank, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A Palestinian gunman opened fire at a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement on Thursday, shooting at soldiers and civilians and killing at least two Israelis before fleeing, the military and Israel's rescue service said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Following Thursday's attack, Israel set up checkpoints on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, searching cars and checking the IDs of drivers entering the Palestinians' typically quiet center of government and commerce. Some Israeli-controlled roads were completely blocked to Palestinian traffic. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, said the measures were aimed at preventing "copycat" attacks. "We know that when there is one attack there may be others," he said. Inside Ramallah, streets were empty and shops were shuttered as the Palestinians called a general strike to protest Israel's actions, including the killing of two wanted militants. Abbas condemned the violence, criticizing both militant attacks and the tough Israeli response. He accused Israel of creating a climate conducive to violence and alleged it was inciting against him. "This atmosphere created by the frequent Israeli raids of the cities, and the incitement against the president and the absence of the peace hopes, lead to this series of violence that both peoples are paying the price for," he said in a statement. This week's violence began with a Palestinian drive-by shooting that wounded seven Israelis outside the settlement of Ofra on Sunday night and led to the death of a baby boy who was delivered prematurely after his mother was critically hurt in the attack. Late Wednesday, Israel killed Salah Barghouti, one of the suspects in the shooting, and overnight its forces killed another Palestinian man, Ashraf Naalweh, wanted in an attack that killed two Israelis in October. Both men were said to have been armed. On Thursday, a Palestinian man stepped out of a vehicle and opened fire at a bus stop outside Givat Assaf, an unauthorized settlement outpost near Ramallah, before speeding away, the military said. It said two soldiers, Sgt. Yovel Moryosef, 20, and Cpl. Yosef Cohen, 19, were killed, while another soldier was critically wounded. In Jerusalem's Old City, meanwhile, Israeli police said they killed a Palestinian attacker who stabbed two officers. Late Thursday, the army said it shot and killed a Palestinian motorist in what it called an attempted car ramming attack. Palestinians challenged the account, saying the motorist was a wealthy 60-year-old factory owner who had no incentive to carry out such an attack and had apparently panicked when he saw the soldiers. Israeli officials accuse Hamas of being behind the recent shootings. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said that Barghouti and Naalweh both were members, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for their attacks. Hamas has been leading border protests against a blockade of Gaza in which 175 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire since March. Israel and Egypt have enforced the blockade since the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007. The latest West Bank violence came amid years-long diplomatic paralysis. Peace talks have been frozen throughout Netanyahu's decade-long tenure, while Israeli settlements in the West Bank continue to expand. The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip for an independent state. The policies of President Donald Trump, whom the Palestinians accuse of being unfairly biased toward Israel, have added to a sense of frustration and hopelessness in the West Bank. In a separate development, Palestinian witnesses interviewed by The Associated Press in the West Bank city of Tulkarem contradicted the military's claim that soldiers shot a 22-year-old man there last week during a violent disturbance. The witnesses said Mohammed Habali, whom they described as mentally handicapped, was fatally shot in the back after leaving work in a coffee shop late one night last week. The Israeli military initially said it had responded to Palestinian stone throwers. But security camera footage and the witness accounts have cast doubt on the army's version of events. Witnesses say there was no unrest. Footage from four different security cameras also showed no rock throwing at the scene where Mohammed Habali was shot. In the footage, he is seen walking in an alleyway holding a stick when he is shot from behind and falls down on his face. His family said he spoke slowly and could not grasp much of what took place around him. He had used the stick to help him walk after being injured in a car crash. "We are sad and angry. We never expected my brother to be killed. He was never ever involved in any confrontations with the Israeli soldiers," said Alaa, Habali's brother. The army announced this week that it was opening a military police investigation into the shooting. But the Israeli human rights group B'tselem, which gathered the security footage, said such investigations almost never result in prosecution. ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem. Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem contributed reporting. Israeli soldiers stand at the scene of an attack near the settlement of Givat Assaf in the West Bank, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A Palestinian gunman opened fire at a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement on Thursday, shooting at soldiers and civilians and killing at least two Israelis before fleeing, the military and Israel's rescue service said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Palestinians look at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Palestinians look at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. The writing in Arabic reads: ""Ashraf Naalweh, your blood awaits a victory". (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) A Palestinian boy looks at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) A Palestinian boy looks at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Palestinians look at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) People attend the funeral of a baby who died after being prematurely delivered after her mother Shira Ish-Ran was wounded in a shooting attack near Ofra settlement in the West Bank last Sunday, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Heidi Levine) A Palestinian looks at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) A man holds a baby who died after being prematurely delivered after her mother Shira Ish-Ran was wounded in a shooting attack near Ofra settlement in the West Bank last Sunday, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Heidi Levine) People attend the funeral of a baby who died after being prematurely delivered after her mother Shira Ish-Ran was wounded in a shooting attack near Ofra settlement in the West Bank last Sunday, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Heidi Levine) KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - An early-morning fire in Congo's capital destroyed nearly 80 percent of the capital city's voting machines just 10 days before the presidential election, officials said Thursday, saying the blaze appeared to be criminal but vowing that it would not disrupt the vote. Congo's first use of voting machines on Dec. 23, a rarity in Africa, has caused concerns among the opposition, diplomats and experts about possible manipulation in favor of President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor. Kabila is stepping aside after taking power in 2001. The electoral commission said the fire broke out at a warehouse in Kinshasa, adding that it was too early to declare the cause or the extent of the damage. The fire destroyed equipment planned for use in Kinshasa, Congo's largest city with 4 million people. Nearly 8,000 of the capital's 10,368 voting machines were ruined, said Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, president of the national electoral commission. He said despite the severity of the damage, the electoral commission would hold the elections as scheduled on Dec. 23. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said firefighters from the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo helped put out the blaze. "Preliminary reports indicate that polling station kits from Kinshasa and a large number of voting machines and electoral materials were destroyed in the fire," Haq said. In this image from video, smoke envelopes a building as emergency services attend an early-morning fire in Congo's capital Kinshasa, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, which is reported to have destroyed thousands of voting machines just 10-days before the upcoming presidential election. Officials said Thursday, the blaze appeared to be criminal in nature but vowed that it would not disrupt the Dec. 23, vote. (AP Photo) "We are encouraging all parties to assist in the holding of free and fair elections," he said. "Obviously, any sort of incidents like this are a cause for concern in that respect." Kabila's chief adviser said the fire was a criminal one and said that polling booths were also burned. "The enemies of democracy have stepped it up a gear," Barnabe Kikaya said. Congo's security minister said the voting machines would be replaced "very quickly." "We cannot make quick conclusions but the criminal hypothesis is not to be dismissed," the minister, Henri Mova, said, noting that the fire had two starting points, suggesting a simultaneous beginning. Mova was defiant in the face of a suspected effort to disrupt the election: "Those who tried it did not succeed." Major questions remain about how Congo will be able to successfully use the voting machines in the infrastructure-starved country of 40 million voters, many without computer experience. More than 100,000 of the machines have been rolled out so far. Campaigning in the final days before the vote turned violent this week. Security forces opened fire on supporters of opposition candidate Martin Fayulu on Wednesday in Kalemie, killing a young woman, said Ida Sawyer, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. That followed similar reported violence in the southern city of Lubumbashi. On Wednesday, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo said the special representative of the U.N. secretary-general deplored the deaths and urged Congolese authorities to take the necessary steps to void further violence, noting "obstacles encountered by some opposition candidates during their efforts to hold public meetings in certain cities around the country." ___ Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa In this image from video, smoke envelopes a building as emergency services attend an early-morning fire in Congo's capital Kinshasa, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, which is reported to have destroyed thousands of voting machines just 10-days before the upcoming presidential election. Officials said Thursday, the blaze appeared to be criminal in nature but vowed that it would not disrupt the Dec. 23, vote. (AP Photo) BEIJING (AP) - The Latest on the detentions in China of two Canadian men (all times local): 3:55 p.m. China has confirmed it has detained two Canadian men, saying they were being detained on suspicion of "endangering national security." Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday that entrepreneur Michael Spavor and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig were taken into custody on Monday. Lu says Canada has been informed of the detentions, but declined to say whether the men have been provided with lawyers. He says they are being handled separately. The two cases ratchet up pressure on Canada, which is holding an executive of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei wanted by the United States. China has demanded the immediate release of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's CFO and the daughter of its founder. A policeman stands watch outside the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. A Canadian court granted bail on Tuesday to a top Chinese executive arrested at the United States' request in a case that has set off a diplomatic furor among the three countries and complicated high-stakes U.S.-China trade talks. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Asked if detentions were related to Meng's arrest, Lu said they were being handled according to Chinese law. ___ 2:15 p.m. The apparent detentions of two Canadian men in China this week have raised the stakes in a three-way international dispute with the United States. The Canadian government said late Wednesday that entrepreneur Michael Spavor went missing after reporting that he was being questioned by Chinese authorities. His disappearance follows the detention of former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig in Beijing on Monday. The two cases ratchet up pressure on Canada, which is holding a Chinese telecommunications executive wanted by the United States. The U.S. is seeking the extradition of Huawei Technologies' Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1. China has reacted angrily to her detention and demanded her release. It has not confirmed that Spavor or Kovrig has been detained. BRUSSELS (AP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May implored European Union leaders Thursday to help her sell the Brexit divorce deal at home, only to be told that her proposals are not clear enough for the bloc to offer a helping hand now. Instead, the EU said it would plow ahead with plans for a cliff-edge "no-deal" Brexit on March 29, with a raft of contingency measures to be presented next week. May came to an EU summit in Brussels seeking support after a week that saw her Brexit deal pilloried in Parliament and her job threatened by lawmakers from her own party. She pleaded with the 27 other EU leaders to "hold nothing in reserve" in helping her sell the Brexit deal to hostile British lawmakers. "There is a majority in my Parliament who want to leave with a deal, so with the right assurances this deal can be passed," May said, warning her EU counterparts that failure could mean Britain crashing out of the bloc without a deal, "with all the disruption that would bring." EU officials, however, seemed exasperated at the lack of concrete new ideas from Britain. A proposal for encouraging wording offering to give the U.K. further assurances was left out of the leaders' final summit conclusions on Brexit. "I do find it uncomfortable that there is an impression perhaps in the U.K. that it is for the EU to propose solutions," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said at a news conference early Friday. "It is the UK leaving the EU. And I would have thought it was rather more up to the British government to tell us exactly what they want." British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (Piroschka van de Wouw, Pool Photo via AP) He said the British must "set out their expectations" within weeks if they want to make progress and avoid tumbling out of the EU without a deal. May had earlier acknowledged that major progress was unlikely at the two-day summit, even as she tried to get tweaks to the withdrawal package that she could use to win over opponents - particularly pro-Brexit lawmakers whose loathing of the deal triggered a challenge to her leadership this week. "I don't expect an immediate breakthrough, but what I do hope is that we can start work as quickly as possible on the assurances that are necessary," May said. Her week from hell began Monday, when she scrapped a planned vote in Parliament on her Brexit divorce deal at the last minute to avoid a heavy defeat. Anger at the move helped trigger a no-confidence vote among May's own Conservative lawmakers Wednesday. May won, but more than a third of her party's lawmakers voted against her in a sign of the unpopularity of her Brexit plan. To secure victory, she promised she would step down as Conservative leader before Britain's next national election, which is scheduled for 2022. The 27 other EU nations are adamant there can be no substantive changes to the legally binding agreement on Britain's withdrawal from the bloc and declared that the deal was "not open for renegotiation." "It is important to avoid any ambiguity," said French President Emmanuel Macron. "We can't renegotiate something which has been negotiated over several months." The Brexit deal has many critics but one intractable issue - a legal guarantee designed to prevent physical border controls from being imposed between Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU. Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord depends on having an open, invisible border with Ireland. A Brexit provision known as the backstop would keep the U.K. part of the EU customs union if the two sides couldn't agree on another way to avoid a hard border. Pro-Brexit lawmakers strongly oppose the backstop, because it keeps Britain bound to EU trade rules and unable to leave without the bloc's consent. Pro-EU politicians consider it an unwieldy, inferior alternative to staying in the bloc. May told EU leaders that to win U.K. backing for the deal, "we have to change the perception that the backstop could be a trap from which the U.K. could not escape." But while Britain would like a guarantee that the backstop will be temporary, the EU insists there can be no fixed end date. "If the backstop has an expiry date, if there is a unilateral exit clause, then it is not a backstop," said Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. "That would be to render it inoperable." The leaders gave May a few crumbs of comfort in their summit conclusions. As a sign of goodwill, the EU said preparations for trade relationships would start as soon as possible after British and EU legislatures approved the deal. They promised to work for speedy new trade deal with Britain to avoid triggering the backstop, and underscored that the measure was intended to be temporary, saying it "would only be in place for as long as strictly necessary." But May remains a weakened leader atop a government and a Parliament whose members are deeply and damagingly divided over Brexit. Juncker said it sometimes was tough to fathom his own state of mind but added: "It is even harder to understand the state of mind of the British MPs. " ___ Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left, greets British Prime Minister Theresa May during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Britain's Ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow, right, gestures to British Prime Minister Theresa May after she spoke with the media at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) British Prime Minister Theresa May, left, speaks with Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel as she arrives for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, beginning Thursday, which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) British Prime Minister Theresa May walks from 10 Downing Street to make a statement, in London, Wednesday December 12, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a brush with political mortality Wednesday, winning a no-confidence vote of her Conservative lawmakers that would have ended her leadership of party and country (AP Photo/Tim Ireland) British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, arrives for a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. At right is French President Emmanuel Macron greeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) British Prime Minister Theresa May, right, arrives for a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, arrives for a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. At right is French President Emmanuel Macron greeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) British Prime Minister Theresa May, third right, passes behind French President Emmanuel Macron, right, as she arrives for a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center left, speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) LONDON (AP) - The latest on Brexit (all times local): 11:25 p.m. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says British Prime Minister Theresa May failed to bring a clear plan for how the European Union should help her get the Brexit deal past her recalcitrant parliament. Juncker says that the British "still need to say what they want instead of asking us what we want." He said early Tuesday after an EU summit that he will need answers "within a few weeks." Juncker says it sometimes is tough to fathom his own state of mind but adds that "it is even harder to understand the state of mind of the British" members of Parliament. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker speaks during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. European Union leaders have offered Theresa May sympathy but no promises, as the British prime minister seeks a lifeline that could help her sell her Brexit divorce deal to a hostile U.K. Parliament. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) ___ 11:15 p.m. European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have declared that the bloc's divorce agreement with Britain is "not open for renegotiation," despite a plea from U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May for changes to help her sell the unpopular deal to British lawmakers. The leaders in their summit conclusions released early Friday also promise to work for a speedy new trade deal with Britain to avoid triggering a contentious Irish border guarantee. They say that "it is the Union's firm determination to work speedily on a subsequent agreement that establishes by 31 December 2020 alternative arrangements, so that the (border) backstop will not need to be triggered." U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking a firmer commitment to win over skeptical lawmakers at home, who are vowing to sink the deal. ___ 3:30 p.m. French President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out the possibility that the Brexit withdrawal text that all 28 leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, endorsed last month can be altered. Speaking ahead of a Brexit discussion at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels, Macron said it is "important to avoid any ambiguity." He added: "We cannot reopen a legal agreement .... We cannot renegotiate what has been negotiated over several months." Political discussion around the agreement was possible, he added. ___ 2:30 p.m. Austria's chancellor says there's room for "better interpretation" of Britain's withdrawal deal with the European Union but the agreement won't be renegotiated. Austria currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said as he arrived on Thursday for a summit of the 28-member bloc's leaders in Brussels he thinks British Prime Minister Theresa May understands "there will be no new negotiation of the withdrawal agreement." Kurz said he thinks remaining EU members will show "some readiness" at the Brussels summit "to maybe find some better explanation about the future relationship" between the EU and Britain. When reporters raised British lawmakers' objections to a "backstop" provision in the deal that would keep the U.K. in the EU's customs union as a default until separate arrangements are made for the border between the U.K.'s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. Kurz said: "There's also some room to have a better interpretation of what we agreed on, but there will be no new deal about the withdrawal agreement." ___ 2 p.m. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says European Union leaders won't change their Brexit withdrawal agreement with Britain but might consider "additional assurances." Merkel said as she arrived at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday it was "very welcome" that British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote by her Conservative party's lawmakers. Merkel cautioned against expecting too much compromise from the EU, saying that she considers the withdrawal agreement - which May is struggling to sell to British lawmakers - "very well-negotiated." Merkel said: "Of course, we have our principles too and I don't see that we can change this withdrawal agreement again. We can, of course talk, about whether there should be additional assurances, but the 27 (remaining) member states will be very united on this and make their interests clear." Merkel says the bloc wants "very, very good relations with Britain after Britain's withdrawal." ___ 12:40 p.m. British Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that she will step down before the country holds its next scheduled national election in 2022. Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, May said "I think it is right that another party leader takes us into that general election." Late Wednesday May survived a no-confidence vote among her Conservative Party lawmakers, triggered by unhappiness in the party at the way she is handling Brexit. She secured victory by 200 votes to 117 after telling lawmakers at a private meeting that she would hand over power to another Conservative leader before the next election. But May has not said what she will do if, as many expect, Britain faces an early national election triggered by divisions over Brexit. ___ 11:35 a.m. British lawmakers won't be voting next week on Theresa May's deal with the European Union for leaving the bloc. The leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, published a list of government business for next week - and there was no mention of the so-called meaningful vote on the Brexit bill. Earlier this week, May postponed the vote on the deal after realizing she was heading for a heavy defeat. The vote is now likely to be held next year, when Parliament returns from its Christmas break. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29. ___ 11 a.m. The German parliament has approved a motion stating that the Brexit deal can't be renegotiated, underlining the stance of the government and European Union allies. The largely symbolic motion was approved hours before Chancellor Angela Merkel and the other 27 EU leaders gather in Brussels. British Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking reassurances about the withdrawal deal, which she is struggling to sell to skeptical lawmakers. The German motion states that "there will not be an agreement that is better and fairer for both sides. Any hope that a rejection of the agreement could lead to its renegotiation must prove to be illusory." It adds: "It must be clear to all that the finely balanced overall package cannot be undone again." ___ 10:50 a.m. British Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived at European Union headquarters for crunch Brexit talks with Irish leader Leo Varadkar and EU Council President Donald Tusk. May arrived in a sealed-off area where no cameras were allowed, a few hours before Thursday's EU summit where she is seeking support from her European partners to help sell the Brexit deal to the U.K. Parliament. Tusk, who is chairing the summit in Brussels, tweeted that he is meeting May separately "for last-minute talks." EU leaders insist that the Brexit deal she has reached with them is the only one possible and that it cannot be reopened. However, they have said they are willing to clarify elements of the agreement and provide reassurances about how it would work. ___ 9:10 a.m. Germany's main business lobby group says it's up to the British government "not to waste any more time" and to secure an orderly exit from the European Union. The Federation of German Industries placed responsibility for avoiding a no-deal Brexit squarely on London. In a statement, the group's director general, Joachim Lang, appealed to "those responsible in London to organize a majority to avert a hard Brexit as soon as possible." Otherwise, he said companies "will have to press ahead with implementing the necessary emergency measures for a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU." Lang said the withdrawal agreement Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to sell in Britain "will help limit the damage on both sides of the Channel." ___ 9 a.m. The pound has advanced further after British Prime Minister Theresa May won a confidence vote among lawmakers from within her Conservative Party. The currency, which slumped earlier in the week to 20-month lows after May pulled a vote on her Brexit divorce deal with the European Union, has recovered ground since it became clear would win the confidence vote and that she would not face another one from her own party in the next year. Traders think that means she may have more room for manoeuver in her dealings with Parliament that could mean Britain ends up having close economic ties with the EU after Brexit officially happens in March. Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, also said the defeat of her opponents in Conservative Party suggests that the "risks of a 'no-deal' Brexit may well have receded." The pound was up 0.3 percent in morning trading at $1.2679. ___ 8:30 a.m. Germany's foreign minister says he's relieved that Britain's governing party stopped short of creating "total chaos" in the Brexit process, but is indicating that he still sees little chance of substantial concessions to London on its European Union divorce deal. Prime Minister Theresa May is expected at an EU summit Thursday after surviving a confidence vote by her party's lawmakers, many of whom loathe the agreement. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Deutschlandfunk radio that "we now have another chance with Theresa May of her ... getting a majority for this accord, which is a compromise between both sides." Asked what could be done to secure British approval without renegotiation or legal changes, Maas replied: "Ultimately the British have to tell us that because, if there are proposals from Brussels now, no one can tell given the confusion in London whether it is enough to get a majority in the House of Commons." ___ 8:10 a.m. British Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking a lifeline from European Union leaders after winning a no-confidence vote triggered by Conservative lawmakers unhappy with her Brexit plan. May will ask the 27 other EU leaders at a Brussels summit Thursday for reassurances about the Brexit divorce deal that she can use to win over a skeptical British Parliament. The British leader scrapped a planned vote on the deal this week when it became clear she would lose. The bloc is adamant there can be no substantive changes to the legally-binding withdrawal agreement. On Wednesday evening, May survived a vote on her leadership from Conservative lawmakers by 200-117. The victory gives her a reprieve from domestic pressure but the size of the rebellion underscores the unpopularity of her Brexit plan. European Council President Donald Tusk, right, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, center, arrive for a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. European Union leaders have offered Theresa May sympathy but no promises, as the British prime minister seeks a lifeline that could help her sell her Brexit divorce deal to a hostile U.K. Parliament. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (Piroschka van de Wouw, Pool Photo via AP) British Prime Minister Theresa May, center right, is greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron, center left, during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (Piroschka van de Wouw, Pool Photo via AP) French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, arrives for a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. At right is French President Emmanuel Macron greeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Flags of European Union and United Kingdom are draped together on the ground opposite Parliament during a protest against Britain's Brexit split from Europe, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The British delegation convoy arrives at the Europa building prior to an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived amid high security for talks with her Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) A poster against a hard border stands on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland near the town of Derrylin, Northern Ireland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. With compromises on both sides in the Brexit deal, Britain and the EU managed to reach agreement on many contentious issues. But one has proved intractable: the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which will be the U.K.'s only land border with the EU after Brexit. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) RIMBO, Sweden (AP) - Yemen's warring sides agreed Thursday to an immediate cease-fire in the strategic port city of Hodeida, where fighting has disrupted vital aid deliveries and left the country on the brink of starvation in the 4-year-old civil war . The agreement includes a withdrawal of combatants to outside the city limits within two weeks and was praised by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as "real progress" to alleviate Yemen's suffering and show commitment to a political solution. The truce, along with a mass prisoner exchange agreement reached earlier, were seen as important first steps toward further talks in January aimed at drawing down a stalemated conflict that has killed thousands of people and left millions more in misery in the Arab world's poorest country. The cease-fire and pullback of forces eases fears that the battle for Hodeida could force an outright closure of its port, which would have been disastrous, since it is the main entry point for food and other humanitarian aid for millions of Yemenis. Throughout months of fighting around Hodeida, the port remained open, although movement of aid out of the city to the rest of the country was slowed because it had to avoid the front lines. But the deal might not mean an immediate or significant difference in easing the suffering of Yemenis. Ships bringing supplies into Hodeida must still undergo strict searches by U.N. monitors to ensure no weapons are aboard, a process that has delayed deliveries. Once in the country, it is a struggle to get food to families who need it because of corruption or mismanagement. More than 22 million of Yemen's 29 million need humanitarian aid, and the most desperate - over 8 million - have no food other than international relief supplies. Head of delegation for rebel forces known as Houthis, Mohammed Amdusalem, right, and Yemen Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yaman, left, shake hands together with UN Secretary Geleral Antonio Guterres, during the Yemen peace talks closing press conference at the Johannesberg castle in Rimbo north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thurday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) Guterres announced the truce during peace talks in Sweden, where he thanked the delegations. "It will improve the living conditions for millions of Yemenis," he said. "The fact that we came to an agreement on Hodeida, that many would consider the most difficult of the problems on the table, give us the hope that this process will now be moving step by step and that we'll be able to overcome all the obstacles that we face," Guterres told reporters after a closing ceremony in a castle in the town of Rimbo outside Stockholm. In a sign that the talks appeared to make more progress than previous rounds, Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani and Houthi delegation head Mohamed Abdelsalam shook hands at the closing event. The conflict pits the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran-backed rebels known as Houthis. The U.S. is supporting Saudi Arabia's effort in the war. The fighting has produced one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to the U.N. The two sides have been locked in a stalemated fight over Hodeida for months. The U.N.-sponsored talks began last week with low expectations but saw some progress with the agreement of a prisoner swap involving about 15,000 captives, scheduled to occur by Jan. 20. Both sides have said they sought to build on the goodwill. U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths has said he wants to remove Hodeida from the conflict so that aid can flow freely. Thursday's agreement aims to do just that, with troops retreating to outside the city limits and a province-wide cease-fire. "This will be the first withdrawal of any forces in the history of this conflict. And it will be done in the area of the greatest sensitivity, and difficulty and danger," he said, adding that other areas under discussion will continue in the weeks and months ahead. On Wednesday, he said he gave both sides a draft agreement for consideration that included proposals for reopening the airport in the capital of Sanaa, as well as one for a political framework for a postwar Yemen. It was unclear how far they have come in agreeing on those broader issues, although some progress was announced toward drawing down fighting in the central city of Taiz and creating "humanitarian corridors" - localized cease-fire zones - to allow in aid shipments. Asked if rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia had been involved behind the scenes, Guterres said they had played a constructive role in the Yemeni-led talks. "Obviously there has been very relevant consultations with (Iran and Saudi Arabia) and all other regional parties, and I must say I am very grateful for the very constructive approach that I have felt in the last few weeks in order to facilitate creating the conditions for this agreement to be possible," he said. The World Food Program welcomed the cease-fire announcement, saying it offers hope for millions of Yemenis. "Any progress toward peace is good progress, as long as it helps the Yemeni people who have suffered so much in this conflict," WFP Executive Director David Beasley said in a statement. Noting that Yemen imports nearly all its food and about 70 percent of that goes through Hodeida's port, Beasley added that "what all of Yemen needs the most, though, is a permanent, lasting and full peace." The mounting humanitarian crisis has galvanized international support for ending the war, which has raged for years with little notice from the rest of the world. Western fatigue with the conflict also is growing, especially after the Oct. 2 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, allegedly by members of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's royal entourage. The U.S. refueling of Saudi warplanes has stopped after months of airstrikes that have killed civilians. In addition, The Associated Press conducted a year-long investigation into the conflict, finding parents who were giving up meals so they could dedicate what little food they had to keeping children alive. It also found pockets of famine in the north that relief agencies had overlooked, where families were boiling leaves to survive. The AP also uncovered abuses by all sides in the conflict, including rampant torture in prisons run by Houthi rebels in the north and the United Arab Emirates, a coalition member, and its allies in the south. An international group tracking the war said this week that the conflict has killed more than 60,000 people, including combatants and civilians, since 2016. The U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, said in a report Tuesday that more than 28,000 people - both civilians and combatants - have been killed in the first 11 months of 2018, an increase of 68 percent from 2017. More than 3,000 were killed in November, the deadliest month since ACLED started collecting data. The group said 37 percent of the civilian deaths in 2018 occurred in Hodeida. ACLED bases its figures on media reports of each incident of violence in the war. ACLED's figures do not include the last few months of 2014, when Houthi rebels captured Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, nor the casualties in 2015, when the coalition joined the war on the side of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government. ___ Rohan reported from Cairo. Head of delegation for rebel forces known as Houthis, Mohammed Amdusalem, right, and Yemen Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yaman, left, shake hands together with UN Secretary Geleral Antonio Guterres, during the Yemen peace talks closing press conference at the Johannesberg castle in Rimbo north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thurday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) Yemen foreign minister Khaled al-Yaman, left, shakes hands with UN Secretary Geleral Antonio Guterres during the Yemen peace talks closing media conference in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) UN Secretary Geleral Antonio Guterres during the Yemen peace talks closing media conference in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, left, UN Secretary Geleral Antonio Guterres, centre, and the U.N. envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths attend the Yemen peace talks closing media conference in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) Head of delegation for rebel forces known as Houthis, Mohammed Amdusalem speaks during the Yemen peace talks closing media conference in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) Head of delegation for rebel forces known as Houthis, Mohammed Amdusalem during the Yemen peace talks closing media conference in Rimbo, north of Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. The United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News agency via AP) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, soldiers allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government fly the South Yemen flag at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. Since Yemen's war broke out, secessionists wanting South Yemen to again break away have increasingly been flying the flag as a symbol of their aspiration. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, the prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government that the Saudi-led coalition backs, is interviewed by foreign journalists in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled unanimously that President Maithripala Sirisena's order to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections was unconstitutional, a much-anticipated verdict that further embroils the Indian Ocean nation in political crisis. A seven-judge bench of the highest court said Thursday the president lacks the power to dissolve Parliament at will before 4 years from the day of its first sitting, citing a constitutional amendment that was passed in 2015, according to opposition counsel Jayampathy Wickramaratne. Sri Lanka's crisis began in October when Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place, the culmination of years of infighting over Wickremesinghe's economic reforms and his efforts to investigate abuses during Sri Lanka's long civil war, which ended in 2009. The military under Rajapaksa has been accused of some of the abuses. "This is a historic judgment delivered by the Supreme Court; for the first time an act of the president has been challenged. That was possible because of the 19th amendment. Prior to that when the president was in office, he had full immunity," said M.A. Sumanthiran, an opposition lawmaker and lawyer who argued for the petitioners. "We are glad that the conclusion arrived at is unanimous," he said. While political norms dictate that Sirisena respects the verdict, the court has little ability to force him to do so, legal experts said. Supporters of ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrate outside the supreme court complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Sri Lanka's Supreme Court unanimously ruled as unconstitutional President Maithripala Sirisena's order to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections, a much-anticipated verdict Thursday that further embroils the Indian Ocean island nation in political crisis.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Wickremesinghe, however, said in a Twitter message that Sirisena will "promptly respect the judgment of the court." Soon after being appointed prime minister, Rajapaksa sought to secure a majority in Parliament but failed. In response, Sirisena dissolved Parliament and ordered new elections, but those actions were put on hold by the Supreme Court. Since then, Rajapaksa has been defeated twice in no-confidence motions in Parliament and has had his and his ministers' budgets stripped by majority votes. Nevertheless, Sirisena has resisted calls to reappoint Wickremesinghe, ignoring warnings that such a refusal could amount to a breach of the constitution. Wickremesinghe on Wednesday won the support of 117 members in the 225-member Parliament to function as prime minister. Lawmakers could attempt to impeach Sirisena, but that requires two-thirds of the votes in Parliament, and Wickremesinghe commands only a simple majority. Last month's no-confidence votes against Rajapaksa descended into chaos, with his supporters occupying the speaker's chair and throwing books and water mixed with chili powder to try to prevent a vote. The speaker announced that the votes were passed by voice and that there was no longer a prime minister or Cabinet. However, Rajapaksa continued in office with Sirisena's backing. Lawmakers opposed to Rajapaksa filed another petition at the Court of Appeal, which ordered him and his ministers to stop functioning in their positions until the case is concluded. With Sri Lanka effectively lacking a functioning government, some officials worry it will be unable to pass a budget to finance government activities beyond 2018. Supporters of ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrate outside the supreme court complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Sri Lanka's Supreme Court unanimously ruled as unconstitutional President Maithripala Sirisena's order to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections, a much-anticipated verdict Thursday that further embroils the Indian Ocean island nation in political crisis.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The man authorities believe killed three people during a rampage near a Christmas market in Strasbourg died Thursday in a shootout with police at the end of a two-day manhunt, French authorities said. The Paris prosecutor's office, which handles terror cases in France, formally identified the man killed in the eastern French city as 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt, a Strasbourg-born man with a long history of convictions for various crimes, including robberies. Chekatt also had been on a watch list of potential extremists. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, speaking earlier from Strasbourg, said police had spotted a man matching the suspect's description in the city's Neudorf neighborhood. "The moment they tried to arrest him, he turned around and opened fire. They replied," killing the man, Castaner said. Chekatt was suspected of killing three people and wounding 13 near Strasbourg's Christmas market on Tuesday night. Castaner said earlier Thursday that three of the injured had been released from hospital and three others were still fighting for their lives. "Our engagement against terrorism is total," French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in Brussels for a European Union summit, said in a tweet thanking security forces. Investigating police officers work in a street of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Five people have been arrested in connection with the investigation, including Chekatt's parents and two of his brothers. The Paris prosecutor's office said the fifth, who was arrested Thursday, was a member of Chekatt's "entourage" but not a family member. Witnesses said the gunman shouted "God is great!" in Arabic and sprayed gunfire from a security zone near the Christmas market on Tuesday. Security forces wounded the man but he managed to escape in a taxi, which dropped him off in the Neudorf neighborhood. More than 700 officers searched for Chekatt, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews television. Chekatt was well-known to police but as a common criminal, not a terrorist. He had his first conviction at 13, and had 26 more by the time he died at age 29. He served jail time in France, Germany and Switzerland. A local police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the man who shot at police Thursday night had been armed with a pistol and a knife. Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries said police had acted on a tip from a woman. Residents described hearing shots on the street where Chekatt faced off with police, prompting new jitters after two days marked by tension in and around Strasbourg, which lies on the border with Germany and is considered as symbol of European unity. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online, said the Islamic State group's Amaq news agency was claiming the gunman as a "soldier" of the group, although IS claims of responsibility have often been considered opportunistic. Chekatt's motives remain vague. Authorities had put him on a watch list three years ago for suspected radicalism, but said they didn't detect signs he was ready to act on it - a pattern in several past attacks in France. France raised its three-stage threat index to the highest level after Tuesday's attack and deployed 1,800 additional soldiers across the country to help patrol streets and secure crowded events. Security forces, including the elite Raid squad, spent hours Thursday searching in the Neudorf neighborhood where Chekatt had grown up based on "supposition only" he might have been hiding in a building nearby, a French police official said. Residents of the Neudorf neighborhood expressed relief after Chekatt was killed. "Everybody's quite happy that the killer has been finally shot. I think now, the city and life can keep going on in Strasbourg," resident Pierre Plasse said. One of the three who died in Tuesday's attack was a Thai tourist, 45-year-old Anupong Suebsamarn, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. An Italian journalist was in critical condition, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said. The Europhonica radio consortium said Antonio Megalizzi, 28, was in Strasbourg to follow the session of the European Parliament. The leaders of the 28 European Union countries held a moment of silence for the victims at their summit Thursday. Before Thursday's shootout, hundreds of people gathered in Strasbourg's renowned 500-year-old cathedral to mourn and seek comfort. "Evil does not prevail," Archbishop Luc Ravel said. "And the message of Christmas has not been contradicted but rather confirmed by Tuesday's dramatic night: Evil and good are both there, but in the end the good will have last word." ___ Petrequin and Becatoros reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Jean-Francois Badias in Strasbourg, France, Sylvie Corbet, Deborah Gouffran, and Elaine Ganley in Paris, Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy, Raf Casert and Angela Charlton in Brussels, Belgium, contributed to this report. A hooded police officer holds his gun in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) A French police officer looks at the dead body of a man lying in the doorway of a building after a shootout with police in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The dead man was suspected of being the gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the dead man's identity hasn't been confirmed yet. But Castaner said the "individual corresponds to the description of the person sought since Tuesday night," 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt. (AP Photo) FILE - This undated file handout photo provided by the French police, shows Cherif Chekatt, the suspect in the shooting in Strasbourg, France. The French government spokesman says security forces are trying to catch the suspected shooter dead or alive, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, two days after an attack near Strasbourg's Christmas market. (French Police via AP, File) Investigating police officers work in a street of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A man suspected of being the gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg died in a shootout with police Thursday following a two-day manhunt. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Investigating police officers work in a street of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) A hooded police officer holds his gun in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) Pepole cross the street while investigating police officers work in a street of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) French police officers stand guard in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. The official, who could not be named because the operation was ongoing, said the dead man opened fire on police Thursday night and officers fired back, killing him. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French police officers stand guard in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. The official, who could not be named because the operation was ongoing, said the dead man opened fire on police Thursday night and officers fired back, killing him. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Hooded police officers block the access in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) French police officers stand guard in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. The official, who could not be named because the operation was ongoing, said the dead man opened fire on police Thursday night and officers fired back, killing him. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Investigating police officers gather in a street of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a man has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but he has not been confirmed as the suspected gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) French police forces take position in the Neudorf district of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French security forces were trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman dead or alive as the city of Strasbourg was still in mourning with candles lit and flowers left at the site of Tuesday's attack near the Christmas market.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) French police officers patrol in the streets, nest to a bullet hole following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) This photo provided Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 by the National Police shows the wanted notice for Cherif Chekatt, the suspect in the Strasbourg attack. French security forces were trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman dead or alive, an official said Thursday, two days after an attack near the city's Christmas market. More than 700 officers were involved in the manhunt for 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt. (Police Nationale via AP) Flowers and candles are put with stickers reading "I am Strasbourg" in the streets for the victims following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French soldiers patrol in the streets following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) JERUSALEM (AP) - The Latest on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (all times local): 7:05 p.m. Israel's prime minister has ordered a number of security measures in the West Bank in response to a Palestinian shooting attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. Benjamin Netanyahu's office says he has ordered the expedited demolition of attackers' homes within 48 hours, increased detentions of Hamas militants in the West Bank and a beefing up of Israeli forces in the region. He also ordered additional security on roadways and increased checkpoints. In an announcement Thursday, Netanyahu's office says he also decided to legalize thousands of existing settlement homes in the West Bank that he says were built in "good faith" but whose status is unclear. Palestinians look at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. The writing in Arabic reads: ""Ashraf Naalweh, your blood awaits a victory". (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Speaking at a military ceremony, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel suffered a "tough blow" with Thursday's West Bank shooting. "We will settle the score with whoever did this," he said. "Our guiding principle is that whoever harms us or tries to harm us will be held responsible." ___ 5:10 p.m. The Israeli army says forces shot and killed a Palestinian man near the West Bank city of Ramallah after he attempted to ram his car into them Thursday, lightly injuring one soldier. The incident comes after a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement, killing two Israeli soldiers and injuring two others. The army has launched a manhunt for the assailant, sealing off the main roads to Ramallah, setting up checkpoints around the city and boosting military forces across the West Bank. Israeli troops also shot and killed a Palestinian suspected of a drive-by shooting at a West Bank bus stop on Sunday, in which a baby delivered prematurely as a result of the attack died. ___ 2:30 p.m. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the latest round of violence in the West Bank, criticizing both militant attacks and the tough Israeli response. Abbas' office issued a statement on Thursday, shortly after a Palestinian gunman killed two Israelis near a West Bank settlement, accusing Israel of creating a "climate" conducive to violence through its frequent military operations in Palestinian cities. Abbas also accused Israel of incitement against him. His statement says that "the absence of the horizon of peace is what led to this series of violence, which we condemn and reject, and for which both sides pay a price." The statement also added: "Our permanent policy is to reject violence, incursions and terror of the settlers, and the need to stop incitement and not to create an atmosphere that contributes to the aggravation of the situation." ___ 1:45 p.m. Israel has sealed off major roads leading to the West Bank city of Ramallah and set up checkpoints in search of a gunman who earlier in the day carried out a deadly shooting attack nearby. The Israeli military declined to comment on the measures, saying only it had sent reinforcements to the area. A Palestinian gunman opened fire on a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement on Thursday, killing two Israelis and wounding another two. The unusual measure to clamp down on Ramallah, the Palestinians' economic and administrative hub, reflects the severity with which Israel views an uptick in violence this week in the West Bank. Thursday's shooting comes after Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian suspected of a drive-by shooting at a West Bank bus stop on Sunday, in which a baby delivered prematurely as a result of the attack died. ___ 11:55 a.m. The head of Israel's medical rescue service says two Israelis have been killed and two wounded in a shooting attack near a West Bank settlement. Eli Bin, the head of Israel's Magen David Adom service, told Israeli Army Radio that two people were dead following Thursday's shooting. He says another two, a man and woman, were critically wounded and were being taken to hospital. Their identities were not immediately known. The Israeli military had no immediate additional details. The incident comes as Israeli troops ended a two-month manhunt for a Palestinian wanted in the killing of two Israelis at a West Bank industrial zone in October. On Wednesday, Israel also killed a Palestinian suspect accused of staging a shooting attack in the West Bank earlier this week. ___ 8:30 a.m. Israeli police say security forces tracked down a Palestinian accused of killing two Israelis and shot and killed him, following a two-month manhunt. Police say Ashraf Naalweh was armed when he was found and that he was killed during the arrest raid early on Thursday near the West Bank city of Nablus. Naalweh fled the scene of a West Bank industrial zone in October after shooting to death two Israelis. Israeli forces have conducted a widespread manhunt for him since. On Wednesday, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian suspect wanted in a drive-by shooting at a West Bank bus stop, shooting him just hours after an Israeli baby delivered prematurely as a result of the weekend attack died. The militant Hamas group that rules Gaza said both men were its members. Israeli soldiers stand at the scene of an attack near the settlement of Givat Assaf in the West Bank, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A Palestinian gunman opened fire at a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement on Thursday, shooting at soldiers and civilians and killing at least two Israelis before fleeing, the military and Israel's rescue service said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Palestinians look at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) A Palestinian boy looks at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) A Palestinian looks at a damage after an Israeli raid killed Ashraf Naalweh during an arrest raid in the Asker refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Israel accuses Naalweh of shooting to death two Israelis and wounding another at an attack on a West Bank industrial zone in October. He fled the scene and Israeli forces have been searching for him since. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) People attend the funeral of a baby who died after being prematurely delivered after her mother Shira Ish-Ran was wounded in a shooting attack near Ofra settlement in the West Bank last Sunday, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Heidi Levine) BEIRUT (AP) - The main Syrian Kurdish-led militia warned on Thursday that threats by Turkey's president to launch a new military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria will negatively impact their fight against the Islamic State group. Nuri Mehmud, spokesman of the People's Protection Units or the YPG, also said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement from the day before about a new operation "within a few days" is tantamount to a declaration of war. The YPG makes the backbone of the U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Mehmud spoke as SDF fighters pushed deeper in the Hajin area, the last IS stronghold in Syria. He expressed hopes that the presence of troops from the U.S.-led coalition in northern and eastern Syria would deter Turkey from an offensive similar to the one Ankara launched earlier this year in the northern Syrian enclave of Afrin. In recent months, Turkey has shelled Kurdish positions across the border in Syria, east of the Euphrates River, and has threatened to drive out the Syrian YPG. The YPG is the main component of the SDF that rolled back IS from wide parts of Syria with the help of the U.S.-led coalition. Ankara views YPG fighters as terrorists because of their links to the Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey. U.S. troops are deployed with the Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria, in part to prevent clashes with Turkey. Turkey's state-run news agency reported that a convoy of Turkish military vehicles arrived at the border with Syria on Thursday. Anadolu Agency said the convoy, including armored personnel carriers, was deployed to the province of Hatay as reinforcents. The agency reported similar troop movement earlier this week. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a defence industry meeting event in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Erdogan said Turkey will begin "within a few days" a new military operation to drive out U.S-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters in Syria, east of the Euphrates River. The move is likely to increase tensions between NATO allies, Turkey, and the United States. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool) Meanwhile, SDF fighters pushed deeper into the Syrian town of Hajin, taking its main market amid intense fighting with the extremists in their last holdout on Thursday. The Kurdish-led Syrian fighters have been fighting to take Hajin and nearby villages in Syria's eastern province of Deir el-Zour since Sept. 10. Over the past weeks, the offensive intensified with the arrival of reinforcements from northern Syria. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS defenses "collapsed" in Hajin as the town's main market was captured. The Observatory said SDF fighters were also able to evacuate some 600 civilians, many of them women and children, out of IS-held areas. Europe-based Omar Abu Layla, of the activist-run DeirEzzor 24 monitoring group, confirmed the market was taken as well as the main mosque in Hajin. "The end of the (IS) organization in Hajin is very near," he said. Also Thursday, UNICEF said two babies died in the refugee settlement of Rukban on the Syrian border with Jordan, where tens of thousands of people have been living amid shortage of food and medicine. Last month, the U.N. and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent organized a desperately needed aid delivery to Rukban, the first since January. ___ Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report. KATOWICE, Poland (AP) - Agreement on the fine print of the Paris climate accord drew closer Thursday, three years after countries sealed the landmark deal on curbing global warming, but negotiators remained divided on some of the thorniest issues and appeared set for overtime. The Polish diplomat chairing U.N. climate talks in the country's southern city of Katowice issued a series of fresh drafts as the two-week meeting neared its scheduled end on Friday. Diplomats and ministers had huddled behind closed doors, some through the night, weighing every word of the texts covering issues such as how countries will count both their greenhouse gas emissions and their efforts to reduce them. Along with the Paris accord rulebook, the other main issues at the talks are how much financial support poor countries will get to combat and adapt to climate change, and what kind of message to send about future work to curb climate change. Last week, the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait blocked the endorsement of a scientific report on a key element of the Paris climate agreement: capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), if possible. That angered other countries and environmentalists, who accused the four oil-exporting nations of stalling progress toward the accord's most ambitious emissions-cutting target. Mohamed Adow, a climate expert at Christian Aid, said the discussions on financial support seemed to be moving in the right direction, though the overall outcome of the talks was uncertain. FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2017, file photo, water from Addicks Reservoir flows into neighborhoods from floodwaters brought on by Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston. Natural disasters in Texas on the scale of Hurricane Harvey's deadly destruction last year will become more frequent because of a changing climate, warns a new report Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, ordered by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in a state where skepticism about climate change runs deep. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Developing countries have been promised billions of dollars in aid, loans and other financial support to help them reduce their emissions and adapt to inevitable changes in the world's climate. But the latest drafts offer little comfort to those countries that also want rich industrial nations to pay for damage already caused by global warming, arguing that they're to blame for most of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases humans have pumped into the atmosphere. "Real action requires real money for real solutions," said Adow. "The European Union needs to separate itself from the laggards like Australia, Japan and the United States." While U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he's pulling out of the Paris accord, American officials dangled the possibility that the U.S. might consider rejoining if it gets more favorable terms. But China, a key broker of the 2015 Paris accord, dismissed the idea of revising core parts of the pact. "China and the U.S. have worked together with all other countries to complete the negotiation and thus make the Paris Agreement a milestone achievement in global climate governance," Beijing's chief negotiator, Xie Zhenhua, told reporters. "We will not reopen negotiations on issues where we have already reached agreement." Xie also pushed back on demands from rich nations for China - the world's largest polluter - to accept the accounting and reporting rules that developed countries must follow, but indicated it might decide to adopt uniform standards further down the line. He noted that while China is the largest single emitter of polluting gases, its gross domestic product per capita remains below the world average. The drafts presented late Thursday by Poland's deputy environment minister, Michal Kurtyka, were still likely to face opposition when talks resume in the morning. One issue certain to draw fire concerned how to reconcile a vestige of the 1992 Kyoto Protocol with efforts to establish a functioning international market in carbon credits, with Brazil and India among those that have been fiercely resisting proposed changes. Some observers predicted the talks would likely continue into Saturday in an effort to secure a deal this year and maintain confidence in the multi-step global process. "It was determined in Paris this was the deadline for agreeing on the implementation rules," said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. "If it slips because countries can't agree or there's major splits among countries, I think that undermines confidence that this process is going to move forward in the way that it needs to." Others questioned whether the elaborate annual summit, now being staged for the 24th time with over 30,000 participants, is still the best way to fight climate change. "There is a view among many of us that this is failing," said former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed. ___ Associated Press reporter Monika Scislowska contributed to this report. ___ Read more stories on climate issues by The Associated Press at https://www.apnews.com/Climate Participants attend the COP24 U.N. Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Poland, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A tramway at a stop near the "Spodek" arena, part of the venue where U.N. climate talks are help on ways of combating global warming in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A tramway at a stop near the "Spodek" arena, part of the venue where U.N. climate talks are help on ways of combating global warming in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Participants in U.N. climate conference arrive for a session at the venue that borders a closed coal mine, with Christmas decorations in the background, in Katowice, Poland, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Climate activists from islands in the Pacific Ocean campaign for an ambitious global effort in fighting global warming at a U.N. climate conference in Katowice, Poland, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Young people protest in the main hall at the COP24 summit in Katowice, Poland, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) In this photo taken on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, Norwegian CEO Haavard Gulbrandsen, right and Satya Tripathi attend a debate on "Aligning financial systems with the climate goals of the Paris agreement" during U.N. climate talks of almost 200 nations that are to work out ways of combating global warming, in Katowice, Poland. (AP Photo) JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - The Holland Tunnel between New Jersey and New York City may be in for a makeover after critics called the placement of its holiday decorations a distraction, a possible trigger for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder - and just plain ugly. Wreaths have adorned the entrance to the heavily used tunnel around the holidays for decades. But some are upset by the configuration in which wreaths cover the letters "O'' and "U'' on the entrance sign and a tree-shaped decoration covers the letter "N'' in "Holland." The decoration would fit more snugly over the "A," several have said. On a day when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the tunnel's operator, approved an $8.5 billion budget and celebrated record traffic at its ports and airports in 2018, most of the questions after its monthly board meeting focused on the decorations. Cory Windelspecht, the Manhattan man who has been the public face of the push to move the decorations, addressed the board. "The only reason we are here today is that we spoke loudly," he told board members. "We just wanted to get noticed." Windelspecht said he travels through the tunnel several times a week as part of his job in medical sales and that he has been irked by the sign for several years because of the placement of the tree decoration over the "N." Holiday decorations adorn the letters on the toll booth structure on the Holland Tunnel approach, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Jersey City. Motorists are complaining that two circular wreaths and another in the shape of a Christmas tree, symmetrically aligned above the tunnel's lanes, don't look right. An online petition suggests placing the tree over the letter "A" instead of the "N". (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Windelspecht said that he was surprised at the attention the story is getting this year. "If people are acknowledging it can be a problem for some, what is the argument? It's got to be changed," he said. "But let's not be a 'Bah humbug' and pull it right down. If anything, put more lights up." In a lighthearted notice sent Wednesday and styled to mimic the poem that begins "'Twas the night before Christmas," the Port Authority said it is conducting its own public poll. Participants have until Sunday to select one of four options, and Executive Director Rick Cotton said thousands have already voted. He wouldn't give details but said, based on results so far, "change is in the air." "In light of the interest and in light of the proposal for change, we thought it was important to listen and take action, and what we're doing is quite straightforward," Cotton said. "We intend to act based on the results." Cotton added that a design competition would be considered for next year. More than a million vehicles per month use the tunnel to downtown Manhattan, according to Port Authority statistics. Holiday decorations adorn the letters on the toll booth structure on the Holland Tunnel approach, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Jersey City. Motorists are complaining that two circular wreaths and another in the shape of a Christmas tree, symmetrically aligned above the tunnel's lanes, don't look right. An online petition suggests placing the tree over the letter "A" instead of the "N". (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) MIAMI (AP) - Sentencing has been postponed for a former Colombian anti-corruption official who pleaded guilty to U.S. money-laundering conspiracy charges as part of a bribery scheme. A sentencing hearing originally set Thursday in Miami federal court will instead occur Monday for Luis Gustavo Moreno Rivera, former director of the anti-corruption office for Colombia's chief prosecutor. Moreno faces up to 20 years in prison, but his lawyer is seeking 18 months behind bars. The Drug Enforcement Administration says in court documents that Moreno and an attorney sought to obtain thousands of dollars in bribes from a former governor of Colombia's Cordoba region who was under a separate corruption investigation. The former governor has been identified in Colombia as Alejandro Lyons. Authorities say the goal of the bribery scheme was to hinder that investigation. RIMBO, Sweden (AP) - The Latest on the U.N.-sponsored Yemen peace talks that are wrapping up in Sweden (all times local): 11:30 p.m. The Trump administration is welcoming progress made at peace talks between the warring parties in Yemen. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says agreements for a ceasefire in the contested port of Hodeidah, a prisoner exchange and the opening of humanitarian corridors are a "pivotal first step" in ending the devastating conflict. Pompeo's statement came after the United Nations announced the steps after the talks in Sweden concluded on Thursday. Pompeo said all parties must continue to de-escalate tensions and expand the truce. The talks ended shortly before the Senate dealt the administration a symbolic rebuke by voting to recommend an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition that has been battling the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels. Martin Griffith, Special Envoy for Yemen of the U.N. Secretary General, attends a press conference at Johannesberg Palace, north of Stockholm on Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Yemen's warring parties are meeting for a fifth day of talks in Sweden aimed at halting the country's catastrophic 4-year-old war. (Stina Stjernkvist/TT via AP) __ 7:55 p.m. The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres feels his talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi helped achieve the cease-fire agreement in the province of Hodeida where the country's key port to import desperately needed food is located. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York Thursday that Guterres felt the Saudi crown prince's contribution "was very important to the outcome of the consultations" and that Hadi "played a positive role." The secretary-general thanks those inside and outside the region that tried to encourage the parties to make progress at the talks in Sweden and believes this was "valuable" in reaching Thursday's agreement, Haq said. He said U.N. special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths, who led the talks, and U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock, will brief the U.N. Security Council Friday on the outcome. Haq said certain aspects of the agreement, including U.N. monitoring of the port of Hodeida, "might need Security Council approval" which would require a new resolution. ___ 5:40 p.m. The World Food Program has welcomed the cease-fire announced for Yemen's key port city of Hodeida, saying it offers hope to the millions of Yemenis left starving as a result of the four-year civil war. WFP Executive Director David Beasley said in a Thursday statement that "any progress toward peace is good progress, as long as it helps the Yemeni people who have suffered so much in this conflict." Noting that Yemen imports nearly all its food and about 70 percent of that goes through Hodeida's port, he added that "what all of Yemen needs the most, though, is a permanent, lasting and full peace." ___ 1:55 p.m. Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has lauded the "positive spirit" of the peace talks aimed at setting out a framework for future dialogue in war-ravaged Yemen. "It takes concessions, it takes compromises and it takes some courage to get these discussions going and get good results in the end," Wallstrom said Thursday at the closing of the weeklong talks. The talks, held in the in the Swedish town of Rimbo, north of Stockholm, led to a deal with Yemen's warring sides, saying they have agreed to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida and a withdrawal of troops from the contested Red Sea port city. ___ 1:20 p.m. The United Nations secretary general says Yemen's warring sides have agreed after week-long peace talks in Sweden to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida and a withdrawal of troops from the contested Red Sea port city. Antonio Guterres thanked the Yemeni delegations for what he called "an important step" and "real progress toward future talks to end the conflict." He spoke on Thursday at the closing ceremony for the talks in the Swedish town of Rimbo. A press conference is about to follow. Guterres said to the Yemeni parties: "Thank you for coming here to discuss a better future for Yemen." He also said that the next round of talks is planned for the end of January. ___ 1 p.m. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres are the U.N.'s envoy for Yemen are about to brief reporters at the closing of a week of peace talks aimed at setting out a framework for future dialogue in war-ravaged Yemen. The U.N.-sponsored talks, which end on Thursday, have low expectations for halting the conflict immediately, but have already seen some progress with the agreement of a prisoner swap to include some 15,000 people. Both sides have said they sought to build on goodwill for future talks, although it was unclear how far they have come in agreeing on a draft agreement given to them a day earlier to consider by U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths, who has sought to remove the key port city of Hodeida from Yemen's four-year civil war so that aid deliveries can operate freely. ___ 9:50 a.m. Britain's foreign secretary is joining the Yemen peace talks on their final day in Sweden as part of his efforts to help kick start a political process to bring an end to the impoverished Arab country's brutal four-year civil war. His office says Jeremy Hunt will be in the Swedish town of Rimbo along with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday, the final day of the U.N.-sponsored Yemen talks. It says Hunt will also be meeting the delegates from the warring sides - the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels. Hunt said ahead of his trip that "Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe, and these peace talks represent the best opportunity in years to move towards the political solution the people of Yemen urgently need." GENEVA (AP) - The head of the U.N. agency focusing on AIDS said he would leave the job six months early, bowing to apparent pressure just a week after independent experts looking into sexual harassment blasted the "defective leadership" at UNAIDS. At least one major donor reportedly threatened to halt its funding. Executive Director Michel Sidibe revealed his plans to leave in June at a UNAIDS board meeting Thursday, agency spokesman Mahesh Mahalingham said. Sidibe took up the job in 2009. Sexual harassment allegations at UNAIDS have been an unwelcome distraction for the agency, which has helped get millions of people infected with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. It spearheads U.N. efforts to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 - a key United Nations goal. Media reports suggested Sweden, the agency's No. 2 donor last year, was preparing to stop funding the agency over the crisis. Sweden provided $30.8 million to UNAIDS in 2017, second only to $82.4 million from the United States. "We do not trust him. He must leave now. We are freezing our support until he is gone," Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Isabella Lovin told the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper. Outside experts released a report last week saying a culture of impunity and a toxic working environment at UNAIDS cannot be changed unless Sidibe resigned. It cited a "vacuum of accountability" and said agency leaders failed to prevent or adequately respond to allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power. FILE - In this July 18, 2018 file photo embattled UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe poses for photographers before attending a press conference, in Paris, France. The head of the U.N. agency focusing on AIDS says he'll leave his post in June, an early departure announced a week after independent experts looking into sexual harassment at UNAIDS blasted its "defective leadership." (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, file) Sidibe, a native of Mali, has denied allegations that he tried to force an employee to drop her sexual assault accusation against his former deputy. UNAIDS staffer Martina Brostrom went public earlier this year with allegations originally laid out in a sexual harassment and assault complaint in 2016. The World Health Organization office that investigated the case found insufficient evidence to support Brostrom's claims. UNAIDS spokeswoman Sophie Barton-Knott said Thursday that Sidibe wanted to "have an orderly transition of leadership at UNAIDS" and "would complete his duties at the end of June 2019." Paula Donovan, co-director of AIDS-Free World and its Code Blue Campaign, which works to end impunity for sexual abuse by U.N. personnel, said Sidibe "doesn't deserve to leave on his terms and on his timeline." She criticized a "failure of leadership" by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who can fire Sidibe, and the UNAIDS board. "The culture of impunity remains intact. Zero tolerance is ... nothing more than an empty slogan," she said. The independent experts conceded that Sidibe had "spoken bravely" about infection risks for adolescent girls and women. After the report's release, he initially insisted he was the right person to turn the organization around. ___ Jan M. Olsen contributed from Copenhagen. LONDON (AP) - As U.S. President Donald Trump re-imposed harsh economic sanctions on Iran last month, hackers scrambled to break into personal emails of American officials tasked with enforcing them, The Associated Press has found - another sign of how deeply cyberespionage is embedded into the fabric of U.S.-Iranian relations. The AP drew on data gathered by the London-based cybersecurity group Certfa to track how a hacking group often nicknamed Charming Kitten spent the past month trying to break into the private emails of more than a dozen U.S. Treasury officials. Also on the hackers' hit list: high-profile defenders, detractors and enforcers of the nuclear deal struck between Washington and Tehran, as well as Arab atomic scientists, Iranian civil society figures and D.C. think tank employees. "Presumably, some of this is about figuring out what is going on with sanctions," said Frederick Kagan, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who has written about Iranian cyberespionage and was among those targeted. Kagan said he was alarmed by the targeting of foreign nuclear experts. "This is a little more worrisome than I would have expected," he said. The hit list surfaced after Charming Kitten mistakenly left one of its servers open to the internet last month. Researchers at Certfa found the server and extracted a list of 77 Gmail and Yahoo addresses targeted by the hackers that they handed to the AP for further analysis. Certfa researchers Nariman Gharib, left, and Amin Sabeti look at a computer at a cafe in London on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. The Associated Press drew on data gathered by the London-based cybersecurity group Certfa to track how a hacking group often nicknamed Charming Kitten spent the past month trying to break into the private emails of more than a dozen U.S. Treasury officials. Also on the hackers' hit list: high-profile defenders, detractors and enforcers of the nuclear deal struck between Washington and Tehran, as well as Arab atomic scientists, Iranian civil society figures and D.C. think tank employees. (AP Photo/Raphael Satter) It's hard to know how many of the accounts were successfully compromised or how exactly they were targeted in each case. But even though the addresses likely represent only a fraction of the hackers' overall efforts, they still provide considerable insight into Tehran's espionage priorities. "The targets are very specific," Certfa researcher Nariman Gharib said. In a report published Thursday , Certfa tied the hackers to the Iranian government, a judgment drawn in part on operational blunders, including a couple of cases where the hackers appeared to have accidentally revealed that they were operating from computers inside Iran. The assessment was backed by others who have tracked Charming Kitten. Allison Wikoff, a researcher with Atlanta-based Secureworks, recognized some of the digital infrastructure in Certfa's report and said the hackers' past operations left little doubt they were government-backed. "It's fairly clear-cut," she said. Calls to Iranian officials were not returned late Wednesday, the beginning of the weekend in the country. Iran has previously denied responsibility for hacking operations, but an AP analysis of its targets suggests that Charming Kitten is working in close alignment with the Islamic Republic's interests. The most striking among them were the nuclear officials - a scientist working on a civilian nuclear project for the Pakistan's Ministry of Defense, a senior operator at the Research and Training Reactor in the Jordanian city of Ramtha, and a high-ranking researcher at the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria. The trio suggested a general interest in nuclear technology and administration. Others on the hit list - such as Guy Roberts, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs - pointed to an eagerness to keep track of officials charged with overseeing America's nuclear arsenal. "This is something I've been worried about," Roberts said when alerted to his presence on the list. Still more targets are connected to the Iran deal - a 2015 pact negotiated by former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration and other world powers that called for Tehran to curb its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. Trump tore up the deal in May over the objections of most of America's allies and has since re-imposed a series of punishing restrictions on Iran. One of Charming Kitten's targets was Andrew J. Grotto, whose tenure on the U.S. National Security Council straddled the Obama and Trump administrations and who has written about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Jarrett Blanc, a U.S. State Department official involved in the implementation of the nuclear deal under Obama, was also on the list. He said news of his targeting was no shock. "I've retained contact with Iranian counterparts since leaving government," he said. "I'd be very surprised if there were not Iranian groups trying to hack into my various email accounts." Like the Russian hackers who have chased after America's drone, space and submarine secrets , the list indicates that Iranian spies were also interested in the world of U.S. defense companies. One of those targeted is a senior director of "breakthrough technology" at the aerospace arm of Honeywell International Inc., the New Jersey-based industrial conglomerate. Another is a vice president at Virginia-based Science Applications International Corp., a prominent Pentagon contractor. Honeywell said it was aware that one of its employees had their personal account "exposed," adding there was no evidence the company's network itself was compromised. SAIC said it found no trace of any hacking attempt against its employee's account. There were Iranian targets too, including media workers, an agronomist and a senior employee of the country's Department of Environment - a possible sign that Tehran's crackdown on environmentalists , which began earlier this year, continues. Hacking has long been a feature of the tense relationship between the United States and Iran, whose militant brand of Shia Islam has challenged American interests in the Middle East since 1979. It was against Iran that U.S. and Israeli spies are said to have deployed the pioneering, centrifuge-rattling computer worm dubbed Stuxnet in a bid to sabotage the country's uranium enrichment capabilities. Iranian hackers in turn are blamed for denial of service assaults on American banks and computer-wrecking cyberattacks in Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional archrival. The Charming Kitten campaign uncovered by Certfa is far less sophisticated, generally relying on a password-stealing technique called phishing. Two Nov. 17 emails provided to the AP by Jim Sisco of Enodo Global Inc., a Virginia-based risk advisory firm targeted by Charming Kitten, mimic the look and feel of Gmail security alerts, a technique used by hackers across the globe. An analysis of Certfa's data shows the group targeted at least 13 U.S. Treasury employees' personal emails, including one belonging to a director at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which fights money laundering and terror financing, and one used by the Iran licensing chief at the Office of Foreign Asset Control, which is in charge of enforcing U.S. sanctions. But a few employees' LinkedIn profiles referenced back office jobs or routine tax work. The U.S. Treasury, which did not comment directly on the hacking, said it went to "great lengths" to protect its employees. The mixed bag of government targets suggests "a fairly scattershot attempt," said Clay Stevenson, a former Treasury official who was himself targeted by Charming Kitten. Others' experience suggests a more professional effort. Georgetown University professor and South Asia security expert Christine Fair said she had only recently returned from a conference in Afghanistan attended by Iranian officials and a visit to the Iranian border when she learned she was in the hackers' sights. "The timing is uncanny," she said. Another Charming Kitten target was an intern working for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank that has been one of the Iran deal's fiercest critics. How the intern - whose email isn't public and whose name appears nowhere on the organization's website - crossed the hackers' radar is not clear. The foundation issued a statement calling the revelation "yet another indicator that Iran must be viewed as a nefarious actor in all theatres in which it operates." Kagan, the scholar, said most signs pointed to a serious, state-backed operation. "It doesn't look like freelancers," he said. ___ Monika Mathur and Desmond Butler in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Online: Certfa's report: https://blog.certfa.com/posts/the-return-of-the-charming-kitten ___ Raphael Satter can be reached at: http://raphaelsatter.com This image shows a Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 phishing message sent to Jim Sisco of the Virginia-based risk advisory firm Enodo Global, Inc. The email was allegedly sent by the hacking group known as Charming Kitten whose spying campaign closely aligns with Iran's interests. The email address of the recipient has been redacted to protect his privacy. (AP Photo) KATOWICE, Poland (AP) - The Latest on the U.N. climate talks in Poland and other climate news (all times local): 8:45 p.m. The head of the Maldives delegation to the U.N. climate conference is questioning the point of the yearly summits, saying they are "failing" to produce meaningful results. Former President Mohamed Nasheed attended the 24th edition of the U.N. talks, being held this year in Poland and set to end Friday. Negotiators have not yet agreed on the rules for implementing a three-year-old global warming treaty. Nasheed asked "What's the point?" of having such negotiations if they don't lead to progress or solutions. He said: "There is a view among many of us that this is failing." A tramway at a stop near the "Spodek" arena, part of the venue where U.N. climate talks are help on ways of combating global warming in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Nasheed says global warming threatens the existence of the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. He says a lack of agreement in Katowice would only worsen the situation. ___ 4:55 p.m. A Swedish teenager who has inspired youth around the world to campaign for the environment, urged action to ramp up pressure on delegates at the U.N. climate talks. Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old student, says negotiators from almost 200 nations in Katowice, Poland, have not yet shown enough commitment to finding a way to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7. Fahrenheit) during this century. For the final day of the summit on Friday she said: "Stand outside your parliament or local government office even for just a short while to let them know we demand climate action." ___ 3:45 p.m. A diplomat representing Fiji at the U.N.'s annual climate talks says he expects a "helpful" outcome but also one that won't make everyone happy. Satyendra Prasad, the South Pacific island nation's permanent representative to the U.N., said the talks in Poland were at a "critical juncture" and "from everything I have heard there should be a good, a helpful outcome." But Prasad added the need to find "middle ground" would result in some of the 200 participating countries walking away disappointed from the talks that end Friday. Delegates have been working for two weeks to agree on ways to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7. Fahrenheit) during this century. Prasad told The Associated Press a consensus is within reach on rules for keeping global warming in check and progress is expected on addressing climate-related costs in developing nations. ___ 2:50 p.m. A prominent researcher is proposing establishing a "climate passport" for people driven from their homes by the impact of global warming. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, founder of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said Thursday the passport could be modeled on a similar certificate given to refugees of Russia's civil war in the 1920s. The so-called Nansen passport was later extended to other people who were made stateless after their citizenships were revoked. It helped hundreds of thousands of people to find refuge elsewhere in the world. Schellnhuber's proposal, made on the sidelines of the U.N. climate talks in Poland, is likely to face resistance from rich countries concerned about the possibility of millions of refugees heading their way in the coming decades. ___ 1:55 p.m. Vulnerable countries are warning against a "mediocre" outcome at the U.N. climate talks in Poland. With just over a day left before the scheduled end of the meeting, a group of 48 countries called Thursday for greater unity among rich and poor countries. The group, calling themselves the Climate Vulnerable Forum, said they are already experiencing the harmful effects of global warming such as prolonged floods, storms and droughts. Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed said countries such as his island nation "have no intention of becoming climate change's first victim. We will do whatever it takes to survive." The group called for a clear signal to come out of the talks in Katowice, Poland, that would spur more ambitious action by governments, businesses and citizens around the world to halt global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). ___ 10:45 a.m. Negotiators from almost 200 countries are making a last-minute effort to resolve differences on the rules that will govern the 2015 Paris climate accord. Diplomats and ministers worked through the night to present fresh drafts on the rulebook and other issues Thursday to the chair of the U.N. climate talks in Poland. A Polish diplomat overseeing the two-week meeting is expected to merge the drafts and present them to delegates in the afternoon. German negotiator Karsten Sach told reporters that a key test of whether the talks will conclude successfully Friday. Other issues include financial support for poor countries and how to acknowledge of a key scientific report on keeping warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7. Fahrenheit) that major oil producers called alarmist. A tramway at a stop near the "Spodek" arena, part of the venue where U.N. climate talks are help on ways of combating global warming in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, right, talks to U.N. climate conference president, Poland's Deputy Environment Minister Michal Kurtyka, left, after flying back to the event to urge more effort from the negotiators as they seek ways of fighting climate change, in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo) Former U.S vice president and climate activist Al Gore makes a speech to participants in a U.N. climate summit that is to work out ways of keeping global warming in check, in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former U.S vice president and climate activist Al Gore makes a speaking during a side event outside of the COP24 UN Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former U.S vice president and climate activist Al Gore makes a speech in a U.N. climate summit that is to work out ways of keeping global warming in check, in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former U.S Vice President and climate activist Al Gore speaks during a side event outside of the COP24 UN Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Poland, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) A man accused of shooting at a state police trooper rushing to the scene of a triple slaying has been charged in the murders of an eastern Kentucky couple and their adult son, police said Thursday. Investigators connected the slayings and the attack on the trooper to Paul Douglas Sizemore, who was captured Wednesday. Information gathered from the initial investigation led police to charge Sizemore with three murder counts, said Kentucky State Police Master Trooper Jody Sims. Sizemore was questioned by police after his capture while walking down the middle of a road. State police didn't immediately offer a possible motive or say whether Sizemore knew the victims. Sizemore, 52, also is charged with attempted murder of a police officer. He has a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday in Leslie County, court officials said. There was no paperwork indicating he has an attorney, officials said. Sizemore fled on foot Monday evening after allegedly ramming his car into a police cruiser and shooting at the trooper, state police said. The trooper, Ethan Lewis, wasn't injured. In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo released by the Leslie County (Ky.) Detention Center, Paul Douglas Sizemore is seen in a booking photo. Sizemore, accused of shooting at a state police trooper rushing to the scene of a triple slaying has been charged in the murders of an eastern Kentucky couple and their adult son, police said Thursday. (Leslie County Detention Center via AP) Deputies soon discovered the bodies, but Sizemore hid in the woods and wasn't found until two days later. He was unarmed and put up no resistance when officers found him walking on a road a few miles (kilometers) from where the slayings occurred. He complained of his feet hurting from exposure to cold weather. His capture ended a search on foot and by air in a heavily wooded, hilly area of eastern Kentucky. "I'd say he was worn out," Sims said in a phone interview. Shortly before his capture, Sizemore knocked on the door of a home, telling the person who answered that he needed to warm up and needed dry socks, Sims said. Sizemore wasn't allowed in and wandered off. The person contacted state police and Sizemore was soon found. "They did speak with him for some time, so it appeared that he was, at least to some degree, being cooperative with questions that were being asked by detectives," Sims said. Sizemore, now held in the Leslie County Detention Center, was charged in the slayings of 64-year-old Larry Bowling, his 61-year-old wife, Norma, and their 38-year-old son, Chad Bowling. The couple's bodies were found Monday evening in their home, and their son was found dead outside a neighboring home in the Appalachian community of Yeaddiss. All three had been shot, police said. County Coroner Greg Walker told the Lexington Herald-Leader that Larry Bowling had worked as a coal-mine foreman, and that he and his wife were "just fine citizens." MILAN (AP) - Italy's top anti-terrorism prosecutor says recent terror arrests in Italy have been aimed at containing individuals who might be preparing to carry out an attack alone. Federico Cafiero De Raho was quoted by the news agency ANSA on Thursday as saying that the new phase of terrorism deriving from Islamic State militants is worrying "because we no longer have a structure that is directly governed and directed by a center of international terrorism, but we have lone wolves." Cafiero De Raho said the new threat are individuals who are often self-trained and become affiliated on the internet. He said only extensive monitoring can combat such individuals, adding that recent arrests in Italy aimed at preventing attacks like the one at the Strasbourg Christmas market this week that killed three people. Earlier Thursday, anti-terrorism agents arrested a Somalian citizen on terrorism-related charges in the southern city of Bari, saying they believed the suspect was planning to leave Italy "imminently." He was held on suspicion of terrorism association and instigation to commit acts of terror, ANSA reported. Authorities did not name the suspect publicly or reveal details about his alleged actions that led to the arrest. Bari has been identified as a transit point for extremists. One of the men who opened fire at a Paris concert venue, killing 90 people, traveled between Bari and Greece on a ferry in the months before the Nov. 13, 2015 attack in Paris. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Their faces covered in black soot, three adults safely rescued after several days in an inactive West Virginia coal mine were mobbed by loved ones in a teary reunion, then they thanked the crews that got them out. The three walked out of an ambulance at a fire hall in Whitesville to the screams of relatives for a brief reunion Wednesday night before being taken to a hospital. Cody Beverly told news outlets the four-day experience inside Elk Run Coal's Rock House Powellton mine near Clear Creek "was terrible." "I'm with my family now. I'm fine," he said. Beverly later told NBC News "Anybody who was involved in searching for us, I just want to thank you with everything inside of me," he said. "This is the biggest lesson I've ever learned in my life. This is a life-changing experience for me." "We appreciate every one of you guys," said Kayla Williams, who also was among those rescued. Family and friends await word of the search teams efforts in finding Cody Beverly, Kayla Williams and Erica Treadway at the Salamy Memorial Center in Whitesville, W.Va., on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. The three were reported missing Saturday night, and are stuck inside the Rock House Powellton mine. (Craig Hudson/The Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP) Williams' father, Randall Williams, said she had gone into the mine in search of copper. People in the region do "whatever they can do to make money if they ain't got a job," Randall Williams told CBS News . Raleigh County Prosecutor Kristen Keller said Thursday the sheriff's office is conducting a criminal investigation into the latest incident. She said the two offices began discussing potential charges when the search began Sunday. Raleigh County Sheriff Scott Van Meter said Thursday the criminal investigation will focus on why the adults were in the mine and find out "what happened." Van Meter hadn't seen Randall Williams' comments but said people trying to steal copper from West Virginia mines is "nothing new." Late last month crews abandoned their search at another West Virginia mine for a missing man suspected of stealing copper. Two other men who were arrested indicated the third man had gone inside a mine, but the search was called off after a team encountered unsafe conditions. And earlier this month two men were arrested on charges that they broke into another mine in Boone County. Investigators said they, too, were looking for copper. "It is a disturbing trend with people entering abandoned mines to steal copper wiring," said Boone County Chief Deputy Chad Barker. "I can't stress how dangerous this idea is and it's only a matter of time before we get a less desirable ending." Abandoned coal mines contain toxic levels of gas, collapsing roofs, flooding, and other dangers may exist. "When operations cease and a mine is sealed, conditions can deteriorate very quickly," said Eugene White, director of the West Virginia Office of Miner's Health, Safety and Training. The latest search effort had prompted Gov. Jim Justice to issue a plea for people to stay away from nonworking mines. According to the mine safety office, coal has not been mined at the Rock House Powellton mine for two years. It is among about 120 mines on "approved inactive" status in the state, meaning they could be reactivated at some point, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Jake Glance said in an email. Inactive mines are not permanently sealed but operators are required to secure the portals to prevent entry, he said. "So in order for people to get in the mines they have to trespass and then somehow vandalize the existing barricade to gain entry," he said. Mines that stopped operating prior to August 1977 are considered to be abandoned. There is no requirement for operators to seal those mines, since in many cases the companies no longer exist. A state Abandoned Mine Lands program, funded by fees on coal production, pays for projects such as sealing abandoned mine portals. The sheriff's office had identified those rescued Wednesday as Beverly, 21, of Dorothy; Kayla Williams, 25, of Artie; and Erica Treadway, 31, of Pax. They had been missing since Saturday. A fourth person, Eddie Williams, 43, of Artie, walked out of the mine Monday. An abandoned ATV the four were believed to be riding was found near the mine's entrance. Williams' aunt, Sandra Scarbro of Clear Creek, told The Register-Herald of Beckley, "We got our Christmas miracle. All we really know is she's alive, and we're so thankful that she's out and that they're all out. We appreciate everybody in the community, the governor and rescuers, everything everybody has done." Crews had used fans to move fresh air into the mine while pumps cleared some standing water inside the mine but the water levels remained too high and hampered search efforts. "My shoes were soaked, and I couldn't get my feet warm," Treadway said as she was being placed on an ambulance stretcher. RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) - A 14-year-old boy who arrived at an Indiana middle school Thursday morning that was already on lockdown after a tip about potential violence shot out glass in a locked door and entered the school before exchanging gunfire with officers inside, authorities said. The boy, who police said died inside the school from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, wasn't a current student at Dennis Intermediate School in Richmond, said Indiana State Police Capt. Dave Bursten. Bursten did not release additional information on the suspect or the weapon he used, but he said officials are extremely grateful that someone alerted them about the potential for violence. That tip meant the school was on lockdown when the teen arrived around 8:20 a.m., Bursten said. "We are very, very grateful for the person who made that call. Had they not made that call, there is no doubt in my mind that we would be having a much different conversation here right now," he said at a news conference hours after the shooting. Bursten did not identify that caller. No officers and no one else at the school were injured during the shooting in Richmond, which is near the Indiana-Ohio state line about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Indianapolis. The school has about 650 students from grades 5 through 8. Families are reunited with their children at the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center where students waited after being bussed from Dennis Intermediate School following a shooting, Thursday, Dec. 13 2018, in Richmond, Ind. (Jordan Kartholl/The Palladium-Item via AP) Bursten said that because of the tip, the responding officers "knew who they were looking for, they confronted him, he shot out the glass door, entered the school and the officers pursued." Richmond Police Chief Jim Branum told the Palladium-Item that police and school officials were notified that an armed person was heading to the school with the intention of hurting people. Branum said the boy eventually ended up on the second floor of the school's south stairwell, where there was an exchange of gunfire before the teen took his own life. Bursten declined to release information about who had placed the call that tipped off authorities, but he said a local family is now suffering. "There was a loss of life and that's always a tragedy and we're hopeful that that family can get through that, and we're glad nobody else suffered," he said. The Palladium-Item reported that Indiana State troopers and officers with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had gathered at a residence in Richmond believed to be the boy's home. Crime-scene tape surrounded the front yard, which had an inflatable Santa and reindeer outside. By 9 a.m., Richmond Community Schools had declared the school building secure. Students from the middle school were then bused to Richmond High School for parents to pick them up. Richmond Mayor Dave Snow praised police officers and school officials for their quick, potentially life-saving actions, saying they "did everything right today." But he called the shooting "yet another example of gun irresponsibility, poor mental health awareness and access" that too often leads to youths committing school shootings. "This is only going to continue until concrete action is taken so that guns do not fall into the hands of our kids," Snow said. "The irresponsibility that leads to a child walking into a school with a gun is unacceptable." Marietta Bryant exits the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center after reuniting with her son, Austin, following a shooting that occurred at Dennis Intermediate School, Thursday, Dec. 13 2018, in Richmond, Ind. (Jordan Kartholl/The Palladium-Item via AP) Families are reunited with their children at the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center where students waited after being bussed from Dennis Intermediate School following a shooting, Thursday, Dec. 13 2018, in Richmond, Ind. (Jordan Kartholl/The Palladium-Item via AP) A parent prays outside of the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center before going inside to reunite with her child after a shooting occurred at Dennis Intermediate School, Thursday, Dec. 13 2018, in Richmond, Ind. (Jordan Kartholl, Palladium-Item via AP) Families are reunited with their children at the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center where students waited after being bussed from Dennis Intermediate School following a shooting, Thursday, Dec. 13 2018, in Richmond, Ind. (Jordan Kartholl/The Palladium-Item via AP) Families are reunited with their children at the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center where students waited after being bussed from Dennis Intermediate School following a shooting, Thursday, Dec. 13 2018, in Richmond, Ind. (Jordan Kartholl/The Palladium-Item via AP) HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania is aiming to curb air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from its vast natural gas exploration fields, with the governor's administration proposing new regulations Thursday even as the Trump administration moves to relax federal requirements. Gov. Tom Wolf's administration brought the proposal to a technical review committee, the first step in what could be a two- to three-year process spurred by a 2016 federal requirement that applies to states and areas that don't meet certain clean air standards. Wolf's office said the governor, a Democrat, is committed to seeing the proposal through, regardless of what Republican President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency does to weaken or repeal the 2016 Obama-era rule. Wolf's office said the state has the legal authority to enforce its proposed rule, with or without the federal requirement. "This process, which is just beginning, does not depend on actions by the EPA," Wolf's office said in a statement. The administration will, it said, work with "industry, organizations, and the public to understand any and all concerns that arise." Pennsylvania is the nation's second-largest natural gas producer after Texas, and the Marcellus Shale beneath much of Pennsylvania is the nation's most prolific natural gas reservoir. Under the 2016 rule, qualifying states are supposed to impose new emissions controls for oil and gas field sources by early 2021. Pennsylvania's proposal would impose stronger limits on smog-forming pollutants - a 95 percent reduction on some sources, based on emissions reported in 2016 - and require companies to more aggressively search for methane leaks from equipment at existing oil and gas installations. Cutting smog-forming pollutants, called volatile organic compounds, has the added benefit of reducing methane emissions. Environmental groups welcomed the proposal but say it should go further in imposing limits on methane emissions and should eliminate an exemption for equipment at low-producing well sites. A gas-industry trade group, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said it is concerned about the cost for companies to comply and urged the Wolf administration to wait until the Trump administration finalizes any proposed changes to the 2016 rule. The oil and gas industry is the nation's primary source of methane emissions, according to the EPA, accounting for nearly one-third in 2016. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and is one of the most potent heat-trapping pollutants, at least 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, the EPA says. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania began enforcing tougher standards to reduce methane emissions and other air pollutants from new or updated equipment at well sites and on pipelines, a move environmental advocates said put the state among the leaders in going beyond federal requirements. Colorado and California are viewed as having comprehensive regulations to reduce methane emissions. Ohio has signaled its intention to impose limits on equipment at existing oil and gas installations, and New Mexico's incoming governor has said she plans to pursue a leak-detection rule. WASHINGTON (AP) - A Russian gun-rights activist admitted Thursday that she was a secret agent for the Kremlin who tried to infiltrate conservative U.S. political groups as Donald Trump rose to power. Maria Butina, 30, agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. "Guilty," Butina said in a slight accent when asked how she wanted to plead. Dressed in a green jail uniform with her red hair pulled into a long ponytail, Butina spoke softly and mostly kept her eyes on the judge. The Butina case has provided a vivid glimpse into Russia's influence operations in the United States at a time when the U.S. intelligence community has determined that Russia was trying to help elect Trump by releasing emails stolen from Democrats and conducting a social media campaign in an attempt to sow political discord. The case also lays bare how Russia tried to exploit one of the most sensitive social issues in the U.S. - gun control - to gain access to the political sphere. Prosecutors say Butina and her Russian patron, Alexander Torshin, used their contacts in the National Rifle Association to pursue back channels to American conservatives during the 2016 campaign, when Trump, a Republican, defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. In this courtroom sketch, Maria Butina, left, is shown next to her attorney Robert Driscoll, before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, during a court hearing at the U.S. District Court in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Maria Butina, a Russian accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. (Dana Verkouteren via AP) Court documents detail how Butina saw the Republican Party as prime for Russian influence and courted conservatives through networking and contacts with the NRA. She posed for photos with prominent Republicans, including former presidential candidates, and snagged a picture with Donald Trump Jr. at a 2016 NRA dinner. As part of her deal, Butina pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as an unregistered foreign agent and she agreed to cooperate with investigators. The case is separate from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Prosecutors say it is "very likely" Butina will be deported after her sentence is completed. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, though the defense noted Thursday that federal sentencing guidelines recommend no time to six months. She has been jailed since her arrest in July. According to her plea agreement, Butina's work was directed by Torshin, a former longtime member of the Russian parliament who until recently was an official in Russia's central bank. He is now under sanction by the Treasury Department for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Butina acknowledged she "sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics," according to the plea agreement. She admitted that her boyfriend, conservative political operative Paul Erickson, helped her as she tried to use his ties with the NRA to set up the back channels. Erickson, who is referred to as "U.S. Person 1" in court papers, has not been charged. His attorney said he is a good American who "has done nothing to harm our country and never would." In a 2015 proposal she crafted with Erickson's help, Butina argued it was unlikely Russia would be able to exert influence using official channels and, as an alternative, suggested using back channel communications to build relationships with Republicans, according to court papers. Pushing her travel to the U.S. and her work with the NRA as selling points, Butina argued that she had already "laid the groundwork for an unofficial channel of communication with the next U.S. administration." She asked for $125,000 from an unnamed Russian billionaire to attend conferences in the U.S. and meet with people who she thought may have influence with the Republican Party and sent the proposal to Torshin. He responded by telling her the proposal would "be supported, at least in part," according to court documents. Torshin also asked Butina to help justify him attending a national NRA meeting in 2016 and Butina encouraged his attendance "partly because of the opportunity to meet political candidates," according to her plea agreement. In addition to attending numerous NRA events, Butina organized "friendship dinners" in Washington with influential political figures. In their filings, prosecutors have said federal agents found Butina had contact information for people suspected of working for Russia's Federal Security Services, or FSB, the successor intelligence agency to the KGB. Inside her home, they found notes referring to a potential job offer from the FSB, according to the documents. A senior Russian lawmaker said he was convinced that Butina was pressured to confess. "They broke her down," Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma's foreign affairs committee, told Russian news agencies. "Anyone would break down in circumstances like that." Butina's time in prison has included solitary confinement. Butina's lawyer, Robert Driscoll, had previously decried the charges against her as "overblown" and said Butina was a student interested in American politics. On Thursday, prosecutors also appeared to have backed off their assertion that Butina's attendance at American University was little more than a cover to enter the U.S. In their filing, prosecutors said "all available evidence" indicated she had a genuine interest in a graduate school education. ___ Associated Press writer Chad Day contributed to this report. ___ Read the plea agreement: http://apne.ws/qHA37wM FILE - In this April 21, 2013 file photo, Maria Butina, leader of a pro-gun organization in Russia, speaks to a crowd during a rally in support of legalizing the possession of handguns in Moscow, Russia. Prosecutors say they have "resolved" a case against Butina accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, a sign that she likely has taken a plea deal. The information was included in a court filing Monday. (AP Photo/File) Robert Driscoll, Maria Butina's attorney, leaves U.S. District Court in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Maria Butina, a Russian accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Robert Driscoll, Maria Butina's attorney, leaves U.S. District Court in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Maria Butina, a Russian accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) In this courtroom sketch, Maria Butina, left, is shown next to her attorney Robert Driscoll, before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, during a court hearing at the U.S. District Court in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Maria Butina, a Russian accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. (Dana Verkouteren via AP) STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The Latest on the attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France (all times local): 11:45 p.m. The office of the Paris prosecutor, which handles terrorism cases in France, says a man killed in Strasbourg in a shootout with police has been identified as the main suspect in a Christmas market attack that killed three people. The man was identified as Charif Chekatt, a 29-year-old whom police had been searching for since Tuesday night's attack near Strasbourg's Christmas market, which also left 13 people wounded. Earlier, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner had said police had been attempting to arrest a man fitting the suspect's description when the man turned around and opened fire on them. Police responded, killing the shooter. __ A French police officer stands guard in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A top French official says a suspect has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but hasn't been confirmed as the alleged gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) 11:20 p.m. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online, says the Islamic State group's Amaq news agency is claiming the gunman who opened fire near a Christmas market in Strasbourg as a "soldier" of the group. The claim was published shortly after news emerged of a shootout with French police in Strasbourg Thursday night in which a man believed to be the suspect was killed. IS claims of responsibility have often been considered opportunistic in the past. French police had been searching for 29-year-old Charif Chekatt, the suspected shooter during the Tuesday night that killed three people and wounded 13. ___ 10:20 p.m. France's interior minister says the prosecutor in charge of terror-related investigations is heading to the scene of a police shootout in Strasbourg to confirm if a man killed by officers is the suspect in the attack near the city's Christmas market. Christophe Castaner said from Strasbourg late Thursday that police spotted an individual who matched the description of 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt. He has been the focus of a massive manhunt since Tuesday's attack. Castaner says the moment they tried to arrest the man they spotted in the Neudorf neighborhood, he started shooting. The minister says police returned fire, killing the man. Neudorf is where the suspect last was seen after the Tuesday attack that killed three people. Authorities say Chekatt was born in Strasbourg and appeared on a watch list of potential extremists. ___ 9:30 p.m. A top French official says a suspect has been killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg, but hasn't been confirmed as the alleged gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market on Tuesday. The official, who could not be named because the operation was ongoing, said the suspect opened fire on police Thursday night, and police responded, killing him. A local police official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason, said the man who opened fire was armed with a pistol and a knife. The shooting occurred in the Neudorf neighborhood, where police conducted a search earlier Thursday for Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old born in Strasbourg who police named as the suspected Christmas market gunman. - By Elaine Ganley and Samuel Petrequin ___ 5:40 p.m. The Paris prosecutor's office says a fifth person has been arrested and placed in custody in connection with the investigation into Tuesday's shooting near Strasbourg's Christmas market. The office said the man is a member of the "entourage" of main suspect Cherif Chekatt, 29, but not a family member. He was placed in custody on Thursday morning. The four others detained were Chekatt's parents and two of his brothers. A massive manhunt is underway for Chekatt. Three people died in Tuesday's attack, and 13 people were also injured. ___ 5:30 p.m. A police operation has ended in the Strasbourg neighborhood where a suspected gunman who killed three people and wounded 13 was last seen. There was no word on what, if anything, the Thursday evening operation had uncovered. A police official had earlier said security forces, including the elite Raid squad, had taken action on a "supposition only" that suspect Cherif Chekatt could have been hiding in a building in the area. The official could not be identified because he was not authorized to disclose details. Authorities said a taxi driver dropped Chekatt off Tuesday evening in the Neudorf neighborhood, south of the eastern French city's center, after the shooting near a Christmas market. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner was expected in Strasbourg Thursday evening. ___ 4 p.m. AP journalists and a French police official say a police operation is going on in the Strasbourg neighborhood where a suspected Christmas market gunman was last seen. One French police official said security forces, including the elite Raid squad, are taking action on Thursday based on a "supposition only" that the suspect, 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt, could be hiding in a nearby building. The official could not be identified because he was not allowed to disclose details on the investigation. Authorities said a taxi driver dropped Chekatt off Tuesday evening in the Neudorf neighborhood, south of the eastern French city's center, after the shooting near the Christmas market. He is believed to be the gunman who left three dead and 13 wounded in an attack that night. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Brussels where he is attending a European summit, said Interior minister Christophe Castaner will travel to Strasbourg on Thursday evening. - By Elaine Ganley This version corrects the spelling of the suspect's last name to Chekatt, not Chekkat. ___ 10:30 a.m. French security forces are trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman "dead or alive" as the city in eastern France mourned with flowers and lit candles left at the site of the attack near its famous Christmas market. More than 700 officers were involved Thursday in the manhunt for 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt, who had a long criminal record and had been flagged for extremism, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews television. Asked about instructions given to police forces, Griveaux said the focus was on catching the suspect "as soon as possible," no matter whether he was dead or alive, and "put an end to the manhunt." Chekatt allegedly shouted "God is great!" in Arabic and sprayed gunfire during Tuesday's rampage near Strasbourg's Christmas market, which left three people dead and wounded 13 others. French police forces take position in the Neudorf district of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French security forces were trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman dead or alive as the city of Strasbourg was still in mourning with candles lit and flowers left at the site of Tuesday's attack near the Christmas market.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) French police officers stand guard in the Neudorf neighborhood, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French police conducted an intense but ultimately fruitless search operation Thursday in the Strasbourg neighborhood where a suspected gunman who killed three people and wounded 13 near a popular Christmas market was last seen. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French police officers stand in the Neudorf neighborhood, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French police conducted an intense but ultimately fruitless search operation Thursday in the Strasbourg neighborhood where a suspected gunman who killed three people and wounded 13 near a popular Christmas market was last seen. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) FILE - This undated file handout photo provided by the French police, shows Cherif Chekatt, the suspect in the shooting in Strasbourg, France. The French government spokesman says security forces are trying to catch the suspected shooter dead or alive, Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, two days after an attack near Strasbourg's Christmas market. (French Police via AP, File) French police officers patrol in the streets of Strasbourg following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) This undated handout photo provided by the French police, shows Cherif Chekatt, the suspect in the shooting in Strasbourg, France on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. The suspect sprayed gunfire near the famous Christmas market in the eastern French city, killing three people, wounding up to a dozen and sparking a massive manhunt when he got away. (French Police via AP) A woman lights a candle to pay respect to the victims following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French police officers patrol in the streets front of flowers to pay respects of the victims following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) People pay respect following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French police forces take position in the Neudorf district of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French security forces were trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman dead or alive as the city of Strasbourg was still in mourning with candles lit and flowers left at the site of Tuesday's attack near the Christmas market.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) A French police forces takes position in the Neudorf district of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French security forces were trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman dead or alive as the city of Strasbourg was still in mourning with candles lit and flowers left at the site of Tuesday's attack near the Christmas market.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) French police forces block a street during an operation in the Neudorf district of Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French security forces were trying to catch the suspected Strasbourg gunman dead or alive as the city of Strasbourg was still in mourning with candles lit and flowers left at the site of Tuesday's attack near the Christmas market.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) A Police investigation sticker is seen next to a bullet hole in the streets, following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) A Police investigation sticker is seen next to a bullet hole in the streets, following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French police officers patrol in the streets, nest to a bullet hole following an attack killing three persons and wounding at least 13, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Police union officials identified the suspected assailant as Frenchman Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year-old with a thick police record for crimes including armed robbery and monitored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelligence services. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) French police officers stand guard in the Neudorf neighborhood, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French police conducted an intense but ultimately fruitless search operation Thursday in the Strasbourg neighborhood where a suspected gunman who killed three people and wounded 13 near a popular Christmas market was last seen. (AP Photo/Jean Francois Badias) French police officers stand guard in the Neudorf neighborhood, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. French police conducted an intense but ultimately fruitless search operation Thursday in the Strasbourg neighborhood where a suspected gunman who killed three people and wounded 13 near a popular Christmas market was last seen. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - A federal judge rejected a lawsuit Thursday by a Republican incumbent from Maine who lost the nation's first congressional election held under a candidate-ranking system. Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin sought to have the voting system declared unconstitutional after he lost the election to Democrat Jared Golden despite having the most first-place votes. Poliquin asked U.S. District Judge Lance Walker either to declare him the winner or order another election for the 2nd Congressional District. But Walker, appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, said states are given great leeway in how they conduct elections. Critics can question the wisdom of ranked-choice voting, Walker said, but such criticism "falls short of constitutional impropriety." There was no immediate word from Poliquin on whether he planned to appeal. A recount that Poliquin requested, meanwhile, will continue for a few more weeks. Golden and supporters of ranked voting said after the ruling that they felt vindicated by Walker's decision. Golden said that Walker's "decision is clear" and that he hopes Poliquin works with him to ensure a smooth transition for the congressional district. FILE - This combination of file photos show U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in 2017, left, and state Rep. Jared Golden in 2018, right, in Maine. Federal Judge Lance Walker has dismissed a lawsuit by Poliquin aimed to nullify outcome of first ranked choice congressional election won by Golden. (AP Photos/Robert F. Bukaty, File) James Monteleone, an attorney for the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting, said he believes Walker's ruling "will stand up to any appeal." Poliquin, however, said he remained concerned about some Maine voters expressing confusion with the voting system. He defended Maine's old system as a "common sense, one-person, one-vote process." The ranked system lets voters rank all candidates on the ballot. If no candidate captures a majority on Election Day, then there are additional voting rounds in which last-place candidates are eliminated and those candidate's second-place votes are reallocated. In his ruling, Walker rejected Poliquin's arguments that ranked balloting gives some voters more expression than others or proves too confusing for the average voter. "The point is that 'one person, one vote' does not stand in opposition to ranked balloting, so long as all electors are treated equally at the ballot," Walker said. Poliquin's lawyer had argued the candidate-ranking system required voters to "guess" which candidates would survive until the second, runoff-style round of tabulations. Poliquin also argued several thousand Maine voters who didn't select Poliquin or Golden were effectively disenfranchised. But Walker said it's just as likely that such ballots were "protest votes." "I am not persuaded that it is unduly burdensome for voters to educate themselves about the candidates in order to determine the best way to rank their preferences," Walker said. The judge also said he failed to see how Maine's ranked-choice voting system undercut voters' First Amendment rights "in any fashion." The system, he said, was "motivated by a desire to enable third-party and non-party candidates to participate in the political process, and to enable their supporters to express support, without producing the spoiler effect." The new method of voting "actually encourages First Amendment expression, without discriminating against any voter based on viewpoint, faction or other invalid criteria," said Walker. Voters in the November election were allowed to rank as many of the four candidates in the race as they wanted. Independents Tiffany Bond and Will Hoar were eliminated after the first round of voting. Maine voters approved the new voting method in 2016. It's used only in primaries and federal elections. The state doesn't use it for state-level elections because of concerns that it violates the Maine Constitution. Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage, an opponent of ranked choice voting, sent a letter to Walker before the ruling stating that he feels the ranked process is "repugnant to the governing legal principles that each person's vote be counted in every election, as well as the constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection." ___ Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a law that made changes to one of the country's worst-funded public pension systems, a victory for teachers who closed schools across the state in protest earlier this year. Thousands of teachers filled the state Capitol in the spring, chanting and carrying signs as they sought to pressure lawmakers to reject a proposal that would have cut their benefits. Lawmakers passed a bill anyway. But the final version had little effect on current teachers and public workers. Still, teachers were outraged because lawmakers used a legislative maneuver to pass the bill so quickly it was not available for the public to read it until the day after the vote. Thursday, the state's highest court ruled that maneuver was unconstitutional, making the law invalid. "I do feel vindicated. I'm proud of what we did," said Jessica Page, an art teacher at Kathryn Winn Primary in Carrolton, Kentucky. "I also do respect the governor and respect the fact that we do need some type of pension reform. I think it needs to be fair and I think it needs to be out in the open." Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear, who filed the lawsuit that led to Thursday's ruling, called it "a landmark win for all of our public servants." But Republican Gov. Matt Bevin called it "an unprecedented power grab by activist judges." "This will destroy the financial condition of Kentucky," Bevin said, a claim Beshear dismissed as "fear mongering." FILE - In this April 13, 2018, file photo, teachers from across Kentucky gather inside the state Capitol to rally for increased funding for education in Frankfort, Ky. The Kentucky Supreme Court has struck down a pension law that prompted thousands of teachers to protest at the state Capitol. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston, File) Public pension systems across the country are in trouble as workers live longer and states grapple to make up investment losses from the Great Recession. But Kentucky's pension systems are considered the worst of the worst, with the state at least $38 billion short of the money it needs to pay benefits over the next three decades. The shortfall has required state lawmakers to divert billions of dollars in state money to the pension system, making it harder to pay for things like education and health care. In April, Bevin signed a law that moved all new teacher hires into a hybrid pension plan. The law also restricted how teachers used sick days to calculate their retirement benefits and changed how the state pays off its pension debt. Facing a tight deadline, state lawmakers introduced and passed the bill in one day near the end of the 2018 legislative session. Beshear sued. On Thursday, he won. The ruling could have political consequences. Bevin is up for re-election in 2019, and Beshear is one of the Democratic candidates vying to replace him. The two men have clashed in court multiple times since 2015. It's unclear how the legislature will respond. Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene in January, and they could opt to pass the bill again without using the legislative maneuver the court ruled unconstitutional. Republican leaders in the state House of Representatives released a statement Thursday saying they were committed "to enact a solution" for the pension system. But they noted the legislature has been passing bills like this for decades and warned Thursday's ruling could lead to a mountain of lawsuits. The justices considered that argument, and rejected it. Justice Daniel Venters wrote any lawsuits that might have been filed "in timely fashion to challenge the enactment of now well-established laws are beyond the purview of this opinion." "We are not persuaded from the record here that such a potential parade of horrors awaits," he wrote. Democrats had hoped the backlash on the pension bill would give their candidates a boost in the November elections. But on Election Day, more lawmakers who opposed the pension bill lost than did those who supported it. Democrats picked up two seats in the House, but Republicans maintained substantial majorities in both chambers. The Kentucky Democratic Party viewed Thursday's ruling as a momentum swing, saying it will work to make Bevin "a one-term governor." But Bevin and Beshear bristled at questions of how the ruling will affect the 2019 elections, both saying this was not about politics. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System is improving. Independent consultants said last month that the system has more money and less unfunded debt since the legislature decided to fully fund the system's budget request. Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System Executive Secretary Gary Harbin told reporters the fate of the pension law would have little effect on the system's future solvency. RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) - The Latest on a shooting at an eastern Indiana middle school (all times local): 3 p.m. An Indiana State Police spokesman says a 14-year-old boy who exchanged gunfire with officers at an eastern Indiana middle school before taking his own life wasn't a current student at the school. Capt. David Bursten says authorities aren't ready to release additional information on the suspect or the weapon he used during the Thursday morning shooting. But he says officials are "very, very grateful" that someone had alerted authorities earlier in the morning about a potential for violence at Dennis Intermediate School in Richmond. Bursten said at a news conference that the tip meant the school was on lockdown when the teen arrived and tried to enter the school. He says the teen shot out glass in a school door and entered. Officers followed the boy and exchange gunfire with him inside the school before the teen took his own life. __ 10:55 a.m. A police chief says a teenage suspect and officers fired gunshots at each other at an eastern Indiana middle school before the youth killed himself. Richmond Police Chief Jim Branum tells the Palladium-Item that police and school officials were alerted Thursday morning that an armed person was heading to Dennis Intermediate School with the intention of hurting people. Branum says officers and the teen fired shots near a school door before the boy went inside the building, where he later killed himself. It wasn't immediately known whether the teen was wounded by officers. Indiana State Police Sgt. John Bowling says no one else at the school or any officers were injured. Officials didn't immediately confirm whether the suspect was a student at the school or his age. Students from the school were being bused to Richmond High School for parents to pick them up. The city is near the Indiana-Ohio state line about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Indianapolis. __ 10:20 a.m. A spokesman for Indiana State Police says a teenage suspect killed himself inside an eastern Indiana middle school when he was confronted by officers during a shooting. Police Sgt. John Bowling says a quick response by local police and staff at Dennis Intermediate School in Richmond prevented any other students from being injured Thursday morning. Bowling says gunshots were fired during the incident, but he says couldn't immediately confirm how many or by whom. He said he also couldn't yet confirm whether the suspect was a student at the school or his age. Students from the school were being bused to Richmond High School for parents to pick them up. The city is near the Indiana-Ohio state line about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Indianapolis. ___ 10 a.m. A school spokeswoman says all students and staffers are safe following a shooting at an eastern Indiana middle school where police say a teenage suspect has died. Bridget Hazelbaker of Richmond Community Schools tells the Palladium-Item that the suspect was the only person injured Thursday morning at Dennis Intermediate School. Indiana State Police Capt. David Bursten says he couldn't immediately confirm how the suspect died or other details of what led up to the shooting. Students from the school were being bused to Richmond High School for parents to pick them up. The city is near the Indiana-Ohio state line about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Indianapolis. __ 9:35 a.m. Authorities say a teenage suspect has been killed at an eastern Indiana middle school. Indiana State Police say in a Twitter post that no other students were reported injured in Thursday morning's shooting at Dennis Middle School in Richmond. No other details were immediately available, and messages left with police by The Associated Press weren't immediately returned. Police say a spokesman will soon be at the scene to provide more information. Richmond is near the Indiana-Ohio state line about 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Indianapolis. NEW YORK (AP) - President Trump attacked MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski on Thursday for using a homophobic slur on the air and tweeted that if a conservative person had said it, "that person would be banned permanently from television." "She will probably be given a pass despite their terrible ratings," Trump said. "Morning Joe," the show Brzezinski co-hosts with husband Joe Scarborough, regularly has harsh takes on Trump and his administration. Brzezinski was criticizing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday for comments regarding the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. She said it sounded like Pompeo was carrying water for a "wanna-be dictator," using a cruder term. Afterward, she apologized via Twitter, saying it was a "SUPER BAD choice of words." MSNBC had no comment on Trump's tweet. This image released by MSNBC shows Mika Brzezinski, co-host of the daily series "Morning Joe." President Trump attacked Brzezinski Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, for using a homophobic slur on the air and tweeted that if a conservative person had said it, "that person would be banned permanently from television." Brzezinski was criticizing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on for comments regarding the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Afterward, she apologized via Twitter. (Nathan Congleton/MSNBC via AP) Brzezinski was not on the air Thursday due to a long-planned family matter, an MSNBC spokesman said. Her Pompeo reference, which had drawn social media criticism, was not mentioned on the air. LAS VEGAS (AP) - In a story Dec. 13 about the Colorado River, The Associated Press erroneously reported the river's mouth. The river empties into the Gulf of California, not the Gulf of Mexico. A corrected version of the story is below: Southwestern US states get Jan. 31 deadline for drought deal A top official says the federal agency controlling the Colorado River will impose unprecedented restrictions on water supplies to seven Southwestern states unless they all agree by Jan. 31 on a plan to deal with an expected shortage in 2020 By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) - The head of the federal agency controlling the Colorado River said Thursday the U.S. government will impose unprecedented restrictions on water supplies to the seven Southwestern U.S. states that depend on the river unless everyone agrees by Jan. 31 on a plan to deal with an expected shortage in 2020. Water users from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming should have had a pact to sign at an annual water users' conference this week in Las Vegas, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman said. They didn't. However, a flurry of approvals in several states in recent weeks signaled urgency and set a stage for an overall agreement to use less water from a river beset by drought and locked into promises to deliver more water than it takes in. Burman identified California and Arizona as the holdouts. "Close isn't 'done,' " she told a standing-room crowd at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference at a Las Vegas Strip resort. "Only 'done' will protect this basin." The river that carries winter snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California is plumbed with dams to generate hydropower and meter water releases. It provides drinking water to 40 million people and cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Phoenix and Las Vegas. It irrigates crops in wide areas once deemed as reclaimed desert in the U.S. and Mexico. The keys to contingency plans are voluntary agreements to use less water than users are allocated from the river's two largest reservoirs, Lake Powell behind the Glen Canyon Dam on the Arizona-Utah state line and Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam just east of Las Vegas. Lake Powell is currently at 43 percent capacity; Lake Mead at 38 percent. To date, entities including agricultural districts and municipal suppliers in five states have reached what Burman characterized as a complex puzzle of agreements. Indian tribes also are involved, and Burman on Thursday announced publication of a report called the Colorado River Basin Ten Tribes Partnership Tribal Water Study . It charts water claims and use by tribes that hold rights to divert almost 20 percent of the water in the river. A drought-shortage declaration next year would cut 11.4 percent of Arizona's usual river water allocation beginning in 2020, and 4.3 percent of Nevada's share. That amount of water, combined, would serve more than 625,000 homes. California would voluntarily reduce its Colorado River use by about 6 percent. Arizona gained approvals for conservation, mitigation and payment plans from its Department of Water Resources and the key Central Arizona Project irrigation district. Unlike the other states, it also needs state Legislature approval for water agreements. Lawmakers convene in January. In California, the largest municipal suppliers have signed on, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California serving some 19 million people. However, the sprawling Imperial Irrigation District, which holds some of the largest and oldest rights to river water, has so far granted only tentative approval. James Hanks, board president, said in an interview the district wants to be last to sign so it can see what others agree to. It also wants government help to save the Salton Sea, a briny shallow desert lake east of Palm Springs, California, that is fed primarily by agricultural irrigation runoff. Dusty hot winds blowing across exposed former shorelines are blamed for asthma by area residents who also complain of sometimes brackish smells. Burman didn't say what the federal government plans if it is left to impose restrictions. But local officials warned that a free-for-all could lead to crippling lawsuits and legislative gridlock. John Entsminger, chief executive of the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas, predicted "complete chaos" if negotiations that he compared with nuanced scalpel work are overridden by federal sledgehammer rules. "Everyone thinks their own water use is justified and no one else's is," observed Kathryn Sorensen, Phoenix city water services director. Keith Moses, vice chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribal Council in Arizona, offered what he saw as a key to complex water questions. "To me, the best way of conserving water is not to use it," he said before adding that he knew that would mean limiting growth so as not to continue to drain the Colorado River. "Realistically," he added, "looking at it, that's not going to happen." CLEAR CREEK, W.Va. (AP) - The Latest on the rescue of three adults at an inactive coal mine in West Virginia (all times local): 5 p.m. A West Virginia sheriff says he plans to conduct a thorough investigation into four adults who went into an inactive coal mine. Raleigh County Sheriff Scott Van Meter said Thursday the criminal investigation will focus on why the adults were in the Elk Run Coal's Rock House Powellton mine near Clear Creek and find out "what happened." Three adults were rescued Wednesday night after spending four days inside the underground mine. A fourth adult had walked out of the mine on Monday. An abandoned ATV the four were believed to be riding had been found near the mine entrance. A father of one of the rescued adults had indicated his daughter went into the mine to look for copper. Van Meter hadn't seen those comments but says people trying to steal copper from West Virginia mines is "nothing new." The scene outside of the Salamy Memorial Center in Whitesville, W.Va., on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Family and friends await word of the search teams efforts in finding Cody Beverly, Kayla Williams and Erica Treadway were reported missing Saturday night, and are stuck inside the Rock House Powellton mine. (Craig Hudson/The Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP) ___ 2:30 p.m. A prosecutor says a sheriff's office is conducting a criminal investigation into four adults who went into an underground coal mine in West Virginia. Raleigh County Prosecutor Kristen Keller says she began discussing potential charges with the Raleigh County sheriff's office when the search began Sunday. One adult emerged from Elk Run Coal's Rock House Powellton mine near Clear Creek on Monday. Three others were rescued inside the mine Wednesday night. An abandoned ATV the four were believed to be riding was found near the entrance of the inactive mine. The father of one of those rescued has said his daughter went into the mine in search of copper. Sheriff Scott Van Meter didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment on the investigation. ___ 10:45 a.m. One of three adults rescued after four days in an inactive coal mine in West Virginia says he learned a valuable lesson. The faces of Cody Beverly and the others were covered in soot as they emerged from an ambulance and were reunited with loved ones Wednesday night before being taken to a hospital for treatment. Beverly says the four-day experience "was terrible." Beverly thanked the crews that had been searching for the group since Sunday. He told NBC News , "This is the biggest lesson I've ever learned in my life. This is a life-changing experience for me." ___ 9:35 a.m. The father of a woman found alive after spending days in an underground coal mine in West Virginia says his daughter went into the mine in search of copper. Randall Williams told CBS News that people in the region do "whatever they can do to make money if they ain't got a job." It's not uncommon for people in the area to enter abandoned mines in search of copper to sell. His daughter, Kayla Williams, and two others, Erica Treadway and Cody Beverly, were found Wednesday inside Elk Run Coal's Rock House Powellton mine near Clear Creek. TV news video later showed them emerging from an ambulance and walking into a hospital escorted by law officers and rescue workers. They had been reported missing Saturday. The mine was described as nonoperational. Family and friends await word of the search teams efforts in finding Cody Beverly, Kayla Williams and Erica Treadway at the Salamy Memorial Center in Whitesville, W.Va., on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. The three were reported missing Saturday night, and are stuck inside the Rock House Powellton mine. (Craig Hudson/The Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP) Saving for retirement is a good idea, of course, but if you time things right and do your homework, some of your nest egg could also do double duty as a tax shield. Here are two simple savings maneuvers that tax pros say could also lower your tax bill - if you make them in time. MANEUVER 1: DUMP MONEY INTO A 401(K) If your employer offers a 401(k) plan and you're not enrolled or not contributing much, you could be paying more than you have to in taxes. Why? The IRS doesn't make you pay income tax now on earnings that go directly from your paycheck to a traditional 401(k) plan (typically you pay the taxes when you withdraw the money). In 2018, the contribution limit for a traditional 401(k) is $18,500 ($24,500 if you're 50 or older), meaning you could potentially shield that much of your pay from income taxes this year. If your employer matches your contributions, you might also get some free money. When to make your move Get that money into your 401(k) plan by Dec. 31, says Angela Freyman, a tax preparer at Freyman CPA in St. Johns, Florida. Visit your 401(k) administrator's website, or contact your company's payroll or HR department, to increase your contributions for the end of the year if you can. "Some employers might move slower, so I would always say do it as early as you can. Don't wait until the last minute, because you might ask them to set it up, but they won't do it in time," she says. FILE- This July 24, 2018, file photo shows a portion of the 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form for 2018 in New York. Setting money aside for the future is important, but where you store that money can make a huge difference in your tax bill. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) Freelancers with no employees might think about contributing to what's called a solo 401(k), which could allow them to save for retirement and shield as much as $55,000 from income taxes (with an additional $6,000 catch-up contribution if 50 or older). There may be more time, too - if you put money into the account by the 2019 filing deadline, you might still get a tax break for 2018. Just be sure the account is open by Dec. 31, Freyman notes. Talk with a qualified tax pro about the details. Beware Make sure your traditional 401(k) contributions don't exceed that $18,500 limit for 2018 ($24,500 if you're 50 or older), cautions Chad Parks, who runs Ubiquity Retirement & Savings in San Francisco. Your pay stub should indicate what's been withheld to date for the year. People who contributed to more than one 401(k) plan in 2018 (this might happen if you changed jobs during the year) need to keep a special eye on this, because the sum of their contributions to both plans can't exceed the annual limit, Parks warns. "Don't think you can double dip," he says. MANEUVER 2: TRANSFER MONEY INTO AN IRA Moving money into a traditional individual retirement account could keep the IRS's hands off of up to another $5,500 of your money this year ($6,500 for people 50 and older). That's because contributions to traditional IRAs can be tax-deductible . The size of your deduction will depend on your filing status, whether you or your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work and what your adjusted gross income is. When to make your move If you want to turn your savings into a tax break for 2018, make sure your money is in the account no later than April 15, 2019, Freyman says. Opening an IRA shouldn't take long, she adds. "We have people do it in a couple of days, at most," she says. Beware If you want a tax deduction for 2018 but you're not actually putting the money in your traditional IRA until after Dec. 31, be sure to instruct the IRA administrator to apply your contribution to 2018. And remember to take the tax deduction for 2018. "It's easy to accidentally apply it to the wrong year," Freyman notes. Another note: Traditional IRAs are great, but a Roth IRA may be a better choice if you're in a lower tax bracket now than you think you'll be in the future. You may not get a tax break now with a Roth IRA, but your withdrawals later should be tax-free. Talk with a qualified tax pro if you're not sure. _______ This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet . Tina Orem is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: torem@nerdwallet.com . RELATED LINKS: NerdWallet: IRAs: Everything You Need to Know https://nerd.me/learn-about-IRA-accounts IRS: IRA Deduction Limits https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/ira-deduction-limits IRS: One-Participant 401(k) Plans https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/one-participant-401k-plans FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The commission investigating a Florida high school massacre heavily criticized the responding sheriff office's active shooter policy Thursday, saying it contributed to the failure of some deputies to run into the building and confront the gunman. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found Thursday that Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel's policy that deputies "may" confront active shooters rather than "shall" gave some an excuse for not entering the building during the Feb. 14 massacre that left 17 dead. The commission found that several deputies arrived at the school during the shooting but stayed outside, including Scot Peterson, who was assigned to the school. Israel has attacked Peterson for not entering the building but told commissioners last month he didn't want deputies engaging in "suicide missions," which is why he changed the policy to say "may." But the commission's law enforcement members said that could be handled by training deputies how to confront shooters in the safest way possible. "'May' gave them (deputies) the out not to enter," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, a commissioner. "They decided to be cowards instead of heroes." Israel said in a statement Thursday that he will use the commission's report "as a basis to conduct our own thorough investigation, and we'll take appropriate steps to make any necessary improvements." Peterson retired shortly after the shooting after video showed him going to the three-story building where the shooting happened, pulling his gun and then taking cover outside. In a lawsuit filed by a victim's father, Peterson's attorney argued in court Wednesday that the deputy had no legal obligation to confront the shooter - an argument the judge rejected. Some deputies who arrived within minutes remained outside the school, even after other deputies and police officers from a neighboring city charged inside. The commission said Israel should investigate those deputies and take appropriate disciplinary action. The commission, meeting in Tallahassee, also found Thursday that the training Broward deputies receive for confronting active shooters is inadequate, pointing to statements several made to commission investigators that they couldn't remember the last time they were trained and what it included. The commission criticized the sheriff's office and FBI for not acting on tips that suspect Nikolas Cruz was a potential school shooter, but said Broward deputies who responded to Cruz's home numerous times during his teens for minor incidents acted appropriately. Both agencies say they have taken steps to avoid a repeat. The commission also found that Cruz, a 20-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student, never met the criteria for involuntary mental health confinement and even if he did, that would not have banned him from buying the semiautomatic rifle he used. The 15-member commission includes law enforcement, education and mental health professionals, a legislator and the fathers of two slain students. The members have been meeting periodically since April and must file a report to Gov. Rick Scott, incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature by Jan. 1. Commissioners this week gave tentative approval to numerous findings and recommendations. The draft report exceeds 400 pages, not including sections on Cruz's mental health and school history that weren't released because of privacy laws. State Senate President Bill Galvano said Thursday he is "very open" to adopting the proposal the panel passed 13-1 Wednesday that would let teachers carry concealed handguns if they volunteer and undergo background checks and extensive training. Supporters argued even the best response by law enforcement will likely take two to three minutes to confront a shooter, while teachers could immediately. Galvano said, however, he wants a "realistic conversation about what can work and what seems like it would work but just makes us feel good." The state teachers union and PTA are opposed, saying adding guns will make schools less safe and that teachers should not also have to be armed guards. There are also concerns about gun accidents and students taking guns from teachers. Galvano said he plans to meet with opponents. After the shooting, Florida law was changed to allow school districts to train and arm employees other than teachers except those who are former or current police officers, current members of the military or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructors. Thirteen of the state's 67 countywide school districts allow it, mostly in rural areas. Currently, teachers in 28 states can carry firearms, according to the Crime Prevention Research Center, a conservative nonprofit organization. District approval is required in most states and restrictions and training requirements vary. Cruz has pleaded not guilty, but his attorneys have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. __ AP writer Gary Fineout in Tallahassee contributed to this report. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The Latest on a judge's decision to toss a lawsuit challenging the results of America's first ranked congressional race (all times local): 11:00 a.m. Democratic U.S. Rep.-elect Jared Golden and backers of a candidate-ranking method of voting say they are vindicated by a federal judge's ruling that tossed a legal challenge to the his election. Golden defeated Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin in the first congressional election in U.S. history to use the candidate-ranking system. Golden said Thursday that Judge Lance Walker's "decision is clear," and he hopes Poliquin will work with him on a smooth transition for the 2nd Congressional District. The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting says Walker's ruling is important because it makes clear the voting system doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution, as Poliquin alleged. Voters approved the new method in 2016. Committee attorney James Monteleone says Walker's opinion "will stand up to any appeal." ___ 10 a.m. A federal judge is tossing a lawsuit by a Republican incumbent congressman from Maine who lost the nation's first congressional election held by a candidate-ranking system. Democrat Jared Golden defeated U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin after voters from two trailing candidates were eliminated and reassigned to the remaining field. Poliquin contends the system was unconstitutional. But Judge Lance Walker, a recent Trump administration appointee, rejected Poliquin's requests that the courts declare him the winner or order a new election for the 2nd Congressional District. Poliquin's lawyer had argued the candidate-ranking system requires voters to "guess" which candidates would survive until the second, runoff-style round of tabulations. Walker heard arguments about the case last week at U.S. District Court in Bangor. BERLIN (AP) - Germany's parliament has again rejected the far-right Alternative for Germany's candidate for deputy speaker, prolonging a saga that has lasted over a year. The parliament's speaker, a job currently held by veteran conservative Wolfgang Schaeuble, usually has a deputy from each party in the chamber. Other parties agree that Alternative for Germany, which entered parliament last year, is entitled to supply a deputy speaker but haven't given its candidates the required majority. Lawmakers rejected its first candidate, Albrecht Glaser, in October 2017. They objected to comments in which Glaser suggested that freedom of religion shouldn't apply to Islam. Alternative for Germany recently nominated Mariana Harder-Kuehnel, a lawmaker with a relatively moderate reputation, for the job. But lawmakers Thursday rejected her second attempt to win approval by 377-241, with 41 abstentions. WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress approved an overhaul Thursday of its process for handling sexual harassment claims, capping a tumultuous year that saw more than a half-dozen lawmakers resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The bill passed both chambers and holds lawmakers, including those who leave office, financially liable for settlements resulting from harassment and retaliation. There is no cap on the amount a lawmaker would be liable for. It also eliminates mandatory counseling and mediation for victims, as well as the "cooling off" period that they are now required to observe before filing a lawsuit or requesting an administrative hearing. The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it. Efforts to overhaul the Congressional Accountability Act, which hasn't been significantly updated since its passage in 1995, began a year ago, when Capitol Hill found itself squarely at the center of the #MeToo movement. Allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct brought down several powerful, longtime lawmakers. "Today, the Congress made historic progress to uphold human dignity and protect the inalienable right to live free from harassment or abuse," said Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. "This bill protects everyone in our legislative community from workplace abuse and helps foster a climate of respect and dignity in our institution." The bill allows staffers access to a confidential adviser who is an attorney and able to offer technical assistance, advice and guidance, but not legal representation. The House earlier this year passed a separate resolution giving their own staffers access to House counsel, an extra protection not included in the final bill. It also requires public reporting of settlements, including identifying lawmakers who are personally liable, and extends protections to interns, fellows and other staff. "My message is quite clear: Time's up," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who over the past year has become a poster child for the #MeToo movement on Capitol Hill after sharing her own story of being harassed by a high-level aide when she was a young staffer. "Time is finally up for members of Congress who think they can sexually harass and get away with it. They will no longer be able to slink away with no one knowing that they have harassed. There will be transparency, and members will be held accountable." The legislation specifies that in the case of a court award or a settlement, lawmakers who don't reimburse the payment amount in a lump sum could have their wages, or possibly their Social Security checks, garnished. "Time's up for everyone who thought victims could somehow be ignored," Speier said. "They will not be ignored anymore." The final bill doesn't include some House measures, including making lawmakers liable for discrimination settlements and requiring an independent investigation into harassment complaints at the beginning of the process. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala., a former labor and employment attorney and member of the Committee on House Administration, said the bill doesn't include a "a real investigation and I don't think anybody can pretend that." Byrne and Speier plan to introduce a measure next year mandating a thorough independent investigation and requiring House lawmakers to pay back settlements stemming from discrimination. Speier said the Senate would not agree to make their own lawmakers liable for discrimination complaints, but the chamber has said it would bring the bill to a vote when it's introduced. It will pertain only to House lawmakers, not senators. The bill passed Thursday will not apply to past lawmakers. On Thursday the nonprofit organization The Purple Campaign and Congress Too, a group of 1,500 former staffers who sent letters to lawmakers imploring them to strengthen anti-harassment protections on Capitol Hill, called the bill "a powerful message to these survivors that their stories were heard." "Down every hallway and behind every door in Congress are good and dedicated people - often young people - who work long hours for little pay in hopes of improving the world around them" the groups said. "They deserve to serve their country in an institution that serves and protects them, and we're hopeful these reforms will do just that." LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - A former front-desk clerk at Walt Disney World is accused of making $48,000 in fake credit-card refunds that he transferred to himself. Jamaica Hall is now facing a charge of second-degree grand theft after his arrest Sunday. Court records show he was being held in jail on $10,000 bond. The records show no attorney listed for him. According to an investigative report, the 31-year-old Hall made 107 fraudulent credit-card refunds and applied the amount to his debit card account from April to December 2016. A Disney security investigator first noticed the transactions two years ago and made a complaint to the Orange County Sheriff's Office in March 2017. A formal charge wasn't filed until late last month. Disney spokeswoman Erica Ettori says no money belonging to guests was involved. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Wildlife managers have confirmed a record number of Mexican gray wolves have been reported dead this year, fueling concerns about the decades-long effort to return the endangered predator to the southwestern U.S. Five wolves were found dead in New Mexico in November, bringing the total for the year to 17. That marks the most wolves killed in any single year since the reintroduction effort began in 1998, and it's one of the deadliest months in the program's history. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating but hasn't said how the animals died. The dead wolves include a female pup, two male wolves and the leaders of two packs - one that roams the mountainous area along the Arizona-New Mexico border and another that lives in the north-central portion of the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico. "The very small population of Mexican gray wolves in the wild cannot sustain this level of mortality for long," said Bryan Bird, the Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must immediately get a handle on the losses and resume releases of captive-bred wolf families." Members of the wolf reintroduction field team pointed to the larger population of wolves in the wild in 2018, saying the percentage of mortalities this year is actually less than in some past years when there were fewer wolves roaming parts of Arizona and New Mexico. FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Mexican gray wolf leaves cover at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro County, N.M. Wildlife managers have confirmed that a record number of Mexican gray wolves have been reported dead this year, fueling concerns about the decades-long effort to return the endangered predator to the American Southwest. Officials say five wolves were found dead in New Mexico in November alone, bringing the total for the year to 17. It also marks one of the deadliest months in the history of the reintroduction program. (Jim Clark/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP, File) The lower percentage for 2018 indicates more of the wild population is surviving, which they say is a good sign. All this comes as ranchers continue to report conflicts. In November, federal authorities documented six instances in which wolves killed cattle, and there were two nuisance reports. Sixty-six livestock kills have been documented in New Mexico and 31 in Arizona so far this year. The costly effort to return Mexican wolves to the American Southwest and Mexico has been fraught with frustration, as ranchers push back over the livestock kills and environmentalists warn of returning to the brink of extinction if more wolves aren't released into the wild. Earlier this month, the U.S. Forest Service revoked the grazing permit of a rancher who trapped and killed a wolf in 2015. Craig Thiessen pleaded guilty in May to knowingly taking threatened wildlife. He said he knew he caught the wolf because it had a radio collar, but he disputed killing it. Michael Robinson with the Center for Biological Diversity questioned whether wildlife managers should be more guarded about information related to the wolves' locations. Environmentalists have long complained about telemetry receivers being loaned to ranchers to monitor the whereabouts of collared wolves. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is among the agencies that partner with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Spokesman Bill Andres said Thursday the state agency believes that efforts to increase social acceptance and reintroduction of the animals into their historic range in Mexico are two keys to the recovery of the species. The Mexican wolf once roamed parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. As the region became settled, wolves came into conflict with livestock. As a result of private, state and federal extermination campaigns, the wolf was all but eliminated from the U.S. and Mexico by the 1970s. As part of the effort to bring back the predators, federal officials in 1998 released three packs of wolves in eastern Arizona. In the months following that release, five of the 11 wolves were poached, and the remaining animals had to be captured and paired with new mates before being released again. The wild population has struggled to gain significant ground, and it only reached a high of 114 wolves earlier this year. NEW YORK (AP) - Police say they have arrested a man suspected of sucker-punching a woman and fracturing her spine in an anti-gay attack aboard a New York City subway train. Allah Allasheed was charged Thursday with assault as a hate crime in the Nov. 30 attack in Queens aboard a Manhattan-bound E train. The 54-year-old's arrest comes days after the NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force publicized a photo and video of the suspect. Court records didn't list a lawyer who could comment on Allasheed's behalf. Police say the 20-year-old victim and an acquaintance tried to get away after he ranted about sexual orientation. Police say he punched the woman in the back of the head and shoved her down. She struck her head on the floor, injuring her spine. WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, President Donald Trump's most vocal Republican adversary in the Senate, cautioned in his farewell address Thursday that the "threats to our democracy from within and without are real." Flake declined to seek re-election to a second term, acknowledging that his battles with Trump over the past two years made it unlikely that he could survive a primary challenge. While Flake did not mention Trump in his speech Thursday, he said that describing the state of the nation's politics as "not healthy is something of an understatement." "We of course are testing the institutions of American liberty in ways that none of us likely ever imagined we would - and in ways that we never should again," Flake said. Over the past two years, Flake has made it a point to call out Trump in his writings and speeches, accusing him of "reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior" and saying that his use of the terms "fake news" and "enemy of the people" was reminiscent of words infamously used by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. It's unclear what role Flake could have in the Republican Party in the future. He has traveled to New Hampshire to speak to voters there and has not ruled out a run for the presidency, though he would be a huge underdog. Flake, 55, served in the House for six terms and in the Senate for one term. He was one of the earliest and most prominent critics of spending that lawmakers diverted to their congressional districts, called earmarks. He was also an outlier among Republicans when it came to supporting an end of travel and trade restrictions with Cuba. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaks with reporters as senators are considering multiple pieces of legislation in an effort to formally rebuke Saudi Arabia for the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) His push for an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws alienated many Republican voters who viewed it as rewarding people who came to the U.S. illegally. But it's his criticism of Trump that most angered the Republican base. That was a point Trump was all-too-happy to make on Twitter after Flake made his decision to not seek re-election, also mentioning that outgoing Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., was in a similar position. "The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!" the president tweeted at the time. Flake also used his farewell speech to warn about global events. He said Russia's President Vladimir Putin hijacked democracy in his own country and is determined to do the same globally. "Denial of this reality will not make it any less real," Flake said. "This is something that is staring us in the face, right now, as we are gathered here today." Flake has been a vocal defender of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 elections. He has refused in recent weeks to vote for any of Trump's judicial nominees until he gets a floor vote on a bill to protect the special counsel. Flake said the U.S. is a beacon to the world and that it must recognize that "the shadow of tyranny is once again enveloping parts of the globe." "Let us recognize as authoritarianism reasserts itself in country after country that we are by no means immune," Flake said. ____ On Twitter follow Kevin Freking at https://twitter.com/APKFreking MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The investigation of the fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer inside Alabama's largest shopping mall is now in the hands of the state attorney general, he announced Thursday. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said at a news conference that his office will oversee the case to prevent the appearance of any possible conflicts involving local officials over the fatal shooting of Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr., whose death on Thanksgiving night has led to nearly-daily protests. The officer, whose name has not been released by authorities, mistook Bradford for the gunman in a shooting that happened moments earlier inside the Riverchase Galleria in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, officials have said. The officer who shot Bradford was the charging officer in about 20 cases involving local prosecutors in Jefferson County, where the man was killed, according to Marshall. Jefferson County's newly elected district attorney, Danny Carr, has "personal relationships" with some of the protesters who are calling for the officer to be prosecuted, Marshall said in a letter to Carr that was released by the attorney general's office. Marshall said that while he did not believe any conflict existed, having the attorney general's office assume control of the case would prevent any problems. An activist who has led protests surrounding Bradford's death, Carlos Chaverst Jr., posted a statement on Facebook portraying himself as having a "personal and close relationship" with Marshall and asking that the attorney general's office step away from the case. Chaverst posted a photo of himself standing by a smiling Marshall. FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2018, file frame from video, April Pipkins holds a photograph of her deceased son, Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr., during an interview in Birmingham, Ala. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Thursday, Dec. 13, that his office is taking over the investigation into the police killing of Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr., a black man inside the state's largest shopping mall on Thanksgiving night. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves, File) Marshall's spokesman, Mike Lewis, said Marshall met Chaverst and another protest leader last year at an event in Birmingham where their photograph was taken together, but he denied there was any "relationship" between the men. Chaverst, 25, is among a half-dozen protesters who have been arrested on charges related to demonstrations. Aside from the review of Bradford's death, Marshall said his office would take over the attempted-murder case against the man ultimately arrested in the earlier shooting, which left another man wounded. The state also will investigate the wounding of a 12-year-old girl who was shot in the back, Marshall said. Authorities have described her as an innocent bystander. An attorney for Bradford's family had no immediate comment on the state assuming control of the investigation. Attorneys for the man who was wounded and the suspect charged with attempted murder, Erron Brown, also did not immediately return messages seeking comment. by Sumon Corraya Voting will take place on 30 December. Hundreds of protesters from both sides have been hurt; at least a thousand opposition sympathisers have been arrested. Opinion polls give the ruling party a 66 per cent lead. Soldiers will be deployed at polling station as of 24 December. Dhaka (AsiaNews) At least three supporters of Bangladeshs ruling Awami League (AL) were killed in clashes at pre-election rallies. The vote is set for 30 December. With the country engulfed in chaos and violence, conscious that violence often mars Bangladeshs election, the countrys Christians leaders have called on the authorities not to hold the vote during the Christmas period. The latest victims died from beating and knife wounds in two separate incidents: two in Noakhali, in the south of the country, and one in Faridpur, Dhaka division. The latter victim was attacked by opposition supporters. He was rushed to hospital but was declared dead upon arrival by the doctors, a police spokesperson said. Today the Electoral Commission announced that army troops will be deployed across the country to protect voting. The military will remain in charge of sensitive areas from 24 December to 2 January, after the vote. During the ongoing campaign, hundreds of protesters from both sides have been injured and about a thousand sympathisers of opposition parties, including the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), have been arrested. Wholesale arrests are aimed at harassing leaders and activists, said Kamal Hossain, head of the Jatiya Oikya Front. "Our leaders and activists are getting arrested every day, he lamented. Its not a sign of fair polls. But we will be in the election until the end. We must work for fair polls. So far, opinion polls have put the Awami League of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the lead with 66 per cent of voter support, far ahead of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of her historic rival Khaleda Zia (who is prison for corruption), which is stuck at 19.9 per cent. Another 8.6 per cent are undecided. This would give the ruling party between 168 to 200 seats in the 300-member Parliament. The Awami Leagues margin of victory will be even greater than [in] the 2008 elections, wrote Hasinas son Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Facebook. DALLAS (AP) - A 78-year-old prisoner who says he killed about 90 people over nearly four decades as he moved around the country pleaded guilty to murder Thursday in the 1994 strangulation of a Texas woman. Samuel Little entered his plea in the West Texas city of Odessa, where the body of Denise Christie Brothers was discovered in a vacant lot about a month after she disappeared. He received another life prison term, Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said in a statement. "Due to the efforts of law enforcement agencies from around the country, dozens of victims' families now have answers," Bland said. "Although this is a conviction in Ector County, Texas, I hope it will serve as justice for all those atrocious murders committed across this nation in this unprecedented era of terror and mayhem caused by Samuel Little." Little was convicted in 2014 of killing three Los Angeles-area women in separate attacks in the late 1980s and was serving life sentences when authorities say he confessed this year to killing dozens more people in 20 states since 1970. Those confessions, which often included a level of detail and recall that authorities say was uncanny, spurred investigators from Florida to California to review old murder cases. An FBI spokesman said thus far, investigators have concluded that Little was the killer in 36 cases, including the killing of Brothers and the three in the Los Angeles-area that landed him in prison. But Bland said in his statement more than 40 cases have been confirmed. He later explained that he received that number from Texas Rangers, an elite investigative agency that has relayed details of Little's confessions to law officers in other states. Little explained the killings in a series of conversations with Ranger James Holland. Most recently, police in Tennessee linked Little to the death of Martha Cunningham, a Knoxville woman whose body was found in a wooded area by a road in 1975. Even though Cunningham was bruised and nude from the waist down when her body was found, detectives attributed her death to natural causes, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Ector County Texas Sheriff's Office shows Samuel Little. The FBI says 78-year-old Little, who has confessed to some 90 killings nationwide spanning nearly four decades, offered his confessions as a bargaining chip to be moved from a California prison. Authorities say Little is in poor health and will likely stay in jail in Texas until his death. (Ector County Texas Sheriff's Office via AP) With at least three-dozen confirmed deaths, Little is already among the most prolific known serial killers in American history. Gary Ridgway, the so-called Green River killer who is serving life in prison, pleaded guilty to killing 49 women and girls, making him the deadliest serial killer in terms of confirmed kills, though he has said he likely killed more than 71 people. Ted Bundy confessed to 30 homicides from about 1974 to 1978 and John Wayne Gacy killed at least 33 young men and boys in the 1970s. Both of them were executed. Little, who is in poor health and relies on a wheelchair, offered his confessions as a bargaining chip to be moved from the Los Angeles County prison where he was being held, the FBI said last month. But Bland said Thursday that Little will return to California to serve his life term. Little, who also went by the name Samuel McDowell, targeted vulnerable women who were often involved in prostitution and addicted to drugs, authorities have said. Once a competitive boxer, he usually stunned or knocked out his victims with powerful punches before he strangled them while masturbating. "With no stab marks or bullet wounds, many of these deaths were not classified as homicides but attributed to drug overdoses, accidents, or natural causes," the FBI said. ADEN, Yemen (AP) - Yemen's government nearly saw itself pushed into the sea by advancing rebels here three years ago. Now the port city of Aden shows the challenges that will likely still plague the nation following any potential peace agreement. Bursts of heavy machine gun fire still punctuates the nights in Aden, now the seat of the internationally recognized government, a city marked with war-shattered buildings and questions over what an end to Yemen's conflict might mean for a region where secessionist flags appear to fly everywhere. As a round of peace talks in Sweden ended Thursday between the government and Houthi rebels, foreign journalists on a tour organized by the Saudi-led military coalition saw a city needing huge sums of money and aid. A Central Bank official spoke of a hoped-for infusion of $3 billion by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the long road ahead for the Arab world's poorest country as U.S. lawmakers grow increasingly uneasy about America's role in the conflict. "The road ahead is extremely difficult," said Adam Baron, a Yemen analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations and the Washington-based think tank New America. "Security issues remain extremely perilous in the city of Aden, the economy remains in deep trouble and the currency continues to fluctuate." Yemen, the southern undercarriage of the Arabian Peninsula also home to oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the Dubai skyscrapers of the United Arab Emirates, was torn by decades of warfare prior to this current conflict. Rebels known as Houthis stormed into the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and later seized power from the country's internationally recognized government. A soldier allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government stands guard at the fish market in Aden, Yemen, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) The Houthis, an armed group of followers of the Zaidi sect of Shiite Islam, pushed government forces south and almost entirely out of Aden before Saudi and Emirati forces backed by other nations like the U.S. launched a war against them in March 2015. They still hold Sanaa and surrounding areas in Yemen's north. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Yemen's war since 2016, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, which tracks the conflict. The fighting has also displaced 2 million others, spawned a cholera epidemic and pushed the country to the brink of famine as emaciated children die of malnutrition. Millions wake up hungry each day, not knowing from where their next meal will come. On the surface, life appears to be humming on in Aden. Fishermen secure their catches in the sun-soaked waters of the Gulf of Aden. Cashiers thump through giant wads of cash at the Central Bank. But Yemen's currency, though making recent gains, has heavily depreciated in the war. Government salaries, a major economic driver, dried up for those in Houthi-controlled areas. "We need international support in the upcoming year to fill the gap and allow us to pay salaries to Yemeni citizens," said Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, the prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government. "Supporting Yemen's economy will largely impact the humanitarian situation in Yemen." Saudi Arabia has deposited billions into Yemen's Central Bank to support the country. Officials hope another $3 billion soon will come from Kuwait and the UAE, said Shokeib Hobeishy, the deputy head of Central Bank. He also said he hoped the country would be able to once again export oil for international sales. "Oil exports used to amount to 76 percent of the country's income," Hobeishy said. "This is one of the main reasons that we stress the importance of resuming Yemen's capability to export oil." Yet Western fatigue with the Saudi-led war is growing. The killing and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, allegedly by members of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's royal entourage, has fueled the anger of U.S. lawmakers. Already, the U.S. refueling of Saudi warplanes has stopped after months of indiscriminate airstrikes on hospitals and markets, killing civilians. Saeed, Yemen's prime minister, invoked the regional threat from Iran as a reason America needed to remain involved in the conflict, something earlier echoed on a trip last month to Yemen by U.S. Ambassador Matthew Tueller. United Nations experts, Western nations and analysts say Iran supplies the Houthis with weapons ranging from assault rifles up to the ballistic missiles the rebels can now fire deeply into Saudi Arabia to target its capital, Riyadh. Iran denies arming the rebels. "Yemen's security and the stability of the region is the most important thing right now," Saeed said. "The United States' decision should take into account what Iran is doing in the region and the role it plays in Yemen." Peace talks over ending the war wrapped up Thursday in Rimbo, Sweden, with the warring sides agreeing to a cease-fire in the strategic port city of Hodeida, where fighting has disrupted vital aid deliveries for the entire country, and a withdrawal of combatants from the city's front lines. The agreement is considered an important first step toward further talks in January aimed at drawing down the stalemated conflict. However, more conflicts lurk just beneath the war. Throughout Aden, murals bore the flag of the former Communist South Yemen. Even soldiers escorting foreign journalists in Aden flew the tricolor red, white and black flag, its light blue chevron and red star flapping in the wind. "It's quite clear that many Southern secessionists are now empowered; the key moving forward is going to be the solution to the southern issue," said Baron, the Yemen analyst. "Yemen will not have any sort of wider-range stability until the southern issue is dealt with in some form, and I think that's something obvious that you can't ignore if you're walking or driving through the streets of Aden." ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . Follow Malak Harb at www.twitter.com/malakharb . In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photograph, soldiers allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government stand guard at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, soldiers allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government fly the South Yemen flag at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. Since Yemen's war broke out, secessionists wanting South Yemen to again break away have increasingly been flying the flag as a symbol of their aspiration. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, a soldier allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government waves the South Yemen flag at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. Since Yemen's war broke out, secessionists wanting South Yemen to again break away have increasingly been flying the flag as a symbol of their aspiration. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, a soldier allied to Yemen's internationally recognized government stands guard at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, a Saudi soldier takes a photograph of himself with a young Yemeni boy in traditional dress at a ceremony at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, a Yemeni woman takes a picture of another at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, a solider on an anti-aircraft gun stands guard at the port of Aden in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, the prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government that the Saudi-led coalition backs, sits for an interview with foreign journalists in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, the prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government that the Saudi-led coalition backs, is interviewed by foreign journalists in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 photo, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, the prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government that the Saudi-led coalition backs, is interviewed by foreign journalists in Aden, Yemen. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) Shokeib Hobeishy, the deputy head of the Central Bank of Yemen's internationally recognized government, gestures while speaking to foreign journalists in Aden, Yemen, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) Customers are reflected in a window as a cashier works at the Central Bank of Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden, Yemen, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) A cashier works at the Central Bank of Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden, Yemen, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A sense of normalcy has returned to Aden, now the seat of power for Yemen's internationally recognized government, but many challenges remain for bringing a lasting peace to the Arab world's poorest country. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is feuding on social media with ProPublica after the independent media nonprofit announced an investigative project with the Courier Journal. The Louisville newspaper reports the Republican governor posted a series of tweets and a video attacking both news organizations as biased. Bevin questioned who holds the paper accountable, and said ProPublica is supported by "George, I hate America, Soros," a billionaire who supports the Democratic Party. ProPublica editors defended themselves and the partnership in their own tweets, saying Soros has provided less than 2 percent of ProPublica funding. Editor-in-chief Stephen Engelberg questioned Bevin's reaction to their announcement, saying that if it "stirs up this kind of hysteria, what is Gov. Matt Bevin going to do when we publish our first story?" WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Maria Butina, accused by the United States of being an Russian secret agent (all times local): 1:25 p.m. A senior Russian lawmaker says he's convinced that the Russian woman who's pleaded guilty to being a secret agent in the United States has done so under pressure. Leonid Slutsky is chairman of the Russian State Duma's foreign affairs committee. He tells Russian news agencies that the charges against 30-year-old Maria Butina were trumped up and that she's fallen victim to what he calls "political inquisition." Slutsky says he's convinced that she was pressured to confess. He says: "They broke her down. Anyone would break down in circumstances like that." Robert Driscoll, Maria Butina's attorney, leaves U.S. District Court in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Maria Butina, a Russian accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Butina's time in prison has included solitary confinement. ___ 12 p.m. A woman accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. Maria Butina appeared in court after reaching a deal with prosecutors. As part of that deal, she says she tried to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and relay intelligence on American politicians to a Russian government official. The case involving the 30-year-old gun rights activist has offered insight into how Moscow tries to influence American policy. But Butina's case is separate from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Butina has agreed to cooperate with investigators. She'll remain jailed while awaiting sentencing. ___ 9:55 a.m. A federal judge must sign off on the plea deal involving a woman accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government. Maria Butina's court appearance came days after her lawyers and prosecutors filed legal papers asking to change her initial plea. They said they had "resolved" the case. She pleaded guilty Thursday to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. The 30-year-old gun rights activist is accused of gathering intelligence on American officials and political organizations. Prosecutors say Butina's work was directed by a former Russian lawmaker. They say she worked to develop relationships with American politicians through her contacts with the National Rifle Association. Butina's lawyer has argued she is simply a student interested in better U.S.-Russia relations. BEIRUT (AP) - Even though Syria's civil war is winding down, 2 million of the country's children are still out of schools and it will likely take years and a lot of funding to help overcome the scars of the seven-year conflict, the head of the U.N. children's agency said Thursday. UNICEF's Executive Director Henrietta Fore said the agency has a shortfall of $95 million this year and has appealed for funds. She expects the agency's needs to swell even more only in 2019 as more refugees return to Syria and internally displaced people move back to their homes. Speaking to The Associated Press in Beirut after returning from a visit to Syria, she said schools that have not been destroyed by war are packed with students although some of them lack electricity or even doors and windows. Fore spent five days touring areas recaptured earlier this year by government forces from insurgents including the Damascus eastern suburb of Douma, the southern province of Daraa and areas in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. Speaking about Douma, Fore said that for families that have returned to the suburb "it is very difficult. I mean they are looking for water, they're looking for food. This is winter time in Syria, its cold but with just a little of plastic sheeting you cannot close in these apartments that are amid the rubble." "The living conditions are extremely difficult," Fore said. "The destruction is widespread. The donor community has been generous but we need to stay the course. The needs are enormous." UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press after returning from a visit to Syria, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Fore said Thursday that even though the fighting is winding down, 2 million children inside Syria are still out of schools and it will take years and a lot of funding to help children get over the scars of the seven-year conflict. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) Syria's conflict that began in March 2011 has impacted children heavily, many of whom have been killed or wounded. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, released a death toll for the conflict this week saying that among the half a million people killed over the past seven years, 20,819 were children or teenagers. The war has also wounded more than a million persons, including children who lost their limbs as a result of bombardment or touching unexploded ordnance. Fore said UNICEF and its partners are working on psychosocial support for the children who've been through too much violence and mine awareness program is one of the most important required now. She added that some three million children are trying to learn about unexploded ordnances. "Many times they can look pretty and they are on the ground," Fore said about unexploded ordnance, adding that "they're everywhere in many places and as a result you need to keep children away from this so that they don't lose hands, fingers and legs." She added that children need psychosocial support because "there's been a lot of scarring form the violence. You see scars on the outside of the child but there are also scars on the inside they have seen far too much violence, far too much death and it is really going to affect them." UNICEF said that for children who have missed years of learning due to the war, first-grade students can vary in age from six to 17 years of age. Many students are dropping out of school, with the drop-out rate across Syria is at 29 per cent, the agency said. This Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 photo provided by UNICEF, shows UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, sitting with students during her visit to Alexandria school in Ma'ardes, Hama, Syria. In an interview with The Associated Press after returning from a visit to Syria, Fore said Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, that even though the fighting is winding down, 2 million children inside Syria are still out of schools and it will take years and a lot of funding to help children get over the scars of the seven-year conflict. (UNICEF via AP ) This Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 photo provided by UNICEF, shows UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, speaks with students during her visit to Alexandria school in Ma'ardes, Hama, Syria. In an interview with The Associated Press after returning from a visit to Syria, Fore said Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, that even though the fighting is winding down, 2 million children inside Syria are still out of schools and it will take years and a lot of funding to help children get over the scars of the seven-year conflict. (UNICEF via AP ) PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - An award-winning Arizona newspaper publisher and his wife are locked in a bizarre divorce case that has morphed into something more: a journalism ethics saga. Joseph Soldwedel has accused wife Felice Soldwedel in a lawsuit of trying to kill him by poisoning him, and detailed the allegations in one of the small-town newspapers he owns, the 13,000-circulation Prescott Daily Courier. None of the three news stories in the paper named his wife. But the Courier ran an ad accusing her by name, with a photo of her, bordered with images of skulls and rats. The ad said she had an unnamed accomplice, and it offered a $10,000 reward for tips. Soldwedel's wife of eight years calls the poisoning claims ludicrous and says he is retaliating against her for seeking a divorce. "I've had people call me, text me, 'Felice, is that you in the paper? Oh my god,'" she told The Associated Press. "It almost makes you feel like you want to leave town. He made me look like this horrible person." The lawsuit alleging poisoning seeks $18 million from Felice Soldwedel and was filed a week after a prosecutor said there was no evidence of a crime and declined to file charges. In this Nov. 20, 2018 photo, Joseph Soldwedel, the publisher of the Prescott Daily Courier, poses for a photo in Phoenix. Soldwedel, the owner of a chain of small Arizona newspapers, and his wife Felice are locked in a nasty divorce dispute that includes allegations of poisoning. (AP Photo/Matt York) "It's highly problematic for a publisher to be using the editorial resources of the paper to pursue a personal vendetta," said Edward Wasserman, dean of the graduate journalism school at the University of California, Berkeley. He added: "The whole thing is pretty bizarre because someone who is not the publisher would not get that kind of attention, absent law enforcement taking it seriously." Soldwedel said the coverage was proper and he wanted to ensure law enforcement thoroughly investigates his claims. The Prescott paper did not run a story about the police investigation clearing his wife, he said, because "we don't think it's concluded." "I'm hoping to get her into court and to get it into trial and bring up enough evidence to the surface that police could not ignore it," he told the AP. Soldwedel's father built Western News and Info Inc. by buying smaller newspapers across Arizona. Joseph Soldwedel, now 66, delivered newspapers as a boy and at 23 became publisher of a paper in the chain. He has run the chain that owns and partially owns 13 newspapers for more than three decades. In 2001, he won an award from the Arizona Newspaper Association after launching a newspaper to investigate southern Arizona law enforcement and government agencies. He did so after he said police entered his home on what he claimed were false pretenses. Felice Magana joined Western News in 1999 and worked as an advertising sales executive. They married in 2010; it was the third marriage for both of them. They signed a prenuptial agreement guaranteeing she would receive $900,000 if they divorced and $1 million if Joseph Soldwedel died. He is now seeking to annul the marriage and invalidate the agreement. The divorce case will be tried in February, and Joseph Soldwedel's attorney is expected to raise the poisoning allegations to try to nullify the prenuptial agreement, said John Mull, the lawyer representing Felice Soldwedel. In 2016, Soldwedel said he had shortness of breath, headaches and fever that he first attributed to the flu. But he began to suspect he had been poisoned and sent hair and nail samples to a Colorado laboratory to test. The lab's general manager, Kaily Bissani, told the AP that thallium - a heavy metal once used in rat poison - was found at levels six to 15 times higher than normal. A toxicologist Soldwedel hired to interpret the results said there was a "strong probability" he was intentionally poisoned because Soldwedel didn't have any environmental exposure to thallium. Soldwedel said he believes his wife slipped poison into his food, and his attorney requested police investigate in September 2017. Prescott police searched Felice Soldwedel's computer and cellphone records and found nothing to indicate she poisoned him . In October 2017, police collected their own samples of his hair and found no signs of thallium or illicit drugs. But by then, Soldwedel said, he had cut his hair and undergone therapy to rid his body of heavy metals. He said he has mostly recovered. Police decided to test for illicit drugs a hair sample that Soldwedel had sent to the Colorado lab, and it came back positive for methamphetamine. Soldwedel told the AP he suspects his wife dosed his shampoo and food with methamphetamine, another claim she denies. Police did not retest that sample for thallium. Thallium is sometimes found as an impurity in illegal drugs, and prosecutors suggested thallium in the sample could be caused by methamphetamine use. Around the time Felice Soldwedel filed for divorce in April 2017, she reported to police her husband was stalking or harassing her. Joseph Soldwedel pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment and criminal damage. He's on probation. The Prescott Daily Courier did not publish any stories about the case. Felice Soldwedel, 63, first read about the poisoning allegations in a December 2017 issue of the newspaper left on her driveway, even though she wasn't a subscriber. No one from the newspaper has sought her side of the story, she said. Joseph Soldwedel said that he never instructed reporters at his papers not to contact her, but that doing so could put him at legal risk because he is under court order not to contact her. "We're not going to test it," he said. Reporting all sides of stories is a basic journalism rule, said Mi-Ai Parrish, a professor at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and former publisher of the Arizona Republic, the state's largest newspaper. "Having ethics and credibility in journalism is paramount, and you damage not only the reputation of yourself but of your publication," she said. Joseph Soldwedel said he was careful not to name his estranged wife until her identity became public through his lawsuit. He said his staff urged him to hold off on the initial story for a few months to see how the police investigation played out. "Everybody wasn't on board 100 percent but said, 'OK.' I do have ultimate authority," he said. In this Nov. 19, 2018, photo, Felice Soldwedel, wife of Joseph Soldwedel, poses for a photograph at her home in Prescott, Ariz. Joseph Soldwedel, the owner of a chain of small Arizona newspapers, and his wife Felice are locked in a bizarre divorce dispute that includes allegations of poisoning. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) In this Nov. 20, 2018 photo, Joseph Soldwedel, the publisher of the Prescott Daily Courier, poses for a photo in Phoenix. Soldwedel, the owner of a chain of small Arizona newspapers, and his wife Felice are locked in a nasty divorce dispute that includes allegations of poisoning. (AP Photo/Matt York) In this Nov. 19, 2018, photo, Felice Soldwedel, wife of Joseph Soldwedel, poses for a photograph at her home in Prescott, Ariz. Joseph Soldwedel, the owner of a chain of small Arizona newspapers, and his wife Felice are locked in a bizarre divorce dispute that includes allegations of poisoning. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) This Nov. 19, 2018, photo shows the Yavapai County Court House in Prescott, Ariz., where Joseph Soldwedel, the owner of a chain of small Arizona newspapers, and his wife are locked in a nasty divorce case that includes allegations of poisoning. Prosecutors have cleared Felice Soldwedel of any wrongdoing in the alleged scheme, but that hasn't stopped Joseph Soldwedel from pursuing his claims in civil court and chronicling them in his company's newspaper. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) BOSTON (AP) - Four former employees and an owner of the Massachusetts facility responsible for a nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak that has killed more than 100 people and sickened hundreds were convicted Thursday of fraud and other offenses. A Boston jury acquitted another employee, pharmacist Joseph Evanosky, of all charges after several days of deliberations. The defendants were among 14 people charged in 2014 following an investigation into the outbreak, which sickened almost 800 people. The CDC put the death toll at 64 as of October 2013. Federal prosecutors say more than 100 people have now died. The outbreak was blamed on contaminated injections of medical steroids made at the now-closed New England Compounding Center in Framingham, given mostly to people with back pain. Prosecutors said the New England Compounding Center made drugs in unsanitary conditions, sent untested products and deceived regulators. The workers convicted Thursday were not accused of producing or sending the injections that caused the outbreak, but of sending and approving other contaminated and substandard drugs. "Over the course of years, the defendants callously disregarded patient health by cutting corners and prioritizing profits over safety. And they got away with it by defrauding federal and state regulators," U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement. Evanosky, who worked in one of the compounding pharmacy's so-called clean rooms, where the drugs were made, was cleared of racketeering and other offenses. "He was an innocent man who never should have been charged in the first place," said his attorney, Mark Pearlstein. Among those found guilty was part owner Gregory Conigliaro, who was charged with conspiring to defraud the Food and Drug Administration. His lawyer declined to comment. Pharmacist Gene Svirskiy was the only defendant convicted of the most serious charge of racketeering. An email requesting comment was sent to a lawyer for Svirskiy, who was also found guilty of mail fraud charges. Other defendants, including pharmacist Christopher Leary, were acquitted of several counts but convicted of others. Leary's attorney, Paul V. Kelly, said the legal team plans to file post-trial motions and will appeal if necessary. Attorney John Cunha Jr. blasted prosecutors for bringing what he called an "outrageous" case against his client, pharmacist Alla Stepanets. Stepanets, who was accused of approving drug shipments with fake patient names like "Donald Trump," was found guilty only of misdemeanor charges. "The number of not guiltys shows you how severely overcharged this case was," Cunha said. So far, 11 people charged in the meningitis outbreak investigation have been convicted. Two other pharmacists are scheduled to go to trial next year. In January, Glenn Chin, a supervisory pharmacist, was sentenced to eight years in prison after he was convicted of racketeering and mail fraud. He was cleared of second-degree murder charges, which could have brought a life sentence. Co-Owner Barry Cadden is serving a nine-year prison term for his role in the outbreak. He was also acquitted of second-degree murder. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that more than 100 people have died as of December 2018, not 76. ___ Follow Alanna Durkin Richer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aedurkinricher WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (all times local): 4:20 p.m. A leader of dissident Democrats who struck a deal opening the door for Nancy Pelosi to become House speaker says his group had the votes to block her but faced factors that weakened them. Colorado Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter says Pelosi proved her popularity when Democrats overwhelmingly nominated her for the speaker's post last month. He notes that the insurgents produced no challenger to Pelosi. Perlmutter tells reporters he encountered supporters who didn't want a chaotic opening to the new Congress, which a battle over Pelosi would cause. The House elects its speaker when the new Congress begins Jan. 3. Perlmutter says Pelosi contacted him around Thanksgiving. He says he and Pelosi are friends and they had a dozen conversations before she and the rebels struck their deal Wednesday. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the speaker-designate for the new Congress in January, walks past reporters at the Capitol after a classified briefing by CIA Director Gina Haspel to the House leadership about thekilling of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and, the involvement by the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. The Senate is preparing for a possible vote on two resolutions to condemn Saudi Arabia for its role in the slaying. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ___ 12:15 p.m. Rep. Nancy Pelosi says she doesn't feel constricted by an agreement that clears the way for her to become House speaker next year in exchange for agreeing to hold the post for no more than four additional years. The California Democrat told reporters Thursday that four years is a long time. The 78-year-old Pelosi agreed Wednesday to a limit her service in the House's top job. By doing that, she won over insurgent Democrats who've wanted to clear the way for younger leadership. She'd spent weeks resisting a time limit, saying she didn't want to lose clout. Asked if she felt the agreement would make her a lame duck, Pelosi says, "What, four years? No, I don't think that's a lame duck." ___ 12:30 a.m. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi appears to have sealed her return as House speaker when the new Congress convenes next month. The California Democrat won over several rebellious Democrats on Wednesday by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four years. That pledge immediately drew the support of seven of her critics. Not only will Pelosi be second in line to the presidency as House speaker, she will be the government's highest-ranking Democrat and assume a leading role in confronting President Donald Trump for the second half of his term. The question of whether Pelosi would be elected speaker has distracted attention from Democrats' 2019 agenda focusing on health care, jobs and wages, and infrastructure projects. They also are expected to investigate Trump, his presidential campaign and his administration. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, walks past reporters at the Capitol after a classified briefing by CIA Director Gina Haspel to the House leadership about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the involvement by the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) - Months after the White House raised hopes for bringing home thousands of U.S. battlefield remains from North Korea, the returns have stalled. Detailed negotiations on future recovery arrangements have not even begun. The slower pace appears linked to the more talked-about stalemate over North Korea's nuclear weapons . At a June meeting with President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed to "work toward" the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to cooperate in recovering U.S. war remains. Neither issue is said to be explicitly dependent on the other, and in August, the North turned over 55 boxes of remains, with expectations of more to come soon. But progress then slowed, as has the nuclear diplomacy. Trump has said he likely will have a second summit with Kim in January or February, and while the nuclear issue would be the central focus, some believe a second meeting is the best chance to restore momentum to the remains recovery effort. "It is easy to wonder if that isn't what everyone is waiting on to happen," said Richard Downes, executive director of the Coalition of Families of Korean War and Cold War POW/MIAs, which advocates for a full accounting of the missing. The remains of thousands of U.S. service members were left behind in North Korea when the war ended in 1953, with the North and South separated by a demilitarized zone and no formal end to the conflict. Joint U.S.-North Korean recovery operations started in 1996 and were halted in 2005 amid rising worries about the North's nuclear ambitions. More than 150 individuals have been identified from the remains that were jointly excavated and returned through 2005; those are separate from the remains in the 55 boxes, which had been stored by the North, probably for decades. FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2018 file photo, Vice President Mike Pence, left, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Phil Davidson, center, and Rear Adm. Jon Kreitz, deputy director of the POW/MIA Accounting Agency, attend at a ceremony marking the arrival of the remains believed to be of American service members who fell in the Korean War at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. North Korea handed over the remains. Pentagon officials say they have been unable so far to draw North Korea into negotiations on returning additional remains of Americans killed in North Korea. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Of the remains repatriated in August in the 55 boxes, two have been positively identified. They are Army Master Sgt. Charles H. McDaniel, of Butler, Missouri, and Vernon, Indiana, and Army Pfc. William H. Jones, of Nash County, North Carolina. Charles H. McDaniel, Jr., who was 3 years old when his father went missing in November 1950, says the unexpected return of his father's remains has given him a new perspective on life. After having buried the remains in late October in Greenwood, Indiana, McDaniel says he sometimes finds himself gazing alternately at a photo of his 4-year-old granddaughter and a picture of his father in uniform - a reminder that family connections live on. "I almost feel he's looking at me," McDaniel said in a telephone interview. McDaniel describes himself as hopeful that more remains will be sent home from North Korea, but he is not optimistic. "The bigger issue for the world is the missiles and the bombs," he said, referring to concern that a nuclear-armed North Korea will pose an unacceptable threat to the world. "When it's to their benefit they will let loose with something like the 55 boxes (of U.S. remains) to make them look good," without resolving the nuclear issue. Kelly McKeague, head of the Pentagon agency responsible for worldwide efforts to account for U.S. servicemembers, said in September that he hoped to begin face-to-face negotiations with North Korea by the end of October on terms for resuming recovery missions in spring 2019. McKeague's agency has detailed knowledge of locations of U.S. remains at former POW camps and elsewhere in North Korea, as well as sites around the country where U.S. airmen went down and were not recovered. But to travel to these locations and undertake excavations, the U.S. needs North Korea's cooperation. In the past, this has meant providing millions of dollars' worth of vehicles and fuel and other forms of support. A McKeague spokesman, Charles Prichard, said Wednesday that no formal negotiations have begun. He said McKeague believes that "in the foreseeable future" North Korean Army officers and members of his agency will meet to determine the location and date for negotiations on "the finer details" of future recovery operations. An initial North Korean written proposal last summer was rejected by the U.S. as including unreasonable demands. "At this time, it is still feasible that joint recovery missions could be planned and executed in the spring of 2019," Prichard said. He said the two sides have exchanged letters and documents, but he could not reveal details. Last summer, Vice President Mike Pence publicly raised hopes for a complete accounting of Korean War remains in the North. Speaking in Hawaii, where he greeted the aircraft that delivered the 55 boxes from North Korea on Aug. 1, Pence spoke of a "new season of hope" for the families of servicemen missing from the 1950-53 war. Pence asserted that Trump had secured from Kim a promise "to return the remains of all fallen U.S. service members lost in North Korea," although Pentagon officials so far have made limited progress in that direction. Of the nearly 7,700 service members listed as missing from the war, about 5,300 are believed to be in North Korea. Some worry that the Pentagon's inability thus far to get the North Koreans to the negotiating table may be connected to recently tightened U.S. restrictions on American private aid workers traveling to North Korea. Daniel Jasper, who has worked in North Korea for the American Friends Service Committee, which works with farmers in North Korea to improve food production, said in an email exchange this week that the limitations have confused the North Koreans. He said the State Department has cut back on exemptions to a U.S. ban on travel to North Korea. This has limited U.S.-based aid groups' work there and inhibited the flow of humanitarian help. "The restrictions on humanitarian activities have, no doubt, sent mixed signals to the North Koreans," Jasper said. "We are worried these restrictions may have ripple effects in other areas of relations, including the repatriation operations." MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania man who has been praised for giving up his first-class seat for a mother with an 11-month-old sick baby said he doesn't think it was that big of a deal. Jason Kunselman said he first saw Kelsey Zwick and her daughter Lucy getting ready to board an airplane from Orlando to Philadelphia on Dec. 6. It's common to see ill children at the Orlando airport because of trips granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Mechanicsburg-area man said. Zwick was bringing her daughter to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment of chronic lung disease. The York Daily Record reported Kunselman saw Zwick was carrying her baby's oxygen machine and gave up his seat after learning the two were sitting in the back of the plane. "It was really touching," Kunselman recalled of his interaction with Zwick. "She said, 'Thank you.' I said, 'You're welcome.'" His kind gesture, shared by Zwick on Facebook , has garnered international attention and praise. Kunselman said he reached out to Zwick afterward and the two have been in contact since. Kunselman said he hopes to meet with her in the coming weeks. He also hoped that his act will encourage others to show kindness. "Hopefully, people will be kind to one another this season," he said. ___ Information from: York Daily Record, http://www.ydr.com CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's last nationally circulated, anti-government newspaper will stop publishing its print edition amid unrelenting government pressure and paper shortages, editors said Thursday. El Nacional's final edition will run Friday after 75 years in print. It will become an exclusively online publication. Upon learning of the changes to come, editors and reporters in the Caracas newsroom said they were undaunted, ready to press ahead and continue bringing critical news to readers. "They won't beat us. We're not defeated," said general manager Jorge Makriniotis, who recalled growing up with the paper in his family's home. "It's important to note that." El Nacional is known for its harsh criticism of the government of Venezuela, a once-wealthy oil nation that has been plunged into economic turmoil under two decades of socialist rule. Both the late President Hugo Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro, have had strained relations with the media and accused journalists of contributing to anti-government plots and publishing fake news. Journalists talk in El Nacional's newsroom, Venezuela's last nationally circulated, opposition newspaper, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The newspaper will stop publishing its print edition amid unrelenting government pressure and paper shortages, editors said Thursday. Their final edition will run Friday after 75 years in print. It will become an exclusively online publication. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) El Nacional joins more than a dozen local newspapers that in recent years have stopped circulating due to the lack of imported paper and the economic crisis striking media companies across the country. "We've endured longer than the others," Miguel Otero, El Nacional's president and CEO, told the Spanish newspaper ABC. "But in the end we could not persist." Venezuelan journalists work under the threat of jail or crushing lawsuits, driving several abroad fearing for their personal safety. A pro-government constitutional assembly created last year has passed a law decreeing up to 20 years in prison for publishing material deemed hateful. Journalists working at online news publications often complain of what they call government censorship done by blocking web searches through internet providers stopping readers from seeing their stories. Since August, El Nacional had cut back from printing daily to just five days a week. The newspaper does not release its circulation numbers, but editors say their print readers have dramatically shrunk in the last several years. El Nacional recently exhausted its foreign currency reserves to buy paper on the international market. Managers said in a letter sent to employees and published on the El Nacional website that they are finally forced to stop printing and turn to online only. The 50 journalists who work for the print edition now the 35 already working on the digital edition, and no one will lose their job, said the paper's editor, Patricia Spadaro. It was unclear what would happen to the 80 press workers. Pressure on El Nacional and its executives had mounted over the last 15 years, Otero said, citing an onslaught of tax reviews, advertising restrictions and lawsuits. He fled the country several years ago to escape threats of prosecution by authorities. Powerful socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello sued El Nacional charging defamation of character and claimed he won it and another lawsuit he filed against La Patilla, a popular news web site. Veteran crime reporter Rosibel Gonzalez covers the violent streets of Caracas, which is reputed to be one of the world's most dangerous cities. She said moving to being a digital reporter doesn't deter her. "We're not leaving. We're staying right here," she said. "Rosibel Gonzalez will continue writing in the news - in print and now in digital." A view of El Nacional's newsroom, Venezuela's last nationally circulated, opposition newspaper, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The newspaper will stop publishing its print edition amid unrelenting government pressure and paper shortages, editors said Thursday. Their final edition will run Friday after 75 years in print. It will become an exclusively online publication. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) WASHINGTON (AP) - Melania Trump spread her anti-bullying message on an annual Christmas season visit to a Washington children's hospital on Thursday, reading a story about a Christmas ornament named Oliver who is bullied by other ornaments in a family's collection. "Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year," the first lady said after she finished reading "Oliver the Ornament" at Children's National Health System. The author, Todd Zimmerman, sat a few feet away. Mrs. Trump launched an initiative earlier this year to teach kindness to children, naming it Be Best. Zimmerman thanked the first lady "from the bottom of my heart" for inviting him to be part of the visit, an annual tradition that dates to first lady Bess Truman, who served in the role from the mid-1940s to 1953. "It is such an honor and I'm humbled by your kindness," Zimmerman added. "I also want to thank you for everything you do to promote kindness through your Be Best foundation and all of your daily activities. It's that same type of kindness that we're trying to promote with 'Oliver the Ornament' and it's that same message that I hope all of you receive this Christmas season and throughout the entire year." Mrs. Trump is using the initiative to encourage children and young people to be kind online. First lady Melania Trump, accompanied by author Todd Zimmermann, left, Tearrianna Cooke-Starkey, second from left, and Nathan Simm right, reads "Oliver the Ornament" to children at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The first lady recently told ABC News during an interview in which she promoted Be Best that she could be "the most bullied person" in the world, judging by "what people are saying about me." Critics have pointed out that her husband, President Donald Trump, routinely mocks people on Twitter. Before taking a seat in front of a towering Christmas tree in the hospital's atrium, Mrs. Trump toured part of the neonatal intensive care unit and met with three families and children who had been treated there after they were born prematurely at 24 weeks. The two boys and one girl, ages 16 months to 6 years old, each weighed about 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) at birth. Mrs. Trump sat with the families while the children played and listened as Nikki Watkinson told the story of her son Grayson's early delivery in her husband's truck during a snowstorm. "You will have an incredible story to tell him," the first lady replied. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap First lady Melania Trump, accompanied by author Todd Zimmermann, fifth from right, Tearrianna Cooke-Starkey, fourth from right, Nathan Simm, second from right, and Santa Claus, right, reads "Oliver the Ornament" to children at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) First lady Melania Trump, greets a shy boy who was released from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) First lady Melania Trump, greets children released from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and their parents at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) First lady Melania Trump, greets children released from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and their parents at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) First lady Melania Trump greets patients in the audience after reading "Oliver the Ornament" to children at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) First lady Melania Trump greets patients in the audience after reading "Oliver the Ornament" to children at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) First lady Melania Trump reads "Oliver the Ornament" to children at Children's National Health System, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) - A bear cub found badly burned in a massive 2014 Washington state wildfire has been killed by a hunter. Rich Beausoleil with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said a team in September set out to find the den of the bear nicknamed Cinder because her radio-transmitting collar stopped working, KOMO-TV reported. Officials hoped the collar stopping transmitting in October 2017 because she was holed up for the winter. Instead, the team found her remains close to where she was set free back in 2015. A hunter had shot her and cut the collar, Beausoleil said. Cinder was last seen alive and healthy by researchers in February 2017 when they checked on her in her den high in the Cascade mountains. She was originally found under a horse trailer after a wildfire set off in July 2014 in north-central Washington state's Methow Valley. It burned about 400 square miles, destroyed 300 homes and was the largest fire in recorded state history. Cinder at the time weighed just 37 pounds and had third-degree burns on all four paws - so scorched that she was walking on her elbows. She was discovered by in the yard of a house two weeks after the fire swept past it. Her rescue captured global attention as she healed in centers in California and Idaho, doubling her weight within months. An interactive children's e-book called "Cinder the Bear" was released on the Apple Book Store, with proceeds benefiting Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and Idaho Black Bear Rehabilitation where she was treated. Cinder at 2 years old was then released in June 2015 alongside an orphaned cub named Kaulana, a younger male cub also injured by wildfires who wouldn't leave Cinder's side. Kaulana was also found killed by a hunter in 2015, which was within bear hunting season and a legal kill. LOS ANGELES (AP) - A film doesn't have to be great to have a great moment. They're not mutually exclusive of course, but a great movie moment is something more ephemeral - a few minutes of pure, inexplicable joy, or even jaw-dropping disbelief that you want to revisit immediately. It's the kind of scene you fast-forward to, the kind you want to re-watch with friends and family, the kind that becomes a meme. Here we look at some of our favorite movie moments from 2018 that stayed with us long after the credits rolled. Possible spoilers may follow. ___ ALLY TAKES THE STAGE IN "A STAR IS BORN" This image released by Warner Bros. shows Bradley Cooper, left, and Lady Gaga in a scene from the latest reboot of the film, "A Star is Born." Surely literal goosebumps are a good sign that you've just seen a pretty stunning movie moment, specifically where Lady Gaga's Ally takes a deep breath and walks out on stage to join Bradley Cooper's Jackson Maine and sing her song in front of thousands of people. (Neal Preston/Warner Bros. via AP) Surely literal goosebumps are a good sign that you've just seen a pretty stunning movie moment. That's what happens every time I watch the electric "Shallow" scene in "A Star Is Born," and, specifically where Lady Gaga's Ally takes a deep breath and walks out on stage to join Bradley Cooper's Jackson Maine and sing her song in front of thousands of people. PAST AND PRESENT MEET IN "MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN" Ok, so "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" might barely qualify as a movie, but it has enough smile-inducing moments to give it a pass. Plus, is there a more enjoyable ending of a movie this year than when the young and old versions of all the characters meet up to sing and dance to "Super Trouper"? A little voice in your head might be asking: Are they all dead? And why is there so much metallic fabric in heaven? But then Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard and Colin Firth emerge from below a bar, beer in hand and tops zipped down to their belly buttons and logical inquiry just sort of drifts away. RECREATING "THE SHINING" IN "READY PLAYER ONE" In a film full of fanboy indulgences and movie nostalgia, Steven Spielberg got to geek out with his own idol, Stanley Kubrick, by recreating "The Shining's" Overlook hotel in "Ready Player One" and put his own spin on it. Spielberg would never let homage get in the way of his own storytelling, though, so he settles for a brief wink instead of a full on rehash. KILLMONGER CHALLENGES T'CHALLA IN "BLACK PANTHER" It's not often that you find yourself really wondering what is going to happen in a major superhero movie, but "Black Panther" kept audiences guessing and no more so than in one of the tensest and most exciting scenes of the year, when Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger - one of the year's greatest movie villains - challenges Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa for the throne, disarming the sitting ruler first with his words before they fight for the kingdom. POOL PARTY IN "EIGHTH GRADE" Is there anything more uncomfortable than a middle school pool party? How about one you were only invited to because a popular girl's mom has a crush on your dad? That's what Kayla (Elsie Fisher) is contending with in Bo Burnham's "Eighth Grade." Burnham's camera puts the audience right there with Kayla, as she makes her way through the house and to the carnival of souls outside, and we're left to only cringe and root for her through every agonizing moment. EXPLAINING HARRY POTTER GANG THEORY IN "THE HATE U GIVE" "The Hate U Give" is a drama, no doubt, but there are some moments of wonderful, heartfelt levity that audiences might not realize from just the logline or trailer alone. In fact some of the best scenes are the lighter ones, including the moment where Starr Carter's (Amandla Stenberg) no-nonsense dad, Mav Carter (Russell Hornsby) explains how the Hogwarts houses are like gangs. JAILHOUSE SPIRIT IN "PADDINGTON 2" The enormously kind bear from Darkest Peru meets one of his greatest challenges when he ends up in the slammer with some unsavory cell block mates, but a little marmalade magic in the kitchen raises everyone's spirits, even Brendan Gleeson's Knuckles McGinty. EDDIE BROCK EATS A LOBSTER IN "VENOM" Was anyone more fully, totally committed to such a bizarre character this year as Tom Hardy was as Eddie Brock/Venom? Look no further than the so-out-there-it-works scene where, ravenously hungry, Eddie jumps into a live lobster tank at a fancy restaurant and takes a bite out of one of the crustaceans. It's an image I wish I could forget, actually, and yet... BASTIAN GETS BLOODY IN "GAME NIGHT" Olivia the West Highland White Terrier solidified her star status in "Widows," but her breakout role was just earlier this year as Jesse Plemons' dog, Bastian, in "Game Night," where she has the misfortune to be in the same room as a bleeding Max (Jason Bateman), one of the funnier moments of the year. Max notices his blood dripping onto the snowy white pup and tries to scrub it off with water. This of course just makes the little Westie pink and wet and itching to shake. MOTHERHOOD MONTAGE IN "TULLY" Pump. Feed. Change the diaper. Dispose of the diaper. Repeat. Jason Reitman and star Charlize Theron go through the monotonous repetition of life with a newborn in a wonderfully conceived montage in "Tully." It is funny, and dark and true. Because sometimes you're just so tired, you accidentally drop your phone on your baby. ___ And an honorable mention for a few movie moments that became memes: "I just wanted to take another look at you," from "A Star Is Born"; "Mr. Stark, I don't feel so good," from "Avengers: Infinity War"; Henry Cavill gets ready to fight in "Mission: Impossible -Fallout." ___ Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr This image released by Universal Pictures shows, foreground from left, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Amana Seyfried and Christine Baranski in a scene from "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again." (Jonathan Prime/Universal Pictures via AP) NEW YORK (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America deflected questions about a report suggesting it is considering seeking bankruptcy protection, though the head of the organization said it is exploring "all options" as it tries to stay afloat while facing sexual abuse lawsuits and dwindling membership. "I want to assure you that our daily mission will continue and that there are no imminent actions or immediate decisions expected," Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh said in a statement issued Wednesday evening. Surbaugh was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that the BSA, founded in 1910, had hired a law firm to assist in a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. He described the report as "news speculation," but he acknowledged that the group is "working with experts to explore all options available" as well as the pressures arising from multiple lawsuits related to past instances of sexual abuse. "We have a social and moral responsibility to fairly compensate victims who suffered abuse during their time in Scouting, and we also have an obligation to carry out our mission to serve youth, families and local communities through our programs," Surbaugh said. Other institutions facing multifaceted sexual abuse scandals have sought bankruptcy protection recently. USA Gymnastics took the step last week as it attempts to settle dozens of lawsuits related to abuse by now-imprisoned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. About 20 Roman Catholic dioceses and other religious orders around the U.S. have previously filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of clergy sexual abuse claims. Surbaugh apologized on behalf of the BSA to those abused during their time in the Boy Scouts. FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2013 file photo, shows a close up detail of a Boy Scout uniform worn during a news conference in front of the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving, Texas. The Boy Scouts of America says it is exploring "all options" to address serious financial challenges, but is declining to confirm or deny a report that it may seek bankruptcy protection in the face of declining membership and sex-abuse litigation. "I want to assure you that our daily mission will continue and that there are no imminent actions or immediate decisions expected," Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh said in a statement issued Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) "We have always taken care of victims - we believe them, we believe in fairly compensating them and we have paid for unlimited counseling, by a provider of their choice, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since an instance of abuse," he said. "Throughout our history we have taken proactive steps to help victims heal and prevent future abuse." In addition to abuse-related litigation, the Boy Scouts have been trying to reverse a decline in membership. The organizations' current youth participation is about 2.3 million, down from 2.6 million in 2013 and more than 4 million in peak years of the past. In a major step toward revitalization, the BSA is moving to open all its programs to girls, but even that has caused problems. Last month, the Girl Scouts of the USA filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the BSA for dropping the word "boy" from its flagship program in an effort to attract girls. That suit was in response to the BSA's decision to rename its program for 11- to 17-year-olds; it will be called Scouts BSA rather than the Boy Scouts, though the parent organization will remain the Boy Scouts of America. Paul Mones, a Los Angeles-based lawyer who has handled many sex-abuse lawsuits targeting the BSA, said the organization has assets of more than $1 billion, but has been under increasing pressure from litigation as public awareness of sexual abuse intensifies. Mones was co-counsel in a 2010 sexual abuse case in Portland, Oregon, that led to a nearly $20 million judgment against the BSA on behalf of a man molested by a Scout leader in the 1980s. As a result of that case, the Oregon Supreme Court ordered the BSA to release previously confidential files on suspected abusers. ___ Follow David Crary on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CraryAP DENVER (AP) - Kelsey Berreth was last seen on Thanksgiving Day, captured on surveillance video entering a grocery store with what appears to be her 1-year-old daughter in a baby carrier. Weeks later, investigators don't know what happened to the 29-year-old Colorado mother. Her fiance has told police the couple, who did not live together, met sometime on the holiday to exchange their child. After that, police said the only signs of Berreth were text messages from her cellphone. Her disappearance has mystified her family and police leading a multi-state search. "Kelsey, we just want you home," her mother, Cheryl Berreth pleaded at a press conference Monday. "Call us if you can. We won't quit looking." The woman's fiance, Patrick Frazee, told police she last texted him on Nov. 25, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Her employer, an aviation company, got a text message from Berreth's phone the same day, saying the flight instructor planned to take the following week off. Police later received data indicating Berreth's phone was near Gooding, Idaho, that same day, nearly 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) from her home in Woodland Park, Colorado. A police investigation was opened Dec. 2 after Cheryl Berreth asked for a welfare check of her daughter. The Woodland Park Police Department has classified the disappearance as a missing person case. Investigators who went to the woman's home found some cinnamon rolls in Berreth's kitchen and both of her cars still in place outside the home. Woodland Park Police Chief Miles De Young said the company where Berreth worked, Doss Aviation, has accounted for all their planes and police have no reason to believe she used someone else's plane for a flight. In the surveillance video released this week, Berreth is seen entering a Woodland Park grocery store at 12:05 p.m. Her hair is pinned back in a bun, and she is carrying a purse and a baby carrier mostly covered by a blanket. She then pushes a shopping cart into the store, perching the carrier on top. Police have not said what time she and Frazee met to exchange their daughter. The child remains with her father, police said. Frazee's attorney, Jeremy Loew, said in a written statement Wednesday that his client has been interviewed by police and provided investigators with a cheek swab for DNA along with his cell phone. Loew said neither he nor his client will comment further "as he does not want to impede law enforcement's investigation." Frazee missed Monday's press conference where Cheryl Berreth made her plea for information about her daughter, but Loew said his client only learned of the event an hour before it began and would have attended with more notice. "Mr. Frazee hopes and prays for Ms. Berreth's return," Loew said. "Mr. Frazee will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and continue to parent the child he shares with Ms. Berreth." Berreth's family has continued to urge people to share a poster featuring two smiling photos of the slight woman. "Kelsey loves her God," Cheryl Berreth said at the press conference. "She loves her family and friends and she loves her job. She's reliable, considerate and honest." According to public records, Kelsey Berreth previously lived in Washington state. In 2016, she moved to Woodland Park, a mountain community of about 7,500 people two hours south of Denver. "She doesn't run off and someone knows where she is at," her mother said. ___ Associated Press writers James Anderson and Colleen Slevin contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) - A looming, partial government shutdown would be "stupid" but might be unavoidable if Democrats refuse to support President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, the second-ranking House Republican said on Thursday. Even if Republicans assemble enough votes to approve the wall in the House, the plan probably will fail in the Senate, said Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California. The House majority leader noted that Senate Democrats have pledged to block the bill from receiving the necessary 60 votes. McCarthy said on the House floor that he thinks "going into a shutdown is stupid," but he offered no immediate plan before the Dec. 21 deadline. The House adjourned for six days soon after his remarks. McCarthy's comments put him at odds with Trump, who said this week that he would be "proud to shut down the government" in the name of border security. "I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down," Trump said Tuesday at a contentious White House meeting with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York. Trump kept up the pressure Thursday, saying in a video released by the White House that Schumer and other Democrats were once in favor of border barriers, but now oppose them because of Trump. President Donald Trump turns to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., during an event to sign H.R. 390, the "Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018," in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Calling Democrats "absolute hypocrites," Trump said, "They only don't want to do it because of me. They have to put the people ahead of politics." Trump's insistence on the wall - and his willingness to shoulder blame for shutting the government - have made it difficult for Republican leaders to negotiate even as they try to avoid a shutdown that neither party wants. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the Senate's No 2 Republican, said he does not understand Trump's strategy. "Maybe he's figured it out and he'll tell us in due course, but I don't understand it," Cornyn told The Washington Post. Pelosi, who talked with Trump briefly by telephone after the televised Oval Office session, said Thursday that Trump's embrace of a shutdown was unfortunate. "Perhaps he doesn't understand people need their paychecks. Maybe that's not the life he leads," she said about the wealthy former Manhattan real estate developer. "It's not enough to say, 'We'll pay you in January,' when people have to make ends meet in December," Pelosi said. Pelosi and other Democrats said there is strong, bipartisan support to keep the government open. "The only obstacle is the president of the United States," she said, adding that she and Schumer were not negotiating with Trump on the wall request. Democrats have offered $1.3 billion for border security that includes fencing and other technology, but not a concrete wall. "We're not going to $5 billion for the wall. We simply are not," she said. Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said Republicans will be responsible if a shutdown happens. He noted that the GOP controls the House, Senate and the White House; Democrats will take power in the House in January. Hoyer and other Democrats said Republicans should approve six of the remaining seven appropriations bills needed to keep the government open, and pass a separate measure covering the Department of Homeland Security at current levels through Sept. 30. Homeland Security would be responsible for building the wall along the border with Mexico. "It's clear we do not have agreement on the Homeland Security appropriations bill," Hoyer said, but lawmakers from both parties agree on six other spending bills. "Wouldn't that make sense for the American people for us to pass the 95 percent on which we have reached agreement after hard work all year?" Hoyer asked in floor remarks directed at McCarthy. "And on that which we can't agree, (lawmakers should) agree that we can't agree and fight that another day," Hoyer said. Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 3 House Republican, said his party would fight for Trump's $5 billion request, but he also encouraged bipartisan talks to continue. "The issue has always been what the Senate can or can't do, and that's why the president is involved in the negotiations," Scalise said. If the two sides do not make a deal by Dec. 21, about one-quarter of the government will be affected, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Agriculture, State and Justice, as well as national parks. ___ Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California holds a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Pelosi has all but ensured she will become House speaker next month, quelling a revolt by disgruntled younger Democrats by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four additional years in the chamber's top post. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Police have served several arrest, search and seizure warrants in connection with the killing of a Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman nine months ago, authorities said Thursday. Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, were shot to death March 14 while returning from an event focused on empowering young black women. The police department's statement said it could not provide further details on the warrants because the case is under seal. Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann told reporters last April that the killings were "very probably the work of Rio de Janeiro's militias." He was referring to armed groups who vie with criminal gangs for control of Rio's poor communities and have been accused of summary executions. After a turbulent two months during which oil prices plummeted from a four-year high to a one-year low, investors may wonder what comes next for U.S. crude. Analysts at Swiss bank UBS are among those who predict prices will recover in 2019, as oil cartel OPEC, the U.S. and Russia curb output from the current record level. "We believe the market's cautious turn is overdone," UBS analysts wrote in their recently published 2019 outlook. "On balance, we keep a positive view on crude." U.S. crude plunged 22 percent in November, its worst month in a decade. That followed a nearly 11 percent drop in October. "The decline in oil over the last month or two has been shocking to the market," said Lindsey Bell, investment strategist at CFRA. The sudden sell-off was sparked after investors grew concerned the global economy was slowing even as major producers continued to pump oil at high rates. The U.S. decision to hold off sanctioning countries that import oil from Iran boosted supplies further, and uncertainty over the escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China added to concerns of a slowdown. After peaking at $76.41 a barrel on Oct. 3, oil prices bottomed out at $50.31 a barrel on November 28. Since then, oil has edged higher in choppy trading. It settled at $52.15 a barrel on Wednesday. FILE- This Oct. 9, 2018, file photo shows an oil rig and pump jack in Midland, Texas. After a turbulent two months during which oil prices plummeted from a four-year high to a one-year low, investors may wonder what comes next for U.S. crude. (Jacob Ford/Odessa American via AP, File) UBS forecasts U.S. crude oil will climb back to $73 a barrel by mid-2019, as supply cuts offset lower demand due to the slowing economy. Oil should pull back to around $68 a barrel by the end of next year, UBS predicts, assuming that OPEC will "maintain production discipline." Oil prices steadied last week after OPEC and other major oil producers, including Russia, agreed to cut global crude production by 1.2 million barrels a day. The cuts are slated to begin in January and last six months. In its forecast, UBS sees other factors supporting higher oil prices next year. The analysts noted that global oil spare capacity is running at around a 10-year low. That can set the stage for prices to climb, especially if there's unexpected, sharp rise in demand for oil, say in the event a major hurricane strikes production facilities or a key port. UBS also predicts a slowdown in U.S. shale production next year because new pipelines are not expected to be operational until the second half of 2019. MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker executed a $28 million deal Thursday to save nearly 400 jobs at a Kimberly-Clark Corp. plant, using powers that his Democratic successor would no longer have under legislation approved last week during a lame-duck session. The deal means that the consumer-products giant will close a plant in Conway, Arkansas, that employs 344 people no later than 2021, Kimberly-Clark spokesman Terry Balluck. Employees at the Arkansas plant were told of the pending closure Thursday, he said. Walker, in his final month as governor, announced the deal at the consumer products company's plant in northeastern Wisconsin, the same day that he called for bills passed during the lame-duck session. That starts the six-day clock for him to sign or veto the measures. Walker, who was defeated in last month's election by Democrat Tony Evers, praised the deal reached after a larger incentive package originally worth up to $100 million failed to win support in the GOP-controlled Legislature. "If there is any talk about a legacy, I want this to be my legacy," Walker said. He's facing bipartisan pressure to veto the lame-duck bills weakening powers of Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, with opponents saying the measures are a GOP power grab and would be a stain on Walker's legacy. FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2018, file photo, Democratic challenger Tony Evers, left, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, shake hands during gubernatorial debate in Madison, Wis. Republicans pushing to hang on to power in Wisconsin and Michigan aren't stopping at curbing the authority of incoming Democratic governors. They're also trying to hamstring Democrats who are about to take over as attorneys general. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) One provision approved in the lame-duck session would require a legislative committee to approve the creation of enterprise zones like the one Walker approved to save the Kimberly-Clark plant. Under the deal, Kimberly-Clark will have to retain 388 jobs through 2023 and invest at least $200 million at the plant over that time to qualify for the full $28 million. It could also earn tax credits based on how much it buys from Wisconsin companies. "This is a pretty good Christmas going forward," Walker said at the announcement attended by plant workers. "We didn't just save your jobs for the short term, this is about a long-term commitment." Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark originally asked for resolution by the end of September but agreed to wait to make a final decision about the plant until after the Legislature acted. Republicans failed to muster enough votes in the Senate for the original bill, which was not voted upon during the lame-duck session last week. Opponents cast the original $100 million measure as a corporate giveaway and said the government shouldn't be picking winners and losers. But supporters said it was worth the cost to save the jobs and increased economic activity that keeping it open would generate. After the bill died, Walker pledged to reach another deal to save the plant before he leaves office next month. Evers renewed his call for Walker to veto the lame-duck bill that requires legislative approval for deals like this one, saying in a statement that "the governor of our state shouldn't be hamstrung when it comes to economic development." Kimberly-Clark, which makes Kleenex tissues, Huggies diapers and other paper products, said in January that it planned to close both the Fox Crossing and smaller Neenah plants in Wisconsin as part of the company's plan to cut up to 5,500 jobs and close or sell 10 plants worldwide. Its North American consumer business is headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, where the company was founded in 1872. Wisconsin is home to about 3,000 Kimberly-Clark employees. The Wisconsin plant is the only one in North America that makes Depend adult incontinence products. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross two national forests, including parts of the Appalachian Trail, was thrown out Thursday by a federal appeals court that harshly criticized regulators for approving the proposal. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond blasted the U.S. Forest Service for granting a special-use permit to build the natural gas pipeline through parts of the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests, and granting a right of way across the Appalachian Trail. "A thorough review of the record leads to the necessary conclusion that the Forest Service abdicated its responsibility to preserve national forest resources," Judge Stephanie Thacker wrote for the panel in the unanimous ruling. The court said the agency had "serious environmental concerns" about the project that were "suddenly, and mysteriously, assuaged in time to meet a private pipeline company's deadlines." The ruling also quoted "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, saying the Forest Service is trusted to "speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues." Aaron Ruby, a spokesman for Dominion Energy, the project's lead developer, said the developers "strongly disagree" with the court's ruling and plan to immediately appeal by seeking a hearing before the full 4th Circuit court. "If allowed to stand, this decision will severely harm consumers and do great damage to our economy and energy security," Ruby said in a statement. "Public utilities are depending on this infrastructure to meet the basic energy needs of millions of people and businesses in our region." The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the Sierra Club, Virginia Wilderness Committee and other environmental groups. Patrick Hunter, a staff attorney for the center, said the ruling is a "huge problem" for Dominion. "Their whole route is designed to cross the Appalachian Trail at this one location," Hunter said. "That means this pipeline - as they've designed it - is not a viable project at this point." The 605-mile (974-kilometer) natural gas pipeline would originate in West Virginia and run through parts of North Carolina and Virginia. The 4th Circuit said the Forest Service did not have the statutory authority to grant the right-of-way to cross the trail between Augusta and Nelson counties. Ruby said the court's ruling is "at odds" with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. "All of these agencies agree that the Forest Service has the full legal authority to approve the Atlantic Coast Pipeline's crossing of the Appalachian Trail," Ruby said. A spokeswoman for the Forest Service said the agency will review the court opinion and look into its options before taking any action. ___ This story has been edited to correct the name of the Department of the Interior. BRUSSELS (AP) - A top European Union official says EU leaders have agreed to prolong economic sanctions against Russia over its destabilization of Ukraine. The measures targeting Russia's economy were due to expire next month, but lifting them depends on whether the EU considers that Russia is respecting the Minsk peace agreement sealed in 2015. EU Council President Donald Tusk tweeted Thursday that the "EU unanimously prolongs economic sanctions against Russia given zero progress in implementation of Minsk agreements." The EU imposed sanctions on Russia in 2014 after it annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. They have been routinely rolled over due to the lack of progress on the peace front. More than 10,000 people have been killed since 2014 in fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. NEW YORK (AP) - The solar industry is blaming tariffs for delays and cancellations of major solar energy projects. An estimated $8 billion worth of utility-scale projects were canceled or put on hold for the five-year period that ends in 2022, according to a new report from the Solar Energy Industry Association and Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. The report says 9,000 jobs - mainly in construction and engineering - were either lost or not added because of the tariffs. In January, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of up to 30 percent on most imported solar cells used in solar panels, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing. The tariff rate will decline before phasing out after four years. Projects were canceled during the lead-up to the announcement, when installers, banks and power purchasers did not know how high the tariff would be, according to Dan Whitten, spokesman for the Solar Energy Industry Association, the solar industry's main trade group. "People kind of deferred planning," Whitten said. "They decided not to go forward with projects, because of that uncertainty." But analysts at Wood Mackenzie are expecting many of the delayed projects to come online by the end of the year. FILE- This July 18, 2018, file photo shows a portion of the largest solar installation in New York City in the borough of Staten Island in New York. The solar industry is blaming tariffs for delays and cancellations of major solar energy projects. An estimated $8 billion worth of utility-scale projects were canceled or put on hold for the five-year period that ends in 2022, according to a new report from the Solar Energy Industry Association and Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) About 10 percent of solar panels installed in the U.S. are made domestically, Whitten said. Tariffs also were imposed on materials such as steel, aluminum and electrical components, adding to the cost of building a solar farm. "The only way that we are able to deliver projects is if we are the lowest cost alternative to what a utility is proposing to build themselves," said Bret Sowers, vice president of development and strategy at Southern Current, which builds solar farms mainly in the Southeast. "When you add up all of the tariffs, in addition to the tariffs on solar panels, the solar industry got hit really hard based on the components we use to build our projects." Southern Current canceled or delayed about $130 million worth of projects that were planned for 2018 and a similar amount in 2019, Sowers said. The type of panels Southern Current uses are not currently made in the U.S., he said. Cypress Creek Renewables cancelled or delayed $1.5 billion worth of solar projects that were planned for 2018 through 2020 because the higher cost of solar panels made it difficult to compete with other electricity sources, the company said. Despite the tariffs, solar installations held up reasonably well, said Jeff Berman, a director at S&P Global Platts Analytics, in an email. Berman expects the impact to diminish as the tariffs weaken over the next few years. He said a bigger driver of installations will be the federal solar investment tax credit. That tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of residential or commercial solar systems will drop to 10 percent for utility and commercial installations and zero out for residential installations after 2021. Representatives from the White House and the U.S. Trade Representative's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Whitten notes that even if the tariffs jumpstart manufacturing in the U.S. as the Trump administration intends them to, solar manufacturing is highly automated, so "not many jobs would be created." PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Hemp is about to get the nod from the federal government that marijuana, its cannabis plant cousin, craves. A provision of the farm bill that received final approval in Congress on Wednesday removes hemp from the list of federally controlled substances and treats the low-THC version of the cannabis plant like any other agricultural crop. THC is the cannabis compound that gives pot its high. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law next week. The change sets the stage for greater expansion in an industry already seeing explosive growth because of growing demand for cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in hemp that many see as a way to better health. Federal legalization could triple the overall hemp market to $2.5 billion by 2022, with $1.3 billion of those sales from hemp-derived CBD products, according to New Frontier Data, a cannabis market research firm. "It's a huge deal because it's a domino effect. Banks can get involved now and if banks get involved, then credit card processors get involved - and if that happens, then big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart get into it," said Sean Murphy, a New Frontier data analyst who's tracked the industry since its infancy in 2015. "All these big players are going to come in." FILE - In this April 23, 2018 file photo, a sign designates the type of crop grown in a field as it stands ready to plant another hemp crop for Big Top Farms near Sisters, Ore. Hemp is about to get the federal legalization that marijuana, its cannabis cousin, craves. That unshackling at the national level sets the stage for greater expansion in an industry seeing explosive growth through demand for CBDs, the non-psychoactive compound in hemp that many see as a way to better health. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File) Hemp, like marijuana, already is legal in some states. Approval at the national level brings a host of benefits that the pot industry has yet to see. Hemp farmers will be able to buy crop insurance, apply for loans and grants, and write off their business expenses on their taxes like any other farmer. And those who sell dried flower or CBD-infused products made from hemp can now ship across state lines without fear of prosecution as long as they are careful not to run afoul of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many did so before, but always looked over their shoulder because the law was unclear. Michelle and Scott Fields, who run an organic hemp farm outside Grants Pass, Oregon, include a detailed letter to law enforcement in each package they ship that explains the dried flowers inside may look a lot like pot, but actually can't get anyone high. "Probably the best part of this is that everybody can take a sigh of relief and not worry about that gray area anymore," said Michelle Fields, who worked in real estate until three years ago, when she and her husband started Fields of Hemp LLC. Hemp looks like marijuana to the untrained eye, but it contains less than 0.3 percent THC. Federal legislation passed four years ago cracked open the door for some farming by allowing states to create hemp pilot programs or to conduct research on hemp cultivation. Twenty-three states issued 3,544 licenses in 2018, said Eric Steenstra, president of Vote Hemp, a nonprofit hemp advocacy group. At the same time, the total market for hemp - from textiles to seeds to CBD oil - has grown from a few million dollars in 2015 to $820 million today and about a third of that is from hemp-derived CBD, Murphy said. Large companies already experimenting in the hemp space anticipated the policy change and are poised to cash in. Vitality, based in Eureka, Montana, is a large U.S. hemp producer and grew 20,000 acres this year. The company last week announced a merger with the Canadian CBD extractor and marketer LiveWell. The new company aspires to become one of the largest hemp production and CBD extraction companies in North America, producing more than 6,600 pounds of CBD isolate (3,000 kilograms) a day by mid-2019, according to a company statement on the deal. Isolate is a crystalline powder form of CBD and is the purest product possible. The odorless, tasteless powder is commonly sold in one gram jars that retail for $35 to $60 each. "We were at the right place at the right time," David Rendimonti, president and CEO for LiveWell, said. "You're in a high-value, high-growth market. It's an amazing opportunity and now you have something that's really going to explode." Proponents say CBD offers a plethora of health benefits, from relieving pain to taming anxiety. Scientists caution, however, there have been few comprehensive clinical studies on how CBD affects humans. It's unclear if, or how, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will react to hemp legalization. The agency said it does not comment on pending legislation. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has said in the past that CBD products will be treated like any other products that make unproven claims to shrink cancer tumors or other statements. The FDA has sent warning letters to some companies marketing CBD. The new bill retains the FDA's authority over products that contain CBD. "That's the big question mark," Murphy said. "The market's going to grow, the market's going to expand, but it's going to come down to what the FDA is going to do about it." Individual states can also make and enforce rules banning hemp or CBD even though it's no longer considered a controlled substance - another wild card. Yet there's no question legalization means things will get a lot easier for small farmers. Clarenda Stanley-Anderson and her husband, Malcolm Anderson Sr., lost two acres of hemp they grew under a North Carolina pilot program when Hurricane Florence barreled through in September. They had no crop insurance because they couldn't get it when hemp was listed as a federally controlled substance. The Andersons plan to plant 15 acres this spring and put up greenhouses. They will buy crop insurance and have just signed a contract to provide their dried flower to a Denver company that will extract CBD from it. The growth potential in the industry has Clarenda Stanley-Anderson excited and optimistic. "It's all about the power of green, so when you look at it from that standpoint, it's going to be an industry that's here to stay," she said in a phone interview from her home in Liberty, North Carolina. "The possibilities are endless." _____ Gillian Flaccus is a member of AP's marijuana beat team. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus. Find complete AP marijuana coverage at http://apnews.com/tag/LegalMarijuana. In this September 2018 photo provided by Clarenda "Cee" Stanley-Anderson, Stanley-Anderson and her husband, Malcolm Anderson Sr., pose for pictures of their hemp-farming business, Green Heffa Farms, Inc., in Liberty, N.C. Hemp is about to get the federal legalization that marijuana, its cannabis cousin, craves. That unshackling at the national level sets the stage for greater expansion in an industry seeing explosive growth through demand for CBDs, the non-psychoactive compound in hemp that many see as a way to better health. (Donald Rex Bishop/Green Heffa Farms, Inc. via AP) BASSE-TERRE, Guadeloupe (AP) - Hundreds of students in the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe are clashing with police amid a protest over changes in their curriculum. Thursday's protest shut down schools and some roads across the island as students burned debris and threw rocks at police. At least three injuries were reported. Police said in a statement that 10 people have been arrested. Officials said 400 police officers have been mobilized. The government also has temporarily banned businesses from selling gasoline to anyone seeking to fill jerry cans or other types of containers. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A California judge who was recalled after sentencing a former Stanford student to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman is asking people to donate money so he can pay court-ordered attorney's fees to the backers of the recall. Former Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky - the first state judge to be recalled in nearly a century - is asking supporters to donate to his failed campaign before the end of the year, the Mercury News reported Wednesday. "My campaign committee has spent all its resources fighting the recall, and now must pay $135,000 to satisfy the attorney fees order, which is due by December 31," Persky said in the email titled "A Final Ask." Persky raised more than $840,000, but spent it all to try to keep his seat on the bench, which he lost in June when a majority of Santa Clara County voters chose to remove him. Stanford University law school professor Michele Dauber, who launched the recall campaign, said the judge only has himself to blame for his financial predicament. "Judge Persky made the bad decision to repeatedly file frivolous lawsuits and appeals with the goal of stalling and causing expense," Dauber said in an email. FILE - In this May 15, 2018 file photo, Judge Aaron Persky poses for photos in Los Altos Hills, Calif. Persky, the first California judge to be recalled in nearly a century is asking people to donate money so he can pay $135,000 in court-ordered attorney's fees to his victors' lawyer. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) The recall came after Persky sentenced former Stanford student Brock Turner, who was released from jail in 2016 after serving three months. The sentence sparked outrage among people who felt it was too lenient and Persky was targeted for the recall. Persky could not be reached for comment about his request for donations. One of his major donors defended his efforts. "I hope this works out for him. He's been punished more than enough," said James McManis, whose law firm represented Persky for free. ___ Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Spirits giant Diageo is taking a deeper plunge into bourbon and American whiskey production with plans for a new distillery in Kentucky. The $130 million venture includes plans to build a distillery and warehousing on an approximately 144-acre site at Lebanon in Marion County, the company said Thursday. Diageo officials said the goal is to start production in 2021. The company whose brand lineup includes Bulleit bourbon is hoping to increasingly tap into the popularity of American whiskeys. "Bourbon and American whiskey are vibrant and growing categories and we are excited to expand Diageo's footprint in Kentucky to support our ambitions in this space," said Barry Becton, a senior executive at Diageo North America. Global trade disputes, however, are threatening to dampen the good times for American whiskey makers. Those disputes have resulted in tariffs slapped on bourbon and other American whiskeys in some key overseas markets, including the European Union - where Kentucky spirits producers exported nearly $200 million of their products in 2017. But in announcing its Kentucky expansion, Diageo pointed to forecasts for continued growth in the bourbon category in coming years. The Bulleit brand had double-digit growth in the U.S. in the past year, it said. FILE- This March 9, 2017, file photo shows Bulleit Bourbon's new distillery outside Shelbyville, Ky. Spirits giant Diageo is taking a deeper plunge into bourbon and American whiskey production with plans for a new distillery in Kentucky. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner, File) Diageo said the new Lebanon distillery - about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southeast of Louisville - will supplement its Kentucky operations at the historic Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville and the Bulleit distillery, which began operations in 2017 near Shelbyville. The new distillery will be able to produce up to 10 million proof gallons per year - or 3.8 million 9-liter cases. The company said it plans to distill a variety of current and future bourbon and American whiskey brands at the new facility. The Shelbyville facility can produce up to 3 million proof gallons annually, or 1.1 million 9-liter cases, though there is room for Diageo to expand the plant. The Lebanon distillery is expected to create 30 new full-time jobs, the company said. The facility will be on the southern tier of the state's main bourbon production belt in central Kentucky. Marion County officials cheered news of the new whiskey production venture coming to town. "With Marion County's rich history in the bourbon industry, we are proud and humbled to add Diageo's name to this evolving legacy," said Lebanon Mayor Gary Crenshaw. Kentucky economic development officials said Thursday that Diageo is in line for performance-based tax incentives of up to $4 million from the state as a result of the venture. Kentucky distillers produce about 95 percent of the world's bourbon supply, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Last year, overall spirits production in Kentucky - mostly bourbon - surpassed 1.7 million barrels for just the second time since 1968, an increase of 129,000 barrels from 2016, the industry group said Diageo's other bourbon and American whiskey brands include Blade & Bow, I.W. Harper, Cascade Blonde, Orphan Barrel and Seagram's 7 Crown, but not all its products in those categories will be produced at the new Kentucky distillery, it said. American whiskeys account for just a fraction of Diageo's overall net sales. The company's most prominent brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan and Guinness. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Dissidents from Colombia's once largest rebel movement who were unable take advantage of a peace accord or grew disenchanted with the state's weak implementation are fueling violence in parts of the South American nation still waiting to see the benefits of peace, a rights group warned Thursday. An investigation by Human Rights Watch found that former guerrillas are waging a brutal campaign of violence in the port city of Tumaco, underpinned by booming coca production, a lack of basic infrastructure and disillusionment with peace. The group documented more than 120 crimes, including homicide, disappearances and rape in Tumaco, most taking place after the 2016 signing of the accord to end Latin America's longest-running conflict. The homicide rate in Tumaco was four times higher than Colombia's national average in 2017 and ex-combatants with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are believed responsible for much of the violence, the group said. "This is brutal," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Human Rights Watch's Americas director. Kidnappings and homicides have dipped to record lows in many parts of Colombia but residents live in fear in more remote regions where even basic services like safe drinking water and medical care are scarce. FILE - In this April, 18, 2018, boats cruise along Tumaco in southern Colombia. An investigation by Human Rights Watch found former guerrillas are waging a brutal campaign of violence in the port city of Tumaco fueled by booming coca production, a lack of basic infrastructure and disillusionment with peace. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File) Vivanco noted that at least 300 members of a criminal gang known as "Los Rastrojos" had become employees of the FARC before the peace deal but were not counted as former rebels when it came time to implement the accord. Instead many ended up joining dissident factions of the guerrilla army and returning to combat. Other former rebels went to transition zones set up by Colombia's government only to find the sites lacked essentials like running water and electricity and eventually became so disillusioned they decided to join their dissident comrades. Violence is being used in Tumaco by the dissident guerrilla front and other armed criminal groups competing for territory in one of the nation's biggest coca growing regions, Vivanco said. Human Rights Watch documented 21 killings there, including that of a fisherman who was found shot to death with a sign on his chest that read "for thieving and snitching." Vivanco said a military response alone would not be sufficient to quell the violence and urged Colombia's government to pursue development strategies that would improve economic prospects for residents and curb the illegal drug trade. BALTIMORE (AP) - The nearly 150-year-old Baltimore track that hosts one of America's premier horse races should be torn down and rebuilt at a cost of $424 million, according to a report issued Thursday. The Maryland Stadium Authority, in the second phase of a comprehensive study of Pimlico Race Course, recommends demolishing all existing structures at the historic track that hosts the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing. The rundown condition of the aging Baltimore track presents challenges threatening the "continued existence and the success of the Preakness Stakes," according to a summary of the conclusions. The Maryland agency said that despite the track's physical condition, there does not appear to be "situational factors" such as the surrounding city neighborhood of Park Heights and accessibility issues that would "negatively affect Pimlico Race Course's ability to remain the long-term home of the Preakness Stakes." The Stronach Group, a Canada-based development company that owns and operates Pimlico, has looked at a fresher track it owns in Laurel Park - located about 30 miles south of the Baltimore track- as a viable option for the Preakness. Under state law, the race can be moved to another track in Maryland "only as a result of a disaster or emergency." In a Thursday statement, Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group, agreed with the study's findings and called for collaborative action by state and city authorities during Maryland's upcoming legislative session in Annapolis. "A successful and viable future for Maryland Racing requires an industry encompassing and thoughtful capital plan that looks beyond one weekend of celebration to achieving great success year-round," the statement said. The company has previously suggested it could be open to a public-private partnership. Sandy Rosenberg, a state Democratic lawmaker whose district includes the Pimlico track, said the study sets forth a blueprint for "an extraordinary community development opportunity on the racetrack site that would also allow us to transform the current Pimlico into a 21st century racing facility." He said it's important to understand what the redevelopment would do for the other 51 weeks of the year when the Preakness isn't running. He noted the study recommends adding infrastructure around the track including a central plaza, various shops and a hotel. "It's putting on the table for public consideration a proposal that would be of great benefit 52 weeks out of the year to northwest Baltimore, the city and the region and to the racing industry, especially during that one week of the Preakness," Rosenberg said. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh said the city strongly endorsed the redevelopment plan recommended by the Maryland Stadium Authority, saying the economic opportunity it would bring could dramatically revitalize an area that's experienced disinvestment for decades. A spokeswoman for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he's always been supportive of keeping Preakness at Pimlico and would review the study in coming days. Back in its heyday, Pimlico hosted many of the sport's most memorable races: Seabiscuit's match race with War Admiral in 1938; Man o' War's debut in 1920 with a stunning win over Upset; and Secretariat's last-to-first victory during his Triple Crown run in 1973. Though work crews have found a way to make the track presentable for the Preakness every year on the third Saturday in May, many racing fans have said the need for a dramatic makeover has been blatantly obvious for many years. ___ Associated Press writer Brian Witte in Annapolis contributed to this report. BAMAKO, Mali (AP) - Suspected jihadists on motorcycles have killed at least 42 people during a series of attacks on Tuareg nomadic camps in Mali, local leaders said Thursday. Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, a Tuareg self-defense official, said the attacks took place Tuesday and Wednesday in the sprawling West African nation's eastern Menaka region. The victims, who included children as young as eight, were members of his group known as MSA, which has been fighting militants with ties to the Islamic State group who are active in the region. This week's violence risks setting off a new cycle of intercommunal clashes in the Menaka region, where 100 civilians have already been killed this year. In September, similar motorcycle gangs attacked a nomadic community near Mali's border with Niger, killing at least 12 civilians. Meanwhile, Malian authorities said Thursday they had arrested four men accused of planning attacks before the end of the year in several major West African capitals. Malian intelligence services said the men "were preparing to carry out attacks on certain sensitive targets" in the cities of Abidjan in Ivory Coast, Bamako in Mali and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The statement implicated the men in March attacks in Ouagadougou and said their group had become "a recruitment operation" for Islamic-inspired militants. The intelligence services also said a preliminary investigation "proved that the four terrorists also participated in the kidnapping of Colombian nun Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez" who was abducted in February 2017. WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal budget deficit surged to a record for the month of November of $204.9 billion, but a big part of the increase reflected a calendar quirk. In its monthly budget report, the Treasury Department said Thursday that the deficit for November was $66.4 billion higher than the imbalance in November 2017. But $44 billion of that figure reflected the fact that December benefits in many government entitlement programs were paid in November this year because Dec. 1 fell on a Saturday. For the first two months of this budget year, the deficit totals $305.4 billion, up 51.4 percent from the same period last year. The Trump administration is projecting that this year's deficit will top $1 trillion, reflecting increased government spending and the loss of revenue from a big tax cut. The new report showed that the higher tariffs from President Donald Trump's get-tough trade policies are showing up in the budget totals. Customs duties totaled $6 billion in November, up 99 percent from November 2017. Trump has imposed penalty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from a number of countries and on $250 billion of Chinese imports as the administration seeks to apply pressure to other countries to reduce their barriers to American exports. However, China and other nations have retaliated by imposing penalty tariffs on U.S. exports, sparking a tit-for-tat trade war. The administration still believes it will prevail and is currently in talks with China over trade practices the administration feels are unfair to American companies and workers. Last year's budget deficit totaled $779 billion. The administration is projecting that this year's deficit, for a budget year that runs from October through September, will total $1.09 trillion. The administration sees the deficit remaining above $1 trillion for three straight years. The only time the government has run deficits of this size was for four years from 2009 through 2012 when the Obama administration was boosting spending to grapple with the 2008 financial crisis and the worst recession since the 1930s. Trump has said that the new budget he will unveil next February will require 5 percent spending cuts for domestic agencies in a bid to trim future deficits. The administration is also counting on government revenues to be increased by faster economic growth from the $1.5 trillion tax cut passed a year ago. The $204.9 billion deficit last month was the biggest deficit ever recorded in November, a month when the government normally runs a deficit. Outlays were also a record in the month of November. Through the first two months of this budget year, revenues total $458.7 billion, 3.4 percent higher than the same period a year ago. Outlays totaled $764 billion, up 18.4 percent from the same period a year ago. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia is marking the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing by launching a new commemorative coin. The children of Apollo 11 crew members Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were on hand at the mint Thursday at the first pressing of the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Proof Silver Dollar. Congress has directed the mint to strike and issue up to 50,000 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollar coins, 750,000 clad half dollar coins and 100,000 five-ounce silver proof coins. The coins will not be available to the public until January. Next July will mark the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing by Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong and Aldrin. The two sides of the 5 ounce 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Proof Silver Dollar are shown during a ceremonial strike ceremony at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The coin commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing and is expected to be available to the public in January of 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has offered shifting explanations about hush payments made by his former attorney Michael Cohen to two women who alleged they had affairs with the future president. First, he denied knowing about them. Later, he called them a perfectly legal "private transaction." Cohen, who this week was sentenced to three years in prison, says he made the payments to help Trump's 2016 White House bid, a campaign finance violation. Federal prosecutors say the payments were made at Trump's direction. A look at some of Trump's statements: April 6 Trump issues a blanket denial that he knew anything about payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, telling reporters they should "ask Michael Cohen." April 9 President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) After a FBI raid on Cohen's office and hotel room, Trump calls the action a "disgrace." He says the FBI "broke into" his lawyer's office and tweets that "Attorney-client privilege is dead!" April 26 Trump acknowledges in a "Fox & Friends" interview that Cohen represented him in the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal." May 3 Trump acknowledges the Daniels payment for the first time, tweeting: "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA." Trump says the agreements are "very common among celebrities and people of wealth," and "this was a private agreement." July 25 A recording surfaces of Cohen and Trump allegedly discussing a payment to Playboy Playmate Karen MacDougal. Trump suggests, without evidence, that the tape may have been doctored, tweeting: "What kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad! Is this a first, never heard of it before? Why was the tape so abruptly terminated (cut) while I was presumably saying positive things? I hear there are other clients and many reporters that are taped - can this be so? Too bad!" Aug. 22 Cohen pleads guilty to campaign finance violations and other charges, saying he and Trump arranged the payments of hush money to Daniels and McDougal to influence the election. That next day, Trump argues that making the payments wasn't a crime and that the matter was a civil dispute, then takes a swipe at his former employee. He tweets: "If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!" Dec. 10 Trump compares his situation to one involving President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign and the Federal Election Commission, which typically handles smaller campaign finance violations, where the actions aren't willful, with civil penalties that are typically fines. The agency docked the Obama campaign $375,000 for regulatory civil violations stemming from the campaign's failure to report a batch of contributions, totaling nearly $1.9 million, on time in the final days of the campaign. The accusations against Trump, legal analysts say, could amount to a felony because they revolve around an alleged conspiracy to conceal payments from campaign contribution reports and from voters. It's unclear what federal prosecutors in New York will decide to do if they conclude that there is evidence that Trump himself committed a crime. Dec. 13 A day after Cohen's sentencing, Trump declares on Twitter: "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law" and argues that "many campaign finance lawyers have strongly stated that I did nothing wrong with respect to campaign finance laws, if they even apply, because this was not campaign finance." He adds, in an interview on Fox, regarding Cohen: "I never directed him to do anything wrong. Whatever he did, he did on his own." WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the congressional response to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (all times local): 7 p.m. Senators have voted to recommend that the U.S. end its assistance to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen and put the blame for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi squarely on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The votes are a direct challenge to both the longtime Middle East ally and President Donald Trump's handling of the relationship. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who co-sponsored the Yemen resolution, calls the vote a "historic moment." The bipartisan votes came two months after the Saudi journalist's slaying at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and after Trump persistently equivocated over who was responsible. U.S. intelligence officials concluded that bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but Trump has repeatedly praised the kingdom. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis arrives to give House members a classified security briefing, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, not shown, on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) __ 3:35 p.m. The Senate has passed a resolution saying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Senators unanimously passed a resolution Thursday in a direct rebuke to the crown prince. It calls for the Saudi Arabian government to "ensure appropriate accountability." It's unclear whether the House will consider the measure. Senators voted on it after President Donald Trump equivocated on who is to blame for Khashoggi's death and praised the kingdom. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that bin Salman must have at least known of the plot. Passage of the resolution came after senators passed a separate measure calling for the end of U.S. aid to the Saudi-led war in Yemen. ___ 3:30 p.m. Senators have voted to recommend that the U.S. stop supporting the Saudi-led war in Yemen, directly challenging both Saudi Arabia and President Donald Trump in the wake of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's slaying. The bipartisan vote Thursday comes two months after the Saudi journalist's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and after Trump has equivocated over who is to blame. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but Trump has repeatedly praised the kingdom. Frustration with the crown prince and the White House prompted several Republicans to support the Yemen resolution, a rebuke to the longtime ally. Others already had concerns about the brutality of the Yemen war. It's unlikely the House will consider the resolution. ___ 2:20 p.m. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have introduced a resolution rebuking Saudi Arabia for the slaying of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (jah-MAHL' khahr-SHOHK'-jee). The Senate could vote on the resolution as soon as Thursday, after considering a separate resolution that would recommend pulling U.S. aid from a Saudi-led war in Yemen. The resolution states that the Senate "believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi" and calls for the Saudi Arabian government to "ensure appropriate accountability" for those responsible. The resolution also calls the war in Yemen a "humanitarian crisis" and demands that all parties seek an immediate cease-fire. It is unclear whether the House would vote on the resolution if it passes the Senate. ___ 12:45 a.m. Senators are expected to vote on a resolution that would call on the U.S. to pull assistance from the Saudi-led war in Yemen, a measure that would rebuke Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (jah-MAHL' khahr-SHOHK'-jee). The Senate may also consider a separate resolution condemning the journalist's killing as senators have wrestled with how to respond to the Saudi journalist's murder. U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but President Donald Trump has been reluctant to pin the blame. Senators voted 60-39 on Wednesday to open debate on the Yemen resolution, signaling there's enough support to win the 50 votes needed. But it's unclear how amendments could affect a final vote expected to come Thursday. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on the commission investigating the Florida high school massacre (all times local): 3:30 p.m. Florida's Senate president says he is "very open" to a proposal that would allow volunteer teachers to carry concealed handguns if they pass a background check and undergo extensive training. Senate President Bill Galvano said Thursday he will consider the proposal the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission passed 13-1 on Wednesday. The commission is investigating the Feb. 14 massacre that left 17 dead and making recommendations to the governor and Legislature. Supporters argue that even the best response by law enforcement will likely take two to three minutes to confront a shooter, while teachers could immediately. Galvano said he wants a "realistic conversation" about what arming teachers would accomplish and that he plans to speak to opponents like the state teachers union and PTA. They say adding guns will make schools less safe and that teachers should not also have to be armed guards. __ 2:20 p.m. The commission investigating the Florida high school massacre criticized the local sheriff's office and FBI for not acting on tips that the suspect was a potential school shooter. The Marjory Stoneman High School Public Safety Commission concluded Thursday that both the Broward Sheriff's Office and federal agents failed to act on tips that suspect Nikolas Cruz was acting irrationally and had made threats. Cruz is accused of killing 17 at the school Feb. 14. Both agencies say they have taken steps to avoid a repeat. The commission cleared Broward deputies who responded to Cruz's home numerous times during his teens for minor incidents, saying there were no grounds for arrest. The commission also found the 20-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student never met the criteria for involuntary mental health confinement. Cruz has pleaded not guilty but his attorneys have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. __ 11 a.m. The commission investigating a Florida high school massacre heavily criticized the responding sheriff office's active shooter policy, saying it contributed to the failure of some deputies to run into the building and confront the gunman. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found Thursday that Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel's policy that deputies "may" confront active shooters rather than "shall" gave some an excuse for not entering the building during the Feb. 14 massacre that left 17 dead. Israel told commissioners last month he didn't want deputies engaging in "suicide missions," but the commission's law enforcement members said that could be handled by training deputies how to confront shooters in the safest way possible. The commission must file its report to the governor and Legislature by Jan. 1. YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) - Cameroon's leader has ordered the country's military tribunal to stop legal proceedings against 289 people accused of taking part in the country's separatist movement in its English-speaking regions. Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, secretary general at the presidency, did not say who would be freed in making the announcement late Thursday. He said President Paul Biya had "listened to the people" in making his decision to "maintain the country as a peace heaven." More than 950 English-speaking Cameroonians have been detained in the country's French-speaking regions for allegedly supporting separatists in the central African nation. The conflict began in 2016, when teachers and lawyers in the country's English-speaking region complained of discrimination from the French-speaking majority in education and the justice system. The government responded with a crackdown, creating some separatists who responded with violence. DETROIT (AP) - The Latest on a man convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman on a plane (all times local): 2:40 p.m. A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during an overnight flight from Las Vegas to Detroit. Prabhu Ramamoorthy was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Detroit. He was jailed after being accused of molesting a woman on an overnight flight in January. The 23-year-old victim says he unzipped her pants, unbuttoned her shirt and molested her with his hands while she slept. Investigators say Ramamoorthy was in a middle seat sitting next to the victim, and his wife was sitting next to the aisle. Prosecutors called it a "brazen" assault. Ramamoorthy is a native of India. He came to the U.S. on a work visa in 2015 and will be deported after the prison term. ___ 5:40 a.m. Federal prosecutors in Detroit are seeking nearly 11 years in prison for an Indian man convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during a commercial flight. Prabhu Ramamoorthy is expected in federal court Thursday in Detroit. He was jailed after being accused of molesting a woman with his hands while she slept on an overnight flight from Las Vegas to Detroit in January. Ramamoorthy was in a middle seat sitting next to the victim, and his wife was sitting next to the aisle. Prosecutors called it a "brazen" assault. Defense attorneys are seeking a prison term of less than 10 years, arguing Ramamoorthy's "life as he knew it is over." Ramamoorthy had been in the U.S. on a work visa. He'll eventually be deported to India because of the conviction. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A federal sale of oil leases in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska has again drawn a modest response. The Bureau of Land Management on Wednesday received 16 bids on 16 tracts covering 272 square miles (705 sq. kilometers), the Alaska Journal of Commerce reported . The BLM had offered 254 tracts on more than 4,375 square miles (11,330 sq. kilometers). Federal officials said the modest bidding could be attributed to the lack of access to the most prospective areas. BLM received seven bids in a 2017 lease sale. Environmental groups oppose expanded drilling in the reserve west of Prudhoe Bay. They say oil development will imperil caribou herds, polar bears and ecologically significant wetlands used for breeding by migratory waterfowl from around the world. The bids ranged from $57,000 to $216,000 per lease and took in $1.13 million. Half will go to the state of Alaska through revenue sharing. Most leases sold are near areas that ConocoPhillips is exploring and developing. Assistant Interior Secretary Joe Balash in a call with reporters said the 2018 results were encouraging. The lack of bidding, he said, compared with more active bidding on nearby state lands, underscores the need to review the land-use plan of the reserve. The petroleum reserve was created in 1923 by President Warren Harding as the Naval Petroleum Reserve and set aside as an emergency oil supply for the Navy. It covers 35,625 square miles (92,269 sq. kilometers), about the size of Indiana. Congress in 1976 renamed the reserve and transferred administration to the Interior Department. Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in 2013 announced a management plan that split the reserve's acreage roughly in half between conservation areas and land available for petroleum development. Salazar said oil companies would have access to nearly three-fourths of the estimated economically recoverable oil in the reserve. The plan increased conservation areas from 12,968 square miles (33,587 sq. kilometers) to 20,860 square miles (54,027 sq. kilometers), including additional land around Teshekpuk Lake, a renowned habitat for migratory waterfowl. Last December the U.S. Geological Survey increased its mean recoverable oil estimate for the reserve to nearly 8.7 billion barrels. Balash announced Nov. 20 that BLM would start a process to revise the 2013 land use plan with the goal of opening additional areas of the reserve for oil and gas leasing. Matt Lee-Ashley of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, in an email announcement called the lease sale another "major flop," trading wilderness for lease bids averaging $6.50 per acre. HONOLULU (AP) - A man who spent decades in a Hawaii psychiatric hospital for killing a woman wants to go to trial on escape and identity theft charges after authorities said he fled the facility and flew to California before being captured, his defense attorney said Thursday. Randall Saito appeared via video from a Honolulu jail on Thursday and watched as attorney Michael Green entered a not guilty plea on his behalf at his arraignment. "He wants to get his story out there," Green told The Associated Press. In November 2017, authorities said Saito walked out of Hawaii State Hospital, where he was sent in 1981 after he was acquitted of murder by reason of insanity in the 1979 killing of Sandra Yamashiro. After leaving the hospital, Saito called a taxi that took him to the airport, where he took a chartered flight to Maui. He used an alias to arrange the flight and paid $1,445 cash for it, prosecutors said. Then he took a commercial flight to San Jose, California, prosecutors said. When he was arrested in Stockton, California three days after his escape, he had more than $6,000 in cash and fake Washington state and Illinois driver's licenses bearing his photos with different names, prosecutors said. FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2017, file photo, escaped hospital patient Randall points to a guard as he sits in an inmate visitor's booth at San Joaquin County Jail before a scheduled court hearing in French Camp, Calif. The attorney representing Saito, who escaped from a Hawaii psychiatric hospital says Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, his client wants to go to trial. Attorney Michael Green says Randall Saito "wants to get his story out there." In November 2017, Saito walked out of Hawaii State Hospital and was captured days later in Stockton, California.(AP Photo/Terry Chea, File) While the escape is a "foregone conclusion," Saito wants to fight the identity theft charge, Green said. Trial is scheduled for March. While jailed in California, Saito gave various interviews with reporters, including the AP. He said he escaped to show that he should be free. "I was just trying to get as much time as possible under my belt to prove my point that I could be in the community without supervision and not be truculent or violent or stupid," Saito said at the time. A state attorney general's office investigation found no single employee directly responsible for the escape. A nearly 1,600-page redacted copy of the report doesn't offer any significant details into how Saito was able to escape and fly to California before authorities were notified he was missing. Lax oversight contributed to Saito's escape, the report said. "The absence of comprehensive procedures to account for patients' whereabouts, the lack of communication between staff performing different functions, and the relaxing of patient oversight contributed not only to Saito's being able to escape from the facility but to an eleven-hour delay in reporting this escape," it said. Patient counts were not conducted on the day Saito escaped because staff members didn't have time to do them, according to an unnamed employee interviewed for the report. Saito had established and continued to reap the benefits of an "honor system," whereby he was free to roam the grounds unsupervised and everyone expected him to return to his unit at the end of the day," he report said. After Saito's escape, six hospital employees were placed on off-duty status. Two have since retired, and the other four will be reinstated. No employees will be disciplined. The state would have difficulty establishing "just and proper cause" for disciplining a union employee, the report said. No employees provided Saito with the materials that helped him escape, Attorney General Russell Suzuki said. Hawaii Health Director Bruce Anderson said Wednesday that part of the problem was that hospital staff members were complacent about Saito's escape risk. "That's an embarrassment," Green said. "They were out of touch with what was happening." ___ AP journalist Mark Thiessen contributed to this report from Anchorage, Alaska. LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) - The Latest on a threat against Columbine High School (all times local): 3:45 p.m. Authorities are looking for the person responsible for making a bomb threat made against Columbine High School, leading to security precautions there and at nearly two dozen nearby schools in suburban Denver. A spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Mike Taplin, said that a person called Thursday morning, claiming to have placed explosive devices in the school and to be hiding outside with a gun. Taplin says no threat was found at the school, where 12 students and a teacher were killed by two students in 1999. He said he didn't know if the threat was connected to email threats made against hundreds of schools, businesses and government buildings across the country that are believed to be part of a hoax. Police elsewhere in Colorado said they responded to similar email threats. A member of the Jefferson County, Colo., Sheriffs Department stands guard outside the main driveway to Columbine High School Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Littleton, Colo. Students were kept inside the building as a large police response was summoned because a caller claimed to have placed explosive devices in the school and was hiding outside with a weapon. The call was determined to be false. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) ____ 1:25 p.m. Authorities say there is no threat to Columbine High School, but students will be kept inside for the rest of the school day after someone called in a bomb threat against the school. A spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's office, Mike Taplin, said that a person called Thursday morning, claiming to have placed explosive devices in the school and to be hiding outside with a gun. Taplin says nothing to validate the threat was found at the school, where 12 students and a teacher were killed by two students in 1999. The sheriff's office says it is working to locate the caller. The threat drew a large police response, but agencies began leaving shortly after midday. Students at 23 other schools nearby were also temporarily placed on lockout, meaning their doors were locked but classes continued normally, as the threat was investigated. ____ 11:55 a.m. Students at Columbine High School and nearby suburban Denver schools are being kept inside because of a threat against Columbine that has drawn a large police response. A spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Mike Taplin, said that a person called Thursday morning, claiming to have placed explosive devices in the school and to be hiding outside with a gun. Taplin says nothing to validate the threat was found at the school, where 12 students and a teacher were killed by two students in 1999. He says the school receives many threats annually and that the police response was appropriate. The school district says all doors are locked at the schools but that classes are continuing normally. A member of the Jefferson County, Colo., Sheriffs Department stands guard outside the main driveway to Columbine High School Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Littleton, Colo. Students were kept inside the building as a large police response was summoned because a caller claimed to have placed explosive devices in the school and was hiding outside with a weapon. The call was determined to be false. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Democrat Claire McCaskill had stern words for her soon-to-be former colleagues in the Senate in a farewell speech on Thursday, saying that polarization and fear of political consequences have rendered the body ineffective and unwilling to take on difficult issues. The two-term senator lost to Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley in her re-election bid in November. In an emotional speech from the Senate floor, McCaskill said she was proud of her 34-year public service career that included stints as Jackson County prosecutor, state representative, state auditor and senator. She called her fellow senators "family," but expressed concern about what the Senate has become since she first took office in 2007. "I'd be lying if I didn't say I was worried about this place," McCaskill said. "It just doesn't work as well as it used to." McCaskill, 65, didn't single out any individual senators, but she said the Senate has "too many embarrassing uncles." "The United States Senate is no longer the world's greatest deliberative body," McCaskill said. "And everybody needs to quit saying it until we recover from this period of polarization, and the fear of the political consequences of tough votes." FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2018 file photo, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., steps on stage to deliver a concession speech in St. Louis. In a farewell speech on the floor of the Senate, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, McCaskill said the Senate has lost its way due to political polarization and an unwillingness to take on tough issues. The two-term senator was defeated by Republican Josh Hawley in the November election. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson File) She cited a litany of concerns: Legislation written behind closed doors, omnibus bills so large that senators don't know what is in them and lobbyists learning details of tax bills before senators do. "Something is broken and if we don't have the strength to look in the mirror and fix it, the American people are going to grow more and more cynical and they might do something crazy like elect a reality TV star president," McCaskill said, a reference to President Donald Trump, who was the host of TV's "The Apprentice" prior to his election in 2106. McCaskill was subdued in her criticism of Trump during the campaign - perhaps understandable, considering that Trump won Missouri by 19 percentage points in 2016. But her floor speech and comments earlier Thursday during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" indicate she may be far more outspoken now that she's leaving elected office. On the TV program, McCaskill was asked what Republican senators say about Trump behind his back. "Nuts," McCaskill said. "Weak. Doesn't really understand government. Doesn't care to understand anything complicated. Asks and says the most unbelievable things in meetings that clearly show he doesn't understand the subject matter. No intellectual curiosity." In her farewell speech, she urged senators to "throw off the shackles of careful. Open the doors of debate. Reclaim the power of members and committees, and most of all, realize that looking the other way and hoping that everything will work out later is a foolish idea." Other senators took to the floor to honor McCaskill. Her Missouri colleague, Republican Roy Blunt, lauded the work they were able to do together on their home state's behalf despite their political differences. "Our state has benefited from your service in incredible ways at all levels," Blunt said. Another Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said McCaskill, like one of her political heroes, fellow Missourian Harry Truman, is "feisty." "She was always well prepared," Collins said. "She was always insightful. And she was always tough." ___ Salter reported from St. Louis. NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on the nationwide emailed bomb threats (all times local): 3:45 p.m. Businesses and schools across the U.S. were evacuated because of a bomb threat hoax. Officials in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Anchorage, Alaska, say businesses received emailed bomb threats Thursday that were part of what they believe is a nationwide hoax. Police are working with the FBI to investigate every threat. ___ 3:15 p.m. Authorities say bomb threats sent to dozens of schools, universities and other locations across the U.S. appear to be a hoax. The New York City Police Department said the threats sent Thursday were meant to cause disruption and compel recipients into sending money and are not considered credible. Some of the emails had the subject line: "Think Twice." The Palm Beach County, Florida sheriff's office and the Boise, Idaho police said they had no reason to believe that threats made to locations in those areas were credible. Across the country, some schools were closed early and others were evacuated because of the threats. Penn State University noticed students via a campus alert. Near Atlanta, people were ushered out of a courthouse. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - American conservationist Kristine Tompkins said Thursday that the creation of Argentina's first marine national parks is a milestone that gets it close to meeting its U.N. recommended goal for 2020. Argentina's Congress on Wednesday approved the "Yaganes" and "Namuncura-Banco Burdwood II" parks in the southernmost Argentine sea, covering a combined area of 39,000 square miles (101,000 square kilometers). The measure increased the country's protected oceans to nearly 10 percent of its total territory, which is close to its commitment to the 2020 goal agreed on by the U.N.'s Convention on Biological Diversity. It also protects habitat and feeding grounds for penguins, sea lions, sharks and other marine species. Tompkins is the widow of Doug Tompkins, a founder of the North Face and Esprit clothing companies. The couple used much of their fortune to buy huge tracts of land in Patagonia, a lightly populated region of untamed rivers and other natural beauty straddling southern Chile and Argentina. Since his death in a kayaking accident in 2015, Tompkins has continued donating vast swaths of Argentine and Chilean lands to protect them from development. Her Tompkins Conservation group also worked with Argentina on the creation of the marine parks. Tompkins said the new marine parks have "propelled Argentina a long way forward" in maritime preservation. In this undated photo provided by Beagle Secretos del Mar, a diver shines light on marine life in Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Argentina's Congress approved on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 two parks in the southernmost Argentine sea, increasing the country's protected oceans to nearly 10 percent of its total territory and protecting habitat and feeding grounds for penguins, sea lions, sharks and other marine species. (Felix J L Zampelunghe/Beagle Secretos del Mar via AP) "There are sea lions, some of the biggest penguin rookeries in the hemisphere. ... It's down by the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans and where they crash against each other, so you can imagine the richness and diversity that this area has. It's very special. It's unlike any other place on Earth," she said in a telephone interview from the southern Chilean city of Puerto Varas. "You have Antarctica coming up from the south, the Pacific from the west, the Atlantic from the east and it creates untold riches in terms of marine life." Argentina "went from a very low 2 percent (of maritime protected areas) to nearly 10 percent now," she said, adding that although other regional countries like neighboring Chile have protected a much greater percentage of maritime areas, it still marks a watershed moment. "Every country has to start some place and yesterday, Argentina really put it firmly on the map, and that's what counts," said Tompkins, who was recently named U.N. Environment Patron of Protected Areas. Tompkins Conservation says Argentina's new marine protected areas "harbor continental slope waters with cold-water coral reefs, an ecosystem that is considered globally vulnerable." Conservationists say the Namuncura-Burdwood Bank II park has deep seabed and underwater canyons with rich diversity. The Yaganes park remains mostly unexplored but it is a feeding area for endangered seabird species and is home to sei whales, fin whales and other marine species. In this undated photo provided by Beagle Secretos del Mar, a snail moves through Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Argentina's Congress approved on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 two parks in the southernmost Argentine sea, increasing the country's protected oceans to nearly 10 percent of its total territory and protecting habitat and feeding grounds for penguins, sea lions, sharks and other marine species. (Mariano Rodriguez/Beagle Secretos del Mar via AP) This undated photo provided by Beagle Secretos del Mar shows Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Argentina's Congress approved on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 two parks in the southernmost Argentine sea, increasing the country's protected oceans to nearly 10 percent of its total territory and protecting habitat and feeding grounds for penguins, sea lions, sharks and other marine species. (Mariano Rodriguez/Beagle Secretos del Mar via AP) In this undated photo provided by Beagle Secretos del Mar, a painted shrimp moves through Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Argentina's Congress approved on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 two parks in the southernmost Argentine sea, increasing the country's protected oceans to nearly 10 percent of its total territory and protecting habitat and feeding grounds for penguins, sea lions, sharks and other marine species. (Felix J L Zampelunghe/Beagle Secretos del Mar via AP) LACONIA, N.H. (AP) - A police recruit spoke to fellow officers about participating in a suicide pact or killing other officers at their graduation ceremony at New Hampshire's police academy, a court document released Thursday alleged. Noah Beaulieu told one recruit that "all it would take was one shot fired in the air and all the crossfire from responding officers would be what killed everyone," according to an affidavit. Police arrested Beaulieu, 24, of Concord, on a criminal threatening charge. They said he was a recruit from the Laconia Police Department who recently completed at program at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Academy. He was fired Wednesday. Beaulieu was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, but instead, a judge ordered him to remain in custody and requested a mental health evaluation for him. His lawyer, Mark Sisti, said he never meant to harm anyone. The affidavit said other recruits told Beaulieu to stop making the comments and that they weren't funny, but Beaulieu continued to talk about bringing machine guns and ammunition to the graduation ceremony, which is scheduled for Friday. They also reported he said a movie would be made about him when he became a serial killer. Laconia Police Chief Matthew Canfield told WMUR-TV that he will conduct an internal review of the city's background check process. He said "it was truly alarming to have someone that underwent such an intensive background investigation to make those comments." UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States demanded an immediate end to violence in Cameroon on Thursday and a speedy start to talks between the government and Anglophone separatists without preconditions. U.S. deputy ambassador Jonathan Cohen told the Security Council that security and humanitarian conditions in Cameroon's English-speaking North West and South West regions "have significantly deteriorated." October was the most violent month on record in recent years - and November is likely to surpass it, he said. Hundreds have been killed in Cameroon's English-speaking regions in months of fighting between the military and separatists who claim they are marginalized in the largely French-speaking country. "The violence must stop now," Cohen said. "The United States calls for an immediate and broad-based reconciliatory dialogue, without preconditions. ... We urge all sides to foreswear violence, to restore peace, and to resolve their grievances through political dialogue." He said the escalating violence is obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to over 430,000 internally displaced people as well as education and health access to children in rural areas. Reena Ghelani, director of U.N. humanitarian operations, warned that Cameroon is "one of the fastest growing displacement crises in Africa," saying that in addition to those who have fled their homes and remain in the country over 30,000 Cameroonians have crossed the border into Nigeria seeking refuge. The majority of internally displaced Cameroonians "are hiding in dense forests, without adequate shelter and lacking food, water and basic services," Ghelani said. "Schools and markets are also disrupted and there are alarming health needs." "We note with great concern the deteriorating situation with respect to the protection of civilians, including reported killings, burning of homes and villages, extortion and kidnappings in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon," she said, adding that there have been multiple attacks on schools and threats to students and teachers. British deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen said the United Kingdom takes Ghelani's warning very seriously and announced a $3.1 million contribution from the government to the U.N. appeal for the Anglophone regions to address immediate humanitarian and medical needs. This represents 20 percent of the U.N. appeal, he said, urging other countries to contribute. Both Allen and Cohen stressed Cameroon's important role in fighting against the Boko Haram group and other Islamic State extremists. Cohen noted Cameroon President Paul Biya expressed confidence in his inaugural address on Nov. 6 that "there is an honorable way out in everyone's interest." The United States encourages Biya "to make good on his commitment to accelerate the decentralization process" and implement recommendations of a Cameroonian commission on bilingualism and multiculturalism, Cohen said. Allen said that "words alone will not improve things" and strongly urged Cameroon's government to take urgent action to start a dialogue, undertake confidence-building measures, allow humanitarian access throughout the country, and ensure "accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses." BRUSSELS (AP) - Unlike the political chaos that has roiled Britain over Brexit, there has been no such squabbling among the 27 other European Union nations during the impending divorce. The two years of negotiations has shown a unity in the EU that many observers thought was not possible. Even British politician Nigel Farage, a force behind the 2016 referendum on Brexit who finds little to praise about the EU, has given grudging admiration. "We, as Brexiteers, are up against a very well-organized enemy," he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. Over the years, EU nations have fought often and hard over many issues like migration, fishing rights and kicking Greece out of the common currency union. On Brexit, though, their lawmakers have stuck together despite the many cultures, languages and political beliefs. But when British Prime Minister Theresa May came to Brussels on Thursday for talks with her European counterparts, seeking help to fix her domestic problems in Parliament, the tables had turned for all to see. European Union leaders attend a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (Piroschka van de Wouw, Pool Photo via AP) May was forced to withdraw the Brexit plan from a vote in Britain's Parliament this week when it was clear it did not have enough support to win. Too many lawmakers thought the terms were too tough and would still tie Britain to too many EU rules and constraints, perhaps indefinitely. She made a whirlwind diplomatic tour of key European capitals to see what could be achieved and whether there were any fissures to exploit among the bloc's members. But the nations said there would be no turning back on the 585-page legal agreement they had reached with May. Their message was the same, an Alpine echo from Berlin to Paris to Vienna. From German Chancellor Angela Merkel: "I don't see we can change the withdrawal agreement." From French President Emmanuel Macron: "We cannot reopen a legal agreement." From Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz: "There will be no new negotiation of the withdrawal agreement." On June 23, 2016, Britain approved a referendum to withdraw from the EU by a margin of 52-48 percent. Since then, May is on her third Brexit negotiator, countless new ministers, and worst of all, a botched general election she had called that left her Conservatives without a majority in Parliament. The referendum is still dividing British political life to this day. By comparison, the unity across Europe has been embodied by Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator. The smooth, silver-haired French diplomat and politician has won widespread praise. "Whilst I may be on a different side to Monsieur Barnier, I recognize his brilliance compared to the British prime minister," Farage said. Barnier credits his success to being open and transparent, to shuttling relentlessly from capital to capital, and to knowing the Brexit file inside out. EU nations also were helped by a common fear of the union unraveling further if May was offered a deal so advantageous that other countries might follow. Their unity was strengthened when two British foreign ministers compared the EU to both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Ever since joining European Economic Community in 1973, Britain almost always seemed to be a half-hearted member, insisting on exceptional treatment and continuously trying to slow others to move toward more unity. It refused to join the euro single currency or Europe's passport free travel area. Before the Brexit referendum, then-Prime Minister David Cameron sought "ironclad guarantees" that Britain would not be bound to ever-closer EU membership, something that fueled fears about a loss of sovereignty. Such guarantees would sway the electorate to stay in the EU, he said, and the EU obliged in a deal that was meant to be used as a campaign tool ahead of the vote. Except that Cameron lost the referendum. "The Cameron experience shows that the work we do here tends to evaporate," one EU diplomat said Thursday, highlighting the fact that political goodwill is running short, particularly since May already agreed to the Brexit deal last month. ___ Associated Press writer Lorne Cook contributed to this story. French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gather Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Member of European Parliament Nigel Farage speaks with journalists in the press room at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Member of European Parliament Nigel Farage speaks with journalists in the press room at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Member of European Parliament Nigel Farage speaks with journalists in the press room at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. EU leaders gathered Thursday for a two-day summit which will center on the Brexit negotiations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee quickly unloaded newly acquired Raytheon stock following a report that the purchase was made after he urged President Donald Trump to boost defense spending by billions of dollars. The Daily Beast first reported that a financial adviser to Sen. James Inhofe bought between $50,000 and $100,000 of Raytheon stock Tuesday, a week after the Oklahoma Republican met with Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to discuss the military's budget. Following that meeting, according to separate reports, Trump planned to ask Congress to provide the Pentagon with a record level of military spending in fiscal year 2020: $750 billion. Leacy Burke, a spokeswoman for Inhofe, said all of the senator's financial transactions are handled by a third-party adviser and Inhofe had "no involvement in and has not been consulted about his stock transactions." She said he wasn't aware of the Raytheon buy until it appeared in the system very early Tuesday morning. "As a result, the Senator has called his financial adviser and they reversed, or busted, the transaction," Burke said in an emailed statement. "This means that the transaction was canceled before it was settled; the senator never took ownership of it." Inhofe also instructed his financial adviser in a Wednesday letter "to no longer purchase defense or aerospace companies as a part of my financial holdings." FILE - In this July 17, 2017, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., leaves the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington. Inhofe, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, quickly unloaded newly acquired Raytheon stock following a report that the purchase was made after he urged President Donald Trump to boost defense spending by billions of dollars. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file) Raytheon, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, is one of the Defense Department's largest contractors, providing the U.S. military with missiles, sonars, torpedoes, electronic warfare systems and more. Inhofe, who took over as chairman of the Armed Services Committee following the death of Sen. John McCain, has long advocated for bigger defense budgets to pay for new warfighting gear and more uniformed personnel. Trump pledged during the presidential campaign to rebuild the armed forces after years of war, railing about what he claimed was previous administrations' neglect of America's armed forces. The Pentagon's budget for 2019 totaled about $716 billion. Mattis and other military leaders wanted even more - around $733 billion - for 2020. But Trump signaled in October he wanted the 2020 number to be just $700 billion, a sizable decrease. After the meeting last week with Mattis, however, Trump reversed course and backed the $750 billion figure. Inhofe and Rep. Mac Thornberry, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, warned against going below the $733 billion figure in a Nov. 30 opinion column published in The Wall Street Journal. "We cannot and should not balance our budget on the backs of America's troops," the lawmakers wrote. "Too much is at stake. This is a time to follow through on the progress of the past two years and give our troops the sustained, sufficient, predictable funding they deserve." NEW YORK (AP) - Barry Jenkins years ago went on Etsy to have a James Baldwin quote embroidered onto his leather phone case. The line so resonated with the filmmaker that it's also spoken in Spanish by a character in his short film "Chlorophyl." Jenkins no longer has the case but when the Baldwin line is read to him, he quickly takes up the reciting. "Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does," he quotes. "Love is a battle, love is a war; love is growing up." That sentiment hovered over the making of Jenkins' latest film, his lyrical, mournful portrait of a young black love torn tragically apart: the Baldwin adaptation "If Beale Street Could Talk ." It was there, too, in the anguished journey of Chiron on Jenkins' best picture-winning "Moonlight," a young man warped by the absence of affection. In both, love is a magical, mystical force molded by the obstacles of a harsh reality. "I did an interview where people were saying you're kind of building this career as a chronicler of black love. And I always hear that in the pejorative because I think people's idea of love is so simple," Jenkins said on a recent November morning. "But if I go back to that quote, yeah, of course, because I'm making these movies emotional wars, these emotional battles, and the evolution that comes out of that." In "If Beale Street Could Talk," which opens in limited release Friday, Jenkins sought to capture an experience of love that has seldom been seen on screen, just as it had been seldom inked when Baldwin published his Harlem-set 1974 novel. In bringing "Beale Street" to screen, little was more important than finding the book's central lovers: the humble but resilient 19-year-old Clementine "Tish" Rivers and Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt, the sculptor Tish has known since childhood. "When I read a book, I don't really see faces," says Jenkins. "The hope was to find two young people who just seemed so young, vibrant, pure, uncorrupted by the world - who had chemistry." In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, actor Stephan James, left, and KiKi Layne pose for a portrait in New York to promote their film "If Beale street Could Talk."(Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP) Jenkins cast Fonny first, handing the role to Stephan James, the Toronto-born, up-and-coming 24-year-old who played Jesse Owens in "Race" and John Lewis in "Selma." KiKi Layne, a 26-year-old theater actress who hadn't before acted in a film, landed Tish after Jenkins flew her to New York for a chemistry read with James. "There was just an energy about KiKi and it's evident in the film - just a raw, pure energy," James says, sitting next to his co-star. "I realized her willingness to be open and to be giving with me pretty early on. In that chemistry read it was like: I just met you five minutes ago and now we need to touch faces and I'm proposing to you." They laugh, remembering how immediately "Beale Street" prompted their intimacy with each other. As they launched into shooting the film without the benefit of rehearsal, both actors quickly found they were forging a fictional relationship with broader meaning. "We don't really see two black people portrayed as soul mates," says Layne. "I know Barry talks about that a lot. These two people are meant to be together from a very, very young age and that is powerful." "It felt like we were going to be able to do something for the first time, show people a different side of what it means to be black or what it means to be in love," says James. Both actors differed, in ways, from Baldwin's descriptions. In the book, each character is labeled as ugly (Fonny's skin is referred to as "like raw, wet potato rinds"), and Tish and Fonny see a beauty in each other that others don't. Yet there's also the impression that their low opinion of themselves has been distorted by prevailing racist attitudes of appearance. "The only thing I knew right away is that on screen these two people are so amazingly hot side by side," Jenkins says. "The way Tish remembers the romance in the film is heightened so I thought, 'F--- it, they're gorgeous. Can't do anything about it.'" The romance in Jenkins' film is intensely idyllic, often captured in wordless but deeply expressive gazes between Tish and Fonny. But after Fonny is framed for rape - a kind of inescapable consequence of the racist traps set everywhere for black men like Fonny - their scenes are often shared through the glass of a prison's visiting center. For those moments, Jenkins used Errol Morris' "Interrotron" method of shooting, allowing the actors to make eye contact while looking into the camera. James drew not just on Baldwin's words for Fonny but contemporary corollaries - specifically Kalief Browder, the Bronx man who killed himself after spending 33 months on Rikers Island and almost two years in solitary confinement after being arrested at age 16 for a robbery he insisted he had not committed. "Fonny struck me as somebody whose story was bigger than just Fonny's story," says James. "It felt like something that represented a whole bunch of voiceless young men in this country - African-American, Latino young men who are incarcerated. It just felt like Fonny was Exhibit A, one of so many." Layne, more outgoing and confident than her character, initially felt disconnected from Tish, who leans on her family's support when Fonny is sent to jail. "Like you see in the film everyone comes around Tish, everyone came around me, KiKi, as I was dealing with all these new experiences," says Layne, who has since filmed an adaptation of Richard Wright's "Native Son." ''That's when I started to make that connection to her. In playing Tish, I learned: That's strength as well. That is a strong black woman that I am playing. I just have never seen it portrayed in this way." Since "Beale Street" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, it has made Layne and James breakthrough stars. And it has engendered emotional responses for how it expresses not just the injustices of Baldwin's novel but the radiance of the love emanated from its characters - the "steady, somehow triumphant sorrow" Baldwin wrote of. Brian Tyree Henry, who co-stars in a pivotal role, stumbled onto the stage after his first viewing. "Black love is beautiful," he said, tearing up. "I don't think I have ever seen it like that." For Jenkins, one of the most moving screenings was at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. on IMAX. "Right away it hit me: A woman who looks like Regina King (who plays Tish's mother) and is doing this performance doesn't get shown on an IMAX screen. But it's cinema. And she's doing so much with her face that it should be larger than life, so why the hell not," Jenkins says. "I kind of understood this idea of people going in and seeing things that they haven't seen or they don't expect to see." ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, actor KiKi Layne poses for a portrait in New York to promote her film "If Beale street Could Talk."(Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP) In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, actor Stephan James poses for a portrait in New York to promote his film "If Beale street Could Talk."(Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP) This image released by Annapurna Pictures shows Stephan James, left, and KiKi Layne in a scene from "If Beale Street Could Talk." (Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures via AP) In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, actor Stephan James, left, and KiKi Layne pose for a portrait in New York to promote their film "If Beale street Could Talk."(Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP) This image released by Annapurna Pictures shows Teyonah Parris, from left, KiKi Layne and Regina King in a scene from "If Beale Street Could Talk." (Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures via AP) This image released by Annapurna Pictures shows Stephan James, left, and Brian Tyree Henry in a scene from "If Beale Street Could Talk." (Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures via AP) This image released by Annapurna Pictures shows Stephan James in a scene from "If Beale Street Could Talk." (Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures via AP) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A federal judge in North Carolina is shutting down a lawsuit against a Smithfield Foods hog feeding operation by some neighbors who complained of odors, flies and noises. U.S. District Judge David Faber on Thursday declared there wasn't enough evidence for those neighbors to pursue punitive damages. Jurors in Raleigh determined Wednesday that eight neighbors of a Smithfield Foods animal feeding operation in Sampson County should be compensated with between $100 and $75,000 each. The neighbors had complained about Sholar Farm, which houses up to 7,000 swine. Jurors in three related cases previously decided Smithfield Foods should pay nearly $550 million in penalties, which were reduced under a state law limiting punishment. Smithfield Foods said it believes the lawsuits are an abuse of the legal system. WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. health officials have traced a food poisoning outbreak from romaine lettuce to at least one farm in California. But they cautioned Thursday that other farms are likely involved in the E. coli outbreak and consumers should continue checking the label before purchasing romaine lettuce. The Food and Drug Administration said 59 people in 15 states have now been sickened by the tainted lettuce. That's seven more cases than previously reported, but regulators said they are fairly confident that the lettuce which first triggered the outbreak has been removed from the market. The FDA told consumers to avoid romaine lettuce just before Thanksgiving. Officials said a water reservoir at Adam Bros. Farms in Santa Barbara County tested positive for the bacterial strain and the owners are cooperating with U.S. officials. Officials from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not determined how the water reservoir - which is used to irrigate lettuce - became contaminated. The bacteria can get into water and soil through multiple routes, including waste from domesticated animals or wild animals, fertilizer and other agricultural products. The FDA's Dr. Stephen Ostroff said investigators have linked the tainted lettuce to multiple distributors and processors, suggesting it must have come from several farms. FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2018, file photo, romaine lettuce sits on the shelves as a shopper walks through the produce area of an Albertsons market in Simi Valley, Calif. U.S. health officials have traced a dangerous bacterial outbreak in romaine lettuce to at least one farm in central California. Food regulators said Thursday, Dec. 13, that other farms are likely involved in the E. coli outbreak and consumers should continue checking the label before purchasing romaine lettuce. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) A man who answered the phone at Adam Bros. Farms said he could not comment on the government announcement. According to the company's website, it only grows vegetables products, including broccoli, cauliflower, celery and various types of lettuce. The government also narrowed the source of the outbreak to three California counties: Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Benito. That's down from six California counties under investigation when regulators began warning the public last month. Regulators said people should only buy lettuce with a label listing where and when it was harvested. Lettuce from outside the three California counties that was harvested after Nov. 23 should be safe to eat. Romaine harvesting recently began shifting from California's Central Coast to winter growing areas, primarily Arizona, Florida, Mexico and California's Imperial Valley. Those winter regions weren't yet shipping when the illnesses began. E. coli, the bacteria often associated with food poisoning, usually causes sickness two to eight days later, according to health authorities. Most people with the infection get diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Some cases can be life-threatening, causing kidney failure and seizures. ___ This version corrects spelling of Adam Bros. Farms, not Adams. ___ 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. A farmworker moves irrigation pipe near Adams Brothers Farms west of Santa Maria, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. U.S. health officials have traced a food poisoning outbreak from romaine lettuce to at least one farm in central California. But they cautioned Thursday that other farms are likely involved in the E. coli outbreak and consumers should continue checking the label before purchasing romaine lettuce. Officials said a water reservoir at Adams Brothers Farms in Santa Barbara County tested positive for the bacterial strain and the owners are cooperating with U.S. officials. (Len Wood/The Santa Maria Times via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats controlling the House next year will start trying to obtain President Donald Trump's income tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service, the likely next speaker said Thursday. But Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., expected to lead the House when the new Congress starts in January, said she believes the White House will fight the request, "so the question is where do we go from there." Pelosi's comments reflected Democrats' struggle to balance liberal voters' antipathy and suspicions of Trump against the likelihood of a long legal struggle and uncertain political gains. Trump, a wealthy real estate baron, shunned decades of tradition by presidential candidates and refused to release his tax returns during his 2016 campaign. He said he was being audited, even though IRS officials have said taxpayers under audit are free to release their returns. The law says the chairs of three congressional committees can request tax returns and the Treasury secretary "shall furnish" them for panel members to review privately. Pelosi told reporters that the House Ways and Means Committee "will take the first steps" toward obtaining the documents. Democrats would love to explore numerous questions about Trump's personal financial webs. Those include whether there are conflicts of interest between his companies and his presidential actions, whether he's properly paid taxes and whether he benefited from last year's mammoth, Republican-written tax bill. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California finishes a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Pelosi has all but ensured she will become House speaker next month, quelling a revolt by disgruntled younger Democrats by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four additional years in the chamber's top post. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Even so, a court battle over the request could take years to resolve. Some are concerned Trump could cast himself as being persecuted by Democrats attempting to use the IRS to pursue their political enemies and warn his conservative backers that they might be next. Democrats have said the first bill they introduce next year will include language requiring presidents to release their tax returns. NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday: CVS Health Corp., down $1.13 to $73.37 The New York Post reported that a judge might bar CVS from integrating its business with health insurer Aetna. Tailored Brands Inc., down $6.01 to $14.13 The apparel company cut its annual forecasts, saying transactions at Men's Wearhouse stores fell in November and stayed weak. Aflac Inc., up $2.85 to $45.75 The insurer confirmed that it's held talks with Japan Post Holdings about a possible minority investment. General Electric Co., up 49 cents to $7.20 An analyst for JPMorgan Chase upgraded the struggling industrial company's stock to "Neutral." Delta Air Lines Inc., down $2.72 to $53.55 The airline gave a 2019 profit forecast that fell short of Wall Street expectations. Kimberly-Clark Corp., up $4.48 to $118.40 High-dividend stocks including household goods makers, utilities and real estate companies outperformed the rest of the market Thursday. Oxford Industries Inc., down $7.57 to $67.24 The owner of brands including Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer had a weaker-than-expected third quarter. Macy's Inc., down $1.04 to $30.80 Department stores and other retailers slumped Thursday. WASHINGTON (AP) - When Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., were preparing for their upcoming deployment to the Middle East, they faced an unusual challenge: the beach they needed to train on had been washed away by Hurricane Florence. Using bulldozers and other equipment, they moved enough sand to rebuild a portion of Onslow Beach so Marines could practice moving on and off landing craft and get certified for their deployment. But almost immediately afterward, the ocean swept away the sand. Marine leaders are saying it will cost around $3.6 billion to repair the extensive damage to Camp Lejeune caused by the September hurricane that destroyed hundreds of buildings and facilities on the major East Coast base and spawned massive flooding and coastal erosion. That damage, they said, has made it harder to train forces for overseas deployments. "We had to go through extraordinary efforts just to clear a patch of the beach so we could certify the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit that will deploy next week," Marine Lt. Gen. Mark Brilakis said in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press. "Marines are can-do. We went out and made that happen." But he said it's only a temporary solution. "We pushed a lot of sand around, and a lot of that sand went back into the ocean. So we're only going to be able to repeat that a couple times, if that, before we just don't have the sand available to create that kind of capability," said Brilakis, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. Marines conduct exercises twice a year in order to get certified prior to deployment. Part of that training involved bringing ships -- such as landing craft -- down to Lejeune from Norfolk, so that troops can rehearse combat landings and other mission drills. The beach must be wide enough to accommodate the ships, but the storm washed too much of it away. FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2018, file photo, waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C. as Hurricane Florence approaches the area. U.S. Marine Corps leaders say it will cost around $3.6 billion to repair the extensive damage to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from Hurricane Florence. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP, File) In addition to the beach, the more than 30 inches of rain that flooded the region washed out roads and knocked down trees, blocking access to training ranges. And a number of hangars were damaged, causing maintenance delays. Meanwhile, nearly 5,000 military personnel and family members at Camp Lejeune were displaced, as their homes were destroyed or roofs damaged. Hundreds of other buildings were also damaged by the wind and rain, causing mold that also must now be removed. Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, told senators this week that a number of the buildings are so old that it isn't cost effective to repair them. Instead, he said they should be rebuilt. Brilakis said that a lot of the newer buildings on the base were better able to withstand the storm, so it makes sense to put in new construction that will be up to current codes. Hurricane Michael, which made landfall in the Florida Panhandle in October, heavily damaged Tyndall Air Force Base, and that price tag, said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is about $5 billion. It's not yet clear what funding Congress may provide for the storm repairs. Brilakis said his priority is to make sure his Marines are ready to fight. "We will continue to do the things we need to do to get our forces ready," he said. "But I may not get the resources that I need to be able to ensure the readiness that's been asked for in the national defense strategy." NEW YORK (AP) - Starbucks is expanding delivery to more stores in the U.S. and China as it tries to accelerate growth in those two markets. The company says it will offer delivery from 2,000 U.S. stores by next summer through a partnership with Uber Eats. It isn't yet saying which stores will offer it. In China, delivery will be offered from 2,000 stores in 30 cities by the end of this year, up from 150 stores at the end of September. Starbucks began working with its Chinese delivery partner, Ele.me, three months ago. Starbucks made the comments at an investor presentation Thursday in New York. The Seattle-based company said it has simplified its business in recent years - by closing its Teavana stores and selling many European stores to franchisees, for example - so it can focus more directly on the U.S. and China. In the U.S., its largest market, Starbucks says it still sees significant opportunities to expand and expects to open 550 net new stores annually over the next few years. The company also plans to close 150 underperforming stores in 2019. This Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, photo shows attendees at a preview for Starbucks' Reserve Roastery in New York City. The Roastery is the fourth of six the company plans to open around the world. It is scheduled to open Friday. (AP Photo/Dee-Ann Durbin) In China, Starbucks plans to open 600 stores annually through 2022, bringing it to a total of 6,000 stores. Delivery is one area where it could expand. Investors questioned the economics of Uber Eats, asking whether Starbucks will earn less because of the fees Uber charges. Roz Brewer, Starbucks' group president of the Americas, said the company is still studying that. In Miami, where it has been running a pilot program with 200 stores, she said the company has found that delivery works best in dense urban areas, where Uber Eats' delivery fees are lower because of high demand. And CEO Kevin Johnson noted that customers are spending two to three times more on delivery orders than they would in the store, so that makes the partnership more appealing. Johnson says Starbucks has learned a lot about delivery since launching it in China in September. The company has special spill-proof cups, for example, and is making beverages hotter so they will be the right temperature to drink when they arrive. Johnson said the company has also opened two small kitchens in the back of grocery stores in China so it can quickly fulfill delivery orders. That is one idea that could eventually come to the U.S., he said. The company is also packing orders in tamper-resistant bags, so customers will feel more comfortable getting them from a third-party driver. Johnson said it's difficult to say what percentage of orders either in the U.S. or China will eventually come from delivery. Starbucks' mobile ordering and payment for pickup in U.S. stores more than doubled to 12 percent of orders between 2016 and 2018, and that could also happen with digital ordering, he said. "Customer behaviors are shifting rapidly," Johnson told The Associated Press. "We must continue to adapt and adapt rapidly to meet our customers where they are." Even as it's expanding delivery, Starbucks is continuing to try to improve its in-store experience. Brewer said Starbucks plans to renovate one-third of its U.S. stores this year to add equipment and redo delivery and mobile pickup areas. Starbucks is also opening a high-end Reserve Roastery in New York on Friday. The 23,000-square-foot store includes a bar with coffee- and tea-themed cocktails, Italian pastries and rare small-batch coffees roasted on site. Johnson said Starbucks plans to open two more roasteries, in Tokyo and Chicago, next year, but hasn't committed to more after that. The company also has them in Seattle, Shanghai and Milan. "It acts as a brand amplifier," Johnson said, noting that customers are still lining up to get inside the Shanghai store a year after its opening. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has come up with a theory about how Mexico, by hook or by crook, really is paying for his border wall despite saying a thousand times no. TRUMP: "I often stated, 'One way or the other, Mexico is going to pay for the Wall.' This has never changed. Our new deal with Mexico (and Canada), the USMCA, is so much better than the old, very costly & anti-USA NAFTA deal, that just by the money we save, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!" - tweet Thursday. THE FACTS: This is a face-saving statement to mask the fact that Mexico flatly refused to pay for a U.S. wall, Trump gave up trying to make it do so and U.S. taxpayers must foot the bill if the wall is to be built. In essence, Trump is arguing that new terms of trade with Mexico will increase economic growth in the U.S. and produce more tax revenue. That's what everyone hopes trade agreements will do. As part of that, he hopes for a lower trade deficit with Mexico. Neither outcome is assured. The deal negotiated with Mexico and Canada is an update of the North American Free Trade Agreement he has railed against, not a transformative pact. The three countries will continue trading in an environment of mainly low or no tariffs, with improvements here and there for all three partners. There is no credible way for Trump to forecast additional growth covering costs that are being charged to U.S. taxpayers if the wall is built. Trade balances depend on too many factors - consumer tastes, exchange rates, overall economic performance and the choices of thousands of companies among them - and some are well outside any government's control. Trump specifically promised in the campaign that Mexico would pay for the wall. That is not the same as trying to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, which is about the exchange of goods and services among private entities rather than payments between governments. Nor is a trade deficit necessarily a penalty on consumers. It is the result of consumers buying things made in another country. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with newly elected governors in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Trump wants some $25 billion from Congress for wall construction over five years and promises a partial government shutdown if he does not get a $5 billion or so portion in the next week. Congress may or may not give him that. If it does, it will not be because lawmakers expect a refund to the Treasury in future years from extra growth produced by a trade deal. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Two of the nation's largest retailers and a third company are named in a New York lawsuit claiming the companies imported and sold children's toys with lead levels up to 10 times higher than federal limits. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in the lawsuit filed in an Albany court Thursday that Walmart, Target and Randolph, New Jersey-based LaRose Industries, importer of the "Cra-Z-Jewelz" jewelry-making kits, "committed thousands of violations" of state laws regulating the safety of children's toys sold in New York. Underwood, a Democrat, said tests the attorney general's office conducted on kits purchased across the state in 2015 and '16 found that wristbands sold with the items contained lead at levels of 120 to 980 parts per million. The federal Consumer Product Safety Act for children's products set the limit at 100 parts per million. LaRose recalled the toys in 2016 after additional testing corroborated the New York tests. Underwood said the state's lawsuit stems from the test findings and the agency's follow-up investigation. "Our lawsuit seeks to hold these companies accountable for the failures that allowed lead-contaminated toys on store shelves, while forcing them to take responsibility for the safety of the products they sell," she said. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties from the companies and a court order requiring them to ensure they don't ever again sell toys containing high lead levels in New York. Spokespeople for Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart and Minneapolis-based Target both said the companies stopped selling the toys after the recall. Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said the company has discussed the matter with Underwood's office and will address the allegations in court. Target spokeswoman Danielle Schumann said referred additional questions to LaRose. A message was left with LaRose seeking comment. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council has approved a resolution extending the mandate of the 14,600-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in conflict-wracked Central African Republic. The French-drafted resolution adopted Thursday urges all militias and armed groups in the country "to lay down their arms, cease all forms of violence and destabilizing activities." It calls on President Faustin-Archange Touadera to advance talks with armed groups and national reconciliation "without delay." Russia and China abstained from voting. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports the peacekeeping force but he sharply criticized France for not including Russian concerns in the resolution. Russia wanted the U.N. force to support its training of Central African Republic troops. The country has faced interreligious and intercommunal fighting since 2013, and violence has intensified and spread in the past year. KATOWICE, Poland (AP) - The head of the Maldives delegation to the U.N. climate conference questioned on Thursday the point of the yearly summits, saying they are failing to produce meaningful results. Former President Mohamed Nasheed attended the 24th edition of the U.N. talks, being held this year in Poland and set to end Friday. After almost two weeks of talks, negotiators from almost 200 countries have not yet agreed on the rules for implementing the 2015 treaty from Paris on fighting global warming treaty. "What's the point" of having such negotiations if they don't lead to progress or solutions to problems that are related to the lives of people worldwide, Nasheed said. "There is a view among many of us that this is failing," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. Nasheed said there is an urgent need to implement the Paris agreement's call for keeping global warming at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) during this century. Without that, he said, the existence of the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, will be threatened. He said a lack of agreement in Katowice would only worsen the situation. Head of the Maldives delegation to the U.N. climate negotiations, former president Mohamed Nasheed, speaks to The Associated Press in Katowice, Poland, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Head of the Maldives delegation to the U.N. thorny climate negotiations has questioned the point of holding the annual talks, saying they are disconnected from reality and fruitless. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) He said the thousands-year-old nations in the Indian Ocean want to live "in our own homelands, we want to live with our communities with our culture, with our people." "We don't think that this is asking for much," Nasheed said. "We are just only saying: Please do not kill us." NEW YORK (AP) - President Donald Trump offered a simple defense Thursday to accusations he broke campaign finance law by directing attorney Michael Cohen to orchestrate hush-money payments to conceal Trump's alleged affairs: He was following terrible advice from a bad lawyer. "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called 'advice of counsel,'" Trump wrote on Twitter. The advice-of-counsel defense is a real thing. But Trump's ability to use it, if he were ever formally accused of a crime, is far from certain. And it could be risky. "People talk about advice-of-counsel as a defense more than it's actually asserted, and it's rarely successful," said Dane Ciolino, a constitutional law professor at Loyola University in New Orleans. Courts have held that the defense applies when a person has gone to a lawyer to ask about whether something is legal, disclosed all material facts, and then relied in good faith on the professional's advice that no laws were being broken. The illegal act in this case involves payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy centerfold Karen McDougal to keep them from talking about sexual encounters they say they had with Trump while he was married. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with newly elected governors in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Federal prosecutors in New York say the payments amounted to illegal campaign contributions because they were made at the height of the 2016 election season to keep voters from learning of Trump's alleged infidelities. Cohen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for the violations and other crimes, including bank fraud and tax evasion. Cohen has said that Trump was aware of the payments. In one instance, he recorded Trump giving him advice about how to buy McDougal's story from the parent company of the National Enquirer. It isn't clear from that recording, or other evidence made public, whether Trump and Cohen ever specifically discussed whether the payments were legal. Cohen and prosecutors say the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen for a $130,000 payment to Daniels. Cohen, Trump and David Pecker, the chairman of the company that owns the National Enquirer, had a meeting at Trump Tower in August of 2015 to discuss ways the media company could help the campaign, including buying the silence of women who might talk publicly about affairs with Trump, according to documents made public by federal prosecutors. Trump has not specified what advice, if any, he received from Cohen. In an interview Thursday with Fox News, he said: "I never directed him to do anything wrong. Whatever he did he did on his own. A lawyer who represents a client is supposed to do the right thing." An advice-of-counsel defense is "not easily invoked and has far-ranging consequences and risks," said Tony Alexis, a former federal prosecutor who worked in the Justice Department's fraud and public corruption section. For one thing, a person who invokes the advice-of-counsel defense can no longer claim attorney-client privilege, meaning his or her conversations with the attorney are no longer private and can be freely explored by prosecutors. "It's a very risky strategy," said Jennifer Rodgers, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan. In this case, it could give investigators access to records and communications between Trump and Cohen that were deemed confidential after the FBI raided Cohen's office earlier this year, Rodgers said. "He'd be waiving privilege with respect to everything," she added. While uncommon, the defense has had high-profile successes. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said last year he would not pursue state election law charges against New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in part because the parties involved in making legally questionable transfers of campaign funds relied on the advice of their attorneys. In the president's case, Rodgers said, Trump would have to establish that he was actually seeking Cohen's legal advice in connection with the hush-money payments and not relying on him to handle the matter as his long-time fixer. The advice-of-counsel defense is "for a client who says, 'I want to make sure I'm in compliance with the law here,'" Rodgers said. Trump has not been charged with a crime, and it remains unclear whether the U.S. Justice Department, under its own protocol, could even bring a case against a sitting president. SEATTLE (AP) - With scientists warning that the Northwest's beloved killer whales are on the brink of extinction, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced dramatic plans Thursday to help the population recover - including $1.1 billion in spending and a partial whale-watching ban. "We are undertaking a herculean effort to save these iconic creatures," Inslee said in a prepared statement. "It will take action at every level of the environment across our entire state." Starved by a dearth of salmon, poisoned by contaminants, and buffeted by vessel noise that hinders their hunting and communication, the orcas that live in the waters between Washington state and Canada's Vancouver Island have failed to reproduce successfully in the past three years. One grieving whale carried her dead calf on her head for 17 days last summer in an apparent effort to revive it. There are 74 left in the population, the lowest number since the 1970s, when hundreds of orcas were captured in the region and more than 50 were kept for aquarium display. Inslee, who is mulling a Democratic presidential run in 2020, detailed the plans as part of his announcement of his priorities for the 2019-2021 state budget. The money would go toward protecting and restoring habitat for salmon, especially chinook, the orcas' favored prey; boosting production from salmon hatcheries; storm-water cleanup; and quieting vessel traffic. Nearly $300 million would go toward complying with a court order that requires the state to replace culverts that block the path of migrating salmon. FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2014, file photo, an endangered female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound west of Seattle as seen from a federal research vessel that had been tracking the whales. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing $1.1 billion in spending and a partial whale-watching ban to help support the recovery of Puget Sound's critically endangered orcas. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) Money would also support developing plans to move or kill seals and sea lions that feast on Columbia River salmon where they get blocked by dams or other structures, and changing state water quality standards to allow more water to be spilled over dams, helping young salmon reach the ocean. Inslee called for a new capital gains tax and an increase in business taxes to help cover the tab. The governor also said he intends to ban commercial whale-watching of the local endangered orcas - known as the southern residents - for three years. He stressed that whale-watching will be allowed for other whales in Washington waters, including nonresident orcas that pass through, and that the state would undertake efforts to promote the industry to offset any lost business. Inslee said he intended to permanently double the size of the "no-go zone" for vessels around orcas to 400 yards (365 meters) and create a "go slow zone" with reduced speed limits within a half-mile (926 meters). The Department of Fish and Wildlife would get $1.1 million for public education and enforcement. His plans call for converting two state ferries to quieter electric hybrids and building two others as hybrids. In a written statement, the Pacific Whale Watch Association did not directly address the proposed ban on whale watching. It said it is committed to protecting the whales and that it supports "science-based actions that will best support the future of these whales, including go-slow zones aimed at quieting the waters." "Responsible ecotourism is a healthy and critical piece of conservation and education," the association said. The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity has sued the federal government for not doing more to protect the full range of the orcas along the West Coast. Catherine Kilduff, the group's attorney, called Inslee's plans to reduce vessel noise a good first step. But, as other environmentalists have done, Kilduff stressed that removing four major dams along the Snake River is essential for the recovery of salmon - and thus for the whales. A federal court has already ordered the government to consider breaching the dams. Inslee's proposal includes having a task force examine the implications of that - including whether irrigation, transportation and electricity provided by the dams could be offset, such as by shipping goods by truck or by rail or by boosting wind or solar power generation. Republican U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse, who represent Eastern Washington, said in a written statement Thursday that breaching the Snake River dams is out of the question. "The people of Eastern Washington whose livelihoods depend on these dams should not be collateral damage for anyone's presidential ambitions," they said. ___ Follow Gene Johnson at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's administration said Thursday it had wrapped up negotiations with Enbridge Inc. on building a tunnel to contain an oil pipeline beneath a Great Lakes waterway. Snyder's office released a series of agreements with the Canadian pipeline company, including details and timelines for the plan to drill the tunnel through bedrock under the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lakes Huron and Michigan. The project would lead to decommissioning of dual pipelines that run more than four miles (6.4 kilometers) across the bottom of the straits and have been in place since 1953. The Michigan Legislature voted this week to establish a panel that will oversee construction and operation of the tunnel. The Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority could approve the Enbridge deals during its first meeting next Wednesday, fulfilling Snyder's wish to have the plan etched in stone before he leaves office this month. The two-term Republican's successor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, has spoken against the plan and called for shutting down Enbridge's Line 5. "There's going to be a lot more that needs to be done, but this starts the process of building the tunnel," said Ed Golder, spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources. The document that will be submitted to the straits corridor authority says Enbridge will be "solely responsible for all costs of designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and decommissioning the tunnel," which the company has estimated at up to $500 million. east leg of the pipeline near St. Ignace as Enbridge prepares to test the east and west sides of the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac in Mackinaw City, Mich. Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, establishing a panel to oversee a hotly disputed tunnel that will house an oil pipeline beneath the waterway linking Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Snyder acted Wednesday, a day after the Republican-dominated Michigan Legislature gave the bill final approval. (Dale G Young/Detroit News via AP, File) It sets deadlines for steps such as selecting a team to develop project specifications, applying for construction permits and requesting proposals from contractors. After the tunnel is built, the straits corridor authority would assume ownership and grant Enbridge a 99-year lease. Other utility infrastructure, such as electric cables, could be placed in the tunnel. Supporters say the tunnel plan would continue the flow of oil through Line 5, a 645-mile (1,038 kilometer) pipeline between Superior, Wisconsin, and the Canadian city of Sarnia, Ontario, while eliminating the risk of spills in the straits area, which is valuable to tourism and the Great Lakes environment. "Enbridge believes the time is right to build for the future," a company statement said this week. Environmental groups, native tribes and some businesses say the area would remain vulnerable to spills while the tunnel is built, which could take up to 10 years. They want Line 5 shut down immediately and the oil routed elsewhere. "The Snyder-Enbridge backroom deal may be good for Enbridge but it's certainly not what's best for Michigan and the Great Lakes," said Mike Shriberg, director of the National Wildlife Federation's regional office and a member of Snyder's Pipeline Safety Advisory Board. A statement issued Thursday on behalf of Dana Nessel, a Democrat elected state attorney general in November, said she was "deeply concerned and troubled by the hasty legislative rush-to-judgment efforts to push through a proposal that WAS NOT properly vetted" and would "have negative repercussions on the state of Michigan and its residents for generations." It said Nessel was "committed to exploring the options of the AG's office in furthering the goal of protecting Michigan against an oil spill in the straits." Also Thursday, the state Senate approved Snyder's three appointments to the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority. They include Anthony England of Ypsilanti, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Democrat; Michael Zimmer, Snyder's cabinet director and a Republican; and J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon, a Republican who is wrapping up a term on the state Natural Resources Commission. Snyder appointed Richards earlier Thursday to replace Geno Alessandrini, a Democrat and business manager of the Michigan Laborers District Council, whom the governor had named to the straits corridor panel the previous day. Alessandrini said he'd decided against taking the post because of "family and business constraints." UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council voted Thursday to authorize delivery of humanitarian aid across borders and conflict lines in Syria for another year, expressing "outrage" at the continuing violence in the country and "grave distress" at the devastating humanitarian situation. The resolution, sponsored by Kuwait and Sweden, was adopted by a vote of 13-0, with Syria's main council ally Russia abstaining along with China. U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock thanked the council for approving the resolution, saying that "cross-border aid provides a critical lifeline for millions of Syrians who cannot be supported through other means." "You have done your part; we will now do ours to sustain aid in a way that is as effective and accountable as possible," he said. Lowcock said the situation is especially "very challenging" in northwestern Syria, where some 3 million people remain dependent on cross-border aid. While a pause in airstrikes has been positive, he said, shelling and fighting continues in and around the demilitarized zone and recent hostilities forced nearly 15,000 people to flee their homes to neighboring villages. Lowcock also warned that Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, "remains on the edge of a humanitarian disaster." He said a further escalation of violence "would quickly overwhelm the ability of humanitarian agencies to respond." He urged the warring parties to end the violence and head of the "humanitarian catastrophe" that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned about. Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari criticized the resolution for deliberately avoiding Syrian sovereignty. Russia's ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said Moscow abstained because "the new realities in Syria" require that the program for cross-border deliveries be fine-tuned "with the ultimate goal here being to gradually but inevitably wrap it up," but this was not included in the resolution. "We decided not to block the decision because of humanitarian considerations and also taking into account appeals from our partners in the region," Nebenzia said. The resolution expresses "outrage at the unacceptable level of violence and the killing of hundreds of thousands of people, including tens of thousands of child casualties, as a result of the Syrian conflict," which began in 2013. The Security Council reiterated "its grave distress at the continued devastating humanitarian situation in Syria and at the fact that urgent humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, is required by more than 13 million people," including 6.2 million who have fled their homes and more than 1 million still living in hard-to-reach areas. The resolution renewed cross-border deliveries until Jan. 10, 2020, demanded unimpeded access for humanitarian convoys from the U.N. and its partners, and stressed that "the situation will continue to deteriorate further in the absence of a political solution to the Syrian conflict." The council again warned that "it will take further measures" - U.N. language for sanctions - against those violating the resolution. PHOENIX (AP) - Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio alleged in a defamation lawsuit earlier this week against three news organizations that CNN made no effort to correct anchor Chris Cuomo's erroneous statement that the lawman was a convicted felon. But CNN released a statement Thursday saying Cuomo corrected his error on air within minutes of making it during the Jan. 10 broadcast. "He is convicted of a misdemeanor. He's not a convicted felon, like I said," Cuomo said. "Meaningful distinction. He got pardoned." The former six-term sheriff of metro Phoenix said Cuomo's correction has no bearing on the case. "Whether he apologized and corrected it, he still threw it out there for the whole world to see," Arpaio said. "He should have known better to begin with." CNN said an online companion story about Arpaio didn't contain Cuomo's correction, though the story has been updated to include the anchor's on-air correction and a written preface that points out Cuomo rectified the error during the same show. "Obviously if CNN had been made aware of the oversight in the digital posting it would have corrected that immediately too," CNN's statement said. "There is nothing here that would support a claim for defamation by Arpaio." Arpaio filed the lawsuit earlier this week against CNN, Huffington Post and Rolling Stone magazine seeking $300 million. He alleged inaccurate references by the news organizations to his criminal case have hurt his chances at possibly running in 2020 for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by John McCain. The lawsuit alleges that Arpaio has been the subject of ridicule as a result of the inaccurate statements, his reputation has been severely harmed and his chances of raising campaign funds have been damaged. The former sheriff's 2017 criminal contempt of court conviction for disobeying a judge's order to stop his immigration patrols was a misdemeanor, not a felony. A pardon by President Donald Trump spared Arpaio a possible jail sentence. He was defeated in the 2016 sheriff's race and finished in last place during this summer's Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake. Arpaio, 86, has said he doesn't know for sure whether he'll run in the 2020 Senate race to fill McCain's former post. Larry Klayman, an attorney representing Arpaio in the lawsuit, said he stands by the claim that CNN made no effort to correct the story. "We have no evidence an effort was made," Klayman said. The lawsuit also focuses on a Huffington Post story in November that erroneously said Arpaio had been sent to prison for contempt of court. While the lawsuit said Huffington Post made no effort to correct the error, a correction at the bottom of the story says a previous version of the article mistakenly indicated Arpaio went to prison for his conviction. Huffington Post didn't respond to an email Thursday seeking comment on the lawsuit. The lawsuit notes that Rolling Stone had corrected an error in a November story that erroneously said Arpaio was an ex-felon. That story contains an editor's note that said the magazine regretted the error and that the story was updated to reflect that Arpaio's conviction was a misdemeanor, not a felony. The lawsuit also said anyone who read the incorrect version of the Rolling Stone story still wouldn't know that it was erroneous to call Arpaio an ex-felon. A message left Thursday at Rolling Stone seeking comment on the lawsuit wasn't immediately returned. ___ Follow Jacques Billeaud at www.twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud . NEW YORK (AP) - Wrapping up a year of privacy scandals , congressional hearings and a host of other problems, Facebook hosted a one-day "pop-up" event in New York City's Bryant Park on Thursday, hoping to talk to users about their privacy settings, ad preferences and whatever else may be on their mind. Amid the park's holiday market, food stalls and a busy ice-skating rink, the company set up a trailer to lure in passers-by from the cold with hot chocolate. Some did, though journalists and Facebook employees in gray fleece sweaters far outnumbered members of the public as of midday. Facebook's chief privacy officer, Erin Egan, acknowledged that only a few of Facebook's more than 2 billion users are likely to stop by. But she says the hope is that those who do will "teach others" about what they learn. Facebook has held similar events in Dubai, Dublin, London and Cologne, Germany, all within the past year. For those who did stop by, it was a rare chance to speak to a real person from Facebook about concerns such as being shut out of an account for using an alias, receiving a notification about a login attempt, or seeing what information the social network uses to target them with ads. The trailer was outfitted with posters telling users that Facebook doesn't "sell" their information (true, though it does use people's information to sell ads targeted at them), prompting them to ask questions and take brochures on managing ad preferences. The trailer's decorators also threw in a few signs usually seen at Facebook offices, such as "be bold" and "always be open." Egan said users at similar events generally wanted to know about who can see "their stuff" and how ads are targeted to them. As for Facebook's privacy work in the past year, she acknowledged there is work to do but, asked to give a letter grade, she granted the company a "B." By 2019, she said she hopes the improvements will result in an "A." People walk by a Facebook "pop-up" trailer in New York's Bryan Park on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The company hosted a one-day event open to the public, with Facebook employees on hand to answer questions about privacy settings and other issues. The pop-up event caps a difficult year for the company.(AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay) Privacy wasn't a big concern for Janet Fabian, who popped in with a friend. She said the pop-up was "great" because "certain things you really don't know who to ask." Fabian, who lives in New York and gave her age as "over 50," said she's been on Facebook for nine or 10 years and loves it because it is easy to use. She asked a Facebook employee about notifications she's received that someone else was trying to log in to her account. As for Facebook's privacy troubles - the company's impetus for setting up the pop-up - she said she was aware but not too concerned. "I've got nothing interesting to give them," she said, adding that she's much more worried about her financial information being compromised in hacks such as the recent data breach at Marriott-owned hotels. James Matias, from Long Island, New York, meanwhile, nursed a hot chocolate and said that, while his brother-in-law and wife are "Facebook people," he doesn't use it much. "I am not good at surfing it," he said, adding that telling people what he had for breakfast seems useless and he prefers talking as a "communications device." "However, Facebook is a wonderful tool for connecting with people you haven't seen in 50 years," he said. People talk inside a Facebook "pop-up" trailer in New York's Bryan Park on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The company hosted a one-day event open to the public, with Facebook employees on hand to answer questions about privacy settings and other issues. The pop-up event caps a difficult year for the company.(AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay) A display screen is shown inside a Facebook "pop-up" trailer in New York's Bryan Park on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The company hosted a one-day event open to the public, with Facebook employees on hand to answer questions about privacy and other issues. The pop-up event caps a difficult year for the company. (AP Photo/Barbara Ortutay) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Military police in the Netherlands have arrested a man armed with a knife at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Military police spokeswoman Joanna Helmonds said the man allegedly threatened passers-by on Thursday night before officers detained him. Nobody was injured. Helmonds says "the investigation is still underway but we do not believe there was a terrorist motive." She says officials declared the airport safe. A tweet from the airport's account said the man was arrested in a public area with stores, restaurants and several stairways leading down to an underground railway station. STARKE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on Florida execution (all times local): 9:50 p.m. A man convicted of fatally beating and stabbing a South Florida woman 26 years ago during a burglary has been executed. Authorities say 55-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez was pronounced dead at 9:48 p.m. Thursday after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Starke. Jimenez was convicted of the October 1992 killing of 63-year-old Phyllis Minas in her North Miami apartment. Authorities say Jimenez was burglarizing Minas' apartment when she came home and surprised him. Investigators said Minas, a longtime employee of the Miami-Dade Court Clerk's office, was stabbed eight times. Authorities say Jimenez is the 28th inmate executed in Florida since Gov. Rick Scott took office in 2011. That's the most of any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. ___ 8:55 p.m. The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to halt the execution of a Florida man convicted in a woman's 1992 stabbing death. The justices denied a stay request without comment Thursday night for 55-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez, several hours past his scheduled 6 p.m. execution. The decision cleared the way for the lethal injection to be carried out at Florida State Prison in Starke. Jimenez was convicted of the beating and stabbing death of 63-year-old Phyllis Minas in her North Miami apartment in October 1992. According to corrections officials, there have been 27 executions since Scott took office in 2011, and Jimenez's would be the 28th if carried out. That's the most of any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. _____ 6:10 p.m. The planned execution of a Florida man convicted in a woman's 1992 stabbing death awaits a final ruling on a stay request by the U.S. Supreme Court. The scheduled 6 p.m. execution of 55-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez on Thursday at Florida State Prison in Starke was at least temporarily delayed pending a decision by the high court. Jimenez was convicted of the beating and stabbing death of 63-year-old Phyllis Minas in her North Miami apartment in October 1992. According to corrections officials, there have been 27 executions since Scott took office in 2011, and Jimenez's would be the 28th if carried out. That's the most of any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. ___ 4:15 p.m. A Florida man set for execution was described by prison officials as calm and in good spirits hours before he was scheduled to be put to death. The statement says 55-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez was visited Thursday by a spiritual adviser and ate a last meal that included a Cuban sandwich, eggs, French fries and ice cream. Barring a last-minute stay, Jimenez was scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. Thursday for the beating and stabbing death of 63-year-old Phyllis Minas in her North Miami apartment in October 1992. According to corrections officials, there have been 27 executions since Scott took office in 2011, and Jimenez's would be the 28th if carried out. That's the most of any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. ____ 1 a.m. A man who was convicted of beating and stabbing a woman to death in Miami-Dade County 26 years ago is scheduled to die by lethal injection at the Florida State Prison. Unless there is a stay, 55-year-old Jose Antonio Jimenez will be executed Thursday evening. He received the death sentence for the killing of 63-year-old Phyllis Minas in her North Miami apartment in October 1992. In July, Gov. Rick Scott signed the death warrant and scheduled the execution for August. But the Supreme Court issued a stay. In October, the court lifted the stay. According to corrections officials, there have been 27 executions since Scott took office in 2011, and Jimenez will be the 28th if carried out. That's the most of any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Senate will not take any action to block the suspension of an embattled county elections supervisor who drew fierce criticism during this year's contentious election recount, a leading state lawmaker said Thursday. Brenda Snipes, who had been in charge of elections in the Democratic stronghold of Broward County, had agreed to resign in early January, following the recount problems. But GOP Gov. Rick Scott, accusing her of misfeasance and incompetence, suspended her from office at the end of November and replaced her with his former general counsel. The day after Scott suspended Snipes her attorney said she was rescinding her resignation, a move that would have allowed the state Senate to review her suspension. Florida law requires the Senate to either remove or reinstate county officials who are suspended by the governor. But Senate President Bill Galvano said that's not going to happen. Galvano sent a memo to senators saying there is not enough time to investigate the allegations against Snipes before her resignation takes effect Jan. 4. He said a legal review by Senate attorneys had concluded that Snipes had rescinded her "unconditional" resignation too late. "From a Senate standpoint, the issue is moot come Jan. 5," Galvano said. FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2018, file photo, Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes watches as Joe D'Alessandro, Election Planning and Development Director, speaks to members of the media after a hand recount in Lauderhill, Fla. The Florida Senate will not take any action to block the suspension of Snipes, an embattled county elections supervisor who drew fierce criticism during this year's contentious election recount, a leading state lawmaker said Thursday, Dec. 13. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) Galvano acknowledged that Snipes could continue her battle to remain elections supervisor in court. Burnadette Norris-Weeks, an attorney for Snipes who had called Scott's decision "malicious," did not comment on Galvano's announcement. Snipes has been the top elections official in the south Florida county since 2003 when then-Gov. Jeb Bush appointed her. She came under withering criticism for her handling of this year's elections and a legally required recount in close races for governor and U.S. Senate. She had been elected three times and her current term was not scheduled to end until 2020. In his executive order, Scott cited problems during the recount, including reports of more than 2,000 ballots being misplaced. Shortly after the recount started, Scott himself suggested possible fraud, but never offered any concrete examples. Snipes also came under fire in 2017 after she destroyed year-old ballots in violation of law. Scott replaced Snipes with Peter Antonacci, who has held a number of posts at the request of the governor but has no elections experience. Antonacci played a pivotal role in the controversial decision to force the ouster of Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey in 2015. Antonacci had been president of Florida's economic development agency before he was sworn last week to replace Snipes. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is skimming over the facts when it comes to former national security adviser Michael Flynn's guilty plea for lying in the Russia investigation. In remarks Thursday at a meeting with governors-elect, Trump suggests the FBI never accused Flynn of lying in its probe into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. That's not the case. Flynn will next week become the first White House official punished as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation. A look at the claim: TRUMP: "Well the FBI said Michael Flynn, a general and a great person, they said he didn't lie. And Mueller said: 'Well, maybe he did.' And now they're all having a big dispute, so I think it's a great thing that the judge is looking into that situation. It's an honor for a lot of terrific people." THE FACTS: That's not what the FBI said. And Flynn and prosecutors agree he lied to the FBI. The claim picked up steam after Republicans on the House intelligence committee issued a report this year that said Comey, in a private briefing, said that the agents who interviewed Flynn "discerned no physical indications of deception" and saw "nothing that indicated to them that he knew he was lying to them." But Comey described that description as a "garble" in a private interview with House lawmakers last week. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with newly elected governors in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, in Washington. From left, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Trump. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) "What I recall telling the House Intelligence Committee is that the agents observed none of the common indicia of lying - physical manifestations, changes in tone, changes in pace - that would indicate the person I'm interviewing knows they're telling me stuff that ain't true," Comey said. "They didn't see that here. It was a natural conversation, answered fully their questions, didn't avoid. That notwithstanding, they concluded he was lying." It is true that U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has asked for documents related to quotations included in a sentencing memo from Flynn's defense team. One of the documents is a memo authored by former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe summarizing his involvement in Flynn's Jan. 24, 2017, FBI interview. The other document contains notes from an August 2017 FBI interview detailing agents' interactions with Flynn the day of his interview. Flynn's attorneys had pulled from those documents in pointing out that unlike other defendants in the Russia investigation, Flynn wasn't warned in advance that it was a crime to lie to the FBI. Flynn's attorneys also noted that FBI officials involved in the interview have since been investigated for misconduct. FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok, who interviewed Flynn, was fired a year later over anti-Trump text messages. McCabe, who had arranged the interview but wasn't present for it, was fired for what the Justice Department called a lack of candor involving a media leak. It's not clear from Sullivan's order whether he considers there to be a dispute to resolve or if he just wants to see the underlying documents as he decides Flynn's sentence. Both prosecutors and Flynn's attorneys have said he doesn't deserve to go to prison. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee physician recently elected to Congress received criticism Thursday from top state leaders for alleging without evidence that vaccines may cause autism. "Let me say this about autism," said Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Mark Green of Ashland City in a Tuesday town hall. "I have committed to people in my community, up in Montgomery County, to stand on the (Centers for Disease Control) desk and get the real data on vaccines. Because there is some concern that the rise in autism is the result of the preservatives that are in our vaccines." Green was responding to a question from a mother who has a child with autism asking about Medicaid spending cuts. The Republican has since walked back his comments, telling reporters on Wednesday he encourages families to vaccinate their children and has vaccinated his own children but he said more research is still needed on a possible link to autism. The CDC has clearly stated there is no link between vaccines and autism. However, his remarks received national attention and concerns from health officials worried about potential negative impacts. And by Thursday, Tennessee Department of Health issued a brief but direct statement: "Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines save lives." FILE - In this May 9, 2017, file photo, state Sen. Mark Green, R-Ashland City, casts a vote during a Senate session in Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee physician recently elected to Congress received criticism Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 from top state leaders for alleging without evidence that vaccines may cause autism. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file) "The Tennessee Department of Health welcomes discussion with Tennessee clinicians and scientists who would like to examine the evidence on this topic," the statement continued. That came just hours after Tennessee GOP U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander tweeted a similar statement, complete with an attachment of a video of him praising the benefits of vaccines during a congressional hearing. "Sound science is this," Alexander says in the video. "Vaccines save lives. They save the lives of people that are vaccinated. They protect the lives of the vulnerable around them, like infants and those who are ill." Neither statement mentioned Green. Health Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Hart declined to elaborate, saying the agency's statement spoke for itself. Green did not immediately respond to an email request from The Associated Press for comment on the subsequent responses. The Republican, who is not only a doctor but also a former Army surgeon, businessman and cancer survivor, soundly defeated Democrat Justin Kanew in November. He withdrew as President Donald Trump's nominee for Army secretary earlier this year amid criticism of his comments about gay and transgender people. He is scheduled to be sworn-in on Jan. 3. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of denying nearly all visa applicants from countries under President Donald Trump's travel ban will move forward, a U.S. judge said Thursday. Judge James Donato heard arguments on the administration's request that he dismiss the lawsuit. The case was "not going away at this stage," he said at the close of the hearing. The plaintiffs say the administration is not honoring a waiver provision in the president's ban on travelers from five mostly Muslim countries - Iran, Lybia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban in a 5-4 ruling in June. The waiver provision allows a case-by-case exemption for people who can show entry to the U.S. is in the national interest, is needed to prevent undue hardship and would not pose a security risk. The 36 plaintiffs named in the lawsuit include people who have had waiver applications denied or stalled despite chronic medical conditions, prolonged family separations, or significant business interests, according to their attorneys. Sirine Shebaya, an attorney for plaintiffs in a lawsuit accusing the administration of denying nearly all visa applicants under President Donald Trump's travel ban, speaks to reporters after a hearing in San Francisco Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Judge James Donato heard arguments on the administration's request that he dismiss the lawsuit. The case was "not going away at this stage," he said at the close of the hearing. The plaintiffs say the administration is not honoring a waiver provision in the president's ban on travelers from five mostly Muslim countries - Iran, Lybia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. (AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala) They estimate tens of thousands of people have been affected by what they say are blanket denials of visa applications. At Thursday's hearing, Sirine Shebaya, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said officials considering the waiver requests are not following guidelines and are routinely denying people the opportunity to show they qualify for a visa. Justice Department attorney August Flentje said consular officials are working "tirelessly" on visa applications using guidelines from the State Department. He said decisions on visas are beyond judicial review, and he accused plaintiffs' attorneys of a "kind of micromanagement" of those decisions. Donato said he did not have to consider any specific waiver decision, but more broadly whether officials were considering applications in "good faith" and not stonewalling. Roughly two dozen opponents of the travel ban - some wearing stickers that read, "No ban, no wall," - came to the courthouse for the hearing. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Former Vice President Joe Biden initially refused to run with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a decade ago, but his family ultimately convinced him he had to support an African-American candidate with a real chance of winning, he said Thursday at the University of Utah. Biden, 76, was greeted with a standing ovation as he took the stage amid speculation about whether he will launch his own 2020 campaign for president. He did not directly address the possibility of another run in the speech that marks his final scheduled public event in 2018. Instead, he spoke about the pain of losing his son to brain cancer in 2015 and reminisced about his eight years serving with Obama. Joining the ticket "turned out to be the best decision my family ever made for me," he said with a smile. His son Beau was 46 when he died of a brain tumor in 2015. Joe Biden decided not to run for president the following year despite having assembled a team to run a campaign. "I thought I was best to continue what Barack and I started," he said. Beau Biden, a political figure in his own right as Delaware attorney general, had wanted his father to run for president in 2016, but the elder Biden wasn't ready for the demands of a campaign so soon after his death. Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the University of Utah Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Biden says he initially refused to run with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a decade ago, but his family ultimately convinced him he had to support an African-American candidate with a real chance of winning. Biden was greeted with a standing ovation when he spoke amid speculation about whether he'll launch his own campaign for president. He did not directly address the possibility of another run in the speech that marks his final public event for 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Still, he made a promise to his dying son that he wouldn't withdraw from the world. "It was, 'Promise, Dad, you'll stay engaged,' " he said. "Beau, did in a sense, did save me." Biden is expected to make a decision about 2020 after spending time deliberating with his family over the holidays, sources have told The Associated Press. University of Utah professor Mark Matheson moderated the Thursday talk and told reporters he decided not to ask him about 2020 in order to keep the talk focused on education and inspiring students. Biden did not take questions from reporters. During the speech, Biden looked back at his eight years serving with Obama, calling it a time without "one little skinny inch of scandal." He joked that online memes about his close relationship with the president were all true, except that "he made the first friendship bracelet, not me." Biden, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29, said he was propelled into public life by the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. He served in the Senate for 36 years before becoming vice president. After his tenure ended in January 2017, he released a memoir about his son's fatal illness titled "Promise Me, Dad." Biden has maintained a packed schedule this year, campaigning for Democrats ahead of the midterm elections and taking trips to promote the book. He has done little to refute speculation about a possible presidential run, saying last week in Montana that he'd be "the most qualified person in the country to be president." Former Vice President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks at the University of Utah Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Biden says he initially refused to run with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a decade ago, but his family ultimately convinced him he had to support an African-American candidate with a real chance of winning. Biden was greeted with a standing ovation when he spoke amid speculation about whether he'll launch his own campaign for president. He did not directly address the possibility of another run in the speech that marks his final public event for 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the University of Utah Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Biden says he initially refused to run with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a decade ago, but his family ultimately convinced him he had to support an African-American candidate with a real chance of winning. Biden was greeted with a standing ovation when he spoke amid speculation about whether he'll launch his own campaign for president. He did not directly address the possibility of another run in the speech that marks his final public event for 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the University of Utah Thursday Dec. 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Biden says he initially refused to run with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a decade ago, but his family ultimately convinced him he had to support an African-American candidate with a real chance of winning. Biden was greeted with a standing ovation when he spoke amid speculation about whether he'll launch his own campaign for president. He did not directly address the possibility of another run in the speech that marks his final public event for 2018. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi judge will decide whether a death row inmate who says he wants to be executed is mentally competent to waive all his appeals. The state Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the examination in the case of David Cox. Cox wrote to Mississippi Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. in August saying he wanted to fire his lawyers, give up all his appeals and have the state Supreme Court set his execution date. "I seek in earnest to (waive) all my appeals immediately, I seek to be executed as I do here, this day, stand on MS death row a guilty man worthy of death - please grant me this plea," Cox wrote in an Aug. 16 letter . Cox pleaded guilty to shooting his wife Kim in 2010 in the Union County town of Shannon, raping her daughter in front of her, and watching Kim Cox die as police negotiators and relatives pleaded for her life. He also pleaded guilty to seven other crimes without making a bargain with prosecutors that precluded the death penalty. A jury sentenced him to death. In another letter in July to Union County District Attorney Ben Creekmore, Cox wrote that "if I had my perfect way and will about it I'd ever so gladly dig my dead (sarcastic) wife up whom I very happily and premeditatedly slaughtered on 5-21-2010 and with eager pleasure kill" her again. This undated photo provided by the Mississippi Department of Corrections shows David Cox. A Mississippi judge will decide whether Cox, a death row inmate who says he wants to be executed, is mentally competent to waive all his appeals. The state Supreme Court on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, ordered the examination in the case of David Cox. (Mississippi Department of Corrections via AP) Cox's lawyers argue that he is mentally ill and isn't competent to waive his appeals, and that it's unconstitutional for the state to execute him. "There is no reliable evidence that Mr. Cox has a free or unrestrained will necessary to lodge a permanent, voluntary waiver of his right to continue pursuing post-conviction remedies," wrote Benjamin H. McGee III of the state Office of Post-Conviction Counsel. In support of that, he cited Cox himself. In a Nov. 7 letter to McGee, Cox wrote that he's divided between "skin 1" which wants to continue appeals and "skin 2" which wants to be executed. "Skin 1 is not willing, while Skin 2 is willing to surrender all counsel & all appeals - still. David Cox as a whole is not a single unit, but two - David Cox within David Cox is a living division of separated matter within the same vessel of life," Cox wrote in the Nov. 7 letter . McGee has filed a fresh petition with Mississippi's justices seeking a new sentencing hearing. The lawyer says Cox's trial lawyers didn't adequately lay out the history of abuse that Cox endured as a child, including poverty, neglect, parental abandonment, chronic exposure to pornography and witnessing his father sexually abuse his sister. Cox's sister, in a sworn statement, said he dropped out of school and huffed gasoline "all day," later becoming addicted to methamphetamine. Lawyers argued the substance abuse permanently injured his brain and that it would be unconstitutional to execute him, just as the Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional to execute someone with mental disabilities. "Mr. Cox's rage, violence and impulse control problems are product of brain dysfunction, not a reflection of choice or character. He has a severe psychopathology - that is, a severe mental disorder or mental illness - but he is not a psychopath." Forensic psychologist Robert Stanulis wrote in a report for the defense. Mississippi hasn't executed anyone since 2012, amid legal disputes over lethal injection procedures and difficulty procuring execution drugs. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at: http://twitter.com/jeffamy . CHICO, Calif. (AP) - Survivors of a deadly blaze that tore through California wine country last year shared lessons of loss and pain but also resilience with those who escaped the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century last month. A group of wine country residents spent a day in a packed meeting with those who lived in Paradise and several nearby communities who peppered them with questions, The Press Democrat newspaper in Santa Rosa reported Wednesday. They asked about dealing with insurance companies, cleanup and rebuilding. But they also wanted to know about the rollercoaster of emotions. The main advice from wildfire survivors who lost their homes after a fire roared through several Santa Rosa neighborhoods 14 months ago was to question everything and band together like never before. "I'd like to say we know what you went through, but what you went through was so much more," said Anne Barbour, whose home in Santa Rosa's Coffey Park neighborhood was among the first to be rebuilt. "Step up and take your town back, because what we've created is one hell of a community." Barbour was one of eight residents who spent Tuesday meeting with about 75 Paradise-area residents facing the kind of grief and uncertainty they began grappling with more than a year ago. In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, Camp Fire survivor Terese Mangino, right, embraces Tubbs Fire survivor Anne Barbour as fellow survivor Tricia Woods, left, looks on, after a meeting with Camp Fire survivors in Chico, Calif. Survivors of a deadly wildfire that last year tore through California's wine country are sharing lessons of loss and pain but also of resilience with those who last month escaped the deadliest U.S. wildfire in at least a century. The Press Democrat reports a group of Sonoma County residents spent Tuesday in a packed meeting with residents of Paradise and several nearby communities who grilled them with questions. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat via AP) The Tubbs Fire in October 2017 destroyed nearly 5,300 homes and killed at least 22 people. It was the most destructive wildfire in California history until Nov. 8, when a massive blaze swept through Paradise and nearby communities, destroying nearly 14,000 homes and killing at least 86 people. "You will find yourselves mad at inanimate objects," said Jeff Okrepkie, who founded the Coffey Strong group in the northwest Santa Rosa neighborhood that lost 1,321 homes. "I'm talking about a door that won't close properly, and now I'm swearing at it for five minutes because I'm mad at the world." The meeting was held in Chico, about a 25-minute drive west of Paradise where the Camp Fire leveled the entire town. Alan Rellaford, 58, said drone video shows his Paradise home still stands but he does not know when he will be able to return. His wife is undergoing treatment for cancer and needs a safe, clean home more than ever. "The people who have been through it - they are coming through in magnificent ways," Rellaford said. "They know we need more than paper towels and sweat shirts." ___ Information from: The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, http://www.pressdemocrat.com NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on the California Coastal Commission unveiling a new smartphone app (all times local): 6 p.m. The California Coastal Commission has unveiled a smartphone app that shows users a map of more than 1,500 public access points along the California coast. The YourCoast app was revealed at Thursday's meeting in Newport Beach. It was created with the help of a tech billionaire whose elaborate wedding ran afoul of state regulators. Napster co-founder Sean Parker agreed to help after he constructed a large movie-set-like site for his 2013 wedding in an ecologically sensitive area of Big Sur without proper permits. The ex-president of Facebook also paid more than $2 million in a settlement. The app shows paths to hard-to-find beaches and gives information about amenities such as parking, restrooms or fishing facilities. Users can submit photos or report violations to the commission. ___ 9:50 a.m. A new smartphone app that shows users a map of more than 1,500 access points along the California coast was created with help from a tech billionaire whose elaborate wedding ran afoul of state regulators. The Los Angeles Times reports the California Coastal Commission is unveiling the YourCoast app at its meeting Thursday in Newport Beach. Napster co-founder Sean Parker agreed to help build the educational tool after he constructed a large movie-set-like site for his 2013 wedding in an ecologically sensitive area of Big Sur without proper permits. The ex-president of Facebook also paid more than $2 million in a settlement. The app shows paths to hard-to-find beaches and gives information about amenities like parking, restrooms or fishing facilities. Users can submit photos or report violations to the commission. ___ Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/ LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A 7-year-old girl who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with her father last week died after being taken into the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, federal immigration authorities confirmed Thursday. The Washington Post reports the girl died of dehydration and shock more than eight hours after she was arrested by agents near Lordsburg, New Mexico. The girl was from Guatemala and was traveling with a group of 163 people who approached agents to turn themselves in on Dec. 6. It's unknown what happened to the girl during the eight hours before she started having seizures and was flown to an El Paso hospital. In a statement, Customs and Border Protection said the girl had not eaten or consumed water in several days. The agency did not provide The Associated Press with the statement it gave to the Post, despite repeated requests. Processing 163 immigrants in one night could have posed challenges for the agency, whose detention facilities are meant to be temporary and don't usually fit that many people. FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2016, file photo, a U.S. Border Patrol agent patrols Sunland Park along the U.S.-Mexico border next to Ciudad Juarez. A 7-year-old girl who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with her father, died after being taken into the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, federal immigration authorities confirmed Thursday, Dec. 13. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File) When a Border Patrol agent arrests someone, that person gets processed at a facility but usually spends no more than 72 hours in custody before they are either transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement or, if they're Mexican, quickly deported home. The girl's death raises questions about whether border agents knew she was ill and whether she was fed anything or given anything to drink during the eight-plus hours she was in custody. Immigrants, attorneys and activists have long raised issues with the conditions of Border Patrol holding cells. In Tucson, an ongoing lawsuit claims holding cells are filthy, extremely cold and lacking basic necessities such as blankets. A judge overseeing that lawsuit has ordered the agency's Tucson Sector, which patrols much of the Arizona-Mexico border, to provide blankets and mats to sleep on and to continually turn over surveillance footage from inside the cells. The Border Patrol has seen an increasing trend of large groups of immigrants, many with young children, walking up to agents and turning themselves in. Most are Central American and say they are fleeing violence. They turn themselves in instead of trying to circumvent authorities, many with plans to apply for asylum. Agents in Arizona see groups of over 100 people on a regular basis, sometimes including infants and toddlers. Arresting such groups poses logistical problems for agents who have to wait on transport vans that are equipped with baby seats to take them to processing facilities, some which are at least half hour north of the border. The death of the 7-year-old comes after a toddler died in May just after being released from an ICE family detention facility in Texas, and as the administration of Donald Trump attempts to ban people from asking for asylum if they crossed the border illegally. A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked that ban, but the administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate it Tuesday. Cynthia Pompa, advocacy manager for the ACLU Border Rights Center, said migrant deaths increased last year even as the number of border crossing dropped. "This tragedy represents the worst possible outcome when people, including children, are held in inhumane conditions. Lack of accountability, and a culture of cruelty within CBP have exacerbated policies that lead to migrant deaths," Pompa said. TOKYO (AP) - Japan's central government started main reclamation work Friday at a disputed U.S. military base relocation site on the southern island of Okinawa despite fierce local opposition. Construction workers dumped a truckload of sediment and bulldozed it into the sea at Henoko on Okinawa's east coast to build a runway for a Marine Corps base that will be relocated from densely populated Futenma in the southern part of the island. The central government has reversed Okinawa's earlier ban on landfill work at the site. Opponents of the relocation say it would not only be an environmental debacle but also ignore local wishes to remove the base. "I resent it strongly," Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters. "The central government is forcibly dumping the sediment into the sea and it does not even pay the slightest attention to the will of the Okinawan people." Tamaki calls the one-sided decision "illegal" and has repeatedly visited Tokyo, urging top officials in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet to postpone the landfill work and engage in dialogue. Tamaki was in Tokyo on Thursday for talks with Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya. Dozens of people in rubber boats protested the move, hoisting placards. "Don't kill the ocean," one of the placards said. "No military base needed for Okinawa's children," another one read. Protesters on canoes display placard as construction workers dumped a truckload of sediment on the ground and bulldozed it into the sea at Henoko on Okinawa's east coast to build a runway for a Marine Corps base, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Japan's central government started main reclamation work Friday at a disputed U.S. military base relocation site on the southern island of Okinawa despite fierce local opposition. (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP) Many Okinawans say the presence of so many U.S. troops on the island is already a heavy burden and they want the existing Futenma air station closed and its replacement moved off the island entirely. Tamaki, who was elected late September on his campaign promises to block the Henoko base and further reduce U.S. bases on the island, also visited Washington and New York last month to gain support for Okinawa from the American public and officials. Washington's position remains that the dispute should be resolved between Tokyo and Okinawa. Officials in Tokyo said the Henoko plan is the only one feasible and they will stick with it despite protests. "In order to maintain the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. alliance and to remove the risk of the Futenma air station, its relocation to Henoko is the only solution," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Friday. He added that the central government will work toward reducing Okinawa's burden of hosting U.S. troops and gaining understanding and cooperation from residents. Tetsuro Fukuyama, a senior opposition lawmaker belonging to the Constitutional Democratic Party, criticized Abe's government for pushing through with the base relocation. "This is far from democracy," Fukuyama said. "The Abe government has no compassion for Okinawa, or respect for the rule of law or respect for the will of the people." The plan is to build a V-shape runway on the landfill for a targeted completion in 2022 as a replacement for Futenma after its closure. Iwaya said the plan is being delayed because of persistent protests and a planned Futenma closure by the target date seems difficult. Many people on Okinawa, which was occupied by the U.S. 20 years longer than the rest of Japan, also feel they have been sacrificed for the mainland and have developed bitter feelings toward Tokyo. As the first person with an American parent to lead the island, Tamaki has hopes to encourage dialogue and bridge the gap on the issue between Japan and the U.S. The relocation of the Futenma air station was planned after the 1995 rape of a schoolgirl in which three U.S. servicemen were convicted. The case ignited simmering Okinawan opposition to the U.S. bases. About half of the 50,000 U.S. troops are based in Japan under a bilateral security pact and the majority of their key facilities are on Okinawa. Residents have long complained about base-related noise, pollution and crime. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi People stage a protest as construction workers start dumping a truckload of sediment into the sea at Henoko on Okinawa's east coast Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Japan's central government has started main reclamation work at a disputed U.S. military base relocation site on the southern island of Okinawa despite fierce local opposition. (Takuto Kaneko/Kyodo News via AP) Construction workers dump a truckload of sediment into the sea at Henoko on Okinawa's east coast Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Japan's central government has started main reclamation work at a disputed U.S. military base relocation site on the southern island of Okinawa despite fierce local opposition. (Miyuki Saito/Kyodo News via AP) Construction workers, background, start dumping a truckload of sediment into the sea at Henoko on Okinawa's east coast Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Japan's central government started main reclamation work Friday at the disputed U.S. military base relocation site on the southern island of Okinawa despite fierce local opposition and escalating tension between them. (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP) CHICAGO (AP) - A Green Bay Packers fan has lost a court battle to wear green and gold on the sidelines of Soldier Field, home of the rival Chicago Bears. The Chicago Tribune reports a federal judge on Thursday denied a request by Russell Beckman for a temporary restraining order and injunction so he could wear Packers' attire on the sidelines during pregame warmups before the lawsuit he filed last year is decided. Beckman has Bears season tickets. A team rewards program lets season ticket holders stand on the sideline during pregame warmups. The Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, resident argues the Bears' rule prohibiting fans from wearing opposing team gear on the sidelines violates his rights to free speech. The Bears face the Packers on Sunday at Soldier Field. HONOLULU (AP) - The Latest on man facing trial for escaping from a Hawaii psychiatric facility (all times local): 5 p.m. A nearly 1,600-page report by the Hawaii attorney general's office provides no new significant details into how a man committed to a psychiatric hospital was able to escape and fly to California before authorities were notified he was missing. The redacted report was posted online Thursday, more than a day after officials announced an investigation found no single hospital employee responsible for Randall Saito's escape. The report details interviews with employees who describe lax oversight of Saito, who was sent to Hawaii State Hospital after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity of a woman's murder more than 35 years ago. The report says Saito was allowed to roam hospital grounds unescorted and was required to call in from a hospital phone every hour. The report says there was no log book to document the calls. The report says patient counts at change of shifts were not consistently done, including on the day he escaped. ____ 10:22 a.m. The attorney representing a man who escaped from a Hawaii psychiatric hospital says his client wants to go to trial. Attorney Michael Green says Randall Saito "wants to get his story out there." Saito appeared via video from a Honolulu jail Thursday to be arraigned in court on charges of escape and identity theft. Green pleaded not guilty on Saito's behalf. In November 2017, Saito walked out of Hawaii State Hospital, where he was sent in 1981 after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing a woman. Saito was captured days later in Stockton, California. Green told The Associated Press outside court that while the escape is a "foregone conclusion," Saito wants to fight the identity theft charge. Prosecutors say Saito had fake IDs when he was arrested. VALDEZ, Colo. (AP) - Two sheriff's vehicles crashed into a car in southern Colorado, killing a deputy, the car's driver and a year-old baby. Colorado State Patrol investigators say the Las Animas County deputies were responding to a possible domestic disturbance when they crashed into an oncoming car on Colorado Highway 12 near the small town of Valdez on Wednesday night. Thirty-seven-year-old Sgt. Matthew Moreno, of Trinidad, died at a hospital, and the two other deputies involved suffered minor to moderate injuries. The driver of the car, 23-year-old Taelor Roybal, also of Trinidad, died at the scene, and her passenger, 1-year-old Ezekiel Valdez, died a few hours after the crash. The two-lane road winds along the Purgatoire (per-gah-TWAHR') River through ranchland and forest. No other information was released. JANAKPUR, Nepal (AP) - The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway - and possibly more to come. New shiny rails connecting the 34 kilometers (21 miles) between Janakpur in southeastern Nepal and Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar are raising hopes for more business and pilgrimages. The railway is India's latest bid to keep its foothold in South Asia, a traditional sphere of influence, as China spends billions on its massive Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure project that aims to expand trade across a vast arc of 65 countries from the South Pacific to Africa and Europe. Biswombar Sah, a 62-year-old farmer, is among hundreds of people in Janakpur visiting the still-under-construction rail station daily to check on its progress as workers polish the marble floors, lay tiles on the platform and paint local art on the walls of the waiting room. "These train tracks are the best thing to happen to us in a very long time. We are all thrilled about getting a modern train that will make travel so much easier and cheaper," Sah said. Once the new $80 million rail line begins operations, plans call for extending the railway deeper into Nepal. In this Nov. 28, 2018 photo, elderly Nepalese people watch the construction of Janakpur train station at Janakpur, from where a new rail line connects to Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar. The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway, and possibly more to come. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)(Hold for Nepal-India train Story) For now, only a dusty trail passing through villages connects Jay Nagar and Janakpur. It's mostly used by people bringing in daily goods on motorcycles and small trucks. The British, who ruled India from 1858-1947, built a narrow-gauge 2.5-foot wide track in 1937 to transport timber from Nepal. That train, with only three rusted carriages, windows lacking panes, missing doors and iffy service - the engine often broke down for days - quit running in 2014. Millions of Hindu devotees travel every year to the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, where the Hindu goddess Sita is believed to have been born and later married the Hindu god Ram. Restaurant owner Naresh Chandra Jha is one of many in Janakpur who view the railway as a godsend. He's counting on a windfall from the pilgrimage trade, and on saving money thanks to lower transport costs for his supplies. "This is the biggest event for Janakpur," he said. "It will be a big contribution for development and boost the number of religious visitors." The new line will be able to handle bigger trains carrying more passengers than the old trains, says Binod Ojha, who was supervising the project from a makeshift office at the new station. Apart from tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims, it also will accommodate cargo - landlocked Nepal imports all of its oil, food and other goods from India, which accounts for two-thirds of its foreign trade. "Once we start operating trains, people will be able to travel from here to New Delhi or even southern India. We will be well connected," Ojha said. "Once trains begin to bring all these things from India, the cost will naturally go down. Our daily expenses will be much cheaper." Home to Mount Everest and other peaks on the roof of the world, Nepal has limited road networks. Politicians have been promising for years to build new train lines across the mountainous country. China and India are vying for leverage by offering to build them, and that helped spur work on the Indian-funded Janakpur-Jay Nagar line. Despite great hopes among those awaiting the new train it's unclear exactly when passenger service will start. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been expected to travel by train to Janakpur in December to inaugurate the new line during a popular Hindu festival but that plan has been cancelled. India traditionally has had major influence in Nepal economically, socially and culturally. It surrounds Nepal on three sides and has open borders. Indian leaders who head the world's biggest democracy are keen to counter what they view as Nepal's recent tilt toward China, a communist-ruled country. India was instrumental in helping Nepal establish democracy in 1950 and bring it back in 1990, when a popular uprising forced the king to give up autocratic power and bring in a multiparty system. But Nepal's communist party won control of government in elections last year. Nepal's prime minister, Khadka Prasad Oli, signed an agreement during a recent visit to Beijing on surveying for possible train links from the Nepal capital Kathmandu to the Chinese border in the north and other parts of the country. China is building two airports, highways, city roads, hydropower plants and a cement factory. India has also invested in hydropower plants, transport and rail links. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal earlier this year India committed to conducting a survey on building a rail link from Kathmandu to the Indian border. The Indian side may be falling behind in the influence sweepstakes. At an investor's conference last year, China pledged to invest $8 billion in Nepal compared to $317 million by India. This year, according to Nepal Investment Board, China has invested $471 million while India has committed only $51 million. "Investment from both China and India are in the rising trend. It appears they are both competing with investments, but it is a healthy competition which is beneficial for Nepal," said Uttam Wagle, a Nepal Investment Board spokesman. The new train connection is expected to give India a boost. And when it comes to railways, it already has an advantage since Nepal's border with China is mountainous while the frontier with India is in the plains, said Dhruba Hari Adhikary, an independent analyst based in Kathmandu. "India has overtaken China in terms of connectivity by train because they have already laid down the tracks and the system could function immediately, but the Chinese plan is still on paper only," Adhikari said. In this Nov. 29, 2018 photo, an old train engine is seen next to the newly built train tracks connecting the 34 kilometers (21 miles) between Janakpur in southeastern Nepal and Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar at Janakpur in Nepal. The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway, and possibly more to come. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) In this Nov. 29, 2018 photo, Nepalese construction laborers work at the terminal train station at Kurtha near Janakpur, Nepal from where a new rail line connects to Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar. The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway, and possibly more to come. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) In this Nov. 29, 2018 photo, Nepalese construction laborers work at the terminal train station at Kurtha near Janakpur, Nepal from where a new rail line connects to Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar. The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway, and possibly more to come. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, a Nepalese man rides his bicycle in front of the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal. Millions of Hindu devotees travel every year to the temple where the Hindu goddess Sita is believed to have been born and later married the Hindu god Ram. A new rail line connecting the 34 kilometers (21 miles) between Janakpur in southeastern Nepal and Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar are raising hopes for new business and pilgrimages. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) In this Nov. 29, 2018 photo, Nepalese construction laborers work at the terminal train station at Kurtha near Janakpur, Nepal from where a new rail line connects to Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar. The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway, and possibly more to come. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)(Hold for Nepal-India train Story) In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Indian tourists visit the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal. Millions of Hindu devotees travel every year to the temple where the Hindu goddess Sita is believed to have been born and later married the Hindu god Ram. A new rail line connecting the 34 kilometers (21 miles) between Janakpur in southeastern Nepal and Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar are raising hopes for new business and pilgrimages. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, an Indian artist paints a wall with traditional Mithila art at the newly built Janakpur train station in Nepal from where a new 34 kilometers (21 miles) long rail line runs to Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar. The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nation's first modern railway, and possibly more to come.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) The number of primary school pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths has risen again, official figures show. Across England, 64% of 11-year-olds who sat this years Sats, or national curriculum tests, met Government targets in all three areas, up from 61% last year, according to the Department for Education (DfE). While the number of schools considered to be under-performing has decreased, 364 mainstream primaries in England fell below the primary school floor standard. (PA Graphics) According to Press Association analysis of the data, 91,620 pupils are being taught at the under-performing primaries. This represents around 2.1% of children at mainstream primary schools in England. Schools are considered to be under-performing if fewer than 65% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, or if they fail to make sufficient progress in the three key areas. The East and East Midlands had the highest percentage of schools below the floor standard, while London had the lowest at fewer than 1%, according to the Government data. Norfolk had the biggest proportion of under-performing schools 22 of the 231 mainstream primary schools in that local authority area. A spokeswoman for the county council said: Improvement at Key Stage 2 continues to be a challenge in the county but we are offering extra support to schools where it is needed to further improve performance. (PA Graphics) The next highest proportions of schools below the floor standard were in Bedford (two schools out of 23) and Portsmouth (three schools out of 32), both at around 9%. A spokesman for Portsmouth City Council said: Schools below the floor are receiving support, either through the local authority or through multi-academy trusts. There is more work to be done, but its also important to point out that 87% of schools in Portsmouth are rated good or better. In Derbyshire, 14 of the local authority areas 220 mainstream primaries were under-performing. A spokeswoman for the county council said: We are aware of schools that are performing below the standard set by the Government and work with each of them to make sure that the support needed for improvement is identified and secured. Were pleased to see a significant reduction in the number of schools performing below the DfE standard in Derbyshire over the last three years from 23 in 2016 to 14 this year and, working with schools, we are committed to reducing that number yet further. The number of coasting schools, a measure which looks at results over the past three years, has risen to 640, up from 524 last year and 477 in 2016. Schools come under this definition if, based on revised data for all of the past three years, fewer than 85% of pupils achieved the expected standard at the end of primary school and they failed to make sufficient progress in reading, maths and writing. This years figure equates to one in 20 of all schools included in the coasting calculation. Earlier this year, the DfE announced proposals aimed at ending confusion over how schools are measured. The system of using the two standards, floor and coasting, to judge school performance will be replaced with a new single measure. Figures also showed the gap between disadvantaged pupils, those in or formerly in care or eligible for free school meals, and their peers had continued to decrease, narrowing by 3% in the latest year and 13.2% since 2011, the department said. School standards minister Nick Gibb said the statistics showed that standards were rising in schools. He added: Every child, regardless of their background, deserves a high quality education and opportunity to fulfil their potential. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will never get bored of stories linking him to other clubs because it means he is doing something right. Fresh speculation about Pochettinos future has emerged this week in the wake of Spurs qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League, with reports suggesting the club are braced for summer interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid. The Argentinian signed a five-year contract in May and has constantly spoken about how happy he is in north London, so much prefers the column inches to be filled up with stories about his future rather than stories about him getting sacked. Mauricio Pochettino on constant links to Real Madrid: I prefer to read this in the papers than that I am going to get sacked or that we are in a delicate situation. #THFC #COYS Jonathan Veal (@jonathandveal83) December 13, 2018 This type of news I think does not upset or bore people, he said. I prefer that newspapers talk about things like this than talk about, Tottenham is going to sack me, or people are tired of me, or we are in a difficult situation. Of course, if I choose one situation I choose this one. I am not bored of it, of course. Pochettino is getting linked with some of the top jobs because of the work he has done at Spurs, leading them into the last 16 of the Champions League and mounting a title challenge, despite all of the problems they have faced this season. Our potential #UCL opponents have been confirmed. Who would you like to face in the last 16? #COYS pic.twitter.com/3yz0WY9Rrv Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 13, 2018 Not many people are looking past Manchester City or Liverpool to finish in top spot and that is just how Pochettino likes it. We are there, we are in a good position of course, he added. It is normal that the perception is different. I am happy with the perception today when the perception from the media is only Manchester City and Liverpool and not us. I am not happy with the perception when they are not assessing us in the right way. Pochettino has Spurs in prime position (Mike Egerton/PA) After investment and many things when you assess the different clubs, normally it is Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, United, Arsenal will be involved in the race for the title. But not Tottenham. But we are there because we compete in a very good way, our performances are fantastic, but the perception is different. Spurs will find out their Champions League fate on Monday when the draw could pair them with Porto, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Paris St Germain, Juventus or Bayern Munich. They will play their first leg at home at some point in February and Pochettino is desperate for his side to be in their new home by then. All four #PL clubs are through to the last 16 in the #UCL Who will go the furthest? pic.twitter.com/coSn8TwVbu Premier League (@premierleague) December 13, 2018 It will be tight as on Wednesday the club announced they will play their Premier League game with Manchester United on January 13 at Wembley. I hope and I wish to play our first leg in the new stadium, he said. Now, I dont know if it is going to be there or not, or in Wembley. We need to wait. But my wish and hope is we can pay the first leg in our new stadium. But I dont believe it is going to be decisive to play in one or another stadium. The most important is our performance on the pitch. The Golden Cockerel once again sits proudly above our stadium. #SpursNewStadium #COYS pic.twitter.com/iRo5sBV4Kt Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 6, 2018 Of course, for the motivation, for our fans, of course for our players, our staff, it would be fantastic, a massive boost for us to play in our new stadium. But I think the motivation will be there too if we play Wembley, the same. Spurs return to Premier League action against Burnley on Saturday and have several injury doubts. Defenders Kieran Trippier, Serge Aurier, Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez will all be assessed. Nicola Sturgeon says she is disappointed the Scottish Government only found out about the planned closure of a rail maintenance depot through media reports. It was reported on Tuesday that Gemini Rail Services proposed to close its site in Springburn, Glasgow, putting around 200 jobs at risk. Ms Sturgeon said officials met Gemini bosses last week and were given no indication such an announcement would be made. The company took over the depot from Knorr-Bremse Rail Services after a sale was agreed in August. The issue was raised at First Ministers Questions on Thursday by Bob Doris, MSP for Maryhill and Springburn. The First Minister said: The Scottish Government learned of this development only through the media and let me say, I am extremely disappointed that that is the case. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government had not been told about the planned closure (Jane Barlow/PA) Officials met with the new owners last week but no reference was made on any immediate plans to make such an announcement. The Scottish Government will continue to engage constructively with the owners in the interests of the staff effected and the overall Scottish economy. We are committed to supporting rail services and have made record investment in rail in recent years. Statement on the proposed closure of the St. Rollox Railway Works by Gemini Rail Services. I will aim to raise this in Parliament later today. pic.twitter.com/MhNRQ5aydu Paul Sweeney MSP (@PaulJSweeney) December 13, 2018 Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and shadow Scotland minister Paul Sweeney plan to meet members of the Unite union at the depot on Friday to discuss how the future of the plant may be secured. This is a vital part of our industrial capacity in Scotland, Mr Leonard said. It is inconceivable that Springburns connection with the railway industry might finally be broken. Scottish Labour stands shoulder-to-shoulder with these workers in the fight for their livelihoods. Our party was established to take on challenges like these and together we can win. Mr Sweeney said: These works, which date back to 1856, are the last vestige of an industry that is the very reason Springburn exists today and was the centre of world locomotive manufacturing. Its iconic. This is one of just three railway maintenance plants left in Scotland and is now a modernised centre of excellence. Its closure would be a hammer blow for our community, our city and our country. I will do everything I can and work tirelessly at all levels of government to save it. A spokesman for Gemini Rail Services said: It is with deep regret that Gemini Rail Services has had to announce to employees its proposal to close the Springburn site in Glasgow. It is very clear, as it has been for some time, that numbers of pre-privatisation rolling stock which have been the cornerstone of business for many years, are in severe decline. Due to the introduction of more modern vehicles, the number of pre-privatisation vehicles in service will reduce by 80% in the next five years. Furthermore, Springburn will continue to suffer an unsustainable decline in demand due to its location as only around 10% of the rolling stock that will be accessible is in Scotland and the north of England. As such, it is necessary to put forward the proposal. The decision to make this proposal has not been made lightly. We recognise the dedication and hard work of all staff at Springburn and know this will be an upsetting period for them and their families. Bloomsbury co-founder Liz Calder said she is nervous about being on the 2019 Man Booker Prize judging panel as she collected a CBE for her services to literature. Ms Calder, who said she had spent her life reading, has been responsible for publishing several Man Booker Prize winners during her career, including Margaret Atwood. One of the UKs most respected literary figures, she was presented with her honours by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Ms Calder speaks with the Prince of Wales as she is presented with her honour (Jonathan Brady/PA) Ms Calder said: Being the judge, I have to read about 170 books. I wouldnt say Im excited as much a bit nervous. Its just a very interesting thing to do, its meeting the other judges regularly and talking about the books. Its challenging but I like it. The panel is set to be chaired by Peter Florence, director of the Hay Festival. Calder will be joined by novelist and filmmaker Xiaolu Guo, writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch and Joanna MacGregor, a pianist and composer. The shortlist of six books are due to be confirmed in early September, with the winner of the 50,000 prize announced in October 2019 at an awards ceremony at Londons Guildhall. Last years prize went to Milkman by Anna Burns and was announced by the Duchess of Cornwall. After receiving the honours from Charles, Ms Calder said: His wife is very interested in literature and she always goes to the Booker prize, so that was nice, as we had that to talk about. Ms Calder, who formed Suffolk-based publisher Full Circle Editions in 2009, said it was wonderfully moving to receive the honours and never imagined visiting the palace for an honours ceremony. She said: I feel Im a complete fraud, like a lot of people say, because Im lucky enough to do something in my life which I really loved. I feel very honoured and undeserving. The Irish border backstop is not on the table for re-negotiation, Leo Varadkar has said. Irelands Taoiseach held a lengthy one-to-one meeting with Theresa May ahead of the main European Council summit of leaders in Brussels on Thursday. He said that while the EU was keen to assist the Prime Minister, it could not reopen the Withdrawal Agreement. Mr Varadkar said: As the European Union we are very keen to offer explanations, assurances, clarifications, anything that may assist MPs to understand the agreement and hopefully to support it but the backstop is not on the table. He reiterated: If the backstop has an expiry date, if there is a unilateral exit clause, then it is not a backstop. That would be to render it inoperable. That would mean reopening the substance of the Withdrawal Agreement and the European Union is unequivocal that is not an option. First meeting of the day here in Brussels is with @theresa_may Summit in the Irish delegation rooms before this afternoons @EUCouncil. Were talking state of play with #Brexit pic.twitter.com/ZqQjEhORy3 Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) December 13, 2018 Mrs May is seeking reassurances about the backstop, an insurance policy if nothing better is on offer which neither side are seeking. It would mean Northern Ireland remaining aligned to EU regulations after Brexit to prevent a hard border with the Republic. The backstop has been opposed by unionists over fears it could split Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Critics believe it could leave the UK bound by EU rules indefinitely, restricting the ability to strike trade deals with other countries. Mr Varadkar said the deal negotiated last month between Britain and the EU was the only one available. Leo Varadkar said the deal negotiated last month between Britain and the EU including the Irish border backstop was the only one available (Niall Carson/PA) Mrs May has said she is not expecting a breakthrough on the backstop during this weeks two-day summit in Brussels. European leaders have said any assurances they deliver cannot contradict the accord agreed with the Prime Minister. Earlier this week the Taoiseach raised the prospect of delaying next Marchs Brexit to allow a resolution. Ireland is stepping up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit with additional measures at ports and airports but not at the land border with Northern Ireland. Mr Varadkars meeting with the Prime Minister scheduled for Wednesday evening in Dublin was cancelled due to the Tory no-confidence vote. An accusation levelled by Ian Paisley that an energy official lied about the MPs alleged involvement in a phone call about a disputed RHI application may be unjustified, a public inquiry has heard. Counsel to the RHI inquiry Joseph Aiken told chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin that Ofgems Teri Clifton had found the claim made by Mr Paisley in Parliament deeply upsetting. In March, the North Antrim MP reacted angrily to evidence given to the inquiry by Ms Clifton that he was on a conference call related to a dispute over an application to join the RHI scheme. The official had told the inquiry she found the conversation very intimidating. The dispute centred on who was responsible for an application to join the RHI scheme missing a deadline to secure higher tariff rates. The chairman of the Renewable Heat Incentive inquiry Sir Patrick Coghlin (Colm Lenaghan/PA) Days after Ms Clifton appeared before the inquiry panel, Mr Paisley told the House of Commons that no such call took place, insisting the claim was a lie. He demanded that the official be brought back to the inquiry and put through the wringer to explain her remarks. The DUP MP was also highly critical of inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin, accusing him of putting words in the witnesss mouth in respect of the characterisation of the call as intimidating. Mr Aiken told the hearing on Thursday that the inquiry team had undertaken extensive work in the wake of the incident to establish the facts. He said Ms Cliftons position was that she had been told that Mr Paisley was on the call, not that he definitely was. He said that was her belief. The lawyer said the applicants the McNaughtons had told the inquiry that Mr Paisley was not on the call. The applicants also rejected the claim that the tone of the discussion was intimidating, Mr Aiken added. He said the group representing the applicants, Action Renewables whose officials were also on the call, also state that the MP did not participate. The lawyer said while the issue was one of limited relevance to the overall inquiry, he said it had been important to establish the facts given such a serious allegation had been made against Ms Clifton. It is one of a multitude of issues and the inquiry has endeavoured to take proportionate steps to establish such of the facts that can be established given that a witness to the inquiry was very publicly accused of lying to the inquiry, he said. It will be a matter for the panel, but you may consider that the material that I am laying out before you today may suggest that an allegation of lying against the official who gave evidence to you was unjustified in the circumstances. You may also take the view from the nature of the statement from the McNaughtons that they feel very aggrieved about the entire situation. Mr Aiken said the dispute over the McNaughtons RHI application was yet to be resolved and was currently subject to litigation. The leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales has denied a child sex abuse survivors claim he covered up for the actions of a priest at the centre of several allegations. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, was asked whether he had suppressed a 1968 note relating to an alleged incident involving Father John Tolkien, son of novelist J.R.R Tolkien. The note had come to light in legal advice to the cardinal, then archbishop of Birmingham, while considering a civil claim by an alleged victim of Fr Tolkiens. Asked about the allegation he failed to disclose the existence of the note to the complainant, the cardinal said: In the context of the claim and the discussions with the solicitors, my priority was to get that settled and when that was settled I simply didnt give the matter any further thought. For which I apologise. The note was drafted by Archbishop of Birmingham Maurice Couve de Murville, as part of a 1993 investigation, suggesting he had sight of information about the 1968 allegation. Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Victoria Jones/PA) No action was taken against Fr Tolkien in the 1990s, and he retired from the priesthood some six months after Archbishop Couve de Murville was told of the allegation. Fr Tolkien, who died in 2003, was believed to have denied claims he made a group of scouts strip naked. The alleged abuse happened in the 1950s, when Fr Tolkien was based in Sparkhill, Birmingham. But evidence which investigators believed suggested the priest may have admitted abuse emerged in the note, which came to light at a series of hearings by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The inquiry panel has been examining the Catholic Archdiocese of Birminghams response to allegations made against four priests, including Fr Tolkien. Though not reported at the time, the allegations were eventually reported to police in 1994 but no action was taken until an inquiry was launched in May 2001. In February 2002, it was decided not to proceed with a prosecution against Fr Tolkien on the grounds of ill health, and he died the following year. Former boy scout Christopher Carrie, who claimed Fr Tolkien abused him in two incidents in the 1950s, received compensation after reaching a settlement with the archdiocese, in 2003. In a hearing on Thursday, the cardinal who between 2000-2009 was archbishop of Birmingham, was asked about a briefing note from the archdiocese solicitors concerning Mr Carries civil complaint. The lawyers uncovered allegations by as many as six complainants against Fr Tolkien, and concluded: Carrie is likely to satisfy the (civil) court, Fr Tolkien abused him in the manner he alleges. Cardinal Vincent Nichols leaves after giving evidence (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Two months later, the lawyers again wrote to the archbishop Nichols, this time having discovered the note. The solicitors letter read: The biggest problem facing the archdiocese appears to be the document which Archbishop Couve de Murville has produced from his file which indicates in 1968 a complaint about Fr Tolkiens behaviour was made to the archdiocese. At this time, Fr Tolkien was sent for therapy and therefore I conclude that, judged by the standards of the time, the archdiocese had taken reasonable action. In the hearing room, in London, counsel to the inquiry Jacqueline Carey asked the cardinal: You have said the archdiocese would prefer not to disclose this document even if this means settling the action, and its about that I wish to ask you. Why is it you did not wish to disclose reference to the 1968 note? Cardinal Nichols replied: My main objective in going through what the solicitor describes in the first line of this letter as the conundrum of this case, my main purpose, I must admit, was to try and avoid civil action, in court. The logic of the sentence at the bottom of the page, while I cannot deny that it may well represent exactly what I said, to me should actually say the archdiocese would prefer not to take this matter to court, and therefore not to disclose the note. Ms Carey then asked: Did you write back to solicitors and say this is an inaccurate reflection of my view? No I didnt, the cardinal replied. The cardinal added: The note obviously had been disclosed to the police, it wasnt as if it was being hidden. The Most Reverend Maurice Couve de Murville (Archbishops House/PA) Ms Carey asked Cardinal Nichols: Were you worried about disclosing the note because for reputational reasons it would show the diocese in a poor light? He replied: I dont remember that being uppermost in my mind. Uppermost in my mind was a desire to settle this claim. Mr Carrie has since died, but another of Fr Tolkiens alleged victims giving evidence to the panel described how he only found out about the notes existence when it was disclosed to the inquiry. The evidence of a man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was played to the cardinal. The man, identified by a cipher A343, told the hearings: I just want to talk about the letter that came out, that I was told about two weeks ago. The 1968 letter. Fr Tolkien was reported to the archbishop, that he abused two boys and they sent him for therapy. Knowing that two years later, he abused me in the same school. And then they had the nerve to deny the claim that he did anything wrong, when they must have known about it for years and then Vincent Nichols, the so-called cardinal of England and Wales has the nerve to start talking to solicitors on how to cover things up. Thats not Christian. Unbelievable. Asked for his reaction, Cardinal Nichols said: Now that he knows that that report was given in 1968, I am sure that has renewed and deepened his sense of betrayal and sense of hurt and I apologise for that. Ms Carey asked him: It is in part, I am afraid, directed at you for what he believes is the cover-up of failing to disclose the note. So you cant answer for the actions of your predecessors in the late 60s but what you can answer for is why you decided not to let people know that the church, Im afraid, did know about it and didnt deal with it properly back in the 1960s? The cardinal replied: In the context of the claim and the discussions with the solicitors, my priority was to get that settled and when that was settled I simply didnt give the matter any further thought. For which I apologise. Theresa May has delayed a fresh Commons showdown over her Brexit deal until the new year as she acknowledged it will take time to win the assurances she is seeking from EU leaders. After the Prime Minister survived a bruising no confidence vote by Tory MPs on Wednesday, No 10 said the meaningful vote on the Withdrawal Agreement would not now be brought to Parliament before Christmas. Arriving in Brussels for an EU summit, Mrs May acknowledged she needed fresh assurances from EU leaders regarding the operation of the Northern Ireland backstop if the agreement was to get through the Commons. However, she played down the prospect of an immediate breakthrough during the two-day gathering in the Belgian capital. Theresa May greets European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (Alastair Grant/AP) Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, suggested there could be a special Brexit summit in January to agree additional assurances which could be attached to the Political Declaration on the UKs future relationship with the EU. In an interview with the Austrian Der Standard newspaper, he said diplomats were working intensively on a form of words which could be agreed after Christmas. The EU27 have a clear goal of ensuring an orderly Brexit. Of course we are ready to make concessions to Theresa May where possible, he said. It is our goal to find a settlement which works for both sides and is capable of securing a majority in both the European and British parliaments. A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed that it was the Governments aim to hold the vote in the Commons as soon as possible in January. The vote had been due to take place on Tuesday, but was dramatically pulled after the whips warned the Prime Minister she was heading for a heavy defeat unless she delayed. The move was met with anger on all sides, prompting a further flurry of letters from Conservative MPs which triggered Wednesdays no confidence vote. While Mrs May said she was grateful to those MPs who backed her, with more than a third of the parliamentary party calling for her to go, she accepted their concerns had to be addressed. My focus now is on ensuring that I can get those assurances that we need to get this deal over the line, because I genuinely believe its in the best interests of both sides the UK and the EU, she said. But I recognise the strength of concern in the House of Commons and thats what I will be pushing to colleagues today. I dont expect an immediate breakthrough, but what I do hope is that we can start work as quickly as possible on the assurances that are necessary. In a last minute change to the summit arrangements, the Prime Minister was addressing the EU leaders and taking their questions on Brexit at the end of opening session on Thursday. She will then leave while the remaining 27 discuss their response over dinner. PM @Theresa_May is in Brussels at @EUCouncil starting by meeting the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pic.twitter.com/fgU9V1GTyD UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 13, 2018 Arriving in Brussels, EU leaders indicated their willingness to help Mrs May through clarifications to the Brexit deal, but were adamant they would not re-open negotiations on the Withdrawal Agreement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met Mrs May in Berlin on Tuesday, said: I do not see that this Withdrawal Agreement can be changed. We can discuss whether there should be additional assurances, but here the 27 member states will act very much in common and make their interests very clear. French President Emmanuel Macron said: We cannot reopen a legal agreement, we cant renegotiate something which has been negotiated over several months. We can have a political discussion in this context. Irish premier Leo Varadkar, who held a lengthy one-to-one meeting with Mrs May ahead of the main summit, said she had to honour her commitments on the backstop, intended to ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. As the European Union, we are very keen to offer explanations, assurances, clarifications, anything that may assist MPs to understand the agreement and hopefully to support it but the backstop is not on the table, he said. In particular, he insisted there could be no unilateral exit clause as some MPs are demanding amid concerns that the UK could be tied to EU customs arrangements if the backstop is activated. If the backstop has an expiry date, if there is a unilateral exit clause, then it is not a backstop. That would be to render it inoperable, he said. That would mean reopening the substance of the Withdrawal Agreement and the European Union is unequivocal that is not an option. Reports from Brussels suggested EU leaders were considering a draft document stating the bloc stands ready to examine whether any further assurance can be provided to the UK on the backstop. It said that if the backstop was ever activated, the EU would seek to ensure it would only be in place for a short period and only as long as strictly necessary. But such assurances are unlikely to satisfy hardline Brexiteers who have been demanding the backstop is dropped altogether. There is no other credible fall-back solution to replace the backstop that would allay Irish fears of seeing a corrosive hard border on the island of Ireland, the countrys foreign affairs minister has said. Simon Coveney told a parliamentary committee on Thursday that, even though the Irish government did not want to use the insurance mechanism contained in the draft withdrawal agreement, it had to be included. We are all committed to ensuring that the backstop never takes effect and should it take effect, we are committed to trying to ensure that it is only temporary so that it can be replaced with something more permanent, Mr Coveney said. But for the moment in my view, there is not another credible fall-back solution that can take the place of the backstop and that is why EU leaders have been so clear and why the British Prime Minister has been so clear that there is a need for the backstop, even though we want to avoid using it. Simon Coveney (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Coveney reiterated comments made in the Dail on Thursday that that the backstop was not a threat to anybody. The backstop is about preventing the threat to the normality and stability and peaceful relations that have built up over the last two decades on the island of Ireland and ensuring that we dont have the corrosive impact in the future of enforced border infrastructure between the two jurisdictions, he said. The deputy premier commended Prime Minister Theresa May for following through on political commitments she made last December and for her understanding the fragility and complexity of politics on the island of Ireland. Mr Coveney said she recognised the need for an insurance mechanism that can allay the fears and address the fears that many people have of seeing physical border infrastructure reemerging on our island. Mr Coveney said the Irish government was continuing to prepare for all eventualities. Part of a former smuggling route covering both sides of the Irish border (Michael McHugh/PA) If we have a no-deal Brexit that kicks in after the 29th of March a lot of those preparations have to be fast-tracked, he said. Work is taking place now to do that. Mr Coveney said the Government had agreed in July to take on 1,077 extra inspectors and staff at airports and ports due to Brexit and that recruitment campaigns were already under way. He said more than 3,000 people had applied for the initial 600 jobs advertised. In the event of a no-deal scenario he said that panel would allow the government to increase the number of custom officials they take on if needed. Maurizio Sarri is waiting to discover the extent of Alvaro Moratas knee injury after the striker was substituted in Chelseas 2-2 Europa League Group L draw at Vidi in Budapest. Morata was taken off in the first half, with his replacement Olivier Giroud scoring the equaliser which spared Chelsea from an embarrassing defeat at the Groupama Arena. Morata and Giroud have shared the striking responsibilities this season, although Eden Hazard was deployed as a false nine in last Saturdays win against Manchester City. A first Chelsea change: Morata, who picked up a knock, is replaced by Giroud on the stroke of half-time... #VIDIvCFC #VIDIvCFC pic.twitter.com/JANuZtP2uL Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 13, 2018 The Blues have five remaining matches in December and should Morata be ruled out for any length of time, it would place additional strain on Giroud. Sarri said: The first impression of the doctor (is) maybe it is not a serious injury. But, of course, with this situation we have to wait and wait until tomorrow I think to see if the situation is serious. The Italian had admitted on the eve of the match that it might be difficult to rouse his players for the contest, given nothing was riding on the outcome, with Chelsea already through as group winners. Maurizio Sarri hopes Moratas injury is not too serious (Adam Davy/PA) Willians free-kick after 30 minutes was cancelled out immediately by an Ethan Ampadu own goal and Loic Nego struck a sumptuous volley after 56 minutes to give Vidi the lead. But Girouds fine free-kick 15 minutes from time earned a draw. Sarri added: We made a lot of mistakes from the tactical point of view. I am very happy with the character and with the reaction from the second goal. On the pitch there was a lot of young players so it wasnt easy to react. From the tactical point of view we made a lot of mistakes. We lost a lot of ball. We can manage the ball better I think. At the end, especially with the young players I am satisfied with the character. Sarri absolved Ampadu of blame for the own goal, which came following a corner and Marko Scepovics header. The Blues boss said: It is not the fault of Ampadu. I think he played a very good match, especially in a team like this. Ampadu was one of two 18-year-olds who started for Chelsea. The other was Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was praised by the Italian. Sarri said: I am really very happy with Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Of course they need to improve in every way, tactically and technically, but they are in the right way. Vidi finished third, as BATE Borisov joined Chelsea in the knockout stages. After merger of the six banks with SBI, the non-performing assets have further gone upto Rs 2.25 lakh crore. Opposing the merger of these 3 banks, nearly 10 lakh bank employees and officers would take part in the nation-wide srike on Dec 26. Chennai: The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) which has called for a nation-wide strike on December 26 opposing the merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank, Saturday said the move was unwarranted as it would not be beneficial to the economy and the people at large. "The merger will also affect the interests of employees, their jobs and job security. The move would also affect employment opportunities in the banking industry," the Association general secretary CH Venkatachalam said here. Noting that several villages were yet to receive banking services, he said, "there is a huge exclusion of people. Banks need to be expanded. No need for consolidation". Referring to the government's contention that the merger would make the banks stronger, Venkatachalam said, "there is no evidence to this conclusion. Last year six banks were merged with SBI. But SBI (State Bank of India) has not become any bigger." "After merger of the six banks with SBI, the non-performing assets have further gone upto Rs 2.25 lakh crore. Hence, it is also a wrong presumption," he said. The mergers of the banks would "surely" result in closure of branches and would endanger job security, he added. Urging the Centre to take tough measures to recover bad loans, the association said the government was instead trying to divert the attention and focus on resorting to bank mergers. Claiming that the total NPA in Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank was Rs 80,000 crore, he sought to know if these bad loans would automatically be recovered if these banks were merged. Opposing the merger of these three banks, nearly 10 lakh bank employees and officers would take part in the nation-wide srike on December 26, he said. A man suspected of being the gunman who killed three people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg died in a shootout with police on Thursday following a two-day manhunt. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner initially said the dead mans identity had not been confirmed yet. But Mr Castaner said the individual corresponds to the description of the person sought since Tuesday night, 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt. The office of the Paris prosecutor, which handles terrorism cases in France, later confirmed it was Chekatt. Mr Castaner said the suspect opened fire on police when officials tried to arrest him. The moment they tried to arrest him, he turned around and opened fired. They replied, Mr Castaner said. A local police official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the man who shot at police was armed with a pistol and a knife. The shooting occurred in the Neudorf neighbourhood of Strasbourg, where police searched intensively earlier Thursday for Chekatt. Cherif Chekatt, the suspect in the Strasbourg attack (Police Nationale/AP) Chekatt is accused of killing three people and wounding 13 on Tuesday night. Mr Castaner said earlier Thursday that three of the injured had been released from hospital and three others were fighting for their lives. More than 700 officers were deployed to find Chekatt, who had a long criminal record and had been flagged for extremism, government spokesman, Benjamin Griveaux told CNews television. Asked about the instructions they received, Mr Griveaux said the focus was catching Chekatt as soon as possible, dead or alive, and to put an end to the manhunt. Security forces, including the elite Raid squad, spent two hours searching in Neudorf on Thursday based on supposition only that Chekatt could have been hiding in a building nearby two days after the attack, a French police official said. People pay respects to the victims (Christophe Ena/AP) Chekatt grew up in Neudorf. Chekatt allegedly shouted God is great! in Arabic and sprayed gunfire from a security zone near the Christmas market Tuesday evening. Authorities said he was wounded during an exchange of fire with security forces and a taxi driver dropped him off in Neudorf after he escaped. Prosecutors opened a terror investigation. So far, five people have been arrested and remanded in custody in connection with the investigation, including Chekatts parents and two of his brothers. The Paris prosecutors office said the fifth, who was arrested Thursday at an undisclosed location, was a member of Chekatts entourage but not a family member. Police distributed a photo of Chekatt, with the warning: Individual dangerous, above all do not intervene. A dead body lies in the doorway of a building after a shootout with police (AP) France has raised its three-stage threat index to the highest level since the attack and deployed 1,800 additional soldiers across the country to help patrol streets and secure crowded events. French authorities said Chekatt, born in Strasbourg, appeared on a watch list of people flagged for extremist views. They said he had 27 criminal convictions, receiving the first at the age of 13. The people who died in the attack included a Thai tourist, 45-year-old Anupong Suebsamarn, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. French police officers patrol next to Notre-Dame cathedral of Strasbourg (Jean-Francois Badias/AP) Five of the wounded were in serious condition, the prefecture of the Strasbourg region said. French President Emmanuel Macron was in Brussels on Thursday for a European Union summit. EU leaders held a minute of silence for the latest victims of a mass shooting in France. Hundreds of people gathered in Strasbourgs 500-year-old cathedral Thursday evening to mourn and seek comfort. Evil does not prevail, Archbishop Luc Ravel said. And the message of Christmas has not been contradicted but rather confirmed by Tuesdays dramatic night: Evil and good are both there, but in the end the good will have last word. Strasbourgs usually busy streets were eerily empty on Thursday morning, with a heavy police and military presence. Some lit candles and brought flowers to a makeshift memorial at the site of the attack. You can feel a very heavy atmosphere due all these events, said resident Lucille Romance. People are in a state of shock and are avoiding getting out of their house. The Islamic States Amaq news agency claimed the gunman was a soldier of the group. Theresa May has appealed to EU leaders to give her the assurances she needs to get the backing of MPs for her Brexit deal. At the EU summit in Brussels, she insisted she could construct a Commons majority for the controversial Withdrawal Agreement, despite heavy criticism from all sides of the House. However, in a meeting with the leaders of the remaining 27, she said she had to be able to convince MPs the UK would not find itself tied to the EU indefinitely through the Northern Ireland backstop. There is a majority in my Parliament who want to leave with a deal so with the right assurances this deal can be passed, she said in prepared remarks released by No 10. Indeed it is the only deal capable of getting through my Parliament. After listening to her appeal, European Council president Donald Tusk said EU leaders had reaffirmed their determination that there could be no renegotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement. He said that they had expressed a firm determination to work speedily to ensure that there was an agreement on the future relationship in place by the end of the transition period at the of 2020 so the backstop was not needed. He said that if the backstop was ever activated it would apply temporarily unless and until it is superseded by an agreement that ensures a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is avoided. His comments stopped short of offering any sort of legally binding commitment or brake clause that is likely to persuade MPs critical of the deal to support it in Parliament. Meanwhile European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker criticised Mrs Mays lack of clarity over what she was seeking from the future relationship. Our UK friends need to say what they want, instead of asking us to say what we want, he said. So we would like within a few weeks our UK friends to set out their expectations for us because this debate is sometimes nebulous and imprecise and I would like clarifications. He added: We dont want the UK to think there can be any form of renegotiation, that is crystal clear. We can add clarifications but no real changes. There will be no legally binding obligations imposed on the withdrawal treaty. The Prime Minister, who on Wednesday survived a bruising vote of no confidence by Tory MPs, said a package of assurances around the backstop could change the dynamic at Westminster. At the same time, she made clear a failure by EU leaders to offer concessions risked the collapse of the whole agreement with the UK leaving in March in a disorderly, no-deal Brexit. We have to change the perception that the backstop could be a trap from which the UK could not escape. Until we do, the deal our deal is at risk, she said. I am in no doubt that the best result for all of us is to get this deal delivered in an orderly way and to get it done now. It is in none of our interests to run the risk of accidental no-deal with all the disruption that would bring, or to allow this to drag on any further. Theresa May with fellow EU leaders in Brussels (Alastair Grant/AP) She ended with a highly personal appeal to EU leaders to put their trust in her to deliver on her promises and to give her the political room for manoeuvre she needs. Over the last few years I hope I have shown you can trust me to do what is right, not always what is easy, however difficult that might be for me politically, she said. We must get this right and hold nothing in reserve. Lets work together intensively to get this deal over the line in the best interests of all our people. Following her address, Mrs May took questions from the leaders of the 27, before leaving the summit while they discussed their response over dinner. Earlier, No 10 said the Commons vote on the agreement would not now take place until the new year. The vote had been due on Tuesday, but was dramatically pulled after the whips warned the Prime Minister she was heading for a heavy defeat unless she delayed. The move, which was met with anger on all sides of the House, finally prompted the no confidence vote by Conservative MPs, with more than a third of parliamentary party voting to get rid of her. Arriving in Brussels earlier, Mrs May acknowledged that with her own party divided and the opposition parties set against her agreement, she needed additional assurances regarding the backstop. However, she made clear she was not expecting an immediate breakthrough during the course of the two-day gathering in the Belgian capital. My focus now is on ensuring that I can get those assurances that we need to get this deal over the line, she said. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, suggested there could be a special Brexit summit in January to agree additional assurances. Other leaders indicated their willingness to help through clarifications to the backstop arrangements intended to prevent the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland but were adamant they would not re-open negotiations on the Withdrawal Agreement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met Mrs May in Berlin on Tuesday, said: I do not see that this Withdrawal Agreement can be changed. `We can discuss whether there should be additional assurances, but here the 27 member states will act very much in common and make their interests very clear. PM @Theresa_May is in Brussels at @EUCouncil starting by meeting the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pic.twitter.com/fgU9V1GTyD UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 13, 2018 French President Emmanuel Macron said: We cannot reopen a legal agreement, we cant renegotiate something which has been negotiated over several months. We can have a political discussion in this context. Irish premier Leo Varadkar, who held a lengthy one-to-one meeting with Mrs May ahead of the main summit, said that while EU was keen to be helpful, some of the suggestions she had put forward were difficult. In particular he warned there could be no unilateral exit clause on the backstop, as some MPs are demanding. If the backstop has an expiry date, if there is a unilateral exit clause, then it is not a backstop. That would be to render it inoperable, he said. That would mean reopening the substance of the Withdrawal Agreement and the European Union is unequivocal that is not an option. A man who was suspected of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has been attacked by a fellow inmate just days into his sentence for running a 3 million drugs plot, it has been reported. Jamie Acourt was arrested after the racist stabbing of black teenager Mr Lawrence by a gang of white men in Eltham in 1993 but has always denied involvement. The 42-year-old from Eltham, south east London, was jailed for nine years earlier this month for masterminding a two-year conspiracy to sell cannabis resin. But less than a week into his sentence the 42-year-old was attacked by another prisoner at HMP Wandsworth. Jamie Acourt, who was suspected in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. (Metropolitan Police) The Sun reported that Acourt was punched in the back of head while preparing for exercise on Wednesday morning. Sources told The Sun Acourt instantly fell to the floor before prison officers intervened. A Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed an inmate had been put on report for punching another prisoner. She added that the victim did not require medical treatment. Stephen Lawrence was murdered by a gang of white men in Eltham in 1993 (Family handout/PA Images) Jamie spent more than two years on the run, living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, until his arrest in May. He pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court to his part in the conspiracy which moved about 750kg of the drug with an estimated street value of around 3 million. His 43-year-old brother Neil had already been jailed for more than six years for his involvement when Jamie was sentenced on Friday December 7. Both brothers were arrested shortly after the murder of Mr Lawrence but neither was convicted. In 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Mr Lawrence and jailed for life. Many writers in Scotland have avoided writing or speaking about a particular topic over concerns about digital surveillance, according to a new study. A survey of 118 writers, including journalists, academics and fiction authors, found more than one in five (22%) stay away from topics such as terrorism and serious crime, both in their work and while researching online. The study by Scottish PEN and the University of Strathclyde explored whether the perception of surveillance is a driver for writers to self-censor their work. More than a quarter (28%) also said they had curtailed or avoided social media activities. Report author Nik Williams from Scottish PEN, a not-for-profit organisation that champions freedom of speech, said: If writers are avoiding sensitive topics like terrorism, national security and serious crime as this study suggests, society and democracy suffers with the public less able to access independent information from diverse points of view. While censorship can be crudely measured by number of writers attacked, intimidated or in prison, the closures of media outlets and publishing houses or the bureaucratic hurdles put in place to restrict different people from expressing themselves, self-censorship is far harder to track. A survey asked 118 writers about their perception of surveillance (Dominic Lipinski/PA) How are we to know when a writer has decided not to publish something due to unknown risks? This survey shows a significant connection between the perception of surveillance and self-censorship that requires further analysis and action to ensure free expression can continue to strengthen democracy and civic participation. Co-author David McMenemy, lecturer in computer and information sciences at the University of Strathclyde, said: The findings of the report indicate that both corporate and government surveillance are having an effect on what Scottish journalists and authors feel free to write about. The impact on a democratic society of the article or story that should be, but is never, written is incalculable. Conservationists are calling for tougher regulation of grouse moors to end the persecution of Scotlands raptors. RSPB Scotland has published a new report which it said details the clear associations between the decline or absence of these birds in some areas and intensive grouse moor management and wildlife crime, and is calling for action to tackle the issue. The study, titled The Illegal Killing Of Birds Of Prey In Scotland 2015-17, found that the vast majority of raptor persecution incidents are occurring in areas of Scotlands uplands managed for intensive driven grouse shooting. Over that three-year period there were 38 confirmed, detected incidents of illegal killing of protected birds of prey, including shooting, trapping, illegal poisoning and nest destruction; however, the report suggests the crimes being recorded are a fraction of what is actually taking place. Meanwhile, during those three years, five satellite-tagged hen harriers and eight satellite-tagged golden eagles disappeared, with 11 of those 13 incidents occurring on land managed for driven grouse shooting, the charity said. The RSPB questions whether current wildlife protection legislation is fit for purpose and recommends that driven grouse shooting estates should be licensed, with the right to shoot dependent on legal, sustainable management practices. Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Scotlands head of species and land management, said: Intensive grouse moor management is having a disproportionate impact on our important upland ecosystems and specially protected birds, and is blighting Scotlands reputation as a place which respects vulnerable and protected wildlife. Self-regulation, voluntary codes of practice, and dialogue have all patently failed to address cultural and systematic criminality, as well as bad land management practices. We have reached a point where it is abundantly clear that driven grouse shooting must be made more publicly accountable and effectively regulated through a robust licensing system, conditional on legal and sustainable land management practices. Grouse moor owners who adhere to the law and best practice should have nothing to fear from this approach. RSPB Scotland said law-abiding grouse moor owners have nothing to fear from the approach (Jane Barlow/PA) The charity said that such crimes are continuing to have an adverse impact on the populations and ranges of several bird of prey species. A national survey of the UKs hen harriers, undertaken in 2016, found that Scotlands breeding population had fallen by 9% since 2010, and that the number on grouse moors had plummeted by 57%. A further study, published in 2016, commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage, found that the sustained level of illegal killing remains the major factor preventing the growth of northern Scotlands red kite population. An independent grouse moor review was set up by the Scottish Government in 2017 and is due to report to the Environment Secretary in the spring. The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) said it does not condone wildlife crime. A spokesman said: Whilst the SGA takes wildlife and raptor crime extremely seriously, we do not endorse the many unofficial RSPB reports on this subject. Official Scottish Government statistics, publicly available on Science and Advice for Scottish Agricultures (SASA) website, show a rate of decline in raptor persecution in recent years which is not matched by many other types of recorded offence in Scotland. A Scottish Government spokesman said: We recognise raptor persecution remains a serious problem in parts of Scotland and are committed to introducing legislation to increase penalties for wildlife crime. We commissioned an independent group to examine grouse moor management including raptor persecution and, as such, believe it is appropriate to await its report before considering further action. More than 24,000 people in Britain are facing Christmas sleeping rough, in tents or on public transport, according to new research. This number has increased massively over the last five years, according to the national homelessness charity Crisis, which commissioned the study from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The research shows 12,300 people are currently sleeping rough on the streets and nearly 11,950 are spending their nights in cars, on trains, on buses or in tents. It found that between 2012 and 2017, these numbers increased by 120% in England and 63% in Wales but fell 6% in Scotland. Crisis says the number of people sleeping rough in England is more than double what Government statistics suggest. The charity said the study pulled together a range of sources, including data from support services that record peoples experiences of sleeping rough which, according to the researchers, is not included in the Governments count. Crisis is demanding urgent action to end homelessness (PA) Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes said: Christmas should be a time of joy but for thousands of people sleeping rough, in tents or on public transport, it will be anything but. While most of the country will be celebrating and enjoying a family meal, those who are homeless will face a struggle just to stay safe and escape the cold. Reserve a place for a homeless person at #CrisisXmas for just 28.18. Give someone their first steps out of homelessness: https://t.co/bj3jf25MNz pic.twitter.com/N49TXhjvb9 Crisis (@crisis_uk) November 2, 2018 The charity said those sleeping outside are subject to a range of dangers, with homeless people almost 17 times more likely to be victims of violence and 15 times more likely to be verbally abused. Crisis said it wants national and devolved governments to tackle the root causes of rough sleeping by strengthening the welfare system and making sure every homeless person has access to mainstream housing as quickly as possible. It is also asking the public to help by calling support services if they find someone sleeping rough, and by raising funds for both its year-round services and its Christmas centres. Mr Sparkes said: This situation simply cannot continue. While the Scottish Government has taken the first step in announcing a plan to eradicate homelessness, full implementation cannot come soon enough. Meanwhile, the governments in England and Wales must step up urgently with their own plans to end this crisis. We know homelessness can be ended. Earlier this year we set out the exact Government policies that would end homelessness across Britain. Our research shows that with these policies in place, homelessness could be ended in just 10 years. Heather Wheeler MP, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, said: It is simply unacceptable that anyone has to sleep on the streets which is why we have set out bold plans backed by 1.2 billion to tackle all forms of homelessness, including our 100 million Rough Sleeping Strategy. This is already making a difference through additional bed spaces and support workers and new legislation means people at risk are getting the help they need more quickly. But we know more needs to be done to end rough sleeping for good and are committed to work with partners like Crisis to do just that. Greg Beales, campaign director at Shelter, said: This is a really important piece of research that shows how the official rough-sleeping statistics are likely to be way off the mark. The Government must address the deep problems in our housing system that are leading to homelessness fixing the problems in the welfare system and committing to a major social house-building programme. EU leaders have warned Theresa May she cannot expect a legally binding commitment that the UK will not be tied to the bloc indefinitely through the Northern Ireland backstop. The Prime Minister came to Brussels to appeal to the leaders of the 27 to give her the assurances that would enable her to get her Brexit deal through Parliament. But while they promised to do their utmost to ensure the backstop intended to ensure there is no return to a hard border between the North and the Republic was never needed, they insisted they could not re-open the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said: We dont want the UK to think there can be any form of renegotiation, that is crystal clear. We can add clarifications but no real changes. There will be no legally binding obligations imposed on the withdrawal treaty. He also criticised the UKs lack of clarity over the future relationship it is seeking with the EU once it has left. Our UK friends need to say what they want, instead of asking us to say what we want, he said. So we would like within a few weeks our UK friends to set out their expectations for us because this debate is sometimes nebulous and imprecise and I would like clarifications. German chancellor Angela Merkel speaks with Theresa May in Brussels (Alastair Grant/AP) The rebuff came after Mrs May who survived a bruising vote of confidence by Tory Mps told EU leaders that she could get a Commons majority for the controversial deal, despite heavy criticism from all sides of the House. However, in a meeting with the leaders of the remaining 27, she said she had to be able to convince MPs the UK would not find itself tied to the EU indefinitely through the backstop. There is a majority in my Parliament who want to leave with a deal so with the right assurances this deal can be passed, she said in prepared remarks released by No 10. Indeed it is the only deal capable of getting through my Parliament. She made clear a failure by EU leaders to offer concessions risked the collapse of the whole agreement with the UK leaving in March in a disorderly, no-deal Brexit. We have to change the perception that the backstop could be a trap from which the UK could not escape. Until we do, the deal our deal is at risk, she said. It is in none of our interests to run the risk of accidental no-deal with all the disruption that would bring, or to allow this to drag on any further. PM @Theresa_May has met leaders including @donaldtusk and @Xavier_Bettel at @EUCouncil today and discussed what is needed to get the Brexit deal over the line pic.twitter.com/WMInAvAJkj UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 13, 2018 After listening to her appeal, European Council president Donald Tusk said EU leaders had reaffirmed that the backstop was intended as an insurance policy to prevent the return of the hard border. He said that they had expressed a firm determination to work speedily to ensure there was an agreement on the future relationship in place by the end of the transition period in December 2020 so the backstop was not needed. He said that if the backstop was ever activated it would apply temporarily unless and until it is superseded by an agreement that ensures a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is avoided. However such assurances are likely to cut little ice with critics of the agreement who have been demanding a break clause to ensure the UK cannot be held in the backstop indefinitely. Irish premier Leo Varadkar, who held a lengthy one-to-one meeting with Mrs May ahead of the main summit, said that while the EU was keen to be helpful, some of the suggestions she had put forward were difficult. In particular he warned there could be no unilateral exit clause on the backstop, as some MPs are demanding. If the backstop has an expiry date, if there is a unilateral exit clause, then it is not a backstop. That would be to render it inoperable, he said. That would mean reopening the substance of the Withdrawal Agreement and the European Union is unequivocal that is not an option. The man authorities believe killed three people during a rampage near a Christmas market in Strasbourg has died in a shootout with police at the end of a two-day manhunt, French authorities said. The Paris prosecutors office, which handles terror cases in France, formally identified the man killed in the eastern French city as 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt, a Strasbourg-born man with a long history of convictions for various crimes, including robberies. Chekatt also had been on a watch list of potential extremists. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, speaking earlier from Strasbourg, said police had spotted a man matching the suspects description in the citys Neudorf neighbourhood. The moment they tried to arrest him, he turned around and opened fired. They replied, killing the man, Mr Castaner said. Face au pire, vous avez donne le meilleur. Merci.#Strasbourg pic.twitter.com/nzgBBZR4Fx Christophe Castaner (@CCastaner) December 13, 2018 Chekatt was suspected of killing three people and wounding 13 near Strasbourgs Christmas market on Tuesday night. Mr Castaner said earlier on Thursday that three of the injured had been released from hospital and three others were still fighting for their lives. Our engagement against terrorism is total, French president Emmanuel Macron, who was in Brussels for a European Union summit, said in a tweet thanking security forces. Five people have been arrested in connection with the investigation, including Chekatts parents and two of his brothers. The Paris prosecutors office said the fifth, who was arrested on Thursday, was a member of Chekatts entourage but not a family member. French police officers stand guard in Strasbourg, eastern France (Christophe Ena/AP) Witnesses said the gunman shouted God is great! in Arabic and sprayed gunfire from a security zone near the Christmas market on Tuesday. Security forces wounded the man but he managed to escape in a taxi, which dropped him off in Neudorf. More than 700 officers searched for Chekatt, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews television. Authorities said Chekatt had 27 criminal convictions, the first one from when he was 13. A local police official said the man who shot at police on Thursday night had been armed with a pistol and a knife. A sign reading "I am Strasbourg" as people pay respects to the victims (Christophe Ena/AP) Strasbourg mayor Roland Ries said police had acted on a tip from a woman. A local resident who witnessed the shootout said he heard shots and rushed to the window to see what was happening. He closed the shutters when he spotted the cornered suspect across the street. I was very afraid for my children, I told them to go away, and I went to the side, Cem Akcakaya told The Associated Press. After it was over, he said he saw the man motionless on his back on the pavement, his left arm askew. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online, said the Islamic State groups Amaq news agency was claiming the gunman as a soldier of the group, although IS claims of responsibility have often been considered opportunistic. Security forces, including the elite Raid squad, spent hours searching in the Neudorf neighbourhood where Chekatt had grown up based on supposition only he might have been hiding in a building nearby, a French police official said. France has raised its three-stage threat index to the highest level since the attack and deployed 1,800 additional soldiers across the country to help patrol streets and secure crowded events. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police in Strasbourg (Christophe Ena/AP) Residents of Strasbourgs Neudorf neighbourhood expressed relief after Chekatt was killed. Everybodys quite happy that the killer has been finally shot. I think now, the city and life can keep going on in Strasbourg, resident Pierre Plasse said. One of the three who died in Tuesdays attack was a Thai tourist, 45-year-old Anupong Suebsamarn, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. Earlier, hundreds of people gathered in Strasbourgs 500-year-old cathedral to mourn and seek comfort. Evil does not prevail, Archbishop Luc Ravel said. And the message of Christmas has not been contradicted but rather confirmed by Tuesdays dramatic night: Evil and good are both there, but in the end the good will have last word. Theresa Mays latest trip to Brussels to discuss Brexit makes headlines on Friday, while a rise in the number of rough sleepers also features on the fronts. The Times leads with a picture of Dutch and Belgian leaders fistbumping at the EU summit with their main story reporting that warring factions at the Conservative Party are undermining Mrs Mays call for unity. The Times 14/12/2018 Theresa May looks on as Mark Rutte and Charles Michel fist pump each other at the start of the two day EU summit on December 13, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. Photo : Dan Kitwood/Getty Images #thetimes #tomorrowspaperstoday #theresamay #gettyimages @thetimes pic.twitter.com/0zSkd4XOXR The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) December 13, 2018 The Daily Telegraph writes that the European Union has turned a deaf ear to her wishes for a legally binding backstop assurance. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph 'EU turns deaf ear to May as her Brexit promises unravel' #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/kskFiXNQK5 The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 13, 2018 The Guardian said the British Prime Minister had pinned her hopes on a last-ditch effort to ask the EU for help in drawing up a legal guarantee on the backstop. Guardian front page, Friday 14 December 2018: May pleads with EU leaders in last-ditch bid to save Brexit deal pic.twitter.com/x6TfFkb8Cx The Guardian (@guardian) December 13, 2018 The Financial Times leads with other developments in Europe, as the European Central Bank called time on its crisis-era stimulus programme. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, international edition, Friday 14 December https://t.co/5GkycegSWE pic.twitter.com/vi2500WMoG Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) December 13, 2018 The Metro leads an an increase in rough sleeping with the paper saying 24,000 people will have nowhere to go at Christmas. What the papers say - December 14 (PA) The i reports the risk of a no-deal Brexit has grown as the EU did not give Mrs May a Christmas present. I: No Christmas present for May from EU #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/euogxYShzq Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 13, 2018 The Independent leads on both Brexit, with the paper calling it deja EU. The Daily Mirror says that Conservatives who have visited foodbanks have been accused of hypocrisy. The Sun reports that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are shifting away from studio-based car shows. Tomorrow's front page: Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond stop studio shows after 17 years https://t.co/UYgQKbCrg6 pic.twitter.com/6bmFn47M3p The Sun (@TheSun) December 13, 2018 The Daily Mail reports on a bombshell increase in council tax. The Daily Express leads on Brexit, reporting the PM is talking tough with EU leaders. DAILY EXPRESS: Youve got to give me your best deal #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/NYfvm8wIgA Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 13, 2018 And the Daily Star reports on schools moving away from the traditional religious nativity. Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell is due to be re-sentenced for failing to provide vital documents to the pensions watchdog. The 52-year-old ex-racing driver was found guilty in January of failing to give the Pensions Regulator (TPR) information about the firms pension schemes when it collapsed with the loss of thousands of jobs. He was ordered to pay more than 87,000, including a 50,000 fine. Chappell appealed his conviction, claiming he did everything in his power to help TPR but had been drowning in paperwork as he was investigated by five Government departments. Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell (Gareth Fuller/PA) But the judge dismissed his appeal in September, branding his evidence entirely unbelievable. Judge Christine Henson QC, overseeing the appeal at Hove Crown Court, adjourned re-sentencing for the three offences to allow Chappell to present details of his income. Chappell is expected to appear at the same court on Friday to be handed a new sentence. At the appeal, his solicitor Michael Levy told the court that Chappell was on the brink of bankruptcy which meant he was unable to afford the 50,000 fine previously issued. Mr Levy said his client was still subject to financial penalties including 20,000 by the Insolvency Service, and added: The financial situation is grim. Chappell bought British Home Stores for 1 from billionaire Sir Philip Green in March 2015, but the high street chain went into administration in April 2016, leaving a 571 million pension deficit. Sir Philip later agreed to pay 363 million towards this. TPR launched an investigation after the sale over concerns about two pension schemes representing 19,000 members of staff. Chappell was issued with two notices in March and April 2016, known as section 72s under the Pensions Act 2004, before being handed a warning notice in November that year. Prathaan/iStock(WOODLAND PARK, Colo.) -- It's been 23 days since a young Colorado mother vanished -- and as investigators search the home of the last person who talked to her in person, police are calling her disappearance "suspicious." Kelsey Berreth, a 29-year-old mother of a 1-year-old girl, was last seen on Thanksgiving in the area of her Woodland Park home. Authorities executed a search warrant Friday morning at the home of Patrick Frazee, Berreth's fiance and the father of her baby. The search was still going as of Friday afternoon, Woodland Park Police Chief Miles De Young said. Frazee was the last person to talk to Berreth face-to-face and is being asked to sit down with investigators, Young said at a Friday news conference. The chief said Friday he wasn't willing to label individuals as suspects or persons of interest, but he added, "We are considering every possibility." Earlier this week the chief told reporters Frazee was not a suspect. Frazee's attorney, Jeremy Loew, said in a statement Friday that his client "continues to cooperate with law enforcement in the missing person investigation." "Frazee was never asked to voluntarily participate" in Friday's search at his property, Loew said, adding, "We encourage law enforcement to take whatever steps it deems necessary to find Kelsey Berreth and to be able to exclude Patrick Frazee as a possible suspect." Frazee is declining to speak publicly and is instead focusing "on parenting the child he shares with Ms. Berreth," his attorney said. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The U.S. Department of Education announced this week plans to throw a lifesaver to recipients of teacher education grants that had been converted to loans and left many saddled with unexpected debtand interest. But the process of forgiving debt associated with TEACH grants is far from complete, and it may be out-of-reach to some teachers whove been frustrated by the programs flaws. Heres a cheat sheet. What are TEACH grants? TEACH Grantsshort for Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grants were created in 2007 to provide incentives for would-be teachers to complete their education and take hard-to-staff positions in schools that teach large numbers of low-income students. Recipients get up to $4,000 annually to pay for college or graduate school if they meet certain requirements. The aim? To address what teaching staff wonks call a sorting problempersistent shortages of teachers in some fields, and schools that dont draw enough willing candidates. About 58 percent of TEACH Grant recipients said the program was somewhat or very influential in their decisions to pursue teaching in a high-need field at a high-need school , a March report by the U.S. Department of Educaiton found. Why are TEACH Grant recipients in debt? Thousands of TEACH grant recipients have seen those grants converted to loans. Though most recipients said they intended to meet the programs requirements, the Education Department study found that 63 percent of people whod started their expected period of teaching in high-need areas prior to 2014 had had their grants converted to debt by 2016 for failing to meet those requirements. Specifically, recipients have to complete annual forms to prove that they teach in qualifying subject areas and schools for at least four years within the eight years after they graduate. But, for many of them, the failure to complete the recertification process was due to confusing documents, never receiving paperwork, or processing failuresit was not because they left their teaching positions. The Education Departments survey of recipients found 19 percent didnt know they had to recertify annually, and 13 percent failed to recertify because of problems with the process. And some may not have realized their grants had been converted to loans. Thirty-two percent of respondents in loan status said they had already completed the [service] requirements or were likely to do so, a sign that they were either confused by the question, confused by how the program works, or confused about where they stood financially, the report said. And administration of the program is also to blame. A 2015 report by the Government Accountability Office found that, as of 2014, more than 2,200 grants were erroneously converted to loans, a problem that was compounded by a confusing and unclear process for disputing the status of a grant. So how will the debt forgiveness work? TEACH grant recipients who met the service requirements within an eight-year period will be able to request reconsideration of their conversions, the Education Department says on the programs website. Those who qualify for reconsideration will have their loans converted back to grants so they can complete the programs requirements if they havent already done so. How will that work? Thats unclear. The agency plans to update the webpage by Jan. 31 with details about how to complete the process. Some TEACH recipients wont see relief Some TEACH recipients who are carrying debt because of processing errors arent likely to see relief. Chiefly, some recipients who were frustrated by a flawed recertification and dispute process gave up before the end of the eight-year window, taking positions that didnt qualify for the program or leaving teaching all together, they told NPR . For recipients near the end of their window, it may be too late to put in the necessary years of qualifying employment. And watchdog groups that have criticized TEACH are concerned that a program known for complicated and confusing paperwork from the outset might not have the clearest process for recertification, which could frustrate some recipients who seek it. The departments announcement today that it will change paperwork requirements and reconsider some previous conversions does not go nearly far enough to fix the programs woes, said a statement from Julie Murray, an attorney for the Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group. Changes are necessary notwithstanding the Departments ... announcement of program modifications, Public Citizen said in a report this week about TEACH grants. That announcement, for example, would not provide any added flexibility to the eight-year certification period for individuals harmed by previous conversions and now under tight time constraints to complete their service. And the Department has not stepped back from the draconian sanction of conversion for a single missed deadline, an outcome that instead flows from the Departments regulations. To protect grant recipients going forward, the group recommends changes to TEACH grants , including: Ending the rule that grants are converted to loans upon a single missed recertification deadline; Allowing deadline extensions for extenuating circumstances; Formalizing a grant-to-loan appeal process and requiring a response from the Education Department within 30 days; Ensuring that recipients with erroneus grant conversions can correct their credit histories; and Permitting individuals whose loans are reconverted to obtain retroactive suspension of the eight-year time limit for performing qualified service during those periods in which the grants were loans. Image: Getty Sonam Kapoor recently posted a video of Dulquer Salmaan using a mobile phone while driving and cops did not take it lightly. Mumbai: Sonam Kapoor recently posted a video of Dulquer Salmaan using a mobile phone while driving, and it seems like Mumbai Police did not take it lightly. Dulquer Salmaan, an established actor of the Malayalam Cinema, will be next seen opposite Sonam in the film 'Zoya Factor'. Taking to her Instagram stories, Sonam Kapoor posted a video in which her co-actor can be seen driving a car with both his hands busy on his phone, instead of the steering wheel. Sitting next to him, Sonam can be heard saying "Weirdo." Shortly after the clip was posted, Mumbai Police took to their twitter handle to give a piece of advice to the two. "We agree with you @sonamakapoor! Quite a 'weirdo' to try such stunts while driving and putting the lives of fellow drivers at risk too! We don't quite approve of these even in 'reel' life. #NotDone," the tweet read. We agree with you @sonamakapoor ! Quite a weirdo to try such stunts while driving and putting the lives of fellow drivers at risk too! We dont quite approve of these even in reel life. #NotDone pic.twitter.com/WWoDz16hKj Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) December 14, 2018 However, Sonam quickly came to Dulquer's rescue and clarified that contrary to what the Mumbai police interpreted, that the actor was not driving the car, in fact, they were "rigged on a truck". "We weren't driving we were rigged on a truck.. but I'm glad you guys are concerned.. I hope and I know you show the same interest in regular folk as well! Thanks for taking care!" she tweeted. We werent driving we were rigged on a truck.. but Im glad you guys are concerned.. I hope and I know you show the same interest in regular folk as well! Thanks for taking care! #Reelvsreal @dulQuer https://t.co/JD1NvcqGrU Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) December 14, 2018 Later, Dulquer tweeted to Mumbai Police's handle saying that they should check some facts before tweeting things. Would appreciate it if you had checked some facts before tweeting this. In fact @MumbaiPolice helped us with permissions and traffic management during the shoot and were present the whole time. In my next tweet attaching the video I was shooting. #notawierdo https://t.co/WnKSnSDmjZ dulquer salmaan (@dulQuer) December 14, 2018 To this, the Mumbai Police's Twitter page wrote back, "We appreciate that you weren't indulging in any irresponsible violation. A good example for all your fans @dulQuer." They even replied back to Sonam by posting, "For us, No Mumbaikar is 'regular' they are all 'special'! And we are equally concerned about them all. Glad to know your safety wasn't 'rigged'." @sonamakapoor." For us, No Mumbaikar is regular they are all special! And we are equally concerned about them all. Glad to know your safety wasnt rigged. @sonamakapoor https://t.co/PyYbB23OZs Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) December 14, 2018 To this, the 'Neerja' actress wrote, "I'm so glad! All of us are so grateful for your concern and protection." Im so glad! All of us are so grateful for your concern and protection https://t.co/IHugJJt4O1 Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) December 14, 2018 Dulquer made his Bollywood debut in 2018 with Irrfan Khan starrer 'Karwaan'. His acting in the film was well received by the critics and so were his good looks by the ladies! Helmed by Abhishek Sharma, 'The Zoya Factor' is an adaptation of Anuja Chauhan's 2008 novel. Earlier this month, India abstained from voting on a US-sponsored UN General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution Activities of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza that would have condemned, for the first time, the activities of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza. The resolution could not be adopted as it couldnt muster two-thirds support in the UNGA, getting 87 votes in favour and 58 against with 32 abstentions. India was among the 32 countries that abstained from voting on the resolution. No stand taken US Permanent Representative to the UP, Nikki Haley, pushed for this resolution and ideally, she would have liked to depart from her position at the UP with a victory on this resolution. But that was not to be though she was right to underscore the hypocrisy of the UNGA when she said that despite more than 500 General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, not one condemning Hamas has ever been adopted. Haley has been a strong supporter of Israel at the UP but could not get the first ever anti-Hamas resolution she so coveted. However, Indias diplomatic manoeuvring was not simply a vote against the US resolution. It first voted with the US in the procedural round to determine whether the simple majority or two-thirds majority rule should apply and supported a simple majority procedure. The US lost that vote narrowly, failing to garner support from some of its closest alliance partner like Japan. And then India abstained when it was clear that the US would not be able to muster a two-thirds majority in the UNGA for its resolution. It cannot be denied that the Modi government has re-defined Indias Middle East policy. (Photo: Reuters) Indias abstention has attracted a lot of attention in India and abroad with critics pointing out the dangers of India, one of the worst sufferers of terrorism, seemingly condoning terror with its abstention. It has also been suggested that with this vote, India is signalling that it is not committed to upholding its ties with its closest partners like Israel when it comes to the crunch. After all, for a nation that is on a worldwide mission to isolate Pakistan because of its support for terrorism, it is important to demonstrate its commitment to the cause even when it pertains to other nations. All this is true and in an ideal world, New Delhi would have had the luxury to take such black and white positions. But much of international relations exist in the grey zone and Indian diplomacy, like other nations, is forced to make all sorts of compromises. Irrespective of this vote, it cannot be denied that the Modi government has re-defined Indias Middle East policy by de-hyphenating Israel and the Palestinian issue. It has been a bold policy move but underappreciated in New Delhi and beyond. Indias balancing act in its relations with Israel and the Palestine has ended for all practical purposes. During his Israel visit in 2017, the first of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel, Narendra Modi not only did not visit Palestine but also did not mention the Palestinians in public. Bigger picture Though New Delhi hosted Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in May 2016 before Modis Israel visit and had reassured him of Indias unwavering support towards the Palestinian cause, there was no public hectoring about the Palestinian issue. There was also no mention of East Jerusalem being the capital of the future Palestinian state during Abbas visit as New Delhi made clear its preference in favour of a negotiated compromise between the two sides. But New Delhi has important equities to preserve in the wider Middle East as close cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman underscores. Before Modi visited Israel in 2017, he had already hosted or visited all major regional states. In fact, while there is much talk of Modi governments Act East policy, its Look West engagement has been quite elaborate. And these relationships are no longer simply about oil as is often assumed. As Indias political engagement with major regional players has grown, there now a renewed focus on defence and security cooperation. During Modis visit to Oman earlier this year, India secured access to the key Port of Duqm in Oman for military use and logistical support, enhancing New Delhis maritime imprint in the Indian Ocean. And recent extradition of the alleged middleman of the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper scam, Christian Michel, from the UAE to India underscores growing political synergy between India and the UAE. Indias political engagement with major regional players has grown. (Photo: Reuters) Role in future This is happening at a time when significant changes are underway in the political dynamics of the Gulf region. The Trump Administration has opened a new front against Iran and the Arab Gulf states and Israel are now working more closely than ever. Omans Sultan Qaboos bin Said welcomed the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Muscat in October, the first visit of an Israeli Prime Minister to the Gulf in over two decades. At the same time, the gruesome murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi has exposed growing divide between Saudi Arabia and Turkey even as Russia has emerged as a key player in the region. As the West remains consumed with its internal problems, the Gulf states are looking for new partners and Indias pro-active engagement has given New Delhi a new profile. Indias role in the region is set to expand significantly in the realm of economics and security. Indias cautious voting at the UNGA is merely a small aspect of this larger shift. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: By choosing Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh CM, Congress finally gets its politics right Sleuths of the Special Task Force have sought the help of Nepal police to arrest prime accused in Bulandshahr violence and Bajrang Dals city chief Yogesh Raj. The violence which erupted in Bulandshahr on December 3 claimed the lives of the Inspector of Syana police station and a local youth. We have inputs that to avert his arrest, Raj has fled to Nepal. We are in contact with our Nepalese counterparts and are trying to drop the net on the mastermind of Bulandshahr violence, said a senior STF officer posted in west UP. On Thursday night, the STF team arrested another accused, identified as Saurabh Payal, from Bulandshahr. He was produced in a local court on Friday morning and the court sent him to jail. Earlier, the probe agencies had arrested armyman Jitendra Malik aka Jeetu Fauji in connection with the Bulandshahr violence. Later, a hunt was launched for arresting some aides of the armyman who were at the scene on the fateful day. Interestingly, all accused named in the FIR and with saffron links have been freely uploading videos on social sites and giving interviews, pleading their innocence, but the law enforcers have preferred to look the other way. PTI 3 ultras, 1 jawan killed in Pulwama encounter Seven civilian protesters, three terrorists and an Army jawan were killed, besides scores of youngsters wounded, in the counter-terrorist operation by security forces in a village in South Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday morning. The killings evoked widespread condemnation from both separatist and mainstream political leadership in Kashmir while authorities snapped mobile internet services in several areas of the Valley, including Srinagar. The separatists have called for three-day shutdown against the killings. Eyewitnesses said youngsters were killed after security forces opened fire on the civilians who were protesting against the anti-terrorist operation in Kharpora Sirnoo village in Pulwama. The protesters were marching towards the encounter site apparently to disrupt the counter-terrorist operation to give safe passage to the holed up terrorists. The civilians death occurred after three local Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter in the area. An Army jawan was also killed in the operation while another injured was admitted to military hospital. The slain terrorists were identified as Adnan, alias Tahir Hizbi, a resident of Karimabad Pulwama; Bilal Ahmad, alias Hashim, a resident of Rajpora Pulwama; and a former Army man Zahoor Ahmad Thokar of Sirnoo Pulwama, who deserted the Army ranks last year to join Hizbul Mujahideen group. Thokar was one among senior commanders. Sources said in the initial phase of operation, two civilians were killed in action following heavy violent clashes amid stone pelting with police and paramilitary forces after news spread about the killing of three terrorists in the area. Five more civilians succumbed to grievous injuries while at least two dozen injured civilians were undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Pulwama and Srinagar. Reports said a large number of people, mostly youth, pelted stones on security forces near the encounter site at Sirnoo village. The security forces used first lobbed tear smoke shells. As the situation could not contained, they used pellets and then live ammunition to quell the protests. Local sources said the forces fired indiscriminately leading to large number of injuries. The separatist political amalgam Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, called for a three-day shutdown against the civilians and militant killings beginning Saturday with a call to march towards Armys XV Corps in Badami Bagh on Monday. Mirwaiz tweeted, Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #Armed Forces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment (in Srinagar) on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily. Mirwaiz further tweeted, From today (Saturday) onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across. The slain civilians were identified as Shahbaz Ali, a resident of Monghama village, Suhail Ahmad of Bellow, Liyaqat Ahmad from Parigam, Murtaza of Prichoo, Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder, Touseef Ahmad Mir of Chersoo Pulwama. The 7th slain Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad Pulwama with MBA from Indonesia, is reported to have left behind Indonesian wife and three month old baby. He had returned last year from Indonesia. Authorities suspended the mobile internet service in Srinagar and south Kashmir districts of Pulwama and Shopian while the speed was reduced to 2G in Budgam district. Reports of mobile internet disruption and reduction in its speed in other parts of Kashmir, were received. The step was taken in view of protests and shutdown called by the separatists over civilian and militant killings. Train services across Kashmir were also suspended as precautionary measure. The situation in Pulwama and adjoining areas in south Kashmir, was reported highly tense while reports of massive clashes were received from these areas. Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti condemned the killings of seven civilians in forces action. In a series of tweets, Omar Abdullah hit out at the Governor administration, saying it has failed to focus on the security of the people. Omar Abdullah tweeted, The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads dont bring peace. Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! 6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? PDP president Mehbooba Mufti while condemning the killings said that no probe could bring back the dead civilians. She also criticised the Governor administration for failing to secure civilian lives. In her tweets Mehbooba said, How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings , and once again appeal for efforts , to stop this blood bath. No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved. Pradesh Congress Committee Vice president G N Monga while expressing shock and grief over repeated killings of civilians in the Valley said, It has become a norm now. Almost every day innocent civilians are being killed in Kashmir which must be a cause of concern for every right-thinking person in the country. The killings of civilians have the potential to alienate people further, which is a dangerous sign. The students of Kashmir University held protests on the varsity campus against the killings. Reports said students marched inside the campus while chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and offered funeral prayers in absentia as well. Spontaneous protest was held at Nowhatta area in downtown Srinagar. Reports said on learning about the Pulwama killings, the shopkeepers downed their shutters and joined peaceful protest demonstration against the Pulwama killings demanding end to cordon and search operations (CASOs), killings and unabated human rights abuses. Reports of clashes were received from Sopore area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district against the killings. A police statement issued this evening said, A search operation was launched jointly by the security forces based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Monghama of village Sirnoo in District Pulwama today morning. During the search operation, which was an open field with hideout made by the militants, hiding militants fired indiscriminately leading to an encounter. Consequently Army personnel got injured and one Army jawan succumbed to his injury while others are being treated at a hospital. The statement added, While the operation was going on, a crowd who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injured. The injured were evacuated to hospital where unfortunately seven persons succumbed to their injuries. Others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable. The RLSP on Saturday received a major setback with all its members in the bicameral legislature of Bihar declaring that they are still with the NDA as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing personal interests in announcing a break-up with the NDA. Both the RLSP MLAs Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan and its lone MLC Sanjiv Singh Shyam made a statement to this effect at a joint press conference here. They also pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar, a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three. We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party, Shyam said making it clear that the RLSP was heading towards a split. The RLSP has three MPs, including Kushwaha. Among the two other Lok Sabha members Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi the former has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when he had announced his resignation from the cabinet and also severing ties with the NDA in Delhi. We had been stating since long that we were in favour of the RLSP remaining in the NDA but Kushwaha, who was more interested in his personal gains, paid no heed, Shyam said pointing to the RLSP chiefs quitting announcement on Monday. The RLSP MLC alleged that Khushwaha had of late been making noises about the RLSP bot being considered for a ministerial berth after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA last year. In reality, he never tried. When ministerial berths were being allocated among allies he was simply roaming around in Patna, Shyam claimed. Khushwaha was happy with his own ministerial berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention had been on getting a deal that served his interests better. He simply did not care that somebody from his party should get a ministerial berth in the state as well, he added. Replying to a query, he said neither he nor Paswan want ministerial berths. We would like Sudhanshu Shekhar's inclusion in the state council of ministers and we would be hugely disappointed if he is not considered for the same, he said. We are not defectors. Rather, we represent the real RLSP. Our stance is in line with the sentiments of most workers and office-bearers in the party. We will soon be approaching the Election Commission with our claim, he added. NDA leaders in Bihar were not immediately available for comments on the development. However, rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP legislature party held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Striking a discordant note from the Congress stand on the verdict pronounced by the Supreme Court on the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that people should accept the decision of the countrys top most court and not call for a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee). The Supreme Courts three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India on Friday had dismissed several public interest litigation (PIL) petitions seeking investigation into the Rafale fighter aircraft deal. Akhileshs estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav is also on the same page with his nephew on this issue. The Supreme Court verdict on Rafale deal has settled the issue and all concerned should respect the decision of the apex court, he said in Kanpur on Saturday. Speaking to the media a day after the apex court found no irregularities in the Rafale deal, Akhilesh said, The Supreme Court is trusted by the people. It is supreme. We had demanded a JPC before the Supreme Court gave its verdict. Now that the apex court has given its judgement, we should go by what they (the judges) have said. Akhilesh made these observations after flagging off the Samajwadi Vision and Vikas Padyatra from the SP state office here on Saturday. There is no other court in the country other than the Supreme Court that people have complete faith on... I feel that after the apex courts ruling, if there is anything to be talked about Rafale, if fingers can still be raised, people can go back to it (apex court). The Supreme Court is supreme, Yadav said amid high voltage row after Bharatiya Janata Party stepped up attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for politicising the defence deal. During a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in September, we did say there should be a JPC probe. But now that the Supreme Courts ruling has come, the apex court has examined all issues and if in future too anybody has anything to speak on Rafale, anyone can knock the doors of the Supreme Court, the Samajwadi Party chief said. In the meantime, the Congress has said that the government has misled the Supreme Court on Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report vis-a-vis Rafale deal. Yadav said his party had made the demand for JPC when the Supreme Court was not seized of the matter. Despite the three-judge bench of Supreme Court headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi rejecting all the petitions requesting a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal, the Congress, led by its president Rahul Gandhi, has not accepted the verdict. In its defence, the party has stated that the Narendra Modi government had lied in the court and had tried to mislead the bench by giving false details. It was followed by similar comments by PAC (Public Accounts Committee) chief and Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who said on Saturday that he and members of PAC had no knowledge about the CAG report. He charged the government of misleading the Supreme Court that the CAG report was presented in Parliament and the PAC had probed it. Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee today called upon educated youths of the nation to venture into entrepreneurship opportunities rather work with multinational companies. Addressing students and dignitaries on the 10th Foundation Day of the Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi here on Saturday, Mukherjee said that the higher education they have received in the country is a debt of the nation which they should repay by working for countrys development. Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee said, India and China were equally exploited before their independence but China has made stupendous jump in the matter of development. Its GDP growth rate has been 12 per cent per year since last 30 to 32 years. It is only because it has sorted out its internal problems. So why cant India do the same? There is need to take some hard steps to bring the country in line with our neighbour. Appealing to the students Mukherjee said, The students of IIM Ranchi are requested to always keep in mind that this high quality education they have received is a contribution of the nation, State and community. The nation invests in its institutions and universities because students are our future. Students, in turn, have an important responsibility, not only for them but also for the country and the community. Stressing on the quality of education the former President said, Education is the main source of empowerment and without empowerment, one cannot achieve social justice and economic development. He said that there is need to provide research based education from the primary level. There is need to quality education to all. India is still lacking a robust higher education system. A large numbers of Indian students are going to abroad every year to get higher education. We dont get Nobel Prize on our own. Three persons of Indian origin have received the prize but they were living in abroad, he added, citing examples of various noteworthy teachers like Rabindranath Tagore to bring forth the point how good education should be aimed right from the grass root level. Mukherjee ended his speech by narrating a short anecdote from his personal life highlighting the importance of education and urging the students to make the best possible use of their calibre and the education they are receiving at such a deemed institute to take India to newer horizons of success while abstaining from corruption and shortcuts. The students of 2017-19 and 2018-20 who had excelled in academics were felicitated by the Director. The winners of essay writing competition of National Education Daywere also rewarded. Earlier, the programme began with the lamp lighting ceremony by Pranab Mukherjee and Dr. Shailendra Singh, Director of IIM Ranchi accompanied by Saraswati Vandana. The Director gave an inspiring speech encouraging the students to strive each day to make their alma mater and the whole nation proud. Chairman, IIM Ranchi, Praveen Shankar Pandya, addressed the audience and also described the illustrious career of Pranab Mukherjee and his multi-faceted journey serving as the Defence Minister and then as the President of the nation. To add to the celebrations of the evening, a cultural show was put up by the students which included some mellifluous singing, a classical dance and a gripping dramatics act highlighting the need for social uplift of women. Canadian Minister (Migration), Christopher Kerr on Saturday met Punjab Technical Education and Employment Generation Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to streamline immigration process. Kerr visited Punjab with an aim to regulate movement of youth to Canada especially Punjabi youngsters, who want to embark study abroad. Kerr, who is looking after Migration affairs of India, Nepal and Bhutan was accompanied by Rahul Sharma, Managing Director, Government of Alberta. Channi said that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Government of Punjab and Government of Alberta, Canada to streamline the migration application processes for students and saving the immigration aspirant students from fraud commission agents on February 7, 2019. Channi said this is in continuation of initiative taken by the high level delegation that visited Canada this year to facilitate aspiring youths, creation of jobs for Punjabis overseas and exploring educational opportunities for both the countries. He said that keeping in view of the increasing passion of Punjabi youth to study abroad, Punjab Government had taken the initiative for bright and prosperous future of the younger generation craving for study abroad and would create vigorous employment opportunities, which is the motto of Punjab Government. Earlier, Canadian delegation held discussions with Technical Education Minister, Charanjit Singh Channi in the presence of senior officials of the Punjab Government which included Secretary Technical Education and Industrial training Punjab, Director Employment Generation, Director Technical Education, Advisor Skill Development and Vice Chancellor IKGPTU Jalandhar, VC MRSPTU, Bathinda over the issues of migration. During the meeting, issues related to setting up of a Punjab Governments portal aimed at funneling students and immigrants interested in Canada, Skill Development for overseas Employment, studying abroad programs in various Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics and ITIs of Punjab and how the immigration Department of Govt. of Canada support such Initiatives of Govt. of Punjab. Secretary Technical Education and Industrial Training DK Tiwari said that Punjab Government is making all efforts to save youngsters from fraudster agents and provide them legal pathway to go to Canada through Skill Development . Sandeep Kaura, Advisor Skill Development Mission Punjab took the delegation to visit existing Skill development Centers being run by Government of Punjab in Amritsar and Ludhiana and discuss with Canadian Minister the way forward in skilling the youth of Punjab as per the labor market requirements of Canada. There is acute shortage of skilled manpower in Canada in different sectors, he said. The delegation members also visited Golden Temple Amritsar to pay obeisance and was honored by district administration. The meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) scheduled on Sunday in Dehradun is likely to see fireworks as the camp followers of former Chief Minister and All India Congress Committee ( AICC) general secretary Harish Rawat and PCC president Pritam Singh are resolved to cross swords on a string of issues. The party has invited all the leaders who had contested the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections to the crucial meeting during which the State party leaders, including Pritam Singh and Harish Rawat, would brainstorm to firm up a roadmap for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The not- so impressive performance of the Congress in the just-concluded urban local body election might make the two warring factions to lock horns. The recent expulsion spree involving the staunch Harish Rawat loyalists like the Nainital nagar Congress committee chief Maruti Shah, president of Congress Sewa Dal Chamoli, Sanjay Rawat and former general secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Khajan Pandey for a period of six years has further intensified the factional bickering in the state unit of the opposition party. Enraged over these expulsions, the deputy leader of Congress legislature party and Ranikhet MLA, Karan Mahra had even convened a press conference in Haldwani on Tuesday and termed the expulsion of Khajan Pandey and Maruti Shah as unwarranted and ill-conceived move. He had clearly held PCC president Pritam Singh and the leader of the opposition Indira Hridayesh as behind the move. Mahara had questioned the disciplinary committee for expelling old and trusted leaders without serving even the show-cause notice to them and had warned that the issue would be raised during the PCC meeting slated on December 16. He had also questioned as to why no action is being taken against those who give statements against Harish Rawat incessantly. Congress MLA from Kedarnath Manoj Rawat said that after the 2017 Assembly elections, the elected MLAs had sent the names of the leaders of the party who had worked against them. But no action has been taken against them till date, he said. Notably, barring Pritam Singh and Indira Hridayesh, most of the Congress are said to be Harish Rawat loyalists. Giving clear hints that he would not get bogged down by the recalcitrance of Harish Rawat camp, the PCC president Pritam Singh has said that action against those who worked against official candidates of party was justified and that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the party. Immunisation is right of every child' Micheal Juma, Chief, UNICEF Madhya Pradesh. He was speaking at meet of civil society and youth group who are partners of UNICEF Communications programme at Shivpuri. He said that within the framework of convention on the rights of children, every child has right to survival. He added that it is important that we advocate for it and especially as communications partners, we help spread awareness of upcoming measles - rubella campaign which State is rolling out. This Partners meet was organized by UNICEF Madhya Pradesh at Shivpuri where you had representatives of Child Rights Observatory, Vikas Samvad, Spandan, Ekta Parishad, Synergy, Vasudha Sanasthan, ANSH Happiness Society, Sandhiya, Anhad Pravaah, Zenith legal service and NGOs from Shivpuri and Officials of Department of Health and Family Welfare. Speaking at the meet Dr Santosh Shukla, State Immunization Officer explained importance of Measles Rubella vaccine and campaign, its strategy and aim of the campaign to eliminate measles and rubella till the year 2020. He said that Measles and Rubella are one of the life- killer diseases among 10 diseases for the children in India. He added that MR campaign will start on 15th January 2019 and will cover all children from age group of 9 months till 15 years. Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh shared the role of Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships programme and areas where we as a communication group can influence spread of messages of measles rubellla campaign. He suggested ways of engaging with media, youth, faith based, social and digital influencers and engaging corporate sector, work on out of the box ways so that we can reach each and every child and support the State to respond to remove misconceptions and rumours if any. He said we need to harness energy of youth and adolescents to help take the message to communities. Dr Sanjay, District Immunization Officer of Shivpuri, spoke about the steps being taken as part of preparation of campaign roll out. Dr AL Sharma, CMHO Shivpuri called upon support of all civil society organisations to support the campaign. Dr Mainak Chatterjee Health Officer, UNICEF, MP spoke about the Measles Rubella Vaccine and its benefit for the 9 months to 15 year children . He stated that Measles is the single largest killer and is contagious disease which is spread by virus and vaccine help save lives. Aisen launches water heater Stella priced at Rs 8,690/ Dehradun: Aisen, one of the fastest growing consumer durables brand in India, diversifies its product portfolio with the launch of Stella water heater. The 15L& 25L Instant Water Heater provides a solution for the water heating purpose as it is engineered to warm water in a flash, the company claims. Its ABS plastic and stainless steel body brings superior performance to heating solutions, the company further claims and adds that engineered with a built-in high quality copper coil, the heating element does not wear out in case of any power cuts or voltage variation. The Polymer protective coating prevents rusting and makes the product abrasion- free. Stella saves high on energy and also on the bills. With two years of warranty and seven years on tank in three shades, the product is available online with Amazon, Flipkart and also with leading retail stores across India, the company says. Inter-house Hindi debate contest at Doon Cambridge School Dehradun:The students of Doon Cambridge School organised an inter-house Hindi debate on Saturday during which 16 speakers from four houses participated. While eight of them spoke in favour of the motion, the rest eight presented their views against it. The topic for classes 9th and 10th students was-"The youth of the present time are inclined to listen more to their friends than to their parents and the same for the classes 11th and 12th students was Humanism is still alive. They came up with their perspective regarding the same and cited reasons and with suitable examples from real life to justify their views, said the principal of the school H K Chhabra. The first position of the first group was clinched by Sanchita Gusain and the second position of the same group was clinched by Himanshu Pal. The first position of the second group went to Sneha Kutthi and Anisha saini and the second position of the same group was won by Amandeep Singh. Besides, Kilimanjaro House clinched the overall house trophy. Surface Go available for pre-order exclusively on Flipkart Dehradun:Surface Go, Microsofts smallest, most portable and affordable surface device yet, is now available for pre-order in India exclusively with Flipkart starting from December 15. Weighing just 1.15 pounds and 8.3mm thin, the 10-inch Surface Go offers laptop performance and tablet portability for individuals, the company claims and adds that the device is lightweight, productive and accessible. Powered by the 7th Generation an Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y, the Surface Go features a fanless design and offers up to nine hours of battery life, the company further claims. Pilot was apparently not on board with Mr Gehlot being the chief minister, which delayed the announcement. Congress president Rahul Gandhi with Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot and party leader Ashok Gehlot at his residence in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The magic moment for magicians son Ashok Gehlot came on Friday when, after three days of hectic parleys and lobbying, Congress president Rahul Gandhi could finally declare his name as the chief minister of Rajasthan. State unit chief Sachin Pilot has agreed to be his deputy. This will be Mr Gehlots third stint as the chief minister of Rajasthan. He served as CM from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2013. Addressing a press conference after his name was announced by Rajasthan Congress observer K.C. Venugopal, Mr Gehlot, 67, thanked Mr Gandhi and promised to provide, along with Mr Pilot, good governance. There was a logjam on the decision till late Thursday night, even after Mr Gandhi had one-on-one meetings with Mr Gehlot and Mr Pilot thrice. Hectic discussions were held with top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on the selection of Rajasthan chief minister. Mr Pilot was apparently not on board with Mr Gehlot being the chief minister, which delayed the announcement. Eventually, Mr Gandhi successfully brokered peace with the CM-deputy CM compromise formula. The united colours of Rajasthan, Mr Gandhi tweeted on Friday afternoon along with a photograph in which the three leaders are standing together and smiling. Mr Pilot, 41, exuded confidence that Congress good electoral performance will continue, saying the party will get a big mandate in 2019 polls and form government at the Centre also. Mera aur Ashok Gehlot ji ka jaadu puri tarah chal gaya hai (Gehlot and I worked our magic in the state), Mr Pilot said. In the state Assembly, Congress went from 21 seats against the BJPs 163 in 2013 to getting 99 seats (plus one of the Rashtriya Lok Dal) in the state elections the votes for which were counted on Tuesday. Mr Pilot said the partys manifesto will be implemented immediately. Mr Gehlot will be the 15th chief minister of Rajathan and the fourth leader to become chief minister of the state for a third time. Mr Gehlot faced serious opposition from Jat leaders in the Congress in the race to the chief ministers post in 1998 and 2008 as well. On both occasions, he overcame the opposition, but this time Mr Pilot gave him a tough time. Mr Pilots supporters from Gujjar community held a series of protests blocking roads in Rajasthan on Thursday when it appeared that the announcement naming Mr Gehlot was imminent. In December 2008, Jat leaders, like the then Union minister Sis Ram Ola, former Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Parasram Maderna and newly elected lawmaker Sonaram, had openly raised the demand for a Jat chief minister. Mr Gehlot is from the Mali community. The then pradesh congress committee president C.P. Joshi, who later became Union minister after winning the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, also had chief ministerial aspirations. But he lost the 2008 Assembly election with a margin of just one vote, ruling himself out of the race Amid protests by the Jat community, supporters of Mr Gehlot and Mr Ola clashed outside the guesthouse where AICC observers including Digvijay Singh were staying. After intense consultations with Congress MLAs, the observers forwarded their report to the then party president, Sonia Gandhi, who cleared Mr Gehlots name for the post. Congress won 96 seats in 2008 and Mr Gehlot ran the government with the support of six Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs and a few Independents. At a conjurors convention in 2015 which he inaugurated by performing a little trick of his own Gehlot said he would have followed in his father Lachman Singhs footsteps had he not joined politics. Mohan Lal Sukhadia was the chief minister of the state for four times, while Hari Deo Joshi and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat were three-time chief ministers in the state. Both Mr Sukhadia and Mr Joshi were Congress leaders while Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was from BJP. Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday left for Dubai to participate in the Industry Road Show being organised by Jharkhand Skill Development Mission Society (JSDMS) under the aegis of Government of Jharkhand on December 16-17. The road show is orgainsed with an aim to attract reputed firms to provide jobs to the youth of the State ahead of the Global Skill Summit 2019 scheduled in January 2019. The road show is third in the row after Bangalore and Delhi to attract famed companies in the field of retail, hospitality and infrastructure. It is based on developing an employers network for generating aspirational and gainful employment. Also, it will help to put a strong foundation for skill development in the State and prepare a blueprint for new employment opportunities parameters. Attempts are being made to contact recruiting companies in UAE to participate in the event, said officials of JSDMS. Apart from CM Raghubar Das the show will be graced by Indian Ambassador at UAE Navdeep Suri, Development Commissioner DK Tiwari, Principal Secretary to CM Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Secretary of Higher, Technical education and skill development department Rajesh Kumar Sharma, JSDMS Director Ravi Ranjan, CEO JSDMS Amar Jha and senior officials of the State. HRD Minister of UAE government Nashir Bin Thali Al Hamli will also take part in the event and present his views on global scenario of skill development. CM Raghubar Das will establish direct connect with recruiters, industrial partners and skill development experts during the programme. He will also present his views on Global Skill Summit and the emerging scenario of skill development in Jharkhand during the event. Secretary of Higher, Technical and Skill Development department, Rajesh Kumar Sharma said that the cultural setup and the ambience of UAE is conducive for people of the State. He said that UAE can become a natural place for skill development training for the youths of the State. The Road Show will be a unique programme in UAE, he said. During the two-day event the representatives of government of Jharkhand will also visit prominent industrial places like ICCA, Dubai, Masdar Future City. The JSDMS will also provide a view on Vision of Skill Development in Jharkhand. The Bhopal crime branch has nabbed a three member vehicle lifters gang and recovered six two-wheelers worth Rs 4 lakh from their possession. Acting on a tip off, near Jinsi Slaughter house two youths was trying to sell KTM Duke at low price were nabbed and identified as Rahul Verma (20) and Saud Khan (20) of Budhwara. The nabbed accused accepted stealing the vehicle from BDA Lalghati around one and a half years ago. Later in the investigation when the two were quizzed they revealed that along with their third accomplice Farhan alias Kaanta Qureshi (24) of Budhwara. The three confessed to have stolen five scooters from different parts of the city and recovered the scooters from their possession. The vehicles have been stolen from Koh-e-Fiza, Kotwali, Shahjehanabad and Talaiya police station areas. The main accused Farhan has been booked earlier for vehicle lifting. He joined Rahul and Saud who were released on bail. Saud was assigned to dispose vehicles. After the stealing of vehicles it was used till the vehicle ran out of petrol and later kept at busy market place and would search for customer to sell the vehicle. Farhan and Saud work as labour while Rahul works at a tea stall. Meanwhile, Kamla Nagar police nabbed two miscreants and recovered gold jewelry worth Rs 80000 burgled from Kotra Sultanabad on December 2. According to the police, acting on a tip off regarding two persons trying to sell jewelry a team was rushed to the spot and based on the information nabbed them. The nabbed miscreants were identified as Pepul Chouhan (22) and Kamal Soni (52). The two confessed burglary at Kotra Sultanabad. Police recovered two gold finger rings and gold chain with pendant. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday assured Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to release cyclone Titli assistance to Odisha as early as possible. His response came when Patnaik had a telephonic discussion with him regarding Central assistance for victims of the Titli that ravaged the State in October this year. Earlier on December 13, Patnaik had written a letter to the Home Minister urging him to immediately release Central assistance for undertaking repair and restoration works in the affected areas. The very cyclonic storm Titli of October, 2018 and subsequent floods and landslides had severely affected a vast population of around 60.31 lakh in 128 blocks of 17 districts in State, Patnaik had mentioned in the letter. A day-long workshop was organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India (GoI) in Ranchi on Real Estate Regulatory Authority RERA A New Age of Transparency and Accountability in Real Estate on Saturday. Speaking in the workshop, Union Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Durga Shankar Mishra, said that for the real estate sector, the government introduced RERA in 2016, bringing a historic change. Mishra said that before RERA, people who had the desire of purchasing houses in the urban areas had to face problems or often fall prey to fake companies and agents as there was no monitoring agency. RERA has not only given great respite to the people who buy a house but has brought the honor and reputation to the people who work in real estate sector. The population of the urban areas will double in the next 30 years and this will require a new urban space, therefore, RERA will play an important role in the way of development, he added. Mishra hoped that corruption will be eliminated from different regions in the future and with complete transparency. He praised the efforts of Jharkhand for implementing PM Awaas Yojana and said that the government has done a commendable job in this direction. On the occasion, Minister Department of Urban Development, Housing and Planning, CP Singh said that RERA will have an important role in the state of Jharkhand, it is necessary that it should be promoted well . Also, the Minister said that if the law is made then it should also be decided that if any complaint goes to RERA, it must be get resolved in stimulated time. If the benefits are not received in a particular time, then there should be a provision for action against those associated with the agency concerned, added Singh. Secretary, Department of Urban Development, Housing and Planning, Ajoy Kumar Singh extended the gratitude towards the Government of India for organising RERA workshop here and said that the act will prove helpful in establishing transparent system in the real estate business. The Secretary also said that this workshop will benefit not only Jharkhand but 11 other states. Singh also said that the real estate industry has been promoted well after the introduction of RERA and the Government of Jharkhand (GoI) too has received several cases. The central governments Housing and Urban Affair, Economic Analyst, Anupam Mishra, Special Secretary, Department of Urban Development, Housing and Planning BPL Das, Ashish Singhmar, Director Directorate of Municipal Administration, State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) Director, Amit Kumar, State Chief Town Planner Gajanan Ram, along with Joint Secretaries, Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Directors, officials of Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (JUIDCOL), Officers of Ranchi Smart City Corporation Limited, Officers of City Development and Housing Department from 12 States including the representatives of CREDAI - apex body of Private Real Estate Developers Associations and banks were present in the workshop. St Mary's Convent Sr Sec School celebrated its annual day with the theme 'Let me fly'here on Saturday with much fervour and enthusiasm. Raghvendra Sharma, Chairman, Child Rights Commission graced the occasion as the chief guest. The Guest of Honour was Rahul Kumar Lodha, The Superintendent of Police, Bhopal. After the lighting of the lamp, the cultural extravaganza began with a mesmerising prayer dance. Principal Sr Mary CD extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests and all other invitees. The school choir rendered a melodious song offering a ceremonial welcome to the guests. Watching the little kids tapping their feet to the rhythmic beats of Polka and Irish dances was heartwarming. The desi tadka 'Badhai' folk dance form of Bundelkhand added a colourful flavor and was a visual treat to the audience. The soul stirring play 'Give me wings to fly' was an eye opener for all. Story narration through Ottan Thullal a dance and poetic form of Kerala that was used to introduce the play was a unique attraction of the programme. The heart touching scenes were linked to each other with the help of contemporary dance and mime beautifully woven into the theme and received loud applause. The rungs of success ladder the institution has scaled were glorified through the school report presented by a group of four students. The chief guest gave away prizes to the toppers of Class XII board examination. In his address he congratulated all the students for their mind blowing performances and wished them good luck for their future. Christmas greetings were conveyed through a scintillating dance item. Vice Principal Sr Jeena Chacko expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all and her hope to receive the same overwhelming support from each one in future too. The event culminated with the grand finale, a breathtaking show merging all the items highlighting the message of letting the young souls fly freely pursuing their own dreams and carving their own identities. Two miscreants among six miscreants who vandalised around 19 cars were in Kotra Sultanabad and nearby areas were nabbed while search for absconding four miscreants have been intensified, said SP Bhopal (South) Rahul Kumar Lodha while speaking with media persons at his office on Saturday. He said that taking the act of vandalism with seriousness search parties were deployed and teams continued to gather information of the miscreants and nabbed two of the miscreants involved in vandalising cars. One of the two nabbed accused was nabbed near Depot Chouraha while other was nabbed from Jaleswar Mandir. The two were booked under section 25 Arms Act. The nabbed accused persons were identified as Shashank Naagar (19) of Kolar and Kamal Khadka (21) of Idgah Hills. During the investigation when the two were quizzed they confessed that at around 11.30 in the night on December 13. Pawan Jhanjhot and Vishal Bihari along with Pawan Singh alias Babu Mochi, Vicky Rawat, Shashank Naagar, Kamal Khadka and two others gathered and Vishal told that Rajkumar of Shymala Hills is not joining group and lets go and fight with him. The accused over three two wheelers went to search for the Rajkumar in Shyamla Hills, TT Nagar, Kotra Sultanabad and Kopal School. The two told the police that the accused were in inebriated state. Police managed to nab two accused and seized motorbike bearing registration number MP0QG8168 used by the two. Vicky and Babu Mochi are residents of Battalion Bhadbhada while Pawan Jhanjhot lives in MANIT campus. Details of the absconding accused has been searched to find their whereabouts. Shashank has been booked for 3 crimes, Kamal has been booked for 4 crimes, Vicky has been booked for 12 crimes, Pawan Jhanjhot has been booked for 7 crimes and Babu Mochi has been booked for 3 crimes. The annual burns incidents in India are 7 million a year. SHALINI SAKSENA catches up with doctors and survivors who say that a dedicated unit for burns management is set up at the earliest I was acid attacked in 2006 just 12 days into my marriage by a man whose proposal I had rejected. At that time I was studying in Delhi. My hometown is Varanasi. I was on a train traveling from Delhi to Varanasi when the incident took place. The man who threw acid on me was a distant relative. I filed a case against him; he was booked under Section 326A of the IPC (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) since there was no separate law for acid attacks back then. We fought a legal battle for almost two years and finally, he was jailed for four-and-a-half-years. He served this sentence and is now out and leading a normal life, Pragya Singh, founder of Atijeevan Foundation which fights for empowerment and rehabilitation of acid attack survivors, says. Besides the physical and mental trauma that a survivor faces, there are several healthcare issues, she points out. This may involve over 30-40 surgeries, to begin with. That is not all, the problem with surgeries in case of burn survivors is that the skin grafting contracts and shrinks over a period of time if proper care is not taken like wearing a pressure garment and using a gel sheet. In other words, one requires surgery for the same burnt area time and again. The problem with any kind of burn injuries is that is most cases the survivor is from a low-income family. The thought process is very different. Acceptance of society is another roadblock. It takes a lot of courage for a survivor with a disfigured face to come out in the open and face the society. When people shun this person due her morbidity, it takes a toll on the survivor, Singh says, who says that there is a lot more pent-up anger rather than sadness. Seconds another burn survivor. Though she doesnt want to share her name, she tells you that she sustained burns when her lehenga caught fire from a diya on the floor during Diwali this year. When I realised that my clothes were on fire I tried to put it out. I was running and trying to put it out, but the more it spread up my legs. This is when my uncle caught hold of me and tore the lehenga. In the process, he too sustained burns, she recalls. What she has not lost is her spirit to fight and get better. I know that while my present situation looks bad (her legs are wrapped to prevent injection) I also know that will take time to heal but I will do everything to get better and be back in school at the earliest, she says. Another burn survivor sharing his story tells you that he sustained injuries when the gas cylinder burst while he was cooking. He tells you that there was a leak in the pipe which he was unaware of. Thirtyfour-year-old Prabha sharing her story, tells you that she was in Delhi, on a vacation in May, when the incident happened. I was in the kitchen, talking over the phone with the ear plugs and trying to cook, the perils of juggling too many things together. My parents were out of town. I had woken up late and was drowsy. I was wearing a loose dress when it caught fire. When I realised that it was on fire, I tried to take it off and that is the reason my hand is most affected and left side of my body, Prabha says, who was working in Mumbai for eight years as a brand strategist in marketing. She immediately called an ambulance which surprises people. They ask her how she even knew the number? And her counter question to them is Why dont you know the number? People should be aware of medical emergency numbers. While waiting for the ambulance, I tried to give myself first-aid poured water and ice. I did think of applying toothpaste but finally did not. I stood in front of the AC. When the ambulance arrived, they took me to Safdarjung Hospital where I was given the required treatment. I was in the ICU for three weeks and another two months in hospital, Prabha tells you. The kind of surgery that she now needs will cost around Rs 1 crore given the conversion rate. I have tried to contact doctors here in India. Nobody proactively told me what I needed to do. That is why I have decided to migrate to Australia and get treatment there. The doctors there have been upfront and have told me what I need to do and how much it will cost. They are very systematic. Back in India, I have been told that my fingers (which are bent at first digit) will remain the same and some have said that they can do something. I have been undergoing physiotherapy for the last four months and am told that there is nothing wrong with the joints. But plastic surgeons tell me that these will have to be partially set, Prabha tells you. Dr Rajeev B Ahuja, a senior consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi tells you that from the extrapolation of burn incidence for India from the American Burn Association (ABA) factsheet of 2010, of the 50 per cent burn injuries in the country more than 50 per cent are related to the total body surface area. According to the ABA factsheet 2010, there were 1.8 lakh admissions out of which 40-50 per cent resulted in deaths. The WHO estimates that in Nepal eight per cent of the population is disabled five per cent due to burns. By this yardstick, India will have 5 million disabled from burn injuries, Dr Ahuja says. The magnitude of the burns problem in India is due to: High incidence, Social conundrum poverty, illiteracy and safety norms. People come to us with their burns wrapped in newspaper or body covered in toothpaste. Then there are economic factors; there is a shortage of trained manpower. No formal training in burn management. Burn nursing not a recognised concept. Nursing supplemented by relatives visiting patients. It is not possible to provide ideal treatment to all burn victims in developing world based on western models for several reasons. Cost-intensive, prolonged hospitalisation resource and material crunch, Government funding is inadequate, medical insurance schemes are not affordable. There is poor infrastructure for communication and coordination. No coordination between a district hospital & a burn centre, patients travel long distances to get burn treatment, almost 50 per cent patients arrive six hours after sustaining burns, dire cases are referred to reputed burn centres. This consumes existing facilities which can be given to salvageable cases, Ahuja says and tells you that the challenge is to provide the best possible treatment that can be compared to treatment that might be available outside of India with the same percentage of burns despite cash crunch. The constraints are that for higher percentage of burns is that one has to excise the burnt tissue. If you allow the burnt tissue to desiccate and to separate itself from the living tissue over a period of three to six weeks, the dead tissue invites infection. This goes into the blood and the patients die from this infection. If one prescribes too many antibiotics, over a period of time the bacteria become resistant to that medicine and we dont have newer antibiotics. But if one excises the wound, there is need to cover it with a material (artificial skin of different kind) to prevent the blood fluids to leak. This material is very expensive and not available here. They are not available because they are expensive and nobody buys them. To make this material available in India at a cheaper cost, there is need for research in artificial skin and artificial resurfacing material. If we develop our own products they will be less expensive and easily available which will help the burn survivors, Ahuja explains. Dr William G Cioffi, president, International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI), who was in the Capital for the 19th Congress of the International Society for Burn Injuries tells you that there is a need for specialised burn care in resource-restricted countries of the world. Once the person has a burn injury, the response is fairly similar. It doesnt matter whether it is here in India or the US. The kind of intensive care, medical and the team care, not just the doctors but the nurses, the therapists and the people involved in rehabilitation of the patients back into the society is the same in the developed countries as developing countries. We dont focus enough on how we are going to help these people to go back to school like that young girl said or back to work as the other survivor said. We need to focus as much on these issues as much on survival which is getting better and better in India. What matters is what we do after that is important, Dr Cioffi says. He tells you that while India has some great doctors and are well-trained what it needs to be done is to concentrate on team care. The doctor is with the patient for a small period of time but a patient with severe burns 50 per cent of the body requires the care of two nurses round the clock. This is a big burden. Then you have the therapists who come in. One of the hardest things in the US was accepting that it was not just the doctor but the whole team of people and how to do that effectively, Dr Cioffi opines. He tells you that the advantage that the US has over India is the availability of resources. We are fortunate that we have more resources compared to India, more skin sensitive products, we have access to more intensive care and more access to how we support nutrition to these patients. By doing this, we can prevent a lot of morbidity and contractures. Having access to these things is important. One doesnt need expensive products, there are some simple things that work as well, Dr Cioffi explains and says that through this congress one has to recognise that the problem is not going to get solved in six mon this or a year; it will take decades. The first thing is to recognise that it is a problem of poverty and violence and these issues need to be addressed and then build a system and each year set things that one needs to achieve recognition of the problem, understanding the epidemic, prevention and patient care, rehab and rehabilitation in the society, Dr Cioffi says. Dr Vinita Puri who is the ISBI Secretary General and Head, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Burns, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai tells you that as a plastic surgeon the biggest challenge facing burns is that it is primarily a problem of poor. Treatment of acute burns is draining. First, it is a long-term treatment; second it is a drain financially. In public hospitals the facilities may not be that adequate. Also doctors in such hospitals are not just dealing with burns. We are dealing with every other emergency that comes to us. Because I have a lot of interest in treating burns, a lot of emphasis goes towards the treatment. We dont have a dedicated unit but attached to some other unit. If we had a team only to treat burns maybe the level of care may go up. Then there is lack of awareness. First is prevention. Around 80-90 per cent burn injuries are accidental. This means they can be prevented. If you have lady using a defected stove or cooking food wearing a loose fitting garment, it can lead to an accident. Second, the morbidity that results from burns. Many are not aware that the scars are treatable for negligible cost in public hospitals. There are doctors like us but sometimes we get patients very late. Third, lack of awareness at the primary care level, Dr Puri says and opines that the media can help in creating awareness and use the existing system in place like the anganwadis who can do so much more. Dr Ahujas solution to better burn management in the country should include prevention strategies that should address the hazards for specific burn injuries. Education for vulnerable populations, Training of communities in first aid, Burn injuries are accidents of poverty, Huge burn load exists in the developing world (India), burn morbidity is quite comparable to HIV morbidity-at least in India, Burn incidence automatically decreases with economic prosperity, Poorly designed Kerosene stoves - still a major reason for accident, Prevention activity in developing world is sparse individual driven - yielding limited results, Countries in the developing world need to have their own models for improving burn care, he says. How to prevent burns: Dos & Donts Burns are preventable. High-income countries have made considerable progress in lowering rate of burn deaths, through a combination of prevention strategies and improvements in the care of people affected by burns. Most of these advances in prevention and care have been incompletely applied in low- and middle-income countries. Increased efforts to do so would likely lead to significant reductions in rates of burn-related death and disability. Prevention strategies should address the hazards for specific burn injuries, education for vulnerable populations and training of communities in first aid. An effective burn prevention plan should be multisectoral and include broad efforts to: Improve awareness Develop and enforce effective policy Describe burden and identify risk factors Set research priorities with promotion of promising interventions Provide burn prevention programmes Strengthen burn care The WHO has some basic guidance on first aid for burns. What to do Stop the burning process by removing clothing and irrigating the burns. Extinguish flames by allowing the patient to roll on the ground, or by applying a blanket, or by using water or other fire-extinguishing liquids. Use cool running water to reduce the temperature of the burn. In chemical burns, remove or dilute the chemical agent by irrigating with large volumes of water. Wrap the patient in a clean cloth or sheet and transport to the nearest appropriate facility for medical care. What not to do Do not start first aid before ensuring your own safety (switch off electrical current, wear gloves for chemicals etc.) Do not apply paste, oil, haldi (turmeric) or raw cotton to the burn. Do not apply ice because it deepens the injury. Avoid prolonged cooling with water because it will lead to hypothermia. Do not open blisters until topical antimicrobials can be applied, such as by a health-care provider. Do not apply any material directly to the wound as it might become infected. Avoid application of topical medication until the patient has been placed under appropriate medical care. In addition, there are a number of specific recommendations for individuals, communities and public health officials to reduce burn risk. Now, as PMF has decimated ISIS in Iraq, the moot point is: What is its future in Iraq and its influence on Iraq-Iran relations? Despite global pressure in connivance with Gulf monarchical regimes, Shia factions within the multi-sectarian PMF are unwilling to wind up its armed units The security situation in Iraq, which was ravaged by ISIS, has been on the mend in the last two years. It dawned on me during my recent academic visit to the country. For the first time, I could roam around in the Capital city Baghdad without the requisite security cover. While visiting Baghdads posh Karrada neighbourhood home to all religious faiths, including mosques, Shia mourning centres Hussainiya, churches and Jewish synagogue I saw the residents relishing the nightlife that was unimaginable in 2014 when I had visited the country. After pulling through its ISIS-influenced tumultuous phase during which Karrada witnessed multiple deadly bombings, shops and restaurants there dare to do business well beyond midnight. And all the credits go to al-Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilistaion Forces (PMF). However, the signs of crippling sanctions and wars are tangible. Since the exit of US occupied forces, the economic condition is still in the doldrums. Unlike neighbouring oil-rich countries, petro-dollars have not given the city a facelift. But certainly things are changing fast, and Iraq is catching up with other West Asian oil-rich countries in infrastructure and other developmental projects. In his analysis, Fanar Haddad believes that most common handicap among outsiders trying to understand Iraq is the difficulty of keeping pace with Iraqs fast-changing social and political landscapes. Western and Arab impressions of Iraq have consistently not taken into account Iraqi reality, and worse many outsiders seem unaware of just how Iraqi politics influences trends, personalities, and frames of reference. Understanding Iraqi sectarian relations without knowing these realities stem from that ignorance, which finally culminates into distortive commentary on Iraqs formidable resistance groups PMF. PMF is a multi-confessional resistance group dominated by Shia armed groups. It was formed after the rise of ISIS, which overran the large swathes of territory in north and some central parts, to eliminate the terror organisation from the land of oldest civilisation of Mesopotamia. Iraqi Army, which was weakened after its disbanding post-US occupation in 2003, was in no position to take on the Wahhabi-Takfiri group. The central authority in Baghdad was thrown into disarray and could not respond successfully to the new quandary. In the meanwhile, the clerical establishment in holy city of Najaf and Iraqs highest moral authority Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani intelligently tried to pull out the country from the brink of collapse and issued a historic fatwa calling upon all Iraqis, regardless of their religious or sectarian identities, to join the security forces to repel the looming threat of ISIS. In response, people, especially Shias, came out in hordes to join new paramilitary forces considering it as sacred defence. The myth of sectarianism Some oil-rich Gulf monarchical regimes and their stooges have been spreading rumours to sully the anti-ISIS (PMF) force as rag tag militia which runs amok anywhere they want. The Gulf regimes, which have a history of clandestine support of terror groups and pumping petro-dollars in creating mess in the region dubbed it as sheer sectarian and called it as a proxy of Iranian project of mythical Shia Crescent accomplishing its regional ambitions. However, Iranian support along with Lebanese Hezbollah in countering the hydra-headed ISIS phenomenon is only based on security compulsions and not on ideological one. As far as the sectarian composition of Hashd al-Shaabi is concerned, it is cross-sectarian and multi-ethnic armed formations working under an umbrella group and sanctioned by an act of Parliament and a multi-layered commission which supervises its strategies and actions. By virtue of their majority in Iraq, Shia groups form the majority of PMF, and adhere to the ideology of Political Islam as Iran does. However, there is no denying the fact that Shia individuals have committed extra-judicial killings but higher echelons of PMF have reiterated that they must be brought to justice under the law of land. The hullaboloo over sectarianism is just a pretext to dislodge the credibility of PMF and Iranian support for anti-ISIS offensive. The sensible clerical leadership of Najaf or any political leader have always tried to prevent any kind of schism between majority Shias and other minority communities in Iraq. On the contrary, the Arab Shias often called as forgotten Muslims despite having been marginalised in the larger Arab world by the farce of Arab nationalism have integrated maximum number of political actors in its fold in the post-Bathist dispensation. As far as the sectarian and religious composition of PMF is concerned, it includes cross-sectarian participation. Prominent Sunni politician and former governor of Nineveh province Atheel al-Nujaifis Nineveh Guard, previously known as Hashd al-Watani, and other various Sunni groups are integral to PMF. Fursan al-Jubur or Knights of Jubur, affiliated with prominent Sunni politician and former Iraqi parliament speaker Ahmed al-Juburi, too is part of PMF. Similarly, Lions of Babylon Brigades a Chaldean Christian group led by Rayan al-Kildani and Assyrian Christians, Dwekh Nawsha also known as al-Fedayoun and the Sinjar Resistance Units (SRU) a Yazidi militia, which came after the breaking off the siege of mountainous Sinjar, is prominent member of PMF. Hashd in post-ISIS scenario Last year on December 10, then Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had announced the complete victory over ISIS. Since then the PMF has gained immense popularity among the masses and considered as their first line of defence. But when the menace of ISIS has now come to an end in Iraq, the big question arises: What is the future of PMF in Iraq? The pro-Iran Shia factions led by Hadi al-Amiri and Abdul Mahdi al-Muhandis within the PMF are not willing to demobilise its armed units as they want role in Iraqi politics. Last year in August, major Shia armed factions within the PMF Badr Organisation, Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq of Qais al-Khazali, Harkat al-Hezbollah al-Nojaba of Akram al-Kaabi, Syed al-Shohada Brigade, Saraya al-Khorasani of Ali al-Yasiri formed a political front called al-Itilaf al-Fatah or Victory Alliance, to contest the May 2018 general elections along with other tribal and Sunni groups. As expected, they won largest chunk of the votes and played an important role in forming the Central Government in Baghdad under the Prime Ministership of Adel Abdul Mahdi in October this year. In regional context, Iran sees it as main component of its so-called axis of resistance to strengthen its position especially since the beginning of Syrian Civil War in 2011. The friendly Shia-dominated Government in Iraq would not only be important part of the axis but would also serve as an opportunity for Iran to scotch the increasingly harsh international sanctions and emanating threats from the US, Israel or Saudi Arabia. Prominent white-turbaned Sadrist and Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous) leader Qais al-Khazali had visited southern Lebanon adjacent to Israeli borders and stated his full readiness to stand together with the Lebanese people and the Palestinian cause. The bonhomie between Lebanese Hezbollah and Iraqi Shia groups further creates ripples in Israel as well its patrons in the West. It is an open secret that some injured ISIS terrorists in Syria had been treated in Israeli armys field hospitals and were given medical aid. Any demobilisation efforts can weaken the resistance against ISIS as long as the existential threats are dormant, not completely eliminated. Sensing the transnational overtures of these Islamist groups, the US Administration under President Donald Trump is pressuring Iran to curb ties with the PMF factions with renewed punitive sanctions by dishonouring the JCPOA nuclear deal. After cutting its teeth in countering the ISIS crisis, the victorious PMF is posturing itself to play an important role in Iraqi politics in post-ISIS scenario. An Iraqi student said, They (PMF) have given their life so we dont have to shed our blood on the streets of Baghdad. So how can we forget them? Peoples sentiments are with PMF and they dont want PMF is disengaged in Iraqs life in near future. (The writer is a Doctoral Fellow at Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) Hindu religious leader Sadhvi Saraswati Saturday called for the ordinance route to construct Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, and claimed that Hindus are now being treated as aliens in their own land. She also accused the Trinamool Congress government of West Bengal of appeasing the Muslims. The TMC, however, said efforts to divide the people on religious lines would not work in the state. "Why is the government ignoring the sentiments of the Hindus? Hindustan belong to the Hindus but we are treated as aliens in our own land. The government should take the ordinance route for construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya," Saraswati said here today. There has been a growing clamour for ordinance by various organisations and political outfits such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), RSS and Shiv Sena. Addressing a 'Virat Hindu Sammelan' here, she demanded that the work for construction of Ram Mandir should start immediately and no one should try to test the patience of the Hindus. The Supreme Court has recently declined early hearing of petitions in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case. It had earlier fixed the case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. Saraswati urged the youths of the Hindu community to buy swords rather than spending money on purchasing expensive mobile phones. Alleging that the TMC government has been appeasing the Muslim community for the sake of vote bank, she said Hindus should unite and protest the "misrule" of the party. "The TMC tries to interfere in religious activities of the Hindus but won't dare to take action against Jihadi activities and infiltration," she said. Reacting to her statements, TMC secretary general and senior minister Partha Chatterjee said no effort to divide people on religious lines would work in Bengal. "No effort to divide people on religious grounds would work in Bengal. The people of this state knows that our government works for each and every community," Chatterjee said. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Pak Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari criticised BBC, accusing it of 'deleting' part about Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it 'typical bias'. London/Islamabad/New Delhi: British public broadcaster BBC has defended the omission of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's mention from its interview with Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar, making it clear that it was "not an act of censorship". In an interview to BBC's Stephen Sackur for the 'Hardtalk', Pakistan's finance minister answered questions on various issues of national importance, including the state of Pakistan's economy and the so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor'. The TV version of the interview, however, did not contain his mention of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death in 2017 by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged "espionage". Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari criticised the BBC, accusing it of "deleting" the part about Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it "typical bias" on the part of the broadcaster. BBC 'Hardtalk' on Twitter, however, clarified that Kulbhushan Jadhav's name had been omitted from the TV version of the interview and not the radio version, and that it was not done to censor the minister's words. "The reason Kulbhushan Jadhav's name was deleted from the TV version of the HARDtalk interview with Asad Umar has a simple technical explanation. The recorded interview was too long for our broadcast slot and so had to be edited. This was done separately for radio and TV," it explained in a tweet. "His name was omitted from the TV version. This was not an act of censorship, but clearly confusion has been caused, so we are happy to restore that short section to the TV broadcast and we'll give the new programme an extra airing tonight as well as tomorrow morning," the broadcaster said. On BBC's explanation, the Pakistani human rights minister accused the British public broadcaster, saying: "As pathetic an explanation as any! BBC's bias has always been there and then there are mega bucks to be earned from India!" As pathetic an explanation as any! BBC's bias has always been there and then there are mega bucks to be earned from India! https://t.co/F9YDKGpPk9 Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 14, 2018 Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran. India maintains that Kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India. After Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death, India moved the International Court of Justice against the verdict in May 2017. The world court has halted Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it. In October, the ICJ said it will hold hearings from February 18 to February 21 in the Peace Palace at The Hague in the Netherlands, the seat of the court. 8 hours ago Wall Street steadies following omicron slide; stocks rise NEW YORK (AP) Wall Street is steadying itself Monday from last week's slide caused by the newest coronavirus variant, as investors wait for more clues about just how much damage it may do to the economy. The S&P 500 was 1.6% higher in afternoon trading to recover more than two-thirds of its drop from Friday, which was its worst since February. Read Article There is not enough analysis data for EACO. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes EACO has received 78 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes EACO has received 36 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment EACO has received 68.42% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about EACO and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EACO will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EACO will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Charles Taylor plc provides professional services and technology solutions to the insurance market in the United Kingdom, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Management Services, Adjusting Services, and Insurance Support Services businesses. The Management Services business provides management services to insurance companies, mutuals, and associations. This business offers outsourced management services comprising the management of underwriting and claims, reinsurance, and loss prevention, as well as the provision of regulatory, accounting, mutual management, compliance and internal audit, technology, investment management, and business management services. The Adjusting Services business offers loss adjusting services for the aviation, energy, marine, property and casualty, and special risk sectors; and marine average adjusting and technical support services, as well as general loss adjusting services. The Insurance Support Services business provides a range of professional, technology, and support services, which includes outsourced insurance support services, insurance company run-off services, investment management, captive management, and specialty risk management. Charles Taylor plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More CONSOL Coal Resources LP produces and sells high- British thermal unit (Btu) coal in the Northern Appalachian Basin and the eastern United States. It owns a 25% undivided interest in the Pennsylvania mining complex, which consists of three underground mines and related infrastructure that produce high-Btu thermal coal located primarily in southwestern Pennsylvania. The company markets its thermal coal principally to electric utilities. CONSOL Coal Resources GP LLC operates as a general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as CNX Coal Resources LP and changed its name to CONSOL Coal Resources LP in November 2017. CONSOL Coal Resources LP was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Read More Sources claimed the government decided to grant six-month extension to both the officers in view of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for early next year. The extension of their tenure was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. New Delhi: Centre has given a six-month extension to both Intelligence Bureau director Rajiv Jain and chief of Research & Analysis Wing, Anil K. Dhasmana. The tenure of both the officers was to finish at the end of this month. While Mr Jains tenure was to finish on December 30, that of Mr Dhasmanas was to retire on December 29. Sources claimed the government decided to grant six-month extension to both the officers in view of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for early next year. The extension of their tenure was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was a view within the government that the decision to appoint new chiefs of IB and R&AW should be left to the new government once it is voted to power after the general elections. Mr Jain, an 1980-batch IPS officer from Jharkhand, was appointed IB director on December 30, 2016, for a period of two years. He has been a recipient of the Presidents Police Medal, and has served in various departments of the intelligence agency, including the sensitive Kashmir desk. Mr Jain was also an advisor to the previous NDA governments interlocutor on Kashmir, K.C. Pant, when talks were held with separatist leaders such as Shabbir Shah. Mr Dhasmana is a 1981-batch officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre and has been with R&AW for more than 23 years during which he served in important devisions, including the Pakistan desk. The R&AW is tasked with gathering external intelligence. In addition, the ACC also redesignated Anil Srivastava, 1985-batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh, cadre from advisor, Niti Aayog, to principal adviser. National Grid plc transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas. It operates through UK Electricity Transmission, UK Gas Transmission, US Regulated, and National Grid Ventures (NGV) and Other segments. The UK Electricity Transmission segment owns and operates electricity transmission networks, which comprise approximately 7,236 kilometers of overhead lines. The UK Gas Transmission segment owns and operates gas transmission systems, as well as third-party independent systems and liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities. The US Regulated segments owns and operates transmission facilities across upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; and electricity distribution networks in upstate New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Its assets comprise 14,439 kilometers of overhead lines; an electricity distribution network of approximately 117,498 circuit miles; and a network of approximately 57,551 kilometers of gas pipeline. The NGV and Other segment engages in the energy metering business; transporting renewable energy long distances through its electricity interconnectors; and storing LNG, as well as commercial property and insurance activities in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More 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. 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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.. GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation. John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through four segments: Asset Solutions Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia; Assets Solutions Americas; Technical Consulting Solutions; and Investment Services. The company offers operations solutions, including maintenance, modifications, commissioning and decommissioning, and aftermarket services, as well as industrial services, such as painting, insulation, scaffolding, rope access, E&I, asbestos removal, and civil and earthworks services; engineering, procurement, and construction management; plant operations and life extension; technology solutions; supervision and management services; fabrication and inspection services; and construction and field services. It also provides environment and infrastructure solutions comprising environmental studies and compliance, environmental remediation, public infrastructure, and geotechnical and materials services; clean energy solutions; mine planning and design, mineral processing and metallurgy, mineral resources and project assessment services; and automation and control solutions, such as asset protection and facility and process automation solutions, as well as simulation, learning, and virtual systems. In addition, the company offers subsea and export systems, including subsea, umbilical, riser, and flowline design, as well as planning, design, and development of marine terminals and pipelines; and hull and marine services. It serves oil and gas, infrastructure, industrial and manufacturing, mining, power, and government sectors. John Wood Group PLC was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Aberdeen, the United Kingdom. Read More Several others were injured after forces fired live ammunition to quell protesters, stone-pelters during and after encounter. Three terrorists were gunned down in an encounter between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Kharpora Sirnoo village. (Photo: ANI) Srinagar: Seven civilians were killed and many injured when security forces fired live ammunition to quell violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir's southern Pulwama district on Saturday, witnesses and hospital sources said. The clashes erupted during and after a gunfight between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Kharpora Sirnoo village in which three militants and a soldier died, the police sources said. The officials said that the gun fight broke out soon after a cordon-and-search operation was launched jointly by the Armys 55 Rashtriya Rifles, J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operations group (SOG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)s 182 and 183 battalions in the village. They added that the security forces moved into the village after receiving credible information about the presence of militants in a private house at Kharpora Sirnoo. Also Read: 3 terrorists gunned down, 1 soldier martyred in encounter in J&K's Pulwama The terrorists hiding in the area opened fire on the security forces triggering the gun battle in which three terrorists were killed and a soldier was critically injured, said defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia. He added that the injured soldier died in hospital soon after. Police sources identified the slain militants as Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, Adnan Hamid Bhat and Bilal Ahmed Magray -- all local Kashmiris belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit. Sources said Thokar, a resident of the same village where the encounter took place, was a former soldier who had deserted his Army unit to join militant ranks some time ago. While the encounter was underway, surging crowds, comprising mainly youth, made repeated attempts to relocate to the site and then clashed with the security forces. At least, seven people were killed and many others injured when the security forces fired live ammunition to quell the protesters and stone-pelting mob during and after the encounter, reports received here from Pulwama said. Six of the civilians who died on the spot or on way to hospital have been identified as Shahbaz Ali, Suhail Ahmed, Liaquat Ahmed, Murtaza Ahmed, Amir Ahmed Palla and Abid Hussain Lone. One of the critically injured civilians Rauseef Ahmed Mir has succumbed in Srinagars government-run Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital. Fifteen other seriously injured civilians have been admitted to different hospital of Srinagar. The situation in entire south Kashmir is very tense and the authorities are contemplating to impose curfew in some towns as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, protests over the Pulwama killings by angry crowds have broken out in some other parts of the Valley including north-western town of Sopore also. Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah termed it horrible day and blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! Abdullah tweeted. In another tweet, Mr. Abdullah hit out at the Governors administration, accusing it of having failed to focus on the security of the people. He said, The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads dont bring peace. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also took to micro-blogging site Twitetr.com to condemn the civilian killings. She too criticised the Governors administration for failing to secure civilian lives and said that no probe could bring back the dead civilians. She tweeted, How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath. In another tweet, she said, No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved. Separatist leader and Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for three day mourning over the killings and also on behalf of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), the alliance of key separatist leaders including him, asked the people to observe protest shutdown in the Valley for three days from Saturday itself and march on the headquarters of the Armys 15 Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar on Monday. He tweeted, #PulwamaMassacre. Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily. In another tweet, he said, SOS #to all humanity! Kashmiris being massacred as Indian forces go on a killing spree in #Pulwama firing indiscriminately! civilian death toll has crossed 7, more than 40 youth have been hit with Bullets many critical, death toll may rise! Calling for three days mourning and protest strike, he said, From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across. Police sources said two soldiers were injured in the encounter with the militants. Most of the civilian casualties took place when the Army men on board a Casspir vehicle opened fire to quell an unruly mob which had surrounded it and hurled stoned at it, a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said. He said, "While the Army personnel were leaving the village on completion of the operation against militants one of their vehicles, a Casspir, got stuck in mud. A mob quickly surrounded it and started attacking it with stones. The troops on board responded by opening fire, killing and injuring the civilians." North American Construction Group Ltd. provides mining and heavy construction services to the resource development and industrial construction sectors in Canada and the United States The company's Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services. Its Equipment Maintenance Services division provides fuel and lube servicing, portable steaming, equipment inspections, parts and component supply, major overhauls and equipment refurbishment, onsite haul truck brake testing, onsite maintenance support, under carriage rebuild, machining, hose manufacturing, and technical support services, as well as welding, fabrication/repairs, weld certification, and inspection services. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a heavy equipment fleet of 626 units. The company was formerly known as North American Energy Partners Inc. and changed its name to North American Construction Group Ltd. in April 2018. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Acheson, Canada. Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. 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The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: Accelerated Production Systems, Acme Elevator, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Advansor Germany GmbH, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International, Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Auto Glanz Solutions LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., Blackmer, BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CDS Visual, CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression BV, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DESTACO UK Limited, DFH Corporation, DFS Netherlands B.V., DSR BZ Holdings LLC, Datamax International Corp, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover CR spol s r.o., Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Products Segment Inc., Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings, Dover France Participations, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover Imaging & Identification Segment Inc., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International Ventures Tunisia S.a.r.l., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Pumps & Process Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dresser Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dresser Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty. Ltd., Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty. Ltd., Em-tec, Espy, Ettlinger, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries, Gala Kunststoff-und Kautschukmaschinen GmbH, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems Company, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Innovative Control Systems, Innovative Control Systems Inc., Inpro/Seal LLC, JK Group, JK Group S.P.A., JK Group USA Inc., K S Boca Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Knowles Electronics, LIQAL, Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MAAG, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM-IMAJE Corporation, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions, MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Gala Inc., Maag Italy S.R.L., Maag Pump Systems, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Reduction Inc., Maag Service (Malaysia) Sdn. Bdn., Maag Systems (Thailand) Limited, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje - Unipessoal Lda, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Philippines Corporation, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l., Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Singapore Pte. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International, OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions (Jiang Su) Co. Ltd., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW France, OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing, PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSD Codax Holdings Limited, PSD Codax Limited, PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG California LLC, PSG Germany GmbH, Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Production Control Services, Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario, Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser, Solaris Laser S.A., Somero Enterprises, Sound Solutions, Space S.R.L., Spirit, Start Italiana Petrol Cihazlari Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Start Italiana S.R.L., Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions, Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., Systech GB Limited, Systech Shanghai Consulting Company Limited, TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Triton Systems, Tulsa Winch Inc., UPCO Inc., US Synthetic, Unattended Payment Solutions LLC, Unified Brands, Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vehicle Service Group UK Limited, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., WSCR Corp., Warn Automotive LLC, Warn Industries, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems, Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Deutschland GmbH, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., WellMark, XanTec Steuerungs- und EDV-Technik GmbH, and em-tec GmbH. The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. 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Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Benext, Bionic, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Cloudworks, Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Entropia, Epylon, Ethica Consulting Group, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Exton Consulting, Fairway Technologies Inc, Fairway Technologies LLC, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, First Annapolis International, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Focus Group Europe Limited, Formicary, Formicary Holdings Limited, Formicary Limited, FusionX, FutureMove Automotive, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, Genfour Limited, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gestion Altima Canada Inc., Gevity, Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Hytracc Consulting UK Limited, Hytracc Holding AS, I-Faber S.p.A., IBB Consulting, IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INCAD, INSITUM, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Imagine Broadband (USA) Ltd, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Industrie&Co, Infoman AG, Infoman Schweiz AG, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Infusion Development Inc., Infusion Development UK Limited, InfusionDev LLC, Innoveer Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria Brasil LTDA, Insitum Consultoria Colombia SAS, Insitum Consultoria Europa SL, Insitum Consultoria Peru SAC, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., Intrepid, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Advertisement (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inventor Technology Limited, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, Javelin Group (Bulgaria) EOOD, Javelin Group Limited (UK), Javelin Group SASU, K Comms Group Limited, KCS.net AG, KCS.net AG West, KCS.net Deutschland GmbH, KCS.net Holding AG, KCS.net Osterreich GmbH, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Ltd, Kogentix Singapore Pte. Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kunstmaan NV, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon UKI, Kurt Salmon UKI Ltd., Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LabAnswer, LabAnswer Government, LemonXL Limited, Logistics Market Place Limited (UK), Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Corporation, Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte. Ltd., Mackevision UK Ltd, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd., Maihiro, Matter, Matter Llc, Maud Corp Pty Limited, Maxamine International, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mindtribe Product Engineering LLC, MobGen, MobGen Technology S.L, Moonrise NV, Mortgage Cadence, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, N3 LLC, NBS Marketing Inc., NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile, Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Chile SpA, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda., New Energy Aborda, New Energy Associates Ltd, New Energy Group, New Energy S.r.l., NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage China Ltd., NewsPage Pte Ltd, Nice Agency Limited, Northstream, Northstream AB, Northstream Holding AB, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology LTDA, Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Octo Technology SPRL, Octoman SAS, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Openmind, Openminded, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium Consulting Ltd, Orbium GmbH, Orbium Holding AG, Orbium Inc., Orbium International AG, Orbium International sp. z o.o., Orbium Licences AG, Orbium Limited, Orbium Pte. Ltd., Orbium Pty Ltd, Orbium Services sp. z o.o., Orbium Sarl, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PCO Innovation Canada Inc., PCO Innovation EURL, PIXO PUNCH Limited, PLM Systems S.r.l, POC Holdings, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, Pach Invest SARL, Pach Invest SAS, PacificLink Group, PacificLink iMedia Ltd., Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald Inc., Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Partners Technology Mexico Holdings BV, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production K/S, Perseroan Terbatas. Accenture, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Ltd, Pragsis Technologies S.L, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Ltd, Procurian Germany GmbH, Procurian Inc., Procurian International I LLC, Procurian International II LLC, Procurian LLC, Procurian Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procurian Switzerland GmbH, Procurian USA LLC, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co Ltd, Radiant Services, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Limited, Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (Asia) Pte Ltd, Redcore (India) Private Limited (India), Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Renacentis IT Services, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Rothco, Rothco Holdings Designated Activity Company, Rothco Unlimited Company, S.C. EnergyQuote S.r.l., S3 TV Technology Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, Salt Solutions, Sanchez Capital Services Pvt Ltd, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Airline Planning Group, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Asia (Hong Kong) Limited, Seabury Aviation Consulting LLC, Seabury Cargo Advisory B.V., Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Human Capital LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Seabury Structured Finance LLC, Search Technologies BPO, Search Technologies BPO Inc., Search Technologies GmbH, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LATAM, Search Technologies LATAM S.A., Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Sente Partners LLC, Sentelis, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Shackleton, Shackleton Barcelona S.L., Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton Madrid S.L., Shackleton S.A., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., Silveo, Simian Pty Limited, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sistemes Consulting S.L., Solutions IQ, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Storm Digital, Storm Digital B.V., Structure Consulting Group, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Systor AG, TQuila Limited (UK), Tadata Creative Unlimited Company, Tara Insurance DAC, Tara Risk DAC, TargetST8, TargetST8 Consulting LLC, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica Ltd., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Limited, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Total Logistics Supply Chain Consultants Limited, Tquila, Trivadis AG, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Verax Solutions, Verax Solutions Corporation, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong, Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd., Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, Workforce Insight, Yesler, Zag, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines, Zenta Global Philippines Inc., Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc., Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, and solid-serVision.com GmbH. Scindia finally yielded to persuasion by the party leadership to back Mr Nath for the post. Bhopal: Has Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia spurned the offer of deputy chief ministers post in the yet-to-be sworn-in Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, by the party leadership? Congress circle here has been rife with speculations that the party high command had offered him to be deputy to new chief minister Kamal Nath to assuage his ruffled feelings after his claim to the coveted post was shot down. Mr Scindia had reportedly stuck to his demand for chief ministers post till the last moment, creating bottlenecks in way of clearing Mr Naths name for the position by the party, a senior Congress leader here disclosed to this newspaper on Friday. Mr Scindia finally yielded to persuasion by the party leadership to back Mr Nath for the post. He, however, declined the offer of deputy CMs post, indicating that he was not keen to be part of Mr Nath government, the Congress leader added. Sources said Mr Scindia was apprehensive that he was being marginalised in state politics by rival factions in the party. The very move by a factional leader in the party to throw his weight behind Mr Nath in race for the chief ministers post was more aimed at pushing Mr Scindia out of state politics than putting up a united face of the party here, another senior Congress leader, in the know of internal politics in the party here, revealed. Mr Scindia had, however, earlier told the media that there was no difference in the party over who would be chief minister. Mr Scindia, who secured 26 out of 34 seats in Gwalior-Chambal region that is considered his pocket borough, had campaigned intensively across the state in last two years in Madhya Pradesh virtually singlehandedly, creating a conducive environment for the party to return to power in MP after a gap of 15 years. The following companies are subsidiares of Ashland Global: 565 Corporation, ASH GP INC., ASHLAND SPECIALTY CHEMICAL (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD., ASHLAND SPECIALTY CHEMICALS (MALAYSIA) SDN.BHD, Adams Drive Totowa L.L.C., Alera Property Holdings LLC, Alera Technologies Inc., Alix Technologies LLC, Aloe Vemera S.P.R de R.L. de C.V., Ash (Gibraltar) One Limited, Ash B CIS 1 Limited, Ash B CIS 2 Limited, Ash B1 Limited, Ash B2 Limited, Ash B3 Limited, Ash B4 Limited, Ash B5 Limited, Ash CIS Canada Corp., Ash CIS Canada Holdings B.V., Ash CIS GmbH, Ash Global Holding Three GmbH, Ash Global Holdings Two B.V., Ash Junior Global Holding One LLC, Ash Junior Global Holding Two LLC, Ash Swiss Holding Two GmbH, AshLux Three S.a r.l., AshOne C. V., Ashland (Australasia) Pty. Limited, Ashland (Changzhou) Advanced Chemical Co. Ltd., Ashland (Changzhou) Specialty Chemical Co. Ltd, Ashland (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Ashland (Gibraltar) One Holding Inc., Ashland (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Ashland Argentina S.R.L., Ashland CZ s.r.o., Ashland Canada Corp./Corporation Ashland Canada, Ashland Canada Holdings B. V., Ashland Chemco Inc., Ashland Chemical De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ashland Chemical Hispania S. L., Ashland Chemical Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ashland Chemicals (Nanjing) Company Limited, Ashland Colombia S.A.S., Ashland Comercio de Especialidades Quimicas do Brasil Ltda., Ashland Danmark ApS, Ashland Eastern Markets LLC, Ashland Ethanol Inc., Ashland Finance Limited, Ashland Finland Oy, Ashland France SAS, Ashland Global Holdings One C.V., Ashland India Private Limited, Ashland Industria de Ingredientes do Brasil Ltda., Ashland Industries Deutschland GmbH, Ashland Industries Europe GmbH, Ashland Industries France SAS, Ashland Industries Italia S.r.l., Ashland Industries Nederland B.V., Ashland Industries UK Limited, Ashland International Holdings LLC, Ashland Italia S.r.l., Ashland Japan Ltd., Ashland Korea Limited, Ashland LLC, Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC, Ashland ME Holdings Inc., Ashland Mexico Holdings One LLC, Ashland Mexico Holdings Two LLC, Ashland Nigeria Exploration Unlimited, Ashland Oil (Nigeria) Company Unlimited, Ashland Oil Inc., Ashland Pacific Pty. Ltd., Ashland Participacoes Ltda., Ashland Pharmachem International Holdings LLC, Ashland Polimeros do Brasil S.A., Ashland Services B. V., Ashland Services Mexico S.A. de C.V., Ashland Singapore Pte. Ltd., Ashland Specialties Austria GmbH, Ashland Specialties Belgium BVBA, Ashland Specialties France S.a.r.l., Ashland Specialties Hispania S.L., Ashland Specialties Holding C.V., Ashland Specialties Ireland Limited, Ashland Specialties Poland Sp. z o.o., Ashland Specialties Sverige AB, Ashland Specialties UK Limited, Ashland Specialty Chemical Korea Co. Ltd., Ashland Specialty Ingredients G.P., Ashland Technologies GmbH, Ashland-Alaskan Limited, Ashland-Plasticos De Portugal Lda., Ashmont Insurance Company Inc., Ashprop Two LLC, Avoca LLC, Avoele S.A. de C.V., Belleville Realty Corp., Bluegrass Insurance Company Limited, CLTA LLC, CVG Capital III LLC, Carol Clifton Inc., Clevedon Sp. z o.o., Curtis Bay Insurance Co. Ltd, East Bay Realty Services Inc., Ever Success Overseas Limited, FRJ Inc., Fospur, Hercofina, Hercules, Hercules Holding BV BVBA, Hercules Holding II Limited, Hercules Hydrocarbon Holdings Inc., Hercules International Limited LLC, Hercules Investment ApS, Hercules Investments Netherlands B.V., Hercules Islands Corporation, Hercules LLC, Hercules Paper Holdings Inc., Hercules Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, ISP (Belgium) International N. V., ISP Alginates Inc., ISP Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, ISP Biochema Schwaben GmbH, ISP Canada Corp., ISP Capital LLC, ISP Chemco LLC, ISP Chemical Products LLC, ISP Chemicals LLC, ISP Environmental Services Inc., ISP France Holding SARL, ISP France Marketing SARL, ISP Freetown Fine Chemicals Inc., ISP Freight Services N. V., ISP Global Operations (Barbados) Inc., ISP Global Technologies Deutschland Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, ISP Global Technologies Inc., ISP Global Technologies LLC, ISP HC Limited, ISP Holdings (U.K.) Ltd., ISP Hungary Holdings Limited Liability Company, ISP International Corp., ISP Investments LLC, ISP Lima LLC, ISP Luxembourg Canada S.a.r.l., ISP Management Company Inc., ISP Marl GmbH, ISP Marl Holdings GmbH, ISP Microcaps (U.K.) Limited, ISP Pharma Systems LLC, ISP Real Estate Company Inc., ISP Singapore Holding LLC, ISP Technologies Inc., ISP Technologies LLC, International Specialty Holdings LLC, International Specialty Products, International Specialty Products (India) Private Limited, International Specialty Products Funding Corporation, International Specialty Products Inc., Jiangmen Ashland Chemicals Company Limited, Nanjing Clear Environment Protection, Northwest Coatings, Oil Can Henrys, PT Ashland Asia, PT ISP Chemicals Indonesia, Pakistan Gum Industries (Private) Limited, Pharmachem Laboratories, Pharmachem Laboratories LLC, Pharmachem Laboratories Utah LLC, Prince Street Paterson LLC, Progiven S.A.S., Proprietary Nutritionals LLC, Ralop S. de R.L. de C.V., Saudi Industrial Resins Co. Ltd. (Polyester), Shanghai Ashland Industrial Trading Co. Ltd., St Croix Petrochemical Corp, Taiwan Ashland Co. Ltd., Techwax Limited, Vemera S. de R.L. de C.V., and WSP LLC. Axel Springer SE operates as a publishing company primarily in Europe and the United States. The company operates through three segments: Classifieds Media, News Media, and Marketing Media. The Classifieds Media segment operates a portfolio of online classified portals in the areas of real estate, jobs, cars, and general. This segment operates SeLoger, Immoweb, and Immowelt/Immonet real estate portals; Totaljobs, Jobsite, and Saongroup job portals; meinestadt.de, a regional portal; and car and general classified ad portals, including LaCentrale and Yad2. The News Media segment offers newspapers primarily under the BILD and WELT brands in Berlin, as well as the FAKT name in Poland; automotive, computer, and sports magazines under the AUTO BILD, COMPUTER BILD, and SPORT BILD brand names; and a tabloid under the BLIKK name in Hungary. This segment also operates Internet portals, such as Onet.pl and azet.sk; profession.hu, a job portal; WELT, a news channel; BILD.de, a news and entertainment portal; WELT.de, a news portal; Upday, a mobile news portal; businessinsider.com; and Autobild.de, a digital appearances of the magazine. Its digital offerings also comprise analytics, studies, and digital market data for companies and institutions. The Marketing Media segment provides advertising services on performance or reach based marketing. The company distributes its print media primarily through press wholesale companies, station book trade, and press import companies; and digital products principally through its webpages or download platforms, including the app stores of Apple and Google. Axel Springer SE was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Read More Nath indicated that he would lay emphasis on development of farm sector and generation of employment in the state. Madhya Pradesh chief minister-designate Kamal Nath and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh at the residence of a party MLA, in Bhopal. (Photo: PTI) Bhopal: The chief minister designate of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath was set to take oath here on December 17. MP governor Anandiben Patel on Friday invited him to form government after he presented the resolution by Congress Legislature Party electing him as leader. Sources said Mr Nath would be sworn-in along with 15 ministers of his government on the day. Two BSP MLAs, one SP legislator and a couple of independents who have extended support to his minority government may also be inducted in his ministry, sources indicated. Besides AICC president Rahul Gandhi, BSP supremo Mayawati, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and chief ministers of Congress-ruled states were expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in MP. Talking to reporters here, Mr Nath indicated that he would lay emphasis on development of farm sector and generation of employment in the state. Mr Nath said he was under the vow to implement promises made in the Congress poll manifesto including waiver of farm loans. "I assure that future of MP is secured", he said. Mr Nath thanked Mr Scindia for backing him for the chief minister's post. The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Wealth Management segments. The company offers financial advice and solutions, and day-to-day banking products, including debit and credit cards, chequing and saving accounts, investments, mortgages, loans, and insurance to individuals; and business banking solutions comprising lending, deposit, cash management, and trade finance solutions to small businesses and commercial customers, including automotive financing solutions to dealers and their customers. It also provides wealth management advice and solutions, including online brokerage, mobile investment, full-service brokerage, trust, private banking, and private investment counsel services; and retail mutual funds, exchange traded funds, liquid alternative funds, and institutional funds. In addition, the company offers international banking services for retail, corporate, and commercial customers; and lending and transaction, investment banking advisory, and capital markets access services to corporate customers. Further, it provides Internet, mobile, and telephone banking services. The company operates a network of 952 branches and approximately 3,540 automated banking machines in Canada; and approximately 1,400 branches, 5,200 ATMs, and 22 contact centers internationally. The Bank of Nova Scotia was founded in 1832 and is headquartered in Halifax, Canada. Read More Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Both the Houses were adjourned for the day amid sparring between the treasury and the opposition benches on the issue. In the Lok Sabha, parliamentary affairs minister Narendra Singh Tomar demanded an apology from Mr Gandhi following the top court verdict on the jet deal. Amid slogan shouting between the two sides, the House was adjourned for nearly 40 minutes during the Question Hour. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The clean chit to the government over the Rafale deal by the Supreme Court led to a disruption in Parliament on Friday with both houses being adjourned over the matter. The government launched a counter-offensive on the Opposition seeking an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi for misleading the nation. Both the Houses were adjourned for the day amid sparring between the treasury and the opposition benches on the issue. In the Lok Sabha, parliamentary affairs minister Narendra Singh Tomar demanded an apology from Mr Gandhi following the top court verdict on the jet deal. Amid slogan shouting between the two sides, the House was adjourned for nearly 40 minutes during the Question Hour. In the Upper House, Leader of the House and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley was heard saying that the Opposition has been demanding a debate on the jet deal, therefore, the question hour should be suspended to take up the issue. While the Congress trooped into the well of the House seeking constitution of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale deal, most BJP members sought an apology from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for alleged lies on the issue. As the uproar continued, Deputy Chairman Harivansh first adjourned the House till 11.30 am and then later for the day. Friday was the fourth consecutive day of the Winter session on which Parliament could not function. In the Lok Sabha, while the Congress raked up the Rafale issue, AIADMK members raised issues related to Cauvery river water. The TDP was demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. Members of these parties were in the Well holding placards and shouting slogans. While Trinamool Congress members were on their seats, some Left members were holding placards demanding JPC on Rafale issue. There is not enough analysis data for Carpetright. 4.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Carpetright has received 247 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Carpetright has received 164 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Carpetright has received 60.10% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Carpetright and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe CPR will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe CPR will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next 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.. There is not enough analysis data for CBL & Associates Properties. 3.6 Community Rank Outperform Votes CBL & Associates Properties has received 323 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes CBL & Associates Properties has received 272 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment CBL & Associates Properties has received 54.29% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about CBL & Associates Properties and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe CBL will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe CBL will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next 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. Read More Bodycote plc provides heat treatment and thermal processing services worldwide. The company operates through Aerospace, Defence & Energy; and Automotive & General Industrial segments. It offers heat treatment services, including altering the microstructure of metals and alloys, such as steel and aluminum to impart properties comprising surface hardness, temperature resistance, ductility, and strength; metal joining services consisting of electron beam welding, HIP diffusion bonding, hydrogen brazing, induction brazing, and vacuum and honeycomb brazing; and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) services, including isostatic pressing and HIP supporting services, as well as Powdermet technology, a manufacturing process used in the production of complex components using powder metallurgy. The company also provides surface technologies, which are used to prolong the working life of components and protect from environmental factors, such as corrosion and abrasion. Its surface technologies include anodizing, ceramic, flame and combustion spraying, high velocity oxygen fuel, plasma spray, electric arc spraying, aluminide coatings, liquid coatings, and thermo-chemically formed ceramic coatings to enhance wear resistance. The company serves automotive, aerospace and defense, energy, and general industrial markets. Bodycote plc was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Macclesfield, the United Kingdom. Read More The verdict also came as a breather for Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group that has come under attack from the Congress for alleged wrongdoings. The apex court rejected the pleas which sought lodging of an FIR and a court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the deal, in which both India and France have entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA). New Delhi: In a major relief to the Narendra Modi government, the Supreme Court on Friday said it was satisfied with the decision making process in concluding the Rafale fighter jet deal and rejected all four petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, sparking bitter exchanges between the BJP and the Congress. A bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said, We find no reason for any intervention by this court on the sensitive issue of purchase of 36 defence aircrafts by the Indian government. We are satisfied that there is no occasion to really doubt the process, and even if minor deviations have occurred, that would not result in either setting aside the contract or requiring a detailed scrutiny by the court, said the bench, also comprising Justices S.K. Kaul and K.M. Joseph, in its 29-page judgment. After dealing with three broad areas of concern raised in the petitions the decision making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners (IOP) the court said, Individual perceptions cannot be the basis of a roving judicial review... The court cannot sit as an appellate authority over each and every aspect of the deal. The apex court rejected the pleas which sought lodging of an FIR and a court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the deal, in which both India and France have entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA). The verdict also came as a breather for Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group that has come under attack from the Congress for alleged wrongdoings. We do not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favouritism to any party by the Indian government, the court said, giving a virtual clean chit to the company that is one of the offset partners of French aerospace company Dassault Aviation that is making the Rafale twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force. The apex court verdict giving a go-ahead to purchase of 36 jets from France came as a political victory for the BJP and Mr Modi just days after the partys defeat in Assembly polls in three Hindi-heartland states Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to the Congress. The BJP leaders, who had all gone quiet after the electoral rout, were back in action after the Supreme Courts verdict with the party chief, Amit Shah, losing no time to hold the first press meet in last three days. Rahul Gandhi should apologise that he tried to create suspicions in the mind of the soldiers and people... He has attempted to jeopardise the nations security, said Mr Shah. Accusing Mr Gandhi of misleading people and endangering national security by raising questions on the Rafale deal at every meeting, the BJP chief asked him to disclose the source of information on which he had based his claims. Calling the verdict a slap on the face of those who have levelled false charges on the government, Mr Shah also targeted the unity among Opposition parties in attacking the Narendra Modi government. He said all thieves had joined hands in dubbing the chowkidar (watchman), a reference to Mr Modi, a thief. But the court verdict has made it clear that they are scared of the chowkidar, he added. Challenging the Supreme Courts virtual clean-chit to the government on the deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi raised questions about the judgment referring to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the pricing of the 36 Rafale jets. Mr Gandhi also reiterated the Congress demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the fighter jet deal and claimed that if it was conducted, names of Mr Modi and Mr Ambani will come to the fore. Mr Gandhi said though the apex court had said that the auditors report had been examined by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and was in the public domain, no one, including senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge who heads the PAC, has seen it. The basic foundation of the Supreme Court judgment is the CAG report. PAC chairman has not seen the CAG report. Yet the court has seen it. Where is the CAG report? Show us? he said. Prashant Bhushan, one of the petitioners who had moved the Supreme court with a plea for a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal, termed the top courts judgment wrong. In our opinion the Supreme Court judgment is totally wrong, the campaign will certainly not drop and we will decide if we will file a review petition, said Mr Bhushan. After the three petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, alongwith activist advocate Mr Bhushan, had moved the apex court with a fourth petition over the deal. Ruling out a JPC over the jet deal, finance minister Arun Jaitley dubbed allegations on wrongdoings in the defence purchase as fiction writing that compromised national security. The deaf will never hear an answer all the figures by Rahul Gandhi are false and I have justified it... The truth has only one version and falsehood has many, Mr Jaitley said, adding that if honest deals are questioned, then civil servants and the armed forces will think twice before undertaking such a process in future. Mr Jaitley said that the government would again press for a debate on the issue in Parliament. Buoyed by the verdict, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who addressed a press conference along with Mr Jaitley, said that the matter of Rafale deal has been put to rest by the apex court. Union law minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-attack on Mr Gandhi, saying the apex court had exposed his lies which he has been using to attack the honest and popular Prime Minister. He (Rahul Gandhi) crossed all limits of propriety, decency and probity in public life by almost condemning the Supreme Court. What does he mean? Is he above the Supreme Court? Is the Congress above the Supreme Court? What kind of language is this? he asked. Mr Prasad said Mr Gandhis problem is his arrogance and conceit about his dynasty. Union home minister Rajnath Singh said Mr Gandhi had tried to mislead people on Rafale deal for political benefit and maligned Indias image globally. Mr Singh said that the Congress president should apologise to the people of the country. Union minister of road transport Nitin Gadkari echoed the views of his Cabinet colleague. Welcoming the apex courts order, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress for spreading false propaganda against the BJP and the Central government. Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani welcomed the Supreme Court order on the Rafale jet deal, saying it has established the falsity of politically motivated allegations against his firm. I welcome the judgment of the Supreme Court today summarily dismissing all PILs filed on the Rafale contracts, and conclusively establishing the complete falsity of the wild, baseless and politically motivated allegations levelled against Reliance Group and me personally, Mr Ambani said in a statement. Referring to both the Congress and the BJP as ek hi thali ke chatte batte (birds of a feather), BSP supremo Mayawati called for fundamental reforms in all defence related procurements in order to address doubts and common perception over such issues. In a statement, Ms Mayawati said that there is a need for basic changes at the level of the government in matters of defence-related deals. Asserting that allegations of corruption have been levelled against both the Congress and the BJP in defence deals, she said that both the parties are alike as the Congress government had faced corruption allegations in Bofors deal and the BJP government in the Rafale deal. There is not enough analysis data for Farmers & Merchants Bancorp. 4.3 Community Rank Outperform Votes Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has received 62 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has received 34 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has received 64.58% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe FMCB will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe FMCB will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Hannover RAck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The Property & Casualty Reinsurance segment offers specialty lines comprising marine, aviation, facultative and direct business, credit, surety, and political risks reinsurance products; and treaty, catastrophe XL, and structured reinsurance, as well as insurance-linked securities. This segment also provides risk solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space business; and marine and offshore energy business. The Life & Health Reinsurance segment offers group and individual credit life, enhanced annuities, group life and health, and Sharia-compliant Takaful reinsurance products. This segment also provides risk solutions in the areas of critical illness, disability, health, longevity, long term care, and mortality and morbidity, as well as underwriting services. In addition, it offers various financial solutions, including new-business financing; monetization of embedded value; reserve and solvency relief; and divestiture of non-core businesses. The company was formerly known as Hannover RAckversicherung AG and changed its name to Hannover RAck SE in March 2013. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Hannover RAck SE is a subsidiary of Talanx AG. Read More Mr Gujral, a Rajya Sabha member, said that the BJP would be in big trouble if it did not see the reality. New Delhi: After the electoral debacle in the Hindi heartland, the BJPs allies in the National Democratic Alliance have begun to flex their muscles. The JD(U) has categorically refused to support any move to bring in an ordinance on the Ram Mandir issue, while Naresh Gujral, a leader of the Akali Dal, has said the BJP has to quickly settle with its allies or it will be in big trouble in the 2019 general election. Earlier, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and Asom Gana Parishad leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had ridiculed the Narendra Modi government following its defeat in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Mr Gujral, a Rajya Sabha member, said that the BJP would be in big trouble if it did not see the reality. The minorities want security. If you dont provide them security, they will vote en masse for the Congress and its allies. Unless we recognise factors like economic issues and especially rural distress, we are in for trouble, said Mr Gujral. On the other hand, key NDA partner Janata Dal (United) made it clear it was not in favour of promulgation of an ordinance to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, the demand for which has been made by the Sangh Parivar and a section of the BJP. The party will stick to its earlier stand, the issue either be solved by mutual consent between the affected communities or decided by a court of law, said JD(U) national general secretary Ram Chandra Prasad Singh. The Sangh Parivar, of which the BJP is a part, and a section of hardliners within the party is mounting pressure to make headway for the construction of the Ram temple, which they termed an issue relating to the peoples faith. The Sangh Parivar has been demanding the construction of a temple at the disputed site through an Act of Parliament at the earliest and before the 2019 general election. Some other NDA allies, such as the Lok Janshakti Party of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, have also voiced discomfiture over the BJPs pursuit of the Hindutva agenda. The Shiv Sena, the BJPs oldest ally, had earlier been more vocal in its critique after the BJPs setbacks in the state polls. The Shiv Sena chief had said voters had to be praised for rejecting those they did not want. After the BJPs failure to form a government in any state in the recent Assembly polls, the Shiv Sena is demanding 50 per cent in any seat-sharing deal for Maharashtra in the 2019 polls. The BJP and the Shiv Sena contested the 2014 Maharashtra elections separately but later came together to form the government in the state. Mr Mahanta, a former Assam CM, had said the MNFs victory in Mizoram was good for regional forces and wanted his party, the AGP, to divorce the BJP. SEACOR Marine Holdings, Inc. engages in the provision of offshore marine business. It offers global marine and support transportation services to offshore oil & gas exploration, development, and production facilities. It operates its fleet in five principal geographic regions: the United States, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico; Africa, primarily in West Africa; the Middle East and Asia; Latin America, primarily in Mexico, Brazil and Guyana; and Europe, primarily in the North Sea. The company involves in the operation of support and specialty vessels for and among independent oil, gas exploration, production, and emerging independent companies. It operates through the following segments: Time Charter and Bareboat Charters. The Time Charter segment offers vessels to customers based upon daily rates of hire. The Bareboat Charter segment is the support of vessels among customers where the customer assumes responsibility for all operating expenses and all risk of operation. The company was founded on December 15, 2014 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Hyatt Hotels: CHANCELLOR STREET CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC., GLENDALE HOTEL PROPERTIES L.L.C., HT-SEATTLE HOLDINGS LLC, 1379919 ALBERTA INC., 319168 ONTARIO LIMITED, 3385434 CANADA INC., ADMINISTRACION DE PERSONAL ANDARES S. DE R.L. DE C.V., AIC HOLDING CO., AIRPORT PLAZA ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AIRPORT PLAZA HOTEL LLC, AIRPORT PLAZA OFFICE BUILDING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AMERISUITES FRANCHISING L.L.C., ARANCIA LIMITED, ARUBA BEACHFRONT RESORTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ARUBA BEACHFRONT RESORTS N.V., ASIA HOSPITALITY INC., ASIA HOSPITALITY INVESTORS B.V., ASIAN HOTEL N.V., ATRIUM HOTEL L.L.C., AUSTIN RESORT BEVERAGE LLC, AmeriSuites Hotel, BAKU HOTEL COMPANY - AZERI, BAKU HOTEL COMPANY - CAYMAN, BASTROP MARKETING L.L.C., BAY II INVESTOR INC., BELLEVUE ASSOCIATES, BH PLAZA LLC, BRE/AMERISUITES PROPERTIES L.L.C., BRE/AMERISUITES TXNC GP L.L.C., BRE/AMERISUITES TXNC PROPERTIES L.P., BURVAN HOTEL ASSOCIATES, CAL-HARBOR SO. PIER URBAN RENEWAL ASSOCIATES L.P., CELAYA RESORTS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., CHESAPEAKE COMMUNITIES LLC, CHESAPEAKE RESORT LLC, CIUDAD DEL CARMEN DIAMANTE RESORT S. DE R.L. DE C.V, COAST BEACH L.L.C., COMPAGNIE HOTELIERE DE LAGON BLEU, CPM SEATTLE HOTELS L.L.C., CRW INVESTMENT LLC, CTR INTEREST HOLDCO INC., DALLAS REGENCY LLC, DENVER DOWNTOWN HOTEL PARTNERS LLC, DESARROLLADORA HOTELERA ACUEDUCTO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DH BEVERAGE LLC, DIAMANTE RESORT LA PAZ S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DISTRICT HOTEL PARTNERS LLC, EXHALE ENTERPRISES GIFT SERVICES COMPANY, EXHALE ENTERPRISES II L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES III INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES IV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES V L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES VIII INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES X INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XIV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XIX L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XV TCI LTD., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVIII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XX L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXI INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXIV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVIII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXIII INC., FAN PIER L.L.C., FAR EAST HOTELS INC., G.E.H. PROPERTIES LIMITED, GAINEY DRIVE ASSOCIATES, GALAXY AEROSPACE COMPANY LLC, GHE HOLDINGS LIMITED, GRAND HYATT BERLIN GMBH, GRAND HYATT DFW BEVERAGE LLC, GRAND HYATT SAN ANTONIO L.L.C., GRAND HYATT SF L.L.C., GRAND RIVERWALK BEVERAGE LLC, GRAND TORONTO CORP., GRAND TORONTO VENTURE L.P., GREENWICH HOTEL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, H.E. ATLANTA CENTENNIAL PARK HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. AUSTIN L.L.C., H.E. BERMUDA L.L.C., H.E. CAP CANA L.L.C., H.E. DRISKILL LLC, H.E. GRAND CYPRESS L.L.C., H.E. IRVINE L.L.C., H.E. KANSAS CITY L.L.C., H.E. LENOX L.L.C., H.E. NASHVILLE L.L.C., H.E. NEWPORT L.L.C., H.E. ORLANDO L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC HOTEL L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC PARKING L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC RETAIL L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA SANSOM L.L.C., H.E. PORTLAND HC L.L.C., H.E. PORTLAND L.L.C., H.E. PROPERTIES HOLDING L.L.C., H.E. PROPERTIES L.L.C., H.E. SAN ANTONIO I L.L.C., H.E. SAN ANTONIO L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON JV L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON OWNER L.L.C., HAPP INVESTOR LTD., HARBORSIDE HOTEL LLC, HARBORSIDE LAND LLC, HC PORTLAND JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HC ROYAL PALMS L.L.C., HCV CINCINNATI HOTEL L.L.C., HE ORLANDO HOTEL LLC, HGP (TRAVEL) LIMITED, HH NASHVILLE HOLDINGS L.L.C., HH NASHVILLE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HH PORTLAND L.L.C., HHMA BURLINGTON BEVERAGE L.L.C., HI HOLDINGS (SWITZERLAND) GMBH, HI HOLDINGS BAJA B.V., HI HOLDINGS BRAZIL S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS CELAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS CIUDAD DEL CARMEN B.V., HI HOLDINGS CYPRUS LIMITED, HI HOLDINGS CYPRUS-INDIA LIMITED, HI HOLDINGS GUADALAJARA B.V., HI HOLDINGS HP CABO B.V., HI HOLDINGS HP TIJUANA HOTEL B.V., HI HOLDINGS KYOTO CO., HI HOLDINGS LA PAZ B.V., HI HOLDINGS LATIN AMERICA B.V., HI HOLDINGS NETHERLANDS B.V., HI HOLDINGS PLAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS RIO S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS RIVIERA MAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS VIENNA S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS ZURICH S.A.R.L., HI HOTEL ADVISORY SERVICES GMBH, HI HOTEL INVESTORS CYPRUS LIMITED, HIHCL AMSTERDAM B.V., HIHCL HP AMSTERDAM AIRPORT B.V., HIHCL HR AMSTERDAM B.V., HILP HOTEL SERVICE PROVIDER LLC, HOTEL AM BELVEDERE HOLDING GMBH, HOTEL AM BELVEDERE HOLDING GMBH & CO KG, HOTEL INVESTMENTS HOLDING CO LLC, HOTEL INVESTMENTS L.L.C., HOTEL INVESTORS I INC., HOTEL INVESTORS II INC., HOTEL PROJECT SYSTEMS PTE LTD, HOTEL SERVICES CIUDAD DEL CARMEN S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HOTELS CS CELAYA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HP ATLANTA CENTENNIAL PARK JV LLC, HP AUSTIN L.L.C., HP BEVERAGE DALLAS DFW AIRPORT LLC, HP BEVERAGE SUGAR LAND LLC, HP BOSTON HOLDINGS L.L.C., HP GLENDALE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HP GLENDALE L.L.C., HP INDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, HP LAS VEGAS BEVERAGE L.L.C., HP M STREET L.L.C., HP ROUTE 46 TEXAS LLC, HP SAN FRANCISCO L.L.C., HP SAN JUAN L.L.C., HP TEN TEXAS LLC, HPHH ATLANTA L.L.C., HPHH DENVER L.L.C., HPHH SAN JOSE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HPHH SAN JOSE L.L.C., HQ CHESAPEAKE LLC, HR LOST PINES RESORT LLC, HR MC HOTEL COMPANY S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HR MC SERVICES II S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HR MC SERVICES S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HRHC LLC, HT- WAILEA LLC, HT-AVENDRA GROUP HOLDINGS L.L.C., HT-AVENDRA L.L.C., HT-CHESAPEAKE COMMUNITIES INC., HT-CHESAPEAKE RESORT INC., HT-HOTEL EQUITIES INC., HT-HUNTINGTON BEACH INC., HT-JERSEY PIER INC., HT-JERSEY PIER L.P., HT-JERSEY PIER LLC, HT-LONG BEACH L.L.C., HT-MIAMI BEACH L.L.C., HT-PARK 57 INC., HT-SEATTLE LLC, HT-SIERRA L.L.C., HT-VANCOUVER INC., HTLB L.L.C., HTS - NS L.L.C., HTS - NY L.L.C., HTS-ASPEN L.L.C., HTS-BC INC., HTS-INVESTMENT L L.C., HTSF L.L.C., HTW BEVERAGE LLC, HY LONG BEACH HOTEL LLC, HYATT (BARBADOS) CORPORATION, HYATT (JAPAN) CO. LTD., HYATT (THAILAND) LIMITED, HYATT ARUBA N.V., HYATT ASIA PACIFIC HOLDINGS LIMITED, HYATT AUSTRALIA HOTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LIMITED, HYATT AUSTRIA GMBH, HYATT BEACH FRONT N.V., HYATT BORNEO MANAGEMENT SERVICES LIMITED, HYATT BRITANNIA CORPORATION LTD., HYATT CC OFFICE CORP., HYATT CHAIN SERVICES LIMITED, HYATT CRYSTAL CITY LLC., HYATT CURACAO N.V., HYATT DISASTER RELIEF FUND, HYATT DO BRASIL PARTICIPACOES LTDA, HYATT EQUITIES L.L.C., HYATT FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INC., HYATT FRANCHISING CANADA CORP., HYATT FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT FRANCHISING LATIN AMERICA L.L.C., HYATT FULFILLMENT OF MARYLAND INC., HYATT GLOBAL SERVICES INC., HYATT GTLD L.L.C., HYATT HOC INC., HYATT HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED, HYATT HOSPITALITY SERVICES L.L.C., HYATT HOTEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED, HYATT HOTELS CONSULTANCY SERVICES ASIA PACIFIC LIMITED, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION OF KANSAS, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION OF MARYLAND, HYATT HOTELS FOUNDATION, HYATT HOTELS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, HYATT HOTELS OF CANADA INC., HYATT HOTELS OF FLORIDA INC., HYATT HOTELS OF PUERTO RICO INC., HYATT HOUSE CANADA INC., HYATT HOUSE FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT HOUSE HOTEL HOLDING COMPANY L.L.C., HYATT INDIA CONSULTANCY PRIVATE LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL (ASIA) LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE AFRICA MIDDLE EAST) LLC, HYATT INTERNATIONAL - JAPAN LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL - SOUTHWEST ASIA LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL -ASIA PACIFIC LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL -SEA (PTE) LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, HYATT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS CO., HYATT INTERNATIONAL HOTEL MANAGEMENT (BEIJING) CO. LTD., HYATT INTERNATIONAL MILAN L.L.C., HYATT INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (BEIJING) CO. LTD., HYATT INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICES INC., HYATT JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HYATT LACSA SERVICES INC., HYATT LOUISIANA L.L.C., HYATT MAINZ GMBH, HYATT MARKETING SERVICES INC., HYATT MARKETING SERVICES NIGERIA COMPANY LIMITED, HYATT MINNEAPOLIS LLC, HYATT MINORITY INVESTMENTS INC., HYATT MSS L.L.C., HYATT NORTH AMERICA MANAGEMENT SERVICES INC., HYATT OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HYATT OF BAJA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HYATT OF CHINA LIMITED, HYATT OF FRANCE S.A.R.L., HYATT OF GUAM LIMITED, HYATT OF ITALY S.R.L., HYATT OF LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN L.L.C., HYATT OF LATIN AMERICA S.A. DE C.V., HYATT OF MACAU LIMITED, HYATT OF MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., HYATT OF PHILIPPINES LIMITED, HYATT PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS L.L.C., HYATT PLACE ANNE ARUNDEL BEVERAGE INC., HYATT PLACE CANADA CORPORATION, HYATT PLACE FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT PLACE OF MARYLAND INC., HYATT REGENCY COLOGNE GMBH, HYATT REGENCY CORPORATION PTY. LIMITED, HYATT SERVICES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED, HYATT SERVICES CANADA INC., HYATT SERVICES CARIBBEAN L.L.C., HYATT SERVICES GMBH, HYATT SERVICES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, HYATT SHARED SERVICE CENTER L.L.C., HYATT TRINIDAD LIMITED, HYCANADA INC., HYCARD INC., HYSTAR L.L.C., Hyatt Corporation, INFORMATION SERVICES LIMITED, INTERNATIONAL RESERVATIONS LIMITED, JOINT VENTURE ITALKYR CLOSED JOINT STOCK COMPANY, JUNIPER HOTELS PRIVATE LIMITED, KSA MANAGEMENT INC., KYOTO HOLDING CO., LHR-PARTNERS LTD., LORING PARK ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, LOST PINES BEVERAGE LLC, MACAE PARTNERS S.A.R.L., MAHIMA HOLDINGS PRIVATE LIMITED, MARION RESERVATION CENTER L.L.C., MEXICO CITY HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V., MILAN HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V., MIRAVAL ARIZONA GUARANTOR LLC, MIRAVAL GROUP LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA HOLDINGS LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA OPERATING CO. INC., MIRAVAL RESORT TUCSON LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS I LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS II LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS III LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS TRUST, MRG ATX BEVERAGE HOLDINGS LLC, MRG ATX HOLDINGS II LLC, MRG ATX HOLDINGS LLC, MRG ATX INVESTMENT LLC, MRG ATX MANAGEMENT I LLC, MRG ATX MANAGEMENT II LLC, MRG ATX OPERATIONS LLC, MRG CRW HOLDINGS LLC, MRG CRW MANAGEMENT I LLC, MRG CRW MANAGEMENT II LLC, MRG CRW OPERATIONS LLC, MUNICH OPCO GMBH, Miraval Resort, OASIS LUXURY RENTALS INCORPORATED, PARIS HOTEL COMPANY B.V., PARK HYATT HAMBURG GMBH, PARK HYATT HOTEL GMBH, PARK HYATT WATER TOWER ASSOCIATES L.L.C., PH NEW YORK L.L.C., PHMC RESIDENCIAS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., POLK SMITH REGENCY LLC, PT HYATT INDONESIA, PVD INVESTMENT COMPANY S.A.R.L., Peabody Hotels & Resort, RCG PROPERTIES LLC, REGENCY BEVERAGE COMPANY LLC, REGENCY RIVERWALK BEVERAGE LLC, RESERVATIONS CENTER L.L.C., RIO JV PARTNERS PARTICIPACOES LTDA., RIO PRETO PARTNERS HOTEIS LTDA., RIO PRETO PARTNERS S.A.R.L., ROSEMONT PROJECT MANAGEMENT L.L.C., ROUTE 46 MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES CORP., RUNWAY HOLDING L.L.C., RUNWAY L.L.C., SAO PAULO INVESTMENT COMPANY INC., SAO PAULO INVESTORS LIMITED, SASIH, SDI EQUITIES INVESTOR L.L.C., SDI INC., SDI SECURITIES 11 LLC, SDI SECURITIES 6 LLC, SELECT HOTELS GROUP L.L.C., SELECT JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., SEOUL MIRAMAR CORPORATION, SERVICIOS DE HOTELERIA SAN JOSE S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SERVICIOS HOTELEROS LA PAZ S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SETTLEMENT INVESTORS INC., SHG PUERTO RICO INC., SIERRA HEALTHSTYLES LLC, SJC DESARROLLOS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SKS CORP. N.V., SMC HOTELS B.V., SOROCABA PARTNERS HOTEIS LTDA, SOROCABA PARTNERS S.A.R.L., STANHOPE L.L.C., STARHILL LORING PARK L.L.C., SUGAR LAND/HP LLC, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL COMPANY LIMITED, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, TIJUANA PARTNERS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., TR MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT LLC, TUCSON VILLAS HOLDINGS LLC, TUCSON VILLAS LLC, TWO SEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED, Two Roads Hospitality, WAILEA HOTEL & BEACH RESORT L.L.C., WAILEA HOTEL HOLDINGS L.L.C., WAILEA MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION L.L.C., WAILEA RESORT VILLAS HOLDINGS L.L.C., WAILEA RESORT VILLAS L.L.C., WEST END RESIDENCES L.L.C., XENIA ASSURANCE COMPANY INC., XENIA ASSURANCE COMPANY OF ILLINOIS, ZURICH ESCHERWIESE HOTEL GMBH, and ZURICH HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V.. Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, as well as oral nicotine and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Bastos, Fine, Winston, News, Parker & Simpson, blu, Kool, Horizon, Jade, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Knox in approximately 160 countries worldwide. It also provides logistics services that include the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; marketing of papers; restaurant business; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited. Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More iShares MSCI Brazil ETF's stock was trading at $29.68 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWZ stock has decreased by 1.1% and is now trading at $29.34. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! Dodge or feint, Pak foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshis comments signal a break from the past. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshis complete about-urn on the role that India could play in Afghanistan, when, he acknowledged that India has stakes in Afghanistan and its cooperation is needed while addressing Pakistans National Assembly this Tuesday, can be no Kartarpur googly. Or can it? Is the Afghan gambit part of the Naya Pakistan stratagem under its new Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose astute play on Sikh sentiments alongside dildar Navjot Singh Sidhu, forced Prime Minister Narendra Modis hit wicket rushing to give his blessing to a 4-km cross-border corridor that had been in limbo for over 70 years? Khalistan 2020, and fears that it would open up a new terror front on the Punjab border, notwithstanding. Dodge or feint, Mr Qureshis comments signal a break from the past. Pakistan has consistently looked askance at New Delhis development outreach in setting up not just schools, hospitals and consulates, and a network of roads across the war-torn country, reserving its potent ire for the 215-km Zaranj Delaram highway, which was built in the teeth of fierce Taliban opposition and Indian lives, at a cost of Rs 600 crores. Aimed primarily at providing alternate access for Indian goods into Afghanistan via Irans Chabahar port, given that Pakistan has consistently denied transit through its territory to Afghanistan, it fed into Islamabads fears of Indias own string of pearls encirclement to squeeze a China-leaning Pakistan. What has changed? One, the thinking in Pakistans corridors of power make that the all-powerful military under its pragmatic Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa that the India of 2019, just like the Pakistan that elected telegenic Imran Khan, will be a vastly different animal from the current Narendra Modi establishment that, wary of any electoral blowback, has cried off from any Pakistan policy, refusing to look beyond the no talks until terror ends trope. Pakistani analysts now firmly believe that the Assembly election debacle for the BJP could be a harbinger of change, although the next few months could see an increased vilification of Pakistans intent as Prime Minister Modi heads into a re- election year. The second influencer could be the Pakistan militarys realisation that with the countrys flailing economy, barely afloat with a cash infusion from the likes of Riyadh in the face of huge cuts from Washington to the tune of $1 billion in aid, growing international isolation and its near-pariah status as an Army-backed sanctuary of terror, the military can neither sustain a two-front challenge, nor the internal insurgency unleashed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban and their brothers-in-arms who straddle the Pashtun heartland. Gen. Bajwas doctrine now is to bring some quietus to its western and eastern borders, by reaching out to both Kabul and New Delhi. But the Taliban outreach may flow largely from prodding from Washington, not least the separate talks with the Taliban that Afghan-born Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy, has initiated in recent weeks to end the 17-year-long war, where just as he did in the past when Hamid Karzai was President, he has tried and part succeeded in persuading the outgoing Ashraf Ghani administration of the benefits of talking to the Taliban. Once propped up by Pakistans military, but now increasingly marching to its own drummer, four members of the Taliban council based in Doha, Qatar, including the Talibans former envoy to Saudi Arabia, arrived in Islamabad in early December. India has watched with keen interest as Islamabad, as a goodwill gesture of acceding to a precondition for the talks, released Taliban officials imprisoned in Pakistan jails, particularly emaciated Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Barader, incarcerated for seven years, alongside other members of the Talibans high council. Mr Khalilzad held three days of talks with the Taliban thereafter, but no details have been made public of these so-called talks before talks. And while he has heli-hopped his way through Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Kabul and Doha, as well as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and of course Russia, Zal has kept New Delhi out of his peregrinations on his roadmap for the future. Should India be miffed at being kept out of the loop? Has it run out of ideas on how to stay relevant in the region? For instance, would it have been politic for India to have offered its vast election expertise, as it did in the past, when in remote polling booths, voters showing off their inked fingers to this reporter, showered praise on India for dispatching its indelible ink. This time, the story is far less inspiring. Even two months after Afghanistan went to the polls, already delayed by four years, Kabuls shambolic conduct of parliamentary polls, stymied by Taliban attacks on polling stations and officers, ensured that the parliamentary election results are yet to be announced. There are reports too, albeit unconfirmed, that the presidential elections, due on April 20, will not be held, as part of a quid pro quo for the cessation of hostilities by the Taliban, which now effectively control some 50 per cent of Afghan territory and is pushing instead for a caretaker government. Senior players like former envoy to India Shaida Abdali, a presidential candidate backed by Mr Karzai, has apparently said he is willing to go along with any delay to the April 20 date, if it brings peace to his country. Others like former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who late on Wednesday night told a meeting of NextGen leaders from the Northern Alliance that he was still in contention for the top job, is less likely to be amenable. President Ghanis handpicked peace panel to talk to the Taliban could also be a mere sham, with members saying they had no idea they had even been nominated, while confusion abounds on the exact role to be played by new bodies such as the High Peace Council and a High Advisory Board. Indeed, where once Kabuls powerful made a beeline for New Delhi for backroom consultations on the way forward, this time, India, in sending former diplomats to the Russia round table in Moscow, may have managed to keep its foot in the door. But for its strategic concerns in this neighbourhood to be addressed, Kabul, in its hour of crisis, cannot be placed way down in the list of foreign policy goals. India needs to have its own googly in play. John Menzies plc provides aviation services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and internationally. It offers ground and cargo handling; into-plane fueling services and fuel farm management to airlines, airports, oil companies, and other partners; executive services, which includes lounge provision and meet-and-greet services for executive and VIP air travel; and offline services for airline customers, as well as cargo forwarding services. The company was founded in 1833 and is based in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom. Read More Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 1001 PROPERTIES LLC, 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 60 11TH STREET LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AFP PROVIDA S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LIMITED, ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, ALICO PROPERTIES INC., AMMETLIFE INSURANCE BERHAD, AMMETLIFE TAKAFUL BERHAD, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BIDV METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, DES MOINES CREEK BUSINESS PARK PHASE II LLC, ECONOMY FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY, ECONOMY PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY, ECONOMY PREMIER ASSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FEDERAL FLOOD CERTIFICATION LLC, FORTISSIMO CO. 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BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MAXIS GBN S.A.S., MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCMIF HOLDCO I LLC, MCMIF HOLDCO II LLC, MCP - WELLINGTON LLC, MCP 100 CONGRESS MEMBER LLC, MCP 1500 MICHAEL LLC, MCP 1900 MCKINNEY LLC, MCP 2 AMES LLC, MCP 2 AMES ONE LLC, MCP 2 AMES OWNER LLC, MCP 2 AMES TWO LLC, MCP 220 YORK LLC, MCP 22745 & 22755 RELOCATION DRIVE LLC, MCP 249 INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PARK MEMBER LLC, MCP 3040 POST OAK LLC, MCP 350 ROHLWING LLC, MCP 4600 SOUTH SYRACUSE LLC, MCP 550 WEST WASHINGTON LLC, MCP 60 11TH STREET MEMBER LLC, MCP 7 RIVERWAY LLC, MCP 9020 MURPHY ROAD LLC, MCP 93 RED RIVER MEMBER LLC, MCP ALLEY 24 EAST LLC, MCP ASHTON SOUTH END LLC, MCP BLOCK 23 MEMBER LLC, MCP BRADFORD LLC, MCP BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER 2 MEMBER LLC, MCP BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER BLDG B LLC, MCP BURNSIDE MEMBER LLC, MCP CENTER AVENUE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, MCP CLAWITER INNOVATION MEMBER LLC, MCP COMMON DESK TRS LLC, MCP DENVER PAVILIONS MEMBER LLC, MCP DILLON LLC, MCP DILLON RESIDENTIAL LLC, MCP ENV CHICAGO LLC, MCP FIFE ENTERPRISE CENTER LLC, MCP FRISCO OFFICE LLC, MCP GRAPEVINE LLC, MCP HIGHLAND PARK LENDER LLC, MCP HUB I LLC, MCP HUB I PROPERTY LLC, MCP LODGE AT LAKECREST LLC, MCP MA PROPERTY REIT LLC, MCP MAGNOLIA PARK MEMBER LLC, MCP MAIN STREET VILLAGE LLC, MCP MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY CENTER MEMBER TRS LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS HOLDCO LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS MASTER LESSEE LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS OWNER LLC, MCP ONE WESTSIDE LLC, MCP ONYX LLC, MCP PARAGON POINT LLC, MCP PLAZA AT LEGACY LLC, MCP PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MCP SEATTLE GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL I LLC, MCP SEATTLE GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL II LLC, MCP SEVENTH AND OSBORNE MF MEMBER LLC, MCP SEVENTH AND OSBORNE RETAIL MEMBER LLC, MCP SHAKOPEE LLC, MCP SLEEPY HOLLOW MEMBER LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL ANAHEIM LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL BERNARDO LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL CANYON LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL CONCOURSE LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL FULLERTON LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL KELLWO00OD LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL LAX LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL LOKER LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL REDONDO LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL SPRINGDALE LLC, MCP STATELINE LLC, MCP THE PALMS AT DORAL LLC, MCP TRIMBLE CAMPUS LLC, MCP UNION ROW LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE ONE LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE OWNER LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE TWO LLC, MCP VANCE JACKSON LLC, MCP VINEYARD AVENUE MEMBER LLC, MCP VOA HOLDINGS LLC, MCP VOA I & III LLC, MCP VOA II LLC, MCP WATERFORD ATRIUM LLC, MCP WEST BROAD MARKETPLACE LLC, MCP ENGLISH VILLAGE LLC, MCPF ACQUISITION LLC, MCPF FOXBOROUGH LLC, MCPF NEEDHAM LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. 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JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC, SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY, VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, and WHITE TRACT II LLC. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. The fund is co-managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company. It invests in the public equity markets of India. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the U.S. dollar adjusted BSE National Index. Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. was formed on December 22, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More In todays fast-paced world many women also take a break from technology while travelling. While gruesome cases of murder and assault of female solo travellers seem to pop up every now and then, Indian women solo travellers are determined to break the boundaries of solo travelling and take the risk to enjoy their me-time. The recent murder of British backpacker, Grace Millane, has shocked many solo female travellers across the world. What is even more upsetting is that the tragic incident took place in New Zealand a country which is considered one of the safest places on the planet. In a similar incident, the rape and murder of a 25-year-old female solo traveller in Costa Rica, while she was on her first round-the-world trip, has left many a traveller, especially women, shaken. Such an environment does come across as a concern as one of the most common travel trends millennials are following nowadays is travelling solo. And while one might think that this is exclusively a mans indulgence, the fact of the matter is that there has recently been a huge increase in women travelling solo, both for pleasure and for business. However, one thing that remains a major concern for many solo female travellers is safety. Jahnavi Rao, a working professional, who loves to travel solo feels that the more the research, the better your solo trip. Making sure that one understands the local laws and customs, and respect them is also very important while travelling solo. Thankfully, I havent faced any major issues yet, however I have run into petty issues such as fights with cabbies and arguments with the local shopkeepers. You cannot always hide the fact that you are a traveller, so then it is better that you learn a few local words or gestures. These things will help you communicate with the locals better. For example, we all have grown up thinking that the thumbs-up gesture is used to signify a job well done. However, while travelling to the middle-east, I learnt that it is considered offensive and crude there. Simple research would tell you about such things and save you from any trouble. Sharing her experience about choosing an accommodation, Jahnavi says, Never rely on a single site. Go on various site/apps such as Trip Advisor, Hostelz or Oyster to know the rating of a specific place. I generally stay in hostels, as they are filled with other travellers like me and are also economical. Well-know Indian traveller, Shivya Nath, also found herself in trouble when she got mugged in Costa Rica. Sharing the horrific experience, Shivya wrote on her blog, the-shooting-star.com, I had pretty much let my guard down in Costa Rica. On a hurriedly hailed cab ride to the airport to impulsively catch a flight to the Pacific Coast, the cabbie and I chatted like long lost friends. Closer to the airport, he told me wed get stuck in traffic so its better to drop off a street before and walk; I agreed without thinking twice. When we arrived, I paid him and got off the cab, only to see him grabbing my small bag the one with my passport, laptop and everything precious asking for more money or hed take off with it. F**k. I had the equivalent of 50$ in my pocket and gave it to him, shivering at the idea of being left alone without my valuables. In retrospect, there were a lot of hints I didnt catch; he asked me if I had family in the country, or if I had a local SIM card pointed questions that should have made me wary. I felt shaken up for days, refused to trust anyone else I met along the way, and found solace in places crowded with other tourists, much unlike my usual travel style. It really wasnt about the money I lost, but the trust I lost, and its taken me months to rebuild it. Giving a few tips to solo female travellers, avid traveller, Vibha Jain says, Many times while travelling we come across people who can be potentially dangerous or might simply want to dupe you. Keep your mental guard up and trust your instincts. It is completely fine that you mingle with the locals and go out with them but ideally make sure that you either limit your conversations in mixed groups or keep conversations to local females. In todays fast-paced world many women also take a break from technology while travelling. Not a good idea, says traveller and biker, Deepa Radhakrishnan, who recommends that one shouldnt totally switch off from technology as, it is very useful to stay connected. She explains, I have travelled a lot, especially on a bike. And stopping at nights and asking for directions from the locals can be dangerous. So, I use Google map to guide me. Also, for the first few travels, make sure that at least one person family or friend has a general idea of where youll be and when, in case something goes wrong or they need to get in touch with you. Another very important thing to keep in mind when travelling solo is to make sure you have someones number on your speed dial. 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. JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN's stock was trading at $11.98 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, AMJ stock has increased by 48.0% and is now trading at $17.73. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. ONEOK, Inc. engages in gathering, processing, fractionating, transporting, storing and marketing of natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines. The Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment offers midstream services to producers in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. The Natural Gas Liquids segment owns and operates facilities that gather, fractionate, treat and distribute NGLs and store NGL products, in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico and the Rocky Mountain region, which includes the Williston, Powder River and DJ Basins, where it provides midstream services to producers of NGLs and deliver those products to the two market centers, one in the Mid-Continent in Conway, Kansas and the other in the Gulf Coast in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment provides transportation and storage services to end users. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Tulsa, OK. Read More Parkland Corporation operates as a marketer, distributor, and refiner of fuel and petroleum products in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canada, International, USA, Supply, and Corporate segments. The Canada segment supplies and supports a coast-to-coast network of 1,860 retail gas stations under the Ultramar, Esso, Fas Gas Plus, Chevron, Pioneer, and Race Trac as well as operates convenience stores under the On the Run/MarchA Express brand. Additionally it offers bulk fuel, bulk and cylinder exchange propane, heating oil, lubricants, and other related products and services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in various industries, such as oil and gas, construction, mining, forestry, fishing, and transportation under the Ultramar, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Chevron, Columbia Fuels, and Sparlings Propane brands. The International segment operates retail service stations under the Esso, Shell, and Sol brands; and delivers and supplies gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, propane, and lubricants to customers in various sectors, including power, oil and gas, and mining. The USA segment operates a network of gas stations; and delivers bulk fuel, lubricants, and other related products and services under the Farstad Oil, Rhinehart Oil, Tropic Oil, Superpumper, Harts, and On the Run brands. The Supply segment manufactures transportation fuels; transports, stores, and markets fuels, crude oil, and liquid petroleum gases; and manufactures and sells aviation fuel to airlines. This segment also engages in the wholesale, supply, and distribution business. The company was formerly known as Parkland Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Parkland Corporation in May 2020. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Crime against women continues unabated in the national capital despite various claims. The Delhi police data shows that in every 50 hours, a dowry death was reported in the city while over 5 rapes were reported in a day from January till 30th November this year. (Representational image) New Delhi: Crime against women continues unabated in the national capital despite various claims. The Delhi police data shows that in every 50 hours, a dowry death was reported in the city while over 5 rapes were reported in a day from January till 30th November this year. Every 24 hours, over five women are raped while nine are molested in the national capital, revealed the Delhi police data. The police records also show that 138 dowry deaths were reported in the city, while last year the death toll in dowry cases was 118. The number of rapes in Delhi registered a rise in 2018, with data suggesting an average of over five cases every day. As many as 1,983 cases of rape were reported in 2018 till November 30 as compared to1,979 cases during the same period in 2017. Data also revealed that 3,066 cases of molestation, 3,214 cases of kidnapping of women, and 248 cases of abduction of women were reported till the end of November this year. A senior police official said that in maximum instances, rape cases belonged to the age group of 21-35 years. The official added that 60 to 65 per cent of female victims were between 15-30 years. Almost 39 per cent of the rapes were committed by friends and friends of family members, he added. Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America; Canada; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Asia Pacific; and Corporate and Other. The U.S. and Latin America segment markets individual and group life and health reinsurance to domestic clients for a variety of products through yearly renewable term agreements, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance. The Canada segment offers individual life reinsurance, and to a lesser extent creditor, group life and health, critical illness and disability reinsurance, through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment serves individual and group life and health products through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements, reinsurance of critical illness coverage that provides a benefit in the event of the diagnosis of a pre-defined critical illness and underwritten annuities. The Asia Pacific segment comprises individual and group life and health reinsurance, critical illness coverage, disability, and superannuation thr Read More Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, Defence, and ITP Aero. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services. The Power Systems segment provides high-speed and medium-speed reciprocating engines, and propulsion and power generation systems for the marine, defense, power generation, and industrial markets. The Defence segment offers aero engines for military transport and patrol aircraft applications; and naval engines and submarine nuclear power plants, as well as aftermarket services. The ITP Aero segment engages in the design, research and development, manufacture and casting, assembly, and testing of aeronautical engines and gas turbines. It also provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for regional airlines, as well as business aviation, industrial, and defense applications. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Stantec Inc. provides professional consulting services in the area of infrastructure and facilities in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company provides consulting services in engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics. It also offers water, transportation, and public works; transportation planning and traffic engineering; and resource assessment, mine development, reclamation, hydrology, and geotechnical and infrastructure engineering services, as well as urban planning, traffic assessments and optimization, environmental impact assessments, and public consultation services. In addition, the company provides structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and hydraulics engineering services. It serves urban regeneration, infrastructure, education, public and private sector, tourism and leisure, and waste and water sectors, as well as office and commercial, residential, and retail and town centers. The company was formerly known as Stanley Technology Group Inc. and changed its name to Stantec Inc. in October 1998. Stantec Inc. was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. Read More The dissent by Congress workers and supporters against what they thought the high command was about to do expressed itself in violence in Rajasthan. The last thing that we can surmise from the events is that the approach Rahul Gandhi has taken, or has been forced to take, is different from his fathers. (Photo: @INCIndia/Twitter) When I turned 18 and was able to vote, the member of Parliament from Surat was Kashiram Rana of the BJP. He remained MP till I was almost 40. He was a popular grassroots figure and won six times and was never defeated, being also a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet. Without any reason or scandal, Mr Rana was denied a ticket in 2008 from Gujarat and he died a few years later, a broken and disillusioned man. I will come to why I referred to him in a little while. The Congress party had one good day when the votes for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were counted. The next day it was hammered again in the media for being unable to decide quickly on its leadership in these three states. The party pointed out that this had happened to the Bharatiya Janata Party also, when it won in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and so it was not unusual. But it felt unusual in the minds of many people and lets take a look at why. The first thing is that we are told is that the Congress has a high command. The partys leaders themselves use this term. It means a leadership above all the rest which has a final authority. It refers to the Gandhi family, mother and son, who control the party. But the events of the day after the election show that this authority is not absolute. If it was, Rahul Gandhi could have picked his man and it would have ended there. The fact that this did not happen can only mean that the high command does not have the power to command in absolute terms. This is not a bad thing by itself. It shows that there is more inner party democracy in the Congress than otherwise assumed. Compare this with the ease with which outsiders like Yogi Adityanath in UP, M.L. Khattar in Haryana and Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra were picked without public dissent. Each of them was given a chance over leaders who had been with the party and had built it in these states for decades but their claims were ignored and they had to accept this. This is also what happened to Kashiram Rana, who was denied a ticket by the then chief minister Narendra Modi. It shows that it is the BJP that has a high command that can impose its will on the second line of leadership without resistance and not the Congress. We think of the Congress party as being a dictatorship internally because it is dynastic. I have referred to it as a private limited company, where one family holds all the shares, as opposed to the BJP, which is more like a public limited company with wider shareholding. But recent events show that this may not necessarily be the right way of looking at it. There was no fear in the aggressive manner with which supporters appeared on television demanding their leaders elevation, while the high command was still deciding. The dissent by Congress workers and supporters against what they thought the high command was about to do expressed itself in violence in Rajasthan. The lack of absolute authority also showed in the sequence of events. The contenders from Rajasthan were called to Delhi for discussions. Then they were asked to return but mid-way again asked to come back. What does this tell us? Either it was difficult for the high command to decide or it was difficult for it to implement its decision. The presence of Sonia and Priyanka (as reported by media) around some of the meetings again indicates that this was something in which the Congress president Rahul needed support. The defiance by the old guard and their ultimate victory over the younger faces also shows a certain degree or independence. It tells us that the campaign victories of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were not dependent to any significant extent on the Delhi leadership. This is the difference between the two national parties. In the BJP it is assumed that the contribution of PM Modi to a victory is so disproportionate that he has absolute authority in deciding what happens afterwards. The last thing that we can surmise from the events is that the approach Rahul Gandhi has taken, or has been forced to take, is different from his fathers. When Rajiv took over, he addressed the internal issues by threatening behaviour. He said in a speech about dissent inside the Congress that, Unko naani yaad dila denge. This is quite different from the manner in which Rahul dealt with those who disagreed. It is thought that Rahul wanted the younger and fresher faces of Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia to lead Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. That he was unable to get this done tells us a lot more about the Congress leadership and its structure and its limitations, than phrases like high command. Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More 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 Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Marsh & McLennan Companies: 8WORKS INC., 8WORKS LTD, A. Constantinidi & CIA. S.C., A.C.N. 000 951 146 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 001 572 961 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 076 935 683 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 102 322 574 Pty Limited, ACE Insurance Agents Limited, ACE Insurance Consultants Limited, ACE Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Limited, AD Corretora de Seguros, AFCO Premium Acceptance Inc., AFCO Premium Credit LLC, Access Equity Enhanced Fund GP LLC, Admiral Holdings Limited, Agnew Higgins Pickering & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd, Aldgate Investments Limited, Aldgate Trustees Ltd, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited, Alpha Consultants Limited, Alta SA, Altius Real Assets (GP) LLC, Amal Insurance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), Anda Insurance Agencies Pte Ltd, AssetVal Pty Ltd, Assur Conseils Marsh S.A., Assurance Capital Corporation, Assurance Services Corporation, Australian Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Australian World Underwriters Pty Ltd., BBPS Limited, Barney & Barney Orange County LLC, Beaumonts (Leeds) Limited (in liquidation), Beaumonts Insurance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), Beaumonts Insurance Services Limited, Beneficios Integrales Oportunos SA, Benefitfocus Inc., Blue Marble Micro Limited, Blue Marble Microinsurance Inc., Bluefin, Bluefin Insurance Group Limited, Bluefin Insurance Services Limited, Boulder Claims LLC, Bowring (Bermuda) Investments Ltd., Bowring Marine Limited, Bowring Marsh (Bermuda) Ltd., Bowring Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Bowring Marsh Asia Pte. Ltd., Bowring Marsh Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Bowring Marsh Limited, Broderick Piller Pty Ltd, Broker 2 Broker Limited, BuildPay LLC, Burke Ford Trustees (Leicester) Limited, C.T. Bowring Limited, CMC-Belgibo NV, CPRM Limited, CPSG Partners LLC, Carpenter Marsh Fac Chile Corredores de Reaseguros Limitada, Carpenter Marsh Fac Colombia Corredores de Reaseguros S.A., Carpenter Marsh Fac Peru Corredores de Reaseguros S.A.C., Carpenter Marsh Fac Re LLC, Carpenter Turner Cyprus Ltd, Carpenter Turner S.A., Cascade International Holdings C.V., Cascade Regional Holdings Limited, Central Insurance Services Limited, Charter Risk Management Services LLC, Chartwell Healthcare Limited, Chronos Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Claims and Recovery Management (Australia) Pty Limited, Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers Limited, Client Provide Limited, Colombian Insurance Broking Wholesale Limited, Consultores 2020 C.A., Cronin & Co Insurance Services Limited, DVA - Deutsche Verkehrs-Assekuranz-Vermittlungs GmbH, Dawson Insurance, DeLima Marsh S.A. - Los Corredores de Seguros S.A., Dovetail Insurance Corp., Dovetail Insurance Corp., Dovetail Managing General Agency Corporation, Dovetail Technology Service India Private Limited, Draw Connect Limited, Draw Create Limited, Draw Group London Limited, Eagle & Crown Limited, Echelon Australia Pty Limited, Echelon Claims Consultants Sdn Bhd, Echelon New Zealand Limited, EnBW Versicherungs Vermittlung GmbH, Encompass Insurance Agency Pty Ltd., English Pension Trustees Limited, Epsilon (US) Insurance Company, Epsilon Insurance Company Ltd., Eustis Insurance & Benefits, Evolution Management Ltd, Exchange Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Exmoor Management Company Limited, Faulkner & Flynn LLC, Freedom Trust Services Limited, GC Genesis LLC, GCube Insurance Services Inc, GCube Underwriting Limited, Gama Consultores Associados Ltda., Gem Insurance Company Limited, Global Premium Finance Company, GrECo International Holding AG, Gracechurch Trustees Limited, Gresham Pension Trustees Limited, Group Promoters Pty Limited, Guy Carpenter & Cia (Mexico) S.A. de C.V., Guy Carpenter & Cia. S.A., Guy Carpenter & Co. Labuan Ltd., Guy Carpenter & Company AB, Guy Carpenter & Company Corredores de Reaseguros Limitada, Guy Carpenter & Company Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Guy Carpenter & Company GmbH, Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, Guy Carpenter & Company Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Ltd./Guy Carpenter & Compagnie Ltee, Guy Carpenter & Company Participacoes Ltda., Guy Carpenter & Company Peru Corredores de Reaseguros S.A., Guy Carpenter & Company Private Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Proprietary Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Pty. Ltd., Guy Carpenter & Company S.A., Guy Carpenter & Company S.A. (Uruguay), Guy Carpenter & Company S.A.S., Guy Carpenter & Company S.r.l., Guy Carpenter (Middle East) Limited, Guy Carpenter Bermuda Ltd., Guy Carpenter Broking Inc., Guy Carpenter Colombia Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Guy Carpenter Insurance Brokers (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Guy Carpenter Japan Inc., Guy Carpenter Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V., Guy Carpenter Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, HAPIP GP 2009 LLC, HAPIP GP LLC, HSBC Insurance Brokers International (Abu Dhabi) LLC (in liquidation), Hamilton Bond Limited, Hansen International Limited, Hayward Aviation Limited, INSIA Europe SE, INSIA SK s.r.o., INSIA a.s., INSURANCE BROKERS OF NIGERIA LIMITED, IRC Asia Insurance Brokers Limited, InSolutions Limited, Industrial Risks Protection Consultants, Ingeseg S. A., Ingeseg S.A., Insbrokers Ltda., InsurTech Alliance LLC, Insure Direct (Brokers) LLC, Insure Direct (Brokers) LLC [BAHRAIN BRANCH], Insure Direct - Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, International Catastrophe Insurance Managers LLC, International Loss Control Services Limited, International Risk Consultants (Asia) Limited, Invercol Limited, Irish Pensions Trust Limited, Isosceles Insurance (Barbados) Limited, Isosceles Insurance Company Limited, Isosceles Insurance Ltd, Isosceles PCC Limited, J&H Marsh & McLennan Limited, J.W. Terrill Benefit Administrators Inc., JI Holdings Limited, JIB Group Holdings Limited, JIB Group Limited, JIB Holdings (Pacific) Limited, JIB Overseas Holdings Limited, JIB UK Holdings Limited, JL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co. KG, JLM Verwaltungs GmbH, JLT (Insurance Brokers) Limited, JLT Actuaries and Consultants Limited, JLT Advisory Limited, JLT Affinity Colombia Solutions SAS, JLT Agencies Limited, JLT Asesorias Ltda, JLT Asia Holdings BV, JLT Asia Shared Services Sdn Bhd, JLT Belgibo, JLT Benefit Consultants Limited, JLT Benefit Solutions Limited, JLT Benefit Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd, JLT Bermuda Ltd, JLT Brasil Holdings Participacoes Ltd, JLT Chile Holdings SpA, JLT Colombia Retail Limited, JLT Colombia Wholesale Limited, JLT Consultants & Actuaries Limited, JLT EB Holdings Limited, JLT EB Services Limited, JLT Employee Benefits Holding Company (PTY) LTD, JLT Employee Benefits SA (Pty) Ltd, JLT Financial Planning Limited, JLT France Holdings, JLT Group Services Pty Limited, JLT Holdings (Barbados) Ltd, JLT Holdings (NZ) Limited, JLT Independent Insurance Brokers Private Limited, JLT Insurance Agencies Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited ( Shanghai Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited (Beijing Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited (Guangzhou Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Ireland Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers SA, JLT Insurance Group Holdings Ltd, JLT Insurance Management Malta Limited, JLT Intellectual Property Limited, JLT Intellectual Property [UK Branch], JLT Interactive Pte. Ltd., JLT Investment Management Limited, JLT LATAM (Southern Cone) Wholesale Limited, JLT Latin American Holdings Limited, JLT Life Assurance Brokers Limited, JLT Management Services Limited, JLT Marine (Pty) Ltd, JLT Mexico Holdings Limited, JLT Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V., JLT Netherlands BV, JLT Norway AS, JLT PLA, JLT Pension Trustees Limited, JLT Pensions Administration Holdings Limited, JLT Pensions Administration Limited, JLT Peru Reinsurance Solutions Limited, JLT Peru Retail Limited, JLT Peru Wholesale Limited, JLT QFM Services Limited, JLT RE Brasil Administracao e Corretagem de Resseguros Ltda, JLT Re (French Branch), JLT Re (Northern Europe) AB, JLT Re Argentina Corredores de Reaseguros S.A.U., JLT Re Labuan Limited, JLT Re Limited, JLT Re Pty Ltd, JLT Reinsurance Brokers GmbH, JLT Reinsurance Brokers Limited, JLT Reinsurance Brokers Limited [French Branch], JLT Risk Management Limited, JLT Risk Solutions AB, JLT Risk Solutions AB Branch - Germany, JLT SA IB Holdings Company (Pty) Limited, JLT SCK Affinity Administracao e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., JLT SCK Corretora e Administradora de Seguros, JLT Secretaries Limited, JLT Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerlii A.., JLT Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., JLT Specialty France, JLT Specialty Insurance Broker A/S, JLT Specialty Limited, JLT Specialty Limited [DUBAI BRANCH], JLT Specialty Pte. Ltd., JLT Towner Insurance Management (Anguilla) Limited, JLT Trust Services (Barbados) Ltd, JLT Trustees (Southern) Limited, JLT Trustees Limited, JLT UK Investment Holdings Limited, JLT Vantage Risk and Benefit Consulting Private Limited, JLT Wealth Management Limited, JLT do Brasil Corretagem de Seguros Ltda, JLTPCS Holdings Pte. Ltd., JMIB Holdings BV, JSL Securities Inc., Japan Affinity Marketing Inc., Jardine IBR Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson (Proprietary) Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Asia Pte Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Australia Pty Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc, Jardine Lloyd Thompson India Private Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson India Private Limited (UK Branch Office), Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Consultants Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Inc., Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ireland Holdings Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ireland Unlimited Company, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Korea Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited [Macao Branch], Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS (Dubai) Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS Pte Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS SA, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Private Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pty Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Sdn Bhd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Valencia y Iragorri Corredores de Seguros SA, Jardine Pension Trustees Ireland Limited, Jardine Risk Consulting Co. Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited [Macao Branch], Jardines PF- Consultoria Em Gestao De Risco Limitada, Jelf, Jelf Commercial Finance Limited, Jelf Financial Planning Limited, Jelf Insurance Brokers Limited, Jelf Limited, Jelf Risk Management Limited, Jelf Wellbeing Limited, John Lampier & Son Ltd, Johnson & Higgins (Bermuda) Limited, Johnson & Higgins Limited, KESSLER & CO AG, Kepler Associates Limited, Kessler & Co Inc., Kessler Consulting Inc., Kessler Prevoyance Inc., Key Underwriting Pty Limited, Kroll, Lambert Brothers Holdings Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Employee Benefits) Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Hong Kong) Ltd, Laterlife.com Limited (in liquidation), Lavaretus Underwriting AB, Lavaretus Underwriting AB (BRANCH - Denmark), Libra Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Lloyd & Partners Limited, Local Government Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Lomond Macdonald Limited, Lynch Insurance Brokers Limited, M&M Vehicle L.P., M.P. Bolshaw and Company Limited, MAG JLT SpA, MERCER ALTERNATIVES LIMITED, MM Risk Services Pty Ltd (for dissolution), MMA Mid-Atlantic Employee LLC, MMA Securities LLC, MMB Consultores S.A., MMC (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd., MMC 28 State Street Holdings Inc., MMC Borrower LLC, MMC Brazilian Holdings B.V., MMC Capital Inc., MMC Cascade Regional Holdings LLC, MMC FINANCE (EUROPE) LIMITED, MMC FINANCE HOLDINGS LTD, MMC Finance (Australia) Limited, MMC Finance (Singapore) Limited, MMC France Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., MMC GP III Inc., MMC Group Services sp. z o.o., MMC Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, MMC Holdings (New Zealand) ULC, MMC Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC International Finance (Barbados) SRL, MMC International Holdings LLC, MMC International Limited, MMC International Treasury Centre Limited, MMC Middle East Holdings Limited, MMC Poland Holdings B.V., MMC Realty Inc., MMC Regional Asia Holdings B.V., MMC Regional Caribbean Holdings Ltd., MMC Regional Europe Holdings B.V., MMC Regional LATAM Holdings B.V., MMC Securities (Europe) Limited, MMC Securities LLC, MMC Treasury Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC UK Group Limited, MMC UK Pension Fund Trustee Limited, MMOW Limited, MMRC LLC, MOW Holding LLC, MPIP III GP LLC, MPIP IV GP LLC, MPIP V GP LLC, MPIP VI GP LLC, Mangrove Insurance Europe PCC Limited, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC Limited, Manoel Management Services Ltd, Marchant McKechnie Insurance Brokers Limited, Marine Aviation & General (London) Limited, Marsh & McLennan (PNG) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agencies AS, Marsh & McLennan Agencies Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency A/S, Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, Marsh & McLennan Agency Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency Pty Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Argentina SA Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh & McLennan Colombia S.A., Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Funding Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Asia Pacific Treasury Center Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies BVBA/SPRL, Marsh & McLennan Companies Finance Center (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies France S.A.S., Marsh & McLennan Companies Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., Marsh & McLennan Companies Regional Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Services B.V., Marsh & McLennan Companies UK Limited, Marsh & McLennan Europe S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan GP I Inc., Marsh & McLennan Global Broking (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Holding GmbH, Marsh & McLennan Holdings (Canada) ULC, Marsh & McLennan Holdings Inc., Marsh & McLennan Incorporated (for dissolution), Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings II, Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Limited, Marsh & McLennan Insurance Services Limited, Marsh & McLennan Ireland Limited, Marsh & McLennan Management Services (Bermuda) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Servicios S.A. De C.V., Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Canada Limited, Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Corporation, Marsh (Bahrain) Company SPC, Marsh (Beijing) Risk Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Marsh (China) Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh (Insurance Brokers) LLP, Marsh (Insurance Services) Limited, Marsh (Malawi) Limited, Marsh (Middle East) Limited, Marsh (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh (Pty) Ltd, Marsh (Risk Consulting) LLP, Marsh (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Marsh A/S, Marsh AB, Marsh AG, Marsh AS, Marsh Advantage Insurance Holdings Pty Ltd, Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd., Marsh Africa (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Argentina S.R.L., Marsh Associates (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Austria G.m.b.H., Marsh Aviation Insurance Broking Pty Ltd (for dissolution), Marsh B.V., Marsh Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh Brockman y Schuh Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Marsh Broker Japan Inc., Marsh Broker de Asigurare-Reasigurare S.R.L., Marsh Brokers (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh Brokers Limited, Marsh Canada Limited/Marsh Canada Limitee, Marsh Company Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Compensation Technologies Administration (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Isle of Man Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Malta Limited, Marsh Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Marsh EOOD, Marsh Egypt LLC, Marsh Emirates Consultancy LLC, Marsh Emirates Insurance Brokerage LLC, Marsh Employee Benefits Limited, Marsh Employee Benefits Zimbabwe (Private) Ltd, Marsh Eurofinance B.V., Marsh Europe S.A., Marsh FJC International Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh For Insurance Services S.A.E., Marsh Franco Acra S.A., Marsh GSC Servicos e Administracao de Seguros Ltda., Marsh GmbH, Marsh Holding AB, Marsh Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Marsh India Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Marsh Insurance & Investments LLC, Marsh Insurance Brokers, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Macao) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers AO, Marsh Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh Insurance Consulting Saudi Arabia (in liquidation), Marsh Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers LLC, Marsh Intermediaries Inc., Marsh International Broking Holdings Limited, Marsh International Holdings II Inc., Marsh International Holdings Inc., Marsh Investment B.V., Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited, Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited (UK Branch), Marsh Ireland Holdings Limited, Marsh Israel (1999) Ltd., Marsh Israel (Holdings) Ltd., Marsh Israel Consultants Ltd., Marsh Israel Insurance Agency Ltd., Marsh Israel International Brokers Ltd. (in liquidation), Marsh JCS Inc., Marsh Japan Inc., Marsh Kft., Marsh Kindlustusmaakler AS, Marsh Korea Inc., Marsh LLC, Marsh LLC Insurance Brokers, Marsh LLC [Ukraine], Marsh Lda., Marsh Limited, Marsh Limited [Fiji], Marsh Limited [New Zealand], Marsh Limited [PNG], Marsh Ltd. [Wisconsin], Marsh Management Services (Bahamas) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Dublin) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Labuan) Limited, Marsh Management Services (MENA) Limited, Marsh Management Services (USVI) Ltd., Marsh Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Management Services Guernsey Limited, Marsh Management Services Inc., Marsh Management Services Isle of Man Limited, Marsh Management Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Marsh Management Services Malta Limited, Marsh Management Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Marsh Management Services Sweden AB, Marsh Marine & Energy AB, Marsh Marine Nederland B.V., Marsh Medical Consulting GmbH, Marsh Mercer Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Marsh Nest Inc., Marsh Oman LLC, Marsh Oy, Marsh PB Co. Ltd., Marsh Philippines Inc., Marsh Privat A.I.E., Marsh Private Client Life Insurance Services, Marsh Pty. Ltd., Marsh Qatar LLC, Marsh RE S.A.C. Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh Rehder Consultoria S.A. (MRC), Marsh Rehder S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Marsh Resolutions Pty Limited, Marsh Risk Consulting B.V., Marsh Risk Consulting Limitada, Marsh Risk Consulting Ltda., Marsh Risk Consulting S.L., Marsh Risk Consulting Services S.r.L., Marsh Risk and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, Marsh S.A. Corredores De Seguros, Marsh S.A. Mediadores de Seguros, Marsh S.A.S., Marsh S.p.A., Marsh SA [Argentina], Marsh SA [Belgium], Marsh SA [Luxembourg], Marsh SA [Uruguay], Marsh SIA, Marsh Saldana Inc., Marsh Saudi Arabia Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Marsh Secretarial Services Limited, Marsh Semusa S.A., Marsh Services Limited, Marsh Services Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Marsh Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Szolgaltato Kft., Marsh Takaful Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Treasury Services (Dublin) Limited (in liquidation), Marsh Treasury Services Limited, Marsh Tunisia S.a.r.l., Marsh UK Limited, Marsh USA (India) Inc., Marsh USA Borrower LLC, Marsh USA Inc., Marsh Uganda Limited, Marsh Venezuela C.A. Sociedad de Corretaje de Seguros, Marsh Vietnam Insurance Broking Company Ltd, Marsh Zambia Limited, Marsh Zimbabwe Holdings (Private) Limited, Marsh d.o.o. Beograd, Marsh d.o.o. za posredovanje u osiguranju, Marsh for Insurance Services - Jordan, Marsh i-Connect (Pty) Ltd, Marsh s.r.o., Matthiessen Assurans AB, Mercer (Argentina) S.A., Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer (Austria) GmbH, Mercer (Belgium) SA-NV, Mercer (Canada) Limited/Mercer (Canada) Limitee, Mercer (China) Limited, Mercer (Colombia) Ltda., Mercer (Danmark) A/S, Mercer (Finland) OY, Mercer (France) SAS, Mercer (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer (Ireland) Limited, Mercer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Mercer (N.Z.) Limited, Mercer (Nederland) B.V., Mercer (Norge) AS, Mercer (Polska) Sp.z o.o., Mercer (Portugal) Lda, Mercer (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer (Sweden) AB, Mercer (Taiwan) Ltd., Mercer (Thailand) Ltd., Mercer (US) Inc., Mercer Administration Services (Australia) Pty Limited, Mercer Africa Limited, Mercer Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Mercer Asesores de Seguros S.A., Mercer Asesores es Inversion Independientes S.A. de C.V., Mercer Broking Ltd., Mercer Career Unipessoal Lda, Mercer Consultation (Quebec) Ltee., Mercer Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Mercer Consulting (France) SAS, Mercer Consulting (India) Private Limited, Mercer Consulting B.V., Mercer Consulting Group Inc., Mercer Consulting Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Mercer Consulting Limited, Mercer Consulting Middle East Limited, Mercer Consulting S.L.U., Mercer Consulting Venezuela C.A., Mercer Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Mercer Corretora de Seguros Ltda, Mercer Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Mercer Deutschland GmbH, Mercer Employee Benefits - Medicacao de Seguros Unipessoal Lda., Mercer Employee Benefits Limited, Mercer Financial Advice (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Financial Services Limited, Mercer Financial Services Limited liability company, Mercer Financial Services Middle East Limited, Mercer Global Investments Europe Limited, Mercer Global Investments Management Limited, Mercer HR Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer HR Services LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits LLC, Mercer Holdings Inc., Mercer Holdings Inc. [Philippines], Mercer Human Resource Consulting Ltda, Mercer Human Resource Consulting S.A. de C.V., Mercer ICC Limited, Mercer Investment Consulting Limited, Mercer Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mercer Investment Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Investments (Australia) Limited, Mercer Investments (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer Investments (Japan) Ltd, Mercer Investments (New Zealand) Limited, Mercer Investments LLC, Mercer Ireland Holdings Limited, Mercer Italia Srl Socio Unico, Mercer Japan Ltd., Mercer Korea Co. Ltd., Mercer LLC, Mercer Limited, Mercer MC Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer Master Trustees Limited, Mercer Mauritius Ltd., Mercer Oliver Wyman Holding B.V., Mercer Outsourcing (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Outsourcing S.L.U., Mercer Pensionsfonds AG, Mercer Pensionsraadgivning A/S, Mercer Philippines Inc., Mercer Private Investment Partners IV General Partner S.a.r.l., Mercer Private Markets AG, Mercer Private Markets Advisers (US) AG, Mercer Services Poland Sp. z.o.o., Mercer Sigorta Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Mercer South Africa (Pty) Limited, Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited, Mercer Switzerland Inc., Mercer System Services LLC, Mercer Technology Acquisitions Limited, Mercer Treuhand GmbH, Mercer Trust Company LLC, Mercer Trustees Limited, Mercer WorkforcePro LLC, Mercury Insurance Services Pty Ltd, Moola Systems Limited, Mountlodge Limited, Muir Beddal (Zimbabwe) Limited, NERA Australia Pty. Ltd., NERA Economic Consulting GmbH, NERA Economic Consulting Limited, NERA S.R.L., NERA SAS, NERA UK Limited, NERA do Brasil Ltda. (for dissolution), National Economic Research Associates Inc., NetComp Insurance Corp., Neuburger Noble Lowndes GmbH, Normandy Reinsurance Company Limited, Northern Alliance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), OWL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co.KG, OWL Marine Verwaltungs GmbH, Oliver Wyman (Bermuda) Limited, Oliver Wyman (Hong Kong) Limited, Oliver Wyman AB, Oliver Wyman AG, Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting Inc., Oliver Wyman B.V., Oliver Wyman Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Oliver Wyman Consultoria em Estrategia de Negocios Ltda., Oliver Wyman Energy Consulting Limited, Oliver Wyman FZ-LLC, Oliver Wyman Group KK, Oliver Wyman Inc., Oliver Wyman LLC, Oliver Wyman Limited, Oliver Wyman Limited Liability Company, Oliver Wyman Limited/Oliver Wyman limitee, Oliver Wyman Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pte. Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pty. Ltd., Oliver Wyman S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman S.A.S., Oliver Wyman S.L., Oliver Wyman S.r.l., Oliver Wyman SNC, Oliver Wyman SPRL/BVBA, Oliver Wyman Sdn. Bhd., Oliver Wyman Services Limited, Oliver Wyman Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman sp. z o.o., Omega Indemnity (Bermuda) Limited, Organizacion Brockman y Schuh S.A. de C.V., Osbornes Insurances Oxford Limited (in liquidation), PFT Limited, PI Indemnity Company Designated Activity Company, PT JLT Reinsurance Brokers, PT Jardine Lloyd Thompson, PT Marsh Indonesia, PT Marsh Reinsurance Brokers Indonesia, PT Mercer Indonesia, PT Nexus Asia Pacific, PT Oliver Wyman Indonesia, PT Quantum Computing Services, PT Quantum Investments, PT Quantum Support Services, Pallas Marsh Servicos Ltda., Pavilion Alternatives Group (Singapore) PTE. Ltd, Pavilion Financial Corporation Holdings UK Limited, Pavilion U.S. Investments Holdco LLC, Pension Trustees Limited, Pensionsservice Benefit Network Sverige AB, Perils AG, Personal Pension Trustees Limited, Pet Animal Welfare Scheme Limited, Portsoken Trustees (No. 2) Limited, Portsoken Trustees Limited, Potomac Insurance Managers Inc., Premier Pension Trustees Limited, Premium Services Australia Pty Limited, Professional Claims Handling Limited (in liquidation), Profund Solutions Limited, Promerit AG, Promerit Hungary Kft, Promerit Schweiz AG, Pymetrics Inc., R G Ford Brokers Limited, R R B Beratungsgesellschaft fuer Altersversorgung mbh, R. Mees & Zoonen Holdings B.V., Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters LLC, Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters Limited, Resource Benefit Associates, Rightpath Reinsurance SPC Ltd., Risk Management Australia Pty Limited, Rivers Group Limited, Rockefeller Risk Advisors Inc., Rutherfoord International Inc., SAFCAR-Marsh, SBJ Holdings Limited, SCIB (Bermuda) Limited, SCM Global Real Estate Select GP LLC, SCM Infrastructure General Partner S.a r.l., SCM International Private Equity Select III GP LLC, SCM LT General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE II GP Ltd., SCM PE II Scotland GP Ltd, SCM Strategic Capital Management (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., SICAR Marsh S.a.r.l., SME Insurance Services Limited, Sail Insurance Company Limited, Scalene Re Ltd, Seabury & Smith Borrower LLC, Seabury & Smith LLC, Secure Limited, Sedgwick (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Consulting Group Limited, Sedgwick Dineen Group Limited, Sedgwick Financial Services Limited, Sedgwick Forbes Middle East Limited, Sedgwick Group, Sedgwick Group (Australia) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Group (Bermuda) Limited, Sedgwick Group (Zimbabwe) Limited, Sedgwick Group Limited, Sedgwick Internationaal B.V., Sedgwick Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Singapore) Pte Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes (UK) Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Group Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Limited, Sedgwick Overseas Investments Limited, Sedgwick Private Limited, Sedgwick Re Asia Pacific (Consultants) Pte Ltd (for dissolution), Sedgwick Trustees Limited, Sedgwick UK Risk Services Limited, Sedgwick Ulster Pension Trustees Limited, Settlement Trustees Limited, Shanghai Mercer Insurance Brokers Company Ltd., Shorewest Insurance Associates LLC, Sirota Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Sirota Consulting UK Limited, Smith Long Term Disability Management Group Inc., Societe d'Assurances et de Participation Guian SA, Software Underwriting Systems Limited (in liquidation), Southern Marine & Aviation Inc., Southern Marine & Aviation Underwriters Inc., Sudzucker Versicherungs-Vermittlungs GmbH, Sumitomo Life Insurance Agency America Inc., Sylvite Financial Services, TBX Solutions Limited, Talent Tech Labs LLC, The Benefit Express Holdings Limited, The Benefit Express Limited, The Carpenter Management Corporation, The Insurance Partnership Holdings Limited, The Insurance Partnership Services Limited, The Positive Ageing Company Limited, The Purple Partnership Limited, The Recovre Group Pty Ltd, Thomsons Online Benefits (HK) Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits Inc., Thomsons Online Benefits Limited, Thomsons Online Benefits Pte Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits S.R.L, Torrent Government Contracting Services LLC, Torrent Insurance Services LLC, Torrent Technologies, Torrent Technologies Inc., Tower Hill Limited, Tower Place Developments (West) Limited, Tower Place Developments Limited, U.T.E. AMG, U.T.E. Marsh - Caja Castilla La Mancha Junta de Comunidades, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus (in liquidation), U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus 2012, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Vila-Seca 2010, UAD BB Marsh Lietuva, Vezina & Associes Inc., Vezina Assurances Inc., Victor Insurance Europe B.V., Victor Insurance Holdings Inc., Victor Insurance Italia S.r.l., Victor Insurance Managers Inc., Victor Insurance Managers Inc./Gestionnaires d'assurance Victor inc., Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd., Victor O. Schinnerer & Company Limited, Victoria Hall Company Limited, Wellnz Limited, William M. Mercer (Canada) Limited/William M. Mercer (Canada) Limitee, William M. Mercer AB, William M. Mercer Comercio Consultoria e Servicos Ltda., Wortham Insurance & Risk Management, everBe SAS, and realright GmbH. The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U. Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.. The following companies are subsidiares of WESCO International: 1502218 Alberta Ltd., ALLNET Technologies Pty. Ltd., AXE Distribution Solutions Trinidad Ltd., Accu-Tech Corporation, Anixter (Barbados) SRL, Anixter (CIS) LLC, Anixter (Switzerland) Sarl, Anixter (U.K.) Limited, Anixter Argentina S.A., Anixter Asia Holdings Limited, Anixter Australia Pty. Ltd., Anixter Austria GmbH, Anixter Bahamas Limited, Anixter Belgium B.V.B.A., Anixter Cables y Manufacturas S.A. de C.V., Anixter Canada Inc., Anixter Canadian Holdings ULC, Anixter Chile S.A., Anixter Colombia S.A.S., Anixter Communications (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Anixter Communications (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Anixter Costa Rica S.A., Anixter Czech a.s., Anixter Danmark A/S, Anixter Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Distribuidor de Soluciones Empresariales e Industriales S.A., Anixter Distribution Ireland Limited, Anixter Dominicana SRL, Anixter Egypt LLC, Anixter Espana S.L., Anixter Eurotwo Holdings B.V., Anixter Fasteners Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Financial Inc., Anixter France SARL, Anixter Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Anixter Holdings Inc., Anixter Holdings Mexico LLC, Anixter Hong Kong Limited, Anixter Iletisim Sistemleri Pazarlama ve Ticaret A.S., Anixter Inc., Anixter India Private Limited, Anixter Information Systems LLC, Anixter International, Anixter Italia S.r.l., Anixter Jamaica Limited, Anixter Japan KK, Anixter Jorvex S.A.C., Anixter Limited, Anixter Logistica do Brasil LTDA, Anixter Logistica y Servicios S.A. de C.V., Anixter Magyarorszag Elektronikus Halozati Rendszer Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft, Anixter Mid Holdings B.V., Anixter Middle East FZE, Anixter Morocco SARL AU, Anixter Nederland B.V., Anixter New Zealand Limited, Anixter Norge A.N.S., Anixter Operaciones y Logistica s De RL De CV, Anixter Panama S.A., Anixter Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, Anixter Pension Trustees Limited, Anixter Peru S.A.C., Anixter Philippines Inc., Anixter Poland Sp.z.o.o., Anixter Portugal S.A., Anixter Power Solutions Canada Inc., Anixter Power Solutions Inc., Anixter Procurement Corporation, Anixter Puerto Rico Inc., Anixter Real-Estate LLC, Anixter Receivables Corporation, Anixter Saudi Arabia Limited, Anixter Singapore Pte. Ltd., Anixter Slovakia s.r.o., Anixter Sub Holdings B.V, Anixter Sverige AB, Anixter Thailand Inc., Anixter U.S. LLC, Anixter Venezuela Inc., Anixter de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Anixter do Brasil Ltda, Atlanta Electrical Distributors, Atlanta Electrical Distributors LLC, Atlas Gentech (NZ) Limited, Avon Electrical Supplies, B.E.L. Corporation, Brews Supply, Brown Wholesale Electric, Bruckner Supply, CBC LP Holdings LLC, CDW Holdco LLC, Calvert Wire & Cable Corporation, Carlton-Bates Company, Carlton-Bates Company (CBC), Carlton-Bates Company de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Carlton-Bates Company of Texas GP Inc, Central Security Distribution Pty. Ltd, Communication Cables LLC, Communications Supply Corporation, Communications Supply Corporation, Conney Investment Holdings LLC, Conney Safety Products, Conney Safety Products LLC, Distribuidora Materiales Electricos E-Supply Limitada, EECOL Electric, EECOL Electric Bolivia Ltda, EECOL Electric Corp., EECOL Electric Peru S.A.C, EECOL Industrial Electric (SudAmerica) Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Ecuador Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Limitada, EECOL Power S.A., EECOL Properties Corp, Eurinvest B.V., Eurinvest Cooperatief U.A., Fastec Industrial, HMH Pension Trustees Limited, Hazmasters, Hazmasters Inc., Herning Underground Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply Company LLC, Hill Country Electric Supply, Hill Country Electric Supply L.P., ICV GP Inc., Infast Group Limited, Inner Range Pty. Ltd, Itel Container Ventures Inc., Itel Corporation, Itel Rail Holdings Corporation, J-Mark Inc., LaPrairie, Liberty Wire & Cable Inc., Monti Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply LLC, Obras Y Servicios Sunpark S.A.C., PT Anixter Indonesia, Potelcom Supply, Pro Canadian Holdings I ULC, RECO LLC, RS Electronics, Reily Electrical Supply, SASK Alta Holdings S.A., Services Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios Anixter S.A. de C.V., Signal Capital Corporation, Signal Capital Projects Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply GP Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply Limited Partnership, TVC Communications, TVC Communications L.L.C., TVC Espana Distribucion y Venta De Equipos S.L., TVC International Holding L.L.C., TVC UK Holdings Limited, Tri-Ed Puerto Rico Ltd. Inc., Trydor Industries, Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., WDC Holding Inc., WDCH LP, WDCH US LP, WDI USVI LLC, WDI-Angola LDA, WDINESCO B.V., WDINESCO II B.V., WDINESCO III B.V., WEAS Company S. de R.L., WESCO (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., WESCO Australia Pty Ltd, WESCO Canada GP Inc., WESCO Canada I LP, WESCO DC Holding I LP, WESCO DC Holding II LP, WESCO DC Holding III LP, WESCO DC Holding IV LP, WESCO Distribution Canada Co., WESCO Distribution Canada LP, WESCO Distribution HK Limited, WESCO Distribution II ULC, WESCO Distribution III ULC, WESCO Distribution IV Inc., WESCO Distribution Inc., WESCO Distribution Ireland Limited, WESCO Distribution NL B.V., WESCO Distribution Pte. Ltd., WESCO Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L., WESCO Distribution-International Limited, WESCO Enterprises Inc., WESCO Equity Corporation, WESCO Holdings LLC, WESCO Integrated Supply Inc., WESCO Integrated Supply Polska Spolka z o.o., WESCO Netherlands B.V., WESCO Nevada Ltd., WESCO Nigeria Inc., WESCO Procurement Canada ULC, WESCO Real Estate I LLC, WESCO Real Estate II LLC, WESCO Real Estate III LLC, WESCO Real Estate IV LLC, WESCO Receivables Corp., WESCO Services LLC, WESCO TLD Holdings Co. Ltd., WND Nigeria Limited, WireXpress Ltd., Xpress Connect Supply Hong Kong Limited, XpressConnect Holdings B.V., XpressConnect International B.V., XpressConnect Supply B.V.B.A., XpressConnect Supply Colombia S.A.S., XpressConnect Supply Inc., XpressConnect Supply Mexico S.A. de C.V., and XpressConnect Supply do Brasil Ltda. The tussle for the posts of chief ministers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh led to a divide between the Congress old guard and the younger leaders. It is an acknowledged fact that senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh managed to corner the bulk of tickets for his supporters in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. So Digvijay Singh had sufficient reason to smile when the results came in and the Congress edged out the three-term Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. In fact, the senior leader has not stopped smiling since then. While the tussle for the chief ministers post was going on in Delhi, a relaxed Digvijay Singh dropped in at Bhopal famous Coffee House with his son and grandson and spent hours chatting with local mediapersons. Though Digvijay Singh had kept a low profile during the election campaign and it was believed he had been marginalised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he sent out an unmistakable message that he is a force to reckon with in his home state. At least 30-odd newly-elected legislators coincidentally landed up at the Coffee House while Digvijay Singh was there. They came armed with flowers and sweets, to seek Digvijay Singhs blessings in what was clearly a show of strength by the former chief minister. Unlike Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot, who had every reason to press his case for the chief ministers post, his colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia was on a relatively weaker wicket. Though Mr Scindia put in his best during the election campaign and worked harmoniously with Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and former chief minister Digvijay Singh, he eventually lost out to Mr Nath. Mr Scindia may have been in with a chance if he had agreed to take up the challenge of heading the partys state unit way back in 2009. The proposal was even endorsed by Arjun Singh. But Mr Scindia stepped back at the last minute as he was a junior minister then in the Manmohan Singh government. Had he taken up the post then, he would have had a rightful claim to the chief ministers kursi now. Mr Pilot, on the other hand, moved to Jaipur five years ago when he was given charge of the party state unit and devoted himself to resurrecting the party in Rajasthan. The tussle for the posts of chief ministers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh led to a divide between the Congress old guard and the younger leaders. It even created a split within families. For instance, Congress Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda was in a dilemma. While his father and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was rooting for Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot because of his long-term association with them, Hooda junior was pitching for Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot because of his friendship with them. When his father said he would like to attend the swearing-in ceremonies of the senior leaders, Deepender Hooda made it clear that he could not possibly accompany him if his friends were overlooked for the top job. All roads led to industrialist Mukesh Ambanis Mumbai residence last week as the countrys whos who descended there for his daughter Ishas wedding to Anand Piramal. From industry captains and politicians to Bollywoods leading stars, all were in attendance. While the BJP contingent included Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, Smriti Irani and its chief ministers, the Congress was represented by P. Chidambaram, Anand Sharma and Ahmed Patel, to name a few. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and N. Chandrababu Naidu also put in an appearance. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to give the wedding a miss. His absence did not go unnoticed as everyone wondered why Mr Modi stayed away, considering he attended the wedding reception of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in Delhi a week earlier. In fact, Congress leaders were also eager to point out that Mr Modi had wound up his election campaign in Rajasthan hurriedly so he could make it to Delhi in time. In the process, they said, he even forgot to pay respects at BJP veteran Bhairon Singh Shekhawats samadhi even though he was in the vicinity that day. As everyone headed to Mumbai for what has been described as the wedding of the year, several leaders of rival political parties found themselves travelling on the same flight. A senior Congress leader, for instance, had textiles minister Smriti Irani and her husband Zubin Irani as his co-passengers. Venturing to offer some friendly advice to the ministers husband, the Congress leader told him: Usko bolo thoda kum ghoome aur thoda kum bole. Taking the comment in his stride, Mr Irani replied dolefully: I agree, thats exactly what I have been telling her but she just does not listen. Ms Irani, who contested against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Amethi constituency, has been the most bitter and vocal critic of the Nehru-Gandhi scion. She never loses an opportunity to lash out at Rahul Gandhi or poke fun at him. 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. 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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. In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write." Cameron miscalculated, not by a long shot but by the narrow margin which pushed the Leavers to victory. He lets you climb the slippery slope Lets you hang on to threads of hope Lets you rely on the knotted rope By which your future hangs. He lets you suffer a thousand fears He wades and rows through all your tears You wasted all those precious years Andstill you feel the pangs.. From Hunji The German by Bachchoo If George Orwell had not turned the Russian Revolutions aftermath into the allegory of an Animal Farm, generations of readers would know nothing about it. William Golding in exploring the theme of the development of human nature pitted against the environment, conceived the allegory as the adventures of children having to survive on a desert island. Big themes are characterised through narratives of smaller ones. Does it work the other way round? Can a relatively trivial, contemporary instance be the reflection of larger historical stories? The question occurs, gentle reader, because I am reading a book about the adventures and marauding conquests of the Macedonian, Alexander the Damned (characterised in the book, by most history as Alexander the great, We await Adolf the Munificent). Even as I turn this lying biographys pages the ludicrous saga of todays British politics unfolds, with Prime Minister Theresa May being subject by her own parliamentary party to a vote of no-confidence which she wins by a vote of 200 to 117. Its something of a Pyrrhic victory as having more than a third of your own legislators expressing no confidence in your leadership cant be very comfortable. Its the third time in two years that some idiot Tory has made a very large political blunder. The first was David Cameron calling a referendum on Britain staying within or leaving the European Union. He and his then chancellor George Osborne were very much in favour of remaining in the EU and they campaigned hard to ensure their side won. Cameron calculated that when they did, they would silence the sceptics in his party and close down the debate on staying or leaving the EU as well as sending into political oblivion the newly-resurgent party to the right of the Tories whose single platform was leaving Europe. Cameron miscalculated, not by a long shot but by the narrow margin which pushed the Leavers to victory. The second blunder was his successor as PM, Theresa May, calling a general election which turned her adequate, if not very comfortable, majority in the House of Commons into a minority. She called the election because the polls and very many opinion-makers predicted a spectacularly increased majority for her and the relegation of the much-derided Labour alternative of Jeremy Corbyn, whom Tories characterise as a Stalinist, into political oblivion. Her campaign promised strength and stability. The electorate didnt buy it and she was forced into making a deal with the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party, a right-wing outfit of Protestant bigotry, who have 10 votes at Westminster. The third blunderers were the opponents of Theresa May in her own party, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg. They launched their bid to replace her as leader. They campaigned and ended up with 117 supporters as opposed to her 200, some of whom may have held their noses as they voted to keep her in situ. Her victory means that no further challenge from within the Tory Party can be launched for another year. She has now promised to deliver a Brexit by the target date of March 29, 2019 and then resign. If there is a victorious no-confidence vote by the whole of Parliament before then, she will have to go and that wont be a vote to just displace her, but one to displace the present government leading to a general election and a coalition led by Corbyns Labour. The treatise on Alexander tells me that after his conquest and vandalisation of Persia, his armies raided and looted their way through Afghanistan and fought the Zoroastrian King Porus, a satrap of the Persian empire in what is now Northwestern Punjab. This book doesnt say quite that. It says Porus is a Greek perversion of the word purush, meaning man in Sanskrit, making this king a Hindu. Now Porus is a perfectly good Zoroastrian name and its true that the Persian Empire stretched up to the tributaries of the Indus. And why would a king anywhere call himself man? Alexander then turns back from the Indus because 117 of his top officers say they miss their wives and families and want to get back to Macedonia. But of course, Alexander has 200 other senior officers who perhaps want to proceed across the Indus but are told by Alexander and the scouts who report to him that the armies of Dhana Nanda, the Indian emperor across the Beas and the Indus, are formidable and will probably make Greek Moussaka of the Macedonians and their mercenaries. Having encountered this daunting probability, Alexander, who had set out with the avowed ambition to conquer the known world which his contemporaries believed, ended in India, turned back. He now had to lead the 200 generals who supported him and the 117 who didnt as though they were the premier officers of a united army. He knew that the division between these factions would manifest itself in every way open to divisive tactics on the way back. So it is with Theresa May. Even now she faces calls for her voluntary resignation. The hard-Brexiteers who voted for her removal will reject any Brexit deal she puts before Parliament, and many of those who voted for her, fearing the enemy on the opposite shores I mean parliamentary benches will vote down the withdrawal deal she has made with the EU, who have clearly asserted that there is no other deal available. On leaving the banks of the Beas, Alexanders armies split making their own way home. Allegories, dear Theresa, are usually formulated with a moral in mind. Acquires 169-acre land in the Yamuna Expressway Region. Vivo to set up a new manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore over a period of 4 years. Vivo, the innovative global smartphone brand, is excited to announce the initialization of their second manufacturing facility in India. The company has acquired additional 169-acre of land in the Yamuna Expressway region in Uttar Pradesh with an estimated investment of Rs 4,000 crore (not including land cost). Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath welcomed the initiative and congratulated Vivo for the upcoming facility. The new land has been acquired near the existing 50-acre manufacturing facility and will help expand Vivos manufacturing capabilities and support Vivos continued growth in India. Commenting on the announcement, Nipun Marya, Director-Brand Strategy, Vivo India said, Vivo entered India in 2014 with a commitment to bring product innovation, focus and value to our consumers. India is a key market for us, and today we have reiterated our commitment by entering the next phase of growth in India, all the while aligning ourselves with the Make in India initiative. Additionally, were proud that the new plant will offer a major benefit to the surrounding area through high-quality job creation and training opportunities. All Vivo smartphones sold in the country are manufactured at the Greater Noida facility which is one of Vivos four manufacturing facilities globally. Vivos new manufacturing facility will help achieve its vision of providing best-in-class mobile phones with an affordable pricing in addition to the already existing facility at Greater Noida. The existing manufacturing set-up, which saw an investment of Rs 300 crore already functions at a capacity of 2 million units per month with more than 5,000 workforce. Vivo will also contribute significantly to the socio-economic growth of the manufacturing ecosystem in India by way of creating additional jobs, wage growth and skill development for factory floor workers as it hopes to generate 5000 additional employment in the first phase of expansion. During this phase, Vivo also plans to double the current production capacity to 50 million units per annum. Mahinda Rajapaksa signed what was called a 'resignation' letter at his residence in capital Colombo. Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly resigned from his post. (Photo: AP) Colombo: Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly resigned from his post, ending a period of turbulence in the country's parliamentary history where he clung on to power despite suffering no-confidence motions. Mahinda Rajapaksa signed what was called a 'resignation' letter at his residence in capital Colombo. Rajapaksa informed the lawmakers of United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that he has resigned from the post, MP Shehan Semasinghe told reporters. Rajapaksa was appointed as the prime minister on October 26 by President Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. The apex court on Thursday unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was "illegal". Pro-Rajapaksa lawmaker, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, had told reporters that Rajapaksa decided in a meeting on Friday with President Sirisena to resign to allow the President to appoint a new government. After Rajapaksa's resignation, Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on Sunday. President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday, Colombo Page reported. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said that it was decided during the discussion that he will take oath as the Prime Minister on Sunday. The countrys foreign exchange reserves now stand at $9.24 billion, with the third installment from Riyadh expected in January. Islamabad: Pakistans meagre foreign reserves were bolstered on Friday as the second $1 billion tranche was received from Saudi Arabia, said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The countrys foreign exchange reserves now stand at $9.24 billion, with the third installment from Riyadh expected in January. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Riyadh on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz to participate in the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Conference in October. The kingdom had agreed to park $3 billion in Pakistans foreign currency reserves for a year and establish a credit line worth $3 billion for the sale of petroleum products on credit for three years. This arrangement will be in place for three years, which will be reviewed thereafter, said the foreign office. Pakistan had received the first tranche of $1 billion in November. The much-needed inflow came at a time when Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are negotiating a bailout package. The loan has improved the countrys capacity to pay for imports and conveniently pay off upcoming external debt installments in the current fiscal year. Earlier, the reserves had contracted fast and dropped to a four-and-a-half-year low of $7.48 billion by November 9, 2018, according to the central bank. Spanish prosecutors have charged pop music star Shakira with tax evasion, alleging she failed to pay more than 14.5 million euros between 2012 and 2014. In charges filed on Friday they claimed that Shakira listed the Bahamas as her primary residence for tax purposes, when she was actually living in Barcelona with her family. However, a source close to Shakira says that she is innocent and the prosecutors are using the case as a smear campaign against her, People.com reports. A judge will soon decide if there is enough evidence to bring Shakiras case to court. A young girl preening and pirouetting in front of the mirror, or trying to imitate her favourite actor or her teachers in school a common sight that any mother would encounter. While most mothers brush it aside as a rite of growing up, Aanchal Munjals mother did not. Instead, she spotted the potential in her daughter her ability to perfectly imitate the actors and made a decision that would change her daughters destiny. The Haryana-based family shifted to Mumbai so that Aanchal could pursue her acting dreams in earnest. In a voice choked with emotion, Aanchal still recalls the words her mother spoke to her extended family, I have been a good daughter, sister, wife and daughter-in-law; let me now be a good mother! Those words proved to be prophetic. Thanks to her mothers efforts to get Aanchals portfolio done along with making the rounds of production houses, Aanchal debuted in the mini screen at age 9. There was no looking back. The child actor made appearances in films like We Are Family and Aara kshan, acting opposite actors like Amitabh Bachchan, and with Sunny Deol in Ghayal Once Again. She, then, seamlessly made the transition from child actor to heroine through the recently released Tamil film Sei. The pretty actor was in Kochi in connection with some meetings regarding projects in Malayalam, and is hopeful of debuting in Mollywood soon. Though just 20, she is very clear about her path. I realised earlier on in life that I would not be able to stick to playing just one role for a long time. I want to experiment and do multiple roles and for that, I needed to be part of the film fraternity, which is why I quit TV six years ago and started focusing on films! Going back to her Tamil film Sei, in which she acted alongside Nakul, Prakash Raj and Nassar, Aanchal mentions that she received a very warm welcome from Kollywood. I was not made to feel like a stranger. Tamil was difficult to master. I still cannot speak the language, but can understand everything. I take just two minutes to learn my dialogues now, she adds with glee. There was no language barrier because, Everyone knows English in Chennai, she reveals. Aanchal played an aspiring filmmaker, Neena, in Sei who has her friends helping her realise her dream when life suddenly takes a U-turn. Neena then realises there are values and morals which are more important than ambition. Talking about her equation with her co-stars, she says Nakul was very cool. Interacting with Nassar sir made me realise that, the more heights you scale in your career, the more humble you become! Nassar is such a down-to-earth person with absolutely no airs, she opines. Language is no barrier for Aanchal who says that her prime concern is connecting with the audience. Whatever be the script, with a good banner and good artistes, I will not say no. It does not matter if it is in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi or Marathi. Incidentally, Aanchal is on the verge of signing a Malayalam film, but she would prefer that the makers themselves let the cat out of the bag. She has begun to catch up with recent Malayalam projects like Charlie, Bangalore Days and Take Off. So, which actor is her favourite, Fahadh Faasil, she answers, adding, I really like Dulquer Salmaan and I am eagerly looking forward to working with him. The film format aside, most mainstream actors have made the transition to the web series format and here again, Aanchal remarks, If the script is amazing and if it can grab the attention of the audience, then why not? Leaving behind the world of films and moving on to the more serious MeToo movement sweeping the industry, she feels it is high time there was a cleansing happening in the industry. That being said, she is also skeptical about using the movement to victimise someone when a relationship was consensual or to malign someone. Before winding down, she talks of her future plans. I want to do more and more work and have hundreds of films in my name when I hang up my boots! The CCS police on Friday raided a house in Nidamanur village near Vijayawada following the details spolled by the two prime members of the gang. During the raids, police arrested the remaining eight members of the gang and seized the fake currency and other materials. TIRUPATI: The CCS police of Tirupati arrested a ten-member gang accused of printing and circulating counterfeit currency notes across Andhra Pradesh. A team lead by CCS DySP R. Ravi Shankar Reddy, Srikalahasthi SDPO Rama Krishna and CI T. Madhu seized fake notes worth Rs 10 lakh along with 14 diamonds of 19.22 carats, two laptops, printers, scanner and other materials used for printing the fake currency. According to Tirupati (Urban) district SP K.K.N. Anbu Rajan, the accused were identified as Attar Mohammad Ali, 55 and his son Moham-mad Khaja Imran, 27, E. Navneeth Kumar, 27, A. Bala Kumar, 29, B. Pavan Kumar, 23, M. Naidu, 37, P. Mohan, 40, V. Charan Kumar, 23, D.P.S. Varma, 50, and B. Murali Krishna, 33. They are all from various parts of AP. Mr Anbu Rajan said that the police received the information about the gangs activities from the prime accused in the case, Attar Mohammad Ali and his son Mohammad Khaja Imran who were caught trying to exchange fake notes at an outlet in the city on Thursday. The CCS police on Friday raided a house in Nidamanur village near Vijayawada following the details spolled by the two prime members of the gang. During the raids, police arrested the remaining eight members of the gang and seized the fake currency and other materials. The arrested were sent to remand and further investigation is on, he added. During interrogation, the men revealed that they intensified their criminal activities so that they can impress their girlfriends and plan the celebration of New Year out of Delhi, the DCP said. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have solved 44 cases of theft with the arrest of seven men who told police they stole mobile phones and bikes because they wanted to "impress their girlfriends." Police said they recovered six stolen luxurious motorcycles, two scooters, 28 snatched mobile phones from their possession. Acting on a tip-off on Thursday, police laid a trap near Peeragarhi Metro Station and arrested three accused who arrived at the spot on a motorcycle. Seventeen stolen mobile phones were recovered from their possession. The motorcycle was found to be stolen from Punjabi Bagh area, said Seju Kuruvilla, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer). Subsequently, a second trap was laid near Sultanpuri bus terminal and four of the seven men were caught along with a stolen motorcycle and a scooter. Eleven stolen mobile phones and Rs 7,000 was recovered from their possession, the officer said. Four other stolen motorcycles and a stolen vehicles were also recovered at their instance from abandoned places, he said. During interrogation, the men revealed that they intensified their criminal activities so that they can impress their girlfriends and plan the celebration of New Year out of Delhi, the DCP said. Christian Michel was extradited to India from Dubai on December 4. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday extended the CBI custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, by four more days. The CBI had sought for 5 days extension from the court. The 57-year-old British national was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. During the hearing, Michel's counsel Rosemary Patrizi said she had represented him for almost five years in trials held across Italy and Switzerland. Patrizi also said that she has some more documents regarding the case that she wanted to submit in the court. The Patiala House Court then allowed Patrizi to speak to Michel for 10 minutes, in spite of the CBI questioning her credentials. It, however, refused to let Patrizi visit him in CBI custody. Lawyer Aljo K Joseph is representing Michel in the case. Last week, the central investigating had cited "non-cooperation" on the accused's part and sought nine-day custody. The court, however, had allowed only five. Michel is one of the three alleged middlemen, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, being investigated by the ED and the CBI over charges of organising bribes for Indian politicians and bureaucrats to push for the AgustaWestland deal, involving 12 luxury choppers, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power. He was extradited to India from Dubai on December 4. The extradition request was made by India in March 2017. The court will hear Michel's bail plea on December 19. London/Islamabad/New Delhi: British public broadcaster BBC has defended the omission of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's mention from its interview with Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar, making it clear that it was "not an act of censorship". In an interview to BBC's Stephen Sackur for the 'Hardtalk', Pakistan's finance minister answered questions on various issues of national importance, including the state of Pakistan's economy and the so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor'. The TV version of the interview, however, did not contain his mention of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death in 2017 by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged "espionage". Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari criticised the BBC, accusing it of "deleting" the part about Kulbhushan Jadhav, terming it "typical bias" on the part of the broadcaster. BBC 'Hardtalk' on Twitter, however, clarified that Kulbhushan Jadhav's name had been omitted from the TV version of the interview and not the radio version, and that it was not done to censor the minister's words. "The reason Kulbhushan Jadhav's name was deleted from the TV version of the HARDtalk interview with Asad Umar has a simple technical explanation. The recorded interview was too long for our broadcast slot and so had to be edited. This was done separately for radio and TV," it explained in a tweet. "His name was omitted from the TV version. This was not an act of censorship, but clearly confusion has been caused, so we are happy to restore that short section to the TV broadcast and we'll give the new programme an extra airing tonight as well as tomorrow morning," the broadcaster said. On BBC's explanation, the Pakistani human rights minister accused the British public broadcaster, saying: "As pathetic an explanation as any! BBC's bias has always been there and then there are mega bucks to be earned from India!" As pathetic an explanation as any! BBC's bias has always been there and then there are mega bucks to be earned from India! https://t.co/F9YDKGpPk9 Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 14, 2018 Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran. India maintains that Kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India. After Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death, India moved the International Court of Justice against the verdict in May 2017. The world court has halted Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it. In October, the ICJ said it will hold hearings from February 18 to February 21 in the Peace Palace at The Hague in the Netherlands, the seat of the court. The forest department had warned residents not to venture into the lake till the crocodiles were translocated. (Photo: Pixabay) Chennai: Residents living near Tambaram and Velechery areas are currently in for a new scare. The threat of crocodiles in a lake in the vicinity has left them troubled. But, forest officials on Friday allayed their fears, saying that they would soon translocate the reptiles swarming the Nedungundram lake. Officials said that a resident of Nedungundram village allegedly took bath in the lake two days back, when he sensed something unusual had hit his body. He alerted the villagers, and cautioned them that it could be a crocodile. These villagers have already had such experiences in the past, and forest officials had rescued a sizeable number of crocodiles. Villagers assembled near the lake on Friday evening and called forest officials. Initially, we thought it could be a clay mound, but we looked through a binocular only to find a couple of crocodiles under the water, said a forester. The forest department had warned residents not to venture into the lake till the crocodiles were translocated. Villagers said that they were not new to such incidents, as crocodiles from Nedungundram lake would usually be out during the night time. A resident recounted, "A few years ago, when I wanted to relieve myself at night, I saw a five-feet crocodile in front of my house, after which it was rescued by forest personnel. Several such incidents had happened in the past. by Melani Manel Perera The returning prime minister is getting ready for tomorrows swearing-in ceremony. The political crisis was triggered by the UNP leaders removal and the appointment of the former strongman. The Supreme Court ruled against President Sirisenas illegal decision to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. Colombo (AsiaNews) Mahinda Rajapaksa (pictured) has resigned as prime minister of Sri Lanka this morning, following a ceremony at his Colombo's home. His controversial appointment by President Maithripala Sirisena after the latter sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had plunged Asias oldest democracy into a deep political crisis for the past two months. According to the United National Party (UNP), Wickremesinghe will take the oath of office as prime minister tomorrow at 10 am, taking back the post he held until two months ago. If this happens, Sirisena has already indicated that he intends to resign. Two days ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the president had acted illegally when he dissolved parliament in November and called an election two years before it was due. A seven-judge bench unanimously agreed that the president had violated the Sri Lanka Constitution. Urged by lawmakers, various political movements and civil society organisations, a three-member Supreme Court Bench cancelled the presidential decree on 13 November. During the crisis, Wickremesinghe maintained that he was the legitimate prime minister. The political deadlock resulted in scuffles in parliament and sparked large protests. For her part, the Catholic Church called for a resolution to the conflict in accordance with the Constitution. In a statement, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) said that politicians should not focus on staying in power or getting into power, but serve the people and the development of the country. Vijayawada: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) will celebrate Gita Jayanti across Vijayawada from December 15 to 19 and from December 26 to 27. Iskcon temple president Chakradhari Das said that the celebrations were planned for weekdays as the Bhagvat Gita inspires everyone who lives in society. Mr Das said, To mark the appearance of Gita that was taught by Lord Krishna to Arjuna, we are celebrating the event. He said that the Iskcon would organise the Geeta Jayanti celebrations in 700 temples across the globe, and Iskcon members and devotees of Lord Krishna will create awareness among the public about the importance of Bhagavath Gita for society. He also informed that the Iskcon has distributed over 560 million copies of the Gita across the globe, Mr Das appealed to the people of Vijayawada to take part in these programmes. People have been using new Indian currency notes in the Nepali market for nearly two years. (Photo: File) Kathmandu/New Delhi: The Nepal government has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, according to a media report. The government has asked people to refrain from keeping or carrying Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100 denomination as it has not legalised them, The Kathmandu Post quoted Minister for Information and Communications Gokul Prasad Baskota as saying. The decision can affect Nepalese labourers working in India as well as Indian tourists visiting Nepal. The Indian government introduced notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations after demonetisation in 2016. People have been using new Indian currency notes in the Nepali market for nearly two years. Three terrorists were gunned down in an encounter between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Kharpora Sirnoo village. (Photo: ANI) Srinagar: Seven civilians were killed and many injured when security forces fired live ammunition to quell violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir's southern Pulwama district on Saturday, witnesses and hospital sources said. The clashes erupted during and after a gunfight between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Kharpora Sirnoo village in which three militants and a soldier died, the police sources said. The officials said that the gun fight broke out soon after a cordon-and-search operation was launched jointly by the Armys 55 Rashtriya Rifles, J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operations group (SOG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)s 182 and 183 battalions in the village. They added that the security forces moved into the village after receiving credible information about the presence of militants in a private house at Kharpora Sirnoo. Also Read: 3 terrorists gunned down, 1 soldier martyred in encounter in J&K's Pulwama The terrorists hiding in the area opened fire on the security forces triggering the gun battle in which three terrorists were killed and a soldier was critically injured, said defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia. He added that the injured soldier died in hospital soon after. Police sources identified the slain militants as Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, Adnan Hamid Bhat and Bilal Ahmed Magray -- all local Kashmiris belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit. Sources said Thokar, a resident of the same village where the encounter took place, was a former soldier who had deserted his Army unit to join militant ranks some time ago. While the encounter was underway, surging crowds, comprising mainly youth, made repeated attempts to relocate to the site and then clashed with the security forces. At least, seven people were killed and many others injured when the security forces fired live ammunition to quell the protesters and stone-pelting mob during and after the encounter, reports received here from Pulwama said. Six of the civilians who died on the spot or on way to hospital have been identified as Shahbaz Ali, Suhail Ahmed, Liaquat Ahmed, Murtaza Ahmed, Amir Ahmed Palla and Abid Hussain Lone. One of the critically injured civilians Rauseef Ahmed Mir has succumbed in Srinagars government-run Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital. Fifteen other seriously injured civilians have been admitted to different hospital of Srinagar. The situation in entire south Kashmir is very tense and the authorities are contemplating to impose curfew in some towns as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, protests over the Pulwama killings by angry crowds have broken out in some other parts of the Valley including north-western town of Sopore also. Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah termed it horrible day and blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! Abdullah tweeted. In another tweet, Mr. Abdullah hit out at the Governors administration, accusing it of having failed to focus on the security of the people. He said, The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads dont bring peace. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also took to micro-blogging site Twitetr.com to condemn the civilian killings. She too criticised the Governors administration for failing to secure civilian lives and said that no probe could bring back the dead civilians. She tweeted, How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath. In another tweet, she said, No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved. Separatist leader and Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for three day mourning over the killings and also on behalf of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), the alliance of key separatist leaders including him, asked the people to observe protest shutdown in the Valley for three days from Saturday itself and march on the headquarters of the Armys 15 Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar on Monday. He tweeted, #PulwamaMassacre. Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily. In another tweet, he said, SOS #to all humanity! Kashmiris being massacred as Indian forces go on a killing spree in #Pulwama firing indiscriminately! civilian death toll has crossed 7, more than 40 youth have been hit with Bullets many critical, death toll may rise! Calling for three days mourning and protest strike, he said, From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across. Police sources said two soldiers were injured in the encounter with the militants. Most of the civilian casualties took place when the Army men on board a Casspir vehicle opened fire to quell an unruly mob which had surrounded it and hurled stoned at it, a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said. He said, "While the Army personnel were leaving the village on completion of the operation against militants one of their vehicles, a Casspir, got stuck in mud. A mob quickly surrounded it and started attacking it with stones. The troops on board responded by opening fire, killing and injuring the civilians." Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday wondered what is wrong with the organisation of the women wall scheduled to be held in Kerala on January 1. The government is not compelling anyone to attend the programme, the court observed while hearing a petition against the event. The government has only made a request to the staff members to attend it and this could not be construed as compelling them, it said. It is for the individuals concerned to take a decision whether to take part in the wall or not, the court said. It, however, asked the government to clarify whether it was compulsory for the staff to take part in the wall or whether there is any punishment for the staff members not willing to attend it. The case was posted for further hearing on Thursday. The court earlier expressed its displeasure over the wrong translation of the government order linked with the women wall by the petitioners giving an impression that the order makes it compulsory for the staff to attend the programme. When the counsel for the government pointed out the wrong translation, the petitioners counsel expressed regret over the matter. The women wall, to uphold the values of Kerala renaissance, was mooted by a group of community organisations during a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The event will be held from Kasargod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in south. The opposition UDF in Kerala, however, opposed it and says that it would only help in dividing society. Meanwhile, the Government revised a circular requiring the allotment of funds by the Finance department to ensure logistics for the Womens Wall. This followed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan denying in the Assembly the use of Government funds. The Higher Secondary directorate on Thursday instructed higher secondary principals to attend reception committees being constituted in districts for organizing the Wall. The first meeting was supposed to take place on Friday was deferred owing to hartal. Chennai: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday urged the Tamil Nadu government and the political parties in the state not to block the construction of the Mekedatu dam as it would only help save water for both the states whereas TN was now wasting huge amount of water into the sea. Do not make this a prestige issuewe are both brothers, he pleaded. Speaking to reporters at the airport here on his arrival from Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are not India and Pakistan, so they must halt continuing this long war over water and work towards a lasting solution for sharing of Cauvery water. We are all brothers and sisters, he said, adding he was ready to meet his TN counterpart Edappadi K Palaniswamy and request him not to oppose Mekedatu project. I make this request to everyone in Tamil Nadu and I am asking like a brother, he said, adding that Karnataka had started working on Detailed Project Report (DPR) only after obtaining relevant permissions from concerned departments at the Centre. Kumaraswamys argument will not go well with the TN government and political parties here since the issue of sharing Cauvery water has already been settled finally by the Supreme Court in its final order and there is nothing more for the two states to negotiate. However, the Karnataka CM has been arguing, even after the Apex Court order, that the two states must find an amicable settlement on sharing Cauvery waters. Reiterating his stand at his media interaction now at the airport here, he said if Mekedatu reservoir is constructed, Karnataka will use it only to store the water and not utilise it. He also pointed out that whenever the monsoon was good, Karnataka always released water to TN and this year too, his state has released more than 390 tmcft, which is much more than the (SC) verdict. But then, huge amount was water was going wasted into the sea; whereas if Mekedatu reservoir came up, Karnataka would be able to save water and release it to Tamil Nadu in gradual quantities. Why waste water? he asked. Kumaraswamy said he had requested the Union Water Resources Ministry to convene a meeting of the leaders of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in order to negotiate a lasting solution to all the water issues. I want to stress again and again that we are not enemies; so let us sit across and find solutions. When a reporter pointed out that Tamil Nadu was facing drought, Kumaraswamy shot back: Even Karnataka is facing the same problem and we have lost crops worth `20,000 crore just this year. The Vishakhapatnam (rural) police had earlier arrested four Maoists, including two women, who had participated in the killing of the politicos. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: The National Investigation Agency has registered a case to trace and nab a section of Maoists responsible for the sensational killing of an Araku constituency MLA and Telugu Desam whip Kidari Sarveswara Rao and former MLA Siveri Soma, in the forests of Livitipattu village in Dumbiriguda mandal. The forests fall under Vishakhapatnam agency area. The Vishakhapatnam (rural) police had earlier arrested four Maoists, including two women, who had participated in the killing of the politicos, who were on a Grama Darshini programme, an initiative taken up by the Andhra Pradesh state government. On September 23, 2018, at about 12.20 pm MLA Sarveswara Rao and former MLA Siveri Soma were on their way to visit the villages in two cars when they were stopped by a group of at least 30 Maoists. The Maoists took away the weapons carried by the personal security officers of the leaders and took the duo to a distance, tied their hands and gunned them down immediately. This reportedly happened soon after a Praja Court (kangaroo court) took place at the spot. The incident had taken place when the Maoists were celebrating their formation week (Varotsavalu) in the Araku valley forests between September 21 to September 27. After 20 days of the incident, the Vishakhapatnam police arrested four Maoists Yedala Subba Rao, 45, Gemmeli Sobhan, 32, Yedela Eswari, 34, and Korra Kamala, 35, all natives of Dumbiriguda mandal, while over 25 people are still at large. Following the killings, the Union Home Ministry considered the seriousness of the issue and gave orders transferring the case to the countrys premier investigation agency, NIA, at Hyderabad. The allegations are that MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and former MLA Siveri Soma were killed by a group of CPI (Maoist) cadres near Livitiputtu village in Pothangi Panchayath of Dumbiriguda when they were going to Sarai village in two vehicles to attend a Grama Darshini. As per the orders issued by the MHA, a case has been registered under Sections 120 B, 147, 148, 302, 342, 353 and 397 r/w 149 of IPC, and under sections 25 and 27 of Arms Act, besides and Sections 16, 18 and 20 of Unlawful Activates (Prevention) Act, NIA officials said. In May, the Tamil Nadu government had decided to shut down the Sterlite Copper plant, which accounts for a 40 per cent share in Indias annual copper production of 10 lakh tonnes, over alleged pollution. (Photo: File) Chennai: The National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside Tamil Nadu governments order for permanent closure of Vedanta Limiteds Sterlite plant in Tuticorin. Sterlite closure unjustifiable, the green court told the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday, directing Vedanta Limited to spend Rs 100 crore over a period of three years for welfare activities in the area. The court directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to pass fresh order of renewal of consent for Vedantas copper smelter. The appellant (Vedanta) will also be entitled to restoration of electricity for its operations, said the green court while stating that the plant has to comply with suggestions put forth by the NGT-appointed committee. The directions came after Vedanta challenged AIADMK-led Tamil Nadu governments closure order issued in May this year. The committee, headed by former Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Tarun Agrawal, also said that no notice or opportunity of hearing was given to Vedanta before the closure of the plant. The committee had said that the closure of the plant was against the principles of natural justice. In May, the Tamil Nadu government had decided to shut down the Sterlite Copper plant, which accounts for a 40 per cent share in Indias annual copper production of 10 lakh tonnes, over alleged pollution. Three terrorists were gunned down in an encounter between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Kharpora Sirnoo village. (Photo: ANI) Srinagar: Seven civilians were killed and many injured when security forces fired live ammunition to quell violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir's southern Pulwama district on Saturday, witnesses and hospital sources said. The clashes erupted during and after a gunfight between militants and security forces in Pulwama's Kharpora Sirnoo village in which three militants and a soldier died, the police sources said. The officials said that the gun fight broke out soon after a cordon-and-search operation was launched jointly by the Armys 55 Rashtriya Rifles, J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operations group (SOG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)s 182 and 183 battalions in the village. They added that the security forces moved into the village after receiving credible information about the presence of militants in a private house at Kharpora Sirnoo. The terrorists hiding in the area opened fire on the security forces triggering the gun battle in which three terrorists were killed and a soldier was critically injured, said defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia. He added that the injured soldier died in hospital soon after. Police sources identified the slain militants as Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, Adnan Hamid Bhat and Bilal Ahmed Magray -- all local Kashmiris belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit. Sources said Thokar, a resident of the same village where the encounter took place, was a former soldier who had deserted his Army unit to join militant ranks some time ago. While the encounter was underway, surging crowds, comprising mainly youth, made repeated attempts to relocate to the site and then clashed with the security forces. At least, seven people were killed and many others injured when the security forces fired live ammunition to quell the protesters and stone-pelting mob during and after the encounter, reports received here from Pulwama said. Six of the civilians who died on the spot or on way to hospital have been identified as Shahbaz Ali, Suhail Ahmed, Liaquat Ahmed, Murtaza Ahmed, Amir Ahmed Palla and Abid Hussain Lone. One of the critically injured civilians Rauseef Ahmed Mir has succumbed in Srinagars government-run Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital. Fifteen other seriously injured civilians have been admitted to different hospital of Srinagar. The situation in entire south Kashmir is very tense and the authorities are contemplating to impose curfew in some towns as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, protests over the Pulwama killings by angry crowds have broken out in some other parts of the Valley including north-western town of Sopore also. Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah termed it horrible day and blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! Abdullah tweeted. In another tweet, Mr. Abdullah hit out at the Governors administration, accusing it of having failed to focus on the security of the people. He said, The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads dont bring peace. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also took to micro-blogging site Twitetr.com to condemn the civilian killings. She too criticised the Governors administration for failing to secure civilian lives and said that no probe could bring back the dead civilians. She tweeted, How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath. In another tweet, she said, No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved. Separatist leader and Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for three day mourning over the killings and also on behalf of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), the alliance of key separatist leaders including him, asked the people to observe protest shutdown in the Valley for three days from Saturday itself and march on the headquarters of the Armys 15 Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar on Monday. He tweeted, #PulwamaMassacre. Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily. In another tweet, he said, SOS #to all humanity! Kashmiris being massacred as Indian forces go on a killing spree in #Pulwama firing indiscriminately! civilian death toll has crossed 7, more than 40 youth have been hit with Bullets many critical, death toll may rise! Calling for three days mourning and protest strike, he said, From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across. Police sources said two soldiers were injured in the encounter with the militants. Most of the civilian casualties took place when the Army men on board a Casspir vehicle opened fire to quell an unruly mob which had surrounded it and hurled stoned at it, a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said. He said, "While the Army personnel were leaving the village on completion of the operation against militants one of their vehicles, a Casspir, got stuck in mud. A mob quickly surrounded it and started attacking it with stones. The troops on board responded by opening fire, killing and injuring the civilians." Chennai: The State unit of the BJP has demanded an apology from the Congress in the wake of the Supreme Court finding nothing wrong with the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal. Lashing out at the Congress for persistently criticising the Narendra Modi government on the issue, BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said the Congress leaders should tender an apology to the nation as the top court has given a clean chit to the Central government. The Supreme Court has said that it found nothing wrong with a deal the Narendra Modi government signed with France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said that it had studied the matter extensively and that it was satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process (of signing the Rafale deal). The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday setting aside the Tamil Nadu governments order to permanently close down the mining company Vedanta Ltds Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi, saying it was non-sustainable and unjustified Dr. Tamilisai claimed this order could have been issued based on the report submitted to the Tribunal by the officials. There is no second opinion that the peoples safety and security should be taken into account, she added. Chennai: In a setback to the Tamil Nadu Government, the National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) closure order to Vedantas Sterlite Copper factory at Thoothukudi and ordered that the state electricity board restore power to the smelter subject to certain guidelines issued by the Tribunal. The grounds on which the government took the decision to shut down the plant were not sustainable and did not justify the impugned orders, the NGT has now held in its final order that is quite in line with the stand taken by the three-member expert committee constituted by it to study and report on the closure of the copper plant in May after anti-Sterlite protests that led to loss of 13 lives in police firing. Allowing an appeal from Vedanta Limited, the Principal Bench of NGT comprising its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, its judicial members Justices Raghuvendra S.Rathore and K.Ramakrishnan and its executive members Satyawan Singh Garbyal and Nagin Nanda, directed the TNPCB to pass fresh order of renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of environment in accordance with law within three weeks. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was quick in his response, telling reporters in Salem that the government would challenge the NGT order in the Supreme Court. Opposition DMK president M K Stalin dubbed the NGT order as a slap on the face of the government; it has been the opposition charge that the government had not handled the case with firmness and competence. The Vedanta management is predictably mighty happy at the NGT order. We are happy that all those affected by the closure will get back their source of livelihood and the town of Thoothukudi will revert to normalcy. We will study the order in detail and shall take all steps required to restart the operations as per guidelines given by the honourable court, said Sterlite CEO Ramnath, reiterating that the plant had been operating the copper smelter with the best-in- class technology adapting best practices followed globally and shall continue to do so. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) The month seems to be getting better for Lea Salonga. The Grammy-nominated actress won two accolades at the recent 31st Aliw Awards. Her 40th anniversary concert, LS40, won the Best Major Concert (Female) category. Salonga tied with Eric Santos for Entertainer of the Year. On her Facebook, Salonga thanked all those involved with the LS40 Concert, including CNN Philippines. Thank you, Aliw Awards, for the Best Major Concert (Female) award for LS40. It was a labor of love for all of us involved, Salonga said. She also dedicated the award to her mother. Since it was the concert that won and not the artist, that trophy belongs to my mother, the indomitable and indefatigable Ligaya Salonga, who at 81 years old is one of the fiercest humans on the planet. The concert truly was hers; all I had to do was get up on stage in a cool tux or gown and sing, Salonga added. Salonga will return to the Broadway revival of Once on This Island. The album of the musical was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album in the 61st Grammy Awards. READ: Lea Salonga gets first Grammy nod with Broadway musical album Dr Sung Young-chul donated 10 billion KRW to the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine out of respect for life in every aspect of the universitys research activity. Seoul (AsiaNews) A renowned Korean life-scientist, Prof Young-chul Sung (pictured), donated 10 billion KRW (about US$ 9 million) to the Catholic University of Korea (CUK) College of Medicine to contribute to bioethics research. His choice stems from his desire to out a Catholic spirit of respect for life at the centre of every research activity at CUK. According to the Communication Office of the Archdiocese of Seoul, which announced the donation (the largest ever for the College), the money will go to the Catholic Saving Life Research Fund. The cheque was given to Card Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul and president of the board of directors of the Catholic Education Foundation. The Research Fund will contribute mainly to the construction of a research facility for the CUK Institute for Biomedical Industry. The pro-life movement cannot progress without the support of science. I highly appreciate Prof Sungs persistent and consistent research work, Card Yeom said. Shillong: Following the controversy over his comment India should have become a Hindu country after Partition, Meghalaya high court judge Sudip Ranjan Sen has issued a clarification that his judgment was misinterpreted. In his clarification posted on the official website of the Meghalaya High Court on Friday, Justice Sen said that his order wasnt influenced by any political ideology. I do not belong to any political party nor have I got any dream to get any political berth after my retirement and neither is my judgment politically motivated or influenced by any party, the judge said in his statement. Secularism is one of the basic structures of our Indian Constitution. It should not further be divided on the basis of religion, caste, creed, community or language... I would also like to clarify here that in my judgment nowhere I have said anything against secularism and my judgment makes references to the history and one cannot change the history, he wrote. While disposing off a petition from Amon Rana, an Army recruit who was refused a domicile certificate by the Meghalaya government despite being a resident of Shillong for the last three generations according to the court transcript of the judgement, the judge had made the controversial Hindu country comments. Soon, the order copy went viral on social media and the judge received strong criticism from various political parties, activists and intellectuals. Pakistan declared themselves as an Islamic country and India since was divided on the basis of religion should have also been declared as a Hindu country, but it remained as a secular country, judge Sen wrote in his order. He had further appealed to the prime minister and other officials to bring a law to allow the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to live in this country peacefully and with full dignity without making any cut-off year and be given citizenship without any question or production of any 21 documents. These two teams have been gathering information about people who have migrated from Bangladesh or Myanmar. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: The Hyderabad city police has constituted two teams, one comprising 30 personnel, to ascertain information about the Rohingya refugees and the other to keep track of Bangladeshi citizens residing in the city. These two teams have been gathering information about people who have migrated from Bangladesh or Myanmar. They were trained on the methodology to be used to extract information from illegal immigrants. The teams distribute a form with the help of the local police which seeks information including such as name, fathers name, residential address, place of work and date of arrival in India and date of settlement in Hyderabad. According to Rohingya refugees, the form identified them as Bengali Muslims; which was not true. They have demanded that they be distinguished from Bangladeshi citizens and should be recognised as Burmese or Rohingya Muslims as they were citizens of Myanmar. When the forms were distributed in Balapur, they were surprised to see that they had been termed as Bengali Muslims and staged a demonstration they be identified as Myanmar citizens. A Rohingya Muslim, Mr Ali said, We want to return to Myanmar where we were born if we are repatriated. The Rohingya refugees expressed their gratitude to the state government and MIM president Akbaruddin Owaisi who allowed them to live here. Another Rohingya said, After arriving in India we realized the meaning of independence and liberty. We are not getting any aid from any international agency; it's the local people who are helping us for which we are thankful to them. We are ready to provide information about ourselves; we just want that we should not be branded as Bengali Muslims. Vijayawada: The Guntur police, for a second time, questioned YSR Congress leader Jogi Ramesh for six hours at the Nallapadu police station on Saturday about the involvement of the Telugu Desam in the knife attack on party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Visakhapatnam airport. The police also ordered Mr Ramesh appear for another round of interrogation on January 21. Mr Ramesh alleged that the police failed to unearth the conspiracy behind the attack but was unnecessarily harassing YSRC leaders. He claimed that he revealed the information circulating in the social media about the involvement of TD activists behind the attack on Mr Jagan. He alleged that the police was trying to protect the real and was harassing YSRC leaders in the name of inquiry. Mr Ramesh alleged that the TD government was trying to suppress YSRC by falsely implicating them in the case. He said he would face the false cases against him without fear. He said the TD has only three months of time to continue in the power, hence it increased suppression of the Opposition leaders. He said he would appear before the police as per their orders on January 21. YSRC Guntur Parliament constituency president L. Appi Reddy said the police was targeting the YSRC cadre on the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. YSRC leaders Ch. Yesuratnam, M. Jagannadha Rao, B. Chandrasekhar, T. Krishna Rao and Gangadhar raised slogans against the TD government till the release of Ramesh from the Nallapadu police station in the evening. Kolkata: A Bangladeshi parliamentarian Quazi Rosy observed on Saturday that Bangladesh became an independent country quickly courtesy to the Indian armed forces' tremendous contribution in the Liberation War in 1971. She even compared that the people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) were treated during the war by the Indians better than what the Rohingyas received in the neighbouring country. Delegate Rosy is leading a Bangladeshi delegation including Mukti Joddhas participating in the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata this year. Addressing the Indian war veterans and armed forces officers at Albert Ekka auditorium in Eastern Command Headquarters, Fort William she said, "We fought the war. You, the soldiers, supported us. I express my gratitude to you. If you were not there, we would not have got independence so quickly. It would have taken a long time." Delegate Rosy mentioned, "Vietnam fought for its independence for nine years. And we did it for nine months. Now think of it. It became possible only due to you. I used to tell my friend Shipra we know what the war is." Recounting her experience the Bangladesh Awami League MP elaborated, "Today we are here because of you. I must salute you. When we visit India, we feel we are in some small parts of Bangladesh. You are those persons who gave us love, shelter, clothing and food. So we are always grateful and indebted to you." She added, "If we do not acknowledge it, we would be ungrateful. Now you know the Rohingyas who have come to our country. We also provide them food and shelter. But what you gave us was more than that." General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command Lieutenant General M M Naravane who was present at the programme recalled his childhood days how he used to wait for his father, an Indian Air Force officer posted in the operations branch at the Air Headquarters then, to return home from work during the Liberation in 1971. Hyderabad: Telugu Chief Ministers K. Chandrasekhar Rao and N. Chandrababu Naidu are competing with each other for a key role in national politics, but the question is who will emerge on top. Mr Naidu wants to form a front of anti-BJP parties with the Congress against the BJP at the national level. Mr Rao plans a Federal Front that is placed against both the BJP and the Congress. It is stated that Mr Rao has brighter chances than Mr Naidu. Mr Rao has led the TRS to a sweep of the Assembly and is poised to win most of the states 17 Lok Sabha seats. Mr Naidu has to guard his bastion in the Assembly and win as many Lok Sabha seats as he can in the face of strong opposition from the YSRC and the Jana Sena. In 2014, the TRS won 11 seats, the Congress won two, TD, YSRC, BJP and MIM one each. In next years elections, the TD, BJP and YSRC appear to have no chance and the Congress after the December 7 debacle has no time to recover. The TRS wants to win 16 Lok Sabha seats leaving one to its friendly party MIM. In AP, the TD won 15 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the YSRC eight and the BJP two. It is very difficult for the ruling party to retain its seats and YSRC may improve its tally. This time the Jana Sena of Pawan Kalyan will also contest both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. If necessary, the YSRC and the Jana Sena may support Mr Rao in national politics, and they will not support Naidu. In Telangana, the MIM also will sail with Mr Rao. It will help Mr Rao play a key role in Delhi. After the Lok Sabha elections, several regional parties may come on to one platform with Mr Raos initiative. The TRS expects the regional allies of the NDA and the UPA to support the Federal Front.The anti-BJP and anti-Congress stand of Mr Rao will help in this regard. Mr Naidu has a single agenda to defeat the BJP at the national level with the support of the Congress. Some regional parties have joined the NDA against the Congress, while others are with the UPA to oppose the BJP. These parties may come out to join the Federal Front depending on the post-poll situation. Hyderabad: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to join Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos efforts to form a front against the BJP and the Congress. Mr Rao, after deciding to form the Federal Front, had met Ms Banerjee at Kolkata and discussed the idea with her. Ms Banerjee had said at that time that it would not be possible to from a front against the BJP at national level without the Congress. But following the latest developments including the TRS victory in Telangana and the defeat of the BJP in three states, Ms Banerjee wants to form a front against both the BJP and the Congress. It is not yet clear whether Ms Banerjee will support the Federal Front proposed by Mr Rao or form a front of her own. Health is a human right. When people are not able to access the healthcare they need, especially if this is for reasons of cost, their human rights are denied. Health is a human right. When people are not able to access the healthcare they need, especially if this is for reasons of cost, their human rights are denied. The world has just marked Human Rights Day on December 10. Two days later, December 12, was an equally significant date: the very first official Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day endorsed by the United Nations. As Secretary-General of the UN, I was proud to launch the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 as a roadmap to a better planet for current and future generations. All world leaders committed to delivering UHC when they signed up to the goals, and they now have 12 years to deliver on their promise. After stepping down from the UN, I joined The Elders, a group of independent world leaders set up by Nelson Mandela who work for peace, justice and human rights. I am delighted that UHC is one of The Elders top priorities. As a young man growing up in the Republic of Korea, I witnessed our transition to UHC, when in 1977 President Park Chung-Hee launched nationwide health reforms which meant that everyone could access life-saving healthcare. This process is now occurring across the world at all income levels, as governments realise that to reach UHC, it is necessary to replace private voluntary health financing with compulsory public financing. The only wealthy country yet to make this transition is ironically the worlds biggest economy the United States. Despite spending 17 per cent of its GDP on health, 30 million Americans are without health insurance, while many more are underinsured and dont use the services they need because of high copayments. Sadly, the present administrations determination to derail President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act is only going to make this situation worse. However, on two occasions over the last year, I have participated with my fellow Elders in health events in New York and California which suggest that at a state level, there is an appetite to move more quickly towards UHC. With health now at the top of the political agenda across the US, there is a real chance for progressive states to launch publicly financed health systems which might catalyse similar reforms nationwide. Ultimately, I believe they will. But progressive states in the US are not the only places striving to make progress towards UHC. Many middle-income countries that historically had inequitable, privately financed systems now have the financial resources to switch to a publicly financed system. What is required to catalyse this change is genuine political will. Over the last three years, The Elders have been working with leaders to encourage them to bring publicly-financed UHC to their people. President Jokowi of Indonesia is good example of a leader committed to UHC, who is using savings from cutting fuel subsidies and increasing tobacco taxes to finance UHC. India is another country on the verge of massive health reforms and it was a privilege for myself and fellow Elder Gro Harlem Brundtland to visit Delhi and Ahmedabad in September to witness progress being made at a national and state level. After decades of underfunding, it is commendable that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed his government to more than double public health spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025. However, we were concerned to see that the main emphasis seems to be insuring people against expensive inpatient tertiary hospital care rather than investing in more cost-effective primary care services. We saw this primary care services (PHC) working very well in Delhi, where people are returning to the public sector to access free PHC services in the state governments impressive Mohalla Clinics. Finally, we are also very excited by recent developments in Africa, where in the last few months the Presidents of South Africa and Kenya have made UHC a top priority for their governments. In both cases the Presidents themselves are overseeing reforms that will use mostly tax financing to bring universal free health services to everyone. All countries on the path to UHC face a crossroads: one path leads to a US-style, privately financed, fragmented health system, where the rich have unlimited choice of expensive services but the poor fail to access care or suffer bankruptcy if they do. The other is the path increasingly being taken in the rest of the world, where even in highly capitalist economies everyone gets access to care because the state makes the rich pay for the poor. Our advice to US states, to India, Indonesia, South Africa, Kenya and other countries approaching the crossroads like Nigeria and Pakistan is to take this path, as this is the only navigable route to health for all and just, stable and prosperous societies. By arrangement with Dawn The facts brought out by Mr Gandhi in the no-confidence motion debate in Parliament in July this year, to which the government did not appear to have persuasive answers, suggested that the Modi-era Rafale deal was for three times the price negotiated by the UPA earlier. The Narendra Modi government has gained a huge psychological relief and an opportunity to attempt to turn the tables on the Congress Party following the Supreme Court judgment on Friday which turned down a clutch of petitions from prominent individuals to ask the CBI to institute a probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal. After the BJPs electoral defeat in several Hindi heartland states earlier this week, the courts judgment is likely to give the ruling party a morale boost ahead of next years Lok Sabha election. For more than six months, the Congress has brought up the Rafale deal to allege massive corruption. Although there was no smoking gun, there appeared sufficient grounds to suspect foul play, especially over the pricing and the choice of the offset partner. The suspicion gained strength after observations to a French news portal made by former French President Francois Hollande, whose government had signed the inter-governmental agreement with India, for the off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from French company Dassault Aviation after the Modi government cancelled an earlier UPA-era agreement for 126 Rafales in collaboration with the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics. The facts brought out by Mr Gandhi in the no-confidence motion debate in Parliament in July this year, to which the government did not appear to have persuasive answers, suggested that the Modi-era Rafale deal was for three times the price negotiated by the UPA earlier. Another point of contention was that the choice of company chosen by Dassault to be an offset partner in India was irregular. The company chosen was practically bankrupt and had no experience of making aircraft. The court dealt with these issues in a bland fashion, while indicating that it was constrained by bounds of jurisdiction. It also noted it was not the job of this court to carry out a comparison of pricing details. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court gave the government much relief by saying that procedures were not violated in formulating the amended contract with Dassault, a charge made by the Congress and others in public discourse, and that the issue of choice of offset partner did not appear to be driven by commercial favouritism. This has set off a war of words between the BJP and the Congress. The Congress underlined it had not gone to court on the Rafale matter (while other petitioners had) as it felt the judiciary wasnt the proper forum, given jurisdiction issues. Instead, it again pressed its demand for a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee where jurisdiction issues wont arise. To clear the air, the government should accept this, especially after the courts ruling. Finance minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah have spoken in differing tones on this. Come on wipe that sheepish grin off your face. Everybodyor at least all those of you who had written off Rahul Gandhi and called him all sorts of unkind names ever since he decided he was going to keep his non-stop partying on hold and actually get into the family business in a serious way. Hes the one having the last laugh now. Once he was anointed president of his great-great grandfathers party, the sceptics scoffed and the rivals mocked. But the aam janta got used to seeing him engaging in fiery debates .after carefully rolling up his kurta sleeves, much as if he was getting ready for a kushti. Of course, cynics sniggered. And all those smug BJP folks laughed uproariously at the audacity shown by a person who was perceived as a huge national joke. Rahul sensibly ignored those belligerent personal attacks and continued to flash those dimples! This, in retrospect, turned out to be a great strategy they simply could not get a rise out of him! He soldiered on, rushing about like an eager college kid on a study tour. Perhaps, for the first time in his 46 years, Rahul Gandhi was getting to know his own country, and the people he is likely to lead in the very near future. Gradually, a new body language began to evolve and his limited Hindi vocabulary took a quantum leap! He seemed as surprised by his fluency in a language which he may only have used with house help, to order breakfast or an aperitif. But there he was jabbering away earnestly with farmers and lowly folks in villages, without making the mistake of talking down to them. He looked sincere maybe he WAS sincere, like he actually cared about their lives and miserable condition. Its possible a great big parivartan had indeed taken place. Simultaneously, he also discovered his inner voice, like his mother famously had, when faced with a dilemma (to be or not to be the Prime Minister, that was the question). The new, articulate and relaxed Rahul started winning hearts (read: potential votes). But even at that stage, nobody took him seriously. Least of all, self-styled analysts and NaMo fans, who continued to make fun of his efforts, while shaking their heads in mock-sympathy, and tirelessly repeating the same old lines, What a pity Pappu is the face of the Congress Party. Cant they find a more competent leader? India needs a strong Opposition! Well, guess what baby. Now you have one! How did the tide turn and when? I would say, Rahul Gandhis jadoo ki jhappi on July 20th did the trick. Who can forget that dramatic moment when, after a 40-minute impassioned speech in which he made several digs at the PM, he rushed across the floor of the House and hugged a very startled and far from amused Narendra Modi? Of course, that moment captured on camera made it to the front pages of every major daily and was widely dissected. PM Modis lame and rather clumsy comeback did nothing to salvage the situation subsequently. It was Advantage Rahul. And thats how it has remained. Amusingly enough, there are only two perceived brats in India right now both are media superstars with a vast fan following Taimur Ali Khan and Rahul Gandhi. Please dont be mean and say their mental age matches! I remember having an animated discussion about the hug with a small group of political pundits (stuffed shirts with fixed views) the same evening. Well there was the hug and then came the wink. All the men felt Rahul had completely blown it! They found both gestures terribly childish, even foolish, and said Rahul had effectively committed political hara kiri and made an ass of himself. I argued vehemently that it was an inspired and brilliant performance that would be gobbled up by Young India particularly the sly wink! Remember, it was at a time when an attractive female actors wink had gone viral and sent the country into an absolute tizzy. What Priya Warrier achieved on screen minus any calculation, was maxed by Rahul in Parliament. That was Rahuls seminal moment, and the beginning of the end for NaMo. Rahuls consistent chant about love overcoming hate may have been inspired by the Beatles and the peaceniks, but for the current generation of Indians, sickened by the politics of negativity and religious strife, Rahuls anthem came as a refreshing change. Inadvertently, he became Indias new age poster boy for the Make Love, Not War hippie movement of the distant 70s, that had captured the imagination of global youth, tormented by the violence of the Vietnam war. I think its kind of cool. We may have our very own, laidback hippie Prime Minister next year. I can see chillums and flower power staging a huge comeback, with masses of young, guitar-strumming, long-haired people wearing Hare Rama guru shirts and beaded headbands, as they gather at India Gate for what were described as love-ins in those days. Of course, all this is fluff. And of cosmetic value, nothing more as of now! But some major churning is taking place across India and we cannot afford to ignore it. Young people are saying directly or indirectly that they are done with the politics of hate, the venom-spewing of netas, and the ugly face of divisive politics. Give peace a chance sang John Lennon years ago, and the world sang along with him. American politics changed virtually overnight, and the Vietnam war ended finally. We are at that inflexion point right now. We have the choice to vote for a man who may not be brilliant, but has heart and speaks the language of love. Or we can go right back to a bunch of canny people we trusted but who didnt honour our precious trust. Placing faith in Rahul Gandhi involves a gigantic risk. But its a risk worth taking. We tried voting with our dimaag. Its time to vote with our dil. With more and more Chinese tech giants entering the Indian continent citing better sales and higher profits, Indian smartphone manufacturers are slowly being pushed aside for want of better quality products and after sales. India has seen a multiple fold growth in the technology sector, especially with the immense popularity of the smartphone. Additional boost from telecom companies, especially Jio, which has slashed call and data rates to the bare minimum, has made smartphone manufacturers happier than before and today we see the smartphone in almost every Indian hand, be it the rich or poor. Internet availability is now available deeper within rural India and we are seeing a thin line, soon disappearing between the rural and urban landscape. With more and more Chinese tech giants entering the Indian continent citing better sales and higher profits, Indian smartphone manufacturers are slowly being pushed aside for want of better quality products and after sales. However, Indian smartphone manufacturers dont see themselves giving up any soon. With smartphones being sold by well-known Chinese brands, Indian manufacturers are now citing possibilities to grow in the accessories market. Such is a case with Agaston Mobile, which recently ventured into the Indian market with Tambo, a smartphone brand. The company had stated an investment of Rs 600 crore out of which the company would be spending Rs 300 crore for setting up its own factory in Greater Noida in the third quarter. Tambo, a brand by Agaston Mobile, with a joint venture with Chinese ODM, planned affordable smartphones and feature phones for the masses across India. And to increase revenue, mark the Make in India project and upscale employment in India, Sudhir Kumar, Founder & CEO for Tambo Mobile, stated that they would soon be implementing PCB manufacturing in India. The company is targeting to be among the top three players in India in the entry-level segment, and the following year, and Amyo will cater to the accessories market, including battery, charger and earphones in India. On distribution front, the company has also adopted a direct distribution model, aiming for direct distributors above 1 lakh in every town. Tambo has pronounced to sell products offline and will not be present online. The company is also looking to foray into air conditioners after establishing the Tambo brand in India. Later, Agaston Mobile Pvt. Ltd. announced the launch of its accessory brand, AMYO. This will be a portfolio of mobile accessories such as high-quality earphones, power cables, power adaptor, Bluetooth devices, power banks, smart devices, and more, ranging from Rs 199 to Rs 3, 999 initially. We spoke to Sudhir Kumar, CEO, and Founder of Agaston Pvt. Ltd. For both Tambo Mobiles and AMYO, to know what are the plans for the company and how the he plans to overtake its existing rivals. Deccan Chronicle: Amyo, the accessory sub-brand of Agaston had been launched in November18. What are the plans of its expansion in 2019 and what is the expected turnover for the next year. Sudhir Kumar: Amyo carries a portfolio of mobile accessories like high-quality earphones, power cables, power adaptor, Bluetooth devices, power banks, smart devices, etc in the price range of Rs. 199 to Rs.3, 999. The company is eyeing revenue of Rs 100 crore in the first 12 months. We aim to achieve the same by penetrating the budget accessories segment for a complete user experience with our brand that is stylish, innovative and built to last. For deeper penetration, we are exploring and reaching out to the Tier- II, III, IV and V markets. The aim is to be present in every district and every taluka, with the support of our distribution network. DC: Has 2018 been a welcoming year for the home-grown mobile phone brands? Kumar: The market is seeing a turbulent phase as of now. The overall smartphone growth has been low when compared to the year-on-year increase since the last 2 years. Like every year, though, the market has seen mobile phone brands entering and exiting the market in 2018. Despite that, brands with strategies that appeal to the masses, are efficient in their business processes have seen acceptance and will maintain the growth path. The market has been very accepting towards the new innovations in product, across all segments. Once these brands had settled and penetrated in the market, the third quarter saw a 1.4% increase in smartphones sold when compared to the same time, last year. We launched Tambo Mobiles in the second quarter and GOME Mobiles entered in the last quarter and both have been very well accepted in the market. DC: Are there any plans of venturing into the premium segment? Kumar: Tambo will stick to being the budget segment of phones that can be accessible and affordable to all. We aim to continuously advance the future line-up of products with the latest technology at a pocket-friendly price. Tambo will remain under Rs 6,000 and with GOME we will have phones in the range of Rs 6,000- to Rs 12,000. DC: The players like Nokia re-entering the budget phone segment and the brands like Xiaomi are launching budget phones every quarter. How is the home-grown brand like Tambo handling the situation? What are the plans for 2019? Kumar: The giant players, with their massive presence in markets and big marketing budgets find it easier to educate the masses and create a customer base. The customer then moves the market and chooses an option according to his budget. It is important to then maintain the presence across all markets and areas to turn the potential buyer. In a way, it has been working well for Tambo. Tambo has been reaching out to Tier- II, III, IV and V markets with a different strategy. We do not have great spends, but whatever we spend, we do it efficiently and smartly. We have our people in all areas of India assessing and covering each and every corner of the country. They are not only our spokes but also our spokespeople who create a buzz about the brand. Then we have also seen tremendous support from the trade and our partners. Tambo aims to continuously engage in R&D and produce affordable mobile phones which have a longer product cycle. We aim to provide complete mobile phone experience to the customers, during and after sales. DC: Budget smartphones still take the larger proportion of smartphones sale in India. While companies have started offering premium features like face recognition and decent cameras in smartphones below Rs 8,000, what are the Tambos plans to stay at par with technology? Kumar: Our products are packed with the latest features and have been designed keeping ease of using phone, with features like face unlock, and full view, 60-day battery standby, 22 Language support among others. Our R&D team is continuously experimenting with latest technologies and they come out with the products that are most suitable for the customer. The suitability is assessed and driven by the insights provided by our teams. We believe that the consumer is only satisfied if the entire cycle of engagement with a brand delights him/her. Other than continuing to be at par with customer satisfaction, the product is the king and we aim to keep developing phones with advanced technology in an affordable price range. Brands like Tambo and Amyo are not the only ones that are probably threatened by the Chinese tech giants who are investing heavily in India. There are many other home-grown companies, not only in the smartphone and accessories segment, but also into the IoT space, who are facing the heat. With leverage from the government and the Make in India project, and with investments from funds, we hope that one day we may see Indian companies venturing out into China and the other parts of the world with technology products that read with pride Made in India. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Underage marriage will now require the authorisation of an Islamic court, parental approval or the opinion of a subcommittee. Muslims represent 4 per cent of Thailands population, but 24 per cent in southern provinces where poor girls are often given away in marriage after their first period. Activists accuse imams of making money from the practice. Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) has, for the first time, issued a nationwide ban on child marriage. Under the new regulation, children under the age of 17 cannot marry, except in special circumstances. The decision follows public outrage sparked by the marriage this year of an 11-year-old Thai girl and a 41-year-old Malaysian man. About 94.6 per cent of Thailands population is Buddhist. Muslims represent just over 4 per cent. The marriage in question took place in southern Thailand, home to more than two million Malay Muslims (about 24 per cent of local population). The story went viral on social media following reports that the groom's other wife filed a complaint with the Malaysian police. The marriage is not recognised under civil law but was celebrated by the Islamic Council of Narathiwat province. Yesterday, during Friday prayers, Islamic religious authorities announced the new rules to the faithful in all of the countrys mosques. CICOT chairman Aziz Phitakkumpon approved the changes in late November. The new regulation means that local mosques cannot authorise marriages involving anyone aged under 17 unless an Islamic court gives permission or the parents sign a document approving the marriage at the provincial Islamic committee office or at the local police station A special sub-committee will also be set up to consider marriages involving children under 17, and give the green light if the marriage benefits both spouses. One of the three committee members must be a woman with knowledge of Islamic laws and she must be in charge of questioning and interviewing the girl. Child marriage is widespread in Thailands predominantly Muslim southern provinces. Here, girls from poor families are married in local mosques after their first period. In the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun, Islamic law was applied instead of the Civil Code in family matters and inheritance. Unlike national laws, Islamic law does not specify a minimum age for marriage. The loophole has allowed men from Muslim majority Malaysia to take much younger girls from Thailand as their wives, and local imams have benefited monetarily from the loopholes, activists say. For National Human Rights Commissioner Angkhana Neelapaijit, who is a Muslim, the CICOTs move was not enough. Without penalties for violators, the regulation is more like "asking for cooperation. Washington: US President Donald Trumps 2017 inaugural committee is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York over allegations that it misspent funds or accepted donations in exchange for access to his administration, according to a media report. The inauguration committee had raised a record $107 million for expenses for Trumps inauguration and events associated with it. The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that the US Attorneys office in Manhattan is also investigating whether the committee accepted donations from individuals looking to gain influence in or access to the new administration. The criminal probe by the Manhattan US attorneys office, which is in its early stages, also is examining whether some of the committees top donors gave money in exchange for access to the incoming Trump administration, policy concessions or to influence official administration positions, some of the people said, the financial daily reported. Washington: US President Donald Trump calls India a true friend, a top American diplomat has said as she highlighted the steps taken by the US over the last two years to strengthen its ties with India for the benefit of a broader Indo Pacific region. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells remarks came at a farewell reception hosted by the State Department in honour of the outgoing Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna. Trump calls India a true friends and Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo has characterise the US-India bilateral relationship as one deeply bound by our shared values, she said. Top officials of the State Department and the White House were present at the reception for Sarna held at the Blair House, which is the official guest house of the US President. It is quite rare that the Blair House is used for a State Department farewell reception for an outgoing diplomat. The US tenure of Sarna, who is retiring from Indian foreign service after an illustrious career of 38 years, has been extraordinary, Wells told the select audience. Sarna took charge as India's ambassador to the US on November 5, 2016.Over the last two years, we have been able to host PM Modi in Washington, Wells said. Although the appointment of Shaktikanta Das as Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cheered markets, there is a perception in the public that this move might dent the image of the central bank. There are many factors to prove this perception. The move is akin to the appointment of controversial RSS ideologue Swaminathan Gurumurthy on the board of RBI earlier this year, which is an attempt to influence the decisions of the central bank in favour of the government. Commenting on the development, former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian says: Let's not get into personalities, but any perception that RBI board is getting politicised due to the appointments, it could potentially undermine the institutions. We should try as far as possible to avoid that. Also read: Guv vows to uphold RBI's autonomy; open to consultation The same yardstick applies to Das, who is widely seen as the face of failed demonetisation drive by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the demonetisation era, Das used to hold daily pressers on behalf of the government, updating people about daily tweaking that the government used to do in the guidelines regarding cash withdrawals. Among the many controversial plans during that phase in 2016, Das had announced a proposal to put indelible ink on the index fingers of people to prevent them from exchanging old currency multiple times beyond specified limits. Following nationwide outrage, the move was later withdrawn. The line towed by Das during the note-ban era rings caution bells on the autonomy of the central bank, which has been a centre of the debate of late. Das, in his first presser after taking over as the apex bank chief said, I will do everything to uphold core values and the autonomy of RBI. RBI has the core competence to deal with any technical or monetary issues. But he was equally quick in casting aspersions as he said that the government operates the RBI, in his opening remarks. The doubts are further validated by him, as according to the highly-placed sources, he would be meeting the government officials over the issue of the liquidity crunch in the countrys shadow banking space and also credit flow into the economy. Also read: New RBI Guv to start innings with meeting PSU banks The RBI, which is tasked with being the banking regulator, has been on the balance sheet clean-up of Indian banks, which are overly burdened by the mounting bad loans. The government is of the opinion that the bad loan clean-up is impacting the credit flow to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), that it considers as a crucial vote bank in a build-up to the general elections. In fact, in the immediate aftermath of Das appointment as the RBI chief, Twitterati in India went gaga over jokes on his appointment: and it can be simply disastrous for the central bank that acts as the backbone of the world's 6th largest economy. On the other hand, political acceptability is also a cause of concern for Das, who holds such a critical portfolio. While Subramanian Swamy of ruling BJP criticised his appointment, alleging that he has collaborated with former finance minister P Chidambaram on various scams. Ironically, Chidambaram also criticised his appointment, criticising Das' pro-demonetization stance. Also read: DH Analysis: Patel's exit dents govt's credibility What is more worrying is the fact, that all this comes at a time when RBI is battling various issues of economic importance, which are structural in nature GDP with a downside, falling rupee, liquidity crisis, the impact of crude on current account deficit and fiscal deficit. However, markets are hopeful that Das proximity to the government will help the warring factions RBI and the government tide over the differences. Das is an experienced bureaucrat who has worked in the Government in various capacities. Thus, he is in a better position to handle the working relationship between the RBI and the Government, global investment bank, UBS said in a research note. Three Iranian students, who joined a city-based dental college under the NRI quota in 2015, are now running pillar to post to get their college fees amounting to Rs 90 lakh, back from the college management over the past one year. 11 cheques issued by Dr Syamala Reddy Dental College and Research Centre management to the three students bounced. A case of cheating has been registered against the owner and chairperson of the college, Dr Syamala Reddy, at the Marathahalli police station. One of the three complainants in the case, Seyed Amir Arsalan Shahamiri (27), an engineering graduate in computer science from Shiraz in Iran, wanted to pursue a dental course in Bengaluru. Nine Iranian students including me joined the dental college in 2015. Each of us paid Rs 30 lakh as fees. We continued with the courses, but even after the end of the first year and second year, none of us were allowed to appear for the exams, Shahamiri told DH. The duration of the course was four years, with an extra one year of internship, he added. The Iranian students subsequently learnt that the NRI quota in the college was only for six students. But, the college had admitted nine. The aggrieved students then wrote to the Iranian Consular General, who came down to Bengaluru in 2017 and met with the vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. After a series of meetings, the university instructed the college to regularise the six admissions and refund the college fees to the three others -- Shahamiri , Ali Karimi and Fardin Hashemi. Karimi and Hashemi are now in Iran, and I am fighting for myself, and on their behalf, said Shahamiri. My parents worked hard to arrange the money to send me here. Since last year, I have spent a lot of money, and I am waiting for the deposit. I am on a student visa, I cannot work here; after I get the money, I have to get back, Shahamiri added. Meanwhile, a college management source said that the college secretary, Dr Chaitanya Reddy, the son of Dr Syamala Reddy, was involved in the misappropriation of the cheques. Intriguingly, Chaitanya Reddy ended up committing suicide due to financial constraints. However, Shahamiri recalled Chaitanya as a helping hand in the college management, while others harassed them. Advocate for Dr Syamala Dental College and Research Centre, Siddharth Suman said: The matter is sub judice. The cases are suitably defended or prosecuted as the case may be before competent courts. The Dental Council of India has recommended that the students admissions be approved. As far as the FIR is concerned, we are unaware of it, and we cannot comment on the same. Thirty-two nurses who were wrongfully detained by immigration officials and the city police at the Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of November 27, 2018, left for Armenia to pursue their German language course. Four nurses flew on December 7, while 28 of them left in one flight on Sunday (November 9) to the University of Traditional Medicine of Armenia (UTMA) from the Kempegowda International airport. Their travel documents and other formalities were facilitated by Tonys wife Jwala Tony, a resident of Whitefield in Bengaluru. The nurses were detained at the airport as the authorities suspected that they were being trafficked to Armenia and even arrested the organiser Tony Tom from Mangaluru. Tom was running an educational consultancy named Hopeson International in Mangaluru. Tonys kin alleged, his business rival had tipped off two Intelligence Bureau sleuths who in turn took it up with the immigration officials and the airport police to detain them. Though the nurses had all travel documents in place and were authentic, they were not allowed to fly as the authorities suspected a case of human trafficking. The KIA police had even lodged a case of human trafficking and forgery and sent Tony to jail. Bail for Tony On Thursday, a local court granted bail for Tony and he was released on Friday. Sources said there is no evidence to establish it was a case of human trafficking, and the police may submit a B-report soon. Notwithstanding opposition by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's ally Shiv Sena, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government on Saturday signalled it would move ahead to build the proposed nuclear power plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reviewed the progress on implementation of the Industrial Way Forward Agreement, which Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and Electricite de France inked earlier this year for construction of the 9900 MWe nuclear power plant in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. They also adopted a plan of action for the coming months to proceed toward building the plant. We have reviewed the status of the EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) project in Jaitapur, and adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building the power plant, Le Drian said after his meeting with Swaraj in New Delhi. Swaraj noted that the NPCIL and the EDF had made substantial progress in implementing the Industrial Way Forward agreement, which was inked during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to New Delhi on March 10 last. She and French Foreign Minister adopted the status of progress for implementation of the Industrial Way Forward agreement. Shiv Sena an ally of the ruling BJP in Maharashtra as well as in the Centre has been opposing the project and arguing that proposed nuclear power plant would adversely impact the fragile ecosystem in the coastal region. The fishermen and farmers living in and around the proposed site of the project have also been opposing it. The Greenpeace, a non-profit environmental organization, has been arguing that the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant (JNPP) would make the region vulnerable to disaster as the site of the project fell within an area which was classified as prone to earthquake. Two anti-nuclear organizations DiaNuke of India and Beyond Nuclear of the United States earlier this year issued a joint statement, protesting the move to add momentum to the JNPP. They said that France should not impose the untested, expensive and technically troubled EPR reactors on India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government, however, decided to go ahead with the project. The BJP-led Maharashtra Government on November 23 informed the State Legislative Council that the land acquisition for the project had been completed. The civil nuclear energy cooperation between India and France did figure prominently even when French Foreign Minister called on Prime Minister later on Saturday. Six EPRs (to be installed in JNPP) account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to Indias aim of producing 40% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference, said Le Drian, adding, The Jaitapur project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training. The NPCIL and French nuclear energy giant AREVA had inked a Memorandum of Understanding on JNPP on February 4, 2009. The EDF later took over the AREVA. Singapore is one of the more affordable places to visit in Asia. I remember a conversation I had whilst I was in Singapore on the day I was supposed to depart, and when a local acquaintance asked me how much I had spent during my stay in the country, I said US$125. Per day? Thats not too bad, he quipped. No, for the entire week, I responded. I saw his eyes widen, as if I had opened the Pandoras Box. As an avid traveller, I often pick up little things that would help me in being thrifty when I go abroad, and the fact that I was in Singapore a year ago gave me the experience I needed, and the lessons I had to learn. When I went to Singapore for the first time, I was grossly underprepared. While I did manage to book my accommodation through Airbnb at a very reasonable price, the taxi from the airport to my accommodation itself set me back by S$30. Looking back, I committed the biggest sin for a budget traveller I did not do my research. This time, however, I had done adequate research, which helped me immensely in cutting back costs while I was in Singapore. Here are five tips that could help you plan better, before you leave for Singapore. Always book a hostel before you leave When I backpacked in India a couple of months ago, I used hostels as my sanctum. All you would need, as someone who is outside for most of the day, is a place to sleep after those long, dreary walks. When I tried to book a place through Airbnb for my trip to Singapore, the cheapest option I could find was the Indie Hostel in Jalan Besar. Unlike last year, when I found a fairly reasonable host, the prices were too steep, and I went along with Indie Hostel. While I was sceptical at first, the hostel received some great reviews on Airbnb. It is always important to do a little background check on the place youre going to stay at, and as I would find out during my stay in the hostel, it was easily the best option available for backpackers. The metro station is less than 100 yards away from the hostel, and Little India, Little Arabia, and Chinatown a stones throw away from the hostel. While Indie Hostel offers backpackers and travellers the most affordable prices, you can get 10% discount if you book directly, and use the code SUNDAY. Things to do when you arrive at the Changi International Airport When you land in Singapore, before getting lost in the glitz and glamour of the city, doing two small yet significantly important things at the airport will help you with your budget. You can buy either a Singtel sim card, or a StarHub sim card, which cost anywhere between S$20 and S$30, with 100 GB data and free local and international minutes, which should be sufficient for a weeks trip. Personally, when I bought the StarHub sim card, I never had to recharge it again, and it was more than enough for the duration of my stay. The Merlion, Singapore The second important thing to do while youre at the Changi airport is to buy an EZ - Link card for the metro and local transportation. Metro connectivity in Singapore is easily one of the best in the world, and you can access any part of Singapore using the Mass Rapid Transit system. I was given an EZ Link card by my host last year, and I still carry it around, which made things much easier when I went to Singapore a couple of months ago. A simple topup of S$25 was enough for me, and I never had to recharge my card again, either! You would have to pay either S$5 or S$7 for the card, which is nonrefundable. Alternatively, you can go for a Singapore tourist pass, or find a plan that better-suits your needs. Reaching your destination by metro is usually much faster than taking a cab, and needless to say, inexpensive as well. What can you do for good, authentic Indian food You can find good food in Little India or Chinatown, and a meal doesnt cost more than S$3 S$4. Eating at Subway, in comparison, costs you around S$10! If youre staying at Indie Hostel like I was, you can make your own breakfast, which is free of cost, and you can visit Little India or Chinatown for lunch and dinner, which would take you a few minutes by walk. Places you can visit while in Singapore When I went to Singapore, I was there to go to one particular place for 3 4 days. Thus, I wasnt able to go to Sentosa island, or truly explore places at leisure. However, one of the major attractions in Singapore is the Marina Bay Sands, and if you are keen on seeing the famous Singapore Skyline, you can do so for free by visiting the ION Sky observation deck in the ION Orchard shopping mall in the evening. Little India, Singapore You can also visit Haji Lane, Arab Street, and the Palawan beach in Sentosa for free. Singapore is also famous for its nightlife, but as youd be able to guess, that would put a significant dent in your wallet, especially if you have budget constraints. Leave yourself some wiggle room It is also important to leave yourself some wiggle room, in case youd ever need to spend cash for unforeseen circumstances. I had taken a travel Forex card with me, and had some extra amount to spend in case of an emergency. Singapore is truly an amazing place if you plan to spend a few days, and with the right amount of research and planning, it could prove to be a paradise for inquisitive souls. The holiday season is in full swing, and this week's top stories included the reveal of Time's Person of the Year, President Trump's meeting with Nancy Pelosi and the new White House Chief of Staff. Time's Person of the Year was awared to "The Guardians," honoring murdered journalists. This marks the first time the Time Person of the Year has not been alive at the time of recognition. President Trump met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday. The meeting was visibly tense, with the president and Pelosi arguing while the cameras rolled. Michael D. Cohen, former lawyer to President Trump, was sentenced to three yeras in prison this week after apologizing for his involvement in a hush-money scandal. Cohen said he was asked to pay two women who claimed to have affairs with Trump to stay silent to protect Trump's presidential campaign. Speculation continues over who will be the next White House chief of staff. Other news this week included the ongoing riots in Paris, the trade war with China, the ongoing search for an Oscars host and the impact of technology on young children. OGDEN The Utah Transit Authority is exploring bus rapid transit service in Weber County and is asking the public to weigh in on the environmental impacts associated with its construction and operation. The service would run from the FrontRunner station at the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital, replacing route 603 with 5.3 miles of bus rapid transit service at 10- to 15-minute frequencies and include 13 enhanced bus stations. The buses would operate in dedicated bus-only lanes for 2.2 miles on Harrison Boulevard and through the WSU campus. The proposal will be the topic of an open house at Ogden High School, 2828 Harrison Blvd., on Wednesday Jan. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. During the meeting, the public will be able to review an environmental assessment created by the Federal Transit Administration and UTA, as well as other information about the project. UTA representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Those who cannot attend the open house can read the assessment and submit comments through midnight on Sunday, Jan. 20. The assessment can be found online at rideuta.com, UTAs headquarters in Salt Lake City, the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center, Ogden offices, the Weber County Main Library and WSUs Stewart Library. Comments can be submitted by email to hearingofficer@rideuta.com, online at rideuta.com or by mail at Ogden/Weber State University Transit Project, Attn: Hal Johnson, Utah Transit Authority, 669 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. MILLCREEK Police have identified the body of a man found naked just off a popular hiking trail earlier this week. On Wednesday, Devin ODonnell, 72, of Holladay, was discovered about 7:30 a.m. by a man walking his dog near Big Cottonwood Regional Park, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Gray. The man's dog went a short distance off the trail into some trees near 1590 E. 4250 South. That's where the man's body was found, she said. As of Friday, a cause of death had not been determined. There were no obvious signs of trauma, according to police. Police initially had trouble identifying O'Donnell because he wasn't carrying any identification. After exhausting other leads, investigators decided to take a picture of the deceased man's face and release it to the public in hopes of identifying him. How O'Donnell got to where he was found and why he wasn't wearing clothing were questions that remained unanswered Friday. Court records show O'Donnell may have lived close to where he was found, in the area of 1400 East and 4500 South. SALT LAKE CITY A man who allegedly shot another man in the back of the head during an argument in the Navajo Nation was charged with murder Friday in federal court. Perry Maryboy faces one count of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Antonio Montowine on April 14 south of Bluff, San Juan County. Federal agents arrested Maryboy, 34, at a home in Bluff on Wednesday without incident after a monthslong investigation. Montowine, his wife and 7-year-old son were in their van looking for a lost pet on their family property on the Navajo Reservation about 2 1/2 miles from state Route 191 south of Bluff when they drove by a white truck. A man in the truck was texting on his cellphone. Because of people dumping trash in the past on the property, Montowine's wife asked him to stop and confront the driver. The man got out of the truck, retrieved an item from inside, and an argument ensued between the two men. The man held up a handgun that he called a ".38" and fired a shot into the air, according to court documents. As Montowine tried to get back into the van, the man fired a second shot that struck him in the back of the head, court documents say. The man then got into his truck and drove away. In August, investigators received a text message from Montowine's wife saying she had seen the truck on the Navajo Reservation and provided a license plate number. Federal agents traced the plate to Maryboy's wife. After obtaining a search warrant, agents used Maryboy's cellphone records to place him at the scene of the shooting, court document say. Maryboy, of White Rock Point in the Navajo Nation, made an initial court appearance Friday. He is being held in custody and a detention hearing is scheduled for next week. As if poor air quality wasnt linked to enough health concerns ranging from increased risk of heart attack, stroke, asthma to premature birth, University of Utah scientists are raising another red flag: Bad air could increase the risk of miscarriage. A new University of Utah Health Sciences study shows women living along the Wasatch Front had a 16 percent greater chance of miscarriage following short-term exposure to elevated levels of air pollution. Its a reason to take precautions during winter months when inversion traps harmful air particles along the Wasatch Front. Its also one more reason for the state to aggressively prioritize cleaning the air. Since August, the Deseret News has been expanding the conversation around air pollution and exploring practical methods to reduce harmful pollutants at home. The initiative took InDepth reporter Erica Evans and photographer Spenser Heaps to Oslo, Norway, where residents there battle some of the same winter inversion effects Utahns experience. It proved an informative exercise in looking elsewhere to glean best practices and discern what may or may not work in Utah. Evans also took on the challenge of going a week without a car in Salt Lake City, an experience that highlighted the benefits and shortcomings in local transit solutions. All told, the first and most important takeaway is for the state to act swiftly if it is serious about the health of its residents. That could mean any number of actions, including tolls on the I-15 corridor during peak traffic times, incentivizing private businesses to innovate cleaner technology, increasing access to mass transit options or ratcheting up emissions standards. Effective solutions will likely combine the best of the above and more as leaders give thoughtful consideration to finding the best way forward. Next week, the final piece in the Deseret News Pollution Solution series will evaluate how the Legislature has historically addressed air quality issues and what may prevent it from acting more quickly in the future. Utah has made good progress over the years. Gov. Gary Herbert reported in a recent combined KSL/Deseret News editorial board meeting that statewide emissions fell by 38 percent overall between 2002 and 2017, despite a 34 percent increase in the states population. That means Utahns are more conscious of their actions and technology has improved. The governor also dedicated $100 million in his budget proposal to cleaning the air. Its a positive long-term trend, but vulnerable populations in the meantime are still at risk the second another inversion sets in. These people should take necessary steps to mitigate dirty airs impact. The elderly and those with asthma and other health concerns should continue to consult with health care providers on the best way to diminish the effects of pollution. Utahs air problem is decades old and has no single solution, but opening the conversation will bring forward the best of ideas, wherever they are found. It shouldnt take another study for everyone to do what they can to promote a safe and healthy Utah. SALT LAKE CITY Utah is closer to getting another Olympics Friday after the U.S. Olympic Committee selected Salt Lake City to bid on behalf of the United States for a future Winter Games, potentially in 2030. Salt Lake City, the host of the 2002 Winter Games, beat out Denver. Reno-Tahoe dropped out of the running recently in the competition. The decision was made by the USOC at a closed-door meeting in San Francisco. It will be the International Olympic Committee that chooses the 2030 host city but not until 2023. Other cities currently in the mix include Sapporo, Japan, and Almaty, Kazakhstan. Even before the USOC's decision was made public, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski could be heard cheering from behind closed doors at City Hall. The USOC notified both Salt Lake and Denver bidders by telephone. We are so grateful that Salt Lake City and this state of Utah were chosen, the mayor said during a news conference at City Hall before toasting the win with flutes of red and white grape juice. Gov. Gary Herbert said amid the celebration that it would be hard to overstate the impact of hosting in 2002, a "coming out party" that showed the world "the sophistication of Utah. We're not just a country-bumpkin, little Western state." Now, the governor said, they'd be able to see all the changes being made since 2002, including the more than $3 billion rebuild of Salt Lake City International Airport, while experiencing the same strong sense of volunteerism from Utahns. The USOC stopped short of committing to a 2030 bid. Sarah Hirshland, the USOC's new CEO, told reporters during a telephonic news conference after the board meeting that there is no "active process of bidding that will take place so in some regards, we have the luxury of time." The Colorado Springs-based organization did express enthusiasm for Salt Lake. Were incredibly lucky to have multiple able and willing cities to choose from, but in the end, we believe Salt Lake City will give us the best chance to return the Winter Games to the U.S.," USOC Chairman Larry Probst said in a statement. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox was less diplomatic in a tweet that repeated "Don't say it" multiple times before ending with, "Suck it, Denver!" He quickly followed with another tweet, "(Really just kidding Denver you guys are great!)" The price tag for another Winter Games in Utah is now at $1.4 billion, money that would come from selling sponsorships, tickets and broadcast rights rather than state or local taxpayers, backers say. The only tax dollars needed would be from the federal government for security, according to the bid submitted to the USOC. It also calls for using the same venues as the 2002 Winter Games, although Biskupski said that could change. The mayor said as part of the effort to provide "an entirely new Games experience" from 2002, some ice hockey matches could be held outside, possibly at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, home to the Real Salt Lake major league soccer team. "There's a ton of potential for delivering these Games in a greater way," Biskupski said. "Great things are happening to really create a different feel and look to the Games." Denver's bid included the option of using competition facilities outside of Colorado as a cost-saving measure, such as the bobsled, luge and skeleton track near Park City and the speedskating oval in Kearns. Rob Cohen, chairman of the Denver and Colorado Winter Games Exploratory Committee, said he was proud of what he described as a "new and unique model" for hosting an Olympics. "We proposed hosting the Games in a new and innovative way, the Colorado Way, but we recognize that now may not be the right time for such a model," Cohen said in a statement. He expressed disappointment "that one of the worlds great winter sports destinations will not have the opportunity to partner with the USOC on a future bid," but also congratulated Salt Lake City. "We fully support the United States pursuit of a future Winter Games, as this is now Americas bid," Cohen said. The bid process was accelerated by the USOC this fall, requiring cities to submit a detailed workbook about what a Games would look like by early November. USOC officials also visited both bid cities and conducted polling to gauge public support. The results of the USOC polling have not been released, but 89 percent of Utahns said a year ago they wanted to host another Winter Games in a poll conducted for the state's Olympic Exploratory Committee. The exploratory committee that included Herbert, Biskupski and legislative leaders unanimously backed another bidat the beginning of the year. Salt Lake City has been ready to bid again since 2012, but the USOC's focus was on landing a Summer Games. That finally happened in 2017, when Los Angeles was selected to host the 2028 Summer Games in an unusual dual bid award. Because Los Angeles has domestic Olympic sponsorships locked up through 2028, the USOC has made it clear there's no interest in putting up an American city for the 2026 Winter Games, set to be named next year by the IOC. Two weeks ago, IOC President Thomas Bach has ruled out choosing hosts for both the 2026 and 2030 Winter Games at the same time, saying all the cities interested in 2030 should be given a fair chance. Fraser Bullock, a leader of the effort to bring the Olympics back to Utah and the chief operating officer of the 2002 Games, said a formal bid committee won't be formed right away. "The campaign actually starts now, in a low-key way, because there's so much work to do," Bullock said. "But it really gears up about two years before" the IOC makes its pick in 2023. Three-time Olympian Catherine Raney Norman, a long track speedskater who competed in the 2002 Winter Games, became emotional talking at the news conference about what another Utah Olympics would mean to her 1 1/2-year-old son. "I'm thrilled that he'll get to experience this," she said. Sen.-elect Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who was brought to the state to take over the 2002 Winter Games after an international scandal surfaced involving Salt Lake bidders and the IOC, offered his congratulations. "SLC 2030 is the right choice. Utah is ready, willing and more than able to once again host the world and its extraordinary athletes. Congrats to the Utah team that won this honor to represent the USA," Romney tweeted. Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance, called the benefits of hosting another Olympics "immeasurable" and said the business community is ready to help "It's undeniable that Utah is once again ready to host the world, and the Salt Lake Chamber and Utahs business community is fully engaged in presenting the best case for why Salt Lake City is still the right place," Miller said. SALT LAKE CITY With the departure of Salt Lake City Councilman Derek Kitchen, Utah's capital city has a vacancy to fill on its governing body. Kitchen, who won election for outgoing Sen. Jim Dabakis' Democratic seat in the Utah Legislature, attended his last council meeting Nov. 27 as he prepares to join the Senate at the start of the new year. The Salt Lake City Recorder's Office announced it will accept applications through Jan. 15 from people interested in serving the remainder of Kitchen's term through the end of 2019. Kitchen's District 4 seat will officially vacate Jan. 1, after which the council will have 30 days to fill it. Starting Friday, applicants will have about a month to submit their names for consideration. Salt Lake City Recorder Cindi Mansell will collect applications and provide them to the City Council office. The council will then interview each applicant in a public meeting. Interviews are scheduled to begin Jan. 22. To be eligible, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, be a registered voter, not be convicted of a felony or other certain crimes, and have lived in Salt Lake City's District 4 for at least a year. The district's borders include the city's Downtown, Central City and East Central neighborhoods. Kitchen, 30, was elected in 2015. Prior to his election, Kitchen became known as an LGBT pioneer after he and his husband, Moudi Sbeity, were among three couples who successfully sued in 2013 to legalize same-sex marriage in Utah. At his last council meeting Nov. 27, Kitchen's fellow council members recognized him for his service. City Council Chairwoman Erin Mendenhall said he has had a "significant" and "lasting impact" on the city since he started his term. Since 2016, Kitchen helped make "really outstanding progress on a number of huge issues," Mendenhall said, including funding an unprecedented number of new affordable housing units, economic development in the city's northwest quadrant and re-shaping the city's homeless services system. Kitchen said he was "very proud" of a $21 million affordable housing fund established through the city's Redevelopment Agency, leading the city to start building the "lion's share" of affordable housing now under construction in Utah. "You certainly led the charge on affordable housing and we were able to take that leadership and grow it even further," Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski told Kitchen at the meeting. "So thank you for leading the charge on that. It's some of the only affordable housing going on in the entire state, and that's a big deal and a feather in your cap I don't think anyone will forget." Biskupski added: "You're a tremendous leader and I look forward to working with you in your new capacity." Kitchen also said he was honored to join the effort to change the city's homeless system, even though the siting of the city's two new shelters was at times "tense" and "stressful." "I came into this role of City Council sort of with a heavy bat really swinging it, trying to get all my ideas accomplished and things I spoke about on the campaign trail," Kitchen said. "And it became very clear very fast that in this world and governing, progress happens slowly," he said "I know that there were times when I came up short as a legislator, but I also know I was able to grow into this role over the years and I feel much more capable now than ever before," Kitchen said. SALT LAKE CITY Tom Kurrus is not afraid to die. "I have no qualms about the fact that I have a fatal diagnosis," he says. "But I'm not into suffering." While his approaching death from cancer doesn't fill him with dread, "I just don't want to be there when it happens," he quipped. Kurrus, a retired internal medicine and infectious disease physician who worked in the field for 43 years, learned in September he had a brain tumor called a glioblastoma. His doctors from the Huntsman Cancer Institute believe he could live anywhere from three months to about a year. "Everybody expects I know what's going down with this," Kurrus said in an interview Friday. "(But it's) new to me. It's the first time I've had cancer." For patients like Kurrus, carefully protecting both quality and longevity of life is top of mind. For him, that means enjoying the comforts of his home in the Avenues section of Salt Lake City, while also seeing to it that his symptoms are aggressively managed. "I would much rather be here than looking out the window of an extended-care facility, and it's a whole lot cheaper to be here than an extended-care facility," Kurrus said. "There's no question home is where you want to be. Home is where you are more in charge." It is with that flexibility and affordability in mind that the Huntsman Cancer Institute has debuted a new program designed to help cancer patients leave the hospital sooner and receive more comprehensive care inside their own home. The program aims to essentially bring the full arsenal of its resources to meet the patient where they are, rather than having them make the trip. "We're trying to keep the patient where they are, if that's appropriate," said Karen Titchener, director of the new initiative, called Huntsman at Home. "It's all about the right care in the right place." Huntsman at Home launched in August and has already served 145 patients. "We were very busy very quickly," said Titchener, who is also an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Utah. Titchener said Huntsman at Home is unique because it melds the comprehensive treatment options and 24/7 availability of hospital care with the convenience and personability of traditional home health and hospice care. "The basis behind the whole program is that there was a gap in care between when patients were sitting in an acute ward and transitioning in to home health," Titchener said. "There was this definite gap in care at (an intermediate) level." Many patients may be able to manage their illness outside of a hospital, but the "complexity of the needs" they have are "too great to transfer to normal home health," explained Titchener. As Kurrus sees it, the program allows him and other patients to "go back and forth between radiation, part therapy, no therapy and hospice," depending on the progression of his cancer and his unique needs at any given time. Titchener said the design of Huntsman at Home challenges the intuitions of the fee-for-service revenue model. "We are providing care that isn't necessarily reimbursable all the time," she said. "That's really forward thinking and innovative in the fee-for-service world." Huntsman at Home is currently limited in scope, Titchener said, as she works to demonstrate its effectiveness for patients as the basis for eventually expanding the program. Currently, only patients within 20 miles of Huntsman Cancer Institute are eligible. "By year three, we hope to be statewide," she said. Kurrus hopes more patients will think to take advantage of Huntsman at Home and that it will stay in operation long term. "If anybody else is concerned about this being some sort of experimental program this is patient-based. And it's a comfort situation," he said. "And I would not like to have (this) be a program that starts and fails because lack of cooperation from a patient standpoint." Titchener said Huntsman at Home offers the flexibility, or what she terms "transitions of care," needed for patients to keep seeing the same medical providers after officially moving to hospice. As a result, she said, they are able to avoid changes to their relationship with providers that many hospice patients deal with and which can be jarring to someone navigating the final period of their life. "You just have that unified care and you're working with the patient at the center of that. That's really kind of the whole ethos of this program, that it's patient-centered and family-centered." Kurrus said he has been grateful for the "extraordinary responsiveness" of the staff who visit his home and the "seemless transition" in terms of how they have adjusted his care over time. It is that kind of care that has helped him regain his bearings as he adjusts to a new reality, he said. "It became quite obvious to me I was in new territory, I had no idea what the heck I was doing," Kurrus said. "I was most pleased with the fact that people were very honest and straightforward with what we're doing." Titchener noted that those with terminal diagnoses are not the only type of cancer patient Huntsman at Home will benefit; many others with less-advanced cases may fully recover while using the services. Huntsman Cancer Institute spokeswoman Debby Rogers noted Titchener is a highly sought after expert in providing comprehensive care for patients in their own homes, having previously debuted such a program in Great Britain. Rogers also said the "research underlying" Huntsman at Home was made a reality with the support of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and the National Cancer Institute. SALT LAKE CITY Utah has all the makings of a Christmas classic snow, family and, you know, awesome views. The Utah Film Commission released a list of the Christmas movies that were filmed in Utah. The films range from Hollywood blockbusters to Hallmark Christmas classics. Heres a quick review. Mr. Kruegers Christmas (1980) The film includes the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Better Off Dead (1985) The film includes scenes from Snowbird, Alta and Brighton ski resorts. Dumb and Dumber (1994) The scenes in Aspen actually occur in Park City. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) The scene at the top of the mountain takes place at Solitude Mountain Resort. Good Luck Charlie, Its Christmas! (2001) Scenes were filmed in Salt Lake City and St. George. Christmas Under Wraps (2014) Though set in Alaska, the movie filmed shots in Salt Lake City, Payson and Heber City. Christmas Land (2015) Scenes from this Hallmark love story were filmed in Salt Lake City, Farmington and Riverton. My Christmas Love (2016) This film was made in Park City. Switched for Christmas (2017) Candace Cameron Bures film about twin sisters was filmed in Salt Lake City, Federal Heights and the Utah State Fair Park. Enchanted Christmas (2017) The holiday movie was filmed at Midways Zermatt Lodge. Wrapped Up in Christmas (2017) The Lifetime movie about a mall manager was filmed in Provo Towne Center. Little Women (2018) The modern-day take on Louisa May Alcott was filmed in Salt Lake County. Christmas Inn (2018) This romantic film was filmed in Payson and Provo. Jingle Belle (2018) This Utah-made film about a woman returning to her home to write songs for a Christmas concert was filmed in Brigham City and Ogden areas. Christmas Wonderland (2018) The film was made in Bountiful, Farmington and downtown Salt Lake City. Shoelaces for Christmas (2018) This Christmas movie, which debuted on BYUTV, was filmed in Utah. SOUTH SALT LAKE Sharen Hauri designs bike lanes and trails for the city, but she found not a whole lot of kids were using them because they don't have access to a bike. "We've got kids who are walking two miles to and from school or their bikes get stolen," Hauri, urban design director for South Salt Lake, said. "They can't get around and do the things they want and need to do." On Saturday, Hauri was helping the local chapter of Free Bikes 4 Kids to fit more than 250 kids with their very own bikes. More than 100 of those bikes were gathered by 14-year-old Ashton Lindley, of Mountain Green, whose father heard about the organization on the radio and thought it would be a good idea for his son's Eagle Scout project. The two thought they could round up a couple dozen bikes and were touched by the bikes that "just kept coming in," Trevor Lindley said. Most were sitting unused in people's garages, some were newly purchased for the endeavor. "I grew up riding bikes in my neighborhood and always had one in my garage, and I think we take that for granted," Ashton Lindley said. "It was a big part of my childhood and I think everyone deserves to have that." Seeing kids light up with the prospects of having their own bike, he said, was really "cool." "It made me so happy," Ashton said. The donated bikes aren't necessarily in working condition, and that's where Jeff Goddard, owner of Guthrie Bicycle in Salt Lake City, comes in. He and countless volunteers spent the days and weeks during the last couple months fixing bikes of all sizes to give away. It's the fourth year Guthrie has been involved in the nationwide organization, Free Bikes 4 Kids, which aims to "turn a dusty bike into a shiny smile," according to its website. "I love biking and I want kids who don't have a chance to do it to experience that," Goddard said. He said it feels good giving kids something they really want rather than something they need. For a lot of the kids who are identified by caseworkers who work with the more than 2,000 children in after-school programs throughout South Salt Lake it's their first bike. But, Hauri, who is lovingly called "the bike lady," said just about every kid they serve is in need of a bike. The more than 200 bikes on site Saturday at one of the organization's sponsors, Nate Wade Subaru, will be gone by the end of the week, she said. Helmets were provided by Robert J. DeBry, another sponsor who wants to keep kids safe; and bike locks were handed out, too, that were purchased with funding donated to the organization. "It's a great way to help kids get around," Hauri said. For more information about Free Bikes 4 Kids, visit www.FB4Kutah.org. Michigan may show the way to destroy the cancer of conservatism Comparing miseries is tacky. And both the Michigan GOP and the Wisconsin GOP are miseries. Indubitably. From a distance, Republicans on both sides Lake Michigan may seem boring and technocratic. These are the states where the GOP was born to resist the expansion of slavery, after all. But this honorable legacy along with the shrugging smiles and sad suits that cloak modern Midwest Republicanism now only barely conceal a movement increasingly unwilling to contain its authoritarian instincts. Without ever campaigning on their true intentions, Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan have eliminated workers power, stolen local control from non-white communities, and gerrymandered their power in all possible ways. The result was literally poison thats still in the drinking water of a great American city. For eight years Rick Snyder and Scott Walker have been waging a war against what their states wanted. Wisconsins GOP employed voter suppression so effective that it may have given Trump the state. That should have ended in November with voters soundly rejecting the GOP agenda. Instead both Snyder and Walker signed on to their parties efforts to reject the voters will instead. Thanks to MoveOns Ben Wikler and multitudes of inspired activists, much of the nation (and too little of the press) turned its eyes to Wisconsin. We watched the thumped GOP inspired by a North Carolina GOP that has been doing everything it can to erode democracy since Obama won the state in 2008 attack voting rights and handcuff the Democrats whod just been elected governor and attorney general. Meanwhile, almost the same thing was going on in Michigan with a few notable additions. Michigan is a state thats known for smash-and-grab GOP lame duck sessions. Still, keen observers like Mark Brewer and Susan J. Demas think this may be the worst we (and the nation) has ever seen. Here are a few reasons that what were seeing from Republicans Michigan goes even farther and may be even worse than whats happening Wisconsin, North Carolina or even Washington DC. 1. Republicans arent just rejecting their partisan opponents; their rejecting the voters will and workers will suffer immediately. Michigans Republican recognized that ballot proposals awarding every worker in the state earned sick leave and a minimum wage increase would pass easily in November likely with at least the 2.3 million votes and 56 percent of the electorate backed marijuana legalization, the least popular of the three ballot proposals that easily passed in November. So instead of letting voters pass these measures and then amending them with the 3/4 support of the legislature that would be required under our state constitution, they passed both into law with the intention of gutting them whether they won their elections or not. And thats what theyve done now. This is the first time in the 50+-year history of our current constitution that this adopt and amend or catch and kill process has ever been used in the same session. The result? With the signature of millionaire Rick Snyder, tipped workers will still be earning up to $5 an hour in 2020 instead of the $12 an hour by 2022 that voters would have given them. And a million workers at 93.5 percent of Michigans businesses will not get any earned sick leave. 2. A blatant attack on women. The story of 2018 is the story of women coming out to elect women. And this story is exemplified by what happened in Michigan, where strong female candidates for all of the states constitutional offices from governor to secretary of state to attorney general defeated weaker males. Faced with this apparently terrifying wave of estrogen, the states male-dominated GOP is, to put it precisely, freaking out, The Huffposts Emily Peck wrote. 3. Republicans are terrified of a state that has taken its democracy back. The GOP was just crushed in Michigan, losing the popular voter for everything. This happened despite Michigan being one of the hardest states to cast a ballot. And because we are one of the most gerrymandered states in the union, Republicans will still control both state houses for at least two more years. But 2018 could be remembered as an inflection point in history when conservatisms attack on voting was first and then eventually totally repelled. America knows how to increase voter turnout. We know to make the electorate diverse and reflective of the actual population. We know how to make our districts fair so voters doing get packed or cracked into being represented by a politician who only has to worry about pleasing lobbyists, his future employers. Automatic voter registration, mail-in ballots and independent redistricting commissions arent magic or secret. Theyre simple, proven ways to overcome Americas 200+ year tradition of suppressing or diminishing voters in order to preserve residual power. These innovations are the best means of overcoming the sort of Constitutional Hardball a minority party bent on controlling a majority has to employ, as Greg Sargent explains in his great book An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics. Michigan has voted to do all of these things at once in 2018 with proposals 2 and 3. This lame duck session is the GOPs last chance for at least the next years to ram through efforts to wither away the massive victories for voters that voters just gave themselves. Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan, like the GOP Congress that let Trumps corruption run rampant while focusing on obstructing for him, have given up on democracy. The GOP is best understood as an insurgency that carried the seeds of its own corruption from the start, George Packer writes in his diagnosis of a movement that is no longer trying to keep its mask on. A political movement that abhors democracy and knows it cannot survive the unfettered will of the voters, is a movement that is not fit for democracy. In our most conservative moments, Michigan is often called Michissippi. But we need to understand that Mississippis regressive policies arent the result of a dominant revanchist electorate but a repressed electorate. As Carol Anderson explains in her fantastic new book One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy, conservatives in both parties have been using unnecessary obstacles to voting cloaked in colorblind language to preserve their power since the the Mississippi Plan of 1890. The antidote to the Mississippi Plan may be the Michigan Plan of 2018. We now have two test cases where the electorate was swindled into barely backing Trump and has now rejected the GOP. In Wisconsin, Republicans still have voter suppression and gerrymandering at their back for the foreseeable future. In Michigan, we will see, despite the GOPs best efforts, and expanded electorate in 2020 and fairer districts in 2022. In Michigan, we have seen the worst of conservatism. And in Michigan, we can see our revenge. [Photo by the great Anne Savage.] By Venkat Viswanathan, Shashank Sripad and William Leif Fredericks As electric cars and trucks appear increasingly on U.S. highways, it raises the question: When will commercially viable electric vehicles take to the skies? There are a number of ambitious efforts to build electric-powered airplanes, including regional jets and planes that can cover longer distances. Electrification is starting to enable a type of air travel that many have been hoping for, but haven't seen yeta flying car. A key challenge in building electric aircraft involves how much energy can be stored in a given amount of weight of the on-board energy source. Although the best batteries store about 40 times less energy per unit of weight than jet fuel, a greater share of their energy is available to drive motion. Ultimately, for a given weight, jet fuel contains about 14 times more usable energy than a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery. That makes batteries relatively heavy for aviation. Airline companies are already worried about weightimposing fees on luggage in part to limit how much planes have to carry. Road vehicles can handle heavier batteries, but there are similar concerns. Our research group has analyzed the weight-energy tradeoff in electric pickup trucks and tractor-trailer or semi-trucks. This artist's concept of NASA's experimental electric plane design shows 14 motors along the wings. NASA From Electric Trucks to Flying Vehicles We based our research on a very accurate description of the energy required to move the vehicle along with details of the underlying chemical processes involved in Li-ion batteries. We found that an electric semi-truck similar to today's diesel-powered ones could be designed to travel up to 500 miles on a single charge while being able to carry the cargo of about 93 percent of all freight trips. Batteries will need to get cheaper before it makes economic sense to begin the process of converting the U.S. trucking fleet to electric power. That seems likely to happen by the early 2020s. Flying vehicles are a bit further away, because they have different power needs, especially during taking off and landing. What is an e-VTOL? Unlike passenger planes, small battery-powered drones that carry personal packages over short distances, while flying below 400 feet, are already coming into use. But carrying people and luggage requires 10 times as much energyor more. We looked at how much energy a small battery-powered aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing would need. These are typically designed to launch straight up like helicopters, shift to a more efficient airplane mode by rotating their propellers or entire wings during flight, then transition back to helicopter mode for landing. They could be an efficient and economic way to navigate busy urban areas, avoiding clogged roads. Energy Requirements of e-VTOL Aircraft Our research group has built a computer model that calculates the power needed for a single-passenger e-VTOL along the lines of designs that are already under development. One such example is an e-VTOL that weighs 1,000 kilograms, including the passenger. The longest part of the trip, cruising in airplane mode, needs the least energy per mile. Our sample e-VTOL would need about 400 to 500 watt-hours per mile, around the same amount of energy an electric pickup truck would needand about twice the energy consumption of an electric passenger sedan. However, takeoff and landing require much more power. Regardless of how far an e-VTOL travels, our analysis predicts takeoff and landing combined will require between 8,000 and 10,000 watt-hours per trip. This is about half the energy available in most compact electric cars, like a Nissan Leaf. For an entire flight, with the best batteries available today, we calculated that a single-passenger e-VTOL designed to carry a person 20 miles or less would require about 800 to 900 watt-hours per mile. That's about half the amount of energy as a semi-truck, which is not very efficient: If you needed to make a quick visit to shop in a nearby town, you wouldn't hop into the cab of a fully loaded tractor-trailer to get there. As batteries improve over the next few years, they may be able to pack in about 50 percent more energy for the same battery weight. That would help make e-VTOLS more viable for short- and medium-range trips. But, there are a few more things needed before people can really start using e-VTOLS regularly. It's Not Just Energy For ground vehicles, determining the useful range of travel is enoughbut not for planes and helicopters. Aircraft designers also need to closely examine the poweror how quickly the stored energy is available. This is important because ramping up to take off in a jet or pushing down against gravity in a helicopter takes much more power than turning the wheels of a car or truck. Therefore, e-VTOL batteries must be able to discharge at rates roughly 10 times faster than the batteries in electric road vehicles. When batteries discharge more quickly, they get a lot hotter. Just as your laptop fan spins up to full speed when you try to stream a TV show while playing a game and downloading a large file, a vehicle battery pack needs to be cooled down even faster whenever it is asked to produce more power. Road vehicles' batteries don't heat up nearly as much while driving, so they can be cooled by the air passing by or with simple coolants. An e-VTOL taxi, however, would generate an enormous amount of heat on takeoff that would take a long time to cooland on short trips might not even fully cool down before heating up again on landing. Relative to the battery pack size, for the same distance traveled, the amount of heat generated by an e-VTOL battery during takeoff and landing is far more than electric cars and semi-trucks. That extra heat will shorten e-VTOL batteries' useful lives, and possibly make them more susceptible to catching fire. To preserve both reliability and safety, electric aircraft will need specialized cooling systemswhich would require more energy and weight. This is a crucial difference between electric road vehicles and electric aircraft: Designers of trucks and cars don't have any need to radically improve either their power output or their cooling systems, because that would add cost without helping performance. Only specialized research will find these vital advances for electric aircraft. Our next research topic will continue to explore ways to improve e-VTOL battery and cooling system requirements to provide enough energy for useful range and enough power for takeoff and landingall without overheating. Reposted with permission from our media associate The Conversation. Post Office staff return to work Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) who went on the picket line have returned to their positions this morning. Simon Kneen, Chief Executive of IOMPO said, We have been extremely pleased with how our robust contingency worked, especially in the build up to our busiest weekend. Although there was no Island-wide doorstop delivery of standard post, we were able to process over 4,000 priority Special Delivery and Parcelforce items. All collections were undertaken and processed to ensure they left the Island on time on Thursday and they are scheduled to leave on time on Friday to make the connection with the Royal Mail network. Its anticipated the standard volume of mail will be despatched from the Island, with over three tonnes on Thursday alone. He added, We are incredibly grateful to those staff who came in during the strikes and worked longer hours to ensure we were able to minimise disruption to our valued customers and clients. I must also thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this period. He concluded, We look forward to returning to normal service and helping to deliver Christmas for our customers as we do every year. However, our negotiations with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) remain ongoing and a further round of talks will be held in the New Year. Australia recognizes West Jerusalem as Israel's capital Australia formally recognizes West Jerusalem as Israels capital, but will not move its embassy there immediately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in October he was open to shifting Australias embassy from Tel Aviv. President Donald Trumps decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May delighted Israel, infuriated Palestinians and upset the wider Arab world and Western allies. Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel, Morrison said. We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, he told reporters in Sydney. Scott Morrison Morrisons unexpected announcement in October was viewed cynically because it came days before a crucial by-election in an electorate with a strong Jewish representation, a poll his party subsequently lost. It also drew criticism from Muslim-majority neighbors such as Indonesia and Malaysia, neither of whom formally recognize Israels right to exist. Arab countries worried that the move would unnecessarily inflame tensions in the Middle East. Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, including the eastern sector that it annexed after the 1967 Middle East war, and wants all embassies based there. The international community believes Jerusalems status should be resolved through negotiation. Erdogan reaches out over loss of Hamas leader's brother Turkish president telephones Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to offer condolences over the loss of his brother. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday offered condolences to the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas over the death of his brother, presidential sources said. In a phone call, Erdogan offered condolences to Ismail Haniyeh over the death of his brother, Khalid Haniyeh, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. Turkeys planned operation gives hope to Syrians Syrians living in Turkey voice support to expected military operation east of Euphrates River. As Turkey prepares to launch an anti-terror operation east of the Euphrates River, Syrians living in the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa have started hoping of the day when they will return to their homeland. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Vail Abut, a resident of Syrias Tal Abyad living in Turkeys Akcakale district, said he is pleased by Erdogans statement regarding the expected military operation. We expect Turkish army to clear the region, located east of the Euphrates, of terrorists as soon as possible. The day, when our soil is cleared of terrorists, we would return to our homes with Allahs will, Abut said. He added that his relatives near Raqqah were ready to give support to the operation expected to be launched by the Turkish military. "ONLY ERDOGAN DEFENDS OUR RIGHTS" Dozens of people in Tal Abyad had to flee to Akcakale district of Sanlurfa province due to the pressure and violence of YPG/PKK terror group. They have been living in Turkey for around three years. Hamed Halit, another Tal Abyad resident, also voiced his support for the planned operation. We are ready to extend support to them [Turkish military], if they need it after the launch of the operation, Halit said. YPG/PKK terror group seized our homes and lands by force. Weve started dreaming of returning to our home with [Turkish president] Recep Tayyip Erdogans statement. Only Erdogan defends our rights, he said. Previously, Turkey launched two successful anti-terror operations since 2016 to foil the formation of a terror corridor along Turkeys border. In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch. There's nothing like a mother's love! During a sit-down interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Kris Jenner addressed how Khloe Kardashian is doing in the wake of Tristan Thompson's cheating scandal. Kris Gets Extremely Emotional About Khloe The matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner clan immediately got choked up and tried her best to hold back the tears while appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which airs on Friday, May 4. Jenner stated that she recently visited the new mom in Cleveland and that despite all the drama, she's doing really well. "She's figuring it out one day at a time, she's just the best mom already. That baby is so cute, little True," the momager remarked. While the world may have been shocked to know that Thompson had been disloyal to Kardashian just days before she gave birth to their daughter, Jenner said that the family handled it all pretty well and just supported each other. The 62-year-old mother of six told DeGeneres that she's always going to support her kids no matter what and that they are there for one another when they need to be. Earlier this week, Khloe's older sister, Kim Kardashian, also shared her thoughts about Thompson's cheating while appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "Poor Khloe. Like, I don't even know how to describe it besides it's just so f-ed up," the KKW Beauty founder said. Khloe Reappears On Social Media Fans of the Good American designer know that Khloe had refrained from posting anything on social media since confirming her daughter's name via Instagram. Well, the first-time mom has slowly but surely returned to social media by making subtle comments. First, she commented on her little sister Kylie Jenner's new Instagram photo of herself and her daughter, Stormi, while on vacation in Turks and Caicos for Travis Scott's 26th birthday. "Both of my cuties!!!!!" Khloe wrote. Then, the 33-year-old Revenge Body host clapped back at E! News after they posted a photo of her and Kourtney Kardashian claiming that they both could relate to one another as Kourtney continuously made headlines due to her tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Scott Disick. "Oh damn.... I hope I don't crush her by leaning on her. I love my little @kourtneykardash," Khloe commented. The governments decision to provide reservation to Marathas lacks sincerity of purpose. The Maharashtra governments decision to provide members of the Maratha caste with 16% reservation in education and state employment has led to two qualitatively different responses from, one, the potential beneficiaries, and two, the state government. The potential beneficiaries, arguably, are quite desperate to express their overt and covert disapproval to the efforts that seek to subject the decision to judicial endorsement. They are anxious to see the implementation of the decision working in their favour with immediate effect. However this desperation, even if understandable, cannot justify taking recourse to violence or illegal acts. The state government, on the other hand, appears to be quite enthusiastic to claim credit for the decision and its implementation. The governments enthusiasm is evident in the steps that it has taken. These include the state governors almost instant signature on the bill, the start of the Mahabharati (the mighty recruitment drive) programme and issuing of caste certificates to members of the Maratha caste. The Marathas keenness to ensure the implementation of the reservation must be seen in the context of the treatment of the subject by various preceding state governments. These include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)Shiv Sena coalition government which treated the issue of reservation with uncertainty and indecisiveness. In this regard, it has to be kept in mind that the series of mammoth morchas that the Maratha youth organised over the last three years, in fact, were aimed at the removal of this uncertainty and indetermination. This impatience has a moral significance inasmuch as the Maratha youth have paid the social costs involved in the process of this mobilisation. Arguably, some may view the sincerity of efforts ultimately leading to the realisation of their legitimate purpose. Those who either covertly or overtly do not favour the need for legal endorsement of such a division, are in a way giving the government the moral advantage of sincerity of purpose. This sense of generosity could be explained in terms of the need to find a respite from the acute problem of unemployment. It was dealt with by way of empty promises, which this government seems to have in surplus. Employing a matched cohort research design, eight wards with intermittent water supply are compared to eight wards upgraded to continuous (24 x 7) supply in a demonstration project in HubliDharwad, Karnataka, with respect to tap water quality, child health, water storage practices, and coping costs across socio-economic strata. Water consumption and waste in the intermittent zones, and the potential for scale-up of continuous supply to the entire city, are estimated. It was found that the 24 x 7 project improved water quality, did not improve overall child health, but did reduce serious waterborne illnesses in the lowest-income strata, reduced the costs of waiting, increased monthly water bills, and potentially reduced water security for some of the poorest households. In March 2003, the World Bank came to the twin cities of HubliDharwad, Karnataka, to discuss the much-needed reforms to its piped water network. The HubliDharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) had been struggling to provide adequate water to its customers; 25% of the citys households accessed water through public standpipes, while many accessed water through unauthorised connections. Non-payment of bills was common, and water was being supplied intermittently at intervals of between one and eight days, with a median frequency of five days. Shortly after this visit, the Karnataka Urban Water Sector Improvement Project (KUWASIP) was set up as a privatepublic partnership (ppp) to supply and manage water to three cities in Karnataka: HubliDharwad, Belgaum, and Gulbarga. The new water supply was to be continuous and fully pressurised (247 water), and would be piloted in demonstration zones within these chosen cities with a view to scale it up over time. Continuous water supply (CWS or 247) is the international supply standard for urban water utilities; it is favoured by the World Bank for all but the most water-short urban areas (World Bank 2004), and it is also the urban service norm approved by the Government of India (Ahluwalia 2011). Almost immediately, 247 water became controversial in India. Critics argued that capital cost recovery coupled with public standpipe closure would hurt the poor; that the current water availability in HubliDharwad might not be sufficient to provide continuous supply to the rest of the city; and that the necessary infrastructure upgrades were too expensive to be justified by the stated benefits. In addition, 247 water projects were, and continue to be, launched as ppps, and water privatisation faces strong opposition from citizens and activists. Proponents expected that water quality would improve under 247 (mainly because pipes under continuous pressure leak clean water out whereas pipes that periodically are empty leak contaminated water in). They also argued that under intermittent water supply (IWS), households discarded any remaining stored water when new deliveries came, because fresh water was preferable to stored water, and that 247 regimes would prevent such waste. Furthermore, 247 would reduce household costs associated with IWS deliveries, such as waiting for, and then collecting, storing and treating water (collectively referred to as coping costs); utilities would also benefit from better managed water deliveries with less leakage and thus higher rates of cost recovery. On grounds of better water quality, (resulting in) better health, less water waste, reduced coping costs, and better cost recovery, the proponents argued that the capital and other associated investments were justified. Our research team attempted to evaluate these claims, primarily from the vantage point of households. Hi there, my husband and I are American Citizens who have lived overseas for 10+ years. We are looking to return to the USA for ~9 months with our newborn baby (who also now has USA citizenship). I will be on maternity leave, still as an employee from my company overseas. We are very concerned about the insurance situation, especially having a newborn. The 3 of us will be covered by catastrophic travel medical insurance through my company (I believe, though I need to check that as we are USA citizens we are still eligible for coverage in the USA) but with a newborn who will need to continue immunisation schedules and will need to see a doctor for regular development checkups, we're just not sure what else to register for (if anything)? I've seen insurance like Patriot America for USA citizens returning home for extended stays, or do we need to do ACA coverage? Should we just buy a plan with Kaiser for the 3 of us, or just for the baby?Has anyone else navigated this? Your thoughts are much appreciated Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. A New York hedge fund this week officially launched a proxy fight against Luby's board of directors, which if successful would change the leadership of the struggling Houston restaurant chain helmed for nearly two decades by the Pappas brothers. Bandera Partners, which owns 9.5 percent of Luby's stock, on Tuesday filed its preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, asking shareholders to elect four new candidates to Luby's nine-member board. The hedge fund's candidates are: Jeff Gramm, Bandera's co-founder and portfolio manager; his father and former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas; Stacy Hock, chairwoman of Texans for Education Opportunity; and Savneet Singh, managing partner of New York-based Tera Holdings. RELATED: Activist investor calls for 'fresh faces' to turn around Luby's In response, Luby's on Wednesday filed its preliminary proxy statement, asking shareholders to elect eight incumbent board members as well as an undisclosed new board member to replace Peter Tropoli, who stepped down to be the company's general counsel. Luby's, which did not endorse any of Bandera's candidates, also is asking shareholders to approve an amendment that would eliminate a board rule that requires a supermajority of shareholder votes to remove members. CEO Chris Pappas and board member Harris Pappas combined have 36.8 percent of Luby's outstanding shares. RELATED: Luby's to fight activist investor seeking control of struggling restaurant chain Luby's annual shareholders meeting date has not yet been set, but it is expected sometime in early 2019. Bandera hired Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen to represent the hedge fund in the proxy fight. Luby's has retained Sidley Austin as its attorney. Luby's, founded in San Antonio in 1947 and known for its comfort foods such as the LuAnn Platter, has struggled to retain diners in recent years amid growing competition from new fast-casual concepts, such as Shake Shack, which offer trendy foods and limited service that appeals to younger diners looking to share their dining experience on social media. Luby's this year issued a statement of going concern, calling into question whether it can stay in business. Luby's reported a loss of $33.6 million this fiscal year, and its stock has lost two-thirds of its value since January. The company, in its latest annual financial report, posted $365.2 million in sales over the year, down 3.7 percent from the previous year. Same-store sales fell a half percent. Check back later at HoustonChronicle.com for more on this developing story. WASHINGTON - Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke submitted his resignation to the White House on Saturday, facing intense pressure from the White House amid multiple probes tied to his real estate dealings in Montana and conduct while in office. President Donald Trump announced Zinke's exit via twitter Saturday morning, and offered praise for the embattled Interior chief. "Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years," the president tweeted, trailing off in a second sentence. "Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation......." Behind the scenes, however, the White House had been pushing Zinke to resign for weeks, administration officials said. Last month, these officials said, Zinke was told he had until the end of the year to exit or be fired. Zinke - the first Montanan to serve in a presidential Cabinet - is the fourth Trump Cabinet member to resign under an ethics cloud in less than two years. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt also relinquished their posts after coming under scrutiny for how they spent taxpayer dollars on their travel, among other allegations. For Zinke the key moment in his loss of support at the White House came in October when Interior's inspector general referred one of its inquiries to the Justice Department, according to two senior administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. That probe, which is still ongoing, is examining whether a land deal Zinke struck with the chairman of the oil services giant Halliburton in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, constituted a conflict of interest. As the leading advocate for Trump's push to expand domestic energy production, the former Navy SEAL and Montana congressman became a lightning rod for controversy. He was hailed by energy industry officials for relaxing Obama-era environmental rules and opening up wide swaths of federal land and federal waters for drilling. But environmental groups assailed his policies and conducted opposition research into his management practices and financial dealings. While Zinke won confirmation by a comfortable 68-31 margin, views on him sharply divided along partisan lines as he promoted America's "energy dominance," a phrase he coined that Trump quickly adopted. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who successfully lobbied the Trump administration to restart energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, said in a statement that she "was disappointed to learn that Secretary Zinke is stepping down." "He has been a strong partner for western states and for Alaska, in particular," Murkowski said. "After years of frustration with the Department, he came in and took a very different approach - he listened to us, built a great team, and worked with us to advance our priorities." Several advocacy groups welcomed his departure Saturday, even as they pivoted to attack Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, who will take over in the interim. Bernhardt, a skilled policy expert who has steered most of Interior's key policy decisions since joining the department in August 2017, is one of several Western Republicans under possible consideration for the job. "Ryan Zinke will go down as the most anti-conservation Interior secretary in our nation's history," said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities. "Surrounding himself with former lobbyists, it quickly became clear that Ryan Zinke was a pawn for the oil and gas industry. We can expect more of the same from Acting Secretary David Bernhardt, but without the laughable Teddy Roosevelt comparisons." Zinke styled himself as a Teddy Roosevelt Republican, showcasing his love of hunting, fishing and riding in the Montana wilderness. Administration officials concluded weeks ago that Zinke was the Cabinet member most vulnerable to congressional investigations once Democrats took control of Congress in January. But a series of crises, including wildfires in the West and uncertainty over whether John Kelly would stay on as White House chief of staff, had afforded Zinke a temporary reprieve. During his time in office Zinke came under at least 15 investigations, including inquiries into his connection to a real estate deal involving a company that Interior regulates; whether he bent government rules to allow his wife to ride in government vehicles; and allowing a security detail to travel with him on a vacation to Turkey at considerable cost. Zinke was cleared in several of those investigations, and chose to attack his critics rather adopt a more chastened tone. Late last month he accused Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. - who had called on Zinke to step down and is poised to take over the committee that oversees Interior in January - a drunk. "It's hard for him to think straight from the bottom of the bottle," Zinke wrote from his official Twitter account on Nov. 30. Grijalva, who in the past had acknowledged having a problem with alcohol but said it had been addressed, said the committee would not be distracted from examining Zinke's actions. It is unclear whether the federal inquiries will continue, now that Zinke is leaving public office. On Saturday, Grijalva said in a statement. "This is no kind of victory, but I'm hopeful that it is a genuine turning of the page." "Secretary Zinke's successor has a chance to move on from on an unfortunate Trump administration record of environmental mismanagement and decline," he added. "A well-managed Interior Department - one that puts the public good ahead of fossil fuel and mining industry demands - can be a boon to the entire country." While Zinke remained defiant both in public and private this month - one-and-a-half weeks ago, he boasted that he would continue to attack his critics - Trump had little personal affection for him. The president was annoyed by a few of Zinke's actions, including a decision in January to exempt Florida from offshore drilling in an appearance with Gov. Rick Scott, R, which was not approved in advance by the White House, and a ruling to allow imports of elephant trophies. Zinke later reversed the elephant trophy decision, after Trump publicly intervened. The secretary's final public appearance was Thursday night at his Christmas party, which he told White House staffers he wanted to have before his dismissal. He invited lobbyists and conservative activists to his executive suite, where he posed for photos in front of a large stuffed polar bear wearing a Santa cap, according to an attendee. Mounted animals on the wall were fitted with ornaments. "He still has big-time political ambitions," said one Republican with close ties to Zinke, who asked for anonymity in order to speak frankly. The jockeying has already begun to replace Zinke as secretary In addition to Bernhardt, outgoing Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., is a possible contender, according to Republicans who have been engaged in discussions with the administration in recent weeks. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who will relinquish his gavel next month, is another candidate. Zinke's resignation, which comes after Trump has replaced his attorney general and chief of staff, could be followed soon by other Cabinet departures. Both the positions of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross remain precarious, according to White House officials. For the moment, Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York were eager to crow about the latest departure. "Ryan Zinke was one of the most toxic members of the cabinet in the way he treated our environment, our precious public lands, and the way he treated the government like it was his personal honey pot," Schumer said. "The swamp Cabinet will be a little less foul without him." --- The Washington Post's Lisa Rein contributed to this report. --- Video Embed Code Video: On Dec. 15, President Trump announced interior secretary Ryan Zinke will resign. Here's what you need to know about Zinke's alleged misconduct.(Luis Velarde/The Washington Post) Embed code: (CNN Philippines) Donuts are about to get a glow up as GoNuts gets a fresh new look. GoNuts is the first and only Filipino-owned donut brand in the country, and is a pioneer when it comes to freshly made treats. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, GoNuts stores, branding and packaging took on an upgraded look. Along with the rebrand, new flavors and products were also introduced to fans of the sweet treats. GoNuts will still embody its ever-so-charming personality, as it aims to be the go-to place for millennials to indulge, have fun, and go for an adventure. As an added bonus, GoNuts will be selling its 100 percent Filipino-made donuts for just P15* each from December 13 to 15 in all their branches nationwide. For more details and promo mechanics, visit its Facebook page and @gonutsph on Instagram. *Minimum purchase of a box of 6. DILLEY Six months after Sen. Jeff Merkley visited South Texas at the height of the family separation chaos, he returned here Friday to find the treatment of immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border different, but also, very much the same. The administration has gone from the child separation strategy to a different style of inflicting trauma on families, which is to lock the families up together, said Merkley, D-Oregon. Merkley became the face of the resistance to the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy when a video of him attempting to get inside Casa Padre, a migrant childrens shelter in Brownsville, went viral. The practice of family separations ended with a June executive order. But since then, theres been a renewed push by the Trump administration to give immigrant families the choice between separation or prolonged detention together while they process their asylum claims. Immigrant families are also still being forcibly separated when authorities believe that the childrens parents could pose a danger because of gang affiliation or other wrongdoing. But some immigrant rights activists and attorneys say federal agents are doing so sometimes with scant or undisclosed evidence or using even minor crimes they committed years ago in the United States as justification. And a state appeals court recently dismissed a lawsuit that sought to prevent the state from licensing family detention facilities as child care providers, a move that immigrant advocates believe will bring detention centers one step closer to being able to indefinitely detain immigrant children in Texas. All of these approaches just make it a lot harder for immigrants who come here to seek their valid asylum claims, said Sen. Mazie Hirono, the Senates only immigrant and first Asian-American woman, who joined Merkley in his South Texas trip. On Friday morning, Hirono, Merkley, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, and Rep. Judy Chu, D-California, toured the South Texas Family Residential Center, a former camp for oil workers that is now the largest immigrant detention center in the country. The facility is located in Dilley, about 75 miles southwest of San Antonio, and houses women and children. It can hold up to 2,400 people, though Smith said officials told her 1,500 people are currently living at the facility, half of those children. The group toured the Karnes County Residential Center later Friday, which houses men and children. The legislators planned to tour the facility for unaccompanied minors in Tornillo, near El Paso, Saturday morning. What we saw were mothers and children being locked up in what is essentially an internment camp, and the administration has plans to attempt to get permission to hold children for longer periods of time in that setting, Merkley said. Its just an extension of the strategy of inflicting trauma on children and families. Also on Friday, the San Antonio-based Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, or RAICES, joined a watchdog nonprofit in a separate suit against the Department of Homeland Security and its secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. The suit with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington accuses the government of inadequate record-keeping of the immigrants apprehended at the border, resulting in a failure to reunify some of the families it separated when the practice was in effect. But for the immigrant families who are still together living in the Dilley or Karnes facilities, a ruling on Nov. 28 has threatened their promise of quick release. The 3rd Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit filed in 2016 by Grassroots Leadership, an Austin advocacy group, that sought to stop the facilities from being licensed by the Texas Department of Family Protection Services. The nonprofit argues that by allowing the state to license detention centers as child care centers, it brings the facilities one step closer to being able to bypass the Flores Settlement Agreement, which prevents children from being detained longer than 20 days. The 20-day cap applies to secure, unlicensed facilities. The government has argued that if the detention centers are licensed and non-secure, the Flores agreement would no longer apply and migrant children could be held in detention indefinitely. Attorney General Ken Paxton lauded the Austin-based appeals courts decision, saying state regulation would further ensure the safety of the migrant children. Texas strives to keep children as safe as possible by providing independent oversight over the family residential centers in the state through its child care licensing program, Paxton said in a statement. But immigrant rights groups are unconvinced. For example, while licensing means improved background checks of employees, the Trump administration waived that regulation at the Tornillo facility for unaccompanied minors in order to expedite its hiring process. The contract that the private prison companies have with the federal government now already subjects them to the existing (state) standards, said Jerry Wesevich, a San Antonio-based lawyer working pro bono for Grassroots Leadership on the case. He said the states stringent background checks should already apply to these facilities, based on their contract with the government. The question is who is going to enforce (the background checks)? Is DFPS going to do more enforcement work now at Dilley than it did before? he said. The legislators who toured the facilities on Friday agreed that while the conditions at the facility looked reasonable, children should not be locked up. Children are meant to be like any human being they are meant to be free. To be able to be at school, to be able to be at parks, to be able to play, Merkley said. That vision is destroyed when you lock them up. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | @SilviaElenaFF Destiny Lehew Collins waited anxiously in a University Hospital conference room on Friday afternoon to meet the family of a boy who gave her the gift of life. Surrounded by television cameras and microphones, she held a framed portrait of a smiling 7-year-old Jeremiah Martinez. Somewhere, the little Cotulla boy had heard about organ donations. He told his mother, Desiree Martinez, that if anything ever happened to him, he wanted to be a donor to help others. A year later, when he was 8, Jeremiah became entangled in the ropes of a swing and was seriously injured. He was taken to University Hospital, but a trauma team wasnt able to save him. Despite her grief, Jeremiahs mother honored his wish. Collins, whose health was failing fast, received Jeremiahs liver on Nov. 25, 2015. Hes my angel, my savior and my hero, said Collins, 52. When the door opened Friday, she rushed toward the boys family, who embraced her with open arms. There were no dry eyes. It was the first time that Collins and Martinez had met face to face. Hearing her story makes me happy, Martinez said. Lately, Ive been getting all kinds of signs. I guess hes telling us hes OK. During a brief ceremony at the hospital, a folded donors flag was presented to Jeremiahs mother. Hospital officials said that Collins was one of 419 people who were in desperate need of an organ the day she was chosen; she became one of eight who received help from Jeremiah. Jeremiahs grandmother Elisa Benavidez said the childs request wasnt a shock to the family. He was always thinking of how he could help someone else, she said. Hes living in her. Collins and the members of the Martinez family thanked the hospital, surgery team and Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, the surgeon who performed the transplant operation. Collins husband, Walt, wiped tears from his eyes as he watched the meeting unfold. He recalled that after years of painful procedures and down to only 65 pounds, his wife had decided to stop fighting. At that crucial moment, Cigarroa stopped by Collins bedside to talk to her. I know I can give you your life back, the way it was, maybe even better, he recalled the doctor said. But Im not going to lie to you, we are going to poke you and prod you more and itll hurt. But if youll trust me that I can do this, you may be able to do it. Will you give us another chance? Within a minute, she nodded yes. A month later in Austin, she received the call. And then to have a miracle because an 8-year-old boy lost his life, Collins said, his voice trailing off. This (the Martinez family) is going to be our family for the future. The family received another gift when they watched as an ultrasound showed blood flowing normally through the liver of their loved one, now giving Collins life. Ultrasound technologist Joe Herrera said it was his first time witnessing such a heartwarming experience. Its incredible, Herrera said. Words cant describe what it feels like to be part of a process where the gift of life continues in someone else. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis Active duty soldiers sent to the U.S.-Mexico border by President Donald Trump have installed seemingly endless rolls of concertina wire since the earliest days of the operation, but as some of them prepared to return to home bases this week, the Army stated exactly how much. Soldiers have reinforced existing border fences with some 70 linear miles of the razor wire and movable barriers at 22 ports of entry in Texas, Arizona and California but none in New Mexico since the operation started at the end of October. It included a small amount of wire soldiers had installed in Laredo but removed recently at the request of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officials at Army North said. They referred questions about it to CBP, which did not provide an explanation. Around 750 troops in the Lone Star Star and Arizona redeployed Wednesday to their home bases after a stay of about six weeks, the U.S. Northern Command said. They included some engineering, logistics and headquarters elements. Some in Texas will head west rather than go home. The border force as of Thursday numbered 4,200 troops, including 1,700 in Texas, 1,500 in California and 1,000 in Arizona. Another 2,100 National Guard service members support CBP under Operation Guardian Support, launched last spring. Concertina wire is so nicknamed because it is coiled, so a linear mile of wire doesnt equal a mile of border. The command said engineers used more than 480 miles of single-strand wire to create the 70 miles of obstacles. The total is still considerably shorter than the 1,954 miles of border from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The barrier reinforcement job has been completed, the general in charge, Army Norths commander, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, said in a prepared statement. Trump sent 5,800 active duty troops, some of them Marines, to the border as the Nov. 6 midterm elections approached, prompting Democrats and other critics to accuse him of using the military as a prop in a campaign to stoke fear about thousands of Central Americans then making their way toward the U.S. border in caravans to ask for asylum. The president described the caravans as an invasion force. Most of the migrants arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, and are still stalled there, waiting for a chance to press their asylum claims at the U.S. port of entry. Using tear gas, federal agents twice rebuffed attempts by smaller groups of them to force open a border fence. So far, no soldiers or Marines have been confronted by anyone and none have fired tear gas as part of crowd control, Buchanan said in a written statement in response to questions from the San Antonio Express-News. Military police normally are armed and are carrying weapons during their border deployment, assigned to provide emergency backup if CPB asks for assistance, Buchanan said. Theyre authorized to protect military personnel, mission partners, resources and equipment. In response to a question about how his troops would support CPB in a confrontation, Buchanan stated, I am not going to speculate about hypothetical situations, but I will tell you that all military police conducting the mission are capable and highly trained on rules for the use of force, nonlethal force, and in using the minimum amount of force required to control a situation. NORAD and Northern Command have said Military Police units had conducted more than 10,000 man-hours of unit training and rehearsals with their CBP counterparts on the border, and helicopter crews flew more than 740 hours in support of CBP. Buchanan had said in a Nov. 16 interview that he expected all the troops to be home before Christmas, with Dec. 15 as the missions end date. He repeated the Yuletide optimism to Politico on Nov. 19, but Army North walked it back the next day, saying, No specific timeline for redeployment has been determined. The command continually assesses the requirements and locations of forces supporting federal personnel, based on requests from the Department of Homeland Security, Buchanans statement this week said. Defense Secretary James Mattis extended the active-duty mission through Jan. 31, but told reporters that was conditions based. Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe WASHINGTON House Democrats on Friday sharply questioned the Border Patrols handling of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died last week after being detained in a remote desert border crossing in New Mexico about 120 miles west of El Paso. The incident, first disclosed in press reports Thursday, has intensified scrutiny of the Border Patrols child and family detention policies, as well as the decision of Customs and Border Protection officials to hold off on notifying Congress, as required by law. The criticism mounted Friday as new details emerged of the death of Jakelin Caal Maquin, who was detained along with her father the night of Dec. 6 after crossing the border illegally with a large group of people. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said Friday that CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told him he knew the young girl had died in Border Patrol custody when he testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and didnt say anything about it. That was five days after the girls death. I was appalled, Castro said. I told him I strongly disagreed with how they handled it.. and that thered be a strong backlash. Her death, said to have come as a result of dehydration and shock after an arduous desert crossing, also has roiled the debate over the Trump administrations asylum policies and heightened the stakes in a potential government shutdown next Friday over funding for a border wall. This death raises significant questions about the conditions in CBPs short-term holding facilities, and the general suitability of such facilities for families and children, a group of Democratic leaders, including Castro, said in a letter Friday to Homeland Security Acting Inspector General John Kelly. We are also troubled by the fact that we learned of this incident from the Washington Post, rather than through congressional notification as required under Department of Homeland Security appropriations laws. In a statement Friday, CBP officials said they immediately notified the Guatemalan government following the girls death. However they said they did not issue a public statement out of respect for the family of the deceased. But under fire from Democrats and immigrant activists, CPB officials announced that the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General would conduct a review of the agencys disclosure and notification policies. Officials also defended the Border Patrols handling of the girl and her father, saying they did everything in their power to save the girl after her father notified them of her distress at a remote forward operating base near the Antelope Wells port of entry, 94 miles from the nearest Border Patrol station in Lordsburg, N.M. The girl died early Saturday morning, a day and a half later, at the Providence Childrens Hospital in El Paso, where she was flown by helicopter after a long bus ride to Lordsburg with her father and others in the group of detained immigrants. Agents said they were first notified of her illness about 5 a.m. on Dec. 7, eight hours after a group of 163 immigrants was detained inside the sally port of the Antelope Wells base. There they were provided food and water. Officials said an initial overnight screening showed no evidence of sickness, and that the girls father claimed on government forms that she was in good health. But just as a group of immigrants was boarding for the hour-and-a-half bus trip to Lordsburg, the girls father told agents that she was sick and vomiting. Agents in Antelope Wells notified officials in Lordsburg to prepare to provide emergency medical care and continued with the bus ride. Due to the remoteness of the area, the CBP said in a statement, meeting emergency medical personnel in Lordsburg was the best means to provide the child with emergency care. When the group arrived in Lordsburg shortly before 6:30 a.m., the girl was not breathing. Emergency Medical Technicians revived her twice, and it was determined she had a temperature of 105.7 degrees. The decision was then made to airlift her to El Paso, where she arrived at 8:50 a.m. Her father followed her to the hospital in a Border Patrol vehicle. By 11 a.m., officials said, the girl went into cardiac arrest and had to be revived again. A CT scan showed brain swelling. She was breathing by machine and diagnosed with liver failure. She died the next day at 12:35 a.m. with her father present. Despite our trained EMT agents best efforts fighting for Jakelins life, and the work of the Hidalgo County and Providence Childrens Hospital medical teams treating her, we were unable to rescue her, McAleenan said in a statement Friday. The agents involved are deeply affected and empathize with the father over the loss of his daughter. In their letter to Kelly, Democratic lawmakers questioned the appropriateness of holding children in Border Patrol stations, which they said, were never designed to hold children. They noted also that in his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, McAleenan testified that the agencys short-term holding cells are incompatible with increased family migration and large numbers of unaccompanied children. Castro, who will be the chairman of the Texas Democratic delegation, said the episode also raises questions about Trumps hard-line policies for asylum seekers. He cited a recent Homeland Security Inspector General report finding that the Trump administrations policy of limiting asylum seekers at ports of entry forces families to cross the border between ports of entry, sometimes after making dangerous treks across the desert. This is a humanitarian crisis, and we have a moral obligation to ensure these vulnerable families can safely seek asylum, which is legal under immigration and international law, at our borders, Castro said. We can and must do better as a nation. McAleenan said he welcomes the scrutiny. We cannot stress enough the dangers posed by traveling long distances, in crowded transportation or in the natural elements through remote desert areas without food, water and other supplies, he said. No one should risk injury, or even death, by crossing our border unlawfully. This is why I asked Congress on Tuesday to change our laws so that the United States is not incentivizing families to take this dangerous path. Staff Writer Silvia Foster-Frau contributed to this report. Re: Get facts right, Your Turn, Dec. 5: We are told to research to seek the facts by Katherine Hess. I did and found that she left out some of the facts about Rep. Beto ORourke. ORourke purports to be a protector of the little people. Despite ORourkes concern for little people, he voted against protecting the smallest of the little people: the newborn survivors of abortion. ORourke voted against the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which made abortionists provide the same level of care to all infants born alive. By this law, abortionists could no longer abandon infants born alive during an abortion, and they had to provide them with the same care they would give to any newborn. Afterward, ORourke rationalized his lack of care for these infants by writing, I believe Members of Congress should not be making health care decisions for women nor should they be discouraging physicians from providing safe medical care due to fear of legal action. Notice how ORourke shows great concern for the abortionist, but he shows none for the human that has the most to lose in the abortion: the baby. In addition, Beto voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which acknowledges that unborn babies can feel pain and protects them from being killed after 20 weeks. Im not sure what Hess comment about the difference between pro-choice and pro-abortion meant, but these are the confirmed facts about ORourke and abortion. John K. Landry, New Braunfels Not brave at all Re: Trump brave, Your Turn, Dec. 1: Speaking of the Express-News printing outrageous commentary, we have this letter from Donald Trump enthusiast Greg Nussel claiming that Trump is brave because he chooses to ignore the premeditated murder of a U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Nussel is ignorant of several facts. First, a U.S. person is under the protection of the United States no matter where he roams even North Korea, Iran or Russia and certainly to Turkey, a NATO ally. Second, the Saudis did not warn Khashoggi not to appear at their consulate in Istanbul in fact, they assured him of his personal safety. Khashoggi did not ignore a warning; he trusted a lie. And third, it speaks volumes that Trump mumbled something about the CIA merely feeling that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. The agency does not operate on its feelings but on sources and methods intercepts or well-placed informants. Nussel then states that Trump acted courageously by sweeping the killing under a diplomatic rug in hopes of a major arms deal. Since when does the United States give dictatorships and absolute monarchies a pass for committing violations of human rights, to say nothing of endorsing premeditated murder? If Nussel is correct that soft-pedaling a political killing is courageous, it is clear that American values as expressed in the Declaration of Independence are null and void, and must be replaced by Trumps code of (a)moral relativism. G.L. Lamborn Read your policy Re: Roof insurance process has holes, Another View, by Ian Sterling, Dec. 4: People seem to understand their automobile insurance more than they do their homeowners insurance. They do not expect to receive the full replacement value of a 10-year-old car that has been totaled, yet are surprised when the same insurance principles apply to their dwellings. Full replacement cost coverage is available from some auto insurers and most home insurers for an additional premium. In fact, some homeowners policies include replacement cost coverage as part of the base policy. For this coverage to be applicable to a loss, the home must be insured at or above a stated percentage of its replacement value. When a policy includes this coverage and its terms are met, the dwelling and its contents are covered for their full replacement cost rather than for their depreciated value. When a claim is covered for full replacement cost, the standard procedure is to pay out the depreciated value upfront. If the repair is made within a given time period, the insured is paid the balance of the full replacement cost after submitting proof of the repair. Insurance companies offer lower premiums if an insured person increases their deductible. This allows the insured to not have to pay for coverage on amounts they can afford out-of-pocket if there is a loss. People understandably want to lower their insurance premium by selecting higher deductibles and refusing additional protections. Unfortunately, when there is a loss, some do not seem to remember the coverages they selected when they bought their policy. To avoid unpleasant surprises, review your insurance policies coverages periodically so you are aware of what is covered and what is not covered under them. Your insurance agent can answer any questions that you may have. Martha Confray Wrong party rattled Re: Ocasio-Cortez knows who she is and that rattles the GOP, Other Views, by Ruben Navarrette, Dec. 5: Navarrette has his parties mixed up. Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez needs to get control of the party she is in before she can start rattling the Republicans. She is more likely to change the Democrats by moving them further to the left than anything she can do to the Republicans right now. She is a bright new face of the party, but will Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat hierarchy let her hijack the party? How far will the media let her extend her 15 minutes of fame? One thing is for sure: She had better think before she speaks because she is creating all kinds of gaffe material for her opponents. New faces dont seem to do well in the Democrat Party. In this party you have to work and earn your way to the chain of command. Robert M. Louie, Houston Towns on near-opposite ends of New England mourned Saturday for Emily Todd. While her kind nature was remembered at services in Bethel, friends and family there and on Chebeague Island, Maine, struggled with the cruelty of her death at 25. Todds body was found near a boat launch in Bridgeport on Dec. 9, with a bullet wound to the back of her head. Five days later, 26-year-old Brandon Roberts was arrested in a Cleveland suburb and charged with her murder. Police had no new information Saturday on the status of his extradition from Ohio. As mourners spilled out Friday from Bethel Funeral Home, Todds friend, Jack Drake, told News 12, Bethel is a close-knit community, and I think a lot of people took it really hard. More services were to follow Saturday morning at Bethel United Methodist Church, and a spiritual ceremony is planned for Dec. 20 at the Chebeague Island Methodist Church. Todds father, Stephen Todd, spoke Thursday to the Portland Press Herald about his daughters ties to Maine, which included summer and holiday visits with extended family. She is a 10th-generation Chebeague Islander, he said. We talked off-and-on about her living on the island, and of course in retrospect, I wish she had. Bridgeport police said Emily Todd met Roberts only a couple of weeks before her death, through an online dating app. But after a few days, Todd decided to end their relationship, police said. We know she drove her car to meet up with Roberts, but we are still not sure why she decided to meet up with him after breaking up with him, and how she ended up where she was found, Bridgeport Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said Friday after Roberts arrest. Police said that after killing Todd, Roberts stole her car, cellphone and debit card, which he used to withdraw from her bank account. He faces charges of murder, felony murder, first-degree robbery, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a pistol without a permit. Todd was among Bethel High Schools Class of 2011. She attended Western Connecticut State University in Danbury before graduating in 2016 from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., with a degree in expressive arts therapy. She worked with seniors as a therapeutic recreational assistant at St. John Paul II Center in Danbury. A very particular type of person works on this unit and Emily was that, said her boss, Linda McCue, a director at the center. She had a very kind soul, passionate, very quiet and she was just lovely with a lot of our residents. Todds obituary noted that same spirit. Emilys kind and loving nature will forever live in the hearts and minds of all those that were fortunate enough to have known her, it said. The obituarys suggested donations also reflected the way Todd died, and how she lived. In lieu of flowers, mourners were asked to consider giving to Moms Demand Action, which pushes for stronger laws against gun violence, and to Island Commons, a nonprofit assisted-living community on Chebeague Island. STAMFORD Investigators soon may be traversing the streets with cameras and license-plate readers, gathering information that can be checked against databases to determine where cars live. Officials want to identify residents who avoid the citys motor vehicle tax by registering their cars elsewhere. They estimate the city loses $1 million a year because people move to Stamford and fail to register their cars here, or register them in places that charge less in taxes, or none at all. The Board of Finance last week unanimously approved a contract with Municipal Tax Services, a Shelton company employed by similarly sized cities in Connecticut. Tax Assessor Gregory Stackpole told the board its time to park more cars on the citys tax rolls. This contract will help us find those motor vehicles that are garaged in Stamford but not taxed here, Stackpole said. The ones with out-of-state plates are the most visible, but other vehicles are either unregistered or registered in another town. Investigators with Municipal Tax Services photograph and scan cars parked street-side, and in lots and garages, during hours when people would be at home. If a car is consistently at a house at 3 a.m., that gives us reason to add it to our tax list, Stackpole said. License-plate scanners pick up information from the Department of Motor Vehicles that can be checked against the citys database of addresses to determine whether the owner lives in Stamford. Investigators track the hours a car is parked at a certain address, and check vehicles as they pull out of apartment-complex garages on weekday mornings. If the Board of Representatives approves the contract at its January meeting, the company will need six months to gather data before we can start rolling out tax bills, Stackpole said. He will determine whether a car should be added to the tax rolls based on the information the company compiles, Stackpole said. Someone who is wrongly billed may dispute it before the Board of Assessment Appeals with proof of residence in another town. According to the contract, Municipal Tax Services will be paid half the taxes, penalties and interest collected on a vehicle placed on the tax rolls as a result of its investigation, plus a $50 fee paid by the violator. The company collects that amount only for the first year the vehicle is taxed, Stackpole said. Finance board member Mary Lou Rinaldi is in favor of the crackdown. Anyone who lives in Stamford and registers their car in another town should be paying taxes here like everyone else, Rinaldi said. The idea was proposed a year ago by Robert Roqueta, shortly after he was sworn in as a member of the Board of Representatives. Roqueta, a Democrat from District 4, said many of the cars parked regularly in the lot of his 80-unit East Side apartment complex have out-of-state license plates, especially from New York. Roqueta said people who move to Stamford appear to be keeping their old license plates because New York does not charge motor vehicle taxes. The same is true for New Jersey, Vermont and Florida. He cited another reason each town in Connecticut sets its own motor vehicle tax rate, and they vary considerably. Stamfords 27 mills is much higher than Greenwich, 11 mills, and Darien and New Canaan, 16 mills. But Stamford is lower than Norwalk, 30 mills, and significantly less than comparably sized cities New Haven, 42 mills; and Bridgeport, Hartford and Waterbury, all at 45 mills. The range in rates translates into tax bills that differ by hundreds of dollars. It means the owner of a passenger car assessed at the average, $10,000, would pay $110 in taxes in Greenwich, but would be charged $270 for the same car in Stamford, and $450 in Waterbury. Stackpole told the board that, because of its high tax rate, Waterbury has a significant problem with residents registering cars out of town. The city contracts with Municipal Tax Services and so far has added 3,500 vehicles to its rolls, Stackpole said. He said Stamford could add about the name number, collecting another $1 million each year. Stackpole said he contacted the Waterbury tax assessor to ask about Municipal Tax Services performance. They are very pleased. Theyve used this company for many years, he told the board. They said the contract pays for itself. According to Stamfords Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city collected $22.3 million in motor vehicle tax revenue in fiscal 2016-17, the latest year available. Motor vehicle taxes represent 4.5 percent of the $495 million in total tax revenue collected that year, but the amount is decreasing. The report shows that, though total tax revenue increased 41 percent between 2008 and 2017, revenue from motor vehicle taxes fell 20 percent. If the contract is approved, the city would have a completely new source of billing, since weve never collected on these vehicles before, said Jay Fountain, director of the Office of Policy and Management. The city already uses an outside company to collect delinquent taxes owed by residents who do register their cars in Stamford. The collection rate for motor vehicle taxes is about 85 percent, which is lower than the 99 percent rate for property taxes, Fountain said. Cars are much harder to find than houses, he said. The Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee will discuss the contract at 7 p.m. Monday in the Democratic Caucus Room on the fourth floor of the Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Blvd. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296. The following companies are subsidiares of Pearson: AEL (S) PTE Limited, ATI Professional Development LLC, Addison Wesley Longman Inc., Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., Aldwych Finance Limited, Americas Choice Inc., Atkey Finance Limited, Author Solutions, Axis Finance Inc., CAMSAWUSA Inc., CTI Education Group (Pty) Limited, Camsaw Inc., Casapsi Livraria e Editora Ltda, Centro Cultural Americano Franquias e Comercio Ltda., Century Consultants Ltd., Certiport, Certiport China Co Ltd, Certiport China Holding LLC, Certiport Inc., Cogmed Systems AB, Connections Academy of Arkansas LLC, Connections Academy of Florida LLC, Connections Academy of Iowa LLC, Connections Academy of Maine LLC, Connections Academy of Maryland LLC, Connections Academy of Minnesota LLC, Connections Academy of Missouri LLC, Connections Academy of Nevada LLC, Connections Academy of New Jersey LLC, Connections Academy of New Mexico LLC, Connections Academy of New York LLC, Connections Academy of Oregon LLC, Connections Academy of Pennsylvania LLC, Connections Academy of Tennessee LLC, Connections Academy of Texas LLC, Connections Education Inc., Connections Education LLC, Connections Education of Florida LLC, Dominie Press Inc., Dorian Finance Limited, Dorling Kindersley Australasia Pty Limited, EBNT Canada Holdings ULC, EBNT Holdings Limited, EBNT USA Holdings Inc., Edexcel Limited, Edexcel South Africa Pty Ltd, Education Development International plc, Education Resources (Cyprus) Limited, Educational Management Group Inc., Educational Publishers LLP, Embanet ULC, Embanet-Compass Knowledge Group Inc., EmbanetCompass, Embankment Finance Limited, English Language Learning and Instruction System Inc., Escape Studios Limited, FBH Inc., Falstaff Holdco Inc., Falstaff Inc., GED Domains LLC, GED Testing Service LLC, George (Shanghai) Commercial Information Consulting Co. Ltd, Global Education, Global George I Limited, Global George II Limited, GlobalEnglish, Globe Fearon Inc., Guangzhou Crescent Software Co. Ltd, Heinemann Education Botswana (Publishers) (Proprietary) Limited, Heinemann Publishers (Pty) Ltd, INTELLIPRO INC., Icodeon Limited, IndiaCan Education Private Limited, Integral 7 Inc., Integrated Analytics LLC, J M Solucoes Exportacao e Importacao Ltda, K12 Learning Services LLC, Kagiso Education Pty Ltd, Knowledge Analysis Technologies LLC, LCCI International Qualifications (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., LCCIEB Training Consultancy. Ltd, Learning Catalytics, LessonLab Inc., Lignum Oil Company, Linx Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Longman (Malawi) Limited, Longman Australasia Pty Ltd, Longman Group(Overseas Holdings)Limited, Longman Indochina Acquisition L.L.C., Longman Kenya Limited, Longman Mocambique Ltda, Longman Romania S.R.L., Longman Swaziland (Pty) Limited, Longman Tanzania Limited, Longman Zambia Educational Publishers Pty Ltd, Longman Zambia Limited, Longman Zimbabwe (Private) Ltd, Longmaned Ecuador S.A., Major123 Limited, Maskew Miller Longman (Pty) Limited, MeasureUp LLC, Modern Curriculum Inc., Multi Holding, Multi Treinamento e Editora Ltda, NCS Information Technology Services (Beijing) Co Ltd, NCS Pearson Inc., NCS Pearson Pty Ltd, NCS Pearson Puerto Rico Inc., National Computer Systems Japan Co. Ltd, Ordinate Corporation, PN Holdings Inc., PT Efficient English Services, Pearson (Beijing) Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Pearson (Guizhou) Education Technology Co. Ltd., Pearson Affordable Learning Fund Limited, Pearson America LLC, Pearson Amsterdam B.V., Pearson Australia Finance Unlimited, Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd, Pearson Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Pearson Australia Pty Ltd, Pearson Benelux B.V., Pearson Books Limited, Pearson Brazil Finance Limited, Pearson Business Services Inc., Pearson Canada Assessment Inc., Pearson Canada Finance Unlimited, Pearson Canada Holdings Inc, Pearson Canada Inc., Pearson Central Europe Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Pearson College Limited, Pearson DBC Holdings Inc., Pearson Desarrollo y Capacitacion Profesional Chile Limitada, Pearson Deutschland GmbH, Pearson Digital Learning Puerto Rico Inc., Pearson Dollar Finance Two Limited, Pearson Dollar Finance plc, Pearson Educacion SA, Pearson Educacion de Chile Limitada, Pearson Educacion de Colombia S A S, Pearson Educacion de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pearson Educacion de Panama SA, Pearson Educacion de Peru S.A., Pearson Education (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Pearson Education Achievement Solutions (RF) (Pty) Limited, Pearson Education Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Education Asia Limited, Pearson Education Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Pearson Education Hellas SA, Pearson Education Holdings Limited, Pearson Education Inc., Pearson Education Indochina Limited, Pearson Education Investments Limited, Pearson Education Korea Limited, Pearson Education Limited, Pearson Education Namibia (Pty) Limited, Pearson Education Publishing Limited, Pearson Education S.A., Pearson Education SA, Pearson Education South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Education South Asia Pte. Ltd., Pearson Education Taiwan Ltd, Pearson Education do Brasil S.A, Pearson Educational Measurement Canada Inc., Pearson Educational Publishers LLC, Pearson Egitim Cozumleri Tikaret Limited Sirketi, Pearson Falstaff (Holdings) Inc., Pearson Falstaff Holdco LLC, Pearson France, Pearson Funding Five plc, Pearson Funding Four plc, Pearson Funding Two Limited, Pearson Holdings Inc., Pearson Holdings Southern Africa (Pty) Limited, Pearson IOKI Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Pearson India Education Services Private Limited, Pearson India Support Services Private Limited, Pearson Institute of Higher Education, Pearson International Finance Limited, Pearson Investment Holdings Inc., Pearson Italia S.p.A, Pearson Japan KK, Pearson Lanka (Private) Limited, Pearson Learning China (HK) Limited, Pearson Lesotho (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Loan Finance No. 3 Limited, Pearson Loan Finance No. 4 Limited, Pearson Loan Finance No.2 Unlimited, Pearson Loan Finance Unlimited, Pearson Longman Uganda Limited, Pearson Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Pearson Management Services Limited, Pearson Management Services Philippines Inc., Pearson Maryland Inc., Pearson Netherlands B.V., Pearson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Pearson Nominees Limited, Pearson Online Tutoring LLC, Pearson Overseas Holdings Limited, Pearson PEM P.R. Inc., Pearson PRH Holdings Limited, Pearson Pension Nominees Limited, Pearson Pension Property Fund Limited, Pearson Pension Trustee Limited, Pearson Pension Trustee Services Limited, Pearson Professional Assessments Limited, Pearson Real Estate Holdings Inc., Pearson Real Estate Holdings Limited, Pearson Schweiz AG, Pearson Services Limited, Pearson Shared Services Limited, Pearson South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Strand Finance Limited, Pearson Sweden AB, Pearson VUE Philippines Inc., Pearson in Practice Holdings Limited, Pearson in Practice Skills Based Learning Limited, Pearson in Practice Technology Limited, Penguin Capital LLC, Phumelela Publishers (Pty) Ltd, ProctorCam Inc., Reading Property Holdings LLC, Rebus Planning Associates Inc., Reston Publishing Company Inc., Rycade Capital Corporation, Shanghai AWL Education Software Ltd, Silver Burdett Ginn Inc., Skylight Training and Publishing Inc., Smarthinking Inc., Sound Holdings Inc., Spear Insurance Company Limited, Stark Verlag GmbH, Sunnykey International Holdings Limited (BVI), TQ Catalis Limited, TQ Clapham Limited, TQ Education and Training Limited, TQ Global Limited, TQ Group Limited, TQ Holdings Limited, The Financial Times (I) Pvt Ltd, The Learning Edge International pty Ltd, The Waite Group Inc, Trio Parent Holdings LLC, US Learning Services LLC, USLS Holdings LLC, Virtual Nerd, Vue Testing Services Israel Ltd, Vue Testing Services Korea Limited, Wall Street Institute Kft., Williams Education GmbH, eCollege.com, and Editions Du Renouveau Pedagogique Inc.. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF's stock was trading at $25.60 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWU shares have increased by 26.3% and is now trading at $32.33. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Liberty Tax, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides tax preparation services in the United States and Canada. The company also facilitates refund-based tax settlement financial products, such as refund transfer products and personal income tax refund discounting, as well as provides an online digital Do-It-Yourself tax program in the United States. The company offers its products and services through a network of company-owned offices and franchised locations under the Liberty Tax, Liberty Tax Service, Liberty Income Tax, Liberty Canada, and SiempreTax+ brand names. The company was formerly known as JTH Holding, Inc. and changed its name to Liberty Tax, Inc. in July 2014. Liberty Tax, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Read More Telecom Italia S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Europe, South America, and the Mediterranean Basin. The company operates through Domestic, Brazil, and Other Operations segments. It offers fixed and mobile voice and Internet, and public telephony services, as well as products managed and developed for individuals and families; and voice, data, and Internet services and products, and information and communications technology solutions for small and medium-size enterprises, small offices/home offices, the public sector, large accounts, and enterprises in the fixed and mobile telecommunications markets. The company also manages and develops a portfolio of regulated and unregulated wholesale services for fixed and mobile telecommunications operators; provision of infrastructure for housing radio transmission equipment of mobile telephone networks; and development, engineering, building, and operation of network infrastructures, information technology (IT), real estate properties, and plant engineering. In addition, it engages in customer care, operating credit support, loyalty, and retention activities; and staff functions and other support activities. Further, the company offers office products and services for IT sector. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Laboratory Co. of America: 1957285 Ontario Inc. dba Quality Underwriting Services, 2089729 Ontario Inc., 2248848 Ontario Inc., 3065619 Nova Scotia Company, 3257959 Nova Scotia Company, 896988 Ontario Limited, 9279-3280 Quebec Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Alpha Medical Laboratory LLC, Assets of Pathology Inc, Beacon LBS IPA Inc., Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions Inc., CannAmm GP Inc., CannAmm Limited Partnership, Center for Disease Detection International, Center for Disease Detection LLC, Centrex Clinical Laboratories Inc., Chiltern, Clearstone Central Laboratories (U.S.) Inc., Clearstone Holdings (International) Ltd., Clipper Holdings Inc., Colorado Coagulation Consultants Inc., Colorado Laboratory Services LLC, Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., Covance Inc., Curalab Inc., Cytometry Associates Inc., Czura Thornton (Hong Kong) Limited, DCL Acquisition Inc., DCL Medical Laboratories LLC (DE), DCL Medical Laboratories LLC (FL), DCL Sub LLC, DIANON Systems Inc., DL Holdings Limited Partnership, Decision Diagnostics L.L.C. (aka DaVinici/Medicorp LLC), Diagnostic Services Inc., DynaLifeDX, Dynacare - Gamma Laboratory Partnership, Dynacare Company, Dynacare G.P. Inc., Dynacare Holdco LLC, Dynacare Laboratories Inc., Dynacare Laboratories Limited Partnership, Dynacare Northwest Inc., Dynacare Realty Inc., DynalifeDX Infrastructure Inc., Endocrine Sciences Inc., Esoterix Genetic Counseling LLC, Esoterix Genetic Laboratories LLC, Esoterix Inc., Execmed Health Services Inc., FirstSource Laboratory Solutions Inc., GDML Medical Laboratories Inc, Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratories GP Inc., Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratory Limited Partnership, HHLA Lab-In-An-Envelope LLC, Health Trans Services Inc., Home Healthcare Laboratory of America LLC, IDX Pathology Inc., Impact Genetics Corp, Impact Genetics Inc., Kaleida LabCorp LLC, Lab Delivery Service of New York City Inc., LabCorp BVBA, LabCorp Belgium Holdings Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Canada) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (China) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Singapore) Pte., LabCorp Development Company, LabCorp Employer Services Inc., LabCorp Health System Diagnostics LLC, LabCorp Indiana Inc., LabCorp Japan G.K., LabCorp Limited, LabCorp Michigan Inc., LabCorp Nebraska Inc., LabCorp Neon Ltd., LabCorp Neon Switzerland S.a.r.l., LabCorp Specialty Testing Billing Service Inc., LabCorp Specialty Testing Group Inc., LabCorp Staffing Solutions Inc., LabCorp Tennessee LLC, LabCorp UK Holdings Ltd., LabWest Inc., Laboratoire Bio-Medic Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America, Lifecodes Corporation, LipoScience Inc., Litholink Corporation, MEDTOX Scientific Inc., MNG Laboratories, Medical Neurogenitics LLC, Medtox Diagnostics Inc., Medtox Laboratories Inc., Monogram Biosciences Inc., Monogram Biosciences UK Limited, Myriad Autoimmunes Vectra Testing Business, NWT Inc., National Genetics Institute, New Brighton Business Center LLC, New Imaging Diagnostics LLC, New Molecular Diagnostics Ventures LLC, Orchid Cellmark Ltd., Orchid Cellmark ULC, PA Labs Inc., Path Lab Incorporated, Pathology Associates Medical Lab LLC, Pee Dee Pathology Associates Inc., Persys Technology Inc., Pixel by LabCorp, Princeton Diagnostic Laboratories of America Inc., Protedyne Corporation, ReliaGene Technologies Inc., SW/DL LLC, Saint Josephs-PAML LLC, Sequenom Biosciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine LLC, Sequenom Inc, Sequenom Inc., Southern Idaho Regional Laboratory, Tandem Labs Inc., The LabCorp Charitable Foundation, Tri-Cities Laboratory LLC, Viro-Med Laboratories Inc., Visiun, and Yakima Medical Arts Inc.. British farmer-owned First Milk has announced its milk price will decrease by 0.75p per litre from the New Year. The dairy co-operative announced that its milk price for January 2019 will decrease by 0.75ppl to 27.75ppl for the liquid standard litre (4% butterfat, 3.3% protein). This equates to 28.69ppl on a manufacturing standard litre (4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein) price. First Milk blames falling international dairy commodity markets which have impacted returns for the milk price cut. Jim Baird, Vice Chairman and farmer director, said: There were some positive signs in a recent GDT auction, but as we look forward into 2019 the medium-term direction of the market remains unclear. We have been able to deliver eight months of stable or increasing member milk prices and so recognise that this decrease, particularly at this time of year, will be disappointing to our members. He added: Our underlying business performance continues to be on plan, and we will continue to do all that we can to minimise any negative impact from the market and provide our members with as much stability as we can, whilst delivering on our growth strategy to delivery dairy prosperity for our members. Dairy farmers supplying Muller will also see their milk price decline for January 2019, going down by 1p per litre to 27.5ppl. Shah Rukh Khan has been the quintessential Bollywood heartthrob for decades now and rightly so. When his beloved wife Gauri Khan shared a picture of the two of them dancing at Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal's wedding, Shah Rukh immediately responded with the most loving comment. Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan recently attended the much talked about lavish Isha - Anand wedding. During the Sangeet ceremony of the pre-wedding celebrations in Jodhpur, Shah Rukh and Gauri put up a breathtaking dance performance for the song Dilli Wali Girlfriend. Sharing a picture of the two of them dancing, Gauri Khan tweeted saying, "On stage after decades ....in a @falgunipeacock outfit, they definitely know how to make it dramatic and timeless." Just minutes after this, Shah Rukh lovingly retweeted saying, "You are timeless!!" Doesn't that make us all go 'aww..'! Take a look at the their romantic tweets.. You are timeless!! https://t.co/zJBRtB7CHZ Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 15, 2018 Pictures and videos of Shah Rukh and Gauri's dance performance to the 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' number at Isha and Anand's wedding festivities went viral. Talking about the performance with Mumbai Mirror, Shah Rukh said, "My wife trained with Shaimak Davar and his young dancers were with us that evening too. She was dancing on stage after 10-20 years, it was very sweet of her. I don't rehearse with my heroines, but this time I practised my steps backstage." Laughing he added, "With the wife, you have to, especially if she is a trained dancer." Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan have been going strong for over 25 years now. Never short of love for each other, they are one of the most respected couples of Bollywood. Gauri recently posted a picture of Shah Rukh and her son AbRam on her Instagram handle and captioned it, "Can we just declare them the 'sweetest' couple in the world. #lovegoals, #kissonforehead" In this sweet image, father and son can be seen twinning in their outfits. 5 year old AbRam can be seen kissing his dad on the forehead while Shah Rukh is smiling. On the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan is busy with promotions of upcoming film Zero, starring him, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Playing a dwarf in search for a bride, Shah Rukh plays the role of Bauua Singh. Anushka will be seen playing the role of a scientist with cerebral palsy, and Katrina in the role of an alcoholic superstar. Zero is directed by Anand L. Rai and is slated to release on December 21, this year. MOST READ: Sara Ali Khan Talks About Mum Amrita Singh's Reaction To Kedarnath! Taimur Ali Khan set to make his bollywood Debut; Here's the TRUTH | FilmiBeat Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan's son is probably the most famous baby on the internet. Taimur Ali Khan, an almost two year old cherub, is a born star with his fan following growing higher and higher everyday. Now, apparently, a movie is going to be made in Taimur's name! Will this little nawab, his adorable antics and the fan frenzy surrounding him ever stop surprising us? Read on to find out! If we are to go by reports of Mumbai Mirror, film maker Madhur Bhandarkar has trademarked a film title which is, yes.. 'Taimur'! Does this mean the Madhur Bhandarkar is so smitten by Taimur that he will be making a film on him? Or could it be about the realities of social media and paparazzi culture today? Madhur Bhandarkar's films are known for portraying realties surrounding the glamorous worlds of film, fashion and so on. Taimur caught the attention of netizens since the day his name and pictures started floating around on the internet. He has held on to netizens' awe ever since. When Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan first announced that they had named their boy Taimur, the internet went crazy and started trolling the couple for naming their baby after a Mongolian warrior. Saif and Kareena calmed down the internet and clarified that Taimur meant iron. When people first caught a glimpse of Saifeena's baby, they could not stop gushing about how extraordinarily cute he is. Taimur has since then grown up in the public eye with paparazzi following him and clicking pictures of him on a daily basis. Saif and Karan Johar even discussed Taimur's paparazzi rate card on an episode of Koffee With Karan. Apparently Taimur's rate card is higher than all other superstar's picture, it being Rs. 1500 per picture! Taimur's fan frenzy reached new heights when dolls started being made inspired by Taimur. Shocked but accepting this, both Saif and Kareena reacted positively to this in an interview with Hindustan Times. Saif said, "I am glad people are benefiting from him. I only ask God for his safety and happiness in return." Kareena added to this and said that Taimur can't run away from his popularity and neither can they as his parents. Not knowing how to feel about the doll, she expressed so, to which Saif said that all this is happening because people love him so much and that such things are a blessing for him. MOST READ: Newbies Zaheer & Pranutan Talk About Notebook: It Is Beautiful, Colourful And Happy Says Zaheer Television producer, Vinta Nanda had lodged a police complaint against 'sanskari babuji' Alok Nath on November 21. She had accused him of raping her 19 years ago through her social media account. But, the actor had denied the allegations and filed a suit against the complainant, seeking Rs 1 as damage for defaming him. Following the allegations made by Vinta, Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) expelled Alok from the association. Recently, there were reports that the actor has gone missing ever since the complaint was lodged. When his counsel was contacted, he had said, "The summons was issued but was not served as Nath is not in Mumbai. He will return to the city this week and will definitely visit Oshiwara police station. He is in touch with me. I have not read the contents of the summons." According to the latest report, the actor had applied for anticipatory bail, but it has been rejected. Recently, the actor had filed anticipatory bail at the Dindoshi Sessions Court in Mumbai to avoid getting arrested in connection with the case. According to PTI report, "The plea for pre-arrest bail was filed before Additional Sessions Judge S S Oza Thursday. The court on Friday adjourned the matter to December 20, after the complainant's lawyer sought time to file an intervention plea opposing bail for Alok Nath." Apparently, the court has rejected the bail plea. Dhruti Kapadia, counsel for Vinta Nanda, told Mid-day that Nath's plea was not granted by the court. "The anticipatory bail application was filed by his lawyer, but the plea was not granted, as we sought time to file an intervention application in the matter." Most Read: BB 12: Rohit Suchanti Eliminated; Double Ishqbaazi On Bigg Boss As Salman & SRK Are Back Together! Toronto, Ontario and Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - December 14, 2018) - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or the "Company") (TSX: MDNA) (OTCQB: MDNAF), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, is pleased to announce today that it has priced its previously announced marketed offering (the "Offering") of units of the Company ("Units"). The Company intends to issue a minimum of 4,000,000 Units and a maximum of 6,000,000 Units at a price of CDN$1.00 per Unit for minimum gross proceeds of CDN$4,000,000 and maximum gross proceeds of CDN$6,000,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of CDN$1.20 per Common Share for a period of 60 months following the closing of the Offering. The Offering will be undertaken on a best efforts basis pursuant to the terms and conditions of an agency agreement (the "Agency Agreement") entered into between Bloom Burton Securities Inc. (the "Lead Agent"), Mackie Research Capital Corporation and Richardson GMP Limited (together with the Lead Agent, the "Agents") and the Company. In connection with the Offering, the Agents will be paid a cash commission equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering and will be issued broker warrants exercisable to acquire such number of Common Shares as is equal to 7.0% of the aggregate number of Units sold pursuant to the Offering. A preliminary short form prospectus in respect of the Offering dated November 8, 2018 (the "Preliminary Prospectus") has been filed in each of the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. A copy of the Preliminary Prospectus is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund continued clinical development of the Company's on-going Phase 2b clinical trials of MDNA55 in recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) and the Company's development of IL-2 Superkines, as well as for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Further details are disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus. The Offering is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. This news release is not an offer of the Units for sale in the United States. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Units, in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such province, state or jurisdiction. About Medicenna Medicenna is a clinical stage immunotherapy company focused on oncology and the development and commercialization of novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first in class Empowered Cytokines (ECs) for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Medicenna's wholly owned subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna Biopharma Inc., is specifically targeting the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R), which is over-expressed by at least 20 different types of cancer affecting more than one million new cancer patients every year. Supported by a significant non-dilutive grant from CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas), Medicenna's lead IL4-EC, MDNA55, is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b clinical trial for rGBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer, at top-ranked brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55 has completed three clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults with rGBM, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA respectively. For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of 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 with respect to the use of the net proceeds of the Offering and the 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the risks detailed in the Preliminary Prospectus, the annual information form of the Company dated June 26, 2018 and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time. 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. 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 of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law. Medicenna: Fahar Merchant, President and Chief Executive Officer, 604-671-6673, fmerchant@medicenna.com; Elizabeth Williams, Chief Financial Officer, 416-648-5555, ewilliams@medicenna.com. MZ Group: Mike Cole, 1-949-259-4988, mike.cole@mzgroup.us. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. By Norihiko Shirouzu YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd investigators are examining former Chairman Carlos Ghosn's use of an internal 'CEO Reserve' fund and the role of subsidiaries in the Netherlands and other countries as part of a probe into alleged financial misconduct, two people with knowledge of the inquiry told Reuters. Ghosn and close associates spent money from a fund that some insiders dubbed 'the CEO Reserve' to help pay for residences used by the Ghosn family as well as for other personal expenses, the people said. Investigators are separately checking whether capital from some subsidiaries was also used to pay for Ghosn family residences and whether such payments were split into small chunks to escape checks by internal financial staff and auditors, they added. By Norihiko Shirouzu YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd <7201.T> investigators are examining former Chairman Carlos Ghosn's use of an internal 'CEO Reserve' fund and the role of subsidiaries in the Netherlands and other countries as part of a probe into alleged financial misconduct, two people with knowledge of the inquiry told Reuters. Ghosn and close associates spent money from a fund that some insiders dubbed 'the CEO Reserve' to help pay for residences used by the Ghosn family as well as for other personal expenses, the people said. Investigators are separately checking whether capital from some subsidiaries was also used to pay for Ghosn family residences and whether such payments were split into small chunks to escape checks by internal financial staff and auditors, they added. The existence of the fund and the investigators' scrutiny of how the subsidiaries' capital was used is being reported by Reuters for the first time. The two sources with knowledge of the inquiry declined to be identified as Nissan has not publicly disclosed details of the probe. Nissan spokesman Nick Maxfield said the Japanese automaker was still looking into the nature and extent of what it calls the misconduct by Ghosn. "We are unable to comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigation at this time," he said. Ghosn has denied wrongdoing, according to media reports. His lawyer in Tokyo, Motonari Otsuru, was unavailable for comment on this article, according to a person who answered the phone at his law office. In response to questions from Reuters about the CEO Reserve fund and other issues, two Ghosn representatives in the United States said they were unable to comment because they were not sufficiently familiar with the details. Nissan fired Ghosn as chairman on Nov. 26, a week after he was arrested by Japanese prosecutors, accused of conspiring to understate his compensation by about half of the 10 billion yen ($88 million) awarded over five years from 2010. He was indicted this week and remains in detention. Until recently one of the auto industry's most celebrated executives, Ghosn was seen as the anchor of Nissan's alliance with Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp <7211.T>. He has since been fired as chairman of Mitsubishi although Renault has stopped short of dismissing him from its helm. SPLIT PAYMENTS One focus of the probe is whether payments for the multi-million dollar residences were split by associates close to Ghosn into one million dollar chunks and then processed through a Nissan unit in the Netherlands called Zi-A Capital BV and its subsidiaries, which had been set up to invest in tech startups, one of the people said. Reuters was not able to verify who was in charge of making the payments. Done that way, the transactions may have escaped the attention of finance people within Nissan, Nissan's auditors and employees affiliated with the Nissan-Renault alliance, the people said. "Why would (internal financial staff) go in and check one-million-dollar transactions in a subsidiary five, six levels or layers down and away from the global headquarters? They wouldn't do that," one individual familiar with the inquiry said. "Especially when amounts are less than one million dollars," the individual said. Ghosn's legal defence partly rests on the assertion that his compensation arrangements were vetted internally and by outside consultants, people familiar with the matter said. They did not identify the Nissan staff and external consultants who were in charge of the vetting. The former Nissan chairman is prepared to argue that properties spanning cities across the globe were purchased by Nissan as corporate housing, these people said. His co-defendant, former representative director Greg Kelly, who has been accused by prosecutors of conspiring with Ghosn about his compensation, has denied the allegations. Kelly's lawyer, Yoichi Kitamura, said he was unaware of the content of Nissan's internal probe and was confident his client will be cleared of the charges brought against him. Zi-A Capital BV was registered in the Netherlands as a company by Nissan Motor on Dec. 10 2010 with Kelly and Ghosn named as two of four directors at the time. Ghosn, who was also CEO, left as a director on Nov. 2, 2011, according to a company profile available with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The role of two of Zi-A Capital BV's subsidiaries, Zi-A Capital Ltd in Dubai and Hamsa Holdings Ltd in the British Virgin Islands, are also being checked by investigators, one of the people with knowledge of the probe said. Zi-A Capital BV is currently wholly owned by Nissan Motor Parts Center BV in the Netherlands, which is a unit of Nissan Automotive Europe SAS in France, which in turn is a wholly owned unit of Yokohama-based Nissan Motor. Since investments in technology startups are generally considered confidential, the subsidiaries did not attract much attention from internal financial staff, the sources with knowledge of the probe said. Nissan's auditor, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC, questioned the automaker's management several times, chiefly around 2013, about purchases of overseas luxury homes for Ghosns personal use and of stock-appreciation rights that were conferred on him, a person with direct knowledge of the matter has said. But the Japanese automaker said the transactions and financial reporting were appropriate, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Nissan declined to comment. A representative for Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC could not immediately reached for comment. A spokesman for the auditor has previously said he could not comment on specific cases when asked about the matter. POTATO CHIPS The CEO Reserve was set up to pay for unplanned business needs and could at times contain 'a few hundred million dollars', one of the people with knowledge of the inquiry said. "For example, if you have an autonomous drive company you'd want to buy right now, you'd use that budget," the second person with knowledge of the matter said. According to one of the people, the team is reviewing "a mountain" of receipts and other financial records to see if purchases of residences in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut and Paris as well as expenses such as a yacht club membership and a donation to a college had been approved and paid for properly. One of the apartments in Rio de Janeiro has been the subject of a heated legal dispute between Nissan and Ghosn, with Nissan losing a battle to block Ghosn and his family from accessing the apartment. Nissan had argued that access could result in the destruction of evidence of crimes. Ghosn used the CEO Reserve to also pay for family vacation trips, utilities and even potato chips, one of the people with knowledge of the probe said. (Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu; Additional reporting by Mike Spector in New York; Tim Kelly, Daniel Leussink and Takahiko Wada in Tokyo, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Laurence Frost in Paris; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Diane Bartz, Liana B. Baker and Greg Roumeliotis WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp expect their merger to be approved by a U.S. By Diane Bartz, Liana B. Baker and Greg Roumeliotis WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp expect their merger to be approved by a U.S. national security panel as early as next week, after their respective parent companies said they would consider curbing their use of equipment from China's Huawei Technologies [HWT.UL], people familiar with the matter told Reuters. U.S. government officials have been pressuring T-Mobile's German majority owner, Deutsche Telekom AG , to stop using Huawei equipment, the sources said, over concerns that Huawei is effectively controlled by the Chinese state and its network equipment may contain "back doors" that could enable cyber espionage, something which Huawei denies. That pressure is part of the national security review of T-Mobile's $26 billion deal to buy U.S. rival Sprint, the sources said. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been conducting a national security review of the Sprint deal, which was announced in April. Negotiations between the two companies and the U.S. government have not been finalised and any deal could still fall through, the sources cautioned. T-Mobile and Sprint shares were both down 1.2 percent on Friday. Like all major U.S. wireless carriers, T-Mobile and Sprint do not use Huawei equipment, but their parent companies use Huawei gear in overseas markets. Sprint's parent, SoftBank Group Corp <9984.T>, plans to replace 4G network equipment from Huawei with hardware from Nokia and Ericsson , Nikkei reported on Thursday, without citing sources. Deutsche Telekom, Europe's largest telecoms company, on Friday said it was reviewing its vendor plans in Germany and other European markets where it operates, given the debate on the security of Chinese network gear. Sprint, T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, SoftBank and CFIUS declined to comment. Huawei has said the security concerns are unfounded. Tensions have been heightened recently by the Dec. 1 arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, in Canada for possible extradition to the United States. U.S. prosecutors accuse Meng of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating U.S. sanctions. Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has said she is innocent. The Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission must also approve the proposed deal between the third and fourth largest U.S. wireless carriers. T-Mobile previously said it expected the deal to close in the first half of 2019. The agreement was reached after four years of on-and-off talks that set the stage for the creation of a company that would compete more favourably with the top two wireless players, Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc . The United States has been using its influence to pressure companies around the world to shed Huawei as a supplier, even when it comes to their overseas operations, as it seeks primacy over China in 5G wireless technology. Huawei is the world's biggest network equipment maker ahead of Ericsson and Nokia. New Zealand and Australia have stopped telecom operators using Huawei's equipment in new 5G networks because they are concerned about possible Chinese government involvement in their communications infrastructure. (Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis and Liana Baker in New York, Diane Bartz in Washington; Writing by Chris Sanders; Editing by Bill Rigby and Daniel Wallis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Chris Prentice WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. farm, automaker and food and beverage groups pressed the Trump administration on Friday to ensure that any new trade talks with the European Union lead to an increase in their access to EU markets with less red tape. U.S By Chris Prentice WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. farm, automaker and food and beverage groups pressed the Trump administration on Friday to ensure that any new trade talks with the European Union lead to an increase in their access to EU markets with less red tape. U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded better terms of trade for the United States from China, the EU and Japan. Washington has already reworked the North American trade treaty with neighbours Mexico and Canada. Trump said poor trade deals have cost the United States millions of jobs. At a hearing on U.S. negotiating objectives for trade talks with the European Union, groups representing farmers, food and automobile companies said they wanted to be included in the talks and that reducing tariffs and regulatory restrictions should be a key objective. The U.S. Trade Representative notified lawmakers in October of its plans to pursue the trade talks, though it has been unclear whether agriculture and automobiles would be included as a joint statement from the regions in July called for reductions but gave little direction on either sector. "It is fundamental that food and agriculture issues are a key component of this agreement," U.S. Grains Council Director of Trade Policy Floyd Gaibler said at the hearing. That sentiment was echoed by others throughout the farm and food sector, as well as automaker groups. Testimony from the hearing will feed into the USTR's formulation of negotiating objectives for the talks. It is unclear exactly when those discussions will begin. The farm and food groups on Friday also urged U.S. officials to address tariff barriers and other regulatory and labelling issues that hinder U.S. access to the lucrative European market. The European Union has more stringent standards than the United States regarding the use of pesticides, hormones and biotechnology in food crops. U.S. producers of products from beef to pistachios say these limit their access to the European market. "These are long-standing issues that we have struggled with for a long period of time," said Gaibler, referring to the restrictions on biotechnology. He also stressed the importance of trying to remove antidumping duties that the European Union has placed on U.S. ethanol. Grocery Manufacturers Association Federal Affairs Director Nancy Wilkins reiterated that biotechnology is key issue, saying the EU's labelling requirements for genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs, dramatically increase costs for U.S. food companies. For automakers, the deal is an opportunity to make regulations in both regions more consistent. Differing safety standards can add millions of dollars in cost per vehicle, making it difficult to sell American vehicles into Europe, the American Automotive Policy Council said. STEEL, ALUMINIUM TARIFFS Food and automaker groups pressed U.S. officials to remove existing tariffs on steel and aluminium, at least while the negotiations are taking place. Under Trump, the United States has placed "Section 232" national security-related tariffs on steel and aluminium, prompting other countries to slap hefty retaliatory levies on U.S. goods. Jennifer Thomas, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said the "steep and unexpected increases" have driven up costs at a difficult time. "We are very much at a time where my companies are witnessing flat or decreased sales," she said. "This ongoing threat of auto tariffs, via 232, is just injecting more uncertainty at an already fragile time." (Reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Frances Kerry and Daniel Wallis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Dominique Vidalon and Inti Landauro PARIS (Reuters) - Luxury goods maker LVMH has agreed to buy Belmond , the owner of hotels including Venice's landmark Cipriani, for a total of $3.2 billion to raise its profile in upmarket hospitality. LVMH, the firm behind fashion labels Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, already has hotels including the Cheval Blanc in the prestigious Courchevel ski resort in the French Alps, as well as Bvlgari hotels. By Dominique Vidalon and Inti Landauro PARIS (Reuters) - Luxury goods maker LVMH has agreed to buy Belmond , the owner of hotels including Venice's landmark Cipriani, for a total of $3.2 billion to raise its profile in upmarket hospitality. LVMH, the firm behind fashion labels Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, already has hotels including the Cheval Blanc in the prestigious Courchevel ski resort in the French Alps, as well as Bvlgari hotels. The Belmond deal is LVMH's largest since it spent 4.3 billion euros in 2011 to buy Bvlgari and 6.5 billion euros in 2017 to gain full control of Christian Dior. It will have a limited impact of its debt and boost 2018 earnings per share, before synergies by just 0.1 percent. LVMH will "reach critical mass in the ultimate luxury hotel world with one single acquisition," finance chief Jean-Jacques Guiony told analysts during a call. "The priority is to develop and improve the profitability of these exceptional brands and nurture complementarity with the LVMH group brands," he added The acquisition will give it properties including the only hotel within the Machu Picchu citadel in southern Peru, Hotel Splendido in Portofino on the Italian riviera and the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, moving LVMH further into the fast-growing "experiential" high-end travel and hospitality sector. The transaction follows a wave of deals in the luxury hotels sector, including AccorHotels' purchase of FRHI Holdings, the parent of the Fairmont and Raffles hotels. "While some investors may question the acquisition, which appears to lie outside LVMH group's core operations, we believe it is consistent with its long-term strategy focused on offering the consumer a full spectrum of luxury experience," Berenberg analysts said in a research note. "LUXURY EXPERIENCES" Guiony said the deal reflected LVMH's belief that "the future of luxury is in luxury goods and in luxury experiences". It also pushes LVMH further into new luxury services at a time of growing concern that Chinese demand for high-end fashion and handbags will start waning amid worries about the health of the world's second-largest economy and potential damage from Wshington's protracted trade spat with Beijing. LVMH said it would pay $25 per Belmond share, a 40 percent premium to Thursday's closing price. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2019, values Belmond's equity at $2.6 billion, and the group, including debt, at $3.2 billion. Belmond posted earnings of $140 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) on revenue of $572 million in the 12 months to Sept. 30. Half of revenue comes from Europe and 20 percent from North America. At 1520 GMT, LVMH shares were down 0.9 percent at 253.45 euros in a weak European stock market while Belmond shares jumped 40 percent in New York to $24.74. RBC Capital Markets analysts said the price of the deal - at 5.6 times recent sales and 22.9 times recent EBITDA - looked "optically high", but added: "Belmond owns a unique portfolio of trophy real estate assets, that will allow LVMH to increase its exposure to experiential luxury". LVMH ended up paying a multiple of 19 times Belmonds expected EBITDA for next year, according to Refinitiv data. Bigger hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott International trade on forward multiples of just over 12 times. Belmond owns, partly owns or manages 46 luxury hotels, restaurants and train and river-cruise properties located in exotic and distinctive destinations worldwide. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, Dominique Vidalon; additional reporting by Pascale Denis; Editing by Keith Weir and Mark Potter) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped about 2 percent on Friday, weighed down by falling U.S. stock markets, while weak economic data from China pointed to lower fuel demand in the world's biggest oil importer. Brent crude futures fell $1.17 to settle at $60.28 a barrel, a 1.90 percent loss By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped about 2 percent on Friday, weighed down by falling U.S. stock markets, while weak economic data from China pointed to lower fuel demand in the world's biggest oil importer. Brent crude futures fell $1.17 to settle at $60.28 a barrel, a 1.90 percent loss. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures lost $1.38 to settle at $51.20 a barrel, a 2.62 percent loss. Global benchmark Brent posted a weekly loss of almost 2.3 percent, while WTI declined nearly 2.7 percent. "The oil complex remains vulnerable to heavy selling into the equities especially when combined with a strengthening in the U.S. dollar as is the case so far today," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note. U.S. equity markets broadly fell as China's November retail sales grew at their weakest pace since 2003 and industrial output rose the least in nearly three years. The report added to nerves about U.S.-China trade relations. Chinese oil refinery throughput in November fell from October, suggesting an easing in oil demand, though runs were 2.9 percent above year-ago levels. "Oil came under pressure out of poor economic data from China overnight, dampening enthusiasm for good oil demand growth in 2019 in light of a currently oversupplied market," said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. Concerned by mounting oversupply, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers, including Russia, agreed last week to reduce output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), or more than 1 percent of global demand. U.S. energy firms cut four oil rigs in the week to Dec. 14, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday. The data is seen as an indicator of future production. The International Energy Agency said on Thursday it expected a deficit in oil supply by the second quarter of next year, provided OPEC members and other key producers stuck closely to last week's deal to cut output. As part of the agreement, de facto OPEC leader Saudi Arabia plans to reduce its output to 10.2 million bpd in January. The IEA kept its 2019 forecast for global oil demand growth at 1.4 million bpd, unchanged from its projection last month, and said it expected growth of 1.3 million bpd this year. Barclays said on Friday it expects oil prices to rebound in the first half of 2019 on falling inventories, Saudi Arabia's export cuts and an end to the Iran sanction waivers. (Additional reporting by Christopher Johnson in London and Koustav Samanta in Singapore; Editing by Phil Berlowitz, Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Rawat said, 'Do I put a restriction on her to say that in that command tenure, you will not be given maternity leave? If I say that, there will be a ruckus created.' Indian Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat on Saturday said the military in India may not be ready at the moment for women to take up combat roles, citing a number of reasons for his statement. Among these, he mentioned the possibility of seeking maternity leave and their responsibilities towards children. Speaking about the possibility of a woman commanding officer in the army seeking maternity leave, Rawat said during an interview with News18: "Do I put a restriction on her saying that in that command tenure, you will not be given maternity leave? If I say that, a ruckus will be created." On facilities for women to change their clothes while on duty, Rawat said the orders are to give a woman a separate hut and to "cocoon her separately". He further remarked, "She will say somebody is peeping, so we will have to give a sheet around her." Rawat also gave an example of a woman dying in service. "She has a kid of two years. He is in Delhi or Chandigarh, and her parents are taking care of the baby. So what I am saying is, now do you think we are ready for this?" Meanwhile, at an event in Hyderabad, army chief of staff said that the Indian Army had proposed to increase the intake of women in more non-combat roles, such as interpreters and cyber specialists. The army was also mulling over recruiting women for the military police, he told reporters on the sidelines of the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the outskirts of Hyderabad. "We are saying we are going to increase the intake (of women in non-combat roles). Women are already there in the army. We are now going to take them more into some other cadres gradually," he said. In November, speaking on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy in Pune, Rawat had said the Indian Army was not ready yet for women in combat roles. With inputs from PTI Mehbooba Mufti said she hopes that the manner in which the decision over Rafale deal has been welcomed by the BJP without pointing fingers, similarly when the decision over Babri Masjid comes, it will be similarly awaited and people will not start pointing fingers at the Supreme Court. Mumbai: People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should welcome the Supreme Court's verdict in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid case just the way it hailed the order on the Rafale deal. "I hope that the manner in which the decision over Rafale deal has been welcomed and no fingers have been pointed at it, similarly when the decision over Babri Masjid comes, it will be similarly awaited and people will not start pointing fingers at the Supreme Court". A top court bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, on Friday dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale deal stating that there is no need to conduct an investigation. "We are satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process. Joint exercises have taken place and there is no element of financial benefits," CJI Gogoi said. BJP president Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were among the top BJP leaders hailing the court's verdict while demanding an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for 'misleading' the public over the issue. With the Supreme Court having adjourned the hearing of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019, when the court will fix the next date for hearing, several Hindu outfits, including the Shiv Sena and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have called upon the BJP to pass a legislature to start the construction of the temple at the disputed site. Many organisations have warned BJP of a defeat in the forthcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections if they fail to enact a law to start the construction of the Ram temple. While speaking on the issues associated with Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba lauded the efforts made by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee towards establishing peace in the state and reconciling with Pakistan. She reiterated that the period between 2002 and 2005 was a "golden period" for the state since the Prime Minister (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) "were on the same page" for the first time. "They thought alike, their vision was alike and there was not much of the press who would label you 'anti-India' as soon as you mentioned Pakistan," said Mehbooba, adding that the dialogue process that Vajpayee had started with Pakistan came to a standstill once he lost the following General elections. While pointing out that "governance is only possible with peace", Mehbooba lamented lack of initiative from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in holding dialogue with Pakistan, separatists and others so that peace could prevail in Kashmir. "To restart what Vajpayee ji had left halfway, we joined hands with BJP. We put everything at stake, we knew it would be suicidal, but we still did it because we thought Modi ji will rise to the occasion. But unfortunately, he could not do so," said Mehbooba. Around 65 people men, women and children who also fell ill after taking the same adulterated food are being treated in Chamarajanagar. Bengaluru: The toll has gone up to 13 from eight in the Friday's suspected food poisoning at a village temple in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. Two persons were detained for interrogation, a minister said on Saturday. "So far, 13 devotees have died in the tragic incident at Sulavadi's Maramma temple in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Two persons have been detained for interrogation and the case is being investigated," tweeted state Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, who also holds the home portfolio. Around 65 people men, women and children who also fell ill after taking the same adulterated food are being treated in state-run and private hospitals in the district, about 180 km southwest of Bengaluru. "I have instructed the Muzarai (Endowment) department to be alert and avoid such incidents at any temple in the state," said Parameshwara. The temple deity Maramma, considered an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Durga, is worshipped for blessings before starting any work or function. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of the victims, assured the sick devotees being treated in hospitals that the state government would meet their medical expenses. "I have directed the district administration, including the police to conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident and book the guilty," said Kumaraswamy in a statement on Friday night. State Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao announced Rs 1 lakh relief from the party fund to each of the bereaved families and assured them of stringent action against the guilty. Congress senior leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited one of the hospitals at Mysuru where some of the affected devotees are being treated and inquired about their well-being. "I never heard of temple prasada (offering) being poisoned. The incident of this magnitude is unimaginable. I am shocked over the tragedy. It's a most inhuman act and is deplorable," Siddaramaiah told reporters later. He also advised the priests and management of temples to ensure the safety of the prasada being distributed to devotees. The district police registered a case of negligence against a private trust managing the temple, belonging to the Lingayat community. Large swathes of land in and around the town are now being seen as perfect spots to set up infrastructure that would be needed to cater to the tourists visiting Dera Baba Nanak from across the world. Editor's Note: With India and Pakistan agreeing to build a corridor connecting the holy Sikh shrine of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan's Punjab province with Dera Baba Nakak in India's Punjab, multi-faceted issues have cropped up in the region around the International Border. With the Punjab chief minister sounding an alert that the corridor is ISI's conspiracy to destabilise Punjab, security concerns have heightened. In a three-part series from the ground on the Indian side, we examine the fear among local residents about the corridor being used to smuggle drugs and as an entry point for Pakistan-trained militants, and also assess the eagerness among some who await to capitalise on the growth in the real estate and tourism sectors that this corridor promises. This is second part of the series. *** Gurdaspur: The quaint little town of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district suddenly sprang to prominence after India and Pakistan last month agreed to fulfil the longstanding demand of the Indian Sikhs to allow easier access to one of their most revered shrines Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. Rakesh Kumar, a real estate dealer, is enthusiastic over the announcement of the cross-border visa-free corridor which would connect the shrine in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak a town 38 km away from his city of residence, Gurdaspur. According to Kumar, the town is likely to witness unprecedented growth even as the administration is yet to receive any official directives or time-frame on the work plan. While the Central government has laid the foundation stone to set up the corridor, the district administration does not have much information on the project. We have not received any official communication on the commencement of work for the project from the Central or state government, Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur Vipul Ujjwal said on Friday. However, the word of mouth has spread so fast that the rates of property have already skyrocketed in Dera Baba Nanak, which happens to be the last town on the Indian side of the International Border and merely four kilometres from the Kartarpur shrine. Earlier, no one from the outside would have bought an acre of land which was priced at Rs 14-16 lakh. Now that same land can be procured at Rs 35-38 lakh. We have been receiving many inquiries if land is available in Dera Baba Nanak, Kumar said, adding that a chain of hotels from Delhi asked him about the price of land in the town after the announcement of the corridor. But now, local residents are refusing to sell their lands as they are waiting for the price to increase further, he said. Could prosper as tourism destination Large swathes of land in and around the town are now being seen as perfect spots to set up infrastructure that would be needed to cater to the tourists visiting Dera Baba Nanak from across the world. Like Amritsar, Dera Baba Nanak also holds religious importance. The only problem here is that Sikh pilgrims cannot proceed to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib on the other side of the border. Once they are allowed to go to visit the shrine through the stated corridor, the area will witness a property boom, said Harish Mehta, a real estate dealer operating around the area. A single market and many scattered shops can be seen in the maze of lanes across the town. When compared to Amritsarhome to another revered Sikh site, the Golden Templethe condition of the roads is not up to the mark in Dera Baba Nanak. The plans to build a cross-border corridor, coupled with the Punjab state cabinets recent decision to set up a local administrative unit (Dera Baba Nanak Development Authority) has been a ray of hope for residents who are now waiting for the lack of basic amenities to be replaced by fast-paced development. Stray cattle, garbage dumps and haphazard growth within the town are some of the challenges that the authorities will be faced with. Locals say that before the announcement of the corridor, officials from the administration rarely visited the area but they are now touring the town twice and even thrice a week. Jagdeep Singh, 58, owner of a bicycle shop in the Dera Baba Nanak market, said that during the rainy season, waterlogging is a major problem like any other area of Punjab. We hope that at least in the name of the corridor, we get basic amenities including good roads, said Singh. While the highest Collector [or Circle] rate [as fixed by the government] of agricultural land in Dera Baba Nanak Tehsil is Rs 10,88,000 per acre in village Kahlanwali and Kotli Surat Mali, the least is Rs 1,37,700 per acre in village Ghanike Bet. The highest cost of a residential plot is Rs 78,300 per marla (272 sq foot) in village Jiwan Nangal and the least is Rs 13,950 per marla in village Dhesian. The market price of land is generally on a higher side of the collector rate. Amritsar-Kartarpur circuit? While Dera Baba Nanak does not have a single hotel that could accommodate pilgrims proceeding towards Kartarpur, there are no more than 12 hotels in Gurdaspur city. -Many residents in the area are now contemplating to adding one or two rooms to their houses which could be used as guest rooms that would help them earn more. Romesh Mahajan, president of Gurdaspur District Hotel Owners Association, said there were a total of only 29 hotels in entire Gurdaspur district that will not be enough to accommodate thousands of pilgrims once the corridor is operational. Along with developing infrastructure, there is a need to construct hotels in Gurdaspur and Dera Baba Nanak town which will see a boost in religious tourism, said Mahajan. Sikhs from across the world gather throughout the year at Golden Temple in Amritsar that generates revenue for local hotel and tourism industry. A circuit for religious tourism in Punjab is also likely where pilgrims visit Golden Temple and take a journey of nearly 50 Km to Dera Baba Nanak to proceed for Kartarpur Sahib. Thousands of devotees visit Dera Baba Nanak to witness three day fair every year at Chola Sahib Gurudwara where robe of the first Sikh Guru - Guru Nanak is present. Also Read: Connecting Kartarpur: Dera Baba Nanak foresees chaos amid fear of spike in terrorism and drug smuggling The author is a freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com. Suspense on Chhattisgarh CM continues, Indian man's jail term in Pakistan ends today, OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition all set to go on sale today; here are today's top stories. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh get new CMs after nail-biting contest; suspence on Chattisgarh CM continues Amid a clear tussle between the old guard and the young turks in the Indian National Congress for the top slot in the three states that the party emerged victorious in, Congress president Rahul chose to play safe in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh by going with the old guard. With an eye on 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he selected veterans Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot for the posts of chief minister in the two states. However, the suspense continues on who will lead the new Chhattisgarh government after Congress trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was ruling for the past 15 years. Rahul Friday met the four contenders for chief ministership in Chhattisgarh, including TS Singh Deo who appears to be the front-runner for the post. Besides Deo, Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu were in contention for the top job of state where Congress wrested power from the BJP after 15 years. A decision is likely today on who will lead the state. Rafale controversy unlikely to die down despite SC verdict Even as Supreme Court of India refused to order a probe in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets, the Opposition and the government are unlikely to stop sparring on the the issue. While Rahul Gandhi has raised questions on the basis of the Supreme courts verdict, the BJP as demanded an apology from the Congress president for casting aspersions on a key defence deal. The Supreme Court of India on Friday ruled that the there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. Rahul, however, remains unconvinced and has said that the CAG report on pricing of the jets was never submitted to the PAC. 13 miners still trapped in flooded Meghalaya mine; all feared dead Thirteen people remain trapped in a flooded illegal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district even a day after the incident as efforts to pump out water, which has been continuing since Thursday, failed to yield any result. After the incident came to light on Thursday morning, a pump was pressed into service around 4 pm that day and is being switched off every three hours to give it a rest, officials said Friday. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) consisting of over 60 personnel reached Lumthari on Friday morning, while 12 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are already at the site, they said. However, the water level has not gone down and two more pumps would be put to service later in the day, East Jaintia Hills district SP Sylvester Nongtynger, who is supervising the operation, said. NDRF divers will also make an attempt to reach the trapped miners, the DIG said. Indian National's jail term in Pakistan ends today; no sign of repatriation An Indian national, trapped in a Pakistani jail since 2012, is all set to be released after six-long-years as his jail term ends today. However, Hamid Nehal Ansari, a 33-year-old Mumbai resident, is likely to get release on or after 16 December, as reports suggest that so far Paksitani authorities have made no contact with the Indian high commission in Islamabad to facilitate his repatriation to India. Ansari, is currently lodged in the Peshawar Central Jail after being sentenced by a military court to three years' imprisonment for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card on 15 December, 2015. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2012 for illegally entering the country from Afghanistan, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online. He has been languishing in the Pakistani prisons since the past six years. India has reportedly requested consular access to Ansari, 96 times since 2012, but Pakistan has not honoured the request. India vs Australia, 2nd Test at Perth, Day 2 Australia resume from their overnight score of 277/6 on the second day of the second Test at Perth, having earlier opted to bat first. Earlier on the opening day, opener Marcus Harris (70) struck his maiden fifty in only his second Test appearance, with Travis Head (58) and Aaron Finch (50) also bringing up their half-centuries. While Australia announced an unchanged side for this match, India replaced Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, both of whom are struggling with their fitness, with Umesh Yadav and Hanuma Vihari. Tulsi Ramsay, of the Ramsay brothers, passes away age 77 Tulsi Ramsay, known for directing cult horror films like Veerana, Purani Haveli and Bandh Dawaza, passed away on Friday. He was 77. The filmmaker died in a hospital in Mumbai. "He complained of chest pain and his son Deepak took him to Kokilaben Hospital. He was declared dead at the hospital. He passed away at about 2.30 am," a family member of Ramsay's told PTI. OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition to go on sale today The new McLaren Edition of the OnePlus 6T features a massive 10 GB of RAM as well as a new fast-charging technology referred to as 'Warp Charge 30'. OnePlus claims that Warp Charge 30 offers a day's power in just 20 minutes. By that, the company states that the new charging standard can fill the OnePlus 6T from zero to 50 percent juice in 20 minutes. The McLaren Edition OnePlus 6T does come at a premium of Rs 51,990 and will be sold online exclusively on Amazon India and the OnePlus e-store. Justice SR Sen of the Meghalaya High Court sought to clear the air on his earlier remarks, and said that he is 'not a religious fanatic.' A ruling by Meghalaya High Court judge Justice SR Sen earlier this week, in which he had said India should have been declared a "Hindu country" after Partition, had stirred a controversy. In an unusual "clarification" on Friday, Justice Sen sought to clear the air around his remarks, saying he was "not a religious fanatic". "Secularism is one of the basic structures of our Indian Constitution. It should not further be divided on the basis of religion, caste, creed, community or language (sic)," Sen's clarification read. In his ruling on Monday, the judge had also said: "I am confident that only this government under Narendra Modi ji will understand the gravity and will do the needful as requested above, and our Chief Minister Mamata ji will support the national interest in all respects." On this point, his clarification stated, "I would like to make it clear that when I mentioned the government under Shri Narendra Modi ji, it is inclusive of the Honble ministers and Honble members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. I also mentioned the Chief Minister of West Bengal, which did not mean that the chief ministers of other states were not included. My request was to the policymakers and lawmakers of this country." Justice Sen also stressed that he does not harbour political ambitions, and that no political party had influenced his judgment. He wrote: "I do not belong to any political party, nor have I got any dream to get any political berth after my retirement, and neither is my judgment politically-motivated or influenced by any party." The Meghalaya High Court judge's verdict passed on Monday while disposing of a petition of a man who was denied domicile certificate by the state had said that the concept of a National Register of Citizens is "defective" as many foreigners "became Indians" because of the exercise, and nobody should try to make India an Islamic country. He had said that like Pakistan, which declared itself an Islamic country after Independence, India "should have also been declared a Hindu country, but it remained a secular country". At the same time, Sen had urged the Centre to frame a law to allow Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to live in India peacefully and with full dignity, without making prescribing any cut-off year. The judge was, however, quick to add that he was not against "my Muslim brothers and sisters" who have been living in India for generations and abiding Indian laws. "They should also be allowed to live peacefully," he had added. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who presently live in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan should be given citizenship without any question or production of any documents, Sen had ruled, directing that the order be delivered to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues, in addition to the office of Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. Read the full text of the clarification issued on Friday here: With inputs from PTI Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Rajiv Jain and Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) Secretary Anil K Dhasmana, both of whose two-year terms were scheduled to end later this month, have been given six-month extensions. New Delhi: Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Rajiv Jain and Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) Secretary Anil K Dhasmana, both of whose two-year terms were scheduled to end later this month, have been given six-month extensions. The NDA government's decision was apparently taken to avoid bringing in new faces in the top posts of the two crucial intelligence agencies before the Lok Sabha elections, due before this dispensation completes its term in May. Jain's tenure was scheduled to end on 30 December and Dhasmana's on 29 December. The decision to extend the tenure of the two intelligence chiefs was taken by the prime minister-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), an official statement said. The Centre does not want to disturb the continuity in the IB and the R&AW and wanted a new government to take a decision on appointments on these key posts after the Lok Sabha polls, officials in the know of the developments said. Jain, a 1980-batch IPS officer from Jharkhand, was appointed IB Director on 30 December, 2016 for two years. A recipient of the President's Police Medal, Jain has served in various departments of IB, including the sensitive Kashmir Desk. He was advisor to the previous NDA government's interlocutor on Kashmir KC Pant when talks were held with separatist leaders such as Shabbir Shah. Dhasmana, a 1981-batch officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been with R&AW for 23 years, during which he served in important areas, including the Pakistan Desk. The R&AW is tasked with gathering external intelligence. The ACC has also redesignated Anil Srivastava, a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre from advisor, NITI Aayog, to principal adviser, the order stated. The government also appointed Ramphal Pawar, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal Cadre, as the Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). At least six civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama, following protests and clashes during an encounter in the area. The army managed to kill three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including one Zahoor Thokar, an ex-Indian Army personnel who joined militancy last year. Seven civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama, following protests and clashes during an encounter in the area. The army managed to kill three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including one Zahoor Thokar, an ex-Indian Army personnel who joined militancy last year. Meanwhile, one army jawan had also been killed in the encounter. According to sources, more than 70 people have been injured in clashes following the encounter, many among them critical with bullet wounds. This is the highest number of civilians casualties near an encounter site in 2018. Six of the seven youths killed in the clashes were identified as Shahbaz Ali, a resident of Monghama village, Suhail Ahmad of Bellow, Liyaqat Ahmad from Parigam, Murtaza of Prichoo, Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad. The seventh, a youth from Pulwama, was identified as Touseef Ahmad Mir. Touseef was injured in forces action in Sirnoo and was taken to the district hospital in Pulwama, from where from he was referred to SMHS Srinagar. He succumbed to his injuries there. According to reports, one of the seven civilians killed in the clashes is survived by an Indonesian wife and a three-month-old baby. Abid Hussain Lone of Karimabad village completed his MBA from Indonesia, and had returned home last year with his wife, Greater Kashmir reported. As the situation remained tense in Jammu and Kashmir after the civilian killings, separatist conglomerate Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) called for protests towards the Srinagar headquarters of the Army. It also asked people to observe shutdown for three days. Student protests erupted at Kashmir University (KU) against the killings. Scores of students after boycotting their classes assembled on the varsity campus and staged a demonstration against the bloodbath in Pulwama, local sources reported. Government forces were deployed in heavy strength in Pulwama to prevent further protests. Parts of the district where the encounter took place remained shut, while thousands of people marched to take part in the funeral of slain militant Zahoor Thoker. According to a report from The Associated Press, locals accused troops of directly spraying gunfire into the crowds. They (Indian troops) fired at us as if they were practising their guns, the news agency quoted Shabir Ahmed, a local resident who accompanied some injured taken to a hospital in Srinagar, as saying. The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the village in the district after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches, when the militants opened fire on them. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah questioned the manner in which security forces were conducting the encounters and asked why was the army not better prepared to handle the mob. Abdullah said, "Six civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm, not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better?" He added, "Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!" Criticising Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik's administration, Abdullah said, "The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only to focus on the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns and full page ads dont bring peace." With inputs from agencies In Jammu and Kashmir, there is a need for collective introspection to examine how the threat of civilians being unmindful of their personal safety needs to be countered. Editor's note: This article was first published on 15 December, 2018. It has been republished in view of a major terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district where a JeM suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy near Awantipora in Pulwama on Thursday (14 February, 2019) which claimed lives of at least 40 paramilitary troopers. To the northwest of the outskirts of Pulwama town in Jammu and Kashmir lies Sirnoo village, located in the dangerous corridor between Srinagar and Pulwama through the restive "mohallas" of Pampore and Kakapura. If it isn't Tral also in Pulwama district it is usually the villages in this corridor that provide safe houses to local militants from South Kashmir. With winter at its peak, militants who took shelter at the Tral heights or further south in the higher plateaus have all gravitated to lower ground. They don't really need safe houses in the literal definition of the term because being local, they can move around with much greater flexibility. Based on actionable intelligence, which seems to be flowing much more freely, combined teams of the Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserved Police OFrce (CRPF) descended in Sirnoo in Pulwama and established a cordon by first light on 15 December. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed. However, in an effort to get to the encounter site first to help the militants escape and then to quickly retrieve their bodies for funerals civilians in large numbers arrived at the site of the gunfight. Stone-pelting mobs, with great passion and unmindful of their personal safety, attempted to resist the security forces, resulting in the death of seven civilians, in a chilling reminder that the situation in South Kashmir seems to be worsening. The involvement of civilians is adding a flavor of far greater negativity and opening up the security forces to greater allegations of human rights violations. Although this is nothing new in the 27-year-old proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Indian forces have faced such allegations before, this needs a a bit of an explanation on the basis of two questions: First, has the strategy of security personnel, developed over the past three years, failed to find adequate ways to tackle instigated mobs? Second, are civilians not mindful of personal safety and the high potential of becoming casualties? The answers to these could point us towards the direction in which South Kashmir is heading. To begin with, let's examine the first question. It was evident in 2016 that the security forces had developed drills as per which different components of the combined forces focused on their domains of expertise. As a result, the CRPF was largely responsible for handling civilians, both before and after encounters; the Rashtriya Rifles occupied the inner cordon of a site and neutralised the holed up militants as they have heavier weaponry and the required expertise and explosive handlers to storm houses if needed; the police give close support to both, having mostly generated the intelligence, acted as guides and provided continuous liaison. None of these tasks are mutually exclusive and often overlap based on the circumstances. On Saturday, this strategy appeared to have been meeting the needs of the situation in Pulwama, though things did go awry every now and then. Just a few months ago, in a high-profile operation, the Rashtriya Rifles left the encounter site earlier than mandated to avoid getting caught in the chaos of mobs descending on the site. As a result, they could not clear the unexploded munitions from the encounter site, because of which civilians, in a hurry to recover the bodies of militants, suffered casualties as the explosives blew up, leaving many dead and grievously injured. Furthermore, it appears that on constant advice from across the border in Pakistan, efforts to counter the drills of the security forces are on. Officers involved in such operations say that social media is constantly used to mobilise mobs even as when security forces have early intelligence on militants holed up in safe houses. There is a finite limit to the procedures and drills that security forces can develop, and that is going to pose a further challenge to them, even as the strength of militants in Kashmir appears to have stagnated to around 300 to 350 after the killing of 238 of them this year. The second question on civilians especially the youth being unmindful of their safety while fighting security forces with stones is a more complex issue. Clearly, the alienation they feel is at a far higher level than ever witnessed before. The mob's strategy is to reach the site of the encounter in large numbers and to have their strength constantly swell, target the cordon and the main party involved in the encounter to disrupt the operation. If the security teams have already completed the operation, then the mob attempts to get possession of the bodies of the militants so their funerals can be held in villages in full view of the public to motivate the youth even more for the "cause". There appear to be few answers to this question, and the inevitability of civilian casualties in such encounters will continue to loom large. When the flow of such intelligence increases and the number of encounters rise, the cascading effect can be quite threatening to the prevailing environment in Kashmir. One is unaware of what methods are being used to discourage unnecessary loss of life; elders and clergymen appear to be at a loss as much as political leaders, who do not appear to matter. The ever-increasing radical content disseminated points towards the specter of suicide bombing, with child militants roped in for the purpose, much like Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That will be another threat altogether, and the recent killing of a child militant in Hajin points to the very possibility, however remote at the moment. There is a need for collective introspection to examine how the emerging threat needs to be countered. Operations against militant groups cannot cease, but there is a need for a call for greater social outreach to the civil society to play on emotions and underline the futility of sacrificing young lives on the call of radicals. The sequence of events at Pulwama on Saturday morning derailed the 'normalcy' facade which Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik has been trying to put up Pulwama: On Saturday morning, a brief encounter had jolted thousands of civilians out of their sleep in south Kashmir's Pulwama. Among these civilians, seven breathed their last in different hospitals in Kashmir. Zahoor Ahmad Thakor was among the militants killed during the encounter. Thakor was an army deserter who had fled from an army camp with an AK-47 in 2017. His two associates were identified as Adnan Wani and Zahoor Ahmad Kar alias Tahir Hizbi. Among the civilians who died were Amir Ahmad Palla and Abid Hussain Lone. Lone was an MBA graduate and had returned home recently from Indonesia with his wife and a three-month-old baby. After sustaining injuries, Palla and Lone were shifted to a hospital, and were declared dead on arrival. The names of the other civilians who died are Shahid Ahmad Khanday, Ishfaq Ahmad, Shahbaz Ali, Liyaqat Ahmad and Tawseef Ahmad Mir. Further, over 50 civilians have been injured, of which nine are said to be critical, with serious bullet injuries. A Class 8 student. An MBA passout. An office-goer. A milk buyer. A shopkeeper. A sportsman. A movie buff. An emotional pedestrian. A wailing bystander all killed in Pulwama, a journalist wrote on Facebook on Saturday. This incident is indicative of an escalating crisis in Kashmir, one in which civilians are becoming regular casualties in encounters between militants and security forces. This year, at least 106 civilians have died in violence in the state's hinterland, 57 of them near encounter sites. This is the highest number of such deaths in over a decade. The sequence of events at Pulwama on Saturday morning has demolished the "normalcy" facade which Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik has been trying to put up since he took over the reins of the state. Despite the fact that 245 militants were killed this year till Saturday, the number of people thronging encounter sites, with stones and bricks in their hands, does not seem to be coming down. It is suicidal, but they (militants) are our brothers, said a student at a hospital in Pulwama on Saturday afternoon. They are fighting for us, and even if one dies saving them, it does not matter. The violence on Saturday started with a routine cordon operation, in which a joint force of army, paramilitary and police had acted on a tip-off about the presence of three militants in a house. In the ensuing encounter, three militants and a soldier were killed. Ahmad, 34, a shopkeeper, said, "When protesters came to an orchard a few hundred metres from the encounter site, the forces fired directly at them, after initially firing teargas shells. It was a massacre, nothing else. People in the crowd whistled, shouted and threw stones, or whatever else they could lay their hands on. They demanded that the dead bodies be given to them. Security forces later opened fire, and most people were hit in the head and chest. After the incident, authorities suspended mobile internet in Pulwama and cancelled rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Banihal town in the Jammu region. Both mainstream politicians and separatists in the Valley fiercely denouncing the incident. Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference vice-president, castigated security forces, saying: ...Any way you look at it, this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm, not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better?" Mehbooba Mufti, also a former chief minister said: ...South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months...Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved (sic) Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, The government of India (needs to) stop this inhumanity, as it will not achieve anything except further rebellion and hatred." SOS # to all humanity !Kashmiris being massacred as Indian forces go on a killing spree in #Pulwama firing indiscriminately !civilian death toll has crossed 7, more than 40 youth have been hit with Bullets many critical,death toll may rise! Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) December 15, 2018 Many people were seen struggling to ferry the injured people to hospitals in Srinagar for specialised treatment. The forces unleashed hell in our village, said a person accompanying an injured protester at Srinagar's SMHS hospital. At the hospital, tempers escalated and people raised slogans as injured were being taken for treatment. By afternoon, ten fresh graves were dug up in different parts of Pulwama. As people made preparations to bury three militants and seven civilians into them, the lines between combatants and non-combatants were yet again blurred in Kashmir. A joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army laid a cordon in Pulwama's Sirnoo village after receiving an input that militants were hiding in the area. As the searches began, militants ran out of a house, took up positions in an adjacent apple orchard and began to fire at the police and army. The son of a former policeman, an ex-army sepoy, who had run away from a camp in Baramulla in North Kashmir with his weapon, and a former orchard workers were the three militants killed in an encounter in Pulwama's Sirnoo village in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. In the clashes that followed the encounter that involved firing by government forces, seven civilians were killed and at least two dozen were injured, police and local residents said. A joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army early on Saturday laid a cordon in Sirnoo village in southern Pulwama district after receiving an input that militants were hiding in the area. As the searches began, militants ran out of a house, took up positions in an adjacent apple orchard and began to fire at the police and army. In the exchange of fire, three militants and an army man was killed, while another was wounded. Seven civilians also died in the protests that followed the Pulwama encounter, the police said. Sirnoo resident Zahoor Ahmad Thoker had joined militancy after fleeing with his service weapon from an army camp last year. Adnan Hameed Bhat of Kareemabad had been active as a militant since 30 November, 2017, and is a son former police head constable Abdul Hameed Bhat, who had died earlier. The third militant, 23-year-old former orchard worker Bilal Ahmad Magray, had been an active militant only the past two months. Jammu and Kashmir Additional Director General of Police Muneer Ahmad Khan said Zahoor had "deserted the army". Holding him responsible for many killings in the Valley, including that of policemen, Muneer explained that the militants had established hideouts in the fields where they were killed. He also added that security forces were forced to open fire on the protesting mobs as they had been trying to disrupt the operation. As soon as the gunbattle started, protests erupted in Pulwama and continued even after the bodies of the militants were handed over to the families. Thousands of people had descended on the site of the encounter to help the militants escape, and the demonstrations continued in parts of Kashmir, including near the encounter site in Sirnoo, even late Saturday evening. A local resident of Pulwama's Rohmoo area, Mohammad Ashraf said the number of people gathered in Sirnoo was "so huge that it appeared as though the whole of Kashmir had marched to the area". The deaths of seven civilians triggered massive protests as well as a shutdown in major parts of the Kashmir Valley. The separatist conglomerate the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) called for an immediate three-day shutdown. Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq posted a tweet on the "Pulwama massacre". #PulwamaMassacre,Bullets and pellets rain!As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us,JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily.. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) December 15, 2018 The JRL later said, "Shouldering the coffins of our youth every day is now unbearable, as is the silence of international community on the massacre in Kashmir... As the Government of India is only interested in our territory and forcibly holds on to it while systematically eliminating its people, it is better that they finish us off at once. That is why the leadership has asked the government to do that, as we march towards their army headquarters in Badami Bagh on Monday," the separatists' group said. Senior Peoples Democratic Party leader and former state finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari called the Pulwama killings "horrendous and heart-wrenching", adding that the incident demands "immediate fact-finding and follow-up action as warranted under law". "Violence begets violence, and any such outrageous incident not only adds to the alienation among people but also results in colossal damages to the efforts to restore peace and stability in the conflict-ridden region," Bukhari said. Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti also denounced the killings. 7 dead. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none what so ever. This is a massacre & thats the only way to describe it. Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 15, 2018 How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings , and once again appeal for efforts , to stop this blood bath . Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 15, 2018 In a statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said a search operation had been launched in Pulwama's Sirnoo based on a credible inputs about the presence of militants in the village's Monghama area, and that while the operation was on, a crowd that "who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injured". "The injured were evacuated to a hospital, where unfortunately seven persons succumbed to their injuries. Others who were admitted to the hospital are stated to be stable," the police added. Between April 2012 to May 2013, over 700 messages were exchanged between Rahul Mukerjea and Das. In one of the messages, Das had advised Rahul to file a missing complaint about Sheena. Mumbai: Shidharth Das, biological father of Sheena Bora, told a special court here Friday that he spoke to her for the last time on her birthday in February 2012, two months before she was allegedly murdered. Sheena (24) was a child of Das and Indrani Mukerjea, who is the prime accused in the murder case. Das, a prosecution witness, told special court judge JC Jagdale, "Last I called Sheena was on February 11, 2012 as it was her birthday. Before that, she had called me in 2011 and sought my blessing for her engagement with Rahul. After her birthday in 2012, I never received any call from Sheena". He also told the court that he met Indrani in 1986 during his college days. Both Sheena and her brother Mikhail were born out of their relationship. Sheena was born in 1987 while Mikhail a year later, Das said. During this period, he along with the two children was staying in Indrani's parents house in Guwahati, he said. Indrani suddenly left him and their children in 1989 and he never met her or talked with her again, Das told the court. He denied the defence lawyer's claim that Indrani left home due to physical abuse. To another question, Das said, "It was actually through media that I came to know that Sheena was murdered and Indrani has been arrested". Police had called him to Mumbai for DNA test, but neither the police nor the CBI (which took over the case later) conducted the test, he said. Defence lawyers pointed out that between April 2012 to May 2013, over 700 messages were exchanged between Rahul (son of former media baron and co-accused Peter Mukerjea from his earlier marriage) and Das. In one of the messages, he advised Rahul to file a missing complaint about Sheena. "May be I advised Rahul to file a missing complaint since she went missing from Mumbai. But I never filed any missing complaint," Das said. Sheena was allegedly killed by her mother Indrani with the help of others inside a car in April 2012. The body was disposed of in neighbouring Raigad district. The incident came to light in August 2015 after Mukerjea's then driver Shyamvar Rai, arrested by police for possessing a firearm illegally, spilled the beans. The Mumbai Police arrested Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai for allegedly killing Sheena. Later, Peter, Indrani's current husband, was also arrested for allegedly being part of the conspiracy. Rai was made an approver in the case. The CBI claimed that a financial dispute was the reason for the murder. It also claimed that Indrani was opposed to Sheena's relationship with Rahul. The BJP has not been able to fight the perception battle around the Rafale deal that the Congress has unleashed, and the Supreme Cuort verdict will not help in this context. The BJP thinks that a ringing endorsement of the Rafale deal by the highest court of the land means that the arrow has been pulled out of the Congress' arsenal, and Rahul Gandhi will no longer be able to use this weapon. One gets this impression by the way senior BJP functionaries and Union Cabinet ministers have since reacted to the developments in the Rafale controversy. After the Supreme Court pronounced its decision on Friday, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, for instance, went to the extent of saying that "all campaigns against Rafale must end now". If this, indeed, is the BJP's understanding of the politics around the Rafale deal, there is little wonder that the party finds itself beleaguered by a non-scam. Right from the beginning, the BJP has been misreading the political battle around the agreement on the fighter jets. It has sought to fight "fishing and roving inquiries" and Congress' evidence-free slander with facts. On certain issues, it has refused to divulge details citing national security threats and the "confidentiality clause" in the inter-governmental deal between India and France. The party may have thought that truth alone will be enough to clear all obfuscations, but the truth has many versions in politics. While the BJP's position may have been legally sound and the Supreme Court ruling vindicates its stance it has never been enough to fight the perception battle that the Congress has unleashed around the Rafale deal. It is this perception battle that will ultimately decide how this story concludes. Narratives shape this battle, not facts. That narrative won't depend on clean chits from courts, though it might help the BJP stave off some pressure, minute details of the defence procurement procedure, facts regarding the cost of India-specific customisations, or an objective comparison of the price-per-unit of the jets as negotiated by the UPA and the NDA, some of which the government is anyway unable to make public. In the end, it matters little whether the NDA-negotiated deal, which the Congress has been touting as several times more expensive, will deliver an aircraft capable of carrying a nuclear payload. What matters in the rough and tumble of politics is which side has the better story. On this count, despite frequently being on the wrong side of facts and juggling numbers, while targeting the government over the Rafale "scam", Rahul has a better story to tell. This story is essentially a slogan "Chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is a thief)". Whether Rafale remains a potent weapon or becomes a damp squib in the court of public opinion will depend on whether Rahul gets enough traction on this slogan, or whether the BJP manages to find an even more effective slogan to counter it. Going by early reactions, it seems the BJP is making the same old mistake. If it had earlier relied on indignance and a sense of hurt to tackle Congress' accusations, that indignation has exploded manifold since the Supreme Court judgment. The party has demanded an apology from the Congress president, and party leaders from Amit Shah and Ravi Shankar Prasad to Arun Jaitley has harped on the theme of "Satyameva Jayate" (truth will triumph). "I welcome SC order on Rafale. The truth has won. An attempt was made to mislead people using lies. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation and the army. He has put the national security at risk," the BJP president said at a press conference on Friday. A few hours later, the finance minister said: "Truth holds together, falsehood falls apart. Falsehood also has a short life. In this case, it was a few months. Falsehood lowers the credibility of its creator." By relying some more on righteous indignation and outrage, when clearly these have been poor weapons in winning the perception battle, the BJP is revealing its inability to carve out a better message. It could either be due to a lack of imagination, or a fundamental misreading of the nature of the battle over Rafale. This is quite strange in a party that relied primarily on better messaging to romp home in 2014. Back then, it had frequently turned the Congress' jibes into a potent weapon, such as Modi's "Chai pe Charcha', which was triggered by Mani Shankar Aiyar's tasteless comments. While the BJP's ability to communicate with the masses seems to be on the wane, it is here that Rahul has made a drastic improvement. His response to the Supreme Court judgment pointed to the fact that he can make a clear distinction between the legal battle and the perception battle. It has been clear to the Congress that "chowkidar chor hai" is a slogan that is hurting the BJP, quite in the manner in which "gali gali mein shor hai" hurt Rajiv Gandhi when the Bofors scandal emerged. The BJP may argue that Bofors is a "smoking gun", while Rafale is "hot air", it is little more than a pedantic point. The Congress believes that the mention of the words Anil Ambani, defence scam and pocketing of farmers' money make for effective messaging, and therefore, it appears undeterred despite the apparent setback in the Supreme Court. In a press conference on Friday evening, a combative Rahul pointed out what seemed to be discrepancies in the Supreme Court's Rafale judgment over a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee supposedly examining this report, demanding an explanation from the government. Rahul, once again, reiterated that the "entire country knows the watchman is a thief", and "we will prove that the prime minister is a friend of Anil Ambani and has helped Anil Ambani steal the country's money". It is fascinating how Rahul kept repeating in the presser: "Farmers, remember, your loans will be waived. These thieves took your money. The entire country knows chowkidar chor hai." An indignant Prasad soon responded with a stinging attack on Rahul, accusing him of belittling the Supreme Court and crossing "all limits of propriety, decency and probity". But these charges by the law minister won't matter to the Congress president. The party feels that its slogan is catching on and has sought to pile on the pressure by demanding an investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, announcing that the court's verdict doesn't matter as the Rafale judgement is "still an issue in the people's court". The BJP is barking up the wrong tree, and its loud protestations are making the party look slothful, unimaginative and defensive. It needs to adopt a better message. In essence, Gaysi has one dream, which also encapsulates their purpose and existence: that no LGBTQ person should feel alone in this country Gaysi Family, an online platform synonymous with LGBTQI expression for desis in India and West Asia, marked its tenth anniversary this November. It was one of the moments that defined the Indian queer community's year. The collective brought in its eleventh year doing just what they are known for: creating safe spaces for 'Desi-Gays' those who've been with them from the start and those who've just joined by presenting Pinky Promise, a theatre production celebrating the Supreme Court judgment acknowledging same-sex love. Though it may now be a leading voice for queer individuals, co-founder Priya Gangwani insists they never planned a future for the portal. "We tried to write its mission and vision a few years ago and failed miserably. We know Gaysi has impacted several people and has been a significant part of the community, but that's because it belongs to the community where many of us have realised our choicest dreams." With its genesis in a longing to connect with other desis who identify as LGBTQ, Gaysi seemed like an easy ride back in 2008. However, maintaining it while wading through criticism and self-doubt taught the founders what it meant to means to "re-commit and persevere". Recounting their years, both the best and worst, Gangwani says, "We had a great honeymoon period followed by days that demanded love and time, and continuous test of our commitment. We had to keep innovating things (like in the bedroom) to keep our passions and hopes alive. Soon it became a form of faith, seeing clearly towards an inclusive tomorrow which was visible to us but often invisible to those around us." While keeping Gaysi alive may have been an act of rebellion against existing persuasions, it was a walk towards a set of another, with freedom at the core. Gaysi's year has been about incredible highs, having successfully executed Zine Bazaar (their biggest collaborative event where "the energy of inclusivity was so high, everyone was tripping on it") and now, Pinky Promise. In the words of curators Sheena Khalid (also the director) and Gangwani, Pinky Promise is a collection of stories which celebrates queer love, longing, desire, devotion. The first edition of the collaborative theatre project brings together six writers, six actors, a director and team Gaysi. The tropes of "love and its denial, memory and forgetfulness, loss and finding" have come to define queer experiences in recent years, and have been viscerally driven alive in the ensemble. While the scripts are an acknowledgement of India post-377 with all its quirks and flaws, the stories are a generous mix of fictional and real accounts. "We decided to pick the ones that had the most variety and flavour and yet, would give a sense of these characters celebrating the larger story. Most of these stories have been written by people who have not scripted a live production before. Therefore, they are not restricted by the constraints of writing for the stage," adds Khalid. The stories have been carefully chosen keeping in mind the writers' own view of people on the LGBTQI+ spectrum. And so, the production is devoid of regular coming-out stories. They are also a nod to the need to have an open dialogue about queer experiences, and Khalid agrees. "The dialogue can be overt enough. Theatre, especially, is not just a surface level experience anymore for audiences," she points out. With Pinky Promise, what Gaysi is aiming to arrive at is a bouquet of stories that can be performed in different spaces over time. Their larger goal is to penetrate into conservative, smaller towns and cities; their heart wants "a big fat Gaysi wedding". Resolute in their mission to achieve recognition of same sex love/marriage, adoption rights, the right to choose one's preferred gender, and equal rights to all irrespective of gender choices, Gaysi essentially has one dream, that also encapsulates their purpose and existence: "that no LGBTQ person feels alone in this country." As many as 24 of the 90 MLAs in the newly-elected Chhattisgarh Assembly have declared that they are facing criminal cases. Raipur: As many as 24 of the 90 MLAs in the newly-elected Chhattisgarh Assembly have declared that they are facing criminal cases. Thirteen of them are facing serious charges including assault and criminal intimidation, a report prepared by two NGOs said. The Congress registered a landslide victory in the state in the recently concluded polls by winning 68 of the 90 seats. The BJP, in power since 2003, was reduced to 15 seats. As per the report issued by Chhattisgarh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), of the 90 newly-elected MLAs, 24 (27 percent) have declared in their election affidavits that they are facing criminal cases. Thirteen of them are facing serious criminal cases. Overall, nineteen MLAs of the Congress and three legislators of the BJP are facing criminal cases, while two of the five JCC candidates are involved in criminal cases. As per the report, Congress' Ashish Kumar Chhabra, elected from Bemetara, has declared that he is facing a case related to attempt to murder. State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, who has won from Patan, has declared that he is facing charges of voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty (IPC section 332), and criminal conspiracy (IPC section 120 B), among others. The JCC(J)'s Pramod Kumar Sharma, elected from Balodabazar seat, has declared a case related to causing death by negligence (IPC section 304A). In the previous Assembly, 15 (17 percent) of the MLAs had declared that they were facing criminal cases. Marginalisation of women can be seen in the dip in women's representation in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. A palpable air of optimism marks the mood in the Jaipur office of the Nari Chetna Sangathan, which was founded by Renuka Pamecha, who has been at the forefront when it comes to raising womens issues since 1973. Her spirits have been buoyed by the recent defeat of Vasundhara Raje, who had taken over power in Rajasthan thanks in no small measure to women voters. These voters believed that Raje, being a woman, would be able to find a solution for the spiralling crime graph. Rajasthan, once considered one of the safest states, now has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest crime rates against women. "It is terrible what they are doing to women," said an indignant Pamecha. She was referring to the sharp increase in cases of rape, molestation and sexual harassment which are being registered across the cities of Rajasthan. Jaipur registered 300 rape cases in 2016, while Jodhpur registered 162 cases, as per NCRB data. The number of cases of molestation and sexual assault is much higher. An interaction between Pamecha and state government ministers had led to the setting up of "Mahila Salaah Aur Suraksha Kendras" in police stations, where aggrieved women received immediate assistance. "Imagine our horror when Raje slashed the funding for this scheme, as she did for many other women-oriented initiatives. She did not stand with women. She showed no sensitivity towards their sufferings. She never intervened on their behalf, and so, the women decided to strike back. The elections have shown that like farmers, women also came forward in large numbers to vote out the BJP government. Our biggest grouse against this government was that it showed no sympathy for the downtrodden and aggrieved women," said Pamecha. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was much more adroit when it came to handling womens issues. During Rakshabandhan earlier this year, he sent out two crore letters to women of the state, promising that if they voted their "brother" back to power for the next five years, he would provide them an atmosphere of "economic prosperity and safety." There is no denying that Chouhan had launched a slew of schemes for women and girls, including the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, the Kanyadan Yojana and the Janani Suraksha Yojana. However, a woman activist from Bhopal said, "The last term of his fifteen-year tenure saw a trend similar to Rajasthan. Funding for pro-women schemes was slashed. Government schools were shut down one after another so that privatisation could be pursued. As a result, young girls in villages could no longer attend school. Worse, with the central government determined to privatise health services, even the Janani Suraksha Yojana was put into cold storage." Bhopal-based Nirmala Buch, who heads the Chetna Vikas Manch, said, "Women's safety is a prime issue in Madhya Pradesh. The state tops the graph for crimes against women. The problem with the BJP government was that they did not want to conduct a dialogue with civil society. If the government doesn't talk to civil society, what kind of feedback will it receive about social problems?" Buch quotes NCRB statistics to reinforce her point of view. "In 2015, 3.3 lakh cases of crimes against women were registered, and the number rose to almost 3.40 lakh in 2016. What is most alarming is that Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of rape cases in the country. The state accounted for 4,882 rape cases in 2016, as per the NCRB. It also recorded 2,479 cases of rape of minor girls in 2016." Activists have also highlighted several other issues. Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the AITUC, said, "Health issues are of prime importance to women. After the Narendra Modi-led government came to power, the budget for the Janani Suraksha Yojana was slashed. The Indira Vikas Patra, which entitled a girl to one lakh rupees when she turned 21 years of age, was fiddled with. The Vikas Patras were taken back, and the girls were given bonds instead. That created fresh apprehension in the minds of the public. The government has not filled vacancies of 4,000 university-level teachers in colleges. This is because of their thrust towards privatisation of school and college education." Kaur added, "The legislation providing for the possibility of capital punishment to those who rape girls below the age of twelve is again a half-hearted measure. What women want is regular policing and an assurance of safety in their own homes." The IG Police, State Crime Records Bureau, Mohammed Shahid Absar, said that 90 percent of the accused in crimes against women in 2016 were chargesheeted. However, this assurance helped very little to dispel the atmosphere of lack of safety across the state. BJP spokesperson and former state minister Vishwas Sarang said that in many cases, rape victims know the perpetrators, and thus, this is a social problem and has to be dealt with by society at large. Congress leader Kumari Selja feels that the trust of women in her party is justified. "Rahul Gandhi has always supported the cause of women. In all our internal discussions, he has been pushing for women to be given more space, and has encouraged them to participate in larger numbers, both in politics and other spheres of life." Dr Syeda Hameed, a member of the Planning Commission during the Manmohan Singh regime, believes women's issues have been put on the backburner under the present dispensation. "The Nirbhaya fund was created to ensure a one-stop rape crisis centre is set up in every district and sub-district. This entire process was halted, and the funds allocated were not spent." This marginalisation can also be seen in the dip in women's representation in the Assembly elections. The New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research has found that the number of women candidates who won in Rajasthan declined from 14 percent in 2013 to 11.6 percent in 2018. In Madhya Pradesh, the share of women candidates dipped from 13 percent in 2013 to 8.7 percent in 2018. The data on their winnability shows that they have performed as well as the other candidates, but the perception is that they do not bring the money and muscle power that male candidates can muster. Ranjana Kumari, who heads Centre for Social Research, during her interactions with young women, found that the new generation seeks change. They also see their votes as a political weapon to be used against those who do not support women-centric issues. Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan formally invited Zoramthanga on Wednesday to form the next government after receiving the signed notification of the result from Election Commission officials who arrived here late in the evening, Raj Bhavan sources said. Aizawl: Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga would be sworn-in as the chief minister of Mizoram at the Raj Bhavan here at 12 noon on Saturday, state protocol department officials said on Wednesday. Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan formally invited Zoramthanga on Wednesday to form the next government after receiving the signed notification of the result from Election Commission officials who arrived here late in the evening, Raj Bhavan sources said. The Governor also dissolved the seventh state legislative assembly during the day to pave the way for the constitution of the eighth assembly, the sources said. The protocol department officials said it was not known whether all 12 members of the council of ministers would be sworn-in on 15 December. The MNF returned to power in Mizoram by bagging 26 seats of the 40-member state legislature after a decade which saw the crumbling of the last Congress bastion in the north east. This followed the newly-formed unregistered Zoram Peoples Movement securing eight seats, which is three more than the outgoing Congress. The BJP opened its account for the first time in the state by bagging a seat while the Congress managed to win five seats in the assembly polls held on 28 November. Zoramthanga, who has been chief minister of Mizoram twice, was back with a bang on Tuesday after being in political wilderness for two assembly terms. The 74-year-old rebel-turned-politician was a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga, who has been chief minister of Mizoram twice, is a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga has been sworn-in as the chief minister of Mizoram at Aizawl's Raj Bhavan on Saturday. Aizawl: Mizo National Front leader Zoramthanga takes oath as the Chief Minister of Mizoram. pic.twitter.com/nce5oo7ukE ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 Zoramthanga, who has been chief minister of Mizoram twice, is a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan had formally invited Zoramthanga on Wednesday to form the next government after receiving the signed notification of the result from Election Commission officials, Raj Bhavan sources said. The Governor also dissolved the seventh state legislative Assembly to pave the way for the constitution of the eighth Assembly, the sources said. The MNF swept the Congress out of power, winning 26 seats in the 40-member Assembly. The grand old party, which dominated the 2013 elections, was reduced to single digits, winning only five seats. The newly-formed unregistered Zoram Peoples Movement securing eight seats. The BJP opened its account for the first time in the state by bagging a seat in the 28 November polls. In the seven elections held since Mizoram was formed, the BJP has never won a seat. In the 2013 election, the Congress won 34 of the 40 seats in the Assembly. The MNF, which had fielded candidates from 31 constituencies, had bagged five seats, and the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) got one. In the 2008 election, the Congress won 32 seats, while the MNF had won only three, the MPC and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) won two seats each. The Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) bagged one. With inputs from PTI Narendra Modi's attack on the Opposition party came even as the Congress accused the government of 'misleading' the Supreme Court. Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday launched a blistering attack on the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. Modi's attack on the Opposition party came even as the Congress accused the government of "misleading" the Supreme Court by presenting wrong information about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government apologise for it. The Congress has also said the Supreme Court, which gave the government relief in the Rafale jet case, has not gone into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and it is only a joint parliamentary committee that can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal. Targeting the main Opposition party in an interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu through video conference from New Delhi, Modi alleged that the (Congress) leaders call the army chief names and mock at the (2016) surgical strike on the one hand. "On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others," he said. "All they see is the way to make money, even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source," he said. Modi said the country was proud of the forces and have faith in them and the government has ensured operational freedom for them to deal with "those who are our harming the country." "The surgical strikes show how capable our forces are to give a strong answer to those who attack us," he said. During an election campaign in Rajasthan recently, Modi had slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "raising doubts" over the cross-border surgical strike carried out by the army in September 2016. The prime minister Saturday also said it was the BJP-led NDA government that fulfilled the long pending demand for One Rank One Pension for armed forces and veterans that was lying unattended for 40 years. Apparently referring to the previous UPA government, Modi alleged that after much persuasion, it left a mere Rs 500 crore aside for the OROP "which was nothing short of a cruel joke." "When we got the opportunity to implement the OROP, we did it with full sincerity," he said. As part of his nation-wide dialogue with BJP workers in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Modi said "ours is a government that values your safety and well-being above everything. We will do everything possible to protect India and the 130 crore Indians." "We are a peace loving nation but will not hesitate to give a fitting reply to anti-social elements who harm our people and disturb our development," he said. The prime minister said when it comes to national security, the morale of the forces was important. "Among the first things that the government did after coming to power was that we have conveyed to the soldiers that we value them. The soldier who is standing at the border knows that the country is standing behind him," he said. The Maoist terror, which had once affected many districts, was on the decline and there has been a major crackdown against Maoists and their sympathisers, Modi said. "Forty-four districts, which were earlier affected by Left wing terrorism, show zero incidence of violence in the last four years," he said. "It has happened because, on the one hand, there has been sustained campaign by the security forces to fight back, while on the other, the government is making efforts to develop these regions," Modi said. "In Kashmir, while we have reached out to the people in full measure, the army has struck a heavy blow to terror and eliminated terrorists in record numbers," he pointed out. Recently, panchayat polls were held peacefully which show great participation (of people), he said. "Striking terrorists where it hurts them the most has become a new normal in India's anti-terror policy," he said. As part of enhancing the country's security, Modi said, India's pride, nuclear submarine INS Arihant successfully completed its first deterrence patrol on 5 November. "The success of INS Arihant enhances India's security needs and it is a major achievement for our entire nation and with INS Arihant, India's nuclear triad is complete," the prime minister said. "True to its name, INS Arihant will protect Indians from external threats and contribute to the atmosphere of peace in the region..will ensure peace," he added. Unfazed by the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract which he asserted will be proved by his party and claimed that the basis of the court judgement is a CAG report that has neither been seen by anyone, nor shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee. In a fresh twist to the controversy over procurement of Rafale jets, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has denied the existence of a report that was cited by the Supreme Court in its order stating that no investigation was needed in the controversial defence deal. The Supreme Court, in its 29-page order had said that the pricing details of the fighter aircraft had been shared with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and the report of the CAG has been further examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The court stated that "only a redacted portion of this report was placed before the Parliament, and is in public domain." Kharge, however, denied claims that any such report was given to the House panel. The Congress leader, who is also the chief of PAC, said that he has not seen any such CAG report and termed the court's observation "strange" and "untrue". "When the CAG does not have the report, how will it come before the PAC. Who gave the report, where is the report? Where did the report come from?" he wondered, alleging that "this is far from the truth". Kharge alleged that the government has lied in Supreme Court that the CAG report was presented in the House and in PAC, and that the PAC has probed it. "The government said in Supreme Court that the report is in public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it?" Kharge asked The PAC chief further asked all Committee employees to call on the Attorney General as well as the CAG chief, and ask them when this report was submitted. "We should ask them when the report was submitted, when it was accepted, and when it was investigated by the PAC," Kharge told reporters on Saturday. Meanwhile, the PAC reported cited in the order does not seem to be the only anomaly in the 29-page order. CNN-News18 has pointed out some other glaring inaccuracies in the order, including an instance where the Reliance described as the 'parent company' of Anil Ambani's firm. "It is no doubt true that the company, Reliance Aerostructure Ltd., has come into being in the recent past, but the press release suggests that there was possibly an arrangement between the parent Reliance company and Dassault starting from the year 2012," the ruling reads. Dazzling factual errors in the #SupremeCourt judgment: * Air Force officials were never asked about acquisition process & pricing * There's no #CAG or #PAC report * No statement in Court on Chief of Air Staff * Reliance described as the 'parent company' of Anil Ambani's firm pic.twitter.com/2OIGWbF9pT Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) December 14, 2018 Kharge's allegations come after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi maintained that corruption had taken place in the contract despite the Supreme Court ruling stating that a probe was not needed. Rahul asserted that the basis of the court judgement is the CAG report that has neither been seen by anyone, nor shared with the PAC. Rahul, while addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, along with party's top leaders, also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he cannot escape action and only two names of Modi and businessman Anil Ambani will come out whenever a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe is conducted into the deal. Rahul used the barb of "chowkidaar chor hai" (the watchman is a thief) against the prime minister, alleging that "massive corruption" has taken place in the defence contract and that Rs 30,000 crore of farmers have gone to Anil Ambani's Reliance group. Both the government and Anil Ambani's Reliance Group have rejected Rahul's allegations of wrongdoing in the defence deal. Rahul said he failed to understand that the basic foundation of the Supreme Court judgement is the report that "no one has seen" and asked the government to show it to them and the PAC chairman. "I am seriously not able to understand. You are laughing, but I'm not able to understand this. When one speaks a lie somewhere it comes out. "The government has to make us understand, where is the CAG report. Please show it to us, to the PAC chairman. Or is it with some other PAC that Modi has set up in the PMO or some other Parliament in another country, like France? It is possible in today's world under Modi ji," Rahul asked in a dig at the government. He also accused the Modi government of destroying "all institutions" and asserted that corruption has taken place in the Rafale deal under its watch. "While the Election Commission says something, the Supreme Court says something else and the judges come out and say some other things," he said. "There is a theft of Rs 30,000 crore and it is farmers' money... This money is taken by them, everybody in the country knows and understands. "The chowkidaar has done a theft and we will prove it...People of India know that Prime Minister Modi is a friend of Anil Ambani...The people of India know the truth and they understand the truth. "Modi ji can run as much he wants, but no one can save him from being caught. The moment there is a probe by the JPC only two names of Anil Ambani and Narendra Modi will come out," he said. In a relief to the Modi government, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. The apex court rejected the pleas which sought lodging of an FIR and a court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, in which both the countries have entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA). It also said that material placed before it shows that Centre did not disclosed pricing details in Parliament about the Rafale fighter jet procured through IGA but had shared with Comptroller and Auditor General. It said that CAG report was even examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. "The material placed before us shows that the Government has not disclosed pricing details, other than the basic price of the aircraft, even to Parliament, on the ground that sensitivity of pricing details could affect national security, apart from breaching the agreement between the two countries," a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said. "Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament," the bench said in its verdict. With inputs from PTI The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will be held at the Chhattisgarh Congress' office during which the name of the chief minister will be announced, Raipur: The Congress in Chhattisgarh will hold its legislature party meeting in Raipur on Saturday where the next Chief Minister of the state will be announced, a party leader said Friday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday met four senior leaders of the state unit of the party Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant in Delhi and held discussions with them, a state Congress spokesperson told PTI. Deo and Baghel are being seen as leading contenders for the top post. All four leaders, along with party observer Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress state in-charge PL Punia, will arrive in Raipur on Saturday by a special plane, he said. Subsequently, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will be held at the party's state office during which the name of the chief minister will be announced, he added. Congress ended the BJP's 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh in the recently concluded Assembly elections by winning 68 of the 90 seats. Rahul Gandhi's high-voltage campaign against Narendra Modi has fallen flat. This is about the time when Gandhi should be honourably withdrawing from the scene rather than stand in the way of the Rafale fighter jets defending Indian skies soonest. The Supreme Court has flung out all cases related to perceived malfeasance in the Rafale deal. Rahul Gandhi's high-voltage campaign against Narendra Modi has fallen flat. This is about the time when Gandhi should be honourably withdrawing from the scene rather than stand in the way of the Rafale fighter jets defending Indian skies soonest. Unfortunately, that is still not happening. Rahul Gandhi is ungracefully digging his heels instead of conceding. He wants a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) as a mutually exclusive scrutiny from the Supreme Court decision because this is one hobby horse he cannot dismount and will have to stay in the saddle in any quixotic tilting. The odds favour a freeze of JPC on the same issues on which the highest court has already ruled. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has pretty much indicated there is no call for it now. But Rahul is unmoved. For sheer confusion confounded the tedious procedure in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters in a fly-away condition and the manufacture and assembly of 126 more in India makes the Bofors scandal look like a deal soaked in honour. Seeing as how the first aircraft has not yet been flagged in onto Indian soil, the toxic spikes in the endless controversy have made a thorough mess of this much needed shot in the arm for the Indian Air Force. Thanks to the sharp contradictory inputs of former French President Francois Hollande, the Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, various bigwigs from Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, sundry Air Marshals, Dassault spokespersons and several self-styled experts not to forget the Congress chief you and I have totally lost track of what the hell this is all about. For a nation with an aging fleet and admittedly a depleted strike air force, short by 11 squadrons and over 100 fourth generation fighters, this self-indulgence over politicising the induction of even the first 36 aircraft is a luxury we can ill afford. Yet we are reveling in the mud bath. As an Indian, with inimical neighbours shoring up their air forces on our borders, I am getting tired of who said what to whom. How does it matter whether HAL could do it right or not when our skies are vulnerable and we are sitting here flinging slurs at each other? Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi hit the button when he has said, "Our country cannot afford to be unprepared/underprepared when it comes to fighter aircrafts. Prior to the Supreme Court verdict, the latest development on the Rafale saga was two weeks ago when R Madhavan, Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) the company Rahul Gandhi insists was shortchanged by the Modi government in favour of Anil Ambani went to great lengths to explain that HAL has the capability to build the Rafale (after all it does put together the Sukhoi 30) but decided not to. The negotiations with Dassault fell through because of disagreements on manhours and exchange of technology. You cannot complain with his effort to back his companys can do image. But could do it, can do it, would have done it are all moot when you didnt do it. So why say anything at all? Now, lets cut through the gristle and look at some home truths about HAL that are predicated to logic and history. HAL is a government undertaking and like many PSUs cossetted by the government. Regardless of the disagreements if the Centre had so wanted it to happen, the deal would have gone through regardless of the difference in manhour costs and all the other financial deflections being flung at us. Can you see anyone at HAL saying no to New Delhi and Modis orders? But wait a minute. It is equally possible that Dassault were unhappy on their part and wished to go with the private sector where accountability is much higher and red tape that much less. And delivery is on time or else penalties are levied. HAL isnt exactly covered with glory either in making planes or sticking to schedules. Last month Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa went on record saying, "In the Sukhoi delivery HAL is three years behind, in the Jaguar we are six years behind, even the Mirage is two years behind. We do not even mention the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme which has been on for 35 yearsand is still on the clock. If the air force chief can be displeased with HALs performance and production envelope why not Dassault? Why is it so difficult to accept this premise? Should we not be discussing that rather the HAL CEO put his house in order and upped his efficiency? Also put aside this mental photoplay that these fighter aircraft are being built by Reliance. They are not. It is only components and spare parts and whether HAL or Reliance, or a third option, no way would Dassault tamely hand over manufacturing blueprints and walk away. Its reputation is at stake as is the Rafales and they wont let you build shoddy stuff without the placement of exacting supervision. So the acumen, skill and wherewithal will come under Dassault. If we espouse Make in India then let Reliance and all the other hundred-odd companies in this mix go for it and put Indias military hardware manufacturing on the fast track and become globally competitive. Seventy years later we are still begging bowl shopping for the armed forces. Even China and Pakistan have their own aircraft, joint venture notwithstanding. So do Sweden, Belgium South Korea and Saudi Arabia is now on the anvil. Saab offered the Brazilians the Gripen NG multi-role fighter in much the same way as France and India but without the muck sticking to it. Much is also made of the money Anil Ambanis Reliance is poised to make. This is presumably the same money HAL was not going to make so it lost interest in the deal. Ironic how it is now an issue. We also forget that 50% of the deal calls for offset programmes from French companies that are committed to contributing to the Indian military manufacturing sector. As Dassault CEO Eric Trappier said earlier this year his company decided to link up with Anil Amabis Reliance and have a 49% stake in the new set up. It has also signed up with companies like BTSL, Kinetic, Mahindra, Maini, Defsys, Bharat Electronics and ninety-odd other companies that are in the pipeline. That is over 5000 jobs for Indians. When Anil Ambanis Reliance tied up with Thales, also a French company, in 2017 to develop Indian capabilities to integrate and maintain Radar and Electronic Warfare sensors there was no breast beating. After that experience, maybe Dassault thought, you know what, lets stick to civvy street, we are more comfortable. Thales is now committed to $1 billion in offset programmes. According to Executive vice-president Pascale Sourisse, We are talking thousands of jobs. At a high level of technical skill. It has come to a point now where everyone should shut up and fast track the muscle into a weak and febrile air force. We are 31 squadrons of ageing aircraft when we should be at 42 to just about tackle a two-front war. You want to know how ageing? We lost 31 aircraft in the past four years including Mirage2000, Jaguars and Mig 27s. Id rather hear the comforting roar of the jets than the whining pettiness of our politicians and bureaucrats. If anything Rahul Gandhi should put pressure to hurry up the delivery. Reuters A Virgin Galactic rocket plane reached space on Thursday and returned safely to the California desert, capping years of testing to become the first US commercial human flight to breach Earths atmosphere since Americas shuttle programme ended in 2011. The successful test flight presages a new era of civilian space travel that could kick off as soon as next year, with Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic battling billionaire-backed ventures such as Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, to be the first to offer suborbital flights to fare-paying tourists. Branson, who said he personally put up $1 billion towards the roughly $1.3 billion development costs for Virgins space businesses, told Reuters he viewed competition with Bezos and others as a race, though passenger safety was the top priority. Today we get to enjoy the fact that we have put people into space before anybody else, Branson said. Virgins twin-fuselage carrier airplane holding the SpaceShipTwo passenger spacecraft took off at 7:11 a.m. local time (1511 GMT) from the Mojave Air and Space Port, about 90 miles (145 km) north of Los Angeles. British billionaire Branson, wearing jeans and a leather bomber jacket with a fur collar, attended the take-off along with hundreds of spectators on a crisp morning in the California desert. After the rocket plane, also called the VSS Unity, reached an apogee of 51.4 miles (83 km) above Earth, a crying Branson hugged his son and high-fived and hugged other spectators. The plane reentered the atmosphere at 2.5 times the speed of sound and landed a few minutes later to cheers and applause, concluding roughly an hours journey. One of the pilots handed Branson a small Earth stress ball when the two hugged. Thursdays test flight - the fourth mission during which VSS Unity flew under its own power - had pilots Mark Stucky and Frederick Sturckow onboard, four NASA research payloads, and a mannequin named Annie as a stand-in passenger. The next flight test is within the next couple of months, depending on data analysis from Thursdays flight, Virgin Galactic said. Branson has said Virgins first commercial space trip with him onboard would happen in months and not years. 51.4 miles from Earth The carrier airplane hauled the SpaceShipTwo passenger rocket plane to an altitude of about 45,000 feet (13.7 kms) and released it. Seconds later, SpaceShipTwo fired, catapulting it to more than 51 miles above Earth, high enough for the pilots to experience weightlessness and see the curvature of the planet. The ships rocket igniting and vertical ascent through a cloudless sky could be seen from the ground. Virgins latest flight test comes four years after the original SpaceShipTwo crashed during a test flight that killed the co-pilot and seriously injured the pilot, dealing a major setback to Virgin Galactic, a U.S. offshoot of the London-based Virgin Group. Its been 14 long years to get here, Branson told reporters after the landmark flight. Weve had tears, real tears, and weve had moments of joy. So the tears today were tears of joy. Expensive Trip Nearly 700 people have paid or put down deposits to fly aboard Virgins suborbital missions, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and pop star Justin Bieber. A 90-minute flight costs $250,000. Virgin Galactic has received about $80 million in deposits from future astronauts, Branson said. Short sightseeing trips to space aboard Blue Origins New Shepard rocket are likely to cost around $200,000 to $300,000, at least to start, Reuters reported in July. Tickets will be offered ahead of the first commercial launch, and test flights with Blue Origin employees are expected to begin in 2019. Branson added that he would be delighted to offer Bezos a flight on Virgin and for Bezos to maybe offer me a flight on New Shepard. Bezos New Shepard has already flown to the internationally recognised boundary between Earths atmosphere and outer space known as the Karman line at 62 miles (100 km) - though the Blue Origin trip did not carry humans. Virgins Thursday launch did not go as high as the Karman line. Its pilots were aiming to soar 50 miles into the sky, which is the US military and NASAs definition of the edge of space and high enough to earn commercial astronaut wings by the US Federal Aviation Administration. Other firms planning a variety of passenger spacecraft include Boeing Co, Elon Musks SpaceX and late Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allens Stratolaunch. In September, SpaceX said Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, founder and chief executive of online fashion retailer Zozo, would be the companys first passenger on a voyage around the moon on its forthcoming Big Falcon Rocket spaceship, tentatively scheduled for 2023. Musk, the billionaire CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Inc, said the Big Falcon Rocket could conduct its first orbital flights in two to three years as part of his grand plan to shuttle passengers to the moon and eventually fly humans and cargo to Mars. Looking to the future after the successful flight, Branson talked about the possibility of using his space plane to link international cities, offering orbital space flights, or potentially even building a Virgin hotel in space. One thing leads onto another. I forever dream, he told Reuters. Actually, I said to my son today, we were sitting in the cockpit (before the flight), and I said sometimes I think life is just one incredible dream. By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliament voted on Friday to create a 5,000-strong standing army, a week after Serbia's premier suggested the move could provoke military intervention by Belgrade. The move, coming 20 years after Kosovo Albanians' uprising against Serbian rule and a decade after independence, was lauded as 'historic' by the United States but NATO criticised it as unhelpful in efforts to ease tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliament voted on Friday to create a 5,000-strong standing army, a week after Serbia's premier suggested the move could provoke military intervention by Belgrade. The move, coming 20 years after Kosovo Albanians' uprising against Serbian rule and a decade after independence, was lauded as "historic" by the United States but NATO criticised it as unhelpful in efforts to ease tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. Legislation to transform the lightly armed Kosovo Security Force, which was created mainly for crisis response, civil defence and removal of ordnance from the 1990s conflict, into an army was approved by 105 deputies in the 120-seat assembly. Eleven minority Serb deputies boycotted the vote. Kosovo's constitution mandates the creation of a national army but no action was taken for years while Pristina sought, in vain, to obtain the approval of Kosovo Serbs. The move is also strongly opposed by Kosovo Serbs' patron Serbia, which has refused to recognise the independence of its former province and warned that a national Kosovo army could destabilise the Western Balkans. "I regret that this decision was made despite the concerns expressed by NATO," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement on Friday. "The North Atlantic Council will now have to re-examine the level of NATOs engagement with the Kosovo Security Force," he said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was concerned by the move, said U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq. "The Secretary-General calls on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could raise tensions and cause a further setback in the European Union-facilitated dialogue for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina," Haq said in a statement. Though creating an army could take years, Serbian politicians maintain that it could be used to expel remaining Serbs from Kosovo - an accusation denied by Kosovo Albanian leaders who rely on European Union and U.S. support for reforms and development of the small, impoverished Balkan country. On Dec. 5, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic suggested one possible response by Belgrade could be military intervention. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will be inspecting troops along the Kosovo border over the next three days, his office said on Thursday. A NATO-led peacekeeping mission to Kosovo still has around 4,000 troops in the landlocked country. Balkans analysts, however, said any action by Serbia's 28,000-strong army against Kosovo is highly unlikely given Belgrade's aspirations to join the EU and that Brnabic's remarks appeared to be a sop to Serbian nationalists. With the new law in place, Kosovo will set up a defence ministry and the future army is to be comprised of 5,000 active soldiers and 3,000 reservists. Pristina government officials said the process would last at least 10 years. Kosovo's independence came almost a decade after a NATO air war halted a two-year counter-insurgency war by Serbian security forces that included arrests, killings and expulsions of ethnic Albanian civilians. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Raissa Kasolowsky and Sandra Maler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. (Reuters) - U.S. (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcement officials on Friday were investigating a wave of hoax emailed bomb threats demanding bitcoin payment that caused worry but no damage in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. On Thursday in North America, hundreds of businesses, government offices and schools received awkwardly-worded letters threatening to set off explosives if payments of $20,000 in cryptocurrency were not received. The threats led to scattered evacuations of schools and transit stations before the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies dismissed them as lacking credibility. Hoax threats were received in cities including Washington, New York, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Grand Rapids, Iowa, Denver, Ottawa and Calgary, Alberta. Investigators do not yet know who was responsible, two federal officials said on Friday. There is no evidence to suggest that any of the recipients made ransom payments, one of the officials said. Cisco Systems Inc's Talos cyber security unit said it believes the threats came from a group of fraudsters previously responsible for sending "sextortion" emails that claim to have videos showing the recipients having sex. The fraudsters threaten to release compromising videos they claim to have obtained with software that recorded people through webcams on their computers. Some of this week's bomb threats came from the same internet addresses used in those sextortion campaigns, Talos researcher Jaeson Schultz said in a blog post. "The criminals conducting these extortion email attacks have demonstrated that they are willing to concoct any threat and story imaginable that they believe would fool the recipient," the blog said. "We expect these sorts of attacks to continue as long as there are victims who will believe these threats to be credible, and be scared enough to send money to the attackers," it said. A similar series of hoax bomb threats occurred in December 2015, prompting officials in Los Angeles to close the city's public school system, which national law enforcement officials later criticized as an over-reaction. Two weeks previously, a married couple inspired by Islamic State had killed 14 people at a California county office building in a shooting rampage. A teenager with dual Israeli-U.S. citizenship was arrested in Israel in March 2017 for making bomb threats to more than 100 Jewish organizations and Jewish community centres in dozens of U.S. states over several months. (Reporting by Scott Malone in Boston, Angela Moon and Gabriella Borter in New York, Mark Hosenball in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Saturday, seven weeks after he was appointed in a surprise move that sparked a political crisis in the island nation. Colombo: Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Saturday, seven weeks after he was appointed in a surprise move that sparked a political crisis in the island nation. The former strongman signed his resignation letter, surrounded by his party members at his official residence in the capital, television footage showed. Rajapaksa's resignation is likely to bring to an end a nearly two-month-long power struggle and will pave the way for a new government to be established under President Maithripala Sirisena. Sri Lanka plunged into a political turmoil when Sirisena abruptly sacked then-prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on 26 October and replaced him with former president Rajapaksa. When Sirisena's decision was contested, he dissolved Parliament and called for a snap parliamentary election in January. Wickremesinghe is now expected to return to office on Sunday. "The President has agreed to swear in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister tomorrow at 10 am," his United National Party's (UNP) spokesman Harin Fernando told the BBC. Fernando said this would end the political deadlock and noted that the country and its economy had suffered a "huge damage" since the crisis began 50 days ago. The ministers of the new Cabinet will take oath on Monday, the Colombo Telegraph reported citing UNP sources. Rajapaksa will make a special statement on Sunday explaining the reasons for his decision to step down, the daily said. His son Namal said his father had quit to ensure national stability. Shehan Semasinghe, a lawmaker from Rajapaka's Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, said the leader and his group will function as a strong opposition at the Parliament and will continue their call for a parliamentary election to end the political instability. Rajapaksa decided to resign from his premiership on Friday after the Supreme Court continued a suspension order on him and his Cabinet from continuing in office. It had also ruled as "unconstitutional" Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and conduct a snap parliamentary election. Amid the crisis, Sri Lankan Parliament had earlier this week passed a vote of confidence in Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. His party and its allies have a simple majority in Parliament and have argued from the beginning that President Sirisena's actions were unconstitutional. The crisis, which had provoked brawls in Parliament and sparked huge protests, has been closely watched by India, as well as the US, China and European Union. Mahinda Rajapaksa will resign on Saturday, the disputed Sri Lankan prime minister's son announced on Friday, signalling an end to the nearly two-month power tussle in the island nation after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongman's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. Colombo: Mahinda Rajapaksa will resign on Saturday, the disputed Sri Lankan prime minister's son announced on Friday, signalling an end to the nearly two-month power tussle in the island nation after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongman's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. Earlier in the day, the apex court refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. Rajapaksa was appointed as the prime minister on 26 October by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. "To ensure stability of the nation, former president has decided to resign from the premiership tomorrow after an address to the nation," Rajapaksa's son Namal tweeted. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with former president, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and others will "now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena", Namal Rajapaksa, a lawmaker, added. Wickremesinghe's camp was hopeful that Sirisena would now reinstate him over the weekend after Rajapaksa resigns, effectively ending the political stalemate that plagued the nation for the past seven weeks. On Thursday, Wickremesinghe, 69, tweeted, "We trust that the president will promptly respect the judgment of the courts. The legislature, judiciary, and the executive are equally important pillars of a democracy and the checks and balances that they provide are crucial to ensuring the sovereignty of its citizens." There was no immediate reaction from President Sirisena, the architect of the current crisis. Parliamentarian Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said Rajapaksa, who ruled Sri Lanka for nearly a decade, decided to step down in the best interest of the country. He claimed Rajapaksa can hold office without resigning but that will only further drag the political turmoil in the country. So the former president decided to step down after the court ruling given on Friday and on Thursday. His Cabinet will also stand dissolved, Abeywardena was quoted as saying by the Colombo Gazette. The apex court's Friday ruling came a day after it unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena was "illegal", in a body blow to the embattled leader, whose controversial decisions plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political turmoil. The Supreme Court decided that a Court of Appeal order issued against the appointment of Rajapaksa as prime minister and against his Cabinet from holding office will stand. The appeal filed by Rajapaksa will be taken up for hearing on 16, 17, and 18 January. The apex court asked all parties to provide written submissions within three weeks. The Appeal Court on 3 December issued notice and an interim order against Rajapaksa and his Government, preventing them from acting as Prime Minister, Cabinet and Deputy Ministers. The order was issued in a case filed by 122 lawmakers against Rajapaksa and his new government. Rajapaksa and the members of the purported government filed the appeal against the Court of Appeal's interim injunction that restrained them from functioning in their respective posts. The United National Front (UNF) said the order means Rajapaksa cannot be Prime Minister and so the former Cabinet must be reinstated. UNF Parliamentarian Ajith Perera said the President must now appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. Parliamentarians of Wickremesinghe's UNP, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Tamil National Alliance on 23 November filed the petition in the Court of Appeal challenging Rajapaksa on continuing to hold the office of Prime Minister after a no-confidence motion was passed in Parliament against him. Sirisena, after sacking Wickremesinghe, dissolved Parliament and called for a snap election on 5 January. However, the Supreme Court overturned his decision and halted the preparations for snap polls. Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa both claim to be the prime ministers with the former claiming that his dismissal is invalid because he still holds a majority in the 225-member Parliament. Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's UNP had the backing of 106 parliamentarians while Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine had 95 seats. Rajapaksa has, so far, failed to prove his majority in Parliament. The President has said that due to sharp personal differences with Wickremesinghe, he would not reappoint him as the prime minister. However, Wickremesinghe's UNP claims that Sirisena will be left with no choice as he would be the man who will command the confidence in the House. Most of the countries have not recognised Rajapaksa's government. The global credit rating agencies the Fitch, the Standard & Poor's and the Moody's had also downgraded Sri Lanka's rating owing to the current political crisis. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday said his budget chief, Mick Mulvaney, would take over as White House chief of staff on a temporary basis after former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie abruptly withdrew from consideration for the post. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday said his budget chief, Mick Mulvaney, would take over as White House chief of staff on a temporary basis after former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie abruptly withdrew from consideration for the post. Mulvaney, a former congressman who heads the White House Office of Management and Budget, would take over from retired Marine General John Kelly, who steps down from the top post in early January. "Mick has done an outstanding job while in the administration," Trump said in announcing the decision on Twitter. "I look forward to working with him in this new capacity." The decision came just hours after Christie, who had been considered a top candidate, withdrew his name. Christie's announcement leaves the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as two top possibilities to replace Kelly on a long-term basis. Mulvaney was also in the mix, as were other people, a knowledgeable source said. Before he joined the administration, Mulvaney was an outspoken member of the House Freedom Caucus, a powerful bloc of conservative Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. This is not the first time Trump has turned to Mulvaney in a pinch. Last November, he named Mulvaney the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency that had been closely associated with former President Barack Obamas tenure. The appointment was fought in court, but Mulvaney prevailed and ran it until earlier this month, when Trumps official pick was confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Mulvaney often appears on Sunday TV talk shows to defend Trump's policies. (Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by Steve Holland and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell and Diane Craft) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Giulia Paravicini and Stephanie Nebehay KINSHASA/GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief on Friday called on Congolese authorities to halt violence and inflammatory speech ahead of the country's Dec. By Giulia Paravicini and Stephanie Nebehay KINSHASA/GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief on Friday called on Congolese authorities to halt violence and inflammatory speech ahead of the country's Dec. 23 presidential election, while the government said it was beefing up security for the vote. Campaigning for the long-delayed poll to choose President Joseph Kabila's successor had been mostly peaceful until this week, when security forces opened fire to disperse opposition gatherings and a fire in the capital Kinshasa destroyed thousands of voting machines and ballot boxes. The vote could mark Democratic Republic of Congo's first democratic transfer of power, but the violence and chaotic preparations have raised fears of a repeat of the trouble that marred the 2006 and 2011 polls. In an already tense electoral environment, I urge the government to send a clear signal that threats and violence against political opponents will not be tolerated, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement. I am deeply worried about the reports of excessive use of force, including live ammunition, by security forces against opposition rallies. In a news conference, government spokesman Lambert Mende said the government was reinforcing security, without giving details. He suggested opposition leaders were responsible for the latest violence. "People known for their extremism, and who have evidently received or given themselves the mission to torpedo and debunk the electoral process, have been working to undermine the process over the past few days," he said. Martin Fayulu, one of the two main opposition candidates running against Kabila's preferred successor, former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, has dismissed allegations from Shadary's camp that he incited violence. Fayulu and the other major opposition candidate, Felix Tshisekedi, suggested on Thursday that the government was behind the fire, which they said could serve as a pretext to further delay the election. Mende said the blaze would have "no impact on the electoral process". Election officials say they are recalling voting machines from the rest of the country to Kinshasa to replace the 80 percent of the capital's machines lost in the fire. The election to replace the term-limited Kabila was supposed to take place in 2016 but was repeatedly delayed, sparking demonstrations in which security forces killed dozens of protesters. Over those two years, security has broken down across much of the vast country, particularly its volatile eastern borderlands with Rwanda and Uganda, where dozens of militia groups are active. (Additional reporting by Sofia Christensen; writing by Aaron Ross; editing by Andrew Roche) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Mick Mulvaney, a conservative Republican former congressman, is currently head of the White House budget management office, which oversees federal spending and administers the federal budget. Washington: Donald Trump announced on Friday that his budget director Mick Mulvaney will step in as acting chief of staff to replace John Kelly amid indications the president is struggling to fill the key post. Trump, whose presidency is increasingly embroiled in legal troubles, announced earlier this month that Kelly, a former Marine Corps general, was leaving. Kelly, who reportedly fell out with other close Trump aides, is only the latest in a long string of high-ranking officials to quit the embattled White House. Trump announced the news on Twitter: I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 ....I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 For the record, there were MANY people who wanted to be the White House Chief of Staff. Mick M will do a GREAT job! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 Kelly agreed to stay on until at least 2 January to avoid leaving the president in the lurch. However, even with several weeks' notice, Trump appears to be having difficulty in finding the right replacement. His widely reported first choice, Nick Ayres, announced last weekend that he did not want the post. Ayres, a 36-year-old Republican consultant currently serving as chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, was seen as a good fit for Trump's plan to start focusing on his 2020 re-election. With Democrats taking over the House of Representatives in January and special prosecutor Robert Mueller near the end of an explosive probe into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia during the 2016 election, the president is believed to be seeking a sharp political operator. A major Republican figure, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, announced Friday that he too was pulling out from consideration. It was not immediately clear where Mulvaney fits into those longer-term plans. Mulvaney, a conservative Republican former congressman, is currently head of the White House budget management office, which oversees federal spending and administers the federal budget. He was also previously acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects consumers when they take loans and use credit cards. While in the job, Mulvaney provoked anger in the Democratic Party with his campaign to downgrade the agency. His new appointment appears to give Trump some breathing space ahead of the holidays, which the president will spend mostly at his Florida resort. However, a question still hangs on who can do the difficult job in the long term. Kelly was often described as "the adult in the room" during the turbulent period since his appointment in July 2017. In an interview with Fox News this week, Trump said that his ideal candidate was "somebody that's strong, but I want somebody that thinks like I do." US District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that 2017's tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under 'Obamacare', by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. The rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote. Washington: A conservative federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled the Affordable Care Act "invalid" on the eve of the sign-up deadline for next year. But with appeals certain, even the Trump White House said the law will remain in place for now. In a 55-page opinion, US District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that last year's tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under "Obamacare", by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. The rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote. Supporters of the law immediately said they would appeal. "Today's misguided ruling will not deter us: our coalition will continue to fight in court for the health and well-being of all Americans," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is leading a coalition of states defending the ACA. The White House applauded O'Connor's ruling but said the law remains in place while appeals proceed. President Donald Trump tweeted that Congress should pass a new law: As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 However, Congress is unlikely to act while the case remains in the courts. Numerous high-ranking Republican lawmakers have said they did not intend to also strike down popular provisions such as protection for people with pre-existing medical conditions when they repealed the ACA's fines for people who can afford coverage but remain uninsured. Still, Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to become House speaker in January, vowed to fight what she called an "absurd ruling." She said the House "will move swiftly to formally intervene in the appeals process to uphold the life-saving protections for people with pre-existing conditions and reject Republicans' effort to destroy the Affordable Care Act." White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: "We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place." Legal expert Timothy Jost, a supporter of the health law, said O'Connor's ruling would have repercussions for nearly all Americans if it stands. If the entire health law is invalidated, popular provisions that benefit Medicare beneficiaries and people with employer coverage would also be scrapped. That could include the section that allows parents to keep young adult children on their coverage until age 26. About 20 million people have gained health insurance coverage since the ACA passed in 2010 without a single Republican vote. Currently, about 10 million have subsidized private insurance through the health law's insurance markets, while an estimated 12 million low-income people are covered through its Medicaid expansion. Saturday is the sign-up deadline for 2019 private plans through HealthCare.gov. Meanwhile, a number of states are expected to move forward with Medicaid expansion after Democratic victories in the midterm elections. If the case were to reach the Supreme Court it would mark the third time the justices consider a challenge to fundamental provisions of the law. "Obamacare" opponents lost both the first two cases. The five justices who upheld the health law in 2012 in the first major case Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberals are all still serving. Since then, public opinion on the ACA has shifted from mostly negative to generally favourable. Preserving the law's protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions proved to be a strong argument for Democrats in the midterm elections. Republicans who tried to undermine those safeguards during their failed effort to repeal the health law last year were forced on the defensive and went on record saying they, too, want to make sure people with health problems can get coverage. Democrats set to take control of the House in January are talking about passing legislation that enshrines protections for pre-existing conditions. It's unclear what form that would take, or if the Republican-majority Senate would go along and Trump would sign it. The GOP-led states who brought the lawsuit asked O'Connor to toss out the entire law after Congress repealed the "individual mandate" penalty for going without coverage. The conservative judge had previously ruled against other Obama-era policies. According to SplashDatas eighth annual list of Worst Passwords of the Year and after evaluating more than 5 million passwords leaked on the Internet, the company found that users continue using the same predictable, easily guessable passwords. The 123456 and password continue in the number one and two spots, respectively. The US President Trump debuted on this years list with donald showing up as the 23rd most frequently used password. Each year, SplashData evaluates millions of leaked passwords to determine which passwords were most used by computer users during that year. The company says that even with the risks well known, many millions of people continue to use weak, easily-guessable passwords to protect their online information. 2018 was the fifth consecutive year that 123456 and password retained their top two spots on the list. SplashData estimates that almost 10% of people have used at least one of the 25 worst passwords on this years list, and nearly 3% of people have used the worst password, 123456. According to SplashData, over five million leaked passwords evaluated for the 2018 list were mostly held by users in North America and Western Europe. Passwords leaked from hacks of adult websites were not included in this report. To help protect computer users from hackers, SplashData is offering the full list of Top 100 Worst Passwords, a free one-year subscription for individuals to its Gpass password manager, and a TeamsID demo for businesses. Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData, Inc said: Sorry, Mr. President, but this is not fake news using your name or any common name as a password is a dangerous decision. Hackers have great success using celebrity names, terms from pop culture and sports, and simple keyboard patterns to break into accounts online because they know so many people are using those easy-to-remember combinations. Our hope by publishing this list each year is to convince people to take steps to protect themselves online. Its a real head-scratcher that with all the risks known, and with so many highly publicized hacks such as Marriott and the National Republican Congressional Committee, that people continue putting themselves at such risk year-after-year. Presenting SplashDatas Worst Passwords of 2018. Source The water pump is inside the engine (not very specific), if it fails - its a 10+ hour job and costs a few grand. That btw is NOT a deciding factor, but between that and the turbo I just enjoy the idea of a well mannered NA v6. Having seen a few reports of the oil leak on the 2.7 just keeps me thinking. Please, dont think I believe the 2.7 is not reliable - it would be my first choice of engine by a long shot. However, when buying new it just appears that my options are limited to dealer vs build your own - and the price is 5-10k difference. Around here, I would say 75% of the trucks on the lot are base fleet/work trucks, and the only 2.7 models are Platinum and XLT which demand more cost. Im a simple guy, regular cab, dont need too many options (would LOVE to have the elocker) as this is my DD I just want simple and cheap honestly with good MPG. On a side note, I have seen quite a few 2.7l used on truecar that are out of state. I certainly will be keeping my eye open. I just wanted to see what people who owned the 3.3l thought. I know Ford has soo many engine options - but I am a bit surprised that the 3.3 isn't more popular. NA V6, decent power, 19/25 MPG, PFDI, in a base model with the tried and true 6 speed. A lot of Ford haters always resort back to the "turbo isnt reliable" theory, but between the big 3, only the RAM Pentastar seems to get decent MPG out of the base model. (Ford wins btw in base model MPG). Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The son of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Nicanor Faeldon has tested negative for drug use after being arrested in a drug raid in Naga City. The urine samples taken from 31-year-old Nicanor Faeldon Jr. were found negative for the presence of shabu and cannabis, according to documents from the Naga City Police obtained by CNN Philippines Saturday. Meanwhile, all three of his companions when he was arrested in a house Friday morning tested positive for both drugs. They were identified as Russel Lanuzo, Allan Valdez and Manuel Nebres. On Friday, the police went inside the house to serve a search warrant for possession of illegal drugs on Lanuzo and found the younger Faeldon there. Seven plastic sachets containing suspected shabu were recovered. Police said the younger Faeldon may still face a case for visiting the suspected drug den, which is a bailable case. But his negative test results may now spare him from heavier punishment not just from the law, but from his father, who pledged to resign from his post to hunt down and kill his son if the drug charges are proven. In an interview with CNN Philippines on Saturday, Faeldon said he knew his son did not use drugs, adding that he "would be very surprised" if the drug tests said otherwise. He said he still won't help his son face any possible case and would leave it to the authorities. "I have no intention of contacting him or neither providing him any assistance," Faeldon said. "If he's innocent, then soon he will be out." He explained that Nicanor Faeldon Jr. was visiting Lanuzo's daughter, who is his son's girlfriend for the past four years. Faeldon said he last talked to his son six months ago, when the latter asked for permission to study and live with his girlfriend in Naga City. Faeldon said he knew nothing about any involvement of the girlfriend's father in illegal drugs. He added that his son grew up with his mother. Faeldon on Friday said, "If it turns out later on that he's involved, sabi ko 'wag na natin gastusan sa litigation. Magagastusan pa ang gobyerno. Papatayin ko na lang 'yung bata para wala nang mapinsala pa siya." [Translation: If it turns out later on that he's involved, as I said, let us not spend money for litigation. That would cost the government. I will just kill my son so he does not do any harm."] READ: Faeldon: I will kill my son if proven guilty of drug charges Faeldon said this was how serious he was in eliminating drugs even if it involved his eldest child. Prior to his BuCor post, Faeldon stepped down as customs commissioner in August 2017 amid the controversy over the P6.4-billion drug haul from China that entered the country May of the same year. He was accused of accepting bribes to ease the release of shipments, a claim he has repeatedly denied. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load Lenovo Z5s with 10GB RAM teased again online News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The teaser shared is in a Chinese text format and it reveals that the device will pack more than 8GB of RAM. The Chinese tech giant Lenovo is gearing up to bring its next mid-range smartphone for the consumers. The Lenovo Z5s is the latest offering by the company which will be officially announced on December 18 this year. The device has been surrounded by tons of leak before its official launch and the company itself has shared some teaser of the upcoming device. All the leaks and the official teaser have given us a fair idea about the specifications and features that the device will pack. Now, just ahead of its December 18 launch the smartphone has been teased once again. Chang Cheng, VP, Lenovo Group has shared some new information on the upcoming Lenovo Z5s smartphone. The teaser shared is in a Chinese text format and it reveals that the device will pack more than 8GB of RAM. This hints that the device will be available in 10GB RAM as the previous leaks and rumors had suggested. The other suggested specifications include a 6.3-inch full HD+ display panel. The Z5s will feature an in-display selfie camera as we have seen on the recently launched Samsung Galaxy A8s smartphone. The display will be tall and is expected to offer a screen resolution of 19:9. The device will also have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for the device protection. Also, a recent teaser of the Lenovo Z5s shared on Weibo suggests that the smartphone will run on Snapdragon 678 processor and will ship with Android 9.0 Pie out-of-the-box. The connectivity aspects on the device include Bluetooth, Wi-FI, 4G LTE support and a USB Type-C for charging and data transfers. The device is expected to draw its power from a 3,210mAh battery unit. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Kremlin Says Allegations Against Accused Russian Agent Butina Groundless December 14, 2018 The Kremlin says that allegations against Maria Butina, a Russian woman accused of acting as an agent of Russia's government in the United States, are "groundless." "We repeat, all allegations against her we consider to be absolutely groundless," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on December 14. For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had "reasons to believe" the Russian had been kept in conditions designed to break her will and lead her to enter a false guilty plea. "As far as I understand, this plea bargain -- the likes of which are common in the U.S. -- is part of a deal to get free and return home as soon as possible," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Butina agreed to plead guilty in a U.S. court on December 13 to a conspiracy charge as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. Prosecutors said Butina worked with a top Russian official to cultivate relationships with U.S. political organizations, including a powerful gun rights group and conservative activists as an agent for Moscow. She is due to remain in U.S. custody until her sentencing, in February or later. Since her arrest in July, Lavrov has repeatedly complained about her detention to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. prosecutors have said. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-says- allegations-against-accused-russian-agent- butina-groundless/29656099.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Navy Contractors Massively Targeted by Chinese Hackers Report Sputnik News 21:32 14.12.2018 Neither the US Navy, nor Chinese officials, has commented on the report yet, but Washington has earlier accused Beijing on multiple occasions of using its hackers for corporate espionage against American companies. Chinese hackers have breached the computer systems of a number of US Navy contractors of various sizes, stealing vast amounts of data, ranging from ship maintenance details to missile schematics, The Wall Street Journal reported on 14 December, citing experts and anonymous officials. According to the sources, the amount of security breaches allegedly performed by Chinese hackers has significantly increased over the last 18 months, with smaller contractors desperately struggling to find the resources to strengthen their security. The newspaper claims that the data stolen in the attacks is "highly sensitive, classified information about advanced military technology". For example, the schematic of a supersonic anti-ship missile developed for US submarines was reportedly stolen, among other things. Sources claim that the cyberattacks left "fingerprints" allegedly pointing at China, specifically to the island province of Hainan, due to an accidentally exposed IP address. Other evidence of alleged Chinese involvement was the use of a "suite of custom hacking tools", which is believed to be distributed among Chinese hackers. Washington has accused China of conducting industrial espionage, stealing the secrets of American companies. Beijing has strongly denied the accusations on multiple occasions, claiming that it's not responsible for cyberattacks. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: Allegations Against Butina Are 'Unfounded' By Ken Bredemeier December 14, 2018 The Kremlin said Friday that the allegations against the Russian woman who pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to being a spy are "unfounded." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday,"We consider the accusations against her as absolutely unfounded." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he believed Maria Butina's guilty plea is part of a plea bargain "... the likes of which are common in the U.S. ... part of a deal to get free and return home as soon as possible." Butina pleaded guilty, however, Thursday in Washington to acting as a Kremlin agent to conspire to build ties with the powerful National Rifle Association gun rights group in the U.S. and infiltrate Republican Party circles to pass information back to Moscow. She was charged in July with acting illegally as an unregistered Russian agent and conspiracy. She initially entered a not-guilty plea. But Butina admitted to U.S. Judge Tanya Chutkan that she had, in fact, been working for the Russian government. As part of an agreement with prosecutors to change her plea to guilty, the 30-year-old Butina agreed to help them with insight into Russian meddling in U.S. political affairs. Her actions were directed by Alexander Torshin, a deputy governor of Russia's central bank, who in April was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Butina faces up to five years' imprisonment and remains jailed while awaiting sentencing Feb. 12. She could be deported to her homeland after serving any prison term. Butina allegedly developed a personal relationship with an NRA-linked Republican activist, Paul Erickson, and lived with him. Butina also enrolled as a graduate student at American University in Washington, where she earned a master's degree in international relations earlier this year. She attended several political events in the U.S., posed with guns on social media sites and attended the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, an annual event often filled with prominent U.S. political figures. The U.S. Justice Department alleged that Butina was a "covert Russian agent" who maintained connections with Russian spies in a mission aimed at penetrating "the U.S. national decision-making apparatus to advance the agenda of the Russian Federation." Putin said earlier this week he had never heard of Butina until her July arrest. The Russian leader said that when he asked Russian intelligence services for information about her, he was told that "no one knows anything about her." The Butina case is separate from special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing, 19-month investigation into whether President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign colluded with Russia to help him win the presidency and whether, as president, Trump obstructed justice to try to thwart the probe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes initial agreements among Yemenis IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 14, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Friday that Iran welcomes the initial agreements among the Yemenis under UN secretary general, describing the confidence-building positive steps and initial agreements as promising. Agreement on Al-Hudaydeh port and city is significant, he said, adding that the deal reveals that Yemeni groups involved in the talks have truly understood the deplorable conditions of the oppressed people of Yemen and try to prevent the aggravating situation in the country. Qasemi also hoped that agreements reached would pave the way for the next round of dialogues for concluding final accord. As the Islamic Republic of Iran feels responsibility against the regional crises, it is playing a constructive role in Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue in Sweden, he said, noting that Iran considers stopping bloodshed and continuing Yemeni-Yemeni dialogues as final solution for the situation in the impoverished country. 8072**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the adoption of the laws on the transition of the Kosovo Security Force NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 14 Dec. 2018 Press Release (2018) 170 Issued on 14 Dec. 2018 Today, the Institutions in Kosovo have announced the adoption of the three laws initiating the process of transition of the Kosovo Security Force. I regret that this decision was made despite the concerns expressed by NATO. While the transition of the Kosovo Security Force is in principle a matter for Kosovo to decide, we have made clear that this move is ill-timed. NATO supports the development of the Kosovo Security Force under its current mandate. With the change of mandate, the North Atlantic Council will now have to re-examine the level of NATO's engagement with the Kosovo Security Force. NATO remains committed through KFOR to a safe and secure environment in Kosovo and to stability in the wider Western Balkans. All sides must ensure that today's decision will not further increase tensions in the region. All responsible political actors in the region need to focus on progress with reforms, and on dialogue. I reiterate my call on both Pristina and Belgrade to remain calm and refrain from any statements or actions which may lead to escalation. NATO continues to support the EU-sponsored dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina as the only lasting political solution for the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Secretary General thanks Albania for contributions to NATO NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 13 Dec. 2018 - 14 Dec. 2018 Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller visited Tirana on Friday (14 December 2018), thanking Prime Minister Edi Rama for Albania's valuable contributions to NATO. In a press point with Defence Minister Olta Xhacka, Ms. Gottemoeller praised Albania's contributions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, as well as in NATO's multinational battlegroup in Latvia. She stressed that NATO is committed to Albania's security, including with plans for a fifty-million Euro investment at Kucove Air Base. While in Tirana, Ms. Gottemoeller also met with Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati and other senior officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hudaydah residents receive first aid packages since recent truce deal Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 06:58PM Residents of the besieged port city of Hudaydah have received their first aid packages since a truce deal was signed between opposing factions to halt hostilities in the city. On Thursday, more than 3,200 packages were handed out by The Red Cross to a long line of men, women and children who had waited to receive the food and other necessities. Commenting on the truce later on Friday, World Food Program spokesperson Herve Verhoosel welcomed the deal. "This agreement has the potential to allow the ports of Hudaydah and Saleef to operate at near-normal capacity," said Verhoosel. "The free flow of commercial food supplies into Yemen should prevent further increases in food prices, which have sky-rocketed in the last few months." The spokesperson, however, stressed that the deal was still "not enough" to address existing humanitarian concerns. "That's why we look forward to January or later when the second round of discussions will take place under the Special Envoy's leadership and we hope that other similar agreements will be reached in other parts of the country." Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement and the country's former Saudi-backed government agreed on Thursday to withdraw forces from the city in a bid to facilitate aid access to the civilian population which had been greatly hampered by the Saudi-led onslaught on the life-line port. Upon returning to Yemen on Friday, Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam described the agreement as a victory for the Yemeni nation. "The existing local authorities will be officially in charge of controlling the city and establishing security there under the supervision of the UN," said Abdulsalam. The landmark agreement came after the two sides had agreed to conduct a large prisoner swap on Monday. Two days later, a resume of domestic flights to Sana'a international airport was also agreed upon. Saudi-led mercenaries and forces loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi were forced to sit for talks with the Ansarullah movement after their massive operation to seize the port city of Hudaydah failed. Ansarullah calls the truce deal a defeat for the Saudis as it stops the aggression, allows existing local protectors who thwarted the Saudi offensive to be in charge of the city, and allows the Yemeni nation to regain access to food, medicine, and other basic supplies. The Saudi-led war has, however, taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN urges Congo to halt violence before long-delayed election Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 03:24PM United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged the Congolese authorities to halt violence after the government said it was stepping up security for the long-delayed presidential elections scheduled for December 23. Campaigning for the vote was marred by violence after security forces opened fire to disperse opposition rallies and a fire in the capital Kinshasa ruined thousands of voting machines and ballot boxes earlier this week, raising fears of a repeat of the trouble that hit the 2006 and 2011 polls. "In an already tense electoral environment, I urge the government to send a clear signal that threats and violence against political opponents will not be tolerated," Bachelet said in a statement on Friday. "I am deeply worried about the reports of excessive use of force, including live ammunition, by security forces against opposition rallies," she added. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said in a press conference said the government was beefing-up security, without elaborating. He also blamed opposition leaders for the latest violence. At least two people were killed Wednesday in clashes with police on the sidelines of an opposition rally in Kalemie in eastern DR Congo, a day after two of the supporters of opposition candidate Martin Fayulu were killed and 43 hurt in clashes at a rally in Lubumbashi. "People known for their extremism, and who have evidently received or given themselves the mission to torpedo and debunk the electoral process, have been working to undermine the process over the past few days," Mende said. However, Fayulu who is running against President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor, former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, rejected the allegations. Fayulu and the other main opposition candidate, Felix Tshisekedi, said on Thursday that the government was behind the fire that destroyed 80 percent of the capital's machines and which they said could serve as a pretext to further postpone the vote. The government spokesman said the fire would have "no impact on the electoral process". Election officials are reportedly recalling voting machines from the rest of the country to Kinshasa to replace the machines lost in the blaze. Kabila took power after the assassination of his father, Laurent, and won subsequent presidential elections in 2006 and 2011. The 47-year-old leader's most recent term was officially due to end in late 2016, but the election was postponed as rival factions tried to negotiate a way to avoid a recurrence of deadly violence during the vote, sparking protests in which security forces killed scores of people. The DR Congo, rich with mineral wealth but plagued by violence, has not had a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel steps up raids on West Bank after troops killed Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 11:04AM Israel has ramped up its raids across the occupied West Bank after two soldiers were killed near Ramallah, arresting dozens of Palestinians during a crackdown overnight. "Forces apprehended 40 suspects wanted for their involvement in terror activities, popular terror, and violent riots targeting civilians and security forces," the Israeli military said in a statement. It claimed 37 of those arrested were known to be members of the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip. Two Israeli troops were killed after an attacker emerged from a vehicle and shot at soldiers near the settlements of Beit El and Ofra on Thursday. At least two other people, including a soldier, were wounded and the attacker fled. The attack prompted the Israel regime to deploy troops to the West Bank, setting up checkpoints and blocking roads. Four Palestinians, including a female minor, were detained in the immediate aftermath of the incident. The alleged shooting came after Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in separate operations over the span of six hours. In total six people were killed in the most violent 24 hours to hit the West Bank and Jerusalem al-Quds in months. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority has blamed Israel's illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories for the renewed tensions. On Thursday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to authorize new settlement units, asking attorney general Avichai Mendelblit to facilitate their construction. Around 600,000 Israelis live in settlements in the occupied West Bank. All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under the international law. Netanyahu warns Hamas The Israeli premier also warned that the regime will "take action" against Hamas if the movement does not end "security operations" in the West Bank, Israel Hayom daily reported. Netanyahu said the Israeli military would not stop its attacks against Gaza if Hamas's alleged operations went on. The Al Aqsa satellite channel also cited Hamas as marking 31 years since its establishment with a pledge to continue its legitimate right to confront the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian resistance movement said it will keep up its fight for the removal of the Israeli siege on Gaza, and continue support for the "March of Return" protests in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US plans to counter China, Russia influence in Africa: Bolton Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 07:16AM US National Security Adviser John Bolton says the United States plans to counter the rapidly expanding political and economic influence of China and Russia in Africa. Beijing and Moscow were using "corrupt" and "predatory" practices to gain an economic advantage over the US on the continent, Bolton said in a speech on Thursday at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. "Great-power competitors, namely China and Russia, are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa," Bolton said. "They are deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States," he added. The former US ambassador to the UN, who is known as a war hawk, said "predatory practices" by China and Russia stunt economic growth in Africa and threaten the continent's economic independence. A deterioration in US-China relations, seen most dramatically in their escalating trade dispute, is spilling over into other areas. Beijing's growing trade and military ties with Africa has concerned Washington. China overtook the US in 2010 as the continent's largest trading partner. In October, US President Donald Trump signed legislation overhauling the way the federal government lends money for foreign development, creating a $60 billion agency intended largely to respond to China's growing influence. Chinese President Xi Jinping "Belt and Road" initiative, unveiled in 2013, aims to build an infrastructure network connecting China by land and sea to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. China has already provided many countries in Asia and Africa with billions of dollars in aid and loans for roads, railways, ports and other major infrastructure projects. Bolton had equally harsh words for Russia. "Across the continent, Russia advances its political and economic relationships with little regard for the rule of law or accountable and transparent governance," he said. He accused Moscow of selling arms and energy to African nations in exchange for their votes at the United Nations. Bolton's comments come as the US military has in recent years expanded its forces across the continent, where it reportedly has over 6,000 troops stationed. Washington runs 34 military bases across Africa, contrary to the Pentagon's insistence that it maintains a modest presence across the continent. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Truce agreement victory for Yemeni nation: Abdulsalam Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:16AM Yemen's Houthi movement says a ceasefire agreed between the warring sides in Yemen is a victory for the war-torn country as it will stop Saudi attacks on the strategic city of Hudaydah. Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam made the remarks in an interview with Al-Masirah TV, shortly after the warring parties reached a ceasefire agreement after days of UN-brokered talks in Sweden. Based on the deal, "the existing local authorities will be officially in charge of controlling the city and establishing security there under the supervision of the UN," Abdulsalam said. The Houthi delegation and Saudi-backed former government agreed that the UN would play a "leading role" in Hudaydah, which is currently controlled by the Houthis. They also agreed to reopen the airport in the capital Sana'a, which was shuttered last year after numerous attacks by Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh-backed side, which represented former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in the Stockholm talks, said on Friday that the Houthis must hand over the key port. However, Abdulsalam strongly rejected the proposal, saying Hudaydah must be kept apart from the military conflict, and that a government should be formed first before all parties are disarmed. Forces loyal to Hadi and the Saudi-led mercenaries were forced to sit for talks with the Houthi Ansarullah movement after their massive operation to seize the port city of Hudaydah failed. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had deployed about 10,000 troops to Yemen's west coast after repeated campaigns to seize Hudaydah were thwarted by the Houthis and their allies. Ansarullah calls the truce deal a defeat for the Saudis as it stops the aggression, allows existing local protectors who thwarted the Saudi offensive to be in charge of the city, and allows the Yemeni nation to regain their access to food, medicine, and other basic supplies. Around 14 million people have been pushed to the brink of starvation since the Saudi war began in 2015, according to the UN. Cessation of Saudi aggression In his remarks, Abdulsalam said there is no sign that the Saudis are going to stop their aggression against the innocent people of Yemen despite the ceasefire deal. One of the articles of the draft agreement proposed by the Ansarullah delegation is "the complete cessation of military actions in Yemen," but the Saudi side is rejecting it, he said. "The UN has two options ahead of itself: it should either start the political process from the scratch or begin the political process from the draft version of the framework deal proposed in Sweden." Abdulsalam also called on the Yemenis to remain vigilant, especially in Hudaydah and Tai'zz, and continue supporting the Yemeni army and popular committees. "Those who have shown resistance against 17 countries for four years can achieve a brilliant victory," he added. Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Hadi, who had resigned amid popular discontent and fled to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia buys the bulk of its weapons used in war from the US, Britain and France. The US Senate on Thursday voted to stop US armed forces from supporting Saudi Arabia in its military aggression against Yemen. The historic bipartisan vote for the first time invoked Congress' war powers to challenge US military involvement abroad despite the Trump administration's unwavering support for the Saudi regime. US bills Saudis, Emiratis $331mn for refueling warplanes in Yemen The US Department of Defense said Thursday it has sent Saudi Arabia and its main partner, the United Arab Emirates, a $331-million bill for the fuel their warplanes have received from American refueling aircraft during the past four years in the Yemen war. "Due to errors in accounting by the Pentagon, the United States had not properly charged Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for those services," Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. Specifically, the Pentagon is seeking about $36.8 million for jet fuel and $294.3 million for flight hours by American refueling aircraft, Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said. The United States refueled Saudi and Emirati warplanes operating in Yemen from March 2015 until Nov. 11. However, a resolution approved by the Senate on Thursday would keep the Pentagon from restarting that support. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lawmakers In Kosovo Approve Creation Of Army, Inflaming Tensions With Serbia By RFE/RL December 14, 2018 Lawmakers in Kosovo have passed legislation to build a full-fledged army, a move that has inflamed tensions with its former wartime foe Serbia. The United States said the move was "only natural" for a "sovereign, independent country" and urged continued dialogue with Serbia. However, NATO called the decision "ill-timed" and said it went against the advice of the alliance. Russia, Serbia's traditional ally, condemned the move, saying it was a sign that the situation in the Balkans was deteriorating. The vote to convert Kosovo's lightly armed emergency response force into a professional army passed on December 14 with a unanimous 'Yes' vote by 105 deputies in the 120-seat assembly. The session was boycotted by minority Serb lawmakers. "Kosovo's parliament has adopted the law on the Kosovo Security Force! Congratulations!" parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli said. The legislation will double the size of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and gradually transform it into a professional army of 5,000 troops. The move has received support from all parties in the Western Balkan nation with an ethnic-Albanian majority except for lawmakers who represent the country's 120,000-strong ethnic-Serb minority. Those lawmakers have boycotted parliament sessions on the matter. President Hashim Thaci said that the new army will be "multiethnic, professional and serve all citizens, peace in Kosovo, the region and wherever in the world when asked." The United States has backed Kosovo's move, but it attempted to reassure those opposed the action by insisting the process would take "many years." The U.S. ambassador to Pristina, Philip Kosnett, said that "it is only natural for Kosovo as a sovereign, independent country to have a self-defense capability." "The United States reaffirms its support for the gradual transition of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to a force with a territorial defense mandate, as is Kosovo's sovereign right. The vote in the Assembly today is the first step in developing this capability," the U.S. Embassy in Pritina said in a statement issued shortly after the yes vote. The statement urged Kosovo to continue "close coordination with NATO allies and partners and to engage in outreach to minority communities." The statement also said "regional stability requires that Kosovo make genuine efforts to normalize relations with its neighbor Serbia, and we encourage both sides to take immediate steps to lower tensions and create conditions for rapid progress on dialogue." Serbia's prime minister said the formation of an army in Kosovo goes against efforts at stability in the Balkans. Ana Brnabic said on December 14 that "Serbia will try to continue on the path of peace and stability, the road of prosperity." "Today is not the day that contributes to cooperation and stability in the region," she added. Officials estimate it will take up to a decade for the current Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to become a combat-ready army. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had stressed before the vote that Kosovo's plan was "ill-timed" and goes "against the advice of many NATO allies." Reacting to the December 14 vote, Stoltenberg said NATO will "re-examine" its role in Kosovo. "NATO supports the development of the Kosovo Security Force under its current mandate. With the change of mandate, the North Atlantic Council will now have to re-examine the level of NATO's engagement with the Kosovo Security Force," Stoltenberg said in a statement. "I regret that this decision was made despite the concerns expressed by NATO," Stoltenberg added. Meanwhile, the European Union's foreign policy chief has expressed regret over Kosovo's decision to form a new army. A December 14 statement from Federica Mogherini's office said the EU was in agreement with NATO that the mandate of Kosovo's current security force "should only be changed through an inclusive and gradual process in accordance with the Kosovo Constitution." In a strongly worded statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry said, "It is evident that Kosovo is becoming an epicenter of instability, a source for conflict potential in the region." The ministry accused the West of downplaying the shifts in the balance of power in the Balkans. "The European Union has failed its mediatory role in dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina," it said. Belgrade and ethnic Serbs in Kosovo have vehemently opposed the creation of a Kosovar military, saying it would violate UN resolutions and be used against the country's Serb minority -- a claim denied by officials in Pristina. Nationalist Serbian newspapers have warned the move could set off a new conflict. The daily Informer stated that "War with Kosovo will start on December 15," the day after parliament's vote. Serbian officials have downplayed the possibility of war, but Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on December 13 that the "situation will be considerably worsened" if Kosovo goes ahead with the decision. "We are not going to beat the war drums, but we will not allow anyone to purge and humiliate the Kosovo Serbs," Vucic said. Relations between Pristina and Belgrade have been tense since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Although more than 110 countries recognize Kosovo, Serbia does not. Serbia lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO launched air strikes to stop the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians by Serb forces during a two-year counterinsurgency war. Nearly two decades after the end of the conflict, the landlocked territory of 1.8 million people is still guarded by NATO troops. The current KSF is a 2,500-strong force trained by NATO and tasked with crisis response, civil protection, and ordinance disposal. Ahead of the vote, the KSF held exercises in the south while NATO-led peacekeepers deployed a convoy of combat vehicles in the north of Kosovo. Many of Kosovo's Serbs called it a provocation, but the NATO mission said it was a routine exercise. With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, AFP, Reuters, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-parliament-army-ksf -serbia-vote/29655480.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bipartisan U.S. Senate Resolutions Rebuke Trump Policy On Saudi Arabia, Yemen By RFE/RL December 14, 2018 The U.S. Senate has backed a resolution to end American military assistance for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen and separately pinned blame for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi directly on Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. The bipartisan resolutions on December 13 represented rebukes of President Donald Trump's policy of strong support for Saudi Arabia, a longtime U.S. ally in the Middle East. Senators voted 56-41 to recommend that the United States stop supporting the war in Yemen. It was the first time Congress has ever backed a move to withdraw U.S. forces from a foreign military engagement under the War Powers Act, a law passed during the Vietnam War. The act restricts a president's ability to send U.S. forces to potential hostilities without approval from Congress. Seven members of Trump's Republican Party voted for the resolution, which still would require several legislative steps before becoming binding law. A low-level conflict in Yemen escalated in 2015 when Iran-backed Shi'ite Huthi rebels seized control of much of the west of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia and eight other Arab states intervened militarily in an attempt to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi. They have received support from the United States, Britain, and France. However, with reports of deaths of nearly 10,000 people, many of them civilians, and with millions more facing the threat of starvation, sentiment in the West has been turning against involvement in the conflict. On December 13, Yemen's warring parties agreed to cease fighting for the Huthi-held port city of Hudaydah and withdraw their troops, an apparent breakthrough for UN-led peace efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the UN-brokered talks, saying that "peace is possible." Iran also hailed the "promising" moves toward peace, saying, "We welcome the agreements between the two sides overseen by the representative of the United Nations secretary-general and see the positive steps and the preliminary agreements for continued talks as promising." Immediately after the U.S. Senate passed the Yemen resolution, lawmakers voted unanimously to pass a resolution blaming the Saudi crown prince for Khashoggi's murder and insisting that Riyadh hold to account anyone responsible for his death. "Unanimously, the United States Senate has said that Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. That is a strong statement. I think it speaks to the values that we hold dear," said Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Trump and other administration officials have said there is no conclusive evidence that the crown prince was behind the killing of Khashoggi, who was murdered during what he thought was a routine visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has said evidence strongly points to the involvement of the crown prince, who has denied having anything to do with the death of the U.S. resident and columnist for The Washington Post. With reporting by The New York Times, Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/senate-trump -yemen-saudi-arabia-iran-khashoggi- turkey/29655472.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Sets New Africa Strategy, Condemns 'Predatory' Practices Of Russia, China By RFE/RL December 14, 2018 The United States has denounced the "predatory" practices of Russia and China in Africa as it unveiled a refocus of its strategy that will include an end to "indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent." National-security adviser John Bolton said on December 13 that the new strategy would look to counter the efforts of Moscow and Beijing, which he accused of "deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage." Bolton said Russia is "seeking to increase its influence in the region through corrupt economic dealings." He accused Moscow of selling arms and energy in exchange for votes at the UN "that keep strongmen in power, undermine peace and security, and run counter to the best interests of the African people." China, he said, has used "bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing's wishes and demands." Bolton said that under the new "Prosper Africa" strategy, the United States would choose its partners in Africa more carefully and "encourage African leaders to choose high-quality, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable foreign investment projects, including those from the United States." "The United States will no longer provide indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent," he said. "Countries that repeatedly vote against the United States in international forums, or take action counter to U.S. interests, should not receive generous American foreign aid," he added. On December 12, Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy warned members of Congress of China's increasing economic, military, and political influence in Africa. In 2013, China launched its "Belt and Road" initiative, which looks to construct an infrastructure network connecting China by land and sea to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. In 2017, Beijing opened its first overseas military base in the small country of Djibouti, which already is host to the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-africa- strategy-counter-china-russia-military -economic/29655536.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Troops in Kosovo Conduct Military Drills on Its Roads Sputnik News 22:00 14.12.2018 NATO forces have been present in Kosovo since 1999 as a part of an operation to put an end to the conflict between Kosovo Albanians and the Federal Yugoslav Army and police. Following the end of the NATO campaign, some of the alliance's forces remained in Kosovo after it emerged as a partially recognised state. The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has launched military drills on the main roads of Kosovo and Metohija amid the announcement that the Kosovo Security Force will be transformed into a full-fledged national army. The drills are being conducted to improve the battle readiness of KFOR and its ability "prevent any threat to safety and security", the NATO command in Kosovo stated. In the video, published on KFOR's Facebook page, NATO armoured transport vehicles and trucks can be seen travelling along major roads in Kosovo. NATO invaded Kosovo in March 1999, launching a bombing campaign mostly against Yugoslav military targets and infrastructure, it claims, in a bid to stop the armed conflict between ethnic Albanians and the Yugoslav Army. According to Serbian data, the bombing claimed the lives of 2,500 people, including 89 children, and injured 12,500 more. Even after the airstrikes ended in June 1999, some of NATO troops remained in the form of KFOR under a UN mandate following Security Council Resolution 1244 to preserve the peace. They have been gradually reducing their numbers, delegating responsibility to the Kosovo Security Force. There are currently around 4,000 NATO troops in KFOR. Kosovo's parliament has adopted set of laws that enable the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into a national army for the self-proclaimed republic. Russia has condemned the move as a "gross violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244" that could seriously aggravate the situation in the Balkans. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow Condemns Creation of Kosovo Army as 'Gross Violation of UN Resolution' Sputnik News 18:26 14.12.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The formation of the Kosovo army is fraught with the recurrence of an armed conflict in the region, the decision grossly violates the UN Security Council's resolution and aims to aggravate the situation in the Balkans, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday. "In Pristina, on December 14, the 'parliament' decided to transform the Kosovo Security Force into a full-fledged Kosovo 'army'. This step was a gross violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, aimed at seriously aggravating the situation in the Balkans, fraught with a recurrence of an armed conflict in the region," the ministry said. It said the EU's mediating role in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue had failed, adding that Moscow hoped international forces in Kosovo would take measures to disband so-called Kosovo 'army'. Earlier on Friday, the parliament of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo passed a set of laws providing for the change of mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and its transformation into the republic's national army. Commenting on the move, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic called it in his interview to Sputnik "a very serious and very dangerous blow to the stability and security of not only Serbia, but also the entire Balkan region". Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by over 100 UN member states. The move was not, however, recognized by Serbia and two permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia and China. In 2011, Brussels launched several rounds of talks between Belgrade and Kosovo, bringing the parties to the negotiating table for the first time since Kosovo's secession. The 2013 agreement came as a result of the EU-mediated consultations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kosovo's Future Army to Be NATO Ally - Leader Thaci Sputnik News 17:17 14.12.2018(updated 17:18 14.12.2018) BELGRADE (Sputnik) The leader of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said that the national army of Kosovo, planned to be created, will become an active partner and a committed ally of NATO. "The army of Kosovo will become a multinational, professional force that will serve everyone. We will continue to work with our partners. Kosovo will maintain its strong alliance with NATO We will work with all our allies. The relationship that Kosovo has and will always have with NATO is of great importance," Thaci told reporters. The statement comes after the parliament of Kosovo passed a set of bills providing for the change of mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and its transformation into the republic's national army. Earlier the same day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he regretted Kosovo's decision to create a national army, adding that NATO would be forced to review its level of engagement with the KSF. Maja Kocijancic, the EU spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security policy, said that the European Union expects that Kosovo would continue complying with its previously undertaken security obligations despite its move to create a national army. The Kosovar army will reportedly consist of 5,000 active soldiers and 3,000 reservists and will receive 300 million euros ($340 million) in funding over three years to equip and train its forces. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbian Envoy Slams Kosovo's Army Creation: Blow to Stability of Entire Balkans Sputnik News 16:20 14.12.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kosovo's decision to create a national army is politically absurd and dangerously undermines stability and security of Serbia and the entire Balkan region, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic told Sputnik. "This is a very serious and very dangerous blow to the stability and security of not only Serbia, but also the entire Balkan region. All the responsibility for this event will be borne by powerful factors that support the creation of the so-called Kosovo army. I believe that the creation of the so-called army of Kosovo is a kind of continuation of one separatist terrorist organization, which is the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army. This is a continuation of the organization that made a huge purge of the Serbian and other non-Albanian population, which was engaged in the trade of drugs, weapons, human organs of the Serbs. This is not only political, but also moral absurdity," Terzic said. The Serbian ambassador added that the issue also created a precedent for the destabilization of the rest of Europe. "Using the example of Serbia, a very dangerous precedent was created that could cause an even deeper and more serious aggravation of the situation in all of southeastern Europe The question is what will happen to Europe and the whole world, whether other states will be destabilized in this way. We see that such trends occur in Spain in Catalonia, in Belgium and in many other countries of Europe and the whole world," Terzic stated. Dialogue With Serbia is at a Standstill Belgrade is interested in continuing constructive talks with Kosovo on the dispute settlement but does not expect a sober dialogue after Kosovo's decision to create its own national army that brings negotiations to a standstill, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic told Sputnik. "This fact [the creation of Kosovo's army] brings to a standstill the whole desire of Serbia to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Albanian minority, which would guarantee the security and stability of Serbia and the entire Balkan region," Terzic said. He added that it was difficult to expect any "sober dialogue" due to Kosovo's steps. "I cannot say what our president and the government of Serbia will do, but still I want to emphasize that they are all interested in a constructive dialogue with representatives of the temporary institutions of Kosovo and Metohija. The dialogue, which was launched in Brussels, was stopped due to many incidents. Serbia is basically interested in the dialogue, but it is difficult for me to say how it will be conducted in the future. It is difficult to expect any sober dialogue in this situation," the Serbian ambassador said. The statements come after the parliament of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo passed a set of laws providing for the change of mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and its transformation into the republic's national army. In October, Kosovo's parliament voted to change the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and transform it into the republic's national army. On Monday, Kadri Veseli, the speaker of the Kosovar legislature, announced that the army would be officially created on December 14. The forces will reportedly comprise a total of 8,000 people 5,000 active duty soldiers and 3,000 reservists. Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by over 100 UN member states. The move was not, however, recognized by Serbia and two permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia and China. In 2011, Brussels launched several rounds of talks between Belgrade and Kosovo, bringing the parties to the negotiating table for the first time since Kosovo's secession. The 2013 agreement came as a result of the EU-mediated consultations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maduro Orders Military to Be Combat Ready for Defeating 'Imperialistic Plots' Sputnik News 07:47 14.12.2018 MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he had instructed the Armed Forces to maintain the highest level of combat readiness to defeat "imperialistic plots." "I have instructed our Armed Forces to be ready and maintain the highest level of readiness, discipline, leadership and training to defeat imperialistic plots and support peace. Venezuela relies on you," Maduro wrote on Twitter. Maduro has accused US National Security Adviser John Bolton of plotting to overthrow and assassinate him with the help from Colombia, whose president Ivan Duque, Maduro claimed, was part of the plan. On Thursday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza handed a note of protest to the top US diplomat in the country, Jimmy Story, over an alleged coup plot. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kosovo Parliament Votes to Create Its Own Army, Angers Serbia - Reports Sputnik News 13:07 14.12.2018(updated 15:12 14.12.2018) The authorities of the self-proclaimed republic decided in October to change the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and transform it into a national army, despite criticism from NATO. Kosovo's parliament has adopted three separate laws providing for the creation of a Kosovar army. "A total of 105 lawmakers present today have voted for [adopting the set of laws]", Kadri Veseli, the speaker of the Kosovar legislature, said. The session of the parliament was boycotted by the MPs that represent Serbian minority. Commenting on the vote, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the alliance to "re-examine" its role due to the reform, adding that Kosovo And Serbia should evade any further escalation of tensions. "I regret that this decision was made despite the concerns expressed by NATO. While the transition of the Kosovo Security Force is in principle a matter for Kosovo to decide, we have made clear that this move is ill-timed. NATO supports the development of the Kosovo Security Force under its current mandate. With the change of mandate, the North Atlantic Council will now have to re-examine the level of NATO's engagement with the Kosovo Security Force", Stoltenberg said in a statement, published on NATO official website. He voiced NATO commitment to "safe and secure" environment in Western Balkans. "All responsible political actors in the region need to focus on progress with reforms, and on dialogue. I reiterate my call on both Pristina and Belgrade to remain calm and refrain from any statements or actions which may lead to escalation. NATO continues to support the EU-sponsored dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina as the only lasting political solution for the region," Stoltenberg said. The forces will reportedly comprise a total of 8,000 people 5,000 active duty soldiers and 3,000 reservists. The initiative to create a regular army was criticized by Serbia, while Jens Stoltenberg warned that such actions were "ill-timed". The decision comes amid the growing tensions between Pristina and Belgrade, as the self-proclaimed republic imposed 100 percent tariffs on goods imported from Serbia and from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognised by over a hundred UN member states. The move was not, however, recognized by Serbia and two permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia and China. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United States Sanctions Three Individuals for Threatening Peace in South Sudan Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC December 14, 2018 Today, the United States imposed sanctions on three individuals for their roles in the conflict in South Sudan. Israel Ziv and Obac William Olawo were designated by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) for being leaders of entities whose actions expanded or extend the conflict in South Sudan. Gregory Vasili was designated by OFAC for actions that have undermined peace, stability, and security in South Sudan. OFAC further designated a total of six entities owned and/or controlled by Ziv and Olawo. The United States is sending a message that the behavior of these persons is unacceptable and contrary to the ongoing and significant U.S. efforts to assist the people of South Sudan and establish a lasting peaceful resolution to the current conflict. As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of those designated by OFAC, that is in the United States or the possession or control of a U.S. person, must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, U.S. persons and persons in the United States are generally prohibited from any dealings with the designated persons, including entities 50 percent or more owned and/or controlled by such persons. Today's action underscores the United States' steadfast support for the South Sudanese people. The United States will take forceful action against those who undermine the peace, stability, or security of South Sudan, obstruct the peace process, or are responsible for human rights abuses or other atrocities in South Sudan. The United States recognizes the progress already made on the peace process, and further urges South Sudan's leaders to honor their commitment to immediately stop the violence and to fully implement the latest peace agreement. The United States will use all available mechanisms to promote a permanent end to the brutal conflict in South Sudan, where millions of civilians have suffered at the hands of military forces, in order to bring peace, freedom, and prosperity to the South Sudanese people. For further information, please see the Department of the Treasury's press release available here. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council welcomes Yemen breakthrough, but lasting peace remains a 'daunting task' 14 December 2018 - Senior UN officials briefed the Security Council on the details of a UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen on Friday in and around the key port city of Hudaydah, which is expected to restore a humanitarian lifeline to millions across the country, and kickstart imports of commercial goods. Joining the Council via a live videolink from Jordan, Martin Griffiths, UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, said that the talks, which concluded in Sweden on Thursday, saw the highest level of common ground ever established between the warring parties, during consultations to end the country's brutal war. Mr. Griffiths thanked the President of Yemen and the leader of the opposition Houthi delegation for their commitment to the consultations and expressed his hope that the commitments made in Sweden will be honoured. The UN, he said, has been asked to monitor the compliance of both sides to their ceasefire commitments. The Special Envoy made clear that the agreement is a "humanitarian stop gap to save lives and turn the tide of war towards peace", and that achieving the next steps towards peace will be a "daunting task." Hudaydah, he said, is the "vital lifeline for the humanitarian programme upon which millions of Yemenis depend. The ghastly prospect of famine has made solving Hudaydah urgent and necessary." Yemenis facing 'acute food insecurity' Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, went into more detail on the dire humanitarian situation facing Yemenis, calling it a "terrible tragedy," which is getting worse, with millions starving, sick and desperate. Mr. Lowcock mentioned the recent publication of a report by a global partnership involving a number of UN Agencies, which confirms that much of the country's population is living in a situation of "acute food insecurity", with nearly a quarter of a million on the brink of starvation. Restrictions on humanitarian access, he added, are a serious and growing problem and the supply of food and essential goods must be protected. The study makes clear that the ongoing war is the primary cause of the crisis, with the collapse of the economy also playing a major role. There has been some progress in this area, the relief chief added, with injections of foreign currency from Saudi Arabian and the United Arab Emirates stabilizing the exchange rate, financing imports of essential goods and enabling the payment of pensions and civil servant salaries. Security Council welcomes outcome of talks, acknowledges ongoing crisis In response to the briefings from the two UN officials, members of the Security Council welcomed the progress made in Sweden, whilst acknowledging the grave situation faced by the Yemeni people. Friday, said Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, was "a good day for all of Yemen." Praising the work of Martin Griffiths, she said that "this is what the UN is for. The Council's united support has helped Martin and the UN get to this point." Mark Lowcock's briefing was a "sobering reminder of the human consequences that are still at stake and of how many starving, sick and desperate people remain in the most vulnerable of situations," she added. Representing the United States, Ambassador Nikki Haley said that the breakthrough had come at a time of year which, for many people, is a season of hope: "we see a light in the darkness, and we hope that our best instincts can triumph over our worst. The world's worst humanitarian crisis demands more than hope from the Security Council that peace will come to Yemen." The Council, said Ms. Haley, has the ability to change the reality: "human beings created this crisis, human beings can end it. Life and death are on the line. And we are not powerless." The Permanent Representative for China, Ma Zhaoxu, pointed out that the ceasefire in the Hudaydah region was achieved ahead of schedule, helping to prevent further deterioration of the Yemeni economy and humanitarian situation. The talks, said Mr. Zhaoxu, have the potential to become a key turning point, and a fresh beginnin for a new political process that will help the Yemeni parties build mutual trust. Russia's representative, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, also expressed hope that the talks have ushered in a new phase, which could end the war, and that further efforts will lead to a full ceasefire in the country, helping millions of Yemenis who are in need of some form of assistance. "The Rubicon that we have neared, as a result of the process launched in Yemen, now needs to be crossed" said Ambassador Nebenzia. "It is incumbent on us all to lend assistance to the Special Envoy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen ceasefire deal: 'Potential' now to restore humanitarian lifeline to millions 14 December 2018 - The freshly agreed Yemen ceasefire deal covering the key Red Sea governorates of Hudaydah and Taiz has been welcomed by the World Food Programme (WFP), which on Friday expressed hope that it would improve access for humanitarians and, just as crucially, commercial shipping. "This agreement has the potential to allow the ports of Hudaydah and Saleef to operate at near-normal capacity," WFP spokesperson Herve Verhoosel told journalists in Geneva. "The free flow of commercial food supplies into Yemen should prevent further increases in food prices, which have sky-rocketed in the last few months." WFP and other UN agencies have described Hudaydah as the principal lifeline for two-thirds of the population, who have endured suffering on a huge scale since fighting escalated between Government forces and Houthi opposition militia, in March 2015. Before the warring sides agreed a deal at UN-led talks in Sweden this week, clashes had prevented the sustained supply of commercially shipped food and fuel through Hudaydah. This led to a spike in prices which put basic goods beyond the reach of ordinary Yemenis. "With the conflict intensifying over the recent weeks, we have seen a decrease of 50 per cent in shipments into Hudaydah port as private companies, shipping companies, were reluctant to use the port for security reasons," Mr Verhoosel said. "We also hope, then, that it will change." The UN agency is also hopeful that it will soon regain access to a large milling and storage facility in Hudaydah the Red Sea Mills - which supplies one-quarter of its flour for millions of people in north and central Yemen. Significant role for UN in managing crucial port According to the ceasefire agreement, the UN is to play a significant role in managing the port. The UN has not had access to those facilities since September, Mr Verhoosel explained. "We hope that thanks to the agreement we will have access very soon to those facilities and we will be able to dispatch those 51,000 tonnes of wheat to assist 3.7 million people." To illustrate the widespread need for assistance in Yemen, Mr Verhoosel noted that in January 2017, WFP delivered aid to 3.5 million people a month, but that this number has now more than tripled. "It's one of our biggest operations ever," he said, adding that the agency plans to reach up to 12 million people during next month. Of particular concern are children and breastfeeding mothers, 1.5 million of whom will receive additional nutritional support in coming weeks. Details of the ceasefire agreement were announced on Thursday by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said that despite "pending" unresolved issues, it would improve the lives of millions of people. In addition to an end to fighting in Hudaydah governorate, the cessation of hostilities also encompasses neighbouring Taizz governorate, where years of conflict in the city have posed serious access challenges to humanitarians. The WFP Senior Spokesperson said he hoped that the "peace breakthrough" announced in Sweden would lead to similar agreements elsewhere in Yemen and better humanitarian access to those in need. "The deal is not enough, it's a good start," he said. "That's why we look forward to January or later when the second round of discussions will take place under the Special Envoy's leadership and we hope that other similar agreements will be reached in other parts of the country." Without assistance, 73 per cent of the population in Taiz some 2.2 million people risk "crisis" levels of food insecurity, WFP says. Around 1.3 million would experience "emergency" levels of hunger and 45,000 would face "famine-like" conditions. Mr. Verhoosel said there was "still time to save millions of people" adding that "honestly, our staff is working 24 hours a day for the moment to avoid as much as we can a catastrophe." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN investigates systematic sexual violence across South Sudan 14 December 2018 - Widespread and systematic sexual violence across South Sudan, just a few months after the country's top two politicians signed a renewed commitment to peace, was at the top of the UN Commission on Human Rights in the country's agenda on Friday, as members ended their first fact-finding mission. The three-person team investigating rights violations in the world's youngest country, which has been mired in bloody civil conflict since 2013, arrived on the ground shortly after more than 150 women and girls were reportedly sexually assaulted in the northern town of Bentiu. "The viciousness of these horrific attacks in Bentiu on so many women, is shocking, given that these atrocious acts occurred just as people's hopes for an end to violence are starting to surface following the peace deal," Commissioner from Uganda, Barney Afako, stated. He added that "accountability must now follow." The Commission is investigating these violations and will report its findings to the Human Rights Council in March. Government officials also said they were investigating the Bentiu attacks, saying they would share and corroborate their findings with the Commission. More than 65 per cent of women and girls in South Sudan have reportedly experienced sexual violence at least once in their lives. Given the endemic impunity to the widespread and systematic use of sexual violence by the country's warring parties, accountability has been a core element of the Commission's work. Commissioners stated their hope that South Sudan's leaders can now seize the opportunity provided by the Revitalized Peace Agreement for Resolution of the Conflict, signed on 12 September, to stem the violence, ensure accountability, restore peace and assist the countless victims to rebuild their lives. Since it was formed in March 2016, the Human Rights Council-mandated Commission's has been six times to the region. So far this month, Commissioners have visited South Sudan, Sudan and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From 15 to 19 December, Mr. Afako will travel to refugee camps in Uganda where some 785,000 South Sudanese are settled. Among other things, this visit aims to look first-hand at how the June Peace Agreement, brokered by the regional development body (IGAD) with the support of the UN and African Union (AU), was taking hold, particularly focussing on the conflict's countless victims. Supported by a team of investigators and researchers based in Juba, they are also gauging how the more than four million South Sudanese displaced by the brutal war can be returned and recompensed. "Everybody we spoke with during our visit expressed hope that the agreement will lead to durable and sustainable peace," observed Commission Chair, Yasmin Sooka, who hails from South Africa. "Most South Sudanese are desperate to return to normal life and put the conflict behind them once and for all, yet they want to ensure that the conditions are right so they can live free of fear and want." During meetings with the Government, the Commission also raised the need to improve the status of women in in the country, citing the case of a South Sudanese girl whose virginity was publicly auctioned off to the highest bidder, reportedly including a post on the Facebook platform. "A holistic transitional justice programme will provide South Sudan a vital opportunity to address the status of women," maintained Ms. Sooka. In line with their mandate, the Commission is also collecting and preserving evidence to combat impunity, and, as such, is assisting with a future Hybrid Court, as laid out in Chapter Five of the Peace Agreement. "Many of those we spoke with stressed that establishing the Hybrid Court, together with the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, and the Compensation and Reparation Authority, could help contribute to stabilizing the country," Commissioner, from the UK, Andrew Clapham said. "This would certainly send a strong signal to those who have suffered violations in connection with the conflict." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Peacekeeping chief honours Tanzanian troops in Zanzibar, a year on from deadly DR Congo attacks 14 December 2018 - A year on from the brutal killings of 15 United Nations peacekeepers from Tanzania in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the head of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) paid a visit to some of the victims' families on Friday, to honour the memory of the soldiers who died in what was the biggest single loss of 'blue helmets' in recent history. Speaking on the island of Zanzibar, home to 13 of the men, Under Secretary-General Jean-Pierre La Croix promised families their loved ones' service and sacrifice, would never be forgotten. "I know that it's difficult to find words to express your pain. But let me assure you, that as you will never forget your brave heroes, we will never forget them as well," he said. The peacekeeping chief's address concludes a two-day visit to the country, where he also met with members of the Tanzanian People's Defence Force. On 7 December 2017, suspected Allied Democratic Force (ADF) fighters, a rebel militia based in neighbouring Uganda, ambushed a contingent from the UN Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), at its Company Operating Base in Semuliki in the Beni area of North Kivu. A protracted fire-fight ensued between rebels, the UN blue helmets, and Government troops. Besides the 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers serving under the blue flag who lost their lives, 44 others were wounded. The North Kivu region in eastern DRC, has been the site of numerous assaults on UN peacekeeping forces. Two months before rebels struck last December, two other blue helmets were killed in action and another 18 wounded in an attack on their base in the same area. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the 7 December killings an indicator of the growing challenges faced by the UN's peacekeeping operations around the world, and in remarks directly following the attack, he dubbed the deliberate acts "unacceptable" and "a war crime." During 2017, more than 110,000 peacekeepers were deployed across 15 missions around the world, and nearly 19,000 UN personnel work in DRC alone, making it the second largest peacekeeping mission behind UNMISS, in South Sudan. Since its establishment in July of 2010, 154 peacekeepers have been killed, serving with MONUSCO. In response to regular attacks in the Beni area, MONUSCO and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) jointly planned offensive operations, which began on 13 November of this year, where the alliance managed to retake key territory from rebel control, in an effort to build a future free from fear. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DR Congo elections: 'Excessive use of force' in campaign must be avoided, says Bachelet 14 December 2018 - Deadly pre-election violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sparked by police reportedly firing live ammunition at opposition supporters, has been condemned by the UN's top rights official, Michelle Bachelet. Issued on Friday, the warning by the High Commissioner for Human Rights comes ahead of presidential elections due to take place across the vast Central African nation, on 23 December. "The High Commissioner says she is deeply worried about the reports of excessive use of force, including live ammunition, by security forces against opposition rallies," OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva. "Just days ahead of crucial elections in the DRC, it is essential that the authorities ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully protected and that they take all possible measures to prevent violence." The High Commissioner's alert echoes a recent statement in September by her office (OHCHR) concerning the "violent suppression of peaceful protests", despite commitments made by the authorities to lift a ban on demonstrations, which has been in place since 2017. The current President, Joseph Kabila, has been in office since 2001, and as part of a political compromise, he is not standing for re-election, having refused to relinquish power when his second mandate came to an end in 2016. A former minister from the ruling coalition is running, and according to news reports, there are two main opposition candidates. On Thursday, authorities in the DRC said that thousands of voting machines had been destroyed in a warehouse fire in the capital, Kinshasa. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that it was unclear who was responsible. "We do not yet know what caused themthere's a lot of speculation about how it happened, whether it was deliberate, and then you know, which side," she said. "But this again is an example of the kind of violence that has suddenly flared up this week in the lead-up to the elections." In a statement highlighting several violent pre-election incidents, the High Commissioner noted that at least three men were killed and several injured earlier this month "after police reportedly fired live ammunition and used teargas and water cannons against an opposition rally in Lubumbashi in the Haut-Katanga province". In another incident, also in December, the convoy of one of the leading opposition candidates for the presidency, Martin Fayulu, also reportedly came under attack by police, according to the High Commissioner's statement. Ensuing clashes resulting in the prosecutor's office being burned down, while further violence during Fayulu's campaign in Kalemie, Tanganyika province, led to the death of a young woman and injuries to at least nine others, "including two by live ammunition". On Thursday 13 December, in Mbuji Mayi in Kasai Orientale province, Ms Shamdasani added that a 16-year-old boy was reportedly killed by a soldier of the Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC). This was after the provincial governor had deployed soldiers and police officers on several roads to prevent people from greeting another presidential candidate, Felix Tshisekedi, she said. While the High Commissioner's warning is directed principally at the government of President Joseph Kabila, she also expressed concern that supporters of the opposition have also reportedly disrupted campaigning by presidential majority candidates in the provinces of Kwilu, Kasai, Maniema and the Kivus. Noting the "already tense electoral environment", Ms. Shamdasani repeated the High Commissioner's appeal to the Government "to ensure that these incidents are promptly investigated and that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly which are essential conditions for credible elections are fully protected". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN agencies launch emergency plan for millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants 14 December 2018 - A new plan to cover the urgent needs of millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, coordinated by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), was launched in Geneva on Friday. The plan, the first of its kind in the Americas, is a strategy to deal with an estimate three million people, the largest exodus from a single country in the region, in recent years. The vast majority of them have sought refuge in Latin American and Caribbean countries. The numbers leaving Venezuela have increased dramatically from 2017, and now, an average of 5,500 are crossing the border every day. In the foreword to the plan, Eduardo Stein, UN Joint Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, describes the challenges faced by Venezuelans he has met during his visits to the region, saying that they spoke of "hunger, lack of access to medical care, insecurity, threats, fear. They are families, women alone, children, young boys and girls, all in conditions of extreme vulnerability. All of them saw no other option than to leave their country sometimes walking for days seeking to live in dignity and to build a future." The launch of the plan was also an appeal for funding, focusing on four key areas: direct emergency assistance, protection, socio-economic and cultural integration; and strengthening capacities in the receiving countries. $738 million is needed in 2019, targeting 2.7 million people spread across 16 countries. The UN agencies praised the generosity shown towards the refugees and migrants by regional host countries, described by Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as "humbling," adding that the appeal underscores the urgency of this complex and fast-evolving situation and the need to support the host communities." The infrastructure of these countries, and their ability to deal with the influx of refugees and migrants, are being stretched beyond capacity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan, China, Pakistan Set to Hold Talks in Kabul By Ayaz Gul December 14, 2018 Afghanistan is set to host a three-way meeting Saturday with neighbors China and Pakistan to discuss peace as well as economic and counterterrorism cooperation. Foreign ministers of the three countries will lead their respective delegations at the second round of the trilateral dialogue Beijing initiated last year to help ease Kabul's political tensions with Islamabad. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi said, "An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is set to be signed." He did not elaborate. Pakistani officials say that a trilateral cooperation framework on counterterrorism is expected to be signed at the meeting. China, a close ally of Pakistan, has lately deepened its economic and political ties with Afghanistan. Beijing is actively using its influence to bring the two uneasy South Asian neighbors closer. Chinese officials say regional stability and security will discourage anti-China militants from causing trouble in the western Xinjiang region, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. China has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in Pakistan over the past five years as part of President Xi Jinping's global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Chinese and Pakistani officials say they are considering expanding the bilateral China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, to Afghanistan, through road and rail links to promote connectivity and economic development in the war-ravaged country. Beijing's ambassador to Islamabad, Yao Jing, told a seminar this week in Islamabad that BRI is aimed at boosting economic cooperation among regional countries. "China's message to the region is that our resources should be used for our own developments and prosperity. We should focus on curbing poverty and disease, which are our basic enemies," said the Chinese envoy. Pakistan says the expansion of CPEC to Afghanistan will give it better access to Central Asian markets for Pakistani exports. Political tensions, coupled with allegations that security agencies in both countries support militant groups that bring deadly attacks against one another, continue to strain relations between Kabul and Islamabad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan PM Says US to Meet With Taliban By Ayaz Gul December 14, 2018 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says the United States is scheduled to meet soon with the Afghan Taliban, and that Islamabad has facilitated the dialogue at Washington's request. Khan's disclosure came more than a week after U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad visited Islamabad, where he held meetings with the Pakistani prime minister and the military chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, to seek their help in facilitating Afghan peace talks. Prime Minister Khan told a public gathering Friday in the northwestern city of Peshawar that Washington has changed its tune by requesting help instead of saying Islamabad is not doing enough, as U.S. officials have been insisting. "By the grace of Allah, the dialogue is now happening inshallah [God willing] on the 17th [Khan did not mention the month] and Pakistan has facilitated the talks between America and the Taliban," Khan told the crowd. He did not share further details. Ambassador Khalilzad is 12 days into an 18-day visit to the region. He already has visited, Islamabad, Kabul, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Brussels in his bid to build support for an Afghan peace process. The special envoy also plans to travel to the U.A.E. and Qatar, which host Taliban negotiators. Khan recounted that critics used to mock him as "Taliban Khan" for saying the Afghan war could not be ended without political negotiations. Khan reiterated that peace in Afghanistan is key to the security and economic stability of Pakistan. Khalilzad has held two rounds of discussions with insurgent officials since taking office in September. Pakistani officials privy to the U.S.-Taliban meetings have told VOA that no progress has been achieved because the insurgents adamantly demand "a date or timeframe" for all foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan before the Taliban decides to participate in an intra-Afghan peace process. Pakistan army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor said last week that his country is taking "every step" required to help the United States successfully achieve a political reconciliation in Afghanistan. "This political reconciliation must succeed. ... We wish that the U.S. leaves Afghanistan as friend of the region, not as a failure," Ghafoor told reporters without elaborating. U.S. officials have long maintained Taliban leaders are sheltering in Pakistan with covert support from the country's intelligence agency. Washington has been urging Islamabad to use its influence to bring the insurgents to the negotiating table. Pakistani officials say their influence over the Taliban has significantly declined over the years because the insurgents have gained control over large areas of Afghanistan and continue to pose serious battlefield challenges for U.S.-backed Afghan security forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Africa Strategy Pits US Against China, Russia By Salem Solomon December 14, 2018 The United States unveiled a new Africa strategy Thursday designed to prioritize American interests and challenge efforts by China and Russia to develop economic, political and security partnerships across the continent. In prepared remarks, National Security Adviser John Bolton outlined a three-part policy that largely continues the United States' existing approach to its military, trade and aid initiatives in Africa. What's new is a more explicit commitment to pursuing programs that unambiguously advance U.S. interests, and an emphatic desire to prevent Beijing and Moscow from making moves in Africa unchallenged. The result is a strategy that emphasizes American needs and bilateral relationships, while downplaying African concerns, Jennifer Cooke, the director of George Washington University's Institute for African Studies, told VOA. "This sounds like a real return to the policies of realpolitik during the Cold War, when allies were based on their opposition to communism or the Soviet Union rather than good governance, human rights, economic prosperity and so forth," Cooke said. "I think African countries paid a big price for that kind of geopolitical battle," she added. "And I think the United States has more at stake than the geopolitical battle. I think [the U.S.] has more to offer than what was laid out here." China-focused Bolton mentioned China at least 15 times in his speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative, Washington D.C.-based think tank. South Sudan, the most-cited African country, came up just five times. There, Bolton said, the United States plans to revisit the assistance it provides in light of ongoing conflict. Bolton had pointed criticism for Beijing. "China uses bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing's wishes and demands," he said. "Its investment ventures are riddled with corruption, and do not meet the same environmental or ethical standards as U.S. developmental programs." He cited debt concerns in Zambia and Djibouti, a new Chinese military base in Djibouti, allegations that China fired lasers at American pilots, and concerns that Djibouti might hand a strategic port over to Chinese companies. Bolton painted Moscow in similarly negative terms, describing a government concerned only with self-interest. "Russia advances its political and economic relationships with little regard to the rule of law or accountable and transparent governance," he said. 'The bigger chessboard' The Trump administration sees in its new strategy a sharpened focus that will deliver results. But framing the dynamics in Africa too narrowly could undermine both U.S. and African interests, Judd Devermont, the director of the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA. "When you don't see the bigger chessboard, you actually miss opportunities to advance U.S. interests and to improve African prosperity," Devermont said. The new policy doesn't acknowledge many of the global players jockeying in Africa. India, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates all of whom Bolton left out of his remarks have made significant investments in Africa, from the Horn to Johannesburg. A better approach for the Trump administration, Devermont said, would be to account for the many multilateral relationships unfolding in Africa. "They're major players putting [in] lots of money and advancing their goals, and we lacked from this administration [information] on how they are going to navigate that," he said. 'Contra' diplomacy Bolton also spoke of mutual respect, African agency and self-reliance. But how the United States will navigate relationships with African countries with extensive ties to either Beijing or Moscow is not yet clear. A policy predicated on antagonism toward China could prove tricky, though, in light of Beijing's extensive investments in nearly every country in Africa. To date, China has made more than $142 billion in loans to African countries, often with very favorable terms. Whether the United States will tie its aid and investment programs to recalibrated relations with Beijing remains unclear. But Bolton was firm that the U.S. should not assist nations working against its interests. "Countries that repeatedly vote against the United States in international forums, or take actions counter to U.S. interests," he said, "should not receive generous American foreign aid." Cooke worries that only investing in countries in close alignment with U.S. interests will produce short-term gains at a long-term cost. "My sense was that the administration will be looking for partners who support the U.S. contra other great powers," she said. "I think that can be problematic in the long run." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Trump Attorney: President Untruthful About Russia By VOA News December 14, 2018 U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, said Friday he believes the president is not telling the truth about his campaign's involvement with Russia. Cohen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison, in part for helping make payments to two women who alleged they had affairs with Trump to stay silent before the 2016 election. In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, Cohen responded "no" when asked if Trump was telling the truth to Special Counsel Robert Mueller about "everything related to Russia." Cohen said he bought the silence of the women because Trump "was very concerned about how this would affect the election" if the allegations were made public. Cohen responded "of course" when asked if Trump was aware it was wrong to make the payments, and added the payments were to "help [Trump] and his campaign." Cohen pleaded guilty to arranging $280,000 in payments, at Trump's direction, to adult film star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. The payments, however, were not reported as campaign donations. Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump's efforts in early 2016 to build a Moscow skyscraper, to mimic Trump's false claim to voters that he had no Russian business ventures. U.S. Deputy White House Press Secretary Hogan Gidley dismissed Cohen's interview, when asked by reporters Friday at the White House. "The fact that the media is giving credence to a convicted criminal you're giving credence to someone who's a self-admitted liar," Gidley said. "For him to say, 'I'm going to start, I'm going to stop lying now, starting now' is somewhat silly." Trump has contended the hush money payments were not criminal. He told Fox News earlier this week the charges were brought by prosecutors "to embarrass me. I never directed him to do anything incorrect or wrong." Prosecutors said that Cohen, at Trump's direction, facilitated the payments, in violation of campaign finance laws, to Daniels and McDougal shortly before the 2016 election. The payments were intended to buy their silence about the alleged liaisons with Trump a decade before he sought the presidency. The prosecutors said American Media knew corporations such as itself were subject to campaign finance laws that forbid payments "made for purposes of influencing an election and in coordination with or at the request of a candidate or campaign." Prosecutors also said American Media did not report the payments to the Federal Election Commission. Campaign finance laws require campaign contributions to be disclosed and bar individual donations of more than $2,700. New York prosecutors say then-candidate Trump was involved in making a $150,000 payment to McDougal through American Media Inc. The company owns the supermarket tabloid National Enquirer. The publication bought McDougal's story of her alleged 2006-2007 affair with Trump with the express purpose of killing it so it would not surface before Election Day in November 2016, to boost Trump's chances of winning the White House. American Media reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid prosecution by fully cooperating with authorities disclosing its role with Trump in making the payment to McDougal. 'Blind loyalty' Cohen was sentenced after telling a federal judge that his "blind loyalty" to Trump led him to "cover up his dirty deeds." Legal analysts said the developments could strengthen a potential case against Trump himself if prosecutors were to pursue one, although Justice Department guidelines say that a sitting president cannot be charged criminally until he leaves office. Cohen is the closest figure to Trump sentenced to prison in the wide-ranging investigations of Trump's 2016 campaign, its possible links to Russia and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to thwart probes by federal prosecutors in New York and Mueller in Washington. Several other prominent Trump figures, including his former campaign chairman and his first national security adviser, have yet to be sentenced for various offenses. Cohen once bragged that he would "take a bullet" to support Trump. More recently, however, Cohen had turned against Trump and said at his sentencing that working for Trump was a "personal and mental incarceration." Cohen attorney Lanny Davis said that after Mueller completes his investigation, Cohen would cooperate with congressional committees as they consider possible wrongdoing by Trump and his aides. Some Democrats in the House of Representatives have called for Trump's impeachment when they assume control of the chamber next month. Patsy Widakuswara at the White House contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Rights Chief Calls for End to Pre-Election Violence in DR Congo By Lisa Schlein December 14, 2018 The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has condemned the latest eruption of violence against opposition rallies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bachelet expressed deep concern about the flareup of violence in at least three provinces ahead of crucial presidential elections Dec. 23, saying people have the right to freedom of expression and should be able to demonstrate peacefully and safely. Bachelet's spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, says the high commissioner is calling for a prompt investigation into the violent events that have killed at least five people and injured many more. "The high commissioner says she is deeply worried about the reports of excessive use of force, including live ammunition, by security forces against opposition rallies. She is also concerned at reports of the use of inflammatory speech by political leaders," Shamdasani said. The government argues that those who support the opposition often carry out violent acts and the government has to respond, Shamdasani told VOA. "However," she said, "this is no reason to use live ammunition against a mixed crowd of peaceful protesters and some who may be trying to carry out violent acts. At the end of the day, it is the government's responsibility to ensure that the use of force is very much limited to only situations where there is an imminent threat to the police or to the security forces." The election will be the first time citizens of the DRC will go to the polls to elect a new leader since Joseph Kabila became president 17 years ago. Amid the backdrop of rising tensions, a fire broke out Thursday in an electoral commission building in the capital, Kinshasa, burning thousands of voting machines. Opponents accuse backers of Kabila of setting the premises ablaze to postpone the election. A presidential adviser would not comment on what or who might have caused the fire, but said police guarding the warehouse have been arrested. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has signed a decree granting autocephaly, or independence, to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, ending more than 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine. The ceremony on 05 January 2019 in Istanbul, which is considered the spiritual headquarters of Orthodox Christianity, was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The decree, or "tomos," will now be handed over to the head of the new Ukrainian church, Metropolitan Epifaniy, on January 6, completing the two-day spiritual ceremony. The Russian Orthodox Church announced that it was ending its relationship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in protest. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill on the TV channel "Russia-1" shared his opinion that the new church structure - the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is an association of two groups of schismatics. In the opinion of puppeteers and in the opinion of the President of Ukraine, this cathedral was supposed to unite everyone and create a single Orthodox church for all of Ukraine. And what happened? And it turned out that simply two schismatic groups have united, the patriarch said. Earlier, the representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada, Irina Lutsenko, made a statement that after receiving a tomos about autocephaly, the main task of Ukrainian politicians is to prevent interfaith war. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a historic church council agreed on the creation of an independent Orthodox church for Ukraine. Poroshenko told a crowd awaiting the council's decision in central Kyiv on December 15: "This day will go down in history as the sacred day of the creation of the Ukrainian Local Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The day we finally receive our independence from Russia." On December 15, the Unification Council that took place in St Sofia of Kyiv elected the new Primate after the second round of voting. It is Metropolitan Epifaniy of Pereyaslav and Bila Tserkva of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate. The newly elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will hold the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The issue of autocephaly [independence] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is rendered a bit difficult to understand by the complexity of the matter, but largely by the unfamiliar and opaque terminology. In the West, particularly among some protestants and sucularists, the separation of church and state is a fundemental political principle. Such an idea is utterly alien to Orthodox Christianity, which believes, as do Muslims, that church and state are inseparably linked. Thus Russian orthodox church feels duty bound to uphold the Russian state [note the presence of the Moscow Patriarch at major public occasions], both in Russia, and in Ukraine. The jurisdiction of each autocephalous Church (excepting the ancient Patriarchates and the Church of Cyprus, whose boundaries were established by Ecumenical Councils) is established and recorded in the tomos granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. When Ukraine was part of the Russian empire, and part of the Soviet Union, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine was part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Under the Chrisoboulo, which the Patriarchate of Moscow received in 1590 from Constantinople, the Metropolis of Kyiv was not included among her jurisdictions. The basic primary sources that exist are the 1686 letters of Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysius IV to Czars Ivan and Peter, and to Patriarch Joachim of Moscow. These letters clearly mention Constantinople granting Moscow permission to conduct the ordination of the Metropolitan of Kyiv. At issue is whether the official "franchise" for Orthodoxy in Ukraine [in the form of a "tomos" or charter] is held by a branch of the Russian church, as has been the case for several centuries, or whether the Ukrainian church is independent [autocephalous], equal in standing with over a dozen other churches, such as those of Albania, Greece and Poland. Senior Ukrainian Orthodox priests held a historic council on December 15 in a bid to form a new, unified, independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church and elect a leader, known as a primate. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate said on December 13 that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the "first among equals" in the global Eastern Orthodox faith, will hand over a "tomos" -- a decree granting autocephaly, or independence -- to the future head of the local Orthodox Church in Ukraine on 06 January 2019 [ie, new year's day by the Orthodox calendar]. The Moscow Patriarchate announced that its representatives will not attend the December 15 gathering. The Russian Orthodox Church called the council a failure because only two members of the church it supports in Ukraine had attended the meeting, according to Interfax news. Metropolitan Epifaniy -- a 39-year-old bishop from the Kyiv Patriarchate -- was elected by the council to head the new church. On December 15, the Unification Council that took place in St Sofia of Kyiv elected the new Primate after the second round of voting. It is Metropolitan Epifaniy of Pereyaslav and Bila Tserkva of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate. The newly elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will hold the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. On January 23, 2012, by the decree of Patriarch Filaret, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. By the decision of the Council of Bishops of the UOC-KP from June 28, 2013, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky and Bila Tserkva and was appointed patriarchal governor with the rights of the diocesan bishop. By the decision of the Holy Synod of the UOC-KP of December 13, 2017, he was conferred the title of Metropolitan of Pereyaslav and Bila Tserkva. According to preliminary estimates, 192 delegates would attend the Unification Council, held on December 15, and they would elect a Primate in two rounds. From the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate, 42 archbishops will attend the Council, together with one priest and layman -- a total of 126 delegates. The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church confirmed the participation of 12 bishops and each of them will take a priest and layman -- that is, 36 delegates. Participation of 10 bishops with a priest and a layman confirmed by the Moscow Patriarchate -- in total 30 people, a source noted. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew urged Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate and the Metropolitan Makariy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church not to run for the office of the Primate of the unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Ukraine has three Orthodox churches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church [UAOC]. The Moscow Patriarchate, which has the most believers in Ukraine, remains loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church. The Kyiv Patriarchate declared independence from the Russian church in 1992, but that had never been recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Kiev church, one of two breakaway groups, has in past years grown larger in membership then its Russian counterpart. The Moscow-loyal church controlled some 12,000 parishes, while the Kyiv Patriarchate boasted about 5,000 and the UAOC nearly 1,000. According to a poll released in mid-September 2018, of those polled who named themselves as Orthodox, 45.2 percent claimed allegiance to the Kyiv Patriarchate, while only 16.9 percent to the Moscow Patriarchate; 2.1 percent were for the UAOC and 33.9 percent were "just Orthodox," without a specific congregation. Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, who is considered the primus inter pares ["first among equals"] leader among Orthodox leaders, endorsed the Kyiv Patriarchate's request for autocephaly [independence] from Moscow. The Kyiv Patriarchate had not initially received the formal, final blessing to be autocephalous, or independent. Presided by His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Holy and Sacred Synod convened for its regular session from October 9 to 11, 2018. The Synod decreed, "To renew the decision already made that the Ecumenical Patriarchate proceed to the granting of Autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine. ... To accept and review the petitions of appeal of Filaret Denisenko, Makariy Maletych and their followers, who found themselves in schism not for dogmatic reasons,.... Thus, the above-mentioned have been canonically reinstated to their hierarchical or priestly rank, and their faithful have been restored to communion with the Church. To revoke the legal binding of the Synodal Letter of the year 1686, issued for the circumstances of that time, which granted the right through oikonomia to the Patriarch of Moscow to ordain the Metropolitan of Kyiv, elected by the Clergy-Laity Assembly of his eparchy, who would commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch as the First hierarch at any celebration, proclaiming and affirming his canonical dependence to the Mother Church of Constantinople." The Ecumenical Patriarchate decreed proceed to the granting of Autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine. Nothing was said as to whom it will be granted, how this will be accomplished; and nor when this will happen. But by accepting and thoroughly reviewing the ekkliton appeals of Filaret Denisenko, Makariy Maletych and their followers (who found themselves in schism not for dogmatic reasons) the Ecumenical throne gave some indications as to who were canonically eligible to be part of this re-instated Metropolia. The initiative to reinstate the Kyiv Metropolia completely relies on Patriarch Bartholomews hands. The Moscow Patriarchate was uncompromising in opposition to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's decision -- one spokesman for the Russian church called it "catastrophic," while another described it as an "attempt to distort history for political reasons". The move from Bartholomew prompted angry words from not only Russian church leaders, but also government officials. Reacting to the Russian Orthodox Church's announcement, the press secretary of the Kyiv Patriarchate said, Patriarch Kirill has personally been an architect of the schism in the Ukrainian church since 1991" and that his conduct has "pulled all of Orthodox Christianity into conflict." If a united Ukrainian Orthodox Church is eventually given a "Tomos," or document of autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a large number of individual churches in Ukraine could still continue to pledge loyalty to the Russian Orthodox Church. Politicians in Ukraine have already drafted legislation that would rename the Moscow-loyal church as "the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine," a move that the church itself opposed and the Kyiv Patriarchate supported. "This is an issue of our independence," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on October 11. "This is an issue of national security. This is an issue of our statehood. This is an issue of global geopolitics. This is the collapse of Moscow's centuries-old claims for global domination as the Third Rome." The newly created religious formation on June, 25-26, 1992 named itself "the Kyiv Patriarchate" and acts in Ukraine under this name. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate is considered by the world Orthodox community to be a schismatic jurisdiction. It is headed the by "patriarch of Kiev and all Ukraine" Philaret - Mikhail Denisenko, formerly the Metropolitan of Kiev of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1992 he was defrocked by the Church for gross moral conduct and collaboration with the KGB. Archbishop Philaret took over the administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on May, 14, 1966 and was appointed full member of the Holy Synod of the ROC, Exarch of Ukraine, Archbishop of Kyiv and Galychyna. From October, 27, 1990 he was Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, independent and autonomous in its government - the Most Blessed Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. When the time of perestroika and glasnost came, and the society started to get free from the chains of militarism and KGB, Philaret was exposed among the first. "Metropolitan Philaret is a determined and despotic leader, an experienced politician, an unexcelled master of the political intrigue, who dismayed the corpse of archpriests rather than inspired respect... by his way of living and close relationship with the highest ranks of the Communist party was defenseless before criticism."[1]. The general public of believers and non-believers learned from the publications of Kyiv and Moscow about the private life of Metropolitan Philaret, which was far from monastic. Holding office of Primate of the Ukrainian Church, Philaret by his personality discredited and defamed the whole Church. It was formulated in Statement 26 of the People's Deputies of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine on January, 20, 1992: "It is not a secret, but an achievement of publicity that it was Metropolitan Philaret who had closely connected his 30 year activity with agencies of KGB in order to please the power of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to serve the godless power not for the sake of the Church, but for the sake of his career and of the possibility to keep the Church of Ukraine in the hands of individual rule. All that distracts people from he Church, brings to naught the homiletic, missionary work of an honest priest, intensifies antagonism between confessions and promotes schisms. "Our deputies' consciousness calls us to declare an obvious fact: Metropolitan Philaret (Denisenko) is an obstacle on the way of spiritual revival of Ukraine, of purification of the society from the diseases of stalinism, he must quit the office of Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, give it a possibility for keeping its unity, for correct self-expression in the new political situation, to feed the exhausted nation with pure faith and spiritual power." The priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church accused Metropolitan Philaret of success of the Uniates in Galychyna, in the start and expansion of the autocephalous schism. Because of his rude and despotic governance of the Kyiv Metropolis lots of clergymen and laymen left the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, not wishing to experience the arbitrary rule of metropolitan of Kyiv and his civil wife. In summer of 1991 the bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky Ionafan (Eletskykh), Vicar and assistant of Philaret rendered the report to Patriarch's office about the conduct of Metropolitan, unworthy of the Archpriest's rank, and was deposed from priesthood for that. By the resolution of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church of June, 11, 1992 the former Metropolitan Philaret, charged of anti-ecclesiastical activity, was deposed from all his ranks and deprived of all rights concerning clergy membership. At the moment of holding the Consolidation Council he was a monk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr (Sabodan) since May, 28, 1992. In October 1995 Philaret was elected "patriarch" of the UOC-KP. This event introduced into the life of the Orthodox Church the new disturbances. The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church held 23.02.1997 resolved: "to cut off monk Philaret (Mikhail Antonovich Denisenko) from the Christ's Church. Let him be anathema for all to see". In his interview to the newspaper 'Day' (Den') of September, 15, 2001 M.A.Denisenko (the 'patriarch' of the UOC-KP) declared: "Solution of many important questions, such as "Do the two Ukrainian non-canonical Churches have episcopate or they do not?" depends on recognition or irrecognition of Philaret as Patriarch. Since irrecognition of "patriarch" Philaret automatically implies irrecognition of all the bishops he consecrated, and irrecognition of those these bishops consecrated in their turn. If they depose me from the Holy Orders, it will turn out that the Ukrainian priesthood does not exist (since they all are ordained by invalid bishops)." In November 2009 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP) praised a decision of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to set up a working party to hold a dialogue between the two churches. "This decision shows that the words of representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate about a desire to overcome schism in the Ukrainian Orthodoxy are gradually nearing to real doings", the Press Center of the Kyiv Patriarchate quotes head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Kyiv Patriarchate Bishop Vasylkivsky Evstratiy (Zorya). The UOC KP Press Center suggests that the start of the dialogue could be very difficult, but it also could be fruitful. "Both we and UOC MP want that the Orthodox Church in Ukraine to unite. This goal - the unity of the church - serves a basis to launch the dialogue," he said. At the same time, the Bishop said that there are different approaches to achieve the goal. "We see this unity through unification into the local, i.e. autocephalous, church. And the UOC MP said the unity should be reached within the Moscow Patriarchate, and then autocephaly". He also reported that the Kyiv Patriarchate will soon establish a similar working group. Ukrainian Orthodox Church is planning to start a dialogue with the UOC of Kyiv Patriarchate in order to resume unity in the Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Holy Synod at the Pochayiv Lavra monastery on September 9, which was chaired by Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Volodymyr (Sabodan). The UOC press service said that a working group had been created and tasked to prepare for holding a dialogue with representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, which is considered among Orthodox believers as noncanonical. On January 23, 2010, in the Kyiv residence of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), a meeting of its synod was held. The hierarchs of the UOC-KP commented on the decisions passed at the session of the Inter-Orthodox Preparatory Committee in Shambezi (Switzerland) on December 10-16, particularly, regarding the question of autocephaly and autonomy and ways of their proclamation. In particular, the UOC-KP representatives stated that the settlement of such questions "in the absence of representatives of the national churches whose future directly concerns that question, particularly, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate, is not in line with the spirit and tradition of the conciliar consideration of important questions of the life of the whole Orthodox Church." By its resolutions, the Synod of UOC-KP once again stressed its unchanged position on the question of autocephaly, namely, that autocephaly is proclaimed by the council of the new autocephalous church if it has the appropriate grounds to do so, one of which is state independence of the nation in which the church serves. "The other national churches only recognize or not recognize the autocephaly of the new national church," read the resolutions of the Synod of UOC-KP. "The mechanism of proclamation of autocephaly proposed at the session of the committee in Shambezi is unrealizable and futile. The mechanism provides not the way of proclaiming a new autocephalous church but the way to not grant recognition to a church that seeks autocephaly for as long as possible," summarized the members of the synod. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Michigan, Virgin Island National Guard conducts Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise By Angela Simpson, Michigan National Guard December 14, 2018 ST CROIX, USVI -- "When the Weather Channel becomes our favorite channel on TV, it comforts us to know it is now also the favorite channel of the Michigan National Guard, who has shown a commitment for assistance when the next big storm threatens our islands," said Brig. Gen. Deborah Howell, Virgin Islands National Guard Adjutant General. In the early hours of Thursday morning, December 13, Caribbean Thunder, an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) will be initiated to validate the capability of the Michigan National Guard to notify, marshal and deploy a ready force of Michigan National Guard Soldiers to the Virgin Islands to provide support to Virgin Islands National Guard and U.S. Virgin Islands civil authorities using a realistic scenario in a live and constructive training environment. After notification, elements of the Michigan National Guard 177th Military Police Brigade, who comprise the MING Quick Reaction Force (QRF), will assemble at the Taylor, Michigan, armory to receive initial mission briefings and gather gear -- just as they would when alerted for an actual QRF activation. From Taylor, they will convoy to Selfridge Air National Guard Base where they will meet with two C-17 Globemaster aircrews from the Mississippi National Guard who are providing airlift for the Caribbean Thunder exercise. Together they will load equipment and personnel onto the aircraft for an early afternoon departure. The 177th MP BDE Commander, Colonel Scott Hiipakka, will be available for media interviews at noon, Thursday, December 13, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Media may also interview Guard members participating in the exercise at the Taylor Armory, 12450 Beech Daly Road: however, they are scheduled to convene at 4 a.m. and will be engaged in mission preparations for most of the morning. Public Affairs representative, Specialist Samantha Hall will serve as media escort at the armory. To RSVP and reserve an interview slot please contact Michigan National Guard Public Affairs Office representatives Angela Simpson or Sgt. 1st Class Helen Miller or send notification to ng.mi.miarng.list.pao@mail.mil. Photos, information and video from the exercise will be published for media use on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website, www.dvidshub.net promptly following the exercise. Additional Information: Participants in the exercise include: Michigan National Guard Joint Staff, the Detroit-based 177th Military Police Brigade, 210 Military Police Battalion, 1775th Military Police Company, 1776th Military Police Company, the 156 Engineer Support Battalion; the 172nd Air Wing from the Mississippi National Guard; and Virgin Islands Joint Staff, Virgin Islands Port Authority, and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Following Hurricane Maria in the fall of 2017, the Michigan National Guard partnered with the Virgin Islands National Guard to improve the capabilities and performance of both organizations in response to infrastructure damage and human suffering in the wake of a natural disaster. The Michigan timeline for movement to such an emergency is set at 8 hours following notification of need. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strasbourg attack suspect killed after gun battle with police: French officials Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 06:49AM Suspected gunman Cherif Chekatt has been killed in a brief gun battle with the police after killing three people in a Christmas market attack in the French city of Strasbourg. He had evaded arrest for 48 hours. A big police operation was launched in the the Neudorf/Meinau area of the city on Thursday, leading to the death of the suspected attacker. Chekatt was killed some two kilometers away from the Tuesday attack site. According to Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, the suspect fired on police officers after they identified him and moved to arrest him. The police returned fire and killed Chekatt. Local sources reported hearing three to four shots after armed police units launched a helicopter-backed operation at the site. Earlier that day, masked police officers had launched operations in three different locations in Strasbourg, including an area where Chekatt had last been seen. The site of his death was not far-off from there. Overall, more than 700 officers had taken part in the 48-hour manhunt. Police on both sides of the Europe bridge, which links France to Germany across the Rhine river, had manned controls in search of the alleged shooter, creating heavy traffic. German police control vehicles at the border between France and Germany in Kehl on December 13, 2018. (Photo by AFP) The Tuesday attack, which raised France's security threat assessment to its highest level, caused much panic in the French city with officials urging residents to stay indoors. The European Parliament, which is about a 20 minute walk away from the city center, was put under lockdown before being evacuated by French authorities. The attack also posed a threat to political envoys present in the vicinity. The 29-year-old suspect had been previously marked as a potential threat on a state security watchlist. French authorities claim the man had turned to religious extremism while spending time behind bars. Chekatt had previously been incarcerated in French, German and Swiss jails for theft and violence. Daesh claims responsibility Also on Thursday, the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group reclaimed the attack on its Amaq news website, stating that the man had "carried out the operation in response to calls for targeting citizens of coalition countries." The group, however, provided no further evidence to back the claim. France has witnessed deadly terror attacks in recent years, most notably a string of coordinated attacks in and around the capital of Paris that killed 130 people in November 2015. A total of more than 245 people have been killed on French soil over the past three years in attacks launched by extremist individuals inspired and in some cases trained by militant groups such as Daesh. Many observers believe France's negative role in destabilizing the Middle East and lacking effort in preventing French citizens from joining terrorist groups in the region have played a role in eroding the country's own security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Criminal Syndicates, Terrorist Groups Increasingly Converge in Africa - INTERPOL Sputnik News 20:45 14.12.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Transnational criminal syndicates and terrorist groups in Africa are growing more integrated and interconnected, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) said in a press release on Friday. "Transnational organized crime and violent extremism are increasingly interconnected. Criminals, terrorists and armed insurgents alike are profiting from crime and, through illicit trafficking routes and networks, are moving people and products, creating fault lines from one region to the next across Africa," the release said. The report came amid talks between INTERPOL Chief Jurgen Stock and African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, the release said. The discussions focused on law enforcement cooperation in 194 member countries in fighting transnational crime and terrorism. The duo also discussed countering the intra-regional flows of fighters from Boko Haram, al-Shabab, al-Qaeda, and the Daesh terrorist groups, the release said. INTERPOL participates in the European Union funded Project ENACT a program to combat organized crime through increased information sharing and developing investigative skills in African law enforcement agencies, according to the release. *al-Shabab, al-Qaeda, Daesh terrorist groups, banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In France, Manhunt Continues for Other Potential Suspects By Lisa Bryant December 14, 2018 A day after killing the alleged assailant in a bloody Christmas market shooting in eastern France, police are searching for other potential suspects. The Islamic State group, without providing evidence, claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack that killed at least three people, wounded more than a dozen others and left a country on edge. Public prosecutor Remy Heitz on Friday detailed the two-day manhunt that led to police shooting dead Cherif Chekatt, in the Strasbourg neighborhood where he grew up. Heitz said two local witnesses tipped off police after seeing a man who matched a widely circulated description of Chekatt during a manhunt that included nearby Germany. He said around 9 p.m. local time Thursday, a police patrol spotted a man trying to enter a building, and identified themselves. The man turned around and opened fire, at which point police responded, killing him. Heitz said the terrorist investigation continues to identify possible suspects in Tuesday's Christmas market shooting. He added that police have detained more than half-a-dozen people for questioning, including four members of Chekatt's family. The Islamic State group said Chekatt was one of its so-called "soldiers." But visiting the newly reopened market Friday, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner dismissed the claim as totally opportunistic, saying Chekatt nourished evil within himself. A Strasbourg native with Moroccan roots, Chekatt had an extensive criminal record that stretched to Germany and Switzerland, and multiple prison sentences. He had been on a French watchlist for suspected Islamist views. Strasbourg's businesses have taken a major hit. Many locals said they were relieved Chekatt had been killed. One woman told French radio she had been haunted by fears of him still hiding and ready to strike, but that the burden has been lifted. The police have been hailed as heroes for tracking down Chekatt as swiftly as they did. But their representatives say officers are exhausted after also dealing with multiple French anti-government protests in recent weeks. Some of the demonstrators say they'll be back on the streets to protest government reforms and the high cost of living. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Western Officials Discuss Hezbollah's Latin Efforts By Rikar Hussein December 14, 2018 A U.S.-led Western Hemisphere ministerial on counterterrorism this week discussed Hezbollah's activities in Latin America, with some analysts suggesting member countries are stepping up efforts to prevent the Lebanese militant group from funneling funds from the region to make up for the money lost from close ally Iran because of U.S. sanctions. The ministerial conference, which took place Tuesday in Washington, was hosted by U.S. officials and attended by senior officials of 13 U.S. partners across the Americas. The countries discussed the threats transnational terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, the Islamic State and al-Qaida, pose to the security of the Western Hemisphere. Nathan Sales, the U.S. State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism, in a press briefing Wednesday said recent U.S. sanctions had cut into Iran's disposable income, which previously gave Hezbollah an estimated $700 million a year. He said the group would most likely try to compensate for the lost revenue by stepping up its fundraising networks across the Middle East, Africa and South America. Money goes elsewhere "We've seen evidence that as we have tightened the screws on Iran by imposing sanctions, we know that the money that otherwise would have been made available to Hezbollah has to go to other purposes, which makes it even more important for us and for our partners to use our own efforts to cut off the sources of money that Hezbollah will be looking to use to make up for the revenues that they're losing as a result of sanctions on Iran," Sales told reporters during an online briefing. The U.S. government has reimposed a series of sanctions against the Iranian regime and its allies in the Middle East since May, when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, in which Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear program for international sanctions relief. The U.S. Treasury Department so far this year has designated 31 individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, including Jawad Nasrallah, the son of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, as global terrorists. Drug cartels Sales warned Hezbollah could try to establish greater ties to Latin American drug cartels to move personnel and funnel money back home. The Lebanese militant group has been active in South America since the early 1980s. It has used its influence in the region to recruit Latin America's Lebanese diaspora, known in the region as "turcos," and other Muslim populations. In 1992, the Iran-backed group bombed the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which left 29 people dead and 242 others injured. In another bombing in 1994, it targeted the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, killing 85 and injuring more than 300. But in recent years, the group has shifted its focus from bombings to raising money by joining South America's lucrative drug-trafficking businesses. There is no official data about how much money the group makes via dealings with organized crime in South America because of the nature of the illicit business. Officials estimate, however, about one-third of the group's revenues come from the region, particularly in its stronghold Tri-Border Area of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Money laundering Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said Hezbollah is receiving approximately $200 million a year in the Tri-Border Area alone through its laundering schemes that are responsible for moving about $600 million annually. Ottolenghi said recent steps taken by governments across the Western Hemisphere, including the ministerial conference this week, suggest that 2019 could be the year Hezbollah faces more pressure in the Americas. He said there are two reasons "we can begin to detect some change." First, "the Trump administration has started to raise the temperature on the subject of Hezbollah in Latin America. They have made considerable investment in resources to help local governments recognize the threat and start taking action," Ottolenghi said. "The second reason is that you have new governments, especially in the southern zone, that for a variety of reasons are today more willing than ever in the past to take action," he added. During his remarks Tuesday at the ministerial, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan praised progress made by South American countries to limit the activities of Hezbollah and other terror groups. But more needs to be done, he added. "Our safety depends on working with all of you on security as we continue to improve our own. We must learn from one another to develop our tools and policies, and to be both faster and smarter than those who wish to harm us," Sullivan said. Use of casinos alleged Last July, Argentina's Financial Intelligence Unit initiated an administrative assets freeze against 14 Lebanese nationals and Tri-Border Area residents accused of using casinos to launder money and funnel it to Hezbollah. In September, Brazilian police arrested Assad Ahmad Barakat, one of the major financial backers of Hezbollah, whose clan reportedly made purchases worth $10 million at a casino in the Argentine city of Iguazu with the intent of laundering Hezbollah's money. Matthew Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the renewed efforts by governments across the Western Hemisphere could help prevent Hezbollah from returning to violent attacks of the 1990s. "There is the issue of potential operations," said Levitt. "There was a plot that was thwarted in Peru in 2013 and also about three years ago in Bolivia. So, authorities are for good reason concerned about those long-standing activities." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Satellite Meridian to Be Launched in Early 2019 - Source Sputnik News 07:56 14.12.2018(updated 09:12 14.12.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian military satellite Meridian will be launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the first quarter of 2019, a source in the aerospace industry told Sputnik. "The spacecraft is expected to be brought to Plesetsk in the coming months. After this, it will be prepared for the launch and will be brought to the orbit by the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket with the Fregat booster, which is scheduled for early 2019," the source said. Meanwhile, an article has been published on the Russian public procurement website announcing a tender for transporting Meridian to the Cosmodrome. The cost of works under the tender is 12.75 million rubles ($190,000). Meridian is built by the ISS-Reshetnev Company for the Defense Ministry. In 2016, the company said that the military had commissioned four satellites. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NASA Successfully Tests Orion Launch Abort System Sputnik News 06:14 14.12.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The Orion spacecraft completed a successful cold weather ground test of a launch abort system, aerospace giant Northrop Grumman said in a press release. "Today's test firing of the Northrop Grumman-manufactured launch abort motor in Promontory, Utah, confirmed the motor can activate within milliseconds and will perform as designed under cold temperatures," the release said on Thursday. "We never expect the launch abort motor to be used, but just like an ejection seat in a fighter pilot's aircraft, if they need it, it needs to work every time." In Thursday's test, NASA's abort motor for the Orion spacecraft fired for five seconds, with exhaust flames about 100 feet high, the release said. The motor achieved approximately 350,000 pounds of thrust in one-eighth of a second, as expected, the release said. In October, a Russian launch abort system saved NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin when the rocket carrying their Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station malfunctioned seconds after liftoff. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, India reach 'unprecedented' military agreements Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 05:57AM Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has held "intensive discussions" with his Indian counterpart in New Delhi, where they reached an "unprecedented" level of military and technical cooperation, despite increasing pressure from the United States. Shoigu discussed deepening defense ties and joint manufacturing projects with Nirmala Sitharaman at the 18th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) in the Indian capital on Thursday. "Intensive discussions were held on joint manufacturing projects, including the Kamov-226 helicopters, naval frigates and projects related to land systems," said a Russian Defense Ministry statement. "The intensity and the depth of military and technical cooperation speak about the unprecedented level of trust between our countries," Shoigu said at a meeting with Sitharaman. He said he was confident that "no other state cooperates with India in the sphere of the transfer of armament and military hardware production technologies as close as Russia." "Our cooperation spreads to the most sensitive spheres," Shoigu said, citing formerly signed contracts for the delivery of five S-400 Triumph defense systems and Project 11356 frigates. "We are ready for further cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres on a planned and long-term basis," he said. In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a two-day visit to India, where he signed a deal with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi worth $5 billion over the purchase of an air defense system and also agreed to jointly develop six nuclear power plants. India has received warnings from Washington about buying Russian arms. Under its current rules against Moscow, Washington could impose sanctions on third-party countries should they transact with Russian defense or intelligence sectors. A former financial adviser on defense acquisition for India's Defense Ministry, Amit Cowshish, however, said at the time that "there is no reason for India to buckle under the US pressure to roll back procurement of hardware from Russia." The Russian-built S-400 is capable of intercepting and destroying airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) and simultaneously engage up to six targets. Russia will deliver the first missile system by the end of 2020. In the meantime, India was holding simultaneous joint military exercises with both the US and Russia in the eastern and western sectors of the country respectively. The Indian military kick-started its drill with Russian forces at its western air base in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Monday and will continue till December 21. The Indian Air Force confirmed that the joint exercise with Russia primarily focuses on counterterrorism operations. The military exercise with the US Air Force started on December 3 at Kalaikunda, West Bengal, and will conclude on Friday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India Gets First Private UAV Production Facility with Israeli Support Sputnik News 21:30 14.12.2018 The 20-acre facility will start operations with the manufacturing of complete carbon composite aerostructures for the Hermes 900 UAV, followed by the Hermes 450 UAV, catering to the global markets. New Delhi (Sputnik): India's Adani Defence and Aerospace and the Israel-based Elbit Systems Ltd on Friday launched the Aldani Elbit Unmanned Aerial Vehicles complex in the southern city of Hyderabad. This is the first private UAV manufacturing facility in India and the first one outside Israel to manufacture the Hermes 900 medium-altitude long-endurance UAV. "This facility where the Hermes 900 (MALE) and the Hermes 450 considered the most advanced UAV systems in the world will be manufactured, is in line with the Indian government's strategic plan and enables us to share our extensive experience in defence systems and benefit from the dedicated Indian workforce", Bezhalel Machilis, president and chief executive officer, Elbit Systems, told the media on Friday. "We are waiting for it (Indian Armed Forces) to give us the first opportunity, to be part of the selection process and we believe it will be very successful," Elad Aharonson, executive vice-president and general manager, Elbit Systems Ltd, said. It is worth here mentioning that the Indian Armed Forces had issued a tri-service requirement for the acquisition of up to 150 medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAVs in 2016 but the procurement process got delayed for unknown reasons despite the forces citing urgency of owning that kind of drones to keep an eye on Chinese movements along the northern border. The requirement submitted by the Indian Armed Forces specified UAVs having a service ceiling of 30,000 feet or more, and a maximum range in excess of 250km in the line of sight mode. "We did not want to wait till India finalizes its order for (procuring) 150 UAVs. We will start with the export orders from this facility", Ashish Rajvanshi, head of Adani Defence and Aerospace told the media on Friday. The production is expected to start from March 2019. Adani Defence has invested $15 million in the park which would also house its JV facility with Rave Gears (USA) for helicopter transmission gears. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Range of Iran's Sayyad-3 missiles to increase IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 14, IRNA -- Deputy Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has announced that the range of Sayyad-3 air defense missiles will be enhanced. Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Friday, Brigadier General Alireza Elhami said on Friday that Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has put on agenda manufacturing and equipping new defense systems. Sayyad-3 has a long-range capability. It has similar diameter as Sayyad-2 but longer body with different wings and control surfaces. Based on current estimates Sayyad-3 has a range of 150km to 200 km. According to Iranian Defense Ministry, Sayyad-3 missile was designed with a range of about 120km and with a flight height of 27 km. Elhami went on to say that Bavar-373 air defense system will be unveiled soon. Bavar-373 is an Iranian long-range road-mobile surface-to-air missile system unveiled in August 2016. Iran describes it as a competitor with the S-300 missile system. It is manufactured by the Iranian Defense Ministry in cooperation with unspecified local manufacturers and universities. 9376**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi crown prince considering 'game-changing' handshake with Israeli PM: Report Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 06:46AM Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seriously considering a summit meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with US President Donald Trump playing host, a report says. The meeting between bin Salman, also known as MbS, and Netanyahu is to be a "game-changing" Camp David-style one, the Middle East Eye said in a report. Bin Salman has asked an emergency task force dealing with the fallout of the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi to study the idea of a meeting with Netanyahu, sources in the kingdom with close knowledge of the discussions told Middle East Eye. Israel's Maariv newspaper reported in June that bin Salman and Netanyahu had held secret meetings in Amman both with and without the presence of Jordan's King Abdullah. However, the sources say the idea of exchanging a handshake with Netanyahu has divided a Saudi task force, which includes intelligence, army, media and foreign office officials and political advisers. "Some voiced concern about the consequences of this on the Arab and Muslim world," the source said. Others in the task force were more enthusiastic. "They thought that the Arab Spring is so divided, and that things are under control," said the source, referring to the political forces connected to the so-called Arab Spring movement, who would strongly object to the normalizing of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The task force noted the absence of any real reaction on the Arab street to the recent visits of Netanyahu and Israeli ministers and athletes to the Persian Gulf states of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. They also thought they could control reaction inside the kingdom by "using the religious authorities to justify it", the source said. "MbS is keen on the idea. He comes from a new generation and does not feel the weight of history on his shoulders. He has shown this repeatedly. He has no particular sympathy with the Palestinian cause," the source added. The final recommendation of the task force was to ask for more time to prepare the public opinion. The plan is to present the crown prince, who is accused of being behind Khashoggi's murder, as a so-called Arab peacemaker in the mould of the former Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat. Sadat shook hands with Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin in 1978 in a meeting hosted by US President Jimmy Carter at Camp David, the president's country retreat. Bin Salman believes that the photo opportunity alone would be big enough to influence the upcoming and inherently more hostile US Congress in January as he has faced unprecedented criticism in Congress from both US political parties over the Saudi war on Yemen. On Thursday, the Senate voted to stop US armed forces from supporting Saudi Arabia in its military aggression against its impoverished southern neighbor. The historic bipartisan vote, for the first time, invoked Congress' war powers to challenge US military involvement abroad despite the Trump's unwavering support for the Saudis in the war. US senators also unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution naming bin Salman as responsible for Khashoggi's murder. The report of bin Salman's move came shortly after Netanyahu reiterated his support for the Saudi regime, saying criticisms of the murder of Khashoggi should not go as far as posing a risk to the kingdom's stability. Speaking to foreign journalists on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Khashoggi's early October assassination in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul was "balanced by the importance of Saudi Arabia and the role it plays in the Middle East." "What happened in Istanbul is nothing short of horrific. But it's balanced by the importance of Saudi Arabia and the role it plays in the Middle East," Netanyahu said. "Because if Saudi Arabia would be destabilized, the world, not the Middle East, will be destabilized." The idea of a meeting with the Netanyahu leader has reportedly been floating around for some time. The Israelis and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East envoy, had asked for it even before the Khashoggi crisis kicked in, the Saudi source said. "The aim of the 'Deal of the Century' is to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. But there was not talk about a specific day or date," the source said, referring to the Trump- and Saudi-backed peace plan for Palestine. Saudi Arabia does not officially recognize Israel and has no formal ties with the Tel Aviv . However, the two sides have been widely reported to have cooperated secretly for years. The warming of Riyadh-Tel Aviv relations has gathered pace since June 2017, when bin Salman became the crown prince and the kingdom's de facto leader. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japanese Gov't Starts Reclamation Work for US Base Sparking Protests in Okinawa Sputnik News 21:39 14.12.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik), Valentina Shvartsman - The Japanese government launched the landfill work aimed at relocating the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa on Friday, sparking protests by local residents and strong opposition of Okinawa's authorities who have long fought it. According to local media, hundreds of people gathered next to the US Marines' Camp Schwab in the Henoko district, where the base will be relocated to, in early hours of Friday to express their protests against the land reclamation which is seen as a threat to the ecosystem, as well as against overall US military presence in Okinawa. While most protesters marched in front of the bases screaming out slogans against the landfill, others chose to express their protest from the sea by floating near the construction site in boats with banners and placards in their hands. "I am outraged. Don't underestimate us. Let us uphold we Okinawans' pride and burning passion for justice and fight to the end in front of the gates. Let us hang tough. We must not lose to the government," Hiroji Yamashiro, an anti-base activist and head of the Okinawa Peace Action Center, said to the crowd, as quoted by the Mainichi newspaper. The launch of works also met strong opposition of local authorities, who slammed the central government for ignoring their requests for completely removing the base from Okinawa, rather than relocating it to another location on the island. "I cannot but hold sharp anger at the dumping of dirt and sand without listening to any of the requests made by the Okinawa prefectural government. Such an act will only bring about strong opposition from the Okinawa people, and the central government should recognize that the more they decide to push ahead with the project, the greater will be the anger of the people," the Okinawa governor told reporters in Naha, as quoted by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. At the same time, the Japanese government still faced some difficulties with the return of the Futenma base site to Japan in the fiscal year 2022, as previously agreed upon with the United States. "There have been various transitions, including the withdrawal of the permission for a landfill that was once approval, so it seems difficult to achieve this goal," Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters in Tokyo, as aired by the NHK broadcaster. US Presence in Okinawa Okinawa, which accounts for only 0.6 percent of Japan's territory, hosts 74 percent of US military facilities and more than half of some 50,000 US forces deployed in Japan. Such a significant US military presence on the islands is caused not by their strategic location, but also the fact that the US effective control over the Okinawa archipelago continued even after the US occupation of Japan ended with Tokyo signing the Treaty of San Francisco with the Allied Powers in 1952. The territories were returned to Japan only in 1972. Nevertheless, the United States maintained its military presence on Okinawa under the US-Japan Security Treaty. Futenma Base The US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is a home to some 3,000 servicemen, was established right after Japan's defeat in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, which lasted some three months and claimed lives of nearly a third of Okinawa's civil population. In 1996, Japan and the United States reached an agreement on relocating the base to the less populated Henoko area. The move followed multi-thousand demonstrations in the aftermath of a gang-rape of a 12-year-old local girl by three US servicemen, who served at Camp Hansen in Okinawa. In 2003, then US Defense Secretary Donald Henry Rumsfeld recognized the base as the "most dangerous in the world" for locals due to its dangerous proximity to the densely populated city. Both US and Japanese officials have later claimed that US bases did not pose any significant risk to local residents, but such statements only outraged local residents and fueled anti-base protests. The relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is currently situated in Okinawa's densely populated city of Ginowan, to the Henoko district, was launched in 2017. In August, the prefecture's authorities decided to revoke the permit for the reclamation work. In early November, however, the relocation process resumed as Tokyo reversed the local authorities' ban. Grievances of Local Residents Tensions have been high on the islands over the past years due to multiple incidents and aviation mishaps caused by the US military presence in Okinawa. Thursday marked the one-year anniversary since a window fell from a CH-53E helicopter onto the playground of the Futenma No. 2 Elementary School, slightly injuring one child. The incident prompted an outcry of local residents and the school's PTA, who demanded that authorities take measures to ensure the security of children. Two months later, the playground was fully reopened and special patrol agents were deployed on the elementary school's rooftop to instruct children to take shelter inside the building once there is a possibility of a US aircraft flying over. On Wednesday, school's principal Osamu Tobaru said that pupils had had to evacuate 693 times since then, noting that kids even had to rush into the building five times during a physical education class once. "My eyes watered when I saw children evacuating I feel that the right to receive education has been impaired," Tobaru told the Jiji news agency. Prior to the incident in the school, in October 2017, a CH-53 helicopter made an emergency landing on private property and burst into flames. Despite the government's pledges to take measures to ensure the safety of US aviation's flights in the skies over Okinawa, mishaps continued this year as well. In January, three US military AH-1 attack helicopters were forced to make emergency landings in Okinawa. In June, the US Air Force F-15 fighter jet, which was assigned to the Kadena US Air Force Base, crashed in the sea 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the city of Naha. Not only plane and helicopter crashes, but US troops' shooting drills are a sensitive issue for local residents. In June, a stray bullet struck windows of a farm located near the US Marine Corps' Camp Schwab in northeastern Okinawa Prefecture. The bullet supposedly struck the house during live-ammunition drills which have been carried out by the US troops. Another matter of grievances of Okinawan residents is the US troops' behaviour and crimes committed by them. In November 2017, a Marine accidentally killed an elderly man while drunk-driving, which resulted in the ban on drinking alcohol for US military personnel stationed in Japan. In 2016, an ex-Marine raped and killed a local woman, with a Japanese court sentencing him to life imprisonment in December 2017. The case led to a public outcry with tens of thousands people protesting against the US military both in Okinawa and Tokyo. Okinawa will hold a non-binding referendum on the relocation of the Futenma base on February 24. Governor Tamaki said that the vote would be an important opportunity for Okinawans to make their concerns heard in Tokyo. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Six soldiers killed in militant attack on paramilitary convoy in Pakistan Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 07:01PM Six Pakistani soldiers have been killed when a paramilitary convoy came under attack by gunmen in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan. The shooting took place in the mountainous district of Kech on Friday, when soldiers from the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) were on a routine patrol, officials said. "Six FC men embraced martyrdom while 14 others were wounded in the gun attack," Zahoor Buledi, provincial information minister, told AFP. A top official from the FC acknowledged the assault and said that a search operation is underway in the area. The separatist Pakistani group the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. Balochistan has long been plagued by an insurgency by nationalist and separatist groups who seek to secure bigger shares in regional resources. China, which neighbors Pakistan, is a close ally and the country's main benefactor. It launched a project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to connect the Pakistani port of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways. The assault comes less than a month after three assailants from the BLA attacked the Chinese consulate in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi, leaving four people dead. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia ready to discuss mutual arms inspections with US to save INF pact Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:54AM Russia's Foreign Ministry has reportedly expressed Moscow's readiness to discuss mutual inspections with Washington in a bid to save the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) amid US threats to withdraw from the pact. Reporting the development on Friday, Russia's RIA news agency cited Vladimir Yermakov, a foreign ministry official, as saying that Moscow "categorically rules out inspections being carried out on a unilateral basis." US President Donald Trump and other administration officials have threatened to pull out of the key arms control agreement, accusing Russia of breaching the Cold War-era treaty and vowing to develop new nuclear arsenals. The INF, which was signed in 1986 between then US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, allowed the US to counter Chinese moves to build up arms in the Pacific but prevented Washington from deploying new nuclear armaments in response. The treaty banned all land-based missiles with ranges of 310 to 3,420 miles and included missiles carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. The original ban between Moscow and Washington led to the elimination of 2,692 missiles. "Russia has not adhered to the agreement. So we are going to terminate the agreement," Trump said in October, referring to the INF. The US president further alleged that "Russia has violated the agreement. They've been violating it for many years. I don't know why president (Barack) Obama didn't negotiate or pull out. And we're not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons (while) we're not allowed to." "We'll have to develop those weapons," he then vowed. Trump made the remarks on October 20, a day after the US-based New York Times reported that the American military had been developing nuclear weapons to counter Chinese armaments already deployed. According to the report, since China is not a signatory to the Washington-Moscow nuclear pact, the Trump administration decided to accuse Russia of violating the INF. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last week that Moscow will be forced to respond if Washington withdraws from the nuclear arms control treaty. Putin further stated that Russia will develop missiles currently banned under the INF if the US acts on its threat to abandon the accord and begins developing such weapons. The Russian head of state said the US had decided long ago to pull out of the treaty and is now looking for justifications by blaming Moscow, which he said is opposed to scrapping the accord. Also last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that Washington's persisting threats to withdraw from the INF pave the way for ruining the new START nuclear weapons pact. Lavrov's remarks last Friday came after US officials called on Moscow to dismantle its 9M729 nuclear-capable cruise missiles and launchers or alter the weapons' range to return to compliance with the INF treaty and avert a US withdrawal from the deal. "The impression is given that the ground is simply being prepared for this document (New START) also to be ruined as a result," Lavrov underlined at a press conference in Milan, Italy. The Kremlin had earlier insisted that the missiles were in compliance with the INF accord. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Will be Bound by No Obligations If US Quits INF Treaty - Moscow Sputnik News 10:34 14.12.2018(updated 11:10 14.12.2018) Previously, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington would suspend participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty if Russia "didn't return to full compliance". Moscow, for its part, has denied claims regarding violations of the treaty, adding that the US was creating a pretext to withdraw from the accord. "Washington should proceed from the fact that if the United States withdraws from the INF Treaty, then this agreement ceases to function and all responsibility for scrapping one of the foundations of strategic stability falls on the United States", Director of the Foreign Ministry Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Vladimir Ermakov. He noted that Washington had decided to leave the treaty in the early 2000s after the US had abandoned the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The diplomat ruled out any unilateral INF checks on Russian territory, stressing, however, that Moscow is ready for reasonable negotiations with the American side. "The United States is gearing up to break the universal reliance on international law, equal and understandable for all countries, trying to introduce some kind of their own 'rule-based approach' instead. Naturally, they assume that such 'rules' will be written in Washington, and, if necessary, unilaterally corrected along the way. We do not agree with this approach", Yermakov stated. Both the US and Russia have accused each other of violating the treaty: according to Washington, Moscow has to terminate the development of its 9M729 missile system or modify the weapon due to its alleged non-compliance with the treaty. Russia has denied the allegations, also stating that Aegis Ashore systems deployed by the US in Europe pose threat to the agreement. The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States. The agreement obligated the parties to destroy their ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles whose ranges are between 500 and 5,500 kilometres (from 311 to 3,317 miles). Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-coalition attack on Syria kills 57 in November IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Dec 14, IRNA -- The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced that the US coalition attacks on Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, killed 57 civilians in November. According to Arabi-21 media, in his monthly report to the UN Security Council on US-led international coalition strikes, Guterres said at least nine people were injured in Hajin on November 3 and three kids were also killed in Al-Shaafah in the same day. Meanwhile, 10 civilians, who were said to be Iraqi refugees, were injured in Hajin on November 8 and 7, civilians, including four kids, were killed on November 10. Based on the report, 18 civilians were killed in the US air attack on Deir ez-Zor and 10 other civilians were killed in bombardment on a hospital in Al-Shaafah on November 29. 9376**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-backed Kurdish militants slam Turkish threats as 'declaration of war' Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 05:22PM The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed coalition of mainly Kurdish militants that maintains a grip on northeastern Syria, together with its component, the People's Protection Units (YPG), have censured Turkish threats of a new operation in the crisis-hit Arab country as a "declaration of war", calling on world powers to stop the assault. "All the forces in north and east Syria...are asked to agree on strategies to confront this aggression," they said in a statement released on Friday. Syrian Kurdish militant groups have vowed to fight "to the death" in the event of a new Turkish operation in northeastern Syria. "We will defend the north and the east of Syria to the death," SDF spokeswoman Jihan Sheikh Ahmed told Russia's Sputnik news agency on Friday. She noted that the SDF would not like to see a situation similar to what happened earlier this year in Afrin, where Ankara conducted a military operation. Earlier on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country's military forces will enter Manbij city in northern Syria if the United States fails to remove YPG militants from the area. "Manbij is a place where Arabs live, but they have surrendered the area to the terror organization," Erdogan told members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in a speech in Istanbul. He added, "Now we are saying that you should cleanse, remove them, or else we will enter Manbij. I am speaking very clearly." "We are not only providing security for our country when taking steps in Syria but we are also protecting the honor of people," Erdogan said. The Turkish president said on Wednesday that "It is time to realize our decision to wipe out terror groups in the east of Euphrates." "We will start the operation to clear the east of the Euphrates from separatist terrorists in a few days," he added. A spokesman for the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army said on Thursday that up to 15,000 militants are prepared to support Turkey's latest operation. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. Turkey has complained over the slow implementation of a deal with Washington to pull YPG Kurdish militants out of Manbij, which lies in mainly Arab territory west of the Euphrates, back to the eastern bank of the river. The United States, which has set up observation posts on the Syrian side of the border, has warned Turkey against a new incursion and said the newly constructed positions would help deter any security threat against Turkey coming from Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish forces to enter Syria's Manbij if US-backed YPG remains there: Erdogan Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 11:34AM Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara will send its forces to the Syrian town of Manbij if the United States does not remove the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia from the area. Erdogan made the remarks in an address to members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on Friday days after he threatened to launch a new operation to target the fighters. "Manbij is a place where Arabs live, but they have surrendered the area to the terror organization. Now we are saying that you should cleanse, remove them, or else we will enter Manbij. I am speaking very clearly," he warned. Erdogan said Turkey was also determined to bring "peace and security" to areas east of the Euphrates, where the YPG controls an area stretching more than 400 km (250 miles) along the border toward Iraq. The Turkish president compared the promised military campaign to an incursion into northern Syria in 2016 and another one, which was launched earlier this year by Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies, who still hold territory there seized from YPG and the Daesh terrorists. Also on Wednesday, Erdogan said his country will launch an operation against the US-backed Kurds in northern Syria within days. "We will start an operation to free the east of the Euphrates from the separatist terrorist organization in the next few days," Erdogan said during a speech in Ankara, referring to territory held by the YPG. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. Turkey has been infuriated by US support for the YPG, which forms the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an anti-Damascus alliance of predominantly Kurdish militants. Turkey has complained over the slow implementation of a deal with Washington to pull YPG Kurdish fighters out of Manbij, which lies in mainly Arab territory west of the Euphrates, back to the eastern bank of the river. A spokesman for the Syrian militants said on Thursday that up to 15,000 fighters are prepared to support Turkey's latest operation. The United States, which has set up observation posts on the Syrian side of the border, has warned Turkey against a new incursion and said the newly constructed positions would help deter any security threat against Turkey coming from Syria. Erdogan, however, said Turkey had waited long enough to act against the YPG militia, which it says is indistinguishable from PKK militants who have waged an insurgency against the state in southeastern Turkey for 34 years. "We are not only providing security for our country when taking steps in Syria but we are also protecting the honor of people," he said. Kurdish commander Mazloum Kobanin said on Thursday the US-backed SDF, which are spearheaded by the YPG, would respond strongly to any attack. Daesh loses control of last town in Syria Erdogan's warning came as a monitor said US-backed militants have seized the town of Hajin in eastern Syria. Hajin was the last big town held by Daesh in its remaining pocket of territory east of the Euphrates River near the border with Iraq. A YPG source said Kurdish militants were now in control of Hajin, where some small remaining pockets of Daesh resistance would be finished off in the next day or two. The capture of Hajin leaves Daesh in control of a diminishing strip of territory along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The terrorists also control some desert terrain west of the river in territory otherwise controlled by the Syrian government and its allies. Daesh was driven from nearly all the territory it once held in Syria last year in separate campaigns waged by the Syrian government and Kurdish forces. The victory came even as SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Kobani told Reuters on Thursday that at least 5,000 Daesh terrorists remained holed up in the pocket of territory including Hajin and that they had decided to fight to the death. In the past, Daesh terrorists have left territories under their control with little resistance in the face of US troops and their proxies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (CNN) A controversial statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi has been pulled down at the University of Ghana following protests and petitions for its removal. The figure was removed between Tuesday night and Wednesday from where it had stood on a recreational area of the university campus in Ghana's capital of Accra since 2016. Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration approved the statue's removal, university spokeswoman Stella Amoa told CNN on Friday, following petitions by the university's council to the government. CNN contacted the ministry for comment Friday but did not immediately receive a response. After its unveiling two years ago, the monument sparked protests among students and faculty members, who claim that Gandhi was "racist" and African figures should be put up first, according to a Change.org petition. Gandhi was renowned across the world for his peaceful activism and remembered for his successful push for India's independence from Britain's colonial rule. He was assassinated in 1948. Nicknamed the "Soldier of peace," he lived in South Africa for 21 years, but some passages in his early writings about the African continent have generated controversy. Citing passages attributed to some of these writings, lecturers petitioned the University of Ghana Council to take down the monument, saying the independence leader made racist comments about black South Africans. "How will the historian teach and explain that Gandhi was uncharitable in his attitude towards the black race and see that we're glorifying him by erecting a statue on our campus?" the petition reads. Ghana's former government promised to relocate the statue after the protests two years ago, but it remained standing until this week. Obadele Kambon, head of language, literature and drama at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana, hailed the move to take the statue down. "His utterances when he was alive show he did not want to be with us black folks," he told CNN. "Why would we want to be with him after his death by having his statue on our campus?" Activists in Malawi in southeastern Africa also see Gandhi as "racist" and are protesting the erection of a statue of him in the city of Blantyre. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Gandhi statue pulled down in Ghana after controversy over 'racist' writings." Assad says Syria reconstruction to cost $400bn Iran Press TV Fri Dec 14, 2018 01:00AM Syria's President Bashar al-Assad predicts that Syria's reconstruction will cost between $250 billion and $400 billion, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov has said after meeting with the Syrian head of state. Borisov's office said Thursday that the diplomat had discussed industrial, medical, and energy cooperation with Assad in Damascus on Thursday, as a years-long fight against foreign-backed terrorists nears its end. "The range of questions discussed with the Syrian leader included political affairs, Russia's participation in Syria's postwar reconstruction and restoration of life to normal, and cooperation in industry, medicine, energy and other branches of the economy," Borisov's office said. Syria has been able to purge Daesh and other terrorist groups from most of the country with support from Iran and Russia as well as the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah. The war, which began in March 2011, has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and dislocated thousands more while destroying most of the country's infrastructure and industrial capacity. Borisov said it was critical for Damascus to maximize the effectiveness of its planning by using the existing capacities in order to create the required financial and economic mechanisms. He noted that Syria didn't have much time to begin the process as vestiges of what was once a united front against the government could still pose a threat by recruiting people. "We've got to act fast, because any delays in economic recovery will be fraught with serious problems, including an upsurge in the activity of defeated terrorists. Extremists would find it far easier to recruit supporters from the class of impoverished people unable to support their families," Borisov said. Borisov leads a Russian delegation that is in Damascus for a meeting of the permanent Russian-Syrian commission for trading, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. Russia, China abstain in UN vote on Syria cross-border aid Also on Thursday, Russia and China refused to vote on United Nations Security Council resolution that sought to extend approval for cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries to Syrian territories that were controlled by terrorists back in 2014, when the resolution was first adopted. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's Ambassador to the UN, said the text of the resolution -- drafted by Sweden and Kuwait-- was outdated and "divorced from reality" because the situation in Syria had changed drastically. "The fact that the stabilizing trends are strengthening in Syria is undeniable ... Despite remaining problems there are positive steps in improving the humanitarian situation," Nebenzia said. The Russian envoy said the UN needed to help Damascus speed up its recovery process instead. "This is a critical moment and the international community needs to now give a helping hand to the Syrians in order to overcome the devastation and making sure that people who voluntarily decided to return can live normally," he added. Western countries, however, have made it clear that they will not approve reconstruction funding for Syria, or remove sanctions on the Assad government unless a political solution is reached. Despite running an aerial campaign that allegedly targets terrorists, the US and its allies have been openly supporting militant groups fighting Assad's government, often helping them by targeting Syrian forces. Washington has repeatedly stressed that Assad must step down as part of any political solution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-backed Fighters Battle IS in Last Syrian Stronghold By Sirwan Kajjo December 14, 2018 Fierce fighting is ongoing in eastern Syria as U.S.-backed Syrian fighters are trying to advance against the Islamic State (IS) terror group in its last major stronghold in the country. Thousands of fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led alliance, have been pushing into the town of Hajin in the Middle Euphrates River Valley (MERV) in Deir el-Zour province, according to U.S. and local military officials. "The progress in MERV is going very well and the coalition is assisting with artillery and air strikes," Colonel Sean Ryan, Spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against IS, told VOA. "The SDF continues to advance into the center of Hajin city and to the outskirts. ISIS still poses a threat and are using small pockets of fighters to counter SDF offensives and emplacing IED's to slow progress," he said, using an acronym for the terror group. Ryan added that "the end of days for ISIS in the MERV is getting closer to reality, however, they still have the capability for coordinated attacks." SDF reaction SDF officials said Wednesday it will take a while before they can declare Hajin liberated from IS. "We have so far liberated more than 60 percent of Hajin from [IS] terrorists," Mustafa Bali, head of the media center at SDF, told VOA. "It's still early to say when the town will entirely be cleared of the group as there are many tunnels and areas that must to be combed. There are also many [IS] militants still hiding among civilians," he added. Bali said "coalition airstrikes have been crucial at this point as we advance against Daesh," using an Arabic acronym for IS. IS preparing Ekrem Salih, a local reporter who is embedded with the U.S.-backed SDF in Hajin, said Islamic State fighters have been preparing for this battle for a long time. "This is a very tough fight because IS's elite fighting force is in Hajin. So they will fight in Hajin until the last breath," he told VOA. Salih said IS fighters have left behind a large amount of landmines in areas liberated in recent days. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, had said earlier Wednesday that SDF fighters had taken Hajin from IS, but SDF officials told VOA that there were still many IS fighters in the town and that fighting was still ongoing. The continued battle for Hajin is part of the Operation Roundup, which began in May to defeat IS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley and Iraq-Syria border region. The military operation is supported by the U.S-led coalition. Local military officials said that once Hajin is completely liberated, the operation will move on to several nearby villages, including Sosa and Shifa'a, that are still under IS control. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address GREENWICH Greenwich High students went out of their way to write and distribute kind notes on the sixth anniversary of the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown. The student body government and the Roots and Shoots club cosponsored an event to build a community of trust, said Kathleen Mendez, a social studies teacher and the GHS Roots and Shoots Club adviser. The students gathered in the student center for the event, which was created in response to an assembly held earlier this year with Sandy Hook SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Promise Clubs. The national organization is made up of Sandy Hook Promise, which works to prevent gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide and accidental discharge, and SAVE, a network of student clubs that engages young people in preventing gun violence. It is a good idea to spread kindness and express positivity on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, freshman Aarya Dhru said. She was satisfied with how students at lunch engaged with them, writing notes and delivering them to others. This is so much more than I anticipated, she said. The 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook, which left 20 first-graders and six educators dead, showed students in Greenwich how close these tragedies can happen, sophomore Sarah Peng said while she was making her kindness note. The two walk-ins held at GHS last year after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., started a movement that united all the grades, Peng said. Mendez encouraged teens to hand out the notes to students they might normally not interact with. Not everyone has lunch in the student center, and it can be isolating, she said. It takes a lot to go out to the student body, she said. In a school as large as Greenwich High, safety is the first priority, Mendez said. For Dhru, spreading kindness will keep the student body safe from violence. It already happened, but we can hopefully stop something in the future from happening, she said. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com GREENWICH Neighbor to Neighbor hosted its annual holiday toy giveaway for Greenwich-area residents on Friday at the Tomes-Higgins House. This event, organized and managed by Neighbor to Neighbors volunteers, provided Greenwich, Port Chester, and Stamford residents who are experiencing hardships with free holiday gifts. STAMFORD People who grabbed an Uber here this year likely were headed for the mall, a South End restaurant, or a downtown hotel. Ride-sharing service Uber has released a list of its most popular destinations in the city for 2018, and the Stamford Town Center on Greyrock Place came in at No. 1. It was followed by Sign of the Whale, a restaurant in the Harbor Point development, and the Sheraton Stamford Hotel on East Main Street. No. 4 on the list was Brother Jimmy's BBQ, a Bedford Street restaurant with the slogan, Put Some South in Yo Mouth. Target department store on Broad Street, which is part supermarket, was No. 5. After that comes five restaurants The Cheesecake Factory on Tresser Boulevard, attached to the mall; Brick House Bar & Grill on Bedford Street; Hudson Grille on Bedford Street; Barcelona Wine Bar on Summer Street; and Tigin Irish Pub on Bedford Street. The list shows Uber users in Stamford usually head downtown nine of the top-10 destinations are there. Uber, founded in San Francisco in 2009, annually releases its most common ride destinations, and this year included Stamford. Use has increased markedly in Stamford since the company launched the service here in 2014. In 2016, the company started UberEATS, offering food delivery from more than three dozen Stamford restaurants, which pay the company a fee per delivery. The same year, Uber began to offer a scheduled-ride service. It allows users to book trips 30 minutes to 30 days in advance. Last year, Uber opened Connecticuts first resource center for drivers on West Avenue in Stamford. The company this week released destination data for another Connecticut city, Hartford. That list is similar to Stamfords in that it was dominated by restaurants and stores. The top trips for Uber riders in Hartford were to Walmart, the University of Hartford, and a mall. The rest included three restaurants, a hospital, and one of the citys big insurance companies. Uber also put out a wider-ranging list riders top-10 tourist destinations around the globe. The first two were in New York the Empire State Building and the Freedom Tower followed by the CN Tower in Toronto. Next came two Paris destinations, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, followed by Dubais Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest skyscraper. Dubai is such a sightseeing destination that it also has UberChopper, a helicopter ride service. Londons Buckingham Palace was No. 7 on the tourist list, followed by Disneyland in California, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Uber operates in more than 600 cities worldwide. The United States is its biggest market, according to the companys website. Users usually order a car from an app on their cellphones. The app displays a map showing the user where the Uber car is waiting. Payment is electronic. According to Ubers website, four types of service are offered. A regular ride starts at $6. For a group, it starts at $9. The fare for a ride in a luxury car starts at $12, and for a luxury SUV, $14. Besides the flat fee, users are charged a cost per minute. As an example, a person headed to the Stamford mall from the middle of Hope Street in Springdale, the citys geographic center, would cost $10 to $13 for the basic service. Its a trip of 3.5 miles that usually takes 14 minutes, according to Ubers website. The higher-level services would range from $15 to $34. In Connecticut and elsewhere, taxi companies have fought Uber, Lyft and similar services with lawsuits and by lobbying legislatures, saying their industry is heavily regulated but ride-sharing companies were allowed to operate without rules. Last year, Connecticuts General Assembly passed a law that requires ride-sharing companies to register annually with the state Department of Transportation; obtain background checks on drivers and ban those with certain criminal convictions; provide identification for drivers and cars; post fares, including the ones that spike when demand is high; certify vehicles for safety; and obtain insurance. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296. It has been 21/2 years since the British referendum on leaving the European Union. Since then, the British government has aggressively pursued its promise to deliver Brexit. Yet with three months to go, the United Kingdom finds itself in an almighty mess. Prime Minister Theresa May can't get her own members of Parliament to support her agreement with the E.U. on how to leave, and she had to defeat a vote of no confidence from her Conservative Party this past week after postponinga vote on her Brexit deal that she was certain to lose. High political drama is becoming a weekly, sometimes daily, occurrence. The Conservatives, the Labour Party, Parliament and the country are split on what they want to happen next - though they all seem to agree that they dislike May's proposal. What is extraordinary is how much of the chaos is of Britain's own making. At every stage where the government and Parliament might have tried to ease the tension, they instead discovered options that ramped up the potential for political, constitutional and economic crisis. It was a choice by then-Prime Minister David Cameron to hold a referendum in the first place, after offering a Brexit vote as part of the Conservative Party's 2015 election platform. Cameron then chose to allow his own ministers to campaign against his government's position that the country should stay in the E.U., cleaving his party into two camps. Rather than bring his party together, these choices seem to have split it them further. Since the referendum, in which 52 percent of British voters opted to leave, British politics has felt like a soap opera - one that could have been avoided entirely. The shock result, which even those in the Leave camp didn't seem to expect, ended Cameron's political career and propelled several of his colleagues back to the top. The subsequent 2016 Conservative leadership contest is best remembered for one Leave campaigner, Michael Gove, ending the hopes of a fellow Leave campaigner, Boris Johnson, which helped clear the way for May to become prime minister. For a while, it was possible to imagine that the government would take a measured approach. It created an agency to implement Brexit - the Department for Exiting the European Union. It set about bringing in new officials with relevant skills, particularly on trade negotiations. At the 2016 Conservative Party conference, May said she would avoid triggering Article 50, the provision to formally begin the process of leaving the E.U., until Britain's objectives were "clear and agreed." But many steps that could have forestalled strife were not taken. Though she had said she would not rush the process, May's determination to deliver Brexit led to her announcement in October 2016 that she would start the clock on a formal withdrawal by the following March. Parliament voted to trigger Article 50 in March 2017,then passed legislation that set the date for exit. The hard deadline that now looms was put in place by those deliberate - and avoidable - decisions. It was another choice by May to call a snap general election in April 2017, shortly after setting off the Brexit negotiations. The idea was to cement her bargaining position, but instead, in the June vote, she lost her party's majority in the House of Commons. This meant she had to keep her lawmakers in the fold and maintain the support of the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to deliver Brexit, or look for support from lawmakers from other parties. May's government has since mishandled its relationship with a Parliament characterized by Brexit divisions across party lines. It has resisted many opportunities to let Parliament understand the government's plans for Brexit, arguing time after time that it did not want to show its negotiating hand to the E.U. This annoyed lawmakers: In a series of votes in recent months, the opposition, sometimes supported by Conservative rebels, forced the government to release sensitive papers on the negotiations. Parliament even held the government in contempt, an unprecedented act. When the country has a full postmortem on Brexit, there may be some successes to look back on. Negotiating and planning for leaving the E.U. - under both deal and no-deal scenarios - has been the biggest policy effort by a British government in many decades. Government officials have taken on a gargantuan task, one that is being scaled up further as they find themselves planning for a no-deal Brexit: They are already war-gaming the various crises that could ensue, such as queues at the border or dwindling medical supplies and food stocks. But after several years of bad choices, the paths currently on offer seem to tend toward more political drama, not less. The next general election is scheduled for 2022, but Parliament can force another one sooner. That may prove necessary if the current government can't push its policy into law. But it would also take crucial weeks out of the countdown clock before March 29 - and raise the question of what different Brexit policy any new or returned government would offer. It is also impossible for Labour to force an election without winning over key DUP and Conservative votes, and the Conservative Party seems highly reluctant, especially after May put down this past week's rebellion. Another referendum on Brexit could also prove inescapable if Parliament cannot break its deadlock. But a second campaign over the E.U. would probably leave the country more divided, rather than less. And it's not clear what kind of questions would be posed, who would be able to campaign and how, and whether it would be legally binding on the government's final deal (or if it even could be). It also seems inevitable that the country would have to delay this Brexit to hold another vote. Some former Brexit ministers, such as David Davis and Dominic Raab, are now apparently pushing for Britain to leave the E.U. with no deal. This would require the government to negotiate dozens of bilateral agreements between Britain and its former European partners, on everything from landing rights for airlines to passports for pets. It would also require some British businesses to invest major sums of money in new systems or processes, establish a presence in the E.U., or find new markets. It is already too late to manage all that without major disruption. So May's strategy for the next few months boils down to this: telling people - her party, the rest of Parliament, voters - that there are no better choices left than to trust her. The bad options and the ticking clock are her strongest chips. Even before the challenge to her leadership, she was making defensive speeches about why people should support her deal and keep her in place. To her fellow Tories, she talks about the dangers of a general election and their fears of a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour government. To Parliament at large, she talks about the dangers of an exit with no deal. To Brexiteers, she talks about the dangers of no Brexit. If this is the strategy, then she wants the uncertainty to increase, rather than lessen. Looking back on the experience of the past two years, with all its chaos, this does not seem a measured approach. But it may now be an inevitable one. - - - Haddon is a senior fellow at the Institute for Government, a London think tank. Before we get into things, we feel that we should preface this news by saying that when you're the likes of Apple, lawsuits are a pretty common occurrence and come in a wide scale of severity. This particular case seems to be airing more on the amusing side in terms of scope and potential repercussions. Still, given enough traction it could lead to some interesting changes in product marketing on a grander scale. A lawsuit was filed on Friday in the US District Court of Northern California by a couple of plaintiffs who accuse Apple of falsely advertising certain hardware aspects of the iPhone X, XS and XS Max (oddly not the iPhone XR). The particular issues are related to advertising and specific specs for the notched Retina displays. And the two plaintiffs are hoping to reach class action status. We definitely urge you to go through the document for yourself, as if lays out an odd mixture of sometimes logical arguments, mixed in with some odd math and failure to admit certain technological aspects of OLED panels. In summary, however, the main complaints are as follows: Apple's marketing slogan "It's all screen" is technically false, given that there are clearly still bezels surrounding the display, as well as a notch. Most of Apple's marketing materials, renders, choice of wallpapers and angles are purposefully designed to hide the notch. The iPhone X advertises a resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixels, which is technically not correct, since the notch and rounded corners take up about 120 vertical pixels away from the advertised resolution. The widest rectangular screen area usable by applications on the iPhone X is about 2195 x 1125 pixels, or about 10% less than the advertised 2436 x 1125 pixels. The display size is falsely advertised as being 5.8 inches, while it is actually around 5.6875 inches. Each corner cuts the diagonal by about 1/16 of an inch. The iPhone X display is falsely advertised as being higher resolution than the one on the iPhone 8 Plus, which is not true on a sub-pixel level, since OLED pixels are "false" pixels and only have two sub-pixels, compared to three on the iPhone 8 Plus' LCD. Which works out to 5,481,000 sub-pixels on the iPhone X, compared to 6,220,800 on the iPhone 8 Plus. And that is before taking into account the wrong display resolution. Now, that's a lot of "salt" right there, if we might say so ourselves. However, beyond the funny issue with OLED sub-pixel count and estimations of "usable" rectangular areas, there do seem to be some valid points about misleading advertising in there. Let's just say that Apple's choice of promotional renders and wallpapers was oddly convenient in totally masking the notch. That being said, this lawsuit might not be a total wash, especially in certain points that it raises about PR and advertising within the industry as a whole. What's your take on the issues? Source | Via Haiti - FLASH : The Commissioner of the Government Dameus resigns ! Friday, under pressure for several months, the Commissioner of the Government near the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince Me Clame Ocnam Dameus with decisions often contested, finally resigned. Recall that he replaced Me Jean Jean Leger who had resigned in March 2017. In his resignation letter he explains "[...] I decided to resign as Government Commissioner at the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance and as a member of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. Because I have too high regard for the policy in the service of the Haitian nation to accept to be used as a tool for manipulation and perversion of justice. One day, a truly free and independent justice will tell the whole truth about the important issues of the time and history will be my only judge," writes Me Clame-Ocnam Dameus, government commissioner and member of the CSPJ. "From a simple procurator, assistant chief prosecutor, chief prosecutor, substitute commissioner of the government to chief government commissioner and member of the Superior Council of the judiciary twice, I remain a legitimate son of this justice and I love him too much to make me an accomplice of those who want to assassinate him, and this, of whatever political sensibility he may be. Faced with the many difficulties and political pressures of all kinds that prevent me from carrying out my work as a defender of society, I find myself obliged to resign from these functions [...]" A resignation welcomed by the lawyers of the bar of Port-au-Prince on strike since October 9 and who had been demanding for more than 2 months his dismissal following violence by members of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) against members of their profession https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26069-haiti-justice-the-protector-of-the-citizen-deeply-concerned.html Recall that on February 2, the impetuous Commissioner Dameus, who was blamed on January 25, 2018 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23416-haiti-justice-the-minister-fortunate-blames-the-government-commissioner-dameus.html by the Minister of Justice Heidi Fortune after a call to order https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22783-haiti-justice-the-minister-of-justice-warns-the-commissioner-of-the-government.html had already handed his resignation https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23475-haiti-justice-the-government-commissioner-dameus-resigns.html which had been refused by then Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant. It is the former substitute of the Government Commissioner Paul Eronce Villard who becomes the new Commissioner of the Government. Judge well known for his rigor, of great competence, considered by his peers as a model of magistrate, he was one of the few Substitutes of the government commissioner to respect the deadlines fixed by the law and to have no record late. Recall that following his layoff in July 2015 by Minister Pierre-Richard Casimir he had preferred to resign. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26137-haiti-school-kits-the-ulcc-asks-the-prosecution-to-take-action-against-10-people.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26117-haiti-petrocaribe-dameus-suspects-a-dominican-company-a-little-quickly.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26109-haiti-flash-dameus-backs-on-his-request-for-blocking-bank-accounts.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26069-haiti-justice-the-protector-of-the-citizen-deeply-concerned.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25964-haiti-petrocaribe-the-government-commissioner-dameus-multiplies-the-convocations.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25907-haiti-justice-commissioner-dameus-above-the-law.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25707-haiti-notice-activities-ti-sourit-interdites-dans-l-aire-metropolitaine.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25602-haiti-justice-74-of-detainees-in-haiti-have-never-been-tried.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24623-haiti-justice-release-of-a-chief-of-gang-of-grande-ravine.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23663-haiti-flash-operation-anti-spoliation-14-arrests.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23416-haiti-justice-the-minister-fortunate-blames-the-government-commissioner-dameus.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22783-haiti-justice-the-minister-of-justice-warns-the-commissioner-of-the-government.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Security : A former member of the Government Youth of Haiti shot dead The Communication Directorate of the Office of the Organization of the Young United Nations of Africa in Haiti (BOJNUAH), expressed dismay at the death of the former young Minister in charge of relations with Parliament, of youth associations and civil society of the 3rd edition of the Youth Government of Haiti (GJH 2015-2017), Andrice Cheriza (30 years old), shot dead in the afternoon of Friday 14 December near the "Guerite" market in downtown Port-au-Prince, near the port by unidentified individuals. Father of a baby under 21 days old, Andrice Cheriza was the President of the Foundation that bears his name whose main focus is education and the social. "He had the ambition to run for the next parliamentary elections for the constituency Milot deputy" recalls the former Young President of Haiti, Amos Cincir current Special Representative in charge of BOJNUAH, who deplores a new victim of insecurity and banditry. The BOJNUAH, presents his sympathies to the family of Andrice Cheriza, his relatives, his friends and his collaborators and to the Haitian society in general that this mourning afflicts. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : More than ever, Haiti is open to investors and travelers dixit Ceant On Wednesday, as part of his participation at the Toronto Global Forum, in Toronto, Canada, Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant delivered a speech to more than 200 key players in the economy, including many investors, inviting them to invest in Haiti. He passionately presented them a positive and attractive image of a country full of opportunity, while being careful not to tarnish this attractive vision of a country "in full progress", by addressing the real situation of the country and its insecurity, saying without complex and convinced "More than ever, Haiti is open to investors and travelers." A speech that we invite you to read. Download Prime Minister Ceant's Integral Speech : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/ceant-discours-12-12-2018.pdf On Thursday, for his final day in Canada, Ceant visited the members of Haiti's diplomatic mission in Ottawa and was received by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The two men discussed, among other things, bilateral cooperation, the crisis in Haiti, migration, education and health. At the conclusion of this meeting Prime Minister Trudeau declared "Haiti and Canada are united by strong family ties and friendship and close economic cooperation. Today, we held a productive meeting with Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant, as we continue to strengthen the ties that unite us." Recall that Haiti is the largest recipient of Canadian aid in the Americas and the second largest after US assistance. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26389-haiti-economy-pm-ceant-in-toronto-calls-businessmen-to-invest-in-haiti.html S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Launch of Urbayiti a 4.2 billion gourdes program On Friday at the Marriott Hotel, Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant and the European Union officially launched the "UrbAyiti" program to support harmonious and resilient urban development in Haiti. This is an ambitious Haitian program, funded by the European Union (EU) through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) for 52.5 million euros ( 4.23 billion gourdes) the preparatory phase of which began at the end of 2017. "UrbAyiti" will be deployed over the next four years with the concrete objectives of implementing the city's policy, a better urban environment, risk mitigation works, an improvement of mobility, better access to water and new urban infrastructure such as roads, drainage, public spaces or bridges. "The European Union is supporting the Government in a two-pronged approach : to improve living conditions in the city center by helping to revive the Haitian capital [...] and bring hope to the cities of Les Cayes, Jeremie, Dame- Marie and Beaumont to create places of life that allow the people of the province to live well at home rather than indignity in Port-au-Prince," declared the Prime Minister. In his speech Vincent Degert, the EU Ambassador in Haiti stressed "after the earthquake of 2010, the European Union mobilized strongly, with its partners, alongside the Haitian state to redevelop nine neighborhoods in Haiti, through a global approach to improve, in addition to homes, the entire living environment of a neighborhood with access to water, electricity and new collective infrastructure, among other things [...] Today we want to take a new step by supporting another Haitian state-led urban governance to create the conditions for a more sustainable and harmonious urban environment across the country for the benefit of the entire country. population." Urbayiti involves a large number of actors. In addition to the Primature, through the Interministerial Committee for Territorial Planning (CIAT), there are closely associated the Ministry of Public Works; from within and from territorial communities; Economy and Finance; of the environment ; of Agriculture and the Ministry of Planning as well as the town halls of Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and Jeremie. The Office of the National Authorizing Officer of the EDF ensures coordination between the Haitian State and the European Union and the execution of the program with CIAT. We should also underline the central role of Expertise France (co-financed by France) which supports the Office of the Authorizing Officer for the coherence of actions and assists the Ministry of the Interior and the concerned town halls in the implementation of their activities. The Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation will co-finance and work with the Regional Office for Drinking Water and Sanitation (OREPA) in the West to improve access to water and sanitation, in project intervention areas in the commune of Port-au-Prince. In addition, several NGOs will accompany the town halls for the implementation of projects in the cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26374-haiti-politic-draft-plan-for-development-and-extension-of-jeremie.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : Clifford Brandt admits to having sponsored the kidnapping of children Moscosso Friday at the Criminal Court of Gonaives in the new trial of businessman Clifford Brandt and his accomplices (Bendel Saint-Fort and Rico Pierreval), after having denied his guilt since 2012, Clifford Brandt finally recognized at the end of the hearing before the President of the Tribunal, Judge Denis Pierre-Michel, that he was the one who had sponsored the kidnapping and forcible confinement of children Moscosso (Coralie and Nicolas) and presented his regrets and apologies to the family of the two victims. Recall that his two accomplices have acknowledged their participation in this kidnapping at the reopening of the trial last Wednesday According to Clifford Brandt, this kidnapping was prompted by a desire for revenge against the Moscosso family who had won a US $2 million contract with the government. The hearing was put in continuation until 8 January 2019 Cases Clifford Brandt : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26387-icihaiti-justice-resumption-of-the-new-trial-of-clifford-brandt.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25918-icihaiti-justice-new-trial-of-clifford-brandt.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23930-icihaiti-justice-the-cancellation-of-the-judgment-of-clifford-brandt-worries.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23903-haiti-flash-the-judgment-of-clifford-h-brandt-canceled-in-court-of-cassation.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18612-haiti-flash-18-years-of-penal-labour-for-clifford-brandt.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-18365-icihaiti-justice-the-case-of-clifford-brandt-does-not-move-forward.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18249-haiti-news-zapping-politics.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18161-haiti-flash-clifford-brandt-10th-audience-trial-postponed-again.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18012-haiti-justice-resumption-of-trial-of-clifford-brandt.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17440-haiti-news-zapping-politics.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17235-haiti-justice-is-clifford-brandt-will-be-judged-one-day.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16706-haiti-justice-trial-clifford-brandt-postponed-for-a-week.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16625-haiti-flash-trial-of-clifford-brandt-postponed-for-the-3rd-time.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16615-icihaiti-flash-clifford-brandt-absent-trial-postponed-24-hours.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16469-icihaiti-flash-trial-clifford-brandt-hearing-suspended-postponed-to-fifteen.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16428-haiti-flash-d-2-before-the-trial-of-clifford-brandt.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16350-haiti-justice-towards-a-trial-clifford-brandt.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15372-haiti-justice-trial-of-clifford-brandt-before-the-end-of-the-year.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-15105-icihaiti-justice-clifford-brandt-soon-judged.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6982-haiti-justice-clifford-brandt-involved-in-an-abduction-case.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7042-haiti-justice-case-clifford-brandt-official-clarifications-of-authorities.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7021-haiti-justice-case-brandt-moscoso-the-investigation-continues.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7004-haiti-justice-clifford-brandt-incarcerated-in-the-civil-prison-of-carrefour.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6989-haiti-justice-case-clifford-brandt-morosco-clarifications-of-the-pnh.html S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Diaspora : Donation of a fire truck The Haitian community of Minnesota has donated a fire truck to the Cap-Haitien Town Hall to reinforce its emergency response capability in the event of a fire in the municipality. The Municipal Council sent its warmest thanks to Mrs. Rose Gadabamassi President of the Association, Guy Andre Vice-President and Mrs. Carrie Sollages, Mrs. Mimi Pierre Johnson for this generous gift that will allow the City Council to better serve the city. Sogebank : 371,000 Gourdes in scholarships This week, in the presence of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities Gerald Oriol Jr. and a delegation from HaitiTec, the Sogebank Foundation has granted financial support of approximately 371,000 Gourdes to the Office of the Secretary of State in the part of a project set up with HaitiTec aimed at strengthening the skills of young people with disabilities. This sum represents the financing of studies in computer techniques of two disabled young people in HaitiTec over a period of two years. A call for applications will be launched soon to identify the two fellows. French companies visiting An Economic Council was held at the French Embassy in Port-au-Prince in the presence of the French Ambassador Jose Gomez including representatives of French companies to discuss the business climate in Haiti. 35 certified executives of Ministry of Agriculture The Ministry of Agriculture and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) certified 35 senior staff at the end of their training in programming, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and budget management. This capacity-building training, carried out with the technical support of UNDP and the international Setym consortium with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will enable the creation of a pool of national experts capable of implementing development projects and programs at central, regional and local level. IDB : Evaluation of the Sustainable Irrigation Program This week a meeting was held between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The meeting, co-chaired by Jobert C. Angrand, Minister of Agriculture and Branly Eugene, Director General of the Ministry, aimed to evaluate, among other things, the Sustainable Irrigation Program (SIP) and the report of the sectoral reform. Taiwan : Donation of mobility aids This week, the Embassy of Taiwan (Republic of China) in Haiti donated mobility aid equipment (200 wheelchairs, 18 walkers, 150 support canes and 50 white canes), crucial for the autonomy of beneficiaries with reduced mobility. HL/ HaitiLibre As part of the massive crackdown, gardai have seized at least 25 rickshaws Gardai have warned that Christmas shoppers and revellers in the capital should "exercise all necessary caution" as undercover officers patrol the city centre in a major crackdown on street crime. As part of Operation Pier, gardai from Pearse Street Station have been arresting an average of 120 suspects a week in a huge drive against organised criminals who are targeting innocent people. "Statistics from November show that in a three-week period in November, 360 suspects were arrested by Pearse Street gardai for a variety of offences that included pickpocketing, theft, begging and other related offences," a senior source told the Herald. Danger "These are essentially street crimes but these are crimes that affect the general public, many of whom might not often be out and about in the city centre every day but are now because it is the Christmas period." As part of the massive crackdown officers have also seized at least 25 rickshaws that were determined to be a "serious danger to public safety" and in other cases found evidence that the drivers were involved in drug dealing. The Herald has learned that one sergeant is in charge of a team of 18 officers, many of whom are working undercover in the drive to keep the capital safe. "We have had instances where people who have been out socialising have been pickpocketed and did not even realise that they were victim of a crime, but undercover officers were watching and were able to see all that happened and intervene," a senior source said. That incident happened in the Temple Bar area but undercover garda patrols are also operating in Grafton Street, Harcourt Street and Dame Street and surrounding areas as part of the investigation targeting street crime during the Christmas period. A senior source said many of the suspects arrested for pickpocketing and theft offences were Romanian nationals who had travelled to Dublin as part of an "organised crime ring". "They fly in, they fly out. They are part of wider criminal organisations who are also involved in begging scams," the source added. As part of the same probe, gardai last month arrested 46 people for "organised begging". The operation specifically targeted those who ask, or order, others to beg on the streets and then take the money from them. It is illegal to organise, control, force or direct others to beg. Penalties can include up to five years in prison and fines of 200,000. Officers can also direct someone to stop begging and a beggar cannot ask for money in a way that is threatening or intimidating. "This is the Christmas season. People are vulnerable in relation to organised criminal gangs whether they are shopping or socialising," the senior source said. "Proper measures have been put in place to attempt to deal with this threat but everyone should be aware of their surroundings and exercise all necessary caution at all times." Haliatu Sulaimon stayed at the scene and phoned for help A motorist knocked down a pedestrian as she left a petrol station, leaving him with a broken leg, a court has heard. Haliatu Sulaimon (56) did not have insurance and was banned from driving for two years at the time. Judge David McHugh fined Sulaimon 200, disqualified her from driving for four years and ordered her to complete 150 hours of community service in lieu of three months in jail. The defendant, of Castlefield Court, Clonsilla, admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to careless driving and driving without insurance at Hartstown Road, Dublin 15, last March 22. Gda Gary Farrell said the defendant was leaving a petrol station when she knocked down the pedestrian, knocking him over and breaking his leg. Ambulance Gda Farrell said Sulaimon was not speeding and she immediately stopped her car. She also remained at the scene of the accident and called an ambulance for the injured pedestrian. Gda Farrell said Sulaimon was deeply upset at the scene. Her daughter was in her car at the time. Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said the defendant was on social welfare and working part-time as a cleaner. She was originally from Nigeria, had three daughters and had lived in Ireland for 18 years. Judge McHugh asked why Sulaimon should not go to jail, as she was disqualified at the time of the offence and was in breach of a court order. Mr Fleming said Sulaimon accepted she was completely in the wrong and was genuinely remorseful for her behaviour. He said the defendant had co-operated fully with gardai and had remained at the scene and given a statement, even though she knew she should not have been driving. The days of passing street trading licences down generations are gone - with new EU directives marking an end to a long-standing tradition. Dublin City Council has confirmed that new regulations will mean that licences going from the holder to a family member will not be possible anymore. Once the licence is gone - if, for example, the holder passes away - it will then be open for tender to anyone. The directive comes into place on January 1. Generations Some of the stallholders in areas such as Moore Street, Meath Street, Camden Street and Grafton Street have had their casual trading licence passed down through five generations. Expand Close Margaret Buckley, who runs a stall selling fish on Dublin's Moore Street. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Margaret Buckley, who runs a stall selling fish on Dublin's Moore Street. The EU casual trading regulations state that licences should be "only for an appropriate limited period". It said that it is not open to automatic renewal and that the licence renewal cannot give any advantage to the previous holder or anyone connected to that holder. However, family members are still allowed to apply for the licence. Margaret Buckley (73), a fishmonger on Moore Street for 50 years, said stallholders will "fight tooth and nail" against these changes. She said the fish stall has been in her family for around 150 years. "I'm here 50 years, we were helping the mother and when she died, we took over," she said. "If anything happens to me it should be passed on to the daughter and keep the tradition going, this is what we want and what we've been fighting for. "It's scandalous, every time you look around they're making new rules and regulations. Expand Close Bernie Darcy runs a stall on Dublin's Moore Street. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bernie Darcy runs a stall on Dublin's Moore Street. "It means that every street trader on Moore Street, when they die their licence dies with them and there'll be no families to carry it on. "We'll fight it tooth and nail, every step of the way." Fruit and veg trader Bernie Darcy said that stallholders will struggle to pass them on anyway, with little interest coming from families. "None of the family wants this anymore. It's a joke being here, we're out from Monday to Saturday," she said. "Nobody wants to come to Moore Street, it's very sad," she added, pointing that none of the premises were open which is having a knock-on effect. Independent councillor Mannix Flynn told the Herald that it is "the end of an era" but the rules are something that needed to be brought in. "This is going to be the end of the traditional family street trading in Dublin and the legacy that has been handed down by generations is over," he said. In a statement last night, DCC told the Herald that it put new draft casual trading bye-laws out to public consultation early in 2018 and all its casual traders were fully informed of the changes and were invited to make submissions. The statement added that, as a result of the new regulations, "the council is currently seeking legal advice on a revised set of draft bye-laws, which will go out to public consultation in early 2019". A man tried to slice a prison officer's wrist with a blade moulded into a toothbrush while the officer was delivering toilet paper, a court has heard. Alan Ellis (26) of Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill a prison officer and producing a blade in the course of a dispute at Mountjoy Prison on June 28, 2016. Moulded Detective Garda Barry Brennan told Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, the prison officer was delivering toilet paper to Ellis at the prisoner's request. The officer handed the toilet paper through the hatch of Ellis' cell and he took it with his left hand. He swung a blade moulded into the handle of a tooth brush in his right hand at the prison officer which connected with his fleece. When the officer asked him why he had attacked him, Ellis said: "F**k you, I'll chop you up." Ellis made a statement about the incident in which he said he had decided to "get" the officer due to him being disrespectful to him and his intention had been to slice his wrist. He said he made the statement because he knew he had done wrong. In a victim impact statement read out in court, the officer said: "This assault really unnerved me and left me shaken." Ellis has 35 previous convictions. These include convictions for assault on a peace officer, false imprisonment and possession of knives. Cathal O Braonain, defending, said his client had been in solitary confinement for the majority of the last four years. Ellis was serving a sentence for false imprisonment at the time of the attack, but that sentence has expired and he has been in custody solely on this matter since July 21, 2017. Mr O Braonain said Ellis had been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome when he was seven years old and got into fights in school due to being teased over this condition. Ellis was diagnosed with paranoid schizophenia in 2015. Mr O Braonain handed in a psychiatric report to the court which details the root of his offending as being perceived targeting and taunting. The report gives the view that his current regime of imprisonment is not conducive to therapeutic benefit. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the matter to December 20, 2018 for finalisation. Two former Irish rugby players who were acquitted of rape have lost a court bid to recoup the legal costs of their defence. Ex-Ireland and Ulster stars Paddy Jackson (26) and Stuart Olding (25) wanted Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service to pay bills totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. The men were unanimously acquitted by a jury of raping the same woman at a house party in the summer of 2016 after a high-profile trial in Belfast earlier this year. However, they were subsequently sacked by Ulster and Ireland amid controversy over a series of explicit WhatsApp messages that were revealed during the trial. They claimed the failed prosecution had caused them serious financial hardship and limited their earning potential in the future. Both men are now playing for clubs in France - Jackson is at Perpignan and Olding turns out for Brive. Jackson's costs were considerably higher than Olding's, as the latter successfully applied for legal aid midway through the trial. Expand Close Stuart Olding / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stuart Olding Justified Lawyers for the players insisted their prosecution was not warranted, alleging multiple failings in the handling of the case. Judge Patricia Smyth rejected their applications yesterday. She concluded that the decision to prosecute the men was justified. "This was a highly complex police investigation and the prosecution was warranted albeit the jury did not consider that the charges had been proved beyond reasonable doubt," she said. "Having considered all of the relevant factors, I am satisfied that there is no basis for exercising my discretion in the applicants' favour. The applications are therefore dismissed." The judge noted that the players had not provided to the court details of their severance terms with Ulster and Ireland, including whether the prosecution was the official reason their contracts were terminated. "In those circumstances, there is simply no evidence upon which this court could conclude that the financial circumstances of either Mr Jackson or Mr Olding have been irrevocably changed as a consequence of the prosecution for rape and that this is a relevant factor to take into account in determining the applications," she added. Two workers were assaulted in random attacks by a man addicted to prescription medic- ation. (Stock picture) Two workers were assaulted in random attacks by a man addicted to prescription medic- ation as they made their way to a Dublin hospital. Anthony O'Shaughnessy (31) also jumped in front of another woman's car, hitting her windscreen with a stick and cracking it. Judge David McHugh sentenced O'Shaughnessy to four months in prison. The defendant, with add- resses at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, and Plunkett Road, Askeaton, Limerick, admitted counts of assault and criminal damage. The incidents all took place at Mill Road in Blanchardstown last February 26. Sgt Maria Callaghan said the first victim was driving to work at James Connolly Memorial Hospital when the defendant jumped out in front of her car. He hit the vehicle with a stick, cracking the windscreen and damaging the bonnet. The monetary loss was assessed at 825. In the second incident, Sgt Callaghan said the victim was walking towards the hospital when the defendant ran towards her, shouting. Slurs He threw a book - a vehicle manual - at her and shouted racial slurs. In the third incident, Sgt Callaghan said the victim was walking towards the hospital when O'Shaughnessy ran across the road towards her. He picked up a rock and threw it, but it did not hit her. He also threw a water bottle which struck her. O'Shaughnessy further ad- mitted driving without insurance at Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddart, on August 19. The court heard he had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Wayne Kenny said the attacks were completely random and O'Shaughnessy wished to apologise to the victims for his behaviour. Mr Kenny said the defendant suffered from anxiety and his "choice of poison" was prescription medication. On the day of the assaults, Mr Kenny said that the defend- ant had "over-indulged" on tablets. Imposing a four-month sentence, Judge McHugh said the assaults were "appalling". On the uninsured driving charge, Judge McHugh fined O'Shaughnessy 300 and disqualified him from driving for two years. Heavy rain and strong winds will lash the capital today, hampering a popular pre-Christmas shopping weekend and causing the cancellation of the Wild Lights event at Dublin Zoo. The zoo said it had decided to cancel the event - which is hugely popular with families - due to "dangerous wind gust speeds" and said the safety of visitors and staff was its priority at all times. Ticket holders for today's event will be refunded within five working days via the same purchase method, and the zoo said tickets are still available throughout this month and next. Winds of up to 110kph are expected today, and drivers have been warned of "potentially dangerous" road conditions. Unscathed Met Eireann issued two yellow warnings for today, with "severe" weather conditions expected to dampen one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The east and south are set to get the worst of the wind and downpours, but no part of the country is expected to escape unscathed. Up to 50mm of rain will fall throughout the day, combined with high winds and driving rain affecting roads. Forecaster Harm Luijkx said those venturing out to do their Christmas shopping needed to keep abreast of any potential upgrade in the two yellow warnings, which he said were "under constant review". "At the moment we have yellow weather warnings in place but that could change, and if there's new information that could be more severe - it could become an orange warning," Mr Luijkx said. "Heavy rain will move across the country. "The winds will be strongest across the east and south and later in the afternoon the strongest winds will be in the east. "In the morning, the wind will be south-easterly but late in the afternoon it will swing to the west and north-west and there could be gusts of 90 to 110kph." DublinTown chief executive Richard Guiney said the retail group expects a 20pc drop in footfall across the city due to the weather. "It's not great timing to have a downpour of rain and strong wind on the second to last Saturday before Christmas," Mr Guiney said. "This is one of the biggest shopping days of the year for Christmas. Normally, we would see up to around 600,000 to 650,000 shoppers in the city on this day, so it's definitely a shame." Tens of thousands of motorists are expected to take to the roads, but visibility will be poor and drivers are being warned to watch out for hazards. Thousands of rugby fans will descend on the capital today to watch the Heineken Cup clash between Leinster and Bath at the Aviva Stadium. AA Ireland has asked drivers to avoid the area of the stadium due to concerns of major delays. "We expect a large volume of pedestrian activity and drivers have to be careful," said AA Ireland director of consumer affairs Conor Faughnan. "Cyclists could swerve involuntarily into the road and pedestrians may be affected by the weather. Drivers must slow down and we implore cyclists to be properly lit - it's going to be dark out." Bernardus Jozef Scherrenberg (47) of Zoetermeer, Holland pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at the car park of B&Q, Liffey Valley A young woman allegedly caught with large quan- tities of cocaine and heroin at a petrol station has been sent for trial. Louise Hannick (30) was served with the book of evidence when she app-eared on bail before Tall-aght District Court. The defendant, of St John's Lawn, Clondalkin, is charged with possession of cocaine and heroin as well as having the drugs for the purposes of sale or supply. The incident allegedly happened at Topaz, Ballyboden Road, on May 1 last year. Remanded A state solicitor said the book of evidence had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Paula Murphy gave Ms Hannick the formal alibi caution. Defence solicitor Eddie O'Connor and one junior counsel were assigned on free legal aid. The accused was remanded on bail in her own bond of 200. As part of her bail conditions she was ordered to sign on once a week. The accused will appear before the circuit court on a date next month. Ms Hannick has not yet indicated a plea to the charges. Want to get on the good foot? Here are some tips The conclusion of the state elections is a good time to consider the health of Indian federalism, to question whether the division of power between the central government and state governments is skewed in favour of the Centre. India needs to be federal to live with its diversity, to prevent the central government becoming over-mighty, to devolve responsibility to the lowest level at which it can effectively be exercised, and to allow states to develop as they choose. Equally, matters like defence and the armed forces, currency, foreign policy, and the legal system need to be the domain of the central government. Ultimately it is the central government which has to provide and preserve the frame which holds the country together. So there has to be a balance between the autonomy of the states and the overriding powers of the Centre. Ever since the Constitution was finalised, there have been critics who have said it is unbalanced in favour of the central government. The distinguished civil servant KB Lal, who served in the Indian Civil Service , the steel frame which held the British Raj together, and in the post-Raj Indian Administrative Service, described the Constitution as centrist with federal trappings. From the earliest day of the Republic, there haves been allegations that the central government is undermining the autonomy of the states. Dr Sampurnanand , who became chief minister of Uttar Pradesh as early as 1954, complained, There is a steady attempt on the part of central ministries to encroach on the jurisdiction of the component states. Many of the 22 schemes launched by the present Prime Minister could be seen as encroachments on state governments jurisdiction. They do diminish the role of state governments in providing services such as health and housing. GST would also seem to be another encroachment on state governments autonomy. But it could be seen as an example of the cooperative federalism that Modi promised when he came to power. Although GST does severely restrict one of the fundamental rights of the states, the right to raise tax revenues, it does involve both sides sacrificing fiscal autonomy. The politics of India represents a perpetual threat to federalism because the ruling party in the Centre always seeks opportunities to undermine Opposition governments in the states. The most blatant examples of this breach of federalism were the misuse of the powers of Governors, the centres representatives in the states, to dismiss opposition governments. This practice was severely restricted by the Bommai judgment of 1994, limiting the Governors power to recommend the imposition of Presidents Rule. But central governments do still take advantage of fickle MLAs to destabilise state governments. The current governments proposal to hold central and state government elections simultaneously would have been a blow to federalism. The national issues in the central government elections would have tended to dominate the state elections rather than local and regional issues which should dominate them. There would have been a tendency for a swing in favour of a party in the national elections to be reflected in the state elections, and there might well have been prolonged periods of Presidents Rule following the collapse of state governments. The states most important role is to protect their own autonomy and thereby prevent the central government becoming over-mighty, but are they playing that role? The states cant develop autonomously because they are unable to provide services such as health and education for themselves. In a column last month, I wrote about the loss of opportunities to develop caused by states regarding their own development boards as convenient parking places for politicians who cant be accommodated in ministries. The Constitution defines members of the Rajya Sabha as representatives of the states. All too often, they are representatives of party headquarters. MLAs dont take their own duties as legislators seriously . In 2017, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly sat for just 17 days. If the states do not become more vigilant and efficient , more capable of protecting their autonomy, the Centre could well become over-mighty. Federalism would then be unbalanced with all the dangers that this entails for a diverse democracy. The views expressed are personal The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) proved to be more than the proverbial elephant in the room for the Congress in the assembly elections held in the three Hindi belt states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in November and December. In May, the party forged a post-poll alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) and BSP in Karnataka to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from capturing power. This triggered talks of a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and BSP in the Hindi heartland states. The alliance wasnt to be; the BSP decided to go it alone in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and struck a pact with Ajit Jogi and the Communist Party of India in Chhattisgarh. A failure to enter into an alliance with the BSP was expected to damage the Congresss chances in these three states. Even though the Congress has managed to capture power, it is worth looking at how the BSP factor played out in these polls. At the aggregate level, the BSP has improved its performance by winning 10 seats across the three states, which is two more than what it won in 2013. However, this is still five seats fewer than what the party won in the 2008 polls. This is entirely due to the BSPs performance in Madhya Pradesh, where it won only two seats, compared to seven in 2008. (See Chart 1) What explains the BSPs losses in Madhya Pradesh? One reason could be a dent in Dalit support for the party. In the 2008 and 2013 elections, the BSPs vote share in the scheduled caste (SC) reserved seats was greater than in general seats in all three states. SC reserved seats have a relatively higher share of the Dalit population. So a higher vote share for the BSP in these seats suggests bigger support among Dalit voters. This is in keeping with the BSPs Ambedkarite origins. The BSP lost its vote share advantage in SC reserved seats in the 2018 polls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The fall is much bigger in Madhya Pradesh. This suggests that the party may have faced desertions from even its core voters. (See Chart 2) We have analysed only those seats in which the BSP contested. To be sure, these statistics do not mean that the BSP has lost its significance in MP and Rajasthan. It played spoiler in 50 and 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the 2018 elections. A party is termed spoiler if its vote share in a given constituency is bigger than the victory margin. In MP, the Congress and the BJP were affected in 23 seats each, where the BSP acted as the spoiler. In Rajasthan, the BJP was at the receiving end in 16 seats, while the Congress lost 11 seats due to the BSP playing spoiler. (See Chart 3) These statistics show that the BSP will continue to remain an important political player, both before and after elections, in these Hindi belt states. However, there is one factor which may have made the BSP factor less harmful for the Congress at the current juncture. Even if the Congress and the BSP cannot decide on a pre-poll alliance, the BSPs chances of supporting the BJP after elections are extremely low. This might embolden the Congress to drive a hard bargain vis-a-vis the BSP in the days to come. For full coverage on assembly elections, click here Actor Shah Rukh Khan knows the importance of showering ones spouse with compliments. He praised his wife Gauri Khans beauty and called her timeless on Twitter. Gauri took to Twitter to share a viral picture of the two of them, performing on stage at the wedding sangeet of businesswoman Isha Ambani in Jodhpur. The picture shows Gauri spinning around Shah Rukh while he is on his knees. On stage after decades ....in a @falgunipeacock outfit, they definitely know how to make it dramatic and timeless, she wrote in her tweet. Shah Rukh retweeted the picture and wrote, You are timeless!! You are timeless!! https://t.co/zJBRtB7CHZ Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 15, 2018 Shah Rukh and Gauri danced to Dilliwali Girlfriend from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani at the sangeet. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khana and Salman Khan also performed at the function. Gauri recently declared Shah Rukh and son AbRam as the sweetest couple in the world.She took to her official Instagram account to share an adorable moment between the father-son duo, and captioned it as, Can we just declare them the sweetest couple in the world. #lovegoals#kissonforehead. In the photo posted by Gauri, the two are twinning their outfits. The tiny tot is kissing his doting fathers forehead, while SRK is smiling peacefully as the little munchkin expresses his love for him. Apart from AbRam, Gauri and SRK are also proud parents to Aryan, 21 and Suhana, 18. The actor had recently praised his wife for her debut on the list of Fortune Indias 50 Most Powerful Women in business this year. He took to his Twitter to support and encourage his wifes efforts. On the work front, he is gearing up for his next film titled Zero, which also stars Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. The flick is directed by Aanand L Rai. In the film, SRK plays the role of Bauua Singh, a dwarf on a lookout for a bride, while Anushka Sharma portrays the role of a scientist who has cerebral palsy and Katrina Kaif plays an alcoholic superstar. Zero is all set to release on December 21, this year. Follow @htshowbiz for more A 35-year-old jeweller-turned-robber, who has been involved in more than 30 crimes, was arrested in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old man in a road rage case outside a store in Acharya Niketan near Mayur Vihar Phase-1 on Monday. Cops identified the accused, Sidhant Verma, with the help of CCTV footage of the shop. Police said since Verma, who is also into property business, knew he was captured on CCTV camera, he changed his appearance by removing his beard and moustache and cutting his hair short. The pistol Verma used to fire four bullets at the victim, Yogesh Kumar, in front of his cousin, Aman, and friend Golu, was recovered from his possession. The firing happened after an altercation that allegedly began after the door of Vermas i-20 car scraped Yogesh outside a 24Seven store. Yogesh broke the front right window glass of the car after which Verma fired at him. Vermas partner in the crime, Pramod, is still absconding. During confrontation, police said, Verma asked Yogesh not to provoke him by saying, Jitni tumhari umar hai, use zyada mere upar cases hain (I have more criminal cases against my name than your age). Deputy commissioner of police (east) Pankaj Singh said Verma was arrested near Dasna toll plaza while he was driving in his i-20 car towards a new hideout in Ghaziabad. The pistol was recovered from Vermas possession. Verma was using reversible number plates on the car. One side had the original UP registration number while the other side had a fake Delhi number. At the time of the arrest, Verma was using the fake number. He had replaced the broken window glass with a new one, said DCP Singh. DCP Singh said Verma was identified and caught with the help of their intelligence network. Ten teams were formed to probe the case. Vermas face was clearly visible in the footage. We showed his photos to criminals. A few identified him after which we found his cell phone number and put it on surveillance, said Singh. Police said Verma was living in a rented home with his wife and two children in Ghaziabad. He was missing from his home a day after the crime and was frequently changing locations. On Thursday night, the investigating teams learnt Verma was coming to Ghaziabad in his car. The police waited at the Dasna toll plaza and caught him by taking advantage of the slow traffic. Verma told police he used to run his ancestral jewellery shop in Delhis Subzi Mandi. As he was not doing well, he came in contact with robbers and began buying stolen jewellery items. In 2009, he closed his shop and joined some robbers and began committing street crimes. Verma has over 30 such cases registered against him in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the officer said. The South Delhi municipal corporation (SDMC) is all set to open the Wonders of World Park at Rajiv Gandhi Smriti Van on January 20. The park, spread across six acres and located close to the Sarai Kale Khan Interstate Bus Terminus, will have replicas of all the seven wonders of world, including the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro, Romes Colosseum and the Statue of Liberty. All the statues are made using waste car parts. A senior SDMC official said the civic body commissioner, Puneet Goel, will visit the site on Saturday to monitor the progress of the SDMCs waste-to-art project. We have already installed these structures and now work for giving finishing look is going on. Besides, the horticulture department is carrying work for landscaping, solar panels and constructing pathways. Once these jobs are done, we will focus on installing beautiful lights all over the place, especially around these replicas, said a senior SDMC official. Each replica will be of minimum 10 metres in height. These replicas will have stone plinth to provide information about the wonder of worlds. Also there will be a selfie area, where people can click the photographs with these structures, a SDMC official said. The idea to develop the park has been borrowed from a similar park in Kota Rajasthan. Apart from these replicas, there will be a 200 metre jungle walk and a centre to showcase various projects of the horticulture department. We have developed a green area around these seven monuments, each with different themes, said the SDMC official. To popularise the place and get heavy footfall, SDMC plans to pursue the Delhi Tourism department to list the place in their tour circuit. A minimum entry fee will be charged from visitors and the amount will be used for regular upkeep of the park. For the convenience of visitors, we will develop eating joints, public convenience and a playing area for children, said the official. New Delhi: Around 1,700 private, unaided and recognised schools in the national capital will start the process of admission into nursery classes from Saturday. While most schools are selling forms online, some will also sell forms at its premises for the convenience of parents. The last date for submission of the forms is January 7, 2019. The first list of selected candidates will be uploaded by the schools on their websites on February 4, 2019. Between February 5 and February 12, parents can take up their queries pertaining to point allotment with the grievance redressal and monitoring cells set up by the Delhi governments directorate of education (DoE) in all districts. Similar process will be followed if a second list is released. While most schools have given heavy priority to neighbourhood (distance), siblings and alumni while allotting points in their eligibility criteria, some have also considered first child, girl child, single parent and legally adopted child. For instance, GD Goenka School in Vasant Vihar is giving preference to single parents. The schools have fixed these criteria for their 50% to 75% general category entry-level seats. The schedule for the 25% seats reserved for the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged (DG) categories will be announced in the coming weeks and the process will be conducted centrally by the DoE. This year, the DoE has fixed an upper age limit of 4, 5 and 6 years as on March 31, 2019, for admission in nursery, kindergarten (KG) and class 1, respectively. The admission for KG and class 1 will be held simultaneously on the basis of vacancies in these classes in each school. Most schools have also granted heavy weightage to distance, either in terms of kilometres or areas where the schools provide transport facilities. For instance, Bhal Bharti School in Pitampura has fixed 50 points for candidates residing within 0-3 km range. Similarly, Shri Ram School in Vasant Vihar and Delhi Public School in RK Puram have given 50 and 40 points, respectively, to the distance criteria. The DoE had given the schools autonomy to decide their own criteria for admission, and upload them on DoEs website by December 14. But it had also warned schools not to include 50 listed criteria such as parents education, profession, income, food habits, and written or oral interviews of both students and parents abolished by the Delhi government in 2016. However, in complete disregard of the DoE guidelines, some schools have been found giving preference to parents eating habits, spoken language and childrens adhaar cards. We are yet to compile the data on the criteria set by these schools. Strict action will be taken against those who are violating the norms, a DoE official said. For the third time in a row, the Salwan School in Rajendra Nagar has barred parents with more than two children from seeking admission for their wards in nursery. We have been fixing this criterion for the last three years as our contribution to curb rising population in the country, said chairperson of the Salwan groups, Sushil Salwan. A Turkmenistan national, who recently came to the city for the treatment of his three-year-old daughter was allegedly duped of $7,000 by two men, who posed as police officers and stole money from his bag on the pretext of conducting a routine inspection , the police said on Friday. The police said the incident took place on Thursday afternoon when the accused men intercepted the foreign national and his wife and daughter, when they were walking to a friends place in Sector 38, about 100 metres from their guest house. Shiv Kumar, assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Sadar police station, said the two men stopped their car in front of the victims family and told them that they were policemen and as part of a routine inspection, asked them to produce their passport and identification documents. The accused men also asked the victim to hand over a bag that they were carrying. While checking the contents of the bag, they stole $7,000 and drove away, said Kumar. In the police complaint, the victim, Shukur Shukuro, said that the accused men were not dressed in uniform but claimed to be police officers. They checked our passports and asked about the other bag. They checked the bag and took $7,000 from it and ran away (sic), the victim said in the FIR. The police said the complainants three-year-old daughter was undergoing treatment for an illness at a private hospital in Sector 38 and the complainant had taken up a room with his family at a guest house in the vicinity of the hospital. They belonged to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. The police suspected the role of an intercity gang, who had similarly duped an Iraqi national of $1,000 near Medanta Hospital on October 20 and a Baghdad-based couple of $3,000 in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, on October 19. In both cases, the accused men had inspected the luggage of the foreign nationals, claiming to be police personnel who were conducting raids to check for narcotics. The modus operandi used by the conmen in all the cases is the same. The accused men use a car, are dressed in plainclothes and claim to be cops. They target foreign nationals, who are in the city for medical tourism, or their relatives and ask them to produce passports and visa documents, a police officer, privy to the investigation, said. ASI Kumar said that police were checking the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage from the area to trace the accused men and their car. A case has been registered against the accused men under sections 379 (punishment for theft) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code at Sadar police station, the police said. BOX- On October 20, an Iraqi national, who was suffering from cancer and was undergoing treatment at a city hospital, was duped of $1,000 by four men posing as policemen near Kamilia Palace Hospital opposite Medanta Hospital. On October 19, a Baghdad couple was duped of $3,000 by two men posing as policemen in Lajpat Nagar in Delhi. The woman was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital. On December 6, an Iraqi national, whose brother-in-law was undergoing treatment at a city hospital, had filed a police complaint alleging that $5,400 was stolen from his luggage by a staffer of the guest house in Sector 39 where he was staying. Seven civilians were killed and many more injured on Saturday when security forces opened fire on residents trying to disrupt a joint operation launched by the army and the police in South Kashmirs Pulwama district in which three militants and a soldier died. The killing of civilians in the village of Sirnoo triggered several protests in Pulwama , where people blocked roads at several places. The Internet was suspended in Central and South Kashmir amid concerns that protests could spill into other areas. The slain militants included Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, a former soldier who later joined the Hizbul Mujahideen. Residents of Sirnoo said the army and the Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir police launched an operation against suspected militants on Saturday morning in the village, around two kilometers from Pulwama town, and killed three militants in a gunfight. One soldier was also killed in the operation and another injured. The militants were holed up inside an orchard when the security forces launched the operation. As the operation was underway, locals headed towards the site of the shootout and threw stones on the security personnel. Army soldiers and the police retaliated with gunfire, killing one civilian on the spot. Chief medical officer, Pulwama, Abdul Rashid Para said 32 people with injuries were brought to hospital. Six succumbed to their injuries in hospital and 14 were referred to Srinagar, he said. Locals blamed the army and the police for what a survivor described as avoidable gunfire. The army opened fire when locals pelted stones on their vehicles while the operation was nearing the end. The locals were angry after forces killed the militants and were leaving the encounter spot. The soldiers could have avoided these killings, said an injured civilian being treated in a Srinagar hospital. Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik ordered a probe into the deaths of the civilians. He appealed to people to stay away from encounter sites while directing divisional commissioner, Kashmir, to inquire into Saturdays incident, an official spokesperson said. A police spokesman said the operation was launched on the basis of credible information that some militants were hiding in the orchard in Sirnoo. The militants in hiding opened fire on the security force engaged in the operation, triggering the shootout, the spokesman said. In New Delhi, a senior home ministry official said troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army, the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police as well as the Central Reserve Police Force moved into Sirnoo village around 4 am. We established contact with the terrorist around 7.45am, the official, who is not authorised to speak to the media, said. The gun-battle with the terrorist ended in about half-hour, he said. Around 8.30 am, as the troops were withdrawing, locals from Pulwama town and adjoining areas moved in and started throwing stones, an officer of the CPRF, who did not want to named, said. As the troops were trying to save themselves from incessant stone throwing, some of the locals tried to climb onto a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle carrying troops. Troops were forced to retaliate, leading to deaths of the civilians. Bodies of all the civilians were handed over to their families and buried in their villages amid protests. Touseef had suffered injuries in the stomach and was shifted to Srinagar; however, he succumbed to his injures before he reached hospital. He had left his house in the morning and got killed near the village where operation was underway, said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Uricharsoo and neighbor of Touseef, 27 who was among the civilians killed. He is survived by five sisters and two young children. What will happen to this family now. For them he was only source of income, Ahmad said. The other civilians killed were identified as Shahbaz Ali of Monghama village, Suhail Ahmad of Bellow, Liyaqat Ahmad of Parigam, Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad. Lone is survived by an Indonesian wife and their three-month-old baby. Pursuing an MBA in Indonesia, Lone had married a local there and returned to his village along with his wife recently. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, termed the killing of civilians a massacre and called for three days of mourning and protests. From today onwards there will be mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across Kashmir for three days. It is a massacre. The government of India, which controls us, has decided to kill Kashmiris through its armed forces. People will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday to ask the government of India to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily. Former J&K chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah termed it a badly executed encounter. 7 dead. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none whatsoever. This is a massacre & thats the only way to describe it. Peoples Democratic Party chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti said no country could win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this bloodbath, she tweeted. The preparedness of security forces would, in the context of the Pulwama incident, be the ability to make the distinction between combatants and non-combatants, Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Lone said. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants, it is time for heads to roll. We cant afford a state of impunity, Lone tweeted. (With inputs from Sudhi Ranjan Sen in New Delhi) An ex-soldier who deserted the army last year was among the three militants killed in the operation by security forces in Sirnoo village of south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday. Zahoor Ahmad Thokar was with the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) and posted in Gantmulla area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district when he joined the militant ranks in June 2017, taking along his service rifle. Thokar announced that he had joined the militancy on social media. He became a deserter two years after joining the Territorial Army. Soon after his desertion, a high security alert was sounded and his family members were questioned by the authorities. Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin had welcomed his joining the militant ranks. Hizbul Mujahideen had even shared a video of Thokar along with top commanders of the militant group. Army and the police launched several operations o track him down in the villages of Pulwama and neighbouring Shopian. He, however, always managed to escape, thanks to the training he received during his army stint. We knew he will get trapped one day. It took us more than 17 months to neutralize him. He escaped many times in the past during cordon-and-search operations, said an army officer on condition of anonymity. Thokar was the second ex-soldier who joined the militant ranks and was killed in an operation this year. Another soldier, Idrees Ahmad, a resident of Safnagri who deserted the army in April this year when he was on leave, was killed last month along with another militant in an operation by security forces in Shopian. Thokars body was handed over to his family members and buried in his village, Sirnoo. A police spokesman said Thokar was wanted in connection with many terrorist crimes, including the killing of policemen. The tussle between Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the latters rath yatra programme intensified on Saturday evening when the state government informed state BJP leaders that it will not allow the proposed 42-day tour of the states 42 Lok Sabha constituencies and allow public meetings only if fresh applications are made. The three-page fax message from the state secretariat left Bengal BJP leaders fuming. The governments decision came eight days after a Calcutta high court division bench directed the government to sit with a team of BJP leaders and discuss the Ganatantra Bachao Yatra (rally to save democracy) that was originally scheduled to start on December 7. The whos who of BJPs national leadership would have attended our Ganatantra Bachao Yatra but the government denied permission, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said on Saturday night. When BJP first announced the programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah were scheduled to address at least six public meetings. We received a communication from the administration. It said permission for the yatra is being denied. They have asked us to apply to district administrations for public meetings to be attended by our national leaders. However, since the public meetings were part of the yatra, we are exploring legal options, Ghosh said. BJP state vice-president Pratap Banerjee said the letter, signed by the chief secretary, home secretary and director general of police, said permission for the yatra is being denied because the government apprehends that it may disrupt communal harmony. They have cited various clauses for denying permission, of which probable harm to communal harmony is the most prominent one, Banerjee said. Our state unit will discuss legal options with the national leadership on Sunday. The letter says that organisations such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh may join our programme and that may lead to law and order problem. This is politically motivated. We clearly mentioned in our letter to the government that it is a peaceful political programme. These organisations have no links with political programmes of BJP, Banerjee said. According to the state governments letter, the areas proposed to be covered by the yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda, gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the yatra will be turned into communal propaganda. Intelligence reports also indicate that in several districts, organisations with overtly communal agenda such as the RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP would actively join the yatra. There is grave apprehension of major breach of peace and communal harmony during and in the aftermath of the yatra. The letter also said that the yatra has been scheduled in the middle of a festive season when the state will be preoccupied with security for these festivals. Major festivals in the coming days include Christmas and Gangasagar fair. On Thursday, state chief secretary Malay De, home secretary Atri Bhattacharya and director general of police Virendra met Dilip Ghosh, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Lok Sabha election management committees head for Bengal, Mukul Roy, at the headquarters of Kolkata police. The court had asked the administration to inform BJP of its decision by Saturday. Well fight it out in court and on the streets. We will seek justice from the judiciary and the people. The governments attitude has vindicated the title of our yatra. It has been proved that there is no democracy in Bengal, said Ghosh. No Trinamool leader in Bengal was willing to comment on the development. Its an undemocratic decision. Every political party has the right to take out processions. Mamata Banerjee has proved again that she does not want to give space to opposition parties, said psephologist Biswanath Chakraborty, a professor of political science at Rabindra Bharati University. A special Patna court on Saturday convicted Nawada member of legislative assembly (MLA) Raj Ballabh Yadav of raping a schoolgirl at his residence in February 2016. Five others were convicted along with him. Apart from Yadav, who was suspended from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) a week after the incident, the others convicted are Radha Devi, her daughter Sulekha Devi, Tusi Devi, her granddaughter Chhoti Devi, and Sumit Suman alias Pushpanjay. They were accused of supplying women and girls to the legislator. Special member of Parliament (MP) & MLA court judge Parshuram Yadav convicted the MLA under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. The co-accused were convicted under IPC section 120(B). According to the 205-page charge-sheet filed by Bihar police on April 20, 2016, Sulekha lured the girl from Bihar Sharif saying they were going for a birthday party but took her to Yadavs residence in Pathra English locality of Nawada where she was violated and brutalized. After she reached home in a semi-conscious state, her family members lodged an FIR against the politician on February 8, 2016. The court will fix the quantum of punishment on December 21, special public prosecutor Shyameshwar Dayal said. The prosecution would press for maximum sentence as the MLA hatched a criminal conspiracy to rape the minor girl, he added. On December 3, special court judge Parshuram Singh Yadav reserved his order after completing hearings in the case. Yadav had surrendered before the special court on March 10, 2016, fearing confiscation of his properties. He evaded arrest for about a month after a first information report (FIR) was registered. (With agency inputs) If you are a BSNL subscriber or a PCO owner and have an outstanding dues of Rs 10,000 and above, dont be surprised if you find a brusque, sinewy, sunburnt man, with a gruff voice, at your door. The BSNL Bihar telecom circle will hire private recovery agents from next month to cut its whopping losses of Rs 343 crore, of which total outstanding dues account for around Rs 210 crore. BSNL Bihar circle came up with the idea to hire burly recovery agents after it exhausted most of its administrative and legal options, including holding National Lok Adalats almost twice a year since 2012. One such Lok Adalat on December 8 yielded just over 1% (Rs 80.48 lakh) of the total dues (Rs 80.10 crore) placed before it for settlement. The outstanding dues have piled up over the years because many customers do not pay their bills on time, change their premises and after defaulting, move to other new operators without paying their dues, said Rajiv Kumar, general manager (finance) and internal financial advisor of BSNL, Bihar. We had sought special permission this year to hire private recovery agents, to which our corporate office agreed. Ours is the only telecom circle in India which has been granted permission by our corporate office to hire private recovery agents this year. Last year, Madhya Pradesh had done so, he said. Given the fact that banks and credit card companies were among the first to use recovery agents, the BSNL has decided to engage those empanelled with nationalised banks. We are in the process of finalising expression of interest (EOI) for hiring private recovery agents on commission basis, said Kumar. Notorious for using strong-arm tactics to recover dues, the private recovery agents, who are generally musclemen, have been prescribed a set of dos and donts by the BSNL. Going by the book, we will ask our recovery agents to be polite and not harm our defaulters either physically or verbal abuse, Kumar said. The recovery agency shall be held personally responsible for any damage caused to customers while pursuing recovery of dues. BSNL shall not be a party to such disputes. The recovery agency and/or its staff shall be polite towards the customer so as to avoid allegations of bad behaviour, he said. Among the 327 telecom districts of the BSNL, the Patna telecom district, which caters to Patna and Nalanda districts, is notorious for having the countrys highest outstanding dues of Rs 48.29 crore. BSNLs overall losses have risen from Rs 1,823 crore in financial year 2009-10 to Rs 7,992 crore in 2017-18. Uttar Pradesh Police have released posters with pictures of 23 people accused of Bulandshahr violence who are still at large. The list of absconders includes Bajrang Dal district coordinator Yogesh Raj, BJPs youth wing city president Shikhar Agarwal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist Upendra Raghav. However, in a gaffe, a photo of a different person has been released against the name and address of Vishal Tyagi, a resident of Syana. His photo is the second on the poster. While superintendent of police (city), Bulandshahr, Atul Kumar Srivastava said that the photograph was being verified and it could be an old photograph of the accused, the police media cell has apologized for the mistake and released the correct photograph. On Wednesday, Bulandshahrs chief judicial magistrate Avdhesh Pandey had issued non-bailable warrants (NBW) against 27 absconders and police were ordered to initiate confiscation of their property if they did not surrender in court or present themselves for arrest. The property confiscation orders has been pasted on the houses of the absconders. Srivastava said that pictures of 23 absconders had been released and people had been asked to help police arrest them by providing inputs about them. Posters have been pasted in different locations of Meerut and Bulandshahr with contact numbers of police officials. Police have so far arrested 12 accused in the December 3 violence after identifying them through different video clips.The violence, which was triggered by the alleged sighting of cow carcasses, had left police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a local man, 21-year-old Sumit , dead. The alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, Christian Michel had borne foreign air travel expenses of serving and retired Indian Air Force officials, the CBI told a Delhi court on Saturday. The investigation agency got a four-day extension of Michels custody. Michel was produced in Patiala House court of Delhi after his 5-day CBI remand ended. He had been extradited from Dubai on December 5. CBI had sought an extension of his custody by five days, saying that they wanted to confront him with more evidence and also take him to Mumbai. The agency said investigation has revealed that Michel had borne the air travel expenses of two serving/retired air force officials and their family members amounting to RS 92 lakh during 2009-2013 period. Michels counsel Aljo Joseph moved an application seeking to remove the Interpol notice against him. CBI said that it might have to make Michels overseas lawyer, Rosemary Patrizi, who has represented him in Italy and Switzerland, a witness in the case. When CBI raised questions on her credentials, Rosemary presented her passport and Milan court ID to the court, which allowed her to meet Michel for 10 minutes. Court dismisses Rosemarys plea to meet Michel in prison The court also dismissed an application of Rosemary to meet Michel at the CBI headquarters. It has fixed December 19 as the next date for hearing the case. Rosemary had wanted to meet Michel and Aljo had moved an application in the court a few days back. But the court had kept the petition pending and asked her to come to the court first. Rosemary now again sought to meet Michel in prison, saying she was leaving for Italy on Monday and would not be able to come back soon as it was Christmas season. However, the CBI opposed this. Michels counsel also pressed for his bail, saying he would give all the supporting documents to the CBI. Rosemary told the CBI counsel that she will give all the documents, including a pen drive. His counsel Aljo said that the communication of consular access has still not reached the ministry of external affairs (MEA). A routine hearing on extending the remand of Christian Michel, alleged to be the middleman in the Agusta Westland helicopter deal, at the Patiala House courts ended with the lawyer who represents him in international courts (but not India) fearing arrest, revelations that Michel underwrote the travel expenses of serving and retired Indian air force officers to facilitate the purchase, and with no clarity on consular access. At the end of the dramatic hearing, Michel, who was extradited to India from Dubai on December 5, was remanded to the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for four more days (Saturday marked the end of his initial five-day remand). In its remand note, the CBI claimed that its investigations had revealed that Michel bore the air journey expenses of two serving/retired Air Force officials and their family members amounting to Rs 92.73 lakh during 2009 to 2013 (as per the statement of RK Nanda). Nanda is a Delhi-based businessman, and a close associate of Michel. Michel, who allegedly organised bribes in exchange for a 2007 deal worth Rs 3,600 crore to purchase 12 luxury helicopters for use by top leaders, including the President, Prime Minister and former prime ministers, was detained by UAE authorities following an extradition request by India in June this year. India cancelled the chopper deal after bribery allegations surfaced in 2014. Appearing for the investigating agency, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D P Singh informed special judge Arvind Kumar that CBI wants a further extension of Michels custody as it wants to take him to the premises of M/s Pawan Hans India Limited in Juhu, Mumbai and confront him with several facts and officials there. CBI also informed the court that it had received voluminous quantities of documents from different countries pursuant to the Letter of Requests and that Michel has to be confronted with these. Aljo K Joseph, counsel for Michel, argued that there was no incriminating material against the accused and his client had not done anything wrong. Rosemary Patrizi Dos Anjos, the counsel representing Michel in international courts, was also present and sought the courts permission to meet Michel; the judge allowed her to meet Michel for 10 minutes in the courtroom itself. Dos Anjos had, after Michels arrest, claimed in an interview to an Indian TV channel that Michel was arrested as part of a political conspiracy to frame leaders of the Congress party and that he was being pressured to implicate Sonia Gandhi, the United Progressive Alliance chairperson. Interestingly, the CBI prosecutor aired a clip of this in court and said the agency might have to make Dos Anjos, who has represented him in Italy and Switzerland, a witness in the case. Dos Anjos claimed that there was no bribery charge against Michel and even an Italian court had given him a clean chit. After the court denied her request to meet Michel in CBI headquarters, where he is being held, Dos Anjos tried to convince the Investigating officer (IO) to allow her to meet Michel. She said that she has all the documents that the CBI wants and that if it (CBI) helps her, she will help the agency. She told reporters after the hearing that she fears being arrested and wants to safely reach her home in Italy. There was no immediate response from Indian officials on the matter. Meanwhile, Joseph informed the court that the British high commission is yet to receive a communication on consular access to Michel, a British national, from the Centre. He urged the court that the process of consular access be expedited. CBI said it had already sent a no objection certificate to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and that it was up to the ministry now. The court will next hear the matter on December 19. The year was 1993. Held after a gap of 37 years of Presidents rule, the Delhi legislative assembly elections had just concluded. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won by bagging 49 out of 70 seats. With 14 seats, the Congress was the main Opposition party. Here was an elected House of lawmakers, which carried on its shoulders a task of building Delhi within the contours of its recently-attained special status something which has since dominated discussions involving full statehood for the city. After being governed by the Delhi Metropolitan Council since 1966, the Delhi Legislative Assembly came into existence and was formally known as the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi in 1993. BJPs Madan Lal Khurana was sworn in as the first chief minister of the reconstituted assembly and PK Dave was the lieutenant-governor. Before Khurana, Delhi assembly in its previous avatar, between 1953 and 1956, had Chaudhary Brahm Prakash and Gurmukh Nihal Singh as chief ministers. Even though the new assembly had both young and seasoned legislators brimming with ideas to govern the city, the first session of the House called on December 14, 1993, was marred by procedural lapses. The rules were borrowed from Uttar Pradesh which, unlike Delhi, was a full state. Also the Assembly there is a bicameral House (legislative assembly and legislative council) where everything was written in chaste Hindi. So, a lot was lost in translation. Then there was a division of power between the lieutenant-governor and the chief minister, said SK Sharma, who was specially called from LoK Sabha secretariat after the first session to frame the rules of procedure and conduct of business, which are followed in all assembly proceedings till date. The idea was to make Delhi Assembly a model legislature in India, he said. A NEW HOUSE From a member brandishing a liquor bottle on the floor of the house in 1995 to the passage of the Delhi Jan Lokpal bill described as the strongest anti-graft legislation in 2015, the Delhi Assembly has seen its highs and lows. Today, as the Delhi legislative assembly celebrates its silver jubilee, Hindustan Times looks back at the 25-year journey of the House through the eyes of those who have seen it all. At 32, Ajay Maken, former Union minister, was a first-time MLA in the Delhi assembly. But, right on the first day of the session in 1996, Maken was suspended for three days from assembly proceedings. I jumped into the well right after L-G PK Dave finished his speech. Our senior Congress member, Jag Pravesh Chandra who was then the leader of the Opposition scolded me for disrespecting the House and also apologised to the Speaker Charti Lal Goel on behalf of the Congress legislative party to get me back in the House, recalls Maken, the current president of Delhi Congress. I acted on the advice from a journalist who said it could make front page news and it did. I was young then. But, the incident taught me a lesson. That was the first and last time I was in the well of the House, Maken, who served as speaker for eight months in 2003-04, said. As for Maken, the Delhi assembly has been the stepping stone for many political stalwarts such as Jagdish Mukhi, currently the Assam governor; Madan Lal Khurana, former Delhi chief minister who became union parliamentary affairs minister in Atal Behari Vajpayee cabinet; Harsh Vardhan, who is now the Union minister for environment; and former CM Sushma Swaraj who is now the Union external affairs minister. OPPOSITIONS ROLE Delhis longest-serving chief minister Sheila Dikshit recalled how criticism from Opposition was mostly positive. The objections by Opposition were seldom bad, she said. Her aides recalled a day in 2001 when Dikshit was perplexed on finding out that the BJP-led Opposition was planning to move a no-confidence motion against her government. That incident shows how politicians at times use the floor of the House to make headlines the next day. Sheilaji feared her government would fall with the no-confidence motion and tarnish her image. But one of the secretaries in the assembly advised speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh to go for head-count instead of voice votes so that the Opposition could be tamed. The motion was finally defeated by 34 votes. The next day the headlines read how Sheila Dikshits government came out even stronger, said a close aide of the former chief minister. Old-timers recalled how there used to be bonhomie among members of the House irrespective of the parties they belonged to. During the first assembly, for example, a group comprising BJP lawmakers Rajendra Gupta, Poornima Sethi, Congress Ajay Maken, Haroon Yousuf, among others would assemble either at Guptas house or over lunch at Maidens Hotel adjacent to assembly building for holding pre-session discussions. We would meet like a family get-together. While we chose the choicest delicacies, we would work out the agenda of House sittings in a most cordial manner. The Opposition would inform about their plans to corner the government by raising some issue and it used to be allowed. There was always a middle path, through negotiations, said Ram Niwas Goel, the current speaker and AAP MLA who was also one of the members of the group back in 1993 as a BJP member. The speakers in first two assemblies, Charti Lal Goel and Chaudhary Prem Singh, had kept an unwritten rule where an Opposition member would be allowed to speak after two members from the ruling party irrespective of the strength. There also used to be an award for the best legislator, which no longer exists. Things have changed a lot. I remember the relationship between the state and the Centre was cordial and most of the bills passed in Delhi assembly would be approved by Centre. Now we know how difficult it is, said Goel, 70. CHANGING TIMES In 2016, Union ministry of home affairs returned 14 bills passed by the incumbent Delhi assembly. The bills, officials said, were returned when they came to the MHA for assent through the office of the then L-G Najeeb Jung as none of the bills was passed with his approval. According to Ajay Rawal, the current secretary to speaker Goel, the Delhi assembly still does not have the power to discuss all issues in the House due to its union territory status. Matters related to land, public order, services and police are directly under the L-G and cannot be taken up in the House. But, the Secretariat continues to get numerous questions from MLAs, especially on the matter of services, he said. It is because of this rule, Parliament, and not the Delhi assembly, was compelled to pass an ordinance in 2006 to stop the massive sealing drive that was being carried out against misuse of property and land in the national capital on the orders of the Supreme Court. Rawal acknowledged that even the Vidhan Sabhas secretariat is eagerly waiting for the verdict in the Supreme Court case on the subject of services which involves transfers, postings and fixing accountability of bureaucrats. This year probably saw the maximum debates over the issue as bureaucrats refrained from answering questions on these subjects and MLAs alleging its a conspiracy to undermine democracy, he said. During this years budget session in March, the L-Gs office had reminded the speaker that questions on reserved subjects cannot be admitted in the Assembly. But, the House has seen some unpleasant scenes too, only to be handled well. In one of the sessions in 1995, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Congress MLA from Mangolpuri, was seen throwing books, which included a book on the Constitution of India. The Assembly Privilege Committee recommended Chauhans termination. The then leader of Opposition of Congress, Jag Pravesh Chandra went to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who then was the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, to intervene in the matter. Vajpayeeji called up the then CM Madan Lal Khurana and the next day the decision to terminate Chauhan was not discussed despite being listed. This was done by asking the member, who was to move the motion, not to attend that days proceedings. The matter was never taken up after that and Chauhan got away with a warning, said Sharma, who served as secretary in Delhi Assembly for close to 10 years. On some occasions, the lawmakers didnt just debate the issues plaguing the city they also faced them in the House itself. On July 14, 2002, the legislators got to experience the citys poor electricity infrastructure when the Old Secretariat complex faced load-shedding for one full day during the monsoon session. The legislators had no choice but to brave the discomfort of working without fans and air conditioners as they had to vote for the 12th presidential elections. Officials who have worked in the Assembly secretariat remembered how they once used to be flooded with applications from schools for allowing students to witness the House proceedings. But that has changed since. When the school administrations saw that the debates in the House began turning abusive, they gradually stopped sending kids, said a retired Assembly secretariat officer who did not want to be named. THE AAP ERA After hosting lawmakers from traditional political parties for more than two decades, the Delhi assembly, for the first time, had majority members from a fledgling party the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2013. The activists-turned-politicians led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal kept the momentum of assembly alive. On February 14, 2014, Kejriwal surprised everyone by resigning on the floor of the House from his 49-day-old government. After a year of Presidents rule, Kejriwal returned to the assembly with a brute majority of 67 MLAs. In another unheard-of act on the floor of the House, party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, during special Delhi assembly session in May 2017, demonstrated how an electronic voting machine can be tampered with and votes manipulated. Despite having just three seats in the 70-member House, short of the required numbers, BJP leader Vijendra Gupta was in April 2015 made leader of Opposition. The speaker (Ram Niwas Goel) offered legislative courtesy to BJP to have leader of Opposition in the House despite BJP having denied that right to the Opposition in Lok Sabha, said AAP spokesperson, Saurabh Bharadwaj. Vijendra Gupta, who says he has been marshalled out a record number of times, however, harbours grudges. True that the AAP government has an absolute majority in the House, but that doesnt mean they will bring up any issue under the sun for discussion. Most of the time is spent on criticising PM Narendra Modi and the office of the L-G, said Gupta with a hope that the members will in future work cordially keeping aside the party lines. I look forward that the AAP MLAs and the Opposition members will work cordially to maintain the decorum of the temple of democracy, said Gupta, the BJP MLA from Rohini. Delhi assembly meets again for a special session on December 20. Justice Sudip Ranjan Sen of the high court of Meghalaya, who on December 10, while disposing of a petition had observed that India, which was divided on religious lines, should have been a Hindu nation during Partition but was declared secular instead, clarified from his bench released late last night that history cannot be changed and that he strongly upheld the values of secularism. In the clarification, Justice Sen said, Secularism is one of the basic structures of our Indian Constitution. It should not be further divided on the basis of religion, caste, creed, community or languageI would also like to clarify here that in my judgment, nowhere have I said anything against secularism. My judgment makes references to history and one cannot change history. In December, Justice Sen had disposed of a petition for a domicile certificate observing that Pakistan declared themselves as an Islamic country and India since was divided on the basis of religion should have also been declared as a Hindu country, but it remained as a secular country. The judge had urged the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers to bring in a law to grant instant citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who sought refuge in India. Following fierce criticism of his remarks from across the country, Justice Sen clarified, I am not a religious fanatic rather I respect all religions, because to me God is one. I would like to make it clear that when I mentioned the government under Shri Narendra Modiji , it is inclusive of the Honble Ministers and Honble Members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...My request was to the policy-makers and lawmakers...I also mention here that I do not belong to any political party nor have I any dream of any political berth after my retirement. Neither is my judgment politically motivated or influenced by any part. Seeking to clarify his take that Hindus and Sikhs were the victims of Partition, Justice Sen said, Their presence in India is primarily due to the religious persecution that they have been facing through generations and nobody can deny that.... Justice Sen said that many people living in India for generations still did not have proper records or documentation. Sticking firmly to his original pronouncement, Justice Sen said, Whatever is the truth, history and real ground reality, I have written my judgment on that basis to save the citizens of India irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language. New Delhi has demanded Islamabad should immediately free Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari, set to complete a three-year prison term on Saturday, amid concerns about the prolonged incarceration and ill-treatment of other prisoners in Pakistani jails. Ansari, arrested in 2012 after he allegedly entered northwest Pakistan illegally to meet a woman he befriended online, was tried by a military court on charges of espionage and given a three-year sentence in December 2015. Legal experts have argued the 33-year-old should have been freed earlier as he had already been in prison for three years at the time of his sentencing. The external affairs ministry sent a note verbale or formal communication to Pakistan on December 11 expressing serious concern that Indian officials had not been granted consular access to Ansari, and seeking his immediate release after completion of his sentence, people familiar with developments said. The note verbale further said Pakistan had shown no consideration for Ansaris pre-trial custody or provided information on charges levelled against him. The people cited above said there had been no Pakistani response to more than 90 requests by India for consular access to Ansari, and this was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. There are at least 11 other Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails who havent been released after they had completed their sentences and their identities confirmed by Indian officials, the people said. There is no business for these Indian nationals to be in jail for even a day longer, one person said. There were also two instances in recent months of Pakistan not informing India of the deaths of two prisoners a fisherman and a civilian, the people said. It took weeks for their bodies to be repatriated, they said. In one case, we found out about the death of a prisoner after a month, and in the other, we found out three months later. In these cases, we learnt of the deaths from activists who work with prisoners and only later was there confirmation by Pakistani authorities, a person said. In a related development, a two-judge bench of the Peshawar high court on Thursday gave Pakistani authorities a month to complete formalities for Ansaris repatriation. It issued the direction after hearing an appeal filed by Ansari through his lawyer, which said the government has not taken any steps for his release. There was no trace of Ansari after he was taken into custody by intelligence agencies at Kohat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2012. Only after his mother, Fauzia Ansari, filed a habeas corpus petition through Pakistani lawyers, the Peshawar high court was informed he was in the Pakistan Armys custody. At Thursdays hearing, the bench questioned the additional attorney general how Ansari could be held after completion of his term. The judges also questioned why the government hadnt completed requirements for his deportation. An officer of Pakistans interior ministry then informed the court a prisoner could be held for up to a month while documents are prepared for his release. More than 470 Indians, including 418 fishermen, are currently detained in Pakistani jails, according to an official report. About 357 Pakistanis are currently in Indian jails. The India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners, formed in 2007 with four retired judges from each side, has not met since October 2013. In March, the two countries had agreed on measures to speed up the release of four types of prisoners juveniles, mentally ill, senior citizens and women and visits to jails by the judicial committee. However, there has been no forward movement, the people said. Ravi Nitesh, founder of the Aaghaz-e-Dosti initiative that has highlighted the issue of prisoners in jails of both countries, said India and Pakistan should make public the complete list of prisoners so that their families, lawyers and activists could work for their release. The case of fishermen should be handled under UN laws and they should be freed immediately after their capture at sea with their boats. Prisoners shouldnt be unnecessarily detained because of bureaucratic delays over confirmation of identity. There should be an agreement to avoid such delays, he said. The JD (U) has again faltered in assembly elections outside Bihar giving another jolt to its quest to attain national party status. The party performed miserably in just concluded Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly elections. The JD (U) contested on 12 seats each in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and could manage only a total of 2,4107 votes in two states. All its candidates lost their deposits in two states. Another former alliance partner of the NDA, Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), which contested on 18 seats in Madhya Pradesh, could manage only 27,437 votes on all these seats, which is just 0.07% of the total votes polled in the state. The JD (U) had earlier performed badly in Karnataka assembly elections, where it contested on 27 seats and lost in all. The JD (U) under Nitish Kumar had performed below par in Gujarat, where the party could not open its account even though it contested on 38 seats. The JD (U) is a part of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is running the government in Bihar along with the BJP. The partys poor performance has not gone well with some of the leaders who feel that a lot needs to be done to get a national presence, besides having a national leadership. We are a party of Bihar and it will take at least 5-10 years to mark our presence nationally, that too with concerted effort. Merely opening shops ahead of polls for distributing tickets will do no good, said JD (U) national vice-president Prashant Kishor. His views were seconded by another JD (U) leader who said that tickets were given without any exercise and judging the ground realities to oblige the state units. In Chhattisgarh, the best performance by a JD (U) candidate was at Keshkal constituency where its candidate Bindesh Ram could manage 2008 votes. The worst was Raipur Town South constituency, where it could manage only 80 votes in . The poor performance in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and earlier in Gujarat is seen as a setback to the efforts of Bihar chief minister to further extend the partys base outside Bihar. The partys effort had earlier failed in Assam and Kerala, whereas it decided not to contest UP polls. In Nagaland, the party won on one seat. The party contested four seats in collaboration with AIUDF in Assam 2016 and could not win a single seat. In Kerala, where the JD (U) contested seven seats under the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) 2016 by selling the prohibition success story of Bihar, lost all seats, including those of two sitting MLAs. According to the criteria set by the Election Commission, a national party needs to get at least 6% of the votes from a minimum of four states, or 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states, or it should be recognised as a state party in at least four states. As of now, only the BJP, Congress, CPI-M, BSP, CPI and NCP are recognised as national parties. Besides, there are 47 recognised state parties. Headline: Bumps in journey to become a national party Summary: JD (U) contested on 12 seats each in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in recent polls. All its candidates lost their deposits. Telling numbers In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh polls in 2018, JD(U) fought 12 seats each, lost in all, just got 2,4107 votes in total In Karnataka polls in 2018, it fought 27 seats, lost in all In Gujarat polls in 2017, contested on 38 seats, drew a blank In Assam 2016, it contested four seats in tie-up with AIUDF, got none In 2016 Kerala polls, it fought for 7 seats under the Congress-led UDF 2016, lost in all, including in two seats it held Best performance: In Keshkal of Chhattisgarh, with 2008 votes Worst performance: Raipur Town South, with 80 votes EC criteria for a national party: Needs to poll at least 6% of the votes caset from a minimum of four states, or 2% of the total seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three states, or it should be recognised as a state party in at least four states. Which parties make the cut As of now, only BJP, Cong , CPI-M, BSP, CPI and NCP. Besides, there are 47 recognised state parties Final decision tomorrow: PL Punia A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow. We will then make the announcement (regarding Chhattisgarh CM). The Governor has given us time of 4:30 pm on December 17 for the oath-taking ceremony. So whats the hurry: Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge PL Punia, reports ANI. Rahul tweet hints at end to impasse No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team, tweets Rahul Gandhi as he posts picture with partys CM candidates. No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team. Reid Hoffman pic.twitter.com/TL5rPwiCDX Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 15, 2018 Congress workers leaders gather outside Bhupesh Baghels residence Congress workers and leaders have gathered outside Chhattisgarh PCC President Bhupesh Baghels residence in Raipur. Bhupesh Baghel and T S Singh Deo are being seen as the leading contenders for the post of Chhattisgarh chief minister. Chhattisgarh: Congress workers and leaders also gather outside Chhattisgarh PCC President Bhupesh Baghel's residence in Raipur. Chief Minister to be announced later today. pic.twitter.com/Pc3Nn3cD9j ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 The name of the Chhattisgarh chief minister will be announced later today. Congress workers, leaders gather outside TS Singh Deos residence Congress workers and leaders have gathered outside T S Singh Deos residence in Raipur. The name of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister will be announced later today. Chhattisgarh: Congress workers and leaders gather outside T S Singh Deo's residence in Raipur. Chief Minister to be announced later today. pic.twitter.com/liQNwrJlzk ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 Sonia, Priyanka Gandhi also present in the meeting According to news agency PTI, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the Congress chiefs residence. Third round of discussion before selecting next CM This is the third round of discussion that the Congress chief is holding before selecting the chief minister for Chhattisgarh, where the party romped home to power after 15 years with two-third majority. Congress central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC in-charge for party affairs in Chhattisgarh P L Punia were also present at the meeting. Rahul holds discussion with top Congress leaders to select next Chhattisgarh CM After selecting chief ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi held hectic parleys with top party leaders Saturday to decide on the top post for Chhattisgarh. According to news agency PTI, Rahul Gandhi met Chhattisgarhs four potential chief minister candidates -- T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu, Bhupesh Baghel and Charan Das Mahant -- at his Tughlaq Lane residence and held discussions with them. I will stay in state politics: Outgoing CM Raman Singh Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said Friday that he will not move to the Centre but remain in state politics. The Congress, in the recently concluded election, ended the BJPs 15-year rule in the state. Mai yahi tha aur yahi rahunga (I was here and will stay here), Singh said at a press conference. Now I will keep on coming to the BJP office in my new role. I will be meeting the press more often. Earlier as a CM, there were certain limitations for me but now I will come to party office and keep on meeting my workers, a smiling Singh said. Read: Will stay here: Raman Singh rules out moving to Centre Deo, Baghel being seen as leading contenders for the top post Bhupesh Baghel and T S Singh Deo are being seen as the leading contenders for the post of Chhattisgarh chief minister. Congress ended the BJPs 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh in the recently concluded Assembly elections by winning 68 of the 90 seats. Rahul Gandhi on Friday met four senior leaders of Chhattisgarh Congress Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday met four senior leaders of the state unit of the party -- Bhupesh Baghel, T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant -- in Delhi and held discussions with them, a state Congress spokesperson told PTI. In Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghels promotion as Congress state president proved to be a wise call Bhupesh Baghel has been Chhattisgarh Congress president for the last five years and has taken former chief minister Raman Singhs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government head-on. Baghel belongs to the Kurmi community, which makes up around 14% of the states electorate. Baghel was entrusted with the task of reviving the Congress fortunes in the state after the party suffered a third consecutive defeat in Assembly polls in 2013. At that time, infighting within the party was at its peak; a group led by former chief minister Ajit Jogi had issues with several rival leaders. Read: Assembly elections 2018: Baghels promotion as Congress state president proved to be wise call We have more than one eligible name: TS Singh Deo We have more than 1 eligible name that is why process is taking time, in any case final result came late on 11th so it has just been 4 days today. BJP which took more than 7-8 days to appoint its recent CMs should not comment on us, said TS Singh Deo,Congress Tamradhwaj Sahu front-runner for chief ministers post In Chhattisgarh, the Congress has a problem of plenty when it comes to chief ministerial candidates. But among all of them, one name stands out - that of Tamradhwaj Sahu. Days after the violence in which an inspector and a youth were killed by an unruly mob in Bulandshahr, the Meerut police is going extra miles to control illegal slaughtering of cows, which they believe act as a trigger for mobs to take law into their hands. While raising awareness and administering pledge to villagers is being taken on a priority basis, desperate officials have also asked the police to register case against the entire family if beef is found in the house of any individual. Cow slaughtering is a sensitive issue. We want people to inform the police if they come across such cases, said SP (rural) Rajesh Kumar. If beef is found in a house it means the family members are hiding a crime and helping those who are involved in it. Therefore, they are also equally responsible and hence will also be booked, he said . Cow slaughtering is illegal in the state, therefore keeping its meat at home is also an offence, said senior criminal lawyer Om Prakash Sharma. Family members must not hide it and if they do so police can initiate action against each member of the family, Sharma said .Also, the police have asked people with arms licenses to act as a cow vigilant and help them keep a check on such incidents. As preventive measure, cops of different police stations had convened meetings in different villages where they administered pledge for social boycott of cow slaughterers to villagers. Police sources said meeting took place in Jani, Kayath Badda, Harra, Khiwai, Saroorpur, Bhawanpur, Mawana, Inchouli, Daurala, Khirwa, Pitholkar, Nanglasahu and Aurangabad villages of the district. In yet another initiative, senior officials have directed cops to book cow slaughterers under Goonda Act, Gangster Act and National Security Act so that they remain in jail for a longer time frame. Meghalaya police have arrested the owner of the illegal coal mine in the states East Jaintia Hills district where 13 miners, trapped due to flooding on Thursday, are yet to be located and rescued. Despite a four-year-old ban on mining by the National Green Tribunal, mining activity was underway at the site located in Ksan village near Lytein River in the district. On Thursday, the mine collapsed, trapping the 13 people. District police chief Silvester Nongtyngnger said on Thursday that he believed the mine to be an old one on which the illegal activity resumed around three-four days earlier. People familiar with the matter said the miners may have accidentally breached another old (and illegal) coal mine filled with water, in turn flooding the mine on which they were working. Late on Friday night, police arrested Jrin Chullet aka. Krip Chullet, owner of the mine after a raid his home village of Norwan. One of his accomplices James Sukhlain however is absconding and a manhunt has been launched to track him and others down, Meghalaya deputy inspector general of police in-charge Eastern Range, A. R. Mawthoh told Hindustan Times. A case has been registered against the coal mine owner in Saipung police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Meanwhile, concerted rescue efforts by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police, supported by personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), were so far not successful. According to sources, the task is proving to be onerous as entering and navigating the labyrinth of subterranean caves made by rat-hole mining is difficult. Speaking to Hindustan Times, additional chief secretary Peter W Ingty, who looks after revenue and disaster management, admitted that things didnt look bright. Rescue efforts are still underway but unfortunately no breakthrough has been made so far. However, the NDRF team informed me a while ago that they have brought more state of the art equipment which includes sonar sensors to help the rescue teams in their job, he said. The deputy commissioner or the district police chief could not be reached for more updates as both are supervising ongoing rescue efforts at the site which is remotely located. Meghalaya has nearly 640 million tonnes of coal reserves. Mining of coal by hand has been going on in Meghalaya for over 150 years, mostly for local use. Large-scale illegal and indiscriminate mining of the coal by private landowners and the local community started nearly three decades ago. Most of these mines employ minors, some from neighbouring states and Nepal as well; the miners work many metres underground in unsafe conditions, mining coal with their bare hands. The NGTs ban four years ago seems to have had little effect. Last week, satellite images taken by the North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) located here showing mining activity still underway were submitted before the NGT. Theres complicity in whats going on among bureaucrats, coal mafia, police and politicians. How does one explain mining going on despite the NGT ban? asked Patricia Mukhim, editor of The Shillong Times. This isnt the first accident involving an illegal mine in the state. In February 2014, four miners were killed when the walls of an illegal mine collapsed in Garo Hills. In December 2013, five miners died when the cable of the contraption which was carrying them down to an illegal mine in Jaintia Hills broke. In July 2012, 15 miners drowned in an illegal mine in Garo Hills when an underground stream flowing near the mine flooded it. Last month, two activists, Agnes Kharsiing and Amita Sangma, were attacked while they were recording instances of transport of coal from illegal coal mines in the state. The mastermind of the November 8 attack was formally named as Nidamon Chullet by Sangma in her deposition before the inquiring magistrate. A posse of policemen sits in the shade, keeping an eye on the people gathered in front of the unimposing structure of the Kicchugathi Maramma temple. On farmland opposite the temple, three forest officials are trying to manage a crowd gathered to see the carcasses of dead crows, around 20 of them. This is the scene at Sulawadi, 200 km from Bengaluru, a day after 11 people died after eating food served at the temple. Around 90 are in hospital, with the condition of many, including around 10 children, critical. The crows died when they ate the food that was thrown away. By Saturday afternoon, Sulwadi has become a magnet for people from neighbouring villages. Police confirm that the symptoms of the patients are consistent with poisoning through organophosphate,a common pesticide. Samples of the food have been sent for analysis. Japamalai, a former gram panchayat member of the village, which is located 5 km from the Tamil Nadu border, stands at the centre of the clearing in front of the temple, eager to tell all the outsiders about the politics of the village, which he believes is at the heart of the tragedy, and others pitch in to fill the gaps. According to them, tensions flared up in the village over the control of the temple, highly revered in the area. It is one of the temples that believers of the Om Shakti cult visit on the way to Melmaruvathur in Tamil Nadu, which has traditions much like the Sabarimala temple, including vows of purity that range from one week to 48 days. Chinnappi, one of five persons taken in for questioning, was the chief trustee of the temple and nurtured ambitions of building a new dome for the temple. This was opposed by Immadi Mahadeva Swamy, who also wished to have control of the trust, Japamalai said. Many claim it was this fight that led to one faction adding pesticide in the food. On Friday, Chinnappi held a small feast for about 100 people as part of a stone laying ceremony for the construction of the new dome. Among those who were present at the time were a large number of Om Shakti devotees who were passing by and decided to partake of the meal. Around 20 crows died when they ate the food that was thrown away. (HT Photo) Murugappa, one of the locals, said there was a foul smell in the food, but people continued to eat it. Only a few of us threw the food away because there is a belief that you cant refuse temple food. The only problem with this conspiracy theory is that the three cooks ate the food and are in hospital. Dharmender Singh Meena, Superintendent of Police for the district, said the three, Eeranna, Lokesh and Puttaswamy are in critical condition in a hospital in Mysuru. Puttaswamys daughter Anita died after consuming the food, he added. While it is almost certain at this point that there was poisoning we cannot be sure if there was criminal intent involved because the cooks have taken ill, Meena said. Indeed, locals at Sulawadi find it hard to understand how the food could have been poisoned. The kitchen is located behind the temple, where the trust has built a shelter for devotees who wished to rest there. All three cooks were on the payroll of the temple trust for years, Japamalai said. Japamalai and Murugappa said the trouble began around 1 pm when some people complained of feeling sick. Soon, people were throwing up on the side of the road and others just fell down, Murugappa said. About 40 km from Sulawadi, a large group of people have gathered at the government hospital in Hanur town, waiting to collect the body of Shantaraju, a Dalit from nearby Bidarahalli, who was at the temple as part of the Om Shakti devotees group. Nagaraj, Shantarajus brother-in-law, asks his other relatives who gathered at the spot to sit down for a flash protest. We will not leave this place till the accused is produced in front of us and we are allowed to dispense justice, he says, before the policemen present at the spot calm him down. Currently, 93 people are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Mysuru, the minister in charge of the district, C Puttarangashetty said. It is clear that there is foul play involved and we have asked the police to bring the guilty to book at the soonest, he said. Of the 93, 29 are said to be in a critical condition. The police are awaiting the results of tests conducted by the forensics lab in Mysuru to see if it throws up any more clues. At present, we are questioning five people, Chinnappi, Mahadesha, Mahadeva and two others, whose identities cannot be revealed at this moment, Meena said. We have sent viscera and food samples to the forensics lab and I personally asked them to expedite the process, he added. Karnataka Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the deceased. A 54-year old man has been charged with hate crime for assaulting an Indian-origin woman travelling in a subway and using homophobic slurs against her. Allasheed Allah, 54, was arraigned on Thursday and charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment against Avneet Kaur, 20, for the attack in New York Citys Queens borough last month. If convicted, Allasheed faces three and half to 15 years in prison, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Queens County is the most diverse county in the nation. It is home to many races, nationalities and sexual orientations. Crimes motivated by bias particularly those involving violence will never be tolerated in this county. When they do regrettably occur, they will be vigorously prosecuted and those involved will be severely punished, Brown said. According to the charges, Kaur was travelling in a subway train in Manhattan last month when Allasheed engaged her in a verbal dispute. During the dispute, he began making homophobic slurs towards Kaur and her friend. As the two women began to walk away, the defendant followed them and struck Kaur in the back of her head and then once in her chest causing her to fall and strike her head and neck on a pole before hitting the floor. According to the charges, the defendant admitted that he used homophobic language against Kaur and threatened her if she kissed her friend, travelling with her on the subway, again. Kaur was immediately transported to a local Queens hospital where she underwent treatment for a fractured spine. Will the Supreme Court verdict dismissing the petitions questioning the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France, empower the bureaucracy to take decisions, and, more importantly, lead to a faster purchase of another 110 fighters? The verdict vindicates our stand, a senior IAF official said, asking not to be identified becaue he is s not authorized to speak to the media. Importantly for the IAF one of its senior officers headed the all-crucial price negotiating team. We were confident, the facts were in our favour, he added. Nonetheless, as the controversy appeared to gain traction, the IAF and Ministry of Defence reviewed the entire process of acquiring 36 fighters. Earlier this year the IAF asked global companies to submit a proposal for 110 fighters. Six global defence manufacturing giants including Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale fighters, have responded. The process of evaluating the fighters is on. So will the verdict also assure the bureaucracy and ensure the process of acquiring another 110 fighters be faster than expected? Unlikely, the officer said and added, officials are likely to be cagey even after the verdict. Read full coverage on Rafale here After several rounds of discussions, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday signalled the party had ended the impasse on who should be the next chief minister of Chhattisgarh. No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team., Gandhi tweeted along with a photograph with senior Congress leaders. No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team. Reid Hoffman pic.twitter.com/TL5rPwiCDX Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 15, 2018 Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant, who are with Rahul in the picture, are said to be in the running for Chhattisgarhs top post. Congress won the state with a thumping majority in the December 11 results. (Live updates) Earlier, Gandhi had tweeted photos with messages after sorting out the leadership issues in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. After his decision on Madhya Pradesh, he quoted Tolstoys The two most powerful warriors are patience and time with a photo of him flanked by Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, the two contenders.. The united colours of Rajasthan, Gandhi tweeted, along with a photograph with Gehlot and Pilot. An official announcement about Gandhis choice for Chhattisgarh chief minister will be made on Sunday, Chhattisgarh Congress state in-charge, PL Punia told ANI news agency. A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow. Then we will inform (Chief Minister candidate for Chhattisgarh). Governor has given us the time of 4:30 pm on December 17 for the oath ceremony. So whats the hurry?, ANI quoted Punia as saying. The Congress president had a series of meeting with senior party leaders from Chhattisgarh over past three days in the national capital. The Congress central observer for Chhattisgarh Mallikarjun Kharge was also present at Gandhis residence during the discussions on Saturday. Congress ended the BJPs 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh in the recently concluded Assembly elections by winning 68 of the 90 seats in the results announced on December 11. Separatists in Kashmir on Saturday called for a three-day strike against killing of seven civilians in security forces action during an encounter in Pulwama district. The separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, also asked people to march to the headquarters of the Armys Chinar Corps at Badamibagh in Srinagar on Monday. #PulwamaMassacre, Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily (sic), Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter. In another tweet, he said, From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across. Meanwhile, spontaneous shutdown was observed Saturday in many areas of Srinagar and south Kashmir following the killing of civilians. Shops in several areas were shut, while a protest demonstration was taken out in Nowhatta area of the city on Saturday afternoon. Seven civilians died and several others injured after security forces opened fire on protestors near an encounter site in Sirnoo village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. Three militants were killed in the encounter in which a soldier also lost his life while two other armymen were injured. The parents of Sumit Choudhary, the 21-year-old killed in the Bulandshahr mob violence on December 3, have threatened to immolate themselves outside the chief ministers residence in Lucknow on December 18 to protest the inclusion of their sons name in the list of suspects and non-acceptance of their demands for compensation so far. After Choudhary, along with police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, was killed in the clashes between a mob of cattle vigilantes and police, the state government declared an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh for Choudharys family while the district administration assured them of Rs 5 lakh. The family wants more: Rs 50 lakh and a government job for Choudharys elder brother. They have also demanded withdrawal of his name from the first information report (FIR) lodged by police after the violence. Videos showing Choudhury, as part of the mob, have emerged. They also show him injured by a bullet. Choudhurys father Amarjeet Singh has alleged that police have registered an FIR that is different from what he wanted. His claim is that inspector Subodh Kumar Singh killed his son. Singh is upset that the inspector has been treated as a martyr but his son declared a rioter and his name included in the FIR. He accused officials of ignoring the familys demands. All my dreams are shattered and life has lost its charm, he said, announcing that his wife Neeta and he had decided to end their lives in front of CM Yogi Adityanaths house on December 18. Meanwhile, right-wing Hindu organisations such as Akhil Bharatiya Sant Parishad, Hindu Raksha Dal, Hindu Swabhiman Dal and Rashtriya Jat Ekta Manch have come forward in support of the family and the army jawan, Jeetendra Malik aka Jeetu Fauji, who has been arrested for the killing of the inspector. Parishads national convenor Yati Narsinghanand Sarswati, Hindu Swabhiman Dals national president Yati Maa Chetnanand Saraswati, Hindu Raksha Dals Pinki Choudhary and Beerpal Singh of Jat Ekta Manch met the family and assured them of support in their fight for justice. Parishad leader Sarswati declared he would begin a relay hunger strike with Choudhurys father at Kaala Aam crossing of Bulandshahar from Sunday. The leaders also declared they would convene a maha panchayat at the Bulandshahr district magistrates office on December 30. Chetnanand Saraswati said exploitation of Hindus would not be tolerated. Madhya Pradesh bureaucrats have prepared a note on farm loan waiver for the new chief minister to consider once he is sworn in on December 17, government officials said on Friday. The bureaucrats had an informal meeting with chief minister-designate Kamal Nath on Thursday, following which they prepared a note offering suggestions on how farm loans can be waived a key promise of the Congress during its campaign. According to sources, chief secretary Basant Pratap Singh held a meeting with officers of the agriculture and finance department, and cooperatives to take stock of farm loans in the state. An official, who participated at the meeting, said 4.1 million farmers have an outstanding loan of Rs 56,377 crore. In addition to this, the non-performing assets (NPAs) farm loans are worth Rs 12,000 crore. The total budget size for 2018-19 was Rs 18,366 crore. Party president Rahul Gandhi had announced that farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh will be waived within 10 days of the new government. Nath said this will be his top priority after taking over. Outgoing finance minister Jayant Kumar Malaiya and outgoing agriculture minister Gauri Shankar Bisen said that according to the current fiscal condition of the state, it is impossible to waive off all the loans. Not just 10 days, we are ready to give them a period of one month to make this possible. If they fail to do so, we will support the farmers in their struggle, Bisen said. Given budgetary constraints, it is not possible to waive all the loans of farmers in one go. One of the suggestions is to waive off loans where farmers are not repaying them and have been declared defaulters. Another suggestion is to first waive off loans taken from cooperative banks, said an official involved in preparing the note and who did not wish to be named. Additional chief secretary (ACS), agriculture department PC Meena said, We have collected data from different banks. We will make a report on it and will present it in the first cabinet meeting of the state government. The final decision will be taken by the government. Former head of department of Economics at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Ganesh Kawadia said, I dont see any way loans worth thousands of crores can be waived in this financial year. According to FRBMA, they can take loan up to a certain limit of the state GDP which comes to around Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 crore. He pointed out that as per Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBMA) 2003, the state government has almost reached the limit of its loan taking capacity. However, agriculture expert GS Kaushal said, The loan taking season for the rabi season is over, so the government has some time in hand to waive off the loans. MP Congress media in-charge Shobha Oza said, We have already initiated the process. The experts are working on this plan. We will definitely fulfil the process within time limit. The BJP has warned of an agitation if the new government fails to keep its promise. Rescue workers were trying on Friday to reach 13 miners trapped underground in a coal mine in Meghalaya since the previous day, authorities said. The mine is an old, illegal so-called rat-hole mine, they said. Rat-hole mines are common in Meghalaya as they are dug by villagers but are very dangerous as the coal is pulled out from narrow, horizontal seams. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said authorities had no information on the condition of the miners. We are praying that they come out alive, he told Reuters by telephone from the state capital Shillong. A flash flood from a nearby river on Thursday raced through the mine, which is located near a dense forest, said Sylvester Nongtngr, police chief of the East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. Nearly all mines in Meghalaya, which borders Bangladesh, use the rat-hole mining method, even though they are not legal and authorities try to crack down on them. Workers, often children, descend hundreds of feet on bamboo ladders to dig out the coal from small holes, often leading to accidents. The RLSP on Saturday received a major setback with all its members in the bicameral legislature of Bihar declaring that they were still with the NDA as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing personal interests in announcing a break-up with the coalition. Both Rashtriya Lok Samata Party MLAs Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan and its lone MLC Sanjiv Singh Shyam made a statement to this effect at a joint press conference in Patna. They also pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar, a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three. We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party, Shyam said, making it clear that the RLSP is heading towards a split. RLSP which fought the 2014 general election as well the 2015 state polls as an NDA constituent has three MPs, including Kushwaha, two MLAs and one MLC in Bihar. While the three Legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, among the two other Lok Sabha members Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi the former has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar, later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when he had announced his resignation from the cabinet and severed ties with the NDA in Delhi. We had been stating since long that we were in favour of RLSP remaining in the NDA but Kushwaha, who was more interested in his personal gains, paid no heed, Shyam said. The RLSP MLC alleged that Kushwaha had of late been making noises about the RLSP bot being considered for a ministerial berth after chief minister Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA last year. In reality, he never tried. When ministerial berths were being allocated among allies, he was simply roaming around in Patna, Shyam claimed. Kushwaha was happy with his own ministerial berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention had been on getting a deal that served his interests better. He simply did not care that somebody from his party should get a ministerial berth in the state as well, he added. Replying to a query, he said neither he nor Paswan want ministerial berths. We would like Sudhanshu Shekhars inclusion in the state council of ministers and we would be hugely disappointed if he is not considered for the same, he said. We are not defectors. Rather, we represent the real RLSP. Our stance is in line with the sentiments of most workers and office-bearers in the party. We will soon be approaching the Election Commission with our claim, he added. NDA leaders in Bihar were not immediately available for comments on the development. However, rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP legislature party held at the residence of deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. The killing of seven locals in Sirnoo village of Pulwama is the highest civilian death toll in clashes with security forces near an encounter site in recent times. In May, five civilians died in protests after security forces killed five militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir. Seven civilians were killed in Kulgam in October, but they died when stray explosives went off immediately after a gunfight between security forces and militants in a house in the vicinity. What caused such a high number of civilian deaths and injuries to around two dozen people in Sirnoo village?A number of factors contributed, according to local residents and the police. Locals cited excessive use of force by security forces as the basic reason. Residents marched towards the encounter site, some 2 km from the main town of Pulwama, leading to clashes with police and army personnel engaged in an encounter with a group of militants, who were trapped in an underground hideout in an open area. People came out in droves when they came to know that Zahoor Ahmad Thokar was trapped in the encounter. The locals have a lot of affection for Thokar, who left the army to join militants, said a resident of Sirnoo, requesting anonymity. Thokar, a resident of Sirnoo, was an army soldier when he deserted his unit last year to join the Hizbul Mujahideen. Besides the site of the encounter was an open area with no place to save one from bullets or pellets. Had the forces exercised caution, we would not have seen so many deaths, the resident said. Sirnoo is surrounded by a number of villages and hamlets like Barpur, Karimabad, Monghama, Pulwama town and Bellow and many people reached very close to the encounter site. The clashes between youth and military erupted when the gunfight was going on. The encounter ended quickly when forces planted a mine to blast the hideout. When the security forces were leaving, many young men came charging towards one of their vehicles. It was at this moment that the forces opened indiscriminate fire which led to so many deaths and injuries, said Younis Ahmad, cousin of an injured man being treated at a Srinagar hospital. Another resident of Pulwama said that the exchange of fire between militants and security forces ended by 10:30 am. The encounter ended pretty fast but the security forces could not come out of the area fast, he said. A police statement also said that the encounter site was an open field with hideout made by the terrorists who fired indiscriminately leading to an encounter. While the operation was going on, a crowd who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injuredThe loss of civilians is deeply grieved, the statement said. The police urged people to remain away from encounter site as it is a prohibited zone which involves significant danger to life because of nature of the encounter. The killings and injuries created chaos in Pulwama and triggered further protests in the region. Photo: Contributed The final phase of Kelowna's Interior Heart and Surgical Centre is now complete. Patients were moved into renovated rooms at Kelowna General Hospitals Strathcona Building on Wednesday, signifying completion of the last phase of the project. The renovation saw older operating rooms on the second floor converted to private recovery rooms located in a new Coronary Care Unit, providing for improved infection control, more privacy and a quiet, healing environment. The facility has 13 operating rooms, including two dedicated for cardiac surgery, and since it opened, about 8,500 surgeries per year have been performed," Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a press release. The budget for the centre was $381 million, with the province contributing $296 million, and the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District contributing $85 million. The Interior Heart and Surgical Centre has been a great success and has improved the lives of patients who have been accessing life-saving surgical care at home, rather than having to travel to the Lower Mainland, said Gail Given, chair of the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District. A Kelowna General Hospital Foundation campaign raised $12 million towards equipping the centre. We had great support from our donors throughout the Interior, who gave generously to provide the critical equipment needed to elevate the standard of care offered in the IHSC, said Doug Rankmore, CEO of the foundation. Actors Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khans friendship can be called the most talked about friendship in the film industry. The two have had their fair share of fights and hugs but their bond continues to grow stronger over time. As Shah Rukh gears up for the release of his upcoming film Zero, he visited the sets of Bigg Boss 12, hosted by Salman. The two will be seen having a blast during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode on December 15 and the pictures are proof there is no love lost between them. The two danced together on the song Issaqbaazi, shared a couple of hugs and entertained the audience. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan on Bigg Boss 12. (Viral Bhayani) Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan on Bigg Boss 12. (Viral Bhayani) Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan on Bigg Boss 12. (Viral Bhayani) Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan on Bigg Boss 12. (Viral Bhayani) Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan on Bigg Boss 12. (Viral Bhayani) Salman has an impressive dance number in the film and is joined by Shah Rukh on stage in the song Issaqbaazi. The two have united for the special song after a very long time as they were last seen together in prominent roles in the 2002 film Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam. Shah Rukh had however played a guest role in Salmans 2017 film Tubelight. The Zero actor took to Twitter to thank Salman for having him on the show. He tweeted, Bhai ne Phir Jiyra Chakna Choor kar diya. Thank u Big Boss & @BeingSalmanKhan for a great evening starting with #Zero love you all. Bhai ne Phir Jiyra Chakna Choor kar diya. Thank u Big Boss & @BeingSalmanKhan for a great evening starting with #Zero love you all. pic.twitter.com/Ch2lNFMI5p Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 14, 2018 Zero brings back the trio of SRK, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif, who were last seen together in the 2012 film Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Shah Rukh plays a dwarf for the first time in his career in Aanand L Rays Zero. Katrina plays an alocoholic superstar and Anushka plays a wheelchair bound NASA scientist suffering form cerebral palsy. The film is set to hit the theatres ahead of Christmas on December 21. Follow @htshowbiz for more As many as 146 Indian citizens used sexual orientation as a ground to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, according to latest figures that show Pakistan topping the overall list with 1,681 of its citizens mentioning the ground for asylum. The figures released by the UK Home Office relate to three years 2015, 2016 and 2017. During the period, the number of Indian citizens seeking asylum for various reasons was 3,839, providing another dimension to the migration of Indians to the UK. Pakistan with 1,681 and Bangladesh with 753 top the list of countries with the highest number of citizens seeking asylum on sexual orientation grounds. Other countries in the top five are Nigeria, Uganda and Iran, the figures show. The Home Office policy and information note on sexual orientation related to India mentions the September 2018 judgement of the Supreme Court on Section 377: The historic ruling effectively scrapped the colonial law, which deemed sex between consenting gay men, a punishable offence. Most applications for asylum (not only on sexual orientation grounds) were made by Indians after arriving in the UK, indicating that they may have travelled on valid visas and applied for asylum later. The figures also reveal that 1,996 Indians held in UK jails for various reasons were released during the year ending September 2018. Of these, 24 per cent were returned from the UK, 49 per cent were bailed, while 26 per cent left jails on other grounds. Officials said the returned from UK on leaving detention category includes enforced returns, voluntary returns and those refused entry at port (in the UK), who were subsequently detained and then left the country. India figures on the third spot in the most number of citizens leaving detention during the year, after Albania (2,499) and Pakistan (2,255). But India does not figure in the top five countries whose citizens faced enforced returns; Pakistan is in the fifth position on this list. US President Donald Trump reacted quickly on Friday night to a ruling by a federal judge in Texas that Obamacare was unconstitutional. Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America! Trump wrote on Twitter, shortly after the ruling by US District Judge Reed OConnor in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of states, led by Texas. In another tweet he said, As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done! He was referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, and Representative Nancy Pelosi, who will likely become speaker of the US House of Representatives when the Democrats take control of the chamber in January. OConnor, of the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth, agreed with the plaintiffs that he had to eviscerate the Affordable Care Act after Congress last year zeroed out a key provision -- the tax penalty for not complying with the requirement to buy insurance. His decision is almost certain to be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. Trump campaigned against the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama, but failed to repeal it in Congress. After the Democratic House victory in the Midterm elections last month, McConnell said that another repeal effort was likely off the table. In an interview with Bloomberg News before the election, McConnell defended the lawsuit, though it had become a problem for Republican candidates in the campaign for control of Congress. Our candidates are able to deal with it, McConnell said regarding a barrage of Democratic ads criticizing his partys candidates on the issue. Theres nobody in the Senate that Im familiar with who is not in favor of coverage of pre-existing conditions. Pelosi, in a statement released on Friday night, said, The GOP Congress tried and failed to destroy the Affordable Care Act and protections for pre-existing conditions. Then, in the midterm election, the American people delivered a record-breaking margin of almost 10 million votes against House Republicans vile assault on health care. Now, she added in the statement, the district court ruling in Republicans lawsuit seeks to subvert the will of the American people and sow chaos in the final day of HealthCare.gov open enrollment. Since US President Donald Trump weaponised the term fake news during the 2016 presidential election campaign, the phrase has gone viral. Increasingly it is used by politicians around the world to denounce or dismiss news reports that do not fit their version of the truth. But as news outlets defend their work, false information is saturating the political debate worldwide and undermining an already weak level of trust in the media and institutions. The term has come to mean anything from a mistake to a parody or a deliberate misinterpretation of facts. At the same time, misinformation online is increasingly visible in attempts to manipulate elections. Misinformation The build-up to Trumps 2016 victory, for example, saw numerous examples of hoaxes and false news stories: from Hillary Clintons alleged links to a child sex ring to a false report the Pope had endorsed Trump. Misinformation had a significant impact on voting decisions, according to Ohio State University researchers, who questioned voters. But it was impossible to prove that false information swung the election for Trump. As president, Trump still denounces any information that displeases him as fake news. Experts say his aides, meanwhile, have offered a mixture of truth and distortions, sometimes described as alternative facts. Lies and fabrication even seem to bolster ones reputation and political prowess among their core supporters, said John Huxford of Illinois State University, who researches false information. Some studies even suggest that, as partisanship has risen, more people are willing to believe falsehoods. One 2017 survey, for example, showed 51 percent of Republicans still believed that Barack Obama was born in Kenya, despite the hoax having been debunked. Eroding trust In 2018, the average level of trust in the news, across 37 countries, remained relatively stable at 44 percent, according to a poll by YouGov for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. But false information spread by authority figures has not helped matters. In Ukraine, for example, authorities staged the death of Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko at the end of May, to foil a real plot to assassinate him. Reports of the fake death made in good faith by mainstream media were a godsend for paranoid people and conspiracy theorists, said Christophe Deloire, secretary general of media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders. Trust in traditional media remains higher than for social networks, according to the YouGov poll. Only 23 percent of those polled said they trusted the news they found on social media. But a study released by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in March found that false news spreads more rapidly on Twitter than real news does. Social networks in crisis Many believe Facebook is the main vehicle for false information. It was forced to admit that Cambridge Analytica, a political firm working for Donald Trump in 2016, had hijacked the data of tens of millions of its users. Some critics of the Brexit referendum accuse Cambridge Analytica of having used that data to swing voters towards the Leave vote. In the US, Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Trumps campaign links with Russia has targeted Facebook accounts and private pages managed by the Internet Research Agency, a Russia-based troll farm. Such was the level of concern that Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has been questioned by the European Parliament and the US Congress. The US giant in 2018 announced new measures to improve technology for tackling false information around the world. Another country where Facebook has come under fire for spreading false information is Brazil, the scene of a giant truckers strike last May. Fake audio of people supposedly connected to the strike was spread widely, said Cristina Tardaguila, founder of the Brazilian Agencia Lupa fact-checking organisation. Most of the messages during the strike were spread on WhatsApp, a messaging service with more than one billion global users, owned by Facebook. Under pressure WhatsApp has also been accused of circulating false information. It came under immense pressure after the lynching of more than 20 people accused of child abduction in recent months in India, its largest market. They were sparked by false news reports. WhatsApp took out full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers offering easy tips to identify fact from fiction. But the company stands by its policy of protecting the privacy of its users with encryption technology. Google, also under pressure for spreading misinformation, announced in March that it was investing $300 million over three years to support a series of projects to tackle false information and support credible media organisations. Its search engine promotes verifications carried out by fact-checking organisations. Despite the creation of dozens of fact-checking initiatives in recent years, journalists have to run just to keep up as misinformation techniques evolve. A relatively new development is deep fakes -- manipulated videos that appear genuine but depict events or speech that never happened. For now, deep fakes are technically difficult to create and have not yet had a big impact, but with progress they may further blur the online line between true and false. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as Sri Lankas Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned on Saturday as two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongmans efforts to cling to premiership untenable. Rajapaksa informed the lawmakers of United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that he has resigned from the post, MP Shehan Semasinghe told reporters. His son, Namal Rajapaksa, had yesterday said he will quit to ensure stability of the nation, after the Supreme Court ordered that he should not exercise the powers of the office he has claimed since October 26. Read: Sri Lanka slides into a deeper political quagmire The apex courts latest ruling came a day after it unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena was illegal, in a body blow to the embattled leader, whose controversial decisions plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political turmoil. Namal Rajapakse said they will join a coalition with President Maithripala Sirisena who triggered the political crisis on October 26 by sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replacing him with former foe Rajapakse. The latest decision of Rajapakse to back down came as the Supreme Court ruled that he and his purported cabinet should not exercise the powers of the office they claim until he could prove his legitimacy. The court ruling also meant that the country was effectively without a government and heading for a shut down in the absence of parliament voting for a budget for 2019. In another blow to Sirisena, the highest court ruled on Thursday that his sacking of parliament on November 9 was illegal and cancelled a snap election he had called for January 5. Rajapakse failed to prove his majority in parliament and was twice defeated in no-confidence motions on November 14 and 16, but refused to step down. Wickremesinghe also refused to step down since October 26 maintaining that his sacking was illegal. That issue is currently being canvassed before courts. Political sources said Sirisena was likely to invite Wickremesinghe to form a new government over the weekend and end the power vacuum. Rajapaksa was appointed as the prime minister on October 26 by President Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Pro-Rajapaksa lawmaker, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, had told reporters that Rajapaksa decided in a meeting on Friday with President Sirisena to resign to allow the President to appoint a new government. Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lankas Prime Minister on Sunday. President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday. (With PTI Inputs) One of the killers of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was heard saying I know how to cut on the audio of the killing Turkey shared with U.S. and European officials, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. Erdogan also slammed Riyadh for its changing account of how Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and prominent critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct.2. The journalist had gone there to collect documents for his forthcoming marriage. The case has caused global outrage and has damaged the international standing of the 33-year-old crown prince, the kingdoms de facto ruler. The U.S. Senate on Thursday delivered a rare rebuke to President Donald Trump for his support of the crown prince, whom it blamed for the killing. The United States, Germany, France, Canada, we made them all listen... The man clearly says I know how to cut. This man is a soldier. These are all in the audio recordings, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul. He did not give further details about the recording. BODY NOT FOUND Istanbuls chief prosecutor has said Khashoggi was suffocated by his killers in the consulate, before his body was dismembered and disposed of. His remains have not been found. Khashoggi repeatedly told his killers I cant breathe during his final moments, CNN reported on Monday, quoting a source who said they had read the full translated transcript of an audio recording.Saudi Arabia has said the prince had no prior knowledge of the murder. After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh later said Khashoggi had been killed when negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. Erdogan renewed his criticism of Riyadhs explanation of the killing. Originally it had said Khashoggi had left the consulate. That was disputed by his Turkish fiancee, who had waited outside the building and said he never emerged. The prince says Jamal Khashoggi left the consulate. Is Jamal Khashoggi a kid? His fiancee is waiting outside, Erdogan said. They think the world is dumb. This nation isnt dumb and it knows how to hold people accountable. Turkish officials said last week that the Istanbul prosecutors office had concluded there was strong suspicion that Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to Prince Mohammed, and General Ahmed al-Asiri, who served as deputy head of foreign intelligence, were among the planners of Khashoggis killing. After Riyadh ruled out extraditing the two men, Turkey said this week that the world should seek out justice for Khashoggi under international law. Erdogan has repeatedly said he would not give up the case. Trump has said he wants Washington to stand by the Saudi government and the prince, despite the CIA assessment that it was probably the prince who ordered Khashoggis killing. President Donald Trump named his budget director Mick Mulvaney as acting chief of staff after denying the same arrangement to a one-time favorite for the job, Nick Ayers. Trump did not explain his decision and continued to claim there were a lot of very strong contenders he could choose from, whose numbers, he omitted to say, kept shrinking every day the latest to opt out being Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, on personal reasons. Just hours later, President Trump announced his temporary pick, Mulvaney, on Twitter, who he said will replace John Kelly, the current chief of staff who is scheduled to leave at the end of the year. For the record, there were MANY people who wanted to be the White House Chief of Staff. Mick M will do a GREAT job! he wrote in another post. A senior official told reporters later there is no time limit to Mulvaneys appointment. Hes the acting chief of staff, which means hes the chief of staff. He got picked because the president liked him and they get along, the official added. Mulvaney, a former Congressman from South Carolina, was interested in the job some time ago, but not this time. He would have preferred a move to the treasury as secretary though, to replace Steven Mnuchin, who was among those also considered by Trump for the position. He will be Trumps third chief of staff, a position that experts have described as the gateway to the president and his (all US presidents have been men so far) presidency. The first, Reince Priebus lasted just a few months. Kelly, the incumbent, fared better but only by a few months. A high-pressure job by definition, the position of White House chief of staff has become even more challenging under President Trump. Priebus tried to go with and replicate what he thought was presidents freewheeling working style but was accused of running a chaotic White House. And was fired. His successor Kelly, a former Marine general, was hailed for bringing military-style order and discipline to the presidents office. But he made enemies in the process. President Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who had enjoyed anytime-walk-in resented being shut out by Kelly who insisted on treating them as any other White House official. Photo: Chelsea Powrie Members of the Penticton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion voted Monday to start negotiations to relocate. They are looking at leaving their Martin Street spot to move to 257 Brunswick Street, former home of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Unit 97 Club, also known as the ANAVETS Club. The lease would cost the legion less at the new location. "Most of it is monetary, but the ANAVETS is a military organization as well, so it's the same sort of feeling. It just makes sense," said Sandy Schwartz, who currently works at the Legion. She said the vote at Monday's meeting was heavily in favour of beginning negotiations. The decision to move would mean the Legion needed to leave Martin Street this spring, but no specific timeline is in place yet. "It has to go through negotiations then it has to come back to the membership and they have to vote at that point," Schwartz said, meaning nothing is set in stone. The Penticton ANAVETS club was shuttered earlier this year after allegations of theft and dissolution of the club's management. Photo: First Flight Society Kelowna pilots will honour the 115th anniversary of powered flight Members of the Kelowna Flying Club are gearing up to commemorate the 115th anniversary of powered flight in North America. On Dec. 17, 1903, Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur made the first successful powered flights in North Carolina. The now-famous Wright Flyer made its first flight, piloted by Orville, at 10:35 a.m., going 120 feet in 12 seconds, at a speed of 6.8 mph. The next two flights covered approximately 175 and 200 feet, by Wilbur and Orville respectively. They were about 10 feet above the ground. "We will take off from Kelowna at 10 a.m. Sunday, do a touch and go in Penticton and fly to Vernon for another touch and go before returning to the Kelowna Airport," said flying club member Ariel Tyk. "Aviation is such an important part of our world, and we thought it would be important to mark this milestone." So far, seven pilots have committed to the formation. Similar flights are taking place all over Canada and United States, Sunday and Monday. For more information on the Kelowna Flying Club, click here. Ironic, isnt it, while one in five B.C. seniors are living in unaffordable housing and on the brink of homelessness, Kelowna seniors at legacy Tower were being surprised by eviction notices. Meanwhile, BC Housing and the John Howard Society choose to continue with their goal of building and giving subsidized housing to drug addicts right next door to the community where I live with my husband and many other seniors. Where has common sense gone? Six thousand seniors are purported to be on the BC Housing wait list for subsidized housing, up 58 per cent in five years. Members of the Ambrosi community have repeatedly suggested that the housing proposed for this area be dedicated to providing affordable housing for seniors, and/or single mothers. This appears to have fallen on deaf ears. How can seniors be left to fend for themselves when individuals who do not contribute to society get priority housing? Geraldine Bush External Article 14 December 2018 On its own, Oyo entering Southeast Asia should concern existing budget hotel players. Oyo with Grab should make them go shaky in the knees. Consolidation or new alliances will not surprise anyone. Southeast Asia's budget accommodation sector has been under the long shadow of China and India. Strange, because the hotel space in Southeast Asia is three times as big as India's, and dotted with invisible, non-classified hotels waiting to be spruced up, branded, and redistributed efficiently. Maybe existing players prefer that they stay in the shadows. But that won't be for long as Oyo marches into the region. The king of budget hotel brands is expected to shake up or wake up a rather sleepy playground, again strange, given that numbers that matter for the sector are bright. In Indonesia alone, where Oyo is putting in $100 million to expand, there are around 300,000 non-classified and 233,000 classified hotel rooms, according to Statistics Indonesia 2016. The majority (70 percent) are three stars and below. Share of supply inched 3 percent towards midscale and budget from upper upscale between 2013 and 2017, according to STR. On the demand side, the number of domestic travelers the heart of business for budget accommodations keeps rising. Last year, there were 264 million domestic tourists, leisure and business, exceeding the Indonesia tourism ministry's target of 260 million. The International Air Transport Association estimates that the number of domestic passengers carried by Indonesian airlines will rise to 355 million in 2036, making Indonesia the fifth-largest air travel market in the world, behind China, the U.S., India and Turkey. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Azealia Banks is quite expressive and uniquely transparent when it comes to sharing her opinions with her following. The rapper dished out a lot of her thoughts last night via Instagram from a place of introspection as she's navigating the holiday season and the production of her new music. Her confidence is unwavering, though the topics she brought up formed a bittersweet picture. After speaking of the progress she's made with her upcoming music project, Banks called out her "haters" in the media. She suggested they could give themselves a break from her in 2019 by simply ignoring her if they do not like her. The emcee called out the "Black media" specifically for trying to "excommunicate" her from the Black community, criticism her based on standards that stem from what she calls "the messiah complex," a righteousness that is simply too much pressure for anyone to handle. "God gave me my blackness. There's nothing any mortal can do to change that." Samir Hussein/Getty Images "If nobody wants to help me. Why don't you just help me instead of making it worse? And then laugh at me when I can't help myself." She states that nobody can take away the contributions to culture and concludes saying she will simply focus on her artistry in the next year while minding her business and making new friends. "I'm just going to keep my opinions to myself because I'm tired. I have no energy left to defend myself" Azealia is excited about her new music and previewed some tracks produced by Parks, a Joe Budden collaborator. "I'm really excited to show off my musical theater jazz training chops." "I really miss my mother. Really want to talk to my mother for Christmas" "I know she likes that kind of music and she raised me on this music." https://www.instagram.com/p/BrYr00_Aqi3 Earlier this year, the identity of Drake's baby mama was revealed to the world. Unfortunately, the Canadian star didn't have a chance to tell the world in the manner that he wanted. Instead, the information was leaked to Pusha-T, who released a diss track called "The Story of Adidon." You've all heard the song by now. Push accuses Drake of fathering a secret child with a camgirl, which turned out to actually be true. After Kanye Westwent wild on Twitter last night, Drake seemingly responded with threats and laughing emojis. His baby mama was a little more vocal though, commenting on an Instagram post with her own shots at Ye. https://www.instagram.com/p/BrX0RncBZue While Kanye insists he's not the person who leaked the information to Pusha-T, Sophie Brussaux is still backing Drake in this battle. Ariana Grande tweeted that the "two grown men arguing" should calm down so that her single can get some attention. The tweet was reposted by The Shade Room and Sophie Brussaux decided to step in, firing off a few shots in the comment section: "I would hardly call Kanye arguing with himself 'grown men.'" Yikes. She's right, though. This has been fairly one-sided as the only public statements have been made by West at this point. Drake has saved his big talk for the phone call he allegedly made to Ye's residence. This is getting serious. https://www.instagram.com/p/BpQDqQalXCP [via] Photo: Unifor General Motors' plans to lay off 14,000 salaried and blue-collar workers might not be as bad as originally projected. The company said Friday that 2,700 out of the 3,300 U.S. factory jobs slated for elimination will now be saved. Blue-collar workers will still lose jobs at four U.S. plants slated for closure next year, but most will be able to find employment at other GM factories where jobs are being added. Some would have to relocate. GM still plans to lay off about 8,000 white-collar workers and another 2,600 factory workers in Canada. In November, the company announced plans to end production at the U.S. factories and one in Ontario as part of a major restructuring designed to cut costs and divert resources to development and manufacturing of trucks, SUVs and electric and autonomous vehicles. Legislators and President Donald Trump have hammered GM over the moves. While some of the 3,300 U.S. factory workers will retire, most of the rest will be offered one of 2,700 jobs the company plans to add at factories where production will increase, GM announced on Friday. Some would have to move to other cities for jobs. "Our focus remains on providing interested employees options to transition including job opportunities at other GM plants," CEO Mary Barra said about the factory workers in a statement Friday. That still leaves the majority of the cuts hitting white-collar workers. A small number will be able to transfer to other openings, and those who can't will get help in finding work elsewhere, the company said. Since the announcement, GM has faced withering criticism from Trump, legislators from affected states and the United Auto Workers union, largely over the plant closure plans. Trump has focused on a plant in Lordstown, Ohio, that's slated to stop making compact cars on March 1. He has promised to return factory jobs to the U.S. and Ohio, a key state in his 2020 re-election campaign. GM is cutting six car models as buyers have dramatically shifted their preferences to SUVs and trucks, which will account for about 70 per cent of new-vehicle sales this year. Just six years ago, that number was 51 per cent, so now GM has too many factories making cars. The automaker's attempt to close the factories still has to be negotiated with the United Auto Workers union, which has promised to fight back. Other factories that could go are assembly plants in Detroit and Oshawa, Ontario, and transmission plants in Warren, Michigan, and near Baltimore. Patrick Morrissey, a GM spokesman, said Friday's job announcement had nothing to do with the criticism the company has been facing. The automaker, he said, knew some of the laid-off workers would be placed at other plants, but it didn't know the number of jobs available until this week. "We have opportunities for just about everybody who wants them," Morrissey said. Tommy Wolikow, 36, who was laid off from the Lordstown factory in January of 2017, said he would be interested in openings at a factory in Toledo, Ohio, and a plant in Tennessee. But he's not happy about the prospect of moving. "I want to go back to Lordstown," he said. "The last thing I want to do is uproot my family and leave my parents." Under GM's contract with the union, more senior active workers at the four factories targeted for closure will get first crack at transferring to another plant. There may not be enough jobs for workers with less seniority. Of the 3,300 factory workers slated to lose their jobs, 2,800 are active and 500 are on leave. In addition, there are about 830 who were laid off previously at the Lordstown and Detroit plants. Morrissey said the number of workers placed in new posts depends a lot on how many senior factory workers decide to retire. About 1,200 are eligible. Some workers also could decide they don't want to relocate because of the distance. For instance, Toledo is the closest plant to Lordstown with jobs available, but it's about 160 miles away. GM said jobs will be added mainly at truck and SUV plants including about 1,000 at a Flint, Michigan, factory that makes heavy-duty pickup trucks. The company wouldn't release exact numbers but said several hundred will be added at each of four other assembly plants in Arlington, Texas; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Spring Hill, Tennessee; and Lansing, Michigan. In addition, jobs will be added at a transmission plant in Toledo, Ohio. Another 50 will be added at a casting plant in Bedford, Indiana. Kanye West is back at it on Twitter this morning, this time calling out Ariana Grande for using his Drake beef as promotion for her new single Imagine. In case you missed it, Ariana expressed her thoughts on the Kanye x Drake matter Thursday night by asking the grown men to behave and stop arguing so fans can listen to her and Miley Cyrus new single. Guys, i know there are grown men arguing online rn but miley and i dropping our beautiful, new songs tonight, she tweeted, talking about her new single Imagine and Cyrus Happy Xmas (War Is Over). If yall could please jus behave for just like a few hours so the girls can shine thatd be so sick thank u, she added. Well Kanye apparently didnt appreciate Ariana trying to use his beef with Drake as an attention tool for her to promote her new single. Kanye doesnt think Ariana means any harm by the tweet, but he aint with the shits. I know Ariana said this to be cool and didnt mean no harm but I dont like even slightest level of slight commentary from someone I know loves and respects me, Kanye said. After mentioning Ariana, Kanye then continued with another twitter rant, addressing mental health and how its all love between him, Drake & Travis. People will no longer take mental health for a joke. Drake verbally attacked Cudi when he was in the hospital and went at me after TMZ because I decided to release albums in June Is snowballed and he refused to meet with me but texted my mother in law and did sneak disses on peoples records that I consider family, he continued. All of this foolishness weighed on my mental health so @ArianaGrande you know I got love for you but until youre ready to really make sure everyones ok dont use me or this moment to promote a song, he said. Check out his latest twitter rant (below) and sound off in the comments. What looked like it could have been a benign sample request turned into a whole lot more, as Kanye West and Drake reignited their beef Thursday night. We thought there was a truce but Yes latest Twitter salvo revisited some of the biggest drama in 2018 rap. Dont play with me. he tweeted. You stay too close to be playing all these industry games bro. Whats so shocking is remembering that it wasnt always this way. The relationship between Kanye and Drake was a mix of admiration and competition as the two would engage in a push and pull cycle while both vied to be the center of rap. Below, is a collection of the highs and lows of their relationship. Say What's Real Wind back to February 2009. Say Whats Real was the first time a lot of people heard Drake go in on the 808s and Heartbreak cut but it wasnt his first freestyle over some Kanye production, having rapped over Barry Bonds and Swagga Like Us in the years leading up to 2009. But Say Whats Real established Kanyes link to the universe Drake and 40 would soon build. Kanye West shaped a lot of what I do, as far as music goes. Before I met him, I had the utmost respect for Kanye West, Drake told MTV News in 2009. I'd even go as far as to say he's the most influential person as far as a musician that I'd ever had in my life." Soon enough, Kanye began working with the young Toronto rapper, directing the memorable music video for Best I Ever Had and helping co-produce and co-write Thank Me Later single Find Your Love but it wasnt long until friction began to settle in. 40 told Vibe Magazine in 2010 that he had been cursed out by Yeezy for "stealing his sound and Drake was one of many artists asked to contribute to the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy sessions, writing a verse for All of the Lights that would eventually be cut from the final version. Admiration & Competition 2011 and thereafter would find Drake bouncing between admitting reverence for Kanye, careful to avoid stepping on toes when pressed on this subject matter in interviews or going in the opposite direction and sending passive aggressive shots. A cover story in The Source found him in a mood ready to declare war. My goal is to surpass everything hes accomplished, Drizzy said. I dont want to be as good as Kanye, I want to be better." This extended to talking down the heavily rumoured collaboration album between Kanye and Jay-Z soon to be known as Watch The Throne. "I heard some other guys are coming out with an album, too. Drake said in a Tim Westwood interview in January 2011. There's two other rappers that are coming out with an album together... I don't know where they got that idea." Watch the Throne would have a big effect on Drake, who went as far as admitting Started From The Bottom for 2013s Nothing Was The Same was inspired from listening to Niggas in Paris for the first time and trying to create a hook that bounced with a similar cadence. Rumored Joint Album Wolves While many wondered about Drakes other cold war with Kanyes other rapping partner, by contrast, he and Drake seemed to have a cordial, if not competitive, relationship with one another for years. Drake would bring out Kanye at multiple OVO Fests in this time period, the latter claiming Drakes commercial success was what spurred him on to keep going. These invitations to OVO Fest suggested the two had buried the hatchet. Things would change at the start of 2016 as both rappers started to include subliminals towards the other in freestyles and loosie releases. Nothing too serious of course - Drake just wants us to know he has a bigger pool than Kanye. But hints of a collab project between the two started to fester. In 2015, Kanye said as much. During a Breakfast Club interview that year, Ye revealed: "The 'Wolves' song came from a conversation that me and Drake had, when was gunna do an album together, and the album was called Wolves," he revealed. "I asked him [Drake], and we talked about it, and he said yeah we was gunna do it. And actually, he was sending beats back and forth, I got this one record with Young Thug that I think we gunna put on Rihanna's album." The two continued to collaborate while we waited anxiously for any signs of this joint album. Kanyes 2016 album, The Life of Pablo, features a writing credit from Drake on 30 Hours. That same year, Drizzy reunited The Throne for his own album, VIEWS, with the collaboration "Pop Style." But, the project looked to be lost entirely after a concert rant by Ye implied Drake and DJ Khaled were gaming the radio system, something Drake took offense to. In February 2017, Drake responded in an interview with DJ Semtex with: "Im not really sure what hes referring to half the time. Because in the same breath, I went from beinglike working on a project with him, to him sorta publicly shitting on me and DJ Khaled for being on the radio too much... Im not sure why were the target of your choice that you made that night. And yeah, I accept what youre going through, and I just go and continue working on my own thing." Drake released the retail mixtape More Life in March 2017, with one song on the tracklist garnering attention - Glow, sporting a Kanye feature and recorded in the summer of 2016, ostensibly for the collab album that never happened. Checks Over Stripes In hindsight, 2018 brought an entirely different energy to the Drake-Ye cold war as every grievance these men had towards one another other spilled onto verses, one-off Instagram posts and interviews. Despite Kanyes 2016 stage comments, Drake travelled to Wyoming to work on Ye, contributing a verse and a hook to single Yikes. It was also in Wyoming where Drake allegedly previewed March 14 to Kanye and was given Lift Yourself for use on Scorpion. Kanye made a major concession when he told the New York Times that he felt Drake was the number one rapper. Losing 'ruler,' 'king,' 'crown. It was this thing where its like O.K., youre not the No. 1 rapper, Drakes the No. 1 rapper, but youre the No. 1 with shoes, or this or that. He said. And its like yo, no more No. 1s. Whats the No. 1 tree over there? Just be one of them. All of them are beautiful. Yet Drake later alleged that the release of Lift Yourself, and announcing the rollout of several G.O.O.D. Music albums were intended to interfere with Drake and Scorpion. Nevertheless, it sparked another major falling out between the two. Then theres Pusha T, a man with his own grievances and agenda towards Drake. Infrared on DAYTONA, an album entirely produced by Kanye, contained numerous shots at Drake and his alleged ghostwriting. This was the last straw for Drake, retaliating with Duppy Freestyle, dissing both Pusha and Kanye the same day DAYTONA came out. Rumours started that Kanye was intended to guest on single Nice For What. Several days after Duppy Freestyle, Pusha responded with The Story of Adidon, revealing Drakes secret child to the world. Pusha Ts seismic response didn't see an immediate response from Drake, although according to J. Prince the rapper had an career-ending" record for Kanye West, which Prince convinced Drizzy not to release as it affected "one's livelihood." Despite the setback, he had no problem sending shots Yes way every chance he got this summer. A guest verse on French Montana's "No Stylist" had him warning girls not to wear Yeezys around him. They wanna link when they got no chunes, he later seethed on a Link Up TV freestyle, referring to his songwriting credits for Kanye. They too worried 'bout sellin' out shoes. Another form of subliminals the rapper embraced was emojis, sending Kanye into a tiff during a radio interview where he stated: People be around your family and be in your house and this and that then, they get mad about a beat and send purple demon emojis. I don't play like that, I don't play in that place. Drakes response? More purple emojis. Then, of course, theres SICKO MODE, a now #1 Billboard charting song with some notable subliminals that seem too on-the-nose when you remember he and Kanye live in the same Calabasas neighbourhood. Kanye would apologize in September, denying that he supplied information to Pusha T, taking us to this sudden about-face, where he is now evidently pretty upset about Drakes sneak disses, rumored involvement in the physical altercation that happened at Pusha Ts Toronto show and lastly, Drakes continued emoji usage. Kanye would end his barrage by warning Drake not to make any threats towards him or his family. And we expect that J. Prince order to hold? Is this Yandhi promo or have the two reached a point of animosity thats hard to walk back from? Sound off in the comments. Just minutes after praising Kanye West for being honest about his mental health struggles, SNL comedian Pete Davidson decided to share a troubling and cryptic message hinting at having suicidal thoughts. Taking to his IG, before quickly deleting, Pete wrote,"I really don't want to be on this earth anymore. i'm doing my best to stay here for you but i actually don't know how much longer i can last. All i've ever tried to do was help people. just remember i told you so. Since deleted, Davidsons message seems to be a cry for help. He recently broke up with his fiancee Ariana Grande and had to deal with a controversy on 'SNL' for making a joke about a wounded vet. For what its worth, Davidson went off on trolls online a couple weeks for harassing and bullying him, telling them he wouldn't kill himself no matter how hard they tried to get him to. Who knows where Petes head is at, but its pretty clear he needs some help. Well continue to keep you posted. Check out his since-deleted post (below). [via] Rolling Loud isn't simply an annual festival in Miami anymore. It's now the biggest hip-hop festival in the world with dates in Los Angeles, Southern California, Australia, and more. Today, the festival kicks off their 2018 edition in L.A. with some very special performances. Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi Vert and Post Malone are set to headline while other names attached to this year's edition includes Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign, BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage, Trippie Redd and more. While many people are unfortunately stuck at home, they're currently livestreaming the event from the festival grounds. Los Angeles' Rolling Loud Festival is currently taking place at the Banc of California Stadium Grounds & Exposition Park. Fans who aren't able to be in L.A. right now can peep the livestream vis LiveXLive's website, Rolling Loud's Facebook page, Twice and YouTube. In the middle of the sets, Rolling Loud will include exclusive original content. YesJulz, Jazzy Brown, Speedy Morman and Pierce Simpson will be holding down hosting duties during the live stream. They'll also be conducted interviews with some of your favorite artists from backstage. Aside from the actual performances, Rolling Loud announced a very special surprise for XXXTENTACION fans. The rapper's video for the lead single off of Skins, "BAD!" is set to premiere at some point this weekend at the festival. When Spider-Man joined the MCU, the deal wasn't meant to last forever. Sony scooped up the movie rights for Spidey back in the 90's when Marvel licensed their characters out to help make up for failing comic sales. The X-Men sold to Fox and Spidey went to Sony. Nobody wanted the Avengers. I bet industry executives are slapping themselves over that one. Now that Disney has bought Fox, the X-Men and Deadpool will be at home with Marvel once again. Sony and Disney entered into a joint venture to work with Spider-Man, but that deal will be coming to a close after a trilogy is completed. One would think Sony wants to be greedy and take Spidey back, but Sony executive Amy Pascal wants the wall-crawler to stay in the MCU. I think about crying, Pascal told Vanity Fair when asked about Spidey leaving the MCU. "I can only hope for a future where things work out. Ive known Kevin [Feige, Marvel Studios producer] since he was [Avi Arads] very, very quiet assistant, who for many years sat in that room listening to us and being so much smarter than any of us without any of us realizing. I will say that working with Marvel has been one of the highlights of my professional career." Feige and Pascal's relationship helped broker the deal between Disney and Sony, but the latter's ability to demand when the films drop has caused issues. For example, Sony making sure that Far From Home dropped in 2019 severely screwed with Disney's plan of keeping the details of "dead" Avengers under wraps. Tommie Lee hard earned herself some criticism through her mourning a loved one. The entertainer shared her grief via IG live, telling her viewers that she "missed out" on expressing her appreciation for her lover who recently passed away. She also posted some intimate videos of the pair, under which comments criticized Tommie. Apparently, this boyfriend also happened to have another girlfriend with whom he shared a daughter. Clips appear after the jump. Lee paused her tears to respond to the negative remarks. Someone commented, "He has a damn girlfriend! Damn near his wife! Why are you posting videos all over him?! Have some type of respect for his girlfriend and daughter." Tommie clapped back quickly, "B*tch f*ck you and her. Far as I know, shes the reason hes dead. This my n*gga for life and even death. Eat it up h*e!" Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Meek Mill also addressed Chiko's death on social media: "RIP @chiko_juan you fought a long war with the streets I used to be scared for ya sometimes lol Im sending my prayers to ya mom Rest in peace" https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVkCFfn_8T Bossip reported the details of his passing: Tommies deceased lover is a man named Chiko Juan. Chiko Juan was reportedly killed in a triple shooting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the shooting took place on the night of December 12 at around 9 p.m. in an apartment complex in South Fulton, Georgia. Juan, was killed and two others were wounded. Authorities told the media that the shooting took place after a group of men got into a fight. There are no suspects of the shooting outstanding and that no witnesses have come forward. https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVsettnl0E https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVugXUHE7L WASHINGTON Three years ago, following a series of catastrophic spills, Congress ordered rail tank cars built heavier and stronger while allowing older cars to be retrofitted to improve their safety. But after a train transporting oil in the retrofitted cars crashed in Iowa this summer and spilled more than 230,000 gallons of crude, railroads have questioned the safety of the retrofitted cars moving on their track. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, one of the nations largest railroads, is now charging oil companies and refineries a significant premium to run those refurbished cars on its tracks across the western United States, aimed to push them toward a new and costlier model of tank car known as the DOT117J, which railroads argue is significantly safer. The rates for retrofitted cars were as much as 30 percent above the standard rate for oil trains, petroleum industry officials said. POWER LINES: Transmission is latest front in fossil fuels v. renewables battle More Information . See More Collapse The jump in rates is part of a fight between railroads and the oil industry that comes as pipeline shortages force oil companies to turn to other means of transport to move record crude production to market. In less than 16 months, the latest in a series of older models of tank car that Congress deemed not safe enough to run on the nations rail network must be phased out of service. The bottom line is in order to meet these deadlines we have to have both new and retrofitted cars, said Mike OMalley, president of the Railway Supply Institute, a trade group representing rail car builders. If you just rely on new cars, itll be extremely difficult to meet these deadlines. Ultimately, the railroads resistance to retrofitted cars could cost energy companies more to ship their crude across the nations railways and force them to scrap relatively new tank cars that otherwise might have decades more of service. A BNSF spokesman said that as contracts with shippers expire, the railroad would seek agreements requiring the exclusive uses of the new DOT117J tank cars. Railroads dont own the cars themselves; they are owned by shipping firms or the oil companies themselves. We believe the DOT117J is the appropriate tank car to safely move crude oil in unit trains, the spokesman said in an email. Tank car lessors and builders are getting this message and will bring more DOT117J online. CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN: Houston produces a lot of chlorine so responders need to be prepared Oil train use has declined from the boom year of 2014, but places such as the Permian Basin in West Texas, Bakken shale in North Dakota and Alberta oil sands in Canada remain reliant on rail as they wait for the completion of new pipelines. After years of decline, oil train traffic is starting to tick up again, according to the Energy Department. In September, more than 16.3 million barrels of crude were moved by rail, almost double that of the same month the previous year. Those in the oil sector argue that Congress approved the retrofitted cars on the understanding that replacing tens of thousands of tank cars, many relatively new, was not feasible. Congress deemed these cars safe. (The Transportation Department), after extensive economic and risk analysis, did too, and based on its decision, over 16,000 tank cars have been retrofitted to meet the robust safety standards, Rob Benedict, a senior director at refining trade group American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, said in a statement. BNSFs position has sent shudders not just through the oil sector but other industries, such as chemicals and ethanol, which use those same tank cars to move their products. For now, its just one railroad company and the oil sector, concerns are growing that other railroads might follow BNSFs lead and apply the higher tariffs to other industries moving volatile and toxic liquids, said Jeff Sloan, senior director of regulatory and technical affairs at the American Chemistry Council. RELATED: Thousands of defects found on oil train routes These things have a way of catching on, he said. Rail customers tend not to have a choice. Theres usually just one railroad (available), so they can dictate terms on the rates and service and ancillary services. Theres not a lot of recourse. Congress passed tank car reforms in 2015 after a series of high-profile crashes beginning in 2013, when a runaway oil train plowed into the center of the small Canadian town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, creating a fireball that burned much of the town to the ground and killed 47 people. As the oil shale boom took off in areas such as West Texas and North Dakota where pipeline capacity was limited, producers increasingly turned to rail. By 2014, almost 32 million barrels of crude were being moved by rail each month, a more than eight-fold increase from 2011. With that increase came more crashes and explosions, from North Dakota to Alabama, Oregon to Virginia. Oil tank cars are sold to last up to five decades, and oil companies balked at the prospect of having to replace tank cars that might have been only a couple years old. Congress, working in conjunction with Canadian regulators, decided on a compromise plan: Either buy new cars or upgrade existing cars to meet the new specifications, a significantly cheaper option. The walls of the retrofitted cars measure between .44 inches and .5 inches thick, depending on the type of tank car that was retrofitted, according to the Railway Supply Institute, a trade group representing rail car manufacturers. The new cars have a wall thickness of .56 inches. That might not sound like much, but in a lower-speed crash, that could be the difference between an oil tank car puncturing or not, said Fred Millar, an independent rail safety consultant. Its all relative, of course, he said. If youre traveling in a crude oil train at speeds like 50 or 60 mph, you cannot build a tank car that will withstand puncture at that speed. For now, the Federal Railroad Administration says the industry is still on track to meet its deadlines, with more than 6,500 new or retrofitted tank cars, or 38 percent of the total fleet, in operation as of June 30. About 1,500 of the older model of tanks cars the of the pre-reform tank cars, are scheduled to be out of commission by no later than May 2025. Asked about the dispute over the retrofitted tank cars, an agency spokesman said, That is a commercial decision which falls outside of FRAs purview. james.osborne@chron.com Twitter: @osborneja NAVASOTA My friend Annie Gowen of the Washington Post flew to Texas last week to cover the George H.W. Bush funeral train and found herself in this historic Grimes County town near a bend in the Navasota River. Strolling around downtown and talking to people on the street, standing beside the tracks with respectful residents as the train passed slowly by, the native Kansan and current D.C. resident fell in love with the place. Navasota was so charming I may move there when I retire! she proclaimed via email. Retirement may be some years away, and yet her enthusiasm got me to thinking: Can you get a feel for a place just by hanging around a little while? My wife says you can (and I tend to agree). Laura reminded me that when we were thinking about becoming country gentry a few years ago in the Fayetteville area maybe or La Grange or Round Top that Navasota had a good feel. Shes right, as I discovered earlier this week, although I had to think about what goes into the good-feel mix. For Navasota, it would seem to be a busy downtown that evokes a sense of history; leafy residential neighborhoods with well-kept older homes; a healthy economy; a community that cares about good schools, museums and libraries; a lively local newspaper; and a diverse mix of people who seem to get along with each other (despite the towns Old South past). A towns well-being particularly a small town is no accident, Mayor Bert Miller told me. A Navasota native whos been in the insurance business for many years, Miller has been mayor since 2006. He remembers a time not that long ago when the town was on a downhill slide. Things were stagnant, he recalled as we sat in a meeting room at City Hall, a handsome brick structure that replaced an older City Hall in 2011. Our schools were struggling. Our downtown was barely hanging on. The city had financial problems. Miller credits an able, experienced city manager and a forward-looking city council whose members tend to nuts-and-bolts details taking care of infrastructure, streamlining the permit process for new construction, trying to get ahead of inevitable growth and development. Weve been huge on shop-local, the mayor said. We pound and we pound and we pound. Plans for a Super Walmart that have yet to materialize spurred the shop-local effort. Its not easy, even without Walmart, because College Station with its shopping malls and super markets is only 15 miles away. What I tell people is that a hundred dollars you spend in College Station could pay for another police officer over here, Miller said. I want people to get as much as they can possibly get without leaving Navasota. Its a challenge. Thanks to location, location, location, to quote City Manager Brad Stafford, growth is both on its way and already here. With spillover from the spreading megalopolis an hour to the south and from fast-growing Aggieland just minutes to the north, growth and change has homed in on Navasota, population at the moment about 7,000. Local industry is thriving, as well. Highway 249 will connect us to Tomball when its built, the mayor noted. Weve doubled home-building permits from last year. Suzie Linnenbank is one of the Main Street newcomers. A 30-year resident of Katy before she and her husband Wes moved to nearby Washington-on-the-Brazos, she had long fantasized about owning a small-town book store. She thought she might have to move to a quaint Vermont village to fulfill her dream until she discovered Navasota. On Aug. 3 of this year, she opened Muddy Water Books in an historic building she has since discovered is haunted. Old Papa Gessner [the original owner] is always throwing books off the shelves, she said, laughing. Linnenbank nodded toward busy Washington Avenue beyond the front windows, decorated these days with holiday stacks of books artfully arranged. (So far the ghostly old-timer hasnt objected.) Theres tons of functions, always something going on downtown, she said, and everybody has been so helpful. A year and a half ago, Texas A&M photography professor Glen Vigus and his husband Tim Vigus opened a commercial photography studio in the Giesel House, the oldest commercial building in downtown Navasota. Its one of a number of venerable buildings that have been restored recently. Erected in 1860 by R.H. Giesel and his German-born wife Fannie near the Houston & Texas Central Railroad depot, the three-story building originally housed a hotel and restaurant. In 1871, according to the state historical marker attached to the building, Fannie renamed her restaurant The Good Morning John. A lot of people dont know that in the late 30s, in the years leading up to the war, the old railroad hotel was a Corps dorm, Vigus said. A hundred members of the Aggie Corps of Cadets lived here. Vigus calls Navasota the Little Easy, a play on the New Orleans nickname. Everybodys laid back, everybody gets along, he says, pointing out that the population percentages are 30-30-30, whites, Latinos and blacks. Laid-back and easy-going would not have described Navasota more than a century ago, when the Giesel House shared space along Railroad Street with cotton merchants and livestock sellers, brothels and bars. In 1865, a disgruntled band of Confederate veterans torched a warehouse filled with cotton and gunpowder and nearly burned down the town. Later in the decade, Navasota became a KKK hotbed, and a standoff between masked members and federal soldiers turned violent. By 1908, Navasota was so lawless and ungovernable that city fathers hired a young Texas Ranger named Frank Hamer to be city marshal. For three years, the fearless lawman battled local toughs and gangsters. Once order was restored, he rejoined the Rangers and became nationally known years later for engineering the deadly demise of gangsters Bonnie and Clyde. These days a statue of Hamer on the City Hall lawn looks out over a calm and orderly small town. Since Hamer is confined to his pedestal, Navosotans have another Texas Ranger they can call on if need be. Walker, Texas Ranger aka Chuck Norris has a working cattle ranch not far from town. djholley10@gmail.com Twitter.com/holleynews When Andrea Sims-Kaptchinskie opened the Hardheads Icehouse & Grill, a local, open-air watering hole in Crystal Beach raised on stilts and built in the style of a tiki hut, she knew the risks of running a business on the front lines of a hurricane zone on Bolivar Peninsula. It was only seven years prior to the 2015 grand opening of Hardheads that the peninsula a 27-mile-long barrier formation abutting the Gulf of Mexico suffered cataclysmic damage from Hurricane Ike. More than 3,000 structures on the peninsula were severely damaged by the 17-foot storm surge brought by the Category 2 hurricane, reducing houses and businesses to rubble. As many as 20 people on Bolivar were confirmed dead or missing, and only 102 buildings on the island were left unscathed. Undaunted, Sims-Kaptchinskie and her husband doubled down on their dream of moving to the Gulf coast, leaving six-figure-salary jobs to start a new life. She didnt envision that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed coastal barrier, ostensibly designed to protect them, could eventually force them to give up everything they worked for. So many times people retire so late and somebody passes away, Sims-Kaptchinskie said. We didnt want that to happen to us, so we wanted to live our retirement. We gave up our careers of six figures, cashed in everything, started a business, and now theyre telling me that, Oh, by the way, were just going to scoop you up, push you away, and now youre going to be homeless and you have nothing. Sims-Kaptchinskie is one of many Bolivar Peninsula residents worried about the prospect of being displaced by the proposal to build a coastal spine a 71-mile system of levees and sea gates beginning on high ground north of High Island and running the length of the peninsula along State Highway 87, where businesses like Hardheads are located. It would then cross the entrance of Galveston Bay and run the length of Galveston Island, incorporating the existing Galveston seawall. It would end at San Luis Pass. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office, the non-federal sponsor of the project estimated to cost up to $31 billion, are now holding a 75-day public comment period on the proposal, which ends Jan. 9. A public meeting on the project is scheduled at Crenshaw Elementary School in Crystal Beach on Saturday Dec. 15, and as many as 300 people are expected to show up. Think of the number of businesses and houses that are located just north of Highway 87 in Bolivar, said Mayes Middleton, a Republican elected in November as the state representative for the region. Think of all the properties between (Highway) 87 and the beach that would not be protected under this plan. Its really easy to understand why so many people are so upset about that because theyre not being protected or their propertys being taken. Red line on the map One sunny Saturday afternoon in December, a group of residents gathered at Hardheads to voice their wide-ranging concerns about the coastal-spine proposal, part of which has been dubbed the Ike Dike by some. They shared worries about eminent domain land grabs, public beach access, environmental impacts and whether it would tank their property values. What raised the alarm most among the Bolivar residents at Hardheads was a response to a recent open-records request made by local environmental groups. It showed a concept of the barrier with a red line that would run down Highway 87, potentially leaving many homes vulnerable to storm surge and displacing other residences and businesses. Theyve just put a line on the map without explaining anything, said Winnie Burkett, a Bolivar homeowner and retired bird sanctuary manager. And the line on the map goes right through the cemetery and it goes right through peoples houses. Others worried that the barrier would depreciate the value of land and homes on the peninsula, which is located northeast of Galveston and had some 2,400 residents in 2010. Margaret Lindlow, a Realtor for Keller-Williams and a homeowner on the peninsula, said shes already fielding calls from clients about what the coastal barrier will mean for the real estate market. People are calling, Lindlow said. Every time you talk to a customer or client, they want to know if they should go ahead and sell or get out. Everybodys holding off until we get this settled. Some peninsula residents are reflexively against what they perceive to be a public, taxpayer-funded solution designed primarily to help protect the regions multibillion-dollar petrochemical industry. They believe that Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island are essentially being sacrificed to protect facilities that sit on the western side of Galveston Bay. Experts have warned that a storm surge sweeping into petrochemical complexes could cause between $50 billion and $90 billion in damage. Why is it the taxpayers of the state of Texas and this governments responsibility to protect the petrochemical industry? Its not, said Mark Faggard, an attorney and property owner on the peninsula. Where is our responsibility on Bolivar to protect the Port of Houston Authority? Thats not our responsibility. Faggard scoffed at the notion that the coastal spine is being designed to protect the region which hosts 40 percent of the nations petrochemical industry in the interest of national security. This national security deal, you can take that package of horse manure and wrap it up any way you want to, because thats what it is, he said. There was no national security issue in any previous hurricane. Willing to take risks The philosophical opposition extends to homeowners who knowingly took the risk of building or owning property directly in a flood zone. Residents on Bolivar are required to build their homes at a height of 16 feet, and many build them higher as a precaution. Matt Pace, a local homeowner and owner of Tricoast Insurance Services, said the homes that have been built since Hurricane Ike devastated the region are built to withstand that level of storm surge. We chose to build down here, we take the risk, we know what weve got, Pace said. We know what hurricane storm surge is; were insured properly, hopefully. Its not up to the feds to protect me from my stupid decisions. But the issues raised by Bolivar residents go well beyond provincial concerns. Coastal Texans are fiercely protective of their public beach access rights, and wonder whether the coastal spine might impede that access. And there are concerns that even if the spine is built on the southern end of the peninsula, there is still a possibility that it will leave the north side residents facing Galveston Bay as sitting ducks for an inland surge. If we had a Cat 4 or Cat 5 hurricane pushing water across the bay, we could still get a very devastating storm surge on Galveston Bay, even with the proposed plan, said Hal Needham, a Bolivar resident and scientist who specializes in data-driven flood risk analysis for coastal communities. So I think more localized protection, localized levees like ones on the west end of Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, those would really protect those communities no matter what type of storm hit. Prepared to fight In the lead-up to public meetings in Winnie, Galveston and Crystal Beach, the Army Corps of Engineers and General Land Office have worked to allay the concerns of local residents, particularly as it pertains to issues such as the number of homes that would be displaced, either through eminent domain or buyouts, to build the coastal spine. During a media briefing recently at the Army Corps Galveston district office, General Land Office officials insisted that eminent domain would only be enforced as a last resort. Kelly Burks-Copes, the Army Corps project manager for the coastal barrier study, also insisted in a separate interview that the records showing mapping shapefiles with a red line showing the barrier alignment were conceptual. The alignment could change based on feedback during the public comment period, and could even be considered as green infrastructure through a series of dunes rather than an actual barrier or levee. What was not clear, I guess, when we (responded to the open-records request) was that that line was first of all, conceptual, and second of all, was just a line, Burks-Copes said. Levees are bigger, theyre actually wider. You have to have right entry easements and that kind of thing. It could be a wall, and then it would be smaller. Burks-Copes added that the Army Corps has modeled for storm-surge scenarios like the one outlined by Needham, and that part of the cost of the coastal spine project will include ecosystem restoration efforts on the north side of Bolivar Peninsula to mitigate wind-driven storm surge from Galveston Bay. If we do combinations on the front and the back side of this island, we should be able to reduce the risks, maybe not 100 percent entirely, but we can reduce the risks of flooding damages as a result of the storms going across landscape and getting back into the bay, she said. And yet, many in Bolivar remain staunchly opposed to the project, even with assurances from the Corps of transparency and consideration for the issues they are raising. Kathy Hazlett, a homeowner and retired paralegal, said she is prepared to take the fight all the way to Washington D.C. where the final plan must be authorized by Congress if thats what it takes to stop it. I bought the insurance, I pay my taxes, I do whatever I need to do, Hazlett said. But dont come in here and tell me youre going to change it with my betterment in mind. Youre not changing it for my betterment, and I will fight you if Im the only one thats there. And I think everyone here is that committed. nick.powell@chron.com Adalee couldnt keep still in her mothers arms, flailing in a pair of red and green bell-bottom pants and a shirt boasting that she was the Best Gift Ever. To her new adoptive parents, the shirt couldnt have been more appropriate on the day when the 1-year-old would officially be welcomed into their family. She and 10 other Houston-area foster children found their forever homes on Friday with a joyous series of court proceedings that felt, to some, like a Christmas that had come early. Im in shock still, because were just waiting and waiting and waiting, and then shes yours, said Adalees adoptive mother, Manderly Ringor. Nine families crammed into a courtroom at the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center for the event, surrounded by friends and rejoicing in celebration at each adoption. The excitement was almost palpable, such as when a court employee walked in the room and asked, Are you here for adoption? New father Aaron Walker raised his arms and let out a cheer. He and his wife, Katie, were the first of the day. After fostering their 2-year-old son for almost his entire life, the couple stood in front of Judge Julie Crow with wide smiles. Katie and Aaron Walker became foster parents with the hope that they could offer a safe place for children who needed temporary care. In Jacobs case, reunifying him with his birth mother wasnt possible, Katie Walker said, so they were overjoyed at the ability to give him a permanent home. I get teared up, just thinking about it, Katie Walker said. Its life-changing. To be that for him, its a privilege. Justin and Manderly Ringor had fostered Adalee almost from birth, they said. As the judge granted the adoption, about a dozen family members and friends clapped and joined in shouting Hurrah! Adalee, with a ponytail on the top of her head and a pacifier halfway out of her mouth, looked around and put her hands together, mimicking the celebration. Rylee and Zechariah, fraternal twins who are almost 2 years old, were dressed to impress. In a black and bright-pink dress, Rylee sat in her adoptive fathers arms with a new stuffed hedgehog, given to her for the occasion. Zechariah, in a baggy suit, hung upside-down from his mothers waist as the judge heard their case. His new older sister tickled his stomach, and he shrieked in glee. The twins will join a family with five other children, one of whom is adopted. Were just relieved that its finally done, and we can officially tell everyone that theyre ours, father Troy Kerr said. The adoptions on Friday were just some of the many that occur each year in the greater Houston area, and there are always many more permanent homes that are needed, said Tejal Patel, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in the Houston region. In the 2018 fiscal year, 920 children were adopted in Harris County and the 12 surrounding counties, Patel said. Currently, 820 children in the area are in need of adoptive homes, and 657 children are already in homes where the families plan to adopt them. Patel said the adoptions are always heart-warming to her, especially knowing how much some of the children have already struggled early in life. For them to start over with someone new who wants to love them and care for them, its amazing, Patel said. The journey for Tamasin Artru and her wife Norma Ludwig has been a long one, they said. When Crow declared 2-year-old Alex officially adopted, Artru did a shimmy on the courtroom floor. She and Ludwig moved behind the judge for a photo, holding Alex close. As they posed, Alex clutched his new teddy bear and cracked a smile. Its amazing, Artru said, describing their happy moment. It was like, Finally. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Photo: The Canadian Press Tributes are placed on a table in an apartment block in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Friday Dec. 14, 2018, where American student Sarah Papenheim lived. Papenheim, a 21-year-old psychology student at Erasmus University, was fatally stabbed at her home on Wednesday. Police say a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in her death. An American psychology student who was fatally stabbed in her Netherlands apartment had texted a friend in the U.S. six days before her death, saying her roommate threatened to kill three people. Sarah Papenheim, 21, told her friend she was going to have to go to police. The friend, who shared the text messages with The Associated Press on Friday, isn't sure if she ever did. "I was concerned," Papenheim's friend, Adam Pryor, said about receiving that text on Dec. 6. "She said she was going to the police. ... It didn't feel like she was in danger." Papenheim, a native of Minnesota, was stabbed Wednesday at her apartment near Erasmus University in the port city of Rotterdam, where she had been studying since 2016. Police tried unsuccessfully to revive her after arriving at her home following reports of an argument. A 23-year-old man was arrested the same day at a railway station in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven. His identity has not been released, but on Friday, he appeared before an investigating judge in a closed hearing and was ordered detained for two more weeks while the investigation continues. In her Dec. 6 text messages to Pryor, Papenheim was unhappy and was venting about working full time and attending school full time. She then said: "My roommate told me hes gonna kill 3 people. So im gonna have to go to the police." Papenheim's mother, Donee Odegard, told the Star Tribune in Minneapolis that the suspect arrested was her daughter's roommate and that he reportedly had been "getting more and more angry" in recent weeks. Odegard said her daughter was studying psychology with a focus on suicide; Sarah's brother took his own life three years ago. Amid concerns about the suspect's mental health, Odegard told her daughter: "'Get out of there,' but she wouldn't listen to me," she told the Star Tribune. Papenheim was a drummer in the Minneapolis blues scene. Pryor, a 19-year-old keyboardist, said he and Papenheim met at a jam session a few years ago and immediately connected because of their young ages and love of music. "Most people my age don't know what blues music is, much less can play it and much less can play like she did," he said. "She was just so special in so many ways." Pryor said Papenheim was naturally gifted and had book smarts and street smarts, and the death of her brother was always on her mind. Pryor said Papenheim also had a big heart and tried to help everyone she could. She loved the Minneapolis music scene and it hurt her to be away from it. Pryor recalled one moment last summer when the two were at a show at a Minneapolis venue. Papenheim was called on stage to play with some of the biggest names in town, and although she was nervous, "she went up there and just nailed it." Pryor said that was a big moment for Papenheim, who was shaking with excitement afterward. Pryor, who studies electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said Papenheim's slaying hasn't really hit him yet, but when he tries to listen to music, memories of her come flooding back. "It's so unbelievable," he said. "I don't know how this is real." In Rotterdam, tributes including flowers and candles were left inside Papenheim's apartment building. Erasmus University said it was shocked by her death and expressed condolences to her family and friends. Fikret Egemen, the owner of a kebab restaurant where Papenheim worked part time, fought back tears as he recalled how she immediately fit into his team when she started working for him in September. "From day one, she picked up everything. She was like family," he said. "She always worked with a smile, all day long, no problem. Angel." The Star Tribune reported that musicians are planning a concert to help fund the repatriation of Papenheim's body. A Gofundme page for donations has raised over $36,000. HCSO The teenager who allegedly opened fire into a moving car, hitting a 7-year-old in the process, turned himself into authorities Thursday. Omarion Philip Bailey, 19, is now in the Harris County Jail on felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct and discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle charges, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. What timing. Not only did U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor conveniently wait until after the midterm elections to strike down the entirety of the Affordable Care Act, he waited until the second-to-last day of the 2019 signup period. In a potentially devastating opinion for the U.S. health care system, the Fort Worth federal judge held that the law's individual mandate was no longer constitutional after Congress a year ago eliminated the penalty for not having health insurance. The U.S. Supreme Court had upheld the individual mandate as constitutional under Congress' taxing power in 2012. No tax, according to O'Connor, no constitutionality. It's an argument that feels paper-thin. This district court didn't issue an injunction, so the nation will have to wait for the inevitable appeals to see if we lose all the protections in the groundbreaking law. We'll wait to see whether insurance companies will once again be allowed to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions or sell plans that don't cover core medical needs. Millions of Americans are left wondering if our nation is going to be thrust back into an age before the ACA, also known as Obamacare, when medical bankruptcies were skyrocketing and people were afraid to change their jobs for fear being denied coverage. If you're one of these Americans, feel free to thank Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Paxton who is currently under indictment for fraud now bears the burden of helping his fellow Texans understand what happens if the ACA is eventually struck down for good. What is his plan for guaranteeing that the health, perhaps even the lives, of those we love most isn't left at the whim of insurance companies that once penalized pre-existing conditions as a profit model? Plenty of Texans, Democrats and Republicans alike, would like to know. A Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 80 percent of Republicans think insurers should be prohibited from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. The percent of uninsured Texans dropped from 22.1 percent in 2013 to 16.6 percent in 2016. How does Paxton propose the state prevent a backslide if the ACA is eliminated? Of course Paxton doesn't have an answer. Few Republicans do. The vision for better health care coverage comes exclusively from those advocating for a more robust and universal system, such as the HR 676 Medicare-for-all bill in the House and the Senate bill supported by U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke. The ACA was originally intended to serve as a compromise policy. Its market-based fundamentals and reliance on individual responsibility stem from a proposal by the conservative Heritage Foundation and were put into place by Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts. Despite those intentions, the ACA quickly became tainted by partisanship As the fight continues, it's becoming clear that this compromise plan must be a stepping stone to truly universal coverage. The U.S. health care system is currently a hodgepodge of different policies: single-payer Medicare and Medicaid for the elderly and poor, socialized government health care for military veterans, and a uniquely American for-profit health care system for everyone else. It is a system with too many gaps and leaves too many Americans without affordable coverage. Let the lawyers defend the ACA in court; it is the job of Congress to pursue something better. [Thumbs up] Today is the last day to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act for 2019. Miss the date and youll have to wait until next November. Go to healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to make sure youre covered. [Thumbs down] The good book says in Luke that there is nothing kept secret that will not come to light. Its a message Jerrell Altic, a former minister at Houstons First Baptist Church, should take to heart after surrendering to authorities earlier this week on theft charges. Church officials finally got wise to his blatant violations of the Eighth and Ninth Commandments and called authorities. The one-time missions pastor allegedly pilfered at least $823,937 in church funds over six years. In what can only be described as the height of irony, he allegedly spent the money to pay for a doctorate degree in divinity. If convicted, he faces up to 99 years behind bars. As he goes through his fiery trials, we hope Altic remembers this golden nugget: The love of money is the root of all evil. [Thumbs up] Houstonians wont have to wait any longer to get full representation in the state Senate Carol Alvarado won the District 6 special election without needing a runoff, saving everyone a good deal of time and money. But the 2018 midterms arent quite over. Now begins the race to fill Alvarados former seat in the state House. [Thumbs down] That state Senate race had the lowest turnout for a special election since at least 1996, with an unofficial count of 15,084 voters. [Thumbs up] Everybody knows you shouldnt run with scissors and going on a spacewalk with sharp, pointy shears probably isnt the best idea either. That didnt stop a pair of Russian cosmonauts from slicing into a Soyuz spacecraft during a chaotic and bizarre eight-hour mission. Their goal was to find a small leak, but the whole procedure sent shredded insulation floating off into orbit and had mission control reminding the space men to put safety first. Or, as one cosmonaut said as they were cutting through the orbital module: Please be careful; my hand is there." [Thumbs up] The Texas Department of Corrections has announced plans to become the first corrections agency in the country to make dentures for inmates using 3Dprinters instead of relying on traditional and expensive orthodontics. No need for a sharp tip from an insider mole. Our incisive reporter Keri Blakinger exposed how toothless Texas inmates were forced to slurp down liquified lunches for their meals. Were glad Blakinger didnt let up until she got to the root of the story. Thank you to Rachel Fairbank for her thoughtful op-ed, Houstons history, gone with the wind, about the recent demolition of the 1920s structure that Clark Gable lived in. Its quirky, unusual architecture was certainly a standout in the Montrose area. The best protection for a historic structure is to have it designated a protected landmark under the city's Historic Preservation Ordinance. This designation will help provide permanent protection. Likewise, having a neighborhood designated a city historic district will provide a way to help keep a sense of community and connection. The city currently has 22 historic districts, which include approximately 6,600 properties and about 400 individually designated structures. I would encourage contacting the city Historic Preservation office in the Planning and Development Department for more information: historicpreservation@houstontx.gov Minnette Boesel, chair, Houston Archeological & Historical Commission Urgent care Regarding Tomlinson: Free standing ERs make money by confusing people (HoustonChronicle.com, Wednesday): The trick is to go first to the website of your insurance carrier and look there for one that is in-network. Jehan-Francois Paris, posted via Facebook Safe homes Regarding Doctors made cars safer, why not guns? (Outlook, Thursday): Cheers to James McCarthy for pushing back against the NRAs outrageous tweet calling for doctors to "stay in their lane." It is shocking that 661 gunshot victims, adults and children, were treated in Memorial Hermann hospitals last year. They could all be dead had not the doctors saved many of their lives. Cars have been made safer. Its time that guns also be made safer, and who knows more about these tragedies than the doctors who treat their wounds? The gun lobby and Congress should work to make guns safer just like we made cars safer many years ago. The fact that having a gun in a home triples the risk of suicide and doubles the risk of homicide tells me that homes without guns are much safer places to live than homes with guns. So, be smart and be safer by keeping guns out of your home. Jimmy Dunne, Houston Israel and borders Regarding American Jews well understand migrants (Outlook, Thursday): If the authors of the op-ed were to profess their unconditional support for open borders for Israel, I would be more inclined to listen to their arguments on why Americans should feel obligated to accept unfettered Third World immigration to the United States. Mollie Osborne, Houston Sound of music Regarding Council OKs live music deal for airports (City/State, Thursday): I did to giggle a little when seeing this headline. It reminded me of a scene in the movie Titanic where the captain of the ill-fated ship orders some orchestra members to play music for the doomed passengers and crew. With the city dealing with shortages of income to pay firefighters and police and deal with unfunded liabilities, it seems to me that this revenue stream might have a better use than what Council has approved. James Connealy, Baytown Speculation over whether Rep. Beto ORourke should run for president began early in his campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz, and has only intensified since his nail-bitingly close defeat last month. So far, that debate has focused on the wrong things. Commentators have seized on ORourkes charisma and ability to draw and inspire large crowds. But what about the actual policies his Senate race was built on? Understanding these core beliefs will give us a much better measure of the value an ORourke candidacy would add to the race for the Democratic nomination for president. Notably, the El Paso representative campaigned on an ambitious criminal justice reform agenda. He advocated for abolishing private, for-profit prisons, legalizing marijuana and ending the war on drugs ideas he has championed since before being elected to Congress six years ago. In his run for Senate, he also campaigned on eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, ending the use of bail bonds that criminalize poverty and for more housing and job-search support for former inmates as they transition out of prison and back into their communities. Although he wouldnt be the first or the only candidate to support such ideas, ORourkes candidacy could ensure that criminal justice reform is high on the 2020 Democratic agenda. ORourke also took an important step toward getting corporate money out of politics: He rejected corporate PAC contributions. The choice of whether to take PAC money is likely to be a central issue in the primary. Were he to run, ORourke would be one of the earliest candidates to have refused corporate PAC money, helping to set a standard for the Democratic field. And ORourke campaigned passionately on Medicare for all. On the trail, he expressed exasperation with piecemeal solutions, telling o ne audience , Im beyond the meaningless, lets work in a bipartisan way to fix [the Affordable Care Act] where its not working. ORourke also demonstrated his fluency with the details of competing Medicare expansion proposals, explaining that he did not support a House version because it does not reimburse for-profit hospitals, and instead supported Bernie Sanders Senate proposal , which does. These are a few examples. A longer discussion of ORourkes record would note his unique ability to talk about immigration, having grown up and lived in the border city of El Paso, which he represented in Congress for three terms. These roots have helped ORourke succinctly rebut Donald Trumps fearmongering, observing, El Paso is one of the safest cities in the United States due in large part to our immigrant population, not in spite of it. While plenty of pundits have compared ORourke to President Obama on the basis of their charisma, rhetoric and appeal to younger voters, those comparisons dont always extend to policy. ORourke took many stances contrary to the Obama administration, including opposition to arming Syrias rebels . He also called the use of force in Libya a factor in the destabilization of the Middle East and the rise of ISIS, and opposed National Security Agency surveillance that occurred on Obamas watch. Of course, none of this resolves serious concerns about some of ORourkes positions, as raised by journalist Zaid Jilani , columnist Elizabeth Bruenig and others. And we should heed journalist Jill Filipovics call to examine the assumptions and biases that give us Beto-mania while conveniently ignoring or actively kneecapping the great many competent, talented, progressive women who could be just as exciting. Still, ORourke campaigned on actual policies and principles not just rhetoric and charisma. Hes not the only candidate among the likely 2020 Democratic field to champion these policies, but ORourke has consistently and successfully raised the profile of these issues. He also proved he had the political courage to do so unabashedly in all 254 counties of Texas. As a presidential candidate, ORourke would rightly ensure that criminal justice reform, campaign finance reform and Medicare for everyone are prioritized by the Democratic Party. Perhaps most intriguing of all, ORourke could amplify the debate on ending the failed war on drugs in a field of former prosecutors and supporters of that war. Inspirational rhetoric alone will not defeat Donald Trump in 2020. Democrats need ideas and solutions that people care about. Whether you are making the case for or against ORourke or any candidate, really lets focus less on rhetoric and more on an actual vision and platform for our future. Freeland is an attorney and Democratic activist. You can follow him on Twitter at @policyjunkie. Discussion of Central American migration tends to focus on the plight of adult migrants and their children when they reach the U.S. border and request political asylum, the debate over the legitimacy of these asylum claims, and the migrants perilous journey from Central America to the United States. How much responsibility does our nation bear for the current dismal state of affairs in Central Americas Northern Triangle, where so many adults and children are fleeing toward the U.S. border with Mexico? This region, comprised of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, is plagued by weak political institutions, endemic corruption, severe poverty and some of the highest murder rates in the world, with one in three residents living in a gang-infested neighborhood. The United States has a sordid history of intervention in the political, economic and social affairs of these three nations spanning more than 150 years. Our actions over the past 75 years have been especially damaging to their political, economic and social development. For example, in Guatemala the U.S. orchestrated the overthrow of the democratically elected government of President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 and backed the brutal dictatorships of the late 1970s and early 1980s that murdered more than 150,000 innocent civilians and forcibly displaced an additional million. In El Salvador the United States directly supported dictatorships in the 1970s and early 1980s, where the use of death squads caused widespread human rights violations, ranging from unlawful detention to the torture and murder of tens of thousands of politicians, union members and activists who were peacefully advocating for democracy and social justice. The United States established covert bases for anti-Sandinista Nicaraguan rebels the Contras in Honduran territory during the 1980s while simultaneously ramping up the presence of U.S. troops in the country, leading some to jokingly refer to it as the USS Honduras. In 2009 the U.S. government tacitly supported the military coup that ousted democratically elected President Mel Zelaya after he called for a referendum as a prelude to Honduras possibly lifting its ban on immediate presidential re-election. Just seven years later a compliant high court removed this same ban so the U.S.-backed president could run for re-election. U.S. actions also contributed to the rise of powerful and violent criminal gangs in the region that are largely responsible for its sky-high murder rates and the perpetual insecurity suffered by much of the citizenry. To put the murder rates in context, in El Salvador there are 60 murder victims for every 100,000 inhabitants. Its 44 in Honduras and 26 in Guatemala. In the United States there are five murders per 100,000 inhabitants, and in Canada just two. As the United States funded and armed both rebels and the governments in these Central American nations during the 1970s and 1980s, thousands fled to America. Some of their children, as they became teenagers and young adults, founded the notorious MS-13 gang in Los Angeles, and by the 1990s MS-13 and related gangs like Barrio 18 were viewed by the FBI as such threats that the U.S. began deporting thousands of gang members to their countries of origin, particularly El Salvador. Once in the Northern Triangle, they took advantage of the fertile conditions created by weak political and legal institutions, corruption and abject poverty to establish a vast criminal enterprise. Today, the Northern Triangle represents the largest source of legal asylum seekers and unauthorized immigrants crossing into the United States. To reduce this flow it would be far more effective to focus on ameliorating the conditions that cause around 200,000 Central Americans to flee to our border each year, rather than spending billions on border security. Most of these migrants quickly surrender to Border Patrol agents and request asylum, and added security wont deter them. Nor do punitive actions like separating families serve as much of a deterrent. Many parents, while sickened by the separation, consider their children to be safer in the U.S. shelters than in their Guatemalan, Honduran and Salvadoran homes. An effective Northern Triangle Marshall Plan would contain three main components. Judicial and law enforcement reforms and investments would strengthen the police, courts and prison system. Political reforms would bolster the capacity and transparency of democratic institutions. Investment in education, health care and job creation would lift families out of poverty. The Northern Triangle governments are endeavoring to implement several changes along these lines, but lack the resources to carry out the deep multi-faceted reform the region desperately needs. The Northern Triangle is a political, economic and social mess; but its a mess the United States helped create. And, even if one believes we owe these countries nothing, the only realistic way to significantly reduce the flow of unauthorized Central American migrants is to improve conditions in their homelands. Absent that, or a profound change in U.S. immigration and asylum law, for the foreseeable future thousands of Central Americans will continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border each week, request asylum and then in a majority of cases be imprisoned at taxpayer expense or released for up to two years pending the adjudication of their asylum claim. Jones is the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policys Political Science Fellow at Rice University. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Photo: The Canadian Press Activists dressed like Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, face riot police officers during a yellow vests protest Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 in Paris. A strong police presence deployed in Paris on Saturday for planned demonstrations by the "yellow vest" protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after protests in previous weekends turned violent. Scuffles broke out between protesters and police in central Paris on Saturday on the sidelines of a largely peaceful demonstration, during the fifth straight weekend of protests by the "yellow vest" movement. Riot police fired small amounts of tear gas to disperse groups of protesters who headed down the side streets off the French capital's famed Champs-Elysees boulevard, some with traffic still flowing. About 8,000 police and 14 armoured vehicles were deployed in Paris for the demonstration, after similar protests in recent weekends turned violent, with protesters smashing and looting stores and setting up burning barricades in the streets. Saturday's protest was far calmer in the morning, with riot police blocking off groups of protesters who attempted to disperse in side streets. At least 21 people were detained in Paris before the protests began, police said. Some protesters voiced anger at being restricted to a few blocks by police. "We're surrounded by CRS," said protester Lionel Toussaint, 53, who works in the heritage industry, referring to riot police. "I'm not armed. I only have Kleenex." The "yellow vest" movement, which takes its name from the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must all have in their vehicles, emerged in mid-November as a protest against fuel tax increases. It soon morphed into an expression of rage about the high cost of living in France and a sense that President Emanuel Macron's government is detached from the everyday struggles of workers. Without any clear form or leadership, the movement has attracted a wide range of disgruntled people across the political spectrum, including some violent militants. "Respect my existence or expect my resistance," read one banner held aloft by protesters who converged on the Champs-Elysees. Pierre Lamy, a 27-year-old industrial worker wearing a yellow vest and with a French flag draped over his shoulders, said the protests had long stopped being about the fuel tax and had turned into a movement for economic justice. "We're here to represent all our friends and members of our family who can't come to protest, or because they're scared," he said as he walked to the demonstration with three friends. "Everything's coming up now. We're being bled dry." Max Werle, a 56-year-old father of nine, said the protests were his first-ever demonstrations. "I'm here for my children," he said, adding that his daughter had given birth in a fire truck on Monday because the local hospital in Loiret outside Paris had closed years ago. The office administrator said the protesters were there "to defend our cause. ... It's not a left and right thing." "Yellow vest" protests were also being held in other parts of France, with no violent incidents reported by mid-day. On Friday, Macron called for calm during the demonstrations, and the French government reiterated the call online for demonstrators to remain peaceful. "Protesting is a right. So let's know how to exercise it," the government tweeted from its official account, with a 34-second video which begins with images of historic French protests and recent footage of "yellow vest" protesters rallying peacefully before turning to violence. "Protesting is not smashing. Protesting is not smashing our heritage. Protesting is not smashing our businesses. ... Protesting is not smashing our republic," the video says. Macron acknowledged in a speech earlier this week that he is partially responsible for the anger displayed during the protests, and has announced measures aimed at improving workers' spending power. He has so far refused to reinstate a wealth tax that was lifted to spur investment in France. But on the streets of Paris, some protesters were saying the president still didn't understand them. "I think that Macron isn't in touch with what the yellow vests want. I think the yellow vests need to continue speaking out and the problem is that in the countryside," said Julie Verrier, a protester from Picardie in Normandy in northern France who had been participating in protests there for the past three weeks and had travelled to Paris for Saturday's demonstration. Carol Bohem never considered herself an activist. But when she read the UN Global Migration Compact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed on Dec. 10, she could not stand on the sidelines any longer. So, Bohem helped organize a Yellow Vest rally in Vernon. The Yellow Vest Movement started in France as a way to protest government, and quickly gained steam around the world. Bohem said she became an activist out of concern the migration compact will have a negative effect on Canada. Bohem has poured over the compact and while it says the agreement is non-binding, she feels it will be binding and will open a door Canada cannot close and will allow groups outside of the nation to determine how many migrants are allowed into Canada and when. I spent my life reading corporate legal documents and when I read this document, my heart stopped, she said. Under this new global compact for migration and that's the important word, it's not immigration, it's migration that it will be an international entity that controls who, what, where, when migrants come in and Canadian citizens will have no say. Bohem said the movement is encouraging all citizens to become educated on the compact to see for themselves the negative impact it will have on Canada. The Yellow Vest movement is not aligned with any political party and supports legal immigration, while denouncing illegal and irregular immigration. The newest Starbucks Reserve Roastery, in New York City's Meatpacking District, opened at 7 a.m. Friday. At 6:59, the line stretched around the corner, and TV crews gathered as the crowd shouted a countdown. When the doors opened, employees cheered and applauded, and the first customers poured into the store. The Roastery is Starbucks on steroids: a 23,000-square-foot wonderland for coffee lovers--and a fascinating lesson in customer service for connoisseurs of the ubiquitous coffee chain's business model. Here are six of the unusual features of the upscale outpost: 1. It's huge. The "immersive coffee experience" in New York is Starbucks's fourth Roastery, and its second in the U.S. (Two more are set to open in Chicago and Tokyo next year.) The Roastery, which is across the street from Chelsea Market and Google's New York headquarters, employs about 300 people and has three levels, with two coffee bars and an outpost of Italian bakery chain Princi. Two giant roasters stir coffee beans slowly in front of an enormous copper cask, and copper and glass tubes snake across the ceiling, ferrying beans to glass silos at each coffee bar. A copper and bronze sculpture of the Siren on the company's logo, created by a local artist, adorns one wall. 2. It has a bar. Not only does the Roastery feel like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory crossed with a mid-century cocktail bar, it also has an actual cocktail bar on the upper level. The Arriviamo Bar debuted in the Milan Roastery and features coffee- and tea-infused drinks like the Nocino Notte, "made with cold brew coffee, barrel-aged gin and black truffle salt." (On the opening morning, the bar was closed to customers. CNBC host Jim Cramer was there to shoot an interview with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi about Starbucks's newly announced delivery service with UberEats.) 3. It's expensive. Along with classic espresso drinks, the Roastery offers specialty drinks, tasting flights, and a variety of coffee-brewing methods that aren't on offer at typical Starbucks locations. Accordingly, the prices are higher. A cardamom latte, which isn't available at regular locations in the U.S., costs $8.50 ($9.25 with tax). An Americano (espresso with hot water) costs $4.50, a nitro cold brew costs $7, and a flight of three siphon-brewed coffees costs $35. 4. There's table service. The Roastery's two coffee bars have restaurant-style menus instead of menu boards, and customers can either order at the counter or sit at a table and wait to be served. Baristas circulate, wearing chambray shirts, khaki trousers, and an assortment of retro fedoras and newsboy caps instead of the iconic green Starbucks apron. And, of course, there's free Wi-Fi; one customer quickly settled in with a laptop on the lower level. 5. There's a lot of merch. Practically every Starbucks location sells branded Starbucks mugs and bags of coffee beans, but at the Roastery, several tables on the main floor display clothing, glassware, art, and dozens of gifts branded with the Starbucks Reserve logo. At a counter in the corner, customers can buy a wide variety of beans in bulk to take home. 6. It's across the street from another Starbucks. It has been a strange year for womens rights. Though #MeToo saw the unravelling of some of the most prominent careers in Hollywood, the journey towards ending sexual violence has hit some speed bumps. In the UK, a survey found that most people dont know what constitutes sexual assault, while a womans lace thong was considered as evidence against her in a recent rape trial. These are just some symptoms of a culture in which rape victims, the majority of whom are women, are not believed and subsequently fear coming forward. Its timely, then, to see a hyperbolic version of this trajectory unfold on screen, which is what writer Jess Brittain has done with the second series of Clique, the smart BBC3 thriller exploring a world in which men are fed up with being portrayed as the victim. Instead of embracing feminism, they view it as an extremist movement, and vehemently reject it. Needless to say, this framework is unsettling and, at times, verges on dystopian: Its a heightened version of reality, as Brittain puts it. In Clique, which concludes today, we see a university student named Rayna publicly vilified for accusing her peer, the son of a politician, of rape. She is doubted by everyone, even her closest female allies, and is ostracised as a result. As the characters desperately try to puzzle out what happened to Rayna, conflicting narratives and plot twists emerge. The result is a powerful piece of drama that captures the nuance of making an accurate judgement in rape trials. Publicly vilified: Imogen King as Rayna accuses a politicians son of rape (Courtesy of Balloon Entertainment / BBC Studios) The most valuable thing about Clique, though, is not its gripping storyline, which becomes so complex by the end that you feel like youve just taken a trigonometry exam, but how provocative its societal tensions are. As Raynas credibility drops, far-right activism rises. This is thanks to a website named Twitcher, which was set up by a group of charismatic and attractive young men who use Raynas claim as propaganda to promote their own misogynistic agenda. Twitcher seduces its young, male audience by framing itself as a renegade organisation. The people who work there, most of whom are students, troll female politicians online, satirise liberal views with viral videos and hijack feminist marches. Articles on Twitchers website include The truth behind public service media and Why the patriarchy really doesnt exist. Jyuddah James as Aubrey turns his back on the men's movement (Courtesy of Balloon Entertainment / BBC Studios) Twitchers aggression culminates with a March for Men in the final episode, where phrases like She could ruin your life too and Stop the liars are splashed across placards with Raynas face on them. This is the last straw for Aubrey, the only black man working for Twitcher, who confesses that they probably only kept him around because it prevents them from looking like Nazis. The values Twitcher espouses might seem extreme, but are not too dissimilar from the agendas of mens rights activists and incels, who have been galvanised by the #MeToo movement. However, creating a show with real-life influences was never Brittains intention. In fact, she started writing Clique before #MeToo took off. In fact, you only have to look back to last July, when the sexual assault allegations made against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh prompted President Trump to declare it a very scary time for young men in America. Or you could look to the recent rise of consent videos, which see men asking women to record their verbal agreement before having sex. I think in the UK we look to the US and see misogynist, often right-wing, panic becoming more mainstream, and we feel an immense amount of anxiety about that, Brittain adds. That anxiety plays a large role in the series. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up While Brittain stresses that #MeToo is something she fully supports, she explains how, as a writer, it became crucial to examine the backlash that has emerged in recent months. Im fascinated by how polarising it has proven to be and the possible reasons behind that, she says. What makes men, and some women, question or doubt the account of assault survivors? At times, Brittains script encourages the viewer to doubt Rayna, too. Her testimony changes about what happened on the night she claims she was raped, and her flirtatious and wily character undermines stereotypical understandings of how a rape victim should behave, as Brittain explains. Prime suspect: Leo Suter plays Jack in the psychological drama (Courtesy of Balloon Entertainment / BBC Studios) In order to explore how assault survivors are picked apart and used, and often subjected to a trial by public opinion, I wanted to depict a real and complex character that could make the characters, and the audience, doubt themselves. I think a lot of women believe that to question these kind of areas is to risk somehow jeopardising the feminist movement, she adds. Clique is about my confusion and anxiety not my decidedness. But if the show provokes a conversation between friends that they might have been worried to have, then I think thats a good thing. Watch Clique series two on BBC iPlayer here A Disney Channel actor has been arrested for allegedly attempting to solicit a minor. Stoney Westmoreland, 48, was arrested on Friday, according to Salt Lake Citys ABC 4 News, for allegedly asking a 13-year-old he met via an online dating app to send nude photographs and engage in sexual acts. He was fired from the Disney Channel sitcom he appeared on, Andi Mack, hours later, a spokesperson for the network said in a statement. According to investigators, Westmoreland allegedly sent four pornographic photos and asked for nude photos in return, while taking a ride share service to a Salt Lake City address with the intention of bringing the individual to his hotel room "in order to engage in sexual activity". He was taken into custody by Salt Lake City police and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. He faces one count of enticing a minor, as well as four counts of dealing materials harmful to a minor. Alongside his role on Andi Mack, Westmoreland appeared on several television shows, including Scandal, Better Call Saul, NCIS, and Breaking Bad. "Stoney Westmoreland, an actor working on the series Andi Mack, was arrested in Salt Lake City today," a spokesperson for Disney Channel told The Hollywood Reporter. "Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series which wraps production on its third season next week." A representative for Westmoreland has been contacted for comment. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more Prada has released an apologetic statement after being accused of using blackface imagery on products in a new collection. On Thursday 13 December, lawyer Chinyere Ezie spotted figurines in the Prada shop window in Soho, New York that bore a resemblance to racist depictions of black people, with dark skin and large, red lips. She expressed her disgust on social media, sharing photos of the figures from the Italian fashion houses window display and from within the store. Today after returning to NYC after a very emotional visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American history and Culture including an exhibit on blackface, I walked past Pradas Soho storefront only to be confronted with the very same racist and denigrating #blackface imagery, she wrote on Facebook. She explained that she then entered the store with a colleague, only to see several more examples of blackface. When she asked a Prada employee whether they were aware of the issue, they informed her that a black employee had previously complained about blackface at Prada, but he didnt work there anymore. Ezie implored others to share the photos using the hashtags #StopBlackface, #BoycottPrada and #EndRacismNow, many of whom did on Twitter. Have you all lost your minds? Are you all that ignorant of the blatant racist display in your store right now?! one person wrote. "How many times does a black child's heart have to get broken in this culture?, another person commented. How does a black parent walking with their daughter or son explain these images? Or a white parent for that matter?" Ezie added that this controversy would likely have never occurred if Prada had a more diverse workforce, tweeting: Let @Prada know that #diversitymatters and that black and brown employees need to be in leadership positions so disgraces like this one never happen again #Stopblackface #EndRacismNow. Prada has since issued an apology, explaining that the products in question are going to be removed from the brands fantasy Pradamalia collection. #Prada Group abhors racist imagery, the statement reads on Twitter. The Pradamalia are fantasy charms composed of elements of the Prada oeuvre. They are imaginary creatures not intended to have any reference to the real world and certainly not blackface. Recommended Shop apologises for using blackface to promote Black Friday #Prada Group never had the intention of offending anyone and we abhor all forms of racism and racist imagery. In this interest we will withdraw the characters in question from display and circulation. One person responded to Pradas apology explaining that it was unfathomable that no one in the company had noticed the reference to blackface. Of course its a reference to blackface. Its like someone looked up blackface and copied every single picture associated with it, they wrote. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In November, Dolce and Gabbana was accused of racism for featuring an Asian model attempting to eat Italian food with chopsticks in a video campaign. Founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana later apologised with regards to the controversy, saying that they offered their sincerest apologies to Chinese people worldwide. Ashley Graham has opened up about how the growth of the #MeToo movement has impacted the fashion industry, expressing her wish that it has a positive effect on the careers of up-and-coming models. In January 2018, the model revealed on American talk show The View how shed been sexually harassed during a photo shoot at the age of 17. She explained how, following the incident, she feared that shed never be hired for a modelling job again as she thought that shed be regarded as a difficult model. Now at 31 years old, Graham describes the changes that shes witnessed within the fashion industry since the boom of the #MeToo movement, which was coined by Tarana Burke in 2006 and reignited following the Harvey Weinstein allegations in 2017. Ive seen a huge change on set, she tells The Hollywood Reporter. People are actually thinking about their actions and thinking about their words If this #MeToo movement had not happened, whos to say what would happen to the next generation of girls? I really hope that it protects the next generation of young models. She continues, outlining how coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse would have previously had a detrimental effect on the trajectory of a models career. It has given such an incredible voice to women who have felt voiceless, especially as models, because we are the ones who immediately will not get booked for a job, she says. Models are the ones whose careers can die immediately if you speak up about this kind of stuff. So now your career doesnt die, you have a voice and you can use it. And I hope more girls feel empowered by it. During the interview, Graham also emphasises the importance of inclusivity and diversity within the fashion. While more women who have different body shapes and sizes are being featured in modelling campaigns, Graham notes that there still needs to be better representation within the industry for different races. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "Women of colour have been proud of their curvy bodies and they have been for centuries and generations," she says. In early December 2018, Nicole Kidman discussed the impact that the #MeToo movement has had in Hollywood, saying that hearing women who've been through traumatic experiences being believed "makes me cry". The actor revealed that while she'd been aware that Weinstein had a temper, she never could have foreseen the allegations that were made against him. Men who have daughters who are of a school age are less likely to be sexist, a recent study has found. A team from the London School of Economics decided to explore how mens stances on gender norms can change when raising a daughter in primary and secondary school education. The researchers claim that men become more aware of the challenges that girls experience when they have daughters, a consequence that they describe as the "mighty girl" effect. Furthermore, they conclude that people's views on gender norms can evolve over the years, meaning that stereotypical views on the differing roles of boys and girls are not necessarily fixed in adulthood. For the study, which was published in journal Oxford Economic Papers, the team assessed data that had been collated by the British Household Panel Survey on an annual basis between 1991 to 2012. They examined the responses of more than 5,000 men and more than 6,300 women, all of whom had children under the age of 21 living in their homes. The participants were asked whether they agreed with statements such as "a husband's job is to earn money; a wife's job is to look after the home and family". They had to select their answer from a five-point scale, with options ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree". According to their findings, men with school-aged daughters are more likely to disagree with statements advocating conventional attitudes towards gender. Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Show all 4 1 /4 Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Jessica Sundquist: 787 Dreamliner captain at Norwegian Jessica Sundquist, a Swedish 787 Dreamliner captain for Norwegian, has spoken extensively about being a woman in the industry. In the past shes spoken about the concept of putting your femininity aside in order to succeed. Sundquist says today that she felt she didnt have to do it, but also wanted to fit into the industry without being known as the girl. Today, times are changing, she says, and more women are joining the industry but its not all good news. Despite working hard to get to where I am today as a captain at one of the most modern and exciting airlines, the industry still has a lot more work to do to give women more opportunities, she says In the future, shed like the discussion on gender inequality to remain open and ongoing, but argues that real action also needs to take place to make any difference. Norwegian Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Joanna Riggs: A380 first officer at British Airways First officer Joanna Riggs says she was never particularly exposed to aviation as a career choice, but became a BA cabin crew member after university in order to see more of the world. She says that entering such a highly male-dominated profession wasnt daunting, but that she felt lucky to have two other females on her course. Colleagues have always been supportive in Riggs experience as have for the most part passengers, though some are surprised when they see a female pilot. I hope it will one day be normal to everyone, she adds. Some passengers give a thumbs up or a girl power sign. As for gender differences on the flight deck, Riggs says, We are very professional on the flight deck so it doesnt matter what the gender, race or sexuality of my colleague is. Flying with a fellow female is always a treat though. My brother is also a British Airways pilot, and although I havent flown with him, I get the feeling we would be very similar. British Airways Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Lucy Tardrew: Boeing 747 captain at Virgin Atlantic Lucy Tardrew had always wanted to join the RAF, she says, but it was never allowed to happen because they werent taking girls at the time. Instead, she travelled to America, where she trained before becoming a flying instructor. After returning to the UK and converting her licences, she began flying night mail literally all the posts around the country at night before stints flying executive jets, and last-minute jobs including air ambulances and freighting transplant organs, before joining Virgin 23 years ago. Tardrew is enthusiastic about the company, but is saddened that the ratio of women in the industry as a whole remains low. As for challenges in the workplace, shes never experienced any discrimination. Noting the rare pay equality in the piloting industry, Tardrew feels the reason there arent more female pilots is down to the fact that there arent enough female role models for schoolchildren to think, Im going to become an airline pilot. Virgin Atlantic Four female pilots discuss life on the flightdeck Kate McWilliams: captain at easyJet At 26, Kate McWilliams became the youngest commercial captain in the world. I love being a captain for easyJet, she says. And Im really happy to be working for an airline that is working hard to increase the number of female pilots. Flying was always her goal but she didnt realise how far she could take it. I joined the air cadets at 13-years-old, but it wasnt until much later that I realised I could become a commercial pilot, she says. EasyJet is aiming to inspire young women, with the Amy Johnson Flying Initiative and their sponsorship of the Brownies, giving girls aged seven to 10 the opportunity to earn an Aviation Badge. The work its doing is really important. The Amy Johnson Flying Initiative was launched in October 2015 with the aim of doubling the number of female new entrant pilots, to 12 per cent, over a two-year period. After achieving its aim in the first year, the airline set a target of 20 per cent for new entrant cadet pilots in 2020. easyJet While the men who didn't have a child or only had sons had a 37 per cent likelihood of holding traditional views about gender, 33 per cent of those who had at least one daughter in secondary school felt the same way. Dr Joan Costa-i-Font, co-author of the study, explains that having a better understanding of the challenges that girls and women face may influence preconceived ideas that fathers have about gender roles. "They experience first-hand all the issues that [exist] in a female world and then that basically moderates their attitudes towards gender norms and they become closer to seeing the full picture from the female perspective," he tells The Guardian. Natasha Devon, a body image and mental health campaigner, adds that it's important for all men to demonstrate that they care about the issues that girls and women face, regardless of whether or not they have daughters. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "We need men to see women as human beings even if they don't have a good relationship with their mum or sisters or have a daughter," she says. "I think we need to find out what it is specifically about having a daughter that changes men's minds and look at how we can ingrain that more into the socialisation process for all boys from an early age." On Friday 14 December, the Advertising Standards Authority issued new guidelines stating that adverts created by British companies that endorse harmful gender stereotypes will be banned from June 2019. A solo sailor who was stranded at sea for 50 hours after her boat capsized during a round-the-world race said she would do it all again in a heartbeat. Susie Goodalls comments came just hours after she arrived back safely on dry land in the Chilean southern city of Punta Arenas on Friday, where she was met by her mother and brother. The 29-year-old British yachtswoman was the youngest entrant and the only woman in the Golden Globe Race, which began on 1 July in Les Sables-dOlonne, France. A violent storm ripped off her mast and flung her yacht end-over-end on 5 December, knocking her unconscious. Race officials kept in regular radio contact with Ms Goodall, who was 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn near the southern tip of South America when the storm occurred. She was rescued two days later by the Tian Fu a cargo vessel from China. In a statement on her website on Friday evening, Ms Goodall said despite her ordeal she would attempt the round-the-world sail again in a heartbeat. If you asked me if I would do this again, now knowing what its really like, I would say yes in a heartbeat, she said. You may ask why. Some people just live for adventure its human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies. British solo sailor Susie Goodall embraces her mother after arriving on the cargo ship MV Tian Fu in Punta Arenas, Chile, on Friday (AP/Joel Estay) Every seafarer understands the risks involved but thats what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life. Ms Goodall thanked everyone who helped rescue her, including the captain, crew and owners of Tian Fu. She added: After arriving in Punta Arenas today, Im still a little wobbly both emotionally and physically, as I find my land legs again. I arrived with a heavy heart, no longer a competitor in the Golden Globe Race but here is certainly a lot better than the alternative. British skipper Susie Goodall waves from the helm of her boat DHL Starlight as she leaves Les Sables dOlonne Harbour on 1 July, 2018, at the start of the solo around-the-world Golden Globe Race in which sailors compete without high technology aides such as GPS or computers (Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images) And I wouldnt be here today without the incredible support and seamanship shown by so many people over the past 10 days. Sailing away from DHL Starlight was heart-breaking, she stood up valiantly to all that the elements had to throw at her and looked after me until the last. Ms Goodall said she was fighting back tears when she stepped off the Tian Fu and saw her mother and brother after 157 days alone at sea. She said her family had been her rock from day one when she signed up for the race and thanked them for all their support. I have put them through a lot, and I know I have a lot of making up to do, she said. But I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for believing in and supporting me in the many, many ways they have thank you. Ms Goodall said she did not know what was next on her horizon, apart from spending time with her friends and family over Christmas, but that she still had fire in her belly. Hundreds of protesters joined Extinction Rebellion marches in cities across the UK to demand the government takes action on climate change. Five people were arrested in Bristol after protesters sprayed graffiti on the offices of the Environmental Agency in Bristol as around 250 demonstrators marched on the city council. They also planted a tree on the lawn outside the Mayors Office. In Cambridge, more than 100 members of the group staged a die in in the citys Grafton Centre and the Grand Arcade. Meanwhile, around 100 people gathered in Glasgow on the Buchanan Street steps to sing subversive carols and give away trees. 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 The group has called on the British government to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2025 and reverse policies it says are inconsistent with addressing climate change. Campaigners have also demanded a citizens assembly be set up to give ordinary people a voice in creating new environmental policies. Climate change protesters from group Extinction Rebellion block rush hour traffic on London roads Previous protests included groups of swarming demonstrators blocking major roads in central London and occupying five Thames bridges. It comes as critical climate talks at the UN COP24 summit were extended by two days after big polluters, including the US and Saudi Arabia, pushed back against key scientific findings. Amber Rudd has told Theresa May she must try something different if she is to get her Brexit deal through parliament, after EU leaders refused to reopen negotiations on the controversial plan. The work and pensions secretary urged the prime minister to build a parliamentary coalition behind a new Brexit plan, admitting that the current deal may never be approved by MPs. In a newspaper article, Ms Rudd said the prime minister would have to engage with others and be willing to forge a consensus with opposition parties if she is to overcome sweeping opposition to her proposed deal. But in a sign of growing cabinet divisions over Ms Mays next move, Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, dismissed the suggestion, saying the government could not afford to rely on the votes of Labour MPs. Ms Rudd is one of five ministers, alongside Philip Hammond, David Lidington, David Gauke and Greg Clark, who are said to be urging Ms May to hold a series of indicative votes on the various Brexit outcomes, including the possibility of another referendum, to find a plan that could command a Commons majority. Recommended Senior Tories tell May to work with Corbyn to salvage her Brexit deal Her article is the first time a cabinet minister has publicly urged the prime minister to change tack. It came as other senior Tories also called for a new approach, amid mounting pressure on Ms May to reach out across party lines when she updates the Commons on Monday on her most recent talks with EU leaders. Writing in the Daily Mail, Ms Rudd raised the prospect that Ms Mays Brexit deal might never be passed by parliament and said MPs needed to abandon outrage and accusations. Instead, she said, the prime minister should ignore such siren voices calling us to the rocks of no deal and seek to build a parliamentary coalition. I support the PMs deal, because it can deliver Brexit and allow us to move forward, she wrote. But many of my colleagues arent yet persuaded. Its possible enough will be but they might not. We need to try something different. Something that people do in the real world all the time, but which seems so alien in our political culture to engage with others and be willing to forge a consensus. That requires politicians to be more prepared to work with anyone who like me is willing to accept you cant always get what you want. It means taking a more practical, sensible and healing approach. Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Show all 11 1 /11 Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Independent Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mirror Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Express Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Financial Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Telegraph Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The i Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Guardian Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Scotsman Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mail Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Metro She called on Ms May to build a coalition of those who want whats best for this country and urged MPs to argue a little less and compromise a little more. The UK would be in serious trouble if MPs hunker down in their different corners, she added, insisting that a no-deal Brexit mustnt be allowed to happen. However, Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the government should be cautious about relying on Labour votes. Asked about Ms Rudds article, he said: Amber is absolutely right that we need all MPs to think about the national interest, but I think we also have to be cautious about the idea that were going to get large amounts of support from the Labour Party, because that hasnt been forthcoming in the past. Instead, the government must continue to try to secure MPs support for a version of Ms Mays deal, he said, while also being prepared to leave the EU without an agreement. Donald Tusk says there is no further mandate for Brexit negotiations It comes a day after former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan and senior Tory backbencher Nick Boles also urged Ms May to adopt a cross-party approach. Mr Boles said the prime minister must stop trying to go it alone and instead open cross-party discussions, while Ms Morgan called on her to seek cross-party support and proper discussions to secure that. Ms May was forced to call off the Commons vote on her deal earlier this week after admitting she would lose by a significant margin. Instead, she promised to secure further assurances from the EU on the issue of the Northern Ireland backstop, which Brexiteers fear could trap the UK in a customs union permanently. The prime ministers pleas were rebuffed by Brussels on Thursday, however, with EU leaders united in their insistence that negotiations on the withdrawal agreement could not be reopened. Ms May is likely to face fresh anger from MPs on Monday when she will have to admit to the Commons that she has failed to secure any new guarantees on the backstop. Theresa May has launched an astonishing attack on Tony Blair, accusing the former prime minister of seeking to undermine her during Brexit talks in order to pursue his own political interests. In highly unusual move, Ms May hit out at one of her predecessors, claiming the former Labour leaders support for a second Brexit referendum was an insult to the office he once held and the people he once served. The criticism comes after Mr Blair told Europe to prepare for the near probability of Britain extending Article 50 to allow more time for negotiations or a fresh referendum. The former prime minister has been one of the most vocal advocates of the public being given the Final Say on Brexit and has previously travelled to Brussels to make the case to EU leaders. Ms May said: I am fighting for a good deal for Britain. I will continue to fight for a good deal for Britain. Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Show all 11 1 /11 Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Independent Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mirror Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Express Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Financial Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Telegraph Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The i Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Guardian Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Scotsman Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mail Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Metro I have never lost sight of my duty and that is to deliver on the referendum result and to do so in a way that protects British jobs, keeps us safe and protects our precious union. However there are too many people who want to subvert the process for their own political interests rather than acting in the national interest. Condemning Mr Blair, she continued: For Tony Blair to go to Brussels and seek to undermine our negotiations by advocating for a second referendum is an insult to the office he once held and the people he once served. We cannot, as he would, abdicate responsibility for this decision. Parliament has a democratic duty to deliver what the British people voted for. I remain determined to see that happen. I will not let the British people down. Tony Blair says there will soon be a majority in parliament for second referendum It comes after Ms May called off a parliamentary vote on her deal with Brussels less than four months before Britain is due to leave the EU, after admitting the plan would have been heavily defeated. On Friday, Mr Blair said a second Brexit referendum was now the most likely outcome. Our present situation is unique in modern British politics, the former prime minister said in a speech in London. The government is not in control not of the agenda, not of the events and not of the outcome. What seemed a few months ago unlikely is now above the 50 percent likelihood, he added. We will go back to the people. Addressing EU leaders in Brussels, Mr Blair said they should offer to reform to make it more attractive for Britain to remain, including making changes to immigration rules, a key driver behind the vote to leave the bloc. An offer by the EU to change would show the political leadership of Europe and Britain had listened to the underlying concerns of those who voted Brexit, not disrespecting the concerns but meeting them in a way which is not damaging. "Brexit betrayal" march in London Show all 43 1 /43 "Brexit betrayal" march in London "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds an anti-BBC sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator holds a sign in the picket line Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester carrying a noose at the "Brexit betrayal" march. The man carrying it told a reporter: "That's what the traitor May deserves." AP "Brexit betrayal" march in London Pro-brexit supporters hold a sign opposed to Nigel Farage Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Protesters carry a defaced British flag on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Tommy Robinson addresses a rally after taking part in a Brexit 'betrayal' march in central London PA "Brexit betrayal" march in London Police officers attempts to keep rival protesters from clashing at the Brexit 'betrayal' march in London Victoria Jones/PA "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds an anti-Theresa May sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator and his dog Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator at the protest Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit sign at the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Pro-brexit demonstrators endorse UKIP Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A Brexit 'betrayal' march protester wearing a Make Britain Great Again hat in London on 9 December 2018 Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty "Brexit betrayal" march in London Brexit 'betrayal' marchers gathering on Park Lane ahead of a protest Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London The "Brexit Betrayal" march passes through Central London Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Tommy Robinson tells protesters to join Ukip via their mobile phones on stage next to leader Gerard Batten (right) at the Brexit 'betrayal' march Gareth Fuller/PA "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester speaks thorugh a megaphone on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator walks in the picket line Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit anti-May sign at the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester carries a Union Jack on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator wrapped in the Union Jack Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit anti-May sign at the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Pro brexit demonstrators move through Central London Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator marches with sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A pro-brexit demonstrator holds a rude sign in the rally Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London The march passes down Victoria Street near Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A festive protester marches near Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds a mock noose as the march passes down Victoria Street towards Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester wrapped in the Union Jack marches down Victoria Street towards Parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester makes some noise on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester dressed as a dinosaur holds a sign rallying against "Davocracy" - in reference to the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester holds a pro-brexit sign on the march Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London The march approaches parliament Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A protester distributes pro-brexit lapel badges Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A demonstrator wears an anti-EU poster and holds an anti-BBC sign Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A smoke bomb is deployed in Parliament Square as the march comes across the counter-demonstration Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London A flag bearing the Arms of Plantagenet flies in theprot Angela Christofilou/The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Protesters on the Brexit 'betrayal' march in London on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Protesters on the Brexit 'betrayal' march in London on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Brexit 'betrayal' marchers gathering on Park Lane ahead of a protest on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Brexit 'betrayal' marchers gathering on Park Lane ahead of a protest on 9 December 2018 Angela Christofilou/ The Independent "Brexit betrayal" march in London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Mr Blair said in most other situations, such as the time between engagement and marriage or accepting a job offer and taking it up, people can change their mind. If our knowledge of reality in any of these situations changed, in any of these situations would we really abhor the prospect of reconsideration? Given all that has happened, the undemocratic thing is to deny people a final say. A senior Tory MP has compared the row engulfing the party to the deadly clashes between feral schoolboys in the novel Lord of the Flies. Robert Halfon, who chairs the Commons education committee, warned that the awful language being used by Conservative MPs to describe each other was making the Tories look like the nasty party again. He also likened the divisions to the tale of murder and social collapse depicted in the film Mad Max. The vicious infighting over Brexit would be a disaster for the party at the next election, the Harlow MP predicted. It comes as Theresa May faces continued anger from her own backbenchers over her Brexit deal. The prime minister was forced to call off the Commons vote on the proposed agreement on Monday amid opposition from over 100 Tory MPs. Many have savaged her negotiating strategy and called on her to resign. The divisions deepened this week when Eurosceptics in the European Research Group (ERG) triggered a vote of no confidence in Ms May, prompting a furious backlash from loyalist Tories. One unnamed MP said they wanted to punch the ERG in the face, while Philip Hammond, the chancellor, was forced to clarify his remarks after calling Brexiteers extremists. The next day, another minister loyal to Ms May, Alistair Burt, claimed that all that will remain after the apocalypse will be ants and Tory MPs complaining about Europe and their leader. MPs have also been criticised for using violent language in anonymous briefings about Ms May, including suggestions she should bring her own noose to a meeting of Tory MPs and predictions that shell be dead soon. Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Show all 11 1 /11 Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Independent Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mirror Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Express Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Financial Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Telegraph Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The i Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Guardian Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Scotsman Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mail Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Metro Mr Halfon, a former deputy chairman of the party, told The Times: Just compare our language to the language coming from Labour about poverty and compassion. Ours is awful, it could not do more damage to our party. It makes us look like we are in Mad Max territory or Lord of the Flies. This is a disaster for us electorally. It is not just that there is intemperate language, it is also that there is so much of it that it seeps through to the public. And it reinforces all the negative stereotypes about us as the nasty party. He added: The attacks on Mrs May are also not because she is a woman, but this talk does make it harder to attract women voters, even though we have a female prime minister. The Tories are not the only party to be embroiled in a row over offensive language this week. On Tuesday, SNP MP Stewart McDonald accused veteran Labour backbencher Dennis Skinner of calling him a a piece of s*** in the Commons chamber. In response, Mr Skinner said he had wanted to put the SNP in their place and said Mr McDonald should concentrate on attacking the real enemy the Conservatives. Ms May was also filmed during an angry confrontation with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, as she accused him of calling her nebulous. Mr Juncker had earlier referred to the Brexit debate as sometimes nebulous and imprecise. He is said to have insisted to Ms May that he was referring to the quality of the debate in general, rather than her part in it. A row has erupted among Jeremy Corbyns top team over when the party should push for a vote of no confidence in Theresa Mays government, The Independent has learnt. The dispute has seen key figures in the shadow cabinet demanding that the party strike sooner rather than later in order to remove the prime minister from office after she was weakened by an attempt by Tory MPs to oust her. But Mr Corbyn and his allies are refusing to allow the offensive to go ahead until there is a good chance it will be successful, and are likely to block any attempt to move until Ms May has held her meaningful vote on her Brexit deal. They believe the Tory Brexiteers and the DUP are not yet ready to vote with the opposition parties to topple the government. The Independent understands that those backing swift action include Tom Watson, Labours deputy leader, and Sir Keir Starmer, the influential shadow Brexit secretary, while those backing Mr Corbyns decision to play the waiting game include shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and party chairman Ian Lavery. Labour sources would not rule out tabling a no-confidence motion this week, after Ms May addresses the Commons on the latest Brexit negotiations, but the party is understood to be more likely to strike once Ms May brings her deal back to the Commons in January. One source said: Were taking it on a day-by-day basis, but January is the most likely. It partly depends what happens on Monday, though. If the Tories and DUP tear strips off her than that could be the time for us to move. As well as calls from within the shadow cabinet, Mr Corbyn is also facing mounting pressure from his backbenchers and party members to act now. MPs frustrated at the lack of action have set up a new WhatsApp group named The Sanity Group to coordinate how to push him to strike before Christmas. At the same time, a group from the 2017 intake of Labour MPs is coordinating a private letter to Mr Corbyn urging him to act swiftly. Most of the MPs pushing for action before Christmas are supporters of the campaign for a fresh Brexit referendum. Labour's official policy is that it will only consider backing another public vote once attempts to topple the government and trigger a general election have failed. Many of the party's MPs believe this is inevitable and want the process sped up so that focus can be shifted towards fighting to give voters a Final Say referendum. The issue of when to table the motion of no confidence was the subject of a lengthy discussion at Tuesdays shadow cabinet meeting, with Mr Watson leading calls for the party to strike before Christmas. A shadow cabinet source said: Tom Watson was pushing for it to happen quickly but he was shut down straight away. Hes in the camp of MPs that just wants a Peoples Vote. It was clearly political and that view was the minority. Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Show all 11 1 /11 Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Independent Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mirror Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Express Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Financial Times Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Telegraph Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The i Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Guardian Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Scotsman Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Daily Mail Newspapers react to Theresa May pulling the vote on her Brexit deal The Metro Sir Keir is also understood to be pushing for a motion to be tabled quickly. The shadow Brexit secretary is widely seen to be more favourable to a second referendum than some in Mr Corbyns team. Another source said: Tom and Keir were saying it was imperative for the opposition to hold the government to account when it has clearly lost control and there is no obvious solution. Mr Watson and Mr Starmer reportedly urged the need for political leadership, arguing that Ms Mays decision to delay the meaningful vote on the Brexit deal clearly showed the prime minister did not have the confidence of parliament. They are also understood to have insisted the party could table one motion now and one in January, highlighting that there were numerous attempts to bring down the Callaghan government in the late Seventies. The SNP is also piling pressure on Labour to table the confidence motion, while party members and dozens of MPs are also calling for swift action. Mr Corbyn will face mounting pressure to act after Ms May addresses the Commons on her talks with EU leaders last week. The prime minister is likely to be forced to admit she has not been able to secure compromises from the EU on the withdrawal agreement, fuelling anger among Tory backbenchers and the DUP. On the issue of when the motion should be tabled, one senior shadow cabinet minister said: Its all about timing. There are 117 of her MPs who have said they have no confidence in her, and it would only take a few to vote with us. But its a case of when. The DUP will be key. Theyre saying they wont vote no confidence at the moment but if she comes back from Europe with f*** all then I think that could change. Theresa May insists Brexit deal is not dead despite EU leaders refusing to make concessions As the internal row spilled into the public eye, one of those pushing for the process to be sped up said: What is the point of an opposition if were just going to sit on our hands for a month? People are looking to Labour for leadership and theyre not getting any, and thats the bare truth of it. On Monday shell come back to the Commons after her tour of Europe and she wont have anything at all meaningful to show for it. Thats obviously the logical point to table the no-confidence vote. Another MP angry at the delay added: Jeremy is more focused on his root vegetables than he is on bringing down the government. He is nowhere to be seen. Were just faffing around. He knows that as soon as the motion falls, were going to be demanding we move on to the next stage of our official policy which is campaigning for a Peoples Vote. It has got to happen sooner rather than later. You can table these things as often as you like theres no reason not to do one now and one in January. Weve got to get on with this to show some leadership and oppose the government. Party divisions were deepened last week when dozens of MPs who back a fresh vote on Brexit signed a public letter demanding Mr Corbyn table the no-confidence motion immediately. The letter was raised at shadow cabinet and condemned, with ministers suggesting it was a crude attempt to push Labour into supporting a fresh Brexit referendum. One shadow cabinet minister told The Independent: The people pushing for a no-confidence vote now have no interest in a no-confidence vote. Its all about trying to bring about another referendum. Another shadow cabinet source added: There was a lot of anger about it. Mr Corbyn is also under pressure from other opposition parties. The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party have invited him to a meeting where they are likely to demand he table a motion of no confidence. The SNP is understood to be ready to do so if he refuses, although the government would be able to dismiss a motion not tabled by the official opposition. Sources said at least 50 Labour MPs would likely back an SNP motion, regardless of what their party leadership ordered them to do. Despite Labours main priority being to strike when it has most chance of winning, there is also concern in some parts of the party about what could happen if it did succeed in ousting Ms May. Party figures have seen the problems the current prime minister has encountered while trying to navigate Brexit amid opposition from ardent backbenchers, and fear Mr Corbyn could face the same fate if he entered No 10 with a small majority before Britain leaves the EU. We need to let them get Brexit over with first, one shadow cabinet source said. But one MP backing the campaign for a fresh referendum and pushing for Labour to table the no-confidence motion this week said: We need this to happen soon or well run out of time to have the idea of a Peoples Vote put to a proper vote in the House of Commons. At this rate well get to 29 March and the Labour leadership will finally say it is going to fulfil the rest of the motion agreed at conference, and it will be too late. Unless the DUP radically change their position there is no way were going to win a vote of no confidence. Delaying it by saying you might win it further down the line is just an excuse for doing nothing. A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said: Its a question of when, not if. We will seek a general election at the best moment and we will judge that day by day, week by week. Despite having so far resisted a no-confidence process that many fear would culminate in defeat and Labour being forced to instead support a fresh referendum, The Independent understands that members of Mr Corbyns team are increasingly of the view that they will eventually have to bow to pressure to give the public a Final Say vote. They are unlikely to do so, however, until all other options are exhausted, and certainly not before MPs have voted on Ms Mays deal. Those involved in discussions said that even if attempts to force a general election fail, Labour will not immediately pivot to backing a public vote. One source with an understanding of the leaderships position said there are powerful institutional forces, including trade union leader Len McCluskey, a number of shadow ministers and dozens of MPs, strongly opposed to a fresh public vote. Its heading in that direction and I think it is probably inevitable, but a lot of influential people are still very opposed to it, they said. Ryan Zinke will be leaving Donald Trumps White House administration amid pressure to step down from the Interior Department over allegations of ethics violations. It was originally believed the US interior secretary would announce the decision on Wednesday, but on Saturday morning the president tweeted: Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation. The move arrived amid vows from Democrats to launch numerous ethics probes, which would have resulted in costly legal fees for Mr Zinke a factor in his decision to resign from the department, Bloomberg reported. The president also tweeted that a decision about his replacement would be announced next week. Recommended Trump names Mick Mulvaney acting chief of staff Mr Zinke, a former Republican congressman from Montana, is leaving his post weeks before Democrats take control of the House, a shift in power that promised to intensify probes into his conduct. He played a leading part in the presidents efforts to roll back environmental regulations and promote domestic energy development. His departure comes amid a staff shake-up as Mr Trump heads into his third year in office. The president on Friday named budget director Mick Mulvaney as chief of staff, replacing John Kelly, who will be leaving his post by the new year. The interior secretary previously declared this year he was 100 per cent confident no wrongdoing would be found in the pending investigations against him. Mr Zinke faces a number of probes by federal investigators, including one involving dealings between a foundation he created and the chairman of an energy company. Im 100 percent confident that every investigation will always end up in the same conclusion, which is that I follow all rules, procedures and, most importantly, the law, Mr Zinke said in a November interview. I have no desire to leave. I know Im effective and doing the right thing. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva, who is poised to become chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has said he wants the committee to investigate Mr Zinke as well as the administrations pro-industry policies, which he said has profited mining, oil, gas and other companies. Its the conflicts that are inherent in that policy who it favours and the undercutting of basic environmental laws, Mr Grijalva said. The lawmaker said he intends to expand the committees staff to have the capacity to handle the investigations. Mr Grijalva said hes particularly troubled by the Montana land deal, which involves a foundation Mr Zinke created and the chairman of Halliburton, a major player in the energy industry that has frequent dealings with Interior Department. At least one of the pending investigations against the interior secretary has reportedly been referred by the departments inspector general to the Department of Justice. That move signalled a potential escalation of the investigations ahead of the Democratic takeover in 2019. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Industry leaders and Republicans in Congress have remained supportive of Mr Zinke, notwithstanding the stream of investigations. Since taking office, hes answered their calls to scale back regulations imposed under former president Barack Obama, easing restrictions on greenhouse gas pollution and safety rules for offshore oil and gas drilling. Additional reporting by AP The interview that Michael Cohen gave ABC News on Friday morning should show Donald Trump one thing; that until he surrenders to begin a three-year prison sentence next March, he is unlikely to go away. Cohen said that he was done being loyal to the president having been sentenced over a number of charges, including campaign finance violations for arranging payments during the 2016 election to silence women who have claimed to have affairs with Trump. Im done with the lying, the presidents former lawyer said. Im done being loyal to President Trump. My first loyalty belongs to my wife, my daughter, my son and this country. Cohen has implicated Trump in his criminal conduct, although the president has said he has done nothing illegal and the payments are a civil matter at worst. Asked why he should be believed, Cohen said: Because the special counsel stated emphatically that the information that I gave to them is credible and helpful. Theres a substantial amount of information that they possess that corroborates the fact that I am telling the truth. Up until now, as Mr Trumps former associates including former campaign manager Paul Manafort have faced convictions or agreed plea deals with special counsel Robert Mueller, the president has sought to distance himself and move past the news as quickly as he can. While his anger at the Mueller-Russia probe has run into hundreds of tweets, individuals such as Cohen, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Manafort appear relatively rarely. Trumps White House did the same on Friday, as it sought to play down another reported federal investigation, this one into spending for the presidents inauguration in 2016 and whether some of the inaugural committees donors made contributions in exchange for political favours and access to the Trump administration. Any such behaviour, according to The Wall Street Journal, which broke the report of the investigation, would be a potential violation of federal corruption laws. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin When asked if there were any improprieties with the inauguration funding, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said: The president of the United States has one job at the inauguration. Its to show up This charge has nothing to do with the president of the United States, and it has nothing to do with this administration. The inaugural committee said it was unaware of any investigations. However, if Cohen is pledging to be a thorn in the side of the president, the mounting investigations become difficult to ignore. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Muellers probe into election meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign appears to be gathering pace, with Flynn another one to be criticised by the special counsels office on Friday. Muellers team was responding to the suggestion from Flynns lawyers that he had lied to federal investigators a crime he is due to be sentenced for next week as he had not been made aware that it is a crime. As the various elements of the probe such as hearings and sentencing begin to come thick and fast, the Trump White House cannot deal with them individually. The news cycles overlap and any strategy to compartmentalise them becomes less tenable. Trump has denied any guilt in all elements of the investigations involving his associates, declaring no collusion and calling Muellers probe in particular a witch hunt. But as the latest developments fill the news day after day, the president can seemingly no longer try to ignore them. Amid the whirlwind of hearings, guilty pleas and sentencing memos that has been Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe in the last few weeks, an unusual pattern has emerged. One of Muellers biggest successes as his team investigate 2016 election meddling and possible collusion between Moscow and Donald Trumps campaign team, has been his ability to get former associates of the president to flip and cooperate with him. Among the more high-profile are Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, former White House national security advisor Michael Flynn, and former campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos. They have all pleaded guilty to charges in some form and pledged to work with Mueller. But the curious thing comes with the speed at which Muellers team has rushed to sentencing. Papadopoulos has already been released from a two-week jail term and Cohen was handed just over three years for a number of finance charges and lying to Congress earlier this week. Flynn will be sentenced for lying to federal investigators in the next few days. A prosecutor would normally leave those cooperating to last for sentencing, leaving the door open for possible testimony in court before any punishment is finalised. Indeed, Mueller has praised Flynn for his valuable help and Cohen as well. Meanwhile Cohens legal team have said more of what he knows about the president could come after Muellers report is finished. Recommended Former prosecutor explains how Trump can be indicted There will come a time after Mr Mueller is done with his work that Michael Cohen will be sitting in front of a microphone before a congressional committee and what he has to say about the truth will be judged by the members of Congress listening, spokesman Lanny Davis has said. Trump has denied wrongdoing in any of the investigations currently being undertaken. And it is not like Mueller cannot walk the traditional route. He has in one case: Rick Gates. Gates pleaded guilty to financial crimes as part of lobbying work in Ukraine with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Gates, who worked under Manafort during the Trump campaign, testified at trial against his former boss and is still awaiting sentencing. Muellers team has until 15 January to tell a judge if they are ready to move forward with that. One explanation for the unusual moves is that the accounts of those cooperating witnesses will appear in a written report, not in court according to Robert Ray, a former independent counsel on the Whitewater investigation into real estate dealings of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin That would mean that Muellers report is nearly done and Ray told The Washington Post he expects Mueller to deliver a report on his findings in the first three months of 2019. Whatever those individuals have done for the special counsel investigation, there [appears] no further use for them, Ray said. If there were any contemplation of using them at trial, you would sentence them later. And the only conclusion I can draw from all that is that we are nearing the end. Muellers treatment of Manafort points to that as well. Manafort was convicted of eight financial crimes in Virginia in August at the trial where Gates testified. Jurors could not reach a decision on 10 other charges. Manafort then reached a deal with Muellers team in September to avoid a second trial in Washington DC, offering cooperation for the dismissal of the 10 charges and a guilty plea on others. But, in another highly unusual move, Muellers team blew apart that plea deal in late November, accusing Manafort of lying to investigators. A breach [in the plea agreement] relieves the government of any obligations it has under the agreement, including its agreement to a reduction in the sentencing guidelines for acceptance of responsibility, but leaves intact all the obligations of the defendant as well as his guilty pleas, prosecutors said in court documents. Manafort has denied being untruthful. To make such a move, Mueller is likely sure he has whatever Manafort brought to the table as part of the Russia investigation corroborated by other sources, or several statements from others that contradict what Manafort has said. To jettison someone who was in Trumps close circle suggests that Mueller may have his case laid out already. This was never going to be the Paul Manafort show, Patrick Cotter, a former assistant US attorney in the Eastern District of New York now in private practice in Chicago told USA Today. He was going to be part of a mosaic, and his piece didnt fit because hes a liar. The rest of the mosaic is still there. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Also this week, Muellers team hit back at suggestions from Flynns lawyers that Trumps first national security advisor was not told lying to the FBI was a crime during an interview in January 2017. Mueller has suggested possibly as little as no jail time for Flynn thanks to his extensive cooperation with the Russia probe, but the criticism is a message dont lie to me. If Mueller is wrapping up soon, the cases of Flynn, Manafort and Cohen are laid out in a way that will be clear to any more people who wish to cooperate. You can either cooperate fully, like Flynn, and get little to no jail time. You can cooperate slightly less than fully, like Cohen did with New York prosecutors, and get a few years. Or you can not cooperate, like Manafort and face a decade or more in prison. The choice is out there, but it looks like it wont be there much longer. Donald Trump has falsely claimed texts between former FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page were "wiped clean and gone" despite a new report revealing the messages were not initially included in a Justice Department probe due to a technical error. The president tweeted on Saturday: Wow, 19,000 Texts between Lisa Page and her lover, Peter S of the FBI, in charge of the Russia Hoax, were just reported as being wiped clean and gone. Such a big story that will never be covered by the Fake News, he continued. Witch Hunt! The FBIs automated collection tool failed to collect five months of text messages between the agents due to a technology failure, according to a report released by the Justice Departments office of the inspector general. During the period in which the texts were unaccounted for, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd acknowledged the automatic tools technical errors, blaming the problem on misconfiguration issues related to rollouts, provisioning and software upgrades that conflicted with the FBIs collection capabilities". Recommended Former prosecutor explains how Trump can be indicted The two agents who have since left the FBI and were swiftly removed from Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election were not found to have committed any wrongdoing related to the texts going unaccounted for during the technical error. The president also claimed the Fake News would not report the development, despite Politco, The Washington Post and several major domestic and international outlets already having published stories about the issues in retrieving the missing messages. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Show all 23 1 /23 Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Joe Biden The former vice president - poised to be a frontrunner - has announced his run. He recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Bernie Sanders The 2016 runner-up has announced that he will be running again in 2020 Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State says she is still considering whether she will run again. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Pete Buttigieg The Indiana mayor and war veteran will be running for president. If elected, he would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kamala Harris The former California attorney general will be running for president in 2020. Introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony, she has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts Senator has formally launched her bid for president in 2020. A progressive Democrat, she is a major supporter of regulating Wall Street. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Beto ORourke The former Texas congressman told Oprah Winfrey that he has been thinking about running for presidency, but stopped short of formally announcing his bid to run in 2020. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam has announced his bid. He intends to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Vice News Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has announced that he will be running for the presidency in 2020. If he secures the nomination he said finding a female vice president would be a priority. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but is likely to face tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Andrew Yang The entrepreneur has announced his presidential candidacy, and has pledged that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18. AFP/Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual advisor has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? John Kerry The former secretary of state has said he is still thinking about whether to run. Getty Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Michael Bloomberg The entrepreneur and former New York mayor with a net worth of around $50bn has said he will decide by the end of February whether to seek the presidency. AFP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Howard Schultz Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has not yet ruled out running for president in 2020, despite criticism that his bid could help re-elect Mr Trump by dividing the Democrat vote. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Holder The former attorney general has said he will decide in the next month or so whether to run as a 2020 presidential candidate. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Eric Swalwell The California congressman said he is ready to do this and will decide before April whether to run. MSNBC Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Terry McAuliffe The former Virginia governor, who worked to elect Democratic governors during 2018 midterms, said there was a 50 per cent chance he would run. AP Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Sherrod Brown The Ohio senator is still undecided about whether to run for president in 2020. Who could be running against Trump in 2020? Mitch Landrieu The former New Orleans mayor said he doesnt think he will run for president, but never say never. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin The inspector generals office, a watchdog group within the Justice Department, located more than 9,000 texts transferred on Mr Strzoks phone that had previously not been included in its probe, noting a case of systemic and widespread failure with the automatic tool used by the FBI. At least six separate department-issued electronic devices used by Mr Strzok and Ms Page were included in the probe. It remains unclear where the president got the "19,000" figure from. The White House did not immediately respond to questions. The FBI's collection tool was not only failing to collect any data on certain phones during particular periods of time, it also does not appear that it was collecting all text messages even when it was generally functioning to collect text messages, the office said in its report on the investigation, adding it would later submit a recommendation on how to reform practices surrounding the preservation of employee communications. Mr Trump has frequently attacked the two former federal officials on Twitter after it was discovered they sent messages to each other reflecting disdain of his then-Republican candidacy for the White House. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The two have also become a target of the far right, with right-wing conspiracy theories suggesting Mr Strzok was planning to undermine Mr Trumps presidency through the federal agencys investigation into the 2016 election. He denied the allegations during a contentious Congressional hearing in July. Let me be clear, unequivocally and under oath: Not once in my 26 years of defending our nation did my personal opinions impact any official action I took, he said at the time. This is true for the Clinton email investigation, for the investigation into Russian interference and for every other investigation Ive worked on. He added: It is not who I am, and it is not something I would ever do. Period. Australia has recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The decision, announced by prime minister Scott Morrison, follows a similar move by the US last year when President Donald Trump reversed decades of American foreign policy and switched the countrys embassy there from Tel Aviv. Mr Morrison said Australia would not move its own embassy until a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians was achieved. And he added that his country also recognised the aspirations of the Palestinians for a state with a capital in East Jerusalem. Mr Morrisons announcement on Saturday comes after a two month consultation with politicians in Australia and allies abroad. He said: Australia now recognises West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel. We look forward to moving our embassy ... after final status determination. He said that Australia would, in the interim, set up a defence and trade office in West Jerusalem. The shift follows weeks of controversy following the announcement of the policy review in October. Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Show all 37 1 /37 Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinian mourners carry the dead body of Mukhtar Ebu Hamas, 25, killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on 14 May Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian woman flashes a victory sign during a protest near the border fence AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Israeli soldiers guard on top of a watch tower along the Israel-Gaza border AP Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinian demonstrators react to fired tear gas Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinian demonstrators run for cover Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures US President's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner arrive for the controversial inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem. The United States moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem after months of global outcry, Palestinian anger and exuberant praise from Israelis over President Donald Trump's decision tossing aside decades of precedent. AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinians carry a demonstrator injured during clashes AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman speaks during the dedication ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian man walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he arrives ahead of the dedication ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinian protesters lying on the floor during clashes Rex Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinian protesters burn tires AP Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner, US President's daughter Ivanka Trump, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and US ambassador to Israel David Friedman attend the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian man assists a wounded protestor AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian man holding his national flag walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Ivanka Trump unveil an inauguration plaque during the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinians carry a protester injured AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Ivanka Trump and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stand next to the dedication plaque at the US embassy in Jerusalem Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian demonstrator uses a sling to hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest against U.S. embassy Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A female Palestinian demonstrator stands amidst smoke Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Ivanka Trump attends the opening ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem AP Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinian medics and protesters evacuate a wounded protester AP Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures An Israeli soldier aims his weapon at Palestinian demonstrators Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Gazans carry an injured protestor Rex Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Protestors gather to demonstrate Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures An Israeli soldier fires tear gas at demonstrators Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian demonstrator poses with a slingshot Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Protestors carry tires Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A demonstrator kicks a burning tire Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Palestinians congregate prior to their demonstration against the US moving their embassy to Jerusalem Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Female Palestinian demonstrators react to tear gas fired by Israeli troops Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian demonstrator reacts Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian man throws leaflets dropped by the Israeli military during a protest against the US embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, at the Israel-Gaza border, east of Gaza City Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A boy holds a Palestinian flag as he stands amidst smoke Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian demonstrator tries to put out a fire caused by objects dropped from Israeli drones during a protest against the US embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures A Palestinian demonstrator with a slingshot REUTERS Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem in pictures Protesters look up at falling tear gas cannisters dropped by an Israeli drone AFP/Getty Palestinian leaders spent the past few days lobbying Arab and other Muslim states to drop Australian exports and withdraw their ambassadors from Canberra in the event of an embassy move to Jerusalem. It remains to be seen if any will do so. Commentators in Australia pointed out how the switch was first floated by Mr Morrison in the week leading up to a by-election in the town of Wentworth an electorate where 12.5 per cent of the population is Jewish. But, as part of the announcement, Mr Morrison denied the move had anything to do with domestic politics and accused the United Nations of antisemitism. He said: We regard the biased and unfair targeting of Israel in the UN general assembly in particular, as deeply unhelpful to efforts to build peace and stability. The UN general assembly is now the place where Israel is bullied and where antisemitism is cloaked in the language of human rights. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Two other countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, have previously announced they would recognise West Jerusalem, but Paraguay later reversed the decision after a change of government. The status of Jerusalem is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards the city as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Serbia has threatened military action against neighbouring Kosovo after its parliament approved the creation of a new army. Kosovar MPs voted on Friday to expand the existing Kosovo Security Force into a 5,000-troop army, plus 3,000 reservists. Belgrade called the move a direct threat to peace and stability in the Balkans and lashed out at the United States for supporting the proposal. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008, but Serbia does not recognise its former province as a state. Belgrade insists the new army would violate a UN resolution that brought to an end its bloody crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in 1999. Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabic said armed intervention was one of the options on the table. All 107 MPs present in the 120-seat parliament in Pristina voted in favour of passing three draft laws to expand the existing security force, created mainly for crisis response, civil defence and removal of land mines following the 1990s conflict. Kosovos constitution mandates the creation of a national army but no action had been taken for years, while Pristina sought in vain to win the approval of Kosovar Serbs. Ethnic Serb politicians in Kosovo boycotted Fridays vote, described as ill-timed by Natos secretary general. I regret that this decision was made despite the concerns expressed by Nato, said Jens Stoltenberg, warning it could destabilise a region where efforts to ease tensions have been ongoing for decades. He added: The North Atlantic Council will now have to re-examine the level of Natos engagement with the Kosovo Security Force. But the US called the new army historic and said it supported Kosovos sovereign right to maintain forces. Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? Show all 15 1 /15 Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11425.bin 2007 Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11389.bin Dura Jaksic Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11390.bin Reuters Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11392.bin Reuters/Str Old Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11419.bin Reuters/Yannis Behrakis Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11393.bin Reuters/Yannis Behrakis Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11396.bin Yugoslav Army/RL/Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11397.bin Reuters/Hazir Reka Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11399.bin Nikola Besevica/AFP/Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11400.bin Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 11401.bin Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 16357.bin Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images) Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 16530.bin Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 16532.bin Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images Birth of a nation: But will Kosovo spark another Balkan crisis? 16533.bin STR/AFP/Getty Images Kosovos prime minister Ramush Haradinaj said the new army will never be used against Serbia. He added: Serbias army will now have a partner Kosovos army in the partnership for peace process. But Belgrade fears the army could be used to chase the Serbs out of Kosovos north, a claim strongly denied by the government in Pristina. On Friday, Nikola Selakovic, an adviser to the Serbian president, said his country could send in troops or declare Kosovo an occupied territory. Belgrades foreign minister Ivica Dacic said Serbia would seek an urgent session of the UN Security Council about the issue. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events President Aleksandar Vucic who visited his countrys troops near the border with Kosovo on Friday, later addressed the nation, denouncing the US for its apparent support of a Kosovar army and praising allies Russia and China for their opposition to the move. He claimed Kosovo and its sponsor the US wanted to quash the Serbs. Mr Vucic said Serbia had been brought to the edge by Kosovos decision and now had no choice but to defend itself. Antonio Guterres, UN secretary general, called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could raise tensions. Any Serbian armed intervention in Kosovo would mean a direct confrontation with thousands of Nato-led peacekeepers, including US soldiers, who have been stationed in Kosovo since 1999. Balkans analysts, however, said any action by Serbias 28,000-strong army against Kosovo was highly unlikely given Belgrades aspirations to join the EU. Police officers fired tear gas at protesters on the Champs Elysees boulevard in Paris on Saturday during a fifth consecutive weekend of anti-government unrest in France. Clashes also broke out outside the citys opera house as thousands of people marched through the French capital but the protests remained largely peaceful overall. Eighty-six people in Paris had been detained by police officers by mid-afternoon and security forces had blocked off some streets in an effort to contain the unrest. A handful of topless feminist activists braved chilly temperatures to face off with security forces, a few meters away from the Elysee Palace, the presidents residence. French media also broadcast footage of clashes between police and protesters in the cities of Nantes and Bordeaux. Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Water cannons are turned on the protesters Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Riot police detain protesters EPA Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A car is set alight in the protests AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures The Arc de Triomphe is graffitied with the slogan: 'he yellow vests will triumph' Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters barricade themselves on the Champs Elysees as police line the streets Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester fires at police with a slingshot AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester holds up a sign that reads 'your Europe ruins us' Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester gestures amidst burning cars EPA Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters walk amidst tear gas near the Arc de Triomphe Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester runs amidst tear gas Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters on the Champs Elysees amidst tear gas AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters in yellow vests gather outside the town hall in Bordeaux EPA Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters gather on the Champs Elysees after the police deploy tear gas AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters stand by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester waves a French flag Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Riot police take formation AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A general view of the Champs Elysees in Paris today as protesters clash with police Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester wears a jacket reading 'Macron, thief, lier, crook, go away, the people banish you' AP Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters gather on the Champs Elysees AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters hold a French flag by a burning barricade AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters gather by a fire AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Water cannons are turned on the protesters Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester wears an adapted yellow vest reading 'Macron's cemetery: here lies your buying power' AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters gather by a burning car AFP/Getty Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Riot police advance through tear gas followed closely by their water cannon EPA Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Tear gas is deployed to deter the protesters Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester waves a French flag amidst tear gas AP Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures Protesters walk amidst tear gas by the Arc de Triomphe Reuters Clashes at the Paris fuel protests: in pictures A protester holds a sign asking for the reintroduction of ISF (an old French tax on wealth) AFP/Getty Previous protests associated with the yellow vest movement have turned violent, with Paris suffering its worst riot in decades on 1 December. The number of deaths connected to the protests rose to seven, after a man died at Frances border with Belgium when he crashed his car into a truck that had stalled at a yellow vest roadblock. Last weekend, groups of demonstrators looted stores in Paris and set up burning barricades in the streets. Our country needs calm. It needs order. It needs to function normally again, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said on Friday. The Interior Minister said around 69,000 police were active on Saturday with a reinforced presence in the cities of Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. According to official figures, 33,500 protesters had been counted in France by 1300 GMT compared to 77,000 at the same time on 8 December. In Paris, more than 2,000 protestors marched in splintered groups in several neighbourhoods, and at least 148 were arrested by mid-afternoon, according to a Paris police official. Police said 115 people were taken into custody in Paris, most for banding together to commit acts of violence, and a small number were injured. Police in riot gear tackled one protester and dragged him off the Champs-Elysees, while his friends said he was doing nothing but exercising right to protest. A protester stands on the Champs Elysees (Getty) The yellow vest demonstrations began on 17 November. Marchers were initially protesting a rise in fuel tax. The controversial tax was scrapped as the protests grew, but the movement has since broadened to encompass widespread anger and dissatisfaction aimed at Mr Macrons government. Many marchers feel that the French leader governs for the countrys elites and the 40-year-old has struggled to convince them otherwise There was a strong police presence Saturday outside the central Saint Lazare train station, where police in riot gear checked bags. Some 8,000 security forces and 14 armoured vehicles were deployed in Paris alone, authorities said. Were here to represent all our friends and members of our family who cant come to protest, or because theyre scared, said Pierre Lamy, a 27-year-old industrial worker attending the march on Saturday. He said the protests had stopped being about the fuel tax and had turned into a movement for economic justice. Everythings coming up now, Mr Lamy said. Were being bled dry. 1,407 people have been injured since the protests began. A yellow vest protester (AFP/Getty) On Friday, the French governments official Twitter account posted a video of images of historic national protests, which then transitioned to more recent footage of the yellow vest demonstrations. Protesting is a right. So lets know how to exercise it, the account said. Protesting is not smashing, the video declared. Protesting is not smashing our heritage. Protesting is not smashing our businesses. Mr Macron admitted in a landmark speech this week that he was partially responsible for the anger felt by the marchers. But he refused to reinstate a wealth tax, which he controversially removed in 2017 in a bid to encourage investment. I dont think our democracy can accept to function with a dialogue that is carried out only with the occupation of the public domain, only by elements of violence, the French leader said. He has ignored protesters calls for his resignation. Additional reporting by agencies Police in Moscow police say an off-duty officer has been injured after a World War II-era land mine exploded. The police lieutenant required hospital treatment after finding the mine on the side of a motorway. Police said the officer sustained injuries after it exploded. A passerby on the highway saw the injured officer and stopped to help. The RIA Novosti news agency reported earlier on Saturday that a man was injured along the highway after picking up an undetonated explosive device, resulting in injuries to his hands and face. Moscow police haven't yet commented on the specifics of the officer's injuries. AP For proponents of Ukrainian independence, Saturday was a long-awaited day. Inside Kievs St Sophia Cathedral, a unification council of 190 delegates gathered to serve the final rites on the countrys 332-year-old religious ties with Moscow Orthodoxy; to create a new, unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church; and elect a new leader. The council followed September's decision by the Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to grant the Ukrainian Church autocephaly (independence). Several thousands of Ukrainians gathered outside the Cathedral from early Saturday morning. It was several hours before President Petro Poroshenko, the main architect of the process, emerged to break the news and present the new head of the Church, Metropolitan Epifaniy (Serhiy Dumenko). Its here, Mr Poroshenko said. This day has already gone into history as a sacred day, the day we created an autocephalous local Orthodox Church. It is a day of final independence from Russia. The Unification Council brought together bishops from two hitherto-breakaway Ukrainian Orthodox churches, and 10 breakaway bishops from what was until recently the only canonical church in Ukraine, the Moscow-backed Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It took the Council several hours of to elect Metropolitan Epifaniy as leader of the new unified church. The remarkably young 39-year-old is considered to be the right-hand man of the head of the Kiev-backed Patriarchate, Patriarch Filaret. The divisive Filaret chose not to stand, reportedly following interventions from Constantinople. Both Moscow and the Moscow-backed Ukrainian Orthodox Church oppose the unification. Kiev, on the other hand, argues that the creation of a new, independent church is a matter of national security and independence. President Poroshenko, who is struggling in the polls ahead of next March's presidential election, has made it a centrepiece policy of his campaign. But the push to create an autocephalous church in Ukraine is not a new one. Almost exactly 100 years ago, Pavlo Skoropadsky, hetman (the highest military officer) of the short-lived Ukrainian state in 1918, tried to do the same but was rebuffed by the Metropolitan of Kiev (an Orthodox bishop). Soon after, the Bolsheviks regained control, and the issue was closed for a century. Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Show all 32 1 /32 Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of opposition parties burn flares during a rally demanding to break an agreement with Russia on the use of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, in front of the parliament building in Kiev Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Volunteers with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps light flares during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev after Russia seized two of their armored artillery vessels and a tug boat in the Black Sea AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian Nationalists demand to break the diplomatic relations with Russia and nationalization of Russian property in Ukraine EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian activists burn flares during their rally in front of Russian Consulate in Kharkiv EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Seized Ukrainian ships, small armoured artillery ships and a tug boat, are seen anchored in a port of Kerch Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, announced, on 25 November, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council that they will introduce martial law in Ukraine for a period of 60 days and appeal to the Parliament to consider the move Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Russia seized two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Children from an orphanage volunteer to help the city defenders strengthen trenches on Ukraine's Army positions near the village of Rybatske 25 km from Mariupol AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Policemen guard at Russian consulate during a protest action in the Black Sea Ukrainian city of Odessa AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 With relations still raw after Russias annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the capture of three Ukrainian naval vessels risks pushing the two countries towards a wider conflict. Graphic explains how the naval incident unfolded on a map Graphic News Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of far-right parties burn flares in front of the parliament building in Kiev during a rally to support the Ukrainian navy Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A Ukraine army APC moves toward on position at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian Nationalists sign a banner with a slogan reading like 'Not retreat and not surrendering!' EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists glue Ukrainian flag on the fence of Russian consulate AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A volunteer with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A National Guard serviceman extinguishes a torch thrown by a protester during a rally against the seizure by Russian special forces of three of the Ukrainian navy ships Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A protester throws a smoke grenade during a rally in front of the embassy of Russia in Kiev AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Protestors set up paper ships on the tires during their rally near of Russian embassy building in Kiev EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A man extinguishes a burning car of the embassy of Russia Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Paper boats are seen placed during a protest Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 EPA This time, things have moved in a different direction. The first breakthrough for Kiev came in April, when Patriarch Bartholomew, the leading figure in the Orthodox Church, received Petro Poroshenko and his request for Autocephaly. Several months later, in October, Bartholomew announced that Constantinople had agreed in principle to the request. Today represented the last stage before the issuing of Tomos, the official recognition of independence. This will now happen in early January. The decision to grant the Ukrainian Church autocephaly has had a momentous impact in the Orthodox world. Following the October announcement, the Russian Orthodox Church resolved to sever links with Constantinople. While the Russian Church is the largest by numbers, Constantinople was notionally considered first among equals in the Orthodox world. The split has also increased animosity between the three Orthodox operating churches. The Moscow-backed church has complained about pressure on congregations and clergy from the Kiev government. In a recent interview with The Independent, Archbishop Kliment, a senior representative for the Moscow-backed church described the moves as unprecedented, asset-grabbing schemes that belonged in the Soviet period. He claimed the government would now look to arrest control of Kievs Pechersk Lavra monastery, the spiritual centrepiece of Orthodoxy. Earlier this week, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, complained about large-scale persecutions" in an open letter to the UN, Pope and German leader Angela Merkel. A few days earlier, he talked about forces of evil rising up against the Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian government accuses the Moscow-backed church of misleading public opinion. Kiev will not force adherence to the new church, it insists; every congregation will have the right to choose to which church it belongs. Following four years of war in the east, support for the Moscow-backed church has fallen. Polls suggest that a majority of Orthodox believers now attend the Kiev Patriarchate. But the Moscow-backed church still has the most number of congregations (around 12,000 temples). A big question remains how many of those will now switch. Once the Tomos is awarded in January, Moscow will likely do its best to isolate the new church. The Russian Orthodox Church responded immediately to Saturdays Unification Council by announcing that the new church was not canonical. But for many people, the damage has already been done. The Russian Orthodox Church will now lose up to a half of its parishioners, wrote Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Twitter. What was built over hundreds of years has been destroyed by Putin and his idiots over four years. Putin is an enemy of the Russian nation. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted taxpayers will not face the hardship of a mini-Budget in the spring if there is a no-deal Brexit on March 29. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has this week predicted a major hit for the Irish economy in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin had said such a development would lead to loss of some 4bn - making a spring mini-Budget inevitable. The Taoiseach's upbeat comments came despite British Prime Minister Theresa May's failed efforts to wring more Brexit concessions from her EU counterparts at a fractious two-day leaders' summit in Brussels. If the draft deal brokered by Mrs May is not ratified by the UK parliament, then the risk of a no-deal exit increases considerably. Mr Varadkar said several times he did not believe a mini-Budget would be required - even in the case of a no-deal Brexit. He said Budget 2019 had been framed with Brexit in mind and that Ireland would be among the few EU countries to run a budget surplus next year. The Taoiseach added that the ESRI had also predicted that economic growth would continue even in case of a no-deal Brexit. He conceded that growth was forecast to halve, from a projected 6pc to 3pc. "The kind of environment in which you have a mini-Budget, or emergency Budget, is when you go into recession, not when your economy grows by 3pc," Mr Varadkar said as he ruled out the idea on three separate occasions. Mrs May, who had a public spat with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after he had referred to her approach as "nebulous", returned to the conference centre again yesterday. She again put up a defiant front for journalists and insisted she would continue to try to gain further EU concessions that would help her sell her deal. "There is work still to do and we will be holding talks in coming days about how to obtain the further assurances that the UK parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal," she said before she left Brussels. The Taoiseach said the next move in the ongoing stand-off rested with Mrs May. He also insisted he did not believe a no-deal Brexit was likely and he argued Britain could avoid it by either revoking its application to leave, or seeking an extension of the negotiating deadline. But Mr Varadkar also said his government would publish details of its own contingency plans to manage a no-deal Brexit late next week. The EU Commission is due to publish its plans next Wednesday and the Government is due to meet business representatives and other groups concerned next Thursday and Friday. The Taoiseach said that more preparation information would emerge after these meetings. More details would follow in January. Mr Varadkar repeated his view, echoed by all other EU leaders, that efforts to help Mrs May would be confined to "explanations and clarifications", with no question of re-opening negotiations. The Taoiseach said that if a no-deal Brexit was imminent next March, an extension of the negotiations would be accepted by the 27 governments if requested by the British side. But he pointed out no EU leaders' summit was scheduled until late March. IT has featured topless farmers knitting in a field of sheep, and grimacing donkeys getting their teeth cleaned -the Irish Farmers Calendar is marking 10 years of the best photos through the years. The eye-catching calendar features tongue-in-cheek photos of ordinary Irish farmers. Creator Ciara Ryan said the calendar had been a hit with the public and farmers alike - and worked well as a chat-up line for the participating agricultural hunks when they're enjoying a night out. Ciara said she decided to create the calendar series when she was made redundant during the recession. Heyday The farmers calendar grew in such popularity that at one point it even outsold mega-popstars One Direction in their heyday. "I saw the popularity of the sexy fireman calendar and thought that the farmer really was the quintessential Irish man," she told the Irish Independent. "It's difficult to get farmers, but when you get them, then they're the ones who are really up for anything. "I direct the photographs and get that cheeky charm out of them," she added. The 'best of' calendar for 2019 features six farmers from Wexford, with the rest from Kilkenny, Mayo, Tipperary and Carlow. And in an era focused on gender equality, Ciara hasn't had too many complaints about featuring only men. "I did get a couple of emails from women about a female version - I think people would complain about that though too," she laughed. A share of proceeds from the calendar go to charity Bothar and can be bought on farmercalendar.com. Key focus: If he becomes CEO, Dr Colin Hunt will be tasked with recovering taxpayers money pumped into bank THE State-controlled AIB has named Dr Colin Hunt - a one-time economic adviser to Brian Cowen - as its next chief executive. The proposed appointment is subject to consultation with the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and approval by the Central Bank, but each is expected to be a formality. Dr Hunt is a well-known economist - he had a high media profile in the early to mid-2000s when he was chief economist at Goodbody Stockbrokers. He was later a special adviser to Brian Cowen until mid 2007, when the former Taoiseach was Minister for Finance, and before that he'd been a special adviser to former Transport Minister Martin Cullen from 2004. An experienced banker, Dr Hunt has been managing director of wholesale and institutional banking and a member of the senior executive team at AIB since May 2016, after joining from Australian finance house Macquarie's Irish operations. At AIB, Colin Hunt emerged from a panel of four internal candidates following October's announcement by outgoing CEO Bernard Byrne of his plan to leave the bank. As CEO a key focus at AIB will be to recover as much as possible of the 21bn of taxpayers' money pumped into the lender after the crash, less than half of which has been clawed back. Given that he already holds such a senior role his appointment is not expected to require the lengthy regulatory approvals involved in the appointments of external candidates as CEOs. With the bulk of AIB still in State hands, the appointment of Dr Hunt as CEO and as a director of the bank must also get the go-ahead from the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Ironically, back in 2007 the minister was a Fine Gael senator and raised the issue of whether Dr Hunt was facing a potential conflict of interest by leaving his role as adviser to Brian Cowen to join Australian bank Macquarie. Paschal Donohoe said at the time that Mr Hunt's knowledge of government strategy might give his new employer an advantage. However, the appointment had been cleared by the Outside Appointments Board (OAB), which vets people moving to the private sector and had found no issue. AIB used executive search agency Korn Ferry to help with its succession process following the surprise announcement in November that Bernard Byrne would leave to take up a job with Davy Stockbrokers. The AIB job is subject to the cap on bankers' pay brought in after the crash - the bank can pay a maximum of 500,000 a year. Korn Ferry is separately helping to prepare a report for Paschal Donohoe on the pay cap that is due in the new year, and a report by Bloomberg suggests it will advocate a looser regime. AIB's own chairman, Richard Pym, has been a vocal advocate of loosening the pay cap - blaming it for the loss of senior executives to rivals. At AIB the four internal candidates were understood to be chief operating officer Tomas O'Midheach; Robert Mulhall, head of retail and commercial banking; and Jim O'Keefe, head of AIB's financial solutions group, as well as Mr Hunt. With the pay cap review not expected until the New Year, and little political pressure on the Minister to change to a more liberal regime - it's unlikely the pay deal will change before Colin Hunt takes up his new job. The Korn Ferry report is still being drafted and will be reviewed by officials before being submitted to the Minister, the Department of Finance said. For 17 straight months one name has been a constant presence on the trading blotter of Japan's investors - Ireland. Buoyant economic growth and improving fiscal conditions have attracted Japanese funds to Irish bonds, with purchases increasing in recent months even as uncertainty grew over whether the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal. Investors bought a net 161.5bn yen (1.26bn) of Irish debt in October - just below September's eight-year high of 183.1bn yen, extending a streak that began in June 2017. Japanese funds have been looking for alternatives to traditional overseas investments such as US Treasuries this year as an increase in hedging costs lowered potential returns and as political risk turned them against continental European debt. Irish 10-year bonds yielded 0.97pc on Thursday, down from a February high of 1.20pc, but that compared with a return of just 0.035pc for Japanese equivalents. "Irish bonds are attractive," said Tatsuya Higuchi, executive chief fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management. "We've been maintaining our overweight position for a while given Ireland's healthy economic condition and in anticipation of seeing a possible upgrade in its credit rating." Mitsubishi's flagship Global Sovereign Open fund, held 6.3pc of its portfolio in Irish sovereign bonds as of November 30. The fund started to build positions in Irish sovereign debt around the time credit ratings were raised to single A in 2014, Mr Higuchi said. Japanese fund managers see opportunities for Ireland despite Brexit. Green energy: Boiling water from under sea bed would power turbines to produce electricity that would be cabled to Ireland Green energy: Boiling water from under sea bed would power turbines to produce electricity that would be cabled to Ireland Irish oil and gas explorer Providence Resources is evaluating whether it can generate electricity from billions of barrels of boiling water under the sea bed. The green energy project would be revolutionary for the Irish energy sector - the first large scale example of its type here, with Ireland well behind on meeting its carbon emissions targets. The boiling water is located 3,000 metres below the sea bed, at a location where it gets heated by its proximity to the earth's crust. The project would be a type of "geothermal" energy - energy derived from the heat under the surface of the planet. A number of significant players in the geothermal energy sector have expressed an interest in the idea and are due to travel to Ireland next month to discuss how it could be progressed beyond the research stage. The boiling water is located in an area of the Porcupine Basin off the south west coast of Ireland. Providence Resources, run by Tony O'Reilly jr, was looking for oil there in an area known as Dunquin North, but found only residual amounts. However the presence of the boiling water presents the opportunity to generate energy in a different manner. One option is to install a so-called "heat exchanger" on the sea bed. The boiling water would be pumped up to the sea bed, and then into the exchanger. Once there, the heat in the water would cause a separate fluid in the heat exchanger to expand. That expansion would power a turbine, generating the electricity to be sent back to shore. The water would then be pumped down again into the reservoir from which it came - meaning the electricity would be renewable. The project is an example of how oil and gas companies have the potential to diversify into renewable areas, with the boiling water having been discovered by oil and gas exploration techniques. The project has a long way to go before becoming a reality however, given that it is at the research stage. The company would probably need to bring in a partner to get the project up and running on a commercial basis. John O'Sullivan, Providence's technical director, said in a social media post that the boiling water is about 275km from a grid connection in the Shannon estuary on the west coast. He said the company was trying to see how it could extract the energy in a way that would mean it wasn't intermittent - like for example wind energy where the power generated depends on the wind. "I think sometimes these are the alternative and maybe difficult types of questions which we need to challenge ourselves with," the post said. Nearby, at an area called Dunquin South, Providence is set to drill a well alongside partners ENI, Repsol and Sosina. It plans a site survey for the prospect next year, with the well potentially coming the year after in 2020. But for most observers in the market the key Providence project is off the Cork coast at a prospect known as Barryroe. After a years-long, torturous process, the company has finally found a partner to help it try and get oil out of the ground there. There is oil at the prospect, but the question is whether it can be extracted in a commercial fashion. The partner is a Chinese consortium which has committed to drilling as many as seven wells at the project. The project has recently run into a delay however, after An Taisce challenged planning permission Providence got for a site survey at Barryroe. An Taisce, an environmental charity which gets State funding, said it wanted a judicial review of the way in which Providence received the permission. Providence said it would apply for fresh permission for the survey early in 2019, with the start of drilling set to be pushed back to the third quarter of the year rather than the second, assuming all went as planned. Earlier this year Sean Canney, the minister of state in charge of natural resources, indicated the Government would block efforts by opposition politicians to ban new exploration licences. He said the bill wouldn't reduce current oil and gas usage, and make us reliant on imports for future oil or gas needs. With technology the way it is, those needs are likely to remain substantial for some time. But if one day we manage to live in an oil-and-gas-free world, Providence's geothermal project shows how oil and gas explorers might be able to reinvent themselves. Data giant: Tanya Duncan, head of the Irish unit of Interxion, which has centres in 11 countries The Irish arm of data centre firm Interxion saw its operating profit tumble 20pc last year to 5.4m despite turnover jumping to 20.3m from 17.3m in 2016. The decline in profitability at the Irish arm of the Amsterdam-headquartered firm came as its net operating expenses soared to 11.2m in 2017 from 7.6m the previous year. Directors' pay at the Irish unit jumped last year to 1.1m from 444,000 in 2016, according to accounts just filed for the business. The company employed just 23 other staff during 2017, who were paid a total of 1.37m, or an average of almost 60,000 each. Interxion, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, operates more than 50 data centres across 11 European countries, serving 2,000 clients. The managing director of the Irish division is Tanya Duncan. Last week, Interxion announced that one of the largest independent cloud performance and security value-add resellers in the world, GlobalDots, has selected the company's Dublin operations to host its data. Playtika, the world's largest social casino games company, is one of the end customers GlobalDots services through Interxion's Dublin campus. Last month, Interxion got the go-ahead for a new 68m data centre in Dublin, at Grange Castle. It already has three data centres at the business park, which is a major hub for such operations, with multinationals including Google and Microsoft having data centre facilities there. The latest planned Interxion data centre will take between 12 and 14 months to build, and support up to 140 construction jobs during that time. In October, Interxion said that it's planning to build new data centres in Frankfurt and Marseille at a total cost of more than 310m. In September, Interxion said that it had increased its capital expenditure guidance for 2018 to between 425m and 450m due to high co-location demand. Britain is to ban advertising showing women who can't park or men who struggle to change a nappy in a crackdown on gender stereotypes, the UK industry watchdog said on Friday. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said a review had found some stereotypes were harmful, citing ads that belittle men for carrying out tasks seen as female, or suggest new mothers should prioritise looking good over emotional wellbeing. "Our new rule calls time on stereotypes that hold back people and society," said Shahriar Coupal, director of the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP), which sets the advertising standards applied by the ASA. From next June, adverts featuring a depiction of gender roles that could cause offence or harm will be axed, it said. The ban will apply to broadcast and non-broadcast media, including TV, radio, newspapers and social media. It follows a campaign for weight loss products featuring a bikini-clad model with the tag line "Are you beach body ready?" that drew a barrage of complaints. In November, retailer Marks and Spencer came under fire for a window display juxtaposing men is suits and women in knickers, while two months earlier Sweden's advertising watchdog said a viral meme showing a man staring at another woman was sexist. Read More "Harmful gender stereotypes in ads contribute to how people see themselves," said Ella Smillie, CAP's gender stereotyping project lead. "They can hold some people back from fulfilling their potential, or from aspiring to certain jobs and industries, bringing costs for individuals and the economy." Women's rights groups welcomed the move, which follows a public consultation by the watchdog. "Our society and our economy pays a heavy price for the constraints we place on boys and girls from our earliest moments of life. It has to change," said Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society. Some suggested the new rule went too far. "What next, the politically correct going for our comedy shows!" tweeted Andrea Jenkyns, a lawmaker with the ruling Conservatives, a right-wing party. However, Britain's main industry body supported the ban. "Our most recent research on public trust has shown the public particularly appreciates advertising when it takes a progressive stance," said Stephen Woodford, head of the Advertising Association. The Insurance Compensation Fund in this country could be forced to pay the outstanding claims of policyholders here from the collapsed Danish insurer Qudos. The fund is already being used to pay claims related to the multi-billion-euro black hole in Quinn Insurance and claims related to Setanta Insurance. And the bankruptcy of another Danish insurer that did business here, Alpha, may result in the compensation fund being called on to pay any claims related to that firm. It had been hoped the 1,400 Qudos claims here awaiting settlement would be covered by the Danish insurance guarantee scheme. Now it has emerged that a change in the law in Denmark last May could mean the Danish scheme will not be liable to meet Irish claims. This will be the case if Qudos is declared bankrupt after January 1. Qudos was authorised and regulated in Denmark, but was able to trade here under European Union freedom of services rules, selling through Wexford-based agent Patrona. It had 50,000 customers here. In a Dail reply to Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe admitted there was now a doubt the Danish compensation scheme would cover the cost of the Qudos claims. Mr Donohoe said his officials had been in contact with the Danish finance ministry, which indicated that if Qudos is ultimately placed into bankruptcy, and this happens after January 1 next year, then the Danish scheme will not be liable. He said that in such an instance, claimants may instead be eligible for cover from the Irish Insurance Compensation Fund. It is not yet clear what the final bill could be to the fund, but industry sources said it would run into tens of millions of euro. Mr McGrath commented: "Apart from the serious uncertainty the collapse of Qudos has caused to policyholders and claimants, there is now the distinct possibility that we will be left with a hefty bill to the tune of tens of millions of euro because of a failure of regulation in Denmark." He called on the Government to contact the Danish authorities, saying it should not be the case that Irish insurance policyholders have to foot the bill yet again. Last month, the High Court approved payments of more than 20m from the Insurance Compensation Fund to meet a shortfall in awards related to collapsed Malta- based insurer Setanta. It went into liquidation in 2014. The estimated cost of 1,750 claims arising from the collapse of Setanta is thought to be around 95m. The Insurance Compensation Fund is paid for by a 2pc levy on general insurance policies, such as home, motor and commercial cover. A new 2pc levy applies on all motor policies from the start of this month. It affects all motor insurance - personal, fleet and commercial - and will be used to fund a new Motor Insurers' Insolvency Compensation Fund to ensure full cover for future collapses of insurers. The new levy is being imposed on insurers, but it is not clear if it will be passed on directly to policyholders. Last reel: Reilly and Coogan's film charts Laurel and Hardy on their final tour to the UK and Ireland Whether or not you've ever wondered what it would be like to hear Laurel and Hardy turn the air blue, Stan & Ollie intended to show you. An early version of the forthcoming biopic began with the beloved duo ambling through a studio backlot at their 1930s peak, discussing their personal lives in terms that would have had the censors of the day falling out of their seats. "I'm glad we didn't do it in the end," says Steve Coogan, who plays Stan Laurel in a reedy tenor. "But there was a draft that really went for it. 'Guess who the f**k I saw the other day,' and so on. And everyone in the room was like" He pulls a horrified face. "This is not your grandmother's Laurel and Hardy," booms John C Reilly, the Ollie to Coogan's Stan, putting on his deepest movie-trailer voice. "Well, we tried that. But it was decided that we should take a different approach." Accordingly, the language was dialled back to PG - but the discussion itself, with its level-headed reflections on alimony payments and dubious employment contracts, remained in the film. For lovers of two comedy titans who couldn't broach such subjects on screen, that in itself is shocking enough. That backstage perspective is what Stan & Ollie is all about, triangulated by Coogan and Reilly via note-perfect mimicry, actorly insight and some astonishing prosthetics. Prologue aside, the film - from Filth director Jon S Baird - is set during Laurel and Hardy's final tour of Britain and Ireland in 1953, when their popular appeal was waning and their relationship falling apart. They were in their sixties at the time; Coogan and Reilly, each of Irish Catholic extraction, are both 53. Wildly different though Coogan and Reilly's careers may be, it makes sense that a Laurel and Hardy biopic should be the intersection point - and not just because both have been fans since childhood. Reilly broke into film at 24, in Brian De Palma's Casualties of War, then played oafs, naifs and kooks for directors such as Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson, before being nominated for an Oscar for his work in Chicago. He then discovered a kindred comedic spirit in Will Ferrell, with whom he made Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and the forthcoming Holmes & Watson. Coogan, meanwhile, took the reverse route. "I couldn't get arrested as an actor, but I could get arrested as a comic," he says. "So I did that and thought, 'I'll go where the money and work is, and figure it out later on'." His defining creation, Alan Partridge, transitioned from television to film more smoothly than Coogan did: an attempt to break Hollywood in the early 2000s is best remembered, if at all, for a small-in-all-respects supporting role as a miniature Roman centurion in the Night at the Museum series. Far more fruitful has been his ongoing collaboration with the British director Michael Winterbottom, which has yielded (among other treasures) the picaresque sitcom The Trip with Rob Brydon. Then there was a starring role in Stephen Frears' Philomena, whose four Academy Award nods - and specifically, the one for best adapted screenplay - means Coogan can also call himself an Oscar nominee. Coogan ended up in Laurel's shoes thanks to Jeff Pope, his Philomena co-writer, who mentioned one day that he was also working on a Laurel and Hardy script. Too proud to ask for a shot at the co-lead, Coogan instead embarked on a psy-ops campaign, telling mutual friends how much he admired the legendary double-act until word made its way back to Pope. Video of the Day "He told me one day that someone had mentioned my name as a possible Stan. And I said - airily - 'Okay, why not?'" Reilly was one of three Hardys suggested by Coogan (he won't name the others). "But I was intimidated by the prospect," Reilly says. "I also remember thinking, 'Who else?' I've talked my way out of jobs before by suggesting people who would be better. But I couldn't think of anyone else that was the right age and had the right voice." Coogan nods. "However arrogant this may sound, I remember thinking I was " "destined?" Reilly interjects, with a look. "Well, okay, tell me who else?" Coogan barks. "I mean, I dunno. Hugh Grant?" "Let's not go there," Reilly says. "Many other people could have done it" "No, no, I'm throwing Hugh Grant under a bus," Coogan clarifies. "By mentioning him, people will think, 'Oh God, he would have been terrible'." The task of getting into Laurel and Hardy's late-life mindset was no mean one, but history had slid an ace up Coogan and Reilly's sleeves. Laurel had always left the private number of his apartment in the telephone directory, and fans would often ring to discuss his work, or just to hear the voice of their hero. Some recorded the calls, and for both actors, the unguarded, reflective conversations were a treasure trove of insight. Yet both also knew that the film would live or die on their ability to convince physically. So in addition to the facial prosthetics - designed by Mark Coulier, who turned Tilda Swinton into an elderly man for Suspiria - the two spent three weeks rehearsing with the War Horse master puppeteer Toby Sedgwick, to perfect their subjects' body language and gestures. Sedgwick also helped them hone a skit written by Laurel for the 1950s tour called 'Birds of a Feather'. A farce involving a waiting room with two doors, and endless missed connections, it was performed on stage, but never on camera: the performance in Stan & Ollie is the only time it will have been seen since. Reilly describes playing the scene in front of an audience of extras as "a moment". "I started to break down, because this material Stan had written 60-some years earlier still just worked. It required such delicate timing, all this counting offstage, but when we got it, you could just feel the joy. And I got emotional, and Steve was like, 'What the f**k is wrong with John?'" "The curse of beautifully timed comedy is the more refined it becomes, the more it looks like it just happened," says Coogan. "People often say to me about my stuff, 'Oh, you must be having great fun all the time.' And I go, 'No, it's actually really hard work'." The tension between a comic and his character is something Coogan explored with Winterbottom across three series of The Trip, in which he and Brydon play insecure, bickering versions of themselves. Coogan has just finished shooting Winterbottom's next project in Mykonos: a black comedy called Greed in which he plays "a billionaire c*** who shafts his employees' pension scheme and runs sweatshops in the developing world". Film4 and Sony Pictures International have described the story as "fictional" but Coogan says if viewers don't recognise the notorious businessman on whom the character is based, "then they must have learning difficulties". Yet even in a modern-day big business satire, he noticed elements of Laurel and Hardy creeping in. "Ollie's hard to avoid if you do a certain kind of blustery archetype," says Reilly, adding that he found himself weaving classic Hardy splutters and flashes of tendresse into his vocal performance in the Disney animation Wreck-It Ralph. For Coogan, likewise, it was the humanity underpinning their work that showed him how to develop Partridge from his first incarnation as a "contemptible idiot" into a more layered, pathos-laden figure. "The wisecracking, edgy stuff in comedy from any generation is ultimately always transcended," says Coogan. "But Laurel and Hardy have this lasting human connection in part because there's this sliver of sadness in their work. Both of them are disappointments to each other" "and yet neither of them leaves," Reilly goes on. "Another fine mess, over and over. Life is futile, yet here we go again." 'Stan & Ollie' will be released in Irish cinemas on January 11 The 'debate' around whether or not to censor 'Fairytale of New York' led to a predictable war of words between avowedly liberal types with a worrying predilection for book-burning and those of us who feel you can't mess with art, no matter how unpalatable it might be for future generations. But one aspect of the 'Fairytale' conversation that was overlooked was how it is one of the last compositions to join the canon of classic Christmas songs. Released 31 years ago, this foul-mouthed masterpiece hails from a time where several new Yuletide numbers were guaranteed to stoke the zeitgeist. It's an era that feels like the distant past. Think about it: there are only a handful of songs that were released after it that provide grist for the annual Christmas soundtrack - and none of them were released in recent years. Expand Close Classic: Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan perform 'Fairytale of New York' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Classic: Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan perform 'Fairytale of New York' Chris Rea's 'Driving Home for Christmas' appeared a year after 'Fairytale', in 1988 (although it took several years before it truly seeped into our consciousness, having limped to a pitiful 53 in the UK singles chart on release) and Cliff Richard's saccharine 'Mistletoe & Wine' was also released in 1988 (it did markedly initially better than Rea's more enduring effort). You have to go back to 1994 to find the last time a specially-penned Christmas song became part of the mass-market soundtrack and that was Mariah Carey's relentlessly upbeat 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. We don't believe you for a second, Mariah. But since then, nothing - and it's not for the want of trying. Every year, a slew of Christmas songs is released but they melt away as quickly as an April snow shower. It's one of the strangest of chart phenomena - an entire songwriting form, effectively, that's obliterated in the court of public opinion. Or so it would appear at first glance. The truth is singles and chart glory don't matter to the public in the way they once did and with no Top of the Pops, or an equivalent, to focus our attention, the humble Christmas song has become a casualty. The voracious rise of X Factor - which concludes a few weeks before Christmas - has ensured that inoffensive manufactured bilge now usually occupies the top spot. And that's still the case even though X Factor has been off the boil for several years. It's hard to imagine another campaign like the one in 2009 that got Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name' to the top of the chart. Video of the Day There's also the unavoidable truth that singles, including festive ones, don't sell in the sort of quantities they once did and therefore aren't nearly as lucrative as before for writers with a knack for shoe-horning references to sleigh bells, snow, tinsel and any of the other accoutrements of a classic 'holiday hit'. Once upon a time, there were extraordinary riches for those who hit Christmas tune pay dirt. Noddy Holder, chief songwriter for Slade, is thought to pocket 500,000 per annum in royalties for his evergreen 1973 hit, 'Merry Xmas Everybody'. And Shane MacGowan trousers a hefty six figure sum for 'Fairytale' every single year. The riches that the fictional hero of Nick Hornby's About A Boy earns from his late father's big hit, 'Santa's Super Sleigh', are rooted in reality. It's clear that radio still has an insatiable appetite for Christmas songs - and streaming services users can't get enough of them either - but that thirst is for the old and familiar. The folk who try to write a 2018 Christmas classic are unlikely to see much in the way of royalties in the years to come. Some really big names have tried and failed. Can you hum Coldplay's 'Christmas Lights'? Could you share a line from Kanye West's 'Christmas in Harlem'? I certainly can't, but I could probably recite the words of Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' backwards if you put a gun to my head. Its writer, Roy Wood, must be drowning in royalty cheques: since its release in 1973, it's been in the UK top 50 in 14 separate years, including 2018. And yet, there are recent Christmas classics that simply haven't been discovered by the masses. If you're sick of the greatest Christmas album of all time - A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector, what else? - why not give Sufjan Stevens' superb boxset, Songs for Christmas, a whirl? At just over two hours there's a huge amount of new material and reworked carols for your appreciation. All were released between 2001 and 2006 but failed to make a connection beyond Stevens' narrow fanbase. Or how about take a punt on This is Christmas, the marvellous 2011 album released by Ash mainman Tim Wheeler and English tunesmith Emmy the Great? And you're likely to enjoy the Christmas-themed Funny Looking Angels albums, which was made by Tom Smith, frontman of the gloom-rock merchants Editors, and Andy Burrows, the Razorlight drummer. Stranger things have happened, but it's difficult to imagine a time when new Christmas songs take hold of our imaginations they way they used to. We're unlikely to witness a third week of December chart battle quite as significant of that of 1984 when Wham's 'Last Christmas' vied with Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas' for top spot. The latter won, of course, and George Michael urged his fans to make it the number one - but 'Last Christmas' still has the distinction of being the biggest selling single in UK history not to top the chart. For several years now, it would appear as though it's the big-budget Christmas TV commercials from the likes of John Lewis that have usurped festive tunes in the national consciousness in the UK and here. And, of course, each of these ads - whether from a supermarket, mobile phone retailer, you-name-it - features a carefully chosen song, usually a new cover version of an old favourite. This year, the John Lewis one turned out to be something of a homage to Elton John - who was reportedly paid 5m for a sweet little movie about how the Christmas gift of a piano spawned a lifetime in music. And there's a touching and delicate new song on BBC's 'suspended time' Christmas ad featuring an under pressure working mother and her son. An original composition, 'Lost in You', it's written and performed by the aforementioned Emmy the Great. The best of the bunch, though, comes from British supermarket chain Asda, simply because it includes one of the best festive songs ever, Darlene Love's 'Christmas (Baby Come Home)' - a key track on that evergreen Phil Spector album. It's a Christmas song that has a place on every festive playlist worth its salt - alongside 'Fairytale of New York', of course. The High Court has dismissed an action by a former manager at the K Club who claimed he had been threatened at Punchestown races seven years ago. Mr Justice Anthony Barr ruled Peter Curran (51) had not been threatened. Mr Curran could now face a substantial legal costs bill for the 25-day hearing involving four legal teams and six senior counsel. Mr Justice Barr also found Mr Curran had sent five bogus emails in a desperate attempt to entice a K Club superintendent, whom he alleged made the threat, into making an "inculpatory statement" which would also incriminate the K Club owner and millionaire businessman Michael Smurfit. This, the judge said, would have ended the litigation and resulted in a "windfall of damages" to Mr Curran, from Cahirsiveen, Co Kerry. As part of that stratagem, the judge said, Mr Curran planted a story with the gardai about his iPad being taken from him during that period. The technical evidence, while not perfect, was strongly suggestive of Mr Curran having sent the emails. He was satisfied Mr Curran sent the emails to Mr Byrne. He found Mr Curran had "lied continually" in relation to what he told various parties and his evidence to the court. Mr Justice Barr said the court had to have regard to the fact that Mr Curran was capable of "engaging in deceptive and manipulative conduct to achieve his desired goals". Mr Curran had sued his former employer, the K Club Ltd, Straffan, Co Kildare; Dr Michael Smurfit; and K Club superintendent Gerry Byrne. Mr Curran claimed that on May 7, 2011, his way was blocked in toilets at Punchestown Races and Mr Byrne allegedly said "Dr Smurfit has not forgotten the statements about him and the call girls. Dr Smurfit knows where to find you and this is not over". All three defendants had denied all the claims. Dismissing the action against all defendants, Mr Justice Barr was satisfied Mr Byrne did not have any interaction with Mr Curran on May 7, 2011. Insofar as there was an allegation of a physical assault, the judge said that was a lie. By February 2012, Mr Curran's allegation had changed to include an assertion that Mr Byrne had said he was bringing a message from Mr Smurfit. This was a very significant change in his account, the judge said. "Its late insertion into the narrative is consistent with it being something deliberately added to the story between those dates so as to give Mr Curran a right of action against Mr Smurfit." It was "equally possible" Mr Curran simply saw Mr Byrne in the toilet and saw that as an opportunity to mount a fraudulent claim, which he did by inventing the story of the threat and pretending to have an exacerbation of his pre existing psychiatric condition, the judge said. The court did not have to decide which of these "fraudulent possibilities" was the more likely, he said. A FORMER senator is alleged to have kicked and spat at Gardai when they arrested him outside a popular Irish music festival after deciding he was intoxicated and a danger to himself. The revelation came as James Heffernan (38), a former Labour senator and General Election 2016 candidate for the Social Democrats, denied two charges of dangerous driving and one charge of drink driving after attending the Cork music festival, Indiependence. Heffernan also denied alleged Public Order Act offences and rejected claims he kicked and spat at Gardai. The former senator denied suggestions he ever spat at officers - and said he simply asked them outside the festival grounds to leave him alone. However, one Garda said that, after being arrested, the Limerick politician said he had "a whole heap of porter, whiskey and gin." Heffernan, previously identified in court as Seamus O'Heifearnain, appeared before Judge Brian Sheridan at Fermoy District Court where he denied all charges. The counts all related to July 31/August 1 2016 and involved locations at either the Limerick Road and Coolnanave area of Mitchelstown, not far from where the Indiependence music festival was concluding. Judge Sheridan was told that security staff at the festival made the decision not to allow the defendant back onto the festival grounds. However, the defendant insisted he was never on the festival grounds. However, Gardai intervened when Heffernan was seen kicking security barriers which then fell onto the roadway. Gardai said they initially asked the defendant's friends to take him away but, when he fell into the barriers, officers were worried he posed a danger to himself and others. When a Garda informed him he was being arrested, it was claimed Heffernan fell to the ground and pretended to be unconscious. Gardai explained they had to physically lift him towards a parked patrol vehicle - with one festival security guard explaining the defendant refused to walk and dragged his feet along the roadway. Security guard Keith Thompson told the court said he then saw the defendant kicking one garda and spitting at another. In total, witnesses claimed Heffernan spat or kicked out at three Gardai. Gardai said the defendant became even more aggressive in Fermoy Garda Station, kicking a garda in the mouth so that he was left bleeding from a cut lip. He then spat in the face of Detective Garda Jim Fitzpatrick. The detective, who is now retired, said he had to undergo a HIV test and wait three months for the results to come back all clear. Judge Sheridan was told by Gardai that, at one point, it required four officers to deal with the defendant. A few hours later, the defendant was said to be calm and coherent. Gardai said he apologised to them and, on being released, told them they were all "sound". However, Heffernan had to be arrested again a short time later, at 6.10pm on August 1, after being seen walking in a dangerous manner across the busy Fermoy-Mitchelstown road near Fermoy Park. Earlier, at 8.47am that day, Garda Dave Delea told the court he was on routine traffic patrol in a marked squad car in Mitchelstown. As they approached a roundabout near the Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown, just a few hundred metres from the festival grounds, they spotted a silver Toyota Avensis. It was stopped at the roundabout. The Avensis suddenly jumped forward, forcing an oncoming car to halt. The Toyota then stalled on the roundabout and blocked traffic. When it restarted, it almost mounted the central median of the roundabout. As it exited the roundabout by the Limerick road, it collided with a traffic island. The car then swerved onto the wrong side of the road and almost struck a ditch. Garda Delea said they triggered the lights and siren on their patrol car and indicated for the driver to stop. He said when he approached the vehicle, he got a strong smell of alcohol from the driver, Mr Heffernan. "His speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy. I formed the opinion he had been drinking." The defendant initially refused to get out of his car and kept asking Garda Delea: "Are you acting under your oath?" Eventually, he got out of the car where the Garda said he staggered and was unsteady on his feet. Mr Heffernan was taken to Fermoy Garda Station for a breath test. Judge Sheridan, having heard almost five hours of evidence, adjourned the case until January 4 next. Mr Heffernan of Baile na Lyna, Kilfinane, Co Limerick was elected as a Labour Party senator to the 24th Seanad. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2007 and 2011 General Elections in Limerick County for the Labour Party. A graduate of the University of Limerick and a qualified primary school teacher, Mr Heffernan taught at schools in both Ireland and the UK. He is also a former member of Limerick Co Council. Mr Heffernan lost the Labour whip after he voted against the Fine Gael-Labour Government over the 2012 Social Welfare Bill. He contested the 2016 General Election for the Social Democrats but, despite garnering over 3,000 votes, was not elected to the Dail. Denied costs: Paddy Jackson is now playing his club rugby in France. Picture: Sportsfile Former Irish rugby international Paddy Jackson "declined" to provide details of his current financial situation to a court in his bid to get his legal costs reimbursed. An application made on behalf of rugby players Paddy Jackson (26) and Stuart Olding (25) to recover legal costs incurred during their lengthy rape trial was dismissed in court yesterday afternoon. Judge Patricia Smyth - who presided over the nine-and-half-week trial at Belfast Crown Court earlier this year - was asked to consider defence applications on behalf of both men requesting that their legal costs be reimbursed by the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Services (PPS). Both Mr Jackson and Mr Olding were unanimously acquitted by a jury in March of raping a then 19-year-old student in Mr Jackson's south Belfast home in June 2016. It emerged during the ruling that as part of the application made on behalf of Mr Jackson, the court was provided with information from both Paddy Jackson and his father Peter setting out what they paid in legal costs. The court heard Mr Jackson paid his mortgage off and had savings, but had to draw on his mortgage and borrow from his father's retirement money to fund his defence. In her ruling, Judge Smyth said that Mr Jackson's father "was not required to contribute his retirement monies". The judge also revealed yesterday that: "Mr Jackson has declined the opportunity to provide evidence regarding his current financial situation, including the extent to which he has repaid the debt to his father." Neither man was in court for the ruling, but present in the public gallery were Mr Jackson's parents. Mr Jackson's costs were considerably higher than Mr Olding's, as the latter successfully applied for legal aid midway through the trial. Last April, in the aftermath of the trial, the IRFU terminated the pair's contracts with both the Irish team and Ulster Rugby. Both men subsequently secured deals with teams in France. Barristers for the pair each launched applications to recoup their client's legal fees from the PPS's purse. Among other submissions made, their barristers argued that both men had suffered huge financial loss and damage to their reputations as a result of the trial, and both had to move away to pursue their careers. During the ruling at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Smyth pointed out there were no guideline cases in either the UK or Ireland to compare this application to. The trial judge also said she had taken into account the "special facts and circumstances" of the case. Judge Smyth said: "This was a complex police investigation and the prosecution was warranted, albeit the jury did not consider that the charges had been proved beyond reasonable doubt. "The evidence bore the characteristics of a Rubik's Cube, capable of bearing myriad conclusions, depending on the jury's view of the evidence. "But those were conclusions for the jury to reach, and not the prosecution. "Having considered all of the relevant factors, I am satisfied that there is no basis for exercising my discretion in the applicants favour. "The applications are therefore dismissed." The days of passing street trading licences down the generations are gone, with new EU directives marking an end to a long-standing tradition. Dublin City Council has confirmed new regulations will mean licences going from the holder to a family member will not be possible. Once the licence is gone - if the holder dies for instance - it will then be open for tender to anyone. The new directive comes into place on January 1. Some stallholders in areas such as Moore Street, Meath Street, Camden Street and Grafton Street have had their trading licence passed down through five generations. The EU casual trading regulations state licences should be "only for an appropriate limited period". It said it was not open to automatic renewal and there should be no advantage to the previous holder or anyone connected to that holder. Family members can still apply for the licence. A fishmonger on Moore Street for 50 years, Margaret Buckley (73) said stallholders would "fight tooth and nail" against these changes. She said the stall had been in her family for around 150 years. "I'm here 50 years, we were helping the mother and when she died, we took over," she said. "If anything happens to me it should be passed onto the daughter and keep the tradition going - this is what we've been fighting for." Fruit and veg trader Bernie Darcy said stallholders would struggle to pass them on anyway, with little interest coming from families. Independent councillor Mannix Flynn said it was "the end of an era" but it was something that was needed. More than 2,500 women may seek a medical abortion from a GP or maternity hospital next year. The figure is based on the number of early terminations recorded by UK clinics last year among women who travelled from the Republic of Ireland. The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which concluded its passage through the Oireachtas on Thursday night, is due to go to President Michael D Higgins to be signed into law next week. He has five to seven days to consider the legislation, which Health Minister Simon Harris wants to have in operation from January 1. It will be the second week of January before any medical abortions, up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, will take place in GP surgeries or maternity hospitals because of the three-day rule that must be observed. The HSE is to begin widely publicising the 'My Options' helpline once the legislation is enacted. This will give information on counselling, as well as details of the nearest participating GP. Banner digital ads will appear on websites to inform women of the helpline, which will also be the subject of a radio campaign. From the middle of January, the number will be appearing on bus shelters and female washrooms in pubs, clubs and colleges. The HSE said yesterday it continues to get a "steady return" of application forms from GPs who will participate in the scheme. Clinical guidelines are due to be distributed to doctors and hospitals next week on the optimum care and safety of women who seek the treatment. Many GPs will hold out and not participate until all systems relating to termination services are up and running. A significant number of GPs, who have conscientious objections to performing abortions, will also refuse to refer a woman and the impact of this has yet to be seen. Mr Harris insisted yesterday that doctors who want access to ultrasound will have it through private providers or additional services from maternity hospitals. Women seeking late abortions - who do not fall into categories covered in the legislation - will still have to go to the UK for terminations. Last year, some 519 Irish women had later abortions, including 118 at 20 weeks of pregnancy or beyond. It is unclear how many of these involved women whose unborn child had been diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality. These women will now be entitled to a termination in Ireland under the new law. Orla O'Connor, of the National Women's Council, said: "While recognising that this legislation does not do everything we have advocated for, such as decriminalise abortion and allow for safety zones to protect women from protesters, the act will give effect to the enormous public mandate that the Yes vote on May 25 gave us." The scene of a fire is cordoned off in the Queens borough of New York, Thursday (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) A popular Irish bar in New York was destroyed by a devastating blaze in the early hours of Thursday. Queens-based Sidetracks was one of six establishments incinerated by the fire, in the business community of mainly immigrant-owned small businesses, which was built in 1931. Owned by Meath native, Bernard Reilly, the bar and restaurant first opened in 1986 and, according to The New York Times, was the unofficial anchor of the community. Over 200 firefighters across 44 separate units responded to the inferno which occurred between 45th and 46th Street on Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside. The fire reportedly started in a nearby diner when oxygen met extreme heat in the loft space, known by local firefighters as a "cockloft" which was shared by several of the businesses. Twelve people were injured in the blaze, including seven firefighters, but the fact that no one was killed was considered miraculous. A huge backdraught, which is when flames retreat dramatically as an oxygen starved fire is exposed the air causing a huge explosion, left the on-site firefighters enshrouded in a cloud of smoke and flames. Heartbreakingly for Mr Reilly, who acquired the property in 2012, renovations of the bar had only been completed in the months previous to the blaze. "Im in shock right now," he told the New York Times. A local Irish person, who lives and works in the area, said the bar had been a mainstay for the Irish American community in the area. It was popular when her parents lived in Queens over 20 years ago and remains so. While it was heart-breaking for the local community to see their hub go up in flames, she mirrored New York Fire Department Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro's gratitude that there were no serious injuries. "They had just spent five months renovating the bar, she said. "It was lucky that no firefighters died but the whole neighbourhood burned down, it's really sad." Just three weeks ago in the same locality, 21-year-old John "Danny" McGee, from Drumlish, Co. Longford tragically died, having been punched in the head outside a bar. Gaslight pub, where the incident occurred, is just 100m away - across the No. 7 subway tracks - from which Sidetracks gets its name. A local community group have set up a GoFundMe page and have already reached almost $52,000 (46,000) of their $100,000 (88,500) target. The page has called for donations to aid the businesses involved in the "devastating fire". "On the morning of December 13th, a devastating fire ripped through the heart of our neighbourhood," they said. "The fire destroyed six businesses and left dozens of employees out of work in the middle of the holidays. "While we are grateful that there was no loss of life, the toll on our business community is unimaginable, and for residents of our neighbourhood, many precious memories of good times at these businesses are also up in smoke." Bell's Beach north of Balbriggan, near the historic Brick Chimney, where an infant's body was discovered. Picture Credit:Frank McGrath 15/12/18 Eilidh MacNab from Tusla Child and Family Agency (left) & Sergeant Fiona Savidge, speaking at a press conference in Balbriggan. Picture by Fergal Phillips. A post mortem examination of a newly born baby, whose body was found on a beach on Saturday morning, has determined that no foul play was involved in its death. The baby was discovered on Bell's Beach near Balbriggan, north county Dublin at 10am by a volunteer who was cleaning the beach along the sea shore. The examination, which was carried out today, also established that the child was a full term baby girl. Gardai have issued an urgent appeal to the mother of a newly born baby, whose body was found on a beach on Saturday morning, to contact them. Speaking at a press conferenceon Saturday afternoon, Sergeant Fiona Savidge of Balbriggan Garda Station said: "A member of the public found the body of a newborn baby at Bells Beach in Balbriggan. I want to get in touch with the mother of this baby, I am reaching out to you. I know you need medical attention. "You need to go to your doctor, possibly a 24-hour doctor on call. "If you could also go to an accident and emergency 24-hour care is available there. "We are here at Balbriggan Garda Station at (01) 666 4500 or Tusla can be contacted 24-hours a day on 0818 776 315. "I can assure you you will be treated with the utmost of compassion, care and 100pc confidentiality. Expand Close Bell's Beach north of Balbriggan, near the historic Brick Chimney, where an infant's body was discovered. Picture Credit: Frank McGrath 15/12/18 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bell's Beach north of Balbriggan, near the historic Brick Chimney, where an infant's body was discovered. Picture Credit: Frank McGrath 15/12/18 "I know you are a daughter, you are possibly a sister, a cousin. "You may have a husband or a boyfriend. You may just have confided in a friend, so to anybody out there who the mother of this baby has got in touch with I am appealing to you to make contact with us here." Local officers, headed by Det Supt Paul Scott, immediately began inquiries in the area to help establish the identity of the baby's mother. Gardai have also appealed to anybody else with information about the incident to make contact with them. A case conference, chaired by Chief Supt Mark Curran and Det Supt Scott, was held at Balbriggan station yesterday evening as officers reviewed the outcome of their inquiries so far. Read More Local Fine Gael Councillor Tom OLeary expressed his shock: Without knowing any of the circumstances I would appeal to the mother to come forward to seek the help and medical attention she needs. "Maybe she is under a lot of pressure, we dont know the circumstances and the matter is very delicate. "Maybe her family and friends are aware of her situation and they could assist her in coming forward. She needs to talk to somebody. "God almighty. We dont know the circumstances but to think of anyone that might have had to go through that alone and also in those terrible weather conditions, alone on a beach. "I cant bear to think of it. Its just so tragic. I am shocked. The whole of Ballbriggan will be in a state of shock. Gardai are continuing to appeal for witnesses after a man in his late 40s was killed after being struck by a car in the early hours of this morning. The pedestrian was fatally injured in the incident which occurred on the N27 Airport Road in Cork City shortly after 5.30am. Following the collision, the driver of the car, a man in his 60s, was arrested and remains in custody at Togher Garda Station. The body of the man has been taken to Cork University Hospital where a post mortem examination will take place. The Kinsale Road is currently closed and diversions are in place to facilitate a forensic examination of the area. Investigating Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information or dash cam footage to contact Togher Garda Station on 021-4947120 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any Garda Station. Several hundred people have attended an Irish protest in solidarity with the French yellow jacket demonstrations (Niall Carson/PA) Several hundred people have attended a protest in the centre of Dublin in solidarity with the French yellow jacket demonstrations. Irish protesters wore yellow vests and some had hard hats, while others tied scarves over their faces. The chanting was mainly anti-Government in nature. Those who gathered outside the Custom House overlooking the River Liffey before marching to parliament at Leinster House included pro-Palestinian organisations and socialist republicans. Expand Close Campaigners gathered outside Custom House before marching to Leinster House (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Campaigners gathered outside Custom House before marching to Leinster House (Niall Carson/PA) Others involved in the gathering said they were concerned about the use of fluoride in the public water supply. The yellow vest movement in France, which takes its name from the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must carry in their vehicles, emerged in mid-November as a protest against fuel tax increases. It soon expanded into an expression of rage about the high cost of living in France and President Emmanuel Macrons policies. Meanwhile in France, thousands of protesters took to the streets n the fifth weekend of nationwide demonstrations against Emmanuel Macron's government, despite calls to hold off after a shooting in Strasbourg earlier this week. In Paris, police were out in force to contain possible outbursts of violence. But several major stores, such as the Galeries Lafayette, were open to welcome Christmas shoppers. On the Champs-Elysees, a handful of topless activists from the feminist protest group Femen faced security forces a few meters away from the Elysee Palace, the president's residence. The Interior Minister said around 69,000 police officers were active on Saturday with a reinforced presence in the cities of Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. On Friday, President Macron called for a return to calm in France after nearly a month of protests by the so-called 'yellow vest' movement against his government's policies. The demonstrations have hit growth and caused widespread disruption. "France needs calm, order and a return to normal," Macron said, after a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels. Sligo-Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin expressed his disappointment that his office was targeted with the graffiti. Picture: James Connolly A government TD's office has been vandalised with anti-abortion slogans, including "Fine Gael baby killers". Sligo-Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin expressed his disappointment that his office was targeted with the graffiti, which also saw "Herod's killers" and "skumbags" scrawled on the walls. Herod is an apparent reference to the Biblical king who ordered the massacre of male infants at the time of the birth of Jesus. Mr McLoughlin said gardai were investigating the incident. He had voted 'No' in the referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment on abortion but said the result must be respected. He said: "We live in a proud democracy and despite anyone's opinion on any referendum, this behaviour can never be condoned." Mr McLoughlin said the issue was decided upon by the Irish people who direct the Oireachtas through their votes. "These values always have to be upheld and respected," he added. Committed socialist: Sean Garland at a protest for the release of peace activist Margaretta DArcy outside Leinster House in 2014. Photo: Tom Burke It was an alleged plot that read like a spy thriller - a former IRA chief accused of conspiring with North Korea and Russian agents to circulate counterfeit dollars. Sean Garland, who has died aged 84, always insisted he was innocent of the claims made about him by the US Secret Service. But the alleged 'super-dollar' forgery case is not the only controversy Mr Garland faced during his long career as a paramilitary and politician. He joined the IRA in his youth and was involved in its Border campaign that resulted in loss of lives from the 1950s and 1960s. He was also involved in bringing about the Official IRA ceasefire in 1972. Mr Garland was brought up in the tenements of north inner city Dublin and was largely self-educated having left school early. Siptu spokesman Scott Millar is the co-author of 'The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party'. He describes Mr Garland as an "immensely important figure" in the development of Irish Republicanism and later left-wing politics in Ireland. He said Mr Garland established himself as one of the IRA's "most valued operators" who helped organise armed raids on bases in Northern Ireland during the Border campaign of 1956 to 1962. However, Mr Millar said that Mr Garland was ready to reassess the aims and tactics of the Republican movement by the end of that ill-fated campaign. He said that following the split within the IRA in 1969 which created the Provisionals, Mr Garland became an outspoken critic of terrorism as a tactic. But Mr Millar says this did not mean he ever lost a belief in the possible need for force to drive major political change. Mr Millar said that Mr Garland was the driving force behind the development of the Official Republican movement into the hard-left Workers' Party during the 1970s, and he remained its dominant back-room figure in the 1980s and 1990s. He said: "Although often portrayed as a dour 'hard man' by political opponents, in person Sean had a charismatic warm personality and a wry sense of humour, as well as quite a shy manner." In his later years, Mr Garland was embroiled in the 'super-dollar' saga. He was accused by US authorities of conspiring to circulate high quality counterfeit notes in a bid to undermine the US currency. It was alleged that the notes were traced by the US Secret Service to a printing press in North Korea and Mr Garland's involvement become known when fake bills began turning up in Dublin in the 1990s. It was also claimed that in the late 1990s he travelled to Moscow to smuggle the currency to Dublin as part of a plot to distribute the cash throughout Europe. Mr Garland was arrested in Belfast in 2005 but fled to Dublin when he was released on bail. In 2012, Mr Garland - who always denied the claims - won his battle against extradition to the United States. Workers Party councillor Eilis Ryan remembers Mr Garland as an "incredibly intelligent man" who applied this "to thinking about how Ireland could be made a better country." She said: "He brought the Republican movement from a stage of having absolutely no engagement in electoral politics to having seven TDs in the late 80s" and described this as "an extraordinary feat in a conservative Catholic country". She maintained that this was the "bulk of his work" and insisted that he "contributed to preventing bloodshed" in arguing it was possible to fight for a socialist Ireland without killing. Mr Garland died following a long illness and is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Caoimhe and his brother James. A Fianna Fail selection convention descended into chaos after an altercation broke out after candidates were selected for the local elections. Two party members who attended the event had to be separated by colleagues. The incident took place in the Skylon Hotel in the heart of the former constituency of Bertie Ahern in Drumcondra, Dublin. Gardai were not called and it is understood neither party member is expected to make a complaint about the incident on Wednesday. Former Fianna Fail TD Cyprian Brady confirmed he was present but insisted he was not involved. Mr Brady, a long-time associate of Mr Ahern, told the Irish Independent there was a "minor disagreement". The former TD added: "It was nothing to do with the selection convention." Fianna Fail member Brian Mohan, who was selected on the night to contest the local election, also confirmed the incident took place. "It was two people who know each other a long time and it got a bit heated. We separated them and they went on their way," Mr Mohan said. One source said it overshadowed the selection convention. "It was silly, 'handbags' stuff," they added. Taoiseach Leo Varadkars honeymoon period as leader of the country is coming to an end, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Kantar Millward Brown opinion poll. Mr Varadkars personal popularity has taken a major hit and Fine Gael has also slumped in the latest public survey. Fine Gael (32pc) is now just five points ahead of Michael Martins Fianna Fail (27pc). Meanwhile, public satisfaction with Mr Varadkar has dropped a significant seven points to 49pc since April while dissatisfaction in his leadership increased four points to 38pc. The state of the parties when dont knows are excluded are: Fine Gael (32pc) down 2 points since April and down four points since February; Fianna Fail (27pc) unchanged; Sinn Fein (21pc) down one point; Labour (5pc) unchanged; Greens (1pc) down 2 points and Independents/Others (14pc) up three points. Almost a third (29pc) of people surveyed responded dont know when asked how they would vote in the next general election which shows there could be a significant cohort of influential swing voters. Mr Martins personal popularity dropped four points to 40pc while Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonalds rating dropped a significant nine points to 37pc. Expand Close Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Picture: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Picture: Frank McGrath Ms McDonald was recently embroiled in controversy over Sinn Feins treatment of rape victim Mairia Cahill. Sinn Fein also performed badly under her leadership in the presidential election and she has dodged questions about her how much money she takes home from her Dail salary. Labour Party leader Brendan Howlins personal satisfaction rating dropped two points to 24pc. Expand Close Brendan Howlin Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brendan Howlin Photo: Frank McGrath Fianna Fail continues to be the most transfer friendly of the political parties with only one in five people saying they would never vote for the party. Sinn Fein is the most toxic party with 37pc of people saying they would never vote for the party. Almost one in four (23pc) said they would never vote for Fine Gael. However, this is a drop from 27pc in the last poll. The survey was carried of 920 at 64 sampling points around the country was carried out between the December 1st and 13th. The margin of error for this opinion poll is +/-3.2pc. Tough on speeding: Minister Shane Ross has said that speed is a killer. Picture: Collins Plans for more severe penalties for speeding motorists are in serious jeopardy amid a backlash within both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Transport Minister Shane Ross faces a battle to bring in tougher penalties that are tied to the speed an offending motorist is going. There have been claims from members of both parties that the proposals are "nanny state" and "draconian" and calls for greater enforcement of existing laws. It comes in the wake of the deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to extend the Confidence and Supply Agreement due to the serious threat of Brexit. With Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin agreeing to prop up Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's Government until early 2020 in the national interest, the parties appear more aligned than ever. The growing anger at Mr Ross's proposed speeding law is one example of the risk to Independent ministers being squeezed out in the next phase of the minority Government's time in office. Mr Ross's draft bill - which has yet to be considered by Cabinet - has sparked considerable unrest in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Concerns were raised at a meeting of Fine Gael ministers earlier this week and the matter was discussed at private meetings of both parliamentary parties. Mr Varadkar told his party's meeting that the laws are proposals at this stage and have a long way to go before they could be enacted. There was fury at suggestions during the week that drivers could get penalty points if they didn't produce their licence to gardai. However, the Irish Independent understands that this is not included in the proposals. The Road Traffic Bill proposes increased numbers of penalty points and fines for motorists depending on how fast they're speeding. This would replace a flat fine of 80 and three penalty points for the offence. Mr Ross has said that "speed is a killer" and vowed to confront any opposition to the plan. Last night members of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail raised their concerns about the bill. All of them expressed opposition to motorists speeding, but argued that existing laws are sufficient if they're enforced. Carlow-Kilkenny Fine Gael TD Pat Deering claimed the bill is a "step too far" and "there's a perception that this is another nail in the coffin of rural Ireland". Party colleague Senator Martin Conway said that someone driving from Clare to Dublin could end up getting the maximum number of penalty points in one journey. He claimed the bill is "draconian" and "over the top". Meath East Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne said there are already severe penalties in the existing offence of dangerous driving and this should be used in speeding cases. He said he'd like to see justification that the new system is necessary and he'd prefer to see greater focus on stopping speeding outside schools and villages. Roscommon TD Eugene Murphy said he doesn't believe Mr Ross's proposal will "ever see the light of day" due to the level of opposition it faces. His party colleague Bobby Aylward claimed "we are becoming a nanny State". He said the current laws should be enforced with greater resources given to the Garda Traffic Corps. Herbs and spices are predicted to be "the next trend" for gin flavours next year. Photo: Copeland Spirits. The classic G&T has had a makeover of sorts in last two years and its recent popularity shows no signs of dying down. The most recent figures from the Irish Spirits Association show that gin and premium Irish whiskey were the fastest growing spirits in Ireland in the last year. Gin sales rose by an outstanding 47.2pc in 2017, with growth shared between both Irish and imported brands. And it's easy to see why- the popularity may be down to its apparent low calorie value, and also because of the variety of it. Gin drinkers can customise their tipple with garnishes and different flavoured tonics, from elderflower to lemon. Expand Close Gareth Irvine, founder of Copeland Spirits, says that consumers are becoming more aware of the waste their drinks produce. Photo: Copeland Spirits. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gareth Irvine, founder of Copeland Spirits, says that consumers are becoming more aware of the waste their drinks produce. Photo: Copeland Spirits. If 2018 was the year of goblet glasses and pink gin, 2019 is set to be the year of the eco-friendly, adventurous gin, according to Gareth Irvine, founder of Copeland Spirits. According to Gareth, flavoured gins are here to stay- but maybe not as we know them, with a shift expected to occur from fruity flavours, to herbs and spices. Flavoured gins will stick around but therell be a massive shift in whats popular, he told Independent.ie. Flavours to date have been quite seasonal or trend-led and associated solely to summer, or unicorns, or crazy colours and not veer too much away from berries. Over the coming months, well see the flavour ideas get more adventurous incorporating spices, herbs, exotic fruits. Gareth explained that as the popularity of gin has risen, so too has the publics knowledge of what makes a good gin, and Irish people are set to become increasingly focused on quality when it comes to gin in 2019. Often-times, trend-led flavoured gins are of poor quality and are full of syrups, additives or sugar, rather than real fruit. In addition, the volume is generally around 20pc and so a liqueur as opposed to a gin. Consumers will start to focus more on quality and provenance, just like we saw with unflavoured gin and this will catapult flavoured gin into a category all of its own. Not only are new flavours on the horizon for the gin world next year, but the way we drink our gin is set to change too. The team at Co Down-based Copeland Spirits have noticed a shift since many bars have started to ban plastic straws, and consumers are expected to look at minimising waste in their beverages next year. Were thinking first and drinking second. Weve noticed cocktail menus are changing slightly as bartenders consciously look for ways to minimise food waste, Gareth said. Some garnishes produce a lot more waste that we realise theres lemon rind, egg yolk, orange peel and more - and all can end up in the bin. Rather than sweeping them into to the bin, some spear-heading bars have making what is becoming known as closed-loop cocktails. Excess fruit might be used to create a natural syrup or saved to add into a pitcher style gin." Gareth, who crowd funded 36,000 to launch Copeland Spirits three years ago, said that one of the reasons gin has boomed in popularity in Ireland may be down to an increase in innovation. Gin continues to be one of the most active spirits where innovation, development, distilling and cocktail experimentation exists, he said. In Ireland specifically, gin is thriving with local producers like ourselves becoming household names and now competing with global leaders. Of course, new spirits will often come to the forefront and were seeing rum and tequila breaking through, but gin continues to hold its own pace and I dont expect that slow down any time soon, either locally or internationally. A couple of months back, my editor suggested that this week I review somewhere in Dublin that would make a good pit stop for anyone in need of sustenance during a bout of Christmas shopping. I remember when the cafe in Brown Thomas, then located in what is now Marks & Spencer, was just that spot. BT in those days was home to the Callaghans equestrian shop, which had Grafton Street frontage, while Private Lives upstairs dressed the countrys most fashionable women in gowns of impossible glamour. (Or so they seemed to me. Id done a stint of work experience in Sybil Connollys atelier in Merrion Square and considered myself something of an expert.) My father brought me into Brown Thomas with him when he shopped for my mothers present and wed go to the cafe afterwards by way of reward for a stressful job done. The long-married know that Christmas presents for ones spouse can be tricky, and the consequences of getting them wrong a disaster. The memory of the French onion soup is the one that lingers. It was done properly, with a huge crouton topped with Gruyere bobbing drunkenly on its surface. The food offering across Dublin has of course improved immeasurably since then, but Id find it hard to summon up any great enthusiasm for the in-house cafes or restaurants in the big shops in the city centre today. And as Grafton and Henry streets become ever more populated with retail and food outlets from the UK, I know that Im not alone in wanting to seek out places to shop and eat that are more individual, the ones owned and run by people rather than corporations. Which brings me to South Richmond Street and the little gem that is Picado Mexican, where you can stock up on Frida Kahlo shopping bags and all manner of deliciousness in jars by way of gifts for food obsessives. Across the road is Eatyard, rebranded as Yuleyard for the time of year thats in it. Essentially a car park to the side of The Bernard Shaw pub, its home to an eclectic bunch of street-food traders and pop-up bars sponsored by different drinks companies, along with a few market stalls where you might pick up a gift or two. The first stall is Lucky Tortoise, Thom Lawsons Asian pop-up thats appeared in venues such as The Hill Pub in Ranelagh and Berlin on Dame Street. By the time you read this, it will be open on Aungier Street, in a permanent premises, and the menu will feature more of the dim sum, bao and dumplings for which it is known. At Yuleyard, we try the pork and red cabbage siu mai dumplings they originate from Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, a piece of trivia that you should store away for your next table quiz and are a staple of Cantonese dim sum. The Lucky Tortoise version is juicy, tasty and delicious. The lemongrass pork an Asian version of pulled pork comes in a soft and pillowy bao, with great, not-too-pungent kimchi and white rice. Eight dumplings and the bao set us back 21. Eatyard regular Box Burger is next. Box Burger central is in Bray, but the touring operation is equally successful the burgers are hand-made and use cuts of meat with enough fat in them to ensure that they dont dry out on the griddle. Be warned: The Mexican version jalapeno, chipotle, guacamole and sour cream is hot, hot, hot. Two burgers with shared fries cost 19. A free-range apple and mustard hot dog from Flamin Marvellous (6.50) comes in a rather tragic seeded roll but is otherwise fine. By this stage, weve run out of room so will have to return for Meltdowns cheese toasties (remembering to pre-order the cheese fondue, which seems to be becoming a Thing in Dublin this Christmas, as its also on the menu at Joe Mackens new natural wine bar, Giuseppes) and Wow Waffles. And for cocktails and karaoke, once the last gift is ticked off the list. The rating 8/10 food 7/10 ambience 8/10 value 23/30 ON A BUDGET That free-range hot dog is just 6.50. ON A BLOW-OUT The bill could add up if you hit the cocktails but itd be hard to spend more than 20 a head on food. THE HIGH POINT The food is way more interesting than anything youd find at a department store cafe. THE LOW POINT Wed have liked to sample the cocktails but we still have SO MUCH MORE shopping to do. Aaaargh! I always think that there is something magical about the pop of a Champagne bottle as the aromas of turkey waft seductively from the kitchen. Of course, that's putting two of my favourite things together - Champagne and Christmas. So, for the Christmas line-up of wines, I have a few very interesting Champagnes, as well as a top quality Prosecco, and follow with wines that will take you through dinner, regardless of what you're serving. These days, most Christmas tables have at least one guest who is vegetarian and although turkey is still the meat of choice in our house, I know that some people prefer to have a large rib of roast beef. There are wines for every taste here, and remember, there are no strict rules about what you should serve at Christmas. The most important thing is to have a wine that you love. Most of these are also available to buy online, so if you order soon, you can have them delivered right to your door. Slainte! Fizz & champagne Bortolomiol Prosecco Prior Brut NV 22.95 reduced from 26, 12pc, from Mitchell & Son, CHQ, Sandycove, Avoca Kilmacanogue and Dunboyne; and mitchellandson.com A focused Prosecco, the crisp flavours of green apple and orchard fresh lemon bring a beautiful freshness to this quality glass of fizz which is lifted with a gentle floral note. Veuve Monsigny Blanc de Blancs Vintage Champagne 2011 27.99, 12pc, from Aldi A great price for a vintage Champagne, this is made from 100pc Chardonnay and has a perfumed nose with a toasty softness on the palate and developed flavours of rich brioche accented with spice. A beautiful aperitif. Beaumont des Crayeres Fleur Blanche 2008 47, 12pc, from O'Briens and obrienswine.ie With a beguiling floral nose, almost redolent of blue hyacinth, this beautiful Blanc de Blanc (meaning 100pc Chardonnay) vintage Champagne has a touch of flint, with citrus flavours overlaid with developed notes of clove, almonds and toast. Laherte Freres Extra Brut Ultradition Champagne 48-50, 12.5pc, from Green Man Wines, Fallon & Byrne, Blackrock Cellar, Mitchell & Son; all Dublin; Sheridan's Cheesemongers, Dublin and Galway; Ashes of Annascaul, Kerry; and siyps.ie and mitchellandson.com A biodynamic, grower Champagne with little or no dosage, this blend of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir has round complex flavours layered with citrus and stone fruit due to fermentation in large oak casks and 40pc of reserve wine. Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV 65 approx, 12pc, from 64 Wine, Baggot Street Wines, Blackrock Cellar, Fallon & Byrne, Donnybrook Fair, Green Man Wines, Redmond's, Deveney's, Mitchell & Son, Morton's, Whelehan's, Terroirs; all Dublin; Red Nose, Clonmel; World Wide Wines, Waterford; O'Briens and leading independent off-licences. A really classy Champagne, this has a mature and nutty nose, with deliciously French flavours of peach, nectarine, frangipane and brioche with fine persistent bubbles. Christmas white Sipp Mack Riesling Tradition 2017 15, when you buy two for 30, reduced from 18.25, 12.5pc, from Mitchell & Son CHQ and South Dock; and mitchellandson.com Light and delicate, this Riesling from Alsace has crisp flavours of lemon and grapefruit and is a beautiful wine to serve with a starter of fish, prawns, goats' cheese or smoked salmon. Exquisite Collection Macon-Villages Expand Close Exquisite Collection Macon-Villages / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Exquisite Collection Macon-Villages 9.99, 12.5pc, from Aldi From the most southern part of Burgundy, this Chardonnay has fresh notes of quince, stone fruits, and honeysuckle. A good wine to drink right through the meal as it will work with turkey as well as a starter. Sauvignon Blanc Zieregg Reid 2015 62-68, 13.5pc, from The Corkscrew and Redmond's, both Dublin Another rare wine for connoisseurs, this is not at all what you'd expect from a Sauvignon Blanc. Fermentation and aging in large oak vats adds complexity and broadness with flavours of lime, nuts and a touch of herbs and smoke. Stonier Chardonnay 2016 Expand Close Stonier Chardonnay 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stonier Chardonnay 2016 23.95, reduced from 26.95, 13.5pc, from O'Briens and obrienswine.ie Burgundy fans will love the reductive nose on this stunning Chardonnay from the cooler Australian region of the Mornington Peninsula. With a touch of flint, this has a focused palate of lime, green apple and a touch of cloves. Domaine Tissot, "Les Graviers" 2016 52-53, 13pc, from Green Man Wines and Sommelier in Your Pocket, siyps.com Almost Burgundian in style, this low allocation biodynamic wine from the Jura region of France is tantalising with complex and layered citrus flavours wrapped up in a rich toastiness with prickles of spice. Would be amazing with turkey. Christmas red Laurent Miquel Solas Pinot Noir 2017 12.50, 13.5pc, from Dunnes Stores Pinot Noir is a great Christmas dinner wine as it works beautifully with turkey, duck, goose and vegetarian dishes. Fresh raspberries, cherries and bramble blend together with a touch of wild herbs to make this nicely balanced wine. Domaine Rolet Arbois Poulsard Vielles Vignes 2015 Expand Close Domaine Rolet Arbois Poulsard Vielles Vignes 2015 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Domaine Rolet Arbois Poulsard Vielles Vignes 2015 25, 13pc, from Green Man Wines, 64 Wine, Jus de Vine, Searsons, all Dublin and searsons.com With a surprising light ruby colour, this low tannin Poulsard has a spicy, oxidative quality on the nose and on the palate it is almost like a Pinot Noir, with flavours of cherry and red fruits, a touch of earthiness and a long finish. Chateau Moulin-Borie 2015, Listrac-Moulis 24.95, 13.5pc, from Molloy's and molloys.ie If you're serving beef or a robust vegetarian dish, this left bank red has a ripe sappy nose, with plenty of lush dark plums on the palate and a backbone of firm, well integrated tannins. A nice present to bring if you're a guest. Littorai 2013 73.99, 13pc, from Mitchell & Son, CHQ, Sandycove, Avoca Kilmacanogue and Dunboyne; mitchellandson.com and wineonline.ie An exquisite Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast in California this has aromas of ripe strawberry and cherry on the nose, and a concentrated, savoury palate of red fruit and a hint of vanilla. Beautifully structured with integrated tannins and mineral acidity. A real treat. Bellmunt 2014 Expand Close Bellmunt 2014 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bellmunt 2014 23.04, 15pc, from Wines Direct at Arnotts, Westmeath and winesdirect.ie From the Priorat area of Spain, this has a beautiful nose of fleshy red plums and raspberries, with a floral note of peony, and has a hint of spice on the palate, making it a good wine to serve with goose or red meat. After dinner Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage 2012 42.15, 17.5pc, from Wines Direct at Arnotts, Westmeath and winesdirect.ie From the south west corner of France, this Grenache based fortified wine is made in a style similar to Port, and has a concentration of ripe blackberry, plum and raisins with a touch of cocoa. Beautiful with Christmas pudding or blue cheese. Is that the sound of legal trapdoors being stress-tested in the distance? Or, are we just imagining things? EU leaders have in the past put their best lawyers on the case and found devices to haul total calamities like Brexit back from the edge of the abyss. They did it back in 1992 when Danish voters had rejected the EU Maastricht Treaty, which among other things gave the world the euro. The legal eagles did it again in 2009 in a move which helped Ireland ratify the EU Lisbon Treaty, after setting the Irish electorate to vote again and recant their rejection the previous year. And they were at it more recently in 2016 when the Netherlands rejected an association agreement with Ukraine, and when the French-speaking Belgian regional parliament held up the EU-Canada deal. In each of those cases it was deemed necessary when political declarations by the combined EU leaders were dismissed as insufficient. The DUP's dismissal of "warm words" is a current example of the dismissal of political guarantees. The four cases of legal devices cited above varied in detail. But the principle remained the same: they addressed concerns and dialled down objections of one member state or region. But just as importantly, they did not undermine the EU treaty concerned. Again in principle, it was done by singling out a particular interpretation of the section of the treaty which caused concern. And then gave that interpretation EU or international legal status. Can this be done in the case of two assurances given the UK yesterday? These are that nobody wants the backstop and it must be overtaken by a proper EU-UK post-Brexit trade deal. That every effort will be made to avoid using the backstop - and its use, if at all, will be temporary. The above precedents suggest that such a legal underpinning is possible. But the further problem is that these assurances have been instantly deemed insufficient by the UK. And worse again, there is more than a suggestion that even further concessions, which could alienate Ireland and other member states, will very likely be insufficient to get this benighted Brexit deal through the UK parliament at Westminster. Now, all of that may appear unduly glum just 10 days from Christmas. But it has been an unduly glum week for the glum topic that is Brexit. First off, British Prime Minister Theresa May found her draft EU-UK Brexit deal was so despised that it was not worth putting to a ratification vote in Westminster. Secondly, while she won a no-confidence vote, over a third of her Conservative Party colleagues voted against her. Thirdly, she went from that London drama to a wall of opposition and rejection at an EU leaders' summit Brussels. On a more positive and lighter note, Mrs May does get considerable kudos for her continuing steely determination not to give up. There is a growing sense that she is 'demob happy', as she can see the end of her tenure as prime minister in line of sight, and can devote all her energy to getting this Brexit deal through. But her Brussels excursion proved a definite loss and was dubbed humiliation by her own national media. By contrast, it again looks like a win for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his team. Ireland has achieved the bulk of its goals to face a very difficult situation, and importantly still has huge EU solidarity. But we must still be tentative here because this issue is not definitively resolved and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit could mean economic carnage and a hard Border at all events. The next moves are unclear. Preparations for a hard Brexit will become more visible. Private EU-UK talks must shun the limelight. There are up to eight potential scenarios - none is exactly encouraging. My children loved 'The Magic Porridge Pot' and the 'Three Little Foxes' while 'Snow White' and 'The Little Mermaid' held little appeal. But they were boys and I wasn't too surprised that sleeping beauties or stories of little girls taking food to their granny who lived in the forest didn't cut any ice with them. On the other hand girls love stories that have handsome princes, beautiful young women falling in love, clothes swathed with lashings of glitter and being rescued from danger. Even supermarkets now stock dresses in colourful tulle decorated with multi-coloured sequin. They often come with wands too, just to make some wishes come true. The intriguing thing about fairy stories is that they are reported in all cultures across the globe. The reason for their universality is a topic of debate among experts in the area. One suggestion is that in the oral tradition they spread from the primary source along trade routes. An alternative is that they emerged over time in diverse cultures because they all contain insights about the human psyche that are universal across civilisations and cultures. The well-known and respected professor of psychology, Jordan Peterson, frequently refers to archetypes and these are well-represented in fairy stories, possessed of attributes like greed, cruelty, power-lust but in others decency, honour and respect. In fairy stories, recurring archetypal themes are explored. The world can be an unsafe place for children, some may be harmed and are in need of protection, innocence passes and the transition is a vulnerable time for young women, some may be deceived by those who are not what they seem and so on. Men and women are very different from each other in these stories, with women either cast as cruel matriarchs or younger women/girls as vulnerable and in need of assistance while navigating danger. Men are usually the rescuers. Unsurprisingly, feminists are not impressed and fairy stories have been heavily criticised for being misogynistic, racially uniform, not including sexual minorities or people with disabilities (what about the seven dwarfs?). Some celebrities such as Keira Knightley and Kristen Bell refuse to allow their daughters to watch certain Disney productions, claiming that they make women passive or that consent is an issue when the Sleeping Beauty is kissed. Christmas season, with its pantomimes based on these stories, is ripe for the picking. With its slapstick comedy, bawdy humour overladen with sexual innuendo and cross-dressed actors, it is easy prey to being exploited for political reasons, as much as for fun. Several of the pantos currently playing around the country have digressed from the story and are written with feminist improvisations, notwithstanding the popularity of the traditional panto, especially among young girls. In one production it is Snow White who proposes to the handsome prince while in a production of 'Robin Hood' Will Scarlett is replaced by a female warrior Scarlett and in 'The Snow Queen' the unicorn is gender fluid. Aladdin is sneered at when he proposes to Jasmine to be told she can rescue herself. The intriguing contradiction about the feminist remix of these traditional fairy stories is women are still viewed as victims. Danger isn't written out of the production, just the belief women can deal with it themselves. In reality this does not happen and the state and its institutions are expected to be the rescuers. So women's refuges, barring orders and a large legal apparatus are rightly in place to provide protection. Other institutions are increasingly being drawn in as well. Universities are expected to create safe spaces, lecturers have to draw attention to possible triggers, speakers with non-conformist ideas are banned from appearing and consent classes are part of the induction programme for new students. So no, women are not rescuing themselves, but are leaning heavily on external resources to assist. Instead of acknowledging the importance of men's behaviour as examples of good role models, they are rebuffed in favour of institutional responses that silence free speech and offer cocooning from the rough and tumble of everyday life because of what is called "toxic masculinity". There are also continuing efforts to feminise men. Typically, we are told men should speak more about feelings, just like us women. I'm all for talking about feelings but I remain to be convinced it makes any difference to the prevalence of mental disorders. The feminist discourse about men and their behaviour isn't just confined to pantomime. A few years ago I went to a production of 'Titus Andronicus' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is notorious for its level of violence depicted by rape, mutilation and cannibalism. It was a female-only performance, attempting to see the characters through the feminine lens. Swords were considered too phallic to slice each other's tongues out with, so they used paint brushes. Later in the play ferocious warriors came armed, not with swords and spears, but with long-handled paint rollers. It was hilarious and utterly ineffective. It is easy to laugh at what is happening now, whether it be in the high drama of a Shakespearean play or in the more mundane world of the village panto. But there is a deliberate attempt to distort relations between the sexes, not because of a wish to have better plays or more wit or to challenge the actors, but to change thinking as part of a social experiment that is ideologically driven. A special performance of Requiem Marbhna featuring staff and students from DkIT, the Garda Band, Ardee Concert Band, Tredagh Singers, Zoe Conway and other local soloists and musicians takes place on Sunday December 16th, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk at 8pm. The conductor will be Inspector Pat Kenny of the Garda Band and will feature Sibeal Ni Chasaide. Composed by Odhran O Casaide., Requiem Marbhan is a powerful piece inspired by the original pioneering work of Sean O Riada. The Requiem sets out to explore the beauty of sean nos voice, together with chamber choir and orchestra, classical solo voices, as well as traditional and early musical instruments. The blend of Irish and classical styles reflects the two great musical traditions in Ireland at the time of the Easter Rising in 1916. The concert is being held in collaboration with DkIT, as part of Dundalk Credit Union's 50th anniversary celebrations. Proceeds will be donated to three local charities; Dundalk SVP, Dundalk Simon Community and St. Patrick's Parish Soup Kitchen. Tickets 10. Tara Raftery, a student on the BA (Hons) Applied Music programme at DkIT, has been announced as the 2018 recipient of the Michael Van Dessel Choral Award. This award is presented annually to a leading student on the DkIT BA (Hons) Applied Music programme in recognition of their achievements. It is named after the noted organist and choir master Michael Van Dessel. A native of Roscommon, Tara said: 'It is a great honour and privilege to receive the Michael Van Dessel Choral Scholar award. Among myself and my peers, this award is seen as being a recognition of hard work, success and dedication in conducting and choral studies, and I am deeply appreciative that I have been considered worthy of it. The confirmation that I have progressed and grown significantly in my conducting skills really encourages me to strive and continue to work and build upon this solid foundation. I would like to thank my lecturers, in particular David Connolly, who's mentoring has been central to my development as a conductor.' She said that she decided to study at DkIT after visiting it while still at secondary school. 'I was met with friendly faces upon arriving and I immediately felt welcome. I was very impressed by the range of facilities dedicated to music students and the range of musical instruments available in the college. The BA (Hons) Applied Music covers a vast range of musical modules including music theory, classical, traditional and contemporary studies, a course I felt offered much more possibilities than others in the country. With smaller classes, I thought there could be a better connection between the lecturer and students and since enrolling in the course I have found this to be true. Taking all these factors into an account, I believed that DkIT was the right college for me,' Tara plans to continue her studies and pursue a career as a music teacher, following in the footsteps of Van Dessel. She will perform with the DkIT Choir as part of the annual DkIT Christmas concert in St Oliver Plunkett Church, Blackrock on December 13. Tara will also conduct on the night. Pictured at the launch of Dundalk Mens Shed book, Tall Tales and Short Stories, at the County Library Jocelyn Street Dundalk, left to right, authors Chris McShane and George Marley, and Gene Yore, chairman Dundalk Mens Shed Dundalk Men's Shed creative writing group launched a collection of their work entitled 'Tall Tales and Short Stories' at the County Library Jocelyn Street Dundalk last week. The book is the first of its kind by an Irish men's shed which is fitting as Dundalk was one of the first shed to be established in the country. There are now nearly 500 sheds throughout Ireland used by 10,000 people every week, making it the most successful shed organisation in the world. The book was launched by the Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District Committee, Cllr Conor Keelan. Cllr Keelan told the audience that he had attended the opening of the Dundalk shed back in 2011, had watched it grow, and was well acquainted with social and community value of the organisation. Tony Henry, who edited the book and coordinated the creative writing group, this publication contains short stories, memoirs, and poems. None of the men had any wish to write a book when they retired and started out on this journey. Many of the stories and memoirs capture a time in our history, a part of our heritage, that might otherwise might have gone unrecorded. They have learned the basics of story writing, and to express themselves without fear of ridicule or gratuitous criticism. Since they began the writing journey, many of them have become involved in writing and music workshops organised by An Tain Arts Centre. They write in their own confident style the, and like many of the activities at the Dundalk Men's Shed, this writing group has been led by men at the shed helping men. The book is available from Roe River Books Park Street Dundalk or Dundalk Men's Shed, Seatown Dundalk, 042-932 76 52 ,price 7. Padraigin O Neill and Nuala Brennan at the lunch and fashion show in memory of Capt. Mark Duffy and in aid of SOSAD held in the Ballymascanlon Hotel. Picture: Ken Finegan Acting Principal Jacinta Thornton has expressed her gratitude to and acknowledged the work of the parents' council of Saint Oliver's School. A new set of officers has stepped in to lead the great help and support that parents lend to the school over the course of the school year. Christmas is a busy time, and provides a perfect sample of the kind of work that the parents carry out in assisting to create that festive season atmosphere, and raise funds for the school. For some years now the tradition has been of the school printing its own Christmas cards. These are self designed by the children in all the classes. The parents oversee the scheme, ordering the cards and arranging for the cards to be printed and distributed. The cards provide a lovely souvenir for parents and indeed grandparents of children at the school, with Christmas such a special time, usually filled with joy and happiness. Also the cards help to raise valuable funds for the school. Another venture that the parents committee is involved in is running a Christmas raffle. In addition they help decorate the school, and bring a cherry Yuletide appearance to it, putting decorations on the Christmas Tree, as well as painting the entrance windows to the building. Break for Christmas The Parish Youth club wraps up activities for Christmas on Friday December 14 and will take a break until after the festivities. The club will sign off with fun Christmas activities and plenty of spot prizes and some nice food. This term the club changed the opening times from 8:30-10pm while sticking with Friday nights for meetings. A new chill-out space was created upstairs for the older teenagers so they can have their own area. Thus leaving the downstairs hall, shop and chill out room for the younger members. The club is based in the community centre. There is plenty of sport, games and activities available every Friday between 8:30-10pm. Charity Fast Senior pupils in Saint Oliver Plunkett School will undertake what is now a traditional Christmas fast in aid of charity. This will take place on Wednesday, with fourth, fifth and sixth classes participating. Funds raised will be donated to Concern. Shoe box appeal The Parents Committee is organising the Blackrock school's annual shoe box appeal, the purpose of which is also to aid charity. In the run in to Christmas the school choir and two first classes will be involved in entertaining the school's customary guests from the Birches Day Care Centre and also parents. The Infants classes are to perform two short plays 'The Little Angel' and the 'Nativity'. They will give a performance in conjunction with the school choir on December 17 for guests from the Birches Centre. The infants and choir will also put on a separate performance for parents in the school on December 19. The choir will be especially busy in the days leading up to the holidays, as they will visit and entertain the residents of the local Abbey Nursing Home in the village on December 18, with a selection of music, including Christmas carols. Church concert An extra musical treat in the parish for Christmas will be provided by the Creative Arts, Music and Media Department of DKIT. The Department is to present an evening of Carols and Lullabies in Saint Oliver Plunkett Church next Thursday. Featuring will be the DKIT choir, Father McNally Chamber Orchestra, along with guests. It will commence at 7.30pm. Ticket reservations can be made by emailing music@dkit.ie. Cocklepickers unveiling The official unveiling of the new sculpture on the promenade in the village takes place this Saturday December 15at 11am. 'The Cocklepickers' by local artist Micheal McKeown is the final piece in the trio of high quality public artworks on Blackrock promenade representing the maritime origins of the village, and complementing the Sundial and 'Bradain' which have been in place since 2000 and 2013 respectively. The sculpture uses interwoven stainless steel strips to create a group of two cocklepickers on the beach - a scene which would have been familiar as far back as medieval times. Cockle picking in the area was especially important during the famine, when it was the only food source for many local families. The unveiling will be carried out by Councillor Liam Reilly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council. Everybody is invited to come along to witness the latest addition to the promenade. The project is supported by The LEADER Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, and funded by The Department of Rural and Community Development. It is also supported by SUPERVALU Fairways and Louth County Council. Supervalu sponsorship Fairways Supervalu have announced that they will provide significant sponsorship to Blackrock Tidy Towns over the next five years. Part of the funding will go towards the new 'Cocklepickers' sculpture John Horan, chairperson of Blackrock Tidy Towns said 'We want to thank Richard Tiernan on behalf of our committee and our volunteers for this most generous funding commitment which will help us enormously with our development and maintenance work in the village on behalf of the community in Blackrock. 'SUPERVALU are strong supporters of communities all over Ireland, and especially voluntary organisations like our own. Richard has supported the Blackrock community, including Tidy Towns, through Centra in the village for many years' he said. Twelve Choirs The parish choirs are combining to present 'The Twelve Carols of Christmas' in Saint Oliver Plunkett Church, Blacxkrock. The carol service will take place next Sunday December 16 between 5 and 6pm.All are warmly invited to attend Thomas Juul Jensen, Walter Lambert and John Cotter at the Coffee Morning supporting Sean Cox in Precision Cables, Mulholland Avenue Shauna and Martina Cox, with Sinead OCallaghan at the Coffee Morning supporting Sean Cox in Precision Cables, Mulholland Avenue The family of Sean Cox joined his colleagues and friends at Precision Cables for a coffee morning in aid of the 'Support Sean' fund on Friday last. Liverpool fan Sean, who worked at Precision Cables in Mulholland Avenue, was left fighting for his life after a vicious random assault outside Anfield earlier this year. The Support Sean fund was launched to raise funds for his ongoing care and rehabilitation. Sean's wife Martina and daughter Shauna took part in the Dundalk event on Friday. The nationwide coffee morning saw fundraisers take place locally, around the country, and in the UK. A spokesman for Precision Cables thanked all those who supported the event, saying: 'The last few weeks have been about comradeship, solidarity, team spirit, outstanding individual acts and empathy.' To date, over 446,000 has been raised of the 2million goal. Johanna Quinn and Hermione Duffy present a cheque for 12,550 to Ciara Solan in the SOSAD Office, Dundalk. Photo by Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics Hermoine Duffy didn't have to think twice about what charity she would like to support when she was asked to host a fund raising lunch and fashion show in Ballymascanlon Hotel recently in memory of her husband Captain Mark Duffy who died when Rescue 116 crashed off the Mayo coast. She picked the charity SOSAD as she knew it was one which would be close to her husband Mark's heart. 'Mark's work involved many search and recovery operations and it was something which would have prayed on our minds,' she recalls. 'He would come home with heart breaking stories.' She explains that when Johanna Quinn asked her if she would like to host a charity lunch and fashion show in Mark's honour, she knew this was the charity she wanted to support. 'SOSAD do such wonderful work, not just in relation to suicide prevention, as they also offer free bereavement counselling, so they are there for people who are going through really difficult times.' And, she says, the words So Sad resonate with her since losing her husband and best friend. 'So sad sums up how I have been these past twenty months. Those two words mean so much for so many people.' Hermoine expressed her gratitude to all the people who have supported and her two children since Mark's death. 'We forget that people are so kind every day. Human kindness is lovely.' She says she is touched by the kindness of some many people who have reached out and is grateful to all those who supported this event in Mark's memory. 'I'd like to thank everyone who came to the event and supported the fundraising in any way,' says Hermoine. 'It was a wonderful demonstration of community spirit, with the sponsors giving us Shop Local vouchers for the raffle so that the money stays in the community, and of course, it was the local community who supported it.' 'I am very grateful to Niall and Johanna Quinn for asking me to host the event,' she continues. 'Johnna has held this lunch for a number of years and has raised a lot of money for the Simon Community. It was very generous of them to allow it be held in their venue.' The event proved a 'fantastic' success, raising 12,550 for SOSAD to help the organisation continue its work in suicide prevention and counselling for all those affected by suicide. 'Mark had a wee phase when they would do a job at work, that it was a 'job well done' and it's a phase we use in our house,' says Hermoine. 'So thanks to everyone who supported this, it was 'a job well done'.' Annie Bishop blowing out the candles on her 100th birthday on 6th December. Photos by Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics Five generations gathered for Annie Kieran's milestone 100th birthday celebrations in last week in Blackrock Abbey nursing home. The centenarian was born the year the Great War ended and when women got to vote for the first time. She went on to witness huge changes in Irish society, having walked to school as a young girl to living in an era with technology which was the stuff of science fiction when she was growing up. Born in Kilcroney, Annie attended the local national school. She had one sister, Lily, and six brothers, Joe, Enny, Sean, Tom, Barney and Jim, all of whom predeceased her. As one of the older children, she helped out on the family farm until her marriage to Frank Bishop in 1942, with the couple setting up home in Priorland. They had four children, Lily, Pat, Frank and Anne, and Annie took on the role of home maker. She loved reading, watching television and meeting her friends for coffee. In her latter years, Annie lived very happily in Thomas Street, only moving into Blackrock Abbey nursing home two years ago. Five generations gathered in the nursing home to help Annie celebrate her birthday, with the youngest being her great granddaughter, two and a half year old Ada Quigley. In all, Annie has fourteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Those living locally were delighted to be able to join her for her 100th birthday celebrations which was marked in the traditional manner with cake and lots of candles! 'Tourism is great for me', says Garrett Mallon who runs Carlingford Design House. As well as stocking his own range of hand crafted silver and gold jewellery, Garrett sells a wide range of work by artists and craft makers from Co Louth and further afield. It's the kind of shop which one finds in towns and villages along the Wild Atlantic Way, which depend on a healthy throughput of visitors as well as local customers. Visitors to Carlingford 'are a huge boost to me during the summer,' says Garrett, whose work can be found in leading craft shops around the country, including the Kilkenny Shops and Avoca stores. He says he is noticing a lot more overseas visitors coming to Carlingford, including French Italian, American and German tourists, even out of season. However, he says that many of them are simply stopping in Carlingford between Dublin and Belfast, and he feels a greater effort needs to be made to encourage people to stay in the village. 'People who are stopping off are saying that they would love to have more time to stay here,' he says. His busiest time is at the weekends, with couples and wedding guests calling into his shop. He also gets business from hen parties. 'I do classes in jewellery making and I also rent out a room for other artists and craft makers to do classes,' he says, pointing to the spin-offs which tourism brings to the village and beyond. 'How many villages in Ireland can say they are employing people in their own community?' he asks. 'There are so many people gleaning their livelihoods here and not having to travel to Dublin to work. That's what makes the village so vibrant.' His wife Sarah agrees that tourism has allowed them run their business. Better policing will, she feels, help eliminate some of the problems which have been going on for years. Donna McKevitt is the manager of the cosy Ruby Ellen Tearooms. 'The tourist trade is a great advantage to us and we've had to employ more staff since opening five years ago.' 'We get a wide clientele, hill walkers, couples, families,' she says, adding that the ferry between Greenore and Greencastle has brought a lot of visitors into the village. 'It's been a big boost.' Claire Johnson is the third generation of her family to run McArdle's Boutique in The Square. 'It used to be the only shop in the village and it means a lot to me,' she says. 'It's a family business and it's my livelihood.' She notes that Carlingford has become a shopping destination with people coming to the village to visit the shops, have a coffee or lunch. 'I love to see people coming into the shop and I meet all sorts of people from all over.' She is a proud native of Carlingford and wants to see the village thrive. 'People put their hearts and souls in the town. They are very passionate about it. They take pride in it and keep it nice and clean.' John Bird, from Kilkeel, gets the ferry across the Lough from Kilkeel to work in Village Vintage, which he shares with Sister Vintage,Sew Vintage and an antique dealer. 'We rely a lot on tourists from Ireland and abroad for our custom,' he says. It's a cold frosty December morning and there's a buzz on the streets of Carlingford. It's the village's annual Christmas shopping day and the shops are thronged, not with tourists, but with locals picking up a bargain and enjoying complimentary mince pies, mulled wine, chocolates or prosecco. The young children from St Oliver's NS are singing carols and the village shops, pubs and restaurants are decked out in festive finery. It's on days like these that Carlingford is at its best and it's easy to see why it has become a popular tourist destination, with its stunning location, medieval ruins, colourful streets, lively pubs and fine restaurants earning rave reviews in the international media and on-line guides. Tourism has become the major industry in village, which welcomes visitors from all over Ireland, Europe, America, Canada and Australia. Tourists are the lifeblood for the hotels, pubs, restaurants and shops, providing valuable employment for people living in the village and its hinterland. During the peak summer season, Carlingford's population of around 1,500 can more than double as day trippers and tourists flock to the village. But there's a downside to everything, as the influx of large numbers of visitors, especially at weekends, poses its own problems. Local business owner Ger Long admits that getting the balance between attracting tourists and keeping local residents happy is a challenge but he believes the problems 'are very easily rectified'. He feels that a code of conduct for rental properties needs to be followed and adhered to. 'The owners of rental properties need to employ security to police the houses from 2am to 9am so that local residents know who to contact if there's a problem,' he suggests. And while there has been criticism of hens and stag parties, he says these groups kept tourism alive during the lean years of the recession. This is a sentiment echoed by Richard Brennan of Carlingford Tourism. 'Without them, Carlingford would be a ghost town this time of year.' He says the company has posted a code of conduct for visitors on their website. 'We don't want hassle,' he says, adding that they have told groups 'to tone it down'. The company, which works with local tourism providers to offer packages for people coming to stay in the village, recently moved into the tourist office in the Station House. This, says Richard, will allow them to grow their business, which currently employs four people. 'We are looking forward to next year and we are seeing a lot more Canadians, Americans coming into town, and even a few Australians.' The company will be working to capture the couples and family market in the coming year,' he says. 'If you get people coming at a young age, the hope is they will come back when they are older.' 'There's a lot for families in Carlingford, with the Adventure Centre and SkyPark' he says. The recently opened Escape Room is, he says, an example of the opportunities provided by tourism. 'David O'Hanlon has taken a building that was lying idle and turned it into an attraction, providing a venue for parties for all ages. He also has bikes for the Greenway.' James Byrne of Carlingford Accommodation which offers mostly 5 star self-catering accommodation to visitors, says that 30 per cent of their customers now come from overseas. 'There are already laws in place to deal with anti-social behaviour,' he says. 'We are dealing with the anti-social issues which every town in the country has. The bye-laws are in place and are being implemented now.' He says that there is a greater Garda presence in the town at weekends which 'is welcomed by everybody.' The town's business sector supports local community initiatives such as the Tidy Towns. Pauric Flanagan of Carlingford Tidy Towns says that the input of the business community is appreciated, such as the sponsorship by Carlingford Accommodation which has allowed them to buy a solar powered composting bin for the village which has the capacity to take more rubbish than a conventional bin. 'We are looking at getting 'talking' bins which say 'thank you' when you put rubbish in them, as they encourage children to use them,' he says. 'We need more bins so we have asked some of the businesses to sponsor them, and they will get their names on the bins.' Other recent projects include attractive new road signs on the entrances to the village, a bike repair stand beside the Station House, and the erection of Christmas trees along the promenade. The village's marks have been improving in the Tidy Towns competition thanks to the hard working volunteers who are out picking up rubbish at the weekends as well as the three people employed through a TUS scheme. 'We have a five year plan which we are working through and hopefully that will see further improvements,' says Pauric. Carlingford's dining pubs and restaurants have put it on the culinary map and Leanne Matthews from Park View Provisions, Newry says that it makes up a significant part of their custom. 'We now supply into Carlingford six days a week while originally it would only have been two ,' she says. 'There has been massive growth in the last number of years and there's a lot of effort put in by businesses in Carlingford to make it work, and we would see it as being a lot busier than places like Warrenpoint.' The challenge facing the village is how to balance a very successful tourist industry with the needs of its residents. Dundalk Chamber have lamented Louth County Councils decision to abolish both the business incentive and shop front schemes in the 2019 budget Dundalk Chamber of Commerce have branded the budget adopted by Louth County Council last week as 'disappointing' after councillors made a number of cuts to programmes supporting small businesses in order to make up the shortfall when they rejected the Chief Executive's proposal to raise pay parking to 1.20 an hour. Funding for shop front improvements, the rates rebate and incentives for new businesses were hit as councillors sought to fill the 200,000 gap resulting from their decision to fix pay parking at 1.10 an hour. Paddy Malone, PRO said: 'The Chamber of Commerce understands the need to plan and budget. This process means that both expenditure and income needs to be examined and adjusted to meet the needs of the Community.' However, he noted that 'in passing the Budget the emphasis was on cutting expenditure in one area only, that of the small one and two man operation.' He said it was 'disappointing' that the Councillors did not listen to Director of Service Frank Pentony when he said that this sends out the wrong message. 'I want to thank him for standing up for the business sector.' 'We would hope that the rates refund, business incentive and shop front schemes would be reinstated. To abolish the latter two at a time when there is going to be major expenditure on Clanbrassil street makes no sense.' The Council is spending 6million doing up Clanbrassil Street but what is the point of spending that money if they are making life difficult for the retail sector?' he asked. 'Will there be any businesses left on the street to avail of the work when it's finished?' He pointed out that the Chamber is currently promoting the area to Northern Ireland and British businesses who need to relocate part of their business to the Republic. 'This sends out the wrong message,' he stated. He said that the rates revaluation will be carried out next year, local traders don't know if rates in Clanbrassil Street and the rest of Dundalk will be going up or down. 'As a similar position occurred last year, The Chamber would encourage the Council to commence the process much earlier and for the councillors to engage in it to identify revenue potential and also revaluating all areas of expenditure to avoid one sector taking all the pain, as has happened this year.' Town Centre Manager Mr Martin McElligot also expressed his dismay at the impact which the budget cuts will have on the local business community. He was particularly disappointed at the wiping out of funding for the shop front improvement scheme, saying that he knew of a number of businesses which had been hoping to get funding from the Council to improve their shop fronts next year. He also thought that a 1.20 pay parking charge would have been justified and would have saved the Council from having to make such cuts. A spate of burglaries have been reported in the Dundalk area over the last few days. Gardai have issued fresh warnings after burglars targeted homes and cars. A man was arrested after an aggravated burglary on the Bellewsbridge Road last Tuesday. Residents of a house along Doylesfort Road were also shocked to discover their home had been broken into, and the keys of their car stolen on Friday. The vehicle was later found abandoned along the Castletown Road. On Saturday evening shortly after 6pm an eagle-eyed neighbour spotted flashlights in a nearby house at Newtownbalregan. After raising the alarm, two suspects fled the scene, leaving the house ransacked. In a separate incident, a woman was terrified to discover a burglar in her kitchen just after midnight on Saturday. He fled the scene, but was described as being in his 20s, and was wearing all black clothing. Also on Saturday evening, gardai were alerted to an alarm activated at a house in Bay Estate just after 6.20pm. Jewellery was stolen in another burglary at a house on the Newry Road, after a break-in between 4pm and 6pm on Saturday. A house on the Castletown Road was also left ransacked by burglars after a break-in between 3pm and 10.30pm on Sunday. A man has appeared in court in Dublin in relation to an alleged kidnapping in Dundalk last week. The man in his 30s was brought to the CCJ in Dublin after the alleged incident in which a woman is said to have been falsely imprisoned and sustained a serious injury to one of her eyes. The incident is believed to have occurred in at a house in Muirhevnamor. The victim, reported to be a mother of three, is believed to have been held against her will for a number of hours before she managed to contact Gardai and was taken for medical treatment to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. She was later transferred for to The Mater Hospital in Dublin where she was treated for a significant eye injury. Gardai issued a statement on the incident, saying: 'On the 6th December Gardai searched two houses in the Dundalk area and seized a car they believed was used as part of the incident.' A man in his 30s who was in custody in relation to a separate matter was questioned in relation to this incident at Dundalk Garda Station. The spokesperson added: 'A male in his 30s appeared in court on (Saturday) at the CCJ, Dublin charged in connection with this incident.' The suspect was remanded in custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man was arrested by gardai for alleged 'dangerous driving' in the town over the last few days. The incident began in Muirhevnamor when the driver took off at speed. Gardai confirmed he broke through red lights and a number of junctions before heading towards the Ballymascanlon roundabout, where the vehicle eventually crashed. The car had been pursued by gardai, who arrested the driver after he crashed and attempted to flee. The man was then taken to Dundalk Garda Station for questioning. Swan (Emma OBrien), The Queen (Tara Nixon) and Robin (Ciaran Coogan) who will all be starring in The Queen Who Cancelled Christmas at the Whale Theatre in Greystones from December 28 to 30 Magic and mischief will fill the air this Christmas as Dry Rain Theatre Company returns to the Whale Theatre, with their enchanting tale of The Queen who Cancelled Christmas. Written and directed by local playwright David O'Brien The Queen who Cancelled Christmas promises to be a visually beautiful and entertaining performance that will take the audience on a mystical journey. The story follows feathered friends, Robin (played by Ciaran Coogan) and Swan (played by Emma O'Brien) as they embark on a daring adventure through the snowy forest to try and stop the kingdom's naughty Queen (played by Tara Nixon O'Neill) from cancelling Christmas... but will they succeed? With original music by Irish composer Donal Rafferty, a host of colourful characters and lots of fun, this glorious production is the perfect Christmas treat for families with children aged three years and older. The Dry Rain Theatre Company is renowned for its innovative approach to theatre and the Whale expressed their delight at having their first ever Christmas show produced by Dry Rain. 'We are delighted to have a Christmas show at the Whale Theatre this year, Dry Rain have always produced very interesting theatre and this promises to be an extremely colourful family show that I immensely look forward to seeing,' said Whale founder Ross McParland. The show runs from Friday, December 28, to Sunday, December 30, with performances at 1 p.m. (doors open at 12.30 p.m.) and 3 p.m. (doors open at 2.30 p.m.) each day. Tickets cost 14 or 13 concession and are available from the Whale Theatre. Any and all sightings of wildlife should be reported to www.biodiversityireland.ie A scientist is defined as a person who studies, or has expertise in, science. Scientists come in two kinds: those who work at it professionally, and those of us who dabble in it as a hobby or interest, the so-called 'citizen scientists'. The term 'citizen scientist' was coined by the professionals to describe research collaborations between them and the general public. Say a professional scientist is studying avian influenza. He or she may issue an appeal to the public to report incidents of unusual mortality among wild birds. The professional scientists may be desk-bound and reliant on volunteers from all over the country to feed information to them. It's a win-win situation; the professionals get data they could not otherwise access, and the volunteers or citizen scientists get satisfaction from taking part in and contributing to a national project or programme. One such national project or programme that many people interested in nature and wildlife take part in is the collection of data about Ireland's biodiversity. Anyone can take part and there is a dedicated portal or website acting as the doorway through which the information is fed. Say I'm driving home some evening and a Fox runs across the road in front of me. The chance occurrence gives me information that I can either keep to myself or share with others to contribute to the growing pool of data that exists about Ireland's biodiversity. When I get home, I log onto www.biodiversityireland.ie the Waterford-based National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland's citizen science portal. I click on 'Submit Sightings' on the opening screen and that gives me a pictorial choice of whether I'm submitting a sighting of a bird, bee, plant, sea creature or whatever. I select 'Mammals'. I'm now asked for six bits of information: my name, my email address, the date of my sighting, the name of the county, the location of my sighting and a 'spatial reference'. The spatial reference is easy. I'm presented with a map of Ireland. I zoom in to road level where I saw the Fox and I click on the precise place. When I click, the required spatial reference automatically jumps into the empty box. All that's left is to say what I saw. There is a facility to attach an image if I have one. I click 'Save Record' and my contribution is saved for scrutiny and validation by the experts. If you haven't used it yet do check it out. Have you ever seen your dog or cat have a "mad half hour", also known as "the zoomies"? The animal charges around the place at full tilt, randomly rushing here there and everywhere, bumping into things, knocking objects down and generally going crazy? This is a common occasional behaviour, and there's debate about why it happens. A colleague recently suggested a possible reason and I think they may be onto something: could these animals be "getting out of their heads"? Everybody knows about humans having a need to "get out of their heads". While drinking alcohol in moderation may have its place as a way of helping people relax, it's all too easy for people to take too much., and they may then say that they "were out of their heads". When you look into the science of this, it seems that there are good reasons why humans sometimes feel a need to "get out of their heads". When the human brain is resting, people's thoughts default to unhelpful self reflection, worrying about the negative aspects of their lives. A Harvard study used smartphone technology to sample people's ongoing thoughts and feelings at random times of the day, and they found two significant facts. First, people think about what is not happening almost as often as they think about what is happening around them. And second, this type of thinking makes people feel unhappy. So people feel a need to stop these naturally introspective thoughts, and alcohol seems to provide a short cut to doing this. Unfortunately, there are many negative aspects to excessive alcohol consumption. There are far better ways to "get out of your head", including focusing completely on something else (e.g. going to a movie), meditation, or doing what those animals seem to be doing: undertaking strenuous physical exercise. Could animals suffer from the same type of melancholic introspection as humans? Could this be why they rush around madly sometimes, in an effort to distract their thoughts? The challenge in solving this question is that animals are unable to communicate with us. We can't tell what they are thinking: it all goes on silently, inside their heads. However, science does offer us some clues. The traditional starting point of this discussion is to note that animal brains are generally smaller, relative to body size, compared to humans'. In particular, the human cerebrum is larger: the part of the brain that controls reasoning, emotions and learning. Simply on the basis of this one feature - the size of the brain - it has been said in the past that only great apes, elephants, and cetaceans (dolphins and whales) have sufficient mental capacity to be able to experience the same complex type of consciousness as humans. Within the past decade, someone even went so far as to state that only only humans can speak, laugh, cry, think, suffer from mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, fall in love, and believe in God. This opinion was strongly challenged by behavioural scientists at the time, and now it would be more strongly contested than ever. There is good evidence to suggest that animals can, indeed, have these types of experiences ( Yes, even "believing in God": Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees dancing around waterfalls in a way that she felt could be some type of primitive religious worship). The truth is that we still know very little about the details of how the brain works, and it is not necessarily true that a bigger brain equates to a dramatically different type of consciousness. Charles Darwin described the development of the range of animal species as a process of "evolutionary continuity". In other words, humans are not as different from animals as black is different from white: rather, we are a different shade of grey. Our physical structure - and presumably our mental and emotional consciousness - started out from the same place, and has changed gradually. We share many qualities with animals, but we have simply developed further. So if you compare the brains of humans and animals, many of the features are closely similar. And if dynamic imaging is used to visualise electrical activity in the brain, the same areas of the brain light up when animals feel fear, pain or confusion as in humans, just as similar areas light up when animals feel pleasure, exhilaration or contentment. The area of brain imaging is continuing to develop: as well as electrical activity, scientists are now able to observe interactions between proteins, and the uptake and release of various chemicals directly, in the brains of living animals. This is taking us ever closer to actually being able to watch thoughts and emotions forming (although obviously, we are still a long away off from being able to do that.) So we now know that consciousness is not uniquely human. And therefore, animals probably do, indeed, have sad, introspective thoughts. Those occasional mad episodes of rushing crazily around may well be a way for animals to escape from their internal sadness. So when you see them doing this, laugh with them, and enjoy the moment. Life, for us all, animals and humans alike, deserves to be celebrated sometimes. Why not express exhilarated, unbounded, crazy joy by rushing around like a mad thing? The driveway up to the airfield in Newcastle is nothing like the approach to Dublin Airport. There are no pheasants wandering blithely across the roadway in Dublin and no cheerful sign declaring 'Welcome to the World of Aviation' either. With its orange wind-sock and plovers stalking the grassy runway, this place is the spirit of flying, while Dublin represents the business of flying. Chief executive John Nugent stresses that Newcastle is not so much an enterprise as a club where people come for pleasure and for education. The cheerful solid fuel stove in the reception area radiates a welcome to members, students and visitors. The hangars are overgrown farm buildings made from corrugated sheeting and a pen full of turkeys has been set up to provide Christmas dinner for members. Residents of the nearby village, not much more than a kilometre away, are scarcely aware of the flyers. The rule is that take-off and landing are conducted along the little populated coast or over the strand and sea, just a stone's throw away on the far side of the railway line. This is aviation stripped of all but the essentials, though the essentials include a fire tender and ambulance parked on permanent standby. The airfield is here since 1992 though John Nugent is only here since 2008. It was originally a farm - the farmer's name was Billy Smith though it was not great land for farming as it was soft and subject to flooding. At high tide, it is nearly level with the sea. But the ground was drained by the previous management and it is now usable all year round since the drainage work was finished. 'It is the only airfield along the east coast of Ireland, though there is a small one in land at Taghmon in County Wexford,' says John. 'There are other private sites, but nothing else licensed by the State to operate a landing strip and to train pilots.' His background is as a commercial helicopter pilot, formerly based at Weston in West Dublin. In that role he flew for City West magnate Jim Mansfield and enjoyed that for a while. He has been airborne now for 27 years. 'It's a passion. I love flying,' he says straightforwardly. 'The thrill of being up in the air is simple, in one word, freedom. It's leaving mother earth and going off on your own.' Now aged 55, he started when he was 28, in microlites - gliders with small engines. He wanted to fly microlites originally but I could not do it in this country because there was no proper training syllabus at the time. There was nowhere in Ireland to set him on the way so he went out to Portugal to get his licence. 'I certainly remember the first time leaving mother earth, down in the Algarve,' he reminisces. 'We learned on a thing called an X-Air - an onion bag as my son calls it - just like a canvas airplane. The first day I thought wow! It's just a different place. The freedom is unreal, just me and the instructor up there.' He came back home to Ireland and started flying fixed-wing, four seater aircraft here in Newcastle the Glasthule native ended up going to Weston and eventually began to earn a living as a helicopter instructor - that was bread and butter. Then came the full-time move to Newcastle full-time: 'All I ever wanted here was a small flying school and a flying club, where people can learn to fly and then go off on their holidays. Then we bring in visitors, people who fly in and fill the local hotels. Most arrive from the UK but a convoy (is that the right word?) of seven planes breezed in together from France in July. The airfield with its kilometre long runway is also where people drive to from all over Ireland to take their first practical lessons in airmanship. 'The club is training just over 100 students at the moment, making us the biggest flying school in the country,' reports John. 'We see a lot of kids who want to be commercial pilots. They start in Cessna, two-seater training aircraft and they need to do 40 hours flying time to achieve their PPL (private pilot's licence).' The club owns fifteen training aircraft and has a training school here for helicopters as well. Many of those who enrol are mature guys coming to the end of their careers on the ground and hankering to go flying, to do something exciting after working as bankers, insurance executives or whatever. Once they have the PPL, they can head off, hire an aeroplane and go to the Isle of Man, Scotland, France, wherever they desire. 'They can buy what we call a leg of an aeroplane, a share, so there's a plane here that ten lads own, for example. They might head to Wexford or Waterford or out west to the Aran Islands as they have the freedom to go where they want. The word goes out on WhatsApp "we're having lunch in Sligo" so they go off for lunchin Sligo.' John Nugent insists: 'We comply with Customs, garda and emigration regulations. The lads who go flying are good guys. They are not heroin smugglers. They are not even cigarette smugglers. The runway here is 1,000 metres, compared with 2,800 at Dublin Airport, enough to take any small eight- or ten-seater, twin-engined turbo prop.' A total of 52 planes fly out of the airfield in Newcastle where three engineers are employed full time on care and maintenance. Cessna trainers, with dual controls are the most common, referred to affectionately as Toyota Corolla with wings because they have a reputation for keeping going year after year. The comparison appears valid on a glimpse into the cockpit, though these Corollas have Rolls Royce engines. The crash of the Celtic Tiger killed recreational flying dead for a while but John Nugent has created an alternative business: 'I see a massive future in this country for the training of commercial pilots - for the world and not only for Ireland. Four of the lads who came through here have got commercial pilot work with Ryanair and one of the girls got Aer Lingus. Others have gone off flying jets around the globe. There's one in Indonesia and another off in the United States. 'The world will always be short of pilots. China will be looking for 10,000 pilots in the next five years. Where are they going to get them from?' Anyone who learns to fly a Cessna here above the coast between Bray and Wicklow can clock up the hours to go on and do the commercial training. The set-up at the airfield includes a suite of classrooms where topic covered include air law, human performance and weather. The equipment includes a 'full motion simulator' where students can make beginner's mistakes without fatal consequences. Trainees come to enrol, from the UK and China and Kuwait, with John Nugent confident that the number can only grow as the Irish licence is highly regarded far and wide. Such commercial considerations have not dimmed his own love affair with aviation as he insists: 'The passion is still there. In fact, it is stronger, bigger, better.' As classes were slack on the day that he called, your reporter was allowed the privilege of a quick session on the simulator. The replica cockpit of a Cessna 172, it was housed indoors, in what looked like the cab of a crane, sitting on a 'motion platform'. Instead of an ignition key, tutor Ken Townsend produced a USB stick unlocking a computer programme, lighting up a series of screen which together formed a very realistic windscreen. The action was set in and around a re-creation of Waterford Airport, which in the real world is no more than a 45 minute spin away. Ken coaxed me through the procedures of a ten minute simulated flight around the Waterford area. Perspiration levels shot off the scale as we came to land, finishing with at least one wheel on the runway. Only afterwards did he reveal that nine out of ten debutants crash the stimulator on their maiden flight. We may have ended up at right angles to where we should have been but at least we were still intact... Incidentally the 'Vikings' of television fame have been known to rent a piece of land at the airfield out the back to do some filming and three of the series crew have taken to flying in and out when not busy on set. A judge has refused to grant insurers the costs of two trials in which they covered a former senior Anglo Irish Bank executive charged with conspiring to falsify records. In late 2017, Tiarnan O'Mahoney (59) of of Glen Pines, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow was acquitted by direction of the trial judge of conspiring to destroy, mutilate or falsify books and documents relating to the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation PLC. The court heard these records were linked to Anglo's former CEO Sean FitzPatrick. He was also acquitted, by direction, of conspiracy to defraud the Revenue Commissioners, who were conducting an investigation into bogus non-resident accounts which may have been liable for Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT). Judge Martin Nolan had directed a jury to acquit Mr O'Mahoney of these offences, following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mr O'Mahoney had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were alleged to have occurred between March 25, 2003, and December 31, 2004, and referred to eight named bank accounts. All of these accounts were connected to Sean FitzPatrick. Earlier this week, Brendan Grehan SC, defending, submitted to Judge Nolan that the 2017 trial was a retrial. He said this arose after the jury conviction from a 2014 trial had been quashed by the Court of Appeal. Mr Grehan said his client had spent eight months in prison before this conviction was overturned and the DPP decided to bring the case for retrial on remaining charges against Mr O'Mahoney. He submitted that one 'pertinent' matter was that his client was not out-of-pocket for both the trial or retrial as he had been indemnified for costs under an insurance policy taken out by Anglo. Mr Grehan said Mr O'Mahoney had been covered under this policy as the allegations arose in the context of his employment at the bank. He said the insurance company was extending its rights in seeking to recover the costs it had paid out for both trials. Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, asked Judge Nolan to take into account that the Court of Appeal had awarded Mr O'Mahoney costs of his appeal only. Mr McGinn said that court had declined to make an order about costs of the original trial. Counsel asked the judge to consider Mr O'Mahoney's lack of co-operation with the investigation and that he denied knowledge of a company that had been associated with deletion of data. Mr McGinn said the prosecution claim this was 'a deliberate lie' which should be borne in mind. He said an insurance company is in the business of insuring against risk, and when the risk happens, it is obliged to pay out. Judge Nolan said an insurance company is entitled to recover costs if it can take that avenue. On Friday, Judge Nolan said he was satisfied the DPP had acted appropriately in bringing the prosecutions and was also satisfied that Mr O'Mahoney had engaged appropriately with proceedings. He said that while the insurers are entitled to bring the application there was no financial distress to the applicant and nothing extraordinary about the matters. Judge Nolan also made 'no order' with regard to a DPP application for costs of the application by Mr O'Mahoney for costs. During the November 2017 trial, Judge Nolan concluded that the case was 'too tenuous' to go to the jury and a conviction would be 'perverse'. He said he was not satisfied that any properly directed jury could convict, as it would be asked to speculate and to fill in gaps in the evidence adduced during the trial. There was a positive reaction from the public at a recent meeting held to discuss the installation of CCTV cameras in Kilcoole. Deputy Stephen Donnelly and Cllr Gerry Walsh held the meeting in Kilcoole Community Centre, and said that there were no public objections voiced on the night. Deputy Donnelly said that he and Cllr Walsh held the meeting to discuss recent suggestions to introduce CCTV in Kilcoole in an effort to combat crime. 'Evidence shows us that these cameras can help to significantly lower the rate of break-ins. However, nothing of this nature should ever planned without the express consent of the community,' said Deputy Donnelly. 'That's why we invited everyone, from local businesses, to local residents, to come meet us and have their say.' Government funding is available to install CCTV in 'at risk' areas around the country. So far there has been a low uptake nationally, despite the fact that 60 per cent of the funding is offered upfront by the Government. The remaining 40 per cent is supplied by the council or through local fundraising. Arklow was the first town in County Wicklow to apply for the grant. Blessington then followed and plans are well under way in Greystones to introduce CCTV there. In Kilcoole, a quote has already been given to install cameras at a cost of 1,000 each. It's estimated that five or six cameras would be needed, bringing the total cost easily below the 40,000 limit per area. Several key locations for installation have also been suggested. These include: the bottom of Sea Road at the beach car park, Lott Lane, Main Street, Newcastle Road and Newtownmountkennedy Road. 'We know that the Government's CCTV scheme isn't perfect. It's been no secret that there is conflict between the Gardai and local authorities over control of the images collected by the cameras since the introduction of new data protection rules this summer,' said Deputy Donnelly. 'With that said though, when we offered people in Kilcoole the chance to express their opinions on the subject they overwhelmingly showed that, yes, thy do want to bring CCTV cameras to their village.' Cllr Mary Kavanagh, Lorraine Newsome, Siobhan Curran, John Giles,trustee of the Sunbeam House Trust, and Delwen Giles, Sunbeam House Trust, at the opening of Our Wicklow Women at County Buildings, Wicklow town. Photos: Paul Messitt An exhibition telling the stories of 13 Wicklow women is currently on show at County Buildings and runs until the end of January 2019. This year marks the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 which extended for the first time the right to vote (suffrage) to women, albeit with certain restrictions. In commemoration of this centenary, the Wicklow Heritage Forum, through Our Wicklow Heritage, made a public appeal earlier this year for stories relating to Our Wicklow Women. Stories were invited of Wicklow women who have made a difference in our community: stories of success, struggle, or of quiet diligence. The reaction has been amazing and all the tales submitted have been published on our online community heritage archive www.countywicklowheritage.org They cover a wide geographical spread and encompass a vast spectrum of activity and achievement. A selection of these, consisting of 13 individual stories, has been compiled into an Our Wicklow Women exhibition. This features Mairin Cregan, Jenny Wyse Power, Lizzie Le Blond, Theodosia Blachford, Lucinda Sullivan, Kate Tyrrell, Maria Curran, Averil Deverell, Josephine Heffernan, Elizabeth Smith, Ninette De Valois, Eliza Davis and Anna Parnell. For more information contact Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer, Wicklow County Council, on 0404 20100 or dburns@wicklowcoco.ie Our Wicklow Heritage is a member of Irish Community Archive Network (ICAN) and is co-ordinated by the heritage, archives and library services of Wicklow County Council through the Wicklow Heritage Forum. This project is carried out in association with ICAN as part of European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 and forms part of the County Wicklow Heritage Plan programme and Wicklow's Creative Ireland programme. The Christmas lights are on and the shy is lit up at 'Coolruss' in Bruff, where they are inviting one and all to come and be dazzled by the display - and help a good cause. The lights will be on every evening from 5:30pm to 10pm up until January 6. The Bruree townland is bidding for this year's Energia Ireland's Most Christmassy Home, the voting for the competition kicks off on Monday, December 3 in the hopes of donating the cash prizes to selected local charities. Over the past nine years, the festive charity has donated nearly 30,000 to local charities, thanks to donations. This year's donations will go towards St. Joseph's Foundation in Charleville, Pieta House Limerick and the Carebright Dementia Centre in Bruff. The annual Carol Service at St Mary's Church of Ireland in Doneraile will take place on Sunday, December 23 at 3pm. All are welcome to come along to share in the Festive celebration, join in singing the Carols and once more hear the Christmas story told amid the atmospheric surroundings of this historic and most beautiful church. Once again proceeds from the event will go to charity, with this years chosen beneficiary being Cork Simon. Boherbue school concert Boherbue Comprehensive School would like to extend an invitation to the local community, to attend the school on Thursday 20th December, for an exciting line-up of events, beginning at 8pm with a performance of Christmas carols, music and dance. The event is being hosted by the students of Boherbue Comprehensive in aid of the Simon Community. The event is free; however, you will have an opportunity to donate to this wonderful charity on the night. If you're among the folks trying to work more whole grains into your meals, your solution may be to go backward in time. Way, way back as in, pre-biblical back in time. Try the ancient grain called, variously, freekeh, frikh, farik or freek. It's actually unripe durum wheat, harvested green and then burned to rid it of its husk. The burning imbues the grain with a slight smoky flavor. Advertisement The name comes from the Arabic word for "rubbed," because the burned grain is then threshed to rub away its chaff. Say "FREE-kah" and you'll be mighty close, although the pronunciation varies in different Arabic countries. In the Mediterranean crescent, the beginning of freekeh season is still celebrated with joy. Traditionally, this early harvest taking place around the same time that barley was gathered marked the end of the long hungry season and the beginning of the new season's wealth. Advertisement Freekeh is more nutritious than rice, and because it's not ripe, the starchy layers have not yet filled in the wheat berries. It's high in protein up to 12.6 grams per 100 grams cooked, or about a half cup and fiber up to 16.5 grams per half cup and naturally has wheat's bounty of other nutrients. The gluten-intolerant can't enjoy it, of course, but for the rest of us, it's a seasonal treat. Recently, freekeh has enjoyed a bit of an uptick after being mentioned on various television shows, including "The Dr. Oz Show," where it was lauded as a "superfood." "From June to December of 2012, we sold 12 pounds of freekeh," says Abbie Miller, wellness buyer at the People's Food Co-op in Kalamazoo, Mich. "In January 2013 alone, we sold 13 pounds. So there's definitely new interest. But it's less common and not nearly as well known as some of the other grains." Miller says the co-op sells bulk freekeh for $4.19 pound. Middle Eastern markets often stock freekeh although the name may be spelled differently on the label and an Australian company has recently launched its freekeh under the Greenwheat Freekeh label, offering both whole-grain and cracked. The relatively high price may be because preparing freekeh is fairly labor-intensive. The young wheat is harvested by hand in a very small window of time when the wheat's leaves have yellowed but the grains are still milky, wrote Abbie Rosner in "Roasting Green Wheat in Galilee," published in Gastronomica 11:2. The just-harvested grain is dried in the sun for a single day before burning, and the newly toasted grain is threshed before packaging or transport to the grain mill if it is to be cracked. Advertisement Preparing freekeh is very much like cooking rice: The ratio is 1 to 2.5 of freekeh to boiling water, cover and simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. A cup of raw freekeh will yield a little over 2 cups when cooked. What you do with the freekeh once it's cooked is limited only by your imagination. Here is a recipe to get you started. Freekeh salad Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 15-20 minutes Servings: 6 to 8 as a side dish, 3 to 4 as a main dish Note: This easy, nourishing salad pairs freekeh with its natural Mediterranean companions: Kalamata olives, capers, feta, green onions, parsley and sun-dried tomatoes, all dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. A bit of smoked paprika in the dressing accentuates the freekeh's smoky overtones. Chilled, this is a fine lunch on a hot summer day. Advertisement Ingredients: 1 cup freekeh, rinsed, drained 2 1/2 cups water 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped 4 ounces feta, crumbled 3 tablespoons capers, drained Advertisement 1 bunch green onions, green and white parts, sliced 1 cup parsley, finely chopped 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, snipped into shards Juice of 1 medium lemon, about 3 tablespoons 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard Advertisement 1/2 teaspoon smoked mild paprika 1Prepare the freekeh by placing it in a saucepan with the water; heat to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover. Cook over low heat until water is absorbed and freekeh is tender but still al dente, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain; set aside to cool. 2Place the olives, feta, capers, green onions, parsley and sun-dried tomatoes in a large bowl. Add the freekeh; stir to combine. 3Prepare the dressing by whisking together the lemon juice, olive oil, mustard and smoked paprika. Pour over the freekeh mixture; toss to combine. Let stand at room temperature for up to an hour before serving; refrigerate for longer keeping. Nutrition information: Per serving: 270 calories, 18 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 13 mg cholesterol, 23 g carbohydrates, 6 g protein, 371 mg sodium, 5 g fiber. Freekeh pilaf with wild mushrooms Advertisement Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 35 minutes Servings: 6 to 8 as a side dish Note: Freekeh's smoky, roasty flavors pair well with wild mushrooms, and this is a nice change from a rice risotto. Save prep time by chopping vegetables while the mushrooms rehydrate. Refrigerate any leftovers and shape into patties to crisp in butter or olive oil in a hot skillet. Ingredients: 3 cups beef broth 1 ounce dried wild mushrooms or porcini 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil, or a mixture of the two Advertisement 1 small white onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup freekeh, rinsed, drained 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, Asiago or other dry cheese, plus more for serving Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley Advertisement 1. Heat the beef broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat; place the dried mushrooms in a large glass measuring cup. Pour the beef broth over the mushrooms. Let stand until the mushrooms rehydrate, 15-20 minutes. When the mushrooms have plumped, remove them and chop coarsely; set aside. Strain the beef broth through a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth; return the broth to the saucepan over medium heat. 2. In another saucepan, heat the butter or oil over medium heat. Add the onion; cook, stirring, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic; cook, 1 minute. 3. Add the freekeh to the onion and garlic; stir to combine. Ladle in 1 cup of the hot beef broth; reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until almost all the broth is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Ladle in a second cup; cook as before. Add 1/2 cup of the remaining beef broth; cook as before. Taste the freekeh to see if it's done; it should be al dente. If it's not, add the remaining broth; continue to cook until the broth is fully absorbed. 4. Remove from heat; stir in the mushrooms and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the parsley. Serve at once, with additional grated cheese. Nutrition information: Per serving: 155 calories, 5 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 12 mg cholesterol, 20 g carbohydrates, 8 g protein, 418 mg sodium, 4 g fiber. Roast chicken stuffed with freekeh Advertisement Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 1 hour, 30 minutes Servings: 4 to 6 Note: Freekeh is commonly used to stuff poultry in the Middle East, where this dish is served on festive occasions. If you can find squab or quail, use them instead. Ingredients: 1 roasting chicken, 4 to 5 pounds 2 cups freekeh, cooked, see note 1 medium onion, finely chopped Advertisement 2 carrots, peeled, finely chopped 2 ribs celery, finely chopped 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts or blanched almonds 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, snipped into shards 1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots 1/2 cup each, finely chopped: fresh mint, fresh dill Advertisement Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons melted butter 1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken in a roasting pan. (Let it rest on the carrot peelings and onion trimmings if you wish to use the drippings for a flavorful pan sauce.) 2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked freekeh, onion, carrot, celery, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, apricots, mint and dill. Stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper; stir again. Pour the melted butter over the freekeh mixture; stir to combine. 3. Stuff the chicken with the freekeh mixture, tying the legs snugly over the cavity if desired. 4. Roast the chicken until juices run clear when the thigh is pierced, 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. If making a pan sauce, strain the drippings and return them to the roasting pan over medium heat; reduce until syrupy. Add 1 cup dry white wine; reduce again by about one-third, stirring well to incorporate browned bits. Advertisement 5. Serve the chicken and stuffing with a splash of the pan sauce. If there are leftovers, remove the stuffing from the bird and refrigerate it separately. Note: To cook freekeh, combine 1 cup freekeh, rinsed and drained, with 2 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until freekeh is al dente, 15 to 20 minutes. One cup raw freekeh equals about two cups cooked. Nutrition information: Per serving: 707 calories, 37 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 168 mg cholesterol, 39 g carbohydrates, 56 g protein, 208 mg sodium, 8 g fiber. foods@tribune.com Every place has a story to tell but unfortunately, with the passage of time, not all of these stories are preserved for future generations. That has been the driving force and ethos behind a fascinating new book set to be published in the New Year detailing the exciting archaeological gems unearthed over the course of one of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in north Cork. 'Hidden Voices -The Archaeology of the M8 Fermoy-Mitchelstown Motorway', documents the major programme of investigations at 24 separate sites along the route through the experiences of two archaeologists that worked on the scheme. Jacinta Kiely, a founder member of consultants Eachta Archaeological Projects, has experience of working on a number of national road projects around the country. Dr Penny Johnson, who like Ms Kiely is a UCC graduate, worked on the north Cork project while a post-excavation manager at Eachta Archaeological Projects. Together they have produced a book that, according to its publisher Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), 'affords a rare chance to hear from the people whose voices would be lost, were it not for the opportunities for discovery afforded by the construction of the route'. A wide and diverse range of sites were discovered and documented during the project, which traverses the board plains of prime pasture-lands and the western foothills of the Kilworth Mountains. "These represented the day-to-day life, work and beliefs of the communities that occupied this landscape over the last 10,000 years," said Dr Johnson. Readers will learn about of Mesolithic nomads fishing the River Funshion and of Neolithic farmsteads excavated at Gortore, Caherdrinny and Ballinglanna North. Bronze Age houses were also found at Ballynamona, Gortnahown and Kilshanny, and a rare Iron Age example at Caherdrinny. The excavations also revealed how precarious life could be in pre-historic times, with burials at Ballynacarriga of Early Bronze Age women and children - including a young woman and her unborn child. Timber circles uncovered at Ballynacarriga provide evidence of ceremonial practices in later Neolithic times. An early medieval cliff-edge fort at Ballynacarriga and cob-built houses and a blacksmith's dwelling at Gortnahown, where iron-working evidence indicates highly specialised bell manufacture and brazing, move the story into the historical era. "The early 12th-century manuscript known as 'Crichad an Chaoilli' provides a backdrop to these medieval sites, with its evidence for territorial boundary evolution and land ownership in the old kingdom of Fir Maige (Fermoy)," said Ms Kiely. The archaeological excavation accounts are augmented in the book by overviews of the settlements, plant and human remains and pottery, stone tool and iron-working evidence. 'Hidden Voices -The Archaeology of the M8 Fermoy-Mitchelstown Motorway' will be available to buy from January 31 at www.wordwellbooks.ie priced at 25. A food wholesaler based in Ballyvourney has made a settlement of more than 845,000 according to the latest tax defaulters list. The settlement by Independent Irish Health Foods Limited with an address at Unit 12, Ballyvourney Industrial estate was among 65 published covering the period from July 1 to September 30 of this year, with a combined total of 12,905,935.75. The settlement by the Ballyvourney company, the third highest included on the latest defaulters list, arose in foot of a Revenue audit case relating to the under-declaration of PAYE/PRSI/USC and VAT. Their total settlement of 846,092.89 was comprised of 525,346.17 in tax, 127,487.32 in penalties and 193,359.40 in interest. Jeremiah O'Connor with an address at Killavoy, Banteer, whose occupation was listed as a coal and tyre retailer/farmer was also listed as making a settlement totalling 359,488 with the revenue. The payment, which arouse out of a Revenue audit case relating to the under-declaration of VAT included tax of 178,437, penalties of 53,531 and interest of 127,520. Brid Callanan, whose occupation was listed as a landlord with an address at 3 The Mews, Aherla was listed as making a settlement of 46,460 in relation to a Revenue enquiry case into the non-declaration of income tax. It consisted of 22,459 in tax, 16,855 in penalties and 7,157 in interest. Of the 65 published cases, 25 were for amounts exceeding 100,000, five of which exceeded 500,000 and two of which topped the 1 million mark. The highest settlement on the list of 2,584,352.91was made by Monaghan-based Westenra Arms Hotel Limited. Settlements totalling 4,227,263.50 remained unpaid at the end of September and while revenue said it would "vigorously pursue" these, it conceded that in some cases, (such as company liquidation) this may prove not possible. The Revenue also published the names of five people from north and mid-Cork prosecuted for failing to lodge income tax return(s). Timothy Coleman, a blocklayer from Kealvargh, Ballingeary was fined 1,300 on a single charge; Raymond O'Sullivan of Woodbine House, Stoneview, Blarney; farmer John Sheehan of Aubane, Millstreet and Giedrius Lukosius a plasterer with an address at Bellevue Court, Mallow were each fined 2,500 relating to two charges apiece. Petru Munteanu, a car valet from Shoulders Lane, Mallow was fined 10,000 in relation to two charges. The aforementioned Giedrius Lukosius was also fined 1,250 relating to a separate charge of failing to lodge P35 return(s). It has emerged that a restaurant in Mallow was issued with a closure order last month by environmental health officers with the HSE for breaches of food safety standards. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) revealed the order was served on Rube Restaurant Ltd, trading as Colours of India Restaurant with an address at Unit 2, Hibernian Way, Mallow, on November 15. The order, which was served under the EC Official Control of Foodstuffs Regulations (2010) was subsequently lifted five days later on November 20. A detailed report, available to view on the FSAI website, listed a number of reasons for the issuing of the closure order. These included that a HACCP safety management system was not implemented or maintained and that "monitoring checks of foodstuffs at critical control pints were not being carried out". The report read that this may lead to a risk to food safety "as any potential food hazards may not have been identified or adequately controlled." The report also noted there was an insufficient hot water supply to wash-up sinks and hand basins in the kitchens and there was no suitable system in place for manual wash-up of food contact equipment and utensils in the kitchens double deep sinks as there was no disinfection step. It noted the drainage pipe from the wash-up sink was not properly connected to the drainage system with water flowing from the sink into a tin can and that cleaning was poor throughout the premises "with no cleaning programme in place". The report also found that the business operator had failed to segregate raw and cooked foods during storage, posing the risk of cross contamination, and posing "an unacceptable risk to public health". Finally, while the report stated that training on food safety and hygiene issues had been carried out in 2012 "the practises observed during the inspection demonstrated a lack of sufficient food safety knowledge and understanding" and as a result there was "no confidence in the food business operator's ability to manage food safely". The Mallow premises was among 14 enforcement orders served on food business across Ireland during November, a number that FASI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne described as "unacceptable". "The reasons for the enforcement orders having to be served are all easily preventable in the first place and food businesses should not allow their standards to slip," said Dr Byrne. She said that with the busy Christmas period upon us, food businesses must be especially vigilant to ensure compliance with the law. "Special attention should be given to food safety training for both full and part-time staff to cope with any extra demand," said Dr Byrne. "The FSAI provides advice if food businesses are unsure what their legal obligations are at www.fsai.ie or the FSAI Advice Line, info@fsai.ie," she concluded. When it comes to athletes pushing themselves to the limit, over 2,600 cannot get enough as the first-ever Ironman to be held in Cork is sold out. The inaugural race will see 2,650 athletes take to the starting line in Youghal on June 23, 2019 to make it the largest ever field for any triathlon in Ireland. Athletes from 62 different countries will compete in Ireland's first-ever full Ironman race, with 55 per cent of participants descending on the Emerald Isle from overseas. What's more, the field will feature the highest contingent of USA athletes for any 2019 European Ironman so far, with 21 per cent coming from across the Atlantic. Athletes will also be coming from countries such as Spain, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Barbados, giving the race a truly-international feel. Cork County Council is particularly proud to join forces with Ironman and bring Ireland's first full Ironman to Cork. They said this has been one of their fastest-selling events, one with global appeal. The event will bring an estimated 8 million economic boost to the local economy. The race will get underway with a 3.8km (2.4mile) swim with a rolling start from the golden and sandy Claycastle beach in Youghal Bay. There follows a two-lap 180km (112-mile) bike course. Beginning in the centre of Youghal town, athletes will take on the challenge of climbing up the famous Windmill Hill twice, which undoubtedly will also become a spectator hotspot. The athletes will then encounter a combination of flat, country roads and undulating coastal roads with magnificent sea views of Youghal Bay, Ballycotton Island and Cork Harbour. This breathtaking course goes around the county, into the town of Midleton, and will rise to a maximum elevation of 190 metres above the town before a technical drop back into Youghal. After tackling the bike course, the participants will embark on the 42km (26.2mile) running course, the highlight of this new event. This will be a flat four-lap course through the centre of Youghal, taking in Youghal Harbour and the famous Clock Gate Tower. Athletes will run under the arch of the Clock Gate Tower in the centre of town during each lap before finally running under the iconic Ironman finishing arch at Green Park. For more information on the IRONMAN Ireland, Cork, visit www.ironman.com/ireland. The multi-award-winning Mallow-based international water solutions giant EPS will this Friday celebrate a significant milestone in its ongoing success story - marking the 50th anniversary of its establishment. The company was founded in Kanturk on December 14, 1968, as a partnership between Gerard Buckley and John Joe Sheehan under the name of Kanturk Electrical and Farm Services, with just two employees. Seven years later the company, now known as EPS, relocated to the Quartertown Industrial Estate, and over the intervening years has grown from a modest electrical and pumping business into a globally recognised exporter and service provider to the water, wastewater and clean technology sectors. Today EPS has almost 500 employees, an annual turnover of 82 million, and is a global leader in the field of 'wet' infrastructure, with support services operations across Ireland, the UK, the Middle East and West Africa. Its Irish operation has three premises in the Quartertown Industrial Estate, including its 4.5million Centre of Design and Manufacturing Excellence opened in October of last year; three regional offices in the Republic in Ballyhaunis, Mountrath and Naas; one in Newtownards, Co Down; three cross-channel; and one in Amman, Jordan. The company has extensive operations across Cork working with local authorities and Irish Water as they invest heavily in water infrastructure across the county, managing a large number of water and waste-water treatment plants across the length and breadth of the country. It also supports critical health facilities including Mallow General Hospital and the Cork University Hospital, as well as having operations within the tourism, commercial and pharmaceutical sectors. It has held contracts with all 34 water authorities in the Republic (now transferred to Irish Water), as well as securing a significant share of the trader sub-market. The managing director of EPS, Gerard Buckley's son, Patrick, said the entrepreneurial spirit shown by the original founders and partners, who were in their early 20s when the business began five decades ago, remained with the company to this day. "As we have prepared for the 50th anniversary, it has been fascinating to chart the company's growth over the decades, identifying key decisions and strategies that propelled EPS to where it is today," said Mr Buckley. These have included capitalising on the rural electrification scheme and developing branches outside Cork in the 1970s; a series of acquisitions in the 1980s; the roll out of the Government's first National Development Plan in the 1990s; and designing, building and operating wastewater treatment plants in the '00's right through to recent investments in digital technologies. "Down through the decades, we've always believed in the power of collaboration, partnerships and our employees, and those beliefs remain as relevant today as the second generation looks ahead to the next half century" said Mr Buckley. Millstreet Community School Principal Pol O Siodhchain pictured with visitors at the Open Night and the launch of website Millstreet Community School's new website holds a fresh look after a launch hosted in conjunction with an open night for new pupils in Autumn 2019. The website shows the diverse range of activities on offer for the pupils and also functions as an information source for parents, pupils, teachers and the local community. On welcoming the attendance, Principal Pol O Siodhchain and Deputy Principal Frances Moynihan spoke of the strong team ethos at the school. "The professionalism, commitment, dedication and teamwork of the staff ensure an excellent education for all our students in a caring and supportive environment. This concept encourages and challenges our students to participate and achieve their full potential", said Mr. O Siodhchain Over 200 prospective students and parents from local primary schools got an insight into school activities and teachers and students helped guided tours of the school where visitors were treated to informative displays and presentations in the various subject departments. The message relayed was that teachers and staff work to the highest standards in terms of classroom preparation, delivery and assessment to achieve the best outcomes for students. "Millstreet Community School holds a long tradition of assisting students to reach their full potential which is mainly due to the hard work and commitment of staff, along with the active cooperation of parents and students as well as the invaluable support from our Board of Management", said Mr O Siodhchain. The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy, launching Europe and the County of Cork: A Heritage Perspective in with Declan Daly, deputy chief executive; Michael Lynch, director of planning; Cllr Frank O Flynn and Mona Hallinan, Mary Sleeman and Conor Nelligan of Cork County Councils Heritage Unit Although 2018 is nearing to an end, the month of December has thus far seen the announcement of a number of different funding schemes for 2019, many more of which will also be announced in January and February of next year. These schemes recognise the role of communities in promoting their heritage and also the need to provide protection for our collective heritage. With regard to our built heritage, two new schemes have just been announced by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Scheme, both of which are open for applications until January 2019. Minister Madigan said she was delighted to announce the 2019 schemes were now open for applications. "These two schemes represent an investment by my Department of up to 4.3 million to support more than 500 built heritage projects across the country in 2019. As part of the Estimates process this year, I made a firm commitment to increase the number of projects which could be supported under my Department's very popular Built Heritage grant schemes". The Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund will support the owners and custodians of protected structures in every local authority area across the country in 2019 as they carry out hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve our historic built environment. The projects will also provide vital support for local jobs in conservation, traditional skills and construction. The latest round of funding announced by the Minister includes up to 2.5 million in Exchequer funding for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and up to 1.8 million for the Historic Structures Fund (formerly the Structures at Risk Fund). Details of the schemes are available on the Department's website www.chg.gov.ie. Minister Madigan said this Exchequer allocation would attract additional funding, yielding total investment of over 5m in 2019. "Communities rightly have a great sense of pride in their built heritage. As well as supporting people who are working to care for and restore our historic buildings, these grants will help to regenerate towns and rural areas and will come as a welcome boost to those working so hard to look after our heritage properties. Our built heritage is a vital part of our cultural landscape. I am delighted to be able to continue improving our investment in protecting it for the future," she said. Historic Towns Initiative announced A further national funding scheme has also been announced which is the Historic Towns Initiative aimed for important heritage projects located within the country's historic towns; Youghal having benefited from the scheme in 2018. The Historic Towns Initiative is administered by the Heritage Council and for further information visit www.heritagecouncil.ie. Cork Local Festival Fund opened for 2019 Another fund that has just been announced is the County Cork Local Festival Fund 2019. Throughout the county, so many groups and communities and organisations organise such a great range of festivals throughout the year and this scheme is in place to support these local endeavours. Festivals and events deliver a range of economic, social and cultural benefits. They entertain, they celebrate our communities and they showcase our villages and towns and are often an expression of identity and place. They help to stimulate local economic activity and enhance the visitor experience. Cork County Council will continue to promote and support festivals throughout the County. The Local Festival Fund 2019 is aimed at supporting festivals which drive domestic tourism and help to improve the visitor experience. Under the scheme up to 6,000 is available for applicants and applications must be made by the closing date of Friday, January 11. For further information about the scheme and to make an application visit www.yourcouncil.ie. Cork's European links explored in new book With the end of the year drawing near, 2018, as the European Year of Cultural Heritage, also draws to a close. Around the country and indeed around Europe, a variety of different events and projects took place to mark the year and here in the County of Cork, a publication was undertaken to examine the county's historic position within Europe, titled 'Europe and the County of Cork: A Heritage Perspective'. It was launched on Monday, December 10 by the Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy, in the presence of Declan Daly, deputy chief executive and Michael Lynch, director of planning. The publication is now available for sale in a number of bookstores throughout the County as well as Cork City, also available for 10 from the Heritage Unit of Cork County Council, located on floor 3 of the County Hall. The book, over 200 pages in length, touches on so many fascinating heritage connections between Cork and Europe, from nature and archaeology to folklore and architecture. The population of Europe presently stands at over 700 million people, 500 million of which are resident within the European Union's 28 member States. With the population of Ireland being close to 5 million and the County of Cork therefore constituting only .1 of 1% of the EU population, the extent of connectivity between County Cork and Europe can only be marvelled at. This publication will be of interest to any reader with an interest in Cork's history and its place in Europe. The 10th Valentine Ball in aid of the Drogheda ABACAS Special School for Children with Autism will take place on Saturday 9th Feb 2019. This fabulous fundraiser will take place in the Westcourt Hotel. There is a Drinks Reception in Earth Nightclub followed by a delicious four course dinner and then you can dance the night away to the Enemies. The MC for the evening is Gerry Kelly and as anyone who has attended the Valentine Ball previously knows there will be many surprises along the way. Tickets are 75 each or 750 for a table of ten. If you would like tickets or have any queries about the Valentine Ball please contact Jacinta on 087 240 7431. This event is such an enjoyable night and great fundraiser for such a good cause said Cathy White from the organising committee. 'We would like to thank the many people who have supported us over the years and continue to support us,' she stated. President to listen to Michael's work After their wonderful playing on ''The Road to Lough Swilly'' CD, Michael rejoins his old friends The RTE Contempo Quartet for a performance of his new piece ''Port na bPucai'' in the presence of the President Michael D Higgins on Sunday 9th December in the Project Arts Centre, Dublin. The event is "Miscellany 50" - a celebration of RTE's flagship programme Sunday Miscellany. Miscellany50 is a celebratory radio festival weekend of short writing and music produced to salute fifty years on air in 2018 of Sunday Miscellany, RTE Radio 1's iconic programme. Five concerts will each capture a decade between 1968 and 2018 and be introduced by writers including Mary O'Malley, Joseph O'Connor and Lisa McInerney. Miscellany50 will also offer a feast of music and song to savour - some specially commissioned to premier over the weekend. Deep down in their hearts, they want something new, said Rivers, who shared an Oscar for visual effects for his work on King Kong and did second-unit directing on The Hobbit as well as Disneys 2016 family film Petes Dragon. But they dont know how to create the new thing, and the risks that you have to take to create it theres a weird disconnect that happens. At some point you sort of have to trust that the film is going to do its job and the audience will want something new. Any and all sightings of wildlife should be reported to www.biodiversityireland.ie. A scientist is defined as a person who studies, or has expertise in, science. Scientists come in two kinds: those who work at it professionally, and those of us who dabble in it as a hobby or interest, the so-called 'citizen scientists'. The term 'citizen scientist' was coined by the professionals to describe research collaborations between them and the general public. Say a professional scientist is studying avian influenza. He or she may issue an appeal to the public to report incidents of unusual mortality among wild birds. The professional scientists may be desk-bound and reliant on volunteers from all over the country to feed information to them. It's a win-win situation; the professionals get data they could not otherwise access, and the volunteers or citizen scientists get satisfaction from taking part in and contributing to a national project or programme. One such national project or programme that many people interested in nature and wildlife take part in is the collection of data about Ireland's biodiversity. Anyone can take part and there is a dedicated portal or website acting as the doorway through which the information is fed. Say I'm driving home some evening and a Fox runs across the road in front of me. The chance occurrence gives me information that I can either keep to myself or share with others to contribute to the growing pool of data that exists about Ireland's biodiversity. When I get home, I log onto www.biodiversityireland.ie the Waterford-based National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland's citizen science portal. I click on 'Submit Sightings' on the opening screen and that gives me a pictorial choice of whether I'm submitting a sighting of a bird, bee, plant, sea creature or whatever. I select 'Mammals'. I'm now asked for six bits of information: my name, my email address, the date of my sighting, the name of the county, the location of my sighting and a 'spatial reference'. The spatial reference is easy. I'm presented with a map of Ireland. I zoom in to road level where I saw the Fox and I click on the precise place. When I click, the required spatial reference automatically jumps into the empty box. All that's left is to say what I saw. There is a facility to attach an image if I have one. I click 'Save Record' and my contribution is saved for scrutiny and validation by the experts. If you haven't used it yet do check it out. Bishop Tom Deenihan recognised the commitment of parishioners from around the diocese of Meath during the preparations, ceremonies and celebrations of the recent Ninth World Meeting of Families. Certificates of participation were presented at the conclusion of Evening Prayer in St Mary's Church, Navan on the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle. Teenagers Celestine Feeney and Akvile Dudenaite welcomed the participants and described the extra sense of purpose which their work as WMOF volunteers has brought to their duties as prefects in Sacred Heart School in Drogheda. Similar messages were presented by the Holy Family Parish Youth Group who introduced the evening with a modern music interpretation of the challenge of faith for society. Their musical drama "A Little Bit of Francis" on the life of Pope Francis from his days in Argentina to his election as Pope featured as part of the programme for young families in the RDS. The Richardson family from Ashbourne touched the hearts of many during the Festival of Families from Croke Park with Pope Francis. They all still cherish the rosary beads which were presented to them by the Holy Father. Damien and Mary with their children carried the icon of the Holy Family in procession towards the altar where Bishop Deenihan lit the parish WMOF candle at the start of Evening Prayer. The psalms and congregational hymns during Evening Prayer were led by Ephrem Feeley (another Ashbourne parishioner) who is a teacher in St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School. His hymn "A Joy for all the Earth" was selected during a competition as the Official Hymn for the World Meeting of Families. It has allowed his music to be accessed by congregations across Ireland and enjoyed by millions around the world (including the Philippines, USA, England and Australia) during the Papal Visit. During this homily, Fr Phil Gaffney (Meath diocesan delegate for the World Meeting of Families) highlighted the generosity of many individuals and families across the diocese of Meath who opened their homes to families from Portugal, Spain, Australia and the United States. He made special mention of the volunteer staff in the WMOF offices in Clonliffe, Host Families, Choir Members, Bus Drivers, Musicians, Youth Groups, CEIST students, Ministers of Holy Commuion, parish secretaries and clergy. All had made the Joy of the Gospel accessible to families from other countries and had deepened the bonds of friendship within the Meath diocesan family. Reminding WMOF volunteers of the words of Pope Francis, Fr Phil invited them to continue to witness to the Gospel and to read and reread the beautiful addresses of Pope Francis. Bishop Deenihan concluded by thanking Fr Phil Gaffney and his diocesan team for drawing people of many talents and enthusiasm for a singular event in the life of the Church. "We need to tap into this source of faith and sustain that energy, commitment and enthusaiam. By doing so, we will bring life to our parishes and our dioceses in the future." The evening drew to a close with a beautiful rendition by Amie Dyer from Holy Family Parish, Drogheda of "Time to Say Goodbye" and concluded with Ephrem Feeley and Niamh Gavin leading the congregation in "A Joy for all the Earth." The Drogheda City Status Group (DSCG) have challenged population figures which appear in the recently published draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) document prepared by the Eastern and Midlands Regional Authority (EMRA). Ireland is divided into three mega-regions, with Co.Louth located within the EMRA. "It is pure fantasy to suggest that the populations of Drogheda and Dundalk will both be 50,000 in 2031 as this RSES report speculates. Already, Drogheda and environs has a population in excess of that, so clearly there is an agenda either in Local or National Government to conceal the true population figures for - and potential of - Drogheda as the Regional Capital of the North East. By 2031, the population of the Greater Drogheda area, including Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington is more likely to reach 100,000," said a spokesman for DSCG. Last week, representatives of the City Status Group along with their Planning Consultant, Dr. Brian Hughes attended a special briefing on the RSES at the DIT, Kevin Street which was hosted by Lecturer Odran Reid. A detailed presentation was made by EMRA Senior Planner, Pauline Riordan, and the Drogheda representatives discussed a number of early concerns relating to the report's content with her. It is understood that Council members of Drogheda and District Chamber also attended a briefing in Naas last week where the draft RSES plan was discussed. "We would urge all individuals and organisations concerned with Drogheda's early transition from Ireland's largest town into Ireland's next city to check out this draft report at www.emra.ie as comments and submissions on the draft must be made by mid-January 2019. The final RSES plans will be critical drivers of both spatial and economic strategy for the future and will have significant impact on our communities and economies. So everyone needs to get familiar with the draft plan, and assert the position of the Greater Drogheda area," concluded the DCSG spokesman. Drogheda Port Company, supported by leading experts from Brady Shipman Martin, are working on a Master Plan for the future of the Port that will run from 2020-2050. Earlier this year, Drogheda Port Company published an Issues Paper and invited members of the public, business, state agencies, regulatory bodies and government to make submissions. This week the preliminary findings of the submissions were announced by Paul Fleming, CEO of Drogheda Port Company. "We are delighted with the level of interest and submissions to the Issues Paper. The Masterplan we are developing will run from 2020-2050 and so it was really important for us to take on board suggestions and observations from the community and stakeholders. We received a really strong response and we thank those individuals and organisations who took the time to participate in this consultation process. "Some of the key issues raised in the submissions include road access to the port, deep-water berths, environmental protection, requirement for additional land, warehousing and storage and recognising the Port as a valuable economic asset. The role of the Port in the urban regeneration of Drogheda came to the fore in submissions that discussed relocating Port operations from the Town Quays to further downstream. These, and many other issues, will all be addressed in our master-planning process and it is interesting to note that our priorities and those of the public and stakeholders are largely aligned." Drogheda Port is one of the key drivers of economic activity and development in the north-east. The Port, and the work that it facilitates, supports imports, exports, and job creation. As a critical part of the infrastructure of this region, it is vital that the Port plans ahead and continues to provide facilities and services to meet the needs of the eastern region into the future. Submissions also recognised the importance of Drogheda Port as a facilitator of employment and competitiveness for the region. Others highlighted the role of the Port in tourism and marine leisure activity, and some challenged the Port to examine issues of off-shore renewable energy. Port Chairman Joe Hiney stated: "I would like to acknowledge the constructive feedback received in the master planning process, including on the topic of external port development. This is timely as the national port industry is actively examining port infrastructure demand and supply issues in terms of changing market conditions in the various cargo sectors, including Brexit impacts, and capacity constraints at existing east coast ports. In the case of Drogheda we have identified demand for deep water and niche cargo services on the east coast in addition to the planned expansion of operations in the Boyne estuary." He continued "We therefore put our external project subsidiary ("Bremore") on the market and following considerable commercial interest have signed a development Memorandum of Understanding with a substantial private partner. This development project is focussed on serving the growing Irish port service market, on maintaining a competitive landscape on the east coast, and ensuring that Drogheda Port Company continues to grow in a sustainable manner." Paul Fleming concluded "This has been a very worthwhile, informative and educational phase of our master planning process. Our role in Drogheda Port Company is to ensure that strategic, economic, community and environmental factors are all considered and carefully factored into the long-term plan for the Port. Now that this stage of the process has been completed, we will revert to an intensive internal planning phase and intend to publish the draft Master Plan early in 2019 with the final Master Plan being completed by mid-year." An image of Drogheda by renowned artist Gerard Dillon has sold at auction for 8,200. It dates from 1943 and was sold by Adams of Dublin last week. 'A view of Drogheda' was most likely painted after Dillon's visit to the town with Drogheda painter, Nano Reid in 1943. The two friends may have arranged a sketching holiday after the opening of their group exhibition of watercolours at the Contemporary Picture Galleries in Lower Baggot Street in July, 1943. A publican's daughter, Reid was sixteen years older than Dillon but he never viewed their age difference as an obstacle for friendship. Both artists felt strongly about Ireland's cultural heritage and admitted in interviews to having influenced each others work. This work is typical of Dillons subjects in the early 1940s which were largely focused on everyday subjects that were linked to his daily life. In 1944 Dillon and Reid showed works from their sketching holiday in their exhibitions in Dublin and Northern Ireland. It's believed Dillon probably didn't intend to document this scene as a valuable record of the town but his desire to record the town and the architectural heritage in the area before Institutions were set up to protect listed buildings was a valuable record for future generations. It has been suggested that this scene is from the south side of the Boyne looking west possibly from the vantage point of Pitcher Hill, Barack Lane or at Butter Gate. The Church across the river is probably St. Magdalens Church known locally as Dominick's Church. One of the longest established businesses in town, Garahy's Pharmacy on Slaney Street, welcomed loyal customers to a special celebration recently as it marked 70 years in business. The landmark Enniscorthy business was established back in 1948 by the late Padraic Garahy, a native of Co Offaly, and his wife Helen from Monthrath. A hard-working man, Padraic had qualified from the College of Pharmacy in Dublin and eventually became heavily involved in soft fruit promotion, establishing Garachem which was a range of sprays required for the cultivation and maintenance of soft fruits - something of particular importance to this region. In 1972, Padraic's son David joined the family business and he can still be seen behind the counter to this day, where he has built up a wonderful rapport with his regular customers. These loyal customers were delighted to drop by to help David and his team celebrate recently, by having a cuppa, some sweet treats and a chat. Everyone was invited to make a small donation, with all funds raised going directly to the Parkinson's Association - a cause close to David's heart. A great crowd passed through the doors over the course of the day, with the grand total raised now coming in at over 2,000 and counting. A donation box is still on the counter in the shop and people are invited to continue making donations to grow this figure even further. Mr Garahy and his staff wished to thank everyone who came along on the day for helping them to mark the milestone and, even more importantly, to raise some much-needed funds for a great cause. While the inclination for most of us on these cold and dark winter nights is to stay in front of the fire and not stir, a dedicated group of volunteers are out patrolling their local community in a bid to keep everyone safe and decrease criminal activity in the area. A true sign of community spirit being alive and well, the St Aidan's Neighbourhood Watch is now going into it's sixth year and in that time, it has seen a marked decrease in the amount of break-ins and anti-social behaviour in the greater Bellefield area. 'It got started when there was a big increase in the amount of houses being broken into up this way,' explained Chairman Bernard O'Leary. 'We contacted the council about putting gates on the lanes up here, which they did, and it stemmed from there. For the last four years, we've been out patrolling around the area seven nights a week, keeping an eye on things and helping people out wherever we can.' The group currently consists of ten volunteers who take it in turns to pull on their high-vis vests, pick up their torches and head out on patrol on even the coldest winter nights. With crime inevitably increasing in the winter months owing to the cover of darkness, the group try to maintain an even more visible presence at this time of year, leading to them going out in all kinds of weather. Among the areas the group patrols are Moran Park, Bellefield, St Aidan's Villas, the Ross Road and they also keep an eye on buildings like the CWCW and Lidl. 'I suppose one of the biggest incidents we had which gained us attention was we stopped a group of young lad's breaking into TD James Browne's house,' said Bernard. 'That one kind of got our name out there. Another night, we came across a gang trying to burn down Lidl and had to call the guards.' 'We get great support from the gardai for what we do though and the local community up here are very good too. When we were raising money for the neighbourhood watch signs, I think nearly every house in the area contributed and we also got great support from Grant's Pharmacy who sponsored our high-vis vests.' Over the past few years, Bernard says there's been a noticeable decrease in crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and wished to thank everyone who has gotten involved and helped out in any way. The group are hoping to step things up even further with even more patrols on these dark winter nights. Anyone interested in getting involved and taking part in patrols can contact Bernard on 0851088163. Before we had smartphones and internet facilities we wrote letters. We had to go looking for an envelope, find a stamp, then post it. That was a long operation. But it stopped us in our step and gave us plenty of space to think exactly what we wanted to put down on paper. The nonsense and drivel we see on social media surely is the result of the facility of being able to fire off instantly the madness that is the result of that quick rush of blood to our brains. Social media can be a dangerous business. I had the good fortune two weeks ago of attending a talk on the dangers of social media and how we can protect ourselves against some of its dangers. The young man who gave the talk was excellent, articulate and well-briefed. It was in the context of my work that I was at the talk. I was struck with how quickly everything to do with social media is changing. He began his talk by pointing out that just 11 years ago, 2007, a smartphone was unimaginable. When he told us that Bebo died in 2009 one could sense a feeling in the room how far we had come in such a short time. And then someone mentioned the Blackberry. Looking for a Blackberry today is something like searching for a steam kettle. But in the midst of all the change and its speed he kept stressing that the rules for staying safe online never change. Today in Ireland 95 per cent of children have access to the internet at home. The average age of children having a smart phone is 10. There are 2.2 billion people on Facebook and Snapchat records 10,000 snaps per second. Children are going online younger and for longer and according to the latest statistics one in four children are victims of cyber-bullying. The lecturer pointed out the importance of teaching people how to communicate over the internet. In face-to-face communication it's not just a matter of what we say but how we say it. To demonstrate his point, he wrote the following sentence on the board: 'I never said she stole my money'. He pointed out how that sentence as a text message could have seven different meanings, which makes it so dangerous. It depends on where the stress is put to give it its specific meaning. And that's not possible in a text message. There is little or no nuance or subtlety in social media.There is the added dimension of anonymity, which dramatically changes everything but especially bullying. There are some basic social media rules: if you would not say it to a person's face then don't put it online, if you don't know how something works, then find out, once you put something up on the internet you lose control of it. It can't be undone. Never reply to abusive or bullying messages and always keep a copy. He told some harrowing stories of how people have been duped on the internet. Never make friends with strangers and never give out private details across the web. Where is it all leading, no-one knows. But one thing is sure, be constantly on your guard when using social media. Indeed, the very term social media has now unfortunately become an oxymoron. Remember, once you press that send button, whatever you have posted, text or picture, it's there for ever. Local councillors are encouraging the council to purse an objective to develop industrial lands in Clonshaugh to provide for small business units in the Malahide/Howth electoral areas. There is a shortage of such facilities in the area, forcing businesses to move elsewhere in Fingal or further afield. Cllr Eoghan O'Brien (FF) highlighted the issue and said: 'We don't have other available land to zone HT (High Technology) outside of what's owned by Dublin Airport. He said he understood that the council's priorities in zoning new land for development was to provide for housing but he suggested that the local authority 'at the other end of the M50' in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown was providing the kind of opportunities for small business that Malahide/Howth was lacking. He said that two areas of high technology zoning in Clonshaugh were 'really, really strategically important' and should be developed. Cllr Jimmy Guerin (NP) agreed and said there were no places locally that were in a position to host a business of 15 staff and under. He said the area needed a new 'small business park'. 'We are crying out for units,' he added. He said the South Fingal Transport Study needed to be advanced as it was holding up the development o f the area, saying 'we are caught in a stalemate' as long as that study was not published. The council responded saying there was an objective in the County Development Plan to advance a masterplan for the two pieces of land in Clonshaugh, referred to by Cllr O'Brien. There is also an objective in the plan to carry out a South Fingal Fringe Study which would 'produce a strategic vision and overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the study area'. This was to be carried out within two years from the adoption of the County Development Plan, agreed last year. Because that study will affect all Local Area Plans and Masterplans in the area, the council are waiting for the completion of the study before advancing masterplans in the area. Cllr Adrian Henchy tries out the new Go Ahead bus operating on the 33A route A number of Fingal commuters will have noticed over the last week that there is a new bus company on their route. Some local bus routies have swtiched from Dublin Bus to a new operator called Go-Ahead Ireland and the company claim this will lead to 'immediate improvements in frequency and service levels'. Routes 33A, 33B and 102 will be operated under the 'Transport for Ireland' brand by Go-Ahead Ireland, and will benefit passengers travelling from Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Swords. Changes to the 33, which will continue to be run by Dublin Bus, and the 33A, which will be run by Go-Ahead Ireland, will mean that from December 2, there will be a combined 30-minute frequency throughout the week between Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Swords. The frequency on Route 33A will be significantly increased, and for the first time will connect Skerries, Rush and Lusk directly to Dublin Airport. Further interchange opportunities will also be available in Swords for onward travel to areas such as Donabate, Portrane, and Malahide. Route 33 will continue south of Swords to provide direct services to destinations along Swords Road and Drumcondra Road to the city centre. In addition, Route 33A is newly extended from Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Swords, and will run direct to Dublin Airport every 90 minutes. There will also be better frequency on the Go-Ahead Ireland route 102 that links Dublin Airport to Swords, Malahide and Sutton. NTA Chief Executive Officer Anne Graham said: 'The changes being introduced...are part of an overall substantial increase in frequency and service levels on about 50 bus routes.' At the Smart Museum, Chicagos Emmanuel Pratt, founder of the Sweet Water Foundation, will begin to develop the hub of an arts-centered ecosystem. The project, People, Energy, Light, Power: the [Re]Construction of Ethos, will focus on the year-long renovation and activation of an abandoned house where the Englewood and Washington Park neighborhoods intersect. Working with youth apprentices, Pratts end goal is a house that is both a place of safety and opportunity for the community. A Cavan resident has been convicted of a 90,000 tiger kidnapping which began at an address in Malahide, four years ago in which a postmistress, her daughter and an Italian student were abducted from their home. Paschal Kelly (53) with an address at Cootehill, Co. Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to trespass and to false imprisonment of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter and Italian student Gabriella Saisa at Seabury Drive, Malahide, Dublin, on September 25, 2014. Kelly had also pleaded not guilty to robbing Ms Lawlor of cash at Bayside Post Office, Sutton, Dublin, and threatening to kill her, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa at an unknown location in the State. He had also denied unlawful possession of a vehicle, all on the same date. Shortly after midday, last Friday, the jury of seven men and five women returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges after one hour and 40 minutes deliberating. The trial was originally scheduled to last six weeks, but extended into a ninth week due to legal argument in the absence of the jury. Judge Karen O'Connor thanked the jurors for their 'extraordinary service and your extraordinary commitment to you jury service'. She excused them from jury service for life. Kelly has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing in January next year. During the trial Ms Lawlor, Ms Carter and Ms Saisa described being abducted by two masked and armed intruders in the early hours of the morning and driven to various locations before the post office raid. The two men broke into the home, tied the women's hands with cable ties and bundled them all into Ms Lawlor's Nissan Qushqai. They were later joined by a third raider. A serial thief who went on a shoplifting spree with her child had her case adjourned for a pre-sentencing Probation Report as the presiding judge wants to see if she will continue to engage with the Probation Services. Mother-of-three Kathleen Ward (37) was caught shoplifting from two different shops within two days, Swords District Court heard. Her modus operandi is that she fills up the trolley and 'blatantly walks out of the premises in front of staff'. Swords District Court heard gardai were called to the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords where security had detained the defendant after she had placed nearly 260 worth of items in her trolley before walking out of Penneys without paying for them. Security had observed her from CCTV cameras. 'She had a child with her and had other bags of shopping,' said Sergeant Terri Ferguson. 'She had placed the items from Penneys into her trolley and left the store without paying for them,' he Sgt Ferguson added. The following day gardai received a call from Boots at Omni Shopping Centre in Santry that the defendant, who had a child with her, went into the pharmacy and stole nearly 135 worth of cosmetics. The defendant, of Bunratty Drive in Coolock pleaded guilty to thefts from Penneys at the Pavilion on May 23. She further pleaded guilty to theft from Boots at Omni Shopping Centre in Santry on May 24. She has 18 previous convictions which mostly consist of theft offences. Defence barrister Barbara Fleming told the court the 37-year-old had only started to come to garda attention a few years ago after her marriage broke up. 'This caused her a lot of upset and she suffers from depression which escalated because of the breakup,' explained Ms Fleming. Ms Fleming explained the defendant's modus operandi is that she filled up the trolley and 'blatantly walked out of the premises in front of staff'. 'The goods were always returned,' she added. Ms Fleming said the defendant is the sole provider for her three children and her shoplifting relates to this. 'She is now engaging with the Probation Service and has a family support team behind her,' said Ms Fleming. 'She is embarrassed and ashamed but this is not an attempt to excuse what she did. She is now dealing with the factors that caused her criminality,' Ms Fleming added. The court heard the defendant has not come to garda attention since her last offence in May. Judge Paula Murphy said she will order a Probation Report but 'I am not making any promises'. 'You committed similar offences after engaging with the Probation Service the last time," said Judge Murphy and convicted the defendant on the facts of the case. She put the case back until January 29 for a pre-sentencing Probation Report It has been quite a year for Gorey-based business Curves who have just received 'Best Curves Team' in the country, two months after the premises was gutted by a fire from a suspected arson attack. Formerly situated in an outlet on the forecourt of Topaz Daybreak petrol station on the Arklow Road, the team at Curves moved to a new building in September on Esmonde Street (formerly Ruby Rouge) following the fire. 'We are just over the moon and excited to have received this award, especially to be recognised out of all the Curves clubs in Ireland,' said Fionn McDonagh of Curves Gorey. 'The Gorey club has never got something like this before so it is a real privilege for us.' Curves Gorey received the award for their excellent club performance, dedicated team and how they all bounced back after the fire. 'This award is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of all the staff in our club,' added Fionn. Proprietors Roisin Hearns and Fionn have been in charge of the franchise business in Gorey since 2012. Curves Gorey has closed off their membership until January as they have reached maximum capacity. Fionn said it's great and there is a good buzz around the club. Roisin and Fionn would like to thank the amazing generosity of people after the fire; the staff for their hard work and determination; and to all the club members. A cheque for 5,851 was presented last week to representatives of Cycle Against Suicide but later that evening additional donations were handed in making the total 6,230. The Ashdown Park Hotel held a 24 hour Splashathon in support of the charity to help develop awareness around suicide in Gorey and surrounding areas. With the crisis so prevalent in county Wexford, Orla Kenny from the Ashdown Park Hotel said that their hotel group were delighted to join with Cycle Against Suicide to help raise awareness. She thanked the many individuals and businesses who supported the event. Joe Dixon, a spokesperson for Cycle Against Suicide, said all the proceeds from the Splashathon goes towards the delivery of the schools' programme. 'Our schools' programme of which many Wexford schools participate is about educating students around mental health, addressing stigma and building resilience,' added Joe. With over 800 people dying each year by suicide, Cycle Against Suicide seeks to change the national narrative and bring awareness to this crisis. The Central Statistics Office's data for 2017 shows that outside of major urban areas, Wexford has one of the highest rate of suicide in Ireland. Through its events, Cycle Against Suicide brings together individuals to help spread the critical message that 'It's OK not to feel OK, and it's absolutely OK to ask for help.' Members of the Gorey Unit, back row: James Tighe, Sean Willoughby, Stephen Boland, Celestine Swords, Bill Nolan and Manuel Gardenes. Front row: John Carley (Director of Services, Wexford County Council), Roisin McGuire (Civil Defence College Principal), Peter OConnor (Chief Officer), and Cllr Keith Doyle (Chairman, Wexford County Council) Wexford Civil Defence members were put through their paces recently when more than 60 volunteers from Wexford, New Ross and Gorey took part in their county training day. The theme of the day was 'back to basics' which looked at the quality rather than the quantity of work carried out by groups. There were four separate scenarios on the day to challenge the groups' skills. These were: first aid with multiple casualties, search skills from missing persons, auxiliary fire services with a pump relay, and ambulance policy and procedures. The Civil Defence Welfare Service provided food for the volunteers, casualties and instructors throughout the day. The day concluded with the annual presentation dinner in the Riverbank Hotel. Guest speakers on the evening included Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Keith Doyle, Director of Services John Carley, and Civil Defence College Principal Roisin McGuire, while representatives from Wexford County Council Fire Services, Wexford Marine Watch, Wexford RNLI, and Wexford Order of Malta also attended. Apologies had been received from Minister Paul Kehoe, Council CEO Tom Enright, and Council Chief Fire Officer Paul L'Estrange. Cllr Doyle thanked all Wexford Civil Defence volunteers for their help and support during Storm Emma and congratulated them on their continuing and valued contribution to the people of County Wexford during the year through their attendance at dozens of community events and other exercises. A number of volunteers were presented with Long Service Medals for 30 and 10 years of service respectively, and certificates for courses completed during the year were also presented. Patricia Power, New Ross Unit and Breda Conroy, Wexford Welfare Unit were awarded 30-year service medals while 10-Year Service Medals were presented to Stephen Boland, Gorey Unit; Patrick Murphy, Wexford Unit; and Fergus Gallagher, Wexford Unit. The volunteers from the county made a presentation to newly-appointed Civil Defence Officer Peter O'Connor to mark his promotion; the presentation consisted of a group photo and a bouquet of flowers for his wife Pamela. St Aidan's Day Care Centre and the HSE have reached an agreement to ensure the short term financial sustainability following a meeting held last week. Minister Michael D'Arcy chaired the meeting between the HSE and members of St Aidan's Board of Directors and senior management. He also stated that an agreement was reached to conduct a service review that will lead to a set of actions to be presented to stakeholders. 'In the short term, financial sustainability has been agreed until February,' said Minister D'Arcy. 'In the medium to long term, we expect the matter to be concluded when we meet again at the end of February.' Minister D'Arcy also added that the HSE fully commits to St Aidan's and ensured that the centre will not be closing. The centre was in danger when it was announced in October by Chief Executive Officer Maura Kelly that St Aidan's was in a 'serious financial crisis' and that a core funding deficit of 277,151 per annum, which was identified and agreed with the HSE in 2016, had not been covered as promised. The HSE provided 167,771 on an ongoing basis towards the deficit but the outstanding amount reached 428,635. Following last week's meeting, Cllr Malcolm Byrne said while the progress on the immediate funding challenge for St Aidan's is welcome, there remains a need to ensure the service is not put in that position again. 'There has to be financial certainty,' added Cllr Byrne. Cllr Johnny Mythen said they 'cautiously welcome the guarantee of financial stability until February'. 'However, I would urge everyone to remain vigilant to ensure that we get a cast iron guarantee that full services and full employment will be guaranteed for the future following February review,' added Cllr Mythen. Ms Kelly was unavailable for comment when contacted by this newspaper. Two groups of students in Creagh College have qualified for next year's BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition that will take place in Dublin. Lauren Paisley and Charlotte Gray in second year and Amy Costello and Amelie Flavin in Transition Year will travel to Dublin on January 9 for the prestigious competition to display their projects. Second year students Lauren and Charlotte are quantifying the antioxidant levels in wheat grass juice to determine its suitability for preventing diseases caused by free radicals produced in the body. They both have been working with the wheat grass over the last few weeks and have secured the sponsorship of a masticating juicer from GreenValu and wheat grass from The Happy Pear. Lauren and Charlotte hope to complete the final stage of their project in Waterford Institute of Technology in the coming weeks and are looking forward to the exhibition in January. Amy and Amelie in Transition Year are designing a solar powered sleeping mat for homeless people. Their aim is to improve the life of a homeless person by providing them with a product that they can charge up for free during the day that will keep them warm at night. This is Creagh College's second year in a row qualifying for the competition, building on last year's success. The school wish the two groups the very best of luck in the competition in Dublin. About 1:15 a.m., Leonardo Mendez was driving at a high rate of speed in the 1900 block of North Ashland Avenue near the Bucktown neighborhood when he slammed into a concrete pillar, officials said. A new website which has extensive detail on 868 people from County Wexford who lost their lives during World War One was launched last week at Gorey Library. The launch included a fascinating lecture by historian Hugh McShane focusing on wills and letters written by Wexford soldiers from the battlefront during the Great War. Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, who deputised on behalf of Wexford County Council chairman Cllr Keith Doyle, launched the Wexford Great War Dead website that has been developed based on the work undertaken by Hazel Percival and Susan Kelly of Wexford County Council in conjunction with local historians. The website was launched to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI and to commemorate the men and women from county Wexford who lost their lives in the war. The aim of the project is to engage with the public online with the view to developing the information to hand on all the Wexford war dead. 'Already the response from members of the public has been phenomenal with a large number of people contacting the Library service eager to have their relatives' stories documented as part of their process,' said Cllr Kavanagh in his speech. 'This project provides them with an opportunity, in many cases their first opportunity, to speak openly about their relatives who died in the Great War.' In conjunction with the launch, Hugh gave an insight into Wexford's Great War soldiers' wills and letters that survived. The illustrated talk looked at Ireland's involvement in WWI and the many young soldiers from county Wexford. County librarian Eileen Morrissey said Hugh described very poignantly the wills and letters of many of the Wexford soldiers who died in war. She added that the evening was very well-attended. The criteria set for inclusion in this list of Wexford Great War dead, are persons who were: born in Wexford, lived in Wexford and were casualty (Wexford) of the Great War 1914-1918, persons who were injured in the war and died later from wounds or illnesses relating to their time of service are included. The research conducted provides the basic date to invite people to participate in an online history project for Wexford. Everyone is encouraged to add to this record by telling Wexford Libraries stories of people they knew who died as a result of the war. People can leave a comment on the website or email Wexford County Council Public Library Service at libraryhq@wexfordcoco.ie. Records used include Ireland's Memorial Records, published in eight volumes in 1923, It recorded that 18,946 died from the twenty-six counties of Ireland. However over the years, with the release of other records online, historians realised that while Ireland's Memorial Records was valuable, it was not complete. It did not record Royal Airforce, US, Canadian and other Commonwealth casualties nor Mercantile Marine casualties. The researchers also used www.findmypast.ie, Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. ancestry.co.uk UK, Royal Navy War Graves and the National Archives Soldiers' Wills website. The two sites were invaluable to the project as they helped verify place of birth and age in many instances. Records were also consulted and cross checked against the online databases newly released pension records and additional sources. One of Irelands most exciting Solo acts of recent years makes his long awaited return to Kerry this December 28th, playing a headline show at the INEC Killarney. Gavins latest track Glow which is about "playing it cool when you start seeing someone, is from his new album titled Only Ticket Home. It debuted at number 2 in the album charts behind the soundtrack for A Star Is Born and was recorded between Church studio and the Crypt in London earlier this year. Gavin believes his fans are in for "a bit of a shock as it is more upbeat and catchy than previous album Bitter Pill. He wrote most of the album while spending time at home last January. The previously released hit Always was the first track to emerge from the album. Gavin laughs, "the song was used for all the sad scenes on Brazils equivalent to Home and Away. As a result, his popularity over there continues to grow from strength to strength. Gavin is playing a limited number of dates here this December. He admits he loves doing Irish gigs the most as the crowd "sing all the words and are immediately invested in the gig from the beginning. "It leaves me buzzing for days after, he said. On being asked what it was like to tour with the likes of Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran, Gavin in his most down to earth way, explains that people like Ed are amazing musicians. "Every time I see him I show him 3 tracks Im working on and he will then show me the 20 that he has written since! Its mad how quickly he can come up with a song! Sometimes I think hes not even human! Gavin is also in good company, as One Republics Ryan Tedder has flown him out to Poland for studio sessions in the past. Gavins new album "Only Ticket Home" is available now. Pupils of Scoil Eoin Balloonagh pictured on Tuesday morning in costume ahead of their Christmas concerts which are taking place all this week Pupils of Scoil Eoin Balloonagh who took part in the schools Christmas Concert: The Wizard of Oz. Pictured are Ben Litchfield (Lion), Molly Casey (Dorothy), Sam Gleasure (Tin Man) and Julie Griffin (Scarecrow) The excitement (and tension) was palpable in a number of Tralee schools this past week as teachers and pupils put the final touches on their Christmas concerts. Scoil Eoin Balloonagh was a prime example of the festive season getting into full swing as they prepared to host a whole host of differently themed plays. From The Wizard of Oz to Robin Hood right down to the Lion King, there were a host of beloved tales being re-told by the talented school pupils. Almost every pupil from all age groups and classes have been kept busy all this week performing for their classmates and proud parents. Kilflynn man John OMahony holds up a letter that is believed to have been penned from a French village near the front lines during the First World War by a Fr Jeremiah Galvan. The letter was found in the building that is now OMahonys butchers in Listowel a number of years ago and is dated August 11, 1918. It is written to Jeremiahs father. Photo by Fergus Dennehy A typed letter, understood to have been written by a Duagh priest who was stationed as a chaplain near the front lines of the First World War in France, has resurfaced in the past few weeks. The letter was first discovered a number of years ago by Kilflynn man John O'Mahony and his brother when they purchased the building that is now O'Mahony's butchers. An amateur student of history, John decided to hold on to the letter for the last few years and was only reminded of the letter's historical significance during the recent 100-year Armistice commemorations. The letter, which is in a slightly tattered condition and is paper thin, is dated August 11, 1918, and is written by a Fr Jeremiah Galvan and directed to his father living in Duagh at the time. In what is a fascinating first-hand insight into the conditions and day-to-day life at the time, Fr Galvan writes of the difficulty of receiving letters from home; giving communions and confessions to soldiers before they headed off to fight; how the American soldiers could not stand the smell of the dung heaps and so spent a lot of time indoors; and, of course, the weather. In an interesting political note, Fr Galvan comments on how "England has certainly bungled things in Ireland while Irish brains and genius in America are doing so much to win this war," while he laments the fact that it was now too late for Padraig Pearse to send a volunteer army over to help fight. "It's his own first-hand perspective of the war effort. It's a very interesting story; I mean, how many surviving letters do you find from WWI? It's rare enough. The fact that he had access to a typewriter, too, he was obviously at the higher end of his payroll," John laughed, speaking to The Kerryman last week. "It's lovely. I think that it's a bit touching that he's writing home and asking his mother to have four pairs of woollen socks ready for him and that he'll send on some pocket money as well. "I take it out every few months and read it. I've no clue at all if he made it home from the War at all, and I haven't taken it to any historian yet either. It would be interesting to find out whether he did in fact make it home or not. He was alive in August 1918, so you would hope that he did make it to the end," he added. John is appealing to any local historians out there that might know any more of Father Jeremiah Galvan; his time in the war; and his fate to contact fdennehy@kerryman.ie to piece together more of the story. View from the front line "My Dear Father, "I am wondering if any of my mail has reached home as I have not received a letter from you yet. Very seldom we get letters owing to the difficulty of transportation. I like this place fine and have much amusement speaking French. The people are treating us very well though they haven't much. "The village is about as big as Duagh, where I am billeted. The most plentiful commodity here is dung heaps. All evening, the cows promenade on the village street, and our American boys can't stand the smell so they stay indoors a great deal. Our regiment occupies many villages, so I go around a lot during the week. "Yesterday, I heard confessions in three villages and said two Masses this morning. I was tired when I got through, but I have all afternoon to rest today. We don't know when our boys will be called into action, so they are getting ready by going to Confession and Communion regularly. "The weather is grand here now, and the farmers have all the grain crops harvested. Women do most of the work in the fields as the men are all at the front. They are rejoicing over the good news from the front in the past few weeks and feel very grateful to the Americans for the part they played. The Germans got a big surprise and it may bring them to their senses at last. Well, I won't say any more on this subject for fear of breaking the censorship rules. "I hope you had a good harvest and good crops. Did the conscription go into force yet in Ireland? England has certainly bungled things in Ireland while Irish brains and genius in America are doing so much to win this War. "It is too bad that Ireland can't send a volunteer army of its own to help France and Belgium because of the good feelings it would produce. If Pearse had led his volunteer army to France to fight there instead of in Dublin, more good might have come of it. But it is too late now. "I suppose Maggie is home on vacation at present. I am hoping that I will reach home before she leaves, and if not I will call to see her in England on my way. I can't definitely say when the leave of absence will be granted, though I have an idea. But I assure you I will go as soon as ever it is is possible. I want mother to have four pairs of good, woolen socks ready for me to take with me on my return. "I am enclosing a small amount for pocket money for mother and rest at home. I hope it reaches you all right. I will conclude for the present reassuring you that I am perfectly well and hoping you are all likewise. "Best wishes and love from your affectionate son, Jeremiah Galvan." Mastergeehy's post office has received a major lifeline with news that An Post will advertise a contract that would keep a postal service in the area, where it was set for closure in 2019. The post office was one of more that 150 set for closure as part of the Irish postal service's restructuring plans running into early 2019. The locality had rallied against the decision however, its opposition never more evident than when 140 people attended a public meeting organised by a working group, which included Fianna Fail Councillor Norma Moriarty, in Ionad na Dromada last month. Submissions were made by the working group and locals on foot of this meeting. The original An Post decision would have left Ballinskelligs, around 15 miles away, as the nearest Gaeltacht post office to Mastergeehy, which also has Gaeltacht status. And it would seem this point was crucial to turning the tide in the locality's favour. "Particularly in light of the fact that we were proposing to transfer work from a Gaeltacht Post Office to a Post Office in a non Gaeltacht area, the Company has decided that it will now advertise the vacant Post Office contract for Mastergeehy," An Post Retail Operations Director Gerry Whelan said in a letter shared by Deputies Danny and Michael Healy-Rae. "Mastergeehy Post Office will accordingly remain open provided that a suitable Candidate offering a suitable premises is forthcoming". Working-group member Caitlin Breathnach told The Kerryman that management at the "Inny Tavern said they'd be happy to accommodate the service, and they've done so many times since. "Forbairt na Dromoda have said the same. We're delighted with this, but we must thank our political representatives and the likes of yourselves [The Kerryman] for publicising it. "The local community can be very proud of themselves," Councillor Moriarty told The Kerryman. "I'd also like to thank Patricia and the O'Neill family for their years of service to the post office." The HSE has said that the case of a University Hospital Kerry patient - whose diagnosis was allegedly delayed significantly - is not connected to the recent scan crisis at the hospital and that a separate investigation into the case is now underway. It is understood that the patient has passed away and the family has now raised concerns about the patient's initial diagnosis. The patient's case was raised with the HSE by Sinn Fein Cllr Toireasa Ferris. When she raised the matter Cllr Ferris was of the understanding that alleged delays or mistakes involved in the patient's diagnosis were linked to the misreading of scans by the locum radiologist whose work was the subject of the major review that concluded with the publication of a report last week. On Tuesday - on foot of enquiries from The Kerryman - Heneghan PR (the Dublin based firm that handles public relations for the HSE's South/South West Hospital Group S/SWHG of which UHK forms part) said that the patient's case was not linked to the UHK scan crisis. A Heneghan PR spokesperson said that there were "no radiological discrepancies in the case" and that the S/SWHG has now engaged with the family involved to address their concerns. Cllr Ferris said that the development was "very worrying as it appears there is another investigation underway at UHK". Since the matter was raised by Cllr Ferris the HSE has subsequently confirmed to The Kerryman that an investigation into the patient's diagnosis is underway and that the family will be kept regularly updated as the enquiry progresses. "The hospital has clarified the concerns of the family. The hospital will investigate and address the concerns raised and will continue to engage with and respond to the family," said the spokesperson. Consent in writing or by email will be required if you seek representation from your local councillor. Local councillors are being advised to implement General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines when dealing with constituents. Councillors are currently being drilled on the new guidelines at Kerry County Council (KCC), as the custom of casually asking a local politician to make representation on your behalf becomes a thing of the past. The training will bring councillors up to speed on new ways of working on behalf of constituents, which means that all future, off-the-cuff queries made to local councillors and TDs about planning must be made via an official letter or email. In a nutshell: GDPR means that if you meet a councillor on the street and ask them about your planning application, the councillor is obliged to ask that you sign a piece of paper stating that you have given them permission to inspect your file in an official capacity. Once the politician has inspected the application, Kerry County Council will then write to both the applicant and politician verifying that an inspection has taken place. Keeping the personal phone number of a constituent is also about to get trickier. For example, if a constituent calls a councillor asking them to carry out a request on their behalf then, by law, the councillor should review and delete that person's phone number once the job is complete. Councillors are encouraged to keep personal data secure and only use an official email address to respond with constituents. Even though some councillors are said to be in favour of the GDPR measures and have requested training, it is likely to cause frustration for people when they realise a 'one to one' chat about a right of way or a new road is no longer within the parameters of proper practice. Older constituents could also find it hard to get used to a more formal way of communicating with their politicians. The days of randomly writing to successful applicants and congratulating them on having secured planning is also forbidden under the guidelines. It's all part of the EU-led directive that came into force in May 2018 that will provide for higher standards of data protection for individuals. Moreover, there is an obligation on organisations like KCC, who process personal data, to ensure the data protection rules are adhered to. The legal basis and legitimate interest for processing personal data at KCC is included in all Planning and Development Acts, Regulations and Departmental Circulars, and Sanitary Services Acts. The new Corcorans Cross Roundabout which is now open to traffic, offering drivers a first glimpse of the new New Ross bypass People are enjoying a serious driving experience upgrade on the Enniscorthy road following the opening of sections of the New Ross bypass. The Corcoran's Roundabout road some five miles along the N30 from New Ross opened to traffic, showing the progress made by BAM Iridium workers on the motorway with all road works due to be completed early next year. Work is continuing on the Mount Elliott roundabout, leading to up to ten minute delays at either side of the New Ross ring road, but according to Director of Services for Roads Eamonn Hore the inconvenience will be worth the wait. Mr Hore said: 'It's exciting times in New Ross. The N30 is going to be downgraded to a regional road and the new N30 will head for the new junction at Ballymacar.' Addressing concerns raised on social media that Mount Elliott and not New Ross is mentioned on the signposts at Corcoran's Cross roundabout, Mr Hore said New Ross is mentioned but the part of the sign is blacked over to avoid driver confusion until the new road into the town opens. 'New Ross is signposted 54 times along the bypass. With the new motorway it will be quicker and safer to get into New Ross. The main road into New Ross hasn't been completed yet. New Ross is blacked out for the moment but signs for the town are on every approach and at all the junctions and roundabouts. New Ross is signposted 54 times. Mount Elliott was picked as the roundabout is there and all bypasses have local recognition destinations and it also happens to be the townland. People will become used to it just as they've become used to other roundabout names like Corcoran's Cross, Oaklands and Glenmore. The logic of Mount Elliott on the signposts is perfectly reasonable and sensible.' Mr Hore said tourist attractions across the district are signposted numerous times also. Welcoming the opening of sections of the bypass, including along the Old Ross road from where the motorway is visible from a height, Mr Hore said the days of drivers having to endure 40 to 50 minute waits queueing in traffic on the way into or out of the town will be over. '40 to 50 minute delays wouldn't have been unusual in New Ross. From Corcoran's Cross to Glenmore it's 14kms, so there will be savings of around half an hour at peak times. This is a great news story. People maybe worried about what the bypass does to a town like New Ross but it will be a much nicer place to live in with no heavy goods vehicles passing along the main thoroughfare of the quay.' The large vehicles will be banned from passing through the town, just as they are in Waterford City. 'Presently hundreds of vehicles a day pass through New Ross making their way to Dublin or Cork. Once the road becomes a regional road it automatically goes from 100 km/h to 80 km/h which makes it a safer road. The Oaklands roundabout will provide a lovely entrance point into the town and that junction is much safer now. The roundabout at Mount Elliott (also known as Mannion's roundabout) will be completed in February also.' It remains unclear if most of the 14km dual carriageway will open early next year, ahead of the completion of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge. 'People will accept and appreciate the scale of the bridge build. It's a marvellous feat of engineering which looks like it's being built in mid-air.' As part of the ongoing roadworks on the bypass, traffic management operations will be taking place on the N25 at Ballymacar until Wednesday, with a Stop/Go system in place until 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Drivers are advised that the enforceable speed limit in this area is reduced to 60 km/h but a cautionary speed of 35km/h is advised. A Wexford County Council spokesperson said: 'We ask that motorists take care when entering the roadworks and we would like to thank motorists for their patience during this time. These works are weather dependant and as such the completion date and working hours may be subject to change.' Two years in the making and lots of hard work by the students, parents and teachers of Good Counsel College, culminated in a very special PDST Wellread Awards ceremony in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Good Counsel College became one of a small number of schools in the south-east, and indeed the country, to be recognised as a Wellread school and was a proud recipient of 'A Wellread School Award'. The award recognises schools that actively work to promote a love of books throughout the whole school community and commit to support a culture where reading is valued and flourishes. A large Wellread team - including students, parents and teachers from across subject departments - came together to steer the initiative. 'Reading leads to learning', Sheila McAuliffe, chair of the Parents' Council said. 'A huge amount of important work and activities took place over the last two years and our commitment to that is ongoing. The Parents' Council are happy to support the boys in this kind of action, and we are delighted to be part of a celebration like this'. Student Eddie Prendergast said: 'It was a great day out and good to get the award. I like reading different kinds of texts and seeing the way language and words can affect the way I think about things'. One of the college's teachers, Margaret Cushen, said the whole community got involved. 'It's great to see how everyone, - the students, parents, teachers, library, bookshops. embraced the PDST project, but it is even more satisfying to have the lads asking me could they borrow books, especially a lot of the new titles that we had sourced.' The school community involved themselves in a variety of initiatives to awaken the reader in even the most reluctant. These included a well-tested 'Drop Everything and Read' and 'One Book, One School' initiative. The whole school community read the same international best-seller, 'Touching the Void' by Joe Simpson, and shared their experience of reading it in a super-sized book club. The author was so impressed that he contacted the school with words of encouragement, saying: 'I cannot stress enough how vital reading is for your work life, your social interactions, but above all for the expansion of your mind and the delight of your soul. Reading for pleasure teaches you so much without you even realizing it'. The students also tried 'book-tasting' where a cafe style atmosphere was staged and they sampled ('tasted') new titles. Writers visited the school such as Wexford's finest - namely, Billy Roche, Tina Callaghan, Caroline Busher, GAA star Brendan Cummins, Augustinian poet Padraig Daly and past pupil Edward Hayden. Spelling Bee and Countdown competitions became annual events. 'The lads were also only too willing to participate in 'Book dating' with the students in St. Mary's where they met and discussed titles read and recommended good reads to each other. Teachers in the school shared what they loved to read with each other and with students.' New Ross Library reported that 188 new Young Adult members joined the library during the month of Good Counsel College's library membership drive. The average membership had previously been 22-32 per month. The Ken Hennelly Creative Writing competition was introduced into school tradition, in memory of the beloved past teacher of Good Counsel College and husband to Mary. Mary generously gifted the school with a perpetual trophy for the competition. Speaking about the importance of encouraging reading, teacher Aoife Kinsella said: 'Good reading habits are essential to learning. Reading for pleasure in a technology driven busy world, really getting involved in a story, is something all our students deserve to experience. It has a positive impact on students' wellbeing and everyone enjoys some time out. Why not with a good book?' Principal Mark O'Brien said: 'The entire Wellread team are to be commended for their vision, drive, and passion for the promotion of reading and literacy in the college community. Their work has led to a recognition amongst our young men that when we learn to read we can read for learning, pleasure and relaxation. Afterall, as Stephen King has often said "books are a unique, portable magic".' "Mr. Goolsbee comes into a board responsible for students and their schools being starved of resources for the last eight years by the man who appointed him, CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement. Those same neighborhoods continue to struggle from the consequences of a foreclosure crisis that the administration he served in Washington failed to address. We can and we must do better. A drink-driver who smashed into a couple driving along at The Leap, Clonroche, on September 20 of this year, has been spared being stuck in jail for Christmas after the injured party told the court he had no wish for him to be incarcerated. Thomas Murray (58) of Charlesfort House, Tombrack, Enniscorthy, pleaded guilty to drink driving, returning a reading of 76mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, and dangerous driving following the horrifying smash. Injured party, Mr Padraig Ryan from New Ross, was called to give an impact statement to the court and was evidently still carrying the scars of the event, taking some time to enter the witness box on crutches. Mr Ryan said that the incident had had a bad effect on both he and his wife, who was his passenger on the day in question, from both a physical and mental point of view. He said that on the day in question, the car being driven by Murray appeared in front of him on the wrong side of the road. Mr Ryan said he swerved and aimed for the ditch, but the other vehicle did the same and he again attempted to swerve back out to the road, but it was too late and the cars collided head-on. We were driven twenty yards backwards, he said. I didnt think wed survive it. My wife was unconscious and the car was filling with smoke and steam. We were trapped. I managed to crack the door open and shout for help. Mr Ryan told the court how the horrifying ordeal had been prolonged as they were trapped in the car from when the incident occurred at 8.30 p.m. to 10.40 p.m. The emergency services were quick on the scene, he said. My wife was slipping in and out of consciousness and we had no idea just how bad things would be. We spent five to six days in Wexford General afterwards and were still suffering physically, financially and mentally. Its only down to our children and our wonderful family that weve come through this as well as we have. Mr Ryan outlined how both he and his wife suffered several broken bones. He himself suffered a broken shoulder and several broken bones in his feet. He was unable to get around until someone donated him the use of an electric wheelchair for the first couple of weeks. Solicitor Conal Boyce said that his client wished to apologise profusely for the damage cause and pointed out that his client had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty in a bid to avoid any further undue stress on the injured party caused by giving evidence and being cross-examined. Judge Gerard Haughton told the court he would take time over lunch to consider an appropriate penalty. When he returned, Judge Haughton said: Mr Ryan and his wife sustained very serious injuries and it mustve been extremely traumatic for them to be trapped in the car for over two hours. Mr Murray is definitely lucky not to be facing a charge of dangerous driving causing serious injury. This is a very serious case of dangerous driving and drink driving. Judge Haughton then opted to hand Murray a four month prison sentence on each of the two charges and ban him from driving for six years. At this point, defence solicitor Mr Boyce said that the injured party had met with his client before the case resumed, giving him the chance to apologise profusely in person. He said that Mr Ryan had graciously said that he didnt feel his situation would be in any way enhanced by the loss of Mr Murrays liberty. Mr Boyce, therefore asked Judge Haughton to consider suspending the sentence, pointing out that his client had no previous convictions and was unlikely to come before the court again. I appreciate you not raising this issue until I had made my decision, the Judge said. Under the circumstances, I will somewhat reluctantly suspend the sentence on the condition that he enter a bond to keep the peace for two years. He can thank the injured party for that. At this point, Judge Haughton realised that Mr Ryan was still in court. Theres nothing to be gained from it, he told the Judge when asked if this was how he felt. Judge Haughton complimented Mr Ryan on his merciful attitude and told him that were it not for his words, Murray would most certainly be looking at a custodial sentence. He wished Mr Ryan and his wife all the very best in their recovery. The original 'I Will Always Love You' was written and recorded by Dolly Parton as a country song for her fourteenth solo album 'Jolene', released in 1974. She wrote the song to express the remorse she felt over her professional break-up with Porter Wagoner after seven years working on his TV series and road show. It reached No 1 in the US Hot Country Songs chart and hit the top of the same chart when rerecorded and rereleased in 1982 for the soundtrack of the movie 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'. In 1992 Whitney Houston recorded her version of 'I Will Always Love You' for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard, her movie debut, on the suggestion of co-star Kevin Costner who had played her Linda Ronstadt's 1975 cover version as a template. It was a worldwide smash, spending 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US (making it the longest running number one single from a soundtrack), and ten weeks at No 1 in the UK, setting a record for the longest run at the top by a solo female artist. After Whitney Houston's death in 2012, 'I Will Always Love You' returned to the charts, reaching No 3 in the US, No 10 in the UK, and number 13 in Ireland. 1 I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston 2 Heal The World Michael Jackson 3 Would I Lie To You Charles and Eddie 4 Slam Jam WWF Superstars 5 Temptation (Brothers In Rhythm Remix) Heaven 17 6 Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda) Rod Stewart 7 I Still Believe In You Cliff Richard 8 Out of Space/Ruff In The Jungle Bizness The Prodigy 9 Could It Be Magic Take That 10 Deeper and Deeper Madonna The 2018 Made in Sligo Christmas Pop-up Shop was officially opened on 6th December at their new location 8, John Street in the heart of Sligo Town. Head of Regional Development of the Western Development Commission (WDC) Ian Brannigan launched the 2018 Pop-up Shop. As the people of Sligo demonstrated a huge appetite for buying local hand crafted gifts last Christmas, the Pop-up has returned as Sligo ups its drive to maximise support for local goods and services in the busiest shopping period of the year. "I was delighted to launch this unique Sligo Christmas Shop, where each and every item is hand made locally" said Ian Brannigan of WDC "and as Head of Regional Development it is great to connect with talented members of Made in Sligo who play a key role in promoting Sligo. "With the Pop-up Shop customers are guaranteed to meet a maker each time they pop in which is a wonderful engaging experience for visitors." The six Made in Sligo members who will be selling their handcrafted work in the shop are Matt Jones Woodturner Artist, Rachel Quinn Ceramics, Alison Hunter Artist, Tom Callery Ceramics, Of Wood and Willow and Breeogue Pottery. Made in Sligo, which started up in 2010, brings together all that is excellent in Sligo craft, creativity and design under one brand, and acts as a flagship for craft producers in Co. Sligo. The group expanded in 2018 to include new makers and they are currently developing a new website. "Everyone agrees, given the recent economic challenges, it's more important than ever to support local businesses, particularly smaller local enterprises" said Matt Jones, Chairperson of Made in Sligo. "Our jointly run store in John Street will make it easier for shoppers to buy local as we bring together a wide range of gift ideas, made by a variety of craft workers, under one roof. We were so enthused by reactions from shoppers last year that we decided to do it all again for Christmas 2018. People absolutely loved buying a special hand crafted gift while at the same time enjoying the feeling that they were playing an authentic role in helping to sustain jobs in Co. Sligo." In the first nine months of 2018, 4.8 million was spent on agency staff at Sligo University Hospital, a figure which is projected to hit over 6 million by the end of the year. Sinn Fein General Election candidate Councillor Chris MacManus has accused the government and the HSE of wasting huge sums of public money on the use of temporary agency staff at the hospital because they cannot resolve the recruitment and retention crisis. Councillor MacManus said: "Figures released by the HSE to my colleague, Deputy Louise O'Reilly have shown that so far this year the HSE has spent over 4.8 million in Sligo University Hospital on costly agency and locum doctors, nurses, and other staff in order to fill posts left vacant due to the recruitment and retention crisis. "Contrast that to 2012, when at the height of the austerity crisis, less than a million euros was spent on similar needs. "The overreliance on the use of costly and more expensive agency staff is a direct result of the recruitment and retention crisis and has escalated under this government with the total amount spent on agency staff in hospitals across the state has doubled since 2011. "Over 114 million has been spent by the HSE in agency staff so far this year. "This is a huge amount of money and it is not being spent effectively because temporary agency staff are way more expensive than directly employed staff. "Further, the nursing crisis which the government refuse to address is having a huge impact in our hospitals and it is no different here in Sligo. "To overcome the crisis SUH is forced to fill vacant posts with temporary, costly agency staff - this year alone nearly half a million euros has been spent on agency nurses. "However, the reason hospitals have to rely on this staffing mechanism to fill vacant posts is because the HSE and the government have failed to address the recruitment and retention crisis. "Health service staff and their unions have consistently reported working conditions, facilities, supports, training opportunities and pay as the cause of the recruitment and retention crisis, and until these issues are addressed the crisis will continue and these staggering sums of money will be spent on agency staff at Sligo University Hospital and across the State," said Cllr MacManus. Sligo students Emmett Harrison and Evan Willis were among the 125 students awarded a 2018 All Ireland Scholarship last weekend, granting them full academic financial support for the duration of their third level studies by sponsor, JP McManus. Harrison, from Summerhill College, and Willis, from Coola Post Primary, were among the winners commended for their achievements at a ceremony in University of Limerick by guest of honour, Limerick Senior Hurling Manager John Kiely. Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD and the Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, Noel Lavery presented the scholarship certificates to the students. Established in 2008, the scholarships are valued at 6,750 per annum in the Republic of Ireland and 5,500 in Northern Ireland and continue for the duration of the undergraduate programme chosen by each scholarship winner. Congratulating this year's recipients, Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor said; "The 125 recipients of the All Ireland Scholarship deserve our heartiest congratulations. They are a credit to themselves, their school, their teachers and of course, their families. Their path to success through third level has been made smoother and they can face the challenges that await them with confidence." The educational scheme is awarded to a minimum of two high-achieving students from each of the 32 counties. This year, 50% of scholarship recipients in the Republic of Ireland scored 600 points or over in the Leaving Certificate. Mr. McManus said: "To our successful scholars I offer heartiest congratulations. Their hard work and commitment has been rewarded and they will no doubt build on their success and continue to strive for excellence." The murder trial of Keith Brady has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court due to the content of a Prime Time programme on RTE, which the judge said was likely to have influenced the deliberating jury. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart criticised what she described as a parallel justice system in the court of public opinion which operated without any regard to the courts at trial. She was responding to a defence application to discharge the jury following a 10-day trial due to a segment on the programme, which the barrister said rubbished the defence of provocation on which he (Brady) was partially relying. The jury began deliberating last Tuesday on whether Brady, who stabbed musician Martin Kivlehan on either side of his neck, was guilty of murder or manslaughter. Brady of Cartron Estate was on trial, charged with murdering Martin Matt Kivlehan between 2nd August and 3rd August 2015 in Mr Kivlehans home. The 31-year-old had pleaded not guilty to murdering the 59-year-old, but admitted to his manslaughter at The New Apartments on Holborn Street. His barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, had submitted that Brady satisfied the defence of provocation because he had perceived that the deceased was touching his sister, Janice Brady who had also been in the apartment. The judge had explained that provocation could reduce murder to manslaughter. The eight men and four women of the jury had spent just under two hours considering their verdict before suspending deliberations on Tuesday night. This trial was a retrial so this was the second jury to consider the case and it was due to resume deliberations on Wednesday morning. However, before the jury was brought into court, Mr Grehan raised a segment from the previous nights Prime Time programme with the judge. He explained that, following a report on the recent Kerry murder trial, there was a general discussion about the law of provocation between the presenter and a well-known senior counsel, lecturer, author and media commentator. The defence team then played the segment for the court on the RTE Player. Im not saying there can never be media, academic or legal discussion in relation to a defence or its merits, said Mr Grehan. But we are, in this trial, at a particularly sensitive time where a jury is deliberating. He said that the criticism of the defence of provocation and of the subjective test used in the defence may or may not be valid. However, he said that what the viewer was left with was a suggestion that it was an ancient defence where somebody could make any allegation against the deceased who cant rebut it and, in particular, an unwanted sexual advance. He said that this unfortunately mirrored the facts of this particular case. He said that provocation had been described as defence-friendly and ridiculous by reference to two of the most well-known supreme court judges in the country. It effectively suggests that the courts here are soft on the defence and rubbishes the defence of provocation, he said. He also complained about the suggestion, attributed in the piece to the late Justice Adrian Hardiman, that the frailties of this defence could be mitigated by the person raising it having to get into the witness box to explain what they did and be open to cross examination. Mr Grehan said that he couldnt find this comment in any of Mr Justice Hardimans judgements. If it was, he said, prosecutors would be raising that as an objection to the well-known rule that no inference could be drawn against an accused from his or her not giving evidence. He said that his client had seen the programme last night and was concerned by this very point. It leaves the jury in the situation where theyve heard directions from you but now may have been exposed to the view that judges of the Supreme Court dont agree with the law in respect of this matter, he said. The application Im bound to make is one to have the jury discharged as theres a real risk and danger that contamination may have taken place. Going by the Prime Time ratings from last year, he said that three of the 12 jurors could potentially have seen the programme and have been influenced. Paul Murray SC, prosecuting, said he could not think of any case either where Mr Justice Hardiman had expressed the view about the accused getting into the witness box. However, he said that he was not too sure that it was absolutely and necessarily fatal to the case. Both barristers agreed that, if none of the jury had seen it, that could be the end of the matter so long as the piece would be taken down off the internet. The judge then called the jury in to ask if any members had watched the segment dealing with provocation. Five hands went up. Given that five of you watched it, did any of you discuss it this morning? she asked. Yes, yes, yes, replied the foreman. The jury was asked to retire again and the prosecution took instructions. Mr Murray then told the judge that, while he was not in a position to accede to Mr Grehans application, he was not going to argue anything further. He also said that he did not know whether any enquiry was made by the national broadcaster as to whether any relevant trials were ongoing. Ms Justice Stewart said that it was with great regret, but that she was left with no option but to discharge the jury. Five viewed it, she said. To compound the matter further, it was discussed among the jury. She said that it had been brought up and discussed because people, who viewed it, thought it was relevant. Theres a likelihood they could have been influenced by the programme, she said. Mr Brady is entitled to a trial in accordance with law. The defence of provocation is the law of this land as it stands. She said that, if the law is to be changed in future, it is for other authorities. She then said that some sort of parallel justice system in the court of public opinion was effectively gathering force in this country without any regard to the courts at trial. You have to sit through a criminal trial from beginning to end to get the full picture, she said. In this day of instant communications and instant response, this parallel running commentary ongoing in both media and on other public platforms and social media comment is quite concerning. She noted that another Central Criminal Court trial had collapsed over the past fortnight due to such coverage. She said that perhaps there would need to be a return to courts sitting late at night and juries being sequestered to a hotel until there was a verdict. It may well mean that we have to return to that, if this type of running commentary continues where trials are ongoing, she suggested. She extended her sympathies to Mr Kivlehans family, who had been present throughout the trial. She said that this compounded the grief and distress that the family had been under. I cannot find the words to express to the Kivlehan family how appalling this is. I hope you understand, she said. I really can truly assure you that this is not the outcome that anyone in this courtroom wanted. This is a tragedy, but maybe eventually someone will take note and take care before they issue wanton utterances on issues of sensitivity. She then called the jury back to court. Its with great regret I advise you that Im going to discharge you from any other duties in this trial, she said, explaining that she had watched the segment concerned. The content together with the fact that five of you viewed it, she said, adding that this was not a criticism of the jurors. The content was such that it would be unsafe to proceed further with this matter. She told all 12 that they were free to go. Brady was then remanded to December 17th, when a date will be set for his third trial. The future for deaf people in the Sligo, Leitrim and West Cavan areas is 'very bleak' because of the possible relocation of deaf services to Letterkenny. According to Catherine Carroll, a woman who is deaf and is a service user at Sligo's DeafHear service, formally known as Chime, the possible relocation means the further isolation of deaf people. Catherine spoke to The Sligo Champion in reply to a recent article carried, which outlined uncertainty of the current service remaining in the town. A spokesperson for DeafHear (Chime) said that due to a gap in funding the organisation was currently in negotiations with the HSE who fund the service, in relation to a possible relocation. Ms Carroll has said she does not believe the organisation is being honest with service users and said people need to protest. "It's not honest, we need Mark [Byrne, CEO DeafHear] to come and have a meeting with everyone and explain. We need someone face-to-face and get answers," said Catherine, who believes a move will lead to further isolation for people. "One of the biggest issues for people is mental health, they're isolated. You can't imagine if services are moved. I don't know if it's true if the office is changing or moving, but how can deaf people communicate if they come to a service and need advice." Ms Carroll stressed the need for deaf people to have communication and access to services. "They live in fear, they live alone, with sometimes no communication for a long time. It's very important to have communication." Catherine said it wasn't possible for people who need advice with writing CVs, letters explained to them or other advice, to go to Letterkenny for this. When asked if she believed that a two day service in Sligo would impact service users, Catherine said 'of course'. "There must be equal access Monday to Friday not cut or not a lesser kind of service. Letterkenny have a five-day service while we have a two-day service currently. Are people going to be let go here?" Ms Carroll said it was 'very upsetting' that the service may be moved. "I have three deaf brothers and I know loads of deaf people. Why would the service be moving to Donegal, it makes no sense to me. Some deaf people are shocked, but the thing is they're not clear about what's going on and why it could be moved." She added, "A lot of people face isolation, and they come to the office for some communication, help, sending emails, get information translated and more. There's no other supports here." The sign language teacher said she did not want to see deaf people left out and highlighted that Sligo has a better transport service than Donegal and therefore if services were to be moved it should be the other way around. Along with this, Ms Carroll was critical of a third DeafHear centre being opened in Dublin while other centres are being closed or amalgamated. "There's two centres in Dublin and a new one opening, they have the Luas, the trains, bus service, but in Sligo we haven't got that level of transport but yet they're opening a new office in Dublin. I thought they could open one office in that area, but closing one down here. More resources up there and less down here, it doesn't make any sense." Highlighting the importance of the service, Ms Carroll said it wasn't just advice that people could avail of, but also purchasing bells and vibrating alert systems among others. Asked what she would say to DeafHear spokespeople who maintain that services would be improved if moved to Letterkenny, Ms Carroll said: "I would completely object that claim. "I have a right to ask how many people are coming to this service and I'm sure they [DeafHear staff] have a diary that's very busy with deaf people coming in to the offices here. If it moved to Letterkenny you'd be forcing people to move to Letterkenny, it's impossible to do it." Ms Carroll believes that the uncertainty is hindering users from accessing the current service. "I feel we're being left behind and I feel there's an awful lot happening behind our backs that we're not being made aware of. You've to really try and push people to get them engaged and when they don't know what's going on and it's confusing, it's just puts them off." Referring to the newspaper article where it was indicated by a DeafHear spokesperson that the organisation was in discussion with the HSE, Ms Carroll said she felt the orgranisation was 'twisting the point'. "It's not as if the HSE can be dictated to by DeafHear. I think you should sit everybody down and sit with all the deaf people have an open public forum with Mark there and people responsible there for managing the situation." Catherine said: "We've no idea what is going on. We don't know how the funding is worked, how the system works. I think any funding allocated to Sligo should be coming to a centre based here in Sligo." She believes that the ongoing uncertainty has broken the trust of deaf people in the DeafHear service "My huge fear in the future is isolated people will lose their communication skills and lose access to help. I'm really worried about the future. It's almost black, the future, very bleak future." In a response to this paper regarding the current status of the Sligo service the HSE stated, "The Physical and Sensory Disability Service, Sligo/Leitrim are currently in negotiations regarding future provision and funding of DeafHear Services in the Sligo/Leitrim area. To date negotiations have not yet been finalised. Deafhear have not as yet formally notified local HSE of the change of Deaf Hear service name to "Chime"." The trial of a lorry driver who pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a council worker has heard that it was 'most likely' he fell asleep at the wheel. Evidence was heard that Vlastimil Zachar had an undiagnosed sleep condition at the time and has since been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea since the accident on 13 August 2015. The lorry Zachar was driving veered into the hard shoulder at Ballyhealy townland, Hollybrook, Castlebaldwin killing council worker Padraig Noone who was with colleagues cutting garss along the verge of the N4. Called by the defence, Dr John Garvey, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Clinical Director of Sleep Laboratory at St. Vincent's University Hospital told the court last Tuesday that people driving with the condition had an increased risk of road traffic accidents. The possibility of an accident for a person with the condition was 2 fold up to 8 fold, according to Dr Garvey. "Accidents when they occur tend to be more severe with an increased risk of injury to other people. "There are often no brake marks, and are one car collisions," he explained. The doctor performed a full sleep test on Zachar on 22 March this year. The test was performed overnight with continuous monitoring including videoing, monitoring of eye movement, breathing, heart rate and chest and abdominal movement. Dr Garvey said the test showed the defendant held his breath for 61 times per hour during sleep, for approximately 7 seconds each time. He added that a person with no signs of sleep apnea would hold their breath for five times per hour. The doctor explained that the condition happens during the night when the upper airway collapses or partially collapses. He outlined that if a person has the condition it results in the disruption of the quality of sleep, results in a person sleeping during the day, impact on mood and the ability to drive. Zachar also took part in a sleep latency test, a day time test monitoring how long it takes someone to fall asleep when given the opportunity. If a person falls asleep quickly, in less than 10 minutes, they are considered to be 'significantly sleepy'. The mean time for Zachar to fall asleep was 8.1 minutes and he was viewed as being 'moderately sleepy' during the day. In his evidence the doctor said somebody who is sleepier than they should be is not just at an increased risk of falling asleep, but of 'having micro sleeps'. He added that people can have micro sleeps without warning. Zachar admitted to the doctor that he remembered having micro sleeps previously. Doctor Garvey explained that people who have micro sleeps could experience them for up to 30 seconds and would not be aware of their surroundings. He said the accused did not remember falling asleep on the day of the accident but only remembered waking up and seeing a dead person. It was heard that Zachar is now on CPAP treatment for the disorder, which blows air into Mr Zachar's airways to prevent them from collapsing at night. It was noted by Dr Garvey that since treatment, Zachar feels more refreshed and no longer falls asleep on three hour train journeys. In cross examination it was heard that Zachar had no symptoms of narcolepsy but had 'a number of micro sleep episodes' that occurred while driving long distances on a motorway. However, the following day, last Wednesday 5th December, a prosecution sleep expert didnt rule out the possibility that Zachar fell asleep from overwork. Called by the prosecution, Consultant Respiratory and Sleep Specialist at Beaumont Hospital Professor Richard Costello reviewed the sleep test carried out on Zachar by Dr Garvey last March. Prof. Costello agreed with the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and didnt challenge the conclusions reached by Dr Garvey. He told Ms Orla Crowe SC, prosecuting, that he sought to understand why the study was done and studied the amount of time it took Zachar to fall asleep. I didnt see evidence of narcolepsy, he told the jury of four women and eight men at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court. Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by an extreme tendency to fall asleep whenever in relaxing surroundings. The professor said Zachar slept for five hours 53 minutes during the sleep test at St Vincents, after taking 24 minutes to fall asleep. He said Zachar had a relatively normal sleep profile but the most notable feature was that he stopped breathing many times with 210 respiratory events, one every two minutes. He said this was consistent with OSA. The court heard that there are three symptoms for sleep apnoea: snoring, daytime sleeping and witnessed apnoea. It does not appear that this was commented on by his partner in the past, said Prof. Costello. He said the term micro-sleeps was not a term he used in his practice. He then told the jury that it was entirely possible that he fell asleep due to sleep apnoea but I want to point out that insufficient sleep from excess work is another possibility. The court heard the kernel of the issue was whether Zachar fell asleep on the day from sleep apnoea or insufficient sleep. Prof. Costello said people with undiagnosed OSA become accustomed to being sleepy and just think theyre getting on, or are unfit. Its entirely possible that this man had OSA and wasnt aware of it, he said. Cross-examining him, Ms Eileen OLeary SC for the defence, put it to him that Zachar had a latte at a service station beforehand. She asked if it appeared Zachar had OSA for long but Prof. Costello said he couldnt comment on how quickly he developed the condition. The scene of the fatal crash at Castlebaldwin A 43-year-old driver whose lorry went out of control on the N4 killing a county council worker and injuring two others at Castlebaldwin in 2015 will be sentenced in February after a jury found him guilty of careless driving causing death. The driver was found guilty last Thursday of careless driving causing death following a three week trial before Judge Francis Comerford and a jury of eight men and four women at Sligo Circuit Court Czech national Vlastimil Zachar of Connell Drive, Newbridge, Co. Kildare was first acquitted of dangerous driving causing the death of Council worker Padraig Noone (62) but was found guilty of careless driving by the jury which delivered its verdict at 12.40pm, after just over three and a half hours of deliberations. Zachar's defence team, Ms Eileen O'Leary SC, Mr Pat O'Sullivan BL, instructed by Mr Morgan Coleman solicitor, put forward as a defence Zachar's undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, a sleeping disorder in which a person repeatedly stops breathing in their sleep. Zachar was originally charged and pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing death however the jury were given the option by Judge Frances Comerford of returning the careless driving verdict before he sent them out to begin their deliberations on Wednesday afternoon, 5th December. At 11.33am on Thursday 6th December, the jury returned to court seeking clarification on the charge of careless driving. Just over an hour later they reached a unanimous verdict. Judge Comerford thanked the jury and excused them from jury service for a period of ten years. He adjourned sentencing to February 12th 2019 and remanded Zachar on continuing bail. He ordered a Probation Report be prepared on Zachar and the preparation of Victim Impact Statements from the Noone family, and Damien Davey and Anthony Fehily, the two men injured in the crash. The three week trial heard harrowing evidence of the crash scene at Castlebaldwin on the morning of 13th August 2015, in near perfect weather. Padraig Noone and the two injured men had been involved in a Council hedge cutting operation when an artic truck driven by Zachar veered into the hard shoulder and ploughed into a Council pick-up truck and a JCB, killing the father-of-two instantly and injuring his colleagues. Sleep specialist Dr John Garvey carried out tests on Zachar on behalf of his defence team which diagnosed him as having Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. This was confirmed by prosecution sleep expert Professor Richard Costello but he couldn't say whether Zachar's drowsiness on the day was caused by the sleep apnoea or insufficient sleep due to excess work which was another possibility he said. Ms Orla Crowe SC, Mr Pat Reynolds BL prosecuted Zachar, instructed by State Solicitor for Sligo Ms Elisa McGowan. During the trial the court heard that the speedometer of the lorry before impact read 90kph. The tachograph, a device fitted to a vehicle which records its speed and distance, was damaged due to the crash. What was visible on the device showed that Zachar maintained a speed of 90kph until 11.10am the morning of the crash. Further analysis from the day before showed Zachar was driving for 9 hours 40 minutes. Popular Irish folk duo Foster & Allen will brighten up the January blues as they bring their new Irish tour to the Arklow Bay Hotel on Thursday, January 10. 'Putting on the Style' tour will come to venues all over Ireland this Christmas and New Year. They may be the oldest swingers in town, as the song goes, but Foster & Allen are still topping the charts and packing in the audiences wherever they tour. Earlier this year they played 18 concerts in New Zealand and had an album 'Timeless' in the New Zealand charts at No.5. They have recently returned from a tour of the UK in October/November and their latest album release 'Putting On The Style' was a Top 30 selling album in the UK album charts. Celebrating over 40 years together in the music business they will be performing all their hits, including Bunch Of Thyme, Maggie, After All These Years and Old Flames as well as some of their recent recordings such as Burning Bridges, Galway Girl, We Owe It All To You, A Hug and songs from their new album released in September 2018. Foster & Allen's style and easy listening sound remains as fresh and exciting as ever. They really enjoy the business they are in, especially the live concerts. On Nov. 19, Juan Lopez showed up at Mercy Hospital, where he confronted and murdered his ex-fiancee, ONeal, over their broken engagement. Jimenez was killed while coming to ONeals aid, and Less was taken by a bullet that struck her as she exited a hospital elevator. Lopez was found dead after he was shot in the stomach by police and he shot himself in the head. Lawrence denied she had had a sexual relationship with Weinstein (David Mirzoeff/PA) Jennifer Lawrence, winner of the award for Best Actress for her performance in 'Silver Linings Playbook ' talks ot producer Harvey Weinstein as she attends the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Jennifer Lawrence and Harvey Weinstein attend the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Ketel One and Wells Fargo at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Tachman/Getty Images for GLAAD) Jennifer Lawrence (L) and producer Harvey Weinstein attend the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for GLAAD) Harvey Weinstein bragged about sleeping with Jennifer Lawrence after another actress rejected his advances, a lawsuit alleges. The latest allegation against the film producer emerged in court documents on Friday, with an unnamed woman claiming he forcibly performed oral sex on her. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. According to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, Weinstein pushed the unnamed actress to the ground during a meeting at his office in 2013 before sexually assaulting her. Expand Close Jennifer Lawrence (L) and producer Harvey Weinstein attend the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for GLAAD) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jennifer Lawrence (L) and producer Harvey Weinstein attend the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for GLAAD) When she rejected his advances, Weinstein is alleged to have asked, Do you even want to be an actress?, adding I slept with Jennifer Lawrence and look where she is; she has just won an Oscar. Lawrence issued a statement on Friday denying she had had a sexual relationship with Weinstein. She said: My heart breaks for all the women who were victimised by Harvey Weinstein. I have never had anything but a professional relationship with him. This is yet another example of the predatory tactics and lies that he engaged in to lure countless women. The latest accuser, listed in legal documents as Jane Doe, is suing both Weinstein and The Weinstein Company, the film studio he founded with his brother Bob. She alleges sexual battery and discrimination. A representative for Weinstein said the lawsuit was malicious and that the movie mogul is embarrassed for Lawrence who has sadly been dragged into this ugly attempt at defamation. Video of the Day They said: This lawsuit was filed and updated strategically with no notice given or any attempt to reach out to Mr Weinsteins attorneys for one reason; It was meant to embarrass Mr Weinstein and garner unchecked media attention. There is absolutely no truth to the malicious claims made in this lawsuit, and we are reviewing our options with an eye on filing for an immediate dismissal. Mr Weinstein is embarrassed for Ms Lawrence with whom he has only had a professional and respectful relationship, who has sadly been dragged into this ugly attempt at defamation. This filing further proves that anyone can say whatever they want in a lawsuit for maximum shock value, to defame and debase, without having to offer any facts or reality. It comes after a group of Weinstein accusers attempted to block him from bringing his private emails into the public eye. Weinstein has asked a bankruptcy court in the US state of Delaware to allow him to recover files from The Weinstein Company. He wants to use the emails in his defence against sexual assault charges in New York. But, his accusers from a separate civil case, are trying to block the move due to concerns over confidentiality. They have asked a judge to block him from releasing the material to the media (or any other third party) after alleging Weinsteins lawyers told them he intended to unleash these emails in the media to sway the court of public opinion. Weinsteins civil lawyer, Scott Cousins, accused the women of doing all they can to prevent the truth from coming out. Mr Cousins added: This strategy will not bode well, as they are going behind the bankruptcy courts back which has sole jurisdiction over these emails and the plaintiffs know it. To claim sexual assault and then take such measures to prevent the truth from being heard speaks volumes of their motives. Weinstein is next due in court on December 20. Migrants, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, walk close to the border wall as they attempt to cross from Mexico to the U.S, in Tijuana, Mexico. Photo: Reuters A seven-year-old girl who crossed the US-Mexico border with her father last week died hours after being taken into the custody of the US Border Patrol, federal immigration authorities confirmed. The girl died of dehydration and shock more than eight hours after she was arrested by agents near Lordsburg, New Mexico, the 'Washington Post' reported. The girl was from Guatemala and was travelling with a group of 163 people who approached agents to turn themselves in on December 6. It's unknown what happened to the girl during the eight hours before she started having seizures and was flown to an El Paso hospital. Expand Close Desperate: Migrants attempt to cross from Mexico to the US, in Tijuana, Mexico, yesterday. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Desperate: Migrants attempt to cross from Mexico to the US, in Tijuana, Mexico, yesterday. Photo: Reuters In a statement, Customs and Border Protection said the girl had not eaten or consumed water in several days. The head of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection, will appear in front of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee next week, Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the panel, said on Twitter. Processing 163 immigrants in one night could have posed challenges for the agency, whose detention facilities are meant to be temporary and don't usually fit that many people. When a Border Patrol agent arrests someone, that person gets processed at a facility but usually spends no more than 72 hours in custody before they are either transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement or, if they're Mexican, quickly deported home. The girl's death raises questions about whether border agents knew she was ill and whether she was fed anything or given anything to drink during the eight-plus hours she was in custody. Immigrants, lawyers and activists have long raised issues with the conditions of Border Patrol holding cells. In Tucson, an ongoing lawsuit claims holding cells are filthy, extremely cold and lacking basic necessities such as blankets. A judge overseeing that lawsuit has ordered the agency's Tucson Sector, which patrols much of the Arizona-Mexico border, to provide blankets and mats to sleep on and to continually turn over surveillance footage from inside the cells. The Border Patrol has seen an increasing trend of large groups of immigrants, many with young children, walking up to agents and turning themselves in. Most are Central American and say they are fleeing violence. Agents in Arizona see groups of over 100 people on a regular basis, sometimes including infants. Arresting such groups poses logistical problems for agents who have to wait on transport vans that are equipped with baby seats to take them to processing facilities. The death of the seven-year-old comes after a toddler died in May just after being released from an ICE family detention facility in Texas, and as the administration of Donald Trump attempts to ban people from asking for asylum if they crossed the border illegally. Cynthia Pompa, advocacy manager for the ACLU Border Rights Centre, said migrant deaths increased last year even as the number of border crossing dropped. "This tragedy represents the worst possible outcome when people, including children, are held in inhumane conditions. Lack of accountability, and a culture of cruelty within CBP have exacerbated policies that lead to migrant deaths," Ms Pompa said. Mounted police officers take position during a protest at the Paris Opera House (Michel Euler/AP) Demonstrators wearing yellow vests talk to police officers on the Champs-Elysees in Paris (Kamil Zihnioglu/AP) Thousands of protesters took to the streets of French cities on Saturday in the fifth weekend of nationwide demonstrations against Emmanuel Macron's government, despite calls to hold off after a shooting in Strasbourg earlier this week. In Paris, police were out in force to contain possible outbursts of violence. But several major stores, such as the Galeries Lafayette, were open to welcome Christmas shoppers. On the Champs-Elysees, a handful of topless activists from the feminist protest group Femen faced security forces a few meters away from the Elysee Palace, the president's residence. Expand Close French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed for calm (Ludovic Marin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed for calm (Ludovic Marin/AP) The Interior Minister said around 69,000 police officers were active on Saturday with a reinforced presence in the cities of Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. On Friday, President Macron called for a return to calm in France after nearly a month of protests by the so-called 'yellow vest' movement against his government's policies. The demonstrations have hit growth and caused widespread disruption. "France needs calm, order and a return to normal," Macron said, after a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels. The 'yellow vest' movement started in mid-November with protests at junctions and roundabouts against fuel tax increases, but quickly became a wider mobilisation against Macron's economic policies. Successive weekends of protests in Paris have lead to vandalism and violent clashes with security forces. In a televised address to the nation on Monday, Macron announced wage rises for the poorest workers and tax cuts for pensioners in further concessions meant to end the movement but many said they would maintain pressure. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A protester wearing a yellow vest makes a fire near a makeshift shelter at a roundabout near the Nantes Atlantique Airport as the "yellow vests" movement continues, in Bouguenais, France, December 11, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe A protester wears a yellow vest at a CGT labour union demonstration to protest against the French government's reforms in Paris, France, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes A slogan reading "Don't Give Up" is seen on a yellow vest worn by protester at a roundabout in Somain, France, December 13, 2018. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol A protester wearing a yellow vest stands inside a makeshift shelter at a roundabout near the Nantes Atlantique Airport as the "yellow vests" movement continues, in Bouguenais, France, December 11, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe A man wearing a yellow vest and holding a French flag stands on a bridge near the Nantes Atlantique Airport as the "yellow vests" movement continues, in Bouguenais, France, December 11, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe A yellow vest is seen in a display of a shop at downtown in Cairo, Egypt, December 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany A yellow vest is seen in a display of a shop at downtown in Cairo, Egypt, December 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A protester wearing a yellow vest makes a fire near a makeshift shelter at a roundabout near the Nantes Atlantique Airport as the "yellow vests" movement continues, in Bouguenais, France, December 11, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe The government, as well as several unions and opposition politicians also called on protesters to stay off the streets on Saturday, after four people were killed in a gun attack at a Christmas market in the historic city of Strasbourg. He was charged with felony disorderly conduct and misdemeanor retail theft for taking items in the 200 block of North Michigan Avenue about 20 minutes before he said he was stabbed. It won't be a dramatic exaggeration if we say that 2018 has been a year of weddings! By weddings, we mean full-throttle celebrations of celebrities and popular people in the world. From Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas' royal celebrations in Jodhpur to Kit Harington and Rose Lelie's wedding which was more of a GoT reunion-all these weddings became the talk of every town, more so, because the pictures and videos flooded our Instagram and Twitter timelines. Instagram These weddings went on to win the internet and we played a major role. Why? Because they became viral on the internet and we were the ones to 'google' every detail around these weddings! We finally have a list of top-weddings of 2018 and two we have Indian celebrities too making a cut in the list. Have a look. Agencies 19th May 2018 was an iconic day as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married at Windsor Castle. The pictures were all around the web and looked straight out of a dreamy fairytale. The bride donned a custom Clare Waight Keller by Givenchy dress. Her veil was embroidered with flowers of the Commonwealth. Several videos of emotional moments that happened at the wedding went viral on the internet. The most popular pictures were of Duke and Duchess of Sussex taking a carriage ride around Windsor, followed by their Castles iconic long walk. Agencies The second top googled wedding of 2018 was Priyanka Chopra's. The actress tied the knot with her boyfriend Nick Jonas on December 1. The celebrations were a grand affair at the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. The couple chose both Christian and Hindu ceremonies to solemnize their affair. For the ceremonies, PC wore a custom red lehenga by Sabyasachi, and a Ralph Lauren creation with 2,380,000 mother of pearl sequins. 3. Princess Eugenie Wedding Agencies Princess Eugenie, the daughter of the Queens second son Prince Andrew married Jack Brooksbank on October 12. The wedding took place at the iconic Windsor Castle and the world watched how beautifully the castle was decorated with autumnal flowers for the occasion. The bride donned a Peter Pilotto dress and Queen Elizabeths Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara. 4. Kat Von D Wedding The Knot News It wasn't a usual 'white' wedding as Kat Von D married musician Rafael Reyes (also known as Leafar Seyer) in a different style. The couple opted for a goth wedding and the bride wore red and black. In a first, the interiors of the wedding venue were all about skulls and candles. Spooky! Agencies Come on! We all knew this would make the cut in the list! superstars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh married at Villa del Balbianello, surrounding picturesque views of Lake Como. The wedding became one of 2018's most googled wedding as it went crazy viral on the web and we all know the hashtag, don't we? #DeepVeerWedding. 6. Joe Scarborough and Mika Wedding People We wanted it to be really small and simple and not what you expected from Mika and Joe. We wanted to recognize it more quietly and have the people who are most important to us around us. Mika Brzezinski told Vanity Fair. But The Morning Joe co-hosts exchanged vows on after Thanksgiving, with a small ceremony at the National Archives. It was the sixth most googled wedding of 2018. Instagram Finally, Game of Thrones has a happy wedding. Kit Harington and Rose Leslie, who met on the HBO show set, married at Leslies family castle in Scotland. Guests included co-stars Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams. They married and we wept! Well, yes I remember waking up to the pictures of their wedding flooding my Instagram account and they were so happy that it indeed made me feel a lot of things. Kit Harington and Rose Leslie, who met on the HBO show set, married at Leslies family castle in Scotland. The wedding was attended by their GoT co-stars Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams. Responding to a question by P Karunakaran, CPI MP from Kasargod in Kerala and Tej Pratap Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party from UP's Mainpuri, Minister of State for Finance Pon Radhakrishnan told the Lok Sabha that the government has not assessed the impact and after effect of demonetisation on economy. Read More. Here's More Top News For The Day: 1) Ola Reportedly Flayed In UK For Telling Female Passengers To Book A Cab At Their Own Risk Ola which made a grand launch in the United Kingdom this August wrote UK women are advised to use their own prudence in offering or accepting a ride which has irked the politicians and passengers who question if the onus of any causality completely falls on the woman only? Read More. 2) Scuba Divers, Boats Summoned To Rescue Meghalaya Coal Miners from 320 Ft Deep Mine After local activists in Meghalayas coal-rich East Jaintia Hills district while they were documenting any illegal coal mining activities, the state is now carrying out a vigorous search operation to rescue 13 miners who are trapped inside the rat-hole. Read More. 3) Wild Elephant Chased Away From Karnataka Village Gets Stuck On Railway Track Fence, Dies A railway track fence erected by the Karnataka Forest Department to reduce human-animal conflict turned out to be deadly, after an elephant got stuck on one of the fences died. Read More. 4) Seven Civilians, 3 Militants Killed As Security Forces Target Terrorists' Hideout In Kashmir At least six civilians were killed and over a dozen others were injured after they tried to disrupt a joint anti-militancy operation by the police and army in Sirnoo village of south Kashmirs Pulwama district. Read More. 5) IIT Madras Pulls Down 21st Century 'Untouchability' Posters Of Separate Mess Entry For Veg, Non-Veg Students The Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) has pulled down posters from its students mess about separate entry and wash basins for students based on their food preference.The posters have been removed and the Hostel Affairs Secretary has sent a mail to the students apologizing for the incident. Read More. More than two years have passed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, a move that made almost 85 percent of the total currency notes in circulation invalid, the government has admitted that there was no impact assessment of it. Responding to a question by P Karunakaran, CPI MP from Kasargod in Kerala and Tej Pratap Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party from UP's Mainpuri, Minister of State for Finance Pon Radhakrishnan told the Lok Sabha that the government has not assessed the impact and after effect of demonetisation on economy. BCCL To the question, whether the Government has assessed/studied the impact and after effects of demonetisation on the economy? the minister replied No. He also stated that As per data published in Annual Report 2017-18 of the Reserve Bank of India, the total value of Specified Bank Notes (SBNs) in circulation as on November 8, 2016, post verification and reconciliation, was Rs 15,417.93 billion, and the total value of SBNs returned from circulation was Rs 15,310.73 billion. BCCL In a related news on Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley denied that the Reserve Bank of India, while giving its approval to the decision, had rejected two key justifications of demonetisation, curbing black money and counterfeit notes. We all have enjoyed a good snowspell, a showerspell, but have you ever heard of a cash spell? Yes, commuters driving vehicles on the New Jersey highway were in for a jackpot when an armoured vehicle carrying tonnes of money spilled cash on roads. The Indian Express reported that according to East Rutherford Police, an armoured truck scattered cash all over Route 3 West near Route 17 on Thursday morning. The incident caused a road block when commuters got down from their cars to collect the cash that was strewn all over the place. The police claimed that they had no idea how much money had flown and were now carrying audits to determine the exact amount. No joke.... its SNOWING money! Accident involving a Brink truck on Route 3 in East Rutherford sends cash flying. @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/zASqW6idG1 Nick Amador (@NickAmadorTV) December 13, 2018 Many photos and videos were shared on social media platforms where people can be seen having a good laugh as commuters were busy piling up dollars. Apparently Brink armoured trucks back door malfunctioned and two bags fell out of the vehicle. One bag contained $370,000 while the other had $140,000, USA Today reported. The East Rutherford police said only $11,000 had come back to them. The police department even requested for any videos and photos from which they can ascertain how much money had been lost. Of the $510,000 dropped, Brinks personnel and honest drivers retrieved about $205,000. Five people then handed back an additional $11,000 as of Friday, the report added. Approx 8:30am ERPD received calls of an armored truck spilling cash along Rt 3 West, motorists exited vehicles attempting to remove cash causing multiple MV Crashes. Detectives are investigating. We ask any person with info or video of this incident, call ERPD 201-438-0165 East Rutherford Police (@ERutherfordPD) December 13, 2018 Reportedly, the cops warned that the money belonged to Brinks and anybody who had taken it, can face criminal charges. Brinks is an American security and protection company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The death of a seven year old Guatemalan girl has sparked outrage after the child along with her father were picked up by the U.S border patrol from the U.S-Mexico border. The girl who has been identified as Jackeline Caal had gone days without food and water but the border patrol personnel said that she appeared to be in good health when she was detained. After seven hours, she was put on a bus but soon began vomiting, reported AP. By the end of the two-hour drive she had stopped breathing. The immigration officials said that they had obtained in writing from the father that Jackeline wasnt sick, wasnt sweating and seemed mentally alert. However, her father alleged that her child had nothing to eat and drink for days. Photo: Reuters/ Honduran migrants reach U.S Border Customs and Border Protection said on Friday that an interview with the girls raised no signs of trouble. While the authorities said that the girls father spoke Spanish language, a Guatemalan official said that the family belonged to an area in northern Guatemala called Raxruha in Alta Verapaz and may have spoken a Mayan dialect, not Spanish. Th emergency personnel tried to revive the girl twice but only in vain. She was later taken to El Paso hospital in Texas via helicopter at 7:40 am. Upon her admission to the hospital she was found to have swelling in her apart from a liver failure. An autopsy report is still pending. The girl died on December 08 with her 29 year old father by her side. Photo: Reuters It was reported that there were only four agents who were working with 163 migrants and 50 unaccompanied children. There was only one bus to transport them to the nearest station which is 94 miles away. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said that the agents involved in this scene are deeply affected and empathize with the father over the loss of his daughter. The commissioner though said that the incident exposed the dangers of travelling long distances in crowded transportation through remote desert areas without food, water and other supplies. A 7-year-old girl should not be dying of dehydration and shock in Customs and Border Protection custody. Secretary Nielsen and @DHSgov must be held accountable for Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquins death. https://t.co/W1jMYJWc7Q Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 14, 2018 Increasing number of children and families are heading for the U.S-Mexico border where Trumps administration is being criticized for handling migrants in a harsh manner. On November 25, the US security forces shut the country's busiest border and fired tear gas shells into Mexico to prevent central American migrants from approaching the borders. Tear-gas canisters were shot into the air by U.S Customs and Border Protection officers as Mexican government helicopters flew above their heads. In a first for the British military, Sikh and Muslim padres have become part of the Royal Air Forces Chaplains branch. According to reports, Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur, who grew up in Punjab, has become the first Sikh chaplain and Kenya-born Flight Lieutenant Ali Omar has become the first Muslim chaplain. Twitter Ms Kaur was selected as a chaplain while studying in the UK for her doctorate in engineering and has been working towards this role since 2005, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The two padres, as they are officially referred to, graduated at Royal Air Force (RAF) College Cranwell, RAF's training and education academy, on Thursday, after completing reservist officer training. ALSO READ: Britain's Annual Consumption Of Sandwich Produces Same Amount Of Carbon Dioxide As 'Millions Of Cars' "Padres provide spiritual and welfare support to all soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and their families. They deploy on operations and aboard ships when they go on long deployments," the MoD said. "Padres can also go out on patrols and live on the front line, on hand for when personnel need them," it notes. Twitter The appointments form part of the Ministry's new diversity strategy to increase diversity and inclusion across the armed forces. The strategy titled 'A Force for Inclusion' is aimed at ensuring that diversity and inclusion are a major part of all of the department's work, including workforce policies, culture and behaviour. "It has been an absolute privilege to welcome our first Sikh and Muslim commissioned Chaplains into the Royal Air Force and I look forward immensely to working with them into the future," said John Ellis, RAF Chaplain-In-Chief, the Venerable (Air-Vice Marshal). A first for the Royal Air Force and the British Military, a Sikh Chaplain and Muslim Padre have graduated as RAF Chaplains following Initial Officer Training at the RAF College Cranwell. Read the full story: https://t.co/Ciev9QgqKH pic.twitter.com/ebgybUAG2A Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) December 14, 2018 "My role in the RAF as a flagbearer of the Muslim Chaplaincy will see me work with the RAF Chaplaincy branch to negotiate and establish the place of World Faith Chaplaincy within the RAF," said Omar, who studied for his Master's degree in translation studies at Portsmouth University before completing a post-graduate course and joining RAF ranks. "An overdue and exciting venture that will see me work side by side as a commissioned Muslim chaplain along colleagues from different faiths," he said. PTI ALSO READ: Britain Hit By 'Mother Of All Thunderstorms' As Lightning Strikes 15,000 Times Actress Kangana Ranaut in and as Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. Ranaut plays the fierce warrior queen of Jhansi, Rani LaxmiBai, and had several gripping and tough battle scenes that involved sword-fighting. (photo provided) Prof. Wang is without question a highly intelligent, likable, and charismatic scientist, trustees wrote in its report, released Friday. However, the record supporting his fabrication of data and falsification of laboratory results, his submission of mouse cells rather than human cells in his data, his failure to mentor and supervise his students is overwhelming and beyond unacceptable. Prof. Wangs misconduct has already required the university to return substantial sums of research funds to the federal government. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form From the Open-Publishing Calendar From the Open-Publishing Newswire Indybay Feature Publish to Newswire Add an Event Defend Regular Jobs: SF Rally For Port of Setubal Dockworkers In Portugal by Labor Video Project Thursday Dec 13th, 2018 10:54 PM Workers and trade unionists went to the Portuguese consulate in San Francisco to protest the union busting and deregulation at the Port of Setubal. The shipping companies with the support of police and the government have eliminated seniority and are making the dockworkers part time tempoary workers. The rally was sponsored by United Public Workers For Action. For further information: https://raquelcardeiravarela.wordpress.com/2018/11/22/the-dockworkers-struggle-at-the-port-of-setubalportugal-is-the-wild-west-when-it-comes-to-labour-relations/ https://twitter.com/IDC_Dockers Production of Labor Video Project http://www.laborvideo.org Trade unionists and workers spoke out at the Portuguese consulate in San Francisco on December 13, 2018, for the Port of Setubal dockworkers who are fighting the destruction of their regular jobs and the deregulation of Portuguese ports by the government. The dock workers have been attacked by the police and the dock owners who are seeking to destroy regular employment. Speakers talked about the global struggle against the temp gig economy and how it is destroying jobs and lives in every country of the world. Also George Romero, a retired member of the ILWU gave solidarity in their struggle.The rally was sponsored by United Public Workers For Action.For further information:Production of Labor Video Project https://youtu.be/Sj6tjJMT15w Portuguese dock workers are fighting precarious part-time work which threatens their stability and families. Additionally, temporary dockers are more likely to have more injuries and deaths. Three hundred Port of Setuba dockers have been fighting against part-time work. Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has named Megan Davidson vice president within the companys real estate group. Davidson will be based in Alliants Seattle, Wash. office, and will provide insurance and risk management solutions to real estate clients with a focus on affordable housing and nonprofit organizations. Davidson was previously a sales executive at Propel Insurance. She was a vice president at Wells Fargo Insurance Services before that. Newport Beach, Calif.-based Alliant provides property/casualty, workers compensation, employee benefits, surety, and financial products and services. Topics Washington USG Insurance Services Inc. has named Frances Meek a producer/broker in the Irvine, Calif. office. Meek will work to maintain current agent relationships and assist with expanding USGs California network. Meek has been in the insurance industry for five years specializing in excess and surplus commercial lines, mostly recently as an underwriter at Hull & Co. USG is a national wholesaler and managing general agency. Topics California For most crimes around Cork city, the Young Offenders would be among the first to be hauled in for questioning. But theres murder afoot and the lads have a good alibi this time - their granny was barely born, never mind them. Its 1921 and one of the countys most feared residents has been poisoned and you need to help find out whos responsible. CluedUpp is planning a Cork Detective Day on June 8 next and it is looking for teams of amateur sleuths to rove about the city chasing clues to the identity of the evasive killer. Rest assured this isnt going to be straightforward, the organisers warn. With money, crime and power come enemies from all walks of life. But who would be daring enough to do this? the organisers ask, explaining: As the complicated investigation continues, a list of suspects and witnesses emerge and its going to take specialist skills to help catch the culprit. It may be set in the 1920s, but this will be a manhunt with a 21st-century twist. Each team of up to six people will need access to a smartphone as well as a great team name and awesome Sneaky Finders 1920s-inspired fancy dress, according to CluedUpp. Using an app on the phone, each team will hunt around the city, tracking down virtual witnesses, eliminating suspects and ruling out murder weapons. Depending on how good a detective team you are, the event will last anywhere between one and four hours. But the average squad of detectives take around two hours 20 minutes to solve the crime, the promoters note. There will be prizes on the day with trophies on offer for fastest team, best fancy dress, best team picture, best team name, best little detective (kids prize) and best K-9 detective (dogs prize). Entry is 40 for the entire team. More details are available at the official website, www.cluedupp.com. He spent 19 years in prison before parole officials decided he had turned his life around. He walked out of San Quentin prison in November 2016 and into the custody of waiting federal immigration agents who are trying to deport him to Cambodia. After prison, he spent 18 months in federal detention but was freed in May after Cambodia refused to accept him for now. The Department of Finance feared it could not publish an anonymised list of pensions for former ministers and officeholders as it would be too easy to identify them. Each year, the department had printed a list of former taoisigh, ministers, and presidents, along with other former officeholders and how much they received in their annual pension. However, the 2017 list was never published due to concerns over data protection and that even an anonymous list could create a breach. Internal emails reveal how concerns were first raised early in the summer after their ongoing publication was brought up at a GDPR (the General Data Protection Regulations) meeting. The pension details always attract great media interest, one email said. At a recent GDPR course it was suggested that we shouldnt actually be doing this as we would be releasing the name and gross amount paid and in breach of GDPR, wrote an official. Consideration was given to whether some other form of publishing, either anonymously or in aggregate for groups like former Taoisigh, ministers, presidents, or other officeholders. In a later email, Department of Finance data protection officer Colm ONeill said: Appreciate if we could have a chat about this publication given that it identifies individuals. Im not aware of any legal basis for processing this personal data. Even if the names of the individuals were anonymised, it wouldnt be that difficult to identify the former office holders if compared with last years publication. Mr ONeill said that the Department of Finance was not even the controller of the pension data and was taking it from its sister department, the Department of Public Expenditure. Discussion between officials also raised the possibility that figures for previous years which remain on the department website might have to be deleted too. In one email, an official said: My initial view would be that unless someone can identify a lawful basis to publish the data, it shouldnt be published and anything up already should be removed. In later correspondence, the department said that the introduction of GDPR in May had changed things dramatically. What applied before 25 May and what applies now are two very different things, said an email. As the deadline for publishing the departments Finance Accounts for 2017 approached in late July, the department was still unsure what to do about the pension figures. However, on July 27, it was confirmed that the figures, which had been available online dating back to 2009, would not be made public. An email said that the information constituted personal data and that the ex-politicians and officeholders involved should not be made identifiable in this way. A message from Helen Codd, the data protection officer of the Department of Public Expenditure, said their legal advice was that publication had to be halted. I would appreciate if the practice of issuing this material with the Finance Accounts as a matter of routine ceases with immediate effect, she wrote. The email said that if the material was subsequently sought under FoI, it would be dealt with appropriately at that time. In a statement, the Department of Public Expenditure said: Due to the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulations it is our view that the data referenced [can] no longer be published. The Department of Finance said pension figures were not held by them and it was not for them to release. An aggressive and unfair validation of outpatient lists has been used to achieve a reduction in figures, a GP group claims. Outpatient waiting lists have reduced by more than 1,000 to 515,360, according to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) which published the waiting list numbers up to the end of November. Health Minister Simon Harris said the outpatient waiting list remains a significant challenge but that it is welcome to see a small reduction in the numbers waiting this month. However, the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) believes the reduction was achieved by a dramatic increase in validation letters sent to GPs throughout the country. The NAGP says it has no issue with the validation lists but believes the process adopted by the HSE is having a negative impact on vulnerable people. The GP group has called for the current validation system to be reformed and, at a minimum, to have the 10-day window for patients to respond to letters extended to 28 days. The NAGP also believes that, if no written response is received, the patient should be contacted by telephone to ensure the patient has not changed address or become homeless. The doctors believe the changes they are seeking will ensure that the process is patient-centred, fair, and equitable. The process in its current guise disproportionately affects the frail, the vulnerable, people who have trouble reading, the homeless, the elderly, and minority communities, said the NAGP. The NAGP has repeatedly called on Mr Harris to reform the current process. There is no logical reason for this form of validation and indeed it creates more barriers and bureaucracy in terms of access to care for the most vulnerable in society, it said. NTPF figures show that the number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure has fallen to 70,989 from a peak of 86,100 in July last year, an 18% reduction. At the end of last month, 20,512 patients waiting for surgery accepted an offer of NTPF-funded treatment. One of the key targets for the NTPF this year was to arrange an inpatient or day case treatment for 20,000 public patients. It will continue to arrange treatments until the end of the year. Meanwhile, it has emerged that three injury units in Cork treated more than 26,536 patients this year. Patients can go directly to the unit or be referred by a GP. Bantry Injury Unit, Mallow Injury Unit, and the Mercy Injury Unit are among 11 set up by the HSE since 2012. A survey found that 91% of patients rated services provided in the injury units as excellent or very good. Emergency medicine consultant and clinical lead of the National Emergency Medicine Programme, Gerry McCarthy, said in many cases turnaround times for seeing and treating patients are one to two hours and sometimes less. The European drug market appears to be experiencing a surge in the availability of high-purity cocaine, according to the EU drugs agency. In a new report, the agency said the trade is being fueled by increased production, an expansion in the number of trafficking gangs, call centres in some countries, encrypted communication, social media promotions, and increased normalisation in nightlife settings. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Emcdda) said the trend is reflected in a range of indicators, including treatment data and drug-related deaths. Ireland recorded a 90% jump in new treatments for cocaine use over four years, from 297 in 2012 to 568 in 2016. In parallel, cocaine-related deaths more than doubled, from 21 in 2010 to 44 in 2015. The report said Ireland was one of five member states with the highest prevalence of cocaine use. In the last month, in two separate seizures, gardai and Customs intercepted more than 100kg of cocaine (street value around 7.5m). Garda sources said the hauls would have gone to supply the festive party season. Last August, 133kg of cocaine was found inside a container of a ship in Costa Rica bound for Cork. The Emcdda report said the quantity of cocaine seized worldwide in 2016 reached the highest level ever reported (1,129 tonnes, a 23% increase on 2015). It said that, despite continuing seizures throughout Europe, large quantities of cocaine appear to be entering Europe at a regular pace and law enforcement agencies were facing challenges in containing the flow. It said that recent data indicated records levels of production in South America, rising for the third consecutive year in 2016. The report, entitled Recent Changes in Europes Cocaine Market, said Balkan cartels were more visible in South America and were organising large shipments into Europe. It also said there was a significant presence of Columbian organised crime gangs in Spain. Accompanying this was a rise in low volume direct-to-consumer cocaine sales via the darknet (hidden web). It said new methods were emerging including call centres in parts of Belgium although the centres are based in western Balkans and Spain. In this system, the consumer calls a central number, which dispatches a courier in the country of the buyer to make the delivery. Social media is being used to promote time-limited offers and emojis (eg snowflake for cocaine) are used. The report said there has been an increase in cocaine purity between 2010 and 2016. The agency expressed concern at the rise in cocaine-related deaths. It said experts reported an increasing acceptability and normalisation of cocaine, coupled with increased disposable income. Concluding, the report said: The European drug market appears to be experiencing a surge in the availability of high-purity cocaine. It said new methods, reflecting an Uberisation of the cocaine trade, were clear signs of a competitive market in which sellers promote additional services such as fast delivery anywhere at any time. It said there was a qualitative change in cocaine dealing, whereby social media is used to promote cocaine and that wholesale cocaine was being sold off to mid-level and retail vendors at lower prices who, in turn, can sell discounted produce to customers. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will reveal his no-deal Brexit plans next Thursday after the EU summit failed to produce any breakthrough on the increasingly deadlocked crisis. Mr Varadkar confirmed the decision despite insisting that Ireland will not need an emergency second budget next year even if a no-deal creates a 3.6bn hole in current financial plans. Speaking to reporters at the end of the two-day Brussels summit, Mr Varadkar said no one is "threatening" Britain about a no-deal and that he still believes an agreement can be struck. However, noting the failure to make any breakthrough and joining other EU leaders in rejecting British Prime Minister Theresa May's pleas for legal or political declaration help, he said no-deal plans must now be fast-tracked. "No matter what, we have to make preparations, so the next step now is that on December 19 the European Commission will release its legislation for a no deal. The Tanaiste [Simon Coveney] will meet the stakeholders' forum next Thursday and, after that, we will produce a further updated document from us on our domestic preparations," he said. While the plans will be discussed by EU leaders at a special "no deal seminar" in mid-January, Mr Varadkar ruled out British hopes of an emergency summit next month. He also said an emergency second budget will not be part of Irish no-deal plans despite an ESRI report claiming that the worst case scenario could cost Ireland 3.6bn next year, saying the existing budget has a rainy day fund and is "framed" with Brexit in mind. Mr Varadkar separately said that while "robust assurances" have already been given to Ms May, no extra legal agreements will be provided as leaders cannot be expected to keep "coming back every couple of weeks" only to say "what are you asking for?". The Taoiseach was speaking as Ms May told reporters that more talks will take place "in the coming days" and that she believes further concessions can be provided. In Britain, Brexiteers warned that Ms May has failed to make any breakthroughs while UK Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said the time has come for parliament to "take back control", calling for a Brexit deal vote next week which could kill off any deal. The celebrities on the red carpet this week... 1. Margot Robbie Margot Robbie was lovely in Rodarte at the Mary, Queen of Scots premiere. The brand, one of just 14% in fashion headed by women, is named for the designers Mexican mother and currently the subject of a National Museum of Women in the Arts exhibition in Washington DC. 2.Saoirse Ronan Saoirse Ronan looks wonderful in Caroline Herrera at the same event. She and Robbie have been taking turns with those regally-high necklines. Margot had a crystal-throated Chanel last week in New York while Saoirse went with V-necked Gucci. 3. Diane Kruger Diane Kruger wore Ralph and Russo Couture to the Hollywood premiere of Welcome to Marwen. This dress isnt so much lingerie-inspired as the real deal. The lace is beautiful but so exposing I want to pull a trench coat on just looking at this. 4. Cheryl Cheryl chose an angelic Zuhair Murad top and skirt for the CapitalFM Jingle Bell Ball. Weve seen looks like this from this designer and even on this same star numerous times but Christmas is all about replays There is a groundswell of opposition to the factory plan in Skibbereen, writes Noel Baker. Children in a classroom in Union Hall Primary School, where Brendan McCarthy is principal, recently debated the whys and wherefores of plastics and whether or not a proposed plastics factory earmarked for nearby Skibbereen should go ahead. They found against it. Mr McCarthy, a father of four, is quick to state that he didnt oversee the debate, but he certainly agrees with the prevailing mood. His home at Poundlick, off the Baltimore Roa in the West Cork town, is right across from the site of the proposed factory which, earlier this month, was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala. In the kitchen, the usual Lego bricks and Darth Vader action figures youd expect in any similar home are present and correct but the unthinkable has loomed into view: Selling up, moving on. Anybody would be doing what I am doing if they were living in this house, he says. I am not going to be living here if that factory is across the road. Daly Products Ltd, owned by American-based parent company RTP, was granted permission after An Bord Pleanala upheld a Cork County Council decision. The approval is subject to 28 conditions. One point which has exercised campaigners is that in doing so, the planning board went against its own inspector, Hugh Morrison. It was, reportedly, also a close-run thing the board decided by a majority of 2:1 to grant permission. The large attendance at the West Cork Hotel for the public meeting about the plastics factory. Initial planning permission was granted by the council a year ago for establishment of a thermoplastic compounds production facility on the site. It would comprise single and two-storey buildings with a total floor space of 4,831 sq m. Bord Pleanala said: The applicant stated that the total annual production capacity of the facility for all products would be 4,700 tonnes and that only a small fraction of this total would comprise thermoplastic elastomers [thermoplastic rubbers]. It all comes after the current greenfield site was rezoned from greenbelt to light industrial. A council spokesperson defended the granting of the initial planning permission and added: An Bord Pleanalas grant of planning permission confirms the decision of Cork County Council the conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanala supercede those originally imposed by Cork County Council. Mr McCarthy, meanwhile, refers to the reaction around town as an outcry and disbelief and shock. Discussing it with a shopper, a cashier in Fields SuperValu referred to people power. A groundswell of opposition has built up and was represented on Thursday night when hundreds of people packed into a function room of the West Cork Hotel. According to West Cork Independent TD Michael Collins, it was a far cry from the turnout at the first meeting, when around 15 people showed up. The mood at the meeting was a mix of anger and optimism. Mr McCarthy and fellow campaigner Brendan McCormack confirmed a judicial review will be lodged regarding the Bord Pleanala decision and the Save Our Skibbereen campaign will need to raise an initial 15,000 to foot the bill. One of those centrally involved, former solicitor Harry Sexton, captured the mood when he said: I have never been involved in a community group before and would not consider myself an environmentalist. But he knew this wasnt a crank group or anti-capitalism. As for the plan, Mr Sexton said: This is a crazy development. People at the meeting referred to the possibility of noise and air pollution, the potential traffic issues, the need to transport materials in and out of the area from afar, and whether the number of jobs that would be created was in the order of 40 or 50, or way fewer. In his planning appeal, Mr McCarthy had pointed out that within a 400m radius of the centre of the site, there are at least 22 dwellings, a 50-bed nursing home, and 28 retirement homes. A possible fire risk was also cited, the inspectors report referencing appellant claims that no details of any evacuation plan have been submitted and no information is available as to the capabilities of the local fire service to handle any such eventuality. As campaigners point out, a fire broke out just before midnight at the RTP facility in Beaune-Vignoles in France on October 28. There were no injuries, but it took 50 firefighters to respond. West Cork Fianna Fail councillor Christopher OSullivan, seeking to explain the context for the rezoning by the local authority, had probably misread the room by the time he was referencing his membership of Birdwatch Ireland (Bully for you, was one response), but, as another speaker, said: At least he had the guts to show up. Despite Mr McCormack reiterating that it is not a political campaign, Sinn Fein councillor Paul Hayes and Mr Collins have been long-time supporters, the latter telling the meeting he would happily act as a conduit if any talks between the company and the Save Our Skibbereen campaign took place. David Puttnam: Plan an advertisers nightmare given the funding that had gone into the Wild Atlantic Way brand. As film director David Puttnam told the meeting, we are only a few months out from local elections. This is not going to be an issue in May, he said. This is going to be the issue in May. Mr Puttnam, who sits in Britains House of Lords and resides in Skibbereen, referred to the factory plan as an advertisers nightmare, given the funding that had gone into the Wild Atlantic Way brand. He delivered a personal message from actor Jeremy Irons, another local resident but currently filming in the US. Ive already spoken about the hopeless misjudgment of inflicting the development of a plastics factory on the people of West Cork most particularly on our children and grandchildren, wrote the Oscar-winning actor. Ill continue to do all I can to fight what can only become a blight on the face of one of the last few truly sustainable places on earth. The planner with An Bord Pleanala had noted that the proposal, as an example of employment-generating economic development, would be welcome, in principle, within Skibbereen. He concluded: Based on the submitted information, particularly with respect to noise and air quality, the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposal would be compatible with these amenities and the wider public health of those residing in the area and so, in these circumstances, it would be premature for the board to conclude that the proposed use constitutes a light industrial use. He said the proposal could be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. However, the Bord Pleanala decision issued this month stated: In deciding not to accept the inspectors recommendation to refuse permission, the board was satisfied, based on its location, nature, and scale, the proposed development would be compatible with the zoning objective for the site and existing pattern of development in the area. A spokesman for the planning appeals body said it was not that unusual for the board to go against the decision of its inspector, and that this typically occurred in 13% to 14% of cases each year. He also stressed that its not just the inspectors report that is taken into account and cited the huge number of cases dealt with by Bord Pleanala each month some 390 decisions were made in November alone. That is of little solace to those opposed to the factory, some of whom used the public meeting on Thursday to query whether pressure could be applied on some of the other players involved, including the IDA. Responding to the Irish Examiner, the IDA said: RTP was introduced to Ireland through the Succeed in Ireland programme and identified the IDA Business Park in Skibbereen as their preferred location for its planned facility. The site was rezoned for industrial use by Cork County Council and, in April 2016, IDA Ireland approved the leasehold sale of the site at IDA Skibbereen Business Park, Co Cork, to RTP Company. The IDA stressed that it is charged with winning jobs for Ireland. The spokesperson said: A sub-sector of the engineering division is plastics and packaging of which IDA Ireland has several client companies across the country. Just this year, Cork County Council was appointed lead authority of the Climate Action Regional Office for the Atlantic Seaboard South Region. The local authority spokesperson said: Cork Council is satisfied there is no conflict between the decision of the planning authority following a detailed assessment of this particular planning application and the effective discharge of its duties as the Climate Action Regional Office for the Atlantic Seaboard South Region. The Irish Examiner has sought a response from RTP and offered the company the opportunity to outline its views on the benefits the factory might have for the area but, so far, no response has been forthcoming. It is understood that RTP has a family connection with West Cork. Almost exactly a year ago, the company held an event at the Ludgate Hub in town to meet with local people. Since then, there has been hardly a word. Back in the McCarthy family kitchen, Brendan McCormack was left pondering whether this is really what anybody thought of when the sentiment of giving something back was first aired. He summed it up in a question. Do they want others to move like they did? While the global trend in forced marriage and child brides has seen numbers fall in recent years, the picture emerging from America is more disturbing, writes Bette Browne More than 12m girls around the world, some not even teenagers, are married before the age of 18. There were at least 207,468 such marriages in the States between 2000 and 2015, or an average of almost 40 a day. Child marriage, defined as any formal marriage or informal union where one or both parties are under 18, is banned outright in only two US states. But now a number of states have been galvanised into action to try to halt the practice. While on a global scale the US figures may not seem that alarming, you have to take into account that America is overall a wealthy country, whereas most child marriages in developing countries are entered into due to severe economic hardship. But the numbers emerging in recent years tell a different story, highlighted by research undertaken by groups such as Unchained At Last, Child USA, and Girls not Brides, and have sparked growing calls for action. In almost all states, the age for marriage without parental consent is 18 but there is no federal law governing it so each state has its own laws. Nearly every state technically prohibits people younger than 18 from marrying but each of these jurisdictions has exceptions to these laws, according to the Pew Research Center. In 36 of the 50 states, the age of marriage for minors with parental consent is 16, but in some states the minimum is even younger if there is both judicial and parental consent. So, in effect, a child of any age could be married in such states. Three 10-year-old girls were married to men in their 30s in Tennessee in 2001. An 11-year-old boy married a 27-year-old woman in the same state in 2006. But earlier this year the governor banned such marriages when he signed legislation prohibiting the marriage of minors under the age of 17. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of child marriage laws in the Unites States is that in 23, or approximately half, of the states, there is no minimum age for marriage with parental and judicial consent. This is known as not having a floor for marriage, or no bottom limit, said Child USA, which conducts legal, medical, and social science research to identify laws and policies affecting child protection. This means that if both parents and a judge sign off on a marriage, a child of any age can be married in that state. This lack of a floor for marriage puts children at risk of sex abuse. Rates of underage marriage are high in southern, rural states with a high prevalence of poverty and religious conservatism, as well as among Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Sikhs, and Hmong people from Southeast Asia, says campaign group Unchained At Last. Fraidy Reiss: Survivor of arranged marriage and founder of Unchained at Last. The Pew Research Center says child marriage is most common in West Virginia and Texas, where about seven of every 1,000 15- to 17-year-olds were married in 2014. Several other states in the South and the West, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Nevada, and California, also have above-average rates of such unions. In Alaska, Louisiana and South Carolina, children as young as 12 years old have been granted marriage licences. This puts children, most often young girls, at risk of sex abuse, critics say, because, in many instances of child marriage, the parents are the ones who are insisting on the marriage or, in some cases, forcing their child to marry for social, cultural, religious, or financial reasons. Child marriage survivors often say they were forced to marry against their will, particularly if they were pregnant, to avoid the stigma of giving birth outside marriage. A survey by the Tahirih Justice Center, a legal defence organisation that protects women and girls fleeing violence, found forced marriage is a real problem in the US today, with as many as 3,000 known and suspected cases identified in recent years. The fact that potentially thousands of young women and girls from immigrant communities may face forced marriages each year in the United States is alarming and demands attention, said the Tahirih Justice Center. An increasing number of forced marriage cases involve young women and girls some as young as 13 from traditional immigrant communities in the United States. By force, fraud, or coercion, they were being compelled to marry men from their families countries or regions of origin. In New Jersey, for example, a girl was only 12 when her father sought to have her married after taking her to live in Saudi Arabia. Then there was the similar case of Lina, who was born in Yemen, but raised in Modesto, California. During a school holiday break, her father took her to Yemen for what he said was a visit to her sick grandmother. Not long after her arrival, he introduced her to the man she would have to marry. She tried to avoid the marriage but she found everyone was powerless to help, including the US government, which found itself bound by local laws. Only nine states have specific criminal statutes on forced marriage and no prosecutions have occurred, according to the Tahirih Justice Center. In all states, however, people who force someone to marry may be charged with violating state laws, including those against domestic violence, child abuse, rape, assault, kidnapping, threats of violence, stalking, or coercion. Child marriage was a problem Americans had believed only existed in developing countries but the numbers told a different story and research by groups such as Unchained At Last and Child USA have galvanised states into action. Delaware became the first state in May to ban child marriage, setting the minimum marriage age at 18. Previously, a minor in that state could get married at any age with a judges approval. Other states followed suit and now more than 20 have now introduced legislation to raise the minimum marriage age. Florida raised it to 17 in March. In May, Tennessee passed a similar ban, and the same month, New Hampshire passed a bill to raise the marriage age from 13 for girls and 14 for boys to 16 for both genders. Maryland considered but failed to vote on a bill this year to tighten up its law, which allows 15-year-olds if pregnant, to marry with parental consent. State lawmakers hope to pursue the issue in January. Missouri had the most lenient law in the nation allowing 15-year-olds to marry, with only one parents signature required. But in July it outlawed marriage for anyone under 16. In New Jersey, where nearly 3,500 children married between 1995 and 2012, a child marriage ban bill was signed into law in June, setting a minimum age of 18 with no exceptions. This makes New Jersey the second state to completely ban child marriage, after Delaware. Last year New York banned children under 17 from marrying. Previously minors as young as 14 were allowed to wed under state law providing they obtained parental and court permission. But opposition to changing the laws can be strong in some states. It was a long battle to see change in New Jersey, for example. The measure that became law this year had passed both chambers of the legislature back in 2017 but was halted by then Republican governor Chris Christie, who refused to sign the proposal into law because he said a complete ban on child marriage would violate the cultures and traditions of some communities in New Jersey based on religious traditions. Yemeni former child-bride Nujud Mohammed Ali participates in a demonstration to support proposed legislation banning the marriage of girls under 17, outside the parliament in the capital Sanaa. Ali was granted a divorce in 2008 at the age of eight after her unemployed father forced her into an arranged marriage with a man 20 years her senior. Child marriage is also a controversial issue in other, less developed, countries. In over 50% of countries, across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Europe, there are no minimum ages to get married and there are laws that allow exceptions to marriage laws. In recent years, many countries in the EU have tightened their marriage laws, either banning marriage under 18 completely or requiring judicial approval for such marriages. Countries that have reformed their marriage laws include Sweden (2014), Denmark (2017), Germany (2017), Luxembourg (2014), and Spain (2015). In Ireland, the minimum age for marriage is 18 years and any person under 18 must seek an exemption from the Circuit Family Court or the High Court before they can enter into a marriage. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland teenagers can marry at 16 with parental consent. In Scotland, they do not need consent. Every year, millions of girls across the globe are either encouraged or forced to marry men, sometimes two or three times their age, due to cultural and religious reasons or because of extreme poverty. Parents may believe early marriage is in their daughters best interest, especially if shes pregnant. But in all cases, girls who marry before age 18 are harmed for life, Unicef stresses. Yet, every US state except Delaware and New Jersey allows people under the age of 18 to marry once theyve obtained some combination of a judges order, parental permission, premarital counseling or proof of pregnancy. The risks are just as real for child marriages in the US as they are in developing countries, says Mark Engman, Unicef managing director, public policy and advocacy. For the sake of protecting children from abuse and protecting their futures, every single US state must take legislative steps to ban child marriage. Its important to have legislation on child marriage on the books, but the law in and of itself is not going to change peoples minds. We have to convince people that stopping child marriage is the right thing to do. Advocates campaigning to set the minimum marriage age at 18, with no exceptions, say it is extremely difficult for minors in an abusive marriage to get help. In some states, minors cannot access a domestic violence shelter or apply for a protective order without the help of an adult. When somebody aged 17 or younger calls us, there is almost nothing we can do to help. If we tried to help her leave home, shes considered a runaway, says Fraidy Reiss, director of Unchained At Last. Gaps in state laws are failing to protect minors from being forced or coerced into marriages where they may face violence and sexual assault. Yet some lawmakers and others on both sides of the political spectrum have voiced reluctance to completely ban marriage for all minors. Some minors, they say, should be allowed to marry under certain circumstances. Opposition to setting a legal age often gets caught up, too, in the politics of abortion. In Delaware, during a debate on the under-18 ban, at least one representative said he believed more teenage girls would get abortions if they werent allowed to marry. In some states, such as California, opposition has come from civil liberty groups. The American Civil Liberties Union of California argued that banning marriage before 18 unnecessarily and unduly intrudes on the fundamental right of marriage. Boys are sometimes married as children, although according to Unicef, girls are disproportionately the most affected, with child marriage five times more common among girls than boys. Child marriage has lasting consequences for girls, from their health, education and social development perspectives. While the movement to end child marriage in the US is undoubtedly growing, there is still a long way to go until the issue is addressed in all states. But 2019 will see the campaign intensifying. Officials in Pennsylvania, for example, are reviewing legislation that could be proposed early next year that would make that state the third in the country to ban child marriages, with no exceptions. Changes also look likely in Ohio, where pregnant girls of any age can marry with parental and court permission, as well as in Wyoming, Washington, Utah, and Georgia. The number of children married each year in the US is decreasing, Unchained At Last says, but it will not reach zero until every state passes laws to end child marriage. More than 80 people have been arrested in Paris where police have fired tear gas at anti-government protesters. It is the fifth weekend in a row that the so-called "yellow vest" demonstrations have taken place. Macron resign: 'Yellow Vests' protests rage in Paris for 5th weekend in a rowhttps://t.co/9gPYcCibne pic.twitter.com/TQo6wW4WD7 RT (@RT_com) December 15, 2018 Local media reports suggest an estimated 33,500 people turned out by lunchtime which is around half of the number seen last weekend. The cold weather could be a factor. The French president hoped a package of tax and minimum wage measures for low-income workers would help to defuse the situation. Dateline Youth Activists Speak Up on Lost Idols and Freedom of Expression -- Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, well discuss the responsibility and position of the youth in the democratic transition, and the communication between them and older generations. Ma Thinzar Shunlei Yi, a youth advocate from Action Committee for Democracy Development, and poet Maung Saung Kha from Freedom of Expression Activist Organization join me to discuss this. I am Ye Ni, editor of The Irrawaddy Burmese. We will base our discussion on a Reuters article published by The Irrawaddy. I have read in the article you said that as a youth, you admired and had high hopes for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but now you have lost your idol. Can you explain this? Why did you admire her and why do you now feel like you have lost her? Thinzar Shunlei Yi: It is fair to say I am a completely new face in politics. My family and all my relatives are not interested in politics at all. I used to have a negative view of politicians and activists. Then I reached a certain age and got many friends. They taught me about the situation on the ground, the living conditions and difficulties of ethnic people and ongoing armed conflicts. Ive learned a lot from them. My standpoint has changed based on what I learned from them and from my experiences during trips inside and outside the country. I became more interested in the life of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who faced years of house arrest for democracy. I studied a lot about her character and what she said as she is admired by a lot of young people. I found that her standpoints were similar to what I believe in and what I want. I started to admire her. As she is also a woman, I made her my idol. My current life as a democracy activist is largely based on what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi experienced, said and taught us during her democratic struggle. It is fair to say that today I can speak here due to her standpoints and sharing of knowledge with us. I am clear about the path I am taking because it is based on my faith. I inherited that faith from our seniors, prisoners of conscience and activists starting from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who sacrificed herself in 1988 pro-democracy uprising. I inherited them from my faith in democracy and human rights and I adopted those norms as my yardstick. Today, I still use the same yardstick. After the new government took office, we have seen clearly that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her cabinet have changed and it goes against my norms. I am confusedI feel as if my yardstick is wrong or if what Ive learned is wrong or that I need to bend my yardstick. Ultimately, I decided to cling to my norms. I believe in those values, and that my leaders, my idols and those who have sacrificed their lives would want to a youth who cherishes those values. Thats why I feel like I have lost my idol, and Ive shared these feelings with the public. YN: The view of the older generations of the ruling National League for Democracy is that the younger generation is impatient while there is a need to communicate with all the sides including the military, ethnic groups and the international community during the democratic transition. Ko Saung Kha, do you agree with the view of the older generations? Saung Kha: It is not that we are impatient; we have mainly pointed out the things that the government can do easily. It is not that we are pressing unreasonable demands without understanding politics. We know well the extent the government can perform within the authority granted by the constitution. I would like to give the example of the notorious Telecommunications Law. People think that it was amended on August 29, 2017. In fact, it was not changed at all. Reducing the penalty is not amending the law. The law will continue to have negative impacts unless its original definition is changed. There have been 62 cases of people being charged under the Telecommunications Law, even after it was amended. There have been that many cases within one year. It is found that in over half of those cases, the charges were pressed by the government and lawmakers. Therefore, its questionable whether they have chosen not to amend the law in order to use it as a deterrent to criticism. This law is targeted at those who criticize the government and the military online. Similarly, there is peaceful assembly and procession law that can restrict protest marches and assemblies. That law should in fact be formulated by the government in order to protect demonstrators and ensure the peoples right to protest. But if it provides allowances to restrict protests at any time, it is not a democratic law at all. Currently, 17 youths including Ma Thinzar Shunlei Yi and I are facing trial at Bahan Township Court for demonstrations that called for the rescue of civilians trapped by fighting in Kachin State. From this, we can say that freedom of expression is seriously at risk. Overall, it is clear that the government failed to do certain things despite having the authority to do so. It is not that we are impatient, we have just continued to make demands in response to the governments ignorance. YN: Ma Thinzar, what do you think of the youth policy of the NLD government, and what would you want to say about ethnic youth affairs? TSY: In my experience, many youth organizations made preparations when the new government took office. We have been demanding a youth policy since the previous government and there were confrontations over our demands. We staged protests and the previous government arrested students. We warned the previous government that we would not communicate with it. We had high hopes when the new government took office. We hoped it would appreciate our efforts. In early 2016, when he held talks with the new union minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement of the new government, unbelievably he showed respect for us. He said he has to learn from youths. He showed us respect for our experiences and we also showed our respect to him. It is sufficed to say that we could draft the youth policy in a democratic way. We could convince the ministry to hold consultations with the youth and include their voices in the policy. The youth policy was officially adopted in 2018. There is a problem in designing any new policy or law regarding federalism. Though we have been widely talking about building a federal union, the constitution has yet to be changed. We have a lot of difficulties in considering under which framework we should adopt laws and policies. Though the youths made preparations in consideration of federalism, the policywhen it was approvedwas not federal. It also cant be federal due to the existing structure of the country so we had real difficulties. The youth policy, as aspired by the ethnic youths, is different from the policy that the government can approve. YN: There were always demonstrations in support of democracy and human rights under U Thein Seins government, but under the new government, only a few people like you continue demonstrations. I have seen on social media that you are criticized for criticizing The Lady, and you are labeled dollar-earners [who benefit from western agencies] and stooges. How do you deal with those criticisms? SK: Stooges, supporters of western countries, dollar-earners and puppets of the western countriesall are the very words once used by the military regime and those who resist the change against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Why do we continue with our democracy demonstrations? Firstly, we dont do it out of personal interest, we do it because of our belief in principles, rights, human rights and democratic values. If we dont honor those values, we will lose all of them. The mainstream [view] of Myanmar politics is that everything depends on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and she is also criticized for anything that goes wrong. We dont want to participate in that mainstream. Why do we continue our demonstrations? Some people, even including my own friends, said that they accept freedom of expression, but they dont like criticizing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This concept of people in Myanmar is wrong. When we talk about freedom of expression, we should have greater freedom of expression and criticism, especially regarding the state leaders. Sometimes, if people have real grievances, they will use strong language. This is the right enshrined by freedom of expression. But there are limits. There is a fine line between freedom of expression and hate speech. We cant allow people to use hate speech under the cover of freedom of expression. It is quite complicated. I think the path to democracy will be smoother if these can be handled effectively. YN: Thank you for your contribution! Several Republicans, in the weeks leading up to the election, introduced legislation forbidding insurance companies to discriminate against the 133 million Americans with health issues. But some of those proposals left loopholes that would have allowed companies to deny coverage or charge more based on gender or age. Moreover, there's risk in requiring companies cover sick people if the rest of the law isn't in place. To work, the law needed younger, healthy people to balance out the insurance pool. But without a mandate or subsidized plans those people are less likely to buy coverage, leaving insurance companies with a sicker, and thus expensive, consumer base. Amy Brighton from Medina, Ohio, who opposed Obamacare, holds a sign in front of the Supreme Court during a rally on March 27, 2012, as the court heard arguments on the health care law signed by President Barack Obama. (Charles Dharapak/AP) 32 Shares Share In 2006 Dr. Tom Bodenheimer wrote an article that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine entitled, Primary Care Will It Survive? Dr. Bodenheimer spoke with great concern about patients growing unhappiness with their primary care physicians and physicians increasing frustration with their practice environments. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model entered the scene in 2007 -2008 with the lofty goal of fixing the ills of primary care including problems with access, poor coordination of care, lack of continuity, inadequate payment, and uneven quality. In the 12 years since that article, only about 20 percent of primary care practices in the U.S. have formally adopted the PCMH model. Despite this low uptake, the PCMH has demonstrated strong clinical and financial impact in several notable organizations including Oregons Patient-Centered Primary Care Home Program and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigans medical home program. Since the PCMHs adoption has not been as widespread as envisioned, how is primary cares health in late 2018? There are several concerning trends to note. There is an ongoing shortage of primary care physicians. Estimates of the shortage vary, but we may need as many as 20,000 additional primary care physicians by 2030 to accommodate our aging population and the proliferation of Americans with chronic illnesses. And in 2018, 75 percent of newly minted physicians will start their careers with average medical education debt of $190,694. This fact does not augur well to entice medical students to pursue a career in primary care when more lucrative specialties exist. In addition, recent data shows that the number of graduating internal medicine residents choosing to subspecialize continues to increase every year. Dr. Bodenheimers article appeared before the ongoing plague of administrative burden reached its current state. EHRs that dont communicate and rarely produce useful clinical information; pre-authorizations for generic medicines and pre-approval hoops for imaging studies that are almost always approved have endangered the morale of physicians and their office staff. And although we are moving toward payment in value-based models, the transition from fee-for-service to new models is difficult, uneven and frustrating. A recent poll of 1,200 adults conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 45 percent of 18-29 year olds had no primary care physician compared with 28 percent of those 30-49. The studys authors state, Millenials are foregoing the time-bound model of office-based primary care in favor of more convenient care such as urgent care centers, telemedicine, and drugstore retail clinics. And a recent study by the non-partisan Health Care Cost Institute found that fewer adults are seeing their primary care physicians and opting more often to see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Visits to primary care physicians declined by 18 percent between 2012 and 2016. The clear message here is that convenience and ready access are the desired qualities younger Americans value in engaging the health system. On the whole, primary care is woefully underfunded. Only about 5-8 percent of U.S. health care expenditures are spent on primary care. If we accept the premise that primary care is the foundation of our health care system, that foundation is shaky. However, some states including Oregon and Rhode Island are making strides in mandating incremental increases in primary care spending. What possible solutions can be adopted to strengthen our foundation and avoid the collapse of primary care? A recent article published in the National Academy of Medicine journal entitled, Implementing Optimal Team-Based Care to Reduce Clinician Burnout, provides some much-needed hope. The authors state that team-based health care has been linked to improved patient outcomes and may also be a means to improve clinician well being. Another one of Dr. Bodenheimers articles entitled The Myth of the Lone Physician posited that an alternative to the mythological lone physician would require a paradigm shift that places the primary care physician within the context of a highly functioning health care team. This new mythology better fulfills the collaborative, interpersonal, patient-centered needs of new models of care, and might help to ensure that work of the primary care physician remains compassionate, gratifying and meaningful. This requires moving away from physician-centered practices (9-12 and 1-5 on weekdays with an hour for lunch with the answering machine on) to practices composed of physician-led teams. This will require physicians to learn some new skills but most importantly, the task for the physician is to move from thinking about my patients to our patients. In the medical home model, reference is frequently made to team members performing at the top of their licenses. I would rephrase that to state that team members should perform at the top of their potential. Creating highly functioning teams with shared goals, clear delineation of tasks and communication strategies takes work and persistence, but it is work that will be richly rewarded. Whether its instituting daily huddles, using the teamlet model or Dr. Peter Andersons Family Team Care Model, creating and supporting high functioning health care teams will help insure a strong future for primary care and will make for happier patients, physicians and other members of the health care team. Sue S. Bornstein is an internal medicine physician and executive director, Texas Medical Home Initiative. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Facebook announced on Friday that the social network had exposed the private photos of millions of users without their permission. The company said a bug recently allowed third-party app developers to access photos people may not have shared publicly. Facebook believes as many as 6.8 million users could be affected. The Irish Data Protection Commission, the body that oversees Facebook's compliance with European regulations, said on Friday that it had launched a "statutory inquiry" into Facebook as a result of multiple breaches the company had informed them about this year. Photos that users started to upload to Facebook but did not post could have been accessed, along with images posted to Facebook Stories, Tomer Bar, an engineering director at Facebook, wrote in a blog post. "We're sorry this happened," he added. Users' photos were exposed over a 12 day period in September, the blog post said. When asked why Facebook waited to inform the public of the issue, a Facebook spokesperson told CNN Business, "We have been investigating the issue since it was discovered to try and understand its impact so that we could ensure we are contacting the right developers and people affected by the bug. It then took us some time to build a meaningful way to notify people, and get translations done." The information Facebook gives to third-party app developers continues to be under scrutiny. Earlier this year, a data scientist working for Cambridge Analytica revealed the company had several years ago used the system to gather data on tens of millions of Americans. As a result of this bug, the company said it believes the photos could have been accessed by 1,500 apps built by 876 developers. Facebook said it will notify people potentially impacted by the bug. The next time you hop on a plane, there's a good chance some of its parts will have been made using a printer. The world's top aerospace firms are increasing their use of 3D printers in order to speed up the manufacturing process, save money and make aircraft that burn less fuel. 3D printers could help Boeing (BA) and Airbus (EADSF) to reduce their massive order backlogs. But they're also capable of producing parts that are superior to those made using traditional methods. "The technology allows us to manufacture parts of a complexity that was just not achievable by means of standard cutting," Grazia Vittadini, Airbus' chief technology officer, told CNN. The first Airbus plane to use a part made with a 3D printer took off in 2014. The component was a small titanium bracket, part of the pylon used to hold the aircraft's heavy engine in place. Now the technology is a vital tool for aircraft manufacturers that are racing to meet skyrocketing demand for new planes. How to print in 3D 3D printers deposit material layer by layer to create a solid object. Plastic is the most commonly used material, but printing with titanium, stainless steel, ceramics and sand is becoming more popular. Also known as "additive manufacturing," the technology is used across industries to make prototypes, personalized items and small batches of products that would otherwise require molds or specialist machines. For aircraft manufacturers and their suppliers, 3D printing helps reduce the need for expensive tools and casts. "Casts and molds have to be manufactured very much in advance and they are not always modifiable," said Vittadini. "You invest a lot of time and money into tools, which then you may need to redo from scratch." Boeing has so far used 3D printing to make 60,000 parts for its planes. That's a tiny percentage (a typical Boeing 747 has 6 million parts), but the US rival to Airbus is investing heavily in the technology. "Additive manufacturing offers great potential to reduce the cost and weight of aircraft structures," the company said in a statement. Boeing invested in 3D printing company Digital Alloy in August, saying the move will allow it to produce metal aerospace parts more quickly and at a higher volume. Airbus has partnered with Materialise, a 3D printing company headquartered in Belgium. Speeding up production The International Air Transport Association is expecting the number of passengers to double over the next two decades to 8.2 billion in 2037. That means a lot more planes need to be built a challenge that 3D printing can help with. "We have growing production rates and we have learned a lot of lessons," said Vittadini. Airbus struggled this year with engine shortages which slowed deliveries of its narrow-body A320neo. Airbus had an order backlog of 7,337 aircraft at the end of November, or nine years worth of production at current rates. Boeing's commercial aircraft backlog was 5,849 at the end of September. Reducing emissions The use of lighter materials made possible by 3D printing should also help the environment. "Every 15 years, the worldwide fleet doubles that is a fantastic business case," Vittadini said. "The problem: twice as many emissions, twice as much noise, twice as much carbon fuel consumption ... this is just not sustainable." The case for reduced emissions is simple: Lighter aircraft burn less fuel. "We can go up to 55% weight saving, thanks to the fact that we can really just put material where we need it," said Vittadini. Is it safe? Some experts worry that hackers could sabotage 3D printers and intentionally insert flaws that weaken parts. A group of academic researchers demonstrated the danger in a 2016 experiment in which they crashed a drone by hacking a 3D printer and introducing a flaw into its propeller. Both Boeing and Airbus say they will only use 3D printers in ways that have been certified as safe by regulators. Decades later, he spoke to Terkel about the beauty of the countrys rolling hills and great forests, imagining he could hear the music of Wagner as a backdrop. But the beauty of the country didnt make him forget the life-and-death nature of the next six weeks of combat. As the Allies rolled east, he told family members, he was put in charge of German prisoners, then had to protect them from revenge-minded Russian soldiers. Sandy Hook Elementary School was evacuated Friday due to a phoned-in bomb threat on the sixth anniversary of the massacre at the school that left 26 children and staff members dead. Newtown, Connecticut Police Lt. Aaron Bahamonde told CNN that police did not believe the threat was credible, but authorities and the principal decided to evacuate out of an abundance of caution. It was also easier to sweep an empty school building with bomb-sniffing dogs, he said. There was no danger to the public, Bahamonde added. The threat, which was phoned in around 9 a.m., is not believed to be connected to the threats that were received Thursday at dozens of locations across the United States and Canada, Bahamonde said. The school district decided that due to the tension and anxiety surrounding the mass shooting anniversary, it didn't make sense to have the students return to the building so they were sent home for the day. Newtown Superintendent Laorrie Rodrigue noted that district and school administrators were being cautious and sensitive to the date. "For a parent who has children at the school, even when we give the all clear, it's difficult given that today is December 14th," said Rodrigue. "Despite the difficulty of the day, staff and the community handled this courageously. I applaud their strength." Both of Connecticut's US senators tweeted about the threat. Sen. Richard Blumenthal tweeted, "Speechless. 6 years ago this community suffered the unimaginable. They deserve more than this cowardly, evil threat." Sen. Chris Murphy wrote, "My heart is breaking." 'Unimaginably cruel' threat The threat to the Sandy Hook Elementary School on the anniversary of the mass shooting incident is "unimaginably cruel," Newtown's First Selectman Daniel Roshenthal told CNN. "Not that this is acceptable any day of the year, but for someone to purposely do it on 12/14 was unimaginably cruel," Rosenthal said. "Certainly, it's a day that weighs very heavy on the teachers from an emotional standpoint -- I just can't say enough about the amazing job they did coordinating everything." He said police are trying to track where the threat came from. "The town will not support any leniency when that person is caught." The school building in which the mass shooting took place was torn down several years ago. The new building, which stands on the same property, opened in 2016. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Over the course of his 18-months as special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, Robert Mueller and his team have racked up more than $25 million in expenditures, according to the latest Justice Department filing, including $8.5 million over the past six months. The numbers reflect spending as of Sept. 30. In recent tweets, President Donald Trump has accused Mueller of spending more than $30 million on an "illegal Joseph McCarthy style Witch Hunt" that has "shattered so many innocent lives." This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. GARNER, Iowa A Hancock County woman is accused of buying 10 vehicles under a fake name. Guadencia Pecina Calixto, 40 of Klemme, is charged with 1st degree fraudulent practice. She was charged Friday but authorities say the crime occurred between May 2016 and November 2018. Court documents say Calixto used a fake name and identification at the Hancock County Treasurers Office to obtain the titles to 10 vehicles worth a combined total of more than $10,000. Law enforcement says Calixto obtained the name and ID illegally. ROCHESTER, Minn. A man accused of sexual assault and drug dealing is pleading not guilty to both crimes. Tracy Michael Brooks, 49 of Rochester, was first arrested in May. A Rochester police officer stopped Brooks for a traffic violation and says a search of his vehicle discovered crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Brooks was arrested again in September after a woman accused him of rape. She told Rochester police Brooks took her to a hotel room where she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Brooks while someone else video recorded the rape. Brooks is pleading not guilty to 1st degree drug sales, 2nd and 5th degree drug possession, and two counts of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct. The drug trial is scheduled to start on June 5, 2019, and the rape trial is set to begin on April 29, 2019. CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - For the second time this week, police are called on to investigate a report of a threat involving a school, this time in North Iowa. Police were called to Clear Lake High School Thursday morning after a student reported another student's comments regarding a possible shooting at the school. After an investigation, the threat was found to not be credible, with police saying no one was ever in any danger. Superintendent Doug Gee says that there are certain qualifications when it comes to determining when a threat is credible. "If we uncover the fact that there is some kind of planning in place, that the student had been planning something, that they had talked to other people about that, that they had put out some things on social media or emails, or they had been searching how to shoot somebody or have a bomb or any of those things. If we did investigate and find out that they did have access to weapons or guns or anything like that. Those are all things that would then further that investigation that would amp that up in a real hurry, both from our standpoint and the law enforcement standpoint." Gee adds that the incident serves as a reminder that students should not be afraid to speak up if they feel like a situation could get out of hand. "If you hear something or you see something, please say something. We're going to investigate it. And we do take them all seriously." The student that made those comments is facing disciplinary action from the school. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Gov.-elect Tim Walz did not attend a meeting between a bipartisan group of new governors and President Donald Trump in Washington Thursday, drawing some criticism from Republicans. The six-term Democratic congressman stayed in Minnesota this week to meet with transition staff and advisers, even as newly-elected Democratic counterparts from Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan visited the White House. Walz has criticized Trump's handling of veterans issues, but spokeswoman Kayla Castaneda said political disagreements had nothing to do with Walz not making the trip. "He's not going because he's in Minnesota conducting interviews and doing transition business," she said. "He's busy building the executive branch." The work includes vetting at least 1,500 applicants for appointed positions in state government, including 500 applicants for 23 state commissioner posts. Trump invited governors-elect to meet with him and members of his Cabinet to discuss workforce development, infrastructure, the opioid crisis and other topics. Thirteen newly elected governors attended Thursday's meeting, including Tony Evers, a Wisconsin Democrat, and Kristi Noem, a South Dakota Republican. Republican leaders in the Minnesota House criticized Walz for skipping the meeting. "Minnesota needs a strong relationship with our partners at the federal level including President Donald Trump," said Rep. Anne Neu, a Republican from North Branch and the incoming deputy House Republican leader. She said she hoped Walz would make it a priority to meet with Trump in the near future "and work to build a productive working relationship with the White House." Kansas' incoming Democratic governor, Laura Kelly, also opted out of the White House meeting. Her staff said she stayed in Topeka to work on the state budget and her transition into office. The Kansas City Star reported . Powered by surging turnout in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs, Minnesota Democrats held on to the governor's office and unexpectedly swept back into power in the state House during the November election. Republicans retain a one-seat majority in the state Senate. ROCHESTER, Minn. A man is sentenced to prison a little more than a month after stabbing a woman. Shango Loren Gordon, 46 of Rochester, was arrested on November 4 and charged with 2nd degree assault, two counts of stalking, and domestic assault. Rochester police say a disagreement led to the stabbing of a 41-year-old woman in the 300 block of 10th Street SE. Officers say she was found covered in blood and a knife was located at the scene. Gordon pleaded guilty Friday to 2nd degree assault and was immediately sentenced to seven years in prison, with credit for 41 days already served. VENTURA, Iowa - Summertime is when outdoor enthusiasts hit tackle shops, dig up blood worms and go fishing. But here in the Northern U.S., summer is a long way off and intrepid anglers go ice fishing. Later this month, those anglers will cut holes in Clear Lake for "Take a Vet Fishing Day." Tyler Evers grew up in a military family, so he's all about helping those willing to sacrifice. "My dad was in Vietnam, so anything I can do to help veterans...that's my main goal." He and fellow organizer Jaime Kujawa spent their Friday on the lake today to see what's biting. The upcoming fishing isn't limited to vets - everyone's welcome. "We get them the equipment, they can come out and give it a try. Whether they're thinking about trying ice fishing for the first time or they love ice fishing, it's just good to get them out around a bunch of like minded people and have a good time." Kujawa came up with the idea on a trip to Clear Lake last year, days before the first event, which drew 153 people altogether on the ice, including veterans, volunteers and anyone who wanted to support. "I came up last year with some friends and we're sitting on the ice, and I'm like, 'you know what, we should just put together a day for the vets out here.' And we snowballed it in a fury, in 11 days, and it grew fast." To him, it's all about giving back. "It's a feel good thing, it's a big heart thing and we love doing it. And the guys that I got working with me on it are all like minded and we pretty much love doing what we do for this reason." The event gets underway with a meet and greet at Clear Lake Bait & Tackle at 7 a.m., with the fishing to begin at McIntosh Beach at 8. While the fishing is free, a contribution of $5 gets you a meal and a chance in a prize raffle following the fishing at the Ventura Community Center. In addition, there will also be a live auction and door prizes. Proceeds go directly to the Cedar Valley Honor Flight program. "It's all about giving back and getting people out, getting people in the outdoors and meeting people." If interested, contact Clear Lake Bait & Tackle at 641-231-0828, Kujawa at 319-830-9248 or Mike McKenna at 319-619-4337. MARBLE ROCK, Iowa Two people are hurt in a collision that split a grain trailer in half. The Iowa State Patrol says it happened around 9:30 am at the intersection of 270th Street and Dancer Avenue, west of Marble Rock in Floyd County. A pickup truck driven by Tony Keeling, 41 of Nora Springs, on Dancer Avenue failed to stop for the stop sign, entered the intersection and hit the empty grain trailer being hauled west on 270th Street by David Noss, 38 of Rockwell. The pickup truck snapped the trailer in two and came to a stop on 270th Street. Keeling and a passenger, Aaron Olson, 25 of Nora Springs, were injured and taken to Mercy Medical Center North Iowa for treatment. The Floyd County Sheriffs Office assisted at the scene. WORTH COUNTY, Iowa No one is injured after two separate rollover accidents Friday night in Worth County. The Sheriffs Office says the first happened around 9:09 pm near the intersection of 355th Street and Fir Avenue near Hanlontown. The driver apparently lost control after hitting an ice patch. Neither the driver nor a passenger was hurt. The Iowa State Patrol, Hanlontown and Fertile fire departments, and Forest City Ambulance assisted at the scene. The second rollover happened around 9:21 pm Friday near the intersection of 370th Street and Partridge Avenue. The Worth County Sheriffs Office says another driver lost control on an ice patch on the gravel road and, again, neither the driver nor a passenger was injured. The Iowa State patrol, Manly police and fire, and Mason City Ambulance assisted at this scene. The Sheriffs Office says it is encouraging drivers to slow down on gravel roads, which can become snow-packed and icy and cause vehicles to lose traction. Tiger Woods says he expects to play golf again, just not very often, and he doesnt see himself reaching the top of the sport again because I dont think thats a realistic expectation of me. Battle, who first was elected to the board in 2003 before being named board president four years later, said he was able to meet many of the goals that he set for himself throughout his tenure. In a photo taken on Dec. 1, children wave a North Korean flag as they perform at the Sinuiju City Kindergarten in North Korea's border city of Sinuiju. Lined up in vividly-coloured costumes, make-up and bright smiles, the children of the Sinuiju City Kindergarten belted out the finale of their hour-long show, 'We Cannot Live Without You, Father' an ode to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. AFP The United States has redesignated North Korea as a violator of religious freedom for the 18th consecutive year, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday. North Korea is among 10 Countries of Particular Concern for engaging in or tolerating "systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom," Pompeo said in a statement. The designations were made Nov. 28 in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, and subject the nations to further action by the U.S., including economic sanctions. "In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs. The United States will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression," Pompeo said. He said the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump made religious freedom a top foreign policy priority and launched the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom earlier this year. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. The goal is to fund public safety pensions at 90 percent by 2040, as is required by state law. Village finance director Brian Hanigan said the plan has been working and credits it for chipping away at unfunded pension liabilities, which he said have decreased substantially under the policy. Its nice to do something different and this really fills your belly and stays with you, the chef said, adding many of homeless people attending the dinner need the energy pasta provides later. A lot of people dont realize how much energy it takes to sit out in the cold. The major bone of contention in this years negotiations was the pay structure, with the district wanting to use a new system and the union preferring to retain the traditional steps-and-lanes setup. The compromise was to use the old structure for the first two years and then switch to the districts new structure for the last three years, the union said. Metra and Pace officials also have balanced budgets but need investment in capital projects. Pace, however, is cutting several Saturday service routes in Aurora due to lower ridership, Interim Pace Deputy Executive Director Rocky Donahue said. But Pace saw a 40 percent increase ridership on its Jane Addams Memorial Tollway service. The Park and Ride, located on Route 25, travels from Elgin to Rosemont. It is the first on highway stop in the state, he said. During the same overnight hours of Dec. 10, Wilmette police reported a bag was found in the 1100 block of Locust Road after it was stolen from a car. In that same period, there were reports of auto burglaries on the 700 and 800 block of Romona Road, the 2800 block of Iroquois Road and the 1000 block of Seneca Road, Dep. Police Chief Patrick Collins said. Gurugram, December 15: In a shocking incident, a Turkmenistan couple, arrived in Gurugram for their daughters treatment at a private hospital, lost $7,000 (around Rs 5.03 lakh) to two miscreants on Thursday. Those miscreants posed as cops and looted the couples money in the name of probing their visas and passports. According to the incident, the foreigners Shukur Shukuru and his wife were looted while they were walking towards Medanta hospital around 4 pm on Thursday from the PG they were staying in. Soon the cons arrived in plain clothes claiming to be police personnel and asked a couple of their visas and passports. In the name of checking the travel credentials, they emptied their handbag which had $7,000 in cash. Conspirator Turns Approver in TN Neurosurgeon Murder Case. As the cons walked away and got into their Honda City, parked few yards away, the couple realised that they had been robbed. They called the police immediately, but until that time the goons have fled. Police have registered a complaint under sections 379 (379 (theft) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC at Sadar Police station. Investigating the case, police claimed that they have recovered the CCTV footage and are looking to the miscreants. They even claim that the group is active for the past few months and have similarly looted the foreigners. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2018 02:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Arora is accused of picking up the victim and a friend at an undisclosed business, with the victim sitting in the front seat of his cab and her friend in the back, the release said. After dropping off the friend, Arora allegedly tore off some of the womans clothing and attacked her and then drove a short distance further and sexually assaulted her again, the release said. - A Nigerian firm, Kian Smith Trade & Co Limited is said to build the nations first gold refinery - The project would be completed by the end of the first half of next year - The refinery is expected to start with a production capacity of three tonnes per month of 99.99 per cent gold and one ton per month production of 99.99 per cent silver Nigerias first gold refinery, located in Ogun state, is scheduled to be completed by the end of June, according to Kian Smith Trade & Co Limited, the local company developing it. Legit.ng gathered that the refinery was licensed by the ministry of mines and steel development in October 2018 and its ground-breaking ceremony was held recently. It is expected to start with a production capacity of three tonnes per month of 99.99 per cent gold and one ton per month production of 99.99 per cent silver. The refinery will initially be able to produce 3 metric tons of gold each month, and 1 ton of silver, Kian Smith said in a statement. READ ALSO: PTP presidential candidate promises N50,000 minimum wage if elected president The company said it will also supply the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as the jewelry and electronic industries, and source its gold from states such as Zamfara, Kebbi and Kwara. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the minister of state for mines and steel development, Abubakar Bwari, said, The present administration is determined to develop the mining sector to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth of the country. Part of our marching orders in the mines and steal development ministry is that we are expected to develop the sector to increase its contribution to the nations Gross Domestic Product, improve its capacity to create jobs and engender sustainable mining. Also speaking, the governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by the commissioner for agriculture, Adepeju Adebajo, expressed enthusiasm about the refinery project, saying it was in line with his governments industrialisation plan. The governor described the project as a major boost to the Nigerian mining sector. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, the federal government has been granted $200 million (seventy-two billion four hundred and seventy-six million) loan for the funding of Nigerias electrification project. This was announced by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) in a statement sent to journalists on Monday, December 3. According to the statement, the joint financing is targeted at supporting the government efforts to address critical energy access deficit in the country, and catalyze achievement of universal energy access by 2030 targets. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigerian Electricity Crisis Explained | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng At the time of his arrest, Karas was on paid leave from his sergeants position as the department conducted an internal investigation of allegations that he had used his law enforcement authority to bring a large group of people, including a convicted felon, into an event at the Allstate Arena without tickets or security checks, a complaint filed by Stephens said. Just when people thought there will be no more death recorded in the Nigerian movie industry, another veteran Nollywood actor has just been reported dead. Famous Nollywood star Ifeanyi Ikenga Gbulie died in Enugu on Thursday, December 13. The reportedly died after prolonged battle with stroke. It was also added that late Gbulie was bedridden for several months as a result of stroke. He passed away at the early hours of Thursday, in Enugu. Nollywood actor Ifeanyi Ikenga Gbulie is dead Source: UGC READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Late Gbulies death was confirmed by a member of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Chima Okoroji, who disclosed that the actor will be greatly missed in the industry. Okoroji said: This is too heavy for me; I love this man with a passion his humility is out of this world. I will miss you so much. The deceased was well known for his elderly roles in films, such as End of Dreams, Under Fire and much more. Legit.ng earlier reported that several celebrity deaths have been recorded before the end of 2018. Some slept and couldnt wake up, some due to long-term illnesses while some were involved ghastly motor accidents. PAY ATTENTION: Join Africa Love Aid today for your daily relationship tips and advice RIP! NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better I may join politics soon - Segun Arinze | Legit TV. Source: Legit Newspaper - Governor Nasir El-Rufai has urged the federal government to enact a law that would grant states the jurisdiction to prosecute cases of fake news and hate speech - He pointed out that his Wikipedia page was altered and his nationality was changed to state that he was from Bamako, Mali - The governor stated that he would ensure that all those involved in spreading hate speech are brought to book, including an Abuja-based pastor and a Lagos-based journalist Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state, has urged the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to enact a law that would grant states the jurisdiction to prosecute cases of fake news and hate speech. The governor made the call during a visit by the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on the sidelines of the 47th meeting of the National Council on Information, Daily Trust reports. READ ALSO: 2019: PDP putting lives of our staff at risk - INEC declares Legit.ng gathers that the governor narrated his own experience with fake news; pointing out that his Wikipedia page was altered and his nationality was changed to state that he was from Bamako, Mali. He further narrated how fake news had impacted Kaduna state; saying: The recent crisis we had in Kaduna metropolis at Kasuwan Magani was largely as a result of hate speech. "The second round of crisis that affected many in Kaduna metropolis started with rumours circulating that the abducted chief had been killed and within an hour, 22 people had been killed." El-Rufai stressed that fake news conveyors must not be allowed to go free and stated that he would ensure that all those involved in spreading hate speech are brought to book, including an Abuja-based pastor and a Lagos-based journalist. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, said fake news and hate speech, if left unchecked, constitute the biggest threat to the 2019 general elections. The minister stressed that with the 2019 general elections just a little over 60 days away, no issue was more relevant to the election than the issue of fake news and hate speech. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Southern Kaduna killings - on Legit TV: Source: Legit - Controversial on-air-personality, Daddy Freeze, recently celebrated popular blogger Linda Ikeji - According to him, she has helped Christianity more than several Nigerian pastors - His praise of her came shortly after Linda faced criticism for explaining the circumstances that surrounded the birth of her son, Jayce Nigerian on-air-personality (OAP), Ifedayo Olarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, is in the news again for talk bordering on Nigerian pastors. The broadcaster has gained a reputation for attacking pastors, especially the ones in Nigeria, for practices he finds to be corrupt. Freeze usually finds a way to tie any trending topic to Nigerian preachers. Recently, the presenter took to his Instagram page to praise another controversial media personality, Linda Ikeji, after she faced heat for explaining the circumstances that led to the birth of her newborn son, Jayce Jeremi. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria Photo source: Instagram Source: Instagram According to Freeze, Linda helped to propagate his Free the Sheeple movement because many people who know about his stand on tithing today found out through her blog. He went further to liken her to Samaritan women for bringing souls to salvation. The 42-year-old also explained that she has done more for the body of Christ and Christianity than some Nigerian pastors, including Adeboye, Oyedepo and Adefarasin. READ ALSO: Personal letter from the Editor-in-Chief of Legit.ng (formerly NAIJ.com) See his post below: Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Freeze explained that he is open to discussing Christ with pastor Adeboye for free. The broadcaster has always made it obvious that paying tithes in churches doesnt sit well with him. He has also urged his followers not to pay tithe but rather take it to the less privileged homes. HELLO! NAIJ.com (naija.ng) upgrades to Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Daddy Freeze on Nigerian Pastors and British Royals | Legit TV Source: Legit Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A Clane woman was one of a wide variety Irish volunteers who have helped raise money for an Ethiopian sight project this year by taking part in the Great Ethiopian Run with Orbis Ireland. Cora McCormack joined thousands of other runners on the streets of Addis Ababa on Sunday, November 18 for Africa's biggest road race, a challenging race 10km run at 10,000 ft above sea level. Cora, who works in the aircraft leasing business, travelled to Ethiopia with a number of work colleagues from SMBC Aviation on Thursday, November 15. They did some training on the Friday and visited some facilities on the Saturday. They were raising money for Orbis, which over the last decade has helped to greatly reduce the incidence of blindness in Ethiopia. Between them they raised 37,000. Cora, who is married to Philip, has lived in Clane for twelve years. A regular runner, she said it would be very difficult for a non runners to do the race because of the altitude. I completed it in an hour and ten minutes whereas here it would usually take me an hour, said. I felt very light headed and nauseous at the end, she said. She said there was a carnival atmosphere. It was a new experience for me, she said describing the crowds lining the streets. The race was established in 2001 by one of the world's greatest long-distance runners, Haile Gebrselassie. Over the past nine years Orbis has raised almost 934,000 through participating in The Great Ethiopian Run. COUNCILLORS have decisively rejected a management proposal to build six new council houses on Colbert Terrace in Abbeyfeale and to demolish a house on New Street and refurbish the adjacent one. But they also rejected the second set of plans brought before them which proposed that four family homes would be built on the Terrace while the corner house on New Street would be demolished and the adjacent house refurbished. Instead, the councillors voted that three new houses be built on Colbert Terrace and a house on New Street be refurbished with additional parking to be provided for the health centre. This plan includes the knocking of the corner house to allow for widening of the junction onto New Street. In a long and sometimes fractious debate, Cllr John Sheahan made clear he was unhappy with the way the issue had been approached. It is not the best way to do business, he said. He also wanted clarification on the issue of funding. Is the whole traffic management plan for Abbeyfeale dependent on this (housing) project going ahead? That is what is being put out there, that the whole thing will fail if the houses dont go ahead, he said. Joe Delaney, director of capital investment with Limerick City and County Council, explained that the traffic management plan for the town, estimated to cost 4.5m, would be funded from three sources: Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the council itself and 300,000 from the estimated 1.5m earmarked for the housing project. We have to deliver both projects, he said. But the council officials were unable to be definite on how much money, if any, might be available for a much smaller scheme than that originally proposed. Earlier, Cllr Liam Galvin said the revised plan of four houses was poles apart from what was originally proposed, which had been entirely unsatisfactory to him and to local residents. We have come a long way, he said. In my opinion, there is an opportunity here. He wanted to make it clear though that they were not turning down social housing for the town. But, he argued, parking for the health centre on Colbert Terrace was crucial and he proposed that instead of building four new houses, the footprint of the fourth house on the new set of plans be used to provide car parking spaces. He also proposed that as far as possible, the road along Colbert Terrace be six metres wide and that lighting, drainage, a loading bay and McMahons carpark be included in the design. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Francis Foley who said residents in the area were concerned about density and safety and that while two new houses would be best, they would concede three. Local residents had made a lot of concessions, Cllr Seamus Browne said but he was critical of the process that had taken place and argued that councillors and locals should have been consulted from the start. Had that been done, he pointed out, refurbishing the derelict houses on Colbert Terrace would have been the logical starting point. They had the opportunity to widen significantly the junction between Colbert Terrace and New St, he said, and he was still concerned about retaining and refurbishing the house on New Street.Mr Delaney told councillors that many issues such as width of the road etc could be dealt with at the detailed design stage. Cllr Browne, Foley, Galvin and Sheahan supported the proposal for three new houses plus a refurbished house while Cllr Michael Collins abstained. THE owner of two dogs who were observed fouling on a public footpath in the city centre has been fined 150 for littering. Thomas Glynn who has an address at Catherine Street, Limerick was prosecuted by Limerick City and County Council in relation to an incident which occurred at Bishops Quay on April 27, last. At Limerick District Court, a member of the public described how he saw the two dogs being let out of a Nissan car which had pulled up and parked. He said when he observed the dogs fouling the footpath he confronted the driver who got aggressive with him before leaving with the dogs. The man noted the details of the car and made a complaint to the council about the incident. Michael Walsh, a litter warden with the local authority said, he later established the identity of the registered owner of the vehicle and issued him with an on-the-spot fine which was not paid. A number of reminder letters were also sent. A certificate of ownership was submitted to the court confirming the defendant was the registered owner of the Nissan car. Mr Walsh told solicitor Ger Reidy, representing the council, that dog fouling is an ongoing issue and that four or five complaints are received every week. Noting the evidence, Judge Marian OLeary convicted Mr Glynn and fined him 150, giving him two months to pay. The defendant, who was not present in court, was also ordered to pay the costs and expenses of the council which totalled 250. While the number of detections for drink driving offences has fallen this year, the head of the Limerick garda division says there are still too many people getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol. As of Monday, 269 motorists had been arrested since the beginning of the year on suspicion of drink-driving while a further 29 were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving. The figures were confirmed at a public meeting of the Limerick Joint Policing Committee at County Hall, Dooradoyle on Monday night. Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche, who took over the role in January, told the meeting a major increase in roads policing activities in 2018 has had a deterrent effect leading to a 16% year-on-year decrease in detections for drink or drug driving. In addition to extra patrols, more than 4,800 MIT checkpoints have been conducted across the Limerick division since January representing a 9% increase on the same period last year. Other road traffic offences are also being targeted such as the non-wearing of seatbelts, the use of mobile phones by drivers and speeding. The number of motorists caught speeding in Limerick has increased by 83% since January while the number of people not wearing seat-belts has increased by 7%. Chief Supt Roche says the number of detections for speeding offences so far this year is the second highest of any garda division in the country and is marginally lower than Galway. According to an analysis of garda figures, there were 4,107 detections as of this Monday. This figures does not include detections made by GoSafe vans as they are operated by a private company on behalf of the RSA. While there have been eight fatalities on Limerick roads so far in 2018 (up from seven last year), the number of material damage and non-serious road collisions has reduced slightly. LIMERICK people could be set to vote in four separate polls next May. While the elections for the next five year term of Limerick City and County Council, and the European Parliament are nailed on for May 24 next, local people will be given up to two further ballot papers. A referendum to ease the constitutional restrictions on divorce is to be held on the same day. And Limerick people could also be asked whether they wish to create a new office of directly elected mayor. Labour TD Jan OSullivan has urged local government minister Eoghan Murphy to produce full details of the powers any new directly elected mayor. The people need to know in advance what these directly elected mayors will actually do. It is pointless creating these positions if they dont come with any additional powers. This must be about giving more power to people by eliminating any democratic deficit at local government level, said Ms OSullivan, a former mayor herself. We are aware of the initial decision of the Department of Revenue to reverse the Board of Reviews decision, and we fully intend to appeal the decision so that we can present all of the relevant information just as we did with the Cook County Board of Review, a village statement read. These appeals are a long process, but in the end we believe that our contract, that Keystone willingly signed 20 years ago, is valid and enforceable. The village remains ready, however, to work out an agreeable resolution of this matter with Keystone Montessori should they want one, as we would with any of our institutions and businesses in River Forest. ONE of Limericks most enduring attractions for the last two decades has been the Live Crib in Adare. The crib will be open to the public from this Sunday, December 16, from 2pm to 5pm. It will take place in the Parish Hall. The staging of the crib there last year was hugely successful, and Anne Mordan, one of the organisers, hopes to carry on a tradition which has been going for nearly a quarter of a century. This will be our 23rd Live Crib in Adare and it is a source of great pride and joy in the parish that the crowds throng to us annually, to take part in this traditional and authentic event, Anne said. Our cast is fully in place. The babies and their parents are looking forward to their outing and again demand was high from locals to participate in the crib. The live animals are lined up for duty, the young boys and girls are happy to be the shepherds on the day. There will be a host of carol singing on the day, with local schoolchildren from St Nicholas School, Our Ladys Abbey and Scoil Naomh Iosaf, opening the afternoon celebration. Shountrade NS are unavoidably absent this year. Instead, the relatively newly-formed Adare Youth Choir will perform. They will be followed by Croagh Church Choir and Holy Trinity Abbey Choir. If you have never been to see our Live Crib, do come along and witness the event in all its good-humoured simplicity. From grandparents to babies, everybody is welcome, said Anne. Admission is free. Donations received on the day go to various charities. A JUDGE has expressed her amazement at the quality of CCTV produced during a number of prosecutions for illegal dumping in Limerick. Stills from CCTV footage were submitted at Limerick District Court relating to offences which happened in the Ballinacurra Weston area of the city. In one case, Judge Marian OLeary was told the defendant Eugene Nevin senior of Collins Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston was identified as the person who had burned waste which had been collected from a number of houses by a Toyota Dyna truck. Executive engineer Dermot Lambe said an investigation was launched after the local authority was alerted to an incident on September 27, 2017. He said CCTV footage was obtained which showed rubbish being collected and burned on waste ground at Salvia Court, Keyes Park. Smoke can been seen billowing from the area in some of the footage while the culprit can be seen holding a petrol can while standing over the fire. A vehicle was subsequently seized by the council and after Mr Nevin was identified as the culprit a prosecution was initiated under the provisions of the Waste Management Act. The defendant was fined 500 and ordered to pay costs and expenses totalling 770. In another case, the court was shown stills of a man carrying two bags of rubbish at Greenmount Avenue shortly after 1.30pm on April 23, last. Litter Warden Paul McAnespie said the man can be seen walking a short distance before returning into camera shot without any bags. He told solicitor Ger Reidy he recovered two bags of rubbish matching those being carried by the man later in the day at railway tracks nearby. With the assistance of gardai, Joseph Storan of Raheen Square, Ballinacurra Weston was identified as the culprit from the CCTV which, the court heard, was of good quality After convicting and fining Mr Storan 500, Judge OLeary said the quality of the footage was unbelievable and speaks for itself and she asked if people realise they are on camera. In a third case, Darren Corbett of Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston was fined 500 after he was convicted of disposing waste on a green area near his home on July 25. Mr McAnaspie said CCTV footage was obtained after he was alerted to a dumping incident. The footage, he said, shows the defendant carrying a box from his home and around the corner in the direction of the green before he comes back without it. A box containing a boiler and horse manure was located at the green and Mr McAnaspie said he was satisfied it was the same waste which Mr Corbett was carrying. Again the defendant was identified with the assistance of gardai. CHILDREN were exposed to cross infection at a Limerick childcare facility after staff were observed wearing used protective gloves to collect the next child for nappy changing, according to a Tusla inspection report. This service provider was one of 31 facilities across the city and county that were found to be non-compliant in certain practices, in a review of around 200 inspection reports published since January 2017. Inspectors also found that at another facility, it had been three weeks since these children were outdoors and that there was no designated outdoor space for children, aged six to 18 months. A city facility, which was inspected in June last, was found to be at risk of having unauthorised persons accessing the service. The inspector, in this case, had been informed that many parents had knowledge of the access code to the building and that it was not secure. Revealed: Inspectors discover faults in 31 childcare facilities More than 30 creches, childminders and Montessoris across the city and county were found to be engaging in non-compliant practices since 2017, according to Tusla inspection reports. In a review of around 200 inspection reports, the Limerick Leader found 31 facilities to be non-compliant in relation to infection control, garda vetting, security and suitability of play areas and other areas. The majority of childcare facilities in Limerick received unanimously positive reviews by inspectors. The majority of reports of centres where faults were identified were largely positive. According to an inspection report of a city facility in April last, some adults did not wash their hands before handling food before and after nappy changing and after outdoor play with children. The inspector also noted that, even though staff were wearing protective gloves during nappy changing they were not changing them between children. The staff member re-entered the playroom still wearing the used gloves to collect the next child for nappy changing which exposed the children to risk of cross infection, the report stated. The report added that there was no nappy changing policy displayed to guide staff at the facility. In response to this, the centre said that an in-house training day cross-infection will be a core area for all staff to cover, a review of nappy changing policy will take place and staff will meet to discuss proper procedure for nappy changing and cross infection. Toddlers were also exposed to cross infection due to torn safety mattresses in three cots, the inspector found. The service provider responded that all mattresses will be replaced. The report added that the wheel of a cot in the toddlers sleep room was broken and it was supported by a piece of block. One County Limerick facility did not have information on procedures to protect children and staff from the transmission of infection in its infection control policy, two inspectors reported in September 2017. The facility said that it has included this information in its infection control policy. Tusla found that parents were not aware who their childs key worker was in many of the playrooms and that the opportunity for siblings to be together was not adequate. The report also stated that children were mixing for minutes only and not long periods throughout the day. Inspectors also found that it had been three weeks since these children were outdoors and that there was no designated outdoor space for children, aged six to 18 months. The range and choice, including sand and water play activities, were inadequate in some areas of this facility. In a Montessori room, children appeared visibly tired and it was difficult to reduce the sensory stimulation of the fluorescent lighting. In response, the service provider stated that parents were informed of their childs key worker, and that this information is on notice boards in each room. The facility said that siblings are now encouraged to mix for longer periods of time, and that staff in a specific room have included in the daily routine plan the opportunity for outdoor play on a daily basis. In relation to the lights, the service provider said: On a room to room basis as the finances allows, the service are replacing the fluorescent lighting with a more natural light bulb. A city facility, which was inspected in June last, was found to be at risk of having unauthorised persons accessing the service. The report stated that the inspector was informed by staff that the access code to enter the building was not secure as many parents had knowledge of the code which could lead to unauthorised access by an adult to the building and/or egress of child from the building. In response, the manager has documented that a keypad on the main door has been disabled, with the entry and exit controlled by the office solely. Additionally, the manager said that a qualified professional will remain at the front reception at all times. A new security camera was installed at the front door of the facility, and that swipe cards will be used for staff access only. In an inspection in July 2018, it was found that a facility in County Limerick had not maintained its fire fighting equipment since September 2012. The centre replaced two fire extinguishers following the inspection. Another County Limerick centre, inspected in April last, had a slide in the outdoor area that was broken and not properly secured to the ground. The service said that all outdoor equipment is checked on a regular basis to ensure broken materials are removed or repaired when required. One city service had six pre-school children attending the facility at the time of an unannounced inspection in June last. This, according to inspectors, exceeded the maximum number of children permitted to attend the service, which was five. In response, the service provider said that one extra child was only there on that one occasion as a parent had asked her to take the child due to an unforeseen circumstance. Another facility in County Limerick exceeded the maximum number by two children, all of whom were aged 10 months to five years. The service said that two children were due to leave on the day of the inspection in July 2018, and two children had started in the service that week. One service did not have garda vetting for five staff members who lived outside the jurisdiction for longer than six months. The city service, which was inspected in March last, responded that police vetting was secured for four staff, and that the fifth staff member no longer works at the facility, the report stated. A significant safety risk was identified at a city facility during an inspection in December 2017, in relation to an outdoor play area where the steps leading to the climbing frame were slippery and wet and there was an accumulation of wet leaves on the all weather surface covering the area. In response, the service provider said the outdoor area has been cleaned and power-hosed. A County Limerick facility, inspected in December 2017, did not have two written and validated references for three adults working in the service at the time of inspection. The centre also did not have garda vetting available for two staff members. In response, the references and garda vetting documents were emailed to the inspectorate office. THE award winning play The Morning After The Life Before is to return to a Limerick stage in 2019, it has been announced. The play, written by local theatre maker Ann Blake and directed by Paul Meade, is to be presented in Dolans Warehouse as part of the Limerick Literary Festival for one night only on February 23. A light-hearted, playful telling of a true story the show is a personal, entertaining tale of weddings, coming out and arguments over who takes out the bins, set in the aftermath of the marriage equality referendum. Ann Blake said she was so excited to be returning home with the show for the first time since its opening in Belltable in 2017. The play has had huge, essential support from the Limerick Arts Community including HatchLk, Lime Tree Theatre, Belltable, Dolans and Limerick Arts Office. It is so special for me to be part of the iconic Kate O'Brien Festival, particularly as it will be following an international tour in early 2019 including New York and London. It is the perfect welcome home to bring the show to Limerick audiences in this fantastic festival - a small part of the play is even set in Dolans itself, she added. Valerie Dolan said: Dolans are once again delighted to host an event as part of the Kate O'Brien festival. This important Limerick festival has been going from strength to strength over recent years and is now up there with Irelands best literary celebrations. It is therefore fitting that we present The Morning after the Life Before. This fantastic piece of theatre has captured the hearts of audiences around the world since its first performance. We are proud to be bringing it home on February 23. The play will be followed by a group discussion. Participants will be revealed over the coming weeks. Tickets from www.dolans.ie. Washington Sometimes, profound truths about humanity and God are revealed when we take a small step back. Or rocket ourselves into space. Astronaut James Lovell had that epiphany in 1968 as he became one of the first astronauts to orbit the moon. "I remembered a saying I'd often heard: 'I hope to go to heaven when I die.' I suddenly realized that I went to heaven when I was born," said Lovell. Lovell spoke at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday at a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1Apollo 8 mission that sent astronauts Lovell, William Anders and Frank Borman into space to circle the moon. The mission, Dec. 21-27, included an unusual religious element: As the three spacefarers rounded the moon on Christmas Eve, they paused to read the first 10 verses from the Book of Genesis. The themes of religion, space and caring for the "good Earth" were recounted Tuesday as religious leaders and NASA officials addressed a crowd beneath swirling stars projected onto the cathedral's ceiling. Randy Hollerith, dean of the cathedral, spoke of the way Apollo 8 affected life on Earth "This amazing mission ... gave us the most powerful images of our small and fragile world God's precious gift, awash in an unimaginably large universe," Hollerith said. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, drew parallels between the experience of spaceflight and encounters with divine mystery. "The exploration of space is part of the human quest for knowledge, and the human quest for knowledge is to know God's creation," Curry said. Curry said cosmic awe can fuel Earth-bound activism and many have claimed the famed Apollo 8 "Earthrise" photo jump-started the modern environmentalist movement. We are here because the great God Almighty looked back and said, 'I'm lonely; I'll make me a world.' Deep in the fabric of this creation, we are a part of it not the sum total of it," Curry said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine focused on the audacity of the Apollo 8 mission. He noted that the astronauts' Christmas message reached those in Soviet Russia, where religious celebrations wer discouraged by the officially atheistic government. Fusions of space and faith have also sparked controversy. The Apollo 8 Genesis reading triggered a lawsuit by atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who argued the crew's actions violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The case made it to the Supreme Court, which dismissed it, citing lack of jurisdiction. On the first Sunday of Advent, in Greenpoint, one of Brooklyn's trendiest neighborhoods, I went to a holiday market that catered to a clientele in their 20s and 30s. Stalls were devoted to a wide range of "oddities": a cornucopia of antique jewelry and risque fetish-wear. Nearly every stall had wares that nodded to the occult. Some were subtle references like pentagrams or alchemically inspired drawings. Others were obvious, like a "Dykes for Satan" T-shirt. Most people at the Oddities Market wouldn't identify themselves as members of some neopagan faith, such as Wicca. In the age of Trump, occult imagery has come to be associated with those who #Resist. The Oddities Market reflects a point about today's wider religious marketplace, particularly among young city dwellers: The demarcation between what is and is not religious is increasingly blurred. A "Dykes For Satan" shirt or a "Make Your Own Magic" candle and the values, ideas and affiliations they express aren't explicitly religious not in the way a rosary is. But for more and more Americans, religious identity doesn't look the way it used to. These "nones" outnumber every other single religious voting bloc. Yet 72 percent of them profess belief in some sort of higher power even if that higher power isn't necessarily a traditional, major faith deity. Nones may be interested in spirituality or participating in symbolically resonant rituals or believe in "New Age" principles, including the efficacy of psychics or astrology. Harvard Divinity School researchers have identified "cult" fitness programs like CrossFit and SoulCycle as a form of church for regular participants. Internet fandom communities foster community through valued texts like Harry Potter and shared meaning, like any religious group. This doesn't necessarily mean people are replacing religion with secular equivalents. Rather, through a kind of religious "unbundling," elements of existing spiritual and religious traditions are increasingly divorced from their original contexts. Even when we talk about a single religion, we're talking about not one concept but many identity, shared goals and values that hold us in community, rituals to affirm faith and an overarching narrative of meaning. Religion contains multitudes. We will need a vocabulary to describe the practices, beliefs, communities and rituals that shape future faith identities. Most of America's young religiously unaffiliated are not so much religious nones as they are religious "manys." They are like shoppers at a holiday market, finding meanings in an object here, choosing among elements of religious life that resonate with them. These elements may not look like organized religion but, they function in much the same way. Tara Isabella Burton is a travel writer, short story writer and essayist and works the religion correspondent for Vox. Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits soon will create 250 jobs as it opens a distribution center near Highway 90 and Cane Island Parkway in Katy. After a Dec. 10 executive session, Katy City Council approved a tax abatement agreement with Houston Property Partners II LLC and Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits of Texas for development of about 42 acres in West Ten Business Park. Pat McNamara, SVP of Risk and Facilities, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, said, We are very excited to be partnering with Katy and Waller County. It is a strategic move that will benefit Katy, Waller County and Southern Glazers. According to Forbes, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits is the largest wine and spirits distribution company in North America. Visit https://tinyurl.com/y95labx3 for more information. Houston Property Partners and Southern Glazers are buying the Oakmont, a speculation building constructed in the business park, said Byron Hebert, city administrator. We have hired an architect and a general contractor, who are working on the plans, said McNamara. We hope to have something ready by late January. Our target move-in date is August 2019. We came across the building in a search in the Houston metro area. During our initial meetings with the city and county, we quickly recognized what a strong success this would be, said McNamara. Katy is a great regional hub for Southern Glazers, positioning us to be one of the premier distribution centers in the country. It is one of the companys largest buildings, at over 675,000 square feet. Requirements of the agreement include Southern Glazers making at least $3 million in improvements to the property and installing or maintaining at least $15 million of tangible personal property including racking, a mezzanine, conveyor system and lift trucks, prior to Jan. 1, 2021. As of July 1, 2020, the company is required to have at least 250 employees and beginning with the year 2021, Southern Glazers is required to maintain a minimum $75 million in rendered taxable value of inventory. That inventory is not subject to abatement, said Hebert. The certified real property improvements must not be less than $35 million beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Failure to meet requirements means the company wont quality for the tax abatement for that year or the abatement will be adjusted on a corresponding percentage basis. The schedule calls for a 40 percent abatement each year for a 10-year period ending in 2028. In separate action, council also authorized the mayor to executive a tax abatement agreement with PME Oakmont West Ten. Hebert said that Waller County and Fort Bend-Waller MUD No. 2 are participating with the city in the abatement agreement. Its not the only Dec. 10 action at the City Council meeting related to Waller County property. In separate action, City Council approved a petition for annexation of 150 acres. City Council also changed the zoning classification of the annexed property from R-1 (Single-Family District) to M (Industrial District). Anas Garfaoui, city planner, wrote in a report to City Council that the zoning change fits within the surrounding area and had always been the intended use of the property between Interstate 10 and Highway 90. Katy Partners Ltd filed the petition for annexation. City officials said they expected to make an announcement soon about development of that property. karen.zurawski@chron.com EDWARDSVILLE A grand jury Thursday handed up an indictment on 15 counts of child pornography after officers allegedly discovered lewd videos on his computer. John T. Cameron, 32, of the 800 block of Amherst Street, Edwardsville, was charged Thursday with two Class X counts of child pornography and 13 Class 2 counts of child pornography. You are here: China Former vice minister of finance Zhang Shaochun stood trial Friday for taking bribes at the Second Municipal Intermediate People's Court of Beijing. Zhang was charged with illicitly accepting money and property worth more than 66.98 million yuan (about 9.7 million U.S. dollars) between 1995 and 2018. He allegedly took advantage of his positions to benefit others in business operations, position adjustments, and school enrollment for children during that period. In his final statement, Zhang pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. More than 50 people, including legislators, journalists and members of the public, were present during the trial. The verdict will be announced at a later date. LONDON - Not long ago, staging a second Brexit referendum was a fringe idea - a pipe dream of a handful of "remoaners" who had voted to remain in the European Union, cheered on by unpopular figures from yesteryear, such as former prime minister Tony Blair. But the once barely imaginable is now becoming remotely possible. The British may be headed toward one of history's greatest do-overs - another vote to ask do they really, really want to leave the E.U., after all they know now about breaking up being hard to do. For crazy, chaotic Brexit, nothing would be more crazy and chaotic than another vote. Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly ruled out a second referendum, arguing that the people already voted, in June 2016, when Brexit won by 52 percent to 48 percent. Now, she says, the job is to deliver on that result. Her cabinet is also against a second plebiscite, and the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, isn't a big fan, either. But after two years of bickering, confusion and uncivil war over what Brexit should look like, and as it has become clear that the version approved by the E.U. and May's cabinet has little chance of passing Parliament, more and more Brits are wondering whether a second, "people's vote" might be the only thing to break the impasse. "I didn't think it very likely, but now I'm beginning to wonder if it's the only exit out of a burning building," said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London. A year ago, London bookmaker William Hill was offering 12-1 odds for a second referendum. Today, it's 1-1. Adding to the chaos, no one knows which way a new vote would go. For a long while after the 2016 referendum, public opinion on Brexit didn't change much. Many Brits doubled down on whatever position they'd taken and began to define themselves as "leavers" or "remainers." But as the trade-offs of their decision have become more apparent, there's been a slight shift. Many polls show that, if the choice today were between leaving or remaining, a small majority of Britons would vote to stay in the E.U. But those inclinations have not been tested by a hard-fought, second campaign. Some of May's allies see a potential second referendum as a chance to secure a mandate for her Brexit deal, to give it the endorsement that Parliament appears unlikely to grant. Nick Timothy, a former top aide to May, wrote in the Daily Telegraph this past week that with her deal "dead as a dodo" in Parliament, the only viable options are a super "soft Brexit," where Britain pursues for a trade deal with the E.U. like the one Norway has (which isn't that popular, to be honest) or a second referendum. Is May in such a jam that she might go back to the public? She is famously stubborn, but she is also pragmatic and she has tried mightily to stay relevant - and employed. She knows her current deal is very unpopular. If it loses in the House of Commons, she just might pivot and support a second people's vote. "It would not surprise me at all if the prime minister were to say, my deal has been defeated, you know what, I still think it's the right deal for the country and I'm going to put it to the country in a referendum and then off we go," Hilary Benn, a Labour lawmaker and and remainer and chair of the Brexit select committee, told the BBC. The organized push for a second referendum has been coming from europhiles in London and the university towns, economists, a couple of peers in the House of Lords, journalists who believe the first vote was rigged, and others who think leaving one of the world's largest and richest trading blocs is a dumb idea. The Labour Party's activists love the idea of a do-over. At the party's convention in September, delegates voted overwhelmingly to support a second referendum, despite the lack of enthusiasm from most of the party leadership. In October, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of London to demand a people's vote on any Brexit deal. Organizers called it the second largest protest here in the 21st century, after the massive demonstration against the Iraq War in 2003. Pro-Europeans were thrilled last month when the Conservative lawmaker and remainer Jo Johnson - the younger brother of Brexiteer Boris Johnson - quit May's cabinet and threw his weight behind a people's vote. "Given that the reality of Brexit has turned out to be so far from what was once promised, the democratic thing to do is to give the public the final say," Jo Johnson wrote in his resignation letter. The movement got a further boost this past week when the European Court of Justice ruled that Britain could unilaterally reverse itself and stay in the E.U. if it chose to. The path to a second referendum wouldn't be easy, though. There isn't a majority in Parliament right now calling for a do-over. One analysis calculated that only 133 lawmakers - out of 650 - have publicly backed a second referendum. Paul Butters, a spokesman for the pro-referendum activist group Best for Britain, said he's seeing an uptick in members of Parliament mulling over the idea. "MPs we haven't lobbied are coming up, saying, 'My constituents are making the case to me' - you're starting to see a lot of that," he said. Campaigners hope the number would go up even more if May's deal is voted down in Parliament. But even if enough lawmakers were to support a second referendum, implementation would take time. The Constitution Unit research group at University College London estimates that it could take about five months to pull it off. Britain doesn't have five months. It's set to leave the E.U. in three. So it would need to negotiate an extension of the Brexit deadline with Brussels. There is also the fraught issue of what would be on the ballot. Would it be a binary choice - a yes or a no? And if so, what would those choices be? May's Brexit deal versus a no-deal Brexit? Or May's deal versus remain in the E.U.? Those questions would produce radically different results. Perhaps there could be multiple options? Preferential voting? All of this would be highly contentious. Boris Johnson, who resigned as May's foreign secretary because of his frustration with her approach to Brexit, acknowledged this past week that "growing numbers" of lawmakers want a second vote, but he argued against it. "Leaving aside the likely outcome of such a second poll (and I see no reason why Leave should not win again), it would be infamous and pathetic of MPs to go back to the people before the political class had even succeeded in delivering on the first referendum result," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph. "It would so shake trust in politicians that the Government would suffer massively, and deservedly, in the next general election," Johnson argued. Many opponents of a second referendum say it would not only be divisive, but undemocratic - that the establishment can't hold votes until it gets the answers that it wants. Others say a referendum is inherently democratic. "May's suggestion that a #PeoplesVote would 'overturn the will of the British people' makes literally no sense," tweeted J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter creator and an arch-remainer. "Who does she think would be voting? The Chinese?" Caroline Lucas, a Green Party lawmaker, told The Washington Post: "I think it's right that people have the opportunity to have a first say on the actual facts of the deal. Two years ago, people didn't have any information, really, about what kind of Brexit we would be talking about, and now we know that every single version of Brexit that is being offered are versions that will make the whole country poorer." "I'm very conflicted" on a second referendum, said Caroline Cheales, 57, who was waving an E.U. flag outside the wrought iron gates of Westminister on Wednesday, waiting to see if May had survived a no-confidence vote triggered by those unhappy with her Brexit proposal. "I'd love it if it was rerun and we ended up remaining, because I think this is a catastrophic change of direction," Cheales said. But she also fretted it could sow even greater division. "Just rerunning it isn't necessarily going to be the answer," she said. U.S. prosecutors on Friday asked a federal judge for permission to move Maria Butina to and from jail for ongoing interviews, including potentially to testify before a grand jury, in a filing intended to be sealed that appeared on the public docket for her case. Butina, 30, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of the Russian government to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and the wider conservative movement to set up back-channel communication with leading Republicans around the time of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. As part of her plea deal, she agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. In a 7-page document filed Friday afternoon to a judge, prosecutors said they were making their travel request under seal because disclosing Butina's movements from Alexandria City Jail, where she has been held since July, "may jeopardize defendant's safety and may jeopardize the ongoing investigation." They added "the proposed order references defendant Butina's possible transportation to a grand jury," which is a confidential proceeding under federal criminal rules. The request asks to cover movements through Jan. 17. Butina had previously traveled from the jail in September and October, according to the filing, which says the jail officials asked prosecutors to get the court to reauthorize FBI agents to take custody of Butina on the dates prosecutors need her. A previous travel authorization from the judge in Butina's case, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan of the District, expired Dec. 6. Butina's defense joined the request for a "follow-on order," prosecutors wrote. Although the request stated it was being filed under seal, and included a proposed order allowing it to be filed under seal, it was posted shortly before 5 p.m. on the public docket of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It remained viewable only briefly, before the online link to the filing was disabled. Spokespersons for the U.S. attorney's office of the District and district court did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the apparent error. Butina's attorney, Robert Driscoll, declined to comment. Butina, the first Russian national convicted of seeking to influence U.S. policy as a foreign agent before the 2016 election, agreed to cooperate with U.S. investigators in exchange for a consideration of less prison time. One of Butina's main targets was the NRA - a group she identified in a 2015 memo as an organization that "had influence over" the Republican Party, according to court filings. Her relationships with the group, she wrote, could be used as the groundwork for an unofficial channel of communication to the next presidential administration. Butina and Alexander Torshin, a former Russian government official who helped direct her activities, according to descriptions in court filings, used their NRA connections to get access to GOP presidential candidates. Court documents indicate Butina worked closely in her efforts to advance Russia's interests with a Republican Party consultant, with whom she had a romantic relationship after they met when he visited Moscow in 2013. The operative, previously named as Paul Erickson, is a longtime GOP political adviser from South Dakota who managed the 1992 presidential campaign of Pat Buchanan. Erickson's lawyer, William Hurd said in a statement this week that Erickson "has never done anything to hurt our country and never would." WASHINGTON - Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., plans to resign at the end of the year, opening up the seat John McCain held until his death and triggering a consequential decision for Arizona's Republican governor, who must appoint a replacement. Kyl's announcement came the same day that Rep. Martha McSally, R, one of the finalists to succeed him, sought to repair uneasy relations with the McCain family. During a meeting with McCain's widow, Cindy McCain, McSally apologized for her lack of public praise for the senator on a defense bill named in his honor, according to two people familiar with the conversation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private discussion. Gov. Doug Ducey's office announced Friday that Kyl submitted a letter of resignation effective Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m. In his letter, Kyl called it "an honor and a privilege" to return to the Senate and fill McCain's seat. He briefly explained the timing of his departure. "When I accepted your appointment, I agreed to complete the work of the 115th Congress and then reevaluate continuing to serve," Kyl wrote in his letter to Ducey, dated Dec. 12. "I have concluded that it would be best if I resign so that your new appointee can begin the new term with all other Senators in January 2019 and can serve a full two (potentially four) years." Republican leaders have long anticipated Kyl's departure, and Ducey's team has been preparing accordingly. The governor has considered appointing McSally, a favorite of Senate Republican leaders who lost a competitive race for Arizona's other Senate seat last month. But Ducey and his confidants have grown frustrated with McSally and her team in recent weeks, according to two people familiar with the governor's thinking, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss private conversations. A post-election memo in which McSally's campaign pointed to external factors rather than examining its own strategic decisions outraged the governor's close circle, the people said. It also drew criticism from other Republicans. Ducey encouraged McSally's meeting with Cindy McCain. In the conversation, Cindy McCain emphasized the importance of respecting the legacy of the seat John McCain held, according to the people familiar with the conversation. McSally often distanced herself from McCain during her campaign, a sore point for some of the late senator's associates and loved ones. While she touted the National Defense Authorization Act, which was named for McCain, she hardly mentioned him. President Donald Trump, who clashed with McCain, adopted a similar posture. Cindy McCain accepted McSally's apology, the people familiar with the conversation said. By the end of the meeting, no commitments were requested or given, the people said. The strained relationship between McSally and the McCain family was evident on social media Friday. "McSally strikes me as an unwise choice for a number of reasons. She's like an NFL team that plays down to its opponents' level - and she'll be tasked with running for re-election immediately," Ben Domenech, the late senator's son-in-law tweeted Friday. Meghan McCain, Domenech's wife and John and Cindy's daughter, retweeted the post. Representatives for McSally and Cindy McCain did not immediately comment. While McSally's standing with Ducey is shaky, she is still a finalist for the appointment. Republicans expect a decision soon, and Ducey's office said in a news release that a replacement would be named "in the near future." Ducey's outgoing chief of staff, Kirk Adams, is also a possibility for the Senate seat. Adams announced late last month that he was leaving Ducey's office, and Friday was his last day. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and his allies have advocated appointing McSally, concluding that she gives the party the best chance of holding the Senate seat in the 2020 special election. The seat will also be on the ballot in 2022. Ducey praised Kyl for agreeing to come back to the Senate earlier this year. "When Jon Kyl returned to the Senate in September, our country faced many critical issues," he said in a statement. "Arizona needed someone who could hit the ground running from day one and represent our state with experience and confidence - and that's exactly what Senator Kyl has done." Kyl previously served in the Senate alongside McCain from 1995 until 2013. He started his second stint during the contentious battle over Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court. Before rejoining the Senate, Kyl helped shepherd Kavanaugh's nomination. The Senate vacancy has drawn renewed attention to this year's race in Arizona. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D, defeated McSally in a contest that attracted national attention. Many Republicans have expressed disappointment in McSally's loss. Some, including Ducey, anticipate 2020 could be a more difficult election cycle for the GOP in Arizona. Republicans expanded their Senate majority to 53-47 over the Democratic caucus in the midterm elections. The balance will remain the same after Kyl's replacement joins the chamber, as Ducey is required under Arizona law to pick someone from the same party as the outgoing senator. If McSally gets the appointment, she would become the 25th woman serving in the Senate at the start of the 116th Congress. DECATUR (AP) Unlike so many of the stones marking the final resting place of Civil War veterans in Greenwood Cemetery, the stone of Archie Ward is easy to read. Born in 1844 in Tennessee as a slave, Ward fought in the Civil War, served as pastor of St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church and died in Decatur in 1916. As St. Teresa High School sociology students Maddie McNamara and Taylor Prasun copied down the information for their class project, they discussed Ward and wondered about him. Id like to know more about his history, Maddie said. The girls agreed that it was worth doing some research to see if they could learn more. Greenwood is an old cemetery, probably the oldest in Decatur, and nearly all the names familiar to residents from schools and streets are represented there: Packard, Durfee, Millikin. Aged mausoleums and faded tombstones with the carvings faint from almost 200 years of wind and weather exist side by side with newer graves, surrounded by those whose deaths were in the 19th or very early 20th centuries. It was that history that drew sociology teacher Mario Podeschi to suggest the project to his students as the first step in their first research paper: examining the headstones and the clues they could find on those stones that will tell them something about the people and the families of Decaturs early years. We are analyzing gravestones and looking for sociological explanations about them, Maddie said. The first step is simply collecting data, Taylor said, such as a name, age at death and so on. Then they look for religious symbols and the style of the gravestone, which can tell them a lot about the deceased and his or her family. We are working toward our first big research paper, Podeschi said. Today we were reading The Big Book of Illinois Ghost Stories (by Troy Taylor). Its written by a fellow Midwesterner, so I think when we finally settle on what our paper will exactly be about, its going to be something like the historical facts. To keep their research as close to professional as possible, the students could also bring a research assistant along to take notes for them, so they were free to prowl and find the most interesting markers. Maddie and Taylor chose fellow student Mitchell Vandercar, who isnt taking sociology this semester. It just seemed like a really cool project, to put all the data together and make it into a paper, Maddie said. What makes it sociology and not history, said Taylor, is the focus. Psychology focuses on one person, she said. Sociology focuses on groups of people. Studying a cemetery and the headstones in it, she said, provides information about how people lived and interacted, what their beliefs were and what was important to them. The students chose the Civil War section of Greenwood Cemetery because they wanted the oldest graves possible. Greenwood contains stones of almost every type, giving the students plenty of chances for studying customs and history. Podeschi even found a cenotaph, an inscription attached to a stone in memory of a person buried elsewhere. It would take only 118 pounds of fentanyl to kill 25 million people. That's how much of the powerful opioid painkiller Nebraska State Trooper Sam Mortensen found in April when he stopped a truck marked "U.S. Mail" swerving onto the shoulder along Interstate 80. Rolling up the trailer door revealed an empty hold. But just below a refrigeration unit, behind a plastic panel secured with mismatched bolts, Mortensen found 42 brick-shaped packages, weighing 54 kilograms, full of fentanyl. The drug is so potent that even a small amount - the equivalent of a few grains of salt - can be lethal. "Is that even believable? Can you even imagine?," President Donald Trump said in October when Mortensen was honored at the White House for making one of the largest fentanyl seizures in U.S. history. The truck's two drivers were arrested. "Trooper Mortensen, that was a job well done." Fentanyl has emerged as the most dangerous of a group of drugs blamed for creating a U.S. public health crisis. American deaths linked to fentanyl grew more than 50 percent to 29,406 last year, from 19,413 in 2016, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Relatively easy to manufacture, the drug is turning up more on the streets as dealers strive to meet still-enormous demand for opioids in the U.S. Fentanyl is ever-evolving as suppliers try to avoid detection and still boost the potency of the drug using what are called analogues - essentially chemical cousins. "There's never been a drug like fentanyl before," said Josh Bloom, senior director of chemical and pharmaceutical research at the American Council on Science and Health. "For street drugs, this absolutely destroys anything else in terms of lethality and danger." Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, with which it is often mixed. In its strongest form, called carfentanil, it is used legally as an elephant tranquilizer. Law enforcement officers and first responders have been warned to handle fentanyl with extreme caution; some have fallen seriously ill after getting it on their skin or clothing. The fatal potential of even glancing contact with fentanyl is a major reason why national security experts are becoming alarmed at the prospect of it being used to sow terror. The drug is "a significant threat to national security," Michael Morell, the former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama, wrote last year. "It is a weapon of mass destruction." The use of fentanyl as a weapon isn't new. In 2002, 50 armed rebels held more than 800 hostages in a crowded theater in Moscow, demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. After a few days, Russian forces used a gas, reported by state news agency Interfax to be fentanyl, to incapacitate the attackers, though more than 100 hostages were also killed. As a tool of terror, the drug would work best in a closed space, said Daniel Gerstein, a senior policy researcher at Rand Corp. who served as acting undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate in the Obama administration. Open-air release likely wouldn't be as effective, as the drug could become too diluted, he said. If ground-up fentanyl is placed on everyday objects, people could easily put their fingers in their mouths or rub their eyes and have a deadly reaction, said Bloom, the American Council on Science and Health official. "It doesn't take much more than a half-competent chemist to be able to manufacture it. And it's cheaper to manufacture than heroin." Containing a fentanyl attack would be difficult for police and emergency medical officials. Overdoses of the drug are hard to reverse with existing formulations of antidotes such as the Narcan nasal spray. Narcan is carried by many police and paramedics, especially in areas hard-hit by the recent opioid epidemic. But people incapacitated by fentanyl frequently require multiple doses. Even some police and other emergency officials who've mistakenly ingested or absorbed the drug have needed multiple blasts of Narcan to be brought back. Last year, police officer Chris Green made a traffic stop in East Liverpool, Ohio, and ended up with fentanyl powder on his shirt. After another officer pointed it out back at the station, Green brushed it off with his hand. Soon, paramedics were rushing him to the hospital. "He realizes something ain't right," said Police Chief John Lane. "He gets lightheaded." Green survived after being given four doses of Narcan. Though skin contact with fentanyl isn't typically deadly, Green had used sanitizer on his hands, which hastened the absorption of the fentanyl through his skin. A video distributed to law enforcement in August by U.S. Customs and Border Protection warns against using hand sanitizer and says those who have touched fentanyl shouldn't touch their eyes, nose or mouth. The U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, known as Barda, is tasked with developing medical countermeasures. In September, it penned a potential $4.6 million contract with Opiant Pharmaceuticals Inc. to produce a reliable single-dose fentanyl antidote. "Fentanyl-based drugs have been used in conflicts in other countries, so we know it's possible, and we need to be ready to save lives and protect Americans from potential health security threats," said Barda Director Rick Bright. He said repeat doses of naloxone, as Narcan is known generically, could be difficult to administer in a terror attack. Opiant, based in Santa Monica, California, plans to test a nasal-spray version of a drug called nalmefene with the goal of counteracting fentanyl in one shot. In addition to the Barda deal, Opiant scored a $7.4 million grant from NIDA earlier this year to develop the new antidote. It is aiming to file for Food and Drug Administration approval in 2020. "Nalmefene is five times more potent than naloxone," Roger Crystal, chief executive officer of Opiant, said. "It's fighting fire with fire." The FDA approved injectable nalmefene, called Revex, in 1995, but Baxter International Inc. discontinued it in 2008. Crystal said the market has room for Narcan and nalmefene, but the more potent of the two will become dominant, especially with fentanyl becoming a central concern of drug enforcement. He thinks fentanyl production, currently focused in China, will increase in the U.S. as officials crack down on shipments at the border. "It doesn't take much more than a half-competent chemist to be able to manufacture it," Crystal said. "And it's cheaper to manufacture than heroin." Fentanyl is also extremely lucrative. One kilogram purchased from China for $3,000 to $5,000 can generate revenue of up to $1.5 million in the U.S., Paul Knierim, deputy chief of operations in the Office of Global Enforcement for the Drug Enforcement Administration, told a congressional panel in September. China agreed at a trade summit with the U.S. this month to regulate fentanyl as a controlled substance. "Because we're in a fentanyl crisis, there's more fentanyl around, and for that reason the ability to get hold of it and getting it into the wrong hands isn't that hard," Crystal said. You are here: China The construction of a key facility to support the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) started Friday in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. The new facility will serve as a test platform for the research and development of key components for fusion reactor, such as magnets, heating systems, and divertors, according to a press release of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The facility will encompass two main research systems: the magnet and tokamak/divertor systems. It will lay a solid experimental foundation for CFETR. Led by the Institute of Plasma Physics under Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, the support facility construction is expected to be completed in five years. On completion, the facility will be a comprehensive research and test platform with multiple functions supporting global fusion research. The Alexandria (Va.) City Council decided unanimously Saturday to name a refurbished park at the foot of King Street "Waterfront Park," even though the council admitted it's a lackluster and unimaginative moniker. Its advantage: It doesn't offend anyone. The park, previously called Fitzgerald Square, sparked a local dispute this year after some residents objected that founding father Col. John Fitzgerald was one of the town's largest slave owners. "His successful businesses were accomplished on the back of enslaved human beings," said council member Timothy Lovain. D. Although the new name might not be creative, Lovain said it puts the focus on city efforts aimed at "finally restoring the waterfront to its prominent place in our city." The park is a centerpiece of the city's ongoing redevelopment of Alexandria's riverfront. It will be combined with a park to the south, which already is called Waterfront Park. The first phase of the redeveloped park, slated for completion in early 2019, will include a plaza, promenade and an adaptable modular space. The entire project will take years to finish, after flood mitigation measures are built and other, undetermined amenities are added. The abandonment of Fitzgerald's name enraged Irish organizations in Alexandria, whose leaders raised claims of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic bias. Fitzgerald, an Irish immigrant, was an aide-de-camp to Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War, served as mayor in the city's earliest years and founded a Catholic church, St. Mary's Basilica, in the town. The late restaurateur Pat Troy, also an Irishman, had promoted the use of Fitzgerald's name around 2010 and the informal name eventually wound up on city planning documents. A few officials said quietly last spring that there was concern among some residents about Fitzgerald's slave-owning past. In a March 17 announcement about the project's groundbreaking, city officials dropped the Fitzgerald Square reference, substituting a temporary name, "King Street Park at the Waterfront." In explanation, city communications officials said the park had to go through an official naming process. They dismissed the idea that the change had anything to do with citizen complaints about Fitzgerald's past. Although about 70 people testified at the naming commission's hearing in November, the only one to speak up Saturday was Andrew MacDonald, former vice mayor and a descendant of Scottish immigrants. "This is a simple, lackluster way to escape controversy," he said Saturday at the hearing, offering the suggestion of Maritime Heritage or Steamboat Park, or finding other names that reflect Alexandria's sea-going past. "It's not the jazziest name, but it serves a purpose," council member Paul Smedberg, D, responded. That purpose, council member John T. Chapman, D, added, is to provide "a plain name that allows all our communities to explore our history at the waterfront." Other protesters showed up to the Saturday meeting, however, to criticize the city for failing to include citizens in its deal to lure Amazon to the area. They said Alexandria's portion of the National Landing project could allow giveaways to developers by waivers of requirements. "You claim to be inclusive, but where were our opinions in this matter?" asked Ingris Moran, daughter of Salvadoran immigrants. "There is a pattern here: silence. Lack of transparency. Neglect of our community. . . . This is a government-induced tidal wave headed toward us. At minimum, we need commitments to an anti-displacement fund for our communities to mitigate the impact and to preserve affordable housing." About a dozen like-minded residents applauded and raised signs in support. An hour earlier, a half-dozen residents of Arlington made similar points at the Arlington County Board meeting, part of a campaign coordinated with Long Island City activists to protest the inducements that New York and Virginia offered to Amazon to draw 25,000 new jobs and the East Coast headquarters to each state. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Alexandria officials said their portion of the project, the establishment of a $1 billion Virginia Tech graduate campus, will go through the normal land-use process in which residents have a say in approvals or disapprovals. Arlington officials said the same, and noted they have scheduled a "listening session" for Monday at 7 p.m. at Gunston Middle School. SOLD FOR SEX: In Texas, an estimated 79,000 youth at any one time are being exploited for sex. Many are never rescued because so few cry out to police or other authorities for help. The San Antonio Express-News investigation "Sold for Sex" chronicles the lives of sex-trafficking victims, including a 16-year-old girl who was sold for sex up to 15 times a day, and examines what Texas law enforcement and service providers can do to help them. *** Not all of the young people who get trapped in prostitution were lured or coerced by a pimp. Abigail, 17, began selling her own body at age 15, using social media to find johns, first to pay for food, then for methamphetamine. She had first gotten in trouble with the law at 11, after she kicked a police officer trying to handcuff her for being drunk in a movie theater. She cycled in and out of the juvenile justice system, arrested for running away, using drugs, acting out in school. Her misbehavior stemmed from anger issues related to a father who was often incarcerated and a mother who struggled with her own addiction, she said. "Things happen that lead us to this lifestyle. We don't know how to help ourselves," said Abigail, who asked that her full name not be used. At 15, with her mother in jail, Abigail left home and began staying with friends. Too young to get a real job, she began selling her body. Men were willing to spend $100 or more to be with her. She carried a knife for protection. She switched from taking drugs that put her to sleep to drugs that kept her awake. For six months, Abigail turned tricks and snorted meth, her already-thin frame dwindling to 80 pounds. She was eventually apprehended and put in detention, where counselors helped her see she was a victim. A light bulb went off in my head, Abigail said. I felt disgusted with myself. It was like I was trapped in a nightmare, but it was all real. Abigail, now 16, turned herself in to police last year. SOLD FOR SEX: After Issac Williams convinced a 16-year-old he loved her, he sold her body for sex up to 15 times a day As part of her probation, she received therapy and became part of Ransomed Life, a nonprofit that provides mentors for trafficking survivors. She also took part in Restore Court, an intensive, voluntary program that provides services to survivors and holds them accountable. I realized I dont need to be disgusted with myself any more, Abigail said. I can be proud that I survived and that I still have my entire life ahead of me. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje Throughout the year as we have written about indigent defense issues in Bexar County, one place was mentioned again and again as a shining light. Lubbock. Yes, Lubbock. Where cotton fields stretch to the horizon. Where the wind sweeps across the High Plains. Where the sky is so big it lifts the spirits. Home to the Red Raiders of Texas Tech and Buddy Holly (R.I.P.) and the most sincere staples of Texas civility and good manners. Yes, sir. Yes, maam. Please. Thank you. Deeply conservative Lubbock is also on the cutting edge of indigent defense. Its a system that is run through a nonprofit, the Lubbock Private Defender Office. Call it innovative, forward looking, cutting edge or just plain old constitutional. Officials here only ask that no one calls it progressive. So, of course, we had to visit. We had to see how this innovative system works and if it could be replicated here in Bexar County. The short answer is: Bexar County officials and judges should be booking their flights. Lubbock County simply does indigent defense better. It spends more money than Bexar County, but thats hardly surprising since almost everyone does. And in return it gets real oversight of defense attorneys, almost certainly better defense outcomes, and an appointment process independent of the judiciary. It works great, said Patrick S. Metze, a law professor and director of criminal defense clinics at Texas Tech University School of Law. I have been doing this a long time, and I have seen in many places the way poor people get representation, and this system seems to be better than any others that I have ever seen as far as it being run fairly and consistently. What is this system? In Bexar County when a poor person is arrested, he or she is appointed an attorney. Usually a private one. The appointment comes from a wheel where attorneys are chosen arbitrarily, but judges can also make appointments. From there its anyones guess. No one monitors caseloads or outcomes. Attorneys can make contributions to judges who may have appointed them to cases. Sometimes attorneys dont see their clients until guilty pleas are rendered just to get out of jail. Weve chronicled these issues, and others, in our Unequal Justice series. In Lubbock, things are different. The Lubbock Private Defender Office makes appointments to about 70 private attorneys. These attorneys are required to interview clients within seven days. The private defender office monitors caseloads, outcomes and billing. It also fields complaints. Its also a resource center. The office includes a team of case managers to help with mental health cases. The office provides continuing legal education and mentoring. It contracts with investigators and maintains a transcript bank from trials across the state. There is also a bank of briefs, motions and letters. This can become a state model and there is an opportunity for this to be also a national model, said Jim Bethke, head of the Lubbock Private Defender Office. Bethke is energetic and talkative, and a Texas Tech law alum who found his way back to the High Plains after a long career in Austin. Hes 13 months into this stint. But before this job, he spent years running what is now called the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. In that role, he helped create the Bexar County Public Defenders Office. He often tells of trying to pitch a grant to create a similar public defenders office in Lubbock and getting run out of town. A public defender meant more government. And the private bar didnt want to lose any business. So, he returned with an idea for a private model one based on programs in San Mateo, Calif., and Massachusetts and that suited everyone just fine. With state grant funding, the Lubbock Special Needs Defenders Office was born in 2008 specifically to handle mental health cases. It was a nonprofit under the Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. People wanted to start small and with the toughest cases. It worked so well, the office expanded to all noncapital cases in 2012 and adopted a new name. If things werent working, Lubbocks judiciary could kill the program and do appointments again. But there is no way you could give it back to them now, said Dwight McDonald, an attorney and fellow with the law school at Texas Tech. Why? Because it freed the judges from the controversy that comes with making appointments and taking contributions. They were also free from the administrative hassle of approving attorney vouchers and expert fees. All year, stories have broken across Texas about eye-popping caseloads and attorneys fees $460,000 for one attorney in Collin County, similar issues in Harris Countys juvenile courts. Not in Lubbock. No one is making six figures on appointed cases there (three attorneys in Bexar did in 2017). Its not even possible with our system, District Judge William Eichman said. Its kind of the best of both worlds. We have some independence, but its still under our supervision, and you have the private attorneys doing the work. Independence and monitoring came up again and again as the hallmarks of Lubbocks indigent defense success. But another hallmark is an acute awareness that mass incarceration is intertwined with mental health. The Lubbock Private Defender Office began with mental health cases, and the Lubbock County Detention Center has a number of mental health programs run by StarCare Specialty Health System, the behavioral health provider for the region. Were the one place that cant say No, Sheriff Kelly Rowe said. The jail uses open booking and follows a direct supervision model that gives inmates a certain amount of freedom. The basic rule is if you treat someone like an adult, they will act like an adult. And we saw this practice in action as inmates walked freely down halls or watched ESPN while they waited for magistration. When one inmate became agitated and distraught, detention officers spoke calmly. And the result was a safe and orderly jail. We were wowed by a special detention pod for inmates with mental health diagnoses. These inmates receive medication and various forms of support and education as their trials progress. In the old days, such inmates were the toughest to control. When we visited, they were preparing for a Christmas talent show. This is all behavioral health programming, but the private defender office is a key part of this equation. Its case managers are not therapists and dont provide treatment, but they do provide crucial communication between the inmates, their attorneys and the mental health providers. The case managers check on defendants at least once a month. They compile mental health history for attorneys and provide case updates to defendants. They field calls from therapists. In short, they spare attorneys a lot of grunt work, save taxpayers money and keep the defendants informed of their cases. I am not certain that its what the private defender office does specifically that equates to better outcomes for people, said Beth Lawson, CEO of StarCare. Its what the private defender office does that leads people to be able to have access to treatment that provides better outcomes for them. It made all the difference for James Casias, 30, a Lubbock native who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features. He was working as a mechanical engineer in Dallas when he said delusional symptoms took hold in 2012, spurring a slew of arrests over the years, including attempting to run over a Lubbock deputy. All his crimes were driven by voices, he said. His last arrest, in 2017, was a complicated break-in involving multiple properties, delusions and guns. He said his attorney and case manager built a scaffolding around him that allowed him to receive treatment and recover. Hes on 10 years of probation and spent eight months in rehab but he is not in jail or prison. He lives with his family and works at a restaurant, and is applying for mechanical engineering jobs again. I work at a restaurant, he said. I dont make a lot. But I get to go to my house, play video games, drink my own coffee, go to the mall. Another defendant, Charles Fuzzy Lobban, 58, practically broke into tears talking about the representation he received for criminal mischief, carrying a concealed deadly weapon and disorderly conduct charges. He had been working at a church late one night in the summer of 2017 when it was struck by lightning, which led him to be staggering around disoriented with a kitchen knife banging on doors. He was looking for help, but he scared people. Jail time would have made him homeless and separated him from his adult son. They touched my heart, he said of his attorneys who had the charges dismissed. Not many people care for somebody like me. Could this system be replicated in Bexar? Absolutely, said Geoffrey Burkhart, executive director of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. A managed-assigned-counsel program is far superior, he said, because of the resources and oversight it brings. But he and others cautioned it shouldnt be viewed as a replacement for the Bexar County Public Defenders Office. That would be the wrong conclusion to draw. A metro area the size of San Antonio is best served by a full-fledged public defenders office and a managed-assigned-counsel program, Burkhart said. This is partly so the two entities could compete against one another but also because managed-assigned-counsel programs still lack direct supervision. The sad truth is Bexar County is cheap on indigent defense and Lubbock is not. Bexar spends $6 per capita on indigent defense a shockingly low amount, Burkhart said. No doubt this is fueled by a $180 flat fee for misdemeanors that disincentives effort and work. In Texas, no beacon of big spending, the average for indigent defense spending is $9 per capita. And in Lubbock, its $14 per capita, but with oversight and monitoring. Bexar County just needs to step up to the plate, Bethke said. Six dollars per capita? Come on. That first step should be taking a trip to Bethkes shop to see how things are done. To see firsthand how Lubbock built such a forward-thinking and innovative system for criminal justice. This editorial is part of the Unequal Justice series, which explores the inequities in Bexar Countys criminal justice system and how they can be fixed. Met Eireann has upgraded its weather alert to Status Orange and announced that Storm Deirdre is to sweep the country this weekend. After indicating that the alert would be raised, the forecaster tweeted that it had raised its warning level for the entire country late Friday night. ALSO WATCH | They've left a legacy... Mighty Mullinalaghta continue to win hearts of the nation with Late Late Show appearance The forecaster says the developing depression (Storm Deirdre) will track northeast over Ireland during Saturday afternoon and evening and will bring wet and windy weather to all areas. ALSO READ: Chic Beauty Salon in Longford celebrating 25 years in business It warns that the west or northwest winds will reach mean speeds of 65km/h with gusts of 100km/h generally, with disruptive and damaging gusts to 130km/h likely for a few hours in western and southern counties in the late afternoon and transferring eastwards during the evening. ALSO READ: Longford mans company wins prestigious award The Status Orange warning was issued at 10pm on Friday, December 14. It is valid from 3pm to almost midnight on Saturday, December 15. Met Eireann says Orange level weather warnings is for weather conditions which have the capacity to impact significantly on people in the affected areas. The issue of an Orange level weather warning implies that all recipients in the affected areas should prepare themselves in an appropriate way for the anticipated conditions. A Status Orange wind warning has been issued. Storm Deirdre Valid for: Ireland Valid from: 15:00 to 23:00 Saturday 15th December. Mean winds 65 km/h with gusts of 100 to 130 km/h For full details please see https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt pic.twitter.com/Kk46m2o76B Met Eireann (@MetEireann) December 14, 2018 The project, run in Edgeworthstown and in Longford town, produced 40 doormats designed by participants from different countries including Pakistan, Iraq, Lithuania, Slovakia, Ireland, Gambia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. The participants, who are involved in womens groups and English conversation classes with Longford Community Resources Clg (LCRL) worked hard over the previous eight weeks under the direction of local artist Phil Atkinson, deciding on what to say on their doormats, then cutting out their stencils and painting their message onto the mats. The launches were a great success with some of the participants new to Ireland and Longford speaking of their experiences over the whole project and indeed their experiences of engaging with Longford Community Resources Clg, said Mary Mulvey, LCRL. The doormats will be delivered to businesses who accepted them in the coming days. We thank the local businesses for their support. Meanwhile, in Edgeworthstown the businesses involved included, The Phone Shop, Bia Deas, Edgeworthstown Library, Donal Coyle, Rawles Butchers, Farrells, Costcutters, Quinns Hardware, the Carpet Shop, Tullys Pharmacy, Kanes Garage, Edgeworthstown District Development Association, Bernard ONeill, The Manor Nursing Home, the National Learning Network, Frank Greene Auctioneers and the Garda Station. In Longford town, businesses who supported the project were Farrell Coy, Green Apple Restaurant, Fabiani, TC Divine Stores African Shop, The Kiosk, Change of a Dress, Vochellis Restaurant, the Escape Shop, Dobson Jewellers, Revamp Furniture Shop, the EDI Centre, Pamela Scott, Jac-O-Bite Cafe, CASA, Shoe Candy, Tattoo Parlour, Karl Sullivan Photoshop, Supermacs and Lush. For more information the multicultural womens groups and English conversation classes in Longford town and Edgeworthstown please contact Longford Community Resources Clg on 043 3345555. The project was funded by the Department of Justice and Equality Communities Integration Fund 2018 and supported under the SICAP Programme. A California woman was sentenced to serve less than two years in jail after she entered a guilty plea to a charge that she struck and killed a Westport woman as walking on State Road in Dartmouth in March. Natalie Vieira, 59, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Bristol Superior Court to a single count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, the Fall River Herald News reported. Prosecutors said Vieira was not charged with vehicular homicide because she was unable to avoid striking the victim. Accident reconstruction determined the victim walked into the roadway and into Vieira's path. District Attorney Thomas Quinn said if Vieira had stopped at the scene and submitted to police she would not have been prosecuted. Authorities said 33-year-old Stasha Faria, of Westport, was walking alongside State Road in Dartmouth the evening of March 3 when she was struck from behind by Vieira's Chevy Uplander. Faria was propelled into a nearby utility pole with such force that she suffered severe head and upper body injuries and died at the scene. Vieira fled and hid the car at a relative's home in Westport for two days before having it towed to a Fall River auto body shop. The defendant was sentenced to serve two and a half years in the Bristol County House of Correction with 20 months to be served direct and the balance suspended for three years. SPRINGFIELD - When he was a child, Kevin Moriarty had a friend who accidentally shot and killed his own brother. Moriarty, now Baystate Medical Center's chief pediatric surgeon, said he unfortunately still sees examples of such preventable deaths in the line of work. "The types of injuries we see in pediatrics [related to firearms] are accidental shootings--a friend shooting a friend, or a sibling shooting a sibling," he said. "The other is suicide." The desire to prevent these kind of deaths is one of the reasons Moriarty supports the Gun Buy Back program, an annual event that brings together medical, political and law enforcement officials in Hampden County to work on reducing the harm done by unwanted household firearms. The program is put on by the Hampden District Attorney's Office and Baystate Medical Center and gives county residents an opportunity to trade in the firearms they may want to get rid of. The effort is made in coordination with the John C. Wood II Memorial Foundation. Between 50 to 60 guns were turned in at the Raymond Sullivan Safety Complex on Carew Street between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday. Those who turned in guns received Big Y gift cards in return. "The importance of this event is injury prevention and suicide prevention," said Moriarty. "I think in Massachusetts we have very good gun laws, some of the strictest in the country," he said. However, he said, safety can always be improved. Unwanted firearms present both public health and safety concerns, agreed District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. "From a public safety perspective, we don't want guns falling into the wrong hands," he said, of lost or stolen guns that could make their way into the hands of criminals. From a public health standpoint, Gulluni said that, statistically, a gun in the home more often leads to fatal results if a family member is suicidal. These numbers can hopefully be reduced by "getting unwanted guns out of folks homes," he said. Also present at Saturday's event were Noreen McGirr and Cerri Bergendahl. Both women work with Baystate's Family Advocacy Center, a specialty clinic which provides counseling and other forms of assistance to youth who have been affected by abuse or a traumatic incident. The center recently received new grant funding for a suicide bereavement program which is offering free services and assistance to young adults who may be struggling after a loss in the family due to suicide. As two people who work daily with children affected by such preventable deaths, both McGirr and Bergendahl agreed it was crucial to improving safety to remove unwanted firearms from a residence. "Even though firearms are not the most common form of suicide attempts, they're the most lethal," said Bergendahl. "There's more deaths by firearms than all other methods combined." McGirr and Bergendahl said that suicide can be an impulsive decision. If firearms are available in moments of crisis they will often be used, which is why it's all the more important to have programs like the Gun Buy Back which take these lethal means out of homes. "Suicide rates are soaring," said McGirr, referring to the national uptick in deaths across the country linked to despair. "People often can be impulsive," she said. "If you have access to something lethal, it will be used." McGirr and Bergendahl agreed that efforts such as the Gun Buy Back were a step in the right direction in terms of preventing the trauma that their clinic aims to treat. EAST LONGMEADOW - The atmosphere at CareOne at Redstone in East Longmeadow was the height of festivity Thursday night, with its walls lined with extravagantly decorated Christmas wreaths. This was the scene of the care facility's annual Wreaths for a Reason, a fundraiser that helps bring gifts to children during the holiday season. Each year the nursing home gives out Christmas wreaths to local businesses, schools and other organizations and asks that they decorate them. The decorated wreaths are then returned to CareOne and raffled off, with the proceeds going to Toy for Joy, the annual campaign to bring Christmas gifts to families across Western Massachusetts. This year CareOne raised $920 for Toy for Joy. Toy for Joy, which is a collaborative effort by the Salvation Army, The Republican and MassLive, will receive a significant contribution from the raffle proceeds, said Tricia Gendron, community liaison for the facility. Today's list of donations totaling $965 brings the total raised thus far to $$35,825 leaving $114,175 to be raised by Christmas eve. Gendron, who has worked at CareOne for the past four years, said that the event is fun and a great holiday tradition. "I just like to give a lot of credit to the businesses," Gendron said. "Because I know that none of this could happen without them." "It's really great. Everybody is just so giving," she added. "It's just such a good feeling to be able to give--like to Toy for Joy." The Toy for Joy campaign each year brings toys to thousands of families. Last year the campaign served 2,700 families in Springfield, around 800 families in Holyoke, and some 200 families in Greenfield. You can still make a contribution to the Toy for Joy fund by writing: Toy for Joy, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01101. Contributions may also be dropped off with the coupon which accompanies this story to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through noon on Dec. 21. You can also make online donations. For the third year in a row, Pride Stores is partnering with Toy for Joy. Pride locations in Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut will rally its customers in November and December to help contribute to Toy for Joy. Customers can go into any Pride in the area and purchase a $1, $5 or $10 donation card for Toy for Joy. Toy for Joy is also partnering this year with the Reading Success by 4th Grade initiative of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation for a second year to help ensure each child receives a new book. There was no peace in Worcester's Main South neighborhood on Sunday morning, as flames consumed a Lowell Street apartment building, clergymen recalled Saturday morning. Worcester Firefighter Christopher Roy ran into the building with his colleagues, amid the confusion and flames. Despite the intense training provided in the Worcester Fire Department, something went wrong. Roy, a 36-year-old Shrewsbury resident, responded with fellow firefighters to 7 Lowell St. for a fire around 4 a.m. Sunday. He became trapped on the second floor and succumbed to his injuries after his colleagues pulled him from the burning building. "What Chris did the other morning, of course it went way beyond the norm because this is what you do" as a firefighter, Rev. Walter Riley, the Worcester Fire Department Chaplain said during Roy's funeral Mass. "Christopher Roy is at peace after a Sunday morning of treachery, disorientation," Riley said. "Christopher Roy is a Worcester martyr." He leaves his 9-year-old daughter, Ava, with whom he enjoyed "fun-filled" vacations to Myrtle Beach and Disneyland, Riley said. The two would go on the rides, Roy "having as much fun, if not more fun, than she did," Riley said. Roy had been a firefighter for two and a half years and was assigned to Ladder 4 at the Webster Square Fire Station. Members of the Worcester Fire Department stood solemnly outside the church, saluting Ladder 4 as it carried Roy's casket to the steps of the church. Roy was a skilled cook, Riley told the church. It was something his colleagues enjoyed at the station, and something he did at home for his "beloved Ava," Riley said. During the service, Riley went up to Roy's family to offer peace, starting with Ava and then moving to the rest of his family. Roy's love for Ava was remarked on throughout the funeral service. Friend and fellow firefighter David Scavone eulogized Roy with a message to Ava. "You were your father's world," Scavone said to Ava, who was sitting at the front of the church in a white jacket. "He moved heaven and Earth to give you the best life possible that you deserved." Riley said the Roy family has faith and is resilient, strong, determined and honest. "This family is the best of Worcester," he said. "This family is a Worcester family and you will survive this tragedy with this level of support." Upwards of 10,000 firefighters from across Massachusetts and beyond were expected to attend the service. As hundreds of Worcester firefighters filled St. John's Church, many more firefighters from other departments stood outside, listening as the sound of the service was blasted out through loudspeakers. Honoring the 200-year-old traditions of the firefighting service, a bell tolled in three sets of five during the service, marking the death of a firefighter in the line of duty. "And so, to Christopher Roy, who selflessly gave his life for the good of his fellow man, his tasks completed, his duties well-done," Worcester Fire Lt. Michael Papagni, the president of Local 1009, said to those inside the church. "To our comrade, his last alarm. You are going home." A medal was presented to Ava and Roy's parents. In order to allow all Worcester firefighters to attend the service, city's 10 fire stations were being staffed for a 25-hour period by 85 firefighters from 25 fire departments in Central Massachusetts. "The outpouring of support from this community has been outstanding," Papagni said Friday. "We'd ask that anyone who does want to show a sign of support, the best way they can do that is to donate to the Ava Fund and make sure that Ava Roy never has to worry about another thing again." The Ava Roy Fund was established by Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009. Several businesses and restaurants in Worcester have announced fundraisers for the Roy family, many of which will feed into the Ava Roy Fund. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can make checks payable to the "AVA ROY FUND" and can mail them directly to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union at 34 Glennie St., Worcester, Mass., 01605. The fund has raised about $50,000 for Roy's daughter, officials said Friday. Roy's death came during a particularly heartbreaking month for the Worcester Fire Department. Dec. 3 marked the anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire, which claimed the lives of six firefighters in 1999. And Dec. 8 is the anniversary of the death of Worcester Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr., who died in 2011, while battling a fire inside an Arlington Street three-decker. "Obviously we've been there before, with the tragedies of '99 and 2011," Lavoie said Friday. "It doesn't get any easier. This is a devastating loss and it's taken its toll." Riley said to the church, "Lord, why does this have to happen again." SPRINGFIELD Western New England University School of Law and Worcester State University on Friday signed an agreement that could allow Worcester State students to earn both undergraduate and law degrees in six years, not the traditional seven. Called a 3+3 articulation agreement, the program requires Worcester State students to complete bachelors degree requirements except for free electives in their first three years of college. The students apply to the law school in their junior year and attend their first year of law school during what would have been their senior year in college, said Russ Pottle, dean of the school of humanities and social science at Worcester State. The students must first finish all degree requirements except for free electives. The first-year law school courses count as those free electives for the Worcester State undergraduate degree, he said. The move saves the student a years cost of attending Worcester State, Pottle said. Tuition and fees total $10,000 for in-state students and $15,000 for out-of-state students. And the opportunity cost of that year, said Sudha N. Setty, dean of the School of Law. That year you are saving is a year where you can be out in the workforce as a lawyer. Western New England University President Anthony S. Caprio said how happy he was that WNE was able to collaborate with a quality institution. We want to provide opportunities to our students that are cost-effective, Caprio said. The key is access. Worcester State President Barry M. Maloney, a Springfield native, said the two campuses are within commuting distance of each other. Its a great deal for students looking for the most affordable pathway to a law degree, he said. Setty said these 3+3 arrangements are not uncommon. Western New England has them with a dozen other schools, and the one with Worcester State makes 13. Other schools in the program include Springfield College and Elms College locally, and one as far away as SUNY Delhi in New Yorks Catskill Mountains. Internally, Western New England has a 3+3 agreement for its own undergraduates. School of Law enrollment is on the upswing, said Anthony Orlando, director of admissions. The current first-year class is 88 students, up from a recent low of 70 in 2015. The recession caused a national slowdown in law school applications, Setty said. But now students are more tuned into the value, both academically and financially, of a law degree. Pottle said Worcester States pre-law programs are in history, political science, philosophy and criminal justice. Firefighters from across Central Massachusetts are filling shifts for the Worcester Fire Department Saturday so the entire department can attend the funeral for fallen firefighter Christopher Roy. The citys 10 fire stations will be staffed for a 25-hour period by 85 firefighters from 25 fire departments in the states central region. Roy, 36, was assigned to Ladder 4 at the Webster Square Fire Station and had been a firefighter for 2 and a half years. He died Sunday after becoming trapped on the second floor of 7 Lowell St. while battling flames. Roy, a Shrewsbury resident, leaves his 9-year-old daughter, Ava, his parents and a brother. His funeral begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. Thousands of firefighters, friends and family lined up outside St. Johns Church on Temple Street Friday evening to pay respects to Roy at his wake. The Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009 union has established a memorial fund to assist Roys daughter. Several businesses and restaurants in Worcester have announced fundraisers for the Roy family, many of which will feed into the Ava Roy Fund. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can make checks payable to the AVA ROY FUND and can mail them directly to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union at 34 Glennie St., Worcester, Mass., 01605. So far, the fund has raised about $50,000 for Roys daughter, officials said. The last time John McGreevy saw his friend, Christopher Roy, Roy was out with his 9-year-old daughter, Ava, picking out a Christmas Tree at a lot on Route 20. The two friends, who worked together at Consigli construction company, have daughters who are about the same age. They would always talk about their daughters, McGreevy said. That night they chatted as they examined the Christmas trees, trying to pick out the perfect one. But this week has been a hard one, McGreevy said, his voice thick with emotion as he waited in line outside St. Johns Church. Thousands of firefighters from across Massachusetts had just gone in to pay respects to Roy, who died Sunday after becoming trapped in an apartment as he and other Worcester firefighters tried to quell the flames that were consuming the three-story home. I cant get it out of my head, all week, McGreevy said. I loved him so much. I still hear his voice in my head all the time, he says my name, Chowda, he calls me Chowda. McGreevy and Roy both grew up in Worcester and met as teenagers. He loved fishing. I loved fishing. We always used to fish together, McGreevy said, adding that they would fish in a secret spot in Leicester. Even after joining the Worcester Fire Department two and a half years ago, Roy would still help out with Consigli construction projects, McGreevy said. The two would see each other around if they werent working together. I loved the kid, said McGreevy. Me and him were real tight. Loved him. We were real, real tight. The line at St. Johns Church on Temple Street in Worcester was long and did not seem to stop on Friday evening, as thousands waited outside in the chilly breeze for a chance to pay their respects to Roy. Roy, a 36-year-old Shrewsbury resident, responded with fellow firefighters to 7 Lowell St. for a fire around 4 a.m. Sunday. He became trapped on the second floor and succumbed to his injuries after his colleagues pulled him from the burning building. Near the mourners waiting to enter Roys wake Friday was Ladder 4, its red paint polished and adorned with black bunting. Thats the truck Roy was assigned to at the Webster Square Fire Station. This afternoon we begin our honor to Chris, Firefighter Chris Roy, and say our final thank you and goodbye to him, Deputy Fire Chief Martin Dyer said Friday, as firefighters from departments spanning Massachusetts lined up outside St. Johns. Were going to have an appropriate send-off for Chris to show the way the fire service comes together to take care of one of its brothers. Roys funeral is at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Johns Catholic Church. In addition to his daughter, Roy leaves his parents and a brother. Friends have remembered Roy for his bright smile, his laugh, his boisterous personality and, of course, for his love for his daughter. The Ava Roy Fund was established by Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009. Several businesses and restaurants in Worcester have announced fundraisers for the Roy family, many of which will feed into the Ava Roy Fund. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can make checks payable to the AVA ROY FUND and can mail them directly to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union at 34 Glennie St., Worcester, Mass., 01605. So far, the fund has raised about $50,000 for Roys daughter, officials said. The outpouring of support from this community has been outstanding, Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009 President Michael Papagni said. Wed ask that anyone who does want to show a sign of support, the best way they can do that is to donate to the Ava Fund and make sure that Ava Roy never has to worry about another thing again. The entire fire department has gone through crisis intervention in the days since Roys passing, Worcester Fire Chief Michael Lavoie said Friday. We just need to keep an eye on our guys and keep them all safe, Lavoie said. This takes its toll. Roys death came during a particularly grueling month, and week, for the Worcester Fire Department. Dec. 3 marks the anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire, which claimed the lives of six firefighters in 1999. And Dec. 8 is the anniversary of the death of Worcester Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr., who died on Dec. 8, 2011, while battling a fire inside an Arlington Street three-decker. Obviously weve been there before, with the tragedies of 99 and 2011, Lavoie said. It doesnt get any easier. This is a devastating loss and its taken its toll. Somerville Deputy Fire Chief Bill Hallinan attended Roys wake with several members of his department. You have to feel for the poor guy, Hallinan said. His young daughter is left behind without him. Thats the thing that hurts me. Even some who did not know Roy and who arent in the fire service walked down Temple Street, glancing at the church as it was surrounded by firefighters. I just wanted to be here for support because of the firefighters and everything they do for this community, said Worcester resident Dino Toscano. They should be appreciated for all of it. You are here: Top 10 China's Small Town Index Research Group recently released the Development Index Report on Small Towns with Special Characteristics in China 2018, which examines the development of small towns with distinctive local features in the country's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. The report includes the latest rankings of top 50 most beautiful specialty towns in China and top 50 most beautiful Chinese towns. A total of 15 indicators across four dimensions, including special industries, people's living environment, culture and tourism, were used to measure their development. Four of the top ten most beautiful towns in China are from Zhejiang province. The research group was set up by Hangzhou-based Shuliang Technology and the Eastern Culture and Urban Development Institute of the Development Research Center of the State Council, commissioned by the National Development and Reform Commission. The following are the top 10 most beautiful towns in China 2018: 10. Helong town, Nong'an county, Changchun city, Jilin province Flash A senior Chinese diplomat has said that Canadas detention of a top Chinese executive is not a mere judicial case but a premeditated political action. It is a case in which the United States wields its governmental power in a witch hunt against a Chinese high-tech company based on political considerations, Lu Shaye, Chinas ambassador to Ottawa, wrote in an article published in Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on Thursday. Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co, was arrested in Canada while transferring in Vancouver to a flight to Mexico on Dec 1. On Tuesday, Meng was released on bail of C$10 million ($7.5 million) pending a hearing on possible extradition to the US. It all comes down to the fact that many still have a stale, Cold War mentality, believing that China a socialist country led by the Communist Party of China is an abnormal country, Lu wrote. They are worried that China is catching up to Western countries too quickly, and that it will surpass them economically as well as in science and technology, he added. According to Lu, the reason behind all the bullying behaviors of the US is that it pursues power politics against other countries, relying on its huge advantage in national strength. As for Canada, it detained Meng in an unreasonable way given that she has not been charged with anything under Canadian law, which is clearly not judicial independence but a miscarriage of justice, he wrote. Lu also wrote that it is gratifying to see that many Canadians have criticized the their government for its unreasonable behavior. The Chinese people used to have a favorable impression of Canada. But Canadas behavior this time has chilled their feelings, he wrote. US constitutional lawyer Bruce Fein told China Central Television news channel CGTN that breaking Iran sanctions is a trivial concern for US national security and these kinds of violations are routinely handled with a civil fine. All those irregularities suggest there is a political motivation behind this, he said. If the Canadians conclude that the motivation behind this particular arrest and extradition request was not really based on law enforcement, but to send a political signal to China, that would exempt Meng from extradition, he added. Global Protein Sequencing Market held a market value of USD 892.5 million in 2017 and is projected to register a CAGR of 3.6% over the forecast period. Protein sequencing is mainly used to separate peptides and detect the amount and composition of amino acid residues. The factors such as growing focus on target-based drug development by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, growing financial support by the public and private sector for proteomic research, and advancements in clinical mass spectrometry and analytical techniques are anticipated to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period. Some of the prominent players in the global protein sequencing market are Proteome Factory, Bioinformatics Solutions, Charles River Laboratories, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Rapid Novor Inc., Selvita, SGS, Shimadzu Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Waters Corporation. Get Sample Research Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6828 Segmentation: The global protein sequencing market has been segmented into products and services, technology, application, and end user. By products and services, the market has been segmented into reagent and consumables, instruments, analysis products/software, and protein sequencing services. The instrument segment has been further segmented into mass spectrometry instruments and Edman degradation sequencers. The reagents and consumables segment accounted for the largest share of the protein sequencing products market in 2017. The factors such as ongoing advancements in protein sequencing technologies and the rising number of sequencing procedures are expected to boost the growth of the segment. On the basis of technology, the market has been segmented into mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. By application, the market has been segmented into biotherapeutics, genetic engineering, and others. The biotherapeutics segment is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. The market, by end user, has been segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutes and research centers, and others. Intended Audience Protein sequencing Device Manufacturers and Distributors Mass Spectrometry Manufacturers and Distributors Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Companies Contract Research Organizations Academic and Research Institutes Government Associations Browse Complete Premium Research Report Enabled with Respective Tables and Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/protein-sequencing-market-6828 Regional Analysis: the Americas is anticipated to dominate the global protein sequencing market owing to the rising application of protein sequencing in proteomic research, the development of protein sequencing, and the availability of research funding in the region. Europe is anticipated to hold the second largest position in the global protein sequencing market. The market growth in this region is attributed to the increasing proteomics research and the availability of funding and infrastructure for research. For instance, in July 2017, Biognosys, a leading proteomics company based in Switzerland raised funds of about USD 5 million for making proteomics a broader segment in the life science research market. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest growing region owing to the growing government funding for healthcare, rising R&D expenditure, and growing number of biopharmaceutical companies. The Middle East and Africa has the lowest share of the global protein sequencing market owing to rising government initiatives for the healthcare sector. Inquire for Discount at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/6828 About Market Research Future: MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Contact: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com , Mediapool.bg, , - . - , . 18:00 . by Ray Schultz , December 14, 2018 Companies should be on the lookout for a new security threat: Holiday greetings with numerous variants. Many such emails hit company inboxes around Thanksgiving, according to John Randall, VP of product management at EdgeWave. They were sending messages that had attachments purporting to be Thanksgiving cards, wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, Randall says. They would slightly change each variant, and the name of the attachment would slightly change. Randall adds that they were all the same campaign from the same threat actor, but the pieces were changed enough in an obvious attempt to bypass the usual gateway filters and add legitimacy to the email itself. EdgeWave blocked over 30,000 variants of this campaign between November 20th and 26th. The emails had links pointing to sites in Russia and Eastern Europe. Typical subject lines were: Thanksgiving Day Congratulation Happy Thanksgiving Day Greeting Message [Recipient Name] Thanksgiving eCard Happy Thanksgiving Day Message Happy Thanksgiving Day wishes Congratulations on Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day Card Thanksgiving Greeting Card Thanksgiving email Greetings Thanksgiving Greetings Thanksgiving Wishes Thanksgiving ecard advertisement advertisement Some of the emails contained actual quotes from well-known people. Its not yet clear whether there will be a wave of similar fake Christmas greetings, but last week EdgeWave caught a credential-scrape attacking spoofing Microsoft Office 365, telling recipients that there was a failed delivery, and directing them to a fake login-in page. Randall notes that there was nothing right about it when compared to a genuine Microsoft email, but that it could have fooled people. It was traced to a hijacked email server in Japan, pointing to a compromised server in Hong Kong, he continues. Malware senders are increasingly procuring security engines and testing against them. They are also sending themselves emails to see what gets through hosting services. These tactics help them bypass gateway filters, Randall says. To combat this, EdgeWave offers a post-gateway inbox detection service. Recipients can submit suspicious messages to the firms threat detection team for a quick review, Randall says. If malicious, the email will be quarantine and removed from all inboxes in the company. Randall observes that email addresses are commonly listed for sale in the criminal underground. He adds, Its not hard to harvest a particular domain. As for Christmas, theres a danger any time you have the general population putting their energies elsewhere, Randall says. People are in the holiday spirit, so its easier to interject malicious emails into the email flow and have that apparent sense of legitimacy, he contends. by Tanya Gazdik , December 14, 2018 Nissan North America is hosting a pop-up in a busy urban neighborhood on New Yorks Lower East Side. Prospective participants were invited via Eventbrite to attend the free and public event, which includes a product-expert-guided walk-around and test drive. After the test drive, participants can visit the Leaf Recharge Oasis featuring complimentary organic cold-pressed juice, massage and multiple giveaways. Nissan's agency G7 worked with Storefront to arrange and orchestrate the event. The Dec. 14-16 activations main intent is to give participants the chance to experience the Nissan Leaf in a pressure-free environment, says Jean-Philippe Lattes, senior manager, EV sales and marketing, Nissan North America. Our visitors can learn about how easy it is to own an electric vehicle, how fun it is to drive and how the tech in the Leaf supports an exciting yet relaxing drive every day, Lattes tells Marketing Daily. advertisement advertisement The main source of participants for the pop-up is the natural traffic. That is the advantage of being in the city, he says. The automaker is the first brand to mass market an EV nationwide, Lattes says. We have attended many (non-automotive) consumer events and festivals across the country, to have Leaf available for test drives where customers do not expect us, he says. We have had tremendous feedback from our visitors who have discovered how cool a Leaf can be for them, while they had not considered a 100% electric vehicle previously. Bringing the Leaf to an urban environment is the next step. The automaker aims to learn from the event and host additional pop-ups next year nationwide, he says. The whole purpose is to reach an audience that is not following traditional media, and not even traditionally shopping for a vehicle, Lattes says. Driving the 100% electric Leaf is more than driving a car. It embodies values that resonate with a lot of customers even though they may not be thinking about driving an electric vehicle as of yet. The pop-up is not targeting a specific demographic. Anyone is welcome, from Gen Z, millennials to all generations who are interested to drive the latest technology, Lattes says. There are still lots of myths around electric vehicles even though it is actually easier to own an electric vehicle for most drivers. Once they have experienced it, we see that EV owners do not go back to regular gas-engines-powered cars. Many anecdotes and some studies suggest that meditation can be a powerful tool for mental and physical health. New research shows that it may have yet another benefit: to help us learn faster from past experiences. Share on Pinterest According to new findings, meditation alters the way in which we learn. In a new study, researchers from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom focused on one particular type of meditation focused attention meditation and whether it affects how a person learns. This meditation practice requires a person to focus their attention on a particular object a burning candle or ones own breath, for instance and maintain that focus for a period of time. People often use focused attention meditation as a gateway into other types of meditation, as it is easier to learn and to practice. Meditation is a powerful tool for the body and the mind; it can reduce stress and improve immune function, says study co-author Prof. Bertram Opitz. But can it also help us train our minds to learn faster from feedback or information acquired through past experiences? Prof. Opitz and Paul Knytl, who is a doctoral student at the University of Surrey, suggest that the answer to that question is yes. The two explain their research findings in a paper now featured in the Journal of Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience. Learning from positive vs. negative feedback The researchers worked with people who were meditators and people who did not meditate. There were 35 participants in total, of which nine identified as Buddhist meditators, 12 practiced meditation in a secular context, two practiced Qi Gong, and the rest non-meditators. For the purpose of this study, the investigators trained the participants to do well in an activity in which they had to select images that were most likely to bring them a particular reward. In this exercise, the participants saw pairs of images, each with different probabilities of bringing a reward if selected. The researchers noticed that those who practiced meditation had a higher success rate in choosing reward-associated images compared with their non-meditating peers. This, Prof. Opitz and Knytl explain, suggests that meditators tend to learn from positive outcomes, while non-meditators most likely learn from negative outcomes. Humans have been meditating for over 2,000 years, but the neural mechanisms of this practice are still relatively unknown, says Knytl, who is specializing in the neurological mechanisms associated with focused attention meditation. [Our current] findings demonstrate that, on a deep level, meditators respond to feedback in a more even-handed way than non-meditators, which may help to explain some of the psychological benefits they experience from the practice, he adds. The wedding season is upon us and Shah Rukh Khan is out there blessing couples with warm wishes. No, I'm not exactly talking about Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal or DeepVeer and not even Priyanka and Nick for that matter, but I'm talking about how SRK made the best day of a couple's lives, even better. We all know that SRK is one of the most loved actors in the country, and his fans simply adore him unconditionally. All that love and admiration has also turned his house into a tourist attraction of sorts and it's a must-visit place when in one is in Mumbai. So, a lot of people do visit his house daily but a particular couple from Mumbai proved to be different. A newly-married couple ended up at 'Mannat' because They say visit temple after you are hitched, We did it right. They say visit temple after you are hitched, We did it right !!!! @iamsrk we know you saw us and waved !!!! Thanks alotttt sirrr!!!! Thanks for making this special day, perfect !!!! pic.twitter.com/IaFnJ6ziVI dhruvp2894 (@dhruvp2894) December 14, 2018 Well, they did do it absolutely right and even got a wave from King Khan himself. But, what's better is that SRK himself saw the tweet and blessed the two newlyweds. So nice, isn't it? God Bless you. https://t.co/A0a7CQ2PXQ Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) December 14, 2018 It all feels even more perfect when we scrolled back a few months on the guy's profile and saw this tweet. #AskSRK@iamsrk #AskSRK getting married this december, just need your blessings @iamsrk and love you!!!!! Your reply will equate to your presece in our marriage pic.twitter.com/kvPz7Vjmbc dhruvp2894 (@dhruvp2894) June 6, 2018 Well, he finally got the blessings! Such a great couple and they also got what they wanted. What a perfect way to begin their new life. Oscars 2019 is nearing and boy, it's going to a tight race this time, thanks to the string of mind-blowing string of performances we witnessed this year. via GIPHY It goes without saying that Rami Malek is leading the race after his unbelievably brilliant portrayal of the iconic Freddie Mercury in 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. via GIPHY However, he does have some serious competition lined up: Christian Bale - Vice Academy Award winner Christian Bale has gone through a massive transformation in Adam McKay's 'Vice', and we see him as one of the front-runners this awards season. via GIPHY Bale delivers a distinctive performance as he imitates former Vice President Dick Cheney. The world is all in praise of Bale's acting here and we now know up to what extent he can strain himself to add weight to his character. Literally, if needed. via GIPHY Though he didn't receive any nominations for his transformative role in 'The Machinist', we are highly positive of this one, as his magnificence and hard work cannot be ignored. Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born Bradley Cooper is in the limelight again after years, thanks to his highly commercial and critically acclaimed film 'A Star Is Born'. via GIPHY Bradley has not only acted in the film, but has also directed it. This was a performance that was deep and spectacular at every level. As much as the glitter was on Lady Gaga, Cooper effortlessly shifted the spotlight upon him at various junctures in the film. via GIPHY Cooper's evolution in the film was much of an emotional ride for fans who have always seen him doing the bro-dude characters (apart from the one in 'Silver Linings Playbook'). We predict Cooper to be amongst one of the nominees. Who knows, he might win as well! Viggo Mortensen - Green Book Peter Farrelly's 'Green Book' is receiving a very clear response from the audience, thanks to Viggo Mortensen's poignant act that has landed him almost to the Academy conversation. via GIPHY Beyond any doubt, this is Viggo's career-defining performance. Toni (played by Viggo) may have used the N-word in the film, however, that would certainly not reduce his chances of getting nominated for Oscars 2019. via GIPHY Though Viggo has never been nominated by the Academy, he has won the SAG-AFTRA for 'The Lord of the Rings'. Robert Redford - The Old Man & The Gun In September this year, Robert Redford announced his retirement from Hollywood leaving his fans disappointed. Redford's last performance as Forrest Tucker in 'The Old Man & the Gun' is now being appreciated. via GIPHY Robert plays a grandpa with a pistol who escapes a prison and carries out a series of bank robberies. via GIPHY Though the film's script and direction are being criticized, Redford has strong chances of getting nominated, thanks to his five-decade-long career that may influence the jury about his nomination. Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody Rami Malek deserves an Oscar for his outstanding performance in 'Bohemian Rhapsody'! Well, this is what people and media outlets are tweeting these days. via GIPHY Malek has added the absolute proportions of boldness, madness, and depth while playing Freddie Mercury, a timeless icon! For some, the film is too much to absorb, for others Rami is the real Queen! via GIPHY It is interesting to note that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hasn't received any lukewarm responses and has now become the highest grossing music biopic that has ever been made. Rami Malek can be a game changer, and we are entirely positive about his nomination. Honourable Mentions Hugh Jackman The Front Runner John C. Reilly - Stan & Ollie Ryan Gosling First Man Stephan James - If Beale Street Could Talk Clint Eastwood The Mule Lucas Hedges Boy Erased Ethan Hawke First Reformed Flash A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday refuted a U.S. official's smearing remarks on China-Africa cooperation. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton rolled out the Trump administration's new Africa strategy on Thursday, using a hostile and competitive tone against countries like Russia and China. Calling the two countries' commercial cooperation with African nations "predatory practices," Bolton asserted that they "stunt economic growth in Africa, threaten the financial independence of African nations, inhibit opportunities for U.S. investment, interfere with U.S. military operations and pose a significant threat to U.S. national security interests." In response, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang stressed, "What China cares about is African countries' needs, such as industrialization and agricultural modernization." "In contrast, it is interesting to see from the remarks of some Americans that, besides its own interests and demands, the U.S. is concerned about China and Russia rather than Africa," Lu added. He recalled that during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, many African leaders articulated their countries' desire for development and appreciation of China's support. As facilitating Africa's peace and development is the common responsibility of the international community, China has always adopted an open-minded attitude toward Africa-related international cooperation, and believed that all parties' investments in the continent on the basis of respect should be welcome, Lu said. "Meanwhile, cooperation should be carried out on the premise of Africa's will and needs and without any political strings attached and interference in internal affairs," he added. The spokesperson reiterated that as mutually-beneficial cooperation moves forward, China will continue to build relations with Africa based on sincerity, affinity and good faith, uphold justice and pursue shared interests. China and Africa will jointly implement consensus reached by the leaders during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the FOCAC and further advance their comprehensive strategic partnership, Lu added. Flash China on Friday expressed firm opposition to a U.S. Senate resolution on the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, saying it has interfered in China's internal affairs. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a question regarding the bill. The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018 says that the U.S. State Department will allow Chinese diplomats to visit some parts of the U.S. based on what extent China allows U.S. diplomats to visit certain areas, including Tibet, according to the government. After being passed by the Senate, the bill now needs to be signed by President Donald Trump before becoming a law. In disregard of the facts, the bill approved by the Senate is "interference in China's internal affairs" and violates the basic norms governing international relations, said Lu. China has lodged solemn representations with the U.S., the spokesperson added. Every year, a large number of Chinese and foreign people visited Tibet to travel and do business, Lu told reporters. Since 2015, nearly 40,000 people from the U.S. have visited Tibet, including the minority leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and senators. China urges the U.S. administration to take effective measures to prevent the bill from becoming a law, lest the bill seriously damage Sino-U.S. relations and bilateral cooperation in important areas, Lu said. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday talked with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over phone on Friday, as unusual war of words has erupted between the two NATO allies over U.S. military presence in Syria. The two presidents "discussed bilateral issues, including the security concerns of Turkey and the United States in Syria and the fight against terrorism," according to a statement issued by White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders. Trump and Erdogan agreed to continue coordinating to "achieve our respective security objectives in Syria," the statement read, without further details about the call. A separate statement issued earlier by the Turkish presidency noted that during the call, Erdogan expressed Turkey's legitimate concern over the presence and actions of People's Protection Units (YPG) and other Kurdish militias in northern Syria. Also on Friday, Erdogan said during an international conference in Istanbul that his country has run "out of patience" with the United States over its support for the Kurdish militia in Syria, threatening a renewed military offensive soon and the seizure of the northern Syrian town Manbij if Washington fails to remove the YGP from the area. "We will no longer tolerate a single day of delay. We are determined to bring peace and security to areas in the east of the Euphrates," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkish troops will be marching soon into northern Syria to "free the east of the Euphrates from the separatist terrorist organization." In an unusually harsh response, the Pentagon said hours later on Friday that "unilateral military action into northeast Syria by any party, particularly as U.S. personnel may be present or in the vicinity, is of grave concern. We would find any such actions unacceptable." "Uncoordinated military operations will undermine that shared interest" of the U.S. and Turkish sides, it added. Ankara has long regarded the YPG as Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party that has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, arguing that its presence along Turkey's southern border poses a serious security threat to Ankara. Turkish and U.S. forces last month started joint patrols in Manbij. In a separate move, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Nov. 21 that the U.S. military is building observation posts along the Turkey-Syria border, in an effort widely seen to reduce tension with Turkey. However, such efforts appeared to have been made in vain after the Turkish Armed Forces fired artillery shells at YPG positions east of the Euphrates in northern Syria last month. Ankara accused Washington of dragging its feet on implementing a deal brokered with Turkey to clear Kurdish fighters from the small town of Manbij near the Turkish border. Houston's back in the national spotlight, but this time it's not only because of this city's great dining scene. (Of course that helps, too). Lifestyle magazine Travel + Leisure asked its staff to name the 50 best destinations, from around the globe, that travelers need to visit next year. The decision process involved mulling statistics, flight ease, other expert opinions and even recommendations from lay people. Staffer Lila Harron Battis chose our favorite place: Houston. Battis chose the Bayou City for our post-Harvey recovery progress, Super Bowl hosting skills, diverse dining scene and cultural offerings. "Nearly two years after its star turn as Super Bowl host and one year since Hurricane Harvey inflicted $125 billion worth of damage, Houston has made major strides toward recovery and cemented its reputation as a lively, diverse city with a restaurant landscape that can hold its own against any coastal capital," she writes. LIFESTYLE WORTH PAYING FOR: Every week HoustonChronicle.com covers the arts, food and style that makes Houston a city worth living in. Battis mentions such fine-dining spots as Xochi, UB Preserv and Theodore Rex as well as some ethnic staples: Mala SIchuan, Pho Binh and Crawfish & Noodles. But those existing establishments are the only reason to check out Houston in 2019, there are also those newly opened and about-to-launch spots, too. Specifically food halls, which are all the rages all over the globe. "Now, with a handful of new food halls in the works, visitors can sample a cross-section of the city's food scene without spending hours traversing the urban sprawl: Finn Hall opened in December, with Bravery Chef Hall, Lyric Market Hall, and Understory still on the horizon for 2019," Battis said. Battis closes out her recommendation with a nod to Tilman Fertitta's Post Oak hotel, as well as The Museum of Fine Arts Houston's $450 million expansion and the Menil Collection's newly unveiled Menil Drawing Institute. See the other places Travel + Leisure suggest for travel in 2019 in the gallery above. Then tell us where you're planning on going in the comments. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Fifty people recently gathered at the Port Austin Fire Departments annual Christmas celebration for active and retired members. The highlight of the event was an award presented to Bob Upthegrove for his commitment to the department. Chief Don Zimmerman announced the Golden Axe award, which is for 50 years of outstanding service, was the first ever given by the department. The plaques statement read: Presented to Robert "Bob" Upthegrove for 50 years of dedicated service to the Port Austin Fire Department 2018." Many of Bobs family members have followed the proud tradition of serving as firefighters. His grandfather, Henry Clay Soward joined the city of Flints fire department in 1925, and served 22 years until he suffered a massive heart attack while enroute to a fire. His health forced him into retirement and the department retired his number. Bobs father, John Jack Upthegrove, served as chief of the Port Austin Fire Department for many years during his 54 years, from 1948 until he passed in 2002. Nephew Robert Bobby Jahns was also a member of the department for eight years, from 1988 to 1996. Brother Dave Upthegrove, retired from the Otisville Fire Department in 2015 after 35 years. He too was honored with a Golden Axe award, plus they re-named the fire hall, The David G. Upthegrove Fire Station. Daves son, David, retired this year after serving with his father for 30 years and his brother, Brian, who has 23 years of service, is still active with the department. Bobs son, Ryan joined Port Austins Fire Department in 2003 to follow his many family members in service to his community. He continues to respond to the Elkton and Port Austin departments as he is needed. The Upthegrove family has contributed a total of 234 years of saving lives and property in the honorable profession of firefighters. I would like to pass along that everyone with the Port Austin fire department wishes all of you enjoy a Merry and SAFE Christmas. UPPER THUMB Shar Mohr is like many Huron County residents. She's a college graduate, business owner, and loving mother and wife. The list goes on and on. Her mornings generally start bright and early with a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. Accompanying her is her husband, Jason, and together they discuss what tasks need to be accomplished for the day at their business. "If the kids are kind enough to sleep in, then they get up right as my husband is leaving for work," Shar said. From there, she jumps right into mom mode. Homeschooling a pack of five children ranging in ages 6 to 15 consumes a good portion of Shar's mornings. "The morning is their time to work on their school work," she said. "Each child has their particular folders to work on." While her three sons and two daughters are doing their schoolwork, Shar continues to stay a busy woman keeping up with the housework and paperwork for the business. And, she can't forget to show some love to her fur babies, Clover, Dotti and Pudge, before really calling it a positive morning. If she can find an extra minute, she'll explore her creativeness and write poetry. "I'm a nerd like that," she said with a laugh. It's been a pretty normal day-to-day way of living for Shar, but earlier this month, her normal lifestyle became even more "normalized." Suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder and irritable bowel syndrome, Shar is a current medical marijuana cardholder. With marijuana becoming legal for adult recreational use, Shar is educating, empowering and trying to help others enjoy a now legal substance. This is her story... Sparking an interest The days of killing kegs and bonging beers were never ones that Shar fell in love with. Although she occasionally enjoys a few craft beers nowadays, partying was never something that appealed to her in high school and college. Throughout her younger years, Shar said she dealt with anxiety issues. After consulting with a relative who used marijuana, she decided to give it a try. She was mildly worried about her first time lighting up, but the aftermath was rewarding, she said. "It was very relaxing and soothing and calming," she said. "It wasn't legal (at that time) ... but it was helping me. I self-medicated off and on throughout the years." Her self-medicating days came to a halt when Shar and Jason walked down the aisle and said, "I do" many years ago. The happily married couple, one-by-one, then welcomed five children into their lives all of which Shar said she never used marijuana during any of the pregnancies. Motherhood and Mary Jane meet To no surprise, marijuana is discussed in the Mohr household. Shar's husband has been supportive of her marijuana use throughout their 15-plus years of being together. "He's seen the differences of when I was using it for health and wellness and when I wasn't," she said, adding she's kept her use "hush-hush." A medical marijuana cardholder for the last couple of years now, Shar uses the microdosing mechanism to medicate which is the lowest dose of marijuana that creates a perceptible effect. "A comparison would be someone who wants a little bit of caffeine," she began to explain. "Rather than drink a gigantic mug of coffee, they just have a small cup to give them a little boost, but not the jittering feeling." Unlike some stereotypes associated with marijuana users, Shar is not one to medicate all day or light up just because she can. Instead, she uses her marijuana when her health issues begin to flare up. "If either of those (conditions) are exasperating my health and wellness that day, I will then microdose," she said. "If there's a really bad day, which I haven't had in many years thanks to cannabis, then I would have a friend take the kids if I didn't think I was going to be competent enough to parent them." Shar refers to her marijuana selection as a "buffet style." "I like to try everything," she said. "I know what I like as far as strains." Her preference: Indica-hybrid or 100 percent Indica strains, which tend to give its user a body-relaxing feeling. However, if Shar needs to medicate during the day, she will use a Sativa strain, which provides more uplifting and energetic effects. "Sour Diesel is my favorite Sativa," she said. "It's excellent for migraines and menstrual pains. And, it tastes awesome." Shar keeps a diary of how certain strains have treated specific conditions. In fact, thanks to marijuana, Shar is now able to drive long distances, but never under any circumstance after, or while, medicating. "It's the same as how people try different wines or craft beers," she said. "I like to try different cannabis." And, just like puberty, sex education and everything else parents discuss with their children, Shar does so with her marijuana use. "There's a certain amount of education, age-appropriate levels, that you discuss about anything in your home that potentially comes with risk," she said. "I've let them know that I use marijuana for my health and what that means." "They just don't care," she added with a giggle. "My due diligence as a parent is to be open with them and discuss it responsibly and with maturity." All marijuana and marijuana-related items are kept locked up and stored away from the kids at all times, Shar said. "Just like a gun owner keeps their guns locked up, I keep my cannabis away from the kids too," she said. Connecting with fellow 'buds' Huron County has not been welcoming when it comes to marijuana. That's proven when looking at the Nov. 6 election results. Proposal 1, the legalization of marijuana, was turned down 8,261 votes to 5,479 votes by Huron County residents. Two days before legalization, Shar created a Facebook group called, "Green Girl Wellness Community." "It was something I've had in the back of mind about how great it would be to have a group where people could finally feel comfortable talking about it," she said. "It's putting yourself out there in a community that's very small ... but it's something I've been thinking about for years as a cannabis user." The group was created as a safe and supportive way for women in the Thumb who are cannabis enthusiasts, or interested in learning more about the substance. It's open to only women over the age of 21 and/or current medical marijuana cardholders. And who's in the group might just shock you, Shar said. "There's been a few people to join that made me say, 'Whoa, this is really neat because they're somebody I respect and admire,'" she said. "It feels a lot more personable. I hope people know I'm pretty laid back and nonjudgmental." In just one day alone, Shar said she had four different women contact her seeking marijuana strain recommendations to get rid of migraines. Pot? Not! Local municipalities must create an ordinance stating whether they will prohibit or allow marijuana-related businesses in their communities. The city of Bad Axe is one of the communities looking to say "no" to marijuana businesses. The council is scheduled to present an ordinance prohibiting marijuana establishments at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Bad Axe City Hall. "With a city like Bad Axe, who could really use the money, they will not be able to get any access to that revenue," Shar said, adding she plans to attend and address the council. The city is losing out on money, Shar said, because when her and her fellow cannabis users travel to Bay City to purchase their medication, it's not just a one-stop visit. "We're spending money grocery shopping, going out to eat and doing other shopping," she said. "A lot of money is being spent in the communities where these dispensaries exist." The next episode Shar said she is excited to see where the next chapter of the cannabis culture goes. She has a few ideas up her sleeve to offer educational events about marijuana in the future. But for now, she will continue to live her normal day-to-day life. She will continue to be a successful business owner; a loving wife to her husband; a caring mother to five gifted children; and probably smoke a joint here and there. And for her, she's more than OK with it. "Selfishly, I just want people to enjoy it," she said. HARBOR BEACH The Harbor Beach schools received some interesting news at this week's meeting. The first budget amendment for the 2018-19 school year was presented by Stacey Viers, business manager for the Huron Intermediate School District (HISD). Viers said the budget reflects a total pupil count of 496 students. She went on to say projected student enrollment will fluctuate over the next few years. It is expected to level off around 2024, with a projected student count of 502. This year, Harbor Beach will receive state aid totaling $7,861 per student. It is the highest amount the school has ever received per pupil. During her presentation, Viers broke the schools funding down in percentages. State revenues make up 59 percent of the total yearly budget, while local sources contribute 31 percent. Federal funding accounts for just three percent, and the HISD contributes 7 percent of the overall funding. The first amended budget for this year indicates the school will have a projected fund balance of over $2 million at the end of the 2018-19 school year. Viers did not elaborate, but said she hopes the final amount will actually be higher than this first amended projection. In non-related business, school Superintendent Shawn Bishop recommended hiring a temporary K-8 secretary. After a short discussion, the board agreed with the superintendent and they agreed to hire Lindsay Holdwick for that position. Near the end of the meeting, the school board went into closed session to finalize Bishops annual evaluation. Afterward, school board secretary Deb Hunter told the Tribune the board gave the superintendent a highly effective evaluation rating. It is the highest rating a board can give. The next Harbor Beach Board of Education meeting is scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 in the high school library. UPPER THUMB As a lawsuit against Greenleaf Township officials alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act works its way through the Sanilac County courts, it has been amended with two additional charges claiming new violations. Sanilac County resident Grant Toner initiated a civil lawsuit on Oct. 12, charging township Clerk Judy Keller and the township with seven alleged violations regarding the Open Meetings Act and of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that reportedly happened at the July 19 meeting. The counts include six violations of Michigan's Open Meetings Act and one FOIA violation. Toners lawsuit against Keller is against her with her position as township clerk, against her personally, and against the township as well. Toner and his attorney Philip Ellison, of Hemlock, also allege the township went into closed session to discuss a legal issue that should have been done in public, and that an official roll-call vote was not taken, just a voice vote to do so. On Nov. 29, the townships attorney, Robert Seibert of Clinton Township, filed a response with Sanilac County Circuit Court for his clients. I do not discuss pending litigation with anyone but my clients, said Seibert when contacted. There is no court date set, and the judge has not set any conference dates. According to Ellison, the issue is the board is not conducting township business in a public form; not properly closing meetings with a required 2/3 vote; not following closed session regulations; and is making decisions by private consensus. The response their attorney filed acknowledged four of the Open Meetings Act violations (accusations), said Ellison. The violations were regarding open transparency. And on the issue of conducting deliberations on the attorney they hired in closed session, that is now being called into question. In an interesting twist, the lawsuit we filed might be technically inaccurate. Our allegation was that when they hired the lawyer for their federal lawsuit, it was done in closed session, but technically, that is not accurate, explained Ellison. Apparently, it was done behind closed doors. Not even in a closed session which is even more illegal. A review of two years worth of township minutes failed to show a record of deliberation to hire the law firm of Dalton & Tomich PLC during an open meeting for the federal lawsuit. Ellison contends the boards decision to hire that law firm is invalid. Because of that, Ellison filed an amended complaint adding two more counts against the township for violating the Open Meetings Act. Because that was filed last week, the township has not responded yet. What is troubling to me, is the township is violating the law when they are supposed to be the body that makes the laws, Ellison said. They expect their citizens to follow the law, and yet they dont follow the state law that governs them. Toner is demanding a jury trial, and to have Keller personally liable for actual and exemplary damages, awarding a minimum of $500 in punitive damages from Keller and the township. HARTFORD A Connecticut man convicted of threatening the judge in his divorce case is arguing free speech rights in taking his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Edward Taupier of Cromwell has filed documents asking the court to hear his appeal of a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling in September that rejected his free speech arguments. Taupier is serving an 18-month prison sentence for threatening Judge Elizabeth Bozzuto. Prosecutors said Taupier sent an email to six acquaintances in 2014 that described Bozzutos home and how certain rifles could be fired at it from a nearby cemetery. He was sentenced to four more months behind bars in September for Facebook posts urging people to kill judges and employees at the Middletown courthouse. Taupier, who is being represented by New Haven criminal defense attorney Norm Pattis, asked the nations highest court Monday to hear his appeal. We made an extremely strong petition to the Supreme Court. Ive had calls from law schools around the country offering collaboration. I look forward to the court decision and hope for a chance to argue it in Washington, Pattis said. He was convicted of first-degree threatening, two counts of disorderly conduct and second-degree breach of peace in January 2016. For the tampering conviction, Taupier was originally arrested in 2013 on charges of voyeurism with malice and disseminating voyeuristic materials. He videotaped naked massages with a sexual partner, unaware she was being recorded, then uploaded the clips to internet porn sites, according to investigators. He was sentenced to four more months behind bars in September for Facebook posts urging people to kill judges and employees at the Middletown courthouse. State police were contacted by Middletown court officials in January 2017 about concerning social media posts that threatened the safety of court staff and members of the Cromwell Police Department, according to a police report. The state police investigator who applied for the warrant wrote the Facebook posts advocate, encourage and incite violence against persons and property. In mid-April, Taupier accepting a plea bargain for tampering with a witness. A Middletown judge sentenced him to three years in jail, execution suspended, and five years of probation. A former Green Beret who told Fox News in 2016 that he killed a suspected Taliban bomb maker nearly a decade ago during combat operations in Afghanistan is now being charged in the man's death -- a move his lawyer says is an act of betrayal by the Army. The murder charge facing Maj. Matthew Golsteyn comes after years of on-and-off investigations by the Army following an incident said to have taken place during his 2010 deployment. A military tribunal that probed the killing years ago initially cleared Golsteyn -- but the investigation into him was re-opened after he spoke to Fox News' Bret Baier. "I think he's been betrayed," his attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, told Fox News on Friday when asked how the Army has treated Golsteyn. The once-decorated soldier, who had been on voluntary excess leave amid the latest investigation, has been living in a newly bought home with his wife and a 2-month-old baby in Virginia, working for the International Association of Firefighters, Stackhouse said. Golsteyn was informed of the murder charge earlier this week after being ordered back into active duty. "They have insinuated to me that they have new evidence," Stackhouse told Fox News. "I don't believe there is any new evidence at all." Golsteyn, in 2010, had been deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Special Forces Group. Two Marines in his unit during that time in the Battle of Marja ended up getting killed by booby-trapped explosives hidden in the area. Golsteyn and his men later found a suspected Taliban bomb maker nearby -- though he was not on a list of targets U.S. forces were cleared to kill, Fox News previously has reported. After he was detained, Golsteyn said the man refused to talk to investigators. Under the rules of engagement, Golsteyn was ordered to release him. However, Golsteyn was concerned that if he did so, the suspect would have in turn targeted Afghans who were helping U.S. soldiers. "There's limits on how long you can hold guys," he told Fox News' Bret Baier in 2016. "You realize quickly that you make things worse. It is an inevitable outcome that people who are cooperating with coalition forces, when identified, will suffer some terrible torture or be killed." Golsteyn told Fox News he killed him. Two years later, he is facing the murder charge. "Major Matthew Golsteyn's immediate commander has determined that sufficient evidence exists to warrant the preferral of charges against him," U.S. Army Special Operations Command spokesman Lt. Col. Loren Bymer told Fox News in a statement Friday. "Major Golsteyn has been charged with the murder of an Afghan male during his 2010 deployment to Afghanistan." The first Army investigation was undertaken after Golsteyn disclosed details of the incident during a polygraph test when he was interviewing for a job with the CIA in 2011. Golsteyn, according to Army documents obtained by the Washington Post, reportedly told the CIA something that Stackhouse disputes -- that he took the suspected bomb maker off base, shot him and buried his remains in a shallow grave before returning to the site to dig up the remains and burn them in a pit used to dispose of trash. Stackhouse told Fox News the suspected bomb maker was released and later killed during combat operations in Marja. Golsteyn, who had been awarded the Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for combat valor, was initially accused of murder and conspiracy. But following the lengthy initial investigation by a military tribunal, no formal charges were filed. Instead, Golsteyn was removed from the Special Forces and had his Silver Star taken away. As for the latest case, Stackhouse says: "we will be relentless in defending him." Fox News' Barnini Chakraborty and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report. A twist in a main parachute line, and an additional entanglement that prevented the deployment of a reserve parachute system at the correct altitude and time, caused a Navy SEAL to fall to his death in the Hudson River off New York City last year, according to investigation documents. Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) 1st Class Remington J. Peters struck the Hudson near Liberty State Park, N.J., during New York Fleet Week on May 28, 2017 following back-to-back malfunctions that caused him to free fall invertedly and hampered successful deployment of his reserve chute, according to a command-directed investigation obtained by Military.com through the Freedom of Information Act. A team of six jumpers, part of the Navy's elite Leap Frogs parachute team, were set to perform at 12:00 p.m. -- three as canopy performers and three as wingsuit maneuver performers. Peters was part of the three performing wingsuit maneuvers before deploying their parachutes, the documents show. Peters, who had performed in more than 100 Leap Frog shows, had been with the demonstration team since February 2016. He was a skilled jumper, having completed more than 600 jumps with the team, including practice jumps, and about 300 civilian jumps, according to his qualification records. He had "completed this specific type of jump, 'wingsuit flocking-flying in proximity to other wingsuiters,' approximately 150 times," the records showed, and he was up to date on his medical and fitness tests. During the fateful jump, the canopy jumpers went first, with Peters and two team members following minutes after, exiting from a CH-53 helicopter 8,500 feet above ground level. The team performed the wingsuit demonstration successfully before deploying their main parachutes at approximately 2,500 feet. But Peters' main parachute deployed with "a line-twist malfunction above his break handles," the investigation stated. "As per emergency action procedures, SO1 Peters attempted to clear the malfunction and unzipped his wing suit arms to further work the malfunction, all while monitoring his altimeter," the documents said. Peters quickly determined that standard emergency procedures -- which called for the jumper to attempt to first rotate out of the line twist -- would force him to cut away his main chute if the malfunction could not be resolved. Peters had performed a similar cutaway on the 577th jump of his career with his own equipment. But on this jump, Peters spent about 40 seconds working to untangle his line twist. The decision to make a cutaway should occur at around 1,800 feet, with the cutaway itself occurring at 1,600 feet, according to procedures. But per Peters' "CYPRES [Cybernetic Parachute Release System] Automatic Activation Device and Ditter Altimeter data, SO1 Peters performed the main chute cutaway at 1,300 feet," the investigation said. Related content: The forceful cutaway, in tandem with the descent, propelled Peters backward, placing his direction of travel downward on his back. While falling, Peters faced with another dilemma: "As the pilot chute for the reserve deployed, the bridle, which attaches the pilot chute to the reserve canopy deployment bag, became entangled with the smoke bracket on SO1 Peters' left foot," it said. The smoke bracket is used by wingsuit jumpers to provide "visual reference for both the public and an aid for the Drop Zone Safety Officer to easily spot and track [individuals] in the demonstration," according to the report. Investigators said the parachute team's procedures also dictate that Peters should have conducted an "extended pause" after the main chute cutaway prior to deploying the reserve parachute, because the pause provides time for a jumper to make a "very deliberate" decision. "Due to SO1 Peters passing the decision altitude while being carried under the canopy backward, he may have rushed to deploy his reserve in order to not sacrifice altitude for stability," the findings said. The complex nature of his entanglement, cutting away his main chute below the standard altitude and free falling at a rapid rate while inverted all likely hastened his choices, the findings stated. Navy parachute operations require the CYPRES 2 backup system to be set at a minimum of 1,050 feet, but by default, the system was set at an activation of 750 feet above ground level, according to the altimeter evidence. Peters' CYPRES Expert 2 system deployed at 810 feet, despite being set at 750 feet, because the system had detected a rate of descent "higher than approximately 78 miles per hour," the report said. "It had activated because SO1 Peters' reserve chute malfunction did not decrease his freefall speed," it said. But because the pilot chute snagged, "Immediately prior to impact, SO1 Peters' reserve parachute was still contained within its deployment bag." Investigators determined through eyewitness testimony from fellow team members that the original twist in the main parachute line likely was caused by a "step-through malfunction," meaning the parachute container accidentally flipped through the lines as it was packed. While a canopy still may be controllable under those conditions, the malfunction "increases the severity of a potential line twist," the report stated. This human error "cost SO1 Peters time and altitude as he worked to clear the malfunction," contributing to his death. Naval Parachute Team chutes are inspected and repacked every 180 days as a precaution. The report did not disclose who packed Peters' reserve chute, other that it was certified and "in-date." Each member of the Leap Frogs packs his own supplies the day of a demonstration, it said. But the main cause of the fatality was the failure for the reserve system to properly deploy. "The deployment of the reserve [system] prior to attaining a stable body position placed the smoke bracket in a position to become entangled and directly caused SO1 Peters' death," it stated. The Navy is working through ways to prevent such a case from happening again, according to the report. For example, officials are alerting units that smoke brackets could snag on uniforms, making it harder to conduct emergency parachute procedures. While human error -- i.e. packing of Peters' equipment -- played a role, investigators said Peters' death "occurred in the line of duty and was not due to misconduct." Peters was pulled from the water by the U.S. Coast Guard and pronounced dead at 1:10 p.m.at Jersey City Medical Center from blunt force trauma, according to the coroner's report. "My deepest sympathy extends to all who loved SO1 Peters," wrote Vice Adm. Tim Szymanski, one of the approving authorities of the report. "His service to our nation will not be forgotten," said Szymanski, who, at the time of the accident, was a rear admiral and commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. Peters enlisted in the Navy in 2008 and had deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. A native of Grand Junction, Colorado, Peters was 27 when he died. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. The Marines added a new tradition to the old for the first Thanksgiving in the U.S. for the Afghan refugees who escaped... How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts SATURDAY: Texas is willing to trade Minor for at least a couple of Philadelphias top pitching prospects, TR Sullivan of MLB.com hears. If the Phillies were to acquire Minor, theyd likely use him as a starter, per Lauber. FRIDAY: The Phillies are pursuing a trade with the Rangers to land southpaw Mike Minor, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Its not yet clear how likely it is that a deal will come together. Left-handed pitching has been one of several areas of focus for the Philadelphia organization this winter, with the club reportedly pursuing a variety of southpaw starters and relievers. As Lauber notes, its not clear whether the club would view Minor as a rotation or pen piece. Certainly, its possible that much of the appeal lies in his ability to occupy either role. Minor signed on with the Texas organization last winter, wooed in part by the opportunity to return to a starting role after a nice bounceback campaign with the Royals as a reliever. He scored a $28MM deal over three seasons, with $19MM still to go over the coming two campaigns. That contract also includes limited no-trade protection, but its not clear if the Phillies are on his 10-team list or, if so, whether thatd be expected to pose a barrier in talks. Soon to turn 31 years of age, Minor turned in 157 innings of 4.18 ERA ball last year for the Rangers. That made him a useful asset, but perhaps not one thatd represent a major upgrade to a Phillies rotation that was mostly successful in 2018. Minor was not able to maintain all of the strides he had shown in 2017 when tasked with moving through orders multiple times. Minor still threw harder (93.2 mph average fastball) than he did in his heyday with the Braves, but didnt come close to matching the 95 mph heat he delivered in K.C. Meanwhile, his swinging-strike rate dropped from 11.8% in 2017 to 9.9% last year. Its notable, too, that Minor has been much more effective against left-handed hitters. The Phillies, who are said to be engaged on both Zach Britton and Andrew Miller, could see Minor as a possible multi-inning reliever and/or high-leverage lefty specialist. That he could always slide into the rotation, thus buttressing the teams depth, is an appealing aspect that also distinguishes him from those other pitchers. Plus, Minors contract wont hang a big number on the payroll for a lengthy term. All of those concepts, of course, are also known to the Rangers and other possible suitors. It stands to reason that the Texas organization, which is presently working to re-tool its roster but has continued to invest in veteran pitching, would only be willing to move Minor if it can add truly worthwhile pieces in return. ANN ARBOR, MI Judge Darlene OBrien pursed her lips and her eyes flicked down as Mary Ann Hulberts death was described the 13-year-old was partially naked and blindfolded in a field before bullets pierced her tiny frame. The 16-year-old who pulled the trigger now sat before OBrien as a bearded, balding 48-year-old man, his green eyes glancing up under furrowed brows. And for one of the first times in open court, Christopher Machacek, by way of his attorney, took responsibility for the bullets that ended Hulberts life on Dec. 30, 1986 in that Superior Township field. The same field where shed be found frozen days later. After Hulbert told him earlier in the day that she might be pregnant, and he might be the father, Chris panicked, and he grabbed a semi-automatic rifle and began shooting, said his attorney, Sofia Nelson, of the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office. The statement Friday, Dec. 14 in Washtenaw County Trial Court quickly kicked off what is expected to be a days-long process of reassessing Machaceks 1988 sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The admission of guilt is that of a changed man one who retrains retired greyhounds and once kept a guard from being shanked, Nelson said. But by Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Anthony Kendricks account, its an opportunistic maneuver by a calculating killer who enticed another boy to bring the guns and get Hulbert. As hes realized the self-serving nature of admitting culpability, his story has evolved, Kendrick said. The crime itself shows how much sophistication and planning and effort went into this. The re-sentencing battle comes as a result of a 2012 Supreme Court ruling life sentences without parole cruel and unusual for juvenile offenders, and a 2016 ruling that the decision be applied retroactively. Its whether Machacek the final so-called juvenile lifer facing resentencing in Washtenaw County fits the U.S. Supreme Court's description of "the rare juvenile offender who exhibits such irretrievable depravity that rehabilitation is impossible and life without parole is justified thats debatable. The question before this court is whether this 48-year-old man is the same as that 16-year-old man and what a constitutional sentence is, Nelson said. Machacek is expected to take the stand, Nelson said during her opening argument. So, too, will several loved ones, a fellow prisoner who Machacek took under his wing, and two experts. One relative to testify Friday, Machaceks youngest sister, Jennifer Williams, described a loveless upbringing for her big brother, whos face reddened and lips trembled as she spoke. It was filled with several moves after her was kicked out at 14, along with beatings by her mother and an absent, formerly alcoholic father, who also assaulted him, she said. Her brother would protect her from beatings by a sibling, and then take the blame. In adulthood, particularly in his late 20s behind bars, he started to better himself, she said. Hes acted as a rock and skinny Buddha to her, calming her own frequent anxiety. He just has this really simplistic, pure way of looking at life, she said. An expert in psychology and adolescent brain development, Michael Caldwell, also testified to the impact of those childhood experiences, noting his determination from a 7-hour interview that Machacek suffered 6 of 10 categories of so-called Adverse Childhood Experiences. In increasing numbers, they increase the likelihood of mental and physical struggles. Machaceks experiences likely led to delayed brain development and possible mental health disorders, he said. He also pointed to the co-defendant in the case, Steven Stamper, being present at the shooting for which they both initially pointed fingers, and Stamper remains incarcerated with the possibility of parole. Studies have shown, Caldwell said, that peer presence can increase risky behavior. This was clearly driven by emotional impulses versus a rational analysis of how to approach the situation, he said of the shooting. Prosecutors drew attention to Machaceks changing stories over the years, and differences in what he told Caldwell versus others, such as being unable to eat after the shooting and, respectively, having dinner that night. Machacek admitted to cleaning the truck and the guns after the fact, Caldwell said when asked by Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Michael Doby. Though prosecutors pointed to intercourse with Hulbert, estimated at age 12, as an uncharged felony, Caldwell said it had no bearing on Machaceks risk upon release at this age. Machacek, in Caldwells opinion, has been rehabilitated, he said. The case is expected to resume next week. ANN ARBOR, MI A Washtenaw County probation officer resigned this week shortly before admitting she lied to investigators in connection with the 2015 death of Keandre Duff. Sarah Stein, 40, pleaded guilty Friday, Dec. 14 to two counts of lying to a peace officer - one a felony and the other a newly-added misdemeanor - when she appeared Washtenaw County Trial Court, court records show. Through an agreement with the prosecutors office, three other felony counts of lying to a peace officer will be dismissed at sentencing, Chief Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Steve Hiller said in an email. Stein resigned from her role as a probation officer on Thursday, Dec. 13, Washtenaw County Trial Court administrator Dan Dwyer confirmed in an email. Shes been on unpaid administrative leave since being charged two years ago. Stein was accused of lying to police about her former juvenile probationer, Tariq Jackson, who is now a 20-year-old serving 17 to 40 years in prison for Duffs gang-related murder at a street party in Ypsilanti. Duff, himself, previously had been accused in a gang-related death, though his case was dropped. Stein told officials she did not think Jackson was capable of murder and denied being told elements of the crime, according to court records. But a phone recording with her alleged lover a parolee and former juvenile probationer of hers told a different story, records show. It showed Stein admitting that Jackson told her all about shooting 20-year-old Duff, officials claimed. After numerous delays in the case, a planned evidentiary hearing Friday turned into a plea hearing. Stein is now scheduled for a Feb. 5 sentencing, court records show. She remains free on bond. She will be the fourth person sentenced in connection with Duffs death. Aside from Jackson, two others were imprisoned for lying to prosecutors when called on an investigative subpoena. Her Ann Arbor-based attorney John Shea declined to comment further on the case. The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine, while the felony charge is punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. MT MORRIS TOWNSHIP -- A Mt. Morris firefighter has been charged with two counts of sexual criminal conduct, police confirmed. Justin Jones, 33, of Flint, is facing charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a person under 13-years-old and second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a person under 13-years-old. Jones was arraigned Friday, Dec. 14 after being arrested on Thursday, Mount Morris Township Police Chief Terrance Green said. Green confirmed that a 12-year-old girl was involved in the case. Jones is currently being held on $100,000 bond and is being lodged in the Genesee County Jail. His next court date will be in front of Genesee District Court Judge William Crawford on Dec. 27, according to officials. FLINT TWP., MI -- The Michigan Secretary of States Office and Patsy Lou Chevrolet may be close to working out differences that resulted in an attempt to suspend the dealerships license and a lawsuit against the state. SOS spokesman Fred Woodhams said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal that a proposed settlement has been filed but still must be signed by Genesee Circuit Judge Geoffrey L. Neithercut. Woodhams declined to comment further, and The Journal could not immediately reach attorneys for Patsy Lou Chevrolet. In May, the state attempted to suspend the license of the dealership for 15 days for what it called repeated violations of law for not providing titles to vehicle buyers. Rather than closing, Patsy Lou filed a lawsuit against the state, winning a stay of the suspension and claiming the charges against it were untrue. In a filing with the court, the dealership has claimed that a suspension -- which would prevent it from buying, selling or trading vehicles -- could put it out of business. Patsy Lou was previously on state probation for 12 months, from May 2015 until May 2016, after similar complaints were lodged against it, according to the state. The most recent complaint named Patsy Lou Williamson and Ted Merrill Gans, doing business as Patsy Lou Chevrolet, and says the business had a history of complaints from consumers involving improper use of temporary registrations, failure to apply for title and registration in the purchasers name within 15 days of vehicle delivery, failure to have assigned certificate of title in immediate possession and failure to properly complete application for title and registration. These are problems that have been issues repeatedly for the licensee, the complaint says. CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP, MI Davenport University officials announced Friday, Dec. 14, that it will offer scholarships and free career services to General Motors (GM) employees losing their jobs due to plant closures. In November, GM announced plans to cut 14,000 workers through a combination of layoffs and buyouts in North America, as part of a restructure. The automaker plans to close plants in Hamtramck and Warren in Michigan. Davenport, which has satellite schools in Detroit and Warren, specifically is offering up to $8,000 scholarships toward a degree or 20 percent off professional development courses, plus complimentary career services for the next year such as career transition strategies. These individuals are our friends and neighbors, and with campuses in Warren and Detroit, we are in a strong position to offer support during this time of transition, said Davenport University President Richard Pappas. We stand ready to provide the professional development, education and career services to help them quickly take the next step in their career. GM plans to close a total of five plants in 2019. Besides the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant and the Warren transmission operations plant, plants in Ontario, Ohio, and Maryland are slated to close. GM is shifting away from car manufacturing toward more trucks and SUVs. Mary Barra, the automakers CEO and chairman, has said that these measures will continue GMs transformation into a highly agile, resilient and profitable company with some needed investment flexibility. Michigan and Ohio GM employees interested in taking advantage of the Davenport scholarship will need to provide employment verification including a recent pay stub, a letter from GM verifying employment or a copy of their employee badge. The scholarship is available for classes on any of the universitys campuses as well as online courses. Davenport University announced in October that a new Detroit campus is joining its state-wide network of five campuses with the goal of educating students on the skills employers need. Impacted GM employees will have the ability to take advantage of the scholarship for up to two years - Fall 2021 - after the plants expected closure in 2019. Employees will continue to receive the scholarship until graduation. Tuition varies on the type and number of credits Davenport students choose to take advantage of but the average annual tuition for two semesters is $17,000, according to Amy Miller, executive director, Communications & Public Relations. Miller said many of the GM employees may also be eligible for additional scholarships or financial aid as well, which they could combine with their scholarship. Davenport University offers more than $15 million in scholarships each year. The only programs not eligible for the GM scholarship are the bachelor of science in nursing (pre-licensure), and masters of science in nursing family nurse practitioner concentration, occupational therapy and the competency-based MBA. Davenport University Impacted Employee Scholarship Benefits: 30 percent discount on tuition rates for most undergraduate and graduate degree programs. $1,300 per semester for part time student at 6 credits per semester $3,950 per year for full time student at 18 credits per year $2,600 per semester for full time students at 12 credits per semester $8,000 per year for full time students at 36 credits per year 20 percent discount on professional development workshops, certificate program and other non-credit training opportunities DU application fee waived Impacted Employee Next Steps: Gather proof of employment via pay stub, letter from GM or badge showing employment. Gather proof of layoff from impacted plant location Contact Davenport by phone at 800-686-1600 Beyond the classroom, Davenport is offering to provide the career assessments skills and training necessary to prepare for workers for their next job. Davenport Career Services Support: Interview skills Social media presence Resume and cover letter assistance Job search and career transition strategies For more information, visit the website at www.davenport.edu/generalmotors, or call Davenport University Admissions at 800-686-1600 or send an email to info@davenport.edu. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Northview Public Schools Superintendent Scott Korpak informed district families Friday, Dec. 14, he would be retiring at the end of this school year due to health issues. Korpak was an assistant superintendent in Forest Hills schools when he was tapped in 2015 to replace the retiring Mike Paskewicz as superintendent. I am deeply disappointed to share with you that because of chronic physical health issues that have become more problematic over the last couple of months, I am no longer able to maintain the typical schedule of a Superintendent. Because of this I will be retiring from public school service at the end of this school year, said Korpak, in his letter. Korpak begin his letter with a quote from slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. During his recent evaluation, he said he informed the Board of Education about his decision. He said the board asked that he serve through the end of the year, but with a schedule reduced to normal business hours. The school board will begin the superintendent search process for the district of more than 3,300 students in early 2019 and expect to have a new leader in place by July 1. Korpak said school leaders will provide families with regular updates and opportunities to provide input on the selection. He recommended that the school board appoint Liz Cotter, director of People, Organization and Accreditation, to serve as the interim deputy superintendent through June 30, 2019 to ensure district continuity. Cotter will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school district. For the remainder of my time, Korpak said he will continue to ensure the implementation of the boards policies, support the districts strategic initiatives, and expand business partnerships. Northview deserves the very best because it is a district whose families are unquestionably passionate about the learning experience, and whose faculty and staff are dedicated to providing a high-quality education to the children they serve, said Korpak, who did not go into detail about health issues. To that end, Im confident that my revised schedule will not lead to a disruption in services to the districts students or a delay in the initiatives currently under review for implementation in the future. Like he started, Korpak ended his letter to families with a quote but this one from English critic and author Gilbert Keith Chesterton: When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. My hope is that my gratitude for the opportunity to serve Northview as your superintendent has been and will remain very evident, wrote Korpak. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Christmas is coming to town early this year for some families in Grand Rapids. The Santa Claus Girls volunteers packed their delivery trucks to the rooftops with presents and delivered them to families in need on Saturday morning, Dec. 15. The Santa Claus Girls is a Grand Rapids-area charity that, since 1908, has been providing gifts to children and families that otherwise might not receive a Christmas present. The charity is supported by MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Its a great organization to be able to volunteer for and the greatest thing is being able to see the kids, said Kevin Pratt, who helped his wife, Chris, deliver gifts Saturday morning. Just to see their faces and their smiles and knowing youre able to help them in some small way, its just so nice. Chris Pratt picked up the gifts on Friday, Dec. 14 and delivered them along her route Saturday morning. She said she feels its a great organization that gives back to the community and families during a time of need. One of the families on Pratts' route was single mother Pamela Osborne and her three children -- two girls and a boy. One of her daughters has a disability, and Osborne and the girls father provide 24-hour care. Santa Claus Girls is a great organization. They are helping out families, like ours, who cant afford to have a Christmas, Osborne said. The first year we did Santa Claus Girls, it was very exciting. We didnt know what to expect, I only had one kid at the time and she was young and so excited. Along with working a full-time job, Osborne also cares for her three children with the help of their father. Santa Claus Girls has been able to help Osborne and her family with Christmas presents since 2006, when she first signed up for Santa Claus Girls. She credited the organization with helping to bring Christmas to their home. Raymond Reece III, the father of Osbornes children, said he remembers when Santa Claus Girls would come to his house to deliver gifts when he was a young boy. When you dont have income, its a blessing, said Reece III. Its amazing that people care and volunteer their time ... I remember when my mom signed up for Santa Claus Girls and they delivered Christmas gifts to my family. Its an amazing organizaiton and families in need should reach out to them. Pratt and her husband delivered Christmas gifts to 13 houses in Wyoming, each family suprised and overjoyed to see Santa Claus Girls volunteers at their doorstep. The Santa Claus Girls raised $202,198.84 and brought gifts to 12,502 children in 5,149 Kent County families in 2017. More information about the all-volunteer organization is on their Facebook page. For information about volunteering, call 616-957-7335. Donations can be made online, by credit card at 616-254-2099, or by mailing a check to Santa Claus Girls, c/o The Grand Rapids Press, 3102 Walker Ridge Drive NW, Walker, MI, 49544. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI A probationer has been accused of selling crystal meth to an undercover officer on three different occasions. Chad Michael Rosencrans, 44, of Fruitport Township has been charged as a four-time habitual offender with three separate felony drug-dealing cases. Because of his criminal history, he could face life in prison, according to court records. Its alleged that on Nov. 14, Rosencrans sold 2 grams of crystal meth to an undercover officer, said Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Maat. Its further alleged that he sold 3.7 grams on Nov. 19 and 7.5 grams on Dec. 3, Maat said. The Michigan Department of Corrections website lists Rosencrans as a parole absconder as of Nov. 7. His past convictions include operating/maintaining a drug lab, possession of controlled substance and possession of marijuana on April 25, 2016, for which he was sentenced to 28 months to 20 years in prison, Maat said. He also was convicted with felony drug possession in 2003, Maat said. Rosencrans has misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence in 2002, escape from lawful custody in 2004 and writing an insufficient-funds check in 2004, according to Maat. Rosencrans is being held on a $200,000 cash or surety bond in the Muskegon County Jail. His preliminary examination is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 26 before Muskegon County District Judge Harold Closz. BAY CITY, MI - A Bay City native living in Germany hopes a 30-year high school reunion hes planning will include a trip to Bay Citys sister city of Ansbach. The Germans love the Americans, Kevin Dix said, joking that while there is a language barrier, both nationalities want to learn about each other. Dix was born and raised in Bay City and grew up in town in the late 1970s to early 1990s. He hopes to get some old friends from Western High School, where he graduated in 1991, to visit Germany for a reunion. He also went to T.L. Handy High School. Currently he lives in Gundelsheim, Germany, and is roughly 20 minutes from the birth house of Levi Strauss. The focus of the (Facebook) group is for Central, Handy and Western High School students, class of 1991, but all are welcome to come, he said, adding that he is hoping to host the trip in the year 2021. Dix said the main reason for the trip is to celebrate with some friends that they graduated from high school 30 years ago, but also to act as a symbolic trip between the two cities, which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the two. Dix joined the military after graduating and, after a brief stint in Oklahoma, was transferred to Germany in 1994. He left the service in 1996, and since he has been over in Germany for the past 24 years, he said he can be helpful to people who dont know the area. I know the places, what to look for and have great quality overnighters they have the advantage of me, they have someone from Michigan over here, he said. Amy Slominski-Austin said she has never been outside of the country and Kevin putting together the trip is the push I needed. She plans to also take her 9-year-old son along because she thinks he would really enjoy it. Chantelle Handeguand graduated the same year as Dix did, but they didnt really know each other, although she did travel to Germany with his sister to study hair and fashion. I have been to Germany (which) has some of the most beautiful landscapes and towns and the people we will be with are fun, she said, so basically it doesnt matter where you are its who you are with but the beautiful countryside does help and I love history and there is a lot of history (in Ansbach) and beautiful architecture. Some Bay City commissioners were recently looking to go to Ansbach next March to serve as a good faith trip to help maintain the relationship with the sister city. The trip was postponed due to the cost of the venture. Dix has heard concerns over the relationship of Bay City and Ansbach being a sleepy relationship and thinks more needs to be done to tie the cities together. There should always be something going on, even if it is just sending an Easter or Christmas card, he said. It needs to be repaired or to put some gas in it. To do nothing is the worst thing you can do." US_China_Trade_Trade war_Tariff China will temporarily suspend additional 25 percent tariffs on US-made vehicles and auto parts starting January 1, 2019, the Finance Ministry said on December 14, following a truce in a trade war between the world's two largest economies. The Ministry of Finance, in a statement on its website, also said it hopes China and the United States can speed up negotiations to remove all additional tariffs on each other's goods as it reduces tariffs from 40 percent to the 15 percent level that was levied before the current trade fight began. The suspension will last for three months. US President Donald Trump welcomed the announcement. "China just announced that their economy is growing much slower than anticipated because of our Trade War with them. They have just suspended US Tariff Hikes," Trump said in a tweet. "US is doing very well. China wants to make a big and very comprehensive deal. It could happen, and rather soon!" Shortly after the Chinese announcement, Tesla Inc said it had cut prices on its Model S and Model X vehicles in China. "This is a good signal that China and the United States are on track to solve the trade war," said Wang Cun, director of the China Automobile Dealers Association's import committee. "Car makers might be ordering a large number of imported cars now." Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Motor Co's global operations, also welcomed Beijing's announcement, noting that the US automaker exported nearly 50,000 US-built vehicles to China in 2017. "We applaud both governments for working together constructively to reduce trade barriers and open markets," Hinrichs said. Ford shares rose 2 percent on December 14. In July, China hiked its tariffs on US autos and parts after the United States raised its tariffs on Chinese vehicles and parts to 27.5 percent. Automakers do not expect the United States to immediately cut its higher tariffs on Chinese imports in response to China's move. Auto exports between the two countries are relatively small. China exported 53,300 vehicles to the US market last year and imported 280,208 US manufactured vehicles, according to data from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), a government-affiliated think-tank. In contrast, in the first 11 months of this year, China produced 25.3 million cars, down 2.6 percent from the same period last year, industry figures showed. Wang said car makers in China that imported cars from the United States had seen a 30 percent decline in volume in the first 10 months of 2018, but the tariff cut would bring imports back to previous levels. German automaker BMW said it welcomes the temporary reduction of tariffs on vehicles imported to China from the United States, adding it is in talks with partners in China how to respond. The financial impact by fees in China for cars imported from the United States is expected to amount to almost 300 million euros ($338 million) for the BMW Group in 2018, the company has said. The latest announcement on the planned tariff suspension followed China's first major purchase of US soybeans since Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping's landmark talks on trade in Argentina on Dec. 1. The tariff suspension and soybean purchase are early signs that the bitter trade war between China and the United States may be starting to thaw. In Argentina, Trump and Xi agreed to a truce that delayed the planned Jan. 1 US increase of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods while they negotiate a trade deal. China's tariff cut was communicated earlier this week during a phone call between Vice Premier Liu He, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a Trump administration official said. China will now suspend 25 percent tariffs on 144 US vehicle and auto part items and 5 percent tariffs on 67 auto items between January 1 and March 31, the Chinese Finance Ministry said. An Irish regulator said on December 14 it was investigating Facebook following the company's disclosure that a bug may have exposed private photos of up to 6.8 million users, the latest in a series of Facebook privacy glitches. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), the lead regulator of Facebook in the European Union, said it was investigating to determine whether the company had complied with strict new EU privacy rules in its response to a number of breaches, including the one that exposed photos. Read New Facebook bug may have exposed unposted photos of 6.8 mn users Facebook said in a statement that it was in close contact with the Irish regulator and happy to answer any questions. The investigation is the second opened by the DPC into Facebook since the new regulations took effect in May. Facebook disclosed the photo glitch earlier on Friday, saying it allowed some 1,500 software apps to access private photos for 12 days ending Sept. 25. "We're sorry this happened," Facebook said in a blog. The European data law requires companies to report data breaches to authorities within 72 hours, giving regulators authority to impose fines of up to 4 percent of annual global revenue for infractions. Facebook said it would alert users whose photos may have been exposed. The glitch could undermine Facebook's efforts to assure users and regulators that it was making progress in bolstering security and privacy after a series of embarrassments, internet analysts said. They include the Cambridge Analytica scandal in which the British political consulting firm harvested data of at least 87 million Facebook users and sold it for political use and a security breach for nearly 30 million users. "We already have a lot of evidence to reinforce the idea that Facebook is sloppy, prioritising growth at the expense of other considerations," Brian Wieser, an analyst with Pivotal Research, said in an email. New reports of bugs and breaches raise the likelihood that governments will add regulations on Facebook, said George Salmon, an analyst with Hargreaves Lansdown. "Facebook is sensibly trying hard to regain the trust of its user base, but all that effort will be to no avail if stories like this keep emerging," Salmon said. The bug affected users who give third-party applications permission to access their photos. Facebook typically only grants such apps access to photos shared on a user's timeline, but the bug potentially gave developers access to other photos, including ones that were uploaded but not posted, and ones shared on Marketplace and Facebook Stories, the company said. Every time you place an order in the stock exchanges there is a 50 percent chance that the other side of the order decision would be taken by a machine. In India, 50 percent of all trading decisions today are taken by machines thanks to algorithmic trading. If there is someone who can understand the value of the time it is the high-frequency traders who search for trading opportunities in a one-millionth of a second. Trading in such a small time frame is a team effort which requires the best of statistical abilities, technology, and domain knowledge. Lack of any of these is a recipe for failure. Kota, Rajasthan born Nitesh Khandelwal with degrees from IIT and IIM is in one such trader cum educator who successfully trades the markets supported by a team. Khandelwal was ahead of his time when he along with his friends thought of a startup in algorithmic trading, the only problem was market regulator SEBI didn't allow this form of trading in India then. But when the permission was granted the team regrouped and progressively increased in strength to become one of the respected names in the market. Their training business under the name of Quantinsti is globally reknown with a presence in 140 countries. In an interview with Moneycontrol Khandelwal explains the nitty-gritty of algorithmic trading and even retail traders can become algo traders. Q: Can you walk us through your journey to algorithmic trading? A: I come from Kota, Rajasthan where I completed my schooling . Later went on to pursue Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2005 and post-graduation from IIM Lucknow in 2007. Algorithmic trading was something that I was interested from my IIM Lucknow days. Along with some friends, I planned a startup in algorithmic trading but as we were working on the project we learned such trading were not yet allowed in India. So I took up a job with ICICI Treasury where I worked for around a year and then had a stint with a proprietary desk in Mumbai where I headed a team of traders. In 2008, SEBI allowed algo trading in India and by September 2009 we started iRageCapital which in those days was involved in Algorithmic Trading Consulting. Though SEBI allowed algo trading in 2008, there were few brokers who were willing to invest in it thanks to the sub-prime crisis. As for us, we had the background required for algorithmic trading experience and education. Algorithmic trading requires expertise in statistics, technology, and financial markets. One of our founding members and colleague worked with Optiver in Amsterdam one of the biggest High-Frequency Trading firm in the world. So collectively we had the skill set to get into space. Initially, we offered turnkey solutions to a number of institutions in India and a few abroad. But later we decided to start our own trading rather than just consulting. We took up membership in both the stock exchanges in India. We created our own platform and had, and still have, one of the fastest infrastructure in the market. We are competing in a market where every microsecond is a lifetime so it is important to have that kind of technology at play. Q: Before discussing trading can you walk us through your companys journey in Algorithmic Trading Education, where you are rubbing shoulders with the top in the world A: One of the first things we realized when we were venturing into trading was we had to create a solid team for the smooth running of the business. We realized the need to train people. In those days people with a finance background were more easily available and interested in algorithmic trading than those with a technological background. Our requirement was for people who could understand statistics, technology, and derivatives. We decided to start a program, Executive program in Algorithmic Trading that taught statistics, knowledge of software and hardware and trading strategies. We took sessions over the weekend when offices and markets were closed. As we progressed and the need for algorithmic trading increased we realized that training itself can grow big. We separated that division into Quantinsti that now offers courses offline and online and has a participant from over 140 countries and has a global pool of 20 successful practitioners in their own domain training our students. We are the biggest in the world in terms of traction and have become a global benchmark in algo trading and quant trading education. We now have a few thousand students across the globe plus we have the highest completion rate, thanks to our persistent support staff. We have more than 100 placement partners in six countries and we offer lifelong learning for our students. Q: Can you briefly describe algorithmic and High-frequency trading (HFT), especially in the Indian context? A: In India, algorithmic trading has picked up in leaps and bounds. Been given permission in 2008 algo trading accounts for nearly 50 percent of all trading volume in the country. In terms or overall orders on the exchanges, it is 97 percent. In the US, algo trading accounts for anywhere between 80-85 percent of trading but then they have been doing it for decades. In India, this form for trading is picking up with more players and traders joining in every day. What I would like to point out here is that there is a difference between HFT and Algo trading. Algo is a broader domain, it means automating the execution of the order. HFT is a subset of algo trading. As the name suggests it is trading at a very high frequency. To get an idea of the difference in manual and HFT consider this. Even a good dealer today can put in one order every second. A superhuman dealer can at best put in 4 orders per second. But a machine can send hundreds and thousands of orders every second. These days machines have taken over the job of market making (providing liquidity by quoting both a buy and sell quote). Say if we have to make the market in options, then we look at doing it in five strikes that are In-The-Money (ITM) and five strikes that are Out-f-The-Money (OTM). So that makes it 10 orders. We would be doing it in both the call and put side and for two expiries, so that is 40 orders. Since we are making the market we would be placing both the bid and ask orders which makes 80 orders at any instance. Now even if there is a reasonable change of 5-10 ticks in the price, maybe less or maybe more, we would have to change all the orders and that too in an instance. This type of market making is not possible manually, you need to automate it. For market making or even for arbitrage the window of opportunity is getting smaller by the day and that is why there is a need to react as fast as possible and the fight for speed. The textbook definition of HFT would be a very high number of orders, high churn and high turnover. The holding period for a trade is a millisecond. But we define it as how sensitive your strategy is to the latency that is being introduced. Latency is the time taken for the order to move from your system to the exchange. The latency can be because of your system, network or it can be from out of the system. So say if your strategy can undertake a latency of say 100 milliseconds and that does not affect the performance of the of the strategy then we can call it a Low-Frequency Trading (LFT). If the trade can withstand a latency of a few 100 microseconds to few milliseconds then it is a Medium Frequency Trading (MFT). And when every microsecond (one-millionth of a second) matters, in that case, it is a High-Frequency Trading (HFT). A lot of individual traders are using LFTs by automating their trading strategy. Automating takes care of some of the biggest reasons for failure in trading discipline and risk management. It also offers the functionality of scaling it up, both in terms of numbers of orders to the number of stocks or markets one can trade. There will be no excuses for missing an opportunity in automated trading. With the cost of technology coming down, thanks to cloud services offered by various companies, automated trading is likely to pick up. For the retail trader algo trading has helped narrow the bid-ask spread, but at the same time price inefficiencies are not there in the market for a long time. Having said that, for an individual trader to graduate to HFT trading is difficult because it needs the support of a group of people to manage the infrastructure required in various aspects of trading. Q: Is HFT trading only about intraday trading and how are the returns? A: Any algorithmic trading house trades a number of strategies. Market making and arbitrage are a part of it. Depending on the market and volatility intraday accounts for 60-70 percent of the trading. The overnight positions are always delta neutral which means there is, theoretically speaking, no price risk. While making markets we have use all instruments to cover the position. Managing deltas and higher order Greeks are a priority. In arbitrage, the firm looks to capitalize form price inefficiencies between cash markets of the two exchanges, cash and futures, and options. We also do directional trading, but these trades are open for milliseconds. Using machine learning we have developed statistical models to create short-term predictions. As far as returns are concerned, it can be substantial but there are two issues to it. One, this form of trading is opportunity driven and not highly scalable in terms of a number of orders per trade. For a normal fund (non-algo fund) if a strategy is running on X amount, with decent ease it can be scaled up to 10 times or 100 times. But in HFT the time window for the opportunity to exist is very small. The second thing is one needs to spend a lot on technology and infrastructure to stay at the top. Q: How has your team progressed in trading? A: From the very beginning we have been HFT traders. Algorithmic trading is a very hard business. You need some competitive edge to succeed. It can either be technology, technical infrastructure, your trading team, access to funds, cost of credit, or strategy. Whenever a firm starts trading they normally have the edge in 2 or 3 spaces and acquire the others as they grow. In our case, the edge was our technological expertise, knowledge in setting infrastructure and experience in trading. We have been building upon other aspects since then. Q: Can you walk us through the thinking process behind selecting a strategy for algo trading? A: Lets consider a pair trading strategy (two stocks that either move in tandem or against each other). Say a trader has a hypothesis that Infosys and Wipro generally move in tandem. He says that they do so on the charts but now they are diverging. So the hypothesis is that in future it may converge which means it will be offering a good trading opportunity. As a quant student, we would like to validate this hypothesis. We run a statistical test to see if they are cointegrated. If the hypothesis is tested true it would mean that there is a scope for mean reverting and the stocks would come back. But the next question to ask is how far have they diverged. Is the diversion at 1 standard deviation or 2 or 3. This is the modeling part of the strategy where we create a strategy and test it out at the various scenario. Lets assume we optimize it to taking a trading decision when the standard deviation is 2.5. The next question if you want to automate the trade is, do you want to enter the trade by putting your own quote in the market or do you want to sacrifice the bid-ask spread and take the market position right away. This decision would also depend on the frequency of your trading. Since we are HFT trades where we trade for pennies we cannot sacrifice the spread. So we have to go by putting the trade at our price (quote). Then the question is where to quote first. Should we quote in Infosys or Wipro? One way to answer that question is to look at where the spread is wider and quote it there. The other way is to look at which of the two stocks are more active so the probability of my trade getting hit is higher. Another way can be to find which one is leading the other or which one is causing the movement in the other. This can be found out by running a statistical test and one can quote in the leader. The difference in this form of trading and normal trading is using the power of statistics to increase the probability of success. We generally look for strategies which have a minimum win to loss ratio of 55 to 60. But the average win to average loss has to be high. Q: How does a part-time trader or someone interested in algorithmic trading go about it? A: Apart from the usual courses that are offered by Quantinsti we have a self-based learning portal where you learn from the interactive experience. It is machine enabled training where you start by writing one line of a code in python (software) by watching a 2-5 minute video on it. The program gives a customized feedback on whether you are right or wrong in your coding. It throws up head on why dont you try another alternative and then takes you to a step by step process till you end up learning the whole strategy using python. What we have done is created a platform called Quantra Blueshift where a minute by minute data is available for past years to back-test the strategy. The idea is to get people to learn to practice first and then to trade. These days there are some brokers who are opening up their trade engines to allow algorithmic trading. A technician is pictured inside a desalter plant of Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, September 30, 2016. Picture taken September 30, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave - RTSS6X9 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on Friday said its board will consider buyback of company shares at a meeting on December 20. This follows government pushing cash-rich PSUs to use their funds to buy back shares or pay a higher dividend. The government is looking to bridge budgetary deficit through higher receipts of dividend as well as selling its shares in PSUs in the buyback programmes. Stock buybacks refer to the repurchasing of shares by the company that issued them. A buyback occurs when the issuing company pays shareholders the market value per share and re-absorbs that portion of its ownership that was previously distributed among public and private investors. In a regulatory filing, ONGC said: "The meeting of Board of Directors of the company will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, inter-alia, to consider the proposal for buy-back of the fully paid-up equity shares of the company." The government holds 67.48 per cent stake in India's largest oil and gas producer ONGC. Just on Thursday, state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said it will buy back 29.76 crore shares for about Rs 4,435 crore and spend another Rs 6,556 crore on paying an interim dividend to shareholders. The board of the country's largest oil firm Thursday approved buyback of up to 29.76 crore equity shares, or 3.06 per cent, at Rs 149 per share. The government, which holds a 54.06 per cent stake in the company, is expected to participate in the share buyback. The government is targeting a minimum Rs 5,000 crore through share buyback offers of state-owned firms like Coal India, BHEL and Oil India Ltd. Besides IOC, at least half a dozen other central PSUs have disclosed share buyback programmes. Prominent among these include NHPC, BHEL, NALCO, NLC, Cochin Shipyard and KIOCL that could fetch the government a little over Rs 3,000 crore. The government is expected to participate in each of the share buyback programme of these PSUs. IOC had also stated that its board has declared an interim dividend of 67.5 per cent or Rs 6.75 per share for fiscal 2018-19. The total dividend payout, excluding tax, would be Rs 6,556 crore, of which the government will get Rs 3,544 crore plus the dividend distribution tax. Last month, Oil India Ltd announced a buyback of 5.04 crore of its share for a little over Rs 1,085 crore. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), which has been set a target to raise Rs 80,000 crore for the government through stake sale in central public sector enterprises, had prodded all cash-rich PSUs to go for share buybacks. PSUs having a net worth of at least Rs 2,000 crore and a cash balance of more than Rs 1,000 crore have to mandatorily go in for share buyback. Indigo Airlines, with 200 airplanes in its fleet, is the largest airline in the country, and also the first to achieve the feat. In a year that has not been kind to the aviation industry, Indigo seems to have escaped some of the year's worst tyrannies, but only just. While Indigo topped up capacity by 30 percent year-on-year in October, the rise in the rest of the sector was a smidge above 9 percent year-on-year. For comparison, the sector saw an year-on-year growth of 18.9 percent in June, and 12.3 percent year-on-year in August. Analysts who spoke to Financial Express said that Indigo is leveraging a strong balance sheet to gain market share and remains largely unfazed by falling yields. While that seems hunky dory, all is not well at the top. Indigo's ambitious expansion plans notwithstanding, it remains a company without a full-time CEO. In April, when we discussed the exit of Aditya Ghosh from Indigo, we said there was a churn afoot at Indigo. That churn has kept on churning. Multiple sources have told Moneycontrol that a possible difference of opinion between Indigo founders Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal may be at the heart of the ongoing top management rejig at Indigo. These differences, Prince Mathews Thomas reports for Moneycontrol, may even have led to the resignation of Greg Taylor, a senior advisor who was tipped to be the next CEO. Although the airline is yet to comment on the exit, The Financial Express and Business Standard have said that Taylor is on the way out. There is speculation also that the recent appointment of Ronojoy Dutta as a Principal Consultant at Indigo may have also had a role to play in Taylor making an exit, stage left. The story of the missing pilot in the airline is what we will dig deeper into on this edition of Digging Deeper. Choppy at the top Indigo needs a full-time CEO but its founder Rahul Bhatia, in an interaction with Moneycontrol, says the carrier is not going to rush through the decision. He also denied that he and co-founder Rakesh Gangwal had disagreements on the choice of a new candidate. "How can we have differences when we haven't appointed a CEO?" he asked. The role of Chief Executive has stayed empty since the exit of blue-eyed boy Aditya Ghosh (now at the helm of OYO). Since Ghosh's exit, co-founder Bhatia has donned the additional role of interim CEO. Greg Taylor was tipped to fill the role of CEO, but Business Standard reports that Taylor has communicated his desire to leave the company at the end of December. The reason according to people in the know? The appointment of Ronojoy Dutta, ex-President of United Airlines and ex-CEO of Air Sahara, as principal consultant. Dutta, announcing his appointment last month, said he would develop a five-year plan for the airline and report to Bhatia. Taylor didnt see a future with the company after Dutta was brought in, an industry executive told Business Standard. Taylor was brought into Indigo in 2016 as executive vice-president of revenue management - Taylor's area of expertise - and network planning at the behest of his one-time colleague at United Airlines. With over forty years of experience in various roles he held at United and US Airways, Taylor's appointment was seen as part of Indigo's aggressive growth plan. Taylor brought with him a new team, largely comprising of foreign nationals who had held important roles in the aviation industry outside of India. Michael Swiatek, an executive from Chile's LATAM came in as Chief Planning Officer; William Boulter, of TAAG Angola Airlines and Etihad vintage, was appointed Chief Commercial Officer; Cindy Szadokierski was appointed Vice President of airport operations; Scott Brandt was named Vice President of corporate planning and analysis. Following this spate of foreign national appointments - incidentally a trend quite common in the Indian aviation sector - we saw a few exits at Indigo, most notably Aditya Ghosh and Sanjay Kumar. After Aditya's exit, it was widely believed that Taylor would take over as CEO. Until of course Dutta came into the picture. A senior executive at Indigo told Moneycontrol: " It was clear that only one of them could exist at the airline." Founder vs Founder Taylor was said to be Gangwal's choice for the top job, and Dutta Bhatia's. Thomas writes this was not the first time Bhatia had reached out to Dutta. "Bhatia had tried tapping Dutta even as he was setting up IndiGo in 2005. But instead of Dutta, Bruce Ashby who was a veteran at US Airways (where Gangwal was once President & COO) became IndiGo's first CEO," said a senior executive at Indigo. Rubbishing the notion that there were differences between the founders, Bhatia added that Dutta has been a "long-time friend of both me and Rakesh (Rakesh Gangwal is the co-founder of IndiGo). We are good friends and have known him professionally and personally. He added, "For the moment he is putting together a plan and he is very good at putting things together and putting a strategy together. I will rely on him and then we will see how the future is going." Bhatia declined to put a timeline on when the next CEO will be announced. Bhatia said that the airline is organising itself to make the most of the opportunities in the domestic and international markets. "We are going through so much change. We are organising ourselves and new capacity is coming in," he said, and added that the airline will start inducting A321 Neo aircraft from "next week." The aircraft is more fuel efficient and has a higher capacity. The plane will add to IndiGo's international plans. "There are great possibilities nationally and internationally. Domestically too, we are now flying to destinations we never thought we would earlier," he said. Bhatia added that the airline is on a recruitment mode and is creating a bench strength. "We are preparing for a bigger future," he said. Over the years, IndiGo has grown rapidly while also being one of the few airlines to consistently make a profit. Last quarter, it posted a loss for the first time ever. The strengthening of the rupee and correction in crude rate will "improve the situation," said the entrepreneur. The two factors had led to the airline announcing its first quarterly loss since the time of its listing. Who is Ronojoy Dutta? Dutta, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and Harvard Business School and a veteran of the American airline industry, has been tasked to frame a five-year business plan for IndiGo at a time when India's largest airline is furiously adding capacity. And the airline has big ambitions for international operations. This is a crucial time, and the role of the chief executive would be critical in pulling off the plans. Dutta and Gangwal were colleagues at United Airlines. Later Dutta headed the airline, even as Gangwal was spearheading rival US Airways. With over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, Dutta has a lot to offer. From July 2004 until 2006 he served as chairman of Air Sahara, and from 2004 until 2008 Dutta served as the president of Sahara Airline Limited. He took on full responsibility of a $400 million full-service airline with a route system including 25 cities along with 44 aircraft. HE later grew sales at 35 percent a year. In 2007, Dutta joined US-based AAR Corporation as a strategic adviser for the Indian market. From 1995 until 1999, prior to becoming the president of United Airlines, Dutta served as the senior vice president of planning and revenue management. Dutta's experience in the international market will be relevant for IndiGo, and also his relationships with his industry peers, as the Indian airline reaches out to international players for codeshare. Reports have pointed out that IndiGo is already in talks with Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines for codeshare agreement. A codeshare agreement allows passengers to tap networks of the two airlines. Dutta will work in tandem with Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, who was appointed COO of IndiGo in January. Aviation sector woes and Indigo bucking the trend (somewhat) Analysts at ICICI Securities recently wrote, "Jet Airways and Air India continue to suffer from basic working capital like payroll spend; Vistara and AirAsia are still in deep losses and SpiceJet and Go struggle to prevent balance sheet erosion." In October 2018, SpiceJet reported a share of 11.7 percent, its lowest in more than two years, reported Financial Express. GoAir, on the other hand, had only 8.8 percent compared with the 2018 average of 9 percent. Jet Airways and its low-cost subsidiary JetLite commanded a share of 14.9 percent and national carrier Air India had 12.2 percent. Indigo, the leader of the pack, had a 42.8 percent share in October 2018. Its strong cash balances of 12,702 crore rupees at the end of September indicate a phenomenon that is against the current trend in the Indian aviation sector. The double whammy of crude prices going up and depreciation of the rupee had clearly hit the sector in India. But with crude prices down about 30 percent from peak levels and the rupee off its all-time lows, airlines may yet heave a sigh of relief. Industry watchers say Indigo will benefit the most. We expect a year over year capacity increase in terms of available seat kilometres of 35 percent for the third quarter. For the full year, we expect capacity increase of 30 percent, Rahul Bhatia, interim CEO, IndiGo, said at an earnings call. The airline has 202 aircraft, a mix of Airbus A320s and ATR 72s and will be inducting its first Airbus A321neo later this month. As of now, overseas operations still account for less than 10 per cent of IndiGo total daily flights (115 flights daily to 15 overseas destinations), but the airline's sights are set firmly on expanding into international airspace. The airline has launched new destinations Male, Phuket, and Hong Kong - and introduced a service between Amritsar-Dubai and Vijayawada-Singapore. It has also expanded services to Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait. Currently, it serves 15 overseas destinations with 115 daily flights. Like we said earlier, Indigo is also in talks with Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines for commercial partnerships, including interline and codeshares. For a low-cost airline, an interline and codeshare could help it get higher revenue per flight. The origin and destination traffic to Doha alone are not enough for growth. The incremental interline traffic will help tide over low seasons and give a huge fillip to their distribution, which is currently restricted to the website, select partners and general sales agents, said aviation expert Ameya Joshi to Business Standard. The runway ahead Business Standard also reported that IndiGo will seek board approval for Duttas appointment soon. Till then, promoter Bhatia will continue to act as interim CEO. "The airline has already formed a core team of departmental heads to take decisions. With the demise of Devdas Mallya last month, the board of IndiGo has to appoint a new chairman for passing the resolution." A person aware of the development told the daily, The promoters are looking for someone who can lead the company for the next five years. The executives that IndiGo has brought in are all experts in their domain. They are so busy planning new destinations, improving revenue or ground services, that none of them has the time to take a top view of the airline. A CEO has to be on ground, talk to the pilots and boost the morale of the ground staff. While we do not have confirmation from the airline about these developments, what is undeniable is the need for a full-time CEO sooner rather than later considering the soaring plans Indigo has coloured for itself. Fortis Healthcare | Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd increased stake in company to 5.02 percent from 4.96 percent earlier via open market purchases. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of Fortis Healthcare plunged 14 percent intraday on December 14 after Supreme Court has put on hold stake sale to IHH Healthcare Berhad. Northern TK Venture Pte together with IHH Healthcare Berhad and Parkway Pantai had made an open offer to the equity shareholders of Fortis Healthcare to acquire up to 19.7 crore shares, representing 26 percent of the expanded voting share capital, at a price of Rs 170 per share payable in cash. Daiichi then had moved Supreme Court in a contempt plea against Singh Brothers. IHH Healthcare Berhad, a Malaysian firm holding 31.1 percent stake in the company. At 1106 hours Fortis Healthcare was quoting at Rs 136.20, down Rs 15.70, or 10.34 percent on the BSE. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The volatile market ended on positive note with Sensex and Nifty posted 1 percent gain for the week ended December 14, 2018. The S&P BSE Largecap index rallied 1.32 percent, while S&P BSE Midcap and S&P BSE Smallcap Index rose 3.23 percent and 2.82 percent, respectively. The Sensex rose 0.81 percent this week, or 289.68 points, to ending at 35962.93, while Nifty was up 1.04 percent, or 111.75 points, to close at 10805.45. Here is a list of 8 stocks which moved most in the last week: Yes Bank | Up 8 percent Yes Bank shares gained 8.5 during the week after a media report suggested that Brahm Dutt could be a part-time Non-executive chairman of the lender. Currently Brahm Dutt is serving as Independent Director of the bank since July 24, 2013. Titagarh Wagons | UP 17 percent The company has been awarded a contract for manufacture and supply of 5058 Wagons to Indian Railways. These Wagons are BOXN HL type, designed to carry coal, steel, stones etc. and the value of order is Rs 15,60,87,35,100. As per the contract, one third quantity (1686 Wagons) is to be supplied within six months and to complete the supply of full quantity of Wagons before 28.02.2020. Larsen & Toubro Infotech | Up 20 percent The company has appointed Nachiket Deshpande as the chief operating officer w.e.f. December 12, 2018. Also, company approved the allotment of 99,687 equity shares of face value of Re 1 each under the various Employee Stock Option Schemes of the company. Kaveri Seed Company | Up 14 percent The company's board meeting is scheduled on December 20 to consider the consent for merger of Kaveri Microteck with Kexveg India both the companies are 100 percent wholly owned subsidiary companies and un-listed non material subsidiaries of the company. Max India | Up 29 percent Shares of Max India rallied as much as 29 percent in the last week on a media report indicated that KKR-led Radiant in talks to acquire Max Healthcare. However, the company clarified that no development has occurred which requires to disclose by the company under SEBI Regulations, 2015. Indiabulls Housing Finance | Up 10 percent The company has allotted 2,500 Secured, Redeemable, Non-Convertible Debentures of face value Rs 10 lakh each aggregating to Rs 250 crore on private placement basis with tenor of 18 months. Indian Oil Corporation | Up 9 percent The company board approved the buyback of up to 29,76,51,006 equity shares being approximately 3.06 percent of the total paid up equity share capital of the company at a price of Rs 149 per equity share payable in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs 4,435 crore. Also, company declared an interim dividend of 67.5 percent i.e. Rs. 6.75 per equity share of face value of Rs 10 each for the financial year 2018-19. Premier Explosives | UP 10 percent The company received an order from an Israel company for design, development, fabrication and assembly of Rocket Motors. The amount of order is USD 41,000 and is to be executed in six months. This is a trial order having potential for regular commercial supplies in due course of time. India and France on December 15 held discussions on deepening bilateral strategic partnership through cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, space and civil nuclear energy sectors. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and French minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Yves Le Drian discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. "We had very fruitful talks. We closely looked at all the aspects of our mutual ties. We are taking our cooperation forward in the Indo-Pacific region, which will not only benefit these two countries but also other countries in the region," she told reporters. Noting that the foundation of India and France relations is based on "mutual trust", Swaraj said the two countries are looking to strengthen their ties in various sectors. "Our defence relations are historic and we have been involved in a number of exchanges in the form of training and joint exercises," she said. The External Affairs minister also reiterated the resolve of the two countries to jointly fight against terrorism. "We both are also working in strengthening our ties in space sector. We both are also leading fight against climate change," she said. "Last year, our bilateral trade was worth 9.62 billion euro, if we both have to reach the trade of 15 million euro by 2022 we both will have to work towards further strengthening our trade relations," she said. There will also be an exchange of 10,000 students between the two countries by 2020, Swaraj said. Her French counterpart Le Drian said the two leaders reviewed the status of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) project in Jaitapur, Maharashtra and adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference," he said. The Jaitapur project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training, Le Drian added. He said the discussion between the two leaders was "characterised as always by a great convergence of views and shared ambition". "It is not by chance that France and India are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. It is because we attach the same importance to multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, the same ambition to usher in a just and sustainable world," he said. "It is also because India knows that in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count in the future. This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks," Le Drian said. "This holds true on the economic front: our companies are investing and innovating in India under the Make in India programme. On the fronts of urban development and the digital economy, our companies are present and working to build the India and France of tomorrow," he added. His visit comes amid a massive controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace company Dassault Aviation under a Rs 58,000 crore deal. Srinagar: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti addresses a press conference, in Srinagar, Friday, December 7, 2018. ( PTI Photo/S Irfan)(PTI12_7_2018_000154B) Mainstream political parties in Kashmir condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district on December 15, saying Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration has "failed" to secure lives of the people. Seven civilians died in south Kashmir's Pulwama district when security forces allegedly opened fire at an unruly crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and Army man were killed No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months.Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved (sic)," PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. She said no country can win a war by killing its own people. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath (sic)," Mufti said in another tweet. Also read: Supreme Court dismisses PIL challenging dissolution of J&K Assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said the encounter was "badly executed". "6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? (sic)" Omar tweeted. "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! (sic)" he said in another tweet. The NC leader said the Governor's administration appears "not doing anything on restoring peace" in the "troubled Valley". "The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads don't bring peace," he tweeted. Separatist-turned-mainstream leader and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations. "Extremely disturbing news coming from Pulwama. The administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of its operations. If there is even a remote chance of civilians getting killed during military operations it is better to call off such operations," Lone said in a tweet. He expressed hope that the administration abandons "its Rambo mindset". "My heartfelt thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. I just pray that Almighty takes us out of the perpetual state of mourning that we seem to have been sucked into. And also hope that administration abandons its Rambo mindset," Lone said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday welcomed the strengthening of ties between India and France in areas such as defence, space, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and civil nuclear cooperation. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in France's Strasbourg and said that India stands with the country in the fight against terrorism. On Tuesday, a gunman killed four people at the Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg before being shot dead. Modi made these remarks when French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian called on him. The prime minister warmly recalled the state visit of President Macron to India in March 2018, as well as their recent interaction on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina, a statement from the prime minister's office said. Le Drian briefed the prime minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship, and French perspective on regional and global issues, it said. Enforcement Directorate The Enforcement Directorate said on December 15 that it has seized assets worth Rs 10.28 crore of Shravan Gupta, former MD of realty major Emaar MGF, in connection with its FEMA probe in the HSBC black money list unearthed a few years ago. The central probe agency said in a statement it has taken the action against Gupta under the Foreign Exchange Management Act for "holding $15,40,650 in his bank account maintained with Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Switzerland". The ED said it has seized an agricultural land worth over Rs 10.27 crore in Delhi's Bijwasan area as an equivalent amount of the asset held abroad. "The seizure order has been issued pursuant to investigation which revealed that prima facie Gupta had foreign exchange held to the tune of USD 15,40,650 in his bank account in HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Switzerland, situated outside India in contravention of provisions of Section 4 of FEMA, 1999. "Gupta had not shown this amount in the Income Tax returns filed in India for the period 2006-07. However, he had declared this amount in 2011-12 and paid appropriate taxes," the ED said in a statement. It added that Gupta "failed to produce any evidence of repatriating the entire amount to India till date." It added that the I-T Department had also filed a chargesheet against him in this case. In 2005, Emaar Properties entered Indian real estate market in partnership with India's MGF group and invested Rs 8,500 crore through the joint venture Emaar MGF Land. However, in April 2016, it decided to end this JV and two months later Gupta, the then executive vice chairman & managing director of the JV, resigned from the post. The agency added that the competent authority of the FEMA has also "confirmed" a similar seizure order of Rs 20.87 crore assets of Dabur group director Pradip Burman. These cases are part of the list of 628 Indians who figured in a list of account holders in HSBC's Geneva branch that India had obtained from the French government in 2007. (Image: Reuters) Australia formally recognises West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy, but will not move its embassy there immediately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on December 15. "Australia now recognises West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel," Morrison said. "We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical," he told reporters in Sydney. Morrison said in October he was open to shifting Australia's embassy from Tel Aviv. President Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May delighted Israel, infuriated Palestinians and upset the wider Arab world and Western allies. Morrison's unexpected announcement in October was viewed cynically because it came days before a crucial by-election in an electorate with a strong Jewish representation, a poll his party subsequently lost. It also drew criticism from Muslim-majority neighbours such as Indonesia and Malaysia, neither of whom formally recognise Israel's right to exist. Arab countries worried that the move would unnecessarily inflame tensions in the Middle East. Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, including the eastern sector that it annexed after the 1967 Middle East war, and wants all embassies based there. The international community believes Jerusalem's status should be resolved through negotiation. The status of Jerusalem, home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths, is one of the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement between Israel and Palestinians who want East Jerusalem recognised as the capital of a Palestinian state. Morrison said Australia would not move its embassy to West Jerusalem until the city's final status was determined, but said trade and defence offices would be opened there. He confirmed Australia's support for a two-state solution with a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem. "What we are saying is we've got to move this forward. The rancid stalemate has to be broken," he said. Mike Pompeo US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on December 14 China should free two Canadian citizens who were detained this week after authorities in Canada arrested a senior Chinese technology executive on a US extradition warrant. Pompeo's comments were the first by a senior US official on the arrests, which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said could escalate a growing trade conflict between China and the United States. "The unlawful detention of two Canadian citizens is unacceptable," Pompeo told reporters after talks in Washington with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. "They ought to be returned ... We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly." Canadian officials were granted consular access on December 14 to one of the two detainees in China and were still trying to contact the second, the Foreign Ministry said. China detained the two - businessman Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat and an adviser with the International Crisis Group (ICG) - after Canadian police arrested Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on December 1. ICG President Robert Malley also called for Kovrig's release on Saturday. "Michael's arrest is unjust. He should be freed immediately," Malley said in a statement. "Far from being secretive, Michael's work was open for all to see, Chinese officials first and foremost," he said. Kovrig did not do anything to endanger China's national security, either as a diplomat or at the ICG, Malley said. US prosecutors accuse Meng of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating US sanctions. Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has said she is innocent. Potentially complicating the case, US President Donald Trump made comments this week that legal experts say may have undermined the US basis for extradition. Asked about the remarks, Freeland said: "We all agree that the most important thing we can do is to uphold the rule of law, ensure that Ms. Meng's right to due process is respected and that the current judicial process in Canada remains apolitical." Trudeau, in his strongest comments on the matter to date, said China's detention of the two men was "not acceptable." China rejects Trudeau's insistence that the government cannot interfere with the judiciary. Meng was released on bail this week but has to remain in Canada. "This is one of the situations you get in when the two largest economies in the world, China and the United States, start picking a fight with each other," Trudeau told City TV in Toronto. "The escalating trade war between them is going to have all sorts of unintended consequences on Canada, potentially on the entire global economy. We're very worried about that," he said. Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to Canada, told a university conference on Friday that the prospects for deeper business ties were good despite the dispute. He declined to comment when pressed by reporters about Trudeau's remarks. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, considered one of President Donald Trump's top candidates for White House chief of staff, abruptly withdrew from consideration on December 14, saying now is not the right time for him to take the job. The decision leaves the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as two top possibilities for the position. White House budget director Mick Mulvaney was also in the mix, as were other people, a knowledgeable source said. There was some talk of having Chris Liddell, deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, carry out certain functions of the job for a period of time, the source said. Christie met Trump at the White House on December 13 night and immediately shot to the top of the president's short list to fill an opening to be created when retired Marine General John Kelly steps down in early January. "It's an honour to have the president consider me as he looks to choose a new White House chief of staff," Christie said in a statement. "However, I've told the president that now is not the right time for me or my family to undertake this serious assignment." "As a result, I have asked him to no longer keep me in any of his considerations for this post," Christie said. In 2016, Trump put Christie in charge of transitioning a team of close aides from the election campaign to the White House but demoted him after a few months. Trump has no deadline for deciding on a replacement for Kelly, whose departure as chief of staff was announced last week, and, as always, he could change his mind, a source with knowledge of the search said on Friday. The president often allows or encourages media speculation about filling top administration jobs before he announces a decision. White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley told reporters it was possible Trump could ask Kelly to stay a bit beyond his scheduled departure in early January. "The president said yesterday that he has about five names," Gidley said. "We expect him to make an announcement pretty quickly." A brash politician and former federal prosecutor, Christie was a senior adviser to Trump's 2016 campaign after ending his own bid for the Republican presidential nomination. The White House chief of staff job is considered one of the most important in Washington because its occupant carries out the president's priorities and makes sure he has the information to make decisions. Under Trump, the chief of staff has been heavily involved in damage control and trying to manage what has been a chaotic presidency. Kelly lasted nearly a year and a half, having succeeded Trump's first chief of staff, Reince Priebus, who was dispatched after six months. Trump has been hearing appeals from some advisers - in and out of the White House - to consider Kushner, who is married to his daughter, Ivanka Trump, two sources said. Kushner has been involved in some of Trump's victories, such as helping negotiate a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico and promoting prison reform legislation. He has also been involved in developing a Middle East peace plan that has yet to be released. Lighthizer has been at the heart of Trump's trade policy, executing one of his biggest campaign promises to overhaul foreign trade deals by using tariffs to try to open markets. Mahinda Rajapaksa Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned on December 15 as two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongman's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. Rajapaksa informed the lawmakers of United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that he has resigned from the post, MP Shehan Semasinghe told reporters. Rajapaksa was appointed as the prime minister on October 26 by President Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Also read: Ranil Wickremesinghe may take oath as Sri Lanka's PM on December 16 The Supreme Court on December 14 refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. The apex court on December 13 unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was "illegal". Pro-Rajapaksa lawmaker, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, had told reporters that Rajapaksa decided in a meeting on December 14 with President Sirisena to resign to allow the President to appoint a new government. Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on December 16. President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on December 14. In a boost to Pakistan's dwindling dollar reserves, the country received the second $ 1 billion tranche of assistance from Saudi Arabia, officials said on December 14. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves now stand at $ 9.24 billion, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said. The third installment of $1 billion from Riyadh is expected in January. Pakistan received the first tranche of $ 1 billion in November. The funds were transferred as a part of Saudi's commitment to provide $6 billion assistance to Pakistan to pull the nation out of the economic quagmire. Saudi had agreed to give $3 billion in Pakistan's foreign currency reserves for a year and establish a credit line worth $ 3 billion for the sale of petroleum products on credit for three years, following Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Riyadh in October to participate in the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference. Pakistan is also hoping to get assistance from UAE and investments from China and Malaysia to wriggle out of the financial crunch. It is also negotiating a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). December 15, 2018 The 'Integrity Initiative' - A Military Intelligence Operation, Disguised As Charity, To Create The "Russian Threat" The British government financed Integrity Initiative is tasked with spreading anti-Russian propaganda and thereby with influencing the public, military and governments of a number of countries. What follows is an contextual analysis of the third batch of the Initiative's internal papers which were dumped by an anonymous yesterday. Christopher Nigel Donnelly (CND) is the co-director of The Institute for Statecraft and founder of its offshoot Integrity Initiative. The Initiative claims to "Defend Democracy Against Disinformation". The Integrity Initiative does this by planting disinformation about alleged Russian influence through journalists 'clusters' throughout Europe and the United States. Both, the Institute as well as the Initiative, claim to be independent Non-Government Organizations. Both are financed by the British government, NATO and other state donors. Among the documents lifted by some anonymous person from the servers of the Institute we find several papers about Donnelly as well as some memos written by him. They show a russophobe mind with a lack of realistic strategic thought. There is also a file (pdf) with a copy of his passport: From his curriculum vitae (pdf) we learn that Donnelly is a long time soldier in the British Army Intelligence Corps where he established and led the Soviet Studies Research Centre at RMA Sandhurst. He later was involved in creating the US Armys Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) at Ft. Leavenworth. He worked at the British Ministry of Defence and as an advisor to several Secretaries General of NATO. He is a director of the Institute for Statecraft since 2010. Donnelly also advises the Foreign Minister of Lithuania. He is a "Security and Justice Senior Mentor" of the UKs Stabilisation Unit which is tasked with destabilizing various countries. He serves as a Honorary Colonel of the Specialist Group Military Intelligence (SGMI). During his time as military intelligence analyst in the 1980s Donnelly wrote several books and papers about the Soviet Union and its military. Donnelly seems to be obsessed with the 'Russian threat' and is determined to fight it by all means. His paranoia is obvious in a "private - confidential" report by the Statecraft Institute on The Challenge of Brexit to the UK: Case study The Foreign and Commonwealth Offices (pdf): Our problem is that, for the last 70 years or so,we in the UK and Europe have been living in a safe, secure rules-based system which has allowed us to enjoy a holiday from history. ... Unfortunately, this state of affairs is now being challenged. A new paradigm of conflict is replacing the 19th & 20th Century paradigm. ... In this new paradigm, the clear distinction which most people have been able to draw between war and peace, their expectation of stability and a degree of predictability in life, are being replaced by a volatile unpredictability, a permanent state of instability in which war and peace become ever more difficult to disentangle. The classic understanding of conflict being between two distinct players or groups of players is giving way to a world of Darwinian competition where all the players nation states, sub-state actors, big corporations, ethnic or religious groups, and so on are constantly striving with each other in a war of all against all. The Western rules-based system, which most westerners take for granted and have come to believe is normal, is under attack from countries and organisations which wish to replace our system with theirs. This is not a crisis which faces us; it is a strategic challenge, and from several directions simultaneously. In reality the "Western rules-based system", fully implemented after the demise of the Soviet Union, is a concept under which 'the west' arbitrarily makes up rules and threatens to kill anyone who does not follow them. Witness the wars against Serbia, the war on Iraq, the destruction of Libya, the western led coup in Ukraine and the war by Jihadi proxies against the people of Syria and Iraq. None of these actions were legal under international law. Demanding a return to strict adherence to the rule of international law, as Russia, China and others now do, it is not an attempt to replace "our system with theirs". It is a return to the normal state of global diplomacy. It is certainly not a "Darwinian competition". In October 2016 Donnelly had a Private Discussion with Gen Sir Richard Barrons (pdf), marked as personal and confidential. Barrons is a former commander of the British Joint Forces Command. The nonsensical top line is: "The UK defence model is failing. UK is at real risk." Some interesting nuggets again reveal a paranoid mindset. The talk also includes some realistic truthiness about the British military posture Barrons and others created: There has been a progressive, systemic demobilisation of NATO militarily capability and a run down of all its members defences ... We are seeing new / reinvented ways of warfare hybrid, plus the reassertion of hard power in warfare ... Aircraft Carriers can be useful for lots of things, but not for war v China or Russia, so we should equip them accordingly. ... The West no longer has a military edge on Russia. ... Our Nuclear programme drains resources from conventional forces and hollows them out. ... The UK Brigade in Germany is no good as a deterrent against Russia. ... Our battalion in Estonia are hostages, not a deterrent. ... The general laments the lack of influence the military has on the British government and its people. He argues for more government financed think tank research that can be fed back into the government: So, if no catastrophe happens to wake people up and demand a response, then we need to find a way to get the core of government to realise the problem and take it out of the political space. We will need to impose changes over the heads of vested interests. NB We did this in the 1930s My conclusion is that it is we who must either generate the debate or wait for something dreadful to happen to shock us into action. We must generate an independent debate outside government. ... We need to ask when and how do we start to put all this right? Do we have the national capabilities / capacities to fix it? If so, how do we improve our harnessing of resources to do it? We need this debate NOW. There is not a moment to be lost. This was an order from the core of the British thinking to Donnelly to get even deeper into the inner-British influence business. Hype Russia as a threat so more money can be taken from the 'vested interests' of the people and dumped into the military machine. That particular advise of General Barrons was accepted. In 2017 the Integrity Initiative bid for funding from the Ministry of Defence (pdf) for various projects to influence the public, the parliament, the military and the government as well as foreign forces. The bid lists "performance indicators" that are supposed to measure the success of its activities. The top indicator for the success of the Initiative's proposed work for the Ministry of Defense is a "Tougher stance in government policy towards Russia". Asking for government finance to influence the government to take a "tougher stand towards Russia" seems a bit circular. But this is consistent with the operation of other Anglo-American think tanks and policy initiatives in which one part of the government, usually the hawkish one, secretly uses NGO's and think-tanks to lobby other parts of the government to support their specific hobbyhorse and budget. Here is how it is done. The 'experts' of the 'charity' Institute for Statecraft and Integrity Initiative testified in the British parliament. While they were effectively paid by the government they lobbied parliament under the cover of their NGO. This circularity also allows for the use international intermediates. Members of the Spanish cluster (pdf) of the Initiative testified in the British Parliament about the Catalan referendum and related allegations against Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange. (It is likely that this testimony led to the change in the position of the Ecuadorian government towards Assange.) Unfortunately, or luckily, such lobbying operations are mostly run by people who are incompetent in the specific field they are lobbying for. Chris Donnelly, despite a life long experience in military intelligence, has obviously zero competence as a military strategist or planner. In March 2014, shortly after Crimea split from the Ukraine, Donnelly suggested Military measures (pdf) to be taken by the Ukraine with regards to Crimea: If I were in charge I would get the following implemented asp Set up a cordon sanitaire across the Crimean Isthmus and on the coast N. of Crimea with troops and mines Mine Sevastopol harbour/bay. Can be done easily using a car ferry if they have no minelayers. Doesnt need a lot of mines to be effective. They could easily buy some mines. Get their air force into the air and activate all their air defences. If they cant fly the Migs on the airfield in Crimea those should be destroyed as a gesture that they are serious. Going live electronically will worry the Russians as the Ukrainians have the same electronic kit. If the Russians jam it they jam their own kit as well. Ukraine used to have some seriously important weapons, such as a big microwave anti-satellite weapon. If they still have this, they should use it. The government needs a Strategic communication campaign-so far everything is coming from Moscow. They need to articulate a long-term vision that will inspire the people, however hard that is to do. Without it, what have people to fight for? They should ask the west now to start supplying Oil and gas. There is plenty available due to the mild winter. I am trying to get this message across Think for a moment how Russia would have responded to a mining of Sevastopol harbor, the frying of its satellites, or the destruction of its fighter jets in Crimea. Those "gestures" would have been illegal acts of war against the forces of a nuclear power which were legally stationed in Crimea. And how was the west to immediately supply gas to Ukraine when Ukraine's pipeline network is designed to uni directionally receive gas from Russia? Such half-assed thinking is typical for the Institute and its creation of propaganda. One of its employees/contractors is Hugh Benedict Nimmo who the Initiative paid to produce anti-Russian propaganda that was then disseminated through various western publications. (Nimmo now works at the Digital Forensic Research Lab of the Atlantic Council, another hawkish lobbying shop. Not one of other 'Digital Research' researchers has a background in information technology. They are all political hacks.) According to the (still very incomplete) Initiative files Ben Nimmo received a monthly consultancy fee of 2.500 between December 2015 and March 2016. In August 2016 he sent an invoice (pdf) of 5,000 for his "August work on Integrity Initiative". A Production Timetable (pdf) for March to June 2016 lists the following Nimmo outputs and activities: 17 March Atlantic Council: Yes, Putin really believes his own propaganda, Ben Nimmo 21 March Newsweek: Putin's paranoia is driving his foreign adventures, Ben Nimmo 22 March, UK House of Commons: Russian information warfare - airbrushing reality, Jonathan Eyal and Ben Nimmo Mid May: Atlantic Council: Distract, deceive, destroy: Putin at war in Syria. Ben Nimmo et al (Major study) Early May timeframe: Russian penetration in Germany, Harold Elletson, Ben Nimmo et al - 10,000 words June timeframe: Atlantic Council, major report on Russian conspiracy theory and foreign policy, Ben Nimmo (potential launch events in London and / or Washington) End-June: Mapping Russia's whole influence machine, Ben Nimmo - 10,000 words One wonders how often Ben Nimmo double billed his various sponsors for these copy-paste fantasy pamphlets. In late 2017 Ben Nimmo and Guardian 'journalist' Carole Cadwalladr disseminated allegations that Russia used Facebook ads to influence the Brexit decision. Cadwalladr even received a price for her work. Unfortunately the price was not revoked when Facebook revealed that "Russia linked" accounts had spend a total of 97 cents on Brexit ads. It is unexplained how that was enough to achieve their alleged aim. Cadwalladr is listed as a speaker (pdf) at a "skill sharing" conference the Institute organized for November 1-2 under the headline: "Tackling Tools of Malign Influence - Supporting 21st Century Journalism". This year Ben Nimmo became notorious for claiming that several real persons with individual opinions were "Russian trolls". As we noted: Nimmo, and several other dimwits quoted in the piece, came to the conclusion that Ian56 is a Kremlin paid troll, not a real person. Next to Ian56 Nimmo 'identified' other 'Russian troll' accounts: Ben Nimmo @benimmo - 10:50 UTC - 24 Mar 2018 One particularly influential retweeter (judging by the number of accounts which then retweeted it) was @ValLisitsa, which posts in English and Russian. Last year, this account joined the troll-factory #StopMorganLie campaign. Had Nimmo, a former NATO spokesperson, had some decent education he would have know that @ValLisitsa, aka Valentina Lisitsa, is a famous American- Ukrainian pianist. Yes, she sometimes tweets in Russian language to her many fans in Russia and the Ukraine. Is that now a crime? The videos of her world wide performances on Youtube have more than 170 million views. It is absurd to claim that she is a 'Russian troll' and to insinuate that she is taking Kremlin money to push 'Russian troll' opinions. Ben Nimmo's latest nonsense is the claim that Putin's Russia turned humour into a weapon. We documented long ago that, according to western media, Russia 'weaponizes' ... everything, from robotic cockroaches to Jedi mind tricks. Weaponizing humor though, is new idiotic claim: Ben Nimmo, an Atlantic Council researcher on Russian disinformation, told the BBC that attempts to create funny memes were part of the strategy as "disinformation for the information age". Could someone please help the dude to grow up? The Institute for Statecraft Expert Team (pdf) list several people with military intelligence backgrounds, as well as many 'journalists'. One of them is: Mark Galeotti Specialist in Russian strategic thinking; the application of Russian disinformation and hybrid warfare; the use of organised crime as a weapon of hybrid warfare. Educational and mentoring skills, including in a US and E European environment, and the corporate world. Russian linguist Galeotti is the infamous inventor of the 'Gerasimov doctrine', and of propaganda about Russia's alleged 'hybrid' warfare. In February 2013 the Russian General Valery Gerasimov, then Russias chief of the General Staff, published a paper that analyzed the way the 'west' is waging a new type of war by mixing propaganda, proxy armies and military force into one unified operation. Galeotti claimed that Gerasimov's analysis of 'western' operations was a new Russian doctrine of 'hybrid war'. He invented the term 'Gerasimov doctrine' which then took off in the propaganda realm. In February 2016 the U.S. Army Military Review published a longer analysis of Gerasimov's paper that debunked the nonsense (pdf). It concluded without reservations that: Gerasimovs article is not proposing a new Russian way of warfare or a hybrid war, as has been stated in the West. But anti-Russian propagandist repeated Galeotti's nonsense over and over. Only in March 2018, five years after Galeotti invented the 'Germasimov doctrine' and two years after he was thoroughly debunked, he finally recanted: Everywhere, youll find scholars, pundits, and policymakers talking about the threat the Gerasimov doctrine named after Russias chief of the general staff poses to the West. Its a new way of war, an expanded theory of modern warfare, or even a vision of total warfare. Theres one small problem. It doesnt exist. And the longer we pretend it does, the longer we misunderstand the real, but different challenge Russia poses. I feel I can say that because, to my immense chagrin, I created this term, which has since acquired a destructive life of its own, lumbering clumsily into the world to spread fear and loathing in its wake. The Institute for Statecraft's "Specialist in Russian strategic thinking", an expert on "disinformation and hybrid warfare", created a non-existing Russian doctrine out of hot air and used it to press for anti-Russian measures. Like Ben Nimmo he is an aptly example of the quality of the Institute's experts and work. One of the newly released documents headlined CND Gen list 2 (pdf) (CND= Chris Nigel Donnelly) includes the names and email addresses of a number of military, government and think tank people. The anonymous releaser of the documents claims that the list is "of employees who attended a closed-door meeting with the white helmets". (No document has been published yet that confirms this.) One name on the list is of special interest: Pablo Miller was the handler and friend of Sergej Skripal, the British double agent who was "novichoked" in Salisbury. When Miller's name was mentioned in the press the British government issued a D-Notice to suppress its further publishing, As we wrote in April: Pablo Miller, a British MI6 agent, had recruited Sergej Skripal. The former MI6 agent in Moscow, Christopher Steele, was also involved in the case. Skripal was caught by the Russian security services and went to jail. Pablo Miller, the MI6 recruiter, was also the handler of Sergej Skripal after he was released by Russia in a spy swap. He reportedly also lives in Salisbury. Both Christopher Steele and Pablo Miller work for Orbis Business Intelligence which created the "Dirty Dossier" about Donald Trump. In 1979, before becoming a spy, Pablo Miller served at the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. (BBC Newsnight 'journalist' Mark Urban, who recently published a book based on interviews with Skripal, served together with Miller in the same regiment.) The 4th regiment's motto was "Fear Naught". Pablo Miller's email address given in the Chris Donnelly list is "fearnaught4rtr@hotmail.com". In March, at the very beginning of the Skripal affair and before there was any talk of 'Novichok', we asked if Skripal was involved in creating the now debunked "Dirty Dossier" and if that was a reason for certain British insiders to move him out of the way: Here are some question: Did Skripal help Steele to make up the "dossier" about Trump? Were Skripal's old connections used to contact other people in Russia to ask about Trump dirt? Did Skripal threaten to talk about this? If there is a connection between the dossier and Skripal, which seems very likely to me, then there are a number of people and organizations with potential motives to kill him. Lots of shady folks and officials on both sides of the Atlantic were involved in creating and running the anti-Trump/anti-Russia campaign. There are several investigations and some very dirty laundry might one day come to light. Removing Skripal while putting the blame on Russia looks like a convenient way to get rid of a potential witness. The most recent release of Integrity Initiative documents includes lots of in-depth reports (pdf) about foreign media reactions to the Skripal affair. One wonders why the Initiative commissioned such research (pdf) and paid for it. After two years the Muller investigation found zero evidence for the alleged 'collusion' between Russia and the Trump campaign that the fake Steele dossier suggested. The whole collusion claim is a creation by 'former' British intelligence operatives who likely acted on request of U.S. intelligence leaders Clapper and Brennan. How deep was the Russia specialist Chris Donnelly and his Institute for Statecraft involved in this endeavor? After reading through all the released Initiative papers and lists one gets the impression of a secret military intelligence operation, disguised as a public NGO. Financed by millions of government money the Institute for Statecraft and the Integrity Initiative work under a charity label to create and disseminate disinformation to the global public and back into the government and military itself. The paranoia about Russia, which objectively does way less harm than the 'western' "rules based system" constantly creates, is illogical and not based on factual analysis. It creates Russia as an "enemy" when it is none. It hypes a "threat" out of hot air. The only people who profit from this are the propagandists themselves and the companies and people who back them. The Initiatives motto "Defend Democracy Against Disinformation" is a truly Orwellian construct. By disseminating propaganda and using it to influence the public, parliament, the military and governments, the Institute actively undermines the democratic process that depends on the free availability of truthful information. It should be shut down immediately. --- Notes: Posted by b on December 15, 2018 at 16:25 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Inspired by Harper's Index (with a tip of the hat to FiveThirtyEight's Significant Digits blog), Morningstar Runs the Numbers uses a numbers-based approach to highlight recent Morningstar research, along with some outside news stories. 5 Christine Benz offers five ideas for improving your portfolio, lowering your tax bill, and wringing more from your cash holdings as part of a regular review and especially amid market volatility. West Point power outage View Photos Update at 2:45 p.m.: Only five customers remain without electricity after a power outage this morning stretching from West Point to Rail Road Flat left nearly 2,700 PG&E customers in the dark. The utility is attributing the outage to a broken power pole along Highway 26 near Bucksaw Lane in the West Point area. A 4:30 p.m. restoration time has been posted for the handful of customers without lights as crew work to repair the damage. Update at 2 p.m.: PG&E has restored power to all but 125 customers out of the nearly 2,7oo customers that lost their electricity this morning around 11:30 a.m. The areas still affected are in West Point along Highway 26, Main Street and Winton Road. The company has not disclosed a cause for the outage, but hopes to have the power restored to the remaining customers within the 2 oclock hour. Original post at 1 p.m.: West Point, CA PG&E is reporting a power outage covering the areas of West Point, Wilseyville, Glencoe and Rail Road Flat. The utility reports the outage is impacting nearly 2,700 custumers. A repair crew is at the scene investigating a cause. The estimated restoration times is in the 2 oclock hour. The lights went out around 11:30 a.m. (Bloomberg) -- Obamacare was struck down by a Texas federal judge in a ruling that casts uncertainty on insurance coverage for millions of U.S. residents, drawing sharp condemnation from some medical professionals and a vow for action by top Democrats. President Donald Trump termed the ruling a big big victory by a highly respected judge and an alternative path to the long-time Republican goal of repeal-and-replace. Well be able to get great health care, Trump said Saturday during an unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where a Wreaths Across America holiday wreath-laying event was under way. Well have to sit down with the Democrats to do it, but Im sure they want to do it also. The decision Friday finding the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional comes at the tail end of a six-week open enrollment period for the program in 2019 and underscores a divide between Republicans who have long sought to invalidate the law and Democrats who fought to keep it in place. The White House said the ruling will be put on hold during an appeals process thats destined to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, drawing confirmation from Democrats vowing a rapid appeal. It has no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan, Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said on Twitter. U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor in Fort Worth agreed with a coalition of Republican states led by Texas that the Affordable Care Act, the signature health-care overhaul by President Barack Obama, needed to be eviscerated after Congress last year zeroed out a key provision -- the tax penalty for not complying with the requirement to buy insurance. 133 Million Todays ruling is an assault on 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the ACAs consumer protections for health care, and on Americas faithful progress toward affordable health care for all Americans, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Becerra vowed a quick challenge to OConnors ruling. OConnor was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush. Representative Nancy Pelosi, whos likely to become Speaker in the new Congress, called the ruling absurd, adding that Democrats in the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process once they take control in January. Senator Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, castigated Republicans for pretending to support people with pre-existing conditions while quietly trying to remove that support in the courts. He tweeted that Democrats will force votes to expose their lies. Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who won re-election in November on a pro-Obamacare platform, called the ruling misguided and inhumane. Democrats werent the only ones to criticize the decision. Arthur Evans, chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association, said his group was very concerned for the millions of Americans who get insurance through the health law. As our nation is in the midst of an opioid crisis, this coverage is especially needed, Evans said in a statement. We should be expanding access to health insurance, including behavioral health services, rather than stripping coverage from Americans in need. Read more: Ruling Wont Affect Health Coverage, Yet Texas and an alliance of 19 states argued to the judge that theyve been harmed by an increase in the number of people on state-supported insurance rolls. They claimed that when Congress last year repealed the tax penalty for the so-called individual mandate, it eliminated the U.S. Supreme Courts rationale for finding the ACA constitutional in 2012. The Texas judge agreed. He likened the debate over which provisions of the law should stand or fail to watching a slow game of Jenga, each party poking at a different provision to see if the ACA falls. He also wrote that its clear the individual mandate is the linchpin of the law without marching through every nook and cranny of the ACAs 900-plus pages. The court must find the individual mandate inseverable from the ACA, he said. To find otherwise would be to introduce an entirely new regulatory scheme never intended by Congress or signed by the president. While Trump and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton were quick to praise the ruling, while the American Medical Association called the decision an unfortunate step backward for our health system. Some health-care law experts were quick to critique the judges reasoning and predicted the ruling will be overturned. We know what Congress intent was in 2017 -- that was to pull the individual mandate while keeping the rest of ACA intact, University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley said. Now we have a judge saying we have an unenforceable mandate. This whole thing is bonkers. With just one day left in the sign-up period for 2019 Obamacare coverage, the judges ruling is unlikely to have much of an effect on those actively shopping for insurance for next year. As of Dec. 8, 4.1 million people had chosen plans through the federal-government run portal that 39 states use for enrollment. Total enrollment is on track to be lower than in previous years, which many critics have credited to efforts by the Trump administration to promote alternatives to the law or cut back on its promotion. Centene Corp. of St. Louis and Californias Molina Health Inc. are the insurers that would be hurt the most if Fridays ruling stands, Ana Gupte, health care analyst at Leerink Partners, wrote in an analysis late Friday. California and Democratic officials in 14 states, along with the District of Columbia, won permission to defend the ACA in the Fort Worth case when the Trump administration sided with the states seeking to dismantle it. They contended that overturning the law would throw millions off health insurance rolls by reversing Medicaid expansion, ending tax credits that help people and empowering insurers to once again deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Axing the Individual Mandate, Obamacares Hated Heart: QuickTake Justice Department lawyers urged the judge to strike down the individual mandate and provisions requiring insurance companies to cover individuals with preexisting health conditions and charge them the same premiums as healthy individuals. They argued the judge should spare the rest of the law, which includes Medicaid expansion, the employer mandate, health exchanges, premium subsidies and federal health-care reimbursement rates for hospitals. The judges ruling would, since it overturns the entire act, also end provisions that have little to do with health insurance. Those include parts of the law on adding calorie counts on restaurant menus and speeding to market cheaper versions of costly biotechnology drugs. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh launched a counterattack Sept. 13 to save Obamacare, seeking a judgment that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and a court order barring the U.S. from taking any action inconsistent with that conclusion. Frosh sued then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the federal departments of Justice and Health and Human Services. The Texas case is Texas v. U.S., 4:18-cv-00167-O, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth). Froshs case is State of Maryland v. United States, 1:18-cv-02849, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland (Baltimore). (Updates with Trump comment, analyst note from second paragraph.) --With assistance from Anna Edney, Toluse Olorunnipa, Christopher Flavelle, Ariella Phillips and Sara Hansard. To contact the reporters on this story: Tom Korosec in Dallas at tkorosec@bloomberg.net;Kartikay Mehrotra in San Francisco at kmehrotra2@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Elizabeth Wollman at ewollman@bloomberg.net, Ros Krasny, Virginia Van Natta 2018 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON A federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled the Affordable Care Act invalid on the eve of the sign-up deadline for next year. But with appeals certain, even the Trump White House said the law will remain in place for now. In a 55-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor ruled that last years tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under Obamacare by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. The rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote. A sheriff's sergeant shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant Tuesday was released from a Houston hospital on Friday. Sgt. James R. Smejkal, a 28-year veteran assigned to the criminal warrants division, was shot alongside Texas Attorney General's Office agents Capt. Wes Hensley and Sgt. Mark Rychen as they tried to arrest Daniel Trevino at a northeast Houston home. The three were working alongside other law enforcement officers around 12:50 p.m. Tuesday in the 5000 block of Hartwick Road. Trevino had been wanted for more than a week after violating a protective order from his girlfriend, officials said. He was previously accused of hitting her legs with a handgun. At the home, Trevino met the officers with gunfire, striking Smejkal and two attorney general agents. Smejkal and the two agents were rushed to Ben Taub Hospital with a police escort. None of their injuries were life threatening, authorities said. After the shooting, a five-hour standoff ensued with Trevino until 6:15 p.m., when police found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the home. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message The teenager who allegedly opened fire into a moving car, hitting a 7-year-old in the process, turned himself into authorities Thursday. Omarion Philip Bailey, 19, is now in the Harris County Jail on felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct and discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle charges, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. A federal judges ruling Friday that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional does not affect policies that people are signing up for now for next year through the ACA exchange, according to the enrollment co-chairman in San Antonio. Joe Ibarra, with the EnrollSA coalition, said the deadline for enrolling or re-enrolling in individual ACA health plans is today and people should proceed to sign up. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Houston resident Tiana Perea blasted her now ex-boyfriend for cheating. And while most of us would shy away from publicly sharing such a personal moment, Perea marched to the beat of her own drummer, posting footage of the incident on Twitter Wednesday for all the world to see. In a viral video that will live on longer than the actual relationship (be forewarned, there's some graphic language), the Houston resident can be seen celebrating her birthday with friends at a private residence before shining the spotlight on the shady situation. After throwing back what appears to be a couple of tequila shots, Perea thanks her guests for attending the soiree, and then uses her liquid courage to express a different message of gratitude to her boyfriend. GRAPHIC LANGUAGE: "I'd like to thank Santos for making me realize I deserve so much better," she announces, just before calling him out for "talking to some girl." "All of us have seen screenshots ... you were sexting her and sending her videos," she says accusingly. Not quite finished, Perea ends her tirade with one last zinger as her conspiring brother comes into the frame, carrying Santos' packed bag. "In case you didn't figure it out, we're over and you can get the f**k out." After the stun wears off, guests begin to cheer and chime in. "Bad b**ch," says one guest. "Damn, that's cold," remarks another. Twitter comments range from. "That boy walking out like he just got voted off a game show" to "underrated tweet." And there you have it. Revenge is a dish, apparently, best served on social media. Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Fourteen of San Antonio's most influential women have just been tapped for a new honor. The women, whose careers range from education to communications to public service, were recently announced as the newest additions to the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame. They will officially be inducted on March 23, 2019, at the Omni Colonnade Hotel. Two of the women serve as elected officials, according to biographies provided by the Hall of Fame. One spent more than 40 years in education. Another "established children's libraries at the (San Antonio Housing Authority's) central office as well as public housing developments" that were later duplicated nationally under former Housing and Urban Development Director Julian Castro. Mary Dennis, the Mayor of Live Oak, is the first African American elected to her office and has played a critical role in the recent IKEA retail development. RELATED: People who shook things up in San Antonio this year All were selected for their service and contributions to the community, according to the Hall of Fames mission statement. The organization was founded in 1984, shortly after former Texas Governor Mark White proclaimed a Women in Texas Today week to honor trailblazing female Texans. The 1984 class of inductees included 53 women from 10 categories, according to the organizations website. In the 34 years since, nearly 400 additional women have been added to the hallowed Hall. The organization also provides education scholarships to women pursuing college. In 2014, it partnered with the San Antonio ISD to provide scholarships to the Young Women's Leadership Academy, according to the website. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The 2019 inductees were introduced at a Holiday Season event at the Institute of Texan Culture Dec. 4. At a general membership meeting in January, 2018 inductee Ruth Ruprecht, an internationally-renowned researcher who has unveiled a potential vaccine to prevent AIDS, will address the new inductees. Click through the slideshow to learn more about these outstanding women. S. M. Chavey is a breaking news and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | sarah.chavey@express-news.net | @smchavey Shakespeare famously wrote of the sceptered isle of Britain acting as a moat against the envy of less happier lands. Lately, the less happier lands are winning in a rout. Britain is suffering a political meltdown as it struggles to make good on a historic vote in 2016 to leave the European Union. The decision for a so-called Brexit was a stirring statement of independence and self-government by a people who have defined themselves down the centuries by their stiff-necked resistance to anyone whether overweening monarchs or continental tyrants who would threaten either. That was before London ran up against the bureaucracy of the would-be European superstate based in Brussels, and before it was led if thats the right word by Tory Prime Minister Theresa May. Presiding over a divided party, facing a pro-Remain British establishment and negotiating with a hostile EU, May never had an easy task. She has nonetheless not only failed to rise to the occasion but been crushed by it. May pulled her Brexit deal from a parliamentary vote that she was going to lose in an embarrassing drubbing that might have loosed her increasingly precarious grip on power. She has negotiated abysmally, giving away leverage right at the start when she prematurely invoked Article 50, beginning the process of Britains departure with no realistic fallback plan if talks with the EU failed. She ended up with an agreement that would effectively leave Britain within most EU rules, with no means of influencing them anymore. The London Spectator calls the deal Remain-minus. Theres a reason that resignations of her Brexit negotiators have become a semiregular event. Now, having survived a no-confidence vote, May went back to the EU this week to get more reassurances, when the EU has said that it is not conceding anything else of consequence. And why should it? Theres no guarantee that May can get any tweaked deal through Parliament, regardless. And shes already tried to sell so many meaningless gestures from the EU as concessions that Brexit supporters wont be inclined to take her seriously, either. The larger question is whether once the EU has its hooks in a nation-state, will it ever relinquish it? Its officials have treated the Brexit negotiations as an opportunity to teach anyone hoping to follow Britain out of the EU a lesson: Dont dare try to take back the full measure of your sovereignty, lest we make it as miserable for you as possible. This is the Brezhnev doctrine for Eurocrats. When in the past, countries in Europe have voted the wrong way on fundamental EU questions, as Ireland, France and the Netherlands did over the years, they were ignored or made to vote again until they got the right answer. Britain may yet suffer the same pitiful fate. The European Court of Justice just helpfully ruled that Britain can withdraw its Article 50 notification in other words, forget this whole unpleasant Brexit vote happened. Thats been the hope of many Remainers in Britain all along, but the case for the EU hasnt gotten any stronger over the past two years. What does it say about the European project that exit is almost impossible? And if Britain is a political shambles, its not as though the most committed advocates of the EU are doing any better. Given the yellow vest protests ignited by his idiotic (since delayed) fuel tax, French President Emmanuel Macron cant even control the streets of Paris on weekends. Mays strategy seems to be to ride the current impasse as close to the March 29 Brexit deadline as possible, and force the adoption of her lamentable deal for lack of any alternative. In which case, to return to Shakespeare, That England that was wont to conquer others, Hath made a shameful conquest of itself. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com It is a great pleasure to serve as CEO of an incredible hospital system in San Antonio. The Baptist Health System is comprised of 11 hospitals, more than 150 physicians and multiple other sites of care in convenient locations throughout greater San Antonio. Every day, more than 6,400 men and women in the Baptist Health family of caregivers are proud to make a real difference in our communities. Unfortunately, our mission to meet the needs of many patients is at risk. Since February, we have been trying to reach a fair agreement with Cigna regarding access to our hospitals and other providers, including physicians. In these negotiations, we are working in good faith on the terms of a contract that covers the care we provide to patients with Cigna commercial health insurance in this city we all know and love. Relationships are built on trust, particularly when it comes to health care. When you have a medical emergency or need surgery, you go to the hospital you trust. When your son, mother or friend is sick, you call the physician you trust. When you need quick medical attention, you visit the urgent care center down the block that has provided trusted care in the past. You dont go to Cignas office for urgent medical needs. You dont go to Cignas office for your flu shot. You dont ask Cigna for advice on your baby when her fever is skyrocketing. We want to continue to be there for you in your time of need, and its important for you to know where we stand. We are doing everything we can to negotiate a fair and reasonable agreement with Cigna that wont compromise choices or trust for care in times of need. Cigna has had plenty of time to come to a mutually beneficial deal, but its unwillingness to propose a reasonable agreement will be detrimental to our patients access to care. Cignas position is untenable, as the contract Cigna has demanded would slash payment rates by millions. If we dont reach agreement by Dec. 31, our hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians will be considered out of network. Patients with Cigna commercial health plans who use these facilities and seek care from these doctors might have to pay more out of their own pockets to access the care they need and trust. Patients are the ones who will suffer the consequences of having little, or even no, access to the quality care on which they rely. Choices will be limited and trust will be compromised. How is that fair? How is that reasonable? What we want is very simple and aligns with what our communities should expect and deserve: uninterrupted access to high-quality, trusted care for themselves and their loved ones. What we want is fair. What we want is reasonable. Matthew Stone is chief executive officer of Baptist Health System. Donald Trump or, as hes known to federal prosecutors, Individual-1 might well be a criminal. Thats no longer just my opinion, or that of Democratic activists. It is the finding of Trumps own Justice Department. On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer, who is definitely a criminal, to three years in prison. Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York had argued that, in arranging payoffs to two women who said theyd had affairs with Trump, Cohen broke campaign finance laws and in the process deceived the voting public by hiding alleged facts that he believed would have had a substantial effect on the election. The prosecutors sentencing memorandum emphasized the way Cohens actions subverted democracy. While many Americans who desired a particular outcome to the election knocked on doors, toiled at phone banks or found any number of other legal ways to make their voices heard, Cohen sought to influence the election from the shadows, prosecutors wrote. And he didnt act alone, but in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1. That would be Trump. Trumps potential criminality in this case, which raises questions about his legitimacy as president, creates a quandary for Democrats. Assuming prosecutors are right about Trumps conduct, it certainly seems impeachable; a situation in which a candidate cheats his way into the presidency is one the founders foresaw when they were designing the impeachment process. As George Mason argued at the Constitutional Convention, Shall the man who has practiced corruption, and by that means procured his appointment in the first instance, be suffered to escape punishment by repeating his guilt? But in our current moment, removing the president through impeachment is essentially impossible, given that at least 20 Senate Republicans would have to join Democrats. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who will soon lead the House Judiciary Committee, told me he wouldnt consider impeachment proceedings without at least some Republican support. There is certainly no appetite among congressional Democrats to pursue impeachment over a campaign finance case, particularly while the special counsel investigation into Russian collusion chugs on. This leaves us in a dangerous situation. Under Justice Department guidelines, sitting presidents cant be indicted. Ex-presidents, however, can. Experts on both the left and the right believe that if Trump is voted out of office in 2020, before the five-year statute of limitations on campaign finance violations runs out, he could find himself in serious legal jeopardy. The conservative Andrew McCarthy, a former prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and frequent Trump defender, wrote on Fox Newss website Sunday, The president is very likely to be indicted on a charge of violating federal campaign finance laws. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., a former prosecutor, told me, This president has potential prison exposure. The 2020 presidential election was always going to be extraordinarily ugly, but one can only imagine what Trump will do if the alternative to the White House is the big house. Ordinarily, you know that a democracy is failing when electoral losers are threatened with prison. But Trumps lawlessness is so blatant that impunity say, a pardon or a politically motivated decision not to prosecute would also be deeply corrosive, unless it was offered in return for his resignation. Theres simply no way around it as long as Individual-1 is on the ticket, the 2020 election is set to be a banana republic-style death match. Trump will almost certainly try to criminalize his opponent crowds at his rallies have taken to chanting Lock her up at the mention of virtually any Democratic womans name. And Democrats wont be able to uphold the general principle that in American elections, losing doesnt mean personal ruination, because for Trump it will and it should. There are ways to lower the stakes somewhat. Nadler told me he plans to introduce legislation that would freeze the statute of limitations for crimes committed by presidents, so they could be charged when their terms end. But our best hope may lie in the emergence of irrefutable evidence of further presidential crimes, enough to finally test the tolerance of at least some fraction of Republicans. The storys not over yet, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a former constitutional law professor, told me. Were just at the beginning of it. After two years of hearing people say we were all trigger-happy on impeachment, now Im hearing were all constitutional fraidy-cats. Give us a chance to do the fact investigation and figure out what happened. Fair enough. But if the president has committed felonies, we also have to figure out how Republicans might be induced to care. @michellebklyn In recent days, many have sought to contrast President Donald Trump with President George H.W. Bush. But there is one area where Trump is channeling his inner George H.W. Bush and not in a good way. His response to the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate echoes Bushs handling of Chinas crackdown on peaceful democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square. We only recently learned how ruthless that Chinese crackdown really was when a secret 1989 cable by Britains then-ambassador to China, Sir Alan Donald, was declassified. Student protesters were crushed by armored personnel carriers, which rolled over their bodies repeatedly until their pulverized remains were collected by bulldozer, incinerated and hosed down drains, the document said. Wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted, Donald wrote. A three-year-old girl was injured, but her mother was shot as she went to her aid, as were six others. One thousand survivors of the initial assault were told they could leave but were then mown down by specially prepared MG (machine gun) positions. The cable ends with this chilling sentence: Minimum estimate of civilian dead 10,000. Chinas murderous brutality put Bush in an impossible position: He had to uphold American values while at the same time preserving a critical relationship with the men who carried out these horrific crimes. It is much the same quandary that Trump has faced in the wake of Khashoggis murder. Like Bush, Trump was faced with an inhuman act of violence that shocked the conscience of the nation. Like Bush, Trump had to impose consequences on the regime while balancing U.S. national interests in a critical part of the world. And like Bush, Trump has handled the situation poorly. Bush was unapologetic about his outreach to Chinese leaders after the massacre in June 1989. What I certainly did not want to do was completely break the relationship we had worked so hard to build since 1972, Bush later wrote. While angry rhetoric might be temporarily satisfying to some, I believed it would deeply hurt our efforts in the long term. At the time, Bush lashed out in his diary at congressional leaders who wanted him to take a harder line, including Rep. Stephen Solarz, D-N.Y., whom he called the kind of guy that was delighted about the overthrow of the Shah, not worrying about what follows on. He sent a cringeworthy letter to Deng Xiaoping, in which he called the Chinese leader his genuine lao pengyou (old friend) and apologized for the punitive measures his administration had taken. Worse, Bush sent national security adviser Brent Scowcroft to Beijing, where he was photographed cordially clinking wine glasses with Chinese leaders at a state banquet. Bush was right that the relationship had to be preserved. The opening to China was critical to peacefully ending the Cold War. But his eagerness to placate Chinese leaders, and his reticence in condemning those who committed such horrific crimes, harmed Americas moral standing in the world. Today, when it comes to Saudi Arabia, Trump is like Bush in an impossible position. The United States must stand for human rights. But it must also preserve its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the only nation in the Middle East that can serve as a bulwark against Iran, the main strategic threat to U.S. interests in the region. Trump has tried to balance these conflicting responsibilities by imposing sanctions on 17 Saudis under the Global Magnitsky Act and declaring Khashoggis murder an unacceptable and horrible crime while refusing to publicly blame Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for ordering it. He has correctly determined that the crown prince is not going anywhere and that a permanent breach with Riyadh is unacceptable. But the unapologetic way in which he has gone about it touting how much we make from Saudi arms purchases while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo castigates critics in Congress and the media for caterwauling has been unseemly. One of the toughest challenges of the presidency is upholding American values while dealing with pro-American tyrants. Few presidents have done it well. In this sense, Trump is no different from his predecessors. We dont know what Trumps back-channel communications with the Saudi leadership have been like perhaps he has been tougher in private than public. But we do know this much: They cant be any worse than Bushs plaintive entreaties to the butchers of Beijing. @marcthiessen Maybe ballot security isnt such a bad thing after all. Democrats, who the day before yesterday were insisting that voter fraud didnt exist, now believe that it was used to steal a North Carolina congressional seat from them and they may well be right. Republican Mark Harris has a 905-vote lead over Democrat Dan McCready in the states 9th Congressional District, a slender victory that the State Board of Elections has refused to certify given credible allegations of cheating. A consulting firm working for Harris contracted with an operative named McCrae Dowless based on his get-out-the-vote work, mostly involving his strange prowess with absentee ballots. Dowless has a shady background that includes criminal convictions and a prior investigation of his election practices. His methods were seamy, at best. Working from a storefront, he employed a crew to go door to door urging people to request absentee ballots. When they did, his team returned to collect the ballots, purportedly to deliver them to election officials but apparently to hand them over to Dowless first. This is against the law in North Carolina, and rightly so. It destroys any chain of custody and creates the opportunity for more abuse and corruption. There is evidence that Dowless may have availed himself of it. Bladen County, the largely rural area where Dowless focused his work, outpaced other counties in absentee-ballot requests with 7.5 percent of registered voters making a request, higher than the 2 percent or so in most of the rest of the counties. Weirdly, only 19 percent of absentee ballots in Bladen were submitted by Republicans, yet Harris managed to win 61 percent of the absentee vote there. He didnt win absentees in any other county. The implication is that Dowless may have pocketed absentee ballots not to his liking, particularly from black Democrats. If so, this would truly be a damnable and literal instance of voter suppression. The Harris margin over McCready in Bladen County (162 votes) is considerably less than his overall margin. Yet there was almost certainly illegality in a very close election, and if Dowless was discarding or destroying ballots, the number of affected votes may go higher. North Carolina law sets a standard for a revote that doesnt require a finding that cheating changed the outcome. The election board can order a new election if improprieties occurred that taint the result and cast doubt on its fairness. Pending the conclusion of the boards investigation, its hard to see how that standard wont be met. Republicans wont like it, but they should probably want to start over, for the sake of the integrity of their own nominating process, if nothing else. In the GOP primary for the seat, Harris won an equally narrow victory over the Republican incumbent and an even more smashing Dowless-engineered victory in Bladen absentee ballots, 437-17. The larger lesson here is that people will exploit vulnerabilities in the election system, and it should be as secure as possible. Absentee voting is a particular soft spot. It occurs outside the watch of election officials, and its impossible to determine what happens to the ballot in between the time it leaves and returns. Although usually not as extensive or consequential as what may have transpired in North Carolinas 9th District, vote fraud often involves absentee voting, and exploiting poor and vulnerable voters. In October, four people were indicted in Texas on 30 felony counts of targeting elderly voters in a fraudulent mail-in voter scheme. Rules should be rigorous, and its insane that the sort of vote harvesting that Dowless engaged in i.e., a private party collecting the ballots of voters is perfectly legal in California. The North Carolina race demonstrates how even relatively small-scale cheating no one will ever mistake McCrae Dowless for a major player can undermine faith in our system. And how, if anyone doubted it, voter fraud is real. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com Carbon emissions are increasing, Arctic ice is melting, and the world is squandering a small window of opportunity to avert disaster. Major scientific report after major scientific report sound the same alarm. The Earth is warming, creating conditions that will make extreme weather routine. Picture the raging wildfires in California or the bruising hurricane season in the Southeast. Weather events, yes. But man-made climate change has created ideal conditions for such weather. At the exact time the world should be decreasing carbon emissions, the opposite is happening. Carbon emissions will be up in 2018. Just like they were up the year before. A recent report from the Global Carbon Project, comprised of 100 scientists from various academic and research institutes, has found global carbon emissions likely increased by 2.7 percent in 2018. In 2017, global carbon emissions increased by 1.6 percent. Reducing carbon dioxide is crucial because it is the primary contributor to man-made climate change. It traps heat in the atmosphere for thousands of years. President Donald Trump has utterly failed on this issue. He has derided climate change as a hoax, pushed to relax limits on vehicle pollution and moved to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. As far as climate change goes, he is the wrong president at the wrong time espousing the wrong policies, and our future selves, as well as our kids and grandkids, will bear the cost of his indifference on this issue. We are passing the climate buck. But focusing on Trump is also too narrow, even though the United States plays an outsized role on this issue as a global leader and emitter. As the data from the Global Carbon Project show, world leaders are also utterly failing. Some world leaders espouse better rhetoric about climate change, but its lip service since many nations have failed to meet their voluntary pledges to reduce carbon emissions under the Paris agreement. China continues to build coal-fired power plants. India is relying on coal to provide electricity to some 300 million people. And in the United States, responsible for 15 percent of global emissions, the rise of electric vehicles has not slowed an insatiable appetite for oil and cheap gas. Shortly after this carbon report was released, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual Arctic Report Card, which only highlights our collective failure. The latest report found the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic, described as the glue that holds the Arctic together, has mostly melted away. About 95 percent, according to the Washington Post. The finding suggests that the sea at the top of the world has already morphed into a new and very different state, with major implications not only for creatures such as walruses and polar bears but, in the long term, perhaps for the pace of global warming itself, the Post reported. The issue here is if the Arctic shifts to ice-free summers, the ocean will absorb more heat and the planet will continue to warm. If the Arctic is too far away to truly resonate, or the plight of walruses and polar bears too removed from the pressures of daily life, there are plenty of warning signs right here in San Antonio. As Express-News journalist Scott Huddleston recently reported, climate change will put the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonios primary source of drinking water, at risk in the next 50 years. This is because of increased population growth, more impervious cover (sidewalks, asphalt, rooftops and other surfaces) that traps heat and keeps water from absorbing into the ground and because of greater risk of drought. That is, the extreme weather that will become routine in a warmer world. But it doesnt have to be so. Carbon emissions could be regulated. A carbon dividend plan essentially a tax that returns money to American families could be used to limit emissions. Developments in technology offer hope. And for those who say such policies are job-killing, the most recent climate assessment has estimated inaction will cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Extreme weather in 2018 cost the U.S. $306 billion, according to the New York Times. The window of opportunity is narrow. If we miss it, no one can say we werent warned about the consequences. Recommendations by the Texas Judicial Council to the Texas Legislature for increasing the transparency of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct merit follow-through. Following passage of an amendment to the Texas Constitution, the commission was created in 1965 as an independent agency to investigate allegations of judicial misconduct or permanent disability and to discipline members of the judiciary if merited. Much of its work is done behind closed doors. Even when there is disciplinary action, agency rules allow some matters to remain private. In a recently released report to the Legislature, the Judicial Council recommends the commission be required to report the number of complaints that have been deferred pending criminal investigation and the number of complaints referred to law enforcement. It is also asking the Legislature to require the commission to include on its website an index of pending cases by case number including the current status of each case and the date the complaint was lodged. In addition, the council is seeking legislative action that would make the commissions website more consumer-friendly by posting simple directions on its website with instruction about how to file a complaints, map out in clear and concise detail how a complaint makes its way through the process from filing to resolution and clarify that confidentiality regarding a complaint applies to the commission and not the complaint. It all sounds simplistic and something that should not require legislation, but if that is the only way its going to get done, lets move forward. Texas is great at establishing agencies that are supposed to provide checks and balances but often are nothing more than paper tigers. They are limited in power and scope, and their numbers reflect that. In fiscal 2018, more than 3,700 judges fell under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, according to the Office of Court Administration. They include every level of judge, from municipal court to the Texas Supreme Court both elected and appointed. It even has jurisdiction over judges who arent lawyers, such as justices of the peace. Last year, the commission opened 1,593 cases. Only 79 resulted in any form of action, including public sanction, private sanction or orders of additional education. One of those cases was that of a Bexar County Probate Court judge who was issued a public admonition last spring for conduct on the bench unbecoming a judge. Kelly Cross was also ordered to obtain an hour of instruction with a mentor. The commissions investigations in 2018 forced the resignation of five judges who voluntary gave up their seats in lieu of disciplinary action. Most cases were determined not to violate the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. Another 1,678 were dismissed after investigation, 21 were dismissed with letters of caution, four were dismissed based on corrective action by the judge, and nine were dismissed after it was determined the cases were moot. After every election cycle, underqualified members of the legal bar assume judicial roles because of political party sweeps at the polls. For the most part, Texas judges are well-qualified and do an outstanding job. However, until Texas changes its judicial selection process, criminal defendants and civil litigants will be at the mercy of a small percentage of judges who should have never donned robes. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct plays a vital role in helping maintain the integrity of the justice system in Texas. Making the process easier for complainants and shedding more daylight on the process are good first steps. Re: No slowdown in scooter boom, front page, Tuesday: The scooter clutter is getting out of hand. While walking recently, I counted 215 scooters parked on Commerce Street, just in the two-plus blocks from Alamo Street to Interstate 37-U.S. 281. Most of these are not even used during the day. And now we are going to add even more companies, along with dockless bicycles? I enjoy tech and transportation advances as much as the next person, but this is making a mess of downtown sidewalks. The city needs to put some limits on the quantity of scooters and bikes that can be placed on a block. My preference would be to have designated locations, similar to the B-Cycles, whose business, I assume, is now dead and will shortly disappear. In fact, how can these scooter businesses be profitable with the investment, and picking up and charging 10,000 of them every night? Are these companies just hoping to be the last one standing? Where is the common sense? Richard Thelen Repeating history Re: Asylum crisis exists only in imagination, Editorial, Nov. 26: Uncontrolled migration that became uncontrollable contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. That is history. The belief that denying or ignoring history will prevent its being repeated exists in imagination. Bob Barton, Kerrville Hes applying An open letter to President Donald Trump: I understand you are having difficulty finding a competent person to fill the position of chief of staff. Setting aside the issue of competency, I think I would be perfect person for the job. Keep your own words in mind when you consider my application: What have you got got to lose? David H. Plylar Protect pensions Re: Protect Texas education, protect the TRS, Another View, by Thomas H. Kreneck, Monday: As a retired Texas public school teacher, I am always interested in anything concerning the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Dr. Kreneck is absolutely correct in his defense of TRS from special interests groups that would destroy it. Retired teachers deserve better, and they deserve a cost-of-living increase. Ive been retired for many years, and Ive never had an increase in my teacher retiree pay. As Dr. Kreneck said: People should remind legislators that hurting TRS will undermine the teaching profession and will lower the quality of education for Texas students of all backgrounds. Richard Sharer The Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Raymond Majongwe has announced that countrywide marches to protest against the school uniforms being sold in United States Dollars will be held on the 18th of December. The organisation has since written to all stakeholders including the Zimbabwe Republic Police notifying them of the intended march. The march is directed at all shops who are selling school uniforms where the marchers will deliver petition letters to them. Recently Majongwe announced that, Several parents have approached us indicating the prices being charged are unacceptable. Uniforms are being sold in US Dollars when workers are being paid RTGS salaries. Parents in Harare have raised concern over some uniform outlets which are only selling full sets of uniforms for as much as $3000 for specific schools. Bulawayo24 Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed MDC leader Nelson Chamisas demands for talks aimed at the possible formation of a unity government, telling Zanu-PF delegates at a Zanu-PF conference Friday to ignore the opposition leaders irritating noises. He was giving his keynote speech while officially opening the ongoing Zanu-PFs 17th Annual National Peoples Conference in Esigodini, Matebeleland South. Mnangagwa told party delegates that his party posted an emphatic victory against its challengers in the July 30 election and must, accordingly be allowed to see through its five year mandate. Dont be disoriented when you hear some shrill noises here and there. Relax, Mnangagwa said. I urge members of the party not to be deterred by those who continue to make irritating noises. As Zanu-PF, we have no agenda for a GNU. Let us, instead, continue focusing on rebuilding the economy, increasing productivity, hard, honest work, wealth and job creation, fighting corruption and improving the overall quality of life of our people. Mnangagwa added, We were given a fresh mandate to govern Zimbabwe for the next five years. Full stop. No GNU. The votes came from all corners of the country and it was a resounding victory The July 30 elections saw Zanu-PF win a two thirds parliamentary majority while its presidential candidate, Mnangagwa, scrapped through with a slender 50,8 percent of the national vote. Chamisa, who came a close second with 44,3 percent share of the vote, was quick to lodge a Constitutional Court challenge seeking the reversal of Mnangagwas victory but also lost the legal battle. He has since gone on a campaign to discredit his rivals legitimacy with his MPs often heckling or boycotting Mnangagwas functions in parliament and outside in a show of contempt. Said the President, In spite of our convincing win, the losing presidential candidate of the main opposition party took us to court refusing to accept the majority vote of the people. This culminated in a Constitutional Court ruling which confirmed me the winner as was decided by the people, through the ballot. Chamisa has anchored his demands for a transitional authority on what he says was the need to remedy a crippling economic crisis that has culminated in acute fuel, drug and cash shortages, among other essential products. NewZimbabwe Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Inside the mind of a bee is a hive of sensory activity Aeon (Robert M) Swarms of Sensor-Wearing Bees Could Monitor Crops Better Than Drones Motherboard. Resilc: If in North Carolina, buy a save the honeybee license plate! NASAs Hubble telescope discovered an evaporating planet, study says USA Today A Storm and a Strike Hit Blueberry Giants Global Supply Plans Bloomberg (David L) How long can an event hold humanitys attention? Theres an equation for that. Popular Science (resilc) Eye-Opening Photos and Video Taken Inside Illegal Click Farms Core77 (resilc) J&J knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder Reuters (martha r) KFC introduces a firelog that smells like greasy fried chicken Boing Boing. Resilc: Nothing says USA USA like a lard log for the holiday shopping orgy season. Huawei North Korea Brexit New Cold War New government in Iraq courts Russian embrace Asia Times. Resilc: Our wise investment in Iraq . Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Imperial Collapse Watch How the New Silk Roads are merging into Greater Eurasia Asia Times. Resilc: Well look back years from now and see gwbush et al started this downfall and trumpisimo rolled it way ahead. Sitting here in Portugal, I see no upside for any playtime with USA USA. Trump Transition Biden team discussed 2020 run with ORourke as VP: report The Hill No One Wants to Serve on House Financial Services? Adam Levitin, Credit Slips Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court Leaves the Republican Party, Citing Kavanaugh KQED (David L) Gunz This Year Had More School Shootings Than Ever Rolling Stone (resilc) Boeing 737 Passenger Jet Damaged in Possible Midair Drone Strike Bloomberg (UserFriendly) The Future of American Broadband Is a Comcast Monopoly Motherboard Sharp Decline Puts Dow in Correction Territory Wall Street Journal Recession Signs Hard to Miss If Stock Message Is Taken Seriously Bloomberg Yucaipa pays $3 million to settle claims from SEC of violating Investment Advisers Act Pensions and Investments. Chris Tobe: Big investment in CALPERS. Does this type of crime ever get discussed? Americas janky payment system, explained The Week (UserFriendly) Class Warfare Antidote du jour. From crittermom: For Ignacio, NC commenter who liked my Monarch photo & suggested a dragonfly would make a good subject. And a bonus (hat tip martha r): My heart Baby elephant fell in a water trough & got stuck. Lions were waiting nearby & his mom started to panic. When things seemed hopeless, another elephant family charged in to help. Retweet if you believe TROPHY HUNTING of these animals should be illegal EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/pw7pGNvU7X StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) December 12, 2018 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. By Joseph Harris, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Boston University. Originally published at The Conversation The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) draws to a close on Dec. 15. Yet, recent assaults on the ACA by the Trump administration stand in marked contrast to efforts to expand access to health care and medicine in the rest of the world. In fact, on Dec. 12, the world observed Universal Coverage Day, a day celebrated by the United Nations to commemorate passage of a momentous, unanimous U.N. General Assembly resolution in support of universal health coverage in 2012. While the U.N. measure was nonbinding and did not commit U.N. member states to adopt universal health care, many global health experts viewed it as an achievement of extraordinary symbolic importance, as it drew attention to the importance of providing access to quality health care services, medicines and financial protection for all. Co-sponsored by 90 member states, the declaration shined a light on the profound effect that expansion of health care coverage has had on the lives of ordinary people in parts of the world with far fewer resources than the U.S., including Thailand, Mexico and Ghana. Can the U.S. learn anything from these countries efforts? US and Thailand: A Study in Contrasts I came to understand these changes as I researched and wrote my book, Achieving Access: Professional Movements and the Politics of Health Universalism. The book offers a comparative and historical take on the politics of universal health care and AIDS treatment, featuring Thailand as the primary case. For me, Thailands remarkable achievements also put into perspective some of the work we still have to do here in the United States with respect to health reform. Before the reform, Thailand had four different state health insurance schemes, which collectively covered about 70 percent of the population. The reform in 2002 consolidated two of those programs and extended coverage to everyone who did not already receive coverage through the countrys health insurance programs for civil servants and formal sector workers. Thailands universal coverage policy contributed to rising life expectancy, decreased mortality among infants and children, and a leveling of the historical health disparities between rich and poor regions of the country. The number of people being impoverished by health care payments also declined dramatically, particularly among the poor. However, Thailands reform had other important consequences that aimed to make the reform sustainable as well. Sensible financing and gatekeeping arrangements that tied patients to a medical home near where they lived and provided fixed annual payments for physicians to cover outpatient care were instituted to curb the kind of cost escalationthat has historically been a hallmark of the United States (though it has slowed lately). The reform also improved the quality of care for patients in remote areas by mandating that qualified providers in community hospitals collaborate more extensively with rural health centers. The United States, by contrast, seems to be moving in the opposite direction, both in terms of insurance coverage and health outcomes. Although recent Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act were narrowly defeated, lawsuits that aim to terminate popular pre-existing conditions protections continue. In addition, the Trump administration has sought to weaken the reform in other ways: including by cutting the open enrollment periods, which ends Dec. 15 and lasts 45 days; cutting outreach and advertising for open enrollment; and threatening to suspend risk adjustment payments to private insurers, which help to stabilize the market. Moreover, effective repeal of the Affordable Care Acts individual mandate through a provision in the 2017 Tax Reconciliation Act that reduces the penalty for not having insurance to zero in 2019 will have the effect of reducing the number of insured. This will have an effect on health insurance markets, likely reducing the number of younger and healthier people that help give balance to health insurance risk pools and that help keep overall costs down. And without the financial protection afforded by health insurance, those who are uninsured may face rising rates of medical bankruptcy, to say nothing for the loss of access to sorely needed medical care. Learning from Thailand To be sure, the Thai and American contexts are very, very different. While health spending stands at around 4 percent of GDP in Thailand, in America nearly 20 percent, or one-fifth, of the countrys total economic output is spent on health. Yet, in some ways, that makes Thailands achievement all the more remarkable. And while no program is perfect, Thailands reform is one of the reasons that health costs in Thailand have remained so low, despite such a dramatic increase in coverage. Reformers also drew on other innovative policy instruments to keep costs down, including the Government Pharmaceutical Organization that produces generic medication for the universal coverage program and the use of compulsory licenses, which allow governments to produce or import generic versions of patented medication under WTO law. The Affordable Care Act similarly sought to improve access, while curbing costs. Some of the most important mechanisms to curb costs fell victim to the legislative process however. Most notably, lobbyists succeeded in killing the public option, a government (as opposed to private) health insurer with much lower administrative costs that aimed to bring costs down among private health insurers through competition with them. What the contrast makes clear, however, is that reforms done properly can expand access while at the same time instituting measures that help to contain costs. The U.S., in my view, should pursue similarly creative and constructive reforms that seek to do both. What does that look like in the United States? To me, that means preserving the ACAs individual mandate and protections related to pre-existing conditions; creating (or expanding) a public insurer like Medicare to compete alongside private insurers and keep costs down; addressing the lack of price transparency in our nations hospitals; and actively negotiating with pharmaceutical companies and hospitals to bring costs of drugs and health care down for millions. Done sensibly, developing nations like Thailand are proving that they do not have to join the ranks of the worlds wealthiest nations for their citizens to enjoy access to health care and medicine. Using evidence-based decision-making, even expensive benefits, like dialysis, heart surgery and chemotherapy, need not remain out of reach. Policymakers in all countries can institute reforms using tools that promote cost savings at the same time they improve access and equity. While efforts to implement universal coverage are not without challenges, these results suggest that leaders in Congress would do well to learn from countries like Thailand as they chart a fiscally responsible path forward on health care. Nik Williams, the policy advisor for Scottish PEN, the Scottish centre of PEN International. We are leading the campaign opposing suspicionless surveillance and protecting the rights of writers both in Scotland and across the globe. Find out more on Twitter at @scottishpenand @nikwilliams2. Originally published at openDemocracy We know what censorship looks like: writers being murdered, attacked or imprisoned; TV and radio stations being shut down; the only newspapers parrot the state; journalists lost in the bureaucratic labyrinth to secure a license or permit; government agencies approving which novels, plays and poetry collections can be published; books being banned or burned or the extreme regulation of access to printing materials or presses. All of these damage free expression, but they leave a fingerprint, something visible that can be measured, but what about self-censorship? This leaves no such mark. When writers self-censor, there is no record, they just stop writing or avoid certain topics and these decisions are lost to time. Without being able to record and document isolated cases the way we can with explicit government censorship, the only thing we can do is identify potential drivers to self-censorship. In 2013, NSA whistle blower, Edward Snowden revealed the extent of government surveillance that enables intelligence agencies to capture the data of internet users around the world. Some of the powers revealed enable agencies to access emails in transit, files held on devices, details that document our relationships and location in real-time and data that could reveal our political opinions, beliefs and routines. Following these revelations, the UK government pushed through the Investigatory Powers Act, an audacious act that modernised, consolidated and expanded digital surveillance powers. This expansion was opposed by civil rights organisations, (including Scottish PEN where I work), technologists, a number of media bodies and major tech companies, but on 29th November 2016, it received royal assent. But what did this expansion do to our right to free expression? As big data and digital surveillance is interwoven into the fabric of modern society there is growing evidence that the perception of surveillance affects how different communities engage with the internet. Following the Snowden revelations, John Penny at the Oxford Internet Institute analysed traffic to Wikipedia pages on topics designated by the Department of Homeland Security as sensitive and identified a 20 percent decline in page views on Wikipedia articles related to terrorism, including those that mentioned al Qaeda, car bomb or Taliban. This report was in line with a study by Alex Marthews and Catherine Tucker who found a similar trend in the avoidance of sensitive topics in Google search behaviour in 41 countries. This has significant impact on both free expression and democracy, as outlined by Penney: If people are spooked or deterred from learning about important policy matters like terrorism and national security, this is a real threat to proper democratic debate. But it doesnt end with sourcing information. In a study of Facebook, Elizabeth Stoycheff discovered that when faced with holders of majority opinions and the knowledge of government surveillance, holders of minority viewpoints are more likely to self-censor their dissenting opinions online. If holders of minority opinions step away from online platforms like Facebook, these platforms will only reflect the majority opinion, homogenising discourse and giving a false idea of consensus. Read together, these studies document a slow erosion of the eco-system within which free expression flourishes. Help expose the dark money driving Brexit openDemocracy has worked tirelessly for two years exposing the murky finances of Brexit bankroller Arron Banks; the DUPs secret Brexit donors; and law-breaking by Boris Johnson and Michael Goves Vote Leave. Donate now In 2013, PEN America surveyed American writers to see whether the Snowden revelations impacted their willingness to explore challenging issues and continue to write. In their report, Chilling Effects: NSA Surveillance Drives US Writers to Self-Censor, PEN America found that one in six writers avoided writing or speaking on a topic they thought would subject them to surveillance. But is this bigger than the US? Scottish PEN, alongside researchers at the University of Strathclyde authored the report, Scottish Chilling: Impact of Government and Corporate Surveillance on Writers to explore the impact of surveillance on Scotland-based writers, asking the question: Is the perception of surveillance a driver to self-censorship? After surveying 118 writers, including novelists, poets, essayists, journalists, translators, editors and publishers, and interviewing a number of participants we uncovered a disturbing trend of writers avoiding certain topics in their work or research, modifying their work or refusing to use certain online tools. 22% of responders have avoided writing or speaking on a particular topic due to the perception of surveillance and 28% have curtailed or avoided activities on social media. Further to this, 82% said that if they knew that the UK government had collected data about their Internet activity they would feel as though their personal privacy had been violated, something made more likely by the passage of the investigatory Powers Act. At times, surveillance appears unavoidable and this was evident in many of the writers responses to whether they could take actions to mitigate the risks of surveillance. Without knowing how to secure themselves there are limited options: writers either resign themselves to using insecure tools or choose to avoid the internet all together, cutting them off from important sources of information and potential communities of readers and support. Literacy concerning the use of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (oftentimes called PETs) is a vital part of how we protect free expression in the digital age, but as outlined by the concerns of a number of the participants, it is largely under-explored outside of the tech community: I think probably I need to get educated a wee bit more by someonebecause I think we probably are a bit exposed and a wee bit vulnerable, more than we realise. Another was even more stark about their worries about the available alternatives: I have no idea about how to use the Internet differently. When interviewed, a number of writers expressed concerns about how their writing process has changed or is in danger of changing as a result of their awareness of surveillance. One participant who had covered the conflict in Northern Ireland in 70s and 80s stated that they would not cover the conflict in the same manner if it took place now; another stopped writing about child abuse when they thought about what their search history may look to someone else; when they heard of a conviction based on the ownership of the Anarchist Cookbook, a participant who bought a copy for research shredded it. Further to this a participant stated: I think I would avoid direct research on issues to do with Islamic fundamentalism. I might work on aspects of the theory, but not on interviewing peoplein the past, I have interviewed people who would be calledsubversives. These modifications or avoidance strategies raise a stark and important question: What are we as readers being denied if writers are avoiding sensitive topics? Put another way, what connects the abuse of personal data by Cambridge Analytica, the treatment of asylum seekers by the Australian government on Manus and Nauru, the hiding of billions of pounds by wealthy individuals as revealed in the Panama and Paradise Papers, the deportation of members of the Windrush Generation and the Watergate scandal? In each case, writers revealed to the world what others wanted hidden. Shadows appear less dense if writers are able to explore challenging issues and expose wrongdoing free from the coercive weight of pervasive surveillance. When writers are silenced, even by their own hand, we all suffer. Surveillance is going nowhere it is embedded into the fabric of the internet. If we ignore the impact it has on writers, we threaten the very foundations of democracy; a vibrant and cacophonous exchange of ideas and beliefs, alongside what it means to be a writer. In the words of one participant: You cant exist as a writer if youre self-censoring. (Natural News) Ear wax may seem disgusting, but its there for a reason. An article published on the website AllinaHealth.org explained that it is actually healthy and people need it. Ear wax plays an important role in the protection of the ear canal against physical damage and microbial invasion. Ear wax is produced in the outer ear canal, which is the area between the fleshy part of the ear on the outside of the head and the middle ear. The ear canal is covered with skin, and this skin has special glands that produce ear wax. It contains enzymes that help prevent bacteria and fungus from growing in the ear. Ear wax also moisturizes the skin of ear canal, preventing the ears from becoming dry and itchy. Additionally, ear wax prevents dust and dirt particles from entering the ear. Ear wax also moisturizes the skin of ear canal, preventing the ears from becoming dry and itchy. Contrary to popular belief, ear wax should not be removed. The only ear cleaning you should consider is cleaning the outer ear. To clean the outer ear, you may use a damp cloth after showering, but do not use too much pressure when scrubbing. You do not have to worry about ear wax in your ear because it will usually accumulate, dry, and then fall out of the ear on its own, carrying dirt and dust with it. Ear wax should only be removed when a medical professional needs to get it out of the way to see the eardrum to treat an infection or other ear problems; or when it already causes hearing loss or pain. However, some people still try to remove ear wax. People may have heard the saying, you should not put anything in your ears that is smaller than your elbows multiple times already, but still do it. Putting any items like a hairpin into the ear canal may lead to infections. Most people use cotton swabs to remove ear wax, which is strongly discouraged. Cotton swabs were made to clean only the external parts of the ear and not the ear canal. Using these will just push the wax further into the ear. This can lead to ear pain and further blockage, making it harder to remove. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, this affects nearly 10 percent of children, five percent of healthy adults, and 57 percent of older adults in nursing homes in the U.S. Researchers from the Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio found that cotton swab has already sent thousands of children into hospitals all over the United States. The researchers evaluated cases from 1990 to 2010 and have uncovered some surprising figures. Based on estimates, 263,000 children below 18 were treated for cotton tip applicator-related injuries. This is equivalent to 12,500 cases yearly, or about 34 injuries each day. Recently, the use of ear candles has been gaining attention. However, ear candles are neither safe nor effective. Using these may burn the ear canal and possibly cause a hole in the eardrum. Ear wax candles may also result in burns to the face, bleeding, injuries from dripping wax, and fire hazards. Its best to seek a medical professional first if you feel that you have an earwax problem. They can help you determine if it is a condition to address, a symptom of an underlying condition, or something that can be handled by your body without assistance. Removing wax from your ears aggressively can result in hearing problems or ear canals that are itchy, painful, or more prone to infection. Read more news stories and studies on ear health by going to Health.news. Sources include: AllinaHealth.org KidsHealth.org BeneficialHearing.com Healthline.com 1 Healthline.com 2 (Natural News) In a survival scenario, most people might evacuate to a disaster shelter or a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) camp. However, not everyone is aware of a risk that they might be exposed to at shelters or camps like this: sexual assault. (h/t to SHTFPlan.com.) Early in 2018, reports from Florida revealed that when a hurricane strikes, sex offenders in each county are given a designated location separate from general population shelters. The majority of sex offenders under state-wide community control are advised to report to their nearest prison or jail. Public officials know that incidences of assault and rape become more common in the aftermath of hurricanes, like Irma and Harvey. In fact, when state-wide evacuations for Hurricane Irma began, Floridas Polk County sheriff stated that sex offenders wouldnt be allowed in all shelters. The sheriff tweeted: We cannot and we will not have innocent children in a shelter with sexual offenders & predators. Period. While directives like this could protect women from convicted sexual offenders, this doesnt weed out those who have clean records but are planning on attacking women in shelters. These people could even get off scot-free after assaulting several victims, especially since it can be difficult to determine who can be a potential sexual predator. During survival scenarios, the authorities wont have time to do a background check on everyone who takes refuge at a disaster shelter since theyre busy making sure everyone has what they need. After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, many women reported that they were raped or sexually assaulted after they evacuated. Sadly, most of these incidents have been largely unreported. One such victim, Charmaine Neville, spoke to a local television station several days after Hurricane Katrina hit. She discussed a horrifying experience she had when she took shelter on the roof of a school. Charmaine reported that she was raped by a stranger who threatened to kill her if she resisted. An alarming 80 percent of teenage girls who survive a sexual assault could develop a mental illness, like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), because of the incident after four or five months. This is one more reason to keep female family members away from strangers in disaster shelters. Even though its unintentional, most shelters are overcrowded and understaffed, which could increase the risk of assault. Worse, a disaster tends to bring out the worst in people, especially those who know they can get away with a lot because of the widespread panic and fear. Protect yourself and stay away from shelters The risk of sexual assault is a major reason for not evacuating to shelters and taking your safety into your own hands. Even Brock Long, FEMAs director, has repeatedly cautioned that Americans lack a culture of preparedness, which is why most people flock to disaster shelters when SHTF. (Related: Millions of Americans are arming up with new concealed carry permits and the fastest growth is among WOMEN.) To keep your whole family safe and avoid exposure to a potentially dangerous environment, learn how to be self-sufficient even during a survival scenario. Start making the necessary preparations, and talk to members of the prepping community who will be happy to teach you about the basics of this independent way of life. Before disaster strikes, decide on a bug-out location where you and your loved ones can take refuge. Make sure everyone in the group knows self-defense, especially the women. This can help them feel empowered instead of powerless when SHTF. Self-defense tips for preppers You can also learn self-defense by taking classes in your area. Here are additional self-defense tips that can protect you from attackers. Dont wear a ponytail. Assailants tend to grab long hair, so wear a cap that can fall off if someone tries to restrain you. Assailants tend to grab long hair, so wear a cap that can fall off if someone tries to restrain you. Wear layers of clothing. Rapists want easy access to a woman, and someone wearing shorts and a tank top will draw their attention more compared to someone wearing several layers. Rapists want easy access to a woman, and someone wearing shorts and a tank top will draw their attention more compared to someone wearing several layers. Learn to use your self-defense weapon. When using mace, hold the spray at arms length, spray, then take a step back. Dont spray and walk forward because you can walk into the spray and hurt yourself. When using mace, hold the spray at arms length, spray, then take a step back. Dont spray and walk forward because you can walk into the spray and hurt yourself. Give up your belongings. If youre being mugged, dont resist. Toss your bag in their direction, run, and live to fight another day. Read more articles about personal safety and self-defense tips at SelfDefense.news. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com HappyPreppers.com Tens of thousands of children are working in America's agricultural fields. That's according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, which publicly confirms what NBC Bay Area's Investigative Unit first reported six years ago. After NBC Bay Area's first series of reports aired in 2012, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles, asked the GAO to investigate child labor in America. The findings in the new report confirm that child labor is more prominent than more people realize and that children working in agriculture suffer more than half of all work-related fatalities involving young people. View the full GAO report here. Forty years after laws meant to prevent child labor in American workplaces passed Congress, agriculture remains exempt -- for the most part -- from US Labor Law allowing children 12 years old -- sometimes even younger -- to legally work the fields putting fresh fruit and vegetables on our plates. Over the course of several months in 2012, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit followed some of those children -- all of them American citizens -- as they worked the fields of California's Central Valley. Among those the Investigative Unit spent time with was a teenager we called Ralph to protect his full identity. Ralph has been working in the fields since he was 12 years old to help his family make ends meet. "It is kind of hard because we have to go, go get it out of the field and put it in boxes and if it s like the grape is not good, then they will get mad at us," Ralph said in the previous interview with NBC Bay Area. The Investigative Unit spoke with other children who worked in the fields when they were 8 years old. Because of that, Roybal-Allard in 2016, asked the investigative office of Congress to look into child labor overall. "I really do believe that children working in the agricultural fields is one of America's dirty little secrets, Roybal-Allard previously told the Investigative Unit. "It's an outrage." Some two years later the report is out showing at least 2.5 million children, ages 15 to 17, worked in 2017 mostly during the summer. The GAO shows more than half of all children who died on the job, were working in agriculture. The GAO reports states "...while we estimated fewer than 5.5 percent of working children worked in agriculture this population sustained more than 50 percent of all work related-child fatalities from 2003 to 2016. work-related fatalities among children were in agriculture. The report counted deaths among child workers only between ages 15 and 17. But the GAO said younger children, including those 12 or even younger do work, many of them in agriculture. The GAO further states that issue of younger children working and the safety risks associated with that should be studied further. "There are today in this country children that are working in deplorable conditions and are not equally protected under our child labor laws," Roybal-Allard told the Investigative Unit in 2012. "And these are the children who work in agriculture." In a statement released after this report finally came out, the congresswoman said the GAO's findings are "damning." Here's the full statement provided by Roybal-Allard: The GAO reports findings are damning. This report confirms that child labor is contributing to a devastating amount of fatalities in the United States disproportionately so in the agricultural sector. In that industry, kids are often exposed to dangerous pesticides, heavy machinery, and extreme heat, and they are being killed as a result. That is unacceptable. Our government must take these findings as a call to action and build on them to collect more robust data on injuries and illnesses faced by children in Americas workforce. More than that, we urge the Trump administration and our entire federal government to protect our nations youth. That means enforcing policies that uphold the basic well-being of child workers, instead of rolling back child labor protections and lifesaving regulations. But we will not wait for the administration to take the lead. In the Democratic Majority, we will conduct vigorous oversight to ensure existing laws are being properly enforced, and push for changes where necessary to keep child workers safe. Roybal-Allard also says that the report confirms that children as young as 12 years old can be found working in the fields and that has substantial health impacts on minors. The Fresno police chief cast doubt on a California lawmaker's statements that his arrest on suspicion of child cruelty stemmed from spanking his daughter. Chief Jerry Dyer said Thursday the injury to Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula's daughter was not on her buttocks, the Fresno Bee reported. "There was an injury. I can't get into the details of where (Arambula's daughter's) injury was, but it was not on the buttocks," Dyer said. Arambula, a Fresno Democrat, was arrested Monday on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child, a misdemeanor. Officials at Dailey Elementary Charter School learned of an injury on his 7-year-old daughter and reported it to child protective services and the police. Arambula was arrested and taken to the station but later released. He said Wednesday he had spanked his daughter as discipline, calling it a tool he rarely uses. Spanking a child on the buttocks would not be illegal, Dyer said. He has three daughters, ages 3, 6 and 7. They stayed with his parents for two nights but were allowed to return home to Arambula and his wife, Elizabeth, on Wednesday. Arambula has not yet been charged. His attorneys, Margarita Martinez-Baly and Michael Aed, criticized Dyer for offering more details and said they're conducting their own investigation. "We have offered to meet with representatives of the Fresno County District Attorney's Office so that relevant information can be presented that may have an impact on their ultimate decision to file charges," they said in a statement. "After an investigation by CPS that dispelled any concerns about child abuse, his children were returned to his custody." An Oakland nurse who was deported to Mexico last year was reunited with her four children in the Bay Area in time for the holidays later Saturday afternoon. Maria Mendoza Sanchez entered the United States illegally 20 years ago, raised a family, never got into trouble and became a nurse. At 4:40 p.m., she arrived on a United Airlines flight after receiving an approval last month from a State Department official at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to return. "Im home. Back to my kids and back to work," she said. Mendoza Sanchez said then that she's happy because she is a step closer to an H1B visa that would allow her to return to Oakland with her children. It's been a difficult year especially for her children. Her olfest daughter Vianney had to take over as head of household, after Mendoza Sanchez and her husband were both ordered to leave the country. "All my life my mom took care of me and supported me and I was going to make damn sure that I took care of her kids while she wasnt here," Vianney said. For her second oldest daughter Melin, she described graduating from college without her parents. "All my friends were celebrating with their families and I couldnt see my parents in the stands," she said. Mendoza Sanchez's occupation, an oncology nurse at Oaklands Highland Hospital, works in her favor. But having entered the U.S. illegally with a child 20-plus years ago works against her. Her only hope is a waiver on the H1B visa. She has the support of Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Barbara Lee and with just 10 days from Christmas, Mendoza Sanchez said she hadn't had much time to plan for the holiday. "Well I dont know yet what Im going to be doing, but I know Im going to be with them and thats already, at least for me, the best Christmas ever," she said. The work visa will be good only for a few years, but theyd be critical years for Mendoza Sanchez's children. A man accused in a string of attacks in San Francisco has been arrested for allegedly killing a man in Chinatown earlier this year. Police said Samuel Youmtoub, 59, battered 49-year-old Quang Troung in April. Troung later died from his injuries. About a month after he allegedly beat Troung, Youmtoub was allegedly caught on surveillance footage repeatedly kicking a homeless man in the face in the Tenderloin neighborhood. He was then connected to at least two other attacks, according to prosecutors, and has been jailed ever since. Police aren't releasing any details about their investigation. Troung was found on Joice Street around 5 a.m. on April 15 with multiple injuries to his head. San Francisco Police Department spokesman Robert Rueca said officers identified Youmtoub as a possible suspect before Troung died. Police arrested Youmtoub on Nov. 30 on suspicion of murder, more than six months after the beating. They announced the arrest today. Prosecutors had already charged him with three counts of assault and three counts of battery and he pleaded not guilty on June 20. The first of those cases, a battery, took place on Feb. 4 when police say Youmtoub allegedly attacked a man near 150 Third St. According to court records, Youmtoub told officers he punched the man because he was making "weird faces" at him. On May 24, Youmtoub was allegedly seen on surveillance footage kicking a homeless person in the face. Responding officers found the victim covered in blood and seriously injured. A few days later, Youmtoub allegedly attacked a man on the San Francisco Municipal Railway 14-Mission bus line. The victim's nose was broken and needed surgery, court records say. Soon after, an officer patrolling the Tenderloin neighborhood arrested Youmtoub after recognizing him from the surveillance footage. As he was being arrested, Youmtoub asked officers, "Why aren't you doing anything about the homeless?" according to court records. Rueca said officers won't tolerate violence toward anyone, especially those struggling with homelessness. "We as police officers have to advocate for people who really are not able to protect themselves," Rueca said. "We're all human beings and we have to treat each other as such." Anyone with more information about the killing is asked to contact police anonymously at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411 starting the message with "SFPD." Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Dana Simonds sentenced Friday a Napa man to consecutive life terms in prison for sexually assaulting a girl under age 14 in Bodega Bay last year. A jury convicted Timothy Lee Marble, 52, in November of forcible rape, oral copulation and lewd acts on April 1, 2017. The charges contained enhancements alleging Marble has a prior felony strike conviction and served a prior prison term. The Napa girl encountered Marble at a Napa gas station after she had an argument with her family at her home on March 30, according to the prosecution. She smoked marijuana with Marble and agreed to get into his truck. Deputy District Attorney Laura Passaglia McCarthy told the jury Marble injected the girl with methamphetamine, bound her hands and raped her. Marble also carved the words "Timothy" and "die" in the girl's arm, Passaglia McCarthy said. The girl escaped by jumping out of the truck on state Highway 1 near Harbor Way in Bodega Bay. Marble borrowed a cell phone to report a missing person to the sheriff's office, and when a deputy arrived, the girl emerged limping and crying from bushes where she had been hiding, according to the prosecution. The girl and a parent were in court today but they did not make a statement to the court and declined to comment after the sentencing. Simonds sentenced Marble to life in prison without parole and 100 years to life on the five felony counts. On the first day fighting the deadly Northern California wildfire that destroyed the city of Paradise last month, a crew setting a back burn to stop the blaze was suddenly overrun by flames when erratic winds suddenly shifted. One state prison inmate firefighter tried to escape the flames and ran into a barbed wire fence along Rattlesnake Flats Road. Another inmate cleared the fence on the other side of the road, but his gear snagged the barbed wire and he tumbled face-down. Flames ignited his hair, beard and mustache and burned his face and neck. A fire captain nearby was also seriously burned. Those close calls with death were detailed in a report Thursday by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on five serious firefighter injuries that also described harrowing conditions firefighters faced in the so-called Camp Fire that broke out Nov. 8, decimating the town of Paradise, killing at least 86 people and destroying 14,000 homes. Although the firefighters were seriously injured, they were lucky they weren't hurt worse, said Scott McLean, a spokesman for CalFire. "We had several angels over us that day," McLean said. Conditions leading into the fire were exceptionally dry. Typically autumn rains would have fallen by that time of year, but less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain had fallen in seven months. The blaze started around 6:30 a.m. and spread at "incredible speed," consuming 7 square miles (18 square kilometers) an hour at one point, the report said. Driven by wind gusts up to 35 mph (56 kph), it marched 15 miles (24 kilometers) in 12 hours with spot fires blowing a mile (1.6 kilometers) ahead of fire lines. Although fire ripped through the area 10 years earlier, when flames jumped the west fork of the Feather River it entered dense forest that had not burned in recorded history. Treetops were close together and heavy manzanita and oaks below were ripe for burning. By the time it hit Paradise, it was an "urban firestorm" spreading among buildings in a manner the report compared to the allied bombings that razed the city of Hamburg, Germany in World War II and killed tens of thousands of people. Before dawn the following morning, two firefighters preparing to protect homes near Magalia were struck and injured by shrapnel when a 250-gallon (946-liter) propane tank exploded. One firefighter was struck with embers and pieces of a fence and was disoriented as he was knocked to one knee. A fire captain was hit with burning sticks, pine cones and molten aluminum. Those two and the men overcome the day before on Rattlesnake Flat Road were all taken to hospital burn centers for treatment, McLean said. The worst of the injured, the captain overrun in the backfire operation, was just released from a hospital a little more than a week ago. President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was in touch as far back as 2015 with a Russian who offered "political synergy" with the Trump election campaign and proposed a meeting between the candidate and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the special counsel said Friday. Court filings from prosecutors in New York and special counsel Robert Mueller's office lay out previously undisclosed contacts between Trump associates and Russian intermediaries and suggest the Kremlin aimed early on to influence Trump and his campaign by playing to both his political aspirations and his personal business interests. The filings, in cases involving Cohen and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, cap a dramatic week of revelations in Mueller's ongoing investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. They make clear how witnesses previously close to Trump Cohen once declared he'd "take a bullet" for the president have since provided damaging information about him in efforts to come clean to the government and in some cases get lighter prison sentences. One witness, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, provided so much information to prosecutors that Mueller this week said he shouldn't serve any prison time. The interviews with prosecutors have yielded intimate information about episodes under close examination, including possible Russian collusion and hush money payments during the campaign to a porn star and Playboy model who say they had sex with Trump a decade earlier. In one of the filings, Mueller details how Cohen spoke to a Russian who "claimed to be a 'trusted person' in the Russian Federation who could offer the campaign 'political synergy' and 'synergy on a government level.'" The person repeatedly dangled a meeting between Trump and Putin, saying such a meeting could have a "phenomenal" impact "not only in political but in a business dimension as well." That was a reference to a proposed Moscow real estate deal that prosecutors say could have netted Trump's business hundreds of millions of dollars. Cohen admitted last week to lying to Congress by saying discussions about a Trump Tower in Moscow ended in January 2016 when in fact they stretched into that June, well into the U.S. campaign. Cohen told prosecutors he never followed up, though the offer bore echoes of a proposal presented by Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos, who raised the idea to other advisers of leveraging his connections to set up a Putin encounter. In an additional filing Friday evening, prosecutors said Manafort lied to them about his contacts with a Russian associate and Trump administration officials, including in 2018. The court papers say that Manafort initially told prosecutors he didn't have any contact with anyone while they were in the Trump administration. But prosecutors say they recovered "electronic documents" showing his contacts with multiple administration officials. The officials are not identified in the court filings. Manafort, who has pleaded guilty to several counts, violated his plea agreement by then telling "multiple discernible lies" to prosecutors, they said. Prosecutors in Cohen's case said that even though he cooperated in their investigation into the hush money payments to women he nonetheless deserved to spend time in prison. "Cohen did provide information to law enforcement, including information that assisted the Special Counsel's Office," they said. "But Cohen's description of those efforts is overstated in some respects and incomplete in others." Cohen, dubbed Trump's "legal fixer" in the past, also described his work in conjunction with Trump in orchestrating hush money payments to two women adult actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal who said they had sex with Trump. Prosecutors in New York, where Cohen pleaded guilty in August in connection with those payments, said the lawyer "acted in coordination and at the direction" of Trump, suggesting they had implicated him in Cohen's crime. Despite such specific allegations of Trump's actions, the president quickly tweeted after news of the filings: "Totally clears the President. Thank you!" In addition, the filings reveal that Cohen told prosecutors he and Trump discussed a potential meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in 2015, shortly after Trump announced his candidacy for president. In a footnote, special counsel Robert Mueller's team writes that Cohen conferred with Trump "about contacting the Russia government before reaching out to gauge Russia's interest in such a meeting," though it never took place. In meetings with Mueller's team, Cohen "provided information about his own contacts with Russian interests during the campaign and discussions with others in the course of making those contacts," the court documents said. Cohen provided prosecutors with a "detailed account" of his involvement, along with the involvement of others, in efforts during the 2016 presidential campaign to complete a deal to build a Trump Tower Moscow, the documents said. He also provided information about attempts by Russian nationals to reach Trump's campaign, they said. However, in the crimes to which he pleaded guilty in August, he was motivated "by personal greed and repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive ends." Prosecutors said the court's Probation Department estimated that federal sentencing guidelines call for Cohen to serve at least four years in prison. They said that "reflects Cohen's extensive, deliberate and serious criminal conduct." Prosecutors say Cohen "already enjoyed a privileged life," and that "his desire for even greater wealth and influence precipitated an extensive course of criminal conduct." NBC Connecticut is proud to partner with Central Connecticut State University and the Ana Grace Project to support the Love Wins Community Drive. Nelba Marquez-Greene remembers her daughter Ana Grace, one of 20 first graders killed inside Sandy Hook Elementary School, in many ways, including her work through the Ana Grace Project, an organization she created as a tribute to her daughter. The Ana Grace Project partnered with the Consolidated School District of New Britain and CCSU to collect toys, winter clothing, toiletries, and food for New Britain families in need. The drive was all about giving back, and taking a day of sadness and turning it into hope. The community rose to the challenge, with hundreds of hundreds of donations pouring in. This is an amazing community, and we are just so blessed to be here. Everybody working together. This is how love wins, Marquez-Greene said. The food collected at the drive will go to food pantries like Maria's Place, which serves CCSU students in need. Toys will go to parents in New Britain to put under their Christmas tree. The message is to give back to the community and show that love does win, and the receivers of these items today we hope that their hearts will be as full as ours today," said organizer Courtney McDavid. This was the first year of the drive, and organizers plan to continue. Learn more here. Children at hundreds of schools and businesses across Connecticut traded their usual clothes for pajamas Friday to help raise money for children battling cancer at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. Its all part of the eighth annual PJ Day for the Kids. Everyone who participates donates at least $1 and the proceeds benefit the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. Staff there said the money is used toward helping cancer families in need, the clinical research program and the clinical care program. The day was inspired by Charlotte Wesoloskie of Coventry. She was diagnosed with cancer at just 21 days old. When her brother Nick was in second grade, and Charlotte was cancer-free, he wanted to do something to help the other kids still receiving treatment at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. We threw around a couple of ideas and when we landed on pajamas he said Yes, that. Because she had to wear her pajamas like forever. And he said, We should wear our pajamas one day a year to support kids here who have no choice, said mom Tara Wesoloskie, who organizes PJ Day for the Kids. Wesoloskie is also a nurse at Connecticut Childrens. In year one, they raised about $500 at Coventry Grammar School, she said. Since then, its grown exponentially. Last year they raised close to $200,000. There are more than 300 schools taking part along with countless businesses including more than 130 Dunkin Donuts locations, Aetna and more. The day is even recognized by the State of Connecticut. These are real children with real names who come here and we are able to see the impact for them, Wesoloskie said. Students at East Lyme Public Schools are among the thousands of kids who took part. It feels pretty great to know youre a little part of it, said eighth grader Chloe Vaglio. Even though youre just one person you can help more than one person whos fighting. Superintendent Jeffrey Newton said the district raised close to $4,000 in the schools, alone. That number does not include donations families could have made online. Students are happy being cozy for the day can make a difference. It makes you feel good inside that you are just helping people in need, said eighth grader Carter Bonura. Firefighters in Southeast Texas have rescued more than 100 snakes from a reptile-filled home that caught fire over the weekend. Authorities say a Christmas tree may have sparked the blaze Saturday near Conroe, about 40 miles north of Houston. Authorities say that when firefighters arrived, they discovered a second-floor bedroom full of snakes and lizards. Firefighters from Caney Creek and other responders carefully brought the snakes outside to safety, though authorities say "a couple" lizards died in the fire. Houston TV station KTRK reports that the homeowners weren't at the house at the time of the fire. What to Know Dec. 15 and 16, 2018 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $7.50 Have that drawer, or the under-the-bed box, where you stash the items you purchase throughout the year, those perfect gifts for your nearest/dearest? If only we were all as forward-thinking and time-efficient as those rare souls who think months ahead, and stock up on person-fitting presents, long before December arrives. So it's a happy thing that Southern California is home to so many talented makers, those creative jewelers and clothiers and soap pros and paper artists and everyone who can take material and make it into something great, beautiful, and useful. Happy because so many great giftables are readily at hand, even close to Christmas. For dozens (and dozens) of those talented makers will be at Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16 when Unique Markets pops up, for two days, at the salty-breezy setting. Over 150 purveyors of pretty purses, animal accessories, headwear, grooming essentials, baby-cute gewgaws, teas, home goods, and more x 10 will be in the house. Er, pier. And, yes, do keep "10" in mind, for it's the 10th anniversary of this market, making the mid-December merriment even more merry. There's a gift, too, for even buying a $7.50 ticket: Prepare to swagger out with an "artist-edition" Santa Monica tote, a free thank-you for attending. DJs, a DIY area, a glamp-worthy tented lounge, and a photobooth round out the non-shoppy portion of the party. No sweat, honestly, if you haven't been browsing, here and there, for the people in your world, all year long. But if you want to treat them to a sweet package or two, come Christmas, best step it up, and consider stepping for Santa Monica Pier. President Donald Trump directed former lawyer Michael Cohen to make hush-money payments to two women during the presidential campaign despite knowing it was wrong, Cohen said in his first interview to air after being sentenced to prison for crimes that included his part in the scheme. Cohen made the allegation in an interview with ABC that aired Friday, saying Trump was "very concerned" about how their stories of alleged affairs with him "would affect the election." He also said he was angry at himself for committing crimes but said, "I will not be the villain of [Trump's] story." Cohen said that "nothing at the Trump organization was ever done unless it was run through Mr. Trump," adding that Trump directed him to make the payments, including one made to Playboy model Karen McDougal. "He directed me to make the payments, he directed me to become involved in these matters including the one with McDougal, which was really between him and David Pecker, and then David Pecker's counsel," Cohen said. "I just reviewed the documents in order to protect him. I gave loyalty to someone who, truthfully, does not deserve loyalty." Pecker is the publisher of the National Enquirer. Earlier this week, the parent company of magazines including the National Enquirer admitted to the journalistically dubious practice known as "catch-and-kill" in order to help Trump become president. Federal prosecutors revealed Wednesday they had agreed not to prosecute American Media Inc. for secretly assisting Trump's campaign by paying $150,000 to McDougal for the rights to her story about the alleged affair, which Trump has denied. The company then intentionally suppressed McDougal's story until after the election. Cohen's allegation that Trump knew of the payments and knew they were wrong contradicts the president's statements this week in a Fox News interview that he "never directed" Cohen, his longtime lawyer, to break the law. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Friday that reporters were "giving credence to a convicted criminal." When asked specifically about Cohen's claims that Trump had directed Cohen to make the payments, Gidley said: "I understand that. He's a self-admitted liar. You guys all know that and for him to say, 'I'm going to start I'm going to stop lying starting now,' is somewhat silly." On Thursday, a source confirmed to NBC News that Trump was in the room with Cohen and Pecker when they discussed in August 2015 how Pecker could counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women. Cohen, in the interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, said the point of those payments was to help Trump and his campaign. "You have to remember at what point in time this matter came about. Two weeks or so before the election, post-Billy Bush comments," Cohen said, referring to the leaked "Access Hollywood" tape where Trump was heard talking about grabbing women by their private parts. "So, yes, he was very concerned about how this would affect the election." Cohen, 52, pleaded guilty in August to evading $1.4 million in taxes related to his personal businesses. In the part of the case with greater political repercussions, he also admitted breaking campaign finance laws in arranging payments in the waning days of the 2016 election to porn star Stormy Daniels and McDougal, both of whom said they had sexual encounters with Trump, which the president denies. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison this week. Asked why he should believed, Cohen cited special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation finding that the information he provided has been credible. Theres a substantial amount of information that they possessed that corroborates the fact that I am telling the truth, he said. Speaking of Trump, Cohen said: "He knows the truth. I know the truth. Others know the truth. And here is the truth -- people of the United States of America, people of the world, don't believe what he is saying. The man doesn't tell the truth. And it is sad that I should take responsibility for his dirty deeds." When it comes to a 2020 presidential run, Beto O'Rourke is still playing hard to get -- even as the buzz around him intensifies. The three-term Democratic congressman murmured "No decision. No decision on that," when pressed by an attendee during a town hall Friday in his native El Paso who playfully demanded: "You're going to run for president, right?" A onetime punk rocker, O'Rourke became a political star in national liberal circles, raised $80-plus million and came within three percentage points of upsetting Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas in nearly a quarter century. The 46-year-old is giving up his House seat and has said he'll wait until he finishes his term Jan. 3 before making up his mind on 2020. Amid his indecision, O'Rourke's name has continued to rise among top potential Democratic presidential candidates -- even climbing to at or near the top in some opinion polls. Later asked at the town hall about the "immense pressure" the eventual Democratic presidential nominee competing with President Donald Trump and his combative campaigning style could face, O'Rourke said it was an "interesting, speculative question." "Whoever is running may very well be running against somebody who has not the slightest respect for our norms, our traditions, civility, dignity, decency and public life," O'Rourke said. "Where you can say anything that you want to from the highest perch of power in this land." He continued of 2020: "This is the mother of all tests for this democracy and whether we can run a campaign, have candidates at all levels from schoolboard to the White House who are willing to focus on issues, on our potential, on our promise, on the future instead of our fears, instead of attacking one another personally, instead of going for the most base impulse and instincts among us." O'Rourke, whose populist brand of optimism was a hit with many Texas voters, said he had planned to make Friday his last day in Congress and spend it packing up his belongings and heading back to Texas. Instead, though, he's planning to return to Capitol Hill next week for discussions on passing federal spending bills "because the government will run out of money on Dec. 21" unless Congress acts. Trump has vowed to help force a government shutdown unless funding to expand the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is approved -- something O'Rourke calls inhumane and ineffective. "I will vote against any budget proposal that comes forward that adds to the already 600 miles of walls and fencing and physical barriers that we have in this country," he said. "Not only is it a waste of your money at a time that we are $21 trillion in debt, but we are projected to add $1 trillion in deficit spending to that debt just in this next fiscal year." O'Rourke crossed into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, later Friday and headed to an immigration shelter to mingle with men, women and children, mostly from Central America, who want to claim asylum in the United States because they are fleeing violence or political persecution back home. Most said they have been forced to wait days -- and assigned numbers scribbled on their arms -- before being allowed to reach border crossings and formally make such claims. "We're here to understand your story and to see how we can help you seek asylum in our country," O'Rourke said in Spanish to a group from Guatemala. Advocates O'Rourke spoke to at the shelter accused the U.S. of effectively "rationing asylum," arguing that authorities are deliberately slow-playing the process. They say families sometimes give up waiting and try to cross illegally, only to be captured and face potential criminal charges. Speaking to reporters upon returning to El Paso, O'Rourke repeated that he wasn't ready to make a 2020 decision, noting that he didn't expect presidential race talk to heat up so far from the election. He added that he may have a better idea of his next move after "everything settles," perhaps after the end of the year. On Saturday, O'Rourke is touring Tornillo, the tent city about 30 miles outside El Paso, where 2,300 immigrant teens are being held at what began as an emergency shelter but now is taking on a permanent feel -- costing taxpayers up to $1,200 per child, per day. What to Know A good Samaritan heard the screams of an 11-year-old girl and stopped a kidnapping in progress, law enforcement sources said The girl was walking in Ridgewood when a man threw her into his car, the sources said The good Samaritan also held the man in place until police arrived, police say A good Samaritan stopped a man who allegedly threw an 11-year-old girl into his car on Saturday and tried to kidnap her in Queens, law enforcement sources said. The girl was walking to a weekend school around 7:50 a.m. when Relin Estrada, 40, allegedly started calling after her from his Honda Civic near Centre Street and Seneca Avenue in Ridgewood, the sources told NBC 4 New York. The girl felt uncomfortable and tried to run away, but Estrada allegedly followed her in his car, blocked her with it, jumped out, grabbed her and threw her into the vehicle, according to sources. Thats when Alexandar Salas heard the girls screams and rushed out to help. "I heard her screaming, 'Help, help!'" Salas said. "And when I told him to get off of her he yelled back, 'Who are you, a superhero?'" Salas confronted Estrada and the girl managed to escape, according to sources. Then he grabbed Estrada and held him until police arrived at the scene, sources said. Officers rescued the girl and arrested Estrada. Estrada faces charges including kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, criminal possession of a weapon and being a sex offender and failing to report a change of address. It's not clear whether he has an attorney. Police say Erasta has been arrested 13 times before. As he considers running for president, Joe Biden is talking with friends and longtime supporters about whether, at 76, he's too old to seek the White House, according to several sources who have spoken with the former Democratic vice president. The discussions suggest Biden is aware that his age may be the biggest hurdle to launching another bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in an era when many in the party yearn for a new generation of leadership. He would be the oldest person to ever be elected president. Past and current advisers to Biden have held frequent conversations about options to alleviate concerns about age, including teaming him with a younger running mate. One option that has been floated, according to a source with knowledge of the talks, is outgoing Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who at 46 has become the subject of intense 2020 speculation after nearly beating GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Representatives for Biden and O'Rourke declined to comment for this story. At a town hall Friday in El Paso, Texas, O'Rourke said he hadn't made a decision about whether to seek the presidency. The question of age has roiled Democratic politics since the midterms. At 78, Rep. Nancy Pelosi is on her way to regaining the House speaker's gavel but only after she agreed with mostly younger lawmakers to serve in the position for no more than four years. Other potential presidential contenders, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, 69, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 77, and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 76, face the prospect of competing against Democrats who are decades younger. The younger set of the 2020 class includes Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota along with Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana and Obama housing secretary Julian Castro. They're all in their 40s and 50s. Iowa Democratic activist Dale Todd, who was an early backer of Barack Obama in 2007, said he has misgivings about potential candidates in their 70s, despite their experience. "Can you mobilize younger voters with older candidates? Bernie showed us that you can, but can you effectively mobilize a winning coalition with an older candidate? That is our conundrum, and I would suggest you probably can't," said Todd, who has lent early advice to Booker. "We want freshness coupled with experience; we also want energy and passion in our candidates." Ronald Reagan was 73 when he won the White House a second time, making him the oldest person to win a presidential election. Donald Trump was 70 when he won the presidency in 2016. Biden is expected to decide in January or February whether to seek the White House. He has done little to tamp down talk that his answer may be yes. He touts his age as a sign of experience, pointing to 36 years in the Senate, eight years as vice president and a career deeply enmeshed in domestic, international and military policy. At an event in Montana this month, Biden described himself as "the most qualified person in the country to be president." "The issues we face as a country today are the issues that have been in my wheelhouse, that I've worked on my whole life," he said. Speaking Thursday at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Biden spoke of a promise he made to his dying son that he wouldn't withdraw from the world. And yet, Biden has also said he could not re-enter the grueling race for the presidency unless he feels his family, still dealing with Beau Biden's 2015 death, is fully on board. The Utah event was expected to be Biden's last public appearance of the year. He'll spend the coming weeks deliberating with family over his next steps, according to multiple people familiar with his thinking. They requested anonymity because Biden is still weighing his options. Despite questions about age, it's hard to argue Biden is short on energy or passion. In the span of just 24 hours this month, he jetted from an appearance in San Francisco back to his home in Delaware and back to California again. In the days leading up to the midterms, he followed a robust schedule intended in part to test his stamina for a national campaign. In late October, he was in three states Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri over the course of one day. As an indie dance crossover artist from Germany, Marius Lauber never expected to have so much success. Yet, as Roosevelt, he's selling out just about every stop on his U.S. tour, from New York City's Music Hall of Williamsburg to San Diego's Soda Bar, where he'll perform on Sunday, Dec. 16. "Its very surreal; you have to get your head around actually being successful," Lauber told me over the phone earlier this month. "It's such a different world than touring here in Europe.... You feel like youre part of something," the buzzing Cologne-based producer and songwriter added. As is often the case, Lauber wasn't really focused on making a career out of music when he first started. He was largely just experimenting, and he "didn't really care too much at the beginning." "Around the release of the 'Elliot' EP [in 2013], I realized there was a worldwide interest in my music. From then on, I just tried to make it possible to tour worldwide," he said. Not only does Lauber have the benefit of being from one of the most innovative countries in the world for electronic dance music, but he also has a more traditional songwriting sensibility that he's garnered from years of playing in indie bands. "Im coming more from the indie and guitar world.... When I was 15, 16, 17 [years old], I played in more like indie bands. Some of them had synthesizers. It was only when I moved to Cologne -- that was the moment I really got into dance music. For a while, I DJ'd at a techno party, and at some point, I mixed my indie background with my dance background," Lauber said. From there, he blended his production skills with his songwriting skills, creating an organic feeling electronic dance sound that doesn't forsake melody or groove. "It's kind of a hybrid of the two worlds. I sample drums a lot and use a lot of software synthesizers, but I also have a collection of vintage synthesizers and guitars," he said. "I produce everything by myself. Its me in the studio by myself, sitting in the studio by myself. I want to continue doing that and not give it away [to other collaborators]," Lauber added. It's ironic that some of today's most accessible music is borne out of such an individualized creative process, but there's an accessibility factor on both ends. "A kid can do his own album in his room alone. Some people say its a bad thing, but for me, thats how I started.... For a lot of people, dance music is the easiest to access [both as a consumer and as a budding artist]," he said. As a result, there's quite a bit of innovation that's happening outside of major music festivals and inside home production studios. "Theres just a lot of electronic music happening at the moment.... Functional techno music is kind of gone, and now its more about crossover things, blending different genres into it. Now, everyones looking over their own horizon to find something more interesting. Ive been digging more electronic music in the last one or two years than I normally would have. [Electronic music] is going through a certain change, and people are longing for something more weird, some new experiences," Lauber said. And just because those weird, new experiences might involve some escapism, that doesn't mean that escapism has to be devoid of imagination. "I used to have this secret Myspace page, and I was putting out any tracks that I recorded and that [Roosevelt] was just my name. A good friend of mine was in an exchange program and he was in Roosevelt, Utah, and it just felt so far away and that kind of spoke to me: I always wanted to have something connected to escapism, something that felt far away, not like any certain scene or the city Im living in -- a place thats only there in your imagination somehow," Lauber added. Roosevelt headlines Soda Bar on Sunday, Dec. 16. The show is sold out, but you can maybe get tickets here. Rutger Ansley Rosenborg has been an Associate Editor at NBC SoundDiego since 2016. Find out more here, or contact him here. The jury on Thursday convicted 39-year-old Craig Alan Castaneda of Imperial Beach, California, after a three-day trial. An undercover FBI agent posted an ad on Craigslist in April 2015 posing as a mother seeking a "teacher" for her 9-year-old daughter. Prosecutors say Castaneda responded, describing his prior experience molesting children, including one as young as 4. Castaneda continued to correspond with the undercover agent for several weeks and made plans to travel to Atlanta. In one of the last messages before boarding a plane, he instructed the "mother" to buy sex toys and lubricant. FBI agents arrested Castaneda when he arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 2, 2015. Deputies were called to Santana High School in Santee Friday morning to investigate an alleged threat of violence, the sheriffs department confirmed. San Diego County Sheriffs Department (SDSO) Lt. Karla Menzies said a parent called 911 at around 11 a.m. to report that her daughter had received some sort of message saying someone had threatened to shoot up the school. As of 11:10 a.m., the school was not on lockdown as deputies headed to the campus. By 11:20 a.m., the SDSO said deputies had cleared the campus. Seventeen years ago, Santana High School was the scene of a mass shooting. On March 5, 2001, Santana High School freshman Charles Andy Williams, 15, opened fire at the school, killing two students Brian Zuckor, 14, and Randy Gordon, 17 and wounding 13 others. Friday also marked the 6th anniversary of the horrific mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 20 first-graders and six teachers dead. A bomb threat Friday morning forced the evacuation of that school. Police there said the threat was not believed to be credible but officials took it seriously. Menzies said a school resource officer would continue to investigate Friday's incident at Santana High School. NBC 7 reached out to Grossmont Union High School District spokesperson Catherine Martin for additional details. Martin said deputies had investigated and "deemed the threat unfounded." What to Know According to NBC4 meteorologist Anthony Yanez, rain amount ranged from .5'' to nearly 4'' with snow at 6'' and counting. Rain caused numerous accidents and backups on freeways, heavy snow forced the closure of Interstate 5. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in Trabuco Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains south of Los Angeles and Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. Authorities kept a worried eye Friday on fire-scarred Southern California hillsides after a storm brought flooding fears and prompted evacuation orders for hundreds of homes. The second storm in a week dropped record-breaking rainfall on a parched Los Angeles Thursday, jamming traffic on Southern California highways and sending an airliner skidding off a runway, but no major injuries were reported. A mudslide shut down Pacific Coast Highway and surrounding roads in and around Malibu neighborhoods charred by last month's massive fire that destroyed hundreds of homes. Kirby Kotler and his neighbors spent days before the storm stacking 18,000 sandbags behind their homes along the highway. But when heavy rains arrived, mud, water and rocks blasted through the bags and across their properties. Kotler, who wielded water hoses to beat back the flames in November, used a tractor to keep the debris from entering his home. "Saving my house once again," said Kotler, 57, a lifelong Malibu resident. "I'm more than a little concerned. If we get another blast of heavy rain there'll be no stopping the hill from coming down." Malibu officials reported no injuries and no major property damage. At Hollywood Burbank Airport, about 15 miles (33 kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles, nobody was hurt when a Southwest Airlines plane from Oakland skidded off a wet runway as it landed. The plane came to a stop in a graded area designed to slow aircraft that overshoot the runway, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Palmer said he was prepared to tuck into an emergency posture while his unflappable co-worker continued writing emails during the rough landing. Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California sorely need rainfall. Virtually the entire region is experiencing drought conditions, with portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and areas along the Mexican border in extreme drought. The storm provided a big boost in and around Los Angeles. According to NBC4 meteorologist Anthony Yanez, rain amounts ranged from half an inch to nearly 4 inches with snow at 6 inches and counting. Normal monthly rainfall for December is about 2.33 inches. While rain caused numerous accidents and backups on LA-area freeways, heavy snow forced the closure of Interstate 5 in the Grapevine area between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. The hours-long shutdown along the key north-south route caused backups for miles. Motorists were urged to use caution on mountain passes, where up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow was predicted at higher elevations. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for hundreds of homes in Trabuco Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains south of Los Angeles and Lake Elsinore neighborhoods in Riverside County. Both were burned in another massive wildfire earlier this year. Video showed a churning, muddy torrent full of downed trees taking down a bridge guardrail. In Orange County, flooding closed several schools. Floodwaters also submerged several cars in Costa Mesa and rain partially collapsed the roof of a commercial building in Irvine but no injuries were reported. Other areas saw foot-deep mud or water. In San Diego County, flooding forced hundreds to evacuate from a temporary homeless shelter in the East Village as rain water inundated tents and swamped dozens of portable outdoor bathrooms. A shelter resident told NBC San Diego that the little he had of personal belongings were lost in the flood. "I served two years in the Army. Im a vet. Im strong. Thats the way I was trained. I will move on from this," he told the station. A portion of southbound State Route 170 in Los Angeles was shut down after mud flowed onto the roadway. Firefighters rescued motorists from cars stuck in a flooded intersection in the city's North Hollywood area. East of Los Angeles, a 13-car crash snarled the morning commute for several hours on a rainy freeway near Moreno Valley but caused only one minor injury, authorities said. Firefighters also rescued a man from the flood-swollen Los Angeles River in suburban La Habra. Storm waters in the concrete flood-control channel have swept away people in previous years. Their faces covered in black soot, three adults safely rescued after several days in an inactive West Virginia coal mine were mobbed by loved ones in a teary reunion, then they thanked the crews that got them out. The three walked out of an ambulance at a fire hall in Whitesville to the screams of relatives for a brief reunion Wednesday night before being taken to a hospital. Cody Beverly told news outlets the four-day experience inside Elk Run Coal's Rock House Powellton mine near Clear Creek "was terrible." "I'm with my family now. I'm fine," he said. Beverly later told NBC News "Anybody who was involved in searching for us, I just want to thank you with everything inside of me," he said. "This is the biggest lesson I've ever learned in my life. This is a life-changing experience for me." "We appreciate every one of you guys," said Kayla Williams, who also was among those rescued. Williams' father, Randall Williams, said she had gone into the mine in search of copper. People in the region do "whatever they can do to make money if they ain't got a job," Randall Williams told CBS News. Raleigh County Prosecutor Kristen Keller said Thursday the sheriff's office is conducting a criminal investigation into the latest incident. She said the two offices began discussing potential charges when the search began Sunday. Raleigh County Sheriff Scott Van Meter said Thursday the criminal investigation will focus on why the adults were in the mine and find out "what happened." Van Meter hadn't seen Randall Williams' comments but said people trying to steal copper from West Virginia mines is "nothing new." Late last month crews abandoned their search at another West Virginia mine for a missing man suspected of stealing copper. Two other men who were arrested indicated the third man had gone inside a mine, but the search was called off after a team encountered unsafe conditions. And earlier this month two men were arrested on charges that they broke into another mine in Boone County. Investigators said they, too, were looking for copper. "It is a disturbing trend with people entering abandoned mines to steal copper wiring," said Boone County Chief Deputy Chad Barker. "I can't stress how dangerous this idea is and it's only a matter of time before we get a less desirable ending." Abandoned coal mines contain toxic levels of gas, collapsing roofs, flooding, and other dangers may exist. "When operations cease and a mine is sealed, conditions can deteriorate very quickly," said Eugene White, director of the West Virginia Office of Miner's Health, Safety and Training. The latest search effort had prompted Gov. Jim Justice to issue a plea for people to stay away from nonworking mines. According to the mine safety office, coal has not been mined at the Rock House Powellton mine for two years. It is among about 120 mines on "approved inactive" status in the state, meaning they could be reactivated at some point, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Jake Glance said in an email. Inactive mines are not permanently sealed but operators are required to secure the portals to prevent entry, he said. "So in order for people to get in the mines they have to trespass and then somehow vandalize the existing barricade to gain entry," he said. Mines that stopped operating prior to August 1977 are considered to be abandoned. There is no requirement for operators to seal those mines, since in many cases the companies no longer exist. A state Abandoned Mine Lands program, funded by fees on coal production, pays for projects such as sealing abandoned mine portals. The sheriff's office had identified those rescued Wednesday as Beverly, 21, of Dorothy; Kayla Williams, 25, of Artie; and Erica Treadway, 31, of Pax. They had been missing since Saturday. A fourth person, Eddie Williams, 43, of Artie, walked out of the mine Monday. An abandoned ATV the four were believed to be riding was found near the mine's entrance. Williams' aunt, Sandra Scarbro of Clear Creek, told The Register-Herald of Beckley, "We got our Christmas miracle. All we really know is she's alive, and we're so thankful that she's out and that they're all out. We appreciate everybody in the community, the governor and rescuers, everything everybody has done." Crews had used fans to move fresh air into the mine while pumps cleared some standing water inside the mine but the water levels remained too high and hampered search efforts. "My shoes were soaked, and I couldn't get my feet warm," Treadway said as she was being placed on an ambulance stretcher. A man who spray painted messages of hate on a Virginia church and synagogue, including on the first night of Passover, was sentenced Friday to nearly two years in prison. Dylan M. Mahone of Annandale, Virginia, was ordered to spend 21 months in prison and pay restitution of nearly $7,000 for damage. Mahone, then 20, was unrepentant when he was arrested for the crimes he committed in March and April 2017. After leaving swastikas, anti-LGBT messages and anti-Muslim messages at a community college, church and synagogue, he said he would do it all again. Things would be much easier "if Hitler wasn't right," police say Mahone said. When asked if he had any message for the victims, he replied, "Heil Hitler. No regrets." Mahone's attorney asked for counseling for his client, and no jail time. The crimes badly rattled two faith communities. Rev. David Lindsey at Little River United Church of Christ said some members didn't return after the vandalism. "We do have some folks that just aren't around anymore. We have some folks that took breaks for six, seven months, out of fear for their children's safety," he said. Judge Jan Brodie spoke sharply to Mahone on Friday. "I still don't hear an apology from you to the people you have harmed," she said. "I can rehabilitate people on drugs. I don't know that I can rehabilitate people who hate," the judge continued. "That requires a change of heart. That's something you have to work through yourself." In addition to the prison sentence, Mahone faces nearly two decades of suspended prison time that could be imposed if he is released and commits similar crimes. Anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) overnight on the first night of Passover. A nearby church was targeted with hateful vandalism the same night. "Within 48 hours with the help of our community we arrested the offender in this horrific hate crime event, Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler said. Police arrested Mahone at his Annandale home. He also posted anti-Semitic flyers at Northern Virginia Community College in March, gluing the flyers to tables and chairs. He was a student at the school. All of the incidents occurred within about a mile of Mahone's home. Among the hateful messages at the JCCNV on Little River Turnpike, "Hitler was right" was spray painted across an entrance. A swastika and an "SS" symbol were spray painted onto exterior walls. The nearby Little River United Church of Christ also was vandalized, with swastikas, anti-LGBTQ messages and anti-Muslim signs. "Defend America; No Muslims," was written across the front door. Police identified Mahone as a suspect through surveillance video and a Twitter account called Aryan Underground on which photos of the flyers at the community college were posted. Mahone's phone number was linked to the Twitter handle. Among the items police found in his home were spray paint and clothing seen in the surveillance video. The video shows Mahone acted alone, police said. He was charged in Fairfax County with two counts each of felony destruction of property, placing a swastika on religious property with the intent to intimidate and wearing a mask in public to conceal his identity. Northern Virginia Community College Police charged him with felony destruction of property and wearing a mask to conceal his identity. Members of the community rallied to clean up the graffiti. "Neighbors have literally rolled up their sleeves to clean windows for faith communities that are not even their own," Lindsey, the pastor, said. What to Know Migrant caravans have taken place regularly over the years, they've received attention this year after opposition from Trump Many migrants rejected Mexico's offer to stay and receive shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs, opting to continue on On Friday, the Pentagon approved a request for additional troops at the southern border Hundreds of Mexican federal officers carrying plastic shields blocked a Central American caravan from advancing toward the United States on Saturday, after a group of several thousand migrants turned down the chance to apply for refugee status and obtain a Mexican offer of benefits. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has announced what he called the "You are at home" plan, offering shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to Central Americans in Chiapas and Oaxaca states if migrants apply, calling it a first step toward permanent refugee status. Authorities said more than 1,700 had already applied for refugee status. But a standoff unfolded as federal police officers blocked the highway, saying there was an operation underway to stop the caravan. Thousands of migrants waited to advance, vowing to continue their long trek toward the U.S. border. At a meeting brokered by Mexico's National Human Rights Commission, police said they would reopen the highway and only wanted an opportunity for federal authorities to explain the proposal to migrants who had rejected it the previous evening. Migrants countered that the middle of a highway was no place to negotiate and said they wanted to at least arrive safely to Mexico City to discuss the topic with authorities and Mexican lawmakers. They agreed to relay information back to their respective sides and said they would reconvene. Orbelina Orellana, a migrant from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, said she and her husband left three children behind and had decided to continue north one way or another. "Our destiny is to get to the border," Orellana said. She was suspicious of the government's proposal and said that some Hondurans who had applied for legal status had already been sent back. Her claims could not be verified, but migrants' representatives in the talks asked the Mexican government to provide a list of anyone who had been forced to return. The standoff comes after one of the caravan's longest days of walking and hanging from passing trucks on a 60-mile (100 kilometer) journey to the city of Arriaga. The bulk of the migrants were boisterous Friday evening in their refusal to accept anything less than safe passage to the U.S. border. "Thank you!" they yelled as they voted to reject the offer in a show of hands. They then added: "No, we're heading north!" Sitting at the edge of the edge of the town square, 58-year-old Oscar Sosa of San Pedro Sula, Honduras concurred. "Our goal is not to remain in Mexico," Sosa said. "Our goal is to make it to the (U.S). We want passage, that's all." Still 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the nearest U.S. border crossing at McAllen, Texas, the journey could be twice as long if the group of some 4,000 migrants heads for the Tijuana-San Diego frontier, as another caravan did earlier this year. Only about 200 in that group made it to the border. While such migrant caravans have taken place regularly over the years, passing largely unnoticed, they have received widespread attention this year after fierce opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump. On Friday, the Pentagon approved a request for additional troops at the southern border, likely to total several hundred, to help the U.S. Border Patrol as Trump seeks to transform concerns about immigration and the caravan into electoral gains in the Nov. 6 midterms. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis signed off on the request for help from the Department of Homeland Security and authorized the military staff to work out details such as the size, composition and estimated cost of the deployments, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss planning that has not yet been publicly announced. Stoking fears about the caravan and illegal immigration to rally his Republican base, the president insinuated that gang members and "Middle Easterners" are mixed in with the group, though he later acknowledged there was no proof of that. At a church in Arriaga that opened its grounds to women and children Friday, Ana Griselda Hernandez, 44, of Mapala, Honduras, said she and two friends traveling with children had decided to pay for a bus ride from Pijijiapan, because the 4-year-old and 5-year-old would have never covered the 60-mile distance. "It's difficult because they walk very slowly," she said. She pointed out scabbed-over blisters on her feet, a testament to the fact they had walked or hitched rides since leaving their country. The caravan is now trying to strike out for Tapanatepec, about 29 miles (46 kilometers) away. Up until now, Mexico's government has allowed the migrants to make their way on foot, but has not provided them with food, shelter or bathrooms, reserving any aid for those who turn themselves in. Police have also been ejecting paid migrant passengers off buses, enforcing an obscure road insurance regulation to make it tougher for them to travel that way. On Friday, authorities were cracking down on smaller groups trying to catch up with the main caravan, detaining about 300 Hondurans and Guatemalans who crossed the Mexico border illegally, said an official with the national immigration authority. Migrants, who enter Mexico illegally every day, usually ride in smugglers' trucks or buses, or walk at night to avoid detection. The fact that the group of about 300 stragglers was walking in broad daylight suggests they were adopting the tactics of the main caravan, which is large enough to be out in the open without fear of mass detention. However, it now appears such smaller groups will be picked off by immigration authorities, keeping them from swelling the caravan's ranks. On Friday evening, Irineo Mujica, whose organization People without Borders is supporting the caravan, accused Mexican immigration agents of harassment and urged migrants to travel closely together. "They are terrorizing us," he said. Associated Press writers Mark Stevenson and Peter Orsi contributed to this report. What to Know A security guard at the Airbnb where Stefaniak had been staying, Bismark Espinosa Martinez, has been arrested in connection with the case. Family members of a Miami woman whose body was found when she didnt return from a vacation in Costa Rica now say they believe more people were involved in her death. On a Facebook page that was created during the search for 36-year-old Carla Stefaniak, who had failed to return from a trip for her birthday, family members say sources close to the investigation have told them forensic results have investigators believing more people were involved. In fact, the doubt extends to that there may be up 3 or 4 possible people involved, the family wrote in a message Thursday night. We have been saying this since day 1. This was organized by more than one person as soon as Carla booked the place. A security guard at the Airbnb where Stefaniak had been staying, Bismark Espinosa Martinez, has been arrested in connection with the case. Sister station Telemundo 51 reached out to officials in Costa Rica, who said information on the case is "confidential." Stefaniak was traveling with her sister-in-law when she was last heard from by her family on Nov. 27; she was scheduled to fly home the next day. While her sister-in-law flew home early, Stefaniak stayed but told friends it was pretty sketchy at the resort. A partially buried body was found in the woods near that resort close to a week later, which was identified by Stefaniaks father. An autopsy revealed that Stefaniak suffered a blunt force wound to the head and cuts on the neck and arms. Family members brought Stefaniaks ashes back to Tampa, where she lived after moving to America in 2000 from her native Venezuela for 12 years before moving to South Florida. Luxury fashion company Prada has pulled a set of monkey trinkets from its lower Manhattan store amid outcry that the items depict blackface. In a statement Friday, Prada said that the images have been removed from the windows of its flagship in Soho and that it "abhors racist imagery." But it added that the items -- which are part of the brand's Pradamalia line and depict a monkey with a black face and bright red lips -- are "certainly not blackface." "Prada Group never had the intention of offending anyone and we abhor all forms of racism and racist imagery," the company concluded in its statement. "In this interest we will withdraw the characters in question from display and circulation." Backlash to the items grew quickly after Chinyere Ezie, an attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights, posted to Facebook that the items bore a resemblance to blackface imagery used in Jim Crow-era minstrel shows and illustrations. "I dont make a lot of public posts, but right now Im shaking with anger," she wrote. She was in such disbelief that she sent the photos to family and friends to verify what she was seeing. "I messaged my mother of all people, 'Hey, is this blackface?'" she said. "Everyone who saw those images was as shocked as I was." Ezrie added that when she confronted store workers, they told her "a black employee had previously complained about blackface at Prada, but he didn't work there anymore." Since Ezie's post Thursday, thousands of people have tweeted using the hashtag #BoycottPrada. Groups have also begun picketing outside the store. "That's unacceptable," said Brittany Cooper, a passerby in the area. "That's blatantly obvious that's blackface." "Prada is trash for this," said Althalie Paynting. "They know better. We all know better. I'm a white person; we know better." Ezie also was unmoved by Prada's explanation and apology. "That sounds no more realistic than people who say Confederate flags are about southern heritage," she said. "We have an obligation to be educated about historical legacies of racism." New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, also a candidate for public advocate, has also called on the store to donate proceeds to anti-bigotry groups. "The question is who the hell approved this," he said. "They have to apologize. They need to come out and say we fucked up." Top Tri-State News Photos A World War II veteran in New Hampshire who's been waiting more than seven decades for his Purple Heart was finally awarded his medal Friday. The story of 94-year-old Cpl. Francis Byrne, of Manchester, has made headlines around the world. "Fran, you are an exceptional member of the greatest generation," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen as she kicked off Friday's ceremony at Eliot Hospital. Byrne stood up from his wheelchair as officials with the United States Army pinned a Purple Heart to his uniform while the crowd erupted in cheers. "I can't believe it, it's so overwhelming," Byrne said. "It's something you can't really imagine. I never thought it would really come through." Byrne enlisted when he was 18 years old. He landed on Omaha Beach at Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1944, he was injured in the line of duty in Belgium when he was hit by shrapnel from a German landmine. "The lieutenant who was going to write him up for his Purple Heart was killed the next day and so it's taken this long to get that recognition that he so deserves," said Shaheen who helped get Byrne his medal. Byrne is battling terminal cancer and when doctors recently gave him just months to live, he worried he'd never be able to fill the empty spot in his medal display case. "He's a true example for the rest of us in the military to follow," said David Mikolaities, the Adjunct General of the New Hampshire National Guard. Byrne is described as a true American hero who has shown patience and gratitude. And even in his moment to shine a humble man who honors his brothers who never came home. "Like I have always said, we left the heroes over there," Byrne said during his ceremony. When Byrne was asked what he plans to do next, he responded by saying, he'd put his Purple Heart in his display case on his wall and "relax." A person is dead after two vehicles crashed, causing a fire in Spencer, Massachusetts, a source told the NBC10 Boston Investigators. Cole Victor, 25, of Spencer, was killed in what fire officials are calling a "very serious" crash and vehicle fire on Route 49 shortly before 10 p.m. His passenger, 23-year-old Toni Doldo, of Spencer was transported to an area hospital. The driver of the other car, 40-year-old Erik Anderson, also of Spencer, was also transported to a hospital. Both Doldo and Anderson are described as having "serious" injuries. Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation were on the scene blocking access to the crash site, which was closed to traffic for nearly five hours. The Leicester Fire Department said crews from that town were responding to cover Spencer's fire station. The crash remains under investigation as of early Saturday morning. DANBURY Uncertain about how a company will provide health care in the area, Sharon residents have spoken out against a proposal to merge two hospital networks in western Connecticut and the Hudson Valley. Under the merger, a new company would oversee the Danbury-based Western Connecticut Health Network and Hudson Valley-based Health Quest Systems, creating a $2.4 billion medical system to serve 1.5 million people in New York and western Connecticut. Under the proposal, Danbury, Norwalk and New Milford hospitals would join forces with Health Quests four hospitals, including Sharon Hospital, which it acquired last year. Its other hospitals are in Poughkeepsie, Carmel and Rhinebeck, N.Y. But residents attending a public hearing last week said Health Quest has already reneged on its word, not even a year into its three-year agreement when it announced Sharon Hospital was closing its maternity unit and then giving conflicting explanations about what would happen. Residents said this created mistrust in Health Quest and they asked the state to hold off on approving the merger until Health Quest reveals how they will continue to provide services. Health Quest Services President Robert Friedberg said the hospital always intended to offer maternity services. But challenges arose when Sharon OB announced it was leaving the network, causing Health Quest to hire other obstetricians who have already left because they werent able to deliver a lot of babies. Our commitment is to provide services as long as we have obstetricians, he said. The public hearing is part of Connecticuts approval process for the plan, which needs to be approved by New York and the Federal Trade Commission. The presidents of both networks said the plan allows for better access to care, offers more choices, as well as creates more programs to better serve the communities needs. They said a larger network allows them to better recruit physicians and become more efficient. The merger would create a network of about 2,600 physicians and 12,000 employees. Both organizations are financially strong and deeply rooted in the community, said John Murphy, president of the Western Connecticut Health Network in Danbury. Murphy said creating the larger network allows them to make the needed investments in technology and people in the changing health care field. The two presidents stressed the similarities in the two networks vision. We both can develop and strengthen our commitment to medical education, Murphy said. Health Quest is working with Marist College in Poughkeepsie to develop a school of medicine to train physicians. The first class is expected to start in 2022. Western Connecticut State University in Danbury already has a program with the University of Vermont School of Medicine. Some of the residents asked those medical students work in Sharon Hospital so they can experience a rural community. Providing care for a rural community was the biggest concern raised by the public. You hear about the good things of efficiencies, but in rural areas we know by nature that health care is more expensive, said Rep.-elect Maria Horn, who will represent Sharon and the rest of the state House 64th district when the new Legislature is sworn in in January. We worry about services being rolled into larger hospitals. Murphy said they use iPads to work with doctors at different hospitals to create care plans in the field and at New Milford Hospital, and a similar approach could be done for Sharon Hospital. He stressed the need for community involvement at all of the hospitals. Each hospital will have a local board of directors to report to the board that oversees the overall network to ensure the ciommunities needs are being met. We believe in the moral sense that the communities own the hospitals, Murphy said. Its terribly important to have open channels of communication. Sharon residents said Health Quest wasnt working with the community, to the point that the Fund for Community Health and Health Quest are going to court because the fund hasnt gotten any of the information or interaction it needs. They applauded Murphys response and praised the Western Connecticut Health Networks approach to the rolling out programs using community needs assessments. Gov.-elect Ned Lamont shared his first plans for restructuring state government Friday, announcing a new post of chief operating officer a position recommended and never implemented decades ago in Connecticut, while becoming increasingly common in governors offices across the U.S. While some governors have looked to corporate executives and state agency heads for COOs, Lamonts choice is Paul Mounds, who has held a number of policy and communications jobs in state and federal government, as well as special projects that put him in touch with a variety of state agencies. Chief operating officers in other states typically allow a governors chief of staff to be more strategic, while fostering close cooperation between agencies that often operate as independent silos. Mounds will report to Lamonts chief of staff, Ryan Drajewicz. This decision comes after a lot of thought, Lamont said. Ryan and I have had a chance to talk to many of the commissioners, deputies and to those that deal with our different departments across the state. Lamont said the new post will not require additional funding, just a reapportionment of current funding. Weve really utilized this time during the transition to really step back and rethink the organizational design for state government, said Drajewicz, who is joining the new administration after serving as an executive at the hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. Mounds, 33, now the vice president of policy and communications for the Connecticut Health Foundation, was an aide to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for five years, leaving the administration in late 2016 as the director of policy and government affairs. He also worked on the staffs of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. John B. Larson. I very much understand the commitment of our agencies and our workforce to bring about change, Mounds said. More recently, Mounds was a member of the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Competitiveness. The new organizational structure will lighten the workload of the chief of staff and most likely allow Lamonts choice for secretary of policy and management, Melissa McCaw, to focus on the state budget. In some administrations, the OPM secretary has acted as a political strategist and de facto deputy chief of staff. Lamont, 64, the founder of a digital telecommunications company, has promised to use his network outside politics to bring a fresh approach to state government and economic development. But his early appointees to the office of the governor have extensive political and government experience, including time in the Malloy administration. Colleen Flanagan Johnson, a former Malloy communications director who left state government for corporate jobs, was named earlier this week as senior adviser. His general counsel will be Superior Court Judge Robert W. Clark, a former special counsel to Attorney General George Jepsen. Aside from OPM, Lamont has not named an agency head. Lamont and Drajewicz said they have focused instead on a broader structure for government, with a focus on simplifying how businesses and taxpayers interact with it. How do we reverse engineer these processes, these agencies to ensure that the taxypayers have a better user experience when they are looking to do business with the state of Connecticut, Drajewicz said. Whether or not you are a barbershop looking to open upwhat is that front door? What is that experience? Lamont said the new structure eventually could lower costs, but its first goal is to improve coordination among state agencies and how they interact with the public. Pulling off a Band-Aid may soon get a lot less painful. Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Xi'an Jiaotong University in China have developed a new type of adhesive that can strongly adhere wet materials -- such as hydrogel and living tissue -- and be easily detached with a specific frequency of light. The adhesives could be used to attach and painlessly detach wound dressings, transdermal drug delivery devices, and wearable robotics. The paper is published in Advanced Materials. "Strong adhesion usually requires covalent bonds, physical interactions, or a combination of both," said Yang Gao, first author of the paper and researcher at Xi'an Jiaotong University. "Adhesion through covalent bonds is hard to remove and adhesion through physical interactions usually requires solvents, which can be time-consuming and environmentally harmful. Our method of using light to trigger detachment is non-invasive and painless." The adhesive uses an aqueous solution of polymer chains spread between two, non-sticky materials -- like jam between two slices of bread. On their own, the two materials adhere poorly together but the polymer chains act as a molecular suture, stitching the two materials together by forming a network with the two preexisting polymer networks. This process is known as topological entanglement. When exposed to ultra-violet light, the network of stitches dissolves, separating the two materials. The researchers, led by Zhigang Suo, the Allen E. and Marilyn M. Puckett Professor of Mechanics and Materials at SEAS, tested adhesion and detachment on a range of materials, sticking together hydrogels; hydrogels and organic tissue; elastomers; hydrogels and elastomers; and hydrogels and inorganic solids. "Our strategy works across a range of materials and may enable broad applications," said Kangling Wu, co-lead author and researcher at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China. While the researchers focused on using UV light to trigger detachment, their work suggests the possibility that the stitching polymer could detach with near-infrared light, a feature which could be applied to a range of new medical procedures. "In nature, wet materials don't like to adhere together," said Suo. "We have discovered a general approach to overcome this challenge. Our molecular sutures can strongly adhere wet materials together. Furthermore, the strong adhesion can be made permanent, transient, or detachable on demand, in response to a cue. So, as we see it, nature is full of loopholes, waiting to be stitched." Folate deficiency creates more problems in connection with DNA replication than researchers had hitherto assumed, researchers from the University of Copenhagen show in a new study. Once a person lacks folate, the damage caused by this cannot be reversed. The researchers therefore encourage people to be more aware of the level of folate in the blood. Folate deficiency can severely affect one of the most important processes in the body, cell division, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated in a new study published in the scientific journal PNAS. In the study, the researchers show that folate deficiency can cause problems in connection with cell division and DNA replication. In fact, it creates far more damaging chromosomal abnormalities than previously known. Folate is a type of vitamin B found in for example broccoli, spinach, peas, mushrooms, shellfish and fruit such as bananas and melon. The Danish Health Authority recommends that pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant take a daily supplement of folic acid. But everyone, not just pregnant and soon to be pregnant women, should focus on this vitamin, the last author of the study, Associate Professor Ying Liu from the Center for Chromosome Stability at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCPH, concludes on the basis of the findings of the study. 'The problem with folate deficiency is that it affects chromosome maintenance, and once a cell has lost a chromosome or part of it, it can never be fixed. That is, once cell division has gone wrong, you cannot fix it subsequently by consuming a lot of folic acid. Once the damage is done, it is irreversible.' 'Therefore, we need a guide telling us what the level of folate in the blood in the population in general should be. Once we have that knowledge, we can determine whether a person needs folic acid supplements to make sure the level in the blood is high enough for the cells to reproduce the DNA successfully,' says Associate Professor and Head of Group Ying Liu. Infertility, Mental Illness and Cancer A blood sample can determine the level of folate in the blood. Researchers have known for many years that folate deficiency is associated with mental illness, age-related dementia and deformation of the brain and spinal cord of foetuses, also known as neural tube defects. But they have not been able to establish the causality; that is, whether folate deficiency directly causes the disorders or the disorders are caused by the secondary effect of folate deficiency. To answer this question, the researchers studied lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell, from men. However, the results would also apply to women, Ying Liu argues. The researchers analysed the part or area of the genome called FRAXA, which contains an extensive so-called CGG sequence, a genetic code. Here they saw that folate deficiency caused abnormalities in connection with cell division, mitosis, especially in cells with an abnormally long CGG sequence. Among other things, it caused faulty segregation of chromosomes. The researchers also saw how the entire X chromosome became unstable in cases of long exposure to folate deficiency. 'In the study, we demonstrate that folate deficiency leads to both higher levels of and more harmful chromosome abnormalities than previously known. This causes the daughter cells to inherit the incorrect amount of DNA following cell division or, in some cases, to even lose an entire chromosome. This could explain why folate deficiency is associated with diseases like infertility, mental health disorders and cancer,' Associate Professor Ying Liu explains. Other parts of the genome also contain extensive CGG sequences. The researchers assume that these regions will also be affected by folate deficiency. As a next step, they wish to map all the areas of the human genome that may be affected by folate deficiency. How does a normal cell turn into a deadly cancer? Seeking an answer to this question, and working alongside other international working groups, researchers from Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin examined the tumor genomes of nearly 300 prostate cancer patients. Their findings describe the ways in which changes in the prostate cells' genetic information pave the way for cancer development. Using a newly-developed computer model, it is now possible to predict the course of the disease in individual patients. It is hoped this will enable clinicians to develop tailor-made treatments. On Monday, 10 December 2018, the results of this study were published in the latest issue of the journal Cancer Cell*. In Germany, prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men, with close to 60,000 new cases diagnosed every year. These Tumors are usually slow-growing, meaning that not all patients require immediate treatment. Until recently, physicians had been unable to distinguish between benign and aggressive forms of the disease, particularly when dealing with tumors diagnosed at an early stage in the disease process. Working alongside a number of other research groups from within Germany and abroad, Charite-based researchers helped to develop criteria that would make this type of classification possible. To do so, they studied the molecular profiles of close to 300 prostate tumors. They sequenced the information encoded within the cells' genetic material, recorded chemical changes to the genetic code, and measured the activity of specific genes within cancerous tissues. An analysis of their data has shed light upon the temporal order of mutational events involved in the development of prostate cancer. "We were able to identify tumor subtypes that progress at different rates and therefore require different types of treatment," says one of the study's lead authors, Prof. Dr. Thorsten Schlomm, Director of Charite's Department of Urology. He adds: "We now know which of these mutations occur first, initiating the process of change from prostate cells to tumor cells, and which of them are more likely to follow later." The researchers then used these results to develop a computer-based model capable of predicting the likely course of the disease in individual patients. "When an individual patient's tumor shows a specific mutation, we are now able to predict which mutation is likely to follow, and how good the patient's prognosis is," explains Prof. Schlomm. "Our team is currently busy incorporating our computer model into the treatment process at Charite. This will enable clinicians to model a particular treatment's likelihood of success. As for the timescale involved, we expect it will take two to three years for this algorithm-based method to become clinical routine." In an effort to improve the reliability of prognoses, the research consortium is planning to spend the next few years collating additional data on thousands of patients, which they will then use to further develop and enhance their computer model. They will achieve this by working with Berlin's newly established urology network (Hauptstadt-Urologie-Netzwerk), which brings together urology specialists from Charite and private practice. Their ultimate aim is to make it easier for physicians to decide on the most suitable treatments for individual patients. Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: After going with the "Old Guards" in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday held hectic parleys with top party leaders to decide on the chief minister's post for Chhattisgarh. As per the latest reports, the Congress in an official legislature meeting on Sunday will announce the next chief minister of the state. Chhattisgarh Congress chief, Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant are being seen as the front-runners for the chief minister's post. "A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow. Then we will inform (Chief Minister candidate for Chhattisgarh). Governor has given us the time of 4:30 pm on December 17 for the oath ceremony. So, what's the hurry?" Chhattisgarh Congress State in-charge, PL Punia told reporters. Chhattisgarh Congress State in-charge, PL Punia: A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow. Then we will inform (Chief Minister candidate for Chhattisgarh). Governor has given us the time of 4:30 pm on December 17 for the oath ceremony. So what's the hurry? pic.twitter.com/2LbCtUzvYI ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 Taking to Twitter, Gandhi also dropped hints that the party has settled the issues on who should be the next chief minister of Chhattisgarh. The Congress chief also posted photograph with the top contenders along with his tweet. Read | Sachin Pilot to be Rajasthan's Deputy CM: Here's all you need to know about young Congress leader "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team," he captioned his tweet. No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team. Reid Hoffman pic.twitter.com/TL5rPwiCDX Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 15, 2018 The significant tweet came hours after the third round of discussion between Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, central observer Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC in-charge for party affairs in Chhattisgarh PL Punia and other newly-elected MLAs in the state. The sources said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the Congress chief's residence. Read | Rahul Gandhi picks Kamal Nath as new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Earlier, the Congress chief had tweeted photos with top contenders after sorting out the leadership issues in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. After several rounds of discussions for more than two days, the Congress on Friday named Ashok Gehlot as the next chief minister of Rajasthan. In Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Kamal Nath was made chief minister-designate on December 13. Congress ended the BJP's 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh in the recently concluded Assembly elections by bagging 68 out of the 90 seats. New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Bollywood personalities like Jaya Bachchan, Gulshan Grover, Kalki Koechlin, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra attended the 2nd Indo-French Professional Meeting of the Moving Image Industries organised at Sofitel Mumbai BKC. The Embassy of France in India organised the second round of Indo-French professional meetings for the Film and Television Industry on 13-14 December 2018, in Mumbai. Jaya Bachchan interacted with Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, HE. Jean-Yves Le Drian presided over the closing ceremony of the meetings and announced the institution of a special fund to encourage Indo-French coproductions and exchanges. Also Read | #MeToo movement: Men should talk The two-day meet was held to provide an interactive platform to Indian and French media professionals, content producers and buyers to discuss prospects for collaboration as well as the opportunities for the diffusion of native content in each other's countries. The meetings included roundtable conferences, one-to-one B2B meetings and group meetings to explore, initiate and execute projects and programmes in the areas of filming, media content distribution and joint ventures in cinema and TV programming. Apart from this, the Supreme Court recently issued a notice to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on a plea seeking annulment of his election to the state Assembly for alleged non-disclosure of pending criminal cases against him in his nomination papers on Thursday. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph sought a response from the chief minister on an appeal filed against a Bombay High Court order. The Bombay High Court had dismissed the plea of one Satish Ukey seeking annulment of Fadanavis' election to the Maharashtra Assembly on the ground of alleged non-disclosure of all pending criminal cases against him. On this, Fadnavis challenged the Sessions Court decision in Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, which dismissed the case by upholding the Judicial Magistrates decision. The Supreme Court was hearing Ukeys appeal against the high court order. Also Read | #MeToo movement: Men should talk For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhi's Patiala House court on Saturday extended the CBI custody of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, by four days. Early in the day Michel was produced before the court in connection to the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which was granted with an additional 5 days custody of Michel, sought extension for five more days. The agency said that it wanted to confront Michel with some more documents and, therefore, sought furter remand to collaborate with some evidence. "AgustaWestland Case: Patiala House Court extends CBI custody of alleged middleman Christian Michel by 4 days," the news agency ANI reported. #AgustaWestland Case: Patiala House Court extends CBI custody of alleged middleman #ChristianMichel by 4 days. Michel's lawyer Rosemary told the court that she has some more documents regarding the case that she wants to submit in the court. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/hxB72Xk6qh ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 While seeking remands, the CBI said, "We might have to take Christian Michel to WTC Pawan hans Bombay to take the investigation forward. Need to further confront him with documents. Michel has "categorically said" that he used to take money. Therefore, we need to further question him. Read | Congress says government lied in Supreme Court about CAG report on Rafale pricing "We also need to take more handwriting specimen. ChristianMichel writes painfully slow," the agency added. The CBI also argued that Michel is not cooperating in the investigation process and is evasive in giving answers during interrogation in the VVIP chopper case. The preliminary investigation by the CBI also suggests that Michel had borne the air travel expenses of two serving/retired Indian Air Force officials and their family members amounting to RS 92 lakh during 2009-2013 period. Lawyer Rosemary Patrizi has appeared for Michel at the court. Patrizi had represented Michel for five years in Italy and Switzerland. While being questioned about her credentials, Rosemary presented her passport and Milan court ID to Patiala House court, which allowed her to talk to Michel separately for 10 minutes. Read | Rafale Deal: Modi government files new affidavit in Supreme Court seeking 'correction' in judgment Michel's counsel Ajio K Joseph also moved an application seeking to remove the Interpol notice against him. The court, however, did not allow Patrizi and Joseph to meet Michel in CBI custody. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 19. Michel was brought to India following his extradition by the UAE early in December and kept at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi under heavy security overnight. The subsequent day he was produced in Delhi's Patiala House Court where Aljo K Joseph who is representing him moved a bail plea. Joseph was only representing Michel in his professional capacity and had nothing to do with him. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Nearly a week after Army jawan Jeetendra Malik aka Jeetu Fauji was sent to 14-days judicial custody, four other accused have been arrested for their alleged involvement into the Bulandshahr violence case on Saturday. 17 persons have been arrested in connection to case so far. "Four accused in Bulandshahr violence case have been arrested today. 13 accused were earlier arrested in the case," the news agency ANI reported. Four accused in #Bulandshahr violence case have been arrested today. 13 accused were earlier arrested in the case ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 15, 2018 Early on Thursday, a local court issued a non-bailable warrant against all the accused, including main conspirator Yogesh Raj, the district convener of Bajrang Dal, in the Bulandshahr violence case. Read | Bulandshahr violence: SSP Krishna Bahadur Singh removed after cop Subodh Kumar Singh's murder Apart from Yogesh, the Bharatiya Janata Partys Syana youth wing city president Shikhar Agarwal, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) activist Upendra Raghav and Rajkumar, former head of Mahav village are among other accused named in the FIR. The suspects have been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) with unlawful assembly, rioting, being armed with deadly weapons, attempt to murder, and murder, among others. On December 3, a mob of some 400 people rampaged through a village in Bulandshahr district apparently after cow carcasses were found in a jungle nearby. During the violence, Shyana police station SHO Subodh Kumar Singh and a 20-year-old man died of gunshot wounds. Read | Family of murdered Uttar Pradesh policeman Subodh Kumar Singh meets CM Yogi Adityanath Singh went for a search operation following specific inputs about stone pelting in the region and fell unconscious after a stone hit his head. While being rushed to the hospital an angry mob again attacked his vehicle. While other policemen in the jeep fled the spot, Singh was allegedly shot dead by Army jawan Fauji. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: At least seven civilians, including an MBA graduate, were killed while another was critically injured in firing by security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday following an encounter with terrorists. The situation turned tense after the killing of protesting locals and internet services in the area were suspended. The incident took place after locals took to streets to protest against the encounter between terrorists and security forces. The protests turned violent and prompted security personnel to open fire on agitators. Eyewitnesses said that the civilians who were killed were shot in the head and chest and some other people also received pellet gun injuries during the post-encounter clashes. Five of the deceased have been identified as Shahbaz Ali, Suhail Ahmad, Liyaqat Ahmad, Amir Ahmad, Abid Hussain. Also Read | Kashmiri terrorist shot in encounter did a cameo in film 'Haider' Abid Hussain, an MBA graduate, had returned to the Valley a few months ago with his wife and three-month-old child. Reacting to the killings of civilians, National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah termed the day blood-soaked and horrible. Another blood-soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! Abdullah wrote on Twitter. Early in the morning, the security forces and Kashmir police had launched a joint anti-militancy operation in Sirnoo village near Pulwama district headquarter following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. Also Read | 'Acceptance is good but we knew it': General Rawat on Imran Khan's 26/11 attack statement The security forces surrounded the area and as they were closing in, the terrorists opened fire which was retaliated in a similar manner by the soldiers. At least three terrorists and a security personnel were killed during in the firing. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An IndiGo aircraft 6E3612 was grounded on Saturday at the Mumbai airport after a bomb threat, according to news agency PTI. However, the threat call turned out to be false and the flight was cleared "safe" after a thorough checking. The flight - Mumbai to Lucknow via New Delhi was scheduled to depart at 6:00 am from theA Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 but delayed by over two hours after a woman called theA CISF Assistant Commander's office and claimed that there was a bomb inside the plane. "A woman passenger travelling to Delhi on Go Air flight G8 329 approached an IndiGo check-in counter at T1 and informed that there was a bomb in IndiGo's flight 6E 3612 (operating on Mumbai - Delhi/Lucknow route),aa the agency quoted a source as saying. later, theA aircraft was taken to an isolated bay for a secondary ladder point check after the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) found the threat as "specific". After aA thorough check,A the aircraft was declared safe and took off at around 8:40 am. Indigo security has received a bomb threat call at Mumbai Airport for Mumbai-Delhi flight a ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 According to the sources, the woman who called the security even showed photographs of some people and claimed that they were a "threat" to the nation. Later, she was taken to the airport police station for questioning. Now, IndiGo spokesperson have come forward and said,A "A passenger travelling with another private carrier told our staff at the Mumbai airport that there could be a bomb on Mumbai-Delhi flight 6E 3612. IndiGo reported the matter to the authorities concerned and followed the normal security protocol. The passenger was found to be mentally unsound. Operations have resumed. However, the flight was delayed by one hour''. CISF personnel took her to the airport police station for questioning. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Two main accused in the murder of Indian national Sarabjit Singh have been acquitted by a Pakistani court for lack of evidence against them. The Lahore Sessions Court judge Muhammad Moin Khokhar acquitted Amir Tamba and Mudassar after all the witness refused to testify against them in the court. The suspects appeared before the court via video conferencing due to security reasons. Not a single witness testified in the court against both the suspects. The court acquitted them for lack of evidence against them, a court official said. In 2013, Amir and Mudassar, two Pakistani prisoners facing a death sentence, attacked Sarabjit Singh in Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail. Singh sustained grievous injuries in the attack and succumbed during treatment in the hospital. Also Read | Pak played cruel joke, meeting just a drama: Sarabjit Singh's sister During the previous hearing, the Lahore Sessions Court judge had slammed the prosecution for failing to produce witnesses in the court to record their statements. However, one witness, a police official, had told the court that the 49-year-old Indian national was brought to the Services Hospital in a critical condition and that he wanted to record his statement but wasnt allowed by doctors. I wanted to record Singhs statement but the doctors stopped him, terming his condition very serious, the witness had told the court. Before the trial, a one-man judicial commission of Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi of Lahore high court had investigated the case. In their statements before the commission, Amir and Mudassar had confessed to the crime and said they killed Singh as they wanted to avenge the killing of people in Lahore and Faisalabad bomb blasts. Also Read | Sarabjit Singh trial: Pakistani Court issues bailable arrest warrant against Pak jail Sarabjit Singh had been sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for his alleged involvement in a serious of bombings in 1990 in the Punjab province of Pakistan. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A day after Supreme Court denied reviewing the Rafale deal, the Congress on Saturday launched a fresh round of attack over the Narendra Modi government and accused it of lying in the top court that a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report over the controversial aircraft deal was presented before Parliament. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said, Government lied in Supreme Court that the CAG report was presented in the house and before the PAC. They told the top court that it is public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it? The Congress leader said that he will take up the matter with other members of the PAC and will summon the Attorney General (AG) and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Also Read | Rafale Deal: Here's the Supreme Court verdict | In 10 points We will request the PAC members to summon the AG and CAG and ask them when the Auditor General was informed about the pricing of the Rafale aircraft and when it was given to the PAC and when the PAC probed it and presented the report before Parliament as claimed by the government in the apex court, Kharge said. Mallikarjun Kharge: Govt lied in SC that the CAG report was presented in the house and in PAC and PAC has probed it. Govt said in SC it is in public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it? I am going to take this up with other members of PAC. We will summon AG and CAG. #Rafale pic.twitter.com/IccrwaZxx1 ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court had rejected all the petitions seeking to direct the CBI to register a case and prob the alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal. A top court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that there was no occasion to the decision-making process in the deal and even if there were some minor deviations, they would not lead to the annulment of the deal. "Our country cannot afford to be unprepared/under-prepared in a situation where our adversaries are stated to have acquired not only 4th Generation but even 5th Generation Aircrafts, of which, we have none. It will not be correct for the court to sit as an appellate authority to scrutinize each aspect of the process of acquisition," the top court had said in its judgment. Also Read | Rafale Deal: Rahul Gandhi hits back at BJP, reiterates 'chowkidaar chor hai' The court had also said that it was informed by the government that the CAG report on pricing of the Rafale deal was presented before the PAC, however, Kharge, who is also the chief of the PAC denied the governments claims. Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court had rejected all the petitions seeking to direct the CBI to register a case and prob the alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal. A top court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that there was no occasion to the decision-making process in the deal and even if there were some minor deviations, they would not lead to the annulment of the deal. "Our country cannot afford to be unprepared/under-prepared in a situation where our adversaries are stated to have acquired not only 4th Generation, but even 5th Generation Aircrafts, of which, we have none. It will not be correct for the court to sit as an appellate authority to scrutinize each aspect of the process of acquisition," the top court had said in its judgment. The court also said that it was informed by the government that the CAG report on pricing of the Rafale deal was presented before the PAC, however, Kharge, who is also the chief of the PAC denied the governments claims. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s defeat in recently concluded Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday changed his Twitter bio from "the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh" to "the common man of Madhya Pradesh". Chouhan was appointed as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister in 2005 and has been ruling the state for the last 15 years. On Wednesday, while stepping down from the post of chief minister, Chouhan took sole responsibility for BJP's ouster from power in the heartland state. Addressing the media at the BJP office in Bhopal, the former chief minister said, "If we failed to compile the necessary numbers despite all the hard work, the Centre and state government's various welfare schemes, I deem myself responsible". On rumours of he joining the Union Cabinet ahead of crucial Lok Sabha elections 2019, Chouhan said that he is emotionally attached with the people of his state and therefore will never leave them. Read | Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigns as CM, says will provide constructive criticism as Opposition Taking to Twitter an emotional Shivraj further promised to help the people of the state like previous years and called them his "God". "Madhya Pradesh is my temple and the masses are my God. The doors of my house are always open to every citizen of the state and they can come to me without any hesitation. I'll be helping them as usual," he wrote on Twitter. In a nerve-wrecking see-saw battle with the Congress, the BJP on Tuesday managed to get 109 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly. With wins in 114 seats, the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the state and staked claims to form the government with the help of independents, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party. However, the BJP polled 41 per cent of the votes, more than Congress' 40.9 per cent vote share. Shivraj Singh Chouhan also won from his traditional Budhni constituency with a healthy majority. Read | Rahul Gandhi picks Kamal Nath as new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh State Congress chief Kamal Nath has been announced the next chief minister of the state on December 13. He is scheduled to take oath on Monday, December 17. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Tuticorin Sterlite Plant which was shut by the Tamil Nadu government over the alleged pollution after the killing of 13 people in police firing, is likely to be reopened as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday set aside the state governments order. In May this year, the Tamil Nadu government had ordered to close the Vedantas copper smelter plant in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) permanently after the killing of at least 13 people who were demanding the closure of the plant over alleged pollution. Setting aside the shutdown order by Tamil Nadu court, the NGT directed the administration to pass a fresh order of renewal of consent within three weeks. The green court also ordered the company to spend Rs 100 crore over the next three years on the welfare of inhabitants of the area. Also Read | Tamil Nadu government orders permanent closure of Sterlite Copper plant However, the Tamil Nadu government expressed their reservations about the green court's decision and said that it will move the Supreme Court against the NGT order. Tamil Nadu cabinet minister for environment and pollution control, KC Karuppanan, said, CM Edappaadi K Palaniswami is firm on the closure of Sterlite." On May 28, the Tamil Nadu government had issued a Government Order (GO) and directed the state Pollution Control Board to seal Vedanta groups Sterlite Copper plant permanently. The government had cited Constitutions directive principles of state policy (Article 48-A) enjoining protection of environment and provisions of the Water Act, 1974, to order the permanent closure of the copper factory "in the larger public interest". Also Read | Tamil Nadu: CM hands over appointment letters to Tuticorin firing victims kin The NGT order came after a committee appointed by the tribunal informed it that Vedanta was not given any notice or opportunity to explain before the closure of the plant. The Vedanta had offered to invest an additional sum of Rs 100 for the welfare of people, including construction of schools, hospitals and supply of drinking water. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Mizo National Front (MNF) leader Zoramthanga was sworn in as Mizoram's new chief minister on Saturday. Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Zoramthanga and his Council of Ministers at Raj Bhavan located in Aizawl. The MNF president took the oath in Mizo language. This will be for the third term that the MNF is forming the government in Mizoram and after a gap of ten long years. Aizawl: Mizo National Front leader Zoramthanga takes oath as the Chief Minister of Mizoram. pic.twitter.com/nce5oo7ukE ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 ALSO READ | 7 civilians killed in firing by security forces during protests after encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama Chief Ministers of other northeastern states were present during the ceremony, according to news agency ANI. The MNF bagged 26 seats during the recently held election in the 40-member Assembly. Mizoram which went to polls on November 28 saw a voter turnout of about 80 per cent. As many as 7,70,395 lakh voters were eligible to cast their vote in the state including 3.75 lakh males and 3.95 lakh females. Two days back, MNF President Zoramthanga was been nominated as the leader of the legislative party by its newly elected legislators. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also opened its account in the state for the first time with BD Chakma winning from Tuichawnd constituency. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who contested from Champhai South and Serchhip, has also lost both the seats. He lost Champhai to the MNF's TJ Lalnuntluanga, while Serchhip was snatched by Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kabul: Pakistan, Afghanistan and China on Saturday agreed to boost mutual cooperation in combating all terrorist groups and individuals without any discrimination to eliminate terrorism from the region. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmoud Qureshi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani met on Saturday for the 2nd Pakistan-China-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers' dialogue during which they discussed trade, development, ways to end Afghanistan's 17-year war and regional cooperation. Following the talks, the foreign ministers signed a memorandum of understanding to boost mutual cooperation for elimination of terrorism in the region, Radio Pakistan reported. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani. The three sides also took stock of the trilateral cooperation in their fight against terrorism and "underlined the need to further strengthen counter-terrorism coordination and cooperation in an effort to combat all terrorist groups and individuals without any discrimination", it said. They also agreed to counter logistical capabilities of terrorists, deny terrorist use of the internet and take joint steps for de-radicalisation, as well as work together to break the nexus between the narco-trade and terror-financing. The ministers also reaffirmed their support to the Afghan-owned, and Afghan-led inclusive peace process that is fully supported regionally and internationally. China and Pakistan hailed the efforts of Afghanistan's President, especially for the comprehensive peace plans that came out of the second Kabul Process and the Geneva Conferences on Afghanistan. They also called on the Afghan Taliban to join the peace process at an early date. They underlined the need to further strengthen their relations, deepen cooperation and advance connectivity under the China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and other regional economic initiatives. The ministers agreed to promote China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral cooperation under the framework of jointly building the BRI. They agreed to continue the economic development cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The three sides will continue to implement and expand the "soft" projects such as exchange and capacity building programs, and explore "hard" projects of livelihood facilities and connectivity, it said. China expressed its readiness to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in building immigration reception centre and drinking water supply schemes at each side of the Ghulam Khan Khel crossing point, and to explore cold storages at Chaman and Spin Boldak. Wang said his country supports enhanced coordination between Afghanistan and Pakistan on major energy and connectivity projects, including the construction of Quetta-Kandahar railway and the Kabul-Peshawar Motorway and Railway. The three sides expressed their determination not to allow any country, organization or individual to use their respective territories for terrorist activities against any other countries. Later, Qureshi addressing joint news conference along with his Chinese and Afghan counterparts after the dialogue, stressed on a joint strategy to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the region, reported Radio Pakistan. Only through collective efforts, terrorism can be wiped out and the objectives of peace and development could be achieved, he said. "We all want peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan will benefit the most from the peace and stability of the neighbouring country," Qureshi said, adding that Islamabad will extend its cooperation in bringing all the Afghan groups to the table of negotiations. Qureshi said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Wang said both Afghanistan and Pakistan are friends of China and his country was ready to extend every possible cooperation to build trust and confidence between the two countries. He said his country will also assist in establishing connectivity projects including a railway line between Peshawar-Kabul and Kandahar. The Chinese foreign minister said the Afghan reconciliation process can be taken forward by bringing the Taliban to the table of negotiations. Rabbani said Pakistan has an important role to play to bringing peace in Afghanistan, as the peace in his country was vital for the peace and security of the entire region. He said eradication of terrorism will pave the way for economic development and job creation and Pak-Afghan relations are rooted in common faith and culture. "We desire to strengthen our relations with Pakistan". Qureshi, along with Pakistan's foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua and other senior officials, reached Kabul on his second trip to Afghanistan since Prime Minister Imran Khan came to power in August. He held bilateral meetings with President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Rabbani and discussed, the recent efforts for initiating peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Qureshi underscored that bilateral engagement remains the most viable platform for addressing matters of mutual interest and in this regard the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) provides the most effective mechanism, a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Office said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lahore: At least six Pakistani soldiers were killed in a bomb blast on Friday when militants targeted their convoy in the strife-torn Baluchistan province, the army said. The incident took place at Kuch area of Turbat district when the personnel of the Frontier Corps were on a routine patrol, they said. "The militants targeted a vehicle of the security forces and six soldiers of the Frontier Corps were martyred in the bomb blast," the army said in a statement. In a separate incident in the same area, four militants were killed in an exchange of fire when Pakistani forces raided their hideout during an anti-terror operation. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Colombo: Ending the power tussle in Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned Saturday and Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to take oath as the island nations Premier on Sunday. Rajapaksa resigned after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongmans efforts to cling to premiership untenable. Pro-Rajapaksa lawmaker Shehan Semasinghe told reporters that the former President signed his resignation letter in a ceremony held in his house in Wijerama in Colombo. Rajapaksa informed the lawmakers of United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that he has resigned from the post, MP Semasinghe said. Rajapaksa was appointed as Prime Minister on October 26 by President Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Also read | Australia recognises west Jerusalem as capital of Israel, embassy move delayed The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was illegal. The apex court on Friday refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP) on Saturday said that Sirisena has agreed to reinstate him in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday. We have heard from the presidential secretariat that our leader will be sworn in as the Prime Minister tomorrow morning, UNP general secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. The unprecedented political and constitutional stand off which began on October 26 with the sacking of Wickremesinghe appears to end tomorrow with his reinstatement. Parliamentarian Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena on Friday said Rajapaksa, who had ruled Sri Lanka for nearly a decade, decided to step down in the best interest of the country. He claimed Rajapaksa can hold office without resigning but that will only further drag the political turmoil in the country. So the former president decided to step down after the court ruling given on Friday and on Thursday. The Supreme Court on Friday decided that a Court of Appeal order issued against the appointment of Rajapaksa as Prime Minister and against his Cabinet from holding office will stand. Also read | Singapore: Indian-origin man gets 7 years in jail for stabbing pregnant wife The appeal filed by Rajapaksa will be taken up for hearing on January 16, 17 and 18. The apex court asked all parties to provide written submissions within three weeks. According to media reports, a new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday. The Cabinet will consist of 30 members and include six Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians. After his appointment as prime minister, Rajapaksa had sought to secure a majority in the 225-member Parliament but failed. Sirisena then dissolved Parliament and called snap elections on January 5. However, the Supreme Court overturned his decision and halted the preparations for snap polls. Most of the countries had not recognised Rajapaksas government. The global credit rating agenciesthe Fitch, the Standard & Poors and the Moodyshad also downgraded Sri Lankas rating owing to the current political crisis. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The federal Environmental Protection Agency was busy this year deleting contaminated sites from the national Superfund list, including a former Southington landfill now deemed safe. In all, 22 sites were removed from the Superfund list the most taken off in 13 years. "Under President Trump, EPA is deleting Superfund sites from the National Priorities List at the fastest pace in more than a decade," said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "This remarkable accomplishment is proof that cleaning up contaminated lands and returning them to safe and productive use is a top priority of the Trump EPA," Wheeler said in a press release. The EPA recently completed reviews on four other Connecticut Superfund sites in Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Barkhamsted and Canterbury and determined Superfund status should continue, which means further cleanup work and monitoring, and and land use restrictions stay in place. Environmentalists are wary of the EPAs rush to delete Superfund sites and have expressed concern that a desire for redevelopment and new taxes could outweigh public protection. But Betsey Wingfield, an air and land management bureau chief for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said her agency agreed with removing the Southington landfill from the Superfund list. "EPA consulted us and we agreed with full deletion," Wingfield said. Some state officials privately noted that the EPA, at least so far, has been deleting low hanging fruit old sites in which cleanup work was essentially finished during former President Barrack Obamas administration. "The [EPA] administration was encouraged to clear the books," Wingfield said. Other sites removed from the list include a former chemical plant in Maine, an oil pit in Florida, a manufacturing plant in Massachusetts and a smelting operation in Utah. Southington deleted Superfund status is the most extreme red flag that can be placed on property and draws federal intervention and often dollars to monitor the site, clean up contamination and protect the public from exposure. It usually comes with deed restrictions that limit what can be built on the property, such as a ban on residential buildings. The Southington landfill received domestic and industrial waste from 1920 to 1967 and was added to the list in 1984 after groundwater in a nearby municipal well was found to contain cancer causing volatile organic compounds at levels exceeding state standards. The EPA and DEEP oversaw cleanup of the contaminated soil, surface water and sediment and the adjacent Black Pond, as well as mitigation of vapor wafting into buildings downwind of the landfill. Groundwater will continue to be monitored and overseen by both the EPA and DEEP to ensure the effectiveness of a cap placed over the former landfill. Land use is also restricted, including a ban on residential and commercial buildings and disturbance of the pollution controls now in place. Passive recreation uses are allowed, pending review. More Information Here are the Superfund sites in Connecticut: Barkhamsted-New Hartford Landfill Beacon Heights Landfill, Beacon Falls Broad Brook Mill, East Windsor Durham Meadows, Durham Gallup's Quarry, Plainfield Kellogg-Deering Well Field, Norwalk Laurel Park Landfill, Naugatuck Linemaster Switch, Woodstock Naval Submarine Base, Groton Precision Plating, Vernon Raymark Industries, Stratford Scovill Industrial Landfill, Waterbury Solvents Recovery Service, Southington Yaworski Waste Lagoon, Canterbury See More Collapse "The deletion of the Old Southington Landfill from the Superfund list signals important progress for communities here in Southington," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. "The progress at these sites exemplifies EPA's and this administration's commitment to clean up contaminated sites while working with the local community every step of the way to ensure their concerns are heard and addressed," Dunn said in a statement. DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee also issued a statement in support of the deletion. "Working collaboratively with the EPA, we are taking action to correct the mistakes of the past," Klee said. The Trump Administration has made deletions from the Superfund program a top priority. The EPA last year created a Superfund Task Force charged with recommending sites for removal, and to promote redevelopment. "By redeveloping Superfund sites, communities are able to reuse thousands of acres of formerly contaminated land, often strengthening local economies," the EPA said. A total of 1,345 sites remain on the Superfund list, with 14 located in Connecticut. Site review Four Connecticut Superfund sites were reviewed this year by the EPA and those sites will remain on the Superfund list, which means continued monitoring and oversight. The sites are the former Laurel Park Landfill, a 35-acre parcel in Naugatuck, the Yaworski Waste Lagoon in Canterbury, the former Barkhamsted-New Hartford landfill and the former Beacon Heights Landfill in Beacon Falls. John Senn, a spokesman for EPAs New England region, said the Connecticut sites reviewed are all former landfills and the most significant component of the cleanup is the landfill cover or cap. "The reviews completed at these sites concluded that the remedies are functioning as designed and thus are still protective," Senn said. A review is required when hazardous substances remain at a site above acceptable levels, Senn added. Wingfield said the goal is to reuse Superfund sites when possible and pointed to the former Raymark property in Stratford as a prime example of how polluted property can be returned to the tax rolls. A part of that site is now a shopping center. "Its a prime piece of real estate," Wingfield said of the Stratford property. "They are still working on other units. Other portions of the Raymark site remain on the Superfund list. Raymark sold brakes and clutches from about 1919 through 1989. Dunn said the five year review of Superfund sites is a "critical part" of the process. "It helps ensure remedies remain protective of public health and the environment, Dunn said, adding the goal is to "make sure the remedy will be protective of public health and the environment." bcummings@ctpost.com PORTLAND A vicious fight between two bald eagles Wednesday morning over Route 17 resulted in one losing its life after it plunged into a vehicle, fatally injuring the raptor, officials said. The driver, Jessica Smith, was uninjured in the accident. The raptor was suffering from internal bleeding and hemorrhaging while the veterinarian X-rayed both its wings following the crash, said Christine Cumming, president and co-founder of A Place Called Hope, birds of prey rehabilitaters in Killingworth, who helped the eagle. He had no chance, unfortunately. He was already dying. We just didnt want to prolong it, Cummings said, so the veterinarian euthanized it. Smith was on the way to her office in Massachusetts at about 6:30 a.m. It was scary, and I felt really bad for the eagle, and, of all things, to be an endangered animal, she said. That was pretty shocking. Id never seen one in real life before. Haliaeetus leucocephalus, the Latin name for the majestic bald eagle, is a threatened species in Connecticut and the national bird of the United States. Smith saw the two huge birds flying overhead, so she slowed down as they approached her car. When she saw the white tails, Smith doubted they were eagles. All of a sudden, they got even lower and kind of swooped out and then in and clashed in mid-air, she said. Their talons were out, and wings and heads every which way. Smith was incredulously watching the two-second-long display illuminated by her headlights. One of the birds tucked its wings in, and dove down straight into her vehicles grill. She immediately pulled over and turned on the back-up camera in the car. Smith saw the bird was still moving, which upset her further. She witnessed two adult bald eagles in the sky having a dispute. When theyre in a territorial battle, they will often lock talons and do a game of chicken, where theyll spiral down to the ground, Cumming said. Whoever lets go first is the loser its one of the ways that birds fight. The one struck by her car did an aerobatic move that basically plummeted him to the ground, straight into her car. He diverted the other eagles grab, and in his maneuver, he made a fatal mistake. He chose a maneuver that brought him down to traffic, and he flew right into the front end of her car, Cumming said. The other eagle was uninjured. Birds of prey have ancient wisdom, Cumming added. The way their brains are developed is to focus on one thing at a time they dont multitask like humans do, she said. That eagle, at that moment in time, was trying to escape the talons of the other eagle, she added. These raptors often scavenge for food along streets, including roadkill. They focus on that animal until they either grab it or miss it. ... Theyre not watching for cars coming, Cumming added. Smith immediately pulled over and called 911. However, Cumming said, that is for human emergencies, so once the dispatcher discovered no one was injured, she suggested Smith move along. Theyre more focused on people, Cumming said of the emergency dispatcher, who told the woman police would be alerted. For some reason, that never happened. [Smith] didnt know what to do and [dispatch] insisted she move along, because its dangerous to stay in traffic. Portland Sgt. James Kelly, driving to work, happened upon the bird on the side of the highway. He immediately called Animal Control Officer Karen Perruccio, who called Cumming, a friend of hers. Perruccio took a photo of Cumming and the eagle and posted it to Facebook. It immediately went viral and has since garnered 266 comments and 2,754 shares. In the picture, Cummings cradles the giant creature in the crook of one arm as if it were a newborn. Her expression is a mix of concern and assuredness. An impact like that, from a very large bird, some of which travel at 100 mph, flying and falling at that speed, could have been much worse. Shes lucky shes got her life and didnt have a bad accident, Cumming said of Smith. Cumming guesses it was a male eagle. Female birds of prey are larger by a third, and males usually weigh between 8 and 9.5 pounds and females 9 to 12 pounds sometimes more, Cumming said. That does not sound like a lot, but it is for birds, who are hollow-boned and meant to be buoyant and light, so thats a lot of weight for a bird, Cumming said. These birds have a wingspan of 7 feet, she added. Cumming said people who come upon injured raptors or any other animal, dead or alive, should call state police, the local animal control officer, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which handles these types of cases. The response for this bird was quick, despite that lapse in time. It really all fell together as fast as it could for this bird, she said. (Unfortunately,) the bird was doomed. He was dying right before our eyes. One wing was completely detached. Theres no fixing that, she said. The other wing was broken. If its wings werent broken and it was not so badly injured, Cumming added, it would have been a nonreleasable candidate, that could be rehabilitated but not released back into the wild. Thats how bad the break was, she said. Also, the bird wasnt banded, so there was no way it could be tracked to determine whether it lived locally or was coming from up north, migrating to warmer temperatures. After her ordeal, Smith was shocked to see the incident blew up on Facebook. Its been a really weird last couple of days, she said. Smith is grateful for Cumming and A Place Called Hope. They do a ton of good work they rescued two birds in the last couple days, she said. In fact, as Cumming spoke Friday afternoon, she was awaiting a person bringing in an injured barn owl. In Portland in such situations, people can call the ACO at 860-342-6789, dispatchers at 860-347-2541, and the DEEP at 860-424-3333. Visit A Place Called Hope at aplacecalledhoperaptors.com or call 203-804-3453. High expectations often come at a cost. For Chile's President Sebastian Pinera, the second year in office looks to be riddled with challenges in keeping up with lofty promises of economic revival, passing important tax and pension reforms in a congress where he does not have majority, and unraveling redtape to stoke investment. Not to mention, the risk of the global trade war that would hurt copper prices, the country's main export, while slowing down China, Chile's main trading partner. With the post-election honeymoon just about over, 2019 is the year Pinera must deliver. Below are key issues to look at next year: Rebound? Chilean citizens are still waiting to cash in dividends of Pinera's election and promises of faster growth. "The problem with Pinera is he is competing with himself, because of the incredible improvement during his first term," Axel Callis, a political analyst in Chile, said in an interview. "Next year, he will have to make good on his campaign promise for economic recovery so people can actually feel it." Growth in Pinera's 2010-2014 first term averaged 5.3 percent. This year the economy is forecast to grow 4 percent and 3.5 percent next, compared to an average 1.7 percent of the second term of former president Michelle Bachelet, and investment is picking up. But consumer and business confidence have weakened and unemployment remains high (despite a debate on which job numbers to follow). "There are still 2 to 3 percentage points of more self-employed people than before the last four years of slow growth," Luis Oscar Herrera, an economist at BTG Pactual, told Pauta Bloomberg radio Dec. 13. "They want to join the labor market faster and that may weigh on salary growth and consumer expectations." All of this while the threat of a rekindled tariff war could produce a more pronounced negative effect, slashing chances of a true recovery. Challenges to Reform Agenda Pinera's government has hinged its growth prospects on a tax "modernization" and pension reform. However, both will have to pass through a divided congress in which the president has a limited ability to negotiate. A labor code reform and a law that should speed up environmental approvals for investments are also in the works. However, if the environmental approval bill passes in the next two years, it would be a big success, Joaquin Villarino, head of Chile's mining council told Pauta Bloomberg radio Dec. 11. "Pinera must pass these reforms through congress before the third year, when municipal elections begin and the government has its first political test," Callis said. Political Capital Pinera's popularity took a major blow in November after the death of a young man by police in the southern Araucania region rekindled an old conflict between the indigenous Mapuche population and the state. Protests took over from Santiago to southern Chile and his approval rating fell to its lowest since his term began in March, according to the Cadem poll. With this panorama, Pinera will face losing more political capital in 2019 if he does not consolidate his reform agenda. Callis said Pinera is using other issues that have more play with the media, like migration, as a buffer for his popularity among the electorate, but that the effects are likely to be short-term. "Most Chileans don't have a problem with migration, as it's really concentrated in only a few communities, but the retreat from the UN pact was used as a political statement," said Callis. "After people forget about that, they will return to their original question: the economic promise." A photograph of Mary Anne Guitar, nicely framed, now hangs in Reddings Town Hall. She is holding a pot of tulips and smiling. Mary Anne was sitting in her kitchen, so there is light from the kitchen windows flowing in, as well as a background shot of the brass pots hanging above her stove, ready to be called into service. Her friend, Ann Taylor, took the picture late in Mary Annes life she died in 2017 at the age of 95. So it would be easy to think its a portrait of well-deserved serenity. But her eyes are still sharp. There were still political points to argue, land to preserve. She did not cease from mental fight. I am so happy Mary Annes portrait is hanging in Town Hall, said Julia Pemberton, the towns current first selectman, and a student in small-town politics under Mary Annes tutelage. She spent the better part of her life working to protect open space in this town. In fact, if Redding looks the way it does today more open and rural than its neighbors its because Mary Anne and a few other like-minded residents saw suburban sprawl coming in the 1960s and 1970s and did not like it. They called themselves The Land Savers, Pemberton said. She established herself early on a resister to bedroom development, said Henry Merritt, a longtime member of the Redding Land Trust, which Guitar helped found in the 1970s. She was involved in the environmental movement in the 1960s. Now, we all are. Maybe the newer residents in town dont realize it as much, said Gordon Loery, the co-president of the Redding Land Trust. Others do. She and that whole generation really shaped how the town looks. Here is a scant biography of Mary Anne Guitars life. She was born in Missouri. She moved east as soon as she could, attending Smith College and then living in New York City, working as an editor and writer. She bought a small cottage in Redding as a summer home, only to find she loved small-town life rather than big-city bustle. She had a bob-tailed cat named Shorty. When she died, she donated four acres of her land to the Redding Land Trust. The trail on the land is called Shortys Trail. Also, she was not averse to the occasional glass of champagne. She and Henry Merritt had a long-running debate on the proper way to mix a martini he liked them dry, she, vermouth-y. And, luckily for those who got to know her, she was a brilliant conversationalist. She had a wicked sense of humor, said Laurie Heiss, a former vice president of the Redding Land Trust and an old friend. Sometimes, really wicked. She got involved in local politics in the 1980s. She was the towns first woman selectman, and then, the first woman to serve as first selectman in Fairfield Countys history. In a very Republican town, Mary Anne, a staunch Democrat, more than held her own. She was one of the town leaders who successfully stopped the Super Seven project from putting a four-lane highway through town. She fought against high-tower electrical lines being strung through Redding. In 1972, she wrote a primer on small-town land preservation Property Power: How to keep the bulldozer, the power lines and the highwayman away from your door. So when Carmen Matthews, the owner of New Pond Farm in Redding, decided to transform it into a nonprofit nature center, she called on Mary Anne Guitar, who was on New Ponds first board of directors. She was passionately, passionately involved in the issue of open space, said Ann Taylor, who along with being a friend of Guitars is executive director of New Pond Farm in Redding. Taylor said Guitar had the gift of looking at a plan or a project and cutting quickly to the core of the issue and concentrating on that. Her example still has its influence at New Pond Farm today. We make decisions very deliberately, Taylor said. Her cousin, Mary Guitar, also said Mary Anne learned how to present an issue to the public by moving quickly to the heart of the thing. She learned that was a way to unify people, Mary Guitar said. Pemberton said its also good to have Guitars picture in Town Hall to remind people of the open space battles to come. As we march on, these things keep circling back, she said. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com The Republican Senate and the Democratic House will betray the states that are electorally safe. This will be the smart move. They will try to put extra money and programs into the battleground states. States like California will be even used to fund legislation to benefit the battleground states. This political looting could be prevented. The political gridlock could prevent deals from being made. The Senate and House might cancel each other out. They would not want to let the other to look good in the battleground states. Here is a paraphrasing of a relevant dialog from the Godfather. Tom Hagen Do you know who will betray you? Michael Corleone Tessio. Tom Hagen I always thought it would have been Clemenza. Michael Corleone Its the smart move. Tessio was always smarter. California does have some battleground house districts in the Central Valley. The Central Valley is getting $3.5 billion of federal money for a segment of high-speed rail. This was given to them in a 2010 spending bill. However, the high-speed rail is becoming more and more of an obvious embarrassment. The money will be allowed to be clawed back. There will be some money that is placed back into the Central Valley in a new program. It will probably be a lot less money. More money has to go to Florida, Ohio and other more important states. There will be some pretend arguments for programs for the safe states. There will also be some programs that spread the money all around the country relatively evenly. The Ethanol program does not make sense technologically or economically. However, it does benefit Iowa and Kansas. The states that come up earliest in the presidential campaign. Background and Context Based upon an angry but likely representative comment for some people, I have to explain some motivation and perspective. Why is a future and technology focused site having any talk of politics or geopolitics? What is the motivation? The political battles are so intense that there is intense suspicion and reaction to everything. Spock Was Too Emotional, I am Not Kidding I am a passionate futurist geek and data nerd. I think I am fairly self-aware, but I know that where I am not self-aware then I will not know it. I know blind spot exists. People will call other people nerds or vulcans. Most of those people are amateur vulcans. I can compartmentalize like Sarek. Spock is half-human and really quite emotional. As I said, I am a super-nerd. Below I will go into some detail. Many will say whoa too much information. You see I am a little self-aware. I am passionate about being dispassionate and I am aware of the irony. The D vs R question does have some relevance. But emotions are for hyoo-mahns. (On purpose mispronunciation of human. A deeply nerdy joke from DS9 and some other scifi.) Condensing My Logic Above With Generalization About the Logical Approach I stated a logical case above. I tried to be entertaining. First separate from any emotion about D or R. It is NY Yankees vs Boston Red Sox. It is Coke vs Pepsi. It is Ali vs Frasier. Picking horse race winners. Two sides have a contest and they are trying to win. There are rules and forces. What is the nature of the contest? Where is the disagreement? Do the parties care more about the ten main battleground states? Is the political focus on 2020 already now? The next election is always the focus. This is like politics 101. Is 2020 the most important thing for the two parties in the USA. 2020 is the next election. I thought these things would be obvious and everyone would say well of course. I forgot that most people do not pay attention to the mechanics. Look at all of the political election race websites. Fivethirtyeight.com was famous because they accurately predicted almost all races in 2012. There is solid D, solid R, likely D, likely R, leaning D, leaning R and tossup. Many millions and sometimes billions of dollars are spent during the campaign and most gets spent in the tossup or leaning states. If we are always in campaign mode, then resources, programs and money go into tossup and leaning areas. The closest contests get the focus. Then voila, the logic of resource management says the smart move is to not only put more into the close areas but to take from the solid areas to put more into the close battles. Another analogy. The smart general might move more soldiers and tanks to where the closest and toughest battles are. He would not keep forces in areas he has already conquered. Here I Go Deep- But My Motivations and Integrity Was Challenged I look at the data and predictions. for predictions do not get distracted by good and bad or right and wrong. Those are important questions but are tangents to what will happen. The most accurate predictor of political events seems to be mathematician Bruce Bueno de Mesquita. He looks at a particular question of politics or geopolitics. He tallies up the interested parties and looks at what they are willing to do get their way. He has to be able to honestly look at what groups really want and what they are willing to do to get it. Bruce can apparently get 90+% accuracy on questions important to the CIA. What will happen in Iran, Noth Korea etc This means his methods work. It also means seemingly complex political and geopolitical outcomes can be highly predictability. Part of this is like being able to parse how much of human intelligence is from DNA and how much is from education and wealth and other factors. You have to parse the Nature and Nurture questions down and perform tests. Identifying factors. Parsing how much comes from which source. Determining how much each contributes. One of my goals is being able to make the right predictions. What will happen? This means being able to split between where technology, technological capability, politics, economics, demographics, environment and science are more important and how the forces factor. There needs to be a simplification. You can make the case that all of those points matter. However, there are timeframes and dominant forces. If you do not correctly identify the top two dominant forces then you will be wrong. The dynamics of the top two categories of force can usually tell what will happen. What some could think is a technological subject such as high-speed rail is actually about politics, legal, project economics and engineering execution and competence. What gets chosen for a technological project is mainly about who gets paid-off. However, some technology or business with superior technology can be more profitable. They would then have more money to pay off the right decision makers. The top part of this article about which states get money. I was explaining a prediction based upon a simple calculation of political gravity. Spock Quote if I let go of a hammer on a planet that has a positive gravity, I need not see it fall to know that it has in fact fallen. I am trying to figure out where things will be in 20 years, 50 years, 100 years and 1000 years. This is the internet so in my 26,000+ articles. There will be frequent accusations that I have the bias or emotions or motivations like other people. My response is like other people? Really? I usually do not pull back the curtain to show it. But that is really silly as I showed here. Emotion and bias are sources of error. People complain about the frequency of certain subjects. I am trying find where the real technological and economic changes are happening. Some country or people come up more frequently. They are the source of more change. BRIDGEPORT Connecticuts Beardsley Zoos fundraising efforts to create a new habitat for its family of Amur tigers received a huge boost with a $1,000,000 donation from longtime zoo supporter, Pamela Hope Kochiss-Werth, said zoo director Gregg Dancho. After the birth of four endangered Amur tiger cubs in November, 2017, two of which survived, the zoo began a campaign to create a new, more spacious home for its valuable tigers. Kochiss-Werth stepped forward with a birthday check for the two female tigers, Reka and Zeya, earmarked for a new tiger habitat. The zoo celebrated the cubs first birthday on Sunday. The existing tiger habitat was built several decades ago and has been on our wish list to expand and renovate. Our intention is to create a habitat more in keeping with 21st century accredited zoo standards, said Dancho in a news release. We are overwhelmed with gratitude at Pams extreme generosity. The Zoo is asking for matching donations, Dancho added. Everyone has an opportunity now to help. Theres no donation too small, he said. The birthday celebration included the sale of Team Reka, Team Zeya, or Team Tiger Cubs t-shirts, cake and hot chocolate for zoo guests, free tiger bookmarks for the first 500 people through the gate, and two encore presentations of Fostering Felines, a presentation from Animal Care Specialist Bethany Thatcher. Tiger Talks, highlighting the plight of Amur tigers in the wild, took place in front of the habitat throughout the day. This is the first grant made by Kochiss-Werths new foundation, and reflects her individual philanthropy. As a Bridgeport native, I have many fond memories as far back as 1958, of enjoying wonderful times with my family at Beardsley Park and the Zoo, she said in the release. I feel honored and blessed to be able to contribute to the Zoos growth, important programs, and life-enriching contributions to Bridgeport and all Connecticut communities. When the tiger cubs were born, they had only a 25 percent chance of survival, and were the only two Amur cubs added to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amur tiger population in 2017. According to the AZAs statistics, tigers are thought to occupy less than 7 percent of their original range. Threatened by habitat loss and degradation, poaching, tiger-human conflict, and loss of prey, four of nine subspecies have disappeared from the wild. T WALLINGFORD A 17-year-old Lyman Hall High School student was arrested and charged with second-degree breach of peace after allegedly posting a threatening message on SnapChat In an email message to members of the Lyman Hall community Friday, Superintendent of Schools Salvatore Menzo said the message expressed annoyance with the school. NEW HAVEN Connecticut elected officials condemned a decision by a Texas judge that threw the future of the Affordable Care Act and thus, health care for millions of Americans into doubt Saturday. U.S. Sen Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-New Haven, and U.S. Rep John Larson, D-Hartford, each issued statements condemning the decision, which is not expected to have an immediate effect on the Affordable Care Act, on Saturday. This is a five alarm fire Republicans just blew up our health care system. The anti-health care zealots in the Republican Party are intentionally ripping health care away from the working poor, increasing costs on seniors, and making insurance harder to afford for people with preexisting conditions, said Murphy. Dont be fooled, this rests one hundred percent on the shoulders of President Trump and Republicans in Congress who empower him. Trump took the extraordinary step of sending his lawyers to argue to end health coverage for 20 million people and he got his wish. Not a single Senate Republican challenged him, and now they own this disaster as much as he does. President Trump and Republican Party officials across the country have long been on the warpath to rip healthcare coverage away from tens of millions of Americans helped by the Affordable Care Actincluding those who were previously discriminated against due to pre-existing conditions. The Texas Courts decision brought their relentless, immoral pursuit one step closer. But they will not have the last word, said DeLauro. Every American deserves high-quality, affordable health coverage. Basic decency tells us that should not even be up for debate, let alone the subject of endless court battles and campaigning. But the Party of Trump disagrees, and they have shown time and again they will stop at nothing to take away protections from Americansfrom allowing deceptive junk plans to be sold to increasing premiums for millions of Americans and destabilizing healthcare marketplaces. That is not the direction our country should be heading in, and House Democrats refuse to stand idly by. We will take action to bring affordable health coverage to every American. Yesterdays reckless and cruel court decision is an attack on the 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and the millions more who have benefited from the ACAs consumer protections, premium subsidies, and Medicaid expansion. The Republican Attorneys Generals attack and the Trump Administrations refusal to defend the ACA, as well as its public support of the lawsuit, has endangered the gains we have made in protecting peoples care and goes against the voices of the American people who spoke up when Republicans tried to repeal the ACA, said Larson. This cruel decision will be appealed and the House will take immediate action in the new year to strengthen the patient protections in the ACA and join our Democratic Attorneys General, including from Connecticut, in formally intervening in the appeals process. We will fight on behalf of the American people and protect those with pre-existing conditions. In a Friday ruling, U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor concurred with the argument in Texas vs. the United States of America, which suggests that Congress decision to remove the penalty mandating the purchase of health care rendered the law unconstitutional. At issue was whether the health laws insurance mandate still compelled people to buy coverage after Congress reduced the penalty to zero dollars as part of the tax overhaul that President Trump signed last December, according to the New York Times. The Supreme Court previously upheld the law as constitutional in 2012 based on Congress ability to levy taxes, according to the Times. The ruling is not expected to have an immediate effect on the Affordable Care Act, according to the Associated Press, as legal proceedings continue. Representatives of Access Health Connecticut said the ruling would not affect the ability of state residents to sign up for health insurance through the program in a Saturday release. The deadline to sign up for insurance through Access Health Connecticut was extended through Jan. 15, according to the release. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Those who stand in long lines to enjoy the world-renowned white clam pie at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana would appreciate it even more if they knew that Pepes has a full-time clam shucker on hand to ensure ultimate freshness. Erik Preston is the man. For hours on end, he stands at a sink in a small alcove off of the main kitchen, nimbly slicing open the shells and scraping out the belly of each one. I first heard about Preston when I was at Pepes a few weeks ago, talking with Colin Caplan, whose book Pizza in New Haven has just been published. It requires considerable skill, Caplan told me. You could cut yourself. When I returned to Pepes last Wednesday afternoon to interview Preston, the legendary place was of course crowded and of course there were people waiting in the entryway for seats. Out in the Pepes parking lot, I encountered two guys who never seem to be far away from Pepes, or its also legendary rival down Wooster Street, Sallys Apizza: Gorman Bechard and Dean Falcone. Those two locals, along with Caplan, teamed up to give us the documentary Pizza, A Love Story. Its still a work in progress after about 10 years because Bechard is continuing to edit his work. I told Bechard and Falcone I was on my way inside to spend some time with Preston. Their eyes lit up. Falcone told me Zuppardis Apizza in West Haven also has a clam shucker (actually two of them) to make sure their white clam pies are fresh. (Caplans research showed Frank Pepe was the first to serve the white clam pie, in the 1960s.) After I walked into Pepes and was allowed behind the counter, I came upon Preston working over the sink; he had been there or in the kitchen since 7 a.m. The first thing I noticed was how fast his hands were moving. He was wearing thick green gloves but I asked: Isnt this work dangerous? Nah! he replied. The knife is pretty sharp, but its no problem once you get used to it. Hadnt he ever cut himself? A couple of times, he said, dismissing the wounds as minor. He said that happened a few years ago. I asked how many years he had been working there. Was it true, as someone had told me, he had logged about 30 years? Preston shrugged. Could be. Long time. I was beginning to realize this was a man of few words. But after all, I was intruding on his work day. It occurred to me later that I should have waited until he got off work at 4 p.m., then sat down with him over a pitcher of beer and a white clam pie. Preston noted he hears a lot of chatter around here, most of it coming from his co-workers in the nearby kitchen. But he doesnt let it slow him down. I kind of zone it out. He added, I love everybody who works here. Nice people. Cool family, he said of Frank Pepes grandchildren who now oversee the operation. Preston, who is 47 and lives in New Haven, has known members of the Pepe family for many years. Maybe that helped him get the job, although he wasnt providing many details of how he got started. I came in one day. For many of those circa 30 years he actually worked at The Spot, the pizzeria behind Pepes that is owned by the same family. Its the same thing, the same pizza, he said of The Spot vs. Pepes. Same oven, man. Same stuff. (Now you people know theres no point in standing in the eternal line outside Pepes if The Spot is open.) Did he need any training to become a clam shucker? I just picked it up. I started with two bags, then four, then six... He now does 10-12 bags per day, 155 clams to a bag. You do the math: thats at least 1,550 clams in a days work. But Preston said, I dont brag about it. When you first start to do this job, you might get a little sick, Preston said. Some people, they look at shellfish and they get grossed out. I wasnt used to looking at them. Also, they are still alive when they arrive in the morning. Theyre all fresh, all alive, Preston said. You open up the bag and they move. You can tell theyre alive. Sometimes when you poke them, they squirt, cause it hurts. Theyre real sensitive. He laughed when I asked him if he ever feels bad for the clams. He added, I would think that would hurt me too, if I got poked. Is it tough standing all day? Nope: Ive got cushioned in-soles in my shoes. It makes a big difference. You know, Dr. Scholls. I did notice, however, that Preston occasionally wiped his brow. Its not so easy, this shucking. He also tends the coals in the world-famous brick oven, maintaining the heat. There are days when he doesnt have any clams to shuck. If its really cold, the fishermen wont go out. Rain can also be a problem. Several years ago, it rained the whole month of November. I did other stuff here. I did only two or three bags during the whole day. There were fewer clam pies. I spotted a tag posted nearby, identifying the clam supplier: Briarpatch Enterprises of Milford. Preston didnt have much to say when I asked him how much longer he wanted to be a clam shucker. What would determine this? Circumstances, he said. But he did open up when discussing the perk of his job: those pies. I still enjoy them. Always I have the white clam. Thats probably the best pizza in here, the clam. Ive eaten so much of it, man. The stuff is phenomenal! I never get tired of it. Whatever comes out of here, its the best. I raised the topic of other pizzas, other places. Ive had some of it. Its pretty good. But Pepes is a spoiler. Translation: hes gotten spoiled; for Preston, nothing can match Pepes. But I did check in with the clam shuckers at Zuppardis. They are sisters Lori Zuppardi Pearce and Cheryl Zuppardi. Lori told me in an email: Cheryl and I have been shucking clams since we were kids. We even shucked them by the bushel when Zuppardis pizza truck made its debut in New Orleans. We sat on folding chairs outside the truck, shucking away as we talked to the many great people of New Orleans. Contact Randall Beach at 203-680-9345 or randall.beach@hearstmediact.com WEST HAVEN The West Haven Black Coalition this year, out of necessity, is trying something entirely new for its upcoming 33rd annual Tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Its having it in New Haven but President Carroll E. Brown said its only for this year. This years King tribute will take place at 4 p.m. Jan. 13 at Center Church on the Green, 250 Temple St. in New Haven, as a result of construction in the sanctuary at the First Congregational Church in West Haven, Brown said. What I do want the church in West Haven to know is that were not about to leave them because they have given us a warm welcome for the past 32 years, Brown said. The MLK tribute draws hundreds of people each year. The coalition has invited U.S. Rep.-elect Jahanna Hayes, who will become Connecticuts first female African-American member of Congress when she is sworn in to what currently is Elizabeth Estys 5th District seat on Jan. 3. Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, has yet to confirm, Brown said. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is among the other officials who have been invited who have confirmed that they will attend, she said. Sean Hardy will return as master of ceremonies, after missing last year due to illness, Brown said. Reflectors at this years tribute will include Theresa Hopkins-Staten, Alan Bowie and Athena Wagner, she said. The choirs from both West Haven High School and Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven will sing again, led by directors Phyllis Silver and Harriet Alfred, respectively. The choirs will sing together on one song, Brown said. Also performing will be musician extraordinaire Jonathan Berryman, Brown said. The Unity Boys Choir,which usually sings at the tribute, will be unable to make it this year but is expected back next year, Brown said. The Rev. Kevin Ewing, the new pastor at Center Church, will be welcoming us and making a few remarks, Brown said. This years King tribute also will feature a special tribute to the late West Haven High School Principal Pamela Gardner, who died on Oct. 25 after a battle with cancer. Gardners family has been invited to attend, Brown said. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com These Christmas light safety tips will help you get in the holiday spirit and reduce your risk of fire or electric shock injuries. There's nothing like a twinkling strand of Christmas lights to really dress up a home, which is why many homeowners and renters hang them year after year. But because Christmas lights use so much electricity, that heightens the potential for an accident if you neglect to take certain safety measures. The last thing you want on your hands is an open fireunless you're roasting chestnuts, of course. Below, an illuminating look at expert-approved tips on how to safely use, hang, and store Christmas lights. Make sure the lights have been certified for safety With every new box of lights, check for the mark of an independent testing organization like Underwriters Laboratories, which certifies and tests products for safety, recommends Susan McKelvey, communications manager for the National Fire Protection Association. Products certified by the Underwriters Laboratories will have the mark "UL." You should also do a quick search online to make sure your lights haven't been recalled. Don't use indoor lights outside All Christmas lights are not made the same. When you buy Christmas lights to hang outside your home, don't just grab the same ones you'd use indoors. "Outdoor lights are designed to keep water from seeping into places and prevent the elements from causing a failure. Indoor lights aren't designed to do that," says McKelvey. Inspect the lights before use Chad Ridenour, owner and CEO of Turn It On Electric company, says you must inspect your lights before decorating your home. Every year, he lays out all his lights in his driveway to ensure theyre in good working condition. Toss anything thats frayed, broken, or warm to the touch. Youll also want to plug in and turn on the light strands. If one bulb is not working or flickering after you put a new one in, its best to trash the strand since it could be a sign that something is wrong with the wiring. Likewise, ensure that your extension cords are in good working order. When in doubt, throw it out, says Ridenour. Stabilize your ladder When hanging Christmas lights in hard-to-reach areas like the gutters on your house, make sure that the ladder you use is stable. Ladder falls can be fatal, so to protect yourself, make sure your ladder can hold your weight and is stable. Make sure the ladder is in good condition, says Ridenour. Always inspect it. Dont overload your outlets Plugging too many lights into one outlet can overload it. "You dont want to overload outlets because that can create a short, says McKelvey. "Each outlet can handle a certain amount of amps to be drawn from it. If you overload an outlet, it can cause the outlet to fail." When this happens, an outlet generates heat and sparks, which can result in a fire. "We encourage people to not use more than one plug per outlet to ensure that they don't exceed the number of amps that the outlet is rated to handle," McKelvey says. Reduce the risk of a Christmas tree fire If you like displaying a live tree in your home, be sure to purchase one that's as fresh as possible. A dry tree wrapped with Christmas lights will go up in flames much faster than a well-hydrated one. A fresh tree is green and its needles are hard to pull from branches and don't break when bent between your fingers," says Karla Crosswhite, spokesperson for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. "The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles." Once you bring home your live tree, keep it well-hydrated with about 1 gallon of water a day. And if you favor an artificial tree, search for one that's labeled "fire-resistant." Store Christmas lights properly Taking down your Christmas decorations is never fun, but you'll want to be extra careful when packing up your lights. Storing your lights properly may extend their life span and will ensure they don't end up in a giant, tangled ball. Untangling lights creates wear and tear on them. When you start yanking and pulling, thats when they fray, says Ridenour. Wrap the strand of lights around your arm, and gently place them in an air-tight box so they'll be ready to use next year. The post Christmas Light Safety Tips: Did You Deck Your Halls the Right Way? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. A man convicted of manslaughter must get a new trial because detectives improperly questioned him about a shooting, the states highest court ruled. Laurie Wint, 30, was found guilty in 2014 of passion provocation manslaughter for killing Kevin Miller on June 8, 2011, at Eutaw Park in Camden. Prosecutors said earlier that day, Wint had spent time with Millers girlfriend. Miller went to the park looking for Wint, who then shot Miller in the chest. While locked up awaiting indictment for the death of Miller, Wint was also facing charges for the stabbing death of a man in Warminster, Pennsylvania. Detectives sought to question him at the Camden County Prosecutors Office. First, two New Jersey detectives asked him about Millers death, and Wint declined to answer questions before speaking to a lawyer. The detectives left the room. Laurie Wint (PA Department of Corrections) Then, two Pennsylvania detectives came in to ask questions about the Warminster stabbing. At this point, Wint told them, in 2011, I committed a murder in Camden. That statement, which Wint sought to suppress, was a key part of the case against him. But the detectives continued questioning, especially with two more coming in to the room, was violation of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, the New Jersey Supreme court said. Wint was sentenced to 22 years in the New Jersey case, 14 for manslaughter. That sentence was to run consecutive to 25 years in Pennsylvania for the Bucks County murder. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Eight New Jersey men have been arrested and a multi-million cargo theft ring has been dismantled, Kearny Police Chief George King announced Saturday. King said the cargo theft ring had been responsible for stealing $4 million in goods from Kearny trucking yards over an 18-month period. The arrests were the result of a multi-agency investigation dubbed Operation Equinox. Douglas Abarca, 40, of Jersey City was arrested as the ring leader of the group that King said had stolen 15 trailers. Four other Jersey City men, Omar Ortiz, 37, Christopher Williams, 38, David Soliman, 32, and Jesus Navarro, 31, were among the eight arrested. Nelson Pena-Restituyo, 52, of Union City, Sami Khales, 26, of Palisades Park, and Juan Salazar, 40, of Elizabeth, were also arrested between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. Abarca, Ortiz, Williams, Soliman and Navarro were charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft; Pena-Restituyo, was charged with theft and burglary; Khales was charged with conspiracy to commit theft, receiving stolen property and fencing; and Salazar was charged theft conspiracy to commit theft. The stolen merchandise included food items, cosmetics, chemicals, tires, linen, clothing and liquor with an approximate retail value of more than $4 million, King said. The stolen merchandise was stored in warehouses in Linden, North Bergen and Clifton after the thefts. During the course of the 18-month investigation by Kearny police and New Jersey State Police, police recovered various amounts of the stolen merchandise, including 36 pallets of Hershey Syrup valued at $120,000, a shipment of clothing valued at $300,000 and a shipment of waffle sandwiches valued at $40,000. These arrests are the culmination of an intensive investigation spanning multiple law enforcement agencies," King said in a statement. "I am extremely proud of the work done by members of the Kearny Police Department Detective Bureau and their collaboration with county, state, and federal agencies to bring this to a successful conclusion. King also credited the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Special Investigations Unit, New Jersey State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Real Time Crime Center. King said the Kearny Police Department is actively investigating these cases. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kearny police at 201-998-1313 or tips@kearnynjpd.org . All information will be kept confidential. A 50-year-old Jersey City police lieutenant was arrested by New Jersey State Police early Friday morning and charged with drunken driving after leading police on a chase, according to a state police spokesman. Michael Dillon, of Neptune, was pulled over on Interstate 195 in Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County. Dillon was charged with moving violations, DUI and released, the spokesman told The Jersey Journal. A law enforcement source told The Jersey Journal Dillon had been at a police holiday party Thursday night. The citys spokeswoman said Dillon has been suspended without pay. The city recently changed policy to limit suspensions without pay to 30 days in most cases. This came after two police officers who had been suspended without pay pending a criminal trial were cleared by a judge, putting the city on the hook for more than two years of back pay. Dillon has been on the force since 1994. A message left on his phone seeking comment was not returned. A shot from a holiday party in Bayonne on Dec. 13, 2018 for members of Jersey City's police force. Michael Dillon, the man wearing black standing to the right of the woman in the red shirt, was arrested early the next morning in Monmouth County. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. After a bruising week rampant with reports of her impending resignation, Carol Russell remains Trentons acting police director and will go before City Council next week for their approval, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said Friday. Russell, a retired city police sergeant, has the mayors backing, and he still believes his nominee fits the bill for what he and Trenton residents want in a civilian director - someone whos engaged in community policing and who lives in the city. Russell does, the mayor said. I think shes capable of shaking things up and getting officers out of their cars and onto the streets. We have to try something different, and thats why I (chose) Carol, Gusciora said. The mayor admitted her nomination was a bit shaky earlier in the week, but said Russell wants to stick with it and is scheduled to appear before the City Council on Tuesday, for the approval process, known as advice and consent. Gusciora nominated Russell in late October to become the civilian police director - which of confirmed will be a historic first, a female leading city police. Her nomination to the post drew immediate criticism from some police officers. They say her connection to a fraternal group of police officers in the late 1990s and early 2000s - Brother Officers Law Enforcement Society, or BOLES - reflected anti-police views at times, and they point to her lack of college degree and police management experience - and that she never rose above sergeant. Harry Truman didnt go to college either, Gusciora said of Russells education. Russell, the mayor touted, has over 20 years of Trenton policing, and that makes her capable of leading the department. But its not just the cops that are complaining. Support among City Council members took a dive last week when new at-large councilman Jerell Blakeley, who initially supported Russells nomination, publicly doubted it. Last Thursday, Blakeley grilled Russell at a City Council meeting - the Trentonian called it a mini-interrogation - and later talked about it on a Facebook post: Now initially I supported Acting Director Russell. I stated publicly how I felt about her. But I have learned additional information (from folks from all walks of life) that have caused me to reconsider her nomination and her suitability for the position of Police Director, Blakeley wrote. The councilman went on: The police department is so critical to our citys future. It is more than 25% of our budget and has a huge impact on the ability of our city to move forward so its really important that we have folks in positions of leadership that are qualified and prepared to hit the ground running on Day One. I have reached out to dozens of Trentonians about Director Russell, whites and blacks, police and civilians alike and the same concerns are coming up about her lack of experience to do the job effectively. Blakeley said Guscioras choice for fire director, Derrick Sawyer, a retired Philadelphia Fire Department chief, is excellent and sailed through council confirmation. This man has experience running the fire department of the nations fifth largest city... has three degrees in fire safety and public administration, headed up a budget that was larger than the City of Trentons entire municipal budget, and has extensive trainings and certifications. Im looking for that kind of person with those skills to become Police Director and Im afraid interim Police Director Carol Russell simply doesnt measure up. And on Thursday, Council President Kathy McBride called a press conference to call on Gusciora to send the Council properly vetted and qualified candidates. Its the governings bodys job to provide advice and counsel,' not, in Russells case, determine her fate. Gusciora said although Russells nomination was shaken by the council, he and Russel are putting her fate in their hands. Russell, the mayor said, knows she might be put through the ringer again. She wants to make her case in front of council, Gusciora said. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Sayervilles mayor on Friday called for law enforcement to review the "municipal dealings of a former councilman who pleaded guilty to bribery a month before he resigned from office recently. Mayor Kennedy OBrien requested an investigation into former Councilman Ricci Melendez two days after NJ Advance Media reported Melendez pleaded guilty to commercial bribery in New York City in October. Melendez announced last month he was resigning from the council position hed held for the past six years in order to pursue other career opportunities. The 40-year-old Melendez accepted an unspecified bribe in January 2015 from a confidential informant without the consent of his employer, Bloomberg LP, the complaint said. The crime occurred in Bloombergs headquarters at 731 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan. As the former councilman has kept this bribery investigation and subsequent plea under wraps from the people of Sayreville over these past few weeks, it is prudent that we have a greater understanding of the councilmans dealings in his elected post, OBrien said in statement on Friday. This request is about due diligence, as I have a responsibility to the Sayreville taxpayers to safeguard their interests." The Middlesex County Prosecutors Office on Friday said they had, nothing to add at this point. At the time of his resignation Melendez said professional career has taken a turn in which he needed to fully dedicate his time and energy. Its an opportunity that Ive been working towards my whole life and I feel its time to pursue it, his resignation letter continued. Managing a career while allocating enough time and resources is what I feel Sayreville deserves from its governing body. Its what Ive done since being elected but unfortunately it is something I can no longer sustain. Before his resignation Melendez was expected to serve on the council through 2019. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Second of two parts When is a shooting not a shooting? In Jersey City, its apparently when someone with a gunshot wound makes his or her own way to an emergency room rather than staying at the scene of the crime. In two recent cases, Jersey Citys spokeswoman downplayed what, according to radio transmissions, were clearly being treated as shootings by responding officers. In one case, she said the injured was assaulted with an unknown weapon. In the other, she acknowledged a shots fired incident but made no mention of a victim. Pressed to explain, there was no comment. When is a public record not a public record? In Bayonne, its when the city and its insurance attorneys ask a federal judge to seal a $1.5 million-plus settlement in a police brutality case. Only after The Jersey Journal sued for its release did the terms come to light. When is a $34 million bond issue really a $60 million bond issue? Or is that the other way around? In North Bergen, its when voters are being asked to approve a $60 million bond issue for the schools but the districts website says its $34 million. Only a Jersey Journal call to the state Department of Education could clear up for voters that the bonding would be for the higher number but the state would pay off $26 million of the debt if the referendum was approved. These are just three recent examples of ways our journalists work to go behind curtains of secrecy in the service of taxpayers and the community at large. Statewide, you see the effort in things like New Jersey Advance Medias massive project on police use-of-force reports and the shoddy way theyre often kept. As a result of the investigation, Jersey Citys police department is in the hotseat over missing or misfiled reports and the state is working on new guidelines so all departments and residents -- can keep a better eye on when cops get physical and why. Nationally, Time magazine this week points to things like the ProPublica release of a recording of children crying in a detention center that galvanized public attention on the Administrations zero tolerance policy of separating children from their parents at the border with Mexico. Not letting government officials our employees get away with untruths and half-truths is a core responsibility for the press and one we take seriously. Whistleblowers, activists and investigators are similarly called to the same task theres more than enough work to go around but the difference when the press does it is that you, the public, get to hear about it and can then make informed decisions in the voting booth. As we discussed yesterday in our look at Times Person of the Year report on journalists who have been arrested or killed for their work, freedom of the press is essential and at risk. To force politicians, corporations and others with power to be transparent in their actions, a free and independent press is needed everywhere. For all our sakes, even in America, it must be protected. Barack Obama recently shot a video in which he encouraged young people to sign up for the health-insurance program named after him. You can do it right now, Obama says in the video. And most folks can find coverage for $50 to $100 per month. Thats probably less than your cellphone bill. All I can say is, these kids today must have some pretty expensive cellphone bills. The video directs viewers to go to the healthcare.gov website to see what sort of health-insurance subsidies they would get at different income levels. I went to it and ran the numbers for a young family with three kids living in New Jersey. I plugged in an annual household income of $80,000. At that income level, the family might be having a tough time just getting by in a state with one of the highest cost-of-living indexes in the country. But when I ran the numbers I found that the cost of a typical bronze plan the least expensive under the Affordable Care Act - would be $7,400 a year. Thats a big chunk of their paychecks. The good news is that they get a subsidy from the federal government to help pay that bill. The bad news? That subsidy is a mere $42 a month. The subsidys even smaller for a single person making $37,000 a year. Its zero. What if they cant afford the premiums? The state Legislature took action this year to address that problem: Theyre going to charge them thousands of dollars in penalties for not having insurance. That hardly seems fair. At least it didnt to one prominent politician back in 2008 when Hillary Clinton was promoting a federal individual mandate to purchase health insurance as part of her campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. "Here's the concern. If you haven't made it affordable, how are you going to enforce a mandate? If mandates were the solution, we could try that to solve homelessness, by mandating that everybody buy a house, said her opponent. The reason they don't have a house is they don't have the money." That guy was Barack Obama. He argued that no mandates would be needed under the plan hed adopt. I am confident that if people have a chance to buy high- quality health care that is affordable, they will do so, he said in that debate. And that's what our plan does and nobody disputes that. New Jerseys Democrats do. After the Obamacare mandate was repealed by the Congressional Republicans, the New Jersey Democrats voted to impose a state mandate to replace it. If you didnt buy insurance by Saturday, come April 15 the state is going to hit you with a penalty equal to the average annual premium of a bronze plan. Thats thousands of dollars. I called the bills sponsor, state Sen. Joe Vitale, and asked him about that. Vitale said that rates have dropped 9 percent for next year thanks to the mandate and a reinsurance program his fellow Democrats enacted. Thats nice, but what about the stingy subsidies for residents of high-cost New Jersey? The subsidies for families and individuals who earn at the higher end of system should be greater, but thats not something we control, Vitale said. I know the mandate is not popular but everyone has to be in it for it to work for everyone else. But the feds should have done more to compensate for those living in high-cost states, he said. When they designed the rate they have a bunch of doctors sitting around, he said. They dont get it. New Jersey, New York and Connecticut get screwed. Its not fair. No, its not. And those that get screwed the worse are the young people. Vitale said the system is set up so that they pay more for their care then it actually costs. That means older people can be charged less for their care than it actually costs. If there werent young people in the individual market it would collapse of its own weight, he said. Thats where he and I disagree. If you have to force people to be in the market, then you should change your system so force is no longer needed. Thats what I believe. And its what Obama once believed. As a great man once said, if you haven't made it affordable, how are you going to enforce a mandate? Come April, we will find out. ADD: Heres a link to the Obama video. There is no source given for the assertion that most - i.e. more than half - of young people can get coverage for less than $100 a month. But when you run the numbers on the health-care site, you will see that you have to be making less than $20,000 a year to get that sort of a subsidy. Meanwhile young people making more than about $36,000 get no subsidy at all and have to pay full price for their plans. Many are also paying back huge student loans so they already may be underwater on their bills. NOTE: The April 15 reference above is to tax day in general. As of this coming April 15 the Obamacare penalty will still be in effect for filers. The New Jersey mandate takes effect Jan. 1 and will be collected April 15 of the following year. Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mulshine. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Luminaria-lit paths create a beautiful scene during the 2018 Holiday Open House. NPS Photo December 11, 2018 Contact: Garrett Cloer, (617) 876-4491 On Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8, Longfellow House-Washingtons Headquarters National Historic Site hosted its Holiday Open House and Holiday House Tours for 2018. This annual event is a major undertaking for the site and is only possible due to vital assistance from volunteers and the staffs of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Sites. As always, the hard work proved worthwhile as nearly four hundred people from the surrounding community went through the decorated mansion over the two days. It has truly become a highlight of the community calendar each year, providing the opportunity for neighbors near and far to connect to Cambridges National Park Service site. A highlight each year is the lighting of luminaria lining the paths around the historic landscape. Visitors were also able to participate in craft projects specially designed for varying skill levels. They experienced how generations of the Longfellow family celebrated the holiday season while leisurely walking through the decorated rooms and interacting with staff and volunteers. This year, there was an emphasis on music as a harpist performed in the Longfellows music room and Victorian carolers roved the grounds (some visitors even joined in on their favorite songs!). Saturday saw guided holiday-themed house tours and more craft activities. Whatever their reasons for attending, great fun was had by all! WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld President Obamas health care overhaul law, saying its requirement that most Americans obtain insurance or pay a penalty was authorized by Congresss power to levy taxes. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the courts four more liberal members. The decision was a victory for Mr. Obama and Congressional Democrats, affirming the central legislative achievement of Mr. Obamas presidency. The Affordable Care Acts requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax, Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness. At the same time, the court rejected the argument that the administration had pressed most vigorously in support of the law, that its individual mandate was justified by Congresss power to regulate interstate commerce. The vote was again 5 to 4, but in this instance Chief Justice Roberts and the courts four more conservative members were in agreement. Krystal Kim, a 53-year-old mother of two from Philadelphia, was 10 when her mother suggested she use Johnsons Baby Powder to stay fresh and clean smelling. She continued using it for decades, on her face, between her legs and on her sheets. Many women use baby powder as a feminine hygiene product, applying it to their bodies and breathing in airborne powder. Five years ago, Ms. Kim learned she had invasive ovarian cancer and was treated with chemotherapy. Parts of her colon and intestines were removed. Ms. Kim, one of the plaintiffs in the Missouri case, wants Johnsons Baby Powder taken off the shelves and, if not, warnings put on it. Before the Missouri verdict, Johnson & Johnson had been able to knock back most of the legal challenges that connected talcum powder alone to cancer, by claiming, in part, that the scientific research was flawed and offering studies to the contrary. Of the six cases that Johnson & Johnson has lost on that issue by itself, three decisions were overturned on appeal, one is still being appealed, and one plaintiff won her case but was awarded no damages. One verdict, for $110 million, has been upheld by a judge; the company is appealing. But asbestos, unlike talc, is an indisputable carcinogen. Even trace amounts are considered dangerous. Its dagger-like fibers penetrate deep into tissue and can lead decades later to cancer of the lungs, voice box and ovaries, and to mesothelioma. Several lab tests, some conducted in the past few years by plaintiffs lawyers, have found evidence of asbestos in talc. The link between asbestos and ovarian cancer was first reported in 1958, and in 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer said it was a cause. According to the investigators report, Dr. Fryer began commenting on the womans sex life and suggesting that the woman was in a sexual relationship with a former manager in the lab. In June, she texted her roommate complaining that Dr. Fryer had spent 20 minutes talking about how she and the former manager were probably having sex, using a vulgarity. Like in detail, she wrote. Body parts. A few days later, the woman went to a human resources official to complain about Dr. Fryers behavior. Later that month, her doctor called human resources to say her patient was in a crisis situation, and the woman began a disability leave. She never returned to work at the lab. The accuser has also filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Unwelcome Conduct Other employees told similar stories about Dr. Fryer, both in interviews with The Times and in discussions with Harvards investigator. One incident was raised in the complaint filed by the Title IX office: an episode in which a woman in the lab told a story about bending down to help an older faculty member tie his shoe. According to several witnesses cited in the investigators report, Dr. Fryer launched into an extended monologue implying that the woman had performed fellatio. By at least two accounts, Dr. Fryer put his foot on her desk so that his crotch was in front of her face, in view of several employees, including two other women who told the investigator they were upset by the behavior. The investigator concluded that Dr. Fryers unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature was sufficiently severe that it interfered with the three womens ability to work. Dr. Fryer told the Harvard investigator that that riff was simply a joke and that the employee it involved was laughing hysterically. He questioned whether he was being singled out for scrutiny because of his race. Why am I the only one who violated policy when many others participated? he asked, according to the investigators report. Is it because I am the only professor or because of my skin color? The report responds directly to that point. The investigator, it said, was troubled that Dr. Fryer appeared to discount the significance of his roles as a senior faculty member at the university and faculty director of EdLabs. WASHINGTON A federal judge in Texas struck down the entire Affordable Care Act on Friday on the grounds that its mandate requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional and the rest of the law cannot stand without it. The ruling was over a lawsuit filed this year by a group of Republican governors and state attorneys general. A group of intervening states led by Democrats promised to appeal the decision, which will most likely not have any immediate effect. But it will almost certainly make its way to the Supreme Court, threatening the survival of the landmark health law and, with it, health coverage for millions of Americans, protections for people with pre-existing conditions and much more. In his ruling, Judge Reed OConnor of the Federal District Court in Fort Worth said that the individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance can no longer be sustained as an exercise of Congresss tax power. Accordingly, Judge OConnor, a George W. Bush appointee, said that the individual mandate is unconstitutional and the remaining provisions of the Affordable Care Act are invalid. Why did you choose Aquaman? I felt the Flash had been done before. It had been on TV twice at that point. The one that had not been done was Aquaman. I realized, wow, his character resides in this crazy, big world, and I could do something very interesting with it. I look up to people like Spielberg, Cameron, Lucas, John Carpenter. Im a fan of genre filmmaking, naturally. So I thought I could make Aquaman a genre film, meaning a horror monster movie. DC basically said, yes, you can make Aquaman versus sea monsters if thats what you want. How were you selected to direct Furious 7? Was that an important step in being considered for other big-budget projects like Aquaman? Believe me, Furious 7 was difficult to make, if not the toughest of my career. But that movie really allowed people to look at me as a more complete filmmaker. The Conjuring hadnt come out yet, but Chris Morgan, the producer-writer of the Fast & Furious franchise at the time, had seen The Conjuring and he loved it. Around that point, Justin Lin was finishing Fast & Furious 6, and I think he just needed a break. He wasnt going to come back to do 7. So they were kind of scrambling. I talked about what I wanted to bring from my horror filmmaking into the Fast & Furious world. By that, I meant I wanted to create suspenseful, tension-filled set pieces. And they were excited with what I had to say. You broke through professionally with the original Saw movie, which seems like every filmmakers dream. But what happened next? Saw exploded in a big way and created this big, big franchise. But then I couldnt seem to get out from under its shadow. I only directed the first one, but my name became synonymous with Saw and therefore all the negative connotations I became the father of torture porn. I went off and did Dead Silence and Death Sentence, two movies that worked hard to break away from the image of Saw and ultimately did not work, from a commercial standpoint. That was two strikes against my name and Im thinking, am I in directors jail? All the projects that were coming my way were just copycat projects that werent special for me. And so, I just held out. Then my buddy Leigh Whannell and I just thought, screw all this. Lets go back to our low-budget filmmaking roots. That was when we made Insidious. John J. Gibbons, a lawyer who persuaded the authorities in Newark to provide access to the courts for people detained during riots in 1967 and nearly 40 years later argued successfully before the Supreme Court that foreign prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba had legal rights too, died on Dec. 9 in Maplewood, N.J. He was 94. His death, at an assisted living facility, was confirmed by his daughter Mary Gibbons Whipple, a Superior Court judge in New Jersey. Mr. Gibbons also spent 20 years as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia; he was its chief judge for three years. The Guantanamo detainees 16 were involved in two consolidated cases contended that they had been denied access to lawyers and federal courts in violation of their due process rights. Lawyers representing the administration of President George W. Bush responded that the courts had no jurisdiction over the base because the detainees were not American citizens and not on American soil. So maybe its time to acquaint (or reacquaint) ourselves with the original, and theres no better way of doing it than to read the historian Andrew Robertss Churchill: Walking With Destiny. A review last month in The Times called it the best single-volume biography of Churchill yet written, but its more than that. Its an antidote to the reigning conceits, self-deceptions, half-truths and cliches of our day. For instance: Being born into privilege is ipso facto a privilege. For Churchill who suffered as a child under the remote glare of a contemptuous father and a self-indulgent mother; fought valiantly in four wars by the time he was 25; and earned his own living through prodigious literary efforts that ultimately earned him a Nobel Prize the main privilege was the opportunity to bear up under the immense weight of inner expectation that came with being born to a historic name. Or: To be a member of the establishment is to be a creature of it. Churchill championed free trade to the consternation of Tory protectionists. He supported super-taxes on the rich and pensions for the old to the infuriation of his aristocratic peers. He called for rearmament before both world wars against the hopes and convictions of the pacifists and appeasers in power. His great, unfulfilled political ambition was to create a party of the sensible center. Being at the center of the establishment is what allowed him to be indifferent to and better than it. Or: To be a champion of empire is to be a bigot. In 1899, Churchill envisioned a future South Africa in which Black is to be proclaimed the same as white to be constituted his legal equal, to be armed with political rights. He denounced the 1919 British massacre of Indian demonstrators at Amritsar as a monstrous event. He promoted social reform at home so that Britain could be a worthy leader of its dominions abroad. Churchill was a patriot, a paternalist, a product of his time and, by those standards, a progressive. Or: The moral judgments of the present are superior to those of the past. One of the alleged crimes for which Churchill is now blamed is the perpetration of a genocide in India after a cyclone-caused famine in 1943. Evidence for this is that he used racially insensitive humor during the crisis. Except that Churchill did send whatever food he could spare, Japan was threatening India from Burma, the rest of world was at war, and difficult choices had to be made. The proposal would change the makeup of the committee that draws district lines to allow legislative leaders to appoint eight of 13 members, four of whom would be state lawmakers. For arcane reasons that would be headache-inducing to explain, this strengthens the hand of one faction of N ew Jerseys Democratic Party against the other. More important , the plan would require that districting account for how major political parties performed statewide in elections for governor, senator and president elections that Democratic candidates have dominated for years in New Jersey. While most legislative districts could be drawn to the advantage of one party or the other, the proposal would require that at least 25 percent of the districts be competitive. That would mean that their partisan breakdown would be within five points of the statewide average in those major races. Since the average Democratic statewide vote over the past 10 years has been about 55 percent, according to a study by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, the competitive districts could be 50 to 60 percent Democratic. The study also found that under the plan, Democrats could win as many 70 percent of the legislative seats by winning only 57 percent of the statewide vote. Rather than following the growing trend of establishing independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions, this plan just reworks a bad setup. (The current commission, which operates with no methodological guidance, is appointed by state party leaders, with a tiebreaking person in charge appointed by the State Supreme Court chief justice.) Its not a surprising move by veteran politicians who are experts in protecting their own power. But it flies in the face of Democrats frustration at extreme gerrymandering by the other side. (In Wisconsin, Democrats got 54 percent of the total votes in Novembers State Assembly elections but won only 36 percent of the seats.) Luckily, New Jerseys Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, opposes the move, and several Democrats nationally have criticized it. Also , the fate of the measure depends on a statewide vote by New Jersey residents, not on a vote by members of a gerrymandered Legislature. LONDON Ive recently been struck by how much following British politics reminds me of watching Lost, the long-running TV series from the early 2000s. The show was about a group of plane-crash survivors and was built on a bewildering structure of flashbacks, flash-forwards and, by Season 6, flash-sidewayses. It featured mysterious number sequences, a smoke monster and constant references to the philosophers of the early Enlightenment, the significance of which you later had to trawl internet discussion forums to understand. The tone was one of desperate urgency, and every episode ended on a cliffhanger. There were about 400 important characters. If you missed a week, it was almost impossible to catch up, but somehow nothing really changed throughout the shows 121 episodes. Each involved the same group of people abandoned on an island, trying to think their way out of the mistake their pilot had made in Episode 1. Writing about Brexit, for a journalist, is simultaneously frenetic, heady and dull. The dial fluctuates crazily, but by the end of the day it is often in the same place it was at the start. Its an endless stream of anticlimax, a reporter told me. Almost every day promises to be a grand, important day in our countrys history, but most of them come to nothing. The public, meanwhile, grows increasingly bored and uninterested in us, ever more ready to turn the page or change the channel. A version of this dynamic has been in place for more than two years now, but within the last week it reached new heights. The week started out promisingly enough for journalists hoping for something new to write about. It was the week, in theory, that Parliament was finally going to vote yes or no on a withdrawal agreement from the European Union, a deal 20 months in the making, the negotiations over which have been followed in painstaking detail. WASHINGTON When President Trump suggested that he may intervene in the arrest of a Chinese tech executive, he was seeking to leverage her case into a win on trade. But law enforcement officials say the presidents comments could ultimately undermine Americas ability to enforce tough sanctions on Iran and other rogue nations. Mr. Trump threw himself into the middle of a diplomatic crisis on Tuesday by indicating that he may stop an effort to extradite and prosecute Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at the telecommunications giant Huawei who was arrested in Canada on Saturday on suspicion of fraud related to Iran sanctions, if it would help secure trade concessions from China. The comment has provoked deep concern among current and former Justice Department officials, who say Mr. Trumps willingness to interfere with law enforcement actions to accomplish unrelated trade policy goals could put at risk the United States ability to go after foreign wrongdoers. President Trumps intervention in this case to use the criminal prosecution of Ms. Meng as a political bargaining chip in the United States trade dispute with China not only would complicate vital law enforcement cooperation by the Canadian government in future sensitive matters, but also could undermine the perceived legitimacy, and therefore the success, of the U.S. extradition requests to other countries in national security cases, said David Laufman, who until February led the Justice Department section that enforces export control and sanctions laws. But for Mr. Kushner, it was a rare success after perhaps the most difficult period he has faced as a member of the Trump family and as a high-ranking official in the Trump White House. His close relationship with Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, whom he has defended even after intelligence agencies concluded that the prince ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist, has generated bitter criticism from even Republicans. Within the White House, where Mr. Kushner has feuded with John F. Kelly, the chief of staff and technically his superior, his attempt to replace him with Nick Ayers, an ally, backfired when Mr. Ayers would not agree to Mr. Trumps conditions for the job. And other issues on which Mr. Kushner has focused have gotten little traction. The release of his Middle East peace plan has been delayed until next year, and some of the top people on his team tasked with innovating the government have already left the Trump administration. But criminal justice is something personal. Mr. Kushners father, after being sentenced in 2005, served 14 months in an Alabama federal prison for tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal donations. Jared is committed in a way you can only be when youve seen your daddy hurt, said Van Jones, a liberal CNN host who has worked closely with Mr. Kushner on the issue. What Ive seen is someone who is personally driven to make a powerful change in the experience of people behind bars. Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who had been part of the coalition that pushed a more extensive criminal justice bill during the Obama administration, first approached Mr. Kushner about the issue in the opening months of the administration last year and asked him to meet on the issue. Its fair to say hes a weakened candidate at this point, Matthew Ridenhour, a Republican former member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners and a potential candidate in any new election, said of Mr. Harris. I dont know that hes too tainted, that hes too tainted to win, that hes damaged goods. Asked in the television interview if he felt under attack by his own party, Mr. Harris replied, I certainly dont feel the circling of the wagons around Harris the way I see the Democrats circling the wagons around McCready. He said he had not spoken out until now because his campaign needed to make sure that everything was done decently and in order. Mr. Harris said he hoped his campaign would be exonerated when the facts come out. I mean, I dont know, he said. My hope is that McCrae hasnt done anything wrong. Mr. Harriss allies expect that he would run again if the state orders a new election, but they acknowledge that he would most likely face a challenge from within his own party. Representative Robert M. Pittenger, the Republican incumbent whom Mr. Harris barely beat in a May primary, could run again. That would set up a particularly dramatic showdown because investigators, in addition to examining the general election, are also looking at whether Mr. Dowless may have run an illegal absentee ballot scheme in Bladen County that helped Mr. Harris defeat Mr. Pittenger in the primary. (Mr. Pittenger has not said whether he would run again.) Mr. Ridenhour has also emerged as a possible challenger. In an interview on Friday, he said he would consider a bid for the Ninth District seat but only if Mr. Pittenger declined another campaign. WASHINGTON The Army has charged a Special Forces soldier with premeditated murder in a shooting that happened nearly nine years ago in southern Afghanistan, according to military documents obtained by The New York Times. The accusations against the soldier, Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn, are the latest chapter in a winding story that began after he told the Central Intelligence Agency during a job interview in 2011 that he had killed a suspected Afghan bomb maker a year earlier, during the battle for the city of Marja in Afghanistans volatile Helmand Province. [Update: In a batch of presidential pardons, Trump pardons Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn.] Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for Army Special Operations Command, confirmed the charges on Friday and said a preliminary hearing date had not been set. Task and Purpose first reported the charges. The military opened an initial investigation into the 2010 shooting after Major Golsteyn admitted to it to the C.I.A. The Army closed the case in 2013 without charging Major Golsteyn, but later stripped him of a Silver Star, one of the highest awards for valor, and an elite Special Forces tab. He was also issued a letter of reprimand. Two Times journalists who have been covering the case would be at risk. The judge in the case has threatened journalists with contempt of court charges, which can bring up to five years in prison. Some publications that have published the news have no full-time staff in Australia and face no such risk. Even naming them appears to be illegal. But the battle reaches beyond one particular case. Its a contest of competing democratic values. The core debate is an old one, pitting the right of the accused to a fair trial against the right of free speech, and of the public to know whats going on in the courtroom. Those poles are not mutually exclusive: Trials in Australia, as in the United States, are usually both open and fair. What you need for a fair trial are fair and unbiased jurors, not people who have been kept in the dark, said Kurt Wimmer, a media and technology lawyer who is a partner with Covington and Burling in Washington. Because of the way technology has shifted the media landscape, gag orders now raise additional questions of scale and geography. The question now is whether a local judge, in protecting the right to a fair trial, should have the unilateral authority to silence journalists and publishers around the globe. In the case at hand, a criminal matter involving someone whose previous position of power touched the lives of millions all over the world, the stakes are especially high. The defendant is well known, having played a public role with issues and institutions that inspire strong emotions, making bias harder to stamp out. On the other side are not just journalists, but also those who were affected by the defendants actions over many years in many places. They demand accountability, and also claim a right to know, seeing secrecy as an accomplice to the crimes of the case. But she held out her own country as standing strong against the winds disrupting the liberal world order. I would argue and I dont think this is gloating at all I think Canada is the strongest liberal democracy in the world right now, she said. And if you guys disagree with me, name me one thats stronger. Right? Truly. Were standing pretty strong, and thats great. And with that, she took a few audience questions, smiled again and bicycled off into the night. Interested in catching up on our event with Chrystia Freeland? You can watch a full video replay here. ______ This weeks Trans Canada and Around the Times highlights were compiled by Lindsey Wiebe, the Canada audience growth editor. Trans Canada Chinas arrest of two Canadians this week following the detention of a Huawei executive in Vancouver has left Canada trapped between its largest trading partners. The entrepreneur Michael Spavor and the former diplomat Michael Kovrig spent decades working in authoritarian states. Now they are at the center of a perilous geopolitical battle. We cant tell you how this vast cave in British Columbia went undetected for so long. But we can offer you a peek inside. Montreal is the latest city to grapple with coyotes attacking pets and people. Officials have landed on an unusual plan to scare them off. Helen Klaben was only 20 when she survived a month and a half in the Yukon winter after her plane crashed. Around The Times Mobile phone apps constantly collect detailed location data from users. And theyre not keeping it to themselves. The opioid epidemic has given rise to a new kind of horror film: The overdose video. For people portrayed in them, life is never the same. Hockey, at its highest level, hasnt been played in Seattle in nearly a century. But a Canadian transplant could help the citys new N.H.L. team find its fandom. In this weeks A Word With column, the actor Eric McCormack discussed two very different roles, and how he thinks about his dual Canada-U.S. citizenship. Ellen DeGeneres is getting sick of dancing and considering whether to retire from her long-running hit show. Ultimately, the Macintosh factory closed in 1992, in part because it never realized the production volume that Mr. Jobs had envisioned such sales numbers for the Mac would only come later. So, the story of Silicon Valleys success turned out to be the ability of a company like Apple to devise manufacturing supply chains that stretch all the way around the globe, taking advantage of both low-cost labor and lax environmental regulations. We dont have a manufacturing culture, Mr. Gassee said of the nations high-technology heartland, meaning the substrate, the schooling, the apprentices, the subcontractors. It took Mr. Jobs a bit longer to grasp that idea , however. In 1990, just a mile and half from where he had built the original Mac factory, he created another $10 million one to manufacture his Next Inc. personal workstation. Like the early Macintosh, however, he was never able to make flashy jet-black Next machines in quantities to support a Silicon Valley-based assembly operation. The business of location data has grown dramatically in recent years, a New York Times investigation found. Apps on smartphones send precise location data sometimes thousands of times a day. Companies prize the information, which can help advertisers target consumers and investments funds understand trends. Though the raw data is anonymous, it can often be linked to peoples identities by comparing movements to publicly available information like home addresses. Style arbiters, including Vogue magazine, have taken to calling it war-core. Fashion ideates whats going on around it, said Francesca Granata, an assistant professor of fashion studies at the Parsons School of Design in New York. And these days, she said, it is making sense of societal anxieties or fears. Cultural manifestations of our collective anxiety are everywhere, said Roseanne Morrison, the fashion director at the Doneger Group, a retail and forecasting consultancy firm in New York. She points to shows including Black Mirror and The Handmaids Tale, the video game Fortnite and the constant drumbeat of news about climate change, political unrest and economic troubles. People like to mentally prepare for the end of the world, Ms. Morrison said. This blurring between reality and fantasy, were seeing it in books, were seeing it in movies, its affecting the psyche. In other words, its the end of the world as we know it dress accordingly. Younger designers have pushed the doomsday references further. Matthew Williams of Alyx, a brand based in Ferrara, Italy, created a tactical vest festooned with cinch straps, Velcro pockets and other details borrowed from military vests. Kathleen Meagher Ughetta and Andrew James Wood were married Dec. 15 at the Lake Placid Lodge in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Rev. John R. Yonkovig, a Roman Catholic priest, performed the ceremony. The bride, 26, is an oncology certified nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She was until May 2018 a home hospice nurse with Calvary Hospice in New York. She has a bachelor of arts in global studies from the University of North Carolina and a bachelor of science in nursing from Johns Hopkins University. She is the daughter of Richard L. Ughetta of Chatham, N.J., and the late Suzanne Hanlon Ughetta. The groom, 25, is a senior consultant with the treasury advisory group of Deloitte & Touche in New York. He also graduated from the University of North Carolina. He is a son of Laurie Campbell Wood of York, S.C., and Todd K. Wood of Chatham. Ms. Ughetta and Mr. Wood met on a set of monkey bars at Lafayette Avenue Elementary School in Chatham, and their relationship was set in motion when he asked to hold her hand at their schools fifth-grade roller-skating party. Later that school year during one very memorable recess, they shared a first kiss. He and others pointed to the fact that even though Congress erased the tax penalty, it did not touch the rest of the sprawling health act. A longstanding legal doctrine called severability holds that when a court excises one provision of a statute, it should leave the rest of the law in place unless Congress explicitly stated that the statute could not survive without that provision. In this case Congresss intention was particularly clear, legal experts said. Congress amended one provision of a 2,000 page law and did not touch the rest of the law so it is implausible to believe that Congress intended the rest of the law not to exist, said Abbe R. Gluck, a health law expert at Yale Law School. Judge O Connor also cited congressional intent, focusing on language from the 2010 law, which underscored the significance of the individual mandate to the entire act. But he largely ignored the 2017 congressional action. In essence, legal scholars said, he looked to one congressional view and not the more recent one. And in so doing, he opened the door for House Democrats to intervene in successive appeals. On Saturday aides to Representative Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to become the next speaker of the House, said she would move quickly to notify the Trump administration that House Democrats intended to step in to defend the law in the case. As the legal showdown plays out, efforts to protect the A.C.A. are also underway in the courts. Earlier this year the state attorney general of Maryland sued the Trump administration for attempting to gut the act. The case is pending. Nicholas Bagley, a health law expert at the University of Michigan, suggested that Judge OConnor may not yet be done with the case. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Mr. Bagley noted that the judge had not yet addressed a handful of central issues in the suit, nor had he issued a final ruling indicating whether the act should fall immediately. Judge OConnor could indeed hold onto the case before an appellate court takes it up. Congress is allowed to amend its own law, and the Constitution does not permit any court to undermine that power. Still, Judge OConnor wrote that we cannot divine the intent of the 2017 Congress because Congress didnt have the votes to repeal the entire law but wished it could. Thats ridiculous. Congressional intent is all about the votes. One would not say Congress wished it could repeal the Civil Rights Act if only a minority of Congress supported such a move. It is conservative judicial doctrine 101, as repeatedly emphasized by Justice Antonin Scalia, that the best way to understand congressional intent is to look at the text Congress was able to get through the legislative process. Instead, Judge OConnor goes down a rabbit hole, hypothesizing whether the 2010 Congress would have enacted the entire law without the mandate and whether the law can function without it. What findings Congress made in 2010 are irrelevant to the interpretation of this later legislative act. Regardless, Congresss own act of 2017 makes clear Congress thinks the law works without an operational mandate. To believe otherwise is to assume Congress enacts unworkable laws and that is not what courts are allowed to presume. Judge OConnors claim to the contrary is the equivalent of saying that your 2017 tax cut isnt valid because the 2010 Congress also enacted a tax bill, and wouldnt have included your tax cut there. What happens next? The health law is likely to continue in place while the case moves to the higher courts. California, the leader of a group of states that stepped in to defend the law because the Justice Department refused to do so, will almost certainly go to the Fifth Circuit the federal appellate court that presides over Texas to have the effects of the decision paused and the case reviewed. The House of Representatives will also likely join the lawsuit once the Democrats take control. If the Fifth Circuit reverses Judge OConnor, we think it unlikely the Supreme Court will take the case. If the Fifth Circuit upholds the ruling, we are skeptical a majority of the court would sustain this weak analysis. Chief Justice John Roberts is sensitive to allowing the court to be an instrument of politics, particularly when doing so violates separation of powers. Justice Brett Kavanaugh is an expert on statutory interpretation who has previously said that courts should sever an offending provision from the statute to the narrowest extent possible unless Congress has indicated otherwise in the text of the statute. To do otherwise would be for the court to substitute its own judgment for Congresss. Justice Clarence Thomas has opined that the kind of hypothesizing analysis on which Judge OConnor relied is inappropriate: Congresss intentions do not count, he wrote earlier this year, unless they are enshrined in a text that made it through the constitutional processes of bicameralism and presentment as everyone agrees the 2017 tax bill did. Friday was another sad day for the rule of law the deployment of judicial opinions employing questionable legal arguments to support a political agenda. This is not how judges are supposed to act. Reasonable people may disagree on whether the health law represented the best way to reform Americas health care system, and reasonable people may disagree on whether it should be replaced with a different approach. Yet reasonable people should understand such choices are left to Congress, not to the courts. Ryan Zinke, the secretary of the Interior, is the second devoted cheerleader for President Trumps boneheaded strategy of energy dominance to be ushered out the door. The first was Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Like Mr. Pruitt, Mr. Zinke leaves under a cloud of possible ethical violations. Also like Mr. Pruitt, Mr. Zinke promoted the rapid development of fossil fuels coal in Mr. Pruitts case, oil and gas in Mr. Zinkes at a time when nearly every reputable scientist says that the world needs to produce and consume less of these fuels, not more, and swiftly replace them with carbon-free alternatives to avert the worst consequences of climate change. Unfortunately for the environmental community, not to mention the health of the planet, there is likely to be little change in policy at the Interior Department, just as there was no fundamental change at the E.P.A., where Andrew R. Wheeler, an industry lobbyist, replaced Mr. Pruitt. Mr. Zinkes second in command and possible successor is David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist and an oil and gas man to the core. And lest we forget, the policy is synonymous with Mr. Trump himself: His appointees in the environmental arena were chosen for their fealty to the America First energy strategy contained in a series of executive orders early in his presidency aimed at rolling back just about every useful thing President Barack Obama had done to combat global warming and protect priceless public lands from commercial intrusion. Despite serving less than two years, Mr. Zinke racked up an impressive number of ethics investigations. At last count, his leadership had spurred some 15 inquiries into a colorful array of purported misbehavior ranging from conflicts of interest to the misuse of taxpayer funds to violating the Hatch Act, which bars federal officials from using their positions to influence elections. Live-streaming church services is nothing new, and churches have been making and selling recordings of their sermons ever since the advent of cassette tapes. The intention behind live-streaming services to make church, and its attendant benefits of community, prayer and worship, available to everyone with a smartphone is a good one. But it presumes that God is primarily present to us one on one, as individuals, rather than as a community of believers. This is not what the Bible says. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says that where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. This passage suggests the necessity of being part of a community in which we approach God, rather than doing it alone. In his letters to early Christian communities, the Apostle Paul describes the church as a body comprising different but equally necessary members. When the church at Corinth was bickering over the importance of different spiritual gifts, Paul wrote to remind them that the body does not consist of one member but of many. He writes, The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Later, he says, If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Religious affiliation in America is down, according to a 2015 Pew survey. Religious institutions more and more reflect an insular community, and Churchome Global is the best distillation of where American Christianity is headed your living room, your phone, your television. No longer will you have to leave your house to interact with fellow worshipers. You can do it all from the comfort, and isolation, of your own home. But this individual, isolated experience of church is the poorer one for those of us who are able to go. (Live-streaming services are of course important for the homebound.) In an era when everything from dates to grocery delivery can be scheduled and near instant, church attendance shouldnt be one more thing to get from an app. We can be members of a body best when we are all together we can mourn when we observe and wipe away tears, just as we can rejoice when we can share smiles and have face-to-face conversations. Studies show that regular attendance at religious services correlates with better sleep, lower blood pressure in older adults and a reduced risk of suicide. I doubt these same phenomena occur when online church is substituted for the real thing, because the truth is that community is good for us. We need one another. Two Christmases ago, my husband and I were dealing with our second miscarriage in three months. It was a time that was fraught with anxiety and debilitating sickness. There were so many Sundays when streaming a church service would have been preferable to getting out of bed, and there were Sundays when I couldnt get out of bed at all. A DNA test would not reveal any of this history. It would not tell me anything about one of the enduring stories in my family, that my great-grandfather helped to found schools for his people at the turn of the last century and was forced to leave North Carolina when his entire town was burned to the ground, presumably by people who disliked the towns organizing. He came north. He went to Dartmouth College. He studied there in the early 1900s, amid the rise of eugenics movements. He was with a handful of other black students. One of them, lighter-skinned, remembered him only as that little black man. His skin was the darkest of all of them. When he graduated from Dartmouth, he was still listed in the New Hampshire census as a popcorn seller. Many northern white universities would not hire a black English professor in 1910. He left his family to travel the South for decades, teaching at black colleges. He created my grandmother, one of the strongest, most-loving, smartest women I ever knew. I was terrified of her for most of my life. She moved to an all-white suburb of Boston at the start of the 1950s to make sure that her children had access to a good education. She worked for years as an administrative assistant at Harvard University and opened her doors to international students in the Boston area every Thanksgiving. She, too, had a school an informal one she ran for my mother and her siblings during the summer so that they could be twice as good as everyone else once they got to school in the fall. If I were to have a child now, its DNA would not contain any trace of any of this story and would certainly not act as evidence to support it. I would, perhaps, look to see whether it loved books and education as much as its maternal ancestors did. But DNA would not reveal whether a child I had now would have the fortitude to survive the world it would be born into. If I had a child now, it would be a part-black, part-Jewish child in a country where white supremacist attacks do not look to be ending anytime soon. It would be a c ountry that could lose much of its coastline to rising sea levels. The morning after the 2016 election, overwhelmed with what felt like the inescapable pull of history and biology, I told my mother: I guess this means Im never having children. I cant imagine giving birth to a child under Trump, and in four years it will be too late for me. The race is not to the swift, we learn from Ecclesiastes, nor the battle to the strong. But as Damon Runyan once wrote, thats the way to bet. One of my students at the University of Washington, where I taught animal behavior and evolutionary biology, once asked me if the Bible was inconsistent with evolution by natural selection, since as she understood it the biological race is indeed won by the swift and battles by the strong. She was surprised by my response. I grant that much of the time, Runyons cynicism is consistent with the nonhuman world, no less than the human one. When a cheetah chases a gazelle, the race is typically won by whichever is swiftest. This arms race between predator and prey has resulted in remarkable speediness on the part of each: faster gazelles select genetically for faster cheetahs, and vice versa. When two bull elk battle over which one gets to control and mate with a harem of cow elk, Id bet on the stronger. But as I explained to my student, even in the supposed world of nature red in tooth and claw, the fiercest dont always win. This is especially true because winning in evolutionary terms has very little to do with being victorious mano a mano, and everything to do with being successful in getting ones genes projected into the future. (More precisely, winning genes are those that manage to promote identical copies of themselves in succeeding generations.) Examples are legion. Among those highly aggressive bull elk, some individuals spend so much time and energy displaying and fighting that unassuming and unaggressive bulls sometimes sneak into the harem and mate with females while the ostensible lord and master is preoccupied with maintaining his dominion by clashing antlers with his more obvious competitors. My mother did not want me to donate: She did not want a large scar on my unmarried abdomen. But to be a living organ donor is a curious pressure itself, knowing that you can save a life with your decision. The health care system treats organ donors with unusual respect, too: Laboratory technicians moved me to the head of the line and congratulated me for my courage. Doctors praised me, pointing me out to other patients. My father was like a child, wandering off on his own, his mind clouded by his failing liver. I wanted to pick him up before he never came back. But there was the remote and real possibility of death one in 200 liver donors die because of the surgery. What if I never woke up after anesthesia? I didnt have the courage and readiness they credited me with. Yet at the hospital, I noticed women all around me mothers, sisters, daughters, daughters-in-law and sisters-in-law. They were donors or donors-in-waiting, heavily outnumbering male donors. I was stunned by the apparent gender disparity in organ donation. I used Indias Right to Information law, which empowers citizens to demand almost any information from the government, to find out if women were, indeed, the majority of donors in the country. Data from four major hospitals from 2008 to 2017 revealed that women constituted 74 percent of kidney donors. Between 2009 and 2018, women were 60.5 percent of donors for liver transplants, according to the data I received from five private hospitals. Those are all legally verified transplants, approved by Indian law. They dont include the organs stolen from women. Data from several other countries shows that the majority of living organ donors are women. In the United States, which performs the highest number of living donor organ transplants in the world, women were 62 percent of kidney donors between 2008 and 2017 and 53 percent of liver donors. And women represent a small proportion of organ transplant recipients in India. Based on the data I received, women made up 19 percent of recipients of kidney transplants and 24 percent for liver. Indian women give more and receive far less. An Indian crowdfunding platform, Milaap, further illustrated this gender disparity. Of the 495 funded liver transplants among the most expensive surgeries in India 66 percent of the campaigns were for men and 34 percent for women. The gap is narrower for pediatric transplants: Of the 305 pediatric liver transplants campaigned for on the platform, 56 percent were for boys and 44 percent for girls. Yet, biliary atresia the most common condition that necessitates pediatric liver transplants is slightly more common in girls than in boys. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Its awkward to find yourself in a police state interviewing people about their leaders penchant for starving children, torturing women or dismembering critics. The result is nervous smiles. And long pauses in the conversation. Its sad because on this visit, I found Saudi Arabia truly is changing under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. You feel a dynamism on the ground in Riyadh, and young Saudis are thrilled that the country finally has a bold leader trying to modernize the economy. One businesswoman, Naha Said Kattan, told me that shes grateful to Prince Mohammed that she could drive herself to our interview. I told her that I was delighted for her, but that it was difficult to celebrate while the prince also imprisons womens rights leaders and reportedly has had four flogged, tortured and sexually harassed, with one attempting suicide as a result. Another awkward silence. Ive been fiercely critical of the mad prince, so I was a bit surprised to receive a Saudi visa apparently because I was traveling with a United Nations delegation returning from Yemen. In a reflection of the mood today, American friends seemed less concerned about my safety in rebel-held Yemen than in Riyadh. When I called Mr. Strouse, he emphasized that researchers psychologizing too often overlooks real suffering. I grew up in Appalachia, and I know these people intimately, he said. I love them. Ive seen what has happened to them over the last few decades. Im a working-class person, a former labor organizer, and I feel the Democrats have stabbed them in the back over a number of years. I now live in New York and live a lifestyle that most of my former neighbors wouldnt approve of, but I think its a bummer when people here misunderstand people back home and pathologize them. Are these scholars pathologizing or just exploring the nonrational impulses that help explain why some Americans see Mr. Trump as a swindler of working-class people, while others declare him their savior? Political scientists often dismiss The Authoritarian Personality as a relic of its time, but some still speculate about Republican voters relationships with their fathers (and Mr. Trumps own relationship with his). And perhaps the most popular method for studying modern authoritarianism takes its cue from one of the F-scales prompts: Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues children should learn. Todays researchers often diagnose latent authoritarians through a set of questions about preferred traits in children: Would you rather your child be independent or have respect for elders? Have curiosity or good manners? Be self-reliant or obedient? Be well behaved or considerate? The normal response from people is: I want both. I want them to be curious, and I dont want them throwing food around in a restaurant, said Mr. Weiler (who teaches at the same university I do, although we had never spoken before I began to work on this article). The reality is surely messier than what were capturing in this survey data, he said. What makes me comfortable with this is that politics forces us to make choices too. These questions seem to offer unmediated access to peoples pre-political temperaments. Yet a glance at the Christian group Focus on the Familys biblical principles for spanking reminds us that your approach to child rearing is not pre-political; it is shorthand for your stance in the culture wars. Moreover, using the child-rearing questionnaire, African-Americans score as far more authoritarian than whites. This result forced researchers to grant what should have been obvious: Attitudes toward parenting vary across cultures, and for centuries African-Americans have seen the consequences of a social and political hierarchy arrayed against them, so they can hardly be expected to favor it no matter what they think about child rearing. The child-trait test, then, is a tool to identify white people who are anxious about their decline in status and power. Mr. Weiler and his co-author, Marc Hetherington, have tried to shift the debate in their new book, Prius or Pickup?, by ditching the charged term authoritarian. Instead, they divide people into three temperamental camps: fixed (people who are wary of change and set in their ways), fluid (those who are more open to new experiences and people) and mixed (those who are ambivalent). The term authoritarian connotes a fringe perspective, and the perspective were describing is far from fringe, Mr. Weiler said. Its central to American public opinion, especially on cultural issues like immigration and race. Russian leaders have their own security concerns, since they are geographically close to several nations, including North Korea, China, India and Pakistan, that have growing intermediate-range missile forces, and because the United States has a formidable advantage in sea-based and air-launched missiles. But unilaterally abrogating one of the most consequential arms agreements in history would be dangerous and cause new tensions with European allies who are already skeptical of Mr. Trumps commitments to the continents security and dont want the United States to abandon the treaty. By announcing plans to withdraw, as the president did with earlier agreements on climate change, Asian trade and Irans nuclear program, he is again undercutting American global leadership and putting the United States in position to be blamed for the I.N.F. Treatys collapse, rather than Russia, the actual culprit. It would be even more harmful to let New Start, with its mandated caps on nuclear warhead deployments and valuable requirements for verification and data exchanges, unravel. Unlike the I.N.F. Treaty, New Start restrains core Russian strategic forces that could directly target the United States, not just its allies. The Russian violation of the I.N.F. Treaty centers on an SSC-8 land-based cruise missile. American officials say it can carry nuclear and conventional warheads, is fired from a mobile launcher and has been tested at a distance of between 300 and 3,000 miles, the range prohibited by the treaty. The missiles, located in western and central Russia, are intended to intimidate Europe, especially former Soviet states aligned with the West. But Russia so far probably has no more than 50 of them , a relatively small number. While threatening to Europe, the missile doesnt change the balance of power with the United States. And Washington has other weapons, not prohibited by the treaty, to counter it. Which encourages speculation that the administration may be more interested in abandoning the I.N.F. Treaty so that it can deploy medium-range missiles to Asia. China is a growing threat that relies on similar missiles for 95 percent of its ground-based fleet. It also is not part of the treaty and is not restricted in its missile development. That same goes for Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and the other six countries with fast-growing missile arsenals. Two decades ago, Judge OConnor a native Houstonian who is married and has two daughters was a Dallas-area federal prosecutor in his 30s. He had climbed up the legal ladder after trying local criminal cases as an assistant district attorney in Tarrant County, which includes part of Fort Worth. But his political and legal orbit changed in 2003. He was tapped by the Justice Department to serve in Washington as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, advising the Republican chairman at the time, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, and drafting legislation on terrorism and sentencing reform. He provided behind-the-scenes legal guidance, and impressed the Republican ranks of senators, including the two who represented Texas at the time, John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison. A few years later, in June 2007, few were surprised when Mr. Bush nominated him to become a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate that November. In one of his first major rulings, in 2008, Judge OConnor dismissed a voting-rights lawsuit against the city of Farmers Branch, Tex., in which Hispanic residents claimed that the at-large system for City Council seats diluted the voting strength of minorities. In August 2016, he blocked the Obama administration from enforcing guidelines intended to strengthen transgender rights. The administration had issued a letter to public schools stating that transgender students should be free to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identities, and that schools that refused to comply could lose federal funds. A Republican coalition of states, led by Texas, sued the administration, saying the administration overstepped its authority, and Judge OConnor agreed. Just a few months after that ruling, the judge halted another Obama administration effort to protect transgender rights. Texas and other Republican-led states had filed a suit challenging rules that would ban doctors and hospitals from discriminating against transgender people. Social conservatives said the rules would force some doctors to act against their religious beliefs. Judge OConnor agreed, finding that the rules likely violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Conservatives have also been disappointed by some of his rulings, including one on immigration, a realm in which Democrats have often scored victories by turning to federal judges. By the time Ms. Chicago arrived in Belen in the 1990s, New Mexico had solidified itself as a relatively welcoming place to settle for artists and writers from around the world. Many moved to small towns and villages, lured by the low cost of living and a sense of cultural diversity in a state with large Hispanic and Native American populations. In a telephone interview, Ms. Chicago said she chose Belen partly because of the towns location, near Albuquerque but far from big cities like New York and Los Angeles. She said this gave her and her husband, the photographer Donald Woodman, a chance to focus on their work without many distractions. The idea for the museum was hatched by Ronnie Torres, a former mayor of Belen who also happens to be Ms. Chicagos hairdresser and a current member of the City Council. Mr. Torres said he wanted to highlight how Ms. Chicago and Mr. Woodman had contributed to Belen, arriving with little money but eventually renovating a derelict hotel near the rail yards that is now their home. The proposed museum would be more threadbare than opulent. Mr. Torres asked Ms. Chicago and Mr. Woodman to contribute a modest building to house the museum in addition to paying for utilities, a curator, insurance and a gift shop. Mr. Torres also asked the city to pay for a part-time employee at the museum at an annual cost of about $13,650 a year. Some in Belen welcomed the idea, pointing to how the minimalist artist Donald Judd made the remote town of Marfa in West Texas a destination for art lovers. But in recent public meetings, members of the City Council expressed fear over how a Judy Chicago museum and the controversy it might create could change the town. I dont want protesters with pitchforks and torches, said Donald Carter, a council member since 2012. Some of the art might upset the masses once they start looking up some of this stuff. The National Park Foundation, the charity arm of the park service, bought the home from the King Center for $1.9 million. Money for the purchase came from private gifts by anonymous donors, and the home was turned over to the National Park Service on Nov. 27, Will Shafroth, the foundation president, said on Friday. News of the sale surfaced this week. We didnt get to renovate it at the level that it should have been and preserve it at the level it should have been, Bernice A. King, Dr. Kings daughter and chief executive of the King Center, said. I think the time was ripe to do this, and it gives us an opportunity to transfer this to an entity that does an extremely good job at preserving and telling the stories of our history in America. The park service has been running tours of the home since 1984, after Congress made it part of a larger national historic site that includes the King Center complex, which is also where Dr. King is buried. This is a big deal, one of the most important acquisitions, Mr. Shafroth said. He said the park service plans to improve and enhance the home, which in 2017 had 584,435 visitors. Details of the improvements, which will include repairs not visible to visitors, such as the heating, are still being determined. Mr. Shafroth said repairs would cost in the millions of dollars but could not provide a specific figure. Democrats also intend to convene hearings to spotlight the sweeping impact of the Texas ruling and lay the groundwork for their case to reclaim the White House in 2020. If upheld on appeal, the decision could deprive an estimated 17 million Americans of their health insurance including millions who gained coverage through the laws expansion of Medicaid. Still others could see premiums skyrocket as price protections for pre-existing conditions lapse. The immediate practical effect of the ruling was not clear. While the judge declared that the whole law was invalid, as Texas and 19 other states had asserted, he did not issue an injunction to stop federal officials from enforcing it, and the effects of the judgment could be delayed pending appeals. But the timing of the decision seemed designed to maximize political reverberations. It came a day before open enrollment was to end for coverage under the health law for the coming year. Sign-ups were already expected to dip after successive blows to the law by Congress and the Trump administration. But the passage of statewide referendums last month and the election of Democratic governors could also mean coverage expansions in the coming year under the health laws Medicaid expansion. In an email to millions of Americans on Saturday, the Trump administration tried to allay concerns caused by the court decision in the Texas case. The case is still moving through the courts, said the message from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The marketplaces are still open for business, and we will continue with open enrollment. There will be no impact to enrollees current coverage or their coverage in a 2019 plan. But Mr. Trump was in a celebratory mood. It was a big, big victory by a highly respected judge, highly, highly respected in Texas, and on the assumption that the Supreme Court upholds, we will get great, great health care for our people, Mr. Trump told reporters on Saturday. Well have to sit down with the Democrats to do it, but Im sure they want to do it also. WASHINGTON President Trump walked on the muddy, rain-drenched grounds of Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, finding himself in an unusual position for a voluble man: a solitary figure, as he attended a ceremony to lay wreaths for the fallen. It was a studied contrast, and an implicit atonement, to his decisions last month to forgo a ceremony in France and the traditional visit to Arlington on Veterans Day. The president, holding a black umbrella, made his way on Saturday among the headstones of the military veterans who are buried at Arlington. He chatted with a guide as he viewed some of the thousands of wreaths that had been laid for an event called Wreaths Across America. During a two-day trip to Paris in November, as part of ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Mr. Trump scrapped a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, near where the Battle of Belleau Wood was fought. Aides cited rain, saying that the weather could have caused difficulty for the presidents helicopter. Wisconsins judiciary, officially nonpartisan, has been marred in recent years by political intrigue, divisive elections and even accusations of one judge placing another in a chokehold. Now it may decide the fate of the outgoing governors new laws to limit the power of his successor. There will be a challenge, no doubt, Gov. Scott Walker said a few days before he signed bills expanding the power of legislative Republicans he teamed up with over the last decade. Theyve challenged just about everything we or lawmakers have done. The threat of litigation has rarely dissuaded Mr. Walker, a Republican who reshaped Wisconsin in his conservative image and who signed the power-shifting measures on Friday afternoon as one of his final acts in office. The judiciary has upheld several of Mr. Walkers signature policies in recent years, despite challenges from the left. And as Mr. Walker predicted, liberal groups quickly vowed legal action on the new legislation. This is a shameful attack on our democracy by politicians who will do anything to hold onto power, said Eric H. Holder Jr., an attorney general under President Barack Obama who leads one of the groups that has promised a court fight. In a statement, Mr. Holder called the new laws grossly partisan and deeply undemocratic. ASUNCION, Paraguay Even Paraguays antidrug chief couldnt believe what was happening. In October, officials there said they had foiled a plot to deploy a car bomb packed with 187 pounds of explosives to free a jailed drug lord. Days later, heavily armed men threatened in a video to kill the countrys attorney general. There is a price on your head, the men warned. Then came two chilling murders: A lawyer who represented drug king pins was assassinated as she stepped out of a meeting, and a young woman was stabbed to death with a dinner knife while visiting a drug trafficker in prison. These past incidents are like scenes you only see in movies, said Arnaldo Guizzio, the head of Paraguays counternarcotics agency. MEXICO CITY His mother was grievously ill, nearing death. So Jesus Vicuna, 17, made a deal with the heavens. In his prayers for her recovery, he vowed to make a certain painful sacrifice in exchange. Which is how he found himself the other day walking on his knees, under the weight of a heavy backpack, along a crowded sidewalk in Mexico City. He winced with each step, and every few paces he fell onto his arms with a groan, seeking a moment of relief that never came. But more than 20 blocks after he began this ordeal the last stage of a three-day journey he knee-shuffled the last few yards into the New Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexicos most important shrine, and collapsed face down on the cool stone floor, gasping for air. Mr. Vicuna had reached his goal. HERAT, Afghanistan It was supposed to be a grand moment for President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan the opening of a new trade corridor that brought his landlocked country a link to Europe through Central Asia, and promised him some rare positive news as a re-election campaign approaches. But what grabbed the headlines after Thursdays event was chaos and violence. Members of the presidents staff, in front of hundreds of people, assaulted a young member of the crowd who wanted to hand a petition to the president. Videos posted on social media in the days since portray an even more chaotic scene, with the president screaming at and slapping one of his own aides for mistreating the young man. Mr. Ghanis elite guards, the Presidential Protective Service, continued to assault the man once he was taken out of the presidents sight, footage suggests, and he remains in detention. It was not an isolated incident. Those who guard senior Afghan officials undoubtedly a difficult task in one of the most dangerous countries in the world have repeatedly assaulted civilians, including journalists. In most cases, there is no indication that anyone was held accountable, further fueling a widespread culture of violence with impunity. Indian security forces shot dead seven civilians and wounded dozens of others on Saturday during a protest over the killing of three militants in a gun battle in restive Kashmir, the authorities said. A defense spokesman, Col. Rajesh Kalia, said the police operation had been spurred in response to intelligence reports about the presence of militants in a village in Pulwama district, south of the states summer capital, Srinagar. During the operation, militants fired upon troops, leading to a gun battle in which three militants were killed, he said. A senior police officer told Reuters that large numbers of civilians then gathered at the site, leading to clashes between with security forces, in which seven people were killed and about 50 others injured. A witness, Mohammad Ayuob, said Indian troops had fired at the civilians when they tried to retrieve the body of a militant. Jammu and Kashmir is mainly Hindu Indias only Muslim-majority state. India and Pakistan both rule the region in part but claim it in full. India has accused Pakistan of fomenting trouble in its part of Kashmir, a charge that the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, denies. The Himalayan state has been particularly tense over the past few months as the Hindu nationalist party of Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, has pulled out of local government, leaving a power void. Widespread protests have broken out in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir over the killings. Security has been tightened and troops have rushed to potential hot spots. A curfew was imposed in Pulwama town and surrounding areas, according to news media reports. The separatist group Hurriyat Conference called for a three-day strike and protests across Kashmir. Bullets and pellets rain, its chairman, Mirwaiz Omar, posted on Twitter, adding that supporters would march toward an army cantonment on Monday so that the Indian government could kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily. The authorities have suspended train services in the Kashmir Valley and shut down mobile internet services to try to prevent the unrest from spreading. Indian security forces say they have killed 242 militants this year. In addition, 101 civilians and 82 security officials have also died, according to officials. The death toll is the highest in more than a decade. SYDNEY, Australia Australia announced on Saturday that it now recognizes West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and will move its Tel Aviv embassy once a peace settlement is reached. Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australian said on Saturday. It is the right of every country to determine its national capital, Mr. Morrison said in a speech to the Sydney Institute, a public affairs forum. We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status determination, he added. PARIS The fifth weekend of Yellow Vest protests against President Emmanuel Macrons economic and social policies drew far fewer demonstrators on Saturday, but thousands still filled the streets of Paris and other French cities in defiance of government security warnings and despite bitter cold. The demonstrations were also calmer than in past weeks though some scuffles broke out between protesters and the police, who fired tear gas and water cannons several times to disperse crowds. The ranks of protesters dwindled after Mr. Macron this week promised tax cuts and wage increases to mollify the Yellow Vests, who are angry over the cost of living and high taxes. It was still not clear whether Mr. Macron was able to convince many of the protesters, as he struggles to address an unstructured and leaderless movement with myriad grievances. MOSCOW Ukraine took a major step on Saturday toward establishing its own, autonomous Orthodox Church, setting the stage for increased tensions with Russia by altering a centuries-old religious tradition under which the Kiev church answered to Moscow. Some 190 bishops, priests and other church figures spent the day closeted in St. Sophias Cathedral in downtown Kiev to elect the newly unified Ukrainian churchs head, Metropolitan Epiphanius. He is scheduled to travel in January to Istanbul, the historical seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church, to receive an official order granting autonomy. Hundreds of supporters of the move cheered and some wept as President Petro O. Poroshenko, who had attended the session, emerged from the cathedral to announce that Ukraine had a new church leader. Quoting from the national poet, Taras Shevchenko, Mr. Poroshenko said that Ukraine will no longer drink Moscow poison from the Moscow cup, and he called on supporters to remember the days events as the final acquisition of independence from Russia. An American psychology student who was fatally stabbed in her Netherlands apartment on Wednesday had texted a friend in the United States six days earlier, saying her roommate had threatened to kill three people. Sarah Papenheim, 21, told her friend she was going to have to go to police. The friend, who shared the text messages with The Associated Press on Friday, isnt sure if she ever did. I was concerned, Ms. Papenheims friend, Adam Pryor, said about receiving that text on Dec. 6. She said she was going to the police. It didnt feel like she was in danger. Ms. Papenheim, a native of Minnesota, was stabbed Wednesday at her apartment near Erasmus University in the port city of Rotterdam, where she had been studying since 2016. Police tried unsuccessfully to revive her after arriving at her home after reports of an argument. MOSCOW Ukrainian officials have been raising alarms about what they say is a huge buildup of Russian troops, tanks and artillery pieces along their border that could signal preparations for an invasion. While the Russian military presence along the border is undisputed, some analysts have questioned its characterization as a buildup that might telegraph an escalation in the war in eastern Ukraine. Russia has quartered thousands of troops in the area for nearly five years. The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, while broadly voicing support for Ukraine, have not corroborated the claim of troops massing at the border. The Ukrainians have pointed to commercially available satellite images showing rows of tanks and armored personnel carriers at two sites in southern Russia, and military transport planes parked at an air base in Crimea. The Il-76 jets arrived at the same airfield, called Dzhankoi, where last month the Russian news media reported a new deployment of S-400 long-range antiaircraft missiles, among the most sophisticated weapons in Russias arsenal. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. 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OBU photos by Heather Horner. OBU President Dr. David W. Whitlock congratulates graduates as they accept their degrees. Dr. Blake Gideon, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Edmond, delivered the address. Dr. Hance Dilbeck, executive director and treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, delivered a greeting from the BGCO. OBU President Dr. David W. Whitlock presided over the ceremonies and delivered the charge to the graduates. OBU Honors 108 Graduates During Winter Commencement December 14, 2018 OBU conferred degrees upon 72 undergraduate and 36 graduate students during Winter Commencement, Friday, Dec. 14. The ceremony took place in Raley Chapels Potter Auditorium. Dr. Blake Gideon, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Edmond, delivered the address. Stream a video of the 2018 Winter Commencement on our YouTube channel. Graduates took their ceremonial final walk as OBU students before filing into Raley Chapel. The students, in academic regalia, passed through a long line of OBU faculty members before arriving in Potter Auditorium. OBU President Dr. David W. Whitlock presided over the ceremonies and delivered the charge to graduates. Dale Griffin, assistant vice president for spiritual life and dean of the chapel, led the invocation, and Dr. Hance Dilbeck, executive director and treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, delivered a greeting from the BGCO. The program included a presentation of the undergraduate class by Clayton Myers, president of the OBU Student Government Association, and a presentation of the graduate class by Casondra Williams, Master of Science in Nursing graduate. Dr. Susan DeWoody, vice president for academic affairs, joined both. Steven Floyd, controller at OBU, provided the reading of Scripture, and Dr. Will Smallwood, senior vice president for advancement and university relations, inducted the graduates into the OBU Alumni Association. Gideon graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2005 with an undergraduate degree in theology. He then received a Master of Arts in religious education and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern in 2008. He completed his Doctor of Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2015. He is the author of several books, including Soaring with the Eagles, Unvarnished Truth, Identity, and What Baptists Believe and Why They Believe It. Gideon challenged students to live every day with eternity in sight. Let me encourage you, graduates, to live this day and every day hereafter in light of that day when Christ shall come in glory, he said. And my prayer is that you will choose to adopt the prayer of Jonathan Edwards, Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs. Whitlock gave his traditional charge to the graduates near the end of the ceremony. As you commence this new phase in life, determine to serve one another and do so with an informed caring, he said. Dare to walk in faith believing that God will use you to make a difference. Strive for excellence and quality in every area of your life. I pray that when you fall, you pull yourselves up by the strength of Christ in you, he said. I pray that your lives be spent in a worthy cause, the cause of Christian servanthood. I pray that you live your purpose and dare to be all that God has purposed for you. I pray that you find yourselves in the company of men and women who dare to be different, who dare to be good. 16-year-old girl abducted, gangraped in Aravalli mountain range on New Year Eve Despite summons, Alibaba CEO Jack Ma fails to appear at Gurugram court Open namaz in Gurgaon blocked: Protester say they are making volley ball court Gurgaon: Sex racket busted; 8 women among 12 arrested Gurgaon oi-Vikas SV Gurgaon, Dec 14: The police in Gurgaon arrested 12 people, including eight women, from a guest house for allegedly running a sex racket. Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted at the guest house on Thursday night in sector 45, a police official said, as per a PTI report. "A team headed by Poonam Hooda, the SHO of Metro Police Station, raided the guest house and arrested 12 people, including eight women, on the charge of running a sex racket," Gurgaon police PRO Subhash Bokan said. [Big sex racket busted in J&K: 11 booked] "Of women arrested five are Indians and the rest belonged to Uzbekistan, Bangladesh," he said. OneIndia News with PTI inputs For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, December 14, 2018, 23:35 [IST] A slew of programmes listed to woo farmers across the country by the BJP before 2019 LS polls India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Dec 15: Some of the internal party reports and Assembly election results suggesting farmers being the sole reason for party's debacle in the recent elections has forced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to swing into action immediately. The BJP can now use them as a trump card in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the party plans to start it from Uttar Pradesh. There are around 2.5 small and marginal families of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and people from the organisation and the government have started working to match the 2014 BJP tally of Lok Sabha in the state. The BJP workers have been asked to join farmers in their thick and thin. What India wants: Jobs, MSP or name changes and mandir The BJP has really become over-cautious after the debacle in three Hindi belt states where farmers distress is being sighted the main reason behind the defeat of the party. Most of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh belong to upper caste communities and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The BJP will not only balance the caste equation but also try to win over a big section of society just by winning over them. Senior leaders of the party have prepared a strategy for it as National Conversion of Bharatiya Janata Party's Kisan Morcha is planned in Lucknow on February 21 and February 22, 2019. The programme will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Mod and closure will be done by party president Amit Shah. BJP's Kisan Morcha caught napping on farmers' rally; central leadership wakes them up Farmers from all across the country will be convened in this meeting and a new kind of mobilisation will start from there. However, the BJP has not left much to be done to woo farmers. It is claiming that only some confusion has to be clarified. The PM had already addressed a Kisan Mahakumbh on July 21, 2018, at Shahjahanpur district in UP. An Agriculture Kumbh was also organised in Lucknow between October 26 and October 28, 2018, in Lucknow. The government is also planning to organise a Kishan Samman Samaroh on the occasion of birth anniversary of farmers' leader and former Prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh on December 23, 2018. You cannot drive at 120 kmph on highways says Madras HC Madras HC to hear actor Vijay's civil lawsuit against his parents, nine others 'What was Chennai Corporation doing since 2015 floods?': Madras HC pulls up civic body Black flag demo against Kerala CM: HC says no India oi-Madhuri Adnal Chennai, Dec 15: The Madras High Court dismissed a petition by Hindu Makkal Katchi seeking a direction to police to allow black flag demonstrations against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during his visit to the city on December 16. Vijayan is scheduled to participate in a function to unveil the statue of late DMK chief M Karunanidhi at the party headquarters here in which UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also take part. Kerala: BJP workers march to CM Pinaryi Vijayan's house over Sabarimala issue When the petition by Arjun Sampath, leader of Hindu Makkal Katchi, a fringe outfit, came up before Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, the government counsel submitted that the demonstration is against the Supreme Court order which allowed women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala and would create law and order problems. Hence, permission for the demonstration was rejected by the city police commissioner, the counsel said. An application was filed before the commissioner by the HMK seeking permission to show black flags to Vijayan at the airport and Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters here to protest the Kerala government's decision to implement the top court's verdict on the Sabarimala issue. The HMK approached the court after Sampath's application to stage black flag protests against the Kerala chief minister was rejected by the police commissioner. Vijayan trains gun at Sangh Parivar, says won't let Sabarimala become Ayodhya The judge dismissed the petition after recording the submission made by the government counsel that the proposed protest is against the apex court order and would create law and order problems. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 10:04 [IST] What is Sabarimala Thantri's view over use of halal jaggery to prepare prasadam: plea in Kerala HC 'Childish, outrageous excuses to arrest', says Rahul Easwar after his bail cancelled India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 15: Local court cancelled Sabarimala activist Rahul Easwar's bail as he had not appeared before Police last week. Kerala High Court had earlier granted him bail under strict conditions including, presenting himself before the concerned police officers every week. Activist Rahul Easwar, who was arrested on 17 October for protesting against the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women between 10 to 50 years into the Sabarimala temple, was granted bail by a local court on October 22. Why can't women enter Nizamuddin Dargah: Delhi high court seeks Centre's reply He was charged by the Pamba Police in Kerala under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 143 (unlawful assembly) and 147 (rioting). The non-bailable charge against him was under Section 353 for stopping police personnel from doing their duty. Responding to cancellation if bail, Rahul Easwar, tweeted, "Will move Kerala High Court and also Kerala Human Rights Commission on decision of Pinarayi Police to arrest me again because I was "late for signing". Such childish and outrageous excuses to arrest. Mr Franko is out after alleged Raping and I am arrested again for "delay". Kerala CPM Police wants to arrest me again REASON -> I was late for signing . SO bail condition violated. Woooow I reached Police station to sign by Dec 9th morning. But they didnt allow. (I had already informed too abt delay) Childish execuses to arrest me again by police. https://t.co/IPW7BXIPWZ Rahul Easwar (@RahulEaswar) December 15, 2018 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 14:35 [IST] Rape victim dies in Delhi hospital after being 'set afire' by kin of accused in UP's Bulandshahr Cops ask people to take pledge against cow slaughter in Meerut India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Meerut, Dec 15: In the wake of violence in Bulandshahr over alleged slaughtering of cow, cops in Meerut are administering pledge to villagers in various parts of Meerut district where cow slaughtering is rampant. According to Meerut SP Rajesh Kumar, Station House Officer (SHOs) of police stations are holding meetings in villages that are infamous for cow slaughtering like Kithore, Malyana, and making villagers pledge against cow slaughter. As per the SP, this move has generated a good response from the people. In a video, the SHO from a nearby village in the district can be seen administering pledge and the villagers can be seen repeating it. #WATCH: Pledge administered to locals by police in a village in Meerut, "we take a pledge that cow slaughtering won't be allowed in our village & nearby areas. We"ll also be socially boycotting those involved in such acts & will hand them over to the police. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat" pic.twitter.com/KBW3XtAozx ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 14, 2018 On December 3, inspector Subodh Singh Kumar and a local, identified as Sumit, were killed in the violence, which erupted after the carcasses of 25 cattle were found in the forests close to a police post. The locals had alleged that the carcasses found were of the cows, which were slaughtered illegally. Here is what Supreme Court said on Rafale deal: 12 points Dassault laughed its way to the bank: Chidambaram on Rafale Dassault Aviation welcomes SC ruling on Rafale deal India pti-PTI New Delhi, Dec 15: The Dassault Aviation Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling on the Rafale fighter jet deal, rejecting demands for any probe into the multi-billion dollar contract. "Dassault Aviation welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of India rendered today dismissing all petitions filed on the Rafale Contract signed on September 23, 2016," the company said. The Dassault Aviation has won a Rs 58,000 crore deal to supply 36 Rafale jets to India. The Congress has been alleging massive corruption in the deal, a claim stoutly rejected by the government. "Dassault Aviation takes note of the Supreme Court conclusions establishing the absence of any irregularities in the decision-making process to purchase 36 Rafale, pricing of Rafale jets and selection of Indian offset partner," the company said in a statement. Rahul Gandhi questions SC's basis for verdict on Rafale deal In a relief to the Modi government, the Supreme Court Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making the process" warranting setting aside of the contract. The apex court rejected the pleas seeking lodging of an FIR and the court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, in which both the countries have entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA). Here is what Supreme Court said on Rafale deal: 12 points A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dealt with "three broad areas of concern" raised in the petitions -- the decision making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners (IOP) -- and said there was no reason for intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets. It said the Indian Air Force (IAF) needs advanced fighter jets as the country cannot afford to be "unprepared" or "under prepared" in a situation where adversaries have acquired fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft, "of which, we have none". PTI Video of elephant drinking water from sprinkler goes viral. Twitter showers all its love Elephant dies while trying to cross railway fence near Nagarhole India oi-Deepika S Mysuru, Dec 15: A male elephant trying to cross over the railway fence met with a tragic end in Karnataka's Nagarhole National Park on Saturday. The 42-year-old wild tusker, was chased away by villagers for attempting to return to the Veerahosahalli range of the national park when it came across the railway fence and attempted to scale it. Acoording to the reports, the elephant got stuck with the iron made railway fencing and unfortunately couldn't manage to extricate itself from it and lost its life. His body was found dangling between the iron barricades. The tusker which was around 42 years old had entered human habitation and raided an agricultural field the previous night, the report said, adding that the animal was being chased out of the village, but could not get into forest, over the fence. Railways to introduce sensor technology to check elephant deaths on tracks An IFS Officer Praveen Kaswan has tweeted and asked the reasons where we are helping these wild animals with making such barricades or is it an attempt to create hurdles for the wild animals. The railway fence is first-of-its-kind in Nagarhole wildlife reserve was built in an attempt to check man-animal conflict, in villages bordering the forests in 2015. Odisha lost 179 elephants to electrocution since 2000 The project envisages erecting rail fence at a length of 33 km of the forest boundary in the first phase for which Rs. 212 crore has been sanctioned by the State government. The rail fence project will cover the entire forest boundary around wildlife zones in the State but primarily around Bandipur and Nagarahole where human-elephant conflict is the highest. Just a matter of time for 9 day encounter in Rajouri-Poonch jungles to end Guided by ex-Pak army officials, operating in buddy pairs: Why the Poonch encounter has dragged so much Tire, track eliminate: Why has the Poonch encounter dragged on for so long J&K: 3 terrorists, 1 soldier, 7 civilians killed in encounter in Pulwama India oi-Deepika S Srinagar, Dec 15: Three terrorists were gunned down in an encounter between them and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday. Initial reports suggest that jawan-turned-terrorist Zahoor Ahmad Thokar is also among the killed. Seven civilians were killed in the clashes that erupted after an encounter in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. More than 15 people were also injured after security forces reportedly fired live ammunition on the protesters near the site of the gunfight. The security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Sirnoo village in south Kashmir's Pulwama district after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police official said. "The terrorists opened fire on security forces while they were carrying out search operations," the official said. The security forces retaliated, leading to an encounter, the official confirmed. The search operation is still underway, and the entire area has been cordoned. Mainstream political parties in Kashmir condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district Saturday, saying Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration has "failed" to secure lives of the people. No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians.South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months.Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved (sic)," PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings , and once again appeal for efforts , to stop this blood bath . Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 15, 2018 She said no country can win a war by killing its own people. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath (sic)," Mufti said in another tweet. National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said the encounter was "badly executed". "6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? (sic)" Omar tweeted. Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this mornings encounter thats 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 15, 2018 "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! (sic)" he said in another tweet. The NC leader said the Governor's administration appears "not doing anything on restoring peace" in the "troubled Valley". "The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads don't bring peace," he tweeted. Separatist-turned-mainstream leader and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations. "Extremely disturbing news coming from Pulwama. The administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of its operations. If there is even a remote chance of civilians getting killed during military operations it is better to call off such operations," Lone said in a tweet. He expressed hope that the administration abandons "its Rambo mindset". "My heartfelt thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. I just pray that Almighty takes us out of the perpetual state of mourning that we seem to have been sucked into. And also hope that administration abandons its Rambo mindset," Lone said. "The preparedness of security forces would in the Pulwama context be the ability to make the distinction between combatants and non-combatants. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We can't afford a state of impunity," he said in another tweet. Winter Session 2021: BJP issues whip for its Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in House on day 1 Be present in Lok Sabha, RS says BJP in 3 line whip to its MPs From 50 to 21: How BJPs SC/ST seat share collapsed India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Jaipur, Dec 15: The BJP has won only 21 of the 59 seats reserved for SC/ST candidates in Rajasthan against 50 it had bagged in the previous assembly elections, as per the election commission data. Bharatiya Janata Party won just 12 seats reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates this time, as against 32 in 2013 polls. Similarly, the party won only nine seats reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates against 18 in last polls. A slew of programmes listed to woo farmers across the country by the BJP before 2019 LS polls The party failed to win a single SC/ST seat in Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, Dholpur, Karauli, Swai Madhopur and Tonk districts this time. These districts saw violent protests during a nationwide April 2 Bharat Bandh called by Dalit outfits in protest against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Political observers have blamed the BJP's loss on the SC/ST seats on the 'Bharat Bandh' and the anti-incumbency factor against the party. Dalit groups had blocked rail and road traffic and vandalised property, including a train, in several parts of the state and a few days later upper-caste communities had observed a shutdown across the state. Riding on the resentment, the Congress has won most of these seats in the eastern districts of Rajasthan that are dominated by the SC/ST communities. BJP dissident Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Lok Tantrik Party (RLTP) also emerged winner on two SC seats and one is bagged by an independent candidate. On the ST seats, two independents and two candidates of Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) have also won this time. Dilli Gupshup: Some BJP leaders feel new party headquarters unlucky and reason for all defeats In the 2013 elections, the Congress could not win a single SC seat in the state, 32 were won by the BJP and one each by the National People's Party (NPP) and National Unionist Zamindara Party (NUZP). Similarly, the Congress had won just four ST seats against 18 by the BJP in the previous polls, while two seats were won by the NPP and one by an independent candidate. (With agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 10:45 [IST] Huge breach of quarantine protocol: Mamata writes to PM; Centre to decide on banning domestic flight Why PUBG is not banned along with TikTok and other mobile applications? Delhi civic bodies lift ban on sale, storage of poultry or chicken meat as samples test negative Canada bans passenger flights from India, Pakistan for 30 days due to surge in COVID-19 cases Govt decision to ban Pvt firms from making, selling Oxytocin set aside India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Dec 15: The Delhi High Court has set aside the government decision to ban private firms from producing and selling oxytocin, a drug used for inducing labour contractions and controlling bleeding. A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and A K Chawla said the government's decision was arbitrary and unreasonable. Hear me in Asthana matter says Sana, HC seeks response The bench also said that there was no scientific basis behind the Centre's decision restricting private companies from making or supplying the drug, which helps new mothers lactate, to prevent its alleged misuse in the dairy sector for increasing milk production. As per the Centre's April 27 notification, the state-run Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KAPL) was solely allowed by the Centre to make the drug to meet the country's needs. Why can't women enter Nizamuddin Dargah: Delhi high court seeks Centre's reply The high court on August 31 had suspended till September 30 the central government's prohibition on sale and manufacture of oxytocin by private companies for domestic use. The stay was later extended till December 15. Guided by ex-Pak army officials, operating in buddy pairs: Why the Poonch encounter has dragged so much Here is what the Army is doing for war veterans India oi-Madhuri Adnal Hyderabad, Dec 15: The Army is taking efforts to compile data on war veterans who suffered disability so as to provide them support, including prosthetic limbs in needed cases, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said. Gen. Rawat, here to attend the Convocation Ceremony at the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), said the aim was also to motive the disabled soldiers that disability does not mean they cannot do anything. Bipin Rawat refuses to comment on ex-Army officer's remark on surgical strike "What we are doing is, firstly we are identifying these people. There are disabled soldiers some of them are in the village. Some are elsewhere. Some got disabled in the 1965 war. Some in the 1971 war. They are now very, very old. So, the idea is to first identify and see how their condition is," he told reporters here. He was replying to a question on the Army's plans to extend the support system to soldiers who suffered disability in the line of duty. Gen Rawat said the Army was looking at compiling data on the present condition of the veterans. "And once we have compiled the data... then we have to work out the kind of support we have to give them... It is not just monthly support, and some people need prosthetic limbs," he said. The army was now providing very good artificial limbs and artificial systems which can help the affected lead a near-normal life, he said. Noting that there were two distinct types of people who get disabled while serving the army, the General said some, who lost parts like an eye or a hand, need support of family members and there were others who were disabled because of service conditions, stress and even lifestyle diseases, but can take care of themselves. Work hard, compete for Army's 'Super30' prog: Gen Rawat to Kashmiri girl students Hence, there should be distinct support for the two types of disabled persons. Earlier, Rawat, in his convocation address, said the graduating officers need to harness latest technologies. "As technology refines and research throws open new vistas, your challenge would be to harness the latest technologies for the benefit of our great Indian Army," he said. He also said future battle space would be dominated by guided missiles, Artificial Intelligence, unmanned platforms, robots and network-centric operations. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 10:53 [IST] Jammu and Kashmir becomes first state to have a Law banning 'Sextortion' India oi-PTI Jammu, Dec 15: Jammu and Kashmir has become the first state in the country to have a law banning sexual exploitation of women by those in positions of authority, having a fiduciary relationship or a public servant. The State Administrative Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik Friday approved the 'Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018' and the 'Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018', an official spokesman said. J&K: Governor Satya Pal Malik clears proposal to upgrade 5 hospitals The Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeks to amend the Ranbir Penal Code, whereby specific offence under section 354 E is being inserted to provide for the offence of 'Sextortion', he said. Amendments are being made in section 154, 161 and Schedule of Criminal Procedure Code and section 53 A of the Evidence Act so as to bring sextortion at par with similar offences prescribed under Ranbir Penal Code, and amendment is being made in the Prevention of Corruption Act to amend the definition of misconduct and provide that demand for sexual favours would also constitute misconduct within the meaning of section 5, the spokesman added. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 9:33 [IST] Supply of essential commodities getting normalised in Mizoram as trucks entering from Assam MNF chief Zoramthanga takes oath as Mizoram CM India oi-Deepika S Aizawl, Dec 15: Mizo National Front (MNF) President Zoramthang, who led his party to a massive victory in the December 7 assembly elections, was sworn-in as the chief minister of Mizoram on Saturday. Mizoram for the first time will witness a swearing-in ceremony amid reading of Bible verses and prayers at Raj Bhawan's circular lawn in Aizawl on Saturday as the Mizo National Front(MNF) forms the next government in the Christian majority state. There will be a special "Hallelujah Chorus" by a local Leprosy group during the swearing-in ceremony. Rev Lalhmingthanga, a senior Christian leader and chairman of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), conglomerate of leaders of 16 major churches, would lead the Bible reading The Bible reading ceremony will be held after the singing of the National Anthem. Chief Ministers of other north eastern states have been invited to attend the ceremony. The new council of Ministers in Mizoram is going to swear in ceremonially after a few hours. The 74-year-old Zoramthanga, who was Chief Minister for two terms from 1998-2008, had staked claim to form the government on Tuesday evening after his party won 26 Assembly seats in the 40-member Mizoram House. After five unsuccessful attempts, BJP makes inroads in Mizoram Outgoing Congress Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had submitted his resignation an hour before Mr Zoramthanga had staked the claim. The current term of the Assembly expires on Friday. MNF President Zoramthanga has been nominated as the leader of the legislative party by its newly elected legislators. This will be for the third term that the MNF is forming government in Mizoram and after a gap of 10 years. Earlier, it has run governments during 1998 to 2008 for two consecutive terms and was headed by Zoramthanga as Chief Minister. The veteran leader started his political career in 1966 when he joined the underground movement. In 1969, he became the secretary of the president - Pu Laldenga for the next seven years. When the Mizo National Front came to power in 1987, Zoramthanga was appointed as the in-charge of the Finance and Education Departments. He was subsequently promoted as the party's president after the death of Laldenga. In 1998 Assembly elections, the party won the polls under the leadership of Zoramthanga, who became the chief minister of the state. The Mizo National Front (MNF) got simple majority in Mizoram assembly by bagging 26 seats in the 90 member assembly. The regional party ousted the Congress in the Northeastern state. The Congress had been in power in Mizoram for the past two terms. Pulwama encounter: J&K guv orders probe into deaths of civilians India pti-PTI Jammu, Dec 15: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday ordered a probe into the death of seven civilians when security forces allegedly opened fire at a mob that thronged an encounter site in Pulwama district, an official spokesperson said. He appealed to people to stay away from encounter sites while directing Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to inquire into the Saturday incident, the spokesman said. Seven people were killed in alleged firing by security forces during post-operation clashes at Simoo village in Pulwama district after a gunfight with terrorists left three extremists and an army jawan dead. In the wake of the incident, the governor chaired a high-level meeting of senior officers of the state and central police forces at the Raj Bhavan where he reviewed law and order and other security related issues. Expressing grief over the loss of lives during post-operation clashes, the governor directed the security forces to minimize collateral damage during anti-terror operations. He also reviewed the latest security scenario in Kashmir including details of the counter-infiltration and counterterrorist operations undertaken recently, the spokesman said. He recommended people-friendly measures during such operations, asking the security forces and the administration to address the post-operations complications. The governor emphasized the importance of maintaining a sustained and close watch on the ground situation, and lauded the realtime coordination between the security forces and the civil administration. [J&K: 3 terrorists, 1 soldier, 7 civilians killed in encounter in Pulwama] Pained by the unnecessary and avoidable loss of civilian lives in operation, the governor appealed to the people to not go near such areas during or immediately after such operations, the spokesman said. He said the governor directed security forces to give time for people to evacuate an area during an anti-militancy operation as per the laid down procedure. PTI INC means I Need Commission: BJP hits out at Congress after Rafale report Rafale: BJP to hold briefings in over 70 cities to expose' Congress India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Dec 15: In a bid to tell the nation how the Congress mislead people by leveling false allegations against the Union Government over the Rafale deal issue, the BJP on December 17 will hold press conferences in over 70 cities. BJP will deploy its top leaders, including chief ministers and Union ministers, in 70 cities across the country on Monday to attack the opposition party. "The BJP will unmask the Congress' conspiracy against the government and its attempt to play with national security after the Supreme Court has categorically stated the truth about that the Rafale deal," the party's media head and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni said, as per a News 18 report. In a relief to the Modi government, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for the purchase of 36 Rafale jets, saying there was no reason to "really doubt the decision making the process" warranting setting aside of the contract. [Why didn't Modi govt buy 7 squadrons of Rafale jets, asks Chidambaram] The apex court rejected the pleas seeking lodging of an FIR and the court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the Rs 58,000-crore deal, in which both the countries have entered into an inter-governmental agreement. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dealt with "three broad areas of concern" raised in the petitions - the decision-making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners - and said there was no reason for intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been accusing the BJP-led Centre of corruption in the Rafale deal. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 21:44 [IST] SC refuses to postpone Tripura municipal elections: 'If we do it then it will set a wrong precedent' Rafale: Centre moves SC seeks correction on references to CAG report India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Dec 15: The Centre has requested the Supreme Court to correct a factual error in Rafale verdict that was delivered on Friday. The Congress had alleged that the Centre had misled the Supreme Court on the issue of the Rafale Deal scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Congress also said that the verdict has some grotesque factual errors including a CAG report on Rafale placed before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, which examines the report. The error pointed out was in page 21, point number 21. It says, "the pricing details [of Rafale deal] have, however, been shared with the Comptroller and Auditor General (hereinafter referred to as 'CAG'), and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee (hereafter referred to as 'PAC'). Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament and is in the public domain." [Here is what Supreme Court said on Rafale deal: 12 points] The opposition picked up this point and PAC chairman Mallikarjuna Kharge said that no such report by the CAG was received. Where is the report of the CAG. Show it to us, if it exists. I spoke with the office of the CAG and it confirmed that its report on Rafale is not yet ready, he also added. Sources say that this was a typing error. The CAG report will be examined by the PAC became it has been examined by the PAC and this was the error, the source also added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 17:18 [IST] Three more Rafale jets to land in India from France in non-stop flight 6 Rafale fighters to be flagged off by IAF chief from France Rafale verdict: BJP workers stage protest, demand Rahul Gandhi's apology India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Dec 15: The BJP on Saturday demanded an apology from the Congress president Rahul Gandhi for levying allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jet deal, in which the Supreme Court has given the government a clean chit. BJP workers led by Union Minister Vijay Goel took out a protest rally demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi. Shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed pleas seeking probe into the Rafale deal for 36 fighter jets worth Rs 58,000 crore, Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah took on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for levelling false allegations of corruption against the Narendra Modi government. Rahul Gandhi questions SC's basis for verdict on Rafale deal In a tweet, Shah said, "Truth always triumphs! Court's judgment on the Rafale deal exposes the campaign of misinformation spearheaded by Congress President for political gains. The court didn't find anything wrong with the process nor did it find any commercial favouritism in the deal. On the contrary, SC held that govt had no role in selecting offset partners & found no merit in the demand for a probe based on mere perception of individuals. It therefore raises obvious questions on the motive of those working to discredit the deal, which is important for India." Delhi: BJP workers led by Union Minister Vijay Goel protest demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi in the wake of #RafaleDealVerdict by Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/C3dmafea9V ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 Shah said Rahul Gandhi should apologise to people of country and its soldiers for misleading the nation for political gains. The apex court dismissed all the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and said there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar defense deal. The CJI, who read out the judgement for the three-judge bench, said no reasons were found to interfere in the procurement process for the fighter jets. The verdict was pronounced on a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into deal. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 12:52 [IST] Rajinikanth to attend Karunanidhi statue unveiling, to share stage with Oppn leaders India oi-Deepika S Chennai, Dec 15: Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth is likely to participate in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's tallest leader M Karunanidhi's statue unveiling ceremony in Chennai on Sunday. DMK has invited both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for the event since both the leaders were close to M Karunanidhi. National level leaders of various political parties are expected to attend the function to unveil the life-size statue. The DMK has invited the leaders of the Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, TDP, Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party, Telugu Rashtriya Samiti and Aam Admi Party for the ceremony at its headquarters - Anna Arivalyam. This is the second time DMK is using its event as a platform to display opposition unity ahead of polls. Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7 this year aged 94, was addressed as 'Kalaignar' by party workers and supporters. The statue will be located alongside a refurbished statue of DMK founder and late chief minister C N Annadurai at the party headquarters in Chennai. RBI money not meant to finance government: Subramanian India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bengaluru, Dec 15: The Reserve Bank is adequately capitalised, but the money should be used for fixing the financial system, not for financial deficit or financing government expenditure, Former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian has said. The economic principles, moreover, say savings should not be used for current consumption, but for long-term investment, he said Thursday. RBI should support the vision of the government: Gadkari "If the reserve is used for deficit financing that would amount to raiding RBI and I would be extremely dissatisfied and disappointed with it," he said, adding the central bank probably is massively capitalised, but the money should be used for fixing the financial system, not for financial deficit or financing government expenditure. "Also, it should be done cooperatively, not adversarily," he added. He further said the government could have found a way to solve its differences by setting up a panel, which hopefully would have shared the belief of not using the RBI reserve for deficit financing. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has Rs 9.59 lakh crore reserves and the government, if reports are to be believed, wants the central bank to part with a third of that fund -- an issue which along with easing of norms for weak banks and raising liquidity has brought the two at loggerheads recently. Responding to a PTI query on the comments on RBI Board Member Swaminathan Gurumurthy's induction, he said: "I think, he (Gurumurthy), amongst others, has articulated new alternative conceptions. I think, we have to engage with that to run an economy. All of us, me included, would plan to engage with that vision. I promise I will engage with that". Gurumurthy should try avoiding being a party to build a perception of politicising RBI board appointments, the former CEA said. Will uphold autonomy, values: New RBI chief Shaktikanta Das Subramanian was in the city to read some the excerpts from his book - Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-Jaitley Economy. On the Swadeshi vs Videshi debate, he said both extremes should be avoided because finance theory talks about diversification. "India needs a portfolio. You get your Swadeshi and Videshi economists, but evaluate them on their merits. Finance theory talks about diversification," the former CEA said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 10:11 [IST] Received Income Tax refund messages? Beware! It may be fake India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Dec 15: The Income Tax Department has warned citizens to stay alert about a new phishing scam being shared via SMS, which promises a refund for tax returns. "Beware of fake refund messages claiming to be from the Income Tax Deptt. Please do not click on any link asking for bank details, Debit card/ CVV numbers. Don't fall prey to phishing!" the Income Tax department tweeted from its official handle on Thursday evening. It further cautioned the taxpayers to beware of fake refund messages claiming to be from the IT department, saying "We will never ask for your debit card details or CVV number to process your refund." The message in very clear terms has asked people never take up such calls and never click at the messages which seek details related to their debit card. Beware of fake refund messages claiming to be from the Income Tax Deptt. Please do not click on any link asking for bank details, Debit card/ CVV numbers. Don't fall prey to phishing! pic.twitter.com/ZybK0sRVFo Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) December 13, 2018 Twitter user Karthik Srinivasan, who has the handle @beastoftraal on Twitter had shared a sample of what one of the messages looks like. The message claim to be for a refund amount of Rs 34,251, and says that the Income Tax department requires one to click the link below in order to submit a formal request for remittance of this refund amount, which is unclaimed. It also includes a bitly link. I got this text message yesterday. It looked completely authentic. The amount looks real too, and not rounded off! It was very tempting to click the link and know more. Then I remembered something I use extensively in the background. @Bitly, the company behind the 1/5 pic.twitter.com/NqAa40sIMI Karthik (@beastoftraal) December 13, 2018 Twitter user Karthik Srinivasan, who has the handle @beastoftraal on Twitter had shared a sample of what one of the messages looks like. The message claim to be for a refund amount of Rs 34,251, and says that the Income Tax department requires one to click the link below in order to submit a formal request for remittance of this refund amount, which is unclaimed. It also includes a bitly link. As the phone number and the name of the person is accurate, people might tend to believe that the message is originally from the Income Tax Department. This is a classic phishing attempt in which the miscreants want to steal your SBI internet banking login details. It is imporant to note that the Income Tax Department never ask citizens to provide any banking login details to get access to a service. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 14:34 [IST] RSS-backed Think Tank holds RBI responsible for Indias slower growth India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Dec 15: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is constantly being criticised for its several decisions for not allowing the growth of economy of the country the way it should have been. Differences not only appeared with the government but some of the organizations associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Think Tanks associated with it. A report released by Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) suggests that there is a bad debt to the tune of Rs 14 lakh crore with Indian banks eventually squeezing the credit off-take in the economy, especially for infrastructure projects along with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) leading to a slower growth. RBI should support the vision of the government: Gadkari The report tells that MSMEs in India get only six per cent of bank loans while Organisations for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) average is 46 per cent. So there is an imminent need to increase this to the global average level. Regulatory changes along with corrections in the policy frame work are required to increase the credit outflow to the MSMEs. There is also a need to understand that foreign investors have steadily been increasing their holding both in private sector banks and in the public sector banks. At present, India does not have one hundred per cent government owned banks. There are public sector banks with a mixed ownership (public and private) and large private sector banks with sizable shareholding. So the think tank says, this makes the landscape where the India's banking system is predominantly owned by the government followed by foreigners and very small portion of Indian entrepreneurs. There is a need to create large Indian Banking players for which RBI's Diversified Ownership Norms (DON) need to undergo a change. India aspires to become $10 trillion economy, and if it really wants so, the policy makers and regulators will have to play a productive role to improve the credit off-take. It is indeed essential to define the role of government and public sector banks on one hand and the need for powerful private sector banks in commercial banking segments on the other. Will uphold autonomy, values: New RBI chief Shaktikanta Das The role of ownership structure plays to make the banks more meaningful, sustainable and strong. The moot question is, can India create large banks which are equally strong in comparison to their global peers. More importantly, the present ownership and governance are hindrance towards achieving this vision of strong global banks emanating out of India. The report further says, is current correction pushed by the RBI like implementation of BASEL III norms, strict prompt corrective measures, the stringent implementation of insolvency and bankruptcy code enough. Or do we still need some more course correction? But it has been realized there is a lot needed to be done to make growth even faster. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 12:16 [IST] Many more leaders are in contact with me: Tejashwi Yadav after former MLA rejoins RJD from JD(U) RJD's Tej Prataps latest fit of sulk seems over, wishes CM's chair for brother Tejashwi Yadav Suspended RJD MLA Rajballabh Yadav convicted in Nawada minor rape case India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Patna, Dec 15: Suspended RJD MLA Rajballabh Yadav has been convicted in 2016 Nawada minor rape case. His sentence will be announced on 21 December. In 2016 April, Yadav was named as one of the main accused in a charge-sheet filed by Nalanda Police, after he allegedly raped a minor girl at his Biharsharif residence on February 6, following which he was immediately suspended by the party. After absconding for almost one month, Yadav had surrendered in March before a chief magistrate's court in Bihar Sharif in Nalanda and was sent to jail. Bihar: Daughter of retired IG Police allegedly commits suicide a day before marriage However, he was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 30, which the opposition used to criticize the state government for not placing facts against the RJD MLA before the Patna High Court. Subsequently, the Supreme Court cancelled the bail of rape-accused RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav and ordered him to surrender in the Bihar lower court. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 15:28 [IST] Bengaluru: Two South Africans test positive for COVID-19 as threat of new variant looms Temple tragedy: 2 arrested after poisoned prasad kills 11 in Karnataka India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Dec 15: Two people have been arrested in connection with the poisoning of 'prasad' in Karnataka's Chamrajnagar District which claimed 11 lives on Friday. Puttaranga Shetty, District In-charge Minister of Chamarajanagar, said, "Whoever may be the culprit, action will be taken against them. Police investigating the case and already arrested two persons." After visiting KR Hospital, he said, "Total 47 patients are being shifted to KR Hospital, 17 are in JSS Hospital and others are in different Mysore hospitals. Around 91 patients shifted from Chamarajnagar to Mysore." The tragedy struck at the foundation laying ceremony of a temple at Salwdi village in Hanu Taluk. "There is an unfortunate food poisoning incident in Kamgere village. Principal Secretary and the commissioner has instructed DHOs Mandya and Mysore to provide help to Chamrajnagar health administration," said Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Karnataka government has announced Rs 5 Lakh ex gratia to the next of the kin of the deceased. Medical treatment of others will be taken care of by the state government, said reports. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, December 15, 2018, 10:04 [IST] Australia recognises West Jerusalem as Capital of Israel International oi-Deepika S Sydney, Dec 15: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that his government will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the government will also recognise a future state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem after a settlement has been reached on a two-state solution. The foreign policy shift was announced during Morrison's speech to the Sydney Institute on Saturday. While the embassy move is delayed, Morrison says the government will establish a defense and trade office in Jerusalem and will also start looking for an appropriate site for the embassy. He says in a speech Saturday: "The Australian government has decided that Australia now recognizes west Jerusalem, as the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel." Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Crane Market 2018 By Regional Manufacturers Konecranes, Terex Corporation, Liebherr Group, XCMG Group, Welbilt Inc, Komatsu Ltd. Crane Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2398 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2398 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/crane-market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2960 https://www.gminsights.com/ Crane Market is expected to exceed USD 20 billion by 2024. Increasing construction spending across the globe is a major factor driving the crane market growth. Shifting focus of the government entities on infrastructure development coupled with growing consumer preference for aesthetic and luxurious constructions will drive the industry growth. 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The constantly-growing population in the region has resulted in increased investments in the infrastructure development sector. Rapid urbanization in the country is demanding the faster construction of facilities and buildings for the growing population. In addition, the rising government investments in infrastructural operations have provided a potential for the growth of the crane market.Public infrastructure and government utilities in North America will witness a high adoption of cranes owing to the construction of reservoirs, wastewater treatment plants, and power lines across the region thereby providing an impetus to the crane market.In Europe, the focus of the crane manufacturers is on implementing new safety standards relating to the assembly and dismantling of the machine. An important product development issue across the entire range of crane types is the reduction of diesel engine exhaust emissions in compliance with Stage V of the EU Regulation on emission limits for mobile machinery. Europe accounted for the second largest revenue in crane market owing to the growing usage of cranes across the construction and oil & gas industries. However, the European market was hurt by changes in subsidies in the wind power market in Germany, resulting in fewer crawler crane sales.Browse Report Summery @Key players participating in crane market include Palfinger AG Terex Corporation, Komatsu Ltd., Konecranes PLC, Liebherr Group, Tadano, Ltd., XCMG Group, Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries, and Manitowoc among others. The crane industry is highly fragmented and competitive in nature owing to the presence of several regional and international players, who are actively investing in R&D and developing technologically-advanced products to sustain in the industry. There is an inclination toward energy-efficient cranes as they help in reducing carbon emissions. Several players are ensuring new product development initiatives to foster the crane market growth.Browse Related Reports:Crawler Crane Market to reach US$ 3 bn by 2024Crawler 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.Request for a sample copy of this report @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: Crawler Crane Market 2018 By Regional Manufacturers Escorts Limited, Liebherr Group, Konecranes, Link-Belt Cranes, Palfinger AG, Sany Group, Terex Corporation Crawler Crane Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2960 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2960 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/crawler-crane-market http://constructioncu.com/ http://marketnewsforecast.blogspot.com/ https://www.gminsights.com/ 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.Request for a sample copy of this report @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.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.Read our Blogs: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: Stem Cell Assay Market Top Companies to Watch Out:erck & Co., Thermo Fisher Scientific, GE Healthcare, Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Promega Corporation, Cell Biolabs https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/1632 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1632 Stem cells are basic form of biological cells, which can differentiate into other types of cells and can produce more of the same type of stem cells. There are two types of stem cells, which include embryonic stem cells, and adult stem cells. These cells are present in areas in the body such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, and blood. Stem cells are also taken from umbilical cord blood.Download PDF Brochure of Research Report:Rising prevalence of various diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and potential of stem cell therapy in the management of these diseases is expected to drive growth of the stem cell assay market over the forecast period. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2017, cancer was the second most common cause of death in the U.S., which accounted for nearly 1 out of every 4 deaths. Stem cell transplant could replace the neurons damaged by spinal cord injury, stroke, and Alzheimers disease. These factors are expected to drive growth of the stem cell assay market over the forecast period. Moreover, organizations such as Californias Stem Cell Agency is indulged in the development of new stem cell based therapies for chronic diseases such as cancer and rare diseases.Stem Cell Assay Market InsightsNorth America and Europe are expected to witness significant growth in the market over the forecast period. This is owing to presence of key manufacturers and researchers of stem cell based therapies in these regions.Stem Cell Assay Market Competitive LandscapeKey players operating in the global stem cell assay market include Merck & Co., Thermo Fisher Scientific, GE Healthcare, Agilent Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Promega Corporation, Cell Biolabs, PerkinElmer, Miltenyi Biotec, HemoGenix, Bio-Techne Corporation, STEMCELL Technologies, and Cellular Dynamics International.Request for Customization of Research Report:Stem Cell Assay Market Taxonomy-The global stem cell assay market is segmented on the basis of product type, cell type, process, application, and geography.By Product Type- Instruments Reagents & KitsBy Cell Type Adult Stem Cellso Induced Pluripotent Stem Cellso Mesenchymal Stem Cellso Neural Stem Cellso Hematopoietic Stem Cellso Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Human Embryonic Stem CellsBy Process Cell Culture Engineering Differentiation Characterization OthersBy Application - Research Drug Discovery & Development Regenerative MedicineBy Region - North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East AfricaAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Breast Implants Market Key Companies: GC Aesthetics, Sientra, Allergan, Mentor, Arion Laboratoires, Ideal Implant, Groupe Sebbin, Cereplas, Establishment Labs and HansBiomed Breast Implant Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2020 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2020 U.S. breast implants market held significant industry share. Increasing number of women opting for augmentation procedures will drive growth. Increasing per capita expenditure on cosmetic procedures will serve to be a high impact rendering factor.South Korea breast implants market is slated to witness robust growth over the forecast years. Increasing number of clinics and hospitals catering to plastic surgery coupled with increasing number of plastic surgeons is driving industry growth. Increasing desire to look attractive for excelling in professional life further fuels demand. Furthermore, growing influx of overseas patients especially from neighboring countries augments industry expansion.Request sample copy of this report @Prominent industry players in breast implants market include GC Aesthetics, Sientra, Allergan, Mentor, Arion Laboratoires, Ideal Implant, Groupe Sebbin, Cereplas, Establishment Labs and HansBiomed. The industry players resort to strategic initiatives such as agreements, acquisition and strong emphasis on product development and innovation in order to broaden their product portfolio and strengthen industry presence. For instance, in June 2016, Establishment Labs entered into a ten-year distribution agreement with Human Wellness Corporation to market its Motiva Implants.Breast Implants Market size is set to exceed USD 4 billion by 2024; according to a new research study published by Global Market Insights, Inc.Make Inquiry about this report @Rising number of breast augmentation procedures coupled with increasing breast cancer incidence will drive breast implants market size over the forecast timeframe. Augmentation procedures enable women to increase their breast size and improves bust and hip contour balance. Reconstruction procedures help to restore one or both breasts to near normal size, shape and appearance.High cost of implantation procedure will impede industry expansion. Risk of complications in the case of both saline and silicone implants further limits procedure adoption. Complications associated with the procedure include infection, scarring, capsular formation and contraction, sensation changes to breast and nipple and chances of implant rupture. Additional surgeries may be required for treating the same.Silicone breast implants market accounted for the largest revenue share due to its resemblance to natural breast tissue. Other benefits such as reduced probability of rippling and wrinkling further boosts adoption. However, difficulty of detecting device rupture restrains segment expansion. The rupture can only be detected after conducting an MRI.Anatomical breast implants market is poised to grow at a lucrative pace owing to its sloped contour with more implant material located at the bottom that provides a more natural appearance. These inserts provide greater projection with same volume as compared to round shaped ones. However, risk of rotation and rippling coupled with higher costs restrains segment growth of breast implants market.Application of the inserts in breast reconstruction will grow at a rapid rate over the forecast time frame due to increasing incidence of breast cancer. Growing awareness regarding reconstruction surgery has resulted in increasing procedure adoption. Advantages of the reconstruction surgery such as short duration and less complex nature along with little scarring should further escalate demand. However, risks of complications such as infections, bleeding and delayed healing limits adoption rate to some extent.Report ContentChapter 1. Methodology1.1. Methodology1.1.1. Initial data exploration1.1.2. Statistical model and forecast1.1.3. Industry insights and validation1.1.4. Market definition and forecast parameters1.2. Data sources1.2.1. Primary1.2.2. SecondaryChapter 2. Executive Summary2.1. Breast implants industry 3600 synopsis, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million)2.1.1. Business trends2.1.2. Product trends2.1.3. Shape trends2.1.4. Application trends2.1.5. End use trends2.1.6. Regional trendsChapter 3. Breast Implants Industry Insights3.1. Industry segmentation3.2. Industry landscape, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million)3.3. Industry impact forces3.3.1. Growth drivers3.3.1.1. Increasing number of breast augmentation procedures3.3.1.2. Growing breast cancer incidence3.3.1.3. Technological advancements3.3.1.4. Increasing number of plastic surgeons3.3.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges3.3.2.1. High cost of implantation procedure3.3.2.2. Risk of complications3.3.2.3. Emergence of alternative techniques3.4. Growth potential analysis3.4.1. By product3.4.2. By shape3.4.3. By application3.5. Technology landscape3.6. Age distribution of breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures in U.S., 20163.7. Breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures by ethnic groups, U.S., 20163.8. Regulatory landscape3.8.1. U.S.3.8.2. Europe3.9. Porter's analysis3.10. Competitive landscape, 20163.10.1. Strategy Dashboard3.11. PESTEL analysisGlobal 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.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.com Psoriasis Treatment Market Projected to be Resilient by 2026 With Cipla Ltd., Novartis AG., Johnson & Johnson, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Psoriasis Treatment https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/99 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/99 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/99 Psoriasis is a non-communicable autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin. These skin spots are red, itchy, and scaly which may be small and localized or cover the entire body. Skin injury may cause psoriatic skin changes at that spot, a phenomenon called Koebner phenomenon.There are five main types of psoriasis namely Plaque, Guttate, Inverse, Pustular, and Erythrodermic. Plaque psoriasis, also known as psoriasis vulgaris, is the most prevalent type of psoriasis, accounting for around 90% of reported cases. Most commonly affected areas of the body include back of the forearms, shins, around the navel, and the scalp. Guttate psoriasis has drop-shaped lesions. Pustular psoriasis is characterized by the presence of small non-infectious pus-filled blisters. Inverse psoriasis forms red patches in skin folds. Erythrodermic psoriasis occurs when the rash become widespread and can develop from other types. Fingernails and toenails are affected in most people at some point of time. This may include pits in the nails or changes in nail color.Download PDF Brochure of Research Report @Treatment options for Psoriasis fueling growth of the psoriasis treatment marketVarious treatments can help control the symptoms fueling growth of psoriasis treatment market. These treatment methods include administering steroid, vitamin D3, exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light, and immunosuppressive like methotrexate. Around 75% of cases can be managed with creams alone. Cream and ointments of corticosteroid, and calcipotriol can effectively treat mild-to-moderate psoriasis. However, when condition become more severe, creams are combined with oral medications such as methotrexate, acitretin, and cyclosporin.Topical drugs used in treatment of psoriasis include corticosteroids, vitamin D, hydroxyanthrone, and retinoid aiding in growth of the psoriasis treatment market. Topical corticosteroids are frequently prescribed for treating mild-to-moderate psoriasis. Low-potency corticosteroid ointments are recommended for sensitive areas such as face or skin folds and for treating widespread patches of damaged skin. Medicated foams and scalp solutions are available in market to treat psoriasis patches on the scalp. Vitamin D analogues are synthetic forms of vitamin D and they slow the growth of skin cells. Calcipotriene (Dovonex) is a cream or solution a vitamin D that contains analogue, used by itself to treat mild-to-moderate psoriasis or in combination with other topical medications. Anthralin (Hydroxyanthrone) is used to normalize DNA activity in skin cells. Anthralin (Dritho-Scalp) also can remove scale, making the skin smoother. Topical retinoids normalizes DNA activity in skin cells and decreases inflammation.Light Therapy (Phototherapy) for psoriasis treatment:This psoriasis treatment involves use of natural or artificial ultraviolet light. Phototherapy involves exposing skin to controlled amounts of natural sunlight. Other forms of light therapy include use of artificial ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light either alone or in combination with medications.Request For Customization of Research Report @Increasing prevalence of psoriasis coupled with early diagnosis to propel growth of psoriasis treatment marketThe growth of psoriasis treatment market is projected to gain traction in North America owing to large patient pool in this region. Also, better medical facilities, commercialization of new diagnostic technology, medical policies, and favorable reimbursement policies are factors fueling growth of psoriasis treatment market. According to the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), around 3% of the worlds population has some form of psoriasis. According to a study published in Cleveland Clinic in September 2013, there are around 150,000 new cases of psoriasis reported each year in the U.S. According to a study published in Medical Journal of Malaysia, in 2015 prevalence of psoriasis varies between 2.0% to 3.0% worldwide. Incidence rate is highest among Caucasians and lowest among Japanese and Africans. The study states that prevalence rate of psoriasis in Japan is 0.05% to 0.1%, as compared to China 0.5% and Taiwan 0.2%, and in India, the prevalence of psoriasis was reported in the range of 0.4% to 2.8%. High prevalence and increasing incidence propels growth of the psoriasis treatment market.Key players involved in psoriasis treatment market:There are many global players operating in the global psoriasis treatment market. This includes; Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Cipla Ltd. Johnson & Johnson Rowan Bioceuticals Private Limited Stiefel Laboratories Inc. (GlaxoSmithKline plc) Win Medicare Pvt. Ltd. Novartis AG.Novartis AG acquired Ziarco Pharma Ltd a U.K.-based dermatology therapeutics firmin December 2016 to acquire a pipeline of oral and topical products for treatment of psoriasis. Acquisition of the potentially first-in-class therapy would bolster dermatology portfolio and pipeline of Novartis. Ziarco completed Phase II trial, a proof-of-concept study with ZPL-389.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Automotive Intelligence Battery Market looks to expand its size in Overseas Market | Furukawa Electric, Furukawa Electric, Vishay Intertechnology Automotive Intelligence Battery Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1288922-global-automotive-intelligence-battery-market-3 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1288922-global-automotive-intelligence-battery-market-3 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1288922 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1288922-global-automotive-intelligence-battery-market-3 https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NidhiBhawsar-SEO_Expert?rel=author HTF MI released a new market study on Global Automotive Intelligence Battery Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Automotive Intelligence Battery Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study are Continental, HELLA, inomatic, NXP Semiconductors, ams, Furukawa Electric, Furukawa Electric, Vishay Intertechnology, Robert Bosch, Denso, MTA, Abertax Technologies & Autotec Components.Click to get Global Automotive Intelligence Battery Market Research Sample PDF Copy Here @:Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:1) What all companies are currently profiled in the report?Following are list of players that are currently profiled in the the report "Continental, HELLA, inomatic, NXP Semiconductors, ams, Furukawa Electric, Furukawa Electric, Vishay Intertechnology, Robert Bosch, Denso, MTA, Abertax Technologies & Autotec Components"** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc.2) Can we add or profiled new company as per our need?Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey.** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Upto 3 players can be added at no added cost.3) What all regional segmentation covered? Can specific country of interest be added?Currently, research report gives special attention and focus on following regions:North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific etc** One country of specific interest can be included at no added cost. For inclusion of more regional segment quote may vary.4) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible?Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be shared with our research before giving final confirmation to client.** Depending upon the requirement the deliverable time and quote will vary.Enquire for customization in Report @To comprehend Global Automotive Intelligence Battery market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Automotive Intelligence Battery market is analyzed across major global regions. HTF MI also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas. North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Russia. Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.2-Page profiles for 10+ leading manufacturers and 10+ leading retailers is included, along with 3 years financial history to illustrate the recent performance of the market. Revised and updated discussion for 2018 of key macro and micro market influences impacting the sector are provided with a thought-provoking qualitative comment on future opportunities and threats. This report combines the best of both statistically relevant quantitative data from the industry, coupled with relevant and insightful qualitative comment and analysis.Global Automotive Intelligence Battery Major Applications/End users: Passenger Vehicles & Commercial VehiclesGeographical Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific etcIn 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.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 Continental, HELLA, inomatic, NXP Semiconductors, ams, Furukawa Electric, Furukawa Electric, Vishay Intertechnology, Robert Bosch, Denso, MTA, Abertax Technologies & Autotec Components 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.Buy Full Copy Global Automotive Intelligence Battery Report 2018 @In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Global Automotive Intelligence Battery are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025Key Stakeholders/Global Reports:Automotive Intelligence Battery ManufacturersAutomotive Intelligence Battery Distributors/Traders/WholesalersAutomotive Intelligence Battery Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsBrowse for Full Report at @:Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report.Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.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.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 Narcotics Analgesics Market Best Productivity Supply Chain Relationship, Development From 2018 To 2026 | Pfizer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Allergan plc, BioDelivery Sciences International, Endo Pharmaceuticals Narcotics Analgesics https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/2308 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/2308 Narcotics analgesics also identified as opioids are the medications that imitate the activity of endorphins, elements produced by the body to regulate pain. Opioids are used to treat acute pain associated with surgery and other medical procedures, as well as for persistent (chronic) and advance pain. They are also used to induce anesthesia, cough syrups, and to suppress diarrhea. These drugs are offered via prescription only. Since opioids are addictive and may result in fatal overdose, thus sue of narcotics analgesics is strictly regulated by the governments.Download PDF Brochure of This Business Research Report@Narcotics Analgesics Market DriversIncrease in the research for narcotics analgesics drugs is projected to rise the growth of global the market during the forecasted period. For instance, a phase III clinical study by Loma Linda University is undergoing for drug Narco. The objective of the study is to evaluate patient pain level in the immediate post-operative period and quantify pain medication usage in patients who undergo outpatient Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeries. The study was started in February 2018, and is estimated to complete in January 2019.Furthermore, Temple University along with AstraZeneca is undergoing clinical phase II study to assess the effect of opioids on esophageal motility. The study found that chronic opioid users are suffering with esophageal motor dysfunctioning. This study will explore the safety and tolerability of MOVANTIK (Naloxegol) and is expected to improve opioid- induced esophageal motility disorders. The study was started in January 2017 and is expected to complete in January 2020.Narcotics Analgesics Market Regional AnalysisNorth America is likely to lead in the global narcotics analgesics market owing to rising misuse of opioid analgesics. For instance, according to the Federal Government of U.S., in 2015, 8.5 million people i.e. 3% of the population of U.S. misused opioid painkillers in 2015, and 2.5 million were addicted to either painkillers or heroin in 2015. Moreover, More than 33,000 people died from overdoses of opioid drugs in 2015.Europe region is also expected to perceive extensive growth in global narcotics analgesics market since few countries in the European Union are misusing prescription opioid analgesics as normal pain killers which is not advisable since these are habit forming drugs. For instance, according to BMC Psychiatry journal August 2016, Spain had the highest use of opioids for non-medical purposes, and Great Britain had the second-highest opioid users.The key players operating in narcotics analgesics market include, Pfizer Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Allergan plc, BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Akron, Inc., UCB, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Request For Customization Of This Business Research Report@Narcotics Analgesics Market TaxonomyBy Product TypeAgonistAntagonistBy ApplicationPain ManagementCough TreatmentDiarrhea TreatmentBy RegionNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle EastAfricaAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +12067016702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Plano Miller Market Competition, Overview with Major Eminent Vendors: Simplex Engg Works, Jagdeep, SAGAR, RAJINDRA, Raghbir Plano Miller Market 2018 http://www.marketresearchglobe.com/request-sample/845607 http://www.marketresearchglobe.com/send-an-enquiry/845607 http://www.marketresearchglobe.com/check-discount/845607 Plano Miller Market report provides an in-depth overview of product specification, technology, product type and production analysis considering major factors such as revenue, cost, gross and gross margin. The company profiles of all the key players and brands that are dominating the Plano Miller Market with moves like product launches, joint ventures, merges and accusations which in turn is affecting the sales, import, export, revenue and CAGR values are mentioned in the report.The major manufacturers covered in this report: NEW MAX Simplex Engg Works Jagdeep SAGAR RAJINDRA Raghbir BABA Pietrocarnaghi CYHMI DING-KOAN MACHINERYRequest a sample of this report @Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering: North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Mobile Type Bridge TypeOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including: Automotive Aviation Shipbuilding Power Generation OtherDo You Have Specific Requirement? 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We provide our clients a wide range of customized Marketing and Business Research Solutions to choose from, with the help of our ingenious database developed by experts. We help our clients understand the strengths of diverse markets and how to exploit opportunities. Covering a diverse range of business scopes from Digital products to Food industry, we are your one- stop solution right from data collection to investment advices.Contact Us:Call: +1-888-376-9998Email: sales@marketresearchglobe.com New Innovative Report on Health Watches Market Report to Witness Impressive Evolution 2018: By Market Size and Revenue Forecast to 2025 Huawei, Bozaun, MI, Lifesense Health Watches https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/30519 UpMarketResearch offers a latest published report on Global Health Watches Market Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2025 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. 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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 WASHINGTON After a federal judge ruled that the Obama-era health overhaul was invalid, President Donald Trump is looking to congressional leaders to come up with a replacement even as the White House says the current law will remain in place for now. "Get it done!" the president instructed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the likely House speaker in January. Legal appeals are expected to reach the Supreme Court on an issue that helped propel Democrats to their new majority in the House in the recent midterm elections. In a 55-page opinion Friday, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas ruled that last year's tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under the Affordable Care Act by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. He wrote that the rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and therefore was invalid. Supporters of the law said they would appeal. "Today's misguided ruling will not deter us: Our coalition will continue to fight in court for the health and wellbeing of all Americans," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is leading a coalition of states defending the overhaul. The White House applauded the ruling by O'Connor, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, and said that "pending the appeal process, the law remains in place." Trump tweeted that "Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster!" and said it was not up to Congress to "pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions." While congressional Republicans held their silence in reaction to the ruling, Democrats said they would test the GOP's commitment to such popular provisions. "The GOP spent all last year pretending to support people with pre-existing conditions while quietly trying to remove that support in the courts," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a tweet Saturday. "Next year, we will force votes to expose their lies." Pelosi said the House "will move swiftly to formally intervene in the appeals process to uphold the life-saving protections for people with pre-existing conditions and reject Republicans' effort to destroy" the law. But Congress is unlikely to pass a new law while the case remains in the courts. Numerous high-ranking Republican lawmakers have said they did not intend to also strike down provisions such as protection for people with medical conditions when they repealed the law's fines for people who can afford coverage but remain uninsured. Legal expert Timothy Jost, a supporter of the health law, said O'Connor's ruling would have repercussions for nearly all Americans if it stands. If the entire health law is invalidated, popular provisions that benefit Medicare beneficiaries and people with employer coverage would also be scrapped. That could include the section that allows parents to keep young adult children on their coverage until age 26. About 20 million people have gained health insurance coverage since the law passed in 2010 without a single Republican vote. Currently, about 10 million have subsidized private insurance through the health law's insurance markets, while an estimated 12 million low-income people are covered through its Medicaid expansion. Saturday was the sign-up deadline for 2019 private plans through HealthCare.gov. Meanwhile, a number of states are expected to move forward with Medicaid expansion after Democratic victories in the midterm elections. If the case were to reach the Supreme Court it would mark the third time the justices consider a challenge to fundamental provisions of the law. The law's opponents lost both the first two cases. The five justices who upheld the health law in 2012 in the first major case Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberals are all still serving. Since then, public opinion on the overhaul has shifted from mostly negative to generally favorable. Preserving the law's protections for people with medical conditions proved to be a strong argument for Democrats in the November elections. Republicans who tried to undermine those safeguards during their failed effort to repeal the health law last year were forced on the defensive and went on record saying they, too, want to make sure people with health problems can get coverage. House Democrats are talking about passing legislation that enshrines protections for medical conditions. It's unclear what form that would take, or if the Republican-majority Senate would go along and Trump would sign it. The GOP-led states that had sued asked O'Connor to toss out the entire law after Congress repealed the "individual mandate" penalty for going without coverage. The judge had previously ruled against other Obama-era policies. The Trump administration weighed in, saying the government would no longer defend some core components of the law, but that others could remain, including Medicaid expansion, subsidies for private insurance and health insurance markets. Along with the requirement to have health insurance, the administration said the parts of the law that should go included: the requirement that insurers must take all applicants for comprehensive coverage regardless of prior health history, including existing conditions. That includes a prohibition on insurers writing policies that exclude a particular condition for example, a recurrence of breast cancer. the prohibition on insurers charging higher premiums to people with health problems. The health insurance industry says doing away with consumer protections will destabilize a market that seems to be finding its footing, with modest premium increases and more plan choices next year. The American Medical Association called OConnors ruling an unfortunate step backward for our health system that is contrary to overwhelming public sentiment to preserve pre-existing condition protections. The young Portland woman would cruise along Burnside Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when she was in her mid-20s, searching for her attacker. She was 24 when she reported her rape to Portland police on the night it happened in downtown Portland, June 14, 1996. She had led a Portland officer back to the scene of the crime, a patch of dirt beneath the Steel Bridge, where her underwear and broken glasses were discovered lying nearby. She had gone with police to OHSU Hospital for a sex assault forensic exam. There, she gave a full account of the attack to a detective. That was the extent of the police investigation. She didnt hear from them again for more than two decades. Her sex assault kit sat in the Police Bureaus evidence room for 20 years, unanalyzed. Did you ever hear an answer as of what happened to the investigation? Multnomah County prosecutor Tara Gardner asked the woman, now 47, during a recent court hearing. Nothing, she said. Did that just leave you with a lot of questions? Gardner continued. Yes, she replied. The woman became the sixth in Oregon to face her attacker years later after police finally tested thousands of the sex assault evidence kits that had piled up in storage, leaving the DNA evidence to languish. Some of the assailants went on to sexually assault others. Late last year, DNA from this womans kit matched the profile of a 66-year-old Portland man, who by then had racked up a lengthy criminal record including robbery, assault and drug charges. His defense lawyer tried to undercut the states case by pouncing on the long passage of time since the rape. He pointed out gaps in memory, including the recollections of the initial detective, now retired, who couldnt remember much of the case without rereading his report. He urged the judge to reduce his clients prison term, considering the delay in prosecution. This case is a tragedy in many ways, said attorney Michael Rees. One of the most painful aspects is that it went on so long. I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT ME In 1996, the 24-year-old woman was living in Southeast Portland, working for a photo lab and had gone to Berbatis bar on Southwest Second Avenue with her boyfriend and friends. She had a couple of beers, stayed for about an hour and a half, then left. Her boyfriend had walked out earlier after theyd gotten into a fight. She went to look for him. As she was circling the block, a man carrying a black duffel bag asked if she wanted to do some drugs with him. He said he had cocaine. She said yes and walked with him to Waterfront Park. She had done cocaine once before and thought shed make her boyfriend jealous if he saw that shed gotten high. The stranger led her to the remote spot below a bridge. We were sitting side by side. I looked over at him and he looked at me, she said. And he grabbed me around the throat and started to strangle me. She passed out. When she awoke, her face was in the dirt, and she heard dripping. I realized it was blood coming out of my nose, she said in court. She realized he was raping her. She struggled to get away, but he overpowered her and continued the sexual assault. When he was done, he took her three rings and her watch and told her he had a gun. She never saw it but thought it was in his duffel. He ordered her to walk three steps away from him and not look back. I thought he was going to shoot me, she recalled. She made it back to the bar with the help of a jogger who spotted her in Waterfront Park. A waitress called police about 11:30 p.m. Officer Carol Miller, then assigned to patrol downtown, responded and found the young woman shaken and crying, with mud and feces from the ground smeared on her clothes and hair, signs shed been in a struggle. Miller interviewed her, then drove her back to the crime scene. There, in a filthy space beside the westside on-ramp to the Steel Bridge, they noticed the fresh blood. The officer took the discarded underwear as evidence. Miller then drove the 24-year-old to the hospital. She underwent a forensic exam. Photos were taken of bruises to her neck and chin, lower shoulder, scratches on her elbow and knees and abrasions to her lower back. Detective Leon Lefebvre, a general assignment investigator on the afternoon shift, interviewed her. Called to the witness stand recently, Lefebvre said he had little recollection of the case, except one thing in his report jogged his memory: The woman's physical condition how disheveled and beat up that she looked, covered in feces. But he didnt recall much else. A detective division clerk would have typed up his notes for the report, he said. The prosecutor asked, Do you have any recollection of the fact that you ended up having to suspend this investigation? "No," Lefebvre said. Do you remember you had to suspend this investigation? the prosecutor continued. Lafebvre, who retired in 2003, again said no. I JUST TRIED TO FORGET ABOUT IT The woman left Oregon not long after the assault. Shes now married and has two sons. She and her family own a small restaurant. I hoped theyd find him. They never did, she told The Oregonian/OregonLive. I kept just going on with my life. I just didnt want him to ruin my life, she said, so I just tried to forget about it. Then in 2015, Portland Detectives Jason Christensen and Jennifer Hertzler were assigned to a new team in the Sex Crimes Unit, tasked with poring through old case files for new leads as the bureau began sending more than 2,000 of its sex assault forensic kits to an out-of-state lab for analysis. Christensen explained during the trial the reasons police gave in the past for not sending the kits to the lab. Sometimes detectives suspected the case couldnt be prosecuted or a victims participation wasnt assured, he said. Sometimes the lab was busy with other crime analysis or a victim wasnt believed because of her lifestyle, drug use or uneven memory. Im grateful for the change of mentality where we, law enforcement, now are victim-centered, he said, and not victim-blaming. Case No. 96-55126 fell to Christensen and Hertzler to pursue. On June 10, 2016, nearly 20 years to the day of the womans attack by the Steel Bridge, they shipped by FedEx her sex assault evidence to a lab for the very first time. The kit -- and thousands of others -- had remained intact, even transported by refrigerated truck in 2008 when the bureau moved its property warehouse. In November 2017, police got a report that DNA evidence from the swabs in the womans kit turned up a male DNA profile -- and that profile matched the DNA profile of a man in a national forensic database. His name was Jihad Moore. Early this year, Hertzler tracked down the woman in Colorado and called her. The detective asked her to recount what had happened to her 22 years earlier. She did. Did she know the name Jihad Moore? No, she said. Did she want to pursue the case for prosecution? Yes, she said. A KNOCK ON THE DOOR In February, two uniformed Portland police officers knocked on the door of Moores apartment at the Bud Clark Commons, a place for people who have lived on the streets. He had just gotten out of the shower and was sitting on his bed wearing only a pair of pants when he heard the door open a crack. Officers said a detective wanted to talk to him and asked if hed come with them to police headquarters. Moore got dressed. He broke his hip months earlier and walked with a cane. The officers helped him into their police SUV. They didnt handcuff him. Detectives told Moore they were following up on a 20-year-old assault. They slid a photo of the woman in front of him. He gave shifting accounts of what may have happened. He said he had consensual sex with the woman, then he said they never had sex, then just oral sex in exchange for cocaine. After more than three hours of questioning, he admitted he forced the woman to have sex. He allowed the detectives to swab his mouth to verify the DNA match. I never thought someone would come and arrest me 22 years later for a crime, he said. STATES EXHIBIT NO. 25 In October, Moore went to trial before a Multnomah County judge. The woman was the states first witness. Her friend followed, saying she had accompanied the woman to the crime scene the day after. The friend described her as bruised, shaken and in disbelief. Also testifying: the original officer, the retired detective, the OHSU nurse who conducted the forensic exam, two current detectives, property evidence managers and crime lab experts. The final piece of evidence was the sex assault kit, tagged as states Exhibit No. 25. That kit went and sat in Portland police property and it sat there for a long time, Gardner, the prosecutor, told the judge. Moores DNA was found in the most intimate areas of this womans body, Gardner said. It cannot be explained away, she said. The judge found Moore, now 67, guilty of two counts of first-degree rape and one count of first-degree sodomy. The woman sat with her husband at Moores sentencing Friday. The attack hadnt ruined her life, she said, but she was dismayed that Moore showed no remorse. I wish you were man enough to take ownership and confess and apologize or explain your actions or situation, she told Moore, just feet from where he sat at the defense table in a wheelchair. You broke me down and made me question my trust and faith in people and the world, but I made a decision that day. I chose not to let you have any more power over my life and my future. You took advantage of my trust. You should feel ashamed and sorry for what you did to me. In the end, I win. I have the power. I won. Moore spoke briefly, but never acknowledged the attack or the woman. His lawyer said Moore was haunted all his life by discovering his mother murdered when he was 12. He turned to alcohol and drugs. The judge sentenced Moore to 15 years in prison. As sheriffs deputies wheeled him from the courtroom, Moores sister approached the woman. We cant make up for him, but we support you, Moores sister said. She offered her apology and her familys blessing and then reached out to embrace the woman her brother attacked. They hugged. The 47-year-old survivor smiled and told her, That seriously makes me feel so much better. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian By most anyones estimation, Portland has another year, maybe two left with Mohanad Elshieky. Before long, the Libyan-born stand-up comedian will be one of the Rose Citys I knew him whens, a rising star of the comedy scene who may soon depart for greener pastures like Los Angeles or New York City. If you havent heard of him yet, you will soon. Elshiekys peers nominated him one of the citys funniest people for Willamette Weeks annual comedy showcase. Elshieky is also one of two Portland comics tapped by Wanda Sykes for her Epix docuseries, Unprotected Sets, along with fellow comedian Becky Braunstein. And he was drafted to perform at New York Comedy Festival as one of Conan OBriens comics to watch. Me: Im gonna research astrology to write jokes about how dumb it is. *5 hours later* Me: Im such a Pisces. Mohanad Elshieky (@MohanadElshieky) December 7, 2018 It all adds up to a sense of surrealism for the former tutor and English interpreter Elshieky never expected hed be so close to making jokes full-time and getting paid for it. You mean I get to be on stage and Im the only one who gets to talk for 10 to 15 minutes? he said. This is so ... insane and it doesnt make any sense. But its not only a career with a rapid upward trajectory that has Elshieky looking to the future. Just before the end of October, he got a call hed been waiting on for years: The U.S. government approved his claim for asylum. Elshieky came to the Rose City in 2014 on a student exchange program from Benghazi, Libya. A few weeks into his first term at Portland State University, both of his home countrys major airports were bombed as the Second Libyan Civil War ramped up. Shortly after the bombings, Elshieky was getting dispatches from home about people looking for him. Theyd raid his room, searching for documents to prove his allegiance to one of the warring factions. It wasnt safe to go back, Elshieky said. He felt stranded. For the last four years, I was locked inside the country, he said. I couldnt leave. And so he applied for asylum. But throughout the process, Elshieky said, it felt like U.S. officials were looking for any opportunity to send him packing . Christianity: I am the one true religion. Judaism: Hold my beer. Islam: I can't. Mohanad Elshieky (@MohanadElshieky) December 4, 2018 Officials would ask what the worst-case scenario would be if he returned. Or if there were any distant relatives Elshieky could stay with. You have to close the doors on everything, he said. As he navigated the U.S. immigration system, Elshieky began building a life in Portland. He studied supply management at PSU, because it was the quickest way to get a degree, he said. One of the electives he took to fulfill his degree requirements, a public speaking course, ended up pushing him to pursue comedy. After his final, Elshiekys professor told him he should try stand-up, so he signed up for a course taught by Alex Falcone, who was named Helium Comedy Clubs Funniest Person this year. As it turns out, Elshieky was a natural. He had an immediate grasp on how to take things that were unique about his life story and twisting them in a way Portland can relate. And then push back on what people were expecting, Falcone said. An anecdote about a tense border crossing may segue into how Elshieky is actually way more stressed out by first-world problems like losing a phone charger. Or a joke about a bad roommate will set up a punchline about a racist dog. The stand-up course, which Falcone describes as being for people who are braving the waters for the very first time, wrapped up in January of 2015. Elshieky began performing at open mic nights soon afterward. After a few months, he landed his first gig at Portlands Bar of the Gods during the Funny People Versus the Wheel showcase. Within a year, Elshieky caught the eye of another big name in Portland comedy. Ian Karmel doesnt remember when he first saw the Libyan-born comic perform. But I remember the feeling of when I saw him, Karmel said. And he was a (bleeping) contender. Karmel cut his teeth on the Portland scene before landing a job as a writer for The Late Late Show With James Corden. He was impressed by Elshiekys set and invited him to perform in L.A. in January of 2017. I'm starting a podcast called "The Devil's Advocate" where White dudes defend terrible ideas and then the Devil roast them for being uncreative hacks and remind them that he doesn't need help because he beefs with God and whatnot. Mohanad Elshieky (@MohanadElshieky) November 24, 2018 Since then, Elshieky has spent much of his time honing his craft. He worked retail for awhile, which became fodder for some of his routines and his incisive tweets. Elshieky said hes been careful to pick and choose performances writing jokes and booking shows adds considerably to his workload on top of his full-time tech job. But that hustle landed him an agent, Elshieky said. The extra help got him gigs that led to a spot in Conan OBriens Comics to Watch showcase at the New York Comedy Festival this year. Hes in a good place right now, Karmel said. Hes, first and foremost, incredibly funny. Hes an original. And a hard worker. And when you rise that fast, word of that gets around. Success for Elshieky also means his parents finally think hes funny. Now they actually believe Im good, Elshieky said. They know who Conan is. Him and Jimmy Fallon. For the last four years, family interactions have been limited to Skype calls and FaceTime conversations. That will soon change. Elshieky is on track to get his green card now that his asylum claim has been approved. It means he can visit his home country once he becomes a U.S. citizen. It also means he can accept an invitation to one of the worlds biggest springboards for up-and-coming comedians. This is happening tonight! Big thanks to @iamwandasykes and Page Hurwitz for having me on this series. Tune in to @UnprotectedSets THIS FRIDAY at 11/10c, only on @EPIXHD. Watch with a FREE TRIAL: https://t.co/TH8v1M8M0w pic.twitter.com/z6tS0faXl0 Mohanad Elshieky (@MohanadElshieky) November 23, 2018 The New Faces showcase at Montreals Just For Laughs festival is credited with launching the careers of such stars as Amy Schumer, Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Lives Pete Davidson. Because of his former immigration status, Elshieky would have had to turn down any invitation that came his way. Karmel and Falcone both say theyre relieved that particular barrier has come down. (Montreal is) like the difference between kicking off the side of a pool and jumping in and immediately trying to swim, Karmel said. But dont call Elshieky the next Ian Karmel. In fact, dont compare him to any other comedian. Ever. I dont want to be the next anyone, he said. I want to be the first Mohanad. By Hadley Mowe My verdict is in: Portland electric scooters, should be out. Dont get me wrong when The Portland Bureau of Transportation announced the pilot launch of electric scooters last July, I was in full support. I saw myself scootering down the waterfront, a carefree afternoon with the wind in my hair and sun on my face. A kid again, if only on my commute home from work. This imaginary afternoon of bliss, however, has since been replaced by the reality of unsafe scooter use. Since the launch I have heard countless stories of reckless riding, from those without helmets to those riding the wrong way on a one-way street in the dark. It hit home, finally, after seeing a friend take a hard fall: his palms bleeding, the skin peeled back, and gravel embedded in the wounds. And the scariest part is my friends fall is not an isolated event. In fact, despite specified safety requirements, many have reported injuries, with a recent Washington Post article noting a 161 percent spike in visits to one Salt Lake City emergency room due to e-scooter injuries. And this is not all that surprising, given the overall lax safety regulations of the e-scooter program. The first line of defense against injury is rider education. According to the PBOT Website, all e-scooter companies in Portland Bird, Lime, and Skip are required to provide public education on e-scooter safety regulations: informing riders to use a helmet, to not ride on the sidewalk or in parks, and that riders must be ages 16 or older. Educational efforts include workshops, in-app training, and on-the-ground ambassadors. Where education efforts fail, PBOT promises to monitor scooter use and may require companies to engage in more robust rider education. Which is to say, safety regulations are more or less up to each individual rider and their engagement with company-specific educational campaigns. These safety measures are further weakened by the scooter payment and incentives structure. Although each e-scooter company sets their own rates, typically each ride costs one dollar to start and charges $0.15 per-minute after that. Using a per-minute payment model encourages the rider to get where they are going as quickly as possible, not as safely as possible. That incentive to minimize cost and maximize speed, can lead to some serious safety concerns. And I know, whats a hand scrape when $0.15 per-minute sounds like a steal? This may be an acceptable tradeoff, for riders traveling safe and short distances. For Portlanders with fewer transit options, and who may need to ride longer distances, the fee can be upwards of $20 a day. Compared to bus fare, this is hardly a cheaper alternative. Renting e-scooters also requires access to a smartphone as well as payment by credit card. If PBOT is calling for a more equitable transportation system, do these cost and access barriers really fit the bill? As a Portlander, I support the move to fun and inexpensive travel options that relieve car-congestion in the city. That said, given the terrors of the current e-scooter program, what are our options? We can continue to throw them in the Willamette River: why pollute the streets when we can pollute our waters? Perhaps more responsibly, we can call for stricter regulations from PBOT. Instead of using rider education as the primary strategy for injury prevention, utilizing stricter penalties and disincentives may be more effective in changing rider behavior. Like San Francisco, we can call for a ban against e-scooters in Portland until City officials and PBOT have more regulatory structures in place. We can call on e-scooter companies to change their payment models to encourage safe riding and not speed riding. And if equitable access is the goal, lets hold Bird, Lime, and Skip accountable for providing more low-fare and/or cashless rides. Better yet, we can advocate for more public engagement. Lets encourage PBOT to ask our neighbors with limited transportation options what kinds of services would best suit their needs. Just because e-scooters are available does not mean we all want to ride them up a hill and in the Portland rain. The e-scooter pilot program ended Nov. 20, and PBOT is evaluating the results. Reach out to PBOT and tell them your verdict. Originally from Portland, Hadley Mowe spent the summer here before returning to Seattle where she is a graduate student at the University of Washington School of Public Health. Sen. Jeff Merkley is back in Texas, calling attention to what he calls the Trump administrations government-sponsored child abuse at the U.S.-Mexico border. At least 14,600 migrant children are now in government captivity since the administration adopted hardball immigration policies last spring. One of those children, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, died in custody last week. Six months ago, Merkley ignited an international controversy by shining a light on the administrations family separation policies. He showed up unannounced at several internment camps in South Texas trailed by a video crew. Merkley did gain entry into at least one camp, where he claimed he saw children locked in cages. The issue became one of the most serious political crises in President Donald Trumps turbulent tenure, with the exception of the Mueller investigation. The president argues the country is being overrun by migrants who are here illegally and that he will do what it takes to secure the borders. After weeks of scathing criticism, Trump on June 20 signed an executive order suspending the family separation policy. The Republicans want security and insist on security for our country, he said. We will have that at the same time we have compassion and want to keep families together. Ill be signing something in a little while that will do that. Merkley claims that the administrations alternative policy has been long-term imprisonment. Boys are incarcerated with their fathers, daughters with their mothers. The 14,600 children now in custody have not been separated from their parents, the administration claims. Rather they were unaccompanied minors who attempted to cross the border without a parent. To put that in perspective, thats bigger than the populations of The Dalles or La Grande. An untold number of other migrant children who attempted to cross with their parents also have been locked up with their parents, Merkley said. Merkley toured a camp in Dilley, Texas, on Friday where he met Patricia, a Honduran woman whos been incarcerated with her 15-year-old daughter. The teen is not eating or sleeping due to depression, she reportedly told Merkley. The administration is trying to send a message, Merkley said, you come here, and well put you through trauma, well put your children through pain. Merkley is not going to the border solo this time. Hes leading a delegation of Democrats that includes Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota and Rep. Judy Chu of California. The immigration issue hit close to home last June when more than 120 would-be asylum seekers were housed at the Federal Correctional Institute in Sheridan. Local lawyers mounted a massive pro-bono legal effort and managed to free all of them while they go through the asylum process. Merkleys leadership on the immigration issue raised his profile nationwide and fueled speculation he had designs on higher office. Asked about a presidential bid Friday, Merkley said hes still pondering. Jeff Manning | jmanning@oregonian.com | 503-294-7606 House Speaker Tina Kotek has outlined a plan to allow duplex, triplexes and four-plexes in low-density neighborhoods throughout the state an idea that would effectively end single-family zoning in many urban areas. The legislative concept from Kotek, a Portland Democrat, would require cities with more than 10,000 residents to allow the higher-density development in neighborhoods zoned for single-family houses. The proposal also calls for allowing cottage clusters, or small detached homes that share a common yard. More than half of Oregons population lives in the cities that would fall under the new zoning. The plan would include towns as small Cottage Grove and Prineville, each with 2017 populations just over 10,000. The Legislature could beat Portland to the punch. The city is weighing a policy that would do the roughly the same thing at Koteks proposal, but its not scheduled to go before the City council until next summer. (The basic outline was approved in 2016, but the city has spent years writing the code.) "The state's housing crisis requires a combination of bolder strategies, Kotek said in a statement. Oregon needs to build more units, and we must do so in a way that increases housing opportunity for more people. Allowing more diverse housing types in single family neighborhoods will increase housing choice and affordability, and that's a fight that I'm willing to take on." The proposal was first reported by Willamette Week. It hasnt been introduced as a bill yet, though lawmakers are meeting in interim hearings in Salem this week ahead of next years legislative session. The proposal will likely prove popular with homebuilders and housing activists, who share a desire to increase the supply of homes in an effort to make them more affordable. But proposals for increased density have drawn the ire of neighborhood groups over construction and crowding. One Portland neighborhood has already sued to block the city policy from taking effect. The League of Oregon Cities, which often opposes legislation that would preempt local authority, did not immediately take a strong position on the proposal. We are working to find solutions to housing needs across the state that reflect the goals, needs and values of each city, Erin Doyle, a lobbyist for the organization, said in a statement. We look forward to working with the speakers office to create solutions that work for our cities and citizens. If approved, cities would have 16 months to develop and implement the zoning code language required. The state would provide funding for the code updates, and cities could place some restrictions on the siting and design of the new homes. At the same time, the state Department of Land Conservation and Development would write code that would be automatically applied in cities that dont adopt their own. The policy also calls for a new incentive for such homes. It would require cities to defer system development charges construction fees paid by builders for infrastructure related to new homes, such as utilities, schools and parks until the new home receives final approval for occupancy. The state in 2017 passed similar legislation, also proposed by Kotek, that required cities with 2,500 or more residents to allow the construction of at least one auxiliary dwelling unit an apartment or backyard cottage alongside single-family houses. Minneapolis last week decided to allow up to three units on single-family lots, making it the first major city in the U.S. to do abolish single-family zoning. Its zoning changes wont go into effect until next year. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com; 503-294-5034; @enjus The U.S. Senate delegation from Oregon issued strong rebukes Friday of a federal judges decision that declared unconstitutional the entire health-care law passed under former President Barack Obama. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, issued statements and took to Twitter to blast the ruling, which will be appealed. Heres what they said: Todays ruling is an assault on all Americans basic health care rights and judicial overreach at its worst. Trump and Republicans in Congress will achieve their long-sought goals if this ruling stands: the elimination of pre-existing condition protections and Medicaid coverage for millions of vulnerable Americans. Seniors will pay more for their prescriptions and middle-class families will lose tax breaks that keep their health care affordable. This judge chose to deliver his ruling the day before the end of open enrollment - a deliberate, ideological move to sabotage the Affordable Care Act at the expense of families health care. If you or your loved ones need health care, you should still sign up as planned at Healthcare.gov before the open enrollment deadline at end of the day tomorrow despite this attempted sabotage. -- Ron Wyden The diabolical Republican plan to strip health care from millions of Americans just took a big step forward. Now the fight goes to the circuit court. Time for Medicare for all. -- Jeff Merkley -- Brad Schmidt bschmidt@oregonian.com 503-294-7628 @_brad_schmidt A gap in state oversight of armed officers allowed a former Hillsboro security guard who quit in 2015 amid a sexual misconduct investigation to later land jobs as a victims advocate and jail deputy in central Oregon. The private security firm that employed Jorge Serrano for 11 months recommended that state regulators revoke his certifications after he quit in June 2015. They said no. The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training concluded that Serranos misconduct at the time, which included having sex on duty, wasnt criminal and didnt warrant banning him from working as an armed private security officer in the state. For law enforcement officers, sex on duty is a crime. Serrano, 28, is now accused of rape stemming from the same 2015 incident that his private security employer investigated. Neither the employer nor state regulators were aware of sexual assault accusations at the time. The rape allegation surfaced in October after a woman discovered a sexually explicit video from some point during that night in 2015. Washington County investigators believe Serrano posted online after being employed in 2017 as a Jefferson County jail deputy. The woman told investigators she and Serrano had consensual sexual contact in March 2015 while he was on duty patrolling her Hillsboro apartment complex but said she didnt consent to a second encounter that occurred later that night, didnt consent to any video recordings and didnt know it had been uploaded online. The sheriffs office said Serrano recorded her secretly during their first interaction, then later went to her apartment after his shift ended and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. The woman reached out to Serrano on social media after discovering the online video, and Serrano admitted to posting the footage of her, the sheriffs office said. Serrano was arrested Dec. 7. He remained held Friday in the Washington County Jail on suspicion of first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy. Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Atkins said earlier this week that the county fired Serrano in November after officials learned that he lied on his job application. He declined to comment further. Washington County authorities are still investigating whether Serrano uploaded videos of other women without their consent. The Washington County Sheriffs Office said Serrano was fired before Jefferson County officials were aware of the criminal allegations. Arcadia Security & Patrol hired Serrano in July 2014, said Michael Zocchi Jr., vice president and chief operating officer. Arcadia is a private security contractor that operates in Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Idaho. Serrano worked both as an unarmed and armed security office. His duties included patrolling a Hillsboro apartment complex as an armed officer, Zocchi said. Three of his colleagues reported to managers that Serrano bragged about having sex with a female tenant twice, including once in her apartment, Zocchi said. Company officials confronted Serrano in June 2015, Zocchi said. Serrano admitted he had sex with the woman once in the clubhouse of a nearby property. Serrano also admitted that he had falsified reports, joined co-workers in abandoning their patrol assignments while on duty, shopped for guns when he was supposed to be working and posed for photos with a colleague while brandishing company-issued guns, among other misconduct. Serrano resigned after executives asked him to write a full account of what happened, Zocchi said. Officials told Serrano they would report his misconduct to the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, which licenses law enforcement, private security providers and others. In response, Serrano said he would just admit to everything and hope that an agency would overlook it, Zocchi wrote in a statement provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Zocchi said Arcadia also disclosed the misconduct to the state corrections department and Chemeketa Community College, where Serrano had just completed a law enforcement and corrections course. Serrano was scheduled to begin working as a corrections officer at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility that August, but the state corrections department rescinded its offer in July, according to DPSST. He found work with other private security companies, according to his online resume posted on LinkedIn. He wrote that he deterred workplace violence and patrolled the Salem-Keizer school district and Oregon Department of Transportation properties. Arcadia is not listed among former employers. State regulators declined to conduct their own investigation after Arcadia turned over its files on Serrano and two other employees implicated in the misconduct investigation. Zocchi said he had requested that all three have their state certifications revoked. Linsay Hale, DPSSTs professional standards division director, confirmed officials took no action after Arcadias 2015 complaint against Serrano. She said the state has little control over security firms or their employees because theyre private businesses, unlike police agencies. Security companies, for example, arent required to inform the state when an employee starts or leaves, she said. When the state does revoke someones private security certification, its most often because they have committed a crime, Hale said. She described Serranos conduct as a private security officer as egregious but said the matter was viewed as an employer issue because Serrano wasnt suspected of committing any crimes at the time. We dont have the ability to revoke someones private security certification for being a bad employee, Hale said. Had Serrano engaged in the same conduct and was a law enforcement officer, he likely would have lost his certification, Hale said. Serrano went on to earn more state safety certifications, state records show. He graduated from the Oregon Public Safety Academy, which is run by DPSST, in February 2018 after completing basic training to receive a state corrections certification. By then, he was working as a Jefferson County jail deputy, hired by the sheriffs office in July 2017. He had previously worked for the county as a victims advocate for the district attorneys office from January to July 2017, according to his LinkedIn resume. Zocchi said Arcadia executives contacted the Jefferson Countys undersheriff in October after they found out he was working as a corrections officer. They had no record of being contacted as a reference, Zocchi said. The company learned from Jefferson County that Serrano had wrongfully listed two former coworkers as his supervisors, Zocchi said. The men gave Serrano positive employment references. DPSSTs failure to revoke Mr. Serranos certifications when we initially requested and the fraudulent references and poor background checks conducted by the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office and Sheriffs Office ultimately resulted in Mr. Serrano obtaining the positions of crimes victim advocate and corrections deputy sheriff with Jefferson County, Zocchi said. DPSST said Serrano is now the subject of a professional standards investigation into his time at Jefferson County. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey Testimony about Oregon wine labels at a state legislative hearing in Salem Thursday included words like steal and fraud as Oregon wine industry supporters bore down on out-of-state competition. Oregon Rep. David Gomberg accused California winery Copper Cane of using deceptive labeling practices to steal the Oregon wine industrys reputation and market share. Jim Bernau, founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, called the situation a $30 million fraud and suggested new legislation in response. Copper Cane purchases grapes in Oregon and transports them to California to make its Elouan and The Willametter Journal wines. In November, the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau found Copper Cane in violation of federal regulations because its wine labels and marketing materials name specific Oregon winegrowing regions, such as the Willamette Valley. Copper Cane may use only the word Oregon to describe its wines origins, the bureau ruled. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission cited similar state regulations in proposing to revoke Copper Canes license to ship Elouan wines to Oregon for wholesale distribution and retail sales. Copper Cane agreed to discontinue the deceptive labels but was given a grace period to sell wines already on Oregon retail shelves and in distributors warehouses. The winery plans to contest the proposed license revocation. It has said its labels are nothing more than fanciful marketing to consumers. At Thursdays hearing before the House Interim Committee for Economic Development & Trade, Gomberg praised the OLCCs proposal, saying Copper Cane has gone beyond fanciful to acting in a fraudulent way. Gomberg further questioned Copper Canes interest in providing accurate information by playing a 2016 video clip of Wagner telling a television host in Arizona, We are farming and producing wine out of Oregon. Bernau said Copper Cane is attempting to capitalize on the value associated with the Willamette Valley name. According to Bernau, the average price of a pinot noir with the Willamette Valley name on its label is $26.04, compared to $14 to $15 for a pinot noir labeled merely as Oregon. They take the Willamette Valley name and put it on sale by selling their Elouan Oregon pinot noir for just under $20 a bottle. This helps explains their meteoric rise to having the two top-selling Oregon pinot noirs in the country, he said. It has stolen market share from law-abiding Oregon producers, he said, adding that he estimates the retail sales of wines so misrepresented could range up to $30 million. Bernau, outlining legislative ideas developed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, said the commission and the state Department of Justice should have the authority to pursue bilateral agreements with other wine-producing states to enforce wine labeling, packaging, advertising and tax laws. When it comes to label violations, said Steven Marks, OLCC executive director, the maximum penalty the OLCC can impose is $5,000 per violation. Thursdays proposals included allowing the OLCC to impose fines of up to $25,000 for each violation. As for taxes, Oregon winegrowers pay a $25-per-ton tax on grapes that helps fund the Oregon wine industrys research and marketing programs. Under the legislative ideas Bernau outlined, out-of-state wineries would be required to pay the same tax. Fines for unpaid grape taxes would be double the amount owed. Out-of-state wineries would also be required to report the contents of their wines to the OLCC each year, and blending non-Oregon grapes into the wine would be forbidden. This would prevent practices such as adding MegaPurple, a concentrate made with a grape not grown in Oregon, to change a wines appearance. For pennies on the case, pinot noir made in California can be darkened to look of a higher quality, where Oregon winemakers and growers spend thousands of dollars an acre managing the vines to get the most concentration and flavors out of the grapes, Bernau said. The OLCC would be required to report back to the Legislature by 2026 on compliance rates. Significant compliance issues could result in requiring wines labeled with Oregon designations to be packaged in Oregon, where OLCC monitoring would be more effective. Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine. Veteran Michigan outdoor writer Richard P. Smith from Marquette will be at Jay's Sporting Goods Store in Clare from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Dec. 16 and from 2 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17 autographing his many deer and bear hunting books and DVDs, including his latest title published this year. Book 7 of "Great Michigan Deer Tales" is the latest addition to his collection of books for hunters. It's the 28th book he's written. Like the other six books in the Deer Tales series, which will also be available at the signing, Book 7 has a new collection of short stories about some of the biggest bucks bagged by hunters in the state. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. 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It's being reported that in a highly competitive situation against Netflix and others, Apple closed the deal with the Canadian childrens programming company DHX Media to produce new "Peanuts" content for Apple's upcoming streaming service. The "Peanuts" characters were originally created by Charles M. Schulz in 1950. DHX and its subsidiary, Peanuts Worldwide, will develop and produce original series, specials and shorts based on the iconic gang of characters created by Charles M. Schulz. Variety's report further noted that "As part of the partnership, DHX will produce original short-form STEM content that will be exclusive to Apple featuring astronaut Snoopy. Peanuts Worldwide and NASA recently signed a Space Act Agreement, designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and the STEM fields among the next generation of students." The image below is from the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Click on image to enlarge. Last year the NYTimes published a report titled "Tech Firms Add $300 Million to Trump Administrations Computer Science Push," related to STEM. Apple, Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon and others pledged $300 for computer science education in a partnership with the Trump Administration to assist in preparing students for careers in technology. The corporate donations follow a White House effort to direct federal money toward teacher training and resources that bolster science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education." Archive: Apple Worldwide Video News The screws are tightening on Huawei, courtesy of the U.S. government, Sprint and multiple global telecoms. It's being reported today that T-Mobile US and Sprint Corp expect their merger to be approved by a U.S. national security panel as early as next week, after their respective parent companies said they would consider curbing their use of equipment from Chinas Huawei Technologies. In Reuters first report on Huawei they note that "U.S. government officials have been pressuring T-Mobiles German majority owner, Deutsche Telekom AG, to stop using Huawei equipment, the sources said, over concerns that Huawei is effectively controlled by the Chinese state and its network equipment may contain back doors that could enable cyber espionage, something which Huawei denies. That pressure is part of the national security review of T-Mobiles $26 billion deal to buy U.S. rival Sprint, the sources said. Sprints parent, SoftBank Group Corp, plans to replace 4G network equipment from Huawei with hardware from Nokia and Ericsson, Nikkei reported on Thursday, without citing sources." In Reuters second report on Huawei, they note that Orange S.A, formerly France Telecom, the fourth largest mobile network operator is committed to not working with Huawei for 5G. U.S. officials had briefed allies that Huawei is ultimately at the beck and call of the Chinese state, while warning that its network equipment may contain back doors" that could open them up to cyber espionage. Orange CEO Stephane Richard told reporters in Paris: "We dont foresee calling on Huawei for 5G. We are working with our traditional partners Ericsson and Nokia." Richard added that the security concerns were legitimate: "absolutely understand that all of our countries, and the French authorities, are preoccupied. We are too." On another front, it was surprising to learn that Canada, being a member of the Five Eyes intelligence group, is distancing themselves from the U.S. position on Huawei. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale of the left wing Liberal party is calling reports that Canada will soon formally ban the telecommunications giant Huawei from its 5G network "speculation." Huawei has invested in Canadian Universities and in one case invested $500 million in the province of Ontario alone. So for Canada, it's an economic issue and with the latest trade deal with the U.S. having been shoved down their throat, the Canadian Government will take their time in issuing a decision on using Huawei's equipment for 5G in Canada or not. The news of telecom operators shutting Huawei out of 5G equipment sales has nothing to do with banning Huawei smartphones at this point in time. The U.S. is the only major country that has banned Huawei smartphones. While not technically "official," the U.S. Government urged AT&T to stop their partnership with Huawei and AT&T complied. Youll likely be out shopping for wine over the next 10 days either to serve at your house or bring to a family member, or to give as a gift. With that in mind, some basic questions were sent to several wine specialists who work at Fine Wine & Good Spirits Stores around Pennsylvania for their suggestions. Andrew Chase is the wine specialist at the store in Broomall, Delaware County. Nate Snelbaker is the wine specialist at the Hummelstown store in Hershey Square. Both were sent the questions and responded; my thanks to both of them for taking the time to send in answers. Be aware that you might not find all these wines at your favorite store. But ask, in the event you can get them shipped in for you. 1. Serving beef for the holiday. Give me some suggestions on some red wines to compliment that. Chase: Cabernet Sauvignon is always brought up regarding steak pairings. Though Cabernet is perfectly fine for steaks, you may want to try a Petite Sirah or even a nice Barossa Shiraz. Snelbaker: You cant go wrong with a classic Bordeaux or Burgundy to pair with beef. Failing that, you can try a nice hearty Spanish red like the Contino Rioja Reserva, Code 78895 or Gabarda Seleccion Carinena, Code 78911. 2. Different scenario. Going to try the 7 fishes route. First of all, what are some sparkling youd recommend? Chase: Cremant de Loire and Cava, whether white or rose, are great sparklers to pair with fish. Stick with Extra-Dry or Brut. Snelbaker: Id look for Cremant wines, which are sparkling wines from France that are made in the traditional method. We get them from places like the Loire Valley and Burgundy. Of course, you could splurge for the granddaddy of sparkling wines and get a Champagne. We have classics like Moet and Ruinart, or perhaps go for one off the beaten path from Cheurlin. Theyre a Champagne house from the southern part of the region, and I am particularly fond of their Rose de Saignee, Code 76183, a delicate pink sparkler with delicious ripe raspberry aromas and a palate-cleansing finish. 3. And then some whites that would work well with fish? Chase: The easy answer would be dry whites like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. This is absolutely acceptable, though some of my favorite whites for pairing with fish come from France (Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine, Muscadet from the Loire and Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc are all excellent choices). Dont sleep on some great Italian whites like Vermentino, Greco di Tufo or Garganega. Snelbaker: You cant go wrong with white wines from the Loire Valley. A crisp Sancerre is the perfect match for fish, while Muscadet offers an interesting salty citrus tang and an agreeably low price point. You could also do a Pinot Gris from Oregon if you want to keep things domestic. 4. I want to bring something inexpensive to a party Im attending, but I dont want it to taste that way. A few suggestions? Chase: Sparkling wines are a great idea for any party or gift in general. You can easily find a nice Cava, Cremant de Loire, or Prosecco for under $20. This is a great alternative to Champagne, which can usually cost you $40 out the gate on the lower end. For inexpensive reds, whites and rose wines, always check out our Chairman's Selections. These are great wines at a HUGE discount, exclusive to Pennsylvania. Here's some current red, white, and rose Chairmans Selections in stores: Code 78905 - Solena Pinot Noir: $17.99 (Quoted at $30) Code 78945 - Cross Springs Chardonnay: $9.99 (Quoted at $20) Code 78900 - Chateau Ferry Lacombe Hadeus Rose: $12.99 (Quoted at $22) Snelbaker: The Chairmans Selection is a great place to find outstanding values. Here is a list of six wines that I think are real crowd-pleasers: 1. Code 78950, The Steven Kent Winery Winemakers Selection Chardonnay, California 2016, $11.99 A lovely Chard that isnt overly oaked but has just the right amount of toast to make everyone happy. 2. Code 78958, Berne Selection Emotion Rose Cotes de Provence 2017, $11.99 Rose is a style that is oft overlooked outside of spring and summer, but the versatility with food make this an invaluable companion at dinnertime. 3. Code 78961, Bodegas Ego Fuerza Jumilla 2015, $9.99 A stunner from the same people that brought us the Infinito red blend that was such a big hit this summer, this blend of Monestrell and Cabernet Sauvignon has an amazing nose, a sturdy frame and an unbelievable price tag. 4. Code 78918, Santa Julia Magna Uco Valley 2017, $11.99 A perennial favorite of mine, this Argentinian red over-delivers with plenty of black fruit and a depth and complexity that belie the modest price tag. 5. Code 78892, Domaine Terlato and Chapoutier Shiraz Viognier Victoria 2015, $11.99 A famous Rhone producer lends his expertise to create a Shiraz Viognier that brings spice, power and a juicy, cherry-flavored finish. 6. Code 78870, Regio Cantina Donpa Aglianico del Vulture 2013, $11.99 A deep, dark wine from a seldom seen varietal, this Aglianico brings the flavor of fresh cut Bing cherry and mocha in a big way. A great wine for pasta dinners or a hearty beef stew. 5. Lets go the other way. Id like to bring a red or white that tastes like a hundred bucks but wont break my bank. Where would you steer me? Chase: Catena Classic Malbec: $19.99 Bootleg Red Blend: $34.99 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: $19.99 Snelbaker: I have two great options that should be available in many of our Premium Collection stores. The first is Code 78942, Poggio dellOtto Brunello di Montalcino 2013, for $29.99. This is a stunning Italian dinner wine that you can rarely get for less than $50, and I can confirm that this does indeed drink like a hundred bucks. With a wine like this, you have to open it a few hours before serving or put it into a decanter, but once it opens up, the flavors melt onto your palate and the acidity will be the perfect match to a red sauce or a steak dinner. My next pick would be Code 78943, Bersano Barolo Badarina 2012, also for $29.99.This is another wine that should be far more expensive, but thanks to the Chairmans Selection program, you can have this beauty for far less. The notes here are exuberant, with cherry liquor, plum and licorice taking center stage. At the edges you can catch the signature aroma of rose petal, enticing you to another sip while the well-integrated tannins transform this into a silky-smooth experience that I havent encountered at this price point. This is honestly the best Barolo Ive tried for less than $100. 6. Ive asked this before, but is there any reason not to buy a wine with a screw top? In other words, a couple advantages and disadvantages of them. Chase: Screw tops have a stigma against them, and that really shouldnt be the case. Most winemakers will tell you they prefer them not only for the cut in price, but because they do the same job much BETTER than a cork. When a cork dries out, you have oxygen present in the wine, which will cause it to go bad. Screw tops, unless equipped with a faulty seal, will have almost zero chance of oxygen entering the bottle. Snelbaker: Not at all. Many of the highest profile Australian and New Zealand wines are being bottled under screw top, such as the $799.99 Henschke Hill of Grace or the delicious, hedonistic reds of Mollydooker. The point of a cork is to allow air to be exchanged between the wine and the outside environment, but at a very slow rate. Screw tops slow this down to a crawl, so a wine that is ready to drink within 2 years to 5 years of bottling doesnt need a cork. If we are talking Barolo or a fine Burgundy, then by all means, they should be under cork. They are intended to last for 20 years to 30 years, so a cork allows them to slowly mature. Nate Snelbaker, wine specialist in the PLCB Hummelstown store at Hershey Square. The one thing you do miss out on with a screw top is a nasty chemical called trichloroanisole, which accounts for the phenomenon of corked bottles, which smell of mold and wet cardboard. Some estimates say that this is present in 5 percent to 10 percent of the worlds cork-closed wines, so I can certainly understand the switch to screw top. 7. Maybe I have a friend Im buying wine for and he or she likes something sweeter. Where do I look? Chase: For whites, look for Moscato Dasti, sweet Riesling, and Vouvray Reds: Dornfelder, Cagnina de Romagna, Ruby Port Rose: Rose dAnjou, white zinfandel Sparkling: Asti Spumante, anything with Moscato as its base Snelbaker: I face this dilemma every week, as my fiance prefers sweeter wines. I tend to go for things like Vouvray from the Loire Valley in France. It comes in different levels of sweetness and makes an excellent pairing with cheese fondue. We also tend to share a lot of Riesling, either from Washington state or Germany, and a really good Moscato dAsti from Italy is a great way to finish a meal. 8. What are a couple of your favorite holiday wine cocktails? Pass along the recipes and the wines to purchase. Snelbaker: You cant go wrong with the classic mimosa. I tend to use Prosecco rather than Champagne or traditional method sparklers. The Charmat method they use to make Prosecco focuses more on the fruit, which I think blends better with the OJ. Might I suggest Code 78567, Colvendra Prosecco? At only $10.99, you wont be breaking the bank to make this delicious cocktail, which is just one part bubbly to one part chilled orange juice. You can mix it up by swapping out the type of juice, my favorite substitution is orange-pineapple juice, but Ive seen it done with cranberry, grapefruit, and white peach cranberry juice cocktail. Another sparkling cocktail that Ive mixed up many times was one of our Fine Wine & Good Spirits cocktails of the month called the Mumm Julep. It used Absolut Lime Vodka and Mumm Champagne, and featured fresh citrus flavors with a nice minty finish. Here is the recipe: MUMM JULEP 1 oz Absolut Lime Vodka 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice oz simple syrup 2 oz G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Champagne 1 sprig fresh mint Combine first three ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and set aside. Pour Champagne into a chilled glass and top with the shaken mixture. Garnish with mint sprig. 9. If youre drinking spirits, what is your favorite spirit-based holiday drink? Drinking something straight/on the rocks, or do you have the recipe? Snelbaker: I tend to prefer scotch or a nice rye whiskey on the rocks, but I do enjoy a twist on the classic Sazerac cocktail, replacing the absinthe with sambuca. Heres the recipe: In a mixing glass with ice, combine 2 ounces of rye or bourbon and an ounce of Sambuca. Add 4 dashes of Angostura bitters. Stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with two big twists of lemon peel, twisting both over the surface of the drink to spray their citrus oils all over. -- Heres what has run in 5 Questions, a series of interview with retail wine specialists from around Pennsylvania. On Croatian wines, rose, and cork vs. screwcap: 5 Questions with Kirt Heintzelman Taste, price of Vinho Verde keep white wine lovers coming back for more: 5 Questions What are some of the characteristics of wines from SW France? 5 Questions What is the difference between a toasty Chardonnay and a crisp one? 5 Questions So what makes Portuguese wines such a steal? 5 Questions Exactly why are the Loire Valley wines so appealing? 5 Questions Once the wine is opened, figure 3 to 4 days max: 5 Questions Insulated bag will keep transported wine from overheating: 5 Questions Here are some recommendations for summertime red, white wines: 5 Questions Screw caps will be utilized more and more in the coming years: 5 Questions Follow Paul Vigna on Twitter @pierrecarafe A burglar stole five guns from a mans home in Williamstown earlier this week, according to a news release by state police Saturday. One or more persons forced their way into a home in the 400 block of Elizabeth Street in the borough between 5 p.m. Dec. 9 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11, when the theft was discovered. A 38-year-old man who lives at the home reported the theft of the following: A Walther BB gun, with a slide that wont run. A rifle with a crack in the scope A .22 bolt action rifle decorative sling, featuring a buck prancing through bushes A 20-gauge shotgun, double barrel, with a crack in the high end of the stock A youth-model rifle A .22 single-shot rifle with a solid stock, made from multiple parts An ammunition box. State Police from Lykens are investigating the theft. No further details about the burglary including, where the guns were stored in the home or how the thief gained entry, were provided by police. Williamstown is a small borough in Dauphin County located 38 miles northeast of Harrisburg. The Government Accountability Office has been asked to assess how staffing levels contribute to safety conditions at federal prisons. U.S. Rep. Thomas A. Marino, R-Lycoming County, and Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson made the request Friday in a letter to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro. The GAO in a 2012 review noted concerns with unfilled positions and increased inmate-to-staff ratios, but did not assess the effect of augmentation, the letter states. Augmentation is the use of administrative employees, such as cooks and nurses, as temporary corrections officers. Marino and Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, ask the GAO to examine the following elements of the Bureau of Prisons' staffing procedures and practices: The current inmate-to-staff ratio and the prevalence of augmentation across the differing security levels. BOP's efforts to address safety concerns with current staffing, including augmentation. The extent to which BOP considers national correctional standards and guidelines designed to improve staffing procedures and practices. Whether BOP's human capital strategic plan considers the effects of current staffing procedures and practices on the health and safety of inmates, staff and the public. The effect on cost, pay and morale of converting to a four-shift continuous staffing schedule. The letter asks the GAO in its final report to discuss specific staffing challenges the BOP faces and include recommended corrective measures. "These dangerous staffing levels that contribute to incidents of violence are unacceptable," Marino said. "The bureau needs to take a comprehensive look at these policies and make sure they are doing everything possible to maintain safety and order in their prisons." The GAO request follows concerns raised earlier this year by groups of federal lawmakers about prison staffing. In October, a bipartisan group including Pennsylvania Sens. Pat Toomey and Robert P. Casey Jr. accused the BOP of failing to follow congressional directives to hire more full-time corrections officers. In March, a bipartisan coalition of nine Pennsylvania lawmakers led by Marino asked then Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reconsider the elimination of vacant positions at the 11 federal prisons in the state. Cited both times was the 2013 murder of corrections officer Eric Williams while he wasmworking alone in a housing unit with more than 100 inmates at the Canaan prison in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Allenwood prison complex and the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary are in Marino's new 12th District that extends from the New York State line through Perry County. A 19-year-old soldier from Johnstown died Thursday as the result of a non-combat related incident, the Department of Defense announced. The death of Pfc. Joshua Mikeasky at Bagram Airfield in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, is under investigation, the department said. Mikeasky was assigned to 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York. Mikeasky is the third soldier from western Pennsylvania to die in Afghanistan in recent weeks. Army Sgt. Jason McClary, 24, of Export, Westmoreland County, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, 25, of Hookstown, Beaver County, were among four service members killed by a roadside bomb that exploded Nov, 27 in the Ghazni province. Sally Berry, 62, of Steelton, was charged with wire fraud for defrauding a 78-year-old out of $86,500, federal officials say. Berry told the victim she was going to receive $750,000 from a $586 million fund created by Western Union to pay victims of mass market consumer fraud schemes involved in sending Western Union money transfers between 2004 and 2017, federal officials say. Western Union agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to create the fund. United States Attorney David Freeds office reports, the victim gave Berry eight loans between September 2017 and July 2018 totaling $97,500. Berry tried to get $25,084 from Gilardi and Company, LLC, who was retained by the Department of Justice to process fraud victims' claims. No other claims were submitted by Berry, feds say. The first loan Berry received was Sept. 28 for $25,000. The victim financed it by borrowing $25,000 from a credit union. Feds say, Berry gave the victim a Western Union Petition for Remission form handwritten note: Proof of Western Union Settlement and another Western Union Remission document handwritten note: Look at this My claim was submitted and accepted 5.31 Just a matter of time. She also gave the victim a Nomination of Beneficiaries form from the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System. It was signed by Berry and had a handwritten note: Mr. W. will receive the amount of $150,000. Berry defrauded the victim of $11,000 between September 2017 and May 2018, feds say, which she said included $7,500 for travel to Kentucky and Colorado to finalize her Western Union settlement. The victim had been depleted all of his savings by July 2018, feds say. Berry was arrested by U.S. Postal Inspectors on Nov. 15, 2018 and detained by Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Harrisburg Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel is prosecuting the case. There was plenty of awful legal news for President Trump this week, but the worst may have come from an official who hasnt yet been sworn in. Letitia James, who will become the New York state attorney general next month, told NBC she plans to use every area of the law to investigate President Trump and his business transactions and that of his family as well. James also said she hopes to pursue state charges against Trump associates whom the president might pardon for federal crimes. No wonder Trump was so untethered when Chuck and Nancy dropped by. Trump has been walking a tightrope of lies all his adult life, and now he is teetering. He has inflated his wealth. He has aggrandized his business acumen. He has managed to convince supporters that he is a respected businessman who brilliantly commanded a vast real estate empire. In a fanciful 2015 statement of his net worth, he claimed that his brand alone just the name Trump was worth $3 billion. I wonder what its worth now. In reality, Trump has never come anywhere near the top rank of New York real estate developers. He ran not a huge, sprawling enterprise but a small family firm in which he and his children had direct control. He was seen as so unreliable that genuine moguls refused to have anything to do with him. When he tried to go big risking everything on casino development in Atlantic City he failed miserably despite his fathers efforts to bail him out. His bankers were left holding the bag, and now most major financial institutions wont lend the Trump Organization a dime. It was Trumps undeniable skill as a television performer on The Apprentice that saved him from total ruin. Now the law is beginning to squeeze him from all directions. His former consigliere, Michael Cohen, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison. One of the crimes Cohen confessed to was violating federal campaign finance laws by orchestrating six-figure payments to a Playboy model and an adult-film star, in the weeks before the 2016 election, to ensure their silence about sexual encounters they say they had with Trump. Cohen says he did this at Trumps direction. Trumps see-no-evil allies dismiss Cohen as a proven liar about other matters. But also Wednesday, the company that owns the National Enquirer American Media Inc. (AMI), which is run by Trumps close friend David Pecker admitted playing a major role in that same hush-money scheme. The aim, according to the company, was to help Trump win the election. Trump responded by tweeting that I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. But in the past, the president has also said that there werent any hush-money payments; that if such payments were made, he didnt know about them; and that the payments, which totaled $280,000, were a simple private transaction. The bottom line is that two witnesses, Cohen and AMI, independently now implicate the president of the United States in the commission of two felonies. The campaign finance case is being brought by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. Back in Washington, meanwhile, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has been busy, as well. We learned this week that Michael Flynn, Trumps short-lived national security adviser, has met with Muellers team 19 times to tell them what he knows. We also learned that Cohen has been eagerly cooperating with the Mueller probe. This means that at least two people in a position to know whether collusion with the Russians took place are singing like songbirds. Potentially more serious for Trump and his family in the long run, however, is what the New York state probe might discover. How much of the Trump Organizations revenue has come from the sale of luxury real estate to oligarchs from Russia and other kleptocracies? Where did these buyers money come from? Why was Deutsche Bank recently raided by German authorities and under investigation for money laundering the only major financial institution willing to lend money to Trump in recent years? Where did Trumps company get the large amounts of cash used in several transactions that Post reporters uncovered? How much commingling of funds was there between Trumps company and his eponymous foundation? Trumps longtime accountant, Allen Weisselberg, has turned states evidence. He may be the Virgil who guides federal, state and local prosecutors through a Trumpian inferno of shell companies and opaque transactions. The outlines of Trumps fate begin to emerge. Eugene Robinson is a columnist for The Washington Post. His work appears on Saturdays on PennLive Opinion. Ministry of Justice must do more to protect women and children: MP Napat FARTH, Germany, December 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalogue from art therapy for young peopleA Onlineprinters has continued its support of Refugio, a non-profit counselling and treatment centre for traumatised refugees, by donating EURA 5,000 this year. Along with the donation, Onlineprinters printed exhibition catalogues of project pictures made in art therapy class. The catalogue highlights the healing effect of art to process traumatic experiences. This makes the catalogue a valuable tool for Refugio to support their public relations and as a gift to donors and sponsors. The centre offers various services to help young refugees find their way back to a normal life after suffering traumatic experiences. A A A A (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/798770/Onlineprinters_Refugio.jpg ) "On the move" exhibition catalogueA The art workshop of Refugio exhibits pictures from refugee children about being on the move and has issued an accompanying exhibition catalogue. Margit Papamokos, who founded the art workshop 25 years ago, emphasises the importance of artistic expression: "Art is a very effective means to communicate with children and adolescents who fled their home, non-verbally at first allowing language barriers to be overcome." In the next step, they talk about the pictures which promotes language. Throughout the artistic process, the children have an experienced art therapist of the association at their side. Migration resolution signedA The online print shop has been supporting Refugio for several years now. "Onlineprinters employs people from more than 20 nations including refugees. Refugio makes an important contribution to integrating them. And companies such as ours benefit from these efforts as well," points out Michael Fries, the CEO of Onlineprinters. Back in November, Onlineprinters signed a resolution calling for politicians to step up their efforts to integrate refugees. The adhesive bound exhibition catalogue has 76 pages. 800 copies were printed on FSC certified paper. It can be requested via press@onlineprinter.com free of charge. The greenhouses gases generated during production were compensated for within the scope of our carbon neutral printing programme. About the companyA The Onlineprinters group is one of Europe's leading online printers. The company employs a staff of more than 1,400 and produced 3 billion+ printed advertising products last year. More than 1,500 print products including business cards, letterheads, flyers, catalogues, brochures, large-format advertising systems and more are sold to a million customers in 30 European countries through 18 web shops. British market leader Solopress and LaserTryk, the Scandinavian number one, are members of the Onlineprinters Group. The video "A look behind the scenes of Onlineprinters":A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im8eJN8jbwg Press contact:A Onlineprinters GmbH Patrick Piecha Head of Press & Public Relations press@onlineprinters.com Phone: +49 9161 6209807 Mobile: +49 174 30 77 250 At 62, Penny still has young children at home, but its not her children. I have my grandkids, she said. For the last three years, shes kept the three boys, ages 8, 9 and 11, and one girl, age 6,... Off the Felt: Antonio Esfandiari's Birthday, Elky Proposal & Mizrachi's in South Africa December 15, 2018 Eric Mertens In last week's edition of Off the Felt, we had love in the air and babies on the way, while some others were living it up in Mexico. This time, we have the 40th birthday of Antonio Esfandiari, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier getting engaged and the Mizrachi's in South Africa. Antonio Esfandiari's Birthday Last week, Antonio Esfandiari turned 40 and that was a good reason to organize a great party. Poker legend Phil Hellmuth came over to join the celebration: Also, poker streamer Jeff Gross had a great time at Esfandiari's party: ElkY Engaged In the past few weeks, we saw several poker players getting on their knees to ask their girlfriends to marry them. This week, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier did the same and popped the question to Jenny No. South Africa Michael Mizrachi spent some time with Sarah and traveled to South Africa. Sarah posted some great pictures after their trip: High, Throwback & Christmas A little throwback by Dan Smith: Liv Boeree on an all-time high: Wow, great sweater Chris! Washing Hands On the other popular social media channel, Twitter, there was a discussion about washing your hands after visiting the restroom. Noah Schwartz started about it during the WPT Five Diamond and Daniel Negreanu reacted to point out another interesting thing about unsanitary: The # of poker players I just witnessed not wash there hands after using the restroom here @WPT Five Diamond is tr https://t.co/BGA9WHcp8K Noah Schwartz (@noahjschwartz) @TuckonSports @noahjschwartz @WPT You really think this is more unsanitary than the chips we play with on the dirty https://t.co/cf1yG8gV0r Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) @RealKidPoker @TuckonSports @noahjschwartz @WPT Honestly its more important to wash your hands before you pee than after in a casino Jonas Mackoff (@donut604) @dwpoker @berkey11 This actually makes way more sense. The germs on your hands from playing two levels is infinitel https://t.co/rNzW8NtIXq Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) girafganger7's Banter This week, we finish it off with "girafganger7" on Twitter. The online tournament grinder had a lot of fun throwing banter on his Twitter-page: Thanks for all the love! I'm gonna keep doing this till you guys can't stand me anymore or I get sued. My money's o https://t.co/zL9aRnGm9s giraf ganger (@Girafganger7) I like my @RunItOnce subscription like I like my Costa Rican streamhouses, underpriced but still shared by 4 guys. giraf ganger (@Girafganger7) I like my @PokerStars invented gimmicks like I like my old people, statistically most likely to die soon. giraf ganger (@Girafganger7) I like my @bp22 like I like my James Bond villain, on a boat in international waters, surrounded by femmes fatales, https://t.co/c7oLorb6mo giraf ganger (@Girafganger7) Day 2 of the 5,300 EPT Main Event has come to an end after five levels of 90 minutes each with Malaysias Natalie Teh claiming the chip lead here in the Hilton Prague with 786,000 in chips. After the bubble burst in the last level of the night, 137 players managed to find a bag to seal for Day 3. As most people are aware, a Platinum Pass will be given to the winner of this Main Event, but Teh already has one. She was awarded a Platinum Pass through the Next Great Poker Brain quiz that PokerStars Team Pros Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree had set up. Teh started playing while she was in university but decided to quit her job at the end of last year and play professionally this year. And shes doing pretty well as she has already racked up fifteen cashes this year. Teh won a huge pot to jump into the chip lead when she rivered a set of queens against Michal Schuh who held pocket aces. Even though there were several people competing for that chip lead, Teh came out victorious in the end. Parker Talbot follows Teh with 773,500 in chips. The popular Twitch streamer from Canada is more known for his online achievements but is making himself more known in the live circuit too. With over $400,000 in live tournament results, he will be looking to add even more to that. Parker Talbot Closing the podium is Evangelos Bechrakis from Greece who bagged 730,000 tonight. Bechrakis finished in 3rd place in the 2,200 EPT National High Roller a mere two nights ago for 144,900 which was also his biggest live cash ever. Anton Wigg (708,500) and Arthur Conan are the only other players who have managed to collect more than 700,000 throughout the day. The day started with 440 players as 25 players decided to reenter or buy in before the tournament clock kicked off for the first 90-minute level of the day. This meant that there were 1,174 entries in total for the Main Event, which includes 281 reentries. This created a total prize pool of 5,693,900 with 175 players getting paid at least 8,710. The winner on the final day will walk away with 1,020,000, the beautiful PokerStars trophy, and a Platinum Pass package worth $30,000! By the time the first break started, almost ninety players busted already. Players like 2013 WSOP Main Event Champion Ryan Riess, Kenny Hallaert, Ari Engel, Joao Barbosa, Max Silver, Daniel Dvoress, Antoine Labat, and Michael Addamo. And the pace didnt let up throughout the rest of the day as defending champion Kalidou Sow was eliminated. So were Niall Farrell, Sam Greenwood, Pavel Plesuv, Julian Thomas, Tom Hall, Bryan Paris, Thomas Boivin, Steven van Zadelhoff, Andras Nemeth, Florian Duta, Kacper Pyzara, Michal Mrakes, Andy Black, Marc-Andre Ladouceur, and Jan Bendik[/b]. PokerStars Team Pros Muskan Sethi and Fatima Moreira De Melo also couldnt make it into the money. Sethi shoved her ace-queen into the ten-nine of Bechrakis who flopped two pair and Moreira De Melos pocket jacks couldnt beat the ace-queen of her opponent as he hit a queen on the flop. The bubble lasted about 40 minutes, Mateusz Wozniak first doubled up through Pavel Veksler with pocket kings against Vekslers pocket queens and hit quads. A few hands later, Wozniak burst the bubble by dealing Veksler the final blow when it all went in on the river. Vekslers two pair couldnt beat the flush that Wozniak had rivered. When the tournament director announced that the bubble had burst, the applause could be heard from all players spread over the tables here in the poker room. Pavel Veksler Bubbles the Main Event With an hour left to play, almost 40 players would bust during that hour, collecting their min-cash, either bitterly disappointed to not make Day 3, or extremely happy to have won money with their short stacks. The 137 surviving players will return at noon tomorrow, Friday, December 14, to continue to play Level 16 which features a small blind of 2,500, big blind of 5,000, and a big blind ante of 5,000. The PokerNews live reporting team will be on the floor again to bring you all the action from the first card of the deck until the final chip has been bagged so make sure to keep following the updates! 8.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the incoming chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, explained exactly how Donald Trump could be indicted while still in office. Schiff tweeted: If the Justice Department finds that a president has engaged in a conspiracy to commit illegal acts to help his campaign AND would escape justice by staying in office beyond the statute of limitations, it should allow indictment even if a trial must await the end of the term. https://t.co/38dEc9TY1c Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 14, 2018 The idea is that federal prosecutors cant put a sitting president on criminal trial, thats been established by the Supreme Court, but they can indict the president and hold off on the trial until he leaves office. Trumps worst nightmare isnt losing reelection, or maybe even being impeached. Trumps biggest fear appears to be facing criminal charges. It is why he and his White House defenders that they have nothing to worry about because a sitting president cant be indicted. There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits a sitting president from being indicted. The only thing saving Trump is a 2000 opinion from the legal counsel at the Justice Department that a sitting president cant be indicted. Rep. Schiff makes a great argument. A sitting president cant use the office as a way to run out the statute of limitations on a crime. The country has already reached the point with Trump where his criminal activity is no longer debated. The only point of contention is what can be done about it. If Adam Schiff is correct, Trump will someday leave the leave the White House and step into the waiting arms of law enforcement to face indictment for his crimes. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 845 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard WASHINGTON (Reuters) President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn did not need to be warned against lying to the FBI and does not deserve sentencing leniency because he received no warning, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday. He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, told a U.S. judge ahead of Flynns sentencing on Tuesday. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and David Alexander; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) 402 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard WASHINGTON (Reuters) President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn knew better than to lie to the FBI and does not deserve sentencing leniency because he was not warned that lying to federal agents was a crime, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday. The rebuke by Special Counsel Robert Mueller came after Flynns lawyers argued that the lack of an explicit warning before an interview with FBI agents in January 2017 should be a mitigating factor in his sentencing on Tuesday. A sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents, Muellers office said in a court filing. He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI agents about his conversations with Russias then-ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, and has been cooperating with Muellers probe into Russias meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. The FBI interview took place on Jan. 24, 2017, soon after Trump took office. In the filing Mueller said Flynn lied to the media and senior administration officials in the weeks leading up to the interview, telling them he had not discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with Kislyak when in fact he had. Thus, by the time of the FBI interview, the defendant was committed to his false story, Muellers prosecutors wrote. Muellers filing was in response to an order by the judge to turn over documents related to the interview. That order, in turn, followed a sentencing memo earlier this week by Flynns lawyers in which they argued for leniency. As mitigating factors, Flynns lawyers cited both the lack of a warning about lying and a suggestion by then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to Flynn that the quickest way to conduct the interview was without counsel present. Critics of the Mueller probe had jumped on those assertions to promote the idea that Flynn had been set up. Flynns crime of lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. His plea agreement states, however, that he is eligible for a sentence of zero to six months and can ask the court not to impose a fine. Mueller, who last week cited Flynns substantial cooepration in recommending no prison time, said in Fridays filing that Flynn still deserved a sentence at the low end of the federal guideline range providing the defendant continues to accept responsibility for his actions. Trump has denied there was collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia, and has labeled Muellers probe a witch hunt. Russia has denied it meddled in the election, contrary to the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, David Alexander and Nathan Layne; writing by Tim Ahmann; editing by Mohammad Zargham and Jonathan Oatis) LONDON, December 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalogue from art therapy for young people Onlineprinters has continued its support of Refugio, a non-profit counselling and treatment centre for traumatised refugees, by donating EURA 5,000 this year. Along with the donation, Onlineprinters printed exhibition catalogues of project pictures made in art therapy class. The catalogue highlights the healing effect of art to process traumatic experiences. This makes the catalogue a valuable tool for Refugio to support their public relations and as a gift to donors and sponsors. The centre offers various services to help young refugees find their way back to a normal life after suffering traumatic experiences. A A A A (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/798770/Onlineprinters_Refugio.jpg ) "On the move" exhibition catalogueA The art workshop of Refugio exhibits pictures from refugee children about being on the move and has issued an accompanying exhibition catalogue. Margit Papamokos, who founded the art workshop 25 years ago, emphasises the importance of artistic expression: "Art is a very effective means to communicate with children and adolescents who fled their home, non-verbally at first allowing language barriers to be overcome." In the next step, they talk about the pictures which promotes language. Throughout the artistic process, the children have an experienced art therapist of the association at their side. Migration resolution signedA The online print shop has been supporting Refugio for several years now. "Onlineprinters employs people from more than 20 nations including refugees. Refugio makes an important contribution to integrating them. And companies such as ours benefit from these efforts as well," points out Michael Fries, the CEO of Onlineprinters. Back in November, Onlineprinters signed a resolution calling for politicians to step up their efforts to integrate refugees. The adhesive bound exhibition catalogue has 76 pages. 800 copies were printed on FSC certified paper. It can be requested via press@onlineprinter.com free of charge. The greenhouses gases generated during production were compensated for within the scope of our carbon neutral printing programme. About the companyA The Onlineprinters group is one of Europe's leading online printers. The company employs a staff of more than 1,400 and produced 3 billion+ printed advertising products last year. More than 1,500 print products including business cards, letterheads, flyers, catalogues, brochures, large-format advertising systems and more are sold to a million customers in 30 European countries through 18 web shops. British market leader Solopress and LaserTryk, the Scandinavian number one, are members of the Onlineprinters Group. The video "A look behind the scenes of Onlineprinters": http://bit.ly/onlineprinters-en-video A Press contact:A Onlineprinters GmbH Patrick Piecha Head of Press & Public Relations press@onlineprinters.com Phone: +49 9161 6209807 Mobile: +49 174 30 77 250 474 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Yeganeh Torbati and Andrew Hay WASHINGTON/TAOS, New Mexico (Reuters) The U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys internal watchdog will investigate the death of a 7-year-old Guatemalan migrant which occurred after she was detained by U.S. border agents, officials said on Friday. The Trump administration defended the treatment of the child, identified as Jakelin Caal by a Guatemalan official, and said there was no indication that she had any medical problems until several hours after she and her father were taken into U.S. custody on Dec. 6. The Guatemalan government had earlier identified the girl as Jackeline Caal. Initial news reports said Caal died of dehydration and exhaustion. On Friday, U.S. officials said she had suffered cardiac arrest, brain swelling and liver failure. The Office of the Inspector General, which looks into accusations of misconduct by public employees, will take the lead on the case. It said it would share the results of its investigation with the government, Congress and the public. News of the childs death has added to criticism of President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies from immigrant advocates and Democrats in Congress. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin on Friday repeated his call on Twitter for DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to resign, citing the case. Nielsen described the death as heart-wrenching. My heart goes out to the family, all of DHS. This is just a very sad example of the dangers of this journey, she said in an interview with Fox News Channel. Record numbers of parents traveling with children are being apprehended while trying to cross the U.S. border with Mexico. In November, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers detained 25,172 members of family units, the highest monthly number ever recorded, the agency said. The Trump administration has tried to deter people from crossing the border between ports of entry illegally to seek asylum, while also restricting access to official ports of entry. That has created a potential months-long wait for asylum applicants, including those who came as part of a large caravan of Central Americans this year. NO INDICATION OF HEALTH CONDITIONS Caal and her father, who a Guatemalan official identified as 29-year-old Nery Caal, were detained after arriving on Dec. 6 at around 9:15 p.m. local time at the Antelope Wells port of entry, in a remote part of New Mexico, along with a group of over 160 migrants, U.S. officials said. Four Border Patrol agents were on scene, and no medical staff were present, said a CBP official, on condition of anonymity. These aliens had traveled through Mexico for some period of time before they reached us, the CBP official said. They were actually in our custody for a very short time. A border agent asked the father around 20 questions as part of an initial medical screening. He checked no on a form asking if the child had any illnesses, a DHS official told reporters on Friday on condition of anonymity. The form was provided in English, and the interview was conducted in Spanish, the CBP official said. The questions were asked, the observations were made, the father was there, and there was no indication that she had any health conditions, the official said. The Guatemalan foreign ministry said in a statement that Caals parents native tongue is Qeqchi, a Mayan language. Nery Caal told Guatemalan officials that he felt more comfortable speaking Qeqchi than Spanish, the foreign ministry said. They speak Spanish but they dont understand Spanish 100 percent, said Tekandi Paniagua, a Guatemalan consular official in Del Rio, Texas who spoke to Nery Caal on Saturday and Monday, in an interview with Reuters. At around 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 7, around seven hours after arriving at the border, the girl and her father boarded a bus for the Lordsburg border station in New Mexico, about 95 miles (153 km) away. While they were waiting for the bus, they had access to water and restrooms, the CBP official said. Just before the bus departed at 5 a.m., Nery Caal told agents that Jakelin was vomiting. By the time the bus arrived at the station at 6:30 a.m., Caal was not breathing. She was treated by Border Patrol medical technicians and emergency services who arrived shortly after, and then taken to a hospital in El Paso, Texas. A brain scan revealed swelling and the girl was diagnosed with liver failure. She died early in the morning on Dec. 8, with her father at the hospital, the CBP official said. Nery Caal was released by Border Patrol under an order of supervision, and is staying at a migrant shelter in El Paso, Paniagua said. Paniagua said Nery Caal told him he had crossed the border planning to turn himself in to U.S. authorities, and will try to stay in the United States. CONGRESS LEARNED VIA MEDIA Senate Democrats criticized the Trump administration for not revealing Caals death for nearly a week. A Congressional requirement directs CBP to report the death of individuals in its custody within 24 hours to the appropriations committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Jay Tilton, a spokesman for the Senate appropriations committee, said in an email that it was not alerted to Caals death. A House Democratic aide said on condition of anonymity that members of the appropriations committee in that chamber were also not alerted to Caals death, and have asked DHS and CBP to explain. Senior House Democrats wrote in a letter that the watchdog should investigate the delay in informing Congress. It is hard to overstate our frustration with the fact that we learned of this incident through media reports one week after the incident occurred, they said. CBP officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A DHS official on Friday declined to comment on the agencys conversations with members of Congress. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Andrew Hay, additional reporting by Makini Brice and Susan Heavey in Washington, and Christine Murray in Mexico City; Editing by Frances Kerry and Rosalba OBrien) By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) The U.S. Justice Department has spent a total of $25.2 million on Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether President Donald Trumps campaign colluded with Russia from its start in May 2017 through September 2018, according to the latest public data released on Friday. That number is a little more than half the amount Trump has claimed Mueller spent. In a tweet on Nov. 29, Trump claimed without evidence that Muellers investigation, which the president has dubbed a witch hunt, had led to the wasting of more than $40 million. After wasting more than $40,000,000 (is that possible?), it has proven one thing-there was NO collusion with Russia. So Ridiculous! Trump wrote. The report released on Friday showed that Muellers office and other Justice Department offices assisting with the probe had spent $8.5 million combined from April 2018 through September 2018. A total of about $4.6 million came from Muellers office and the other $3.9 million came from other Justice Department offices providing assistance, through the report says that money would have still been expended irrespective of the existence of the special counsel. Altogether since May 2017 through September 2018, Muellers office has spent $12.3 million, while other Justice Department offices assisting the probe have spent $12.9 million. Mueller was appointed as special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in May 2017, after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey. Muellers investigation, which could threaten Trumps presidency, has already ensnared 32 individuals and three Russian companies. Earlier this week, Trumps former lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to two women to help Trumps 2016 election campaign and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia. Next Tuesday, Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn is due to be sentenced in a federal court in Washington for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials. Mueller is expected to issue a report on his findings possibly some time next year. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Richard Chang and Jonathan Oatis) 897 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard With all of the news that has come out recently about crimes committed by Donald J. Trump, many people are asking this one all-important question: How the heck can this joker still be President of the United States? For some unknown reason, Trump still has the backing of Republicans in Congress and about one-third of the American public. Among Republican voters his approval rating is 89%, according to the Gallup Poll. So I ask: Whats wrong with this country? History will show that Donald Trump is the biggest criminal and the most prolific liar ever to occupy the White House. Yet he remains in office. How long can this last? Earlier this week we reported that two top lawyers were recommending and predicting that Trumps own attorneys would soon advise him to cut a deal with prosecutors to save his own skin. The idea is that he would resign from the presidency in order to protect himself and his kids from greater legal jeopardy. And now New York Daily News writer Michael Golden has published a piece saying the same thing. In an article entitled Trump is toast: This week really was the beginning of the end for the President Golden makes a case for why Trump will not be allowed to serve out his full term. He writes: Donald Trump will be forced to resign the presidency before November 2020. Its always looked like this might be where we were heading. But now it is far easier to believe its going to happen. The case against Trump has barreled past the tipping point. And theres nothing he can do to reverse it. Both his former attorney Michael Cohen and his buddy David Pecker, the head of American Media, Inc., have now implicated Trump in serious felonies. We have the top legal analyst from Fox News (and many others) calling Trump a felon. We have Adam Schiff, the incoming chairman of the House intelligence committee, saying that Trump can be indicted while president. We have a lot of people saying Trump should be impeached right now. And still, Mueller is not done. In fact, when it comes to criminal charges against Donald Trump, he is just getting started. As Golden writes: Robert Mueller III isnt done. Maybe not even close. He has remained silent for 18 months for a reason. Hes never indicated when his work will be done, not even a soft deadline. This is because when you investigate something, you keep heading down a hot trail until it goes cold. Until you have all of the truth that is meaningful. Until theres no more. Golden also lists a sampling of other Trump crimes that are reportedly under investigation by the Department of Justice: 1) Money laundering. 2) Conspiring with foreign agents to defraud American voters in the 2016 presidential election. 3) Perjury. 4) Obstruction of justice. 5) Witness tampering. 6) Fraud associated with the 2017 Trump Presidential inaugural committee. And that may not even be a complete list. Golden adds: There may be plenty more that comes to light that we cannot yet envision, because Cohen, Pecker, Rick Gates, Michael Flynn, Allen Weisselberg, Maria Butina and many others are likely singin like Gaga What will happen when Nancy Pelosi and her fellow House Democrats get their hands on Trumps tax returns, and also on all of the evidence that Mueller has compiled? As more and more details about Trumps crimes come out in the coming months, we will probably see Republican members of Congress lose some of their firm loyalty to the president. This is inevitable if they decide it is best for them politically to do this. On this point Golden says: No one should be under any illusions about the GOP sticking with Trump no matter what. Most Republicans in Congress are disgusted and mortified by the President. They continue to support him for one of two reasons (or both): fear of defeat in their next reelection due to Trumps seemingly impenetrable control over his base, and the Faustian bargain that most of them cut with their consciences long ago. That is, they want to jam judges and legislation through while they have the power to do so. Concerning whether Trump will ever decide that resigning is best course of action for himself personally, Golden concludes: Trump loves playing the martyr. If we arrive at that juncture where his ouster by the Senate looks like a lock, Trump will do what he would have done if hed lost in 2016: Take his impossibly loyal following and monetize the hell out of it. Weve raced past the tipping point. Were only going to see more revelations in the coming weeks and months. And the weight will be just too heavy for this President. One way or another, he is done. More and more people are speaking honestly concerning Trumps chances of remaining as president for the next two years. These knowledgeable people are concluding that there is just too much evidence that implicates Trump in serious crimes for him to stay in office much longer. Sometimes it looks like Robert Mueller is toying with Donald Trump. He keeps dribbling out new information and new evidence to increase the heat on Trump, his family and his criminal cohorts. What weve seen so far seems like the tip of an iceberg. And as more of that iceberg of evidence comes to the surface, and is revealed to the American public, Donald Trumps chances of staying in office will continue to be reduced to nearly nothing. And that is the moment many millions of Americans are waiting for it will be the moment when our nation will change course and we can begin to heal the many wounds that have been inflicted by Donald Trump and his criminal presidency over the past two years. It is a moment that cannot come too soon. 717 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Confessed Russian spy Maria Butina may be preparing to testify in an upcoming criminal trial, according to sealed court papers briefly made public on Friday. Reportedly she is now needed to testify or provide information in another case. U.S. prosecutors on Friday asked a federal judge for permission to move Butina to and from jail for ongoing interviews, including potentially to testify before a grand jury, in a filing intended to be sealed that appeared on the public docket for her case. The prosecutors in Washington, DC filed a motion to file under seal, asking for authorization for to transport Butina in secrecy so that she could testify in an unspecified pending criminal investigation. The Washington Posts Spencer Hsu first discovered and published a portion of the document on Twitter. NEW U.S. prosecutors on Friday asked a federal judge for permission to move Maria Butina from jail, including potentially to testify before a grand jury, in a sealed filing apparently made public by mistake. NEW U.S. prosecutors on Friday asked a federal judge for permission to move Maria Butina from jail, including potentially to testify before a grand jury, in a sealed filing apparently made public by mistake. pic.twitter.com/SvbnW3fn3i Spencer Hsu (@hsu_spencer) December 14, 2018 Butinas attorneys have not commented on these latest reports. Butina pleaded guilty this week to acting as a foreign agent for Russia and attempting to use her access to conservative groups to build a secret backchannel between the Kremlin and the Trump administration. As part of her plea deal, Butina agreed to cooperatein any and all to matters as to which the Government deems this cooperation relevant. The Justice Department has not said what they might ask Butina to cooperate with but her boyfriend, conservative activist Paul Erickson, reportedly received a target letter from federal prosecutors informing him that he may also be prosecuted for acting as an unregistered foreign agent of Russia. The motion Friday requested secrecy because its release would pose a risk to the defendants safety and the safety of the community and could be used by those who would seek to harm or intimidate the defendant. Prosecutors have noted the Russian governments strong interest in Butinas case. In court papers filed in September, the Justice Department reported the half dozen visits Russian diplomats made to Butina. They have asserted that these visits clearly demonstrate Butinas association with and value to the Russian government. There has been much speculation concerning the content and nature of the testimony that Butina has promised to provide to federal prosecutors. Much of the speculation concerns her detailed knowledge of the interactions and the money flow between Russia, the NRA, and Republican politicians. This new information will only add to the intrigue. If Butina has been called to provide testimony in another (yet unknown) criminal trial, it may mean that indictments will soon be issued to the NRA officials she dealt with, or to some well-known Republicans with whom she had extended and intimate contact. To use a time-honored, but very appropriate phrase: the plot thickens. While Robert Muellers investigation has so far been thorough and far-reaching, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff the soon-to-be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is preparing to dig into the presidents criminal activity in a way that could make the current special counsel probe look like childs play. During an interview with The New Yorker, Schiff talked about his plans for conducting an investigation that will be parallel to Muellers, probing Trumps connections to Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other places around the world. The New Yorker added: As Schiff described his approach, it became clear that he wasnt just planning to cross Trumps red linehe intended to obliterate it. Schiff said that the role of the committee he will soon lead is not the same as Bob Muellers. Instead, he believes that in addition to finding criminal activity, Congress has an added responsibility to make the public aware of any corruption or wrongdoing. The American people have a right to know that their President is working on their behalf, not his familys financial interests, the powerful Democratic congressman told The New Yorker. Right now, I dont think any of us can have the confidence that thats the case. More from The New Yorker: Congressional committees, like the one Schiff will soon lead, are supposed to monitor the executive branch and expose wrongdoing. Mueller is supposed to file a report on his findings, but, in keeping with the regulations for the office of the special counsel, it will be up to his supervisor in the Justice Department, who is now Matthew Whitaker, the acting Attorney General, to determine whether Muellers report is made public. Schiff has his own agenda for areas to investigate. The one that has always concerned me is the financial issues, which obviously have come much to the fore this week, he said. Shortly before Schiff and I spoke, Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal attorney, had pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about his role in the negotiations for building a Trump tower in Moscow. Cohen had said earlier that these discussions ended in January, 2016, but he admitted in court that he had been negotiating with Russian officials, and keeping Trump apprised, through the first half of 2016, during the Republican Presidential primaries. Trump has denied that he was doing business with the Russians during this period. Schiff went on, At the end of the day, what should concern us most is anything that can have a continuing impact on the foreign policy and national-security policy of the United States, and, if the Russians were laundering money for the Trump Organization, that would be totally compromising. Schiff hypothesizes that Trump went beyond using his campaign and the Presidency as a vehicle for advancing his business interests, speculating that he may have shaped policy with an eye to expanding his fortune. Theres a whole constellation of issues where that is essentially the center of gravity, Schiff said. Obviously, that issue is implicated in efforts to build Trump Tower in Moscow. Its implicated in the money that Trump is bragging he was getting from the Saudis. And why shouldnt he love the Saudis? He said he was making so much money from them. Everything will be on the table in Schiffs investigation The special counsel probe has turned up a lot of so-called witches over the past couple of years and it appears to be zeroing in on Trump and his family in a way that has the White House on edge. But the scope of the investigation has largely been focused on two angles: Russian collusion and obstruction of justice. Schiffs upcoming investigation will have no such scope. Everything will be on the table, not just Russian collusion during the 2016 campaign or obstruction of justice. The committee will look deep into the presidents finances, whether its possible Trump Organization money laundering or his shady business dealings with Saudi Arabia and other foreign entities. In other words, Congress is finally going to start providing the oversight of Trump that it has neglected over the past two years. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 3.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The legal jeopardy for President Donald Trump has been increasing all week. And Friday special counsel Robert Mueller made things even worse as he disclosed that he still wants to sit down for an in-person interview with the president. Apparently Mueller and his team were not satisfied with Trumps written responses to their questions, although the exact reasons were not specified. CNN reported Friday evening that, according to two sources familiar with the matter, Trumps responses were not enough and so the special counsels office contacted Trumps attorneys. And reportedly the presidents lawyers have already denied the special counsels interview request. Muellers interest in talking with the president continues, and it includes an interest in asking questions about the presidents state of mind in regards to actions under scrutiny in the obstruction probe, CNNs Pamela Brown reported. Former Obama administration official Van Jones, who is now a CNN commentator, said the fact that Mueller wants more details from Donald Trump is very bad news for him. The president and his attorneys should be very concerned that Mueller and his team want to dig deeper into questions regarding Russian collusion and obstruction of justice. Jones said: This is definitely not good news for the president. Theres a context here which weve now just gotten used to. Its important to remind people. Why wont the president sit down and have a conversation with Mueller? Jones then said it was typical for people to resist such interviews, but they just lawyer up and get it over with. But with this president, Jones said, everybody knows that Trump cant talk without lying, which is a massive disability for anybody, especially the head of a country. Then he added: His lawyers are terrified that if he opens his mouth, he cannot tell the truth and would wind up going to jail Muellers stance on interviewing the President has been the same for the past year and a half, the CNN sources said. Nothing has changed in that sense from the first day. The sources also said that Muellers interest in talking with the President is believed to include asking questions about the Trumps state of mind in regard to actions under scrutiny in the obstruction of justice probe. There has been no discussion about, or indication that, Mueller is planning to subpoena the President, according to CNN. Still, Trump and his lawyers are still opposed to any interview, and would probably oppose any attempt at a subpoena. The Presidents attorney, Rudy Giuliani, repeated his longstanding opposition on Friday, stressing he does not trust Muellers aggressive investigation. Im pretty disgusted with them, Giuliani said. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. South Carolina set out four decades ago to pay for its schools more fairly by lifting its poorest communities and divvying up money based on what it actually cost to teach a child. But that system is now adrift, pushed from its moorings by lawmakers who have piled a litany of one-off programs onto the schools and put a smaller share of state money into a program meant to balance rich and poor regions. It has been transformed by changes to the states tax code, which stopped asking homeowners to pay for schools and funneled money into the wealthy counties that had the most property tax money to lose. The balance of the states education money became less equitable, and richer school districts werent even made whole. The state didnt put much money toward property tax relief 25 years ago, but now it makes up a quarter of the states education funding. For every $5 lawmakers have added to education funding since the early 1990s, $2 has chased property tax cuts money that mostly benefits wealthier areas such as Charleston and Beaufort. At the same time, lawmakers have put almost as much new money into special programs like reading camps and career counselors as they have for basic school operations. That money comes with strings attached, meaning that educators are increasingly required to follow the Legislatures mandates instead of deciding how their schools should run. And the state hasnt met its own requirements for covering schools basic costs, shortchanging a funding method that both conservative and liberal education advocates agree would make the system fairer. That method isn't perfect, either: It was drawn up in 1977, and its assumptions about what it costs to run a school havent been updated since. Thats basically the Legislature assuming how school districts should operate, said Rebecca Sibilia, chief executive of EdBuild, an advocacy group that studies state funding systems. And when you have a funding formula that is 41 years old, all youre doing is layering on top of assumptions that are already outdated. The result is a byzantine system that has made education funding unpredictable year to year, harder to understand and less fair, advocates say. And its one that lawmakers insist theyre eager to fix, four years after the state Supreme Court gave them a mandate to repair the states deep inequities in education. Overhauling South Carolinas patchwork funding system is expected to be a major focus for the Legislature next year. That debate is expected to drop into a larger push for better schools, spurred in part by The Post and Couriers five-part series Minimally Adequate. The newspaper found profound disparities among South Carolinas schools that have made the states education system one of the nations worst, threatening its newfound economic prosperity. Sen. Greg Hembree told a group of school board members last week that the pressure mounting on lawmakers had brought them to the verge of unleashing change after failing to update the funding system for decades. If were not there on the funding formula, were very near there, said Hembree, who is expected to become the chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Its not that its a terrible formula. Its just not been updated and really reviewed in a very long time. Largely disequalizing South Carolina began carving up its property tax system in the 1990s, but its transformation wasnt complete until 2006. Thats when the Legislature let homeowners off the hook for the day-to-day operations of their communities schools and limited how much school districts could raise taxes on everyone else. They increased the sales tax to make up for the lost income, but the extra penny per dollar never covered the gap even before the Great Recession hammered sales tax collections. The state had been moving in that direction already: Lawmakers approved a smaller property tax cut for homeowners in the 1990s, expanded a program that gives most new manufacturers a lower tax rate and then cut rates for car owners. The piecemeal transformation has plenty of opponents. Fast-growing school districts in bedroom communities say the changes have kneecapped their ability to raise money. Businesses say theyre expected to shoulder too much of the cost of running schools. And education advocates say the changes have funneled more money to districts that least need help from the state. All the while, the Legislature has failed to find enough money to pay for schools basic costs, a pool of money that helps poor districts the most. Lawmakers this year fell $500 million short of the minimum set by state law, but they sent out more than $1 billion in property tax relief. The fact is that property tax relief went up, and at the same time, funding for the base student cost went down. We shifted, therefore, from something that was largely equalizing ... to something that is largely disequalizing, said Holley Ulbrich, a retired Clemson University researcher who has studied the funding system for the state. Every state has a system thats meant to balance poor districts and rich ones. But no state gives its balancing system a smaller share of its education money than South Carolina does, according to Ulbrichs analysis of federal data. Groups on both sides of the aisle say the state should come back to that notion of equity. At least four studies of education funding in the past decade by the state, a school board group and a conservative think tank have called for a fairer, more streamlined distribution plan. The recommendations are truly not new, said Rebecca Gunnlaugsson, an economist who studied the system for the conservative Palmetto Promise Institute. They really do reinforce a lot of previous studies and task forces that have come and gone in the past. But lawmakers are now in a bind. School taxes for homeowners have become a third rail of South Carolina politics. And while they agree on some big-picture points like how the funding system has gotten too complicated and how more money should go to classrooms they face a complicated stew of details to hash out. Whats more, any updates to the funding system would create winners and losers, making change politically fraught. How do we protect children and educators in less populated areas and areas that need assistance? At the same time, how do we help areas that are fast-growing like York County and Charleston that cant keep up with demand? said House Majority Leader Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill. All of those components must come together to make sure the child is first and the teacher teaching that child has the support necessary. Reform talks Talk of an overhaul has been percolating through Columbia for at least a decade. It has been the focus of state-funded studies, legislative task forces and think-tank reports. They have roundly found that the system is far too complicated so complex that many lawmakers dont understand it themselves. They have recommended that the state tie its education funding to what it actually costs to run a school in the 21st century. And they have suggested a return to the ideas that guided lawmakers in the 1970s, their ambition of a system that gave schools enough money, spread it fairly and kept funding stable. Lawmakers have taken some of their recommendations. They have paid to expand kindergarten programs, for instance, and given schools more money to teach poor children. But new money tends to come with strings attached, meaning educators dont have as much flexibility to design their own programs and have their own visions for the schools they run. Theres been some progress, but not nearly enough, said Karen Woodward, a retired superintendent in Lexington County who led a state task force on funding a decade ago. Theres got to be a lot of work done. Growing frustrations with the states tax code might open the door for a more ambitious change, said Ted Pitts, chief executive of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce. The business group is calling for an overhaul of a tax system it says is broken, and it has floated a series of reform measures that it says would put schools on firmer footing. Tax relief and education funding are two conversations that are so intertwined, Pitts said. I think legislators are going to want to look at them at the same time. Thats partly because the growth of the economy alone wont close the gap between what state law says the government should put toward schools day-to-day operations and what the state actually pays. Next year is expected to be a robust year for the state budget, but education will have to fight for money against a host of other needs. The state needs new voting machines. It needs to spend money on hurricane relief. It needs to improve its foster care system and cover the rising costs of state workers benefits. Lawmakers will have an additional half-billion dollars in recurring money to work with, but they could easily spend it all without addressing the core issues in the states education system. And its funding program could stay adrift. Seanna Adcox and Jennifer Berry Hawes contributed to this report. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication. Political Editor Schuyler Kropf is The Post and Courier political editor. He has covered every major political race in South Carolina dating to 1988, including for U.S. Senate, governorship, the Statehouse and Republican and Democratic presidential primaries. Cherry Grove United Methodist Church will host the second annual Blue Christmas service at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, for anyone in the area who might be feeling "blue" this Christmas. Christmas is considered to be a joyful time, but there are persons for whom the holidays are not entirely joyful: persons who are lonely, grieving, separated from family and friends or carrying burdens of sadness, anger, pain or fear. This service offers a way to claim those feelings and still know the compassionate love of God. This special service of Scripture, music, candlelight and prayer acknowledges, in the midst of our varied thoughts and emotions, God offers us hope and healing. Cherry Grove church is at 18183 160th St. in the small community of Cherry Grove, rural Spring Valley. The church is handicapped accessible. First Presbyterian holds traditional English service The tradition of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" was established in England as the adaptation of an earlier service on Christmas Eve 1918, in the chapel of Kings College, Cambridge University, for the university community and for the City of Cambridge. The Kings College service was first broadcast by radio in 1928, and, excepting the year 1930, these broadcasts have continued (for 70 years internationally) to this day. This wonderful tradition, moreover, has been duplicated in cathedrals and churches throughout America. Join First Presbyterian Church, 512 Third St. SW, Rochester, for its inspiring worship service based on the English tradition at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Dec. 16. Worship will be led by the Calvin, Chancel and Youth Choirs with orchestra, handbells, and organ. The service includes the reading of nine lessons, carols and anthems. The service has a profound dignity and is breathtakingly beautiful. Concordia Christmas concert to have local broadcasts The Concordia College Christmas Concert, "Gather Us In, O Child of Peace," will be broadcast this holiday season at 10 p.m. Dec. 24 on TPT2 (channel 2 on Charter Communications in Rochester and channel 2-1 over the air) and at 2 p.m. Dec. 25 on TPT MN (channel 199 and 2-2). During this hour-long event, more than 400 student musicians in five choirs and a full orchestra perform in front of a panoramic mural. The themes of worship service in song explore the virtues of community, tolerance, compassion, and unity, all made possible by the incarnation of Jesus, the true Child of Peace. The concert was videotaped by Twin Cities Public Television during the performances at Concordia College in Moorhead in 2016. The Concordia Christmas Concert draws more than 20,000 people annually to the concert in Moorhead and in Minneapolis. Everyone loves to gripe about air travel. And I should know. As the creator of a website devoted to airlines and airfare hunting, Ive read every type of complaint imaginable. But what about hotel rooms? Here are a few simple fixes that would go far to make me, and other guests, happier. 1BEDSIDE LIGHTING I own an iPad, but Im one of those Neanderthals who still reads books made of paper and I usually do it in bed (in case you didnt know, the blue wavelength light emitted by a tablet or smartphone suppresses melatonin production and thus makes falling asleep harder). The problem is that few hotels have decent bedside lighting. The best bedside reading illumination comes from high-intensity, flexible-necked fixtures that concentrate a narrow beam of light onto the page, without disturbing anyone sleeping next to you. I stayed in three hotels recently that understand the pleasure of curling up in bed with a good book and good lighting: Londons Kensington Hotel, and the Principal hotels in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland. Too many hotels give us useless table lamps on the nightstand, made even less tolerable by those dim fluorescent light bulbs. 2ELECTRICAL OUTLETS(OR LACK THEREOF) Most hotel rooms around the world come with either 110/120-volt or 220/240-volt sockets, but seldom both. No problem if youre just charging your smart phone or tablet, as long as you have a plug adapter, which most seasoned travelers never leave home without. But if you use any appliance without a built-in voltage converter such as a portable clothes steamer, a curling iron, a sleep apnea machine or a WaterPik (my dentist insists I bring one on my travels), youre out of luck unless you pack a voltage converter. (Before buying or using one, read the instructions carefully along with the product reviews on Amazon and elsewhere that begin with, "This $40 piece of junk fried my $250 hairdryer "). So I was pleasantly surprised to see, during a recent one-night stay at Batty Langleys, an historic townhouse hotel in Londons Spitalfields neighborhood, that management had kindly installed both a three-pronged 220/240-volt U.K. and a three-pronged 110/120-volt U.S. electrical outlet by the desk, along with two USB charging points. And although Im writing this from the perspective of an American traveling abroad, hotels in the U.S. should consider adding electrical sockets used in foreign lands, with both voltages. 3TELEVISIONS ANDTHEIR REMOTE CONTROLS I just want to turn the TV on to watch TV, not the pay movies or the video tour of the property. Hotels first try to sell you in-room movies and other services (relax in our spa after a busy day!) before they show you how to find CNN. The buttons on most hotel remote controls mean nothing to me, theyre all different depending on the hotel, and even when I press them they dont make anything happen. It makes me long for the days when a TV had a knob to turn it on and adjust the volume, and a dial to change channels. Sometimes I just give up and pretend the TV isnt there. 4CONFUSING ALARM CLOCKS Although most people now rely on their smartphones to wake them up, how about just a simple alarm clock with an on-off button and one to set the time? I dont need a clock radio with more buttons and dials than Mission Control, one that might jar me awake at 3:30 a.m. because the previous guest had an early flight and the alarm was still set to "on" (for that reason I usually just unplug the evil thing as soon as I check in rather than try to reason with it). At the famed Park Hyatt in Tokyo, I noticed a while back, rooms come with a very simple battery-powered, portable Braun alarm clock, the same one I have at home: three buttons (on/off, snooze, set time). Dead simple, although Im sure some guests pinch them. 5SHOWER CONTROLS I can never figure out which way is hot and which way is cold, especially at 6 a.m. before coffee. You too? Even with a 50 percent chance of getting it right, I somehow dont, and move the control the wrong direction, which always leads to much involuntary prancing and dancing in the shower. This is a simple fix. My shower controls at the Principal Hotel in Edinburgh do it the right way: one simple lever, hot to the right, cold to the left, with a separate lever for the water pressure. Its brilliant. I even took a picture of it. 6THE DOOR ISSUE In most hotels, you enter through small foyer between the hallway door and the room; the bathroom door is usually just off this vestibule. If I designed hotel rooms, theyd all have a second interior door to block out noisy late-night revelers roaming the halls. How hard would it be to design hotels like this? The Le Meridien Beach Hotel near Barcelona, Spain, is the only hotel I know about where all rooms have a second door between the exterior door and the bedroom. Maybe because this beachfront resort was built on the grounds of what used to be a juvenile sanatorium, where sound sleep was part of the program? 7THE OTHER DOOR ISSUE Speaking of sleep, which is often why you go to a hotel in the first place, why cant hotel room doors close softly instead of slamming shut so hard that the walls shake, waking up me and everyone else on the floor in the middle of the night? In October I spent two nights at the Cullin Hills Hotel on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and was tickled to find that my rooms door closed so slowly and silently, as if the hand of a courteous phantasm was in control, that you had to listen carefully to hear the locks faint click. Just saying, Marriott. 8TOO MANY LIGHT SWITCHES Another thing that can interfere with sleep: you cant turn off the lights. In some rooms it takes me 15 minutes or more to figure out how to turn all of them off. How about a single switch that shuts every light off at once, preferably one marked "this switch shuts every light off at once." I spent 30 minutes in jetlagged stupor in Singapore trying to extinguish one last light, finally gave up, and requested the front desk to send someone up to my room. I heard of a hotel recently where you can tug on a rope by the bed, like the bell pull that Morticia uses to summon Lurch ("you rang?"): One yank and its lights out. The Work Zone Are you now a member of a dysfunctional work team? Most of us should be nodding our head, as mild dysfunction is virtually universal. Read more THE RUINS OF HOME: A boy called Samuel kicks a ball as his father, Phillip, searches through the ruins of their home, which was destroyed by Cyclone Pam in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, on March 16, 2015. Some people say global warming contributes to violent weather. Dave Hunt/Reuters WEST VINCENT A Chester Springs man was arrested Thursday following a domestic disturbance in which he threatened to kill his girlfriend and anyone who responded to the home. West Vincent Township police were dispatched to a residence in the 1900 block of Beaverhill Road for a report of a violent domestic between a boyfriend and girlfriend at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Police said the unidentified female victim reported to 911 dispatchers that her boyfriend was armed with multiple firearms, including a .40-caliber handgun, and allegedly threatened to kill anyone responding to the house. She had also reported that there was a physical altercation in which she was reportedly choked about her neck and told she would be killed if she tried to leave. The victim was able to escape the residence, but unable to get her two small children out with her, according to police. Officers from East Coventry, East Vincent, West Pikeland and East Pikeland Townships responded to assist. West Vincent police officers were able to communicate with the male suspect in the house and convince him to voluntarily surrender. Police said Kevin Aman, 22, of Chester Springs, was taken into custody without incident and the children were unharmed. Police recovered a .40-caliber handgun, 9 mm handgun and a .380-caliber handgun, along with several rifles and shotguns. Aman was charged with attempted aggravated assault, endangering welfare of children, possessing an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and harassment, according to police and his online criminal report. He was arraigned by District Justice Koon. Aman was unable to post bail set at $15,000 and was remanded to Chester County Prison. A preliminary hearing has been set for Monday. He does not have a lawyer listed. I never met David Earl Miller. I didnt even know he existed until the week he was set to die. Dec. 6 was his execution date at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee. Both the U.S. Supreme Court and the governor refused his lawyers final attempts to gain a reprieve. The Nashville Tennessean newspaper explained the details of how Millers execution went down. When it was Millers time, when the warden signaled for the first charge of 1,750 volts of electricity, Millers upper body raised up in the chair and his elbows stuck out, reporters from the newspaper wrote. The story of Millers life is even more horrifying than his death, and it should make us all question the justice of state execution. David Earl Miller came to Knoxville in 1979 a 22-year-old drifter homeless, jobless and friendless. He might never have stayed had he not been picked up on Interstate 75 by a preacher looking for sex and Lee Standifer might be alive today. Standifer is the woman Miller was convicted of murdering in 1981. The details of Standifers death beaten with a fireplace poker and stabbed are excruciating to read. So are the details of Millers childhood. He was born in a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, in the summer of 1957. His mother met his father during a one-night stand in a bar, drank throughout her pregnancy and was later diagnosed with brain damage from exposure to toxic fumes at her job in a plastics plant. He was 10 months old when she married his stepfather, an alcoholic who routinely beat him with boards, slammed him into walls and dragged him around the house by the hair, according to court records. According to Miller, he was sexually abused by a female cousin at 5, then by a friend of his grandfather at 12, and by his own intoxicated mother at 15. Miller tried to hang himself at age 6 and began drinking, smoking marijuana and huffing gasoline daily by age 10. By age 13, hed landed in a state reform school where counselors regularly whipped boys with rubber hoses and turned a blind eye to sexual molestation. In a court-ordered examination, Miller said that his earliest memory was being beaten by his stepfather. He said that he couldnt remember anyone ever telling him they loved him as a child. Being beaten by his stepfather is the earliest memory that Mr. Miller can recall, and beatings are the rhythm of his childhood, a clinical psychologist wrote. Mr. Miller, from a very early age, harbored a simmering rage. He hated his stepfather for the brutality and humiliation he was subjected to, and he loathed his mother for first failing to protect him from his stepfather and later for turning him into her sexual plaything. . His rage has also been enacted on many other innocent stand-ins for his mother. Miller never had a chance. No one cared to give him a chance. Miller had been on death row for 36 years. He was the third person to be executed in Tennessee this year. More are scheduled for next year. Justice and mercy involve recognizing evil, but also acknowledging humanity, too. Could the state have acknowledged the evil done to Miller long before that deadly night of rage in which he took a young womans life? I think we are called to be better than the death penalty. As we approach Christmas the celebration of the birth of a man who was himself executed by the state give thanks for the opportunities youve had and the blessings youve counted, and think about all the things that were denied Miller. Whisper a prayer for Gods mercy all around. Think about what kind of people we are and what kind we ought to be. Real thoughts and prayers, difficult conversations and more merciful policies will mean Miller did not die in vain. May the ugly details make us more human. (Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review Online and founding director of Catholic Voices USA. She can be contacted at klopez@nationalreview.com.) I was a charter subscriber to the Weekly Standard in 1995 and have kept up my subscription ever since. Founded by Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes and John Podhoretz, the Standard delivered smart journalism produced by many of the best conservative writers (including the three founders). Among the stellar writers and reporters on its staff I would cite Andrew Ferguson (in a class by himself), Christopher Caldwell, Philip Terzian, Matt Continetti (now editor of the Washington Free Beacon), Matt Labash, Michael Warren, Jonathan Last, Mark Hemingway and, most recently, Eric Felten. Among the magazines regular contributors of note were P.J. ORourke, Reuel Marc Gerecht, Joseph Epstein and David Gelernter. What a constellation of talent the editors assembled. What a terrific magazine. Its death yesterday represents a great loss. Bill Kristol is friends with just about everybody, me included, but I consider him a most generous friend. I hosted a dinner for Bill in Minneapolis when he came out to appear as the featured speaker at the Center of the American Experiments Fall Briefing a few years back. He is a learned scholar and delightful gentleman. I spent a week as a media fellow at the Hoover Institution getting to know then managing editor Richard Starr, who occupied the office next to mine. How lucky I was to share the week with Richard; he is one of natures noblemen. I got to know online editor Jonathan Last during the year we wrote a weekly column for the Standard online. Jon saved me from myself on more than one occasion. I got to know Kelly Jane Torrance in connection with my articles for the magazine. I found working with Richard and Jon and Kelly to be an education and a pleasure. Steve Hayes goes out as the Standards last editor in chief. I understand he did his best to save the magazine. I got to know Steve in 2006, I think, at a Claremont Institute conference hosted by Bill Bennett in Aspen, Colorado. Steve had his beautiful sister with him at the time. He was bucking her up at a difficult time for her. My wife and I immediately bonded with Steve and his sister. Nobody doesnt like Steve. Ive read everything out there about the demise of the Standard yesterday. If you want to understand what happened, I dont think there is anything better than John Podhoretzs The murder of the Weekly Standard. Incidentally, the Clarity Media executive who is the subject of John Podhoretzs indignation is Ryan McKibben. John is my favorite movie reviewer. He has reviewed movies for the magazine for 23 years. In the magazines last issue he looks back in A valediction. For me, writing for the magazine fulfilled a professional fantasy. I always felt like I had to write a few degrees beyond the limits of my ability in order to deliver work up to the magazines standards. If I got there on occasion, it was with a little help from the editors. I was so proud when the magazine published articles I had written, especially including these: Louis Farrakhans first congressman, How Arafat got away with murder, The flying imams win, The Ellison elision, Rather shameful (with John Hinderaker), Four articles on the case of the Minnesota men, one of which was Minnesota men on trial. This year the editors let me try again to get out the word about Keith Ellison in Can Keith Ellison turn lawman? (online) and about Ilhan Omar in The anti-Israel seat (in the magazine). I lament the death of the Standard. I wish the Standards talented editors and staff writers the best of luck along with my prayers as they seek work at other organizations in a challenging media environment. PAUL CONCURS: I agree with everything Scott says above. The Weekly Standard has been a valuable part of my conservative education and it was an honor to have contributed, marginally, to the publication. I never got to know the Standards editors as well as Scott has. However, I know Bill Kristol slightly. I like him and hold him in high regard. His intense anti-Trumpism, which I dont share, hasnt changed this. Via Drudge, federal judge Reed OConnor, in Ft. Worth, Texas, has declared the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, apparently in its entirety. You may remember that Obamacare survived constitutional scrutiny by the skin of its teeth when the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Roberts, held that the penalty the act imposes for failure to buy health insurance is a tax, and therefore is constitutional. That holding discreetly bypassed the fact that the Obama administration had vociferously denied, in court and elsewhere, that the insurance penalty is a tax. At the time, I defended the courts decision as a reasonable, good faith interpretation of the relevant law. This was one of the two or three occasions when fellow conservatives heaped opprobrium on me. But that is water over the dam. How strong is this evenings ruling? It is premised on the fact that Congress has repealed the penalty assessed against those who decline to buy health insurance: U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor in Fort Worth sided with the argument put forward by a coalition of Republican-leaning states, led by Texas, that Obamacare could no longer stand now that theres no penalty for Americans who dont buy insurance. The U.S. Supreme Court had upheld the law in 2012, by classifying the legislation as a tax. But since Congress removed the individual mandate in 2017, OConnor ruled, theres no way the ACA can be allowed to stand. The Individual Mandate can no longer be fairly read as an exercise of Congresss Tax Power and is still impermissible under the Interstate Commerce Clause meaning the Individual Mandate is unconstitutional, OConnor wrote. The Individual Mandate is essential to and inseverable from the remainder of the ACA. I havent yet read the opinion or the briefs in the case, so my reaction isnt well-informed. But to me, the logic seems strained: the individual mandate has been legislatively repealed, so therefore the entire statute must fall? Maybe, but that is a pretty big leap. President Trump hailed the courts decision two hours ago: Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 It will be interesting to see how the Democratic Party media cover this court ruling. We know how they cover absurd, indefensible decisions in favor of Trumps opponents by carefully selected federal judges in, say, Hawaii: TRUMPS TRAVEL BAN RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!! It will be interesting to see how tomorrows Democratic Party newspapers deal with the fact that a federal judge, who is on equal footing with the anti-Trump judges whose absurd rulings they have hailed, has declared Obamacare unconstitutional. PAUL ADDS: One thing the Democratic media will stress is that the Trump administration did not defend the constitutionality of Obamacare in this case. I discussed the decision not to defend it, made by then-Attorney General Sessions, here. The media cried foul at the time and will cry it even louder now that Obamacare has lost Round 1 of this particular fight. However, as I pointed out, the Obama administration chose not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). So the Trump administrations decision is not without recent precedent. There should be a presumption that the Justice Department will defend laws Congress passes and the president (at the time of passage) signs. But that presumption not need prevail in every case. And where, as with Obamacare, the statute passed with no support in the Senate from members of the opposition party, perhaps the presumption in favor of a new administration of a different party defending the law should be weaker. (DOMA passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.) As to the merits of this case, I take no position until Ive read more. However, its clear that when Congress removed the individual mandate in 2017, its intention was to retain the rest of Obamacare. We know this because efforts to repeal Obamacare itself failed in the Senate. The odds, I think, are against Chief Justice Roberts agreeing that Obamacare collapses. And without his vote, the challenge to its constitutionality will fall short if/when the case is heard by the Supreme Court. It may also worth noting that Obamacare has become fairly popular with the electorate. Health care seems to have been a winning issue for the Democrats in the recent elections. If the judiciary were to overturn Obamacare meaning no more ban on denying coverage due to preexisting conditions, for example Republicans might suffer the political consequences in 2020. PR-Inside.com: 2018-12-15 12:24:01 Notable Japanese Announcer Promotes Hakka Culture, Literature in Japan Department of Communication and Marketing, Hakka Affairs Council Su You-sheng 886-2-8995-6988 ext 537 886-910-387-956 ha0439@mail.hakka.gov.tw Taiwans Hakka Affairs Council has held a press conference on Dec. 15 in Tokyo to promote five Hakka literary works that have been published earlier this June in Japan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181215005 Deputy Minister Fan Tso-ming of the Hakka Affairs Council (the third from the left) represents the Council to present a certificate to Japanese announcer Maasa Takahashi (the fourth from the left), who serves as the Hakka Cultural Ambassador, on Dec. 15 in Tokyo. Takahashi wrote a spring couplet Stable and Peace to express hopeful thoughts for the coming year. (Photo: Business Wire) The five books include Love Stories of Goethe () by Chung Chao-cheng (), The Spring of Lan Caixia () by Li Qiao (), The Collected Poems of Tseng Kui-hai () by Tseng Kui-hai (), The Collected Poems of Li Yu-fang () by Li Yu-fang, and The Summer When Russian Winter Comes () by Gan Yao-ming. The Council has invited Maasa Takahashi, a Japanese freelance announcer and formal anchor of Fuji TV, to serve as the Hakka Cultural Ambassador to promote Hakka culture and literature. The press conference, which was attended by Li Yu-fang, Gan, and Li Qiaos son and daughter, marked the first large promotional event to promote Hakka literature in Japan. At the press conference, Takahashi, who dressed in Japanese kimono printed with Hakka flora pattern, read two Hakka poems by Tseng and Li in Japanese, expressing meanings of the poems through her beautiful voice. After the press conference, Takahashi, who has visited Taiwan 20 times, also shared her travel experiences. She said that Taiwan has a rich variety of delicious food and power spots. It is also a Japanese-friendly and safe country for female solo travelers. During the event, Deputy Minister Fan Tso-ming () of the Hakka Affairs Council represented the Council to present a certificate to Takahashi to thank her for introducing Hakka literature and culture to the Japanese public and strengthen Taiwan-Japan friendship ties. He hoped that such cultural exchange will bring more Japanese to visit Taiwan to learn more about Hakka culture. To help Japanese readers gain more understanding about Hakka literature, exhibition that features Hakka literary works, posters, large digital signage, and book signing session will be held at the flagship store and some of the branch stores of Books Sanseido in Tokyo through Dec. 20. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181215005 The federal government says the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will soon access World Banks $750 million grant. The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this at the 7th Community of Practice (CoP) for State Commissioners of Planning and Budgeting, in Abuja, with theme, Achieving Realism in State and Federal Budgets for Effective Service Delivery. Mrs Ahmed, who found CoP in September 2016, as then Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, was invited to speak on issues concerning the group. She expressed optimism that states will continue with their fiscal responsibility to serve as a platform to access the loan and grant from the World Bank. The Community of Practice meetings, she said, enhances the state commissioners of planning and budgets capabilities in performing their functions, and serves as platforms for facilitating peer learning and information exchange, strengthening coordination, collaboration and networking. Issues being discussed at the 7th CoP meeting include expanding the forum beyond the current membership to include the minister of finance and commissioners of finance from states for better coordination and planning, budget and public finances. She said: During the course of these meetings we had the benefit of hosting the World Bank and several other opportunities, including the Governors Forum, the minister said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. During the course of this exercise, the Ministry of Finance had to on instruction from the President provide bailouts to the state because at one point states were not able to pay salaries. Part of the conditions given for those bailouts, the minister explained, is a fiscal responsibility plan which need to be implemented for the states to continue to be qualified to access the funds that the federal government was giving. The FSP, she noted, was quite successful because of improvements in the public financial management in a lot of states, some of which is evidenced in the increase in internally generated revenue and increase in the frequency of the preparation of financial statements in budgets. This year, she said, it was so good that the World Bank acknowledged what the group has done by approving about $750mn in the form of concession loans and grants that will be available soon for the states to access. She said the loans and grants are in the process of going to the Executive Council Federation (FEC) for approval. She said the World Bank has already approved the grant and others, while government expects the states will continue to implement their fiscal responsibility to qualify them for this facility as well as the grant. According to the minister, the principles agreed by NEC on the operations of the group were still as relevant as they were in 2016. She urged the CoP to ensure the monitoring aspect of the principles still continue. She charged the CoP to make monitoring of the process of implementation of budget a cardinal principle, because it would benefit and enhance what they are doing to improve the standard of living of the people in their states. Let me add that the need for monitoring is beneficial, because it will enhance process improvement. It will also help us to refocus ourselves as well as our principles to stay on those commitments that are made. But, most importantly, it will enhance public service delivery to the citizens, she stated. The festive season is here and so both human and vehicular movements on the major streets of old GRA axis in Ilorin, Kwara State, would not be the same again. For old women, young men, party stalwarts, hangers-on and other appendages of power, all roads lead to Ile Lokethe Saraki familys political headquarters located just a few metres away from the complex of the state-owned Radio Kwara. Its also at this period of the year that prospective political appointees and power brokers in the party would have their fate decided by the almighty political god in Kwara, Bukola Saraki, widely christened Leader by his disciples and other extended sycophants. When I lived in that neighbourhood, it was always a mixture of fun and pity watching people genuflect around to get the leaders attention whenever he came around. Since 2011 that he emerged the new god in Kwara politics, that has been the tradition. Saraki has literally served as an alternative government towards whom the people run for political patronage and solution to their socio-economic needs. The structure, however, just as it has been for decades in the case of his late father, is the parasitic type: the Leader helps the people with handouts and earns in return, huge political capital with which he controls the power structure of the state and ultimately handpicks whomever he deems fit for leadership positions. And with the strong support of the traditional institutions in the statein collaboration with whom not a few Kwarans believe the peoples collective patrimony is sharedespecially in Kwara Central, Bukola Saraki has literally decided the fate of all political aspirants in the state in the last seven years. From House of Assembly aspirants through to those jostling for Senate positions all the way to grassroots party mobilisers and those seeking political appointments, being in the good book of the Leader is the biggest criterion for enjoying visibility and patronage. Many who do not understand how deep the sycophantic structure is wonder why it is so easy for Saraki to switch camp and, at the mere snap of fingers, have millions of his supporters come along with him. A visit to Ile Lokeotherwise known as Ile Arugbowhenever the Leader is in town would provide better insight. Now, to be fair, Bukola Sarakis journey to that position was not without its acrimony. He would edge out his late father, Olusola Saraki, in the deeply rancorous 2011 general elections and install his favourite candidate and now incumbent governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as governor. The move was against the wish of his late father who wanted and indeed supported Bukolas sister, Gbemisola Saraki, as governorship candidate. That successful move, more than anything else, cemented Bukolas position as the ultimate power broker in Kwara politics and he has remained same ever since, perhaps until the recent bye-election tsunami in Kwara South which, frankly, threatens his legitimacy in Kwara politics. But again, whether that election would affect his politics is still a matter of political permutation and conjectures. For now, it is dicey and Bukola still enjoys his leadership position in Kwara politics. First, to the chagrin of a few Kwarans, the state and all symbols of official sovereignty surrender their legitimacy whenever the Leader comes to town. At a point in his first term, a tale which may after all not be entirely apocryphal had it that the governor, Mr Ahmed, always ran to the Ilorin airport whenever feelers came in that the leader was about to arrive Ilorin. Of course, at Ile Loke, without doubt the political Mecca of Kwara politicians, many have had their ambitions truncated just as others have had theirs revived, courtesy of the magisterial verdict of the leader. But beyond politics, the hegemony of the Saraki dynasty in Kwara politics would have been fascinating if it translated to good governance and development for the common man. It has however been a different kettle of fish: infrastructure has been in shambles; pensioners are barely paid; workers, especially in local governments, have been starving; development is on stand still. Of course, while it may be sound an argument to absolve the senate president of all blames having handed over power to the incumbent since 2011, a rigorous analysis of the power dynamics in the state would show otherwise. And it is in that context that SATIRE SATURDAY finds worrisome, the senate presidents declaration on December 2 that he would start off setting salary arrears owed certain category of workers in Kwara state from next week. Daily Trust reported on December 2 that Saraki announced this during the PDP monthly stakeholders meeting at the charity house in Ilorin, Kwara state, adding that he would commence the payment of salary arrears with three selected local government areas; one each from the three senatorial districts of the state. https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/saraki-promises-to-offset-kwara-workers-salary-arrears.html This column looked forward to a rebuttal by the Saraki media office but no one has come out to debunk the claim, suggesting he was not misquoted and indeed made the promise. First, it wasnt the first time such would happen to Kwara and it may not be the last. Earlier in May, the Senate President was reported to have offset the 20-month salary arrears owed some categories of traditional chiefs in Kwara central senatorial district. Though, its the responsibility of local government councils to pay traditional chiefs salaries, the affected local government areas; Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Asa could not meet their financial obligations to the monarchs because of the drastic shortfalls in their allocation from the federation account, Daily Trust reported. The 220 affected traditional chiefs received a total sum of N49,438,000.00, the paper added. As tempting as it is to consider the move a positive one even for the most simple-minded of analysts, a deeper look would show something is fundamentally wrong with such situation where an individual assumes the responsibility of the state. Without doubt, it speaks to the emptiness of the sovereignty around which the state is built. Then a more rigorous analysis shoots out the dark irony of the whole situation: that the man who now rescues the state and takes over its statutory responsibility was alleged to have bled the state dry by receiving outrageous pensions and salary payments from the states meagre resources years after he vacated office as governor and was receiving huge entitlements as senator. In fact, a witness, Michael Wetkas, claimed that Saraki received monthly salaries from June 2011, when he left office as governor of the state, to August 2015 when he served as a senator, in a clear case of outright illegality. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/04/07/witness-saraki-was-paid-salary-by-kwara-after-leaving-office/ Sarakis case in Kwara isnt an isolated case; it is but a reflection of the larger rot in which we have found ourselves as a people used as pawns in the hands of dealers masquerading as leaders. A few days to the last Osun gubernatorial election, APC leader Bola Tinubu had suggested in Oshogbo that Osun does not have his kind of money; money worthy of being stolen. Of course Tinubu was right: he governed Lagos, Nigerias richest state, for eight years and has decided every governor who occupied that position since 2007 after he left office. In the next couple of months, a man who has openly promised to Sanwo e! (Pay his money!) will hold sway. Whats perhaps the difference between both men in this context is that Lagos is chubby and may not necessarily feel the effect of heavy bleeding quite easily; reason it hardly owes salaries despite the bleeding. Kwara, on the other hand, is poor and has been bled to coma by the asphyxiating influence of its dealers, reason it can hardly pay salaries. But more importantly, SATIRE SATURDAY wonders why these states are still legal entities and are still independent of these leaders. Why cant Bukola Saraki simply purchase Kwara state in its entirety and list it on the Nigerian and London stock markets? Pray, since an individual like the senate president can offset salarieseven when the state in all its glory and grandeur cannot do samewhy is it difficult to buy out Kwara state, with its assets and liabilities, register it the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a business entity, run it as a business concern and promptly pay salaries? Why own the state unofficially, put in the hands of salary-defaulting mangers and allow workers suffer? With his ground-breaking experience at Societal Generale, SATIRE SATURDAY has no doubt about Mr Sarakis managerial wizardry. Hence, in the interest of the Kwaran public and those hungry civil servants whose salaries would be paid regularly if the state officially becomes the senate presidents business concern, may we respectfully appeal to the Leader and ask, with tears in our heart: when is Saraki going to buy out Kwara state? Oladeinde tweets at @Ola_deinde Heavy fighting between ethnic groups in southern Ethiopia has killed at least 21 people and wounded 61, its state news agency said on Saturday. The Ethiopia News Agency said violence escalated and sent hundreds fleeing across the border to neighbouring Kenya. Outbreaks of violence in the south between the Oromo and other groups have escalated since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the first leader from the Oromo ethnic group in Ethiopias modern history, assumed office in March. Fighting broke out between Somalis and Oromos in Moyale, a town bordering Kenya, on Thursday and Friday, the agency reported, citing Suraw Mohammed, Deputy Spokesman of Somalia Regional State. Mohammed said some of the displaced had fled to Kenya, while those who had stayed in Ethiopia were receiving humanitarian aid. The two groups have been engaged in a prolonged conflict that has intensified in recent months. Earlier in the year, at least 5,000 Ethiopians were forced to seek refuge in Kenya after several civilians were killed in what the Ethiopian military said was a botched security operation targeting militants in the countrys south. People have been killed, business premises bombed and torched, houses have also been set ablaze in the fight between Oromo and Somali Garre fighters, said Wario Sora, a human rights activist from Moyale on the Kenyan side. Patrick Mumali, Moyale Sub-County Deputy Commissioner, confirmed late on Friday that hundreds of Ethiopians had crossed the border to Kenya. An internal UN report dated Dec. 13 and reviewed by Reuters also confirmed the fighting, with heavy artillery being used, and said there was likelihood the conflict could spill over into Kenya. An Ethiopian source in the capital with sources in Moyale, said at least dozens had been killed in the fighting, which was more intense than previous clashes this year. In the Oromiya Region, the largest in the country and home to the largest ethnic Oromo, there are at least four separate conflicts along ethnic lines in addition to a border dispute that risks erupting into new violence, aid groups say. (Reuters/NAN) What sparks the movement that changes the world? This was the question that Global Citizens Movement Maker Summit sought to answer at the Global Citizen event held on September 25 in New York City. At the event, three people working with different missions on changing their world received the Wailsitz Global Citizen Award. One of the winners, Tabitha Mparime, a Rwandese who survived the 1994 genocide and is married to a Ugandan, won the second place award with a $50,000 cash prize. After receiving the award, Mrs Mparime spoke with PREMIUM TIMES Ayodamola Owoseye about her foundation in Uganda. She spoke about what led her to the fighting for women and what she envisages for Africa at large in the fight against rape. PT What is the story behind EDJA Foundation? Mparime: It started in the year 2015 when I travelled to Uganda to visit my husbands home and site of his organisation. Upon arrival, I learnt that a 35 years old man had raped a nine-year-old girl that weekend. The adults around her knew of the incident but did nothing about it. She was in school the following Monday as if nothing happened. I later learnt that a five-year-old girl in the village was raped by her grandfather and she was infected with HIV. Another 14-year-old girl in the neighbourhood was being repeatedly raped by her father since she was four years old. Unfortunately, she still resides with him till today despite efforts to seek help and safety. I started the EDJA Foundation to not only send a message to all strong fighters out there that someone will stand by them but to tell the community, legal system and the abusers that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! PT- So what is the Foundation all about? Mparime: Our big goal is to eradicate sexual assaults in the world. What we are doing now is provide free medical, legal counselling and education. We are getting the community, especially men and boys, to stop sexual assaults. We also support the survivors by the main message that the survivors want to hear, which is that I believe you, what can I do for you and it is not your fault? Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa. Young girls are sexually assaulted frequently and justice is rarely served. I simply cannot comprehend this. When I learned of these sexual assaults, I was enraged. These children need more than another person lamenting angrily at their plight though. They need someone to stand up for them in their lives. They need a voice. They deserve a voice. As a survivor myself when I was eleven, I know where they are and I never got that. But I am hoping that no predators escape again. The only difference is that these children, these young fighters, had the courage to tell someone and I did not. How can I encourage these girls to fight when I was not brave enough to fight for myself when it happened to me? That is why I have been inspired to start the EDJA Foundation. PT- What has been the most touching story you ever handled? Mparime: That was the five years old girl I was talking about, who was raped by her grandfather who was HIV-positive and left HIV-positive, that was because they couldnt afford the PEP pill (Post- exposure prophylaxis). This means taking antiretroviral medicine (ART) after being potentially exposed to HIV to prevent becoming infected. She became HIV-positive too. I could not really comprehend it. I am a mother of two girls (twins). I cannot imagine her mothers pain of knowing that you could have done something but you couldnt afford it or no one cares enough to put this man away. I do want to say that since we started, the grandfather got 32 years in jail. First story ever to have justice in this community! We are right now still working in Uganda. Hopefully, one day we will be working everywhere. This should be a human right issue, there should be a repressive centre in every health department and there are not. Right now in Uganda, there is more to come now that we won $50,000. PT- So how do you feel about winning the award? Mparime: I am so excited because of how little it takes to save and change lives. For five dollars, this little girl would have been HIV-free by now. But with $50,000, we are going to open at least three more pricey centres. I am excited. PT- Dont you think the society has to do a lot more about the menace because, most times, you hear them blame the girls and women? Mparime: That is one area our outreach programme is focusing. We are focusing on changing the stigma attached to this. We are changing where to put the shame; that it is on the perpetrators. It is never the victims fault that it happens to them. We are using young men, older men, men who care, because there are good men in this world, to be the head of this movement. Because for women, we get it, we already know how these affect us, that we need men to be the one speaking up for us and for themselves too, especially the young ones. PT What has been the reception from the men, having to speak up against their fellow men, especially within the cultural African setting where they believe men do no wrong? Mparime: Surprisingly, in just two years we have seen a whole turnaround. Before, they were saying: Here comes this young girl who spends so much time in America and the school thing is ruining her. After seeing the change, how their girls are affected and how it affects the whole community, after three years, we arranged a walk to end social violence and over a thousand people showed up. Old men, young men, school, churches, preachers, mosques, it was incredible to see that all they needed was a voice! PT- Has it been easy getting the religious bodies involved in the movement? Mparime: I think everyone just has to get to a point whereby they get something to connect to. For the religions, we know that God and Jesus teach love and you cannot hurt somebody you love. So we start there. That is the thing, preaching Gods love. Whatever religious aspect that you are in, Allah, God, Jesus, Jehovah, whatever name, it preaches love. If you love your neighbour, protect your neighbour, how can you hurt a child, a woman, a boy? Boys get hurt too but they have not even started reporting. We start with where they are and the message that connects with their personal walk. PT What most organisations complain about that deters justice is that African laws are seen to be chauvinistic by nature. How have you been able to navigate that? Mparime: It is not just the African world, it is globally. Its all been a patriarchal society and we have people that have been fighting this for a long time, so I cannot even take credit for this. There have been a lot of women who have been doing this work way before we came along. So what we are doing is building on what they have been fighting for all this time. Our African mentality and culture are definitely making it that much harder, but times are changing. We are really in an exciting time where most women have done the hard work and we are just adding on. PT- In the next five years, where do you see Africa in the fight against rape? Mparime: I hope in the next five years I will not have to do this work. That would be the ideal way. When I know that everybody has got it, they finally got it. But being realistic, I hope at least we have a repressive centre in each and every hospital and that it is free and accessible. PT- What is your last word for the perpetrators (those men who rape)? Mparime: We are coming for you and this is going to end! Maverick entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa popularly known as Charly Boy, on Saturday walked his longtime wife, Lady Diane, down the aisle in Abuja for a formal exchange of marital vows. The wedding held at the chapel of the Sisters of Jesus the Redeemer Catholic Church in Gwarimpa Estate where he resides. The ceremony was reportedly officiated by the outspoken Catholic clergy Bishop Matthew Kukah. The wedding had in attendance family members and close associates of the couple. Charly Boy, who broke the news on Instagram on Friday, said he hoped to convince his wife to ride with him in a tricycle to and from the church to underscore the low-key nature of the ceremony. His wish did come to pass as they rode to church in a tricycle. Charly Boy was first married to Stella at a Catholic Church in Onitsha in 1974 when he was 19. The relationship produced one child. The 62-year-old once revealed that his first marriage failed because he was underage when his mother got him a wife. Charly Boy, who has nine children from different mothers, insists that Lady Diane is now the mother of all my children. We have 16 grandchildren. Charly Boy met Lady Dianne, an American, in 1974 in a hair salon in Boston, U.S., where he had gone to make his hair. PICTURE STORY Charly Boy remarries wife of 40 years Ahead of the 2019 general elections, at least 50 per cent of the 360 House of Representatives members of the eighth assembly will not return to the ninth assembly next year. A review by PREMIUM TIMES shows that many of these lawmakers either lost the primary elections that were recently concluded or have moved to seek different elective positions. This newspaper published a similar list of non-returning senators. Below are some of the House members who are certainly not returning in 2019 for various reasons. ABIA In Abia, the member representing Bende federal constituency, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, is not returning to the house as she did not clinch the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election. Unlike many of her colleagues, she did not seek to contest on a different platform. ADAMAWA Three out of the eight House of Representatives members from the state are not coming back. Out of the three, two lost the APC primary while the third contested for the Senate but failed to clinch the ticket. The two lawmakers who lost the primary are Shuaibu Abdulrahman and Abubakar Lawal. Their colleague Adamu Kamale contested for the Senate and lost. AKWA IBOM Two out of the 10 federal lawmakers from Akwa Ibom lost their party primaries and will not return. The lawmakers are Samuel Ikon and Owoidighe Ekpoatai. BAUCHI Three out of 12 House members form the North-Eastern state are not returning to the next assembly. They are Shehu Aliyu, Haliru Jika and Adamu Gurai. While Messrs Aliyu and Gurai lost out in their various party primaries, Mr Jika was able to clinch the ticket to contest for the senatorial election. He is expected to challenge the serving senator, Isa Missau. BAYELSA The oil rich south-south state has one Rep member who will not return. The lawmaker, Sodagumo Omoni, who represents Ogbia federal constituency, lost the PDP primary. BENUE Five of the 11 House of Representatives members from Benue are not returning to the next assembly. The lawmakers are Emmanuel Orker-Jev, Dickson Tackighir, Saleh Hassan, Emmanuel Udende and Ezekiel Adaji. While Mr Orker-Jev is flying the flag of the PDP in a senatorial election, the others lost their respective primaries. BORNO Three of the 10 House of Reps members are not returning to the House over their failure to get nomination of their party. The lawmakers are Asabe Vilita, Muhammed Sheriff and Ayuba Bello. DELTA Three out of the 10 House of Representatives members of Delta state are not returning to the ninth assembly having lost their party primaries. The lawmakers are: Onyemaecho Mrakpor, Idisi Lovette and Daniel Reyanju. EBONYI One out of the six lawmakers from Ebonyi is certainly not returning to the ninth assembly. The lawmaker, Linus Okorie, who represents Ivo/Ohaozara/Onicha federal constituency, failed to clinch a return ticket. EDO The case of the Edo lawmaker is quite different from the norm. The House deputy whip, Pally Iriase, is not returning in 2019 because he did not contest the elections due to local arrangements in his constituency. EKITI One lawmaker from Ekiti state wont make it to the next assembly. The lawmaker, Olamide Johnson, who represents Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon federal constituency, failed to secure a return ticket in the last primary. ENUGU Just like Ekiti, one lawmaker from Enugu state is confirmed as not returning in 2019. The lawmaker, Chukwuemeka Ujam, who is a first timer representing Nkanu East/West, failed to secure a return ticket. FCT The two members from the FCT are not returning in the ninth assembly. The lawmakers are Zephaniah Jisalo and Zakari Angulu, who both contested the FCT senate primary. It is still not clear who is flying the party ticket to challenge Philip Aduda of the PDP. GOMBE Two out of the six lawmakers in Gombe state are not returning to the House of Representatives in 2019. Binta Bello, the deputy minority whip, was able to clinch the PDP ticket for Gombe South Senatorial district while Samaila Kashena lost out in the primary. IMO Two out of the 10 House of Representatives members from Imo are not returning to the house for the same reason. The two lawmakers, Chukwukere Austin and Goodluck Opiah, lost out in their party primary. JIGAWA In Jigawa, three of the 11 federal lawmakers are not returning in 2019 after failing to secure return tickets. The lawmakers are Sani Zorro, Rabiu Kaugama and Muhammed Boyi. KADUNA Of the thirty six states and FCT, Kaduna has the highest number of Rep members who are not returning in the 9th assembly. The seven lawmakers are Adams Jagaba, Muhammad Soba, Sunday Marshal, Muhammed Abubakar, Yusuf Bala, Mohammed Usman and Lawal Rabiu. Mr. Jagaba lost in the PDP Kaduna South primary while Mr Marshal was picked as a runningmate of the governorship candidate of the PDP, Isa Ashiru. The rest lost out in the primary. KANO Four out of the 24 members of the Kano state caucus of the House of Representatives, are not returning to the house. The four are Aliyu Madaki who is the PDP candidate for Kano Central Senatorial district, Bashir Baballe who did not contest for any election and Nasiru Baballe and Mukhtar Chiromawa who lost their respective party primary. KATSINA So far, only one member of the House of Representatives from Katsina is not returning to the next assembly. The lawmaker, Aliyu Sani, lost in the just concluded APC primary. KOGI In Kogi State, it is so far clear that one lawmaker is certainly not returning in 2019. The lawmaker, Sunday Karimi, contested for the senatorial ticket of Kogi west under PDP but lost to Dino Melaye. KWARA Out of the six lawmakers from Kwara, three are confirmed as not coming back to the 9th assembly. The lawmakers are Razak Atunwa who is flying the ticket of the PDP for the Governorship election, Zakari Mohammed who is also flying the PDP ticket for Kwara North Senatorial district and Amuda Kanike who did not contest the primary. LAGOS Six out of the 24 Lagos federal lawmakers are not returning to the House of Representatives in 2019. The lawmakers are Tony Nwulu, Adaranijo Abiodun, Joseph Adebayo, Bamgbose Joseph and Diya Babafemi. Apart from Tony Nwulu who is contesting for Imo Governorship election under the United Peoples Party (UPP), the rest failed to secure a return ticket to the House. NASARAWA Out of the five lawmakers from Nasarawa State, only two may likely return to the house in the next assembly. The other three lawmakers who are not returning are David Ombugadu, Mohammed Onawo and Jaafar Ibrahim. Mr. Ombugadu is flying the PDP flag in the upcoming general elections while he is being deputized by Mr. Onawo. The third lawmaker, Jaafar Ibrahim lost in his bid to clinch the APC Governorship ticket. NIGER Despite the controversies in Niger State, PREMIUM TIMES has been able to confirm that three lawmakers from the state are not returning in 2019. The lawmakers are Adamu Chika, Faruk Mihammadu and Saleh Shehu who failed to secure a return ticket. OGUN Two lawmakers from Ogun State failed to secure their tickets back to the House. The lawmakers are Olusegun Williams and Kehinde Olusegun. ONDO Out of the nine lawmakers from Ondo state, three of them are confirmed not to be coming back in the ninth assembly due to their inability to get a return ticket to the House. The lawmakers are Babatunde Kolawole, Baderinwa Samson and Akinfolarin Mayowa. OSUN In Osun state, the deputy speaker, Yusuf Lasun, is not returning in the ninth assembly. He did not contest the House of Representatives primary. He contested the just concluded governorship primary of the APC but lost to Gboyega Isyaka, the governor-elect. OYO Two lawmakers from Oyo are not returning in 2019 because they failed to secure their party nomination. The lawmakers are Ayoade Ojoawo and Oladele George. PLATEAU In Plateau state, two of its members contested for senatorial primary while one lost in his bid to secure the ticket of the House of Representatives. Edward Pwajok who is the House chairman on rules and business, contested and lost the APC senatorial primary for Plateau North while his counterpart Istifanus Gyang is flying the PDP ticket for Plateau North. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande lost out in his bid to return for the third term in the House of Representatives. RIVERS Two members have so far been confirmed in Rivers as not returning in 2019. The lawmakers are Chidi Frank who lost in the primary and Betty Apiafi who is a senatorial candidate. TARABA Just one member has been confirmed as not returning in 2019 due to his inability to secure his party ticket. The lawmaker, Malle Ibrahim represents Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency. YOBE In Yobe, the member representing Fika/Fune federal constituency, Ismail Gadaka, will not be returning in the ninth assembly for his inability to secure his party ticket. ZAMFARA Baring any last minute change, all the APC members from Zamfara will not be returning in 2019 due to INECs decision to reject any list from Zamfara APC. The APC in Zamfara, according to INEC, cannot submit any list of candidates because it failed to conduct primaries within the stipulated time. Editors Note: This report may be updated with additional names as ongoing political cases are resolved. Adedapo Abiodun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, has been caught in a messy scandal that could see him disqualified as the flag-bearer of the ruling party in the February 2019 gubernatorial election. Mr Abiodun, a renowned oil and gas executive from Ijebu Remo, is facing allegations that he evaded national service after graduating from the university in the 1980s, and claimed in his nomination form that he does not have a university degree in order to deceive his party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, according to court filings seen by PREMIUM TIMES. Documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES also showed that Mr Abiodun made conflicting academic claims in his INEC filings when he ran for Senate in 2015 and as a governorship candidate this year. Mr Abiodun was declared winner of the 2018 governorship primaries in Ogun State in October. His emergence sparked a bitter and unending confrontation between the leadership of the APC led by Adams and Ibikunle Amosun, the governor of Ogun State. Mr Amosun, also of the APC, strongly contested Mr Abioduns candidacy, and vowed last week that he would work against the candidate in 2019. Although Mr Amosun remained in the APC, his favoured successor has abandoned the party with other topshots to test their ambitions elsewhere. Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun [Photo: The Guardian Nigeria] Mr Abiodun, however, insisted that the governor would have no choice but to remain in APC and work towards his emergence. A bigger battle But while Mr Amosuns stiff resistance to Mr Abioduns ambition may be considered too daunting to surmount, the latest revelations about the candidates failure to take part in the youth service and misrepresentation of himself before INEC appear to have the bigger potential to undo him. This is primarily because the APC has indicated in September that it would not condone any member who failed to serve the country after finishing from the university. APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole Photo: DailyPost The party asserted its zero tolerance for NYSC deflection when it disqualified communications minister Adebayo Shittu late September. A week earlier, PREMIUM TIMES had exposed Mr Shittus failure to serve after graduating from the university in the 1970s. A spokesperson for the APC did not return requests for comments on whether or not the party would equally disqualify Mr Abiodun or wait for the court to do so. Making the case Adesina Baruwa, who filed the suit against Mr Abiodun at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, argued the politician should be disqualified for claiming in his INEC form that he does not have a university degree. Supporting documents The litigant said the politician clearly violated both the electoral law and the NYSC law, which respectively prohibited filing false claims and failure to take part in youth service after graduation before age 30. Mr Abiodun was born on May 29, 1960. He had concluded his primary education in 1971 and his secondary education in 1978. Mr Abidion said in his 2015 INEC filings that he obtained a bachelors degree in accounting in 1989, meaning he graduated at 29 and should have honoured a call-up for the NYSC. It is even possible that the politician had a degree before 2019 a website said he obtained a degree in civil engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, although no year was stated. But Mr Abioduns official profile on the website of Heyden, perhaps his most famous and successful business, also confirmed he obtained degrees in engineering and accounting. APC National Secretariat in Abuja But in his latest submission to INEC for his 2019 governorship run, Mr Abiodun did not disclose his university degree, claiming high school as his highest academic qualification. Mr Abiodun seemed to have learnt from the scandals involving Mr Shittu and the former finance minister Kemi Adeosun, who resigned her position after PREMIUM TIMES revealed she forged a certificate to claim she was exempted from the youth service. The NYSC law requires every Nigerian who attended university or polytechnic to participate in the national youth scheme for one year after graduation, provided the person finished before age 30. Failure to serve would prohibit such individual from gainful employment in Nigeria, and making false claims about serving could attract long jail term. Also, anyone who graduated before 30 but deliberately declined to serve has committed an offence that could attract imprisonment, even if the person did not forge NYSC documents. Only a person who obtained a degree after 30 or served in the military or won national honours medal would qualify for exemption certificate under the NYSC law. INEC office signpost Having earned a bachelors degree at 29, assuming the account degree of 1989 was his first, Mr Abiodun, in conformity with Section 2 of the NYSC Act, should have participated in the year-long national service. He will not be qualified for exemption under the law.. Mr Baruwa said Mr Abiodun has violated the electoral law and the NYSC Act by filing false claims and should be disqualified. A spokesperson for INEC did not immediately return requests seeking comments. Mr Abiodun did not also return calls and text messages seeking comments for this story. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, the senate president, Bukola Saraki, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and other Nigerians have reacted to the vice presidential candidates debate which took place on Friday. The parties and candidates at the debate were Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Abdulganiyu Galadima; Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya; All Progressives Congress (APC), Yemi Osinbajo; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi and Young Progressives Party (YPP), Umma Getso. The debate was organized by the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON). The candidate of the PDP, Mr Obi, said the anti-corruption war of the present government is not adding value to the nations economy. Fighting corruption is not an economic policy. It is not that you cant fight corruption, but you can fight it more aggressively while addressing economic issues, he said. In 2015, the unemployment rate was 24 percent but today, it is 40 percent. In 2015, we were attracting $21 billion in foreign direct investment. We attracted only 12 (billion dollars) last year. Our GDP was 520 in 2015 and per-capital was 2,500. Today, it is under 1,900. Our stock market has lost over two trillion in one year. Mr Osinbajo said, Corruption is the major cause of the countrys current challenges,` which must be tackled head-on. While acknowledging issues of poverty in the county, he said the administrations social investment programmes were put in place to address poverty in the country and that they invested heavily in power distribution, to address the problem of electricity in the country. Mrs Getso of the YPP said the girl-child education and women empowerment is her priority. She also emphasised that subsidy in petroleum products is a scam and should be removed completely. Mrs Abdullahi-Iya of the ANN said her party if voted into office would ensure transparency and tackle unemployment while Mr Galadima of ACPN said his party would work with technocrats to develop the countrys economy and make her the envy of other nations. However, their responses at the debate drew mixed reactions from Twitter users. In his reaction, the presidential candidate of PDP, Mr Abubakar, said via his verified Twitter handle, that he watched Mr Obi with pride. @atiku I watched with pride as @PeterObi laid out our vision to get Nigeria working again. Cant wait for the presidential debate. #2019Debate The senate president, Mr Saraki said the PDP vice presidential candidate reeled out facts at the debate. Tonight, @PeterObi, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of our great party, @OfficialPDPNig, reeled out the facts. He showed Nigerians across the nation why we need to #GetNigeriaWorkingAgain! #2019Debate Tonight, @PeterObi, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of our great party, @OfficialPDPNig, reeled out the facts. He showed Nigerians across the nation why we need to #GetNigeriaWorkingAgain! #2019Debate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) December 14, 2018 Also, the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Fayose, said, Delighted that our VP candidate, Peter Obi demonstrated high level of understanding of issues relating to the economy of this country. In PDP, we have brains in abundance, while in the other party, they have lies in abundance. We will surely get Nigeria working again. #2019Debate Delighted that our VP candidate, Peter Obi demonstrated high level of understanding of issues relating to the economy of this country. In PDP, we have brains in abundance, while in the other party, they have lies in abundance. We will surely get Nigeria working again.#2019Debate Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) December 14, 2018 While some Nigerians preferred Mr Obis presentation and arguments, others believed that Mr Osinbajo performed better. @4eyedmonk said Here is my take away: Peter Obi is an expert on China issues. Yemi Osinbajo is an expert on running a government. The other 3 are experts on participating in the Olympics. Another Twitter user, @AdemolaVictorTv said: Peter Obi vs Prof Yemi Osinbajo should actually switch and be Presidential Candidates while Atiku and Buhari should be their vice. @CallMeGozie said: Who is watching the VP campaign debate (?), Peter Obi came with facts and figures. Osibanjo came with blame and complain. The women deserve some accolades. Another user, @Mr_JAGs: VP dropped figures and dropped the Source as World Bank. Peter Obi has dropped several figures tonight without a single source. @kolaayodele wrote that I dont believe the @PeterObi figure of 2million cars. We need to cross check other figures he was dropping. @waleolaN: Nigerians are tired of hearing the weak 16 years lies. Osibajo forgot about Lagos. He also didnt remember @PeterObi wasnt even in the PDP then. The Lagos that the professor was part of is still a mess. @_Mikeudo said: I was expecting to hear more from Peter Obi, on restructuring and most importantly their plans for SS/SE Nigeria. Man didnt touch on key issues. You see those folks who are attacking Peter Obi for reeling out figures are same folks when they were in school, you try to explain dy/dx to them & they just tell you to go straight to the answer. They just get scared when they see complex numbers. We eat numbers & shit facts! @gopcy said. A group, the Catholic Action-Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to be cautious of campaign promises dished out by all the political parties and candidates ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general elections. The group made this known in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday. Speaking on the various activities to be undertaken by the Catholic Action-Nigeria, the chairman, board of trustees of the group, Peter Agbontean, said the group is advising, particularly the women and youth, to pay more attention to the promises made by candidates and be able to scrutinize them, especially the ones that appear bogus and not backed by credible logic. Nigerians should as well watch out for those who deliberately (plunged) them into poverty and are now using hunger in the land as a weapon of governance and re-election bid. One way that citizens can be able to participate actively in the current political process is to ensure that they follow and monitor the campaigns. We are also advising candidates not to enter into unholy agreements with anyone or groups. We think it is the prerogative of Nigerians to always decide who to give the mantle of leadership whether for the first four years or another term. We warn that no instruments of government should be used as a platform to provide an undue advantage for an individual or political party because the electioneering processes must be on a level playground. The group called on all candidates, at all levels, to focus more on educating the electorates on proposed policies. We call on the candidates from presidential to councillorship elections, to focus on enlightening the electorates on their proposed policies and programmes instead of attacks on individuals and political parties and dwelling on issues that are of no good to Nigerians. The group said it would take a position in the upcoming elections. We will educate, sensitise and mobilize members of the general public on the desirable qualities to identify in candidates and the need to vote for integrity and ability to deliver on manifestoes and campaign promises, irrespective of political affiliation. We will give massive support to positive political projects as this is no time to sit on the fence and stand aside, complaining that things are going badly. We urge all Nigerians, not to only pay attention to candidates in the major political parties, but to seek out for other credible individuals who are in other smaller parties. Saudi Arabian authorities have put measures in place to regulate the movement around the Holy Kaaba (tawaf) during the 2019 pilgrimage (hajj). The measure, according to the authorities, is to help in crowd control similar to the recent innovation in symbolic stoning of the devil (jamarat). Hitherto, pilgrims were expected to proceed to the jamarat for the stoning ritual from Musdalifa. However, following the Mina stampede of 2015 in which thousands of pilgrims lost their lives, the authorities introduced a turn by turn arrangements for pilgrims whereby each country is given a time to carry out their stoning ritual. Also, pilgrims normally proceed to the Holy Mosque to carry out their tawaf as one of the important rituals during hajj after the stoning ritual. From 2019, the authorities say they will introduce a timetable for countries to carry out their tawaf. This was revealed Thursday in Makkah by the establishment in charge of African Non-Arabic Speaking Countries, popularly known as muassassa at a meeting with officials of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). Also, according to the spokesperson of (NAHCON), Fatima Usara, authorities of the kingdom also revealed tough penalties await people who overstay in Makkah and their collaborators. Some Nigerian pilgrims often overstay their hajj or umrah visas. To this end, NAHCON told the Saudi officials that it has laid out plans on this issue and was supported by the establishment pledging to offer the commission all necessary backing in doing so. Both sides agreed to introduce collaborative measures that will bring visa/immigration violation to an end, she said. Mrs Usara, in an email to PREMIUM TIMES, said representatives of Nigerias Licensed Tour Operators, whos pilgrims were most culpable in the act, also pledged that their organisation will not tolerate any member trying to soil their name and business. NAHCON also took advantage of the meeting to demand that Nigerians pilgrims tent at Mashair should have air conditioners instead of desert coolers. The manager in charge of Jamrat operations under Muassasa, Abdallah Lashkuri, assured that the request will be given consideration. Relevant papers on terms and conditions were signed legally binding the two sides in a contractual agreement, she said. High Transportation Cost Also, the President of General Car Syndicates, the agency in charge of pilgrims transportation throughout Hajj season, Abdulrahman bin Mayouf AlHarbi, responded to allegations that Nigerian pilgrims are being overcharged on transport fares compared to those from other countries. He expressed surprise on how this could be possible seeing that the charges are officially determined, government controlled as well as a matter of policy with payment made within financial regulations and transparently, Mrs Usara said. Saudi Arabia announces new measures for hajj Saudi Arabia announces new measures for hajj On current contract for pilgrims conveyance during 2019 Hajj, the official disclosed that because government had rolled out a comprehensive social safety transport system, henceforth, it mandated all transport companies to provide new buses not more than 10 years old. This policy therefore jerked up the cost of transportation, which had remained the same in the past 30 years. NAHCONs Chairman, Barrister Abdullah Mukhtar Muhammad made a plea for this increase to be shelved aside this year due to general economic downturn all over the world. Besides, he argued, procurement of these vehicles is a long-term investment whose proceeds should be reaped gradually. However, his counterpart in the GCS declared that it is a decision solely under the purview of Ministry of hajj and umrah, the NAHCON spokesperson said. She also said the GCS President expressed satisfaction with the commission, proclaiming that NAHCON has been one of the best in the last three years and has remained a role model to other countries. Agreements for basic transport services were signed, she said. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, said on Friday night that he was keenly looking forward to next months presidential debate, moments after watching the vice-presidential debate in Abuja. Mr Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the showing of his running mate, Peter Obi, at the vice-presidential debate at Transcorp Hilton Hotels. I watched with pride as Peter Obi laid out our vision to get Nigeria working again, Mr Abubakar said on Twitter, adding that he cannot wait for the presidential debate. Mr Obi sparred with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and three other running mates in the five-person debate last night, focused mainly on the economy for about two and a half hours. Mr Obi was widely praised for demonstrating a good grasp of statistics, and Mr Osinbajo received commendations for his ability to focus on what his government had done as against what the PDP did in its 16 years in power from 1999 to 2015. Although the debate organisers said last week they expected President Muhammadu Buhari to participate at the presidential debate on January 19, there has been no commitment from the president. Organisers told PREMIUM TIMES Friday night they have not received indications that Mr Buhari would take part in the debate, but said Mr Abubakars public utterances have given them confidence that the main opposition candidate would be available. Mr Buhari did not honour invitations to debate while running as the main opposition candidate of the All Progressives Congress in 2015. Concerns that Mr Buhari would shun debate again this cycle prompted some PDP supporters on social media to have Mr Obi boycott last nights debate. They argued that Mr Buhari is trying to ride on the energy of Mr Osinbajo, rather than present himself for a similar debate as the most consequential person on the ticket. It was a single-issue debate which attendees unanimously found boring, despite repeated audience interruption that tested the patience of moderator Imoni Amarere. Ultimately, however, those interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES said there was a winner. The Peoples Democratic Party vice-presidential candidate, Peter Obi, edged Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of the All Progressives Congress in the vice-presidential debate on Friday night, instant interviews conducted by PREMIUM TIMES after the debate showed. Two out of three attendees who came to observe the debate live at Transcorp Hilton Hotels in Abuja, who described themselves as non-partisan told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Obi did a better job. Mr Obi was also the best debater amongst other participants who did not disclose their political affiliation. The respondents were reluctant to comment on the showing of three other vice-presidential contenders who took part in the five-man debate, repeatedly preferring to focus only on Messrs Osinbajo and Obi, who are of the ruling and main opposition parties, respectively. Stylistically, respondents said Mr Obi dominated. He looked mostly into the camera, which conveyed confidence. His voice was calm, but not entirely conversational, reminiscent of his decades experience as a trader. In contrast, Mr Osinbajo frequently interrupted. He talked somewhat faster than he ordinarily does and defensively in many cases. The vice-president ferreted from talking point to talking point, especially on rice production output, road infrastructure and the social investment programmes, and oftentimes gets shut down by Mr Amarere. Data is life Mr Amareres decision to keep the debate strictly around the economy saw the contestants put up their statistics A game, and many in the audience were completely blown away. To be honest with you, Peter Obi was amazing, Saryum Okorare, an Abuja-based human resources professional, told PREMIUM TIMES. I saw it all how he was able to dole out statistics from his head. His pen never touched paper and he was making sense with data, and you know data is life and does not lie, she added. But the other people, not so much, Ms Okorare said. The vice-president is a professor, he has the ability to do more, but Another non-partisan attendee Mary Omono, acknowledged the unique performances of Messrs Obi and Osinbajo, but still found Mr Obis ways with data more amusing. The debate was really interesting, thanks to both of them, but Mr Obi came out stronger for me because he did not only outline the problems, he gave solutions to them. He also gave statistics to back up most his positions, Ms Omono added. On substance, Mr Osinbajo won by highlighting the achievements of his administration. When Mr Amarere asked for his opening remarks, Mr Mr Osinbajo went straight for the PDPs head, saying Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was abandoned for practically 16 years, and practically every day the government has been working to fix the crucial highway. During some of the high-points of the debate around anti-corruption war, the vice-president displayed a quick ability to clap back. When Mr Obi said it was senseless to abandon a shop in pursuit of criminals, Mr Osinbajo quickly retorted that there would be no shop at all if rampaging criminals stole everything. Mr Obi had a chance to deliver a similarly sharp blow when Mr Amarere asked about the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), but missed it by towing the administrations line on why Nigeria did not sign the agreement earlier this year. When the agreement was signed in March, the Buhari administration said it withheld consent because Nigeria could lose big if the country signs the agreement without the input of key sectors of the economy. But critics like the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, have condemned the delay as senseless, and even went on to describe the action of countries that did not endorse the pack as criminal.. After initially agreeing with the position of the administration, Mr Obi used his second take on the matter to scold the President Buhari for failing to consult widely and conclude its collation of inputs before the agreement was due to be signed. Corruption still a major issue I think the vice-president found his footing when the debate got to the anti-corruption aspect, Umar Abdullahi, an academic, said. Mr Obi was unable to catch up with him again, even though he tried many times with his dizzying statistics. Either we like it or not in Nigeria, corruption is still a major issue that any serious government must take, Mr Abdullahi said. I do not know whether the next government would be formed by APC or PDP, but they need to keep the tempo on anti-corruption. Osinbajo 1-4 Obi Both candidates appeared to have muddled up facts in their submissions at the debate. Mr Obi repeatedly compared Nigerias economic indices with Chinas, but failed too often to provide sources for his claims. Mr Obis claim that his purchase of 30,000 units of computers as Anambra State governor was the highest by any government in Africa was instantly contradicted, although by an APC strategist. Although Mr Osinbajo cited reputable sources, like the World Bank in his claims, he bungled basic facts in some cases. While reeling out the administrations strides in agriculture, the vice-president said Nigeria was producing 90 per cent of its rice consumption. This claim, which other administration officials have continued to regurgitate despite a PREMIUM TIMES fact-check that debunked it in 2017, remained demonstrably false. Only one of five politically-active attendants interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES said Mr Osinbajo won the debate. But they all complained that the event was boring and Mr Amarere should have been better armed. You must think about the capacity of the organisers, Terver Terkimbi, a civil engineer who said he has been in politics 17 years, said. Do they have the capacity to put the right questions through? Reporters were barred from entering the hall of the debate, but a small cubicle was arranged for reporting activities in the lobby. Some participants who were inside the hall said they heard in the background that politics came to play in some of the questions that were asked. Coming at a time of severe national security challenges, especially with the Boko Haram war and other boistering violent crimes across the country, attendants interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES had nothing but harsh words for the organisers failure to expand the debate beyond the economy. Intention realised But Clement Nwankwo, a civil society personality who provided support for the organisers Nigeria Election Debates Group, said the intention was to keep the vice-presidential candidates focused on their potential roles if elected. It is deliberate to keep it focused on the economy, Mr Nwankwo said. The main issue is the economy, even though a few other things came up. It was up to the candidates to diversify their responses to other issues, but from the point of view of the moderator, the intention was to keep the debate on the economy. There were rumours that the presidential debate on January 19 would focus on security, since the president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but Mr Nwankwo was unable to immediately confirm this to PREMIUM TIMES. Former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, on Sunday heaped praises on President Muhammadu Buhari, acknowledging that the man he toppled in a coup detat in 1985 has remained focused and shown tremendous energy and vibrancy in running the affairs of Nigeria since 2015. Mr Babangida also acknowledged Mr Buharis patriotism and commitment to serving the nation diligently with honesty and sincerity of purpose. Mr Babangida poured the accolades on Mr Buhari in a statement released to the News Agency of Nigeria, ahead of Mr Buharis 76th birthday on Monday, December 17. Mr Babangidas last public message to Mr Buhari came in February when he urged the president to retire in 2019 for a younger leader, a call that soured relations between the duo. In the birthday greetings, Mr Babangida said that Mr Buhari has been an excellent role model to many young aspiring politicians and even to the not-so-young, because of the way and manner you have managed to sustain the survival of our country as an indivisible one nation albeit in the face of many daunting diversions. You achieved great success in the fight against corruption, terrorism and other forms of insecurity in addition to getting our country out of economic recession. I wish to congratulate you for all the achievements you have recorded in your lifetime and particularly for your humility, deep sense of honesty and faith you have shown in the various aspects of governance, politics and democracy as our President. As we get over our mid-seventies, we can say with all sense of modesty that we should celebrate every birthday anniversary with prayers in order for us to thank Allah for all the blessings and the bounties He showered upon us. It is only fair that we pause and reflect in our own different ways on all the lifes challenges we face day by day and the positive strides we have been blessed to attain. A typical day in the life of a Nigerian President requires faith, poise, patience, tenacity, experience, strategic thinking and quality character for one to get through it. I join the first lady, Aisha, and all your children and grandchildren in wishing you many happy returns of your birthday. Aishas loyalty and support, as the home front commander, is invigorating since by our age we require much comfort, care and affection at home. Welcome to our club of the over 75, he concluded. Mr Buhari was born in Daura on December 17, 1941 and after his early education in both Daura and Katsina, he joined the army in 1961, one year ahead of Mr Babangida, who joined in 1962. After initial training at the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) now known as Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Mr Buhari went for cadet training from 1962 to 1963 at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in England. He was commissioned a second lieutenant at the age of 20 and appointed platoon commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta. Mr Buhari in 1973 attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India. After the 1975 coup that brought Murtala Muhammed to power, Mr Buhari was appointed governor of the North Eastern state. Mr Buhari was appointed minister of petroleum resources in 1976 by then military leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded Mr Muhammed. From 1978 to 1979, Mr Buhari was military secretary at the Army Headquarters and was a member of the Supreme Military Council from 1978 to 1979. After the military handed over power to Shehu Shagari in 1979, Mr Buhari, then a colonel attended the US Army War College, in Pennsylvania. He returned home to serve at various times as General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division and Third Armoured Division in Jos. Mr Buhari, alongside Mr Babangida, toppled the Shagari civilian government in 1983. Mr Buhari was in turn overthrown by Mr Babangida two years after. Mr Buhari retreated into civilian life after several years of restriction by the Babangida government and came out to serve as chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund during the Sani Abacha junta. In 2003, Mr Buhari had his first shot at the presidency. He did not win. He tried again in 2007 and 2011 and also failed to win. He won in 2015, the first challenger to defeat an incumbent in the presidential election in Nigeria. Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has sacked Patience Ogodo, board chairperson of the Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC). Emmanuel Uzor, Mr Umahis Chief Press Secretary who issued a statement on Saturday, said the sack was sequel to Mrs Ogodos suspension as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees. Mr Uzor alleged that the PDPs National Executive Committee (NEC) had suspended Mrs Ogodo for acts inconsistent with her mandate which included: absenteeism and other anti-party activities. Consequently, Ogodo is directed to hand over all government properties in her possession within 24 hours to the closet person on the board. The governor wishes to stress that Ogodos suspension was in affirmation of the PDPs NEC which tried and found her guilty of anti-party activities and other sundry actions. This was unbecoming of a board of trustees member from a highly disciplined party like the PDP as it acted in line with the partys constitution, the statement read. The statement further noted that the governor wished her well in her new political journey. (NAN) The management of the University of Lagos has described the allegations levelled against the Pro-chancellor of the institution, Wale Babalakin, by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), as false and unfounded. The management also said Mr Babalakin has acted within the ambit of the law. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, UNILAG, Oladejo Azeez, which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday night. ASUU accused Mr Babalakin of reinstating a director of sports, Cecilia Arinze, contrary to the recommendations of a university senate committee set up to investigate the various cases of malfeasance against the director. The union also accused Mr Babalakin of holding a meeting with members of the senate in the senate chamber, university of Lagos which was unprecedented. The union, through its Lagos Chapter on December 9 also accused Mr Babalakin of meddling in UNILAGs affairs and acting contrary to the laws that govern the institution. But the Registrar and Secretary to the Council (UNILAG), said the pro-chancellor had done nothing wrong or out of the ordinary by holding a meeting with members of UNILAGS Senate on September 26. The University of Lagos wishes to inform the public that the following allegations made against the Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin, are unfounded, he said. On the reinstatement of the director of sports, Mr Azeez said the council discovered that the major allegation against her was frivolous and the only remaining allegation was insufficient to dismiss a staff of the university who had put in thirty years of service. Please, be informed that a member of staff of the Institution forwarded a petition to the Universitys Governing Council. This petition, like others of its kind, was reviewed and debated upon by members of the Council. It was discovered, after careful deliberations, that the universitys Senate had cleared the Director of Sports, Dr. Cecilia Arinze of nine (9) out of eleven (11) allegations levelled against her, he said. Speaking on accusation of Mr Babalakins meeting with the members of Senate as being unprecedented, he said, Please, be informed that it is untrue that the meeting in the Senate Chamber was unprecedented. A former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, held a meeting of such nature with members of the Senate when he was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Institution. He said the minutes of the Senate meeting of that day serve as evidence that the allegation is untrue. He said a former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Gamaliel Onosode, also held a meeting with Senate members in the Universitys Senate Chamber. It is worthy of note also, that the Pro-Chancellor has held meetings with all members of staff of the University of Lagos, upon his assumption of office. He said Mr Babalakin held some of the meetings with other council members in attendance so as to have a better understanding of the universitys environment from members of staff directly involved with the operations of the University. In conclusion, we want to place it on record that the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, led by Dr. Olawale Bolanle Babalakin, has consistently upheld laws and traditions of the university. He said Mr Babalakin carried out his duties diligently, without drawing any allowance or financial benefit from the university, while supporting the University of Lagos with his personal resources. On the functions of the council and its finance and general purposes committee, he said the UNILAG Act states that, Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to the Visitor, the Council shall be the governing body of the University and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the University, including its public relations. There shall be a committee of the Council, to be known as the Finance and General Purposes Committee, which shall, subject to the directions of the Council, exercise control over the property and expenditure of the University, other than that of the colleges, and perform such other functions of the Council as the Council may, from time to time, delegate to it, he concluded. Recently, Mr Babalakin, who is the chairman of the federal government / ASUU 2009 agreement renegotiation has received a lot of criticism from ASUU, both at the national and state level. In August, the national body of ASUU described Mr Babalakin as a stumbling block in the renegotiation process and called for the suspension of the committee. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leading opposition party in the country, has begun navigating its challenges, ahead of the 2019 general elections. Campaign activities have fully taken off, with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, making early forays into some geopolitical zones. Governorship campaigns are soon to follow, in the march to attempt to topple the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) from government, both at the federal and state levels. The partys attempt to reclaim power which it lost in 2015, majorly as a result of fractionalisation of the party at the twilight of the last administration, had made its approach to the coming elections more intense and forceful as a failure could spell its final doom, without any hope of recovery. However, the PDP seeks to make a remarkable impact in the southwest, which arguably holds all the aces in deciding who will win the next presidential election. Of concern, therefore, is the fact that all the states of the southwest are APC controlled. This is not minding the fact that there are issues with the ruling party regarding conflicts arising from the partys primaries in some of these states. The opposition appears unprepared to take advantage of the crisis rocking the APC at the moment, particularly in Ogun State, where the governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, has declared his intention to work against his party in favour of his preferred candidate, Abiodun Akinlade. Mr Akinlade dumped the party for the Allied Peoples Congress, as a result of a prolonged controversy that denied him the ticket of the ruling party in spite of having the backing of Mr Amosun. The PDP in Ogun has found itself in a protracted self-affliction as two factions of the party, serving two different interests, battle for its soul. The conflict itself draws from the now rested titanic clash between the Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriffs factions of the party, which tended to annihilate the party and fundamentally affected its performance in Edo and Ondo governorship elections of 2016. While most of the state chapters of the party successfully dissolved into single entities following the Supreme Courts decision upholding the authenticity of one of the factions, the Ogun branch is still suffering from the residual animosity of the Makarfi-Sherrif legal battles. Apparently, the party is torn apart between Sikirullahi Ogundele and Bayo Dayo; both are backed by the National Working Committee of the party and the senator representing Ogun East in the Senate, Buruji Kashamu, respectively. The bone of contention between these two groups is about who controls the party machinery in the state and with the right to conduct congresses or primaries and produce candidates for the 2019 general elections. This is the question the courts have been trying to answer since the beginning of the legal battles. Legal interventions The battle for the soul of the party dates back to April 2016, when the party held its ward congresses across the state. It was, then, a harvest of confusion as the state working committee led by Mr Dayo broke into two. He and his Secretary, Semiu Sodipo, were on one side while nine other members of the executive were on the other. The group of nine consisted of the Deputy State Chairman, Sunday Soledolu; Publicity Secretary, Waliu Oladipupo; Youth Leader, Taofeek Osundara; Women Leader, Nike Odutola; Treasurer, Aibinuola Adegoke; Vice-State Chairman, Amusa Isiaka; Organising Secretary, Folasade Filani; Auditor, Chief Ibukun Ojosipe and Legal Officer, Mr. Boladale Sanni. Since then, both factions have been in and out of the courts. Most of the judgments had ended in favour of the Dayo-led faction. On June 24, 2016, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos had ruled in favour of the Dayo-led faction, saying that the tenure of Mr Dayo ends in May 2020 and so had the powers to conduct state congresses. Further litigations on the leadership crisis saw another judgment, delivered by Mohammed Idris, in February this year, upholding Mr Bubas judgment, nullifying the congresses held in defiance of the earlier judgment, which produced the Sikirullahi Ogundele-led Ogun State PDP executive committee. The judgment also nullified the Odanye-caretaker committee set up by the national secretariat in view of the June 24, 2016, judgment which affirmed the Dayo-led executive. It is against this backdrop that the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, on October 2, ordered the INEC and the PDP national leadership to accept the list of candidates and delegates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State executive committee of the party for the 2019 elections. A tale of parallel primaries As expected, the September governorship primaries of the panel in Ogun did not go without a crisis. It ended up in parallel primaries conducted by the factions and produced two governorship candidates. The Uche Secondus-backed Ogundele faction produced Ladi Adebutu, who is representing the Remo North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. He was the sole aspirant at the exercise, which was supervised by a five-man Electoral Committee from the National Headquarters headed by a retired captain, Mike Hart. Uche Secondus, PDP National Chairman The Adebayo Dayo-led group, which had no backing from the PDP headquarters, produced Adeleke Shittu as its candidate. Aware that it did not have the backing of the centre, the faction is counting on a series of positive court judgments to upturn the injustice of the Uche Secondus-led NWC. Mr Kashamu, the prime supporter of the faction had earlier been expelled by the party over allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities. That action by the NWC, he had also challenged in the courts. The law is on our side until the judgment we had in 2016 is set aside, Mr Dayo, who leads the Kashamu-backed group, had said. We have a judgment that compels the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept only candidates that emerge from primaries conducted by our group. The other faction had tried twice, to set the judgment aside but the Court of Appeal had dismissed their appeal. We do know that the National body does not recognise our group but I am sure that eventually, the rule of law will prevail because Nigerias constitution supersedes the partys constitution. To further take the battle to a new level, Mr Shittu stepped aside as the candidate of the faction, allowing Mr Kashamu to become the partys candidate. In a recent interview, Mr Kashamu claimed that his faction remained the authentic PDP in Ogun State and the courts would eventually eventually decide in their favour. Contending lists of candidates Following the outcome of the parallel primaries, INEC received two lists for the governorship and the National Assembly elections from both factions, and that set the race and series of lobbying for acceptance. However, in October, INEC wrote a letter to the PDP addressed to Mr Secondus, stating that it had accepted the list of candidates for governorship and National Assembly elections submitted by the Kashamu-backed executive. In the letter dated October 25, 2019, signed by the acting secretary to the commission, Okechukwu Ndeche, the commission stated that the decision was based on the various Federal High Court cases on the true position of the State Executive Committee of the party. He said INEC would abide by the court rulings until they were set aside by a higher court. The Federal High Court in the matters ordered the commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State and receive a list of candidates for the 2019 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections from the said committee, the letter read in part. Recall that the commission vide a letter dated 12th April, 2018, informed your party of the Commissions compliance with the judgements of the Federal High Court in Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 -Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC & 5 Ors. and FHC/L/CS/1856/2017Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, (Member, PDP National Working committee) and 6 Ors. vs INEC and 30 Ors. , which affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court in Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016, which is subsisting until it is set aside. Further to the above decision, the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division, on 2nd October, 2018, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) and 8 Ors. vs INEC & 3 Ors., also ordered the commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State and receive a list of candidates for the 2019 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections from the said committee. The NWC-backed faction is now at the appeal court seeking to upturn the judgment of the lower court directing INEC to accept the list of candidates submitted by the Kashamu faction. In furtherance of its rejection of the court orders, the party recently presented the partys flag to Mr Adebutu as its governorship candidate for Ogun State in the 2019 general elections. While doing so at the partys secretariat in Abuja, Mr Secondus said the party would be victorious in the legal tussle on its governorship candidate in Ogun, saying that Mr Adebutu was duly elected in the primary that produced him as the PDP candidate. You cannot come and bend the process. It is criminal for one person to print form and sell the form to himself, conduct congress by himself and submit names to INEC in his signatory, he said. While the legal tangles continue within the PDP, other political parties have started to woo voters. The dilemma of two candidates, one party, is a situation capable of obliterating any goodwill the party currently enjoys in the state. With a series of adjournments, there is no assurance of when the final judgment will be made and the actual candidate made known. By the time the dust finally settles and the dropped baton is picked up, the race might be over. The Ondo Experience This was the same scenario in Ondo State PDP in the run-up to the 2016 governorship election, which was won by the APC, at the detriment of the PDP. It was then a fight between two factions one promoted by Olusegun Mimiko as the then incumbent governor and the mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim, the other. Mr Ibrahim favoured the out-of-favour Ogunye-led faction, while the Clement Faboyede-faction had the blessings of the governor. Both were running on the fault lines of the Modu Sheriff/Ahmed Makarfi factions at the national level. While the court judgments favoured Mr Sheriff, the name of Jimoh Ibrahim was on the list of candidates approved by INEC. But that judgment was not upturned by the Supreme Court until the last minutes of the election itself. Eyitayo Jegede, the governorship candidate of the PDP only had a few hours to campaign before the curtains on campaigns were drawn. PDP supporters were in quandary as to who to vote for while the confusion lasted. Resources for campaigns could not be deployed early for fear that the judicial pendulum could swing in the opposite direction. The posters remained on the billboards and on the streets, but the candidates could not speak to the people confidently that they were truly representing the party. Some party men actually crossed to other parties out of frustration. It eventually lost the election it would have won so easily. Maybe the Ogun scenario is slightly different. But it displays the trimmings of a self-inflicted tragedy waiting to be concluded by an impending election defeat at the hands of parties who are better prepared for the election, both at the governorship and legislative levels. The party is already bleeding from the conflict already, with many of its members, crossing over to other political parties. Notable among them is the governorship candidate of the party in the last election, Gboyega Isiaka. He said he left the party because of its intractable crisis. It is the view of many stakeholders in Ogun politics, that, should Mr Kashamu emerge victorious at the end of the day, the other factions may decide to work against him at the election, and that could also be taken to be the likely posture, should Mr Adebutu and his group upturn the current status quo. Whichever way the pendulum swings, the journey is ill-fated and the gladiators will have everything to lose. OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Donna J. Jackson is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in the field of Law in recognition of her role as Partner and Owner of Donna J. Jackson & Associates. Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC is a nationally serving entity that specializes in providing optimal legal counsel to those they serve. Dedicated to providing their clients with quality legal service, the firm specializes in the areas of guardianship, probate, durable power of attorney, trusts, estate planning and more. Comprised of a team of well versed legal professionals, the firm is stanch in their efforts of providing the finest legal counsel to their clients in both an efficient and timely manner. With over thirty illustrious years of experience in the field of Law, Donna J. Jackson is revered for her remarkable contributions to the industry. Establishing herself as a prominent professional in the legal profession, throughout her career, Attorney Jackson has attained extensive expertise in the areas of estate planning with an emphasis on Medicaid, VA Benefits, and special needs planning, including revocable, irrevocable and special needs trusts, wills, durable power of attorneys, and living wills. Attorney Jackson's scope of practice also includes taxes, probates, and business organizations. A CPA, while pursuing her educational endeavors, Attorney Jackson attained her Master's Degree (L.L.M.) in Elder Law. To further enhance her professional development, Attorney Jackson is a distinguished fellow of several organizations including currently serving on the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and committees including, the American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Society of CPAs, and many more. In recognition of her professional accolades, Attorney Jackson was honored red as one of the 2011-2015 Five Star Wealth Managers in Estate Planning in the Oklahoma Magazine, Go Pokes! When she is not working, Attorney Jackson is an animal lover and loves spending time with her four dogs. For more information, please visit http://okcestatelawyer.com/. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska ranks first nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. Alaska is spending $9.1 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is 89.4 percent of the $10.2 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alaska has consistently funded tobacco prevention programs at or near CDC-recommended levels, helping the state drive down smoking rates. The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Alaska, 10.9 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 15.7 percent use e-cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 600 Alaska lives and costs the state $438 million in health care bills annually. Other key findings include: Alaska will collect $83.2 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes and will spend only 11 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. will collect in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes and will spend only 11 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. Tobacco companies spend $18.9 million each year to market their deadly and addictive products in Alaska more than double what the state spends on tobacco prevention. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year on marketing that's over $1 million every hour. The report "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later" was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and Truth Initiative. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs. Because of its commitment to tobacco prevention, Alaska has cut its high school smoking rate by more than 43 percent since 2003 to 10.9 percent in 2017. Additionally, Alaska this year passed a statewide law to make public places and workplaces smoke-free. Strong funding of the state's tobacco prevention programs must continue to keep the progress going. "Alaska has made tremendous progress in reducing smoking thanks, in large part, to its well-funded and sustained tobacco prevention program," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "But Alaska's leaders cannot let their guard down as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation. To win this fight, Alaska needs to keep doing its part to make the next generation tobacco-free." Nationwide, the U.S. has reduced smoking to record lows 14 percent among adults and 7.6 percent among high school students. But tobacco use still kills more than 480,000 Americans and costs the nation about $170 billion in health care expenses each year. Today's report highlights the need to address large disparities in who still smokes, with smoking rates highest among people with lower income and less education, residents of the Midwest and South, American Indians/Alaska Natives, LGBT Americans, those who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and those with mental illness. The report also highlights the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Driven by the popularity of Juul, a sleek, easy-to-hide e-cigarette that is sold in sweet flavors and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students skyrocketed by 78 percent this year to 20.8 percent. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users an alarming increase of 1.5 million in just one year. By funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the CDC's recommended levels, states can reduce tobacco use among all Americans. But most states are falling far short: The states will collect $27.3 billion this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( $655 million ) on tobacco prevention programs. this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( ) on tobacco prevention programs. The $655 million that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the $3.3 billion the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states Alaska and California provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states and provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida , with one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state. The report and state-specific information can be found at tfk.org/statereport. SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Related Links http://www.tobaccofreekids.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaii ranks 13th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. Hawaii is spending $4.5 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 32.9 percent of the $13.7 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Hawaii, 8.1 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 25.5 percent use e-cigarettes, one of the highest rates in the nation. Tobacco use claims 1,400 Hawaii lives and costs the state $526 million in health care bills annually. Other key findings include: Hawaii will collect $160.3 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 2.8 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. will collect in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 2.8 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. Tobacco companies spend $26.2 million each year to market their deadly and addictive products in Hawaii more than 5 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year on marketing that's over $1 million every hour. The report "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later" was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and Truth Initiative. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs. Hawaii has been a leader in fighting tobacco use with a high cigarette tax ($3.20 per pack), a comprehensive smoke-free law, the first statewide law raising the tobacco sale age to 21 and a strong tobacco prevention program. However, Hawaii in recently years has steadily cut funding for tobacco prevention, with a 32 percent cut in the past year. "Hawaii has made significant progress, but the state is putting kids' health at risk and burdening taxpayers with higher tobacco-related health care costs by cutting tobacco prevention programs," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made great strides in reducing smoking rates, but Hawaii's leaders cannot let their guard down as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation. To win this fight, Hawaii needs to do its part to make the next generation tobacco-free." Nationwide, the U.S. has reduced smoking to record lows 14 percent among adults and 7.6 percent among high school students. But tobacco use still kills more than 480,000 Americans and costs the nation about $170 billion in health care expenses each year. Today's report highlights the need to address large disparities in who still smokes, with smoking rates highest among people with lower income and less education, residents of the Midwest and South, American Indians/Alaska Natives, LGBT Americans, those who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and those with mental illness. The report also highlights the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Driven by the popularity of Juul, a sleek, easy-to-hide e-cigarette that is sold in sweet flavors and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students skyrocketed by 78 percent this year to 20.8 percent. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users an alarming increase of 1.5 million in just one year. By funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the CDC's recommended levels, states can reduce tobacco use among all Americans. But most states are falling far short: The states will collect $27.3 billion this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( $655 million ) on tobacco prevention programs. this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( ) on tobacco prevention programs. The $655 million that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the $3.3 billion the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states Alaska and California provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states and provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida , with one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state. The report and state-specific information can be found at tfk.org/statereport. SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Related Links http://www.tobaccofreekids.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Maine ranks 16th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. Maine is spending $4.8 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 30.4 percent of the $15.9 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Maine, 8.7 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 15.8 percent use e-cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 2,400 Maine lives and costs the state $811 million in health care bills annually. Other key findings include: Maine will collect $188.5 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 2.6 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. will collect in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 2.6 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. Tobacco companies spend $46.7 million each year to market their deadly and addictive products in Maine more than 9 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year on marketing that's over $1 million every hour. The report "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later" was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and Truth Initiative. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs. The report spotlights the need for increased tobacco prevention funding in Maine to complement the state's other strong policies, including a relatively high cigarette tax ($2.00 per pack), strong smoke-free workplace law and recently implemented law raising the tobacco sale age to 21. "Maine has made significant progress, but its inadequate funding for tobacco prevention programs is putting kids' health at risk and burdening taxpayers with higher tobacco-related health care costs," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "Maine leaders cannot let their guard down as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation. To win this fight, Maine needs to do its part to make the next generation tobacco-free." Nationwide, the U.S. has reduced smoking to record lows 14 percent among adults and 7.6 percent among high school students. But tobacco use still kills more than 480,000 Americans and costs the nation about $170 billion in health care expenses each year. Today's report highlights the need to address large disparities in who still smokes, with smoking rates highest among people with lower income and less education, residents of the Midwest and South, American Indians/Alaska Natives, LGBT Americans, those who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and those with mental illness. The report also highlights the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Driven by the popularity of Juul, a sleek, easy-to-hide e-cigarette that is sold in sweet flavors and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students skyrocketed by 78 percent this year to 20.8 percent. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users an alarming increase of 1.5 million in just one year. By funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the CDC's recommended levels, states can reduce tobacco use among all Americans. But most states are falling far short: The states will collect $27.3 billion this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( $655 million ) on tobacco prevention programs. this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( ) on tobacco prevention programs. The $655 million that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the $3.3 billion the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states Alaska and California provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states and provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida , with one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state. The report and state-specific information can be found at tfk.org/statereport. SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Related Links http://www.tobaccofreekids.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Missouri ranks 48th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. Missouri is spending just $48,500 this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is less than 0.1 percent of the $72.9 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Missouri, 9.2 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 10.9 percent use e-cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 11,000 Missouri lives and costs the state over $3 billion in health care bills annually. Other key findings include: Missouri will collect $258.9 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend less than .02 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. will collect in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend less than .02 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. Tobacco companies spend $364.9 million each year to market their deadly and addictive products in Missouri more than 7,500 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year on marketing that's over $1 million every hour. The report "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later" was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and Truth Initiative. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs. The report once again spotlights the need for stronger tobacco prevention efforts in Missouri. The state consistently ranks at or near the bottom of most measures aimed at protecting residents from tobacco use; the state has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation (just 17 cents per pack) and no statewide smoke-free protections. "Missouri is putting kids' health at risk and burdening taxpayers with higher tobacco-related health care costs by continuing to shortchange tobacco prevention programs," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made great strides in reducing smoking rates, but we cannot let our guard down as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation. To win this fight, Missouri needs to do its part to make the next generation tobacco-free." Nationwide, the U.S. has reduced smoking to record lows 14 percent among adults and 7.6 percent among high school students. But tobacco use still kills more than 480,000 Americans and costs the nation about $170 billion in health care expenses each year. Today's report highlights the need to address large disparities in who still smokes, with smoking rates highest among people with lower income and less education, residents of the Midwest and South, American Indians/Alaska Natives, LGBT Americans, those who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and those with mental illness. The report also highlights the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Driven by the popularity of Juul, a sleek, easy-to-hide e-cigarette that is sold in sweet flavors and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students skyrocketed by 78 percent this year to 20.8 percent. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users an alarming increase of 1.5 million in just one year. By funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the CDC's recommended levels, states can reduce tobacco use among all Americans. But most states are falling far short: The states will collect $27.3 billion this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( $655 million ) on tobacco prevention programs. this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( ) on tobacco prevention programs. The $655 million that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the $3.3 billion the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states Alaska and California provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states and provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida , with one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state. The report and state-specific information can be found at tfk.org/statereport. SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Related Links http://www.tobaccofreekids.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New Hampshire ranks 46th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. New Hampshire is spending $140,000 this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 0.8 percent of the $16.5 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In New Hampshire, 7.8 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 23.8 percent use e-cigarettes, one of the highest rates in the nation. Tobacco use claims 1,900 New Hampshire lives and costs the state $729 million in health care bills annually. Other key findings include: New Hampshire will collect $254.9 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 0.1 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. will collect in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 0.1 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. Tobacco companies spend $87.6 million each year to market their deadly and addictive products in New Hampshire more than 625 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year on marketing that's over $1 million every hour. The report "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later" was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and Truth Initiative. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs. The report spotlights the need for stronger tobacco prevention programs in New Hampshire. Health advocates are also calling on state leaders to pass legislation raising the tobacco sale age to 21. "New Hampshire is putting kids' health at risk and burdening taxpayers with higher tobacco-related health care costs by shortchanging tobacco prevention programs," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made great strides in reducing smoking rates, but New Hampshire leaders cannot let their guard down as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation. To win this fight, New Hampshire should raise the tobacco age to 21 and do its part to make the next generation tobacco-free." Nationwide, the U.S. has reduced smoking to record lows 14 percent among adults and 7.6 percent among high school students. But tobacco use still kills more than 480,000 Americans and costs the nation about $170 billion in health care expenses each year. Today's report highlights the need to address large disparities in who still smokes, with smoking rates highest among people with lower income and less education, residents of the Midwest and South, American Indians/Alaska Natives, LGBT Americans, those who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and those with mental illness. The report also highlights the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Driven by the popularity of Juul, a sleek, easy-to-hide e-cigarette that is sold in sweet flavors and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students skyrocketed by 78 percent this year to 20.8 percent. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users an alarming increase of 1.5 million in just one year. By funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the CDC's recommended levels, states can reduce tobacco use among all Americans. But most states are falling far short: The states will collect $27.3 billion this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( $655 million ) on tobacco prevention programs. this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( ) on tobacco prevention programs. The $655 million that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the $3.3 billion the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states Alaska and California provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states and provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida , with one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state. The report and state-specific information can be found at tfk.org/statereport. SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Related Links http://www.tobaccofreekids.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- South Carolina ranks 30th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released today by leading public health groups. South Carolina is spending $5 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 9.8 percent of the $51 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use the nation's No. 1 preventable cause of death and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In South Carolina, 10 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 11.9 percent use e-cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 7,200 South Carolina lives and costs the state $1.9 billion in health care bills annually. Other key findings include: South Carolina will collect $238.2 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 2.1 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. will collect in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend only 2.1 percent of the money on tobacco prevention programs. Tobacco companies spend $201.6 million each year to market their deadly and addictive products in South Carolina more than 40 times what the state spends on tobacco prevention. Nationwide, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year on marketing that's over $1 million every hour. The report "Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 20 Years Later" was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights and Truth Initiative. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs. "South Carolina is putting kids' health at risk and burdening taxpayers with higher tobacco-related health care costs by continuing to shortchange tobacco prevention programs," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We've made great strides in reducing smoking rates, but we cannot let our guard down as tobacco is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death and e-cigarettes threaten to addict another generation. To win this fight, South Carolina needs to do its part to make the next generation tobacco-free." Nationwide, the U.S. has reduced smoking to record lows 14 percent among adults and 7.6 percent among high school students. But tobacco use still kills more than 480,000 Americans and costs the nation about $170 billion in health care expenses each year. Today's report highlights the need to address large disparities in who still smokes, with smoking rates highest among people with lower income and less education, residents of the Midwest and South, American Indians/Alaska Natives, LGBT Americans, those who are uninsured or on Medicaid, and those with mental illness. The report also highlights the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Driven by the popularity of Juul, a sleek, easy-to-hide e-cigarette that is sold in sweet flavors and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students skyrocketed by 78 percent this year to 20.8 percent. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users an alarming increase of 1.5 million in just one year. By funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the CDC's recommended levels, states can reduce tobacco use among all Americans. But most states are falling far short: The states will collect $27.3 billion this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( $655 million ) on tobacco prevention programs. this year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes but will spend only 2.4 percent of it ( ) on tobacco prevention programs. The $655 million that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the $3.3 billion the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states Alaska and California provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. that the states have budgeted for tobacco prevention is a small fraction of the the CDC recommends. Not a single state funds tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels, and only two states and provide even 70 percent of the recommended funding. States with well-funded, sustained tobacco prevention programs have seen remarkable progress. Florida , with one of the longest-running programs, has reduced its high school smoking rate to 3.6 percent, one of the lowest rates ever reported by any state. The report and state-specific information can be found at tfk.org/statereport. SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Related Links http://www.tobaccofreekids.org DANBORO, Pa., Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PennEngineering, a global leader in the fastening industry, today announced its Danboro, Pennsylvania facility is operational following a fire that occurred at the plant on Dec. 12, 2018. PennEngineering's safety procedures and emergency response personnel were immediately deployed, and as a result, there were no injuries from the incident. The fire which began at 1:30 p.m. EST was contained at approximately 2:30 p.m. The Company is working closely with the local fire department and regulatory agencies to identify the cause of the fire. Company officials and staff are working to form the necessary plans to minimize the impact on its customers and employees. Leonard Kiely, President of PennEngineering, says, "We are very thankful our emergency procedures were effective, and there were no injuries. PennEngineering has a plan in place to rapidly leverage our global resources to maximize manufacturing and business continuity while we assess the impact to our Danboro operations." With PennEngineering's global resources and commercial continuity plan, the company expects minimal delays in demand fulfillment. About PennEngineering PennEngineering has a rich history as a global leader in the fastening industry since our founding in 1942. PEM, the company's leading brand has been recognized as the premier product in the thin sheet fastening industry for over 75 years. Today, our expanding portfolio of fastener designs and technologies continues to keep pace with the challenges presented by an ever-evolving marketplace. Our solutions and engineering expertise benefit from ongoing investment in research, new product development, and strategic locations around the world. PennEngineering is strongly supported by manufacturing and technical facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia and a global network of authorized engineering representatives and distributors. All are well-equipped to deliver timely and reliable solutions wherever and whenever required. Additional information is available at www.pemnet.com Media Contact: Suzanne Lawton Global Vice President Strategic Marketing 267-218-1655 [email protected] Related Links PennEngineering SOURCE PennEngineering Related Links http://www.pemnet.com GILROY, Calif., Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Bank (OTCQB: PBNK), headquartered in Gilroy, California, announced today, that in order to better serve their clients, their website will migrate to pinnacle.bank on Monday, December 17, 2018. The .bank domain is an internet domain for the banking community. The .bank domain delivers a more secure, easily identifiable channel for trusted communications between Pinnacle Bank and their clients. Only verified members of the banking community may own .bank domains. The .bank will take the place of the traditional .com that the bank currently uses. With the transition to pinnacle.bank, Pinnacle Bank clients can be assured that when they visit the new website, or communicate with the Bank electronically, enhanced security and verification requirements are in place which will reduce the risk of cyber threats and enable Pinnacle Bank to build on their highly trusted secure environment. The .bank domain is exclusive to the banking industry and provides a level of security unmatched in traditional top level domains such as .com and .net. The strict controls in place mitigate cyber security risk and allow Pinnacle Bank to better protect their clients. "We are delighted to adopt .bank for our internet operations," stated Jeff Payne, President & CEO. "The increased value of pinnacle.bank enables us to build a high-trust environment for our clients and provide a more secure domain to better protect them from cybercrime attacks." About Pinnacle Bank Pinnacle Bank is a full-service business bank dedicated to providing quality depository and credit services in Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties. The bank focuses on commercial banking services for businesses and nonprofit organizations, offering a variety of products and services that combine the best of personal touch with convenient technology-based delivery. Pinnacle Bank has locations in Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Salinas. Beginning on Monday, visit them at www.pinnacle.bank for more information. Media Contact: Pinnacle Bank Jeffrey D. Payne, President & CEO 408-762-7146 SOURCE Pinnacle Bank Related Links http://www.pinnaclebankonline.com Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement a short while ago that he resigned from the position of Prime Minister to make way for the President to form a new government. He made this statement at his residence in Wijerama after signing to the resignation letter. I have no intention of remaining as Prime Minister without a general election being held, and hampering the President in any way, Rajapaksa said. The full statement made by Mr. Rajapaksa is as follows, Most venerable members of the Maha Sangha, Clergymen of all religions, Members of Parliament, Ministers, and dear friends, The Supreme Court has delivered a judgement against the holding of the general election that had already been declared. Since that judgement is a long and complicated document, I will study it carefully and in due course express my views on the constitutional impact it will have on the functioning of the parliamentary system of government in this country. Today however, I wish to speak on the political implications of not being able to hold the general election that had already been declared. We are now in direct confrontation with a group of political parties that have continuously engaged in various subterfuges to avoid facing elections. When this group of political parties tried to get the local government elections postponed indefinitely by petitioning courts over the delimitation of wards, we were able to hold the local government election only because the Chairman of the Elections Commission intervened and declared that he would hold elections at least in respect of the local government institutions that had no delimitation issues pending before courts. If not for that intervention, the people would not have got even the local government election. Elections to provincial councils have been delayed by more than one year and three months, but no one has any inkling of when those long overdue elections will be held. The law has been manipulated in such a way that those elections will be put off indefinitely. In September 2017, when the Attorney General said that a two thirds majority will be necessary to pass the law designed to postpone the provincial council elections, the then government kept Parliament going till night time and with great effort, mustered the necessary number of MPs to get the law passed. So desperate were they, that when some smaller political parties said they would not vote for the law unless the proportional representation quota was increased from 40% to 50%, the government agreed to that demand in the corridors of Parliament so as to get the required number of votes. They had to perform demeaning contortions to get the provincial council elections postponed. The people have now been deprived of the general election that had already been declared. After the President dissolved Parliament on 9 November, the political parties opposed to the election petitioned courts and obtained a stay order on the dissolution and with the cooperation of the UNP Speaker, they engaged in various activities to demonstrate that they had a majority in Parliament. But it was only on 12 December when a resolution was passed expressing confidence in Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe and requesting that he be appointed Prime Minister that the people of the country were able to see the real state of things. A total of 117 MPs voted calling for Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe to be appointed as Prime Minister. Fourteen of those votes belong to the TNA. Even though the TNA also requested that Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe be appointed Prime Minister, on the same day, TNA Parliamentarian Mavei Senathirajah made a special statement in parliament on behalf of the TNA saying that though they voted for Mr Wickremesinghe to become Prime Minister, they would not join the government and would remain in the opposition. So what has actually happened here is that the UNP which has a minority of 103 seats, has been taken hostage by the TNA. If they do not adhere to the diktat of the TNA, the UNP minority can lose their parliamentary majority at any moment. The TNA now holds the remote control in Parliament. On 12 December, even before the Supreme Court judgement was delivered, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke in Parliament about bringing in a new constitution. This new constitution has already been drafted and published in the newspapers as well. Under the provisions of that draft constitution, this country will be divided into nine semi-independent federal units. The new constitution will also abolish the executive presidency which means that the presidential election that is due before the 9th December 2019, will not have to be held. The new constitution will also change the system of electing MPs to Parliament which means that the parliamentary election due in 2020 can also be postponed citing delimitation issues the same way that the provincial council elections have been put off indefinitely. That is what they are now preparing for. The UNP-UPFA coalition that had been formed under Articles 46(4) and 46(5) of the Constitution relating to national governments, fell apart when the UPFA left the coalition on October 26. Thereafter, a number of UNP parliamentarians joined us and we became the largest group in Parliament. After the general elections of 1994, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2015, it was always the largest group in Parliament that was invited to form the government as no party obtained a clear majority. In all those instances, the government was formed first, and the working majorities were obtained later. After we formed a government on 26 October, the President declared a general election. When I was sworn in as Prime Minister on 26 October, that was to form an interim government that would last only for about two months until the conclusion of the general election which was scheduled for the5th January 2019. A President cannot stand by and do nothing when the whole country was facing destruction at the hands of the people running the government. When the main opposition force which is in effect the alternative government is invited to form an interim government that will last until the conclusion of a general election, such a request cannot be turned down either. Furthermore, a minority government would more than suffice to run things till the conclusion of a general election. We appreciate the difficult and bold decision that the President made on October 26. What we are confronted with now, is an attempt to rule the country without holding any kind of election. Since a general election can no longer be held, we cannot implement any of the measures we had planned to take to prevent this country from becoming another Greece. The UNP government borrowed 20.7 billion US Dollars in foreign currency loans alone within a period of three and a half years, and we have no idea as to how much more they will borrow in the coming months. The UNP brought our economy to the brink of collapse through such foreign currency borrowings. All that money was borrowed for consumption. We borrowed money to develop the country and that development is visible. But the UNP borrowed money only for consumption. Even though some have expressed the view that it will be possible to minimize the damage done by the UNP because the President is no longer with them, we must realize that there is much that the UNP-TNA coalition can do without informing the President. We should bear in mind that back in 2002, the then UNP government signed a cease-fire agreement with the LTTE without informing President Chandrika Kumaratunga. After the 26th October, we were able to reduce the pressure on the people by bringing down the price of fuel and some essential food items and restoring the distribution of school uniform material. We restored the fertilizer subsidy and reduced income taxes on agricultural incomes to encourage agricultural production. We were also able to take certain measures to address the concerns of young professionals in this country over the Sri Lanka- Singapore Free Trade Agreement entered into by the previous government. We suspended the excessive taxes imposed by the previous government. We also managed to prevent several local industries from closing down. Even though a general election will not be held, it must be said that the events that took place after the 26th of October have benefitted the public in other ways. The most important thing that happened during this period was that the two thirds majority in Parliament that was available to the UNP to be used at will, is now no longer available to them. Therefore it is now possible to prevent the passage of the new constitution that has been drafted by the same individuals who turned this country into an ungovernable mess through the 19th Amendment. Furthermore it has now become possible to end the totalitarian system that prevailed in Parliament over the past four years, with partners of the government taking over the position of opposition leader and chief opposition whip and masquerading as the opposition while supporting the government. As a result of that dangerous perversion, the Constitutional Council which recommends candidates for appointment to high office, was made up of representatives of one political persuasion. Consequently all appointees to high office over the past four years belonged to the same group. The whole country is now suffering the consequences of that situation. After the February 10 local government election, our aim was to have a general election held. Since I have no intention of remaining as Prime Minister without a general election being held, and in order to not hamper the President in any way, I will resign from the position of Prime Minister and make way for the President to form a new government. When I was sworn in as Prime Minister, on 26 October, a feeling of optimism swept through the country. The All Share Price Index which had declined after 2015, suddenly picked up on expectations of a change of government. The LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index recorded the sharpest increase after 2015 in November 2018. Despite the political turmoil in the country after 26 October, tourist arrivals had increased by 16% in November 2018 when compared with the same period in 2017. Those trends which took place despite the political instability in the country after 26 October are a clear indication of what the peoples hopes and aspirations are. The change of government that the people expected has now had to be put off. But the people will definitely get the change they desire. No one can prevent that. The coming together of the Joint Opposition and the SLFP group that was in the government has now created a power block that commands around 54% of the vote base. To this will have to be added the votes of our allied political parties in the North and East and the hill country. What is now gathering against the enemies of the country is a country wide political force that no one can stop. Our main aim in the immediate future will be to hold the provincial council elections which have already been delayed by more than one year and three months. The main challenge facing us in the interval between now and the formation of a peoples government will be to minimize the damage that can be done by the destructive forces that are now seeking restoration to their former positions. There is no doubt at all that the people who stood by us since 2015, will continue to support us in the future as well. We will bring the forces opposed to the country down to their knees by organizing the people. May the blessings of the Tripple Gem be upon you, God bless you. Video by Damith DUBLIN, Dec 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas Drilling Tools Market By Type (Drill Bits, Drilling Tubulars, Mud Pumps, Reamers & Stabilizers, Drill Swivels, Drill Collars & Others), By Application (Onshore & Offshore), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2013-2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas drilling tools market is forecast to grow to $179 million by 2023, backed by growing demand for oil & gas and increasing investments in offshore exploration and production activities. With increasing demand for oil & gas around the globe and maturing existing hydrocarbon resources, the focus is shifting towards unexplored reservoirs in order to keep pace with the growing demand, which in turn, is expected to positively influence the country's oil & gas drilling tools market during forecast period. Some of the other factors that would fuel the market are growing regulatory pressure and increasing investments in research & development field. Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas Drilling Tools Market, 2013-2023 discusses the following aspects of Oil & Gas Drilling Tools market in Saudi Arabia: Oil & Gas Drilling Tools Market Size, Share & Forecast Segmental Analysis - Market By Type (Drill Bits, Drilling Tubulars, Mud Pumps, Reamers & Stabilizers, Drill Swivels, Drill Collars & Others), By Application (Onshore & Offshore) Competitive Analysis Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities Why You Should Buy This Report? To gain an in-depth understanding of Oil & Gas Drilling Tools in Saudi Arabia To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years To help industry consultants, Oil & Gas Drilling Tools 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 Some of the major players operating in Schlumberger Limited Baker Hughes, a GE Company The Halliburton Company National Oilwell Varco Weatherford International PLC Technip FMC Precision Drilling Corporation Parker Drilling Company Gyrodata Incorporated Dynomax Drilling Tools Inc. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas Drilling Tools Market Outlook 4.1. Market Size & Forecast 4.1.1. By Value 4.2. Market Share & Forecast 4.2.1. By Type (Drill Bits, Drilling Tubulars, Reamers & Stabilizers, Drill Jars & Jaring Tools, Mud Pumps, Drill Collars and Drill Swivels) 4.2.1.1. Drill Bit Type, By Product 4.2.1.2. Drilling Tubular Type, By Product 4.2.1.3. Reamers & Stabilizers Type, By Product 4.2.1.4. Drill Swivel Type, By Product 4.2.1.5. Drill Collar Type, By Product 4.2.1.6. Drilling Jars & Jaring Tools Type, By Product 4.2.2. By Application (Onshore Vs. Offshore) 4.2.3. By Region 4.2.4. By Company 4.3. Market Attractiveness Index 4.3.1. By Application 4.3.2. By Region 5. Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas Drilling Tools Rental & Service Market Outlook 5.1. Market Size & Forecast 5.1.1. By Value 5.2. Market Share & Forecast 5.2.1. By Type 5.2.1.1. Drill Bit Type, By Product 5.2.1.2. Drilling Tubular Type, By Product 5.2.1.3. Reamers & Stabilizers Type, By Product 5.2.1.4. Drill Swivel Type, By Product 5.2.1.5. Drill Collar Type, By Product 5.2.1.6. Drilling Jars & Jaring Tools Type, By Product 5.2.2. By Application 5.2.3. By Region 5.3. Market Attractiveness Index 5.3.1. By Application 5.3.2. By Region 6. Market Dynamics 6.1. Drivers 6.2. Challenges 6.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 7. Market Trends & Developments 8. Policy & Regulatory Landscape 9. Saudi Arabia Economic Profile 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1. Competition Matrix 10.2. Company Profiles 11. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2r2qj5/saudi_arabia_oil?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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Saudi Aviation Club has announced a strategic partnership with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to establish the first Saudi International Airshow, to be held in Riyadh from 12 to 14 March 2019. The Saudi Aviation Club revealed that the exhibition is the first of its kind in the field of aviation and aerospace in the Kingdom, highlighting its importance in supporting the civil aviation industry. Saudi Aviation Club In a press release issued today, the club said that the GACA will play an important role in the Saudi International Airshow as a strategic partner. The TRA has formed a supervisory committee to welcome more than 100 aircraft from abroad to be showcased at the event and to apply the relevant rules, regulations and procedures to ensure air transport safety and security during the airshow. Saudi International Airshow will welcome exhibitors and delegates from across the world. Thumamah Airport will be dedicated solely to the exhibition. Saudi International Airshow will host a mix of business and commercial aviation and aerospace exhibitors on a 100,000 sqm static area which will accommodate more than 100 aircraft ranging in size from single-engine and executive jets to commercial wide-body aircraft. The show will offer chalets located next to the runway to enable manufacturers to present their entire range of aircraft and to facilitate demonstration flights. In addition, three exhibition halls will host more than 500 booths and international pavilions where exhibitors will showcase a full range of aviation and aerospace services and products. The Director General of the Saudi Aviation Club, Captain Ayed bin Odeeb Al Qassimi, thanked the President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation as a strategic partner, and platinum sponsor, appreciating the Authority's support of activities and events that serve the civil aviation sector and increase its quality and professionalism. The Saudi Air Show is one of the most important new destinations in the world of civil aviation as KSA is one of the leading countries in the region in the aviation industry and has the largest market for aircraft parts in the Middle East. www.saudiairshow.aero About Saudi Aviation Club The Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) is one of the most prestigious aviation clubs in the world. SAC, headquartered in Riyadh, owns and operates Thumamah Airport, Riyadh, and offers a variety of aviation activities. SAC was established by the Council of Ministers in December 2000 as an independent, nonprofit entity to promote aeronautical sciences and encourage public participation in aviation. SAC aims to improve and encourage aviation activities in accordance with the highest safety standards. SAC has successfully organized many aviation events, forums, and fly-ins, which had an excellent reputation in the region. Related Images saudi-airshow-banner.jpg SAUDI AIRSHOW BANNER gaca-logo.jpg GACA LOGO sac-logo.png SAC LOGO SOURCE Saudi Aviation Club NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Yelp, Inc. (NYSE: YELP). Beginning in 2016, the Company concentrated its efforts on local business advertising revenue through promotional offers to local businesses, resulting in a substantial volume of advertisers added in Q1 2016 under one-year contracts with large early termination fees. Subsequently, despite knowing that a significant number of contracts would terminate in late 2016 and early 2017, the Company continued to tout its high advertiser retention levels to investors, even blaming a late 2016 slowdown on the election cycle and vacation time rather than any systemic problem. On May 9, 2017, the Company disclosed its financial results for Q1 2017 including a significant decrease to revenue guidance, resulting in the Company's share value plummeting by more than 18%. Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. Recently, the court in that case denied the Company's motion to dismiss in part, allowing the case to move forward. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Yelp's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Yelp's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Yelp shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-yelp/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner [email protected] 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200 New Orleans, LA 70163 SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Related Links http://www.ksfcounsel.com Canberra, Dec 15 : Australia will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday. Morrison made the foreign policy shift almost two months after he declared that he was "open" to the idea, reports Xinhua news agency. However, the Prime Minister also announced his support for recognising a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the future. The Australian embassy will remain in Tel Aviv until the status of Jerusalem is determined under a peace deal between Israel and Palestine. The decision was made despite international pressure, most notably from Indonesia, to maintain the status quo. "Foreign policy must speak of our character and our values. What we stand for. What we believe in and, if need be, what we'll defend," Morrison said in a speech on Saturday. "The Australian government has decided that Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, as the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel. "And we look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of, and after, final-status determination. "Furthermore, recognizing our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government has also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem." The announcement comes almost exactly one year after US President Donald Trump announced the American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned that recognizing Jerusalem could jeopardise Australia's relationship with his country, which has the largest Islamic population in the world. Reports surfaced in November that moving the embassy could threaten Australia's pending free trade agreement with Indonesia but senior members of the government have repeatedly dismissed the idea. In addition to announcing his Israel decision, Morrison also declared that Australia would retain support for the Iran nuclear deal. United Nations, Dec 15 : India has called for international efforts to bring to justice those violating international human rights laws and to ensure protection of humanitarian workers in conflict situations. "The parties to armed conflicts, including the non-state actors continue to flout the international humanitarian law and perpetrate egregious abuses of human rights with impunity," India's Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal told the General Assembly on Friday. "Women and children remain the most vulnerable and need special measures for their protection. We must strengthen framework for international cooperation to bring perpetrators to justice." At a session on strengthening coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, he spoke on behalf of both India and Sweden, which are both long-standing contributors to the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund. Lal said that protecting humanitarian workers, especially in the situations of armed conflict, was a matter of concern and needed serious attention. "We welcome the resolution on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of UN personnel," he said. The resolution, however, included a call to all nations to sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which India has not signed while Sweden has. India has reservations about the court because of its potential for over-reach and the influence over it of the Security Council's permanent members. When that paragraph was put to vote, India absented itself rather than vote against it or formally abstain. The provision was retained by 95 votes to 14, with 25 abstentions. Turning to the conduct of humanitarian organisations, including those of the UN, Lal said that they should strictly enforce the policy of zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse and ensure protection for the victims. Outlining the efforts of India to provide humanitarian assistance to countries and people facing conflicts or natural disasters, Lal said that it had rescued 90,000 people including from 50 other countries over the past four years. India has provided immediate relief to several countries hit by natural disasters as well financial assistance for recovery, he said. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) New Delhi : While cities cover only two per cent of the global land area, they contribute around 70 per cent of the global greenhouse emissions, one of the main drivers of climate change. The UN forecasts that urbanisation and population growth could add another 2.5 billion people to urban populations by 2050, with almost 90 per cent living in Asia and Africa. Consequently, the urban contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change will only increase with time. As a response, various stakeholders have designed climate change resilience products including cool roofs, home insulations, drip irrigation solutions and solar home systems that have seen heightened interest in India. While such products have seen a market, the uptake is concentrated among the richer sections. The urban poor, who constitute almost 30 per cent of India's urban population, do not have the knowledge or the capacity to pay for such products. It has always been a challenge to symbiotically combine all four components (informed customer targeting, low-cost marketing, innovative distribution and sales, and nurturing consumer goodwill) to design a marketing strategy for the urban poor. As a response, some organisations have started leveraging community-level leaders (CLLS) as marketing channels for such products. The rationale for the CLLs comes from the effectiveness of the model in building long-term products resilient to climate change while simultaneously creating livelihoods. Some best practices that can be used to strengthen the efficacy of the CLL mode are: Design a product identification framework tool: Each product should be analysed on the basis of four parameters: a) demand for the product (number of households), b) affordability (price), c) profitability (percentage of price), and d) scalability (potential demand across different urban agglomerations). On the basis of analysis, only those products which score high on all parameters should be offered to the market. Each product should be analysed on the basis of four parameters: a) demand for the product (number of households), b) affordability (price), c) profitability (percentage of price), and d) scalability (potential demand across different urban agglomerations). On the basis of analysis, only those products which score high on all parameters should be offered to the market. Conduct on-ground demand assessment: Understanding the customer becomes more important in such cases, particularly since the customers knowledge of the product is limited. Hence awareness levels, willingness to pay and customer demand becomes more critical. Such an on-ground assessment can help further shortlist products for a particular set of homogeneous households. Understanding the customer becomes more important in such cases, particularly since the customers knowledge of the product is limited. Hence awareness levels, willingness to pay and customer demand becomes more critical. Such an on-ground assessment can help further shortlist products for a particular set of homogeneous households. Provide easy financing options: It is beneficial to help CLLs establish close networks with MFIs and other financial institutions to provide financing facilities to potential consumers, hence enhancing their ability to pay and increasing uptake. It is beneficial to help CLLs establish close networks with MFIs and other financial institutions to provide financing facilities to potential consumers, hence enhancing their ability to pay and increasing uptake. Segment CLLs based on skillsets and motivation: Classification of CLLs as per their sales skills and motivation is essential for success. Selling different products require different skillsets and a quick analysis can help in this matchmaking. Some parameters which can be used to assess skills include age, educational qualification, business experience, and technical skillsets. Classification of CLLs as per their sales skills and motivation is essential for success. Selling different products require different skillsets and a quick analysis can help in this matchmaking. Some parameters which can be used to assess skills include age, educational qualification, business experience, and technical skillsets. Capacity building: CLLs need a certain degree of training and it is observed that CLLs find it easier to sell better when trained rather than through close association with their communities. CLLs need a certain degree of training and it is observed that CLLs find it easier to sell better when trained rather than through close association with their communities. Build ownership in CLLs: Instead of making the product available free-of-cost, CLLs should be asked to invest in the product. If required, finance should be made available by partnering with co-operative banks and MFIs; that way one can build ownership in CLLs. Instead of making the product available free-of-cost, CLLs should be asked to invest in the product. If required, finance should be made available by partnering with co-operative banks and MFIs; that way one can build ownership in CLLs. Design standardised operational procedures (SOPs): Since the business model includes partnerships both with CLLs and product manufacturers, it is necessary to design SOPs to simplify the entire delivery process. Since the business model includes partnerships both with CLLs and product manufacturers, it is necessary to design SOPs to simplify the entire delivery process. Develop a clear return policy: To avoid compulsive transactions and selling below market price, it is necessary to have a clear and well-defined return policy to avoid any bottlenecks in the CLL model. As more and more organisations adopt the CLL model, a conscious integration of the above mentioned practices can stimulate sales, while also creating sustainable livelihoods at the last-mile. (Vineeth Menon and Shreejith Borthakur are with Intellecap advisory services. The views expressed are personal. They can be contacted at vineeth.menon@intellecap.net and shreejit.borthakur@intellecap.net ) Kiev, Dec 15 : Ukrainian Orthodox priests will hold a historic council here on Saturday to create a new national church, a move condemned as schism by the Russian clergy. The move comes after the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodoxy, recognised the independence of the Ukrainian Church from Moscow, the BBC reported. In protest, the Russian Orthodox Church cut ties with Constantinople. It also fears that its 12,000 parishes in Ukraine could be seized. The council will be held in the ancient St Sophia's Cathedral - one of Kiev's best known landmarks. Ukrainian clerics of different Orthodox denominations - including some bishops from the Moscow branch - will be electing a leader of a new church. President Petro Poroshenko is expected to be an honorary guest at the council. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been under the Moscow Patriarchate for centuries, the BBC said. But tensions within the church mounted after Ukraine became independent in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mumbai, Dec 15 : An IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Lucknow via Delhi was grounded after a woman passenger alerted the Mumbai Airport authorities of an alleged bomb threat on Saturda, official sources said. The passenger, identified as Uma Narayan Kannadasan, 41, who was travelling to New Delhi on a GoAir flight G8-329, approached an IndiGo check-in counter and informed officials that there was a bomb on the airline's flight 6E 3612, an airport source said. She also provided photos of some people claiming they were behind planting the bomb and could be "a threat to the nation". The CISF immediately escorted her to the Airport Police Station and she was subjected to sustained questioning in the matter. Meanwhile, the airport authorities declared the bomb threat as "specific" and a detailed search of all passengers was carried out. However, the IndiGo claimed in a statement later that the woman passenger "was found to be in a mentally unsound state". Nevertheless, the airline said it had reported the matter to the authorities and implemented the normal security protocol and the flight departed after an hour's delay, around 7 a.m. New Delhi, Dec 15 : A top Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of instigating violence in Kerala. State CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, while speaking to the media in Delhi, lashed out at Modi for interacting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres in the state via a video call on Friday. "Through supporting shutdowns, Modi is instigating violence and that's what he did. All this is being done to unsettle the state government here," he said. Modi interacted with his party cadres when the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party was observing a statewide shutdown after a 50-year-old man set himself on fire at a BJP protest venue on Thursday and later succumbed to his injuries. The BJP state unit has been protesting ever since the Kerala government has been trying to implement the Supreme Court order of opening the Sabarimala temple to women of all ages. "The BJP in Kerala is trying to enter the Guinness with the record of holding shutdowns for anything and everything. Shutdown protests are called only in extreme cases," added Balakrishnan, who is in Delhi to attend the central committee meeting of CPI-M. New York, Dec 15 : A 54-year-old man has been charged with hate crime for assaulting an Indian-origin woman on a subway and hurling homophobic slurs at her. Allasheed Allah from Manhattan's East Harlem neighbourhood was arrested on Thursday and charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment against 20-year-old Avneet Kaur during the November 30 attack in New York City's Queens borough, the police said. Allah is also accused of hurling homophobic slurs at the woman before physically attacking her and leaving her with a fractured spine, NBC News reported on Friday. He faces up to 15 years in prison for the attack and will return to court on December 27. During the incident, Allah allegedly approached the victim, who was standing with another woman, while they were riding a Manhattan-bound E train through Queens during evening rush hour. Kaur said her friend gave her a kiss on the cheek while she was making a Snapchat. This, according to the police, made Allah angry and he flew into a rage at the sight. The man then engaged Kaur in a verbal dispute. Threatening the women, Allah said: "Don't do that gay s**t in front of me! Do that one more time and watch what happens!" The women tried to walk away, but Allah followed them. He approached Kaur from behind and punched her in the back of her head, causing her to fall to the ground and strike her head and neck on a pole before hitting the floor, the police said. The victim was rushed to a hospital with a fractured spine. The police, who had publicised a photo and video of the suspect earlier this week, said a tip from the public helped them apprehend Allah, who allegedly fled the scene of the crime. "Queens County is the most diverse county in the nation. It is home to many races, nationalities and sexual orientations. Crimes motivated by bias - particularly those involving violence - will never be tolerated in this county," said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown in a statement. Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26, has informed UPFA MPs that he has resigned from PM post, MP Shehan Semasinghe said. Video by Damith Imphal, Dec 15 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said here on Saturday that the government might deal with the striking doctors of the J.N. Institute Medical Science under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA. Senior residents of JNIMS, a state government-run medical college in Manipur, have been protesting against recruitment rules. Some senior residents said that because of the defective rules other junior residents, who have even been former students of the senior doctors, may get appointed. Though the resident doctors have been demanding justice, there has been no positive response. T. Bhimo, director of JNIMS, said, "The senior residents should give some time to the JNIMS authority to complete the paper works". Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said, "It will be better if the matter is settled over the negotiating table. The services of the doctors come under the ESMA." He added, "If the rule permits the doctors have their democratic right to agitate. If the rules do not permit there is nothing the government could do." Biren Singh further said, "There are many persons including myself who feel ashamed of disclosing that we are from Manipur. It is unheard of anywhere that some people went to the high court against the extension of benefits to needy people. Does it mean that these people do not want the state government to extend benefits and services to the people?" Biren Singh has been meeting the needy people two days in a month during which they (the needy) raise their grievances. Colombo, Dec 15 : Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Saturday, seven weeks after he was appointed in a surprise move that sparked a political crisis in the island nation. The former strongman signed his resignation letter, surrounded by his party members at his official residence in the capital, television footage showed. Rajapaksa's resignation is likely to bring to an end a nearly two-month-long power struggle and will pave the way for a new government to be established under President Maithripala Sirisena. Sri Lanka plunged into a political turmoil when Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 26 and replaced him with former President Rajapaksa. When Sirisena's decision was contested, he dissolved Parliament and called for a snap parliamentary election in January. Wickremesinghe is now expected to return to office on Sunday. "The President has agreed to swear in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister tomorrow at 10 am," his United National Party's (UNP) spokesman Harin Fernando told the BBC. Fernando said this would end the political deadlock and noted that the country and its economy had suffered a "huge damage" since the crisis began 50 days ago. The ministers of the new Cabinet will take oath on Monday, the Colombo Telegraph reported citing UNP sources. Rajapaksa will make a special statement on Sunday explaining the reasons for his decision to step down, the daily said. His son Namal said his father had quit to ensure national stability. Shehan Semasinghe, a lawmaker from Rajapaka's Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, said the leader and his group will function as a strong opposition at the Parliament and will continue their call for a parliamentary election to end the political instability. Rajapaksa decided to resign from his premiership on Friday after the Supreme Court continued a suspension order on him and his Cabinet from continuing in office. It had also ruled as "unconstitutional" Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and conduct a snap parliamentary election. Amid the crisis, Sri Lankan Parliament had earlier this week passed a vote of confidence in Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. His party and its allies have a simple majority in Parliament and have argued from the beginning that President Sirisena's actions were unconstitutional. The crisis, which had provoked brawls in Parliament and sparked huge protests, has been closely watched by India, as well as the US, China and European Union. Islamabad, Dec 15 : At least six security personnel have been killed during an anti-terror operation in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The terrorists launched a bomb attack on a police vehicle in Turbat district, near the Iran border, while a raid was underway in a hideout on Friday night. "Terrorists targeted one of the vehicles of security forces through IED," Pakistan armed Forces media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, said in a statement. Four terrorists were also killed in the clashes between the armed forces and the militants. Balochistan is one of the most conflict-torn areas of Pakistan with the presence of separatist groups, Taliban factions and terrorist groups. In July, 149 people were killed in an attack on an electoral rally, one of the worst attacks in Pakistan's history. Mumbai, Dec 15 : "Bharat" director Ali Abbas Zafar has wrapped up shooting in Punjab and Delhi, and says the team will start working on the next schedule in the new year. "Finished with Delhi and Punjab schedules of 'Bharat', last schedule will start in new year," Zafar tweeted on Saturday. "Bhai ke birthday wale month mein kaun kaam karta hai (Who works in the birth month of bhai)... Par hum edit mein lage hue hain (But we are working on the edit)," he added. The director was referring to the birthday of superstar Salman Khan, who is the male protagonist of the film. Salman will turn 53 on December 27. "Bharat" is an official adaptation of a 2014 South Korean film "Ode To My Father". It is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series. The film also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Tabu and Nora Fatehi, among others. It is slated for an Eid release in 2019. Srinagar, Dec 15 : Eleven people were killed on Saturday in a gunfight and subsequent clashes in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, in one of the bloodiest days in the valley's recent history. The gunfight erupted in Sirnoo village as security personnel surrounded the area after receiving a tip-off about militants holed up in the area. Three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight, the police said. Immediately after the gunfight, scores of civilian protesters clashed with the security forces who used firearms and pellets to control the agitating mob. Two youths identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain were declared brought dead in a district hospital where they were taken for treatment of gun shot injuries. Four other civilian protesters succumbed to their wounds, authorities said. The seventh civilian protester died in a hospital in Srinagar, according to the police. Reports coming in from the area said that more than 35 protesters have been injured in the clashes. Three of them were critical after receiving gunshot wounds. Authorities have imposed curfew in Pulwama town and deployed additional security personnel to maintain law and order in the wake of the civilian deaths. Mobile internet services were suspended in the district while rail services between the Kashmir Valley and Bannihal town in the Jammu region were cancelled. Reacting to the tragedy, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a tweet: "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. Six protesters killed, one soldier killed in the line of duty. Together with the three militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!" Omar slammed Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration for its alleged failure to ensure that civilian casualties are avoided during gunfights. "The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only - to focus on the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns and full page ads don't bring peace," he said. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed serious concern over the day's incident. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts to stop this blood bath," she said in a statement. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq called the incident "a massacre of Kashmiris" and announced a three-day valley-wide protest shutdown beginning on Saturday. "#PulwamaMassacre,Bullets and pellets rain! As government of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, the JRL (Joint Resistance Leadership) and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday, Dec 17, to ask to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily," he said in a tweet. He also appealed to the world community to take cognizance of the serious situation in Kashmir. Other political leaders including Ghulam Hassan Mir of Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) also condemned the civilian killings. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Blaming the Narendra Modi government for the "factual bloomers" in the Supreme Court judgment in the Rafale deal, the Congress on Saturday asserted that the apex court was neither the right forum to examine the corruption in the deal nor the verdict was a "clean chit" for the BJP-led Centre. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report relying on which the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking a probe into the alleged corruption in the deal, continued to be the latest flashpoint between the Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Addressing the media here, Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal said the Friday verdict had "factual bloomers" for which the Modi-led Centre was responsible. "There are factual bloomers in the judgment for which the government is responsible and not the court. If you give wrong facts to the court and on that basis, the court makes factual assertions, in that case it's the government which is responsible," said Sibal. While the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi-led bench in the verdict said that the "pricing details have been shared with the CAG, and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)", Sibal said that "no portion of the CAG report has been placed before Parliament or placed in the public domain". "We need to call the Attorney General to the PAC and get this issue clarified as to why these assertions were made before the court and why such an affidavit was filed which did not reflect true facts. "The responsibility is of the Attorney General for allowing such wrong facts to be submitted before the court. It is a serious issue and there will be discussions on this in parliament and the PAC will call the Attorney General," said the former Union Law Minister. Pointing to the Supreme Court not adjudicating on matters of pricing or technical aspects of the jets deal, Sibal ridiculed the Modi government for tom-toming the verdict as a clean chit. "Congress has always maintained that the Supreme Court is not the appropriate forum because, it cannot examine all the file notings or examine witnesses on oath including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who needs to be questioned as also defence ministry officials. "It is childish that the government and the BJP is claiming victory," Sibal said ridiculing Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their assertions that the verdict was a clean chit to the Modi government and accusing the Congress of jeopardising national security by politicising the defence deal. New Delhi, Dec 15 : India and France on Saturday reiterated their resolve to jointly fight the global scourge of terrorism following delegation-level talks headed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. "In our talks today, we reiterated our resolve to continue our fight against terrorism," Sushma Swaraj said in a joint address to the media with Le Drian after the talks. "Cooperation among us in this field is also there in international forums like the FATF (Financial Action Task Force)," she said. Le Drian said that India knows in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count on in the future. "This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing, and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks," he said. Over 170 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the series of terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit. In her address, Sushma Swaraj said that both India and France were implementing their outlined action in joint strategic vision cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. "This will not only benefit India and France, but also other countries and stakeholders in this area," she stated. She also described defence cooperation between India and France as "historical and comprehensive". "It includes institutional exchanges, joint production, joint military exercises and training," she said. "As you know, our Defence Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) visited France in October which was very useful. "Now the two sides are working towards deepening and expanding these large contacts, especially at the operational and service level." Sushma Swaraj said that joint vision on space cooperation is the cornerstone of space collaboration between India and France. Noting that space agencies of both countries are working hard in this direction, Sushma Swaraj said: "The recent launch of India's heaviest Satelite GSAT-11 is an outstanding example of our partnership in the space sector. On this occasion, I thank the government of France and the Ariane launch vehicle for all possible help provided to ISRO for the successful launch." She also said that today India and France were among the leading countries fighting against climate change in the world. "By holding the inaugural conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi in March and its first general assembly in October, our resolve has been strengthened to achieve the highest objective of this work," she said. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015, the ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach. It is open to all 121 prospective member countries falling between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Sushma Swaraj also said that Africa was a priority of foreign policy for both India and France. "Prime Minister Modi recently mentioned the principles of relations with Africa," she said referring to Modi's speech at the Ugandan Parliament in July this year in which he charted out 10 principles of India's African reach-out. "The second Indo-French dialogue on Africa held on December 11, 2018, explores the possibilities for joint efforts to exchange ideas for the latest developments in Africa and contribute toward peace and prosperity in Africa," Sushma Swaraj said. On trade ties, she said that India welcomed the role of French companies in smart cities, clean energy, environment, transport and infrastructure sectors. "The bilateral trade between us last year was 9.62 billion euros," Sushma Swaraj said. "If we have to achieve the target of 15 billion euros by 2022, then we need to do more work." She also expressed India's gratitude to France for its continued support for New Delhi's bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council and membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Le Drian said that French companies are investing and innovating in India under the Make in India programme. "On the fronts of urban development and digital economy, our companies are present and working to build the India - and the France - of tomorrow," he said. He also called for a joint collaboration between the two countries in the field of cinema which, he said, "cannot but produce masterpieces". "We firmly believe this: it is through culture, tourism and people-to-people ties that we will forge strong links between the French and the Indian peoples," Le Drian stated. Kabul, Dec 15 : Pakistan, China and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) vis-a-vis anti-terrorism cooperation during a second trilateral ministerial dialogue in Kabul on Saturday. The MoU was signed by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Chinese as well as Afghan counterparts Wang Yi and Salahuddin Rabbani, respectively. The signing of the document was witnessed by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Speaking at the trilateral dialogue, Rabbani said that collective efforts were required to address the common challenge of terrorism. "We desire to strengthen our relations with Pakistan," he said and also appreciated the Chinese One Belt One Road initiative. Qureshi, during a joint press conference, called for a joint strategy to eradicate terrorism from the region. He said he was visiting Kabul to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries, the Express Tribune reported. "We all want peace and stability in Afghanistan," the minister said, adding that Pakistan will continue to play facilitative role in Afghan reconciliation process. "We will do everything to support the growing momentum towards reconciliation provided others play their due role and share responsibility and create an enabling environment towards that end." Calling Afghanistan and Pakistan as "friends of China", Wang said that Beijing will extend "every possible cooperation to build trust and confidence between the two countries". China will also assist in establishing connectivity projects including a rail line between Peshawar, Kabul and Kandahar, he said, adding that Beijing "desires to make Afghanistan a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor". "We support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process," Wang said. This was the second meeting of the three foreign ministers after their kick-off meeting in Beijing last year. Canberra, Dec 15 : Australia on Saturday officially recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after a period of consultations at home and abroad, prompting criticism from Palestine against the move. "Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an address at the Sydney Institute. "We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical... and after final status determination," he was quoted as saying by the BBC. The country's embassy, however, will continue to remain in Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is achieved and Australia will instead establish a Trade and Defence Office in West Jerusalem. Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Secretary General Saeb Erekat decried the move, saying that Australia chose to join US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two other governments, voting against the two-state solution, Efe news reported. "All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while East Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory," Erekat said. "Australia's announcement to open a trade office in the city negates its very claim that it abides by UN Security Council Resolution 478, which refers to Israel's annexation of Jerusalem as null and void and calls upon countries to withdraw diplomatic missions from the city," the Palestinian leader added. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PLO Executive Committee who sent a letter to the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, on Friday to urge him not to move the Australian embassy to Jerusalem, said that Australia has become "a partner in the war crimes that Israel exercises in the West Bank" with this recognition. Morrison, in his address, also announced his support for recognising a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in the future and added that Australia was supporting "liberal democracy" in the Middle East. The Saturday's decision, he said, was in line with Australia's commitment to the two states solution and its longstanding respect for UN Security Council resolutions. He said that Jerusalem "deserves better than the rancid stalemate and better than the polarization that marks its peoples", Efe news reported. Morrison's decision was also criticized by the opposition at home and rattled Indonesia, a historical ally of Palestine. Indonesian President Joko Widodo had earlier warned that recognizing Jerusalem could jeopardise Australia's relationship with his country, which has the largest Islamic population in the world. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump's administration shifted its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Guatemala and Paraguay followed suit, although the latter had reversed the decision soon after, following a change in government. Mumbai, Dec 15 : Telugu-Tamil actor Sundeep Kishans latest release "Next Enti" may not have performed as well as expected. But he is unfazed. "I would do the film all over again, if needed. I learnt so much working with Kunal Kohli. I grew up admiring his work. He may not be conversant in Telugu. But he was clued into every nuance of the characters played by me and Tamannaah Bhatia." So what went wrong? "I don't know if the word wrong is right here because I feel the film came out right. We somewhere missed out on marketing and promoting the film well. 'Next Enti' was a totally new language for Telugu audiences. It basically had my character and Tamannaah speaking on love life and sex. "The audience needed to be drawn into the film. That never happened. Telugu cinema is growing by leaps and bounds. Not only 'Baahubali', we have had 'Arjun Reddy', 'The Ghazi Attack' and 'Goodachari'Aall game-changers. So, it's not as though the audience in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is not ready for change. We just didn't give them reason to appreciate our attempt at a new cinematic language." Sundeep has already moved ahead. "I've now turned producer with a Telugu film 'Neenu Veedani Nenu Nene'. My leading lady in the film is Anya singh that very talented girl from 'Qaidi Band'. The film is again, a game-changer. It is partly a supernatural thriller, but it is so much more, it's hard to define. I am also shooting a courtroom comedy 'Tenali Ramkrishna BABL' with Hansika Motwane." Though Sundeep has done films in Tamil and Hindi, he regards Telugu as his home ground. "I was born and brought up in Andhra. Telugu is my mother tongue. But I also speak Tamil fluently. At the beginning of my career as an actor, I did a Tamil, a Telugu and a Hindi film. I think language is no longer a barrier to appreciating good cinema." Early in his career, Sundeep had done a Hindi film "Shor In The City", directed by Raj and DK. The directorial duo is now designing a fresh Hindi launch for Sundeep. "Raj and DK are like family. I thought their 'Stree' had such an interesting role for Rajkummar Rao. Not like a conventional hero, but a relatable character. That's the kind of role I'd like to play. Raj and DK are planning something completely out of the box for me in Hindi." Meanwhile, Sundeep is pleased that most of his Tamil and Telugu films are dubbed in Hindi. "I was shooting in Kashmir and I was very surprised when the locals recognised me as the guy in 'Prasthanam', my first release which is now being remade into Hindi or the guy in 'Maanagaram'. They had seen most of my Telugu and Tamil films dubbed in Hindi." Sundeep is also surprised by his swelling fan following. "I never thought of myself as particularly eligible when I was in college. But now even when guys come for selfies they say it's for their sister or girlfriend. I am happy with the female attention. But for now, I am very single." Sundeep also owns a restaurant in Hyderabad -- Vivah Bojnambu which offers what he calls the best food in Hyderabad. "I expect nothing, but the best from myself. I love to look beyond the expected," he signed off. More than 2,000 police personnel in uniform and civies will be deployed in the Colombo City during the festive season, Police said yesterday. Police personnel in civvies would be on alert for pickpockets and those engaged in other frauds and will take action against any miscreants. The IGP had directed them to pay special attention to ease traffic congestion in Colombo City and the suburbs, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said. He requested the people to be careful when using firecrackers and use only known brands. SP Gunasekera said the traffic police had been instructed to be on the lookout for drunken drivers and arrest them to minimize accidents caused by drunk driving. (Ajith Siriwardana) New Delhi, Dec 15 : Work on the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra will start as soon as possible, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday. "Both sides are working towards starting the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project as soon as possible," Sushma Swaraj said after holding delegation-level talks with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian here. "We are happy that both sides have made considerable progress in pursuance of the Industrial Way Forward Agreement in 2018 between NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) and (French utility firm) EDF," she said in a joint presser. "Today, we also adopted a Status of Progress for Implementation of Industrial Way Forward Agreement." The proposed project would be the largest nuclear power generating station in the world by net generation capacity. Le Drian said that both sides reviewed the European pressurised reactor (EPR) project in Jaitapur, and adopted an action plan to guide their work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building the power plant. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference (in 2015)," he said. "The Jaitapur project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training." Mumbai, Dec 15 : Director Sharique Minhaj says his film "Delhi Bus" is a tribute to a young Delhi professional who came to be known as Nirbhaya after the horrific gang rape in 2012. Minhaj's film is based on the incident when she was brutally gang-raped in a bus in New Delhi on December 16, 2012. A Vipul Shah Production, the plot of the film is inspired by the charge sheet which was filed in a Delhi fast track court detailing the roles of the accused. It also raises questions about women's safety in the country. "Atrocities against women is one of the major topics of discussion in the country today. So, we thought of making (something) which can make a difference to the society, highlighting the problems in an artistic manner," Minhaj said in a statement. "We want to dedicate it to Nirbhaya who fought for her life and dignity. We are paying a tribute to her with the film," he added. The film, which will release on January 25 next year, stars Divya Singh, Aanjjan Srivastav, Neelima Azeem and Sanjay Singh. Los Angeles, Dec 15 : Actress Emily Blunt says she is ready for a sequel to "Mary Poppins Returns". In an interview with Anthony Mason for show "CBS Sunday Morning", Blunt expressed her wish to enter the universe again, reports dailymail.co.uk. When Mason points out that most superhero movies have sequels, asking if she would like to play Poppins again, Blunt said: "Yes. I want to be her again. I like being her." Blunt described Poppins as "completely bizarre and unknowable". The actress added that she hasn't seen the original 1964 classic and she didn't want to revisit it before filming "Mary Poppins Returns". "Mary Poppins Returns" serves as a sequel to the 1964 classic, with Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer playing Michael and Jan Banks as adults. After the Banks family suffers a loss, their childhood nanny Mary Poppins magically comes back into their lives. The movie, set in Depression-Era London, also stars Lin-Maneul Miranda as a lamplighter named Jack, with Meryl Streep as Topsy and Colin Firth as Wilkins. Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns" will release in India on January 4 next year. Kolkata, Dec 15 : A district-level leader of Trinamool Congress has been shot dead in West Bengal's Purulia district, police said on Saturday. "Hamid Ansari, 46, was shot dead near a level crossing in Misirdih village on Friday. He was a Trinamool Congress leader," an official of Adra police station said. He said that as per eyewitnesses, miscreants shot him and fled. An investigation is underway to identify and nab the culprits. This incident occurred a day after a shootout in South 24 Parganas Joynagar area in which Sarifuddin Khan, a TMC leader, and two others died. "We have taken over the case. Eleven people have been arrested in Joynagar shootout case and we are looking at all possible angle," said DIG, CID (Operations), Nishat Parvez. Mumbai, Dec 15 : Two prominent Maharashtra NDA allies, including a minister, were involved in a vicious verbal slanging match calling each other a 'dog.' The loud feud erupted between the Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) and ruling ally Shiv Sena's Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam after the latter made certain remarks against the MSP founder Narayan Rane and his family members. Questioning Rane's political locus standi, at a function in Ratnagiri late on Friday, Kadam pointed out that he had changed several political parties in his career and because of Shiv Sena, he (Rane) could make crores of rupees for self and family. "He left the Shiv Sena to join the Congress, and now he's with the Bharatiya Janata Partya. What're his political credentials to criticize the Shiv Sena top leadership?" Kadam remarked. "The Ranes' are a blot on the Konkan region and I will not rest till I erase it from here," he thundered. Peeved by the statement, Rane's son Nitesh Rane hit back early today by comparing Kadam with a 'dog'. "The late Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj Thackeray loved dogs, even Uddhav Thackeray has continued the tradition in Kadam's image. But he (Kadam) doesn't know that barking dogs don't bite," Nitesh Rane's biting tweet said. In response, Kadam hit back by calling Rane Jr. "a dog, and offspring of a dog" this afternoon, when asked for reactions by media-persons. "That's their culture," Kadam shot back before hurrying off. Incidentally, Nitesh Rane, who is a Congress legislator, described himself as "an MSP supporter from his core" and always standing by his father, a former Chief Minister and now a Member of Rajya Sabha. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Leading publisher Penguin Random House India announced on Saturday the release of its publication "God of Sin: The Cult, The Clout and Downfall of Asaram Bapu" by Ushinor Majumdar. "The book faced opposition and its publication was challenged in court. The honourable court has refused to stay publication and has allowed the book to be released. Overcoming these challenges, the book will now be available in retail and online stores today, December 15, onwards," the publisher said, without explaining the details of the court where it was challenged and the names of the petitioners. Majumdar maintained that his book is a result of "reportage based on the probes made by various enforcement agencies and court decisions". "I have joined the dots through some first-hand reporting, digging into forgotten records and verification of facts. I am thankful that a court of law decided that there is no cause to keep a book from being released," he said. Penguin Random House India said they were delighted that the honourable court decided in favour of the book. The publisher could not be reached for further comments. "God of SinA" pieces together Asaram's journey to spiritual godhood, his fall from grace and the long and arduous road to bring him to justice. Colombo, Dec 15 : Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his post on Saturday, signalling an end to nearly a two-month-long political crisis that has kept the island nation without a functional government. The 73-year-old former strongman signed his resignation letter in the presence of his party members at his official residence in the capital, television footage showed. Rajapaksa's resignation came after the country's Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay a lower court order barring him and his Cabinet from functioning. The Parliament had already passed two no-trust motions against him. "The change of government that the people expected has now had to be put off. But the people will definitely get the change they desire. No one can prevent that," Rajapaksa said in a statement cited by Efe news. According to Rajapaksa, he was bowing out to allow President Maithripala Sirisena to "form a new government". Sri Lanka has been in turmoil since October 26 when Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who leads the United National Party (UNP), and replaced him with former President Rajapaksa. Sirisena had also dissolved the Parliament -- almost 20 months before its term was to end -- and called for a snap parliamentary election in January. However, the Supreme Court earlier this week had declared the dissolution as unconstitutional and revoked the election dates. This left the country in a lurch without a functioning government and the prospect of being unable to pass the annual budget as Sri Lankan law doesn't allow the President to approve budgetary provisions. Wickremesinghe is now expected to return to office on Sunday. "The President has agreed to swear in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister tomorrow at 10 am," UNP spokesman Harin Fernando told the BBC. The ministers of the new Cabinet will take oath on Monday, the Colombo Telegraph reported citing UNP sources. Shehan Semasinghe, a lawmaker from Rajapaka's Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, said the leader and his group will function as a strong opposition in Parliament and will continue their call for a parliamentary election to end the political instability. "The main challenge facing us in the interval between now and the formation of a people's government will be to minimise the damage that can be done by the destructive forces that are now seeking restoration to their former positions," Rajapaksa said, referring to the comeback of Wickremesinghe on the post. The Sri Lankan Parliament had earlier this week passed a vote of confidence in Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. His party and its allies have a majority in Parliament. The crisis had provoked protests in the country and brawls in Parliament, with legislators clashing on the chamber floor -- throwing chairs, books, and chilli paste -- over who should remain the country's Prime Minister. Ranchi, Dec 15 : The Pakur district administration in Jharkhand has banned the kissing contest this year in the Siddo-Kanhu fair. "The Siddo-Kanhu fair beginning Saturday will have no kissing competition this year as it has been banned and there will be no such contest taking place in any public place," Jitendra Kumar Deo, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO)of Pakur district, told reporters. The competition in the fair, organised in Littipara block in Pakur district, had created controversy last year after photos and videos of 18 tribal couples locking their lips in public went viral. Supporting the competition, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator from Littipara Assembly seat, Simon Marandi, who was the chief guest at the fair last year, said, "It's an expression of love." The BJP had criticised the kissing competition saying it is not part of the tribal culture. Bengaluru, Dec 15 : The toll has gone up to 13 from eight in the Friday's suspected food poisoning at a village temple in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. Two persons were detained for interrogation, a Minister said on Saturday. "So far, 13 devotees have died in the tragic incident at Sulavadi's Maramma temple in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Two persons have been detained for interrogation and the case is being investigated," tweeted state Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Home portfolio. Around 65 people -- men, women and children -- who also fell ill after taking the same adulterated food are being treated in state-run and private hospitals in the district, about 180km southwest of Bengaluru. "I have instructed the Muzarai (Endowment) department to be alert and avoid such incidents at any temple in the state," said Parameshwara. The temple deity Maramma, considered an incarnation of Hindu Goddess Durga, is worshipped for blessings before starting any work or function. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who announced Rs 5-lakh compensation to the kin of the victims, assured the sick devotees being treated in hospitals that the state government would meet their medical expenses. "I have directed the district administration, including the police to conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident and book the guilty," said Kumaraswamy in a statement on Friday night. State Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao announced Rs 1-lakh relief from the party fund to each of the bereaved families and assured them of stringent action against the guilty. Congress senior leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited one of the hospitals at Mysuru where some of the affected devotees are being treated and enquired about their well-being. "I never heard of temple prasada (offering) being poisoned. The incident of this magnitude is unimaginable. I am shocked over the tragedy. It's a most inhuman act and is deplorable," Siddaramaiah told reporters later. He also advised the priests and management of temples to ensure the safety of the prasada being distributed to devotees. The district police registered a case of negligence against a private trust managing the temple, belonging to the Lingayat community. Agartala, Dec 15 : The Food Corporation of India (FCI) started procuring rice at a minimum support price from Tripura farmers on Saturday at the insistence of the state government. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb launched the scheme at a function held in Kamalpur, 130 km north of Agartala. "To achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to double the farmers income by 2022, for the first time the FCI started procuring rice at the minimum support price. "The FCI has started the scheme in Tripura following persuasion by the state government," Deb said at the function attended by a large number of farmers. He said the state government would soon start providing pulses and other essential items through the Public Distribution System (PDS). An official of Tripura's Food and Civil Supplies Department said that the FCI, maintaining the stipulated standard of the Central government, has targeted to procure 10,000 MT of rice. According to Tripura's Agriculture Minister Pranjit Singh Roy, Tripura produced 8.58 lakh MT of rice with the average rice yield in the northeastern state being 2,951 kg per hectare. The big oil producers refuse to accept an agreement that includes the report of the scientific panel of the UN that urges to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 C. Journey to the sacred mountain that is melted by climate change London, Manchester and Bristol claim the "weather emergency" U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the large oil producers of the world, are reluctant to accept the final report scientific that has been the basis for the negotiations of the Conference of the Parties (COP24, for its acronym in English and your edition number). Since last December 3, 197 countries have gathered in Katowice, Poland, to celebrate the Summit of the Climate in which you decide definitely when and how to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to avoid global warming of the planet. The meeting, which is held every year and which is attended by more than 3,000 participants, concluded this Friday after a lengthy debate in which several states have opposed, once again, to accept the scientific evidence and, therefore, to follow some common guidelines. The study, drawn up by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), considered the source more credible on this issue, warning of the serious consequences which we face of not being able to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees celsius. "The climate impacts expected if it rises 3 C (our current trend) are severe," he said to THE WORLD Louise Jeffery, scientist at the Potsdam Institute of Research on the Climate Impact (PIK, for its acronym in German), which forms part of the IPCC. in Addition, "the science is very clear on the key issues for these negotiations," said Jeffery in reference to the excuse of the countries that deny the report in which it has participated. "The action needed to reach the target temperature of Paris is also clear. Global CO2 emissions in 2030 should be about half of 2010 and net zero by 2050," he added. Jeffery has also commented that the report provides several steps key policy and options for reducing emissions, "as the phasing out of coal as quickly as possible. With the Paris Agreement, was granted flexibility to the parties on how to achieve emissions reductions, but these reductions are still necessary", has been exposed. In Katowice, the countries have agreed on how to describe their national targets and how they will report their progress toward compliance. Is the so-called rule book of Paris that has been achieved at this summit. Decisions to put in practice because During the COP24, Poland has expressed, against the stance of the European Union, their preference for postponing to 2019, the decisions of the so-called Dialogue of Talanoa (what that has to do clearly each country to limit global warming). The host country of the summit, which is still very dependent on coal and should make a great effort to replace this energy source, has not provided, according to several sources consulted in this article, these negotiations. The delay in taking drastic measures, such as advocates Europe, is a factor that plays against the planet. Each year that passes not only reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, but that these increase, so that to delay the consensus is negative according to scientific experts. "It would be good to have the guidelines soon, so that countries can begin to develop their reporting systems and improve their climate strategies," commented Jeffery. However, what will determine the future climate scenario "is the action on the ground. Countries should therefore, according to the expert, to begin work already to achieve their commitments and limit global warming to 1.5 C by 2020, as the first term of joint review and 2050 as the deadline for achieving net emissions neutral. A new grand coalition of countries The successive discrepancies that you are giving in all the summits of the atmosphere between the blocks of countries that are committed to ambitious targets to combat climate change and those who want to continue to rely on fossil fuels or those who do not want or can not follow the pace of the more developed countries gave place this Wednesday, with the announcement of a large coalition of states that are unchecked the rest. They call themselves the Coalition of Ambition High and make up the European Union, Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The president of the Marshall Islands along with the european energy commissioner, Miguel Arias Canete, are the big drivers of this new movement within the COP. however, this proposal also highlighted the failure of the continuation of the Agreement for Paris 2015 and that does not just materialize in Katowice. "We have an enormous disappointment to see that the interests of the united States or Saudi arabia, are positioned in the face of science and, in this case against the scientific report presented last October and that is one of the fundamental issues to tackle climate change", has expressed this through Javier Andaluz, head of the campaign climate of Ecologists in Action. "We have the disappointment of seeing like the international community has been lukewarm about it," he stressed. On the other hand, the Andalusian seen as a positive point in the formation of the new coalition. "The call of many countries to increase the ambition shows that, yes, that is true that have an interest and who want to show a certain initiative in the fight against climate change" Greenpeace makes us reach the same opinion. "The text on the ambition is a start, but it is far from a negotiation finished here in Katowice. According to the degree of commitment of the texts so will be the impacts of climate change and the loss of life. People with fewer resources, the countries most impoverished and vulnerable require commitments far greater", has been referred to in an e-mail from Katowice Tatiana Nuno, head of energy and climate change for Greenpeace in Spain. from the summit Of the climate to the citizens, Susana Magro, commissioner of the Government of the Community of Madrid to Climate Change, one of the most important points for achieving the targets and reducing emissions is the way in which to fund these commitments. "Without funding, to fight withtra climate change is a reality," he said in a telephone conversation with this newspaper. Magro, who had on Thursday a meeting with Arias Canete, gave his opinion about the ambitious nature of getting to the descarbonificacion in 2050, and what is necessary that the autonomous communities have the means to carry it out. "I asked that, since the European Union is to bolster the funding and that it reaches not only to states but also to the regions". Although Europe has no competence within each state, in the case of Spain and, according to Magro, "are the autonomous communities which many times apply the measures but the climate financing do not come to us" Magro has explained the difficulty for citizens to understand what is being discussed in the climate summit and the subsequent measures that you have to apply countries. "We need funding and concrete measures to ensure that the people can change vehicles or companies to work on energy efficiency." In this sense, has highlighted that the Community of Madrid is already applying many measures of mobility, renewal of the car fleet and energy self-financed. "The ambition of climate and the great negotiations are very important, but then you have to move this to the day-to-day and to citizens." Companies and civil society in Katowice In the COP24 not have only involved governments and experts but a large number of initiatives that have come from civil society. Companies, Ngos, foundations, all kinds of institutions, or groups of citizens have had the opportunity to actively participate and present proposals and give an idea of the high degree of social awareness that comes from many parts of the globe. In this sense, are important initiatives that are based on companies that have a great responsibility in climate change. This is the case, for example, of Iberdrola, a great energy that announced in 2017 that would close all of its coal-fired power plants in the world. According to the criteria of Updated Date: 15 December 2018, 20:01 Learn more Ramallah (West Bank), Dec 15 : At least 10 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers after the latter demolished a West Bank house that belonged to a family of a Palestinian who allegedly killed a soldier earlier this year, the media reported on Saturday. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers surrounded the house that belonged to the family of Islam Abu Hmaid, accused of killing soldier Ronen Lubarsky after he was hit with an object during an Israeli operation in Al-Amari refugee camp in May, according to the Palestinian state-run news agency WAFA. Dozens of Palestinian activists and some international activists were waiting inside the house in a bid to prevent the house demolition, Efe news reported. Soldiers forced the activists to vacate the building and then destroyed it using explosives. Clashes erupted in the process between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, who used teargas and rubber bullets, causing injuries to over 10 Palestinians who were taken to a Ramallah hospital, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman said. An Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment on the demolition of the house, saying that it was still an ongoing operation. Al-Amari camp is located in the West Bank Area A, in which Israel does not have administrative or security control as per the Oslo II Accord. Guwahati, Dec 15 : While the ruling BJP in Assam has won a majority of the seats in the panchayat polls, its alliance partner, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has secured the third position while the Congress finished second. Out of 420 Zila Parishad council seats, the BJP secured 205 seats, the Congress 142 while the AGP could manage only 18. The Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 25 Zila Parishad council seats. The BJP has taken a lead by securing 1001 seats in the Anchalik Parishads followed by 731 by the Congress and 105 by the AGP. The AIUDF managed to win 138 seats in the Anchalik Parishads. For the GP presidents, the BJP won 973 seats, the Congress came second by winning 732 seats, followed by a mere 125 by the AGP. While the results of most of the seats were declared on Saturday, counting of ballots is still on for some districts, which is likely to be over by tomorrow. Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said that the BJP has failed to sweep the polls despite using money and muscle power. "The Congress despite being in opposition has managed to secure the second position," he said adding that the people of the state now know about the misrule of the BJP. Referring to the assembly results in five states, Gogoi said that the people of the country have given a mandate against the BJP and added that this will be repeated in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The regional party had launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Bhupesh Baghel, who is credited with playing a crucial role in a landslide victory of the Congress in Chhattisgarh, is understood to have been picked as the partys choice for Chief Ministership and a formal announcement in this regard is expected on Sunday. This emerged after hectic parleys between Congress President Rahul Gandhi and four contenders in the race for the CM post-- Bhupesh Baghel, T.S. Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant, at his residence here. Congress' central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress in-charge for party affairs in Chhattisgarh P.L. Punia were also present at the meeting. Reliable sources said the leadership issue has been sorted out and name would be formally announced at the meeting of newly-elected legislators in Raipur on Sunday. The sources also dismissed reports that one of the contenders, Sahu, threatened to quit the party if he was not made the Chief Minister. The sources also indicated that unlike Rajasthan, there would be no deputy chief minister. Representing Patan Assembly constituency in Durg district, Baghel is the President of Chhattisgarh Congress since October 2014. Punia said the meeting of the newly-elected lawmakers will be held at 12 p.m on Sunday and the name of the new Chief Minister will be announced thereafter. Earlier in the day, Gandhi tweeted a picture of himself flanked by all the four claimants to the post, hinting at the end of tussle over who would be the next Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. Posting pictures of Baghel, Deo, Sahu and Mahant -- Gandhi quoted American internet entrepreneur Reid Hoffman saying: "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team." The Congress President had earlier tweeted similar pictures of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Kamal Nath and his rival claimant to the post Jyotiraditya Scindia as well as Rajasthan Chief Minister-designate Ashok Gehlot and his state party chief Sachin Pilot who has been named as the Deputy Chief Minister. Before the announcements of Kamal Nath and Gehlot as the Chief Ministers of their respective states, there had been power jockeying between the rival camps, with both Scindia and Pilot strongly advocating their stake to the post. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday said it has seized assets worth Rs 20.87 crore of Dabur India Director Pradip Burman and properties worth Rs 10.28 crore of Emmar MGF Managing Director Shravan Gupta, for holding assets abroad. The Directorate said that seizure order was issued pursuant to investigation which revealed that Burman has deposited US$32,12,000 in his account with Zurich branch of the HongKong and Sanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), in Switzerland. The agency said in a statement, the money deposited was in contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and the amount had not been remitted to India to date. The ED said the seizure of assets of Gupta were made for holding US$15,40,650 in HSBC, Switzerland in contravention of the FEMA. "Investigation conducted so far has revealed that Gupta had parked US$15,40,650 with HSBC, Switzerland and failed to produce any evidence of bringing the entire amount back to India to date," the agency said. Shillong, Dec 15 : The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Saturday used sonar system and underwater camera to detect 13 miners, who have been trapped inside a coal pit filled with water in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district since Thursday morning. However, the system failed to locate any of the trapped miners in the main well of the 370-feet coal pit because of poor visibility. As the water level at the pit did not recede much despite continuous pumping, the NDRF officials suggested to the district administration of East Jaintia Hills to call in the Oil Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to deploy "submersible water pumps" to reduce the water level. Meghalaya Police arrested Jrin alias Krip Chulet, the owner of the coal mine from Narwan village on Friday night. The accident inside the coal pit on Thursday morning at Lumthari area was of significance, especially after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered an interim ban on "rat-hole" coal mining in the state from April 17, 2014. "We are putting all efforts to evacuate the trapped miners. Our diving team dived twice in the main well of the coal pit and we also used sonar system and underwater camera to detect the 13 miners but couldn't locate them due to very poor visibility... the oxygen level is also bit low," Assistant Commandant NDRF, Santosh Kumar Singh, told IANS. More than 100 rescuers including 72 members from the NDRF, 23 members from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and five members of the Fire and Emergency Service were deployed to rescue the miners. "We suspect the miners are trapped inside the lateral mining chambers of coal pit. It is difficult to know as to how many chambers are there because of poor visibility. "We will continue with our rescue operations tomorrow (Sunday) morning but we will continue to pump out the water the whole night to ensure that the water level recede, and that would help us to bring them over ground," Singh said. Meanwhile, the district administration in East Jaintia Hills, will install three more additional water pumps to reduce the water level inside the coal pit. Two water pumps have been already pressed into service. "We have already made contact with the ONGC to deploy the submersible waters pumps as suggested by the NDRF," F.M. Dopth, the District Magistrate, told IANS. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had promised that "appropriate action will be taken at appropriate time against the people who are involved in the illegal mining and this is not acceptable to us". Moreover, the NGT-appointed judicial panel Chairman, B.P. Kakoty said the mining accident showed clear cut violation of the apex green court's ban on all kinds of coal mining activities in Meghalaya. "We are aware of the illegal mining activities in that area (Lumthari) and the Deputy Commissioner (East Jaintia Hills) has admitted that some mining activities were going on despite the ban, and they did nothing to arrest it and so this mining accident has occurred," Kakoty told IANS over phone. Police has registered a case against the mine owner under Sections 188, 304 A and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 3(2)(d) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Coal mine accidents are common in the mountainous state because of unscientific mining commonly known as "rat hole mining". Meghalaya has a coal reserve of 640 million tonnes. The coal is high in sulphur content and is mostly of sub bituminous type. New Delhi, Dec 15 : In the wake of defeat by the Congress in Assembly elections in the Hindi heartland, with agrarian crisis as a major poll plank against his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of paying only "lip service" to farmers while ignoring their welfare. Video-interacting with booth workers from Tamil Nadu, Modi also hit out at the Congress for treating national security and defence sector as "a punching bag or a funding source". "If you ask me, what is among the most satisfying things of being in government, I would say it is to work for our hardworking farmers. After all, it is the farmers who are our 'annadatas' (food providers). "We are not like the Congress, which will only pay lip service to farmers but ignore their well-being. Wherever the Congress is in power, farmers suffer," said Modi interacting with booth workers from Kanyakumari, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Namakkal and Salem. "Four years ago, farmers asked for urea, but all they got was stick. Farmers asked for higher minimum support prices (MSP), but all they got was empty promises. Farmers asked for increased incomes, but all they got was insensitivity," alleged Modi. Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) losing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan to the Congress which promised waiving farm loans in all the three states within 10 days of coming to power. Crediting his government for boosting the morale of the armed forces, Modi also targeted the Congress which has been relentless in attacking him over alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the Rafale fighter jets deal with France. "Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source," he said. "Congress leaders call the Army chief names and mock the (2016) surgical strike, on one hand. "On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the Jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors scam in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others," he said, adding: "All they see is the way to make money even if it means that the morale of our forces is affected." "The surgical strikes show how capable our forces are to give a strong answer to those who attack us," added Modi. Mumbai, Dec 15 : The Dubai Police on Saturday detained Anwar Babu Sheikh, the brother of absconding mafiosi Chhota Shakeel, reports reaching here said. Sheikh, who is wanted in Mumbai and Thane in connection with several offences including the March 1993 Mumbai serials blasts, was detained and questioned by the Dubai Police at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Among other things, Sheikh is wanted for allegedly co-ordinating the Mumbai serial blasts from a location abroad. Incidentally, Chhota Shakeel is considered the trusted right hand of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. After search and interrogation, the Dubai Police are understood to have recovered a Pakistani passport from Sheikh, raising questions on his extradition to India. Both Indian and Pakistani embassies in the UAE are said to be in touch with the Dubai authorities seeking his deportation to their respective countries. It may be recalled that after the Mumbai serial explosions, Sheikh was among those against whom the Interpol had issued red corner notices. Mumbai and Thane police sources said that Sheikh is linked to Pakistan's ISI and was involved in several terror acts in India before he fled this country. Earlier this year, Thane Anti Extortion Cell chief Pradeep Sharma had nabbed couple of persons for illegally keeping AK-56 Army assault rifles in their Mumbai suburban home in Goregaon. Subsequent investigations by the Anti Terrorist Squad here revealed that the weapons may have been procured and used by Sheikh during the December 1993-January 1994 double-phased Mumbai riots. Despite repeated attempts to seek an official reaction to the developments in Dubai, Mumbai and Thane police brass remained incommunicado on Saturday. Meanwhile, in view of Sheikh's Pakistani passport, there was no clarity whether he would be repatriated to India or not. New Delhi, Dec 15 : National carrier Air India's pilot union has urged the government to expand the airline's fleet and network for its revival. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu dated December 10, also sought fleet renewal as ordered in 2005 before Indian Airlines merged with Air India. "The need of the hour is to not order aircraft in piecemeal quantity but to order them with a futuristic view of at least next 5-10 years as a minimum. Sir, only when cost cutting and revenue generation go hand in hand, can Air India come back to its golden times," the letter said. "For our survival, and to make sure that our market share does not slip any further, increasing our fleet of new and modern fuel-efficient narrow and wide body aircraft is of paramount importance." Noting that Air India's market share dropped from 19.8 per cent in January 2014 to 11.8 per cent in September 2018, the lowest market share ever for Air India, ICPA said the airline continues to operate the 350 flights daily domestically, up from about 300 flights 10 years ago, whereas "IndiGo has gone from 0 to over 1,000 flights a day in the same period". "We have just five more A320-type aircraft to join us out of the 27 ordered on lease about three years back which have primarily worked for replacing the classic A320 ordered in 1986, with the last of those finally being retired in October 2018 after being in service for over 29 years," it said. The letter also noted that the airline should expand its international network, primarily in the Middle East, East Asian countries and Africa. "We may have expanded our network in America and Europe, but there is scope for a lot more which is evident by eagerness of the Middle East and East Asian carriers to increase frequencies to their hubs. Besides, Air Canada started 10 non-stop weekly flights to India last year. Wow Air and Air Italy are starting operations now," the letter said. "Africa is still untapped by us," it underlined. Tehran, Dec 16 : Iran's missile program is for defensive purposes and the Islamic republic will never negotiate over it, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said. "Primarily, Iran's missiles are for defence and we need them for deterrence," Xinhua quoted Zarif as saying to Press TV on Saturday. "Besides, we use resources for military expenses far less than any other country in the region. That is why we have announced from very beginning that our missiles are non-negotiable, " he said. Zarif is currently in Qatar to attend the Doha Forum 2018. He made the remarks in Doha in response to a question about U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's allegation on December 1, who claimed that Iran had test-fired a medium range ballistic missile in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231. Rejecting the allegations of breaching the UNSC resolution, Iran on Tuesday confirmed the missile test and vowed to continue development of its missile program. Marissa Fukas, Ivey Engineering's winner of the winter 2018 scholarship contest Typically there is a correlation that can be seen between a buildings energy efficiency and its insulation. Ivey Engineering, Inc., (IEI), an engineering consulting firm, is pleased to announce that Marissa Fukas of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is the winner of the winter 2018 bi-annual scholarship essay contest. She will attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in fall 2019. Fukas recently graduated from Shaler Area High School and will major in accounting while attending Slippery Rock University. "I was a bit lost in choosing a major for college," Fukas says. "At first I thought I would major in physics, but my heart wasn't okay with that. Then I looked into accounting and fell in love with it," she says. Fukas competed with over 100 other college students from the United States and Canada. Applicants were tasked to write an 800- to 1,000-word essay on one of three topics and were judged for creativity and originality. Fukas' winning essay discussed several unique ways to incorporate energy efficiency into a building. One tip she mentions in her essay is using proper insulation. "Typically there is a correlation that can be seen between a buildings energy efficiency and its insulation," Fukas explains in her essay. "A thorough insulation of floors, walls, and ceilings can save up to 80 percent of the cost of heating and cooling a building, showing that with a higher grade insulation, a building will not have to run heating and cooling systems as frequently," she says. "Marissa's essay was original, well written and included relative ideas on energy efficiency," says Scott Friesen, president of IEI. "You can tell that Marissa spent some time doing research from the quality of her essay," he says. Fukas sees herself in the next 10 years graduating from college and being a successful business woman. "We're impressed with Marissa's optimistic outlook and where she wants to go in life," Friesen says. IEI understands how valuable a college education is and also the expense that goes along with it. The scholarship contest is a win for both IEI and the student since it allows the firm to give back to the community. Any potential or current college or university undergraduate student within the United States or Canada is able to apply. The next deadline for essays to be submitted is May 1, 2019. For contest requirements or for more information about the scholarship, visit IEI's scholarship web page. IEI is an expert witness and building systems consulting firm in San Diego, California. Established in 1994, IEI services clients in over 40 states and in several Canadian provinces. IEI's consultants have experience in the design, construction, service and repair of HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems, as well as energy efficiency related issues. To read more about Ivey Engineering and its consulting services, visit the companys website. The Mar Menor is saved from death... for the moment On the border with Portugal there is an invisible barrier, insurmountable to the vultures. It is a wall that cannot be seen from the air, but the necrophagous birds collide against him, as the swallows that are stamped against the glass of a window. The map that draw the millions of GPS points from the issuers that the scientists put them both scavenger species -black vulture and griffon - transforms a political border into an ecological barrier. The vultures do not want to cross over to Portugal. These results -published this year by the team of the researcher of the Biological Station of Donana by Jose Antonio Donazar in the journal Biological Conservation - responding to a cause socio-political rather than ecological, but tell the story of how the efforts of scientists and naturalists to foot of field can bend the arm of iron, of Brussels, in some cases, and to do that you lift the foot from the neck of some threatened species. In the year 2001, following the bse crisis, the European Commission banned the abandonment in the mountain of the corpses of cattle. They had to be burned or buried. That measure put against the strings to the birds that feed on carrion, including some in danger of extinction such as the black vulture or the lammergeyer. This prompted a strong reaction from researchers, environmentalists, and local technicians of the Administration to explain in Brussels the damage that he did that measure of the biodiversity in the Iberian peninsula. And the EU reacted: in 2005 he began to loosen the legislation, he stretched the hand, and these birds were able to breathe again. But only in the countries where they wanted to do something for these animals. The new laws were not enforceable. Portugal continues anchored in a very restrictive policy with the corpses legacy of that health crisis of 20 years ago and Spain is not. From there, that invisible barrier that rises hundreds of meters above the surface of both countries. class="icon-foto_16_g"> iberian Pig in the mountain. ALBERTO DI LOLLI And it is not a question of presence, if not of number. "This was a cattle ranch that sought only economic profitability, and the owner got all the cattle they could," says Carlos Sanchez while going through the estate of Campanarios de Azaba, on the border of salamanca with Portugal. "Here what we have done is a de-intensification of the livestock to regenerate the pasture and recover biodiversity". The landscape changes nothing more to cross the fence out of the 600 hectares of the biological reserve that protects the foundation directed by Sanchez nearly 10 years ago. The dehesa, in the neighbouring estates clean as a carpet between the foot and the foot of holm oak (Quercus ilex), still hints at the vegetation that is regenerating under the shade of the older trees. But step back and look at it from far away. In the foreground, the broom and holm oaks, small promise of a future in this mediterranean forest, distracted too much to remember that, years ago, that was a tapestry eaten and trampled by livestock. The project has been a resounding success, and proof of this is the Award BBVA Foundation to the Conservation of Biodiversity, which he picked up yesterday Carlos Sanchez of the hands of the president of the entity, Francisco Gonzalez. But to do this it has had to focus efforts on private property. The greater part of its activity is focused on estates purchased by his own foundation -as the Campanarios de Azaba or another of 500 hectares in the Sierra de Gata and in which there are more than 40 nests of black vulture - thanks to european funds and the private donors who have understood the need to create these reserves for biodiversity. One of them was also the saviour of Donana, Luc Hoffman, the billionaire owner of the Roche laboratories and patron of the MAVA Foundation dedicated to finance projects for the conservation of nature all over the world, who in fact visited with his family the Biological Reserve Campanarios for a week, shortly before his death, and became fascinated. In fact, the recovery of the area became in a short time in the first reserve entomological -insects - of-Spain. class="icon-foto_16_g"> aerial Image of a dehesa in Western Iberian. STAFFAN WIDSTRAND This social reality so hard has its positive counterpart for the nature. The low density of population and the low pressure imposed by the lack of infrastructure of communication allows you to still maintain levels of biodiversity exceptional. For Sanchez, the sustainable management of these forests is the only way to avoid these two extremes, the abandonment and the intensification of the livestock. If you are going to exploit a territory, which will ensure that you will be able to continue exploiting in the future; and if it has been left uninhabited, will have to find a way to keep it, to avoid risks such as forest fires and to obtain an economic return. ecotourism is the way that has been found Sanchez for turning lack of resources into an opportunity for the area. Campanarios de Azaba is one of the best places to find species such as black vulture, genets, el milano real, the black stork or the marten, among many others. A lodge and a network of hides to watch and photograph species has already begun to bear fruit and the influx of naturalists (especially central europe) is almost constant throughout the year and constitutes a new source of funding for the foundation directed by Sanchez. A new opportunity for sustainable depressed area on both sides of the border. And a new way of looking at the rural areas, which could serve to tear down that invisible wall that separates Spain and Portugal. Award for defense of biodiversity The BBVA Foundation to the Conservation of the Biodiversity carried 13 years ago, recognizing the work of the best initiatives of defense of the nature. This year, for the first time, has included a world-class that have been awarded by the Foundation Moises Bertoni for the Conservation of Nature of Paraguay. In addition to the reconociemiento to the Foundation Nature and Man, the journalists Rafael Serra, Jose Antonio Montero and Miguel Miralles won the prize of the Dissemination of Knowledge by their work in the magazine Quercus. "Before the conservation work was limited to organizations in the minority. Fortunately, today the public has internalized many elements of the conservation vision," said the president of the BBVA Foundation, Francisco Gonzalez, during the award ceremony."We have a broad spectrum of organizations, local, about, global, other, able to give life to meaningful programs, sometimes through forms of collective action and demands to the decisores public and private, other driving and managing programs to conservation. Both strategies are essential given the magnitude of the challenges addressed in this first part of the TWENTY-first century," he said. According to the criteria of Updated Date: 15 December 2018, 08:01 Learn more orlando-office-solution-1200.png Orlando Office Solutions LLC plans on continuing to buy, redevelop and lease up great commercial properties, with our focus on finding value add opportunities. Orlando Office Solutions recently announced the sale of its stunning Sand Lake West Road property for $5.28 million. The Sand Lake Tech Center boasts two charming office buildings with approximately 32,000 total square feet of space lease-able space. Its location is in proximity to I-Drive, the Florida Mall, retail stores, restaurants and easily accessible to Floridas Turnpike making it one of the most desired properties on the market. "Buying the Sand Lake property at auction for $1.8 million (which was formally Valencia College and completely vacant), was a bit scary. We then changed many aesthetic features of the buildings to bring the property current with todays standards and added a new roof. The leasing of the buildings was an exciting process, and we had the pleasure to interact and meet with many incredible business owners in the area. Selling the project was bitter-sweet; it is a tremendous property and a wonderful long-term investment. States Alex Reece the manager of Orlando Office Solutions, Orlando Office Solutions LLC plans on continuing to buy, redevelop and lease up great commercial properties, with our focus on finding value add opportunities." About Orlando Office Solutions Orlando Office Solutions, LLC is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and specializes in leasing and adding value to high vacancy projects that may or may not have sizable deferred maintenance issues that must be addressed. Bay Area Robotic Hair Transplants, Announces Post about Successful Outcomes and A.I. There are specific applications that a hair surgeon is better at than A.I. There are also applications A.I. can improve. Silicon Valley Hair Institute, the Bay Area leader in robotic hair transplantation, is proud to announce a new blog post explaining the importance of using Artificial Intelligence for a successful outcome to robotic hair transplant surgery. Precise Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) made by a robot and commandeered by a professional surgeon can result in a flawless looking new hairline. "There are specific applications that a hair surgeon is better at than A.I. There are also applications A.I. can improve. For instance, the accuracy it takes to manage FUE is an example," explained Miguel Canales, founder of Silicon Valley Hair Institute. "A surgeon can thoughtfully plan the surgery, but a robot can execute it with perfect aim. The combination between surgeon and robot is unbeatable!" Interested persons can read the newly posted Silicon Valley Hair Institute blog at http://siliconvalleyhairinstitute.com/ai-becoming-rage-2018-not-let-robot-carry-hair-transplant/. Bay Area residents interested in learning about robotic hair transplant surgery can find answers on the new blog post. Artificial Intelligence or A.I. is a cutting-edge technology growing in the surgical field. To learn more about the benefits of A.I. and hair loss treatments, please go to the information page at http://siliconvalleyhairinstitute.com/robot/. BAY AREA ROBOTIC HAIR TRANSPLANT AND TOP SURGEONS: TEAMWORK THAT IS LASER FOCUSED ON SUCCESS A little background: AI or "artificial intelligence" can mean anything along a continuum of basic computer intelligence to computer intelligence so sophisticated it can replace human thought and action. Robotic hair transplantation, according to this continuum perspective, is a type of "artificial intelligence," in which a robot works under the guidance of a hair transplantation specialist to vastly improve hair loss surgical outcomes. Hair loss treatment could require the re-alignment of individual hair to produce a thicker hairline. In the past, the physical work of follicular unit transplantation was left to the precise handiwork of a surgeon's own hands. Innovative robotic hair transplant surgery has allowed surgeons to focus more time on other important details. Bay Area locals can learn that teamwork between a professional surgeon and A.I. can result in a better overall outcome. For these reasons, SVHI has announced a new blog post about the benefits of A.I. combined with hair transplant surgery. ABOUT SILICON VALLEY HAIR INSTITUTE Silicon Valley Hair Institute, under the leadership of top-rated California hair transplant surgeon Miguel Canales MD, is one of the best facilities offering San Francisco Bay Area hair transplants. Dr. Canales provides the full range of advanced hair transplant and hair restoration procedures for Bay Area residents, from San Francisco to San Mateo to Palo Alto. If one needs an FUE hair transplant specialist, look no further than this Bay Area hair transplant center. Dr. Canales also performs female hair transplants for women and eyebrow restoration, thus offering the best hair transplant and robotic hair replacement options. Persons interested in the cost of robotic hair transplantation can call today to 650-551-1100 for a no-cost consultation, or for more information visit http://siliconvalleyhairinstitute.com/. As one of the largest minority-owned businesses, we strive to provide the proper assistance and tools for improving the quality of life in disadvantaged communities, said Freddy Latour, Sr. Account Executive of Solo Printing. Solo Printing, a Miami-based commercial printing company, is giving back to the community with its donation to BLUE Missions, a local non-profit who connects communities around Latin America with access to clean water and sanitation. BLUE Missions cultivates water and sanitation projects in Latin America to help improve health and the overall quality of life in rural communities. The non-profit believes water is the foundation of a communitys health and prosperity, and without it, many families struggle to meet basic needs. To combat this, BLUE Missions gravity-driven aqueducts in these rural communities all while bringing health, empowerment, and opportunity to the people who live there. With sanitary water, members of rural communities can eliminate health risks from drinking contaminated water and can use the time they wouldve used for collecting water to attend school and make an income. The ultimate goal is to improve health and break the poverty trap that many families in rural communities are facing. As one of the largest minority-owned businesses, we strive to provide the proper assistance and tools for improving the quality of life in disadvantaged communities, said Freddy Latour, Sr. Account Executive of Solo Printing. As global citizens, we believe empowering and liberating others brings social change. As a company who believes in empowering communities and brightening the global future, sponsoring a locally based organization who wants to better the lives of others and empower them to have a stronger future, was something strongly supported by Solo Printing. More about Solo Printing: Established in 1985, Solo Printing is a national, award-winning printing service. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Solo Printing provides premier printing services such as pre-press, digital printing, sheetfed printing, web offset printing, and more. With its high-tech printing equipment, sustainable printing certifications, and employee expertise, the Miami-based company has repeatedly won industry awards and continues to be the leading printing service in South Florida. For more information, visit the Solo Printing website at https://www.soloprinting.com/. Get the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV today. Business owners are encouraged to investigate the tax deduction they can get off their business vehicle at local dealership Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale. This tax deduction comes from the IRS tax code section 179 and has the potential to benefit many businesses who are looking for their next vehicle. This section of the tax code allows certain business supplies to be bought tax-free. However, the dealership also encourages people to research this deduction and contact their tax consultant beforehand to see if they qualify. While many shoppers dont immediately think of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle for their business, there are many models that can perform admirably as a company vehicle. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS in particular is not only spacious, but it also has the power and performance many people expect of a luxury vehicle. This puts the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS in the unique position to be a good candidate for small businesses who are looking for a comfortable option while still maintaining a professional look. More information can be found on the dealerships website at http://www.mbscottsdale.com where they have posted a research page about this tax deduction. Further information about the Mercedes-Benz models is posted on the dealerships blog and on various research pages. Business owners who are interested in this tax deduction can contact the dealerships finance department at 844-242-3202 or visit Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale in person at 4725 North Scottsdale Road. hospitalpriceindex.com VitalWare, a leading provider of revenue cycle SaaS solutions, today introduced HospitalPriceIndex.com, a patient-friendly, online tool that provides a strategic and meaningful way to adhere to the imminent government mandate for posting standard hospital prices. On January 1, 2019, CMS will require all hospitals to make public a list of their standard charges, allowing the public to view a patient-friendly list of all hospital charges. Updated annually, CMS is requiring all hospitals to provide this information in a machine-readable format that can be easily be read by a human, and/or processed by a computer. In response to this mandate, VitalWare has developed HospitalPriceIndex.com. It is designed to be a useful tool for both patients and providers to increase transparency and provide context, reducing confusion around the meaning of different health care costs and increasing patient consumer confidence in procedure-based pricing. Kerry Martin, President and CEO of VitalWare, comments, Were excited to launch HospitalPriceIndex.com (HPIC) to help hospitals meet the pending 2019 governmental pricing transparency mandate. HPIC will not only meet the new regulation for hospitals, but will mitigate potential risk for them. We believe posting full chargemasters online may open the door for consumer and media scrutiny. The risk lies in the chargemaster descriptions that often include trademark and model numbers which are easily searchable online, providing wholesale cost information that doesnt reflect the complexity of care one will receive. Kerry continues, hospital charging practices are multifaceted, not consumer-friendly, and could be easily misinterpreted by patients who want to understand their out-of-pocket expenses. Knowing the price for each individual supply or procedure is irrelevant for most healthcare consumers, therefore posting a full chargemaster is not the answer. Hospitals must have a proven, consistent strategy for posting standard hospital charges online in order to remain unscathed from this mandate, and HPIC is a solution to help our hospital clients meet it. Tracey Talley, Chief Financial Officer at Kalispell Regional Medical Center commented, "VitalWare is known to be a leader in innovation and developing cutting-edge healthcare solutions. With the introduction of hospitalpriceindex.com, this magnifies their focus and extraordinary expertise in their ability to create and scale their solutions and intelligence to meet the needs of hospitals and healthcare consumers alike." About VitalWare VitalWare is the leading mid-revenue cycle SaaS solutions provider, specializing in Health-IT applications aimed at making the business of healthcare easier through its intuitive cloud-based technologies and regulatory content expertise. With more than 675 hospitals on its client roster, VitalWares product portfolio is the healthcare industrys best solution for providing visibility and continuity in Chargemaster management, documentation, charge capture, and regulatory code references. Beyond providing tools and healthcare regulatory and compliance resources, VitalWare offers professional services designed to support organizations need of coding guidance, process improvement, education and financial impact solutions. Visit our website, http://www.vitalware.com Owuors epic The Dragonfly Sea (Knopf, Mar.) tells the story of a young girl of mixed heritage who travels to China from a small island off the coast of Kenya. The novels protagonist, Ayaana, is a fictionalized version of a real person. How did you decide to write her story? Living along the Indian Ocean, Id heard different versions of the story of old Chinese friendships dating back 600 years. Id heard the story of Admiral Zheng He, who underpins so much of the story, and of sailors that had drowned and how a few of them had found refuge on Pate, this little island off the coast of Kenya. The story had bubbled in the back of my mind, and when this girl Mwamaka Sharifu was sent to China [in 2005, after learning of her Chinese ancestry], I thought thered be a greater noise and maybe a greater understanding about this idea of the return, the final chapter in a 600-year-old story. Did you have to do much research? I lived in Zanzibar for three years, and I also lived in both Mombasa and Diani in Kenya, so a lot of the sea references come from encounters and experiences. I conducted interviews with all sorts of fascinating souls, including East Africans who had gone and lived in China. Some of the adventures that young Ayaana has in China come from the life stories of real peoplethose who dared open their mouths to answer my questions. And of course I used lots of historical sources; one of my favorite Swahili scholars was a poet-minstrel who inspired Muhidin, the great poet Haji Gora Haji from Zanzibar. The novels structure is inspired by the ebb and flow of tides, framed by themes of searching and returning. What inspired that choice? It comes from a real passion for the ocean; I was six years old when I first met the Indian Ocean in Kenya, off the coast in Mombasa. Id never seen anything more beautiful in my young existence. And in a very strange way, it was the first time I felt like I belonged to something of the Earth, that Im a part of it. What do you think most people dont understand about the relationship between Africa and China? So much of the conversation about Chinas relationship with Africa, and certainly Eastern Africa, is presented as something new. Because of where I lived, in Eastern Africa, I had an awareness that Chinas new engagement with Africa was actually nothing new. I find resonance in that with the way the Chinese are presenting the return of their engagement with the worldthe Maritime Silk Road. Part of my own questioning was whatwithin the East African spaceideas about Chinas new engagement with Africa actually means. Very little reference is made to the past, when I think that the past is what is informing this new relationship. So I wanted to write about this idea of return, that some of the answers we seek might actually be found in the past. Gibsons El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America (Feb., Atlantic) examines the role of Spain and Spanish speakers in American history. What led you to write a history of Spanish influence in North America? It sort of came out of this sense that I gotnot in this past election, but the one beforethat a lot of the language about immigration hadnt really changed and it was still kind of like the 90s. I wanted to take a step back and look at the wider panorama of the European settlement of North America, and especially the United States, and ask, What was the role of Spanish-speaking people? Because I think in more recent times the discourse tends to position these people as recent immigrants, when actually a lot of them have been in the United States much longer than, for example, my family has. In a way, the project started as a way to plug gaps in my own knowledge about U.S. history, the Spanish colonial expansion, the connection between Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean, and to just sort of put it all together. In the book you describe the United States as part of a larger Latin American community. What do you mean by that? A lot of the forces that shaped the United States are very similar if not the same as those in Argentina, Chile, Mexico. You know: European colonization, genocide of the indigenous population, African slavery. These are all things that we share as a continent, and sometimes I think exceptionalism in U.S. history has kind of pushed that to the side. What Im trying to do is position more centrally the idea that theres a big shared history, because the whole of the Americas as we know it now was formed by these forces, from Canada down to Tierra del Fuego. And if there was a broader understanding within the United States of its shared history with Mexico and Latin America, how do you think this would affect U.S. anxieties, discourse, and policy? Thats the tough question. Because, I mean, in some ways we can know all this, but does that change how people feel? Would that change how people talk about the caravan [of asylum seekers traveling north to the U.S.-Mexico border], to use the most recent news flashpoint about people coming up from Central America? I would hope this broader history would make people reflect a bit more, be less quick to jump to perhaps unfair conclusions, to just think a bit more thoroughly about the historical forces that have caused things like inequality. On my first night in Portland, Me., I was supposed to meet Susan Conley for a beer, but at the last minute, she asked whether we could change our plans, and we agreed to meet the next day instead. Its not that she couldnt have met, she said. It was just that her husband was away unexpectedly, and it would be best if she could deal with the wolves. The wolves, Conleys teenage boys, are of college hunting age. Her husband had been called away to Chinawhere his solar technology business often takes him, where he and Conley lived together when the wolves were just pups, and where the bulk of Conleys sophomore novel, Elsey Come Home (Knopf, Jan. 2019), is set. The book, Conleys fourth, is her second set primarily in China, after her 2011 memoir, The Foremost Good Fortune. (Like Elsey Come Home, it received a starred review in PW.) But though both books are rooted in Conleys own experienceseach features a white, American, female protagonist juggling illness, motherhood, and an artistic occupation while living abroadElsey Come Home was a conscious deviation from personal history. The story is set, principally, at Shashan, a wellness retreat in the mountains near Beijing, where Elsey, a middle-aged painter, has reluctantly agreed to spend a week away from her family at her husbands request. Shes been struggling in the wake of a recent thyroid surgerywith alcoholism that she denies, with pains in her arm that shes convinced are cancer (theyre not), with her relationships with her husband and her two daughters. At Shashan, Elsey attempts to save her marriage through yoga, mindfulness, and group therapy among a mixed bag of company, ranging from expatriates to wealthy and prestigious Chinese nationals. While I was living in China, I stumbled upon a yoga retreat in the mountains and, upon arrival, I said to myself, Okay, so this is going to be the setting for your next novel, Conley says. The mash-up of the local Chinese and expatsthats about the only autobiographical thing about the novel, that I had really been to this place that fueled my imagination. The novel is in first person, and Elseys spare, frequently self-deluding introspection gives it the feel of what a Raymond Carver story might have looked like had Carver been a feminist. Conley, now a prose writer, studied poetry at UC San Diego, and that background shows here. By the time she wrote Elsey Come Home, Conley was utterly interested in pace and distillation and compression, she says. I tried to write the most compressed lines I could. I wanted it to be extremely lean and quick, in the way the best lyrical prose poem would be. Elsey is deeply flawed but also deeply empathetic. Her struggles, too, are relatable, reflecting the unwieldy expectations placed on contemporary women. After galleys were made available, Conley says, she heard that a number of the young women working at Knopf offices found the novels concerns all too familiar. I think theres the same burden on women everywhere, Conley explains, to be extraordinary at the workplace and then to be an extraordinary mother. Or, as Elsey puts it, to be obsessed with children and obsessed with painting at the same time. That tension remains omnipresent throughout the bulk of the book as Elsey remains both artistically blocked and, despite her best intentions, an irresponsible mother. Though her struggles with family are mostly internalon top of her strained relationship with her husband and daughters, shes haunted by the childhood death of one of her sistersthere is another tension here, too. In China, Elsey is an outsider, and a friction exists between her fellow expats and Chinese nationals. That, too, Conley says, was inspired by her own experiences. A little ripple of tension when I arrived at the retreat was that we had forgotten to check in with the local police, and that was a problem, Conley says. That was a big deal, even though this yoga studio had been doing retreats there for years, and it started me thinking about, well, what could happen with the police here? Id lived in China for years by then, and I had met some dissident artists. I was really interested in seeing if I could get some sort of mash-up where relationships would have to be forged between the nationals and the expats, because that was rare. All of this comes to a head late in the book. At Shashan, Elsey meets Mei, a fellow painter, whose paintings are known internationally. Mei is unhappily married to another painter, Leng, whom Elsey describes as probably, after Ai Weiwei, the most famous artist in China. That fame came hard-bought. Leng is a former Chinese dissident who was rehabilitated after his role as a protester at Tiananmen Square, leaving in him little of the man Mei once loved. When he arrives at a bar where Elsey, Mei, and their fellow retreaters have taken shelter following a botched hike in the rain, he pulls a knife and threatens Mei, demanding she come back to him. Two men are with him, and they kidnap Hunter, an American in Elseys party. Shortly after the infraction, the villages mayor arrives and makes clear that it is the expats, not Leng and his men, who are no longer welcome there. And finding Hunter proves itself to be a delicate task for a number of reasons. For one, the men who abducted him are minders (as Justice, the leader of the retreat, calls them), sent by the Chinese government to accompany Leng. It is a time, he adds, of increased surveillance. For a fairly slim novel built around an internally focused central character, Elsey Come Home has remarkable scope, deftly weaving personal pains with political ones. Though not explicitly a #MeToo novel, the compromises women must make as a result of patriarchycompromises men dont have to make, Conley noted during our conversations, due at least in part to a lack of domestic expectationsare certainly present in the story. Also present are themes touching on racial tension between the Chinese and foreigners; the legacy of grief with which Elsey, still mourning her sister, must reckon; and the complexity of dealing with alcoholism and reintegrating into ones own life following detoxification. Conleys own wide-ranging interests and community-mindedness mirror that scope. She was raised in Maine (as was Elsey, who returns there during the course of the novel) and is a writing-scene mainstay in Portland, where shes lived for the better part of the past two decades. The community is small, she says, but active, tight-knit, and supportive. She counts fellow Mainers Richard Ford and Richard Russo as friends and encourages me to visit the latters daughters bookstore, Print, while Im in townbut not at the expense of a trip to Longfellows, Portlands longtime indie, shes quick to add. In 2004, Conley cofounded the Telling Room, a nonprofit writing center situated along the water in Portlands Old Port neighborhood. A regular patron of the Portland Art Museum, which we toured together, she has, in fact, profiled its owner and curator for a local magazine. Her knowledge of painting is evident in Elsey, but she also collects Chinese pottery, a hobby she picked up while abroad. In other words, Conley is as broad-minded as her novel, as should be expected. Thats made clear when I ask why she chose China as the novels central location, when her love for, and connection with, Maine is so abundantly clear. Her answer is telling: Because it forces an open-mindedness. A fellow publishing professional told me recently that she wished hybrid publishing had a different namethat it would be better if hybrid publishing could be clearer, sexier somehow, as if that would solve its lingering challenges. But there is no name hybrid publishing could adopt that would change the fact that its a gray zonebetween traditional publishing and self-publishingor that its an emerging model thats still being defined. The Independent Book Publishers Association took a giant step earlier this year to codify hybrid publishing by laying out nine criteria that publishers must meet to be called hybrid publishers. The criteria are important because hybrid publishing, despite its unsexy name, does have clear appeal. Its getting attention. The industry is writing about it and therefore further codifying and validating it. And because the business model is one in which authors pay, service providers and other entities that do not meet the criteria are calling themselves hybrid because it behooves them to do so. Not all of these players are sinister. Ive talked to plenty of service providers who say, Were hybrid. We meet most of the criteria. The issue is that most isnt enough, and hybrid publishing will only be fully embraced and legitimized once the good actors understand that aspiring to be hybrid and being hybrid are two separate things. Hybrid publishing has, in fact, been around for as long as publishers have existed. In its simplest definition, hybrid publishing is traditional publishing in which authors invest in their own book projects in exchange for higher royalties. On the front end, the difference comes down to the money and who pays; on the back end, reputable hybrid publishers must adhere to the industrys best practices and standards. Traditional publishers have been cutting these kinds of deals for decades, and often the authors who want them are the savviest and most entrepreneurial: they understand that theres a certain insanity to giving up over 90% of their earnings and that the reality of a big advance is that it has the potential to be a career killer. Theres no question that advances are seductive. Every aspiring author wants one, not only for the money but because an advance is a financial vote of confidence. The problem is that votes of confidence have zero insurance attached to them, and since the publishing industry has only doubled down on advances in recent years, with many celebrated six- and seven-figure deals, the entire processauctions, bidding wars, giant advancesruns on high adrenaline and makes book publishers look a whole lot like problem gamblers hitting the Vegas Strip. One editor, quoted in a 2014 Publishers Weekly article titled, The Rise of the Seven-Figure Advance, in attempting to explain these enormous advances, said, The whole pool of talent is shrinking. There are fewer publishers, fewer slots, and fewer submissions, so... the higher the quality of the project, the more youre likely to get. The talent pool is not shrinking. Far from it. Its just that there are fewer sure bets: the debut (often young and attractive) literary ingenues and celebrities. Publishers cry poor and then throw a million dollars on red. Whats actually shrinking is any space within traditional publishing for new ways of thinking about how publishers might do business. Those who think outside the box, as always, are the indies. The big question that continues to challenge hybrid publishers is how they can prove they have a stake in projects if theyre not paying for them. Its decidedly less glamorous to have to pony up the money to publish than it is to get an advance, true. To measure whats at stake for a publisher, however, is to measure whats gained or lost. Hybrid publishers gain an asset every time an author is added to their lists, but they happen to pay authors a far greater percentage than traditional publishers, and that therefore puts far less pressure on either party to earn out. The first article I wrote for PW about hybrid publishing was in 2014. Traditional publishing has so little flexibility that its wedged itself into a creative void, and I think the long-term cultural impact will become evident, I wrote. Theres no separating the space that hybrid publishing is carving out for itself from the frenzied dance being played out in traditional publishing, because the two are interconnected. Yes, its more interesting to watch the drama that unfolds when the stakes are higher. But, in the long run, the career writers of the future will be those who embrace the myriad business models open to authors today. There are not and have never been sure bets in book publishing. Its a creative industry, and therefore, thankfully, many of the books that rise to the top defy reason and expectation. Thus, what matters most to any author should be the mechanisms by which a publisher can get a book out into the world. And, because the hybrid criteria include distribution, authors would do well to investigate this process and learn about how sales and marketing work. Authors should also determine whether previous books from publishers theyre considering rise to the level of success that theyre hoping for. These are the measures that matterthe measures that will give authors the most insurance in the end. Brooke Warner is the publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, a TEDx speaker, a writing coach, and the author of Write On, Sisters! (She Writes, fall 2019). Nicholas Provenzano is makerspace director and middle school technology coordinator at University Liggett School in Grosse Point Woods, Mich. But before he transitioned to that position, Provenzano taught high school English for 15 years. It was during his years in the classroom that he developed experience helping his fellow teachers integrate technology into their lessons, and he subsequently earned a masters degree in educational technology. He blogs about making and tech at The Nerdy Teacher and has turned his passion for these topics into two books, 2016s Your Starter Guide to Makerspaces (Blend) and The Maker Mentality, which he self-published via CreateSpace in June. We recently asked Provenzano to share some of his thoughts on, and experiences with, the maker movement in schools. What terminology do you use when talking about making in schools? How do you describe it to someone who might not know what you mean? It all depends on the context of the conversation. If we are talking about the culture of making or the thought process of a maker, I use the term the maker mentality. This, for me, is the idea that schools can create a culture where students can demonstrate understanding through the creation of artifacts. This aspect of making is how we can have students grow their problem-solving skills and support their creative sides, as well. As for the maker movement, that is the all-encompassing term that has to do with building makerspaces, a refocusing on the value of creative problem-solving or hacking, and the drive for teachers to find alternative forms of assessment and to allow students the time and place to explore their interests in ways unrelated to the curriculum. When asked, What is making? I tell parents or other teachers it is giving students the chance to explore learning in ways that are more meaningful to them. It is not designed to replace all aspects of traditional education; it is designed to be another tool to support the great things that are happening in classrooms daily. How is making a part of your profession every day? Im the director of my schools makerspace, so every day I work with students who come in and have projects for class and they want to do something more than a PowerPoint or poster board. I also work with teachers who are interested in changing the way they assess their students and would like to utilize the makerspace in these new assessments. What does making look like in light of new technology? I look at this push for the creation of makerspaces like Shop Class 2.0. Thats really what a makerspace is. New technology allows for faster prototyping and for the creation of ideas that would not have been possible in the past. 3-D printers, laser cutters, and computer numeric control machines [which allow computers to control machine tools] are amazing tools that open the doors of possibility and creativity for our students. What are the most important things that teachers, librarians, and administrators should know about making? Making is not about technology. Making can be cardboard boxes and duct tape. If there is money for more advanced tools, that is great, but it is not a requirement for making. If you really want to check out making, visit a kindergarten class. Kindergarten teachers have been doing this for decades. The question now is, How do we continue what they do in kindergarten in meaningful ways as students progress in our educational system? What makes your approach to making stand out? My background as an instructor in high school English. I started exploring making after diving into project-based learning. I am an advocate for STEAM, not just STEM. I say that STEM will make your item work, but STEAM will make it work and look good, too. My non-science/technology background opens up doors to teachers in classrooms, because I have done it and continue to do it. Sadly, there are too many people out there pitching books, seminars, and other things who have not been in the classroom for a very long time. That doesnt totally discount what they have to say, but I have found that teachers want to hear from teachers who are doing the work, and Im one of those people. I also have a very relaxed tone and informal style to my writing that is very accessible to teachers looking for a quick read that will not ridicule their methods. Too much Everything you are doing is wrong and you are ruining the lives of children because you have done it is going on in education. Im always upfront about the fact that I do not have all the answers, and that the answers I do have might not work for your studentsbut I think it is important to share because something might stick and help. What are some of your favorite tools and approaches to making? Sheets of scrap paper and a pencil are my go-to tools when it comes to making. This is where I start all of my projects. It helps to get all of the ideas out and go from there. My Moleskine notebook is also part of that process. I love Raspberry Pi [an inexpensive, credit cardsized Linux computer that was originally designed to teach young people to program, but has been adopted by makers]. It is a ridiculously versatile tool that can be used to make so many different types of products. I share it with everyone looking to get started with making. Who are some of the people who are doing great things in this arena? Collen Gravesschool librarian, author, and blogger at colleengraves.orgis amazing. She is one of my favorite people and has pushed my thinking when it comes to making and what it entails in different aspects of the school. Matt Richardson is the executive director of Raspberry Pi North America and an amazing maker. He shares fun projects he is working on and all things Raspberry Pi. He works with the companys charitable foundation to get as many teachers trained on using Raspberry Pi so they can support computer science for students across North America. What other insights on making would you like to share? My first book, Your Starter Guide to Makerspaces, was my way of sharing my ups and downs in creating a space having never done it before. There was so much I did not know until after purchases were made, and my understanding of what I thought we needed was very different from what my students truly needed. I wrote the book I would have needed to start a space. I write very informally and use pop culture for all of my analogies, to make the ideas in the book more accessible to the person just getting started. It is easy to get lost in too much edu-jargon. I think that is why the book has done so well over the past couple of years. At least, that is what people have told me. My new book, The Maker Mentality, is more about the culture that needs to be in place in schools and classrooms to create a successful environment for makerspaces to thrive. The book is broken down for teachers, administrators, and students, because all three stakeholders contribute to school culture. Its the book I wish I could have written first, because I feel you need the culture before you can implement the space. It is just another thing I learned through my growth process with making. Another thing I want to share is that there is no wrong way to make. People spend so much time classifying and categorizing that there is a likely chance they are going to exclude something from the making umbrella that is unwarranted. Knitting, pottery, watercolor painting, coding, 3-D design, underwater basket weaving, and so much more are part of the maker mentality. I try to keep a broad definition of making: Making is the creation of something that did not exist before. It doesnt have to work as planned, it doesnt have to be pretty, it doesnt have to last very long, and it can be a complete and total failure. That doesnt mean it wasnt made. Note: For an annotated list of more maker-themed books, click here. Deal of the Week: Seven Figures for a Lolita Story at Morrow In a seven-figure preempt, Jessica Williams at William Morrow bought North American rights to Kate Russells debut, My Dark Vanessa. The novel, which has sold in 22 other countries to date, is, Morrow said, a Lolita story for the #MeToo era. Narrated by a woman who, at 15, has an affair with her middle-aged English teacher, the work alternates between the past affair and present day. It juxtaposes, Morrow elaborated, memory, trauma, and the aftermath of abuse with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl understanding for the first time the power her body can wield. The HC imprint compared the novel, set for 2020, to works such as Emma Clines The Girls. Russell, who was represented by Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners, has an MFA from Indiana University. FROM THE U.S. Viking Unveils New le Carre Bestselling espionage scribe John le Carre sold a new book, Agent Running in the Field, to Viking, slated for October 2019. Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown sold U.S. rights to Kathryn Court. Agent, which is set in contemporary London, is the authors 25th novel; its about, Viking said, a 26-year-old solitary figure who, in a desperate attempt to resist the new political turbulence swirling around him, makes connections that will take him down a very dangerous path. Le Carres previous novel, 2017s Legacy of Spies, was, per Viking, a #1 bestseller around the world. Dial Lays Down for Unicorn In a rumored six-figure deal, Dials Ellen Cormier took world rights, at auction, to author-illustrator Jessika von Innerebners debut picture book, Kevin the Unicorn: Its Not All Rainbows. Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world rights (excluding Canadian English and North American French) to the book, which, she said, follows a unicorn who discovers that life isnt always perfectand thats okay. The deal included a second, currently untitled picture book. Garbers Wolves Run to Wednesday For six figures, Eileen Rothschild at St. Martins Presss Wednesday Books took North American rights, in a preempt, to Romina Garbers Wolves of No World. The YA novel was sold as part of a two-book deal by Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. According to the publisher, Wolves is inspired by mythology from the authors native Argentina, and, the publisher continued, shows the immigrant identity and what it means to be illegal. The book is set for spring/summer 2020. Overlook Takes to Leunenss Skies In its first fiction buy since being acquired by Abrams, Overlook Press nabbed Christine Leunenss Caging Skies. Tracy Carns took world English rights (excluding New Zealand) to the novel, which she called a darkly comic satire about war, from agent Laura Susijn. A film based on the book is set to be released by Fox Searchlight in 2019. Caging Skies, set in Vienna circa WWII, follows a young man who discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their house. Crooked Lane Goes YA Indie crime publisher Crooked Lane Books made its first YA acquisition with the world rights purchase of Lily Sparkss debut, Teen Killers Club. The thriller, sold by Stacia Decker at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner to Matt Martz, follows a 17-year-old whos wrongly convicted of murdering her best friend. The teen then joins, Decker explained, a program in which 18-and-under killers are trained as government assassins at an abandoned sleepaway camp. Sparks is a TV writer whos worked on shows such as the CWs Reign. Milano Delivers Hope to Scholastic Actress-turned-activist Alyssa Milano sold her debut childrens book series, Hope, to Scholastic. The series follows 11-year-old Hope Roberts, who, the publisher said, seeks to create social change in her community. The series will be illustrated by Eric S. Keyes, and book one is slated for October 2019. Milano was represented in the deal by CAA, which handled the world English rights agreement. Arendt Bio to Penguin With a North American rights preempt, Penguin Presss Will Heyward won a biography of Hannah Arendt by Thomas Meyer. The author is a philosophy professor in Germany and, per Penguin, one of the foremost authorities on his subject. Markus Hoffmann at Regal Hoffmann & Associates and Andrea Vogel at the Michael Gaeb Literary Agency brokered the deal on behalf of Piper Verlag; Hoffmann added that the German publisher won world rights to the book in a significant deal after an eight-way auction. The book is tentatively titled Hannah Arendt and has sold in, among other countries, Brazil, France, and Italy. INTERNATIONAL U.K.-based indie publisher Scribe acquired two novels by 24-year-old New Zealand author Annaleese Jochem, including her native bestseller Baby (first published by Victoria University Press in 2017). Dramatic rights to Baby have also been nabbed by U.K. production company Wild Card Films (In Darkness). Included in the deal is the authors currently untitled sophomore novel. [The Bookseller] After a six-bidder auction, U.K. publisher Frances Editions Saint-Simon is the latest house to acquire Timo Honkelas The Peace Machine (originally published in Finland in 2017 by Gaudeamus). The Elina Ahlback Agency is handling rights to the book, which is subtitled Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for World Peace. PAGE TO SCREEN Netflix has ordered an eight-episode series adaptation of Charles Forsmans self-published comic I Am Not Okay with This. Director Jonathan Entwhistle (The End of the F***king World) is working on the project with directorexecutive producer Shawn Levy (Stranger Things). [Deadline] Samanta Schweblins Spanish-language novel Distancia de Rescate has been optioned for feature adaptation by Netflix. Peruvian filmmaker Claudia Llosa (Aloft) has been tapped to direct, while Schweblin is set to cowrite the script with Llosa. [Hollywood Reporter] For more childrens and YA book deals, see our latest Rights Report. For librarians, 2018 was an eventful year. And as the library community prepares to gather in Seattle for the 2019 American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, January 2529, next year is shaping up to be equally eventful. In 2019, the ALA will continue to gather input from members on how to retool the association for the future. And there are the policy and budget challenges that come with the Trump administrationincluding another expected proposal in February to permanently eliminate federal library funding. And, after a few relatively quiet years, digital content and e-books issues are heating up again. In Seattle, librarians will kick-start what figures to be a busy year with a slate of inspiring authors and speakers; a strong, future-oriented professional program; a host of awards and receptions; and a full slate of author signings and product demos in the exhibit hall. Highlights The opening general session kicks off on Friday in the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) with Melinda Gates (January 25, 45:15 p.m., Ballroom 6 AB), a speaker well-known in the library community. As cochair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private foundation in the world, Gates has dedicated her life to finding solutions for people with the most urgent needs, which has included significant support for libraries. In April 2019, Gates will publish The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World (Flatiron), a memoir that, per the publisher, traces Gatess awakening to the link between womens empowerment and the health of societies. The Auditorium Speaker Series kicks off on Saturday with Sylvia Acevedo (January 26, 1011 a.m., Ballroom 6 AB), the current CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Over her remarkable career, Acevedo has worked as an engineer at IBM and a rocket scientist at NASA, and shes been an entrepreneur, a commissioner on the White House Initiative for Education Excellence for Hispanics, and an author. Her most recent book is a memoir aimed at young readers, Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist (HMH). Later that afternoon, Eric Klinenberg, a professor of sociology and director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University, will deliver the Arthur Curley Memorial Lecture (Saturday, January 26, 45 p.m., Ballroom 6 AB). His latest book, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life (Crown), makes the case, according to the publisher, that the resilience of our communities rests not on shared values but shared spacesincluding libraries, daycare centers, bookstores, even coffee shops. The Auditorium Speaker Series continues with award-winning travel author, television host, and activist Rick Steves (Sunday, January 27, 9:3010:30 a.m., Ballroom 6 AB). His latest book, Travel as a Political Act: How to Leave Your Baggage Behind (Hachette), reflects on how a life of travel broadened his own perspectives, and how travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the worlda timely message indeed. Author and educator Robin DiAngelo will keynote the ALA Presidents Program (Sunday, January 27, 3:305:30 p.m., Ballroom 6 AB). DiAngelo is the author of White Fragility: Why Its So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism (Beacon). The book has become a touchstone on race, exploring how racial illiteracy reinforces a simplistic definition of a racist as a bad person and exempts white progressives. Recently, DiAngelo was appointed to codesign the city of Seattles Race and Social Justice Initiative Anti-racism training. And the closing general session speaker will be journalist and author Isha Sesay (Monday, January 28, 23 p.m., Ballroom 6 AB). In 2005, she joined CNN International as an anchor and correspondent covering major breaking news stories and global events. She left this year to pursue other projects, including her forthcoming book, Beneath the Tamarind Tree, which will be published by HarperCollins in July 2019; its the first definitive account of Boko Harams abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls. Programs, Awards, and More The professional program at ALA Midwinter is loaded with great panels and talks, including the 2019 Symposium on the Future of Libraries, which offers, according to the organizers, three days of programs exploring the near-term trends already inspiring innovation in libraries as well as the longer-term trends that will help libraries adapt to the needs of their communities. Check the ALA Midwinter website for a complete schedule. The highlight of every ALA Midwinter, of course, is the announcement of the coveted Youth Media Awards, which will take place from 8 to 9 a.m. on Monday, January 28 (Ballrooms AC). The ALA Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King awards, are considered the countrys most prestigious awards celebrating childrens and young adult literature and media. And on Sunday, January 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., the winners of the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction will be announced at the Reference and User Services Associations Book and Media Awards event. The shortlist for nonfiction includes The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantu (Riverhead); Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon (Scribner); and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy (Little, Brown). The shortlist for fiction includes Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Knopf); The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Viking); and There There by Tommy Orange (Knopf). The two medal winners will be honored at a reception at the ALA Annual Conference this summer in Washington, D.C. And dont forget the exhibits: some 450 vendors and organizations will be at ALA Midwinter, showing off a range of library products, services, books, tools, and technologies, in addition to author readings, booth signings, and presentations held at multiple pavilions and on stages on the show floor. The exhibits open with a reception on Friday evening, January 25, immediately following the opening general session. Small towns, close-knit communities, and, more than anything, a powerful sense of place make Southern fiction what it is. In these books, people are shaped by where they live and where they're from. "The setting is more than a place," says Kensington executive editor Selena James. "It's part of the history of the characters and can be a refuge or a reminder of the past." Southern fiction is a category that makes sense for Kensington, which is known for publishing fiction that readers can truly escape into, from thrillers and commercial fiction to romance and more. "Kensington books deliver the kind of immersive reading experience that warrants page-turner status," says Vida Engstrand, Kensington's director of communications. "And Southern fiction, with its strong emphasis on voice and place, almost by definition transports its readers." Author Anna Jean Mayhew explains, "Southern literature evolves from a region that was a country sundered from the motherland. We've never lost that sense of separation, so Southern literature is first about place." Shadowed by slavery and the Civil War, Southern fiction demands a special kind of writer. "I believe that for a novel to be truly considered Southern fiction, it must be written by an author who is of' the South," Engstrand says. Author Donna Everhart agrees: "There is an authenticity to the storytelling and a cadence to the language that is difficult to achieve if you aren't from here. We have a complicated history too, and unless you're born and raised in the South, it may be hard to understand how that affects the way we think, to comprehend the sense of pride." That doesn't mean, however, that you need to be from the South to read and enjoy these books. In 2019, Kensington will publish more Southern fiction than ever before, beginning with six novels that mine the South's complicated legacies. Of the Southern fiction he acquires, Kensington editor-in-chief John Scognamilglio says, "The narrator is usually coming of age and suddenly finds herself thrust into a situation where she's dealing with problems and issues that are darker than one would expect." Here's a look at the books Kensington has in store for Southern fiction fans this year. The Forgiving Kind Donna Everhart $15.95 (352p) 978-1-4967-1700-9 Feb. The happiness of a 12-year-old girl living on her family's North Carolina cotton farm in the 1950s is ruptured when her father dies of a rattlesnake bite. Forgiveness Road Mandy Mikulencak $26 (304p) 978-1-4967-10062-2 Mar. A 16-year-old girl shoots her father to save her sisters from his abuse. When she is sent to a psychiatric hospital, the revelation of the secret behind her crime forces the women of her family to face their past. Over the Fence Mary Monroe $26 (400p) 978-1-4967-1614-9 Mar. Set during the years after prohibition, this novel of suburban turmoil follows a bootlegging couple and their seemingly perfect neighbors as their lives become recklessly intertwined, leading to blackmail and revenge. Tomorrow's Bread Anna Jean Mayhew $15.95 (352p) 978-0-7582-5410-8 Apr. In a predominantly black neighborhood in 1960s Charlotte, N.C., segregation forces a prosperous black woman to keep her relationship with the white father of her son a secret. The Abolitionist's Daughter Diane C. McPhail $26 (304p) 978-1-4967-2030-6 May This haunting debut, based partly on the author's family, illuminates a little-known aspect of Southern history: the lives of those openly opposed to slavery at a time when freeing slaves was illegal. The Undertaker's Assistant Amanda Skenandore $15.95 (304p) 978-1-4967-1368-1 Aug. A former slave with an unusual profession searches for her lost family in Reconstruction-era New Orleans. For more information about these and other Kensington titles, contact Lulu Martinez, communications manager, at LMartinez@kensingtonbooks.com. Pride in their programs. Pride in their students. Pride in their faculty. Those are the predominant sentiments of the leaders at five of the top graduate programs offering masters degrees in publishing. Though many schools offer a variety of certificate programs, the focus here is on masters degree programs only. There is much commonality among them, such as a frustratingly low percentage of men enrolled (5%20%). Another trend is more evening class schedules, which allow students to manage full-time employment alongside school. Most importantly, all aim to prepare students for an ever-changing industry, where finding jobs has become more competitive. But there are distinctions that come from curriculum, philosophy, faculty, and location. We spoke with the directors at Emerson, NYU, Pace, Rosemont, and Simon Fraser to find out whats new, whats different, and whats special about their programs. Built into the DNA of our program is growing upliterallyside by side with an MFA program, John Rodzvilla says. Thats part of our mind-set. Its not just about the business of publishing; its about working with authors and understanding their point of view. The program, Rodzvilla adds, looks at the art and craft of publishing with a little bit of business. Its focus is on the midlist. And by midlist, he emphatically does not mean mediocre books that languish in the netherworld without marketing, but rather making important books, the books that need to be done. That attitude is at least partially drawn from location. We prepare students for our localized market here in the Boston area, Rodzvilla says. That market includes such publishers as Candlewick Press, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and several academic presses including Harvard, Harvard Business Publishing, and MIT Press. That said, Emerson recently added an MFA in popular fiction writing and publishing, an online writing program to prepare students to write professional-level stories and novels in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, romance, and young adult. To help these writers understand how best to place their work in the market, the program includes courses on traditional and self-publishing. The program had its first artist in residence this year, Ytasha L. Womack, the producer, director, and author of Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture. Self-publishing has also impacted the curriculum in other ways. Rodzvilla explains that more and more students are familiar with the self-publishing revolution, many of them dabbling in it themselves. That experience means that they understand its not just editing thats important; its marketing and publicity, too, which in turn helps them understand traditional publishing better. Last spring, Rodzvilla doubled his offerings in marketing and publicity to meet demand. Our curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect new trends in the industry and to meet the needs of the publishing profession, Rodzvilla says. Among those needs are proficiency in metadata, content strategy, and innovation, resulting in new classes. A source of pride for Rodzvillaand his peers at the other programsis the close interaction between students with professionals and faculty and fostering opportunities for students to have real-world publishing experience. He points to Luna Tang, an international student from Qingzhou, a small town in eastern China, who recounts her experience on the universitys website: I coworked with a few copy editors, as knowledgeable as walking encyclopedias; I took business trips with professional subrights agents, socializing among different publishers at international book fairs; I supported acquiring editors at negotiating tables with diplomacy and eloquence; I worked with teams filled with marketing savvy turning trade books into bestsellers. This work culminated in my leading a team of five on a book series of scientists autobiographies, and talking in Japanese with Dr. Makoto Kobayashi, the Nobel Prize laureate in physics, about his research and life. Specific courses also offer experiential learning for students. This spring, for the third year, Emerson is offering a course in which students work with the Boston Globe to pitch ideas and develop a special section for the newspaper. The department also runs a community publishing course where students create catalogues for Artists for Humanity and Bookbuilders of Boston. Our program stresses that publishing is a collaborative business, Andrea Chambers says. To that end, the curriculum is structured so that students gain expertise across all areas of programming. Rather than specialize in editing or design, students are required to take courses in three main areas: content development, marketing and distribution, and monetization, she explains. Even if a student seeks a career as an editor, as we all know, in this publishing climate, an editor needs to understand not only editing but publicity, marketing, sales, finance, digital, and so much more. We believe that its our responsibility as publishing educators to teach all major areas of publishing to our students. That said, students have enormous flexibility to select courses that meet their interestsand employers needs. Increasingly, that means courses that emphasize digital, such as Web Analytics, Writing and Editing for Digital Platforms, Website Production, Interface Design, and, of course, video, Chambers notes. This year, the video course options were expanded with the addition of an editing course to supplement an introductory course in creating, shooting, marketing and editing video for publishing. Internships are an important part of NYUs program, and students are encouraged to seek them from their first semester. This is less about the possibility of getting a job than it is about helping students determine that they are on a path that is right for them. To highlight the success of this approach, Chambers cites students who have made comments such as, I loved my internship in publicity but realized that I really want to be an editor. Experiential learning happens inside the classroom, as well. Chambers invites representatives from major book companies to present unique business challenges that students work on as classroom projects, then propose solutions for them in a guided learning environment. The students receive invaluable feedback from the companies themselves, she adds. One of the programs courses is taught by Ellen Chodosh, the director of NYU Press, who provides an inside look at how an academic publisher works, drawing upon real-life examples. Students visit the offices of the press and attend meetings with staff, including editorial board meetings. I would call this experiential learning in the most positive and productive way, Chambers says. NYUs program has the advantage of being located in New York, the heart of trade publishing. Chambers likes to think of the program not just as NYU School of Professional Studiess Center for Publishing but as the Center of Publishing. We are fortunate to have an illustrious faculty of leading publishing executives who bring extraordinary knowledge and experience to the classroom, she says. Members include Peter Borland, v-p and editor-in-chief of Atria Books and Washington Square Press; Justin Chanda, v-p and publisher of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; John Clinton, v-p and director of digital video at Penguin Random House; Sean Desmond, v-p and publisher of Hachettes Twelve imprint; Page Edmunds, executive associate publisher for Workman; Victor Hendrickson, assistant general counsel at HarperCollins; and many others. The NYU programs also offers insight and opportunity beyond the five boroughs. We are a very global program, Chambers says. Over the years, she has developed close relationships with major book fairs, enabling students to assist the Beijing, Frankfurt, London, and Shanghai fairs. Next April, students will go to the Bologna Book Fair for the first time. On the job front, similar to what is going on at other programs, students are encouraged to seek employment in the publishing industry right from the first semester. The school provides support through the Wasserman Center at the NYUSPS, and job postings are sent out weekly. Chambers notes that she often hears from students that their degrees and their knowledge of all aspects of publishing helps them move up the ladder more quickly than they expected. As one recent graduate noted, While every publishing job applicant can say they love books, few can say they understand P+Ls, contracts or marketing plans. This past summer, after more than a half century at Pace and 30 years running the publishing program launched in 1984, Sherman Raskin retired. Manuela Soares, who has been on the faculty since 2004 as the only other full-time professor besides Raskin, has taken the reins. Working alongside Raskin for more than a decade prepared her well for taking the helm. Ive had years to think about what could be different, so Ive already made some changes to the curriculum, but not too many, she says. Our curriculum is really strong in teaching the skills that students need and anticipating what they might need in the future. Also based in New York, Pace, too, has the advantage of having industry leaders on the faculty. They know whats going on, Soares says. She has frequent conversations with people at publishing companies about what skills recent hires have and what theyre looking for. Thats really helping in judging our program against that criteria. The other advantage of having faculty directly from the executive ranks of publishing is the opportunity for serendipitous relationships. A few years back, Michael Denneny, then an editor at St. Martins, was a guest speaker at the same time a student was applying for a job at the company. When the student was asked in her interview what she knew about St. Martins, she responded, Quite a lot, actually. Michael Denneny just spoke to my class. It gave that student an advantage over the competition, Soares says. Among the changes Soares is making to meet current industry needs is establishing new courses on metadata and digital development for books and magazines; the latter will be taught by Kristen Flanagan, the deputy editor, digital, at Architectural Digest. Soares is also updating the titles and descriptions of courses to better represent what they are. Desktop 1 and Desktop 2 are classes that go back to the 1980s and 90s, she says. What they really are are publication design coursesso lets call them that. A former course called Electronic Publishing has become Web Development. And General Interest Books is now Fundamentals of Trade Publishing. The substance of the courses remains, but theyve been updated and refreshed. Soares emphasizes Paces comprehensive top-to-bottom approach that prepares students for all aspects of publishing. When I started many years ago in publishing, I realized that you get siloed into your particular area, and its very, very hard to get information and to understand how it all works together, she says. Ive seen, many times, people who were in the wrong department and had a very difficult time moving to another area. One of the benefits of our program is that you really get to understand the business of publishing: creative, writing, editing, distribution, finance, and so on. A unique experience for Soaress students is the possibility of turning their thesis papers into articles for Springer Verlags Publishing Research Quarterly. She is on the editorial board and can recommend worthy papers to the journals editor, Robert E. Baensch. Recently, an 85-page thesis by a Brazilian student become the basis of two articles; the student landed a job in international rights. And this year, Soares is excited to report that, though many of Paces students have gone to the major book fairs such as London and Frankfurt, next year it will be sending two to four students to Beijing. The international travel as students is important, she says, because once youre working in the industry, you may not have the opportunity to do so. Soaress program goes beyond the basics. This year, she herself will teach an ethics class. Skills are important, she says. But in addition to how we publish, it is important to understand the philosophy of why we publish what we publish. Good things come in small packagesand also in small classrooms. Marshall Warfield believes that the small class size (an average of 14 students per class) is an important advantage offered by Rosemont. Were small enough that students build effective relationships with instructors and other students that allow for more effective networking, he says. Though Warfield acknowledges that networking is an important part of everyones publishing program, he feels Rosemonts program allows it to happen more organically, more comfortably. Warfield cites one example in which his own connection turned fortuitous. A student was working with Warfield on his thesis, which looked into novelizations from video games to examine how intellectual property flows across media formats and is treated by authors and editors. Warfield spoke with a friend who works for filmmaker James Cameron in L.A. and asked him if he would speak with the student. The friend did, and now that student is working on intellectual property for Cameron. Another point of pride for Warfield is the schools particular variety of concentrations: editorial, childrens and YA publishing, and design. The childrens concentration is fueled by Rosemonts impressive childrens library, which was why Rachel Doughertythen an illustrator, now an author as wellchose the program. She was looking for a particular book on Emily Roebling (of the Brooklyn Bridgebuilding family) as part of her research for her own forthcoming book on the subject, and the only library that had it was Rosemonts. The concentration in childrens publishing also benefits from its faculty, which includes the 2018 Newbery Award winner (for Hello Universe) Erin Entrada Kelly. She graduated from the schools MFA program a few years ago, but her publishing background makes her a valuable asset to our program, Warfield says. In the design concentration, Warfield lauds Susan DiGironimo, who is the award-winning director of the colleges graphic design services by day and an instructor in the evening. He points out that graduates from the program are as likely to land design jobs as they are more traditional publishing roles. On the job front in general, Warfield says that with Rosemont degrees, besides the full-time jobs they are landing, graduates are qualified to do freelance work as editorial consultants, marketing consultants, and designers. They are always able to find something that applies their skills in project management and educationthe heart of publishing. Warfield also emphasizes the importance of good research that forwards the state of the art of the industry. He adds, I want them to help the publishing industry discover something new about itself. Rosemonts program is continuing to expand, Warfield says, noting that program changes are underway for the fall 2019 semester that will allow students to have more choices and pursue their interests more effectively. A formal announcement detailing changes is expected in February. Suzanne Norman, who heads up the master in publishing program at SFU in Vancouver, points out that our graduate students come into the master of publishing from a variety of disciplines, but mainly from the humanities. She adds, Occasionally some will have multiple degrees or even other graduate and postgraduate experience. They are drawn to our program for myriad reasons, including foremost a passion for the world of publishing. Having a passion for publishing does not mean that all of SFUs students want to pursue careers in the industry; the program is designed to benefit those who decide to seek work elsewhere, as well. In those cases, we look for research opportunities or other entrepreneurial ideas, from which they can develop a graduate thesis, Norman says. She points out that although the master in publishing is a terminal degree, SFU has had a number of students who continue in the academy, and that the university has facilitated interdisciplinary PhDs for such students. The masters program is a blend of scholarship and practical experience that is balanced throughout the 18-month track, which Norman describes as a rigorous academic course load that underpins project-based courses and eventually a three-month professional placement in industry. It features an emphasis on design, public scholarship, community partnerships, entrepreneurship, innovation, and underrepresented publishing streams such as indigenous literatures. These areas of focus, along with the important role of research, distinguish SFU from other publishing programs, according to Norman. This combination means that the jobs students land vary across a broad spectrum. We have had students pursue academic studies and enter industry entry- and midlevel positions, and we have a fairly high number of entrepreneurial graduates who are creating their own opportunities, Norman says. Among the varied endeavors created by former students are Engage Books, a traditional-style publishing house running Amazon-only sales and distribution; Page Two Strategies, an innovative hybrid publisher/agency; and Shelfie, subsequently bought by Kobo Rakuten. Like the other programs, SFUs applications are steady. Surprisingly, given the doom and gloom about publishing we see in the media, we see much optimism and enthusiasm for forging new pathways in what it means to publish, Norman says. She attributes the unwavering interest in the program to the faculty, who are second to none in North America and, yes, in European publishing programs, as well. One thing that Norman would like to see is more American students in the program. Our industries are similar, and our curriculum is very transportable into publishing houses globally, she says. She also notes that the entrepreneurial components of their maker-focused curriculum provide students with many of the core tools they need to strike out on their own. Finally, she says she would love to work with more American companies to arrange professional placements for students (Change your immigration laws! she jokes.) These placements are not internships in the common sense of the word, she adds, but more of a partnership between SFU, the student, and the industry host. After accumulating assets, it is not unusual for publishers to look for ways to manage those properties more effectively. Such was the case again in 2018, especially late in the year when two of the Big Five trade publishers made significant adjustments. The most wide-ranging realignment was the merger of the Crown Publishing Group into the Random House Publishing Group. The reorg, announced in October, put both groups under Random House head Gina Centrello, with Crown president and publisher Maya Mavjee leaving the company at the end of the year. On December 7, Centrello announced how Crown will be structured as part of Random House. The new Crown will be composed of three distinct groups: Crown Trade, which comprises Crown, Archetype, Broadway, Tim Duggan Books, Hogarth, and Three Rivers; Illustrated and prescriptive nonfiction, consisting of Clarkson Potter, Harmony, Rodale, and Ten Speed; Christian, business, and conservative books, composed of Convergent, Currency, Forum, Image, Mutnomah, and WaterBrook. In her memo announcing the changes, Centrello explained that the Crown Trade and the illustrated and prescriptive nonfiction imprints will be co-led by David Drake and Aaron Wehner, and Tina Constable will continue to lead Christian, business, and conservative publishing. All three report directly to Centrello. The major casualty of the restructuring was Molly Stern, senior v-p, publisher at Crown, who is leaving the company. The merger of Random House and Crown is the latest restructuring effort to take place at PRH, following Penguin and Random House completing their merger on July 1, 2013. The combination of Crown and Random is not the only major change announced by PRH in 2018. In early November, PRHs DK division said that its Prima Games unit will be closing by spring 2019. Dedicated to publishing strategy guides for video games, Prima Games has stopped commissioning new titles and its Indianapolis, New York City, and Roseville, Calif., offices will be closing. The Hachette Book Group implemented two reorganization efforts late this year. The bigger of the two moves came in early November and involved acquisitions old and new. In the reorg, HBG moved its Da Capo Press imprint into the Hachette Books division, which itself was moved into the Perseus Books division overseen by Susan Weinberg. Hachette Books was created largely from HBGs purchase of the adult Disney Publishing titles in June 2013, and the Perseus Books division was formed following HBGs spring 2016 purchase of the Perseus Books Group publishing arm. At the same time, HBG announced that it was consolidating the editorial and publishing teams of its two Nashville-based Christian publishing units, FaithWords and Worthy. (HBG bought Worthy in September.) A total of about 25 jobs were eliminated in the reorganization. In early December, HBGs Grand Central Publishing group announced that its Life & Style imprint will be absorbed into the flagship GCP list at the end of 2018. The imprint was formed in 2010 under the direction of Karen Murgolo to publish books in the food and cooking, health, inspiration, self-help, and wellness categories. Now, GCP said, books in those areas will be published on the flagship GCP list. Murgolos job was cut along with a handful of others. At other Big Five houses, HarperCollins underwent a realignment when Michael Morrison, president and publisher of HCs U.S. General Books Group, left the company at the end of January. With his departure, Jonathan Burnham was named president and publisher of Harper, overseeing Harper, Harper Business, Harper Design, Harper Paperbacks, Harper Perennial, Harper Wave, Amistad, Broadside, and Ecco. Liate Stehlik was promoted to president and publisher of William Morrow/Avon, overseeing William Morrow, Avon, Custom House, Dey Street, and Harper Voyager . Later in the year, HC hired former Atria Publishing Group president and publisher Judith Curr to take over (and expand) its HarperOne unit, where Mark Tauber resigned as publisher at the end of 2017. Curr added HCs Amistad and Spanish-language publishing operations to her group. Simon & Schuster announced that, following the decision by Susan Moldow to retire as head of the Scribner Publishing Group and as publisher of Touchstone at the end of the year, it will stop publishing new Touchstone books at the end of 2018 and move any forthcoming books already signed to the Atria and Gallery lists. Touchstone staff will also head to Atria and Gallery. S&S will continue to release Touchstone backlist titles, which will be managed by associate publisher Meredith Vilarello. In explaining the move, S&S adult publishing president and publisher Jonathan Karp said that though Touchstones backlist is a vital part of S&S, the divisions frontlist frequently overlaps with our other adult publishers, particularly Atria and Gallery. Over at Macmillan, company president Don Weisberg announced that Picador will stop releasing original titles by April 2019, and that Picador will return to its primary role as Macmillans literary trade paperback reprint unit. James Meader was put in charge of day-to-day management of Picador, which is moving under Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Three Picador employees, including publisher Stephen Morrison, left the company. In major restructurings at larger independent publishers, Quarto Group began a round of cost cutting in the U.S. and U.K. in the second half of 2018 that includes closing its Minneapolis office by the end of 2018. Quarto will shut down its Voyageur imprint, which has been housed in Minneapolis, but the locations Burgess Lea, Cool Springs, and Motorbooks imprints will continue. Quarto did not disclose how many jobs are being eliminated under the restructuring. In April, Skyhorse Press, which had seen rapid growth over its 10-year history due in part to an aggressive acquisition spree, said it was reducing its title output by about 25% and was eliminating 16 of its 77 full-time positions. The lift of the ban is supposed to take effect from Monday, December 17, 2018. The Chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining, Prof. Frimpong Boateng made the announcement whiles outdooring governments new policy framework on regularising and reforming mining activities in the country. Nonetheless, only small-scale miners who have had their concessions validated will be allowed to mine. According to Prof. Frimpong Boateng, who doubles as the countrys Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, the committee was able to successfully implement all the strategies to curb illegal mining prior to lifting the ban. Having successfully implemented the strategies outlined in the road-map, the ban on small-scale mining is being lifted on Monday 17th December 2018 for miners who have gone through vetting successfully within the regularized and reformed framework? the Minister said. He then cautioned the small-scale miners against using equipment not officially tagged by the DVLA, as all of such equipment will be ceased. He said, Equipment of small-scale miners will be electronically tagged by the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Authority [DVLA]. The lifting of the ban follows the successful vetting of 1,350 small-scale miners out of which over 900 have now been giving licenses to operate. Meanwhile, the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Mr Ken Ashigey, has said the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as Galamsey has not been won yet. He has then urged all citizens in the country to help fight the menace. Background The government earlier in June 2017 imposed a six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its related activities, which adversely affected the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves. Reports emerged Tuesday that the two wives of the former MP were nursing the ambition to contest the seat, a claim which was flatly denied by the second wife of the late MP, Lydia Alhassan. On Friday, some concerned branch executives of the NDC in the constituency initiated a campaign to push the actor to contest the impending by-election. According to them, Dumelo who is a known staunch supporter of former president John Mahama has what it takes to the capture the seat which was being held by the NPP, for the NDC. Addressing the media in Accra, spokesperson for the concerned branch executives of Ayawaso West Wuogon, Justice Tsepo stated John Dumelo will be the ideal candidate, to lead the party in the constituency. We are gunning for John Dumelo to represent the constituency in the forthcoming by-election. We all know Mr. Dumelo; he has been with the party for a long time, he is in good standing. He has been with us both good and bad times, he said. Mr. Tsepo added: We think this is the right time for us to give the opportunity to [Dumelo to] lead the party in this constituency. He said though the constituency is mourning the late MP, the NDC cannot sit idle without following due process, especially when the NPP. The NPP is preparing and in this case the NDC cannot sit idle and say because we sympathize with them so we will not take any step. So we are only following due process to prepare ourselves before the 60 days elapse, he stated. Mr. Agyarko who would have turned 61 years on December 10, died on Wednesday, November 21 in the United States where he was flown to by his family for medical care. According to him, lifting of the ban on small-scale mining does not mean foreign miners who are hiding in Ghana or escaped into neighbouring countries can come and continue their illegal activities. "It does not mean security operations to enforce compliance with mining regulations and approved practices will be discontinued. It does not mean there will be no monitoring of mining activities. The Akufo-Addo administration has that it has lifted the ban on small-scale mining in the country. The lift of the ban is supposed to take effect from Monday, December 17, 2018. The lifting of the ban follows the successful vetting of 1,350 small-scale miners out of which over 900 have now been giving licenses to operate. Meanwhile, the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Mr Ken Ashigey, has said the fight against illegal mining has not been won yet. The government earlier in June 2017 imposed a six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its related activities, which adversely affected the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves. READ MORE: September 21 declared a public holiday It is important to serve notice to the government that the Ghanaian people will not be insulted," the former deputy minister of education under the Mahama administration said. He continued: "Our history will not be revised. We will not accept this fascist, familiar attempt to revise the history of our country. "President Akufo-Addo should know that he is really playing with fire and he is going to be faced with the kind of resistance that his government has never witnessed nor experienced. "There is going to be a series of resistance. There are some things you will not touch. We would have thought that Akufo-Addo will stay on his manifesto promises which he has so far failed to deliver on. "The abysmal performance that he has so far exhibited." The president is seeking to amend the Public Holiday Act to make January 7, Constitution Day and August 4, Founder's Day, statutory holidays. Meanwhile, the birthday of Ghanas first president, Kwame Nkrumah, which hitherto was marked as the countrys Founders Day, will now be known as Nkrumah Memorial Day. Per the bill all 3 days will be observed as statutory holidays in addition to the two already existing commemorative days, July 1 and May 25, Republic Day and AU Day, respectively. READ MORE: Government mulls censoring online religious content The Commission said Nigerian universities were making progress in Information and Communication Technology research and development. The executive vice chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said this in Benin, Edo state at a roundtable with the Academia, Industry and other stakeholders in the South-South, Guardian reports. ece-auto-gen Prof. Danbatta according to the Guardian said the Commission would make a commitment to the success of the industry and also facilitate the contributions from academia as well as ensure sustainability and economic growth. He said, the telecom industry has grown for the past 17 years and there is still room for further growth. We want to stimulate research using the academia. We will look at those growth opportunities. This is more like opening an avenue for collaborative effort geared towards research that could grow the industry to the next level. This is the first self step towards identifying those research topic and find a costing on what is required. Also speaking at the meeting, Prof Faraday Orhumwense, Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) said the academia was ready to transform Nigeria to an industrial state. What are the chances of a year coming to an end without a new album from Olamide? The YBNL boss has blessed us with eight projects in the last seven years and just when we assumed 2018 will be one of those quiet years, Olamide is out with a new project featuring an all-star ensemble of members of his label. The 13-track album features the likes of his recent signings, Picazo Rhap and Yomi Blaze alongside other affiliates of the label in Limerick, Lil Kesh, Fire Boy, Temmie Ovwasa, Lyta and DJ Enimoney. LK Kuddy, Kizz Daniel and Kranium and producers Pheelz,Killertunes, 2Kris and Cracker Mallo also provide assists to the album. One notable miss is Davolee whose name features on two songs on the first tracklist but is absent from the final product. The album is here now and here are my candid thoughts as I hit the play button. First listen review of the ''YBNL Mafia Family'' album 1. 'Welcome' [Olamide] - It was important that Olamide took the lead in introducing the project. This was the first time a number of the acts would be put to the grand test of being judged on the weight of a full body of work and Olamide understands the need of helping to guide them through the industry doors. 'Welcome' is everything you expect from an Olamide record in 2018. A bouncy beat, a groovy flow and him singing about money and his lifestyle. While the verses are good enough, the hook is a bit laboured but it doesn't lessen this from being a bop heavy record and I can already vision it burning up the dancefloors. 2. 'Oke Suna' [Olamide] - The drums that open up this song is the reason why Yoruba parties are the best. Olamide is singing, it's a full Fuji vibe. The new turn-up party anthem has been delivered and it just continues from where he stopped on the first song. Pheelz is basically showing off his mad skills here and I am totally enjoying it. ''Ma sun, God's plan mo fi Drake e'' 3. 'Macaroni' [Picazo, Olamide] - Okay, here is where the action kicks off properly with the new boys as Picazo makes his entry. The rapper who comes with huge expectations on his young shoulders after his viral freestyle is taking the lead here. That energetic, raw and unbridled flow of his stays a charm. He is going at it aggressively, explaining whatever 'Macaroni' means to him. You would be forgiven if you fail to recognize Olamide's presence on this record as Picazo totally owned this. 4. 'Motigbana' [Olamide] - The pre-released anthem which comes complete with a unique dance style is one record you can't help but enjoy every time it comes up. 5. 'Jealous' [Fire Boy] - Melodic chants, someone is singing and it is sounding heavenly. There is a bit of the Wizkid influence in this, but this sounds more innocent, more enchanting. He is singing about love, riding through the verses very effortless, ''I am getting addicted'', he sings, which is exactly how I feel about his voice. This is good and immediately stands out from the earlier records. 6. 'Ika' [Olamide, Yomi Blaze] - Another young rapper signed barely 24 hours after his friend Picazo Rhap joined the team. Yomi Blaze's verse is quite candid and gripping as he inserts to any one who cares to listen that he is quite 'wicked' behind the mic. Olamide matches the youthful energy but his verse is packed with as much vulgarity as with him not saying anything really worthy. 7. 'Send Her Money' [Olamide, DJ Enimoney, Lk Kuddy, Kizz Daniel, Kranium] - Opens with a Samba type beat. Olamide is singing like a drunk Mexican. The guest verses help to make this enjoyable, Lk Kuddy's shows up on his verse, Kizz Daniel's distinct style shines through and Kranium also complements this quite well. The pairing is quite good but this could have turned out much better if only they chose a different song. 8. 'I'll Be Fine' [Fire Boy] - The Boy sure deserves an encore as he seems to exist in an alternate universe compared to other members of the label and the early lines are already sounding better than what he even offered on his first song. He is being introspective, the album's second song with meaningful content as he captures his journey and shares the fears that grips the heart of every upcoming act, assuring himself that ''He will be fine.'' The tape's best song so far. 9. 'Poverty Die' [Olamide] - The only other pre-released record that makes the album is the prayer themed gyration joint, 'Poverty Die.' No matter your reservations about the song or what it alludes to, you can't help but admit to the infectious hook and join in screaming ''Poverty Die, Die, Die, Poverty Die'' along with him. 10. Fire Down [Fire Boy, Picazo] - Fire Boy is doing his thing again, this song is already a banger and I have barely listened upto a full minute. Picazo comes with that 'Durosoke' flow as he creates a moderate contrast to his style on his earlier outing. But it is Fire Boy who again steals the show as he commands the girl to go ahead and 'Fire Down.' 11. 'Le Le Yi' [Lil Kesh, Fire Boy] - First, it was good to see Lil Kesh on this album. The former YBNL member has been witnessing some form of revival especially in the latter stages of the year and it is heartwarming to see an artist who has departed from a label still associate with it. The beat sounds like something Pheelz has deployed on a few of his past songs, Lil Kesh provides the added weight to Fire Boy's light presence as the duo serve up a record that has what it takes to grow into a street anthem. 12. Lie [Olamide, Limerick] - Limerick is one of those rappers that had me googling for his songs when I first heard him on 'Pesin.' The rapper sure knows how to weave his words and understands the catch in making rap musical, bringing back memories of the OG and former Swat Root member 6FootPlus. This is easy for him. ''One drag, person off [just like that], Badoo make I burst rap? [Just like that]''. He is talking about events, switching between playful and serious and Olamide relegating himself to just the hook adds to make Limerick the real star here. This is real catchy, the tape was becoming a drag prior to this but Limerick has given me the 'wake up' song. Another favourite. 13. Finally - [Temmie Ovwasa, Fire Boy] - Temmie finally [No pun intended] gets her shine time and she is brilliantly teamed with Fire Boy as they bring to fore their delightful vocals in this love story. This is quite good, I like how they complement each other. The texture of their individual voices does not cloud each other and it adds up to leave an intoxicating tingle at its end. Final thoughts: While Picazo Rhap and Yomi Blaze were the exciting names that many looked forward to listening to on this album, Fire Boy is the gem that steals the headlines with his features. Like Adekunle Gold who succeeded in setting himself apart during his time with the label, Fire Boy has the potentials to do same, if properly guided. The album kicked off like a burning house with fire jams but tailed off midway, only managing to come to life in moments. It would have been good to hear the likes of Picazo, Limerick and Yomi Blaze on more songs. The tape is split between Olamide the 'Wobe' king and the younger talents like Fireboy and Temmie who bring melody and a softer side to Picazo and Yomi's aggression. The ''YBNL Family Mafia'' is another album built off Olamide's newly cherished direction. A project packed full with party anthems, heavy Fuji influence and a central narrative just to make you dance. With a mindset like this, there will surely be plenty hits, but also gaps in its harmony and cohesiveness. One major feature that sets this apart from Olamide's last project, 'Lagos Na Wa' is the contributions of the various other artists which save it from ending up as one montonous playlist and improvement in production and sound. This album is a good way to introduce his artists and while it doesn't offer enough to draw conclusions on their abilities, it provides an enticing taste into what the YBNL family will be filling the industry with in the coming years. Rating: 3.5/5 Ratings Global peace icon, Mahatma Gandhi, might be remembered in many parts of the world for his non-violent resistance to British colonial rule, but in Africa, his legacy is a bit more controversial. In June 2016, the former president of India, Pranab Mukherjee, unveiled the statue of Gandhi as a symbol of close diplomatic ties, on the campus of Ghana's most prestigious university, the University of Ghana campus. However, some months later, a group of academics and students began a petition calling for the removal of the statue. They called the global peace icon racist and cited passages by Gandhi claiming Indians were "infinitely superior" to black Africans. The petition urged the university to put African heroes and heroines first and foremost and that it is better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super power. ece-auto-gen In September 2016 when the online protest commenced, it acquired 1000 signatures and a promise by the former government to relocate the statue "to avoid the controversy... becoming a distraction from our strong ties of friendship" with India. ALSO READ: India is building the largest statue in the world However, it was only in 2018, two years later, that the university authorities decided to take action and removed the controversial statue overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, leaving only the empty plinth. Students and lecturers at the school have said that it is "long overdue" and that is "it's a massive win for Ghanaians". The university authorities refused to comment while an official at Ghana's foreign affairs ministry said only: "It's an internal decision by the university." ece-auto-gen When Gandhi lived and worked as a lawyer in South Africa from 1893 to 1915, his early writings referred to black South Africans as kaffirs a highly offensive racist slur and complained that the South African government wanted to drag down Indians to the same level as people he called half-heathen natives. He wrote: Ours is one continual struggle against a degradation sought to be inflicted upon us by the Europeans, who desire to degrade us to the level of the raw kaffir whose occupation is hunting, and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife with and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness. Boko Haram attacks and banditry up country, herdsmen attacks in the middle belt region ritual activities in the south; these incidents came with fear, sorry and misery. Here are five major attacks that shook Nigeria in 2018. Benue/Plateau killings AFP Residents of Benue state, north central Nigeria, would never forget 2018. The year began with the killing of villagers in Logo and Guma local governments by suspected herdsmen. Remains of 73 persons who lost their lives were laid to rest in mass graves after a funeral service by the Benue state government in Makurdi, the Benue state capital. The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ignored President Buharis order to relocate to Benue state pending restoration of peace to all affected areas. The IGP was said to have left Makurdi same day of visiting the affected areas. ece-auto-gen Just as Benue was mourning, Plateau witnessed series of attacks in Barkin-Ladi local government area. President Buhari would order the deployment of military personnel to the affected areas. (cat race) was flagged off to restore calm to all troubled areas. On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the two priests, Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, were also killed during a mass along with 17 worshippers when attackers invaded St. Ignatius Quasi Parish Ukpor-Mbalom in Ayar-Mbalom community of Gwer East LGA. A few days later, arrests were made by the combined team of military forces. Peace was restored to the area. ece-auto-gen While normalcy seem to have returned to the area, persons displaced by the attacks are still living under unhealthy conditions in internally displaced persons camps in Daudu and other parts of the state. Dapchi On Monday, February 19, 2018, a faction of the Boko Haram terrorist sect invaded the Government Secondary School Dapchi, Yobe state, kidnapping 110 girls and a boy. ece-auto-gen The insurgents were said to have arrived the school with buses and Hilux vans which they used to transport the girls out of town. After days of negotiations, 105 Dapchi schoolgirls and a boy were released leaving behind Leah Sharibu, a Christian girl who refused to renounce her faith. ece-auto-gen As negotiations for her release continue, Nigerians are worried about the fate of so many young girls in Dapchi who the insurgents warned, sternly, never to return to school. Metele On Thursday, November 18, 2018, Boko Haram terrorists overran a 157 Task Battalion in Metele, village in Guzamala local government area of Borno State, in an attack carting away large cache of arms and military equipment after leaving the base strewn with the corpses of dozens of soldiers. ece-auto-gen President Muhammadu Buhari who was shocked by the news immediately ordered the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Aliand meet with stakeholders in the Lake Chad region. Some soldiers who survived said over 200 of their colleagues died during the attack due to lack of sophisticated weapons needed to battle the insurgents. The military authorities, however, said 23 soldiers died during the attack. Despite huge budgetary allocations, soldiers' welfare remains a major source of concern to those at the frontlines. Aid workers ece-auto-gen On Thursday, March 1, 2018, Boko Haram terrorists abducted three aid workers with International Committee of the Red Cross in an IDP camp in Borno state. After months in captivity, the insurgents killed Saifura Khorsa, one of the nurses. On September 17, 2018, Hauwa Liman The Boko Haram terrorists have also said that Alice Loksha and Leah Sharibu would be their "slaves for life". A disturbing signal that the war against terrorism may not have been completely won. Zamfara killings ece-auto-gen For months now, bandits have invaded Zamfara communities killing dozens of villagers with many injured. Governor Abdulaziz Yari had revealed that 2,385 people were killed by bandits in the state from 2011 to date. Senator Kabiru Marafa had blamed the killings on Yaris leadership style; the governor has refuted these claims. Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legal Matters, Prof. Adamu Usman, Buhari said that hunger and poverty was the major challenges the nation was facing. According to him, there is urgent need to address the problem of hunger and poverty in the country and that is why we have encouraged everybody to go back to farm. We are aware of this and the government is committed to supporting this programme because it is noble, he said. The National Chairman, My Food Bank Programme, Dr Adamu Biu, said the idea behind the programme was to assist the government in its effort to fight corruption, insecurity and poverty. Biu said the programme was aimed at creating avenue for millions of Nigerians to have access to affordable and free food in any part of the country. He said the programme would also create employment for young Nigerians and local farmers through its Food City Project. According to him, the first one million my food bank smart cards have been released for people to use for accessing cheap and affordable food. We are getting support from both the national government and international donors who are funding the programme as well as well meaning Nigerians. It is a response to the call by Mr President that we need to address the problem of poverty and hunger. It is our desire that every Nigerian have access to food irrespective of their location and social standing in order to eliminate hunger because when you end hunger you have solved the problem, he said. Also, the National Coordinator of the Food City Project, Mr Daniel Orogun, said the organisation has commenced serious mobilisation in the 774 local governments in the country to appoint Food city mayors who would manage the project. Orogun said the idea behind the project was to have farms in all the locations to enable them reach to every part of the country. He said the project would on the long run lead to elimination of hunger and creation of jobs. We have been able to raise 500 mayors from many states of the country, especially the south west states down to the middle belt and north east, he said. Your Excellency, PATRICE TALON, President of the Republic of Benin; Your Excellency, PAUL BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon; Your Excellency, PROF. FAUSTIN-ARCHANGE TOUADERA,President of the Central African Republic; Your Excellency, IDRISS DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of Chad; Your Excellency, ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU, President of the Republic of Niger; Honourable Ministers of Defence of Lake Chad Basin Commission Member Countries; Chiefs of Defence Staff of Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic; The Executive Secretary and Head of Mission of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Ambassador Mamman NUHU; The Force Commander, Multi National Joint Task Force; Distinguished Delegates and Invitees; Ladies and Gentlemen. Protocol 1. It is my pleasure once again to welcome Your Excellencies, and thank you for your presence today in Abuja to yet another Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). 2. Todays Meeting is in continuation of our joint efforts to address the prevailing security challenges in our sub-region after our meeting on 29November, 2018, in NDjamena. 3. Your participation in todays summit, in spite of your tight schedules, is a clear demonstration of the resolute commitment that we all attach to the fight against our common enemy, Boko Haram, and the restoration of durable peace and security to our sub-region. 4. Your Excellencies would recall that during our Summit in NDjamena, the need to overhaul our current strategy and concept of operations in the fight against the Boko Haram Terrorists took the Centre Stage of our discussions. 5. This was necessitated by the resurgence of attacks, particularly on the military, and the abduction of civilians for ransom across our borders by Boko Haram with the support of international terrorists who have infiltrated our sub-region. 6. Our meeting today will consider the report of the Committee we set up during our last Summit on the way forward. I thank the Committee for meeting the deadline assigned to it and I hope that their recommendations will bring a new dynamism in the fight against Boko Haram and their international affiliates. 7. The Lake Chad region has suffered decades of neglect and poor infrastructural development, the Boko Haram crisis in the last eight (8) years has worsened its already bad situation. We must take cognizance of the fact thatsustainable growth and development of the sub-region is dependent on the quick attainment of peace and stability in the area. 8. We must put an end to the crisis in the sub-region to enable meaningful development for its people. We must remain resolute and committed in our collective efforts at attaining peace as well as eradicating terrorism and violent extremism from the sub-region. 9. The time has come for the evil of Boko Haram to be brought to a definitive end. I am sure that this summit will take the right decisions in this regard. This is a fight to the finish. We must, and we will, by the grace of God, wipe out terrorism from our sub-region. Your Excellencies 10. While executing the war against the Boko Haram terrorists, we must not be oblivious of the fact that military may not provide the desired results alone. There is the pressing need to pursue simultaneously both military and developmental approach to the challenges of the region. 11. We will work towards strengthening of Civil-Military Cooperation in the fragile areas of the region to accelerate the implementation of the Regional Stabilization Strategy. 12. Our military strategy must be complemented by the mobilization and deployment of adequate resources to ensure the reconstruction, rehabilitation and rebuilding of civil authority, as well as the provision of relief and succor for the affected. The Inter Basin Water Transfer project to recharge the disappearing Lake Chad would also go a long way in the restoration of sustainable peace and security to these areas. 13. I must now pay tribute to our gallant troops who remain focused and committed to the task of ensuring the safety and stability of the region. I urge you to remain steadfast in executing the war with the highest sense of honor, professionalism and patriotism. 14. To our esteemed partners and the larger international community, we appreciate your valuable support and contributions in helping with the resultant humanitarian crisis. We thank you for intelligence sharing and operations in our determination to defeat Boko Haram and its affiliates. We, however, solicit greater cooperation and additional assistance to the LCBC/MNJTF to completely end the menace of Boko Haram and eradicate it from the sub-region. Such an outcome would add to global peace and security. Your Excellencies, 15. I trust we will hold fruitful deliberations as we seek a way forward in the fight against Boko Haram and other challenges in our neighbourhood. Buratai, who was represented by the Commander, Training and Doctrine, Maj.-Gen. Adeku Sally, urged them to also observe the rule of law in the discharge of their duties. Let me reiterate the commitment of the army to the observance of rule of law, rules of engagement, adherence to human rights and effective civil-military relations in our activities. Nigeria is today faced with several security challenges, including ethno-religious crisis, piracy, kidnappings, armed robbery, farmers-herders conflicts, among others. These have continued to undermine peace and security of Nigeria. In order to counter these challenges, modern armed forces rely on realistic training, availability of requisite platforms, exemplary leadership and sound logistics, Buratai said. He said NACOL was established to provide the cadre of officers graduating with the much needed and realistic trainings. This is why the army designs and conducts comprehensive training for all categories of its personnel, at junior, middle and senior cadres, to build capacities and competencies to effectively confront these security challenges, he said. The Chief of Army Staff also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the governments direction and encouragement in the effort at confronting the security challenges facing the country. Our pledge to His Excellencys kind gesture is our unalloyed loyalty and subordination to democratic governance, he said. Earlier, the NACOL Commandant, Maj.-Gen. Osasagie Uzamere, said the training demonstrated the importance the COAS attached to professional training in the college in particular. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 20 students comprising 19 army officers and one naval officer, assembled for the course. However, there of the army officers were returned to unit due to health challenges. NAN also reports that the graduating officers are of the ranks of Maj., Lt.-Col. and commander in the army and navy. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said this in a statement in Benin. He said the governors decision to pay workers, mid-way into the month, was informed by the need to make money available for them to do early shopping for the Yuletide. Osagie said the governor wanted workers to get value for their money before hike in food prices, occasioned by increased demand for goods and services. The governor does not want Edo workers to be caught in the middle of such manipulative tendency of middlemen and has urged workers to go about their celebrations peacefully. Edo workers can storm the market from today and shop for the season. 2019 promises to be a better year for workers in the state, he said. The governors aide said that, beyond prompt payment of salary, Obaseki is also committed to the welfare of workers in the state through innovative ways. The event was rganised by Ummah Support Initiative, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition of ICPC. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the acting chairman was represented by the ICPC Assistant Commissioner of Education Department, Mrs Azuka Ogugua. He said that the commission had in September 2018 met with INEC Chairman to discuss issues of training and election monitoring and picked up the gauntlet and monitored Osun Gubernatorial elections. He explained that vote buying and selling was an act of corruption which could take various forms, such as taking inducements from candidates before or after voting. Abubakar said that such payments were usually made through agents, either direct or through phone transfer. He said:`This is outright bribery and it is punishable under the ICPC Act 2000. Other forms of electoral malpractice punishable under the ICPC law include rigging in whatever form. Rigging could take the form of falsifying of election results by changing figures to favour particular candidates. This is falsification of official records and punishable under the ICPC Act 2000. He said the commission had been contributing to the fight against vote buying and other related malpractices. The acting chairman recalled that in 2011, ICPC held a Presidential Forum where candidates converged and it explained to the public its anti-corruption agenda. In the same year, ICPC dispatched 111 officers nationwide to monitor the 2011 election. Reportsrts containing useful recommendations for improving future elections were submitted to all the stakeholders concerned for implementation. Earlier, the Executive Director, Malam Danjuma Abdullahi, Ummah Support Initiative (USI), said the the campaign was to sensitise electorate.specially the youth against vote selling. Abdullahi advised youths to shun vote selling and all forms of electoral malpractice and vote for credible leaders that would enhance the living condition of the ordinary citizens. On his part, Mrs Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his stand on the amended electoral bill 2018. A few weeks ago, Pulse chatted with the #MarketMarch founder, Damilola Marcus AKA Omoge Dami on the prospects and significance of #MarketMarch. It was a lovely chat about a necessary issue that Dami hoped her team could rectify. Although she was optimistic about prospects, Im not sure even Dami could have predicted how successful the first March would be. Earlier today around 12 pm, young protesters, donning yellow tees and carrying placards marched on Yaba market while speaking their minds and bravely telling sellers not to touch them. Like anything from an entitled people afraid of change, the sellers fought back like a park of fascist hyenas, trying to reclaim a land that was never theirs from the true owners. It was an acid bath of entitlement, toxic masculinity and shameful doses of equally toxic conservatism from a set of people governed by shameful ignorance who abhor a change that will streamline their excesses. In viral videos, you could see men who bask in the torture of women touch women just because they can. You could hear the needless catcalls of "Ashawo, for doing nothing wrong. Some of these men also reportedly called the male protesters, aiding the cause gay, what a shame. If only these men would think of their own children. Grown men can be seen in some videos, forming their own caucus to drown the voices of protesters. These videos are a sad representation of the average entitled Nigerian man. Habits are terrible, but in the fight back from these traders lies the victory; the message touched them and triggered an emotional response. If there was anything #MarketMarch ever needed, it was the reaction. Nothing is given, you take it. The conversations have also started. As I write this at 8:53 pm on December 15, 2018, Yaba is the number one trending topic on Twitter Nigeria because of #MarketMarch. #MarketMarch and #MarketMarchYaba should be proud. Everything is going right on schedule. Nobody could have anticipated this at least, I didnt. See some Twitter reactions here; undefinedundefined For more updates, search #MarketMarchYaba on Twitter. For more information, follow @OmogeDami or @MarketMarch on Twitter. This is reportedly as a result of UNICEF's involvement "training selected persons for clandestine activities." Due to this the international aid organization has been asked to stand down until further notice. The New York Times (NYT) confirms this in a report published on Friday, December 14, 2018. In a statement captured by NYT, the Nigerian military insists that UNICEF has "abdicated its primary duty of catering for the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable." ALSO READ: UNICEF hails release of 833 children in Maiduguri The body is accused of carrying out its covert mission in Maiduguri, the base of terrorists Boko Haram. Onyema Nwachukwu, reportedly a spokesperson for the Nigerian military made the allegation in the report by NYT. The incident according to the rep has threatened the efforts of the armed force in countering terrorism in addition to a report accusing soldiers of abusing human rights. AFP News however confirms that suspension has been lifted on the same day it was imposed. In its report Nwachukwu notes that the quick change in decision occurred after a meeting with UNICEF who has been advised to inform the military about any of its activities particularly when it concerns the training of personnel. "During the meeting, the Theatre Command admonished the representatives of the organisation to desist from activities inimical to Nigeria's national security and capable of undermining the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency. The Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, told newsmen on Friday in Lagos that the suspects operated the factory from a four-bedroom building located at No. 2 Okunnenye Street, Ikotun Egbe area of the state. Parading the suspects at the factory premises, Moshood said the IRT operatives raided the secret factory on Thursday, following a tip off. According to him, large quantities of suspected fake drugs were seized during the raid. Recovered from the scene were cartons of different fake drugs, large quantities of unprocessed chemical substances used in manufacturing drugs, several machines fabricated for processing, manufacturing and packaging of the fake drugs. Also recovered are forged pharmaceutical papers, plastic buckets of different types suspected to be fake.The premises has also been sealed and remains sealed till the determination of the matter by a court. The I-GP has advised members of the public to be weary of where they procure food, drugs and drinks as many of them are fake and may cause outright death or physical and mental disability, Moshood said. The Force spokesman said I-G Ibrahim Idris commended the IRT and the Lagos State Police Command for bursting illegal manufacturing factories, especially where food, drugs and drinks were produced. The principal suspect later told journalists that he owned the factory, stressing that he learnt the trade from a friend who died four years ago. Although I am not a pharmacist or a chemist, but the medications are not totally fake as I use quality chemicals to produce them. My market is at Onitsha Anambra State, I dont supply in Lagos. I distribute only in Onitsha and they in turn know where they distribute to. I have not really made too much money but at least, I have made little money. I am the owner of the place. I do take the drug and give to my wife and children because it is not totally fake to treat malaria. I try to be genuine. Instead of 250mg, I make it 180mg. That is the only offence I have committed but really the medicine works, the suspect said. The First Lady, Aisha Buhari was in the state to launch the flag off of her pet project, Future Assured Programme. According to Vanguard, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) had partnered with her organisation to empower about 11,600 women and youths in Akwa-Ibom. As required by protocol, the First Lady of the state, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel was supposed to welcome Mrs. Aisha Buhari on her maiden visit to the state. What caused the confusion Confusion however ensued when Senator Akpabios wife reportedly shoved Mrs. Udom Emmanuel aside and took her position to receive the First Lady, who was about to alight from the plane. The action of the Senators wife caused security aides and members of the First Ladys protocol team to wade in and try to restore calm. The First Lady also did not get off the plane until Mrs. Akpabio was convinced to give way for the First Lady of the state to welcome her guest officially. After the chaos which lasted for about 25 minutes, Vanguard reports that Mrs. Buhari alighted from the plane into the embrace of Mrs. Udom Emmanuel who welcome her and introduced her to women in her entourage. Mrs. Akabio refuses to be pushed aside It is alleged that Senator Akpabios wife still found her way through the security cordon around the First Lady to welcome her too. An eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard condemned the action of Mrs. Akpabio. She received the wife of President Yaradua during her time, and also received Mrs. Patience Jonathan, no woman ever insulted her this way, she added. ALSO READ: Governor Udom sacks 2 commissioners who welcomed Senator Akpabio to Akwa Ibom In the video obtained from @segalinks Twitter handle, wife of the Akwa-Ibom state Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel made it clear that she is not in competition with anyone, adding that her husbands administration will continue to do the right thing. Senator Godswill Akpabio, since his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has openly declaredon several occasions, that he will work to make sure his former protege, and Governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Emmanuel Udom is defeated in 2019. The debate participants were Umma Getso (YPP), Ganiyu Galadima (ACPN), Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya (ANN), Peter Obi (PDP) and Yemi Osinbajo (APC). Venue of the debate was the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in the nation's capital city of Abuja. This is how the 5 participants fared during the debate put together by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG). 1. Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya (ANN) She started nervously, but grew in some confidence as the debate wore on. Not much can be said of where Abdullahi-Iya stands on some of the issues raised during the debate because she offered little by way of policy standpoints and proposals. However, she chipped in a few strong points while countering some of the policies of the Buhari administration being touted by Osinbajo. Abdullahi-Iya's best point has to be when she said local governments should be able to control their own resources and pay a tax to the center. She had a good closing remark only because she read from a prepared speech. It was the one moment where she sounded like ANN presidential candidate, Fela Durotoye. Otherwise, she stuttered, mangled and forgot her lines most of the time. A good debate prep would put her in the mood for subsequent outings. Surely, one to watch out for in the future. 2. Ganiyu Galadima (ACPN) He had a night to forget. Galadima certainly wasnt ready for this debate and wouldn't have been ready if an extra 5 hours were added to the session. He started nervously, picked up nervously and ended nervously. He was also all over the place, didnt deliver a solid point worthy of recall and fumbled his lines. Perhaps, his only stellar moment of the debate was when he reminded everyone that the head of the ticket, Oby Ezekwesili, is perhaps one of the best economic minds around. Overall, Galadima did his party and ticket little favours here. 3. Peter Obi (PDP) He started like a house on fire, reeling out statistics and proffering solutions to a host of economic challenges plaguing Nigeria at the moment. He certainly had Osinbajo in his crosshairs. However, a host of Obis numbers didnt add up following some fact checking. The PDP candidate announced that Nigeria has 2 million cars plying the roads. The registered number of vehicles in Nigeria, according to the nations statistics bureau, is 11 million. Obi also said Nigerias trade with Africa stood at 9 percent. The correct figure is 15 percent. According to the Afriexim Bank, intra-Africa trade is around 15 percent. In 2016, intra-African exports made up 18 percent of total Nigerian exports according to the Brookings Institution. Obis claims that 87 million Nigerians are unemployed was also a stat pulled from outer space. 34 million Nigerians are unemployed according to latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). 87 million is about the total number of Nigeria's labour force. Nigerias foreign direct investment for 2015 wasnt $21bn, like Obi told everyone. Nor did it fall to $12bn in 2017. According to NBS capital importation reports, Nigerias total imported capital stood at $9.6 billion in 2015. Some of Obis claims on Nigeria slipping down the global competitive index in 2018, were not correct as well. The World Economic Forum report states that Nigeria rose on the index by 10 places in 2018. However, Obi floored Vice President Osinbajo on the petroleum subsidy debate. His argument that Nigeria is subsidizing inefficiency is right on the money when you consider that the subsidy regime on petrol hasnt significantly impacted on purchasing power or improved the economy in any way, shape or form. Nigeria is better off finding ways to refine its crude oil locally and fixing the economy instead of paying trillions in subsidy annually. 4. Umma Getso (YPP) She started with plenty of butterflies in her tummy. By mid-debate however, those butterflies were largely perching on the doors of the hallway. Getso spoke relatively well on fiscal restructuring, the YPPs plan to stimulate innovation through a venture capital fund, while touting Kingsley Moghalus economic credentials whenever she had the opportunity to do so. She was deferring to him most of the time, a pointer that they both sing from the same hymn sheet. She was flat on other policy discussions however, preferring instead to repeat her bare-bone points. On the nights evidence, however, Getso is a plus for the Moghalu ticket, warts and all. Considering her age (She's only 37) and inexperience on the political scene, we should cut her a bit of slack perhaps. 5. Yemi Osinbajo (APC) He was on the defensive throughout as expected. Brilliant on the delivery and elocution--a forte for him. However, like Obi, Osinbajo made some wild, exaggerated claims. When he said Nigeria currently produces a chunk of the rice it consumes, not a few Nigerians were left raising puzzled eyebrows. Millions of Nigerians would tell you for free that locally produced rice is almost never on the market shelves when they go shopping. "We are producing 90 percent of the rice that we consume and we are importing only 2 percent of what we used to import", Osinbajo said without wincing. This statement is definitely not supported by current realities. It is also not true that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was practically abandoned under Goodluck Jonathan. There were a few attempts to fix the road in the preceding dispensation, although not enough to get any real work done. Osinbajos attempts to defend the petrol subsidy regime as some kind of panacea to economic improvement, was also weak and scattergun. But the vice president delivered some sucker punches of his own when he called out Obi for talking about how Nigeria was destroyed when it was in fact the opposition PDP that supervised some of that destruction; and when he flattened Obi who posited that fighting corruption doesnt really matter. You cant leave your shop and be chasing criminals, Obi said to applause from what was largely an unruly audience. If you allow criminals to steal everything, there will be no shop, Osinbajo clapped-back to more applause. Touche. Good outing overall from Osinbajo as you would expect from a born talker. 1. New president or old president? ece-auto-gen Of all the decisions that Nigerians will have to make at the polls next year the biggest one has to be the election to choose the nation's next president. President Muhammadu Buhari is contesting for re-election and will face not one or 10 opponents, but 78 people who are hoping to displace him from the Presidential Villa. The result of the polls could see Buhari continue as president or a new old face or a new new face replace him. It'll be interesting to see it play out. 2. The rise of the Third Force With the 2019 presidential election billed as a straight contest between President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, many have failed to give acclaimed Third Force candidates any hope of success at the polls. ece-auto-gen Despite the odds stacked against them, these candidates remain undaunted and keep walking tall and selling their ideas of a better future to the Nigerian people. With 91 political parties currently registered in Nigeria and 89 confirmed to field candidates for the 2019 elections, the ground is fertile for at least one party or candidate to challenge the status quo. Who it will be is anyone's guess. 3. Saraki's (im)possible return as Senate President Senate President Bukola Saraki has had a rather interesting year, from battling his false assets declaration case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), to fighting allegations of links with armed robbers, to fighting off an active impeachment campaign against him. ece-auto-gen Since he dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in July, there have been relentless calls for him to resign or be impeached as leader of the APC majority Senate. Despite the onslaught led by APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the Senate President appears to have triumphed over possible impeachment as lawmakers elected to sheathe their swords. However, his return as Senate President after the 2019 general elections will depend heavily on which major party wins the upper legislative chamber. If the APC wins the Senate, it's incredibly hard to see how the former Kwara State governor returns to the seat of Number Three Citizen. 4. New leadership in House of Representatives It's difficult to see past the general elections, which is why everything on this list revolves around it and not past it. Just like in the Senate, the House of Representatives is expected to undergo a leadership change in 2019 especially if the APC also wins the lower legislative chamber. ece-auto-gen Current Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, followed in Saraki's footsteps to dump the APC for the PDP and has had his leadership called into question as a result. If the APC wins the chamber at the polls next year, current House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, will appear to be the obvious choice to benefit and be elected Speaker. 5. Presidential debate The Nigerian Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) announced last month that presidential candidates taking part in the 2019 presidential election will get the first stab at one another in a presidential debate scheduled for January 19, 2019. ece-auto-gen The Nigerian electorates have demanded relentlessly for candidates to face off so as to sort and decide on who has the best vision for the country going forward, and this debate gives a platform to these demands. However, it's still unclear if President Buhariwill attend the debate as the Director-General of his campaign, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed last month that he made the decision for him to not appear for the 2015 debate because it was deemed to be unnecessary. Candidates such as the PDP's MrPeter Obi, MrsKhadijah Abdullahi Iya of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Young Progressives Party's Umma Getso and MrGaniyu Galadima who represents the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), all challenged the existence of subsidy on petroleum products because it has not had any positive impact in the lives of citizens. Here are some of the main points shared by speakers at the debate: 1. Investing in SMEs like China The discussion among the VP aspirants centred on China used as an example of a country with more investment in SMEs. Nigeria is currently in a situation where it is unable to surpass its 16% investment in GDP. Peter Obi has a response to this when he proposed a will to sow more into the private sector. YPP's Umma Getso highlights that Nigeria can grow if it is able to check the import and export margin. He aspires to boost the capacity of young Nigerians by introducing an intervention fund worth N1 Trillion. Osinbajo also mentions that loan schemes targeted at helping SMEs is already in place. The Trader Moni initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is used as an example emphasizing this effort. 2. Removing subsidy on petroleum products Most speakers at the debate except Professor Yemi Osinbajo the incumbent Vice-President of Nigeria, agree on a need to remove subsidy on petroleum products because it has not yet had a meaningful impact on the living condition of Nigerians. Osinbajo's input on the subject seem the opposite. He fears that the removal of subsidy has the potential to increase the price of petroleum products. The VP favours a gradual stoppage of subsidization as opposed to an abrupt one. On the missing impact of subsidy, Mrs Khadijah Abdullahi Iya asks, "what is the government presently doing with the subsidy that has been removed? It is not affecting the common man and we don't know what is going on." 3. No falling out with Nigeria's president Peter Obi dismisses the fear of a clash between the president if he becomes the Vice-President of Nigeria in the 2019 polls. He feels no reason for a rivalry with his boss Atiku Abubakar who didn't enjoy a healthy relationship with former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo. His focus is on building the economy of Nigeria which he reckons is possible through an 80 billion dollar investment. Having the responsibility of rebuilding the country would have made falling out with the president an unlikely outcome. 4. Spending too much time fighting corruption While there is a need to eradicate the issues affecting qualitative governance in Nigeria such as corruption, the PDP's Atiku's running mate for VP Peter Obi thinks it best to multi-task by addressing other problems including unemployment. "It is not that you cannot fight corruption but you can fight it more aggressively while addressing economic issues. For example, in 2015, unemployment was 24 percent. Today, it is 40 per cent," Obi notes in his remark about fighting a corruption worm that has burrowed deep into public service. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo retorts on a need to deal with the mismanagement of public funds by persons occupying political office. He considers this one of the steps required in setting Nigerians on the path of sustainable growth. 5. More involvement for women Gender equity is center to the developmental policies YPP's Umma Getso plans to introduce if she becomes the Vice-President. Allowing more participation for women seem of great interest to the speaker. Under Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Nigerian women may see more involvement in leadership. "There is no other party in Nigeria that has given priority to women. Professor Kingsley Moghalus Presidency is about giving 50-50 opportunity to women to participate in his government at all levels." Also, with her background in humanitarian services, Mrs Khadijah Abdullahi Iya of theANN hopes to do things differently by putting the "economy before politics". 6. Effective devolution of power Mrs Khadijah Abdullahi Iya is interested in sharing responsibilities among 774 local governments in Nigeria to ensure an effective devolution of power. With her resource control policy, the ANN candidate hopes to get more from lower level officials. This can help a great deal in neutralizing the problem of poverty in the country. In a bid to eliminate the feeling of lack among Nigerians, Professor Yemi Osinbajo reckons an investment in the country's infrastructure is key. According to the VP, the current administration has expended a sum of N2.7 trillion on this project. The effort is captured under the social investment policy of the Buhari-led government. "We have a social investment policy, possibly the largest ever in the history of our country," Osinbajo mentions while addressing the audience. 7. Jobs creation necessary to foster national growth According to the candidate of the ACPN, Mr Ganiyu Galadima, the creation of abundant employment is one of his plans in addition to ending the subsidy regime which appears to favour only the rich. Peter Obi is thinking in the same direction in his note addressing a need to energize the economy. On Friday, December 14, 2018, the current vice-president of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osinbajo tackles other speakers such as Peter Obi of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in an argument about prosperity in the country. Other candidates who spoke at the debate include Khadijah Abdullahi Iya of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Young Progressives Party's Umma Getso and Ganiyu Galadima who represents the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). While most of the candidates agree on a need to remove subsidy on the importation of petroleum, APC's Professor Yemi Osinbajo thinks it can cause more harm than good. The price of petroleum products is likely to see a sharp increase according to the incumbent who favours a gradual removal. His position is strongly contested by other speakers such as Peter Obi of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Obi identifies a failure to create jobs as a factor encouraging the issue of insecurity in Nigeria. In a response, Osinbajo emphasizes on developing SMEs through loan schemes able to empower traders. The former Vice-President made this known on Twitter on Friday, December 14, 2018. According to Channels Television, the presidential debate will hold on Saturday, January 19, 2019. Atiku said I watched with pride as @PeterObi laid out our vision to get Nigeria working again. Cant wait for the presidential debate. Fayose hails Peter Obis performance The Vice-Presidential debate organised by the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) held on Friday, December 14, 2018, and former Governor Ayo Fayose was impressed. The former Ekiti state Governor praised the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate, Peter Obi's performance during the debate for VP candidates. According to him, Obi showed mastery of the issues relating to the economy of Nigeria. Fayose said Delighted that our VP candidate, Peter Obi demonstrated high level of understanding of issues relating to the economy of this country. In PDP, we have brains in abundance, while in the other party, they have lies in abundance. We will surely get Nigeria working again. The five presidential candidates who will slug it out in the debate scheduled for January, are: 1. Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). 2.Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). 3. All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammadu Buhari ALSO READ: 4. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 5. Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) Daily Post also reports thatAgbaje said that the issue is one of a difference in values and principles. According to the PDP guber candidate, the idea of one man controlling a state like Lagos is unacceptable. Agbaje on why he left Tinubu The PDP governorship candidate was a member of the Action Congress (AC), before he defected to the Democratic People's Alliance (DPA) to achieve his governorship ambition, after Tinubu reportedly handpicked a governorship candidate for the AC in Lagos state. I take exception to the rule of one man in a metropolitan state like Lagos. I have no personal rift with him (Tinubu). What exists between us is all about differences in value and principle. When we were together, I discovered that his own idea of democracy was not what I was taught, so I had to take an exit. I am saying that what we are running today in Lagos is a one-man Lagos. A Lagos where somebody says when he is going to bed, Lagos is going to bed, to me that can no longer be tolerable. Lagos must be made to work for the people of Lagos, he added. Transparency in public spending Agbaje also alleged that the Lagos state government has refused to be transparent in the way it spends the peoples money. According to him, It is unfortunate that Lagos State under the control of the APC has refused to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act. Everything in government in Lagos State is shrouded in secrecy. The time has come to hand the fortune of the state over to the people. ALSO READ:Jimi Agbaje vows to free Lagos from Alphabeta Consulting Seven trillion naira is what the state government has spent in the last 20 years, and what have we got to show for it? If you look at the average for education in Lagos, only 20 per cent of our children have passed WAEC in five years. The question is, are we getting value? The answer is, we are not getting value at all. The PDP had earlier accused the electoral body of planning to rig elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC) by reportedly setting up polling booths in camps belonging to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the North. Vanguard reports that PDPs spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan also issued a statement saying Nigerians will not accept any 'fabricated' result. An excerpt of the statement reads: For the purposes of emphasis, the PDP rejects all forms of fraudulent special arrangements tailored to rig this election. Our party insists that elections must only hold in statutorily designated polling centers across our country. The PDP and indeed, Nigerians are not ready to accept any fabricated result from any illegal polling center created to assist President Buhari to rig the election INEC reacts In its reaction, INEC debunked the allegation, describing it as hate speech. The electoral body also said that the PDP is putting the lives of its staff at risk. Speaking further, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said I find it distasteful that Mr Kola Ologbondiyan can deliberately embark on peddling complete falsehood about the Independent National Electoral Commission in this manner, with the sole intent of discrediting all the good efforts being put in place to ensure credible 2019 General Elections. The story about the possibility of so called Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) located in Chad and Niger republic voting in the 2019 general elections was as a result of a misrepresentation of facts by a newspaper in its story on the Validation Conference in respect of the Framework for Voting for Internally Displaced Persons, held on12th December in Abuja, for which the Commission had to promptly issue a rebuttal. Everybody knows that displaced persons living in foreign countries cannot be regarded as IDPs but refugees and there is no provision in our laws for any Nigerian living outside Nigeria to vote during the 2019 general elections. But Kola Ologbondiyan has continued to insist that the Commission is planning to establish 30,000 polling units and give the so-called IDPs in foreign countries the opportunity to vote in the general elections. What this man is doing, by implication, is to put the lives of INEC permanent and adhoc staff, especially the young National Youth Service Corps members at risk during the 2019 general elections with his continuous portrayal of the Commission as untrustworthy and fraudulent. This is not what Nigerians need at this time. This is certainly not the way to be an excellent spokesperson. INEC is not a political party. The Commission is not planning to establish any new polling units anywhere. Our only interest is to conduct free, fair and credible general elections in 2019 and we require the cooperation of all stakeholders, including political parties, to achieve this objective. My strong advice to Kola Ologbodiyan is that he should stop what I can safely describe as hate speech against INEC, for the good of the country and democracy. A court judgement on Friday, December 14, 2018, sacked Donald Dukeand declared Gana as SDPs presidential candidate. Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, in his ruling, said he was the winner of the presidential primary election which was held on October 6, 2018. According to reports, the former information minister sought the court to declare him as the partys flag-bearer based on the zoning formula of the SDP. In a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday, December 15, 2018, the state chairmen described the judgement as an act of gross injustice. Speaking further, the chairman of the group, Hon. Oke Idawene said the mandate given to former Governor Duke is sacred. The statement obtained from Daily Post reads: The Party shall abide by the unanimous decision taken by the partys delegates and the mandates of the 36 State Chapters and the FCT when they convincingly and overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Donald Duke in the October 6th October 2018 national presidential primaries of the Party. That mandate given to Donald Duke as the partys presidential candidate is sacred, supreme and so remained sacrosanct as the will and ultimate decision of party members and leadership which no court can abort. The Forum said it will use all available legal and judicial process to protect its mandate and ensure that the will of the people prevails. We wish to use this medium to assure the general public, especially party members to remain calm and steadfast in their support and goodwill for the party and its presidential candidate towards the actualization of the vision of the Party to rescue Nigeria through the 2019 General elections. The SDP is working within the ambiance of the law to vacate the order of the Abuja court where Prof Gana is trying to pervert and arrest justice through his unlawful claims. Against this backdrop, our legal team has filed an appeal against the order of the High Court at the Appeal court in Abuja. Therefore, we want to appeal to all party members across the country to continue with their party activities and campaigns with utmost decorum, decency and orderliness. We shall communicate to all our members, details of our campaign programmes in the days ahead. "Australia now recognises west Jerusalem -- being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government -- is the capital of Israel," Morrison said in a speech in Sydney. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status -- until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. "We look forward to moving our embassy to west Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination," Morrison said, adding that work on a new site for the embassy was under way. AFP In the interim, the prime minister said, Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city. "Furthermore, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem," he added. Morrison first floated the shift in foreign policy in October, the move angered Australia's immediate neighbour Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation -- and put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. The country's foreign ministry responded on Saturday by saying it "notes" the decision. Canberra on Friday told its citizens travelling to Indonesia to "exercise a high degree of caution", warning of protests in the capital Jakarta and popular holiday hotspots, including Bali. Morrison pointed to Australia's military history in the region, and the country's interest in a "rules-based" order in the Middle East, to support the shift in foreign policy. The prime minister vowed Australia would no longer abstain from UN resolutions he said "attacked" Israel, but would instead oppose them, including the "Jerusalem" resolution, which asks nations not to locate diplomatic missions to the holy city. "The UN General Assembly is now the place where Israel is bullied and where anti-Semitism is cloaked in language about human rights," Morrison said. 'A face-saving exercise' Morrison first announced he was "open-minded" to an embassy shift to Jerusalem ahead of a crucial October by-election in a Sydney constituency with a sizeable Jewish population. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the time hailed the initiative, but Morrison faced mounting backlash at home, forced to play down the foreign policy manoeuvre as part of an election campaign. Morrison's Liberal party candidate was a former Australian ambassador to Israel, who went on to lose the seat, delivering the prime minister a minority government. Commentators said Saturday that the embattled PM -- who faces the prospect of an election drubbing next year -- was "saving face", sticking to the status quo by holding back an embassy move, and easing tension with his distinction between east and west Jerusalem. "Essentially not much has happened," Rodger Shanahan from Sydney-based think tank the Lowy Institute said of Morrison's announcement. "It is a combination of him being caught out by making an injudicious remark at a by-election, and then having to walk back from it" he told AFP. AFP The opposition Labor party slammed Morrison for putting "self-interest ahead of the national interest". "Recognising West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, while continuing to locate Australia's embassy in Tel Aviv, is nothing more than a face-saving exercise," shadow minister for foreign affairs Penny Wong said in a statement. "This is a decision which is all risk and no gain," she said, adding it puts Australia "out of step" with the international community. The General Delegation of Palestine to Australia and New Zealand on Saturday released a statement linking Morrison's decision to domestic politics. A Guatemalan official identified her as Jackeline Caal, who was traveling with her father Nery Caal, 29. White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley called Caal's death "a horrific, tragic situation," but also said it was avoidable. "It's a needless death and it's 100 percent preventable," he told reporters. "If we could just come together and pass some common-sense laws to disincentivize people from coming up from the border and encourage them to do it the right way, the legal way, then those types of deaths, those types of assaults, those types of rapes, the child smuggling, the human trafficking that would all come to an end." But Democrats in Congress assailed the administration's get-tough policies on immigrants attempting to cross the border illegally. "This could be my daughter or yours, let that sink in America," said newly elected Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, herself a refugee from Somalia. Senator Kamala Harris condemned the "tragic" death. "We need a thorough account of what happened before this 7-year-old girl died of dehydration and exhaustion in CBP custody," she tweeted. Flood of migrants AFP The child's death came as President Donald Trump struggles to deter a tide of migrants fleeing poverty and violence in Central America -- and battles with Congress for a budget to build a massive wall across much of the US-Mexico Frontier. Migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have been heading northward by the tens of thousands for the past three years, with an increasing number of families with small children and unaccompanied children making the trek and hoping to gain asylum inside the United States. Those that get across face arrest. Children are separated from their families and, along with unaccompanied children who enter the country illegally, are sent off to a web of special camps where they are held until a family member or sponsor already residing in the United States agrees to take care of them. The sheer volume of undocumented immigrants -- which topped 520,000 in fiscal 2018 -- has pushed the number of children in the camps to nearly 15,000 currently. Officials say on average it takes 60 days to resettle them. Remote border crossing AFP Officials said the girl's father had reported she had no problems when four agents detained the huge migrant group overnight December 6-7 at the remote Antelope Wells, New Mexico border crossing, which was closed at the time. Hours later, while they were being transported by Border Patrol bus, he told officials she was not breathing. When medical personnel examined her, she showed an extremely high fever of 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius). The girl was flown by helicopter to a hospital in El Paso but died after several hours. "Border Patrol agents took every possible step to save the child's life under the most trying of circumstances. As fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, we empathize with the loss of any child," said a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Border Patrol. In a statement, DHS called her death "incredibly tragic," but noted many illegal immigrants die in the rugged desert and mountain terrain along the border. AFP "Each year, the Border Patrol identifies hundreds of people who either die attempting to illegally enter the United States, are injured in the attempt or have to be rescued by Border Patrol. This past year alone Border Patrol rescued 4,311 people in distress," DHS said. At the same time, the department's inspector general announced an internal investigation into the girl's death. A border patrol official said the incident highlighted the increasing number of large groups, up to 300, that have been seen crossing the porous border at times. The girl's death came nearly three weeks ago after the Border Patrol backed up by the US military shut down the busy border crossing between Tijuana, Mexico and San Ysidro, California, to fend off several thousand Central Americans seeking to cross into the United States. The outbreak has affected three counties in the Rift Valley region which have also been hit by a shortage of medication to treat the condition. Officials from the counties - West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo - have conveyed that emergency measures are in place to help manage the outbreak. "The disease is dangerous. The rate at which it is spreading is alarming. We have partnered with the national government and there is a need to screen more people and vaccinate them," West Pokot Health Executive Geoffrey Lipale explained. ece-auto-gen Hepatitis B Vaccination In Elgeyo Marakwet, Governor Alex Tolgos clarified that the disease had not reached epidemic levels but residents will be vaccinated to prevent further spread. "We received 4,000 doses, which we have administered free of charge to people in the affected areas. So far, we have vaccinated 5,000 residents across the four sub-counties which have had casualties. "We have also vaccinated 1,900 of our health staff because some of them become casualties of this disease in the course of duty," the governor explained. Hepatitis B affects the liver and can be fatal if left untreated for six months. It has also been known to cause liver failure and even cancer. The disease spreads through contact with infected blood or bloody fluids, according to the World Health organization. Baringo county has 49,000 cases of the disease with 49 casualties since 2013. Baringo Chief Public Health Officer Winnie Bore stated: "We have procured more than 19,000 doses from the national government, which will be enough for more than 10,000 people. We have also put enough drugs in the hotspots so that patients don't have to travel to the county referral hospitals. Russias relations with the West steadily worsened throughout 2018, and hopes that the presumed positive chemistry between United States President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, might help find some way to reverse this trend never materialized. The long-awaited full-scale Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, was a PR disaster that caused a mega-storm of criticism in the U.S. media and rebukes by both parties in Congress. Trump was accused of being too friendly and submissive at the joint press conference after the talks, though apparently nothing much of substance was in fact decided or traded off (see EDM, July 19, 23). Tensions, misunderstandings and punitive sanctions continued to pile up. Both Trump and Putin are seen in Moscow as ideologically close. Therefore, the belief that Trump and Putin could come together, find common ground, make a grand deal and drastically figure out relations is still alive in Russia (Kommersant, November 13). Both the Kremlin and the White House worked hard on the agenda of the follow-up Trump-Putin summit planned for December 1, 2018, in Buenos Aires, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina. But Washington called off this official face-to-face meeting with minimal notice, after Russian forces shot at and captured three small Ukrainian naval ships near the mouth of the Kerch Strait, in the Black Sea, on November 25. The Ukrainian ships were heading into the Sea of Azov, where Ukraine controls two major port citiesMariupol and Berdyansk. But Russia claims the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black and Azov seas, is its internal waterway (on account of having annexed Crimea in 2014), in which the international law of the sea does not apply. The Ukrainian ships were impounded and their crews captured and taken to Moscow, to the Federal Security Services (FSB) notorious Lefortovo prison. The 24 captured Ukrainian service members are being interrogated and face the possibility of harsh prison sentences. Trump apparently refused to have a direct formal meeting with Putin as long as the Ukrainian sailors and ships are not freed, which may not happen anytime soon (see EDM, November 26, 28, 29). Russia and the U.S. are at loggerheads on many issues, and the prospects of a meaningful detente look extremely dim. But up to now, both sides have successfully avoided any direct clashes between their militaries. In Syria, both U.S. and Russian forces are deployed and engaged in parallel air and land actions against Islamist militants. A de-confliction agreement has been in force, preventing direct clashes, though fighting by proxy still happens. The best-known and extremely bloody incident happened on February 7, east of the Euphrates River, in the oil-rich province of Deir el-Zour. A battalion-size armed group of forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assadapparently mostly Russian contractors or mercenaries from the notorious private military company (known in Russia as Chastnaya Voennaya Companiya or ChVK) Wagnerattacked U.S. Special Forces. The U.S. commandos were embedded with Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and were using a dysfunctional oil refinery as an operational base. The Russian-dominated force was supported by armor and artillery and vastly outnumbered the Americans, but was decimated by U.S. airpower during a several-hours-long night engagement. The Russian command in Syria refused to acknowledge the Russian contractors as their own; though apparently, after the Wagner personnel were defeated, Moscow asked the U.S. forces to cease fire to allow the removal of the dead and wounded from the battlefield. The story of this humiliating rout was essentially suppressed by the Russian authorities (see EDM, February 15). After the recent Black Sea incident, Ukraine declared Martial Law for 30 days, mainly in regions bordering Russia or territories occupied by Russian forces; Kyiv has partially called up reservists and increased the countrys battle readiness in anticipation of a possible Russian invasion (see EDM, December 12). Moscow, of course, denies it has any plans to attack (see EDM, November 29). Even in a worst-case scenario, if a winter war between Ukrainian and Russian (or Russian-backed) forces breaks out, the probability of it evolving into a direct U.S.-Russian skirmish are low. That said, the U.S. military has apparently expanded its reconnaissance operations close to the line of control in Donbas, the Sea of Azov and Crimea, using spy planes and drones; it could support Ukraine in the event of an attack, but not directly with military personnel (Militarynews.ru, December 6). Other possible U.S.-Russian hot spots may develop in 2019. The Kerch Strait is not the only place where Moscow claims international sea waterways as its sovereign internal waters. In March 2014, the United Nations agreed to allow Russia to claim an extension of its continental shelf beyond the standard 200-mile exclusive economic zone, to cover an area in the center of the Sea of Okhotsk. Russia has interpreted this as recognition of the Sea of Okhotsk as an internal Russian sea. The Sea of Okhotsk serves as the deployment zone for Russias nuclear strategic-missile-carrying submarines based in Kamchatka, which makes it extremely important to keep foreign ships out (Gazeta.ru, November 19). Moreover, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, the chief of the supreme command-and-control center of the Ministry of Defense (Natsionalnyi Tsentr Upravleniya Oboroni RF), announced that, in 2019, foreign military ships will need to request passage to be allowed trough the Russian-claimed Arctic seas, from the Barents Sea to the Bering Straitthe so called Sevmorput or Northern Sea Route (Interfax, November 30; see EDM, December 4). According to Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, [T]he struggle to control natural resources and obtain access to the Sevmorput are accelerating in the Arctic. Fomin pointed to the U.S. and its allies as the main culprits raising international tensions. Russia will reply by increasing battle readiness, he added (Interfax, November 30). Russias moves to privatize the seas surrounding its territory will surely be met with the U.S. Navy running more freedom of navigation (FON) operations. The first such operation aimed at Russia since the Cold War was performed by the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell in the Sea of Japan, close to Vladivostok, on December 5. The Russian military claimed it shadowed the McCampbell, but that the U.S. vessel never came close to Russian territorial waters and was essentially scared away without the use of force (Interfax, December 6). In 2019, additional FONs may spread to the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sevmorput, and maybe the Black Sea or even the Azov or the Kerch Strait. The Russian response to such provocations could be increasingly violent. Next year may see U.S.-Russian skirmishes steadily mounting worldwide. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Porterville High School senior Yesenia Silva became the first Questbridge Scholar in Porterville High School history earlier this month. She earned a full-ride scholarship valued at $200,000 to attend Rice University, where she will study Biology. She also plans to attend medical school and become a gynecologist. Jim and Devon Mellor, a married tattoo artist duo at 3 Ravens, have cultivated the space to be a place where their clients feel comfortable. Recently, their clientele has expanded to include survivors of sex trafficking, who are offered the free service of covering tattoos or brandings they were forced to get. 'Has the time come to devise Version 2 of ad hoc T-bills?' 'In return, the government must agree to privatise all but five or six banks.' 'If something like this is not done, we will have governments going on the rampage, with increasing frequency,' says T C A Srinivasa Raghavan. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com The unseemly wrangle last month between the government and the Reserve Bank of India has reopened several questions, chief amongst which is an age-old one applicable to all sovereigns everywhere at all times: Should I loot, tax or borrow? Looting is the easiest because if you have the monopoly of force -- physical or legislated -- you can rob anyone. Governments loot all the time. But this annoys the population. Taxing is a bit harder, not because it is difficult but it costs a lot to collect and often the net benefit is quite small. The government used to spend 85 paise out of every rupee in collecting that rupee. Borrowing is the easiest option which is why sovereigns, through the ages, have favoured it. Besides if you are the boss, you don't have to repay the loan fully. Thus, in the old days if the lender became too insistent you simply bumped him off. In medieval Europe, pogroms against the Jews -- who were allowed to lend whereas Christians were not allowed to lend or charge an interest -- were common. It was partly because of this that Swiss cantons became bankers. They didn't persecute the Jews because there were no sovereigns. But if the cantons gave us Swiss banking, the borrowing programme of English sovereigns gave us central banks. In 1694, the money lenders of the City of London, in return for a loan of a million odd pounds, wrested control of the currency from the sovereign. If you can't repay us through loot and/or taxation, they told King William of Orange, we will simply create the money to repay ourselves. It was a dodgy solution, but because it suited everyone it was allowed to blossom and be replicated everywhere. Print, and be damned? But what is the use of being sovereign if you are going to be blackmailed by a bunch of moneylenders? So in the mid-20th century when, thanks to Keynes, the sovereign demand for money grew and grew, central banks were nationalised. What we need, said governments, we will print, thank you very much, not you. This worked well for a while but soon the power to create money went to political heads head and, by the middle of the 1980s, politicians had tied governments into knots. It happened everywhere, including most recently in the European countries derisively called PIGS. In India it happened much earlier, when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister. During his five years in office, the Budget deficit became four times as much as it was when he started. It was financed by the printing of more and more notes. The man who helped him became RBI governor. Rajiv left behind a bankrupt government and, if memory serves me right, the guy who told the Narasimha Rao government this nonsense had to stop was a 33-year-old IMF staffer called Urjit Patel. Then finance minister Manmohan Singh agreed with the idea but resented that mere boys were ticking him off. In 1994 the government announced that it had decided to stop borrowing via what, since 1955, had been known as ad hoc treasury bills. In 1997 it even entered into a formal agreement -- how ridiculous can you get? -- with the RBI to end them. The agreement said three things: That the government would now have the equivalent of an overdraft; that this would not be a source of financing investment; and that it would not show up in the Budget deficit. Everyone rejoiced. Revive ad hoc T-bills? But this was like telling a cat to stop drinking milk, and it has had the same consequence: The cat has become desperate and is angrily hissing and spitting now. The problem is the Keynesian idea that governments must spend when the need arises, which now means all the time. But where is the money to come from? Hence my question: Ad hoc T-bills, anyone? Just because one prime minister got carried away, should India have thrown the baby out with the bathwater? Has the time come to devise Version 2 of ad hoc T-bills? If not, why not? There must be a good and convincing answer, a key component of which must be a convincing explanation of the Budget deficit ideal of 3 per cent. This number is not divinely ordained and is merely an IMF benchmark with no logic whatsoever. In return, the government must agree to privatise all but five or six banks. The State Bank of India and a few other much smaller ones can remain in government control. If something like this is not done, we will have governments going on the rampage, with increasing frequency. 'Drawn in by fuzzy promises about unleashing the entrepreneur in each of us and the benefits of being one's own boss, people find themselves instead oppressed by an algorithm,' notes Rahul Jacob. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Hailing a cab during rush hour in Bengaluru, I watched in alarm as the driver's time to pick me up kept being revised upwards till he arrived some 25 minutes later. The artificial intelligence that had connected us that day had not been so intelligent; he had made his way across one of the most congested roads in all of India. When I jumped in, I noticed his eyes had a dazed look; I wondered if he was on strong medication or hallucinogens until I noticed him discreetly wolfing down a dry bun. Ashamed to have had such thoughts, I asked him to stop for a minute and finish eating. He had been driving all day since 10 am without a break for lunch. It was by then 8 pm. There are no Asian countries other than India where absurdly tight labour laws somehow coexist with an economy overflowing with people who work for themselves or others in brutal Dickensian squalor. E-commerce unicorns' carefree abandon with other people's money, be it investors or in this case 'driver partners', lured many of these drivers with promises of income of Rs 100,000 a month. Saddled with large car loans, often after selling farmland to make down payments, drivers have watched with horror as their average gross income (not including petrol costs) has crashed to a third of that, despite working 12 hour days. IMAGE: Uber and Ola drivers during a protest in New Delhi, February 14, 2017. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters In a blog in March 2017, former president for Uber in India, Amit Jain, said that '80 per cent of drivers across India who are online for more than six hours a day make between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 net, after Uber's service fee'. Most app drivers I have spoken to hotly dispute this, saying Ola and Uber's rapid withdrawal of incentives and low pricing per kilometre leave them little option but to be at the wheel for 12 hours a day, six and seven days a week. Rising petrol prices have made things worse. Not surprisingly, an estimated 50,000 drivers for Ola and Uber went on strike in Mumbai in October, demanding fares be raised. Worldwide, the gig economy is turning out to be a mirage for workers. Drawn in by fuzzy promises about unleashing the entrepreneur in each of us and the benefits of being one's own boss, people find themselves instead oppressed by an algorithm. The lack of rights, let alone employee benefits, for 'driver partners' and others is attracting the attention of judges worldwide. last month, in London, a taxi company lost a case where it argued that drivers were self-employed, a favourite argument of ride-hailing apps. In another case in London, workers for Deliveroo, the food delivery company, are demanding 'collective bargaining' rights. An investigation into the company's labour practices by the Financial Times made for grim reading. Workers, many of whom use bicycles in London, said they did not know where they were delivering till they had picked up the food only to find it was often outside a feasible distance to travel by bicycle. The driver's every meter to the restaurant and then on to the customer was tracked and evaluated. Someone quoted in the article describes this as 'Taylorism on steroids', a reference to the father of scientific management, Frederick Taylor, who died in 1915. Taylor prescribed the size of shovel workers at steel mills would be assigned and measured against as they lifted iron ore. Employees may have thought e-commerce was a wave of the future, but in its capacity to dehumanise, it can be a blast from the past. IMAGE: A Deliveroo scooter driver takes a break between deliveries in London, June 8, 2018. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Reuters Still, in this fantastically unequal country, these are still better jobs than many on offer amidst India's jobless growth of the past few years. Aside from the very real risk of taking on too much debt because your 'employer' expects you to bear the cost of production, it beats working as domestic help in most cases. And so much of our service economy and contract labour work without benefits that it is unfair to point the finger only at the New Economy employers. For riders, especially women, taxi apps have also had liberating effects. I was using Uber every other day last month, despite griping about being sent a premium car when I wanted the standard variety. But drivers who can are opting out or reducing their hours. My driver to the airport in Bengaluru has created a WhatsApp networking group of drivers and friends who he says have regular clients that allow them to stay off the taxi apps because they don't like the working conditions. My former part-time driver in Delhi now has an Uber taxi, but does jobs for repeat customers on a daily rate, thus switching off his app more often than not. The apps must take notice, especially in India. 'We call drivers partners because moving cities is something we cannot do alone,' Jain wrote in his blog last year. It may read as if an algorithm pieced that together, but India's increasingly disillusioned 'driver partners' appear to want more than rhetoric. Parties expected to splurge a fourth of advertising budget on social media. IMAGE: Political flags and banners on the streets. PhotographS: Kind courtesy INC/Twitter, BJP/Twitter Over the past few months, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power along with alliance partners, has been releasing advertisements on television, promoting its achievements. Other political parties are also gradually stepping up their campaigns, with less than six months left for the general election. According to top advertising executives, the spending on political advertising during the 2019 polls is expected to double to Rs 30 billion from Rs 15 billion five years ago, pointing to a media blitzkrieg that awaits voters. Social media is likely to account for at least a fourth of the ad spends, or about Rs 8 billion, which would be a big jump over the 2014 expenditure, they said. In the last election, Rs 3.5 billion to Rs 4 billion was spent on social media, led by the BJP, which had put all its might behind new media in a bid to woo young voters. "While digital and social media will be big platforms next year, the power of print and television cannot be underestimated," said Ashish Bhasin, chairman and chief executive officer, South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN). "Most political parties will use a mix of all media, including print, television, radio, outdoor and social, to bring everyone on board. That will be crucial when it comes to bagging votes," he said. DAN had the creative and media mandate of the Congress party during the 2014 general election. It is, however, unclear whether the agency will undertake the assignment now. Bhasin declined to comment on the issue. The chatter among most senior agency executives is that the Congress will decide on its advertising and media partners after the state elections. IMAGE: A vendor sells flags and banners. Photograph: Reuters On the BJP front, the ruling party, say industry sources, is expected to go back to its 2014 advertising team of Piyush Pandey and Prasoon Joshi. Pandey, executive chairman and creative director, Ogilvy South Asia, and Joshi, chairman, McCann Worldgroup Asia-Pacific, declined to comment. "I have not been briefed. So, I do not know," Pandey said. Pandey was involved in the BJP's recent ad campaigns in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Like in 2014, BJP leaders Piyush Goyal and Arun Jaitley are expected to brief ad agencies on the party's advertising agenda once the state elections are through. Similarly, Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Milind Deora might do the needful once its partners are finalised, industry sources said. "Continuity will be a big theme for 2019 versus change in 2014 for the ruling party," said Ambi Parameswaran, founder brand-building.com. "So, the accent for it will be on highlighting its achievements, while the Opposition parties will bring to the fore the challenges and problems faced by the people in the last five years," he said. The 2014 election stood out for its liberal use of US presidential-style marketing tactics, especially the emphasis on a name and face versus a party and its symbol. While the BJP went whole hog to push Narendra Damodardas Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, for the Congress it was Rahul Gandhi. 2019 is expected to see an encore from the BJP when it comes to pushing Brand Modi as its big face. The Congress party, though, is yet to decide on who will be the face of its campaign, said sources, since Gandhi is not likely to be pushed as its prime ministerial candidate. "The state elections will be crucial in deciding what stance the key (political) parties will take during the general election," Prathap Suthan, who created the BJP's 'India Shining' campaign in 2004 and is now managing partner & chief creative officer at ad agency Bang in the Middle, said. "States such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh will be critical in determining the mood of people in the Hindi belt," he said. Facebook/Sarah Papenheim(ROTTERDAM, Netherlands) -- The friend of an American student killed in the Netherlands said she had texted him about her roommate's desire to kill people less than a week before she was murdered. Sarah Papenheim, 21, was stabbed to death on Wednesday in her apartment in Rotterdam. Authorities arrested a 23-year-old man, identified to ABC News by a source close to the investigation as Joel Schelling, at a train station just hours later. He was Papenheim's roommate as she studied at Erasmus University. Adam Pryor met Papenheim in Minneapolis' music scene and the two quickly became friends. Papenheim was a talented jazz and blues drummer, while he played the organ. The two would regularly join in jam sessions at local clubs in the city. They continued to be close friends after she decided to move to the Netherlands in 2016 to live with her boyfriend and study music. Pryor shared with ABC News a series of text messages Papenheim sent him on Dec. 6 in which she claimed, "My roommate told me he's gonna kill 3 people. So I'm gonna have to go to the police." It's unclear if Papenheim ever went to the police, but she was found dead in her apartment six days later. "I could tell she wasn't doing right because she was just being weird over text and then I asked her what's wrong and she said she never talks to anyone anymore," Pryor told Good Morning America. Pryor said Papenheim said, "'I work full time and I have school full time and everything is just so f----d up right now. My roommate told me is going to kill three people so I'm gonna have to go to the police.'" Pryor said she never made any indication that she was in danger, or that her roommate was threatening her. "After she told me that I thought he got mad at some people. I didn't feel like she was in any danger," he said. "I never could've guessed it was her. Just the way she made it seem like, it was some other people he was mad at or something happened. I had trust in her. She was very responsible, that she would go to the police and take care of everything. I didn't ever think something like this was going to happen." Papenheim told her mother that she spoke to Schelling about music -- he was a talented cello player -- but he had a tendency to get mad and she was the only one who could calm him down. Her mother, Donee Odegard, said she told her daughter to "not be around him," but as relayed by her mother, Papenheim said, "Mom, he is my friend. I am his only friend. He would get angry, but I can always talk him down and change his mind." Pryor said he is in shock about his friend's murder, calling her "the best friend anyone could ask for." "I'm just feeling empty -- the loss of my best friend, shared connections through music, through life," Pryor said. "I've just never been that close with anyone that loved blues as much as I did and also got along with everything personality-wise. "It's so unbelievable what happened, it's just so terrible," he said. Pryor last spoke to Papenheim on Monday and talked about concerts she was planning to go see in Europe, saying she "was just so excited." Like her mother, and others, Pryor raved about Papenheim's music talents. "I saw her playing drums and I just came to jam with her and play organ and I just never heard someone that young, my age, be able to play that hard and play that well and just lay down a groove," Pryor said of how he developed a friendship with her. "It was just incredible. We talked just all the time over there, through text and whatnot, in and out of school for both of us. It's just -- she's one of a kind." Schelling made his first court appearance on Friday, when the judge ordered him held for another 14 days as the investigation continues. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Jet has come under regulatory scrutiny twice this year. Aneesh Phadnis and Surajeet Das Gupta report. The country's largest lender, State Bank of India, has ordered a forensic audit of Jet Airways's accounts. The audit, ordered last week, is being carried out by consultancy firm EY. Jet is looking for fresh funds from banks and is in discussion with SBI to convert loans into equity and this would depend upon outcome of the audit. The airline has a debt of Rs 82 billion. The audit is being carried out after a complaint of financial irregularities. The exact details, however, could not be ascertained. The audit period will be April 2014 to March 2018. Jet Airways and EY declined to comment. "It is a policy of the bank to not comment on individual accounts and their treatment," said an SBI spokesperson. Jet has come under regulatory scrutiny twice this year. In August, the ministry of corporate affairs ordered a probe on charges of siphoning off funds. In September, the airline came under the lens of the income tax department which carried out a two-day survey on suspicions of falsification of accounts. Complaints about siphoning off funds have been made earlier too. In 2016, Arvind Gupta, a trustee of the Indian Investors Protection Council, complained to the government, alleging that over Rs 50 billion was siphoned out of the airline by its promoter Naresh Goyal through several questionable transactions. Gupta wrote to the prime minister's office in August to seek action on his complaint. Jet Airways posted a loss of over Rs 25 billion in the first half of 2018-2019. The airline has struggled to pay employees and vendors on time because of a cash crunch. It has been looking to raise funds through a mix of share sale and sale and lease back of planes. It has approached banks for fresh funds. One option under consideration is to convert debt into equity, but no decision has been taken yet. Talks with Tata Sons for a stake sale have fizzled out over issues of control and future role for Goyal, while discussions with Etihad Airways are underway. Etihad, which acquired a 24 per cent stake in the airline in 2013, is expected to seek a significant role in running the airline. 'His (Das) approach to work seems that of working as a team with ease in communication.' Advait Rao Palepu and Somesh Jha reports. IMAGE: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das chaired his first board meeting on Friday, discussing issues ranging from governance at the central bank to liquidity in the financial system. The board did not arrive at any decision but held extensive discussions on the governance structure in the RBI and the liquidity situation of non-banking financial companies -- two key areas of concern flagged by the finance ministry recently, sources said. 'Good meeting of the RBI central board. Wide-ranging issues discussed,' Das tweeted. On the governance framework, the board decided it would require further examination, according to the RBI's statement. There was no discussion on the prompt corrective action framework, which the government had asked the RBI to consider revising and bring some public sector banks out of it, sources said. The Board for Financial Supervision, led by the RBI governor, is expected to review the PCA framework at its next meeting. At present, 11 PSBs and one private bank are under the PCA framework and the government feels that it is affecting the credit flow. Two presentations were made by Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg -- one on the government's proposal for governance reforms in the RBI and the other on the banking system, throwing light upon banks's financials, credit flow and non-performing assets. Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar did not attend the meeting. "Both the government and the central bank will reconcile their notes (on the RBI's governance) and come back to the board in the next meeting. There was no commitment, though, from the new governor on whether governance reforms in the RBI were needed or not," the person cited above said. The RBI issued a statement after the four-hour meeting. 'The board reviewed, inter alia, the current economic situation, global and domestic challenges, matters relating to liquidity and credit delivery to the economy, and issues related to currency management and financial literacy,' it said. The next central board meeting is likely to be held before the Budget in February. According to sources, the RBI's board meeting on Friday was "cordial" as Das got acquainted with various monetary, credit and regulatory issues faced by the economy. It was like a "usual" board meeting, unlike the previous two meetings, held on November 19 and October 24 which saw heated exchanges between the board members on a range of issues flagged by the government, another source said. The last two board meetings went on for eight-nine hours. The liquidity situation of NBFCs was discussed in detail, a board member said, requesting anonymity. "The numbers do not signal any liquidity crisis at present. But we have to be watchful of the situation. The RBI is monitoring the position on a daily basis. A systematic intervention is not needed as such," the person said. The meeting comes days after Dr Urjit Ravindra Patel abruptly resigned as RBI governor amid differences with the government on a range of issues. Das was chosen governor within 24 hours of Dr Patel's resignation. 'The board placed on record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Dr Urjit R Patel during his tenure as governor and deputy governor of the bank,' the RBIs statement said. According to sources, RBI Deputy Governor Dr Viral Acharya, whose speech in October brought to light differences between the government and the RBI, actively participated in the board meeting. "He is here to stay and might as well complete his tenure," a person said. There were speculations that Dr Acharya also might resign, but it was denied by the RBI earlier this week. "His (Das) approach to work seems that of working as a team with ease in communication. Perhaps he benefits from prior experience of representing government on the RBI board while being the DEA secretary," a board member said. During the last meeting on November 19, one of the longest board meetings of the central bank, against the backdrop of the 'war of words' between the RBI and the government, it was decided that the BFS would be responsible for examining the PCA framework. The RBI statement also said that the board discussed the draft report on the 'Trend and Progress of Banking in India' for 2017-2018. Sources said the expert committee to review the RBI's economic capital framework would be notified in the coming days. The panel will be likely chaired by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan. With inputs from Abhijit Lele The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party on Saturday received a major setback with all its members in the bicameral legislature of Bihar declaring that they were still with the National Democratic Alliance as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing personal interests in announcing a break up with the coalition. Both the RLSP MLAs -- Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan -- and its lone MLC -- Sanjiv Singh Shyam -- made a statement to this effect at a joint press conference. They also pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar, a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three. We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party, Shyam said making it clear that the RLSP was heading towards a split. RLSP which fought the 2014 general election as well the 2015 state polls as a NDA constituent has altogether three MPs, including Kushwaha, two MLAs and one MLC in Bihar. While the three legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, among the two other Lok Sabha members -- Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi -- the former has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when he had announced his resignation from the cabinet and also severing ties with the NDA in Delhi. We had been stating since long that we were in favour of the RLSP remaining in the NDA but Kushwaha, who was more interested in his personal gains, paid no heed, Shyam said pointing to the RLSP chiefs quitting announcement on Monday. The RLSP MLC alleged that Kushwaha had of late been making noises about the RLSP being considered for a ministerial berth after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA last year. In reality, he never tried. When ministerial berths were being allocated among allies he was simply roaming around in Patna, Shyam claimed. Kushwaha was happy with his own ministerial berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention had been on getting a deal that served his interests better. He simply did not care that somebody from his party should get a ministerial berth in the state as well, he added. Replying to a query, he said neither he nor Paswan want ministerial berths. We would like Sudhanshu Shekhars inclusion in the state council of ministers and we would be hugely disappointed if he is not considered for the same, he said. We are not defectors. Rather, we represent the real RLSP. Our stance is in line with the sentiments of most workers and office-bearers in the party. We will soon be approaching the Election Commission with our claim, he added. NDA leaders in Bihar were not immediately available for comments on the development. However, rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP legislature party held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. A Delhi court on Saturday extended the Central Bureau of Investigation custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, by four days. The 57-year-old British national was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. The probe agency told the judge that Michel needs to be confronted with various documents in the case and had sought further custody of for five days. Michel was arrested in the United Arab Emirates and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days. Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Both the agencies notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million. The ED, in its chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Mark Tully on the India he loves. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel listens in. Photographs and videos: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com Seven words have always lived in the back of my head, never to be forgotten: 'This is the BBC, Mark Tully reporting...' Back in the day when television was dominated by Doordarshan's krishi yojana programmes and government-monitored news, crisply read by Geetanjali Aiyar or Neethi Ravindran, we often turned to the radio for updates on the nation. What a relief it was when the radio's scratchy, crackling air waves briefly parted to bring Mark Tully's reassuring, exacting voice, offering a bulletin of what we were sure was the 'real' news of the day. What an honour it was to finally see that very same Sir Mark of reliable, soothing voice, live on stage receiving the richly-deserved Tata Literature Live Festival Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 some weeks ago in Mumbai. Equally heart-warming was viewing Tully, now a grand 83, offering everyone a gracious namaste and speaking his delightful brand of Hindi. As I looked into his lined, weatherworn face, leathery perhaps from the many days (30 years) he spent reporting under the scorching Indian sun, I remembered all the news breaks I had heard from him -- riots, elections, assassinations, deaths, Blue Star, Babri Masjid... Which one of us Indians, who lived through the 1970s and 1980s in sleepy mofussil towns can now look at 'Tully Sahib', as he has been nicknamed, and not feel a poignant nostalgia. For Tully brings back memories of another India. A more difficult, less developed, India. For sure. But in many ways a sweeter India, where life was simple and needs few. An India that then, still leaned much more on its "traditional wisdom." Tully carried with him into the Tata Theatre distinctive fragrances that you imagined must envelope his grey suit, red striped shirt, red striped tie and flyaway grey hair -- the scent of days gone by, of mango trees, of warm monsoon rain hitting the sienna earth, of marigold flowers, of the smoke of morning choolahs... After receiving his award plaque, and the grey silk shawl that was wrapped around his now-sloping shoulders, the journalist extraordinaire took the podium to speak about India -- His India -- in mellow, affectionate tones. You hung onto his every word. Why? Because here was an honorary Indian -- nay, an Indian through and through, in spite of the Cambridge accent and pink face -- talking about the country he loved and always wanted the best for. His factual reporter observations were gentled by perspectives of Indian history, philosophy and religion that he carefully introduced, while summing up the way India, the land of his birth, needed to head; always referring to India using the possessive "our" pronoun. Kolkata-born Tully was destined to become a priest but dropped out of the seminary to pursue journalism and return to Hindustan. He eventually became, as former diplomat and author Pavan K Varma put it, who introduced him to audiences in Mumbai, "the high priest of Nizamuddin (in Delhi where he lives)" and "an objective, fearless, incisive and intrepid reporter, author and commentator... the 'foreign' journalist whose soul really always resided in India." Tully holds overseas Indian citizenship and has written some nine books of which most have the word India in their titles (Varma pointed out). He was banned briefly from India during the Emergency by then prime minister Indira Gandhi but in later years received both the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan. WATCH: Mark Tully in conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt. If you did not catch Tully speaking last month in Mumbai, we offer some of the best nuggets/anecdotes from what he said, in his thoughtful, understated manner, sometimes laced with playful humour, in a talk titled Straight Talk, No Full Stops in India to a devoted audience. For Tully, full stops and India have no rishta (relationship) and if India is to forever remain inimitably India, they should never be allowed a connection: On his years in India working for the BBC: One achievement I hope (I) can justifiably take was that for many years we enjoyed the confidence of the Indian people and that was huge responsibility and in a way also a huge joy to all of us. On being at a lit fest: Actually here I am in a literary lecture. But I am not actually really a very literary man. I regard myself primarily as a journalist and I think that is a very honourable profession. All my books have been about journalism... I remember once coming back from a lit fest in Galle, Sri Lanka. I was in the front of a vehicle and behind me were a lot of literary international glitterati/stars. And when we got to Colombo airport I said to (novelist) Kiran Desai: 'Kiran, you know I feel quite out of place with all you people. Not been to all the countries you have been to. I haven't met all the famous people you have met and were talking about. And I haven't read a lot of the books you were talking about.' Kiran said to me: 'Well, don't worry, we haven't read half the books which we are talking about'... On the title of his most well-known book on our nation No Full Stops in India, which he said he did not choose and has been a burden to him because nobody can remember the names of his other books: I had a wonderful problem with the title in Pakistan. I was doing a railway film, the great railway journey from Karachi to the Khyber. As I was walking down the carriages talking to passengers I came across a guy who recognised me. He said: 'You are Max Tully?' So I said: 'Well no, I am Mark Tully'. He said: 'I am reading your book'. I said: 'That's great, I am delighted'. He said: 'You have no reason to be delighted.' And I said: 'Why not?' He said: 'It is a pirated copy'. He ended by saying 'Now you have to do (a book called) No Punctuation Marks in Pakistan.' What no full stops mean to him: It means really the aspects of Indian culture, as I see them, which have influenced me most. I have written about these aspects in all my other books, as well and it is what I feel India should stand for. Here are some ideas for you: One is you never write finis There is inevitably an uncertainty of certainties. You should always be suspicious of certainties... A great friend of mine said you have made the uncertainty of certainty a certainty. The limits of rationality. The understanding that there are other ways of perceiving. We learn from our motions, emotions. We learn from all sorts of things, which we cannot describe rationally and we cannot put into words. I always quote the example of music, because music is something so wonderful. But can you ever actually describe it? The wonder of it. You can describe it poetry, perhaps, you can describe and write down how you feel. But nothing can you actually, really put down, exactly, in words on what music means to you, what music does for you. His learnings from India: I have learnt from India several things and I described them in (his latest book) India's Unending Journey. I have learned to value humility. To avoid thinking in black and white. To be suspicious of certainty. To travel the middle road. And to acknowledge that there are many ways to god. And I discovered in India that god can act in strange ways too. I remember an incident where I came to a full stop on a railway journey at Mughalsarai Junction -- and I refuse to change the name of Mughalsarai Junction. We arrived at Mughalsarai Junction in the middle of a very complicated journey to Patna. It was the first change. And I went upto the enquiry desk and said: 'Where is the train to Varanasi?' (which was the next stage). And the man said: 'We don't know. The train is indefinitely delayed'. So I said to him in Hindi, 'Ki iska matlab yeh hai ki train gayab ho gaya?! (Does that mean the train has gone missing?!) He said: 'Ha gayab ho gaya (Yes, it has gone missing)'. Then I exploded, as we outsiders tend to sometimes do when faced with Indian bureaucracy. So I said: 'What do you mean? What will I do now!' He said to me: 'Calm down. This is India. And nothing ever turns out to be disastrous, because we believe in god.' So I said: 'For god's sake, what the hell are you talking about?' He said to me: 'Ek aur gaadee hai. Woh gaadee tha. Ab hum nahin janta hai ki woh gaade kahan gaye. Toh aap issee gaadi mein ja sakte hai (There is one more train. There was that other train. But I don't know where it went. You can go in this train)'. So I set off in that train and reached Varanasi. On Nakli America and Asli Bharat: No Full Stops was a book that criticised the colonial hangover of the elite in India, the Brown Sahibs... In that book there was a call to India to look to its traditional wisdom, to take pride in that wisdom... Television commentator Karan Thapar told me: 'Your book is taking us back to a golden era which never existed'... I put it very succinctly. I said to him, 'Karan that is not what I want at all. But let's look to the future: Do you want to have a nakli America or an asli Bharat... Everything I have written about has been phrased in that contrast between the Asli Bharat and the Nakli America... America is a short term (or reference) for what I call the Western way of life... I believe India needs to find its own way ahead. When I talk about Asli Bharat I am not talking about the BJP or the RSS way as that Asli Bharat (it is important to clarify). The best economics for India: There has been a swing, in my lifetime, from socialism to an extreme form of market capitalism... Socialism went wrong because we assumed certain certainties. We didn't notice what was going wrong. We didn't notice that we needed to get things balanced. Therefore, governments got too powerful, governments interfered in too much, trade unions got too powerful, socialism became discredited. Market capitalism has led to an enormous financial crisis in 2008... Looks as though it may lead to another crisis, quite likely, not too long away. And has simply not delivered for large sections of the population, which is, of course, hugely important in a country like India. ... If we had been looking for balance and realised the dangers of swinging too far the other way from socialism, then this might not have happened. Indeed, I could say that Nehru's mixed economy might be the way ahead for India if it had not been derailed by unbalanced socialism brought in by his daughter Indira Gandhi. India now you might consider is a balanced economy -- we have a market economy and social welfare measures too. In some ways that is true... (But) the basic problem with socialism in this country or the socialist element in the economy, is that too much of it is just simple, old-fashioned controls, implemented by bureaucrats, and misused by politicians... If we want bring socialism and a market economy together, we need to find a middle way. We have to be very careful of what we are introducing into the mix, in particular we have to be very careful about the amount bureaucratic and government controls which we are now bringing in with the socialist element. The present situation in India: What is happening in India? We can safely say it is unbalanced. Basically, India is going helter-skelter straight down the road trying to ape the sort of life lived in Western countries... Martin Wolf (the respected Financial Times columnist) said it is infeasible for India to imitate the path of the developed world, the West... A friend of mine, Ramgopal Agarwala, a distinguished economist (in his) book he said: 'Old roads used by the West or by East Asia are now dead ends. India will have to design its own road guided by its social, economic and political realities'.' Politics and religion in India: There has been a swing from what I would describe as the arid secularism of the Congress to the extreme religious view of Hindutva. Why do I call Congress secularism arid? Because Congress people frequently try to argue that they were aware of the place of religion. Actually, secularism as a word tends to automatically mean a dislike or distaste for religion, or, at the very least, wanting to keep religion entirely in a private sector. Even if that was a desirable ideal, particularly in a multi-religious, deeply religious country like India, I don't believe that can ever work. Of course, now we have the spectacle of Rahul Gandhi temple going... and the Congress (saying it) is a party of Hindus, but not Hindutva, trying in a way to catch up. In some ways I applaud it, because, in some ways, I feel it is a recognition of a reality. In Indian polity, in Indian politics, you have to find a place for Hindus. At the same time, I think it is awfully easy to dismiss it as a tamasha... trying to give an impression of believing something perhaps you don't. Hinduism: The real essence, the real Hinduism -- (that) should be part of our politics, part of our religion and should be shown to the world as the way to do things -- is the Hinduism of (Dr Sarvapelli) Radhakrishnan, our... the second President of India who said (that) there has never been a uniform stable, unalterable Hinduism, neither in belief or in practice. 'Hinduism is a movement, not a position, a process, not a result, a great tradition, not a fixed revelation.' (British academic who held the same Oxford chair as Dr Radhakrishnan) R C Zaehner said 'Hinduism has a genius for absorption and adaption. For the dogmatic certainty that has racked the religions of Semitic origin... they (Hindus) feel nothing but shocked incomprehension.' Of course, what is happening, what is the problem with Hindutva, it is basically a form of Hinduism which has dogmatic certainties. This is not surprising because after all it is based on a movement which tried to imitate the Semitic tradition in order to combat the strength of that tradition, in the form of Christian missionary activity. (In a discussion after his talk, in reference to the BJP's embracing Hindutva, a political construct, Tully said: "Hindutva doesn't have the huge public support that the BJP thinks it has. What right do the RSS or VHP have to speak for all Hindus?") The future of India: There is a need to find the genius of this country... The way we, and the whole world, is progressing is fatally to a dead end. Unless we recover the principles -- the tradition of seeking balance, of being open-minded, of understanding that whatever position we are in we need to examine it, because there are no full stops to any position to which we might own. If you look at history, it is a history of change and of progress. It is not a history, as we sometimes see it presented nowadays, of saying this is the end of history... So perhaps I could just end with one quotation which actually comes from the introduction to No Full Stops in India. It is a quotation from the great 20th century British philosopher Michael Oakeshott. He said: 'Those societies which retain, in changing circumstances, a lively sense of their own identity and continuity (which are without hatred of their own experience which makes them desire to efface it) are to be counted fortunate not because they possess what others lack, but because they have already mobilised what none is without and all in fact rely on.' And one more very short quotation from (the well-known civil society activist) Aruna Roy, who I heard this morning, which I think sums it all up. She just said: 'Everything today is modern culture. Today has no diversity. Our diversity is the law of nature.' Diversity, in my view, is the underlying continuity which has given India an identity. WATCH: Mark Tully discuss with Barkha Dutt India's diversity, its prideworthy free press and how Hindutva is simply a political issue. NEW MILFORD The towns three fire chiefs are asking for restoration of the $25,000 cut from the budget so they can keep up with vehicle replacement. Members of Town Council asked if now was the appropriate time to restore the money and suggested the chiefs return with their request for the next budget. The issue was postponed until the next council meeting when officials will have a better idea of where to find the money this cycle. Councilman Michael Nahom said adding the funding sets a bad precedent and they should not adjust the budget. Every department would love to have another $20,000 in their budget right now, and thats where I have the problem, he said. I dont disagree with any of the needs, but it seems like a discussion we should be having in February. The chiefs said the decision needs to be made before their January meeting because it will affect the capital replacement plan for the apparatus and they will have to revise it if the amount changes. Water Witch Hose Company Chief James Ferlow said without the $25,000, the departments will hit a deficit in two years. That deficit doesnt hit for 10 or 11 years if the money is reinstated. That is a concern we have, he said. We will have to completely revamp our budget system because we will potentially be in the red significantly sooner, even though its only $25,000. We keep a very tight budget. The fire apparatus capital account was formed after a fire in 1979 to ensure the departments were equipped to handle any fire. It was established in 1983 with an annual contribution of $150,000 from the town until a few years ago when that amount increased to $250,000 to better reflect the rising costs of fire vehicles. The money in the account is distributed among the three departments based on a long-term replacement and maintenance plan the departments officers create. These purchases are supplemented by grants and donations. This past budget cycle, $50,000 was initially proposed to be cut from that account, but $25,000 was restored in and approved by voters. This brought this years total contribution to $225,000. Gaylordsvilles Tanker 44 is the next vehicle expected to be replaced and is scheduled for the next fiscal year. Other vehicles include a rescue vehicle, Water Witchs brush truck, Northvilles tanker and engines at all three departments. The engines last 25 years and the tankers and rescue trucks generally last 30 years, while brush trucks can be in service a few years longer than that. Were trying to get more life out of our tankers because we buy good tankers and therefore we can get 25 to 30 years out of them, Northville Chief Alan Harris said. It may look like the vehicles are being replaced before these benchmarks, but Gaylordsville Chief Dave Williamson said it takes about two years for the vehicles to be built so theyre actually being retired at those ages. The older something gets, the more chance there is something will break, he said. The chiefs said all of the vehicles are inspected and maintained regularly but its important to replace the vehicles with newer, safer models. New Milfords trucks are sold to southern states where they cant afford new vehicles and other countries. Councilman Tom Esposito said he knows the fire departments are doing a great job with old equipment and said they need safe equipment for the departments and public. My only question and my only reservation now is where the money comes from in the middle of a budget cycle, Esposito said. Its not doubting your expertise or what you do. The Torrington Police Department reported the following arrests: BREACH OF PEACE: Eric Rafferty, 31, of Funston Avenue, was arrested on Nov. 18 and charged with second-degree breach of peace, third-degree larceny, third-degree robbery, third-degree criminal mischief and fifth-degree larceny. He was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Jan. 10. DUI: Michael Stack, 45, of Hall Drive, Cheshire, was arrested on Dec. 3 and charged with driving under the influence, first-degree reckless endangerment, driving with intent to harass and evading responsibility. He was released on a $1,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Jan. 7. PROBATION VIOLATION: Kristopher Coons, 34, of Holly Place, Torrington, was arrested on Dec. 8 and charged with violation of probation and failure to appear. He was held on a $50,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Dec. 21. DUI: Dana Ouellette, 39, of Greenwoods Road, Torrington, was arrested on Dec. 8 and charged with driving under the influence. She was released on a $1,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Dec. 21. FORGERY: Dale Baksh, 27, of Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, turned himself in on Sept. 9 and was charged with first-degree forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery and larceny and fifth-degree larceny. He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Dec. 20. PROTECTIVE ORDER: Miguel Segovia, 19, of North Chapel St., Torrington, was arrested on Nov. 18 and charged with violating a protective order. He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Jan. 25. ID THEFT: Keli Goodrich, 32, of Grove Street, Moodus, was arrested on Nov. 19 and charged with third-degree theft of ID and sixth-degree larceny. She is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Dec. 17. BREACH OF PEACE: Anthony Rosas, 18, of Palmer Bridge Street, Torrington, was arrested on Dec. 2 and charged with second-degree breach of peace. He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Jan. 17. LARCENY: Amber Poorbaugh, 26, of Allen Road, Torrington, was arrested on Dec. 4 and charged with sixth-degree larceny. She is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Dec. 17. BREACH OF PEACE: Shauna Campbell, 29, of Winsted Road, Torrington, was arrested on Dec. 4 and charged with second-degree breach of peace. She was released on a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Jan. 10. BREACH OF PEACE: Angela Cliff, 43, of Winsted Road, Torrington, was arrested on Dec. 4 and charged with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault. She was released on a $1,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Dec. 20. The scene after trucks carrying ore bound for China plunged into the Irawaddy River on the highway connecting Myitkyina, the capital of Myanmar's Kachin State, and the Chinese border, Dec. 14, 2018. A bridge on Myanmars border with China collapsed on Friday as a convoy of trucks loaded with rare earth mineral ore crossed, sending one vehicle plunging into the Irawaddy River and cutting off a key trade route between the two countries. "A convoy of four big trucks carrying ore-rich earth was crossing the bridge and it collapsed right in the middle as the last one was crossing, Aik Kyar, an eyewitness, told RFAs Myanmar Service. The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries but escaped death. The trucks were carrying rare-earth mineral ore to China," he added. The bridge was near Sadung Waterfall, a scenic spot on the Irawaddy River on the highway connecting Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, and the Chinese border. Heavy truck traffic on the highway has been an irritant for local residents, against a broader concern among Myanmar citizens about Chinese exploitation of Myanmars natural resources. "Even though they are carrying ore-rich soil, our state government has no control on the permits. We can only tax them, Kachin State Minister of Environment and Mines H. Hla Aung told RFA. The permits were given by the trade department of the central government because this concerns import and export regulations," he added. What I know is these trucks are taking away these chunks of earth every day from a site near Myitkyina. I dont know how much of a role the Kachin state government has in this, but these people (the Chinese) have been working at what said to be a test site, he added. The bridge that collapsed on Friday was temporary structure built to replace one destroyed by Kachin Independence Army insurgents in 2012. It was not meant to hold up under heavy traffic from large trucks, a local observer said. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Paul Eckert. In a new surge of opposition to Chinas rule in Tibetan areas, two young Tibetans have set themselves ablaze in Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) county in Sichuan province, with another teenager launching a solo protest in the county town calling for Tibetan freedom, sources say. Gendun Gyatso and Choekyi Gyatso, both 16, set themselves on fire on Dec. 9, London-based Free Tibet said in a press release on Friday. Speaking to RFAs Tibetan Service, a Tibetan monk living in exile in India confirmed the protests, citing contacts in the Ngaba region, but he could not specify the date. The news of the self-immolations is true, Choedrup Rinpoche of Namdrol Ling monastery in South India said. One of [the protesters] was Gendun Gyatso, and the other was Choekyi Gyatso. Following the burnings, in which sources said the protesters had shouted slogans calling for freedom for Tibet, Chinese authorities moved quickly to block the flow of information from the area, Choedrup Rinpoche said. They placed severe restrictions on family members and on the [young mens] village, Choedrup Rinpoche said. The only information we have received has come by word of mouth, and it is difficult now to learn more details. The Dec. 9 self-immolations follow the burnings on Nov. 4 and Dec. 8 of two other young Tibetans, Dopo and Drugkho, which prompted a security clampdown in Ngaba, with internet communications from the area blocked. Free Tibet said that Gendun and Choekyi were taken to separate hospitals in Sichuans Barkham and Khyungchu, also called Markham, counties, and that one of the two had died of his burns. Free Tibet said the self-immolations had taken place on Dec. 9, while the exile news outlet Tibet Times, also confirming the burnings, gave the date as Dec. 12. The exile Tibetan news site Phayul meanwhile cited emerging reports that Choekyi Gyatso was in fact Drugkho, who had set himself on fire on Dec. 8, and whose protest had already been widely reported. Monk arrested, beaten Separately, a young Tibetan monk, also 16, staged a solo protest in Ngaba on Dec. 10 and was arrested and beaten by police, India-based Tibetan monks Kanyak Tsering and Lobsang Yeshe said, speaking from the exile branch of Ngabas Kirti monastery. The monk, Sangye Gyatso, had shouted slogans calling for freedom for Tibetan as he walked, Tsering and Yeshe said, citing contacts in the Ngaba area. Chinese public security bureau officers immediately rushed over and beat and arrested him in front of onlookers. We dont know where he is being held right now, they said. Speaking to RFA, Carole McGranahana historian specializing in contemporary Tibet at the University of Colorado in Bouldersaid that it is hard to say with certainty why someone would choose to burn to death in a political protest. However, no matter where in Tibet or in exile someone immolates, they call for a long life for the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. This is consistent across all Tibetan protests, she said. Right now, the people of Ngaba and Kirti are leading the protests. Ngabas main town and nearby Kirti monastery have been the scene of repeated self-immolations and other protests in recent years by monks, former monks, and other Tibetans calling for Tibetan freedom and the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Before the burnings reported to have taken place on Dec. 9, there were 155 self-immolations by Tibetans since the wave of fiery protests against nearly 70 years of Chinese rule of their homeland began in 2009. Of these 42 took place in Ngaba. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney. The foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China met on December 15 in the Afghan capital to discuss trade, development, and security. The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan was a major issue, with all three countries agreeing that a peaceful end to the war would have economic and trade benefits for the entire region. Before the meeting, Shahussain Murtazawi, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan president, said the foreign ministers of the three countries will discuss everything from regional economic development to counterterrorism. In a news conference after the trilateral talks, Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said Kabul had yet to see "tangible progress" from Pakistan "in the fight against terrorism." He said Afghanistan wanted to see some "specific measures" from Islamabad to end the violence. He did not offer details. "We want result-oriented actions from Pakistan in bringing peace and the sincere support of the country for the reconciliation process," Rabbani said. For his part, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Islamabad wanted a fresh start in its relationship with Afghanistan. "The time has come to move on, to stop pointing fingers, join hands for a future," said Qureshi. "If you want Pakistan to act for reconciliation then stop pointing fingers at Pakistan." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to solve their problems peacefully, adding that the three sides agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorist groups. We support Afghanistan and Pakistan efforts for peace and we call on the Taliban to join the peace process, Wang said. Cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China is important to bring peace to Afghanistan," he said. It was the second such meeting of the three neighboring countries. Qureshi is attending the meeting on his second visit to Kabul since assuming office. Both Pakistan and China desire peace, prosperity, and development in Afghanistan, Qureshi told reporters in Islamabad before his departure. "We are carrying the message of friendship and peace to Afghanistan, Qureshi was quoted as saying by broadcaster Geo TV. Afghanistan and the United States accuse Islamabad of providing support to Taliban militants fighting Afghan and international forces in the country. Pakistan rejects the accusations. Based on reporting by AP, dpa, TOLO, and Geo TV Kamal Naghchband, who fled violence in Afghanistan two decades ago but was shot down in the December 11 Strasbourg Christmas market attack, was buried on December 14. The 45-year-old father of three who wanted to build a new life in France was one of four people killed when a man shouting God is great in Arabic opened fire at the citys famed Christmas market. "He was going to see the Christmas market and -- in front of his children -- he took a bullet," one of his cousins told AFP. Naghchband was rushed to the hospital after the shooting, but he died a day later from his wounds. Hundreds of people attended the funeral at the Strasbourg mosque where he would go to pray. He was the joint manager of a garage near the mosque. "Our brother martyr Kamal tells us 'enjoy the moments you have in this world to do good,'" Imam Eyup Sahin said. "The best human being," he added, is not "the one who is most helpful for Muslims, for Jews, Christians or atheists, but for all humanity." Naghchband's Facebook page indicated he was from Kabul and studied in the northern city Mazar-e Sharif. "He was charismatic, kind, and joked with everyone. People didn't go to his garage just to have their car repaired but to have coffee with him," a relative said. The suspect in the mass shooting was identified as 29-year-old Cherif Chekatt. He was shot dead by police after a massive manhunt on December 13. The Islamic State (IS) militant group said one of its followers carried out the attack. Based on reporting by AFP and the BBC Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov says U.S. F-16 fighter jets are the best choice to replace the Balkan NATO members aging fleet of Soviet-designed MiG-29s. Borisov spoke on December 14 before the second day of an EU summit in Sofia. Bulgaria has budgeted 900 million euros ($1 billion) for the purchase of at least eight fighter jets. The Defense Ministry is reviewing offers from the United States for new Lockheed Martin F-16s and Boeing F-18s, new Gripen jets from Sweden, and used Eurofighters from Italy. Borisov told reporters he did not want to influence the process, but he said that "from what I have heard from the pilots, a new F-16 is a significantly better aircraft than all the rest that are on offer." Borisov and Defense Minister Krasimir Karakachanov are to hold separate talks on December 15 with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, who arrived in Sofia on December 14 as part of a tour of Central Europe and the Western Balkans to shore up support against what U.S.officials call Russias aggression on the region. Sullivan on December 13 attended the signing of an agreement under which Slovakia is to buy 14 F-16 jets from Lockheed Martin as it seeks to replace its Soviet MiG-29 jets. "Lockheed Martin has made what I think is a very attractive proposal [to Bulgaria] for the sale of fighter aircraft that other NATO allies have purchased that would make those aircraft, if purchased here, interoperable with those NATO partners," Sullivan said. Based on reporting by AFP and Euractiv.com SOVYETSK, Russia -- The 235th anniversary of the birth of German poet Max von Schenkendorf passed quietly in the city of his birth on December 11. And the annual December 17 birthday tribute to internationally recognized actor and author Armin Mueller-Stahl, who was also born in this city, has been canceled this year. Both developments appear to be part of a bid to recast the past in this formerly east Prussian city known as Tilsit, which sits on the eastern border of Kaliningrad Oblast just across the Neman River from Lithuania and is presently the second-largest city in Russia's westernmost exclave. In fact, the entire region seems to have been closing the door for years on its German past, an effort that has noticeably gathered steam in recent months. Kaliningrad Oblast was annexed into the Soviet Union from Germany after the end of World War II as an exclave of the Russian soviet republic. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states and Poland joined the European Union and NATO, and the region and its roughly half-million Rusian citizens were geopolitically isolated. "These days, for some reason, some people think that knowledge of our region's prewar history will lead to the transformation of public opinion and engender separatist yearnings," said Anzhelika Shpilyova, the former director of the local History Museum in Sovyetsk. Shpilyova was removed from her post in November after "losing the confidence" of local officials. She and her supporters, however, see her firing -- after 36 years at the museum, 18 of them as its director -- as retribution for her refusal to downplay the city's centuries-long German past and to cut ties with cultural organizations in Germany. "The museum maintains contacts with the Tilsit diaspora," Shpilyova told RFE/RL. "We exchange information and have ties with museums in Lithuania. Our city is located on the border. Our geographic position makes it obligatory to know also the history of our neighbors. The history of our city is intertwined with it." The apparent anti-German campaign in Kaliningrad Oblast made international headlines recently when the Russian government organized an online poll to attach the names of historical figures to regional airports. In the city of Kaliningrad, which was formerly the Prussian city of Koenigsberg, the locally born 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant jumped out to an early lead in the voting. That prompted a campaign against him in which the commander of the Baltic Fleet was captured on video disparaging the thinker as a "traitor" and author of "books none of us has read." Duma Deputy Andrei Kolesnik also spoke out against Kant, and unknown vandals poured pink paint on the philosopher's grave and a memorial in the city before "Empress Elizabeth Petrovna," daughter of Peter the Great, made a late surge and won the airport poll. But the Kant contretemps was just a particularly visible salvo in a conflict that has been simmering for at least two years. As late as 2010, Kaliningrad Oblast Governor and United Russia member Georgy Boos publicly proposed restoring the name Tilsit. However, since at least 2016, local state television and several smaller local media outlets have been regularly running stories about the purported "creeping Germanization" of the region. Such reports regularly featured historian Vladimir Shulgin, who ironically used to teach at Kaliningrad's Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, sounding the alarm. "These efforts have an overarching goal, in my opinion," Shulgin said in a broadcast in November 2016. "To weaken Russia on its extreme western frontier, to make it so that this outpost lost its nature as an outpost and instead became an open door, so that the West can shape public opinion here. And what is its interest here? To take Kaliningrad away from Russia. The West has no other interest here." In 2017, state-media reports featured Aleksandr Orshulevich and other members of the Baltic Avantgarde of Russian Resistance (BARS), an obscure fringe organization that calls itself "nationalist" and "monarchist" but advocates Kaliningrad's entry into the European Union and the return of the historic name Koenigsberg. The group had almost no public profile or popular support, and four members were arrested in the summer of 2017 after their TV appearances. They are still being held pending trial. Other activists in Kaliningrad said they disagreed with BARS's positions but insisted the group was nonviolent, advocating aggressive decommunization and the exposure of the crimes of dictator Josef Stalin and other Soviet leaders. "Undoubtedly they are not guilty," activist Yakov Grigoryev told RFE/RL in November. "I think their case is part of the pressure on dissent. Since their nationalist ideas could be popular among young people, the authorities fear them and are trying to root out any attempt to organize." Another example of the purported Germanization of the region that has attracted attention is the locally made beer. In early 2016, the brewery's Dutch owner, Heineken, relaunched the beer as Koenigsberg beer, using the German spelling of the name instead of the former Russianized version, Kyonigsberg. "Now on the front of the bottle you won't find a single word in Russian," an article on the nationalist Russky Mir website fumed. "Instead you'll find in two separate places the slogan 'Mit respekt zu den Deutschen brautraditionen.'" ("With respect to German brewing traditions.") History Museum Director Shpilyova came under scrutiny in 2017 over an exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of Tilsit native and German pacifist poet Johannes Bobrowski. Bobrowski, who served in the German Army on the Eastern Front during World War II and spent four years as a prisoner of war in the Soviet Union, was lionized in the Soviet Union, with mass editions of his poetry. "The city authorities were there, diplomats," Shpilyova recalled. "Some deputies from the [German] Bundestag came. There were university professors. Everything was excellent and on the highest level. But suddenly, opinions changed." She was told to take the exhibition down and asked to resign because one of the photos showed Bobrowski in his German Army uniform. She refused to step down. "So they tried to blackmail me," she said. "They told me I'd be sentenced for promoting extremism. This was a violation of all labor and administrative norms. I still refused to resign, but they gave me an official reprimand for supposedly 'distorting history.'" In June, officials in Sovyetsk announced they would close the local History Museum, supposedly to cut the budget. Shpilyova mustered public outrage and waged a campaign in the local media that forced officials to back down. In November, a delegation of four officials appeared at her office and dismissed her. "Of course, I expected it," she told RFE/RL. "I knew they wouldn't leave me alone." Shpilyova said she is convinced the museum will be radically transformed. "It is interesting that a museum has suddenly become a threat," she said. "Battles are being waged as if it was a key enterprise in the city -- a hostile takeover. What will happen next is hard to say." Her story echoes the experience of Kaliningrad sociology professor Anna Alimova, a high-profile local environmental activist who was fired in September after 20 years of teaching. Her dismissal was prompted by a purported anonymous complaint from a student that was covered by the local Regnum website. The student reportedly claimed Alimova was promoting "Kaliningrad separatism" among her students. "There was no such student," Alimova told RFE/RL. "I would like to see this student who somehow knew about the unknown journalist [Andrei] Vypolzov and the website Regnum. They don't even have an address on their website." Last year, a campaign against the longtime director of Kaliningrad's German-Russian House, Viktor Gofman, accused him of promoting Nazism and extremism, partially for allegedly "popularizing" Koenigsberg-born German poet Agnes Miegel, who was a member of the Nazi party, and for alleged ties to BARS. Gofman was exonerated of the charges in court, but he suffered a heart attack and resigned his post. A local ally of President Vladimir Putin, Genrikh Martens, took over the position. In an interview with RFE/RL, Gofman said the campaign against him was aimed at taking over the independent German-Russian House. "We were independent and conducted cultural events that brought together all nationalities," Gofman said. "And that made a lot of people upset. How could there be something independent in Kaliningrad?" Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Yulia Paramonova Iraqi Yazidi activist Nadia Murad says she plans to use the money she was awarded when she won this years Nobel Peace Prize to build a hospital in her hometown for victims of sexual abuse. Murad, who had been held as a sex slave by Islamic State (IS) militants, on December 14 made the comments before a crowd of hundreds of people in her hometown of Sinjar in northern Iraq. "With the money I got from the Nobel Peace Prize, I will build a hospital in Sinjar to treat ill people, mainly widows and women who were exposed to sexual abuse by Islamic State militants," she said. She said she would be contacting humanitarian organizations "soon" to start work on the hospital. Murad received the $1 million prize for the Nobel prize with Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. Murad was among some 7,000 women and girls who were captured and forced into sexual slavery by IS fighters in 2014. She was able to escape and eventually found refuge in Germany, where she has campaigned for support for the Yazidi community. The Yazidi faith has elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Islam. The IS group considers them devil worshippers. More than 3,000 Yazidis were killed when the militants swept into northern Iraq in 2014. The militants have been mainly driven out of Iraq by U.S.-backed government forces. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed concern over the rising popularity of rap music among Russian youth. Speaking at a meeting with cultural advisers at the Kremlin on December 15, Putin said the music should not be banned but "directed." "If it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it," Putin was quoted by Russian media as saying at the meeting. His comments come amid a wave of cancellations of concerts by popular artists who commentators say are channeling the political and economic frustrations of young Russians. The crackdown has evoked Soviet-era censorship of the arts. Putin said banning artists from performing would only feed their popularity. Putin noted that "rap is based on three pillars: sex, drugs, and protest." But he said he is particularly concerned with drug themes prevalent in rap, explaining "this is a path to the degradation of the nation." He said "drug propaganda" is worse than cursing. Husky, who raps in Russian and whose songs have at times been critical of the government, said his concerts were under pressure because authorities objected to lyrics they found offensive. After his concert was cancelled in Krasnodar, in southern Russia, he tried to perform from the roof of a car instead, leading to his arrest for hooliganism. His arrest and sentence to 12 days in jail sparked a public outcry and the rapper was released early. Putin also addressed the question of how to regulate the musical genre's use of censorious language. He said that he had talked about swearing with a linguist. "She told me personally that it's a part of our language. It's just a question of how you use it," he said. With reporting by Interfax, TASS, and AP Mastona Ato moved out of her village of Baljuvon in southern Tajikistan shortly after her new husband threw her out just two days after their wedding, accusing her of not being a virgin, a claim she vehemently rejects. "I felt like everybody was judging me," Aso says. "My mother didn't leave home for two months because she couldn't face the gossip and neighbors' disapproving looks." Aso, 21, says the bitter experience has changed her from a shy village girl who dreamed of becoming a happy housewife to a strong woman. And now, she has a cause. Aso says she wants to enroll at a police academy in the capital, Dushanbe, to help other women caught up in similar situations. "I could use my experience to help others," Aso says. "What happened to me has happened to many other girls." Her father, Asomiddin Jalolov, has promised to raise money for her education, she says. Jalolov has been a "pillar of support," according to Aso, since her arranged marriage to an economist from the Hamadoni district ended in "disgrace" and a quick divorce in August 2017. Aso says she was unfairly accused by her husband of having premarital sex, a societal taboo in conservative Tajik society. The father and daughter, who now live in Dushanbe, are fighting for justice for Aso, trying to sue her former husband for "slander and physical abuse." 'Done Crying' Jalolov has approached 16 government agencies in Hamadoni and Dushanbe. Among them are police and prosecutors' offices, women's affairs committees, and local and central governments. Jalolov shows receipts from different agencies confirming they have received his letters of complaints and promising a response. Asked by RFE/RL, the State Women's Affairs Committee confirmed receiving Jalolov's letter and said the committee would provide the family with a defense lawyer if the court takes up Aso's case. More than 15 months later, the family is still waiting for other agencies to respond, and they're determined not to give up. "I trust my daughter. No girl should face such abuse," Jalolov says. "I will pursue this until the end to set an example for others." After a tearful media interview with RFE/RL's Tajik Service last year, Aso got messages of support from the public, with some of them offering sympathy and some making marriage proposals. "I promised myself to not cry anymore. I'm done crying," Aso said in a follow-up interview with the service this month. "Another marriage is not in my immediate plans anymore. I want to study and become a policewoman and help other women." A Moscow-based Tajik woman has contacted the family to offer financial support for Aso to pursue her dream. Jalolov recently sold the family's livestock -- a cow and a calf -- to help provide for his daughter. The young woman says her greatest regret is not going to college in the first place, rather than getting married. Unnecessary Tests Another regret is not taking a "purity test" before her wedding; that, she believes, would have saved her a lot of bother. Aso insists she was a virgin on her wedding night, but the groom didn't trust her. According to Aso, shortly after the consummation of their marriage, he violently beat and demanded that she confess to having had sex before. "He said, 'I'll shave your head and throw you outside, so if you don't want to suffer, confess before I kill you,'" Aso claimed in a video interview with RFE/RL's Tajik Service. "He said a virgin should be bleeding for the whole week and scolded me, saying that you must have stitched it because you only bled for one night.'" The day the bride was thrown out, her family took her to the National Forensics Center in Dushanbe, where doctors examined Aso and confirmed she was indeed a virgin on her wedding night. The family of the groom rejects the claim of violence and insists the new bride admitted to having had premarital sex. "Nobody beat her. Why would a family spend money to throw a wedding with so much hope and send the bride back to her parents...for no reason?" says Khairiniso Emomova, Aso's former mother-in-law. Tajikistan introduced mandatory prenuptial medical tests for young men and women who get married for the first time. The 2015 law is primarily aimed at preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Registrars refuse to conduct the marriage without a medical certificate stating the couple has passed the tests and are aware of each other's health status. A purity test is optional, but many future brides opt for it either at the groom's behest or voluntarily to avoid potential scandal. According to the National Forensics Center, at least 22 newlyweds approached doctors to resolve virginity disputes in the first half of 2018. More than 100 brides-to-be underwent prenuptial purity tests over the same period of time. In some cases, even the certificate of purity from doctors doesn't help save a marriage when the groom is suspicious of his bride. One such dispute ended in tragedy in 2017 when an 18-year-old bride took her own life and her 24-year-old husband ended up in prison for driving her to suicide. The United Nations recently called on countries that have introduced purity tests to end "the medically unnecessary" practice. RFE/RL Tajik Service correspondents in Dushanbe Zarangez Navruzshoh and Shahlo Abdullo contributed to this report. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of the Serbian capital of Belgrade to express their discontent with the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. The crowd, some blowing whistles, marched through central Belgrade on December 15. Some people also wore yellow vests that have become a symbol of resistance for protesters in France. The protesters stopped by the presidency building urging Vucic to resign. Thousands also rallied a week ago, protesting after an opposition party leader was beaten. The protesters have dubbed the demonstrations Stop the Bloody Shirts. "We won't be stopped or silenced," said Serbian Left party leader Borko Stefanovic, whose head was injured in last month's attack in the southern town of Krusevac. Vucic's opponents have blamed the violence on what they describe as an atmosphere of intimidation and fear that has emerged as a result of the president's populist ruling coalition. Vucic is a former nationalist who now says he wants Serbia to reform and join the European Union. But critics say Vucic has restricted democratic and media freedoms in the Balkan country, which he has denied. With reporting from AP Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have agreed on the creation of a new national Orthodox church and elected a leader to head that church, a move that Ukraine's leaders say is vital to the country's security and independence but could raise tensions further with Moscow. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said 39-year-old Metropolitan Epifaniy of the Kyiv Patriarchate church had been chosen as head of the church by a council, comparing the move to Ukraine's referendum for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. "This day will go into history as a sacred day...the day of the final independence from Russia," Poroshenko told thousands of supporters in central Kyiv on December 15. "And Ukraine will no longer drink, in the words of Taras Shevchenko, 'Moscow's poison from Moscow's cup,'" he said, quoting the country's national poet. Poroshenko said Ukrainians finally had their own Orthodox church. "What is this church? This is a church without [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. What is this church? This church is without [Russian Orthodox Patriarch] Kirill. What is this church? This is a church without prayers for the Russian authorities and Russian troops, because they kill Ukrainians. But this is a church with God and Ukraine!" Relations between Russia and Ukraine have deteriorated dramatically since Moscows seizure of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent support for separatists battling Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine. The conflict there has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014. Epifaniy was chosen by a council at St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, built by the son of Prince Volodymyr, whose baptism in 988 led to the spread of Christianity in the region. Addressing the crowd, Epifaniy said "God heard our appeals and gave us this anticipated unity." He stressed that the new church's doors would be open to all and encouraged Ukrainians to rally behind it. Russia has opposed Kyivs efforts to secure an independent church, comparing it to the Great Schism of 1054 that divided western and eastern Christianity. On December 15, the Russian Orthodox Church called the council a failure because only two members of the church it supports in Ukraine had attended the meeting, according to Interfax. Spokesman Metropolitan Ilarion said the plan "to persuade the canonical Ukrainian church to participate in the creation of the new structure failed...with the exception of two traitors." Ukraine won approval for the new church in October from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, the seat of the global spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians. "We want to support the process of Ukraine's split from Moscow and for us to have our own church, which is not governed from the Kremlin," said Lyudmyla Alekseyeva, 66, a pensioner who had come to the event with her daughter and granddaughter, in comments to Reuters. Several thousand people rallied outside the ancient St. Sophia's where the meeting had taken place behind closed doors. Poroshenko has made an independent church a campaign pledge as part of his campaign for reelection in 2019. "Let's stand and pray for a Ukrainian church to be created today," Poroshenko said as he greeted several of the rally's participants before going into the cathedral. "The creation of our church is another declaration of Ukraine's independence and you are the main participants of this historic event," he added. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate said on December 13 that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the "first among equals" in the global Eastern Orthodox faith, will hand over a "tomos" -- a decree granting autocephaly, or independence -- to the future head of the local Orthodox Church in Ukraine on January 6. Bartholomew announced the decision to recognize Ukraine's request for an autocephalous church in October. The announcement by Bartholomew prompted the Russian Orthodox Church to announce days later that it was ending its relationship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in protest. Ahead of the meeting, the Russian Orthodox Church called on international leaders to "protect" its followers in Ukraine in the face of what it called official pressure on Moscow-appointed clerics. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP, AP, and dpa A Ukrainian air force pilot was killed when his fighter jet crashed during a landing attempt on December 15, the countrys military announced. The Ukrainian General Staff said the Sukhoi Su-27 went down while returning from a routine flight to its base in the northern region of Zhytomyr. An investigation into the crash is under way. Su-27 fighter jets were designed by the Soviet Union and continue to be built by Russia. Depending on the model, they carry either one or two pilots. It was not immediately clear what model was involved in the December 15 crash. Ukraine lost a two-seat Su-27 in October during exercises with the U.S. Air National Guard. An American pilot, riding in the second seat, died along with his Ukrainian co-pilot. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Interfax Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Mayan chewing gum employs thousands with exports to Europe, Middle East Chetumal, Q.R. More than two thousand people from Mayan communities in the Yucatan have income thanks to the production of natural chewing gum. Chicza, which is an organic food, is a traditional Mayan rain forest chewing gum that has become a global trend, popular especially in Europe and the Middle East where they have been exporting the gum for several years. Part of the Chicza success is that it is a 100 percent natural product, certified as organic, free of preservatives and also biodegradable and sustainable. Andres Aldrete, operational director of the brand, explained that it is produced from the chico zapote tree in Mayan communities by farmers from Campeche and Quintana Roo. It is manufactured in Chetumal. He says that although the product is not widely valued in Mexico, it is one of the favorites of European and Middle East consumers where it has been exported for several years. Aldrete explained that instead of regular chewing gum made with polymers (plastics) which are petroleum products and can really be harmful to health, the Mayan chewing gum is a better option. He added that in an area where very few job opportunities are presented, the Chicza natural chewing gum industry gives thousands that opportunity. Orbans right-wing party Fidesz pushed through legislation on Wednesday that allows employers to demand up to 400 hours overtime annually and the creation of a new government-controlled court system to deal with cases related to corruption and free speech, set to begin operating next year. Angry protesters marched across Budapests Szechenyi Chain Bridge with banners reading Free Country, Free University and To prison with this gang of thieves. Demonstrators waved flags and colored smoke flares while chanting Orban go to hell and We have had enough. Riot police used tear gas against demonstrators. Hungarian law previously permitted businesses to demand up to 250 hours overtime annually. The government motivated that the changes to working hours are in the interest of the workers and would allow people to work and earn more. The establishment of a parallel court system was also criticized. There is no real argument behind the law, this is simply a political decision that aims to extend the governments control over the judiciary, said David Vig, director of Amnesty International Hungary, in a statement. Christopher Kerr visited Punjab with an aim to regulate movement of youth to Canada SPOKESMAN NEWS SERVICE: CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 15: Minister (Migration), Govt. of Canada Mr. Christopher Kerr visited Punjab with an aim to regulate movement of youth to Canada especially Punjabi youngsters, who want to embark study abroad. Mr. Kerr, who is looking after Migration affairs of India, Nepal and Bhutan, was accompanied by Mr. Rahul Sharma, Managing Director, Govt. of Alberta. The Canadian delegation met Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training and Employment Generation Minister Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi to streamline immigration. Disclosing this here today Mr. Channi said that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between Govt. of Punjab and Govt. of Alberta, Canada to streamline the migration application processes for students and saving the immigration aspirant students from fraud commission agents on February 7, 2019. Advertisement Mr. Channi said this is in continuation of initiative taken by the a high level delegation that visited Canada this year to facilitate aspiring youths, creation of jobs for Punjabis overseas and exploring educational opportunities for both the countries. He said that keeping in view of the increasing passion of Punjabi youth to study abroad, Punjab Government had taken the great initiative for bright and prosperous future of the younger generation craving for study abroad and would create vigorous employment opportunities, which is the motto of Punjab Government. Earlier Canadian delegation today held discussions with Technical Education Minister, Mr. Charanjeet Singh Channi in tge presence of senior officials of the Punjab Government which included Secretary Technical Education and Industrial training Punjab, Director Employment Generation, Director Technical Education, Advisor Skill Development and Vice Chancellor IKGPTU Jalandhar, VC MRSPTU, Bathinda over the issues of migration. Advertisement During the meeting issues related to setting up of a Punjab Govt. portal aimed at funneling students and immigrants interested in Canada, Skill Development for overseas Employment, studying abroad programs in various Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics and ITIs of Punjab and how the immigration Department of Govt. of Canada support such Initiatives of Govt. of Punjab. Secretary Technical Education and Industrial Training Mr. D. K. Tiwari said that Punjab Govt. is making all efforts to save youngsters from fraudster agents and provide them legal pathway to go to Canada through Skill Development. Dr. Sandeep Kaura, Advisor Skill Development Mission Punjab took the delegation to visit existing Skill development Centers being run by Govt. of Punjab in Amritsar & Ludhiana and discuss with Canadian Minister the way forward in skilling the youth of Punjab as per the labor market requirements of Canada .There is acute shortage skilled man power in Canada in different sectors. The delegation members also visited Golden Temple Amritsar to pay obeisance and was honored by district administration. Capt. Amarinder Singh SPOKESMAN NEWS SERVICE: CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 15: Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Saturday has written to Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari seeking early approval of the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project. The Expressway has been proposed as a greenfield project by the Government of India to connect the national capital with the important religious cities of Amritsar (in Punjab) and Katra (in Jammu & Kashmir). Nitin Gadkari Advertisement A spokesperson of the Chief Ministers Office said that earlier this year, the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana had met Union Minister Gadkari to discuss the proposed alignment of the expressway, which would pass through the States of Haryana and Punjab up till Amritsar. Thereafter, the Punjab Government had conveyed its consent for adoption of alignment starting from Amritsar and going straight upto the International Airport, New Delhi. Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project However, a formal decision on the approval of the alignment was yet to be taken by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. The Chief Minister urged the Government of India to expeditiously approve the project as it would lead to improved connectivity and foster greater socio-economic development of the region, said the spokesperson. Making music that makes a difference Class unites students and South Carolina inmates through song Graduate students from the School of Music, led by associate professor of music theory Danny Jenkins, worked with Lee Correctional Institutions music program to teach inmates music theory during the fall semester. Lee Correctional Institution near Bishopville, S.C., is the states largest maximum-security prison and home to some of the most violent offenders. Its also a place where music can make a difference. Graduate students from the University of South Carolinas School of Music, led by associate professor of music theory Danny Jenkins, are taking their "Rhythm and Meter" class behind bars, working with the prisons music program to help participants better understand music theory. Jenkins got his students involved in the project when he learned about the Music for Transformation program. Founded by Decoda, an ensemble in residence at Carnegie Hall, the program brings musicians to the Lee Correctional Institution each year for a weeklong residency. When Decoda came down and started talking to the inmates, they asked the music leaders what they needed, says Jenkins. They said they wanted to learn more about music theory. They wanted to understand how music works. At first, Jenkins donated textbooks to explain how songs are constructed and composed. But after attending a concert at the prison a few months later, he wanted to do more so he began teaching inmates music theory from the Columbia campus through teleconferencing. In the fall of 2018, he made the philanthropic project part of his graduate-level "Rhythm and Meter" class. A life-changing experience To be eligible for the program inmates must be part of the Character Based Unit, a dormitory established within the prison. Inmates apply to be part of the community and, once accepted, must maintain good behavior to stay and enjoy a range of classes taught by leaders from within the inmate population. It meant so much to me as a musician to witness how music communicates and connects with no boundaries. Caryn Ong, student in the graduate-level "Rhythm and Meter" class The leaders are inmates, says Jenkins. Every single thing they're doing, they have to do. They learn how to communicate in the music-making process. What they learn often leads to better communication in the other facets of their life. For students Caryn Ong and Jacob Wylie, the experience has been a unique form of education. Its always a very good opportunity for me to teach to many different people no matter their age or social background, Ong says. It's valuable to make music with people who might not be of what you would call the professional level, Wylie says. The music you make with them and the experience you have while you're making the music is of equal value. For Wylie, being involved with inmates has further opened his eyes to the power of music. Music is truly the universal language. Its helps people express things that are not able to be expressed in words or in any other sort of form of communication. Making music together The inmates and students arent the only ones who are learning. Since he began teaching his Lee County students, Jenkins has evolved in the way he teaches music theory to School of Music students. Our curricula are designed around classical music and a certain kind of music-making, he says. Popular music, rock or hip-hop is a different kind of music-making, so I had to seek out the knowledge that they needed and figure out how to help them get there. That process led me to make changes in how I teach my undergraduate and graduate classes. It led me to reconceive what I think music theory is, and what I think its supposed to be doing. As valuable as the program is for inmates, Jenkins believes the program is equally beneficial for students, too. I wanted this to be in line with community-engaged pedagogy, which is not only about us coming out from the academy and solving peoples problems. It is about exchange, he explains. I want them to see that you can actually use your musical skills to make somebodys life better and to actually interact with them. Student Taylor Gable has already taken that lesson to heart and become involved with Killingsworth, a Midlands residential program for women recovering from alcohol or drug abuse, incarceration, mental and emotional problems and other crisis situations. The class is showing me what can I do in the community with music, Gable says. Its helping me see where can I put music and where people want music so I can help them experience it. The group traveled to Lee County on Dec. 7, a gray, dreary day. It proved to be a stark contrast to what unfolded inside the prison walls when the students and inmates gathered to rehearse and perform their compositions. The students, who had been looking forward to meeting their collaborators face to face since they began interacting early in the semester, were inspired by the effort, support and community they experienced inside one of the states most feared places. It was such a humbling experience that I will never forget, student Ong says. It meant so much to me as a musician to witness how music communicates and connects with no boundaries. I gained so much, and I am thankful for their music. All of the prisoners, both those attending the concert and those performing, were very warm and welcoming, adds Gable. There was no tension; everyone was very supportive. Thats a side of Lee that no one sees. There is amazing rehabilitation occurring thanks to all of their community programs. Share this Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Already affecting more than five million Americans older than 65, Alzheimer's disease is on the rise and expected to impact more than 13 million people by 2050. Over the last three decades, researchers have relied on neuroimaging -- brain scans such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) -- to study Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Yet these studies have so far failed to deliver consistent findings, leaving scientists with no clear path to finding treatments or cures. In a study published today in the journal BRAIN, neuroscientists led by Michael D. Fox, MD, PhD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) used data from the human brain connectome -- a publicly available "wiring diagram" of the human brain based on data from thousands of healthy human volunteers -- to reassess the findings from neuroimaging studies of patients with Alzheimer's disease. "In neuroimaging, a common assumption is that studies of specific diseases or symptoms should all implicate a specific brain region," said Fox, director of the Laboratory for Brain Network Imaging and Modulation at BIDMC and an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. "However, cognitive functions, neuropsychiatric symptoms and diseases may better map to brain networks rather than single brain regions. So we tested the hypothesis that these inconsistent neuroimaging findings are part of one connected brain network." Fox and colleagues, including corresponding author, R. Ryan Darby, MD, PhD, formerly a fellow in Fox's lab at BIDMC and now at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, analyzed results from 26 neuroimaging studies of Alzheimer's disease. The studies investigated abnormalities in structure, metabolism or circulation of the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease; however, the findings were seemingly inconsistent, with studies locating abnormalities in disparate brain regions. No single brain region consistently demonstrated neuroimaging abnormalities. However, when Fox's team mapped these various neuroimaging abnormalities to the human connectome -- the wiring diagram of the human brain -- a different picture emerged. "When we applied this approach to our 26 studies, we found that 100 percent of studies reported neuroimaging abnormalities that were part of the same connected brain network -- both within and across imaging modalities," Fox reported. "These results may help reconcile inconsistent neuroimaging findings as well as improve our ability to link brain symptoms or diseases to neuroanatomy." Fox and colleagues have previously used the network mapping technique -- pioneered by Fox and others -- to reveal which parts of the brain are responsible for a number of symptoms, conditions, behavior and even consciousness. Now the method could pave the way to a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. The findings also suggest a unique solution to the "reproducibility crisis" in the field of neuroscience. Reproducibility -- the potential for different investigators to run the study again and obtain the same results -- is one of the main tenets of the scientific method and critical for translating research findings into treatments. In this study, Fox and colleagues use the human connectome to change the way reproducibility is measured. "This is a new way to combine results across many different studies to determine the brain circuit most tightly associated with a given symptom or disease," Fox said. "By shifting our focus from specific brain regions to networks, we show that seemingly inconsistent neuroimaging findings are in fact reproducible." Juho Joutsa of BIDMC's Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and of Massachusetts General Hospital also contributed to this work. Investigators were supported by funding from the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation; the National Institutes of Health, (R01 MH113929, K23 NS0837410); the Nancy Lurie Marks Foundation; the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation; the Alzheimer's Association; the BrightFocus Foundation; the Vanderbilt Faculty Research Scholars Award; Academy of Finland and the Finnish Medical Foundation. Aparna Bhardwajs 15-year-old son, Nikash, and his best friend wanted to camp out all night in front of the new Shake Shack in Palo Alto before its opening. They wanted to be first in line. But its finals week, so the devoted mother made a deal with the boys. She would leave their house just five minutes away in Menlo Park at 6 a.m., she said, and save them a place at the front of the line as long as they promised to study for their math final Monday. Done, the boys said. So thats just what Bhardwaj did, nailing down a spot not first, but second in line right around dawn. And was it worth it? The euphoria on the faces of the two boys when they walked into the shop answered that one. I love it! Nikash erupted as he and his pal Alex Wick, also 15, literally jumped up and down in line. The burgers are phenomenal! Alex chimed in. Every part of the meal, you cant really go wrong. The bun is light and fluffy. The burger itself is really juicy. Its perfect. Its fabulous. Known for its pillowy buns, juicy all-natural burger patties, milky smooth shakes, frozen custard and crispy crinkle-cut fries, Shake Shack has gained a cult following since opening in New York City, rivaling the West Coasts In-N-Out Burger craze. But until now, the Bay Area had no taste of the phenomenon. That ended at 11 a.m. Saturday when the burger joint, now a global brand with over 200 locations, was swarmed by more than 1,000 fans as it opened its first Bay Area outpost at the Stanford Shopping Center. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle When Bhardwaj arrived at Shake Shack just after 6 a.m., it was still dark. The unopened burger joint was empty except for two electricians working inside. She waited in her car, her eyes affixed on the entrance to make sure no one would come steal her spot. But someone did. At about 7 a.m., Ronald Miller, 62, of Daly City strolled to the front of the line. He had awakened at 4 a.m., stuffed an extra jacket in his backpack, and taken a bus to Palo Alto. It was his first time trying Shake Shack, and he wasnt sure what to get. Order the shake, Alex said. Its really good. Order the fries, Nikash added. In the end, Miller ordered a cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. He took his tray and sat at a table near the back of the restaurant. First, he snapped a photo of his food. Then he hesitantly took a fry and dabbed it in some ketchup. When he took his first bite, his eyes widened. The fries were really out of this world, Miller said. I should have gotten the double double instead. It would have had more meat. Shake Shack has become an indomitable force in fast food after getting its start as a hot dog cart and then opening in Manhattans Madison Square Park in 2004. Explosive growth has been the chains norm, and there are now 130 locations in the U.S., with outposts also in Tokyo, Dubai, London and Istanbul. According to reports, the company is projected to generate nearly $500 million in revenue in 2018. And now the chain is fixing its sights on the Bay Area. With the Palo Alto spot open, a location is in the works for San Franciscos Cow Hollow neighborhood inside the former Real Food Co. Market at 3060 Fillmore St. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2018 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. On Saturday, Miller, Alex and Bhardwaj and her son strode through the doors just after Palo Alto Mayor Liz Kniss cut the ribbon. It was four minutes before the restaurant was scheduled to open. The line snaked past the parking lot and stopped in the middle of the shopping center outside Bloomingdales. For the people near the back, including 27-year-old Stanford student Thieny Nguyen and her three friends, the wait would be three hours. Nguyen wasnt worried, though. The four friends were snacking on gasp Sausage Egg McMuffins from McDonalds. That will be lunch, Nguyen said, laughing, of her impending Shake Shack order. Chronicle staff writer Justin Phillips contributed to this report. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani The Oakland City Council on Friday unanimously passed an ordinance that will require property owners to add seismic retrofits to soft-story apartment buildings in the next six years. The city law applies to certain types of old, wood-frame residences with at least two stories and five or more units. Soft-story buildings often have commercial retail or parking in the ground floor vulnerable structural openings that could lead to collapse during a powerful earthquake. In the coming months, the city will send notices to owners of more than 1,400 buildings in Oakland that may need retrofitting, said David Harlan of the Planning and Building Department. Different types of residences will be on slightly different timelines for completing the work. The legislation was modeled on similar ordinances in Berkeley and San Francisco, whose mandatory soft-story retrofit programs began several years ago and are now winding down. We all know that its only a matter of time before a major earthquake ... hits the East Bay, City Councilman Dan Kalb, who introduced the measure, said at the council meeting. The potential damage would be devastating, in all seriousness, on multiple levels, in loss of life and massive displacement. Under the proposal, up to 70 percent of the costs of the retrofit can be passed on to tenants over a 25-year period. Tenants forced to move out while the work is done would be eligible for relocation payments from owners, who can apply for financial assistance from the city, which received grant money from state and federal programs. Costs are expected to average $69,000 for buildings under 20 units and $105,000 for buildings of 20 or more units. The monthly increase in rent for tenants would come out to between $12 and $27, according to a city report. 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. Any retrofit costs covered by insurance or grant money would not be allowed to be passed on to tenants. Still, some expressed concern at the council meeting about tenants understanding their rights and getting proper notice before construction work begins. Greg McConnell of the Jobs and Housing Coalition, a lobbying group of Oakland developers and businesses, said property owners already face long wait times to get permits and inspections from the city. The new ordinance, he said, could increase the backlog in the absence of significantly expanded staffing. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov The former vice mayor of San Jose still remembers the night she and her family boarded a fishing boat to flee Vietnam in 1979. They spent the next week lost at sea. She remembers making it to the Central Valley of California and, as a child, getting up at 4 a.m. to pick raspberries. She studied hard, graduated from UC Santa Cruz and went on to become the first Vietnamese American elected to the San Jose City Council. Thousands of Vietnamese citizens like Madison Nguyen and her family welcomed to the U.S. with open arms after the Vietnam War nearly half a century ago settled in San Jose, and their labor has helped the South Bay thrive. We didnt have any handouts, Nguyen said. We worked hard. But now, members of San Joses Vietnamese community at more than 100,000 people, it is the largest of any city in the country are alarmed that the Trump administration wants to change the rules that brought many of them to the U.S. The White House has decided to scrap a 2008 deal that bars the deportation of Vietnamese refugees who came to the U.S. before 1995. Officials say the rule change targets convicted criminals, but many Vietnamese refugees are supporters of the former government of South Vietnam, the U.S. ally in the war. They fear they could face discrimination, or worse, from the Hanoi government if forced to return. Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said that 7,000 convicted criminal aliens from Vietnam are facing deportation under the changed policy. These are noncitizens who during previous administrations were arrested, convicted and ultimately ordered removed by a federal immigration judge, she said. Its a priority of this administration to remove criminal aliens to their home country. The Trump administration conducted similar efforts to deport Vietnamese immigrants in 2017 but reversed course after the matter went to court. Nguyen said the Trump administrations reversal in policy yet again shows how the war continues to affect her community decades after its conclusion. The conflict happened already, Nguyen said, but the aftermath continues to haunt people, including my family. Nguyen, 43, who served as vice mayor from 2011 to 2014, said overturning the 2008 agreement will rip apart Vietnamese communities in the U.S. As the leader of the free world, President Trump should do everything he can to unite families instead of tear them apart, she said. Whether they were born here or were immigrants who came to this country, we are all human beings. We look up to the leader of the free world to be a symbol of unity instead of a symbol of division. Its outright shameful and cruel, she added. For weeks, news of the policy change has been the talk of Little Saigon, the neighborhood a mile east of downtown San Jose that is the heart of the South Bays Vietnamese community. Vietnamese-born residents are outraged and have expressed concerns about the prospect of yet again having their lives uprooted. Twelve Vietnamese immigrants who came to the United States before 1995 were deported nationwide since December 2017, said Kevin Lo, an attorney with the Immigrant Rights Program in the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco. Merchants at a Little Saigon strip mall on Friday sold sweets, tropical fruit, beauty products and Vietnamese artwork, and in between customers they tried to make sense of the new policy. Minh Cannon, 42, of Union City was shopping for Vietnamese doughnuts as she recalled her parents coming to the U.S. as war refugees 39 years ago. Like Nguyen, they left in the middle of the night, boarded a boat and sailed to a refugee camp. Cannon was only 3 years old. For a time, the family lived in a Malaysian refugee camp. They were taking refugees to Australia, but my dad said, No, I want to wait for the U.S. Something about the land of opportunity, Cannon said. After arriving in San Francisco, the family learned English quickly. Cannons father studied computer technology at Cal State East Bay, and her mother worked as a seamstress. The family spent long hours to create a new life in a new home. The idea that the Trump administration could force some of these people to return to Vietnam a country still under communist rule infuriates Cannon. I dont like the picking out certain groups. Where is the fairness in all of this? Dont apply it because somebody pissed you off or they have a reputation, and then just arbitrarily cut off the border for these people, Cannon said. Would a reasonable person act this way? Ethan Trung, 16, was born long after the Vietnam Wars last bombs fell and the guns went silent. His parents came to the U.S. in 1975 and Trung was born in San Jose. A junior at Milpitas High School, he stopped by the mall to shop for groceries. 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. Despite hearing of President Trumps decision to change the policy on deportations for Vietnamese refugees, he wasnt worried. Honestly, I feel like hes not going to do anything, Trung said. Weve been here, we havent done anything bad. We are peaceful people. We are just living our lives. Nearby, Tiffany Hang, 26, was eating lunch at the malls food court. She is 26 and lives in San Francisco. She said her parents moved here in 1992, after spending time in refugee camps in the Philippines and Malaysia. A lot of these families, most of them came here during the war, Hang said. They already had to uproot their lives. Now they have to do it again? Hang said she cannot imagine being forced to return to a country that doesnt like them. Madison Nguyen said she grew worried last month when the Trump administration said it was considering changing the rules for Vietnamese Americans. And shes not alone. People have been living in fear. Ive heard from my constituents and friends in the Vietnamese American community that have that status, Nguyen said. They have lived in fear every single day for months and now I think that fear is becoming more of a reality. But the Vietnamese community wont stay silent, she added. You will start to see people speaking up and against what this administration is trying to do, Nguyen said. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Tal Kopan and Ashley McBride contributed to this report. Sarah Ravani and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani, @SteveRubeSF Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle Voter records for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms father, retired appeals court Judge William Newsom, who died this past week at age 84, had him registered at an address on Broadway in San Francisco which is odd, since he lived several blocks away at Fillmore and Pacific. And it wasnt just any Broadway address it was the mansion of his good friends, socialites Gordon and Ann Getty. The steel gangway from the pier in Oakland up to the main deck of the container ship Bai Chay Bridge was long, steep and a bit slippery, and Jamieson Prevoznak was having a tough time. He was hauling a heavy black plastic sack over his shoulder. The sack was full of Christmas presents. Sometimes, he said, I think Santa Claus has it easy. Prevoznak is an ordained Presbyterian minister, one of 15 or so volunteers from a nonprofit group at Oaklands International Maritime Center. The volunteers form a religious group Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Episcopal working together in the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate to provide what they call the ministry of hospitality to seafarers from around the world whose ships call at Oakland. They provide the small things of life to sailors who are in port for a few hours a free ride to a shopping center, free internet service, a chance to call home, a safe place off the ship to relax or shoot a game of pool. During the Christmas season, they come aboard with gifts for the crew. It is nothing fancy, personal stuff in gift bags, like shaving gear, a bag of candy, toothpaste, knit watch caps, scarves, a warm coat for cold nights on the north Pacific. Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle Some economists contend that 90 percent of the goods we in the U.S. consume comes by sea from oil for gasoline to clothes, television sets, electronic goods and shoes. The ships that bring the goods are crewed by seafarers, usually foreigners, who spend up to nine months at a time on board. Its not like the old days, when crews had a few days to go ashore. Nowadays, ships are in port for a few hours, leaving little time to visit the port. Except on ships flying the U.S. flag, the pay is low. And the work is always hard. We never think of how the things we use got here and who brought it, Prevoznak said. So the seafarers ministry tries to help out, especially in the Christmas season. It shows you are being remembered and that people care, Prevoznak said. He brought two sacks of presents aboard the Bai Chay Bridge at midweek. The ship, which flies the flag of Panama, is on a run across the Pacific and to California, a 40-day loop. It arrived in Oakland at 4 p.m. Wednesday and sailed at 1 oclock Thursday afternoon. The ships crew is typical of the Pacific trades. All the seafarers on this ship are Filipinos, and all have families at home. Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle Not everyone aboard the Bai Chay Bridge went ashore during the stay. I had work to do, said Jeffrey Dante, the bosun. A couple of the messmen Bryan Alegerias, the chief cook, and John Ryan Paracad, his assistant went shopping. Volunteers from the Maritime Center drove them to Emeryville and back. They went to a Target store and to Victorias Secret. I brought perfume to bring home to my wife, Alegerias said. The ship is bound for Japan and will be in Tokyo on Christmas Eve, and in Kobe on Christmas Day. We will have no time to celebrate Christmas, said Rodolfo Cidron, the radio officer. We will be too busy discharging and loading cargo. That is really too bad because we are all Catholics, and Christmas is very important to us. Not long afterward, Chester Chan, another volunteer, went aboard the big, new container ship CMA CGM George Washington, berthed at a different Oakland terminal. This ship is huge. It displaces 140,000 tons, nearly three times the size of the ocean liner Titanic, and is 1,197 feet long longer than Salesforce Tower is tall. The ship is multinational. It is named for an American, owned by a French company and flies the British flag, and its crew consists of Filipino sailors and engineers, and Romanian officers. The gangway to get aboard is steeper and longer than that of the Bai Chay Bridge, but Chan, 81, got a crew member to carry up his two sacks of Christmas gifts. Chan went to sea himself as a young man, I wanted to see the world, he said. Now he is a lay minister in the Catholic Church, and he brought his faith with him on the George Washington. He performed a Christmas service. 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. I do about a third of the Catholic Mass, he said. He began by asking the sailors to stand and close their eyes. I want you to imagine that you are at home in the Philippines, with your families and your friends, and it is Christmas Day, he said. Chan offered a small sermon and read the Gospel. He chose Luke, Chapter One, which begins, In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken ... The familiar Christmas story. It was the same reading one could hear at midnight Mass in a mighty cathedral or at a family gathering. Only this one was on a ship in the port in Oakland. There was no music, only ship sounds, cranes loading cargo, noise from the galley nearby. Chan knelt to pray and then performed Communion. Toward the end of the service, the men shook hands with each other, and with Chan, as is the custom. Peace be with you, they said to each other. Chan signed out at the head of the gangway. Thank you for coming, and Merry Christmas, the sailor at the head of the gangway said to Chan as he went ashore. On Christmas Day, if all goes well, the George Washington will be in China. Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His column appears every Sunday. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf The California Public Utilities Commission opened a formal investigation into Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on Thursday, alleging that the utility may have violated safety standards and falsified gas records. The investigation, announced Friday, stemmed from an internal report that allegedly found that PG&E repeatedly failed to mark its gas lines on time but claimed they did between 2012 and 2017, according to a press release. The commission also noted that the alleged violation period came just two years after the deadly 2010 San Bruno gas explosion, which killed eight people, injured 58 and destroyed 38 homes. If found in violation, the commission may consider imposing daily fines on the utility. PG&E was given a $1.6 billion penalty following the San Bruno blast. The commission hit PG&E with $5 million in fines in October for two major gas leaks in Northern California in 2016 and 2017. State law requires that utilities must mark underground gas infrastructure before excavators begin digging. The commission report claimed PG&E lacked staff to complete locator work, and management allegedly pressured staff to file late tickets as completed on time. PG&E might have undercounted tens of thousands of late tickets over those five years, officials said. Utility falsification of safety related records is a serious violation of law and diminishes our trust in the utilitys reports on their progress, Commission President Michael Picker said in a statement Friday. These findings are another example of why we are investigating PG&Es safety culture. State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, a frequent PG&E critic, said the allegations detailed by the utilities commission Friday echo concerns he heard from contractors three years ago after a fatal accident involving the utilitys gas equipment in the Bakersfield area. Hill, whose district includes San Bruno, said lawmakers should now seriously consider requiring more oversight of the utilitys digging and marking operations. Hes lost all confidence in PG&Es ability to do the job correctly, he said. The sad part is that weve not had a period where you can look toward PG&E and say theyve done a good job or they can be trusted, Hill said. There hasnt been a period since San Bruno where we can say that, because there is always that next thing that happens. PG&E said that it is cooperating with the commission on the investigation. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes At PG&E, our most important responsibility is public and employee safety. Were committed to accurate and thorough reporting and record-keeping, and we didnt live up to that commitment in this case, said Matt Nauman, a PG&E spokesman. Nauman said the utility has taken actions to meet state standards. Commission officials said that failing to mark natural gas lines on time could lead to damaged natural gas pipes and valves if contractors start excavating without knowing if there are pipes in the area. Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu For the second time in three years, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is approaching a new year without a chief executive officer at the reins. Tallia Hart, who served as head of the chamber since a nationwide search led to her hiring in January 2017, resigned abruptly in October. The leadership void extends beyond the top job: Jim Lazarus, vice president of public policy, announced last month that he is leaving the chamber after 13 years to take over as state director for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. And two other vice presidents have left since 2017. The Chamber of Commerce argues that it is the only group in San Francisco that represents businesses of every size and industry, advocating on their behalf at City Hall. It has long defended the interests of old-line corporations like Wells Fargo and PG&E, but with stalwarts like Chevron, Bechtel and McKesson disappearing from downtown, Hart was charged with courting a new sector that increasingly dominates the citys skyline and ranks of top employers: technology. Yet cozying up to tech, which represents only about 11 percent of the citys workforce, has its own risks in a city where the role of wealthy internet entrepreneurs in shaping policy has engendered a fierce backlash. John Whitehurst, a political consultant and principal at BMWL & Partners, said the situation puts the chamber at a crossroads. While tech ascends as a major force in life and politics in San Francisco, the chamber has two top leadership positions open, Whitehurst said. It has the opportunity to put a greater emphasis on participation by tech, or continue its traditional focus on all businesses. The business landscape in San Francisco has been changing for decades. The chamber isnt alone in the scramble to adapt. Every single institution is navigating a rapidly changing San Francisco, said Eric Jaye, a political consultant and founder and president of Storefront Political Media. Has the traditional railway adapted to the congestion caused by Uber? Has the city government responded to the crisis of housing? ... The whole city is grappling with this velocity of change and not always successfully. Who the chamber actually represents, though, isnt exactly clear. Its website lists more than 2,500 organizations as members, but it acknowledges that number is inflated. Juliana Bunim, senior vice president of external affairs, said many of the listed members are foreign consulates or restaurants and hotels that belong to other trade associations, which pay dues to the chamber. About three-quarters of the 25 largest employers in San Francisco are members. But among the largest tech employers, only nine of the top 25 belong to the organization. Salesforce, Google and Amazon (which owns San Francisco video-streaming service Twitch and has other offices in the city) are members. Noticeably absent are homegrown tech stars Yelp, Twitter and Zynga. The Chronicle and its parent company, Hearst Corp., are both members. Hart tried to add a wider variety of companies as members, but during her tenure, the chamber signed up only a handful of new computer and technology services firms, including Cruise Automation, Postmates and Stripe. Tech jobs in San Francisco have boomed since the end of the recession, growing 110 percent from 2012 to 82,236 workers in 2017, according to census data analyzed by the citys Office of Economic and Workforce Development. The big challenge to getting (tech companies) involved is that they dont think of themselves as residing here, said Catherine Bracy, executive director of the TechEquity Collaborative, a group that encourages the tech industry to spread its wealth. They think of themselves as global companies. Theyre on the internet. With such a wide membership, the chamber has not always been able to rally businesses around specific causes. This fall, a San Francisco ballot measure that would tax big businesses to pay for homeless services pitted the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the opposition campaign, against one of its members. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff was the most notable yes voice, spending $7.9 million in his own money and corporate funds to back Proposition C, which won voter approval. Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and a principal architect of Prop. C, said she thought early on that the chamber might be in favor of the measure. Each year, it releases the results of a poll on the major issues facing San Francisco. Homelessness has ranked No. 1 for the last three years, above housing, jobs and public transit. When the chamber went on to spearhead the opposition, Friedenbach said it suggested to her that the chamber has lost touch. If you look at the other communities where theres been serious initiatives to address homelessness, those chambers were on board and engaged in those processes, she said, citing chambers in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. But in San Francisco, you have this kind of relic that clings to the notion of trickle-down economics and isnt able to think outside the box of no new taxes, she said. In general, theyre total dinosaurs. Lazarus rejected her claim, saying that the chamber has supported many new taxes, including a state bill to increase gas taxes for road and bridge repairs and a San Francisco bond measure to kick-start vital repairs to the fragile Embarcadero seawall. Prop. C passed with 60 percent of the vote, though it faces possible legal challenges over its margin of victory. Salesforce declined to comment on its relationship with the chamber after the election. At other times when its members are split, the chamber goes silent. In June, a referendum on the special election ballot asked voters whether they wanted to enact a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. Some of the largest chamber members are health care organizations that backed a ban. But corner stores and other tobacco retailers a significant segment of the membership lobbied against the ban as a threat to their bottom line. The chamber took no position, alienating some of the citys biggest and most influential organizations and small businesses at the same time. According to Lazarus, the decision was virtually unanimous among the chambers board. Juul Labs, the San Francisco maker of flavored e-cigarettes, said that while a predecessor company had joined the chamber, Juul is not a dues-paying member. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Sometimes we do end up neutral on issues, especially on some ballot measures, because we represent a little bit of everything, Lazarus said. John Gingrich, managing director of Accenture and the incoming chairman of the chambers board, said having a diverse set of members helps the group make decisions that are best for everyone. Its one thing to have a focused set of interests and be able to kind of advocate for that. Its another to really think about what is the strength and need for all businesses in San Francisco, Gingrich said. Hart, though young, took the top job after she spent more than a dozen years leading chambers of commerce in San Rafael and Irvine. At 44, she was the first woman, first person of color and youngest leader to run the 168-year-old business association. In a statement released by the chamber, Hart said she stepped down as CEO to focus on a positive quality of life. Her statement was taken by some as a comment on the jobs challenges. That might say something about whats really going on internally, said James Taylor, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco. Hart declined comment. The chamber said its now reviewing applications for the position of president and CEO, and will announce Harts replacement early next year. Taylor said the chamber would be smart to hire someone from the tech sector, because such a person might have more success bringing on key employers as members. But a six-page job description spelling out the roles duties and qualifications doesnt dwell on ties to specific industries. Instead, the chamber seeks a leader with at least 15 years of senior management experience, and knowledge of San Francisco politics and the local business community. A Rolodex of key political decisionmakers and influencers is a plus. I think having local connectivity is an important part of the job, said Janis MacKenzie, outgoing chair of the board. But were looking for the most talented, committed person we can find. Melia Russell is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: melia.russell@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meliarobin Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Image A former San Francisco resident was indicted on six counts of wire fraud in connection to a $3.3 million scheme where he allegedly used money from investors on Louis Vuitton products, pricey travel expenses and rent, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday. Patrick Ayson, 32, is accused of taking roughly $3.3 million from at least 15 potential investors from California, Washington and New York in exchange for promises of using the funds to buy tickets for sporting events and concerts at discounted prices in order to resell the tickets at a profit of up to 35 percent for investors, according to a statement from United States Attorney Alex Tse of the San Francisco-based Northern District of California. Riccardo Giacconi, an astrophysicist who won the Nobel Prize for pioneering the study of the universe through the X-rays emitted by the most violent actors in the cosmos, including black holes, exploding stars and galumphing clouds of galaxies, died Sunday in the La Jolla section of San Diego. He was 87. The National Academy of Sciences, of which he was a member, announced his death. Giacconi was one of the great captains of Big Science, leaving lasting imprints on major astronomical institutions like the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which runs the Hubble Space Telescope, and the European Southern Observatory in Germany, where he oversaw the building of the largest telescope on Earth. He helped set the pattern for how large scientific projects are run today. If you need to do something big, Riccardo was up to the task, Robert Kirshner, an astronomer at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in Palo Alto, said by email. Ticking off the observatories Giacconi directed, Kirshner called them the great tools of discovery in the 20th (and 21st) century. Giacconi was awarded a half share of the Nobel Prize in physics in 2002. (The other half was shared by astrophysicists Raymond Davis Jr., an American, and Masatoshi Koshiba of Japan.) He was also a champion of women in astronomy, appointing women to key positions when he ran the Space Telescope Science Institute. Riccardo made a point of asking, in faculty meetings, which applicants were women, Yale astronomer Meg Urry said in an email. On his watch, in 1992, the first conference on Women in Astronomy was held at the institute. In his opening remarks at the event, Giacconi said he had been surprised at how hard it was for women to improve their status in the field and promised to try to make things better. Lighting up the darkness with reason and understanding seems to me incompatible with irrationality and prejudice, he said. Sometimes difficult to deal with, even his friends acknowledged, Giacconi insisted on ruthless intellectual honesty, said Garth Illingworth, who was his deputy at the Space Telescope institute. Giacconi expected and demanded that his colleagues challenge him strenuously before arriving at a consensus on an issue. The worst thing I could ever do is just agree with him, said Ethan Schreier, who was Giacconis right-hand man for almost 50 years in various places. Riccardo Giacconi was born in Genoa, Italy, on Oct. 6, 1931, and grew up mostly in Milan, the only child of Elsa (Canni) Giacconi, a high school math and science teacher and textbook author, and Antonio Giacconi, a businessman. His parents legally separated when he was 8. Riccardo was an unruly boy. I cut school frequently in Genoa, and I was a discipline problem in Milano, he recounted in a biographical statement for the Nobel committee. He earned his doctorate in physics at the University of Milan in 1954 and stayed on for two more years, conducting research on cosmic rays, the energetic particles streaming from unknown cataclysms in outer space. After stops at Indiana and Princeton universities, he wound up, in 1959, at American Science and Engineering, a small company in Cambridge, Mass., that carried out research for NASA and other organizations. He participated there in experiments conducted on brief rocket flights, some to detect X-rays from high-altitude atomic bomb tests. By then he had married Mirella Manaira, whom he had known since high school. She survives him, along with two daughters, Guia Giacconi Trutter and Anna Lee Giacconi; and two grandchildren. A son, Marc, died in an automobile crash in 1991. In 1970, Giacconis group launched the first X-ray astronomy satellite, Uhuru, which scanned the whole sky and discovered hundreds of cosmic X-ray sources. Many of these would turn out to be coming from material pouring into black holes collapsed stars so dense that not even light can escape them. It was the first observational evidence that such strange hypothesized beasts were real. The next step in Giacconis plan to open a new hotline to nature was a telescope that would produce actual X-ray pictures of the cosmos, a job that required using a newly developed kind of optics. Giacconi also wanted the telescope to function as a national observatory open to all astronomers, and that effort required the invention of new ways to plan schedules and archive the astronomers observations and make them accessible. To that end he moved his entire group across Cambridge in 1973 to the newly formed Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The telescope was launched in 1978. NASA called it the Einstein X-Ray Observatory. Giacconi left Harvard in 1981, but not before he had put into action plans for Einsteins successor, a satellite called Chandra; it is still in the sky today. Giacconi went on to become the first director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, on the Johns Hopkins campus in Baltimore. The institute would be in charge of operating the Hubble Space Telescope, which was then being built and tested. He initially found the institute woefully unprepared, being run by astronomers who had no space experience. We took responsibility for Hubble beyond the construction of glass and metal to turn it into an outstanding scientific tool, he said in his biographical statement. One crisis came soon after the telescope was launched, in April 1990: Its primary mirror was found to be misshapen and unable to focus images. Hubble risked becoming a laughingstock, a techno turkey, in the words of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. Everyone went into a funk, said Schreier, his frequent collaborator. 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. To address the problem Giacconi set up working groups at the Space Telescope institute, enlisting astronauts, engineers and experts on software and optics. And in December 1993, spacewalking astronauts installed new corrective optics on the Hubble, restoring its vision to its original crystalline promise. By then, Giacconi had decamped for his next job, as the director-general of the European Southern Observatory. Headquartered in Garching, outside Munich, the observatory is one of the largest scientific collaborations in the world, with 16 European member nations and a set of innovative telescopes in Chile. Giacconi applied the lessons learned from the Einstein project and the Hubble Space Telescope in overseeing the building of the worlds largest array of telescopes, called the Very Large Telescope, on Cerro Paranal, a mountain in Chile. The VLT, as it is known, is a quartet of telescopes that, with mirrors 8 meters in diameter, can be used together to mimic the abilities of an even bigger telescope. Last summer, astronomers using it made a breakthrough when they delimited the properties of a supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way. Giacconi moved back to the United States in 1999 to become president of Associated Universities, a Washington consortium that runs the National Radio Astronomy Observatory for the National Science Foundation. Under Giacconi, the radio observatory, in conjunction with his old outfit, the European Southern Observatory, and later joined by Japan, Canada, Taiwan and Chile, built a $1.4-billion radio observatory in Chile known as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, or ALMA, to study planets and the births of stars, among other things. It began operating in the Chilean desert, at the nosebleed altitude of 16,000 feet, in 2011. I am grateful to live in this heroic era of astronomy, Giacconi was quoted as saying when he was awarded the Nobel. He had his own particular take on that heroism. Befuddling his colleagues and NASA, Giacconi, a sailor, originally wanted to name the Einstein X-Ray Observatory the Pequod, after the ship in Moby-Dick. I want to find that white whale, he once told a colleague. When a reporter asked him why he wanted to name his observatory after a doomed ship, Giacconi referred to a passage from Dantes Inferno, in which Odysseus urges on his frightened sailors, telling them, Consider your origin: you were not made to live as brutes, but to pursue virtue and knowledge. Of course, all of Odysseus men died in the end. Giacconi laughed. The pursuit of knowledge, he said, doesnt always have a happy ending. Dennis Overbye is a New York Times writer. The precarious state of truth-telling around the world was brought home to me during an international gathering of journalists in Singapore. One of the participants, CEO Maria Ressa of the independent news site Rappler, spoke of the harassment she and her staff were encountering because of their efforts to expose corruption and extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. Freelance columnist and filmmaker Audrey Jiajia Li spoke bravely about the fear and intrusion that Chinese government operatives try to inflict on journalists like her who dare to veer from the official line. During her appearance on a panel discussion, a government lackey furiously took notes in the back of the room and then tried to dominate the question-and-answer period with challenges to her characterization of the free press in China. Other participants told of being censored or jailed, or losing colleagues. One of the main takeaways from that Singapore conference was that democracy was in retreat in many parts of the world, and that suppression of independent reporting was one of the principal tools of authoritarian regimes. Another was that the United States, once regarded as a beacon of press freedom, was now offering comfort to dictators and despots through President Trumps unrelenting attempt to delegitimize the Fourth Estate by calling respected organizations fake news and enemies of the people and threatening to cut off access and to use the power of government to undermine the business interests of the watchdogs. And the danger to the free press and its practitioners, here and abroad, has only become more apparent since then. This was the year an American president shrugged at and rationalized the torture and dismemberment of a resident of this nation, a writer for one of its most prestigious newspapers, inside the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence traced the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to the highest levels of the kingdom, almost certainly with the knowledge, if not at the direction, of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It was, by all appearances, an attempt to silence a truth teller. Yet for Trump, the issue was all about money and realpolitik. He has continued to cite the crown princes denial, call the Saudis a very good ally and note the billions of dollars in defense contracts. It is a time to take sides on matters of morality and democracy, and credit Time magazine by doing so in giving its Person of the Year award to The Guardians of the War on Truth. Khashoggi is on one cover. Ressa is on another. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, two Reuters reporters imprisoned in Myanmar for exposing the deaths of 10 minority Rohingya Muslims, get their due. A fourth cover features the solemn but determined faces of the staff at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., where five colleagues were killed in June by a gunman reportedly angered by a news article about him. Time could have made plenty more covers about journalists acting bravely, or even losing their lives in pursuit of truth. As of Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists, which keeps a running count, reported that 53 journalists who had been killed this year, and 251 others were in prison. As CPJ noted in a post last week, the authoritarian approach to critical news coverage is more than a temporary spike. Egypt, China and, yes, Saudi Arabia were among the nations that jailed more journalists in 2018 than in 2017. The Khashoggi killing was merely the most gruesome of the Saudis assault on independent reporting. Among the 16 Saudi journalists in jail at the start of the month were four women who dared to write about gender inequality in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is not a very good ally of press freedom. News alerts on the CPJ blog just this month document incidents of official crackdowns on journalists in Spain, Thailand, Serbia, Israel and Nicaragua. Even as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemns the Khashoggi killing, his own government currently holds at least 68 journalists in jail by far the most on the planet. The vast majority of jailed journalists around the globe are being held on various anti-state charges enemies of the people, to coin a phrase. To be sure, in the context of the global situation, American journalists are relatively safe and free. But the climate is getting more ominous. A CNN office in Manhattan was among the destination of 16 pipe bombs mailed to critics of the president in October. The packages were traced to a Florida man, Cesar Sayoc, whose van was coated with stickers and posters hailing Trump and ripping the dishonest media generally and CNN specifically. Sayoc had been seen as an enthusiastic supporter at Trump rallies, where anti-media vitriol is a staple, with the candidate now president leading the chants. In the worst of authoritarian states, journalists are deemed good or bad by their fealty to those in power and the bad ones lose access and, quite often, are tarnished with phony accusations of wrongdoing. Such was the case with CNNs Jim Acosta, whose access was suspended and a doctored video was cited as evidence of his overaggressiveness toward a White House intern reaching for his microphone until the administration relented in the face of a lawsuit. That Trump was a finalist for Person of the Year was a reflection of Times assessment of an individuals impact, rather than his or her rectitude. Adolf Hitler (1938) and Joseph Stalin (1939) were among past selections. Can you imagine anyone else other than Trump? Trump said when asked to speculation on the 2018 cover. Time just did. Truth prevailed in a year it was challenged as seldom before in modern times. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, is one of the most powerful people in the world. As the head of the worlds most powerful information-filtering company, his actions have an enormous impact on the day-to-day lives, opportunities and beliefs of Americans. So its galling that when the U.S. House of Representatives finally had the chance to ask him questions on Tuesday, the members treated him like he was Tech Support. Members could have (and should have) pressed Pichai about misinformation and radicalization on YouTube (Google owns the video-sharing site). Crucial questions about his companys morphing relationship with China went unasked. Googles overwhelming dominance in the marketplace is a reason for real concern. Its also undergoing a staff revolt over sexual harassment scandals and company transparency. But you wouldnt know these things if you were waiting on Congress. Instead, the country was treated to Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who demanded an explanation for why his daughters iPhone pulled up so many negative stories about him. (Pichai patiently explained that his company does not make iPhones.) It was also treated to Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, who lectured Pichai with debunked statistics about how many search results are from liberal media sites. It was heartbreaking to watch Pichai explain the basics of algorithms to the men and women who are supposed to be in charge of watching over the most sophisticated economy in the world. The problems went deeper than partisanship. Many of the committees House Democrats spent way too time taunting their Republican colleagues, instead of pinning Pichai to the mat. Consider this riposte to King from Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance (Los Angeles County): Dont blame Google or Facebook or Twitter. Consider blaming yourself. It may have felt good to score a political point, but thats cold comfort to consumers wondering about their data privacy. Its important to point out the context of Pichais appearance. It was the first time hed shown up to Congress, after a long string of congressional hearings into technology companies over the past two years. The hearing came at a time when Americans are deeply concerned about the overwhelming power tech companies have in the economy and in their lives. Google sits at the center of these concerns, and the company is facing vulnerabilities both internally and externally. Instead of recognizing the rare opportunity to address these big issues with one of the few people who can effectively do so the House Judiciary Committee acted like it was at the Genius Bar in Arlington. Its embarrassing, and its an abdication of their responsibility to understand the forces shaping life in this country. 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. In the world of water politics, where change occurs at a glacial pace, the past few weeks have seen enormous swings in how our states most precious resource is managed and delivered. The discussions behind these changes are not easily known and even less easy to understand what they ultimately will mean for cities, farms and, yes, fish in California as climate change accelerates. What is apparent however is that Gov. Jerry Brown is working hard to put his delta tunnels project on the glide path to the finish line before he leaves office in January. Brown has made the tunnels, a final piece to the California water system started by his father, Gov. Pat Brown, a key part of his water policy. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom has said the status quo is unacceptable but has offered little detail of what he might support. The Trump administration demanded changes in the 30-year-old agreement on how the federal Central Valley and the State Water projects are operated and how Californias water is shared. Brown has signed a new agreement with the feds that offers him benefits for his tunnels but that the environmental community views with suspicion because the point man in the Trump administration is the former attorney for the powerful Westlands Water District. The fear is that the new agreement will guarantee more water for Westlands, speeding up the deltas ecological demise and the collapse of the salmon fishing industry. While we have applauded the landmark groundwater legislation that Brown has pushed through during his tenure, The Chronicle has long opposed the twin (or even single) 35-mile-long tunnels to bypass the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and move water south. Excessive pumping has already pushed the delta environment to the brink of ecological collapse, setting off a ripple effect through the West Coast food chain. Reduced river flows increase the risk of toxic algae blooms in the delta, the water supply for 25 million Californians, and of more harm to the San Francisco Bay. The good news and a really big deal in the arcane water world is that the State Water Resources Control Board, after nine years of study and more than 20 years of discussion, finally did its job and agreed to regulate in favor of the public trust. The board voted Wednesday to regulate water diversions from the San Joaquin River as the first of many steps toward restoring the states two major (and ailing) rivers. San Francisco opposed the plan, saying it will require water rationing for its customers in dry years and result in higher water rates. San Francisco, and other water users, are working on proposed voluntary agreements the state board will review in March. Litigation is probably inevitable. It is easy to view water policy through the single lens of water rates and shorter showers. But as concerned Californians and good stewards of our state, we need to be taking the long view that balances the needs of cities, farms and fish. That shouldnt require lowering environmental protections to preserve the delta tunnels. 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. WASHINGTON Immigration arrests fell in Northern California in the past year even as arrests nationally rose 11 percent, a trend that could be linked to the tightening of sanctuary laws that limit local cooperation with U.S. deportation agents. But while fewer people in the region were arrested overall, arrests of noncriminal immigrants went up, according to data released Friday, reflecting Trump administration policies that anyone in the country without documentation is a target for enforcement. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement office that oversees Northern California and Hawaii was one of only a handful nationally to see fewer arrests in the 2018 fiscal year which ended Sept. 30 than in 2017. The 14 percent drop in arrests was the steepest decline in the country. The office, based in San Francisco, also was the only one in the country to post fewer arrests in 2018 than fiscal 2016, the last under President Barack Obama. Under President Trump, arrests of undocumented immigrants, especially noncriminal ones, have been steadily climbing, as he has made immigration enforcement and border security his central pitches to voters. Overall, ICE arrested nearly 160,000 immigrants last fiscal year, 34 percent of whom had no criminal convictions. That was an 11 percent increase in arrests overall, but was almost entirely driven by the surge in arrests of noncriminal immigrants. Arrests of those with a criminal conviction slightly trailed the previous year. The story was similar for deportations, which were up overall nationally but dipped slightly in Northern California. Trump and his deputies have declared that no undocumented immigrant is exempt from the governments grasp, a change from a policy adopted late in Obamas administration that focused ICEs efforts and resources primarily on criminals. The administration has focused particular ire toward sanctuary cities and has clashed repeatedly with Bay Area and California officials over their policies. The administration sued unsuccessfully to try to block Californias sanctuary law from going into effect after Gov. Jerry Brown signed it in late 2017, and engaged in a heated back-and-forth with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf this year after she issued a preemptive public warning about a planned immigration sweep in the region. Its difficult to know why the San Francisco region lagged behind the rest of the country in arrests, but sanctuary laws could be a factor, especially those that limit cooperation between local jails and ICE officers who want to pick up undocumented inmates. ICE officials did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. The data varied substantially by region. The San Diego sector saw among the biggest increases in arrests in the past year, up 32 percent overall with noncriminals representing more than half of those arrested, a jump that could be related to surges of migrants arriving at the border there. The Los Angeles office, however, was more in line with Northern California. There, ICE made 7 percent fewer arrests in fiscal 2018, though the agency also arrested a slightly higher number of noncriminal immigrants. Former Obama administration ICE Director John Sandweg said regions rarely see varying numbers because of conscious decisions. It certainly isnt, and almost never is a, Hey guys, lets do more or less in this area of responsibility. Thats just not the way it works, Sandweg said. His best guess to explain the discrepancy in Northern California was the limitation on ICEs access to jails. Having to arrest more immigrants in the community takes more time and resources than the efficient handover of an immigrant in a jail, he said. That could also explain why more noncriminal immigrants got caught up in the crosshairs, he added. This is an unintended consequence of sanctuary policies that Im not sure is always thought through, Sandweg said. If you say no to picking up people in jail, there are going to be some dangerous people we feel compelled to get, so when you do that, youre not just exposing those dangerous people to ICE but their family, their friends, their neighbors. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan WASHINGTON Its not smooth sailing for Californias lawmakers in Washington, as a push to extend a controversial water bill is dividing the caucus along unusual lines. On one side: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican, who are looking to extend the bill, possibly as part of the year-end government funding deal. With them are four California Democrats and McCarthys fellow Republicans. On the other side: a coalition of Bay Area lawmakers and other California Democrats looking to stop them. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, led a group of Democrats in appealing the issue Wednesday to San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi, hoping to keep the water measure out of a must-pass spending bill. The House Democratic leader is deeply involved in negotiating a government funding deal with Republicans and President Trump, and could have a say on whether the water bill makes it into the final package. Funding for roughly one-quarter of the government expires Dec. 21 but is held up in a fight over Trumps demand for $5 billion for his border wall. Pelosi got another letter two weeks ago from Democratic colleagues on the other side. Reps. Jim Costa of Fresno, John Garamendi of Walnut Grove (Sacramento County) and Luis Correa of Santa Ana, along with Rep.-elect T.J. Cox of Hanford (Kings County), said the legislation was essential and urged Pelosi to allow a vote before the end of the year. Pelosi declined to take a position on the bill, saying she wouldnt get into what could be attached to a spending package that is still up in the air. At issue is the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, or WIIN. The bill was signed December 2016, when Californias water infrastructure was being tested by a historic droughts fifth year. Feinstein and McCarthy are trying to extend it through 2028. The extension would provide hundreds of millions of dollars for new water projects across the West and give water managers in California greater flexibility for moving supplies from the north to cities and farms in the south. Both those provisions invite controversy. The funding would go to new dams and reservoirs, raising concerns about harming threatened salmon runs or protected rivers. And decades of water transfers from Northern California have decimated the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the West Coasts largest estuary. Writing to Pelosi this week were Huffman and Democratic Reps. Anna Eshoo of Menlo Park, Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, Barbara Lee of Oakland, Doris Matsui of Sacramento, Jerry McNerney of Stockton, Jackie Speier of San Mateo and Mike Thompson of St. Helena. The group noted that the WIIN Act does not expire until 2021, and said hurriedly extending it during a lame-duck session of Congress would be egregious. We oppose this latest midnight assault on Californias waters and values in the strongest possible terms, the group wrote. Feinstein has promoted the WIIN Act as a way to help California and other Western states fortify their waterworks in an era of climate change. She wrote an opinion piece Friday in the Los Angeles Times, saying California must adapt to climate change now and extend WIIN. But a spokesman said that although Feinstein is strongly in favor of the extension, she would be willing to wait until next year to allow more time for water agencies in California to conduct related negotiations on providing enough water for environmental needs in the states rivers. Supporters of the WIIN Act say endangered species laws will protect the delta and its wildlife. However, WIIN allows pumping levels to go beyond what is recommended under the Endangered Species Act. Huffman and his colleagues, as well as Feinsteins fellow Senate Democrat Kamala Harris of California, say the bill should be considered with more time and balance. Harris said she opposes the bill because it would override part of the Endangered Species Act, affect the salmon fishing industry and give Trump and future presidents too much authority over California. Im very concerned about any process that would allow this administration to override what Californians decided is in Californias best interest, Harris said. Huffman said in an interview that extending WIIN this month would amount to trying to jam through end-of-session favors for special interests in the San Joaquin Valley that are against the interests of the Bay Area and most other water users in the state. Speier said WIIN was an emergency piece of legislation, but that the emergency the drought has passed. To extend this emergency piece of legislation when weve had the kinds of problems associated with forest fires and so much of our fishing industry is impacted, the environments impacted, I think we need to be very thoughtful in the way we move forward and not just knee-jerk take action, Speier said. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan Kurtis Alexander is a staff writer for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com The former vice mayor of San Jose still remembers the night she and her family boarded a fishing boat to flee Vietnam in 1979. They spent the next week lost at sea. She remembers making it to the Central Valley of California and, as a child, getting up at 4 a.m. to pick raspberries. She studied hard, graduated from UC Santa Cruz and went on to become the first Vietnamese American elected to the San Jose City Council. Thousands of Vietnamese citizens like Madison Nguyen and her family welcomed to the U.S. with open arms after the Vietnam War nearly half a century ago settled in San Jose, and their labor has helped the South Bay thrive. We didnt have any handouts, Nguyen said. We worked hard. But now, members of San Joses Vietnamese community at more than 100,000 people, it is the largest of any city in the country are alarmed that the Trump administration wants to change the rules that brought many of them to the U.S. The White House has decided to scrap a 2008 deal that bars the deportation of Vietnamese refugees who came to the U.S. before 1995. Officials say the rule change targets convicted criminals, but many Vietnamese refugees are supporters of the former government of South Vietnam, the U.S. ally in the war. They fear they could face discrimination, or worse, from the Hanoi government if forced to return. Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said that 7,000 convicted criminal aliens from Vietnam are facing deportation under the changed policy. These are noncitizens who during previous administrations were arrested, convicted and ultimately ordered removed by a federal immigration judge, she said. Its a priority of this administration to remove criminal aliens to their home country. The Trump administration conducted similar efforts to deport Vietnamese immigrants in 2017 but reversed course after the matter went to court. Nguyen said the Trump administrations reversal in policy yet again shows how the war continues to affect her community decades after its conclusion. The conflict happened already, Nguyen said, but the aftermath continues to haunt people, including my family. Nguyen, 43, who served as vice mayor from 2011 to 2014, said overturning the 2008 agreement will rip apart Vietnamese communities in the U.S. As the leader of the free world, President Trump should do everything he can to unite families instead of tear them apart, she said. Whether they were born here or were immigrants who came to this country, we are all human beings. We look up to the leader of the free world to be a symbol of unity instead of a symbol of division. Its outright shameful and cruel, she added. For weeks, news of the policy change has been the talk of Little Saigon, the neighborhood a mile east of downtown San Jose that is the heart of the South Bays Vietnamese community. Vietnamese-born residents are outraged and have expressed concerns about the prospect of yet again having their lives uprooted. Twelve Vietnamese immigrants who came to the United States before 1995 were deported nationwide since December 2017, said Kevin Lo, an attorney with the Immigrant Rights Program in the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco. Merchants at a Little Saigon strip mall on Friday sold sweets, tropical fruit, beauty products and Vietnamese artwork, and in between customers they tried to make sense of the new policy. Minh Cannon, 42, of Union City was shopping for Vietnamese doughnuts as she recalled her parents coming to the U.S. as war refugees 39 years ago. Like Nguyen, they left in the middle of the night, boarded a boat and sailed to a refugee camp. Cannon was only 3 years old. For a time, the family lived in a Malaysian refugee camp. They were taking refugees to Australia, but my dad said, No, I want to wait for the U.S. Something about the land of opportunity, Cannon said. After arriving in San Francisco, the family learned English quickly. Cannons father studied computer technology at Cal State East Bay, and her mother worked as a seamstress. The family spent long hours to create a new life in a new home. The idea that the Trump administration could force some of these people to return to Vietnam a country still under communist rule infuriates Cannon. I dont like the picking out certain groups. Where is the fairness in all of this? Dont apply it because somebody pissed you off or they have a reputation, and then just arbitrarily cut off the border for these people, Cannon said. Would a reasonable person act this way? Ethan Trung, 16, was born long after the Vietnam Wars last bombs fell and the guns went silent. His parents came to the U.S. in 1975 and Trung was born in San Jose. A junior at Milpitas High School, he stopped by the mall to shop for groceries. Despite hearing of President Trumps decision to change the policy on deportations for Vietnamese refugees, he wasnt worried. Honestly, I feel like hes not going to do anything, Trung said. Weve been here, we havent done anything bad. We are peaceful people. We are just living our lives. Nearby, Tiffany Hang, 26, was eating lunch at the malls food court. She is 26 and lives in San Francisco. She said her parents moved here in 1992, after spending time in refugee camps in the Philippines and Malaysia. A lot of these families, most of them came here during the war, Hang said. They already had to uproot their lives. Now they have to do it again? Hang said she cannot imagine being forced to return to a country that doesnt like them. Madison Nguyen said she grew worried last month when the Trump administration said it was considering changing the rules for Vietnamese Americans. And shes not alone. People have been living in fear. Ive heard from my constituents and friends in the Vietnamese American community that have that status, Nguyen said. They have lived in fear every single day for months and now I think that fear is becoming more of a reality. But the Vietnamese community wont stay silent, she added. You will start to see people speaking up and against what this administration is trying to do, Nguyen said. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Tal Kopan and Ashley McBride contributed to this report. Sarah Ravani and Steve Rubenstein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani, @SteveRubeSF The government has finally begun a crackdown on the market for cryptocurrencies and digital tokens. Does this spell the demise of digital currencies and the end of initial coin offerings? In recent weeks, the Justice Department joined a Commodity Futures Trading Commission probe into manipulation of the bitcoin market. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a statement Nov. 16 to explain that its enforcement efforts were focused on initial coin offerings, which it considers to be securities that require registration and compliance with a host of disclosure rules. The investigation by the Justice Department and the CFTC is focused on whether tether, a cryptocurrency issued by a Hong Kong company, might have been used to drive up bitcoins value through well-timed trades. Bitcoin surged 2,000 percent in 2017 to a peak of nearly $20,000, only to tumble more than 80 percent this year. Federal prosecutors have one advantage in the investigation of bitcoin manipulation: They can use the wire fraud statute to prosecute any scheme involving property, including intangible property such as a cryptocurrency. The connection between tether and bitcoin was first noted in a study by two finance professors at the University of Texas. They pointed out that trading on unregulated exchanges, and specifically on cross-digital-currency exchanges, could leave cryptocurrencies vulnerable to gaming and manipulation. But any nascent market, like that for bitcoin, has significant growing pains. The question is whether cryptocurrencies are really just a new form of penny stocks, albeit with a much higher valuation. Penny stocks are cheap, thinly traded and not closely followed by analysts. And as anyone who has seen The Wolf of Wall Wall Street knows, they are subject to wild swings and market manipulation by their controlling shareholders. A little bit of good news whether true or not can double or triple the stocks price overnight. That is when those in control of the stock can dump their shares and leave those gullible enough to invest in the hope of getting in on the ground floor of the next big thing with losses. Cryptocurrencies are subject to many of the same issues as penny stocks. Most of the trading takes place on unregulated services overseas. While many call themselves exchanges, they provide virtually none of the protections afforded to investors in stocks and bonds. With no clear records of who is trading, manipulating the price may not be very difficult for sophisticated participants looking to pump up the price. On the same day the SEC issued its statement in November, it also settled two cases with issuers of digital tokens for violating securities laws, requiring them to pay penalties of $250,000 each and work to refund money to investors in their illegal offerings. In another case, Maksim Zaslavskiy, who was charged with criminal securities fraud involving an ICO, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. This was the first case in which a judge found that the digital coins were a type of security, and therefore subject to the associated antifraud rules. The SEC settled a case against EtherDelta founder Zachary Coburn, whose company facilitated trading in digital coins, because it operated as an unregistered national securities exchange. For those looking to offer a trading platform in the United States, registering with the SEC as an exchange is also an expensive and time-consuming process. But even before the government began its crackdown, there was a big sign that euphoria was evaporating from the market: the decline in cryptocurrency mining that generates additional digital tokens. Giga Watt, a digital currency mining operation in Washington state, filed for bankruptcy recently, in large part because of the collapse in bitcoins price. Santa Claras Nvidia, which makes graphics chips that are important for mining cryptocurrencies, forecast a 20 percent drop in revenue in its next quarter because of the sharp falloff in cryptocurrency mining demand. For the naysayers of cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings, this is the anticipated end of a speculative bubble, much like the tulip mania in 17th-century Holland or the dot-com implosion. That does not necessarily mean that this type of investment will disappear, but greater government scrutiny will raise the costs for trading platforms and could effectively eliminate initial coin offerings if they must be registered with the SEC. Peter J. Henning is a New York Times writer. Much has been said about millennials recently, most often focusing on how their habits have changed traditions and products. Branding agency Moosylvania has been studying millennial consumers for five years. Each year, the company asks members of the cohort how they view themselves, how they connect with brands and what emotions their favorite brands evoked during a recent 30-day span. There's plenty of airline route news this week, including major announcements from American, Delta and United about their 2019 plans; also, Alaska has an ugly sweater promotion, Air New Zealand coordinates San Francisco frequencies with United, El Al is coming to Las Vegas, Spirit will add Indianapolis to its network, and Avianca Brasil files for bankruptcy. Two California destinations are getting new service from American Airlines in 2019 as part of a substantial route expansion the airline announced this week. Santa Rosa, just north of the Bay Area, will get new daily summer service to its Charles M. Schulz Airport from Los Angeles starting May 3 and daily summer/fall flights from Dallas/Ft. Worth as of June 6; both routes will be served with E175s. And American will launch new daily E175 year-round service to San Luis Obispo from DFW on April 2. American said the availability of 15 new gates at Dallas/Ft. Worth's Terminal Satellite in 2019 will allow it to expand at that hub. Besides the new California routes, American will also begin new daily service from DFW to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the summer on May 3, as well as daily summer service to Kalispell, Montana (gateway to Glacier National Park) and daily year-round flights to Harrisburg, Pa., both starting on June 6. All those routes will use E175s. American will inaugurate daily summer flights to Kalispell from LAX on June 6 and twice-weekly service from Washington Reagan National to Melbourne, Fla. on May 4, also with E175s. At New York LaGuardia, American kicks off daily year-round service to Columbia, S.C. May 3 with an E145, followed on May 4 by twice-weekly summer season service to Asheville, N.C. and Daytona Beach, Fla., with E175s; Saturday-only A319 summer flights to Jackson, Wyoming beginning June 8; and Saturday service with an E175 to Halifax, Nova Scotia, effective June 15. American's Chicago O'Hare hub will see new daily year-round CRJ700 flights to Manchester, N.H. starting June 6; daily E175 summer flights to Kalispell as of June 6; and Saturday-only CRJ700 service to Durango, Colorado, beginning June 8. New daily summer service from Philadelphia to Halifax begins June 13 with an E175, and daily year-round service from Phoenix to Raleigh, N.C. begins May 3, using an A320. On the international side, American said it will beef up its transatlantic capacity from Dallas/Ft. Worth for the summer by adding a second daily departure to Paris CDG and to Madrid, operating from June 6 through October 27. Both of those flights will be operated with 787-9 Dreamliners. Click here for the full schedule update. Delta is digging in its heels at Boston Logan in 2019, where it will put pressure on JetBlue, American and United by starting new service on four key domestic business routes. Delta said this week it will jump into the Boston-Cleveland market April 1 with three flights a day, then later in the year on September 9 it will launch five flights a day from BOS to Chicago O'Hare, four a day to Newark, and six daily roundtrips to Washington Reagan National. One competitor is already bowing out of the BOS-CLE market United will discontinue its three daily flights on March 7 but JetBlue remains there. The Boston-O'Hare route is dominated by American and United, but is also served by JetBlue, while Southwest serves Chicago Midway from BOS. United and JetBlue are heavily invested in the Boston-Newark market, while Boston-DCA is controlled by American and JetBlue. Delta will also increase capacity on several other domestic routes out of Boston next spring, adding a fifth daily flight to Pittsburgh, a third to Jacksonville, a fourth to Nashville, a fourth to Indianapolis, and a fifth and sixth to Philadelphia. At its Detroit hub, meanwhile, Delta plans to terminate its DTW-Sao Paulo, Brazil service on March 29. It currently flies the route three days a week with an A330-200. And Delta's joint venture partner Aeromexico will add two new Detroit routes on May 1, offering three flights a week to both Guadalajara and San Luis Potosi, using Embraer E190s. Alaska Airlines Emirates celebrates 10 years of service to SFO this month, having carried 2.4 million passengers to Dubai and beyond. The route started in 2008 with a Boeing 777, then switched to an A380 in 2014. (With an unforgettable, ultra-posh bash to celebrate the occasion- check that out here. ) Emirates is best at moving passengers between the Bay Area and India- five of its seven top business travel markets are to India, with most passengers going to (in descending order) Bangalore, Hyderabad, Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Johannesburg. As we reported a few days ago, San Francisco International will be the beneficiary of international expansion plans by United next year. The carrier will introduce new non-stop service from SFO to Toronto in March, to Melbourne in October, and to New Delhi in December; will expand from seasonal service to year-round operation on routes from SFO to Auckland, Tahiti and Amsterdam; and will add a second departure four days a week to Seoul. See our earlier story for all the details. Also, as we noted the other day, TAP Air Portugal will kick off SFO-Lisbon service five days a week starting in June. With United extending its San Francisco-Auckland service from seasonal to year-round, its joint venture partner Air New Zealand is planning to reduce its own SFO-Auckland schedule from daily service to five flights a week effective March 31. We mentioned earlier this week that Friday, December 21 will be the busiest air travel day of the year-end holiday period, and if you're flying on Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air that day, here's a way to get ahead of the crowds: Wear an ugly sweater. Alaska said that if you do, you can board your flight early on that day. It's Alaska's way of celebrating National Ugly Sweater Day. Israel's El Al is coming to Las Vegas next year. The carrier plans to operate one flight a week from LAS to Tel Aviv with a 787-9 Dreamliner, starting June 14. The next city to join low-cost Spirit Airlines' network will be Indianapolis. The airline said it will begin year-round daily service from Indianapolis to both Las Vegas and Orlando on March 14 and will operate seasonal flights three times a week between IND and Myrtle Beach, S.C. from May 2 through September. Brazil's fourth-largest airline, Avianca Brasil, filed for bankruptcy protection this week, but passengers should be protected for now. A Brazilian court said it will block the airline's creditors from taking possession of its aircraft for at least 30 days while the company negotiates with potential investors for a fresh cash infusion. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here 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. We might be the land of artisanal and small-batch, but let's face it: We love a good hamburger as much as anyone (if not as openly or as often). With that in mind, we decided to explore the nation's many fast food offerings to see what the Bay Area doesn't have. If you live outside of San Francisco, you already know how many fast food chains we have in the region seriously, we do not need another Subway. But there are still plenty of regional fast food chains that offer intriguing possibilities. Let's establish this upfront. San Francisco has an extraordinary food scene. Here, everything from hole-in-the-wall dives to white tablecloth restaurants are drawing on cuisines and cultures from around the globe and using ingredients plucked from fields just outside the city to deliver diners vividly flavored foods that delight and thrill the tastebuds. But of course, anything can be better, and so we tapped into social media to ask readers what they think is missing from San Francisco's food scene. Lower prices, later hours and better pizza were the most common suggestions. But in many cases readers provided specific answers for foods they missed from their hometowns, like sopapillas served with honey from Texas and deep-fried sauerkraut balls from the Midwest. We combed through all the suggestions to come up with the list above, and we hope you'll offer more suggestions in the comments. Editor's note: SFGATE is exploring how people's lives change after leaving the Bay Area, for better or for worse, in a new series. Today we're focusing on those who have relocated to the Canada. We'll explore other relocation areas in future articles, so keep checking back. Lena Dunham said she'd do it. So did Bryan Cranston, Ne-Yo, Larry Flynt and Chloe Sevigny. It's been more than six months since President Donald Trump took office, and thus far, no major celebrities have moved to the sprawling country up north. Oh, Canada that beacon of liberalism and political cooperation, where the winters are brutal and the prime minister amicable. It's easy for those disappointed with a presidential election to threaten defection, but what is it actually like calling our northern neighbor home? SFGATE spoke to folks who left the Bay Area for Canada, and most don't have plans to return. See all of their responses in the above slideshow. "Everyone agrees that Canada is the best place on earth right now," said JaShong King, a PhD candidate in Ottawa and a self-proclaimed expert in the "cross-border experience." King, 37, left the Bay Area 12 years ago for a job in Toronto. He stuck around, and now considers himself more Canadian than American. "After Trump got elected there was a decisive shifting in my identities," said King, who was born in Taiwan but immigrated to the U.S. as a child. "I decided to put America even beneath Taiwan." Mass migration? Not so much Like the U.S., Canada has a strict immigration policy, permitting about 250,000 global immigrants to enter its borders each year. In 2015, fewer than 3,200 Americans applied for permanent residency status, according to data from Canadian Immigration and Citizenship, which hardly denotes a mass northern migration exodus. "It's very difficult to immigrate to Canada right now if you don't have a job offer in advance, and to get a job offer in advance is a very difficult thing if you don't already live in Canada. It's a Catch-22," said Nuri Katz, president of Apex Capital Partners, a migration firm that assists those emigrating from the U.S. To become a permanent resident, one must live in the country for at least two years and undergo a lengthy application process, which according to estimates from the Guardian, can cost upwards of $4,000 in legal fees. As a permanent resident, one enjoys all the fruits of Canadian citizenship, including universal health care, but can't vote or run for public office. RELATED VIDEO: Trudeau encourages openness as U.S. and Britain 'turn inward' SFGATE spoke to Americans who moved north for jobs, college or spouses, like Katie Barnell, 23, who left her native Santa Rosa to study. "[As an international student], I paid triple of what Canadians pay for university," she said, "but it was still cheaper than what I'd be paying in the States." The same, but different Having spent her life in Northern California, Barnell said she found Vancouver "pretty much the same." "The West Coast is the West Coast," she said. That can certainly be said of the comparable cost of living in Vancouver and the Bay Area. Vancouver recently ranked third in the 2017 Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, which lists the most unaffordable cities for housing in the world. San Jose came in fifth place and San Francisco was ninth. The high cost of living in San Francisco inspired Jay Rosenthal, 43, and his family to leave their cramped San Francisco home. They landed about 2,700 miles east of Vancouver in Toronto, called there by the idea of urban living and, of course, affordable health care and education. "People here have trouble understanding that you can go bankrupt seeing a doctor in the States," he said. While he acknowledges that Canadians have plentiful other concerns, "health care and education are not two of them." King has a pre-existing condition and has navigated the ups and downs of Canada's universal health care system. It's not just the price but also the approach that appeals to King. "The health care system operates as effectively and cheaply as it can," he said, admitting that doctors are often hesitant to prescribe drugs, which aren't covered by universal health care. He perceives American medical culture as one that over-prescribes medication, more apt to throw pills at a problem than address its underlying causes. That may be so, but for those requiring life-saving medication, Canada's universal health care system only stretches so far. In an article titled "Canada's Drug Problem," the Radio-Canada decried the fact that its citizens face the second-highest prescription drug prices in the world. Which country ranked first? The United States. A tale of two mythologies Rosenthal admits he didn't move to Canada for political reasons, but he's astonished by how effectively the country runs. "It's like northern Europe in its approach to government and services," he said, "But not in terms of having a homogenous population." Nearly 20 percent of the Canadian population identify as members of a visible minority group, according to 2011 census data. In Toronto, often deemed one of the most multicultural cities in the world, 30 percent of residents speak a language other than English or French at home. The country is getting more diverse, too, having welcomed more than 40,000 Syrian refugees since 2015. King, who studies how empires gain and retain their power, believes the country functions as a diverse cultural hub because of its founding mythology. "The U.S. was founded on violent revolt," he said. "The Canadian system was founded on negotiation." While she agrees her adopted country is "politically welcoming," Barnell says a political system rooted in consensus has an unexpected side effect: "pretty boring" news. According to the young ex-pat, "Just not that much happens here." Undoubtedly, many Americans wish they could say the same. FRANKFORT, Ky. A Kentucky appeals court says the secret testimony from a former president of one of the worlds largest manufacturers of dangerously addictive opioid painkillers must be released to the public. A three-judge panel ruled Friday the deposition of Richard Sackler must be unsealed, along with about 17 million pages of other documents that were part of Kentuckys complex lawsuit against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma. The testimony could reveal more information about what company officials knew about the drug when they were selling it. WASHINGTON President Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen said he knew arranging payments during the campaign to quiet two women who claimed to have had affairs with the candidate was wrong. He said Trump knew it was wrong at the time, too. Of course, Cohen said, when asked by the ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos whether the president was fully aware of what his lawyer was doing. The interview aired Friday morning. The comments were Cohens first since he was sentenced to three years in prison by a federal judge on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to helping to arrange payments to the two women, a violation of campaign finance law, and for lying to Congress about the duration of deliberations about a proposed Trump Tower in Moscow. Some of the information Cohen has provided to the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election has delivered blows to Trumps legal strategy, including implicating Trump in campaign finance violations because he said Trump authorized the payments. On Thursday, Trump and one of his personal attorneys, Rudy Giuliani, said the president was not to be blamed for the campaign finance crimes, because he trusted his lawyer, Cohen, to know the law. Trump has lashed out at Cohen since he entered his guilty pleas in August and disclosed that Trump had directed him to arrange the payments to the two women. On Thursday, Trump accused Cohen of trying to embarrass him. It is absolutely not true, Cohen, his eyes purple and swollen, said in the ABC interview. Under no circumstances do I want to embarrass the president of the United States of America. The truth is, I told the truth. I took responsibility for my actions. Since he took office, Trump has maintained that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia. In the interview, Cohen was asked whether the president was telling the truth about everything related to the investigation, everything related to Russia. No, Cohen said. Cohen said that he saw himself as the person tasked by fate with helping the country. Its never good to be on the wrong side of the president of the United States of America, but somehow or another this task has now fallen onto my shoulders, he said, then added, I will spend the rest of my life in order to fix the mistake that I made. Maggie Haberman and Eileen Sullivan are New York Times writers. MADISON, Wis. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a sweeping package of Republican-written legislation Friday that restricts early voting and weakens the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general, brushing aside complaints that he is enabling a brazen power grab and ignoring the will of voters. Walker signed the bills just 24 days before he leaves office during an event at a state office building in Green Bay, about 130 miles from his Capitol office that has frequently been a target for protesters. The Republican governor and one-time GOP presidential candidate downplayed bipartisan criticism that they amount to a power grab that will stain his legacy. Speaking for 20 minutes and using charts to make his points, Walker detailed all of the governors powers, defending the measures he signed as improving transparency, stability and accountability. Theres a lot of hype and hysteria, particularly in the national media, implying this is a power shift, Walker said before signing the measures. Its not. Walker was urged by Democrats and Republicans, including Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers and former Republican Gov. Scott McCallum, to reject the legislation. Walker, who was defeated by Evers for a third term, had earlier said he was considering partial vetoes, but he ultimately did not strike anything. Evers accused Walker of ignoring and overriding the will of the people by signing the bills into law. Democrats and liberal advocacy groups are expected to sue within days over the bills, which was pushed through the Republican-controlled Legislature during a lame-duck session last week. Republican leaders and Walker moved forward with the proposals immediately after Evers defeated the GOP governor as part of a Democratic sweep of statewide offices in the midterm election. The push is aimed at safeguarding conservative policies put in place during Walkers eight years as governor and mirrors tactics used by Republicans in North Carolina in 2016. Republicans in Michigan are weighing similar moves. The Wisconsin bills focus on numerous Republican priorities, including restricting early in-person voting to two weeks before an election, down from as much as nearly seven weeks in the overwhelmingly Democratic cities of Milwaukee and Madison. The legislation shields the states job-creation agency from Evers control until September and limits his ability to enact administrative rules. The measures also would block Evers from withdrawing Wisconsin from a multistate lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act. It eliminates the state Department of Justices solicitor generals office, which outgoing Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel used to launch contentious partisan litigation. Doing away with it ensures Democratic-Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul cant use the office to challenge Republican-authored laws. Todd Richmond and Scott Bauer are Associated Press writers. In a bold move to address its affordable-housing crisis and confront a history of racist housing practices, Minneapolis has decided to eliminate single-family zoning, a classification that has long perpetuated segregation. The Minneapolis City Council voted last Friday to get rid of the category and instead allow residential structures with up to three dwelling units like duplexes and triplexes in every neighborhood. Minneapolis is believed to be the first major city in the United States to approve such a change citywide. Peggy Reinhardt, 75, an advocate who supported the decision, hopes the change will mean more housing options around her Uptown Minneapolis neighborhood. She sees young couples in apartments who cannot afford to scale up to $400,000 houses, while elderly residents nearby are house rich and cash poor and have few options to downsize in their neighborhood. Its that missing middle, she said. As cities across the country contend with an affordable-housing crisis that has led to gentrification and homelessness, few have been willing to take on single-family zoning, a way of living that is fiercely protected by neighborhood groups. Portland, Oregon, is working on a plan to allow fourplexes in nearly all single-family neighborhoods, and Seattle is considering rezoning 6 percent of its single-family neighborhoods to include more housing. In Minneapolis, the decision came as part of a sweeping plan to propel the city into the future by addressing issues like housing, racial equity and climate change. The plan, called Minneapolis 2040, drew thousands of public comments, Dont Bulldoze Our Neighborhoods yard signs and a last-minute lawsuit, but ultimately passed on a 12-1 vote. It will now go to a regional planning agency for review. City officials expect the zoning changes to go into effect sometime next year. Experts say adding density to single-family neighborhoods is a powerful tool to address housing affordability and chip away at segregation. While going so far as to eliminate single-family zoning might not be politically possible everywhere the Minneapolis City Council is made up of 12 Democrats and one Green Party member success there could offer one model of what is possible. Minneapolis is not alone in being a city with a history of intentional segregation, Mayor Jacob Frey said in an interview this week. Im hopeful that were not alone in undoing it. How zoning is a proxy for race Single-family neighborhoods rose to prominence across the country after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1917 that zoning based on race was unconstitutional. Single-family zoning became basically the only option to try to maintain both race and class segregation, said Jessica Trounstine, an associate professor of political science at the University of California, Merced, who has studied segregation. In addition, generations of racial disparities in wealth accumulation, exacerbated by federally backed lending practices that discriminated against African-Americans, meant that most homeowners were white. So if you make a particular part of the city homeowners only, then you essentially make that neighborhood restricted to whites, Trounstine said. Today, Minneapolis has a growing population of about 400,000 and is about 60 percent white, according to census statistics. The racial disparities are stark: Black and Native American babies in Minneapolis die at three to four times the rate of white babies. White residents, on average, make far more money than people of color. And nearly 60 percent of white households in Minneapolis own their home, while less than 25 percent of African-American, Native American and Hispanic households do, according to the city. In its Minneapolis 2040 report, the city took the remarkable step of acknowledging in writing its own role in perpetuating that inequity. Michael Lens, an associate professor of urban planning and public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the citys willingness to own up to the past was a necessary but unusual step in moving forward. Its essential and frequently not on the table, said Lens, who is from Minneapolis twin city, St. Paul. I think thats great. Minnesota nice in action. Yes, in my backyard? About 50 percent to 60 percent of Minneapolis is zoned as single-family only, according to city officials. In some cases, duplexes and triplexes have been grandfathered in and already exist in those neighborhoods. Even still, we dont have enough homes for people who want to live here, said Lisa Bender, the City Council president, who supported the plan. Increasing our housing supply is part of the solution. That means allowing triplexes in every neighborhood and another key change: making it easier to build multifamily housing near transit corridors. Janne Flisrand, a co-founder of the group Neighbors for More Neighbors, said that the zoning changes would help people like her: She bought her fourplex in Minneapolis in 1996 and has rented out three of the units to pay her mortgage. I want to open the door for a Janne of 2018, she said. But many residents, particularly those who live near transit, fear they will wake up one day with a tall apartment building next door, said Lisa McDonald, a former City Council member who worked with the group Minneapolis for Everyone to oppose the plan. She said she wanted the city to slow down to prepare an environmental-impact statement and change zoning on a limited basis instead of citywide. Weve tried very hard to work with the city to say, Lets find a rational approach to this,' she said. And instead, what the city has basically done is say, If youre not for this plan, youre a racist and an elitist.' The city also faces a lawsuit over environmental concerns, which is pending. Whats next? Frey, the mayor, remains confident that the plan will go forward. Sometimes, he said, the only thing people hate worse than the status quo is any change at all. But he argued that solutions to the citys problems should match the historical harm that was inflicted. Efforts to allow for a beautiful diversity of people throughout our city and in every neighborhood didnt end with Brown v. Board of Education, he said. Lens, the UCLA professor, said it could take years to know whether the changes to single-family neighborhoods in Minneapolis have been successful. But perhaps the best measure of the change, he said, would be no perceptible change at all. A lot of people that lived there for a long time and even some people that right now are upset about this kind of decision, he said, are going to look around their neighborhood and say: This has been a good thing. This is still a great place to live.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times. One person was injured in a highway shooting Friday evening in Pleasanton, California Highway Patrol officials said. Around 5 p.m., some type of altercation may have occurred on Interstate Highway 680 near Bernal Avenue when someone fired a gun from one vehicle to another. The gunshot injured a passenger in the latter vehicle, CHP Officer Tyler Hahn said. The victim stayed in the vehicle as it traveled from Highway 680 to Interstate Highway 580 to Fallon Road where the CHP made contact with the victim. The person was taken to a hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening, Hahn said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the CHP office in Dublin at (925) 828-0466. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was declared unconstitutional today by a Texas judge and at least two Bay Area politicians have denounced the ruling. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said on Twitter this evening, "Tonight's absurd ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP's all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions & the ACA." Pelosi added that when Democrats in the House of Representatives "take the gavel, the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process to #ProtectOurCare!" In January, Democrats will have the majority of the seats in the House, following this past November's elections. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said, "The GOP obsession with depriving people of healthcare is simply bizarre." Wiener called on people to make sure the ruling does not hold up if it's appealed. Pelosi suggested the ruling will be appealed immediately. California Gov. Jerry Brown said on Twitter this evening, "California will vigorously fight this wanton and cruel action." California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said, "Today's ruling is an assault on 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the ACA for healthcare, and on America's faithful progress toward affordable healthcare for all Americans." Becerra said a coalition will fight the ruling in court. Judge Reed O'Connor, who handed down today's decision, did not grant an injunction in the case, according to Becerra's office. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Immigration activists crowded along the sidewalk outside the San Francisco U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office today to kick off what they said will be monthly vigils demanding an end to detentions and deportations. Members with the group Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, which is made up of faith leaders, activists, and the families of people facing deportation, vowed to meet outside the 630 Sansome St. office on the second Friday of every month to sing, pray and to show support. The group has been holding peaceful gatherings monthly outside the Richmond Detention Center for the past seven years, however, since the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office terminated its contract to house ICE detainees in September, the group has shifted its focus to the San Francisco location. At today's gathering, several advocates supporting the Bay Area's southeast Asian community came out on behalf of those within their community facing deportation, many of them refugees who came as children with their families fleeing the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. According to Nate Tan with the Asian Prisoner Support Committee, as part of an ongoing effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to deport Cambodian-American refugees, many with older criminal convictions, 46 of them are set to be flown back to Cambodia on Monday. "For many it's a place they've never been to," Tan said. "We as the Cambodian American community have experienced attack after attack, raid after raid and deportation after deportation and we're asking 'when will our families not suffer not anymore?'" Somdeng Danny Thongsy, 39, faces deportation to Laos after having come to the U.S. as a child. Thongsy, who lives in Oakland, said he served 20 years in prison after being convicted of a felony as a young adult. Although he's served his time in jail and obtained his education, he's scheduled to be deported in the near future. He's since asked for a pardon from Gov. Jerry Brown, but he hasn't heard back. "What deportation does is inhumane and unjust. It tears families apart and perpetuates the vicious cycle of trauma," he said. Talking directly to Brown, he said, "I'm just asking you with your kindness and compassion for one last act: please pardon these refugees." Also at today's event, Russian immigrant Alexey Kharis showed up to support those facing detention and deportation. Kharis, 43, was released from ICE custody just two weeks ago after having spent 15 months in detention. Kharis, who lives in Palo Alto, said, "Now that I'm with my family it's better but I can't be happy knowing that there's still people there; the many friends I left there. This practice must be stopped." Kharis said because he was jailed for so long, he's currently unemployed and in the process of getting his work permit. "Knowing the hardships your family goes through makes it even harder," he said. "Our goal to educate the community, and our goal to educate the families, is (to show) how widespread the impact is of these devastating deportations," said Rev. Deb Lee, executive director of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. According to Lee, the organization works with families from different cultures and countries from all over the world, many who face similar, but also different and unique setbacks. "From the Muslim Ban to the asylum ban to the detentions and deportations; we can't just fix one piece," she said. "It's not going to solve the problem. That's why we have to look at the root causes." In addition to holding its monthly vigil in San Francisco, Lee said the organization is planning to go in March to Honduras to investigate those root causes and meet with communities being forced off their land by mining companies. Speaking of the mass migration from Central America that has ramped up in the last few years, she said, "This is one of many caravans. We're going to have decades of caravans if we don't also look at the root causes and look at policies that are forcing people to flee." Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Dana Simonds this morning sentenced a Napa man to consecutive life terms in prison for sexually assaulting a girl under age 14 in Bodega Bay last year. A jury convicted Timothy Lee Marble, 52, in November of forcible rape, oral copulation and lewd acts on April 1, 2017. The charges contained enhancements alleging Marble has a prior felony strike conviction and served a prior prison term. The Napa girl encountered Marble at a Napa gas station after she had an argument with her family at her home on March 30, according to the prosecution. She smoked marijuana with Marble and agreed to get into his truck. Deputy District Attorney Laura Passaglia McCarthy told the jury Marble injected the girl with methamphetamine, bound her hands and raped her. Marble also carved the words "Timothy" and "die" in the girl's arm, Passaglia McCarthy said. The girl escaped by jumping out of the truck on state Highway 1 near Harbor Way in Bodega Bay. Marble borrowed a cell phone to report a missing person to the sheriff's office, and when a deputy arrived, the girl emerged limping and crying from bushes where she had been hiding, according to the prosecution. A truck driver who was killed in a collision between two big-rigs on westbound Interstate Highway 580 in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon was identified by the Alameda County coroner today as 32-year-old Henry Louis Rodriguez-Carrerasquillo of Sacramento. The California Highway Patrol said a 2000 Peterbilt driven by Rodriguez-Carrerasquillo and a 2016 Freightliner driver by a 26-year-old man from Miami, Fla., were both traveling west on Highway 580 at about 12:36 p.m. Tuesday when, for unknown reasons, Rodriguez-Carrerasquillo allowed the front right of his big-rig to collide into the left rear of the other big-rig, according to CHP Officer Tyler Hahn. Rodriguez-Carrerasquillo then lost control of the Peterbilt and it swerved to the right and overturned, according to Hahn. He was crushed and emergency crews pronounced him dead at the scene, Hahn said. Northbound Union City Boulevard was still shut down between Smith Street and Whipple Road this morning after a water main break flooded the street Thursday night. The road closure continued to cause delays for residents and commuters. Employees with PG&E were working on a gas main nearby when they broke the water line Thursday afternoon, according to Lauren Sugayan, a spokeswoman for Union City. Water flooded the road. Alameda County Water District workers were able to stop the flooding and worked overnight to start excavating the site to repair the water main. "This is no easy fix," the ACWD said in a tweet this morning. "In the daylight we'll have a better look at needed repairs." A stolen van suspect forced authorities to evacuate several buildings in downtown Berkeley on Thursday morning because he told officers that he had a "digital weapon" inside the van that was potentially explosive, police said. Officers responded to the downtown area at 9:50 a.m. on Thursday to investigate a report of stolen vehicle and when they arrived they spotted the vehicle leaving westbound from the area, according to police. Officers stopped the van and arrested the driver at a gas station parking lot at the corner of University Avenue and Bonar Street but then the man warned them that he had a potentially explosive weapon inside the van, police said. Authorities temporarily evacuated nearby buildings as a precautionary measure while Berkeley police bomb technicians checked the van, but by 11:11 a.m. on Thursday officers determined that the van was empty and there was no threat to the public, according to police. The suspect, 27-year-old Joseph Edward Coleman of Berkeley, was arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner's permission and possession of stolen property, police said. A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of throwing some kind of incendiary device into a Chinatown construction site in San Francisco Thursday morning, according to police. Officers responded to the 1000 block of Stockton Street around 9:40 a.m. The construction site caught fire, but no injuries were reported. "It caused some damage, but it wasn't a structure fire or anything like that," Officer Robert Rueca said today. A damage estimate was not immediately available this morning. Red Cross workers are helping 18 people who were displaced by a fire at their apartment building in the Panhandle neighborhood late Thursday night, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. Firefighters were called to the blaze at 372 Baker St. around 11 p.m. According to a tweet from the fire department, the incident was "resolved" a little before midnight. Nobody was injured in the blaze. Fire officials didn't say what they believe caused the fire and didn't immediately respond to a call for more information. Red Cross Bay Area workers took in the displaced people and a few pets, according to the fire department. Novato police arrested three alleged trespassers this morning on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine. Police responded around 12:30 a.m. to a call about three suspected homeless trespassers in the laundry room of the Wyndover Apartments on Diablo Avenue. Ivan O'Day, 49, of Novato, struck one of the officers when he tried to escape, and he was taken into custody after a short struggle, police said. O'Day is a convicted felon and he was in possession of a loaded firearm, a large butcher knife and a large amount of methamphetamine, police said. Patricia Lopez, 35, of Santa Rosa, had a warrant in Sonoma County for her arrest and she was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to police. Robert Knight, 27, of Novato, was in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine, police said. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. REDWOOD CITY (BCN) An anonymous gun buyback will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Redwood City. The event will be held in the lot across from the Redwood City Police Department at 1402 Maple St. Up to $100 will be paid for handguns, shotguns and rifles and up to $200 will be paid for assault weapons. Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) will attend the event from 10 a.m. to about 11 a.m. and will be available to talk about gun violence prevention. Presented by Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback, the event is also sponsored by the San Mateo County Sheriff and the Belmont and Redwood City police departments. It's the second gun buyback event in Redwood City this year. During the first, a significant number of firearms were collected and destroyed, according to Redwood City police. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A man accused in a string of attacks in San Francisco has been arrested for allegedly killing a man in Chinatown earlier this year. Police said Samuel Youmtoub, 59, battered 49-year-old Quang Troung in April. Troung later died from his injuries. About a month after he allegedly beat Troung, Youmtoub was allegedly caught on surveillance footage repeatedly kicking a homeless man in the face in the Tenderloin neighborhood. He was then connected to at least two other attacks, according to prosecutors, and has been jailed ever since. Police aren't releasing any details about their investigation. Troung was found on Joice Street around 5 a.m. on April 15 with multiple injuries to his head. San Francisco Police Department spokesman Robert Rueca said officers identified Youmtoub as a possible suspect before Troung died. Police arrested Youmtoub on Nov. 30 on suspicion of murder, more than six months after the beating. They announced the arrest today. Prosecutors had already charged him with three counts of assault and three counts of battery and he pleaded not guilty on June 20. The first of those cases, a battery, took place on Feb. 4 when police say Youmtoub allegedly attacked a man near 150 Third St. According to court records, Youmtoub told officers he punched the man because he was making "weird faces" at him. On May 24, Youmtoub was allegedly seen on surveillance footage kicking a homeless person in the face. Responding officers found the victim covered in blood and seriously injured. A few days later, Youmtoub allegedly attacked a man on the San Francisco Municipal Railway 14-Mission bus line. The victim's nose was broken and needed surgery, court records say. Soon after, an officer patrolling the Tenderloin neighborhood arrested Youmtoub after recognizing him from the surveillance footage. As he was being arrested, Youmtoub asked officers, "Why aren't you doing anything about the homeless?" according to court records. Rueca said officers won't tolerate violence toward anyone, especially those struggling with homelessness. "We as police officers have to advocate for people who really are not able to protect themselves," Rueca said. "We're all human beings and we have to treat each other as such." Anyone with more information about the killing is asked to contact police anonymously at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411 starting the message with "SFPD." Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN JOSE (BCN) Michelle Obama had an intimate discussion with about 30 youth leaders in South San Jose this afternoon, returning to the organization where she got her start in the nonprofit world 25 years ago. Obama was selected in 1993 to be the first executive director for Public Allies Chicago, an organization that has since grown to 25 chapters and over 8,000 alumni. The nonprofit provides internships and work experience for young people interested in community leadership. "Working at Public Allies was one of the best jobs I ever had," Obama said today, kicking off the conversation in the teen center at the Seven Trees Community Center & Branch Library. Public Allies hosts weekly Friday meetings in locations throughout the Bay Area, giving youth the opportunity to reflect on the week's successes and shortcomings. When a facilitator posed a question about facing obstacles to growth as a person of color, Obama flipped the question, choosing instead to focus on the importance of failure. "Part of continuous learning is failure, regardless of your race," Obama said, inviting those seated around her to share their thoughts about a time they had failed. The group burst into laughter, with one ally saying, "Too many times!" The discussion was Obama's first visit with Public Allies since she began the first stretch of her "Becoming" book tour in November, according to the nonprofit. "We're all about creating this generation's Michelle Obama," said CEO Jaime Uzeta, describing Obama as the embodiment of the nonprofit's values. Hilary Armstrong, a current ally, said Obama's influence in Public Allies taught her to turn inaction into action and serve her community in Oakland, while also recognizing her privilege. "As I white person, I feel I am given training to not be a colonizer," Armstrong said. "Part of Public Allies' idea, as Michelle Obama says...it's actually connecting with communities, it's not tokenizing communities." In "Becoming," Obama says working at Public Allies was meaningful because of the organization's insistence on cultivating leaders inside each neighborhood, instead of "parachuting Ivy Leaguers into urban communities." "To know that I played some small part in that, helping to create something that's endured, is one of the most gratifying feelings I've had in my professional life," she writes. For most of the allies and alumni gathered at the event, meeting Michelle Obama was a special, deeply important affirmation of the organization's work. "I guess I'm doing what she did!" Armstrong said. The visit will be followed a speaking arrangement at SAP Center, after which Obama will jet off to New York for the last stop on the tour this year. Obama's organization, Reach Higher, provided 90 students from the San Jose Unified School District with tickets to the event at SAP Center. Reach Higher said in a statement the donation will make the tour more accessible, "particularly to young people who will see a part of themselves in her story...to imagine who they might become in the years ahead." Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. About 200 people will gather today to count the birds in the Point Reyes Christmas Bird Count, organizers said. The count is part of a tradition in the U.S. dating back to 1900 when the Audubon Christmas Bird Count started. The count in Point Reyes started in 1970 and is popular, with 29 territories. Organizers said the Point Reyes count is often ranked as one of the top five counts in the nation in terms of the number of species spotted. Volunteers around the world every year gather in late December or early January in local bird "count circles" to count all the birds they see during the day, organizers said. Sponsors for the count include the Marin Audubon Society and Point Blue Conservation Science. Michelle Obama had an intimate discussion with about 30 youth leaders in South San Jose, returning to the organization where she got her start in the nonprofit world 25 years ago. Obama held the discussion Friday afternoon. Obama was selected in 1993 to be the first executive director for Public Allies Chicago, an organization that has since grown to 25 chapters and over 8,000 alumni. The nonprofit provides internships and work experience for young people interested in community leadership. "Working at Public Allies was one of the best jobs I ever had," Obama said Friday, kicking off the conversation in the teen center at the Seven Trees Community Center & Branch Library. Public Allies hosts weekly Friday meetings in locations throughout the Bay Area, giving youth the opportunity to reflect on the week's successes and shortcomings. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has been declared unconstitutional by a Texas judge and at least two Bay Area politicians have denounced the ruling. The ruling was handed down Friday. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said on Twitter Friday evening, "Tonight's absurd ruling exposes the monstrous endgame of the GOP's all-out assault on people w/ pre-existing conditions & the ACA." Pelosi added that when Democrats in the House of Representatives "take the gavel, the House will swiftly intervene in the appeals process to #ProtectOurCare!" In January, Democrats will have the majority of the seats in the House, following this past November's elections. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said, "The GOP obsession with depriving people of healthcare is simply bizarre." Wiener called on people to make sure the ruling does not hold up if it's appealed. With heavy rain in the forecast for Sunday, Santa Rosa and Sonoma County officials are again alerting residents in wildfire burn areas about the risk of flash flooding and debris and mudflows. Areas affected by the Nuns, Tubbs and Pocket fires have seen substantial improvement as vegetation grows, but the threat of natural hazards can exist for years, city and county officials said. Mud and debris flows can occur hours or days after heavy rain has stopped. The Post-Fire Hazard Assessment Map at sonomacountyrecovers.org gives an estimate of the risk in specific areas, but localized or changing conditions may cause a greater threat than displayed on the map. Residents should have an emergency supply bag packed that contains important papers, prescriptions, pictures, personal computers and plastic or paper money. Residents also should create an evacuation plan containing two possible evacuation routes and a designated meeting place if family members become separated. A man accused in a string of attacks in San Francisco has been arrested for allegedly killing a man in Chinatown earlier this year, police said. The announcement by police was made Friday. Police said Samuel Youmtoub, 59, battered 49-year-old Quang Troung in April. Troung later died from his injuries. About a month after he allegedly beat Troung, Youmtoub was allegedly caught on surveillance footage repeatedly kicking a homeless man in the face in the Tenderloin neighborhood. He was then connected to at least two other attacks, according to prosecutors, and has been jailed ever since. Police aren't releasing any details about their investigation. Troung was found on Joice Street around 5 a.m. on April 15 with multiple injuries to his head. A San Mateo County elementary school custodian is facing a slew of felony charges for allegedly sexually abusing three children at a Montara-area school. A resource officer at Farallone View Elementary School learned of the allegations on Sept. 25 and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation. The investigation went on for months until authorities issued an arrest warrant for the janitor, 54-year-old Joel Cortez Altamirano, on Thursday. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. OAKLAND (BCN) A 25-year-old man has been arrested for a robbery and shooting in West Oakland last week, police said. The robbery and shooting occurred at a commercial business in the 2000 block of Market Street at 8:44 p.m. on Dec. 3, according to police. A suspect later identified as Jerome Page of Oakland entered the business armed with a handgun and confronted an employee at the register, police said. Page allegedly discharged his handgun during his confrontation with the employee and the employee was struck by gunfire. Page then exited the business and fled on foot on 21st Street, according to police. Paramedics responded to the scene to provide medical treatment to the victim and the victim has since recovered, police said. Officers arrested Page on Monday. Investigators who served a search warrant on Page's residence found and recovered multiple guns there, police said. On Wednesday the Alameda County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and charged Page with armed robbery and intentionally discharging a firearm. Page is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $2.5 million bail and is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 27 to enter a plea. Oakland police said anyone who has information about the case should call their robbery section at (510) 238-3326. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A Walnut Creek accountant was sentenced this week to eight months in prison for his role in filing false tax returns for a client that resulted in $4.7 million in unpaid taxes. Certified public accountant Marc Howard Berger, 68, was found guilty in July of assisting in the preparation of three false Form 1040s for his client, G. Steven Burrill, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California. Berger was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg. In addition to the prison term, Berger was fined $20,000 and sentenced to one year of supervised release. His co-defendant, Burrill, pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced on Dec. 4 to 30 months in prison. The owner of Burrill & Company, Burrill Capital and a number of related entities, Burrill managed venture capital funds. One was Burrill Life Sciences Capital Fund III, a $283 million investment fund focused on the life sciences industry. Between December 2007 and September 2013, Burrill transferred more than $18 million from the fund to his management companies in excess of fees that were due and allowable under agreements governing the fund, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Authorities say Berger intentionally prepared and filed false tax income returns for Burrill that failed to report more than $18 million in income, resulting in unpaid taxes of $4.7 million. With Berger's assistance, Burrill paid no individual taxes for the years 2009 to 2013, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. JANAKPUR, Nepal The competition between two Asian giants, India and China, for influence over tiny Nepal is yielding a bonanza in the form of the Himalayan mountain nations first modern railway and possibly more to come. New shiny rails connecting the 21 miles between Janakpur in southeastern Nepal and Jay Nagar in the Indian state of Bihar are raising hopes for more business and pilgrimages. The railway is Indias latest bid to keep its foothold in South Asia, a traditional sphere of influence, as China spends billions on its massive Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure project that aims to expand trade across a vast arc of 65 countries from the South Pacific to Africa and Europe. Biswombar Sah, a 62-year-old farmer, is among hundreds of people in Janakpur visiting the still-under-construction rail station daily to check on its progress as workers polish the marble floors, lay tiles on the platform and paint local art on the walls of the waiting room. These train tracks are the best thing to happen to us in a very long time. We are all thrilled about getting a modern train that will make travel so much easier and cheaper, Sah said. Once the new $80 million rail line begins operations, plans call for extending the railway deeper into Nepal. For now, only a dusty trail passing through villages connects Jay Nagar and Janakpur. Its mostly used by people bringing in daily goods on motorcycles and small trucks. The British, who ruled India from 1858-1947, built a narrow-gauge 2.5-foot wide track in 1937 to transport timber from Nepal. That train, with only three rusted carriages, windows lacking panes, missing doors and iffy service the engine often broke down for days quit running in 2014. Millions of Hindu devotees travel every year to the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, where the Hindu goddess Sita is believed to have been born and later married the Hindu god Ram. Restaurant owner Naresh Chandra Jha is one of many in Janakpur who view the railway as a godsend. Hes counting on a windfall from the pilgrimage trade, and on saving money thanks to lower transport costs for his supplies. This is the biggest event for Janakpur, he said. Home to Mount Everest and other peaks on the roof of the world, Nepal has limited road networks. Politicians have been promising for years to build new train lines across the mountainous country. Binaj Gurubacharya is an Associated Press writer. PRISTINA, Kosovo Kosovos Parliament overwhelmingly approved legislation on Friday to form an army, prompting criticism from NATO and European Union officials and angering neighboring Serbia, which said it was prepared to use its own army to protect ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. All 107 lawmakers present in Kosovos 120-seat Parliament, which is dominated by ethnic Albanian parties, voted to back the governments plan to transform the 3,000-strong, lightly armed Kosovo Security Force into an army that would grow to 5,000 active troops and 3,000 reservists in the next decade. Kosovo Serb lawmakers did not attend the session. Aleksandar Vucic, Serbias president, said in the town of Trstenik in central Serbia on the eve of the vote, Not a single act in the international law gives them the right to form an army. Everything that Pristina does and evidently it does it all with support of the U.S. and Britain is against the law, Vucic added. Serbias foreign minister, Ivica Dacic, said that Belgrade would request an emergency U.N. Security Council session over what he said was the grossest violation of the resolution governing such a formation. It is the most direct threat to peace and stability in the region, Dacic said. Serbias prime minister, Ana Brnabic, said the formation of a Kosovo army ran counter to efforts at stability in the volatile Balkans. She added that she hoped Belgrade would not have to use any of its 28,000 troops to protect the Serbian minority in Kosovo, although this is currently one of the options on the table. Officials in Kosovo had sought to defuse anger ahead of the vote. Our army comes in peace, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Thursday. He accused officials in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, of spreading false allegations through the government-controlled news media that a Kosovo army would be a threat to Serbs and its neighbors. The narrative that Kosovo would use its military forces against Kosovo Serbs and its neighbors is an unfounded narrative, Haradinaj said. Its a modern, multiethnic army that has grown up together with NATO and KFOR, their soldiers and officers in our country. KFOR is the name of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. There are about 5,000 such troops in Kosovo, including some 600 U.S. soldiers. Barbara Surk is a New York Times writer. BEIRUT U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led fighters captured the last town held by the Islamic State on Friday, after three months of ferocious battles in the militants single remaining enclave in eastern Syria, activists and Kurdish officials said. The fall of Hajin marks an end to the extremist groups hold over any significant urban area, which in three years shrunk from large swaths of Iraq and Syria the militants once held to this small enclave near the two countries shared border. The capture of Hajin, however, does not mark the end of the group that still holds some villages nearby and has a scattered presence and sleeper cells in both countries. As the offensive by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces intensified over the past days under the cover of air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition, Islamic State fighters withdrew south to areas east of the Euphrates river and west of SDF positions along the border with Iraq. Among the villages still held by extremists in the enclave are Sousa, Buqaan, Shaafah, Baghouz and Shajla. The latest push has also raised questions about the fate of Islamic State leader and founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who has not been seen in public since he announced his self-styled caliphate in 2014 from a mosques pulpit in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Last month, Islamic State suffered a severe blow when the SDF said it captured Osama Owayed al-Saleh, a top aide to al-Baghdadi. It is a very difficult battle, SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said by phone from Syria where he said Islamic State fighters are still attacking Hajin. There are still villages to be taken but Hajin was the most important as it was the base for commanders from where they directed military operations, Bali said. Iraqi Maj. Gen. Qassem Mohammed, in charge of operations in areas close to the Syrian border, said artillery strikes by the U.S.-led coalition on the Iraqi side of the border targeted Hajin and areas around it. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the SDF took Hajin early in the morning, after fierce fighting under the cover of air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition. It said some IS fighters withdrew to nearby villages and that fighting is still ongoing in fields outside Hajin as SDF fighters chase out the extremists. The area is home to some 15,000 people, including 2,000 Islamic State gunmen who fought back with counteroffensives and suicide attacks. Bassem Mroue is an Associated Press writer. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are seeking the publics help to locate a 29-year-old Staten Island woman who was last seen in Manhattan. Qian Zhu, 29, went missing after she was spotted on Monday at about 4:45 p.m. in the vicinity of 125th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Recent addresses for the woman include Glenwood Avenue in Sunnyside and Richmond Road in Grant City, according to the police statement. Zhu had an argument with her parents prior to her disappearance, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. A police spokeswoman was unable to provide information about what Zhu was doing in Harlem before her disappearance. Police described Zhu as standing about 58 tall and weighing about 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was seen wearing a red jacket. People with information are urged to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A man convicted of running over a cops foot now is accused of injuring at least three officers who were trying to arrest the suspect for allegedly having drugs in his car in New Dorp. Jason Strong, 29, of Charles Avenue, Port Richmond, allegedly was seated in the drivers seat of a 2002 gray Acura TL with the engine running in the center lane at the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Beach Avenue on Dec. 4 at about 1:10 a.m, according to the criminal complaint and police. Officers found the six-foot, 180-pound suspect sleeping slumped over the wheel, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Strong had 10 vials of heroin and six bags of crack cocaine in the drivers side of the car, the complaint alleges. Strongs license is currently suspended, and has been at least 10 times, the criminal complaint said. Strong resisted arrest so aggressively with maneuvers such as flailing his arms and body that one officer suffered a sprained ankle, a second officers fingers swelled and jammed and a third officer suffered a muscle strain in his shoulders, the complaint alleges. Strong has been charged with assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was released on $30,000/$20,000 cash bond and is due back in court on Jan. 4, according to public records. An attorney for Strong declined to comment. Strong was sentenced in December 2017 in connection with an incident where he was accused of running over an officers foot in Annadale, according to Advance records. Strong, then 27, was behind the wheel of a black 1997 Nissan Maxima on Feb. 18, 2017, when officers from the 123rd Precinct, looking for burglary suspects, tried to stop him on Vineland Avenue and Carlton Boulevard at about 4:30 p.m., according to police and a criminal complaint. Instead of complying, Strong allegedly rolled over an officers foot with the vehicle, police said. Strong and a passenger, Jaquan Morton, 27, an ex-convict from Graniteville, then bolted from the car and ran through several backyards in a bid to escape, said cops. They were both nabbed in the area a short time later. Morton pleaded guilty in March 2017 to criminal trespass and was sentenced to a conditional discharge, according to Advance records. The injured officer suffered a broken foot. State Department of Corrections records do not include Strongs 2017 conviction, but show he also served about four years in prison before he was discharged in 2014 on a conviction for attempted reckless endangerment on Staten Island. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At a time when the MTA remains strapped for cash while struggling to fix the citys ailing transit system, the agency claims to be losing hundreds of millions of dollars to fare evaders. Among the main culprits are Staten Island bus riders, who New York City Transit president Andy Byford claimed during last weeks MTA Board Finance Committee Meeting have some of the highest rates of bus fare evasion in the city. Byford said the agency will step up enforcement "on those routes that have the highest fare evasion, and those are in the Bronx and on Staten Island. Despite the claim, the MTA states that its sampling methodology used to estimate fare evasion totals is citywide, and cannot be reliably be boiled down to specific areas. So the agency is unable to provide specifics related to the number of fare evaders on Staten Island. To determine estimates, MTA staff visited several assigned subway stations and bus routes each day to observe various types of far evasion. A randomized quarterly sample of the observations were generated, including peak and non-peak travel times, high- and low-level stations, with all boroughs represented. Limitations include human error and the mere presence of staff serving as a deterrent to fare evasion. Lets cut straight to the chase. We estimate for 2018, the revenue lost to fare evasion to be $215 million, which is a huge amount in anyones terminology, and that is a very large amount compared to where else Ive worked," said Byford. Current estimates from the MTA show 348,000 daily bus fare evaders, equaling 16.3 percent of all daily ridership, resulting in a loss of $119 million in revenue. Estimates show 208,000 daily subway fare evaders, equaling 3.8 percent of all daily ridership, resulting in a loss of $96 million in revenue. This marks an increase of $110 million in unclaimed revenue from 2015, according to the MTA. Data was compiled from observations made at approximately 180 subway station control centers and 140 bus routes per quarter. Byford emphasized the importance he has placed on cracking down on fare evasion during his short time at the agency. In the 11 months Ive been here weve already taken action to address something thats not unique to New York City Transit, but certainly has become an increasing problem, said Byford. He says the agency will use available camera feeds and collected data so we can identify who is doing it, where they are doing it and when they are doing, so that you have an intelligence-led enforcement strategy." The MTA plans to increase the presence of NYPD Transit Bureau officers throughout the system to combat the widespread fare evasion. We have 2,600 NYPD Transit Bureau officers. Weve asked the police chief that they be assigned to the subway system and onto buses to effectively create fare evasion strike teams, said Byford. Were working with local precincts to now have cops boarding buses, again in an intelligence-led manner, so that we are providing unpredictable inspections so that the deterrent impact is felt, he continued. The MTA will also increase deployment of their eagle teams -- officials with the authority to issue $100 Transit Adjudication Bureau summonses for fare evasion. Initially deployed only on select bus service routes, the eagle teams will be expanded to cover local bus routes. Byford says the agency has already begun piloting the eagle teams on local bus routes, including in the Bronx and on Staten Island, where the agency claims the highest rates of fare evasion. The MTA has already installed anti-fare evasion signage in all subway stations and is in the process of installing it along all bus routes. The agency is also exploring the use of video monitors, similar to what you see in shops, to alert potential fare evaders that they are on camera. Byford even discussed the possibility of using protection blockades -- something he claims his former agencies have used in England and Australia, to prevent would-be fare evaders. We will get teams of people from the head office to, on a random basis, either ride buses or to go and stand at stations to provide a physical block to make sure you must have a ticket before you go into the station or onto that bus, said Byford. We will of course have police or our eagle teams with us to provide the backup that we would need, he continued. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! A New Zealand man was listed as the landlord on the falsified tenancy agreement forms. A photograph of his NSW driver's licence was presented to victims who asked for the landlord's identification. Fairy Floss Real Estate's Facebook posts. When contacted this week, the man denied any involvement in the rental scam and asked for documents so that he could go to the police himself. The man and his partner moved to Australia from New Zealand in May, leaving behind a folded drink business with debts to be paid off by the woman's pensioner mother. Shes definitely a piece of work, said the woman's brother. The woman has a fraud conviction in New Zealand. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have chosen not to name the pair for legal reasons. How the apartments were advertised. The sting Ms Azzumi's trouble started when she called to arrange an inspection of the Rose Lane property. The next day, November 1, she said she met 21-year-old Thomus Bailey who claimed to be the real estate agent outside the property. "Tom is a person that has either been brainwashed or he doesnt have a conscience. You would never pick that he was a criminal if you met him," one victim who lost $13,160 said. Ms Azzumi immediately knew the Rose Lane apartment was a place she wanted to live, so filled in government-branded residential tenancy forms and hoped for the best. Tom Bailey's post advertising his services I text him saying I really want to live there. I want you to give me the chance to live there. He said you need to wait, I need to do another inspection. Maybe I find another person, said Ms Azzumi. Three days later, a man who identified himself the landlord called Ms Azzumi asking her to pay six months' rent in advance. He said, if you can, I will give you this apartment. Eager to move into the property, Ms Azzumi transferred $11,000 to a bank account under the name auslandscaping and was told she would move into the apartment on November 25. The scheduled date was pushed back after the phoney landlord said they needed to complete maintenance on the apartment. Other victims of the scam were told asbestos had been found in the building. He said, if you can, I will give you this apartment. Geyatri Azzumi All were promised a refund for the delayed move-in date. The day before Ms Azzumi was rescheduled to move into the Rose Lane apartment, December 2, she called to arrange a place to pick up the keys. That was the last she heard. The scammers used short-stay properties they had rented from Iron Fish, a Chinese-focused property agency which denies any knowledge of what was being done at their properties. We have provided all the information to police and are trying our best to prevent any incident happening at our properties, said Coral Xiao who manages the short-stay bookings at Iron Fish. The apartments were then advertised across several platforms including Facebooks "Fairyfloss" rental group, Gumtree and Flatemates.com.au, before arranging house inspections "In the two years that Ive been associated with the group, Ive not been aware of any scams like this", said Justin Butterworth, administrator of Facebook's Fairyfloss group. Construction company owner Brenton Wilder's identity has been frauded and he is now caught up in a rental/landscaping scam. Credit:Simon Schluter. "Its a real person with a real website who has met consumers in person and unfortunately committed a fraud, a scam." The rental forms filled in by the hopeful tenants reveal the scammers were using an ABN attached to Auslandscaping, a construction company that has been owned by Brenton Wilder since 2012. But that company and Mr Wilder were not involved in the alleged scam. Ive contacted ASIC ... essentially Ive got to close the whole company down. Look at the possibility of starting an entirely new company, he said. Its paperwork and a bit of money involved for me, I feel more sorry for the other guys. Mr Wilder was first contacted by victims of the scam in early November. A fake website that takes his company name has contact details that show a disconnected number and a street address in Mentone. In search of the stolen money, Ms Azzumi went to the address listed on the website only to find 82-year-old Rae Fordham. Ms Fordham said she had several victims visit her searching for their money. A lovely lass came, a student, she said shed paid them $11,000 for rent on bond. Then on Tuesday, I had two other lasses come. Mrs Fordham now fears for her safety. I now keep all the doors locked, I keep a padlock on the front gate. I shouldnt have to live like this, she said. Mr Bailey, who later changed his name to Sam Broadleaf on Facebook, was arrested in Sydney and charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception and will appear before Melbourne Magistrate's Court in April. Another victim who lost $13,600 to the scam has turned his attention to the banks. How is it that theyre opening up all these accounts and the people behind the counters are not working it out? Even when they are finding out there is suspicious activity, they are not closing the accounts, the man said, who requested anonymity. This is not just a matter of someone deceiving you on the street, this is another level. These people dont have respect for authority or anything. Girls are leaving boys in the dust. Thats a storyline you often hear around this time of the year as school leavers get their final marks. Headlines inevitably draw attention to gender differences in the overall results. This year girls again outperformed boys, on average, in both Victoria and NSW, when it came to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, used to gain entry to university. Six in ten higher education courses in Australia are now being completed by women. Twice as many girls as boys were placed first in HSC courses. Zoe was the most common name to top a subject followed by Lucy. And then theres the growing gender split in favour of women at our universities six in 10 higher education courses in Australia are now being completed by females. To be, or not to be a lawyer? That is the question Balgowlah Boys student and Hamlet fan Josh Smith, 17, is mulling over as he decides what to do with his 98.90 ATAR. His schoolmate, Arran Burns, has a similar dilemma over his 98.65. It's a nice problem to have, and one that is usually reserved for the selective school students down the road at Manly. But Balgowlah Boys' a public, all boys school on Sydney's northern beaches is becoming renowned for its excellent results, particularly in English, where it has finished near the top of the state for four years. Balgowlah Boys High School 2018 English class students Jesse lilley, Josh Smith, Arran Burns, Nikita Chopenko and Thomas Southgate with English Teacher Aimee Jan and Principal Paul Sheather celebrating excellent results. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Josh, whose favourite texts were Hamlet and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, credits his teachers for encouraging a love of literature among the boys. "They are the best motivators I have ever had, they push us, but they don't pressure us," he said. After a sleepless night, Phoebe Coles waits nervously in the dining room. It's ATAR day and Phoebe is one of thousands of HSC students across the state watching the clock tick toward 9am when their results are released. Phoebe Coles waits anxiously for her ATAR results as her dad Richard watches on. Credit:Janie Barrett With her father Richard eagerly watching on beside her, the 17-year-old Pymble Ladies' College student logs in to find out her fate. After brief technical difficulties, Phoebe's ATAR flashes up on the screen and her face lights up. When Lou Berney was a child, the Berney family would visit Dallas from their Oklahoma home each summer. His father would invariably drive them through Dealey Plaza, where President John Kennedy was assassinated. "I remember at a very early age, six or seven, looking up at the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository and imagining that." The assassination of JFK in Dallas on November 22, 1963, has always had a grip on author Lou Berney. Credit:AP The events of November 22, 1963, have always had a grip on Berney, not least because his mother used to say he was conceived that night. True or not, it became a family mythology. Berney's fourth novel, the brilliant November Road, has at its core Frank Guidry, a footsoldier for New Orleans mobster Carlos Marcello whose tangential involvement in the events at Dallas means he becomes a target of the mob. He flees New Orleans and eventually joins forces with Charlotte, a young woman fleeing a wretched marriage, and her two daughters. But Marcello has put a brutal killer, Barone, on his tail. Racy tales, chilling thrillers and thought-provoking prose here's a round up the books that deserve space in your luggage for those long, lazy days in the sun. FABULOUS FICTION Normal People by Sally Rooney (Faber) In this poignant story about the vulnerability of young love, self-absorbed, popular Connell begins a secret relationship at school with Marianne, a bright social outcast, that binds them through their university years. French Exit by Patrick deWitt (Bloomsbury) Scandalous socialite Frances Price, who found her husband dead and then went skiing for the weekend, flees New York for Paris with her adult son Malcolm, cat Small Frank and her remaining fortune. The result is a tragic and witty send-up of high society. 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Disabilities Gay / Lesbian Hispanic Mens Interests Native American Senior Citizens Social Services Teen Issues/Interests Womens Interest Software General Sports Baseball Basketball Bicycling Boating / Maritime Bowling Boxing Fishing Football Golf Hockey Hunting Martial Arts Outdoors Rugby Soccer Tennis Water Winter/Snow Sports/Fitness General Stocks General Supermarkets General Technology Biotechnology Computer Electronics Enterprise Software Games Graphics/Printing/CAD Hardware / Peripherals Industrial Information Internet Multimedia Networking Public Sector/Government Robotics Semiconductor Software Telecommunications Webmasters Telecom General Wireless Television General Tobacco General Trade General Transportation General Travel General Utilities General Volunteer Volunteer Weather Weather FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE: CHRISTMAS ON I.C.E. 10.25pm, SBS Some of the politicians skewered by this powerhouse of an American comic may be a little too localised for the average antipodean viewer to get the joke but mostly, we are well abreast of much of her Trump-era material. In this "Christmas on I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)" special, Samantha Bee glides through a replica of the White House's hall of Christmas trees and, in her silky smooth voice, rams home her important message about separated immigrant families. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee: The American comic rams home her important message about separated immigrant families. THE BOOK OF NEGROES 8.30pm, NITV As uncomfortable as it may be for some to enter this world of African slavery in the Deep South, it is of course a story worth remembering and one unflinchingly told. Based on the book by Canadian writer Lawrence Hill, the life of Aminata (Aunjanue Ellis, Quantico) a girl sold into slavery, unfolds against the expected backdrop of routine inhumanity, on a slow path to freedom. This is a beautifully constructed counter perspective to more common plantation period drama. Positive reinforcement can also work to eliminate attention-seeking behaviours (your child interrupting you while you are on the phone), avoidance behaviours (finding other things to do instead of getting ready for school), access demands (wanting a particular toy or to go out with friends) and even aggressive or violent behaviours. "What often happens is that we inadvertently and constantly reinforce all of the negative things - we point out what they are doing wrong," says psychologist Nicole Beurkens. "We shine this huge spotlight on the problem instead of putting the spotlight where it needs to be, which is things that we want to happen and what we want to see more of." According to Mosback, saying things like "no" or "stop" won't correct a bad behaviour because a child, especially a young one, may not know the correct behaviour or expectation. They must be taught. Using positive reinforcement teaches that correct behaviour, increases self-esteem and improves the likelihood they will repeat that behaviour. One option is to create a rewards chart with a clear explanation of expected behaviours. To correct a specific bad behaviour, Beurkens recommends rewarding positive behaviour in 15-minute intervals - they'll receive a check mark for each block of time they behave well. When they do well, slowly increase the length of time. My positive reinforcement chart My kids needed more structure to accomplish their daily routine, so I created a chart that broke down the broad goal of getting ready for school into small steps so my children would know what is expected of them. I also defined what was expected of them each afternoon. Loading I wrote down each morning and afternoon responsibility, and I added several new tasks. They would now need to make their beds, feed the dog, practice music, keep their rooms clean and pick out their clothing the night before. Ambitious, I know. Next I created a weekly responsibility chart. Days of the week are listed across the top and responsibilities are listed down the left. I grouped several responsibilities together and assigned a completion time. Each time they complete a group of tasks on time, they earn money, ranging from 10 cents to 25 cents. Learn the 'language of the positive' According to behavioral psychologist Elliott Jaffa, positive reinforcement requires speaking without using no, not, isn't, didn't, don't, couldn't, or any "n apostrophe t" word. I strive to do this, but it's a work in progress. On the day I interviewed Jaffa for this story, I described my morning. My daughter accomplished everything in her first group of tasks except brushing her hair. She walked downstairs with the hairbrush, placed it on the kitchen table, and began to eat. When her time was up to receive her first reward, I explained that because she didn't brush her hair before 7:20am, she didn't earn her first 15 cents for the day. But, I said, I knew she could earn the next reward. Jaffa shared how I could have handled the situation better. "First," he said, "you did the damage with the word 'didn't.' Next time, ask her, 'What is that in your hand? How does it work? Can you show me?' Ask questions to avoid saying she didn't brush her hair. Every time she comes up with the right answer, you have an opportunity to say, 'Great, that's perfect.' You set her up for three to four positives in a matter of seconds." Create a chart that works for you Positive reinforcement has changed our lives. My home is less chaotic and more peaceful this year, and my kids are getting to school on time. Here are a few suggestions for using this system with your own kids. Why do Australians do a dance to Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits? No one really knows. Credit:AP As Christmas party season reaches its peak, the opening riff of Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits can be heard luring young and old to dance floors across the country. The routine they gather for is set to a US song by a US singer, about a place in Tennessee. But the Nutbush dance is a uniquely Australian phenomenon. Turner's live renditions of the song have never featured the repetitive line dance. In fact, in a performance of the song on US late-night variety show Midnight Special shortly after its 1973 release, the choreography on stage full of arms and hips could not have been further from the Nutbush we know today. Yet, at some point in the years that followed, this line dance, performed to each compass point until all three minutes and 20 seconds of the song have run their course, emerged in Australian suburbia. Residents in the heritage village of Hall have criticised the ACT government's decision not to take action over what authorities say was the unauthorised demolition of a stone cottage on a heritage-listed block. The residents believe the lack of action sets a precedent that places Canberra's significant buildings at serious risk. Hall residents are angry about the ACT government's decision not to pursue a prosecution over the unauthorised demolition of a heritage-listed stone cottage. From left, Graeme Bryce, Bob Richardson, Helen White, Danny Clynk, Brian Banyard, Jonathan Palmer, John Sayers, Robert and Jordyn Collins, and Pam and Stan Sparrow. Credit:Jamila Toderas A pre-1900 stone cottage at 8 Palmer Street was knocked down on October 3 and 4 last year, just over three months after Stephen and Deborah Fleischer bought the 2029-square-metre block for $985,000 at auction. The north Canberra block, which is listed on the ACT Heritage Register as a place of specific value within the Hall Village Precinct, also contained a house known as Ottocliffe, which was demolished after it was found to contain Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos fibres. A Canberra lawyer and his hiking companion had to climb a 60-degree scree slope as loose rocks cascaded away behind them after they went the wrong way trying to exit remote bushland. William McCarthy and his friend, Wollongong woman Francisca Boterhoven De Haan, emerged from Morton National Park in good health on Friday, accompanied by emergency services workers after a search and rescue effort. Francisca Boterhoven De Haan at a campsite she and William McCarthy set up during their six nights in Morton National Park. Photo: Supplied They had set out last weekend on what was supposed to be a four-day hike to celebrate Ms Boterhoven De Haan's 60th birthday, but ended up spending six nights in the wilderness west of Nowra. The pair told the Sunday Canberra Times that as they went to leave Ettrema Creek on what is known as Transportation Spur, they took the wrong exit and ended up on the southern side of Gallows Gully instead of the northern edge. One of Canberra's leading drug reform advocates has said the time is now for a safe injecting room in the ACT. Emeritus professor Bob Douglas said public attitudes towards the initiative have shifted dramatically over the decades, with a lack of political support quashing multiple proposals since the mid-1990s. Emeritus Professor Bob Douglas, who says the current proposal for a safe injecting room should get off the ground. Credit:Rohan Thomson "The climate is changing, and I have little doubt it's changed to the point where we could reduce the cost of imprisoning people and reduce the harm to families," Emeritus Professor Douglas said. "Now is definitely the time for a safe injecting room." A stolen motor vehicle was set alight in dense bushland in the Pierces Creek region of Canberra on Saturday evening, causing a fire in the surrounding scrub. The fire was extingushed by ACT Fire and Rescue crews, but an Emergency Services Agency spokesman said they were very concerned with how quickly and easily the area caught alight despite recent rain. Loading The scenario parallels that which started the Pierces Creek blaze in a similar location at the start of November. That bushfire burned for days, resulting in evacuations of live stock and a threat to homes on Canberra's western urban fringe. An ESA spokesman said the fire on Saturday was significant, but was able to be contained to an area of 10 metres by 50 metres. "It's a good day to commit crime in Queanbeyan then," ACT Magistrate Louise Taylor told a Saturday bail court earlier this month. The comment came as Ms Taylor tried to process the extradition of a 27-year-old woman who was wanted in NSW on a revocation of parole warrant. There are questions over staffing and resources at Queanbeyan Police Station. Credit:Jamila Toderas However the extradition across the border was unable to be processed due to a lack of police on duty in Queanbeyan, with no officers available to transport the woman. The woman spent an extra two nights in the custody of ACT Police before she could be extradited the following Monday. The group members are mainly women (80 per cent aged between 25-45) who one would assume, publicly appear like Sales and Crabb: with well-ordered minds and well-ordered homes. But scratch the surface, and it appears many in the group are privately like the two 45-year-old television stars who front it: stressed-beyond-belief mothers juggling families, careers and caring, who simply want to be in a community. Some joke the Facebook group is a cult of kindness which even has its own language (see glossary). People see the polished us on TV and I think what they also like is to see actually we are not really like that - that is artifice to a degree. Thats an hour and a half of make up. But in reality we are just slopping around just like everybody else and trying to juggle all of our responsibilities, says Sales. And failing, quips Crabb. It might just be the intimacy of a conversation that isnt very structured and where you are clearly having fun in the other persons company. People feel they are in the conversation just listening to the podcast and often tell us they just join in the conversation at home, Crabb adds. A trio from a mothers group, at a show in Canberra last Sunday are typical chatters: all three were young professional women, mothers of 18-month-old children who became acquainted with the podcast driving their children around Canberra in their cars trying to get their newborns to sleep. One told the others and the word spread and last Sunday they left their husbands at home with their children to see the podcast recorded live in Canberra. The handful of men who attended the show all said they did not need much convincing, as they admired the pairs political knowledge and were keen to see them in action. Best mates, Annabel and Leigh have a dream 'other' job. Credit:Sahlan Hayes It is this friendship between the two polished political reporters that in 2014 they parlayed into a podcast, Chats 10 Looks 3 (named for the Dance: 10, Looks: 3 song from the musical A Chorus Line). The tone is informal and fun, a seemingly casual chat between girlfriends (of course they work hard behind the scenes to make it appear unscripted but it is to some degree Sales after all, as Crabb jokes has a spreadsheet of clothes in her wardrobe). It's their differences, and the tongue-in-cheek way they tease each other about them, like Oscar and Felix in The Odd Couple, that provides the comic relief. Sales loves show tunes, Crabb hates them. Crabb loves wildlife like fairy wrens (the group mascot), Sales doesnt notice it. In the vein of friends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders Eddie and Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous it works: it has been consistently named throughout the industry as one of the most popular podcasts. People say when they listen to us it gives them the same buzz as if theyd just caught up with their girlfriends but they havent actually caught up with their girlfriends. I think thats why people are actually really warm to us and why they feel like were their friends and they bring us gifts and things that theyve cooked for us, says Sales. The natural synergy between the two, is enhanced by the fact that their own close-knit community of friends and family are also the wind between their wings, as they turn it into a business. They set up the Facebook group because they realised many people they spoke to had no way of talking to each other but through them. As the ABC has strict guidelines and a charter, the two broadcasters wrote to their employer to explain their podcast had become a business. But it had grown so quickly and so organically, they had to outsource it, and so they pay friends to manage it as well as donate money to their favourite charities, so it adheres to the ABC guidelines. Loading Behind the scenes a close-knit circle of friends, many of them mothers and neighbours in their inner west neighbourhoods provide support. Cathy Beale, who is a researcher at the ABC, knew Sales from assisting her with library research starting from her time as Washington correspondent. When she announced she was pregnant in 2011, I was also pregnant, says Beale. We both lived in the inner west and it ended up our boys were born two weeks apart. We got to know each other well during that period, says Beale, who was known by her pseudonym Brenda on the Facebook group until recently, when a Melbourne chatter Bec Sharkey took the reins. Another friend from Crabbs university days, Murph Miranda Murphy, former digital journalist at The Australian, writes the newsletter, and Crabbs former neighbour Gwen Blake, who runs a design studio, has designed all the merchandise from the website to the tea towels. In the decade since Crabb cold-called Sales to ask about what it was like working at the ABC, the two have become friends. She said we havent met but I know a lot of people you know so I feel like I know you, and Im thinking of taking this job at the ABC whats it like working there and most importantly, where should I sit? recalls Sales, now host of the flagship current affairs program 7.30. The first time they met for morning tea, Crabb, like a nervous new school girl bought a cake shed baked and they stayed talking until around 4pm. I was due on the radio at 4.30pm, it was like an eight-hour podcast, says Crabb who has since gone on to roles as varied as hosting Kitchen Cabinet, covering election night and the royal wedding earlier this year. As luck would have it, when she began working at the ABC Sydneys Ultimo office as an online political writer, Crabb sat next to Sales. They have been talking, mocking and laughing together pretty much ever since. But it is their warmth and kindness to each other, and others, those in the group say is appealing. Their commitment to taking shows to regional Australia is part of their popularity too; borne from their own experience of growing up outside major cities, Crabb in regional south Australia, and Sales from Brisbane. This year they recorded in Orange, next year they will go to Hobart. Mates ... Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales. Credit:ABC Because the group gathers under our name, we couldnt take the risk it would become a place where there would be political debates, says Crabb. So it is a politics-free zone. Only kindness, which Sales says they try to model in their relationship with each other when not taking the piss. Whether its taking the washing in for each other, packing treats for their children, or being there when Sales father died earlier this year, its clear the two have a deep affection for each other. I like we have a space where it says you know what it is OK to be in life? Smart, well read and a nice person, says Sales. Because I think for women the messages that you get elsewhere are usually not that. The messages you get are it's good to be skinny, to not have wrinkles and to look amazing. And we never talk about any shit like that. We dont care about that." Crabb says she has been surprised at how eager chatters have been to enter into a politics-free zone away from the Canberra bubble. Annabel absolutely trusts Leigh...we think. Credit:Stephen Blake We are the least likely people on TV to get Botox, because we just dont care about that. One of the things I deep down love about Sales, is we will take a picture together and both of us just look terrible. And Ive never ever heard her say dont put that up I look horrible. We both get asked a lot how do you find the time to read and juggle your life and I dont know. It is full on a lot of the time. But the podcast and the Facebook group always seems like a lovely little island of kindness and fun, says Crabb. Its authentic. Everyones life is hard from time to time. The thing that gets you through is your friends. I presume for listeners when some one is having a hard time, if they spend half an hour with us it makes them feel a bit better and they can have a bit of a laugh. Just like we do, says Sales. The Chat 10 Looks 3 glossary Americans, The: a show which Leigh is obsessed with and tried to convince Annabel to watch about Russian spies living in America. Annabels boyfriend/the mutual boyfriend/ the boyfriend/Yotam Ottolenghi: The Middle-Eastern chef she is obsessed with. Boob Cabbage: A cool relief for painful breasts. A chatter Jacqui Ann who has breast cancer, put a call out for someone to deliver her some cabbage to her rural hospital. Twenty-three minutes after the request being posted, a chatter, Clare, delivered one along with a bunch of flowers. The next day another chatter, Kim, provided her with coffee and took her washing home. Brenda: A nom de plume for Cathy Beale (Brenda 1.0) who does the show notes on the website and the uploading of the podcasts and Bec Sharkey (Brenda 2.0) who moderates the Facebook group. Brendalings: A collective noun for the other moderators of the Facebook group. Chat 10 Looks 3: A play on the song Dance 10 Looks 3 from A Chorus Line. Chatters/chatterati/chatterinos: A collective noun for fans of the podcast and Facebook group. Clang: Name dropping. Crack: A slice consisting of saladas, caramel and melted chocolate. Fairy Wren: A blue bird that hung around Leighs old house. Annabel loves them, Leigh does not. Official bird/mascot of Chat 10. There are stick pins now to spot chatters in the wild. Frump Nightie: Incredibly unattractive albeit comfortable nightwear. Kennys organisational flow chart: Described by Leigh as the Chatters First Family. Last Christmas Pee Wee Lewis uploaded a very detailed chart outlining the tasks that each family member has to do for Christmas and has subsequently become folklore amongst the chatters. Smug Bundt: The smug feeling you get when the bundt cake you have baked perfectly dismounts from its tin. Crabb/Sales picks for their favourite things from 2018 Fiction books. Crabb: Min Jin Lee, Pachinko. Sales: The Museum of Modern Love, Heather Rose Non-fiction books. Crabb: The Trauma Cleaner, Sarah Krasnostein. Sales: No Spin, Shane Warne TV. Crabb: Wild, Wild Country. Sales: Final episode of The Americans Film. Crabb: I Tonya. Sales: I Tonya, Darkest Hour, A Star is Born And even if Canberra is a bubble, a kind of bourgeois bubble in which we choose to live our First World lives, insulated from the wider world, perhaps, just perhaps, the citys strange bubbleness is in some ways a wondrous thing. Even when you love this city (and for decades I have been singing its praises and celebrating its nuances in my unforgettable columns) it can feel as if it is a city in a bubble. It can feel, figuratively, as if it is one of those domed cities so popular in science fiction. And yet, is there a sense in which Canberra the city is a bubble in which all Canberrans live? Canberra bubble just announced by the Australian National Dictionary Centre as the 2018 word of the year is only meant to describe the insular habitat of federal politics and federal politics chronic navel-gazers. I have an ajar mind on that but, well-travelled in recent years and visiting oodles of other cities I do have a strong sense of Canberra being unusually aloof from its geographical place, from its nation and even, for this bubbleness has its mystic dimension, from Real Life (whatever that is). So for example I spent some time this year in Aberdeen, Scotland, and as usual (for I do this in every foreign city I visit) found myself doing my muddleheaded best to compare and contrast that city with my own metropolis, Canberra. It is quite hard, in spite of my enviably huge vocabulary, to express the character-differences of the two cities in words. It is that, somehow, Aberdeen (like so many cities that are not Canberra) does seem to fit effortlessly, seamlessly, appropriately into its place(s). In Aberdeens case it fits first into its place in the whole of Scotland and then into its place in what is sometimes thought of by poets and geographers as The North. Canberra by contrast feels less a true part of its places (first of Australia and then of the whole Sunny South) than a kind of decoration of them, like an out-of-context ornament (perhaps a valuable and beautiful one) on a mantelpiece, or like a gorgeous earring that adorns (but somehow doesnt quite suit) its wearer. Then, reinforcing this poetic impression, there is the way in which so many people seem to be living in cushioned Canberra exactly because the city is so enbubbled, so protected, so vaccinated against the nasty viruses of common Australia. Ms Berejiklian has called for NSW's annual migrant intake to be halved to 45,000 people a year, and wants consideration of a Canadian-style system under which states and territories have greater power to determine their migration levels. While Herald polling shows the majority of voters believe current migration levels are too high, Ms Berejiklian was the odd one out among state leaders this week when she indicated her support for federal government plans to cap immigration numbers at 160,000, down from 190,000. Although little of substance came from the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Adelaide, it was agreed that population should be a standing agenda item at future COAG gatherings. Until the Coalition's loss in the Wagga byelection in September, Gladys Berejiklian felt that the current level of migration was "about right". In the wake of the 30pc swing against the Government, the Premier decided NSW needed to take a "breather" on immigration levels. This daughter of Armenian immigrants may be surprised to read in today's Sun-Herald that in some parts of Sydney, potential parents are taking a huge ''breather'' of their own. As Eryk Bagshaw reports, Sydneys fertility rate is now the lowest of any capital city, tumbling by 15 per cent over the past six years. It is well short of the natural replacement level, meaning Sydneys overall population would fall without immigrants. The inner-city baby boom, which embarrassed the state government two decades after it closed under-populated schools in Redfern, Vaucluse and Chippendale, among other suburbs, is over. The fertility rate has crashed among Sydneysiders of child-bearing age, but especially women aged 20-24. And while some ethnic groups are producing bigger families, especially Lebanese, Pakistanis and Samoans, Sydney would be losing numbers without migrants. The Premier fancies herself on a winner with her call for an immigration slowdown. Exasperated commuters and young couples frozen out of the Sydney housing market (still prohibitive to many despite the recent easing in prices), need little persuading of the need for the proverbial breather. They see the calls for a bigger migration intake, its bulk absorbed by the nation's two biggest cities of Sydney and Melbourne, as providing fat profits for developers and big business, but few others. A truck crash at Green Square this week highlighted how quickly parts of our city are being transformed by the population boom. In a 21st century of smart, adaptive technology, we suffer traffic lights that are still 1951-stupid. We sit at the red, watching a green light blaze down an adjacent empty street. Set off from a fresh green light, only to stop at an orange 150m away. Progressive techniques used overseas like flashing orange turn, change warnings (red and orange together), timer countdowns, left turn on red are either unknown or only sparsely employed here. It's as though the intention is to get all the traffic down to the average speed of a horse, which is probably the quickest way to get around Sydney these days. - Graeme Gee, Telopea Friendly advice My teachers' advice did get better (Letters, December 9). My attempts to build a teapot stand in first year high school were so bad, my woodwork teacher told me to "go away and study Latin". There was no trial or appeal. I went quietly. - Craig Lilienthal, Wollstonecraft Humble pie for chefs It is appalling that celebrity chefs have underpaid their staff, but it would appear that wage theft is no longer on the menu and has been replaced by a generous serving of humble pie ("Wage theft should not be on the menu", December 9). - Peter Miniutti, Ashbury Steady as he goes Has anyone else noticed how Bob Metzger, the guitar player in Leonard Cohen's band, uncannily resembles Scott Morrison? He played in the World Tour concerts and a good one to see him perform up close in is Leonard Cohen Live in London. In his intros, Cohen refers to him as the "signature of steady". Our PM could learn a lot from this gifted musician, most of all how to keep the good ship Liberal Party steady in the storms ahead for 2019. - Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood Nature and nurture A study has found dads forge girls' sense of self. However, the story neglects the fact that the dad, in the traditional family setting, may not be around enough to do so. Besides, confidence and resilience are often nurtured by the mother, by upbringing and contact with friends or by the individual's personality. - Steve Ngeow, Chatswood Put students first Disciplined students who succeed through real integrity and hard work must always receive heartfelt congratulations; excellence of achievement is never to be discouraged. But is a system which publicly pits one school against another, dependent on the ATAR of the individual student, really always about the betterment of the student or also about the glorification and "cashing-in" of others such as parents, teachers and increased school enrolments? What about students, who despite stretching themselves to the limit, only find themselves rewarded with feelings of confusion, humiliation, dismay,"haphazardly categorised", not to mention the temptation of writing off the entire 13 years of schooling as a waste of time? A new toy gun craze is sweeping Australia but questions over the gun's legality have led to a record number of seizures and growing confusion among sellers in NSW. Police have seized more than 300 gel gun blasters, a device similar to a nerf or airsoft gun, in the last five months compared to two for nearly all of 2017. Some gel gun blasters are classed as firearms because many models share similarities in appearance to real weapons, NSW police said. Blasters have already been used to carry out crimes in some parts of the country. "They substantially duplicate in appearance a military-style firearm and the gel ball has been similarly determined to be ammunition," a police spokesman said. Should a business wish to trade in gel blaster guns they would require a firearm dealer licence. This strict interpretation has led to a growing number of toy shop owners, who have been selling and marketing the devices as toys, facing legal issues. The Powerhouse Museum's coveted site at Ultimo has been revalued upwards by $220 million ahead of the attraction's planned relocation to Parramatta, according to a NSW Auditor-General's report. Critics have seized on the figure as evidence that the state government's attempt to uproot the museum is a land grab that will deliver "windfall" profits to property developers. The worth of the Powerhouse Museum site at Ultimo has surged $220 million, according to the Auditor-General. Credit:Jessica Hromas The state government disputed the Auditor-General's report, saying the $220 million increase accounted for all three of the Powerhouse Museum's sites, including its land and buildings at Ultimo, Millers Point and Castle Hill. "The total valuation increase across the three sites was $222.5 million," an Audit Office spokesman said. "The Ultimo site contributed $220 million." Where the babies are Sydneys inner city is a baby desert. The Sydney-Haymarket-Rocks area is home to almost 31,000 residents. They had just 254 babies between them last year. Other baby-free zones include Potts Point, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, Redfern and Surry Hills. Baby hot-spots are in the citys south and west. Lakemba (fertility rate of 2.93), Wiley Park, Bankstown South and Lethbridge Park have the highest fertility rates in Sydney. The biggest drop in fertility in Sydney has been among women aged between 20 and 24, falling by more than a quarter since 2011. At the same time there has been a sharp drop in the teenage birth rate which has fallen by 42 per cent. Young people no longer have the confidence society is providing a setting for them to have enough children to reproduce existing population. Demographer Bob Birrell But some parts of the community continue to start their families young. Lebanese-born women in their early 20s have a fertility rate almost six times that of Australian-born women. Its not just women in their early 20s. Sydneys overall fertility rate among women aged between 25 and 29 has dropped 16.4 per cent over the past six years and by 7.6 per cent among those in their early 30s. Australias often divisive population debate, thrust back into the spotlight again last week at the Council of Australian Governments meeting, mainly focuses on the headline permanent migration figure and the failure of infrastructure to keep up. Scott Morrison with state and territory leaders at COAG on Wednesday. Credit:AAP But the reality is that, without the babies of migrants who now call Australia home, the population would soon be shrinking. The comparison with New Zealand is striking. The Kiwi fertility rate is 2.14 - enough to replace New Zealanders already in the country - compared with the Aussie rate that is 0.34 babies short of replacing every mother and father. Economic forces behind fertility slump What sort of society cant create the circumstances to reproduce itself? veteran demographer Bob Birrell said. That is an affront. It implies that young people no longer have the confidence that their society is providing a setting for them to have enough children to reproduce existing population. Cultural change has played a role, but Mr Birrell believes the shift is fundamentally economic. The younger age group 25-34 dropping like a stone, he said. There will be some compensation as they reach their late 30s which that perhaps reverse some of the trend, but births delayed ultimately add up to births cancelled. Australian Population Research Institute Data shows that the proportion of young couples aged 30-34 who are renting in Sydney and Melbourne has gone up five percentage points since 2010 on the back of soaring house prices that have only just started to cool. Its very difficult for couples who want to raise children to find a family friendly dwelling which would allow them to get on with the business of raising a family, he said. There is a very clear correlation and causation. Grace City Church pastor and father of two Hew Nunn and his Iranian-born wife Cindy are among them. Its just financial, we cant afford to have more, Mr Nunn said. We've been married for four years. We have two kids, we are renting. If we go to three, you need a bigger car and you need a bigger bedroom. The dream of having the yard and [quater-acre] block is long gone really. Loading Nationally, the number of children born across the country fell in 2017, down by 1962 on the 311,104 who arrived in 2016. While NSW bucked the trend it wasnt enough to offset some large falls in other parts of Australia including a 931 drop in Western Australia. The falls are set to exacerbate what is already looming a major labour market problem. A recent a study by Shah and Dixon shows there will be 4.1 million new job openings in Australia between 2017 and 2024. For parents enduring daily fights with their sons about video games, the chilling video of Western Sydney man Luke Munday allegedly hitting his partner as she begged him to stop playing Fortnite was a manifestation of their worst fears this week. Violent and aggressive reactions in children as young as eight when they are asked to stop playing are not uncommon, said Game Quitters founder Cam Adair. Addiction to video games is forcing thousands of people into rehab clinics. "It's unfortunately not uncommon, violence and aggression are quite frequent reactions of people who are made to stop," he said from the Chang Mai outpost of Sydney addiction centre The Cabin. "We speak to a lot of parents who are at their wits' ends, they don't know how to make their sons stop." It's the question that won't go away and, with the increasing prevalence of mobile phones and the incredible power of the latest devices, being asked more often: do mobile phones cause brain cancer? A new analysis of 16,800 brain cancer cases in Australia stretching back to the early 1980s definitively shows the answer is no. Mobile phones do not cause cancer. A new study shows mobile phones do not cause brain cancer. Credit:Phil Carrick The study, led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and published in the latest BMJ Open, found no link between the rapid uptake of mobile phones and the incidence of brain cancers. "People say mobile phones can cause cancer but our study showed this was not the case; brain tumour rates are quite stable and specific types of brain tumours have not increased," Ken Karipidis, a radiation expert at ARPANSA, said. The RSPCA has warned people to be wary of buying animals online, after a couple faced court this week accused of selling sick kittens to unsuspecting pet owners. Con Petropoulos, also known as Konstantinos Petropoulos, and his Russian-born wife, Liudmilla, are facing criminal prosecution from three separate agencies over allegations they ran an illegal breeding operation from their Geelong home before selling the kittens, with fake documentation, across Melbourne. The pair appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court last week charged with a combined 36 offences including the sale of sick animals, some of which are alleged to have died within hours of being adopted. Both intend to defend all charges but were warned if found guilty they face potential jail time. One of the bits Kevin Tanner will miss most when he retires from Melbourne Zoo at the end of this month is the real estate. The zoo maintains a house on-site for its director to live in full-time. Set a short stroll past the elephant and gorilla enclosures, and right next to the gibbon house, it may just be Melbournes most exclusive and coveted dwelling. Seal of approval: Kevin Tanner will miss his neighbours when he steps down as director of Melbourne Zoo. Credit:Simon Schluter Mr Tanner likes to crack the window just before dusk to hear the elephants trumpet. Then, after the sun drops below the horizon, the lions roar. And in the morning, he wakes to the call of Tieu, the zoos gibbon. Melbournes Catholic Archbishop has acknowledged growing concerns that vulnerable women are being groomed by priests, declaring that any attempt to sexualise a pastoral relationship should be viewed as professional misconduct and an abuse of authority. In his strongest comments on the issue to date, Archbishop Peter Comensoli also warned priests they were expected to respect the dignity of those in their pastoral care at all times, and urged anyone with allegations to raise them with the Independent Commissioner of the archdiocese, Melbourne barrister Jeff Gleeson, QC. Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli. Credit:Eddie Jim The Archbishops comments come one year after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse handed down its final report, and as church leaders grapple with another frontier: sexual misconduct involving clerics and adults. As The Sunday Age investigation highlighted last week, research provided to the commission suggests that the rate of women who had been abused by priests could be up to four times higher than the number of children. After Friday's freak storm, the forecast for Saturday wasn't looking good either: more heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible flash flooding. And then the sun came out and the severe weather warnings evaporated. While the worst of the weather skirted the city on Saturday, and a severe thunderstorm warning for Melbourne was cancelled, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Tom Delamotte said there were severe thunderstorms in parts of Gippsland and western Victoria in the afternoon. A severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall was issued on Saturday night for parts of East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland. "For Melbourne, we still could see a shower or thunderstorm through the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening," he said. "For tomorrow [Sunday], there's going to be a slight risk of a shower or thunderstorm to start off the day, but we'll see that risk increase for the afternoon period. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he wondered whether Mr Morrison really knew what he was doing when he made his original announcement. Im tempted to think it was a sort of rookie mistake by an L-Plate prime minister, but it is a little more serious than that, Mr Shorten said. My fear is that Mr Morrison hasnt just had to do a political backdown, my fear is that he has made Australia look stupid on the international stage. Australian talks with Indonesia over a $16.5 billion trade deal have been stalled since the announcement because of concern at the surprise decision, made at a time when Palestinian officials were visiting Jakarta. In its statement, the Indonesian foreign ministry also reiterated that "Jerusalem is one of the six issues that must be negotiated and decided, as a final part of a comprehensive peace between Palestine and Israel, within the framework of a two-state solution". "Indonesia calls on Australia and all member states of the UN to promptly recognise the State of Palestine and to co-operate towards the attainment of sustainable peace, and agreement between the state of Palestine and Israel based on the principle of two-state solution." Australian officials will fear that domestic politics in Indonesia, both presidential and parliamentary elections due to be held in April 2019, could still derail the trade deal, which was not touched on in the statement. Some senior figures in the government of President Joko Widodo have expressed optimism that the free trade deal can still be signed by the end of the year, but that looks increasingly unlikely. And as the election gets closer, the possibility that the issue could be dragged into the domestic arena and see the deal delayed will increase. Dian Islamiati Fatwa, a member of the main opposition coalition led by Prabowo Subianto and a political candidate in the 2019 election, said many people would not understand the distinction the Morrison government was attempting to make between West Jerusalem and Jerusalem. She also called for the free trade deal between Australia to be put on ice. For many people, they wont understand the difference between West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem. For them recognising West Jerusalem will be recognising Jerusalem, she said. The question for Muslim people will be whether this is fair for Palestinians. When I heard the announcement I had to check three times exactly what it meant so for many people, who dont have good literacy, it will upset them. An already strong critic of the free trade deal, Ms Islamiati said following the announcement that the trade deal should be put on hold. If the Indonesians [are] hurt, they won't buy cattle, meat, wheat and services from Australia. Eventually it would hurt Australian people even worse, she said. Bernard Abdul Jabbar, the secretary-general of the influential Islamist 212 Alumni Brotherhood protest movement, said the announcement from Mr Morrison was a better one compared to his previous statement. Loading Ive read that the Saudi government and governments of some Middle Eastern states have threatened Australia if it moves its embassy to Jerusalem, he said. So maybe Australias statement today is in response to the economic threats [over trade] from the Saudi government and other states in Middle East? I find Australia's statement is sissy. Although I must say it is a better one compared to previous statement. At least it shows Australia did not recklessly make its decision. But why didnt Australia explicitly say it supports Palestinian independence, for instance? Asked if his group would begin protests outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, given it has not been involved in the small protests there so far, Mr Jabbar said: It is our duty to fight for the independence of Palestine until the last drop of blood. Mr Morrisons new position acknowledges Palestinian aspirations but does not recognise a Palestinian state or East Jerusalem as its capital. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network vice president Bassam Dally, a professor and a Palestinian Australian, said Mr Morrisons position was not balanced because it acknowledged aspirations rather than the right to statehood. What the average Australian will not see is that this is not a balanced policy, Professor Dally said. It acknowledges the Israeli rights over Jerusalem but only the aspirations of the Palestinians. With three big policy announcements, Prime Minister Scott Morrison should have seized control of the political agenda this week. Instead, the governments announcements on religious discrimination laws, underwriting new coal-fired power and a federal anti-corruption body - all in one day and well after Parliament has finished sitting for the year - made it look rushed and a little panicked, forced to dump their policies all at once. This effort to scrape off the barnacles, as John Howard apparently used to call it, before the election campaign starts has merely created more of a mess. The Morrison government is under pressure on almost every front and the Prime Minister appears to be holding the whole endeavour together with scotch tape, a string and a prayer. Internally, the coup to replace Malcolm Turnbull resolved precisely nothing and put the government into minority, and the threat of further defections to the crossbench (or to the Nationals) hangs over the governments head like the sword of Damocles. Externally, the voters applied maximum pressure by registering their displeasure at the ballot box in Victoria and Wentworth, while Labor and the crossbench proved so adept at applying pressure to the Coalitions weak spots in Parliament that the government scheduled the bare minimum of sitting days for 2019 it could get away with. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces anti-discrimination laws on Thursday alongside Attorney-General Christian Porter. Credit:AAP Theres no doubt minority government is harder than majority government, but its not impossible if you have the skills. Julia Gillard managed it effectively for three years, negotiating with the crossbench and minor parties to pass more legislation per day in office than any almost any other prime minister. But given Morrisons inability to resolve the Liberal partys internal divisions or confront its gender problem, it is not surprising he scheduled just 13 sitting days before the April budget and likely May election. All three policies announced this week - religious discrimination, underwriting new coal-fired power and a national anti-corruption commission - are basically landmines left over from previous battles between the moderates and the uber-conservatives within the Coalition. A Muslim woman is asked to remove her hijab in her workplace. A Christian employee is sacked for speaking against same-sex marriage on a Facebook page. A Pentecostal preacher recommends gay conversion therapy for the son of a congregant. An imam tells his followers the Koran preaches that Jews are treacherous. Which of these is discrimination, which is vilification, and in which should the government involve itself? Illustration: Andrew Dyson Credit: Thanks to Prime Minister Scott Morrisons exquisite timing, we are about to launch into a public debate about these kinds of questions, questions that are complex and socially sensitive, and uniquely unsuited to the fight-club atmosphere of an election campaign. The debate is being foisted on a nation exhausted by the division and ugliness of the same-sex marriage postal survey, and it will be led by a government that has shown itself incompetent at managing political responses to social change. PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of Rotary International's December theme, Disease Prevention, and Treatment, members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset gathered at the Sr. Basilia Center to entertain the residents on December 7, 2018. "This activity was especially designed to assist the residents with their daily treatment regimen. Music and interaction play a big part in most people's lives. It can be relaxing, spark euphoric feelings and increase quality of life. For people with disabilities, music and game interaction has several advantages and can help in the development of mental, physical and social abilities," President of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset, Jaida Nisbett stated. The night included games, karaoke, pizza, and drinks. The club would like to thank the Sr. Basilia Center and Events Coordinator Mieria Cortego for affording us the opportunity to fellowship and have a great time with the residents. There is a new event on the calendar for the security industry in 2019: The Security Event 2019, 9-11 April, at NEC, Birmingham. For additional details and a preview of the new trade show and conference, we spoke with Tristan Norman, Founding Partner and Event Director, The Security Event. Q: It seems recently that some trade shows have been on the decline in terms of exhibit size and attendance. Why does the physical security industry need another trade show? Norman: I think there are numerous factors that play into the decline of trade shows in general and not something that is limited to the security industry. Those events that are suffering are no longer serving their target market or have failed to adapt to the changes in the industry they serve. However, what we are seeing now is the rise of focused, more evolved trade events which fulfil a gap in the industry event calendar and provide something new and fresh to a disillusioned audience. Q: What will be unique about The Security Event, and what role will it serve in bringing together buyers and sellers in the market? Where (geographically) will attendees come from? What we are seeing is a rise of trade events which provide something fresh to a disillusioned audience Norman: The driving ethos behind The Security Event is that we are designed by the industry, for the industry. We were able to start with a blank canvas and take onboard all the feedback from stakeholders throughout the security buying chain and create an event that is sustainable and fit for purpose. We see the role of the event as a very important one to truly reconnect the currently fragmented UK commercial security industry, back at the NEC in Birmingham. We had originally anticipated that this would be an almost-exclusively UK event in year one. However, we have seen significant interest from potential visitors from across the wider EMEA region who are keen to do business in the UK. We formed a strategic alliance with Security Essen to help facilitate and strengthen our reach in these regions through additional marketing and PR activities. Consequently, early registrations indicate that it will be approximately an 80% UK and 20% international split. Q: What conference programming is being planned to augment the trade show event? Norman: Content will be delivered across three focused theatres, serving the needs of our audience throughout the buying chain. Emphasis will be placed on the latest technology innovations impacting the industry, practical advice on the most pressing issues facing security technicians, and important industry updates and insights. All sessions are focused on delivering tangible benefits to ensure professionals are equipped to stay relevant and to grow their business and were excited to be working with key industry bodies, innovators and experts to deliver the programme. We look forward to announcing those in coming weeks. Exhibitors want to re-engage with the thousands of industry colleagues who no longer attend other events on offer Q: Comparisons to IFSEC are inevitable. How will The Security Event be different than the IFSEC Security and Fire shows? What are the advantages of locating at Birmingham NEC? Norman: Both The Security Event and The Fire Safety Event, based at the NEC are completely different to any other trade show in the UK. We pride ourselves in creating a business platform that puts the exhibitors needs first, by limiting the size of stands and total number of exhibitors as well as creating a comprehensive CPD accredited educational programme for the visitors. Q: Which big industry players are supporting the launch of The Security Event, and what feedback are you hearing in terms of why they signed up at the show's inception? If a global manufacturer has a footprint in both the US and Europe, any tradeshow will be managed locally Norman: Our founding partners are Assa Abloy, Avigilon, Anixter, Comelit, Dahua, Honeywell, TDSi, Texecom, Tyco and Videcon. The full list of exhibitors and supporting partners can be found on our website. The reasons why they have signed up are very simple. They all see the exact same gap in the industry event landscape as we do. We believe there is a need for a 3-day channel focused commercial security exhibition based at The NEC in Birmingham. Our exhibitors want to re-engage with the thousands of industry colleagues who no longer attend the other events on offer. Q: Your 2019 show will be the same week as ISC West in Las Vegas. Do you think the competitive calendar will be a factor? Norman: In terms of our both our audience and our exhibiting base there is very little overlap with ISC West. Generally, if a global manufacturer has a footprint in both the US and Europe, any tradeshow will be managed locally so we havent observed any issues so far. We do acknowledge that having two shows at the same time globally isnt ideal and we have moved our dates in 2020 to the 28-30 April to mitigate this going forward. The Security Event 2020 will not clash with Las Vegas' ISC West 2020 as it will in 2019, says Norman Q: How will you measure success in the first year of the show? What measurements (show size, number of attendees, exhibitor feedback, etc.) will constitute a "successful" first year for the show?Security Event will continue to evolve year after year, but will intent to stay true to the event's original concept Norman: Great question the most important barometer of success for me and the team next April is the general industry reaction, after all, this show was created for them. Furthermore, it is vital to us that our exhibitors feel they have achieved their objectives for the show, whether it be quality, quantity of leads or raising awareness of a new product launch. Well also be keen to understand how satisfied visitors are with the event, including their views of the content, access to new products/services, effectiveness of the out of hours networking, etc. We are anticipating 6,000 visitors over the 3 days and I believe if we achieve this goal, we will have a strong rebooking on site, laying a great foundation for our 2020 event. Q: How would you expect/hope the show would continue to evolve in coming years? Norman: I hope over the next few years The Security Event cements itself as the industrys favourite trade show and that exhibitors and visitors alike look forward to every year for both the business opportunities at the event and the networking outside of it. The Security Event will continue to evolve year after year, but I am determined that we stay true to our original concept and the principles on which the show was founded. After all, it is this formula that has proved to be so popular to date. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close WASHINGTON A NASA spacecraft originally built as part of the previous effort to return humans to the moon is now playing a key role in the new effort at human lunar return, including aiding commercial landers. One element of the Vision for Space Exploration, announced by President George W. Bush in 2004, was a series of robotic missions to the moon intended to start no later than 2008. The first such mission was an orbiter to collect high-resolution imagery of the lunar surface and other data to assist planning for future robotic and lunar lander missions. That spacecraft, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), eventually launched in 2009, even as the Obama administration was revisiting those broader lunar exploration plans. While the Vision for Space Exploration's lunar plans were ultimately cancelled, NASA continued to operate LRO as a science mission. [The Most Marvelous Moon Missions of All Time] LRO remains operational today, and has about 20 kilograms of fuel left on board, Noah Petro, LRO project scientist, said at a meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Nov. 15. "That may not seem like a lot, but we don't go through much fuel on an annual basis," he said, primarily to manage the spacecraft's momentum and make minor orbit adjustments. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, has enough fuel to operate well into the 2020s and could support future lunar landings, including commercial missions. (Image credit: NASA) Petro said that LRO will receive funding in fiscal year 2019 from the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, where NASA will buy payload space on commercially developed landers. NASA announced Nov. 29 that it awarded contracts to nine companies working on such landers, although those companies will later have to compete for task orders to fly specific payloads, such as scientific instruments. NASA is offering LRO to assist those future commercial landers. "The LRO team is standing ready to help," said Barbara Cohen, LRO associate project scientist, at the Nov. 29 announcement. That can include identifying sites close to potential resources or have high scientific value while also being safe locations for spacecraft landings. That can include observations of the landing themselves. "We are working with some upcoming missions to try to pick landing dates that have favorable viewing geometries" that would allow LRO to observe the landings as they happen, she said. "We want to observe the plumes as the landers land and kick up dust and disturb the environment." LRO is also supporting other lunar missions outside of the CLPS program. At the LEAG meeting, John Keller, deputy project scientist for LRO, noted that the mission is helping international missions, including imaging sites for proposed future missions by Europe, India, Japan and Russia. This includes two upcoming missions scheduled to attempt lunar landings next year. Keller said LRO is studying options of observing the landing of SpaceIL's lander, developed by an Israeli team that competed in the now-defunct Google Lunar X Prize, and India's Chandrayaan-2 lander, both targeting landings between March and May 2019. For future commercial missions, Keller said that LRO planned to be "proactive" and reach out to the individual companies. "We will go out and say, 'Look, let us help you understand the LRO data set, how to use it and how it can it can help you be successful,'" he said. That could lead to discussions on how to further support those missions. Notably absent from the discussions regarding LRO support of lunar missions is China, which launched its latest lunar lander, Chang'e-4, Dec. 7. American officials, including NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and National Space Council Executive Secretary Scott Pace, have left open the possibility of exchanging lunar scientific data with China. That could include, Pace noted at an October event, exchanges of samples should China succeed with planned robotic lunar sample return missions. Pace, though, said there were challenges to such exchanges. He described discussions about efforts to use LRO to observe the impact of an unidentified Chinese spacecraft on the moon, including providing LRO orbital information to the Chinese in order to coordinate impact observations. That impact, though, ultimately occurred without any notification of time or location by the Chinese, "much to the irritation of the U.S. scientists who spent a lot of time on this," Pace said. "This is not the way to build trust." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. MOJAVE, Calif. With a first flight to the edge of space under the company's belt, Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson believes commercial flights of SpaceShipTwo could begin some time next year. An exuberant Branson took the stage at the Mojave Air and Space Port here to congratulate the company and its employees for a successful test flight Dec. 13 of the SpaceShipTwo vehicle named VSS Unity, which reached a peak altitude of 82.7 kilometers. The flight was the first by the vehicle to cross the boundary of 50 miles, or approximately 80 kilometers, that U.S. government agencies use to award astronaut wings. "How on Earth do I describe the feeling?" he said on stage, referring to his emotions from watching the successful test flight. "Joy? Definitely. Relief? Emphatically. Exhiliaration? Absolutely." [In Photos: Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity Soars to Space in Test] Offstage, a more subdued Branson, huddling with a group of reporters, said he shed "tears of relief" after the successful flight. "When you are in the test flight program of a space company, you can never be completely, 100 percent sure, because that's what a test flight program is," he said. "The spaceship was tested to its limits today and she performed just as we wished and we just couldn't be happier." This flight does not mark the end of the test flight program for SpaceShipTwo. "We will now push on with the remaining portion of our flight test program, which will see the rocket motor burn for longer, and VSS Unity fly still faster and higher," he said onstage. On the Dec. 13 test flight, SpaceShipTwo's hybrid rocket motor burned for 60 seconds, several seconds longer than the high end of estimates of the burn time company officials gave at a briefing the day before. George Whitesides, chief executive of Virgin Galactic, said after this flight that a full-duration burn would last approximately five seconds longer. Branson was optimistic that the next test flight could take place in the near future after a review of data from this flight. "If nothing shows up that needs to be changed, then the next test flight could be quite soon," he told reporters, suggesting that could happen in roughly a month. He also stated that, if all goes well, only a few more test flights would be needed before Virgin Galactic would be ready to shift operations to Spaceport America in New Mexico, where the company plans to perform commercial flights. "Ideally, we want to do three more flights before we go to New Mexico." Whitesides said upcoming test flights would include flying company employees in the vehicle along with pilots in order to test operational procedures for future flights that will carry spaceflight participants. "Once we've gotten through that, we could start thinking about doing commercial flights," he said, not giving a specific number of test flights planned beyond "not a huge number." Branson confirmed that he still planned to be on the first commercial flight of SpaceShipTwo from Spaceport America. "Sometime next year, once the testing is finished, then I'll do my flight," he said. Richard Branson told reporters after the SpaceShipTwo test that commercial flights from Spaceport America could start in 2019 after as few as three more test flights. (Image credit: Jeff Foust/SpaceNews) The company plans to grow the fleet of vehicles supporting commercial operations. Besides VSS Unity, two more SpaceShipTwo vehicles are currently under construction, with the first of them expected to be completed in about a year. Branson said the company would "soon" start building two more SpaceShipTwo vehicles as well as a second WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. Virgin Galactic has about 700 customers who have either paid the full price of a ticket or a deposit. "We stopped for the last four years taking new reservations," he said, but will start taking reservations again soon. Those new customers might be paying more than the $250,000 price previously offered by the company. "What will happen in the short term is that the price will go up a bit," he said. "And then, in the next most likely three years, it will start coming down." He didn't specify the size of the increase or by how much the price would later decrease. "Space is not cheap," he said. "I've personally invested about a billion dollars into this project." He said that the total investment was about $1.3 to 1.5 billion, a total Whitesides said later included not just Virgin Galactic but also spacecraft manufacturer The Spaceship Company and small launch vehicle firm Virgin Orbit. Branson suggested that he may be looking for additional investors into the company. Virgin Group announced an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia in October 2017 that would have resulted in a $1 billion investment in Virgin's space companies. However, Branson said in October that he had terminated the deal in reaction to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi government. "We said no to the Saudi money because of the Khashoggi incident," he said. "By being successful today, I suspect we'll bring in other investors to help us take it on to the next stage." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. STAMFORD The apparent suicides of two men last week were tragic evidence of a reality some might find shocking: Middle-aged men are at far more at risk of suicide in Connecticut than women or men of other ages. Stamford police on Friday identified the man who shot himself in a parking lot on Harvard Avenue sometime Wednesday morning as 49-year-old Steven Fockens of Greenwich. Police have not yet released the name of the 50-year-old man who they said ran onto the tracks and was struck and killed by a Metro-North train in Darien Thursday night. Circumstances of their lives surely differed, but each of those lives appear to have ended as part of a grim trend dating back at least 25 years: Men in the state kill themselves at an alarming rate. Last year, it was close to one per day. In 2017, 304 men killed themselves, to 98 women, according to statistics from the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Last year, 72 men between the ages of 50 and 59 killed themselves the most of any age range. That was followed by the 45 men between ages 40 and 49 who killed themselves, the medical examiners statistics show. Unfortunately, during the holiday season, historically we have seen an increase of suicides and suicide attempts, Stamford police Capt. Richard Conklin said. Anyone having suicidal thoughts should call a hotline or find someone to talk to even if that means a police officer, who will help, he said. Any loved ones, associates, fellow workers hearing about someone going through tough times should not disregard this, Conklin said. Give us a call and we can interact with this person and hopefully get them the help they need. Andrew Gerber, president and medical director at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, said the holidays can stir up a lot of negative feelings for a lot of people. During the holidays, people can be exposed to family members who bring back painful experiences, he added. As a professional, its not unusual for patients that Im dealing with to speak about who they are going to see, Gerber said. In an extreme version, that can lead to suicidal situations. Though Gerber said he isnt aware of a percentage increase of suicides during the holidays, the winter season itself can also contribute to depression. Its been long known as the days get shorter and theres less light, certain people are affected by the amount of light available, Gerber said. Regardless of the cause, those suffering from negative emotions need to deal with them like any other physical ailment. Its very valuable to work with professionals to anticipate any situation, Gerber said. Then you can plan in advance how to deal with it. For those struggling with mental health issues or contemplating suicide, there are resources that can offer support. Young people in distress can call Mobile Crisis Intervention Services at 211 or 800-203-1234. Anyone can phone the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. If someone prefers written communication, Lifeline Crisis Chat is available 24/7 at chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx . jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com STAMFORD The district thought it had a solution for teachers who had doctors notes preventing them from returning to their mold-infested classrooms: have them work on lesson planning out of the central office. That plan backfired when mold was found there, too. According to Diane Phanos, president of the Stamford teachers union, about nine teachers who filed workers compensation claims due to mold-related symptoms were instructed to work out of the Government Center when they presented doctors notes saying they couldnt work in their classrooms where mold was found. But not even the new building was safe Phanos said teachers reported visible mold in the third-floor room where they were placed, as well as in the hallway and bathroom. We were shocked by that, Phanos said. We thought they were being put into a safe environment. When I got a call saying, Yes, were down at Government Center, but were noticing unhealthy conditions here, that is of major concern to me. Sharon Beadle, a spokeswoman for Stamford Public Schools, said having teachers work out of the Government Center allowed them to access computers to do their lesson planning for the substitutes in their classrooms while adhering to the conditions set in their doctors notes. While some teachers have been moved within the school, others, she said, are more reluctant to be near the mold. We were trying to make accommodations for employees to be able to work off-site given their current situation, she said. We tried to make accommodations in central office. Apparently something triggered their symptoms. Beadle said city officials have been contacted and are looking into whether there is mold in the central office. RELATED: What we know about the mold problem in Stamford schools Phanos said the majority of teachers working out of the central office were from Westhill. She encouraged them to file new workers compensations claims, which they did. A portion of the group is now unable to work out of the Government Center and is out until their home classrooms are remediated or theyre given another mold-free workspace. As of Thursday, the district said about 120 workers compensation claims had been filed due to reactions to mold in the schools. At least 26 staff members have needed time off because of the claims. I certainly, on behalf of the board, do want to ensure the environment teachers and students essentially live in is safe and conducive to teaching and learning, said Superintendent Earl Kim. So for those teachers who are ill, our hearts go out to them. Parents have complained about a lack of instruction for their children due to the number of subs filling in for sick teachers; and Stephen Falcone, director of human resources, has admitted the district has a sub shortage. At a meeting of the city Mold Task Force on Wednesday, Deputy Superintendent Tamu Lucero said the district is looking for certified substitutes to hire as soon as possible, at a higher rate than the replacement teachers currently make. Right now, the city pays subs $90 a day. Lucero also said schools might offer tutoring for Advanced Placement exams as soon as January to help students with absent AP teachers catch up on course material. We have cleared a number of spaces at Westhill of teachers who are out, said Kim of the classroom remediation being done at the high school. We hope they choose to return to those spaces as soon as they can to better serve the students who are hungering for instruction, but in the absence of that were looking for the best subs we can to provide instruction for them. But despite the city Mold Task Force working to clean vents, diffusers and ceiling tiles impacted by mold, Phanos said many teachers who have gone back to their remediated rooms at Westhill are still suffering symptoms. I got a concern from a teacher who had to cover a class in one of rooms thatd been cleaned, she said. She was not a workers comp person and she experienced symptoms in a class thats supposedly been cleaned. Realistically, theyre not totally cleaning these classrooms. They have to deal with that HVAC system. They have to deal with duct work. Were concerned about type of cleaning being done. Its more basic than the extensive cleaning that shouldve been done. According to the Mold Task Forces website, theyre in the first phase of their work at Westhill during which theyll be removing all evidence of mold growth. Twenty-four rooms have already been cleaned, including their diffusers and ceiling tiles. The next move will be to address air quality throughout the building and repairing and maintaining the HVAC system in the meantime. On Friday, the Mold Task Force said teachers whose classrooms have been cleaned or remediated have been contacted by the districts human resources department to return to work. The complaints out of Westhill are the latest chapter in a mold saga that began in late September when the Board of Education first addressed the fact that mold had been found in half of the citys school buildings. After parents and staff complained about the effects of the mold, the district began to investigate, and shut down Westover Magnet Elementary School and the modular classrooms at Newfield Elementary School. The city also formed the task force to focus on remediation efforts in all schools. The district has already spent $612,000 on remediation, as per its first quarter financial reports, as well as $850,592 of its $1.7 million custodial overtime budget due in part to mold remediation. Westover students have moved to an office building on Elmcroft Road thats costing $1.8 million to lease and an additional million to outfit. Kim said hes already alerted the Board of Finance to the budget challenges posed by mold this year. All mold-related expenses after Oct. 29 will be accounted for separately from the school board budget and be taken from a city reserve account. The districts director of finance, Hugh Murphy, said the cost of this years worker compensation claims will be part of next years budget. This year the city budgeted $1.7 million for workers compensation claims. erin.kayata@stamfordadvocate.com; (203) 964-2265; @erin_kayata M Ps across the political divide should attempt to build a Brexit consensus, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said as she warned Britain's departure from the EU is "in danger of getting stuck". Amber Rudd said it is possible Theresa May will ultimately be unable to persuade enough of her own MPs to back her deal, suggesting it is time to "abandon outrage and accusations" and "try something different". Ms Rudd said a "practical, sensible and healing approach" was needed for MPs to coalesce around a deal to avert the danger of Britain crashing out of the EU. It comes as five Cabinet ministers are understood to be considering a second referendum if MPs cannot agree a deal in the next month. Theresa May arrives at a European Union leaders summit in Brussels on Friday / REUTERS Ms Rudd, Philip Hammond, David Gauke, Greg Clarke, and David Lidington have all stepped up discussions over whether to back the poll following Mrs May's narrow victory in the confidence vote earlier this week, the Times reported. Taking a stand: Amber Rudd is the latest MP to favour a Norway-like arrangement (Reuters ) / Reuters The Work and Pensions Secretary is the most senior Conservative so far to suggest support may need to be won from outside the Tory-DUP alliance in order to get a deal over the line in the Commons. Former chancellor Ken Clarke has urged Mrs May to reach out to Labour MPs to try to find common ground to move forward, while former education secretary Nicky Morgan said "proper discussions" were needed to secure cross-party support. After calling off a vote in the face of defeat earlier this week, Mrs May's hopes for a last-minute alteration to the Withdrawal Agreement, the Brexit legal text, appeared to be dashed on Friday when EU leaders said negotiations could not be reopened. The PM said talks will continue in the coming days on "how to obtain the further assurances that the UK Parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal". President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of Austria / Getty Images, The impasse centres around the provisions for a backstop to customs arrangements for the Irish border, which are unacceptable to hardline Brexiteers and Mrs May's DUP allies. Writing in the Daily Mail, Ms Rudd warned that the country will face "serious trouble" if MPs "dig in against the Prime Minister's deal and then hunker down in their different corners". The Remain supporter, who has previously spoken of the merits of a Norway-style model as a "Plan B", said she still supported the PM's deal because it can deliver Brexit and "allow us to move forward" - but conceded some of her colleagues may remain opposed to it. She wrote: "We need to try something different. Something that people do in the real world all the time, but which seems so alien in our political culture - to engage with others and be willing to forge a consensus. "That requires politicians to be more prepared to work with anyone who - like me - is willing to accept you can't always get what you want. "It means taking a more practical, sensible and healing approach." Amber Rudd / AFP/Getty Images Calling for a "safe environment" for debate to be created in Parliament, Ms Rudd appeared to back calls for a series of votes, advocated by former prime minister Tony Blair among others, to eliminate options and arrive at a "workable and possible" deal. The former home secretary said that, while her suggestion could see her accused of "treachery", her fellow MPs should ignore "siren voices calling us to the rocks of no deal". The PM cancelled a Commons vote on her Brexit deal after she admitted it faced a "significant" defeat, but was told by the EU on Friday that the legal text of the deal could not be changed. Nick Boles, a former Tory skills minister, said Mrs May needed "to stop thinking of herself as a Prime Minister at the head of a single party government and more like a US president trying to build a congressional coalition for a major legislative reform". Ms Morgan told The Independent that "the only way the prime minister gets any kind of deal through is with cross-party support and proper discussions to secure that now need to start". George Freeman, a former head of policy for Mrs May, tweeted that the PM should "pivot to a cross-party Brexit Plan B". F oreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said Theresa Mays withdrawal agreement could get through the Commons if the European Union showed more flexibility on the backstop. The backstop proposals, aimed at preventing a return to a hard border in Ireland, would see the UK obey EU customs rules if a wider trade deal had not been agreed with Brussels by the end of a transition period. Mr Hunt told the BBC on Saturday: "The thing that the House of Commons will not accept is any risk of us being permanently trapped through the Northern Irish backstop in the customs union. "I think it is possible to get this deal through with those guarantees that we need on the backstop." "I think it is possible to get this deal through with those guarantees that we need on the backstop' / AFP/Getty Images He added: "The reason I think, in the end, the EU will want to help us as far as they possibly can is because it is not in their interest to provoke a further political crisis in the UK. "Because, although some people in the EU may say that Parliament would stop a no-deal scenario, they can't be sure of that." Theresa May arrives at a European Union leaders summit in Brussels on Friday / REUTERS She said it is possible Mrs May will ultimately be unable to persuade enough of her own MPs to back the Government's deal and said it is time to "abandon outrage and accusations" and "try something different". Ms Rudd suggested a "practical, sensible and healing approach" was needed for MPs to coalesce around a deal to avert the danger of Britain crashing out of the EU. Amber Rudd: 'A lot of people have a perfect vision of what they think Brexit should look like, and that 'perfect' is not available' / Toby Melville/Reuters Responding to the remarks, Mr Hunt said: "Amber is absolutely right that we need all MPs to think about the national interest. But, I think we also have to be cautious about the idea that we are going to get large amounts of support from the Labour Party." Mr Hunts comments come as former minister Jo Johnson urged the Prime Minister not to run down the clock on giving MPs a proper say on the Brexit deal. He urged Mrs May to let the Commons vote on the deal next week as he expressed concern about the way Downing Street is treating Parliament. Mr Johnson, who resigned as transport minister in protest at Mrs May's EU withdrawal agenda, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The time has come for us to hold this vote. I am concerned that Number 10 is running down the clock. "Number 10 could try to leave that vote until the very last minute. Effectively, giving the country, giving Parliament no choice at all, except between her deal, flawed as it is - and facing fundamental opposition across all sides of the House - and no deal at all. "And that's an unacceptable choice for Parliament. We need to get on with it. And the first step is to eliminate her deal from the table. It's simply unacceptable to run out the clock and face the country with the prospect of being timed-out." Former minister Jo Johnson / Getty Images A combative EU summit yesterday left Mrs May insisting she was still on track to win assurances on the controversial Irish backstop proposals. Putting a positive gloss on the bruising EU summit, the Prime Minister said further talks would take place in the coming days on measures she hopes will persuade MPs to back the Brexit agreement in Parliament. EU leaders acknowledged the need to "bring down the temperature" after appearing to rebuff her calls for assurances on the Northern Ireland backstop. EU tensions erupted into public view when a visibly angry Mrs May was seen berating European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker over remarks he had made during the press conference in the early hours of Friday. The Prime Minister was apparently infuriated after he described the British negotiating position as "nebulous and imprecise", and called on the Government to spell out exactly what it wanted from the talks. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage said he believes the UK may face a second referendum in the coming months and urged Brexit campaigners to "get ready for every situation". T he Duchess of Sussex's estranged half-sister has slammed Meghan and Harry's Christmas card, suggesting that the new Royal has "turned her back on her family". Samantha Markle hit out at Meghan and Prince Harry's festive card, which shows the couple with their backs to the camera as they watched fireworks at Frogmore House on their wedding night. However, Ms Markle was less than impressed with the image choice, taking to Twitter to claim it shows Meghan has turned her back on her family. She wrote: Interesting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have their backs turned. Is this towards the world or just the Ragland and Markle family? Its a bit sad. Face the Christmas spirit. Samantha Markle has slammed her sister's picture choice for her Christmas card / Twitter In another tweet on Friday evening, Ms Markle continued: Its incredibly rude to turn your back in a Christmas photo that is meant to share warmth and good wishes to the world. Those that criticise me for pointing out the truth need to get that brown stuff off their noses. Ms Markle called the Christmas picture choice "incredibly rude" / Twitter Harry and Meghan shared the photograph on social media this week, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a family photograph with George, Charlotte and Louis. Ms Markle has been outspoken on her opinions towards her sister in the past and stated that she could do more to help their father, who did not attend the royal wedding in May due to his health. Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George, right, Princess Charlotte, centre, and Prince Louis / Matt Porteous/Kensington Palace via AP The outspoken sibling has previously insulted Meghan on Twitter, once branding the Duchess of Sussex as Cruella de Vil", "Duch-ass" and the "Duchess of Nonsense". Writing on Twitter in September, she said: I am not candy coating anything anymore! The DUCHASS should be human to our father who has given her everything He was the one who was always there for her. Fake waves and smiles can stop. The duchASS can bow to the daddy. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also released their Christmas card on Friday, opting for an autumnal photo with their three children on a tree trunk. With smiles all round, the Duchess of Cambridge cradles baby Louis - who is now almost eight months old - as she rests against a tree trunk in woodland at their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk with the Duke of Cambridge. A ll evacuation orders have been lifted in Paradise, more than a month after a wildfire devastated the entire town. At least 86 people died and more than 14,000 homes were destroyed in the northern California town. It will be the first time many residents will see their properties since the fire broke out on November 8. The Butte County health officer issued an advisory strongly urging people not to live on destroyed property until it is declared clear of hazardous waste, ash and debris. A helicopter makes a water drop as the Woolsey Fire burns in Malibu, California / REUTERS The county is providing masks, gloves and protective suits to reduce exposure to toxic materials. California wildfires 1 /8 California wildfires A fire fighting aircraft releases water as firefighters battle the thousand-acre plus 'Fish' wildland fire that erupted near the Angeles National Forest, Duarte, Califonia EPA Smoke from wildfires burning in Angeles National Forest fills the sky behind the Los Angeles skyline Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Jimmy Romo, 73, leads the horses leaving his ranch as a wildfire is burning in Azusa, Calif., Monday, June 20, 2016. New wildfires erupted Monday near Los Angeles and chased people from their suburban homes as an intense heatwave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico blistered the region Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP A television cameraman shoots a thermometer sign which reads 126 degrees in Palm Springs, California Sam Mircovich/Reuters A wildfire burns around homes built near a hilltop in Azusa, California Nick Ut/AP A water bomber makes a drop on a wildfire as it attacks the flames near Campo, California Mike Blake/Reuters A column of smoke is seen rising, viewed through a windshield, from one of two wildfires in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa, California Gene Blevins/Reuters Flames flare up from a wildfire behind a house along a hillside in Duarte, California Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Authorities also warned of an increased risk of flash flooding in the burn areas. Just a day after the fire began, the blaze grew to nearly 140 square miles with firefighters struggling to contain it. Home owner Will Buckley uses a shovel with dirt to try to stop the flames from from destroying a neighbor's home during the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California / REUTERS For the first few days, fire crews were forced to stop trying to tackle the flames and instead help get people out. People reported seeing much of the community go up in flames, including homes, supermarkets, businesses, restaurants, schools and a retirement centre. A satelite image of the Camp Fire in Magalia, Paradise / REUTERS Rural areas fared little better. Many homes have propane tanks that were exploding amid the flames. Animals rescued from California wildfires 1 /23 Animals rescued from California wildfires Horses stand in their coral as smoke from the Camp Fire looms over head as it burns out of control through Paradise, fueled by high winds in Butte County EPA A Butte County Sheriff Search and Rescue crew add a goat with other abandoned animals that are being temporally held as the Camp Fire continues to burn through the region, fueled by high winds in Butte County, California EPA Butte County Sheriff Search and Rescue crews guide an abandon goat to a corral EPA A Butte County Sheriff Search and Rescue crew prepare to corral a goat with other abandoned animals EPA Nikki Borgoin chats with Richard Doynk who also had his horse temporally penned with her horse Josie at the Butte County Fair Grounds where evacuees and there animals at house EPA Hillary Johnson who had lost her home and trekked 4 miles to safety, to then have to leave her horse Augie in a shopping center parking lot, due to the lack of transportation, is reunited with him after law enforcement offices who commandeered a trailer to rescue him from the impending flame of the Camp Fire EPA Horses are spooked as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch Getty Horses are spooked as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch Getty California Highway Patrol officers attempt to transfer a potbelly pig EPA South Pasadena Fire Department engine fights the Woolsey Fire as it moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch Getty Nikki Borgoin leads her horse Josie out for a walk from temporary pen at the Butte County Fair Grounds where evacuees and there animals are housed EPA Members of the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team, Ashley Nola (left) and Catherine McFarren (right), tend to burns on a dog that was brought in to the Butte County Fair Grounds where large animals are being sheltered during the Camp Fire EPA Members of the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team, Ashley Nola (left) and Catherine McFarren (right), tend to burns on a dog that was brought in to the Butte County Fair Grounds where large animals are being sheltered EPA Smoke from the wildires fills the air in Malibu, Calif AP A donkey is seen tied to a road sign during the Camp Fire near Big Bend Reuters Horses are spooked as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch Getty Images Horses are spooked as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch Smoke rises from the wildires fills the air in Malibu AP Smoke rises from the wildires fills the air in Malibu AP California Highway Patrol officers attempt to transfer a potbelly pig EPA Horses are spooked as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch Getty The Woolsey Fire burns towards Paramount Ranch Getty Firefighters from various departments work to protect structures as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road Getty All evacuees had harrowing tales of a slow-motion escape from a fire so close that they could feel the heat inside their vehicles as they sat in a terrifying traffic jam. Fire surrounded the evacuation route, and drivers panicked. Some crashed and others left their vehicles by the roadside. The burned remains of the Paradise Elementary school / AP "It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us," police officer Mark Bass said. T wenty-eight people were injured when a tram in Lisbon derailed and flipped over, according to reports. Officials in Portugal said the tram went off the rails on a bend at the bottom of a steep hill at around 6pm on Friday. It struck a building and fell on its side, initially trapping about a dozen people in the wreckage and injuring others on the sidewalk. Nobody was badly hurt. It was initially reported that two British children were among those injured, but it is believed no one from the UK was involved, according to the BBC. Emergency service personnel work at the scene of a tram accident / AP Passers by rescued a baby and child from the wreckage of the vehicle, Publico reported. Authorities gave no further details about the incident. Electric trams are a common mode of transport in Lisbon. P rotesters across France ignored pleas from the French government to keep off the streets following the Strasbourg terror attack. According to official figures, around 66,000 demonstrators took to the streets across the country as part of the yellow vest movement. Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told CNews television: "It would be better if everyone could go about their business calmly on Saturday, before the year-end celebrations with their families, instead of demonstrating and putting our security forces to work again." Protesters gather at Place de l'Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration / Getty Images Earlier on Saturday, a man was killed after he crashed his car into a truck at a protesters roadblock on the Franco-Belgian border. In the capital, police fired water cannons and tear gas in the afternoon to disperse protesters. Images from the scene show people in yellow vests attempting to break through police lines, near the citys Champs-Elysees Avenue. Paris 'Yellow Vest' protest - In pictures 1 /38 Paris 'Yellow Vest' protest - In pictures Protesters clash with police forces AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Clash with French riot police during a demonstration Getty Images Cardboard reading a play on word with "Banker and Gangster" AFP/Getty Images Police use tear gas on protesters Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters clash with police forces AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images A protester wearing a yellow vest argues with a French riot policeman AFP/Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt EPA A protester wearing a yellow vest moves a burning facsimile voter registration card REUTERS Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images A protester wearing a yellow vest waves the French national flag AFP/Getty Images French flag with the writing "RIP RIC AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators gather during a protest outside the Opera house AP A protester wearing a yellow vest AFP/Getty Images Protesters wearing yellow vests Getty Images A yellow vest demonstrator poses with an effigy of French President AFP/Getty Images Riot police officers secure a street during a yellow vests protest AP Protesters hold a sign reading "France is not for sale" AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images The protesters gathered in Paris for a 5th weekend Getty Images A protesters dressed as Santa Claus and wearing a yellow vest AFP/Getty Images Protesters hold signs calling for an end to Macron's Presidency Getty Images Protesters wearing Yellow Vests demonstrate against rising costs of living AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather in front of mounted police officers at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather in front of Place de l Opera Getty Images There were stand offs at Opera, where some demonstrators had gathered to voice their grievances. Some shops in the city closed for the day following the recent violence. However Galleries Lafayette remained open. Loic Bollay, 44, marching on the Champs-Elysees in a yellow vest, said the protests were more subdued but the movement would go on until the demonstrators' grievances were addressed. Protesters clash with police forces during a yellow vest demonstration in Paris / AFP/Getty Images "Since the Strasbourg attack, it is calmer, but I think next Saturday and the following Saturdays...it will come back." While there were reports of clashes between police and demonstrators in Nantes, Bordeaux and Toulouse. Paris protests: Police and civilians clash for fifth straight weekend The French Interior Minister said around 69,000 police were active on Saturday with a reinforced presence in Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. The "yellow vest" movement, which takes its name from the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must all have in their vehicles, emerged in mid-November as a protest against fuel tax increases. A protester wearing a yellow vest holds a cardboard reading a play on word with "Banker and Gangster" / AFP/Getty Images It soon morphed into an expression of rage about the high cost of living in France and a sense that President Emanuel Macron's government is detached from the everyday struggles of workers. U S Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is set to leave his role at the end of the year, according to president Donald Trump. Mr Trump tweeted that Mr Zinke accomplished much during his tenure and that a replacement would be announced next week. The cabinet post requires Senate confirmation. Mr Zinke is currently facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity and conflicts of interest. The former Republican congressman from Montana, is leaving weeks before Democrats take control of the House, a shift in power that promised to intensify probes into his conduct. US President Donald J. Trump (R) delivers a speech as Ryan Zinke (L) looks on / EPA Mr Zinke played a leading part in President Trump's efforts to roll back environmental regulations and promote domestic energy development. His departure comes amid a staff shake-up as President Trump heads into his third year in office. The president on Friday named budget director Mick Mulvaney as chief of staff. P rotesters and police clashed near the Champs-Elysees in Paris today during the fifth weekend of protests in a row by the "yellow vest" movement. It came as thousands descended on the streets of French cities in protest against Emmanuel Macron's government. Riot police fired small amounts of tear gas to disperse groups of protesters who headed down the side streets off the French capital's famed boulevard, some with traffic still flowing. About 8,000 police and 14 armoured vehicles were deployed in Paris for the demonstration, after similar protests in recent weekends turned violent, with protesters smashing and looting stores and setting up burning barricades in the streets. Some shops in the city have closed for the day following the recent violence. A French police officer holds a non-lethal hand-held weapon (LBD40) during a demonstration on Saturday / AFP/Getty Images Saturday's protest was far calmer in the morning, with riot police blocking off groups of protesters who attempted to disperse in side streets. At least 21 people were detained in Paris before the protests began, police said. A protester faces off with riot police / REUTERS Some protesters voiced anger at being restricted to a few blocks by police. "We're surrounded by CRS," said protester Lionel Toussaint, 53, who works in the heritage industry, referring to riot police. "I'm not armed. I only have Kleenex." Protesters march during the demonstration / AFP/Getty Images The "yellow vest" movement, which takes its name from the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must all have in their vehicles, emerged in mid-November as a protest against fuel tax increases. It soon morphed into an expression of rage about the high cost of living in France and a sense that President Emanuel Macron's government is detached from the everyday struggles of workers. Without any clear form or leadership, the movement has attracted a wide range of disgruntled people across the political spectrum, including some violent militants. "Respect my existence or expect my resistance," read one banner held aloft by protesters who converged on the Champs-Elysees. Yellow Vests blockade of oil depot - In pictures 1 /8 Yellow Vests blockade of oil depot - In pictures Yellow vests protestors (gilets jaunes) gestures and the barricades burn, after the announcement of imminent police intervention, as they block the access to the oil depot, on December 11, 2018, in Le Mans, northwestern France. AFP/Getty Images Yellow vests protestors (gilets jaunes) gather next to a banner reading "stop to the government's extorsion" as they block the access to the oil depot, on December 11, 2018, in Le Mans, northwestern France. AFP/Getty Images Yellow vests protestors (gilets jaunes) ignite barricades, after the police announced they will intervene, as they block the access to the oil depot, on December 11, 2018, in Le Mans, northwestern France. AFP/Getty Images ellow vests protestors (gilets jaunes) are burning tires next to a placard reading "Macron gives the ISF back" and burning barricades, after the announcement of imminent police intervention, as they block the access to the oil depot, AFP/Getty Images A yellow vests protestor (gilets jaunes) watches as the barricades burn, after the announcement of imminent police intervention, as they block the access to the oil depot, on December 11, 2018, in Le Mans, northwestern France. AFP/Getty Images Yellow vests protestors (gilets jaunes) are burning tires and barricades next to a placard reading "Macron gives the ISF back" , after the announcement of imminent police intervention, as they block the access to the oil depot, on December 11, 2018, in Le Mans, northwestern France. AFP/Getty Images Yellow vests protestors (gilets jaunes) walk next to a wall reading "Macron resign" with burning barricades in the background, after the announcement of imminent police intervention, as they block the access to the oil depot, on December 11, 2018, in Le Mans, northwestern France. AFP/Getty Images A man wearing a yellow vest waves a French flag in front of burning tyres at a road blockade during a protest against the rise in the price of oil and the cost of living, on December 11, 2018, in Aimargues, near Montpellier, southern France. AFP/Getty Images Pierre Lamy, a 27-year-old industrial worker wearing a yellow vest and with a French flag draped over his shoulders, said the protests had long stopped being about the fuel tax and had turned into a movement for economic justice. "We're here to represent all our friends and members of our family who can't come to protest, or because they're scared," he said as he walked to the demonstration with three friends. "Everything's coming up now. We're being bled dry." "Yellow vest" protests were also being held in other parts of France, with no violent incidents reported by midday. On Friday, Macron called for calm during the demonstrations, and the French government reiterated the call online for demonstrators to remain peaceful. "Protesting is a right. So let's know how to exercise it," the government tweeted from its official account, with a 34-second video which begins with images of historic French protests and recent footage of "yellow vest" protesters rallying peacefully before turning to violence. "Protesting is not smashing. Protesting is not smashing our heritage. Protesting is not smashing our businesses. ... Protesting is not smashing our republic," the video says. Macron acknowledged in a speech earlier this week that he is partially responsible for the anger displayed during the protests, and has announced measures aimed at improving workers' spending power. A seventh person has died during a wave of so-called "yellow vest" demonstrations against Emmanuel Macron's government in France, Belgian police said. A man was killed after he crashed his car into a truck at a protesters' roadblock on the Franco-Belgian border, authorities said on Saturday. The accident brings to seven the number of protest-related deaths since the demonstrations began sweeping France more than a month ago. It comes as violence erupted in Paris today as thousands took to the streets of France for the fifth weekend in a row. Paris 'Yellow Vest' protest - In pictures 1 /38 Paris 'Yellow Vest' protest - In pictures Protesters clash with police forces AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Clash with French riot police during a demonstration Getty Images Cardboard reading a play on word with "Banker and Gangster" AFP/Getty Images Police use tear gas on protesters Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters clash with police forces AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images A protester wearing a yellow vest argues with a French riot policeman AFP/Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt EPA A protester wearing a yellow vest moves a burning facsimile voter registration card REUTERS Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images A protester wearing a yellow vest waves the French national flag AFP/Getty Images French flag with the writing "RIP RIC AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators gather during a protest outside the Opera house AP A protester wearing a yellow vest AFP/Getty Images Protesters wearing yellow vests Getty Images A yellow vest demonstrator poses with an effigy of French President AFP/Getty Images Riot police officers secure a street during a yellow vests protest AP Protesters hold a sign reading "France is not for sale" AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt Getty Images Clashes between protesters and French riot police erupt Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera during the 'yellow vests' demonstration Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather at Place de l Opera Getty Images The protesters gathered in Paris for a 5th weekend Getty Images A protesters dressed as Santa Claus and wearing a yellow vest AFP/Getty Images Protesters hold signs calling for an end to Macron's Presidency Getty Images Protesters wearing Yellow Vests demonstrate against rising costs of living AFP/Getty Images Protesters gather in front of mounted police officers at Place de l Opera Getty Images Protesters gather in front of Place de l Opera Getty Images Riot police fired tear gas to disperse groups of protesters near the Champs-Elysees. Protesters end up in a stand off with police / Getty Images Some 85 people were detained and at least 46 were taken into custody following the clashes. Demonstrators tried to break through police lines / EPA Jonathan Pfund, a press officer at Belgium's Federal Police, said the driver was killed after colliding with a truck that had been stalled at the roadblock. Mr Pfund did not give a precise age for the man but said he was born in 1969, making him either 48 or 49. Thousands descended on the streets of France / AP In the French capital on Saturday, police said more than 80 people were detained on the fifth straight weekend of protests by the yellow vests movement, which is protesting the high cost of living. Clashes broke out between protesters and police on the sidelines of demonstrations near the city's Champs-Elysees Avenue. Groups of yellow vests were attempting to break through police lines. Police fired tear gas at protesters / Getty Images There were stand offs at Opera, where some demonstrators had gathered to voice their grievances. And French police unleashed repeated discharges of tear gas along Paris' premier shopping street, the Champs-Elysees, although the back-and-forth fell short of previous violence that had scarred the avenue with broken windows and looted stores. About 8,000 police and 14 armoured vehicles were deployed in Paris for the demonstration, after similar protests in recent weekends turned violent. Some shops in the city closed for the day following the recent violence. Demonstrators gathered in central Paris / Getty Images Saturday's protest was far calmer in the morning, with riot police blocking off groups of protesters who attempted to disperse in side streets. At least 21 people were detained in Paris before the protests began, police said. Some protesters earlier voiced anger at being restricted to a few blocks by police. "We're surrounded by CRS," said protester Lionel Toussaint, 53, who works in the heritage industry, referring to riot police. "I'm not armed. I only have Kleenex." The "yellow vest" movement, which takes its name from the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must all have in their vehicles, emerged in mid-November as a protest against fuel tax increases. It soon morphed into an expression of rage about the high cost of living in France and a sense that President Emanuel Macron's government is detached from the everyday struggles of workers. A riana Grande has apologised to Kanye West after he accused her of making a joke about his mental health. In a series of tweets posted on Saturday, the US pop star said she regretted comments she made yesterday in which she appeared to ask Mr West and Drake to stop feuding so the public could focus on the release of her new single. Following backlash from Kanye Wests fans, the 25-year-old asked that people stop weaponising mental health. It comes after Mr West published a series of tweets attacking Canadian rapper Drake. The pair have been involved in a dispute over alleged "diss" records and allegations of betrayal. Mr West, who is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West, was earlier this year forced to deny rumours his wife had ever been romantically involved with Drake. Kanye West has published a series of Tweets attacking Drake / Getty Images On Thursday, Mr West returned to the feud by posting a series of tweets including one suggesting Drake had asked permission to sample one of his songs. Ms Grande tweeted asking if the pair could "behave for just like a few hours so the girls can shine" before Mr West responded, accusing her of making a "joke out of mental health". The rapper has previously said he experiences bipolar disorder while also claiming he only suffers from insomnia. In a subsequent series of tweets, Ms Grande apologised for "triggering" Mr West and wished him well. She said: "With all due respect, I don't need to use anyone to promote anything. Period. I was making a comment about what men were doing at the time vs. women. "It was a joke which i understand now was probably insensitive. I apologise if I was in any way triggering and hope u feel well today." Responding to a fan who said she had not needed to apologise, Ms Grande added: "For potentially triggering him? nah regardless of how I feel about a situation, I can also care about their mental health." Drake is yet to publicly comment. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe Romania opened a Consulate General in Manchester (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday. Participating in the event were the MAE Secretary General, Cosmin Dinescu, the General Director of the Consular Department, Bogdan Stanescu, the Romanian Ambassador to London, Dan Mihalache, as well as local British authorities represented at the highest level: the mayor of Manchester City, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, representatives of the local council and other municipalities in the area. The MAE officials showed this approach is part of the consular reform strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of expansion and modernization of Romania's consular network, which also includes the rearrangement of the official headquarters and existing consular office, to the benefit of Romanian citizens abroad who ask for services, assistance and consular protection.The opening of the Consulate General of Romania in Manchester is part of the complex process of expansion of Romania's consular network, which also includes the operationalization, in the shortest while, of the Consulate General of Romania in Stuttgart (the Federal Republic of Germany).The headquarters of the Consulate General of Romania in Manchester is located in a central area, which provides an easy access for the Romanian citizens to the consular services, adapted to the good quality standards specific to the consular activities, including through modern equipping. President of UMDR's (Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania) Women Organisation on Saturday stated that among the eligible candidates of this party for the European Parliament there must be at least one woman. "The activity that we do at the UDMR is important, we believe that both the UDMR president and the entire leadership appreciate our work. I hope that this appreciation will also materialize in at least one woman being among the candidates for the European Parliament. Of course, our wish is to also have a lady, or two, among the eligible candidates, for I cannot speak about what we see happening at the European and international level, about what is becoming a tense situation. Still, we have female leaders who are changing our days' history. We do have the necessary political experience and the capacity to make decisions to the benefit of the society. I am certain there must be a woman on the UDMR list for the EP and an eligible spot," Biro said at a press conference. In Cluj-Napoca, on Friday and Saturday, was held the 6th Conference of Representatives of UDMR's Women Organisation. At the end of October 2018 Russia lost the use of its only aircraft carrier (the Kuznetsov) when the largest floating dry dock in Russia, PD-50, had an accident and sank. Kuznetsov was in PD-50 at the time but got free and stayed afloat with some damage from a collapsing crane. The PD-50 sank in deep water off the north coast near Murmansk. That is where Kuznetsov is based along with the rest of the northern fleet. The PD-50 was the only Russian dry dock that could hold the Kuznetsov. Salvage experts fear it may be too expensive to raise the dry dock and repair it. Even if that worked it would take at least a year. There are other foreign dry docks that could hold Kuznetsov but because of sanctions the only ones Russia has access to are in China and those are busy building new carriers for the Chinese fleet, which now has two with a third under construction. The navy cannot afford to buy a new dry dock and admitted that this is the end of the line for the Kuznetsov, which is overdue for some major maintenance and refurbishment. The dry dock Kuznetsov was built in is in the Ukraine, which Russia is at war with. Many Russians saw the loss of PD-50 as just another example of the sloppiness and poor management that have crippled the military industries and the space program over the last two decades. Aside from submarines, the Russian shipbuilding industry has been unable to build adequate replacement for the many Cold War era destroyers and cruisers that are now at the end of their service lives. Even the nuclear subs built or completed since the 1990s have had problems, but not as many as with new large surface ships. Russian shipyards have had some success in building new frigates, corvettes and patrol boats but these will not replace the high seas flee Russia had at the end of the Cold War. During the Soviet period the government could order shipyard workers to concentrate on warships and do it right. Once the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 the workforce was free to seek employment elsewhere and few of the capable managers and workers stayed with warship construction yards. Even during the Soviet period, many commercial ships were bought from non-Russian shipyards. The PD-50, which entered service in 1980, was built in Sweden. A basic problem with Russian shipbuilding is that the Russian managers never learned or adopted the many modern naval construction methods created in the last few decades. Russian leaders were aware of that had arranged for new large warships (like the two French Mistral amphibious ships) to be purchased with the inclusion of technology and worker/manager skills transferred by example. But this solution was eliminated in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine and, in effect, revived the Cold War with NATO. In addition to sanctions, oil prices went down unexpectedly and the Russian military and defense industries to cope as best they can. Russian naval experts have been pointing out that in the 2020s the last of the Cold Warships will be gone and the refurbishment Kuznetsov was undergoing in PD-50 was the last one because, well, Kuznetsov was getting old and refurbishment will only get you so far. The lower oil prices and Ukraine related economic sanctions have hurt the economy and even the defense budget has been suffering major cuts. Not only are the shipyards not capable but the money is not there. The loss of the PD-50 is seen as a sign that the Russian high seas fleet is not coming back anytime soon. For years the state-controlled media played down the fact that the Kuznetsov was kept operational more as a status symbol than as a useful warship. For example in early 2017 Kuznetsov completed its longest and busiest cruise yet, spending 117 days at sea and carrying out 420 aircraft takeoffs using its Su-33s and MiG-29Ks jets. Some of those flights were for combat missions in Syria. That level of activity comes out to 3.6 fixed-wing aircraft operations per day. While doing that two jets were lost. Russia considered this a training cruise that cost less than $200 million. That was true but while it demonstrated the Russian carrier could carry out flight operations it did them at a lower level of intensity and with far more accidents than their Western counterparts. An American carrier averages about 24 catapult assisted aircraft operations a day. The accident rate is much lower than what the Russians experienced. While the Russians may not gain much from this dubious training cruise, the Chinese paid attention because the Chinese, unlike the Russians, already have two carriers operational and another one under construction. The Chinese, in a way, are out to finish what the Kuznetsov started. Kuznetsov has an interesting history that started back in the 1970s and eventually involved China as well. Only two ships of this class exist; the original Kuznetsov, which is in Russian service, and the Varyag, which was sold to China, by Ukraine, which inherited the unfinished ship then building in a Ukrainian shipyard when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. China rebuilt (extensively) the Varyag as the Liaoning. Kuznetsov entered service in 1995, after a decade of construction. The Kuznetsov was an experiment to see if Russia could build and operate a large carrier. Kuznetsov is a 65,000 ton (full load) ship that uses a ski jump type flight deck instead of a steam catapult. The ship normally carries a dozen navalized Su-27s (called Su-33s), 14 Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters, two electronic warfare helicopters and two search and rescue helicopters. Max capacity is 36 Su-33s and sixteen helicopters. The ship carries 2,500 tons of aviation fuel, allowing it to generate 500-1,000 aircraft and helicopter sorties. Crew size is 2,500 (or 3,000 with a full aircraft load.) The crew size for the 2017 trip to Syria was only 2,000. Originally the Russians planned to build four or more large (similar to the American Nimitz class) nuclear-powered carriers. But they soon realized (in the late 1970s) that this was beyond their capabilities or resources. By the time Kuznetsov construction began in 1982 the design had been scaled back to what it now is and the number planned was only two. Nine years later the Soviet Union went bankrupt and dissolved. Construction of the Kuznetsov was completed by the mid-1990s but from 1995 to 2005 there was no money to send the carrier to sea much. A mockup of the flight deck was built on land so the Kuznetsov's air group could practice carrier landings. After 2000 the Russian Navy began to rebuild and again made plans to build five or more larger carriers but by 2010 it was clear the money was not there and would not be for a long time. So Kuznetsov, after nearly 40 years of effort, appears to be the end of the line for Russian carriers, at least for the next generation or so. While the Kuznetsov was undergoing a 24-month refurbishment in 2005-7, the Navy realized that the Su-33 was also in need of replacement and in 2009 ordered 24 MiG-29Ks to replace the Su-33s. In 2008 the carrier version of the Russian MiG-29, the MiG-29K, made its first flight, about fifteen years later than originally planned. The MiG-29K modifications included arrestor gear and stronger landing gear for carrier landings, folding wings and rust proofing to reduce corrosion from all that salt water. Anti-radar paint is also used, to reduce the radar signature. Fuel capacity was increased by 50 percent and more modern electronics installed. A more powerful engine is used, which enabled the aircraft to carry over five tons of weapons (air-to-air and anti-ship missiles, smart bombs). While seemingly adequate on paper the MiG29K proved less effective in practice. India was the main user of the MiG-29K and has complained of many shortcomings. In 2007, after two years of refurbishment, Kuznetsov returned to service. But that refurb, like the original construction, was sloppy. Ten years later the Kuznetsov finally got a chance to do what it was designed for (long cruises to distant waters) and demonstrated that it could go through the motions but not much more than that. Towards the end service on the ramshackle Kuznetsov was seen as punishment for sailors and officers who were not performing well. Trying to portray the Kuznetsov as the future of the Russian Navy also turned out to be a cruel illusion that is now being abandoned. Monitoring data from last summer made available by Land, Air, Water Aotearoa reveals outdoor swimming spots in New Zealand have good recreational water quality most of the time. Project scientists recommend avoiding the water for up to three days after heavy rain. Last summer the popular online tool Can I swim here? was used by over 100,000 Kiwis. Hawkes Bay Regional Council Principal Scientist Anna Madarasz-Smith is the Can I swim here?' Project Lead and explained the 2017/18 results. Looking at all the recreational water quality data collected by regional council scientists from our rivers, lakes, and beaches last year, we see 80 percent of results are green, meaning the water was suitable for swimming. Can I swim here? is now live again on the LAWA website, ready for another season helping families and holiday-makers choose the best summer swimming spots based on the latest water quality results. Through Can I swim Here?, were giving people access to reliable and up to date water quality information, so they can swim in the great outdoors with confidence. In addition to water quality, theres lots of extra info that will help keep families safe including local weather, tides, surf, water temperature, flow-rate, and whether the site is patrolled by lifeguards. Can I swim here? also lists site recreational activities and facilities, so its a one stop shop for your day at the beach, river, or lake, says Anna. Among the new features released this summer, the online tool now has a conditions may have changed warning that automatically applies to sites that have recently experienced significant rainfall. Its been an unsettled start to December and theres more wet weather on the way, so its important to remind people to wait two to three days after heavy rain before swimming outdoors. This applies to all sites, even if they usually have good water quality because stormwater run-off can wash pollutants into our waterways. Pollutants such as sewage and animal faeces contaminate waterways and swimmers can contract gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory diseases, and eye, ear, nose and throat symptoms. The LAWA website uses a traffic light system of red, amber, and green to show the health risk of swimming at a chosen site. Green means suitable for swimming, amber means recreational water quality standards have been met but caution is advised for the very young, elderly, or people with compromised health, and red means the water is not suitable for swimming either because the risk of infection or exposure to potentially toxic algae is too high. LAWA Chair Stephen Woodhead says while theres lots of fun to be had in the water this summer, its important to communicate risk so people can make the best decision for themselves and their family. We want to help keep people safe by opening up the data regional and unitary councils collect through summer recreational water quality monitoring. Whether youre at home or away for the holidays, LAWA has you covered with data on around 700 swimming spots across the country. The extensive information on Can I swim here? makes life easier for parents who can check if a place is suitable for their family before they leave the house, says Stephen. LAWA is a partnership between New Zealands 16 regional and unitary councils, Ministry for the Environment, and Cawthron Institute. More information is available at: www.lawa.org.nz/learn/factsheets/what-do-the-swim-icons-mean Bay of Plenty Our client has plenty of work in the pipeline and as such they are in need of qualified or experienced carpenters for an... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz James Smith, Jr., 33, was shot and killed Syracuse, NY -- A jury this evening found a Syracuse man guilty of murder for helping orchestrate a home invasion that left an occupant of a Merriman Avenue residence dead. Michael Smyre, 26, is the first of six people implicated in the December 2017 burglary to be convicted of murder. Four others have pleaded guilty to burglary -- with long prison sentences -- for their roles. And the sixth suspect, Francis Mercado, 16, the accused shooter, is awaiting a murder trial himself. James Smith Jr., 33, was killed after encountering the burglars in his upstairs apartment. Authorities said that Mercado fired twice, killing Smith. Smyre's murder trial went relatively quickly this week. Three of the accomplices testified against him, defense lawyer William Sullivan said. The jury heard about 2 1/2 days of testimony before getting the case this morning. Smyre was found to have helped plan the deadly burglary and of driving the masked, armed suspects to the scene. He did not go into the building himself. But prosecutors Robert Moran and Lauren Phelps told the jury that he could be convicted of murder for helping plan the burglary that ended in Smith's death. He had also identified Smith to others as the target for the home-invasion, prosecutors said. The jury found Smyre guilty of murder and burglary in their 5:30 p.m. verdict, Moran said. They acquitted him of crimes related to a burglary at the downstairs apartment and of weapon possession, Sullivan said. Smyre faces up to 25 years to life in prison when sentenced in January. He remains jailed. The others who have already pleaded guilty, with their promised sentences, are: SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Advocates for a "community grid" to replace the elevated Interstate 81 viaduct in Syracuse rallied at a downtown atrium Saturday, hoping to build momentum for when the state seeks public comment on the issue early next year. Common Councilor Joseph Driscoll organized the rally, which featured local and state elected officials and activists. "We have to resist the urge to make this a city vs. suburbs issue," Driscoll told attendees. "If the city thrives, the suburbs will as well." The New York State Department of Transportation will hold public meetings in January ahead of its release of a draft environmental impact statement for what is to come of the highway, officials said. That document will lay out the estimates of traffic, environmental and other considerations for three potential alternatives for a 1.4-mile section of raised highway in the city center. The viaduct is aging and does not conform to current highway standards, which means something must be done about it. The three options the DOT engineers are evaluating are tearing down the viaduct and beefing up the existing street grid, rebuilding and widening the existing viaduct, or tunneling under the city to allow high-speed traffic to stay in its current path. Supporters of the grid said it's the best choice for both the city and surrounding areas because it will open up space for a revitalized urban core, potentially with development or green space, boosting tax rolls and helping the region as a whole. It would also right the historical error of displacing neighborhoods to build the highway, which the activists said contributed to the modern-day segregation in Syracuse, one of the most segregated in the country. "This is the most important racial, social and economic justice issue that this city is facing," said Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, director of the local chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "Grid" supporters gathered at the City Hall atrium on Saturday. The rally is part of a campaign to make sure "grid" supporters' voices are heard when the state seeks public comment on what residents here want to come of the highway. In January, the state will hold public meetings as part of its release of the draft environmental impact statement. A DOT spokesman said the exact timing of the rollout hasn't been determined. After the document's release, the state is required to accept and respond to public comments for at least 45 days before the issuance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement, in which the state will select its preferred choice for the project. The event organizers distributed cards advocating for the "grid" that will be sent to the state when it solicits public comment. The cards say the grid is the best option for the environment, taxpayers, economic growth and racial integration. Opponents of the grid prefer either rebuilding the viaduct or the tunnel because it would preserve high-speed travel to and through the city, saying the current highway is an important artery for area businesses and trucking and could hurt areas seeing increased traffic. If a grid is built, the existing Interstate 81 would be routed around the east side of Syracuse on what is now Interstate 481. A tunnel option could cost about $3.6 billion and take 10 years for construction. Rebuilding the viaduct would cost $1.7 billion and building a "grid" would cost $1.3 billion, and both would take four to seven years, according to DOT estimates. For decades, standardized tests have played a key role in the U.S. education system. With the implementation of No Child Left Behind, a George W. Bush-era bill that penalized schools for not meeting certain testing standards, the importance of such tests only increased. While the bill has since been replaced, standardized tests still play a critical role in determining school success. Advocates say it is an invaluable way to judge school effectiveness. Opponents say the tests are biased and harmful to critical thinking. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES Proponents of standardized tests like Dr. Gail Gross, a Huffington Post contributor, argue standardized tests provide the most straightforward and comprehensive measure of whether students in any particular school are learning. Chad Aldeman, an associate partner at a nonprofit education research and consulting firm, not only agrees that tests are the best way to determine student success, but that testing is needed every year to provide an adequate portrait of students' learning. While trying to gauge a child's success may be the rationale for standardized tests, that is rarely the practical outcome. So many factors go into determining a child's success with standardized tests that are unrelated to their academic abilities. Meredith Broussard, a data journalism professor and parent, conducted an in-depth study into the creation of standardized tests. Broussard wrote in an article for the Atlantic that she found standardized tests are created by textbook companies, rather than schools and educators. If students do not have access to these textbooks, they are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to standardized tests. Even if their knowledge base is appropriate for their grade-level, being unacquainted with the language and style of the test could negatively impact their results. Parents across the country are frustrated with the way their children are being "taught to the test," rather than being taught critical thinking skills. Per the New York Times: 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. On Dec. 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified finally bringing an end to Prohibition. After almost 14 years, the United States' ban on "the manufacture, sale or transportation liquors" was over. Looking through Syracuse newspapers during Prohibition, a reader will find a treasure trove of fascinating stories about speakeasys, raids and federal agents. One also gets a sense of the folly of it all. The papers were just as full of bad behavior caused by drinking as a reader would see today. Here are six brief stories, pulled from one week of Syracuse newspapers, Dec. 12-18, 1923, from the front lines of the Prohibition struggle in Syracuse. A PARTIAL VICTORY A stalled car prevented federal agents from an even bigger victory on Liverpool Road on Dec. 12, 1923. A truck driven by Fred Bent of East Syracuse was pulled over after a barrel of beer fell out of it near the Courthouse and broke open. The agents said that the truck had a load of 21 barrels of Canadian ale. Bent disagreed and said he was carrying a load of "sour beer" from a local brewery. The agents told him he was lying, and they had proof. About a dozen people were seen testing the beer after the barrel had broken. "No wayfarer in the desert ever drank from a spring with a greater display of thirst than those who scooped the amber liquid that came from the barrel," the Post-Standard reported. While Bent was being questioned, three other trucks with barrels raced by. Agents went to pursue but their car stalled, and the beer got away. A BAD TEST DRIVE Morris Quereau, 66, of East Willow Street, had hit rough times and was facing some serious debt. He decided to sell his 1920 Ford. He headed downtown and visited a series of "establishments" where he thought he might stand the best shot at selling his car. The sort of establishments he visited were also the kind where a man could become intoxicated. He was pretty drunk when he came upon Theodore Miller, who was interested in the Ford and was himself, very drunk. They did a test drive with Miller at the wheel, and proceeded recklessly down a busy South State Street, weaving through traffic narrowly missing a patrolman before finally hitting Charles Newman. Newman sustained injuries to his scalp, hands and back. Both Quereau and Miller were charged with intoxication. WATCH OUT FOR POISON BOOZE Captain R.Q. Merrick, divisional chief of prohibition enforcement operations for New York and New Jersey, had a dire warning on Dec. 14, 1923 to any potential drinkers in Central New York: watch out for "poison booze" streaming across the border from Canada. He warned that 90 percent of Canadian whiskey appearing in Syracuse, Utica and the North Country was a "fake product" made at bootleg camps just across the border. "The ingredients," Captain Merrick said, "are cheap grain alcohol, water and coloring substances - a combination producing certain illness and possible death." One man died the day before at the Windsor Hotel and another had suffered from partial blindness. "Bootlegs are not even trying to get decent stuff anymore," Merrick said. "They are making a vile concoction of their own...then fill up old bottles, paste on some pretty labels and there is your fancy government-inspected whiskey for Christmas." Merrick suggested a consumer should have any bootleg whiskey "analyzed" before drinking, then warned: "You know a drinker can make only one mistake with poison booze." A BUSY NIGHT December 15, 1923 was called a busy night for dry agents in Syracuse after the arrest of three men selling alcohol during raids across the city. Walter Taylor was arrested in his Lodi Street saloon after a bottle was found behind the bar. Patrick Donovan was locked up after serving agents liquor. The most exciting arrest was that of George Tolone, of East Adams Street, who recognized the raiders when they entered the front door. He began pouring liquid from a bottle drown the drain. When agents jumped over the bar to stop him, Tolone lunged at them, swinging his fist which had brass knuckles on them. He was subdued and locked up. BAD JUDGMENT, WORSE LUCK Fred Buttinger, 32, was arrested for driving drunk and slamming his car into another driver's automobile. Who owned the car that Buttinger drove into? That would be James B. Spencer, Syracuse's Commissioner of Public Safety. The Syracuse Herald said that Buttinger crashed into the commissioner's car on the evening of Dec. 17, 1923 after "zig-zagging in an uncertain course" down West Genesee Street. Buttinger's passenger, Edward Connelly, himself intoxicated, plead guilty. Buttinger pled not guilty and had his bail set at $1,000. IMPOSTER! In 1923, Syracuse had a Moral Survey Committee who monitored vice in the city. Its chairman was the Rev. Dr. F.W. Betts. "Prostitution, booze and drugs are a triumvirate forever ready to pay the price for the right to be. They would corrupt the angels if they could," he once said. In his fight against the city's vice, Betts had plenty of volunteers, including one he never asked for. On the night of December 18, a James Quinland, who lived at the Getman Hotel on East Jefferson Street, got himself arrested for "representing himself as one of Dr. Betts' special investigators." Quinland was charged with using violent language in his efforts to get a patrolman to close a saloon on Water Street and threatened to report the patrolman to Police Chief Martin Cadin "in the morning." "I'll be sure you're on hand to make the report," the patrolman said, before grabbing Quinland by the collar and escorting him to jail. Quinland, of course, was extremely drunk at the time. He was charged with public intoxication and fined $5. This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle: Email | 315-427-3958. Why it matters: Cloudflare has been accused of providing internet related services to terrorist organizations again. The company, which receives more traffic than Twitter, Amazon, Apple, Instagram, Bing and Wikipedia combined, offers essential services that protect and shield websites from all sorts of attacks, most notably DDoS. If a terrorist organization needed protection from vigilante hackers, theyd be forced to go with one of the best networks out there, but why would any respected American company offer service to terrorists? An investigation by the HuffPost has found that Cloudflare provides online protection to seven terrorist organisations. These include the Taliban, al-Shabab, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Al Quds Brigades, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and Hamas. While various experts from the US and the international Counter Extremism Project have analyzed the websites and are very certain in their findings, Cloudflare refuses to admit if they are protecting the websites, citing privacy concerns. If they are providing services to these websites, it would be illegal. All these organizations are included on government terrorist lists, and that means that providing material support to them, including communications technology, is prohibited. 18 U.S.C. 2339B defines material support as any product or service, excluding medicine or religious materials. If and when you know or reasonably should know, then youre in legal jeopardy if you continue to provide service. This is not a content-based issue, Benjamin Wittes, the editor in chief of Lawfare and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told HuffPost. [Cloudflare] can be as pure-free-speech people as they want they have an arguable position that its not their job to decide what speech is worthy and what speech is not but there is a law, a criminal statute, that says that you are not allowed to give services to designated foreign terrorist organizations. Full stop. Even Cloudflare agrees that providing service to these terrorist organizations is illegal. Doug Kramer, Cloudflares general counsel, told Cnet that it has a process for checking if a potential customer is on a terrorist list and that it will deny service if they are. Our policy is that if we receive new information that raises a flag or a concern about a potentially sanctioned party, then well follow up to figure out whether or not thats something that we need to take action on, Cloudflare says. Part of the challenge is really to determine which of those are legitimate inquiries and which of those are trying to manipulate the complaint process to take down people with whom they disagree. For some reason, however, their practice of providing services to terrorists has been continuing. The first reports of terrorists using their services surfaced in 2012 when Reuters confronted them with two websites which had affiliations with Hamas and al-Quds Brigades. Cloudflares CEO, Mathew Prince, simply said: we are not sending money, or helping people arm themselves. The company continued to follow the ultra-liberal approach when they were confronted again in 2013, this time by independent journalist James Cook. Hed discovered a website managed by al-Qaeda and protected by Cloudflare. Prince once again personally responded, this time in a blog post. A website is speech. It is not a bomb. We do not believe in investigating if the speech that flows through our network is appropriate. In fact, we think doing so would be creepy. In 2015 rogue hacking group Anonymous (which some argue are terrorists themselves) accused Cloudflare of serving dozens of ISIS-affiliated websites. Prince called this an armchair analysis by 15-year-old kids in Guy Fawkes masks. He denied that the websites were ISIS-affiliated. The first crack in Cloudflares seemingly invincible or absent conscience came last year, in response to the Charlottesville riots. Cloudflare ended their protection of white-supremacist and neo-Nazi site the Daily Stormer. In an internal email, Prince said he woke up in a bad mood and decided to kick them off the internet. He explained the decision further in a public blog post, where he said the companys perspective changed when the Daily Stormer hinted that Cloudflare might support their views. Logically, Cloudflare should have been investigated six years ago when the first terrorist website was discovered. Inexplicably, however, Cloudflare has never seen the business end of a gavel. Prince, who by all accounts has maintained an iron grip over the company since founding it in 2009, has continued to fight this as if it were a moral debate. Princes stance seems to be that simply letting hackers destroy any website Cloudflare doesnt approve of is not real justice. The removal of a website should only be done at the direction of a court. In many ways, his statements echo the arguments for net neutrality: altering how the internet is seen and accessed should not be in the hands of a commercial body. It should, however, be in the hands of the legal system, which makes the fact that the government has never requested that Cloudflare terminate services for a webpage even more confusing. Ultimately, however, this is not a moral debate. Several possible reasons exist for Cloudflares decision to continue protecting these websites. First and foremost is that Cloudflare believes it is the governments responsibility, the government believes it is Cloudflares responsibility, and neither is paying attention to the matter. Hopefully, thats not the case. The other possibility is that despite what Cloudflare claims, they do in fact work with government agencies to monitor the websites for useful information. During an interview in 2015, Prince hinted that the government had approved them to keep certain controversial sites online. The FBI, Justice Department, State Department, Treasury Department and the White House all declined to comment on this speculation. Cloudflares mission is to make the internet a better place. By protecting websites belonging to terrorists, they would not be doing that. At the end of the day, all we can do is hope that theyre doing the right thing behind closed doors. Obesity leads to a deficiency of protein known as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which is associated with the risk of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. High-intensity interval (HIIT) exercise is a fast-paced workout that can burn a lot of calories in less time. It is also popularly known as the most effective way to exercise. However, in a new study, the researchers from Florida Atlantic University discovered that short bursts of exercise can also prevent cognitive dysfunction in obese people. So far, previous studies only focused on continuous periods of moderate exercise without any rest intervals in between. However, this is the first time that FAU researchers, along with partners from Purdue University and the University of Texas, have examined the role of obesity with exercise-induced BDNF. BDNF Response: Obese Vs. Normal-Weight Participants The researchers at Florida Atlantic University conducted a study on male participants who were made to do a HIIT workout. It included five minutes of jogging/running routine, followed by four high-intensity intervals, and three minutes of recovery. Blood samples from before and after the workout, and once more an hour after completion of the workout, were collected to test the BDNF levels. The study revealed that BDNF expression in obese participants is stronger compared to normal-weight participants. The findings published in Experimental Biology and Medicine suggest that HIIT may be a productive way to regulate BDNF in obese people and help them alleviate the risk of cognitive dysfunction. Exercise For Your Body And Your Brain "High-intensity interval exercise is a time-efficient strategy with similar or superior physiological benefits that promotes the expression of a growth factor typically associated with brain health, yet that appears to be down regulated in obesity," said Chun-Jung (Phil) Huang, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an associate professor in the Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, at FAU's College of Education. "The relative simplicity and efficacy of high-intensity interval exercise supports its use as a preventive measure and as an intervention to combat obesity and other chronic disease conditions." The researchers explained that the aerobic training not only provides anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits but prevents age-related cognitive decline. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A bobcat tests positive for rabies after being thwarted by authorities for biting three people in the Upper Valley. They dont typically contract positive for rabies because of their solitary nature, but the event is so far not indicative of any rabies outbreak in Vermont bobcats. Bobcat Tests Positive For Rabies Vermont authorities report of three individuals who were bitten by a bobcat in Hartford. Specifically, two women were attacked by a bobcat in Hartford, and wide news coverage of it got the attention of a man who was also bitten by a bobcat in the same area the day before after he took a photo of it and it went into his car. Vermont State Game Wardens shot the creature in a parking lot, and it has tested positive for rabies. The three people attacked by the bobcat are already receiving post-exposure medical treatment against rabies. We all appreciate the rapid coverage of this story by the media which may very well have prevented the man from coming down with rabies, which is almost always fatal, said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter. Rabies In Vermont According to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, bobcats very rarely contract rabies because of their solitary nature and because they naturally exist in low densities across the landscape. In fact, only five of the 70 bobcats tested for rabies in the state have tested positive, the one recently killed being the first rabies-positive bobcat in the state for 2018. Mostly, rabies cases in the state come from bats, foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Rabies Rabies is a preventable disease that is mostly spread through the bite of a rabies-positive animal. It affects the central nervous system and eventually leads to disease in the brain and, ultimately, death. Initial symptoms may come in the form of general weakness, discomfort, fever, and headache, but death occurs typically within days of the onset of more specific symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, excitation, hallucination, partial paralysis, hypersalivation, and fear or water. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Which state nabbed the top spot as this years healthiest state? Some of the top states strengths include low obesity, smoking, and air pollution rates. Healthiest State Of 2018 The 2018 annual report of the United Health Foundation declared Hawaii as the healthiest state for 2018, nabbing the top spot again this year after it went down to second place in 2017. This is Hawaiis fourth time to be number one in the past five years, and its ninth year as the healthiest state since rankings were first published in 1990. Some of Hawaiis strengths that landed it on the top spot are its low obesity and smoking prevalence rates, low disparity in health status between those with and without a high school education, low levels of air pollution, low prevalence rate of frequent mental distress, and high number of primary care physicians compared to the national ratio. However, the state is still facing certain health challenges including excessive drinking, diabetes, salmonella, and lower Tdap vaccine rates compared to the national rates. Most Challenged States Of 2018 On the flip side, Louisiana took the 50th spot from Mississippi this year as the state with the most health challenges. It ranked 50th in behavior as well as community & environment categories, 48th in health outcomes, and 47th in clinical care. Some of its other problem areas are its high prevalence rates in terms of obesity, smoking, children in poverty, and frequent mental and physical distress, as well as its high percentage of low birthweight babies. That said, Louisiana has a high number of mental health providers, high HPV immunization among females, and high Tdap and meningococcal immunization among adolescents. The state also has low incidence rates of pertussis. The other states at the bottom of the board were Mississippi in the 49th place, Alabama in the 48th place, Oklahoma at number 47, and Arkansas at number 46. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After winning a patent battle against Apple earlier this week, Qualcomm is further asking courts to ban the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR in China. The messy altercation between the equipment company and the Cupertino, California-based tech corporation is nowhere near finished after Qualcomm cites possible patent infringement for the newer iPhone releases. This plea comes on the heels of a temporary injunction against Apple, prohibiting it to sell iPhones. Ban Only To iOS 11 And Older So far, Apple has shrugged the court order and continued sales of iPhone units, saying the ban was only applicable to devices with iOS 11 and older. That said, most of the versions have been updated to iOS 12, so the company reiterated the ban isn't applicable to these anymore and therefore continued sales. According to reports, the initial ruling didn't exactly mention putting ban on a specific version of the iOS. With the new request of Qualcomm, Chinese market may have to brace themselves for a tumultuous rollercoaster ride. It seemed that the chip-maker is not through with the fight after securing an injunction against Apple that prevented sales of iPhones 6S Plus, 6S, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X all devices that allegedly benefitted from the patent. At the time of the initial legal war, Apple insisted that Qualcomm's argument was not applicable to newer versions of the iPhone, hence, there was no infringement involved. With this case in point, the ban wasn't violated. Qualcomm's Second Request Although a court ruling has yet to determine if Apple had indeed infringed, others said Qualcomm's second request was merely pushing for settlement negotiations with the other company. Historically, the two companies have been on each other's neck for the past years, and the iPhone maker seemed to be the winner thus far. Aside from Apple, U.S. and South Korean governments are also watching Qualcomm very closely after they called out the company for not allowing healthy competition to happen. The Tim Cook-led business, meanwhile, accused the enemy of shooting up royalty fees. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung will inevitably release the long-anticipated Galaxy S10 next year, so naturally, there's huge hype for the handset as early as now. So many rumors have come out regarding this phone, but details such as release date and pricing have been nebulous. Until now, that is. New leaks are suggesting that Samsung is going to launch its next flagship on Feb. 20. No word yet on what the phone is going to look like, but practically, all rumors point to a new kind of display the Infinity-O, as Samsung likes to call it, which trades the highly contested notch for a "punch hole" design. The Galaxy A8s, which debuted recently in China, is the first to have such a display. New Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors The newest round of Galaxy S10 rumors come from Gizmodo UK, citing "sources." The report says there'll be a Samsung Unpacked even on Feb. 20 that will mark the release of the handset, which is highly plausible since Samsung has used that event for product unveilings many times in the past. Interestingly, that's a week ahead of next year's Mobile World Congress, where a lot of major unveilings also occur. In any case, the rumored date falls neatly into Samsung's release pattern the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus were announced Feb. 25. After that Samsung Unpacked event, Samsung will apparently release the handset on March 8, according to the report. Samsung Galaxy S10 Pricing Gizmodo also dishes on the potential pricing for the forthcoming lineup. In the UK, the 5.8-inch "flat" Galaxy S10 will cost 669 and come with 128 GB of storage. That's about $845 when converted. The standard Galaxy S10, meanwhile, will be available in 128 GB and 512 GB options at 799 and 999, respectively. Exactly what differentiates the "flat" model from the standard ones remain unclear, but it could refer to a non-curved variant, as in the plain Galaxy S7. Samsung Galaxy S10 Storage Options As with previous iterations, there will also be a Galaxy S10 Plus, which will allegedly come in 128 GB for 899 and 512 GB for 1,099. That's not all, however. Apparently, there'll also be a 1 TB variant that'll cost 1,399. If true, it's going to be the most expensive phone Samsung has ever produced thus far and also one with the most storage. Of course, everything mentioned above are still rumors, so take them with a grain of salt. In any case, make sure to check back with Tech Times as we learn more. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Michael Sidibe, the executive director of the United Nations' body spearheading the fight against AIDS, has announced that he is stepping down from the position. The decision was made a week after an independent panel had probed accusations of bullying and sexual harassment within the agency. A report published last week accused Sidibe of "defective leadership." At a meeting in Geneva this week, Sidibe said he will step down in June, six months before his term is supposed to end in January 2020. Culture Of Harassment At UNAIDS "The UNAIDS Secretariat is in crisis, a crisis which threatens its vital work," the report read. "The leaders, policies and processes at UNAIDS have failed to prevent or properly respond to allegations of harassment including sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power in UNAIDS." The panel revealed that the leadership within the agency has failed to ensure a safe and dignified working environment for its staff, many of whom revealed that they were afraid to speak up because of fear and lack of trust. The panel also found that the formal and informal processes for complaints are slow, infective, non-confidential, and not independent from the management. While the investigation recognized Sidibe's passion and commitment to his work, the independent panel called out his "patriarchal management style" that allowed the culture of impunity to foster within the agency. Sidibe was appointed as the executive director of UNAIDS in 2009. Backlash, Bullying Scandal Hit UNAIDS After the report had been published, the backlash was immediate. Activists called for Sidibe's immediate resignation from the agency. Paula Donovan, co-director of AIDS-Free World, said that Sidibe should not be allowed to leave his position on his own terms. She added that leaders involved in a similar scandal should be fired from any other institution. "This is the culmination of the abuse of power and authority that has marked Sidibe's tenure," she added. "The culture of impunity remains intact." Following the report, Sweden, a major donor of UNAIDS, announced that it will withhold its funding for 2019. Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Isabella Lovin also joined the group of people demanding that Sidibe should be removed as the head of the agency. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Asian ticks, which have found their way to the United States, can clone themselves and spread fast across the country. Asian Ticks In The US Scientists warned that the Asian longhorned ticks might one day invade the eastern part of North America and the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. The tick has already been found in nine states, including New Jersey. "The Asian longhorned tick is a very adaptable species, especially in its native East Asia," explained Ilia Rochlin, an entomologist from Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology and the author of the study. "The optimal tick habitat appears to be defined by temperate conditions -- moderate temperature, humidity, and precipitation. These climatic conditions also support forested or shrubby vegetation, providing prime environment for ticks." Asian longhorned ticks or Haemaphysalis longicornis, as the name suggests, are often found in East Asia, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. The invasive species can also be found in southeastern Russia and parts of Australia and New Zealand. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while there have been no reports of tick-related illnesses in the United States so far, a bite from the invasive species can make people and animals seriously ill. Asian Ticks Reproducing Fast One known characteristic of Asian longhorned ticks is their ability to lay eggs without mating. A female tick can reproduce offsprings that are essentially copies of itself, increasing the likelihood that the creature will spread fast across the country. Rochlin used climate data from 260 locations where the ticks were found and analyzed factors such as annual temperature, annual rainfall, and others. The researcher wanted to find the variables that can predict where the ticks will next show up in the United States. Using this model, she listed down the areas where Asian longhorned ticks will most likely survive. She found that the most suitable habitats based on the climate and the environment for the survival of the blood-suckers are along the coast: from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada to Virginia and North Carolina in the East Coast, as well as from southern British Columbia to northern coastal California in the West Coast. Inland eastern United States, from Louisiana to Wisconsin, and Canada, including Ontario and Quebec, might also see an invasion of Asian longhorned ticks in the future. The findings were published in the Jornal of Medical Entomology. What To Do With Asian Longhorned Ticks The CDC advises the public to remove the ticks as soon as they spot the creatures on people and animals. To help the agency's investigation of the creatures, the public can also send the ticks in a jar or ziplock bag before contacting the state agricultural department for identification. if bitten, contact the health department about tests to prevent tickborne diseases or a veterinarian for tips on how to protect pets from ticks and tick bites. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Stalagmites found in a cave in China is being hailed as the "Holy Grail" for accurate radiocarbon dating by scientists. A new study revealed that a pair of stalagmites inside the Hulu Cave near Nanjing, China has a seamless, chronological atmospheric record dating back from the last Ice Age. The stalagmites can refine the calibration of carbon-14, making dating of artifacts a lot more precise. Details of the stalagmites were published in the journal Science. Recalibrating Radiocarbon Dating Radiocarbon dating, a method developed in the 50s, is used by archaeologists to date organic compounds accurately. It is based on radioactive carbon-14 which is continuously created. While reliable, radiocarbon dating needs calibrating based on the level of carbon-14 in the atmosphere that varies from year to year. Trees and stalagmites can be used to calibrate, but the former only goes back to around 13,000 years ago and the latter can be a little unreliable. Sometimes, the measurement of carbon-14 in stalagmites are skewed by "dead carbon" that dilutes the substance. 'Holy Grail' Of Carbon Dating However, scientists led by Hai Cheng of Xi'an Jiaotong University discovered stalagmites that have unusually low levels of dead carbon, allowing an accurate carbon-14 calibration way beyond the limits of tree rings. "The Hulu carbon-14 dataset provides a robust reconstruction of the atmospheric carbon-14 history beyond the current tree ring limit of around 14,000 years before present," explained Cheng. "This is a substantial contribution toward the refinement of the carbon-14 calibration curve." The stalagmites have an unbroken record from 54,000 years ago. The team used a highly reliable technique called thorium-230 dating to analyze hundreds of layers within the stalagmites and establish a chronological baseline for a more precise radiocarbon dating. Larry Edwards, a geologist from UC Berkeley, co-author of the study, and one of the people who developed the thorium-230 technique shared to Gizmodo that the stalagmites also contain carbon derived from limestones inside the cave. To make an accurate analysis, the team had to make corrections for limestone-derived carbon but found that the stalagmites have very little of the substance. "The new Hulu record has less uncertainty and resolves previously unknown fine-scale structure," added Cheng. For archaeologists, the discovery means they can date the organic compounds from 14,000 to 54,000 years ago more accurately and confidently. The data could also be of use to climate scientists who wanted to gauge atmospheric changes from thousands of years ago. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least 15 percent of people suffering from severe asthma are resistant to regular treatments that lead to increased admissions to hospitals despite the use of heavy medication. In an expansive research conducted by asthma experts at Leicester Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs), University of Leicester and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham, and University of Nottingham, the researchers examined genetic data of people who have moderate-to-severe asthma and European ancestry. The study involved comparative study of over 10,000 people suffering from asthma and 50,000 people with normal lung function. The findings revealed new genetic variants linked to moderate-to-severe asthma and their sensitivity toward development of this condition. Potential For New Treatments The study published in journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine was able to isolate particular genetic variants linked to the risk of developing moderate-to-severe asthma that control the production of vital components of mucus. Discovering the latent genetic origins of the disease gives scientists a renewed hope for improved treatment of this uncontrollable condition by targeting these genes with advanced therapies. "Asthma is a fairly common but notoriously difficult disease to diagnose, treat and manage," said Professor Ian Sayers, from University of Nottingham and NIHR Nottingham BRC. Sayers also explained that they understand the role of environmental factors in triggering the condition. However, the genetic tendency also plays a huge role in aggravating the symptoms of asthma. Therefore, identifying these genes can pave way for an improved treatment and even a cure. Challenges Ahead "Despite advances in recent years, we still see many patients struggling with asthma, so there is still a tremendous need for innovation to reduce the burden of this disease," said Linda Rogers, MD, associate professor and clinical director of the Adult Asthma Program at the Mount Sinai - National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute, as reported by Business Wire. "New treatments for severe asthma are recently available and others are on the horizon. One major challenge will be understanding which treatment is best for which person," reveals Professor Christopher Brightling, senior investigator from the NIHR Leicester BRC and University of Leicester. He further adds that this study of the genetics associated with acute asthmatic condition will help caregivers in making informed decisions and make way for future therapies. Coauthor of the study Professor Louise Wain, British Lung Foundation Chair in Respiratory Research at the University of Leicester, also added that even though millions of people are suffering from this disease, each person experiences different symptoms, some more acute than others. Understanding the variations in the genes in combination with factors that trigger asthma or development of it can hopefully lead to more personalized treatments in the future. This research is like a breath of fresh air for those who struggle to breathe. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The recent study claims that corn's wild ancestor, maize, brought to South America 6,500 years ago, was a partially farmed version. The study, published in Dec. 14 Science journal, challenges a time-honored belief that southern Mexican farmers shaped teosinte long before the crop spread to other parts of Americas. However, the new findings derived from reconstructing maize's genetic past reveals that a second phase of domestication was already underway in southwestern Amazon what is Brazil and Bolivia today even while the domestication in Mexico continued. The Birth Of Corn By discovering the evidence regarding corn's early domestication in southwestern Amazon, the researchers managed to solve a puzzle. "We've shown that parts of the process were taking place thousands of kilometers [from Mexico] and thousands of years after the whole thing started," said Logan Kistler, archaeologist and evolutionary ecologist from Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC in a Dec. 11 news conference. The ancestors of modern corn were brought to South America from Mexico over 6,500 years ago, explains Kistler. The farmers in southwestern Amazon and Mexico continued to tame a partially domesticated plant for thousands of years, as those plants still contained genes known as teosinte from its wild ancestors. Researchers also suspect that the famers back then would have integrated this maize into their existing repository of crops and used regular techniques, such as growing in soil enriched with compost and other ingredients, in their further domestication of the plant. "Maize is an amazing example of how plants that evolved to accommodate human seed dispersal and cultivation gained a strong evolutionary advantage," says paleoethnobotanist Robert Spengler of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, who was not a part of this new study. "Maize is one of the most widespread cultivated plants in the world, dominating crops grown in most of the U.S. Midwest, Central America and parts of South America," he says. The Step Forward Yoshi Maezumi, a tropical paleoecologist at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, who worked with Kistler on the maize study, says that they hope to use their study findings to gain a better understanding of how tropical crops were domesticated and what it reveals about the environmental conditions and the civilizations that cultivated them. "What we've shown is that the process of domestication is more complicated than previously thought," Maezumi says. "New (archaeological) sites are being discovered all the time. There's so much new information coming out that's changing the way we think about what humans were doing on the landscape and how they were using the land." Kistler's way forward is to start working backward and find clues from ancient DNA to get a clear picture of what the earliest forerunners of maize looked like. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the midst of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a silver lining comes in the form of a baby referred to as "young miracle," the youngest survivor. The bundle of joy, named Benedicte, was just six days old when she was admitted to a treatment facility in Beni City, one of the most struck area of the deadly disease. The infant's mother, who also had Ebola, died during childbirth on Oct. 31. Ebola Baby Survivor, A Ray Of Hope The baby girl was said to be the youngest survivor of Ebola, the health ministry said, a needed miracle from the second deadliest outbreak in the world. The infant was discharged recently and went home in the loving arms of her dad and aunt. "This is my first child. I truly don't want to lose her. She is my hope," Thomas, the baby's father, said. The health ministry shared on Twitter a photo of the miracle baby, seemingly in the middle of a yawn when the picture was taken, being carried by health workers who worked tirelessly in making sure she went out of this battle successfully. Aside from specialists, she was cared for by "nounous," or Ebola survivors that volunteered in helping the community. Growing Concern On Ebola Outbreak Meanwhile, this news was certainly a ray of hope in what health agencies have had growing concerns about. They further expressed worry over the number of children that have Ebola, which account for over one-third of all the cases. UNICEF also explained that one in 10 Ebola cases is a child below 5 years old, with those contracting hemorrhagic fever in a higher risk of fatality. Although the disease is more common in adults, there were reported cases when kids catch the virus, especially when they practice caregiving to patients. As for babies, a few cases have been noted, which experts say may have been passed on through breastfeeding or close contact with infected patients. Ebola is usually transmitted by bodily fluids. Moreover, the World Health Organization said the spread of the disease also happens in health centers. UNICEF's regional director for West and Central Africa, Marie-Pierre Poirier, explained that early admission of affected kids to health centers could greatly help in their chance of survival. Over 400 children have suffered since the onslaught of the dreaded disease either they were orphaned when their parents died or were left unaccompanied when their guardians were taken away for treatment. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputy at the center of an investigation into allegations that he stalked and sexually assaulted several women has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, Sheriff Mike Cazes said Wednesday in a prepared statement. Cazes said Deputy Ben Arceneaux surrendered his credentials and all property issued to him by the Sheriff's Office, but did not reveal exactly when that took place. The sheriff said Arceneaux will remain on unpaid leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Louisiana State Police. Cazes had asked State Police to look into new allegations several women made against Arceneaux. State Police investigate West Baton Rouge deputy following claims he assaulted multiple women while on the job The Louisiana State Police is investigating claims that a West Baton Rouge Parish sheriffs deputy stalked and assaulted multiple women while Senior Trooper Bryan Lee previously confirmed the allegations included sexual assault while Arceneaux was on duty. Cazes, who has been under fire for how his office handled its internal investigation into the complaints involving Arceneaux's conduct, declined further comment on the matter on Wednesday. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Arceneaux had been placed on a two-week suspension without pay in March following the internal investigation the Sheriff's Office conducted earlier this year after two women accused the deputy of stalking and assaulting them. Three additional victims reportedly came forth following reports on WBRZ-TV about the allegations. That's when Cazes last week asked State Police to step in. One victim claimed that Arceneaux grabbed her by the neck and hair in January after forcing her to pull over on a secluded gravel road in West Baton Rouge Parish during a traffic stop. A second woman came forward Feb. 9 claiming that Arceneaux asked her to meet him on a gravel road "just to talk." When she arrived, the woman told detectives, Arceneaux grabbed her by the neck and pulled her hair, demanding she do something. Many of the details about both incidents were heavily redacted from documents the Sheriff's Office released to area media last week. Both of the first two victims declined the opportunity to file a formal compliant against Arceneaux. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission WASHINGTON When the U.S. House of Representatives gavels in for the first time next month, Louisiana's Republican members of Congress will find themselves in a long-unfamiliar position: out of power. Five of the states six congressmen are Republicans, the result of a years-long surge in Republican power in the state, meaning the big November midterm gains by Democrats will diminish the political muscle most of Louisianas representatives in Washington are accustomed to flexing. 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 Several longtime watchers of Congress told The Advocate that Louisianas clout in Congress already somewhat diminished by high turnover and relatively low seniority will dwindle now that most of its members are in the minority. But while individual political power may wane with the political tides, Louisianas lawmakers said they remain confident they can push through important local-interest legislation through relationships theyve built with other lawmakers and the rising stature of Louisianas lone Democrat in Congress, New Orleans Rep. Cedric Richmond. Only one of Louisianas House members Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson has served through a change in power before. Scalise was first elected to Congress in 2008, two years before Republicans swept out then-Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and took control in the House. All five other Louisiana congressmen were elected since then. Its just a fact of Congress that when youre in the minority, you have less influence, said Matthew Green, a political scientist at Catholic University of America in D.C. who studies congressional power. Thats especially true of the House of Representatives. When a state has a delegation largely from one party, then which party controls Congress has a big effect on the clout of that state. Sarah Binder, a professor at George Washington University and a fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that far more power is allocated to the party holding the majority in the House. Finding yourself in the minority party overnight, thats a really big blow to your ability to pursue your states interests, she said. Republicans, of course, still control the White House under President Donald Trump and expanded their majority in the U.S. Senate. Relationships with the Trump administration will continue to give Louisiana lawmakers an avenue to influence the government. But within the House, the move from majority to minority will give Republicans far less legislative authority. No ones fortunes reversed more dramatically with the midterm results than Scalise, the House majority whip and No. 3 ranking Republican. Scalise spent much of the past year campaigning for fellow Republicans and jockeying with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, to succeed retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin. +2 As midterms heat up, still-recovering Steve Scalise hits campaign trail hard for House Republicans WASHINGTON Steve Scalise has been hitting the campaign trail hard, chasing dollars and votes for Republican colleagues across the country ah If Republicans had held off Democrats and clung to the majority in the midterms, Scalise likely would have moved up to majority leader or even claimed the speakership. Instead, hell settle into the next two years as the House minority whip, a position that carries diminished clout in a chamber where the majority rules. The position will give Scalise some sway in negotiations. But Democratic leadership will now control the House calendar, write most legislation, decide which bills come to a vote and dictate which amendments to consider. Its a different story for Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans, the states lone Democrat in Washington, who has never served in the majority. Richmond was first elected to Congress in 2010, a rough year for Democrats that saw the party lose its control of the House. Richmond will hand off the chairmanship of the influential Congressional Black Caucus in January. But the 45-year-old has been tapped as a chief deputy to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-South Carolina, and is seen as a rising talent in a party whose top leadership ranks are all aging. +4 As Congressional Black Caucus chair, Cedric Richmond steps forward to cut a national figure WASHINGTON Over the last 18 months, U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond has repeatedly waded into the center of some of the hottest partisan political Most Louisiana Republicans pointed in part to strong working relationships with Richmond when asked how theyll continue pushing state-level priorities with Democrats in charge. Louisiana members of Congress and congressional aides have said Richmond has forged close links with the rest of the delegation. The states other Republican members Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-Alto; Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge; Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Port Barre; and Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier will become backbenchers for the minority party. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Johnson, a fast-rising 46-year-old religious conservative, was tapped as the next chairman of the sizeable conservative House Republican Study Committee and has close ties to the House Freedom Caucus, the hardline right flank of the House GOP. The rapid promotion puts Johnson in position to shape conservative thinking among his Republican colleagues. But that influence wont immediately translate into legislation because the Democratic majority is unlikely to take much interest in the conservative ideas and the stripped-down federal budget the Republican Study Committee pushes. 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 Louisianas Republican members can still parlay your connections and relationship into beneficial policy outcomes, said Joshua Stockley, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. But as members of the minority without high-ranking committee assignments, Stockley said, theyll find it more challenging to shape major legislation. Being able to attach certain riders or amendments, influence how legislation is written thats how people like Rep. Graves and Rep. Abraham were able to secure some of the benefits for their constituents that they could. Well, that changes, Stockley said. Republican loss of power will be a blow to the states clout, Graves acknowledged in an interview. Some policies Graves has pushed, such as adding work and job-training requirements to the federal food snap program, wont get any traction with the new Democratic majority. But the Baton Rouge congressman noted that hes worked closely with a number of prominent Democrats on intricate policy issues like inefficiencies within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, levee improvements and reforms to federal disaster policy that arent as rife with partisan divisions. If we come up with good policy solutions, we can shop it to Democratic offices we work well with. Youve got to adapt your strategy to the conditions youre operating in, Graves said. I think well be able to continue to deliver things for the state. The relatively small states of the Deep South Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia once held outsized sway in Washington by keeping the same lawmakers in Congress for decades, accumulating seniority and plum committee positions. In Louisiana, thats no longer the case. The longest-serving lawmaker in Louisianas delegation is Scalise, whose decade of service is a shorter tenure than the average current House member. Scalise managed to rapidly ascend the House leadership ranks and other members of Louisianas delegation have established enough expertise to make them influential members in certain policy areas. But none have become chairs of House committees, an influential perch that generally requires a degree of seniority and comes with considerable power to shape legislation. Its been nearly 15 years since Chackbay Democrat-turned-Republican Billy Tauzin, the last Louisiana member to chair a House committee, helmed the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Tauzin held that gavel from 2001 to early 2004. Rep. Jim McCrery, R-Shreveport, served as the top Republican on the powerful tax writing House Ways and Means Committee and would have become chairman if the Republicans had held control of the House in 2006 midterm elections. Instead, Democrats surged to power and New York City Congressman Charles Rangel got the chairmanship. McCrery retired from Congress two years later. Jefferson Parish Republican Bob Livingston held the powerful Appropriations Committee gavel from 1995 until he gave it up in 1999 to accept the speakership, a position he never held because he resigned instead following revelations of an extramarital affair. Livingston was among the first wave of Republicans elected from Louisiana after decades of single-party rule by conservative Southern Democrats in the state. Those powerful Southern Democrats included House Majority Leader Hale Boggs killed in a plane crash in Alaska in 1972 and his widow and successor Lindy Boggs, who spent 18 years in the House. Whether the change in power is a good thing likely depends more on political preferences than Louisianas relative clout in Congress. Richmond noted that the new Democratic majority in the House would block what he viewed as harmful Trump policies and veto any effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which funded the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana to cover more than 450,000 low-income state residents and guaranteed insurance coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions though the balance of power on Capitol Hill wont factor into a current court battle over the laws constitutionality. But Scalise has warned in regular national television appearances that the new Democratic majority will make it more difficult to enact Trumps agenda of tax cuts and the repeal of environmental and workplace regulations. Other Louisiana Republicans echoed that view, arguing those policies have driven recent economic growth. And then there are a handful of important legislative battles where regional alliances matter far more than partisanship. In some fights, Louisiana Republicans said they anticipate newly empowered House Democrats might end up being better negotiating partners. There are some issues flood insurance, for example where it may be easier, said Kennedy. It depends on the approach that the Democratic majority takes. A 92-year-old World War II veteran was robbed at gunpoint Thursday at his home at Lafittes Landing, a Slidell retirement community in the 900 block of Gause Boulevard West. According to the Slidell Police Department, an armed robber knocked on the victim's door before forcing his way inside. The robber took cash, medications and the victim's car keys, then stole the victim's 2006 black Chevrolet Malibu and fled the area. Police said they are looking for a person of interest who was wearing an LSU jacket and a gray beanie cap. The victims vehicle is still missing and has Louisiana license plate RPY 017. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective T.J. McNulty at 985-503-3477 or at tmcnulty@slidellpd.com. You can also contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. In other matters recently handled by local authorities: A Gretna preacher pleaded guilty to bank fraud on Friday, admitting he stole more than $320,000 from his flock at the Franklin Avenue Church of Christ over the course of seven years. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Joseph R. Alexander, 61, admitted he falsified the churchs check registry to conceal checks he wrote to himself, tapped an online church bank account and forged a church elders signature for several other illegal withdrawals. The scheme began around 2006 and continued through 2013, he admitted. Alexander pleaded guilty to a single fraud count. Prosecutors in U.S. Attorney Peter Strassers office agreed to dismiss 15 other bank fraud counts in exchange for his plea. According to a grand jury indictment issued last year, Alexander spent his ill-gotten gains on family vacations in Alaska, Las Vegas, Chicago and elsewhere; part of his sons tuition at Mississippi Valley State; $72,000 toward his home mortgage; another $53,000 to pay his car note; and for gifts bought at Victorias Secret and Apple Store, among other retail outlets. U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance set an April 3 sentencing date for Alexander, who faces a maximum 30-year prison term. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice Jr. handled the prosecution. Alexanders attorney, Eddie Jordan, declined to comment Friday. A cashier at a Boost Mobile store in Gert town said a man pointed a gun, then robbed him Thursday morning. The incident occurred about 9:01 a.m. in the 3200 block of S. Carrollton Avenue, according to an NOPD report. The men entered through an open rear door and demanded cash and phones, the report said. The man eventually fled eastbound down Oleander Street. A 17-year-old man said he was in Central City Wednesday morning when three men approached and stole money from him. The incident occurred about 6:38 p.m. near the intersection of Rev. John Raphael Way and Martin Luther King Boulevard, according to an NOPD report. The man initially tried to walk off, but eventually took money out of his pocket and held it in the air. One of the men took the money out of his hand and fled down Martin Luther King Boulevard, the report said. A 29-year-old man told police he was attempting to hire an escort over the internet, but when he arrived Friday morning in New Orleans East to meet the woman, he was robbed at gunpoint. The incident occurred about 3:35 a.m. in the 8400 block of the I-10 Service Road. The man said he was ordered into a room and one man took his keys and wallet, according to the report. He told police they used his keys to search his vehicle, and also stole a backpack. The keys were eventually returned and he was ordered to drive away, the report said. A Gretna preacher pleaded guilty to bank fraud this week, admitting he stole more than $320,000 from his flock at the Franklin Avenue Church of Christ over the course of seven years. Joseph R. Alexander, 61, admitted he falsified the churchs check registry to conceal checks he wrote to himself, tapped an online church bank account and forged a church elders signature for several other illegal withdrawals. The scheme began around 2006 and continued through 2013, he admitted. Alexander pleaded guilty to a single fraud count. Prosecutors in U.S. Attorney Peter Strassers office agreed to dismiss 15 other counts in exchange for his plea. According to a grand jury indictment issued last year, Alexander spent his ill-gotten gains on family vacations in Alaska, Las Vegas, Chicago and elsewhere; part of his sons tuition at Mississippi Valley State University; $72,000 toward his home mortgage; another $53,000 to pay his car note; and gifts bought at Victorias Secret and Apple Store, among other retail outlets. U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance set an April 3 sentencing date for Alexander, who faces a maximum 30-year prison term and a $1 million fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice Jr. handled the prosecution. Alexanders attorney, Eddie Jordan, declined to comment Friday. A Reuters examination of many of those documents, as well as deposition and trial testimony, shows that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the companys raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public. The documents also depict successful efforts to influence U.S. regulators plans to limit asbestos in cosmetic talc products and scientific research on the health effects of talc. A small portion of the documents have been produced at trial and cited in media reports. Many were shielded from public view by court orders that allowed J&J to turn over thousands of documents it designated as confidential. Much of their contents is reported here for the first time. 'Rather high' The earliest mentions of tainted J&J talc that Reuters found come from 1957 and 1958 reports by a consulting lab. They describe contaminants in talc from J&Js Italian supplier as fibrous and acicular, or needle-like, tremolite. Thats one of the six minerals that in their naturally occurring fibrous form are classified as asbestos. Johnson & Johnson have been accused of knowing asbestos was in their talcum powder. Credit:AP At various times from then into the early 2000s, reports by scientists at J&J, outside labs and J&Js supplier yielded similar findings. The reports identify contaminants in talc and finished powder products as asbestos or describe them in terms typically applied to asbestos, such as fiberform and rods. In 1976, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was weighing limits on asbestos in cosmetic talc products, J&J assured the regulator that no asbestos was detected in any sample of talc produced between December 1972 and October 1973. It didnt tell the agency that at least three tests by three different labs from 1972 to 1975 had found asbestos in its talc in one case at levels reported as rather high. Most internal J&J asbestos test reports Reuters reviewed do not find asbestos. However, while J&Js testing methods improved over time, they have always had limitations that allow trace contaminants to go undetected and only a tiny fraction of the company's talc is tested. The World Health Organization and other authorities recognise no safe level of exposure to asbestos. While most people exposed never develop cancer, for some, even small amounts of asbestos are enough to trigger the disease years later. Just how small hasnt been established. Many plaintiffs allege that the amounts they inhaled when they dusted themselves with tainted talcum powder were enough. The evidence of what J&J knew has surfaced after people who suspected that talc caused their cancers hired lawyers experienced in the decades-long deluge of litigation involving workers exposed to asbestos. Some of the lawyers knew from those earlier cases that talc producers tested for asbestos, and they began demanding J&Js testing documentation. What J&J produced in response to those demands has allowed plaintiffs lawyers to refine their argument: The culprit wasnt necessarily talc itself, but also asbestos in the talc. That assertion, backed by decades of solid science showing that asbestos causes mesothelioma and is associated with ovarian and other cancers, has had mixed success in court. In two cases earlier this year in New Jersey and California juries awarded big sums to plaintiffs who, like Coker, blamed asbestos-tainted J&J talc products for their mesothelioma. A third verdict, in St. Louis, was a watershed, broadening J&Js potential liability: The 22 plaintiffs were the first to succeed with a claim that asbestos-tainted Baby Powder and Shower to Shower talc, a longtime brand the company sold in 2012, caused ovarian cancer, which is much more common than mesothelioma. The jury awarded them $4.69 billion in damages. Most of the talc cases have been brought by women with ovarian cancer who say they regularly used J&J talc products as a perineal antiperspirant and deodorant. At the same time, at least three juries have rejected claims that Baby Powder was tainted with asbestos or caused plaintiffs mesothelioma. Others have failed to reach verdicts, resulting in mistrials. 'Junk' science J&J has said it will appeal the recent verdicts against it. It has maintained in public statements that its talc is safe, as shown for years by the best tests available, and that the information it has been required to divulge in recent litigation shows the care the company takes to ensure its products are asbestos-free. It has blamed its losses on juror confusion, junk science, unfair court rules and overzealous lawyers looking for a fresh pool of asbestos plaintiffs. "Plaintiffs attorneys out for personal financial gain are distorting historical documents and intentionally creating confusion in the courtroom and in the media, Ernie Knewitz, J&Js vice president of global media relations, wrote in an emailed response to Reuters findings. This is all a calculated attempt to distract from the fact that thousands of independent tests prove our talc does not contain asbestos or cause cancer. Any suggestion that Johnson & Johnson knew or hid information about the safety of talc is false. J&J declined to comment further for this article. For more than two months, it turned down repeated requests for an interview with J&J executives. On December 8, the company offered to make an expert available. It had not done so as of Thursday evening. The company referred all inquiries to its outside litigation counsel, Peter Bicks. In emailed responses, Bicks rejected Reuters findings as false and misleading. The scientific consensus is that the talc used in talc-based body powders does not cause cancer, regardless of what is in that talc, Bicks wrote. This is true even if - and it does not - Johnson & Johnson's cosmetic talc had ever contained minute, undetectable amounts of asbestos. He dismissed tests cited in this article as outlier results. In court, J&J lawyers have told jurors that company records showing that asbestos was detected in its talc referred to talc intended for industrial use. Other records, they have argued, referred to non-asbestos forms of the same minerals that their experts say are harmless. J&J has also argued that some tests picked up background asbestos stray fibres that could have contaminated samples after floating into a mill or lab from a vehicle clutch or fraying insulation. The company has made some of the same arguments about lab tests conducted by experts hired by plaintiffs. One of those labs found asbestos in Shower to Shower talc from the 1990s, according to an August 11, 2017, court report. Another lab found asbestos in more than half of multiple samples of Baby Powder from past decades in bottles from plaintiffs' cupboards and acquired from eBay, and even a 1978 bottle held in J&Js corporate museum. The concentrations were great enough that users would have, more likely than not, been exposed, the plaintiffs lab report presented in several cases this year concluded. Matthew Sanchez, a geologist with consultants RJ Lee Group Inc and a frequent expert witness for J&J, dismissed those findings in testimony in the St. Louis trial: I have not found asbestos in any of the current or modern, what I consider modern, Johnson & Johnson talc products, Sanchez told the jury. Sanchez did not return calls seeking comment. RJ Lee said it does not comment on the work it does for clients. Since 2003, talc in Baby Powder sold in the United States has come from China through supplier Imerys Talc America, a unit of Paris-based Imerys SA and a co-defendant in most of the talc litigation. Imerys and J&J said the Chinese talc is safe. An Imerys spokesman said the companys tests consistently show no asbestos. Talcs safe use has been confirmed by multiple regulatory and scientific bodies. J&J, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, has dominated the talc powder market for more than 100 years, its sales outpacing those of all competitors combined, according to Euromonitor International data. And while talc products contributed just $585 million (US$420 million) to J&Js $106.5 billion (US$76.5 billion) in revenue last year, Baby Powder is considered an essential facet of the healthcare-products makers carefully tended image as a caring company a sacred cow, as one 2003 internal email put it. When people really understand whats going on, I think it increases J&Js exposure a thousand-fold, said Mark Lanier, one of the lawyers for the women in the St. Louis case. The mounting controversy surrounding J&J talc hasnt shaken investors. The share price is up about 6 percent so far this year. Talc cases make up fewer than 10 percent of all personal injury lawsuits pending against J&J, based on the companys August 2 quarterly report, in which the company said it believed it had strong grounds on appeal. J&J Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alex Gorsky has pledged to fight on, telling analysts in July: We remain confident that our products do not contain asbestos. Gorskys comment, echoed in countless J&J statements, misses a crucial point. Asbestos, like many environmental carcinogens, has a long latency period. Diagnosis usually comes years after initial exposure 20 years or longer for mesothelioma. J&J talc products today may be safe, but the talc at issue in thousands of lawsuits was sold and used over the past 60 years. A Baby Powder advertisement from 1930. 'Safety first' In 1886, Robert Wood Johnson enlisted his younger brothers in an eponymous startup built around the Safety First motto. Johnsons Baby Powder grew out of a line of medicated plasters, sticky rubber strips loaded with mustard and other home remedies. When customers complained of skin irritation, the brothers sent packets of talc. Soon, mothers began applying the talc to infants diaper-chafed skin. The Johnsons took note. They added a fragrance that would become one of the most recognisable in the world, sifted the talc into tin boxes and, in 1893, began selling it as Johnsons Baby Powder. In the late 1950s, J&J discovered that talc from its chief source mine for the U.S. market in the Italian Alps contained tremolite. Thats one of six minerals along with chrysotile, actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite that occur in nature as crystalline fibres known as asbestos, a recognised carcinogen. Some of them, including tremolite, also occur as unremarkable non-asbestiform rocks. Both forms often occur together and in talc deposits. J&Js worry at the time was that contaminants made the companys powder abrasive. It sent tons of its Italian talc to a private lab in Columbus, Ohio, to find ways to improve the appearance, feel and purity of the powder by removing as much grit as possible. In a pair of reports from 1957 and 1958, the lab said the talc contained from less than 1 percent to about 3 percent of contaminants, described as mostly fibrous and acicular tremolite. Most of the authors of these and other J&J records cited in this article are dead. Sanchez, the RJ Lee geologist whose firm has agreed to provide him as a witness in up to 100 J&J talc trials, has testified that tremolite found decades ago in the companys talc, from Italy and later Vermont, was not tremolite asbestos at all. Rather, he has said, it was cleavage fragments from non-asbestiform tremolite. J&Js original records dont always make that distinction. In terms of health risk, regulators since the early 1970s have treated small fibre-shaped particles of both forms the same. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for example, makes no distinction between fibers [sic] and (comparable) cleavage fragments, agency officials wrote in a response to an RJ Lee report on an unrelated matter in 2006, the year before the firm hired Sanchez. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), though it dropped the non-fibrous forms of the minerals from its definition of asbestos in 1992, nonetheless recommends that fibre-shaped fragments indistinguishable from asbestos be counted in its exposure tests. And as the product safety director for J&Js talc supplier acknowledged in a 2008 email to colleagues: (I)f a deposit contains non-asbestiform tremolite, there is also asbestiform tremolite naturally present as well. 'The lungs of babies' In 1964, J&Js Windsor Minerals Inc subsidiary bought a cluster of talc mines in Vermont, with names like Argonaut, Rainbow, Frostbite and Black Bear. By 1966, it was blasting and bulldozing white rock out of the Green Mountain state. J&J used the milled powder in its cosmetic powders and sold a less-refined grade to roofing, flooring and tire companies for use in manufacturing. Ten years after tremolite turned up in the Italian talc, it showed up in Vermont talc, too. In 1967, J&J found traces of tremolite and another mineral that can occur as asbestos, according to a table attached to a November 1, 1967, memo by William Ashton, the executive in charge of J&Js talc supply for decades. J&J continued to search for sources of clean talc. But in an April 9, 1969, memo to a company doctor, Ashton said it was normal to find tremolite in many U.S. talc deposits. He suggested J&J rethink its approach. Historically, in our Company, Tremolite has been bad, Ashton wrote. How bad is Tremolite medically, and how much of it can safely be in a talc base we might develop? Since pulmonary disease, including cancer, appeared to be on the rise, it would seem to be prudent to limit any possible content of Tremolite to an absolute minimum, came the reply from another physician executive days later. The doctor told Ashton that J&J was receiving safety questions from paediatricians. Even Robert Wood Johnson II, the founders son and then-retired CEO, had expressed concern over the possibility of the adverse effects on the lungs of babies or mothers, he wrote. We have replied, the doctor wrote, that we would not regard the usage of our powders as presenting any hazard. Such assurances would be impossible, he added, if we do include Tremolite in more than unavoidable trace amounts. The memo is the earliest J&J document reviewed by Reuters that discusses tremolite as more than a scratchy nuisance. The doctor urged Ashton to consult with company lawyers because it is not inconceivable that we could become involved in litigation. Never '100% clean' By the early 1970s, asbestos was widely recognised as the primary cause of mesothelioma among workers involved in producing it and in industries that used it in their products. Regulation was in the air. In 1972, President Richard Nixons newly created OSHA issued its first rule, setting limits on workplace exposure to asbestos dust. By then, a team at Mount Sinai Medical Center led by pre-eminent asbestos researcher Irving Selikoff had started looking at talcum powders as a possible solution to a puzzle: Why were tests of lung tissue taken post mortem from New Yorkers who never worked with asbestos finding signs of the mineral? Since talc deposits are often laced with asbestos, the scientists reasoned, perhaps talcum powders played a role. They shared their preliminary findings with New York Citys environmental protection chief, Jerome Kretchmer. On June 29, 1971, Kretchmer informed the Nixon administration and called a press conference to announce that two unidentified brands of cosmetic talc appeared to contain asbestos. The FDA opened an inquiry. J&J issued a statement: Our fifty years of research knowledge in this area indicates that there is no asbestos contained in the powder manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Later that year, another Mount Sinai researcher, mineralogist Arthur Langer, told J&J in a letter that the team had found a relatively small amount of chrysotile asbestos in Baby Powder. Langer, Selikoff and Kretchmer ended up on a J&J list of antagonistic personalities in a November 29, 1972, memo, which described Selikoff as the leader of an attack on talc. I suppose I was antagonistic, Langer told Reuters. Even so, in a subsequent test of J&J powders in 1976, he didnt find asbestos a result that Mount Sinai announced. Langer said he told J&J lawyers who visited him last year that he stood by all of his findings. J&J has not called him as a witness. Selikoff died in 1992. Kretchmer said he recently read that a jury had concluded that Baby Powder was contaminated with asbestos. I said to myself, How come it took so long? he said. In July 1971, meanwhile, J&J sent a delegation of scientists to Washington to talk to the FDA officials looking into asbestos in talcum powders. According to an FDA account of the meeting, J&J shared evidence that their talc contains less than 1%, if any, asbestos. Later that month, Wilson Nashed, one of the J&J scientists who visited the FDA, said in a memo to the companys public relations department that J&Js talc contained trace amounts of fibrous minerals (tremolite/actinolite). 'Incontrovertible asbestos' As the FDA continued to investigate asbestos in talc, J&J sent powder samples to be tested at private and university labs. Though a private lab in Chicago found trace amounts of tremolite, it declared the amount insignificant and the samples substantially free of asbestiform material. J&J reported that finding to the FDA under a cover letter that said the results clearly show the samples tested contain no chrysotile asbestos. J&Js lawyer told Reuters the tremolite found in the samples was not asbestos. But J&Js FDA submission left out University of Minnesota professor Thomas E. Hutchinsons finding of chrysotile in a Shower to Shower sample incontrovertible asbestos, as he described it in a lab note. The FDAs own examinations found no asbestos in J&J powder samples in the 1970s. Those tests, however, did not use the most sensitive detection methods. An early test, for example, was incapable of detecting chrysotile fibres, as an FDA official recognised in a J&J account of an August 11, 1972, meeting with the agency: I understand that some samples will be passed even though they contain such fibres, but we are willing to live with it. By 1973, Tom Shelley, director of J&Js Central Research Laboratories in New Jersey, was looking into acquiring patents on a process that a British mineralogist and J&J consultant was developing to separate talc from tremolite. It is quite possible that eventually tremolite will be prohibited in all talc, Shelley wrote on February 20, 1973, to a British colleague. Therefore, he added, the process may well be valuable property to us. At the end of March, Shelley recognised the sensitivity of the plan in a memo sent to a J&J lawyer in New Jersey: We will want to carefully consider the patents re asbestos in talc. Its quite possible that we may wish to keep the whole thing confidential rather than allow it to be published in patent form and thus let the whole world know. J&J did not obtain the patents. While Shelley was looking into the patents, J&J research director DeWitt Petterson visited the companys Vermont mining operation. Occasionally, sub-trace quantities of tremolite or actinolite are identifiable, he wrote in an April 1973 report on the visit. And these might be classified as asbestos fibre. J&J should protect our powder franchise by eliminating as many tiny fibres that can be inhaled in airborn talc dust as possible, Petterson wrote. He warned, however, that no final product will ever be made which will be totally free from respirable particles. Introducing a cornstarch version of Baby Powder, he noted, is obviously another answer. Bicks told Reuters that J&J believes that the tremolite and actinolite Petterson cited were not asbestos. Cornstarch came up again in a March 5, 1974, report in which Ashton, the J&J talc supply chief, recommended that the company research that alternative for defensive reasons because the thrust against talc has centred primarily on biological problems alleged to result from the inhalation of talc and related mineral particles. 'We may have problems' A few months after Pettersons recognition that talc purity was a pipe dream, the FDA proposed a rule that talc used in drugs contain no more than 0.1 percent asbestos. While the agencys cosmetics division was considering similar action on talcum powders, it asked companies to suggest testing methods. At the time, J&Js Baby Powder franchise was consuming 20,000 tons of Vermont talc a year. J&J pressed the FDA to approve an X-ray scanning technique that a company scientist said in an April 1973 memo allowed for an automatic 1% tolerance for asbestos. That would mean talc with up to 10 times the FDAs proposed limit for asbestos in drugs could pass muster. The same scientist confided in an Oct. 23, 1973, note to a colleague that, depending on what test the FDA adopted for detecting asbestos in cosmetic talc, we may have problems. The best way to detect asbestos in talc was to concentrate the sample and then examine it through microscopes, the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute told J&J in a December 27, 1973, report. In a memo, a J&J lab supervisor said the concentration technique, which the companys own researchers had earlier used to identify a tremolite-type asbestos in Vermont talc, had one limitation: It may be too sensitive. In his email to Reuters, J&Js lawyer said the lab supervisors concern was that the test would result in false positives, showing asbestos where there was none. J&J also launched research to find out how much powder a baby was exposed to during a diapering and how much asbestos could be in that powder and remain within OSHAs new workplace exposure limits. Its researchers had strapped an air sampling device to a doll to take measurements while it was powdered, according to J&J memos and the minutes of a Feb. 19, 1974, meeting of the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA), an industry group. It was calculated that even if talc were pure asbestos the levels of exposure of a baby during a normal powdering are far below the accepted tolerance limits, the minutes state. In a September 6, 1974, letter, J&J told the FDA that since a substantial safety factor can be expected with talc that contains 1 percent asbestos, methods capable of determining less than 1% asbestos in talc are not necessary to assure the safety of cosmetic talc. Not everyone at the FDA thought that basing a detection method on such a calculation was a good idea. One official called it foolish, adding, according to a J&J account of a February 1975 meeting: No mother was going to powder her baby with 1% of a known carcinogen irregardless of the large safety factor. Push for self-regulation Having failed to persuade the FDA that up to 1 percent asbestos contamination was tolerable, J&J began promoting self-policing as an alternative to regulation. The centrepiece of this approach was a March 15, 1976, package of letters from J&J and other manufacturers that the CTFA gave to the agency to show that they had succeeded at eliminating asbestos from cosmetic talc. The attached letters demonstrate responsibility of industry in monitoring its talcs, the cover letter said. We are certain that the summary will give you assurance as to the freedom from contamination by asbestos for materials of cosmetic talc products. In its letter, J&J said samples of talc produced between December 1972 and October 1973 were tested for asbestos, and none was detected in any sample. J&J didnt tell the FDA about a 1974 test by a professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire that turned up asbestos in talc from J&J fiberform actinolite, as he put it. Nor did the company tell the FDA about a 1975 report from its longtime lab that found particles identified as asbestos fibres in five of 17 samples of talc from the chief source mine for Baby Powder. Some of them seem rather high, the private lab wrote in its cover letter. Bicks, the J&J lawyer, said the contract labs results were irrelevant because the talc was intended for industrial use. He said the company now believes that the actinolite the Dartmouth professor found was not asbestiform, based on its interpretation of a photo in the original lab report. Just two months after the Dartmouth professor reported his findings, Windsor Minerals Research and Development Manager Vernon Zeitz wrote that chrysotile, fibrous anthophyllite and other types of asbestos had been found in association with the Hammondsville ore body the Vermont deposit that supplied Baby Powder talc for more than two decades. Zeitzs May 1974 report on efforts to minimise asbestos in Vermont talc strongly urged the adoption of ways to protect against what are currently considered to be materials presenting a severe health hazard and are potentially present in all talc ores in use at this time. Bicks said that Zeitz was not reporting on actual test results. The following year, Zeitz reported that based on weekly tests of talc samples over six months, it can be stated with a greater than 99.9% certainty that the ores and materials produced from the ores at all Windsor Mineral locations are free from asbestos or asbestiform minerals. 'Misrepresentation by omission' J&Js selective use of test results figured in a New Jersey judges decision this year to affirm the first verdict against the company in a case claiming asbestos in J&J products caused cancer. Providing the FDA favorable results showing no asbestos and withholding or failing to provide unfavorable results, which show asbestos, is a form of a misrepresentation by omission, Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Ana Viscomi said in her June ruling. J&J respectfully disagrees with the Judges comments, Bicks said. J&J did not withhold any relevant testing from FDA. The FDA declined to comment on the ruling. Lacking consensus on testing methods, the FDA postponed action to limit asbestos in talc. Years later, it did set limits on asbestos in talc used in drugs. It has never limited asbestos in cosmetic talc or established a preferred method for detecting it. Instead, in 1976, a CTFA committee chaired by a J&J executive drafted voluntary guidelines, establishing a form of X-ray scanning with a 0.5 percent detection limit as the primary test, the method J&J preferred. The method is not designed to detect the most commonly used type of asbestos, chrysotile, at all. The group said the more sensitive electron microscopy was impractical. The CTFA, which now does business as the Personal Care Products Council, declined to comment. X-ray scanning is the primary method J&J has used for decades. The company also periodically requires the more sensitive checks with electron microscopes. J&Js lawyer said the companys tests exceed the trade association standard, and they do. He also said that today, J&Js X-ray scans can detect suspect minerals at levels as low as 0.1 percent of a sample. But the company never adopted the Colorado labs 1973 recommendation that samples be concentrated before examination under a microscope. And the talc samples that were subjected to the most sensitive electron microscopy test were a tiny fraction of what was sold. For those and other reasons, J&J couldnt guarantee its Baby Powder was asbestos-free when plaintiffs used it, according to experts, including some who testified for plaintiffs. As early as 1976, Ashton, J&Js longtime talc overseer, recognised as much in a memo to colleagues. He wrote that talc in general, if subjected to the most sensitive testing method, using concentrated samples, will be hard pressed in supporting purity claims. He described this sort of testing as both sophisticated and disturbing. 'Free of hazard' By 1977, J&J appeared to have tamed concerns about the safety of talc. An internal August report on J&Js Defense of Talc Safety campaign noted that independent authorities had deemed cosmetic talc products to be free of hazard. It attributed this growing opinion to the dissemination to scientific and medical communities in the United States and Britain of favourable data from the various J&J sponsored studies. In 1984, FDA cosmetics chief and former J&J employee Heinz Eiermann reiterated that view. He told the New York Times that the agencys investigation a decade earlier had prompted the industry to ensure that talc was asbestos-free. So in subsequent analyses, he told the paper, we really could not identify asbestos or only on very rare occasions. Two years later, the FDA rejected a citizen request that cosmetic talc carry an asbestos warning label, saying that even if there were trace contamination, the use of talc powder during two years of normal diapering would not increase the risk of cancer. In 1980, J&J began offering a cornstarch version of Baby Powder to expand its customer base to people who prefer cornstarch, the company says. The persistence of the industrys view that cosmetic talc is asbestos-free is why no studies have been conducted on the incidence of mesothelioma among users of the products. Its also partly why regulations that protect people in mines, mills, factories and schools from asbestos-laden talc dont apply to babies and others exposed to cosmetic talc even though Baby Powder talc has at times come from the same mines as talc sold for industrial use. J&J says cosmetic talc is more thoroughly processed and thus purer than industrial talc. Until recently, the American Cancer Society (ACS) accepted the industrys position, saying on its website: All talcum products used in homes have been asbestos-free since the 1970s. After receiving inquiries from Reuters, the ACS in early December revised its website to remove the assurance that cosmetic talcs are free of asbestos. Now, it says, quoting the industrys standards, that all cosmetic talc products in the United States should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos. The revised ACS web page also notes that the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies talc that contains asbestos as carcinogenic to humans. Despite the success of J&Js efforts to promote the safety of its talc, the companys test lab found asbestos fibers in samples taken from the Vermont operation in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Bicks said: The samples that we know of during this time period that contained a fibre or two of asbestos were not cosmetic talc samples. Then, in 1992, three years after J&J sold its Vermont mines, the new owner, Cyprus Minerals, said in an internal report on important environmental issues in its talc reserves that there was past tremolite in the Hammondsville deposit. Hammondsville was the primary source of Baby Powder talc from 1966 until its shutdown in 1990. Bicks rejected the Cyprus report as hearsay, saying there is no original documentation to confirm it. Hammondsville mine records, according to a 1993 J&J memo, were destroyed by the mine management staff just prior to the J&J divestiture. Bicks said the destroyed documents did not include talc testing records. In 2002 and 2003, Vermont mine operators found chrysotile asbestos fibres on several occasions in talc produced for Baby Powder sold in Canada. In each case, a single fibre was recorded a finding deemed BDL below detection limit. Bicks described the finding as background asbestos that did not come from any talc source. In 2009, the FDA, responding to growing public concern about talc, commissioned tests on 34 samples, including a bottle of J&J Baby Powder and samples of Imerys talc from China. No asbestos was detected. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency continues to receive a lot of questions about talc cosmetics. I recognise the concern, he told Reuters. He said the agencys policing of cosmetics in general fewer than 30 people regulating a vast industry was a place where we think we can be doing more. Gottlieb said the FDA planned to host a public forum in early 2019 to look at how we would develop standards for evaluating any potential risk. An agency spokeswoman said that would include examining scientific test methods for assessment of asbestos. Fishing expedition Before law school, Herschel Hobson worked at a rubber plant. There, his job included ensuring that asbestos in talc the workers were exposed to didnt exceed OSHA limits. Thats why he zeroed in on Johnsons Baby Powder after he took on Darlene Coker as a client in 1997. The lawsuit Coker and her husband, Roy, filed that year against J&J in Jefferson County District Court in Beaumont, Texas, is the earliest Reuters found alleging Baby Powder caused cancer. Hobson asked J&J for any research it had into the health of its mine workers; talc production records from the mid-1940s through the 1980s; depositions from managers of three labs that tested talc for J&J; and any documents related to testing for fibrous or asbestiform materials. J&J objected. Hobsons fishing expedition would not turn up any relevant evidence, it asserted in a May 6, 1998, motion. In fact, among the thousands of documents Hobsons request could have turned up was a letter J&J lawyers had received only weeks earlier from a Rutgers University geologist confirming that she had found asbestos in the companys Baby Powder, identified in her 1991 published study as tremolite asbestos needles. Hobson agreed to postpone his discovery demands until he got the pathology report on Cokers lung tissue. Before it came in, J&J asked the judge to dismiss the case, arguing that Coker had no evidence Baby Powder caused mesothelioma. Ten days later, the pathology report landed: Cokers lung tissue contained tens of thousands of long fibres of four different types of asbestos. The findings were consistent with exposure to talc containing chrysotile and tremolite contamination, the report concluded. The asbestos fibres found raise a new issue of fact, Hobson told the judge in a request for more time to file an opposition to J&Js dismissal motion. The judge gave him more time but turned down his request to resume discovery. Without evidence from J&J and no hope of ever getting any, Hobson advised Coker to drop the suit. Hobson is still practicing law in Nederland, Texas. When Reuters told him about the evidence that had emerged in recent litigation, he said: They knew what the problems were, and they hid it. J&Js records would have made a 100% difference in Cokers case. Had the information about asbestos in J&Js talc come out earlier, he said, maybe there would have been 20 years less exposure for other people. Bicks, the J&J lawyer, said Coker dropped her case because the discovery established that J&J talc had nothing to do with Plaintiffs disease, and that asbestos exposure from a commercial or occupational setting was the likely cause. The revelation that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that its baby powder contained asbestos has opened the door for local law firms to take on the multinational pharmaceutical giant for any Australian victims who may have been exposed to the toxic mineral. News agency Reuters revealed on Saturday that internal reports and other confidential documents showed J&J knew about the presence of small amounts of asbestos in its products from at least 1971. The evidence surfaced after people who suspected that its talc had caused their cancers hired lawyers experienced in the decades-long deluge of litigation involving workers exposed to asbestos. Johnson & Johnson have been accused of knowing asbestos was in their talcum powder. Credit:AP When asked about the potential risks faced by Australian consumers and whether the ingredients used in the Australian product was the same as its US-equivalent, a Johnson & Johnson Australia spokeswoman would not respond. Shares of Johnson & Johnson fell 10 percent on Friday and were on track to post their biggest percentage drop in more than 16 years, after Reuters reported that the pharma major knew for decades that cancer-causing asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder. The decline in shares erased about $55.7 billion (US$40 billion) from the company's market capitalisation, with investors worrying about the impact of the report as it faces thousands of talc-related lawsuits. Johnson & Johnson have been accused of knowing asbestos was in their talcum powder. Credit:AP The stock was the biggest drag on the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 indexes and was among the most traded on U.S. exchanges. About 28 million shares exchanged hands by 1830 GMT, more than three times its 25-day moving average. J&J was found to have known about the presence of small amounts of asbestos in its products from as early as 1971, a Reuters examination of company memos, internal reports and other confidential documents showed. Brian Plancke, Mirboo North When a Little goes a long way We read in The Age that Father Ernie Smith had relationships with a few adult women. As a result, all records of his great, generous work for the poor, the homeless, people in need in Yarraville and St Kilda are removed from the Sacred Heart Mission. On the other hand, former archbishop Sir Frank Little still retains his knighthood, plaques in churches and is still recorded as a former number one ticket holder for Essendon, yet he was responsible for moving numerous paedophile priests from one parish to another, which enabled them to abuse more victims It does not seem fair or consistent to me. What is good for one should be good for the other. If history has to be changed, then let us be consistent. Geoffrey Lane, Mornington Power imbalance cannot be denied Interesting how, once again, the good works of a priest are being used to justify turning a blind eye to aberrant sexual behaviour on his part. The suggestion that Father Ernie Smith had consensual sexual relationships with three women (that we know of) simply overlooks the imbalance of power that will always exist in any such a relationship. He might be forgiven had he renounced his vows upon entering the first relationship. But he didn't, did he? Julian Guy, Mount Eliza THE FORUM Hail true love, and wit Congratulations to Dennis Neuen and Melissa Rosamond ("The secret proposal", The Sunday Age, 9/12) and congratulations to the Good Weekend quiz team, who put together Dennis' quiz proposal. How wonderful to read a happy human interest story with a twist. Loved the cartoon too. Well done! Ella Keesing, Mount Waverley Beware the whisperer Fiona Patten is to be congratulated for calling out "preference whisperer" Glenn Druery's gaming of the political system ("Whisperer's quiet word on working the numbers", The Age, 15/12). While his activities may have been considered by some to be just a fringe activity, the results of this travesty of fair play are now out in the open for all to see. To have eight members of micro-parties receiving very small primary votes elected to hold the balance of power in the Victorian upper house, one with only 0.6 per cent, surely sounds the alarm bells that our precious democracy is under threat. It is absolutely clear there needs to be a change in the regulations so that those elected actually represent a sizeable number of voters. Phyllis Vespucci, Reservoir Fix the fixers What is the difference between buying votes, which is illegal, and paying for a preferencing arrangement? Both distort the democratic process and must be stopped. Steps also need to be taken to raise the membership threshold for registration of minor parties; 500 members is not enough. The Andrews government must promptly fix these blemishes in Victoria's electoral system. Rosemary Kiss, Rippleside Finger on the trigger Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne last week spoke about his great support for Australia's successful weapons-producing export industry. Proudly, he pointed out Australian weapons can now be used in many parts of the world. Mr Pyne's excitement about Australian industries contributing to unnecessary wars that kill innocent people is not shared by many of us who would prefer that Australia was the chief peacemaker on the planet. Leo Gamble, Mentone Peace's faint hope I read with interest your article "PM's shift on Israel to quell embassy row" (The Age, 15/12). Not that I think a two-state solution is actually anything close to a solution for anyone or that it has any hope of bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but at least this is a tacit acknowledgment that Mr Morrison was mistaken to play games with this issue. Any solution that divides Palestine into separated parts with Israel between them is absolutely doomed. But even if Israel gives up land to unite the bits of Palestine a two-state situation is only a continuation of the sense of entitlement and rage of the past. It will not bring lasting peace. For there to be lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians they both need to give up on the idea that they have exclusive right to any portion of the land they live on and choose to stand for both sides living there freely. They have to give up the right to continue to make the other side wrong for the actions of the past and embrace a full acknowledgment of that past and the harm both sides inflicted and suffered. Dale Hartley, Brentwood, WA Quiet! Genius at work In trying to extricate himself from the self-inflicted wound of the position of Australia's embassy in Israel, Scott Morrison has managed a "solution" that is akin to trying to walk both sides of the barbed wire fence at the same time, the decision that will please no one. The Israelis and Jewish communities won't like it because it recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. It won't please the Palestinians, Arab and Muslim nations because it recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A brilliant, lose-lose solution, a work of genius. Ross Hudson, Camberwell Cheap at half the price The Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) politely avoids the word corruption in its title. Yet, the state equivalents tell it like it is: they are dealing with corruption. I am reminded of thePeter Cook and Dudley Moore skit on the piano lesson. Moore at first declines to teach Cook (who has never played the piano) Beethoven's Fifth in a week because he has integrity. Cook replies: "Integrity, now that's a valuable thing and I am willing to pay for it." A CIC joke? Kevan Porter, Alphington Star chamber pot A corruption watchdog that will hold no public hearings and allows only government agencies to report alleged corruption because whistleblowers won't have the power to? ICACked up. Comedy gold! Thank you, Scott Morrison, I needed a good laugh. Ben Kelly, Brunswick Phew, breathing easier Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price says we don't need to take action on climate change as our contribution to world emissions is a low overall percentage. So that's all right then we can forget about seatbelts in cars as our contribution to road death and trauma is small in world terms. Des Bleakley, Vermont South Reaction attraction Which political party will have the foresight, will and courage to go up against the formidable coal lobby and the Greens to start the ball rolling on a nuclear reactor to solve our energy situation? Generation III reactors have been operating for more than a decade and the waste, which we contribute to by way of supplying raw materials, could be no worse than coal has been for the environment since the Industrial Revolution. Margaret Raffle, Keilor East Encryption anxiety I admit I'm a Luddite in matters technological, digitally speaking, but when Damian Cronan, a "technologist with a career in digital services" can understand the issue I listen to his opinions when he says, "Australia's encryption laws represent a dangerous overreach by the federal government and create more problems than they solve. There's good reason why the overwhelming majority of the technology community, in Australia and around the world, is so resoundingly against the legislation" (Comment, Business, 15/12). Call me a conspiracy theorist if you will, but I say better safe than sorry. Rosemary Taylor, Castlemaine Shine a light on belief Our Prime Minister is a member of the Horizon Church, whose website links to the Australian Christian Churches website. They believe the Bible "is infallible, inerrantly revealing the will of God" and that the return of Christ is imminent and he will "set up his millennial reign on this earth". They believe in the biblical account of creation. Mr Morrison has been asked if his religious beliefs influence his political decisions and he has batted the question away without difficulty. But it is important that we know exactly what he believes. If he believes the second coming of Christ is imminent, his decisions regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital make a sort of sense: end time theology teaches that Christ will rule from Israel. It also follows from this belief that decisions on issues such as climate change can be made with no concern for consequences. If he believes in the biblical version of young-earth creationism then he is not persuaded by the vast majority of scientists and would not embrace evidence-based policies across the board. It is important that he is asked exactly what he believes so that we can determine the type of leader we have. His answers to specific questions from journalists along these lines would be illuminating. Steve Clark, Hamilton Living in sunshine Rosemary Sceats is naive when she suggests under-age children should not be indoctrinated by their parents' religious beliefs (Letters, 15/12). In their formative years children will always be influenced by their parents' world view, whether it is religious, secular, left-wing or conservative. As the child matures and goes through the educational process they will discover the joy of original thought, sometimes rejecting the values of childhood while new values will be embraced. I agree with Rosemary that children should be taught logic and secular ethics. Rather than have experienced proscriptions and prescriptions that severely restrict my life, as she suggests, as a follower of Jesus who grew up in a non-religious family I can never recall a time I have felt so free. To quote from Stanley Jones: "The day I decided to follow Jesus it was as if I had swallowed sunshine." Lance Sterling, Burwood Teens armed with knives robbed people in a suburban street in Melbourne's west on Friday night after police broke up a gathering of up to 200 teenagers at a property rented by a 15-year-old boy through Airbnb, police allege. The owner of the Point Cook property called Triple-0 after the party, which had been advertised on Facebook, sparked noise complaints and spilled out onto St Clair Avenue about 8.45pm Friday, before a violent crime spree ensued. Police dispersed a gathering of up to 200 youths on Friday night at a Point Cook property rented by a 15-year-old through Airbnb. Credit: Victoria Police The property was not damaged but it's believed some of those in attendance, aged between 14 and 16, remained in the area after police attended. Police say two teens were approached at 10.45pm by five youths on the same street. Demands were allegedly made for their belongings before a knife was produced. A three-year-old boy had to fight for his life with a burst appendix and a twisted bowel on Thursday after a Perth hospital had diagnosed him with a stomach bug and sent him home the day before. Noah Armstrong was diagnosed with a burst appendix and intestinal malrotation on Thursday. Credit:Holly Armstrong Noah's mother Holly Armstrong rushed her three-year-old son to St. John of God Midland at 8am on Wednesday morning. He had been screaming from 10pm the night before. He was vomiting. He was running a high temperature of 39 when we got to the hospital, Ms Armstrong said. I had to wheel him in and it took them thirty minutes to see us. Life-saving defibrillators would be installed in every WA home if new St John Ambulance (SJA) boss Michelle Fyfe had her way. New St John Ambulance chief Michelle Fyfe. Credit:phil hickey The new chief executive of SJA hopes the machines - which deliver an electric current to the heart in the event of a cardiac arrest - will soon become the norm for most WA households. "Seventy per cent of cardiac arrests will occur in the home," Ms Fyfe, who took over the reins at SJA in October, told WAtoday this week. "If you think about the things that are mandatory in your home, you have to have smoke detectors, you have to have pool fences, and quite rightly. On Friday, after years of hard work, students received their year 12 results and established whether they had the ATAR score to go to university or take a TAFE option. Students compare their ATAR results on Friday. Credit:Brendan Esposito This coincides with many parents and national leaders talking about opportunities young people have to pursue the future they want, how "education is an investment in the future", and how "young people are our future". It's an annual ritual reflecting one way many of us, including politicians, think about the future. It may also partly explain why over the last few weeks we have seen education and students become a political football. Politicians are fighting again about the Gonski funding model. They quarrelled about whether students should be allowed to think for themselves, and act by walking out of classrooms to send a message to politicians to avert catastrophic global warming threatening the future of life on the planet. We also face a demographic shift that many leaders seem to have trouble acknowledging. Victorias contempt of court laws are set for a revamp as part of an Andrews Government shake-up of the legal system. As Premier Daniel Andrews vows to tackle the way suppression orders are issued by the courts, the newly elected government has also embarked on a wide-ranging review to modernise contempt proceedings and make sure the law is being properly enforced. Premier Daniel Andrews and Attorney General Jill Hennessy. Credit:AAP Contempt of court is a broad-ranging offence that takes into account various acts of disobedience or disrespect towards the courts or its officers. The Australian newspaper, for instance, was recently found in contempt of Victoria's judicial system after publishing a series of stories referring to the criminal history of construction union boss John Setka before he faced court earlier this year, despite several warnings from the Office of Public Prosecutions. Washington: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who is facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity and potential conflicts of interest, will leave the administration at year's end, President Donald Trump said on Saturday. Trump, in tweeting Zinke's departure, said the former Montana congressman "accomplished much during his tenure" and that a replacement would be announced next week. The Cabinet post requires Senate confirmation. Zinke is leaving weeks before Democrats take control of the House, a shift in power that promised to intensify probes into his conduct. His departure comes amid a staff shake-up as Trump heads into his third year in office. The president on Friday named White House budget director Mick Mulvaney as his next chief of staff. Zinke, 57, played a leading part in Trump's efforts to roll back environmental regulations and promote domestic energy development. When he recently travelled to survey damage from California's wildfires, Zinke echoed Trump's claims that lax forest management was to blame in the devastation. Denise Williams, Brian Winchester. Photo: AP Images Its a tale as old as time: Man meets woman. Man and woman fall in love and get married. Man is then believed to have been eaten by alligators. Years later, woman is accused of arranging mans murder because she was having an affair with his best friend. Nearly two decades after Mike Williams died, his high-school sweetheart, Denise Williams, is standing trial for his murder. Brian Winchester, Williamss best friend, has testified that Denise had him kill her husband. Heres what to know about this particularly strange, tangled Florida case. Mike Williams disappeared back in 2000. Per the Washington Post, Williams went out duck hunting at Lake Seminole the morning of December 16, 2000, which also happened to be his and Denises sixth wedding anniversary. When he didnt return back in time for a trip they were planning to take together, a search party combed the lake. Over the next few weeks, they found his boat, jacket, waders, and hunting license, but no body hence the investigators gator theory. He was initially declared dead by accidental drowning. As documented in an extensive timeline of the case in the Tallahassee Democrat, in June 2001, a judge had declared Williams dead by accidental drowning. Denise then collected $1.75 million in life insurance money, from an insurance policy that was written by Brian Winchester, Williamss best friend (much more on him soon). Williamss mother, Cheryl Ann Williams, refused to believe that her son had simply drowned and continued to petition police until the Florida Department of Law Enforcement opened a missing-person investigation in 2004. Over the next decade there would be extensive public attention and investigative reporting on the case with scrutiny targeted toward Denises insurance payout and Williamss disappearance was eventually reclassified as a suspicious death. Brian Winchester and Denise Williams were involved with each other. Winchester divorced his wife and in 2005, he and Denise got married. But they were having an affair for years beforehand. Heres the Posts account of how they first got together: Winchester and Denises affair began at a Sister Hazel concert in 1997, according to Winchesters testimony. They kissed inside the venue while their spouses were out parking the car, he told the jury. Winchester would eventually go on to kidnap Denise. The pair separated in 2012, and Denise filed for divorce in 2015. In 2016, Winchester held Denise in her car at gunpoint, leading Denise to file a kidnapping report with police. In 2017, Brian was sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping with that whole incident leading investigators to focus on their relationship, and their potential connection to Williamss murder. Williamss body was discovered in 2017. Florida police announced that Williamss body was discovered in December 2017, and that he had definitely been murdered. Denise was then arrested in May of this year, and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and accessory after the fact. In August, she was also charged with insurance fraud for the $1.75 million she collected after his death. Winchester confessed to Williamss murder on the stand. Winchester told the jury that Denise hadnt wanted to get divorced from her husband, citing a desire not to share custody of their young daughter. He claims that they plotted Williamss death, and wanted to make it look like a boating accident. So Winchester says that the day of their duck hunting trip in 2000, he pushed his best friend overboard. When that didnt work, he says that he shot him in the face. He then buried Williamss corpse in the mud near Carr Lake. Denises lawyers maintain that she had no knowledge of the murder plot, and that Winchester had acted alone. (Winchester was granted immunity in Williamss murder for testifying against Denise.) If convicted, she faces life in prison. Update, February 7, 2019: Denise Williams was sentenced to life in prison for her husbands murder. In December, a jury found Denise guilty of all three charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder, and accessory after the fact. On Wednesday, she received a mandatory life sentence for the murder as well as an additional 30 years for the conspiracy charge. There is no possibility for parole. Winchester received full immunity for testifying against her and will be released after serving his 20-year sentence for kidnapping. 7 Civilians, 4 Combatants Killed in Kashmir Fighting SRINAGAR, IndiaAt least seven civilians were killed and nearly two dozens injured when government forces fired at anti-India protesters in disputed Kashmir following a gunbattle that left three rebels and a soldier dead on Dec. 15, police and residents said. Indian troops surrounded a village in the southern Pulwama area on a tip that militants were hiding there, police said. As the soldiers began a search operation, militants jumped out of a civilian home and took position in an apple orchard while firing at soldiers and counterinsurgency police, said Muneer Ahmed Khan, a top police officer. Three rebels and a soldier were killed in the exchange of gunfire while one soldier was also wounded, Khan said. The gunbattle sparked protests, with hundreds of people chanting pro-militant slogans and calling for an end to Indian rule over the Himalayan region. The protesters threw stones at troops to help the militants escape while government forces fired bullets, shotgun pellets and tear gas to stop them, killing seven and injuring at least 22 others. Police officer Khan said large crowds came from multiple directions while attacking security deployments in the area. Residents accused troops of directly spraying gunfire into the crowds. The Indian troops fired at us as if they were practicing their guns, said Shabir Ahmed, a local resident who accompanied some injured taken to a hospital in Srinagar, the regions main city. Two police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said the civilians died in the anti-India protests. However, residents said at least two civilians, including a teenage boy, were killed away from the gunbattle site. Soldiers in an armored vehicle fired at a small group of civilians away from the battle site, and as the vehicle jammed on a roadside, the troops fatally shot one of them, said local resident Ubaid Ahmed. Separatists who challenge Indias sovereignty over Kashmir said the killings were part of Indias state policy and called for three days of mourning and a general shutdown in Kashmir. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a separatist leader, said in a tweet that Indias government should stop this inhumanity as it will not achieve anything except further rebellion and hatred. In recent years, mainly young Kashmiris have displayed open solidarity with the rebels and sought to protect them by engaging troops in street clashes during Indias counterinsurgency operations despite repeated warnings from the Indian authorities. India and Pakistan each claim the divided territory of Kashmir in its entirety. Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. By Aijaz Hussain President Donald Trump shakes hands with Pastor Darrell Scott, co-founder of the New Spirit Revival Center, before Trump signs an executive order during an event in the Rose Garden to mark the National Day of Prayer at the White House on May 3, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) American Renewal: Toward Racial Sanity During the election cycle of 2016, there were several pleasant surprises in the arena of race relations. One was seeing interviews with Pastor Darrell Scott (a pastor who happens to be black), who discussed how and why he had lobbied Donald Trump to run for president before he stepped down the escalator to declare his candidacy. Scott, a major Trump supporter in the African-American community, said, Trump is a white version of me. He saw a vision of Trump being able to rally a genuinely multi-racial America. His support has never wavered. Another surprise was when Trump, at rallies in the Midwest, called on the black community to consider voting for him. He told the community that Democrats only paid attention to them every four years when they needed their votes. He said Democrats never did much to help them in return for their votes, and nothing substantially changed for African-Americans during the Obama years. Race relations had actually gone backward during Obamas tenure. Finally, Trump threw out this challenge: What do you have to lose? It was a stunning indictment of the shallow Democratic Party policies, and a shocking plea for change. Race relations had badly deteriorated during the Obama years, and Trump was asking for a change in course. Smear Campaign Of course, our overly hyperbolic Democratic Party and their leftist/media vanguard were waist-deep into their typical election smearing campaign. Trump, as with all Republicans, was a racist. Pay no attention to the fact he had often been lauded by the left for his track record in race relations prior to running as a Republican. Heck, Jesse Jackson once gave him an award for his racial awareness. But now, by virtue of him declaring as a Republican, he turned into a racist overnight. It was hard to say how that familiar Democrat smear would play with a man who had successfully worked with managers of all races in the past. They had succeeded with this racist smearing before, so watching this with Trump would be like watching a heavyweight prizefight. This was going to get interesting. As it turned out, he received a greater percentage of African-American votes (as well as Hispanics), than had the overly apologetic Mitt Romney in the general election of 2012. That surprised a lot of people who did exit poll analysis. Knowing Trumps actual past working with people of color, it should not have been a surprise. The pandering and the defensiveness of the GOP establishment have always appeared as silly, and as the wrong approach. Respectful Disagreement A personal anecdote: Early in the summer of 2018, I had a discussion about race with a young woman, who happened to be black. It was a spirited discussion, but one where our different opinions were discussed with civility, candor, zeal, and respect. I cant say that about many discussions I have had with liberals, but this was a good one. One main part of our discussion was the extent of the racism that was real in white people, particularly those on the center-right. I suggested the racism always proclaimed by the left was simply not true. She didnt agree. Yet she listened and continued the discussion. I gave her my own challenge, that she could now walk through a new door, putting away fears of racial discrimination, and simply live her life as she chose. She could now walk through the door with the capacity to achieve anything she tried. Discrimination could no longer hold her, or her family and friends back. That clearly startled her. I also mentioned I thought that Trump would receive close to 20 percent of the African-American vote in 2020, if not more. Which she promptly said couldnt be true. She was convinced that would never happen. She gave me a book to read, I gave her one, and we parted as friends. We dont live in the same area, I have not seen her since, but when I see her again, we will remain respect-filled adversaries, although she might change her mind someday. Growing Black Support As the months have gone by, we have watched black confidence in Trump become more positive for multiple reasons. One: The economy has been doing extraordinarily well. Coincidentally, unemployment numbers are at historic lows. The lowest unemployment number of blacks and Hispanics is now a signature of this economic recovery. It has been for the better part of a year. Let me suggest that even though our wonderful mainstream media has virtually blacked out reporting this fact, it has become known by the people it has affected. Trumps pronouncements, and his tweets, did their work. Most people know the economy is doing well, and its a shared boon for all Americans. Two: The Kanye West effect. West has had a long friendship with Donald Trump. They had a surprise visit during the transitional time period. He and his wife Kim Kardashian West have both visited him this past year, lobbying for prison reform. And then he came to that openly public Oval Office meeting back in October. Wests friendship with Trump was seen by all races across America. Last, but not least is the phenomenon of young, outspoken, extremely smart, black conservatives, including the talented Candace Owens. The Young Black Leadership Summit in October this year was a major success. This group is persuasive, tough, and has a desire to bring back color blindness not seen in a long time. They are determined to change what they see as race relations going the wrong way. Their White House meeting was effective, and successful for all parties. Their word is now getting out to the black community: You dont have to be a Democrat, and you dont have to stay as their vote slaves. A movement in the black community has been happening since Trump won. And quietly, there has been a little-known shift in the polls. He won 8 percent of the black vote in 2016. In early October 2017, his approval rate among black voters had climbed to 23 percent, In early October 2018, it had reached 35 percent. Rasmussen polling on Oct. 29 showed a 40 percent approval rating for Trump. Yes, 40 percent. Ending Identity Politics? A game-changer. If this holds, if even 20 percent of the black community votes for Trump, it will be game over early for the 2020 election. And if the Republicans are smart, it could mean the beginning of ending the insanity and ugliness known as identity politics. It could prove to be the end of the Democratic Party stranglehold on the black vote. Which would be a wonderful thing to happen in America. Meaning, the Democratic Party might have to change. They would have to reform themselves and their petty, bitter messaging on race to remain relevant. Which would be a welcome occurrence for a country reeling from the effects of the scorched-earth politics coming from the party of the left over the years. My take: The change continues to happen. Right now. Trump is beginning to succeed with his challenge of early 2016. His question, What do you have to lose is now becoming a flood of affirmation: a flood of change. Spearheaded by black conservatives, its happening. I have said before that one of Trumps greatest achievements is the driving of our mainstream leftist media to an insanity previously unknown to mankind. If this trend in the black community holds, hell become known as the president who began the healing of our racial divide. He will aid in making race relations great, and that would become his finest achievement. Martin Luther King Jr.s awesome dream, that we would be judged by the content of our character rather than the color of our skin, could finally happen. My young friend, and an entire generation of blacks can walk through that great door of American opportunity. They will want America to be great again. Together. Not separate. David Prentice is a writer and novelist from the Midwest. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A sign in support of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou is displayed outside of the B.C. Supreme Court bail hearing of Meng, who is being held on an extradition warrant in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada December 10, 2018. REUTERS/David Ryder Arrest of Huawei CFO Draws Attention to Chinas National Intelligence Law The arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver has drawn attention to recently passed Chinese legislation that requires all Chinese people and individuals at home and abroad to aid the communist regime in its global espionage efforts. Chinas National Security Law was passed in June 2017 and amended this April. Even without any direct relationship with the Ministry of State Security (MSS), which is the Chinese regimes main intelligence and security agency, the National Security Law gives all Chinese citizens and entities the responsibility to supply intelligence information if requested. Although theres no official report or solid evidence to show a relation between Meng Wanzhou and the MSS, many scholars and commentators suspect that Meng is a member of the MSS. Huawei itself is linked to both the Chinese military via its founder Ren Zhengfei, and the MSS via its chairwoman since 1999, Sun Yafang. The National Security Law The fourth item of the Law requires the intelligence department to take the principle of the mass line, which was advocated by former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Mao Zedong as a means of mobilizing the people to carry out political objectives. In the seventh item, the Law requests that any organization and citizen should support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence work, and keep secret any such work known to them. The tenth item says that the intelligence department can collect intelligence information inside and outside of China using necessary methods, measures, and channels. The fourteenth item of the Law says: The state intelligence department has the right to ask any (Chinese) government, organization, and citizen to supply the necessary support, assistance, and cooperation. To encourage Chinese to support intelligence work, the Law says: the state will take the necessary steps to protect and rescue the citizen and his or her direct relatives when he or she is facing threats to personal safety related to intelligence work. What are the necessary methods, measures, and channels? asked Wang Tiancheng, the director of the Institute of Chinas Democratic Transformation. Speaking to The Epoch Times, he said that the National Intelligence Law is replete with ambiguous wording and provides the MSS with ample opportunity to violate laws both in China and in other countries. Wang said: The Law completely ignores the modern rights of personal privacy, personal rights and legitimate legal procedures for example, it offers supports or benefit to ask an expatriate Chinese to collect intelligence, thereby encouraging this person to violate local laws. Surveillance, monitoring, illegal detention, arresting people without warranty, and other illegal activities inside and outside of China, all these can be done under the name of state security, Chinese human right lawyer Teng Biao told The Epoch Times on Dec. 11. Teng said the Chinese regimes intelligence work has nothing to do with national security, but is to protect the CCP regime. Qin Yongpei, another Chinese human right lawyer, told The Epoch Times that the Party asks all citizens to act as spies to protect its interests. The CCPs interests bear no relation to national welfare. CCP is protecting its own rule, he said. The CCP has set up an intelligence network inside China that covers every school, neighborhood, and so on, while also expanding this network abroad, Qin said. Qin noted that Beijings high-profile efforts to pressure the Canadian government to free Meng Wanzhou are likely a play to inspire confidence in other Chinese, but in actuality the Party only wants Meng freed because as a top executive in Huawei, she knows too much. The regime has no other choice because Meng Wanzhou knows too many major secrets, Qin said. She is special. For a normal businessman [involved with intelligence work], the CCP wont show any concern. British Watchdog Bans Harmful Gender Stereotypes in Adverts The UKs advertising watchdog has said it will ban gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offence. The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) said in a Dec. 14 statement that harmful stereotypes in ads contribute to how people see themselves and their role in society, and can hold people back. Some gender stereotypes in ads can contribute to harm for adults and children by limiting how people see themselves, how others see them, and potentially restricting the life decisions they take, said Ella Smillie, Project Lead & Regulatory Policy Executive at CAP, adding that the new rule will come into force in June 2019. The crackdown follows a review of gender stereotyping in advertisements by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the organization that administers the UK Advertising Codes and works to curtail offensive ads. Our ambition is to make every UK ad a responsible ad, said ASA Chief Executive Guy Parker. As part of that, were increasingly taking proactive action so we can have the biggest impact in sectors and on issues where there is consumer detriment, or the potential for real public harm. While the authors of the review say they have found evidence suggesting that harmful stereotypes can restrict peoples choices, aspirations, and opportunities, they admit the evidence does not show that the use of gender stereotypes is always problematic. Not a Total Ban on Gender Stereotypes The ASA notes that the new rule does not seek to ban gender stereotypes entirely, but seeks to identify specific harms that should be prevented. There is nothing in our new guidance to suggest that ads cant feature people carrying out gender-typical roles, said Smillie. The issue would be if in that depiction it suggested that thats the only option available to that gender and never carried out by someone of another gender. So for example if you had a woman doing the cleaning, we wouldnt anticipate a problem. But if you had an advert with a man creating lots of mess and putting his feet up while a woman cleaned up around him, and it was very clear that she was the only person that did that at home, thats the kind of thing that could be a problem. CAP highlighted other examples that could be scenarios likely to be problematic, including: An ad that depicts a man with his feet up and family members creating mess around a home while a woman is solely responsible for cleaning up the mess. An ad that depicts a man or a woman failing to achieve a task specifically because of their gender e.g. a mans inability to change nappies; a womans inability to park a car. An ad that belittles a man for carrying out stereotypically female roles or tasks. CAP will carry out a 12-month review after the new rule comes into force next year to make sure it is meeting its objective. Vote At the Cash Register While the U.S. market has seen its share of debates over gender stereotypes in advertising, R/GA SVP of strategy and partnerships Jessica Greenwood said outright top-down bans are unlikely in the United States. This is a form of regulation that the U.K. has implemented from the top down, Greenwood told Adweek, But in the U.S., those decisions are made every day by millions of people voting with their voices and their wallets. Another factor is that there is no organization in the U.S. similar to the British ASA. Instead, said Gina Grillo, president and CEO of The Advertising Club of New York, U.S. consumers vote [yay] or nay at the cash register. Its a new world, and companies that are delivering outdated stereotypes are no longer resonating. Samantha Skey, president of the female-focused media company SheKnows, argues for market-driven self-regulation. Corporations should be responsible for the values they project through advertising; media companies should be responsible for the messages they accept and propagate through their channels and individuals should be responsible for their ability to accept or reject the messages they consume, she told Adweek, adding, advertising creative should not be controlled to this degree by a regulatory body. Bus Driver Buys Breakfast for Entire Bus of Students When School is Delayed An elementary school in Alabama recently praised one of their bus drivers for showing kindness to students when school was delayed for two hours due to icy roads. Montevallo Elementary School posted a photo on social media of Wayne Price on Dec. 12, saying he truly demonstrates the spirit of Christmas! When school was delayed due to icy roads and we werent able to serve breakfast, he purchased biscuits from McDonalds for his entire bus of students! wrote the school on Facebook. Mr. Price, one of our bus drivers, truly demonstrates the spirit of Christmas! On Tuesday, when school was delayed due Montevallo Elementary School On Dec. 11, Price received a text message about the delay affecting all Shelby County Schools, according to ABC 33/40. The bus driver had time to stop at McDonalds to buy himself breakfast that morning, and while he was there, he bought around 50 extra breakfast sandwiches for the children. One of the kids said, oh, Mr. Price, you must be rich,' said Price to ABC. I am not rich, but you sit there and think about it, you take your family out to dinner, and you can drop $50 going out to dinner, and it was nothing more than taking my family out to dinner. When it came down to the financial side, it was just second nature. I really did not think about it. I thought, Hey this would be neat. I bet they will like this.' Local residents showed their appreciation to Price in more than 1,800 likes, 500 shares, and 125 comments on Facebook, as of the time of this publication. Anyone who knows Wayne Price would know that this isnt a random moment. In the almost 20 years of knowing him, Ive seen this man give so much of himself to his community. Ive experienced first hand the hope and guidance he brings to people who may not find it anywhere else. Im glad hes getting the acknowledgment he deserves, commented Derek Wilson. He is a wonderful man! wrote Haley Culver Franks. He loves his bus family! Price told ABC that he used to work in ministry, but a friend convinced him to take a job as a bus driver. I was just amazed at how quick I fell in love with the kids, Price told the news outlet. I work with teenagers and college-aged students for most of time dealing with youth ministry, but God developed a love in me for all the ages. It appears that the love goes both ways, with the children voicing their gratitude for their bus driver as well. I was just so surprised that he did that, Montevallo Elementary fifth-grader Elizabeth Lopez told ABC after Price bought the breakfast sandwiches. I did not think he was going to do it. I am really thankful for having him as a bus driver, and he feels like a dad to me. The principal of the school, Dr. Allison Campbell, said Price was an example and a testament to this community and the schools in Montevallo. What a kind act that our students will forever remember! Thank you, Mr. Price, for making a lasting impact in the lives of our students! wrote the school on Facebook. California Farm Linked to Lettuce E Coli Outbreak Recalling Cauliflower The California farm that was linked to the lettuce E. coli outbreak is recalling cauliflower in addition to the lettuce. Adam Bros. Farming in Santa Maria said that it was recalling green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and cauliflower. The produce was harvested between Nov. 27 and Nov. 30, the company said in a press release (pdf). The recall is due to possible E. Coli contamination, although none of it has tested positive for the bacteria. The voluntary recall was initiated after sediment from a reservoir near where the lettuce and cauliflower was grown tested positive for E. coli. Filtered and treated water from the reservoir may have come in contact with the produce after it was harvested, the company said. None of the filtered, treated water has tested positive for E. coli. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Dec. 14, that 59 people in 15 states have now been sickened by the tainted lettuce, which also spread into Canada, and that additional farms are likely involved in the outbreak. The last illness was reported on Nov. 16. Officials from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are still trying to determine how the water from the reservoir, which is used to irrigate the crops, became contaminated. Contamination develops from human or animal feces. Its important to note that although this is an important piece of information, the finding on this farm doesnt explain all illnesses and our traceback investigation will continue as we narrow down what commonalities this farm may have with other farms that are part of our investigation, the FDA said in a press release. While the analysis of the strain found in the people who got ill and the sediment in one of this farms water sources is a genetic match, our traceback work suggests that additional romaine lettuce shipped from other farms could also likely be implicated in the outbreak. Investigators have obtained records from five restaurants in four different states that identify 11 different distributors, nine different growers, and eight different farms as potential sources of contaminated romaine lettuce. Because the outbreak started in late November, officials said that romaine lettuce from three counties possibly involved in the outbreak is likely safe, as long as it was harvested after Nov. 23. The counties are San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and Ventura. The outbreak likely originated in Monterey, San Benito, and/or Santa Barbara Counties, officials said. The latter is where Adams Bros. Farms is located. E. coli E .coli are bacteria found in foods, intestines, and the environment. Many strains are harmless but others can make humans sick. People usually get sick from E. coli between two and eight days after swallowing the germ and some people who get sick may develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The infection is usually confirmed by testing a stool sample. People develop E. coli in different settings, including consumption of contaminated food, consumption of raw milk, consumption of contaminated water, and contact with the feces of infected people. Sometimes the contact is pretty obvious (working with cows at a dairy or changing diapers, for example), but sometimes it is not (like eating an undercooked hamburger or a contaminated piece of lettuce), the CDC said. People have gotten infected by swallowing lake water while swimming, touching the environment in petting zoos and other animal exhibits, and by eating food prepared by people who did not wash their hands well after using the toilet. Almost everyone has some risk of infection. From NTD News Egypt Unveils One of a Kind Ancient Tomb, Expects More Finds Egypt unveiled a well-preserved 4,400-year-old tomb decorated with hieroglyphs and statues south of Cairo on Dec.15, and officials expect more discoveries when archaeologists excavate the site further in the coming months. The tomb was found in a buried ridge at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara which is situated within the Giza province. It was untouched and unlooted, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters at the site. He described the find as one of a kind in the last decades. The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Archaeologists removed a last layer of debris from the tomb on Thursday and found five shafts inside, Waziri said. One of the shafts was unsealed with nothing inside, but the other four were sealed. They are expecting to make discoveries when they excavate those shafts starting on Dec. 16, he said. The tomb is 33 feet (10 meters) long, 9.8 feet (three meters) wide and just under 9.8 feet (three meters) high, Waziri said. The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs. Waziri said the tomb was unique because of the statues and its near perfect condition. The tomb lies in a buried ridge that has only partially been uncovered. Waziri said he expects more discoveries to be made there when archaeologists start more excavation work in January. First Lady Melania Trump Takes Picture With Marine Who Couldnt Attend Event First Lady Melania Trump recently spent time with veterans and their families at an event in Virginia, and even took a moment to pose with a veteran who couldnt attend the event. Trump visited Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia on Dec. 12 and met a number of veterans, their spouses, and children. Timothy Mong wasnt among the crowdhe couldnt make it. But his wife brought a large picture of him and asked the first lady to pose with it, which she did with a big smile. Mong said his wife came up with the idea. Veteran Could Not Attend Event With The First Lady Melania Took A Photo With Him Anyway https://t.co/49rhyesX8S pic.twitter.com/idwmYzoyYi The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 14, 2018 My wife told me she was going to meet the first lady about a week ago, he told The Daily Caller. I was happy for her but I was also pretty bummed I couldnt be there to meet her in person as well. She came up with the idea to print out a photo of me in hopes of her taking a picture with it. This was the next best thing if it worked and I had my doubts, Mong added. My wife pushed through a crowd and explained the situation to Mrs. Trump and she happily obliged. Trump told the crowd, We know that we are free because you are brave. And I speak on behalf of my husband when I tell you we are forever grateful for your service. Trump also posed for photos with those in attendance and was given a tour of an F-22A Raptor fighter jet. Trump Makes History With Osprey Ride The first lady made history by flying in a V-22 Osprey aircraft onto the deck of an aircraft carrier. The White House says its the first time a first lady has flown in an Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft that takes off and lands vertically. She flew from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington to Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, and onto the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush and back. Trump visited a different area of the Virginia base on Tuesday to support the annual Toys for Tots drive. During the drive, she made a little girls dream come true by spending time helping her make Christmas cards and organize toys. Jackie Rodriguez, 7, spoke with Trump and the pair then spent about 20 minutes together. Rodriguez was smiling widely but did start crying when the first lady left. She has been waiting for this day, Nancy Rodriguez told the Daily Caller. She has been talking non-stop about meeting Mrs. Trump. This is her Christmas dream come true. Shes crying because Mrs. Trump is gone, Rodriguez added. As a parting gift, the first lady gave Jackie the drawing she made, which the girl was holding. From NTD News Flynn Filing Points to Muellers Team Hiding Exculpatory Evidence Commentary On Dec. 11, the legal team representing retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, President Donald Trumps former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to a single count of perjury in exchange for his cooperation with special counsel Robert Muellers office, made a legal filing in the court of federal Judge Emmet Sullivan. That legal filing was very revealing, but to understand why its such a bombshell requires briefly going over the timeline of events in this most unusual case. On Dec. 1, 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty before Judge Rudolph Contreras. On Dec. 7, 2017, Judge Contreras was suddenly removed from the case without any public explanation. That same day, it was announced Judge Emmet Sullivan would be replacing Judge Contreras. On Feb. 21, 2018, Judge Sullivan filed what is known as a Brady Ruling, instructing the prosecution team to hand over any exculpatory evidence to Flynn and his legal team that had been withheld from them up to that point. The Mueller team then spent the next 11 months asking for Flynns sentencing to be delayed, pushing the date back three times, until finally a firm date of Dec. 18, 2018, was set. Having a firm date set at last allowed both sides involved in the case to file the required pre-sentencing memorandums. (Note: A Brady disclosure filing is made when a judge wants to make absolutely sure, before proceeding to sentencing, that a defendant who pleaded guilty has received all favorable evidence from prosecutors. For prosecutors to withhold exculpatory evidence from a defendant who pleaded guilty is one of the most serious legal and ethical violations that an officer of the court can commit.) The Mueller special counsel team went first, on Dec. 4, making a public filing in which it asked for no jail time for Flynn based of his cooperation over the past year, as well as his extensive interviews with other Department of Justice offices that were conducting investigations. Exactly one week later, and one week before his scheduled sentencing date, on Dec. 11, Flynns legal team made its own filing, and, in doing so, dropped several bombshells on the Mueller special counsel office and the Spygate plotters. Entrapment In its memo to the judge, Flynns legal team revealed how then-Deputy Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe helped entrap the retired general with a phone call to Flynn, during which he suggested Flynn have no legal counsel present, and that the FBI agents assigned to interview him never alerted him that they were there investigating a criminal matter. The two agents also never warned Flynn at any time during this interview that hed be liable for criminal penalties if he lied to them at any point. While those revelations have gotten much media attention, theres another bombshell in the Flynn filing thats gotten much less notice. Footnote 20 in the filing says: Certain information summarized or quoted in this Memorandum derives from documents furnished to Defendants counsel pursuant to the Protective Order, United States v. Flynn, 17 CR 232 (D.D.C. Feb. 21, 2018) (Doc. 22). Undersigned counsel conferred with the Government, which represented that disclosing the selected information does not constitute a violation of the Protective Order. That footnote doesnt say exactly when the Mueller special counsel team handed over these exculpatory documents detailing the scheme to entrap Flynn. But, its clear from the way that footnote is worded the Mueller team is trying to preemptively deny that handing it over when they finally did was any sort of violation of the Brady ruling that Sullivan issued to them on Feb. 21. If the judge made the ruling official on Feb. 21, and the Mueller special counsel team waited until, lets say, August to finally cough up these documents, they can, of course, make the claim they didnt violate Sullivans order. Well soon know if the judge agrees with this assertion. Do you know what it means when a federal judge catches federal prosecutors in the act of withholding exculpatory evidence from a defendant and that defendant has already pleaded guilty? It means a severe violation of the defendants rights has occurred. Behavior such as this has gotten entire federal cases tossed in the past, including the case of Sen. Ted Stevens and, just late last year, the Cliven Bundy case. The mainstream media just spent the last year claiming Contreras sudden removal from this case meant nothing much at all, and the subsequent 12 months of sentencing delays were due to all that awesome cooperation Flynn was supposedly giving to Mueller for his investigation into Trump and his associates. In fact, at least one major reason why Contreras was suddenly pulled off this case is a matter of public record, even if Democrats and the media dont want people to remember what it is: Peter Strzok and Lisa Page got caught in their text messages talking about getting together with their friend, Rudy, and trying to influence him, but being especially clever about how they went about doing it. It now seems there might have been another reason for the long sentencing delay: The Mueller team was desperately trying to figure out how to avoid having to hand over these exculpatory documents to Flynns lawyers and giving away the entire entrapment scheme. In the end, they failed, and at a still undetermined date, they finally handed over to Flynn all the exculpatory evidence theyd been withholding. If it turns out that Flynn and his legal team received the exculpatory documents after pleading guilty only because Sullivan ordered Muellers team to turn over anything theyd been withholding, not only is this case going to be tossed, the federal prosecutors involved in it are going to face legal discipline for their behavior. Brian Cates is a writer based in South Texas and author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter at @drawandstrike. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Guatemalan Father Signed Form Saying Daughter Who Died Was Healthy The father of the 7-year-old migrant who died after crossing into the United States signed a government form saying his daughter was healthy, as family members revealed that the duo wouldnt qualify for asylum. The girl, identified as Jakelin Maquin, and her father, Nery Caal, 29, were apprehended by Border Patrol agents in the New Mexico desert on Dec. 6, as part of a larger group of 163 migrants. Four Border Patrol agents interviewed the group and looked for any signs of distress but found no signs of health issues. Supporting the assessment was Caal, who signed a government form saying his daughter was healthy, reported The Associated Press. The form said the girl showed no sign of illness and reads, Claims good health. Another question asks whether she should be referred for emergency medical care or whether she should be in the general population and the latter box was checked. The group was cared for at a facility at a nearby port of entry, Antelope Wells, that included access to restrooms, food, and water. About eight hours after they were detained, Maquin and her father were loaded onto a bus at 4:30 a.m. to take them to the closest Border Patrol station, about 95 miles away in Lordsburg. An earlier bus took unaccompanied minors to the station. Caal told Border Patrol agents that his daughter got sick and started vomiting around 5 a.m. When the bus arrived in Lordsburg at about 6:30 a.m., he said the girl was not breathing. She was attended to by emergency medical technicians who had been called to the station. Border Patrol officials said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times that a Border Patrol EMT evaluated the girl and found that she had a 105.7-degree fever and called a local EMS, which rushed her to a hospital in El Paso via an air ambulance. The girl was revived after going into cardiac arrest but she died less than 24 hours later. Caal later told Border Patrol officials that he had not given her food or water for days while they trekked to and into the United States. Our agents are almost always outnumbered in the middle of the night, a Border Patrol official told reporters on a conference call Friday, reported CNN. There is no indication that it was a lack of attention that resulted in this. The questions were asked. The observations were made and there was no indication that she had any health conditions. An investigation was opened by the agencys Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security investigator general also opened an investigation. Border Patrol said an autopsy is also planned. The department said the loss of life shows the danger of entering the United States outside ports of entries, adding: We are begging parents not to put themselves or their children at risk attempting to enter illegally. Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, told reporters on Friday that the situation was horrific and tragic. Our hearts go out to the family and to anyone whos suffered any type of danger and peril that they see so often when they make that trek up from the southern border, he said. Not Eligible for Aslyum Family members of the deceased girl said that she and her father set out from a rural area of Guatemala, the Alta Verapaz region, because they lived in poverty. Poverty isnt accepted as an asylum condition. The father has not appeared to attempt to claim asylum as of yet, though hes hired a lawyer and hasnt spoken to the press from the El Paso shelter where hes staying. He wanted to work, because he said he could make a better living there, Domingo Caal, the girls grandfather, told CNN. Caal, the girls father, has three other children with his wife. The rest of the family stayed behind in their village. While its unclear how much debt they accumulated to make the journey north, the elder Caal said the family is worried they wont be able to pay it. It really hurts, Domingo Caal added about his granddaughters death. Honestly, its hard to take in. From NTD News Idaho Officer Rescues Toddler With Life-Threatening Injuries During Traffic Stop Idaho State Police (ISP) officers encountered a cruel case of child abuse after stopping a van on Interstate 90 and finding a badly beaten 2-year-old on Dec. 11. ISP described the horrific scene as something they have never seen before. Sergeant Justin Klitch pulled the Dodge van over for a traffic violation, but later noticed that the woman in the passenger seat had bruises on her face, he told WFMY. At that moment, he also noticed the toddler in the back seat was showing signs of physical abuse. Also in the van was another 1-year-old toddler, and the driver, Jorge Gonzalez-Vergel, 59. Officers then investigated the van and found Gonzalez-Vergel in possession of a firearm as well as methamphetamine, leading to his arrest. Officer Shane Grady, who patrols Coeur dAlene, was one of the four officers at the scene. In an interview with KHQ, Grady couldnt hold back his tears as he described the moment he saw the toddler covered in lacerations and bruises in the van. This is heartbreaking, but worth a minute of your time as Trooper Shane Grady describes responding to the worst case of child abuse he's ever seen. Thankfully, because @ispdistrict1 stepped in, that child is expected to make a full recovery. Story tonight on @KHQLocalNews pic.twitter.com/z4zlgVH6YD Adam Mayer (@KHQAdam) December 14, 2018 Full Recovery The toddler, A.K.A. Baby J, was taken to Sacred Heart Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Spokane, Washington. ISP tweeted on Dec. 14, that Baby J is now out of ICU and described him as engaging and playful. UPDATE- Baby J is out of ICU!!! Sgt. Klitch just left Sacred Heart Hospital and said Baby J is alert, engaging and playful. We are all so thankful for the hard work and care of the Sacred Heart Pediatric ICU team! Still work to do but good news none the less. Idaho State Police (@ispdistrict1) December 15, 2018 The State of Idaho currently has custody of the second toddler, who is staying in the Shoshone Medical Center. The female passengers identity has not been disclosed, and according to various media sources, Gonzalez-Vergel is not a suspect in the child abuse case currently underway in Washington, but is facing charges for trafficking methamphetamine and being in possession of a firearm. Klitch told KHQ that the story isnt just about him. He is proud of his unit and those in his agency who were at the scene, and said that he thinks that the true heroes are those in the medical unit that helped save Baby Js life. Baby Abandoned in Shopping Bag Named After Road Where She Was Found A baby abandoned in a shopping bag in the freezing cold was named after the road where she was discovered. Hospital staff named the baby Roman after she was found in a small childrens play park on Roman Road in Newham, East London. The baby girl was found by a woman walking her dog with her son, at about 10 p.m. on Jan. 31 next to a park bench. Police said she heard the babys cries and immediately called emergency services. I saw the ambulance and police arrive and paramedics running and holding a baby wrapped in a towel, the 42-year-old mother said, according to Metro. They blocked off the whole area. It was freezing. It was snowing really heavily, she said. It is really upsetting. She didnt have to leave the baby in the snow and cold, she could have left her on my doorstep and rang the bell. Police are appealing to the mother of the newborn, and are increasingly concerned for her safety. In a statement, Londons Metropolitan Police said, The child is being cared for at an east London hospital. Her condition is stable at this time. The child has been unofficially referred to as Roman by hospital staff after the road where she was found. Indian Voters Defy Threats From Guerrillas and Go to the Polls The content is not available due to expiration. Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Hart attend the Inaugural Los Angeles Fatherhood Lunch to Benefit Baby Buggy hosted by Jerry Seinfeld at The Palm Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California on March 4, 2015. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Baby Buggy) Jerry Seinfeld Addresses the Kevin Hart Oscars Controversy Veteran comedian Jerry Seinfeld talked about the Kevin Hart Oscars controversy in an interview on Sunday Today. Kevin is in a position, because hes a brilliant comedian, to kind of decide what he wants to do. He doesnt have to step down, but he can, said Seinfeld, via Today. He also said the Academy is going to have a hard time finding another host like Kevin Hart. Meanwhile, comedians often have to make tough choices regarding politically correct censors. Most of the time, comedians, we are expected to be the most agile in terms of how we think and construct our thoughts and what comes out of our mouth, said Seinfeld. We have been navigating these slalom gates forever. In 2015, Seinfeld spoke on The Herd with Colin Cowherd about the rampant censorship in the name of political correctness that goes on on college campuses. He explained why many comedians mentioned by the host no longer perform at colleges and universities. I dont play colleges, but I hear a lot of people tell me, Dont go near colleges. Theyre so PC, Seinfeld told the host, according to EW. They just want to use these words: Thats racist; Thats sexist; Thats prejudice. They dont know what theyre talking about. Seinfeld also told the host that this kind of PC culture is hurting comedy. Since the Hart controversy, celebrities and other comedians have offered support for or criticism of Hart. Michael Che addressed the situation in his segment on Saturday Night Live. Also, if Kevin Hart isnt clean enough to host the Oscars, then no black comic is, he said. The Academy is believed to be considering having no host for the Oscars this year, according to Today. Other options mentioned include a group of hosts. Jimmy Kimmel had nearly ten months to prepare for last years Oscars. A new host would have just over two months until showtime. With such challenges, not hosting the Oscars could be a smart move for any comedian. According to 2013 Oscars host Seth MacFarlane, it could be more trouble than its worth. Look, its a gig that has all eyes on it, MacFarlane told EW. And when youre doing something thats that much in the spotlight, with that much focus on it, that much intensity, youre going to have a lot of opinions from a lot of people. Im trying to think of the last time that I read a review of the Oscars the next day where everyone is raving about itits been a long time. MacFarlane also referred to the Oscars and awards shows like it as an outdated and dusty format that has a hard time attracting hosts. Since the controversy first broke, Hart has sold out two shows in Sydney, Australia. He showed his appreciation via an Instagram video that was recorded in front of his Sydney audience. All I can say is WOOOOOOOOW..Thank you so much Sydney Australia.Making the world laugh is forever a priority. Blessed to be able to bring laughter on a international level & do what I love!!!! he wrote in the text field of the post. Montana Man Pleads Guilty to Killing 2, Putting Them in Acid MISSOULA, Mont.A Montana man pleaded guilty on Dec. 14, to stabbing two people to death, including a teenage girl, dismembering their bodies and then trying to dissolve them in tubs filled with acid in the basement of a home. Augustus Standingrocks plea was part of a deal with prosecutors, who will recommend the 26-year-old be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide and accountability to deliberate homicide in the deaths last year of Marilyn Pickett, 15, and Jackson Wiles, 24. Prosecutors have said Standingrock believed Wiles had sexually abused a young girl close to him. The two were killed at the Missoula house of co-defendant Tiffanie Pierce, who still faces charges of deliberate homicide. She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in March. During Fridays court hearing, Standingrock told District Judge James Wheelis that he stabbed Wiles and that Pierce killed Pickett, the Missoulian newspaper reported. The judge asked if Pickett had been free to escape the home. She tried, Standingrock answered. He said he handed Pierce the knife and didnt stop her when she attacked the teen. Pierces roommate told police he was awakened by a womans screams in August 2017, according to court records. He said he found Pierce and Standingrock in the bathroom washing off blood and that Pierce told him there was a dead woman in the basement. Pierce later told her roommate that Standingrock brought over a couple of people and that he took them to the basement and attacked one while Pierce attacked the other, the roommate told investigators. Standingrock and Pierce dismembered the bodies and tried to dissolve them in tubs filled with chemicals that she bought, prosecutors said. Officials said the coroner needed dental records and DNA to identify the bodies. Investigators also found knives and an ax covered in blood and human tissue. Standingrock had been scheduled for trial on Jan. 4. Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst previously said she would not seek the death penalty. Jasmine Adams (L) says her daughter, McKenzie (R), took her own life after facing racial bullying at school. (Eddwina Harris/Facebook) Mother Blames Bullying for 9 Year Olds Suicide An Alabama girl took her own life because she was bullied at school, her mother claims. McKenzie Adams, 9, told her mother she was being bullied at school because Adams, who was black, had a white friend and got a ride to school from her friends parents each day, CBS News reported. When the bullying became too intense at one school, Jasmine Adams, McKenzies mother, transferred her to a new school. Adams and the girls grandmother both told State Board of Education that McKenzie needed to switch schools because she was being bullied, Tuscaloosa News reported. Switching schools also did not help. The bullying began again almost immediately. She told me that this one particular child was writing her nasty notes in class, Jasmine Adams told CBS. Part of it could have been because she rode to school with a white family. And a lot of it was race [related]. Some of the student bullies would say to her, Why you riding with white people? Youre black, youre ugly. You should just die.' It was just things you wouldnt think a 9-year-old should know. And my baby, to tell me some of the things they had said to her, I was like, Where are they learning this from?' Adams added. According to Jasmine, McKenzie told the staff at her new school, U.S. Jones Elementary School in Demopolis that she was being bullied. She transferred to the school after her mother and grandmother complained to the State Board of Education that she was being bullied. Our trust was in them that they would do the right thing, she said. And it just feels like to me it wasnt. On Dec. 3, McKenzies grandmother found the fourth grader dead in her room. She had hung herself to escape the abuse. Funeral arrangements for my neice McKenzie Adams, will be Saturday December 15 @ 11am @US Jones Elementary School gym & Eddwina Harris A Grim Discovery Adams aunt, Eddwina Harris, told People magazine that McKenzie came home from school as usual that day. At one point McKenzie went to the bathroomand did not return for an unusually long time. McKenzies grandmother, who lived in the home, went to check if her granddaughter was okay. She went to the bathroom and the door was locked. [Her grandmother] said, Unlock the door. What are you doing? Harris related. She ran and got a butter knife and she unlocked the door. She found McKenzie injured. The grandmother called 911, and EMTs tried to save the child, but McKenzie was pronounced dead at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital shortly after arriving. School District Denies Bullying Demopolis City Schools attorney Alex Braswell said the case was still being investigated. We are working fully with the Demopolis and Linden police department, he told CBS. They are doing a joint investigation of these allegations. We are cooperating fully and I cant comment on any of the aspects of the investigation until they conclude it. In statement the school district denied any allegations that there had been bullying or that the school staff had been informed. The school statement read, We have concluded our internal investigation to the allegations of bullying which led to this senseless death. There have been no findings of any reports of bullying by either the student or family. The findings of this internal investigation are consistent with the results of the investigation of the Linden (Alabama) Police Department at this point in time. The Linden Police Department investigation is still pending. All further results will be disseminated as they become available. The Demopolis City School System will continue to have grief counselors, crisis counselors and mental health professionals available to all of our students and teachers. Second Bully-Related Suicide Reported McKenzie Adams is the second Alabama fourth-grader to take her own life in the past two months. In Nov. Madison Whittsett, 9, of Birmingham took her own life. Whittsett, who was taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was bullied at school because she could not keep up in class. Whittsett had recently switched ADHD medication and the new prescription had suicidal thoughts listed as a potential side-effect, the Sun reported. Like McKenzie Adams, Maddie Whittsett hung herself. Her mother, Eugenia Williams, noticed her daughter was unusually quiet and entered the girls room after school on Friday, Nov. 9. When Williams checked the closet, she found her daughter hanging and unresponsive. Maddie was kept alive on life support at Childrens Hospital of Alabama until Nov. 12, when she was pronounced dead. From NTD Television. Watch Next: A Mother Shares the Story of Her Sons Heroin Overdose Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing the U.S. House Intelligence Committee on his investigation of potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 20, 2017. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters) Mueller Probe Cost Has Increased to More Than $25 Million The controversial probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election has cost taxpayers more than $25 million. Special counsel Robert Mueller and those working for him spent more than $4.5 million in the period between April 1 and Sept. 30 alone, the counsels office said in a budget expenditure report (pdf) published on Dec. 14. That included more than $2.8 million in compensation and benefits for Mueller and his team and nearly $1 million in rent, communications, and utilities. The group also spent $580,098 on travel and transportation. Another $3.9 million was spent on DOJ component expenses during that time period, the department said. The Department of Justice said that it reviewed the budget and that nothing appeared amiss. The department will continue to dedicate and leverage resources to maintain strong program and financial management controls, it stated. Management takes its program and financial accountability seriously and is dedicated to ensuring that funds are used in a responsible and transparent manner. The special counsels office spent another $4.5 million-plus from the period of Oct. 1, 2017, through March 31 (pdf), including over $2.7 million in compensation and benefits and $886,403 for rent, communications, and facilities. That included $1.9 million spent to pay Department of Justice employees that were detailed to the team and just over $874,000 for special counsel office employees. Another $226,730 was spent on IT services during that period. The Department of Justice has also spent $5.5 million on other expenses related to the investigation, according to Fox News. And during the May to September 2017 time period, the special counsel spent nearly $7 million. In total, the probes cost has now reached over $25 million. Coming Up Short Muellers team has struggled to find anything concrete on its original mandate, which was to investigate the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between President Donald Trumps team and Russians. The team has gained convictions of people in Trumps orbit but theyve all been on other charges, mostly for lying to federal law enforcement authorities or Congress. For instance, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison on Dec. 12 for tax evasion, bank fraud, lying to Congress, and campaign-finance violations. While news reports focused on the latter, experts said the violations factored very little in the sentence. Trump has repeatedly criticized the probe as a witch hunt and sometimes mentions its rising cost. Can you believe that with all of the made up, unsourced stories I get from the Fake News Media, together with the $10,000,000 Russian Witch Hunt (there is no Collusion), I now have my best Poll Numbers in a year. Much of the Media may be corrupt, but the People truly get it! Trump wrote on Twitter in May. Flynn Questions One of those targeted in the probe, Gen. Michael Flynn, is set to be sentenced soon after pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents. But questions have arisen recently after it was revealed that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was fired from the agency for lying repeatedly, advised Flynn not to bring a lawyer to the questioning. Additionally, it was revealed that the agents who questioned Flynn did not inform him that it was a federal crime to lie to them, admitting they wanted him relaxed. One of the agents was Peter Strzok, who was later kicked off Muellers team after reams of text messages between him and his mistress, Lisa Page, who worked for McCabe, became public. Trump, reacting to the targeting of Flynn, reacted on Twitter, saying: They gave General Flynn a great deal because they were embarrassed by the way he was treatedthe FBI said he didnt lie and they overrode the FBI. He added, They want to scare everybody into making up stories that are not true by catching them in the smallest of misstatements. Sad! WITCH HUNT! From NTD News Pompeo Says Chinas Detention of 2 Canadian Citizens Is Unacceptable U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the detention of two Canadian citizens in China is unlawful and unacceptable, and the United States will work toward returning them home. Pompeo made his remarks at a press conference after a meeting with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in Washington on Dec. 14. The unlawful detention of two Canadian citizens is unacceptable. They ought to be returned, Pompeo said. The United States has stood for that, whether theyre our citizens or citizens of other countries. We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly, and the detention of these two Canadian citizens in China ought to end. Canadians Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat currently on a leave of absence from Canadas foreign services, and Michael Spavor, a businessman, were detained in China over what Chinese authorities say are national-security concerns. The seizure of the Canadians occurred after Canada arrested Huaweis chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on an extradition request from the United States. China had warned Canada of grave consequences if Meng wasnt released immediately. Meng is accused of fraud for allegedly lying to U.S. banks about Huaweis relationship with Skycom, a Hong Kong-based company reportedly doing business with Iran. She was released on bail in Vancouver on Dec. 11. Freeland said Canadas ambassador to China has been able to meet with Kovrig. However, no access to Spavor has been provided yet. We are extremely seized of this issue. We care for, we fight for all Canadians detained abroad, Freeland said. Kovrig, who worked as a diplomat between 2003 to 2016 before going on leave, is currently a senior adviser at the think tank International Crisis Group. Spavor, a businessman based in northern China, is known for running cultural exchanges with North Korea. Freeland said she discussed the issue of the captured Canadians and Mengs arrest with her U.S. counterpart, and insisted there is no political interference in the case of the arrest in Canada. We discussed China and the case of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, building on a conversation that Secretary Mike Pompeo and I began soon after her arrest, Freeland said. We all agree that the most important thing we can do is to uphold the rule of law, ensure that Ms. Mengs right to due process is respected, and that the current judicial process in Canada remains apolitical. Pompeo said while trade discussions between the United States and China are ongoing, there are lots of complicated issues going on with China today all around the world, adding that the administration is working on each of those to get good outcomes for the people of the United States of America and respecting the rule of law each step along the way. Rule of Law Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) echoed Pompeos condemnation of the Chinese regimes actions and called for the release of the detained Canadians. Meng Wanzhous arrest was no surprise; Huawei executives were warned by their D.C. office years ago about the vulnerabilities they faced related to U.S. sanctions, Smith said in a statement to The Epoch Times. As such, the Chinese government should tone down its heated rhetoric and retaliatory detentions of Canadian citizenswho should be released immediately. Smith also pointed out the difference between countries with independent judicial systems and China. Because the courts and press in China are controlled by the government, maybe it is hard for them to understand that independent judges, in a rule of law country, will decide whether there is enough evidence to formally charge Meng Wanzhou, he said. And, unlike in China, that decision will be made transparently and with full coverage by a free press. Canadians Captured in China During the press conference with Pompeo, Freeland said Chinese authorities say the detainment of the Canadian citizens isnt related to the arrest of Meng. In 2014, shortly after Canada acted on an extradition request from the United States to detain Chinese national Su Bin over charges of stealing sensitive military information, Julia and Kevin Garratt, a Canadian couple who lived in China for decades, were suddenly arrested and charged with espionage. Julia was eventually released in 2015, and Kevin in 2016. Su, who was extradited to the United States after his arrest in Canada, pleaded guilty to the offenses for which he was charged in 2016. There are a number of other Canadian citizens currently captured in China, including Sun Qian, an adherent of Falun Dafa, a spiritual meditation practice persecuted in China; John Chang and Allison Lu, winery owners who were arrested on allegations of smuggling; and Huseyincan Celil, a Canadian of Uyghur-Chinese ethnicity. With reporting by Holly Kellum in Washington. Scuffles With Police in Paris but Protest Largely Peaceful PARISScuffles broke out between protesters and police in central Paris on Saturday on the sidelines of a largely peaceful demonstration, during the fifth straight weekend of protests by the yellow vest movement. Riot police fired small amounts of tear gas to disperse groups of protesters who headed down the side streets off the French capitals famed Champs-Elysees boulevard, some with traffic still flowing. About 8,000 police and 14 armored vehicles were deployed in Paris for the demonstration, after similar protests in recent weekends turned violent, with protesters smashing and looting stores and setting up burning barricades in the streets. Saturdays protest was far calmer in the morning, with riot police blocking off groups of protesters who attempted to disperse in side streets. At least 21 people were detained in Paris before the protests began, police said. Some protesters voiced anger at being restricted to a few blocks by police. Were surrounded by CRS, said protester Lionel Toussaint, 53, who works in the heritage industry, referring to riot police. Im not armed. I only have Kleenex. The yellow vest movement, which takes its name from the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must all have in their vehicles, emerged in mid-November as a protest against fuel tax increases. It soon morphed into an expression of rage about the high cost of living in France and a sense that President Emanuel Macrons government is detached from the everyday struggles of workers. Without any clear form or leadership, the movement has attracted a wide range of disgruntled people across the political spectrum, including some violent militants. Respect my existence or expect my resistance, read one banner held aloft by protesters who converged on the Champs-Elysees. Pierre Lamy, a 27-year-old industrial worker wearing a yellow vest and with a French flag draped over his shoulders, said the protests had long stopped being about the fuel tax and had turned into a movement for economic justice. Were here to represent all our friends and members of our family who cant come to protest, or because theyre scared, he said as he walked to the demonstration with three friends. Everythings coming up now. Were being bled dry. Max Werle, a 56-year-old father of nine, said the protests were his first-ever demonstrations. Im here for my children, he said, adding that his daughter had given birth in a fire truck on Monday because the local hospital in Loiret outside Paris had closed years ago. The office administrator said the protesters were there to defend our cause. Its not a left and right thing. Yellow vest protests were also being held in other parts of France, with no violent incidents reported by mid-day. On Friday, Macron called for calm during the demonstrations, and the French government reiterated the call online for demonstrators to remain peaceful. Protesting is a right. So lets know how to exercise it, the government tweeted from its official account, with a 34-second video which begins with images of historic French protests and recent footage of yellow vest protesters rallying peacefully before turning to violence. Protesting is not smashing. Protesting is not smashing our heritage. Protesting is not smashing our businesses. Protesting is not smashing our republic, the video says. Macron acknowledged in a speech earlier this week that he is partially responsible for the anger displayed during the protests, and has announced measures aimed at improving workers spending power. He has so far refused to reinstate a wealth tax that was lifted to spur investment in France. But on the streets of Paris, some protesters were saying the president still didnt understand them. I think that Macron isnt in touch with what the yellow vests want. I think the yellow vests need to continue speaking out and the problem is that in the countryside, said Julie Verrier, a protester from Picardie in Normandy in northern France who had been participating in protests there for the past three weeks and had travelled to Paris for Saturdays demonstration. Local city halls are closed so we cant go there to express and write our complaints and our wishes, she said. So coming here is the only way we have to say that French people need to be heard. By Raphael Satter and Elena Becatoros Security, Spying Concerns as Philippines Considers Chinas Surveillance Tender A state-run Chinese company affiliated with China Telecom has been tapped for a vast project that would install a video surveillance system in major cities in the Philippines, sparking fears that sensitive data might leak into the hands of Chinas communist regime and be exploited for ill. Senator Ralph Recto said during plenary debates on the 2019 national budget on Wednesday, Dec. 12, the project might pose a security threat. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Recto, who serves as the Senates Pro Tempore, drew attention in his remarks to the equipment supplier Huawei, a Chinese firm that has been blacklisted in several countries for hacking and spying. U.S. intelligence agencies have cautioned against buying Huawei phones, according to an earlier Epoch Times report, and the company has been accused of placing back doors in its products that China could use to conduct espionage. Recto warned that the project might compromise the local telco infrastructure since the contractor, China International Telecommunication Construction Corp., was an affiliate of China Telecommunications Corp., a partner of Mislatel Consortium that recently won a bid to become the next major telco service provider in the Philippines, according to the Inquirer. China will have access on surveillance, PNP (Philippine National Police) database, [and other] big data on Filipinos, the senator wrote in a text message, adding that we will be paying for it. Crazy. Access to the personal data of millions of Filipinos by Chinese tech companies like Huawei is concerning due to these firms alleged links to the communist states security apparatus. A look at the companys top personnel reveals that Huawei has close informal relationships with Chinese security forces, the military, and the CCP political faction associated with former party leader Jiang Zemin, writes Joshua Philipp of the Epoch Times. In a report titled Huawei: A Tool of Espionage, Subversion, and Technological Dominance, Jasper Fakkert, editor-in-chief of The Epoch Times, argues that Huawei also plays a key role in the Chinese Communist Partys programs of mass surveillance, human rights abuse, and technological dominance. Efficient Management of Public Order Sen. Loren Legarda responded to Sen. Rectos worries, saying the project was aimed at improving the governments capacity for collaborative and efficient management of public order, security, and safety through the use of available modern information and communications technology. Legarda added the project aims to reduce crime by 15 percent and improve response time by 25 percent. The planned surveillance system, which foresees the installation of some 12,000 CCTV cameras in Metro Manila and Davao City, is to be set up under the first phase of the Safe Philippines Project. It is one of 29 agreements signed between the Philippines and China during last months state visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Huawei Wants To Know A Huawei official was cited by the publication Rappler as saying that Chinas controversial surveillance and credit score system could soon become a reality in the Philippines. A high-ranking Huawei official, who was not named in the report, told an assembly of business leaders at a recent forum in Manila the tech giant wants to install a network of cameras across the country. Huawei wants to know what you like to eat, where you want to go, the official said, before adding, to secure your safety. The official allegedly talked up the surveillance by arguing that analog security measures, such as frisking or x-ray scanners, are unnecessarily hands-on and a hassle. When you walk into this particular hotel in the Philippines, you get screened and guards like touching me. I dont know why, the official said. The Huawei official reportedly accentuated the benefits of the companys advanced camera systems, equipped with artificial intelligence and machine learning. He cited a use case in China where security personnel were able to rescue a kidnapped child in Beijing within mere hours thanks to pervasive surveillance. Transactions Promised to Be Faster The Huawei official reportedly argued that intelligent cameras would make transacting with the government and institutions a breeze. When you walk in a bank, the cameras will scan you. Once you get to the teller and tell them what you want, the bank will know which documents you lack because the cameras already identified you, he said. When you go to another government office to get that document, that agency will already know what you need and provide you documents, he added. Transactions will be faster. The same intelligent camera technology is being used in communist China for less benign purposes, like ranking citizens by social score or identifying dissidents. Orwellian Surveillance China has heavily embraced facial recognition technology, used to serve meals to students at school cafeterias, pay for items at stores, as a virtual boarding pass for airline flights, and even to prevent toilet paper theft at public restrooms. In particular, the Chinese regime has championed a nationwide system of security cameras, called Skynet, that use facial recognition and other artificial intelligence features to gather personal information on passersby in real time. More than 20 million cameras have already been installed, with plans to cover the entire country by 2020. The regime touts the system as an effective tool for detecting criminals, but observers are concerned that the surveillance technology is turning China into a Big Brother Orwellian state. Already, the technology has been employed to spot and detain a Chinese dissident, who was approached by plainclothes police upon exiting a Guangzhou City railway station after his name appeared on a wanted list. The Chinese regimes nervousness about ethnic unrest in the predominantly Uyghur region of Xinjiang has led it to develop predictive security software that crunches data from CCTV cameras, ID card checks, and other personal records, which then flags individuals as potential suspects. Teen Quits Job at Walmart Over Intercom, Attacks Management A 17-year-old Walmart employee apparently quit his job over the intercom at a Canada store last week. Attention all shoppers, associates, and management nobody should work hereever, Jackson Racicot said over the speaker at the Walmart in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Racicot then shared the video, where it racked up more than 1,000 shares, comments, and media coverage. Our managers will make promises and never keep them, Racicot said to everyone in the store. Management will try and save money every step of the way including cutting benefits and a full-time associate down to part-time even though he worked 40 plus hours a week. Ive been a loyal employee here for over a year and a half, and Im sick of all the bogus write-ups, and my job, he also said. According to the Edmonton Journal, Racicot said he had another job lined up before making the announcement. Walmart has since issued a statement obtained by the publication, saying the company knows about the video. We are aware of the video circulating online and are disappointed by this incident. Respect for all individuals including our associates and customers is a core value at Walmart. We are looking into this matter and will address it internally as required, the firm said. Praise and Criticism In the comments section of his video, some praised him but others warned him about backlash from potential employers. Pretty sure youre going to go far in life with that level of maturity, one person sarcastically told him in the comments section. Another commenter was more direct with his criticism. Ive been in the workforce for over 50 years. You end up with some employees that are just plain worthless. You cant always tell from the interview whether someone is going to work out, but I know for sure I would not hire this kid. Good luck to him. Im sure there is some company looking for a 17-year-old to be the boss, the commenter said. Added another: I worked for wal-mart (sic) for 13 years this was a very inappropriate way to quit I had some managers that treated me badly but I also had my good ones. But, Raciot said that he does not regret doing it. I went into this knowing what will happen, he told the Journal. Racicot said that after he posted the video, he heard from Walmart employees all over Canada describing their experience working at the firm. Someone from Newfoundland, someone from Quebec, another from Ontario. Its not just our [expletive] Walmart. Its nationwide. Its a corporate thing. Its how the managers are trained, he said, The Hill reported. Walmart, Target Sued Over Made-in-China Toys The viral video isnt the only bad news that Walmart has received this week. Target and Walmart were sued by the New York Attorney Generals office for selling Chinese-made toys that had 10 times the legal limit of lead, according to the AFP news agency on Dec. 12. No parent should have to worry that their childs toy may be toxic. As we allege, these companies imported and sold toys with dangerous levels of toxic lead, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in a statement. The lawsuit said that the companies sold thousands of Cra-Z-Jewelz jewelry kits in 2015 and 2016 before a recall was issued. Target and LaRose Industries imported the jewelry kits from China from August 2015 until April 2016. Walmart said it removed the toys after the recall was issued. We take our customers safety seriously and require our suppliers to meet all safety standards, the firm said in a statement to AFP. An Iraqi Yazidi woman is pictured at Lalish temple in a valley near Dohuk, northwest of Baghdad, on October 5, 2018. (Safin Hamed/AFP/Getty Images) University Professor Gets Student Rescued Out of ISIS Stronghold A Swedish university professor coordinated the rescue of an Iraqi student and his family from the clutches of ISIS. The rescue mission involved the school hiring armed mercenaries to find Firas Jumaah, a doctoral student at Lund University. Jumaah left the school and returned home in 2014 after his wife told him their town was being surrounded by ISIS terrorists, according to Fox News. My wife was totally panicking. Everyone was shocked at how IS were behaving, said Jumaah, reported The Local. I took the first plane there to be with them. What sort of life would I have if anything had happened to them there? Jumaah entered the warzone and put himself in danger to be with his family. His wife told him that ISIS had killed all the men and enslaved all the women in the next village. It didnt help the situation that Jumaah and his family are part of the Yazidi ethnic group, a people that ISIS routinely targeted for cruelty. I had no hope then at all, Jumaah told the university magazine LUM, via The Local. I was desperate. I just wanted to tell my supervisor what was happening. I had no idea that a professor would be able to do anything for us. So when this mentor said to her mentee: "you can count on me", she meant it ! Amazing story of a mentor (Lund University) that set off a mission to rescue her mentee & family from ISIS in Iraq. @nature @NatureNews https://t.co/Mk2V8edYuR pic.twitter.com/B4uXLMkG6u Leticia Kawano-Dourado (@leticiakawano) December 14, 2018 Chemistry professor Charlotta Turner received a text message from Jumaah stating that he might not be able to return to class to finish his thesis and get his Ph.D. What was happening was completely unacceptable, Turner said. I got so angry that IS was pushing itself into our world, exposing my doctoral student and his family to this, and disrupting the research. Jumaah and his family hid in a bleach factory that wasnt in operation, and they often heard gunshots from outside, The Local reported. The University Springs into Action Turner contacted the schools head of security at the time, Per Gustafson. It was almost as if hed been waiting for this kind of mission, Turner told LUM. Per Gustafson said that we had a transport and security deal which stretched over the whole world. Gustafson hired a private security outfit who took on the mission with four armed mercenaries and two Landcruisers. It was a unique event. As far as I know, no other university has ever been involved in anything like it, Gustafson said. The security team rushed Jumaah and his wife out of danger and sped them to an airport in Iraqi Kurdistan. Despite getting back to Sweden to finish his studies and being brought to safety, Jumaah still had worries. I have never felt so privileged, so VIP, Jumaah said. But at the same time I felt like a coward as I left my mother and sisters behind me. According to LUM, the family Jumaah left behind survived and ultimately outlasted the ISIS presence. Kurdish forces backed by the West decimated ISIS in the area. Jumaah was able to get his Ph.D., and currently works at a pharmaceutical company in Sweden. The family has nearly paid back all the money owed for the mercenaries hired by the school. NORWALK The Norwalk Department of Public Works is ramping up its attention toward the citys smallest bridges. The Norwalk Common Council this month approved the departments request to hire Freeman Companies, a land development, engineering design and construction services firm with offices in Hartford, to inspect, evaluate and put forward recommendations for 26 local bridges measuring 20 feet or less in length. The cost of the work is not to exceed $251,200. Theyre still critical to the citys infrastructure as far as mobility, safety, said Lisa Burns, principal engineer at the Public Works Department. They carry the same concerns, big or small. The Connecticut Department of Transportation completed field screening of municipal bridges measuring 20 feet or less in span length and rated the structures in two categories Satisfactory or Better or Fair or Worse - wrote DOT Manager of Bridges Theodore H. Nezames in an Aug. 2 letter to Mayor Harry W. Rilling. Rated as Fair or Worse in Norwalk were the following small bridges: Park Street over Betts Brook Pond, Rowayton Avenue over Keelers Brook, West Cedar Street over Keelers Brook, Primrose Court over Keelers Brook, Grist Mill Road over stream, Wall Street over Betts Pond Brook, Brookhill Lane over Woods Pond Brook, Wilson Avenue over stream, Scribner Avenue over Keelers Brook, Bonnybrook Road over Holy Ghost Fathers Brook, Bonnybrook Trail over Holy Ghost Fathers Brook, Geneva Road over street, and Comstock Hill Avenue over Hams Pond Brook, according to the letter. Paul L. Sotnik, senior civil engineer at the Norwalk Department of Public Works, said the letter stems from a 2016 high-level field screening of the bridges. Its not much detail in 2016, Sotnik said. The previous screening that they had done with high-level detail was 1991 so what we ended up doing is when we received the letter and notifications, we said we need to put out an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) to do that inspection. The bridges in question span streams, culverts and box culverts in some cases. Asked if they are in danger of failing, he said, Probably not, but we want to make sure weve got them inspected and thats why were doing this. Ten engineering firms responded to the citys request. Freeman Companies was among three firms short-listed by a review panel to receive the contract. Under Tuesdays approval, Freeman Companies will, among other things, inspect and evaluate the structures of all 26 bridges measuring 20 feet or less in length, perform material testing, scour analysis and scour mitigation, and hold a public information meeting with its findings and recommendations. Sotnik anticipates the company will start work early next year and issues its report no later than April. Finding money outside the citys budget to pay for any repairs recommended in the report is another matter. Wed have to check and see if theres anything out there, said Sotnik regarding potential state and federal funds. Right now, were not necessarily sure of anything, but we will try and look for any kind of funding that we can get to obviously reduce the cost to the taxpayers in Norwalk. DOT spokesman Kevin J. Nursick said the department inspects state- and town-owned bridges measuring more than 20 feet in length. Town-owned bridges under 20 feet are town responsibility, and always have been, Nursick wrote in an email Friday. We have had programs in the past to screen the aforementioned (and shared our findings with the towns) to get a better grasp of what unaccounted for structures and their conditions are out there, but we have never had the primary, accountable responsibility of inspecting their (town-owned) under-20 (foot) bridges. The bridge evaluation comes as the DOT prepares to replace the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River and several other rail bridges at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Quinn Libson (Asia News Network) Bangkok, Thailand Mon, December 3, 2018 14:13 1092 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e03bfef 2 Opinion #Thailand,#politics,junta-government,election,observer,ban Free Thailands Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai made news in early November when he announced that he saw no need for foreign observers to monitor the countrys general elections which are expected to take place between February and May of 2019. Allowing foreign observers means we have problems, in their eyes or in our own view. It means we cant take care of ourselves. And thats inauspicious, Don told reporters at Government House, adding that the best observers would be the Thai voters themselves. That the Thai Junta is appearing to set itself up to bar election observers is somewhat surprising. According to Lee Morgenbesser, a lecturer at Australias Griffith University who specializes in authoritarianism, democratization, dictators and flawed elections in Southeast Asia, it is increasingly uncommon, both in Southeast Asia and around the world that youd bar election observers altogether. Traditionally, Morgenbesser said, authoritarian regimes faced a key decision when it comes to election observers: You can either invite professional observers into the country, at the risk of them discovering how fraudulent the process is, or you can bar them altogether which suggests that the process is going to be fraudulent anyway. But, in the last decade, innovative authoritarian regimes around the world have hit upon a third option that lends a thin veneer of legitimacy to the electoral process and suits their needs very nicely. The middle ground approach, according to Morgenbesser, is to work with what have been dubbed zombie election observers or shadow observation groups. This is a method that Morgenbesser says has been used from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe by military juntas, personalist dictators and authoritarian regimes. These governments often employ far right-aligned groups from Eastern Europe or individuals from places like India or Venezuela, theyve even employed bloggers or lawyers to certify elections said Morgenbesser. But, he added, it doesnt matter who is the individual or who is the group. What matters is this: You invite these groups in under the premise that they will give the election a clean bill of health and they will do that because presumably youve paid them for a service. To understand the work of these so-called zombie observers, look no further than Cambodias most recent national elections. When the United States and the European Union withdrew support for the July 29 polls and observers from Japan, and Australia refused to take part in what had been widely labeled a sham election, Cambodia turned to shadowy groups of and individuals of dubious democratic bona fides to get the job done. The groups included the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International, or CAPDI, International Conference of Asian Political Parties, or ICAPP, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, all three of which, according to research by Morgenbesser have a thoroughly documented history of questionable election rulings. CAPDI and ICAPP acted as observers in Cambodias controversial 2013 elections, which sparked mass protests and caused the United States and the EU to express concerns over possible electoral irregularities. CAPDI and ICAPP found those 2013 elections to be a triumph of popular will as well as being free, fair and transparent. In Cambodias 2018 elections, those groups were joined by individuals like Anton Caragea, whose previous glowing praise of dictators in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe raise questions about his judgement. Indeed, despite the context of Cambodias pollsthe main opposition party was banned outright and reports from across the country suggested widespread voter intimidationthe monitors that did show up to observe the elections deemed the election free and fair. Given all that, Morgenbesser is slightly taken aback that the Thai Junta would not make use of these types of observers. The fact that the Thai Junta is not willing to do that at all is surprising, Morgenbesser said, because it suggests that theyre not really learning from other examples around the world. But, when picking between two bad optionsbetween no observers or zombie observersMorgenbesser said that Thailands apparent strategy of barring observers is probably the healthier one for the Thai political ecosystem in the long run. If you dont have any of these Zombie groups, the Junta cant then say the zombie group said it was great, they have to prove it themselves. And, he added, given the general incompetence of the Thai Junta I think theyre going to struggle to do that without any outside groups helping them do so. It doesnt send a good signal either way. Quinn Libson is an Associate Editor at Asia News Network Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Evan A. Laksmana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 10:11 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e26de45 3 Opinion Indonesian-foreign-policy,diplomacy,democracy,international-relations,foreign-affairs,Bali-Democracy-Forum,Retno-Marsudi,Jokowi-administration Free Last weekend, Indonesia successfully hosted the 11th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF). Since its inception in 2008, the BDF has been a staple of Indonesias growing regional and global profile. The BDF envisions progressive democratic architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. But Indonesias immediate environment has demonstrated the resilience of varying authoritarianism. Thailand is under military rule, Cambodia may have destroyed the opposition and Myanmar faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Vietnam remains under single-party rule, Bruneis monarchy persists, and the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte struggles with a bloody drug war. This gap between the BDFs mission and the regional realities illustrate a deeper problem in Indonesian foreign policy: the primacy of process over outcomes. If Indonesia had focused on outcomes, we might expect the Foreign Ministry to make improving regional democratic indicators within two decades a key BDF target beyond, for instance, how many regional leaders attended and how many of the ministrys proposals were accepted, as the ministrys various public statements imply. More broadly, the ministrys strategic planning documents and performance reports over the past decade suggest it has focused less on achieving regional strategic outcomes and more on meeting bureaucratically feasible strategic targets. The ministry devises a five-year strategic plan based on the presidents goals at the beginning of a Cabinet term. Strategic targets are then formulated to guide foreign policy processes and activities and key performance indicators would be formulated for each. Under former minister Marty Natalegawa (2009-2014), the ministry focused on Indonesias leadership in ASEAN, multilateral diplomacy, international cooperation, the international and domestic image and improving the quality of international agreements as well as consular and protocol services. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, whose current term ends next year, modified and expanded these six targets into 14. Some of these were foreign policy-related, including a high-quality foreign policy, strong maritime and border as well as economic diplomacy, an increasingly significant leadership at ASEAN, a growing global role and excellent overseas business and citizen protection and services. Other targets are related to bureaucratic reform, involving human resource development, good governance, work environment, an integrated information management system and an optimum budget. These targets reflect the administrations global maritime fulcrum outlook under the administration of President Joko Jokowi Widodo as well as the Presidents penchant for low-key, concrete issues like economic cooperation or citizen protection. The targets also reflect the ministrys attempt to strengthen its policymaking system some described Martys tenure as personalistic, while others lamented the active role of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos foreign affairs special staff that overshadowed the ministry at times. Nevertheless, the strategic targets set under the two foreign ministers are process-oriented rather than (regional or global) outcome-driven. Take the target of boosting Indonesias leadership in ASEAN central to both the programs of Marty and Retno. The ministry has never clearly measured this target based on strategic outcomes, such as the signing of an ASEAN-China South China Sea Code of Conduct. It focuses instead on bureaucratically feasible benchmarks, primarily the percentage of Indonesian recommendations and initiatives accepted at ASEAN meetings. On maritime diplomacy, the key indicator is not the annual decline in maritime incidents, illegal fishing or piracy. According to its annual reports, the ministry instead counts the numbers of agreements on maritime and border negotiations, accepted recommendations on maritime and border issues, and maritime cooperation forum activities. The ministry also measures Indonesias global influence based on how many multilateral forums Indonesia chairs, how many Indonesians sit on the board of international organizations and how many Indonesian proposals these forums accept. These indicators point to a process-oriented foreign policy through multilateralism. But numerous countries with divergent interests need to accept proposals in multilateral forums. If so, diplomats are likely to propose generic and normative positions without specific policies that lead to observable outcomes. The goal is to create the path of least resistance. Indonesia gives hundreds of ASEAN-related recommendations each year, simply because ASEAN has hundreds of meetings. But according to the ministrys records, some of these proposals were the lowest common denominators, such as reemphasizing ASEAN centrality or the benefits of mutual cooperation. It is hard to argue that inserting such phrases into communiques constitutes genuine regional leadership. Such processes may pass the bureaucratic performance bar and may be necessary for a functioning foreign ministry, but they are neither signs of a progressive leadership nor sufficient in defending Indonesias strategic interests. Whoever becomes president next year, the Foreign Ministry should formulate a set of strategic outcomes it would like to see in the next five to 10 years, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Such outcomes of course depend on the policies of other regional countries, too, but does that mean we should not raise the bar and push the envelope? An independent and active foreign policy should also mean escaping our bureaucratic quicksand. *** The writer is a senior researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta. This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Dec. 15, 2018, with the title "Insight: RI foreign policy needs to focus more on impact than process". Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Wiko Saputra and Ichsan Saif (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 12:41 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e27043d 3 Opinion palm-oil,moratorium,sustainability,Sustainable-agriculture,#PalmOil Free After more than two years of waiting, the Indonesian government finally passed the moratorium on oil palm plantation permit policy on Sept. 19. The policy is contained in Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 8/2018. But what changes are being offered by the moratorium policy? This policy is in a sense the governments response to global criticism over land allocation issues related to oil palm plantations. Since their accelerated expansion in Indonesia in the 1990s, palm oil plantations have frequently been considered the main driver of deforestation and loss of biodiversity. There are four important agendas in the regulation. First, the government will postpone the issuance of forest release forms during the moratoriums implementation, which is three years since the Inpres was first issued. This postponement also applies to ongoing forest release applications that have been submitted, but not yet completed or has been identified as being in productive forest areas. It also applies to ongoing forest release applications that have obtained principle approval, in which the area boundary has not changed and is in productive forest areas. Second, the government will review all oil palm plantation permits that have been issued. These permits include Izin Lokasi (Location Permit), Izin Usaha Perkebunan (IUP) or Plantation Business Permit, Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) or Cultivation Right, Surat Tanda Daftar Budidaya Perkebunan (STDB) or Registration for Plantation Cultivation and forest release permits. The permit review will also assess whether the permit holders have fulfilled their obligations, which include the allocation of 20 percent of total plantation to plasma and development of High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) areas. Third, the government will follow up all permit reviews with two options return the land as forest areas and/or enforce the law such as imposing fines for violations. Fourth, the government will ensure the fulfillment of oil palm fruit supplies to the industry through land productivity improvement efforts, instead of land expansion. Based on the four main agendas, two important changes are being offered up by the three-year implementation of the moratorium. Firstly, improved land legality. Improving the land legality of national oil palm plantations is one of the key aspects for sustainable palm oil production. The institutional arrangement of land allocation in Indonesia is complex and problematic. Permit issuance for an oil palm plantation is a formal arrangement that involves various kinds of informalities. Therefore, reviewing the permit documents and assessing them according to situations in the field are helpful in disclosing violations. To do an effective review, a sufficient resource is needed. This is because the government needs to collect the data of all oil palm plantation permits across Indonesia. Currently, the data is scattered among government agencies at district, provincial and national level. The effort to collect and verify the data will need great resources, thus an effective strategy should be prepared by the government. To have the complete data of all oil palm plantation permits across Indonesia is a good start for the government to implement the moratorium. The availability of data is a critical enabling condition for any attempts aiming to improving the sustainability of Indonesias palm oil production. For instance, without legal plantation data, it is impossible to develop a traceability mechanism for sustainable palm oil. This mechanism ensures that the palm oil is supplied from sustainable sources. In addition, the successful implementation of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification scheme also needs to have complete and accurate data of Indonesia oil palm plantations. Hence, the ISPO should work in parallel with the moratorium to support the provision of data. Second, improved land productivity. As the moratorium will also focus on improving land productivity for smallholders, this means it will need to work on promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). The moratorium stipulates that land intensification begins with the strengthening of the smallholder institution. The strengthened institution is expected to be able to implement the governments strategic program to improve the GAPs, for instance, the replanting support program. The program will supply smallholders with certified palm seeds, fertilizer, pesticide and management, thus improving land productivity. Here, the provision of complete data on smallholder plantations is also key. Since January, KEHATI has conducted smallholder mapping in 12 villages and found that there are various types of smallholders based on their plantation areas and how they manage them. In these villages, smallholders own a plantation area of 1 to more than 25 hectares and manage their area with additional labor. According to Agriculture Minister Regulation No. 98/2013, an individual can only manage land for agriculture purposes of no more than 25 ha and register it with STDB. This indicates that some smallholders are at company scale hence they should have improved their capacity in the GAPs by themselves. Availability of data can help the government in preparing an effective replanting support program for real targeted smallholders who own minimal land. All in all, the moratorium policy offers the Indonesian palm oil industry an opportunity to improve land legality and productivity. This is in line with efforts to achieve sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia. However, the availability of the complete data of oil palm plantations is still a challenge that needs to be resolved first. *** Wiko Saputra is an economist at AURIGA Nusantara and Ichsan Saif is an environmental policy researcher at Yayasan KEHATI Jakarta. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Wed, November 28, 2018 00:02 1098 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877e2bfe4 4 Inforial Free Indonesia and Algeria have made a commitment to increase bilateral trade and investment. The two countries Indonesia in Southeast Asia and Algeria in North Africa have economic ties that go a long way back. Algeria ranks sixth on the list of Indonesias biggest export destinations in Africa and is the fourth-biggest African exporter to Indonesia both according to 2017 statistics. On the list of Indonesias trading partners at the global level, meanwhile, Algeria ranked 46th as an export destination for Indonesia and 41st as an exporter to Indonesia. The two countries announced their renewed commitment after Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita conducted a bilateral meeting with Algerian Industry and Mining Minister Youcef Yousfi in the city of Algiers on Nov. 22. . (Courtesy of Ministry of Trade/.) During his visit to the country, Enggartiasto also conducted a meeting with Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mohamed Laid Benamor, who is also active as a prominent business practitioner in his country. Benamor asserted that business practitioners in both countries were yet to grasp the huge economic potential that both countries could use to benefit each other. Enggartiasto responded by saying that the needs of Indonesia and Algeria actually overlapped with one another, thereby opening up opportunities for partnerships. Algeria and Indonesia could work together to boost each others economic growth by tapping into each countrys strong economic potential. For instance, Indonesia could benefit from Algerias status as a North African business hub, while Algeria could make use of Indonesias status as a big Southeast Asian country. In addition to that, both sides of the equation could work together in a mutually beneficial cooperation, as Indonesia has ample natural and human resources, which are needed by Algeria, which is actively seeking not only business partners but also a potential market for its products. Algeria prioritizes a number of industrial sectors, including food processing and textiles. I have told them that Indonesia has a great resource capacity and have requested that the Algerian government facilitate Indonesian investment in the country, Enggartiasto said. On Nov. 21, a day before Enggartiasto conducted the meeting with Said Djellab, he had already held a bilateral meeting with Algerian Trade Minister Said Djellab. The two discussed a number of concrete efforts their countries could take to step up their trade relations. For instance, Djellab said Algeria could learn from Indonesia about how to diversify away from oil and gas products, because Algeria had been relying too much on oil and gas products in its trading activities. . (Courtesy of Ministry of Trade/.) We have explored a number of action plans to boost non-oil and gas trade activities between the two countries. One of the steps we can take to achieve that goal is intensifying activities that promote trade between the two countries, as well as boosting the capacity of our small-to-medium enterprises, Enggartiasto said. Enggartiasto said activities that could promote trade between the two countries included inviting Algerian business players to attend business forums and exhibitions during the annual Indonesian Trade Expo to identify companies that had the greatest business partnership potential. I would like to invite the Algerian trade minister as well as the industry and mining minister to pay a visit to Indonesia. [I would also like Indonesia and Algeria] to get to know each others products, learn from one another and, if there are investors who would like to forge investment partnerships with Indonesia, we can arrange factory visits for them, Enggartiasto said. Indonesia expects the Algerian government to provide the countrys businesspeople who have invested there with [easy business procedures] as well as economic certainty. These two things are extremely important to boost export volumes, whether processed products or raw materials, from Indonesia to Algeria, as well as the deployment of Indonesian professionals to Algeria to process the raw materials, Enggartiasto said. According to Enggartiasto, two Indonesian companies are currently invested in Algeria, namely state-owned energy company Pertamina as well as state-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya. Indonesian food producer PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, meanwhile, is exploring possibilities of opening a factory in Algeria. Trade Ministry International Trade Negotiations Director General Iman Pambagyo said he was optimistic that Indonesias partnership with Algeria could help open doors to other markets as well. Algeria can serve as Indonesias strategic economic partner, [helping Indonesia] penetrate the African and Southern European markets, while Indonesia could also help Algeria penetrate the Southeast Asian markets as well as countries that are part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free-trade agreement, Iman said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, November 4, 2017 11:01 1487 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a276acc0 1 Lifestyle city,destination,population Free In a rapidly advancing world in which people now have access to life-prolonging medicines and mass produced food, modern cities have become the centers for these scientific and technological advancements. This has lead to skyrocketing population growth in urban centers. But how big have cities grown? Here are the 10 most populated cities in the world, as reported by Time. 10. New York-Newark, United States The city of New York, also known as the "Big Apple" and "The City That Never Sleeps," and neighboring Newark are home to approximately 18,604,000 people. 9. Cairo, Egypt Romanticized in movies and literature, Cairo is a beautiful place to visit for the holidays, but may not be the best place for those who are claustrophobic. Approximately 19,128,000 people call this city home. Its high population can also be attributed to its many state-of-the-art universities and medical centers. 8. Osaka, Japan With its charming corner shops and rich cultural scene, Osaka has attracted many foreigners to come and live in the beautiful city. This has led Osaka to become one of the most populated cities on earth with a population of roughly 20,337,000. The city, however, has also been experiencing a low birth rate of late, which is predicted to cause a decline in its population in the coming years. Read also: Four cities in Indonesia where you can travel by foot 7. Mexico City, Mexico A financial hub for Latin America, a cultural center that celebrates the modern and the ancient, and a city that was built on top of the capital city of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan , Mexico City is certainly an extraordinary city with a population of around 21,157,000 people. 6. Beijing, China As over 1.3 billion people live inside China's borders, it is not shocking that its capital is one of the most crowded cities on earth. With a population of about 21,240,000 people, there's no shortage of excitement in this city. 5. Sao Paulo, Brazil As the most populated city below the equator with an approximate population of 21,297,000, Sao Paulo houses an incredible array of institutions from finance to culture. Read also: Melbourne retains world's most liveable city crown 4. Mumbai, India Attracting people from nearby cities because of its cosmopolitan charm and job opportunities, Mumbai now has a population of around 21,357,000 people. And with its total wealth reaching around US$280 billion, it certainly offers outstanding opportunities. 3. Shanghai, China As Chinas most populated city, Shanghai is certainly not for those tired of the hustle-and-bustle of city life. With a population reaching 24,484,000 people, the city has become a financial center and home to the worlds busiest port. 2. Delhi, India With a population projected to reach 36 million by 2030, it may be an under-statement to say that Delhi is a very crowded city. Today, it is home to approximately 26,454,000 individuals. 1. Tokyo, Japan Although its population is predicted to begin declining, Tokyo is still projected to hold the top spot as the most populated city on earth until 2030. Modern, stylish and full of culture, Tokyo is one of the most captivating cities to live but also the most tightly packed. And, in a city of approximately 38,140,000 people, you are sure to have a hard time pushing through the crowds to get to your destination. (ezr/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew Beatty (Agence France-Presse) Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Sat, November 17, 2018 03:03 1109 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877c88600 2 Art & Culture Papua-New-Guinea,language,culture Free If you are traveling to Papua New Guinea, you don't need to pack a phrasebook, you need to bring an entire library. With 841 living tongues and a colorful creole lingua franca, this Pacific nation is the undisputed world champion of linguistic diversity. From Pii in the mist-cloaked highlands to Toaripi on the shores of the gleaming Coral Sea, Papua New Guinea is a linguist's paradise with one in 10 of the world's languages found here. The number of speakers of individual languages can range from a handful of people in the jungle -- not much more than an extended family -- to millions spread across provinces and terrains. Experts point to the country's relatively weak central government, deep valleys, almost impenetrable vegetation and roughly 600 islands to explain why a country of eight million people and smaller than Spain has such a bounty of languages, when 46 million Spaniards -- for all practical purposes -- make do with a dozen or so. Many of these diverse tongues have developed undisturbed over tens of thousands of years, making Papua New Guinea something of a linguistic Galapagos. To get by day-to-day, Papua New Guineans typically speak three to five languages, and understand many more dialects. But ironically they can sometimes struggle to render a simple sentence in one language into their mother tongue -- particularly when discussing numbers over 10 or when rural-based languages are deployed to describe life in the big city. When asked to say "there are more than 800 languages in Papua New Guinea" in Vula'a -- which has a couple of thousand speakers in the central province -- Port Moresby office worker Sonia Pegi has to call her dad just to make sure she has it right. Read also: Taking action to preserve Javanese language - 'Pidgin English' - The country's most widely spoken language is pidgin English or Tok Pisin, although this being Papua New Guinea, Tok Pisin only claimed its lingua franca status after beating out a pretender in the form of semi-creole Austronesian language Hiri Motu. Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu and English are the country's three official languages. "Tok Pisin is derived 80-85 percent from English," said Jenny Homerang who is starting a pidgin language course at the Australian National University in Canberra. "But you also have bits of German and bits of Portuguese." In fact, Tok Pisin is something of a linguistic sponge, soaking up words from languages as distant as Taiwanese and Zulu, which dominates the southeastern corner of Africa. Suspected sorcerers -- who in Papua New Guinea can often be the victims of extreme violence -- are referred to as "sangoma", a word familiar to anyone living in Johannesburg or Durban. Tok Pisin is also a deeply expressive language: you can 'bagarap' your car in an accident, or relieve yourself in the 'sithaus'. But sometimes things get lost in translation. 'Ol' means 'they', not 'all', which can confuse a first-time visitor. Similarly, 'lukim yu bihan' is not an instruction to turn around, but a way of saying 'goodbye'. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, December 6, 2018 11:01 1090 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e0ba609 4 Science & Tech Google,Google-Assistant,KaiOS-Technologies,WizPhone Free The WizPhone WP006, said to be Indonesia's first smart feature phone, has taken the internet by storm after it was introduced at a Google for Indonesia event on Dec. 4 in Jakarta. Unlike most mobile phones that are sold online or in stores, the bar-shaped phones will be available in Alfamart convenience stores for Rp 99,000 (US$7). Feature phones typically have more simplistic features compared to smartphones, but the WP006 should not be underestimated. Despite its low price, classic form and T9 keyboard, it has built-in Google Assistant, 4G/LTE internet connection and the KaiOS operating system. Its virtual assistant supports the Indonesian language and can be accessed through a special button in the middle. Moreover, KaiOS originates from KaiOS Technologies Inc., which is known for developing operating systems for smart feature phones. Google invested in the company in June and the two companies have worked together in developing Google Assistant, Google Maps, YouTube and Google Search for KaiOS users. Read also: Google will start charging phone makers for Europe app store The Kai team is at #GoogleForIndonesia in Jakarta where Google just announced the new US$7 (!!) WizPhone that runs on KaiOS. Another amazing addition to the growing line up of @KaiOStech-powered devices! pic.twitter.com/xuZJ4HWRKo KaiOS Technologies (@KaiOStech) December 4, 2018 Scott Huffman, Google Assistants vice president of engineering, said the WP006 version of Google Assistant was not different from the smartphone version. What makes it difference is its features, Huffman told kompas.com. Aside from featuring Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the WP006 is also equipped with Qualcomm MSM8905 with 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. Produced by PT Wiz Indonesia Nirwana, it has front and rear cameras with a resolution of VGA and 2 megapixels respectively. It operates with a battery capacity of 1,800 mAh and has a standby duration of up to 250 hours. Although Huffman was unwilling to reveal WizPhones release date in Indonesia, the official website of KaiOS Technologies Inc. stated that the first batch would be launched in the first quarter of 2019 in over 10,000 Alfamart outlets. (wir/wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gyanindra Ali (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, December 11, 2018 09:26 1085 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1881b0 4 Food food-photography,photography,food,photo-exhibition,culinary,Indonesia,traditional-food,Goethe-Institute Free Food is key to bringing people of different backgrounds and cultures together, as the Indonesian Culinary Photography Exhibition shows at the GoetheHaus in Central Jakarta. The exhibition, which runs through Dec. 17, aims to raise awareness about the diversity of Indonesian cuisine and the importance of preserving it. We believe that preserving our culinary heritage strengthens us as a community, locally and globally, said Wilton Djaya, content creator of the Goethe-Institut and a juror of the photo exhibition. He said it was also important for Goethe-Institut to hold the exhibition, as food could be a medium of cultural exchange between Germany and Indonesia. The exhibition features works curated from the institutes Instagram competition on food photography held throughout the country. Fifteen photographs were selected from 321 submissions to portray Indonesias rich culinary diversity from Banda Aceh in Aceh to Timika in Papua. More than just showcasing the food, these photographs also tell the stories behind the food and how these dishes are able to portray their culture of origin. Bumbu Masakan Aceh by Ade Armanda (Courtesy of Goethe-Institut Indonesien/-) These 15 entries represent Indonesia not only with good quality photographic esthetics, but also regarding high-quality storytelling, said Wilton. Curator Ng Swan Ti wants to give visitors a taste of what it feels like to explore and travel multicultural Indonesia through these unique photographs of each regions signature dish. One of the more interesting and powerful photos in the exhibit is Babi Bakar Batu (Stone-Roasted Pork) by Albertus Vembri, who goes by his second name. The dish, which was photographed in the city of Timika, reveals the unique process behind its preparation. Unlike most roasting in which charcoal is used as main source of heat, babi bakar batu uses pre-heated stones. Vembri explained that the use of stones was significant not only in cooking the dish, but that it also served as a ritual to express happiness or grief, or when people begin a new community project. He agreed that a regions cuisine portrayed its culture and values, a correlation that was particularly evident in the cooking tradition of babi bakar batu. Luat Sarang Lebah (Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara) by Silvania Stella Epiphania Mandaru (Courtesy of Goethe-Institut Indonesien/-) Cuisine is interconnected to culture, Vembri said over phone. Babi bakar batu shows how people are able to work together as communities which community provides what ingredients, which community plays what role. They all work together and in the end, they enjoy the food together. It shows their togetherness, since babi bakar batu is never prepared by just one or two people. Another interesting photo is Luat Sarang Lebah (Beehive Expectorate) by Silvania Stella Epiphania Mandaru. Stella describes luat sarang lebah as a high-protein chili sauce made from bee larvae that is consumed at various events in the village of Amfoang in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Like the other photos, Luat Sarang Lebah does not only reveal the dishs uniqueness as a cuisine but, most interestingly, showcases the ritual surrounding the dishs preparation. In harvesting the honeycomb, the villagers of Amfoang sing poetry to lull the queen bee into surrendering the honey willingly. In the description accompanying her photograph, Silvania said the ritual was performed because the people of Amfoang believed bees should be treated like beautiful women. Nasi Sayur Lodeh Ikan Tongkol (Malang, East Java) by Desy Bariyyatul Qibtiyah (Courtesy of Goethe-Institut Indonesien/-) Another photo, Bumbu Masakan Aceh (Aceh Seasonings) by Ade Armanda, captures the spices typically used in Acehnese dishes. The photograph portrays a vast array of the daily ingredients the people use in the region, which is known for its rich spices and spicy foods. Ade also provides a historical context for his photograph, explaining how Aceh used to be a hub of foreign trade and how it influenced the wide range of spices that are used in Acehnese dishes, even today. As part of the exhibit, the jury selected the five best photographs from those on display. Wilton said the jury was given different sets of criteria to assess the entries, such as original idea, storytelling and esthetics as well as whether the ingredients were indigenous to a remote area and whether the food would be appealing to the Goethe-Instituts target group. The five winners would receive awards, including dining at Goethes Magic Hour Dinner, an exclusive dinner event hosted by German chef Helge Hagemann and Indonesian chef Petty Elliott at a pop-up restaurant at Goethe-Institut Jakarta. As the curator of the exhibition, Swan Ti said she also learned about how rich and diverse Indonesias culinary traditions were. There were several foods that I was not familiar with before, she said, adding that she hoped visitors to the exhibit would also learn something similar. The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Doha, Qatar Wed, December 12, 2018 07:04 1084 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b007259 2 Art & Culture Qatar,Museum Free Qatar's long-delayed national museum, a sprawling 52,000-square metre building in the capital Doha, will finally open in March 2019, officials said on Monday. Estimated to have cost $434 million (380 million euros), the French-designed museum in the shape of a desert rose was first due to open in 2016 but is now set to start welcoming the public next year. "It is definitely opening on March 28th," said Karen Exell, senior museum development specialist. "It has been delayed before, we've had a big push this last year and it's very important to the whole team to now reach the end of this journey." The museum was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, who was also responsible for the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Exell, who described the project as "hugely ambitious", said the desert rose design was groundbreaking. "It has given Jean Nouvel a basis for a new method of constructing art space," she said. When open, the museum will contain works from local, Middle Eastern and other artists. Read also: Qatar becomes first Gulf state to offer expat permanent residency Its more than 1.5 kilometres (0.9 miles) of gallery space will focus on Qatar's past, such as its history of pearl-fishing, as well as the present of the energy-rich Gulf state. "This is a museum that narrates the story of the people of Qatar," said Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani, the museum's director. The museum will contain permanent, audio-visual and tactile exhibits, and also stands on the site of the ruling al-Thani royal family's former palace, which has been restored as part of the massive project. Qatar's national museum is the latest high-profile gallery and building to be built in the region in recent years, where an architectural arms race between wealthy competing Gulf powers is taking place. Doha's Museum of Islamic Art, where officials were speaking on Monday, opened in 2008. The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in November 2017. The cultural rivalry comes at a time when Qatar and its neighbours are locked in a divisive regional diplomatic dispute. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin P R Sanjai and Anto Antony (Bloomberg) Tue, December 11, 2018 10:38 1085 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e189fa5 2 Lifestyle Crazy-Rich-Asians,India,wedding,Mukesh-Ambani Free India is preparing for what could be one of the worlds most expensive weddings ever, a spectacle that could even put the fictional nuptials in "Crazy Rich Asians" to shame. On Dec. 12, Asias richest man -- oil-and-telecom tycoon Mukesh Ambani -- is scheduled to give away his daughter Isha to billionaire Ajay Piramals son, Anand. The week-long extravaganza is estimated to cost about $100 million, according to people familiar with the planning. To put the figure in perspective, Prince Charles and Princess Dianas wedding 37 years ago reportedly cost $110 million in todays dollars. Invitees to the pre-wedding festivities, in the central Indian lake city of Udaipur, range from international celebrities such as Beyonce to politicians like Hillary Clinton and business tycoons including Henry Kravis, according to people familiar with the matter. The guest list is so long that the Ambanis and Piramals have taken over at least five five-star hotels nearby, and a war room has been set up in Mumbai to manage logistics, they said. According to local media reports, more than 100 chartered flights will fly guests to and from Udaipurs Maharana Pratap Airport. As gratitude to the city of Udaipur, the Ambanis donated enough food to feed 5,100 people three meals a day for four days, and set up a bazaar to showcase 108 traditional Indian paintings, pottery and other art from local artisans, according to a statement from a family representative. Read also: VIPs arrive at pre-wedding bash for daughter of India's richest man The main ceremony will be held at the patriarchs home, the 27-story Antiliapalace in Mumbai, and post-wedding events will be held in the city. For the chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd., who overtook Jack Ma this year as Asias wealthiest man, Isha will be the first of his children to wed. After the festivities, the newlyweds are poised to move in to their $64-million diamond-themed mansion at the Gulita building in Mumbai, according to one of the people. A Reliance representative didnt respond to an emailed query, while a spokesperson for Piramal Enterprises Ltd. declined to comment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 08:11 1084 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1aabee 1 Entertainment Shopee,blackpink,music,K-pop,petition,change-org,Indonesia,KPI,Twitter Free The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) sent out warning letters to 11 television stations on Tuesday for broadcasting a commercial of the online marketplace Shopee and a Shopee Road to 12.12 Birthday Sale program that featured South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. Posted on the KPI's official website and reportedly signed by KPI head Yuliandre Darwis, the letter said the commercial and program failed to adhere to decency norms as stated in the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Program Standards (P3SPS). The letter said that a number of women singing and dancing while wearing little clothing in the commercial and program potentially violated Article 9 (1) of the P3SPS. The article states that a program should adhere to decency and morality norms upheld by the public. Read also: Of legs and Pancasila: Two petitions battle it out over BLACKPINK ad KPI commissioner and coordinator of broadcasting programs Hardly Stefano called for producers to adhere to brand safety in the making of commercials and promotions, as to not evoke negative perceptions, as quoted on the KPI website. Should we find similar programs to those mentioned in the warning letter, the KPI will impose sanctions based on existing regulations, he added. In response, Shopee Indonesias country brand manager Rezki Yanuar has released an official statement. It has been our main priority to put forward input from our loyal users for the companys progress and the general comfort of our community at large, especially relating to the whole online shopping experience. "We have learned and listened to the complaints regarding our advertisements that are often played ahead of our birthday sale campaign and we appreciate the feedback as this acts as a very useful input for our future actions. However, the aforesaid advertisement had been granted permission from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI). We will always follow all existing regulations from every stakeholder in Indonesia and every country where we operate. "In response to the feedback that we received, we have worked closely with all parties responsible in managing the airing time to be more appropriate to the audience as a whole. We have also learned that the KPI has sent warning letters to TV stations broadcasting our ad. In accordance with the upcoming Hari Belanja Online (Online Shopping Day) campaign, the advertisement will be replaced with our new Shopee 12.12 as per today, Dec. 11. The KPI sent out the warning letters after a petition demanding the commission stop airing Shopee BLACKPINK commercial was started by Maimon Herawati on change.org on Dec. 7. In her statement, she said the girl bands outfits were too short. At the time of writing, the petition has garnered more than 101,260 signatures. "A group of women wearing skimpy outfits. What kind of subconscious values do we want to instill in our children with this vulgar ad that flaunts aurat [intimate parts]? The clothes do not even cover the thighs. Movement and expression are provocative. It is really far from Pancasila values," she wrote on the petition. In response, a fan of BLACKPINK started a petition for the KPI to not stop the ad on the same day. The petition currently has garnered more than 46,800 signatures. Indonesian K-pop fans, known for their dedication, fired back on Twitter after the KPI sent out its warning letters. The KPIs tweet received more than 800 replies, with most users denouncing its decision and declaring the commission was acting unfairly. KPI Minta Stasiun TV Hentikan Iklan Shopee Blackpink https://t.co/cx8mpkTNkK pic.twitter.com/vlYTnnyKXN KPI Pusat (@KPI_Pusat) December 11, 2018 One netizen pointed out how in the past Indonesian television series featured actresses wearing clothes that reveal their midriffs and cleavages and that it was not a big deal. KPI larang iklan shopee hahhaa kangen jaman dulu film jinny oh jinny, diana pungky pake baju udel sama belahannya keliatan tp kitanya jg biasa2 aja oyeah dan baywatch setiap jam 1 malem, mantap betul itu Damian Wayne (@dendiborneo) December 11, 2018 Another wrote: The KPI is giving a strict warning for TV stations to stop airing Shopee BP ads when theres a lot of more morally concerning contents still being broadcast shows how ridiculous the system in this country is. As if people cant stream the whole thing on YT [YouTube]. The hypocrisy jumps out. KPI giving a strict warning for TV stations to stop airing Shopee BP ads when there's a lot of more morally concerning contents still being broadcasted shows how ridiculous the system in this country is. As if people can't stream the whole thing on YT. The hypocrisy jumps out. G.O (@pinkot9) December 11, 2018 Ron, an Indonesian K-pop fan since 2008, said he found it reasonable for the KPI to send out the warning letters. "If what seems to be the problem is the broadcasting hour on television and there's a complaint from a member of the public, the KPI has done right by giving out a warning letter," he said via a text message interview. However, he also said he considered the petition for the ad to be stopped was excessive. "The only issue is [that] the broadcast time slot is near to a children's program. It should be a simple matter of moving [the commercial and the program] to a time slot when children won't see them. I think we cannot just stop an ad from running because it was considered it could corrupt the children as it featured sexy appearances of BLACKPINK. Parents play a big role in this matter," he said. Read also: BLACKPINK to perform in Jakarta in January Ron went on to say that K-pop groups or idols have long sported sexy clothing with no petitions stemming from their sartorial choices. "I tend to think this has something to do with the over-exposure of BLACKPINK," he said. The group is scheduled to perform in ICE BSD, South Tangerang, on Jan. 20, 2019 as part of their first world tour, In Your Area. The girl group has gained immense popularity since the release of their EP, Square Up, in June. The albums lead single, Ddu-du Ddu-du, peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest ever for an all-female K-pop act, and its music video has more than 450 million views on YouTube. (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 15:41 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1f0c46 1 Lifestyle Harbolnas,#Harbolnas,online-shopping-national-day,discount,online-shopping,#shopping Free National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas) is finally here. Held every year on Dec. 12, Harbolnas is among the most-awaited events of the month, as it offers various tempting discounts and promotions. This year, Harbolnas involves more than 250 online platforms. Since there are only a few hours left until Harbolnas ends, The Jakarta Post has compiled 12 platforms that offer great deals for you to grab before its too late! Sociolla Makeup and skincare enthusiasts may want to check Sociollas 12.12 Beauty Obsession program. Offering up to 90 percent discounts, the program features popular makeup and skincare brands, such as Maybelline, Cetaphil, Bioderma, Real Techniques and South Korean skincare brand COSRX. Customers can also get an extra 12 percent off until Dec. 15 by using the SOCHAR12 promo code. Pomelo Are you looking for a new outfit to wear to a year-end gathering? Then check out Pomelo, which is offering special prices for clothes and accessories. Also, any purchase made via the Pomelo application between 12 p.m. and 11.59 p.m. is entitled to an extra 12 percent discount. All you need to do is to use the TWELVE promo code at checkout. Zalora Online fashion retailer Zalora is also participating in this years Harbolnas by offering slashed prices for both women and mens fashion. For women, bag lovers can get an additional 24 percent discount for selected items by using the BAGPHORIA code. Meanwhile, additional discounts for men apply to select sneakers and can be redeemed with the 12SNEAKERS promo code. The online fashion retailer is also offering special prices for popular brands such as Nike, River Island, Keds, Melissa and Superga. Lazada Online marketplace Lazada was among the initiators of Harbolnas, which was first launched in 2012. This year, the e-commerce platform is offering discounts and deals for almost all categories, including makeup, home appliances and smartphones. One of the most interesting programs in Lazada is Crazy Flash Deals. Available for a limited time only, the program offers up to 99.9 percent discounts. In addition to slashed prices, Lazada is also offering a free shopping promotion. Shopee Shopee offers various interesting programs, including free shipping and 120 percent cashback. The former has no minimum purchase. However, it is only valid for up to 12 orders. Meanwhile, the cashback will appear as Shopee coins, allowing you to use them for next purchases. JD.ID The Indonesian subsidiary of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.id is celebrating Harbolnas with various programs, including Mystery Box and Promo Setengah Harga (Half Price Promo). Mystery Box is available from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., when customers can purchase various mystery items at lower prices, such as Rp 500,000 (US$34.25) for a Canon Camera and Rp 199,000 for a television. Meanwhile, Promo Setengah Harga offers a 50 percent discount for selected items. Meanwhile, the Serba 12 (Everything 12) promotion is offering various products at Rp 12,000, Rp 120,000 and Rp 1.2 million. Items include mens T-shirts at Rp 12,000, Moleskine Ruled notebooks at Rp 120,000 and Adidas Pure Boost Mens Sneakers at Rp 1.2 million. Read also: Six tips for a safe online shopping on Harbolnas Blibli Similar to other e-commerce platforms, Blibli is also offering special prices, but if youre feeling particularly lucky, try the Blibli auction. With a starting price of Rp 12,000, you stand the chance of getting a Mini Cooper, iPhone X and Nintendo Switch at extremely low price tags. Gramedia.com Online book retailer Gramedia.com does not want to miss out on the Harbolnas 12.12 and is currently offering discounts of up to 80 percent for selected products, including stationery, backpacks and childrens toys. And if you use Go-Pay, you can get a 20 percent cashback. Cotton Ink Local fashion brand Cotton ink is also joining Harbolnas 12.12. Twelve percent + 12 percent deals are available for all normal-price items. All you need to do is enter the HARBOLNAS12 promo code during checkout. Cotton Ink is also having Rp 100,000 deals for selected items. The collection changes every two hours, allowing you to get different outfits. Bukalapak Bukalapak is among the e-commerce platforms that are offering a Flash Deal program. The program is divided into six periods and can be accessed only via the Bukalapak application. During the program, users can get various items at Rp 12. In addition to the big discounts, customers can also get free shipping by entering the FLASHDEAL12 promo code. In addition to Flash Deal, Bukalapak also offers various discounted prices and promotions. Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines is participating in this years Harbolnas. On Dec. 12, you can get special prices for 12 destinations, including Singapore, Bangkok, London, San Francisco and New York. The promotion is only valid for transactions made via the Singapore Airlines website and customers need to use the PROMO1212 code. Garuda Indonesia National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is also offering special discounts during Harbolnas. For booking periods between Dec. 12 and 14, customers can get up to 25 percent discounts. Mandiri debit or credit card holders are also entitled to discounts of up to Rp 500,000. The promotion is valid for both domestic and international flights with the flying period between Dec. 15 and 31. (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dene-Hern Chen (Agence France-Presse) Bangkok, Thailand Sat, December 15, 2018 12:26 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e26f894 2 Entertainment Miss-Universe,Miss-Spain,Angela-Ponce,transgender Free Carrying a bold message of inclusion, transgender rights and a sharp rebuke to US President Donald Trump, Miss Spain's Angela Ponce is blazing a trail as the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe's 66-year history. The willowy beauty is making history since the pageant reversed a longstanding policy in 2012 that participants must be "naturally born" women. Explaining her broad appeal the plain-speaking 27-year-old says "who hasn't suffered from prejudice? Who hasn't had to deal with bullying?" Outside the walls of Miss Universe -- whose finals will be held early Monday in Thailand's capital Bangkok -- the transgender community continues to be marginalized and misunderstood, with high rates of suicide. A leaked White House report said President Trump's administration is considering pushing changes to the law to define gender by biological traits at birth while trying to block transgender people from military service. Ponce is defiant about how to respond to Trump, a former owner of Miss Universe, and others who would try to box her in by physical traits. "I always say: having a vagina didn't transform me into a woman. I am a woman, already before birth, because my identity is here," she told AFP, gesturing to her head. Read also: Miss USA apologizes for mocking non-English speaking Miss Universe contestants She also took issue with the classification of trans people by large sections of society based on prejudice and narrow assessments of gender. "Outsiders say what I can and cannot do, what I am and what I am not,'" Ponce said. "No, I'm sorry. To be a woman is your identity. It doesn't matter if you are white, black, if you have a vagina... if you have a penis." Ponce, who works with a foundation in Spain helping children struggling with stigma linked to being trans, is aware of the visibility she brings to the Miss Universe platform. Her performance has so far drawn praise, from her portrayal of a flamenco dancer during the national costume portion of the competition to her strut down the runway in a shimmery mermaid-like gown in the evening dress category. "You can empower yourself like I have and turn something negative into your biggest strength," she said. "Children are born without prejudices and I think that if we talk to them about diversity from a young age... we can create a new generation of human beings who are raised a lot better, more tolerant and respectful." This year's event, which critics say is a throwback to stereotypes of the pre #MeToo era, has largely preached a message of inclusivity. It boasts an all-women panel of judges made up of business leaders and former Miss Universe titleholders. But gaffes still abound -- Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers got in hot water for appearing to mock the contestants from Vietnam and Cambodia on social media for not being able to speak English. She has since posted an apology on Instagram, saying she did not "intend to hurt" her fellow competitors. Monday's event will see last year's winner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa crown her successor among 94 countries in a live televised event hosted by American comic turned TV host Steve Harvey and supermodel Ashley Graham. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Chicago, United States Sun, December 16, 2018 03:34 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e278b56 2 Food Chicago,beer,brewery,beverage Free Where is America's beer capital? Many cities claim the title, including Grand Rapids, Michigan and San Diego, California. But when it comes to sheer math, the title now belongs to Chicago. The "Third Coast" city -- situated along the banks of vast Lake Michigan -- is first in the US in the number of breweries it contains, according to new data provided by the Brewers Association, an industry group. Los Angeles and New York, two cities with bigger populations, come in fourth and sixth respectively. "It shows that Chicago has earned the right to be thought of as a top beer city," Bart Watson, the group's chief economist, told AFP. Chicago had 172 breweries as of the end of November, with Denver -- with less than a third of Chicago's population -- boasting the second highest number at 161. Overall, the country has seen explosive growth in the number of breweries -- 98 percent of them making craft beer. Their numbers have doubled or tripled since 2013 in the eight US cities with the highest number of new beer makers, according to Watson. "We've seen more breweries open in the last five years than in any other point in our country's history," Watson said. The sheer volume of brewers in Chicago makes a strong case for the Midwestern city to take the crown as the country's beer capital, said Danielle D'Alessandro, executive director of the Illinois Brewers Association. "We are really seeing our craft beer scene just thrive," she told AFP, calling the city an epicenter of innovation. D'Alessandro credits a number of factors -- from culture, to regulatory changes, to ready access to fresh water from Lake Michigan -- for helping Chicago's beer scene hop. "We're pretty excited about this designation," she said. "It's a testament to our brewers." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Wang Zhongqiong (China Daily/Asia News Network) Shanghai, China Sat, December 15, 2018 21:30 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e277449 2 Food Starbucks,Alibaba,virtual-store Free World-leading coffee chain Starbucks said it will further enhance its digital collaboration with Alibaba Group by launching its first-ever virtual store. The move will offer digital resources from Alibaba's ecosystemincluding e-commerce sites Taobao and Tmall, and virtual wallet Alipayexpanding Starbucks' current online offering. Molly Liu, vice-president of Digital Venture, Starbucks China, said: "This new milestone in the Starbucks digital strategy will significantly fuel our capability to provide an even more personalized and enticing one-touch digital experience for Chinese consumers, while extending the accessibility of our digital innovations into the everyday lifestyle rituals of our customers." The virtual store, an online management hub Alibaba has developed specifically for Starbucks, is expected to integrate the company's digital offeringsincluding Starbucks Delivers, Say it with Starbucks social gifting, and the Starbucks Tmall flagship storeonto one interface for its customers, including more than 600 million mobile monthly active users on Alibaba's China retail marketplaces. Customers now can order beverages, food and merchandise from the virtual store for home delivery, all at the same time. "The move has given Starbucks wider access to Alibaba Group's members, in addition to its previous collaborations with Tencent," said Wang Zhendong, chairman of Shanghai Feiyue Investment Management Co Ltd, a consultancy firm focusing on the domestic coffee industry. "Starbucks has also shown its ambition in retail merchandizing, as Tmall has strengths in selling personalized gifts," he said. Read also: Starbucks gets new drinks from lab to cafe in one-fifth the time The global coffee chain expects that Alibaba's strong membership referral pipeline will help to fuel exponential growth in its rewards membership in China. Xu Hong, vice-president of Alibaba Group, said the company's 740 million members will gain access to the new Starbucks experience, coupled with Alibaba's New Retail infrastructure and digital power. The virtual store will provide more ways for customers to earn Stars for their purchases in the Starbucks Rewards program, the company said. Starbucks launched its delivery program in September with the Ele.me on-demand delivery app. The service has already expanded to 2,000 stores across 30 cities. In October, Starbucks piloted its first Star Kitchens in two Freshippo (previously known as Hema) supermarkets in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Star Kitchens provide additional scale, reach and delivery for Starbucks' handcrafted beverages and food within 30 minutes. In 2017, Starbucks commanded an 80.7 percent share of the chained specialized coffee shops market in China, followed by McCafe's 8.4 percent and Costa Coffee's 5.2 percent, according to Euromonitor International. The market in China is now the world's third-largest by market revenue, only after the United States and South Korea. Topics : This article appeared on the China Daily newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, November 28, 2018 09:59 1098 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877e3a110 1 Business digital-economy,Southeast-Asia,Indonesia,economy,economic-growth,Google,temasek Free A new study has found that Indonesias digital economy is poised to become the largest in Southeast Asia as its market value triples to US$100 billion by 2025 from $27 billion in 2018, promising more jobs and more consumer choices for an emerging tech-savvy generation. The annual e-Conomy Southeast Asia study, conducted by American tech giant Google and Singaporean holding company Temasek, says the growth will be spurred by four key digital services, namely e-commerce, with a contribution of 53 percent, online travel (25 percent), ride-hailing services (14 percent) and online media (8 percent). We see that these sectors have grown big and they will continue to grow in the coming years, said Google Indonesia managing director Randy Jusuf during a press conference on the study on Tuesday. Google head of strategy and insights Samuele Saini noted that the growth might be slightly higher than predicted because the study did not include emerging digital businesses such as those related to finance, health and education. He said a lack of data on these businesses meant the study was unable to make reliable predictions. A proliferation of digital services, particularly in e-commerce, diversifies product and service choices available for Indonesias 150 million smartphone users the largest number in the region especially for users located in more remote areas. Similarly, homegrown e-commerce platforms Tokopedia and Bukalapak have launched advertisements highlighting their expansive logistics networks that can bring everything from electric guitars to rice cookers to even the remotest kampung home. Googles report, which is available on Thinkwithgoogle.com, says the digital economy will also increase employment opportunities as the average Southeast Asian internet-based company will increase staff by 10 percent each year. A 2018 McKinsey report supports Googles finding as it estimates that the digital economy could produce 3.7 million new jobs in Indonesia by 2025. In addition to employment, Googles report says the growth of transportation-facilitated digital services such as Grab and Go-Jek, which operate in food delivery, ride-sharing and logistics may triple partner jobs to 12 million region-wide in 2025 from 4 million this year. However, even if Indonesias digital economy grows to the estimated $100 billion by 2025, it will contribute only 4 percent to a government target of $2.5 trillion in gross domestic product in the same year. The contribution remains smaller than that in developed countries such as the United States at 6.5 percent or China (33 percent). Nevertheless, Temasek portfolio strategy and risk group joint head Rohit Sipahimalani said during an interview with CNBC last week that he was confident Southeast Asia could narrow the gap very rapidly over the years to come. Weve seen everything in the ecosystem slowly beginning to come together and thats going to make all the difference, he said. Sipahimalani was referring to six factors funding, internet connection, consumer trust, digital talent, logistics and payment methods that limit digital economic growth, according to last years e-Conomy report. Randy said at Tuesdays conference that Indonesia had made significant progress with the first three factors, thanks to rising investor confidence, government infrastructure programs and effective marketing campaigns. However, there remained room for improvement in terms of the availability of digital talent, logistics and payment methods, he said. The government, for its part, promised to continue its infrastructure programs and to focus next years development policy on building human resources. In regard to payment, Googles report says that internet-based companies need to either partner or consolidate with other companies to increase the integration of payment services in an otherwise heavily fragmented payment landscape. (nor) This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Nov. 28, 2018, with the title "RIs digital economy to dominate SE Asia by 2025". Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 5, 2018 09:41 1091 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e089ee8 1 City jakarta,land-subsidence,geology,North-Jakarta,Institut-Teknologi-Bandung,NCICD,anies-baswedan Free More than a quarter of Jakartas 661.52 square kilometers will be submerged by water in less than a decade, as the sprawling capital will continue to sink rapidly if no significant measures are taken to ensure the survival of the city, experts have warned. Seawater could cover as much as 26.86 percent of Jakarta by 2025 and if this trend continues, 35.61 percent of the city will be completely submerged, according to a study by the geodesy research division of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). North Jakarta alone could be 90 percent underwater by 2050, a member of the team Heri Andreas told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The citys looming submergence, according to the study, was not primarily caused by rising sea levels but by the sinking of city itself. ITBs research into land subsidence from 1925 to 2015 showed that significant land subsidence began in 1975, with North Jakarta the worst affected area. Land in Marunda and Cilincing had sunk 1.5 meters by 2015. Kelapa Gading has reportedly sunk by up to 2.4 m, while the worst affected area, Pluit, has sunk up to 4 m. Like many other global cities in the world, overuse of ground water has served as the leading cause of Jakartas problem. The issue was also highlighted by a study conducted by the University of Indonesias (UI) math and sciences department. UI geophysicist Syamsu Rosid said that recently published 4D microgravity research of Jakartas soil revealed an alarming rate of land subsidence, especially in North Jakarta. The method registers land subsidence by recording the gravitational strength of an area over the course of four years from 2014 to 2018. The research shows the most affected area is on Jakartas coast, as North Jakarta is sinking approximately 11 centimeters per year because of human activities, especially over exploitation of groundwater, he told the Post, adding that it could affect the stability of buildings and infrastructure in addition to increasing the risk of tidal flooding as the land was now under sea level. Jakartas piped-water service only covers 60 percent of the capital, according to data from Jakarta tap water company PAM Jaya. That means the remaining 40 percent of the city relies on groundwater. Poorly enforced regulations have also led to excessive illegal groundwater use, and not only by residents. Data from the Jakarta Industrial and Energy Agency show that 4,231 commercial buildings, such as hotels and offices, in the city still use groundwater. Besides the uncontrolled usage of groundwater, land subsidence has also been aggravated by a lack of green spaces, as concrete and asphalt prevents the absorption of water into the soil. As Jakarta is crossed by 13 rivers, the citys soil is also made up of alluvium, or sediment, deposited by rivers, which is loose and susceptible to erosion. Looking at those factors, we really urge the city administration to reevaluate its spatial plan (RTRW), Syamsu said adding that all parties needed to follow the designated zones set in the RTRW. North Jakarta is home to 1,696,015 residents, according to 2015 population data. In addition to being the area worst affected by land subsidence, it is also arguably the area where the socioeconomic gap between residents is the most apparent in the city, with slums only a stones throw away from elite gated communities like those in Pluit, Pantai Indah Kapuk and Kepala Gading. The countrys busiest port Tanjung Priok, as well as the citys industrial areas are also located in North Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan had said that the city administration and central government had taken measures to prevent further land subsidence, including by continuing work on a sea wall as part of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) in Jakarta Bay to protect the city from tidal flooding. He also claimed the city had focused on expanding infiltration wells to help the soil better absorb rainwater. Jakarta Industrial and Energy Agency acting head, Ricki Marojahan Mulia, said the agency had built up to 1,333 infiltration wells throughout the city, although he did not elaborate on how exactly expansion would continue given the citys densely populated nature. This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Dec. 5, 2018, with the title "Jakarta sinking fast: Experts". Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, December 7, 2018 15:13 1088 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e10bc1f 4 Business 5G,technology,Chinas-offer,ASEAN Free Indonesia will study Chinas offer to develop 5G technology in the archipelago, particularly the business model and ecosystem required in such an upgrade. China offered ASEAN countries its services in developing 5G technology at a press conference on the sidelines of the 2018 Telsom Telmin meeting between regional communications ministry officials in Ubud, Bali, on Thursday. "China is offering [to develop] 5G technology, but it is up to each [ASEAN] country because we need to consider the ecosystem and business model, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said as quoted by Antara. He said the government would leave it to cellular phone operators to make the decision of whether they would adopt 5G technology. The 5G network offers more speed than 4G, which is currently being used widely in the country, but by applying the upgraded technology, consumers will also pay more. Rudiantara estimated the price could be five to 10 times higher than the price of 4G networks. Previously, China's Deputy Minister for Industry and Informatics Technology Zhaoxiong Chen told journalists that the county had developed 5G technology and would share it with ASEAN countries. "We have good achievement in 5G technology and we have tested the system. We want to share our success and experience with ASEAN to accelerate the adoption of 5G technology," Zhaoxiong said, adding that two Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE were ready to offer their services and expertise. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, December 11, 2018 08:48 1085 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e184a38 1 City trash,waste,Jakarta-Bay,jakarta,Bekasi,Tangerang,river Free Seven rivers in Jakarta and two rivers in its satellite cities of Tangerang, Banten, and Bekasi, West Java, are polluted by trash, dumping 21 tons of waste daily into Jakarta Bay, a researcher has calculated. The seven rivers include the Angke, Sentiong, Sunter, Cilincing and Marunda. Meanwhile, the two rivers in the satellite cities that flow into Jakarta Bay include the Dadap in Tangerang and Bekasi in Bekasi. "Of the seven rivers in Jakarta, one river in Bekasi and one river in Tangerang, the total waste that enters Jakarta Bay is 21 tons daily," said Reza Cordova, a sea chemical and ecotoxicology researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) oceanographic research center. According to Reza, most trash that flows into Jakarta Bay comes from Jakarta's sister cities because the trash management in Jakarta's rivers is "well-managed". "Waste in Jakarta is relatively less severe than those of Tangerang and Bekasi because there is a possibility that waste management in Jakarta is one of the best [compared to Greater Jakarta]," Reza said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Monday. Reza added that the work of Jakarta's Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU) personnel, popularly known as the "orange troops", contributed to the better waste management of rivers in Jakarta. "On average there is less that 1 ton of trash per day. In Tangerang and Bekasi, [the trash can reach] up to 7-8 tons per day," he said. The trash that goes into Jakarta Bay consists of wood, glass and mostly single-use plastic. (mai) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Mon, December 10, 2018 22:01 1085 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e17ec78 2 World #UK,#drugs,British,drug-lord,France,trial Free Briton Robert Dawes, believed to be one of Europe's biggest drug traffickers, went on trial in Paris on Monday accused of importing 1.3 tons of cocaine into France. The drugs, stuffed in 30 unregistered suitcases, were discovered in 2013 after an Air France plane arrived at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport from Caracas. Dawes, 46, was arrested in November 2015 at his luxury resort in Benalmadena, southern Spain, after police intercepted a conversation in which he reportedly claimed ownership of the cocaine, with a street value of 240 million euros ($275 million). Extradited to France shortly after his arrest, he has denied the charges of drugs trafficking which follow investigations launched in 2007 into alleged links to the Italian mafia and South American cartels. Dawes is on trial alongside two other Britons and three Italians, who risk up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to 7.5 million euros. At the time of his arrest, Spanish police said Dawes "headed up the biggest criminal organisation in Britain and Europe devoted to drug trafficking, money laundering and murder." The Air France shipment caused a stir in Venezuela where the interior minister admitted the suitcases had gone through security scanners that had clearly showed the presence of drugs. Venezuelan police arrested 25 people, including members of the military and an Air France manager. - Mafia suspicions - Dawes was also being probed in the Netherlands over a wave of murders there in 2014 and 2015, allegedly aimed at taking control of cocaine trafficking in several European countries, police said. From his base in Andalucia, he is suspected of importing "furniture from China and fruit containers from South America which he would fill with large quantities of cocaine", and his cartel also shipped heroin from Turkey and Afghanistan to Britain, Spanish police said. Dawes mainly used shipping containers to move the drugs around, but also lesiure boats and commercial flights such as the Air France one, they added. He allegedly would meet regularly with representatives of South American crime empires, including the notorious Medellin cartel, at hotels in Madrid. He is also accused of buying large amounts of drugs from Italy's secretive 'Ndrangheta mafia, which is thought to run much of Europe's cocaine trade from Calabria. Dawes's alleged criminal empire stretched from Portugal, France and Belgium to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Venezuela and Mexico. His suspected right-hand man, Dutch citizen Emiel Brummer, was arrested in April 2016 on Spain's Costa del Sol and extradited to the Netherlands. Dawes's trial is set to run until December 21. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 09:01 1084 ab327006fac3d4a4e8af45a51b0094c7 1 City North-Jakarta,sea-wall,damage Free Residents of Muara Baru, North Jakarta, have noticed several holes in the sea wall that stretches 250 meters along the water. They said they were worried that the leaks would eventually break the wall. Were afraid that the sea wall would break. It had happened in 2007, dont let it happen again, said a resident named Arifin on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com. In 2007, Arifin added, the sea wall, which was built five years earlier, was damaged and leaks appeared, making the damage worse. Seawater then inundated the neighborhood. Today, water leaking from holes has flooded roads in front of some houses to a depth of 10 centimeters. The leaks appear to be several years old as moss is growing around all the holes. I didnt think it would cause a flood though. The water pooled and flowed somewhere else, said another resident, Dedi. The residents have called on the city administration to repair the sea wall to prevent flooding. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 12:51 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1e96d3 4 Business tax-holiday,investment,new-regulation Free The government has granted tax holidays to 12 companies with total investment of Rp 210.8 trillion (US$14.45 billion) since it issued the revised Finance Ministery Regulation No. 35/2018 in April. The head of the Finance Ministrys income tax (PPh) collection and deduction division, Sulistyo Wibodo, said in Jakarta on Monday that that those figures were based on a calculation done before issuance of the 16th economic policy package in November, which also deregulated tax holiday rules. The tax holiday facility has been issued to 12 applicants, Sulistyo said in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday, as reported by kompas.com. Four of the 12 companies are invested in electricity infrastructure, one in the chemical industry and seven in the steel industry, he said, adding that their new investment was projected to create 10,587 jobs. The investment locations include Serang in Banten, Konawe in Southeast Sulawesi, South Tapanuli in North Sumatra, East Halmahera in North Maluku, Jepara in Central Java, Bengkulu, Bombana in Southeast Sulawesi and Cilegon in Banten. The investors come from Indonesia as well as from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and the Netherlands. Nearly all the investment is for new [projects], Sulistyo added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 16:52 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1f8ee8 1 Business Harbolnas,discount,YLKI,Ministries Free During National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas) or the 12.12 shopping festival on Wednesday, marketplaces compete with each other by offering big price cuts and other promos to persuade more people to shop. For example, e-commerce platform Bibli.com offered price cuts ranging from 5 percent to Rp 500,000 on smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops, cameras and jewelry. It also offered discounts on other products like data packages, airplane tickets, hotel stays and the payment of Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) premiums. Meanwhile, Lazada offered price cuts days before 12.12 on various products like clothes, televisions, electronic goods, cosmetics and cars. Its app showed that the most popular items purchased were female blazers of which more than 300,000 were sold. For household goods, more than 70,000 blenders were sold on Wednesday. The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) called on people to be cautious when buying products online. Complaints by online shoppers are on the rise, said YLKI chairman Tulus Abadi, adding that most complained about how difficult it was to report faulty products that they had bought through e-commerce platforms. The shopping festival was supported by the Trade, Industry and Communications and Information ministries to promote Indonesian products. People must purchase products made in this country on National Online Shopping Day, said Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara via a video, which was broadcast on Harbolnas official website on Wednesday. Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said, We have to support small and medium enterprise players as well as Indonesian manufacturers. Unlike previous events, this years Harbolnas was held over two days because the organizers dedicated Dec. 11 for the promotion of Indonesian products. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 16:49 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1f864f 1 City jak-lingko,Transportation,integration Free A total of 131,787 Jak Lingko cards have been sold from December 2017 to November 2018. The cards allow commuters to enjoy Jakarta's one-fare public transportation system, which is still in the pipeline. "In August 2018, 9,503 cards were sold. The number went up three-fold in November to 27,235," bus operator PT Transjakarta finance director Wilfizon Yuza said on Tuesday as reported by tempo.co. Yuza said the cards are part of an integrated payment system between the transportation modes under Jak Lingko, which would cover angkot (public minivans), Transjakarta buses, the MRT, light rapid transit (LRT) and commuter trains (KCI). To support the integration, city-owned bus operator PT Transjakarta is currently in talks with city-owned PT MRT Jakarta and PT LRT to create an electronic fare collection (EFC) system, Yuza said. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan changed the system's name from OK-OTRIP to Jak Lingko in October. The word lingko comes from a farm irrigation system used in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, which makes use of interconnected water flow. The name is expected to represent the integration of the city's transportation system. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 11:36 1084 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1e4816 1 City police,attack,East-Jakarta Free A crowd of angry people, allegedly military personnel, ravaged and set fire to the Ciracas Police Station in East Jakarta, on Tuesday night. The riot began on Tuesday at around 11 p.m. and lasted into the early morning of Wednesday. No casualties were recorded from the incident, but four police officers were reportedly injured. It is alleged that members of the crowd were related to the victims and perpetrators of a battery case that occurred on Monday. Around 200 people forcibly entered the police station to check whether the people who had beaten their friends were really being detained, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Idham Azis said as quoted by kompas.com. The officers in the station tried to explain [that the police were still working on the case], but they did not want to listen. Then they ravaged and burned the police station as well as several vehicles, he said. In a chronology of the events received by The Jakarta Post, it was stated that the crowd trespassed into the police station and demanded to see inside the detention facility. The Ciracas Police Station chief tried to prevent the crowd from entering the complex, but was beaten down by the crowd. The mob also beat the East Jakarta Police chief and three other police officers who were inside the station. Around midnight, the mob started to beat every police officer in the station, and also battered two civilians, Tumpal Manota, 23, and Kevin 23, who happened to be driving passed the riot. (gis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 13:20 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1ea524 1 City mangrove,trash,North-Jakarta Free Mangrove areas littered with plastic and styrofoam trash in area of community unit (RW) 07, Marunda, Cilincing, North Jakarta, cannot be cleaned up because of a lack of access to the site, locals have said. Marunda resident Aan said local clean-up workers were only surveying the area but had never cleaned up the mangrove waters. There are no [workers cleaning up the mangroves]. The subdistrict office wanted to clean it up back then, but seeing the conditions, they declined. Its useless if we do a communal clean-up, because every time we did it, the trash just came back, Aan said on Tuesday, wartakota.tribunnews.com reported. Cilincing Environment Agency head Mahmudin, meanwhile, said his workers could not clear away the plastic and styrofoam waste at Marunda mangroves because they were located on private land. PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol owns that land. If the plot was publicly owned, we could drop by anytime. That's a private area, but we are still responsible for the trash, Mahmudin said. He said the land owner should routinely clean up the plastic and styrofoam found in the mangroves but failed to do so. He said the trash was not only swept ashore to the mangroves from the ocean but was also the fault of local residents. Residents should be aware [of their waste]. There are workers to clean rivers [in Jakarta], but on the coast, residents must take care of it themselves [by not littering in the coastal area], he said. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 15:01 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1ee7ba 1 City East-Jakarta,attack,assault,military,parking-attendant Free Police have arrested a parking attendant as one of several suspects who allegedly ganged up on military personnel in Cibubur, East Jakarta. This morning, we got him at his home when he was still sleeping. We arrested and brought him to the Jakarta Police headquarters, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Wednesday, kompas.com reported. The suspect, with the initials AP, got hold of the victim and took part in attacking him, Argo added. He said police were still looking for three other suspects. According to the police account, the assault happened after a navy member, Capt. Komaruddin, and his child had finished fixing his motorbike and were about to eat at a roadside cafe next to the Arundina minimarket in Cibubur on Monday. When Komaruddin parked his motorbike, the exhaust emitted fumes, prompting Komaruddin to check the bikes engine. Then a parking attendant tried to move Komaruddins motorbike without seeing the latter, resulting in Komaruddins head colliding with the bike. Capt. Komaruddin scolded the parking attendant, but he did not accept it, which led to an argument. Other parking attendants came over and assaulted Capt. Komarudin, East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Yoyon Tony said on Tuesday. He added that another army member, First Pvt. Rivonanda, had passed by and tried to stop the fight, only to be assaulted himself by the group of seven to nine people. On Tuesday night, a mob, suspected to be military personnel unsatisfied with the police handling of the assault, ravaged and set fire to the Ciracas Police station in East Jakarta. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, December 12, 2018 19:12 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e1fdf8a 1 City South-Jakarta,fallen-tree,damage Free Rainfall and heavy winds on Wednesday felled several trees in Jakarta, one of which hit a car belonging to SMA Muhammadiyah senior high school in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. The tree hit a four-wheeled vehicle parked at the school, South Jakarta Forestry Agency official M. Yuswardi said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com. He said the agency was currently trying to remove the banyan tree, which measures 95 centimeters in diameter. Another tree on Jl. Saidi II in Cipete Utara fell on electricity cables, he added. According to data from the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), four more trees were uprooted in South Jakarta on Wednesday. The first fell in front of Kota Kasablanka shopping mall at 1.15 p.m. and caused a traffic jam in the area. At 1:30 p.m., a tree fell on Jl. Kalibata Selatan, Pancoran. Not far from there, on Jl. Pertani IV, another tree fell and hit overhead electric cables at 1:53 p.m. Meanwhile, vehicles were unable to pass Jl. Kapten Tendean in Mampang Prapatan because of a toppled tree near a turning around point. The Jakarta Forestry Agency has trimmed 57,229 trees to prevent them from falling in the rainy season. We trimmed the upper section of the trees, the agencys acting head Susi Marsitawati said on Tuesday, adding that 187 trees had toppled and 191 trees had been damaged in the past two weeks. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, December 14, 2018 08:36 1082 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e231f96 1 City mass-wedding,New-Year,jakarta Free The city administration will hold a mass wedding on the evening of Dec. 31, a new tradition that began last year. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the city had started planning the event three weeks ago. Weve held meetings about the plan. I will announce the details, he said as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday. Jakarta Mental and Spiritual Education Bureau head Hendra Hidayat said that every subdistrict could accommodate three couples to join the program. The administration would prepare the dowry for every couple in the form an Islamic prayer set and Rp 500,000 (US$34) cash. Well hold another meeting on Friday, Hendra said, noting that the event was supported by the Jakarta Muslim Charitable Board (Bazis). The bureau reportedly made a request in September for a budget of Rp 566 million to the Jakarta Council budget committee. The proposal, which was included in the citys 2018 budget, was enough to marry 534 couples. However, the plan was scrapped by the city council. Last year, the Jakarta administration held a mass wedding at Park and Ride Thamrin in Central Jakarta. As many as 437 couples tied the knot that day. Each of them received one gram of gold and savings from Bank Syariah Mandiri. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Reney Adhitya (The Jakarta Post) Kupang Thu, December 13, 2018 15:58 1082 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e220b5f 1 Business East-Nusa-Tenggara,tourism,AP-I Free East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is optimistic about its tourism prospects as Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai regency is being touted as a new Bali. NTT Governor Victor Laiskodat believes tourism is the only sector that could help give development in the province a boost. Therefore, he appreciated the initiatives of state-airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I) to expand El Tari International Airport in the provincial capital of Kupang and the selection of the city to host the Collaborative Destination Development (CDD) forum. The CDD, initiated by AP I in 2015, is a focus group discussion to promote tourism and business potential in the regions. I appreciate AP I for what will be done in the province, Victor said earlier this week at the CDD forum in Kupang. In addition to Labuan Bajo, the province is home to many other destinations, including Kupang, Alor, Rote, Ende and Sumba, as well as the popular Komodo National Park. AP I president director Faik Fahmi said after the completion of the airport expansion in Kupang, the company planned to upgrade other airports in the province to help the economy grow. The airport in Kupang is the main gateway to East Nusa Tenggara, supporting export-import activities and acts as a tourism hub that connects to 13 airports in the provinces remote areas, Faik added. As of December, there were at least 258 outbound flights per week from Kupang with a capacity of 24,255 seats, said Faik, adding that El Taris inbound and outbound traffic frequencies had grown from 1.3 million in 2014 to 2.1 million in 2017. Meanwhile, traffic at 14 other airports in NTT had shown an a compound annual growth rate of 13 percent between 2015 and 2017. AP I has invested Rp 400 billion ((US$27.59 million) to expand El Tari, the works for which are expected to be completed in July 2019. It also plans to upgrade airports in several tourist destinations such as Alor, Labuan Bajo and Rote, with the hope that tourist arrivals grow 20 percent annually from 9 percent, currently. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Deborah Jones with Michel Comt in Ottawa (Agence France-Presse) Vancouver, Canada Thu, December 13, 2018 11:11 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e2152f2 2 Business #Canada,#China,Huawei,executive,home,bail Free Accused of sanctions busting and forced to abide by a curfew and wear an ankle bracelet as she awaits possible extradition to the United States, China's "Princess of Huawei" could be said to have fallen spectacularly from grace. But Meng Wanzhou, heiress to her billionaire father's global tech conglomerate, is managing to surround herself with a few home comforts. Huawei's chief financial officer was arrested on December 1 on a US warrant for alleged sanctions-breaking dealings with Iran, while changing planes in Vancouver. She faces more than 30 years in jail if convicted, but was freed on Can$10 million bail Tuesday night pending the outcome of an extradition hearing, which could take months, or even years, if appeals are made in the case. The following morning, Meng was spotted by AFP answering the front door of her Vancouver house to three visitors bringing flowers who arrived in a sedan with diplomatic plates. Outside, a handful of local residents walked their dogs past a group of journalists while a security guard watched from a car down the block. Later, Meng stepped out to offer reporters slices of pizza that she'd had ordered in (they politely declined). Meng's husband Liu Xiaozong in 2009 bought the six-bedroom house where she must stay in Vancouver's Dunbar neighborhood -- a leafy quiet enclave of single-family homes a few blocks from an urban forest. Although valued at a hefty Can$5.6 million, the house -- on a large corner lot with a view of the Pacific coast city's majestic north shore mountains -- does not stand out as particularly ostentatious. Colleen McGuinness, who lives in the neighborhood, said the reaction to the executive's arrival has been muted. "I don't think I'll see her at the grocery store," McGuinness told AFP. "She's obviously been here before, she's just another person in the neighborhood, but with a bit of an entourage." - Chinese-Canadians divided - Meng's husband Liu resided at the 28th Avenue home up until 2012 while working on a Masters degree, and the couple's young son attended a local pre-school. Meng's in-laws have also spent several summers at the house, and her mother and eldest son visited too. "While my work obligations have typically required that I travel extensively, I always try to spend at least 2-3 weeks in Vancouver every summer," she said in court documents. The couple bought a second home in the tony Shaughnessy neighborhood worth an estimated Can$16.3 million. It is currently being renovated. Meng's case has divided the Pacific coast city's large Chinese-Canadian community. "I was surprised at the amount of vitriol I'd gotten from supporters of Meng, saying she should be released," Justin Fung, whose parents immigrated from Hong Kong in the 1970s, said on Twitter. "I felt this is about the rule of law, and I was surprised at how some of these folks were speaking about human rights issues." Speaking to AFP, Fung said the controversy, however, is not likely to affect Meng directly: "We're a pretty low key city, we routinely get Hollywood stars come through and people are not badgering them." - Curfew - While on bail, Meng is required to wear an electronic anklet and a security team paid by her has been assigned to monitor her movements in Vancouver. She also has an 11 pm to 7 am curfew. Speaking through her lawyer, Meng sought to put a brave face on her situation -- saying she looked forward to spending time in Vancouver with her family, and maybe applying for a doctorate program at the University of British Columbia while the extradition case plays out. Family photos submitted to the court showed her smiling and striking poses at tourist spots around the city, including Stanley Park with the Lions Gate bridge in the background, and on a boat in False Creek. Her lawyer, David Martin, argued that she was not a flight risk because it would otherwise "embarrass China itself." Meng also cited health reasons for requesting bail. "I have been working hard for 25 years and if I were to be ordered released my only simple goal is to be with my husband and my daughter," she said. "I haven't read a novel in years." As CBC News commented, "she may have time to finish War and Peace, Anna Karenina and the complete works of Marcel Proust before her extradition odyssey is done." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang Thu, December 13, 2018 11:17 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e215875 4 Business illegal-products,state-losses,Central-Java,Yogyakarta,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati Free Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said the sales of illegal goods in the markets have inflicted state losses of Rp 55 billion (US$3.78 million) in 2018. The illegal goods that have caused the state losses are mostly in the form of fake excise tape, unregistered cigarettes, illegal liquors and other products, the minister said when attending an event in which seized illegal products were destroyed on Wednesday by the customs and excise office in Semarang. She said the customs and excise office had seized fake excise tape and illegal cigarettes worth Rp 20.7 billion, as well as illegal liquor (Rp 779 million), among other items. The authority investigated 203 cases in which 108 people were named suspects in 2018, Sri Mulyani said, adding that the illegal product cases in Central Java and Yogyakarta reached 28 and 25, respectively. She said President Joko Jokowi Widodo had declared a war against illegal products and therefore, supervision and monitoring would be intensified. The minister said the government faced a dilemma as many of the illegal products were produced by micro and small enterprises that were needed by consumers. But law enforcement should continue. Therefore, I call on the Central Java governor to encourage small businesspeople to legalize their products. By producing legal products, their economic activities could support development, Sri Mulyanid added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, December 13, 2018 14:13 1082 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e21d454 1 Business Mercedes-Benz-Indonesia,C-Class,production,bogor,West-Java,Indonesia Free Mercedes-Benz has started the production of the new C-Class at its plant in Wanaherang, Bogor, West Java, to meet Indonesian market demand. We are very proud that our team is able to roll off the new C-Class at the Mercedes- Benz plant Wanaherang, said PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia president and CEO Gunter Hafele in a press statement received by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. With the assembly plant at this location, Mercedes-Benz Indonesia has a close position to the domestic market and [that] allows us to respond with flexibility to customers demands for premium passenger cars of Mercedes-Benz. The statement reads that Mercedes-Benz Indonesia plays an important role in the network of Mercedes-Benz assembly plants, with factories also located in Brazil, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. The new C-Class comes with a fully digitalized instrument display in three visual styles: "Classic", "Sport" and "Progressive". The Wanaherang plant was established in 1978 on an area of 410.000 square meters. With more than 475 employees at the location, Mercedes-Benz is one of the largest automotive employers in the area. Six types of passenger cars are currently assembled at the site, namely the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class sedans as well as the GLC, GLE and GLS SUVs, in addition to the production of three bus chassis and the Axor truck, which commenced in 2017. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, December 13, 2018 11:52 1083 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e216577 1 City East-Jakarta,assault,attack,parking-attendant,TNI Free Dozens of unidentified men have ransacked the home of a parking attendant identified as I, who was allegedly involved in an assault on military personnel that some believe led to the attack on the Ciracas Police station in East Jakarta. The house in Ciracas, which belongs to the parking attendants parents, was left with smashed windows, a closet turned upside down, the glass of a refrigerator broken, and objects scattered on the floor, kompas.com reported. The parking attendant's father, Oloan Hutapea, said the mob had ravaged his house at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, while he had been hanging out with his neighbors in front of the house. The attackers had arrived on motorcycles, asked Oloan whether it was I's house and ordered him to stay at his neighbor's house, before they began to damage the house. "They ransacked my house for almost half an hour and then left," he said. Following the rampage, his wife reported the case to the East Jakarta Police. Oloan said he suspected the incident was related to Mondays assault on a Navy captain, Komaruddin, allegedly at the hands of parking attendants of the Arundina shop in Ciracas, including his son. Not satisfied with the way the police were handling the assault case, a mob that reportedly comprised of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel ransacked and burned down part of the Ciracas Police station on Tuesday night, damaging police vehicles and leaving several officers injured, according to a police report. Police have detained one attendant, AP, and are still looking for three others. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, December 14, 2018 09:36 1082 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e236f9a 4 Business Garuda-Indonesia,Kertajati-Airport-Majalengka-WestJava,routes Free Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to open more routes from Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka, West Java, this month. Gada Indonesia service director Nicodemus P. Lampe said the airline would start the Kertajati-Tanjung Karang (Lampung)-Palembang (South Sumatra) route on Dec. 18 and the Kertajati-Balikpapan (East Kalimantan)-Tarakan (North Kalimantan) on Dec. 21. Nicodemus said the opening of the new routes was in line with the airlines commitment to support the governments effort to improve connectivity, particularly from West Java to the other regions in the country. The new routes are expected also to support the economic acceleration in the eastern part of West Java, he said in a press statement issued on Wednesday. He expressed his optimism about the business potentials of the routes because Kertajadi airport was surrounded by cities with various industries like Cirebon and Sumedang as well as Bandung, which is known as a shopping destination. The Kertajati-Tanjung Karang-Palembang route would be served by ATR 72-600 planes with a capacity of 70 passengers that flies three times in a week --- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Meanwhile, the Kertajati-Balikpapan-Tarakan route would be served by Bombardier CRJ1000 Nextgen with the capacity of 96 passengers and flies twice a week. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 07:03 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e265e21 1 City voter-list,jakarta,KPU Free The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) announced on Friday that there are some 7.7 million people eligible to vote in the 2019 legislative and presidential elections, up from the previous 7.21 million recorded in August. "Voters are dispersed in 44 districts, 267 subdistricts and 29,010 polling stations in Jakarta," KPU Jakarta planning and data division head, Partono, said on Friday, as reported by kompas.com. The commission had previously received feedback from the public regarding invalid and double entries on the voter list and Bawaslu removed more than 5,000 names in September. In addition, Jakarta KPU also collected data on mental health patients in eight social institutions as well as prison inmates in the city to be listed as eligible voters. Regarding the inmates, the KPU had coordinated with the Jakarta office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry and heads of prisons and detention centers in the city. We have verified mental health patients' and inmates' identity card and family card numbers and added them to the final voter list according to their original address, Partono said. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, December 14, 2018 12:44 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e241f5d 1 City Christmas,New-Year,Train,KAI,addition Free State-owned railway operator PT KAI will add 19 train trips to its schedule over the holiday season in anticipation of increased demand for Christmas and New Years Eve. In addition to the 60 regular train trips over the period of Dec. 20 to January 7, there would be 12 more trips from Gambir Station and seven from Pasar Senen Station in Central Jakarta, said Dadan Rudiansyah, PT KAIs executive vice president of operations in the companys Jakarta 1 region. This years addition is 9 percent higher than last year's Christmas and New Years Eve addition, Dadan said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com. A total of 5 facultative trips and 14 supplementary trips with 10,470 seats will operate from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7. Meanwhile, the operation of the Brantas Tambahan and Mataram Premium trains commenced on Thursday. Compared to last year, Dadan said, the number of passengers during Christmas and New Year was predicted to increase around 5 percent or 1,216,442. KAI would also tighten security at the Gambir and Pasar Senen train stations with 1,062 internal and external security personnel, which also included a police dog unit, Dadan said. (mai) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands Fri, December 14, 2018 12:46 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e242aaf 1 Business Batam,Status,DarminNasution,mayor,comments Free The central government has made a change to the status of the Batam Industrial Development Authority (BP Batam) that has sparked speculation about a disbandment of the authority, which Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution denied. Under the policy announced on Wednesday, Darmin said the authority was now under the control of the Batam mayor. Muhammad Rudi, the current mayor, welcomed the central governments decision but declined to comment further. I dont want to speculate, because I have no basis of reference on [the matter]. There is no document yet. Therefore, I will not comment on it. I did not know about the decision [beforehand], Rudi said on Thursday, adding that he had not been invited to the State Palace in Jakarta when the issue was discussed by the central government. Once everything is clear, I will comment. Established in 1978, BP Batam, which was initially known as the Batam Authority, was the first free-trade zone (FTZ) in Indonesia. Darmin previously said that President Joko Jokowi Widodo had introduced the new policy to end the dualism in the leadership of Batam, namely under BP Batam and the Batam mayoral administration. It is the only way [to end the dualism], Darmin said on Wednesday, adding that under the new policy, the status of Batam as an FTZ was still in place. Rudi said he had long thought of how to manage Batam effectively. He had proposed changing the FTZ into another special economic area (KEK), of which the central government has founded numerous across the country. That idea, however, did not go down well with businesspeople on the island, who feared the change would weaken the competitiveness of products manufactured on the island by increasing red tape. Rudi said he had long considered scrapping the annual fees to be paid by Batam residents, known as the annual mandatory fees for the Batam Authority (UWTO) ruled under BP Batam. I feel sorry for the people who have houses in Batam, because they are required to pay the UWTO. Such fees should not target the residential areas, Rudi said, adding that paying such a fee was no problem for investors but too much of a burden for Batam residents. Meanwhile, BP Batam head Lukita Dinasyrah Tuwo did not comment on the governments new policy on Batam. The leadership dualism has caused problem because of overlapping authority between the mayoral administration and BP Batam. It has also long confused investors. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 09:12 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e267bc2 1 City pit-bull,dog,attack,Central-Jakarta Free A security guard at a housing complex in Gunung Sahari Utara, Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, was severely injured after being mauled by a resident's pitbull dog on Thursday morning. Sawah Besar Police chief, Comr. Mirzal Maulana, said other residents in the area had reported the case to the police. "We received the report of the case. The incident started when the security officer called out the dog owner for not leashing the dog," Mirzal said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com. He added that the owner, not pleased by the officers warning, reportedly ordered the dog to attack him. Mirzal said the police had visited the location to disperse an angry crowd that had surrounded the dog owner. "We also told the victim and his wife that they could report the case to the police so they can take legal action," Mirzal said, adding that he had yet to confirm whether the victim had filed a report. Separately, animal rescue organization Garda Satwa Indonesia secretary Anisa Ratna Kurnia said residents had demanded the owner leash the dog many times before the incident happened. Anisa added that the pitbull had also savaged another dog to death on Nov. 18. Following the incident, Garda Satwa, along with other animal rescue organizations, had reprimanded the dog owner. "We received no response from the dog owner. We were planning to take legal action against the dog owner, but a more serious case has arisen instead," Anisa said on Friday. She called on dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs, adding that exterminating the dog should not be the solution. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rachmadea Aisyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, December 14, 2018 08:36 1082 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e232f3c 1 Business Pegatron,investment,Batam,BKPM,thomas-lembong Free The government has yet to receive the final word on a US$1 billion investment to build a manufacturing site in Batam, Riau Islands, from China-based Pegatron Corp., a major assembler of Apple iPhones. Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas Trikasih Lembong said on Thursday that President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla had acknowledged the investment plan during a recent cabinet meeting. However, the government would still need to compete with its neighbors, such as Vietnam and Thailand, to secure the investment, Thomas said, adding that the planned investment was part of the impact of the ongoing trade war. This is an example of an [investment] potential as an impact of the trade war between the United States and China, Thomas told reporters on the sidelines of a World Bank seminar in Jakarta. [However], if we are offering less incentives than our competitors, it is likely we will see smaller or even no investment [from Pegatron]. On Dec. 3, listed electronics manufacturer PT Sat Nusapersada announced its partnership contract with Pegatron to assemble various electronic products that would be exported to the US. The tariff war between the two economic giants had prompted many companies, including Pegatron, to leave China and enter ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Sat Nusapersada president director Abidin Fan was quoted as saying in a statement published by the Indonesia Stock Exchange. (bbn) TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15 2018 Victims of a low-price housing scheme that allegedly extorted Rp 4.5 billion (US$308,799) in South Tangerang, Banten, have demanded that the suspect John Sumanti, 47, return their money. John was arrested in Manado, South Sulawesi, on Dec. 8, accused of defrauding a total of 171 people. He claimed to be a property agent affiliated with the Public Works and Housing Ministry to build subsidized housing in Curug or Cidokom village, Bogor regency, in 2015. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Evan A. Laksmana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15 2018 Last weekend, Indonesia successfully hosted the 11th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF). Since its inception in 2008, the BDF has been a staple of Indonesias growing regional and global profile. The BDF envisions progressive democratic architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. But Indonesias immediate environment has demonstrated the resilience of varying authoritarianism. Thailand is under military rule, Cambodia may have destroyed the opposition and Myanmar faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Vietnam remains under single-party rule, Bruneis monarchy persists, and the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte struggles with a bloody drug war. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15 2018 The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Rajawali Foundation and Transformasi are implementing a project on inclusive workforce development, called Sinergi, in Central Java. Four regions in Central Java were selected for the pilot project, namely Semarang City, Semarang regency, Demak and Boyolali. Program manager Anugraha Dezmercoledi said the project would take place until 2022, with a 15-month pilot period and 36 months of full implementation. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Sat, December 15, 2018 19:09 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e275e4f 1 National Jokowi,agrarian-reform,land-certification Free President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo handed over about 6,000 land certificates to residents during his working visit to Pekanbaru, Riau, on Saturday, as part of efforts to fulfill his administration's ambitious agrarian reform program. Of the total certificates, 3,000 were part of the land certification program, while the remaining half were certificates of land redistribution under the mechanism of land objects for agrarian reform (TORA). Jokowi distributed the certificates in a symbolic ceremony to 12 residents representing 6,000 recipients from Pekanbaru, Indragiri Hilir, Siak and Pelalawan. By owning land certificates, residents would no longer have to worry about getting involved in land conflicts, Jokowi told the recipients who attended the ceremony. "[Certificates] are legal documents proving our rights to land ownership," he said. The government has set targets to certify a total of 126 million plots of land in the country and to grant 9 million ha, comprising roughly 4.5 million ha of uncertified plots and 4.5 ha of degraded forests, to citizens under TORA scheme. Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil said that only 40 percent or 1.4 million of total 3.48 million plots of land across Riau had been certified, leaving more than 2 million plots that still need to be certified. Sofyan said the government had issued certificates covering 155,000 plots in Riau this year. "God's willing, we will issue more land certificates in Riau next year," he added. Jokowi's administration said it had issued 5 million land certificates last year and planned to issue 7 million more this year and 9 million in 2019. Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the paragraph on the governments land certification target. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15 2018 In what could be seen as an attempt to reach out to more constituents in sharia-based Aceh, President Joko Jokowi Widodo began a working visit in Banda Aceh on Friday by interacting with hundreds of Muslim clerics from across the province. The visit is occurring as he struggles to juggle his presidential duties with his 2019 presidential election campaign, for which many have said that catering to Muslims for their votes was crucial for him winning his reelection bid. In Banda Aceh, Jokowi told the 105 gathered clerics that his administration was committed to supporting the deliberations over a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) and religious education bill, a draft of which was approved by the House of Representatives in October. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15 2018 As more financial service companies go digital and high-technology startups emerge in Indonesia, diversified conglomerate Mayapada Group is jumping on the countrys digital bandwagon, effectively expanding its business line to financial technology with the launch of Pohondana.id. Victoria Tahir, the CEO of Pohondana.id, said the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending firm was established to provide advanced financial services and solutions targeted at lower- and middle-class Indonesians in a bid to boost the governments financial inclusion program in collaboration with private lender PT Bank Mayapada International. The idea to establish Pohondana.id was simple. As our group has banking and multifinance companies, it was reasonable that our next step was fintech, Victoria said during the launch, adding that the firm was targeting Indonesias unbanked society. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15 2018 As many as 25 families of Lion Air flight crash victims have officially filed a lawsuit against United States aerospace company Boeing, a legal representative said on Wednesday. An attorney from Ribbeck Law Chartered, Manuel Von Ribbeck, stated that his firm would be representing the families to demand compensation worth up to US$100 million from Boeing, from which they would receive $4 million each. According to Ribbeck, the lawsuit against Boeing was initiated in November by the family of Rio Nanda Pratama, one of the victims of the air crash. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 11:52 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e26f803 1 National Cianjur,KPK,corruption,West-Java Free Thousands of residents of Cianjur, West Java, flocked to the city square on Friday afternoon to celebrate the arrest Cianjur Regent Irvan Rivano Muchtar by the countrys antigraft body. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) apprehended Irvan, along with several other administration officials and school headmasters, in a sting operation on Wednesday concerning alleged bribery related to an education fund in the regency. Siti Komariah, 35, came with her family from her village in Karangtengah, located around 3 kilometers from the city square, to join the celebration where 1,000 portions were served on nasi liwet, a home-cooked traditional meal of rice boiled in coconut milk and served with various side dishes. To me its sort of a picnic, because there is a beautiful park in the city square, in front of the Cianjur Grand Mosque, Siti said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co. Another resident, Ahmad Adnan, a 30-year-old public transportation driver, only worked a half-day so he could join the celebration. Id rather join [the event] in the city square than work. Its crowded anyway, he said, adding that he had followed the information about the arrest of the regent. We would be grateful if corruption could be eradicated because it harms the people, including us, the public transport drivers, Ahmad said. Irvan, a NasDem Party politician, has been named a suspect in the bribery case and is accused of asking for and receiving a significant portion of the regencys Rp 46.8 billion (US$3.2 million) education special allocation fund (DAK). According to the KPK, Irvan asked for 14.5 percent and received 7 percent. Asep Toha, a local anticorruption activist, said the way the Cianjur residents reacted to the arrest reflected their dissatisfaction with the performance of Irvans administration. Thats a reasonable reaction, because the residents were dissatisfied [with Irvan], Asep said. A son of former regent Tjetjep Muchtar Soleh, the 38-year-old began his political career as a local councilor from the Democratic Party and the Golkar Party. He later won an election and became a regent in 2016, succeeding his father. Irvans arrest is the third time a regional head in West Java has been arrested by the KPK since September. Aside from Irvan, the antigraft body has also arrested Bekasi Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin and Cirebon Regent Sunjaya Purwadisastra. Neneng was arrested for allegedly receiving kickbacks to issue permits for Lippo Groups Meikarta modern city project while Sunjaya was suspected of accepting bribes in favor of awarding administrative posts in his regency. After being questioned by the KPK, Irvan apologized to Cianjur residents for his arrest, but denied accepting cuts from the education budget. I apologize to Cianjur regency residents for my negligence in watching the administration personnel who have acted against the law, he said at the antigraft bodys headquarters in South Jakarta. I take responsibility as a regional head and I hope we all learn from this case. (foy) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 18:40 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e2758a7 4 City dog,attack,Central-Jakarta,animal-welfare,animal-attack,Jakarta-police Free The Central Jakarta Food Security, Marine and Agriculture office (KPKP) has quarantined a pit bull after it attacked a security guard in a residential complex in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta. The dog had been taken by the KPKP officials, its not in the neighborhood anymore, Sawah Besar Police chief Comr. Mirzal Maulana said on Friday as reported by kompas.com. Animal rescue organization Garda Satwa Indonesia secretary Anisa Ratna Kurnia said the dog would be in the facility for 14 days and checked by KPKP officials. If the rabies test or any other disease comes out negative, it will be returned to its owner. If it is rabies positive, it will be put down, Anisa said adding that it was part of the procedure for dealing with animals with rabies, like dogs, cats and monkeys. But putting the dog down would not settle the issue as its owner should be held accountable, she said. The owner should have been reprimanded, not the dog, she said adding that the police should charge the owner for the incident. However, Mirzal said the security guards family had decided not to press charges against the owner. The decision came following a mediation forum initiated by local authorities. The owner had agreed to cover all the security guards medical expenses, Mirzal added. The incident took place after Herman, the security guard, told the dogs owner to keep the animal on a leash. Offended by the warning, the owner reportedly ordered his dog to attack the security guard. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 20:17 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e27697d 1 Politics 2019-legislative-election,2019-elections,Democratic-party,SBY Free Dozens of Democratic Party (PD) flags and banners were found ripped off and torn in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Saturday, just as chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos (SBY) is visiting the city. Most of the torn flags were found near Pangeran Hotel, where the countrys former president is staying with his wife and several other party leaders. The banners were placed at the same location as dozens of flags from the governments supporting parties, the Golkar Party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Indonesia Solidarity Party (PSI). Their officials were present as the city hosted on the same day an event that was attended by President Joko Jokowi Widodo. Their flags were left untouched and remain standing. PD leaders, including SBY himself, condemned the incident. For the good of all of us, I order all Democrat flags and banners be removed. Thats better than seeing them destroyed and thrown into the gutter, Yudhoyono said. PD secretary-general Hinca Pandjaitan called on all party members in the region to remain calm and not be provoked. He also claimed that the perpetrator, who had been apprehended, had been paid by a group that intended to stir up conflict. He [the suspect] confessed that he was paid Rp 100,000 [US$6.86] only to destroy the flags. We are sure there is [someone else] behind it, Hinca said. According to Andi Arief, another party executive, the perpetrator claimed that he had been hired by members of the PDI-P but urged caution. A perpetrator, who was caught [on Friday night] by the PDs local chapter members, said he was ordered by the PDI-P. It is unwise to rush to conclusion. The police should investigate, he said on his Twitter account @AndiArief_ Keterangan pelaku perusakan yang ditangkap DPC Demokrat malam tadi menyebut dia disuruh Pengurus PDIP. Info awal itu terlalu gegabah jika dipercaya begitu saja. Selama ini hubungan kami baik. Tugas polisi menyimpulkannya. Tidak ada alasan, pelakunya ada. Beda dg kasus lain. andi arief (@AndiArief__) December 15, 2018 Yudhoyono is scheduled to visit Pekanbaru from Friday to Monday for the 2019 legislative election campaign. For the presidential election that will be held concurrently with the legislative polls, Yudhoyonos party has endorsed Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, the only challenger for Jokowi who is seeking reelection. PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto immediately denied any involvement in the incident. To those who accuse that we [the PDI-P] are responsible for the destruction of the flags, we emphasize that we had nothing to do with that. This sort of behavior is not a characteristic of the PDI-P, Hasto said. Hasto said the party had no issues with the Democrats, adding that the PDI-P only competed with Gerindra in the legislative race. The PDI-P, which secured more than 23 million votes in the 2014 legislative election, has become the largest party at the House of Representatives, followed by Golkar and Gerindra. The PD finished fourth in the election four years ago, securing more than 12 million votes. The Pekanbaru Police have arrested a suspect in the case, Heryd Swanto, 22, who was caught trying to rip up a banner with a box cutter early on Saturday at 1.45 a.m. A witness shouted at the alleged perpetrator, who jumped, fell and ran away, said National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen Dedi Prasetyo. The police are still investigating the motive behind the vandalism. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, December 15, 2018 17:14 1080 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e27366e 4 City TNI,mob-attack,East-Jakarta,assault-case,assault,military Free The Indonesian Military (TNI) has asked the public to report any involvement of its members in the ransacking of a house that belonged to the parents of a man accused of assaulting two military personnel earlier this week. Any TNI member found to have taken part in destroying the home of Iwan Hutapeas parents in Cibubur, East Jakarta, will be punished, said Jakarta Military Command spokesman Col. Kristomei Sianturi, Iwan is one of the five suspects named by the Jakarta Police for allegedly assaulting two TNI personnel men in Ciracas, East Jakarta. Anyone involved in the looting did so on their own behalf, not the military, he said on Friday as reported by tempo.co. Dozens of unidentified men ransacked Iwans parents house on Tuesday night. Afterward, the mob attacked the Ciracas Police station, which was handling the assault case. Iwan's father Oloan Hutapea, 63, told tempo.co that the mob came at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. He and his family members were terrified because the mob was chanting that they were going to break into the house. They also shouted his sons name, he said. Oloan asked his daughter-in-law to give a key house to one of the people in the mob, but the mass refused. They asked Oloan and his family members to get into to their neighbors house. The mob, who were allegedly carrying sticks and machetes, then reportedly broke into the house and ransacked it, breaking the front windows, television, air conditioner, a motorcycle and a refrigerator. (sau) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Sat, December 15, 2018 10:30 1081 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e26e1ea 2 News LVMH,luxury-hotel,travel,Belmond-hotels Free French luxury giant LVMH said Friday that it had reached agreement to buy upscale hotel group Belmond, whose properties include the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro and Cipriani in Venice, in a transaction worth $3.2 billion (2.8 billion euros). LVMH said it would acquire Belmond for $25.00 per class A share in cash. That represents a premium of 42 percent over their closing value of $17.65 on the NY Stock Exchange on Thursday. The equity value of the transaction comes in at $2.6 billion, but LVMH put the enterprise value, a measure which includes debt and preferred shares, at $3.2 billion. The firms said they expect the transaction to be completed in the first half of next year, subject to approval by Belmond's shareholders and approval by the relevant competition authorities. Belmond began over 40 years ago with the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice. It now owns and operates a collection of high-end hotels around the world as well as offering rail and river cruises. Read also: LVMH close to $2.6b deal to buy Belmond, WSJ reports "This acquisition will significantly increase LVMH's presence in the ultimate hospitality world," said LVMH's chief executive Bernard Arnault. "Belmond delivers unique experiences to discerning travelers and owns a number of exceptional assets in the most desirable destinations," he added. The Bermuda-registered group earned an operating profit of $140 million on revenues of $572 million in the twelve months ended September 30, 2018. "Following a strategic review... the Board has concluded that this transaction with LVMH provides compelling and certain value for our shareholders as well as an exciting path forward with a group that appreciates Belmond's irreplaceable assets and strong management team." LVMH shares fell by over two percent in early trading on the Paris stock exchange, although they later recovered partially. The price of the acquisition "could seem high", said analysts at Invest Securities. However, the "the purpose of the operation should be evaluated in terms of the advantage of upscale hotels as part of the wider luxury sector in order to satisfy the new class of billionaires whose demands are getting more exigent," they said. 9 hours ago Wall Street steadies following omicron slide; stocks rise NEW YORK (AP) Wall Street is steadying itself Monday from last week's slide caused by the newest coronavirus variant, as investors wait for more clues about just how much damage it may do to the economy. The S&P 500 was 1.6% higher in afternoon trading to recover more than two-thirds of its drop from Friday, which was its worst since February. Read Article Location Sciences Group PLC (AIM:LSAI), a location data intelligence company, raised 2.95m in second round of funding through placing shares and open offer. The company, which has now raised 3.36m in the last six months, will use the net proceeds primarily to bring its product globally, particularly in the United States. Led by Mark Slade, Chief Executive Officer, Location Sciences uses machine learning technology to provide a platform protecting advertisers against location ad-fraud by ensuring their location-based adverts are delivered to their intended audiences. The company works in partnership with brands, media buying agencies, out of home media owners and technology partners to deliver measurable mobile location-specific marketing campaigns. FinSMEs 15/12/2018 . 25 , - 2022 . . ... Little Paris - Elegance on the avenue For those of us armed with a prudent palate and on the look out for culinary flare, French cuisine is always high on the agenda. What we desire most is authenticity a dish and service that takes one back to that wonderful little bistro in Montmartre. Dining By David Jacklin Saturday 15 December 2018, 02:00PM From Burgundy to Boat Avenue. Mario Ninotta bringing a piece of home to the Little Paris Bistro. The recently departed Joel Robuchon, the most Michelin decorated and influential French chef of the post-nouvelle cuisine era, claimed, When a dish works, it works for everyone, whether youre Asian, European, African, American or anybody else. Thanks then to Little Paris, bringing the art of a French kitchen along with its restaurant ambiance and making it work on our island for expats and Thais to enjoy. Mario Ninotta, the owner at Little Paris, French restaurant and bistro, studied 14 years ago as a chef in the prestigious La Meloise culinary school, learning traditional French cuisine to a fine art. He first came to Phuket in 2015 for a holiday. By the end of it he had fallen in love with the island, contacted an estate agent, and left with a contract for two connected shop units on Boat Avenue. The following year Mario came back with an interior designer, created a cool and classic restaurant environment with an oh-so French atmosphere, and duly opened the doors on December 1, 2016. Marios need was to create a bistro with the French touch and attention to detail. Serving his local expat and wider community with French quality fare was his ideal, delivering a quintessential experience of how a restaurant has to be in France. From how the table is meticulously laid out, the accompanying condiments and bread, to the consistent service that ensures the whole party eat together and enjoy the social aspect of a great dining experience. Mario is supported in this ongoing quest by his partner, Anna Simard, Manager Jerome Ciambella and their Thai staff manager, Chanel. Its clear that this winning team are creating both a congenial space and menu to delight the foodie community. The diverse and sophisticated menu has all the usual suspects you might care to expect in a quality French establishment. But Little Paris goes far beyond this. Veal Stew is a very important dish to his fellow countrymen, and Marios creation is a popular choice with both the regulars and homesick fine-dining seekers on the island. The menu also boasts international classics served with the detail of a French chef. Their slow cooked Australian Lamb Shanks, served with fried vegetables, would delight any international traveller in search of a hearty spread. Mario happens to be half-Italian, and fortunately for us the skills of this passionate multi-national is not lost here. The restaurant serves an array of authentic pizza and pasta offerings. There is even a selection of Thai classic dishes that are served with quality ingredients and an attention that these wonderful local delights demand. If the descriptions above have not got you jumping on your scooter and heading down to Boat Avenue, the Patisserie Chef also creates all the baked goods, such as fresh baguettes, croissants and pain au chocolat... just as youd expect from a fine French eatery. Little Paris has a warming, heart-felt community feel with a professional service and exceptional menu. Along-side the more private tables that sit both within the restaurant and along its terrace, there is also a beautiful, long wooden table for the more open and friendly culture of get-togethers over food. Its all so well received that Mario is looking to open a Little Paris in Bangkok too. As I leave, Mario and Anna are busy with the next project on their Eiffel Tower of a to-do list. Creating the special menu for their forthcoming New Years Eve event. I, for one, would be delighted to see in 2019 with any number of Marios exquisite dishes, a hearty red libation as accompaniment, and wishing my cosmopolitan friends une bonne annee. Little Paris Phuket Boat Avenue Cherng Talay Tel: 076 324 030 www.littleparisphuket.com Naka Noi land fight spills into allegations of denied access to public beaches PHUKET: A formal complaint has been filed against a prominent Bangkok family alleging that they are refusing people access to public beach areas on Naka Noi Island, off Phukets east coast. tourismland By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 15 December 2018, 03:58PM Lawyer Narongrit Naetikiettiwong, representing Phukhaohokluk (Six Mountains) Co Ltd owner Chanwit Lertkitsiriwattana, filed the complaint at the Phuket Damrongdhama Centre (Provincial Ombudsmans Office) at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning (Dec 14). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Lawyer Narongrit Naetikiettiwong, representing Phukhaohokluk (Six Mountains) Co Ltd owner Chanwit Lertkitsiriwattana, filed the complaint at the Phuket Damrongdhama Centre (Provincial Ombudsmans Office) at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning (Dec 14). The complaint, addressed to Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana and the Director of Phuket Marine Region 5 office, requested a legal investigation on the rights for public access to a beach on Koh Naka Noi, and further requested prosecution of individuals that have prohibited access. Mr Narongrit said after submitting the letter, On Thursday, November 29, myself, Mr Chanwit and other individuals visited the land that Mr Chanwit possesses on Koh Naka Noi. However access was prohibited by individuals who claimed themselves to be representatives of the Hiranprueck family. They did not allow us to go up on the island, and told us that the Hiranprueck family was granted permission to do this by the Phuket Governor and the Phuket Marine Region 5. They claimed that everyone must get permission from the Hiranprueck family to gain access to the island, he said. Mr Narongrit detailed that the prohibited area was a beach and shoreline that are public areas and should be available for everyone to use. Mr Narongrit continued, For the reasons outlined, I request that the Phuket Governor and the Director of the Phuket Marine Region 5 office examine the claim of the individuals on the island representing the Hiranprueck family. Photographic evidence was provided of constructions within the disputed area of water, such as a pier, as well as additional activities including the use of jet-skis for tourist purposes, despite the likelihood of the area to be restricted for this use. The Governor and the Director of Phuket Marine Office must now investigate the claims to advise on the legal right for peoples access of use, Mr Narongrit said. The complaint filed yesterday is the latest counter-claim against the Hiranprueck family in a years-long battle for ownership rights to land on Naka Noi. After many high-profile visits by famous Bangkok actor Puri Hiranprueck, who says his family inherited land on the island through his grandfather, a special investigation by the Land Department later ruled that the Six Mountains claim was based on an illegally issued Flying SorKor 1. Land Department Director-General Apinan Suethanuwong on July 14, 2016 gave the order to revoke a NorSor 3 Kor land occupancy document presented by Six Mountains claiming rights to state-owned land. Mr Chanwit and his lawyer have consistently claimed that the Hiranprueck familys claim to land on the island was just as illegal. (See story here.) Phuket improves on worst in Thailand for road accidents PHUKET: Phuket has improved on its status as the worst province in the country for deaths and injuries in road accidents just three years ago, and is now ranked 26th worst, according to the leading road safety figure on the island. transportaccidentsdeathpoliceSafety By Tanyaluk Sakoot Saturday 15 December 2018, 09:00AM A pickup truck bursts into flmes after slamming into a power pole on Thepkrasattri Rd earlier this year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The new ranking still means there are 51 other provinces in Thailand with better road-safety records, but the jump is a marked improvement, Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, Vice President of the Phuket office of the Road Safety Policy Foundation, told The Phuket News this week. It is better than last three years ago, when Phuket was the top rank (worst), he said. So far this year road accidents in Phuket have left 78 people dead and 8,221 injured in 7,144 accidents, according to the official ThaiRSC statistics, which are compiled from Ministry of Health government hospital reports and police reports. A breakdown by district shows: Muang District 42 dead, 5,288 injured in 4,592 accidents; Kathu District (including Patong) 15 dead 1,613 injured in 1,416 accidents; and Thalang District 21 dead 1,320 injured in 1,136 accidents. In a further breakdown by selected tambon (subdistricts) the ThaiRSC reports shows: 1) Wichit 9 dead, 1,156 injured; 2) Chalong: 8 dead, 805 injured; 3) Rassada: 7 dead, 780 injured; 4) Koh Kaew: 5 dead, 165 injured; 5) Karon: 4 dead, 422 injured; 6) Rawai: 3 dead 535 injured; 7) Talad Yai (Phuket Town): 4 dead, 868 injured; 8) Talad Nua (in Phuket Town): 1 dead, 406 injured; and 9) Samkong: 1 dead 151 injured. Of note, Patong was not listed in the selection, which accounts for only 42 deaths reported so far this year, thus leaving the remaining 36 deaths unaccounted for. Overall, Phukets current death and injury toll compares with last years 93 dead and 8,512 injured, marked jump up from 2016, when the island suffered 75 people killed and 7,243 people injured in road accidents. Dr Wiwat attributed Phukets improvement to ramped up efforts by police to enforce traffic laws, improvement of the roads themselves and road-safety campaigns to raise awareness of the deadly issue. Well, the police have been doing their work so well, Dr Wiwat said. It has started changing after we urged to have safer roads within five years. This year, I believe Phukets road-safety ranking will be better, he added. However, Dr Wiwat noted that Phuket remains the worst province in the country for breaking traffic laws. Nakhon Sri Thammarat province is the second-worst province for people breaking traffic rules, he said. Dr Wiwat listed the top offences as: not wearing helmets, reckless/dangerous driving, not wearing a seat belt, driving without a licence, speeding, running a red light, ghost driving (driving opposite traffic flow), dangerously cutting off other motorists in traffic, using mobile phones while driving and drunk driving. News that police efforts have improved Phukets ranking among the deadliest in the country came as a surprise to Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Chaiwat Uikam, whos now the top-ranking officer overseeing the Provincial Traffic Police. Col Chaiwat took up the position only earlier this year after being transferred from his post as Patong Police Chief. I didnt know what Phukets ranking for danger was, he told The Phuket News this week. However, he added, We are going well and work hard. Phukets roads are safer because we do what we do so well. That said, Col Chaiwat declined to share specifically which actions the police have taken that have made the islands roads safer. Maj Gen Wisan Panmanee, who took up the post of the islands top-ranking policeman as the Phuket Provincial Police Commander in October, declined to comment. The news of Phukets improved ranking also comes hot on the heels of United Nations report issued by the World Health Organisation that branded Thailand as the deadliest country in Asean for road accidents. The report showed the death rate per 100,000 population in Thailand was 32.7, far ahead of Vietnam which came second at 26.7. Singapore was the safest at 2.8. The figure for Thailand was up marginally from 32.6 in the last WHO survey three years ago, when the country had the second-highest road fatality rate in the world, behind only Libya. The road-death rate in Libya fell to 26.1 per 100,000 in the latest survey. Only a handful of countries worldwide fared worse than Thailand in the new survey, among them Liberia at 35.9 and Democratic Republic of Congo at 33.7 Only Brunei was not included among Southeast Asian states surveyed in the WHOs Global Status Report on Road Safety, based on a comprehensive analysis of data from 2016. The news also comes while road-improvement projects both on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn and on Patak Rd over Kata Hill from Chalong Circle have left dozens of people injured due to poor signage and dangerous incomplete road resurfacing, and while provincial officials draw up their battle plans for the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the New Year. Regardless, Dr Wiwat urged people to be mindful that, Actually the road is a danger every day, not only during the Seven Days of Danger. If you are drunk, please dont drive. Dont drive too fast, and allow enough time for your journey. Also, every motorbike rider should wear a helmet, it will save your life, he said. Noem spends more than $68K on rugs, sauna, chandeliers for state mansion news Looking for a job, kid? Try a store, a bank, a hospital or an IT company. Those sectors are the best bets for youth looking for an entry-level position, according to a study which is being released Monday by Civic Action. And employers in all those industries are looking for some of the same abilities: most sought-after are skills such as communication and empathy not just the latest technical knowledge or courses. Some of those soft skills are in short supply, but theyre what employers are looking for, said Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO of Civic Action, a non-partisan civic engagement group. According to the most recent numbers from Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate of young Canadians is more than double the national average. In November, the national unemployment rate fell to 5.6 per cent (from 5.8 per cent in October). For Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24, the rate was 10.8 per cent (down from 11.0). There are more than 860,000 youth across Canada who arent working, studying or in some form of training, the Civic Action study found. Thats not just a problem for the youth who are directly affected, but for society at large, argued Palvetzian. And it can be measured in dollars and cents, not just moral outrage. Theres a societal cost to having someone remain unemployed, said Palvetzian. The study estimated that if one of those young people stays unemployed for their entire life, it would cost Canadian society up to $1 million. There are health-care costs. There are welfare costs. There can be criminal justice costs, Palvetzian said. Civic Action also has an online road map for employers looking to beef up their youth hiring and suggests companies should move to skills-based hiring, as opposed to practices that prioritize credentials and experience. The retail industry, long a place for people to take their first step on the employment ladder, is still a solid place to start. According to the Civic Action study which used research from Burning Glass Technologies and LinkedIn the retail industry is the biggest source of online postings for entry-level jobs. In 2017, the retail sector in Ontario employed 226,000 youth, according to the study. The Civic Action study also used online data to come up with the skills employers are looking for. Top of the list? Communication. While dealing with customers at a shop or bank (or patients in a hospital) are obvious situations where communication is vital, its also crucial in Canadas burgeoning tech sector. The stereotype of a socially awkward IT professional stuck in a back office somewhere no longer holds true if it ever did. One big reason strong communication skills are important is they wont become outdated no matter how much technology changes, Palvetzian said. These are things that are the least susceptible to technological disruption, Palvetzian said. Next year, the information and communication technology sector will have 182,000 job openings across the country, with more than 40 per cent of those openings in Ontario. CALGARYCouncil members dipped into their office budgets to hire a PR consultant to produce a series of videos and a social media campaign in support of Albertas beleaguered energy industry and to help them stay on message during a pro-pipeline rally early next week. The rally was organized by Canada Action, a self-described grassroots movement that aims to encourage informed conversation about resource development and encourage Canadians to support the countrys natural resource sector. Canada Actions pro-pipeline rallies attracted thousands of Calgarians during recent stops by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and federal ministers Bill Morneau and Amrajeet Sohi. Its founder expects 500 to 1,000 people to attend Mondays rally, scheduled for 12:15 p.m. outside the Municipal Complex. Councillor Ward Sutherland said each council member pledged $500 from their office budgets to cover the production costs for the videos, social media, and the organizing of the rally. While the city employs dozens of communications staff, including several with video and editing skills, council opted to hire the public relations firm because it would be more affordable and efficient, said Sutherland. The short videos feature soothing piano, choppy editing that veers wildly from wide-angle shots to closeups of the councillors mugs as they awkwardly read prepared remarks from behind a podium that displays the citys coat of arms. A tall, white banner declaring, I Heart Canadian Oil and Gas looms in the background. Read more: City councillors motion to support Alberta oil raises questions about citys role in pipeline debate Despite Trudeaus talk, Calgary business leaders want a little more action Sutherland acknowledged the city has limited authority over pipelines and the energy industry, which largely falls under federal and provincial jurisdiction, but hinted council has a couple plans up its sleeve. He declined to elaborate. It seems the public, in general, dont think were supportive, but there are also some things we can do as a city that perhaps could influence things, Sutherland said. Were going to announce on Monday a few things we could actually do that are positive. An agenda for Mondays rally, obtained by StarMetro, reveals three councillors Sutherland, Jyoti Gondek and Peter Demong and Mayor Naheed Nenshi are slated to speak at the event along with representatives from Canada Action. I Love Oil and Gas T-shirts will be made available for council members to wear during the rally, according to the document, which also states: Councillors are entitled to their views, but remember, this rally is about our city supporting the energy sector. Cody Battershill, founder of the pro-oil group Canada Action, said Mondays rally is intended to be non-partisan and expects 500 to 1,000 people to attend. Were all Canadian, said Battershill. It doesnt matter who you vote for, making sure people are employed and families have food on the table matters regardless of whether youre so-called left or so-called right. As a federally registered not-for-profit, Canada Action Coalition Ltd.s financial backers are not publicly available. But Battershill, a Calgary-based real estate agent, said the group has largely been funded out of pocket, through T-shirt sales, and, increasingly, by donations from unions, First Nations, and the construction and energy sectors. Its an important conversation, and weve been very careful to build a balanced and respectful message and make sure that our campaign is reaching coast to coast, he said. Battershill said hed like to see council use city resources and partners, such as Calgary Economic Development, to ensure peoples opinions are based on facts when it comes to the industry. Sonia Kont, a consultant with New West Public Affairs who previously served as the communications chair for the United Conservative Party, said she was hired to help council and Canada Action organize the rally and produce the videos and social media campaign. Im just there as an organizer to make sure that everybodys voice is heard and that were united on messaging, she said, adding council members used money from their office budgets to give the campaign a bit more credibility. She noted all councillors and the mayor are on board with the initiative, with each elected official appearing in separate videos to promote different aspects of the industry. Im hoping if council continues to work with groups like Canada Action, which is non-partisan, in promoting our resources and being proud of our resources, were hoping to challenge other municipal governments around Alberta and, of course, Canada to do the same, said Kont. Nenshi, who plans to speak at Mondays rally, dismissed suggestions the city and council have not been sufficiently vocal in supporting the provinces energy industry. Ive given speeches in Montreal in French and in Vancouver, said Nenshi. Ive gone into the mouth of the lion and spoken to environmentalists about the importance of clean energy. Ive had hundreds of thousands of hits online on this. This is just work we continue to do. On Monday, council will debate Councillor Jeromy Farkass notice of motion calling for the city to make an official statement of support for Alberta oil and pipelines. The motion would also direct city bureaucrats to explore advocacy options, review other cities efforts to influence pipeline construction, and consider withdrawing from associations like the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Kont maintained Mondays rally is intended to be non-partisan and entirely separate from Farkass motion. Personally, I dont know if its a good idea for Calgary as a major city to pull out of the FCM, she said. Thats a big risk, in my opinion. With files from Brennan Doherty and Andrew Jeffrey Read more about: CALGARYWhen Shaun Driver first heard his friend Michael Spavor had been detained by Chinese authorities, his first reaction was shock then, a sense of helplessness. You start to think about what hes potentially going through, what if anything can be done from the other side of the world to help facilitate the matter, Driver said. Driver, a lawyer practising in Vancouver, met Calgary-born Spavor in 2011 on an academic exchange to North Korea. Spavor runs an organization called Paektu Cultural Exchange, which organizes business, cultural and tourism trips to North Korea, and has worked as a consultant in the region for years. Since then, the two have met a few times and have kept in touch, Driver said. The last time they saw each other was earlier this year, he said, praising Spavors compassion and magnetic personality. I was always impressed. He fits the ideal of what I think a typical Canadian is, Driver said. Its one thats inclusive, one that believes if you meet people and you understand people and their differences, you can then start to appreciate how to move forward and find common ground. On Friday, the federal government reported it had lost contact with Spavor, who is reportedly being detained by Chinese authorities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously told The Canadian Press he believes Canadian officials will be granted access to Spavor shortly. On Sunday, Global Affairs Canada confirmed that John McCallum, Canadas ambassador to China, had been allowed to visit Spavor. Gar Pardy, a retired director general of the consular affairs bureau of Canadas foreign ministry, told The Canadian Press it is quite extraordinary for Canadian officials to gain access to citizens detained in China within a matter of days. Read more: China levels national security accusations against two detained Canadians Editorial | On Huawei, Chinas bullying stings, but U.S. undercutting is worse Blindfolds, sleep deprivation and interrogations could be the new daily life of two Canadians missing in China, says a man who lived it The Chinese are notorious for delaying access, he said in an interview. Spavor is the second Canadian detained in China recently . He was seized last Monday by Chinese authorities in the border city, Dandong. Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were detained amid fallout from efforts by the United States to extradite Meng Wanzhou, a Huawei Technologies executive arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1. Canadian officials were able to meet with Kovrig earlier on Friday.Global Affairs said Canadian consular officials will continue to provide services to Spavor, Kovrig and their families on Sunday, but provided no other details. According to a previous statement fromGlobal Affairs, Kovrig was detained last Monday before consular access was granted on Friday. The purpose of these meetings is to assess the well-being of Kovrig and Spavor, clarify the nature of their detention while providing guidance on the countrys legal process, and to act as a communication link between them and their loved ones. Spavors biography on Paektus website says hes been organizing specialized visits to North Korea since 2005. This has included academic trips, media groups and even professional athletes and celebrities. Most notably, Spavor organized former NBA star Dennis Rodmans trips to meet the countrys leader, Kim Jong Un, in 2013 and 2014. Spavors bio also touts his high-level contacts with government ministries and organizations in the region. Before this, Spavor studied international relations at the University of Calgary. What also impressed Driver about Spavor was how he facilitated connections between people at a grassroots level, regardless of what political divisions existed between their home countries. The thought that Spavor could be detained because of his role surprised Driver. How does an individual who could not be associated with being a national security threat for anyone, whos really just about connecting people, be considered a national security threat? Driver said. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the arrests unlawful, also suggesting the U.S. would help work toward their release. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: LEVIS, QUE.As the Canadian Coast Guard took possession of a new icebreaker at Quebecs Davie Shipyard Friday, a Davie official warned that the national shipbuilding strategy could be headed for disaster. Frederik Boisvert, vice-president of public affairs, said shipyards in British Columbia and Nova Scotia that have won almost all shipbuilding contracts so far are not equipped to handle the work. Were ready to help. Weve got the capacity, Boisvert said. Davie, he said, could build in parallel six massive ships. The two other shipyards, Seaspan (in Vancouver) and Irving (in Halifax) they can only do one at a time. So, sincerely, that national strategy might become a bit of a disaster if were not leveraged properly. The comments cast a cloud over what was billed as a celebration of a milestone for the shipyard across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City, delivery of the first new icebreaker floated by the Coast Guard in 25 years. Federal officials announced another $90 million in work for Davie to convert two other icebreakers. The three ships were bought from Norway in August, at an announced cost of $610 million. Budget documents revealed in November that with tariffs, brokerage fees, engineering work and other costs, the total cost had risen to $827 million. Boisvert said the icebreaker contract will bring the workforce up to about 260, but that is well below the 1,400 who once worked there. There is a danger of losing expertise, he said. Read more: Waterlogged Coast Guard ship now being investigated as suspected vandalism Crews refloat sabotaged coast guard ship in Nova Scotia fishing village Five missing Marines declared dead in warplanes crash off Japan The ship handed over Friday has been named the CGCS Captain Molly Kool after the first woman in North America to become a licensed ship captain. Myrtle Molly Kool was born into a family of mariners in Alma, N.B. in 1916 and earned a reputation as a fearless captain transporting cargo on the sometimes treacherous Bay of Fundy. Kool, who died in 2009 at age 93, qualified as a captain when she was 23. Her certification led to the addition of the prefix she to the Canada Shipping Act, which previously had only referred to mariners as he. Read more about: MEDICINE HAT, ALTA.A former Winnipeg broadcaster and journalism instructor accused of several bank robberies in Saskatchewan and Alberta is to undergo a psychiatric assessment. A Queens Bench justice in Medicine Hat, Alta., granted a defence application for the mental review. Stephen Vogelsangs legal team says the 55-year-old is not criminally responsible for his actions. Lawyer Greg White is arguing that his client has bipolar disorder. Vogelsang has not yet entered a plea to charges that were laid following holdups in Saskatoon, Regina and Medicine Hat between July and October of last year. He was granted bail on the Medicine Hat charges last year, but has been in custody in Saskatchewan in connection to the charges in that province. His case is to return to Medicine Hat Court of Queens Bench on Jan. 18. Read more: Lawyer seeking mental tests for former TV journalist accused in bank robberies Read more about: THUNDER BAYThe 30-year-old woman is identified in the report only as E.F. but Anna Betty Achneepineskum immediately knew she was reading about her niece, Marie Spence. E.F., the report said, was found by a dog walker on April 30, 2016 in a wooded area near a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway that slices through Thunder Bay. She was lying on her back, her hands clutching a clump of grass and a small branch, with cigarette burns on both palms. Her pants were pulled down past her buttocks. The scene was detailed in an Ontario police watchdog report, released Wednesday, that examined the relationship between Thunder Bay police and Indigenous communities. An autopsy later revealed ethanol intoxication and hypothermia, but also head injuries and a fractured sternum, the report said. Yet in the end, foul play was ruled out by Thunder Bay police. Achneepineskum knew all of this already. But what she didnt know until reading the report was that at least two witnesses had approached police on the first day of the investigation. One saw a man leaving the area shortly before Spences body was found; the other saw a man watching the crime scene while crouched behind a hill. The first witness was never interviewed in a formal, recorded format; the second was never interviewed at all. From beginning to end, the investigation into Spences death contained several deficiencies, the report concluded. The polices work on this case fell significantly short. Read more: Thunder Bay police make arrest in Indigenous teens death These are the death probes police watchdog wants reopened Opinion | Alvin Fiddler: Thunder Bay has three years to address its police racism problem I started swearing, Achneepineskum says. I was like, I cant believe this and I just think about all the other deaths. Thats all I could think of there are others. There are others. Like many Indigenous people in Thunder Bay, Achneepineskum has long believed the alarming number of Indigenous deaths and disappearances in this northern Ontario city were not being taken seriously by police. This week, her suspicions were finally validated, in public and damning fashion, by the scathing new report by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD). The report, which was two years in the making, concluded that systemic racism permeated the Thunder Bay police service and officers failed on an unacceptably high number of occasions to investigate sudden death cases without discrimination simply because the victim was Indigenous. Investigators also analyzed more than three dozen cases dating back to 2000 and nine were found to be so deeply flawed that the OIPRD called for them to be reopened. One of those cases is Spence, Achneepineskums niece; another is Arron Loon, her brothers 20-year-old grandson who died in March 2015 and was found near a pathway, lying in a fetal position in the snow while wearing only pants and socks. Four of the cases are among the seven fallen feathers, Indigenous youth who died in Thunder Bay after leaving their northern communities to attend high school. The report has sent shockwaves across the country and its impact was only amplified by a second explosive report that dropped this week, this one by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, which criticized the Thunder Bay police services board as failing to recognize and address the clear and indisputable pattern of violence and systemic racism against Indigenous people in Thunder Bay. Led by respected Senator Murray Sinclair, the report described the situation as an emergency and ordered an administrator to take over duties of the board for one year while members underwent training. Together, the unprecedented reports have ushered in fresh hope that change might finally be coming for how Indigenous people are treated by police in Thunder Bay. For Indigenous leaders who have long been calling out problems of racism and receiving blowback as a result the OIPRD report marks the first time in memory that a government-affiliated agency explicitly used the r word when describing problems within the police. This is the first time that I can actually hold a report and read the word, says Alvin Fiddler, Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario. There are good reasons for optimism. Positive things are happening, including within Thunder Bay police service, and the report comes at a time when Canadians are more engaged than ever with Indigenous issues. Yet there are signs, both past and present, that change wont come easily, especially in a place like Thunder Bay. The first step, people like Fiddler say, is for Thunder Bay to just acknowledge the problem but even that is a step thats already proven difficult to take. In the conclusions of his report, titled Broken Trust, OIPRD director Gerry McNeilly makes an urgent plea. This was a painful exercise for a number of Indigenous people, he wrote. We cannot lose an opportunity yet again to make real change. It was an acknowledgement of the fatigue and frustration felt by Indigenous communities. McNeilly wrote in his report that the crisis of trust between Indigenous people and police is rooted in Thunder Bays colonial history, exacerbated by the reality that his systemic review is just the latest in a long string of inquests, investigations and complaints over policing in Thunder Bay. Broken Trust: Indigenous People and the Thunder Bay Police Service View document on Scribd Located on the northern shore of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is the largest municipality in northwestern Ontario and home to the largest proportion of Indigenous residents among major Canadian cities, with nearly 13 per cent of people identifying as Indigenous in the latest census. But the citys Indigenous population at any given moment is never truly known because Thunder Bay is also a hub for remote First Nations communities in northern Ontario, who fly into the city to access basic services like high schools and doctors. The city also has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest rates of reported hate crimes in the country, McNeilly wrote in his report. And for decades, Indigenous communities have alleged that police are also a source of racism and discrimination in Thunder Bay. In 1989, a task force established by the Solicitor General of Ontario heard presentations in three cities, including Thunder Bay, where a spokesperson for the Ontario Native Womens Association said that nine members of her family died violently, but no charges were laid. Every one of those cases Im talking about has been passed off as a natural death, she said. Police consider solving crimes against native people a low priority and dont make a strong effort to catch those responsible. The task force concluded that native peoples argue, with conviction, that they are viewed stereotypically by the police with terribly negative results, but made no recommendations. In the 1990s, Indigenous communities again raised concerns with Thunder Bay police investigations into Indigenous deaths, forming a grassroots committee that identified more than 30 suspicious deaths they allege were insufficiently investigated. A petition with 3,000 signatures called for a public inquiry. If all of these murders were French or Finnish people, somebody would be addressing this issue, Fort William Chief Christi Pervais said at the time. Thunder Bay police flatly denied the allegations that its investigations were affected by racism and no inquiry was ever held, McNeilly wrote in his report. In 2002, a study by a group called Diversity Thunder Bay identified police as one of the top social locations where racism occurred in the city and urged police to stop racial profiling. The study recommended the recruitment of Indigenous police officers. Nearly two decades later, there are still only a handful of Indigenous officers with Thunder Bay police, which according to the TBPS website has just over 300 members. Two years later, a Diversity in Policing Project was launched and consulted 155 community members, most of whom were Indigenous. The project found the perception of racial profiling was prevalent and criticized the lack of diversity training and representation within the force. The project was disbanded before it could be completed and in 2009, an anti-racism group, at the request of city council, published a report that found Thunder Bay police still had not eliminated perceptions and persistence of racism in policing. The report recommended the service develop a system for tracking complaints of racial discrimination one that has also never been implemented, though Thunder Bay police say a new organizational change project is underway to look at a more sustainable effort. Meanwhile, Thunder Bay has seen a number of high-profile incidents that have inflamed racial tensions in the city, including the unexplained deaths and disappearances of Indigenous youth like the seven fallen feathers, who were the subject of a 2016 coroners inquest that made 145 recommendations. More recently, a video surfaced depicting a 17-year-old Indigenous girl on a stretcher who was struck by a police officer who accused her of spitting on her. Mere days before the OIPRD released its report, the body of 17-year-old Braiden Jacob was discovered in a Thunder Bay park after he was reported missing for several days. Jacob lives in Webequie First Nation a fly-in community 540 km north of Thunder Bay and according to Chief Cornelius Wabasse, he was in the city seeking counselling for grief and trauma, services he couldnt access back home. Jacob was struggling after losing his sister and father to suicide, according to Wabasse. Webequie First Nation is also home to Jordan Wabasse (a distant cousin of the chief), one of the seven fallen feathers whose body was found in the Kaministiquia River in 2011. On Thursday, one day after the OIPRD reports release, Jacobs death was categorized as a homicide by Thunder Bay police. This is the second member that weve lost in Thunder Bay and its very concerning, Wabasse said. Whenever our kids go to Thunder Bay, we tell them its not safe there anymore. A palpable sense of anger and frustration hung over the news conference on Wednesday, when the OIPRD publicly unveiled its report to a packed room of residents, many from Indigenous communities. One Indigenous woman said through tears that her cousin was murdered in Thunder Bay and her family has had a difficult experience with investigators assigned to the case. The mother can no longer visit the city without medication because she associates it with death and fear and hate, she said. I dont think its fair or right that they continue to do this to our people, Joyce Hunter said, as she struggled to maintain her composure. I want it to stop. But will it stop? That was a question on many peoples lips after the release of the OIPRD report, which made 44 recommendations to Thunder Bay police, Ontarios chief forensic pathologist, and the regional and provincial coroner. One recommendation was that leadership at the Thunder Bay police, along with the board, publicly and formally acknowledge that racism exists at all levels within the police service. Yet even as the news conference was still underway, police chief Sylvie Hauth who sat in the audience, taking notes issued a statement that referenced only systemic barriers within the service. Her avoidance of the word racism raised fierce and immediate criticism from Indigenous leaders in the room. When pressed by reporters, Hauth eventually conceded there is systemic racism within our service and the force later released a second statement formally acknowledging that it must address the systemic racism, barriers and biases that exist within the service. But for Indigenous leaders like Rainy River First Nations Chief Robin McGinnis whose community pushed for the OIPRD systemic review after the unexplained death of one of its members, 41-year-old Stacy DeBungee the police chiefs hesitation to use the word racism was a discouraging sign. Thunder Bay has always denied, denied, denied, McGinnis said. The leadership in Thunder Bay, the mayor and council, has always denied it. The police services board has always denied it. I dont know why its so hard for Thunder Bay to admit that (racism) is here. Hauth said she was still perusing the report and its recommendations, but noted she was only a month into her job as police chief and regaining trust was a priority. In the Thunder Bay polices submissions to the OIPRD, they noted the service faces issues not faced by other police services in the province or the country. They pointed to the fact many Indigenous people have an inherent distrust of police rooted in the historical context of broken treaties, residential schools, and the Sixties Scoop, the large-scale removal of Indigenous children from their homes. The police are burdened with a legacy of social conflict with Indigenous people, it said. This conflict is most apparent in communities with a significant Indigenous population, such as Thunder Bay the geography, not the police practices of Thunder Bay lends itself to being the epicentre of police-Indigenous relations. Thunder Bay police also noted the force covers a large geographic area with a limited budget and resources. Many people the force investigates have no fixed address or refuse to co-operate with police, it said. Several officers interviewed by the OIPRD expressed frustration with what they felt were media exaggerations of the racial divisions in Thunder Bay and some individuals in the Indigenous community who have all the clout, all the say, and they have the medias ear. The police submission acknowledged that problems exist within the service but also pointed to several steps its taken in recent years, including community-building projects, working with students and an organizational change project launched last year, and reviews of its sudden death and missing persons policies. McNeilly said he acknowledged that Thunder Bay police have taken important steps to address its relationship with Indigenous communities, but also noted a lack of resources was no excuse for the nature and severity of the failings he observed, which include the inadequate investigations and premature conclusions based, at least in part, on racist attitudes and stereotypes. He also noted a minority of officers expressed very disturbing views, which were shared by more than just a few bad apples. One officer told the OIPRD he would like to see the federal government abolish all the reserves (though he specified it shouldnt be a forceful thing, but an option) and said he feels angry when he visits certain neighbourhoods and sees Indigenous kids hanging out of trees like monkeys. Another officer complained about Indigenous people being pissed drunk, pissing up against a building, defecating, and fornicating on the riverbanks and on peoples cars. One officer flatly admitted to being biased. Am I biased? Absolutely. I would stand up in court, put my hand on the Bible and swear that Im biased because I dont know how you could do this job for 33 years and three days and see the same thing over and over and over and not be biased. Fiddler says strong leadership is now crucial if Thunder Bay is to truly turn the page. The last few months have seen a new police chief, the appointment of the citys first Indigenous police services chair, and a new mayor, Bill Mauro, who was just sworn in earlier this month. Mauro, formerly a long-time MPP with the Liberal government, is replacing his predecessor of eight years, Keith Hobbs, a former cop who now faces criminal charges in connection with an alleged attempt to extort a Thunder Bay lawyer. Fiddler was pleased to see Mauro make an appearance at the OIPRDs news conference, but also criticized the mayor for avoiding the word racism in his public statements thus far. In an interview with the Star Thursday, Mauro said he hadnt yet had a chance to fully review the OIPRDs findings and will be examining them together with the OCPC report. When asked for his comments on the OIPRDs finding of systemic racism within the citys police service, Mauro said thats Mr. McNeillys conclusion. Well see what the chief has to say and what she has to recommend in that regard. Mauro said McNeilly has potentially provided a path forward, but many of his recommendations will require significant resources. We would likely need some support to be able to implement some of those recommendations that require financial resourcing, he said, adding support should come from both the provincial and federal government. When asked if systemic racism was a problem in Thunder Bay, however, Mauro said no. Repeating comments he has previously made in media interview, he said he worried Thunder Bay is being singled out for issues that also exist in other communities. Nobody would suggest that there arent, from time to time, racially-motivated actions by individuals in the community, he said. But as the mayor, its important for people to understand that these are issues that are present right across the country. But is there something different about Thunder Bay? What about a recent analysis of Statistics Canada data by Macleans that found Thunder Bay had the countrys worst increase in its hate crime rate last year? One (hate crime) is too many, Mauro said. But he added he didnt know how this data was captured or whether the numbers might be skewed. Again its a bit concerning that we would be portrayed as the hate crime capital of Canada, based on that. For Celina Reitberger, former director of Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services, she agrees there are other cities with similar problems to Thunder Bay. But she also believes the city has its unique issues. On Tuesday, Reitberger was appointed as the citys first Indigenous chair of the police services board just four days before the OCPC issued its report and placed an administrator in charge, while suspending her voting rights along with the rest of the board. For a historical appointment, this marks a pretty unusual start. But Reitberger says she is impressed by the report and welcomes the outside help during this crucial time in Thunder Bays history. Both the OCPC and OIPRD report identified serious issues, she said, and the time for denial is over. I only see positive things coming out of this, she said. Its going to be hard for some people to admit there is racism but its systemic. We have to put our differences aside and move forward. Few people have waited longer for the OIPRDs findings, perhaps, than Dora and Tom Morris. They welcome its recommendations and sincerely hope it will bring changes to Thunder Bay. But they also know it is unlikely to bring them the closure they have been searching for now for 18 years. Their nephew, Jethro Anderson from Kasabonika Lake First Nation, was the first of the seven fallen feathers and his case was among the oldest reviewed by the OIPRD. Anderson was only 15 when he went missing in 2000. He was living with the Morrises at the time and when he didnt come home one day, Dora who considers herself a second mother to Anderson immediately knew something was gravely wrong. She called police the next morning; an officer told her Anderson was probably out partying like every other native kid and hung up. For days, she kept calling again and again and again. Four days passed before there was any police activity on his file. Anderson was finally found in the Kaministiquia River, nearly two weeks after Dora reported him missing. She was never notified by police, however, and only received official confirmation through a press release. An initial autopsy report concluded Andersons death was caused by asphyxia due to drowning but the 2016 coroners inquest into the seven fallen feathers reclassified his cause of death as undetermined. In its report, the OIPRD concluded the police investigation into Andersons death was wholly inadequate but the Morrises have known this all along. After her nephews body was found, Dora filed a complaint with Thunder Bay police but was eventually forced to withdraw it because her sister-in-law, Andersons mother, decided not to pursue it. She remembers how police showed up on her doorstep within 15 minutes of her calling to withdraw her complaint, holding the paperwork she needed to sign. What I said to them is it sure didnt take you long to get here, while it took you a long time to respond when I needed help, she recalled with a tight smile. Dora said she filed her complaint because she didnt want anyone else to go through what she and her family went through. But in the 18 years since, she has seen so many other Indigenous children die in Thunder Bays waterways, their deaths never adequately explained, and joined search parties for boys like Jordan Wabasse and Josiah Begg, whose body was found in the McIntyre River last year. Braiden Jacob, the boy found dead last week, is also close friends with her grand-nephews, who are now broken over the loss. When she first heard about the OIPRD report, Dora contemplated going to the news conference but ultimately decided against it. Her husband drove by the venue but couldnt bring himself to go inside. They decided to watch it at home on their living room TV and when the news conference ended, they clapped. But now, Dora is left with mixed feelings about the OIPRDs recommendation to reopen her nephews file; his case was already painfully combed over by the coroners inquest and shes not sure she or her family can go through it all for a third time. She wonders when she will finally be able to put it all behind her. After all this time, its still not over, she says. It didnt have to be this way. Clarification December 17, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that Celina Reitberger was appointed as the citys first Indigenous chair of the police services board. Dr. Arnold Noyek, a renowned otolaryngologist known for championing mandatory hearing tests for newborns and for founding an international charity that sought peace in the Middle East through academic exchanges in universities and medical centres, died on Friday. Noyek, 81, had been hospitalized since November. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011. He took a turn for the worse in the past week, and it was a significant turn for the worse, said Shawna Novak, chief operating officer of the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program, or CISEPO, which was founded by Dr. Noyek. Dr. Noyek died at Baycrest Health Sciences at 1:40 p.m. with his family by his side. Dr. Noyek was born in Dublin, Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1940. He attended the University of Toronto and graduated from medical school and later went on to be trained in otolaryngology specializing in ear, nose, throat, head and neck surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York City. He worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto since 1966 and was the hospitals otolaryngologist in chief for more than 10 years. While at Mount Sinai Hospital, Noyek and his team developed a groundbreaking method to detect deafness in babies by measuring brainwave patterns. Because hearing loss in babies can affect learning development and socialization, early identification and intervention helps infants adapt more quickly. This screening procedure were adopted as provincial health policy in Ontario in 2001. To date more than 1 million babies have been screened. Dr. Noyek was also a professor of otolaryngology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and a professor of Radiology at the University of Toronto. He worked as the Director of International Continuing Education for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and was an adviser on global health education to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Dr. Noyeks dedication to international health care was evident with CISEPO. Founded in 1984, the non-profit works to bring together health-care professionals from around the world and by so doing helps communities find common ground. Arguably, the charity has had an impact millions of people around the world, including in the U.S, the U.K, and across the Middle East. He lived five lifetimes in one because he was so involved with medicine and his charity, Novak said. For his contributions to health care, Dr. Noyek was inducted as an Officer in the Order of Canada in July 2013. Dr. Noyek inspired those around him, including his long-time friend Wendy Switzer Myles. She is a board of director at CISEPO and remembers her friend as being energetic and being full of life. Spending 10 minutes with him was like spending an hour with anyone else because he was so creative and so full of wonderful ideas, she said. Dr. Noyek and CISEPO, were the recipients of the Canadian Red Cross Power of Humanity Award which was presented by the Queen of Jordan in 2004. He was also the recipient of the Canadian Society for International Health Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. And from the University of Toronto he received the Colin R. Woolf Award for Long Term Contributions to Continuing Education at Faculty of Medicine in 2006 and the prestigious Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize in 2009. Dr. Noyek was married to his childhood sweetheart Judy Noyek. Together they had five children and 14 grandchildren. He was also a Blue Jays fan. Myles recalls him having an entire room in his basement with the most elaborate trainset. She said he would always sign-off on his emails with: Always moving forward. It meant that he was always advancing the cause of good medicine and helping humanity, she said. With files from Bianca Bharti and Ilya Banares The belts are being tightened at Queens Park. Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives are reviewing the future funding of a slew of government programs including the Indigenous Culture Fund that was the provinces response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The fund, which supports First Nations, Inuit and Metis community-based cultural projects, was part of $250 million in programs the former Liberal government announced after the searing 2015 examination of residential schools. Our government is reviewing the Indigenous Culture Fund (ICF) to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly and efficiently. Individuals who have already received grants through the ICF will not be affected during this review, the government said in a statement Friday. Sources told the Star the government is also slashing $15 million from the Ontario Trillium Foundations $120 million budget, which annually helps 700 community programs across the province. At the same time, the Tories are melding the environment and land tribunals, the social justice tribunals and the safety, licensing appeals and standards tribunals into a single cluster named Tribunals Ontario, according to an internal Ministry of the Attorney General memo. Read more: Opinion | What is the Ford Nation plan for First Nations? Schism within government on how to deal with the Ontario Medical Association puts premier and health minister at odds Ontarios fiscal watchdog says deficit is $1.2 billion lower than claimed, but warns of huge future shortfalls This change represents the first phase of the governments review of tribunals accountable to the Ministry of the Attorney General to ensure that programs are effective, affordable and sustainable, the memo said. It is intended to promote consistency in tribunal practices, procedures, decision-making and dispute resolution, while also providing a simplified and more accessible public interface. Attorney General Caroline Mulroneys office said it is taking action to improve access to justice and to make practical, reasonable and responsible decisions that respect taxpayers. Tribunals Ontario will be led by a single executive chair, allowing for more co-ordinated and efficient leadership. Adjudicative tribunals play an important role in our justice system by providing a venue for the adjudication of numerous types of disputes, Mulroneys office said. The changes come as the Fords government is coping with credit downgrade by Moodys, the first for Ontario from the New York-based ratings company in six years. While Finance Minister Vic Fedeli blamed the recklessness of the previous Liberal government for the setback, Moodys suggested the new government bears some responsibility. Financing requirements for deficits and capital expenditures will result in an increase in the provinces already elevated net direct and indirect debt level, the firm said, pointing to looming revenue shortfalls due to tax cuts. Recent actions undertaken by the province have included measures that reduce revenue levels, adding to budgetary pressure. Fedeli said the deficit is $14.5 billion, while the financial accountability officer maintains it is at least $1.2 billion lower. The Tories have revised accounting methods and no longer count $11 billion in joint-sponsored public pensions as assets, which is worth anywhere between $1 billion and $5 billion to the annual bottom line. Cindy Veinot, the provincial controller, resigned as the governments top accountant in September after refusing to sign the public accounts because she felt the deficit was inflated. NDP MPP Sandy Shaw said Moodys downgrading of Ontarios credit rating to Aa3 from Aa2 is due to both the Liberals and the Tories. The Liberal government let us down, but this credit rating is forward-looking, which means Doug Ford is now making things even worse, said Shaw (Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas). The government also quietly axed funding for the College of Midwives of Ontario, which had been waiting for the money since April 1. This means that the funding we had anticipated for the current fiscal year will not be received, the college said in an update on its website. We received this news on Nov. 8, 2018, eight months into our fiscal year. The college, which regulates the profession, has been receiving government grants from the health ministry for 25 years, and had been waiting for $705,553 in funding this year. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner called the decision short-sighted and reactionary ... the long-term financial costs and reduced health care services will far outweigh any savings the government hopes to gain. In October, the government also cut all funding to the OPHEA, a non-profit resource and training organization for phys-ed teachers. It had received funding for the past 16 years. The organization was a key player in supporting the implementation of the updated sex-ed curriculum, which was scrapped by the Ford government. Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: PARADISE, CALIF.The remaining residents who fled from the deadliest wildfire in California history were allowed to return to their home Saturday and assess the damage. All evacuation orders were lifted in Paradise more than a month after the fire broke out Nov. 8, killing at least 86 people and destroying 14,000 homes in the town and nearby communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Authorities warned Paradise has limited services and advised residents to use power generators and have enough food, water and fuel for their vehicles. The Butte County health officer issued an advisory strongly urging people not to live on destroyed property until it is declared clear of hazardous waste, ash and debris. There is evidence from recent fires in California that homes and property destroyed by fire contain high and concerning levels of heavy metals, lead, mercury, dioxin, arsenic and other carcinogens, according to a statement by the county sheriff and Paradise police departments. The county is providing masks, gloves and protective suits to reduce exposure to toxic materials. Read more: More than 6 million tons of debris estimated after California Camp fire Rain causes concern for Californias wildfire-burned areas A cat, the Camp Fire and two days of fear: How one survivor made it out with everything important Authorities also warned of an increased risk for flash flooding in the burn areas. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIAAustralia has decided to formally recognize west Jerusalem as Israels capital, but wont move its embassy until theres a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Saturday. Morrison said in a speech that Australia would recognize east Jerusalem as Palestines capital only after a settlement has been reached on a two-state solution. The Australian Embassy wont be moved from Tel Aviv until such a time, he said. While the embassy move is delayed, Morrison said his government would establish a defence and trade office in Jerusalem and would also start looking for an appropriate site for the embassy. The Australian government has decided that Australia now recognizes west Jerusalem, as the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel, Morrison said. He said the decision respects both a commitment to a two-state solution and long-standing respect for relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. Australia becomes the third country to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, following the U.S. and Guatemala. Unlike its predecessors, however, Australia recognized only the western part of the city. The move, therefore, is unlikely to please either side entirely. For the Palestinians, it offers a partial resolution to an issue that they believe should be resolved through negotiations. That decision is softened, though, by recognizing their claim to east Jerusalem. The Israelis welcome recognition of Jerusalem as their capital, but the Australian decision falls far short of their claim to all of the city. Refusing to include east Jerusalem, home to the citys most important religious sites, is likely to upset Israeli nationalists who dominate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition. Israels foreign ministry commended Australias move as a step in the right direction. In a statement, it also praised the Australian governments stance against anti-Semitism and its pro-Israel position at the U.N. Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat slammed Australias irresponsible policies that led to the recognition. The policies of this Australian administration have done nothing to advance the two-state solution, Erekat said in a statement, stressing the Palestinian view that the holy city remains a final-status issue in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which have run aground. Morrison had earlier floated the idea that Australia may follow the contentious U.S. move of relocating its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, but it was seen by many Australians as a political stunt. Critics called it a cynical attempt to win votes in a byelection in October for a Sydney seat with a high Jewish population. The consideration had sparked backlash from Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia, threatening a free trade deal that has now been delayed. Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the decision to recognize west Jerusalem as Israels capital but not move the embassy there was a humiliating backdown from the October byelection campaign. What Im worried is that Mr. Morrison put his political interest ahead of our national interest, Shorten told reporters. Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move that is not internationally recognized. Israel considers east Jerusalem an indivisible part of its capital, while the Palestinians seek the area, home to the citys most sensitive holy sites, as the capital of a future state. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report. Read more about: WASHINGTONThe special counsels office is pushing back at the suggestion that the FBI acted improperly in its interview of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying he chose to make false statements and did not need a warning that it was against the law to do so. The filing from special counsel Robert Mueller Friday comes four days before Flynn gets sentenced on a charge of lying to the FBI about his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States. It responds to a sentencing memorandum filed earlier this week by Flynns lawyers that suggested there were irregularities in how he was interviewed. The back-and-forth between prosecutors and defence lawyers has created an unusual rupture in an otherwise harmonious relationship as prosecutors had praised Flynn as a model co-operator and recommended that he receive no prison time at his sentencing. The disagreement is unlikely to affect Flynns chances for probation, but its attracted the attention of President Donald Trump, who said this week that Flynn did not lie despite having fired him nearly two years ago for just that reason. The matter may also become a point of debate at next Tuesdays hearing, especially since the judge, Emmet Sullivan, has asked prosecutors to produce documents related to Flynns interview. They did so Friday as they said nothing about the way the interview the way was arranged or conducted caused the defendant to make false statements to the FBI. Prosecutors said Flynn had committed to a false story weeks before the Jan. 24, 2017, interview with the FBI, having lied several times already to White House officials about his dialogue with ambassador Sergey Kislyak and then repeating those falsehoods to federal agents. Read more: Mueller rejects Flynns attempt to portray himself as victim of the FBI Mueller recommends no prison for Flynn, citing co-operation With the mid-terms over, special counsel Mueller faces key decisions in Russia investigation Trump ousted him weeks after the FBI interview. White House officials said he had misled Vice-President Mike Pence and others about his discussions on sanctions with Kislyak. Prosecutors said Friday that Flynn voluntarily agreed to meet with the FBI without a lawyer present and had enough experience in government to understand the consequences of lying and the importance of accurate information to decision making in areas of national security. A sitting National Security Advisor, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents, Muellers prosecutors wrote. He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth. Flynns lawyers had earlier cast doubt on the process by saying the agents who questioned Flynn never told him it was against the law to lie. They also suggested that then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe appeared to discourage Flynn from having a lawyer present by saying the Justice Department would have to be involved if the national security adviser wanted an attorney. Though Flynns supporters have seized on the fact that the FBI agents who questioned him did not detect signs of deception during the interview, prosecutors say that doesnt change the fact that he was indeed lying, and knowingly made false statements to FBI agents in a national security investigation. Muellers office also released redacted memos and interviews of two FBI officials involved in the interview process McCabe and former counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok. The notes paint a portrait of a strikingly relaxed and informal conversation, with Strzok in his interview noting how he had walked past Trump and some movers discussing where to place artwork in the White House. Flynn was so talkative, and had so much time for them, that Strzok wondered if the National Security Adviser did not have more important things to do than have such a relaxed, non-pertinent discussion with them, according to notes from the interview. Read more about: Its bad, but quite predictable, that the Chinese government would lash out against Canadian citizens to express its anger about the arrest in Vancouver of a senior executive of Huawei Technologies. Thats how Beijing rolls: you offend us, we slap you right back, and to heck with the niceties of law or due process or even simple morality. In this case, you grab one of ours and we take two of yours even if the charges of endangering Chinas national security are patently ridiculous in the cases of the imprisoned Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Yes, it stings, but not half as much as how Canada is being treated by its alleged friend and ally in this affair, the country on whose behalf our judicial authorities arrested Meng Wanzhou. Were in this mess because, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland have exhaustively explained, Canada was just following the rule of law. In this case, it was honouring our extradition treaty with the United States, where Meng is to face charges related to violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. China is furious because one of the top executives of its leading international technology company is being dragged into American courts on charges that are intrinsically political, in that they are bound up with American foreign policy objectives. It sees all this as part and parcel of the worldwide struggle for supremacy in the next generation of communications technology, and theres lots of evidence that it is right despite all the trappings of legal process wrapped around the extradition request. So Canada is, dutifully and properly, carrying out its obligations to the United States and getting slapped around by China. And the U.S. government does what, exactly? Does it send a strong message to China to cut out this judicial kidnapping of Canadian bystanders? Does it make clear that the U.S. and Canada are in this together, and China will suffer if it tries to beat up on the smaller partner? No, it does not. Its quite clear that, for the Trump administration, the United States and China have much bigger fish to fry namely renegotiating their economic relationship in a way that will allow the U.S. president to claim that his country is no longer being ripped off. This has been one of Donald Trumps obsessions for decades, and is perhaps his central preoccupation in global affairs. Canada, for him, is a sideshow. For China, too, the United States is the top priority. China also needs a good deal with the Americans; for all the big-power bluster put out by the government of President Xi Jinping, the reality is that its economy is slowing and it is more vulnerable than it appears. Canada, then, can just take it, as far as the giants are concerned. In fact, its even worse than that. The extradition request for Meng Wanzhou was suspect right from the start, but Trump removed any doubt about that this week when he casually linked her fate to winning a better trade deal with China. Officials on both sides of the border immediately started backpedaling, insisting this was just a typical Trump brain-fart and U.S.-Canadian rule of law would prevail. But how can anyone especially the Chinese overlook the fact that this came directly from the president of the United States? Of course its a political process, and now no one can pretend it isnt. Canada is in an impossible position, squeezed between a country that unapologetically practices naked power politics and another led by an administration willing to do much the same whenever that seems like the best way to accomplish its goals. The best Canada can do is manage its way through with the least amount of damage. It is silly to pretend, as right-wing commentators have argued, that were being mousetrapped because of some failure by the Trudeau government to anticipate and head off either the Chinese reaction or Trumps inconvenient truth-telling. Not even Trumps own cabinet can put a leash on him. Canada is learning a hard lesson: its a lonely world when the bully is beating on you, and the people you thought were your friends are nowhere to be seen. Read more about: For decades Indigenous people in Thunder Bay watched as dozens of their own died under suspicious circumstances that police inexplicably dismissed as accidents. All along, many suspected their loved ones might have been murdered and police failed to carry out proper investigations because of deep-seated racism. Now they know their worst fears were justified. This week, after a two-year investigation, Ontarios independent police watchdog released a thundering 200-plus page report that finds systemic racism exists within the Thunder Bay Police Service at an institutional level. We arent talking about a few bad apples here, the Independent Police Review Director, Gerry McNeilly, pointed out. The citys police service was so infused with racist attitudes and racial stereotyping that police failed to properly investigate deaths when the deceased was Indigenous. The result? McNeillys team, which studied more than three dozen files involving the sudden deaths of Indigenous men and women dating back to 2009, is recommending that at least nine investigations be reopened and a team be formed to determine whether others should be opened as well. Many questions must now be answered. Chief among them is this: How could the insistent drumming of complaints from Indigenous families and leaders on this issue have been ignored for so long? The answer, says McNeilly, lies in the intransigence of police forces who dont easily adapt to new policies or to changes in the communities they represent. This is not a problem unique to Thunder Bays police department. In fact, McNeilly is sending his wake-up-call of a report to police services across the province that deal not only with Indigenous populations, but other racialized groups. It should also be studied by authorities in cities like Winnipeg and Regina, which have large Indigenous communities. Other forces, including Torontos, could benefit from reading his numerous recommendations on how to eradicate racism and bias. In fact, McNeillys report is especially timely in light of another study released last week that found Black people were grossly overrepresented in incidents between 2013 and 2017 where Toronto police used force resulting in injury or death. To that end, Toronto Chief Mark Saunders might want to adopt McNeillys sensible recommendation that new hires in Thunder Bay be psychologically tested to eliminate applicants who express racist views and attitudes. Because, as the report on Torontos force illustrated, racism doesnt just affect how crimes are investigated, but how individuals are treated by officers. Indeed, McNeillys report describes the systemic abuse of Indigenous people who came into contact with Thunder Bay police officers going back to the 1980s. Those accounts, McNeilly wrote did not appear to be isolated incidents. As if to underscore that point, even as the investigation was coming to a conclusion, a video emerged of a Thunder Bay officer striking an Indigenous youth who was strapped to a stretcher. How does that happen even as senior officers and the board were being apprised of the findings of the investigation? It happens when leaders dont communicate with their rank and file, McNeilly says. He hopes that will end in Thunder Bay with the naming of a new police chief, Sylvie Hauth, in November and the naming of the first Indigenous chair of the citys Police Services Board, Celina Reitberger, earlier this month. As shocking as the results of the watchdog review are, they will, sadly, not be surprising for readers who have followed this unfolding story. In March, McNeillys team gave a taste of what was to come when it released its review of an investigation into the death of one man, Stacy DeBungee. It is disturbingly illustrative with how the Thunder Bay force conducted investigations into the deaths of Indigenous people. McNeilly found DeBungees sudden death in 2015 should have been treated as potential homicide and investigated as such. Instead, investigators speculated DeBungee had fallen down drunk and rolled into the river. They closed the case. Whats more outrageous is that police came to this conclusion even as an inquest was underway into the deaths of seven Indigenous students, five of whom had been found in waterways around the city. The inquest also found police were issuing press releases about their deaths even before autopsies were completed. And officers were failing to even connect autopsy reports to their own investigations or even to find out the results. Understandably, then, the report makes recommendations on how officers can conduct more robust investigations. Those, however, can only be undertaken if officers are not blinkered by racist attitudes. McNeillys report is appropriately titled Broken Trust. Its now up to the new chief and board to mend what McNeilly describes as a crisis of trust between police and Indigenous communities. The inescapable fact is that not only has harm been done to those communities, but some people may have gotten away with murder because officers didnt feel obliged to properly investigate the deaths of Indigenous people. That is more than a crisis. It is a clear and present danger that must be addressed. Ontario doctors are mad. Mad at the last Liberal government. Mad at the present Progressive Conservative government. Mad at the Ontario Medical Association. Mad at their fellow doctors. Mad at themselves. Or mad at all of the above. Doctors do Gods work looking after patients. But they have not been looking after themselves on the labour front of late, which is most maddening of all. After going for years without a contract, many MDs grew to hate the Liberals in power, prompting the membership to reject a 2016 agreement negotiated by their OMA leaders at the time. Dissident doctors pined for a Progressive Conservative government that promised a good-faith negotiation with arbitration if necessary. The Liberals created a toxic relationship with our doctors by making unilateral decisions, the premiers spokesperson declared after the Tories took power. Doug Ford is committed to respecting Ontarios physicians and fixing the relationship. Be careful what you wish for. Hoping for healing is not enough. The Tories took Ontarios doctors for a wild ride this week. Despite Fords personal promise to respect physicians and protect the process, the premiers office pulled the plug: It would no longer be legally bound by binding arbitration. A lawyers letter abruptly declared the process dead and buried. The government tried to dismiss its own appointee to the three-member arbitration panel the next day. Just like that. Promise made, promise broken. Read more: Ford government to return to arbitration with Ontario doctors Tories cut cultural funding, revamp tribunals in scramble for savings Schism within government on how to deal with the Ontario Medical Association puts premier and health minister at odds The OMA exploded. Doctors went ballistic. Labour lawyers were apoplectic, accusing the government of not only losing its way but flouting the law. Both sides are prone to grandstanding in labour negotiations, walking away from the bargaining table or unleashing ultimatums. But aborting arbitration, after agreeing to abide by it, is not part of the playbook if it violates a formally agreed legal framework. The Tories self-serving explanation was that the OMA is now riven by divisions, and could no longer be counted upon to deliver its members if they ever reached a deal. In short, the government declared non-confidence in its bargaining opponent. As outlandish as that assertion might be in law, it is not outrageous in reality. For it is a fact that the OMA, in a previous incarnation, reached a tentative agreement two years ago with the previous Liberal government, only to fumble the ball. It was a compromise, as all negotiations are. But the OMA executive, having sealed the deal, couldnt sell the deal to its members in short, it couldnt deliver. Dissident doctors, led by the best-paid specialists (who resisted taking a haircut so that lower-paid general practitioners could catch up), whipped up opposition to the deal. They won the vote, defeated the deal, and ousted the OMAs old leadership on the promise of getting a better bargain after the next election. While the doctors were playing tough, another group of professionals took a different tack: Ontarios teachers unions, who are no slouches in contract negotiations, opted to take the best deal they could get from then-premier Kathleen Wynne, who wanted to avoid pre-election labour strife. Teachers took the money and ran before time ran out on the election clock, and before the provinces fiscal situation deteriorated. Doctors, by contrast, rejected their own deal, rebelled against their own organization, and turned against each other. A civil war among physicians has culminated in a secession attempt by highly paid specialists who want to create the Ontario Specialists Association, or OSA, to rival the OMA. The latest round of internal warfare provided the pretext for the government to opt out of binding arbitration escalating the conflict to a nuclear war. The stakes are high for doctors and patients, politicians and taxpayers. MDs get more than $12 billion a year roughly 10 per cent of the annual budget at a time when the Tories are retrenching. Having accused the Liberals of fostering a toxic relationship, Ford has personally poisoned the well by going back on his word. Perhaps the premier could not resist exploiting the weakness of a faction-ridden OMA an organization that never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity with the Liberals, reposing its faith in Ford for a panacea on pay. By weeks end, the Tories had done another U-turn. Facing ferocious pressure from doctors, or perhaps a second opinion from their lawyers, the government undid its ultimatum and agreed to arbitration again. Just like that. Promise made, promise broken, promise remade. No doubt doctors are hoping for healing again. But we should all have learned by now to be careful what we wish for. Read more about: Toronto police veteran Ron Taverner has put his controversial appointment as OPP commissioner on hold, pending a review of concerns the hiring was influenced by his friendship with Premier Doug Ford. The dramatic turnabout came less than 48 hours before he was to be sworn in as Ontarios top cop Monday amid a political firestorm and questions about the independence of Ontario Provincial Police. Out of the greatest of respect for the brave men and women of the Ontario Provincial Police, I am requesting my appointment as commissioner be postponed until as such time the integrity commissioner has completed his review, Taverner, 72, said in statement Saturday afternoon. The move was welcomed by critics pushing for an investigation by the provinces independent integrity watchdog including a lowering of the qualification requirements that allowed Taverner, who holds the Toronto rank of superintendent, to apply. The number of voices raising concerns about the hiring process has been growing since Taverners appointment was announced Nov. 29, and included former OPP commissioner Chris Lewis and former RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson. We are very relieved Mr. Taverner will not be appointed Monday and sworn in, Deputy NDP Leader Sara Singh told reporters Saturday at Queens Park. Read more: Acting OPP chief asks court to examine ombudsmans decision not to review Ron Taverner appointment Tories blast OPP commissioners unfounded allegations about Taverner hiring No concerns about hiring of Ron Taverner to head the OPP, says Ontario Safety Minister Sylvia Jones However we are still very concerned. Where there is smoke, there is fire. There are a lot of unanswered questions here. The New Democrats have called on integrity commissioner J. David Wake to look into potential political interference in the appointment of Taverner, a long-time family friend of the Fords who has served as a unit commander in their home turf of Etobicoke. Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Sylvia Jones, who along with Ford has repeatedly defended the appointment, accepted Taverners decision to step back for now. While the government has full confidence in Mr. Taverner, we will respect his request for a delay in his appointment, until such time as the integrity commissioner has conducted a review of the selection process, Jones said in statement. It is not clear how long the review would take and whether its details would be made public. In the meantime, interim OPP commissioner Brad Blair who was passed over for the top job and also sounded an alarm over Taverners hiring will resume his duties as deputy commissioner of traffic safety and operational support command. He was named to the interim role upon the retirement of commissioner Vince Hawkes in early November. Statement from Brad Blair View document on Scribd Blair will also proceed with a court case aimed at forcing Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube to probe Taverners appointment, using more robust powers to summon witnesses and compel documents, said his lawyer, Julian Falconer. Dube has rejected Blairs request for a political interference probe, saying it falls outside his jurisdiction. The new interim OPP commissioner will be Gary Couture, deputy commissioner of field operations. In a statement to members of the police force Saturday, Blair said he understands the preference for an alternative interim commissioner and will co-operate in every respect. I do not regret a single step I have had to take. I remain devoted to ensuring that the well-earned reputation of the Ontario Provincial Police remains untarnished, he added. It is this credibility along with the perceived independence of our service that puts us in the best possible position to uphold the rule of law and keep the people of Ontario safe. The New Democrats are now calling for an emergency select committee of MPPs to investigate the hiring with the power to compel witnesses in public sessions in addition to the integrity commissioners probe. We need to have answers, said Singh. At this point, its unclear whether Taverner himself made the decision to ask his OPP swearing-in be postponed or whether he was prompted by the premiers office, Singh added. Thats why the premiers office needs to come forward and provide some clarityWe need to understand how this was allowed to happen, how rules were changed. Falconer said he believes the premiers office directed Taverner to step aside, citing Taverners knowledge of a request to the OPP from the premiers office for a specially equipped van to transport Ford. There seems to be a lot of communication between Supt. Taverner and the government. The Stars Kevin Donovan reported Friday that Taverner was tapped for other top jobs, including head of the Ontario Cannabis Store, which he turned down. Doug (Ford) wanted to do something for Taverner, one source told the newspaper. Taverner has attended backyard barbecues hosted by the Fords and Ford Fest events. Opposition parties will get their chance to grill Ford this week as the Progressive Conservatives have recalled the house from its Christmas break Monday to introduce back-to-work to prevent a strike by the Power Workers Union, which threatens to shut down Ontario Power Generations nuclear reactors. With the first question period set for Tuesday morning, the Tories were bracing for difficult inquiries from the New Democrats, Liberals, and Greens over Taverners appointment. All the opposition parties have denounced the hiring given Taverner lacked the professional qualifications in the initial job posting. That posting, later amended, enabled Taverner, a superintendent, to apply for the post, which comes with a raise of almost $100,000 over his $178,000 Toronto police salary. Established in 1988, the Office of the Integrity Commissioner keeps tabs on MPPs and serves the public interest by encouraging and supporting high ethical standards that strengthen trust and confidence in the Ontario government, states its website. The office has a number of mandates, one of which falls under the Members Integrity Act. The primary objective is to help prevent ethics violations before they occur, and the office offers confidential advice to members of provincial parliament around 300 times each year, according to its website. If a member suspects another member of crossing an ethical line, in contravention of the act, the member can ask the integrity commissioner through what is known as a Section 30 complaint to look into the matter, and offer an opinion. An affidavit must be filed by the complainant to start the process. The process involves a review to see if the complaint is within the jurisdiction of the office, followed by a decision on whether an inquiry will be conducted, and notifying the affected member of that decision. If the inquiry is on, the office then asks for written responses to the affidavit. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Campaign by former students : Christmas tree sale for a good cause in Poppelsdorf Poppelsdorf The association Nala, a group of former students from Bonn, donates spruces and pines from the Eifel for a good cause. The sale at the Poppelsdorfer Uni-Campus is still going on this weekend. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken James Kruss, the childrens books author, once rhymed captivatingly and precisely: "Because being a fir tree: that's fine, gee! This is how the former Bonn university students of nature conservation and landscape ecology, who have joined together in the association of the same name (abbreviated Nala), thought and still think. On this weekend they give away Christmas trees at the University Campus Poppelsdorf in exchange for a donation. They felled the trees themselves in the Eifel. The pines fir trees are also part of the pine family come from biotope areas and deprived native plants of light and warmth at their habitat, the spruces took the space needed for other trees to grow. The campaign was introduced in 1980 by Professor Wolfgang Schumacher. With his retirement, students and alumni founded the association Nala. On this weekend, the members now distribute the trees free of charge, but they collect donations for projects during the campaign. In this year the nursery Bonn, the Arboretum Harle, a foundation for the park Harle, and the nature conservation organisation Sociatia Mozaic are supported. For the chairman of the association, Simon Keelan, the Christmas tree campaign has three good things: the trees that have already been felled are used sensibly, the students have the opportunity not only to work theoretically, but also to swing the axe. The donations are also used to support meaningful projects. In addition to the trees, there are products from the university's beekeeping, organic potatoes from the meadows and apples and pears from the Klein-Altendorf campus. The Biological Station Rhein-Erft offers apple juice from its own production. Bolle-Bonn and the Bonner Velowerft deliver the trees home by bike in exchange for a donation. Distribution is on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm opposite the corner of Carl-Troll-Strae/Kekulestrae. GRANITE CITY A Carrollton man has died as the result of injuries he sustained Thursday in an industrial accident at American Steel Foundry in Granite City. He is identified as 54-year-old Roy L. Evans, of Carrollton. EDWARDSVILLE You need to humble yourself to follow and learn from others before you can become a successful leader. The wise words of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior Yelana Moton demonstrate her modest and fiercely focused approach to life. The East St. Louis native will achieve a bachelors in construction management, with a minor in business administration, from the School of Engineering on Saturday, Dec. 15, with a full-time job already secured. A passion for construction is in my blood, Moton said. Ive always had a love for seeing buildings and structures going up. As a little girl, I would hear my grandfather and his brother talk about their demolition business. Hearing their stories validated my decision to pursue construction. It was Motons seventh grade science project on buttresses that solidified her affinity toward engineering. What seventh grader chooses to do a project on buttresses? she joked. But, thats what sparked it. I knew then that my engineering journey would begin. Moton hasnt wavered from her desire for a career in engineering, but it took her a couple tries to find which specialization was for her. She first studied civil engineering, then architecture, before finding her perfect fit in the SIUE School of Engineerings Department of Construction. When I enrolled in my 120 class, I knew this was the route for me, Moton recalled. Dr. (Chris) Gordon reeled me in, and it all came together. Moton is a natural leader who has been highly active in student organizations throughout her academic journey. She was president of the SIUE Chapter of the American Concrete Institute, a member of the Constructors Club and vice president of the service-based organization Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Ive had many family, friends and mentors to look up to, she noted. They know how to follow, but have taken the next step to become leaders. Its important to have both abilities. Its a skill to know how to follow. You have to learn from somebody. You cant just jump out there and assume youll be a successful leader from the start. Being a follower first helps develop you into an effective leader. The motivated student completed three internships during her SIUE schooling at well-known industry leading companies including The Korte Company, Tarlton Corp. and KAI Design & Build. The Department of Construction requires one internship, which I think is wonderful, she explained. I pursued three internship opportunities, because those experiences push you to gain the knowledge and skills needed to smoothly transition into the real world. I enjoy the project management route and will seek to gain more wisdom within that path. I have a passion for learning new things, especially about my industry, she added. In the future, I see myself being highly involved and active in professional organizations and in the community. Moton will reflect on her academic journey and share inspiration for her fellow graduates bright futures, when she takes the podium as the student speaker during the 1 p.m. commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 15. She plans to encourage her peers to have patience, embrace failure and toughen up. My advice is to push for what you want and set high goals, Moton said. Make goals that seem right at the realm of impossible. That way, even if you dont fully accomplish that goal, you will still have broken through barriers and gained a better understanding of your capabilities. EDWARDSVILLE An Arcadia, Missouri man is facing a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle after he allegedly borrowed a pickup truck and trailer to steal a utility vehicle valued at $17,000 from a contractor doing work at his employers business. Anthony K. Stacy, 40, is charged for allegedly possessing a Polaris 1000 XP utility vehicle owned by Fire Solutions, which was working at the GEODIS logistics company at Gateway Commerce Center in Edwardsville. Bail is set at $60,000. A manager of Fire Solutions called police and informed them the Polaris was stolen Nov. 9. It had a GPS device attached, which showed it to be at an address in the first block of Oakwood Lane in St. Louis. Edwardsville police checked surveillance cameras at the job site and spotted a white crew cab truck pulling an empty black trailer. Another camera recorded the trailer with the Polaris vehicle. A St. Louis County officer that same day found the Polaris and returned it to the Fire Solutions manager. Police then found the name of the renter at the Oakwood Lane address, and he told them he allowed his friends brother, Anthony, to borrow his pickup truck and trailer. An investigation showed that Anthony Stacy worked at GEODIS. The man who lived at the Oakwood Lane address said he had loaned his truck to Stacy in the past, so he did not think much about lending it again. He told officers that he allowed Stacy to leave the Polaris at his house. Details of the case became public Thursday as officials filed a request for a search warrant for Stacys phone to determine if Stacy was in the area of the theft. Reach reporter Sanford Schmidt at 618-208-6449. John Badman | The Telegraph ALTON The man wanted for allegedly hitting and dragging two Alton police officers with his vehicle early Friday was arrested by U.S. Marshals Friday evening. Todd Lockhart, 34, of Alton was taken into custody at an Alton residence by Marshals at approximately 6 p.m. Friday. He was taken to an area hospital for gunshot wounds sustained during the run-in with police Friday morning, in which at least 31 rounds were fired. Once released, Lockhart will be transferred to the Madison County Jail. EDWARDSVILLE According to Walter Williams, Edwardsvilles economic development director, the IronWorks development currently underway should be completed by April 2019. Located on Plum Street between Center Grove Road and Governors Parkway, the first phase of IronWorks includes a two-building, 22,000-square-foot retail and restaurant enclave and is 60-percent leased. Contegra Construction Inc. is building the project while Pace Properties services as the broker. In developing this site, we wanted to optimize its proximity to the greenway, said Contegra Project Executive Jim Mundy. It energizes a feeling of community and has attracted the interest of retailers who thrive in such environments. The Madison County Transit Trailway traverses 85 miles of natural surroundings that can be explored by bicycle, skateboard, rollerblade or on foot. Global Brew Tap House & Lounge, Strange Donuts and recently Sugarfire Smoke House have all publicly disclosed they will drop anchor in one of Edwardsvilles newest retail development. Mundy said he has a signed letter of intent from a fourth tenant, a restaurant, but declined to divulge the name until a contract is signed, which he hopes will happen next week. Pace shows two buildings with eight available spaces between 1,351 and 4,493 square feet surrounded by parking. Part of the parking lot on the Illinois Route 159 side could be turned into a .70-acre outlet and there are freestanding and end cap opportunities available. Theres also an area marked for future development, behind and to the west of First to the Finish, a neighboring property. The pair of buildings is finished in a similar style to First to the Finish, which Contegra built two years ago. On Dec. 11, paving crews were busy adding a sub-layer to the right side of southbound Plum Street in front of the development. The following day, they added the blacktop driving surface atop the sub-layer. The moniker IronWorks connotes a structural theme, and the buildings themselves will have plenty of exposed structural steel elements as well as canopies and steel pergolas, Mundy said. Weather permitting, the two buildings should be enclosed by the end of the year. Both Sugarfire and Global Brew will share an outdoor dining area, and developers are planning outdoor dining areas for the third building. Developers are setting aside space where bicycles can be parked, and patrons will have quick access to the Goshen Trail with its nearby connection to Nature, Nickel Plate, and Ronald Foster trails. The Sugarfire location will be its thirteenth restaurant. There is already so much excitement about the overall development at the IronWorks, says owner-operator and Sugarfire veteran Matt Martin. Having Strange Donuts and Global Brew for neighbors is going to be great for the community. The entire site is shaping up to be a hot spot in town and were stoked to be a part of it! Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 656-4700, ext. 31 In 1956, a little-known freshman congressman from Franklin County in southern Illinois gave his first major speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, receiving a standing ovation for his efforts. In that speech, amateur magician Kenneth J. Gray of West Frankfort used his skills to illustrate the rosy prospects of then-President Dwight D. Eisenhowers Interstate Highway Act. Carrying a bouquet of red roses, Gray illustrated the interference of lobbyists and special interests that he said were killing the program by snapping flowers off the stems until all the blossoms were gone. At the conclusion of the speech, Gray suggested the lobbyists would fail and all would be rosy again, holding up the bouquet with white roses blooming from the previously bare stems. In a political career that spanned 24 years in Congress, Gray was responsible for bringing nearly $7 billion in public works projects to southern Illinois. Using earmarks on bills often referred to as pork barrel politics, Grays ability to score for his district earned him the moniker the Prince of Pork. It was a title he embraced, said his daughter, Becky Gray-Clay. My dad knew that those projects meant jobs for people in southern Illinois. In what would become an infamous interview with The Southern Illinoisan in 2008, Gray said, They call Rend Lake pork. Yet the engineers, six years ago when there was tremendous flooding, said that because of Rend Lake, more than $100 million worth of property downstream was saved. If that is pork, pass me the plate, another heaping serving. Part of that quote ended up as the title of a book about Grays life by a pair of local authors and educators, Marleis Trover and Maxine Pyle. Pass the Plate: the Legend and Legacy of United States Congressman Kenneth J. Gray tells Grays story via a walk down memory lane that showcases the man that Trover describes as one of the most effective congressmen of the 20th century. Trover said Gray understood the most important job of a leader is to provide hope. Each time he showed off southern Illinois, Trover said, he brought more people here or he connected our area with officials in other cities. Although he never went to college, Gray educated himself about his area and beyond. He exaggerated his age to 18 to enlist during World War II, Trover said. Grays exaggeration, including his colorful suits, bow ties, red permed hair, and even his modes of transportation, made him stand out, giving him instant recognition. After returning from World War II, Gray served as commander of the American Legion for the 15-county area, providing services to help reintegrate the returning soldiers. Having flown in the war, Kenny used his skills to pilot a helicopter around southern Illinois, Trover said. He later used what he saw in those counties to identify priorities to raise the standard of living for all the people of southern Illinois. Grays influence can be seen all over southern Illinois, starting with Interstate 57, part of which now is named Ken Gray Expressway in his honor. Many small towns have post offices thanks to Gray. Rend Lake is another of the pork projects Gray brought to southern Illinois. Rend Lake spurred economic growth when a boat factory opened nearby that offered steady employment to an area with little opportunity. Gray sponsored infrastructure bills that helped jumpstart the growth of industry throughout his district, including in Marion, where Pepsi MidAmerica, one of the areas largest employers, is located. Former Mayor Bob Butler, the longest serving mayor in Illinois history, worked closely with Gray to secure federal funding that enabled Marion to grow. Butler told Trover he was irritated when Gray was referred to as the Prince of Pork. He was just better at it than anyone else and they couldnt stand it, Butler said. Grays wheeling and dealing with Washingtons elite also brought the Marion Federal Penitentiary, Devils Kitchen Dam, Olmsted Lock and Dam, numerous federal housing projects, an expansion project for the Marion Veterans Administration Medical Center, education funding and funding for the arts. For Gray, it was never about power or personal gain; it was always about the people. When you came into his office, it didnt matter if you were Democrat or Republican, Gray-Clay said. You were his constituent and he would help you. Gray was popular at home and gained respect in Washingtons inner circles. He frequently was called on by House leaders such as Sam Rayburn and Tip ONeill to stand in as speaker pro-tem. He frequently appeared in public with presidents John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan. Gray retired in 1989. He continued to be active in the district, lending a hand as an auctioneer, appearing at various dinners and fundraisers, and offering advice to his successors. Gray died on July 12, 2014, at age 89. He enjoyed reciting parables and poems, with one of his favorites being Allen Dromgooles The Bridge Builder. An old man going a lone highway, Came at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned, when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide. Old man, said a fellow pilgrim, near, You are wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again will pass this way; Youve crossed the chasm, deep and wide Why build you this bridge at the evening tide? The builder lifted his old gray head: Good friend, in the path I have come, he said, There followeth after me today, A youth, whose feet must pass this way. This chasm, that has been naught to me, To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building this bridge for him. Gray left a legacy that has become a bridge for the southern part of Illinois, one that preserves the beauty of the land but still connects the rural areas to other parts of the country. ST. LOUIS During the month of December, African Vision of Hope in Maryville flew three teachers and administrators from Lusaka, Zambia, to St. Louis to visit as the first step of a three-year partnership with Westminster Christian Academy in west St. Louis County. Lawrence, the Zambian superintendent of schools; Salome, the head teacher at a school in Kafue; and, Mwansa, the high school math teacher at a school in Chongwe, arrived in St. Louis on Dec. 3 and stayed until Friday. The people in the group live and work in rural Zambia, so stepping on an airplane and experiencing the marvels of modern technology for the past few weeks has been fascinating to them. The visitors also experienced snow for the first time. They were fascinated with the snow; before they had only seen it in movies, said Rachel Goodhue with African Vision of Hope in Maryville. We have learned many things but one main thing I will take back with me is that you can integrate Biblical themes into any class you teach, whether it be math, science, art, business, and even robotics, Mwansa said. They are not just giving children facts about math, but they are also bringing in themes of Gods creation. My mind was blown! I learned that math is a subject where children can learn very much about God. The teacher showed us how you can teach students to critically think and explore the universe in order to appreciate Gods creation, even through subjects like math. We have been able to learn so much. The faculty themselves are chosen specifically and are trained on this curriculum before they even begin teaching. This helps them achieve their purpose as a Christian school. The families are connected to the school and are involved in their students lives. They have parents who volunteer every day. The partnership of parent and teacher is so strong that they give service to the school at their own will. That is one of the greatest things I have been able to take home. We have enjoyed seeing how things are done and seeing how much teachers are involved in everything that goes on here every person is just awesome. In our language, there is a saying, As if they were born from one mother. That is the unity we feel like brothers and sisters. In every staff that we have met, there is that passion and zeal to teach these children. We have so much information to take back to Zambia. Our time here has been so valuable. Salome looks forward to taking everything they have learned back to Zambia and working to implement it schools. This will not happen overnight for us, but at least we have a starting point to begin from. Change is hard, especially when people are set in their ways but they will have to adapt. We are nervous and excited to try this at home and there is a lot we can do to make this happen. During their time at Westminster, the visitors: Met former St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny and listened to him share his life story; Observed and interviewed teachers and staff from a variety of departments - art, math, science, business, music, theater, Bible, history, robotics, college counselors and more; Interviewed students and parents; Attended concerts and services at local churches and colleges. At a later date, the partnership will provide for Westminster Christian Academy teachers and staff flying to Zambia to complete additional training with local African Vision of Hope teachers. African Vision of Hope is a Christian organization committed to bringing immediate and lasting solutions to children and families living in extreme poverty. The group confronts the root causes of poverty by providing opportunities to become educated, grow up healthy, develop leadership and economic skills and learn about Gods love. Retired lieutenant general D.S. Hooda, former northern army commander in Jammu and Kashmir and the officer who steered the surgical strikes against Pakistan in 2016, is one of the most exemplary soldiers I have had the honour to know. This week, he reminded us again of the extraordinary ethos of the Indian military. Speaking at the military literature festival in Chandigarh, the general was blunt: Overhyping the strikes and politicising military operations was unproductive and dangerous. There was too much political banter on both sides, he remarked dryly on the unseemly slugfest, point-scoring and bickering that followed the strikes. Had anyone else made these comments, he or she would have been called an anti-national. But, no one could dare question the wisdom of general Hooda, who had always led from the front. His trenchant truths were one more illustration of how our military is so often more measured and moderate than our politicians. I recall reporting from the Kashmir valley in 2016 during a period of enormous turmoil. Burhan Wani, a local militant with enormous following among the new generation of Kashmiri separatists, had been eliminated in an anti-terror operation. Protestors had poured into the streets, and every day there were clashes between security forces and angry civilians. It should have been the job of the political class and the state government to own that decision and contain the fallout. Instead, as the situation unravelled, it was once again general Hooda who made an appeal to all stakeholders. He called for everyonesecurity forces, separatists, government, opposition and students to sit down around the same table and talk. He could have easily disassociated the Army from the turmoilafter all, policing crowds and steering dialogue is not the responsibility of soldiers. Instead, he took it upon himself to de-escalate the crisis and reach out across ideological divides. To me, that moment represented true and brave leadership. The general has always been a conscience-keeper of the highest standards of the Army. In 2014, when two teenagers were killed in army firing in what was a case of mistaken identity, Hooda flew from Jammu to Srinagar to take responsibility for the mistake made by his men. His apology was unambiguous and speedy, and set an example for how to respond with sensitivity in a conflict zone. General Hooda is a courageous soldier, and perhaps that is why he knows there is no valour in toxic machismo. He has consistently called for dialogue and a non-militarist perspective in Jammu and Kashmir. This does not mean that he has not deployed force when necessary. He has valiantly led his men against terrorism. He deftly steered the surgical strikes as retribution for the terror attack on his troops in Uri. But, he symbolises the reason that I am a signed-up fan of our military. Chest-thumping and arrogance is antithetical to the Indian soldier. Our politicians, and above all our hyperventilating television news anchors, should learn a lesson in humility and genuine courage from general Hoodaa true soldiers soldier. editor@theweek.in Touched by the compassion of the nurses who tended to her... A day after the Supreme Court declined to order a probe into the contentious Rafale deal, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said he would request the Public Accounts Committee to summon the attorney general and Comptroller and Auditor General. Kharge, who is the chairman of the PAC, accused the Narendra Modi government of misleading the Supreme Court by stating that the CAG report on the Rafale deal had been tabled in Parliament. Kharge demanded the Modi government apologise over the matter. Kharge said, "I will request the PAC members to call the attorney general (AG) and the Comptroller and Auditor General to ask them when was the CAG report on the Rafale deal tabled in Parliament. Kharge claimed wrong information was being fed to the Supreme Court. Kharge said while the Congress respected the Supreme Court, the apex court was not a probe agency and only a joint parliamentary committee could investigate the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal. In a series of tweets on Friday, Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of communications for the Congress, argued that the Modi government had misled the Supreme Court in repeated instances. Surjewala wrote, S.C also seriously erred in noting that arrangement between Parent Reliance Co. & Dassault started in 2012(Para 32). Parent Co, Reliance Defense [sic] was born on 28/3/2015 & Reliance Areostructure [sic] was born on 24/4/2015 and not 2012. Mukesh Ambani had entered into an agreement with Dassault in 2012, but left the defence industry in 2014. His brother, Anil Ambani, formed Reliance Defence in 2015. 4/n #RafaelVerdict S.C says no role of PSU, HAL But- 1. Workshare Agreement between Dassault & HAL of 13/3/2014. 2. On 25/3/2015, Dassault CEO spoke of relationship at HAL factory at Bangalore. 3. On 8/4/2015, Foreign Secy said HAL & Dassault agreement is on. Who misled court? Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 14, 2018 Surjewala also tweeted that the Modi government had misled the Supreme Court on the status of negotiations between Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer, of the Rafale, and HAL. Surjewala cited progress in negotiations between HAL and Dassault, including arriving at a work-share agreement before the talks were terminated with Modi's announcement of a purchase of 36 fighters in 2015. Meanwhile, Dassault Aviation on Friday evening welcomed the Supreme Court ruling on petitions seeking a probe. In a press release welcoming the Supreme Court's decision, the company noted, Dassault Aviation takes note of the Supreme Court conclusions establishing the absence of any irregularities in the decision-making process to purchase 36 Rafale, pricing of Rafale jets and selection of Indian offset partner. (With PTI inputs) Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar has announced he will not attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Ghazipur, slated for December 29. Rajbhar, who represents the Zahoorabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur district, is the Backward Class Welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment Minister in the Yogi Adityanath government. His SBSP is an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. "I will not attend the December 29 programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ghazipur," Rajbhar told reporters in Ballia on Saturday. Modi is to visit Uttar Pradesh on December 29 to issue a commemorative postal stamp on backward caste Maharaja Suheldev Rajbhar and lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects in Ghazipur. An MLA from a constituency falling in Ghazipur and also a part of the state government, Rajbhar claimed he was never invited at the programmes of Modi held in that district and other parts of Poorvanchal. Asked whether he plans to go alone in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rajbhar said, "In case, there is no seat-sharing agreement with the BJP, the SBSP will contest on all 80 Lok Sabha seats from UP and 16 seats from Bihar." The SBSP chief said his party is preparing to contest the polls on its own. Rajbhar has aired his differences with the BJP in the past on a range of issues including rights of backward classes. Tension has gripped Kashmir's Pulwama district over the killing of six civilians during Saturday's clash between security forces and militants. Four people were injured at Kharpora Sirnoo, where three militants were earlier killed in an encounter. The clashes erupted after dozens of protesters tried to proceed towards the site of the encounter after the news of the killing of the three militants spread. According to sources, the forces fired on the marching crowd resulting in injuries which later led to the death of the six civilians. District hospital sources in Pulwama said six youth, who were injured, were declared dead there. They were identified as as Shahbaz Ali, a resident of Monghama village; Suhail Ahmad of Bellow; Liyaqat Ahmad from Parigam; Murtaza of Prichoo; Amir Ahmad Palla of Ashminder and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad. One of the civilians killed was home on for vacation with his Indonesian wife. The encounter started after forces cordoned off the village following intelligence report about the presence of militants. An encounter ensued after forces zeroed in on the hideout where the militants were hiding. One soldier was injured in the encounter in the initial contact with the militants. He later succumbed to his injuries. The authorities have barred mobile internet in south Kashmir as a precautionary measure. The police refused to comment on the killing in Pulwama. US President Donald Trump has hailed the decision of a federal court judge in Texas on Friday to rule as 'unconstitutional' the Affordable Care Act (popularly known as Obamacare). Judge Reed O' Connor of the district court in Fort Worth, Texas, agreed with a grouping of 20 states, which had argued that a change in tax law in 2017 eliminating penalties for not having health insurance had 'invalidated' the Obamacare law. The coalition of states that had opposed Obamacare was led by the attorney generals of Texas and Wisconsin, both Republicans who opposed the law since its inception. As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 Taking to Twitter, Trump tweeted, As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch [McConnell] and Nancy [Pelosi], get it done! While the Republicans have repeatedly tried to repeal Obamacare, the Trump White House said Obamacare would remain in place till the result of an expected appeal in the Supreme Court against O' Connor's ruling. The Trump administration had told a federal court in June that it finds Obamacare's 'individual mandate' provision unconstitutional. The 'individual mandate' required most Americans, except some exempted categories, to buy health insurance and, in its original form, carried risk of penalties to those who didn't comply. US President Donald Trump has announced that Mick Mulvaney, the Director of Office of Management and Budget, will be the acting White House Chief of Staff. Trump took to twitter to announce the appointment and said that he looks forward to working with him in this new capacity. ....I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Mulvaney will be succeeding John Kelly, who would be departing the White House at the end of the year. Trump made it a point to thank Kelly in his tweet saying, "He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service!" Media reports suggested that Kelly and Trump had stopped speaking to each other in the recent years. Kelly had taken over the chief of staff post after leaving his US Homeland Security secretary position in July last year. He has reportedly shared a "tense relationship" with Trump since then. Kelly, who reportedly fell out with other close Trump aides, is only the latest in a long string of high-ranking officials to quit the embattled White House. There were indications that Trump was finding it difficult to fill the key post of chief of staff. Reports said several of the potential candidates for this powerful White House position had turned down the offer. But White House denied such reports, with Trump insisting that several candidates are under consideration. "For the record, there were many people who wanted to be the White House Chief of Staff. Mick M will do a great job!" he said. His widely reported first choice, Nick Ayres, announced last weekend that he did not want the post. Ayres, a 36-year-old Republican consultant currently serving as chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, was seen as a good fit for Trump's plan to start focusing on his 2020 re-election. With Democrats taking over the House of Representatives in January and special prosecutor Robert Mueller near the end of an explosive probe into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia during the 2016 election, the president is believed to be seeking a sharp political operator. A major Republican figure, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, announced Friday that he too was pulling out from consideration. It was not immediately clear where Mulvaney fits into those longer-term plans. Mulvaney, a conservative Republican former congressman, is currently head of the White House budget management office, which oversees federal spending and administers the federal budget. He was also previously acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects consumers when they take loans and use credit cards. While in the job, Mulvaney provoked anger in the Democratic Party with his campaign to downgrade the agency. His new appointment appears to give Trump some breathing space ahead of the holidays, which the president will spend mostly at his Florida resort. But a question still hangs on who can do the difficult job in the long term. Kelly was often described as "the adult in the room" during the turbulent period since his appointment in July 2017. Meanwhile, the White House said Mulvaney will not resign as the Director of Office of Management of Budget. "Mick Mulvaney will not resign from the Office Of Management and Budget, but will spend all of his time devoted to his role as the acting Chief Of Staff for the President. Russ Vought will handle day to day operations and run OMB," the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Later a senior administration official told reporters at the White House that Mulvaney being named acting chief of staff has no time limit. "There's no time limit. He's the acting chief of staff, which means he's the chief of staff. He got picked because the president liked him they get along," the official said. Speaking on condition of anonymity the official cited Mulvaney's experience as a former member of Congress. "He knows Congress. He knows Capitol Hill," the official said of Mulvaney. The official also said Mulvaney is "fiscally responsible." According to the official Kelly was pleased with his successor. "The current chief is happy. The current chief is fine. The current chief will stay till the end of the year," the official said. The official said Ross Vought will be Mulvaney's replacement as director of OMB. Mulvaney's replacement leading the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection had already been sworn in. Mulvaney was at the White House earlier today and met with Trump. "Mick was over here today working on budget stuff. ... They met face to face this afternoon," the official said. The official was questioned about why Mulvaney was named the acting chief of staff rather than simply chief of staff. "Because that's what the president wants," the official said. Another senior administration official argued the same. "We'll see," the other official said. "It's what the president wants right now and, if we have anything else we'll let you know." (With inputs from PTI) I hope nation states start paying greater attention to the rise of cryptocurrency. what looks like a very interesting and somewhat exotic effort to literally mine new coins in order to trade with them has the potential for undermining currencies. for destabilising nations.... Hillary Clinton former Democratic presidential candidate The heartbreak isnt because a particular government or political party had to withdraw laws. The heartbreak is because the laws were good for Indian agriculture. Chetan Bhagat author, after the Union government repelled the farm laws Pakistan denied O. Bin Laden in Pak until Abbottabad raid, denied Quetta Shura until opening of Qatar office, denied presence of Siraj Haqqani in Pak until Aug 15 and now denies safe havens of IS-K. Until when? Amrullah Saleh former first vice president of Afghanistan, on Twitter State-sponsored actors like the NSO Group spend millions of dollars on sophisticated surveillance technologies without effective accountability. That needs to change. Craig Federighi Apples senior vice president of software engineering, after the company sued the makers of Pegasus spyware Mizoram was a senior citizens fight. The oldest of them, Mizo National Front president Zoramthanga, was 84. Chief minister and state Congress president Lal Thanhawla was 76. Pu Lalduhoma, founder of the Zoram Peoples Movement, which came second with eight seats, was almost 70. On December 11, Lal Thanhawla was upset. Lalduhoma had defeated him in Serchhip, while T.J. Lalnuntluanga on the MNF had beaten him in Champhai South. The Congress managed just five seats. We underestimated the ZPM, Lal Thanhawla said. Lalduhoma was prime minister Indira Gandhis security in-charge. The IPS officer became Congress MP after her assassination. Feeling sidelined in the party after Rajiv Gandhis assassination, he floated a party, merged it with the MNF, and again floated a party, the Zoram Nationalist Party. Last year, he teamed up with seven parties to form the ZPM. The ZNPs future is very bright, he said after the results were out. We have a young leadership, unlike other parties. Said social activist Remruata Varte: The emergence of another party after many decades has excited people, and I feel it is going to stay. The MNF had fared badly in the past two elections. It won just three seats in 2008 and five in 2013. After Narendra Modi became prime minister, the MNFs fortunes changed. Zoramthanga became his aide in the northeast. One of his Modi-assigned missions was to befriend the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang). He was close to S.S. Khaplang during his militant days. To win Mizoram, Zoramthanga suggested splitting the Congress. Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, himself a Congress deserter, pulled it off. But most of the defectors did not join the BJP, as they were loyal to the church. They joined the MNF or the ZPM, and almost all of them won, while those who chose the BJP lost. The BJPs only win came in Tuichwang, where Buddhist Chakmas are numerous. The Bru tribals, who, too, are not Christian, did not favour the BJP. The reason is apparent. We do not issue any diktat for the elections, claimed Pu Vanlalruata, president of the powerful, church-backed Young Mizo Association. But the Christians in Mizoram had a problem accepting the BJP. Exactly why Zoramthanga announced, almost six months before the elections, that his party would go it alone. He placated Modi by sticking with the BJP nationally, as part of the North-East Democratic Alliance. The revocation of a liquor ban by Lal Thanhawla and his intention to repatriate Bru refugees from Tripura had annoyed the church. In contrast, Zoramthanga announced that he would impose total prohibition and take only legitimate Brus. It is to Zoramthangas credit that, for the first time in the state, a political party organised rallies. The church had prohibited political rallies in the state. The church wields tremendous power. We have always kept tabs on the election spending as we like to check corruption, said the Rev K. Lalringthanga, president of the Baptist Church in Mizoram. But the churches have young minds today. So, the old school of thought is perhaps dying. Lal Thanhawla and Zoramthanga lived underground in their militant youth. Both were arrested by the Assam Rifles and put in the same jail, though at different times. Now the older of them has once again emerged the winner. On polling day, Sujatha, a maid in Secunderabad, finished her work early so that she could cast her vote. On learning that her name was not on the rolls of the nearest polling station, but in her village in Mahaboobnagar, she travelled 120km just to exercise her right. I heard that Chandrababu Naidu is coming to rule us, said Sujatha. Why should we allow Andhra domination again? I wanted to vote for the Congress as I was not very happy with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) rule. But, I voted for TRS because our self respect is more important. The TRS eventually stomped to victory, winning 88 of 119 seats, while the Peoples Frontcomprising the Congress, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the CPI(M) and the Telangana Jana Samithigot only 21. Like Sujatha, many who opposed the caretaker chief minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao, aka KCR, ended up voting for his party. They had united to keep out Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP national president, Chandrababu Naidu. Such a sentiment could explain why many TRS candidates won by large margins. Months before KCR dissolved the assembly, he was aware that around 30 to 40 sitting MLAs would have to be dropped over accusations of corruption and inefficiency. Yet, he still gave tickets to almost all sitting MLAs. Most of them won big. In Greater Hyderabad, at least three sitting TRS MLAs from the western part of the city had only slim chances. But all three won after Naidu campaigned in their constituencies. Once an ardent supporter of the TDP, N. Hemanth, a voter from one of these constituencies, said: Naidu wanted to polarise by campaigning only in areas with Andhra settlers. He fielded candidates of Andhra origin here. He will come and go, but we have to live here with the tag of being traitors if we vote for the TDP. The strategy of the Congress to give highest priority to Naidu turned out to be counterproductive for the Peoples Front, as it triggered a Telangana sentiment, said K. Nageshwar, political analyst. The entry of the AP chief minister helped KCR retain core Telangana voters alienated from him. The TRS had told voters that Telangana would suffer if the TDP or Congress won, as Andhra would control water distribution to the state. On the eve of the polling day, a leader of the Peoples Front told THE WEEK on the condition of anonymity, I think we have made a very big mistake. People sitting in Delhi do not understand the consequences, but because of Naidu the damage will be severe. Others like CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, who lost, blamed the defeat on the delay in seat sharing and inadequate campaigning. Much of TRSs victory was powered by KCRs populist welfare schemes that involved direct cash transfer. On ground, we saw that people genuinely wanted to give KCR another chance, said Shaik Mastan, of Aaraa Poll Strategies. Almost 43 per cent of the population benefitted from KCRs schemes, so it is natural that a large number of beneficiaries voted for the TRS. Even as the TRS has been pushing for a third front at the Centre, it shares a common foe with the BJPthe Congress. But, providing indirect support to the TRS killed the BJP in Telangana. It won just one seat, compared with five in 2014. The road shows and public meetings by BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi served only to energise their cadre. The BJP had fielded 118 candidates across Telangana, but the plan was to only retain their sitting seats. In fact, the TRS had even delayed its fielding of candidates in the five regions where sitting BJP MLAs were contesting. But, the pro-Telangana wave punished the BJP for its cautious approach. BJP state president K. Laxman finished third in Musheerabad. At the other end of the political spectrum, communist parties CPI and CPI(M) failed to open their accounts. Chada Venkat Reddy lost by more than 50,000 votes in Husnabad, while the vote share of both parties was a meagre 0.4 per cent each. They paid the price for aligning with the Peoples Front. When Congress workers were celebrating their spectacular victory on December 11, Bhupesh Baghel was barely a week short of completing five years as state Congress president. Baghel, who played a key role in the Congress comeback, had launched his partys revival initiative just three months into office. On March 14, 2014, he called a maha bandh, to protest a Maoist attack in the Sukma-Bastar area, which killed 16 people. In 2013, the Maoists had wiped out the entire Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh in an audacious attack in the same area. Baghel held the Raman Singh government responsible for the surge in Maoist attacks. Thus began the political fightback by the Congress, which included 123 major campaigns, not counting those related to elections. We have covered more distance on foot than Raman Singh has travelled by official car, said Revati Bissa, a Congress worker. The hard work paid off handsomely as the Congress swept the assembly elections, winning 68 of 90 seats, beating back the BJP and the challenge posed by an alliance between the Bahujan Samaj Party and Ajit Jogis Janta Congress Chhattisgarh. The Congress ran an intelligent campaign. Ahead of the 2013 assembly polls, the Raman Singh government had issued ration cards to all women. Once the elections got over, the government started cancelling the ration cards after it became clear that it had issued 72 lakh ration cards while there were only 56 lakh households in the state. The Congress mobilised the women whose cards were cancelled, and took them to police stations. As many as 11 lakh FIRs were registered on the basis of their complaints against the person who issued the ration card, the person who cancelled it, and also against the chief minister. The Congress found popular support on a range of issues including the deaths of women who underwent sterilisation in hospitals and senior citizens who died from botched cataract surgeries. It also raised the infamous incident of 250 women being forced to undergo hysterectomy so that up to 040,000 could be claimed from each one of them as health insurance costs. As the agrarian crisis worsened, farmers threw their weight behind the Congress. Congress leader Nivedita Chatterjee said farmers in the state had never committed suicide before Raman Singhs time. Chhattisgarh was once called dhaan ka katora (food bowl). Today it is empty, she said. Raman Singhs clean image took a beating after details about corruption cases against him and his cabinet colleagues started coming out. The manager of a major cooperative bank admitted that he had paid Raman Singh and two other ministers Rs1 crore each to hush up corruption in the bank, which ran into crores of rupees, said a Congress leader. The Congress was united, which was another key factor behind its success. Baghel, Congress legislature party leader T.S. Singhdeo and other seniors like Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu worked together. Their efforts were augmented by the support given by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who visited the state 15 times since March 2014, not counting the 20 campaign trips. The BJP did not fulfil any promise, which is why it lost, said P.L. Punia, the Congress leader in charge of Chhattisgarh. The people lost trust in Raman Singh and the BJP. They reposed their faith in us. At the ripe age of 84, Zoramthanga, leader of the Mizo National Front (MNF), is all set to become chief minister for the third time, after a 10-year stint from 1998 to 2008. A former insurgent, he was the private secretary of the Mizo insurgent leader Laldenga, with whom prime minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the historic Mizo accord. He was one of the signatories of the treaty. Excerpts from an interview. What is the reason behind your massive win this time? Frankly, it is part of the electoral trend in the north-east. The Congress has been steadily wiped out of the region. So, the people of Mizoram cannot be an exception. What will be your relationship with the BJP? Well, we are part of the NDA at the national level and the NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance) at the regional level. I will continue to be a part of both. The BJP won a seat this time. Will you accommodate its MLA in your government? Not needed. I have full majority. When my wife is in good health, I will not need to search for a girlfriend. What is your assessment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi? I can tell you he is a wonderful prime minister. In fact, I think he is the best prime minister India has ever had. His development agenda for India, including the north-east, is amazing, and cannot be matched. You said that you would enforce prohibition. Of course. It is a major problem in Mizoram. People have been dying. So, my first job would be to enforce prohibition. How many people have died of alcoholism? Around 500 policemen and 700 others since the Congress government relaxed prohibition. What do you have to say about former chief minister Lal Thanhawla? Well, he has done some good work. Now, God has asked him to take rest. So, I will also suggest that he is ageing and that he should take rest. But you are also ageing. You are 84 years old. But I am in good shape, and God has asked me to work hard even at this age. So, I am helpless. (Eds: Updating with Rajapaksa's statement) Colombo, Dec 15 (PTI) After clinging on to power for nearly two months, Sri Lanka's ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned Saturday to end the political turmoil and pave way for the return of ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. The 73-year-old ex-president signed a letter of resignation during a multi-religious service at his home here that was attended by several lawmakers of United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Buddhist and other religious leaders. Sirisena also agreed on Friday to reinstate Wickremesinghe on Sunday despite previously insisting that he would never reappoint him as Prime Minister. Rajapaksa resigned after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongman's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. He was appointed as Prime Minister on October 26 by President Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Wickremesinghe had refused to step down asserting that his sacking was illegal. Rajapaksa had sought to secure a majority in the 225-member Parliament but failed. Sirisena then dissolved Parliament and called snap elections on January 5. However, the Supreme Court overturned his decision and halted the preparations for snap polls. The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was "illegal". The apex court on Friday also refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. After signing the resignation letter, Rajapaksa said that following the February 10 local government election, the aim of his party is to have a general election. However, he said that he has no intention of remaining as Prime Minister without a general election being held, and in order to not hamper the President in any way, he resigned from the position of Prime Minister and made way for the President to form a new Government. "The Supreme Court has delivered a judgement against the holding of the general election that had already been declared. Since that judgement is a long and complicated document, I will study it carefully and in due course express my views on the constitutional impact it will have on the functioning of the parliamentary system of government," Rajapaksa said. Rajapaksa said that since a general election can no longer be held, the UPFA cannot implement any of the measures they had planned to take "to prevent the country from becoming another Greece." "The change of government that the people expected has now had to be put off. But the people will definitely get the change they desire. No one can prevent that, he said. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) on Saturday said that Sirisena has agreed to reinstate him in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday. "We have heard from the presidential secretariat that our leader will be sworn in as the Prime Minister tomorrow morning," UNP general secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. Parliamentarian Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena on Friday said Rajapaksa, who had ruled Sri Lanka for nearly a decade, decided to step down "in the best interest of the country". He claimed Rajapaksa can hold office without resigning but that will only further drag the political turmoil in the country. So the former president decided to step down after the court ruling given on Friday and on Thursday. The Supreme Court on Friday decided that a Court of Appeal order issued against the appointment of Rajapaksa as Prime Minister and against his Cabinet from holding office will stand. The appeal filed by Rajapaksa will be taken up for hearing on January 16, 17 and 18. The apex court asked all parties to provide written submissions within three weeks. According to media reports, a new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday. The Cabinet will consist of 30 members and include six Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians. Most of the countries had not recognised Rajapaksa's government. The global credit rating agencies -- the Fitch, the Standard & Poor's and the Moody's -- had also downgraded Sri Lanka's rating owing to the current political crisis. PTI PMS AKJ PMS PMS New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours: FGN6 UN-INDIA-SWEDEN India, Sweden raise concern over violations of international humanitarian law at UNGA United Nations: Voicing concern over repeated violations of international humanitarian law, India and Sweden have said that parties to armed conflicts, including non-state actors, who perpetrate human rights abuses with impunity should be brought to justice. By Yoshita Singh FGN13 LANKA-2NDLD GOVT Rajapaksa resigns as Sri Lanka's PM, Wickremesinghe to be reinstated Colombo: After clinging on to power for nearly two months, Sri Lanka's ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned Saturday to end the political turmoil and pave way for the return of ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. FGN12 US-LD MULVANEY Trump names Mick Mulvaney as interim Chief of Staff Washington: US President Donald Trump has named his budget director Mick Mulvaney as interim White House chief of staff, putting a halt to a chaotic search to who will take over one of the most important positions in the federal government. By Lalit K Jha FGN11 US-LD OBAMACARE Federal judge rules Obamacare as "unconstitutional", hands political victory to Trump Washington: A federal judge in Texas Friday struck down the entire Affordable Care Act, popular as Obamacare, ruling that the health-care law's individual coverage mandate was "unconstitutional", handing a major political victory to US President Donald Trump who has long been seeking its end. By Lalit K Jha. FGN5 AUS-ISRAEL-LD CAPITAL Australia recognises west Jerusalem as capital of Israel Sydney: Australia now recognises west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved. RUP RUP New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours: FGN13 LANKA-2NDLD GOVT Rajapaksa resigns as Sri Lanka's PM, Wickremesinghe to be reinstated Colombo: After clinging on to power for nearly two months, Sri Lanka's ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned Saturday to end the political turmoil and pave way for the return of ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. FGN16PAK-SARABJIT Pak court acquits 2 prime suspects in Sarabjit's murder case Lahore: A Pakistani court on Saturday acquitted two prime suspects in the murder case of Indian national Sarabjit Singh in 2013 in the Kot Lakhpat jail here, citing "lack of evidence" against them. By M Zulqernain. FGN6 UN-INDIA-SWEDEN India, Sweden raise concern over violations of international humanitarian law at UNGA United Nations: Voicing concern over repeated violations of international humanitarian law, India and Sweden have said that parties to armed conflicts, including non-state actors, who perpetrate human rights abuses with impunity should be brought to justice. By Yoshita Singh FGN12 US-LD MULVANEY Trump names Mick Mulvaney as interim Chief of Staff Washington: US President Donald Trump has named his budget director Mick Mulvaney as interim White House chief of staff, putting a halt to a chaotic search to who will take over one of the most important positions in the federal government. By Lalit K Jha FGN11 US-LD OBAMACARE Federal judge rules Obamacare as "unconstitutional", hands political victory to Trump Washington: A federal judge in Texas Friday struck down the entire Affordable Care Act, popular as Obamacare, ruling that the health-care law's individual coverage mandate was "unconstitutional", handing a major political victory to US President Donald Trump who has long been seeking its end. By Lalit K Jha. FGN5 AUS-ISRAEL-LD CAPITAL Australia recognises west Jerusalem as capital of Israel Sydney: Australia now recognises west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved. RUP RUP Colombo, Dec 15 (PTI) Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on Sunday after disputed Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa will resign on Saturday, signalling an end to the nearly two-month power tussle in the island nation. President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday, Colombo Page reported. Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) said that it was decided during the discussion that he will take oath as the Prime Minister at 10 am on Sunday. The President removed Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister on October 26 and appointed former president Rajapaksa as the Premier, plunging the country into an unprecedented crisis. Wickremesinghe refused to accept the sacking and challenged it in a court and in the Parliament. The daily reported that a new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday. The Cabinet will consist of 30 members and include six Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians, it said. Rajapaksa's son on Friday announced that the former strongman will resign on Saturday, after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled leader's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. The apex court on Friday refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. "To ensure stability of the nation, Former President @PresRajapaksa has decided to resign from the Premiership tomorrow after an address to the nation," Rajapaksa's son Namal tweeted. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with former president, SLFP and others will "now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena", Namal, a lawmaker, added. The apex court's Friday ruling came a day after it unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by President Sirisena was "illegal". PTI PMS PMS Colombo, Dec 15 (PTI) Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, resigned Saturday as two crucial Supreme Court decisions made the embattled former strongman's efforts to cling to premiership untenable. Rajapaksa informed the lawmakers of United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that he has resigned from the post, MP Shehan Semasinghe told reporters. Rajapaksa was appointed as the prime minister on October 26 by President Sirisena in a controversial move after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, which plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. The apex court on Thursday unanimously declared that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was "illegal". Pro-Rajapaksa lawmaker, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, had told reporters that Rajapaksa decided in a meeting on Friday with President Sirisena to resign to allow the President to appoint a new government. Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on Sunday. President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday. PTI CORR PMS PMS Kevadiya (Guj), Dec 15 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind Saturday visited the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, in Narmada district of Gujarat on the death anniversary of India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Kovind, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and state chief secretary J N Singh, began his visit in the morning by taking a stroll at the 'Valley of Flowers' developed near the 182-metre tall statue here. After planting a tree in memory of Patel, the president attended a prayer meet at the statue complex. The world's tallest statue dedicated to Patel was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October. After offering tributes to Patel, Kovind visited the museum and exhibition area beneath the statue. He also visited the viewing gallery located at a height of 132 metres inside the statue. Kovind then left the statue premises and headed to Kevadiya village, around 5 kms from the statue, to lay the foundation stone for a railway station. The state-of-the-art railway station, proposed to be built at a cost of Rs 20 crore, is aimed at providing direct rail connectivity to tourists visiting the Statue of Unity. To connect Kevadiya with the main broad-guage line, the Railways has sanctioned the work to convert 18-km Dabhoi-Chandod narrow gauge into broad gauge and extension from Chandod to Kevadia by constructing a new 32-km line. PTI KA PJT PD NP GVS Patna, Dec 15 (PTI) The RLSP Saturday received a major setback with all its members in the bicameral legislature of Bihar declaring that they were still with the NDA as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing personal interests in announcing a break up with the coalition. Both the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs-- Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan-- and its lone MLC-Sanjiv Singh Shyam- made a statement to this effect at a joint press conference here. They also pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three. We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and we enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers in the party, Shyam said making it clear that the RLSP was heading towards a split. RLSP which fought the 2014 general election as well the 2015 state polls as a NDA constituent has altogether three MPs, including Kushwaha, two MLAs and One MLC in Bihar. While the three Legislators have announced their separation from Kushwaha, among the two other Lok Sabha members--Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi--the former has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially made statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when he had announced his resignation from the cabinet and also severing ties with the NDA in Delhi. We had been stating since long that we were in favour of the RLSP remaining in the NDA but Kushwaha, who was more interested in his personal gains, paid no heed, Shyam said pointing to the RLSP chiefs quitting announcement on Monday. The RLSP MLC alleged that Khushwaha had of late been making noises about the RLSP bot being considered for a ministerial berth after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA last year. In reality, he never tried. When ministerial berths were being allocated among allies he was simply roaming around in Patna, Shyam claimed. Khushwaha was happy with his own ministerial berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention had been on getting a deal that served his interests better. He simply did not care that somebody from his party should get a ministerial berth in the state as well, he added. Replying to a query, he said neither he nor Paswan want ministerial berths. We would like Sudhanshu Shekhar's inclusion in the state council of ministers and we would be hugely disappointed if he is not considered for the same, he said. We are not defectors. Rather, we represent the real RLSP. Our stance is in line with the sentiments of most workers and office-bearers in the party. We will soon be approaching the Election Commission with our claim, he added. NDA leaders in Bihar were not immediately available for comments on the development. However, rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP legislature party held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. PTI NAC SNS RHL Agartala, Dec 15 (PTI) Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has alleged that Congress president Rahul Gandhi "hatched a conspiracy" and opposed the Rafale jet deal with France to demean India's position in the world. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Deb said the Supreme Court verdict, dismissing four petitions challenging the deal, proved that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre is an accountable, enterprising and welfare government. "Congress president Rahul Gandhi hatched a conspiracy to demean India's proud position in the world... Congress had a stable government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for 10 years. Why they failed to finalise the Rafale agreement? Who were they talking to? Why were they trying to demoralise our soldiers? Who instigated them to do this?" Deb said Gandhi should seek an apology from people for raising "baseless" questions. At the same press conference, senior BJP leader and Tripura Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath said, "We think there might be a foreign conspiracy. It is a big conspiracy to delay the purchase of Rafale aircraft. It has raised questions on the security of Indians." Asked to name the country involved in the alleged conspiracy, Nath said, "I don't know which country is involved. But there is involvement of foreign powers." Reacting to the chief minister's comment, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee said Saturday all irregularities would be unearthed if a joint parliamentary committee is formed to probe the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. "We have not filed case in the Supreme Court, because our leader Rahul Gandhi rightly demanded that if JPC is formed all irregularities would be unearthed. We think the stand taken by Rahul Gandhi is right," TPCC president Birajit Sinha said. He alleged that the BJP government at the Centre had created an opportunity for Anil Ambani to make a profit of Rs 30,000 crore from the deal. Sinha said people who "siphoned" money from the deal should apologise. Both the government and Ambani's Reliance Group have rejected allegations of wrongdoing in the defence deal. In a relief to the Narendra Modi government, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed four PILs challenging the Rs 58,000-crore deal. PTI JOY SBN ABH ABH New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) India and France Saturday held discussions on deepening bilateral strategic partnership through cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, space and civil nuclear energy sectors. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and French minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Yves Le Drian discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. "We had very fruitful talks. We closely looked at all the aspects of our mutual ties. We are taking our cooperation forward in the Indo-Pacific region, which will not only benefit these two countries but also other countries in the region," she told reporters. Noting that the foundation of India and France relations is based on "mutual trust", Swaraj said the two countries are looking to strengthen their ties in various sectors. "Our defence relations are historic and we have been involved in a number of exchanges in the form of training and joint exercises," she said. The External Affairs minister also reiterated the resolve of the two countries to jointly fight against terrorism. "We both are also working in strengthening our ties in space sector. We both are also leading fight against climate change," she said. "Last year, our bilateral trade was worth 9.62 billion euro, if we both have to reach the trade of 15 million euro by 2022 we both will have to work towards further strengthening our trade relations," she said. There will also be an exchange of 10,000 students between the two countries by 2020, Swaraj said. Her French counterpart Le Drian said the two leaders reviewed the status of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) project in Jaitapur, Maharashtra and adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant. "Six EPRs account for a total capacity of almost 10 GW, which is a significant contribution to India's aim of producing 40 per cent of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, in keeping with its commitments made ahead of the Paris Climate Conference," he said. The Jaitapur project will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training, Le Drian added. He said the discussion between the two leaders was "characterised as always by a great convergence of views and shared ambition". "It is not by chance that France and India are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. It is because we attach the same importance to multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, the same ambition to usher in a just and sustainable world," he said. "It is also because India knows that in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count in the future. This holds true on the strategic front, notably with the strengthening of our exchanges on the Indian Ocean, which today are fast developing and our shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks," Le Drian said. "This holds true on the economic front: our companies are investing and innovating in India under the Make in India programme. On the fronts of urban development and the digital economy, our companies are present and working to build the India and France of tomorrow," he added. His visit comes amid a massive controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace company Dassault Aviation under a Rs 58,000 crore deal. A senior MEA official said discussion over the Rafale deal did not figure out in the talks between the two leaders. PTI UZM KJ New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday welcomed the strengthening of ties between India and France in areas such as defence, space, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and civil nuclear cooperation. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in France's Strasbourg and said that India stands with the country in the fight against terrorism. On Tuesday, a gunman killed four people at the Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg before being shot dead. Modi made these remarks when French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian called on him. The prime minister warmly recalled the state visit of President Macron to India in March 2018, as well as their recent interaction on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina, a statement from the prime minister's office said. Le Drian briefed the prime minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship, and French perspective on regional and global issues, it said. The prime minister welcomed the strengthening of bilateral ties in all spheres, including defence, space, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and civil nuclear cooperation, the statement said. PTI NAB CK Srinagar, Dec 15 (PTI) Separatists in Kashmir Saturday called for a three-day strike against killing of seven civilians in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district. The separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, also asked people to march to the headquarters of the Army's Chinar Corps at Badamibagh here on Monday. "#PulwamaMassacre, Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiri's through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily (sic)," the Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter. In another tweet, he said, "From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across". Meanwhile, spontaneous shutdown was observed Saturday in many areas of Srinagar and south Kashmir following the killing of civilians. Shops in several areas were shut, while a protest demonstration was taken out in Nowhatta area of the city this afternoon. Seven civilians died and several others injured after security forces opened fire on protestors near an encounter site in Sirnoo village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. Three militants were killed in the encounter in which a soldier also lost his life while two other armymen were injured. PTI SSB ABH ABH New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday lashed out at the BJP-run DDA for not giving enough land for construction of a school that has been operating out of an Eidgah, calling the BJP anti-education. No immediate response was available from the BJP or the DDA. Sisodia said the DDA committed to the high court to give 4,000sq metre of land to the Delhi government for construction of a school which has been operating out of an Eidgah since 1976 in Ballimaran area. "But now the DDA is saying it would allot just 1,600sq metre of land and reduce the number of classes that would be taught. They are planning to give just a lane for the school which is not acceptable," he told reporters. He lashed out at the DDA for being "anti-education". "Once again, the BJP has proved its anti-education stand. They want our country to remain illiterate," he said. PTI UZM UZM ABH ABH Jaipur, Dec 15 (PTI) The 15th Rajasthan Assembly has at least 46 MLAs with criminal cases lodged against them compared to 36 MLAs elected in the state assembly elections in 2013. Out of the 199 members of legislative assembly (MLAs), 46 MLAs have declared criminal cases against themselves. Twenty eight MLAs have declared 'serious' criminal cases against them, says the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report. In the 2013 assembly elections, 19 MLAs had declared 'serious' criminal cases against them. Parsadi Lal of Congress who contested from Lalsot constituency of Dausa district has declared one charge related to murder. Four MLAs, all from Congress, have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC section 307). Comparing the candidates as per their political affiliation, 25 out of 99 MLAs from Congress, 12 out of 73 MLAs from BJP and two out of six MLAs from BSP among other regional political outfits have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, the report said. Sixteen out of 99 MLAs from Congress, seven out of 73 MLAs from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two out of six MLAs from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have declared 'serious' criminal cases against them. PTI AG SRY New Delhi, Dec 15(PTI) The Youth wing of Congress took out a candlelight march at India Gate in the national capital on Saturday, demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe the Rafale fighter jet deal. The march started from Indian Youth Congress (IYC) office on Raisina Road and ended at India Gate through Janpath Road. The BJP government "lied" in the Supreme Court, stating they shared the price of the Rafale fighter jet with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the CAG report was examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), alleged Keshav Chandra Yadav, IYC president. "It has become apparent that the government has lied in the Supreme Court. Not only the Supreme Court, but the nation has also been kept in the dark," Yadav said while addressing the marchers. The government and the prime minister now need to answer the questions on Rafale deal, he demanded. IYC vice president Srinivas B V alleged the Rafale deal was a "scam" exemplifying "crony capitalism". Spokesperson of the outfit, Amrish Ranjan said there were "more questions" in the matter than Modi government could possibly answer, like why it filed an affidavit in the apex court after getting a "favourable verdict" in the matter. PTI VIT SLB IND IND Srinagar, Dec 15 (PTI) Mainstream political parties in Kashmir condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces' action during an encounter in Pulwama district Saturday, saying Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration has "failed" to secure lives of the people. Seven civilians died in south Kashmir's Pulwama district when security forces allegedly opened fire at an unruly crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and Army man were killed No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians.South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months.Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved (sic)," PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. She said no country can win a war by killing its own people. "How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath (sic)," Mufti said in another tweet. National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said the encounter was "badly executed". "6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? (sic)" Omar tweeted. "Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this morning's encounter that's 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day! (sic)" he said in another tweet. The NC leader said the Governor's administration appears "not doing anything on restoring peace" in the "troubled Valley". "The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that's the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads don't bring peace," he tweeted. Separatist-turned-mainstream leader and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to "seriously evaluate" the costs of such anti-militancy operations. "Extremely disturbing news coming from Pulwama. The administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of its operations. If there is even a remote chance of civilians getting killed during military operations it is better to call off such operations," Lone said in a tweet. He expressed hope that the administration abandons "its Rambo mindset". "My heartfelt thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. I just pray that Almighty takes us out of the perpetual state of mourning that we seem to have been sucked into. And also hope that administration abandons its Rambo mindset," Lone said. "The preparedness of security forces would in the Pulwama context be the ability to make the distinction between combatants and non combatants. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We can't afford a state of impunity," he said in another tweet. PTI SSB CK New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) The Centre on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking correction in the Rafale jet judgement where a reference has been made about the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), saying "misinterpretation" of its note has "resulted in a controversy in the public domain". In the application, the Centre said the two sentences in paragraph 25 of the judgement appeared to have been based on the note submitted by it along with the pricing details in a sealed cover, but indicated the words used by the court lent a different meaning. The Centre made it clear that it did not say that the CAG report was examined by PAC or a redacted portion was placed before Parliament. It clarified that the note had said the Government "has already shared" the price details with the CAG, which was written in past tense and "is factually correct". However, where it was stated by the Centre in the note that the report of the CAG "is" examined by the PAC, was a description of the procedure which is followed in the normal course, but in the judgement 'is' was replaced with the words 'has been', according to the application. Similarly, the statement that only a redacted version of the report "is" placed before Parliament, was referred to in the judgment as "only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament, and was in public domain", the Centre said and sought necessary changes in the apex court order. The government moved the application a day after the opposition Congress and others raised questions on the issue and accused the government of misleading the apex court on CAG report. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who chairs the PAC, had said no such report had come to him. In regard to the pricing details being placed before the CAG, PAC and Parliament, para 25 of the judgement read, "The pricing details have, however, been shared with Comptroller and Auditor General, and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee. Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament and is in public domain." The Centre said, in the application, that these statements appeared to have been based on the note submitted by it in sealed cover. "In the said note, which was in the form of bullet points, the second bullet point said that the Government has already shared the pricing details with the CAG. The report of the CAG is examined by the PAC. Only a redacted version of the report is placed before the Parliament and in public domain," it said. The application explained that what has been done is described by words in the past tense, that is the Government "has already shared" the price details with the CAG. This is in the past tense and is factually correct. "The second part of the sentence, in regard to the PAC, is to the effect that 'the report of the CAG is examined by the PAC'. However, in the judgment, the reference to the word 'is' has been replaced with the words 'has been', and the sentence in the judgment (with regard to the PAC) read 'the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee'," the application said. "The very fact that the present tense 'is' is used would mean that the reference is to the procedure which will be followed as and when the CAG report is ready," it said. The application said that the statement that only a redacted version of the report "is" placed before Parliament, was referred to in the judgment as "only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament, and was in public domain". "That unfortunately, an element of misinterpretation of the statement made in the note handed over on behalf of the Centre in the sealed cover, appeared to have crept in. This has also resulted in a controversy being raised in the public domain," it said. The Centre sought that the words "the report of the CAG is examined by the PAC. Only a redacted version of the report is placed before the Parliament and in public domain" be substituted in place of "and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee. Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament and is in public domain." The Supreme Court had on Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making process" warranting setting aside of the contract. The apex court rejected the pleas seeking lodging of an FIR and the court-monitored probe alleging irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, in which both the countries have entered into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA). A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dealt with "three broad areas of concern" raised in the petitions -- the decision making process, pricing and the choice of Indian offset partners (IOP) -- and said there was no reason for intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets. Though the order came as a relief to the Modi government, which asserted that its stand has been vindicated, the opposition remaind firm on its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the deal. PTI RKS SJK MNL URD RT New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) The Delhi High Court is likely to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the appeals challenging a trial court's judgement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was acquitted. A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel had on October 29 concluded hearing arguments on the appeals filed by the CBI, riots victims and the convicts, and reserved the judgement. Former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in the case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984 after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. The trial court had acquitted Sajjan Kumar in the case, but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Lal, and a three-year jail term to two others - former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar. The convicts had challenged their conviction and sentencing by the trial court in May 2013. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also filed an appeal, alleging they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". The agency and the victims have also appealed against the acquittal of Kumar. The high court had on March 29 last year issued show cause notices to 11 accused, including Khokhar and Yadav, in five 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which were earlier closed. The matter is being heard by another division bench. The accused, who were acquitted of the charges, were asked as to why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity". PTI SKV HMP URD SRY Muzaffarnagar, Dec 15 (PTI) A 38-year-old man was killed and 15 others were injured when their tractor-trolley collided with a canter on the Meerut-kKarnal highway near Itawa village in the district, police said Saturday. According to circle officer Hariram Yadav, the incident took place Friday and the injured were admitted to a hospital. An investigation into the incident is underway, police said. PTI CORR KJ KJ Shimla, Dec 15 (PTI) Asserting that lack of emergency healthcare facilities led to loss of many lives in road accidents, Shimla MP Virender Kashyap has demanded that a trauma centre be set up in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area of Himachal Pradesh's Solan district. During his meeting with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda at Parliament House in New Delhi Friday, Kashyap requested him to open the trauma center in the area that falls under the Shimla parliamentary constituency and is touted as the state's largest industrial hub. In a press statement issued here Saturday, the Shimla MP said he told Nadda that 66 persons died and 196 others were injured in 168 road accidents in the area in two years. Of them, 41 died and 148 were injured in 121 road accidents in BBN area till November this year, he added. The Himachal Pradesh government has provided Rs 5.44 crore as compensation to the kin of those killed or injured in road accidents in the area, he added. According to Kashyap, the Union Health minister assured him that his ministry was actively considering to set up the trauma centre in the area and a positive decision would be taken shortly. PTI DJI CK Kolkata, Dec 15 (PTI) The West Bengal government Saturday refused permission for the BJP's proposed Rath Yatra, citing intelligence reports of possible communal violence in areas where the party was planning to take out the yatra. In a letter to state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, the West Bengal government said it was unable to allow the yatra as proposed by the party. Intelligence reports indicated that "in several districts, organisations with overtly communal agenda, such as the RSS, the Bajrang Dal and the VHP, would actively join the yatra. There is a grave apprehension of major breach of peace... during and after the yatra", the state government said in the letter. Reacting to the development, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya criticised the Trinamool Congress government's decision and said his party would move a higher court against it, while Ghosh termed the decision "totally undemocratic." The saffron party had proposed to take out three rath yatras in different parts of the state ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The BJP moved a division bench of the Calcutta High Court after a single-judge bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty refused permission to the party to hold the yatra. The division bench had on December 7 directed the West Bengal chief secretary, the home secretary and the director general of police to hold a meeting with three representatives of the BJP by December 12, and take a decision on the 'rath yatra' by December 14. Following the meeting between the two sides, state government officials had told the BJP that the decision will be conveyed to them by Saturday. In the letter to the BJP, the West Bengal government said, "The areas proposed to be covered by the yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda, gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the yatra will be turned into communal propaganda." In the letter, the government has mentioned that intelligence inputs were obtained from district magistrates, commissioners of police, superintendents of police and the assessment of the Intelligence Bureau on the routes proposed by the BJP for the yatra. The large number of convoys in the Yatra would create a chaotic situation and cause traffic disruption on arterial roads and highways, the government said. "Furthermore, during the period cited, major festivals and events are scheduled, and it required a heavy deployment of the resources of the government, including the police force," the letter read. According to the yatra schedule submitted by the BJP, there were plans to hold 158 meetings across West Bengal and the three segments of yatra would cover religious sites. The yatras would continue simultaneously for at least 34 days. The government said, "We are therefore of the opinion that, for the reasons which have been elaborately mentioned... it is not possible to allow the yatra as proposed by the BJP." The state government, however, said permission for any particular meeting would be decided solely by the district authorities on case-to-case basis. "Therefore, for each meeting proposed, the BJP may apply afresh before the relevant district authorities with all required details," it said. BJP national president Amit Shah was to kickstart the campaign titled 'Save Democracy Rally' from Cooch Behar district on December 7, from Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district on December 9, and from Tarapith temple in Birbhum district on December 14. The 'rath Yatras' were to cover all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal. PTI SCH PNT NN NSD NSD Chennai, Dec 15 (PTI) Mining company Vedanta Ltd Saturday welcomed the National Green Tribunal order to resume operations at the company's facility in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, and said those affected by the plant's closure will get back their source of livelihood. In a statement issued late Saturday, Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper Plant, Chief Executive Officer, P Ramnath said, "We welcome the order given by the National Green Tribunal on allowing us to resume operations of our copper smelter at Thoothukudi". "We are happy that all those affected by the closure will get back their source of livelihood and the town of Thoothukudi will revert back to normalcy," he said in the statement. Stating that the company had been operating smelter by adapting "best practices" followed globally, the official noted, "We thank the people of Thoothukudi for the faith reposed in us and for their support". "We will continue to work for the welfare of the communities around the region and remain committed to grow sustainably along with the people of Thoothukudi," he said. The National Green Tribunal Saturday set aside the Tamil Nadu government order for closure of Vedanta Ltd's sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin, which was at the centre of massive protests over alleged pollution, saying it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified". The Tamil Nadu government, meanwhile, said it would challenge in the Supreme Court the NGT order setting aside the closure of the Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin in the wake of protests by locals. PTI VIJ SRY New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) The Modi government has so far succeeded in ensuring that India is least affected by challenges like immigration and working visas unveiled in the US under President Donald Trump, BJP leader Ram Madhav said Saturday, stressing that foreign policies cannot be guided by emotions or romanticism. Congress leader Anand Sharma said that foreign policy should uphold, secure and promote a country's national interest, but not be an extension of or reflect domestic narrative. They made these remarks during a discussion at the release of a book titled "Open Embrace: India-US Ties in the Age of Modi and Trump", by journalist Varghese K George. They were joined by academic C Rajamohan in the discussion moderated by journalist Suhasini Haider. "We are conscious of the challenges, whether it is his (Trump's) emphasis on domestic production, visa issues...We are negotiating, trying to ensure that India gets the best deal out of it. You cannot dictate Trump's policies. You can only try and ensure that India is least affected if there is anything adverse happening. We have more or less succeeded in ensuring that India is not affected," Madhav said. The BJP national general secretary said it could be easy to criticise the government but one must take note of the increment in trade and exports. "I am not saying that it has happened only in four years (of BJP), but we must acknowledge it," he said. Noting that the Indian diaspora played a role in the Indo-US nuclear agreement in 2005 during the Congress-led UPA regime, he said the current government had felt that it should leverage that not just in the US but other countries also. "We felt why not make it (diaspora) an important dimension in the foreign policy and with that objective in mind we started engaging with different diaspora in different countries," he said. On a continuum in the foreign policy, Sharma, who had served as a Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009 in the UPA government, said there cannot be abrupt changes in strategic engagements of a country as big as India. "But I would also like to say that the foreign policy of this country has evolved over a long period of time, not written in one day or one government. "Foreign policy is meant to uphold, secure and promote your supreme national interest. It is not de-linked to your national ambitions but you have to be careful not to allow the domestic narrative to reflect in the foreign policy," he said. "It cannot be personalised, it cannot be an extension of domestic politics particularly in our neighbourhood vis-a-vis Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. We have to be careful there. It is easy to say that we have moved or walked away from non-alignment movement...," Sharma said. BJP's Madhav said a lot of changes in the foreign policy were made by the Congress and held that the direction should be guided by national interest. "Congress has changed many things in our foreign policy. Who changed the foreign policy's focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC? Congress! Did we oppose it? We said no India needs BIMSTEC to engage with extended neighbourhood because these are things that happen as per your requirement. "Foreign policy is not guided by emotions or romanticism, it is guided by national interest. Today your national interest demands, that you look for better platforms, look for reviving Commonwealth, which was also a Nehruvian-era creation, and we did it. "Where is the relevance of the NAM when there are no two poles in the world at all, it is a multi-polar world and who do we remain non-aligned with?" he asked. On the personal level relationship between PM Modi and President Trump, Madhav said, "The best relationship that we could have with the present leadership in the US we tried to establish it while maintaining strategic autonomy on many issues." On voting against the US on the Jerusalem issue in the UN, he said India is not influenced by any ideology except for the "nation-first" ideology and that is what happened. He said PM Modi is doing a stand alone visit to Israel, then visiting Palestine also separately even as the country has best of partners in the Middle East also. "We have strengthened relationship with Israel but today our strongest relations are with the countries in the middleeast, with the UAE, Saudi. We have a lasting strong legacy. We have strong ties with Iran also where we have not buckled under the pressure of any other power. "So, we are guided by the interest of our country. At that level it may be a continuum, but again it (BJP) is a new government, it has new ideas, it will implement them in a different way, that difference should be appreciated and the continuum should also be acknowledged," he said. PTI KIS PR TIR TIR New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) A 25-year-old man was nabbed by police for allegedly snatching mobile phones in north Delhi, a police official said Saturday. The accused was identified as Anoop, who worked as a loan agent with a finance company. During evening picket checking near Majnu ka Tilla, the staff apprehended him along with a motorcycle, Nupur Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) said. While searching him, two mobiles were also seized from him, which were found to be stolen from Kashmere Gate Metro Station, the officer said. During interrogation, the motorcycle was also found to be stolen from Bhajanpura area of northeast Delhi, the DCP said, adding the accused was previously involved in three cases. PTI AMP SLB NSD NSD New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) A man suffered minor injuries after his car was hit by another vehicle under a flyover in Nehru place in southeast Delhi's Kalkaji area around 1.30 am Saturday, police said. Aamir Ali told police that he and his three friends were going towards Noida in a car. An Innova car came from Sant Nagar side and hit their vehicle, injuring his friend Haroon, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said. The driver of the Innova car has been arrested and a case has been registered in this regard, he said, adding further investigation is underway. PTI AMP NSD NSD ZOOT BOSCHWITZ, Chariho, Football, Boschwitz rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two others as Chariho lost to Narragansett in the Division III Super Bowl. For the season, Boschwitz threw for 1,174 yards and 13 TDs. He also rushed for eight touchdowns. SAM MONTALTO, Stonington, Boys Soccer, Montalto, scored a pair of goals as Stonington defeated Ellington, 3-1, for the Class M state title. It was the teams second state championship in three years. Montalto finished his career with a school-record 105 goals. He scored a school-record 36 goals this season despite missing three games with an injury. Vote View Results One of the great frustrations about events in the Square Mile is the timid way in which big battalion investors exercise power. Great swathes of the FTSE 100, including vital tech firms such as Arm Holdings, have been picked off by overseas buyers with scarcely a shot being fired. And even after substantial voting dissent over boardroom pay the trend is still relentlessly upwards. Indeed, a new study by the Cambridge Judge Business School found that one-fifth of independent directors appointed to look after the broader interests of stakeholders are so distracted by their day jobs that valuations are harmed because of a lack of attention to operations and mergers. Investor activism: Unilevers board capitulated and last month the groups socially responsible chief executive Paul Polman (pictured) called it a day With so many nodding dog directors on company boards it is even more incumbent on shareholders to intervene. In 2018 there have been several examples of investor activism making a real difference. Shareholders and independent directors are mainly driven to action when under public scrutiny. A major example this year was the battle by self-styled asset improvers Melrose Industries to swallow the historic engineering giant GKN. In the past Melrose has won easy support for its deals because of the bumper returns it has delivered for investors as well as executives led by Chris Jock Miller. When it came to GKN, the financial media drove shareholders, government, the workforce and customers to engage in inspection avoided previously. The pressure was increased during the GKN bid and subsequently at Unilever and Persimmon when corporate actions, normally confined to the finance and business sections of newspapers, were catapulted onto the front pages and opinion columns. Exposing citizens to what some might see as narrow City events can make a real impact and be of importance to the broader economic condition. Melroses victory over GKN was not declared until the final hour, after Legal & General brought the shares voted in favour of the deal up to 52.4pc. It was an extraordinarily close outcome for a hostile bid. The weight of public opinion meant the company agreeing to stipulations including a promise that aerospace technology would not be sold for five years. Judgement call: Jeff Fairburn's refusal to engage with a BBC reporter on the subject of pay exposed Persimmon to a new round of hostile media exposure The plan by a Dutch-dominated Unilever board to switch its domicile and share quotation from the London to Rotterdam was another case of public concern galvanising investors to protest. Senior Unilever executives had convinced themselves that the UK shareholders would go along with the decision. But when the public was exposed to the potential departure of one of Britains most emblematic companies The Investment Association, representing big battalion investors, swung into action and helped to co-ordinate an almost daily roll-call of shareholders objecting to the switch. Unilevers board capitulated and last month the groups socially responsible chief executive Paul Polman called it a day. The third case of public opinion putting paid to a lost cause came at housebuilder Persimmon. Overpaid chief executive Jeff Fairburn thought he had steered clear of trouble by agreeing to cut his prospective pay and bonus from 100m to 75m. But his refusal to engage with a BBC reporter on the subject of pay exposed Persimmon to a new round of hostile media exposure which homed in not just on Fairburns rewards, but his unwillingness to discuss a matter of national interest. New chairman Roger Devlin recognised the damage done and delivered the coup de grace. All three cases Melrose, Unilever and Persimmon show how executives and boards who ride roughshod over the media and public opinion do so at their peril. Good value By the standards of FTSE bosses Professor Alice Gast, president of Imperial College London, is a relative pauper, earning 433,000 last year. She also has use of an official residence with an estimated market rent of 120,000. At a time when pay in both the private and public sectors is under the spotlight the disclosure of her award was greeted with opprobrium. The grace-and-favour home may be a step too far. But as head of one of the worlds great research universities, part of the golden triangle embracing Oxford and Cambridge, I would venture to say she will be worth every penny. Britain needs the best and brightest if it is to play in the big league of science, technology and innovation. Buying presents over the Christmas period can seem like an uphill struggle. The spending quickly snowballs, and dredging up gift inspiration for those rarely-seen relatives may feel impossible. But for wily savers, the companies in their portfolios could provide a helping hand. First and foremost, investing in shares is designed to grow savers money over the long-term. And buying shares for other people is frustratingly complicated, due to a tangle of tax rules. Incentive: British designer Mulberry, for example, most famous for its 500-plus handbags, offers shareholders a generous 20pc off at 17 of its shops around the world One exception is for family members to put shares in a childs junior ISA, which could prove a valuable nest-egg for later life. But for everyone else, several companies offer perks which could help out with Christmas. British designer Mulberry, for example, most famous for its 500-plus handbags, offers shareholders a generous 20 per cent off at 17 of its shops around the world. The minimum number of shares to qualify is 500, which adds up to a hefty outlay of more than 1,558. Anyone keen to bag their loved one a Mulberry wallet could get the discount before Christmas. Just buy the shares and, if you invest through an online service like Hargreaves Lansdown, make sure the firm sends proof of ownership to Mulberry and the discount will be ready within seven days. Its a similar story for English wine maker Chapel Down. It has two levels of rewards. Shareholders with 500 to 1,999 shares, an investment of between 410 and 1,639, get a free tour of Chapel Downs vineyard for two people every year. The holding will also give you a 25 per cent discount voucher which can be used once a year. If you have more than 2,000 shares, which will cost 1780, you get the tour plus a 33 per cent discount on all its wines. On top of that, you get 25 per cent off the Curious beer and cider range, 10 per cent off Chapel Down spirits, 25 per cent off food at the Swan at Chapel Down restaurant in Tenterden, Kent, and other promotions. Presents for the bon viveurs just got a lot cheaper. Its important to note, however, that shares should never be bought just for the perks, especially when they involve a considerable investment. Ian Forrest, an analyst at The Share Centre, says: Looking around the market to see whats available could help investors get into the habit of saving and investing as well as providing some help with the costs of life. High Street favourite Marks & Spencer asks that savers buy only one 263.4p share, and it will send them vouchers which include 10pc off in-store and online, and 2.50 to spend in the cafe Comprehensive: A full list of companies offering discounts can be found on Hargreaves Lansdown and The Share Centres websites Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, believes clothing store Next has the potential to perform well. Again, savers must plough in a considerable 4,338 to buy the 100 shares needed to qualify, but every year they get 25 per cent off one big shopping trip. But it is too late to bag a Next discount voucher this year, as they are usually sent out in April. Mould points out: Holders of the shares will have exposure to a well-run, soundly financed retailer which generates more profit online than it does through its stores. Online earnings also translate into the sort of healthy cash flow that pays solid dividends. For anyone looking for a cheaper option, it only takes ownership of one 209p share in Harry Potter-publisher Bloomsbury to get 35pc off its books. High Street favourite Marks & Spencer asks that savers buy only one 263.4p share, and it will send them vouchers which include 10 per cent off in-store and online, and 2.50 to spend in the cafe. Anyone wanting to take their family out for a cosy pub lunch, who happens to own a 254p share in Mitchells and Butlers, will get 12 vouchers for 20 per cent off (this year, they must have bought the share before December 3). A full list of companies offering discounts can be found on Hargreaves Lansdown and The Share Centres websites. Forrest says: It would be good to see more companies giving perks. The companies involved do it as they attempt to encourage greater loyalty from customers and more business. It also gives a greater sense of overlap between the interests of shareholders and customers. That should ultimately help improve corporate governance and management. Not to mention adding a bit of festive fun to a share portfolio. Purchase: LVMH has splashed out on hotel operator Belmond in a bid to grab a bigger slice of the lucrative hospitality industry French luxury goods giant LVMH is snapping up the British owner of the Orient Express for 2.5billion. LVMH has splashed out on hotel operator Belmond in a bid to grab a bigger slice of the lucrative hospitality industry. It wins the French firm the prized Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which runs from London to Venice in Italy and is famous for its hotel-quality sleeping carriages and five-star restaurant. The journey across Europe takes more than a week and typically costs 2,450 per passenger. The train takes its name from a grand long-distance passenger service first launched in 1883, and famously featured in Agatha Christies classic novel Murder on the Orient Express. The deal will boost LVMHs hotels portfolio, which includes the luxurious Cheval Blanc ski resort in the French Alps and the prestigious Bulgari hotels and resorts. LVMH, worth more than 114billion, also owns fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Givenchy perfume brands such as Guerlain and Moet & Chandon champagne. After the Belmond takeover, its vast portfolio will include an exclusive resort in Perus Incan citadel Machu Picchu and the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, a popular hangout for celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney and George Clooney. Other Belmond assets include cruise and train services such as the Orient Express and Belmond Royal Scotsman. Belmond operates in 24 countries and is based in London. LVMH said it will run Belmond as a separate brand once the transaction completes midway through next year. It wins the French firm the prized Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which runs from London to Venice in Italy and is famous for its hotel-quality sleeping carriages and five-star restaurant How do they compare? A brief low-down on both Belmond and LVMH in business flashpoints The Belmond head office will stay open. It is LVMHs largest purchase since it paid 3.9billion for Bulgari in 2011 and 5.8billion last year to gain full control of Christian Dior. Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH, said: This acquisition will significantly increase our presence in the ultimate hospitality world. Belmond delivers unique experiences to discerning travellers.Its heritage, innovative services, excellence in execution and its entrepreneurship resonate well with the values of the group. Analysts said the deal gives LVMH an opportunity to attract a broader range of customers. Jean-Jacques Guiony, chief financial officer at LVMH, said it will be boosted by selling its drinks including Ardbeg whisky and Dom Perignon champagne aboard the Orient Express and in its hotels. It also propels LVMH into some of the luxury markets fastest growing areas, such as cruises, at a time when concerns are growing over the impact of a trade war between China and the US. Many luxury brands are thought to be worried that demand from Chinese consumers for expensive handbags and high-end fashion will flounder as a result. Just under half of Belmonds customers come from North America, with around 8pc from Asia, its smallest market. But some analysts were concerned by the price tag, with LVMH paying 19.89 per share, a 40 per cent premium on Belmonds closing price in New York on Thursday. Belmond made a 111.4million profit in the year to September-end, on revenues totalling 455million. Guiony moved to calm investor nerves last night by saying the purchase will have a limited impact on LVMHs debt and will boost earnings next year. Analysts at Berenberg said: While some investors may question the acquisition, which appears to lie outside LVMH groups core operations, we believe it is consistent with its long-term strategy focused on offering the consumer a full spectrum of luxury experience. EDUCATION HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Penny Hill was promoted to dean of economic development and workforce initiatives. Hill previously served as the lead administrator at the TEC-SMART extension center. Karen Ferrer-Muniz was named dean of retention and instructional support services. Ferrer-Muniz previously served as associate dean for instructional support services and retention. FINANCIAL SARATOGA NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY Mark A. Prian joined as a wealth management business development officer. Prian has more than 20 years of experience working in the financial services industry. A. Kishani Choudhury joined as a business development officer. Choudhury has 18 years of banking experience. LEVERPOINT MANAGEMENT LLC Robert Mendez joined as a staff accountant I. Mendez previously served as an accountant at IgnitionOne. Lamya Elgaouni joined as a staff accountant. Elgaouni previously served as a teller at Trustco Bank. Samuel Zadrozny joined as a senior accountant II. Zadrozny previously worked at UHY LLP. Nicolette Sitterly joined as a bookkeeper on the management company team. Sitterly previously served as an accounts receivable specialist at Cargill Inc. HEALTH CARE VNA HOME HEALTH Iyabode (Yabo) Alfred joined as vice president/chief clinical officer. Alfred previously served as director of quality management services at Visiting Nurse Service of New York. SARATOGA HOSPITAL Alfred Loka recently became the first fellowship-trained specialist in cardiac electrophysiology to join the medical team, an arrangement made possible through an affiliation with Albany Medical Center. Loka, who serves as an assistant professor of medicine at Albany Medical College, has extensive experience in treating and managing abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and also performs pacemaker and other device implants. ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER Barbara E. Ostrov joined the Department of Pediatrics as director of the Bernard & Millie Duker Children's Hospital and the Martha Lepow M.D. Endowed Chair. Ostrov previously served as associate dean of faculty and professional development at Penn State College of Medicine and vice chair of quality and safety in the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pa. SARATOGA CENTER FOR THE FAMILY Jen Barry joined as the Student Empowerment Program elementary school clinician, overseeing Chango, Karrigon, Okte, Orenda, Skano and Tesago elementary schools. Barry previously served as a crisis and pediatric clinician at Albany Medical Center. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. MEDIA THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE PROJECT (PEP) Renee Reid joined as a senior designer. Reid, who previously served as a senior multimedia designer and art director at Syneos Health Communications, is an award-winning graphic and multimedia designer with 10 years of experience creating various brand-related materials and presentations. Kalley Matthews joined as an account coordinator. Matthews previously worked as an investor relations coordinator at the Audax Group in Boston. PROFESSIONS GOLDBERG SEGALLA Tara K. Gutman joined as an associate of the Workers' Compensation Practice Group in Albany. Gutman previously worked at Donnellan & Knussman PLLC in Ballston Spa. MOSAIC ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS Pat Hughes joined as director of business development and marketing. Hughes previously served as director of marketing and communications for the New York State Sheriffs' Association. Jennifer Patterson There are great movies every year, but every so often there's a movie that's not only great, but new, that advances the form a little, that pushes movies to a different place. Such movies get remembered as the thing that happened in cinema that year. The thing that happened In 2018 is "Vox Lux." It's a film very much of its time, and yet fiercely in opposition to its time utterly modern yet evincing utter repulsion at modernity. Through the story of a teenage girl who is wounded in a school shooting and grows up to be a Lady Gaga-like popstar, "Vox Lux" aspires to tell the moral history of the 21st century. And it does. Yes, this is the movie our century deserves, with its mood that is never quite despairing, because you can't have despair if you've never had hope. Rather, the feeling of "Vox Lux" is one of numb horror that is, horrified, but used to it. It's the year 2000, and the first thing we see is a disturbed-looking young man walking down a street at night, looking as if the whole coming century is rattling inside his head and screaming in a thousand voices. From there, we cut to the next morning, a high school music class in the New Brighton section of Staten Island. The teacher (Maria Dizzia) is taking care of business and greeting her students back from a break. A moment later the young man from the first scene walks in with a machine gun and kills the teacher and most of the students in the classroom. "Vox Lux" is disturbing, but in a way that isn't visceral, but eerie and mental. From the beginning, Corbet uses a narrator the voice of Willem Dafoe to tell us the story of Celeste, who was in that classroom. We're told that Celeste is going to become an important figure in 21st century culture, and the distinct implication is that this will not be a good thing, that despite her apparent innocence in the early going, she will be a vessel for emptiness and negation. Surviving violence inspires Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) to write a pop song about her experience, and the first part of the movie shows her moving toward a career, with the help of an industry pro (a hard-bitten, New Yorky Jude Law) and a shy older sister (Stacey Martin). In the second part of the film, it's 2017, and Celeste, now played by Natalie Portman, is a coarse megastar, with an alcohol and drug problem. Though the movie is only 110 minutes long, Corbet creates a feeling of expanse by letting scenes breathe. Without overselling it, without preaching it, Corbet presents the 21st century's problem as essentially a moral one. And being only 30 years old, Corbet is in a good position to critique the century. It's what he knows. His vision of modern America is untinged by anything like a middle-aged person's nostalgia for the era of his youth. Rather, this is a young adult saying, "Look at the world you dropped me into." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In "Vox Lux," we watch the characters working through their various crises, but the points and messages of the movie don't come through those actions, but are rather communicated through remarks, casually dropped in conversation. The adult Celeste tells her daughter that everything old is now considered ugly, and everything new is horrible, but people love it anyway. She tells her sister that they live in a world without moral consequence. She tells her fans that if they want something to believe in, instead of God, they can believe in her. Watch Portman closely. What might seem like an exaggerated performance is actually a strong portrait of someone functioning from inside a sense of entrapment and torment, someone distorted by a dim awareness of being a vehicle for something dark that's coming through her. This is not a flattering commentary on pop music, to be sure, but Corbet's problem is not with pop music alone, but with a culture that devalues life and individuality and promotes emptiness and ugliness. In "Vox Lux," Brady Corbet has made an insidious little masterpiece, one that uses modern techniques and a modern visual lexicon to show you everything that's dead within modernity. RENSSELAER Kenneth Downes has lived at 3 Indiana Ave. for 72 years on the border with North Greenbush, faithfully paying his city, school, county and water tax bills to the city without a qualm. Then the town of North Greenbush sent him a $76.43 tax bill for a newly created water district he didnt know existed. Just a sliver of Downes property, the equivalent of about 1 percent of an acre, is in the town to which he has no other ties. The 79-year-old Downes said he was never contacted about the water district. They never notified us, but they sent us all tax bills, said Downes about the 2017 and 2018 bills. He's not the only property owner concerned. Why am I paying for water twice? said Ellen Forgea, who has lived for 26 years at 7 George St. Rensselaer city officials questioned the legality of the town taxing city residents. They said the 16 property owners receive all their services from the city, not a pennys worth from the town. The properties are only now listed on the town tax rolls to pay the water district fee and nothing else. I dont want to see any one of our residents being taxed by the town of North Greenbush, Mayor Richard Mooney said. Paul Goldman, an attorney for the city with a specialty in land use, said the tiny slices of land that North Greenbush is taxing city residents for are too small to be developed and shouldnt be charged for water. Theres no reason this should have happened. Its been illegal since day one, county Legislature Chairman Michael Stammel, R- Rensselaer, said. The water district was formed about three years ago when Rensselaer was repairing water and sewer lines off Washington Avenue near the North Greenbush line. It turned out that some homes were located in North Greenbush these were the last properties on what was a city street and the city could not make repairs to their water lines since they werent in the city. Thats when the town created its Rensselaer water district to pay $250,000 to cover the costs of the upgraded water mains. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Thats when Downes, Forgea and about 14 of their neighbors saw slivers of their properties sucked into the district spreading out the cost of the annual debt service of about $7,500. North Greenbush Comptroller Tony Germano said these 16 property owners wont be charged in 2019 for the water district bond. Theyre going to see it removed when they get their (2019) tax bills, Germano said. Germano said the legal advice the town received in establishing the district was to include the properties that straddled the line. Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo, a Democrat, said she had asked about the issue when she first joined the Town Board in January but didnt receive an answer from the Republican administration. She said she plans to raise it at the boards next meeting. The GOP was shellacked in the 2018 midterm elections, indicating further erosion of their voter support. Yet, instead of performing a post-election autopsy regarding the causes of their losses, they have opted for more anti-democratic strategies to artificially preserve the power of their aging, white, rural voters and the rich. In North Carolina, state officials refuse to certify Republican Mark Harris as the winner of his congressional district amid allegations of election fraud perpetrated by the candidate's consultant. [December 14, 2018] Oil and Gas Data Monetization Market: Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities with Key Players Analysis Oil and gas companies are turning the large volume and variety of data into intelligence for improved asset productivity. Real-time data analysis is essential for deriving value out of unstructured data generated from sensors present in the oil field. Predictive and prescriptive analytics are the approaches that help oil and gas companies to minimize expenses and earn money by turning this data into valuable assets.The creation and consumption of data continues to grow in the oil and gas industry and with it, the investment in data analytics and data management software and services. Data monetization can be used to leverage insights to identify new revenue opportunities, trigger product, process & service innovation and optimization, improve production, and enhance service quality in the oil and gas industry. Large proven oil reserves in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Russia, the U.S. and China brings an opportunity to drive growth of the oil and gas data monetization market as there is significant growth opportunity for adoption of indirect data monetization i.e. the software and services for driving insights for development of these fields and direct data monetization i.e. mainly the exploration data products. Seismic surveys and geophysical surveys conducted in these regions to find new exploration sites and their potential, and the anticipated use of software solutions will continue to drive the market over the forecast period. The data monetization in oil and gas market is segmented based on method, component, oil companies, application, E&P lifecycle, and region. The oil and gas data monetization market has two methods of monetization viz., direct and indirect. By component, the market is segmented as data-as-a-service, professional services, and platform/software. Data-as-a-service segment covers data exchange/transaction for direct monetary benefits. Platform/software and professional services represent indirect data monetization. The oil and gas data monetization market is also segmented based on upstream oil companies into National Oil Companies (NOCs), Independent Oil Companies (IOCs), National Data Repository (NDR), and oil and gas service companies. Request PDF [email protected] https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=49416 National Oil Companies (NOCs) segment is majorly driven by indirect data monetization and is anticipated to dominate the global oil and gas data monetization market over the forecast period. NOCs are increasingly spending on software/platforms and services, thus accounting for the maximum share in the data monetization market. Further, by application, the market is segmented into upstream (conventional, unconventional), midstream, and downstream. It is anticipated that the upstream application segment will continue to dominate the market over the forecast period. Upstream application segment is also classified by E&P lifecycle into exploration, development, and production segments. Exploration segment is expected to expand over the forecast period driven mainly by increasing adoption of software and solutions in deep-water exploration and shale gas exploration activities.The increasing demand for data products such as seismic survey data, geophysical data, and magnetic survey data is also driving the exploration segment in the data monetization market. Get [email protected] https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/49416 Regional segmentation of the oil and gas data monetization market includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America is projected to dominate the oil and gas data monetization market throughout the forecast period due to availability of necessary infrastructure, increasing oil production, and use of indirect data monetization solutions for shale oil reserves exploration, development & production,and presence of oil and gas service companies involved in direct data monetization. Asia Pacific is expected tobe the fastest growing region during the forecast period due to rising investments in the E&P sector. Key players in the oil and gas data monetization market are Halliburton, Schlumberger Limited,Informatica Corporation, SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Accentureplc, IBM Corporation, EMC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Datawatch, Drillinginfo, Hitachi VantaraCorporation, Hortonworks, Inc.,Capgemini SE, Newgen Software, Inc., Cloudera, Inc., Cisco Software, Inc.,SAS Institute, Inc.,MapR Technologies, Inc., Palantir Solutions, OSIsoft LLC, Infosys Limited, and NETSCOUT among others. Along with the players mentioned above, the market share analysis of direct data monetization players such as TGS, CGG, PGS, Ion Geophysical Corporation, and Western Geo is also provided separately in the report. As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When John Conyers introduced the 2017 version of the Medicare for All bill in the House, H.R. 676, there were 51 original cosponsors. Last week, the bill got it's 124th co-sponsor, Brenda Jones from Detroit, Conyers' old seat, which she will hold until the expiration of his seat at the end of the month. Although the co-sponsors were all progressives in the beginning, by last spring, died-in-the wool conservatives-- 17 New Dems and even Blue Dogs from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party-- were signing on (still no Beto, though): Anthony Brown (New Dem-MD) Andre Carson (New Dem-IN) Luis Correa (Blue Dog-CA) Ed Perlmutter (New Dem-CO) Vicente Gonzalez (Blue Dog-TX) Adam Smith (New Dem-WA) Brendan Boyle (New Dem-PA) Al Lawson (New Dem-FL) Jim Cooper (Blue Dog-TN) Mike Thompson (Blue Dog-CA) Darren Soto (New Dem-FL) Marc Veasey (New Dem-TX) Adam Schiff (New Dem-CA) Sanford Bishop (Blue Dog-GA) Filemon Vela (Blue Dog-TX) Don Beyer (New Dem-VA) Don Norcross (New Dem-NJ) Friday evening, a right-wing nut, Federal District Judge Reed O'Connor, put on the bench by George W. Bush, ruled in favor of a coalition of 20 Republican Attorneys General led by Ken Paxton (R-TX) that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The AGs claimed that "when Congress last year repealed the tax penalty for the so-called individual mandate, it eliminated the U.S. Supreme Courts rationale for finding the ACA constitutional in 2012." So the insurance industry-- which has been paying immense bribes to corrupt conservatives to get rid of protections for people with preexisting conditions-- is one step closer to being able to rip off the whole country. By the way, these are the dozen current members (not including the ones who won't be returning in January) of the House who took the biggest bribes from the insurance industry 2017-18: Kevin Brady (R-TX), chair, House Ways and Means Committee- $374,800 Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), member, Financial Services subcommittee on Insurance + chair of subcommittee on Consumer Credit- $373,400 Richard Neal (D-MA), ranking member, House Ways and Means- $364,900 Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Majority Leader- $351,450 Paul Ryan (R-WI, Speaker- $321,318 Steve Stivers (R-OH), member, Financial Services subcommittee on Insurance- $313,374 Sean Duffy (R-WI), chair, Financial Services subcommittee on Insurance- $301,950 Ron Kind (New Dem-WI), member, House Ways and Means- $267,025 John Larson (New Dem-CT), member, House Ways and Means- $263,274 Ann Wagner (R-MO), chair, Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversite and Investigations- $256,200 Andy Barr (R-KY), member, Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Credit- $247,681 Bill Huizenga (R-MI), chair, Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities and Investment- $242,883 So Richard Neal now takes over as the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the committee Alexandria would like to get onto so she can stop the practices he's taking a leading role in. This should be interesting. Back to the Judge O'Connor. His finding will be put on hold until the case works its way through the judicial system, presumably, eventually, to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump's reflexive reaction to the prospect of millions of Americans losing their health coverage is worth thinking about, especially for Trump voters in West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania... and in the states were voters just used the initiative process to expand Medicaid: As for O'Connor being a highly respected judge, he isn't, not even close. "Highly respected" in Trump-Speak means simple someone that agrees with him on whatever he's talking about at the moment. O'Connor is a doctrinaire wing nut who Harry Reid allowed to be conformed with a voice vote so that there isn't even a record for accountability of senators who were complicit in this ruling. One good thing that may come out of it, of course, is that when the Democratic House begins to fix the healthcare system, it will be a much more robust fix than Obamacare, with negotiated pharmaceutical prices and single payer. Medicare-for-All, hear we come. When you add the freshmen who recently campaigned on single payer to the 124 co-sponsors of H.R. 676-- even minus the ones who are not returning in January-- you're either there or almost there for passage already. And, presumably, some of the non-signers, aren't opposed. The American people will need to do three things to pass Medicare-for-All bill now: [December 14, 2018] Deadline Alert: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against Tenaris S.A. Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the February 11, 2019 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors that purchased Tenaris S.A. ("Tenaris" or the "Company") (NYSE: TS) securities between May 1, 2014 and November 27, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Tenaris investors have until February 11, 2019 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors suffering losses on their Tenaris investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to [email protected]. On November 27, 2018, Bloomberg (News - Alert) published an article alleging that Tenaris's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Paolo Rocca, was indicted for his role in a graft scheme. Specifically the article alleges that, "the judge charged Rocca after the Argentine billionaire testified that one of his company' executives paid an undisclosed amount of cash to government officials in monthly installments from 2009 to 2012." On this news, Tenaris' share price fell $2.64, or nearly 10% to close at $24.36 per share on November 27, 2018, thereby injuring investors. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Tenaris's CEO and Chairman, Paolo Rocca, knew that one of his company's executives paid cash to government officials from 2009 to 2012 to expedite compensation payments for the sale of Sidor; (2) this conduct would lead to Rocca being charged in a graft scheme, and subject Tenaris, its affiliates, and/or executives to heightened governmental scrutiny; and (3) as a result, Tenaris's public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. If you purchased shares of Tenaris during the Class Period you may move the Court no later than February 11, 2019 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at http://www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181214005565/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 14, 2018] Southern California Edison's Deadly 'Run to Failure' Management Practice Repeatedly Puts Californians at Risk for Wildfires According to Wildfire Victim Advocates Attorneys On November 8, 2018, the Woolsey Fire ignited beneath SCE power lines in Simi Valley which went on to burn nearly 97,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, consumed 1,643 homes and structures and resulted in three fatalities. After losing their Malibu homes and belongings to the massive wildfire, Jennie Prieto and Carol Bretonne have filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison (SCE) that exposes serious problems with the effectiveness of SCE's risk management practices and highlights the utility's willful mismanagement of its electrical facilities during well-known and anticipated fire conditions in Southern California. As alleged in the complaint, in approximately 2013, SCE implemented a "Run to Failure" (RTF) maintenance model, whereby the utility relied entirely on reactive maintenance as its equipment failed rather than requiring and enforcing preventative maintenance for its electrical facilities. This practice by SCE allowed more profits for its shareholders by spending less money on necessary maintenance and infrastructure improvements. SCE's maintenance model increased the risk of wildfires and led to the ignition of both the 2017 Thomas Fire and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. In 2015, SCE identified a power pole as needing to be replaced at Koenigstein Road, but SCE chose not to replace it. On December 4, 2017, the dilapidated pole failed during extreme fire conditions, causing an explosion and a shower of sparks that ignited one of the most destructive wildfires in California's history. The Thomas Fire burned so fiercely, it denuded and transformed the soil into a water-repellant surface. Less than a month later, and before the Thomas Fire was fully extinguished, rainfall over the hills above Montecito resulted in massive debris flows that claimed the lives of 22 men, women and children. In keeping with its RTF protocol, SCE replaced the pole at Koenigstein Road immediately after the Thomas Fire. To add insult to injury, the utility giant spent millions of dollars on media advertising that same year, diverting funds that should have been used for infrastructure and vegetation management improvements. No lessons were learned by SCE despite the horrific consequences of "Run to Failure." Less than a year later, the Woolsey Fire ignited beneath SCE power lines and residents in surrounding communities were forced to flee from their homes. In a December 6, 2018 letter to the California Public Utility Commission, SCE stated that during a Red Flag warning "its Big Rock 16kV circuit signaled a problem. Upon inspection, a guy wire was discovered in proximity to a jumper at a lightweight tubular steel pole." Cal Fire investigators confiscated SCE's facilities from the scene, including multiple guy wires, the jumper, communication wires, and a pole top. "Equipment failures and overloaded, dilapidated utility poles are extraordinarily dangerous, but shamefully common, under SCE's purposeful RTF system of maintenance." "Imagine a major airline company had a problem with the engine on one of its jets but instead of repairing it, the plane remained in operation until it failed. The devastation and loss of life would be catastrophic. That is precisely what we have here. SCE's decision to rely on this method of failure maintenance was purposeful and done in order to ensure that the company's profits grew at the expense of public safety." ~ Rahul Ravipudi of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP Despite repeated incidents of mass destruction and death, risk analyses, citations, fines, convictions, lawsuits, verdicts and settlements all revealing SCE's failures to appropriately and safely maintain and operate its infrastructure, "SCE's callous and despicable disregard for the safety of California communities is underscored by its diversion of necessary safety-related expenditures into funding corporate bonuses, boosting shareholder profits, and/or running advertising campaigns, while ignoring the serious and irreparable nature of the public safety threat posed by its aging infrastructure and ineffective vegetation management practices." As a result, "the people of California have paid for corporate greed with the lives of their loved ones, their homes, and their most cherished belongings." Attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP, Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger and Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP represent Jennie Waterhouse Prieto and Carole Bretonne against Southern California Edison (News - Alert) and Edison International, et al. Jennie Waterhouse Prieto and Carol Bretonne v. Southern California Edison, et al Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District Case No. 18STCV08285 About Panish Shea & Boyle LLP Panish Shea & Boyle LLP is a plaintiff's personal injury law firm in Los Angeles that takes on large corporations and government entities, whose negligence causes our clients' injuries, and holds them accountable. Firm attorneys currently serve as Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel in the Southern California Fire Cases against SCE as a result of the Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows in Montecito, CA, and serve as Co-Lead Trial Counsel representing thousands of clients in individual and class action lawsuits against SoCal Gas and Sempra Energy (News - Alert) following the Porter Ranch Gas Well Blowout in October 2015. Panish Shea & Boyle LLP attorneys have repeatedly and consistently obtained some of the largest verdicts against a utility including a $41.8 million verdict and subsequent $46 million settlement for a motorcyclist struck by a SoCal Gas truck in 2018 and a $19.8 million jury verdict in 2014 to a man who suffered severe burn and traumatic brain injuries when his rental home exploded as a result of a SoCal Gas' negligence. About Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy only represents people or entities in cases involving just principles or causes. The key to the firm's success is its experienced attorneys and staff and their innovative approach to litigating complex matters in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Firm attorneys consistently tackle this problem head-on with its teamwork approach to obtaining fair and reasonable resolutions. The firm is also known for the breadth of its practice and the diversity of its clients: CPM attorneys are experienced in personal injury, consumer class actions, state and federal false claims matters, antitrust law, securities actions, and employment law among other practice areas. About Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger As one of the premier personal injury firms in the United States, attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have successfully represented injured people in both state and federal courts, before arbitration hearing boards and in mediation and settlement conferences. For nearly six decades, we have helped establish new law and used personal injury litigation to compel corporations to produce safer products. As leaders in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, our attorneys have helped shape personal injury law, while securing millions of dollars in financial compensation for injured clients. About Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP is the premier personal injury law firm in the Sacramento area and in Northern California. The firm has been serving clients for 30 years. Our well-honed skill in this field gives us the ability and compassion to fight for people who have been harmed by the carelessness of others. When large businesses ignore your safety or insurance companies fail to uphold your rights, you can turn to us. We are the firm that doctors, lawyers and judges call when they and their loved ones are injured View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181214005573/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 14, 2018] JELD-WEN Ordered to Divest Illegally Acquired Plant to Restore Competition; Federal Court Enters Judgment for Steves & Sons in Landmark Antitrust Battle In a sweeping final judgment order, Federal Judge Robert E. Payne today ordered JELD-WEN, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (NYSE:JELD) to divest itself of its Towanda, Pennsylvania, interior molded doorskin-manufacturing plant, to preserve and maintain the plant - in all aspects -- through divestiture to another company, and to enter a series of contracts designed to ensure that the divestiture results in a viable supplier of molded doorskins going forward. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181214005576/en/ Judge Payne also ordered that a Special Master - to be appointed by the Court - will oversee the divestiture process, including sale of the plant. JELD-WEN will be responsible for the cost of that Special Master. Doorskins are a critical component used in manufacturing interior molded doors, which is the primary business of Steves & Sons (www.StevesDoors.com), a family-owned company founded in 1866 and based in San Antonio with other facilities in Richmond, Virginia and Lebanon, Tennessee. The company employs some 1,100 people. The Judge's order finalizes the opinion he released October 5, which detailed actions to follow a unanimous February 15, 2018 jury decision in his Richmond, Virginia court agreeing with Steves' assertion that JELD-WEN violated federal antitrust law - specifically, the Clayton Act - by substantially reducing competition in the market for interior molded doorskins in the United States through its acquisition of its former competitor, CMI (which owned the Towanda plant). The jury also sided with Steves in finding that JELD-WEN had breached its long-term doorskin supply agreement with Steves. After winning that jury verdict, Steves sought an order of divestiture that would require JELD-WEN to sell the doorskin plant in Towanda, Pennsylvania that it acquired as part of its unlawful acquisition of CMI. Steves argued that divestiture would restore competition in the market for interior molded doorskins in the United States, to the benefit of competition and independent door manufacturers, including Steves. JELD-WEN insisted that an order of divestiture would be a "disaster" for JELD-WEN's own operations, and resisted divestiture on a variety of other grounds. In a lengthy and detailed October opinion, the Court substantially agreed with Steves. The Court observed JELD-WEN's conduct after the merger, including the fact that "JELD-WEN felt free to disregard existing contract obligations respecting pricing and to engage in bullying tactics to get increased prices even if that would kill off some of the Independents who were its customers." The Court then said that it would order JELD-WEN to sell the Towanda facility in order to restore the competition that JELD-WEN had destroyed with itsillegal merger. Today's order imposes that remedy, while also resolving a number of other issues that remained outstanding in the litigation. In that order, Judge Payne wrote: "The public interest is best served by ordering divestiture and the related conduct remedies herein provided." He further noted, "Without the divestiture and the related conduct remedies . . . Steves will suffer irreparable injury . . . The hardships Steves will suffer if the divestiture and the related conduct remedies herein provided are not granted substantially outweigh the hardships to JELD-WEN if the divestiture and the related remedies herein provided are granted." Judge Payne detailed what the divestiture of the Towanda plant would entail - to include everything from the plant itself to inventory, materials, office furniture, computer systems, licenses, permits, contracts, certifications, customer lists and supply agreements, repair and maintenance records, patents, other intellectual property, trade secrets, operational manuals and many other items. The judge also ordered JELD-WEN not to hire any of the plant's employees for at least two years following the divestiture. Noting in his order that "JELD-WEN has represented that it intends to appeal," Judge Payne wrote: "JELD-WEN shall not take any steps during the pendency of the appeal that would in any way reduce the value of the Towanda facility to a potential acquiring company or would make it more difficult or costly for the acquiring company to supply doorskins to Steves of the type, and in the quantity, that JELD-WEN supplies to Steves." The judgment also included an award of declaratory relief, again in favor of Steves, which requires that JELD-WEN follow certain terms of its contract with Steves for the remainder of its term. As the Court explained in an opinion on December 7, 2018, "Notwithstanding the verdict and the rather clear evidence supporting Steves position on the issue and the lack of evidence supporting the position taken by JELD-WEN, JELD-WEN persists in applying its own interpretation of the Supply Agreement. Accordingly, declaratory judgment is appropriate to resolve the continuing actual controversy over the issue." That judgment is now in place, and JELD-WEN must honor the contract it signed. Today's judgment also resolves outstanding remnants of JELD-WEN's failed trade secrets campaign against Steves. JELD-WEN had filed a counterclaim in response to Steves' original Clayton Act antitrust suit, alleging that Steves had misappropriated purported trade secrets in violation of the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act and the Federal Defense of Trade Secrets Act. The counterclaim was separated from the Steves' antitrust claims for a separate trial. In that trial, which ended May 11, 2018, the jury rejected 59 of JELD-WEN's 67 alleged trade secrets claims and awarded just three percent of the damages JELD-WEN sought. The jury also rejected the allegation that Steves sought to harm JELD-WEN with conduct that was willful or malicious. Despite the jury's rejection of most of its claims and having been awarded just a tiny portion of the damages it sought, JELD-WEN then asked the Court to issue an injunction restricting Steves' business choices in the future. In a November 30, 2018 opinion, the Court denied JELD-WEN's request for an injunction. The judgment issued today finalizes that ruling in favor of Steves. Today's judgment is a landmark for Steves and for the laws protecting competition. The result is appropriate in light of JELD-WEN's anticompetitive conduct following its illegal merger with CMI. That conduct, which the Federal Court has described as "evasive, sharp, and deceptive" and as "general bullying conduct toward Steves," among other things, made judicial intervention essential to restore competition in the marketplace. Although JELD-WEN has vowed to appeal, Steves is confident that the nature of JELD-WEN's conduct will be clear to the Court of Appeals, just as it has been to the District Court and the jury that considered it. Marvin G. Pipkin, attorney for Steves, said: "JELD-WEN fought tooth and nail to avoid responsibility for its conduct. Not even the jury verdict, and tens of millions of dollars in damages, caused JELD-WEN to change its behavior. But today, thanks to the hard work of the Court and the jury system, the foundation is in place to rebuild competition and choice in this industry. We hope this is the end of JELD-WEN's wasteful and abusive behavior. If it is not, Steves stands ready to continue to fight for its survival and the right to compete." "Today's judgment is a culmination of years of investment and effort, all aimed at the preservation of competition and choice and the future of our 152-year-old company," said Edward G. Steves, CEO of Steves & Sons. "We will continue serving our customers with the quality products and attention to detail that, for six generations, have marked the success of this family-owned company since our founding in 1866." Sam Bell Steves II, President of Steves & Sons, said, "Money cannot replace our profound sense of responsibility to our family-owned company, our loyal employees, or our fantastic customer relationships. We are gratified that the Court's decision recognizes these values." About Steves & Sons With interior and exterior door plants in San Antonio, and interior door plants in Richmond, Virginia and Lebanon, Tennessee, Steves & Sons employs more than 1,100 associates. The company continues to build its business and reputation among builders and homeowners across the country with continued emphasis on quality materials, new technology and efficient distribution. (www.StevesDoors.com) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181214005576/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [December 15, 2018] AURAK Gains SACSCOC Accreditation The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) officially announced the accreditation of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) at its 2018 Annual Meeting which was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States of America. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181215005017/en/ AURAK delegation during the SACSCOC conference in New Orleans" (Photo: AETOSWire) SACSCOC, the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern United States, has a membership of more than 800 institutions in the Southern states and other international sites approved by SACSCOC that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and/or doctoral degrees. SACSCOC also awards accreditation to other international institutions of higher education that satisfy all its requirements and demonstrate compliance with its accreditation standards. AURAK now joins the very small group of elite international higher education institutions that have attained SACSCOC accreditation and can enjoy the diverse benefits of membership in this highly revered organization. "Accreditation by SACSCOC signifies that the institution has a mission appropriate to higher education, has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, and maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees its offers, and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives." "The culmination of he accreditation process is a public statement of an institution's continuing capacity to provide effective programs and services based on agreed-upon requirements. The statement of an institution's accreditation status with SACSCOC also represents an affirmation of an institution's continuing commitment to the Commission's principles and philosophy of accreditation." AURAK is a nonprofit, government-owned institution of higher education which provides the local, regional and international communities with a North American-style education integrated with Arabic customs and traditions. It is licensed by the Ministry of Education in the UAE and offers a total of 22 accredited undergraduate and graduate programs across a wide range of disciplines. Despite having this primary local accreditation, AURAK was determined to broaden its impact in higher education by obtaining internationally recognized institutional and program accreditations. To date, the institution has six programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and institutional accreditation by SACSCOC. It should be noted that in the case of institutional accreditation by SACSCOC, an institution is also expected to document and demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of all its programs and services although the agency does not award individual program accreditation. AURAK has been working diligently towards obtaining SACSCOC accreditation since 2014 and successfully achieved candidacy status in July of 2017. This paved the way for the institution to undergo even more rigorous and comprehensive onsite review by a SACSCOC Accreditation Committee. The Committee found the institution to be in compliance with all accreditation standards and requirements. Further internal reviews were conducted by SACSCOC in keeping with its multi-tiered peer review process, the culmination of which was AURAK obtaining SACSCOC accreditation. This was a formidable achievement that was four years in the making. It demonstrates the tenacity, determination and commitment of AURAK to achieving excellence in all its undertakings - for its students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders. "The long- standing dream and goal has come true in a record time. The report is positive and clear." Professor Hassan beamed proudly during the declaration of AURAK's SACSCOC accreditation status. "Today AURAK is among the first universities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to successfully initiate and complete the entire accreditation process as an applicant institution to secure membership from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), affirming that AURAK is not only as an institution of quality among Arabic educational institutions, but also on an international level as well. This accreditation validates our claims of providing students with a highly rigorous curriculum from the credentialed and highly knowledgeable faculty we have always strived to hire and support. AURAK has achieved in a very short time what some other institutions have failed to do in decades. I would like to seize this opportunity to thank the AURAK family and supporters for their loyalty, dedication, and hard work. Without them, AURAK would not be the exemplar of educational excellence it is. Today our aspirations and our hard work have been realized. In gaining SACSCOC membership we join a community of highly respected institutions. We look forward to offering a vast array of educational opportunities through which we will continue to develop and excel." *Source (News - Alert): AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181215005017/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] You have reached a premium content area of TOL. To read this entire article please login if you are already a TOL subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). T-Mobile is one of our favorite wireless carriers, thanks to its competitive unlimited plans and laundry list of customer perks. Google Fi is an up-and-coming wireless service that offers some compelling benefits of its own, like excellent international coverage and pay-what-you-use pricing. With Fi's latest update, Google's opened the carrier up to nearly all unlocked phones finally making it a viable consideration for anyone searching for a better deal on their wireless bill. Fi even partly uses T-Mobile's network to deliver service. However, both T-Mobile and Google Fi are quite different, once you look past their similar coverage maps. Because of their unique pricing models, one carrier is likely a better fit for you depending on your needs and use cases. In this face-off, we'll compare the pros and cons of each service to help you make an informed decision. Google Fi's Key Strengths Pay only for the data you use Intelligent network switching (on select devices) Free VPN service for all web traffic Seamless international service T-Mobile's Key Strengths Best unlimited plan Greater selection of phones to choose from Excellent perks Coverage T-Mobile has made considerable gains in recent years regarding expanding coverage. The Uncarrier is now second only to Verizon in nationwide LTE access, according to WhistleOut, blanketing 59 percent of the country compared with Verizons 70 percent. However, it dropped to third among all eight carriers Tom's Guide tested in this years quest to find the U.S.' fastest network speeds, behind both Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile also happens to be the primary network Google Fi uses to deliver its wireless service, and the speeds Google's customers achieve are no different than what T-Mobile's postpaid subscribers do. We say "primary" because Google Fi actually incorporates three different networks for its total coverage map: T-Mobile, Sprint and regional carrier U.S. Cellular. Any ordinary unlocked phone you bring to Google Fi will only connect to T-Mobile's towers. However, if you buy a Pixel 3, Pixel 2 or one of the Fi-optimized handsets Google offers through the Fi store, those devices have the capability to connect to all three networks and are designed to seamlessly switch to the fastest among them at any given time. Because Fi comprises T-Mobile's and Sprint's towers in one network, you could argue its coverage map is technically larger, albeit only if you're using one of those special handsets that can take advantage of all three of Fi's networks. There may be areas where Sprint has more of a presence than T-Mobile a situation that actually came into play in our carrier testing this year, when the Now Network proved fastest in Philadelphia. Sprint topped the Uncarrier with an average download speed of 43.2 Mbps to T-Mobile's 26.2 Mbps. MORE: My Month With Google Fi: Why I'm Sticking With It Fi also leverages Google's 2 million free public hotspots worldwide to offer VPN-protected, unmetered data. A Fi-optimized phone will connect to these hotspots seamlessly, and notify you when it does. However, having used Fi extensively in New York City, we've found these hotspots aren't prevalent enough to help you save on your monthly bill in any substantial way. Additionally, they're only available to customers who opt for handsets optimized for Fi (the Pixels and a handful of others from Moto and LG). Plans For individuals: Google Fi offers only one pricing structure, where users pay $20 for the first line and $15 for each additional line thereafter, and $10 per gigabyte shared between all devices on the account. If you're a single line user who consumes 3GB of data in one month, you can expect to pay $50 at the end of your billing cycle, plus taxes and fees. Every 100MB adds another $1, so Google won't round you up to the next gigabyte if you cross a certain point. However, that all changes once you use more than 6GB on Google Fi. In that event, a feature called Bill Protection kicks in, which prevents you from being charged for any additional data used. At that point, you can think of it as an unlimited plan although Google deprioritizes your data if you exceed more than 15GB. By comparison, the point at which T-Mobile begins throttling on its unlimited plans is 50GB. Google Fi vs. T-Mobile: Unlimited Plans Plan Cost Notes Google Fi $80 Bill Protection caps bill at $80 no matter how much data used; speeds throttled after 15GB T-Mobile Essentials $60 Includes $5 credit for Auto Pay enrollment; video streaming capped at 480p; unlimited hotspot data capped at 3G; limited international coverage; speeds can be throttled at any point, and furthermore after 50GB T-Mobile One $70 (taxes and fees included) Includes $5 credit for Auto Pay enrollment; video streaming capped at 480p; unlimited hotspot data capped at 3G; speeds throttled after 50GB T-Mobile One Plus $85 (taxes and fees included) Includes $5 credit for Auto Pay enrollment; video streaming capped at 1080p; includes 20GB of LTE hotspot data; speeds throttled after 50GB Comparatively speaking, T-Mobile's unlimited plans are a better value. The base Essentials plan costs $60 and is ideal for those who rarely or never travel out of the country, though T-Mobile reserves the right to slow data for Essentials subscribers at any time. Select the $70 One plan, which includes taxes and fees, and you'll get better overseas coverage and full LTE speeds until you hit 50GB. The only significant downside to One is that its caps mobile video streaming to 480p. Bump yourself up to the $85 One Plus plan, and youll get full-HD streaming and faster data abroad, as well as 20GB of hotspot data at LTE speed (on lower plans, throughput is unlimited, but restricted to 3G pace). MORE: Google Fi vs. Verizon: Which Is Right for You? T-Mobile also offers prepaid plans an unlimited option at $50 per month and another that grants you 10GB for $40. Neither bakes in taxes and fees like the postpaid One plans do, though the 10GB offering is a great value compared to what Fi gives you Google would charge you twice as much for that amount of data. For families: As with most other carriers, both T-Mobile and Google Fi start handing out per line discounts for every user that joins you on your plan. Two lines on a T-Mobile One plan cuts the price to $60 each ($120 total), down from $70, and adds a free Netflix subscription for good measure. There's currently a promotion going on that reduces three lines down to $40 a piece (also $120), while four lines breaks them down further to $35 ($140). When that promotional pricing isn't in place, T-Mobile family plans cost $70 for the first line of T-Mobile One, $50 for line two, and $20 for each line after that. That means a family of four normally pays $160 a month for T-Mobile One. Google Fi vs. T-Mobile: Plans for Families Carrier/Plan Single Line Cost 2 Lines Cost 3 Lines Cost 4 Lines Cost Google Fi $60 for 4GB ($20 line access + $40 for 4GB) $115 for 8GB ($35 line access + $80 for 8GB) $150 for 10GB ($50 line access + $100 for 10GB) $185 for 12GB total ($65 line access + $120 for 12GB) T-Mobile One $70 (with Auto Pay enabled; includes taxes and fees) $120 (with Auto Pay enabled; includes taxes and fees) $140 (with Auto Pay enabled; includes taxes and fees) $160 (with Auto Pay enabled; includes taxes and fees) T-Mobile Simply Prepaid $40 $70 $100 $130 If you're interested in the perks the One Plus add-on grants you, those can be tacked onto each line individually for $15, or $10 if you decide to buy it for both users on a two-line account. On Google Fi, every line after the first costs $15 instead of $20, and shares the same pool of data. However, the point at which Bill Protection kicks in changes as you add more lines. It's raised to 10GB for two users, and increases by 2GB for every additional user after that. Phones T-Mobile's phone offerings run the gamut from the latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy handsets to the OnePlus 6T. In fact, the Uncarrier is the only U.S. wireless provider that sells the 6T on contract. And because it's a GSM-based network, T-Mobile is widely compatible with most unlocked phones in a way that rival carriers Verizon and Sprint aren't. MORE: Best Smartphones: Here Are the 10 Best Phones Available Google Fi also now works with most unlocked phones, though again, handsets that are brought to the network and not sold by the carrier will not support all of Fi's features, like switching between the three networks. In terms of devices that are optimized for Fi, you have your choice between the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, the Moto G6, Moto X4 Android One, LG G7 ThinQ and LG V35 ThinQ. Customer service We were pleased with T-Mobiles customer service when we evaluated it last year. Representatives were forthcoming on social media, over the phone and through the carrier's web-based chat platform although the language they used to dispense advice wasn't always clear. And since then, T-Mobile has launched a revamped Team of Experts program that guarantees you'll talk to a real person when you need help with your phone. If there's one concern with T-Mobile, it's that the carrier's website doesn't clearly explain the differences between its plans. For example, T-Mobile doesn't offer a checklist that stacks all of its One unlimited plans side by side, so you can better understand the differences between them. The details for every plan tend to be concealed in massive blocks of fine print that gloss over things like Auto Pay, which is typically required to get the prices advertised on the site. Conversely, Google Fi's simpler, more self-explanatory pricing structure leaves less room for confusion. Any change you need to make to your account can be done through the Google Fi app, which is available on both iOS and Android. It's definitely the slickest carrier app we've ever encountered, which isn't surprising given that Google built it. It also offers quick links to all the networks support channels, as well as estimated wait times listed on screen before you call. Extras and perks Google Fi isn't a carrier that offers many perks for its customers, though the two notable advantages of the service free VPN routing for all web traffic and excellent international coverage differentiate it from other mobile virtual network operators. The VPN feature is only supported by Fi-optimized phones, however. Fi's international coverage spans more than 170 countries and costs the same abroad as it does at home. Roaming data is still charged at the standard $10-per-gigabyte rate, which isn't something many carriers offer. Additionally, Fi users can snag up to nine data-only SIM cards for free, which can be put in other connected devices, like tablets and laptops. Traffic using a data-only SIM adds to your monthly data totals, but doesn't tack on any extra rate or line access fees. T-Mobile, on the other hand, leads the pack in extras for its customers. There's Netflix On Us, which includes a standard, two-device Netflix subscription with One postpaid plans that cover two or more lines. T-Mobile Tuesdays serves up discounts and promotions on a weekly basis, slashing prices on everything from Lyft rides to free phone giveaways and trips to live events and sports. T-Mobile Digits lets customers use their number on other connected devices, for an additional monthly cost. That's a nice convenience, though T-Mobile's international coverage ultimately isn't as appealing as Google Fi's. T-Mobile's service works in more than 210 countries for One and One Plus subscribers, and you have unlimited texting when traveling. But data is throttled at 2G speed in those 210 countries which is near unusable in this day and age. Bottom line Although they're quite different, Google Fi and T-Mobile boast their share of advantages. Google Fi offers a premium wireless experience that can tap three networks (provided you own the right phone), as well as VPN access and fantastic international coverage. However, T-Mobile's unlimited and prepaid offerings are considerably less expensive and postpaid customers get a world of perks and access to the industry's best phones on contract. For most people, that makes T-Mobile the safer bet. However, Pixel users would be wise to give Fi a look, especially if they're frequent travelers. Samsung Galaxy Note is reportedly gone for good but its innovations will live on The Samsung Galaxy Note will be officially discontinued, according to a new report. But even if the name is dead, much looks set to live on in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. AMD's Radeon Technology Group (RTG) has seen plenty of shakeups this year as it has lost several key players to Intel, like Raja Koduri and Chris Hook, among others. Now Mike Rayfield, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of RTG, has announced his retirement. AMD appointed Rayfield, along with industry veteran David Wang, to head up RTG earlier this year after Senior Vice President Raja Koduri defected to Intel. At the time, AMD also folded its semi-custom business unit into RTG because of its heavy reliance upon graphics IP, so the new executives were not a one-to-one replacement for Koduri. AMD is currently searching for Rayfield's replacement while David Wang steps into the role. AMD shared the following statement: Mike is retiring at the end of the year. He has made the decision to spend more time with his family and pursue his personal passions. David Wang will be interim lead for Radeon Technologies Group while we finalize search for a new business leader. David Wang currently serves as the senior vice president of engineering and Rayfield oversaw strategy and business management for consumer and professional graphics. Wang will continue to lead the company's development efforts, so Rayfield's departure shouldn't have a significant impact on RTG's GPU roadmap. Rayfield has 30 years of experience in the industry with extended tenure at Micron as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Mobile Business Unit and as general manager of the Mobile Business Unit at Nvidia. Rayfield was in charge of the team that developed Nvidia's Tegra. We're told that Rayfield has no plans to pursue other opportunities in the near future, so unlike the recent trends we've seen with RTG's departing executives, we shouldn't expect to see him pop up at Intel or Nvidia any time soon. MORE: CPU Hierarchy: A Comparison of AMD and Intel Processors MORE: AMD vs. Intel: Which PC Build is Better for Under $500 Teen tased by Independence police awarded $6.5M by jury KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Independence, Missouri teenager tased by Independence police in 2014 was awarded nearly $6.5 million in damages by a federal court jury. Bryce Masters, then 17, was tased by officer Timothy Runnels during a traffic stop in September 2014. The incident was recorded on body camera video that was made public. Aftermath of this bit of local brutality that earned nationwide attention and will cost the taxpayers of Independence, MO for generations to come. Checkit: JEFFERSON CITY * Auditor Nicole Galloway said Friday she would give "heightened scrutiny" to allegations that outgoing Attorney General Josh Hawley used taxpayer resources to pump up his successful bid for U.S. Senate. Galloway, a Democrat, said in response to a request for aid by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, that her office would work with Ashcroft's office. When it comes to "love it or hate it" designs, coupe-style crossovers are the first that spring into mind. While some hate them entirely, others would buy one in a heartbeat. Whether you like coupe crossovers or not, a new model is about to come under the spotlight. Its made by Infiniti and will make its global debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show in January. The vehicle shown in the teaser isnt a production model though. The concept, however, previews an upcoming all-electric crossover built on a "new EV platform." Infiniti also mentions that it will celebrate 30 years on the market at the Detroit Auto Show so we might be in for something special for this occasion. There arent any actual details to run by, but Infiniti says that the crossover brings together elements from the Q Inspiration and Prototype 10 concept cars revealed in 2018. Fortunately, the teaser provides a few hints. Sleek and Aggressive This concept should look gorgeous once it goes under the spotlight The yet-unnamed concept looks decidedly angry up front. It has thin headlamps that become slimmer toward the nose and a massive, closed-off grille in the center. The outlet includes an illuminated grille and "Infiniti" lettering. I can also spot big vents onto the sides. The front hood is sporty and muscular, with the side panels moving up to meet the front fenders. Both the front and rear fenders are muscular as well, while the big wheels give the crossover an off-road capable stance. I cant tell whether its a two- or four-door, but the roofline is low and mimics the shape of a coupe toward the back. Theres no B-pillar, and Infiniti used cameras for side mirrors. All told, this concept should look gorgeous once it goes under the spotlight, but Im equally excited about what it hides under the shell. We should find out more as Detroit moves closer so stay tuned for an update. Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 Infinity Prototype 10 Concept. Read our full review on the 2018 Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept. A Brinks armored truck traveling on Route 3 West in East Rutherford, New Jersey caused a bit of a commotion when its rear door malfunctioned and spilled money onto the highway. The unbelievable episode caused a number of motorists to stop their vehicles in the middle of the highway to snatch as much cash as they could. Its a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, but this actually happened right smack in the middle of the morning rush hour. Theres no word yet on how much cash is missing at this point, but an investigation on how the Brinks trucks door malfunctioned is underway. Better think twice if youre thinking of keeping the money you grabbed from this incident Imagine driving along Route 3 West when you suddenly see money flying everywhere. It didnt come from the heavens as youve prayed for numerous times in the past, but rather, from a Brinks truck whose rear doors malfunctioned, causing the money to fly literally everywhere. What would you do? Its a bit of a loaded question, sure, but we did find out, courtesy of social media, what a handful of drivers did when the situation happened right in front of them. Apparently, scoring an extra buck or two was enough for these motorists to hop out of their cars and make a beeline for the scattered cash. The brazen behavior apparently caused at least two different accidents, including one involving a Toyota Corolla that received significant front-end damage. Obviously, something like this doesnt happen very often, and theres a moral grey area around it, at least if you were one of the people who made a dash for the cash. Do you return the money? Do you keep it for yourself? Well, if youre having a hard time answering the question, the East Rutherford Police Department is going to make it easier for you to decide. ERPD Captain Phillip Taormina told NBCNews that several individuals have already contacted the department and returned the money they grabbed on the highway. We would like to advise people if they have any money connected to this incident to contact ERPD at 201-438-0165 to make arrangements for its return with no charges filed, Captain Taormina added. Whether you return the money or not is entirely up to you, though we recommend that you listen to your conscience. Its bad enough that youre keeping money that doesnt belong to you, its worse knowing that somebody the Brinks driver will probably have to answer for what happened to the trucks rear door. Its probably not his fault if the rear doors malfunctioned, but heads will probably roll from this incident. Perhaps returning the money is a good way to prevent that from happening. I lived in Hackensack, New Jersey for a few years and I know this area very well. Judging from the numerous videos that have appeared on social media, this happened close to a ramp that leads to Route 17 North. Its also on the opposite side of the highway where the entrance to the New Jersey Turnpike is located. So this hits a little close to home for me. Heres to hoping that those people who picked up the scattered cash return it to the ERPD, or at least contact the department if they have information or videos to share. As far as Brinks mishaps go, this actually isnt the first time that the armored truck company has had an incident like this happen to one of its trucks. Back in May, another Brinks truck scattered hundreds of thousands of dollars police estimated it at $600,000 when the rear door of another Brinks truck blew open as it was driving along Interstate 70 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Local police said at that time that anyone who picked up the cash and didnt return it could be charged with theft. Let that sink in, especially if you were one of those who grabbed the money in todays accident in Jersey. What you thought as manna from above could end with you getting charged with theft. Further reading Toyota Corolla Read our full review on the 2014 Toyota Corolla. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Panchkula, December 15 The local police have arrested a native of Nepal for raping a 10-year-old girl when she was on her way to answer natures call. The police said the victim was living with her maternal relatives at Sunny Poultry Farm in Bhagwanpur village near Barwala. When she was going to attend natures call, the suspect, identified as Rajinder Urav, took her to an isolated place and raped her. She narrated the whole incident to her relatives, who informed the police. The suspect lived at an adjoining poultry farm. On a complaint of the victims relatives, the police have registered a case against Rajinder Urav under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. The suspect was later arrested from the Barwala bus stand. He was produced in court, which sent him to judicial remand. editorial@tribune.com Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 15 After 48 days of protest by students, the Panjab University (PU) Senate today opened the girls hostels 24X7. Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) president Kanupriya had led the protest for lifting the timing restrictions on the entry of girls hostel inmates. During the protest, she, along with her associates, slept in the open outside the gate of the girls hostels number 3 and 4, for 47 nights. It was my dream, she reacted, after the Senate agreed to her demand. She was watching the Senate proceedings from the visitors gallery. All kinds of fine for late entry in girls hostels have been abolished. Earlier, a student was allowed 10 late entries. For the 11th time, if a woman student entered after 11 pm, she had to pay a fine of Rs 100. Also, Rs 50 were charged in case a woman student failed to mark her attendance at 9 pm even if she forgot or remained sleeping or kept studying. Most of the Senators condemned the system of fine and questioned whether it was generating revenue. They asked how the Rs 100 fine would ensure the safety of a woman student. The Senate today resolved that there will be no restriction till 11 pm but after that, a woman student has to make an entry in a register. She may have to specify where she has been going. Kanupriya had been demanding for keeping one register only, instead of multiple registers at present like for night walk, exiting hostel premises and inter-hostel movement, to which the Senate agreed. Registrar Prof Karamjit Singh clarified that the register would remain available throughout the night. It is pertinent to mention here that Kanupriya was the only PUCSC office-bearer fighting for the demand of 24X7 opening of girls hostel. The Senate formed a committee to chalk out modalities for implementing the 24X7 open girls hostels move. They will also decide on whether parents have to be informed via SMS or any other method when their ward goes out. Prof Navdeep Goyal, chairperson of Physics Department, will head the committee, which will also comprise Dean Students Welfare (DSW) Prof Emanuel Nahar, DSW (Women) Prof Neena Caplash, SP Jain, Prof JK Goswami, Prof Pam Rajput, Assistant Professor Ameer Sultana, Chief Security Officer Prof Ashwani Koul and four office-bearers of the PUCSC president Kanupriya, vice-president Daler Singh, secretary Amarinder Singh and joint secretary Vipul Atray. The committee can call anyone as a special invitee. There were heated arguments over whether to have executive committee members too in the committee as Vice Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar was pushing for it. But most Senators objected to it and finally, the VC agreed to including only the office-bearers, who are directly elected by students. In the evening, Kanupriya led a victory march which was attended by members of the All-India Students Association (AISA), the Punjab Students Union (Lalkaar) and her own party Students for Society (SFS). editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Karnal, December 15 The district authorities have made all arrangements to ensure peaceful elections at 224 polling booths in all 20 wards of the Karnal municipal corporation tomorrow. As many as 1,096 employees and 1,200 police personnel have been deputed on election duty. Aditya Dahiya, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer; Surinder Singh Bhoria, SP, along with the Returning Officer and the AROs held the final rehearsal of the polling parties at DAV Senior Secondary School and handed over EVMs to them. After a mock poll, the polling parties left for duty. Dahiya said that 35 magistrates had been appointed for the elections. As many as 245,836 voters would cast their votes Sunday to elect the Mayor and 20 councillors. The polling would be held between 7.30 am and 4.30 pm and the counting would be held on December 19. The Deputy Commissioner said that those who did not have voter identity cards could cast their vote by showing anyone of the 15 photo identity cards or documents, including passport, driving licence, PAN Card, or the identity card issued by the government, public sector undertaking, local body or a limited company. Bhoria said that all security arrangements were in place to ensure smooth and peaceful elections. A special vigil would be kept on 55 sensitive and hyper-sensitive booths. The main contest is said to be between BJP mayoral candidate and outgoing Mayor Renu Bala Gupta and INLD-BSP and Congress supported Independent candidate Asha Wadhwa. Punjabis (Arora Khatri), who have 52,453 votes, hold the key to the victory in the closely fought election to the mayoral post. Besides Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and four state ministers, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, and Swami Dharmdev had campaigned for the BJP candidates. Sources claim that Swami Gyananads followers are supporting the BJP candidates. Sources in the BJP say that Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi visited the residence of senior BJP leader and Sugarfed Chairman Chander Parkash Kathuria late Friday night and interacted with residents of the city. Two-time former Congress MLA Sumita Singh claimed it to be a political visit. She alleged that it was a political meeting and the Governor should have avoided visiting Karnal during the elections. She alleged misuse of the government machinery. However, Kathuria denied that it was a political meeting and said that the Governor was in Kurukshetra and while returning to Delhi he had a brief stoppage at his residence. Dushyants party to keep away Karnal: Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala made it clear Saturday that their newly formed party Jannayak Janata Party was not supporting any party in the municipal corporation elections. The core committee of the party had decided that we would not support any candidate in the civic body elections, he told The Tribune. He appealed to his supporters through social media to choose an honest and dedicated candidates in the five municipal corporations for the development of their cities. Dushyant said that if they did not find any perfect candidate, they should opt for NOTA. However, some of his supporters are supporting Asha Wadhwa, Independent candidate. Asked about it, he said that, If any worker or leader is supporting anyone, he is doing it at his sweet will, he added. TNS editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 15 A total of 14,01,454 voters will cast their votes in 136 wards of the municipal corporations and committees in Hisar, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak, Yamunanagar, Fatehabad and Kaithal districts on Sunday. A spokesman for the State Election Commission (SEC) says that out of the total voters, 7,44,468 are male voters and 6,56,986 are female voters. As many as 1,292 polling stations have been set up, out of which 304 are sensitive and 166 are hyper-sensitive. The highest number of polling stations (303) has been set up in Yamunanagar district, the maximum number of hyper-sensitive polling stations (71) in Rohtak and the maximum number of sensitive polling stations (71) in Panipat, he states. A total of 3,921 polling officers, 1,292 presiding officers, 146 supervisors, 83 duty magistrates, 781 reserved staff have been deployed for the elections. A strength of 7,016 police personnel has been deployed for polling duty, including 825 women constables, 3,007 constables, 1,049 head constables, 620 non-gazetted police officers, 86 inspectors and 27 gazetted police officers have been deployed for the elections. The elections are to be conducted by the use of EVMs for which about 1,685 control units and 2,959 ballot units are to be used, he states. The SEC has advised all electors to carry with them the electors photo identity card or any one of the alternative documents for establishing their identity at the polling station, to cast their vote. The spokesman said that all electors, to whom Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) had been issued by the Election Commission of India, would have to produce it to prove their identity to cast vote during the MC elections on December 16. However, the electors who have not obtained the EPIC as yet would have to produce any one of the alternative documents. He said that the alternative documents included passport, driving license, PAN Card, service identity card issued to employees by the Central or state government offices, public sector undertakings etc. Flag march in Rohtak Rohtak: Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in Rohtak in order to ensure smooth, free and fair conduct of mayoral and municipal elections on Sunday. Police personnel led by DC Yash Garg and SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa took out a flag march through the city and adjoining villages. The SP directed police officials deployed on poll duty to remain alert and inform their seniors if they sensed any disturbance. editorial@tribune.com ridabad, December 15 The police have registered a case of rape against a Nigerian, who is absconding. The complainant had approached the Gurugram police on Friday stating that a Nigerian youth residing at a colony in Faridabad assaulted her sexually while she was staying with a woman friend. She told the police that she hails from Kenya and had come to India in November last year. She decided to stay with Aeint, who resides in Green Fields Colony in Faridabad. It is claimed that Aeint also hails from Kenya and is living here for the past couple of years. However, according to the complainant, the accused, who is a friend of Aeint, came to stay at their residence on Thursday night and raped her. The victim alleged that Aeint, who cooperated with the accused in the crime, also threatened her. She approached the Gurugram police on Friday, which lodged an FIR but transferred the case to the Faridabad police later. The Gururgam police have transferred the case and policemen are looking for the accused, who is absconding, said a police spokesperson. The embassy officials have to be taken into confidence before arresting the accused, he said. TNS rchopra@tribunemail.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 15 Seven civilians were killed and at least 36 injured in clashes that erupted after three militants, all locals, were shot dead in a gunfight at Pulwamas Sirnoo village today. The killing of civilians triggered fresh tension in the Valley with major markets observing a shutdown. Two soldiers were critically injured in the encounter. One of them, Kisan Singh, 29, a resident of Churu in Rajasthan, succumbed later, a defence official said. The slain militants were identified as Army deserter Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen, who had gone missing from his unit in north Kashmirs Baramulla in July; Adnan Hamid Bhat of Karimabad; and Bilal Ahmed Magrey of Rajpora. The Medical Superintendent of the Pulwama district hospital, Abdul Rashid Parra, said most of the civilians had died of bullet injuries in the head, neck and chest. One of them, Abid Hussain, 26, a resident of Karimabad, had returned from Indonesia after MBA. He is survived by his Indonesian wife and a three-month-old child. The other casualties were Aaquib Ahmad Bhat (14) of Prichoo, Tauseef Ahmed Mir (29) of Uri Chursoo, Liyaqat Ahmed Dar (17) of Parigam, Aamir Ahmed Paul of Ashmandir, Suhail Ahmed of Bellow and Shabaz Ahmed of Monghama. Munir Khan, Additional DGP (Law and Order), called the deaths unfortunate. He said during the pre-dawn operation against the militants, who were entrenched in an orchard, local youths thronged the site and began to hurl stones at the security personnel. It was not a built-up area that we could have sanitised before launching the operation, Khan explained. The injured, however, alleged excessive force. The forces fired indiscriminately, they claimed. The Army PRO said: Army condoles the loss of civilian lives during Sirnoo (Pulwama) encounter in which three terrorists were eliminated, one soldier got martyred and many other security personnel seriously injured. Calling for an end to bloodshed, state Congress chief GA Mir said the Centre and J&K government had miserably failed to restore peace. CPM leader MY Tarigami, while expressing sorrow, said for the BJP, Kashmir is expendable for narrow electoral interests. Separatists call for march tomorrow Kashmir valleys separatist leaders have given a call for a three-day strike and a protest march to the Armys 15 Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh, Srinagar, on Monday, over the killing of civilians after the encounter in Pulwama on Saturday. Divisional Commissioner to probe Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to hold an inquiry into the incident and suggest precautionary measures to minimise civilian casualties. He mourned the loss of civilian lives as he held a meeting to review the law and order situation. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none whatsoever. This is a massacre & thats the only way to describe it. Omar Abdullah, NC Vice-President How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today. No country can win a war by killing its own people (sic) Mehbooba Mufti, PDP Chief If you end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants, it is time for heads to roll. We cant afford a state of impunity.Sajad Lone, Ex-Minister editorial@tribune.com Arun Joshi Tribune News Service Delhi is caught in a spot over the killing of seven civilians in violent clashes in the aftermath of an encounter in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday morning that also raised a question about its policy on Kashmir. Three militants and a soldier were killed in the gunfight that spurred the violent protests with heavy stone-throwing at the soldiers from a very short distance. That created a situation that All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described as the continuing terror and trauma unleashed by the Indian security forces. Equally angry were the mainstream leaders who called it a massacre and pinned the responsibility at the Centre for not keeping the forces in check. Todays incident underlined the failure of the law and order enforcing agencies to keep the stone-throwing civilians away from the encounter site a paddy field open from all sides in the Monghama area of Sirnoo village in Pulwama district. At the same time, it became clear that the civilians sympathetic to militants incited or on their own volition continue to keep their date with the gunfight sites where clashes invariably consume the lives of the protesters as well. The Centres all-out policy is not paying dividends as more and more militants are surfacing despite the forces having killed 233 of them this year so far. The forces too have lost 87 men during the period. It will have to relook at its policy of going all-out against the militants in all circumstances without caring for the risks involved. The policy of treating terrorists and stone-throwers as one, repeatedly spelled out by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, generated a new narrative in Kashmir where the militants were described as Kashmiris, making no distinction between the armed combatants and the rest. Todays killings have served as a reversal of fortunes for the government that had rested its reputation on drastically reduced stone-throwing incidents and the civilian casualties. Governor Satya Pal Malik had claimed it as recently as on Wednesday that the stone-throwing incidents and the local recruitment of militants has come down to zero level. But, todays incident has raised a big question mark on this remarks. Delhi already struggling with the fallout of the UNHCR report on human rights on Kashmir will find it difficult to defend this incident as it is pegged as killing by forces, unlike the explosion at the gunfight sight in Kulgam that killed seven civilians after the forces had left the area in a huff. In any case, Delhi would have to come out with an answer and spell out as to how it is dealing with the situation in Kashmir that is becoming more complex. The entire political buffer is gone, as the state is under the Central rule. By now it must have been clear to the policy-makers in Delhi that the Kashmir situation is becoming more complex than it has comprehended so far. And complexity hinders solutions. It must find a new policy to deal with Kashmir. The hard stick policy often breaks the stick used in the counter-terrorism scenario, like in Kashmir. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 14 With 86 security personnel losing their lives in the line of duty this year, the number has touched a 10-year high in Kashmir. According to official data accessed by The Tribune, more than 230 militants have been killed since January, which is also the highest since 2010, while 86 security men were also killed during this period. While the security forces achieved major successes this year in its anti-militancy campaign, the J&K Police have been targeted the most. The police force lost 44 of its men, highest since 2006 when they lost 78 cops. Most of the fatalities have taken place when the cops were either at home or off duty, especially in south Kashmir. The Army lost 32 of its men in counter-infiltration operations, ceasefire violations and blasts along the Line of Control in Kashmir this year. Adviser to Governor Vijay Kumar said the counter-insurgency operations were a major success this year. We have neutralised some top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen along with their allies. However, the other side bears the brunt too. This year, the J&K Police, which have been at the forefront, suffered the maximum casualties. Unfortunately, the ratio cannot always be zero in such circumstances, Kumar, a retired IPS officer, said. He said the synergy of the security forces had been at its best this year. A senior security official said there had been a slight increase in forces fatalities this year and it was because of a high number of anti-militancy operations. The casualties of forces are directly linked with more anti-militancy operations. More the operations, more are the chances of causalities. Moreover, the number of terrorists killed has also seen a rise, IG, CRPF, Srinagar sector, Ravideep Sahi, said. According to the Home Ministry data, 80 security forces personnel were killed in 2017 and 82 in 2016. As many as 182 casualties were reported in 2007. The numbers (fatalities of forces) are just figures. Overall, the militant infrastructure and leadership has been hit this year and there is an improvement in the ground situation, said a police officer, preferring anonymity. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that 238 militants were neutralised by the forces in J&K and 86 forces personnel were killed till December 2. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 15 Three key mainstream parties in Kashmir on Saturday condemned the killing of civilians during a gunfight in Pulwama district. National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah termed the killings as a massacre and blamed the Governors administration for not focusing on the security of the people. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none whatsoever, Omar said. This is a massacre and thats the only way to describe it, he said, as civilian death toll reached seven. Omar also accused Governor Satya Pal Maliks administration of failing to provide security to people. The administration of Governor Malik has one task and one task only to focus on the security of the people of J&K and restore peace in the troubled Valley. Sadly, it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing, said Omar. He further said the administration was unable to learn how to handle gunfights in a better way. It was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are a norm, not an exception, he said. PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the Pulwama killings and said the bloodbath should stop. How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians were killed today post an encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people, she said. Senior PDP leader and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari also condemned the killings and demanded immediate fact-finding and a follow-up action as warranted under law. He said violence begets violence and any such outrageous incident not only adds to alienation among people but also results in colossal damages to the efforts of restoring peace and stability in the conflict-ridden region. Bukhari said the killing of unarmed, innocent civilians had deeply shaken the entire Kashmir valley and the question of the people whether this tragedy could have been averted is justified. Congress state president GA Mir expressed anguish over the killings and called for an end to the bloodshed. He said the civilian killings could have been avoided had the forces followed the SOP properly. Another Congress leader Saifuddin Soz condemned the use of extremely excessive force at Pulwama by the security forces. I have a question for the Modi government. What does it want to achieve through the massacres in Kashmir? The Centre doesnt see the writing on the wall that the number of killings by use of excessive force generates enormous reaction by armed militants and, therefore, the turmoil on ground, Soz said. Protests erupt across Valley Protests broke out in many parts of the Valley over the civilian killings. In Srinagar, students at University of Kashmir boycotted classes and staged a protest. Clashes also broke out between students and security forces outside Amar Singh College, Srinagar. There were also reports of clashes between students and the police in Sopore town. Meanwhile, the joint resistance leadership called for a three-day shutdown till Monday to protest against the killing of civilians. Mobile Internet services suspended Mobile Internet services were suspended on Saturday in most parts of Kashmir, including in Srinagar, in the aftermath of the Pulwama incident as a precautionary measure, officials said. They said the services had been barred in four districts of south Kashmir; Srinagar; Bandipora and Sopore township in Baramulla; and Handwara in Kupwara district. The Internet speeds had been reduced in Budgam and Ganderbal districts, they added. PTI Out to help injured, labourer found his son among dead Srinagar: When Bashir Ahmad Bhat, 40, like many other villagers, rushed to the Pulwama hospital this morning after hearing about a high number of civilian injuries in forces firing, he immediately started helping the injured. As Bashir, a labourer by profession, was busy with his work, he heard that a body lying in the hospital was yet to be identified. At least 26 injured were brought to the Pulwama hospital; out of them, six were declared dead on arrival. "As he went to see the unidentified body, he was stunned to find it was his teenage son Aaqib Ahmed Bhat," a local resident said. "He was hit in the head," he said. Aaqib, 14, was among the seven civilian people killed in the incident. According to the family, Aaqib, a resident of Pirchoo, left home only after the pre-dawn gunfight ended. His house is nearly a kilometre from the gunfight site. Majid Jahangir editorial@tribune.com Peshawar, December 15 Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Saturday said he has submitted a proposal to the Pakistan government for opening the religious sites for Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists in PoK on the pattern of the Kartarpur corridor. PoK has more than 600 pilgrim sites of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhism, such as Sharda and Ali Baig, and authorities were planning to renovate and recondition these places to open them for pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, Haider said at a reception in Mirpur. Tourism would get a big boost in the territory besides strengthening the confidence between the people and governments of two countries to resolve conflicts peacefully in the region, he added. Haider said he had asked the government of Pakistan to open all the traditional routes between PoK and Jammu and Kashmir for religious visitors, like the Kartarpur corridor in Punjab for Sikhs. On November 28, Pakistani premier Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistans Kartarpur to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Peshawar, December 15 Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Saturday said he has submitted a proposal to the Pakistan government for opening the religious sites for Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists in PoK on the pattern of the Kartarpur Corridor. PoK had more than 600 pilgrim sites of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhism like Sharda and Ali Baig and authorities were planning to renovate and recondition these places to open them for pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, Haider said at a reception in Mirpur. Tourism would get a big boost in the territory besides strengthening the confidence between the people and governments of two countries to resolve conflicts peacefully in the region, he added. Haider said he has asked the government of Pakistan to open all the traditional routes between PoK and Jammu and Kashmir for religious visitors like the Kartarpur corridor, recently opened in Punjab for Sikhs. On November 28, Pakistani premier Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistans Kartarpurthe final resting place of Sikh faiths founder Guru Nanak Devto Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Indias Gurdaspur district. The corridor will facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims. Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about 4 km from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. 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. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Srinagar, December 15 Mainstream political parties in Kashmir Saturday condemned the killing of civilians allegedly in security forces action during an encounter in Pulwama district, with National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah calling the incident a massacre. Abdullah alleged that the Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration was apparently not doing anything for the security of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Seven civilians died in south Kashmirs Pulwama district when security forces allegedly opened fire at an unruly crowd that tried to storm the site of an encounter in which three militants and Army man were killed. Abdullah said there was no explanation for such excessive use of force and massacre was the only way to describe it. 7 dead. There is no explanation for this excessive use of force, none what so ever. This is a massacre & thats the only way to describe it, he wrote on Twitter. Earlier, the NC vice-president said the encounter was badly executed. 6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better? (sic) Abdullah tweeted. He said the Governors administration appears not doing anything on restoring peace in the troubled Valley. The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled Valley. Sadly, it appears thats the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads dont bring peace, he tweeted. PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said no country can win a war by killing its own people. How long are we going to shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So many civilians killed today post encounter in Pulwama. No country can win a war by killing its own people. I strongly condemn these killings, and once again appeal for efforts, to stop this blood bath (sic), Mufti said in a tweet. No probe enough to bring back the dead innocent civilians. South Kashmir has been reeling under fear for the last 6 months. Is this what was expected from Gov rule? The admin has failed in securing civilian lives. Deepest condolences to the bereaved (sic), she said in another tweet. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir expressed anguish over the killings and described them as very unfortunate, sad and highly condemnable. Calling for an end to bloodshed, Mir said it was obvious that unabated innocent civilian killings in Kashmir valley has always been detrimental to peace initiatives initiated from time to time, besides vitiating the atmosphere, resulting in the deterioration of situation to a largest extent. The civilian killings in Pulwama could have been avoided had the forces followed the SOP (standard operating procedure) properly, but unfortunately that has not happened, he said. The JKPCC chief said the central as well as the Jammu and Kashmir government have miserably failed to restore peaceful atmosphere in the Valley. He urged the forces to exercise restraint while dealing with the militant-related activities and ensure no harm to civilians. Separatist-turned-mainstream leader and former minister Sajad Lone said the administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of such anti-militancy operations. Extremely disturbing news coming from Pulwama. The administration needs to seriously evaluate the costs of its operations. If there is even a remote chance of civilians getting killed during military operations it is better to call off such operations, Lone said in a tweet. He expressed hope that the administration abandons its Rambo mindset. My heartfelt thoughts with the families of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. I just pray that Almighty takes us out of the perpetual state of mourning that we seem to have been sucked into. And also hope that administration abandons its Rambo mindset, Lone tweeted. The preparedness of security forces would in the Pulwama context be the ability to make the distinction between combatants and non combatants. If u end up killing 7 civilians in order to kill 3 militants. It is time for heads to roll. We cant afford a state of impunity, he said in another tweet. CPI(M) leader and former legislator M Y Tarigami while expressing pain and sorrow over the brutal killings, said for the BJP, Kashmir is expendable for its narrow electoral interests. Condemnation and ordering a probe after every killing is not enough. What is required is making security forces accountable and punishing those responsible for such unfortunate killings, he said. Tarigami said the BJP regime in New Delhi has been treating Kashmir as only a security problem instead of having political approach to address the issues. The youngsters have been pushed to the wall due to the mistakes and mishandling of Kashmir by the BJP Government. Given the rising toll of casualties and no visible efforts by New Delhi to hold meaningful dialogue, there is apprehension that the situation may worsen further, he said. He demanded immediate steps for identifying those responsible for the killings so as to ensure that they are punished under law. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Srinagar, December 15 Separatists in Kashmir on Saturday called for a three-day strike against killing of seven civilians in security forces action during an encounter in Pulwama district. The separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, also asked people to march to the headquarters of the Armys Chinar Corps at Badamibagh here on Monday. #PulwamaMassacre, Bullets and pellets rain! As Govt of India has decided to kill Kashmiris through its #ArmedForces who control us, JRL and people will march towards Badami Bagh Army cantonment on Monday 17 Dec to ask GOI to kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily (sic), the Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter. In another tweet, he said, From today onwards for three days mourning and complete protest strike will be observed all across. Meanwhile, spontaneous shutdown was observed on Saturday in many areas of Srinagar and south Kashmir following the killing of civilians. Shops in several areas were shut, while a protest demonstration was taken out in Nowhatta area of the city this afternoon. Seven civilians died and several others injured after security forces opened fire on protestors near an encounter site in Sirnoo village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. Three militants were killed in the encounter in which a soldier also lost his life while two other Army men were injured. PTI editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 15 A soldier-turned-militant, who had sent the Army into a tizzy, was killed after months of a cat-and-mouse game with security forces. Zahoor Thokar, 25, of Sirnoo, Pulwama, who had deserted his unit on the intervening night of July 5-6 last year from north Kashmirs Baramulla was killed in an early morning gunfight in south Kashmirs Pulwama district along with two local associates. A soldier was also killed in the incident. Thokar fled his unit along with an AK rifle and three magazines and later joined the militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen. Thokar was the first Kashmiri soldier who deserted the Army and joined the militant ranks. After he joined militancy, he was operating mainly in Pulwama and was wanted in many militancy cases, including cop killings and civilian atrocities, a police officer said. As he was a former soldier, he would train recruits. He was very proactive and was a senior commander of the group in the area. The officer said in the past, Thokar had managed to give the slip to the forces during many operations. Pulwama in south Kashmir where the gunfight broke out early morning is a volatile district with the highest number of active militants. Last month, another Army deserter Mohammad Idrees Sultan, who had also joined the militant ranks earlier this year, was killed in a gunfight at Shopian. Idrees, 23, had joined the Army some three years ago and before joining the militant ranks, he was posted in Bihar and was part of Armys 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regiment. Mir was the second Kashmiri soldier, after Thokar who had joined the militant ranks. There have been instances in J&K were policemen have joined militant ranks. shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com Tribune Web Desk Chandigarh, December 15 Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers was recently caught on camera criticising her fellow contestants ability to speak in English, which has sparked fire online. In a live Instagram video posted on Wednesday, Miss USA talked about Miss Vietnam HHen Nie. She said, She is so cute and she pretends to know so much English and then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she (nods and smiles). In the same video, Summer also said, Miss Cambodia is here and doesnt speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language. Can you imagine? Can you imagine? Francesca (Miss Australia) said that would be so isolating and I said yes and just confusing all the time, said Summers, adding, Poor Cambodia. Miss USA truly representing Trumps America in the #MissUniverse2018 stage. The ignorance. She just sent herself home along with Australia and Colombia. The 24-year-old contestant was seen with Miss Colombia, Valeria Morales and Miss Australia, Francesca Hung, was attending the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday in Bangkok. After severe backlash on social media, Summer took to Instagram saying, It is an opportunity for women from around the world to learn about each others cultures, life experiences, and views. In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realise can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologise, She said, My life, friendships, and career revolve around me being a compassionate and empathetic woman. I would never intend to hurt another. I am grateful for opportunities to speak with Nat, Miss Cambodia, and HHen, Miss Vietnam, directly about this experience. These are the moments that matter most to me. Miss Combodia posted the same picture photo as Summers with the caption, I speak the language of love, respect and understanding. My friendship and sisterhood in Miss Universe will forever be kept in my heart, she added. Our experience has given us the opportunity to show and learn different cultures. Photo Credit: Instagram. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Hyderabad, December 15 The Indian Army proposed to increase intake of women in more non-combat roles such as interpreters and cyber specialists, its Chief General Bipin Rawat said here on Saturday. Besides, it also was mulling recruiting women for the military police, he told reporters here on the sidelines of the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the city outskirts. We are saying, we are going to increase the intake. Women are already there in the Army. We are now going to take them more into some other cadres gradually; we are expanding the Indian Army to women officers, he said. Women were there in the legal and education areas already and the Army wanted interpreters, cyber specialists, people in the information warfare domain and in accounts and audit services, the General said, replying to a question about the Army increasing intake of women. I am also looking at women jawans in the military police. Women joining as soldiers in the military police service and then we will see whether there is any scope for expansion later, the Army Chief said. Earlier last month, speaking on the sidelines of the Passing-Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy in Pune, Gen. Rawat had said the Army was not yet ready to have women in combat roles. Extending best wishes to the young officers who joined the services here, Rawat expressed hope they would make the defence force proud. I am confident that the Air Force will continue to touch the sky with glory always and every time, he said. Earlier in his address at the parade, he referred to 24 women among the graduating cadets and said it was heartening to see so many being commissioned. As empowered women of our great nation, you all are becoming a member of the prestigious Armed forces which will act as a source of inspiration to others to look up to and emulate, he said. The Army Chief told the graduating officers that the modern-day battlefield needed technologically adept airmen, sailors and soldiers. As the nation aspired for its rightful place in the global and regional power structure, the need to protect its security interests would always be paramount, Rawat said. This would increasingly mandate synergised employment of the capabilities of all three services, he said. The potent capabilities, especially the lethal punch of the Indian Air Force, would continue to grow with infusion of new technology into the war-fighting systems, Rawat said. Besides, the defence force was witnessing acquisition and operation of latest weapon platforms and revamped force structures, he said. The Army, Navy and Air Force were increasingly pursuing aggregation of individual service capabilities, he said. Among the graduating officers was a woman fighter pilot Priya Sharma, who is the seventh woman fighter pilot in the IAF and the third from Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. She was inspired by seeing Jaguars and Hawk aircraft flying since her childhood, the young pilot said, recalling her childhood days when her father was posted in Air Force Station in Bidar, Karnataka. It was initially difficult to adapt to a different cockpit (as part of training) and changing aircraft but I got used to it... It is wonderful flying, she added. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com Jitendra K Shrivastava Tribune News Service Patna, December 15 A local special court on Saturday convicted a suspended Rashtriya Janata Dal legislator and five others for raping a minor in Nawada district of Bihar in February 2016. Member of Legislative Assembly Raj Ballabh Yadav Yadav and the others trapped a 15-year-old girl in his residence in Nawada districts English Pathra village and raped her all night. The court will pronounce their sentence on December 21. The Supreme Court cancelled Yadavs bail on November 9, 2016, forcing him to surrender before police. He was suspended from the party because of the rape charges. uttara@tribuneindia.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 15 Upping the ante against the Congress for its relentless attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government over the Rafale fighter jet deal, the BJP has announced that it would press conferences simultaneously at 70 places across the country on Monday. Union minister Jitendra Singh will address the press conference in Chandigarh. Party media in charge Anil Baluni said the aim of these press conferences was to expose Congress attempts to jeopardise the security of country and conspiracy against the BJP-led government. "The BJP will unmask the Congress' conspiracy against the government and its attempt to play with national security after the Supreme Court has categorically stated the truth about that the Rafale deal," Anil Baluni said. The judgment, he said, has "nailed the lie" of those levelling allegations against the government over the fighter aircraft contract. Sources said Adityanath, Devendra Fadanvis, Vijay Rupani, Sarbananda Sonowal, its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Assam, respectively, will address the media in Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Agartala, respectively. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Javadekar, P Nadda, Smriti Irani, Suresh Prabhu, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and party's organisational leaders will also speak to the media at different places. In a boost to the BJP-led central government, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a batch of petitions seeking probe into the Rafale deal. The court said there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal with France. Following the judgement, BJP president Amit Shah has sought an apology from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who, however, stuck to his guns and alleged corruption in the deal. With PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 15 Congress is facing severe trouble negotiating the chief ministers post in Chhattisgarh, with UPA chief Sonia Gandhi now getting involved in talks. Sonia Gandhi reached her son and Congress President Rahul Gandhis residence a while ago to iron out differences among chief minister hopefuls. The Tribune has learnt that after Gandhis veered around to Congress OBC cell chief Tamradhwaj Sahus name for the top position, other contenders nearly rebelled saying they wont even join the state cabinet and will serve only as elected MLAs. After Rahul Gandhi settled for Sahu to please the large OBC caste base in Chhattisgarh, other aspirants for the postoutgoing CLP leader TS Singhdeo, ex-union minister Charandas Mahant and State unit chief Bhupesh Bagheltold the leadership they would neither accept the post of a deputy chief minister nor take oath as ministers in the cabinet. Their contention is that Sahu is a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament brought to the state at the last minute to contest an assembly seat, and that he had no role in fighting the BJP Government in Chhattisgarh for the past five years. Rahul Gandhi had asked AICC observer Mallikarjun Kharge to pacify the leaders and get them to agree on Sahu, but other contenders are yet to be mollified. That explains fresh discussions on the issue, with Sonia Gandhi getting involved and all contenders again being consulted. Rahul Gandhi is still looking for the picture of unity from Chhattisgarh before he finally gives out a name of the chief minister. Similar pictures of unity of warring state leaders had been posted by Gandhi on his Twitter timeline before the name of chief ministers in Rajasthan and MP were announced A picture for Chhattisgarh is still awaited. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 15 Finalisation of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister today turned out to be more challenging for the Congress leadership than they had thought. At the end of several rounds of back and forth discussions between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and four CM aspirants, there was no final word on who will get to wear the crown. All there was at the end of the day, which saw UPA chief Sonia Gandhi counsel her son, was a group picture with Chhattisgarh CM aspirants by Rahul Gandhi. This frame like the ones posted with Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan leaders was the only signal that tensions had been resolved and an announcement would follow. The picture was captioned with American entrepreneur Reid Hoffmans quote, No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if youre playing a solo game, youll always lose out to a team. But the fact that the CMs announcement wont happen until tomorrow is indicative of some unresolved issues. Gandhi, it is learnt, favoured AICC OBC cell chief and Lok Sabha MP Tamradhwaj Sahu, 69, for the CMs job but other contenders objected, arguing that Sahu had not worked in the state for five years and was brought in to contest Assembly elections at the last minute. Other contenders outgoing Congress Legislature Party leader and three-term MLA TS Singhdeo, state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel and former Union minister Charandas Mahant had not come on board for Sahu until late this evening though efforts to mollify them went on through the day with even Rahuls sister Priyanka getting involved. Later in evening, Sonia Gandhi arrived at her sons residence to continue the consultations and shortly thereafter Gandhi posted the picture. While its unclear whether Sahu continues to be the final choice, sources said the party at one time also mulled the option of dividing the CMs five-year tenure equally between Bhupesh Baghel and Singhdeo. Sahu has caste equations favouring him. He is an OBC. Singhdeo is a royal from Ambikapur while Baghel is an OBC. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 15 India and France today undertook an extensive review of its bilateral strategic partnership with focus on areas of defence, space, civil nuclear energy and Indo-Pacific during talks External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held here with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. We had very fruitful talks. We closely looked at all the aspects of our mutual ties. We are taking our cooperation forward in the Indo-Pacific region, which will not only benefit these two countries but also other countries in the region, Swaraj said. Describing the defence relations between the two countries as historic, she said India and France are both associated in a number of exchanges, including training and joint exercises. Incidentally, the visit came a day after the Supreme Courts judgment upholding the Rafale multi-role strike aircraft deal. Sources privy to discussions maintained the issue did not figure in the talks. Swaraj also reiterated the resolve of the two countries to jointly fight terrorism while on his part the French minister said the strategic partnership, now in its 20th year, also meant strengthening of exchanges on the Indian Ocean and shared commitment to fight terrorism, as we mark 10 years since the deadly Mumbai attacks. She said both countries will have to work to further strengthen trade relations with last year bilateral trade recording 9.62 billion euro. Both leaders also reviewed the progress of the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Jaitapur, Maharashtra and adopted an action plan to guide work in the coming months. The visiting minister said: We adopted an action plan to guide our work for the coming months so as to advance as efficiently as possible towards the final decision for building this power plant. The project, the French minister said, will also contribute to Make in India as it involves transfers of production, technology, joint research and training. Besides this, he said French companies are investing and innovating in India and working on urban development and digital economy. rchopra@tribunemail.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, December 15 A woman who claimed to have overheard some passengers talking about a bomb on board an aircraft from Mumbai to Lucknow via Delhi sparked off a major terror scare at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport early this morning. According to airport officials, the woman approached the ground staff at Indigo Airlines check-in counter at around 5 this morning and informed them that she overheard some passengers talking of planting a bomb on board the Mumbai-Delhi flight 6E 3612, which was to depart a shortly. The woman, who was booked on a GoAir flight, even described the passengers who she claimed were a threat to the nation, according to officials. The Airbus A320, which the woman was speaking about, had arrived from Mumbai from Chennai at 12.45 am and was parked at the airport bay A11N, according to airport officials. "After the woman's allegations the security protocol was activated as the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) found the threat 'specific'," an official from the CISF said. Following protocol the aircraft was taken to an isolated bay for checks of the landing gear, doors, cockpit and cargo hold. Meanwhile, the woman started giving vague replies to security officials after which they concluded that she was mentally unsound. It is not clear what action was being taken against her. An IndiGo Airlines statement said the flight then left for Delhi with 169 passengers and crew after a delay of one hour. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Chennai, December 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the Congress, saying national security and the defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. Modis attack on the Opposition party came even as the Congress accused the government of misleading the Supreme Court by presenting wrong information about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government apologise for it. Targeting the main Opposition party in an interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu through video conference from New Delhi, Modi alleged the (Congress) leaders call the Army Chief names and mock at the (2016) surgical strike on the one hand. On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others, he said. All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source, he said. The PM said it was the NDA government that fulfilled the demand for OROP for the armed forces and veterans. PTI Govt lied on Rafale, committed perjury: Cong The BJP has cheated the people. Now, it has the guts to do the same to mislead the SC. There is misrepresentation of facts to the SC. This amounts to contempt (of court), (breach of) privilege as well as perjury. Modi now stands for Misleading Of Democratic Institutions. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Cong Spokesperson Centres claims on deal wrong, Says Pawar The SC judgment says the decision is based on the information they got from the government. The government told them that the CAG has studied it and PAC approved it. However, those things are not correct. This is absolutely wrong. Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Patna, December 15 All RLSP members in the bicameral Bihar legislature on Saturday declared their allegiance with the NDA even as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing personal interests. Both the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan and its lone MLC Sanjiv Singh Shyam, at a joint press conference here, pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar, a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three, in the state Cabinet. We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers, Shyam announced, making it clear the RLSP was headed towards a split. The RLSP which fought the 2014 General Election as well the 2015 state polls as an NDA constituent, has three MPs, including Kushwaha, Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi. Arun Kumar has been charting an independent course for past two years. Sharma, who initially issued statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar, later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when the latter announced his resignation from the Union Cabinet, severing ties with the NDA. We had been saying all long that we were for the RLSP remaining with the NDA, but Kushwaha, who was more interested in personal gains, paid no heed, claimed Shyam, accusing Khushwaha of doing precious little to ensure a berth for any other party member. Khushwaha was happy with his own berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention was on getting a deal that served his interests better, he added. Rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP Legislature Party at the residence of Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi. PTI Congs Ahmed Patel meets Kushwaha New Delhi: Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday met RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, who severed ties with the BJP recently, at the former Union ministers residence, fuelling speculation the Bihar leader may join the Opposition grand alliance in the state to take on the ruling combine. Rashtriya Lok Samta Party spokesperson Fazal Imam Mallick said it was the first round of talks between Kushwaha and the Congress and his party is hopeful of a positive outcome. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, December 15 A Delhi court on Saturday extended by four days the CBI custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case. The 57-year-old British national was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. The probe agency told the judge that Michel needs to be confronted with various documents in the case and had sought further custody of for five days. It also said that the accused was required to be taken to the premises of Pawan Hans India Ltd in Mumbai to verify his version of his alleged attempted negotiations to buy back WG-30 helicopters, to identify the shipper and to confront the officials of Pawan Hans India. The agency said that voluminous documents have been received from various countries pursuant to the 'Letter of Requests' and the accused was yet to be confronted with a number of them. The defence counsel opposed the CBI application for further remand saying already enough time was granted to the agency and nothing incriminating was found against accused. "Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, submissions mad by the parties, I deem it fit to grant further four days PC remand of the accused. Accordingly, the accused is remanded to PC for four days," the judge said. Michel was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days. Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Both the agencies notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. The CBI has alleged there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Gurbax Puri Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 15 Four marriage palace workers died of asphyxiation at a marriage palace on the Tarn Taran-Amritsar road here on Saturday morning. One of their companions, who was in a critical condition, was rushed to a private hospital. They were sleeping in a room with an angithi burning in it, which led to the mishap. The deceased were identified as Kishna (19), Suresh (40), both residents of Uttar Pradesh; Vicky (17) of Assam; and Love (25) of Bihar. Vinod (25) of Nepal was admitted to the ICU of the hospital. His condition is said to be serious. All of them worked as cleaners and catering workers at the marriage palace. Senior police officials, including SP investigation Tilak Raj and DSP Sucha Singh, reached the spot. They said the investigation is under way. Kishnas father Ravi Sarkar, a resident of Majitha Road bypass in Amritsar, said he was trying to contact his son on his mobile phone since Friday evening, but he did not pick up the phone. He said he came to know of the incident on Saturday morning. uttara@tribuneindia.com Chandigarh, December 15 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking early approval of the proposed Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project, an official spokesperson said. The expressway, proposed as a greenfield project by the government of India, will connect the national capital with the important religious cities of Amritsar in Punjab and Katra in Jammu & Kashmir. Singh has urged the Centre to expeditiously approve the project as it would lead to improved connectivity and foster greater socio-economic development of the region, the spokesperson said. Earlier this year, the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana had met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to discuss the proposed alignment of the expressway, which would pass through the two states up till Amritsar, he said. Thereafter, the Punjab government had conveyed its consent for adoption of alignment starting from Amritsar and going straight up to the international airport in New Delhi, he said. However, the spokesperson said, the ministry is yet to take a formal decision on the approval of the alignment. PTI editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 15 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday abolished the practice adopted by the jail authorities in Punjab to segregate convicts immediately after the pronouncement of death sentence by the trial court and its confirmation by the High Court. The ruling came as a convict escaped the gallows with the High Court commuting to life imprisonment the death sentence awarded to him by a Mansa court for raping and murdering a minor. Directing the state to modify the Punjab Jail Manual, the Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Gurvinder Singh asserted that the convict would not be segregated or isolated till death sentence becomes final, conclusive and indefeasible and could not be annulled or voided by any judicial process. The period to keep a convict sentenced to death in segregation or isolation was also required to be for shortest possible time of two to three days. Dubbing solitary confinement as unconstitutional, the Bench asserted there was no scientific reason why the convict sentenced to death should be kept in isolation for indefinite period till he exhausted all his constitutional and legal remedies. It caused immense pain, agony and anxiety to the condemned convict. It was also violative of Articles 20(2) and 21 of the Constitution of India. A man, even if he is sentenced to death, has certain privileges and rights which cannot be denied to him due to a colonial mindset. The provisions of the Punjab Jail Manual are anarchic, cruel and insensitive, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bench added. Referring to the Punjab Jail Manual, the Bench said a warder would not allow any person to go near or communicate with the prisoner except by an authorised person. He was supposed to be in isolation for more than 23 hours in a day. This was against the Nelson Mandela rules. Speaking for the Bench, Justice Sharma asserted that the practice to keep the convict in custodial segregation or solitary confinement before the exhaustion of his constitutional, legal and fundamental rights was without authority of law and amounted to additional punishment. It also amounted to torture and was violative of his basic human rights. Justice Sharma referred to the United Nations Standard Minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, articles published in foreign countries and a plethora of judgments while reaching the conclusion. The development took place in the case of Kala Ram awarded death sentence by the Mansa Special Judge under Section 376-A of the IPC for committing rape and murder of a six-year-old. rchopra@tribunemail.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 15 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday put Punjab on notice on a petition filed by Lok Insaaf Party MLA Simarjit Singh Bains for permission to intervene in the Ludhiana city centre case. The petition was filed nearly 11 months after a court in Ludhiana had rejected Bainss plea to be party in the case. The vigilance bureau, on August 19, 2017, had filed a closure report before the court concerned claiming that there was no scam at all and that no proof was found against Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, his son Raninder Singh and others following re-investigation. The petitioner had moved the court after the special court in Ludhiana, on October 25, permitted the Enforcement Directorate to inspect the case file. Taking up the plea, Justice Inderjit Singh also fixed January 23 as the next date of hearing. MLA Bains had filed an application in the court challenging the closure report filed by the vigilance bureau in the case last year. Bains had sought permission to join the proceedings in the case claiming that since it is a corruption case, he has the right to challenge the closure report. In his petition before the High Court, Bains sought directions for setting aside the Ludhiana court order. The High Court has already ordered continuation of stay on the operation of an order passed by the Ludhiana Special Judge on October 25 permitting the Enforcement Directorate to inspect the court file in the Ludhiana City Centre case. The developments had taken place on a petition filed by Delhi-based Chetan Gupta, who had moved the High Court demanding a stay on the ED inspection, among other things. The counsel for the petitioners argued that the ED was not a party in the case and could not be allowed to inspect the case file. The case was between the Punjab vigilance bureau and the accused. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Lahore, December 15 A Pakistan court today acquitted two prime suspects in the murder case of Indian national Sarabjit Singh in 2013 in the Kot Lakhpat jail here, citing lack of evidence against them. The Lahore Sessions Court announced its verdict in the case that was pending for more than five years. According to a court official, Lahores additional district and sessions judge Muhammad Moin Khokhar acquitted main suspects Amir Tamba and Mudassar after all witnesses turned hostile. Not a single witness testified against both suspects, the official said. He said both suspects made their presence in the court through a video link. Amir and Mudassar, two Pakistan death row prisoners, attacked Singh, 49, in Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail in 2013 resulting in his death. In previous hearings, the judge had expressed his anger as the prosecution failed to bring forth prosecuting witnesses to record their statement. One witness in the previous hearing told the court that Singh was brought to the Services Hospital in a critical condition. Singh died before recording his statement before the doctors. A one-man judicial commission of Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi of Lahore High Court had initially investigated Singhs murder case before the trial kicked off in the sessions court. Tamba and Mudassar, in their statements to the commission, had confessed to the crime and said they killed Singh as they wanted to avenge the killing of people in Lahore and Faisalabad in bomb blasts allegedly carried out by the Indian national. Naqvi recorded the statements of some 40 witnesses in the case and submitted its report to the government, which is yet to make its findings public. The commission had also issued notices to Singhs relatives through the foreign ministry to record their statements and produce any evidence they had regarding his death. However, Singhs family did not record their statements, the officials had said. Singh had been sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in a string of bombings in 1990 in the Punjab province of Pakistan. PTI singhking99@yahoo.com Shardul Bhardwaj As the final call to enter the performance space at the Oddbird Theatre came, the audience (mostly familiar with each other through their affiliation to the community of the music and theatre artists in the capital) left the comfortable lap of Ornette Colemans ravishing saxophone playing to witness the play titled Mahish by the Third Space Collective. It was a full house on a Saturday evening, their second show that day. On entering, one is greeted by an empty platform kept upstage with a life-sized outline of Indias boundary highlighted by green LED lights a rough indication of what is to come. TSCs set design always seems to hint at the real and borders on the unfinished to create an interplay between fact and fiction. Perhaps the same liminal space that this group treads so well in, in terms of set design, is also implicit in the performance grammar of Mahish, which is an attempt at a seamless confluence of language and body, gaining primacy to articulate the story and characters. The play is an adaptation of Eugene Ionescos Rhinoceros (1959) that belongs to the repertoire of absurdist articulations of the rise of singular and exclusivist ideology of fascism that lead to multitudes committing themselves to mass genocides during WW-II. Thus, an adaptation of this play by TSC becomes crucial through the motif of Mahishasur, the buffalo-demon who was killed by Durga. In the context of navratra festivities in a small colony, Mahishasur threatens to take over each and every god-fearing citizen of India. Mahish manifests through bizarre episodes of ordinary citizens transforming into beasts, leaving the fold of humanity to be reported. The setting of the navatras soon shifts to a newsroom, equally plagued by misinformation and rumour-mongering based on individual opinions and subjective experiences with Mahishes. As the play progresses, one can witness each and every character change into a Mahish, except the protagonist of the play, Vandana (played by New Delhi based theatre practitioner Dhwani Vij) who has insurmountable belief in her version of humanity. Her trauma is explicit in her lovers gradual and painful conversion into a mahish. As her beliefs grow, she tries to create an idyllic world far away from her known surroundings with Chandini (embodied by Anannya Tripathi) where humanity shall win against the Mahishism on the streets. She dreams of starting from scratch and even envisions a world where she and Chandini would be able to have children of their own and save the human race. Vandana tries to hold her fort till the end despite knowing all her friends would turn to Mahishes. The play tries to confront the dilemma of the characters to turn into Mahish or to stay human. The audience rarely gets to know who and what the Mahish is? Whether this other is an ideology, a figment of somebodys imagination or a primordial beast from the mythology out to test a Hindu-crazed population. It might be all three and the beauty of these colliding thoughts played out beautifully until the actual transformations begin. The second half seems rushed and of one singular rhythm, but director Neel Sengupta clearly seems to want to maintain the plurality of the meaning of Mahish. This contradiction seems to eat up the beauty of the first half and seems to be hurriedly running towards its resolution. The marked increase in words and singularity of pace take away from the complexity the writer, Rajesh Nirmal, and the director had promised at the beginning of the play. Some very crisp performances by Niketan Sharma, Rahul Tewari and Dhwani Vij dont let audiences ever get comfortable in their seats. It is the text that stops supporting the beautiful range that the actors of this play traverse as various characters through various scenes. Shahzad Raza Shahzad Raza Former US President Ronald Reagan called Afghan warlords the moral equivalent of the founding fathers of the US. The CIA-funded blockbuster movies like Rambo-III commemorated the bravery of the Afghans. Colluding with their Saudi partners, the Americans funnelled billions of dollars to Afghan warriors through Pakistan. The multi-purpose strategy, in the early 1980s, was aimed at defeating the Red Army, disintegrating the Soviet Union, attaining the status of sole super power and avenge the humiliation of Vietnam War. Soon after the withdrawal of the Soviet forces in 1989, the warlords turned against each other and wrote another chapter of bloodshed in the history of the land-locked country. Then rose the Taliban from Kandahar. They set examples of extreme barbarity, radicalising the entire society. Pakistan was one of the three countries which recognised the Taliban regime. The US while assessing the situation even invited Taliban officials to Washington once. Then Osama bin Laden happened. And the rest is history. The US fought a costly war in Afghanistan following 9/11. The strategists at Langley and the Pentagon used the United Nations platform to wage a legalised war against the Taliban to be joined, primarily, by their NATO allies. Pakistan was given the status of a non-NATO ally. The country received billions of dollars in exchange of facilitating the coalition forces. Pakistan revoked the recognition of Taliban government and got its ambassador to Islamabad, Mullah Zaeef, arrested. In his book, Al-Quds editor, Abdel Bari Atwan claimed that al-Qaeda was born on the outskirts of Peshawar. The Pakistani establishment let them operate at will thinking their vision of achieving the so-called strategic depth in Afghanistan against India would eventually materialise. Pakistan paid a heavy price of becoming the US proxy in two Afghan wars. The first war was followed by a huge inflow of refugees, heroin and Kalashnikovs. That disrupted the fabric of Pakistani society. The country still hosts more than two million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees. The consequences of the second Afghan war were more detrimental. The terrorists from al-Qaeda and other entities wreaked havoc on Pakistan. They found too many targets, including the military headquarters and an elite commandos training facility. In the last 10 years, Pakistan has conduct a number of clean up operations. With rigorous efforts, the military and civilian leaders have managed to contain the situation, but not before losing more than 60,000 lives and $100 billion. The strategic loss for Pakistan was that it lost leverage over Taliban. Its connection with Haqqani network invited ire from Washington. Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed that Pakistan was facilitating a dialogue process between the Americans and Taliban. In its South Asia policy, President Trump prefers India over Pakistan to resolve the Afghan quandary. The Indians have already invested in the rebuilding of Afghanistan and are interested in establishing a permanent trade route to Kabul and other central Asian states. While India is investing in Afghanistan to apparently make any Afghan government its proxy, Pakistan has reverted to Taliban to strike a strategic balance. Both India and Pakistan have failed to understand the history of the baron country. The Afghans cannot be dictated for too long. Not every Afghan is Hamid Karzai or Ashraf Ghani. Unless Pakistan and India normalise their relations, another proxy war in Afghanistan cannot be averted. Both countries would have much more to lose than the former Soviet Union and the US. Saba Naqvi Saba Naqvi Travelling through the election-bound states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, I found two issues were repeatedly flagged by the poor: notebandi and Aadhaar. The first cannot be reversed but Aadhaar can be. It is cruel and arbitrary on the poor, particularly in adivasi belts that I travelled through in Bastar and across the border into Madhya Pradesh. Most compelling was the story of a Gond tribal woman in Madhya Pradesh. From her distant village, she made several trips to the Aadhaar authority in the town because first they got her name wrong. Next they had something else wrong, (illiterate, she did not know exactly what), and her problem was not yet sorted out. Meanwhile, she and her family were being denied rations and benefits for those under the poverty line. Aadhaar had, in fact, disempowered her even as it increased the powers of the petty bureaucracy. There are other reports I have read about families in remote parts starving because they lost their rations. The Aadhaar project that involves giving a card bearing the 12-digit unique identity number attached to biometric data began in the era of the Congress rule. But it has been pushed aggressively over the last few years by the BJP. In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, I travelled for miles in areas where there was no cell-phone connectivity. How on earth are you going to make Aadhaar work in parts where I am directed to stand under a particular tree to get cell phone connection! I have little doubt that the same reality exists in Jharkhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, all currently held by the BJP or the NDA. By now the BJP has got the feedback that Aadhaar was one of the reasons that added up to the overall narrative of economic distress. The post-poll data shows that the party is fast losing support in Dalit and tribal-dominated seats. One of the reasons, I firmly believe, is Aadhaar. My unsolicited advice to all political parties is that junk the entire Aadhaar system; chuck it into the dust-bin and then announce it from the roof-tops and put this in your manifesto. It will be a popular step. Just two months ago, the Union Food Ministry issued a notification that no beneficiarys name should be removed from lists of those eligible to get rations in case they did not get an Aadhaar number or had it but failed to link it. Earlier, the Supreme Court judgment delivered the same instructions: no one should be denied benefits for not having Aadhaar or not being able to link it. But such instructions have not been absorbed on the ground, particularly as the Aadhaar system was being aggressively promoted till now. Ration shops in the states in the Hindi heartland simply turn away people if there is a data mismatch. Also, please understand the kind of people who are most in need of the free rations and are being turned away. Many would not be literate, but they would be bewildered by what officialdom would tell them. They can be bullied by the shopkeepers. The old public distribution system was imperfect; full of pilferage and corruption. But at least people knew they were dealing with: their names were in a register that would match a ration card that they possessed. What Aadhaar does is bewildering for many Indians and the bewilderment increases as we go down the economic ladder. In the city, we have examined valid concerns about data theft and privacy issues linked to Aadhaar. What I discovered in this round of election travels is that Aadhaar is cruel and unjust for adivasis in particular. People travel from long distances, from villages in the hills only to get turned away at the ration shop. What happens frequently is the following: there are data-entry errors, such as that encountered by the Gond woman I interviewed whose name was entered incorrectly. Then there are failures in biometric authentication since a lot of the work has been done shoddily in our hurry to expand this efficientsystem across the nation. Finally, there are network problems and glitches. There can, in some cases, be all three problems that an individual can encounter to get a few sacks of rice. In such an event, they would not get it. Unbelievable that this should be happening; in the name of progress we are actually disempowering people. Its an Orwellian nightmare and I hope in the run up to 2019, both the Congress and the BJP dump Aadhaar. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Sydney, December 15 Australia now recognises west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved. Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital when the city's status is determined in a peace deal. "Australia now recognises west Jerusalem -- being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government -- is the capital of Israel," Morrison said in a speech in Sydney on Saturday. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations have avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status -- until US President Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. "We look forward to moving our embassy to west Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination," Morrison said, adding that work on a new site for the embassy was under way. In the interim, the prime minister said, Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city. "Furthermore, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem," he added. Morrison first floated a shift in foreign policy in October, which angered Australia's immediate neighbour Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation. The issue has put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. Canberra on Friday told its citizens travelling to Indonesia to "exercise a high degree of caution", warning of protests in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and popular holiday hotspots, including Bali. Morrison said it was in Australia's interests to support "liberal democracy" in the Middle East, and took aim at the United Nations he said was a place Israel is "bullied". Trump's decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv last May prompted tens of thousands of Palestinian protesters to approach the heavily-protected Israeli border. At least 62 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire that day. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously hailed Morrison's initiative. The Palestinian government will press for Arab and Muslim states to "withdraw their Ambassadors" and take some "meat and wheat" style "economic boycott measures" over Canberra's decision, Palestinian ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi told AFP Friday. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) on Saturday said Morrison's move "serves no Australian interest". "This sabotages any real possibility for a future just agreement and further emboldens Israel to continue with its daily human rights violations of Palestinians," APAN president Bishop George Browning said in a statement. AFP sanjiv@tribunemail.com SYDNEY, December 15 Australia formally recognises West Jerusalem as Israels capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy, but will not move its embassy there immediately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday. Morrison said in October he was open to shifting Australias embassy from Tel Aviv. President Donald Trumps decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May delighted Israel, infuriated Palestinians and upset the wider Arab world and Western allies. Morrisons unexpected announcement in October was viewed cynically because it came days before a crucial byelection in an electorate with a strong Jewish representation, a poll his party subsequently lost. It also drew criticism from Muslim-majority neighbours such as Indonesia and Malaysia, neither of whom formally recognise Israels right to exist. Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, including the eastern sector that it annexed after the 1967 Middle East war, and wants all embassies based there. The global community believes Jerusalems status should be resolved through talks. The status of Jerusalem, home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths, is one of the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement between Israel and Palestinians who want East Jerusalem recognised as the capital of a Palestinian state. Morrison said Australia would not move its embassy to West Jerusalem until the citys final status was determined, but said trade and defence offices would be opened there. Reuters shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com Terre Haute, December 15 A journalism group at Indiana State University is taking steps to honor alumnus and slain Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The Tribune-Star reports that the university's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hopes to dedicate a meeting space to Khashoggi, who was also recently named Time Person of the Year. Graduate student Andrew Hile is the university's SPJ president. He says the space will serve as a reminder that students should act with "courage, commitment and integrity." Khashoggi attended the university from 1977 to 1982 and received a degree in business administration. The group also plans to raise money for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonprofit that promotes the rights of journalists. Khashoggi was killed two months ago when The Washington Post columnist visited Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey for paperwork so he could get married. He had been critical of the Saudi regime. AP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Islamabad, December 15 Pakistans Supreme Court on Saturday directed the federal and provincial governments to set deadlines for civil servants with dual nationalities to either give up their job or the second nationality. The apex court urged the governments to not appoint dual nationality holders on positions related to national security in order to safeguard national security and interests. A two-member Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, announced a verdict in a case initiated by the court in January on the issue of dual nationals occupying sensitive posts. The apex court had reserved verdict in the case on September 24. The detailed 52-page verdict was authored by the Chief Justice. The court in its verdict asked the federal and provincial governments to legislate and take necessary measures to remove dual nationals. It also warned that failure to relinquish second nationality by government employees within the stipulated time should result in legal action. We cannot lose sight of the fact that divided loyalty does not necessarily mean disloyalty to Pakistan... Nonetheless, a real concern as raised by the opponents of dual nationality is that of divided loyalties leading to potential national security risks, the verdict stated. It is in light of both the advantages and disadvantages of dual nationality that leads us to consider the adoption of a balanced approach where certain important positions in government service and public offices where indeed complete and undivided loyalty to Pakistan is required ought to be restricted to those who are citizens of Pakistan only, it said. The court remarked that government employees who hold foreign nationalities during the course of their employment are a threat to the interests of the country. The court left a window to engage dual national or non-Pakistanis by saying that they can be employed with the permission of the Cabinet of necessary. Earlier, a report compiled by government in March showed that at least 213 government officers in departments of federal and provincial governments were dual nationals. PTI On this historic day, we extend our congratulations to Barbados as it joins the club of full Are you planning to leave your luggage in the car while doing stops/sightseeing? Or ask the Lodge to watch it for you? This article has directions for visiting this waterfall and finding it from 708:https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/catarata-del-toro/ . Or their own site's directions: . You are saying you are visiting with your family. Adult prices in 2018 are US$14 per person, kids ages from 3 to 12 - US$7. "In the rainy season, May December, the mornings are normally best and bring a raincoat or poncho. Come as early as possible so, there will be more time to enjoy. No swimming allowed because it is extremely dangerous. The latest entrances are at 16.30 hours and children, up to 3 years have free admission." If you book tickets on line, they offer 15% off, non refundable - . Hi I am travelling with my partner to Vietnam in Feb 2019 for 9 days flying to Ho Chi Minh city, I am really wanting to see Hanoi and do the Halong Bay Cruise. But I am also torn between going to Cambodia, any recommendations on which is better North Vietnam or Cambodia? Also would love some recommendations on tour companies, or if it is cheaper to book everything as we go in Vietnam. This will be a budget trip we have around $2500AUD to spend on accommodation and activities for the 9 days. I don't want to be so busy that I don't get to really experience the sights and culture of Vietnam so looking for 5-7 days of activities would really love some feedback Hi guys! Do you think it's possible for me to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning and tour Ho Chi Minh City (Notre dame cathedral, Post Office, War Museum, Independence Palace, etc.) in the afternoon? As I'm a little short in time and budget. I plan to do the Mekong Delta tour in day 2. Do you think that is too rushed? How much time is needed to explore the tunnels? Should I do the city tour and tunnels on separate days? I crossed the Cambodian-Vietnamese border going from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in December 2018 with Mekong Express. Many different companies offer van or bus services across the border leaving at various times throughout the day and even in high season you should not have trouble securing a seat with a same-day booking. Tickets appear to range from $8-$15USD depending on which company you choose. The higher bracket of that price range is likely to get you a slightly comfier seat if youre travelling by van and probably a small snack/water bottle. Mekong Express appeared to be a popular choice which is why I opted for them but if I were to cross the border again I would choose one of the cheaper more local-oriented operators because I think the service is probably just as good if not better. Mekong Express charges $12 for the bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh but as soon as I got on the bus I was informed by the staff member on board that I would have to pay another $5 if I wanted to get my visa processed or $2 with a long wait. I had not heard about this before and asked whether I could check this out for myself once we arrived at the border. The staff member informed me that this was not possible and insisted that I pay her there and then. At the time, the smallest change I had was a $5 note so I reluctantly handed this over for the slower option and was told I would get change later. Following a dinner break along the way I got some smaller change and asked the staff member if I could give her the exact $2 and receive my $5 back but she waved me away and said it would be sorted after the border. After 4.5 hours we arrived at the border and got off the bus to independently have our passports and visas stamped and surveyed by the Cambodian immigration. No money exchanged hands. Our staff member collected all our passports/visas and we then drove a little further up the road to the Vietnamese immigration and waited inside with our bags while the staff member disappeared behind the barriers with our passports. Presumably she was bringing these to an immigration official to process. I did not see any money exchange hands nor any indication of visa processing fees anywhere in the building. There were hardly any other people waiting in this building and it certainly seemed like if we had all just approached any of the immigration booths ourselves with our documents that we would have been able to get through the process ourself. Regardless, there was definitely no need to have paid $5 for skip-the-queue processing. The staff member finally returned all our passports and my change, apologising that she only had Vietnamese dong and giving me back half as much as what was owed. We then passed our bags through a scanner and hopped back on the bus to continue to Ho Chi Minh, arriving at 8.45pm after a 2pm departure from Phnom Penh. In light of all this, it certainly seems like the Mekong Express staff are running a bit of a scam when it comes to their handling of passengers at the border, especially given that other travellers have denied having to make these extra payments using other companies. Realistically, theres really not that much to choose between any of the companies available so I would advise opting for someone cheap, not Mekong Express, and trying to be as independent as you can at the border to avoid unneccessary third-party payments. The approval letter should cost no more than $6 and the stamp duty which you pay upon arrival at the airport is $25. If you foolishly left getting your visa to the last minute then you wouldve had to pay the going rate to obtain a visa approval letter after hours from a cranky govt official. That will always cost money as you have found out. but regulars on this forum will tell you paying extra for a VIP service where an agent greets you and holds your hand and walks you to the landing visa counter is a total waste of money. We all have done it without help from anybody as its so simple to do. It is at this point you pay the stamp duty. You are not paying twice for a visa as you have wrongly claimed. You're paying for the visa at that point. Your trusted colleague who put you onto them is no friend indeed. $100 is outrageous when it can be obtained for only $6 if ordered in time. Last minute express VOA letters of approval are usually in the vacinity of $100 so you paid about the going rate for people who dont do their research and need a rushed approval letter. Dublin, Dec. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "South America Wi-Fi Analytics Market By Component (Solutions and Services), By Deployment Type (On-Premise and Cloud), By Location (Indoor and Outdoor), By Application, By Industry, By Country, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2013-2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. South America Wi-Fi analytics market is forecast to grow to $375 million by end of 2023, during the forecast period, on the back of increasing number of partnerships between Wi-Fi analytics providers to expand their reach across various countries in the region. Moreover, increasing adoption of public Wi-Fi and guest Wi-Fi systems across various retail organizations, growth in internet and mobile device penetration, and rising awareness regarding data analytics and marketing services across various sectors are also expected to aid the region's Wi-Fi analytics market during forecast period. South America Wi-Fi Analytics Market, 2023 discusses the following aspects of Wi-Fi Analytics market in South America: Wi-Fi Analytics Market Size, Share & Forecast Segmental Analysis - By Component (Solutions and Services), By Deployment Type (On-Premise and Cloud), By Location (Indoor and Outdoor), By Application, By Industry, By Country Competitive Analysis Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities Why You Should Buy This Report? To gain an in-depth understanding of Wi-Fi Analytics in South America To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years To help industry consultants, Wi-Fi Analytics 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 Some of the major players operating in South America Wi-Fi analytics market are Cisco Systems, Inc. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Fortinet, Inc. ARRIS INTERNATIONAL PLC Purple Wi-Fi Skyfii Limited Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Global Wi-Fi Analytics Market Overview 5. South America Wi-Fi Analytics Market Landscape 6. South America Wi-Fi Analytics Market Outlook 6.1. Market Size & Forecast 6.1.1. By Value 6.2. Market Share & Forecast 6.2.1. By Component (Solutions and Services) 6.2.1.1. By Solutions (Wi-Fi Based Location Analytics Solution & Wi-Fi Based Indoor Positioning Systems) 6.2.1.2. By Services (Professional Services and Managed Services) 6.2.2. By Deployment Type (On-Premise and Cloud) 6.2.3. By Location (Indoor and Outdoor) 6.2.4. By Application (Footfall Analytics, Customer Engagement, Customer Experience Management, Customer Behavior Analytics & Customer Loyalty Management) 6.2.5. By Industry (Retail, Government & Transportation, Media & Sport, Hospitality and Others) 6.2.6. By Country 7. Brazil Wi-Fi Analytics Market Outlook 8. Argentina Wi-Fi Analytics Market Outlook 9. Colombia Wi-Fi Analytics Market Outlook 10. Market Dynamics 10.1. Drivers 10.2. Challenges 11. Market Trends & Developments 12. Competitive Landscape 13. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zq4r82/south_america?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Everyone has their own individual tastes, of course, you might ask the family. Bringing something that represents where you are from is typically good, and also not bulky, heavy or outlandish. T-shirts, keychains, etc. are a couple of ideas. Usually around that age girls start taking an interest in make-up, so some teen lipstick or light fragrance might be good too. (Yes, yes, they can't wear it at school, but you'd be surprised that some wear it on weekends). I've given some lip balm with various soda flavors (many they can't get in Japan easily), and it can be a new experience. Lip Smackers by Coca-Cola is one idea, plus Maybelline Baby Lips (had some ask me to send it to them). The novels are likely too difficult for her to read at her education level, but for the future might be enjoyable. Perhaps even pique her interest in learning English more. Hot off the heels of Qantas introducing more flights to Cairns, Silk Air has announced plans for a daily Cairns-Singapore service. The regional wing of Singapore Airlines already services the route with five flights a week. The extra flights, on Tuesdays and Sundays with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, are scheduled to begin on June 2nd, 2019. Silk Air Chief Executive, Mr Foo Chai Woo, said the carrier has been working with Tourism and Events Queensland to secure the deal. - Haji received a letter from Cabinet Secretary for Environment Keriako Tobiko - The letter indicated a possible loss of KSh 1.2 billion debt owed to saw millers by the Kenya Forest Service - The loss is said to have been incurred in undervaluation of forest materials - Haji has ordered investigations into the matter in the next 21 days The no nonsense Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji has moved in speed to unravel another scandal at the Kenya Forest Service where it is alleged taxpayers lost over KSh 1.2 billion. Haji ordered investigations into the possible loss of the money owed to saw millers after he received a letter from his predecessor and Cabinet Secretary for Environment Keriako Tobiko. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: War on corruption is not targeting communities but individuals - Raila Odinga DPP Noordin Haji has already ordered investigations into the possible loss of KSh 1.2 billion at the Ministry of Environment. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: The tricks corruption suspects have been using to defeat justice In a letter dated Friday, November 9, 2018, Tobiko wants investigation in a possible conspiracy and collision of fraud by the officials from Kenya Forest Service and saw millers. The CS said the debt was incurred for the period between Financial Year 2012/13 to 2017/18 and is in relation to revenue loss arising from gross undervaluation of forest plantation stocks. "As regards to the accumulated debt of KSh 1.2 billion stated above, I would like to point out that it is a mandatory requirement in the letters allocating forest plantation material to saw millers be harvested," wrote Tobiko. READ ALSO: Stop harassing, embarrassing corruption suspects - Lawyers tell detectives Tobiko added that a preliminary investigation covering forests in the counties of Baringo, Kericho, Elgeyo Narakwet, Meru and Kiambu has seen the government lose over KSh 3.5 billion. The money in the county forest was lost in thee financial year 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 due to undervaluation of the forest plantation. "It is important to investigate and bring to account all those involved in and/or responsible for such revenue losses," he said. Upon reception of the letter and files from the CS, the DPP ordered investigations into the matter within the next 21 days. Story By Irene Mativo 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 Memorable moments during Uhuru's Kisumu Visit | Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Raila says the historic handshake had nothing to do with 2022 succession politics - The ODM leader has termed it foolish for Ruto to use the handshake deal for his selfish gain - Ruto declared in public there is no bad blood between him and Raila The Opposition leader Raila Odinga has dismissed Deputy President William Samoei 'kati kati' (in the middle) remarks he made during President Uhuru Kenyatta's tour to Nyanza region. Raila termed it foolish for the deputy president who is a partner in the government to trivialise and politicise historic handshake between him and Uhuru as an act of political expediency. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Siaya Senator James Orengo's failure to recognise Ruto angers his followers Raila addressing Homa Bay residents on Saturday, December 15. Photo: Raila Odinga/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Siaya Senator Orengo laughs off Ruto's chance of becoming president in 2022 "It's foolishness for one to say that he stands between me and President Kenyatta in the handshake. We want people to avoid politics out of the handshake," said Raila. The ODM boss who spoke on Saturday, December 15, in Homa Bay during homecoming ceremony for Rangwe MP Lillian Gogo, also warned leaders to desist from meddling with the unity pact as it nothing to do with 2022 succession politics but healing forgotten wounds. After the successful Nyanza tour, Raila and Uhuru will head over to Kakamega county in series of nationwide meet the people tour. While in Kisumu during the launch of Universal Health Coverage, Ruto clarified there is no bad blood between him and the ODM party boss and went on to urge locals to support him when the time comes. "When you see Uhuru on one side and Raila on the other, just know I am in between them. Will we walk together in future?" he posed. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya finally has new currency | Tuko TV Source: Tuko During the trip, the Deputy PM will attend the fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC), pay an official visit to Laos, and co-chair the fifth ministerial-level political consultation between the two countries. Hung said via high-level visits and exchanges, leaders of the two Parties and States have reached important and strategic agreements to shape orientations for bilateral ties in the long-term while friendly collaboration between ministries, departments and agencies at the central and local levels has brought about practical results. Further attention has been paid to raising public awareness, especially young generations, of the significance of bilateral relationship. Both sides have completed and popularised the document History of Vietnam Laos Special Relationship 1930-2007, and effectively held hundreds of events, particularly during the Year of Vietnam Laos, Laos Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship 2017, not only in each country but also in Vietnamese and Lao representative offices abroad, contributing to popularising their special, loyal and pure ties to international friends. In economic terms, Vietnam remains one of the biggest investors and major trade partners of Laos. Many Vietnamese firms built welfare facilities such as schools, hospitals and roads to reduce poverty and improve intellectual standards in Laos. Connectivity between the two economies, especially in infrastructure and transportation, has been strengthened. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosts a reception for Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Khamphau Ernthavan (Source: VNA) The ambassador expressed his belief that Laos will become an important transit hub in Southeast Asia on the back of cooperation with Vietnam and regional countries. In education, the two countries launched the project on improving the quality and efficiency of Vietnam Laos coordination in education and human resources development for the 2011-2020 period. Each year, Vietnam offers 1,000 short-term and long-term training courses to Laos, More than 14,600 Lao students are studying in Vietnam while hundreds of Vietnamese students are pursuing education in Laos. Bilateral national defence-security links have been strengthened with the completion of a project on increasing and upgrading Vietnam Laos national border markers, the signing of an agreement on Vietnam Laos border and border marker management regulations, and a Protocol on Vietnam Laos borderline and border markers. Along with bilateral cooperation framework, the fraternal solidarity has been reflected at regional and global forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation, contributing to improving each countrys prestige and stature in the region and the world. According to the diplomat, the two nations will give the top priority to lifting Vietnam Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation to a greater height, considering ties between the two Parties as crucial and the tightening of political ties and mutual trust as a pillar in bilateral relations. About the significance of the Deputy PM Minhs attendance at the fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting on MLC from December 16-17 with the participation of six coastal countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China, Hung said it manifests Vietnams appreciation for MLC mechanism, affirms Vietnams role in Mekong sub-regional cooperation and the countrys promotion of contents matching her interests. At the invitation of Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy PM, FM Minh will pay an official visit to Laos and co-chair the fifth ministerial-level political consultation from December 18-19. It will afford both sides a chance to review ties between the two foreign ministries over the past years, outline orientations to bilateral links in 2019, and share experience in external relations, he said./. The 'Fairness Test' New Jersey's Power Move in Context Headed for the New Jersey Ballot? Democrats have complained for years that Republicans have entrenched their hold on power through gerrymandering. In New Jersey, Democrats stepped all over their party's message by trying to accomplish the same thing themselves.But in the end, the backlash was too much.On Saturday, legislative leaders canceled plans for a vote Monday on a new constitutional amendment regarding redistricting.The New Jersey Legislature had planned to rush through an amendment critics complained would have given Democrats unfair advantages. "The rule on its face looks fair, but it writes an essentially permanent gerrymander in favor of Democrats into the constitution," says Patrick Egan, a professor of politics and public policy at New York University.Because Democrats already have strong and longstanding majorities in the New Jersey Legislature, Egan says they created a perception problem for their party without gaining any clear advantage."The political upside of this seems so low compared to the obvious damage to what Democrats nationwide are trying to do, which is establish themselves against gerrymandering and corruption and for campaign finance reform," Egan says. "It seems like a classic inward state party thinking only of itself, and not thinking of the national implications of its actions."That dynamic ended up killing the plan.National Democratic groups and leaders spoke out strongly against the plan, saying that New Jersey legislators shouldn't push through a proposal that appeared to game the system, in the same way they've accused Republicans of doing in other states. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy denounced the plan, as did several liberal groups in the state, ultimately dooming its prospects."We do not have to cheat to win," declared Analilia Mejia, head of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance.Legislators maintained that they were, for the most part, simply codifying practices that had long been used in the state's redistricting process.New Jersey has a redistricting commission made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, with a tie-breaking 11th member appointed by the state Supreme Court. The proposed amendment would have expanded the commission to 13 members, guaranteeing slots for legislators themselves (who sometimes do serve on the commission under the current structure).The big change, however, would have come with the adoption of a "fairness test" to require require that at least a quarter of the legislative districts be "competitive." The measure defined competitive as districts that voted within five percentage points of the statewide average in races for president, governor and U.S. Senate over the previous decade.Given the overall Democratic advantage in New Jersey, that means a majority of districts would strongly favor Democrats. As such, the legislature would be significantly more tilted toward Democrats than the state is as a whole. In fact, the new formula could convert a 57 percent average for Democrats in the statewide vote into a 70 percent advantage for the party in legislative seats, according to an analysis by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project."A handful of politicians have demonstrated an alarming willingness to forsake the delicate fabric of the state's democracy by advancing a redistricting amendment that benefits them and them alone," says Doug Steinhardt, who chairs the New Jersey Republican Party.Democratic legislators pointed out that their proposal was based on methods that have been used in the recent past. If the fairness test favors Democrats, that's simply because New Jersey is a Democratic state, they maintained."The cries that this will be the end of democracy are mistaken at best and fear-mongering at worst," Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald wrote in an op-ed . If the same fairness test were used in Texas, he writes, "you'd likely see a Republican legislative map because that's been the clear preference of that state's voters for the last decade."For much of the last decade, Democrats have accused Republicans of altering redistricting in a way that creates gerrymandered maps that make it difficult for Democrats to win elections. In Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, a majority of voters statewide supported Democratic state House candidates, yet the GOP retained majority control of all those chambers.More recently, Democrats have cried foul since the midterm election about Republicans taking advantage of their gerrymandered power to strip power away from incoming Democratic governors and other executive branch officials in Michigan and Wisconsin. North Carolina lawmakers followed a similar course after the 2016 election.The recent action in New Jersey threatened to undermine Democratic attempts to claim the high ground."All the Democrats complaining about Republican gerrymandering and changing of the rules for naked partisan advantage in states like North Carolina and Wisconsin should be concerned with similar attempted manipulation by Democrats in the New Jersey Legislature," says Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine.Democrats have been accused of partisan gerrymandering in other states, notably Maryland. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court refused on technical grounds to decide a challenge to the state's congressional map, which former Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley admitted in a deposition had been drawn to favor Democrats.In October, a federal three-judge panel floated the idea of creating an independent redistricting commissionin Maryland, taking the process out of the hands of legislators -- an idea that has gained political traction around the country.Last month, voters approved the creation of independent commissions in Colorado, Michigan and Utah, while giving primary responsibility for creating districts to a new state demographer in Missouri."The redistricting measures all won," says Ruth Greenwood, senior legal counsel for the Campaign Legal Center. "It wasn't just in Democratic or Republican areas. People voted for them all across the states."In New Jersey, a constitutional amendment typically requires a three-fifths vote for passage in the legislature. Republicans have enough votes to block such a supermajority vote.In response, Democrats decided to rush through their proposal. If an amendment is passed by the legislature in consecutive years but not signed into law, it is sent to voters. Democratic legislators had planned to approve the amendment on Monday and then take it up again in January so it could be put to voters on the November 2019 ballot.The sense that Democrats were making a power play contributed to the controversy.I have as much a concern about the process as I do even about the substance, Gov. Murphy told . I dont like the substance, but this is classic jam-something-through, and I got elected to stand up against that, and Im going to.The criticism from Murphy and other prominent Democrats including Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, stands in contrast with national Republicans, who have maintained silence about recent overreaches in GOP-controlled states, says Egan. The New Jersey maneuver was also condemned by liberal outlets such as Vox and Slate "So far, we haven't seen any kind of parallel on the Republican side," Egan says. In Brussels, Ukraine and NATO signed an implementation agreement on neutralization of explosive items and countering improvised explosive devices. "Ukraine and NATO signed an implementation agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency on the implementation of the NATO Trust Fund Project for the neutralization of explosive items and countering improvised explosive devices," the press service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine reported. As noted, this agreement will allow starting a practical stage of cooperation. Within the framework of the project, the parties plan to carry out the development of regulatory documents in the field of countering improvised explosive devices; as well as to achieve compatibility of attracted forces and means of Ukraine with the Alliance; develop opportunities to protect civilians from the threat of improvised explosive devices; train Ukrainian specialists and provide material and technical assistance. The project involved Ukraines Defense Ministry, Security Service, State Service for Emergency Situations, National Police, National Guard, State Special Transport Service and State Border Service. ish Canada should support Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in their resistance to Russian hybrid attacks. This is stated in a report of the Standing Committee on National Defence of the Parliament of Canada entitled Responding to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in the Black Sea region. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada commit to supporting Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia in their resistance to hybrid warfare attacks, specifically with regard to cyber attacks on government systems and critical infrastructure, and resistance to the dissemination of foreign propaganda and disinformation through the media, the document reads. Members of the Canadian Parliament also called for helping countries reduce corruption and improve governance. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada support Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia in their efforts to reduce corruption, and enhance accountability and transparency in government, the report notes. ish Japans position on condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine, non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea and the comprehensive support for Kyiv in the international arena and in domestic reforms will remain unchanged. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi said this during a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman on Friday, December 14, the Government portal reported. "I came to Ukraine right after the Revolution of Dignity. Japan has always defended the principles of territorial integrity of Ukraine, condemned the annexation of Crimea and aggression in Donbas. I assure you that this position will remain unchanged in the future," the diplomat emphasized. In turn, Groysman said that Ukraine has always felt and feels the support of Japan in both political and economic areas. We should continue develop friendly relations because we have many promising areas of cooperation, the Ukrainian prime minister said. The meeting took place on the occasion of completion of the ambassadors diplomatic mission in Ukraine. In the spring of 2014, Japan became one of the first countries to recognize the threat of Russian aggression. In March 2014, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan issued a statement calling on the Kremlin to comply with international law, in particular, the Black Sea Fleet Agreement Between Russia and Ukraine and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. At the same time, Japan joined the statement of the G7, condemning Russia's actions against Ukraine, and also adopted a decision to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation, which were strengthened during 2014. Over the past four years, the Government of Japan has granted financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of over $1.7 billion. Another sum over $40 million of direct aid has been granted for the projects of reconstruction of the eastern regions of Ukraine and the rehabilitation of affected population. ish The representatives of the United States and Canada discussed a Ukrainian issue and condemned Russias recent aggression in the Sea of Azov. U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis hosted Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and Canadian Minister of Defense Harjit Sajjan for policy discussions at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 14. In addition to domestic priorities, we worked through a range of global issues as well. We talked about our work in collaboration as members of NATO. We discussed our response to the situation in Ukraine, Pompeo said during the 2+2 Strategic Dialogue. The Secretary of State expressed his concern over Russias recent aggression in the Sea of Azov, where it rammed and opened fire on Ukrainian vessels. In turn, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that Canada was also concerned about the development of the situation. "On Russia and Ukraine, Minister Sajjan and I expressed our condemnation of Russias harassment of shipping in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, and in particular its recent aggressive action towards an illegal seizure of three Ukrainian vessels on November 25 and the imprisonment of Ukrainian sailors. We call on Russia to release these sailors," the Canadian foreign minister said. Freeland stressed that Canada unwaveringly supported the people of Ukraine, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. ish (TNS) Portland residents enjoy some of the nations fastest Internet speeds, but newly released Census data shows rural parts of the state continue to lag way behind.In some communities, fewer than half of the homes have fast Internet service.With the rural markets the state doesnt do well or as well, said Joe Franell, chief executive of Eastern Oregon Telecom, a small Hermiston company serving residents and businesses in seven communities along the Columbia River.Superfast fiber-optic connections are delivering high-definition Netflix movies and video games across the Portland area, where most homes can choose between two or more superfast providers. Within a few years, robust 5G connections may provide another, wireless option.But its expensive to build these networks, especially in remote, lightly populated areas. So Franell, who also serves on the states Broadband Advisory Council, said whole communities have to patch together their Internet access with nearly obsolete technologies.In many parts of the state theyre still connected with copper or microwaves, he said.Overall, the Census found 87 percent of Oregon households were broadband subscribers in 2017. Thats up from 78 percent just five years earlier, and above the national figure of 84 percent.The Portland area is especially well connected, at particularly fast speeds. The Census finds up to 98 percent of homes have broadband access in some areas. separate report out Wednesday from the company that runs Speedtest.net finds an average connection speed of 110 megabits per second among Portland consumers who check their speeds. Thats far above the federal broadband standard, 25 Mbps, and higher than the national average of 96 Mbps.Thats plenty fast for online video, gaming and even for data-intensive professions like architecture and engineering.Its quite a different story in some parts of east Multnomah County, where as many as 25 percent of households have no Internet access at all. The divide is even greater in rural communities such as Lake, Jefferson -- and also parts of Clackamas County -- where broadband penetration hovers around 50 percent.Small cities are under pressure, said Christopher Tamarin, telecommunications strategist for the Oregon Business Development Department.Businesses are at a disadvantage when they dont have the online access competitors do in larger, better-connected communities. And Tamarin said rural communities suffer a population drain when young people leave for education, and seniors leave in search of health care, then dont return.There are signs broadbands reach may be expanding. State and federal agencies are pushing for more fiber deployment into rural areas and advancing technologies including satellite-based Internet are improving connection speeds. And though the new 5G wireless technology has a narrow range, too narrow for far-flung rural areas, Tamarin said it will lead to greater fiber deployment to connect wireless sites to the broader Internet.I feel like we are reaching a tipping point, he said.Staff writer Elliot Njus contributed to this article. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has stated that Ukraine never was and never will be a canonical territory of the Russian church. He stated this at the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Unity Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "The Church of Constantinople implements its mission according to the canons - introduces the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) as an equal among equals to the family of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Ukraine was not, is not and will not be a canonical territory of the Russian church," the head of state said. The unification council of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is being held at Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral. The unification council is to approve the decision on the church unity of Orthodox believers in Ukraine and elect the primate of the single local autocephalous UOC, who on its behalf will receive a Patriarchal and Synodal Tomos of Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. ish Germany will provide Ukraine with financial assistance worth EUR 35 million to combat climate change, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has reported. The funds will be used in four priority areas, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Ostap Semerak said. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has successfully completed a negotiation process with the German Federal Ministry on the provision of assistance in the amount of EUR 35 million. This is a great achievement and a challenge for the entire environmental community of Ukraine, which will direct the economy towards green growth, Semerak said. The projects to be financed should focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and include the aspect of international cooperation in the context of combating climate change in the Black Sea area and promoting the development of renewable energy, including the use of biomass energy to replace fossil energy sources. The Ministry reminded that bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Germany in the framework of the International Climate Initiative had begun in 2008. During this period, Ukraine has become one of the partners of the initiative, launching 14 projects, ten of which with a total budget of EUR 19 million "have been already completed successfully." ish The United States and Canada are united in NATO for support of transatlantic unity. More than 10,000 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been trained by Canadian instructors as part of the Canadian Armed Forces Operation UNIFIER. "We have trained more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers as part of Operation UNIFIER," Canada's Minister of National Defence Harjit Singh Sajjan said at a joint U.S.-Canada 2+2 Ministerial press event with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on December 14. Read alsoU.S., Canada discuss interaction in response to Russian aggression in Kerch Strait (Video) "And at any given time we have about 800 over 800 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed on Operation Reassurance, and they are supporting NATO deterrence measures in Eastern and Central Europe alongside our American allies. Canada is also leading NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia, similar to the U.S. presence in Poland, and we have recently extended this mission by four years," he said. He also reiterated that Canada supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression. In turn, Mattis stressed that the United States and Canada are united in NATO for support of transatlantic unity. "We are united in NATO, where we uphold transatlantic unity and stand with European allies against the full scope of Russian malign influence, to include Moscow's recent brazen contempt of international law in the Kerch Strait and action against the Ukrainian people," he said. "Canadian and U.S. trainers in western Ukraine and our battalions in the Baltics represent our combined efforts to build stability and deter further provocative activity," he said. As UNIAN reported, the Canadian Armed Forces' Operation UNIFIER has been in effect in Ukraine since August 2015. In March 2017, Canada extended its military instructors' mission to train members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine until the end of March 2019. It is noted the situation in the Transfiguration Cathedral is calm now. The Vinnytsia diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has refuted reports about the alleged seizure of the Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Vinnytsia, calling them fake and provocative aimed to create tension among the believers. Read alsoPropaganda "very strong" in Moscow Patriarchate ex-priest "We inform that since 1991 in fact and since 1993 by law the premises of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Vinnytsia have been transferred to the permanent free use of the religious community of the cathedral and are currently in use by the community. At the same time, the buildings of the cathedral and the Mury (Walls) historic architectural complex to which they belong and which is a monument of architecture of national importance are the state property and are under its protection," the diocese's press service said. It is noted the situation in the Transfiguration Cathedral is calm now. Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists spread information about the alleged seizure of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Vinnytsia. The news was echoed and spread by the Russian media. After the publication of a refutation by the diocese's press service, the Union said it had been made public "under pressure." The unification council will be attended by such honored guests as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy. Some 192 delegates will take part in the unification council of the Orthodox churches in Kyiv on December 15: they will announce the creation of a new, unified, independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine, approve its charter, and elect its leader in two rounds. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate will be represented by 42 hierarchs with a priest and a layman each a total of 126 delegates, a source from the organizers of the event told the e-zine Ukrayinska Pravda. The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church confirmed the participation of 12 bishops and each will bring a priest and a layman with them, that is, 36 delegates. "The Moscow Patriarchate has confirmed the participation of 10 bishops each with a priest and a layman. In total, 30 people," the source said. In total, according to preliminary calculations by the Exarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarch, 64 bishops, 64 priests and 64 laymen will take part in the unification council, thus their total number will be 192. During the council, there will be a secret ballot to elect the Primate, the leader of the church. There will be two rounds, the first round is a ratings ballot. Three candidates with the highest number of votes of the participants in the council will be able to compete in the second round, and the Primate will be elected from among them. Read alsoU.S. Embassy issues Kyiv demonstration alert for Dec 15 Such a procedure of the election of the Primate will keep the public in suspense, because not only Metropolitan of the Kyiv Patriarchate Epifaniy (Epiphanius), who was supported by the Council of the Kyiv Patriarchate on December 13, but also of Metropolitan Mikhayil (Michael), who was supported by the minority at the aforementioned council, could be nominated. The unification council will be attended by such honored guests as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy. The Council will begin with a short service at 10 a.m., then the president is to address the participants in the event, and after that, the clergy will decide issues on the agenda, Ukrayinska Pravda said. According to Kryshchenko, other believers who came to the St. Sophia Square on the occasion of the unification council are quite calm and understand enhanced security measures and metal detectors. Head of the National Police in Kyiv, Andriy Kryshchenko has said two armed men were detained in Kyiv downtown amid the unification council of the Ukrainian Orthodox churches. Read alsoUnification council taking place at Kyiv's St. Sophia Cathedral (Live video) "We have detained two people: one had a big knife, another one had nunchucks. We took them to the local police station and will find out the reason why they came to such an event with such very dangerous items," he told Pryamiy TV Channel. However, according to Kryshchenko, other believers who came to the St. Sophia Square on the occasion of the unification council are quite calm and understand enhanced security measures and metal detectors. He also said the law enforcement agencies had been working in enhanced mode for several days. Two enemy troops were killed, intelligence reports say. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 10 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action. Read alsoDonbas war update: Two Ukrainian soldiers killed in Donbas in past day "One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in the past day. According to intelligence reports, two occupiers were killed," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update published on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on December 15, 2018. The Russian occupation forces opened fire from weapons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, a ZU-23-2 towed 23mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns and small arms to attack the defenders of the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Pisky, Starohnativka, Pervomaiske, Chermalyk, Hnutove, and Vodiane. The enemy also employed 82mm mortars, shelling the Ukrainian positions near the village of Vilniy and the town of Svitlodarsk. "Since Saturday midnight, Russian-led forces haven't attacked the Ukrainian positions yet," the report said. The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted nine attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas on December 15, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and another one as wounded in action (WIA). Read alsoOSCE SMM's UAV spots electronic warfare equipment in occupied Donbas "One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another one was wounded from 07:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update on Facebook. The enemy opened fire from grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns and small arms at the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Vodiane and Chermalyk. What is more, the enemy used 120mm and 82mm mortars against the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Vodiane and Hnutove. The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. It was unclear why Trump named Mulvaney as only acting chief of staff. Ending a sustained period of speculation, U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday named the head of the largest entity within his executive office to become his acting chief of staff, replacing retired Marine Gen. John Kelly. Mulvaney, a former Republican congressman from South Carolina and known as a fiscal hawk, besides running OMB has also been the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which he scaled back, VOA reported. Read alsoTrump picks Heather Nauert as new US envoy to UN Mulvaney tweeted about his new job: "This is a tremendous honor. I look forward to working with the President and the entire team. It's going to be a great 2019!" The position of White House chief of staff has traditionally been very important and powerful, akin to the chief operating officer of the country and gatekeeper to the Oval Office. But the two men who have held the position in the Trump administration, Reince Priebus and Kelly, have found it frustrating. Their authority has been repeatedly undercut by the president, as well as other top administration officials, especially presidential daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, both of whom hold senior positions in the West Wing. It was unclear why Trump named Mulvaney as only acting chief of staff. "There's no time limit. He's the acting chief of staff, which means he's the chief of staff. He got picked because the president liked him they get along," a senior White House official said. Mr. Morrison said that in the interim Australia would set up a defense and trade office in West Jerusalem. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that his government will recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. However, he said Australia's embassy would not move from Tel Aviv, until a peace settlement was achieved, according to the BBC. Read alsoIsraeli forces kill dozens in Gaza as U.S. Embassy opens in Jerusalem media He added Australia also recognized the aspirations of the Palestinians to a state with a capital in East Jerusalem. The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contested issues between Israel and the Palestinians. Opposition Labor party leader Bill Shorten said he would reverse the decision if he won next year's elections. U.S. President Donald Trump drew international criticism last year when he reversed decades of American foreign policy by recognizing the ancient city as Israel's capital. The U.S. embassy was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May. Mr. Morrison's announcement comes after a period of consultation with politicians in Australia and allies abroad. "Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel," said Mr. Morrison, speaking in Sydney on Saturday. "We look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical... and after final status determination." Mr. Morrison said that in the interim Australia would set up a defense and trade office in West Jerusalem. Change is especially challenging for governments and locales. In the face of chaos, successful counties pivoted to a digital-first approach. See a shining example of how one county achieved it. Costa Rica aims to facilitate its application to host COP25 by striving for a joint bid in order to ease the financial burden of the event and will demonstrate strong political leadership as the COP25 president if the relevant decision is made, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Costa Rica's environment and energy minister, told journalists on the sidelines of COP24 on Friday. KATOWICE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th December, 2018) Costa Rica aims to facilitate its application to host COP25 by striving for a joint bid in order to ease the financial burden of the event and will demonstrate strong political leadership as the COP25 president if the relevant decision is made, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Costa Rica 's environment and energy minister, told journalists on the sidelines of COP24 on Friday. "Unfortunately, Costa Rica does not have the resources [to cover the costs of hosting COP on its own] ... The decision will be taken today, and today I cannot commit my country to spend $100 million for COP organization. We are trying to do our best effort to see if we can do a joint effort with Chile and other nations that responsibly reacted to this, but it has been very complicated ... Costa Rica can give a strong political leadership in the presidency of the COP," Rodriguez said. The minister also expressed hope that the decision would be postponed and consultations moved to next month. "Why is Costa Rica stepping up for COP25? Well, we need to step up for the region. It is important that the region has opportunity, and particularly Central America. There has not been a COP in Central America. I know that the COP needs Costa Rica. The convention needs Costa Rica. The convention needs a dose of responsibility that Costa Rica can give it is a chair," Rodriguez stressed. The 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) is taking place on December 2-14 in the Polish city of Katowice. The main goal of the conference participants is to discuss ways of implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. The Paris climate deal, created within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, went into force on November 4, 2016. It has been ratified by 184 of the 197 parties to the accord. The deal aims to keep the increase in average global temperature at below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A host of the COPs is usually defined three years before the event, so that the country can have enough time for preparations. Brazil was initially chosen to host COP25, but the country withdrew its candidacy due to domestic problems. Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado announced in November that his country would like to host the next climate change conference. A well-defined Katowice Agreement could help the European Union achieve its long-term targets in tackling climate change, Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg's environment minister, told Sputnik on the sidelines of COP24 on Friday. KATOWICE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th December, 2018) A well-defined Katowice Agreement could help the European Union achieve its long-term targets in tackling climate change, Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg 's environment minister, told Sputnik on the sidelines of COP24 on Friday. "The EU tries to be compliant to what we agreed on in the Paris Agreement. I think we will fight for having a good outcome here in the rules book in order to have our long term targets, and the five year cycle as well functioning through good global stock take, through a functioning Paris Agreement," Dieschbourg said. COP24 is taking place on December 2-14 in the Polish city of Katowice. The main goal of the conference participants is to discuss ways of implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. The Paris climate deal, created within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, went into force on November 4, 2016. It has been ratified by 184 of the 195 parties to the accord. The deal aims to keep the increase in average global temperature at below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Pope Francis on December 15 received Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, for a private audience in the Vatican. By Robin Gomes Pope Francis received Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday morning during a private audience in the Vatican. Conte was accompanied by the Italian ambassador to the Holy See, Pietro Sebastiani. Migration, environment, peace The Pope and Conte met for some 45 minutes during which they discussed some pressing issues. In a post on Facebook, Conte wrote that the Pope and he committed themselves to a broad reform plan for those they are responsible for, in their respective spheres of authority. We discussed issues such as social inequalities, migration, the environment and peace, Conte wrote. He said it was a very touching meeting, which renewed his political, ethical and social commitment to work with great determination to improve Italian society and to make all citizens fully participate in the country's social and economic well-being. Exchange of gifts At the end of their talks, the two leaders exchanged gifts. Conte gave the Pope three volumes of an ancient illustrated edition of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, with commentary by Niccolo Tommaseo. The Pope reciprocated with a copy of his Encyclical Laudato Si and a medal depicting an olive branch joining a split stone, symbolizing peace. Prime Minister Conte also anticipated his wishes for Pope Francis on his birthday, which he celebrates on Monday, December 17, when the Argentine Pontiff turns 82. In an article published in the latest edition of Civilta Cattolica, Father Federico Lombardi explores how the Church is confronting the sexual abuse crisis. This comes ahead of a February meeting of Bishops, called by Pope Francis, to discuss the protection of minors. By Alessandro Gisotti Februarys meeting on the protection of minors does not start from scratch, but it is "certainly an unprecedented event that aims to take urgent new steps forward". This is what Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, stresses in an article entitled "Towards the Bishops' meeting on the protection of minors" published in the latest issue of Civilta Cattolica. The Jesuit Father warns that sometimes "one continues to be under the illusion that the problem is mainly a Western one, or an American or Anglophone one". In reality, "its presence, though at times hidden, could make dramatic eruptions in the future, and must not be overlooked ". For this reason, he warns that "we must look reality in the face". Downplaying the issue of abuse is the wrong path forward Sometimes, Fr. Lombardi writes, "even in Church circles, one hears that it is time to change the subject, that it is not right to give too much weight to this topic... But this is the wrong approach. If the issues various aspects are not dealt with in depth he continues, the Church will continuously find itself facing one crisis after another", the credibility of priests will be "tarnished" and, "above all, the heart of the Churchs mission to proclaim the Gospel and to provide education for children and young people will suffer". Benedict XVI renewed canonical norms Early on, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was already particularly committed to addressing the issue during the final phase of Pope John Paul IIs pontificate. This commitment was amplified once the German Cardinal was elected Pope. Benedict XVI launched a series of new "Norms concerning the most serious crimes" which were followed by the important Letter to Bishops Conferences around the world, in 2011, to help them prepare guidelines for the treatment of cases of sexual abuse of children by priests. These guidelines, writes Fr. Lombardi, "thus become the necessary reference for the conversion and renewal of the Church community, starting from the dramatic experience of abuse". Benedict XVIs personal commitment in this dramatic event, he notes, is "also highlighted by his repeated meeting with victims throughout various Apostolic Journeys". Pope Francis against sexual abuse, abuse of power, and abuse of conscience Fr. Lombardi writes in Civilta Cattolica that Pope Francis is following the path traced by his predecessor with determination. He too is personally involved in meeting victims of sexual abuse. Fr. Lombardi writes about the importance of instituting the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in December 2013, chaired by Cardinal Sean OMalley. This move came shortly after Pope Francis was elected. This Commission, according to the Jesuits fortnightly, has brought about three results: a model proposed as guidelines, training courses for newly appointed bishops, and a Day of Prayer dedicated to victims of abuse. Father Lombardi then puts emphasis on two documents that were approved by Pope Francis: the 2014 Rescriptum and the 2016 Motu Proprio. These are two documents which reinforce the accountability of Church authorities. The Letter to the People of God, dated August 20th 2018, is also particularly significant. He says Pope Francis now no longer simply speaks of sexual abuse, but also of power and conscience. Fr. Lombardi says Pope Francis strongly asks that, in order to face this scandal, all people of faith feel a joint responsibility towards the synodal journey of the Church and that every form of clericalism be fought with decisiveness. Two brothers, Qaisar and Amoon Ayub have been in Jhelum Jail since 2015. Their death sentence was delivered in prison on Dec. 13 for security reasons. By Robin Gomes Two Christians have been sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) said on December 14. Qaisar and Amoon Ayub, from Lahore, were arrested in 2015 after one of the two was accused of posting offensive material against Islam on their website. Qaisar and his wife Amina have three children, whilst his brother, Amoon is married to Huma, a teacher at Lahore Cathedral School. The allegations surfaced in 2011 when they were accused of posting disrespectful material on their website; however, the accused say that their website has been inactive since 2009. The two brothers have been held in Jhelum District Jail since their arrest. Their case was heard on December 13 inside the jail due to security reasons. Additional Session judge Javed Iqbal Bosal found them guilty and sentenced them to death. CLAAS, an interdenominational organization dedicated to the victims of religious intolerance, has been representing the accused and now plans to appeal the sentence before the Lahore High Court. Blasphemy a volatile issue in Pakistan According to the blasphemy laws in Pakistans Penal Code, insulting the Prophet Muhammad is a crime punishable by death, while offending the Koran, Islam's holy book, incurs life imprisonment. The laws remain an extremely sensitive issue in the predominantly Muslim nation and they have drawn intense criticism even within the country. Blasphemy charges tend to trigger violent reaction among Islamic radicals, who interfere with the proper operations of the court system and threaten judges. Unfortunately, because of threats from hardliners lower courts pass their responsibility to the higher court and then it takes years to prove the accused innocent, said CLAAS-UK director Nasir Saeed. We have seen this in the recent case of Asia Bibi who was similarly convicted by the lower court and it took her years to reach to the Supreme Court to get justice. I am afraid now Qaisir and Amoon will have to wait years to get justice," Saeed said. Asia Bibi The death sentence of Qaisar and Amoon Ayub comes close on the heels of the acquittal of Asia Bibi, perhaps Pakistans most famous blasphemy case. The Catholic woman was arrested and imprisoned in June 2009 on allegation of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, which she and her family have always denied. In 2010, she was sentenced to death. She was acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court on October 31 and ordered free, but she remains under high security in an undisclosed location in the country for fear of extremists who want her hanged. Islamists have also threatened the Supreme Court judges who declared Asia Bibi innocent. Asia Bibis lawyer, Saiful Mulook has fled Pakistan and sought asylum in the Netherlands. (Source: AsiaNews/agencies) Air Asia remains determined to penetrate deeper into the Vietnamese aviation market Vietnam a market that cannot be ignore market Tran Trong Kien, the owner of Thien Minh Group (TMG), joined hands with Malaysia's low-cost carrier AirAsia Berhad to develop in Vietnam. In 2017, Air Asia revealed investing nearly $43.8 million in establishing a joint venture with Hai Au Aviation (HAA) to set up a low-cost airline in Vietnam. Specifically, AirAsia Investment Limited (AAIL), wholly-owned by Tony Fernandes, holds a 30 per cent stake, Gumin Co Ltd holds 69.9 per cent, and Tran Trong Kien's HAA, which operates a general aviation business in Vietnam, will form the vehicle for the joint venture. AAIL and the joint venture company also signed a loan agreement. Under the deal, AAIL will provide a loan of $2 million and Gumin will provide a loan of $4 million. Vietnam is the newest market of Air Asia. Previously, Air Asia invested in India, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand. Attending Vietnam Economic Forum (ViEF) 2018 Travel & Tourism Summit in Hanoi on December 6, 2018, Air Asias CEO shared that in Vietnam the firm grew by 43 per cent in 13 years and transport 10 million passengers. Eight years ago, Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia signed a strategic agreement with Vietjet Air, but the deal fell through. But it is seems that giving up is not a word in this CEOs dictionary. While the population of the whole of Southeast Asia is about 700 million people, the Vietnamese markets nearly one hundred million potential customers are hard to ignore. Vietnam is the fifth largest aviation market in the region and has a passenger growth rate of 28 per cent. Vietnam is predicted to rank fifth in the world in passenger growth in 2015-2035 with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) reaching 6.7 per cent per year, higher than the average of the Asia-Pacific region (4.6 per cent). Creating an airline is not so difficult, but creating an airline which can be sustainably developed is really a challenge, Kien said. Needing a good foundation 15 years ago, at the beginning of Air Asia, we only had two aircrafts, while Malaysia Airlines had 250. Most of the 700 million people in Southeast Asia, including one hundred million Vietnamese people, have not been on a plane yet or only used domestic flights, said Tony, expressing his firm belief that competitiveness comes from creating new markets. Therefore, he would like to create routes like Bangkok-Danang or Chiangmai-Danang, which have not been exploited yet. AirAsia will offer cheaper prices than Vietnamese brands like Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Jetstar, and FLC Groups upcoming Bamboo Airways, while also having more customers around the world. According to Tony, the Vietnamese aviation market currently focuses on business class, special economy class, and long-haul flights, while the tourism market will be driven by short flights and low-cost destinations. In addition, Tony expects that Vietnam will allow private businesses to enter the race to develop airport infrastructure, following the example of Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Besides, the company will focus on digitalisation. Latecomer advantage In the Malaysian aviation market, AirAsia is the latecomer. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is one of the oldest state-owned airlines, but now it is facing fierce competition from low-cost airlines like AirAsia. Established in 1993 and officially operating since 1996, AirAsia has passed MAS to become the aviation firm that has the largest scale and number of routes in Malaysia. Currently, Southeast Asia has about 23 low-cost airlines, and two out of three of the seats belong to AirAsia. AirAsia has been honoured as the world's best international low-cost airline for eight consecutive years until 2016. Tony Fernandes used to be vice-president of Time Warner Music with $226,000 to buy AirAsia. Tony is confident of success in Vietnam as many traditional airlines in Asia have been driven to the verge of collapse by low-cost carriers thanks to their cost-effectiveness and dynamism. Vietnamese farm exports could face barriers in CPTPP member countries. Source: VTV Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD), said that one of the major challenges for Vietnams agricultural exports was that CPTPP members could raise non-tariff barriers with stricter controls. To access CPTPP markets, Vietnamese products such as rice, coffee, pepper and cashew must overcome technical barriers and food safety, Tuan said. If local enterprises failed to focus on these issues, their products would not gain access to CPTPP countries, he said. Other challenges for local businesses include ensuring quality, production, labour management and the strict standards of CPTPP countries. The agricultural sector needed to speed up its restructuring process to promote the development of concentrated production regions, the application of advanced science and technology and the implementation of technical, food safety and quality standards according to commitments made under the CPTPP, Tuan said. Tran Duy Khanh, general secretary of the Viet Nam Poultry Association, said that products like pork, beef, chicken and eggs would face the biggest competition from Canada and Australia. The CPTPP with 11 member countries is scheduled to come into force late this month. The countries have agreed to remove almost all import tariffs and implement service and investment liberalisation based on local laws. Viet Nams key export commodities include rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, cashew nuts, pepper, rice, vegetables and seafood. Nguyen Ton Quyen, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Wood and Forest Products Association (VIFORES), told vneconomy.vn that the CPTPP would provide more opportunities than challenges for the timber industry. For many years, Vietnam has exported large volumes of wood and wooden products to other CPTPP countries such as Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Peru and Chile. The domestic fishery industry will also plan to expand its export markets, especially new markets such as Canada, Peru and Mexico with products such as tuna and shrimp. According to many experts, Vietnams fruit and vegetable exports would increase, but products shipped to distant markets would face high transportation costs and the risk of damaged goods. Meanwhile, Vietnam could increase its exports to China, Thailand and South Korea that already account for a large volume of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports and are considering joining the CPTPP. South Korean investors are encouraged by commitments to improve the funding process , Photo: Dung Minh During a recent forum held by South Korean-backed law firm Lee & Ko, minister-counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vietnam Lee Chul noted that various financial and credit organisations within South Korea have optimism on the growth of the local economy and its financial market. Some of them are now seeking additional opportunities to expand their investments across sectors such as banking and insurance, he said. Referring to an investment forum held in Seoul last year, vice chairman of the State Securities Commission Pham Hong Son said he had witnessed a great deal of interest from South Korean investors in the Vietnamese stock market, with growth potential and openness attracting attention. We want to once again reassure our investors that the Vietnamese government is committed to an open market for all, especially those from South Korea as the nation is one of our most significant strategic partners, Son stressed, adding that the preliminary legal framework of the local stock market was in fact built upon experiences learnt from South Korea. According to Son, the local capital market has the ability to offer overseas investors, in terms of the availability of listed companies, state-owned enterprises (SOE) stake sales as well as government and corporate bond issuances. Vietnams stock market, with two main exchanges, is currently home to 1,542 listed companies. By the end of the third quarter, capitalisation and the scale of bond issuances reached approximately $165 billion and $47.8 billion, accounting for 76.6 and 22 per cent of GDP, respectively. Total market capitalisation was bolstered by 47 per cent in 2017, and it was a rather high growth rate on record. The total capital mobilised through the stock market, meanwhile, merely met some 23 per cent of the social-related investments of the economy, said Son. With the derivatives market opening last August, the local stock market has now turned into a more sophisticated one, establishing itself as a significant channel to draw mid-to long-term funds in for the economy. Hong Sun, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, told VIR on the sidelines of the investment forum that while the country has boasted an open economic policy to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), limitations remain in its foreign indirect investment (FII) regime. It comes down to the ease of capital inflow and outflow, he said. FII will come and go and it will not stay in one market forever or for a long period like FDI. However, should the government and other related authorities continue to uphold a positive attitude for market openness and extend areas of co-operation, many South Korean institutional and private investors will really pay particular interest to the FII market in Vietnam, said Sun. Many of them have bought stocks here. They want to join the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market so they can buy firms in the country. If the government speeds up SOE equitisation and be more open in trading activities, capital inflow from South Korea will undeniably become more potent than ever before. Sun noted that assistance from firms could bolster the value of SOEs, bringing experience and international standards in organisation structures and development. This in turn will smooth future sale processes, in turn reimbursing owners. South Korean funders are eyeing securities and real estate, so it is really up to Vietnam to attract secondary or private equity investors into these, he added. Street food is a promising segment (source: cntraveler.com) Seeing good prospect to gain the market share via VND trillions of monthly spending on street food, local food brands like Vissan, Saigon Food, and Ba Huan have entered the segment with dozens of traditional street food dishes, including banh trang tron (mixed paper cake), fried pig skin, and others. According to the latest data which local market research company Decision La provided VIR, local young people spend an average of VND13 trillion ($565 million) per month on street food. In addition, market research company Euromonitor stated that as of the end of 2016, there were 149,000 food kiosks in the country with the revenue of VND46.9 trillion ($2 billion) per year. Despite good market prospects, the local street food segment is dominated by street food vendors and kiosks, while larger businesses cannot conquer a significant market share. The problem is that street food has been long ignored by brands until now and brand names mean little in the segment. This also creates challenges for businesses planning to join the segment. Discussing the issue with VIR, Nguyen Phi Van, founder of Retail & Franchise Asia and World Franchise Associates in Southeast Asia, said that street food is a very promising segment. However, with the current business models of startup firms and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), developing professional sales chains and brands is challenging. Therefore, they need to co-operate with big firms to build value and retail chains. In developed countries, local food brands account for 70-80 per cent of the total. However, in Vietnam, the rate is contrary, with 80-90 per cent of cuisine brands belonging to foreign firms, Van added. According to Nielsen, food producers keep offering new products on the market. Specifically, there were more than 2,000 street food dishes offered on the market in 2017, but only 15 per cent succeeded according to expectations. In addition, the problem of food safety is also a big concern for local people. Accordingly, 37 per cent of local people are interested in health, 80 per cent are concerned about the long-term effects caused by food additives, and 76 per cent want to learn about the ingredients in their food. Thus, consumers seem ready to adjust spending behaviour towards more healthy street food options. Once food producers can build up an image of healthy street food products, they will win the market, said Nguyen Anh Dung, director of Nielsen Vietnams Retail Measuring Service Department. US President Donald Trump (R) says there is no rush to make a deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) on Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament. (Photo: AFP/Saul Loeb) "Many people have asked how we are doing in our negotiations with North Korea - I always reply by saying we are in no hurry," he tweeted. But Trump also expressed optimism, saying North Korea's economy has "wonderful potential" and that its leader Kim Jong Un "sees it better than anyone and will fully take advantage of it for his people." A historic summit between Trump and Kim in June opened up dialogue on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula between the two countries after months of military threats. A second summit is expected to be held next year, but Trump faces criticism given that North Korea has taken few concrete steps to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Security Council has slapped a series of tough economic sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile firings. The United States maintains that UN sanctions will remain in place until North Korea has fully scrapped its weapons programs. China, Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a trilateral understanding Saturday to enhance counterterrorism security cooperation, and collectively reiterated their call for the Taliban insurgency to join Afghan peace talks. The foreign ministers of the three countries met in Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul, for a second round of talks, where they put the understanding into effect and also pledged to jointly work for regional connectivity, as well as economic development. Beijing initiated the platform and hosted the inaugural meeting last year with a mission to help ease tensions and suspicions that have long plagued Afghanistan's relationship with Pakistan. Critics say the tensions have hampered the effort to fight terrorism and promote regional peace, as well as economic connectivity. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a joint news conference after the meeting that his country will continue diplomatic efforts to help improve Kabul's strained relations with Islamabad to further Beijing's mission of regional peace and development. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi noted terrorist entities such as Islamic State (IS), the anti-China East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) threaten regional peace and could only be defeated through joint efforts. Chinese officials worry that continued Afghan instability could encourage ETIM to foment problems in the western Xinjiang region, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. "We signed today an MoU [memorandum of understanding] on counterterrorism and security. This is a step forward and I think it will help us achieve what we collectively want to achieve," Qureshi told reporters. He emphasized that Pakistan is making efforts to promote a reconciliation process in Afghanistan, but he said it is up to Afghans themselves to decide how they want to achieve a political settlement to the war. Afghan officials allege that Pakistan allows Taliban leaders to hide in the neighboring country and direct their violent insurgency from there. Kabul accuses Islamabad of not upholding its commitments made in bilateral and multilateral forums to prevent the Taliban from using Pakistani soil. Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, while addressing the news conference, called on Islamabad to play its "important role" to facilitate Kabul's peace talks with the Taliban. He stopped short, though, of reiterating accusations that Pakistan is behind the deadly insurgency in his country. "There are groups in the region who have been getting support and who have been involved in this violence in Afghanistan. We need to see countries in the region, particularly in this case Pakistan, to support this initiative of peace and reconciliation and support us in reducing this growing violence and ultimately eliminate the violence throughout Afghanistan," Rabbani said. But his remarks drew a strong reaction from the Pakistani foreign minister, who urged both sides to stop pointing fingers at each other. "We will have to be more positive. We will have to realize that by blaming each other we are going nowhere. We have spent decades, we have seen devastation, we have seen people killed and maimed on both sides of the border. Time has come to move on. Time has come to stop pointing fingers," Qureshi lamented. The Pakistani foreign minister said his delegation's visit to Kabul and participation in the trilateral meeting are all aimed at building mutual political trust and facilitating the Afghan peace process. The allegations and counter allegations at the news conference once again underscored a deeply mistrusted relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. China, a close ally of Pakistan, lately has deepened its economic and political ties with Afghanistan. It has been actively using its influence to bring the two uneasy South Asian neighbors closer. Beijing also maintains contacts with the Taliban and repeatedly has urged the insurgents to engage in peace talks to seek a solution to their concerns. The Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers on Saturday invited and encouraged the Afghan government to join their bilateral multi-billion-dollar infrastructure-building project that Beijing is carrying out in Pakistan as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative. Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China has said it would help build roads and railways to connect it with Afghanistan. Qureshi urged his Afghan counterpart to send a delegation to Pakistan to examine projects in which they might want to take part. He said the regional connectivity will be crucial for building war-ravaged Afghanistan. Pakistan also believes linking Afghanistan to CPEC would give it better access to trade with Central Asian markets. Foreign Minister Rabbani said a third meeting of the trilateral dialogue will take place in Islamabad next year. President Donald Trumps relationship with the truth tends to be borderline, at best, when it comes to the border. So it was this past week when he made a flurry of false or unsupported statements about immigration. He said, with no evidence, that migrants are plagued with disease. He asserted that Mexico has in effect agreed to pay for his border wall, even as he threatens a partial government shutdown if Congress doesnt approve billions of dollars to build it. He twisted federal statistics to claim the recent arrest of 10 terrorists who dont exist. On another front, Trump tried to cast doubt on whether his former national security adviser had lied to the FBI even after the aide pleaded guilty to doing just that. A look at recent rhetoric and the reality: BORDER SECURITY TRUMP: People with tremendous medical difficulty and medical problems are pouring in, and in many in many cases its contagious. Theyre pouring into our country. We have to have border security. statement in Oval Office meeting Tuesday with Democratic leaders, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer. THE FACTS: Trump provided no evidence that people coming into the country, including the caravan at the U.S.-Mexico border, are carrying contagious diseases at a higher rate than the U.S. population. Medical screening is part of the process for vetting people who seek asylum. A study published this month by the UCL-Lancet Commission on Migration and Health called scares about contagion one of the most pervasive myths about migrants. The study found no evidence that migrants pose a significant public health risk to countries such as the U.S. that have good health systems. In fact, migrants themselves face health threats from arduous journeys, violence along the way, or overcrowding in shelters or camps, the Lancet commission said. While some may come from regions where certain diseases are common, the report noted that international tourism and movement of animals spread illness, too. As for the caravan and other migrants from the south, World Bank statistics show Mexico and Central America vaccinate most children against measles, sometimes at a bit higher rate than the U.S. Along the border between Mexico and California, public health departments have long had a system in place to watch for signs of outbreaks of a variety of illnesses, whether theyre immigration-related or not. TRUMP: Our Southern Border is now Secure and will remain that way. tweet Tuesday. TRUMP: We need border security. People are pouring into our country, including terrorists. We have terrorists. But we caught 10 terrorists. These are over the last very short period of time 10. These are very serious people. statement in Oval Office meeting. THE FACTS: Trump contradicted himself, declaring the border secure and insecure on the same day. And Trump is wrong about the government recently catching 10 terrorists. His statement is a mangling of federal statistics showing that U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped an average of seven to 10 people a day in the 2017 budget year who were denied entry to the U.S. because they were on a watch list. That average applied to all points of entry, and overwhelmingly from airports, and was not specific to the southern border. The standard for placing someone on the list is reasonable suspicion, a lower bar than the probable cause needed to arrest someone for an alleged crime. The statistics do not show how many might have been arrested or charged with anything. In any event, Trump rendered a daily average as 10 recently captured terrorists in the flesh. As for border security, U.S. arrests on the Mexican border jumped 78 percent in November from a year earlier to the highest level in Trumps presidency. Increased arrests indicate that more people are trying to cross the border illegally. JOBS PELOSI: We came at a place to say, How do we meet the needs of American people who have needs? The economy has people are losing their jobs. Oval Office meeting. TRUMP: Well, we have the lowest unemployment that weve had in 50 years. Oval Office meeting. THE FACTS: Trump is correct about jobs. There may always be some layoffs even if the economy is strong. General Motors, for instance, said last month it would cut as many as 14,000 workers in North America in a restructuring aimed at generating cash to spend on innovation, even though U.S. auto sales are near historic highs. But the U.S. economy has now added jobs for a record 98 straight months, dating to October 2010, during the Obama administration. The Labor Department reported the unemployment rate in November stayed at 3.7 percent, a five-decade low, for the third straight month. The job gains are pushing down unemployment rates to historically low levels for a variety of groups. The unemployment rate for men aged 20 and above fell last month to 3.3 percent, the lowest in 18 years. The rate for Americans with just high school diplomas dropped to 3.5 percent, the lowest since December 2000. The African-American jobless rate declined to 5.9 percent, matching Mays figure as the lowest on record. Thats making it more challenging for businesses to find the workers they need. Employers have posted 7 million open jobs, outnumbering the ranks of the unemployed, which fell last month to just under 6 million. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SCHUMER: The one thing I think we can agree on is we shouldnt shut down the government over a dispute. And you want to shut it down. You keep talking about it. Oval Office meeting. TRUMP: No, no, no, no, no. The last time, Chuck, you shut it down. SCHUMER: No, no, no. THE FACTS: Theres no settling any argument over who is responsible for a shutdown. But the last one, in January, was generally attributed to Senate Democrats seeking to force protections for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants. Parts of the government closed for three days as Democrats united against a Republican-backed temporary spending bill unless Republicans and Trump agreed to extend the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protected the children of parents who came to the U.S. illegally. The White House was resisting bipartisan efforts to help the young immigrants. Schumer ultimately gave in to GOP demands in exchange for a promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to address the issue at a later date, infuriating liberal activists who were pushing Democrats hard for an immigration deal. Schumer had grounds, though, for accusing Trump of wanting a partial shutdown now. The president said hed be proud to shut down the government and eager to take responsibility for it if he didnt get enough money from Congress for border security. TRUMP: If we dont get what we want one way or another ... I will shut down the government. in meeting with Pelosi and Schumer. SCHUMER, asked after the meeting what happens if Trump doesnt compromise: He will get no wall and he will get a shutdown. PELOSI: A Trump shutdown could be his holiday president to the American people. THE FACTS: Everyones exaggerating. The government is not at risk of closing if a deal is not reached by the end of this coming Friday. About three-quarters of the government would continue to have enough money to operate. But even a partial shutdown could be disruptive. Among the affected departments absent a deal: Homeland Security, Transportation, Agriculture, State, Justice. Congress has approved continued financing of the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, among other federal operations, and workers deemed essential would not be idled. RUSSIA INVESTIGATION TRUMP: Well the FBI said Michael Flynn, a general and a great person, they said he didnt lie. And Mueller said: Well, maybe he did. And now theyre all having a big dispute, so I think its a great thing that the judge is looking into that situation. Its an honor for a lot of terrific people. remarks Thursday. THE FACTS: Thats not what the FBI said. And Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser, has agreed that he lied to the FBI. He pleaded guilty to it and is to be sentenced next week the first White House official punished as part of special counsel Robert Muellers ongoing Russia investigation. The idea that Flynn didnt lie to the FBI picked up steam after Republicans on the House intelligence committee issued a report this year that said ex-FBI director James Comey, in a private briefing, told lawmakers that agents who interviewed Flynn discerned no physical indications of deception and saw nothing that indicated to them that he knew he was lying to them. But Comey called that description garble in a private interview with House lawmakers this month. Comey, in essence, said Flynn was a good liar, having a natural conversation with agents, answered fully their questions, didnt avoid. That notwithstanding, they concluded he was lying. As for Trumps comment that the judge is looking into the matter, its true U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan has asked for documents related to the agents who interviewed Flynn. Its not clear from Sullivans order whether he considers there to be a dispute to resolve or if he just wants to see the underlying documents as he decides Flynns sentence. THE WALL TRUMP: I often stated, One way or the other, Mexico is going to pay for the Wall. This has never changed. Our new deal with Mexico (and Canada), the USMCA, is so much better than the old, very costly & anti-USA NAFTA deal, that just by the money we save, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL! tweet Thursday. THE FACTS: This is a face-saving statement to mask the fact that Mexico refused to pay for a U.S. border wall, Trump gave up trying to make it do so and U.S. taxpayers are on the hook for it. In essence, Trump is arguing that new terms of trade with Mexico will increase economic growth in the U.S. and produce more tax revenue. Thats what everyone hopes trade agreements will do. As part of that, he hopes for a lower trade deficit with Mexico. Neither outcome is assured. The deal negotiated with Mexico and Canada is an update of the North American Free Trade Agreement he railed against, not a transformative pact. The three countries will continue trading in an environment of mainly low or no tariffs, with improvements here and there for all three partners. There is no credible way for Trump to forecast additional growth covering costs that are being charged to U.S. taxpayers if the wall is built. Trade balances depend on too many factors consumer tastes, exchange rates, overall economic performance, and the choices of thousands of companies among them and some are well outside any governments control. Trump specifically promised in the campaign that Mexico would pay for the wall. That is not the same as trying to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, which is about the exchange of goods and services among private entities rather than payments between governments. Nor is a trade deficit necessarily a penalty on consumers. It is the result of consumers buying things made in another country. He wants some $25 billion from Congress for wall construction over five years and promises a partial government shutdown if he does not get a $5 billion or so portion in the next week. Congress may or may not give him that. If it does, it will not be because lawmakers expect a refund to the treasury in future years from extra growth produced by a trade deal. TRUMP: Tremendous amounts of wall have already been built. statement in meeting Tuesday with Pelosi and Schumer. TRUMP: People do not yet realize how much of the Wall, including really effective renovation, has already been built. We have already built large new sections & fully renovated others, making them like new. tweets. THE FACTS: Tremendous portions of the wall have not been built. Yes, some barrier renovation has happened, but little wall construction has been completed under Trump. Congress allocated roughly $1.4 billion in the spring a bit more than 5 percent of what Trump wanted for border security and specified that the money was not to be used for construction of the prototype wall sections that stand near San Diego. Instead, the money is to strengthen or replace existing fencing with more secure fencing. Altogether, Trump promised in the campaign that hed build a 1,000-mile (1,600 kilometer-) wall, as high as 40 feet or 12 meters (and have Mexico pay for it, which isnt happening). If some 650 miles (1,050 km) of existing fencing are considered in the equation, that leaves him with about 350 miles (560 km) of wall to build. KELLYANNE CONWAY, Trump adviser: You just want to keep saying wall, wall, wall. ... There are many ways to secure a border. to reporters asking Tuesday about Trumps wall. THE FACTS: Trump, of course, has been saying wall, wall, wall, since the 2015 Republican primaries, in a torrent of tweets and in countless rallies. Or, as he put it in Tuesdays tweet, the Wall. Hes described the material, the dimensions and the beauty of it, and had prototype sections built, and they are of a wall, not a fence. Federal officials, and Trump himself, at times, have tried to scale back expectations by noting, for example, that there are places where you cant have a physical wall, as Conway put it Tuesday. There are rivers. Theres brush. But Trump already accounted for that when he promised 1,000 miles of wall to supplement an additional 1,000 miles of rivers and other natural barriers. The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it, he tweeted in January, as if inviting voters to hold him to his literal promise. Australia will recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but will not immediately move its embassy from Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will also acknowledge the aspirations of Palestinians for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem. If, in the future, Jerusalems status is finalized under a peace settlement, Australia says it could move its embassy then. In October, Morrison said he found arguments in favor of moving Australias diplomatic presence from Tel Aviv to be persuasive. He denied his comments were an attempt to influence Jewish voters in a crucial by-election in Sydney. Trade deal There was support from the Israeli government, but Palestinian leaders said Australia risked becoming an international pariah. A major trade deal between Australia and neighboring Indonesia, which has the worlds largest Muslim population, has also been jeopardized because of speculation Canberra could move its embassy to Jerusalem. Palestinian leaders have also lobbied Arab and other states to stop buying Australian exports and withdraw their ambassadors from Canberra in the event of an embassy move. The decision not to relocate the Australian embassy should ease some of that diplomatic pressure, according to Daniel Flitton, managing editor of the Lowy Institutes Interpreter, a magazine produced by the Sydney-based think-tank. That really depends on the reaction from the rest of the world as to whether or not this issue continues to dog the government, Flitton said. There is a difference between when a United States makes this decision and the rest of the world reacts because the United States is a big power versus when Australia makes this decision, and there is a risk that some countries might choose to try and make Australia an example and to try and punish Australia as a consequence. That might mean that the issue stays live for the months ahead. But my suspicious is that the decision to change the recognition but not physically move the embassy will probably limit the consequences, he added. Australia is not US Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been acknowledged internationally. Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump overturned decades of U.S. neutrality when he recognized the divided city as Israels capital, prompting widespread condemnation. It led to the Palestinian Authority cutting off dialogue with Washington. At the time, the Trump administration said it was strongly committed to achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. The American embassy was moved from Tel Aviv in May. In a rare step, the California Supreme Court has blocked Gov. Jerry Browns attempt to issue a pardon to a 37-year-old Cambodian refugee who killed a woman when he was 14 years old. The court gave no reason for the rejection, but earlier noted it only had the authority to do so in the case of an abuse of power. Browns pardon would have effectively stopped Borey Ais deportation to Cambodia, a nation where his mother was born but he has never seen. Pardons, threat of deportation The governor in the last 10 months has pardoned seven ex-convicts who otherwise faced the threat of deportation to Cambodia, drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, whose administration has stepped up efforts to deport immigrants with criminal convictions. It takes at least four votes of the seven justices to block pardons. The unsigned ruling Wednesday didnt say how many justices voted to block the pardon. The governor is required to obtain the courts approval for pardons and sentence commutations for twice-convicted felons. Appellate lawyer David Ettinger said it appears the last time the court rejected a governors pardon was in 1930. A spokesman for the governor, Brian Ferguson, declined comment. 19 years served Ai was charged as an adult and convicted in Santa Clara County 1997 of second-degree murder and also of a separate robbery. He was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison. He spent 19 years in prison before parole officials decided he had turned his life around. He walked out of San Quentin prison in November 2016 and into the custody of waiting federal immigration agents who are trying to deport him to Cambodia. After prison, he spent 18 months in federal detention but was freed in May after Cambodia refused to accept him for now. Ai was represented by lawyers at the nonprofit legal aid organization Asian Law Caucus. It is definitely a disappointment and definitely a surprise, said Anoop Prasad, one of Ais lawyers. Prasad said the court didnt provide an explanation to Ai or his legal team. Prasad said lawyers are considering other legal avenues to reverse the state Supreme Courts decision. Prasad also said Ai is fighting his deportation in a federal appeals court. Parole officials recommended a pardon for Ai in October and dozens of advocates turned in more than 36,000 signatures asking Brown to pardon Ai. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Aaron West objected to the pardon, arguing that Ai has been free for only months and has no track record of being a benefit to the community. More than 100 people in Cameroon, who had been arrested for attempting to create an English-speaking state, were freed Friday. President Paul Biya had ordered legal proceedings against them to be stopped a day earlier. Security was tight at the Yaounde military tribunal where hundreds of English-speaking Cameroonians gathered Friday to watch the release of 120 detainees a day after President Paul Biya ordered that all legal proceedings against them be stopped. Another 169 are reportedly still held in several detention camps around the country. Thirty-four-year-old Vincent Bouma was the first to regain his freedom after seven months. Bouma says he was arrested in the northwestern town of Bafut and taken to Cameroon's capital, Yaounde. "I am very, very happy," said Bouma. "I am going to tell the people that there is nothing wrong in the country and that our people who are in the bush, let them reason and come back." Thirty-six-year-old Rajali Adjara, from the English-speaking northwestern village of Sabga, says she traveled to Yaounde overnight, hoping her husband, elder brother and neighbor, arrested 17 months ago, were among the detainees released. Unfortunately, only her brother regained freedom. She says President Biya should have freed everyone. "The best thing for him to do is to call for dialogue. He needs to dialogue with the people and release all the detainees involved in the crisis," Adjara said. "We have seen him dialogue with Boko Haram fighters. He has even paid ransom. If he can do [the] same (dialogue) in the northwest and southwest, then I think, peace will return." Tatah Julius, whose father was released, says Biya's initiative was not enough to bring peace. "If he wants true peace to reign, remove these military who are shooting people on a daily basis," Tatah said. "Remove them from our towns, our streets. Remove the military cars, armored cars that are walking the streets every day and then we know that yes, you are looking for a lasting and peaceful solution to this problem." The conflict that led to the arrest of 289 people began in 2016, when teachers and lawyers in Cameroon's English-speaking region complained about discrimination by the French-speaking majority in education and the justice system. The government responded with a crackdown that led to a violent separatist movement to create an English-speaking state within Cameroon. Ngaibe Philippe, one of the lawyers defending English-speaking detainees, says Biya should be tried for refusing to respect Cameroon's laws and taking people charged with simple crimes to the military tribunal. "How on Earth would you take a crisis of misdemeanor and they are judged in a military court," Ngaibe said. "Now a majority like our president, Sisseko (Ayuk Tabe), fall under felonies. It means those ones are going to remain in jail while a minute number of 289 are released under misdemeanor. This is absolute nonsense and it is not going to change the face of the struggle in anyway." Cameroon's defense minister, Joseph Beti Assomo, said those who have received the president's pardon exclude convicts charged with terrorism, inciting violence and taking up weapons against the state. Such may face death penalties, he said. The U.S. diplomat who once steered Washington's relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan says Islamabad's growing closeness with Beijing could pose new challenges to already frail U.S.-Pakistan relations. Richard Olson was the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and was previously U.S. ambassador to Pakistan. In a Voice of America interview, he warned that growing rivalries between the United States and China were likely to complicate security and other issues in this already volatile region. A contest between Washington and Beijing for dominance can frame the U.S.-Pakistan relationship and bring "new challenges," Olson said. Some of Pakistan's policy elite share this view. Pakistan's former foreign secretary, Salman Bashir, told VOA that Washington should not view regional issues through the lens of the U.S.-China rivalry that intensified this year. "There is a tendency in Washington's policy circle to view everything as part of the great game. Pakistan has already experienced this as a U.S. ally during the Cold War years against the then-Soviet Union, and that cooperation turned into a disaster for Pakistan. We are not ready to be part of this new great game," Bashir said. However, the U.S and China agree on some issues related to Afghanistan, believing that a stable Afghanistan could help economic development and regional integration for South and Central Asia. Olson said China "would want to see Afghanistan included in its Belt and Road Initiative and somewhat aligned with CPEC [the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor]. But the first step is to establish security and achieving a political settlement [with the Afghan Taliban]." He said Pakistan could play a significant role in that matter, because it has some sway over warring Taliban factions. "If Pakistan can help bring the Taliban to the table, it would also dramatically improve its relations with Washington, which is pursuing a single-point agenda of striking a political settlement and achieving peace in Afghanistan," Olson said. However, he acknowledged that during 2018, the strategic divergence between Islamabad and Washington grew wider than ever. The former ambassador said "there is still a window of opportunity available to Pakistan in terms of helping the U.S. secure peace in Afghanistan. And I don't believe Pakistan can deliver the Taliban to the table. But they can definitely take certain initiatives to make that happen." Facebook says a software flaw may have exposed private photos of nearly 7 million users, the latest in a series of privacy issues facing the social media company. Facebook said Friday that the photo glitch gave about 1,500 software apps unauthorized access to private photos for 12 days in September. "We're sorry this happened," Facebook said in a blog. It said it would notify users whose photos might have been affected. Irish regulator to investigate The software flaw affected users who gave third-party applications permission to access their photos. Facebook usually allows the apps to access only photos shared on a user's timeline. However, the glitch would have allowed the apps to see additional photos, including those on Marketplace and Facebook Stories, as well as ones uploaded but not shared. It is not known whether any of the photos were actually accessed. The lead regulator of Facebook in the European Union, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), said it was investigating the situation to determine whether the company complied with strict new EU privacy rules. While Facebook says the bug has been fixed, the revelation brought new scrutiny to a company that has faced a series of security and privacy breaches. Earlier issues Earlier this year, Facebook acknowledged that a political consultancy firm, Cambridge Analytica, gained access to the personal data from millions of user profiles. In September, the company said it discovered a security breach affecting about 50 million user accounts that could have allowed hackers to access the accounts. The company said hackers exploited the "View As" feature, which lets users see how their own profiles would look to other people. Facebook has also come under criticism for fake political ads posted on its site from Russia and other countries. The company has more than 2 billion users worldwide. French officials say a fourth victim of the Christmas market shooting in Strasbourg has died. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Friday identified the victim as Italian journalist Antonio Megalizzi. Police killed the alleged assailant in the market attack Thursday and searched for other potential suspects Friday. The Islamic State terror group, without providing evidence, claimed responsibility for Tuesdays attack that wounded more than a dozen people, and left a country on edge. Two-day manhunt French public prosecutor Remy Heitz on Friday detailed the two-day manhunt that led to police shooting dead Cherif Chekatt, in the Strasbourg neighborhood where he grew up. He said two local witnesses tipped off police after seeing a man who matched a widely circulated description of Chekatt during a manhunt that included nearby Germany. Chekatt noted that about 9 p.m. local time Thursday, a police patrol spotted a man trying to enter a building, and identified themselves. The man turned around and opened fire, at which point police responded, killing him. Heitz says the terrorist investigation continues to identify possible suspects in Tuesdays Christmas market shooting. They have detained more than a half-dozen people for questioning, including four members of Chekatts family. The Islamic State terror group said Chekatt was one of its so-called soldiers. But visiting the newly reopened market Friday, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner dismissed the claim as totally opportunistic, saying Chekatt nourished evil within himself. A Strasbourg native with Moroccan roots, Chekatt had an extensive criminal record that stretched to Germany and Switzerland, and multiple prison sentences. He had been on a French watchlist for suspected Islamist views. Relief in Strasbourg Strasbourgs businesses have taken a major hit. Many locals said they were relieved Chekatt had been killed. One woman told French radio she had been haunted by fears of him still hiding and ready to strike, but that the burden has been lifted. The police have been hailed as heroes for tracking down Chekatt as swiftly as they did; but, their representatives say officers are exhausted after also dealing with multiple French anti-government protests in recent weeks. Some of the demonstrators say they will be back on the streets to protest government reforms and the high cost of living. President Donald Trump could find himself embracing strategic patience on North Korea, an Obama administration approach he once denounced, as nuclear talks with Pyongyang have stalled, analysts say. A Trump tweet Friday showed the presidents evolving position. And this policy pivot follows growing concern in Washington that denuclearization of North Korea is likely to be more complicated and take longer than the Trump White House expected. Washingtons talks with Pyongyang have been stalled, and North Korea has not taken concrete steps toward denuclearization. North Korea abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in early November, and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, appointed in August, has yet to meet with his North Korean counterpart. Satellite images of North Korea throughout the year showed that the country has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs. The most recent image obtained by CNN last week indicated North Korea might be expanding its key long-range missile base with a newly constructed facility. Not willing to denuclearize Former U.S. officials and analysts are concerned North Koreas unwillingness to denuclearize despite the historic summit between the U.S. and North Korea will lead the Trump administration to adopt strategic patience as a default policy choice. Former President Barak Obama adopted the policy of gradually escalating sanctions on North Korea while refusing to negotiate with Pyongyang until it gave up its nuclear weapons program in what came to be known as strategic patience. Trump said the era of strategic patience is over last year when dealing with North Korea and took on the policy of maximum pressure while engaged in diplomatic talks with Pyongyang this year. Not a policy, it is a fact of life Gary Samore, the White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction during the Obama administration, said strategic patience is a result of a policy rather a policy itself. For me, strategic patience is not a policy, Samore said. It is a fact of life. According to Samore, the Trump administration is following the same policies of economic pressure and promises to induce North Korea to accept denuclearization as the Obama administration had done, with the exception of meeting Kim. The biggest difference between Trump and Obama is President Trumps decision to meet directly with Kim Jong Un to start the negotiation process, the so-called top-down approach, Samore said. The results are the same Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group, said, As long as Trump continues down the path of maximum pressure and denuclearization first, he is essentially following the path of strategic patience. He continued, It might not look like strategic patience because of the U.S.-North Korean talks but the results are the same. Gause said the U.S. will drift toward strategic patience as long as North Koreas demand for economic concessions remains unmet. Less patience, more strategy Evans Revere, acting assistant secretary at the State Departments Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs during the George W. Bush administration, said he sees too much patience and very little strategy in the administrations approach. Despite clear evidence that [North Korea] is expanding its nuclear and missile capabilities, President Trump has removed the timeline for the Norths denuclearization, he said. Revere added, Its time for more strategy, less patience, coupled with a healthy dose of action. Second summit? However, Scott Snyder, director of the Program on U.S. Korean Policy at the Council of Foreign Policy, said Trumps approach toward North Korea differs from the approach that the Obama administration took. The Trump administrations approach involves conscious application of increasing pressure toward North Korea designed to drive toward a decisive point, rather than waiting more passively for North Korea to make a decision, Snyder said. Trump has said he is willing to meet Kim for a second summit as early as January or February of next year. Pyongyang, however, has not accepted the summit offer, at least publicly. On Thursday, North Korea blamed Washington for stalled denuclearization talks, while saying it remains open to discussion and progress. North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, How can a negotiation train move when North Korea is the only one moving and the U.S. is standing still. It continued, We are waiting with patience for the U.S. to take corresponding measures. Kosovo's parliament has voted to convert and expand its lightly armed security force into a standing army, a move backed by the United States but opposed by neighboring Serbia. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic responded by saying Belgrade would request an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting over the vote. He called it the "most direct threat to peace and stability in the region." Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Thursday that Kosovo, a former Serbian province, did not have the right to form an army. Serbia's government does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Last week, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic suggested that Belgrade might respond to the vote with military intervention. On Friday, she told reporters that a Kosovar army would not contribute to regional stability. "It is better to sit down and talk about how we can build a different future, rather than look at how we can raise barriers," she said, according to CNN. The plan approved Friday would convert the 3,000-member security force to a 5,000-member army with 3,000 more troops in reserve. Kosovo's lawmaking body voted Friday without the participation of 11 lawmakers from the Serb minority of the republic. Dominated by an ethnic Albanian majority, the Republic of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and formed an independent government that is not universally recognized. The United States, European Union, Britain, Canada and Australia are among the governments that recognize Kosovo as independent. NATO has maintained a peacekeeping force in Kosovo since the bloody Kosovo War 20 years ago that led to independence. But on Friday, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg criticized the move to form an army. Stoltenberg tweeted after the vote that NATO had made clear its concerns. He added, "All sides must ensure that today's decision will not further increase tensions in the region." He added that NATO must now reassess its level of engagement with the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo known as KFOR. The 4,000-member force includes about 600 U.S. soldiers. The leaders of a regional Latin American and Caribbean block of leftist governments met in Cubas capital, Havana, Friday with the host warning of right-wing advances in the region. We cant be naive, summit host, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, told the group, ... It is not possible to underestimate the massive deployment of resources by our historic adversaries to derail governments, sow chaos and topple democratically elected officials. He warned of right-wing advances and said the summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) is a bastion against reactionary forces in the region. He also spoke of his countrys solidarity with Venezuela and Nicaragua, both of which are in the midst of economic and political crises, and whose leaders attended the summit. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pledged his country will continue to provide energy support to member states, despite his countrys economic crisis. ALBA has been and will always be the only project for integration and unity of our people in Latin America and the Caribbean that reaches the homes and humble lives with love, solidarity, health, education, life and continuity, he said. The summit was founded 14 years ago by former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The groups aim is to reduce Latin Americas reliance on Western aid by promoting cooperation and trade between member countries. Officials in Pakistan said a roadside bomb blast Friday struck a military convoy in southwestern Baluchistan province, killing at least six members of a security force and injuring 14 others. An army statement said that personnel of the paramilitary Frontier Corps were conducting an operation against a "terrorists' hideout" in the Turbat district when their convoy came under attack from armed forces in the surrounding mountains. "Terrorists targeted one of the vehicles of security forces through [an] IED [improvised explosive device]. Six security personnel embraced martyrdom," it said, adding an ensuing firefight killed four terrorists. Three separatist groups the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the so-called Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) claimed they jointly carried out the attack. Resource-rich Baluchistan has been the scene of major militant attacks. But the violence has significantly decreased in recent years. Last month, BLA militants assaulted the Chinese consulate in the southern port city of Karachi. The attackers killed four people, including two policemen, before they were gunned down by Pakistani security forces. China is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in Pakistan, and some are in Baluchistan. The mega-development cooperation is aimed at linking the two countries as part of Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative. In July, a massive suicide bombing in Baluchistan ripped through an election rally, killing nearly 130 people and injuring dozens more. Islamic State's regional branch, Khorasan Province or ISK-P, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The U.N. refugee agency warns an estimated 1.5 million homeless people in Democratic Republic of Congo are destitute and vulnerable to diseases and exploitation. A UNHCR survey of seven of DR Congo's 26 provinces finds around 1.5 million people in these areas of conflict have had their homes damaged or destroyed. U.N. refugee spokesman Charlie Yaxley says the limited scope of the survey presents only a partial picture of homelessness throughout the country. He says the true number of those displaced by deadly clashes between armed groups and government forces is probably higher. He tells VOA there continues to be a steady number of attacks in the eastern part of the country, particularly in the province of Ituri. He says violence there has increased significantly since September. "We have had 100,000 newly displaced people, specifically in Ituri since September alone and that is placing even more strain and pressure on the humanitarian response there," Yaxley said. "And, in the eastern part of the country many people are being left without shelter and homes simply because humanitarian organizations are having difficulties with access." Yaxley says the situation of access is especially difficult in North Kivu, which is in the midst of a virulent Ebola epidemic. "People also reportedly are reluctant to come forward out of fear from attacks by armed groupsAnd, once you throw in Ebola in there as well, on all measures people are in urgent and dire need of more support," Yaxley said. The United States has renewed its travel advisory, warning citizens not to go to Eastern DRC and the three Kasai provinces because of the dangers. The United Kingdom, Canada and other countries have issued similar travel alerts. The UNHCR says it is short of cash to help the many people who lack proper shelter. It says they have little protection against the elements or intruders. It says they are exposed to sickness and disease. It says women and girls in spontaneous settlements are at great risk of sexual violence. The agency reports less than half of its $200 million budget for this year's humanitarian operations in DRC is covered. It is appealing to donors to fill this gap. The Nigerian military lifted a ban on UNICEF activities in the northeast of the country hours after suspending the agency and accusing it of spying for Islamist militants in the restive region. Earlier Friday, the Nigerian military said there was "credible information" that some representatives of the United Nations children's agency were training and deploying spies who support Boko Haram insurgents and their sympathizers. It said it was suspending UNICEF operations for three months. Later Friday, military officials met with aid agency representatives and afterward announced the ban had been revoked. Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said military officials told UNICEF to stop activities that hurt "national security" and that undermine the fight against terrorism. The military said it urged "UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theater. Boko Haram sparks crisis Nigeria's restive northeast has been the center of Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency, which has left around 30,000 people dead and tens of thousands of others driven from their homes. The violence has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the wider Lake Chad region and left the area largely dependent on international aid. Amnesty International condemned the original suspension Friday, saying it was "part of a wider drive to intimidate international humanitarian and human rights organizations who are working to save lives in this devastating conflict." The death of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl while in U.S. custody on the Southwest border last week is raising questions about when and how border officials handled not only her symptoms and treatment, but the subsequent delayed disclosure of her death to the public, the media and Congress. On Friday, the investigation into the death of Jakelin Caal Maquin escalated, with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) saying it would be looking into how the agency, which oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), acted during the approximately 27 hours from the time the girl was taken into custody until she died. CBP on Friday also confirmed the girl's name as Jakelin Caal Maquin. An earlier report by the Associated Press misspelled the girl's first name. Jakelin crossed into the U.S. with her 29-year-old father, Nery Caal, after traveling from Raxruha in Alta Verapaz, northern Guatemala. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents detained the pair late on Dec. 6, as part of a group of 163 border-crossers held in a remote area of southern New Mexico, near the Antelope Wells Port of Entry, according to CBP and DHS accounts. A quick evaluation of the girl did not raise any concerns about her well-being, according to the agencies. But by the next morning, Jakelin was in distress. She died shortly after midnight on Dec. 8. The initial indication from Providence Children's Hospital in El Paso, Texas, where she was taken, is that she died from septic shock. Her father was with her, CBP said. "After completing a dayslong, dangerous journey through remote and barren terrain, the child, who, according to the father, had not been able to consume water or food for days, began vomiting, went into sepsis shock and after receiving emergency treatment from U.S. Border Patrol Emergency Response Technicians (EMTs), air paramedics and emergency room personnel, died," according to a DHS statement. Dangerous journey CBP said it will investigate the death. During a call with reporters on Friday, a CBP official repeated what DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also said in a statement overnight: that the journey is dangerous, and the family "chose to cross ... illegally." "Sometimes aliens do die in the desert," the CBP official, who declined to be named, told reporters. However, Jakelin didn't die in the desert; she died in CBP custody. A Guatemalan official told Univision that the autopsy has not yet been done, meaning no cause of death has been determined. Here's what is known of her final day: Among the questions for CBP is the potential language barrier between the girl's father and border officials, who said they provided Spanish-language assistance to the group. Tekandi Paniagua Flores, the Guatemalan consul in Del Rio, Texas, told Univision they have been in touch with the girl's father. He said the man speaks Ke'chi, also called Q'eqchi', a Mayan language spoken by about 800,000 people in parts of Guatemala and Belize. The consulate provided services to him in his native language. The CBP official told reporters on Friday that the father was asked questions in Spanish in order to fill out a form in English. There was no mention of an interpreter for Q'eqchi'. DHS and CBP, in response to a VOA inquiry regarding the potential language barrier, provided a statement that did not address the language question but noted the start of the inspector general's investigation. In the statement, CBP also said it is reviewing its "notification policies on deaths to the public and Congress" amid questions about why the agency did not disclose Jakelin's death until a Washington Post story was published this week, and why Commissioner Kevin McAleenan did not mention the girl's death during his congressional testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 11. Deaths in the desert Deaths in CBP custody are rare, according to the agency's last report to Congress, as mandated by law, which included data for fiscal 2015. That year, the report said 10 people died as a result of use of force by CBP officials. Additionally, one person who died while in custody had a pre-existing medical condition, another committed suicide in a CBP holding facility, and a third died from heatstroke after being apprehended by CBP agents. VOA requested updated information from DHS and CBP about the number of deaths in CBP custody for the past three years. DHS assistant press secretary Katie Waldman responded with the number of rescues Border Protection officials have performed in the last year, but did not include the number of deaths in custody. A follow-up email regarding the questions about deaths in CBP custody went unanswered. CBP does find bodies while patrolling the Southwest border. The agency maintains data of "Southwest Border Deaths by Fiscal Year" on its website. However, it is unclear if that number includes deaths in custody or only bodies found along the border by CBP officials. DHS and CBP did not respond Friday to a request to clarify that data. In fiscal 2017, CBP documented 294 border deaths. That figure peaked in fiscal 2005 with 492, and more recently in fiscal 2012 with 471, but has hovered between 250 and 350 since then. The World Food Program says reopening the Yemeni Port of Hodeida is crucial in efforts to stave off famine in that country, which has been at war for more than three years. The United Nations warns some 14 million people are on the verge of starvation in Yemen. Yemen imports 90 percent of its food, with 70 percent arriving at the port of Hodeida. Yemen's warring parties agreed to a province-wide cease-fire in Hodeida at U.N.-mediated talks in Sweden. Unfortunately, fighting broke out Friday on the outskirts of the port, a day after the truce was adopted, putting the reopening of the port in doubt. The World Food Program reports it is critical to both humanitarian operations and to the commercial sector that the agreement be salvaged. It says the port of Hodeida is the principle lifeline for two-thirds of the country. WFP spokesman, Herve Verhoosel, says the free flow of commercial food supplies into Yemen should prevent further increases in food prices, which have skyrocketed, making food unaffordable for millions. "In Yemen, 20 million people today rely on the private market," said Verhoosel. "They buy their food in the street, in the market ... And we hope that when the port will again work at normal capacity, more food will come on the private market and potentially the price of that food for those millions of people who buy it will not go up anymore." Last year, WFP was providing 3.5 million Yemenis with food rations every month. The number of beneficiaries has more than doubled over the past two years. Since August, the agency has been assisting seven to 8 million people a month. Verhoosel says WFP is scaling up its operations to reach 10 million of the most vulnerable people in Yemen this month, with plans to reach up to 12 million in the New Year. He says special attention will be given to increasing nutrition for severely malnourished children, and for pregnant and breastfeeding women. He says they are most at risk of famine and death. Former top U.S. intelligence officials are warning the guilty plea by a former Russian graduate student and self-proclaimed gun-rights advocate should serve as a wake-up call about the Kremlins brazen desire and ability to interfere with the American political system. Maria Butina, a 30-year-old native of Siberia, entered the plea Thursday in Washington, admitting she worked with a top Russian official, and two other Americans, to infiltrate U.S. conservative groups and the Republican Party for Russias benefit. Her efforts, according to court documents, which included attending events hosted by the National Rifle Association gun-rights group and hosting so-called friendship dinners, were directed by Alexander Torshin, a deputy governor of Russias central bank with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. At one gathering in 2015, she even managed to ask President Donald Trump, a candidate at the time, about U.S.-Russian relations, prompting him to say he thought he would get along very nicely with President Putin. It certainly is yet more validation of the Intelligence Community Assessment, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told VOA via email, referring to the unclassified January 2017 report by the countrys top three intelligence agencies that concluded that Putin and the Russian government aspired to sway the election in Trumps favor Significance of plea Clapper, who has been publicly critical of Trump since leaving office, said the Butina plea is most significant because it shows the lengths to which the Russians went to meddle in the 2016 election. It illustrates, as well, the astute understanding the Russians have of our political ecosystem; the fact that they singled out the NRA speaks to the death grip the NRA has on many of our politicians, he added. Other former intelligence officials said the details in Butinas guilty plea put a spotlight on the Kremlins obsession with undermining the U.S. from within. The big picture takeaway is that Russia comes at the U.S. target with every option it can muster full-fledged spies operating under some kind of cover, a corps of Illegals like the 10 expelled from the U.S. in 2010, and someone like Butina who is best seen as espionage lite, said John McLaughlin, a former acting director of the CIA. In combination, these three techniques increase dramatically the possibility that Moscow will gain something or someone of intelligence value, he warned. Plea agreement downplayed A Kremlin spokesman Friday called the charges against Butina absolutely groundless and invalid. And Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov downplayed the significance of the plea agreement. As far as I understand the whole idea of this plea agreement this practice is typical for the U.S. is to bargain for a chance to go free as soon as possible and to get back home, he told reporters. Plea deal unusual Former U.S. officials admit a plea deal in a case like this is unusual and note that if she makes good on her promise to cooperate truthfully with prosecutors, it could help unravel and expose others who were part of Butinas network, leading perhaps to more indictments and embarrassment for some organizations. It basically pulls the curtain back on the Kremlins broader objectives, to gain influence with the Republican Party and the right in America, said Max Bergman, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and director of the Moscow Project, and who served in the State Department under President Barack Obama. One of those coming under scrutiny is Paul Erickson, a U.S. political activist with extensive ties to the Republican Party who was romantically linked with Butina. Erickson matches the description of Person 1 in the statement offense provided by prosecutors. Person 1 helped advise Butina on which politicians to target, according to the document. Ericksons lawyer, William Hurd, said in an email to the Reuters news agency, Paul Erickson is a good American. He has done nothing to harm our country and never would. White House officials had no comment Friday on the Butina guilty plea. Trump himself, while not having commented on Butina specifically, has repeatedly denied allegations he or his presidential campaign coordinated with Russia, calling the special counsel investigation by Robert Mueller a witch hunt and stating NO COLLISION on Twitter. Russian efforts to meddle U.S. intelligence agencies, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, also have not commented on the significance or impact of the Butina guilty plea, though many officials have warned Russias efforts to meddle in U.S. domestic politics have not stopped. We continue to see a pervasive message campaign by Russia to try to weaken and divide the United States, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told reporters from the White House briefing room in the run-up to the U.S. midterm elections this past November. And in October, U.S. prosecutors unsealed charges against Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, described as the chief accountant for Russias multimillion-dollar information warfare operation to influence both the 2016 and 2018 elections. While many of Khusyaynovas social media efforts focused on conservative U.S. voters, some also targeted liberal voters and aimed to stir up anger, and even hatred, for Trump. Officials and experts said as a result, it would be a mistake to assume there are no others like Butina out there who, rather than targeting Republicans and conservative groups, are looking to infiltrate liberal parties and organizations. The Russians dont have a partisan agenda, said the Moscow Projects Bergman, pointing to a 2015 gala to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Russian-owned television outlet RT, during which Russias Putin sat at a table with former Trump adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and U.S. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. Their agenda is for discord, Bergman said. Ukrainian Orthodox leaders on Saturday approved the creation of a unified church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate and elected a leader to head the new church, officials said. The leader of the new autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be Metropolitan Epiphanius, a 39-year-old bishop from the Kyiv Patriarchate. The vote, which was held Saturday at a closed-door synod in Kiev's St. Sophia Cathedral, is certain to anger authorities in Russia. "God heard our appeals and gave us this anticipated unity,'' Epiphanius told a crowd of thousands who had gathered outside the cathedral. He stressed that the new church's doors would be open to all, and encouraged Ukrainians to rally behind it. The newly formed community is now expected to receive independence from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Istanbul-based institution considered the so-called "first among equals'' of leaders of the world's Orthodox churches. It has already drafted a charter for an independent Ukrainian church. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who has made the creation of a new church a key campaign issue, attended the synod as a non-voting observer. "Ukraine was not, is not and will not be the canonical territory of the Russian church,'' Poroshenko told the gathering of Orthodox officials on Saturday. He added that an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church was now a matter of national security. "This is a question of Ukrainian statehood,'' Poroshenko said. "We are seizing spiritual independence, which can be likened to political independence. We are breaking the chains that tie us to the [Russian] empire.'' Poroshenko said he would travel with Epiphanius to Istanbul in January to receive an official Tomos from the head of global Orthodoxy granting the new church independence. Representatives of Ukraine's three Orthodox churches attended the synod, but only two from the branch loyal to Moscow showed up. The Russian Orthodox Church has protested vigorously against Kyiv's attempts to create an independent church. One Russian bishop Metropolitan Hilarion in Volokolamsk on Saturday compared the two representatives of the Moscow-backed church to Judas. A spokesman for Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, vowed Saturday that the Moscow Patriarchate will continue to work in Ukraine despite the creation of the new independent church. The Russian Orthodox Church on Friday called on the United Nations, the leaders of Germany and France, the pope and other spiritual leaders to protect believers in Ukraine in the face of pressure on Moscow-affiliated clerics. Ukrainian authorities have sought to portray Russian Orthodox priests in Ukraine as supporting Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, claims that the clerics have rejected. As church tensions have grown, Ukraine's Security Service has searched Russian Orthodox churches in Ukraine and the homes of Russian Orthodox priests in several Ukrainian cities. The agency also has summoned dozens of priests in for questioning. The U.S. Bahai community has welcomed a resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning Iran for state-sponsored persecution of minority Bahais in the Islamic Republic. The House resolution, which also condemns what it calls Irans continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, passed without objection Wednesday. The resolution urges President Donald Trump and the State Department to immediately issue a similar condemnation of Iran and demand the immediate release of prisoners held solely on account of their religion. It also urges the Trump administration to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and other individuals directly responsible for serious rights abuses, including abuses against Iranian Bahais. Bahai statement In a statement emailed to VOA Persian, U.S. Bahai Office of Public Affairs Director Anthony Vance expressed gratitude to the House for reiterating its concern about rights abuses to which he said Iranian Bahais are unjustly subjected. The Bahai Office of Public Affairs represents the U.S. Bahai community in its relationships with the U.S. government, media and public. In spite of extraordinary levels of (Iranian) state-sponsored hate propaganda against the Bahais, as highlighted in the congressional resolution, we are greatly encouraged by reports of the fair-mindedness of the vast majority of Irans citizens, Vance said. (They) have come to realize in recent decades that their fellow Bahai citizens are peaceful and seek only to contribute to the progress of their country. Iran considers its Bahais to be heretics with no religion. Rights groups say authorities routinely arrest members of Irans estimated 300,000-strong Bahai minority for expressing or practicing their beliefs. Lawmakers statement U.S. Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch introduced the resolution condemning Irans treatment of Bahais in April 2017. After the resolution passed, Ros-Lehtinen issued a statement saying Iranian Bahais are a frequent target of rights abuses by Irans Islamist leadership, who she said subjects them to arbitrary arrest and harassment, denial of employment, refusal to recognize marriages and destruction of cemeteries and holy places. By passing Teds and my resolution, Congress is sending a strong message of support to those suffering in Iran and making it clear that those responsible for this persecution will be held accountable, she said. A similar resolution won unanimous approval in the Senate on Dec. 21, 2017. There was no immediate response from the Trump administration to the passage of the House resolution. In May, the State Department said it was horrified by reports of Iranian government persecution of religious minorities. Its 2017 International Religious Freedom Report said Tehran continued to harass, interrogate and arrest Bahais, Christians, Sunni Muslims and other religious minorities and to use anti-Semitic and anti-Bahai rhetoric in official statements. The report also said members of Iranian religious minorities, especially Bahais, continued to face societal discrimination and harassment, with employers experiencing social pressures not to hire Bahais or to dismiss them from their private-sector jobs. This article originated in VOAs Persian Service. The United States and Canada promised a fair judicial process for a Chinese tech executive who was arrested earlier this month in Canada. In talks at the State Department on Friday, the U.S. and Canadian foreign and defense ministers put on a united front, following a growing diplomatic dispute between the United States and China, in which Canada finds itself in the middle. Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland defended her country's detention of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, saying it was "not a political decision," but "a matter of following the rules." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was also "respecting the rule of law each step along the way" as it seeks Meng. Canada arrested Meng at the request of the United States, which says Huawei violated U.S. sanctions on Iran. She has been released on bail and is awaiting possible extradition to the United States. WATCH: Canada Defends Meng Detention, Pushes Back on Trump Comments Disagreement with Trump Freeland implicitly pushed back against recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said the case could be used as part of wider trade negotiations with Beijing. "It is also very important for Canada that extradition agreements are not to be used for political purposes," she said. "Canada does not do it that way and I believe it is obvious that democratic countries, such as our partners in the United States, do the same." Freeland also said she was extremely concerned about the fate of two Canadians businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig who were detained in China this week, in what is widely seen as a case of retaliation against Canada's detention of Meng. "For me and the prime minister, there are no issues that touch us more personally and immediately than the detention of Canadians outside our country," Freeland said, adding, "This is a huge priority for our government." Canadians 'ought to be returned' Secretary of State Pompeo called China's detention of the Canadian citizens "unacceptable" and said that they "ought to be returned." Chinas foreign ministry says the Canadian citizens are each being investigated on suspicion of violating Chinas national security laws. Analysts and rights groups have called those laws powerful and vague. In a statement Saturday, the International Crisis Group called for the immediate release of Kovrig, who is their senior expert for North East Asia, based in Hong Kong. The group said Kovrig had always worked transparently and constructively with Chinese authorities. The real danger to China comes from Michaels arbitrary arrest and detention, for these will have a chilling effect on people wanting to visit and engage with the country, said Crisis Group president and CEO Robert Malley. The statement also noted that since Kovrig had been a Canadian diplomat in China between 2014 and 2016, diplomatic missions around the globe should be concerned by the suggestion that normal diplomatic work could be grounds for future detention. WATCH: China Denies Arrest of Canadians Tied to Meng Case Canadas Foreign Ministry said Canadian officials were granted consular access Friday to one of the detainees and they are still trying to contact the second. The Crisis Group confirmed that the Canadian ambassador in Beijing has been able to visit Kovrig. William Gallo contributed to this report. A growing number of immigrants in the United States are being incarcerated in detention centers for increasingly extended periods of time, and without being afforded the legal protections given to criminals, according to a recent report issued by the American Immigration Council. The report, entitled The Landscape of Immigration Detention in the United States, says the number of people imprisoned for violating U.S. immigration laws has increased more than fivefold in the past two decades, from an average daily detention population of less than 7,000 in 1994 to more than 44,000 in 2017. The rise in immigration detention temporarily dipped in 2014, even though the administration of President Barack Obama increased efforts to deport immigrant criminal offenders and recent border crossers. The Migration Policy Institute attributed this temporary decline in part to improved economic conditions in Mexico and reduced post-recession job demand in the United States. The report said that during the administration of President Donald Trump, the number of detentions has steeply increased. As of Oct. 20, the average daily population in detention had reached 44,631 people, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement testified to Congress. The report notes that the 2019 U.S. federal budget requests funding for 52,000 detention beds. WATCH: U.S. Immigrant Detentions, Rights Abuse Claims Rise Claims of human rights violations The increase in immigrant detentions has also been accompanied by a rise in claims of human rights violations, the report said. There are growing reports of civil and human rights violations in detention, including substandard medical care, sexual and physical abuse, and exploitative labor practices. ICE acknowledged at least 185 deaths in detention between October 2003 and July 2018, the report said. Were talking about basic human rights and the bare minimum of legal protections that anyone in any detention should enjoy, the right to speedy trial, the right against self-incrimination, the right to a government appointed counsel, and a ban on cruel and unusual punishment, said Kathryn Shepherd, the American Immigration Councils national advocacy counsel. Zero tolerance The Trump administration has demonstrated a willingness to hold immigrants whether they cross legally or illegally in detention. Its zero tolerance policy, announced in April, mandated that anyone who entered the country illegally should be charged as a felon and incarcerated. Under U.S. law children cannot be held for more than 20 days with a felon parent, so border authorities separated children from their parents. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, cited a crisis at the border when announcing the policy, as a caravan of migrants, mostly from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, approached. It was reversed in June because of strong public condemnation. A federal judge subsequently ordered detained families be reunited. Lacking accountability Under U.S. law, immigrants may seek asylum if they can demonstrate a credible fear of persecution or torture if sent back to their home countries. In the past, asylum-seekers were often allowed to return to the local community to await their day in court, but the Trump administration has increasingly moved to force them to remain in custody until their cases are resolved. However, since zero tolerance was ended, people with children are often once again released into the community. Some asylum-seekers have been surprised to be sent to detention facilities while their cases are under review. I was told I was going to be taken to a jail. So at first I wanted to return back to Nigeria because I had never been to a jail before. So why would you take me to a jail? So it was like shocking for me, said Edafe Okporo, a gay activist whose life was threatened in Nigeria. After requesting asylum he was held in detention for five months in 2017. The American Immigration Council argues that detaining legitimate asylum-seekers is for the most part unnecessary. A lot of the people who are in detention facilities are not flight risks, are not dangerous to the community, and many of them have demonstrated that they have somewhere to go and that they will show up at their future hearing, Shepherd said. For-profit prisons The American Immigration Council report criticizes the immigration detention process as lacking public accountability and transparency. Under U.S. law, immigration detention is categorized as civil and non-punitive rather than criminal, but at the same time immigrants are not granted the same legal protections given to citizens charged under the criminal code. The more than 600 immigration detention facilities in the United States are essentially prisons with inmates issued uniforms, guards enforcing rigid rules, and limited communication and access to the outside world. More than 65 percent of immigrants are held in privately run facilities that critics say are incentivized to cut back on basic care and extend detentions to increase profit margins. This year, protests broke out at the privately run Adelanto Detention Facility in Southern California after guards were accused of using excessive force to end a hunger strike by detainees protesting what they claim was the lack of clean water, quality food and clothing at the facility. They sprayed me with pepper spray. The roughed me up, they hit me in my kidneys, they grabbed my arm. Also, when there wasnt any pepper spray they made us shower in hot water, which caused unbearable pain, said Josue Mateo Lemus Campos, an immigrant detainee who is now a plaintiff in a civil rights lawsuit against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE.) The advocacy group Human Rights Watch also blamed the Adelanto facility for the deaths of at least three immigrants during the past eight years because of dire health and safety conditions at the detention center. The budget for immigrants in detention facilities has also increased significantly. The cost to the U.S. taxpayer for holding an individual in a detention facility is more than $126 per day, and in 2017 the budget for immigrant detention centers exceeded $1.4 billion. The U.S. State Department said on Saturday it had ordered non-emergency government staff and family members of government employees to leave Democratic Republic of Congo a week before a presidential election that it fears could turn violent. Campaigning for the long-delayed Dec. 23 poll to choose President Joseph Kabila's successor had been mostly peaceful until this week, when security forces opened fire to disperse opposition gatherings, killing at least four people. A fire in the capital Kinshasa also destroyed thousands of voting machines and ballot boxes early on Thursday morning, and Kabila's ruling coalition and opposition candidates traded blame for the incident. The State Department also said in an e-mailed advisory to citizens that it had "limited ability to provide emergency services" to U.S. citizens located outside Kinshasa, especially in the east and the central Kasai provinces. The U.S. embassy in Kinshasa closed for a week last month over what it said was a possible terrorist threat. Two diplomats told Reuters the purported threat was related to the arrest of a cell of Tanzanian jihadists from a Ugandan Islamist group. Britain advised its citizens on Wednesday against traveling to Congo, while the U.N. human rights chief on Friday called on Congolese authorities to halt violence and inflammatory speech ahead of the election. Kabila, who succeeded his assassinated father in 2001, is due to step down after the election. His refusal to leave power when his mandate officially expired in 2016 sparked violent demonstrations in which security forces killed dozens of protesters. The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on three individuals it accuses of "expanding or extending" the conflict in South Sudan. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) placed sanctions Friday on retired Israeli Maj. Gen. Israel Ziv, South Sudanese businessman Obac William Olawo and South Sudanese national Gregory Vasili. Six entities owned or controlled by two of the individuals were also sanctioned. "Treasury is targeting individuals who have provided soldiers, armored vehicles and weapons used to fuel the conflict in South Sudan," said Sigal Mandelker, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. The sanctions mean that "any property or interests in property of those designated by OFAC that is within or transiting U.S. jurisdiction or the possession or control of a U.S. person must be blocked and reported to OFAC." Vasili, also known as Aduol Gregory Deng Kuac, facilitated the transportation of South Sudanese soldiers and tanks around South Sudan and was involved in brokering deals for the sale of military equipment to the government, according to Mandelker. The U.S. accuses Olawo, who also goes by Olah Ubac William, of routinely importing armored vehicles for the South Sudan government and said it identified one of his entities as having transported soldiers, arms and equipment to support a government offensive. The third sanctioned individual, Ziv, also known as Zilberstein Israel Baruch, is accused of supplying both the government and opposition forces with weapons and ammunition. 'System of grand corruption' John Prendergast, founding director of the Washington-based Enough Project, which has tracked atrocities in South Sudan, welcomed the new sanctions. "Network sanctions, like the ones imposed by the U.S. government today, begin to get at the system of grand corruption that fuels extreme violence in South Sudan and actually makes war profitable," Prendergast said. Brian Adeba, deputy director of policy at the Enough Project, told VOA's South Sudan in Focus it's important that the U.S. is going after people who control military resources outside the country. "These third parties come in the likes of the Israeli general, they come in the likes of foreign companies that facilitate this, and therefore the action by the United States, which is what we call network sanctions, is very crucial to sort of stymieing the advent of these wars, holding the perpetrators of these conflicts accountable for their actions," he said. On Saturday, it will be five years since the conflict broke out in South Sudan, in which hundreds of thousands of people have died and more than 4 million have been displaced from their homes, either living inside U.N.-protected sites or in neighboring countries. The U.S. military said it conducted an airstrike Saturday in Somalia, killing at least eight al-Shabab militants. No civilians were involved in the airstrike near Gandarhse, a coastal area south of Mogadishu, according to the U.S. Africa Command. The military said the strike was conducted in close coordination with the Somalia government to degrade al-Shabab's freedom of movement. So far this year, the U.S. military has conducted at least 40 airstrikes against al-Shabab in various parts of Somalia. Chaos in Baidoa Also on Saturday, in the Somali city of Baidoa, chaos and protests continued for a third day over the arrest of Mukhtar Robow, the former deputy leader of al-Shabab, who was a top candidate for the presidency of South West State in upcoming elections. 12 fatalities in clashes Robow was arrested Thursday and transferred to Mogadishu. The move angered his supporters, who clashed with police. At least 12 people have been killed, including a lawmaker. Authorities said at least 200 civilians were arrested following the clashes. The rights group Amnesty International condemned the killing of civilians in Baidoa. "Somali and Ethiopian security forces in Baidoa must refrain from using lethal force against protesters. ... No one should have to die for simply expressing their views," said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International deputy director for East Africa. African Union forces operating in Somalia (AMISOM) said in a statement that its troops did not help in the arrest of "Mr. Robow and his subsequent transfer to Mogadishu." The statement was made after it was reported that Ethiopian troops, who are part of AMISOM, were involved in Robow's arrest. Speaker urges release Somalia's Parliament Speaker Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman called on the government on Saturday to release Robow and postpone the regional election, where Robow is competing with other candidates for the presidential post. The Somalia government accuses Robow of bringing Islamic militants and weapons back to Baidoa, the capital of South West State. Human rights organizations and opposition parties in Zimbabwe fear the "old days" are back after the government this week threatened to deregister civic organizations that get involved in politics. The National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations said Friday threats to shut down NGOs that meddle in politics caused them a "sense of shock". The threat came from the acting minister of public service, Kazembe Kazembe, who said non-profits are not legally allowed to engage in politics. "The government has however noted with concern that some private voluntary organizations and/or NGOs have negated their objectives and are now meddling in politics," said Kazembe. "Should these organizations continue with this behavior, government will not hesitate to withdraw their registration certificates." Roselyn Hanzi, director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, says she was not expecting that threat. She says that since President Emmerson Mnangagwa took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, the government has been somewhat more respectful of rights enshrined in Zimbabwe's constitution. "We remain concerned that there is limited compliance with the constitution, there is selective compliance with the constitution, so we continue to see the same violations that we saw before 15 November (2017)," said Hanzi. "But in some areas we have seen some improvements and we urge the authorities to really comply with the constitution and fully respect the rights of citizens." When President Mnangagwa assumed power, he pledged to move away from the tactics used by Mugabe to stifle opposition and dissent. But that seems to be forgotten now, as the ruling ZANU-PF party this week threatened to raise the minimum age for president to 52. That would disqualify the main opposition leader in the next election, as he is only 40. Alexander Rusero, a senior journalism and international politics lecturer at Harare Polytechnic College, says remnants of Mugabe's dictatorship are still in the Mnangagwa government. He says by shutting down NGOs, the government would only be hurting itself. "It is actually a misguided priority to tray and threaten NGOs, because NGOs by the very nature of their job, one way or the other are involved in politics.., because they keep the government in chec," said Rusero. "They also complement the work of the government." Hanzi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights says her organization will continue to push for Zimbabweans' rights even if it means challenging the government. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Dr. Prince Butau says shortages of essential equipment in hospitals is forcing them to use condoms instead of gloves when attending to patients. (Video: Rutendo Mawere) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that he had noted the historic rebuke of longtime ally Saudi Arabia by U.S. lawmakers. The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a resolution to end American support for the kingdom's military intervention in Yemen's civil war and another measure condemning the killing of a dissident Saudi journalist. "We saw the vote yesterday. We always have great respect for what the legislative branch does," Pompeo told reporters in Washington. "We're in constant contact with members on Capitol Hill so that we understand fully their concerns and do our level best to articulate why our policies are what they are." "President Trump is determined to make sure that we protect America, all the while holding accountable those who committed the heinous murder of Jamal Khashoggi," Pompeo added during a joint press briefing with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and their Canadian counterparts at the State Department. After hours of passionate debate Thursday, the Republican-led Senate voted 56-41 to approve the first resolution. Moments later, it adopted the second resolution by a voice vote. In both cases, the chamber acted in defiance of the Trump administration, which has strenuously argued against a rupture of cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. "Yemen is now experiencing the worst humanitarian disaster in the world," Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said. "The United States has been Saudi Arabia's partner in this horrific war. We have been providing the bombs that Saudi Arabia is using, refueling the planes that drop those bombs and assisting with intelligence." 7 GOP votes Seven Republicans joined a unified Democratic caucus in backing the initial Yemen-related resolution, which asserts Congress' constitutional duty to declare war and approve prolonged U.S. military engagements. The U.S. legislature has not authorized America's support role in Saudi Arabia's campaign to combat Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels, a conflict that has led to widespread civilian deaths. But some argued that, in this instance, the case for asserting war powers authority is weak. "The United States is not involved in combat [in Yemen]. It is not dropping ordnance. It is no longer even providing air-to-air refueling [for Saudi warplanes]," Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said. "If the Senate wants to pick a constitutional fight with the executive branch over war powers, I would advise my colleagues to pick a better case." WATCH: US Senate Votes to End Support for Saudi War Effort in Yemen "If we set the precedent that even an operation such as the refueling of aircraft of allied countries needs congressional authority, we would severely limit the executive branch's ability to respond to international crises and safeguard our global national security interests," Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan said. That argument did not sway resolution co-author Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, who countered that direct U.S. support for Saudi military actions constitutes unambiguous involvement in the war in Yemen. "We're involved in this conflict as co-belligerents [with Saudi Arabia]," Lee said. Largely symbolic While the Senate resolution sends a strong signal of displeasure to Saudi Arabia, it is likely to stand as a largely symbolic gesture for now. Swift House action became less likely after the chamber advanced a rule blocking a vote on any war powers resolution relating to Yemen for the remainder of the current Congress. "You look at the humanitarian crisis in Yemen today, and it wasn't started by the Saudi air campaign," Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger said. "It was started by the Houthi rebels and denial of access for food overthrowing the legitimate government." Congressional ire toward Saudi Arabia had been simmering for years as Yemen's civil war dragged on with ever-higher civilian death tolls. Anger spiked sharply after dissident Saudi journalist Khashoggi was killed at the kingdom's consulate in Turkey two months ago. The second resolution approved by the Senate blames Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Khashoggi's death, expresses support for Yemeni peace talks and states: "There is no statutory authorization for United States involvement in hostilities in the Yemen civil war." Trump notes Riyadh denials President Donald Trump has said that responsibility for Khashoggi's death remains an open question, and noted Riyadh's repeated denials that the kingdom's crown prince played a role. Trump's critics in the Senate slammed the White House's posture. "This administration is putting the Saudi government on a pedestal that stands above American values," New Jersey Democrat Bob Menendez said. "They continue to extend a blank check to certain players within the Saudi government, no matter how brazen their actions." Wayne Lee contributed to this report. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn did not need to be warned against lying to the FBI and does not deserve sentencing leniency because he received no warning, U.S. prosecutors said in a court filing Friday. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, cited Flynn's senior posts in government in pushing back against Flynn's assertion that the lack of a warning should be a mitigating factor in his sentencing Tuesday. "A sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents," Mueller's office said in the court filing. "He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth." Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about the nature of his conversations with Russia's then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, just weeks before Trump took office. Earlier this week, the judge in Flynn's case ordered Mueller to turn over documents related to the FBI interview of Flynn on Jan. 24, 2017. The judge's order followed a disclosure by Flynn's lawyers that the FBI agents did not warn Flynn that lying to the FBI was a crime and that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had told Flynn the "quickest way" to conduct the interview was without anyone else like the White House counsel present. The swindlers of the world really took things to a new level in 2016, and HBO has a movie that digs into one of the great con jobs in modern political history. (There was definitely another really consequential heist of democracy that year, but we just cant put our finger on what it was right now) In Brexit, a balding Benedict Cumberbatch plays Dominic Cummings, a strategist for the Leave campaign who apparently played an instrumental role in turning the sentiment of Britains voting populace against the European Union. Based on this new trailer, it looks like Cummings harnessed the complementary powers of xenophobia and social media to whip up a slight enough majority for Leave to triumph, regardless of Rory Kinnear trying to stop him. Its also easy to spot the Boris Johnson character in Brexit, because that hair could only exist on one man. Catch the movie when it premieres on January 19. Another Slush startup festival is just over and flights out of Helsinki are full of attendees returning to over 90 countries from which they travelled all the way to Helsinki for this event. In addition to the main event, every year there are several side events taking place around the same time, starting a few days before and continuing for a couple of days after the main event. Some of the side events are Slushs own official side events and some are arranged by other organisers and accepted and promoted by Slush in their list. This year we asked a number of Startups and participants to share their opinion on what were the most useful, well organised events in harmony with the main event and what were the least attractive ones. As for the best event, the majority of respondents had different candidates, but Slush Global Impact Accelerator 2018 got the the most votes. GIA is a partnership program between Slush and other stakeholders such as the Min istry of Foreign Affairs of Finland with the purpose of supporting impact startups and strengthening links between actors in the emerging markets and the Nordic countrie s. It was a great event and the startups which were presented were really inspiring, Says Maria. The winners of the GIA prize had truly done an amazing job solving problems of the poor people in Africa and elsewhere while making money at the same time. The event was also praised for its timing, being held between the end of the Slush main event and the Afterparty. Afterparty itself also was one of the most popular sections of Slush. Knights of #Slush, which takes pride in being the most exclusive Slush 2018 side event gets a kick up the arse from attendees; firstly for that same reason, i.e. exclusivity and elitism. Attendees found that to be in stark contradiction with the spirit of Slush, which has been progressive and inclusive. For the finale of the event, the organisers of Knights of Slush had arranged a seated dinner at the House of Nobility in Helsinki for investors, to which only a handful of startups and founders were invited. It was ridiculous says one founder who attended the dinner, So presumptuous of them to assume that the Knights are the ones with the money, not those who work hard, invent and produce value from nothing by starting companies. The Knights of Slush also gets low ratings for having been poorly organised. It was very difficult to find out when and where each bit and piece of the two day event was being held, Says Daniel. Sophie from France takes issue with the exaggeration in the events pr releases and unrealistic slogans, trying to market Espoo as the #LaunchpadEurope. I dont think startups would see why Espoo would be a better launchpad to Europe than for example Berlin, Paris or Vienna. In an announcement (since we published this article the linked page was removed, but fortunately we had a screenshot, which can be seen here) inviting startups to apply to Knights of Slush, the organisers claim that in 2017, Eur. 3 trillion worth of funds were presented at Knights of #Slush startup-investor matchmaking event, which is obviously a huge overstatement considering that the sum equals the budget of China! Finlands budget for this year was only 55 billion. It should have been called Sh**z of Slush, Says Alberto, I dont understand how someone with such poor organisational skills and vision could be let near any event like this, be it small or big. I think they just got some money form the EU and hired some assistant to burn it. Paul Kostner - HT New numbers out Friday show cases are spiking in this part of the state; with significant activity reported. It will likely get worse as families start to travel for the holidays. The numbers out today show flu activity is significant in North Alabama and it's worse here than anywhere else in the state. Darissa Williams is a mom of three who says last year, sickness hit her family all at once. "In my house it typically spreads among all of us," said Williams. Doctor Todd Fleenor at Huntsville Hospital explains, it doesn't take much for an entire family to get sick. "If you sneeze and then touch a table-top and then you touch your nose that's how it spreads," said Fleener Dr. Fleenor says if your child has flu you should wait 24-hours after the fever leaves before sending them back to school. That's the policy at Huntsville City Schools and the district sent out a friendly reminder to parents just this week. The Alabama Department of Health says there was a spike in flu cases for the second week of December. This time a year ago, it was already in the "widespread" category. Dr. Fleenor says the best defense is getting a flu shot and keeping your kid's hands clean. "Washing hands one of the most important things you can do, with soap and water," said Fleener. He also says to be careful around family members like grandma and granddad during the holidays. "Older family members who may have a serious medical condition or be at risk for catching the flu," Fleener. It's the advice Williams says she's following in hopes of keeping her family healthy this year. "Fortunately we haven't had any really bad sicknesses so we're thankful for that," said Williams. Not only are flu cases being reported, one pediatrician here told me he has his hands full with RSV, a common respiratory virus similar to a cold. The WAAY31 I-Team learned an Alabama Senator plans to introduce legislation that would limit the Alabama Parole Boards say in who should be paroled. Senator Cam Ward from Alabaster pushed through the Justice Reinvestment Act of 2015, which changed parts of how the parole board operated. As a result the board began hearing early parole cases for violent inmates. Ward now wants to introduce a bill that would limit the parole boards power on violent cases. "If you do the crime you ought to do the time," said Dewayne Roberts, who lives in North Alabama. and that's just the way I feel. Roberts told WAAY31 people get paroled or let out of prison too early "They shouldn't do that. Especially these child offenders and stuff they need to be put under the jail instead of in it," said Roberts. Senator Cam Ward said he wants this new bill to limit the parole boards power. Ward told us the bill would only affect people convicted of class a felonies like murder, rape, and child molestation. Those convicted of these crimes would not be allowed to even come up for parole until 85% of their sentence is served. "We are not only concerned about what we have seen the last several months with the early parole cuts and the consideration of violent offenders," said Attorney General Steve Marshall. Marshall and the Governor have already taken action against the parole board. They halted early paroles temporarily and gave the board another 30 days to come up with a new plan to fix their problems, after they rejected the boards first plan. Marshall said when someone comes up for early parole it's like a slap in the face to the justice system. "After someone has been sentenced for a violent crime and when I see the parole board is doing something very different then what I and other prosecutors across the state promised victims what would happen then it becomes very personal," said Marshall. Ward did not say if a rough draft on his bill was complete yet. We know he does plan to introduce it in the next legislative session which will happen in 2019. The WAAY31 I-team began investigating the parole boards policies and procedures after they paroled career criminal, Jimmy Spencer, who was supposed to be serving a life sentence. Spencer even had run ins with police after he was paroled in January 2018. He was also arrested on drug charges in June 2018, but never sent back to prison. He's now accused of murdering three people in Guntersville. WAAY 31 has learned more about what happened to a baby girl whose own father is charged with aggravated child abuse. Deputies tell us John McLemore dropped his infant and failed to get her medical help. WAAY 31 talked with some of his neighbors about what happened. Theres no better happiness in the world than your children," Greg Austin said. Thats how Austin describes what its like being a dad. When something happens, no matter how embarrassing it is to yourself, you have to take care of your kids," he said. So, Austin was stunned to learn his neighbor is accused of harming his little girl and not getting her to a doctor. Its horrible, its crazy. You dont even understand why somebody would do something like that," Austin said. "[Your children] are the most important things in the world. Police were called to the home on Burwell Road late Thursday morning, where they found the baby was injured. Relatives said the baby's 20-year-old father may be responsible, and, based on his social media posts, he was suicidal. Police put nearby Sparkman and Jeff Road schools on lockout while they searched for McLemore. He came back to the house about an hour later and police arrested him. In the meantime, medics took the baby to Huntsville Hospital, but she's now recovering at UAB. We just pray for that baby, that no permanent damage happens to that baby," Austin said. I spoke with the grandparents of the little girl, and while they werent ready to go on camera.. They told me their granddaughter is doing a lot better, and theyd appreciate all the prayers they can get. McLemore is still in the Madison County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Deputies won't release his mug shot, because he's younger than 21 years old. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama education officials plan to create a model policy so that all public school systems are ready to monitor student sex offenders in two years. State Superintendent Eric Mackey says that each local education authority can use it as their own policy by the 2020-2021 school year. The Montgomery Advertiser reports that Alabama's mandatory attendance law means that local boards of education must ensure that children younger than 16 in their districts are enrolled in some form of schooling - whether public, private, parochial schools or home-schooled. Mackey said that low-level sex offenders can return to the public school system once they are adjudicated. The policy is aimed at making sure those students are supervised and that other students are not harmed. Slush 2018 is just over. 3 100 Startups, 1 800 investors, 20 000 attendees and hundreds of journalists from over 90 different counties arrived in the cold, grey and slushy Helsinki this week, to pitch, meet, discuss and showcase their world changing inventions. The exhibitors of the two day startup and tech event were diverse as usual, from billion dollar companies like the new Chinese electric car builder Neo and Spotify which just made a successful IPO, to small teams of hopeful entrepreneurs looking for investment in order to take their ideas global. Big established companies were there to catch up with the startup culture and attract new talent. Slush has grown fast since it was established some 10 years ago and spread to three other far eastern countries. Slush Tokyo, Singapore and Shanghai together with the mother event in Helsinki gather around 40 000 people. The concept is non-profit and the motto is for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs Many of the attendees saw this years Slush as more clinical and stripped from excitement. One of the commonly heard critics was the exaggerated and central presence of big corporations at the cost of startups, which were cramped in a corridor in the middle. The neon sign designating the row of small booths and tables as The Heart of Slush was little comfort for those who wanted to see the startups shine and take a more central stage. One of the most essential elements of Slush every year is the Slush 100 Pitch, where every startup can present its idea and a panel of judges who are also mostly investors or successful entrepreneurs decide on the finalists and later on the winner of the whole competition. The winner usually gets a cash prize and free service packages from insurance and law firms, and of course a much better chance with the investors. This years pitching competition also lacked steam. Hard to say if it was the judges who picked the wrong startups by for example giving too much value to the way the ideas were presented at the expense of the core idea and its execution, or lack of exciting and super-innovative competitors. The winner, a software company which has built a software for software developers to check on their AI modelling was hard to get excited about for general public. Speakers and the themes were also somehow a repetition of earlier years, nothing you wouldnt find on Youtube or Ted talks. having said these, the event is still definitely worth attending. The passionate innovation vibe is contagious and the networking value is priceless. In fact a large area of the exhibition hall was dedicated to matchmaking and thousands of meetings between startups and investors took place during the 2 days, even though the matchmaking app was published later than usual, i.e. just a few days before the event. A sauna village also kept attendees warm in the zero degree Helsinki weather. Slush still definitely works its magic as a gathering and networking event, but the organisers must shake loose the old skin and innovate if they want to keep the program and talks also worthy of attention and applause. Alexis Kouros - HT Image: Lehtikuva The event will be held on December 13th 18th at International Centre for Exhibition (ICE) Hanoi, Vietnam. The submission and curation process started after Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2018 in ICE BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia. Photo: CPV Indonesia Pavilion at Vietnam International Fashion Fair 2018 started with a launching session and a press conference on December 13, 2018. Indonesian Ambassador in Hanoi H.E. Mr. Ibnu Hadi officially opened the event. The event attended by Ambassadors/ representatives from Diplomatic Missions in Hanoi, representative from Ministries/ Agencies of Vietnam, Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and also business community in Hanoi and surrounding area. Indonesia Pavilion gives an added value to the definition and sets a remarkable model of Fashion Diplomacy. Further on, Ambassador Hadi emphasized that Indonesian Pavilion expands market, exchanges creative ideas, as well as share rich cultural values, bridges mutual interest and opportunities to Indonesian vast and fast-growing fashion industries, also bring closer people-to-people contact for mutually beneficial bilateral trade of USD10 billion in 2020. Photo: CPV In first 10 months of 2018, total bilateral trade reached USD6,3 billion from USD5,3 billion (same period in 2017), consisting of USD3,9 billion of Indonesian export to Vietnam and Indonesian imports amounted to USD2,9 billion. In 2017, the total trade of Indonesia and Vietnam reached an increase of 16,36% to USD6,50 billion from USD5,58 billion (2016), consisting of USD3,63 billion of Indonesian export to Viet Nam (increase of 22,51%) and Indonesian imports amounted to USD2,61 billion (increase of 9,37%). Photo: CPV Southeast Asia has a deep and diverse culture that is compatible for inspiring creativity for todays global market. Such collaboration of business partnership between Indonesia and Vietnam hopefully will grow and contribute to the strengthening of ASEAN Economic Community. Bringing together creations from selected fashion lines, the chosen brands are: (Batik and Ethnic Garment) Batik Murah Manis, Batik Usha, Batik Okti, Datik Batik, Marita Boutique, Enggar Collection, YYE Batik; (Textile and Material) Erisa Textile, Sidomukti Wahyu Kencana, Batik Soemma; (Accessories and Jewellery) Cachic Ethnic, Prato Jewellery, Sunaka Jewelry, Uttys Craft Jewellery, Birru Jewellery, Excellence Craft, Karayya Jewelry, Purnama Craft; (Bags, Shoes, and Leather products) Kovs Leather, KKC Leather Craft & Goods, Endah Leather, D Russa, Kias Leather, Sendy Leather, Emma Little Things, An Muhajiba Shoes, Sapu Upcycle, House of Distraw, Arula Bags, Rubicraft; (Cosmetics) Purbasari, Marcks Venus, Casablanca, also Etherische and Batrisyia./. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The company has been hit with lawsuits by plaintiffs who claim use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder caused a form of cancer caused mesothelioma, which is triggered by asbestos exposure. It also has been subjected to lawsuits by plaintiffs alleging their ovarian cancer was caused by its products. General Motors, which announced huge layoffs last month, said Friday that 2,700 out of the 3,300 factory jobs slated for elimination will now be saved by adding jobs at other U.S. factories. Blue-collar workers in many cities will still lose jobs when GM shutters four U.S. factories next year. But most could find employment at other plants, the company said. Some would have to relocate. GM still plans to lay off about 8,000 white-collar workers and another 2,600 factory workers in Canada. Obviously we want to avoid a government shutdown, but if you look at what the real-world consequences would be, I think this shutdown would be different because we have funded most of the government, because President Trump has said he will make sure essential services continue, said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.). I dont think the American people will feel an impact from this like they may have in the past. I also think that the most important thing is weve got to secure our Southern border because we have a national security crisis down there. Graham and Colter argued before the shooting in an apartment about 5:25 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the 6800 block of Atwood Street in District Heights, police said. Officers found Colter shot, and he was pronounced dead shortly after, police said. Attorneys for the 57-year-old Wolfe took a swipe at the Trump administration in court filings and called shocking the sentence request from prosecutors that is at least four times greater than federal sentencing guidelines recommendations for his guilty plea in October. Wolfe admitted to one count of lying about using encrypted messaging in October 2017 to tell a journalist identified in court filings only as Reporter #3 about a subpoena issued by the Senate committee. Any assertion by the union to blame this tragic incident on staffing shortages is not only false but grossly irresponsible. The institution was fully staffed at the time of the incident. Mr. Moran is exploiting the victim of this crime to push union agenda for a new contract knowing full well that the information we can release is limited due to the ongoing criminal and administrative Investigations, Seergae said in a statement. The park is a centerpiece of the citys ongoing redevelopment of Alexandrias riverfront. It will be combined with a park to the south, which already is called Waterfront Park. The first phase of the redeveloped park, slated for completion in early 2019, will include a plaza, promenade and an adaptable modular space. The entire project will take years to finish, after flood mitigation measures are built and other, undetermined amenities are added. And so the gathering of about 350 down from around 500 in recent years had a sense of urgency that could force the long-fractured party to finally put differences aside for the sake of survival. A call for unity came from an unlikely source: Stewart, who assured his fans that the state GOP had been exceptionally helpful to his campaign, so none of his supporters should harbor resentment against party leaders. A 20-year-old gunman shot his way into the school on the morning of Dec. 14, 2012, and killed the 26 children and adults, then fatally shot himself. The building in which the attack occurred was razed and a new one built on the site. What theyre doing is taking away our connection with Mother Earth, said Cody Bigjohn, an Odawa Indian who wears camouflage hunting pants and seems to exude the outdoors. We use all the things we gather. So if that gets all poisoned, then we got to go back to the government and ask them, Can we have some food. It was not immediately clear what the legal path will be from here. Technically, OConnor granted summary judgment to the lawsuits plaintiffs the Texas attorney general, with support from 18 GOP counterparts and a governor. Because the judge did not grant an injunction, as the plaintiffs had asked for, its unclear whether this is a final judgment, whether its appealable, whether it can be stayed, said Timothy Jost, a health-law expert who is a professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University. Jost, an ACA proponent, predicted that a stay would lock in the law during appeals, saying that, otherwise, its breathtaking what [OConnor]s doing here on a Friday night after the courts closed. The move was not without risk, says James Cotter, regional medical director for Partnership HealthPlan, one of the nonprofit groups that delivers Medi-Cals services. Many Medi-Cal members struggle with multiple illnesses, as well as other factors, such as mental illness, substance abuse, or a lack of housing, transportation or food, that complicate palliative care, he says. There was no guarantee that the program would break even, as SB1004 required it to do. So far, however, the experiment has worked: During the first six months of the pilot program, $3 were saved in hospital costs for every $1 spent, Cotter says. Greek protest over name change ends in violence: Police in northern Greece used tear gas and water cannons to disperse anti-government protesters opposed to a proposed deal with neighbor Macedonia that would end a decades-long name dispute. The protesters challenged a police cordon in Thessaloniki, where left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was speaking to supporters in a televised address. Under the deal, Greece's neighbor would change its name to "North Macedonia" and Athens would drop its objections to the country's accession to NATO and eventually the European Union. Opponents of the deal say it would fail to safeguard Greece's ancient Macedonian heritage. The US Senate voted Thursday in favor of a bill asking the Donald Trump administration to end the military support it is providing to Saudi Arabia in the latters war in Yemen, a move taken amid the controversy sparked by the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in early October at Riyadhs consulate in Istanbul. The bill gives the White House 30 days to withdraw US troops from Yemen, except those that are tasked with fighting local factions of the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Despite having been approved by the Senate in a 56-41 vote, the bill will not have any immediate effect since the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved postponing its vote on the matter until January, when the new Congress will be seated and Democrats will regain control of the lower house. Then, both the Senate and House would be able to give the green light to the measure and send it to the Oval Office. The vote in the Senate, which is controlled by the Republicans and will remain so after January, is - however - a measure of how lawmakers view the relationship between Washington and Riyadh after Khashoggis murder. Trump has called Saudi Arabia a great regional ally of the US and has opposed allowing Khashoggis killing to change the bilateral relationship, and thus the Senate approval of the bill is considered to be a political rebuke of the president by lawmakers. In addition to withdrawing a portion of the US troops from Yemen, the Senate added a resolution designating Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the person responsible for ordering Khashoggis Oct. 2 murder by a hit team of security officers dispatched from Riyadh. The US-backed Arab coalition, which has admitted staging attacks in which dozens of civilians have died, began military operations in Yemen in March 2015, when the war there resurged, causing the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. In her Dec. 12 blog excerpt, Trump just lost the shutdown fight [op-ed], Jennifer Rubin wrote that President Trump, in his ranting during his Oval Office meeting with Democratic leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) and in subsequent tweets regarding building a border wall, appeared irrational and unhinged. The common explanation for Mr. Trumps obsession with the wall is that he promised it to his political base in his presidential campaign and needs to deliver on this promise. Yet it is Mr. Trump who continues to argue the need for the wall to his base, stoking support for this wasteful project, even while happily ignoring his pledge that Mexico will pay for it. First, 5G will dramatically increase the speed of wireless communications, allowing users to, for example, download a movie in a few seconds. It is possible to imagine wireless set-top boxes delivering content to home televisions without a wired or fiber connection. There will be more mobile data, flowing faster than ever before, across 5G networks. Those who control those networks, either through hardware or software, will control access to that data and they would be able to steal massive amounts of information over very short amounts of time. On Dec. 7, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee hauled in former FBI director Comey to talk more about Hillarys emails. They plan to bring in former attorney general Loretta E. Lynch and bring back Comey for more private interviews about the same. This all follows scores of probes into the Benghazi attacks, Planned Parenthood (each merited a select committee), IRS targeting, Operation Fast and Furious, Clintons emails, Solyndra, Obamacare and more. In the first three years of GOP control, the oversight chairman issued more subpoenas (96) than had been issued in the previous eight years. Christie and Trump have been friends for years, long before they became rivals for the GOP nomination in 2016. Christie assumed he would outlast Trump in that competition. When the opposite happened, he immediately endorsed Trump, who later asked him to head up transition planning. However, days after the election, Christie was summarily dismissed as transition director. Trump then asked Christie to consider other jobs in the administration. Christie rejected them. Recently, he was reported to be in the mix to succeed Jeff Sessions as attorney general, a job he would have liked but which went to former attorney general William P. Barr. Now, each of these European leaders has been politically weakened at home by ripples of those same forces in their own countries. This has left the Big Three of Europe with even less leverage in their diplomatic and trade disputes with Trump, who has cheered for Britains divorce from the European Union and blamed Macron and Merkel for bungling their responses to populist tides. Brazil on Friday launched the first of five navy attack submarines to be built in the South American country under a military cooperation agreement with France. The submarine, which was assembled at the Itaguai Naval Complex near Rio de Janeiro, is the first ever to be built in the South American country. But a senior navy officer said the country has ambitious plans to build many more vessels at that facility. This complex was initially set up to build five submarines required by the Brazilian navy, but just six years after construction began we see that this naval complex can attend other projects, both Brazilian and those of other countries, the navys nuclear and technological development director, Adm. Bento Costa Lima Leite, said. President Michel Temer and President-elect Jair Bolsonaro both took part in Fridays christening and launch ceremony for the Riachuelo, which is 72 meters (236 feet) in length, is able to accommodate 35 crew members for 70 days at a depth of some 300 meters and can reach a speed of 20 knots (roughly 37 kilometers per hour). The Riachuelo and three other conventional diesel-powered submarines ordered by the Brazilian navy, which currently has an aging fleet of five German-made subs - are modeled after Frances Scorpene-class of attack subs. But a fifth vessel, which is to be 100 m in length, weigh 6,000 metric tons and travel at a speed of 19 miles (30 km) per hour, will be nuclear-powered and thus able to descend to lower depths and remain submerged for longer periods of time. Only six countries worldwide - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and India - have nuclear-propelled submarines. The five vessels are being built under a multi-billion-dollar 2008 technology-transfer deal with France at the Itaguai Naval Complex, which was installed at a port near Rio de Janeiro for that purpose. Theres no question that its a distraction from the things that obviously we would like to see him spending his time on, and things wed like to be spending our time on, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). So thats why Im hoping that some of this stuff will wrap up soon and well get answers, and we can draw conclusions, and we can move on from there. During an interview with Muellers prosecutors on Dec. 12, 2017, Barrack was asked whether he knew if any foreign donations were made to the inauguration, and he said he did not, according to a person familiar with his testimony. Barrack has not been called back for further questioning. Slightly chuckling, Thune continued: Im sure that he, again, coming out of his private life, sort of views this as not something that was done to impact or affect a campaign that its something that he was trying to deal with in the way that he perhaps has dealt with those issues in the past. That comes after Pelosi spent five weeks putting down the challenge from a group of about two dozen Democrats, including more than 15 incoming freshmen, who tried to block her return as speaker. She wore down the opposition and garnered enough support with over three weeks to spare before the public roll call for speaker on the first day of the new Congress. Hours after being proclaimed Miss Venezuela 2018, Isabella Rodriguez said here Friday that she hopes to give back to Petare, the sprawling Caracas slum where she grew up. I think my contribution will be spiritual. We should return to values and to spirituality. That is so important for the children to be able to see a change, Rodriguez told a press conference after her triumph Thursday night. Her community suffers from a high crime rate, but she insists that through religious faith and family unity, Petares residents can escape from violence and pursue their dreams. Teenagers, adults, sometimes shy away from dreaming, so let them see in me that Im a girl of 25 and that I could make it, Rodriguez said. She said that adults unhappy with their lives should inculcate in their children ... that they can dream and that they can make their dreams a reality, Miss Venezuela said. Rodriguez, who will represent Venezuela in the 2019 Miss World pageant, said that she was moved to her neighbors in Petare take to the streets in the wee hours of Friday to celebrate her success in the contest. They came out at three in the morning with a flag, from who knows where, she said. It fills me with pride and I feel moved every time I say it because they are also part of this, theyve seen me grow up. Caroline Lucas, a Green Party lawmaker, told The Washington Post: I think its right that people have the opportunity to have a first say on the actual facts of the deal. Two years ago, people didnt have any information, really, about what kind of Brexit we would be talking about, and now we know that every single version of Brexit that is being offered are versions that will make the whole country poorer. Hoping to cement more bilateral ties with the United States, Cerar is seeking to raise Slovenias profile in Washington. He met with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the granddaughter of Slovenian immigrants, and said he had discussions with politicians from both parties interested in forming a Slovenian caucus on Capitol Hill. He did not, however, meet with Slovenias most famous emigrant, though he spoke with the first lady when she accompanied the president to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. If we could just come together and pass some common-sense laws to disincentivize people from coming up from the border and encourage them to do it the right way, the legal way, then those types of deaths, those types of assaults, those types of rapes, the child smuggling, the human trafficking, that would all come to an end, Gidley said. And we hope Democrats join the president. Its absolutely ludicrous to hold that we do not know whether the 2017 Congress would have wanted the rest of the ACA to exist without an enforceable mandate, because the 2017 Congress did exactly that when it zeroed out the mandate and left the rest of the ACA standing, Gluck said. He effectively repealed the entire Affordable Care Act when the 2017 Congress decided not to do so. The YPG has been an issue between the United States and Turkey since the start of the U.S. campaign against the Islamic State in Syria. U.S. forces recruited, trained and armed the Kurdish fighters to serve as ground troops in conjunction with withering U.S. airstrikes targeting the Islamic State. Those operations have driven the militants in Syria southward into a small pocket of organized resistance near the Iraqi border, according to administration officials. Of course, Australia has no shortage of problems. But name just about any problem you like, and it's a great deal less worse than it is anywhere else. Australians fret about every one of the points on The Economist's checklist - incomes aren't rising fast enough, public debt is still too high, and so on - but by comparison Australia is in an enviable position. Australia, together with only Canada among the developed nations, avoided the global financial crisis. Australia has gone on to achieve 27 years of uninterrupted growth, a record for any developed nation. Taken for granted here, it is a source of amazement everywhere else. Loading This helps explain the other outstanding achievement of contemporary Australia. Despite all the sound and fury, in Australia the centre has held. While the political centre has shattered elsewhere, here it largely remains in tact. Three quick examples. On the most explosive question in the world today, immigration, Australia is holding steady. There has been a crescendo of demands that the intake be cut. The calls are mostly from the fringes of left and right, and even occasionally from the centre thanks to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. But this week's meeting of all leaders state and federal, in the Council of Australian Governments, reinforced the commitment to keep broadly to the status quo. Other states are pleading for more immigrants. Some headlines emphasised that Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to cut the upper limit, the "cap", on new permanent residents from 190,000 to 160,000. This is an attack on the intake, we're told. Not so. If the cap falls to 160,000, it would be merely moving into alignment with the reality of the latest actual intake. And any number near this range is at the upper end of Australia's experience in recent decades. The Financial Review headline caught the essence: "PM backs big Australia." Morrison this week declared Australia to be "the most successful immigration country in the world", a variation on Malcolm Turnbull's theme of Australia as "the most successful multicultural society in the world". Both are correct. Fully half of Australia's population comprises immigrants, or the children of immigrants. This is double the proportion of the US, and achieved with far greater social cohesion than the US. Second is one of the quietest yet most consequential achievements of this Parliament. The Labor and Liberal parties came together to defend Australia against the uniquely difficult challenge of Chinese Communist Party intrusion into Australia's vital organs. It's uniquely difficult because the Chinese Communist Party's structure is unique. It is not a normal nation state governed by a particular political party. It is a seamlessly integrated party-state which also owns and operates the army as a party organ. Under Xi the party has also further penetrated corporations, private and public, foreign and domestic, that operate in China. Even foreign firms now must have an internal formal Communist Party committee. Both of Australia's major parties rose to the occasion in supporting the foreign interference laws which took effect on Monday this week. This is seen as a model in other Western nations. And, long overdue, the two parties finally agreed to ban foreign political donations. It's remarkable that they were ever legal. Chris Dawson allegedly contacted a man with "criminal connections" to discuss plans to get rid of his wife Lynette Dawson, a Sydney court has heard. The bail application in Central Local Court on Friday heard that Mr Dawson told his wife If this doesnt work, Im going to get rid of you at a marriage counselling session just prior to Lynettes disappearance in 1982. Crown prosecutor Craig Everson said Mr Dawson, 70, spoke to a man with criminal connections about his alleged plan. Mr Dawson is charged with murdering his wife on Sydney's northern beaches in early 1982. Tributes continue for a Perth woman who was shot dead south of Perth on Friday night, with those close to her remembering her as an amazing woman and a gorgeous spirit. Edith McKrill, 59, was shot dead at her house in Bateman on Friday night and a man, believed to be her ex-partner, was found critically injured at the scene. He died in hospital on Saturday afternoon. Edith McKrill was found dead at her Bateman home. Credit:Facebook Friends and relatives of the 59-year-old have posted heartfelt tributes on social media in the past 24 hours. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Saturday, his son and a party lawmaker said, seven weeks after President Maithripala Sirisena appointed him in controversial circumstances. His son Namal Rajapaksa, also a lawmaker, said his father would make a statement soon. "He just signed the resignation letter in front of party members," Shehan Semasinghe, a legislator from Rajapaksa's party, told Reuters. The move would force President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a replacement to avert a possible government shutdown on January 1. The nation has been in political gridlock for over a month since Sirisena replaced former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was then twice sacked by parliament but had refused to resign. Brussels: Theresa May had a public meltdown after being snubbed by EU leaders as she angrily confronted Jean-Claude Juncker in front of television cameras. The Prime Minister accused the European Commission President of calling her "nebulous", clearly taking offence after he criticised her performance at a summit in Brussels. Juncker told her she was wrong, and later claimed she had backed down and "was kissing me". But the filmed exchange at the European Council - described as "robust" by s May - suggested her relationship with EU leaders was at breaking point. Fox Crossing, Wisconsin: Governor Scott Walker made a name for himself in the Republican Party by cutting the power of public sector unions eight years ago, only weeks after he swept into office in Wisconsin. Governor Scott Walker talks about legislation he signed into law and addressed his transitional agenda as he prepares to leave office during a news conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Credit:AP On Friday, he signed legislation to cut the power of the Democrat who defeated him, a final act of a tumultuous tenure that moved Wisconsin firmly to the right. The response from Democrats was swift and furious. Tony Evers, the Democrat who beat Walker in a hard-fought election last month, said the departing governor "chose to ignore and override the will of the people." The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA) launched an action month for gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence from November 15th to December 15th, 2018. This is the third year the ministry has carried out this activity. Statistics show that the percentage of female-owned enterprises hit 27.8 percent in 2017, the highest in Southeast Asia and ranked 19th worldwide. The percentage of female National Assembly deputies in the 2016-2021 tenure is 27.2 percent, higher than the Asian average of 19 percent and the global average of 21 percent. Source: VNA Vietnam was ranked 97th out of 144 countries in terms of the percentage of women participating in politics. It is one of the top 10 best performers worldwide in terms of the UNs Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 on gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, increasing the literacy rate of girls, and promoting the participation of women in all aspects of the workforce. However, Vietnam still faces many challenges in ensuring gender equality between men and women. The gender pay gap still exists in many areas, while violence against and the abuse of women and children are still a regular occurrence in many regions across the country. The percentage of women working in low-income occupations with poor working conditions also remains high. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the percentage of girls in primary and secondary schools is lower than that of boys, especially in poor rural and ethnic minority areas. Female access to reproductive healthcare services in rural and ethnic minority areas is limited, while maternal mortality is high compared to those in regional countries. Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that Vietnam is witnessing an imbalance in the sex ratio at birth, as this ratio stood at 112.8 boys for every 100 girls in 2015, and has increased to 113.4 boys for every 100 girls at present. If the sex ratio continues to increase and widen as it is, Vietnam will face a serious gender imbalance in the next 20-25 years, experts said. Other challenges of gender equality in Vietnam are also related to the growing population, such as family planning activities and reproductive health, the labour market, and social status./. Averting World Conflict With China The PRC Should Retaliate by Targeting Sheldon Adelson's Chinese Casinos By Ron Unz December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - As most readers know, Im not a casual political blogger and I prefer producing lengthy research articles rather than chasing the headlines of current events. But there are exceptions to every rule, and the looming danger of a direct worldwide clash with China is one of them. Consider the arrest last week of Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei, the worlds largest telecom equipment manufacturer. While flying from Hong Kong to Mexico, Ms. Meng was changing planes in the Vancouver International Airport when she was suddenly detained by the Canadian government on an August US warrant. Although now released on $10 million bail, she still faces extradition to a New York City courtroom, where she could receive up to thirty years in federal prison for allegedly having conspired in 2010 to violate Americas unilateral economic trade sanctions against Iran. Although our mainstream media outlets have certainly covered this important story, including front page articles in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, I doubt most American readers fully recognize the extraordinary gravity of this international incident and its potential for altering the course of world history. As one scholar noted, no event since Americas deliberate 1999 bombing of Chinas embassy in Belgrade, which killed several Chinese diplomats, has so outraged both the Chinese government and its population. Columbias Jeffrey Sachs correctly described it as almost a US declaration of war on Chinas business community. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Such a reaction is hardly surprising. With annual revenue of $100 billion, Huawei ranks as the worlds largest and most advanced telecommunications equipment manufacturer as well as Chinas most internationally successful and prestigious company. Ms. Meng is not only a longtime top executive there, but also the daughter of the companys founder, Ren Zhengfei, whose enormous entrepreneurial success has established him as a Chinese national hero. Her seizure on obscure American sanction violation charges while changing planes in a Canadian airport almost amounts to a kidnapping. One journalist asked how Americans would react if China had seized Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook for violating Chinese lawespecially if Sandberg were also the daughter of Steve Jobs. Indeed, the closest analogy that comes to my mind is when Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia kidnapped the Prime Minister of Lebanon earlier this year and held him hostage. Later he more successfully did the same with hundreds of his wealthiest Saudi subjects, extorting something like $100 billion in ransom from their families before finally releasing them. Then he may have finally over-reached himself when Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident, was killed and dismembered by a bone-saw at the Saudi embassy in Turkey. We should actually be a bit grateful to Prince Mohammed since without him America would clearly have the most insane government anywhere in the world. As it stands, were merely tied for first. Since the end of the Cold War, the American government has become increasingly delusional, regarding itself as the Supreme World Hegemon. As a result, local American courts have begun enforcing gigantic financial penalties against foreign countries and their leading corporations, and I suspect that the rest of the world is tiring of this misbehavior. Perhaps such actions can still be taken against the subservient vassal states of Europe, but by most objective measures, the size of Chinas real economy surpassed that of the US several years ago and is now substantially larger, while also still having a far higher rate of growth. Our totally dishonest mainstream media regularly obscures this reality, but it remains true nonetheless. Provoking a disastrous worldwide confrontation with mighty China by seizing and imprisoning one of its leading technology executives reminds me of a comment I made several years ago about Americas behavior under the rule of its current political elites: Or to apply a far harsher biological metaphor, consider a poor canine infected with the rabies virus. The virus may have no brain and its body-weight is probably less than one-millionth that of the host, but once it has seized control of the central nervous system, the animal, big brain and all, becomes a helpless puppet. Once friendly Fido runs around foaming at the mouth, barking at the sky, and trying to bite all the other animals it can reach. Its friends and relatives are saddened by its plight but stay well clear, hoping to avoid infection before the inevitable happens, and poor Fido finally collapses dead in a heap. Normal countries like China naturally assume that other countries like the US will also behave in normal ways, and their dumbfounded shock at Ms. Mengs seizure has surely delayed their effective response. In 1959, Vice President Richard Nixon visited Moscow and famously engaged in a heated kitchen debate with Premier Nikita Khrushchev over the relative merits of Communism and Capitalism. What would have been the American reaction if Nixon had been immediately arrested and given a ten year Gulag sentence for anti-Soviet agitation? Since a natural reaction to international hostage-taking is retaliatory international hostage-taking, the newspapers have reported that top American executives have decided to forego visits to China until the crisis is resolved. These days, General Motors sells more cars in China than in the US, and China is also the manufacturing source of nearly all our iPhones, but Tim Cook, Mary Barra, and their higher-ranking subordinates are unlikely to visit that country in the immediate future, nor would the top executives of Google, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, and the leading Hollywood studios be willing to risk indefinite imprisonment. Canada had arrested Ms. Meng on American orders, and this mornings newspapers reported that a former Canadian diplomat had suddenly been detained in China, presumably as a small bargaining-chip to encourage Ms. Mengs release. But I very much doubt such measures will have much effect. Once we forgo traditional international practices and adopt the Law of the Jungle, it becomes very important to recognize the true lines of power and control, and Canada is merely acting as an American political puppet in this matter. Would threatening the puppet rather than the puppet-master be likely to have much effect? Similarly, nearly all of Americas leading technology executives are already quite hostile to the Trump Administration, and even if it were possible, seizing one of them would hardly be likely to sway our political leadership. To a lesser extent, the same thing is true about the overwhelming majority of Americas top corporate leaders. They are not the individuals who call the shots in the current White House. Indeed, is President Trump himself anything more than a higher-level puppet in this very dangerous affair? World peace and American national security interests are being sacrificed in order to harshly enforce the Israel Lobbys international sanctions campaign against Iran, and we should hardly be surprised that the National Security Adviser John Bolton, one of Americas most extreme pro-Israel zealots, had personally given the green light to the arrest. Meanwhile, there are credible reports that Trump himself remained entirely unaware of these plans, and Ms. Meng was seized on the same day that he was personally meeting on trade issues with Chinese President Xi. Some have even suggested that the incident was a deliberate slap in Trumps face. But Boltons apparent involvement underscores the central role of his longtime patron, multi-billionaire casino-magnate Sheldon Adelson, whose enormous financial influence within Republican political circles has been overwhelmingly focused on pro-Israel policy and hostility towards Iran, Israels regional rival. Although it is far from clear whether the very elderly Adelson played any direct personal role in Ms. Mengs arrest, he surely must be viewed as the central figure in fostering the political climate that produced the current situation. Perhaps he should not be described as the ultimate puppet-master behind our current clash with China, but any such political puppet-masters who do exist are certainly operating at his immediate beck and call. In very literal terms, I suspect that if Adelson placed a single phone call to the White House, the Trump Administration would order Canada to release Ms. Meng that same day. Adelsons fortune of $33 billion ranks him as the 15th wealthiest man in America, and the bulk of his fortune is based on his ownership of extremely lucrative gambling casinos in Macau, China. In effect, the Chinese government currently has its hands around the financial windpipe of the man ultimately responsible for Ms. Mengs arrest and whose pro-Israel minions largely control American foreign policy. I very much doubt that they are fully aware of this enormous, untapped source of political leverage. Over the years, Adelsons Chinese Macau casinos have been involved in all sorts of political bribery scandals, and I suspect it would be very easy for the Chinese government to find reasonable grounds for immediately shutting them down, at least on a temporary basis, with such an action having almost no negative repercussions to Chinese society or the bulk of the Chinese population. How could the international community possibly complain about the Chinese government shutting down some of their own local gambling casinos with a long public record of official bribery and other criminal activity? At worst, other gambling casino magnates would become reluctant to invest future sums in establishing additional Chinese casinos, hardly a desperate threat to President Xis anti-corruption government. I dont have a background in finance and I havent bothered trying to guess the precise impact of a temporary shutdown of Adelsons Chinese casinos, but it wouldnt surprise me if the resulting drop in the stock price of Las Vegas Sands Corp would reduce Adelsons personal net worth were by $5-10 billion within 24 hours, surely enough to get his immediate personal attention. Meanwhile, threats of a permanent shutdown, perhaps extending to Chinese-influenced Singapore, might lead to the near-total destruction of Adelsons personal fortune, and similar measures could also be applied as well to the casinos of all the other fanatically pro-Israel American billionaires, who dominate the remainder of gambling in Chinese Macau. The chain of political puppets responsible for Ms. Mengs sudden detention is certainly a complex and murky one. But the Chinese government already possesses the absolute power of financial life-or-death over Sheldon Adelson, the man located at the very top of that chain. If the Chinese leadership recognizes that power and takes effective steps, Ms. Meng will immediately be put on a plane back home, carrying the deepest sort of international political apology. And future attacks against Huawei, ZTE, and other Chinese technology companies would not be repeated. China actually holds a Royal Flush in this international political poker game. The only question is whether they will recognize the value of their hand. I hope they do for the sake of America and the entire world. STAMFORD Mold has taken hold of the citys public schools this year and it shows in the Board of Educations ballooning budget. The district spent more than $600,000 on remediation alone before the end of the first fiscal quarter in September. That does not include the $875,000 spent on custodial overtime due in part to cleanup and $6,000 for class coverage, which in some cases was needed for teachers out sick with mold-related symptoms. The rising rate of mold-related expenses caused the city in late October to begin paying for them with a reserve fund, which was also used to lease the $1.8 million space on Elmcroft Road for Westover Magnet Elementary School students displaced because of the conditions. But, according to the districts first quarter financial report, variances in special education and Superintendent Earl Kims central office reorganization plan are stretching the Board of Educations $273 million operating budget. Kim, who proposed the central office reorganization last year to improve the structure and organization of staff, said it has affected the districts vacancy savings by filling empty roles like the chief fiscals and operations support officer. There was no direct cost associated by that, said Hugh Murphy, the districts director of finance. There were reductions in vacancy savings. Kim said the district anticipated savings in consulting and legal services, because that work is no longer outsourced and is being done by central office staff. By re-allocating staff, we were able to reduce our legal and consultant services substantially, Kim said. So theres no net budget impact. In August, Kim requested the school board to approve moving $509,000 from accounts preserved for consulting, instructional program improvements, contracted services, legal fees, a special education teacher, a charter school and retirement to cover the cost of salaries and benefits for new employees hired in the re-organization. Kim said at the time that those accounts were chosen because they expected to see savings in them from the reorganization. Murphy said there were glitches in this due to larger costs in legal fees for parental settlements and not knowing the retirements until the end of the school year. Were going to be OK on most of it, he said. Kim said the central office cost and headcount remained the same during the re-organization, despite hiring at least six new positions, because they reduced costs in outsourcing work and moved some central office staff to other city departments. According to a consultant report from this years district operating budget, the board is still paying The District Management Group. The Boston business management consultant was hired to implement the central office reorganization and was paid $19,400 in August. In September, DMG was paid $165,000 for two separate projects working on the cost-effectiveness of paraprofessional supports and services, and implementing and progress monitoring the new vision for Stamford Public Schools. Were in the sun-setting mode with DMG now, Kim said. It costs money up front, but in the long term, theres significant savings (from having consultant work). In addition to loss of savings from the central office reorganization, Kim said custodial overtime and special education have been big drivers to this years budget. With the maintenance budget frozen except for addressing student and safety issues, the district is trying to keep special education costs down. Murphy said the schools are examining out-of-district placements to determine if some students can return to city schools, as well as trying to control routine legal bills. Kim said they also needed to hire non-district vendors because they were unable to staff two new therapeutic rooms at Julia A. Stark Elementary School. erin.kayata@stamfordadvocate.com; (203) 964-2265; @erin_kayata SHELTON Lifelong Shelton resident Dina Marks has earned the 2019 Connecticut Association of Schools Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year award. Each year, applications are accepted for the elementary, middle, and high school assistant awards. Marks, the assistant principal at Shelton Intermediate School, was chosen by the CAS Awards and Recognition Committee, a selection committee consisting of active and retired principals and assistant principals. I am proud to represent Shelton Intermediate School and our educational community, said Marks, and this award recognizes the dedication of all of our educators. It reflects the great work that happens every day in Shelton schools and in schools all over Connecticut. It is a honor to bring this home to Shelton, said Marks, who was recognized for the honor during last months Shelton Board of Education meeting. We have a great team. Im proud to be just a little piece of a great leadership team and a great faculty. Nominated for the award by SIS Principal Kenneth Saranich, who said Marks is, at all times, energetically engaged in efforts to move the school forward. It is such a gift to have an assistant principal whom you can ask to perform any task, undertake any project or launch any initiative and you know it will be met with success, said Saranich. She keeps getting better and better; and the building gets better and better along with her. Superintendent Christopher Clouet praised Marks ability to balance the complexities of the work of todays assistant principal. Dina is a resourceful and skillful problem-solver and a good strategic planner, said Clouet. She has it all the technical skills, the knowledge of curriculum and instruction, and, most importantly, a deep love for kids. Marks has served the Shelton public schools and community for her entire professional career. Now in her ninth year as assistant principal of SIS, Saranich said Marks tackles her ever-increasing responsibilities with the same passion and energizing leadership which she brought to the position upon her appointment in 2009. Marks said her personal mission is to make SIS the most positive place it can be, and she is always looking for ways to create a welcoming and cheerful school environment. People who visit SIS on any given Friday will see her mission brought to life. Her weekly High-five Fridays tradition, popular among the student body, buoys kids spirits and fills the hallways with an aura of celebration and joyfulness. SIS is my extended family, and I lead our school as I do my family, with compassion and caring, said Marks. And the positive effects of her warmth and goodwill are felt throughout the entire school community, according to language arts teacher Kristen Nigretti. Dina leads from a place of kindness, said Nigretti. We feel genuinely loved here. Everything she does comes from a genuine, sincere place in her heart. Adds SIS parent Lisbeth Condo, Mrs. Marks can be firm and authoritative and students know she expects good behavior, added SIS parent Lisbeth Condo. But she is also soft and human. Premium For once I was willing to get out of bed early...for Garth Brooks The U.S. Has Always Backed Dictators. Trump's Support for MBS is no Different In his steadfast support for MBS, Trump is following a long tradition of US support for Arab autocrats, which in turn is used as the reason for violent terrorist organisations to target the US By Madawi Al-Rasheed December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that the close US-Saudi partnership will continue, even after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and a CIA report that pointed the finger at Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) as the one who ordered the killing. A longstanding US tradition The presidents statement cited a combination of geostrategic and economic reasons to justify continuing his close alliance with a regime that had practised utter brutality at home and abroad. Trump highlighted the lucrative financial dividends of this partnership to the US economy, based on MBSs promise of $450bn investment, including $100bn-plus of arms purchases. The president also asserted that Saudi Arabia was central to containing Irans expansion in the Middle East and achieving peace with Israel. Despite its shockingly frank nature, the presidents statement does not represent a major departure from previous US foreign policy but rather maintains a longstanding principle of supporting Arab dictators for specific strategic and economic reasons. What is different from previous US presidents is Trumps uncomfortably explicit calculus. No previous US president has flagged hard cash as the rationale for maintaining close ties with and even support for the Saudi leadership. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter But rhetoric aside, Trump is remaining faithful to a longstanding tradition of US foreign policy that privileges economic and strategic interests over moral and ethical issues, sometimes referred to as realpolitik. In the past, the US has occasionally expressed concern over severe human rights violations by their proteges but few would seriously expect President Trump to be troubled by the crimes of the Saudi regime. Even if he admits that no one should condone such a murder, he was apparently comfortable endorsing the far-from-credible Saudi explanation for what happened at the consulate. He even provided a possible exit strategy for the Saudis when he said that the murder could be the work of "rogue killers", thus providing a potential out for MBS, the de facto head of state and the security apparatus in Saudi Arabia. Empowering dictators Trumps latest statement, that business as usual with Saudi Arabia is to be maintained, even if MBS "may or may not" have ordered the murder of Khashoggi, is certainly shocking for some American audiences. But for Arabs in general and Saudis in particular, the statement was expected, to say the least. It confirmed their strong belief that the US prefers to work with autocrats than encourage them to democratise or at least restrain themselves from suffocating their people with draconian measures ranging from detention to murder. US support for Arab dictators has been asserted as the casus belli by the most violent terrorist organisations to target the US. Osama bin Ladens justification for hitting the "far enemy", namely the US that supports the Saudi regime only echoed previous slogans of Arab nationalists, socialists and pro-democracy forces that blamed the US for the excesses of their regimes. In their logic, US support empowers dictators not only through the transfer of the technology of death, surveillance and torture, but also morally and globally. Even Trump himself admitted that without US support, the Saudi regime will collapse in two weeks. Former US intelligence officer Bruce Riedel confirmed that without US and UK support, the Saudis will not be able to continue the war in Yemen. The likes of Bin Laden strongly believed this narrative long before it was uttered by the US president. Consequently, his network diverted its struggle against the near enemy to the far one and precipitated a global terrorist crisis that keeps resurfacing under different names. The Islamic State group (IS) was the most recent incarnation of this phenomenon but may not be the last. Many Americans understandably feel uncomfortable with the presidents blunt words as they cling to a myth that American foreign policy should reflect American values, especially when a high-profile murder by a close partner is concerned. However, like so-called 'American exceptionalism', American values, in the form of respect of civil, political and human rights, have not been an obvious principle guiding American foreign policy in the Arab world. Also, such values are being eroded and undermined in the US itself under the ultra-nationalist and populist rhetoric of the current president. The wrath of the people Previous US presidents may not have liked Arab dictators but nonetheless lent them support, often in the form of military sales and assistance. The list is long. Many Arab autocrats had the full support of previous American administrations despite the fact that domestically they violated their own peoples' rights, including Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Zine Abedine Ben Ali of Tunisia, King Hamad bin Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, and at one moment Muammar Qaddafi of Libya came close to being an ally just before he faced an uprising in 2011 Until his fall in 1979, the US granted the Shah of Iran its ultimate support by making him the policeman of the Gulf to ward off and contain the spread of communism and nationalism at the time. His dramatic fall at the hands of his own people was shocking for both the US and its Western allies. The message to the US at the time could not have been clearer: no amount of US support can protect a dictator from the wrath of his own people when the right moment comes. In fact, the US could not even protect its own Tehran Embassy where over 50 diplomats were held hostage for 444 days, an incident that four decades later still shapes and haunts US thinking about Iran. Yet unconditional US support had always been the privilege of Saudi monarchs. The love affair with Saudi kings is based on expediency and interest rather than passionate conviction. US support was neither shaken nor reconsidered, at least in public, even after 15 Saudi hijackers attacked the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11 The US administration at the time meandered and left it to the US media and civil society to pressure the Saudi regime to change its policy of spreading lethal religious interpretations that had inspired a whole generation of Muslims across the globe and justified terrorism. It is a cruel irony for the victims of this attack that Trump now considers the Saudi regime an indispensable partner against terrorism. The face of Saudi Arabia Even if Americans are not entirely comfortable with their governments foreign policy of complete neglect for human rights and even direct support for MBS, despite his latest murderous adventure abroad, this is as nothing compared with Saudis living under the reality of one-man rule. As MBS became the sole face of Saudi Arabia, in control of economic, military, security and social dimensions of government, he has exhibited complete disrespect for the basic semblance of tolerance towards critics, dissidents and activists. Saudi Arabia has hardly been a safe haven for dissent but the magnitude of MBSs ambition to reach the top of the royal hierarchy has turned Saudi Arabia into a murderous nightmare for anyone associated with dissent. Under his orders, potential rival princes were detained, and a nascent feminist movement was stifled and its remaining advocates imprisoned and tortured according to a recent Amnesty report. Intellectuals and religious clerics were also imprisoned. SEVERE TORTURE in the prison has caused lately the death of: Shiekh Suleiman al-Dweesh Journalist Turki al-Jasser We warn of a possible deterioration and a possible death of one of the female activists who were tortured and sexually harassed !#__ pic.twitter.com/j0z5oA3bqG Prisoners of Conscie (@m3takl_en) November 21, 2018 Vague charges such as communicating with foreign agents, treason, and undermining the image of the state are mentioned as justification for detention. These charges are more reminiscent of Stalins terror than a benevolent monarchy that Saudi propaganda would have us believe it is. Almost all detained Saudi intellectuals are charged with treason and of being agents of foreign governments. From Salman al-Odah to economist Essam al-Zamil and feminist Lujain al-Huthloul, the word treason looms large and may lead to the death penalty. In fact, the Saudi public prosecutor called for such punishment to be inflicted on those detainees. The infamous office of the public prosecutor is also in charge of the investigation of Khashoggis murder. Seeds of terror Being "an enemy of the state" - to use Trumps reiteration of what Saudi officials had told him about Khashoggi - is now a common crime investigated by appointed judges who enjoy no independence whatsoever. Trump seems comfortable with such a statement. Perhaps "enemy of the state" reflects or mirrors his own thinking about anybody who criticises a president, a king or a crown prince. Saudis know very well that US support for MBS will not waiver as they are fed on propaganda that money buys everything - from mighty fighter jets used against their poorest Yemeni neighbours, to the US presidents silence over one of the most horrific crimes committed against a journalist. Trump will cling to MBS even if the latter becomes more burdensome. If there is a chance for so-called "American values" to become relevant to foreign policy, it is the US Congress that will have to push for a reconsideration of the age-old US support for dictators. This should spring not out of concern for the safety and security of the Saudi people, but for their own American national security. Congress must know that under the dark and repressive cloak of MBS, the flamboyant and illusory economic plans, and the veneer of social liberalisation, the seeds of terror are sown. In the past this terror has spilled over and reached the US itself. For the present, there is little to assure the American public that it wont happen again. - Professor Madawi al-Rasheed is a visiting professor at the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics. She has written extensively about the Arabian Peninsula, Arab migration, globalisation, religious transnationalism and gender. On Twitter: @MadawiDr This article was originally published by " Middle East Eye " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. US Senate Resolution On Yemen Passes, But Passage Into Law Seems Unlikely Senate backs historic motion to pull US forces from military engagement not approved by Congress. If Senate bill gets through US House of Representatives, it then goes to White House for signing By MEE staff Meet Abrar, 12, who weighs just 28 pounds, a victim of our Yemen policy. December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The US Senate backed a resolution on Thursday to end US military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, defying President Donald Trump with a historic vote that underscored lawmakers' anger over the murder of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The 56-41 vote in the Senate marked the first time either chamber of Congress has passed a motion to withdraw US armed forces from a foreign military engagement under the War Powers Act. However, despite the historic result, the Senate resolution must clear additional hurdles before it becomes law. First, the legislation will head to the US House of Representatives, where a Republican-held majority has already promised to hold off on debating the motion until the next session of Congress in the new year. Speaking after the vote, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, one of the resolution's co-sponsors, said it "may not get a vote [in the House] by the end of the year". Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter "We'll take it back up again next year," Murphy said on Twitter. While the House will be held by Democrats once that new session begins in January, the resolution may see even more changes before passage there. If the bill manages to get through the House, it will then go to the White House for signing. However, Donald Trump has vowed to veto the bill, meaning it would go back to the Senate, where only a two-thirds vote can override a presidential veto. The Senate is unlikely to override a veto, however, since Trump-backed Republicans picked up a handful more Senate seats during the 2018 midterm election. Historic result Still, Thursday's vote is the first time US lawmakers took advantage of a provision in the 1973 War Powers Act, which allows any senator to introduce a resolution to withdraw US armed forces from a conflict not authorised by Congress. If signed into law, it demands within 30 days an end to all US involvement in the Yemen war, which has not received congressional approval. Saudi Arabia launched the military campaign in Yemen in 2015 to root out the country's Houthi rebels, who had taken over the capital, Sanaa, and ousted the internationally recognised and Saudi-backed government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. The US military has since provided intelligence sharing and training to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, which includes the United Arab Emirates. The Pentagon had also been conducting air-to-air refuelling for coalition aircraft, but in November they said they would stop. Trump's administration pushed hard against the Senate's Yemen resolution by sending US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis in late November to brief senators on the US's relationship with Saudi Arabia. The senior officials insisted that Washington must maintain its support for the Saudi-led coalition and described Riyadh as a key US ally in the region. Not only was the war in Yemen never authorized by the elected representatives of the American people it is a humanitarian disaster. An estimated 85,000 children have already died of malnutrition. And in a country of 28 million, nearly half are facing famine. pic.twitter.com/WsWq9h2ZmC Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) December 13, 2018 That plan appears to have failed, as politicians from both major US parties have expressed anger over the Trump administration's continued support for Saudi Arabia despite the situation in Yemen, as well as global outrage over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In fact, the Khashoggi case has led several Republicans to break away from the president over his vow to stand by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS. Recently, several Republican lawmakers expressed frustration that CIA Director Gina Haspel, whose agency concluded that MBS ordered Khashoggi's murder, was initially blocked from briefing them on the CIA's findings. A Saudi government critic and Washington Post columnist, Khashoggi was murdered inside his country's consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. The Khashoggi case has shone a spotlight on the devastating impact of the war in Yemen. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the conflict began, while as many as 14 million people are on the brink of famine, the UN recently warned. This article was originally published by " Middle East Eye " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Every Member of US Congress Approved Crushing Sanctions on Nicaragua After defeating a violent US-backed coup attempt, Nicaraguas elected government faces the NICA Act. The bill aims to force the Sandinistas from power by ratcheting up economic despair. By Ben Norton December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Every single member in both chambers of the US Congress approved legislation that will impose sanctions and financial restrictions on Nicaragua in an explicit effort to weaken its government. Known as the NICA Act, the bill is now on its way to the desk of President Donald Trump, who will almost certainly sign it into law. Its passage was spearheaded by neoconservative lawmakers centered around the Miami lobby of right-wing Latin American exiles dedicated to eradicating any iteration of socialism in the Western hemisphere. The United States has spent decades trying to topple Nicaraguas government, now led by the left-wing Sandinista movement. In April, US-backed opposition figures launched an unsuccessful and exceedingly violent coup attempt in the Central American country one of the last bastions of leftist politics in an increasingly right-leaning Latin America. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The newly approved Nicaraguan Investment and Conditionality Act (NICA) will give the US president the authority to impose targeted sanctions on Nicaraguan government officials, former officials, or people purportedly acting on behalf of Managua. The bill also seeks to prevent international financial institutions from providing any loan or financial or technical assistance to Nicaraguas government. The NICA Act enjoyed bipartisan support, but the campaign behind it was largely led by neoconservative Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, with help from Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. Ros-Lehtinen and Cruz met for a Facebook live this December 13 to celebrate the bills passage. In June, these three right-wing Cuban-American lawmakers gathered with young leaders of the Nicaraguan opposition in Washington, DC. The NICA Act encourages the US government to increase assistance to anti-government civil society in Nicaragua, including independent media, human rights, and anti-corruption organizations and to support the protection of human rights and anti-corruption advocates in Nicaragua. The legislation also suggests that political negotiations should be mediated by the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, which has for decades supported violent right-wing forces in the region. This October, leaked audio revealed the Catholic Churchs auxiliary bishop of Managua, Silvio Baez, conspiring with the opposition to oust Nicaraguas elected president, Daniel Ortega. The unity that we need at this moment must include everyone opposed to the government, even if they are suspected of being opportunists, abortionists, homosexuals, [drug] traffickers, Baez declared, according to a translation of the leaked audio. Baez urged the opposition to put up more of the tranque roadblocks that had plunged the country into violence and strangled its economy, describing them as an extraordinary invention. In November, USAID Director Mark Green announced an infusion of $4 million to civil society and media groups opposed to the Sandinista front. My colleagues in Congress + I are proud of passing the #NICAAct. It will pressure #Ortega to do what hes refused to do: hold early elections that meet democratic standards + protect the human rights of #Nicaraguans. Thanks @SpeakerRyan for being a partner on this worthy effort. pic.twitter.com/U1kG4Mf1Ub Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) December 13, 2018 Neoconservative gloating In September, the NICA Act was combined with a remarkably similar bill from Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez: the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act, which imposed additional sanctions on Nicaraguan government officials. Menendez a Cuban-American whose legal defense from corruption charges was bankrolled by the pro-Israel lobby joined his neoconservative colleagues in referring to Nicaraguas democratically elected president, Daniel Ortega, as a dictator who leads a regime. Ortega who voluntarily stepped down from power after losing an election to a US-backed right-wing oligarch in 1990 won his third presidential term in 2011 with 62 percent of the vote, in what international observers recognized was a fair election. Even the staunchly anti-Sandinista New York Times admitted at the time that Ortega had widespread support. Ros-Lehtinen declared that the NICA Act that will help the Nicaraguan people break free of Ortegas despotic rule. She has previously insinuated that Nicaragua was a national security threat to the US, proclaiming, We must also remain vigilant of efforts by Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, China and Iran that continue to help Ortega with military equipment, surveillance, and other technology support. For his part, Rubio boasted, We are one step closer to expanding sanctions and other pressures against the oppressive Ortega regime. In lieu of a formal vote, the NICA Act was sent to the bipartisan House Committee on Foreign Affairs for amendments, and these changes were then agreed to by each chamber, without any objections. On November 27, amendments for the combined legislation were approved with unanimous consent in the Senate. Then on December 11, the changes were unanimously approved in the House without objection. Congratulations to mi amiga @RosLehtinen on an amazing three decades of leadership fighting for freedom. I am proud to have worked together on #NICAAct, which will send a message to the people of #Nicaragua that we stand with them in their fight for freedom & democracy. pic.twitter.com/7J1MzKH1BH Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) December 13, 2018 US corporate media echoes Nicaraguas US-backed opposition The unanimous approval of the de facto economic embargo on Nicaragua received very little attention in the English-language media. The story was covered by only a small handful of local news outlets, although it received much more attention in right-wing Spanish-language media. In an interview with Confidencial an opposition outlet funded by the US governments National Endowment for Democracy regime change arm Nicaraguas former foreign affairs minister Norman Caldera exclaimed that the NICA Act is a devastating blow for the regime. The right-wing channel 100% Noticias, whose director, Miguel Mora, stands accused by family members of coup victims of inciting hatred and violence, echoed the celebratory language. CNN Espanol reported favorably on the NICA Act (it even has a tag on its website devoted to the law), although its English-language counterpart demonstrated little interest. CNN Espanol referred to the democratically elected government in Managua as a regime and noted, The opposition of Nicaragua celebrates this decision. The chaos unleashed by last summers coup attempt has badly bled Nicaraguas economy, plunging growth from a steady five percent to almost zero and eliminating tens of thousands of jobs. With the NICA Act, the US and its local proxies are hoping that exacerbating the economic desperation even further will bend a largely non-compliant Nicaraguan population to their will. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The concept of Greater Eurasia has been discussed at the highest levels of Russian academia and policy-making for some time. This week the policy was presented at the Council of Ministers and looks set to be enshrined, without fanfare, as the main guideline of Russian foreign policy for the foreseeable future. President Putin is unconditionally engaged to make it a success. Already at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2016, Putin referred to an emerging Eurasian partnership. I was privileged over the past week to engage in excellent discussions in Moscow with some of the top Russian analysts and policymakers involved in advancing Greater Eurasia. I was privileged over the past week to engage in excellent discussions in Moscow with some of the top Russian analysts and policymakers involved in advancing Greater Eurasia. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Three particularly stand out: Yaroslav Lissovolik, program director of the Valdai Discussion Club and an expert on the politics and economics of the Global South; Glenn Diesen, author of the seminal Russias Geoeconomic Strategy for a Greater Eurasia; and the legendary Professor Sergey Karaganov, dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the National Research University Higher School of Economics and honorary chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, who received me in his office for an off-the-record conversation. The framework for Great Eurasia has been dissected in detail by the indispensable Valdai Discussion Club, particularly on Rediscovering the Identity, the sixth part of a series called Toward the Great Ocean, published last September, and authored by an academic whos who on the Russian Far East, led by Leonid Blyakher of the Pacific National University in Khabarovsk and coordinated by Karaganov, director of the project. The conceptual heart of Greater Eurasia is Russias Turn to the East, or pivot to Asia, home of the economic and technological markets of the future. This implies Greater Eurasia proceeding in symbiosis with Chinas New Silk Roads, or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). And yet this advanced stage of the Russia-China strategic partnership does not mean Moscow will neglect its myriad close ties to Europe. Russian Far East experts are very much aware of the Eurocentrism of a considerable portion of Russian elites. They know how almost the entire economic, demographic and ideological environment in Russia has been closely intertwined with Europe for three centuries. They recognize that Russia has borrowed Europes high culture and its system of military organization. But now, they argue, its time, as a great Eurasian power, to profit from an original and self-sustained fusion of many civilizations; Russia not just as a trade or connectivity point, but as a civilizational bridge. Legacy of Genghis Khan What my conversations, especially with Lissovolik, Diesen and Karaganov, have revealed is something absolutely groundbreaking and virtually ignored across the West; Russia is aiming to establish a new paradigm not only in geopolitics and geoeconomics, but also on a cultural and ideological level. Conditions are certainly ripe for it. Northeast Asia is immersed in a power vacuum. The Trump administrations priority as well as the US National Security Strategys is containment of China. Both Japan and South Korea, slowly but surely, are getting closer to Russia. Culturally, retracing Russias past, Greater Eurasia analysts may puzzle misinformed Western eyes. Towards the Great Ocean, the Valdai report supervised by Karaganov, notes the influence of Byzantium, which preserved classical culture and made it embrace the best of the Orient culture at a time when Europe was sinking into the Dark Ages. Byzantium inspired Russia to adopt Orthodox Christianity. It also stresses the role of the Mongols over Russias political system. The political traditions of most Asian countries are based on the legacy of the Mongols. Arguably, both Russia and China are rooted in Genghis Khans empire, it says. If the current Russian political system may be deemed authoritarian or, as claimed in Paris and Berlin, an exponent of illiberalism top Russian academics argue that a market economy protected by lean, mean military power performs way more efficiently than crisis-ridden Western liberal democracy. As China heads West in myriad forms, Greater Eurasia and the Belt and Road Initiative are bound to merge. Eurasia is crisscrossed by mighty mountain ranges such as the Pamirs and deserts like the Taklamakan and the Karakum. The best ground route runs via Russia or via Kazakhstan to Russia. In crucial soft power terms, Russian remains the lingua franca in Mongolia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. And that leads us to the utmost importance of an upgraded Trans-Siberian railway Eurasias current connectivity core. In parallel, the transportation systems of the Central Asian stans are closely integrated with the Russian network of roads; all that is bound to be enhanced in the near future by Chinese-built high-speed rail. Iran and Turkey are conducting their own versions of a pivot to Asia. A free-trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) was approved in early December. Iran and India are also bound to strike a free-trade agreement. Iran is a big player in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which is essential in driving closer economic integration between Russia and India. The Caspian Sea, after a recent deal between its five littoral states, is re-emerging as a major trading post in Central Eurasia. Russia and Iran are involved in a joint project to build a gas pipeline to India. Kazakhstan shows how Greater Eurasia and BRI are complementary; Astana is both a member of BRI and the EAEU. The same applies to gateway Vladivostok, Eurasias entry point for both South Korea and Japan, as well as Russias entry point to Northeast Asia. Ultimately, Russias regional aim is to connect Chinas northern provinces with Eurasia via the Trans-Siberian and the Chinese Eastern Railway with Chita in China and Khabarovsk in Russia totally inter-connected. And all across the spectrum, Moscow aims at maximizing return on the crown jewels of the Russian Far East; agriculture, water resources, minerals, lumber, oil and gas. Construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Yamal vastly benefits China, Japan and South Korea. Community spirit Eurasianism, as initially conceptualized in the early 20th century by the geographer PN Savitsky, the geopolitician GV Vernadsky and the cultural historian VN Ilyn, among others, regarded Russian culture as a unique, complex combination of East and West, and the Russian people as belonging to a fully original Eurasian community. That certainly still applies. But as Valdai Club analysts argue, the upgraded concept of Greater Eurasia is not targeted against Europe or the West; it aims to include at least a significant part of the EU. The Chinese leadership describes BRI not only as connectivity corridors, but also as a community. Russians use a similar term applied to Greater Eurasia; sobornost (community spirit). As Alexander Lukin of the Higher School of Economics and an expert on the SCO has constantly stressed, including in his book China and Russia: The New Rapprochement, this is all about the interconnection of Greater Eurasia, BRI, EAEU, SCO, INSTC, BRICS, BRICS Plus and ASEAN. The cream of the crop of Russian intellectuals at the Valdai Club and the Higher School of Economics as well as top Chinese analysts, are in sync. Karaganov himself constantly reiterates that the concept of Greater Eurasia was arrived at, jointly and officially, by the Russia-China partnership; a common space for economic, logistic and information cooperation, peace and security from Shanghai to Lisbon and New Delhi to Murmansk. The concept of Greater Eurasia is, of course, a work in progress. What my conversations in Moscow revealed is its extraordinary ambition; positioning Russia as a key geoeconomic and geopolitical crossroads linking the economic systems of North Eurasia, Central and Southwest Asia. As Diesen notes, Russia and China have become inevitable allies because of their shared objective of restructuring global value-chains and developing a multipolar world. Its no wonder Beijings drive to develop state-of-the-art national technological platforms is provoking so much anger in Washington. And in terms of the big picture, it makes perfect sense for BRI to be harmonized with Russias economic connectivity drive for Greater Eurasia. Thats irreversible. The dogs of demonization, containment, sanctions and even war may bark all they want, but the Eurasia integration caravan keeps moving along. Pepe Escobar is correspondent-at-large at Asia Times. His latest book is 2030. Follow him on Facebook. This article was originally published by " Asia Times " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Yes, there is rubble, in fact total destruction, in some of the neighborhoods of Homs, Aleppo, in the outskirts of Damascus, and elsewhere. Yes, there are terrorists and foreign forces in Idlib and in several smaller pockets in some parts of the country. Yes, hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives and millions are either in exile, or internally displaced. But the country of Syria is standing tall. It did not crumble like Libya or Iraq did. It never surrendered. It never even considered surrender as an option. It went through total agony, through fire and unimaginable pain, but in the end, it won. It almost won. And the victory will, most likely, be final in 2019. Despite its relatively small size, it did not win like a small nation, fighting guerilla warfare. It is winning like a big, strong state: it fought proudly, frontally, openly, against all odds. It confronted the invaders with tremendous courage and strength, in the name of justice and freedom. Syria is winning, because the only alternative would be slavery and subservience, and that is not in the lexicon of the people here. The Syrian people won because they had to win, or face the inevitable demise of their country and collapse of their dream of a Pan-Arab homeland. Syria is winning, and hopefully, nothing here, in the Middle East, will be the same again. The long decades of humiliation of the Arabs are over. Now everyone in the neighborhood is watching. Now everybody knows: The West and its allies can be fought and stopped; they are not invincible. Tremendously brutal and ruthless they are, yes, but not invincible. The most vicious, fundamentalist religious implants can be smashed, too. I said it before, and I repeat it here again: Aleppo has been the Stalingrad of the Middle East. Aleppo and Homs, and other great courageous Syrian cities. Here, fascism was confronted, fought with all might and with great sacrifice, and finally deterred. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter I sit in the office of a Syrian General, Akhtan Ahmad. We speak Russian. I ask him about the security situation in Damascus, although I already know. For several evenings and nights, I have been walking through the narrow winding roads of the old city; one of the cradles of human race. Women, even young girls, were walking as well. The city is safe. It is safe, smiles General Akhtan Ahmad, proudly. You know it is safe, dont you? I nod. He is a top Syrian intelligence commander. I should have asked more, much more. Details, details. But I dont want to know details; not right now. I want to hear again and again that Damascus is safe, from him, from my friends, from the passers-by. Situation is now very good. Go out at night... I tell him that I have. That I have been doing it since I arrived. No one is afraid, anymore, he continues. Even in the places where terrorist groups used to operate, life is returning to normal The Syrian government is now providing water, electricity. People are returning to the liberated areas. East Ghouta was liberated only 5 months ago, and now you can see shops opening there, one after another. I get several permits signed. I take the Generals photo. I get photographed with him. He has nothing to hide. He is not afraid. I tell him that at the end of January of 2019, or in February at the latest, I want to travel to Idlib, or at least to the suburbs of that city. Thats fine; I just have to let them know a few days in advance. Palmyra, fine. Aleppo, no problem. We shake hands. They trust me. I trust them. Thats the only way forward this is still a war. A terrible, brutal war. Despite the fact that Damascus is now free and safe. After I leave Generals office, we drive to Jobar, on the outskirts of Damascus. Then to Ein-Tarma. There, it is total madness. Jobar used to be a predominantly industrial area, Ein-Tarma a residential neighborhood. Both places had been reduced almost entirely to rubble. In Jobar I am allowed to film inside the tunnels, which used to be used by the terrorists; by the Rahman Brigades and by the other groups with direct connection to Al-Nusrah Front. The scene is eerie. Formerly these factories offered tens of thousands of jobs to the people of the capital city. Now, nothing moves here. Dead silence, just dust and wreckage. Lieutenant Ali accompanies me, as I climb over debris. I asked him what took place here. He replies, through my interpreter: This place was only liberated in April 2018. It was one of the last places that was taken from the terrorists. For 6 years, one part was controlled by the rebels, while another by the army. The enemies dug tunnels, and it was very difficult to defeat them. They used every structure they could get their hands on, including schools. From here, most of the civilians managed to escape. I asked him about the destruction, although I knew the answer, as my Syrian friends used to live in this area, and told me their detailed stories. Lieutenant Ali confirmed: The West was feeding the world with propaganda, saying that this was destruction caused by the army. In fact, the Syrian army was engaging the rebels only when they were attacking Damascus. Eventually, the rebels retreated from here, after the Russian-sponsored talks with the government. A Few kilometers further east, in Ein-Tarma, things are very different. Before the war, this used to be a residential neighborhood. People used to live here, mostly in the multi-story buildings. Here, the terrorists hit hard at the civilians. For months or even years, families had to live in terrible fear and deprivation. We stopped at the humble shop selling vegetables. Here, I approached an elderly lady, and after she agreed to it, I began filming. She spoke, and then she shouted, straight into the camera, waving her hands: We lived here like cattle. The terrorists treated us like animals. We were scared, hungry, humiliated. Women: terrorists would take 4-5 wives, forcing young girls and mature women into so-called marriages. We had nothing; nothing left! And now? I asked. Now? Look! We live again. We have a future. Thank you; thank you, Bashir! She calls her president by his first name. She points palms at her heart, and after kissing them, she waves her hands again. There is nothing to ask, really. I just film. She says it all, in two minutes. As we are leaving, I realize that she is most likely not old; not old at all. But what has happened here broke her in half. Now she is living; she is living and hoping again. I ask my driver to move slowly, and I begin filming the road, broken and dusty, but full of traffic: people walking, bicycles and cars passing by, negotiating potholes. In the side streets, people are hard at work, rebuilding, cleaning rubble, cutting fallen beams. Electricity is getting restored. Glass panels fitted into the scratched wooden frames. Life. Victory; all this is bittersweet, because so many people died; because so much has been destroyed. But life it is, despite everything; life again. And hope; so much hope. I sit with my friends, Yamen and Fida, in a classic, old Damascus cafe, called Havana. It is a real institution; a place where Baath Party members used to meet, during the old and turbulent days. Photographs of President Bashir al-Assad are displayed, prominently. Yamen, an educator, recalls how he had to move from one apartment to another, on several occasions during the recent years: My family used to live right next to Jobar. Everything around there was getting destroyed. We had to move. Then, at a new location, I was walking with my little son, and a mortar had landed near us. Once I saw building in flames. My son was crying in horror. A woman next to us was howling, trying to throw herself into flames: My son is inside, I need my son, give me my son! In the past, we couldnt predict from where the danger would arrive, and when. I lost several relatives; family members. We all did. Fida, Yamens colleague, is taking care of her ageing mother, every day, when she gets back from work. Life is still tough, but my friends are true patriots, and this helps them to cope with the daily challenges. Over a cup of strong Arabic coffee, Fida explains: You see us laughing and joking, but deep inside, almost all of us are suffering from deep psychological trauma. What took place here was tough; we all saw terrible things, and we lost our loved ones. All this will stay with us, for many years to come. Syria does not have enough professional psychologists and psychiatrists to cope with the situation. So many lives have been damaged. I am still scared. Every day. Many people have been terribly shaken. I feel sorry for my brothers children. They were born into this crisis. My tiny nephew Once we were under a mortar attack. He was so scared. Children are really badly affected! Personally, I am not afraid of getting killed. I am frightened of losing my arm, or leg, or not being able to take my mom to the hospital, if she was to be feeling sick. At least my ancestral city, Safita, has always been safe, even during the worst days of the conflict. Not my Salamiyah, laments Yamen: Salamiyah used to be just terrible. Many villages had to be evacuated Many people died there. To the East of the city were the positions of Al-Nusrah, while the west was held by the ISIS. Yes, hundreds of thousands of the Syrian people were killed. Millions forced to leave the country, escaping both the terrorists and the conflict as well as poverty that rode on the tail of the fighting. Millions have been internally displaced; the entire nation in motion. The previous day, after leaving Ein-Tarma, we drove near Zamalka and Harasta. Entire huge neighborhoods were either flattened, or at least terribly damaged. When you see the Eastern suburbs of Damascus, when you see the ghost buildings without walls and windows, with bullet holes dotting the pillars, you think that you have seen it all. The destruction is so huge; it looks like an entire big city was just blown up to pieces. They say this eerie landscape doesnt change for at least 15 kilometers. The nightmare goes on and on, without any interruption. So yes, you tend to think that you have seen it all, but actually you havent. It is because you have not visited Aleppo, nor visited Homs, yet. For several years, I have been fighting for Syria. I was doing it from the peripheries. I managed to enter the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and to file reports about the brutality and cynicism of the occupation. For years, I covered life in the refugee camps, and around them. Some camps were real, but others were actually used as training fortresses for the terrorist, who were later injected into Syrian territory, by NATO. Once I almost disappeared while filming Apayadin, one of such institutions, erected not far from the Turkish city of Hattay (Atakya). I almost disappeared, but others actually did die. Covering what the West and its allies have been doing to Syria is as dangerous as covering the war inside Syria itself. I worked in Jordan, writing about the refugees, but also about the cynicism of the Jordanian collaboration with the West. I worked in Iraq where, in a camp near Erbil, the Syrian people were forced by both the NGO and the UN staff, to denounce President Assad, if they wanted to receive at least some basic services. And of course, I worked in Lebanon, where more than one million Syrian people have been staying; often facing unimaginably terrible conditions as well as discrimination (many are now going back) And now that I was finally inside, it all felt somehow surreal, but it felt right. Syria appeared to be as I expected it to be: heroic, brave, determined, and unmistakably socialist. Homs. Before I went there, I thought that nothing could surprise me, anymore. I have worked all over Afghanistan, in Iraq, Sri Lanka, East Timor. But soon I realized that I had seen nothing, before I visited Homs. The destruction of several parts of the city is so severe that it resembles the surface of another planet, or a fragment from some apocalyptic horror film. People climbing through the ruins, an elderly couple visiting what once used to be their apartment, a girls shoe that I find in the middle of the road, covered by dust. A chair standing in the middle of an intersection, from which all four roads lead towards the horrid ruins. Homs is where the conflict began. My friend Yamen explained to me, as we were driving towards the center: Here, the media ignited hatred; mostly the Western mass media. But also, there were the channels from the Gulf: Al-Jazeera, as well as television and radio stations from Saudi Arabia. Sheik Adnan Mohammed al-Aroor was appearing, twice a week, on a television program which was telling people to hit the streets, banging on pots and pans; to fight against the government. Homs is where the anti-government rebellion began, in 2011. The anti-Assad propaganda from abroad soon reached a crescendo. The opposition was ideologically supported by the West and by its allies. Rapidly, the support became tangible, and included weapons, ammunition, as well as thousands of jihadi fighters. A once tolerant and modern city (in a secular country), Homs began changing, getting divided between the religious groups. Division was followed by radicalization. My good friend, a Syrian who now lives in both Syria and Lebanon, told me his story: I was very young when the uprising began. Some of us had certain legitimate grievances, and we began protesting, hoping that things could change for better. But many of us soon realized that our protests were literally kidnapped from abroad. We wanted a set of positive changes, while some leaders outside Syria wanted to overthrow our government. Consequently, I left the movement. He then shared with me his most painful secret: In the past, Homs was an extremely tolerant city. I am a moderate Muslim, and my fiance was a moderate Christian. We were very close. But the situation in the city was changing rapidly, after 2011. Radicalism was on the raise. I repeatedly asked her to cover her hair when she was passing through the Muslim neighborhoods. It was out of concern, because I was beginning to clearly see what was happening around us. She refused. One day, she was shot, in the middle of the street. They killed her. Life was never the same again. In the West, they often say that the Syrian government was at least partially responsible for destruction of the city. But the logic of such accusations is absolutely perverse. Imagine Stalingrad. Imagine foreign invasion; an invasion supported by several hostile fascist powers. The city fights back, the government tries to stop the advancement of the troops of the enemy. The fight, terrible, an epic fight for the survival of the nation goes on. Who is to blame? The invaders or the government forces who are defending their own fatherland? Can anyone accuse the Soviet troops for fighting in the streets of their own cities that were attacked by the German Nazis? Perhaps the Western propaganda is capable of such analyses, but definitely no rational human being. The same logic as to Stalingrad, should also apply to Homs, to Aleppo, and to several other Syrian cities. Covering literally dozens of conflicts ignited by the West all over the world (and described in detail in my 840-page long book Exposing Lies Of The Empire ) , I have no doubts: the full responsibility for the destruction lies on the shoulders of the invaders. I face Mrs. Hayat Awad in an ancient restaurant called Julia Palace. This used to be the stronghold of the terrorists. They occupied this beautiful place, located in the heart of the old city of Homs. Now, things are slowly coming back to life here, at least in several areas of the city. The old market is functioning, the university is open, and so are several government buildings and hotels. But Mrs. Hayat lives in both past and the future. Mrs. Hayat lost her son, Mahmood, during the war. His portrait is always with her, engraved into a pentel she is wearing on her chest. He was only 21 years old, still a student, when he decided to join the Syrian army. He told me that Syria is like his mother. He loves her, as he loves me. He was fighting against the Al-Nusrah Front, and the battle was very tough. At the end of the day he called me, just to say that the situation was not good. In his last call he just asked me to forgive him. He said: Maybe I am not going to come back. Please forgive me. I love you! Are there many mothers like her, here in Homs, those who lost their sons? Yes, I know many women who lost their sons; and not just one, sometimes two or three. I know a lady who lost her two only sons. This war took everything from us. Not only our children. I blame the countries which supported the extreme ideologies injected into Syria; countries like the United States and those in Europe. After I am done filming, she thanks Russia for their support. She thanks all the countries that have stood by Syria, during those difficult years. Not far from Julia Palace, reconstruction work is in full swing. And just a few steps away, a renovated mosque is re-opening. People are dancing, celebrating. It is Prophet Mohammeds birthday. The Governor of Homs marches towards the festivities, with the members of his government. There is almost no security around them. If the West does not unleash yet another wave of terror against its people, Homs should be just fine. Not right away, perhaps not soon, but it will be, with the resolute help of the Russians, Chinese, Iranian and other comrades. Syria itself is strong and determined. Its allies are mighty. I want to believe that the most terrible years are over. I want to believe that Syria has already won. But I know that there is still Idlib, there are also pockets occupied by Turkish and Western forces. It is not over, yet. The terrorists have not been fully defeated. The West will be shooting its missiles. Israel will be sending its air force to brutalize the country. And the mass media outlets from the West and the Gulf, will continue fighting the media war, agitating and confusing certain segments of the Syrian people. Still, as I leave Homs, I see shops and even boutiques opening in the midst of the rubble. Some people are dressing up, elegantly again, in order to show their strength; their determination to put the past behind them and to live, once again, their normal lives. Returning to Damascus, the motorway is in perfect condition and the industrial area in Hassia is getting rebuilt and amplified, too. There is a huge power plant, supported by the Iranians, I am told. Despite the war, Syria is still supplying neighboring Lebanon with electricity. Yamen drives at 120 km/h and we joke that once we get scared of possible speed traps, instead of snipers, we know that the situation in the country is dramatically improving. A Russian military convoy is parked at a rest area. Soldiers are drinking coffee. There is no fear. Syrians treat them as if they were their own people. I see the most spectacular sunset, over the desert. Then, once again, we pass through Harasta. This time at night. I want to curse. I dont; cursing is too easy. I need to get to my computer, soon. I have to write; to work. A lot, the best I can. It is easy to feel at home in Syria. Maybe because Russian is my mother-tongue or perhaps because people here know that I have always stood by their country. Some bureaucratic hindrances got resolved, quickly. I met the outgoing Minister of Education, Dr. Hazwan Al-Waz, who is a fellow novelist. We spoke about his writing, about his latest book Love and War. He confirmed what I always knew, as a revolutionary novelist: During the war, everything is political, even love. And then something that I will never forget: My Ministry of Education has been, in fact, the Ministry of Defense. Last night in Damascus I walked all over the old city, till early morning. At one point, I arrived near the spectacular Umayyad Mosque, finding, right behind it, the mausoleum of Sultan Saladin. I could not enter. At this late-night hour it was locked. But I could easily see it through the metal bars of the gate. This brave commander and leader fought against the huge armies of the Western invaders the Crusaders winning almost every single battle, finding his peace and final resting place here, in Damascus. I paid tribute to this ancient fellow internationalist, and I wondered, over a strong coffee in a nearby stall, in the middle of the night: Did Saladin participate in this latest epic battle fought by the Syrian nation against the hordes of the foreign barbarians? Perhaps his spirit did. Or, more likely, some battles were fought and won with his name on lips. I will be back, I uttered, walking back towards my hotel, few minutes after midnight. Two massive furry cats accompanide me, following my steps until the first corner. I will be back very soon. Syria is standing. Thats what really matters. It never fell on its knees. And it never will. We will not allow it to fall. And damned be imperialism [First published by NEO New Eastern Outlook] Andre Vltchek , and his Twitter. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Winnipeg chef Kelly Cattani has worked in kitchens of every kind since graduating from Red River's culinary program, from catering companies and fine dining restaurants to banquet halls and casual outlets. She agreed to give us an insider's take on The Heat. Winnipeg chef Kelly Cattani has worked in kitchens of every kind since graduating from Red River's culinary program, from catering companies and fine dining restaurants to banquet halls and casual outlets. Until recently she was executive chef at Oak & Grain at the Hilton Winnipeg Airport Suites; she's currently focused on opening her own restaurant in Charleswood, Bluestone Cottage (bluestonecottage.ca). Cattani agreed to give us an insider's take on The Heat. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Chef Kelly Cattani Free Press: What was your general impression of the film? Kelly Cattani: I thought it painted a really accurate picture of the kitchen culture, from a bunch of different perspectives, so I found it really interesting. I don't usually watch cooking shows or culinary-based documentaries I know there's quite a few available on Netflix these days they don't resonate with me. But this was pretty raw, pretty rough and I thought it was pretty on-point. FP: Some of the abuses were pretty shocking including one instance of physical abuse recounted by Ivy Knight and it seems unbelievable that can happen in a workplace and you just accept it. KC: I don't know if you accept it! You accept that it has happened to someone and it seems like a thing that could easily (happen). But I wouldn't continue working there, personally, and I would have called a lawyer, but I appreciate that that wasn't the thing she was able to do at that time. FP: Did you relate to the women's stories? Do you think sexism drives some people out? KC: It's a tough industry. I really liked the one quote by someone who said, "My chef wasn't particularly singling out males or females; they were an equal-opportunity a--hole" I thought, "One hundred per cent." If that's the kind of shop you come up in, if you can get through that and still like the job at the end of the day, good for you keep going. But there are lots of reasons you might want to get out and I think part of that has to do with the culture and part of it has to do with the job itself. It's going to be long hours, it's going to be sweaty, it's going to be poor pay. FP: Some of the chefs in the doc don't like the military aspect of the brigade de cuisine system by which kitchens are run; others say the strict discipline and defined roles are imperative. How do you feel about the brigade? KC: I think its absolutely essential. The structure of a kitchen has worked for so long for a reason. It's unfortunate, but quite often the people who are lower down on the scale of things dont always understand why the people who are higher up are asking them to do what theyre asking them to do; they dont have the whole picture. Many industries are like that, but for us its more minute to minute. If I need you to brunoise this carrot now, you don't need to talk about why. FP: Which of the seven chefs did you relate to the most? KC: I really resonated a lot with the way Victoria Blamey (of Chumley's in New York) seemed to run her kitchen and how she seemed to interact with her staff and some of the concerns that she raised were very similar to my view on women chefs. She seemed to be very competent and very accomplished and she's clearly followed the path that you're supposed in terms of going up through that brigade system and then getting to the top notch and then finding out when you get there, she's maybe doing great work but the media's not talking about it as much as they would with a boy. The opportunities that you'd expect to come out maybe weren't being presented in the same way that someone who was a male in her position might receive them. FP: The film did a good job of providing a really broad representation of chefs, with different experience and styles. KC: I thought so as well, but at the same time, it almost came across as "These are the only ones we could find." I wanted that montage at the end that showed all of the women working in kitchens. It's not that women aren't running kitchens, it's that they aren't in the media, they're not shown to be running kitchens... I think about our industry here in Winnipeg and I don't think there's much disparity between males and females but we do have a lack of media representation. Cattani is one of the chefs participating in the 2019 Women, Wine and Food event in support of Women's Health Clinic, which features culinary samples created by local female chefs and paired with wine or beer tastings. Tickets for the fundraiser which takes place on International Women's Day, March 5 are on sale for $100-$125 at wfp.to/womenwine. Close PARIS - A protest movement that has brought the French into the streets for five Saturdays in a row in a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron lost momentum in its latest nationwide outcry, but the smaller crowds pushed fervently for one of their expanding demands, a citizen's referendum to help define policy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Demonstrators wearing yellow vests talk to police officers guarding armored vehicles on the Champs-Elysees avenue, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 in Paris. A strong police presence has deployed in Paris before planned demonstrations by the "yellow vest" protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after previous violent protests and rioting. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) PARIS - A protest movement that has brought the French into the streets for five Saturdays in a row in a major challenge to President Emmanuel Macron lost momentum in its latest nationwide outcry, but the smaller crowds pushed fervently for one of their expanding demands, a citizen's referendum to help define policy. The most resonant call Saturday was a leap from the demand for relief from fuel tax hikes that gave birth to the protest in mid-November by rank-and-file French wearing yellow safety vests to slow vehicles at the traffic circles that dot France's countryside. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced in a tweet the death of an eighth person since the start of the protests, implying it occurred at a traffic circle, some of which have been manned day and night by protesters. Demonstrators wearing yellow vests cross the empty Champs-Elysees avenue, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 in Paris. A strong police presence has deployed in Paris before planned demonstrations by the "yellow vest" protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after previous violent protests and rioting. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) "Traffic circles must be freed and the security of all must again become the rule," he said, in a new effort to tamp down a movement that appears to be losing momentum. The government put 69,000 security forces into the streets and called for calm after the last two Saturdays of major violence, including vandalization of the outside and inside of the Arc de Triomphe, which cradles the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "Protesting is a right. So let's know how to exercise it," the French government tweeted. Some 8,000 police, with 14 armoured vehicles and water cannons, were out anew in Paris to guard against property destruction and looting that marred the two previous protests. Activists dressed like Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, face riot police officers during a yellow vests protest Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 in Paris. A strong police presence deployed in Paris on Saturday for planned demonstrations by the "yellow vest" protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after protests in previous weekends turned violent. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) They fired rounds of tear gas into crowds on the famed Champs-Elysees, where chic shops and restaurants were boarded up, and at dusk turned water on protesters bundled against frigid weather to disperse them. Police said 115 people were taken into custody in Paris, most for banding together to commit acts of violence. Seven people were slightly injured. Police in riot gear were seen tackling one protester and dragging him off the Champs-Elysees. Police estimate Paris protesters numbered 3,000 maximum less than half the number a week ago and the sharp downturn in violence was reflected in demonstrations across the country. But the smaller crowds were fervent and more demanding, with signs carried high or scrawled on the backs of vests calling for a referendum system that would let citizens directly impose national policies. A French police officer secures the border with Spain as demonstrators wearing yellow vests blocked the highway near the French border during a protest Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Biriatou, southwestern France. Police have deployed in large numbers Saturday for the fifth straight weekend of demonstrations by the "yellow vest" protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after protests on previous weekends turned violent.(AP Photo/Bob Edme) Among the yellow vests on the Champs-Elysees was Francis Queruel, a 70-year-old retiree from the small town of Goussainville, about 35 miles (60 kilometres) southwest of Paris, who said he was angered by "the violence of money," whereby the rich thrive and the rest are squeezed. "There are 9 million poor in France and people who work but have no money at the end of the month to eat," said Queruel. While he said he has a good pension at 3,600 euros a month, he complained it's not indexed to the cost of living. Above all, Queruel worries for his grown children and the French who can't make ends meet. "When you're hungry, it's terrible," said Queruel. "People were silent for a long time and now it's the eruption of a volcano," he said. Pricillia Ludosky, one of several figures credited with helping trigger the movement, spoke to hundreds of people filling the square at the Paris Opera house and denounced "colossal fiscal oppression ... while a small elite constantly escapes paying taxes." Riot police officers fire tear gas during scuffles in Lyon, central France, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. The demonstrations against France's high cost of living, sapped by cold weather, rain and recent concessions by French President Emmanuel Macron, were significantly smaller Saturday than at previous rallies. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) Without any clear leadership, the yellow vest movement has attracted a wide range of disgruntled people across France's political spectrum, including political parties trying to win new backers. On Monday, Macron, whose popularity is plummeting, offered a package of measures in a bid to placate protesters, including a 100-euro monthly increase to the minimum wage. However, he refused to reinstate a wealth tax he slashed at the start of his presidency, a move that enforced a perception that he is the "president of the rich." Lionel Fraisse, 63, a retired worker for the state agency that runs Metros and suburban trains, said the measures were simply "to put the people to sleep." Fraisse, who arrived from the Essonne region south of Paris with former colleagues, said what he wants most is for Macron "to validate his legitimacy" with a referendum. Until then, "the movement must lose neither its vigour nor its legitimacy," he said. ___ Elena Becatoros and Raphael Satter in Paris contributed to this report. ___ For more coverage of France's yellow vest protest movement, go to: https://www.apnews.com/FranceProtests A little more than 20 years ago, a stretch of Graham Avenue was blocked off from vehicular traffic and reserved exclusively for transit buses, becoming known as the Graham Mall. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A little more than 20 years ago, a stretch of Graham Avenue was blocked off from vehicular traffic and reserved exclusively for transit buses, becoming known as the Graham Mall. There are still about 1,800 buses a day moving about 60,000 people into the downtown along Graham, but the concept of the Graham Mall is changing as is the dynamic of downtown. The Downtown Biz released a report in the summer that noted that people see the strip as something more than just a transit hub and, among other things, recommended that it be once again referred to as Graham Avenue. Regardless of what it's called, there are more new businesses opening and major developments looming that are going to be transformative. Bell MTS Place is already responsible for bringing one million people per year to events downtown. One of the city's fastest growing enterprises, 24-7 Intouch, is outgrowing its corporate headquarters on Kennedy Street and the company and its founders have acquired several properties along Graham Avenue. The company is in renovating the three-storey Hudson Building for additional corporate office space. MIKE DEAL / WINNPEG FREE PRESS FILES True North Real Estate Development celebrated the official opening of True North Square's public plaza in September. People will start moving into 200 new apartments this summer when the True North Square residential tower is completed. Artis REIT is building a 40-storey apartment building at the eastern end of Graham Avenue and on Kennedy Street the old Medical Arts building is being renovated to mixed use with as many as 100 residential units. In the last couple of years, a number of well-known local businesses such as Clay Oven and Shawarma Khan have started opening on Graham Avenue. The neighborhood may have recently experienced a rare Starbucks closure at its former Kennedy and Graham location but local cafe operator Thom Bargen was already established across the street. Brad King, the Cushman and Wakefield leasing agent on the old Starbucks location, said the space has been leased by a dentist from the Medical Arts Building and construction is set to begin soon. A couple of months ago, the lifestyle wares shop called June set up in the adjoining space to Thom Bargen and street traffic is picking up. Two years ago, Bruce Smedts moved his White Star Diner from the Exchange District to the same block of Kennedy Street and is filling up the 44-seat diner every day. Obby Khan, the owner of Shawarma Khan, said people told him he was crazy when he opened his shop on McDermot Avenue in the Exchange District. "Now look at the Exchange. It's booming now. There's lots of street traffic," Khan said. "I really believe Graham is already doing that. That's why I invested a lot of money opening another store on Graham because that is what is going to be happening there as well." Kate Fenske, the new CEO of the Downtown Biz, said Graham Avenue is one of the pivotal neighbourhoods downtown that is experiencing a modern renaissance. ADAM COLLIER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Graham Bargen (left, with co-owner Thom Hiebert) says they're happy to be on Graham Avenue and thankful people have been open-minded about experiencing local fare. "There's going to be 1,000 residential units added in the very near future on this stretch. It's very exciting," she said. "Yes, it's about the tax base and growth. But it's more about the energy and vibrancy and having people and life on the streets downtown. I see that as a game changer." Graham Bargen, one of the partners of the three-location Thom Bargen cafe chain, said the Starbucks closure has not hurt his business. "It has opened up new eyes to our shop," he said. "We're building new relationships and while we don't wish harm on anyone we have seen a bump in business." He said they're happy to be on Graham Avenue and thankful people have been open-minded to experience some local fare. "People have a funny perspective about coffee shops that you just open and it's automatically busy and easy," he said. "But busy is what surviving looks like. You have to be busy. It's not an option." It's not likely that a global brand like Starbucks would even know how to create a space that would accommodate the partnership that Thom Bargen and the June boutique now enjoy. "We're so happy with June being there," he said. "They are a cool success story and we feel the partnership and esthetic vibe is perfect." (DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Joel and Danielle Cyr, the husband and wife team who own June, had a thriving on-line business for more than three years. Joel and Danielle Cyr, the husband and wife team who own June, had a thriving on-line business for more than three years. "We always figured a retail location was on the table, but the timing was never right or the rent was too high or the location was wrong," said Joel Cyr. "This time the timing was right and the location was right. Everything just sort of worked out." They wanted to design a space that didn't make people think they were in a store and being attached to friendly cafe helped. While they were an exclusively on-line store they were shipping their unique line of natural cleaning products and beautiful, simple housewares across Canada and the U.S. but weren't selling much in their home town. "We realized we have a market here that we have not really explored yet or tapped into," he said. Setting up in a neighborhood that is starting to come into its own suits them in that they are already part of a trend in retailing that is moving in the opposite direction of traditional retail practice. Instead of going into e-commerce to boost sales from the bricks and mortar operations, they are using a street location to enhance an already established on-line presence. It bodes well for the future success of the Graham Avenue strip that much of the new investment is coming from local operators who believe in the possibility of a vibrant downtown core. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca The province has appointed a new boss for the Manitoba Financial Services Agency and the Manitoba Security Commission. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The province has appointed a new boss for the Manitoba Financial Services Agency and the Manitoba Security Commission. Finance Minister Scott Fielding announced David Cheop as the new chief administrative officer of the Manitoba Financial Services Agency and the new chair and chief executive officer of the Manitoba Securities Commission. Cheop is the vice-president and chief compliance officer for IG Investment Management Ltd. and Mackenzie Financial Corporation. He was called to the Manitoba bar in June 1981, and worked in corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on securities law for six years. Cheop was appointed Queens counsel in December 1997. He is also the vice-chairman of the ICE Futures Canada special regulatory committee and member of the policy advisory committee of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada. Cheop has received the City of Winnipeg Community Service Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. "Mr. Cheops extensive experience in the securities industry will guide the MSC as it continues to improve regulatory protection for the public and investors, educate industry stakeholders, and co-ordinate with federal and provincial regulators," Fielding said in a press release Friday. The Manitoba Financial Services Agency enforces legislation for the provinces securities and insurance sectors, real estate and mortgage brokers, credit unions, caisses populaires, co-operatives and trust and loan companies. The agency includes the Manitoba Securities Commission and the Financial Institutions Regulation Branch. The Manitoba Securities Commission administers the Securities Act, the Real Estate Brokers Act, the Mortgage Brokers Act and the Commodity Futures Act. caitlyn.gowriluk@freepress.mb.ca LAS VEGAS - Nevada's new attorney general wants to find a way to implement a stalled, voter-approved gun background check law when he takes office early next year after his predecessor said the measure couldn't be enforced. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. LAS VEGAS - Nevada's new attorney general wants to find a way to implement a stalled, voter-approved gun background check law when he takes office early next year after his predecessor said the measure couldn't be enforced. Democrat Aaron Ford, in an interview with The Associated Press, said he'd also be supportive of other gun-safety measures that come out of the state's Democratically controlled Legislature. Gun safety is a prominent topic in the state where a gunman opened fire last year on an outdoor music festival, killing 58. Ford, a 46-year-old attorney and outgoing state Senate majority leader, noted Friday was the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. "As we honour those 20 kids and six educators who lost their lives, we need to be doing more than thinking and praying about them," Ford said. "We need to be working toward commonsense gun safety measures." He said he also wants to tackle issues like student loan debt, sexual harassment and discrimination, and criminal justice reform an issue he focused on during his six-year tenure in the Senate along with protecting Nevada's legal marijuana industry and reassessing its legal positions on issues like the Affordable Care Act. Here's a closer look at some of Ford's positions: ___ GUNS Nevada's outgoing Republican attorney general, Adam Laxalt, and governor, Brian Sandoval, both opposed the firearm background check law, designed to close a legal loophole where private, unlicensed sellers don't have to conduct background screenings. Though voters narrowly approved the law in 2016, Sandoval and Laxalt said it could not be implemented because it required the FBI to enforce the law and said state screenings were more thorough. Ford said he'll still try to work with the FBI to get the law enforced and, if needed, he'll work with the Legislature and incoming Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak to get the law changed. "I begin from a position of 'yes' and trying to implement the will of the people," Ford said. ___ MARIJUANA Ford said he doesn't see a need at this point for additional regulation of the state's recreational marijuana industry, which began selling legal pot on July 1, 2017. But the Democrat said he would defend the industry against a crackdown by the federal government. The Trump administration has sent mixed messages on the issue, with President Donald Trump saying he would support easing a federal prohibition on marijuana while his former Attorney General Jeff Sessions promoted more aggressive enforcement. Ford said he doesn't see any immediate challenge from the federal government on the horizon. ___ STATE LEGAL BATTLES Republican and Democratic attorneys general often band together to challenge federal rules passed by the opposing political party and will separately file legal briefs in out-of-state court battles to assert their state's positions, including on hot-button issues. Under Laxalt, Nevada's court briefs have included positions supporting out-of-state abortion restrictions and a Trump administration challenge to a California "sanctuary state" immigration law. With the political changeover in the Nevada attorney general's office, Ford said he would be re-assessing the state's positions in those out-of-state cases. "To be sure, I have a different position on, for example, protection of the ACA than does the current attorney general," he said. "But I am going to have to talk to our governor to figure out how we want to proceed as a state." ___ DEATH PENALTY Nevada is in the midst of a prolonged legal fight over the execution of a convicted killer as drug manufacturers are fighting to keep their products from being used in the lethal injection. It's a problem other states have grappled with. Some have adopted alternative means of execution or kept the source of their lethal injection drugs confidential. Ford said he opposes the death penalty but will enforce the state's capital punishment law. He declined to say he would handle the ongoing battles with the drug makers, noting he needs to review the cases thoroughly once he's in office. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report. December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - There is a story that is commonly told in Britain that the colonisation of India - as horrible as it may have been - was not of any major economic benefit to Britain itself. If anything, the administration of India was a cost to Britain. So the fact that the empire was sustained for so long - the story goes - was a gesture of Britain's benevolence. New research by the renowned economist Utsa Patnaik - just published by Columbia University Press - deals a crushing blow to this narrative. Drawing on nearly two centuries of detailed data on tax and trade, Patnaik calculated that Britain drained a total of nearly $45 trillion from India during the period 1765 to 1938. It's a staggering sum. For perspective, $45 trillion is 17 times more than the total annual gross domestic product of the United Kingdom today. How did this come about? It happened through the trade system. Prior to the colonial period, Britain bought goods like textiles and rice from Indian producers and paid for them in the normal way - mostly with silver - as they did with any other country. But something changed in 1765, shortly after the East India Company took control of the subcontinent and established a monopoly over Indian trade. Here's how it worked. The East India Company began collecting taxes in India, and then cleverly used a portion of those revenues (about a third) to fund the purchase of Indian goods for British use. In other words, instead of paying for Indian goods out of their own pocket, British traders acquired them for free, "buying" from peasants and weavers using money that had just been taken from them. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter It was a scam - theft on a grand scale. Yet most Indians were unaware of what was going on because the agent who collected the taxes was not the same as the one who showed up to buy their goods. Had it been the same person, they surely would have smelled a rat. Some of the stolen goods were consumed in Britain, and the rest were re-exported elsewhere. The re-export system allowed Britain to finance a flow of imports from Europe, including strategic materials like iron, tar and timber, which were essential to Britain's industrialisation. Indeed, the Industrial Revolution depended in large part on this systematic theft from India. On top of this, the British were able to sell the stolen goods to other countries for much more than they "bought" them for in the first place, pocketing not only 100 percent of the original value of the goods but also the markup. After the British Raj took over in 1847, colonisers added a special new twist to the tax-and-buy system. As the East India Company's monopoly broke down, Indian producers were allowed to export their goods directly to other countries. But Britain made sure that the payments for those goods nonetheless ended up in London. How did this work? Basically, anyone who wanted to buy goods from India would do so using special Council Bills - a unique paper currency issued only by the British Crown. And the only way to get those bills was to buy them from London with gold or silver. So traders would pay London in gold to get the bills, and then use the bills to pay Indian producers. When Indians cashed the bills in at the local colonial office, they were "paid" in rupees out of tax revenues - money that had just been collected from them. So, once again, they were not in fact paid at all; they were defrauded. Meanwhile, London ended up with all of the gold and silver that should have gone directly to the Indians in exchange for their exports. This corrupt system meant that even while India was running an impressive trade surplus with the rest of the world - a surplus that lasted for three decades in the early 20th century - it showed up as a deficit in the national accounts because the real income from India's exports was appropriated in its entirety by Britain. Some point to this fictional "deficit" as evidence that India was a liability to Britain. But exactly the opposite is true. Britain intercepted enormous quantities of income that rightly belonged to Indian producers. India was the goose that laid the golden egg. Meanwhile, the "deficit" meant that India had no option but to borrow from Britain to finance its imports. So the entire Indian population was forced into completely unnecessary debt to their colonial overlords, further cementing British control. Britain used the windfall from this fraudulent system to fuel the engines of imperial violence - funding the invasion of China in the 1840s and the suppression of the Indian Rebellion in 1857. And this was on top of what the Crown took directly from Indian taxpayers to pay for its wars. As Patnaik points out, "the cost of all Britain's wars of conquest outside Indian borders were charged always wholly or mainly to Indian revenues." And that's not all. Britain used this flow of tribute from India to finance the expansion of capitalism in Europe and regions of European settlement, like Canada and Australia. So not only the industrialisation of Britain but also the industrialisation of much of the Western world was facilitated by extraction from the colonies. Patnaik identifies four distinct economic periods in colonial India from 1765 to 1938, calculates the extraction for each, and then compounds at a modest rate of interest (about 5 percent, which is lower than the market rate) from the middle of each period to the present. Adding it all up, she finds that the total drain amounts to $44.6 trillion. This figure is conservative, she says, and does not include the debts that Britain imposed on India during the Raj. These are eye-watering sums. But the true costs of this drain cannot be calculated. If India had been able to invest its own tax revenues and foreign exchange earnings in development - as Japan did - there's no telling how history might have turned out differently. India could very well have become an economic powerhouse. Centuries of poverty and suffering could have been prevented. All of this is a sobering antidote to the rosy narrative promoted by certain powerful voices in Britain. The conservative historian Niall Ferguson has claimed that British rule helped "develop" India. While he was prime minister, David Cameron asserted that British rule was a net help to India. This narrative has found considerable traction in the popular imagination: according to a 2014 YouGov poll, 50 percent of people in Britain believe that colonialism was beneficial to the colonies. Yet during the entire 200-year history of British rule in India, there was almost no increase in per capita income. In fact, during the last half of the 19th century - the heyday of British intervention - income in India collapsed by half. The average life expectancy of Indians dropped by a fifth from 1870 to 1920. Tens of millions died needlessly of policy-induced famine. Britain didn't develop India. Quite the contrary - as Patnaik's work makes clear - India developed Britain. What does this require of Britain today? An apology? Absolutely. Reparations? Perhaps - although there is not enough money in all of Britain to cover the sums that Patnaik identifies. In the meantime, we can start by setting the story straight. We need to recognise that Britain retained control of India not out of benevolence but for the sake of plunder and that Britain's industrial rise didn't emerge sui generis from the steam engine and strong institutions, as our schoolbooks would have it, but depended on violent theft from other lands and other peoples. This article was originally published by " Al Jazeera " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. WASHINGTON - A federal judge's ruling that the Obama health law is unconstitutional has landed like a stink bomb among Republicans, who've seen the politics of health care flip as Americans increasingly value the overhaul's core parts, including protections for pre-existing medical conditions and Medicaid for more low-income people. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. File- This May 11, 2017, file photo shows an Obamacare sign being displayed on the storefront of an insurance agency in Hialeah, Fla. A conservative federal judge in Texas on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, ruled the Affordable Care Act AuinvalidAu on the eve of the sign-up deadline for next year. But with appeals certain, even the Trump White House said the law will remain in place for now. In a 55-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Reed OAoConnor ruled Friday that last yearAos tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under AuObamacareAu by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. The rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File) WASHINGTON - A federal judge's ruling that the Obama health law is unconstitutional has landed like a stink bomb among Republicans, who've seen the politics of health care flip as Americans increasingly value the overhaul's core parts, including protections for pre-existing medical conditions and Medicaid for more low-income people. While the decision by the Republican-appointed judge in Texas was sweeping, it has little immediate practical impact because the Affordable Care Act remains in place while the legal battle continues, possibly to the Supreme Court. HealthCare.gov , the government's site for signing up, was taking applications Saturday, the deadline in most states for enrolling for coverage next year, and those benefits will take effect as scheduled Jan. 1. Medicaid expansion will proceed in Virginia, one of the latest states to accept that option. Employers will still be required to cover the young adult children of workers, and Medicare recipients will still get discounted prescription drugs. But Republicans, still stinging from their loss of the House in the midterm elections, are facing a fresh political quandary after U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor said the entire 2010 health law was invalid. Warnings about the Texas lawsuit were part of the political narrative behind Democrats' electoral gains. Health care was the top issue for about one-fourth of voters in the November election, ahead of immigration and jobs and the economy, according to VoteCast, a nationwide survey for The Associated Press. Those most concerned with health care supported Democrats overwhelmingly. In his ruling, O'Connor reasoned that the body of the law could not be surgically separated from its now-meaningless requirement for people to have health insurance. "On the assumption that the Supreme Court upholds, we will get great, great health care for our people," President Donald Trump told reporters during a visit Saturday to Arlington National Cemetery. "We'll have to sit down with the Democrats to do it, but I'm sure they want to do it also." FILE - This Oct. 23, 2018 file photo shows HealthCare.gov website on a computer screen in New York. A federal judge's ruling that the Obama health law is unconstitutional has landed like a stink bomb among Republicans, who've seen the politics of health care flip as Americans increasingly value the overhaul's core parts, including protections for pre-existing medical conditions and Medicaid for more low-income people. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison) Economist Gail Wilensky, who oversaw the Medicare program for President George H.W. Bush, said the state attorneys general from GOP strongholds who filed the lawsuit really weren't very considerate of their fellow Republicans. "The fact that they could cause their fellow Republicans harm did not seem to bother them," said Wilensky, a critic of President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement. "The people who raised it are a bunch of guys who don't have serious election issues, mostly from states where saber-rattling against the ACA is fine," she added. "How many elections do you have to get battered before you find another issue?" Douglas Holtz-Eakin, top policy adviser to Republican John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, said he was struck by the relative silence from top Republicans after the ruling issued. A prominent example: "The House was not party to this suit, and we are reviewing the ruling and its impact," said AshLee Strong, spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Republicans are "going to have to figure out what to do," Holtz-Eakin said. "If it's invalidated by the courts, it's not ... 'We're going to do it our way.' They're going to have to get together with the Democrats in the House." The GOP's failed effort last year to repeal the law showed there's no consensus within the party itself. Trump tweeted Friday night that "Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions." "Get it done!" he told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is expected to be speaker in January. But Trump had no plan of his own to offer in the 2017 "repeal and replace" debate. Two top House Republicans issued diverging statements. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said "Obamacare is a broken law," but added, "I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure America's healthcare system works for all Americans." The third-ranking GOP leader, Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, praised the judge's ruling and made no mention of working with Democrats, whom he accused of "running a fear-mongering campaign" to win control of the House last month. The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said that if the law is ultimately overturned, then members of Congress from both parties should start over, working together. He urged maintaining provisions such as protections for pre-existing medical conditions, no lifetime dollar limits on insurance coverage, and allowing young adults to stay on parental coverage until age 26. Democrats were united in condemning the ruling. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said voters will remember. "What will stand is Republican ownership of such a harmful and disastrous lawsuit," Schumer tweeted. The next chapter in the legal case could take months to play out. A coalition of Democratic state officials led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will appeal O'Connor's decision, most likely to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. "The legal merits of the case are frivolous," said University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley. "The notion that the unconstitutionality of an unenforceable mandate somehow requires toppling the entire ACA is bonkers." Bagley supports the law generally, but has been critical of how it has been put into effect. A Winnipeg woman shot in the head after she was caught in the middle of someone else's drug dispute was still alive when her killer returned to her house and set it on fire, court heard Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg woman shot in the head after she was caught in the middle of someone else's drug dispute was still alive when her killer returned to her house and set it on fire, court heard Friday. Malcolm Miles Mitchell, 26, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years in the March 2017 killing of 29-year-old Jeanenne Fontaine. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Fontaine was a cousin of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, whose 2014 killing sparked calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women. "The tragic effect of homicide on young Indigenous women ripples greatly on that family," Crown attorney Mike Desautels told Justice Sheldon Lanchberry. According to an agreed statement of facts read out in court, Mitchell wanted to collect a $400 drug debt "or the equivalent in property" owed to him by a man he believed was staying at Fontaine's Aberdeen Avenue home. Mitchell, accompanied by two co-accused, Jason Michael Meilleur, 39, and Christopher Matthew Brass, 36, went to the house where they were met at the door by a different man. The three accused searched the house for the target of the drug debt, but did not find him. While still searching the house, Mitchell took a .22-calibre handgun from Brass and used it to scare away someone who was knocking on the backdoor. Still in possession of the gun, Mitchell found Fontaine, who he knew as the mother of his cousin's child, in her bedroom. Mitchell cocked the gun and pointed it at the back of Fontaine as he ripped a necklace from her neck. "He pulled (the necklace) and the gun discharged," Desautels said, reading from the agreed statement of facts. Mitchell fled the house and returned with a portable torch. "When Mitchell returned, he found that while Fontaine was not breathing, she was still apparently alive," Desautels said. Mitchell set a fire on top of the kitchen stove and used the torch to set a second fire on a living room couch before fleeing the house a second time. Emergency responders rescued Fontaine from the fire, but she later died in hospital. "The cause of death was determined to be burn trauma, secondary to a lethal gunshot wound to the head," Desautels said. At the time of the killing, Mitchell was deep into methamphetamine, using up to a gram (10 hits) a day, said his lawyer Scott Newman. When arrested two months later, he took immediate responsibility for the killing. "He was essentially crying and gave a full confession," Newman said. Brass and Meilleur have yet to be tried for Fontaine's killing. Mitchell and Brass are co-accuseds in a second killing in Regina in 2017. Brass believed the victim, 51-year-old Daniel DiPaolo had played a role in his mother's suicide seven years earlier and enlisted the aid of Mitchell and two others to confront him. After gaining entry to his home, Brass stabbed Dipaolo in the face, and with the aid of a co-accused, strangled him with an electrical cord. After looting the house, Brass saw that Dipaolo was still alive and shot him in the head. Brass pleaded guilty in September to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Under a plea agreement, Mitchell is expected to plead guilty to second-degree murder at a later date and be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 14 years. The sentence would be consecutive to the one imposed Friday, meaning Mitchell would not be eligible for parole for 24 years. In a separate courtroom Friday, Brass was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years in the February 2017 killing of Bryer Prysiazniuk-Settee. As in Mitchell's case, Brass' period of parole ineligibility is to run consecutive to his earlier murder conviction, meaning he wont be able to apply for parole for 40 years. Jurors heard at trial that Prysiazniuk-Settee had gone to a Powers Street apartment to buy meth when, during a confrontation, Brass shot him six times in the chest. When she was 33 years old, Christine Jack vanished, leaving those who loved her with a question that has haunted them for three decades. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When she was 33 years old, Christine Jack vanished, leaving those who loved her with a question that has haunted them for three decades. The question of what, exactly, happened to the wife and mother a week before Christmas 1988, rattles through their minds in search of an answer they never get. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES) Christine Jack For them, the pain is always there; the sensation of whats been lost, and what could have been, lingers like a phantom limb. The disappearance of a loved one, without the closure however terrible in its own right that comes from the discovery of their remains, is a horror unimaginable to those whove not lived through it. At some point, however, there is another question that stirs in their minds: How long should we cling to the hope, however faint, that one day we might finally learn the truth? For Kairsten Fatland, one of Jack's two children, now a year older than her mother was when she went missing, the answer is a simple one. As long as it takes. "Its always hard talking about this," Fatland says. "The only reason I do it is the chance that maybe theres somebody out there who knows something and hasnt spoken out before. Maybe if they see this theyll come forward with some clue that will lead us to finding her. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES) Brian Jack "You wonder, What really did happen? You go through all those thoughts and all the details, and you pray and hope that someday youll get closure." On Tuesday, Jack's family will commemorate the 30th anniversary of her disappearance and presumed death in a mystery that gripped the city for months. Her husband, and Fatlands estranged father, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber tight end Brian Jack, has long been the principal suspect. In total, Jack was tried three times for his wifes slaying, leading to two convictions: one in 1990 for second degree murder and another in 1995 for manslaughter. But three appeals and a complicated web of legal proceedings later, he walked away a free man in 1997. Jack has always maintained his innocence. But like many others, Fatland believes he is the only person who can provide the closure she desperately seeks. "There was just so much evidence that pointed in his direction. I wish he could find it in his heart to help us find her remains, or give us a clue, or tell somebody to tell somebody where she is," Fatland says. "Its not even that we want him to be in trouble. I think were past that. We just want closure. We want to give her the proper burial that she deserves." In December 1988, Christine told her friends that she was at the end of her rope and planned to leave her husband. Their marriage had been crumbling for some time. Brian Jack was unemployed and blamed money problems for placing strain on the relationship. A psychologist would testify at the first trial that hed also admitted to "forcing himself sexually" on his wife. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES) Jack's vehicle, a 1982 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. Three days before she went missing, Christine met with a lawyer to discuss her options for divorce. She also told confidants she was worried about how he'd react when she told him the marriage was over. Depending on whom you ask and what evidence you consider, one of two things happened on Dec. 17, 1988. To hear Brian Jack tell it: after putting the kids to bed, he and his wife got into an argument. Christine walked out the front door, jumped behind the wheel of their yellow Chevrolet Blazer and drove off, never to be seen again. But the Crown prosecutor said that night Christine told her husband she wanted a divorce and he murdered her, later hauling her body into the back of the family SUV and dumping it somewhere. Newspaper clippings from 1988 offer a timeline of the events that followed. 'There was just so much evidence that pointed in his direction. I wish he could find it in his heart to help us find her remains, or give us a clue, or tell somebody to tell somebody where she is' Kairsten Fatland, Christina Jack's daughter on her father, Brian Jack Brian Jack called Winnipeg police the following day to file a missing persons report. His wifes family and friends suspected the worst, certain she would never have willingly abandoned her children. Two days before Christmas, police received an anonymous tip from a man identifying himself as "Henry," saying a vehicle matching the description of the familys Blazer could be found behind a Salisbury House restaurant at St. Annes Road and Fermor Avenue. Later, when confronted with evidence the anonymous call was made from inside his home, Jack admitted it was him, telling police: "So I called it in; so what?" (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES) In April 1989, searchers comb the bush where police believed Christine Jack's body was hidden. He was picked up by police for questioning on Christmas, spending 30 hours in the Winnipeg Remand Centre. Police didn't have a body, but investigators found blood stains on a freshly laundered couch cushion in the family room. Jack told them he had been skinning a deer in the house. He was charged with second-degree murder on Dec. 26. Massive ground searches are launched by city police and RCMP, who combed through areas in St. Anne, Falcon Lake, Steinbach and Winnipeg. At the Brady Road landfill, officers sift their way through hundreds of kilograms of garbage looking for evidence. False leads, rumours and calls from self-professed psychics flooded police tip lines. Eventually, the searches were called off. Twenty-one months later, in September 1990, Jacks second-degree murder trial began. In his opening statement, Crown prosecutor Jack Montgomery laid out his case, saying that while it was circumstantial, it added up to "beyond a reasonable doubt." "It will all come together like a puzzle, a picture puzzle, when the last piece is put in place," he told the jury. Weeks later, during closing arguments, Montgomery summed up the case. "Christine Jack was killed in the family room of her home on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1988.... And there was one eyewitness to this tragic death of the young woman, the husband.... the man who killed her, the accused, Brian Gordon Jack," he told jurors. (GLENN OLSEN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES) Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Brian Jack, right, and friend walk from the Public Safety Building after Jack made bail. Charged with second-degree murder after his wife, Christine, went missing, Jack had bail set at two $10,000 sureties and a $10,000 recognizance. Also, the court ordered he could not see his children. "Christine Jack did not get up, grab her winter coat and purse, and drive out in the Blazer. The dead do not rise and walk." But, defence lawyer Richard Wolson spun a different yarn, one in which the police investigation was one-sided rush to judgment that didnt pursue leads that could have exonerated his client. The jury disagreed and found Jack guilty of second-degree murder; he was sentenced to life in prison. But what seemed like the end of a gruesome, tragic crime was just the end of the beginning. In January 1992, the Manitoba Court of Appeal granted Jack a new trial in which the verdict was not guilty. The Crown appealed the acquittal and in May 1994 the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a third trial. Jack was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison. That led to another appeal, which made its way once again to the Supreme Court. In June 1997, the court ruled a fourth trial would be an abuse of process. In 2001, Montgomery authored Trials & Errors: The People vs. Brian Gordon Jack, outlining the odyssey, calling it a "sorry tale of one colossal miscarriage of justice." 'Sometimes I have less hope and something like that comes and I get hopeful again. Then when (police) called to say no, it wasnt my mom, you kind of get down. Its just a roller-coaster of emotion' Kairsten Fatland upon learning of the discovery of human remains in the RM of Tache Fatland has a well-worn copy of the book shes read many times. She says she returns to its pages to go over forgotten details. She was thinking about the case again recently, as she often does, near the end of October when human remains were found in the RM of Tache, naturally wondering whether they were those of her mother. A few weeks later the remains were identified as belonging to Thelma Krull, a Winnipeg grandmother who went missing in 2015, giving her family and friends the closure that Fatland seeks. "Sometimes I have less hope and something like that comes and I get hopeful again. Then when (police) called to say no, it wasnt my mom, you kind of get down. Its just a roller-coaster of emotion," she says. Nonetheless, knowing some families get answers years, if not decades, recharges her fading hope. On Tuesday, Fatland will gather with family in her home in Iowa, where she and her brother, Adam, were raised by their mothers parents. "I think its hard for everybody. Well go to church, spend time together and just kind of talk about her. But we also talk about her throughout the year, too," Fatland said. "With my children, I constantly talk about Grandma Christine. We try to keep her alive. My Grandma says she sees signs of my mom in my kids, so thats pretty special." In 2008, Fatland wrote two letters to her father, who is still believed to be living in Manitoba. She asked him to tell her where they could find her mother even just a bone fragment, something that could be buried. There was no response. She continues to pray for an answer. "Its hard, but you just cant help but hold onto that last little bit of hope." ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. Jurors took less than a day to decide they didnt believe a disgraced Winnipeg pastor was role-playing when he attempted to meet a supposed 15-year-old girl for sex in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. Jurors took less than a day to decide they didnt believe a disgraced Winnipeg pastor was role-playing when he attempted to meet a supposed 15-year-old girl for sex in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Nathan George Rieger, who resigned from the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard Church after he was arrested Aug. 10, stared straight ahead with little emotion as the verdict was read Friday. He had pleaded not guilty to a felony count of meeting with a minor for lewd purposes. Rieger, 53, claimed when he took the stand in his own defence he believed the supposed girl he met online actually an Arroyo Grande police detective was also role-playing, and was actually in her late 20s or early 30s, based on photographs the officer provided. Rieger, who remains out of jail after posting US$25,000 bail, faces up to four years in state prison when hes sentenced next month. Due to his conviction, the Canadian citizen must register as a sex offender. Following the verdict, defence lawyer Charles Magill said the case was based on alleged "thought crimes" or whether Rieger knew he was talking to a teenager which Magill said are some of the most difficult to try in court. Magill added he respects the decision of the jury but his client may pursue further legal options. Rieger was accused of carrying on sexually graphic conversations with an Arroyo Grande police detective, who was working under the guise of a 15-year-old girl, over four days the week of Aug. 5, when Rieger was visiting the Central Coast region on vacation. The trial started Dec. 3. James Jolly, a detective with the Arroyo Grande Police Department assigned to investigate internet crimes against children, testified how he engaged in a chat with Rieger under the guise of being a 15-year-old girl who lived with her grandmother. He used photographs of a female Arroyo Grande police officer between the age of 26 and 34 to sell his ruse, Jolly testified. Magill later argued to the jury no reasonable person would believe the woman in the photograph was 15. In his messages, Rieger told the detective he was 37. In closing arguments Thursday, deputy district attorney Julie Antos told the jury Riegers explanation was an "absurdity" and he was using "mental gymnastics" to justify his actions. "He wants to avoid taking responsibility for his actions," Antos said. In his final argument, in an effort to show how information can be misconstrued, Magill showed jurors a scene from the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny, in which Ralph Macchios character is interviewed by sheriffs deputies and accused of shooting a grocery store clerk. "I shot the clerk?" asks Macchio, whose character is innocent. "Yes," the deputy says. "When did you shoot him?" In his filmed interview (played for the jury) with Jolly immediately following his arrest, Rieger says and sounds as if hes admitting to going to the parking lot to meet with a 15-year-old for sex. Several times, Magill accused Jolly of lying to Rieger. During the interview, Jolly maintained the ruse, saying the supposed girls grandmother found her cellphone and the messages and turned it in to authorities. Jolly is seen in the video reassuring Rieger: "This isnt the end of your life." Jolly testified he kept the act up because his investigation didnt stop at the interview. Later, Magill called Jolly "incompetent" for sending Rieger a photograph of an adult woman and creating uncertainty about what was in Riegers mind when he carried on the messages with the supposed girl. Magill said Jolly didnt understand role-playing culture, and misunderstood Rieger from the beginning of their communication. "The whole crime that was being committed was in (Jollys) mind," he said. Magill told jurors while "it might piss you off" that a pastor who also taught in some capacity would arrange to meet a stranger for a tryst while on vacation with his family, "thats not what hes charged with." Rieger is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 16. San Luis Obispo Tribune A Winnipeg law student is one of six women who received an award from Gov. Gen. Julie Payette at a Senate ceremony Friday morning, in commemoration of a landmark gender equality case. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 15/12/2018 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg law student is one of six women who received an award from Gov. Gen. Julie Payette at a Senate ceremony Friday morning, in commemoration of a landmark gender equality case. Alana Robert, the only youth recipient of the group, is in her final year at Osgoode Hall Law School (Torontos York University). Robert received the prestigious Governor Generals Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case for her focus on advancing the rights of marginalized groups in Canada. The award is given each year to highlight Canadians who have contributed to the advancement of womens equality. It marks the historic decision by Canadas highest court of appeal to include women in the legal definition of "persons." The Persons Case, as it is known, gave women the right to be appointed to the Senate and paved the way for womens increased participation in public and political life. The award was established in 1979, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic decision. This years laureates included: Rina Arseneault of Fredericton, N.B., for her work as a social worker, researcher, activist, organizer, author and educator; Shirley Cuillierrier of Ottawa, for her work promoting the benefits of women in policing; Rina Fraticelli of Toronto, for her career addressing gender inequity issues in Canadas arts and cultural industries; Charlotte Hrenchuk of Whitehorse, for her work addressing gender inequality issues throughout northern Canada; and Helene Lee-Gosselin of Sainte-Petronille, Que., for her work studying equity and diversity in the workplace, pay equity, womens entrepreneurship, and womens place in decision-making bodies and academic institutions. caitlyn.gowriluk@freepress.mb.ca Winnipeg police arrested a 51-year-old man after a search turned up $6,500 in methamphetamine at a residence in River Park South this week. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeg police arrested a 51-year-old man after a search turned up $6,500 in methamphetamine at a residence in River Park South this week. Police said they started their investigation earlier this month and executed a search warrant Thursday. Officers seized the drugs and $675 in cash. Mario Trunzo was charged Thursday and taken into custody. The charges include possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and two counts of failing to comply with recognizance. The province celebrated a major overhaul of hospital services in Winnipeg Friday with the opening of a 75-bed unit that consolidates mental-health care. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The province celebrated a major overhaul of hospital services in Winnipeg Friday with the opening of a 75-bed unit that consolidates mental-health care. Health Minister Cameron Friesen opened the new $7-million unit at Victoria General Hospital with officials on hand from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. "Next week, mental health patients will begin to arrive on these floors at the Victoria," Friesen said. "The consolidation is about clinical success. This is about getting better care for patients who are admitted to hospital. We are confident these investments will really make a difference." With the change, Victoria becomes the location for the second largest mental health care unit in the city, after the 100-plus beds at Health Sciences Centre. The other centre is St. Boniface General which will maintain its 30-plus bed unit. The three sites together are now considered to be centres of excellence for mental health. They will focus care on patients suffering from severe mental health problems including schizophrenia and severe depression. One in four Canadians will experience mental health problems during their lifetime but only one in 10 will need hospital care to recover. Victoria will specialize in geriatric mental health care services. The new services amalgamate a former 21-bed unit at the Vic with 54 other mental health care beds that will be closed now at Grace General and Seven Oaks General. The newly renovated premises represent the second biggest consolidation of hospital services under the Pallister government after the controversial overhaul of city emergency departments a year ago. "There's efficiencies for sure about getting people together in one place but the focus here is on clinical care, better outcomes, shorter waits, less moving around for patients," Friesen said. "We know that clinicians who . . . can't wait to get started and next week patients begin to arrive on these floors at Victoria." Construction of the new wing took 18 months and saw the entire Victoria hospital undergo renovations floor by floor. The 75 new beds are spread over three floors of the six-storey hospital on Pembina Highway. PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Former mental-health patient Emily Walker said Friday she is impressed with Victoria Generals new mental-health unit. The three floors are all locked units which means patients can't exit by stairs or elevators without key cards held by staff. Changes include state of the art design fail safes: There are no beams or structures that could be used in suicide attempts, not even coat hangers in the rooms. In addition to those safety features, the floors include kitchens for simple cooking and patient lounges for group sessions. The new units also include neutral wall colours intended to be soothing as well as extra space and lots of windows for natural lighting. One former patient was impressed. Emily Walker spent 10 days as a patient at Victoria nine years ago, a hospital stay that she said Friday saved her life. "This seems a lot warmer," she said as hospital officials escorted the health minister and WRHA officials on a tour of the unit. "Before it was kind of sterile and cold," Walker said. "And we definitely didn't have a kitchen." The care she got changed her outlook, allowing her the space and time she needed to recover, she said. "It was the most vulnerable time in my whole life and I sat with a doctor and decided to be admitted and that experience changed my life," Walker said. "I'm standing here today because I chose to live," she said. Being back helped Walker realize how much different her life is now. A law student back then, she graduated but didn't go into a career in criminal law, which she had intended. Today, Walker is a policy analyst, in the final preparations for her wedding in two weeks. "Life is really good. It's been a journey but talking about that time in my life now? It really feels like I'm a different person," Walker said. Dr. Jitender Sareen, medical director of the WRHA's adult mental health program said the consolidation of services allows clinicians to pool their expertise and patients will be the better for it. "It is important for people to know that high quality, community mental health services remain available across the city, including at the Grace and Seven Oaks," he said. Patients who need hospital admission will be referred to the Victoria, he said. The Victoria will still maintain its existing urgent care, as well as some acute care medical care, cancer care and a full surgical slate. alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca Tony Dempsey loves working at Stella's, and says he hasn't had a complaint in his four years at the Winnipeg restaurant chain. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Tony Dempsey loves working at Stella's, and says he hasn't had a complaint in his four years at the Winnipeg restaurant chain. So he seems an unlikely candidate to spearhead a drive that could result in two Stella's restaurants being unionized by the end of next week. "I really like working at Stella's and I want the business to come back," said Dempsey, who began as a cook and is now a server the Sherbrook Street location. "But where's the resolution to the 'Not My Stella's' movement? If we brought a union in, we could say to the public, 'Look what we've done. You can come back now, we have protection.'" Tony Dempsey, who has worked at Stella's for four years, says he believes a union might be the right move for the restaurant. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) More than the required 40 per cent of 70 workers at the Sherbrook location and 30 employees at the smaller Osborne Street location have signed union membership cards, triggering next week's votes. If successful, the employees would be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. The union drives began in the wake of the social media campaign Not My Stella's, which compiled current and former staff grievances. The Instagram account quickly filled with hundreds of postings alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying and abuse of staff at the popular, seven-location Winnipeg restaurant chain. The workers approached UFCW Canada, Dempsey said, as many demands that surfaced in the social media campaign would be remedied if a restaurant was unionized. "Where's the resolution to the 'Not My Stella's' movement? If we brought a union in, we could say to the public, 'Look what we've done. You can come back now, we have protection.'" Meanwhile, Stella's is currently undergoing a review by People First HR Services, a third-party human resources firm that is investigating worker complaints. However, Dempsey said the employees don't trust that process. "HR is just the company, right? A union would be advocating for us, whereas HR really advocates for the company," he said Friday. "If you're a doctor, you have a medical society that basically acts like a union. If you're a nurse, you have a union. Teachers have a union. "Why should it be any different for cooks?" Stella's co-owner Tore Sohlberg belongs to a union, as a pilot for WestJet. The Stella's location on Sherbrook. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) Dempsey said it would benefit Stella's to have an organized, structured body to talk with "and not just have things popping up on Instagram." "I know employers hate unions, but is that a rational thing? You save money by not having to be always training people because workers tend to stick around. The workers are happier." Stella's has not yet responded to the union drive. Legislation allows a company to provide factual information and express its opinion when a union is being organized. McKim Communication Group, which represents Stella's, said the restaurant chain knows the process has begun, and is "respectful of that process." "We have to wait and see what comes of it before we're able to discuss it in any more detail," it said Friday in a statement. "I know employers hate unions, but is that a rational thing? You save money by not having to be always training people because workers tend to stick around. The workers are happier." In the meantime, Stella's will focus on completing its review and plans to make operational changes to improve its workplace, according to the statement. Unions in restaurants are not common in Canada. Celebrations Dinner Theatre and the Velvet Glove (in the Fairmont Hotel) are two in Winnipeg. Rotisserie St-Hubert in Quebec, and a number of Swiss Chalet locations in Ontario are also unionized, a UFCW spokesman said. The scheduling of shifts may seem a mundane topic to the outside world, but it's a huge issue for people in the hospitality industry. Mikayla Masihi, who is also organizing at the Sherbrook location, said her three years at Stella's has been mostly positive, until about a month before the Not My Stella's campaign caught the public's attention. In its wake, many long-time employees saw their shifts "completely cut, from working five shifts per week to down to one or two or none a week, and with no notice or explanation," she said. Some staff allege Stella's over-hired, so it could threaten to cut a person's hours if they didn't fill less-desirable shifts. "As much as I'm thankful for Stella's taking accountability for what's happened, and for the Not My Stella's page, I don't see long-term change," Masihi said. Notices of the secret ballot vote next week went up at the Osborne location Wednesday and the Sherbrook location Thursday. Vote dates were not yet set as of Friday. bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca Its almost certain that Nancy Pelosi has never heard of Greg Selinger. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/12/2018 (1081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Its almost certain that Nancy Pelosi has never heard of Greg Selinger. But she could learn a thing or two by studying the errors in judgment made by the former Manitoba premier. Ms. Pelosi is, of course, one of the leading voices of the Democratic Party. For 30 years, she has sat in the United States House of Representatives, where she has served as House Minority Leader, House Minority Whip and, from 2007 to 2011, as the 52nd speaker of the House. However, she has also become a polarizing figure. Republicans, many of whom seemingly cannot abide a strong woman in a position of power, have demonized her. Ms. Pelosi didnt become one of the most powerful women in American politics by shrinking in the face of opposition So ruthless are the Republican attacks that some Democratic candidates have actually campaigned on a pledge to remove her from the partys congressional leadership. However, Ms. Pelosi didnt become one of the most powerful women in American politics by shrinking in the face of opposition. After the midterm elections gave the Democrats a majority in the House, Ms. Pelosi, 78, served notice she would once again seek the coveted speakers chair. Her bid set off a civil war within Democratic ranks. Unperturbed, Ms. Pelosi began making deals to stay in power. She agreed to serve no more than four years as speaker, to implement procedural changes aimed at promoting more bipartisan legislation and also promised to fast-track legislation on issues embraced by the new generation of Democrats. It appears these 11th-hour deals will help Ms. Pelosi prevail in an early January vote. However, that has not settled the issue of whether Ms. Pelosi is right in clinging to power. Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press files) This is where Ms. Pelosi could take a lesson from Mr. Selinger. After taking over in 2009 from extremely popular New Democratic premier Gary Doer, Mr. Selinger went on to win an election and secure yet another majority mandate. However, inside the party, things were coming unglued. A series of unwise policy decisions and a penchant for spending first and asking questions later eroded support within his own party. Eventually, five cabinet ministers publicly asked him to step down. He endured a leadership challenge from one of the dissidents, Theresa Oswald, and survived by a razor-thin margin. Like Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Selinger made deals to stay in power. He won the battle for leadership but lost the war; he and his party were trounced by the Progressive Conservatives in the 2016 election. What lessons could Ms. Pelosi draw from Mr. Selinger? First and foremost, that one of the most important decisions leaders have to make is recognizing when its time to stop leading. Ms. Pelosi is a pioneer and role model for women in politics Ms. Pelosi is a pioneer and role model for women in politics. She has fought valiantly for her party, and her principles, in the face of President Donald Trumps unprecedented attacks on the foundations of American democracy. However, as a leader, she has also failed to unite the Democrats and now, perhaps unjustly, she has become a lightning rod for the enemies of her party. Thanks to the midterm results, there has arrived a new generation of women in Ms. Pelosis party who are ready to lead. Denying Ms. Pelosi another term as speaker might be seen as a profound injustice, given her enormous contributions to politics. However, leaders must always ask themselves if their ambitions serve the broader interests of party and country, or their own goals. Mr. Selinger never got around to asking himself that question. If Ms. Pelosi does, she will see that it is time to step down. Home Search ICH Russia to Set Up Military Base in the Caribbean By Tass December 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Moscow is gearing up to establish a long-term military presence in Latin America and the current mission of the Tu-160 strategic bombers to Venezuela is part of this plan, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. According to military envoys, Russian authorities have made a decision (and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro did not object) to deploy strategic aircraft to one of Venezuelas islands in the Caribbean Sea, which has a naval base and a military airfield. Ten years ago, Russian experts and Armed Forces commanders had already visited the island of La Orchila, located 200 kilometers northeast of Caracas. Venezuelan laws prohibit the setup of military bases in the country, but a temporary deployment of warplanes is possible. "It is the right idea to include Venezuela in long-range aviation missions," military expert Colonel Shamil Gareyev told the newspaper, adding that it was also economically reasonable. "Our strategic bombers will not only not have to return to Russia every time, but also won't perform aerial refueling while on a patrol mission in the Americas. Our Tu-160 aircraft arrive to their base in Venezuela, conduct flights, execute their missions and are then replaced on a rotating basis. This is how it should be done," he said. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Colonel Eduard Rodyukov, a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Military Sciences, in turn, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that "the arrival of Russias Tu-160 strategic bombers to Central America is kind of a signal to Trump to make him realize that abandoning nuclear disarmament treaties will have a boomerang effect." According to Kommersants sources in Russian military management agencies, the Russian-Venezuelan agreement on the flight of two Tu-160 strategic bombers is mutually beneficial, since Caracas got a chance to exhibit its independent military policy and Russian pilots performed not just a simple training flight but covered a distance of more than 10,000 kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean, the Barents, the Norwegian and the Caribbean Seas. We are clearly helping the Venezuelan government stay afloat, Research Fellow at the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Emil Dabagyan told Kommersant. "Since Russia benefits from oil exploration, it wants the Venezuelan regime to stay in place," he added. As for Caracas, joint military drills with Russia and other activities of this kind are very important for it at the moment. According to the expert, Venezuelan authorities "seek to show their determination to protect the country from the potential aggression of the United States, who has been labeling the Maduro regime as illegitimate." This article was originally published by " TASS " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has said that, President Muhammadu Buhari, indicted his government by saying that the economy is in bad shape. The former governor was reacting to a statement in which president Buhari was quoted to have said that, the Nigerian economy is in a bad state, and all hands must be on deck to savage it, during his meeting with governors of the 36 States, on Friday at the presidential villa. According to Fayose, Buhari has spent over three years as president of the county, and by his(Buhari) assessment, the economy is still down, which invariably means that, the president has failed. For this, Fayose says the president should excuse Nigerians and leave power, he said via Twitter on Friday evening. He wrote: If after spending three and half years as President, you are still complaining that the economy is in bad shape, isnt that a clear indictment of your own govt? If by your own assessment, you have failed, shouldnt you just excuse us? Phoenix Group Holdings plc engages in the long-term savings and retirement busines in Europe. The company operates through UK Heritage, UK Open, Europe, ReAssure, and Management Services segments. It engages in the management of insurance policies, which include active and closed life insurance products. The company also provides workplace pensions, and customer savings and investments products under the Standard Life brand. Its retirement solutions business includes vesting annuities and bulk purchase annuity business, where it acquires annuities and deliver the financial stability for secure pensions. The company also offers a range of financial products for the over 50s market under the SunLife brand, which cover life cover, equity release, funeral plans, and home insurance. Phoenix Group Holdings plc has a strategic partnership with Standard Life Aberdeen plc. The company was formerly known as Pearl Group and changed its name to Phoenix Group Holdings plc in March 2010. Phoenix Group Holdings plc was founded in 1782 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. provides real-time communications with aircrafts for the aerospace industry. It offers AFIRS, an automated flight information reporting system that is a satcom aircraft interface device, which enables real-time streaming of flight information, cockpit voice, and black box data streaming; TAMDAR, a tropospheric airborne meteorological data reporting system that aggregates and streams airborne weather data in real-time; AirMap, which provides real-time monitoring and insight of fleets; and UpTime, a ground-based, enterprise server that communicates with AFIRS through satellite connectivity and serves its customers with real-time applications. The company also offers FLYHTStream, a technology that performs real-time triggered alerting and black-box data streaming in the event of an abnormal situation in aircraft; FLYHTFuel that provides intelligent and real-time fuel data; FLYHTLog, which enables operators to monitor the status of their aircraft and have detailed out, off, on, and in time information; FLYHTVoice, a private communication channel for flight deck; and FLYHTMail, a two-way text messaging system for the flight crew and dispatch personnel. In addition, it provides aircraft health monitoring and automated engine trend reporting systems; and FLYHT Weather Observations that offers real-time weather data. The company serves in the United States, Mexico, Asia, China, the Middle East, Canada, Australasia, Africa, Europe, and South/Central America. The company was formerly known as AeroMechanical Services Ltd. and changed its name to FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. in May 2012. FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells alumina, primary aluminum, and energy products in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Alumina, Primary Aluminum, Trading, and Energy segments. The Alumina segment mines for and purchases bauxite and other raw materials; and produces and sells alumina, as well as refined alumina. The Primary Aluminum segment procures alumina and other raw materials, supplemental materials, and electrical power; and produces and sells aluminum and aluminum-related products, such as carbon, aluminum alloy, and other electrolytic aluminum products. The Trading segment trades in alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum fabrication products, other non-ferrous metal products, coal products, raw and supplemental materials; and provides logistics and transport services to external customers. The Energy segment engages in coal mining; and generates and sells electricity using thermal power, wind power, and solar power sources to regional power grid corporations, as well as manufactures power related equipment. The company also acquires, manufactures, and distributes bauxite mines and limestone ore; and provides engineering project management, and research and development services. Aluminum Corporation of China Limited was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Read More Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More The following companies are subsidiares of SK Telecom Co.,Ltd: ADT CAPS Co. Ltd., ADT Caps, Atlas Investment, CAPSTEC Co. Ltd., Cyworld, DongGuan Iriver Electronics Co. Ltd., Dreamus Company, Eleven Street Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Hungary) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Vietnam Company Limited, Hana Card, Hanaro Telecom, Happy Hanool Co. Ltd., Home & Service Co. Ltd., ID Quantique, Id Quantique LLC, Incross Co. Ltd., Infra Communications Co. Ltd., Iriver China Co. Ltd., Iriver Enterprise Ltd., K-net Culture and Contents Venture Fund, Korea Thrunet, LG HelloVision, Life & Security Holdings Co. Ltd., Life Design Company Inc., Mindknock Co. Ltd., Onestore Co. Ltd., PS&Marketing Co. Ltd., Panasia Semiconductor Materials LLC, Quantum Innovation Fund I, SK Broadband, SK Broadband Co. Ltd., SK Communications Co. Ltd., SK Global Healthcare Business Group Ltd., SK Infosec Co. Ltd., SK M&Service Co. Ltd., SK O&S Co. Ltd., SK Planet Co. Ltd., SK Planet Global Holdings Pte. Ltd., SK Planet Japan K. K., SK Telecom China Fund I L.P., SK Telecom China Holdings Co. Ltd., SK Telecom Innovation Fund L.P., SK Telecom TMT Investment Corp., SK Telink Co. Ltd., SK stoa Co. Ltd., SK telecom Japan Inc., SKP America LLC, SKT Americas Inc., SKinfosec Information Technology (wuxi) Co. Ltd., Service Ace Co. Ltd., Service Top Co. Ltd., Shopkick, Tbroad Nowon Broadcasting Co. Ltd., YTK Investment Ltd., iRiver Ltd, and id Quantique Ltd.. Jointly organised by the ASEAN Committee in Caracas (ACC) and the Venezuelan Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Culture, the event was attended by representatives from the two ministries, and ambassadors and charge daffairs of Asian countries in Venezuela. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Dao Thanh Chung briefed the participants on the development of ASEAN over the last 51 years, while highlighting the role of culture in promoting connectivity among ASEAN member nations, and between ASEAN and other countries. He affirmed that culture cooperation serves as a bridge to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between Venezuela and ASEAN nations. Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Ruben Molina lauded the event as an important step to enhance the relations between his country and ASEAN. It helps Venezuelan officials and people to understand more about the group, he said. Many cultural products and foods of Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia were featured at the event. The Vietnamese Embassy introduced traditional musical instruments and costumes, gemstone paintings and fishes. Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central has said it takes a lot of honesty for a President to admit that the economy is in shambles, just 2 months to the general elections. This is in reaction to a statement attributed to president Buhari, wherein he was quoted to have told governors of the 36 states of the federation, that the Nigerian economy isnt where it should be Urging all hands to be on deck, to savage it. The presidents statement was made known to Newsmen at the State House after the Friday meeting by Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state. According to Mr Sani, no President in history or anywhere around the world will admit to such, especially just two months to the presidential election. He wrote: Prez Buhari admitting that the economy he manages is in bad shape is an act of honesty and courage to tell the truth. Many will lie for votes. I dont know of any President in history or anywhere around the world who will make this kind of statement 2 months to general elections. Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and consumers in Virginia. The company accepts checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan products include commercial and industrial loans, such as small business loans, asset based loans, and other secured and unsecured loans and lines of credit; purchased loans; residential and commercial mortgages; home equity loans; consumer installment loans; and consumer loans comprising automobile and boat financing, home improvement loans, and unsecured personal loans. The company also provides credit cards; and insurance, online banking, telephone banking, mobile banking, analysis checking, cash management deposit, wire, direct deposit payroll, lockbox, positive pay, and remote deposit services, as well as a line of commercial lending options. In addition, it offers management services, including estate planning and settlement, as well as trust administration, investment, and wealth management services; and revocable and irrevocable living trusts, testamentary trusts, custodial accounts, investment planning, brokerage services, investment managed accounts, and managed and self-directed rollover individual retirement accounts for personal and corporate trusts. As of March 9, 2020, the company operated 17 banking offices located throughout greater Richmond region, the Northern Neck region, Middlesex County, and the Hampton Roads region. Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc. was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC. Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has said that he is very ready for a debate, according to PDP member, Reno Omokri. According to Omokri, who was an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku said he cant wait for the Presidential debate, and as such President Muhammadu Buhari, should himself be willing to debate, if he is in fact, the real Buhari. Omokri said this via Twitter on Saturday, asking the President to accept the debate challenge, to prove, he isnt Jibril or Jibrin. He wrote; Let us finally settle this Jibrin or Jibril matter once and for all. @Atiku said he cant wait for the Presidential debate. If it is the real @MBuhari in @AsoRock, I challenge him to publicly accept that he will debate Atiku #2019Debate Buhari will agree. Jibrin will not. The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to drop their opinions regarding Fridays vice presidential candidates debate, which held among 7 political parties. The All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, APCN and among others, had their VP candidates in the debate. Many have argued that Yemi Osinbajo of APC, Peter Obi of PDP took over the debate, while the others though physically present, felt absent. Here are their reactions below #VPDebate my take away 1. We have a VERY WIDE GAP between the VP @APCNigeria and @OfficialPDPNig VP Candidates and the VP Candidates of the fringe political parties. 2. 2023 is the turning point year and @ProfOsinbajo and @PeterObi will play major roles. 3. TVD is for elites. Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) December 14, 2018 Peter Obi Keeps Referencing China. My Own Is, Are You Ready For Us To Do What China Did To Get To Where They Are? Because If We Do, Your Atiku Wont Stay Alive To Be President. They Fought Corruption By Executing Corrupt Leaders Of Which Your Boss Is A Major Culprit. #VPDebate Isa Ozo Mustapha (@IsaOzo) December 14, 2018 https://twitter.com/Ediong/status/1073683913099358208?s=19 Not a fan of this govt but I gotta say @ProfOsinbajo spoke well, had inside information to buttress his points #VPDebate #2019Election Amaka Nwaokolo (@AmakaNwaokolo) December 14, 2018 https://twitter.com/the_BlackYoda/status/1073663278897876993?s=19 https://twitter.com/segalink/status/1073657107134799872?s=19 https://twitter.com/Macnels/status/1073680826028748800?s=19 If only Peter obi And Osinbajo can be our president and Vice President, Nigeria will definitely change for better, they are both brilliant. Unfortunately things dont work that way.#2019Debate #VPdebate Angel Allen (@ahllen_) December 14, 2018 Brookfield Business Partners LP engages in owning and operating business services and industrial operations. It operates though the following segments: Business Services, Infrastructure Services, Industrial Operations, and Corporate and Other. The Business Services segment includes services such as residential mortgage insurance, healthcare, road fuel distribution and marketing, real estate and construction, entertainment, financing, and other businesses. The Infrastructure Services segment consists of services to the nuclear power generation industry and offshore oil production industry: and access, forming, and shoring solutions and specialized services. The Industrial Operations segment deals with automotive batteries, graphite electrode, and other manufacturing; water and wastewater services: natural gas production and well servicing; and a variety of other industrial operations. The Corporate and Other segment comprises cash and liquidity management, and activities related to the management of the partnership's relationship with Brookfield. The company was founded on October 1, 2015 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the ""Company"" or ""FactSet"") is a global provider of integrated financial information, analytical applications and services for the investment and corporate communities. Since inception, global financial professionals have utilized the Company's content and multi-asset class solutions across each stage of the investment process. FactSet's goal is to provide a seamless user experience spanning idea generation, research, portfolio construction, trade execution, performance measurement, risk management, reporting, and portfolio analysis, in which the Company serves the front, middle, and back offices to drive productivity and improved performance. FactSet's flexible, open data and technology solutions can be implemented both across the investment portfolio lifecycle or as standalone components serving different workflows in the organization. FactSet is focused on growing the business throughout each of its three segments, the Americas, EMEA (formerly known as Europe), and Asia Pacific. The Company primarily delivers insight and information through the workflow solutions of Research, Analytics and Trading, Content and Technology Solutions (""CTS"") and Wealt Read More Top members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have hailed their vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi for his performance at Fridays debate for 2019 VP candidates. The debate which involved All Progressives Congress, APC, VP Yemi Osinbajo, PDPs Obi, and five others saw APC and PDP candidates taking over the programme. Taking to Twitter, Senate president Bukola Saraki, PDP Presidential candidate and former VP Atiku Abubakar, PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, former Aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode and many more,, hailing Obi for what they termed an outstanding performance. They wrote: Saraki Tonight, @PeterObi, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of our great party, @OfficialPDPNig, reeled out the facts. He showed Nigerians across the nation why we need to #GetNigeriaWorkingAgain! #2019Debate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) December 14, 2018 Atiku I watched with pride as @PeterObi laid out our vision to get Nigeria working again. Cant wait for the presidential debate. #2019Debate Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) December 14, 2018 Fayose Delighted that our VP candidate, Peter Obi demonstrated high level of understanding of issues relating to the economy of this country. In PDP, we have brains in abundance, while in the other party, they have lies in abundance. We will surely get Nigeria working again.#2019Debate Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) December 14, 2018 Tambuwal of Sokoto state Nigeria needs a Vice President like Peter Obi. Well articulated, a sound economist who understands how Nigeria's economy works. Together with @atiku, Nigeria will be on the right track to greatness. #Letsgetnigeriaworkingagain#VPDebate #2019debate Aminu W. Tambuwal (@AWTambuwal) December 14, 2018 Fani Kayode I commend @PeterObi for knocking the others for six and doing a great job in last nights Vice Presidential debate. @ProfOsinbajo fudged and lied his way through the whole thing whilst the other 3 participants were nothing but an embarrassing and distasteful joke. #2019Debate. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) December 15, 2018 PDP national publicity secretary Congratulations our Vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi. You made the @OfficialPDPNig proud tonight by exposing the lies and inefficiency of @OfficialAPCNg and President @MBuhari administration. Sure, we would #GetNigeriaWorkingAgain and make life better for all our people Kola Ologbondiyan (@officialKolaO) December 14, 2018 Former presidential aide, Omokri Osinbajo should be aware that not only his 16 years of @OfficialPDPNig rot untrue, but even more importantly, Peter Obi was not part of those years. Obi fought with the PDP In Anambra. He was impeached by the PDP. How can you blame such a man for 16 years of PDP rot? #2019Debate Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) December 14, 2018 Deutsche BArse AG operates as an exchange organization in Europe, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific. The company operates through seven segments: Eurex (Financial Derivatives), EEX (Commodities), 360T (Foreign Exchange), Xetra (Cash Equities), Clearstream (Post-Trading), IFS (Investment Fund Services), and Qontigo (index and analytics business). The company engages in the electronic trading of derivatives, electricity and gas products, emission rights, and foreign exchange; operating of Eurex Repo over the counter (OTC) trading platform and electronic clearing architecture; and operating as a central counterparty for on-and-off exchange derivatives, repo transactions, and OTC and exchange-traded derivatives. It also operates in the cash market through Xetra, BArse Frankfurt, and Tradegate trading venues; operates as a central counterparty for equities and bonds; and provides listing services. In addition, the company offers custody and settlement services for securities; investment fund services; global securities financing services; and global securities finance and collateral management, as well as secured money, market transaction, and repos and securities lending transaction services. Further, it develops and markets indices, as well as portfolio management and risk analysis software; markets licenses for trading and market signals; provides technology and reporting solutions for external customers; and offers link-up of trading participants. Deutsche BArse AG was founded in 1585 and is headquartered in Eschborn, Germany. Read More 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.. First BanCorp (Puerto Rico) is a holding company, which engages in the provision of personal, commercial, and corporate banking services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Mortgage Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations. The Commercial and Corporate Banking segment consists of the company's lending and other services for large customers represented by specialized and middle-market clients and the public sector. The Consumer (Retail) Banking segment includes consumer lending and deposit-taking activities conducted mainly through FirstBank's branch network in Puerto Rico. The Mortgage Banking segment focuses on the origination, sale, and servicing of a variety of residential mortgage loan products and related hedging activities. The Treasury and Investments segment deals with treasury and investment management functions. The United States Operations segment represents all banking activities conducted by FirstBank on the United States mainland. The Virgin Islands Operations segment includes all banking activities conducted by FirstBank in Read More Vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi made some points during the debate between some VP candidates, on Friday. The former Anambra state governor reiterated, a recent report by the United Nations, that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world today. According to the PDP VP candidate, with the same period of Nigerias woes, China produced 7million jobs, and Nigeria lost 4million jobs. Obi stated that Nigerias insecurity problems, is a direct product of her inability to create jobs, a thing other countries do at ease. Here are some of the points he made Our country today has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world today. Our inequality has worsened, our misery index has worsened. Within the same period that China produced 7m jobs, Nigeria lost 4m jobs. We have lots of security issues today because we are currently unable to create jobs which other countries have created effortlessly. Today we virtually at a level where our debt is unsustainable. Currently, we have a government that is doing what it is not suppose to do. The job of Government is supervision and to create an enabling environment for investments to thrive. 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.. 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. Read More Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF's stock was trading at $25.82 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, PCY shares have increased by 0.2% and is now trading at $25.88. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 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 Read More Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Massachusetts, United States. The fund primarily invests in undervalued municipal securities and other related investments which are exempt from regular federal and Massachusetts income taxes. It seeks to invest in investment grade securities that are rated Baa/BBB or above by S&P, Moody's, or Fitch. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a focus on bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Standard & Poor's (S&P) Massachusetts Municipal Bond Index and Standard & Poor's (S&P) National Municipal Bond Index. The fund was formerly known as Nuveen Massachusetts Premium Income Municipal Fund. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund was formed on January 12, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Lennar: 360 Developers LLC, Alliance Financial Services Inc., Ann Arundel Farms Ltd., Aquaterra Utilities Inc., Arbor Mill Veteran Project 2018 LLC, Asbury Woods L.L.C., Astoria Options LLC, Autumn Creek Development Ltd., Aylon LLC, Azusa Associates LLC, B2 Milpitas LLC, BB Investment Holdings LLC, BCI Properties LLC, BMR Communities LLC, BMR Construction Inc., BMTD LLC, BPH I LLC, Bainebridge 249 LLC, Bay Colony Expansion 369 Ltd., Bellagio Lennar LLC, Belle Meade LEN Holdings LLC, Belle Meade Partners LLC, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Blue Horizons Estates LLC, Bonterra Lennar LLC, Bramalea California Inc., Bressi Gardenlane LLC, Breton Park Lennar LLC, CAP IL 1 LLC, CL Ventures LLC, CML INACTIVE LLC, CML-MO HAF LLC, CML-MO HAF PARKING LLC, CP Block 6aS LLC, CP Block 8aS LLC, CP Block 9aS LLC, CP Center Apartments LLC, CP Center Garage LLC, CP Red Oak Partners Ltd., CP Vertical Development Co. 1 LLC, CP/HPS Development Co. GP LLC, CP/HPS Development Co.-C LLC, CPFE LLC, CPHP Development LLC, CalAtlantic Financial Services Inc., CalAtlantic Group, CalAtlantic Group Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Arizona Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Georgia Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Texas Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Washington Inc., CalAtlantic Mortgage Inc., CalAtlantic National Title Solutions LLC, CalAtlantic Title Agency LLC, CalAtlantic Title Group LLC, CalAtlantic Title Inc., CalAtlantic Title LLC, CalAtlantic Title of Maryland Inc., Camarillo Village Park LLC, Cambria L.L.C., Candlestick Retail Member LLC, Cardiovascular Medical Specialists LLC, Carolina Blue LLC, Carson 175 LLC, Cary Woods LLC, Casa Marina Development LLC, Central Park West Holdings LLC, Cherrytree II LLC, Club Bonterra Lennar LLC, Coco Palm 82 LLC, Colonial Heritage LLC, Columbia National Risk Retention Group Inc., Commonwealth Incentive Fee LLC, Concord Station LLP, Coventry L.L.C., Creekside Crossing L.L.C., Crest at Fondren Investor LLC, DBJ Holdings LLC, DCA Financial LLC, DTC Holdings of Florida LLC, Darcy-Joliet L.L.C., Durrell 33 LLC, EL Ventures LLC, EV LLC, Eagle Bend Commercial LLC, Eagle Home Mortgage LLC, Estates Seven LLC, Evergreen Village LLC, F&R QVI Home Investments USA LLC, FLORDADE LLC, Faria Preserve LLC, Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corp., Fidelity Land LLC, Fox-Maple Associates LLC, Friendswood Development Company LLC, GDI MANAGER LLC, Garco Investments LLC, Greystone Construction Inc., Greystone Homes of Nevada Inc., Greystone Nevada Holdings LLC, Greystone Nevada LLC, Greywall Club L.L.C., HCC Investors LLC, HPS Development Co. LP, HPS Vertical Development Co. LLC, HPS Vertical Development Co.-B LP, HPS Vertical Development Co.-D/E LLC, HPS1 Block 1 LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3B LLC, HPS1 Block 50 LLC, HPS1 Block 51 LLC, HPS1 Block 52 LLC, HPS1 Block 53 LLC, HPS1 Block 54 LLC, HPS1 Block 55 LLC, HPS1 Block 56/57 LLC, HSP Arizona Inc., HTC Golf Club LLC, Hammocks Lennar LLC, Harbor Highlands Group LLC, Harveston LLC, Haverton L.L.C., Heathcote Commons LLC, Heritage Pkwy East Holdings LLC, Heritage of Auburn Hills L.L.C., Hewitts Landing Trustee LLC, Hingham Properties LLC, Huntley Venture L.L.C., Inactive Companies LLC, Independence L.L.C., Independence Orlando LLC, Isles at Bayshore Club LLC, KMC Real Estate Investors LLC, Kendall Hammocks Commercial LLC, Kentuckiana Medical Center LLC, Kingman Lennar LLC, LB/L Duc III Antioch 330 LLC, LCD Asante LLC, LCI Downtown Doral Investor LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor GP LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor LP LLC, LEN - Belle Meade LLC, LEN - OBS Windemere LLC, LEN - Palm Vista LLC, LEN BPT Investor LLC, LEN Mirada Investor LLC, LEN Notarize Investor LLC, LEN OT Holdings LLC, LEN Paradise Cable LLC, LEN Paradise Operating LLC, LEN-CG South LLC, LEN-Cypress Mill LLC, LEN-Ryan 1 LLC, LEN-Touchstone LLC, LENH I LLC, LENNAR HOMES OF TENNESSEE LLC, LFS Holding Company LLC, LH Eastwind LLC, LHI Renaissance LLC, LMC 10th & Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 144th and Grant Investor LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Holdings LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Investor LLC, LMC 360 Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 410 S Wabash Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Investor LLC, LMC 8th Avenue Apartment Investor LLC, LMC 990 Bannock Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Investor LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Holdings LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Investor LLC, LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC, LMC Build to Core III Investor LLC, LMC Build to Core III LLC, LMC Burnside Holdings LLC, LMC Burnside Investor LLC, LMC Chandler and McClintock Holdings LLC, LMC Charlestowne Holdings LLC, LMC Charlotte Ballpark Developer LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Holdings LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Investor LLC, LMC Cobalt Holdings LLC, LMC Costa Mesa Holdings LP, LMC Crest at Park West Holdings LP, LMC Denver Gateway I Investor LLC, LMC Denver Gateway II Holdings LLC, LMC Development LLC, LMC Downtown Doral South Holdings LLC, LMC Durham Gateway Holdings LP, LMC Evans School Holdings LLC, LMC Gateway Investor LLC, LMC Gateway Venture LLC, LMC Gilman Square Investor LLC, LMC Horton Street Holdings LLC, LMC Huntington Crossing Holdings LLC, LMC Inactive Companies LLC, LMC Lakeside Holdings LP, LMC Leya Holdings LLC, LMC Living Illinois LLC, LMC Living Inc., LMC Living LLC, LMC Living TRS LP, LMC Millenia Investor II LLC, LMC NE Minneapolis Lot 2 Holdings LLC, LMC New Bern Investor LLC, LMC North Park Holdings LP, LMC Parkfield Holdings LLC, LMC Parkfield Investor LLC, LMC Righters Ferry Holdings LLC, LMC River North Holdings LLC, LMC Spring Street Investor LLC, LMC Stonewall Station Investor LLC, LMC Triangle Square Investor LLC, LMC Venture Developer LLC, LMC Verbena Holdings LLC, LMC West Loop Investor LLC, LMCFX Investor LLC, LMCPNW Marymoor Holdings LLC, LMI - Jacksonville Investor LLC, LMI - South Kings Development Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle Holdings LLC, LMI - West Seattle Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle LLC, LMI Cell Tower Investors LLC, LMI City Walk Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale LLC, LMI Contractors LLC, LMI Glencoe Dallas Investor LLC, LMI Lakes West Covina Investor LLC, LMI Largo Park Investor LLC, LMI Las Colinas Station LLC, LMI Naperville Investor LLC, LMI Pacific Tower LLC, LMI Park Central Two LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners Investor LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners LLC, LMI-JC Developer LLC, LMI-JC LLC, LMV 1640 Broadway REIT-DC LP, LMV 1701 Ballard REIT-DC LP, LMV 19H REIT-DC LP, LMV 2026 Madison REIT-DC LP, LMV 85 South Union REIT-DC LP, LMV ATown REIT-DC LP, LMV Annapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Apache Terrace REIT-DC LP, LMV Block 42 REIT-DC LP, LMV Bloomington REIT-DC LP, LMV Bolingbrook REIT-DC LP (DE), LMV Central at McDowell REIT-DC LP, LMV East Village I REIT-DC LP, LMV Edina REIT-DC LP, LMV Fremont WS I REIT-DC LP, LMV Glisan REIT-DC LP, LMV Grand Bay REIT-DC LP, LMV II Grand Bay Pod V Holdings LP, LMV II Kierland Holdings LP, LMV II NoMo Holdings LP, LMV II Venture Developer LLC, LMV II Wynwood Holdings LP, LMV Kirkland REIT-DC LP, LMV Little Italy REIT-DC LP, LMV M Tower REIT-DC LP, LMV Millenia II REIT-DC LP, LMV Milpitas REIT-DC LP, LMV NE Minneapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Oak Park REIT-DC LP, LMV One20Fourth REIT-DC LP, LMV QR Build to Core Manager LLC, LMV Rio Bravo REIT-DC LP, LMV Scottsdale Quarter REIT-DC LP, LMV Tysons REIT-DC LP, LMV Vallagio III REIT-DC LP, LMV Victory Block G REIT-DC LP, LMV Warren Street REIT-DC LP, LNC Communities II LLC, LNC Communities IV LLC, LNC Communities V LLC, LNC Communities VI LLC, LNC Communities VII LLC, LNC Communities VIII LLC, LNC Pennsylvania Realty Inc., LNC at Meadowbrook LLC, LNC at Ravenna LLC, LS College Park LLC, LS Terracina LLC, LV Opendoor Investor LLC, LV Opendoor JV LLC, LW D'Andrea LLC, Lagoon Valley Residential LLC, Lakelands at Easton L.L.C., Legends Club LLC, Legends Golf Club LLC, Len - Little Harbor LLC, Len FW Investor LLC, Len Paradise LLC, Len-Angeline LLC, Len-Hawks Point LLC, Len-Land LLC, Len-Land West LLC, Len-MN LLC, Len-Verandahs LLP, LenCom LLC, LenFive LLC, LenFive Opco GP LLC, LenFive Sub III LLC, LenFive Sub LLC, LenFive Sub Opco GP LLC, Lenalto CMBS LLC, Lencraft LLC, Lennar Aircraft I LLC, Lennar Arizona Construction Inc., Lennar Arizona Inc., Lennar Associates Management Holding Company, Lennar Associates Management LLC, Lennar Avenue One LLC, Lennar Berkeley LLC, Lennar Bevard LLC, Lennar Bridges LLC, Lennar Buffington Colorado Crossing L.P., Lennar Buffington Zachary Scott L.P., Lennar Carolinas LLC, Lennar Central Park LLC, Lennar Central Region Sweep Inc., Lennar Chicago Inc., Lennar Cobra LLC, Lennar Colgate Urban Renewal Development LLC, Lennar Colorado LLC, Lennar Colorado Minerals LLC, Lennar Commercial LLC, Lennar Communities Development Inc., Lennar Communities Inc., Lennar Communities Nevada LLC, Lennar Communities of Chicago L.L.C., Lennar Concord LLC, Lennar Construction Inc., Lennar Cory Road LLC, Lennar Courts LLC, Lennar Developers Inc., Lennar Ewing LLC, Lennar Financial Services LLC, Lennar Flamingo LLC, Lennar Fresno Inc., Lennar Gardens LLC, Lennar Georgia Inc., Lennar Greer Ranch Venture LLC, Lennar Heritage Fields LLC, Lennar Hingham Holdings LLC, Lennar Hingham JV LLC, Lennar Homes Holding LLC, Lennar Homes LLC, Lennar Homes NJ LLC, Lennar Homes of Arizona Inc., Lennar Homes of California Inc., Lennar Homes of Indiana Inc., Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction Ltd., Lennar Homes of Texas Sales and Marketing Ltd., Lennar Homes of Utah Inc., Lennar International Holding LLC, Lennar International LLC, Lennar Lakeside Investor LLC, Lennar Layton LLC, Lennar Living LLC, Lennar Lytle LLC, Lennar MF Holdings LLC, Lennar MPA LLC, Lennar MPA WIP LLC, Lennar Mare Island LLC, Lennar Marina A Funding LLC, Lennar Massachusetts Properties Inc., Lennar Middletown LLC, Lennar Monmouth Redevelopers LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Victory Block G Mezz LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily Builders LLC, Lennar Multifamily Communities LLC, Lennar Multifamily Venture DC LP, Lennar New Jersey Holdings LLC, Lennar New Jersey Properties Inc., Lennar New York LLC, Lennar Northeast Properties LLC, Lennar Northwest Inc., Lennar OHB LLC, Lennar PI Acquisition LLC, Lennar PI Property Acquisition LLC, Lennar PIS Management Company LLC, Lennar Pacific Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Management Inc., Lennar Plumsted Urban Renewal LLC, Lennar Point LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core GP LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core LP LLC, Lennar Realty Inc., Lennar Reno LLC, Lennar Riverwalk LLC, Lennar Sacramento Inc., Lennar Sales Corp., Lennar Sierra Sunrise LLC, Lennar Spencer's Crossing LLC, Lennar Sun Ridge LLC, Lennar Texas Holding LLC, Lennar Ventures LLC, Lennar West Valley LLC, Lennar Winncrest LLC, Lennar at Franklin LLC, Lennar at Jackson LLC, Lennar at Marlboro 79 LLC, Lennar at Monroe LLC, Lennar.com Inc., Longleaf Acquisition LLC, Lori Gardens Associates II LLC, Lori Gardens Associates III LLC, Lori Gardens Associates L.L.C., Lorton Station LLC, Lyons Lennar Farms LLC, Madrona Ridge L.L.C., Madrona Village L.L.C., Madrona Village Mews L.L.C., Majestic Woods LLC, Maple and Broadway Holdings LLC, Menifee Development LLC, Mid-County Utilities Inc., Miralago West Lennar LLC, Mission Viejo 12S Venture LP, Mission Viejo Holdings Inc., Motomic Diagnostics LLC, Multibank 2009-1 CML-ADC Venture LLC, Multibank 2009-1 RES-ADC Venture LLC, NC Properties I LLC, NC Properties II LLC, North American Asset Development LLC, Northbridge L.L.C., OHC/Ascot Belle Meade LLC, One SR L.P., PD-Len Boca Raton LLC, PG Properties Holding LLC, POMAC LLC, PT Metro LLC, Pace Drive Holdings LLC, Palm Gardens At Doral Clubhouse LLC, Palm Gardens at Doral LLC, Palm Springs Classic LLC, Palm Vista Preserve LLC, Patuxent Infrastructure Inc., Pioneer Meadows Development LLC, Pioneer Meadows Investments LLC, Plaza Condominium Ventures LLC, Portside Marina Developers L.L.C., Portside SM Associates L.L.C., Portside SM Holdings L.L.C., Portside Shipyard Developers L.L.C., Prestonfield L.L.C., Quail Roost Lennar LLC, RCCF GP II LLC, RCCF GP III LLC, RCCF GP IV LLC, RCCF GP LLC, RES-FL EIGHT LLC, RES-FL SEVEN LLC, RES-FL VISION ONE LLC, RES-FL VISION TWO LLC, RES-GA CASCADE LLC, RES-GA DIAMOND MEADOWS LLC, RES-GA KAP LLC, RES-GA SOUTHERN PLANTATION LLC, RES-GA THIRTEEN LLC, RES-GA TWELVE LLC, RES-GA WEST LLC, RES-IL ONE LLC, RES-NC ONE LLC, RES-PA LSJ LLC, RES-PA POM LLC, RES-TX BOULEVARD LLC, RH Insurance Company Inc., RH MOA BBCMS 2017-C1 LLC, RH MOA CF 2017-C8 LLC, RH MOA LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C4 LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C6 LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 CLASS B LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 LLC, RL BB FINANCIAL LLC, RL BB INACTIVE LLC, RL BB-AL LLC, RL BB-FL ALHI LLC, RL BB-GA LLC, RL BB-GA RMH LLC, RL BB-IL LLC, RL BB-IN AA LLC, RL BB-IN KRE LLC, RL BB-IN KRE OP LLC, RL BB-IN KRE RE LLC, RL BB-MS LLC, RL BB-NC LLC, RL BB-OH LLC, RL BB-SC BROOKSA LLC, RL BB-SC CLR II LLC, RL BB-SC CLR III LLC, RL BB-SC CLR IV LLC, RL BB-SC CLR LLC, RL BB-SC CRRC LLC, RL BB-SC RACEDAY LLC, RL BB-TN BRISTOL LLC, RL BB-TN LLC, RL BB-TN RACEDAY TOWER LLC, RL BB-TX LLC, RL BB-WV LLC, RL CMBS Holdings LLC, RL CML 2009-1 Investments LLC, RL REGI ARKANSAS LLC, RL REGI Alabama LLC, RL REGI FINANCIAL LLC, RL REGI Florida LLC, RL REGI GEORGIA LLC, RL REGI INACTIVE LLC, RL REGI KANSAS LLC, RL REGI MISSISSIPPI LLC, RL REGI MISSOURI LLC, RL REGI NORTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI SOUTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI TENNESSEE LLC, RL REGI VIRGINIA LLC, RL REGI-AL HP LLC, RL REGI-AL VRC LLC, RL REGI-FL CRC LLC, RL REGI-FL ESH LLC, RL REGI-FL FT. PIERCE LLC, RL REGI-FL GDL LLC, RL REGI-FL ITALIA LLC, RL REGI-FL MRED LLC, RL REGI-FL RDI LLC, RL REGI-FL SARASOTA LLC, RL REGI-FL TPL LLC, RL REGI-FL VARC LLC, RL REGI-GA DRAD LLC, RL REGI-GA HAY DB LLC, RL REGI-GA MHU LLC, RL REGI-GA MPD LLC, RL REGI-GA RLR LLC, RL REGI-MO GMB LLC, RL REGI-MO MOSCOW MILLS LLC, RL REGI-MS Double H LLC, RL REGI-MS OCEAN SPRINGS LLC, RL REGI-NC CIL LLC, RL REGI-NC LITTLE WING LLC, RL REGI-NC MLD LLC, RL REGI-NC Mland LLC, RL REGI-NC RALEIGH LLC, RL REGI-NC SUGARM LLC, RL REGI-NM LLC, RL REGI-SC CTL LLC, RL REGI-SC LAKE E LLC, RL REGI-SC TDG LLC, RL REGI-SC TIG LLC, RL REGI-TN OAK LLC, RL REGI-TN SEVIERVILLE LLC, RL RES 2009-1 Investments LLC, RMF Alliance LLC, RMF Commercial LLC, RMF PR New York LLC, RMF Partner LLC, RMF SUB 1 LLC, RMF SUB 2 LLC, RMF SUB 3 LLC, RMF SUB 4 LLC, RMF SUB 5 LLC, RMV LLC, Raintree Village II L.L.C., Raintree Village L.L.C., Ral-Len BM LLC, Ral-Len LLC, Rannel Capital WeWork Series D LLC, Rannel Holdings LLC, Rannel Interests LLC, Rannel Investments LLC, Rannel Mortgage Investments LLC, Rannel Proprietary Investments LLC, Renaissance Joint Venture, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove II LLC, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove LLC, Reserve at River Park LLC, Reserve at South Harrison LLC, Rialto Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Rialto Credit Partnership GP LLC, Rialto Mezz Partners GP LLC, Rialto Mortgage Finance LLC, Rialto Partners GP II LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Debt LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Property LLC, Rialto Partners GP LLC, Rialto RSSF GP LLC, Riverwalk at Lago Mar LLC, Rocking Horse Minerals LLC, Rutenberg Homes Inc. (Florida), Rutenberg Homes of Texas Inc., Rye Hill Company LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada Holdings LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada LLC, Ryland Homes of California Inc., S. Florida Construction II LLC, S. Florida Construction III LLC, S. Florida Construction LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve South LLC, SPIC CPCO Inc., SPIC CPDB Inc., SPIC CPRB Inc., SPIC Del Sur LLC, SPIC Dublin LLC, SPIC Mesa LLC, SPIC NC Fremont LLC, SPIC Otay LLC, SPIC Springs LLC, San Felipe Indemnity Co. Ltd., San Lucia LLC, San Simeon Lennar LLC, Schulz Ranch Developers LLC, Seminole/70th LLC, Siena at Old Orchard L.L.C., Sierra Vista Communities LLC, Silver Springs Lennar LLC, South Development LLC, Southbank Holding LLC, Spanish Springs Development LLC, St. Charles Active Adult Community LLC, St. Charles Community LLC, Standard Pacific 1 Inc., Standard Pacific Investment Corp., Standard Pacific of Colorado Inc., Standard Pacific of Florida, Standard Pacific of Florida GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Las Vegas Inc., Standard Pacific of Orange County Inc., Standard Pacific of Tampa GP, Standard Pacific of Tampa GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Tonner Hills LLC, Standard Pacific of Walnut Hills Inc., Standard Pacific of the Carolinas LLC, Stoney Holdings LLC, Storey Lake Club LLC, Storey Park Club LLC, Strategic Holdings Inc., Strategic Technologies LLC, Summerfield Venture L.L.C., SunStreet Energy Group LLC, SunStreet Manager LLC, TCO QVI LLC, TICD Hold Co. LLC, TIH Hold Co. LLC, Talega Associates LLC, Temecula Valley LLC, Terra Division LLC, Terra/Winding Creek LLC, The Baywinds Land Trust, The Bridges Club at Rancho Santa Fe Inc., The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Sales Company Inc., The LNC Northeast Group Inc., The Oasis Club at LEN-CG South LLC, The Preserve at Coconut Creek LLC, The Vistas Club at LEN-CG South LLC, Titlezoom Company, Treasure Island Holdings LLC, Treasure Island Member LLC, Treviso Holding LLC, Two Lakes Lennar LLC, U.S. Home Corporation, U.S. Home Realty Inc., U.S. Home of Arizona Construction Co., U.S. Insurors Inc., U.S.H. Realty Inc., UAMC Holding Company LLC, UB 2018C14 MOA LLC, USH - Flag LLC, USH Equity Corporation, USH LEE LLC, USH Leasing II LLC, USH Leasing LLC, UST Lennar HW Scala SF Joint Venture, VII Crown Farm Investor LLC, Venetian Lennar LLC, Vineyard Land LLC, Vineyard Point 2009 LLC, Vista Palms Clubhouse LLC, WCI Communities, WCI Communities Inc., WCI Communities LLC, WCI Towers Northeast USA Inc., WCI Westshore LLC, WCP LLC, WIP Lennar OHB LLC, Waterview at Hanover LLC, West Lake Village LLC, West Seattle Project X LLC, West Van Buren L.L.C., Westchase Inc., Westchase Ltd., Westfield Homes USA Inc., White Course Lennar LLC, Wild Plum JV LLC, Willowbrook Investors LLC, Winncrest Natomas LLC, Woodbridge Multifamily Developer I LLC, Wright Farm L.L.C., and YLRichards4Acres 2015 LLC. SPDR S&P Bank ETF's stock was trading at $30.71 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, KBE shares have increased by 79.4% and is now trading at $55.08. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF's stock was trading at $52.82 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, ICF stock has increased by 35.0% and is now trading at $71.29. 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 Read More Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. The U.S. Drilling segment includes land drilling activities in the lower 48 states and Alaska, as well as offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment consists of land-based drilling rigs in Canada. The International segment focuses in maintaining a footprint in the oil and gas market, most notably in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela. The Drilling Solutions segment offers drilling technologies, such as patented steering systems and rig instrumentation software systems that enhance drilling performance and wellbore placement. The Rig Technologies segment comprises Canrig, which manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools. The company was founded by Clair Nabors in 1952 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More SRG Mining Inc., a Canadian-based mining company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Africa. The company explores for graphite, nickel, cobalt, and scandium deposits. It focuses on the Lola graphite deposit located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. The company was formerly known as SRG Graphite Inc. and changed its name to SRG Mining Inc. in July 2019. SRG Mining Inc. is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: AG Holding UK, APL France SAS, APL Management Pte Ltd, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Group Holding B.V., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Ackerman International Holland B.V., Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth, Aggregate Plant Products Co., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding, Ameron Singapore Poly Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron Trading Holdings Pte. Ltd., Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback, Andergauge USA, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Axiom Process Limited, Belco Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Bowen Downhole Inc., Bowen Downhole LLC, Brandt Interests, Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, CSI Inspection, Camco Drilling Group Limited, Chemineer, Coil Services Middle East LLC, Containment Solutions, Containment Solutions Services, Couoperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Couoperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Denali Incorporated, Denali Management, Devin International, Dreco Canada L.P., Dreco DHT, Dreco Eastern Europe ULC, Dreco Energy Services ULC, Dreco International Holdings ULC, Dreco LLC, E.C. Motors, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Enerpro de Mexico, Environmental Procedures LLC, Ershigs, Fabricated Plastics Acquisitions Limited, Fabricated Plastics Limited, Fiber Glass Systems, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co., Fiber Glass Systems Holdings, Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiber Glass Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fiberspar Corporation, Fiberspar Linepipe Canada Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co., Fjords Processing 1 AS, Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GOT German Oil Tools GmbH, GP USA Holding LLC, GPEX, German Oil Tools (Middle East) FZE, Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co., Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco AB TCA Holding LLC, Grant Prideco European Holding, Grant Prideco Holding, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco L.P., Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco USA, Grant Prideco de Venezuela, Greystone Technologies Pty. Ltd., GustoMSC B.V., GustoMSC U.S., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co., Hitec AS, Hydralift AmClyde, Hydralift France SAS, Hydralift Holdings UK Limited, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas, IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv International Holding, Intelliserv LLC, Interval LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co., Merpro Group Limited, Merpro Products Limited, Merpro Tortek Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., Moyno de Mexico S.A. de C.V., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia), NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans), NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV ASEP Elmar Mexico, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Completion Tools AS, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV DH de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV DHT Canada Holding ULC, NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Europe B.V., NOV Downhole Germany GmbH, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand, NOV Dreco GP LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Elmar NL B.V., NOV Elmar Pte. Ltd., NOV Enerflow ULC, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV European Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services, NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Fiber Glass Systems Fabricacao De Tubos E Conexoes Ltda, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Floating Production AS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GP Holding L.P., NOV GP1 Holding LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Germany GmbH & Co KG, NOV Holding Germany Management GmbH, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV Hydra Rig Pte. Ltd, NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading), NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Inc., NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Mexico, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mission Products UK Limited, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding C.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding LLC, NOV North America I/P, NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV Process & Flow Technologies US, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico, NOV Subsea Products AS, NOV TV2 LLC, NOV TVI LLC, NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals, NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide C.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW Downhole Tools, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell DHT, National Oilwell Middle East Company, National Oilwell Services de Mexico, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico, National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions, National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela, National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pipex Structural Composites Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Pridecomex TA Industries, Procon Engineering Ltd., Profab Engineering Pte. Ltd., Profab Services Pte Ltd, Quality Tubing FSC, R&M C.V., R&M Canada Cooperatief U.A., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd., R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela, R&M Environmental Strategies, R&M Singapore Holding LLC, R&M UK Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog, ReedHycalog International Holding, ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers, Robbins & Myers (Suzhou) Process Equipment Company Limited, Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STBH2O TUNISIE, STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Seabox AS, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, Smart Drilling GmbH, Soil Recovery A/S, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico, T-3 Energy Services, T-3 Energy Services Cayman, T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings, T-3 Energy Services India Private Limited, T-3 Energy Services Mexico, T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings, TVI Holdings, Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tube-Kote, Tubo-FGS, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela, Tuboscope Machining Services AS, Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Pipeline Services Inc., Tuboscope Services, Tuboscope Vetco (Deutschland) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Oesterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Canada ULC, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS, Varco Canada ULC, Varco I/P, Varco International de Venezuela, Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Coating GmbH, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets, Wilson International, Woolley, XL Systems, XL Systems Antilles, XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International, voestalpine Middle East Free Zone Establishment, voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG. The following companies are subsidiares of PerkinElmer: Analytica of Branford, Applied Biosystems, Arnel Inc., ArtusLabs, Beijing Huaan Magnech Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Longrun Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Meizheng Testing Lab Co. Ltd., Beijing OUMENG Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Bio Evolution SAS, Bioo Scientific Corporation, Biosense Picolabs Inc., Biosense Technologies Pvt Ltd., Caliper Life Sciences, Caliper Life Sciences Inc., Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc., CambridgeSoft, Ceiba Solutions, Chengdu PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd., Chromo G.A. SAS, CisBio US Inc., Cisbio Asia Pacific Ltd, Cisbio Bioassays SAS, Cisbio China Ltd., Cisbio Group SAS, Cisbio KK, Cisbio.com, DNA Laboratories Sdn. Bhd., Dani Analitica S.r.l., Dexela, EUROIMMUN (Hangzhou) Medical Laboratory Diagnostics Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN (South East Asia) Pte Ltd., EUROIMMUN (Tianjin) Medical Diagnostic Technology Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN AG, EUROIMMUN Brasil Medicina Diagnostica Ltda., EUROIMMUN Diagnostics Espana S.L.U., EUROIMMUN France SAS, EUROIMMUN Italia Diagnostica Medica S.r.l., EUROIMMUN Japan Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics (China) Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics Canada Inc., EUROIMMUN Medical Laboratory Diagnostics South Africa (Pty) Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, EUROIMMUN Polska Spolka z o.o., EUROIMMUN Portugal Unipessoal Lda., EUROIMMUN Schweiz AG, EUROIMMUN Turkey Tibbi Laboratuar Teshisleri A.S., EUROIMMUN UK Ltd., EUROIMMUN US Inc., EUROIMMUN US Real Estate LLC, Geospiza, Guangzhou EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostic Products Co. Ltd., Hangzhou EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostic Products Co. Ltd., Horizon Discovery, Immunodiagnostic Systems, Integromics S.L., Jiangsu Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., LabMetrix Technologies, Labtronics, ManCell SAS, Nexcelom Bioscience, NovaScreen Biosciences Corporation, Opto Technology, Orchid Biomedical Systems Pvt Ltd., Oxford Immunotec, Pediatrix Medical Group - Newborn Metabolic Screening Business, Perkin Elmer Chile Ltda., Perkin Elmer Italia SpA, Perkin Elmer Sdn. Bhd., Perkin Elmer Yuhan Hoesa, Perkin Elmer de Mexico S.A., Perkin-Elmer Argentina S.R.L., Perkin-Elmer Instruments (Philippines) Corporation, PerkinElmer (Hong Kong) Ltd., PerkinElmer (India) Pvt Ltd., PerkinElmer (Ireland) Ltd., PerkinElmer (Schweiz) AG, PerkinElmer (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund L.P., PerkinElmer (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund Management Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer (UK) Holdings Ltd., PerkinElmer Analytical Solutions B.V., PerkinElmer Automotive Research Inc., PerkinElmer BVBA, PerkinElmer CV Holdings LLC, PerkinElmer Cellular Technologies Germany GmbH, PerkinElmer Danmark A/S, PerkinElmer Diagnostics Global Holdings S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Diagnostics Holdings Inc., PerkinElmer Espana S.L., PerkinElmer Finance Luxembourg S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Finland Oy, PerkinElmer Genetics Inc., PerkinElmer Germany Diagnostics GmbH, PerkinElmer Global Diagnostics S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Global Financing S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Global Holdings S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Health Sciences (Australia) Pty. Ltd., PerkinElmer Health Sciences B.V., PerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada Inc., PerkinElmer Health Sciences FZ-LLC, PerkinElmer Health Sciences Inc., PerkinElmer Health Sciences Pvt Ltd., PerkinElmer Healthcare Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Holding Luxembourg S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Holdings Inc., PerkinElmer Holdings Pty. Ltd., PerkinElmer IVD Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer Inc., PerkinElmer Informatics Inc., PerkinElmer Instruments (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer International C.V., PerkinElmer Investments Ky, PerkinElmer Israel Ltd., PerkinElmer Japan Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer LAS (Germany) GmbH, PerkinElmer LAS (UK) Ltd., PerkinElmer Life Sciences International Holdings, PerkinElmer Limited, PerkinElmer Ltd., PerkinElmer Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Nederland B.V., PerkinElmer Norge AS, PerkinElmer Oy, PerkinElmer Polska Sp z o.o., PerkinElmer Pty. Ltd., PerkinElmer SAS, PerkinElmer Saglk ve Cevre Bilimleri Ltd., PerkinElmer Shared Services Sp z o.o., PerkinElmer Singapore Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PerkinElmer Sverige AB, PerkinElmer Sweden Health Sciences Holdings AB, PerkinElmer Taiwan Corporation, PerkinElmer VertriebsgmbH, PerkinElmer chemagen Technologie GmbH, PerkinElmer do Brasil Ltda., Perten Instruments, Perten Instruments (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Perten Instruments AB, Perten Instruments France SASU, Perten Instruments GmbH, Perten Instruments Italia S.r.l., Perten Instruments of Australia Pty Ltd., RHS Ltd, RayAl Ltd., Shandong Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Shanghai Haoyuan Biotech Co. Ltd., Shanghai Spectrum Instruments Co. Ltd., Shanghai Spectrum Instruments Co. Ltd., Signature Genomic Laboratories, Solus Scientific Solutions Inc., Solus Scientific Solutions Ltd., Surendra Genetic Labs, Suzhou PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd., Suzhou Sym-Bio LifeScience, Suzhou Sym-Bio Lifescience Co. Ltd., Tulip Diagnostics, Tulip Diagnostics Pvt Ltd., Vanadis Diagnostics, Vanadis Diagnostics AB, ViaCell, ViaCord LLC, VisEn Medical, VisEn Medical Inc., Wallac Oy, Wellesley B.V., Xenogen Corporation, ZeLab SAS, and chemagen Biopolymer-Technologie AG. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. engages in the acquisition and operation of multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. It operates through the following segments: Multifamily Communities, Financing, New Market Properties, Preferred Office Properties, and Others. The Multifamily Communities segment consists of company's portfolio of owned residential multifamily communities. The Financing segment refers to the portfolio of real estate loans, bridge loans, and other instruments deployed by the company to partially finance the development, construction, and prestabilization carrying costs of new multifamily communities and other real estate and real estate related assets. The New Market Properties segment covers portfolio of grocery-anchored shopping centers, as well as the financial results from the retail real estate loans. The Preferred Office Properties segment relates to the portfolio of office buildings. The Others segment includes deferred offering costs. The company was founded by Leonard A. Silverstein and John A. Williams on September 18, 2009 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of 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). DTE Energy Co. operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the provision of electricity and natural gas sales, distribution and storage services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, Non-Utility Operations, and Corporate & Other. The Electric segment engages in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers in south-eastern Michigan. The Gas segment engages in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity. The Non-Utility Operations segment engages in gas storage and pipelines, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. The Corporate & Other includes various holding company activities, holds certain non-utility debt, and holds energy-related investments. The company was founded in January 1995 and is headquartered in Detroit, MI. Read More NPO Pakistan Jobs 2019 for Chief Executive Officer Latest National Productivity Organization NPO Executive Posts Islamabad 2021 National Productivity Organization NPO Islamabad, Ministry of Industries and Production, Government of Pakistan are requires applications from experienced candidates for the posts of Chief Executive Officer. Skills Required Management How to Apply on National Productivity Organization NPO 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. RSA Insurance Group plc provides personal and commercial general insurance products. It operates through Scandinavia, Canada, and UK & International segments. The company offers a range of personal insurance products, including home, car, pet, and travel insurance products directly to individuals and families, as well as through brokers and agents. It also provides commercial insurance products, such as property, vehicle and fleet, professional liability, and indemnity and travel insurance, as well as marine, renewable energy, construction and engineering, and rail insurance for small to medium sized enterprises, multinational companies, and sole traders. The company was formerly known as Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc and changed its name to RSA Insurance Group plc in May 2008. RSA Insurance Group plc was founded in 1706 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust is a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its primary investment objective is to seek high current income and current gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. It invests all of its assets in equity securities issued by commodity or natural resources companies, derivatives with exposure to commodity or natural resources companies or investments in securities and derivatives linked to the underlying price movement of commodities or natural resources. The company was founded on November 19, 2010 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: 87 Leonard Development LLC, ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Acacia (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Accounting Solutions Holding Company Inc, Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Amber Investments S.a r.l., Ambidexter GmbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BHW Kreditservice GmbH, BNA Nominees Pty Limited, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, BTAS Cayman GP, BTD Nominees Pty Limited, Baincor Nominees Pty Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Barkly Investments Ltd., Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Biomass Holdings S.a r.l., Birch (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Blue Cork Inc, Blue Cork Inc., Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cape Acquisition Corp., CapeSuccess Inc., CapeSuccess LLC, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Career Blazers LLC, Career Blazers Management Company Inc, Career Blazers Management Company Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc, Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services of Washington D.C. Inc. Washington D.C., Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc, Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc., Carpathian Investments Designated Activity Company, Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Centennial River 2 Inc., Centennial River Corporation, Chapel Funding, Charlton (Delaware) Inc, China Recovery Fund LLC, China Recovery Fund LLC, Cinda - DB NPL Securitization Trust 2003-1, City Leasing (Thameside) Limited, City Leasing Limited, Consumo S.p.A., Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, D.B. International Delaware Inc., D.B. International Delaware Inc., DAHOC (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DAHOC Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB (Pacific) Limited, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB Abalone LLC, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Alps Corporation, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (in voluntary liquidation), DB Asset Finance I S.a r.l., DB Asset Finance II S.a r.l., DB Aster II LLC, DB Aster III LLC, DB Aster Inc., DB Aster LLC, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Investments Sarl, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Commodity Services LLC, DB Consorzio S. Cons. a r. l., DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Covered Bond S.r.l., DB Credit Investments S.a r.l., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Commodities Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Enfield Infrastructure Holdings Limited, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance International GmbH, DB Ganymede 2006 L.P., DB Global Markets Multi-Strategy Fund I Ltd., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holding Fundo de Investimento Multimercado Investimento no Exterior Credito Privado, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (South America) Limited, DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Immobilienfonds 1 Wieland KG, DB Immobilienfonds 2 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 4 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG, DB Impact Investment (GP) Limited, DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB Io LP, DB Litigation Fee LLC, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Managers LLC, DB Municipal Holdings LLC, DB Nexus American Investments (UK) Limited (in members'voluntary liquidation), DB Nexus Investments (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios Interactivos Agrupacion de Interes Economico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB PWM, DB Portfolio Southwest Inc., DB Print GmbH, DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB RC Holdings LLC, DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Finance 1 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Finance 2 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Holdings Luxembourg S.a r.l., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a r.l., DB Value S.a r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita S.A., DBAB Wall Street LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBCIBZ2, DBFIC Inc., DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBOI Global Services Private Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management IA Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management US IB L.L.C., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUKH No. 2 Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBX Advisors LLC, DBX ETF Trust, DBX Strategic Advisors LLC, DBO Vermogensverwertung GmbH, DEBEKO Immobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUFRAN Beteiligungs GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK A.S., DG China Clean Tech Partners, DI Deutsche Immobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DIB-Consult Deutsche Immobilien- und BeteiligungsBeratungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DNU Nominees Pty Limited, DSL Portfolio GmbH & Co. KG, DSL Portfolio Verwaltungs GmbH, DTS Nominees Pty Limited, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, De Heng Asset Management Company Limited, De Meng Innovative (Beijing) Consulting Company Limited, DeAM Infrastructure Limited, Deloraine Spain S.L., Delowrezham de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (Mauritius) Limited Port, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (France) SAS, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, Deutsche Asset Management S.A., Deutsche Asset Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (Chile), Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anonima Institucion Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Bauspar-Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance LLC I, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I, Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency of Delaware, Deutsche Bank International Limited, Deutsche Bank Investments (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Deposits, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Note Programme, Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Los, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Polska Spolka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao Sao, Deutsche Bank SPEARs/LIFERs Series DBE-8011 Trust, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Societa per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Management Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Colombia S.A.S., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 1 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 2 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 3 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 4 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankterHaftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Deutsche Holdings (Malta) Ltd., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche Immobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Inversiones Dos S.A., Deutsche Inversiones Limitada, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mandatos S.A., Deutsche Master Funding Corporation, Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a r.l., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Public Limited Company, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC I, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC II, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC III, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Deutsche Securities S.A., Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Securities SpA, Deutsche Securities Venezuela S.A., Deutsche Securitisation Australia Pty Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trust Company Limited Japan, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsches Institut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.I., Elba Finance GmbH, Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, Emerald Asset Repackaging Designated Activity Company, Erste Frankfurter Hoist GmbH, European Value Added I (Alternate G.P.) LLP, Exinor SA, FARAMIR Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs GmbH, FRANKFURT CONSULT GmbH, Fiduciaria Sant' Andrea S.r.L., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Franz Urbig- und Oscar Schlitter-Stiftung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-037, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-039, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-040, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-041, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-043, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-044, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-047, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., G.O. IB-US Management L.L.C., G918 Corp., GAC-HEL Inc., GWC-GAC Corp., Galene S.a r.l., Gemini Technology Services Inc., German American Capital, German American Capital Corporation, Gladyr Spain S.L., Global Markets Fundo de Investimento Multimercado, Global Markets III Fundo de Investimento Multimercado - Credito, Greenwood Properties Corp., Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer Landstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Kerpen-Sindorf Vogelrutherfeld GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Leipzig Petersstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Wiesbaden Luisenstrae/Kirchgasse GbR, HTB Spezial GmbH & Co. KG, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, IOS Finance EFC S.A., ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, Immobilienfonds Mietwohnhauser Quadrath-Ichendorf GbR, Immobilienfonds Wohn- und Geschaftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul Inkasso GmbH, Kradavimd UK Lease Holdings Limited, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Latitude Australia Secured Personal Loans Trust, Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo III Initial GP Limited, Lindsell Finance Limited, London Industrial Leasing Limited, MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MHL Reinsurance Ltd., MIT Holdings Inc., MIT Holdings Inc., MPP Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Securities Corp., Motion Picture Productions One GmbH & Co. KG, NCW Holding Inc., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., New 87 Leonard LLC, Nordwestdeutscher Wohnungsbautrager Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentre", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Holding GmbH, OPB-Nona GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPB-Quinta GmbH, OPB-Septima GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM Flottenfonds V GmbH & Co. KG, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, OPS Nominees Pty Limited, OVT Trust 1 GmbH, OVV Beteiligungs GmbH, Opal Funds (Ireland) Public Limited Company, PADUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, PARTS Funding LLC., PB Factoring GmbH, PB Firmenkunden AG, PB International S.A., PB Spezial-Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PBC Banking Services GmbH, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, PT. Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Peruda Leasing Limited, Plantation Bay Inc., Plantation Bay Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Immobilien GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH & Co. Objekt Leipzig KG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank Service GmbH, Postbank Systems AG, QR Tower 2 LLC, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, REO Properties Corporation, RREEF, RREEF America L.L.C., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisors Private Limited, RREEF Management L.L.C., RTS Nominees Pty Limited, Reference Capital Investments Limited, RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables LLC, Route 28 Receivables LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SCUDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SEDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SENA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Kamenz KG, SIFA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SOLIDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SP Mortgage Trust, SPINO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SPV I Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, SPV II Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, STATOR Heizkraftwerk Frankfurt (Oder) Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim Alternative Investments GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. AG & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Komplementar AG, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Service Company Four Limited, Sharps SP I LLC, Singer Island Tower Suite LLC, Somkid Immobiliare S.r.l., Stelvio Immobiliare S.r.l., Structured Finance Americas LLC, Structured Finance Americas LLC, Swabia 1. Vermogensbesitz-GmbH, Suddeutsche Vermogensverwaltung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, TAKIR Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TELO Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, TEMATIS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TERRUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Halle I KG i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Nordhausen I KG i.L., TOSSA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRIPLA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRS Aria LLC, TRS Leda LLC, TRS Maple II LTD, TRS Oak II LTD, TRS SVCO LLC, TRS Scorpio LLC, TRS Tupelo II LTD, TRS Venor LLC, TRS Walnut II LTD, Tagus - Sociedade de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Tasfiye Halinde Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Tianjin Deutsche AM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Limited, UKE Beteiligungs-GmbH, UKE Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH, UKE s.r.o., Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksgesellschaft Kirchnerstrae GbR, Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Disternich GbR, Ullmann Ullmann Krockow Krockow Esch GbR, VCJ Lease S.a r.l., Vesta Real Estate S.r.l., VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, WEPLABeteiligungsgesellschaftmbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., Whale Holdings S.a r.l., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., World Trading(Delaware)Inc., Zumirez Drive LLC, db PBC, and norisbank GmbH. Swiss Re AG is a wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. The Company operates in four segments: Property&Casualty Reinsurance, Life&Health Reinsurance, Corporate Solutions and Life Capital. Its Reinsurance Unit provides premiums and fee income through Property&Casualty and Life&Health segments. Its Corporate Solutions segment is engaged in serving mid-sized and large corporations, with product offerings ranging from traditional property and casualty insurance to customized solutions. Its Admin Re segment provides risk and capital management solutions by which the Company acquires closed books of in-force life and health insurance business, entire lines of business, or the entire capital stock of life insurance companies. Its open and closed life insurance books, including Admin Re, are managed under a unit called Life Capital. Read More Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada. Read More Trevali Mining Corporation, a base-metals mining company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It primarily explores for zinc, lead, silver, gold, and copper deposits. The company's operational assets include the 90%-owned Perkoa Mine in Burkina Faso; 90%-owned Rosh Pinah Mine in Namibia; Caribou Mine in the Bathurst mining camp, northern New Brunswick, Canada; and Santander Mine in Peru. It also holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Heath Steele deposit located in New Brunswick, Canada, as well as holds interests in the Halfmile, Stratmat, and Restigouche properties situated in New Brunswick, Canada; Ruttan Mine located in northern Manitoba, Canada; and Gergarub Project situated in Namibia. The company was formerly known as Trevali Resources Corp. and changed its name to Trevali Mining Corporation in April 2011. Trevali Mining Corporation was incorporated in 1964 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Centene: APS Parent Inc., AWC of Syracuse Inc., Absolute Total Care Inc., AcariaHealth Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #11 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #12 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #13 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #14 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy Inc., AcariaHealth Solutions Inc., Access Medical Acquisition LLC, Access Medical Group of Florida City LLC, Access Medical Group of Hialeah LLC, Access Medical Group of Lakeland LLC, Access Medical Group of Miami LLC, Access Medical Group of North Miami Beach LLC, Access Medical Group of Opa-Locka LLC, Access Medical Group of Perrine LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa II LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa III LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa LLC, Access Medical Group of Westchester LLC, Accountable Care Coalition Direct Contracting LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Chesapeake LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers IV LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers V LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VI LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VII LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Florida Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland Primary Care LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Mississippi LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of New Jersey Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of North Texas LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northwest Florida LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Prime Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Physician Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Texas Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Wisconsin LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Tennessee LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Texas Inc., Agate Resources Inc., AirLogix, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc., Ambetter of North Carolina Inc., Ambetter of Peach State Inc., America's 1st Choice California Holdings LLC, American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, Apixio, Apixio Inc, Arch Personalized Medicine Initiative LLC, Arkansas Health & Wellness Health Plan Inc., Arkansas Total Care Holding Company LLC, Arkansas Total Care Inc., B2B Gestion Integra S.L.U., B2B Salud S.L.U., Bankers Reserve Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Blackcrow Asistencia Medica S.L, Bridgeway Health Solutions LLC, Bridgeway Health Solutions of Arizona Inc., Buckeye Community Health Plan Inc., Buckeye Health Plan Community Solutions Inc., CCTX Holdings LLC, CMC Real Estate Company LLC, CT Poprad s.r.o., CT Presov s.r.o., Calibrate Acquisition Company, California Health and Wellness Plan, Cantina Laredo Clayton LP, Cardium Health Services, Care 1st Health Plan of Arizona Inc., Care1st Health Plan Administrative Services Inc., Carolina Complete Health Holding Company Partnership, Carolina Complete Health Inc., Casenet LLC, Casenet S.R.O., CeltiCare Health Plan Holdings LLC, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts Inc., Celtic Group Inc., Celtic Insurance Company, Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona LLC, Cenpatico of Arizona Inc., Centene Center I LLC, Centene Center II LLC, Centene Center LLC, Centene Company of Texas LP, Centene Europe Finance Company Limited, Centene Health Plan Holdings Inc., Centene Institute for Advanced Health Education LLC, Centene International Ventures LLC, Centene Investments LLC, Centene Management Company LLC, Centene Venture Company Alabama Health Plan Inc., Centene Venture Company Florida Inc., Centene Venture Company Illinois Inc., Centene Venture Company Indiana Inc., Centene Venture Company Kansas Inc., Centene Venture Company Michigan Inc., Centene Venture Company Tennessee Inc., Centro Inmunologocia De La Comunidad Valenciana S.L., Centurion Correctional Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, Centurion Detention Health Services LLC, Centurion LLC, Centurion of Arizona LLC, Centurion of Delaware LLC, Centurion of Florida LLC, Centurion of Kansas LLC, Centurion of Minnesota LLC, Centurion of Mississippi LLC, Centurion of New Hampshire LLC, Centurion of Pennsylvania LLC, Centurion of Tennessee LLC, Centurion of Vermont LLC, Centurion of West Virginia LLC, Centurion of Wyoming LLC, Chrysalis Medical Services LLC, Clinica Santo Domingo De Lugo S.L., Collaborative Health Systems IPA LLC, Collaborative Health Systems LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Maryland LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Virginia LLC, Comfort Hospice of Missouri LLC, Comfort Hospice of Texas LLC, ComfortBrook Hospice LLC, Community Medical Group, Community Medical Holdings Corporation, Comprehensive Health Management Inc., Comprehensive Reinsurance Ltd., Coordinated Care Corporation, Coordinated Care of Washington Inc., Country Style Health Care LLC, Discare CZ a.s., District Community Care Inc., Dr Magnet s.r.o., Elche-Crevillente Salud, Envolve Benefits Options Inc., Envolve Captive Insurance Company Inc., Envolve Dental IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Dental Inc., Envolve Dental of Florida Inc., Envolve Dental of Texas Inc., Envolve Health, Envolve Holdings Inc., Envolve Inc., Envolve Optical Inc., Envolve PeopleCare Inc., Envolve Pharmacy IPA LLC, Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Envolve Total Vision Inc., Envolve Vision Benefits Inc., Envolve Vision IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Vision Inc., Envolve Vision of Florida Inc., Envolve Vision of Texas Inc., Essential Care Partners LLC, Exactus Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Family Nurse Care II LLC, Family Nurse Care LLC, Family Nurse Care of Ohio LLC, Fidelis Care, Forensic Health Services LLC, Foundation Care LLC, Godgrace Asistencia Medica S.L., Golden Triangle Physician Alliance, Grace Hospice of Austin LLC, Grace Hospice of Grand Rapids LLC, Grace Hospice of Illinois LLC, Grace Hospice of Indiana LLC, Grace Hospice of San Antonio LLC, Grace Hospice of Virginia LLC, Grace Hospice of Wisconsin LLC, Granite State Health Plan Inc., Growly Asistencia Sanitaria S.L., HHS Texas Management Inc., HHS Texas Management LP, Hallmark Life Insurance Company, Harmony Behavioral Health IPA Inc., Harmony Behavioral Health Inc., Harmony Health Management Inc., Harmony Health Plan Inc., Harmony Health Systems Inc., Health Care Enterprises LLC, Health Net Access Inc., Health Net Community Solutions Inc., Health Net Community Solutions of Arizona Inc., Health Net Federal Services LLC, Health Net Health Plan of Oregon Inc., Health Net LLC, Health Net Life Insurance Company, Health Net Life Reinsurance Company, Health Net Pharmaceutical Services, Health Net of Arizona Inc., Health Net of California Inc., Health Plan Real Estate Holdings Inc., HealthSmart Benefit Solutions Inc., HealthSmart Benefits Management LLC, HealthSmart Care Management Solutions LP, HealthSmart Information Systems Inc., HealthSmart Preferred Care II LP, HealthSmart Preferred Network II Inc., HealthSmart Primary Care Clinics LP, HealthSmart Rx Solutions Inc., Healthy Louisiana Holdings LLC, Healthy Missouri Holdings Inc., Healthy Washington Holdings Inc., Heritage Health Systems Inc., Heritage Health Systems of Texas Inc., Heritage Home Hospice LLC, Heritage Physician Networks, Home State Health Plan Inc., HomeScripts.com LLC, Hospice DME Company LLC, Hospinet S.L., Hospital Polusa S.A., Hospital Povisa S.A., Hudson Accountable Care LLC, IAH of Florida LLC, Illinois Health Practice Alliance LLC, Infraestructuras y Servicios de Alzira S. L., Integrated Care Network of Florida LLC, Integrated Mental Health Management LLC, Integrated Mental Health Services, Interpreta Holdings Inc., Interpreta Inc., Iowa Total Care Inc., Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc., LBB Industries Inc., LifeShare Management Group LLC, LiveHealthier Inc., Louisiana Healthcare Connections Inc., MH Services International Holdings (UK) Limited, MHM, MHM Correctional Services LLC, MHM Health Professionals LLC, MHM Services Inc., MHM Services of California LLC, MHM Solutions LLC, MHN Government Services LLC, MHN Services LLC, MHS Consulting International Inc., MHS Travel & Charter Inc., MR Centrum Melnick s.r.o., MR Poprad s.r.o., MR Zilina s.r.o., Magnolia Health Plan Inc., Managed Health Network, Managed Health Network LLC, Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation, Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Maryland Collaborative Care Transformation Organization Inc., Mauli Ola Health and Wellness Inc., Medicina NZ spol s.r.o., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan Inc., Meridian Management Company LLC, Meridian Network Services LLC, MeridianRx IPA LLC, MeridianRx LLC, MeridianRx of Indiana LLC, Michigan Complete Health, Mid-Atlantic Collaborative Care LLC, Nebraska Total Care Inc., Network Providers LLC, New York Quality Healthcare Corporation, Next Door Neighbors Inc., Next Door Neighbors LLC., North Florida Health Services Inc., Northern Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Novasys Health Inc., OB Care, OB Klinika, Ohana Health Plan Inc., Oklahoma Complete Health Inc., One Care by Care 1st Health Plans of Arizona Inc, Operose Health (Group) Ltd., Operose Health (Group) UK Ltd., Operose Health Ltd., OptiCare Health Systems - Managed Vision Business, PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, Panther Pass Co LLC, Panther Specialty Holding Co LLC, Pantherx Access Services LLC, Pantherx Specialty LLC, Parker LP LLC, Peach State Health Plan Inc., Penn Marketing America LLC, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Inc., Phoenix Home Health Care LLC, Pinnacle Home Care LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Illinois LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Indiana LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Kalamazoo LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Missouri LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Wisconsin LLC, Premier Marketing Group LLC, PrimeroSalud S.L., Pro Diagnostic Group A.S., Pro Magnet CZ s.r.o., Pro Magnet s.r.o, Pro RTG s.r.o, Progress Medical A.S., Prowl Holdings LLC, QCA Healthplan Inc., Qualchoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Quincy Coverage Corporation, R&C Healthcare LLC, RMED LLC, RX Direct Inc., Rapid Respiratory Services LLC, Ribera Lab S.L.U., Ribera Salud II, Ribera Salud Proyectos S.L., Ribera Salud S.A., Ribera Salud Tecnologias S.L.U., Ribera Slaud Infraestructuras S.L.U., Ribera-Quilpro UTE, Salus Administrative Services Inc., Salus IPA LLC, Secure Capital Solutions 2000 S.L.U., SelectCare Health Plans Inc., SelectCare of Texas Inc., Seniorcorps Peninsula LLC, Servicios De Mantenimiento Prevencor S.L.U., SilverSummit Healthplan Inc., Social Health Bridge LLC, Social Health Bridge Trust, Specialty Therapeutic Care GP LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care LP, Sunflower State Health Plan Inc., Sunshine Health Community Solutions Inc., Sunshine Health Holding LLC, Sunshine State Health Plan Inc., Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions Inc., Superior HealthPlan Inc., The Practice Properties Limited, The WellCare Management Group Inc., Torrejon Salud S.A., Torrevieja Salud S.L.U., Torrevieja Salud UTE, Traditional Home Health Services LLC, Trillium Community Health Plan Inc., U.S. Medical Management Holdings Inc., U.S. Medical Management LLC, UAM Agent Services Corp., US Script, USMM Accountable Care Partners LLC, Universal American Corp., Universal American Financial Services Inc., Universal American Holdings LLC, WCG Health Management Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of America, WellCare Health Insurance Company of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Louisiana Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Nevada Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Connecticut Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Hawaii Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of New York Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of North Carolina Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Southwest Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans, WellCare Health Plans of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Plans of California Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Massachusetts Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Missouri Inc., WellCare Health Plans of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Rhode Island Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Vermont Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare National Health Insurance Company, WellCare Pharmacy Benefits Management Inc., WellCare Prescription Insurance Inc., WellCare of Alabama Inc., WellCare of Arkansas Inc., WellCare of California Inc., WellCare of Connecticut Inc., WellCare of Florida Inc., WellCare of Georgia Inc., WellCare of Illinois Inc., WellCare of Indiana Inc., WellCare of Kansas Inc., WellCare of Maine Inc., WellCare of Michigan Holding Company, WellCare of Mississippi Inc., WellCare of Missouri Health Insurance Company Inc., WellCare of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare of New York Inc., WellCare of North Carolina Inc., WellCare of Ohio Inc., WellCare of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare of Pennsylvania Inc., WellCare of Puerto Rico Inc., WellCare of South Carolina Inc., WellCare of Texas Inc., WellCare of Virginia Inc., WellCare of Washington Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., Western Sky Community Care Inc., Windsor Health Group Inc., Winning Security S.L., Worlco Management Services, and nirvanaHealth LLC. The consensus was reached at talks between Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Commander of the Vietnamese Border Guard, and General Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, in Phnom Penh, on December 14. The two sides agreed to intensify the communication work, enhance solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese and Cambodian people and create favourable conditions for residents along the shared borderline to develop production and stabilise their lives. They will also increase joint patrols, maintain talks, meetings and information exchanges in order to promptly deal with any issues related to border security, and handle emerging problems in the spirit of solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding. Meanwhille, the two sides will tighten cooperation in the fight against crimes, terrorism, drugs and illegal cross-border trading of weapons. At the talks, the two sides also pointed out various limitations that Vietnam and Cambodia need to overcome in order to create breakthroughs in the bilateral relationship for the interests and development target of each nation. Lieut. Gen. Chien briefed those present on the outcomes of cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as the border guard forces of the two countries, especially the recent visit to Vietnam from December 6-8 by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Congratulating Hun Manet on his appointment as Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, Lieut. Gen. Chien expressed his hope that Hun Manet will make more contributions to the traditional relations between the Vietnamese Border Guard and Royal Cambodian Army. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. is a closed ended fixed-income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. It is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company and Western Asset Management Company Limited. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in high-yielding corporate debt obligations. The fund seeks to maintain an average duration of around four years with an average credit quality of B. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Cap Index. The fund was formerly known as High Income Opportunity Fund. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. was formed on November 16, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Read More The rights to establish wind farms off the Massachusetts coast sold for a record-setting $405 million total on Friday, according to federal officials. Potential construction is still at least nearly a decade away, but if the project were completed today, it would be by far the world's largest offshore wind farm. Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Energy and utilities Environment and natural resources Environmentalism Renewable energy Wind energy Continents and regions Massachusetts North America Northeastern United States The Americas United States Auctions The three leases offered for auction by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Thursday fetched $135 million apiece by the time bidding closed on Friday. The previous record for such a lease was $42.5 million, set in 2016 for the rights off New York's coast. Numbers from the Interior Department, which oversaw the process, showed the area could become the world's most prolific offshore source of wind energy. It projected the area could generate up to 4.1 gigawatts, enough electricity to potentially power nearly 1.5 million homes. Currently, the largest offshore wind farm in the world is what's known as the "Walney Extension," off the coast of the United Kingdom. It has a capacity of roughly 700 megawatts, less than one-sixth the maximum capacity the US government is estimating could result from the Massachusetts deal. That prediction is a best-case scenario, not without its caveats. The 4.1 gigawatt figure comes from a 2016 Energy Department estimate of the potential wind power per square kilometer offshore, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management spokesman Stephen Boutwell said. It has not been adjusted based on the area's geography and weather patterns, and the 2016 report notes the full "nameplate power capacity is not the best indicator of potential from an energy production or economic perspective." Nancy Sopko, director of offshore wind policy and siting for the American Wind Energy Association, said her organization is confident the three new leases would produce a minimum of 800 megawatts each, or 2.4 gigawatts total. That would still make the new Massachusetts wind farms the world's largest offshore project. "This is an unprecedented day for offshore energy development," Sopko said. "It's smashed every expectation." Wind power developers have long had an eye on Massachusetts but have not yet successfully brought a project to fruition. A 2001 proposal for 130 wind turbines off Cape Cod sunk under opposition from the fishing industry and the peninsula's tony landowners, such as the Kennedys, who feared obstructed views. The developer called it quits on the project in 2017. In the meantime, the nation's first offshore wind farm opened near neighboring Rhode Island in 2016. It produces enough electricity to power the entire community of Block Island. The leases auctioned off this week face a long road to development, Boutwell said. Over the next year, the winning bidders will develop plans to assess the area's wind using meteorological towers and buoys. They'll then have five years to conduct the testing, after which they will submit plans to federal officials, who will conduct an environmental review. Sopko, the wind energy association executive, said the Massachusetts auctions show the desire of large oil and gas companies to get into offshore wind power. She said there are few firms with as much expertise in operating large offshore rigs. "The marrying of these two industries is going to create a lot of opportunities," Sopko said. Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is a supporter of wind power. President Donald Trump, however, has voiced opposition to wind turbines. "The wind kills all your birds. All your birds, killed," he said on the campaign trail. "You know, the environmentalists never talk about that." A Brooklyn woman whose racist, profanity-laced tirade on the New York subway was captured on video this week has been charged with felony assault after she struck a fellow passenger, authorities said. The dispute between Anna Lushchinskaya, a 40-year-old white woman, and the 24-year-old passenger, a woman of Asian descent, began after Lushchinskaya bumped into the woman early Tuesday, the New York Police Department told CNN. Lushchinskaya yelled profanities at the victim on the northbound D train, hitting her with an umbrella and keys, the NYPD said. On video captured by witnesses, Lushchinskaya can be heard calling the woman a racial slur. Lushchinskaya was apprehended at the 36th Street Station and arrested, the NYPD said. CNN could not reach Lushchinskaya or her attorneys for comment Friday. Lushchinskaya was arraigned in Kings County Criminal Court following the incident, according to Brooklyn District Attorney spokesperson Oren Yaniv. She pleaded not guilty and posted $1,000 cash bond, according to court records. She is due back in court January 22. The victim suffered cuts to her face, the NYPD said. She told CNN affiliate WABC, which said she wanted to remain anonymous, that she was grateful people intervened. A 30-year old good Samaritan suffered scratches when he intervened, the NYPD said. Several subway riders captured the tirade on video. The incident has since been viewed by millions of people on social media. The video shows the woman yelling profanities at the victim and calling another rider "retarded." "F*** off," Lushchinskaya allegedly said several times before striking the victim with her hand. She then took off her sunglasses and gloves, pulled her hair back and took her umbrella and keys from her bag, according to the video. Then, she began kicking the woman, who defended herself. Passengers intervened, trying to restrain Lushchinskaya, and told her to stop. One person threatened to call the police. The video shows Lushchinskaya striking the woman several times with her umbrella and her keys and again kicking her. "She's not even fighting you back," one person is heard saying. At least two subway riders tried to wrestle the umbrella away. Lushchinskaya is seen spitting in the direction of the victim before yelling more profanity and a racial slur. Juan Ayala, who was filming the incident, said he decided to intervene, but Lushchinskaya lashed out at him. A video posted by another user shows Ayala talking to Lushchinskaya. "Do not spit at me," Ayala says in the video, to which Lushchinskaya replies, "What are you, her attorney? F***ing Mohammed." The subway car erupts in a gasp and Ayala gives his reply: "What? B****, I'm Dominican!" Fellow subway riders protested. "Your white privilege ain't working over here," one man is heard saying. The victim told WABC she felt lucky the woman didn't have a weapon like a gun or a knife "because it could have got a lot worse." "I'm lucky that people were on the train who were helping me, especially the first Asian guy who stood in front of me right away because he wasn't recording. He just stood in front of me to help me, because I know other people were recording, but their recording didn't do anything until later on when it escalated," she said. This is Lushchinskaya's second arrest this year for a subway altercation -- both took place at the 36th Street Station in Brooklyn. In June, she was arrested for allegedly pepper spraying a man and woman, according to DCPI detective Sophia Mason. Both were Hispanic. She was charged with harassment, menacing with a weapon and attempted assault. A 21-year-old American student was stabbed to death in Rotterdam, Netherlands, allegedly by her roommate, police said Friday. According to a police statement, authorities received reports of a quarrel Wednesday at an apartment on Kralingse Kerklaan in Rotterdam. When they entered the apartment, the statement said, police found Sarah Papenheim with stab wounds and attempted to resuscitate her. Police said those attempts were unsuccessful, and she died of her injuries. An investigation led authorities to the suspect, Papenheim's 23-year-old roommate, who was arrested at the Eindhoven train station, the police statement said. The two had their own rooms in the apartment but shared a kitchen and bathroom, police said. The suspect was identified as Joel Schelling, a source close to the investigation said. Schelling, who is believed to be a Dutch national, appeared in court Friday, the source said. Papenheim had moved to the Netherlands to study at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. "Sarah studied psychology and lived in the Netherlands since 2016. Our deepest condolences go out to all Sarah's family and friends at this poignant time. The university is shocked by this terrible incident and is taking care of upset students and employees," the university said. The Erasmus School of Social and Behavourial Sciences organized a gathering Friday for staff and students. "We encourage our students and staff not to let each other (be) alone in this difficult time," the university said. Papenheim's brother died by suicide a few years ago, her former high school teacher Mitch Bahr told CNN affiliate KRCR, and Papenheim was struggling with the loss. She attended Foothill High School near Redding, California. She was supposed to come home to Minnesota, where her family lives, next week for the holidays, her friend George Moye told CNN affiliate WCCO. "The thing that is going through my head is that she was coming home for Christmas, as we were all so excited to see her and to hear that she was coming back that way, and that was just tragic," Moye told the TV station. Papenheim's mother, Donee Odegard, told Minneapolis station KMSP, "I've been through this before. I've cried so much my ducts are dry. I am in the angry stage now." Regarding the roommate, Odegard told KMSP, "He'd have highs and lows, and she noticed that and I told her she needed to get out of there because something ain't right." Papenheim was an avid musician. She started going to open jam sessions around her hometown of Andover, Minnesota, when she was just 15, according to WCCO. There, she met drummer Jellybean Johnson, who became her mentor. "I liked her because she hit the drums just as hard as the guys did," Johnson told WCCO. "So I nicknamed her 'Thumper.' " Bahr, Papenheim's former teacher, told KRCR, "It was a real drive for her to want to be a great female drummer. Not just be that girl drummer but be an excellent female drummer and she did that very well." "They had their entire lives ahead of them. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own." Those were the words of a teary-eyed President Obama on December 14, 2012, the day 20 children and six adults were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It was a day that shook the country to its core. But it was also a day that fundamentally changed the way law enforcement and everyday citizens approach the unimaginable. 'It puts everyone on the same standard' In 2013 the FBI partnered with a program known as ALERRT, or Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. They study mass shootings to not only help identify different types of contributing factors but also response tactics that can be improved. "The Department of Justice started looking at programs that they could partner with to try to enhance training capabilities for response to school violence like Sandy Hook," said John Curnutt, assistant director at ALERRT. CNN was granted rare access to one of their training sessions at an undisclosed location in Maryland. "Movement down the hallway on the right!" yelled the FBI special agent leading the mix of federal agents and local and state police as they worked their way through a simulated scenario using paint bullets. "It puts everyone on the same standard," said Gordon Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. "You could be from one agency and arrive at a scene and end up with someone from a different agency but if you've both been through that training then automatically you know what to do." The intent is to minimize the time it takes to get in front of the shooter. "It was important to make sure everybody received the same training, knowing that if that response occurs it's going to be a multiagency response," said Col. Nathaniel McQueen with Delaware State Police. 'For an average of three minutes it is up to you to survive' Another major shift after Sandy Hook, also tied to ALERRT, came in how everyday citizens are trained on what to do in the initial seconds of what could end up being a mass shooting. "In an average of three minutes those cops are gonna show up and they are going to take that shooter's attention from you towards them," said the FBI special agent leading a lecture requested by a private company. "Those three minutes belong to you, they do not belong to the shooter. For an average of three minutes it is up to you to survive." "Avoid, deny, and defend" is what the agent stressed, offering strategies on everything from when to run to when running may not be an option. For example, if leaving is out of the question and a door doesn't lock, the agent talked about placing as much as possible in front of that door, positioning on the back side of it, and even taking "calculated risks" that the shooter is right-handed. "He's going to come in, he's going to have to use his other hand to move this stuff out of the way and he's going to be holding this present out for you," said the agent. "What you need to do is grab it and hang off of his arm." "Everyone wants to know. They want to learn. They want to hope to be the one that helps others to survive and they take it very seriously," said Claudine Adams, CEO of Bravura Information Technology Systems Inc., the company that requested what she called the "unfortunately more necessary" training. During the presentation, the FBI said there were 30 active shooter events in 2017, which set a record, and that from 2016 to 2017 the number of events jumped by 50%, which they say also set a record. 'The paramedics aren't going to get there right away' On the medical front, and in direct response to the shooting in Newtown, a national campaign called "Stop the Bleed" began. Through lectures and hands-on training, instructors teach adults and students how to apply tourniquets, pack wounds and keep the situation stable until first responders can arrive. The campaign is an initiative of the American College of Surgeons and the Hartford Consensus, a set of recommendations on active shooter and other mass casualty events. "If we go back to Sandy Hook, about a third of those children could have been saved had we had this operational," said Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, and one of the campaign's instructors. "The paramedics aren't going to get there right away." According to the American College of Surgeons, people with severe injuries can bleed to death within five minutes. "This is a disease of time. The clock starts ticking when you get hurt, not when you get to the hospital," Scalea said. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A 69-year-old man is on trial for allegedly killing his wife during an argument inside the couple's central New York home earlier this year and hiding her body in a rental storage unit. Pande "Pete" Trifunovski is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 62-year-old Snezana "Suzie" Trifunovski. Prosecutors say the husband beat and strangled his wife during an argument in their Lysander home last January. Her body was later found dumped in a storage locker in a neighboring town. Pete Trifunovski testified Friday that he and his wife, both natives of Macedonia, fought often during their 25-year marriage. His attorney contends Trifunovski didn't' intend to kill his wife on Jan. 8 and only did so in a fit of rage. Prosecutors say his rage wasn't an isolated incident, but had been building for decades. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. -- National Grid faces a potential financial penalty for the Little Falls house explosion in February. The Public Service Commission Friday ordered National Grid to explain why it shouldn't be fined. There were alleged violations of gas safety regulations that led to the natural gas explosion on West Main Street. Several homes were destroyed, and three people were hurt. National Grid has 45 days to respond to the commission's order, their spokesperson sent in a statement saying: "We fully cooperated with the resulting investigations after this incident and complied with all requests for information by the entities involved in reviewing the matter, including the New York PSC. While we do not agree with all of the findings and conclusions contained in the Commission's investigation report, we take the show cause order very seriously and will respond to the Commission within the timeframe required by the order. As always, we continue to perform regular inspections and maintenance of our gas system and adhere to all state and federal safety standards." The PSC says there were three violations: LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. -- The production of Red Rose Tea and Salada Tea in Little Falls was supposed to come to an end Friday, as announced in October. NewsChannel 2 reached out to company officials about it being the last day, but did not receive a call back. Harris Tea Company purchased the tea manufacturing assets from Redco Foods and moved tea making operations to its two facilities in New Jersey and Georgia. WKTV does not know how many employees took the offer to relocate. All administrative, finance, and customer service functions, including online sales support will remain in Little Falls. Redco Foods will continue the sale and distribution of the "Junket Desserts Brand" and "Teekanne Tea Brand" from its facility in Little Falls. ROME, N.Y. -- The FBI is investigating dozens of bomb threats that were sent by email throughout the country. Locally, AIS of Rome was one of the companies who received one of those emails. At around 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, AIS received a bomb threat. They then contacted local authorities and evacuated the building. It took about two hours for police to clear the building. Today, local authorities are confirming that they believe the message sent to AIS is connected to the ones sent out throughout the nation. Detective Jeffrey Lanigan and his fellow officers had a hunch that this was one of those hoaxes, but left nothing to chance. "We knew of the emails going through, and once we got their we sort of knew that this was part of that whole scam so. But we still wanted to go through the procedures and check all of the boxes to make sure its something you shouldn't be worried about." said Detective Lanigan. The emails that were sent out across the country asked for money. One of the emails sent out across the country read, "Transfer it to me in Bitcoin and the bomb will not detonate, But do not deceive me. The contents of the message sent to AIS in Rome is still unknown. Authorities believe that there was no pattern for who these messages were sent to. " I don't think that there is a targeted group, I just think that its just a mass email going around and I don't think there is any target to it." Police are asking anyone who has received one of these threatening messages, to contact local police. Portland, Maine is where you go to get away from big city life. Time slows down. The coastal air is fresher, cleaner, and brighter. The perfect blend of stylish and sophisticated, you can find something to do for everyone. One of the largest towns in Maine, Portland sits on the edge of Casco Bay, and the population is just under 70,000. Stay: Portland Harbor Hotel is a classic in the heart of the Old Port district. After a quick taxi ride from the airport, everything you need is within walking distance from the AAA-Four Diamond property. The Old Port District is the perfect place to stay, with glamorous 19th-century architecture, galleries, shops, nightlife, breweries and restaurants. The hotel itself has been renovated and has a quaint yet upscale cozy feel. Fireplaces in the lobby make for the perfect area to chill with a glass of wine, and the courtyard is not only a gorgeous view from the inside rooms, but a central meeting point for guests around the fire pit in the early evenings. Each guestroom is outfitted with lustrous dark wood floors, local artwork and coastal colors, and several room options are available. www.portlandharborhotel.com Eat: Portland is home to almost 400 different restaurants and ranks among the top cities in the US for restaurants and bars per capita. Portland was named Foodiest Small Town in America by Bon Apetit Magazine in 2009 and was named Restaurant City of the Year in 2018. In Portland you can find microbreweries and brewpubs, the historic Portland Farmers Market (in existence since 1768), high-end restaurants, casual eats and everything in between. The food focal point is based on local, organic, farm to table and plant-based foods. Portland has also been noted as one of the most Vegan and Vegetarian-friendly cities in American. Where to go? J`s Oyster is a family-owned eatery that has been opened since 1977, and is still run by the family heirs. Situated steps from the water, Js is popular with locals and tourists alike, and conversations overheard at the bar span from who is dating who in town to best reductions for short ribs. This no-frills diner serves up local brews (like Allagash, Grittys Seasonal and Gearys Seasonal) along with fresh local seafood. Not to miss: The Lobster Stew. www.jsoysterportland.com Blue Fin A timeless upscale dining experience, Blue Fin has the ambiance of a swanky New England home, creating comfort chic with contemporary fireplaces, book stacks, rustic touches and muted, dark colors. Chef Tim Labonte is a Maine native, and the Maine staples are reflected in his menu; fresh lobster rolls, local bread, artisan cheeses, seasonal fruits and vegetables paired with classic cocktails and a pleasant wine list. www.bluefinportland.com Hot Suppa is located in a Victorian building dating back to 1860, and you cant miss it with the usual long lines outside. Known for their fresh ingredients, this happening brunch spot only has 10 tables and 5 bar seats, so come early (No reservations are accepted). Original recipes are made from scratch, inspired from a road trip by the owner brothers that took them across the US, sampling barbeque, drive-ins and more. http://hotsuppa.com/ The Holy Donut A unique take on the classic donut, these tasty treats are made with mashed potatoes and local ingredients. Even though there is usually a line, it moves fast. Favorites include the cheddar bacon, cinnamon sugar and coconut. https://theholydonut.com/ Portland Hunt & Alpine Club For a chic weekend cocktail, head to the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club on Market Street. An extensive cocktail list greets you, divided up into classics, refreshing, adventurous and wild card. Guests love the small bites, especially the popcorn with green Chile powder, butter and Parmesan, daily selection of deviled eggs and Smorgasbord. www.huntandalpineclub.com See: Portland Museum of Art Founded in 1882 as Portland Society of Art, The Portland Museum of Art is one of the only museums to be founded by artists themselves. The museum houses a significant collection of 19thand 20thcentury art from American and Europe, as well as highlighting Maine artists. Over 18,000 pieces can be found including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Different structures make up the museum, including an 1801 Federal-Style Mansion, 1911 Beaux-arts style building and a modern building designed by Henry Nicolas Cobb, which opened in 1983. portlandmuseaum.org Sweetgrass Winery & Distillery is a local distillery serving up homemade gin, hard apple cider, rum, apple brandy, vermouth, whiskey, wines and bitters made from Maine-grown fruits and grains. For only $5, try a flight of your choosing. https://sweetgrasswinery.com The Arts District located on Congress Street is the perfect place to spend the afternoon wandering. Home to the Portland Museum of Art, Portland Stage Company, Maine College of Art, Maine Historical Society and many other small galleries. Shop: Deans Chocolate Shop Bring back a sweet treat of artisan chocolates from Deans. These small batch chocolates use organic maple tapped from Madison, Maine, salt from the coastal Marshfield region and butter from Kates Homemade in Old Orchard Beach. Over 30 decadent varieties are available including truffles, caramels, buttercreams and chocolates. www.deanssweets.com Skordo Stop by family-owned Skordo (Greek for Garlic), and check out cooking inspiration for the whole family. From boutique spices and herbs, cookbooks, specialty kitchen tools, recipe kits and delicate glassware, the unique, beautiful items will inspire you to spend some time in the kitchen. www.skordo.com Peyote Moon A sustainable fashion store located on Exchange Street, Peyote Moon supports artisans, small businesses and the slow fashion. Each carefully curated piece is made to be kept year after year, and is high quality, durable and timeless. Brands include Mara Hoffman, Micaela Greg and The Wild Unknown. www.peyotemoon.com WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Friday December 14th marks six years since 20 first graders and six educators were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre. Some are calling for change as more shootings have happened in our schools since then. "I feel like everything is 100% preventable," said Sarah Rayber, a Purdue Sophomore from Evansville, Indiana. Some are saying we need tighter guns laws, others are saying it's a matter of addressing mental health issues. West Lafayettes incoming State Representative Chris Campbell said. it may just be a combination of both. "These are horrible situations," she said. Adding that she thinks we should put money towards mental health counselors rather than metal detectors. "We find funding for our mental health providers so that we can provide mental health counselors in schools," she said. This comes one day after Indianas most recent brush with a school shooting. Fourteen year old Brandon Clegg exchanged gunfire with police at Dennis Intermediate School in Richmond, Indiana on Thursday. Incidents like what happened in Richmond, Sandy Hook, and Noblesville can take a toll on our kids mental health. Representative Campbell said it's not just shootings that are causing students problems. "We have the school safety issue, we have children in poverty, we have children who are abused, and we have drug addiction issues," she said. In terms of preventing school shootings, she want to hold irresponsible gun owners accountable. "I am fine with the second amendment, you are completely entitled to have a gun, but you need to be a responsible gun owner," she said. Republican state Senator Jim Merritt is working on legislation that would require gun owners to properly store their weapons so children can't get a hold of them. This is something Campbell said she supports. "You can't legislate common sense but we can certainly hold people accountable," she said. Rayber said she thinks that either stricter gun laws or more mental health support would help the problem. "Whether it be tighter gun laws or more mental health, I think anything would be beneficial to help stop it," she said. As our newly elected midterm officials take their role in the statehouse, she said she hopes that people can come together to stop this from happening again. "Hope everyone sees what needs to be changed and actually does something about it versus sticking to their side of the party, she said. Representative Campbell said she is looking to protect our schools, both fiscally and physically. The money has to come from somewhere to fund these counselors, but she said it would be worth it to find it. One thing she wants to push for push for is change to the private school voucher program, saying too much money is being taken from public schools. The voucher program is also known as the Choice Scholarship Program.This is where students who come from low-income families, kids who have need special education, and kids who previously attended an F public school, can apply for a taxpayer-funded scholarship to attend a private school. However, even though these private schools are receiving state funding, they dont have to follow any of the rules that public schools do. The eligibility of a student based on income is linked to the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program income guidelines. In the 2013-2014, the income eligibility to receive a 50% tuition scholarship for a 4-person household was raised to $91,020 per year. Campbell said that number is too high for the original intent of the voucher program. She also said that if this program is to continue, they need to level the playing field. If we are going to take public school dollars and put those into vouchers, those schools are receiving our tax dollars and should be held to that same accountability regardless of what that school is," she said. Click here to learn more about the Choice Scholarship Program. Wonho Frank Lee Coming up to the Hollywood and Highland complex in Hollywood might seem like one of the most touristy things to do in LA...Until now! With Japan House that opened back in August adding an upscale Omakase restaurant at the end of November, it will feel like youre stepping out of Hollywood and right in the heart of Tokyo within minutes. To make things even more interesting, the restaurant, known as INN ANN will feature a rotating lineup of Japanese chefs including a mix of highly accomplished talent and rising star chefs, with the aim of introducing diners to Japanese culinary techniques, ingredients, and sensibilities. Wonho Frank Lee The initial tasting menu has been designed by Chef Taro Araki, Executive Chef for the Consul-General of Japan in Los Angeles and it offers patrons a glimpse into experiencing Japan with all five senses and dining like foreign dignitaries. The set omakase menus are available in two options including a vegetarian version, and will stay true to the traditional kaiseki approach with a multitude of courses of meticulously crafted and artistically plated dishes emphasizing seasonal ingredients. The meals will take diners on a gastronomic journey starting with Zensai, or small appetizers, including Japanese Omelet with Truffle, Shrimp in Dashi Jelly, Sesame Tofu Croquette, and Miso-Marinated Cheese, among others, move through a sashimi course, first and second courses, and culminate with a dessert course, featuring Chef Taro Arakis signature Orange Purin. Wonho Frank Lee The beverage program will have a heavy focus on Japanese wines and spirits including an extensive selection of rare sake, shochu, and Japanese whiskey, as well as a thoughtful cocktail list, all intended to pair with the omakase dishes.. With a motto that design to entice customers, Discover Umami, INN ANN is truly a gem in the heart of Hollywood, hidden from the hustle and bustle, an oasis of delicate cuisine and distinct flavors in line with the unique feel of JAPAN HOUSE that also features a distinctive exhibit by Sou Fujimoto, Futures of The Future. Nigeria has reversed the suspension of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) from the country's northeast, hours after it accused the agency of sabotaging its counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram militants. Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesman in the region, said in a statement on Saturday that the military has lifted the three-month suspension after a meeting with the representatives of the UN agency. The army had slapped the suspension on the UNICEF for allegedly training selected persons to carry out activities that Nigerian authorities considered unhelpful to its anti-Boko Haram operations. During the meeting, the (military) admonished the representatives of the organization to desist from activities inimical to Nigeria's national security and capable of undermining ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency, according to the statement. Consequently, after extensive deliberations on the need to seek modalities to work harmoniously with the security agencies in the theatre of operation, the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF activities in North Eastern Nigeria, it added. The UNICEF has yet to react to either the initial suspension or the lifting of it just within the last 24 hours. Guncelleme Tarihi: 15 Aralk 2018, 10:32 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged China Friday to release two Canadian citizens it detained this week, calling their jailings "unacceptable." "They ought to be returned," Pompeo told reporters following a meeting of U.S. and Canadian top diplomats and military officials. "We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly, and the detention of these two Canadian citizens in China ought to end." The Chinese government warned Thursday that unless Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who is facing extradition to the U.S. on suspicion of Iran sanctions evasion, is let go there would be revenge against Canada. Beijing said two Canadians have been detained on the grounds of engaging in activities that endanger the national security. In a video this week, the head of the state run Global Times said that is just the beginning of reprisals. If Canada extradites Meng to the U.S., Chinas revenge will be far worse than detaining a Canadian, Hu Xijin said in the video. Meng, who the U.S. suspects used a shell company to get around U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran, was released on $7.5 million bail by a Canadian court on Tuesday, a move the Chinese called a step in the right direction. Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang confirmed Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor, who arranged the visits of Dennis Rodman to North Korea a few years ago, and Canadian Michael Kovrig, who reported on highly sensitive subjects for non-government International Crisis Group, had been detained. Monavvar Alam-India The December 11 results from crucial provincial assembly elections christened as the semi-final before the upcoming general election in early next year have come as a major setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and fostered the position of principal opposition Indian National Congress (simply called Congress) in Indias national politics. Congress which was routed in the last parliamentary election and in successive provincial assembly elections has found a new strength after evicting the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) from its strongholds of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Congress which has been on a losing streak since its defeat in 2014 barring a few exceptions sent a reminder of its fighting capacity against the BJP ahead of 2019 general election. In fact, the Congress gained 163 Assembly seats (more than 138 per cent) over what it held after the 2013 elections. With this result BJP is set to lose half of Parliament seats it won in 2014, BJP had won a whopping 62 of the 65 Parliament seats from the three states in the election for prime minister Narendra Modi in May 2014this will also strengthen the position of Congress to lead the opposition alliance against incumbent BJP in 2019. In three Hindi heartland states, power has not simply changed hands, which is a standard democratic practice, but the arrogant project of Congress-free India was meticulously tamed. The three states the BJP has just lost were critical to its Hindutva politics. The BJP has been in power since 2003 in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, though alternatively elect between BJP and congress has been the origin of Hindutva politics of Gujrat laboratory (home state of PM Modi). According to the results declared by Election commission of India, the Congress has emphatically displaced the BJP in Rajasthan, bordering Mr Modis home state of Gujarat, and also in the predominantly tribal state of Chhattisgarh. It was tantalizingly close to the halfway mark in Madhya Pradesh (MP), with the BJP trailing a close second. The Congress was at 114 seats, two short of a majority in the state, and the BJP trailed at 109, 56 seats short of its tally five years ago. BJP has accepted the defeat in Madhya Pradesh and congress will form the government in the state with the help of regional party and few independent members of the assembly. In these elections BJP has deployed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, known for his vitriolic anti Muslim statements, for campaigning is being interpreted in two ways. The BJPs Hindutva hardliners argue that Yogi Adtiyanath may have saved the party from a bigger defeat. But it could also be a talking point for those in the BJP who see the campaign to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya and other Hindutva motifs as not clicking with the people. Congress President Rahul Gandhis enthusiasm for using Hindu symbolism to counter BJPs hard Hindutva in these elections has been a big talking point for many political Pundits. This election witnessed a new Congress party contentedly sitting on Hindutva juggernaut to counter BJP's strategy of communal polarization and dispel the pro-minority perception. This strategy helped the Congress to get a good share of majority Hindu votes which is around 80% of India's total population. In its electoral history on several occasions Congress promulgated the soft and controlled Hindutva but this time it is different from the past. Due to this strategy the polarization of Indian voters on the religious lines did not work as expected for the BJP. Even though this election has restored the balance of power in Indian democracy as the Congress runs to claim the Hindutva Centre, it may push the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP even more rightwards and a more virulent Hindutva plank. Congress President Rahul Gandhi led from the front he addressed as many as 82 rallies more than any national leader. He relentlessly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi where it hurts most-on allegation of corruption, crony capitalism, unemployment and agrarian crisis. Now PM Modi and BJP will have to face a more confident and aggressive Rahul Gandhi. Results have shattered Narendra Modis aura of electoral invincibility has been broken and there is now a spring in the steps of the Congress. Only the deeply ideological parties tend to survive the onslaught of continued defeats. Centrist parties, like the Congress, are not ideologically glued, they need impeccable strategy and political combinations to achieve electoral successes. They are shattered if they keep losing. For the Congress, stemming Modis tide, coming to power and political reinvigoration were thus inextricably interlinked. That symbiotic moment has now arrived, and it will make the Lok Sabha elections in a few months very competitive. The Congress has got a new vigor in the Hindi heartland which has become a BJP bastion in last few years. The result of this election is a potential turning point in Congress President Rahul Gandhis political career, he has definitely put the embattled party on a revival path. He provides a potential Centre for an alliance, and the sheer sense of vacuum in the congress party and the Opposition parties is abating. At the end of the day, these elections are about a competing narrative only in a limited sense: A ruling dispensation full of arrogance, hubris, and willing to corrode all civil society and institutions competing with a Congress that is seen as a last defensive stance of an embattled republic. Indias politics which was dominated by the ruling BJP in last four and half years has now become an open field for the Congress and other opposition parties. It can be easily understand from the post-result statements of leaders of the smaller and regional parties opposed to BJP. Thus, these election results have assured the balance of power in Indias national politics and now congress will negotiate from the position of strength in the formation of larger alliance against BJP for the upcoming general election. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday met Qatari state officials on the sidelines of 18th Doha Forum that began on Saturday. Cavusoglu held talks with Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Finance Minister Ali Sharif Al Emadi and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi in the capital Doha. The Turkish minister and Qatari officials discussed regional and bilateral cooperation between the two countries, according to diplomatic sources. Earlier, Cavusoglu held separate meetings with Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Abdulcemil Kirimoglu and UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to discuss the condition of Crimean Tatars and recent developments in Syria. During his stay in Doha, Cavusoglu is also expected to have a bilateral meeting with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The 18th Doha Forum plans to tackle various issues and challenges facing the international community. In addition to political concerns, the forum's agenda will also focus on issues pertaining to the economy, commerce, media, human rights, water and food security, energy, and the future of the Middle East. Bodyguard Bodyguard is a British television series that aired in August and September and is now available on Netflix. The six-episode series centers on a British Army veteran, David Budd (Richard Madden), suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Budd now serves as an officer with that section of the Protection Commanditself a division of Londons Metropolitan Police Servicein charge of security for politicians. After foiling a terrorist bomb plot on a train, Budd is assigned to protect the home secretary, Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). Montague is an ambitious, right-wing politician who has voted consistently for military operations overseas. Budd has bitter feelings about his deployment in Afghanistan. In the course of thwarting the terrorist attack, he tells the would-be female bomber, I was in Afghanistan. I saw mates get killed. Nearly got killed myself. For what? Nothing. Politicians. Cowards and liars. Ours and theirs. People full of talk but will never spill a drop of their own blood. But you and I, were just collateral damage. Nonetheless, Budd stoically takes on the assignment of guarding Montague with his habitual conscientiousness. She, meanwhile, is trying to push through parliament a new Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill, the so-called RIPA-18, known as the Snoopers Charter, which would give the authorities new powers to monitor phone calls, e-mails and social media without judicial review. Nicholas Gleaves, Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden in Bodyguard The home secretary tells the media, I am committed to supporting our security services by giving them greater powers to confront greater threats. Only those intent on acts of violence have anything to fear. Montague also seems intent on challenging the prime minister for leadership of the Conservative Party. This arouses resentment and counter-plotting against her. As noted, early on in the series, there are hints of opposition to the bloody, US-led neocolonial wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. Budd attends a meeting of an anti-war veterans group and hears a speaker assert that for decades the West has been inflicting suffering on the poor and powerless. The war in the desert, in the oil fields, weve brought it back to the streets of Britain. Theres kids growing up over here, all they hear is whats been done to families and friends over there. Who can blame them if they want to push back? And when they push back, our politicians act like its come from nowhere, so they can pass laws restricting our freedoms and order new attacks against the so-called terrorists, and guess what? The cycle of violence goes on. This element more or less disappears, however, as Bodyguard becomes swept up in all its police-and-security services fascination. Over the course of the series six episodes, a number of plot strands unfold. One of the central ones involves a conspiracy to assassinate Montague and Budds relentless efforts to track down the perpetrators. He and the home secretary, in fact, had become personally involved. In one of her relatively few human moments, she tells Budd, Im not the Queen. Youre allowed to touch me. Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes in Bodyguard Terrorists seem to be roaming the streets of London, operating with considerable boldness and self-confidence. One of the targets of an attack is the school that Budds children attend (he is separated from his wife). An old army mate of his (Tom Brooke) also becomes involved in the murder plot against Montague, on the grounds that she should be given a taste of what its like to suffer the consequences of her actions. Various sections of the intelligence apparatus are in sharp conflict with one another. The home secretary, in her attempt at a coup, aligns herself with MI5, the internal intelligence agency, against the Metropolitan Police and portions of her own party, including her former husband, MP Roger Penhaligon (Nicholas Gleaves) the Conservative Party chief whip. This is a very, very dangerous politician. Someone who must be stopped, Budd is told about Montague. On the other hand, the sinister director general of MI5, Stephen Hunter-Dunn (Stuart Bowman), secretly provides the home secretary a tablet with compromising information ( kompromat ) concerning the prime minister (A series of scandals, all covered up. A sexual assault. Drug addiction. Financial impropriety.). The tablet in question eventually becomes the subject of a desperate search by a number of interested parties. Richard Madden in Bodyguard To say the least, Budd has his ups and downs over the six hours or so. Aside from being in the middle of several attempted or actual bombings and two assassination attempts, finding himself strapped into a suicide vest rigged with explosives, and trying to end his own life with what turns out to be a handgun loaded with blanks, he faces intense suspicion from nearly every official quarter and eventually becomes the target of a nationwide manhunt. The former soldier turned policeman more or less single-handedly unravels the complex conspiracy at the center of the series, which proves to be the work of an implausible and politically unlikely criminal alliance. Bodyguard, which obtained a large audience in the UK, is suspenseful enough and sufficiently dramatic and efficient to hold the viewers interest. Some talented performers are involved, including Madden, Hawes, Bowman, Brooke, Vincent Franklin, Paul Ready, Ash Tandon and others. More than that, the series exudes a vaguely anti-establishment air, as long as it is not examined too closely. Even leaving aside the important fact that the series never seriously probes, despite a few faltering cracks at it, the motives behind the quarter-century of endless war, it nevertheless hardly paints a flattering picture of the upper echelons of the British state. For the most part, as presented in Bodyguard, they are a cold-blooded, villainous lot. When one of the innumerable culpable individualsa member of the ruling party and faced with the accusation he had a hand in an assassination plotcomplains to police interrogators, Were politicians. Were not murderers, the viewer seems invited to laugh out loud. Whether it turns out to be the case here or not, an audience member would be more than willing to accept that MI5 or one of the other government bodies portrayed would carry out murder and any other heinous crime without batting an eye. Security brain trust in Bodyguard The monstrousness of the Tory whip, Penhaligon, and the MI5 chief, Hunter-Dunn, is particularly striking. After a minion of the latter is apprehended in the very act of committing a serious crime, Hunter-Dunns response seems a perfect illustration of British imperialist sophistry and ruthlessness, honed over many decades: I can neither confirm nor deny the suspects identity, but what I can confirm is that the requisite authorities apply which render his actions lawful. He should be released immediately. Unfortunately, here too for the most part the official brutality is not traced to its social origins. The critique tends to remain at the level of individuals or agencies power hunger as a thing in itself. The unwillingness or inability to explore certain questions deeply is connected to Bodyguard s oddly noncommittal stance in the end. Given the involvement of genuinely homicidal jihadist forces, is the governments ferocity unfortunate but unavoidable? In the face of apparently widespread and devious, even devilish terrorist plotting, is the right to privacy necessarily a thing of the past? At the very least, the series is murky on these issues. The choice of an uncomplaining, honest policeman endowed with immense physical ability, emotional sensitivity andpolitical intuition as the central protagonist obviously points the goings-on in a certain direction. We are meant to see the police-intelligence universe and its accompanying mentality as inevitable and perhaps even legitimate phenomena. Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden in Bodyguard Bodyguard, in the ostensible name of authenticity, wallows in police and security lingo and idiom. Mysterious and ominous acronyms abound, as in this excerpt from one exchange in Episode 2: We got MASTS in situ? Yes, maam. Theyve reported to the TFC. Subjects on the move. One team visual. Alpha 2-3. Brixton Road, northbound speed 2-5. Continuing north. OK, lets mobilise SCO19 to holding locations for Waterloo StationSouthbank targets. Copy that. Sir. Order from SFC, Trojan to SE1 hold locations. This sort of dialogue is intended to impress, or perhaps intimidate the more susceptible viewer into admiring the professionalism and precision of the units the British ruling elite mobilizes for its own protectionthe professionalism and precision so much on display, for example, in the killing of innocent civilian Jean Charles de Menezes, into whose head a police or special forces squad fired seven shots at point-blank range in July 2005. What the series creators, fully consciously of it or not, doshow is a country ruled by vehemently anti-democratic and authoritarian cliques, none of whom would exhibit the slightest qualms about establishing openly dictatorial rule. Stuart Bowman in Bodyguard Accepting Bodyguard as an accurate guide means drawing the conclusion that Britain is a highly evolved surveillance state, where virtually every word or action, private or public, is being watched or read by someone in authority. Residing in and traveling around London in particular, per this series, involves nothing so much as moving from the gaze of one closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera to another. At a couple of points, in fact, law enforcement agents express regret that this or that small fragment of time or space has avoided or been deleted from the otherwise seamless CCTV continuum. Moreover, when Budd anonymously enters certain keywords related to the komproma t in a computer at an Internet cafe, security operatives, presumably tracking every device in the UK, arrive within minutes. And no one is shocked by their ability to so. All in all, Bodyguard reveals that British democracy is hanging by a thread. For all intents and purposes, of course, the creators leave out of their calculations the working class and its activity, including its opposition to all the filth at the top of society. More than a few surprises lie in store along these lines. Research published by the consumer web site Uswitch reveals that, as winters cold weather bites, the number of households already in debt to energy suppliers in the UK rose by 300,000 in the past year. The outstanding debt owed to power companies in October this year totalled 393 million, an increase of nearly a quarter on the same time last year. It is usually expected that households should be in credit at this time of year, with the expectation that as the colder months ahead arrive, consumers will have the money to pay for higher winter bills. The debts themselves have been in large part due to increased price hikes from the major power suppliers that have taken place over the last two years, with the six biggest suppliers putting up tariffs twice this year. Fuel poor households are defined as those households with above average energy costs, with their income falling below the official poverty line after paying for lighting and heating their homes. Peter Smith, director of policy and research at National Energy Action (NAC), said, Millions of people are approaching this winter with dread and will face unimaginable situations. Those who are repaying large or growing energy debts dont turn the heating on at all, despite knowing it could badly damage their or their familys health. The rise in fuel poverty takes place despite the utilities price cap for millions of vulnerable households that started in April 2017. A study carried out earlier this year by NAC, and the climate change charity E3G, found that up to 3,000 people are dying each year in the UK because they cannot afford to heat their homes, with the UK having the second worst rate of winter deaths in Europe, after Ireland. The study found that of the 168,000 winter deaths that have taken place over the previous five years in the UK, nearly 17,000 were a direct result of fuel poverty. A further 36,000 deaths were attributed to conditions related to living in a cold home. That would mean the number of people dying from cold each year is similar to those dying from prostrate and breast cancer. The researchers pointed to the wider impact of living in cold homesas well as increased fatalities, the greater demand on health service infrastructure, placing more pressure on GP surgeries and Accident and Emergency departments. Infants living in cold homes have a 30 percent greater risk of being admitted to hospital or primary care facilities and are three times more likely to suffer from coughing, wheezing or respiratory illnesses. The governments Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics 2018 shows that the highest level of fuel poverty (19.4 percent) is in households in the private rented sector, compared to 7.7 percent in owner-occupied properties. The numbers of households in employment that are defined as fuel poor stands at 47.4 percent, and households where the reference person is unemployed are four times more likely to be fuel poor than the national average. The largest household group in fuel poverty in 2016 was single parent households, at 26.4 percent, 10 percent above any other group. The problem of fuel poverty is not restricted to towns and cities. According to government figures, 11 percent of those living in households in rural areas of England are fuel poor. This increases to 14 percent for those living in rural villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings, who are deemed to have a higher level of fuel poverty than those living in semi-rural or urban areas. Research by National Energy Action and the Campaign to Protect Rural England found that energy efficiency in homes in rural areas is five years behind urban areas, meaning that some people were having to pay up to 55 percent more on fuel. In response to the rise in rural fuel poverty, the Axewoods Co-Operative was set up. This is a scheme set up to provide free wooden logs in East Devon. It works on a similar basis to a food bankproviding logs from cut-down local trees to residents to burn in open fires and wood burners. Alan Dyer, chairman of the scheme said, Its not aimed at people who might turn up in their Range Rover, load up and say: Thanks very much for the free logs, Dyer said. Fuel poverty is a real problem in rural areas. In the south-west, where wages are low and costs are high, ordinary people are struggling to keep themselves warm. If they have access to a log burner or open fire, the wood we provide could make all the difference According to the Citizens Advice Bureaux charity (CAB), Britain's households now owe a staggering 19 billion in debt, with many falling behind with essential bills for the first time. The CAB said missed bill payments had now overtaken credit card repayments for the first time and were considered a major worry by many consumers. The data was collated from government records and from the CABs own records of more than the 690,000 people it helped last year, who were having trouble repaying household bills. The CAB estimate that as much as 18.9 billion is owed to the government and utility companies, including gas, electricity, water bills, and also unpaid taxes and fines. The utilities companies were owed a total of 3.3 billion by consumers, with water companies owed 2.2 billion and electricity and gas providers being 1.1 billion. The increased stress and anxiety that individuals and families face when they cannot repay debts can lead to mental health problems, and then to additional borrowing. The CAB said that a third of people in debt are likely to be out of full-time employment, with one in three experiencing problems with their mental health. It is an indictment of capitalism that in the 21st century millions of people are worried about putting their heating on, for fear of the bill that will arrive. Heating, lighting and all basic utilities are a requirement of civilised life and a social right, and their provision cannot be dependent on affordability. The following article is the second part of a four-part review of Indefensible: Democracy, Counterrevolution, and the Rhetoric of Anti-Imperialism. Part one | Part two | Part three | Part four An anti-Trotskyist rationale for supporting imperialist war The war for regime change waged in Syria by the NATO powers, in alliance with Al Qaeda, behind the backs of the peoples of America and Europe, is the outcome of three decades of US-led wars across the Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. These crimes of US and European imperialism have not only claimed millions of lives and turned more than 60 million people into refugees. They have exposed the fact that the basic contradictions of capitalism, which led to world war and the October Revolution in the 20th century, remain unresolved. Despite the deep unpopularity of these bloody wars, which have cost trillions of dollars amid the deepest economic crisis of capitalism since the 1930s, attempts by voters to end or limit them, by voting governments out of office in America and Europe, have failed. Successive governments of all political colorations have, on the contrary, stepped them up, and it is clear that this has become a policy endorsed by an entrenched ruling class. When the Syrian regime invited Moscow to help it fight the NATO-backed opposition militias in 2015, for example, NATO escalated the war into a military standoff with Russia, a nuclear power. A century after the outbreak of World War I and the Russian Revolution, the capitalist system is teetering on the brink of a nuclear conflagration. This underscores the enduring relevance of the political alternative to both capitalism and Stalinism posed by Leon Trotskythe co-leader with Vladimir Lenin of the October Revolution, opponent of Stalin, and founder of the Fourth International. Trotskys critique of Stalinisms nationalist rejection of world socialist revolution, and his unrelenting struggle to establish the political independence of the working class from the capitalist class and its middle-class allies, remain the basis of revolutionary socialist politics today. He showed that the crimes of Stalinism, leading to the restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union in 1991, did not reflect Marxism and Bolshevism, but Stalins destruction of any organized Marxist influence within the Soviet Union. These crimes, however, did not end the era of world socialist revolution and the struggle by the working class to take state power and build socialism, which was opened by the October 1917 Russian Revolution. Masses of workers and youth today can and must turn to this perspective. By contrast, Hensman and the parties with whom she is workingthe ISO, the French NPA and Australian SA, all of whom take their inspiration from the descendants of various renegades from Trotskyismhave all thrown in their lot with imperialism. The ISO descends from Max Shachtman, who broke with Trotsky and the Fourth International in 19391940, claiming that the Soviet Union was bureaucratic collectivist. Like Tony Cliff, who later, in Britain, attacked the Soviet Union as a state capitalist society, Shachtman argued that the Soviet Union was not a workers state that had degenerated, as Trotsky had explained, but a historic abortion that had built a new ruling capitalist class. On this basis, Shachtman oriented to the US trade unions, affiliated to the Democratic Party, and Cliff to the social-democratic Labour Party in Britain. While Hensman cites Cliffs book State Capitalism in Russia as the foundation for her view of the Soviet Union as a regime of state capitalist privative accumulation, she also applauds and cites Pabloites like Achcar and Karadjis. Their parties, Frances NPA and Australias SA, descend from forces that broke with Trotskyism and the ICFI in 1953, claiming that Stalinist parties would serve as revolutionary leaderships of the working class. However wildly divergent their appraisals of the Soviet Union appeared to be, on one issue they were united: they all rejected Trotskys struggle to maintain the revolutionary continuity of the October Revolution in struggle against Stalinism. Based on these pessimistic, anti-Trotskyist traditions, Hensman concludes that the only option today is to defend US imperialism and its war drive against Russia. Dismissing the Soviet Union and the 20th century Stalinist states in China and Eastern Europe as state capitalist, and denouncing the entire Bolshevik leadership as Russian imperialists, she presents a world in which there is no political alternative to capitalism. She writes: It is true that neoliberal policies in the Westfavouring the rule of the market in all spheres, promoting privatisation of just about everything, opposing state expenditure on social security and welfare, and being hostile to trade unionsare inimical to the working class. However, it is equally true that state capitalist or former state capitalist regimes have drastically cut back state expenditure on social security and welfare, clamp down ferociously on workers unions that attempt to be independent of the state, and are characterised by enormous and increasing inequality between a small rich minority and a vast impoverished majority. The key difference, therefore, is between democratic states that allow working people to fight back against the forces exploiting and oppressing them, and authoritarian states that block such struggles in multiple ways ... It is far more useful to characterise as left-wing those who prioritise the struggle to establish the conditions in which oppressed and exploited people can fight back, and as right-wing those who crush such struggles and/or promote authoritarian ideologies and inequality in society. It is not difficult to see the outcome of Hensmans reactionary analysis. If one falsely treats America and Europe as states where workers can fight back within the existing social system, whereas Syria, Iran, China and Russia are authoritarian states that block such struggles, then the key task is to forcibly impose on these countries conditions like those in America. This provides her with a pretext to hail US wars for regime change, in Syria and beyond, as wars of liberation. Hensman dismisses, without even a mention, Trotskys call for a revolutionary struggle of the international working class against both imperialism and the counterrevolutionary Stalinist bureaucracy. She also flatly repudiates the defense of the Soviet Union against imperialism. She writes, the notion that being right-wing entails support for private capitalism while being left-wing entails support for state capitalism, or for state-supported oligarchic capitalism, is seriously flawed. She adds, In retrospect, it is evident that the Cold War was a prolonged period of intense rivalry between US imperialism and Russian imperialism. Hensman sides with imperialisms threats and intrigues against both the Soviet Union, where capitalist property had been abolished, and the colonial countries, which imperialism sought, and still seeks, to plunder. This underscores the correctness of the ICFIs refutation of the attacks on Russia, Iran and China as imperialist powers, made from within the petty-bourgeois milieu of the ISO: What political purpose, it must be asked, is served by adding the word imperialist to descriptions of China and Russia? In practical political terms, it serves very definite functions. First, it relativizes, and therefore diminishes, the central and decisive global counterrevolutionary role of American, European and Japanese imperialism. This facilitates the pseudo-lefts active collaboration with the United States in regime-change operations such as in Syria, where the Assad regime has been backed by Russia. Second, and even more significantly, the designation of China and Russia as imperialistand thus, by implication, as colonial powers suppressing ethnic, national, linguistic and religious minoritiessanctions the pseudo-lefts support for imperialist-backed national liberation uprisings and color revolutions ... Whether or not Hensman and the ISO would care to admit it, they stand with both feet firmly in the camp of imperialism and capitalist reaction. One of the most telling omissions in Hensmans book is her silence on the close links between US-led wars and the Al Qaeda terror network, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks. After the Pentagons 2012 statements, the US-Al Qaeda alliance in Syria is a matter of public record. This alliance, which makes particularly clear the fraudulent character of US imperialisms humanitarian pretensions, stretches, however, back to the Cold War. After the Soviet-backed Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) took power in 1978, the Pentagon began arming the Islamist opposition to the PDPA. US officials, reeling from their defeat in Vietnam, devised a policy of sucking the Soviets into a Vietnamese quagmire in Afghanistan, as CIA official Robert Gates wrote in his 1996 memoir From the Shadows. When the Kremlin invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, in a reactionary attempt to strengthen the PDPA regime in Kabul and stabilize the PDPAs relations with the Afghan rural elites, Washington used Afghanistan as a battleground to bleed the Soviet army. One of the CIAs main allies in carrying out this policy, recruiting tens of thousands of Islamist fighters worldwide to go and fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, was a young Saudi billionaire, Osama bin Laden, the future leader of Al Qaeda. Hensman endorses the US policy in Afghanistan, while remaining silent on the CIA-Al Qaeda alliance, and presents it as part of a liberation struggle against Soviet imperialism. She writes, A PDPA coup in 1978 faced tribal revolts that developed into a full-scale uprising by December 1979, when the Russians invaded and occupied Afghanistan. The military campaign that followed resembled the US campaign in Vietnam in its brutality to civilians The war had reached a stalemate in the mid-1980s when Reagan, who was already supporting the mujahideen, agreed to supply them with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. These weapons turned the tide against the Russians... Hensmans defense of the US role in the Soviet-Afghan war, and her silence on CIA-backed Islamist terror networks, are reactionary. She hides the bloody character of the CIA-backed Islamist proxy wars, both in 19791992 in Afghanistan and in 19791982 in Syria. It is the descendants of these same forces, who are fighting todays Syrian war, that Hensman hails as a democratic revolution. To be continued Seven-year-old Jackeline Caal died in the custody of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last week, the agency admitted Thursday. The childs death was a direct consequence of the savage repression of immigrants by the Trump administration, which has intensified to the point where such deaths cannot be considered accidents. They are the inevitable and deliberate result of policies chosen to maximize the suffering and privation for refugees seeking asylum in the United States. Caal and her father were part of a group of more than 160 Guatemalan immigrants who crossed the US-Mexico border on the night of December 6, seeking sanctuary from rampant violence and oppression in their home country. They turned themselves in to immigration officials at the port-of-entry in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Caals father Nery told the CBP that she was ill and vomiting, but there were no medical personnel at the location. The detained immigrants were packed into two buses and taken on a 90-minute drive north, ending at a CBP facility in Lordsburg, New Mexico. Once in Lordsburg, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents separated Caal from her father on the pretext that he did not have documents proving they were related. This is part of the deliberately cruel regime maintained along the border, aimed at intimidating refugees with the threat that their children will be taken away from them and never returned. After the separation, Caal began having seizures. Local emergency media personnel were called and had to revive the child twice when she stopped breathing. They found she had a fever of 105.7 degrees. They had her airlifted to a hospital in El Paso, Texas, about 160 miles away. There she was treated for severe dehydration and lack of food, but died in the intensive care unit less than 24 hours later. Her father Nery had been driven to the hospital and was there when she died. The chain of circumstances here is damning. The refugees were compelled to make the dangerous trek through the Sonora desert because the US government refuses to allow them to apply for asylum at well-traveled border crossings, deliberately stalling their processing for weeks, even months. The CBP facility at Antelope Wells had no medical personnel and was completely unsuited for receiving refugees in family groups. At a congressional hearing Tuesday, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan testified that the stations were built many years ago to handle border crossers who were unaccompanied men of working age, usually in good physical condition. In November, however, 25,000 immigrants crossed the US-Mexico border as family groups, he said, including 5,200 children without a guardian. Our infrastructure is incompatible with this reality, McAleenan admitted. Our border patrol stations and ports of entry were built to mostly handle male single adults in custody. Not families or children. Once the CBP took the Guatemalan group into custody, they first ignored the fathers concern for his young daughter, then deliberately separated him from her, claiming he lacked proof of parenthood. It was only when the girl stopped breathing that emergency services were called. But it proved to be too late. It is not clear whether the CBP provided either water or food to the refugees after they turned themselves in. When the news of this horrific death was first reported Thursday night, the Trump administration immediately went into damage control, blaming the family of the child. Appearing on Trumps favorite program, "Fox & Friends," on Friday morning, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen declared, This family chose to cross illegally. She continued, What happened here was they were about 90 miles away from where we could process them. They were in such a large crowd that it took our Border Patrol folks a couple of times to get them all. The DHS secretary concluded by making use of the tragedy to deter future border crossings. I cannot stress, she said, how dangerous this journey is when migrants choose to come here illegally. The White House took the same tack, even more crudely. Does the administration take responsibility for a parent taking a child on a trek through Mexico to get to this country? No, Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said Friday morning, also on Fox News. Neither the DHS secretary nor the White House addressed the undisputed fact that Jackeline Caal died, not in the desert, but in the custody of the DHS. The CBP and DHS initially refused to release the name of the young victim, describing her only as a juvenile detainee in the statement announcing her death. It was only the foreign ministry of Guatemala that supplied the name of the girl and her 29-year-old father, adding that they were from Raxruha, in the Alta Verapaz department of northern Guatemala. The father is a native speaker of a Mayan Indian language. He has limited fluency in Spanish as a second language and no English. He was interrogated in Spanish by Border Patrol agents and filled out a health questionnaire in English at their direction. The death of Jackeline Caal prompted a flood of hypocritical statements from Democratic Party politicians. There are no words to capture the horror of a seven-year-old girl dying of dehydration in US custody, Hillary Clinton said on Twitter Friday morning. Whats happening at our borders is a humanitarian crisis. Clinton was part of the Obama administration, which deported more immigrants than all previous administrations in American history, mobilized troops to the border like Trump, if on a slightly smaller scale, and began the mass detention of refugee families from Central America, which Trump has now transformed into a virtual war against supposed invaders of the United States. Moreover, as secretary of state, Clinton was directly responsible for the US-backed military coup in Honduras in 2009, which was a turning point in the upsurge of mass repression and violence that is the driving force for the large-scale northward migration from that country. The ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, wrote on twitter that DHS Secretary Nielsen was to appear before the committee next week, and we will be demanding immediate answers to this tragedy. Nadler appeared on several television interview programs last Sunday in which he raised the prospect of impeaching Trump over campaign finance violations or the Russia investigation, and said nothing at all about the administrations persecution of immigrants. Beto ORourke, the Democratic congressman from El Paso, where Jackeline Caal died, tweeted, I am deeply saddened by this girls death, adding, There must be a complete investigation and the results shared with Congress and the public. ORourke, who lost the Senate race in Texas to incumbent Ted Cruz, is now considering a presidential bid. Representative Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, the incoming chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), is also considering a 2020 presidential campaign. He issued a statement declaring, This is a humanitarian crisis and we have a moral obligation to ensure these vulnerable families can safely seek asylum, which is legal under immigration and international law, at our borders. A third potential 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, denounced the death of Jackeline Caal as tragic and awful, but said there was no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the Border Patrol officers. I hope she got immediate care and received water as everybody should at the border, he said, but he offered no evidence that this was the case. The most emotional statement from a Democrat came from Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard of California, who will head the Appropriations Subcommittee for Homeland Security in January. She tweeted that she was horrified, heartbroken and infuriated and declared, This is yet another example of how the Trump Administration puts NO value on the lives and dignity of our immigrant brothers and sisters. All these Democratic representatives and senators, however, were supporters of the Obama administration during the period that it maintained the most repressive anti-immigrant policy in American historyuntil Trump. Moreover, the Democratic representatives have just reelected Nancy Pelosi as their leader, after which she went to the White House with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer to argue with Trump about the border wall, while pledging her support for increased border security to the tune of at least $1.3 billion. In other words, the Democrats are happy to bash Trump after a tragedy like the death of Jackeline Caal, but they are fully in support of the machinery of repression on the border that makes such deaths inevitable, as long as it doesnt take the form of a concrete wall from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico. Also on Friday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it had arrested more undocumented immigrants during the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2018 than in any year since 2014. The total was 158,851 people, an 11 percent increase over 2017. ICE arrests of immigrants with no criminal history jumped by nearly one third, to 20,464. Criminal history can be as little as a drunk driving arrest or minor drug possession, or reentry into the United States after being deported once. While these figures show that during the first fiscal year entirely under the Trump administration persecution of immigrants increased significantly, they also show that Trump still lags behind the worst years of the Obama administration, when Obama was branded the deporter-in-chief by immigrants rights groups. Over the past weeks, Socialist Equality Party (SEP) campaigners have spoken to workers, students and young people about an SEP meeting in Sydney and global Facebook livestream this Sunday in defence of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The event is being held amid stepped up attempts by US and British authorities to force Assange out of Ecuadors London embassy and into their clutches so that he can be prosecuted for WikiLeaks role in exposing war crimes, illegal diplomatic intrigues and mass spying. The sentiments of ordinary people in support of the courageous journalist and publisher stand in sharp contrast to the collaboration of the Liberal-National Coalition government, the Labor Party and the entire political establishment, including the trade unions and the Greens, with the persecution of Assange. Kerry Kerry, a customer service employee in Sydney, told WSWS reporters that Julian Assange is a pioneer. Hes someone who has really gone the extra mile to find out the truth and to put it out to the public. We need to know whats going on. Hes being attacked by governments because WikiLeaks touched on things that they didnt want ordinary people to know about. What WikiLeaks exposed about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan shocked me, because I had not seen it anywhere else. These wars have been disgusting. How can governments be allowed to do these things without any respect for human life, or other countries and their people? What were being told by the corporate media is just for their benefit and to brainwash us into thinking that their policies are in the interests of working people. In reality, everything is driven by greed. I dont think society is heading down a good path at all. Things dont seem to be getting better. The gap between the rich and the poor just keeps widening. I believe in people power. The more people that are gathered together to fight, maybe something will change. The Australian government is not representing what most Australians think should happen to Assange. If you were to ask most people, Im sure they would say that the way hes being treated is wrong. The government isnt reflecting our views. The Australian and US governments are scratching each others backs. Hilary, who works at a small business in Melbourne, commented: Julian Assange is in a ghastly situation. I think it is appalling that the Australian government wont defend him as an Australian citizen. It sends shivers down your back. There is no principle in what theyre doing. It is because of the alliance with the US. Theyre not willing to upset the bigger players. People in Australia think weve got a proper government, but we dont. When push comes to shove, they are puppets. The fact that the lefts and the Greens are refusing to defend Assange is part of the same thing. It is exposing them. Theyre trying to line up with Murdoch and with the United States, in the hope that they will be chosen to be in an Australian government. Ordinary people support Assange, but there is not much opportunity for them to express how they feel. There is no vehicle. The media is not behaving like the media should. Instead it is just a megaphone for whoever owns it. If youre a journalist working for them, you have to say what youre told, you cant maintain any principled position. Assange has shown what a journalist should be. Dawit, a worker originally from Ethiopia, spoke to the WSWS in Newcastle, a regional centre north of Sydney. He condemned the actions of the imperialist powers, stating: The US has extended its reach to almost all nations in the world through military intervention and so-called development assistance. They dont want Assange disclosing how they are doing this, because it reveals the crimes they are committing. The information that WikiLeaks has released is really very important. It has revealed the persecution of people in developing countries all over the world by the major powers. WikiLeaks has released information on how African leaders are corrupted and steal money to give back to the rich for their mansions and to give money to big corporations in France and Britain. Regular people have no way of knowing the extent of this without what WikiLeaks has done. Robert Robert, a retired miner in Newcastle, said: The Australian governments role in the attacks on Assange has been pathetic, gutless, disgraceful. They just do what the US deep state tells them to do. The banking and military conglomerate that controls America behind the scenes told [former Australian prime minister John] Howard to go to war in Afghanistan, and later we went to Syria. Robert spoke out against the unsubstantiated and pro-war claims that Russia had interfered in US politics, and that China was attempting to do the same in Australia. The claims of foreign interference in elections these days are a load of rubbish, he said. You think America hasnt messed around with our elections? What theyre really afraid of is losing their grip on the population. I heard that 60-70 percent of the US population doesnt believe the mainstream media, and are looking elsewhere for information. The free flow of information, which Assange has been providing, is a threat to the powers that be. Rhianon, a nursing student at the University of Newcastle, stated: The treatment of Julian Assange is worrisome because it details the lengths governing bodies will go to keep information from the people they govern. This is information which everyone should have access to. It is our right to be informed on the actions of those we employ to represent us and to run our society. Assange attempted to reveal the corruption and violation of ethics by governments, despite the risk to himself: a noble and praiseworthy task. However, he is being treated like a criminal by those who wish to hide their activities in order to protect their own interests at our expense. Michael, a student at the University of Melbourne, said: The allegations of sexual assault against Assange were shown to be false. The real reason why these powerful governments are going after him is not because of his personality or his personal affairs, but because he exposed the US intelligence agencies' real role and war crimes. Governments are starting to see how dangerous WikiLeaks sort of revelations are. They go against the narrative of countries doing good when they go off to other parts of the world. They are supposedly fighting for freedom. The leaks reveal that its basically just a money grabbing exercise. For example, the US is in the Middle East for oil. Khaled This is all part of the drive to another major war. The attack on democratic rights is a characteristic of fascism and the drive to war. While I wouldnt say any countries today are outright fascist, you could see similar trends to what took place under Hitler, Mussolini and Franco. They all violently suppressed any opposition to the ideology and policies of the state. Khaled, a pensioner in the working-class Sydney suburb of Auburn, said: One clear image I have from WikiLeaks is of the American soldiers in a military helicopter firing on unarmed civilians in Iraq. The release of this kind of information gives an indication of what the superpowers are doing behind the scene. It is still indelibly etched in the minds of those who saw it. We have to get behind Assange and find him a safe haven. The authors also recommend: SEP meeting and livestream on December 16: What next in the fight to free Julian Assange? [28 November 2018] In a demonstration of contempt for the will of workers, United Auto Workers Local 2335 informed its members at Lear Corporations northwest Indiana auto parts plants on Thursday that they would have to vote on the union-company contract proposal for a third time. Workers at the plants have already courageously voted down UAW-backed deals twice, once in mid-October, by 74 percent, and again at the beginning of December, by 67 percent. New contract packets were quietly distributed to workers throughout the day Thursday. Workers were informed that they would vote on the deal Monday and Tuesday. The UAW has made no public statement on its latest move, seeking to avoid scrutiny by Ford, GM, Fiat Chrysler and other workers, who have closely followed the stand taken by Lear workers. Lear workers informed the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter that the proposal was essentially the same as the first two they voted down, with the addition of larger signing bonuses based on seniority. Such lump-sum payments have long been utilized by the UAW and other unions to try to blackmail workers struggling to get by on poverty wages into accepting concessions contracts. They do nothing to ensure workers pay keeps up with, let alone surpasses, the rising cost of living. The proposed deal is absolutely ridiculous, a worker at the Portage plant told the WSWS. The union and company think that by giving us signing bonuses that its going to make up for the lack of a pay raise. This is supposed to entice people who just dont get it, another worker at the Hammond plant said. Folks are still angry about it. Workers have forcefully rejected the contracts pushed by the UAW, negotiated behind closed doors with the company, because they fail to meet any of their essential demands. It would maintain the arbitrary divisions between just-in-time and sub-assembly workers, with the latter starting as low as $13.50 an hour; fail to give adequate raises to legacy workers; significantly increase health care costs, including premiums and deductibles; fail to restore pensions or COLA (cost-of-living raises); and establish a new job rotation efficiency scheme, entailing further demands for speed-up and likely to force out older, better-paid workers. The deal, nominally a four-year contract, would also include an automatic one-year extension. As with the in-progression raises at the Detroit-based auto companiesan eight-year pay scale in a four-year contractany promises of pay increases beyond the life of the contract are worthless. Its a five-year [deal], but no one knows whats going to go on in the fifth year until it gets here, said the worker at Hammond. Workers at Lear have viewed the UAWs promotion of the deal with hostility and suspicion. They are determined not to be cheated again, as in 2014, when UAW officials brazenly lied about eliminating two-tier, when in fact the tier system was expanded and deepened, with sub-assembly workers making as little as $12.10 an hour at a new plant in Portage. The UAW has repeatedly made clear that it couldnt care less what workers think. It has kept workers on the line despite a 90 percent strike authorization vote in October. After workers massively rejected the first proposal, denouncing it as a joke and BS, Local 2335 officials held phony feedback meetings, in which workers were told the deal is what it is and that Lear, a Fortune 500 company that has been making record profits, doesnt have money to give anything more. We were told at one meeting by International [UAW officials] that we already set the high standard, that we are the highest-paying Lear plant, another veteran worker at the Hammond plant told the WSWS. So why cant we set an even higher standard? The UAW has combined its signing bonus carrots with the sticks of threats and intimidation against workers. Workers who have spoken out on Facebook or commented on WSWS articles have reported being harassed by union officials. Workers have expressed concern that the UAW would seek to use a third no vote to maneuver workers into launching an ineffective strike action before the holiday. Some people are worried that if its voted down again they will allow us to strike during Christmas shutdown, the Hammond worker said, which will only hurt the people not the company, because theres no production during that time. The whole idea of a strike would be to hurt the company. Other workers have indicated their fear that the UAW would simply override a third no vote, and declare the contract ratified. Such worries, which are well founded, point to a basic truth: The UAW is not a union or workers organization in any meaningful sense of those words. It does not unite workers to carry out a struggle, but rather divides them through the tier system and other means, and seeks to block strikes or render them impotent. It has become a corrupt department of company management, deeply hostile to workers interests. Workers should reject this latest attempt to force a sellout down their throat. However, the UAW has shown that it will not accept no for an answer, and will only escalate its pressure tactics until workers get the vote right. No amount of rank-and-file pressure directed at the union can change this. The answer to the brazen and arrogant efforts of the UAW to cram this contract down their throats must be the building of new organizations of struggle independent of the union apparatus. The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter calls for the creation of rank-and-file factory committees, to take control of all negotiations and any decisions about a strike out of the hands of the UAW completely. Workers must decide their fate, not the corporate hacks of the UAW! The fight by Lear workers is part of a broader class struggle, which has dramatically escalated across the world in 2018, from wildcat strikes by teachers in the US to the yellow vest protests against social inequality in France. While the UAW has done everything it can to keep workers divided and isolated from each other, momentum is building for a joint struggle for workers interests. Last Sunday, December 9, the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter and Socialist Equality Party held a significant meeting in Detroit to organize the opposition by autoworkers to the Detroit Threes plans for plant shutdowns, layoffs, and new concessions. Delegates at the meeting, including workers from Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler, unanimously voted to adopt a resolution to form rank-and-file committees to unify the struggle for the right to decent, good-paying jobs. To carry forward their fight, it is critical that Lear workers form links with workers throughout the auto industry and beyond. The Autoworker Newsletter will provide every assistance possible in this effort, and urges workers who want to join this initiative to contact us today. The author also recommends: Report to Detroit meeting to fight GM plant closings [13 December 2018] Indiana Lear auto parts workers vote down UAW sellout contract second time [3 December 2018] A tragic workplace accident in the small Canadian town of Leduc, just south of Edmonton, Alberta, has claimed the lives of three workers. Just before 3PM on November 15th, emergency crews were called to a chemical-industrial site in the Leduc Business Park. Three men aged 31, 34, and 52 who worked there were declared dead soon after. Little information has been released about the circumstances surrounding the fatalities. Alberta Federation of Labour spokesperson Trent Bancarz stated, We dont have details of exactly what happened. Leduc Mayor Bob Young claimed the men were killed in a gas accident and offered his condolences to the victims families. The occupational disaster took place at Millennium Cryogenic Technologies, a facility that uses liquid nitrogen as a strengthening agent for equipment manufactured for the oil industry. The company has not released a public statement on the incident. Cody, the son of Daryn Bondarchuck, one of the men who died, said his father had worked at the plant for about two years. He related that his father was a careful person who took safety seriously. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), a provincial government agency, took over the inquiry into the Leduc accident from the RCMP. OHS only allowed the company to resume operations in late November but has been reluctant to provide any details on its investigation into what led to the accident. Members of the Alberta cryogenics industry responded with apparent surprise to the fatal accident. President of Alberta Cryogenics Jeff Worth asserted, while nitrogen is classified as a dangerous good, working with it is generally considered low risk ... It's safe, as long as it's handled properly. In reality, nitrogen is a well-known silent killer and the risks of asphyxiation have been well-established. According to the OHS website, when there is not enough air or oxygen, asphyxiation and death can (and do) occur. Between 1992 and 2002, there were 80 deaths related to nitrogen in the USA. The gas is so potent that three statesAlabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippihave authorized its use as a backup method of capital punishment. Industrial tragedies such as the accident in Leduc are sadly all too commonplace across the country and in all economic sectors. On November 21, a man died after being electrocuted at a greenhouse in Leamington, Ontario. The following day, a Canadian Pacific train conductor was hit and killed by a train in Calgary, Alberta, and four days later a 24-year-old man was killed in Magnetawan, Ontario when his commercial vehicle rolled on top of him while he was installing chains. In 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada documented 905 workplace-related deaths across the country. This equates to around four deaths for every day of a five-day work week. Ontario had the most fatalities with 289, followed by Alberta and British Columbia with 144 each. A marked increase in illness-related deaths in the provinces of Nova Scotia (21 percent), New Brunswick (17 percent), and British Columbia (9 percent) was also noted. In Saskatchewan, the Workers Compensation Board reported that the number of workplace fatalities almost doubled from the previous year. Government indifference to the alarming statistics on worker fatalities is reflected in lax occupational health and safety regulations, designed to protect employers and permit the further expansion of their profits. As the World Socialist Web Site noted last year, provincial penalties for occupational deaths range from just $25,563 in British Columbia to a still meager $275,000 in Alberta. These nominal fines do nothing to deter corporations, who simply view them as a surcharge on the cost of doing business. Criminal prosecutions for workplace deaths are virtually unheard of. The longest jail sentence handed down to an employer for a worker death since 2007 was 60 days. The horrendous levels of workplace fatalities and injuries result directly from government policies permitting private businesses to operate with absolute impunity in their drive to boost the exploitation of their workers. That lives are compromised everyday by revenue-driven protocols of sped-up workflows, faulty equipment, temporary employment hiring practices, improper handling of dangerous chemicals, and inadequate employee training is of no consequence to corporations, which can fairly assume that the government will turn a blind eye to their malefactions. Regulatory bodies, compelled to operate with ever declining budgets as a result of government austerity, are impotent. That they understand workplace accidents to be entirely preventable is of no avail. Under conditions where private profit is the main driver of economic production, accidents can only be treated as inevitable, while safety warnings count for little or nothing. The unions, which long ago renounced the defence of even the immediate interests of workers, are fully complicit in the deterioration in workplace safety. When workers seek to resist wage cuts, pension and benefit concessions, and unsafe working conditions, the unions endeavour to smother and betray their struggles. At the same time, the unions connive with the employers to intensify the exploitation of working people in the name of ensuring corporate competitiveness and saving jobs. The duplicitous character of the union bureaucracy can be seen in the recent strike at Canada Post, where workers are struggling against a dramatic deterioration in working conditions, including the expansion of two-tier and precarious employment and a huge spike in work-related injuries. Postal workers suffer injuries on the job at a rate more than five times greater than the norm in federally regulated sectors. Although armed with a massive strike mandate, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) kept workers on a tight leash. It organized a campaign of limited rotating strikes and kept silent about the threat of a government back-to-work law, even after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had all but announced that his Liberals were preparing to criminalize all job action against Canada Post. Then, when the Liberals rammed an emergency strikebreaking law though parliament, CUPW President Mike Palecek ordered postal workers to return to their jobs under conditions where none of the safety issues have been addressed. The capitalists insatiable greed for ever greater profits has led to increased corporate demands for faster, cheaper labour and extreme cost-cutting measures, turning industrial workplaces into death traps. Decades of corporatist collaboration between the unions, employers and the state have invariably resulted in the erosion of safety regulations and the adoption of occupational safety legislation that all but guarantees employers freedom from prosecution, and that the concerns and complaints of workers will be sidelined and stifled. Under these conditions, further workplace tragedies are inevitable. In a social order in which employers routinely neglect the basic safety needs of workersand governments and pro-capitalist unions act as their accomplicesthe only path forward is for workers to build rank-and-file workplace committees to fight for their rights as an integral part of the development of a socialist working-class political movement. Such a movement would fight for workers control over production and the radical reorganization of socioeconomic life, so as to make human needs, not the profits of a tiny bloated minority, its animating principle. During the days leading up to Australian Labor Partys three-day national conference, which begins in Adelaide tomorrow, some media reports have suggested that it could feature democratic, or even flashpoint debates. The prospect has been raised that members of what is misleadingly called Labors Left faction could raise certain differences on issues such as refugees, industrial relations and welfare payments. In reality, the factional powerbrokers, who control the party and its affiliated unions, have been holding intensive backroom negotiations for days, to ensure that this will be the most carefully-orchestrated conference ever. Even the token, set-piece debates of previous conferences, held every three or four years, will be brushed aside. Nothing can be permitted to upset the partys preparations to form another pro-business government, to replace the rapidly unraveling Liberal-National Coalition. Labors leaders are acutely conscious of intensifying hostility among working people and youth toward the entire political establishment, including the Labor Party, after decades of worsening inequality, destruction of jobs and conditions, and involvement in US-led wars. That is why attempts are being made to create illusions that Labor, which has been reduced to nothing but a bureaucratic shell, after propping up capitalist rule for more than a century, retains some semblance of democratic life. The truth, however, is that everyone involved, not least the Left faction, is completely complicit in the partys thoroughly right-wing, Washington-aligned and pro-war trajectory. For decades, Labor Party conferences have been little more than stage-managed vehicles for rubber-stamping the requirements of the corporate elitefrom the pro-market economic restructuring and privatisations of the Hawke and Keating governments of 1983 to 1996, to the Gillard governments alignment behind the Obama administrations anti-China pivot to Asia in 2011. Back in the 1980s, the nominally left wing of the Labor Party, then called the "Socialist Left," was still able to command significant support in the working class, by exploiting mistaken hopes that the party could be pushed in a progressive, or even socialist, direction. Those days have long gone. But the Left faction has continued to serve as a vital prop in a succession of Labor governments. In fact, all the current leaders of the factionsuch as deputy party leader Tanya Plibersek, former Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Finance Minister Penny Wongserved as senior ministers in the last Labor government. They all worked seamlessly with both Prime Minister Julia Gillard, herself a member of their faction, and Labor leader Bill Shorten, a progeny of the Right faction, which played a pivotal role in installing Gillard as prime minister in 2010. She came to power in order to execute Canberra's unconditional commitment to Washington, complete with the stationing of US marines in Darwin. This year, no public debate will be permitted, even on the one issue where previous "debates" have been carefully stage-managedLabors bipartisan agreement with the Liberal-National Coalition governments brutal anti-refugee policy. And this is despite growing public revulsion toward the military's repulsion of asylum seekers boats, and the indefinite detention of refugees on remote Pacific islands. Before Labors last national conference in 2015, Shorten effectively pre-empted the gathering by announcing, on its eve, that a Labor government would retain the Coalitions boat turnbacks and offshore detention measures. This year, the Left leaders are doing likewise. In repeated media performances, Plibersek, Albanese and Wong have ruled out any, even cosmetic, opposition to the draconian refugee regime, which brazenly flouts international refugee law, as well as the fundamental democratic right to seek asylum. Albanese declared that the existing policy had been successful in stopping refugee arrivals. That this is regarded as a success underscores the anti-working class character of the Labor Party. Workers should have the right to live and work in whichever country they choose, with full citizenship rights, not be detained indefinitely in squalid conditions. Australian military forces have repelled an unknown number of boats. Internationally, an estimated 65 million people have fled their homelands, overwhelmingly due to military interventions in the Middle East by the US and its partners, including Australia. At the 2015 conference, the Left orchestrated a one-hour debate on an amendment to oppose boat turnbacks. Its purpose was to create the impression of a healthy democratic culture inside the Labor Party and a phony show of compassion. Despite several theatrical speeches of opposition, journalists were informed, in advance, that a Left faction amendment rejecting the practice would be defeated after a token show of hands. This year, such an amendment is unlikely to even make it to the floor. Cross-factional meetings have been conducted to fashion an innocuous amendment to the draft party platform. Whatever its final form, any amendment will be designed to support the anti-refugee regime, while holding out a pretence that Labor can provide a less vicious means of enforcing it. The proposal may adopt a version of a bill that Labor supported in the Senate last week. It actually permitted doctors to recommend the evacuation of some of the seriously-ill and traumatised refugees from the camps on Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Island. Nevertheless, Plibersek and others have emphasised that the final decisions must remain in the hands of the immigration minister. This is in keeping with Labors foul record. In the 1980s and 1990s, the left immigration ministers, Gerry Hand and Stewart West, spearheaded Labor's anti-refugee policies under the Hawke and Keating governments. These governments introduced the mandatory detention regime for all asylum seekers, setting a global precedent. The Rudd and Gillard governments of 2007 to 2013 reopened the Nauru and Manus detention centres, imprisoning hundreds of refugees, many of whom remain incarcerated today. Rupert Murdochs Australian editorial on Wednesday praised Shorten, saying he had nailed his colours to the mast on boat turnbacks and offshore processing. As in 2015, Shortens stance, embraced by the Left faction, has sent a broader signal to the capitalist class. With Prime Minister Scott Morrisons Coalition government being torn apart by its most right-wing elements, Labor is anxiously preparing a government that will be committed to reliably imposing the corporate agenda of austerity, pro-US militarism and state repression. The author also recommends: Australian Labor Party prepares for government amid political and economic turmoil [14 December 2018] The Russian edition of David Norths In Defense of Leon Trotsky was successfully presented in Moscow at the international book fair non/fiction, which took place from November 28 to December 2 at the Central House of Artists at Krymskii Val. The view of the fair from the outside The 20th annual book fair non/fiction is the largest of its kind in Russia. Over 300 publishing houses from 24 different countries were represented there, offering readers some 1 million books on the most diverse subjects, including science, culture, history and philosophy. The cover of the Russian edition of In Defense of Leon Trotsky The book, In Defense of Leon Trotsky, published this year by the German Mehring Verlag, was presented alongside a number of other books of the publishing house, at the stand of the Frankfurt book fair. Its author, David North, has played a leading role in the international socialist movement, and is the chairperson of the international editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site and of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP-US). The book is dedicated to refuting the attacks, in a series of recent books by British historians, on the ideological and political heritage and personality of Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), one of the leaders of the October Revolution and the main opponent of Stalin. As North shows, almost 80 years after the murder of Trotsky at the hands of a Stalinist assassin, the Stalinist distortions and falsifications of historical facts have found their way into contemporary Western academia, which is now in a deep crisis. The publication of the book is of particular importance in Russia. Here, more than 100 years after the October Revolution, and in the year of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International, the disputes about questions of history have the most immediate political significance. Some 30 years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist bureaucracy, social inequality in Russia has reached record heights, while the war drive by US and European imperialism raises the immediate danger of another world war. Yet none of the major social and political issues facing the working class in Russia can be addressed outside of a historical understanding of the fate of the Russian Revolution, and above all the struggle of Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition against the betrayals of Stalinism. Trotsky once described the historical lie as the ideological cement of social and political reaction. The survival of the Russian oligarchy, no less than the existence of the Stalinist bureaucracy, from which it directly emerged, depends upon them. This is why, to this day, Trotsky is widely slandered in Russia by both pro-Stalinist and anti-Communist historians that receive substantial backing by the Kremlin. In 2017, the centenary year of the October Revolution, a state-sponsored television serial filled with historical falsifications and anti-Semitism was released to discredit Trotsky and disorient the growing interest in his political legacy. The Russian publication of In Defense of Leon Trotsky marks a major step in the defense of historical truth about Leon Trotsky and the Russian Revolution, and in laying the political foundations for the building of a Russian section of the ICFI. The Russian edition of In Defense of Leon Trotsky alongside other books of the Mehring Verlag at display at the Moscow book fair Discussions by our correspondents at the book fair with several students and intellectuals reflected the growing interest in these historical and political questions and significant support for the publication of the book. Denis, a student in Moscow, said that he was interested in books about contemporary Trotskyism and questions about neo-fascism, the growth of far-right forces and the fate of German social democracy. He said that American and Western scholars often come to visit his university. When he asked one of them about the aggressive actions of the West and the US, the scholar was forced to acknowledge that the entire American establishment, not only Trump, were extremely aggressive. Denis himself expressed great concern about the growing threat of war between Russia and the US and NATO. Igor, also a student, stated that a clarification of all the historical questions bound up with Leon Trotsky was very important for understanding the contemporary world. He also said that his friend, who is currently writing his dissertation, was researching the far right in Germany and reads German. At the stand, the books Warum sind sie wider da? (Why are they back?) by Christoph Vandreier and the volume Wissenschaft oder Kriegspropaganda? (Science or War Propaganda?), which are essential to understanding these questions, were also presented to Russian readers. Lev Moskovkin, the parliamentary correspondent of the newspaper Moskovskaya Pravda, and a trained geneticist who studied with the internationally renowned biologist and geneticist Nikolai Timofeev-Ressovsky (1900-1981), said that he had been interested in Trotsky for a long time. The book is interesting, and its author has undertaken a curious analysis, exposing anti-Semitism in the British assessment of Trotskys role. On his blog, Moskovkin wrote after the book fair: The figure of Trotsky is key to an understanding not only of Russian history, but of the entire history of the 20th century worldwideI had assumed that no one would really doubt that. Just like the fact that Trotsky was the creator of the Red Army. In discussion with our correspondents, he stated that he highly values the publications on the World Socialist Web Site. In particular, he was glad to find an article on the WSWS dedicated to the German communist Nathan Steinberger (1910-2005), who had spent many years in Stalinist camps and whose name is mentioned in the famous memoirs by Yevgenia Ginzburg, Within the Whirlwind. Nathan Steinberger and his wife, Edith, had visited the family of Moskovkins grandfather many times in Moscow after they had returned from the Stalinist camps in Kolyma (a region in Russia's far-north). Oleg from Moscow, 54 years old, said he was interested not only in the history of the Russian Revolution and the legacy of Leon Trotsky, but was also collecting artifacts that are related to the history of the October Revolution. He told us that his grandfather had been a doctor and was in Ukraine during the Civil War, where he went over to the side of the Reds (the Bolsheviks). As a child, he listened to his grandfather's stories about this time, which made clear how fundamentally different the depiction of these events in the official Soviet propaganda was from the actual reality. Yuri Primakov Yuri Primakov, the son of the commander and Left Opposition member Vitali Primakov, who was shot in 1937 in the Tukhachevsky trial against leaders of the Red Army, welcomed the publication of the book with the following words: Its [the books] appearance is a very important event. In Russia, the name of Trotsky is still either silenced, or subject to the most vulgar attacks. The Russian edition of David Norths book In Defense of Leon Trotsky should help the Russian-language readers not only to discover the real Trotsky, but also to understand the tragic fate of the Russian Revolution, and to acknowledge the profoundly negative role that Stalinism played in Soviet history. The Russian edition of In Defense of Leon Trotsky is available both as an eBook and in paperback, and can be ordered here. Vladimir Volkovs preface to the Russian edition is available here. The English edition of In Defense of Leon Trotsky is available from Mehring Books. Contact us at: gleichheit.de, email: mehring@gleichheit.de Workers at the Navistar plant in Springfield, Ohio are scheduled to vote again Sunday on a proposed six-year contract negotiated by the United Auto Workers (UAW). No details have been released ahead of the vote by UAW Local 402, the bargaining agent for workers at the facility that makes commercial trucks. There are more than 1,800 workers at the Springfield assembly plant. In addition to workers in Springfield, the agreement covers about 400 workers at a Melrose Park, Illinois engineering and engine assembly facility and workers at parts distribution centers in Atlanta, Dallas and York, Pennsylvania, who will also be voting. On December 2 Navistar workers voted down a contract proposal brought back by the UAW by a 98 percent margin. The contract had expired October 1, but the UAW kept workers on the job while talks continued, refusing to set a strike deadline. The overwhelming no vote by Navistar workers follows multiple contract rejection votes by Lear seating workers in northwest Indiana. It is a further sign of the growth of militancy in the working class and follows statewide strikes by teachers earlier this year, strikes by hotel workers and strike votes by United Parcel Service workers and steelworkers at US Steel and ArcelorMittal. Mass opposition is developing among autoworkers to the announced closure of five General Motors factories in the US and Canada. Navistar has US production facilities in Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio and Mississippi. Globally it has operations in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, China, South Africa and Brazil. The company is highly profitable. Navistar had pretax income of $180 million in the third quarter of 2018. Navistar Chairman and CEO Troy Clark collected $5 million in total compensation in 2017 with an additional $8.9 million in stock options. Before taking over at Navistar in 2013 Clark worked for GM for 35 years, including as head of GM North America. In a statement posted on its website the company said of the latest contract, We are confident that this agreement will help us work as a team to competitively build our vehicles, run our plants and win in the market. Management has embraced lean practices and strategies supposedly to eliminate waste and inefficiencies in the manufacturing process, but in reality aimed largely at squeezing more production and profits out of workers. The corporatist and anti-worker nature of the relationship between the UAW and Navistar is spelled out in the fact that Jeffrey Dokho, assistant director of the UAW research department, sits on the Navistar board of directors where he earns $64,834 annually in addition to his $100,000 plus UAW salary. Dokho replaced former UAW President Dennis Williams on the Navistar board. Williams is currently under investigation for his role in the UAW corruption scandal which is continuing to make its way through the courts. UAW officials took millions of dollars in bribes from Fiat Chrysler to enforce contracts favorable to the company. The contract negotiations in 2018 follow years in which Navistar slashed jobs. The Navistar Springfield plant was down to just 300 workers at one point in 2010. Management had been struggling through production problems, including an engine design that failed to meet pollution control standards. The UAW offered no resistance to plant closures. In 2013 Navistar closed its assembly plant in Garland, Texas with the loss of 900 jobs. In 2014 it completed the closure of its Indianapolis engine and foundry complex that at one point in the 1990s employed some 2,000 workers. Since then, employment has been expanded. Last month Navistar launched a new medium duty truck at the Springfield facility aimed at fleet and commercial customers, the product of a joint venture with General Motors. Currently there is a large demand for commercial trucks. Freight rates are increasing, resulting in bigger profits for trucking companies and encouraging the expansion of truck fleets. Earlier this year German automaker Volkswagen signaled that it might be interested in taking over Navistar. Last year, Navistar finalized a strategic alliance with Volkswagen Truck and Bus that was supposed to lead to extensive collaboration between the two companies. VW has been looking to shore up its position in the US market, particularly with the growth of trade war and the threat of import tariffs on automobiles. At the same time management, with the help of the UAW, has attempted to blackmail workers with the threat of job losses in order to squeeze out more production and cuts costs. The last agreement signed in 2014 was negotiated under the direction of then UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell, who has since been implicated in the UAW corruption scandal. By all measures the 2014 agreement was a sweetheart deal that allowed Navistar to increase its profits. Navistar workers, having suffered through more than a decade of layoffs and concessions, clearly feel they are in a powerful position to win back past losses. However, there is no indication that the latest contract proposal differs in any respect from the deal rejected less than two weeks ago. The UAW is clearly hoping that the financial pressures of the Christmas holiday will help compel workers to ratify an inferior deal with the carrot stick of a signing bonus. No amount of pressure can force the UAW to fight in workers interests. After handing down two overwhelming contract rejection votes workers at Lear in Indiana are presently scheduled to vote on the third attempt by the UAW to impose a sellout deal. What is needed is the creation of rank-and-file committees to take the struggle out of the hands of the UAW, including the establishment of rank-and-file oversight over negotiations and preparations for strike action. For their fight to be successful, Navistar workers need to establish lines of communication with workers at Lear, General Motors and other sections of workers coming into struggle. The WSWS Autoworkers Newsletter pledges every assistance in this fight. We encourage Navistar workers to contact us to share your views on this struggle and for additional information on the formation of rank-and-file committees in your workplace. Thousands of plantation workers ended their recent wage strike yesterday, two days after the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), the main plantation union, ordered them to end all industrial action on December 12. Workers greeted the unions return to work order and betrayal of the strike with angry demonstrations in provincial towns and estates. The strike for a 1,000-rupee daily wagea 100 percent increase of the current 500-rupee ($US2.80) ratebegan on December 4. Demonstrations, marches and rallies took place in plantation areas across the country, including Nuwaraeliya, Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara and in Colombo district. The CWC called the strike, not to mobilise workers to win higher pay, but to dissipate workers intense anger over the collaboration of the unions with estate management and Sri Lankan governments to impose starvation-level wages and miserable working and living conditions. CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman announced the end of the strike on Tuesday, claiming that President Maithripala Sirisena had promised him and other leading union officials in a closed door meeting that he would resolve the wage dispute at a discussion with the plantation companies on December 19. Thondaman is politically aligned with Sirisena and was given a ministry position in the cabinet appointed by Sirisena after he unconstitutionally sacked United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister on October 26 and replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapakse. Rival plantation unions, such as the National Union of Workers (NUW), Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), are aligned with Wickremesinghe and the UNP and opposed the strike. Members of those unions joined the strike in defiance of their union officials. Workers denounced the CWCs betrayal at protests across Sri Lanka on Wednesday. These were organised by workers themselves and reflected the widespread anger and contempt over the unions betrayal. Rallies and demonstrations were held by workers from the Couvlina, Maria and Henfold estates in the Lindula-Talawakelle area; eight divisions of the Brunswick estate in Maskeliya; the Albion, New Grostan, Adrlaw, Thonfield, St Market, Torrington, Katamasan and Agra Alpetha estates in Agarapathana; and the Abbotsleigh Estate in the Hatton district. Hundreds of workers also demonstrated at midday in the provincial town of Holbrook. Yesterday at the Abbotsleigh Estate, where workers established an action committee with the assistance of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), about 70 workers picketed the factory gate before returning to work. SEP Political Committee member M. Thevarajah addressed these workers explaining that the plantation unions betrayal vindicated the necessity for the establishment of action committees. These committees, he said, were needed to organise workers independently of the trade unions. The action committee, he continued, should discuss with workers in other estates and workers in other countries. We must go forward to fight for our own workers and peasants government. The unions consciously work to divide workers. At the Montifiore division, Digambarans union [the NUW] sent its members back to work on the second day of the strike. The Abbotsleigh action committee had to intervene and explain that workers demands for better wages and conditions should not be determined by the CWC or Digambarans union but the workers themselves. The capitalist rulers seek to offset their economic crisis at the expense of working class. This is the situation not just in the Sri Lankan tea industry but also in the developed countries. Auto workers in United States are fighting against plant closures and the Yellow Vest movement in France has shaken capitalist rule in that country. In 1917 workers in Russia established the first workers government in the world. Even though it degenerated under Stalinism, the Fourth International fought that betrayal and has continued this struggle ever since. It is now prepared to lead the workers of the world to win international socialism. The picketing Abbotsleigh workers unanimously voted to hold a meeting on December 16 to develop their action committee. They chanted slogans: Workers of the World unite, Build action committees in every estate and Fight for a workers and peasants government. Sivapakyam, one of the protesting Abbotsleigh workers, told the WSWS: No trade union needs to come to this estate. We will build up our action committee and, through it, fight to defend our rights. The unions should not come here canvassing for elections. Yogaranjani, from the CWC womens wing, said: [CWC leader] Arumugam Thondaman said he will fight for a 1,000-rupee wage for us but the union has been discussing this since August with no result. Now he says the wage problem will be resolved in a December 19 discussion with the president. Why should we expect a different result? My fellow workers are now questioning me. We will stop paying subscriptions to trade unions. We cannot be deceived as we previously were. Things are now clear to us, Yogaranjani [photo] added, and pledged her support for the Abbotsleigh action committee. WSWS reporters also spoke with about 30 striking workers from the Montifiore division of the Abbotsleigh Estate. Two rival union leaders and a CWC official were attempting to convince workers that CWC chief Thondaman would secure a pay rise from President Sirisena. SEP Political Committee member Thevarajah addressed the Montifiore workers, explaining the necessity of establishing an action committee independent of the unions and inviting them to the December 16 meeting. On December 12, local union leaders from tea and rubber estates in Deraniyagala, Kegalle, Dehiowita and Yatiyantota held a media conference, calling on workers to not pay their respective membership dues and only join a union that achieved a pay rise. All of the unions, however, are complicit in the suppression of any struggle for decent pay and conditions. The estate-level union leaders media conference was a desperate attempt to promote illusions in the unions. However, tens of thousands of plantation workers are realising through their own experiences the pro-capitalist character of these formations. Plantation workers must reject these cynical manoeuvres and break, politically and organisationally, from the unions. While plantation workers continued their strike action for two days in defiance of the union leadership, their return to work raises the urgent need for a deeper understanding of the political tasks they confront. What is required is the establishment of independent action committees in all plantations and a turn made to other sections of the Sri Lankan working class to develop a unified struggle against big business and the government for decent wages, better working and living conditions and other basic social rights. These action committees must base themselves on a socialist and internationalist program that places the needs of all working people above the super profits of the massive tea conglomerates and other sections of big business and their political servants. Residents of the embattled Red Sea port of Hodeidah in Yemen reported Friday that renewed fighting had broken out on the citys outskirts, despite a cease-fire agreement signed just the day before by the US- and Saudi-backed puppet government and the Houthi rebels. Reuters cited witnesses who reported that the sound of missiles and automatic weapons fire had been heard from the eastern suburb of the Houthi-controlled city, which has been under siege by forces led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since June. United Nations agencies and humanitarian aid groups have warned that the siege of the city threatens to tip Yemen, already facing the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet, into mass starvation. Some 14 million Yemenis are already on the brink of famine, while the entire population is dependent upon imports for 90-95 percent of its food staples, up to 80 percent of which flow through Hodeidah. Saudi shelling and ground attacks had cut food imports in half and hindered aid groups from accessing and distributing what had already been delivered. The siege also was the key factor in driving civilian casualties to a record high of over 3,000 in November, roughly the same number as were dying at the height of the Iraq war in 2006. An estimate released Wednesday by a monitoring group, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), placed the death toll from January 2016 (nine months into the Saudi-led offensive) to November at 60,000, with the total from the beginning of the conflict likely to rise to roughly 85,000. While aid groups and regional powersincluding Saudi Arabia, the main aggressor in the conflict, and Iran, which has provided limited support to the Houthisexpressed optimism that the Hodeidah cease-fire signaled a possible path toward ending the war, previously declared cease-fires have broken down. There was widespread speculation that the Saudi monarchy was pushed to agree to the cease-fire by growing pressure from Washington, which found its sharpest expression in a pair of resolutions approved by the US Senate on Thursday. The first, passed by a vote of 56 to 41, with seven Republicans joining all the Senate Democrats, invoked the 1973 War Powers Act in calling for an end to US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The second, a non-binding resolution approved unanimously, blamed the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of journalist and former Saudi insider Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The movement on the Yemen resolution, which had languished in the Senate for roughly a year, was largely bound up with the Khashoggi assassination and concern within the US ruling establishment that President Donald Trumps defense of the Saudi crown prince and refusal to acknowledge the incontrovertible evidence of his direction of the killing was discrediting Washington. Fears have grown within both major parties that the acceptance and coverup of this crime serve to rob US imperialism of any ability to posture as a champion of human rights and democracy as it pursues its predatory interests and militarist interventions on a world scale. While exposing the deep divisions within the US ruling class and its growing concern that the Trump administrations policies are threatening to destabilize and undermine US capitalist interests at home and abroad, the immediate impact of the two resolutions is negligible. The Yemen measure will not be taken up by the House, whose leadership introduced a procedural measure this week to prevent it from being considered. While the incoming Democratic-led House may take up the resolution next year, Trump has issued a public statement vowing to veto it. Like previous presidents, he has rejected the constitutionality of the War Powers Act as an infringement on the powers of the president as commander-in-chief. Democrats, along with the nominally independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who together with the right-wing Republican senator from Utah, Mike Lee, introduced the resolution, have discovered the slaughter in Yemen only after the election of Donald Trump, and have brought it to the fore only after the assassination of Khashoggi. The Democratic administration of President Barack Obama initiated US aid to the near-genocidal Saudi war against the people of Yemen, providing mid-air refueling of Saudi warplanes so that they could continue non-stop bombing of schools, hospitals, vital infrastructure and residential neighborhoods, while offering intelligence, targeting information and US naval support for a deadly blockade of the impoverished country. Similarly, the corporate media largely ignored the slaughter and mass starvation in Yemen until the killing of Khashoggi, who was a US resident and columnist for the Washington Post . Sections of the US ruling establishment see the fallout from the Khashoggi assassination as an opportunity to readjust Washingtons relations with the Saudi monarchy, subordinating it more directly to US domination. While Riyadh has served as a lynchpin for imperialist reaction in the region and as a principal ally in the US anti-Iranian axisnot to mention a major source of profits for US arms manufacturersthe policies of the House of Saud have at times cut across US interests. As for the war in Yemen, there are clearly no guarantees whatsoever that the ceasefire in Hodeidah signals an end to the brutal war, or, for that matter, that Washington will end its support for the Saudi-led slaughter. Negotiators for the Houthi rebels claimed the agreement over Hodeidah as a victory in that it leaves the port city under the control of allied local militias and was the outcome of the inability of forces mobilized by the Saudis and the UAE to take the city. However, they pointed out that the Saudis had rejected proposals for a nationwide ceasefire, meaning that Riyadh intends to continue its attack on Yemen. The head of the Houthi delegation, Mohammed Abdul Salam, issued a statement reiterating the demand for a full withdrawal of all foreign forces from Yemen in accordance with international laws and the Yemeni constitution. Neither Washington nor Riyadh is prepared to accept this demand. Without foreign backing, the puppet regime of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, overthrown in 2014, would have no means of asserting power. For its part, the US has insisted that, no matter what level of support it maintains for the Saudi intervention, it will keep its own forces in Yemen under the pretext of combatting Al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula, which has functioned as an ally of the Saudis. During the trip, the Deputy PM will attend the fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC), pay an official visit to Laos, and co-chair the fifth ministerial-level political consultation between the two countries. Hung said via high-level visits and exchanges, leaders of the two Parties and States have reached important and strategic agreements to shape orientations for bilateral ties in the long-term while friendly collaboration between ministries, departments and agencies at the central and local levels has brought about practical results. Further attention has been paid to raising public awareness, especially young generations, of the significance of bilateral relationship. In economic terms, Vietnam remains one of the biggest investors and major trade partners of Laos. In education, the two countries launched the project on improving the quality and efficiency of Vietnam-Laos coordination in education and human resources development for the 2011-2020 period. Bilateral national defence-security links have been strengthened, while the fraternal solidarity has been also reflected at regional and global forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation. About the significance of the Deputy PM Minhs attendance at the fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting on MLC from December 16 to 17 with the participation of six coastal countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China, Hung said it manifests Vietnams appreciation for MLC mechanism, affirms Vietnams role in Mekong sub-regional cooperation and the countrys promotion of contents matching her interests. At the invitation of Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy PM and FM Minh will pay an official visit to Laos and co-chair the fifth ministerial-level political consultation from December 18 to 19. I know many XpatLoop readers, and in particular my fellow UK nationals, will continue to be concerned about what this means for them. From the beginning of this process, the Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding citizens rights has been her first priority. The draft Agreement contains provisions securing the rights of around one million UK nationals living in the EU and more than three million EU citizens living in the UK. The draft includes provisions to allow UK nationals in Hungary, along with their family members, to be able to carry on living their lives as they do now. They will be able to carry on living, working or studying in Hungary for as long as they want to. Their right to remain in Hungary will be protected now, during the implementation period and beyond. Under the text agreed in principle, UK nationals will also continue to be able to access entitlements to social security on the same basis as Hungarian citizens living in Hungary. They will be entitled to have their social security contributions made before and after exit in the UK, or in another Member State, count towards a future UK or EU Member State pension. Their children will continue to enjoy access to education on the same basis that Hungarian children do. In short, most of what they do (or are entitled to do) on a daily basis will not change. This is a major step forward, but is not the end of the process. UK and EU leaders will need to agree a Political Declaration on the future relationship, alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, at a special European Council on 25 November. Then UK and EU Parliaments must approve the deal. As the Prime Minister said following the Cabinet meeting on 14 November, there will be difficult days ahead. As I said in my September open letter published on XpatLoop, I would strongly urge UK nationals here to register with the Hungarian authorities. All UK nationals who have been residing in Hungary for 3 months and wish to continue to live here through self-sufficient means, or wish to continue studying or working here, must register with the relevant regional directorate of the Hungarian Immigration and Asylum Office. This is a long-standing requirement. The application fee is HUF 1,000. For further information, visit the website of the Immigration and Asylum Office. The Hungarian Government, along with other Member States, are making plans for the practical aspects of applying the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes any administrative procedures UK nationals will need to follow after our departure from the EU. We do not yet have exact details of this, but are working closely with the Hungarian Government to ensure information is provided to UK nationals in a timely manner. We will publicise information provided by the Hungarian Government when this becomes available. To build on this, the British Embassy is planning to hold another town hall meeting for UK nationals in December in Budapest. We expect to have a senior representative of the Hungarian government joining us. If you would like to attend, you can follow the Embassys Facebook and Twitter pages, where more details will appear in due course, as it will on XpatLoop. Where you can find out more The UK Government website has a range of documents that concern the UKs departure from the EU, including a section on what you need to know as a British citizen living in the EU The online Do I Need a Visa tool will be useful for those who are thinking of going on holiday to the UK with family members who are not British or EU citizens. For those thinking about returning to the UK with family members who are not British or EU citizens click here. If you are unsure if your family member is a British Citizen click here for related info. You can also find out more information about processes while in Hungary, including applying for a British passport or naturalisation by following this link. Our contact with UK nationals has shown that some of you are not sure what your entitlements and obligations are as EU citizens living in another Member State. It is impossible to put in writing detailed information that would reflect all of your individual circumstances and situations. I would, however, encourage you to use the resources of the European Unions website. The EU's website has a whole range of easy-to-follow explanations of how pensions, social security payments, driving licences, education and a whole range of other topics in the EU work. The Your Europe website is available in all community languages. One particular area of interest is how state pensions are calculated, particularly where you have been making contributions in more than one Member State, for example both in the UK and in Hungary. The above website explains how the relevant departments in EU Member States calculate entitlements. HM Revenue and Customs also have an online portal that allows you to check your National Insurance record. And the UK governments International Pension Centre provides more information on pension entitlements while overseas. Finally, as more information is released, we will publish this through the Embassys social media channels on Facebook (UKinHungary) and on Twitter (@UKinHungary), and you can look here on XpatLoop. We continue to talk to the Hungarian Government to discuss what UK nationals may need to do in the future and to encourage information to be shared when decisions are made. I would also recommend that you subscribe to Brexit e-mail alerts and Living in Hungary which will be the quickest way to get up-to-date information. Should you have any questions to which you are unable to find answers using these online resources please contact the Embassy at Consular.Budapest@fco.gov.uk. I hope you have found this update helpful. Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador To Hungary On Wednesday, parliament voted to raise the upper threshold for annual overtime from 250 to 400 hours. The opposition blocked the house speakers dais and obstructed proceedings with loud whistling and jeering in an attempt to thwart the vote. Later that day, demonstrators against the regulation clashed with police on Kossuth Square near Parliament. Kover said that they are looking into making house disciplinary rules stricter as those in effect do not seem to be a strong enough deterrent. He said that the opposition had resorted to mindless disorderly conduct verging on anarchy as a standard tactic. So in this case, it should at least hurt, he said. What happened in the assembly chamber was in no way different from the demonstrations outside Parliament, Kover insisted, where protesters clashed with police on Wednesday and Thursday night. Kover has proposed fines of 400,000-600,000 forints (EUR 1,235-1,850) to be paid by five Socialist lawmakers, a Parbeszed MP and a Democratic Coalition MP. The speakers proposal must be approved by the Parliament. MTI Photo: Balogh Zoltan Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan is pushing new legislation that would increase the number of immigrants who come to the United States, as long as they are Irish. Ryan, whose relatives fled the country in 1851, got the bill passed in the House on November 28, and it is expected to clear the Senate possibly as soon as Monday. One Republican senator is currently blocking the bill, according to a GOP aide who spoke with Politico. The bill would allow Irish nationals access to the E-3 visa, which is currently only available to Australians in specialty occupations requiring a bachelors degree or equivalent. According to the legislation, any E-3 visas that are not used by Australian nationals would be made available to Irish professionals. In exchange, Ireland would allow extra work visas for Americans and let retiring Americans relocate there. Its just one more example of Republican hypocrisy. Ryan wants to expand immigration for white people, while he has done nothing to expand immigration for Latin American nations, even as America faces a crisis at its border with asylum seekers and overflowing migrant detention centers. Its also self-serving: Ryan has expressed interest in becoming U.S. ambassador to Ireland. Meanwhile, predictably, conservative website Breitbart has reacted negatively to Ryans efforts, calling it amnesty to Irish illegals and claiming it will outsource many thousands of U.S. college graduate jobs to Irish graduates. President Donald Trump has not commented on the bill, but has made moves to limit immigration, from metering (limiting) the number of asylum-seekers who can enter the U.S. to potentially not allowing immigrants who perform manual labor and receive government assistance to renew their work visa, policies that target non-white immigrants in particular. Tan France of 'Queer Eye' accuses TSA of racial profiling originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com British television personality and fashion designer Tan France, who is of Pakistani descent, accused the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of racially profiling him for being "brown." The star of the breakout Netflix hit "Queer Eye," said on Twitter Wednesday that he had "been put through extra security checks" three times this week, "and was just told by a TSA agent its because my name is on a list." PHOTO: Tan France attends Netflix's 'Queer Eye' Celebrates 4 Emmy Nominations With GLSEN, Aug. 12, 2018 in Hollywood, Calif. (JB Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Images) (MORE: 'Queer Eye' cast dishes on its ambitious season 3) He continued: "WTF? Im brown but that does NOT mean Im a damn security risk!!!" @TSA Ive been put through extra security checks 3 times this week, and was just told by a TSA agent its because my name is on a list. WTF? Im brown but that does NOT mean Im a damn security risk!!! Tan France (@tanfrance) December 12, 2018 The TSA told ABC News in a statement that it cannot comment on security designations for "specific individuals" but that all passengers are "thoroughly screened" at airport checkpoints. "All airline passengers, regardless of race, gender, or religion, are thoroughly screened at airport screening checkpoints. TSA cannot comment on the security designation for specific individuals, and there are a number of reasons a passenger can be selected for additional screening, including by random designation," the statement said. "Any traveler who believes he or she has been unfairly or incorrectly delayed or denied boarding can work through the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program to resolve the issue," the statement added. Photo credit: John Moore - Getty Images From Harper's BAZAAR Update, 12/14, 11 a.m.: The Associated Press reports that an official from the Guatemalan foreign ministry has identified the 7-year-old girl as Jackeline Caal and her father, 29, as Nery Caal. Original post, 12/14, 9:30 a.m.: Last week, a 7-year-old girl from Guatemala was taken into Border Patrol custody along with her father and, shortly thereafter, died of dehydration and shock, according to the Washington Post. The two were crossing into the United States from Mexico illegally and were taken into custody as part of a group of people who turned themselves into U.S. agents. The Post reports that according to records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the girl and her father were taken in on Dec. 6 around 10 P.M. and the girl started having seizures the next morning, around 6:25 A.M. She had a temperature of 105.7 degrees and "reportedly had not eaten or consumed water for several days." The 7-year-old was then flown to a hospital in El Paso, where she went into cardiac arrest, was revived, and later died. Food and water are usually provided to migrants in custody, though it's unclear if she received sustenance, or a medical exam, before her seizures started. The agency is currently investigating the death, and a Customs and Border Protection spokesman named Andrew Meehan told the Post, "Border Patrol agents took every possible step to save the childs life under the most trying of circumstances. As fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, we empathize with the loss of any child." There is no autopsy yet, according to Customs and Border Protection, but physicians at the hospital listed her cause of death as fever, dehydration, and septic shock. The ACLU has responded to news of this death, tweeting, "This is a horrific, indefensible tragedy. Whats worse is that it is far from the first death at the hands of DHS. If this isnt the America we want to be, now is the time to be loud about it." Story continues This is a horrific, indefensible tragedy. Whats worse is that it is far from the first death at the hands of DHS. If this isnt the America we want to be, now is the time to be loud about it. https://t.co/iGrtDsYUft - ACLU (@ACLU) December 14, 2018 The ACLU Border Rights Center also tweeted, "This tragedy represents the worst possible outcome when children are held in inhumane conditions. We call for a rigorous investigation into how this tragedy happened and serious reforms to prevent future deaths." ('You Might Also Like',) Dermatologists and cosmetic chemists weigh in on the issue and how to detect the ingredient in your products. You may have heard that mercury can lurk in things like sushi and dental fillings, but it turns out that dangerous levels of this toxic heavy metal can also be found in skin-care products, particularly those from foreign countries. And while that last part may make you breathe a sigh of relief, there's still plenty of reason to be cautious about what you're applying onto your skin. Even though skin-care products containing an abundance of mercury aren't made in or technically available for sale in the U.S., it's possible they could still be purchased and shipped straight to your doorstep via online retailers like Amazon and eBay. This was the case when advocacy groups recently purchased products for testing. What's the deal with mercury in skin-care products? Recently, 51 advocacy groups sent public action letters to both e-commerce giants, calling on them to "stop marketing illegal mercury-laden cosmetics" and "to ensure that cosmetics found to have mercury levels over 1ppm are no longer offered for sale" after testing revealed that many of them contained extremely high levels of mercury. For context, in the U.S., the legal limit of mercury that can be present in cosmetics formulas, which was set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1973, is just one part per million (ppm). According to the letters sent to Amazon and eBay, skin-care creams were purchased by some of the advocacy groups and their mercury levels were tested. Shockingly, one of the test results revealed mercury levels 30,000 times the legal limit. Why is this an issue? "Most Americans are aware that mercury is dangerous, but many people don't realize that [it's] sometimes used as the active ingredient in skin-lightening creams," explains Melanie Benesh, a legislative attorney for the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which was one of the advocacy groups behind the letters and who issued a press release about the findings. "Mercury cannot be used more than 1ppm in skin creams, but the FDA lacks resources to adequately police the marketplace." Story continues The main reason that mercury is used in moisturizers, as Benesh explained, is as a skin "lightener." Mercury can act as a bleaching agent, and it also holds certain preservative properties (which means it can help elongate a product's shelf-life). It's also an inexpensive ingredient. In cosmetics, high mercury levels are most commonly found in products that promise to fade dark spots, blemishes, and fine lines. "Mercury is an effective material for skin lightening, with rapid results, but the price outweighs the benefits," explains cosmetic chemist Ginger King. It's a poison that can damage skin and even organs, she adds. How is mercury hazardous in products? That being said, mercury is highly toxic. When applied topically, mercury is associated with the development of skin irritation, rashes, and discoloration, says Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "If it's absorbed, [it] can even cause mercury poisoning with toxicity to the kidneys and nervous system." Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the primary adverse effect of mercury in skin-care products is kidney damage. And, in addition to what Zeichner noted, it can also cause anxiety, depression, and even psychosis. Long-term use of cosmetics that contain mercury can cause damage to the eyes, lungs, digestive, nervous and immune systems. So yeah, it can be pretty toxic stuff. Exposure to mercury could come from your environment as well "We know that inhaling mercury vapor can be harmful to your health," explains Zeichner. "We don't know what effect mercury containing creams have on the air, so that is even more of a reason to avoid these products." One example that illustrates the potential harm of mercury exposure other than via the skin is from research on mercury exposure during pregnancy: Studies suggest an association between mercury and pregnancy complications and developmental problems in infants. Moreover, as the WHO explains, mercury in skin-care products and soap is eventually released into wastewater via your shower or bath, for example, where it can then re-enter the environment and our natural food supply (read: the fish in your sushi roll). This is why pregnant women and new moms often avoid eating fish. That's why mercury is now banned in some countries All of these health hazards have led to the banning of mercury by many countries, including all of those that make up the European Union. However, the over-saturated skin-care marketplace, plus sometimes scarce or non-present ingredient lists on the Internet, has made it more or less impossible for global and U.S. agencies to fully monitor the sale of these products. Amazon and eBay both have policies in place to prevent suspicious items from being listed and also encourage customers to contact them with concerns about purchases. When asked about its policy with these products, eBay gave Allure the following statement: "Consumers can shop eBay's one billion items with confidence, knowing we have key partnerships and processes in place with product manufacturers and regulators to ensure a safe shopping experience." To that end, upon receiving the letter from the EWG and fellow advocacy groups, eBay says the e-retailer removed the items referenced in the report, as they violated eBay's Prescription Drugs policy. To prevent future incidences, eBay says it has implemented filters with the goal of keeping the products identified in the letter from being listed. Amazon declined to give a comment for this article. How to avoid purchasing products laced with mercury So, how can you be certain you're not about to slather a mercury-laden cream all over your face? Well, first of all, be sure to note where your skin-care products actually come from products that are made in the United States should not contain unsafe levels of mercury, King explains. Before buying, take a minute to look into the product details and find out exactly where a product was manufactured. If it was produced in the Middle East or Asia, do even more digging before you make the purchase. Another reason that mercury can be hard to spot in your cosmetics is probably because it goes by many names: Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, quicksilver, cinnabaris, or hydrargyri oxydum rubrum (say that three times fast), according to the WHO. Products with very high levels of mercury could also appear gray as "mercury color is dark gray itself," says King. If you are looking for products to target dark spots, King recommends looking for these ingredients instead: vitamin C, licorice extract, and mulberry extract. That being said, if you believe you have purchased a product formulated with excessive amounts of mercury, toss it. Then make an appointment with your dermatologist, who can better determine a course of action that's right for you. More skin-care terms to know: Now, see how skin care has evolved within the last 100 years: Texas-based federal judge Reed OConnor ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional on Friday, just one day before the ACA enrollment deadline in most states. The ruling would strike down popular ACA reforms such as compulsory coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and the extension of coverage to adults under 26 under their parents insurance plans, and potentially mean 17 million Americans could lose their healthcare. The timing has brought the future of the ACA into question, as well as if the change to the law will affect registration for 2019. Is Obamacare Unconstitutional? A coalition of 20 states attorneys general lead by Texas filed a suit claiming that one part of the ACA, the individual mandate requiring all citizens have coverage, is unconstitutional and that the rest of the law should be struck down along with the mandate. The Supreme Court already ruled that the mandate was constitutional back in 2012, likening it to a tax. But Congress set the mandates penalty to $0 in 2017, effectively killing the mandate without actually changing the law that requires coverage. Texas successfully argued that the penalty can no longer be considered a tax without a monetary value attached, rendering the individual mandate unconstitutional, and that the rest of the ACA is intrinsically tied to the mandate so it should be considered unconstitutional as well. OConnor wrote that he would not parse the ACAs provisions one by one, adding, The Medicaid-expansion provisions were designed to serve and assist fulfillment of the individual mandate. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who originated the lawsuit, lauded the decision, saying in a statement, Todays ruling enjoining Obamacare halts an unconstitutional exertion of federal power over the American healthcare system. Paxton recommends that the Trump administration replace the ACA, better known as Obamacare, with a plan that ensures Texans and all Americans will again have greater choice about what health coverage they need and who will be their doctor. Story continues What Happens Next? The case will be referred to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, LA. From there, most legal experts expect it to be referred to the Supreme Court. Nancy Pelosi released a statement that indicates a Democratic-run House will protect the ACA, , writing, When House Democrats take the gavel, the House of Representatives will move swiftly to formally intervene in the appeals process to uphold the life-saving protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Which Side Is The Trump Administration On? The Justice Department backed Texas in arguments that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, but has not insisted that the rest of the ACA is tied to the mandate. Many parts of Obamacare are nationally popular, including protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions and extending the age a child can be covered under their parents plan to 26, making it difficult for the White House to support a decision that would threaten these protections. President Donald Trump tweeted, As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2018 In a statement, the White House said, We expect this ruling will be appealed to the Supreme Court. Pending the appeal process, the law remains in place. Can I Still Register For Obamacare (& Should I?) The short answer is yes, absolutely. Nothing has changed for Obamacare until further notice, and OConnors decision could be reversed by higher courts. However, December 15 is the last day to enroll for 2019 coverage in most states. Visit healthcare.gov today to sign up. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? Mother Shot & Killed By "Abusive" Boyfriend As Newborn Lay In Crib Nearby, Police Say Melania Trump's Spokeswoman Is Taking Notes From Donald But Should We Really Care? 7-Year-Old Girl Who Died In The Custody Of Border Patrol Has Been Identified Dozens of tiny songbirds have been flocking to the U.S., but not in the way you think. At New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport last weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stopped a man traveling from Georgetown, Guyana and conducted a search of his luggage, ABC News reported. What they found was a bit unexpected. Inside the mans black duffle bag were 70 live finches delicately placed inside hair rollers. The passenger was subsequently arrested for attempting to smuggle the birds. The birds themselves were taken to the United States Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services, under quarantine, according to ABC News. CBP Agriculture Specialists are the first line of defense to prevent the introduction of animal diseases that have the potential to cause significant damage to the nation's agricultural economy," Troy Miller, director of field operations, New York Field Office, told ABC News. Birds flown into the U.S. may be carriers of several diseases that can threaten agriculture in the U.S., including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (also known as Avian Flu or Bird Flu). But according to The New York Times, this isnt the first incident of finches being smuggled into the country using some unorthodox packing methods. In addition to hair rollers, cardboard toilet paper rolls are also used to transport the birds. Customs officials have said that about 200 of the tiny birds have been intercepted coming from South America, namely Guyana, according to The New York Times. What possessed these smugglers to bring in so many birds? Singing contests. The New York Times reported that the birds are entered into underground singing contests, in which gamblers place bets on the most musical bird. Finches are particularly popular due to the amount of chirps they make per minute. A sought-out male finch with a history of wins could sell for up to $10,000 said one investigation, aptly nicknamed Operation G-Bird, conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, The New York Times reported. Story continues The most common animal we see trying to be smuggled through the passenger environment are these birds, the finches, said Anthony Bucci, a spokesman for United States Customs and Border Protection to The New York Times. It goes in cycles, like everything else. Its not an everyday occurrence or an every month occurrence, but it does happen, Bucci added. Usually, the smugglers are sent back to Guyana, but some are still admitted to the U.S. and fined. Apparently, bird smuggling can be a big business. Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic is set to launch its SpaceShipTwo test flight as early as Dec. 13, bringing the companys spacecraft all the way to space depending on what your definition of space is. According to The Washington Post, the company will be firing its rocket motor to an expected altitude of 50 miles, a measurement that the company is considering as the edge of space. But not everyone is in agreement as to where the edge of space actually begins. According to Geekwire, the traditionally agreed-upon boundary between space and the Earths atmosphere, also known as the Karman Line, is set at 100 kilometers (or 62 miles), which leaves the anticipated flight just short of its goal. However, the debate on where the line is has been brewing recently due to new research by astronomer and satellite expert Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Geekwire reported. According to McDowell, the line could be as low as 80 kilometers (or 50 miles). Still, finding this line continues to be tricky business. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) released a statement in November saying it will be considering the new research in the coming year. Related: Richard Branson's New High-speed Trains Will Let You Visit Disney World and Miami in the Same Vacation In the meantime, Virgin Galactic will be continuing on its quest for viable commercial spaceflights. The company will be conducting this test of the SpaceShipTwo at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, according to Space News. This will be the fourth powered test flight that the company has conducted for the spacecraft. Overall the goal of this flight is to fly higher and faster than previous flights. We plan to burn the rocket motor for longer than we ever have in flight before, but not to its full duration, reps for the company said in a statement. At the end stages of the rocket burn in the thin air of the mesosphere and with the speeds that we expect to achieve, additional altitude is added rapidly. That results in new and important data points, particularly relating to supersonic handling qualities and thermal dynamics, both of which we will be watching closely in the cockpit and on the ground in Mission Control. Story continues The company expects the spacecrafts pilots to experience an extended period of micro-gravity as the craft reaches its altitude goal. Even though the spacecraft is not flying with passengers yet, more than 600 people have signed up for future trips at a whopping $250,000 per ticket, The Washington Post reported. Reps for the company admitted in its statement that there is still a lot of work to be done before actual commercial flights are possible to launch. Whether we complete all our objectives during the next flight or need to wait a little longer, we remain committed to completing the final stages of this extraordinary flight test program as quickly, but more importantly as safely, as possible. When Jamie Hammel bought what was then known as Antique and Vintage Woods of America eight years ago, he recalls, "I thought the product was beautiful, but it wasn't being presented beautifully." Fast forward nearly a decade and Hammel is operating what is now The Hudson Company, providing new and salvaged wood surfaces to architects and designers for projects (including, most notably, Renzo Piano's Whitney Museum) in the New York area and beyond. And his latest showroom is proof that beautiful presentation is core to the brand. The Hudson Company's third location is in a woodsy area of Ridgefield, Connecticut. "So many of our clients co-locate between the city and a house upstate or in Connecticut or the Hamptons," Hammel explains of the choice. "We have the mill, in Pine Plains, so that helps us cover that territory, but we didn't really have a presence in Connecticut. Ridgefield is a beautiful town and is not in the heart of Greenwich." He clarifies: "Being on Greenwich Avenue would feel just like our Manhattan showroom. This is a little bit off the beaten path, but it's central to both Westchester and Connecticut." Photo: Blaine Davis The showroom, a renovated, 1,400-square-foot barn situated next to a creek, provides the perfect rustic-elegant setting for the company's line of fine woods. To fine-tune its design, Hammel turned to Brad Ford, a longtime friend. In a true case of design-world fate, the two were connected a few years ago when Wayne Dickinson, the manager of The Hudson Company's Manhattan showroom and a friend of Ford's from their childhoods in Arkansas, spotted a near decade-old photo of Ford with a project he'd done for Moore & Giles, ripped from a magazine and pinned above Hammel's desk in Pine Plains. "He sees this tear-out and says, 'You know who that is? That's my really good friend Brad,'" Hammel recalls. "So we made this connection. Since then, we have done many, many collaborations." Among them: renovating the company's Manhattan showroom, working on projects for Ford's Field & Supply Fair, and cocurating a chair exhibition this past spring. Story continues Photo: Michael Biondo "When he first approached me about designing a showroom, I said no," Ford says with a laugh. "I was so busy! That was when I learned that when Jamie gets something in his head, he does not let go. He plows through." "We call that persistence," quips Hammel. "He just kept on and on, until finally I was like, 'Fine,'" Ford says. "And it was the start of a great relationship. He's always really enthusiastic about trying new things and exploring new concepts." "At the Hudson Company, we work with architects and designers all the time, so I'm familiar with the client-architect relationship, but mine with Brad is different," Hammel says of their collaborative process. "There's a comfort level that you don't find every day." Photo: Michael Biondo That's probably because, as Ford points out, "the basis of this collaboration is really just craftsmanship, which I feel Jamie and I have a similar sense of ethos aroundhe's just focused on materials while I'm focused on furniture." In the Ridgefield showroom, the two set about emphasizing that celebration of craftsmanship with a design process that, Hammel says, "was a lot of subtraction before addition." "I think that's something I really love to do in a space," Ford explains. "Just strip it back and create some breathing room and see the rawness of a space. Once a lot of the stuff that was there came out, you could see that there wasn't a lot that needed to be added. There were just these good bones to the building." After unearthing the raw space, Ford and Hammel added rough-hewn beams and oak flooring to the space, giving it a warm, rustic feel befitting its surroundings. Photo: Michael Biondo Of course, it's a showroom, and there were practical concerns, too: Ford decided to rip out a kitchen in the space to make more room for samples, which hang in squares that suggest a gallery wall. Finally, to bring a bit more life into the space, Ford and Hammel brought in pieces from FAIR, all of whose natural materials and fine craftsmanship echo the founding principles of The Hudson Company. Plus, Ford says, "bringing in the pieces from FAIR creates some context and gives the opportunity to show that audience what we're offering in New York." Photo: Michael Biondo To both Hammel and Ford, it's a natural pairing. "Though we produce both reclaimed and new woods, the trend continues to be around reclaimed, and I think this is true of the maker culture too," Hammel muses. "Our clients love the narrative of a project, whether it's who made the stools from FAIR, or how was this raw material salvaged?" "Definitely," Ford agrees. "And I think it's a reaction to some of the big-box stores that are churning out things quickly and not doing it well. I think that you do have to educate people about the value of these things and the hours it takes to make something, the skill set required. I think people are starting to understand that value more and more, as the lower quality furniture they've bought starts to deteriorate. I want people to start thinking again about heirlooms, and being able to pass things on from generation to generation." More from AD PRO: Has Instagram Made Design Shows Better? Sign up for the AD PRO newsletter for all the design news you need to know London (AFP) - The latest Brexit summit in Brussels leaves Theresa May facing a dwindling number of options over Britain's exit from the EU. The 27 leaders made abundantly clear to the British prime minister that the draft withdrawal agreement they reached after nearly two years of talks was not open to change. Any meaningful alterations will come only in a separate treaty on future economic relations that the sides will begin discussing after Britain leaves the bloc on March 29. Here are the four main scenarios facing Britain while the clock ticks down to the day it departs the European project after 46 years: - Deal - This is the Brexit that the British government and EU leaders want -- and one which the British parliament refuses to accept. The deal has been rejected from opposing wings of parliament for either keeping Britain tied too closely or remotely to the European Union. May aborted a vote on the deal set for Tuesday because of its certain defeat. Brexit backers in her party then plotted an ultimately unsuccessful coup that saw more than a third back a motion to force May out. May promised them she would wring concessions from Brussels on Thursday and Friday. But exasperated EU leaders told Britain to finally make up its mind about what it wants. May's government intends to reintroduce the very same draft for a vote some time between January 7 and January 21. It will hope that fear of the chaos that a no-deal exit might bring will force lawmakers to put aside their reservations. - No-deal - This is the doomsday scenario that threatens to trigger a recession in Britain and markedly slow the European Union's economic growth. May's agreement was meant to keep trade rules between the world's fifth-biggest economy and largest single market almost unchanged for a transition period running through the end of 2020. A sudden shift to different standards would impact almost every economic sector -- and possibly see the costs of everyday products in Britain soar. Story continues Both sides have been forced to ramp up their preparations for a disorderly Brexit over the past few weeks. UK businesses are stockpiling goods while Brussels is trying to find a way to maintain free-flowing operations involving London's massive financial services hub. - Second referendum - Britons have been mulling another vote on their relationship with Europe since shortly after the first one backed Leave by a 52-48 margin in June 2016. There is no law keeping Britain from doing it all over again. Yet many question whether this would be democratic -- and why a second attempt should take precedence over the first. It also threatens to be just as divisive. Opinion polls show the country still split over whether Brexit is worth it or not. Proponents are mostly EU supporters who argue that the Brexit people were promised looks nothing like the deal the sides have reached. They add that Britons never backed a no-deal scenario and should be given the chance to opt out. Opponents say that Britain cannot simply keep voting until people who like the EU get their way. It is also unclear what options to give people in a second ballot -- and what happens if Brexit wins again. - No Brexit - Britain appears to have two ways of still staying in the European Union. The first would involve a referendum in the which Remain wins. The second could see the government decide on its own to revoke Article 50 of the EU treaty that lays out the process for leaving the union. Leaders ranging from EU President Donald Tusk to France's Emmanuel Macron have said in the past year that Britain would be welcomed back with open arms. Yet May shows no signs of changing her mind. BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared an "overwhelming victory" in his fight against graft within the ruling Chinese Communist Party, while still vowing that the campaign to weed out deep-seated corruption will continue, state media reported. Xi has pledged to wage war on graft until corruption of all kinds has been expunged at all levels of the Communist Party, from high-level "tigers" to low-level "flies". He proclaimed during a twice-a-decade meeting of the top party leadership in October 2017 that his fight against graft had achieved "overwhelming momentum". However, Xi announced at a meeting of the party's Politburo on Friday that the fight had now obtained an "overwhelming victory", state broadcaster CCTV reported. The shift from "momentum" to "victory" reflects an important judgment from the party leadership, CCTV said. China's powerful graft watchdogs handled 464,000 cases and punished 406,000 people in the first nine months of 2018. "We must forcefully reduce the number of cases and effectively stop them from growing," the Politburo said, according to CCTV. Xi said efforts to overhaul China's extensive anti-graft architecture must continue to modernize the systems of oversight for party members and state employees. China's new National Supervisory Commission was formally established in March, extending the graft fight to all state employees and giving legal backing to the party's controversial internal investigation and detention techniques. Some Chinese academics have voiced concerns that the reforms will roll back years of work by legal reformers to protect the rights of suspects during investigations. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Paul Tait) By Julie Gordon and Steve Stecklow VANCOUVER/LONDON (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's chief financial officer faces U.S. accusations that she covered up her company's links to a firm that tried to sell equipment to Iran despite sanctions, a Canadian prosecutor said on Friday, arguing against giving her bail while she awaits extradition. The case against Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of the founder of Huawei, stems from a 2013 Reuters report https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-huawei-skycom/exclusive-huawei-cfo-linked-to-firm-that-offered-hp-gear-to-iran-idUKBRE90U0CA20130131 about the company's close ties to Hong Kong-based Skycom Tech Co Ltd, which attempted to sell U.S. equipment to Iran despite U.S. and European Union bans, the prosecutor told a Vancouver court. U.S. prosecutors argue that Meng was not truthful to banks who asked her about links between the two firms, the court heard on Friday. If extradited to the United States, Meng would face charges of conspiracy to defraud multiple financial institutions, the court heard, with a maximum sentence of 30 years for each charge. Meng, 46, was arrested in Canada on Dec. 1 at the request of the United States. The arrest was on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump met in Argentina with China's Xi Jinping to look for ways to resolve an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies. The news of her arrest has roiled stock markets and drawn condemnation from Chinese authorities, although Trump and his top economic advisers have downplayed its importance to trade talks after the two leaders agreed to a truce. A spokesman for Huawei had no immediate comment on the case against Meng on Friday. The company has said it complies with all applicable export control and sanctions laws and other regulations. Friday's court hearing is intended to decide on whether Meng can post bail or if she is a flight risk and should be kept in detention. The prosecutor opposed bail, arguing that Meng was a high flight risk with few ties to Vancouver and that her family's wealth would mean than even a multi-million-dollar surety would not weigh heavily should she breach conditions. Story continues Meng's lawyer, David Martin, said her prominence made it unlikely she would breach any court orders. "You can trust her," he said. Fleeing "would humiliate and embarrass her father, whom she loves," he argued. The United States has 60 days to make a formal extradition request, which a Canadian judge will weigh to determine whether the case against Meng is strong enough. Then it is up to Canada's justice minister to decide whether to extradite her. Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday that neither Canada nor the United States had provided China any evidence that Meng had broken any law in those two countries, and reiterated Beijing's demand that she be released. Chinese state media accused the United States of trying to "stifle" Huawei and curb its global expansion. IRAN BUSINESS The U.S. case against Meng involves Skycom, which had an office in Tehran and which Huawei has described as one of its "major local partners" in Iran. In January 2013, Reuters reported that Skycom, which tried to sell embargoed Hewlett-Packard computer equipment to Iran's largest mobile-phone operator, had much closer ties to Huawei and Meng than previously known. In 2007, a management company controlled by Huawei's parent company held all of Skycom's shares. At the time, Meng served as the management firm's company secretary. Meng also served on Skycom's board between February 2008 and April 2009, according to Skycom records filed with Hong Kong's Companies Registry. Huawei used Skycom's Tehran office to provide mobile network equipment to several major telecommunications companies in Iran, people familiar with the company's operations have said. Two of the sources said that technically Skycom was controlled by Iranians to comply with local law but that it effectively was run by Huawei. Huawei and Skycom were "the same," a former Huawei employee who worked in Iran said on Friday. A Huawei spokesman told Reuters in 2013: "Huawei has established a trade compliance system which is in line with industry best practices and our business in Iran is in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations including those of the U.N. We also require our partners, such as Skycom, to make the same commitments." U.S. CASE The United States has been looking since at least 2016 into whether Huawei violated U.S. sanctions against Iran, Reuters reported in April. The case against Meng revolves around her response to banks, who asked her about Huawei's links to Skycom in the wake of the 2013 Reuters report. U.S. prosecutors argue that Meng fraudulently said there was no link, the court heard on Friday. U.S. investigators believe the misrepresentations induced the banks to provide services to Huawei despite the fact they were operating in sanctioned countries, Canadian court documents released on Friday showed. The hearing did not name any banks, but sources told Reuters this week that the probe centered on whether Huawei had used HSBC Holdings (HSBA.L) to conduct illegal transactions. HSBC is not under investigation. U.S. intelligence agencies have also alleged that Huawei is linked to China's government and its equipment could contain "backdoors" for use by government spies. No evidence has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the claims. The probe of Huawei is similar to one that threatened the survival of China's ZTE Corp , which pleaded guilty in 2017 to violating U.S. laws that restrict the sale of American-made technology to Iran. ZTE paid a $892 million penalty. (Reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver and Steve Stecklow in London; Additional reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Karen Freifeld in New York, Ben Blanchard and Yilei Sun in Beijing, and Sijia Jiang in Hong Kong; Writing by Denny Thomas and Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Susan Thomas and Sonya Hepinstall) Freetown (AFP) - Hundreds of people demonstrated in Freetown on Saturday against sexual violence against women, days after the Sierra Leone government promised a crackdown on rape and sexual abuse. Among the estimated 300 to 400 demonstrators was the country's first lady, Fatima Bio, who on Friday launched a programme called "Hands off our Girls" to combat sexual violence, child trafficking and prostitution, child marriage and teenage pregnancy. The first ladies of Liberia, Niger, Ghana, Chad and Gambia gave their backing to the initiative. Last month, President Julius Maada Bio called for life prison sentences for offenders. The number of officially reported cases of sexual violence has risen from 4,750 in 2017 to 8,505 since the beginning of 2018, according to national police statistics. The demonstrators were also joined by Justice Minister Priscilla Schwartz and Social Affairs Minister Daindu Dassama. "I would advise the men in Sierra Leone to spare our girls," said Janet Kallon, an activist at the march. "We want our daughters to go to school and to get an education." Many sexual assault victims in Sierra Leone are teenagers, but younger children are also affected, with some abuse victims not even a year old. On average every month, around 150 young women get pregnant due to rape, according to the Rainbow Initiative, a local organisation dedicated to the fight against sexual violence. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) An Indiana man has pleaded guilty to the 1988 abduction, rape and killing of an 8-year-old Fort Wayne girl. John D. Miller, of Grabill, pleaded guilty Friday to murder and child molestation charges in long-unsolved killing of April Tinsley. Miller was arrested in July and had been scheduled to stand trial in February, but he's now due to be sentenced Dec. 31 in Allen County Superior Court. A plea agreement calls for the 59-year-old Miller to serve 80 years in prison. Tinsley was abducted in April 1988. Her body was found three days later in a ditch about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Investigators say DNA evidence and genealogy databases helped them link Miller to the crime. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador detailed plans Saturday to "rescue" the national oil industry by boosting crude production at the state-owned oil company by 45 percent before 2025. Speaking from Ciudad del Carmen, a Gulf coast city 50 miles (85 kilometers) from an oil field that sustained Mexican public finances for decades, Lopez Obrador said the goal is for Petroleos Mexicanos to raise crude output to 2.4 million barrels per day, from the current 1.65 million barrels per day. "We are going to invest where we know there's petroleum and where it costs us less to extract it," he told a jubilant crowd of oil workers. Lopez Obrador previously announced plans to invest 75 billion pesos ($3.65 billion) of savings from a government austerity program into Pemex. The company has struggled to come up with funds in recent years amid mounting pension obligations, high tax rates, rampant fuel theft and inefficiencies. The president shared an anecdote about once chatting with a man on a plane to Ciudad del Carmen who was delivering a $1 million watch to a customer in the city, suggesting that the watch was a symbol of corruption and theft in the oil industry. "This is why the country is sinking," he said, vowing to root out pilfering of the state entity. Lopez Obrador described his plan to "rescue" the oil industry as "realistic" and reiterated a pledge to move Pemex's headquarters from the capital to Ciudad del Carmen. Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The Palestinian leadership on Saturday described as "irresponsible" Australia's recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying it violated international law. The country became one of just a few to follow US President Donald Trump's lead and recognise the contested city as Israel's capital, saying. Australia said it would open a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city and Prime Minister Scott Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status -- until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year. Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement that the Australian decision to open a trade office in the city violated a United Nations resolution. "From the beginning, we've perceived the Australian government's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital as one wherein petty domestic politics steer irresponsible policies that contradict world peace and security," he said in a statement. "All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while east Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory," he added. Morrison earlier Saturday announced his country's move on Jerusalem. "Australia now recognises west Jerusalem -- being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government -- is the capital of Israel," he said in Sydney. Caracas (AFP) - Two Russian bombers flew back to Moscow from Caracas early Friday after taking part in joint military exercises with Venezuela that sparked a row with Washington and regional neighbors. "With the takeoff of the Tu160 'White Swans' we say goodbye to our Russian Federation friends," Venezuela's air force said on Twitter. It said the exercises provide "a guarantee of peace." Russia last Monday sent the two Tupolev-160 long-range bombers and about 100 air force personnel to Caracas -- generating tensions with the US and Colombia, countries Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro regularly accuses of plotting to assassinate him. The air force tweet was accompanied by a video showing one of the huge white bombers taking off from Caracas' Maiquetia airport. "Thanks to the Russian Federation, we are continuing to build a productive and vigorous team of brotherhood and effective cooperation. To victory always! We will win!" Venezuela's Defense Minister, General Vlarimir Padrino Lopez, said in another tweet confirming the bombers' departure. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the exercises, drawing ire from the Kremlim which branded his response "undiplomatic." Colombia's President Ivan Duque called the exercises "unfriendly". The Organization of American States branded the mission "harmful to Venezuelan sovereignty," adding it violated the crisis-hit South American country's constitution because it had not been authorized by its National Assembly. Tesla (TSLA) is slashing prices on its Model S sedan and Model X sport utility vehicle in China after Beijing suspended some tariffs on cars imported from the U.S.. The company confirmed the news on Friday. Tariffs on U.S.-made cars and light trucks will be temporarily reduced to 15 percent from Jan. 1 until March 31, which temporarily brings tariffs on U.S. exports in line with other World Trade Organization member countries, said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of industry, labor & economics at the Center for Automotive Research. The electric car maker has been hit hard by the steep duty on all vehicles imported to the country. The tariff on imported vehicles into China had originally been 25 percent, a policy that had been in place since China joined World Trade Organization, Dziczek said. On July 1, the country lowered the duty to 15 percent for every other member of the WTO except the United States, she said. China then boosted the tariffs solely on U.S.-made vehicles to 40 percent on July 6 in retaliation for U.S. duties on Chinese imports. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been particularly vocal about the tariffs China has long levied against U.S. imports, in comparison with the mostly low tariffs the U.S. has historically charged importers. Tesla was not immediately available for comment. China accounted for 17.2 percent of Tesla's total revenues in 2017, but only 6 percent in the third quarter due to the impact of the tariffs, said CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson. Belgrade (AFP) - Thousands of demonstrators defied heavy snow Saturday in Belgrade to protest what they say is a crackdown by the government of President Aleksandar Vucic on opposition parties and the media. The rally, the second weekend protest in a row, was the first significant opposition demonstration since spring 2017 when thousands of young Belgraders protested for weeks against Vucic's presidential victory. It was called by opposition parties after one of their leaders was beaten ahead of a political gathering in central Serbia last month. The opposition Alliance for Serbia (SZS), an umbrella of parties from the entire political spectrum, accused the attackers of being supporters of Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), a claim the authorities denied. Several opposition leaders led the crowd, including former foreign minister Vuk Jeremic and Belgrade mayor Dragan Djilas. Many protesters were blowing whistles and horns, the main symbol of 1990s mass opposition protests against late strongman Slobodan Milosevic, whose autocratic rule ended in popular uprising in October 2000. Protesters carried placards reading "For how long will Serbia endure evil?" and "They lie, steal... I'm so angry," chanting "Vucic - thief!". Vucic, a hardline nationalist-turned-European, is accused by the opposition and civic society of having established autocratic rule and full control over media, using them to campaign against opponents. One of the protesters, 51-year old Zvonko Radosevic, said he joined the protest because "we don't want to live in Vucic's autocratic country." "I don't want Vucic to represent me." He said he was "glad" to see a large crowd. "I thought that the people were losing the will, but this shows there is something burning still." But he added that he didn't expect much change. "I think it will be hard to bring him down... nothing will change, we will just make him worry a little." Following last weekend's protest Vucic said he would not meet opposition demands for free media and fair elections "even if there were five million people in the street", prompting opponents to wear badges "1 in 5 million". In its latest report on Serbia, the European Parliament "strongly" encouraged Serbian authorities" to "improve the situation regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the media". ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish forces will enter the Syrian town of Manbij if the United States does not remove YPG Kurdish fighters, and it will also target Kurdish-controlled areas further east, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. Erdogan said this week that Turkey would launch a new operation within days against the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia which controls swathes of Syria's northern border region, in what will be Turkey's third military campaign in Syria in two years. Ankara and Washington have long been at odds in Syria, where the United States has backed the YPG in the fight against Islamic State. Turkey says the YPG is a terrorist organization and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Turkey has complained over the slow implementation of a deal with Washington to pull YPG Kurdish fighters out of Manbij, which lies in mainly Arab territory west of the Euphrates, back to the eastern bank of the river. "Manbij is a place where Arabs live, but they have surrendered the area to the terror organization," Erdogan told members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in a speech in Istanbul. "Now we are saying that you should cleanse, remove them, or else we will enter Manbij. I am speaking very clearly." Erdogan said Turkey was also determined to bring "peace and security" to areas east of the Euphrates, where the YPG controls an area stretching more than 400 km (250 miles) along the border towards Iraq. He compared the promised military campaign to an incursion into northern Syria in 2016 and one earlier this year by Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies, who still hold territory there seized from YPG and Islamic State fighters. A spokesman for the Syrian rebels said on Thursday that up to 15,000 fighters are prepared to support Turkey's latest operation. The United States, which has set up observation posts on the Syrian side of the border, has warned Turkey against a new incursion and said the newly constructed positions would help deter any security threat against Turkey coming from Syria. Erdogan, however, said Turkey had waited long enough to act against the YPG militia, which it says is indistinguishable from PKK militants who have waged an insurgency against the state in southeastern Turkey for 34 years. "We are not only providing security for our country when taking steps in Syria but we are also protecting the honor of people," he said. Kurdish commander Mazloum Kobanin said on Thursday the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are spearheaded by the YPG, will respond strongly to any attack. (Reporting by Gulsen Solaker and Ezgi Erkoyun; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by David Dolan) By Pavel Polityuk and Matthias Williams KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine chose the head of a new national Orthodox church on Saturday, marking an historic split from Russia which its leaders see as vital to the country's security and independence. President Petro Poroshenko said 39-year-old Metropolitan Epifaniy of the Kiev Patriarchate church had been chosen as head of the church by a council, comparing the move to Ukraine's referendum for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. "This day will go into history as a sacred day ... the day of the final independence from Russia," Poroshenko told thousands of supporters, who shouted "glory, glory, glory". "And Ukraine will no longer drink, in the words of Taras Shevchenko, 'Moscow's poison from Moscow's cup,'" he said, quoting the country's national poet. Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow's seizure of Crimea in 2014. Ukraine imposed martial law in November, citing the threat of a full-scale invasion after Russia captured three of its vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Ukrainian Orthodox church has been beholden to Moscow for hundreds of years, and Ukraine's leaders see church independence as vital to tackling Russian meddling. Kiev says Moscow-backed churches on its soil are a Kremlin tool to spread propaganda and support fighters in the eastern Donbass region in a conflict that has killed more than 10,000 people. The churches strongly deny this. Epifaniy was chosen by a council at the St Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, built by the son of Prince Volodymyr whose baptism in 988 led to the spread of Christianity in the region. A triumphant Poroshenko arrived in the morning, shaking hands with people, clenching his fist and crossing himself. The new church may boost the pro-Western leader, who lobbied hard for its creation and faces a tight election race in March. "It is a church without a prayer for Russian power and the Russian army that kills Ukrainians," Poroshenko told the crowd after the announcement was made. But Russia bitterly opposes the split, comparing it to the Great Schism of 1054 that divided western and eastern Christianity. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill made a last ditch appeal this week against the process. On Saturday, the Russian church called the council a failure because only two members of the church it supports in Ukraine had attended the meeting, according to Interfax news. Spokesman Metropolitan Hilarion said the plan "to persuade the canonical Ukrainian church to participate in the creation of the new structure failed ...with the exception of two traitors." 'ROUGH PRESSURE' Ukraine won approval for the new church in October from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, the seat of the global spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians. "We want to support the process of Ukraine's split from Moscow and for us to have our own church, which is not governed from the Kremlin," said Lyudmyla Alekseyeva, 66, a pensioner who had come to the event with her daughter and granddaughter. "The church should not depend on those who fight against us in the Donbass." Supporters wore ribbons in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag, with the message "We are going our own way." Many had waited outside in freezing temperatures while the council deliberated. Religious divisions deepened in Ukraine after 2014 and two Orthodox factions vie for dominance. The church known as the Moscow Patriarchate, aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, sees itself as the only legitimate church in Ukraine. The rival Kiev Patriarchate was born after the collapse of the Soviet Union and its popularity has grown since 2014. It favors European integration and championed the independent church but the Moscow Patriarchate denounces it as schismatic. Ukraine's state security service raided Moscow Patriarchate church properties in the run-up to the council, but denied the raids were an attempt to silence opposition to independence. Patriarch Kirill had appealed to world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of the council. "Recently, the intervention of the leaders of the secular Ukrainian state in church affairs has acquired the character of rough pressure ... which allows us to speak about the beginning of full-scale persecutions," he said. (Additional reporting by Polina Ivanova in Moscow; Editing by Alexander Smith and Ros Russell) Kiev (AFP) - A historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev has created a new Ukrainian church independent from Russia, President Petro Poroshenko announced on Saturday. The announcement came after Ukrainian priests held a historic synod in Kiev's 11th-century Saint Sophia Cathedral to work towards establishing an Orthodox church independent from Moscow. "It happened," Poroshenko told a crowd awaiting the council's decision in central Kiev. He also announced the council had chosen the head of the new church: 39-year-old Metropolitan Yepifaniy, whose secular name is Sergiy Dumenko. "I would like to call on all our brothers, bishops and all believers to the newly created united Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Yepifaniy told the crowd outside the cathedral. "The doors of our church are open to all." Poroshenko said the event will "go down in history" as the day Ukraine "finally received (its) independence form Russia". Earlier, he addressed the synod of bishops, saying Kiev's national security depends on "spiritual independence" from Moscow. The Ukrainian leader, who has made an independent Church a campaign pledge ahead of an unpredictable election next year, told the bishops that the state "did everything it could" towards the creation of the church. But he also said that those wishing to remain loyal to the Russian Orthodox church could do so. "I guarantee that the government will respect the choice of those" remaining faithful to the Moscow patriarchate, and "protect" those preferring to break away, Poroshenko said. Several thousand Ukrainians had rallied outside the cathedral throughout the day, awaiting the synod's decision. "The people have been waiting for this. Our Ukrainian church should finally be independent from Moscow," 65-year-old Mykhaylo Khalepyk, who travelled to Kiev from the southern Kherson region, told AFP. Story continues Vitaliya Popovych, also at the rally, said she hoped Ukraine would have a new independent church "that will have a pro-state position". Several in the crowd said local churches across the country had encouraged parishioners to travel to the capital, even offering free transport. Ties between Russia and Ukraine have broken down since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 following a pro-Western uprising in Kiev. This year, those tensions spilled over into the religious arena. - Throwing off Russian oversight - The synod sought to realise a landmark decision by Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognise Ukraine's independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. The ruling in October sparked fury in Moscow, which has overseen the Ukrainian branch of Orthodoxy for the last 332 years. It led the Russian Orthodox Church to cut all ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The synod aimed to unite various branches of the Orthodox church in Ukraine into a single independent body. But Ukraine's Moscow-loyal church said it would snub the event and banned its priests from going to the synod. Despite that ban, a cleric of the church, Archbishop Kliment, told AFP he had recognised two bishops from the Moscow patriarchy in a photograph from the synod. The meeting was dominated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, the country's largest branch by number of believers. Its leader, Patriarch Filaret, founded the church after the fall of the Soviet Union, but it remained unrecognised by other Orthodox churches until recently. The smaller Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church also took part. In Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church dismissed the synod as uncanonical. Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, told Russian state television the Kiev synod had "no church, religious or evangelical meaning" and that it will have "no canonical consequences". - 'Provocations' - Ukraine's SBU security service warned this week that Russia was planning to stage "provocations" in the country as the clerics were meeting. The SBU's deputy head Viktor Kononenko asked Ukrainians to "refrain from holding any (political) gatherings during this period" to avoid them being "used by the aggressor to weaken or discredit our country". Earlier this month, Ukrainian security services raided several Orthodox churches aligned with Russia as religious tensions grew between the two countries. The Russian church and the Kremlin have both said they fear Kiev will use force to wrest Moscow-loyal churches and monasteries into its control. Ahead of the council, Russia's Patriarch Kirill appealed to the Pope, the United Nations and others in the West to defend his church in Ukraine from "persecution". Kiev officials have framed the Church issue as one of national security, with Poroshenko in the past referring to the branch loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate as a "threat". The synod comes shortly after a fresh crisis that saw Russia seize three Ukrainian navy ships and arrest 24 sailors in the waters around Crimea. Maimonides' rare manuscripts in Israel ( ) X One of Judaism's greatest and most renowned thinkers is being honored with an internationally sourced exhibition at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The exhibit will showcase the original signature and several manuscripts of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon the Sephardic Jewish philosopher, physician, astronomer and preeminent Torah scholar who lived and worked almost a millennium ago. The exhibit is in conjunction with an international convention on his work at the neighboring National Library of Israel. Maimonides (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Ben Maimon, aka Maimonides, aka Rambam, was born in Cordoba, Spain, in approximately 1138. He and his family fled to Morocco due to the forced conversion of Jews, and later settled in Egypt. It is in these two countries that Maimonides wrote his most important works. In Cairo, Maimonides became the leader of the Jewish community, and also practiced medicine to great acclaim. He died in 1204, and tradition says his remains were transferred to the land of Israel at his request, and he was buried in Tiberias. Maimonides was a great scholar, doctor, researcher and leader, and this exhibition will allow the public to see his most important manuscripts in Israel for the first time, said Professor Ido Bruno, the director of the Israel Museum. Maimonides continues to influence Jewish and Israeli thought and practice today, said David Blumberg, chairman of the board at the National Library. Anyone can find himself reflected in Maimonides work: Torah scholars find his Halachic work; the secular appreciate his critical philosophy; and Chabad (ultra-Orthodox) believe in his messianic political thought, said Blumberg. A 12th Centuray commentary on the Mishnah that refers to Maimonides' work (Photo: Oleg Kalashnikov, Israel Museum) Maimonides continues to be relevant in almost every Jewish field, due to his amazing achievements and thought in philosophy, theology, medicine, science, Talmud, Halachic issues and even politics, he added. The exhibition will feature original artifacts from the medieval philosophers work his signature, with which he authorized the edited version of Mishneh Torah, his seminal commentary on the Jewish scriptures, and a copy of his popular and influential Commentary on the Mishna. The exhibit will also feature other artifacts such as manuscripts from the 12-15th centuries, including Latin translations of Maimonides work from the very earliest days of print. Manuscripts in the exhibition originate from Germany, Yemen, Spain, Egypt and other countries. Among other items are good-luck charms with Maimonides portrait, historical childrens books about him and his work, documents describing celebrations of his 800th birthday in Spain and Egypt, and more. Some of the items have made their way to Jerusalem from various museums around the world, including the British Library, New Yorks Metropolitan Museum, the Vatican Apostolic Library, the French National Library in Paris and the Oxfords Bodleian Libraries. The rare and valuable scriptures were transferred to Israel on individual flights and under heavy secrecy and security measures, to prevent any possibility of theft. (Photo: Oleg Kalashnikov, Israel Museum) The National Library scanned and digitized all the rare manuscripts. Curators said that the exhibitions aim is to shed light on Maimonides role in Jewish culture and philosophy and his relevance for modern times and current Jewish practices. The international convention at the Library is to host experts from around the world and leading Israeli scholars. The endeavor is the brainchild of The Maimonides Interfaith Foundation. Retired Supreme Court justice Aharon Barak will deliver the opening lecture of the convention, dealing with the relationship between current Israeli legislation and ancient Hebrew law. The convention will also hold discourses and debates about various subjects, such as Jewish philosophy under Muslim rule, religion and state and more. A website about Maimonides is also in the works, which will be devoted to his life story and his journey from Spain to Morocco, Egypt and Israel. Maimonides: A Legacy in Script opened at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on December 11, and will run until April 27, 2019. https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/maimonides Moscow is allowing fighters from Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian Shiite groups operating in Syria to carry Russian flags in order to protect them from Israeli airstrikes, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported Wednesday. The report follows a Russian snub earlier this week to Israeli military officials, as Moscow appears reluctant to ease its anger over the loss of one of its planes during an IAF bombing raid in Syria in September. The plane was brought down by Syrian missiles targeting the Israelis, but Moscow insists that Jerusalem did not provide sufficient warning of its strike to allow its aircraft to reach safety. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Russian flags were recently seen near the military airport in the Syrian city of Hama, where Iranian installations were attacked by the IAF in the past. The flags were also flying in the cities of Homs and Idlib, as well as in the Syrian desert. According to the report, Israel complained to Russia that its flags were spotted atop compounds and military convoys belonging to Iran and its allies in Syria. The complaint came ahead of a senior Israeli military delegation visit to Moscow on Tuesday. According to Syrian opposition leader Colonel Petach Hasson, the Iranians promised to coordinate with the Russian militarys Syrian headquarters in Latakia in exchange for protection for the Shiite militias allied to Iran operating in the war-torn country. The IDF Spokespersons Unit declined to comment on the Russian report. Russian simulation showing the downing of one of its military planes over Syria, for which Moscow blames Israel. The IDF delegation's visit to Moscow on Tuesday was the first time that military officials from the Israel and Russia met since Israel Air Force Commander Amikam Norkin visited Moscow in September. Norkin went to Moscow to present the findings of an Israeli inquiry into how Syrian anti-aircraft shot down a Russian plane during an IAF air strike. The Russian Defense Ministry rejected the Israeli findings and insisted that Israel bears responsibility for the planes downing, and all attempts by Israels government to reconcile with the Russians were rebuffed. Over the past two weeks, the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem made frantic efforts to get their Russian counterparts to agree to host the Israeli delegation, led by the head of the IDF Operations Directorate, Major General Aharon Haliva. Following the meeting in Moscow, the Russians issued a brief statement emphasizing that nothing concrete had been agreed upon, except that the two sides would continue to hold discussions on security coordination in Syria. Putin's cold shoulder Although Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus pressure to receive the Israeli delegation, the Russians did not intend to actually resolve the crisis over the plane, as evidenced by the fact that Haliva didnt get to meet his Russian counterpart. Instead, Haliva was matched with his counterpart's deputy, Major General Vasily Trushin, who is about to finish his term and is not actually involved in the Syrian crisis. Trushin is the only one in regular contact with Israel, said a senior military Israeli official. Furthermore, the Russians set the date for the meeting knowing full well that their chief of military operations, chief of staff, defense minister, and a large part of the Russian military brass would not even be in the country during Halivas visit. And the Russians are adamant in their refusal to reach an understanding with Israel on the issue. "Our position remains unchanged. The chaotic damage done to Syrian infrastructure by the IAF, on the pretext of an Iranian threat, is unacceptable to us," said a senior source in the Russian Defense Ministry ahead of Tuesday's meeting. On Friday night, IDF, Border Police and Civil Administration forces demolished the four-story building in which the Palestinian attacker Islam Yousef Abu Hamid from the Al-Am'ari refugee camp, west of Ramallah, resided. Islam Yousef Abu Hamid killed IDF soldier Staff Sergeant Ronen Lubarsky of the "Duvdevan" Commando Unit during operational activity on May 26th, 2018. During the operation, dozens of Palestinians instigated a number of violent riots. The rioters hurled rocks towards the forces, who responded with riot dispersal means. No IDF injuries were reported. The PLO slammed the Australian decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Saturday. "The Australian government has decided to join US president Donald Trump and other governments against the implementation of the two-state solution," it was said in a statement. "Jerusalem's status remains to be discussed, in order to negotiate an agreement. East Jerusalem is an inseparable part of the occupied Palestinian territory, according to international law," the statement added. The Israeli Navy shot and wounded a Palestinian fisherman, after the man had ventured out of the fishing perimeter by the northern beach of the Gaza Strip. The man's leg was lightly-moderately wounded. Three other Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of straying out the fishing perimeter. An unnamed state official said Saturday that Australia's decision to recognize west Jerusalem as Israel's capital is "only going half way- we expected more but it's a step in the right direction." Nearly 200 nations overcame political divisions on Saturday to agree on rules for implementing a landmark global climate deal but critics say it is not ambitious enough to prevent the dangerous effects of global warming. After two weeks of talks in the Polish city of Katowice, nations finally reached consensus on a more detailed framework for the 2015 Paris Agreement which aims to limit a rise in average world temperatures to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. "It is not easy to find agreement on a deal so specific and technical. Through this package you have made a thousand little steps forward together. You can feel proud," Polish president of the talks Michal Kurtyka told delegate. Some 200 people rallied in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Saturday, in memory of the October Barkan terror attack victims, Kim Levengrond Yehezkel and Ziv Hagbi. The crowds are demanding that the government provides security to its citizens, following the wave of terror attacks in recent weeks. LANSING Gov. Rick Snyder Friday appointed John Matonich, of Lake Gogebic, to chair the Michigan Trails Advisory Council. Matonich retired in 2016 as CEO of Rowe Professional Services Company. He served there as CEO from 1992 to 1999 and as president from 1997 to 2014. Matonich, a Bessemer native, lived in lower Michigan before returning to the Lake Gogebic area in Marenisco Township. He also serves on the Gogebic County Road Commission board. He earned his bachelors degree in land surveying from Michigan Technological University in Houghton. Snyder said Matonich will represent snowmobile owners on the council and replace Frank Wheatlake. Matonich was appointed to serve the remainder of a four-year term expiring Jan. 17, 2020. He will serve as chair at the pleasure of the governor. Four other people were appointed to the trails advisory council and one person was reappointed, according to a news release from the governors office. Ralph Ansami By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Ironwood Township As township officials continue to prepare next years budget, some residents have expressed concern regarding the outstanding debt owed to various government entities in the county. The debt is tax money former treasurer Jyl Olson-DeRosso collected but never passed on to the appropriate entities. Township Supervisor Steve Boyd said Friday the townships attorney and forensic auditor encouraged the township to continue operating as normal while they work with the insurance and bonding companies to satisfy the debt. Although there are more lines on a residents tax bill, Township Treasurer Maria Graser told the Daily Globe the tax debt can be divided between three basic entities Gogebic County, the Ironwood Area Schools and the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District. The three are owed $820,409 in tax money, with Gogebic County owed $335,181, the Ironwood Area Schools $389,805 and the GOISD $95,423. All of this amount is part of the $1.4 million in restitution owed by Ms. Olson, Boyd said. Olson-DeRosso was ordered to pay $1,398,654 in restitution and sentenced to 38 months in prison on forgery and embezzlement charges in May. Boyd said any additional costs would be addressed among the township, its legal team and the respective entities. Boyd hopes to meet with the impacted entities to address any questions or issues they may have. Regarding the status of the townships insurance and bonding payments, Boyd said he has been told the township should receive its $125,000 bond shortly. Discussions continue between the various insurance companies and the townships legal team regarding the rest of the payments. The forensic auditor stated discussions are progressing well and that a positive resolution should occur soon, Boyd said. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. In the recent past, South Korea has established itself as a popular travel destination and its cities have contributed to this. The cities are rich in history as well as cultural diversity. Although known for many other things such as tasty cuisine, landmarks, and other beautiful scenery, South Korea has some of the richest cities, here is a list of the richest cities in South Korea. SOURCE: unsplash.com Source: Getty Images You have probably heard that this is an interesting time to live. Thanks to the rampant technological advancements, many cities have grown to unimaginable levels. Home to many tech companies, it should not come as a surprise that South Korean cities are ranked as some of the richest in the world. What are the major cities in South Korea? Below is a list of the richest cities in South Korea based on their GDP from the South Korean government. 1. Seoul GDP in mil. (2016): $408,265 What are the biggest cities in South Korea? Seoul is South Koreas capital city, hence one of the biggest city. Its metropolis is growing rapidly with high rise modern skyscrapers. Its high-tech subways are second to none in South Korea. The pop culture is greatly influenced by western culture and it brings in a lot of revenue. READ ALSO: List of cities in Poland, size and population 2. Busan GDP in mil. (2016): $92,838 Busan has the fifth busiest seaport in the world. It is the second largest city in South Korea. In addition to that, it is the largest industrial area in South Korea. Its beaches, restaurants, and cafes make it a great tourist destination. The worlds largest department store is also found here. 3. Incheon GDP in mil. (2016): $92,453 Incheon is a large coastal city. As an international port, the city is a major gateway for cultural and commercial trade. 4. Ulsan GDP in mil. (2016): $81,448 The city houses a large assembly factory (Hyundai). As if that is not enough, the city also has the worlds biggest shipyard also operated by Hyundai. The city is also known for tourist attraction sites such as Yeongnam Alps and grand parks. 5. Daegu GDP in mil. (2016): $56,793 This used to be a manufacturing industry before the decline of the textile industry. It is the second largest inland city in South Korea. It is a hub for international festivals that bring in many people annually. READ ALSO: List of cities in Spain 6. Daejeon GDP in mil. (2016): $41,071 Daejeon is a transportation hub because of its strategic location. It is located between crossroads of major highways and railway lines. It has many universities and scientific research facilities. It is also a provincial center housing media, publishing, newspaper and television organizations. SOURCE: unsplash.com Source: UGC 7. Gwangju GDP in mil. (2016): $38,496 It is known for sophistication in art and artistic knowledge. It is also home to many diverse cuisines. It is connected to Seoul by rail hence encourages industries to establish themselves here. The citys economy relies on cotton textiles, breweries, and rice processing plants. 8. Jeju GDP in mil. (2016): $19,335 It is the largest city on Jeju Island. It has warm weather all year round. This city is a resort center with many prestigious hotels and casinos. It has one of the busiest airports and is a popular tourist destination. 9. Sejong GDP in mil. (2016): $12,764 It is South Koreas central administrative city. It houses the majority of government ministries and institutes. It is also a hub for industries, science, and education. The city is well supported by air and rail transportation. There are the richest cities in South Korea. From vibrant tourism to booming automobile industries, such cities are taking over the world. Some of the riches in South Korean cities come from large industrial complexes. Those who want to visit or invest in South Korean cities are spoilt for choice. The country has coastal cities as well as inland cities that are transportation hubs and hospitality centers. READ ALSO: List of cities in Austria, size and population Source: Yen Traveling to various cities is fun, especially if you know some facts about those cities. South Korea has some great cities which would impress any tourist. Everything about South Korea cities is worth a tourist-visit: from their beautiful, natural, and historic landmarks and scenery to their industrial and technological hubs. It is no surprise that many migrants from outside the country, as well as natives that live in rural areas, move into cities in South Korea to take advantage of these sites and their opportunities. SOURCE: unsplash.com Source: Getty Images Did you know that South Korea has 9 provinces and 8 first level cities? Located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea is a highly urbanized country. It is the most developed country in the East Asia region and as such, it has amazing cities. The big economy is home to some large multinational companies such as Hyundai, LG, and Samsung. From this, it is easy to tell that the country has done quite well on the technology front. In this article, we explore the fascinating cities of South Korea by population. All population data are based on the South Korean population and housing census 2015. 1. Seoul Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. Strategically situated on the Han River, Seoul's history stretches back over two thousand years, when it was founded in 18 BCE by the people of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Seouls population(as of 2015) was 9,904,312. The Seoul skyline is characterized by high-rise apartments. This is a global city owing to its economy, livability, and contributions in technology. In its older days, the city used to be surrounded by a huge wall that kept residents safe from wild animals and external attacks. One of the biggest challenges in Seoul is traffic congestion. This can be attributed to the rapid growth of the country's population thus stretching the existing resources. Visitors to this city must be prepared to cope with crowded streets. READ ALSO: List of cities in Poland, size and population 2. Busan Busan is the second largest city in South Korea with a population of 3,448,737 people according to the 2015 housing census. Found in the southeastern part of the country, the city has turned to be the largest industrial area in South Korea. Apart from that, the city is also the host of the fifth busiest seaport in the entire world. Tourists would love the fact that the city is also called the Summer Capital of South Korea. Along the Busan shoreline, you will find great beaches, restaurants, and cafes. Another interesting fact is that Busan has the largest department store in the world. Next time you are in Busan, you can visit Centum City to see the store (Shinsegae). SOURCE: unsplash.com Source: UGC 3. Incheon The city is located in the northwestern part of South Korea and has a population of 2,890,451 people according to the housing census done in 2015. It is the third largest city in the country. It is also a coastal city. The city has grown tremendously in the past few decades considering that in 1883 when it was established as an international port, the city had only 4,700 people only. The international port status has enabled the city to be a major gateway for commercial and cultural exchange. 4. Daegu This city is home to close to 2,466,052 people. It is the fourth largest city in South Korea. The city used to be a manufacturing industry city. However, its growth has been affected by the decline in the textile industry. After Seoul, Daegu is South Koreas second largest inland city. The city is scenic, surrounded by mountains that house Buddhist temples. The city is also filled with art and cultural scenes. Its contribution to international art cannot go without mention. The city is home to the Daegu International Opera Festival and the Daegu International Bodypainting Festival. READ ALSO: List of cities in Spain SOURCE: unsplash.com Source: UGC 5. Daejeon Daejeon has a population of 1,538,394 people. This is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the country. It is strategically located at crossroads of two key highways and two major railway lines. It is also a popular education center with many universities. There are approximately 18 universities in this city. This city is found at the heart of the country and it, therefore, enjoys good scenes from the surrounding mountains. At the western border of the city, you can find the Gyeryongsan National Park. The growth of the city is due to the fact that it is a provincial center for television, publishing, and newspaper among other organizations. 6. Gwangju Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. The population for Gwangju city is 1,502,881 people. The city was established around 57 BC. It is situated in the southwestern parts of the country. It is claimed that the residents of the city possess the highest level of artistic sophistication and artistic knowledge as compared to people from other parts of the country. The cuisine in this city is also legendary because of its diversity. Interestingly, the city comprises mostly of the youth with 28.5% of the city residents being students. 7. Ulsan Official statistics show that Ulsan has a population of about 1,166,615 people. The city is found towards the southeastern parts of the country. It is located north of Busan city. It is in this city that you find Hyundai. There are other great tourist attractions in the city such as grand parks, the Yeongnam Alps and a whaling museum. The population of all cities in South Korea Andong - 168,581 Ansan - 747,035 Anseong - 194,765 Anyang - 585,177 Asan - 319,929 Boryeong - 101,852 Bucheon - 843,794 Busan- 3,448,737 Changwon- 1,059,241 Cheonan - 629,062 Cheongju - 833,276 Chuncheon - 281,596 Chungju - 211,005 Daegu - 2,466,052 Daejeon - 1,538,394 Dangjin - 163,762 Dongducheon - 97,424 Donghae - 90,255 Gangneung - 215,677 Geoje - 261,371 Gimcheon - 137,540 Gimhae - 534,124 Gimje - 84,269 Gimpo - 352,683 Gongju - 113,542 Goyang - 990,073 Gumi - 421,075 Gunpo - 285,721 Gunsan - 275,155 Guri - 180,063 Gwacheon - 64,817 Gwangju - 1,502,881 Gwangju - 310,278 Gwangmyeong - 338,509 Gwangyang - 144,414 Gyeongju - 262,310 Gyeongsan - 278,500 Gyeryong - 39,243 Hanam - 154,838 Hwaseong - 608,725 Icheon - 209,003 Iksan - 301,723 Incheon - 2,890,451 Jecheon - 136,350 Jeju (City) - 451,758 Jeongeup -110,627 Jeonju - 658,172 Jinju - 349,788 Miryang - 103,069 Mokpo - 239,524 Mungyeong - 71,863 Naju - 92,582 Namwon - 80,499 Namyangju - 629,061 Nonsan - 124,246 Osan - 213,840 Paju - 415,345 Pocheon - 163,388 Pohang - 511,804 Pyeongtaek - 457,873 Sacheon - 113,335 Samcheok - 69,509 Sangju - 98,760 Sejong - 204,088 Seogwipo - 153,861 Seongnam - 948,757 Seosan - 169,221 Seoul -9,904,312 Siheung - 425,184 Sokcho - 79,846 Suncheon - 265,390 Suwon - 1,194,313 Taebaek - 46,715 Tongyeong - 137,208 Uijeongbu - 421,579 Uiwang -154,879 Ulsan- 1,166,615 Wonju - 330,854 Yangju - 205,988 Yangsan - 297,532 Yeoju - 109,937 Yeongcheon - 97,669 Yeongju - 109,266 Yeosu - 273,761 Yongin - 971,327 READ ALSO: List of cities in France, size and population That marks the end of our list of cities in South Korea by population. If you are planning to visit South Korea, it is a good call because you can experience everything here- art, culture, technology, nature, and a warm welcome from the people of South Korea. The country has many cities, each unique in its own way. The list of great cities in the country is endless and as new cities emerge, we may might have to write about new cities in the future and what they have to offer. READ ALSO: List of cities in Austria, size and population Source: Yen.com.gh U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. is "in no hurry" to negotiate with North Korea, as progress on dismantling the country's nuclear weapons program has stalled. "Many people have asked how we are doing in our negotiations with North Korea," Trump tweeted. "I always reply by saying we are in no hurry." He added, "There is wonderful potential for great economic success for that country" and that (North Korean leader) "Kim Jong Un sees it better than anyone and will fully take advantage of it for his people." "We are doing just fine!" he claimed. The U.S. and North Korea have had no formal negotiations since Trump and Kim met in Singapore in June and agreed to "work toward" complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to hold talks with a senior North Korean official in New York, but the meeting was called off at a day's notice, reportedly at the North's request. The Trump administration has promised economic rewards, including sanctions relief, in exchange for denuclearization, but the North has demanded concessions for the steps it has taken so far, such as the demolition of its nuclear testing site and the return of American prisoners. Despite the apparent impasse, Trump said early this month that he expects to have a second summit with Kim in January or February. He said the location has been narrowed down to three sites. (Yonhap) Top officials of the United States and Canada discussed the issue of North Korea's sanctions evasion Friday amid the ongoing efforts to denuclearize the regime. The matter was brought up in the 2+2 talks involving U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan. "We took the opportunity to reiterate our support for the United States efforts towards a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and our efforts in the area of sanctions evasion," Freeland told a press conference at the State Department after the talks. "In an ever-changing global landscape, it's important that countries are able to nimbly respond to flagrant violations of the international order. An effective and targeted sanctions regime is key to this," she added. North Korea is under tough United Nations and other countries' sanctions for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Among other things, the North can only import 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum annually; but it North has reportedly evaded this by conducting banned ship-to-ship transfers at sea. In the latest report pointing to such activity, NBC News said Friday that a top secret U.S. military assessment has found continued illegal transfers of oil to the North, and an adjustment of the regime's tactics to escape surveillance by an eight-nation coalition led by the U.S. The other members are Canada, South Korea, Australia, Britain, France, Japan and New Zealand. Pompeo said it was "great" to talk with the Canadians about close cooperation on North Korea. "I thank my Canadian counterparts for enforcing all of the U.N. Security Council resolutions and encouraging other countries to maintain pressure as well," he said. (Yonhap) "Our 40 Years," a grand gala in celebration of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, is held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2018. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan were among the Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders who joined more than 3,000 people to watch the gala at the Great Hall of the People. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- A grand gala was held in Beijing on Friday evening in celebration of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan were among the Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders who joined more than 3,000 people to watch the gala at the Great Hall of the People. On the balcony of the 2nd floor of the hall hung a banner, which read "rally ly around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and unceasingly advance reform and opening up in the new era". At 7:55 p.m., Xi and other senior leaders walked into the hall, shook hands with representatives of people awarded for their outstanding contributions to reform and opening up, amid warm applause throughout the venue. Named "Our 40 Years," the gala was divided into Overture, Part One, Part Two and Epilogue. Part One replayed the grand changes that have taken place in China since the beginning of reform and opening up. The part culminated with a poetry recital titled "The Great Awakening," which expressed Chinese people's gratitude and admiration for reform and opening up. Part Two comprehensively showed how socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the new era under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The gala ended with a song expressing the promising future for reform and opening up. Through art forms such as singing, dancing, plays and poetry recitals, the gala gave full expression of the determination and confidence of the Chinese people to carry out reform and opening up all the way under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core. The Inner Sea circa 1900s. By Robert Neff At the beginning of September 1884, the urge to run along "unsurveyed and unexplored" shores took hold of Captain Patrick Hodnett. To satisfy his wanderlust, he decided to sail to Korea from Yokohama aboard his schooner, Zephyr. Korea wasn't exactly unexplored. There were small foreign enclaves at each of the open ports that were supported by at least two or three steamships monthly. But, for the most part, very few Westerners traveled to the land known as the Hermit Kingdom. The Zephyr and its Japanese crew left Yokohama in the first week of September and for the next week or so sailed without incident through the Inner Sea. Hodnett's crew made it clear that they needed to stop at Kotohira-gu, a noted shrine in the Inland Sea that was patronized by sailors and, according to Hodnett, was the Mecca of Japan. Kotohiro Shrine circa 1900s. On September 15 the ship arrived at the shrine and Hodnett accompanied his crew as a "disinterested spectator." His memoirs provide an interesting description of this holy site. "The shrine is situated about 2,000 feet up a hill. The town below is supported by pilgrims; it was there that we halted to take a warm bath, so as to wash away all our impurities before making the ascent, as is the custom. "We commenced by climbing a flight of steps, some hundred feet, then we walked along a paved level some three hundred feet more, then ascending and then walking, again and again alternately. Holy ornaments were exposed on every side, and holy water no food can be taken on the way. When I thought we must be nearly at the top, we were only half way. At length we arrived at the office of the shrine, where each pilgrim records his name, age and place of birth, which are all entered in a large register. There is a herald standing by who shouts each name in a loud voice. After this the pilgrim receives a certificate, for which he pays twelve cents." "Then we continued our ascent to the shrine, which was not far off. The first thing we saw was a bronze horse of life size to which a number of pilgrims were offering grain. When we got on the top we could see around the shrine hundreds of junk anchors all belonging to vessels that had been lost, but whose crews were saved. Something belonging to each vessel is always brought as an offering of gratitude for the preservation of the crew." Kotohiro Shrine circa 1900s. The shrine's five priests, all dressed in white, chanted the name of each of the Zephyr's crew, waved a wand over their head and then offered a prayer. Once this was concluded, the crew felt relieved and ready to begin their journey to Korea. Hodnett claimed that he was not superstitious but this disbelief did not stop him from visiting a fortune teller on the way back to his ship who told him that "good luck lay in an easterly direction." The seer stressed that going west towards Korea was not a good thing to do. Hodnett scoffed at the warning and shortly afterward set sail for Korea, stopping at Shimonoseki for supplies. On September 17, the Zephyr encountered a violent typhoon in the Korea Strait. Prudently, the Irishman sought refuge in the Korean island group of Gomundo (also known as Port Hamilton). Kotohiro Shrine circa 1900s. But not all ships were as fortunate as the Zephyr. An unnamed schooner with four men aboard a Dane, known only as Bob, his Swedish mate and two Japanese sailors left Nagasaki just before the storm on a trial run. It was Bob's intention to sail around the Korean Peninsula but he and his crew were never heard from again. The Zephyr's stay on Gomundo was brief. In his memoirs Hodnett wrote that it was here that he first encountered Koreans whom he described as "half savage people." While in the harbor, a Korean official made his way to the Zephyr and was admirably entertained. In turn, he invited the Irishman to go ashore for a "friendly repast it was spread out on the beach on mats and, before [Hodnett] was invited to begin, [the Korean official] tasted every dish to show [Hodnett presumed], that there was no poison in the food." Once the storm abated, the islanders assisted Hodnett in getting the Zephyr back to sea. In appreciation, he gave them a few small presents (probably some of the biscuits he always had on hand) and "they parted good friends." The Zephyr made its way through the myriad islands along the southwestern coast of Korea that, according to Hodnett, were "inhabited by a villainous lot of creatures." Finally, at the beginning of October, the Zephyr arrived at Jemulpo the seaport for the capital of Korea. Kotohiro Shrine circa 1900s. Kotohiro Shrine circa 1900s. Kotohiro Shrine circa 1900s. Gomundo (Port Hamilton) circa 1910-1920s. Li Chengri. By Li Chengri In the year 2017, war tension on in the Korean Peninsula left Northeast Asia in dangerous place. However, in 2018 drastic changes are taking place faster than expected. The changes taking place in North Korea are truly remarkable. First of all, North Korea clearly declared the transition from Byungjin Line (parallel development of nuclear and economic construction) to concentration on economic development. Secondly, North Korea' leader Kim Jong-un several times mentioned the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In particular, he directly agreed with President Moon Jae-In about creating a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and nuclear threats. The estranged relationship between North Korea and China due to nuclear issues, and the deteriorating inter-Korean relations were prominently improved and led to the first-ever U.S.-North Korean summit. In addition, North Korea's policy decisions have been made public in several reports. This implies fundamental changes in politics, economy, social, and foreign relations. Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia and a summit with Japan's Prime Minister Abe are planned, and the second U.S.-North Korean Summit will be a turning point for the changes on the Korean Peninsula. This change began from North Korea and is having a huge impact on the Korean Peninsula, moreover, even to the dynamics in Northeast Asia. North Korea is the only undeveloped area in Northeast Asia. Although North Korea has proposed intensive economic construction projects and is pushing for national development by presenting a "Five-year Strategy," it will be difficult to achieve visible results within a short time without fundamental improvement of the surrounding environment. The infrastructure situation in North Korea is relatively poor. Without fundamental improvement, it is difficult to get full-fledged investment from outside the country. Under the current situation, massive modifications and investment should be made to the North's infrastructure railroads, roads and power. Because infrastructure investment is large and has a long payback period, infrastructure investments must be guaranteed by the relevant countries or be funded by international financial institutions. In addition, the international community's cooperation or cooperation system is highly desirable, as most investment or development in North Korea is difficult for any single country to handle alone. In particular, the cooperation and efforts of Korea, China, and Japan are essential. The only cooperation system functioning in Northeast Asia involves Korea, China, and Japan. There are many new ideas about North Korean regional development, but the most realistic is a trilateral cooperation mechanism. To establish North Korea's trust in the international community, it is now necessary for trilateral cooperation to work strategically on developing North Korea, which is the biggest issue in Northeast Asia. First, we must support and cooperate with North Korea's changes. For North Korea, it is never an easy decision to switch toward denuclearization or economic construction. In other words, successful economic construction is critical to Kim Jong-un as a historical sense of duty and involving great risk. If by any chance North Korea fails to achieve positive results, it could have a huge negative impact not only on North Korea but also on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, it is necessary to approach North Korea's new national development on economic construction concentration in terms of peace and development on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Second, support for construction of the North Korean economy should not be carried out independently by China, South Korea, or Japan, but rather at the level of economic integration in Northeast Asia. North Korea for its part will thus not rely on a particular country to receive abundant resources for development but make efforts to maintain some degree of balance. The construction of infrastructure such as electric power, roads, and railroads necessary for economic reconstruction will also be difficult for the country on its own. Therefore, China, South Korea, and Japan should form an economic cooperation mechanism. Third, strategic thinking and approach to the new changes in North Korea should be attempted. Currently, it is necessary to invite North Korea or Mongolia to join the trilateral cooperation mechanism. If this is not feasible, at least North Korea should be accepted as an observer so we can provide an environment that lets North Korea establish an identity as a part of Northeast Asia. The situation in Northeast Asia cannot and should never be reversed. For more than 70 years after World War , the Korean Peninsula has been divided. Now, the people of both Koreas and even Northeast Asia are wishing for peace on the Korean Peninsula and for regional prosperity. This is the public sentiment in this region and it cannot be stopped by any greater power or game theories. The three countries should altogether contribute to the prosperity and cooperation system of Northeast Asia by fully understanding the historical trends and supporting North Korean economic development through government-led, infrastructure building and multilateral means. Li Chengri is a research fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Science s. Choi Seung-hye, an assistant researcher at Global Security Cooperation Center, translated the article. This is the fifth in a series of interviews exploring the journey of Koreans who've left their motherland to compete in the cutthroat U.S. tech industry. ED By Jane Han SAN MATEO, CA The name SendBird may not ring a bell for many, but the Korean startup is taking Silicon Valley by storm. The company enables easy integration of real-time chat feature for mobile apps, websites and games. Think customer service chat or private messaging between users. John Kim. Theres a new art-and-technology alliance in town, a partnership between Qualcomm Institute (QI) at UC San Diego and San Diego Art Institute (SDAI) in Balboa Park . This means new opportunities for collaborations between artists and researchers, as evidenced in SDAIs latest exhibition Rising Tide. The show actually features three artists whose pieces encompass the full expanse of a rising tide, from no-tech to low-tech to high-tech. Theres Jana Brikes Sea of Change, a series of paintings representing female figures, ranging in age from very young to very old, all frolicking by the seashore. The site-specific installation here was inspired by Mark Rothko s chapel, where meditation and modern art meet. Jana Brike with one of her Sea Change paintings ( Maurice Hewitt ) Then theres Francisco Emes multimedia Parallel Planes, a set of sculptures, photographic projections, English and Spanish audio recordings and works on paper that deal with language and identity on both sides of the border. Visitors are invited to interact with the projections by adding their own tweets in Spanglish. Francisco Eme with Dead Word/Palabra Muerta, made of found letters originally used for advertising. Someone dumped them, he said. They once formed a message, but I dont know what it was. When the exhibition ends, visitors can buy an illuminated letter to use as a lamp. ( Maurice Hewitt ) Finally theres Jacob Sundstrom, a UCSD grad student in computer music whose room-size coral reef installation Erasure is the first example of the QI/SDAI collaboration. The piece originated in a seminar called Hearing Seascapes that Sundstrom took with QI composer-in-residence Lei Liang and a diverse group of students composers, performers, writers and techies. Erasure a sound-and-video loop in which a reef degrades and then regenerates was originally shown as an end-of-class demo, conceived by Sundstrom and executed with the help of three other Ph.D.-track stars: Anthony Vine and Fiona Digney (music) and Vid Petrovic (computer science/engineering). Sundstrom used the coral reef as a metaphor for the grieving process. There was a personal experience I needed to work through, he explained. My mind was writhing, trying to deal with a difficult new reality, breaking down in different ways; it was like a cloud of polyps exploding a reef from the inside, until it collapses. As I got myself together, the piece came together. Gradually, the reef recreates itself. Sundstrom is headed for a Ph.D. in music, but he calls his website notthatintomusic.com I dont want to pigeonhole myself into being a composer, he said. I just like to make things. I make things you can listen to, look at, and walk into. Another of his makings Thoughts on Rorschach, sounds and visuals he created from recordings of his brainwaves while looking at inkblots has a small alcove to itself in Rising Tide. SDAI executive director Jacqueline Silverman said she first saw Erasure on a visit to the QI Labs in January. For some time, SDAI had been interested in using technology to enhance the museum-going experience, and she was impressed with the work going on at QI, that she described as gorgeous original music and images, with big ideas behind them. Shortly after, the partnership began taking shape. At the opening reception for Rising Tide, she explained: My work has always been about forging partnerships, and our collaboration with QI will not only lead to the creation of cutting-edge pieces that viewers can access through technology but also to the creation of a new generation of artists. And Pete Garcia, a member of SDAIs board of directors, added: Its Art and Science: A Love Story ... like Romeo and Juliet, but with a happy ending. For the happiest experience of Rising Tide, read the detailed wall labels that accompany each installation; theyll increase your appreciation of both the science and the art. And take your time. Each piece, in its own way, is a meditation. IF YOU GO: Rising Tide is up through through Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 at San Diego Art Institute, 1439 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Mondays and major holidays. (619) 236-0011. sandiego-art.org More than 130 million Americans are waking up this Saturday morning to the news that their health coverage has been thrown into doubt. Thats because, late Friday night, a federal judge in Texas effectively invalidated the Affordable Care Act including its exchange health plans, Medicaid expansion and its provisions affecting Medicares prescription drugs benefit lock, stock and barrel. As my colleague Noam Levey reports, Judge Reed OConnor didnt issue an injunction against the law, so the federal and state governments still can enforce it, for now. Indeed, Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Seema Verma, who oversees the ACA, said Friday that the exchanges are still open for business and we will continue with open enrollment. There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan. I do not believe this opinion is long for this world. However superficially plausible the plaintiff states claims initially appear, they melt upon inspection. Conservative legal scholar Jonathan Adler Advertisement On the other hand, President Trump crowed on Twitter that Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! He happens to be wrong, technically, but that hasnt stopped him in the past. (Marty Lederman of Georgetown Law School explains that the judge didnt technically strike down the law, but merely issued a declaratory judgment that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, and stated that it follows that the rest of the law must be invalid; if he really wanted to shut down the law, he would have issued an injunction against its enforcement.) Legal experts across the political spectrum say OConnors decision is so flawed and threadbare of logic that its likely to be overturned, and rapidly, by the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans. It could also be tossed by the Supreme Court, which has upheld the constitutionality of the ACA twice. If that happens, removing a last-gasp challenge to the law filed by Texas and 19 other red states, the ACA could end up stronger than ever, its provisions etched into the American healthcare system for the long term. But in todays political and juridical environment anything can happen. So supporters of the law, who are now the majority of Americans, need to keep their fingers crossed. The Texas case was the latest iteration of conservatives eight-year campaign against the Affordable Care Act, which included scores of repeal attempts in Congress and six trips to the Supreme Court. This time around, the red states argued that when the Republican Congress reduced the penalty for not carrying health coverage to zero a provision of the tax cut signed by President Trump last December the result was to nullify the whole law. Their position was endorsed by the Trump administration, which withdrew its defense of the law before OConnor in June, thus making the unconstitutionality of the law official Trump doctrine. But 16 blue states, led by California, won the right to defend the law in the federal governments stead. On Friday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra promptly denounced the ruling and pledged that our coalition will continue to fight in court for the health and well-being of all Americans. Here are some of the provisions that would be overturned if OConnors ruling is allowed to stand: The ACAs system of premium subsidies for low- and moderate-income households; Medicaid expansion in the 37 states that have accepted it as well as in Nebraska, Idaho and Utah, where voters approved expansion last month, and in Maine, where a Democratic governor is poised to implement expansion after voters approved it in 2017; the ACAs rule allowing young people to stay on their parents health plans up to age 26; a narrowing of the doughnut hole that saddles some Medicare enrollees with higher costs for prescription drugs. Medicaid expansion was approved before this year in 36 states and the District of Columbia (light blue); voters in Idaho, Utah and Nebraska opted at the ballot box last month to add their states to the list. But a judges ruling could place all those programs in doubt. (Kaiser Family Foundation) Among the most important effects would be the eradication of ACA rules protecting people with preexisting medical conditions from being turned away for insurance or charged higher premiums than the general population. All those provisions have proven to be popular with the general public. Its proper to observe that the plaintiff states maneuvered carefully to bring their case before OConnor by filing it in a branch courthouse where hes the only federal judge on call. They know their man: OConnor was a Senate Republican staff functionary without judicial experience when he was named to the bench by George W. Bush in 2007. Since then, hes been a reliable vote against progressive programs in almost all particulars, ruling against gun control measures, Obamacares rules against gender discrimination, and Obama administration rules barring discrimination against transgender public school students. Legal authorities were braced for Fridays ACA ruling from OConnor, who had made no secret during proceedings in his Fort Worth courtroom of his disdain for the law. Many thought he might invalidate the ACAs rules requiring insurance companies to accept all applicants and forbidding them to charge more for people with preexisting conditions. They were were shocked by the breadth of his conclusion that the whole law had to go. Absolutely insane was the judgment of Nicholas Bagley of the University of Michigan law school, a long-term supporter of the ACA. But his view was echoed by Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve law school, a conservative who was the architect of a legal strategy that aimed to overturn much of the laws premium subsidies (but was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2015). Adler called OConnors decision surprising and surprisingly weak and added, I do not believe this opinion is long for this world. However superficially plausible the plaintiff states claims initially appear, they melt upon inspection. Every state has a sizable percentage of residents with pre-existing conditions, though Appalachia and the deep South have higher rates. (Kaiser Family Foundation) Lets take a quick look at OConnors reasoning. He asserts that in enacting the law in 2010, Congress stated that the individual mandate was essential to the operation of the ACA. The mandate imposed a tax penalty on anyone without a health plan. Because the Supreme Court had found the tax penalty to be constitutional, OConnor wrote, when Congress reduced the penalty to zero, the individual mandate became unconstitutional. (The reduction actually takes effect Jan.1, 2019.) The reason, he wrote, is that Congress made no provision for severability in the ACA that is, providing that if some of its elements were overturned, the others would remain in force. OConnor argues that the 2017 Congress, which zeroed out the tax penalty, didnt say what it intended to happen to the rest of the law. There is no answer, he wrote, so the 2010 Congresss view that the law must stand or fall in conjunction with the mandate must prevail. The flaw in this reasoning, as Bagley, Adler and others point out, is that the 2017 Congress did make its view of severability clear. It did so by invalidating the tax penalty, but not repealing the law. So in 2017, Congress had come around to the view that the rest of the ACA could survive without the mandate. We know for certain that [Congress] believed it could safely ditch the mandate penalty and keep the rest of the ACA intact, Bagley wrote in June. We know because thats what it did. The chief imponderable from OConnors ruling is its political impact. Even if its tossed out on appeal, the ruling demonstrates how far Republicans will go to undermine the Affordable Care Act. As Ezra Klein posits at Vox.com, thats an object lesson for Democrats and other supporters and beneficiaries of the ACA, and a signal that they should push ahead on their proposals for Medicare for all or other single-payer or universal health coverage ideas. Republicans are never going to give up this fight as long as theres a single one remaining in Congress with a single breath left in his or her body. Theres no point in trying to reach an accord with this group, especially now that the results are in from the midterm election which Democrats won by campaigning heavily on healthcare issues. The American public wants its health coverage to be secure from political attacks, and the Democrats should heed its call. 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. Another actress has sued Harvey Weinstein, claiming that the movie producer harassed and sexually assaulted her on several occasions over a period of nearly three years, including at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The complaint filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court doesnt identify the plaintiff, except to say that she first encountered Weinstein at Sundance in 2013, where she said she gave him her card for audition opportunities. The actress alleges the harassment and assaults continued through the end of 2015 in Park City, New York and Beverly Hills. There is absolutely no truth to the malicious claims in this lawsuit, and we are reviewing our options with an eye on filing for an immediate dismissal, a spokesman for Weinstein said. Advertisement The lawsuit is the latest in a slew of civil cases against Weinstein filed by alleged victims, including actresses Ashley Judd and Paz de la Huerta. The producer behind such Oscar-winning hits as Shakespeare in Love, Chicago and The Kings Speech faces accusations from more than 80 women who allege harassment and assault. Weinstein also is facing criminal charges in New York over multiple accusations of sexual assault and is currently out on bail. The former movie mogul has denied all accusations of nonconsensual sex. In Fridays complaint, the actress alleges that the first incident occurred the day after she first met Weinstein in his room at the Waldorf Astoria Park City hotel during the Sundance Film Festival. The suit alleges that Weinstein accosted her while she was sitting on the toilet in the bathroom. Despite an attempt to rebuff the producer, the suit states, he masturbated in front of her and ejaculated onto her skirt. The actress told Weinstein the next day at lunch that she was disturbed by the incident and wanted to keep their relationship professional. But later the same night, Weinstein approached her as she exited a restroom at a party and forced her hand onto his penis, according to the lawsuit. The suit further alleges that Weinstein continued to prey upon the actress in New York. In March 2013, Weinstein invited her to his office after dinner at the Tribeca Grill, ostensibly to discuss a role in the upcoming movie Vampire Academy. Instead, the actress claims, Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her while reminding her that he could help her career. Another alleged incident occurred the next year at the Soho Grand Hotel in New York. The lawsuit states she met Weinstein there at his invitation but fled when he started kissing and touching her despite her objections. A year later, in 2015, the actress met with Weinstein at his room at the Tribeca Grand. The suit alleges Weinstein exposed himself to her and started masturbating. When she tried to leave, he allegedly blocked her exit and continued to masturbate. The final alleged incident contained in the suit occurred at Weinsteins hotel room at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel in late 2015. The actress claims she refused Weinsteins request that she give him a massage. While washing her hands in the bathroom, the actress alleges, Weinstein appeared wearing only his boxer shorts and touching himself. When she tried to flee, Weinstein allegedly prevented her escape and started berating her, telling her to shut up and be quiet. She said he eventually allowed her to leave. The actress said she continued to agree to meet with Weinstein out of fear of reprisal and how he could affect her career. She is seeking unspecified damages. david.ng@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidNgLAT Pacific Gas & Electric Co. continued to commit pipeline safety violations in the years after a gas explosion that killed eight people in the Bay Area suburb of San Bruno, regulators said Friday as they launched a new investigation into Californias largest utility. The fresh accusations add to growing uncertainty over PG&Es viability as the power provider for 16 million people from Humboldt to Santa Barbara counties. The company could face bankruptcy if its infrastructure is found to have sparked the Camp fire, which killed 86 people last month. Critics have called for state regulators to break up the utility monopoly. The California Public Utilities Commission said Friday that a staff investigation found PG&E had violated rules requiring utilities to locate and mark natural gas pipelines to make sure other companies or people dont accidentally damage them during construction and other projects that involve digging. The commissions investigation found that PG&E didnt have enough employees dedicated to that work and that PG&E supervisors, facing pressure from their bosses, falsified data so requests for pipeline locating and marking would not appear as late. The violations occurred from 2012 to 2017, the commission said. PG&Es safety practices and culture have been subject to enormous scrutiny since 2010, when one of the companys gas pipelines exploded in San Bruno near San Francisco International Airport, killing eight people. Advertisement This Commission would expect that after such a tragedy, caused by multiple proven violations of law, PG&E would have sought to vigorously enhance and increase its effectiveness in all aspects of its gas safety, the commission said in an order announcing the new investigation, which could lead to additional financial penalties for the embattled utility. PG&E was fined $1.6 billion by the commission and $3 million by a federal judge after the San Bruno explosion. In an emailed statement, PG&E said it has already worked to improve its pipeline safety record-keeping by hiring more employees, improving its training programs and upgrading its review and audit protocol. Were committed to accurate and thorough reporting and record-keeping, and we didnt live up to that commitment in this case. Once that became apparent, we took and continue to take additional actions to meet the regulatory standards, the statement said. sammy.roth@latimes.com Twitter: @Sammy_Roth To misquote Shakespeare: Some men are born for drag, some achieve drag, and some have drag thrust upon em. Casey, the protagonist of Matthew Lopezs irresistible 2015 comedy The Legend of Georgia McBride, is firmly in the third camp. For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed tickets for $20-$75. The range is $25-$75. How does somebody accidentally do drag? Thats exactly what the pregnant wife of Casey (Stephen Michael Spencer) asks upon discovering that he has been secretly making a living by lip-syncing to country music in heels, wig and miniskirt. A good living. A packing-the-house-four-sets-a-night living. He has become, in fact, a legend. But he didnt mean to. It just sort of happened. For the sake of argument, lets imagine that an ordinary, working-class Florida boy like Casey, without the slightest interest in cross-dressing, could find himself one night with no alternative but to star in a drag show at a dive bar. Advertisement The challenge of engineering so far-fetched a scenario could take out a less confident playwright. But Lopez doesnt blink. He winks, yes, and smiles mischievously, then rolls up his sleeves and wrangles his cumbersome, ludicrous plot into place so deftly, and with such infectious, tongue-in-cheek delight, that the audience enjoys getting played like a cheap piano in Ensemble Theatre Companys production at the New Vic in Santa Barbara. It is awfully convenient that Casey happens to be a struggling Elvis impersonator. And that his training in the niche skill of lip-syncing dovetails with the demands of his new career. MATTHEW LOPEZ: An interview with the playwright on the birth of Georgia McBridge Props to Lopez for his setup chops and to director Jenny Sullivan for a fast-paced and spirited staging that doesnt give us a second to question too hard and burst the ever-inflating bubble of this sweet, optimistic show. Scenic designer Keith Mitchell and costume designer Alex Jaeger have taken this opportunity to indulge their playfulness and flair. With a divine soundtrack (brought to life by sound designer Randall Robert Tico), the result is so glorious that it probably doesnt really need a plot. And yet the story does hold up, suspending our disbelief throughout significant turbulence and some sharp turns. Lopez has a secret weapon: the character of Miss Tracy Mills (Bill Brochtrup). An aging drag queen with the poise of a debutante, an unerring knack for the dry aside, a profound understanding of irony and the nurturing instinct of a mama bear, Tracy seizes the reins of the play the moment she arrives and proceeds to steer it discreetly but commandingly to its resolution. Matt McGrath originated this role; those who got to see him in 2016 at the Geffen Playhouse could reasonably worry that no other actor could fill his pumps. Brochtrup hadnt done a lot of drag before, but he takes to it like a duck to sparkly pink water. Hes so much fun to watch that even though youre a little worried about his feet in those shoes, you dont want him to stop dancing. Spencer is wonderful as Casey, and so is Keiana Richard as his wife, Jo Jo. J. Stephen Brantley, playing a shy bar owner who gradually warms up to the spotlight, and Carlton Byrd, double cast as Caseys landlord and his fierce drag nemesis, Rexy, provide many of the shows best laughs. The play isnt just nonstop camp candy. It has wisdom to impart, although it could probably do so just as effectively without the occasional moments of preaching. Lucky for us, they dont last long long. The razzle dazzle is back almost before you miss it. The Legend of Georgia McBride Where: Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara When: 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays (see website for complete schedule); ends Dec. 23 Tickets: $25-$75 Information: (805) 965-5400, www.etcsb.org Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. A little bit of controversy. A little bit of Broadway. A little bit of Zubin Mehta. Im Carolina A. Miranda, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, with the weeks essential arts stories. MURAL CONTROVERSY Los Angeles Unified School District officials have announced that a mural by Beau Stanton at a Koreatown school will be whitewashed after the president of the Wilshire Community Coalition alleged that the mural depicts a Japanese flag from World War II offensive to Koreans. Times art critic Christopher Knight says the starburst is a common motif in architecture and other murals around L.A. and that the attack on the 2016 mural may be politically motivated. Deceptive claims, writes Knight, have been weaponized to shut down free speech. Los Angeles Times A close up look of a mural by Beau Stanton. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement KEEN OBSERVER Zoe Leonard made headlines earlier this year when a short text she wrote in 1992 about wanting an outsider for president was censored from Instagram. Now her mid-career retrospective is on view at the Museum of Contemporary of Art in Los Angeles, where she is presenting her quietly observant photographs and installations, as well as that controversial text. I really grew up looking at space, thinking about space, she tells me, thinking about space and architecture as a forum for human interaction. Los Angeles Times And one more story of censorship. Livestream journalist Patti Beers, who writer Sam Slovick says is part of a movement reinventing the political documentary in real time, had her Twitter account taken away in October. We cant say for sure if its related, but less than 24 hours after the story about her work was posted Friday, Twitter restored her account. Los Angeles Times New York-based artist Zoe Leonard at MOCA. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) ON BROADWAY Times theater critic Charles McNulty has been hitting the shows in New York. He caught a performance of To Kill a Mockingbird, the adaptation of Harper Lees novel by screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. The play, which features Jeff Daniels in the role of Atticus Finch, focuses the storyline on the adults. Quarrel all you want with the liberties that are taken, writes McNulty. Sorkin, [director Bartlett] Sher and an impeccable cast have created something provocatively fresh. Los Angeles Times Sort of related: Casey Cep considers the legacy of Atticus Finch. New Yorker Jeff Daniels in Aaron Sorkins adaptation of Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird. (Julieta Cervantes) Also on the docket for McNulty was The Prom, a new musical comedy at the Longacre Theatre that left our critic feeling like he had died and gone to campy heaven. The story, about a band of Broadway stars intent on a helping a queer teen go to prom, overstays its welcome, notes McNulty, but a rousing final number brings everything to joyous conclusion. Los Angeles Times And because weve got you, babe, McNulty also checked out The Cher Show at the Neil Simon Theatre. And while its got plenty of glitz, along with three different Chers at three different stages of the stars life, this is a jukebox musical, where biography is processed through a kind of playwriting Auto-Tune. At least the back-up dancers are hot. Los Angeles Times Stephanie J. Block plays Cher at the apex of her celebrity in The Cher Show. (Joan Marcus) GETTING MEHTA Zubin Mehta, the conductor who led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the 1960s and 70s is back in town leading the LA Phil through a Brahms cycle through the weekend. Times classical music critic Mark Swed reports it was a triumphant return for Mehta: He was master of Brahms. He was master of a vibrant L.A. Phil, which gave him more than Ive ever heard the New Yorkers, Berliners or Viennese give him. Most of all he was master of himself, rising above a year of health problems. Los Angeles Times Zubin Mehta conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the start of a Brahms cycle. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) EXHILARATING SHOWS Patricia Kopatchinskaja, the Molodovan-born violinist who served as musical director of last summers Ojai music festival, was back in SoCal for a show at Hahn Hall in Santa Barbara as part of the UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures series. Mark Swed reports that she played Bartoks Second Violin Sonata in unorthodox ways. It goes without saying that this is a violinist who allows neither herself nor audience to take anything for granted. Los Angeles Times Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and pianist Polina Leschenko at Hahn Hall in Santa Barbara. (David Bazemore) Plus, Swed has been reveling in the work of some interesting quartets, including the Kronos Quartet in shows in Santa Barbara and L.A., and the St. Lawrence String Quartet, which performed Haydn at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa. The ensemble disrupted the mother of all disrupters, he writes, aka the father of the string quartet. It was pretty exciting. Los Angeles Times ALL THE BEST Its year-end wrap-up time! Charles McNulty comes through with a range of the best theatrical works, including Cost of Living and its human truths, and the star turns in Dear Evan Hansen. In the world of classical music, Mark Swed looks at the musicians who spread joy and justice, including L.A. Phil director Gustavo Dudamel and composer Ellen Reid. Christopher Knight rounds up the 10 most engaging museum shows, including Jasper Johns at the Broad museum and the Made in L.A. biennial at the Hammer Museum. The U.S. flag is projected on the Broad museum in conjunction with Jasper Johns: Something Resembling Truth. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) And art critics Roberta Smith, Holland Cotter and Jason Farago choose their favorite art books. New York Times READY FOR THE WEEKEND Matt Cooper has the week ahead in classical music, dance, theater and museums. Plus, hes got all the weekend picks, from The Nutcracker to Taylor Mac. Daryl H. Miller looks at whats doing on the 99-seat beat, including a holiday show involving Aphrodite, and I round up all the latest visual arts happenings in my weekly Datebook, including a show about the art of calligraphy. IN OTHER NEWS Kaywin Feldman will become the first woman to lead the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Washington Post A lawsuit alleges pay inequity at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Washington Post Remembering dancer and choreographer Arthur Mitchell. The Guardian Cubas Decree 349 criminalizes cultural activities that are not sanctioned by the government and opposition to it is intensifying. Numerous artist-activists, including Tania Bruguera and Amaury Pacheco, have been arrested attempting to protest the decree. Artforum, New York Times A riveting profile of Max Harris, who did chores at Ghost Ship and is now doing time for the raging fire that consumed the lives of 36 people in 2016. New York Times Magazine LACMA will soon be closing its European art galleries in preparation for the construction of its new Peter Zumthor-designed building, but its unclear if fundraising for the project is done. Los Angeles County Museum on Fire Money has totally corrupted the ability to make a meaningful form. David Adjaye takes on money and architecture at the World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam. Dezeen How Stuart Palley captures the sinister beauty of Californias fires. Los Angeles Times An evacuation can cause gridlock. Alissa Walker reports on reconsidering our dependence on cars when fleeing an emergency. Curbed From slavery to dress maker to the White House: the incredible life of Elizabeth Keckly. New York Times Needed: a caretaker for a stone tower in Palos Verdes. Daily Breeze AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST That time the ladies from Broad City hit the galleries. Comedy Central Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter carolina.miranda@latimes.com | Twitter: @cmonstah Reviews by Leah Ollman (L.O.). Compiled by Matt Cooper. Openings New Orleans Second Line Parades: Photographs by Pableaux Johnson Color portraits of members of African American social clubs. Fowler Museum, UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Drive North, Westwood. Starts Sun.-ends April 28. Closed Mon.-Tue. Free. (310) 825-4361. Artful Words: Calligraphy in Illuminated Manuscripts Exhibit examines the monetary, cultural and spiritual value placed on handmade books in ages past. The Getty Center, N. Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive, L.A. Starts Tue.; ends April 7. Closed Mon. Free. (310) 440-7300. Titians Portrait of a Lady in White This painting by the 16th-century Italian master, on loan from the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, makes its Southern California debut. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Starts Fri.; ends March 25. Closed Tue. $9, $12; students, active-duty military and ages 18 and under, free. (626) 449-6840. Advertisement Also recommended The Incongruous Body Humor and the human body serve as brackets loosely containing the sculptural work in this 14-person show. Not all here is comic, and not everything manages to muster heat from the rub of expectation against direct experience curator Tim Bergs organizing principle but the show has enough radiant moments to redeem the whole. Standouts include works by Kim Tucker, Kristen Morgin, Jeremy Brooks, Elana Mann and Robert Arneson. (L.O.) AMOCA, 399 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Open Wed.-Sat. Ends Jan. 20. $5, $7; 12 and under, free. (909) 865-3146. GAZA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The current U.S. administration's policies have complicated the peace process between Palestinians and Israel in 2018, said Palestinian observers. They say the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is no longer a neutral peace mediator and is preventing other international sponsors as demanded by the Palestinians. The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved its embassy in May to the disputed city, which the Palestinians call its eastern part as the capital of their future state. Trump also made a series of unprecedented decisions, such as the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington and the cessation of financial support for Palestinians and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA). To date, Washington has refrained from proposing its "peace plan" called "the deal of the century," as it had previously promised, a plan that has been rejected by the Palestinians before it sees the light. Former Palestinian diplomat, Nabil Amr, said that the biggest mistake committed by the current U.S. administration is it moved, even theoretically, from being a mediator to be a party in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "Washington policies led to the complexity and retreat of the peace process, preventing other countries from playing the role of neutral mediator and closing many doors to peacemaking," Amr told Xinhua. "The Palestinian decisions regarding the suspension of recognition of Israel and the cessation of agreements with it are political and moral decisions, but on the ground, there are no signs to implement them," Amr pointed out. Israel did not follow the signed agreements, Amr said, adding the Palestinian decisions represent a message to the world that the Palestinian situation is confused and dangerous and may lead to further field tension. Meanwhile, Ghassan Khatib, a Ramallah-based professor of political science at Birzeit University, said the Palestinian leadership faces severe difficulties in taking dramatic decisions against Washington and Israel. He added that the implementation of Palestinian decisions regarding the relationship with Israel could practically lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, an option that does not enjoy a Palestinian consensus and a step that is not supported by the international community. The professor believes that there is unlikely to be a horizon to move seriously to resume the peace process in light of the Palestinian rejection of the positions of the Trump administration. So far, the U.S. has not given any official details on the content of "the deal of the century," but Israeli reports have repeatedly said it would include the announcement of Abu Dis village in East Jerusalem as a Palestinian capital in return for an Israeli withdrawal from three or five Palestinian villages around Jerusalem. According to Israeli reports, the deal will not include any proposals for an Israeli withdrawal from existing settlements or large settlement blocs. The reports also said that the Palestinian Valley area will be kept under Israeli control with the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state without an army or heavy weapons. The essence of the Palestinian position on the peace process focuses on a solution based on ending the Israeli occupation of the territories occupied in 1967. It also focuses on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the principle of an internationally supported two-state solution after final status issues are resolved between the two sides. However, Hani al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Masarat Center for Research and Studies, believes that Israel has no real desire to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories as it views it a "profitable occupation." "As long as the occupation is not costly for Israel and its supporters, it will remain, especially after the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993, which changed the nature of the conflict from a conflict between people partially displaced from their homeland into a dispute over land and borders," al-Masri said. The Palestinian observer said Israel also wants the Palestinian Authority to continue since it removes many of the burdens of the occupation, which are funded by the international community instead of Israel. Recently, Palestinian officials repeatedly warned of Israel's official approach to normalize relations with Arab countries over reaching a peaceful solution with the Palestinians. Over the past months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers held rare visits to Oman and Islamic African countries amid talk of significant progress in relations between the two sides. Ahmed Rafiq Awad, political analyst from Ramallah, told Xinhua that the essence of Trump's plan is to integrate Israel into the Middle East at the expense of the Palestinian cause. "This is dangerous for the Palestinian cause, because it halts efforts to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and gives temporary humanitarian economic solutions, legitimizing the occupation and prolonging it," Awad said. Enditem Gala Flamenco Dancers Vanessa Albalos, Maria Bermudez, Wendy Castellanos and Manuel Gutierrez perform in this Forever Flamenco presentation. The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., L.A. Sun., 8 p.m. $30-$50. (323) 663-1525. The Jeweled Isle: Art from Sri Lanka Opening Ceremony Event tied to a new exhibition includes traditional dance and drumming by the Sri Lanka Foundation Performing Arts and Thath Jith Dance Company. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Smidt Welcome Plaza, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Sun., 10 a.m. Free. (323) 857-6010. The Nutcracker American Ballet Theatre performs accompanied by Pacific Symphony. Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sun., next Sun., 12:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $29 and up. (714) 556-2787. The Nutcracker Ballet Repertory Theatre performs. Golden West College Mainstage Theater, 15751 Gothard St., Huntington Beach. Sun., next Sun., 1 and 5 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $16, $20. (714) 895-8150. Advertisement The Nutcracker California Dance Ensemble performs. Calabasas Performing Arts Education Center, 22855 W. Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. Sun., 1 and 5:30 p.m. $22-$37. www.CaliforniaDanceEnsemble.org. The Nutcracker Festival Ballet Theatre performs with guest dancers from New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Ballet West. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Sun., next Sun., 1 and 6 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $45-$90. (949) 854-4646. The Nutcracker Inland Pacific Ballets annual touring production of the holiday favorite. Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. Sun., 2 p.m. Also at Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $23-$62; discounts available. www.IPBallet.org. The Nutcracker Long Beach Ballet performs with a full symphony orchestra. Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach. Sun., next Sun., 2 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $35-$115; discounts available. (877) 852-3177. The Nutcracker Los Angeles Ballets annual locally touring production of the holiday favorite. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 E. Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. Sun., 1 p.m. Also at Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, Westwood. Sat., next Sun., 1 and 5 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $31-$99; discounts available. (310) 998-7782. The Nutcracker Suite American Contemporary Ballet puts its own spin on the holiday favorite. American Contemporary Ballet, One California Plaza, 18th floor, 300 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Sun., next Sun., 2 and 5 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 5 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $50-$98. www.acbdances.com. Great Russian Nutcracker Moscow Ballets touring company performs. Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Wed., 7 p.m. $30 and up. (800) 745-3000. The Nutcracker Coast City Ballet performs. Huntington Beach Historic Theater, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach. Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. $23 and up. (714) 963-9771. The Nutcracker Los Angeles Youth Ballet performs with special guest dancers. The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Fri., p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $25 and up. (818) 243-2539. The Nutty Nutcracker Inland Pacific Ballet spoofs the holiday classic; for ages 10 and up. Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. Fri., 7:30 p.m. $21-$42; discounts available. www.IPBallet.org. The Nutcracker Santa Barbaras State Street Ballet performs. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m. (562) 944-9801. The Nutcracker Anaheim Ballet performs with Symphony Irvine. City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. Next Sun., 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. $25-$45. (714) 712-2700. For centuries, history had not been kind to Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots a mistreatment that director Josie Rourke aimed to correct with her revisionist 16th century drama Mary Queen of Scots. Vilified by the enemies who orchestrated her downfall and beheaded for treason at the age of 44, Marys legacy had been written by those who had schemed against her, some modern day historians argue. For the record: This article misspells Mary Stuarts last name as Stewart. Also greatly misunderstood and overlooked, according to Rourkes debut film, were the intertwined sympathies of the headstrong Mary (Saoirse Ronan) and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), lone female rulers in a turbulent era rife with murder, betrayal, and conspiracies galore. At the helm of the Working Title and Focus Features production which is steadily expanding across the country after a strong debut in four theaters over the first weekend of December, British stage veteran Rourke tapped a key collaborator to help rewrite Mary and Elizabeths history for the screen: former House of Cards showrunner Beau Willimon, whose screenplay pulses with political intrigue, poignant speculation and deep emotion. Advertisement What really drew me to this story was how modern these women are; they were so far ahead of their time and have so much to say about the here and now, said Willimon; Mary Queen of Scots marks his second produced film as writer since his Oscar-nominated adaptation of the 2011 George Clooney political thriller The Ides of March from his own play. We keep returning to enduring stories, and their story has endured for almost 500 years. Mary Queen of Scots screenwriter Beau Willimon, left, and author Jon Guy at the Four Seasons Hotel. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Willimon, in turn, looked to a leading expert on the era: John Guy, whose acclaimed 2004 book on Mary provided a valuable blueprint for telling a previously untold version of her life. Willimon sought to contextualize not only the religious and political forces hovering around Mary and Elizabeth, but also the personal challenges both queens might have faced as female leaders in a time of systemic misogyny. While researching a BBC series on Mary years ago, Guy, an expert on Tudor England, discovered documents that shifted his perspective on how history remembered Mary Stuart and the evidence implicating her in the plot against frenemy queen Elizabeth that led to her execution. Mary was as much the victim of the pen as the executioners axe; her enemies stole her story, said Guy. They were determined not just to write it down for the time in which they lived, but for posterity. The British scholar and historian describes his approach as somewhat scientific, his method forensic. He speaks of the past in the present tense, a habit that tends to lend historic happenings a rush of immediacy, whether they occurred 15 years or five centuries ago, and which also makes events of long ago feel like they only just happened yesterday. I go to the archives, I look at these documents and I realize that Im not seeing the story thats come down, said Guy, joining Willimon for a chat on a recent day in Beverly Hills. So I get interested and I just latch onto this all the furniture moves around, and you have a different pattern. Among the archival materials he found were correspondences credited to Mary, including letters that became ammunition for the assassination of her character, and worse. Partly genuine, partly forgeries, with bits added on in one case actually doctored, with words crossed out, by [Elizabeths advisor] William Cecil himself, to make it much more incriminating to Mary. Grace Molony, from left, stars as Dorothy Stafford, Margot Robbie stars as Queen Elizabeth I and Georgia Burnell as Kate Carey in Mary Queen of Scots. (Parisa Tag / Focus Features) I suddenly realized that youve got to start all again, so thats just what I did, said Guy, who would go on to write his discoveries into his award-winning book Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. He gathered as much material as he could from archives in France, where Mary was raised, in Scotland where she returned to rule at the age of 19, and in England, where her life ended, as well as resources in the United States. And I realized that both Elizabeth and Mary or as it might whimsically be said, both fully paid up members of the Women Monarchs Trade Union were actually on each others side as women rulers, said Guy. Both of their stories had to be rewritten, he says, with a modern understanding of how the simple act of being women in positions of power in a patriarchal society made both queens lives a battle from the start. Which is exactly what Rourke and Willimon set out to do. As Rourkes film tells it, young Mary Stuart was bold and rebellious, charming and affectionate, her liberalism likely owing to her upbringing in the French court. She was a queen made great by her humanity. Her generosity is embodied in some of Ronans warmest scenes, in which Mary shares laughter and tears with her ladies in waiting, forgives her own confidant David Rizzio for his dalliance with her new husband, Lord Darnley and is shattered when her own conspiring countrymen murder Rizzio in front of her on trumped-up charges. Ismael Cruz Cordova, from left, stars as Rizzio, Maria Dragus as Mary Fleming, Izuka Hoyle as Mary Seton and Saoirse Ronan as Mary Stuart in Mary Queen of Scots. (Liam Daniel / Focus Features) One of Willimons favorite moments in the film finds Mary, astride her horse and literally ready for battle, taking the time to speak with her soldiers before leading them into a fight. In those moments, you can see her human compassion for another human being, said Guy. Thats something you would not see, ever, with Elizabeth. Elizabeth did not have that sort of compassion for others. She was very good at writing letters of condolence, but [not] in terms of actual face to face contact, or touching somebody, or cradling their head. And yet, we do see compassion in her its a different sort, countered Willimon. If you read between the lines in her correspondence, I think you see a desire to connect with Mary and to see her as an equal and a compatriot, and wanting to sort of find a way to coexist together. In a film that ambitiously attempts to reconstruct the human shards of the past that have been largely left out of the historical record, Mary Queen of Scots builds up to a dramatic meeting in a remote wash house between Mary, now a fugitive from her own throne hiding in the English countryside, and the powerful cousin whose protection she needs. Each has made her own hard choices over motherhood and marriage. Each has sacrificed, loved and lost. After sharing mutual respect, fear, jealousy, frustration and sisterhood from afar their whole lives, the duo finally comes face to face in a masterfully tense pas de deux, each at last seeing the other as she truly is. Its a moment in which Mary Queen of Scots, fueled by powerful performances from Ronan and Robbie, most vividly illustrates the invisible forces that pushed and pulled the queens in different directions. It shows how tragic it was that they sacrificed so much in service to their crowns, neither allowed to live fully or freely. To the dismay of some historians and strict history buffs, it never actually happened. Thats just fine by Guy. That was entirely your creation, he said, turning to Willimon. But I think it would have ended the way that Beau has scripted and Josie has directed it, and for my money that is true to history in the broadest sense of the essential truth here. Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie star in Mary Queen of Scots. What the British historian and the Hollywood screenwriter share in common in their respective work, they agree, is the pursuit of that truth, each acting in their own way as emotional investigators excavating recorded history to give voice to these women. Great history requires great imagination, said Willimon of Guy. A document is just a document; you have to try to place yourself in the shoes of the person writing it. You have to imagine how it would have been read by the person receiving it. You have to look for intent between the lines, because oftentimes the language might be masking what someones really thinking or feeling. Willimon didnt necessarily factor in the real world parallels that emerged in post-election America when he began work on the project the similar themes in Mary and Elizabeths story that one might see, for example, in the ways that powerful female politicians and leaders are scrutinized and talked about today. But, Willimon says, All art is political. Any story is communicating a perspective, and that perspective is informed by ones experiences and ones political beliefs, he said. Sometimes youre communicating it in an explicit way and other times youre communicating it in a more oblique and implicit way, but if youre speaking honestly and truthfully, youre presenting a version of the world that is your own. And that version of the world is inherently political. Im a novice in this movie industry, but theres got to be a story, a take, and contemporary relevance, added Guy. And the contemporary relevance then was the fact that Hillary Clinton was running for president and people thought that she was probably going to win. Theresa May was the British prime minister, and Nicola Sturgeon was the chief minister of Scotland. Willimon says his hope for the film is that audiences see in Mary and Elizabeths stories valuable reflections of experiences and struggles that persist today. If they feel like this story is personal to them, he said, [that] this story of these two queens from 500 years ago has something to say to their own experience here in the present, then we will have achieved what we set out to do. jen.yamato@latimes.com @jenyamato ALSO In Mary Queen of Scots, a modern feminist spin on the frenemy queens who fought to rule Europe Review: Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie rule in Mary Queen of Scots, but this history lesson is overly pulpy Smear campaigns, political savvy and treacherous men: Mary Queen of Scots as a mirror to today Disney Channel has severed ties with Andi Mack actor Stoney Westmoreland following his Friday arrest in Utah on suspicion of arranging a sexual liaison with a minor. Given the nature of the charges and our responsibility for the welfare of employed minors, we have released him from his recurring role and he will not be returning to work on the series, which wraps production on its third season next week, a Disney Channel spokesperson said in a statement to The Times on Saturday. Westmoreland, 48, who plays the titular characters grandfather on the celebrated middle-school series, was taken in during a sting operation in Salt Lake City on Friday. The arrest occurred after he reportedly began chatting with a person he believed was 13 years old on a dating app used for the purpose of engaging sexual activity. He allegedly sent and asked for pornographic images and allegedly asked to engage in oral sex with the person, according to Salt Lake Citys ABC 4, which obtained documents pertaining to the case. Advertisement Westmoreland hired a ride-share service to take him to a Salt Lake City address, where a meeting was arranged, then was taken into taken into custody by Salt Lake City police and members of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, ABC 4 said. The actor, who has written, directed and appeared in Scandal, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Godzilla, faces multiple charges of enticing a minor by internet or text and dealing in materials harmful to a minor, according to online booking records. He is being held in Salt Lake County Jail on a $30,000 bond. A spokesperson for the Salt Like City Police Department did not immediately respond to The Times request for comment. Follow me: @NardineSaad Good morning. Im Paul Thornton, and it is Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. In the spirit of the holiday season and out of civic pride, I wish you a most pleasant Bill of Rights Day. Lets take a look back at the week in opinion. The Oval Office meeting was already awkward, but everyone had been on his or her best behavior. President Trump, seated between Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Charles E. Schumer and next to his inanimate vice president spouted off a few points about tougher border security and averting a government shutdown. Then, Pelosi did something unpardonable for the president: She mentioned his name unflatteringly, saying no one want wants a Trump shutdown, and whatever it was that had kept the fragile peace vanished from the Oval Office. An argument ensued in front of live-streaming cameras. Pelosi gave Trump a civics refresher on how a bill passes out of Congress, and Schumer goaded Trump not only into accepting responsibility for any negotiation impasse, but also into declaring that he would be proud to shut down the federal government. So expect another shutdown, even though the Republicans still control government, and also even though the border wall is just a vanity project for the president, says The Times Editorial Board: This debate isnt, and never has been, about the best way to secure the border. Its about the symbolism of the wall. To Trump, its the embodiment of his Fortress America approach to the rest of the world; to the more rational among us, its a terrible signal that the worlds greatest superpower has a bunker mentality. Thats the backdrop for the meeting set for Tuesday between the president and top congressional Democrats, who will look for a way out of the impasse that Trump has created. And although compromise is vital to a functional democracy, lawmakers should continue to resist throwing $5 billion worth of tax dollars at what amounts to a vanity project for Trump. What both sides should be focused on is a comprehensive overhaul of U.S. immigration law that addresses the full panoply of issues associated with decades of failed policy. Thats a huge lift, and Congress simply doesnt have enough time left in the current session to get there. The president needs to recognize that and stop holding the basic functions of government hostage to his wall ambitions. If he cant persuade lawmakers to fund the wall, he shouldnt put a huge chunk of the federal workforce on leave (which, if history is any guide, will ultimately become a paid vacation) to try to change their minds. >> Click here to read more Trumps tactic is bold, risky, and probably foolish. Jon Healey says the president, in owning the looming government shutdown, is betting that people are more afraid of immigrants than they would be upset by federal agencies going dark. Readers who watched the Oval Office skirmish lament the absence of compromise in Washington and suggested the president fulfill a campaign promise by making Mexico pay for the wall. Do you like vegan protein meals? Then youre in luck, because L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz wants to require certain concessionaires and restaurants throughout the city to add a vegan meal option to their menus. Columnist (and soon-to-be L.A. Times reporter) Gustavo Arellano decries Koretzs nanny-statism and reminds him that forcing restaurants to offer choices dictated by anything other than their customers tastes could eat into their already sushi-wrap-thin margins. L.A. Times Californias death row population is 740. Jerry Brown should bring that down to zero. It would be both inhumane and impractical for the state to execute that many people, and that doesnt even account for the almost certain fact that wrongfully convicted inmates remain on death row in California. Six former governors who halted executions in their states call on Brown to use his power of clemency and save the lives of 740 people. New York Times Trumps in major legal trouble. But what about holding him morally accountable? Jonah Goldberg writes that any presidents gravest offense is violating the public trust, but the discussion on Trump deals mostly with illegalities that range from trivial to grave. As for impeachment, Goldberg reminds us that Congress can indict and remove a president for any reason it wants. L.A. Times L.A. wants better enforcement of speed limits so its raising them? The dispiriting logic behind City Halls decision to raise the top posted speed on certain streets because a state law precludes radar-gun enforcement of speed limits in the absence of a recent traffic study demonstrates the sad fact that the car is still king in California. And yes, this is the state that has anointed itself the vanguard of this countrys fight against climate change. L.A. Times Thousands of teachers, students and union allies marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, from City Hall to the Broad museum, a month ahead of a possible strike that L.A. educators have threatened if the district doesnt meet demands that include retroactive raises, smaller class sizes and more nurses and counselors. The March for Public Education, organized by United Teachers Los Angeles, was meant to be a show of force to Supt. Austin Beutner, who has said Los Angeles Unified School District does not have the funds to meet the unions demands and ensure the districts financial solvency in future years. Thousands filled Grand Park and the western steps of City Hall leading up to the 10:30 a.m. rally, holding signs that said, We work for the people, Education is a human right, and others that called for more reasonable hours for teachers, improved arts education and more nurses. The march was sandwiched by rallies at both ends, with local and national education activists, teachers and students reiterating the demands. Advertisement Amidst the wealth of Los Angeles, we should not have class sizes of 45 students, UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl told the crowd from a trucks flatbed, adding that after 20 months of bargaining, the time draws closer to taking dramatic action. Around 11 a.m., the marchers, most wearing bright red in support of UTLA, walked down Broadway and through the 3rd Street tunnel up to the Broad museum to protest the role that they say billionaires such as Eli Broad are playing in the growth of charter schools, most of which are not unionized and pull students from district schools. Thousands organized by UTLA march on Grand Avenue near the Broad Museum on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The tunnel boomed with echoes of UTLA, with protesters stretching back to the starting point. Although not all participants were UTLA members themselves, the turnout was a reminder that Los Angeles Unified, the nations second-largest school district with more than half a million students, would be starkly affected if a strike does happen. The crowd was full of union families, some of which included L.A. Unified students who said that they too will strike if their parents and teachers do. Toby Smith has been a dance teacher for 14 years and said she works with 2,000 students at eight different schools. Arts education can be a powerful force in getting kids to love school, but its hard to form connections and address needs with so many students, she said. The districts latest proposal offers a 3% raise starting retroactively from July 1, 2017, followed by an additional 3% raise taking effect from July 1, 2018. The union wants a 6.5% raise retroactive to July 1, 2016. L.A. Unified officials say their offer would increase district costs by $430 million over the three-year life of the contract. They say the union demand would cost $750 million over that same time. Teachers in L.A. Unified earn $44,000 to $86,000 a year depending on their education and experience, according to the L.A. County Office of Education, which compiles the data. L.A. Unified says the average teacher salary is $75,000, which reflects the districts older, more experienced workforce. Protesters line the stairs at Disney Hall to join the teachers march on Grand Avenue. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) For some teachers, this wouldnt be their first strike. Malabar Elementary School teachers Jeff Hiroto and Rosalind Marquez started teaching at the school together almost 35 years ago and went on strike in 1989. The nine days out of class were worth the improvements they saw, they said. Teachers in 1989 were able to maintain health benefits and were relieved of recess and lunch supervision duties, Hiroto said. Now, he wants to see raises as well as more nurses and mental health resources for students. In elementary the kids are always getting hurt, he said. Jackie Goldberg, the UTLA-endorsed candidate for the school boards District 5 seat vacated by Ref Rodriguez this year, spoke outside the Broad museum. Teachers and support staff every day make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people, she said, before thanking the union for its endorsement. Times staff writer Howard Blume contributed to this report. sonali.kohli@latimes.com After years of work and some ludicrous missteps, Californias annual report card on schools is finally up and measuring educational performance. Its improved from its early iterations, and theres a fair amount to like about it. But the new system is still lacking in many areas; the state shouldnt consider its work done here. The reports can be hard to parse, and they make schools look like theyre doing a lot better than they are. Thats not helpful to parents or the public. There are few things parents are more interested in than the quality of the schools to which they entrust their children; providing that information is a key responsibility of the state Department of Education. The general public has a stake in this too, given the investment taxpayers are making in public education. The new California School Dashboard replaces the old Academic Performance Index, which provided simple numerical scores for each school, based almost solely on results from the states annual proficiency tests. The API was abandoned a few years ago for a legitimate reason: Judging a schools entire performance on two tests, each given once a year, was a blinkered way to measure educational efforts. Besides, it didnt reveal much. These scores are about compliance with filling out forms, not about meeting the needs of students and families. Advertisement In contrast, the dashboard provides information about many more aspects of education including graduation rates, suspension rates, parent engagement and the like. And for parents willing and able to throw themselves at the reports, theres a mountain of information contained therein. The question is how many parents will do the work. If they rely on the simple color charts instead of looking closely at the information, they might get a misleading idea of how their childrens schools are doing. Early versions of the dashboard were a lesson in confusion. The state started with a grid of color-coded squares that were almost indecipherable. Those gave way to a lineup of pie charts with colored pieces that were just about as bad. The new and official version improves on that with a series of colored graphics that look like fuel gauges. They make a lot more sense and give, at a glance, a sense of where that school stands on the various measures: red at the empty end where performance is low, up through the rainbow to excellent performance in blue or a full tank of gas. Parents can then link to more in-depth versions of each measurement. The reports are easy to find online at caschooldashboard.org. Serious problems remain, though, especially in the metrics that make schools look better than they should. If that was the states goal here, its doing the public a real disservice. One example: Schools can have low test scores and still come out looking great on college and career readiness. A big part of the problem is that there is no reasonable or objective measure of what good performance consists of. Schools are measured against each other, not against a standard of excellence, and they get extra credit for improvement. So, for example, the Los Angeles High School of the Arts has low test scores in both English and math. Its graduation rate is also down in the below-average orange zone. Only 42% of its students graduate ready for college or a career. Yet it receives a nice, above-average green rating on the fuel gauge because the statewide average also is only 42%, and it got extra credit for improving significantly over last year. Most parents wouldnt view 42% as a good graduation rate, especially considering that it doesnt take into account all the dropouts who certainly arent college- or career-ready. Graduation rates and suspension rates are measured the same way on the colored gauge how they come out against other schools, not whether theyre objectively doing well. The numbers are there, for parents who dig below the surface, but they shouldnt have to go that deep to get an accurate reading. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion In order to get a stellar score on parent engagement, its enough for schools to do an annual survey of their parents and report the results. The parents might have very negative things to say in the surveys. They might say that no one talks to them and that they feel unwelcome. But as long as the school reports the survey results, its in good stead. The same kind of thinking applies to whether schools have enough qualified teachers. Schools need report only on how many teachers arent certified for the jobs theyre doing. It doesnt matter how many are mis-assigned. In other words, these scores are about compliance with filling out forms, not about meeting the needs of students and families. The dashboard itself earns a middling yellow rating on the fuel gauge, mainly for depth of information and continuous improvement. But the state should recognize that it has a long way to go for the dashboard to reach stellar blue. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook Newsoms budget proposes $3 million for Alzheimers research, brain task force By Melody Gutierrez Amyloid plaques, shown here in human brains, are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. (UCLA School of Medicine) Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for the creation of a brain health task force and dedicate $3 million annually from the states general fund to Alzheimers disease research in the budget proposal he will release Thursday, a source close to the administration said. The money for Alzheimers research would target the new grants at understanding why the disease is more prevalent in women and people of color. Former California first lady and Alzheimers activist Maria Shriver pushed for the funding to be included in the state budget. Shriver said in a statement Wednesday that the funding would make California the first state to make understanding our brains a priority. The states former first lady, whose late father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers, founded the Womens Alzheimers Movement, an advocacy group raising awareness about womens increased risk for developing the disease. In 2011, she wrote a comprehensive assessment on the disease, to which Newsom then mayor of San Francisco contributed a portion called What one city is doing. This is personal to me, just like it is to millions of California families, Shriver said. Alzheimers is one of the largest medical, social and economic crises in our state, and of our time. I am so proud that, once again, California is leading the way. Wiping out Alzheimers is going to require bold thinking, and there is no doubt in my mind that California is home to bold thinkers who can make this happen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Gavin Newsom orders reinvention of troubled California DMV By Patrick McGreevy A line of people stretches around the South L.A. location of a California Department of Motor Vehicles Office on Aug. 7. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has been plagued by hours-long wait times at field offices, computer crashes and voter registration errors involving tens of thousands of customers. Just a few days after taking office, Newsom appointed a top advisor to a new DMV Reinvention Strike Team to revamp the beleaguered agency over the next six months. By any metric, California DMV has been chronically mismanaged and failed in its fundamental mission to the state customers it serves and the state workers it employs, Newsom said in a statement, adding Its time for a reinvention. The governor appointed state Government Operations Agency Secretary Marybel Batjer to lead the strike team with a goal of modernizing the agency and enacting changes that improve customer satisfaction, employee performance and transparency. Newsom also ordered an accelerated review of initial findings of an ongoing audit ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The action was welcomed by lawmakers who have been critical of the DMV, including Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). The egregious management failures of the DMV have been self-evident, which is why I have been calling for new leadership and a comprehensive independent audit of this troubled state agency over and over again as the problems grew significantly worse, Fong said. Last summer, Californians seeking new driver licenses complained of wait times of four to six hours at DMV offices, which the agency blamed partly on snafus caused by a rush of people trying to get Real IDs, a new identification card design required for airline passengers starting in late 2020. Delays were also blamed on computer crashes at DMV offices as the agency struggled to update its aging automation systems. The DMV also admitted that there were an estimated 23,000 errors as people either were unknowingly registered to vote or mistakes were made in their registration status as part of the states new motor voter program. The agency registered to vote as many as 1,500 people with legal U.S. residency but no citizenship. Last month, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto retired from the agency. Legislators were angered earlier this week when the DMV said it needed an additional $40 million to prevent the return of long lines at its field offices. In addition, the agency has been under fire for issuing driver licenses in the last year that do not comply with the federal Real ID standards requiring two forms of identification by applicants. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police unions are preparing to battle new transparency law in the courtroom By Maya Lau Just as a landmark police transparency law is going into effect, some California police agencies are shredding internal affairs documents and law enforcement unions are rushing to block the information from being released. The new law, which begins to unwind Californias strictest-in-the-nation protections over the secrecy of law enforcement records, opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. But the lawsuits and records destruction, which began even before the law took effect Jan. 1, could tie up the release of information for months or years, and in some instances, prevent it from ever being disclosed. The fact that police unions are challenging this law is on some level not surprising, said Peter Bibring, director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, one of the principal supporters of the new law. They have a long history of fighting tooth and nail against transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Secretary of State Alex Padilla begins second term with challenge to ensure every Californian is counted By Jazmine Ulloa Secretary of State Alex Padilla takes the oath of office as his family stands by his side on Monday in Sacramento. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in for a second term on Monday, saying he would continue the battle to protect the right to vote at a time when voter suppression efforts, online disinformation campaigns and interference from foreign adversaries have polarized the public and threatened to undermine trust in U.S. elections. I am doubling down on our fight here in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., to defend our democracy, he said. Working on the front lines with so many of you, I know that our collective resolve has never been stronger. But the loudest applause came when Padilla promised to fight back against the Trump administrations changes to the U.S. census, saying he will ensure every Californian gets counted. Padilla, a former state senator and Los Angeles City Council member from the San Fernando Valley, led the cause for a new motor voter registration law in 2015, and a new system for online business registrations. But the programs have had experienced problems: More than 23,000 Californians were registered to vote incorrectly by the state DMV, the agency reported last year. On Monday, Padilla said he would continue to push back against false claims of voter fraud in California and pointed to the states voter turnout as proof that his office was involving more people in the democratic process, a promise he made when he was first sworn in four years ago. More than 12.7 million voters cast ballots in the Nov. 6 midterm election, representing roughly 65% of the states registered voters, the highest number of any midterm election since 1982, according to state certified results. I made that promise based on a shared belief that we are a stronger democracy and a better California when we hear all voices from all corners of California, and when those voices are not just heard but counted, Padilla said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Ricardo Lara, Californias first statewide officeholder to come out as gay, sworn in as insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on the floor of the state Senate in 2016. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Ricardo Lara took the oath of office as California insurance commissioner on Monday, pledging action to boost healthcare coverage and combat climate change. Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, is the first elected statewide officeholder in California who has come out as gay. He began his speech in downtown Sacramento by thanking LGBTQ leaders who came before him and celebrated the occasion. Today, because of you, weve shattered the pink ceiling, Lara said. In his inaugural speech, Lara announced the creation of an executive position in his office to address climate change. There is no other industry that has the necessary expertise to ensure that California is prepared to mitigate and reduce risk to our communities and our environment, Lara said. Our planet cant wait. Im ready, and I hope you are too. Lara served as a state legislator and in 2017 introduced a bill to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He promised to work with new Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand coverage across California. Lara was sworn in by retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared unconstitutional Californias Proposition 8 gay marriage ban. State Sen. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was on hand for the ceremony along with multiple other state lawmakers. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she will help expand access to universities in the state New Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, center, is shown in June talking with attendees at the Power to the Polls rally in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) More Californians should be given access to public universities, Eleni Kounalakis said as she took the oath of office Monday to become the states first woman elected lieutenant governor. Kounalakis was given the oath of office by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her predecessor in the job, who pledged they would work together. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis serves on the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, she noted in a speech at her swearing-in ceremony at the main Sacramento Library. In that role, she said, she will be committed to expanding access to affordable public higher education here in our state. Its wise, its smart and it is the best way to address our rapidly changing digital economy. Kounalakis is former president of a development company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, and served during the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary. In November, she won her first run for statewide office. Also attending the ceremony were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California meets Dutch Newsom, who steals the show at his fathers inauguration By Taryn Luna Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his inaugural address while holding his youngest son, Dutch. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In the California political world, all eyes were on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday until his 2-year-old son stole the show. Dutch, the youngest of four children in the Newsom brood, climbed onstage in the middle of his fathers inaugural address in a tent outside the Capitol on Monday. The unplanned moment saw the 51-year-old governors big day interrupted by the toddler, bringing levity to the ceremony. Newsom was recounting Gov. Jerry Browns last inaugural speech and reference to the Sermon on the Mount, a biblical story about two men who built separate homes on sand and rock, when Dutch approached his father, a pacifier in his mouth and blanket in hand. Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter, Newsom said, improvising as he scooped the boy into his arms. The governor kissed Dutch on the cheek and held him for several minutes as he continued with the speech. This is exactly how it was scripted, Newsom joked. Newsom eventually put his child down and Dutch walked to the edge of the stage before retreating behind the podium to hide from his mother, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The crowd roared. Siebel Newsom was able to briefly divert her son only for him to return to the stage minutes later. She grabbed him again and this time, the crying toddler did not reemerge. When fires strikes, when kids cry and the earth shakes, well be there for each other, Newsom said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said the moment humanized Newsom, threw cold water on any theories that Dutchs cameo was planned. No, I know it was not, Garcetti said with a laugh after Newsoms speech concluded. I could see that look of absolute abject terror [on Newsoms face]. Weve all been there. Kids always think its about themselves and theyve proved it. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) agreed. I worked in early childhood education for 20 years and theres no way you can ever get a child to do anything when you want them to do it, Rendon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fiona Ma takes oath as Californias new treasurer By Liam Dillon State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Fiona Ma took the oath of office in Sacramento on Monday as the states 34th treasurer, promising to boost Californias economy. Ma previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the state Assembly and on the California Board of Equalization. I want to thank everyone for entrusting me with this important job. I understand my role here as your state treasurer is to build that financial wall around California so that we will remain the fifth-largest economy, Ma said in brief remarks. That is my promise to you. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath to Ma. Following the ceremony, Ma held an ice cream social for guests. On Wednesday, she will host a public event in San Francisco to celebrate her swearing-in. State Treasurer Fiona Ma takes the oath of office. (Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Expectations are high for newly sworn-in state schools chief Tony Thurmond Tony Thurmond shakes hands with retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco after taking the oath of office. (Melody Gutierrez / Los Angeles Times) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office as Californias state superintendent of public schools on Monday, promising a labor-friendly agenda before the teachers, students and Democratic officials who filled an auditorium at McClatchy High School in Sacramento to watch him being sworn in. We cant close the achievement gap without a great teacher at the head of every class, Thurmond said Monday to applause. We have to make sure we provide quality compensation and support to our teachers and our classified staff and all the educators who support our kids. Thurmond, a Bay Area Democrat who served in the state Assembly, won a hotly contested and expensive race with the help of labor leaders against charter school executive Marshall Tuck. The race took several days to sort out after Tuck held an initial lead in early returns on election night before falling behind thereafter. Thurmond was sworn in Monday by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco. He was joined on stage by labor rights leader Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). Thurmonds former colleagues in the state Assembly took turns praising him and promising to be an ally in improving schools. Many said they expected Thurmond would be a strong leader focused on improving student outcomes. We know we are going to work hard to give you the money you need and the budget you need to fully fund education and our schools so we can put our money where our mouth is and make sure our children have everything they need, Assemblywoman Connie Leyva (D-Chino Hills) said. As state superintendent, Thurmond will oversee the education of 6.2 million students at 10,000 schools. Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa County School Board and a Richmond city councilman before he was elected to the state Assembly. Tony is the right man at the right time to fight the federal, Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos anti-child, anti-education, anti-civil and -human rights agenda, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. Tony is going to do that for us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State Controller Betty Yee takes oath of office with call for more affordable housing and healthcare State Controller Betty Yee California Controller Betty Yee took the oath of office Monday for a second term, saying she still has work to do addressing problems that include a lack of affordability in housing, healthcare and higher education. A San Francisco native, Yee is the chief financial officer of California the fifth-largest economy in the world having first won election to the post in 2014 before winning reelection in November. No region is spared from the widening inequality and increased poverty that plague our state, fueled by the lack of affordable, stable housing, the cost of healthcare and transportation, limited educational opportunities, student loan debt, displacement caused by disasters and more, she said. Yee was administered the oath of office by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento before an overflow crowd that included state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. As a public official it is about governance that delivers results and stays accountable while upholding the underlying value of dignity for all, Yee said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra begins new term promising to fight Trump policies California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Monday took the oath of office for a new term, saying he would continue his role as a leading challenger to Trump administration actions that he believes are counter to the states interests. Becerra, a former 12-term congressman, has become a national opposition figure to Trump, having sued the federal government 45 times since he was appointed as the states first Latino attorney general in 2017. Weve been a little busy stopping the dysfunction and insanity in Washington, D.C., from infecting California, Becerra told an audience during a swearing-in ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Whether its the criminals on our streets or the conman in the boardrooms or highest office of the land, Becerra said, the California Department of Justice, well, weve got your back. Becerra won his first statewide election as the states top cop in November, two years after he filled the post vacated when predecessor Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has peppered the Trump administration with lawsuits challenging federal policies on healthcare, the U.S. census, the environment and immigration. Our state builds dreams, not walls, he said in a direct criticism of Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Just last week, Becerra led a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general in announcing an appeal of a federal judge in Texas that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The ACA has been the law for nearly a decade and is the backbone of our healthcare system, Becerra said last week. This case impacts nearly every American workers covered by employers, families, women, children, young adults and seniors so we will lead the ACAs defense as long and far as it takes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Daraka Larimore-Hall announces bid to lead group By Christine Mai-Duc Daraka Larimore-Hall. (Dominic Parisi / Courtesy of Daraka Larimore-Hall) Daraka Larimore-Hall, a top official at the California Democratic Party, said Monday hes running to replace former chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned abruptly in November after being confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct. Larimore-Hall, a longtime state party activist and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County, was one of the party leaders who urged Bauman to resign following the allegations. In an email to supporters announcing his bid, he urged both structural and cultural change at every level of our Party. He also repeated his call for a top-to-bottom investigation of the allegations, the party and its culture. In a Times investigation, 10 party activists and staff members said Bauman made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching and physical intimidation in professional settings. In order to be where we need to be for 2020, we have to confront the culture of abuse and fear that allowed someone to behave in such a vile way for so long, Larimore-Hall said in an interview. We cant brush it aside or think that our activists or our candidates or our donors are going to forget about this overnight. Larimore-Hall said his first priority would be to fully investigate the allegations and restore rank-and-file confidence in the partys leadership. The second would be to refocus the party on political priorities as the 2020 presidential election nears. The Bauman episode, Larimore-Hall said, threatens to derail the Democrats plans to help defeat President Trump and keep the seven congressional seats gained in the midterm elections. Its definitely a crisis, Larimore-Hall said. But the component parts the energy, the enthusiasm, the volunteers, the infrastructure its still there. We just need to direct it toward something. Larimore-Hall was elected vice chairman of the state party in February following Baumans razor-thin victory over Bay Area activist Kimberly Ellis. Ellis has announced another bid for the chairmanship and former state Senate leader Kevin de Leon is also mulling a run. The vote will take place at the partys May convention in San Francisco. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom will vow to seize this moment, and swipe at Trump in Monday inaugural address By Melanie Mason Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family attend an Inauguration Family Event at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Building on the theme of California exceptionalism that defined his campaign, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will depict the state as a guardian of progressive values and a counterweight to President Trump in his inaugural address Monday, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. What we do today is even more consequential, because of whats happening in our country, read the excerpts obtained by The Times. Peoples lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment. The speech casts Californias political stakes in a decidedly national scope, promising an agenda that will unify and be an example to the rest of the country. It contrasts the governing goals of Newsom, a Democrat, with that of Trump, the incoming governors perennial foil. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House, the excerpts say. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people. Newsom campaigned on an ambitious and wide-ranging platform, promising sweeping solutions on housing, healthcare, education and other issues that rank among Californians top concerns. In the weeks after his election, he struck a more muted tone, taking pains to emphasize his fiscal caution and need for patience in achieving those goals. The inaugural excerpts indicate a return to lofty pledges. While Newsom will vow to prepare for uncertain times ahead by building budgetary reserves and paying down debt, the prepared remarks quickly turn to a vow to be bold. Newsom has already floated several proposals for his first budget that carry significant price tags, including a nearly $2-billion plan to boost early childhood development for low-income families and a dramatic expansion of paid family leave from six weeks to six months. When asked for a preview of his inauguration speech during a news conference Sunday evening, Newsom predicted pundits would criticize his address as short on specifics. Well, of course, Im at an inaugural, Newsom said. But Ill be very detailed in the budget, a few days later. And then we will architect, in much more nuance and detail, in state of the state. I really see this as three opportunities to communicate over the next few weeks our agenda, our vision for the state. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom-hosted benefit concert raises nearly $5 million for wildfire victims By Taryn Luna Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom speaks at a concert to benefit wildfire victims at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) On the eve of the gubernatorial inauguration, Californias political class rubbed elbows in Sacramento for a benefit concert hosted by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and headlined by the rapper Pitbull. Newsom told the crowd gathered at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening that the fundraiser brought in nearly $5 million for the California Wildfire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the families of fallen firefighters and communities affected by wildfires. You know, a lot of folks feel anxious about not just politics, but government, Newsom said on stage before introducing the rapper and activist Common. But those firefighters, they are the antidote to the fear and cynicism; they are the manifestation of why government matters and why you should care. Top sponsors, including Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente and other interest groups, paid up to $1 million each to support the cause and curry favor with the new administration. Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said organizers sold more than 7,000 tickets. Several state lawmakers attended the concert alongside Capitol staff, lobbyists and business types, who mingled on the floor of the arena and offstage in private VIP areas. The rock band X Ambassadors and a duo called the Cold Weather Sons from the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in November, were among several performers who entertained the crowd during the four-hour event. The California Rises concert is the final in a series of festivities held Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of Californias 40th governor. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum and his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Newsoms inauguration is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inauguration fever hits Sacramento as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom prepares to take office By Phil Willon Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom holds his son, Dutch, as he and his family attend an inaugural event at the at the state Railroad Museum Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom doesnt officially take the oath of office until Monday, but the parties celebrating his inauguration were in full swing all day Sunday. Newsom and his family were mobbed by well-wishers at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the afternoon, where his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families. He just has charisma. Hes able to really connect with people, said Rosielyn Pulmano, an attorney from Elk Grove who came to see Newsom with her husband, two sons and her niece. I think he cares about working Californians and a lot of their issues. Newsom arrived with his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their four young children, and the governor-elect spent a good deal of his time wading through crowds, taking selfies with supporters and signing autographs as music boomed in the background. As the family toured the inside of the museums locomotives and the bevy of exhibits, Newsoms two-year-old son, Dutch, was wide-eyed, impressed by all the train cars and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the crowd. Newsom said that for his son, all that was missing from the museum was Thomas the Train, popular fictional locomotive in childrens books and cartoons . If theres one thing I can contribute to Sacramento maybe its getting a Thomas the Train exhibit for the two years olds, Newsom joked when talking with reporters afterward. Newsom said he wanted to include such an event in his inaugural festivities to highlight families and children, whose wellbeing will be among the top priorities of his administration. Youll see that not only as a preamble to the inaugural and the budget that well be submitting next week, but I think itll be a big part of the administration, Newsom said. The museum event followed a private, high-dollar brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum. A steady rain failed to dissuade as many as 200 guests who sipped wine and dined on chicken and salmon while waiting for a photo with Californias new first couple. Seen at the event were representatives of some of the states most powerful political interests, among them organized labor, healthcare companies and tribal gaming interests. A few other high-profile guests attended, too, including Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and Erika Jayne, a singer and cast member of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Im excited to see someone like Gavin young, vibrant taking over the state and leading us into the future, Jayne said after attending the brunch with her husband, attorney Tom Girardi. Hes got a lot of great plans. Attendees said the event, which was closed to reporters and held under a tent in the museums outdoor atrium, did not include prepared remarks by Newsom. Among those seen leaving the event were representatives of AT&T, the California Medical Assn., Uber, Kaiser Permanente and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. A fundraising invitation obtained by The Times offered bundled tickets to all of the inauguration events, including those on Sunday and the Monday ceremony, ranging in price from $25,000 to $200,000. The money will be collected by a committee specifically organized to pay for Newsoms inaugural weekend. Sundays festivities are scheduled to end with a benefit concert headlined by Pitbull at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBAs Sacramento Kings, to raise money for the victims of Californias recent deadly wildfires. Among the attendees at @GavinNewsoms pre-inaugural leadership brunch: Real Housewife of Bev Hills @erikajayne. Im excited to see someone like Gavinyoung, vibranttaking over the state and leading us into the future. Hes got a lot of great plans. pic.twitter.com/561NHiy2XQ Melanie Mason (@melmason) January 6, 2019 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As Newsom inaugural events begin, he unveils more state budget promises on education and paid family leave Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, seen here last April, will propose new state budget efforts on paid family leave and education subsidies. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Californias incoming governor, who must send his first state budget plan to the Legislature this week, has already signaled a significant new focus on programs to help families and children from infancy to college. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom campaigned on a platform that included a number of child-focused efforts specifically aimed at helping lower-income families. The price tag for the initial efforts is expected to approach $2 billion a cost paid out of an unrestricted tax revenue windfall that could be one of the largest in state history. Newsom may also seek help for families through new subsidies paid by California employers. The governor-elect is expected to propose a dramatic expansion of paid parental leave from six weeks to six months according to an internal document provided by a source close to the Newsom transition team, first reported on Sunday by the New York Times. The document doesnt offer a full explanation for how the program will be funded, saying instead that the budget will set a goal of ensuring that all newborns and newly adopted babies can be cared for by a parent or a close family member for the first six months. Employers across the state are currently assessed a payroll tax that helps offer a subsidy to parents who temporarily leave their job to care for a newborn. Newsoms plan, according to the document, would pay for some of the new costs by shrinking the mandated cash reserve of the state fund that administers the program, allowing more of the money to be paid in benefits. The increase in paid leave would not all happen at once but instead be phased in over a multi-year period. A task force to help implement the expanded care plan is also envisioned, according to the document. It would determine whether two parents could split the six months of paid leave and whether an extended family member could be enlisted to help care for the child of a single parent over the six-month period. The incoming administrations focus on young children will also include $1.8 billion in new spending on early childhood education programs, with a particular focus on training childcare workers and pushing for more California schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Those costs, according to an overview memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are considered to be a one-time expense while leaving the long-term costs of the effort to be determined later. More community college students would get free tuition under a third initiative expected in the new governors budget plan. Newsom will propose spending $40 million to offer a second year of tuition-free college to California students, according to an outline provided by a transition official, first reported by Politico. Students are already eligible for a single year of paid tuition under a plan agreed to by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers in 2017. The incoming governor embraced the idea of free community college during the 2018 campaign as part of a broader focus on additional investments in higher education. Education is an economic development strategy, Newsom said at a higher education forum last spring. We need to significantly increase the investment from the general fund of this state on higher education. Theres no greater higher return on investment. Whether the proposal would be targeted to students based on a familys financial need is unclear. Many low-income students are already eligible for fee waivers at community colleges. The new governor must submit his full state budget plan to lawmakers no later than Thursday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom and his family decide Sacramento is the place to be The Old Governors Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will move his family into the mansion. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family will give up the Marin County life and move to the Victorian-style governors mansion in Sacramento after he takes the oath of office Monday. Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had debated whether or when to relocate to the state capital since his election in November. The couple have four young children and expressed reservations about moving in the middle of a school year. To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento, said Newsoms spokesman, Nathan Click. On Monday, they will move into the Governors Mansion along with their four children, their two family dogs, and their family bunny rabbit and reside there for the immediate future. The Newsoms currently live in Marin County. Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife, Ann Gust Brown, moved into the grand house in 2015 after it underwent $4.1 million in renovations to update electrical and plumbing systems, as well as to remove lead-based paint and install a fire sprinkler system and other security features. The mansion was built in 1877 and has been home to 14 governors, but before Brown it had not housed a California governor for nearly half a century. The state bought the mansion from a wealthy Sacramento hardware merchant, Albert Gallatin, in 1903 for $32,500. It was one of the few California homes at that time to have indoor plumbing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom announces top labor, business liaisons as he prepares to take office Julie Su will be secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday named two advisors on issues related to the California economy, each recognized for their expertise on business and labor. The incoming governor will appoint Julie Su as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Lenny Mendonca as chief economic and business advisor and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Su, 49, has served as state labor commissioner under Gov. Jerry Brown since 2011 and has led an office tasked with the enforcement of Californias labor laws. She won a MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 2001 and previously worked as a civil rights attorney representing low-wage workers. In her new position, Su will be tasked with coordinating the work of several workforce departments in state government, including those that administer unemployment benefits and oversee the relationship between agriculture workers and employers. Mendonca, 57, has been a longtime advocate for rethinking government operations as co-chairman of the nonprofit organization California Forward. Previously, he was partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. While he will be a key advisor to Newsom on the states economy, Mendonca will also lead the office often referred to as Go-Biz, designated as a high-level way to encourage job growth and economic development. In his new role, Mendonca will help ensure that California is rolling out the welcome mat to current and future California businesses and growing a sustainable economy for every Californian, said a statement from the Newsom transition team. Newsom will take the oath of office as governor Monday. He has previously selected key advisors on the state budget, legislative affairs and the executive branchs wide array of agencies and departments. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Joshua Groban, aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, sworn in to California Supreme Court By Taryn Luna California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban gives remarks after he is sworn into the court by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. (Taryn Luna) California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, a lawyer and longtime aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, was sworn into the states highest court Thursday in Sacramento. The ceremony marked Browns fourth appointment to the state Supreme Court and gave the seven-member bench a Democratic majority. We live in a highly chaotic, ever-changing and ever-confusing world, Groban said in prepared remarks at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. But Im happy to report that Im joining an institution whose fundamental purpose, at core, is to provide stability and consistency amidst this chaotic place we live. I look forward to doing that with a sense of reflection, respect, fidelity to the law and compassion. None of Browns appointees, Groban included, have judicial experience. Groban served as legal counsel to Browns 2010 gubernatorial campaign and joined the administration as a senior advisor to the governor, overseeing the appointments of some 600 judges over the last eight years. Prior to working with Brown, Groban, 45, practiced law for more than a decade. In perhaps his final public appearance before his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, takes office next week, Brown pushed back on notions that he stacked the court. I dont want this to be known as a Brown court, the governor said before administering the judicial oath of office. First of all, the so-called Brown appointments do not agree with themselves and nor should they. They are individuals. They will differ. Its not anybodys court. The governor called the court a high calling and said Groban possesses the values for the job. Probably, next to my wife, Ive talked to no person as much as Ive talked to Josh Groban, Brown said. I think youve talked to him more, Californias First Lady Anne Gust Brown interjected. I cant tell you what the hell hes going to do, Brown later quipped. I warned him, dont screw up, at least not at first. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California campaign watchdog agency seeks law barring use of campaign funds to fight harassment claims Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). ( (Steve Yeater / Associated Press)) Elected officials accused of harassment or discrimination would be barred from using political contributions to cover their legal defense costs under legislation proposed by Californias campaign watchdog agency. The state Fair Political Practices Commission has agreed to pursue a law change to clear up confusion after an attorney for one former state lawmaker argued political funds could be used in such legal defenses. Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said putting a prohibition into the law would provide some much needed clarity. As chair, I would like to show the public their lawmakers are held to a standard that is above reproach, Germond said in a statement. People dont give money to campaigns for lawmakers to use it to defend their own bad behavior, so lawmakers shouldnt be able to use it in that manner. The issue came up a year ago when an attorney for former Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) sought a formal opinion from the FPPC after the Senate launched an investigation that later concluded Mendoza likely engaged in a pattern of harassment against female aides. Mendoza resigned in February under threat of expulsion by the Senate. In a Jan. 10, 2018, letter, Cassandra Ferrannini, an attorney for Mendoza, wrote to the FPPC that she believed Mendoza should be allowed to establish a legal defense fund able to defray his legal expenses in defending himself against the allegations. The use of campaign funds for attorneys fees under these circumstances would fall squarely within the scope of legislative matters, since it involves the alleged conduct of a legislator with regard to legislative staff that he supervised, Ferrannini wrote. The commission staff originally issued an advice letter that said Mendoza may use campaign and legal defense funds to defend himself from claims of sexual harassment that arose directly out of his activities or status as a candidate or elected officer. But the panel later rescinded the letter after some members questioned using campaign funds to fight sexual harassment claims. That left uncertainty about what was allowed, which Germond said could be cleared up by a new law. The FPPC is still looking for a legislator to carry the bill, a spokesman said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias landmark police transparency law takes effect after court denies police union effort to block it California Supreme Court building (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A new state law allowing the public disclosure of internal police shooting investigations has gone into effect after the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a bid by a police union to block it. The law opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. challenged the law last month, asking state Supreme Court justices to decide that the law only apply to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. The court rejected that request Wednesday, allowing members of the public to seek all applicable records held by police departments. Union president Grant Ward said in a statement that his organization was disappointed with the decision and is now seeking other legal options. We feel this is a statewide issue and should be considered accordingly, Ward said. Last month, the city of Inglewood authorized the destruction of more than 100 police shooting investigations and other records in advance of Jan. 1, when the disclosure law was scheduled to take effect. California law requires police departments to keep such records for five years, and Inglewood City Council voted to destroy records older than that. Mayor James T. Butts has said the decision had nothing to do with the new law. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Michel Moore has said that complying with the new disclosure rules could take hundreds of thousands of hours of work. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of the transparency law, has said she has no immediate plans to propose changes to it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Few complaints of racial profiling are sustained by police agencies in California, state panel finds CHP Officer J. Nelson stands outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown as activists in 2015 support requiring the tracking of police stops. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Law enforcement agencies in California sustain few citizen complaints of racial or identity profiling, according to a report Wednesday by a state panel set up to help reduce bias in policing. The states Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board recommended in its annual report that law enforcement agencies improve training and adopt clear guidelines for tracking and reporting data on who is stopped by officers. The panel said that 453 law enforcement agencies in the state received 9,459 civilian complaints in 2017, including 865 complaints alleging racial or identity profiling. Of the racial and identity complaints that reached a disposition that year, 1.5% were sustained, 14.6% resulted in officers being exonerated and 83.9% of complaints were not sustained or were determined to be unfounded, the report said. A clearer picture of the issue is expected from a 2015 law that requires police agencies to report demographic data on all detentions and searches. The first reports by the eight largest agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, are due to be submitted in April. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, whose office oversees the board, said tracking of all detentions and searches will be helpful to understand the scope of the issue. The Boards recommendations will help make our law enforcement agencies more transparent and promote critical steps to enhance, and in some cases, repair the public trust, Becerra said in a statement Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California housing crisis podcast: What Minneapolis decision to end single-family zoning might mean for California A view of downtown Minneapolis in 2014 (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images) Theres a national movement brewing to roll back zoning rules in cities that only allow one house on a plot of land. The epicenter of that movement is Minneapolis, which passed a plan last month to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and let landowners build duplexes and triplexes on residential property. On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, we talk about the reasons why Minneapolis leaders took this action, including their desire to combat a history of racial exclusion and spur more housing density to fight climate change. We also debate how Minneapolis decision might affect housing politics in California. Our guest is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender, who helped shepherd the new zoning rules to passage and a former San Francisco city planner. The episode also crowns 2018s Avocado of the Year the most ridiculous story exemplifying Californias housing woes and includes our predictions for the most under-the-radar important themes in housing politics in 2019. Gimme Shelter, a biweekly podcast that looks at why its so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALmatters. You can subscribe to Gimme Shelter on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement How young immigrant Dreamers made flipping control of the House a personal quest By Jazmine Ulloa Gabriela Cruz, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 1, couldnt vote, but in the final hours before the Nov. 6 election, she was making one last run to get people to the polls. The sun was setting in Modesto when she found Ronald Silva, 41, smoking a cigarette on a tattered old couch behind a group home. He politely tried to wave her off until she reminded him he had a right that she as an immigrant without citizenship didnt have. It could really make a change for us, said Cruz, 29. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose almost $2 billion for early childhood programs (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Seeking to frame his new administration as one with a firm focus on closing the gap between children from affluent and poor families, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose spending some $1.8 billion on an array of programs designed to boost Californias enrollment in early education and child-care programs. Newsoms plan, which he hinted at in a Fresno event last month, will be a key element in the state budget proposal he will submit to the Legislature shortly after taking office Monday, a source close to the governor-elects transition team said. The spending would boost programs designed to ensure children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, closing what some researchers have called the readiness gap that exists based on a familys income. It would also phase in an expansion of prekindergarten and offer money to help school districts that dont have facilities for full-day kindergarten. The fact that hes making significant investments with his opening budget is really exciting, Ted Lempert, president of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Children Now, said Tuesday. Whats exciting is the comprehensiveness of it, because its saying were going to focus on prenatal through age 5. A broad overview document reviewed by The Times on Tuesday shows that most of the outlay under the plan $1.5 billion would be a one-time expense in the budget year that begins July 1. Those dollars would be a single infusion of cash, an approach favored by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years. Most of the money would be spent on efforts to expand child-care services and kindergarten classes. By law, a governor must submit a full budget to the Legislature no later than Jan. 10. Lawmakers will spend the winter and spring reviewing the proposal and must send a final budget plan to Newsom by June 15. Though legislative Democrats have pushed for additional early childhood funding in recent years a key demand of the Legislative Womens Caucus those actions have typically come late in the budget-writing season in Sacramento. Quite frankly, to start out with a January proposal that includes that investment in Californias children reflects a new day, state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said. The governor-elect will propose a $750-million boost to kindergarten funding, aimed at expanding facilities to allow full-day programs. A number of school districts offer only partial-day programs, leaving many low-income families to skip enrolling their children because kindergarten classes end in the middle of the workday. Because the money would not count toward meeting Californias three-decades-old education spending guarantee under Proposition 98, which sets a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges, it will not reduce planned spending on other education services. Close behind in total cost is a budget proposal by Newsom to help train child-care workers and expand local facilities already subsidized by the state, as well as those serving parents who attend state colleges and universities. Together, those efforts could cost $747 million, according to the budget overview document. An expansion of prekindergarten programs would be phased in over three years at a cost of $125 million in the first year. The multiyear rollout would, according to the budget overview, ensure the system can plan for the increase in capacity. Lempert said the Newsom proposal is notable for trying to avoid the kinds of battles that in recent years pitted prekindergarten and expanded child care against each other for additional taxpayer dollars. The reality is we need to expand both simultaneously, he said. Another $200 million of the proposal would be earmarked for programs that provide home visits to expectant parents from limited-income families and programs that provide healthcare screenings for young children. Some of the money would come from the states Medi-Cal program, and other money from federal matching dollars. Funding for the home visits program was provided in the budget Brown signed last summer; the Newsom effort would build on that. Emphasizing a policy area with broad appeal in his first state budget could reflect Newsoms political sensibility about the challenges ahead. Democratic lawmakers and interest groups will be especially eager to see how Newsom addresses the demand for an overhaul of healthcare coverage in California especially after a 2017 effort to create a single-payer, universal system fizzled. The path forward on healthcare is complex and costly, making early childhood education a more achievable goal in the governor-elects early tenure. Newsom is likely to face considerable demands for other additional spending. In November, the Legislatures independent analysts projected that continued strength in tax revenues could produce a cash reserve of some $29 billion over the next 18 months. Almost $15 billion of that could be in unrestricted reserves, the kind that can be spent on any number of government programs. Kim Belshe, executive director of the child advocacy organization First 5 LA and a former state health and human services secretary, said the initial Newsom budget proposal suggests the next governor will focus on a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from low-income families. School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services, Belshe said. Newsom understands the whole child, multifaceted needs of our kids and is clearly ready to lead. Mitchell, the chair of the Senate budget committee, said shes eager to see the details of the governor-elects proposal to determine whether it might signal the beginning of an even broader expansion of early education efforts. Similar efforts have been hindered by a lack of money and ongoing debate over which services to help children 5 and younger need state funding the most. Universal preschool, in particular, has been debated for more than a decade. California voters rejected a ballot measure to fund a full prekindergarten system in 2006. Its clear theres a new movement afoot trying to engage on investment for universal preschool, Mitchell said. How we invest, and how we prioritize that investment, is going to be a great conversation for the coming months. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: A final conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown No Californian has served longer as governor, signed more laws, granted clemency to more felons or waged more high-profile campaigns than Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown will leave behind a unique legacy when he packs his last belongings for the trip from the governors mansion in Sacramento to his Northern California ranch. His final two terms in office could be his most consequential. The governor reviewed some of the more notable moments from the past eight years in a far-reaching interview with The Times on Dec. 22. This weeks podcast episode includes extended portions of that conversation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A sagging economy could doom a 2020 ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown says Gov. Jerry Brown, at his Colusa County home on Saturday, said a ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes could struggle in 2020. (Randall Benton/For The Times) An effort to remove commercial property in California from the tax limits imposed by the landmark Proposition 13 could be felled by an economic slowdown, Gov. Jerry Brown said. In a Saturday interview with The Times at his Northern California ranch, Brown said liberal activist groups that have successfully placed the proposal on the November 2020 statewide ballot shouldnt read too much into early poll numbers showing support for the plan. That isnt as easy as you think, Brown said. Because youre going to be in a downturn of the business cycle. And youre talking many kinds of business. And the cost of doing business in California is already high. The ballot measure would allow counties to more frequently assess the market value of commercial property in California than allowed under Proposition 13, a 1978 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to place strict limits on assessing property values and taxation for both homeowners and businesses. An analysis of the new measure, which qualified in October for the 2020 ballot, estimates it could bring in some $10.5 billion a year in new tax revenue. The business community will fight it, Brown said. And the minimum wage, the family leave, the environmental rules business[es] have left California, thats going to be the big argument. And I think thats something you really have to think a lot about. The governor, who leaves office early next month due to term limits, declined to either endorse or oppose the ballot measure. He said Californias economic health in two years time could be a key factor in how voters weigh the proposal. Well be in a recession by then, Brown said. So its anybodys guess. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inglewood to destroy more than 100 police shooting records that could otherwise become public under new California law By Jack Dolan Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) The city of Inglewood has authorized the shredding of more than 100 police shooting and other internal investigation records weeks before a new state law could allow the public to access them for the first time. The decision, made at a City Council meeting earlier this month, has troubled civil liberties advocates who were behind the state legislation, Senate Bill 1421, which takes effect Jan. 1. The law opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The legislature passed SB 1421 because communities demanded an end to the secrecy cloaking police misconduct and use of force, Marcus Benigno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said in a statement. Inglewood PDs decision to purge records undermines police accountability and transparency against the will of Californians. California law says police departments must retain records of officer shootings and internal misconduct investigations for five years. The city of Inglewood, however, had kept records longer than that, including case files of police shootings dating to 1991. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of SB 1421, intended for her bill to allow public access to all qualifying records held by a department, no matter the date of the incident. Inglewood City Council approved the destruction of records that have been in the police departments possession more than 100 cases longer than required by law. The city staff report and council resolution describing the action makes no mention of the new police transparency law. Instead it says the affected records are obsolete, occupy valuable space, and are of no further use to the police department. It added the traditional method of destroying such records is to shred them. It is unclear whether the records have since been destroyed. A spokesman for the Inglewood Police Department along with Inglewoods city manager, attorney, clerk, four council members and Mayor James T. Butts, a former Santa Monica police chief, did not respond to requests for comment. Inglewoods City Hall is closed the last two weeks of December. The Inglewood Police Department has a reputation for secrecy and using excessive force. In 2008, the departments officers fatally shot four men in as many months, three of whom turned out to be unarmed. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights probe and found significant flaws in the way the department oversaw use-of-force cases and investigated complaints against officers. Civil rights advocates still question why Inglewood police opened fire on a couple found sleeping in a car in 2016, killing them both. California police have a long history of shredding records to avoid scrutiny of their actions. In the 1970s, the LAPD famously destroyed more than four tons of personnel records after defense attorneys began requesting them as part of criminal cases against their clients. The move resulted in the dismissal of more than a hundred criminal complaints. In response, the Legislature demanded that records be preserved but then took other measures, supported by police unions, to ensure the public had very little access to them, making California the most secretive state in the nation when it comes to police misconduct. Skinners legislation begins to unwind those laws, which have been on the books since 1978. No video or audio of the Dec. 11 council action is available on the citys website and neither are meeting minutes or any record of the decision. A city spokeswoman, Courtney Torres, confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the police records purge, and said all the relevant reasons for the decision were included in the city staff report. The Jan. 1 implementation for SB 1421 has prompted other police officials to act. A police union in San Bernardino is asking the state Supreme Court to determine that Skinners bill only applies to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner earlier this month warning that complying with the law in regard to older records in the departments possession could take hundreds of thousands of work hours. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Federal officials question California DMVs process for issuing Real IDs (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its process for providing residents with federally recognized identification cards is not adequate. DMV spokesman Armando Botello said Friday that 2.3 million residents who received Real IDs under the current process will have to submit additional documentation when their cards are renewed in five years but will be able to use them in the meantime. The DMV is developing a way for residents to submit more documentation online or via email to comply with the stricter federal requirement, he said. But some state legislators are upset about delays in notifying them of the problem and say Homeland Security could eventually require additional documentation provided by current holders. The DMV has known for a month that millions of Real IDs theyve been dolling out are potentially invalid, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The DMVs only hope is that the Department of Homeland Security takes pity on California and gives the DMV more time to fix this mess. Real IDs are a new kind of driver license and identification card that federal law will require legal residents to present when boarding domestic flights or visiting military bases and other federal facilities starting Oct. 1, 2020. The DMV has only been requiring one form of documentation, including a current lease or utility bill, to verify the residence of a card applicant. But the federal government said in a Nov. 21 letter to the agency that two such documents are needed. On Friday, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto released a letter defending the current process but said her agency will start requiring a second document to prove residency in April. In order to minimize confusion among our customers, the CADMV will work to inform individuals who have been issued a Real ID under the current process that their card will be accepted for official federal purposes, even if their renewal occurs after the October 1, 2020, final enforcement date for Real ID, Shiomoto wrote to the federal agency. Legislative officials worry there is still a possibility that those issued Real IDs in the past might be required to present a second document to have their cards designated as compliant. The more complex process for obtaining Real IDs has led to hours-long waits for customers at DMV field offices this year, although wait times have been reduced recently by an increase in staffing. Shiomoto last month announced that she is retiring amid problems with the motor voter registration system and after the governor ordered an audit of her agency in response to the long wait times. On Friday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido blasted the DMV for waiting a month to tell legislators of the problem. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of security for our citizens, which is what Real ID was created for in the first place, she said in a statement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom taps Keely Bosler to be his finance director Keely Bosler, the director of the California Department of Finance, will continue in that role under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (California Department of Finance) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Keely Martin Bosler as director of the California Department of Finance, continuing the role she has served under Gov. Jerry Brown since August. Bosler will become Newsoms chief fiscal advisor, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Newsoms spending plan for the state that will lay the foundation for his top policy priorities. Newsom must roll out his first budget plan within days of taking office on Jan. 7. Californias brighter future depends on a strong, stable fiscal foundation, Newsom said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Keely is an accomplished public servant of sound fiscal judgment. She understands that state budgets are more than numbers on a page they are value statements affecting the fate and future of millions of families reaching for the California Dream. We are fortunate to have her on our team. Prior to being appointed finance director, Bosler served as Browns cabinet secretary for two years and, before that, as the chief deputy director for budget in the Finance Department for three years. Earlier this year, Brown picked Bosler to lead an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, which had come under fire for long wait times at DMV field offices and numerous computer problems, including errors in the new motor voter program that registered Californians to vote. As we have discussed, long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles do not reflect the high standards of service that Californians expect from their state government, Bosler wrote in a letter in September to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. The audit is still ongoing, but Shiomoto has since announced she will retire at the end of the year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias legislative analyst, after decades of nonpartisan research for lawmakers, calls it a career Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who has led the state research unit since 2008, will retire on Dec. 31. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Only five people have led the independent research office of the California Legislature since its creation in 1941. And each of them has had a pretty simple mantra to live by in reviewing public policy proposals and government programs: Call it like you see it. The job of any analyst, to me, is you maintain that nonpartisanship, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said. Taylor, 65, will retire from the post at the end of December after a four-decade career with the research team that began, as he likes to tell it, just after the passage of the landmark property tax rollback, Proposition 13, in 1978. He became the leader of the office, with the title of legislative analyst, in October 2008. Two months later, state government found itself in arguably the worst fiscal crisis in its history a projected shortfall that ultimately grew to $42 billion by the following winter. There were forces beyond our control, Taylor said of that time. But dont underestimate the policy changes that were made afterward. Those changes, most notably a boost in taxes paid by high-income earners and a robust state budget cash reserve fund, have helped lead to successive years of fully funded government services. The state is projected to have some $24 billion in reserves by the end of the current fiscal year. Taylor announced his intention earlier to step down this year. Leaders from both houses of the Legislature select the analyst, who leads a staff of almost five dozen researchers. The office provides in-depth reports on pending legislation, as well as on broader policy topics like education and healthcare, and produces an independent analysis for every proposed ballot measure. A succession of lawmakers and governors alike have praised or panned the work of the Legislative Analysts Office based on their own political worldview. Taylor said his staff is mindful that they work for legislators, but try to ignore the rhetoric that follows the release of a major report. People are going to do what theyre going to do with our information, he said. They dont always like it, but they appreciate that we give them our best advice. Taylor oversaw a transformation in the way the Legislative Analysts Office distributes its information, embracing the release of research reports through social media instead of relying on traditional printed copies and journalist roundtable events. But he said the work of the researchers has remained largely unchanged through the decades. Having an independent take on things, I think, is good for the Legislature, he said. No replacement for Taylor has been announced, which means a short transition for his eventual successor before Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom sends his first budget proposal to lawmakers in early January. Taylor, who lives in the Sacramento suburbs, said he will honor the tradition of his predecessors in stepping away from public policy debates in order to give the new analyst space to lead the team as he or she sees fit. He said he hopes to travel in the coming years and spend time with his children who have moved to the East Coast. Forty years in state government, Taylor said in why he was stepping aside now. Isnt that enough? Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown sues to save California sentencing laws By Don Thompson, Associated Press (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown sued Thursday to protect one of his signature actions in office, a voter-approved measure that allows most prison inmates to seek earlier release and participate in rehabilitation programs. His administration filed a lawsuit challenging a pending 2020 initiative that seeks to toughen criminal penalties as part of an effort to roll back reforms adopted by voters within the last decade. Browns lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court contends the measure lacked enough valid signatures to overturn a previously approved constitutional amendment. County officials and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the signatures in July but said they were submitted too late to qualify for last months election. The lawsuit names Padilla and the ballot measures official proponent, Nina Salarno Besselman, president of the advocacy group Crime Victims United. Padilla said the measure exceeded the required roughly 366,000 valid signatures, equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 2014. Browns lawsuit says he used the wrong threshold. It says changing the state Constitution requires 8%, or more than 585,400 signatures. That makes the pending initiative more than 150,000 signatures short, the lawsuit says. Hes wrong, said Jeff Flint, a spokesman for the campaign backing the measure. He predicted a judge will be reluctant to reject a measure that already has qualified for the ballot. The secretary of state told us how many signatures are required, and thats how many we collected, Flint said. Padillas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure would reverse reforms adopted by voters through Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. Proposition 57 allows most inmates to seek earlier paroles, and Proposition 47 reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The combination has helped keep Californias inmate population below a population cap set by federal judges. Corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters said the measure gives corrections and parole officials broad discretion to protect our communities and fashion a rational system of rehabilitation and punishment. This new initiative unlawfully seeks to supplant the departments constitutional authority to implement these critical reforms to our criminal justice system. The pending initiative would shorten the list of crimes that qualify for earlier parole and change some theft crimes from misdemeanors back to felonies. It would also increase the number of crimes for which DNA is collected, a list that was limited when some crimes went from felonies to misdemeanors. Those supporting the tougher penalties say easing criminal penalties has increased the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, but those backing the changes say they have helped reduce mass incarceration and rehabilitate convicted criminals. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Supreme Court orders records unsealed in pardon of ex-state Sen. Roderick Wright Former state Sen. Roderick Wright (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) The California Supreme Court has granted a request to unseal court records involving Gov. Jerry Browns decision last month to pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for felony convictions involving lying about living in his legislative district, officials said Thursday. The court order was in response to a request by the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, which argued that the public has a right to know what information went into the governors decision to grant clemency to Wright. This is an important victory for public access to court files involving the exercise of executive clemency, said coalition spokesman Glen A. Smith. We are gratified the court has recognized that these decisions should be subject to the same public access rules that apply to other judicial records under California law. The court gave Browns office until Jan. 2 to redact confidential material before giving the court documents that can be released to the public. The court files submitted by the governors office include letters of support for a pardon and an internal review of Wrights case. The court denied a motion to unseal the records of all clemency cases but left open consideration of requests on other individual cases. Browns office is currently evaluating the courts decision, said spokesman Brian Ferguson. The governor argued against unsealing records in a recent court filing that said confidentiality is consistent with historical practice and is supported by state law. In pardoning Wright on Nov. 22, the governor wrote: 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. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California political watchdog agency fines BART, urges prosecution over using public funds for campaign A Bay Area Rapid Transit train leaves the station in Oakland in this 2013 file photo. (Ben Margot / AP) Californias state political watchdog agency on Thursday imposed a $7,500 fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and called for a possible criminal or civil prosecution over allegations the district used public resources to campaign for a 2016 bond measure. The state Fair Political Practices Commission levied an administrative fine against BART for its failure to disclose spending on YouTube videos, social media posts and text messages to promote Measure RR, which authorized $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds. Though the panel lacks authority to seek criminal charges over the misuse of public funds, it also urged county district attorneys in the BART service area and the state attorney general to pursue possible criminal or civil charges over the spending of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said. It is the concept of misusing public funds that I think we all here are very disturbed about, and we want to send a warning and not create a precedent that is a minor, little slap on the wrist, Germond said, adding that the referral to criminal prosecutors would further send a message that this is wrong. Commissioner Brian Hatch also called for the state Legislature to consider granting the FPPC power to go after public agencies that spend taxpayer money on campaigns. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) called on the agency to increase the fine to the maximum level of $33,375. The proposed $7,500 fine represents a slap on the wrist for a very serious violation of the law and the publics trust, Glazer said in a letter to the panel. In supporting the fine recommended by the staff, Germond said BART has agreed to pay the penalty. Somebody did something wrong and they have admitted it, she said. A staff report said there were factors in favor of a fine below the maximum. Although the Commission considers BARTs violations to be serious, the absence of any evidence of an intention to conceal, deceive, or mislead; the voluntary filing of the delinquent campaign statement; and the absence of a prior record are mitigating, the report said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police union seeks state Supreme Court review of new law disclosing internal investigation records Los Angeles Police Department officers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A police union is asking the California Supreme Court to block the release of internal officer investigations before a new state law takes effect next year. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. filed a petition Tuesday asking justices to rule that only investigations of incidents that occur after Jan. 1 would be available under the law and not those the department has on file from years prior. The litigation comes after this years passage of Senate Bill 1421, which opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department has told the union it intends to make available in response to public records requests all the information it has. The union is very concerned about any plans to retroactively apply Senate Bill 1421, Grant Ward, the unions president, said in a statement. We believe retroactive application violates our members rights and we hope the California Supreme Court will consider the serious issues raised by our legal challenge. The bills author, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), does not agree with the unions interpretation. She has said her legislation should apply to all the records in a police departments possession because the law simply declared that affected records were no longer confidential. If the record exists, its disclosable, Skinner said. A decision on what records will be available under the law is key to how far-reaching it will be. If the court restricts access to incidents that occurred prior to 2019, those cases will not be subject to public scrutiny. The police union in San Bernardino County is not the only one raising concerns about the law. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner expressing concern that his agency would be overwhelmed if the law required the department to disclose older incidents. Even if the law only applied to the previous five years, Moore wrote, it could take nearly 300,000 hours of work to comply with its provisions. The LAPD operates with a guiding principle of Reverence for the Law; as such, we will diligently comply with SB 1421, Moore wrote. We maintain, however, that a retroactive implementation of SB 1421 will be exceptionally burdensome and would require significant reallocation of front-line investigative personnel. Skinner said if complying with the law becomes untenable for law enforcement agencies that maintain records for a long time, she would consider modifications. But she said agencies did not raise this concern during discussion over the bill. SB 1421 went through multiple committee hearings, multiple floor debates, extensive opportunity for all parties to weigh in on concerns with its structure, she said. That was not an issue that was raised by law enforcement at the time. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Brown warns of backlash for Republicans in 2020 if Obamacare repeal is upheld Gov. Jerry Brown at the National Press Club in April. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown warned Republicans on Tuesday that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would devastate the partys political chances in the 2020 election. Brown, speaking at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton and Brown family historian Miriam Pawel, said a federal judges ruling last week to strike down the 2010 law if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only take over the Senate, theyll win the presidency and will win with the kind of momentum, particularly on the issue of healthcare, that [the law] will be replaced probably with something even better. The governor, who leaves office in less than three weeks, said he did not believe the ruling by a Texas judge would ultimately prevail. I think the decision will probably be overturned, Brown said. Few states have embraced the law championed by former President Obama more than California, both through its healthcare exchange, Covered California, and by expanding access to government-funded services under Medi-Cal. Some 12 million Californians now receive healthcare through Medi-Cal, and Brown said a final ruling affecting the federal dollars that subsidize that care would be a serious blow. California would not be able to afford it without the subsidy, the governor said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bars in Los Angeles, San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks (acuna-hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses, and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors, and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks. (Acuna-Hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias DMV director announces retirement amid problems with motor voter program (Kent Nishamura/Los Angeles Times) The director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles will retire at years end with a number of questions unanswered about the implementation of a major voter registration system and long wait times experienced by customers for much of the past summer. Jean Shiomoto will not continue in her current role as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom takes office, and announced to staff several weeks ago her intent to retire at the end of the year after 38 years in state service, spokesman Armando Botello said in an email to The Times on Friday. Newsoms transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who might lead the department in 2019. Shiomoto was appointed DMV director by Gov. Jerry Brown in the fall of 2013, having served in prior leadership roles with the department. DMV officials have been sharply criticized by lawmakers in recent months for delays in serving customers at its field offices across the state. Last week, DMV officials revealed errors in registering California voters for the November election mistakes that followed a series of problems in the rollout of the states new motor voter registration system. Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week said he had lost confidence in Shiomotos leadership as a result of the voting registration problems. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New law could break the stalemate over housing on the site of a near-vacant Cupertino mall By Liam Dillon For more than a decade, developers have tried to build new housing on the site of an all-but-empty mall in Cupertino, a city in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Apple headquarters. A well-organized group of neighbors, upset about traffic, building heights and the potential loss of the communitys suburban lifestyle, turned away every plan. Now, for the first time, the stalemate might be broken thanks to a decision made in the state Capitol. In an effort to address Californias housing affordability problem, legislators passed a law last year that requires cities and counties to approve housing projects if they comply with local zoning rules and other standards, forcing some resistant communities to agree to new homebuilding. In September, the city of Cupertino, citing the state law, approved developer Sand Hill Property Co.s proposal to build an office park and more than 2,400 homes where the Vallco Shopping Mall sits. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Local government was a last bastion for struggling California Republicans. Not anymore By Mark Z. Barabak Theres no shortage of watery metaphors to describe the disaster that befell California Republicans this midterm election. A blue wave. A Democratic tsunami. But the most apt may be a flood, with the casualties steadily rising as the vote count climbed in the days and weeks following Nov. 6. Eventually half the GOP congressional delegation was washed away, along with the entire slate of statewide Republican candidates. In Sacramento, Democrats claimed 29 of 40 state Senate seats and seized three-quarters of the 80-member Assembly the largest number since 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was serving in the White House. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For the Republicans left in Californias Legislature, fewer lawmakers will have to do more work By John Myers From January to late summer every year, the California Legislature is a perpetual motion machine. And in the new year, the people most likely to struggle in keeping up will be Republicans, vastly outnumbered but still responsible for representing millions of the states residents. There are 22 standing committees in the state Senate, plus at least a dozen more subcommittees or special committees. And after Novembers election, only 11 Republican senators will be left to divvy up the work. To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished go the extra assignments. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias DMV failed to finish registering 329 new voters before November election (Los Angeles Times) Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of mishaps regarding voter registration. Secretary of State Alex Padilla responded with a blistering letter, calling on Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to replace Jean Shiomoto, the DMV director. The Director of DMV has lost my confidence and trust, Padilla wrote. In all, the agency revealed that 589 mailed voter registration records that should have been processed under election deadlines werent sent to Californias secretary of state until late November, including forms from 260 drivers who had intended to update their address on existing voter registration records. The DMV had been instructed to not send registration forms that came in after Oct. 22, but the voters in question had forms that were postmarked before the deadline. In some cases, when the postmark wasnt legible, the agency said, documents inside indicated the voter had intended to finish their registration in time for the Nov. 6 election. The DMV recognizes the pause in transmittals was an error and affected the timing of the registration of the 589 individuals referenced above relative to the November election, Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Padilla on Friday. The pause was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the department, for which we take responsibility. Those who were trying to update their address for voter registration would not have been blocked from casting ballots. But officials said its unclear whether any of the 329 new voters were able to participate in the election. Shiomoto said in her letter that DMV will work with elections officials. The errors were not related to previous DMV mistakes about registering voters, problems associated with the rollout of the states new motor voter law. In those cases, multiple registration forms were sent to local elections offices for some voters, some people were assigned the wrong political party preference and others who are noncitizens were incorrectly placed on the list of registered voters. DMV officials have yet to respond to questions posed by The Times over the last several weeks about who knew of those mistakes and when. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom appoints a labor advocate and a former staffer as his chief deputy Cabinet secretaries By Taryn Luna A labor advocate and a San Francisco political operative have accepted positions in Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms new administration. Angie Wei, a Capitol insider with deep ties to organized labor in California, will serve as a chief deputy Cabinet secretary with a focus on policy development. As a legislative director and chief of staff at the California Labor Federation, Wei has represented more than 1,200 unions and 2.1 million workers in Capitol fights over a host of policy issues, including drug-pricing transparency and paid family leave. The governor-elect also tapped Jason Elliott, a policy advisor to Newsom during his time as mayor of San Francisco and a chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, as another chief deputy Cabinet secretary overseeing executive branch operations. Elliott and Wei will serve under Ana Matosantos, Newsoms previously President Trump on Friday named Mick Mulvaney, now his budget director, as his acting chief of staff, only temporarily solving a management and public relations problem that has consumed the White House in the week since the president announced that John F. Kelly would leave the job by the end of the year. Trump tweeted the news after the close of business, just hours after a spokesperson had told reporters that the president would take his time and that the search could go on for several weeks. Trump wrote that Kelly would remain through the end of the year, presumably to help with the transition. But neither Trumps tweets nor the limited guidance from White House aides who refused to be identified clarified for reporters how long Mulvaney would stay on or whether he would return to the budget office at what is typically a busy time there. Theres no time limit, a senior administration official said of Mulvaneys tenure. Hes the acting chief of staff, which means hes the chief of staff. He got picked because the president liked him. They get along. Advertisement The official said that Russ Vought, now the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, would be Mulvaneys replacement as director, though its also unclear how long that might be. Trumps resort to a temporary chief of staff came after several candidates had declined to be considered, prompting days of embarrassing publicity suggesting that a once-plumb job had lost its allure in his chaotic White House. His first pick, Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff, Nick Ayers, quickly pulled himself out of consideration, leaving the president without a fallback. The latest to bow out, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, did so on Friday. Trump had said last Saturday that it would be only one or two days before he found a permanent replacement for Kelly. In tapping Mulvaney, Trump for a second time was turning to the conservative former congressman to plug a job hole. Even as Mulvaney held the job as budget director, he served for more than a year as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, scaling back regulation of the financial industry from an office that he and other Republicans had opposed since its creation during the Obama administration. Mulvaney only gave up that position on Monday, after Trumps permanent pick for the job, Kathy Kraninger, was sworn in following her confirmation by a narrow vote of the Senate. Whether chief of staff temporarily or not, Mulvaney takes a job that is one of the hardest in Washington, given Trumps propensity for ignoring advice and resisting structure, as well as the pressure of dealing with the swirl of investigations threatening the president. Yet Trump did not pick an ideal time to upend his budget office. Not only is the office finishing work on the budget for fiscal year 2020, which Trump is supposed to send to Congress early in 2019, but it also is dealing with the threat of a partial government shutdown next week. Several federal departments and agencies will run out of funding Dec. 21, and Trump has threatened to let that deadline pass and shut them down unless Democrats agree to a final spending bill with significant funding to build a border wall. Democrats, and some Republicans, have said they will not support the $5 billion that Trump demands. Though Mulvaney had railed against budget deficits as one of the most conservative members of Congress, he has managed a budget for Trump that is projecting annual deficits larger than any since just after World War II. In the aftermath of the big tax cuts that Trump signed into law a year ago, the current years deficit is expected to approach $1 trillion. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington noah.bierman@latimes.com Twitter: @noahbierman Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who endeared himself to President Trump but was caught up in scandals and infuriated environmental activists, will be departing his post by the end of the year in the latest shake-up of the presidents Cabinet. Secretary of the Interior @RyanZinke will be leaving the Administration at the end of the year after having served for a period of almost two years, Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning. Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation. There are a number of potential Republicans in the running to follow Zinke as leader of the sprawling department that manages the nations natural resources, from national parks to offshore oil drilling. Among the candidates frequently mentioned is David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist who has been Zinkes second-in-command. The most notable firings and resignations in the Trump administration Advertisement As deputy secretary, Bernhardt, a veteran Washington insider, has run day-to-day operations while Zinke, a folksy outsider, served as the controversial public face of a department with 70,000 employees and a $12-billion budget. Zinke, a Navy SEAL before he entered politics, came to the Interior Department after representing Montana in Congress for a single term. Zinke famously rode a Park Police horse several blocks to his first day of work as secretary in March 2017, and donned a Boy Scout uniform when he accompanied Trump to the National Scout Jamboree that summer. But Zinkes swagger did not offset his legal problems and the headaches he created for the White House. The resignation is the latest change in a broader year-end shake-up. The administration is seeking to turn the page on a tumultuous first two years that ended with sweeping midterm election losses. Already under pressure from expansive federal investigations surrounding Trumps political and business activities, the White House must now contend with a Democratic House with subpoena power. Trump, facing a thicket of personnel issues, forced former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to resign the day after the November election. For weeks, he fed speculation about Chief of Staff John F. Kellys uncertain fate before telling reporters last Saturday that Kelly was leaving at years end. Trump finally announced Friday that Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney would take on the job indefinitely, serving as acting chief of staff, but without any plans for a successor. That brought an end to a six-day stretch during which two of Trumps top choices to replace Kelly backed out at the last minute. Kellys exit is expected to eventually precipitate the departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, a close Kelly ally who has clashed with the president. The wave of departures comes after the administration already shattered past records for turnover. It threatens to bog down Trumps agenda on Capitol Hill as focus shifts to all the confirmation hearings. Zinke, 57, battled more than a dozen ethics probes related to his leadership at the Interior Department, and especially his alleged misuse of charter aircraft. Several probes have been closed some because he was cleared, others due to lack of cooperation. But an inspector generals investigation into whether Zinke personally benefited from a Montana development deal linked to energy giant Halliburton has been referred to the Department of Justice and could result in criminal charges. He has denied any wrongdoing. The case focuses on whether Zinke improperly spent taxpayer dollars to meet with Halliburtons chairman, David Lesar, to discuss a land deal in Zinkes hometown of Whitefish, Mont. The deal involved a charitable foundation that Zinke had established and is run by his wife, Lolita. Zinke apparently tried to replace the inspector general, Mary Kendall, with a Trump appointee in October while she was investigating his alleged misconduct. He backed off when the maneuver came to light, calling it a miscommunication among staff. Kendall, in her annual report for 2017, had listed ethical considerations within the agency as a major priority. Another report from Kendall detailed apparent ethical violations by Zinke. It cited his bringing Secret Service protection along on a 2017 summer vacation with his wife and friends to Greece, costing taxpayers more than $25,000. Zinkes frequent travel with his wife on government business he reportedly tried to classify her as a volunteer to circumvent reimbursement requirements for personal guests also came under scrutiny. The inspector generals office is also investigating whether Zinkes decision last year to allow oil and gas exploration on previously protected federal lands, accomplished by cutting the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, improperly benefited a Republican state lawmaker whose land was removed from the monument. Zinkes policies drew the ire of environmentalists, including some Republicans, from the day he took office. In December 2017, Trump signed off on the Interior Departments plan to roll back federal protections on 2 million acres of land in Utah, claiming that the Obama administration had overreached in designating the lands as protected. Months earlier, the department had begun rolling back federal protections for the endangered sage grouse in 10 states. President Obama had limited oil and gas development and other commercial activities on federal lands recognized as territory for the birds. In January 2018, Zinke proposed opening almost the entire U.S. coast to offshore oil drilling over five years. But several state leaders balked, including Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, who vowed to protect his states coastline. After meeting with Scott, Zinke issued an exemption for Florida, citing its tourism, fishing and other industries. That prompted other coastal states to demand similar exemptions, complicating the long-term viability of the proposal itself. When wildfires devastated vast tracts of California this summer, Zinke scoffed at the possibility of climate change being a factor. He blamed environmental terrorist groups for mismanaging forests and, he claimed, impeding fire mitigation efforts. Trump also politicized California fires, blaming them in part on the states water management policies. Fire and forestry experts argued that heat and drought conditions brought about by climate change are the key factor in the growing number of major wildfires. Trump liked Zinke personally, believing that the tall, confident Westerner looked the part of an Interior secretary, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Trumps views. But Trump began to lose confidence in Zinke as his ethical lapses continued to generate negative press. Shortly before the Nov. 6 election, Trump hinted that Zinkes job might be in jeopardy given the Justice Department investigation. Im going to look at any reports, Ill take a look, Trump said when asked if he was troubled by multiple allegations of misconduct against Zinke. Certainly, I would not be happy with that at all, Trump said. But I will take a look. But he has done a very good job as secretary. Environmentalists are wary of what will come next. They battled Bernhardts Senate confirmation in July 2017, citing his previous efforts to reduce protections for endangered wildlife and his alleged conflicts of interest with energy companies. Over 150 environmental groups signed a letter opposing his nomination at the time, and they are likely to fight him again now. Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, called Zinke the most scandal-plagued Interior secretary in recent memory, but he warned that Bernhardt poses a similar threat as steward of the nations public lands and wildlife While Zinkes departure is welcome, we remain equally concerned about the direction of his deputy David Bernhardt, a former industry lobbyist who has been doing the bidding of corporate polluters since he joined the Interior Department, Karpinksi said. Bernhardt, 49, a beefy native of Rifle, Colo., previously spent eight years at the Interior Department under President George W. Bush. He served as counselor and deputy chief of staff to Gale Norton, then secretary of the Interior, and then as the departments top lawyer. Bernhardt later joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a Washington-based law firm that regularly represents Californias Westlands Water District, the countrys largest water district. After the 2016 election, Bernhardt headed Trumps transition team for the Interior Department. The latest from Washington eli.stokols@latimes.com @EliStokols Bomb threats sent out on Thursday to numerous businesses and organizations across the United States, including some in Burbank and Glendale, were deemed hoaxes by authorities. Each threat followed a similar format where it was sent by email and demanded payment via cryptocurrency or else a bomb would explode. At least one business in Burbank and two in Glendale received the threat. Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman for the Burbank Police Department, said the department first received word of a threat around 10:10 a.m. after a media company in the 100 block of East Olive Avenue received the email. Green said it was clear the threat was a hoax because the email was addressed to people unaffiliated with the company. However, company officials still evacuated employees from the building as a precaution until police arrived. Green added that, despite the appearance of a hoax, officers still conducted a sweep of the building to check for explosives. None were found. We take all threats seriously, and we will investigate them, Green said. No other businesses in Burbank reported receiving the threat. In Glendale, a business housed in the former Nestle building and a Toyota dealership on Brand Boulevard received the fraudulent threats. Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department, said neither one of the threats were addressed to the businesses or a specific employee. The email threats were completely generic, he said. Neither one of the companies thought they were legit It was pretty transparent what it was, Suttles added. It is unknown who sent the threats or why, and federal cybercrime experts continue to investigate the incident. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc China on Friday expressed firm opposition to a Tibet-related act passed by the U.S. Senate recently, and urged it not to be signed into law. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the comments at a daily press briefing in response to the U.S. Senate's passing of the Reciprocal Access To Tibet Act of 2018 this week. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang speaks at the daily press briefing on December 14, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn] The Act, now going to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law, seeks to promote access to Tibet for U.S. diplomats, journalists, and tourists by denying entry into the United States for Chinese officials deemed responsible for restricting access to Tibet. "The Act interferes in China's domestic affairs with reckless disregard for facts and goes against the basic norms of international relations," said Lu. "China firmly opposes the Act, and has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side over it," he added. Stressing that Tibet-related affairs belong to China's domestic affairs that no country can interfere in, Lu said any foreigners who wish to visit Tibet Autonomous Region can apply through normal channels. A large number of domestic residents and foreigners visit Tibet each year for sightseeing or business, said Lu, adding that nearly 40,000 U.S. citizens have visited Tibet since 2015, including the minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, many senators and other groups. "The accusations against China in the Act are totally groundless and absolutely unacceptable by the Chinese government and people," said Lu. "We urge the U.S. administrative bodies to take immediate measures to stop it being signed into law so as to avoid impairing China-U.S. ties and cooperation in major areas," the spokesperson said. Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is seeking the publics help to identify a woman who was found in Burbank and has been hospitalized since Dec. 9, according to hospital officials. She was brought to the medical center from an apartment complex at 713 S. Glenoaks Blvd. in Burbank, where she was found knocking on residents doors, hospital officials said, adding that none of the residents recognized her. She has dark hair and dark complexion, and possibly is Latina or Filipina. She is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 154 pounds and is believed to be in her 50s. She appeared well groomed and fed, and is believed to have been cared for in a home or facility in the area, according to hospital officials. One of her socks has the name Brazie written on it, and she seems to respond to the name, officials added. She is alert and responsive, but communicates (speaks, writes and signs) unintelligibly and cannot provide any information about herself, hospital officials said. Privacy laws limit information the hospital can provide about the patient, including her condition. Anyone with information is asked to call Providence Saint Joseph at (818) 843-5111 and ask for the nurse supervisors office. mark.kellam@latimes.com Twitter: @LAMarkKellam Charlie Brown and friends returned to Costa Mesa City Hall on Friday for opening night of the annual Snoopy House holiday display. The community tradition, which began in 1966, features seasonal decorations and scenes populated by characters from Charles Schulzs Peanuts comic strip. The display started at the Eastside home of Jim and Linda Jordan but in 2011 moved to City Hall at 77 Fair Drive. Snoopy House is open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 23. Along with the decorations, the display features live music, train rides and free photos with Santa Claus. For more information, visit costamesaca.gov/residents/annual-events. Two men were in jail Friday after a police pursuit from Newport Beach to Costa Mesa the night before ended in a traffic collision and began a three-hour manhunt, police said. At 9:15 p.m. Thursday, a Newport Beach officer saw a 1998 Toyota Sienna that had been reported stolen being driven in the area of Irvine Avenue and Dover Drive, police said. The minivan fled the officer, and police gave chase, authorities said. About six minutes later, the Sienna was involved in a collision in the 200 block of 22nd Street in Costa Mesa, police said. Its occupants ran away, triggering a neighborhood search, police said. No one was injured in the crash, police said. To aid the search, the Laguna Beach Police Department provided a police dog in addition to Newport Beachs K-9 unit, authorities said. Costa Mesa police and a Huntington Beach Police Department helicopter crew assisted. One resident said on the neighborhood social media network Nextdoor that police advised people to close their windows and doors and keep pets inside during the search. Others on the network said officers asked to search their properties. The search ended just after 12:30 a.m. Friday. Two Pomona men, Louis Mercado Jr., 26, and Armando Amaya Jr., 22, were arrested. Mercado was booked into Orange County Jail on a warrant and suspicion of vehicle theft and appropriation of lost property, with bail set at $80,000, according to jail records. Amaya was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft, appropriation of lost property, trespassing and resisting an officer, with bail set at $20,000. julia.sclafani@latimes.com A Huntington Beach man was sentenced Thursday to five years and eight months in federal prison for his role in a drug-selling operation allegedly involving a Santa Ana psychiatrist, the U.S. attorneys office said. William Jason Plumley, 41, pleaded guilty Oct. 9 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. As I have been sitting here in jail, so unbelievably destroyed, looking back with a sober mind, I realize how wrong and incredibly stupid my choices were, Plumley said in a letter submitted before sentencing to U.S. District Judge Andrew Guilford. In the statement, Plumley acknowledged his former substance abuse problem and described his success in getting sober, while taking responsibility for his crimes and expressing remorse. For the first time in over 25 years I have really begun to look at what I have done, how drug addiction has truly wasted my life, Plumley wrote. Today I am the man I was trying so incredibly hard to once again become, which is 100% sober. Plumley was a co-defendant in a federal case against Dr. Robert Tinoco Perez, 56, of Westminster, who was arrested June 29 and charged with drug distribution. Perez was accused of providing prescriptions to Plumley and other brokers, knowing the drugs were to be sold, as well as issuing prescriptions to Plumley in the names of patients whom Perez had never met or examined. Perez is awaiting trial. The case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Costa Mesa Police Department, according to the U.S. attorneys office. julia.sclafani@latimes.com The founding members of a fledgling political action committee in Laguna Beach have filed complaints at the federal, state and local levels containing a variety of allegations against Village Laguna, a longstanding local activist group. San Francisco lawyer Peter Bagatelos, who represents Sam Goldstein, Michael Ray and Cindy Shopoff co-founders of the PAC, called Liberate Laguna alleges in five complaints that Village Laguna does not file appropriate taxes or properly disclose campaign donations and that the organization has contributed more to local campaigns than is legally allowed. For the record: This article originally reported incorrectly that Liberate Laguna contributed $12,714 to incumbent City Council candidate Toni Iseman. The PAC actually spent the money opposing Iseman. [Village Laguna] has been operating as a PAC for many years and influencing and also putting money into campaigns without disclosing it, said Shopoff, co-owner and executive vice president of Shopoff Realty Investments in Irvine. I dont have any problem with Village Laguna. I think that they are a fine organization and that they have done good work through the years. The only problem is, everybody should have to play by the same rules. Village Laguna, founded in 1971, promotes preservation of the citys historical buildings and downtown and supports community programs. Bagatelos said he filed the complaints signed by Goldstein, Ray and Shopoff in November with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the California attorney generals office, Fair Political Practices Commission and Franchise Tax Board, and the Laguna Beach city attorney and city clerk. Laguna Beach artist and developer Louis Longi, who is not affiliated with Liberate Laguna, also signed the complaints to the FPPC and the city. Village Laguna is taxed as a political organization, according to the IRS database. But because of the groups activities such as preparing meals for homeless people at Laguna Beachs Alternative Sleeping Location, donating food and giving out scholarships, Bagatelos argues it should have a separate tax filing as a charitable organization. Records from the state attorney generals office show Village Laguna last filed as a charity in 2001 and that the status expired in 2003. If youre going to engage in a charitable activity, you need to be organized as a charity, Bagatelos said. Village Laguna engages in everything under the sun. He pointed to the organizations annual Charm House Tour, a bus ride featuring Laguna Beach homes and iconic areas for $50 to $60 a ticket. God knows what theyre using the money for, Bagatelos said. City Attorney Phil Kohn sent all the complainants a letter Nov. 21 saying he had received the complaints and that the city would begin looking into them by Dec. 15. In his letter, Kohn said he could decide to file a civil action or conduct a criminal investigation into Village Laguna if the situation warranted. In a follow-up letter Thursday, Kohn said he would need more time to examine the matters. Johanna Felder, president of Village Lagunas board of directors, said the organization has two arms a nonprofit and a PAC with separate bank accounts for each. She said the accusation that Village Laguna improperly reported its finances from either account is false. I see these complaints as frivolous, she said. [Liberate Laguna members] would like us to go away so they dont have to deal with somebody who wants to maintain the village character of Laguna Beach, so they can develop untethered. Shopoff, Goldstein and Ray founded Liberate Laguna as a PAC earlier this year. Within months, the group raised more than $150,000 from real estate and development companies and hefty donations from each of the three founders, according to disclosure forms filed in October. According to records a week before the Nov. 6 Laguna Beach City Council election, the PAC had contributed a total of $13,053 to candidate Sue Kempf and $12,573 to candidate Peter Blake, both of whom were elected for the first time. The PAC also spent $12,714 opposing incumbent candidate Toni Iseman, who was elected to her sixth term. In campaign disclosure documents filed with the Laguna Beach city clerk, Village Laguna shows several contributions to itself over the years by Village Laguna Inc. The amounts ranged from $2,000 in August 2016 to $11,348 in June 2017. If the funds are being solicited from other sources and being transferred to the committee checking account, then the sources of the funds should be disclosed, according to a complaint Bagatelos filed with Kohn and City Clerk Lisette Chel-Walker. Richard Picheny, Village Lagunas treasurer, said money does move from the nonprofit arm to the PAC arm and that the FPPC approved of the practice in a letter to the organization 15 years ago. According to the letter, he said, only individual contributions above a certain amount must be disclosed as campaign funds. Anything else such as Charm House Tour tickets, membership dues and smaller contributions can go toward the nonprofit account and then transfer to the PAC account, he said. We earn money from the Charm House Tour and from membership dues and every couple of times a year ... we deposit that money into the account thats used for campaigns, Picheny said. I believed I filed all forms that were necessary to be filed. I dont know of any that were to be filed that I didnt file. Bagatelos said rules for campaign finance disclosures have changed since 2003 and that the letter no longer applies. An anonymous complaint which Ray and Goldstein have since acknowledged came from Bagatelos was filed with the FPPC this summer, alleging that Village Laguna had failed to disclose a contribution from 2016 City Council candidate Vera Rollingers campaign committee. In a Nov. 6 letter to Felder and Picheny, the FPPC said it rejected the complaint because of insufficient evidence. The Liberate Laguna founders refiled that complaint using their names, along with several new complaints about other disclosures. The FPPC has not ruled on those. The complaints allege Village Laguna improperly labeled several expenditures to avoid filling out certain financial reporting forms that would require details such as the names of candidates the organization supported and the cumulative payment made to a candidate to date. In doing so, Bagatelos said, the group also exceeded Laguna Beachs $360 campaign contribution limit. None of Village Lagunas campaign disclosure documents filed with the city clerk listed which candidates or ballot measures the organization supported. Thats not in the public interest is it, if you cant tell who theyre supporting or opposing? Bagatelos said. Picheny said his understanding was that the forms the group did file dont require listing candidates. Weve never had any agency that weve filed with complain about anything that weve ever done, Felder said. Weve done this ever since we became incorporated. faith.pinho@latimes.com Twitter: @faithepinho A sign welcoming motorists to Glendale in the northern part of the city is being permanently removed following a car crash last month that city officials said left it unsalvageable. Work to remove the Welcome to Glendale sign on Foothill Boulevard near Lowell Avenue began on Friday and was projected to be done the same day, according to city spokesman Dan Bell. A collision on Nov. 17 involving the alleged impaired driver of a minivan marked the third time the sign was struck and damaged by a vehicle. It was hit once, and we repaired it. It was hit a second time, and we repaired it. This time, we decided not to, Bell said. Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the Glendale Police Department, said in November that the driver in the latest incident, identified as 48-year-old Mario Ramirez, told officers he swerved into the sign to avoid colliding with another vehicle. However, officers suspected Ramirez was driving under the influence of alcohol. After some tests, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The first incident occurred about a month after the sign was erected in an alleged hit-and-run crash, where the driver fled from the vehicle after the sign was knocked down. The second collision was in May after a driver made an unsafe lane change right into the marker. In all three instances, the driver was found at fault, and the city is seeking reimbursement for the damage, Bell said. An identical sign on Foothill at Pennsylvania Avenue will remain in place. It has not been involved with in any automobile accidents, according to city officials. Both signs, including streetscape, landscape and intersection improvements, were part of the North Glendale Community Plan adopted by the Glendale City Council in November of 2011, according to a city statement. lila.seidman@latimes.com Twitter: @lila_seidman The YMCA of Glendale held its fourth annual fundraising gala recently, with the organization bringing in approximately $55,000 in donations. With Zaven Kazazian serving as the master of ceremonies, co-chairs and YMCA board members David Chianello and Nora Yacoubian as well as board chair Steve Bullock welcomed approximately 300 guests at the Renaissance banquet hall in Glendale. Bullock highlighted two YMCA initiatives that were started this year a youth and government program and a program called Mission Possible. We have a delegation of eight high school teens doing everything they need to go to Sacramento next year with 4,000 other youth and represent Glendale for the first time in many years, he said. He added that Mission Possible is a program that opens up career opportunities that may have seemed previously out of reach for high school students. As part of the event, five awards were presented to longtime supporters of the nonprofit organization: George Issaians was presented with the Legacy Award; lifelong Glendale resident and YMCA camp development director Ray Calame with Camp Fox received the Spirit Award; Rev. Berdj Djambazian was given the Star Award; H.L. Moe Plumbing was honored with the Corporate Partner Award; and Yasmin Beers, Glendales city manager, received the Leadership Award. George Saikal, chief executive of the YMCA of Glendale, outlined why the honorees were chosen. These individuals have had a major impact on the success of the Y. They have remained steadfast and dedicated, and we view them as ambassadors in upholding our positive image, he said. Also noteworthy was the record year the YMCA had for sending kids to summer camp. We had 1,407 kids attend Camp Fox this year. A record year for us due to the leadership of director Ray Calame, Saikali said, adding that Calame has been involved with Y camp programs for nearly 55 years. mark.kellam@latimes.com Twitter: @LAMarkKellam As the odds improve for Glendale High School music teacher Amy Rangel to win a national award, the accolades and anticipation for possible prize money also increase. The Burbank resident and 19-year veteran teacher found out Wednesday morning that shes one of 10 national finalists for the 2019 Music Educator Award given by the Grammy Museum and the Recording Academy, which is the presenter of the Grammy Awards. The announcement was made on CBS This Morning. It is an extreme honor, Rangel said in an email. There are so many amazing music teachers just here in Glendale, let alone the country. I am just lucky they didnt apply this year. Rangels application was one of 2,800 received nationwide. In October, she became one of 25 semifinalists picked from 24 cities and 16 states. Shes now one of three California finalists along with Victor de los Santos of Santa Ana and Henry Miller of Lake Forest. Amy Rangel is a phenomenal music educator, and Im not surprised at all that she is a finalist for the Grammy Music Teacher of the Year Award, Glendale High principal Benjamin Wolf said. Even though there are no specific funds from the state for music, Amy has created an amazing program at Glendale High School, he added. Rangels finalist status earns her and Glendale High each a $1,000 grant. Rangel will be informed in January if she is selected for the 2019 Music Educator Award. 2019 Grammy Music Educator Award finalists https://t.co/3O3My0UdsA via @CBSNLive Andrew J. Campa (@campadresports) December 14, 2018 Along with the prestige, Rangel and Glendale High would each be awarded a $10,000 grant should she win. Rangel would also attend and be acknowledged during the Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 10. [Im] overwhelmed, Rangel said. I really wasnt expecting to get this far. Rangel has already proven herself a winner earlier this year when she and the Nitros music program were chosen for the 2018 Grammy Signature Enterprise Award. The honor includes a three-year grant, totaling $22,500. I am going to bring in some clinicians on jazz improvisation and purchase some jazz music, Rangel said, referring to where shell spend the money if she wins the Teacher of the Year honor. We will have three jazz bands next semester, and I want to invest the money in that direction. Few people at Glendale High School are as busy as Rangel, who also teaches at Glendale Community College. At Glendale High, Rangel is in charge of the marching band, color guard and drumline, a concert band, string orchestra, full orchestra, two jazz bands and about 250 students. Anyone who has ever heard her jazz bands would never know they werent listening to a school in Beverly Hills or even college musicians, Wolf said. If my own kids were still in high school, this is where Id want them to be. The notice has humbled and inspired Rangel. It always feels good for hard work to be acknowledged, but being a finalist and possible winner is a way of gaining more attention for our program, she said. We really need more resources. The kids and I fund-raise all year to keep instruments repaired and quality music in their hands. I am hoping that this notoriety will help us find donors, she added. andrew.campa@latimes.com Twitter @campadresports While preparing lessons in recent weeks as I teach Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol for the first time, I have absorbed myself with all things Dickens, rediscovering why this book has remained a classic for 175 years. I also wanted to have my students examine several filmed adaptations of the story, determining the faithfulness to the text, and comparing interpretations of Ebenezer Scrooge. The first one we viewed was the MGM version made in 1938 starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge. If you are unfamiliar with Owen, one of his last film roles was as Admiral Boom in Mary Poppins, who would fire a cannon on his rooftop. As a kid, I always liked this version, not knowing how much it diverged from the source material. A key scene in the book is when the Ghost of Christmas Present reveals under his robe a boy and a girl representing ignorance and want. You wont see it in this version. The famous last scene in the story of Scrooge pretending to be angry at his clerk, Bob Cratchit, for arriving 18 minutes late to work on the day after Christmas has been replaced with Scrooge going to Cratchits home on Christmas armed with food and toys. He informs everyone present, including his nephew, Fred, that he will raise Cratchits salary. June Lockhart, the actress best known for the TV series Lassie and Lost in Space (and is currently 93), made her screen debut playing a child of the Cratchits, both portrayed by her real-life parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart. The 1951 British version was originally called Scrooge. Clive Donner, who edited that film would later direct the 1984 TV version starring George C. Scott. For me, this is the version that best replicates the spirit (no pun intended) of Dickens original. Scott portrays Scrooge as a troubled man not an irritable ogre. In a scene not in the book, Scrooge laments out loud and alone, What have I done to be abandoned like this? There is much to admire in the 2009 Jim Carrey film directed by Robert Zemeckis. However, the motion capture computer technology overwhelms the story, must as it did in Zemeckis The Polar Express. One version I did not share with my students must rank as the strangest adaptation. Rich Littles Christmas Carol from 1978 has the impersonator playing all the roles himself. Since most of the personalities come from the 1970s and earlier, anyone younger than 40 would have to access a whos who of famous people in the 20th century in order to understand it. Little is President Nixon as Jacob Marleys ghost with reel-to-reel tapes replacing the chains. Watching this with my sons, I had to frequently stop not only to explain who Nixon was, but the significance of the tapes as well. Yet where do you begin to explain to a 15-year-old who Paul Lynde was and what made him famous (I struggled with this while he was still alive). Then the quandary of explaining Rich Little dressed as Jean Stapleton playing Edith Bunker, who is portraying Mrs. Cratchit. Pause and insert a whole lesson on Norman Lear sitcoms. Never mind Truman Capote as Tiny Tim. Well, no matter which version of Dickens A Christmas Carol you watch, the notion that an old man full of hatred can transform into a man of goodwill seems improbable, but it is an idea that has kept this book alive for nearly 200 years. What would the scenes from your past look like, the regrets, the heartaches, the people who touched you and those who you hurt? If you could become a nicer person, what images would get you to change for the better? Yes, A Christmas Carol is a work of fiction. In reality, change does not come overnight, if at all. But what is wrong in believing it is possible, even once a year? Brian Crosby is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at www.brian-crosby.com. BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at www.brian-crosby.com. Hello, my name is John Cherwa, and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we remember the life of legendary Southern California sportswriter John Hall. Ive made no secret of the fact that after 50 weeks of five-day-a-week newsletters, Im looking forward to the one week off a year those of us in Southern California get from the daily drumbeat of racing. And, to be fair, that is one more week off than the horsemen who care for the horses. This summer, I was in the press box at Del Mar talking with our weekly handicapping professor Rob Henie. Rob does a handicapping sheet 52 weeks a year, as he continues on with Gulfstream next week. Although, to him, doing only one track instead of two a day is his version of time off. The word that came up is relentless, and even those of you who play the races every day, and love racing like we do, get a form of fatigue. I dont know about you, but I dont plan to watch one minute of TVG, between Monday and Dec. 26. And, with Los Alamitos finishing up, I dont have to listen to my wife say, (and I paraphrase), Why does that annoying man say, Hello, Neuman, before every race? OK, maybe Im projecting my thoughts on her, although she did say it once. And, yes, I watched Seinfeld. Advertisement So, with all that in mind, for those of you going through Santa Anita/Del Mar/Los Alamitos/Golden Gate withdrawal, Ive prepared my Degenerates List of Racing while we are away. And I mean degenerates only in the most loving and caring way. And, Im only listing U.S. tracks. (All times are PST and (H) means harness. Times and location subject to my screw ups.) Monday, Dec. 17: 9:25 a.m.-Monticello (H); 9:25 a.m.-Parx; 9:45 a.m.-Mahoning Valley; 10:05 a.m.-The Meadows (H); 11 a.m.-Zia Park; 11:15 a.m.-Dayton (H); 11:40 a.m.-Turf Paradise; 1:30 p.m.-Dover Downs (H); 3 p.m.-Northfield Park (H); 3:15 p.m.-Western Fair (H); 4 p.m.-Mountaineer; 4:10 p.m.-Mohawk Park (H); 4:20 p.m.-Pompano (H). Tuesday, Dec. 18: 9:25 a.m.-Monticello (H); 9:25 a.m.-Parx; 9:45 a.m.-Mahoning Valley; 10:05 a.m.-The Meadows (H); 11 a.m.-Zia Park; 11:15 a.m.-Dayton (H); 11:40 a.m.-Turf Paradise; 12:00 p.m.-Portland Meadows; 1:30 p.m.-Dover Downs (H); 3 p.m.-Northfield Park (H); 3:15 p.m.-Western Fair (H); 4 p.m.-Mountaineer; 4:10 p.m.-Mohawk Park (H); 4:20 p.m.-Pompano (H). Wednesday, Dec. 19: 9:25 a.m.-Monticello (H); 9:35 a.m.-Gulfstream Park; 9:35 a.m.-Tampa Bay; 9:45 a.m.-Mahoning Valley; 10:05 a.m.-The Meadows (H); 11 a.m.-Zia Park; 11:40 a.m.-Turf Paradise; 1:30 p.m.-Dover Downs (H); 3 p.m.-Northfield Park (H); 3:05-Penn National; 3:15 p.m.-Turfway Park; 4 p.m.-Mountaineer; 4:20 p.m.-Pompano (H). Thursday, Dec. 20: 9:25 a.m.-Monticello (H); 9:35 a.m.-Gulfstream Park; 9:50 a.m.-Aqueduct; 10:30 a.m.-Fair Grounds; 1:30 p.m.-Dover Downs (H); 3:05-Penn National; 3:15 p.m.-Dayton (H); 3:15 p.m.-Turfway Park; 3:25 p.m.-Delta Downs; 3:35 p.m.-Flamboro Downs (H); 4 p.m.-Charles Town; 4:10 p.m.-Mohawk Park (H); 4:15 p.m.-Meadowlands; 4:20 p.m.-Pompano (H). Friday, Dec. 21: 9:20 a.m.-Aqueduct; 9:25 a.m.-Monticello (H); 9:30 a.m.-Laurel; 9:30 a.m.-Freehold (H); 9:35 a.m.-Gulfstream Park; 9:35 a.m.-Tampa Bay; 10:30 a.m.-Fair Grounds; 10:55 a.m.-Hawthorne; 2:30 p.m.-The Meadows (H); 3:05-Penn National; 3:10 p.m.-Turfway Park; 3:15 p.m.-Dayton (H); 3:25 p.m.-Delta Downs; 3:15 p.m.-Dayton (H); 4 p.m.-Charles Town; 7 p.m.-Fraser Downs (H); 4:10 p.m.-Mohawk Park (H); 4:15 p.m.-Meadowlands. Saturday, Dec. 22: 9 a.m.-Gulfstream; 9:15-Mahoning Valley; 9:20 a.m.-Aqueduct; 9:25 a.m.-Parx; 9:30 a.m.-Laurel Park; 9:30 a.m.-Freehold (H); 9:35 a.m.-Tampa Bay; 10:05 a.m.-The Meadows (H); 10:15 a.m.-Western Fair (H); 10:30 a.m.-Fair Grounds; 10:55 a.m.-Hawthorne; 11:40 a.m.-Turf Paradise; 3 p.m.-Northfield Park (H); 3:05 p.m.-Penn National; 3:10 p.m.-Turfway Park; 3:15 p.m.-Dayton (H); 3:25 p.m. Delta Downs; 4 p.m.-Charles Town; 4:10 p.m.-Mohawk Park (H); 4:15 p.m.- Meadowlands (H). Sunday, Dec. 23: 9:20 a.m.-Aqueduct; 9:30 a.m.-Laurel Park; 9:35 a.m.-Tampa Bay; 11:40 a.m.-Turf Paradise; 12 p.m.-Portland Meadows; 12:45 p.m.-Fraser Downs (H); 3 p.m.-Northfield Park (H); 3:35 p.m.-Flamboro Downs (H); 4:20 p.m.-Pompano (H). Monday, Dec. 24: Nothing. Nada. Lots of classic replays on TVG. Tuesday, Dec. 25: Nothing. Cmon. Get a life. Its Christmas. And then, racing returns in a big way. Remembering the past I know this has nothing to do with horse racing, but the guy who delighted so many readers on Page 3 of The Times has died. John Hall was 90. Heres a brief look at his life. Los Alamitos thoroughbred review Fridays feature was an allowance race for older horses going five furlongs for a purse of $55,000. St. Joe Bay was the winner by a head over Richards Boy, the second favorite. It broke a 12-race losing streak for the gelding, who runs for trainer John Sadler and jockey Tyler Baze. The jockey was able to win despite losing his whip near the wire. Even though there was a field of six, there was no show wagering. St. Joe Bay paid $6.40 and $3.60. Distinctive B was third. Los Alamitos thoroughbred preview The feature on the penultimate day of the meeting is the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies going a mile. It only has six starters. The favorite is Creative Instinct, at 9-5, for Peter Miller and Tyler Baze. She is two-for-four winning her first two races but then finishing out of the money in minor stakes. She was eighth in the Jimmy Durante at Del Mar. The second favorite is Kookie Gal at a very close 2-1. She is one-for-two lifetime, winning her maiden race and finishing fifth in the Jimmy Durante. Flavien Prat rides for Miller. Big races preview A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST. 10:18 Aqueduct (3): $150,000 New York Stallion Series (Fifth Avenue Division), N.Y.-bred 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Sassy Agnes (1-1) 10:52 Tampa Bay (4): $125,000 FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes, Fla.-bred fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Florida Fuego (5-2) 11:01 Gulfstream (5): Grade 3 $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Audible (2-5) 11:52 Tampa Bay (6): $100,000 Inaugural Stakes, 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Dazzling Truths (3-1) 12:22 Tampa Bay (7): $125,000 FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes, Fla.-bred 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: World of Trouble (1-1) 12:34 Gulfstream (8): Grade 3 100,000 Rampart Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Tweeting (8-5) 1:05 Gulfstream (9): Grade 3 $100,000 My Charmer Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Capla Temptress (7-2) 1:22 Tampa Bay (9): $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Lovesick (5-2) 1:36 Gulfstream (10): Grade 3 $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Awestruck (2-1) 2:06 Gulfstream (11): Grade 2 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, 3 an up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Projected (4-1) 2:28 Los Alamitos (5): $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes, Cal-bred fillies 2-years-old, 1 mile. Favorite: Creative Instinct (9-5) Jose Contreras LRC play of the day FIFTH RACE: No. 1 Hotitude (3-1) She chased a solid pace for the distance last time out and could only hold on for third after making the lead in the stretch. Shes got plenty of speed and that is her main weapon from this inside post. There is a short run into the first turn, and I expect her to try to steal the race on the front end with a good start. Fridays result: Waze Ready never really threatened and finished fourth in the third race. Jose Contreras is an excellent handicapper and well known on social media and familiar to racing fans watching on TVG. You can follow him on Twitter at @losponies or check him out at his website. Ed Burgarts LA play of the day SIXTH RACE: No. 6 One Last Thought (4-1) Trainer Yanet Rodriguez joins forces with leading jockey Jesus Ayala on a horse she claimed for $8,000 six weeks ago. She brings the filly back at the same level and has enjoyed good results with first-out claims over recent years. Two outs ago, she was second in a fast race won by Unrestrained, who since finished fourth versus allowance company. Filly draws the comfortable outside post here. Final thought 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. And now the stars of the show, Fridays results and Saturdays entries. BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday refuted a U.S. official's smearing remarks on China-Africa cooperation. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton rolled out the Trump administration's new Africa strategy on Thursday, using a hostile and competitive tone against countries like Russia and China. Calling the two countries' commercial cooperation with African nations "predatory practices," Bolton asserted that they "stunt economic growth in Africa, threaten the financial independence of African nations, inhibit opportunities for U.S. investment, interfere with U.S. military operations and pose a significant threat to U.S. national security interests." In response, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang stressed, "What China cares about is African countries' needs, such as industrialization and agricultural modernization." "In contrast, it is interesting to see from the remarks of some Americans that, besides its own interests and demands, the U.S. is concerned about China and Russia rather than Africa," Lu added. He recalled that during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, many African leaders articulated their countries' desire for development and appreciation of China's support. As facilitating Africa's peace and development is the common responsibility of the international community, China has always adopted an open-minded attitude toward Africa-related international cooperation, and believed that all parties' investments in the continent on the basis of respect should be welcome, Lu said. "Meanwhile, cooperation should be carried out on the premise of Africa's will and needs and without any political strings attached and interference in internal affairs," he added. The spokesperson reiterated that as mutually-beneficial cooperation moves forward, China will continue to build relations with Africa based on sincerity, affinity and good faith, uphold justice and pursue shared interests. China and Africa will jointly implement consensus reached by the leaders during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the FOCAC and further advance their comprehensive strategic partnership, Lu added. The U.S. military said it has killed eight members of the Shabab extremist group with an airstrike south of Somalias capital. The U.S. Africa Command statement said the airstrike occurred Saturday near Gandarshe, a coastal community. The statement says no civilians were involved. The U.S. military has carried out at least 40 airstrikes this year against the Al Qaeda-linked Shabab, Africas most active Islamic extremist group. It controls parts of rural southern and central Somalia and continues to stage deadly attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and other cities. The U.S. airstrikes have picked up dramatically since President Trump took office and approved expanded military operations in the Horn of Africa nation. Airstrikes also target a small presence of fighters linked to the Islamic State group. After two weeks of bruising negotiations, officials from almost 200 countries agreed Saturday on universal, transparent rules that will govern efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and curb global warming. Fierce disagreements on two other climate issues were kicked down the road for a year to help bridge a chasm of opinions on the best solutions. The deal agreed upon at the United Nations climate talks in Poland enables countries to put into action the principles set forth in the 2015 Paris climate accord. But, to the frustration of environmental activists and some countries that were urging more ambitious climate goals, negotiators delayed decisions on two key issues until next year. Through this package, you have made a thousand little steps forward together, said Michal Kurtyka, a senior Polish official chairing the talks. Advertisement He said that, while each individual country would probably find some parts of the agreement it didnt like, efforts had been made to balance the interests of all parties. We will all have to give in order to gain, he said. We will all have to be courageous to look into the future and make yet another step for the sake of humanity. The talks in Poland took place against a backdrop of growing concern among scientists that global warming on Earth is proceeding faster than governments are responding to it. Last month, a study found that global warming will worsen disasters such as the deadly California wildfires and the powerful hurricanes that have hit the United States this year. And a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, concluded that, while its possible to cap global warming at 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century compared to preindustrial times, this would require a dramatic overhaul of the global economy, including a shift away from fossil fuels. Alarmed by efforts to include this in the final text of the meeting, the oil-exporting nations of the U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait blocked an endorsement of the IPCC report midway through this months talks. That prompted an uproar from vulnerable countries like small island nations and environmental groups. The final text of the agreement omits a previous reference to specific reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and merely welcomes the timely completion of the IPCC report, not its conclusions. Last-minute snags forced negotiators in Katowice to go into extra time, after Fridays scheduled end of the conference passed without a deal. One major sticking point was how to create a functioning market in carbon credits. Economists believe that an international trading system could be an effective way to drive down greenhouse gas emissions and raise large amounts of money for measures to curb global warming. But Brazil wanted to keep the piles of carbon credits it had amassed under an old system that developed countries say wasnt credible or transparent. Among those that pushed back hardest was the United States, which was represented at the conference despite President Trumps decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord and promote the use of coal. Overall, the U.S. role here has been somewhat schizophrenic pushing coal and dissing science on the one hand, but also working hard in the room for strong transparency rules, said Elliot Diringer of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, a Washington think tank. When it came to closing potential loopholes that could allow countries to dodge their commitments to cut emissions, the U.S. pushed harder than nearly anyone else for transparency rules that put all countries under the same system, and its largely succeeded. Transparency is vital to U.S. interests, added Nathaniel Keohane, a climate policy expert at the Environmental Defense Fund. He noted that breakthrough in the 2015 Paris talks happened only after the U.S. and China agreed on a common framework for transparency. In Katowice, the U.S. negotiators have played a central role in the talks, helping to broker an outcome that is true to the Paris vision of a common transparency framework for all countries that also provides flexibility for those that need it, said Keohane, calling the agreement a vital step forward in realizing the promise of the Paris accord. Among the key achievements in Katowice was an agreement on how countries should report their greenhouses gas emissions and the efforts theyre taking to reduce them. Poor countries also secured assurances on getting financial support to help them cut emissions, adapt to inevitable changes such as sea level rises and pay for damages that have already happened. The majority of the rulebook for the Paris agreement has been created, which is something to be thankful for, said Mohamed Adow, a climate policy expert at Christian Aid. But the fact countries had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the finish line shows that some nations have not woken up to the urgent call of the IPCC report on the dire consequences of global warming. But a central feature of the Paris agreement the idea that countries will ratchet up their efforts to fight global warming over time still needs to be proved effective, he said. To bend the emissions curve, we now need all countries to deliver these revised plans at the special U.N. Secretary General summit in 2019. Its vital that they do so, Adow said. In the end, a decision on the mechanics of an emissions trading system was postponed to next years meeting. Countries also agreed to consider the issue of raising goals at a U.N. summit in New York next September. Speaking hours before the final gavel, Canadas Environment Minister Catherine McKenna suggested there was no alternative to such meetings if countries want to tackle global problems, especially at a time when multilateral diplomacy is under pressure from nationalism. The world has changed, the political landscape has changed, she told the Associated Press. Still, youre seeing here that were able to make progress, were able to discuss the issues, were able to come to solutions. Teachers are protesting in city centers. Students are setting fires and blocking schools. Parents are shouting chants into bullhorns. A plan by President Emmanuel Macrons government to reinvent the nations treasured high schools is not going over well in France. Unveiled in February, the reforms are intended to revamp a system that critics see as too rigid, leaving students ill-prepared for college. But proponents say the changes which include a rethinking of the famous baccalaureate finishing exam established by Napoleon will create more inequality, and competition that leaves more kids behind. The reforms have been cast as part of Macrons broader efforts to upend and modernize nearly every corner of French life. But his administrations determination to barrel ahead with implementing the reforms this year without having worked out all the details has provoked yet another fierce backlash for a government already under siege by the yellow vest protest movement. Advertisement Its a pretext to save money, Laurence Meynadier, a science and technology teacher at Toulouses Stephane Hessel high school, told 200 parents gathered at a community center. Its going to create more competition between high schools for resources. And its going to create more inequality. The French are immensely proud of their education system, but there has been growing frustration that it is ill-suited for a rapidly evolving modern economy. Teaching at the middle school level still focuses heavily on rote memorization, and parents begin planning career choices when their children are as young as 11 so they can prepare for decisions about what to study in high school. The 15-year-olds who dont go to a professional school to learn a trade instead attend a general high school, or lycee, where they select between pursuing studies in literature, sciences or economics. After three years, they take the national standardized baccalaureate exam, the bac, which was established in 1808 and consists of a series to 10 to 12 tests over the course of a week. Although the baccalaureate marks a grueling period of cramming and studying, 88.3% of students passed last year, with the rest having the option to repeat the last year of high school. The bac had been the sole requirement to graduate and move on to university grades being seen as too susceptible to bias and gamesmanship. The baccalaureate remains a centerpiece of French identity and a symbol of international excellence, but math and reading scores have declined in recent years. Worse, according to the French Education Ministry, 70% of students who go on to college dont get a degree within the typical three-year period. The lycees are not well organized, and they are not associated with the needs of someone attending university, said Pierre Mathiot, a professor at political science at the Sciences Po university in Lille. Mathiot has been dubbed the the father of the reform for his role in writing the report that became the basis for the plan announced in February by Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, a former director of a French business school. Blanquer said the traditional baccalaureate is too complex and requires students to study too many subjects. With the reform, the new bac would consist of four tests, plus an oral presentation. The goal is to allow students to specialize and gain greater depth in some subjects. The choice to concentrate on literature, science or economic science will disappear, replaced by a core curriculum and the requirement to choose three courses from 12 specialties such as math, art or a new program of digital studies. For the new bac, each student will be tested in French and philosophy. Two other tests will be based on two of the specialty subjects students chose. All students must make a 20-minute oral presentation related to the specialties. Graduation will be judged 60% on the baccalaureate, with evaluations and course grades counting for the rest. Proponents say this offers greater flexibility and personalization. But teachers worry that the new system will do just the opposite by forcing greater specialization even earlier for students. Teachers are also suspicious of the reform because it coincides with a decision to cut 2,600 jobs in middle and high schools. We think the government is making a lot of propaganda around the reform, said Guillaume Seve, one of 20 teachers who occupied Victor Hugo high school Thursday night in protest. The government says this will bring more equality. But its a lie. And as teachers, we can see its a lie. Parents, teachers and students march through the city center in hopes of persuading the French government to delay its controversial high school reform plan. The rally was part of Black Tuesday, a national day of protest against the reforms. (Chris OBrien / For the Los Angeles Times) Critics suspect the system increases inequality by introducing greater selectivity and competition. Students not offered a university spot can enter into government training programs for various careers. The combination of changes has turned combustible at times. Many students have taken to setting objects like trash cans on fire, and last week one such blaze caused the Lycee Saint-Exupery in the nearby town of Blagnac to catch fire, burning the entire entrance and causing more than $1 million in damage. There are a lot of students who are quite anxious and upset, said Muriel Paletou, president of the Toulouse regions parents association. This violence is an expression of that fear, but this reform is also being imposed in a way thats also violent and very fast. Even before the new bac is rolled out, many high school students are upset by the introduction last year of a new college application platform called Parcoursup, short for parcour superieur or path to higher education. The lack of transparency around how Parcoursup works led many to suspect it was introducing even greater selectivity and competition among students who were once guaranteed admission to university if they passed the bac. Earlier this week, about 1,200 high school students and teachers marched through Toulouse as part of a nationwide day of protest dubbed Black Tuesday. Chanting, Macron is screwed, the youth are in the street, they walked peacefully for an hour before gathering at the citys victory arch monument, where hundreds of students got on their knees and placed their hands behind their heads for several minutes. The gesture has become a popular sign of solidarity with students at a Paris-area high school who last week were arrested by French police and forced to assume that position. At nearby Lycee International Victor-Hugo in Colomiers, students have joined sporadic efforts to block entrances, frustrating some parents whose kids cant enter and leaving teachers to deal with occasional fistfights and shouting matches. We are angry about Parcoursup, said Jeanne Raufaste, 17, standing outside one such blockage at Victor Hugo last week. She said the older students were also there to support first-year students. The quality of education is going to be worse. Opponents say they want implementation delayed for a period of reflection. But they worry their issues are being lost in the attention drawn to the yellow vest movement. At the march this week, several students and teachers were frustrated that Macron did not mention the baccalaureate reform during a nationally televised speech in which he announced several measures to address the yellow vest protests. In a recent interview with French media, Blanquer dismissed the protests as people trying to take advantage of the yellow vest movement. He deplored some of the violent episodes and said critics were making a caricature of the reforms. The high school reform is intended to help them succeed after the baccalaureate by requiring them to dig deeper into new skills, he said. It would be absurd to shoot yourself in the foot by getting all worked up over other issues that have nothing to do with high school. Mathiot said in an interview with The Times that many of the criticisms are unfounded and the result of poor communication by Blanquers ministry. He said the current system is already unequal and forces early choices on students. And he promises plans are in motion to change entrance criteria for universities so that the specialty subjects in high school dont limit what students can study later. As for the backlash, Mathiot said its not so surprising that teachers and students are anxious during the first year of such a sweeping change. Its really a revolution were trying to make, and its very profound. And its normal that there would be so much fear and worry, Mathiot said. But its something we must do, and more must be done to reassure people that we will be there to accompany them through this. OBrien is a special correspondent. Ukrainian Orthodox church leaders approved the creation of a unified church independent of Moscow on Saturday and elected a new leader to oversee the self-governing church, a move supporters say will push Kiev further away from Russias influence in the region. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who has been advocating for the creation of the new church as he tries to move his former Soviet republic out of Moscows orbit, called Saturdays election a key element of Ukraines independence and national security. This is a matter of our Ukrainian statehood, Poroshenko told the council, which was held in a closed-door synod in Kievs golden-domed St. Sophia Cathedral as crowds gathered in the snow-packed streets outside to await results. Poroshenko was not a voting member of the council. We are finally gaining spiritual independence that can be compared to the political independence. Were breaking the ropes that tied us to the empire, he said. Advertisement The formation of the new church and the election of the new leader came two months after the foremost leader of Orthodox Christianity, Bartholomew I, the patriarch of Constantinople, granted Kiev permission to create a self-governing church that would hold equal status to the Russian Orthodox Church in the worlds Orthodox branches. Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul, is considered the first among equals of leaders in Orthodox Christianity, the second largest Christian church in the world after Catholicism. Moscow has vehemently opposed the creation of a separate Ukrainian Orthodox Church, saying it would split Orthodox believers in a region that has had strong religious and historical ties dating back to 988, when a Kievan Rus prince adopted Christianity. Kirill, the Moscow Patriarch, severed ties with Constantinople after Bartholomews October decision. Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman, said the Kremlin would protect Orthodox followers. The comment echoed Putins similar statements about Russian speakers just before Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed separatist militias in eastern Ukraine, where war continues. More than 10,300 people have been killed in the conflict. Moscow has warned that the breakup of the church could lead to more violence between the countries. On Friday, the Moscow Patriarch released a statement saying it had written letters to heads of the worlds churches, the United Nations and the leaders of France and Germany to draw attention to what it said were violations against the Moscow churchs priests in Ukraine. The authorities of the secular state of Ukraine, who have been interfering in the affairs of the church for quite a while, have recently moved to exert brutal pressure on bishops and priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which makes it possible to say that a large-scale persecution has begun, the statement said. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate along with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church are two branches in Ukraine that did not recognize the Russian Orthodox Churchs authority. Neither were sanctioned by Constantinople but have now joined together as the unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church. More than 200 representatives from three branches of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, including two members from the Moscow Patriarchate, elected Metropolitan Epiphany Dumenko, a little-known 39-year-old theology professor. We as a church, we try to be independent from Moscow not because we dont like Russia, Archbishop Yevstraty Zorya of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate said in an interview. But we see how the Russian Empire has for centuries used the Orthodox Church in our land as a tool of imperial policy. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate along with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church are two branches in Ukraine that chose to separate from the Russian Orthodox Churchs authority. Neither one was sanctioned by Constantinople but have now joined together as the unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church. All three share the same theological doctrine rooted in the Greek Orthodoxy that broke away from Catholicism in 1054, known as the Great Schism. Almost 70% of Ukrainians describe themselves as Orthodox. Many of them hailed the historical move on Saturday. The Russian Orthodox Church controls about 12,000 parishes throughout Ukraine more than twice the number of parishes of the other two Orthodox branches in Ukraine. Many congregations switched to the unrecognized Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in 2014 after Russias annexation of Crimea and the subsequent war in the east with Kremlin-backed militias. During his 18 years in power, Putin has brought the Kremlin closer to the church, and used Russian Orthodoxy as part of a one-church, one-country idea of nationalism. He has drawn on the conservative values of the church to contrast Russia to the decadent Wests liberalism. Many Ukrainians, including Poroshenko, accused the Russian Orthodox Church of supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine. Ukraines autocephaly marks a milestone in Poroshenkos campaign promises. But critics have said Poroshenkos government has used force and intimidation against priests and congregations wishing to stay loyal to the Moscow patriarch. In early December, the Ukrainian Security Service, the successor agency to the KGB, summoned more than a dozen priests from the Moscow patriarch for questioning as part of an investigation into treason and incitement of religious hatred. One of them was head of Pecherska Lavra in central Kiev, one of the holiest religious complexes in Ukraine. Officials conducted an audit of the facilities 79 buildings and holy relics in a move that may signal the governments decision to take away the centuries-old complex from the Russian Orthodox Church. In another incident, police and intelligence officers entered the main Orthodox cathedral of the northern Ukrainian town of Ovruch on Dec. 3. The officers read a court order to astounded parishioners, closed the cathedral for service and searched everywhere, including the altar, an area no lay person may enter, said Father Anatoly Kapliuk. Of course, that was a sacrilege, he said in a telephone interview. I warned them, but they did not listen. He said the police confiscated religious brochures that allegedly incite religious hatred. Later, he was summoned for questioning at Ukraines security services. Ukraines security services said Thursday priests loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church had sided with pro-Russian militants to organize provocations in Kiev. The pressure from the Ukrainian security service was a chain of events planned to force our clergy to take part in the council that is illegitimate from the churchs point of view, Archbishop Kliment, the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraines main spokesman, said in an interview. The final step toward the creating of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will come on Jan. 6, when Bartholomew will issue the Tomos granting the new church independence. Times special correspondents Ayres contributed from Moscow and Mirovalev from Kiev. They lined up for hours in the woody grounds of the former presidential compound to see a movie not just any film but Roma, Alfonso Cuarons autobiographical reverie, named after the shabby-chic Mexico City neighborhood where the director was reared. With some breathless reviewers already declaring it a masterpiece, the cache of prizes expanding and the inevitable Oscar chatter growing, Roma has become a kind of cultural touchstone here even before most people had the chance to view Cuarons meditation on 1970s Mexico City. A dispute between big Mexican theater distributors and the Netflix streaming service limited release in Mexico, though the movie finally debuted Friday on Netflix. A free showing on a big screen in Los Pinos, the former presidential residence, attracted a large and diverse crowd from backpack-toting film aficionados to curious families and elderly couples. Advertisement I havent been able to see Cuarons picture; it has been very frustrating, said Laura Quiroz, 21, a film student who was near the front of a line that snaked for the equivalent of about six blocks through the winding woodlands of Los Pinos. Thats why I came early, to be among the first and be sure to have a place. Some 3,500 viewers sat contentedly on straw mats on a lawn that was formerly a presidential heliport, eating complimentary popcorn and sipping non-alcoholic punch, also provided gratis. The film and its underlying themes of class and race, political and familial upheaval dramatized though episodes in the life of a middle-class Mexico City family and their housekeeper come as Mexico may be undergoing a hinge moment. Newly elected President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the countrys first avowed leftist chief executive since the tumultuous 1970s, has greatly raised expectations with his vows of transformation and regime change after decades of desultory leadership. The venue of the showing Thursday evening, Los Pinos, was charged with symbolism. The new president has eschewed the lush compound as too opulent and haunted, turning it into a cultural center a breakaway success, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the long inaccessible estate. I came early with my two daughters after they finished school to have a look at Los Pinos, and we decided to stay for the film, said Maria de la Rosa Aguirre, 56, a housewife. What luxury there is here, she added, echoing the sentiments of many viewing for the first time the long-shuttered grounds. While he resides in London, Cuaron the first Mexican movie-maker to win a best director Oscar, in 2014, for Gravity counts among a Mexican film elite with Hollywood cache whose members have been critics of past Mexican governments. Finally, Mexico is liberated, Cuaron wrote in a Twitter message Dec. 1, the day of Lopez Obradors inauguration. Mexico has suffered from corrupt, repressive and cowardly presidents. Ironically, his nostalgia-infused contemplation of his hometown was screened in the very palatial grounds that Mexican presidents have called home for eight decades. It was a great experience to see the film here, in Los Pinos, in the open air, said Matias Robledo, a teacher. The movie is a reflection of how we live in this country the injustices, the abuses of power, the poverty. Though Roma may be as melancholy and sentimental as an Irish pub ballad, and its glacial early pace frustrated some viewers, the black-and-white film has a transcendent visual beauty, and its many fine-grained moments of authenticity brought smiles of recognition. A man is shot from a cannon at a neighborhood carnival on muddy street; kids gather up ice during one of the capitals periodic hail storms; brass bands march down streets where clunky American sedans and Volkswagen Beetles are parked. The politics are subtle. Cuaron strives to avoid lefty preachiness even when depicting a notorious instance of Mexican government repression of student protesters in June 1971, an episode known as El Halconazo, after a feared paramilitary squad, los halcones, or the hawks. I witnessed myself in my youth how the government attacked the students, said Rogelio Ortega, 60, a retiree who lived many years in Colonia Roma during the era depicted in the film and was in Los Pinos. It brought it all back for me. A dramatized moment of a brief earthquake at a hospital debris cascades down on an infants ward brought collective shudders to an audience all too familiar with that singular sense of terror. The movie revolves around a central protagonist: Cleo, the familys live-in maid, nanny, chief hugger and nurturer, said to be modeled on a housekeeper in the young Cuarons family. Cleo is an ethnic Mixtec woman from southern Oaxaca state working for a white family whose members clearly cherish her deeply, despite the social chasm inherent in the relationship. The film was set a generation ago, but the Mexican version of the Upstairs Downstairs-style class conflict remains very contemporary here. It shows the inequalities here in Mexico, the poverty that forces people to leave their towns, come to the cities and suffer discrimination, said Fatima Rodriguez, 36, a lawyer who saw the film at Los Pinos. Hopefully this will bring new sensitivity to the way people treat their [domestic] workers. People watch Roma in the former presidential residence of Los Pinos in Mexico City. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP/Getty Images) Yalitza Aparicio, the breakout novice actress who played Cleo as part of an ensemble cast, has been vaunted improbably into the dizzying part of A-list celebrity perhaps the screen discovery of 2018, according to the New York Times. Her looks and slight stature may be a radical departure from starlet central casting, but the former pre-school teacher trainee from Oaxaca with no previous acting experience recently posed in designer garb for Vanity Fair a display that drew both blatantly racist put-downs on Mexican social media and declarations of support. Aparicio, fresh from spending her 25th birthday at Disneyland, showed up at the Los Pinos screening, later urging compatriots to share Roma in homes and theaters as part of a Cuaron-backed social media campaign, #Romaton. How incredible to see so many people united to share this with us! the actress gushed on Instagram. The male characters in Roma are mostly problematic, one-dimensional cutouts. A father walks out on his family. A boyfriend is a thuggish hothead who angrily denies paternity of a womans child. Those portrayals too resonated with many. The movie made me very sad because I am a single mother and the father of my children never did anything for me and my children, said Maria de los Angeles Cruz, 42, a restaurant worker among the multitudes at Los Pinos. It showed how we women always suffer. But the general consensus seemed to be more on the upbeat side. I want my mom to see the movie, said Rosalinda Ramirez, 24, a student and waitress whose own mother was a domestic worker for years. Im sure this will touch her very deeply. McDonnell is the Times Mexico City bureau chief and Sanchez, a special correspondent in the bureau. patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT TOKYO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's ruling camp has approved the final draft of the new defense guidelines, which includes plans to transform the Izumo flat-top destroyer from a mere "helicopter carrier" into an aircraft carrier capable of launching fighter jets, local media reported Friday. The approved draft proposals stated that Japan will "enable fighter jets to be operated from existing warships, if necessary, to improve the flexibility of their operation." The Izumo "helicopter carrier," while being able to accommodate 14 helicopters, is also believed to be able to launch the controversial U.S. Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, as well as F-35B stealth fighter jets from its lengthy flight deck. The 248-meter vessel weighing 19,500 tons, the largest warship Japan has entered into service since World War II, has been regarded by many military analysts as having been designed to be a de facto aircraft carrier. "If you have seen the Izumo, you will definitely identify it as an aircraft carrier. In terms of both appearance and usage, the Izumo has long been a would-be carrier," Japanese military commentator Maeda Tetsuo said in an interview with Xinhua, adding that there is no way to justify the plan for upgrading the destroyer to become an "offensive" carrier with fighter jets on board. Some analysts echoed that the "offensive" weapon is in direct contravention of Japan's pacifist constitution, a key clause of which reads that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." Gwalior : Bishop Thomas Thennatt of Gwalior succumbed to severe head injury in a tragic car accident. He was 65. A press released from the Diocese of Gwalior, the Bishop was returning to his residence after a function when his car skidded off and overturned. Though he was rushed to the nearest hospital, his life could not be saved. Bishop Tennat was the first member of the Society of the Catholic Apostholate, popularly known as Pallotines, become a bishop in India. He also served as the parish priest of St. Pius X Church Mankapur in Nagpur diocese, Maharashtra, since 2012. "How do we really feel about our joint oil exploration agreement with China?" "How do we really feel about our joint oil exploration agreement with China?" There is much ambivalence in the stand of the opposition to the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking which the country entered into with China and hurriedly joined in by Vietnam at the suggestion of former Speaker Jose De Venecia. The JMSU was signed on March 14, 2005. The Bayan Muna and a string of communist front organizations; the Liberal Party that represents the interest of the local oligarchy, the foreign interest groups, and the clerics; and the Magdalo Party, a motley group of former renegade soldiers, are all busy creating ruckus to embarrass the Republic. They are most vocal in articulating their opposition to the joint venture agreement to explore oil and gas in the South China Sea which Noynoy renamed West Philippine Sea. Perhaps he felt that romanticizing it would serve as his legacy, ignoring that since time immemorial, that body of water has been known as the South China Sea. They raise issues that are utterly ambivalent, contradictory and baseless. Principally, they claim that the joint undertaking is unconstitutional and detrimental to our national interest. Accordingly, the agreement is in derogation of our sovereignty. If the issue of constitutionality is to be raised on the basis that all agreements must be ratified by the Senate, Section 21, Article VII of the Constitution states: No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate. However, the greatest drawback to this argument is our agreement to allow the Visiting Forces Agreement signed in 2000 and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in 2012 to operate in this country. We allowed the US to establish military bases here in violation of Section 25, Article XVIII, which states: After the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning Military Bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty concurred in by the Senate and, when Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State. The Philippines signed these two agreements which specifically are not allowed by the Constitution unless ratified by the Senate. However, the US in both instances refused to treat the VFA and EDCA as treaties but merely executive agreements to skip the constitutional requirement of having them ratified by the US Senate. While the Philippine Senate complied with its constitutional obligation, the US prodigiously stood pat to treat them as executive agreements until the whole issue became moot and academic when the Supreme Court finally declared the agreement as valid.Analyzing the applicability of Section 24, Article XVIII to the JMSU with China, the agreement to conduct scientific data to determine the location and volume of the undersea minerals is in the words of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr., an agreement to agree. Unlike the VFA and EDCA, the establishment of US military bases revolves on the physical presence of foreign forces and the use of our national territory which is clearly prohibited by the Constitution. If one strictly abides by the Constitution, there are three distinct possibilities that could happen on this issue of joint exploration and foreign partnership agreement with China. First, treaties and executive agreements, to be valid and constitutional, must be ratified by the Senate. Second, some treaties or agreements, even if ratified, may nonetheless remain invalid and unconstitutional if they contain provisions in derogation of our sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest. Third, even if a treaty or agreement does not contain provisions in derogation of our sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest, it will remain invalid and unconstitutional if it contains a provision specifically prohibited by the Constitution like allowing a foreign power to establish military bases in this country. Our joint venture agreement with China to explore oil and gas is not one that is specifically prohibited by the Constitution or would require the approval of the Senate. The area to be explored accordingly represents 80 percent of our exclusive economic zoneabout 142,886 square kilometers. However, that area cannot be treated as part of our territorial waters where we could exercise exclusive sovereignty and jurisdiction. Rather, the exclusive economic zone which is an innovation introduced by the UN Convention on the Law of Sea in 1977 gave rights to countries adjacent to the sea to explore and exploit mineral resources under the seabed and subsoil. Admittedly, Presidential Decree. No. 1599 or Establishing an Exclusive Economic Zone signed by President Marcos on June 11, 1978 merely complied to the new demarcation made by UNCLOS setting up a 200 nautical mile-limit from the outermost baseline of the Philippine archipelago as our exclusive economic zone. Marcos was intelligent and far-sighted;he did not specify or name any of those islands within the EEZ as part of our territory like naming the contested Scarborough Shoal, Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc as ours. Marcos knew that a declaration to that effect could spell trouble from other claimant states. Nonetheless, it was understood that the Philippines had a rightful claim over that shoal applying the EEZ which is located only 140 nautical miles off Zambales. Besides, Panatag Shoal or Huangyan Dao to the Chinese is far from the contested Spratly group of islands which is located at the southernmost tip of Palawan. Some say, even if China insists that Panatag Shoal or Huangyan Dao belongs to them for the fact that the island is outside the boundary demarcated in the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, Chinas ratification of the UNCLOS weakened its position from asserting ownership. The UNCLOS obligates China to recognize the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, and that means recognizing the Philippines as having prior rights in that area. Thus, if both countries are technically prevented from asserting their claim, the best formula is to go back to the original Chinese formula of a win-win solution like the sharing of the fish harvest and mineral resources that could be extracted in the area which now appears to be working after a change of policy by the Duterte administration. The joint venture with China does not violate the exclusivity principle of the EEZ. Rather, China decided to enter into a joint agreement. It likely realized that most of the area is well within the countys exclusive economic zone, which is why it acceded to the 60-40 sharing in our favor for whatever resources that may be extracted in the area. On the other hand, the motive of the opposition is clear, which is to derail any agreement with China. By urging the Supreme Court now to declare unconstitutional the JMSU agreement entered into by President Arroyo in 2005, they hope to kill two birds with one stone, which is to spoil altogether the MOU signed by Chinas President Xi Jinping and President Duterte last November. [email protected] Gold Stocks Triple Breakout The beleaguered gold stocks are recovering from their late-summer capitulation, enjoying a solid young upleg as investors gradually return. Their buying has pushed the leading gold-stock ETF near a major triple breakout technically. That event should really boost capital inflows into this sector, accelerating the rally. A major gold and gold-stock buying catalyst is likely imminent too, a more-dovish Fed next week. The gold miners stocks have always been a small contrarian sector, a little-watched corner of the stock markets. But theyve been even more unpopular than usual in recent months. That pessimistic sentiment is driven by price action, which has mostly proven poor in 2018. Thats really evident in the performance of the flagship gold-stock investment vehicle, the GDX VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF which is struggling. As of the middle of this week, GDX was down 12.0% year-to-date. That leveraged golds YTD decline of 4.4% by 2.7x, which is perfectly normal. Because gold-stock earnings are heavily dependent on prevailing gold levels, gold-stock prices tend to amplify golds moves by 2x to 3x. Thats a double-edged sword, really profitable when gold rallies but cutting deeply when it retreats. The drawdowns are challenging to weather. But gold stocks inherent leverage to gold is starting to work again on the upside, portending big gains ahead. This first chart looks at the major gold stocks technicals through the lens of GDX over the past several years. This sector soared in a new bull market, plunged with gold after Trumps surprise election win goosed the stock markets, consolidated sideways to base, and then suffered an extreme capitulation selloff. Investors and speculators often forget how explosive gold-stock upside is when gold is powering higher in an upleg. In largely the first half of 2016, GDX skyrocketed 151.2% higher in just 6.4 months! Capital just flooded back into the gold miners driven by a new gold bulls parallel 29.9% upleg. That catapulted GDX to very-overbought levels and a 3.3-year high in mid-2016. So a normal correction got underway soon after. GDX found support at its critical 200-day moving average, which is often the strongest support zone seen in ongoing bull markets. But that failed in November 2016 after an anomalous surprise. Trump defied the polling and odds to win the presidency while Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress. So the stock markets soared in that elections wake on euphoric hopes for big tax cuts soon. Gold wilted on that rally. So the gold stocks naturally followed it lower, again mirroring and amplifying its price action. After it had enjoyed stellar 5.1x upside leverage to gold in its powerful H116 upleg, GDX dropped 39.4% over the next 4.4 months. That leveraged golds own correction by 2.3x, relatively low in that usual 2x-to-3x range. GDX soon bounced sharply with gold and established a new consolidation trading range between $21 to $25. The major gold stocks mostly meandered within that GDX range for 21.5 months. While it was vexing at times to see upside-breakout attempts fail, basing consolidations are very bullish. They provide time for bullish newer investors to acquire shares from bearish exiting ones, establishing new price norms well above previous bear-market lows. And the $23 midpoint of that GDX trading range proved relatively high. This gold-stock bull was born out of fundamentally-absurd lows of GDX $12.47 in mid-January 2016. It peaked at $31.32 in early August that year. Oscillating around $23 on balance, GDX was basing 4/7ths up into its young bulls entire range. The major gold stocks GDX holds were biding their time waiting for another major gold upleg to catapult them higher. They nearly broke out above $25 in early-September 2017. But that attempts failure damaged psychology so traders gradually sold, this small contrarian sector left for dead. The subsequent lower highs over the next 10.4 months into mid-July 2018 formed a downward-sloping resistance line. Gold-stock prices were being compressed into a bearish descending triangle, as lower highs slumped ever closer to that major $21 support. This sector really needed a major gold rally. Unfortunately the opposite happened this past summer, gold got hammered crushing the weakened gold stocks. The US stock markets were powering higher trying to regain record highs in July and August 2018, heavily retarding gold investment demand. On top of that the US Dollar Index was surging too, both on expectations for more Fed rate hikes and an emerging-markets currency crisis led by the Turkish lira. So gold-futures speculators started short selling gold at extreme record levels, blasting their aggregate downside bets far up into anomalous territory never before witnessed. Gold fell sharply on that record gold-futures shorting spree, dragging the struggling gold stocks down with it. So in early August GDX plunged and knifed through its longstanding $21 support. That major breakdown spawned self-feeding selling. Gold stocks are an exceptionally-volatile sector not for the faint of heart. So it is essential to run loose trailing stop losses on gold-stock positions. While these protect investors from excessive losses, they greatly exacerbate selloffs. The lower gold stocks fell this past summer, the more stop losses were hit. These mechanical automatic sell orders then add to the downside pressure, pushing gold stocks lower still. That vicious circle of selling begetting selling snowballed into an extreme capitulation in gold stocks, as GDX plummeted in August and early September. In just 5 weeks GDX collapsed 17.0%, far worse than gold stocks shouldve performed with gold merely slipping 1.4% lower in that span. That devastated already-shaky sentiment, leaving most investors and speculators to throw up their hands in disgust and flee. But with GDX being pummeled to a deep 2.6-year low, the major gold stocks were wildly oversold. I explained all this in depth in an essay on gold stocks forced capitulation in mid-September. They were due to mean revert dramatically higher after that extreme selling anomaly. And that process has indeed been underway ever since. The gold stocks have been recovering, clawing their way out of those deep lows. As usual gold stocks dominant primary driver has been gold, which has been grinding higher in its own young upleg as speculators cover their record gold-futures shorts. Investors started returning too when the lofty US stock markets began rolling over hard in mid-October. As of the middle of this week, GDX just hit a new upleg high of $20.45 on close. That extended gains since the capitulation low to 16.4% in 3.0 months. Although considerable, the gold stocks rally still hasnt grown large enough to return to the radars of contrarian investors. That could be about to change though as a rare triple breakout looks imminent! GDX, the leading gold-stock investment vehicle, is on the verge of simultaneous upside breakouts from its 3 major upper-resistance zones. That will likely unleash big gold-stock buying from technically-oriented traders. These major resistance levels have all converged near $21. The first and most important is GDXs key 200-day moving average, which was $20.78 this week. 200dmas are seen as the dividing line between bull and bear markets. When prices surge back above 200dmas after long periods underneath them, the upside momentum often explodes. Traders love chasing gains and 200dma breakouts portend big ones. The past few years have several examples of gold stocks surging dramatically after 200dma breakouts. The main one was in early February 2016, when GDX rocketing back over its 200dma after deep lows confirmed a new bull market was underway. The great majority of its initial massive 151.2% upleg came after that 200dma upside breakout. Another upleg surged after a 200dma breakout in mid-August 2017. The latest one came in late December 2017, although that was truncated early by gold stalling out. Realize that no technical line is more important to traders than 200dmas. When they see major gold stocks power decisively back over their 200dma as measured by GDX, they are likely to rush to buy in to ride the momentum. Like selling, buying begets buying. The more gold stocks rally, the more traders want them. That imminent 200dma breakout will be all the more potent as a new-upleg signal because 2 other major resistance lines have converged there. That downward-sloping resistance line of the descending triangle has also extended right on $21. So once GDX powers decisively above it, this past years vexing trend of lower highs will end. Traders will see that as evidence the major gold-stock trend is reversing to higher. The final resistance line of that triple breakout is the major $21 support of GDXs consolidating basing range that held rock solid for over a year-and-a-half. When prices fall, old support zones often become new overhead resistance. Traders tend to want to sell again when those old support levels near. So when GDX decisively breaks back out above $21, technical fears of that former support level will vanish. Once back over $21, GDX will return to its multi-year consolidation basing trend between $21 to $25. So the triple breakout above that old support line, downward-sloping resistance line, and 200dma would set the stage for a sharp surge back towards the top of that old trading range. While GDX $25 isnt very high in absolute terms, its still another 22.2% above this weeks levels. Such a rally would spark some excitement. Because historical gold-stock uplegs have been so enormous, generating life-changing wealth, there is always latent gold-stock interest lurking. Contrarian investors and speculators alike sour on gold stocks when they are weak, but quickly return when they show technical signs of life. A GDX triple breakout sure qualifies as that! And much-higher gold-stock prices are certainly justified fundamentally, long overdue. Gold miners earnings and thus ultimately stock prices are largely a function of gold levels. Mining costs are essentially fixed during mine-planning stages. So higher gold prices flow directly through to bottom lines in amplified fashion. This is easy to understand with an example. A month ago I waded through the Q318 results of GDXs major gold miners. Their average all-in sustaining costs weighed in at $877 per ounce. That is what it costs them to produce and replenish gold, and $877 was right in line with their previous 4 quarters average of $867. Those collective costs will remain stable even as golds upleg accelerates. At golds own extreme-futures-short-selling-driven bottom of $1174 in mid-August, the major gold miners of GDX were still earning about $297 per ounce. Such solid levels prove that capitulation wasnt righteous. Last Friday gold hit a new upleg high of $1248, up 6.3% from its anomalous late-summer lows. Imagine this young upleg grows to 30% like the H116 one, which is quite small by historical standards. That would leave gold near $1525. At those $877 average GDX AISCs, the major gold miners profits would rocket to $648 per ounce. Thats 118% higher on a 30% gold upleg! Big gold-stock upside is fundamentally justified. The ratio between the closing prices of GDX and the dominant GLD SPDR Gold Shares gold ETF is an easy approximation of the critical fundamental relationship between gold-stock prices and gold levels. This last chart is updated from a mid-October essay where I explained why gold stocks are the last cheap sector in all the stock markets. The GDX/GLD Ratio shows gold stocks have vast room to mean revert higher. This GGR construct has averaged 0.186x during the 3.0 years of this current gold bull so far. This week the GGR clawed back to 0.174x, hitting its own 200dma. But at the gold stocks deep capitulation low in mid-September, the GGR plunged all the way down to 0.155x. Thats 0.031x below normal for this bull. After GGR extremes in either direction, this key ratio tends to mean revert the other way and overshoot proportionally. That argues GDX is easily likely to surge far enough leveraging golds gains to regain a 0.217x GGR. Thats certainly not a high level even in the modest context of this gold bull. At this weeks $1245 gold levels which translated near $118 in GLD terms, GDX would have to surge to $25.56 to accomplish that normal mean-reversion overshoot. Thats another 25.0% higher, which would make for a solid upleg well worth riding. And that GGR target is still incredibly low in longer secular context. In the 2 years before 2008s first stock panic in a century, the GGR averaged 0.591x. Though gold stocks plummeted in the extreme fear that panic spawned, the GGR rebounded to average 0.422x in the 2 years after that epic anomaly. Over a longer 4-year post-panic span, it averaged 0.381x. So seeing it regain 0.217x is nothing, it should go far higher. The bigger golds own upleg, the more the gold stocks will outperform by the usual 2x to 3x and force the GGR higher. At $1525 gold after a relatively-small 30% upleg, that 2009-to-2012 post-panic-average GGR of 0.381x would yield a GDX upside target around $55 per share. Thats 169% higher from this weeks levels, even without an overshoot! Gold-stock profits growth from higher gold prices justifies huge gains. And rather conveniently on the verge of that GDX triple breakout, a major gold-buying catalyst is likely next week. On Wednesday December 19th, the Feds FOMC meets to decide on whether or not to hike rates for the 9th time in this cycle. That rate hike has been universally expected for months now, it is fully baked in. But the thing gold-futures and dollar-futures traders are really watching is the rate-hike forecast. While the FOMC meets 8 times per year, at every other meeting it releases something called the dot plot. That summarizes where top Fed officials making the decisions think the federal-funds rate should be in coming years. The last dot plot was published on September 26th when the S&P 500 remained just 0.8% under its all-time record high from a week earlier. Fed officials are boldly hawkish when stocks are high. But the stock markets soon fell apart in Q418, the first in history seeing full-speed quantitative-tightening monetary destruction by the Fed! Various Fed officials including the chairman have waxed more dovish since stocks started sliding. Fearing a negative wealth effect adversely impacting the US economy, their resolve to hike rates withers. So theres a good chance next weeks dot plot will be more dovish than the last one. Late Septembers had effectively forecast 5 more Fed rate hikes including at next weeks meeting. So if this new dot plot shows less than 4 total rate hikes forecast in 2019 and 2020, dollar-futures speculators will likely sell motivating gold-futures speculators to buy aggressively. Fewer expected rate hikes are very bullish for gold, as proven in past dot plots. A great example was the 5th hike of this cycle in December 2017. A year ago this week the FOMC hiked, but its dot-plot rate-hike forecast was dovish. Instead of upping it to 4 rate hikes in 2018 as traders expected, Fed officials left it at 3. So over the next 6 weeks, gold shot up 9.2% to $1358 on heavy gold-futures buying by speculators. A similar rally after next weeks meeting if the dot plot forecasts fewer rate hikes than the last one would drive gold right back up near $1360 again. Thats on the verge of a major bull-market breakout which would likely unleash massive new investment buying. And any material gold rally will light a big fire under the gold stocks, rapidly driving them higher. That would put GDXs triple breakout in the bag with haste. Nothing drives big capital inflows into the gold stocks faster than seeing them decisively rally. They are perfectly set up for major gains in coming months! A big mean-reversion rebound higher is inevitable and likely imminent. While traders can play it in GDX, thats mostly a bet on the largest gold miners with slowing production. The best gains by far will be won in smaller mid-tier and junior gold miners with superior fundamentals. A carefully-handpicked portfolio of elite gold and silver miners will generate much-greater wealth creation than ETFs dominated by underperformers. The key to riding any gold-stock bull to multiplying your fortune is staying informed, both about broader markets and individual stocks. Thats long been our specialty at Zeal. My decades of experience both intensely studying the markets and actively trading them as a contrarian is priceless and impossible to replicate. I share my vast experience, knowledge, wisdom, and ongoing research through our popular newsletters. Published weekly and monthly, they explain whats going on in the markets, why, and how to trade them with specific stocks. They are a great way to stay abreast, easy to read and affordable. Walking the contrarian walk is very profitable. As of Q3, weve recommended and realized 1045 newsletter stock trades since 2001. Their average annualized realized gains including all losers is +17.7%! Thats double the long-term stock-market average. Subscribe today and take advantage of our 20%-off holidays sale! The bottom line is the gold stocks are nearing a rare triple breakout. Three major GDX resistance zones have converged just above current levels. Once the gold stocks surge decisively over, the technically-oriented traders will take notice. They will likely start chasing the momentum accelerating the gains, with buying begetting buying. And gold stocks are so undervalued big gains are totally justified fundamentally. This bullish outlook should be really bolstered by next weeks FOMC meeting. Worried about the recent stock-market selloff and surging volatility, top Fed officials are likely to dial back their rate-hike forecasts for next year. That will almost certainly hit the US dollar and goose gold. If gold surges again on a dovish dot plot like it has after other rate hikes in this cycle, the gold stocks will blast higher achieving that triple breakout. Adam Hamilton, CPA So how can you profit from this information? We publish an acclaimed monthly newsletter, Zeal Intelligence , that details exactly what we are doing in terms of actual stock and options trading based on all the lessons we have learned in our market research. Please consider joining us each month for tactical trading details and more in our premium Zeal Intelligence service at www.zealllc.com/subscribe.htm Questions for Adam? I would be more than happy to address them through my private consulting business. Please visit www.zealllc.com/adam.htm for more information. Thoughts, comments, or flames? Fire away at zelotes@zealllc.com . Due to my staggering and perpetually increasing e-mail load, I regret that I am not able to respond to comments personally. I will read all messages though and really appreciate your feedback! Copyright 2000 - 2018 Zeal Research ( www.ZealLLC.com ) 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the leading group for promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, presides over a meeting on promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Friday called for more concerted efforts to restore the environment of the Yangtze River economic belt to pursue green development. Although some positive advancements have been made in the environmental control along the river, problems remain serious in terms of pollutant discharge, ecological damage and environmental risks, said Han at a meeting on promoting the development of the economic belt. Han is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group for promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. He said protecting the Yangtze River is a political task, and restoring the river's ecological environment shall be put in a dominant position. "Having stricter requirements on ecological protection will force the regions along the river to seek high-quality development and explore a new path that puts ecology first and seeks green development," he said. "Seeing no problem is the biggest problem, while purposefully evading problems is a serious mistake and dereliction of duty," Han said. He urged local governments to be problem-oriented and constantly advance environmental protection along the river belt by discovering problems and straightening them out, in particularly by tackling law-breaking practices and what people are very concerned about. Efforts must also be made to toughen the punishments against perpetrators, inadequate supervision, shielding or conniving lawbreakers and the colluding of interested parties, Han said. A new mechanism must be established to facilitate the coordinated efforts by different regions along the river, clarify duties, tighten supervision and encourage public participation, he said. A documentary revealing the environmental problems of the river was played at the meeting. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited a number of national projects on Saturday, including a wastewater treatment plant in Qalioubiya, and several housing projects aimed at combating informal settlements. The El-Gabal El-Asfar wastewater treatment plant project in Khanka in eastern Cairo aims to increase the treatment capacity of the plant, which officials said is needed as a result of population growth, thus contributing to improving the water environment and sanitation in the capital. El-Sisi said during a brief speech at the inauguration of the project that water treatment plants cost the state EGP 18 billion. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said that the project is one of the biggest three such projects worldwide. The project aims to raise the production capacity of the existing plant by around 500,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day. The Egyptian president also inaugurated Mahrousa 1 and Mahrousa 2, two 4,900-unit residential area projects covering 60 feddans of land in El-Salam city on the outskirts of Cairo. The government plans to eliminate informal settlements and provide suitable housing and living conditions to citizens in the area. In addition, the president opened new social housing units in north-eastern Cairos Badr City and South Sinais Abo Rdees City via video conference. According to a recent government report, informal settlements in Egypt constitute around 40 percent of urban areas in the country. The state Tahya Misr fund is working on a three-phase strategy to eliminate informal areas. The first phase is developing 351 unsafe slums during 2018, while the second phase is a medium-term plan that aims to renovate the infrastructure of all urban areas. The government has also implemented hundreds of lower and middle-income housing projects since 2014, in an effort to increase affordable housing. Search Keywords: Short link: An RT France reporter has been hit in the face during Yellow Vest protests in Paris. She has been taken to a nearby hospital. Nadege Abderrazak was hit near Place de l'Opera in the French capital, resulting in a bloody cut on her face and a swollen mouth. RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan tweeted a photo of Abderrazak after the incident, confirming that the reporter has been taken to hospital. Our correspondent was injured in the face during the rally in Paris. She went to the hospital, wrote Simonyan. The injury occurred after Yellow Vest protesters became angry that police would not let them travel from the Opera area to Champs Elysees. Some demonstrators then launched projectiles at police, one of which struck Abderrazak. Also on rt.com Protests turn violent as Yellow Vests clash with police (PHOTOS, VIDEO) It comes as the French capital experiences its fifth straight weekend of Yellow Vest protesters who are calling on President Emmanuel Macron to resign. Some 2,200 demonstrators turned out in Paris, some clashing with police, prompting officers to deploy tear gas. At least 95 people have been detained, according to the latest figures. Moscow is ready to take part in the ambitious project of constructing a cross-continental railway line which will connect East and West Africa. Thats according to the Russia-Sudan intergovernmental commission. The Sudanese side expressed interest in participation of the Russian companies in constructing of the Trans-African railway over Dakar Port Sudan Cape Town, said the commission in a document seen by TASS. It added that The Russian side confirmed readiness to work out the opportunity for participation but asked for [the] provision of all the financial and legal characteristics of this project." Also on rt.com Russia will light up Africa - Putin The Trans-African railway line is part of the African Unions plans to connect the port of Dakar in West Africa to the port of Djibouti in East Africa. It will run through 10 different countries (many of them landlocked) and is expected to boost trade on the continent. The route will be the expansion of the existing Trans-African Highway 5 (TAH5). The first phase of the project will be an estimated $2.2 billion upgrade to 1,228 kilometers of existing rail between Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and Bamako, the capital of neighboring Mali. Also on rt.com China pledges $60bn to Africa, rejects debt trap claims READ MORE:Chinas New Silk Road to significantly boost global trade The project has already attracted Chinese investment in African infrastructure through Beijings ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted China for the detention of two Canadian nationals, in what is widely seen as retaliation against Ottawa for seizing a Huawei executive on Washingtons request two weeks ago. The unlawful detention of Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig is unacceptable and they ought to be returned, Pompeo told reporters on Friday during a meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Chrystia Freeland. We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly and the detention of these two Canadian citizens in China ought to end. Chinese officials detained the two Canadians in the space of just two days. Spavor runs a business sending tourists and athletes to North Korea. Kovrig, a former diplomat, serves as a senior adviser at the think tank, the International Crisis Group (ICC). Both men are investigated for activities harming Chinas national security, the officials in Beijing explained. READ MORE: Kosovos US-backed army: A nominal claim to statehood & revenge on EU The detention of Canadian nationals is widely seen as a retaliatory step against Canada after its police detained Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer and the daughter of the companys founder, two weeks ago. She was apprehended at the request of Washington whose prosecutors accuse Meng of violating US sanctions placed on Iran. Beijing strongly protested Mengs detention, and she herself denied any wrongdoing. The businesswoman was eventually released on bail and is now facing extradition to the US. As Beijing mounted pressure on Canada, the nations Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland defended Mengs detention. She said the action against the Huawei executive was taken in accordance with the existing extradition treaty with the US, and there was no political involvement in the case. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries - the oil market institution that has exerted an unyielding power over the price of crude for nearly 60 years - is now in deep crisis. The latest OPEC meeting in Vienna offered new insights into the cartels raging civil war that is tearing it apart and threatens to ultimately make the cartel irrelevant. In a two-year period since the group of 15 major oil producers formed an alliance with Russia, OPECs smaller members have been marginalized, their voices have been diminished and Saudi Arabia seems to prioritize its partnership with Moscow above all else. An unlikely partnership between Saudi Arabia and Russia is causing dissension within OPEC, with one of the oldest members announcing it would withdraw from the organization in January just days prior to the talks. With Russia tightening its grip over OPECs decisions and the United States officially reaching net oil exporting status in late November for the first time in decades, even if only briefly, the new world oil order is now dependent on three energy superpowers: Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States. Also on rt.com Qatar quitting OPEC 'bad for oil cartel's and Saudi credibility' OPEC has been under the barrage of external and internal forces since the day of its inception in 1960. Yet, even during the most tumultuous years of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, OPEC still met twice a year and managed to coordinate policy to support the price of crude oil. This was not the case during the pivotal OPEC meeting last week in Vienna, where geopolitics ruthlessly invaded the talks. After the first day of negotiations OPEC members emerged without a consensus, canceled a press conference and crude prices tumbled. West Texas Intermediate had already suffered a hefty loss of 22 percent in November, marking the worst month for the US oil benchmark since the financial crisis in 2008. In early Thursday trading, WTI shed an additional three percent in value after Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said that a no deal outcome is real and that Saudi Arabia would not go for a production cut alone. These comments were quickly followed by a statement from Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganesh that his country under no circumstances would curb output, citing US sanctions. Zanganeshs comments carried a clear undertone of bitterness over Saudi cooperation with US President Donald Trumps re-imposition of the sanctions that took effect in early November. Read more on Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia under fire from all sides During the second day of the conference, the oil market held its breath, while waiting for the Russian Delegation to come to the negotiating table. Russia - the second largest oil producer in the world has increased its oil production to a post-Soviet high of 11.41 million bpd while Russian oil companies have been investing heavily in their upstream activities and oilfield maintenance. Russia agreed to a larger-than-expected cut of 230,000 bpd, the lions share of the 400,000 bpd reduction in crude production from the non-OPEC contingent. Saudi Arabia would curb output by 250,000 bpd under OPECs collective cut of 800,000 bpd according to news reports, with OPEC+ offering no breakdown of country quotas. Also on rt.com Washington looking for anti-monopoly tool to kneecap OPEC oil cartel Upon conclusion of the OPEC+ talks, WTI futures stabilized, recovering 2.2 percent of their value on Dec. 7 to $52.61 bbl while Brent recovered by 2.7 percent to $61.67 bbl. Several analysts said oil futures would have sold off absent an agreement. Russia played a crucial role in bringing Iran into the framework of an agreement while backing temporary exemptions from the cuts for Libya, Nigeria, Iran and Venezuela. After the hard-fought agreement was struck Nigerian oil minister, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu was quoted as saying that not having Russia around the table would be a futile exercise. Other OPEC members are not as enthusiastic about Russias growing influence over the cartels decisions. The nation of Qatar, which joined OPEC in 1961, served notice of withdrawal from the organization days before the meeting in Vienna. Qatars oil production has steadily declined and currently represents only two percent of OPECs total output or 609,000 bpd. Yet, news that one of the oldest OPEC members is leaving the cartel after almost 60 years is serving as a shot across the bow for the Vienna-headquartered producer group. Two days of intense negotiations last week revealed intensifying resentment from members of OPEC who feel sidelined by the growing partnership between Saudi Arabia and Russia. As several members chafed against the power shift within the organization, they were prepared to vote against an agreement that would halt the selloff in a commodity critical to their economies, ultimately rendering OPEC and their meeting useless and irrelevant. Read more on Oilprice.com: Will China turn its back on US LNG? Ever since Saudi Arabia and Russia reached an agreement on production cuts in late 2016, the Saudis have insisted that Russia participate in all meetings. The success of this unexpected partnership is a testament to the fact that even geopolitical rivals that have been on opposing sides of almost every conflict affecting the Middle East can become allies when mutually beneficial. While some analysts predict the biggest test for the Saudi-Russian relationship is yet to come, the two countries enjoy their marriage made in oil heaven along with the multi-billion-dollar investment projects following King Salmans first trip to Moscow. During the G20 International Forum in Buenos Aires, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman shared laughs and high-fives. Fading OPEC influence has everything to do with the energy renaissance in the United States. The United States has emerged as one of the worlds top three oil producers, recently overtaking Russia to become the worlds top oil producer, a dramatic turnaround from 10 years ago that has readjusted the world order and shaken OPEC. In late November, the United States was a net oil exporter while shipping a record 3.2 million bpd of crude oil, more than double the volume from a year ago. It was the first time petroleum exports exceeded imports since 1949. Also on rt.com No plans to break up OPEC oil cartel, says Saudi energy minister - state media US producers have added a volume equivalent to the entire output of OPECs Nigeria in the past twelve months, reaching record high crude production at 11.7 million bpd in November. According to the Energy Information Administration, US crude production could reach 12.05 million bpd in April, six months sooner than forecast in October, and reaching 12.29 million bpd in December 2019. These are the worrying statistics for OPEC, as it loses control in determining world oil prices and market share to producers in the United States. And while Russia has worked with OPEC in the past, Saudi Arabia clearly eyes Russia as an essential partner to guide world oil prices through targeted production cuts. As the Moscow-Riyadh partnership strengthens and OPEC cohesion frays, the growing power of the United States over the global oil markets was clearly a factor during the negotiations in Vienna last week. The verdict is still out on whether the OPEC+ deal to cut 1.2 million bpd during the first half of 2019 will be enough to offset surging production from the United States and bring the markets into equilibrium. Even before last weeks meeting and the acrimony leading up to it, OPEC faced an ominous future. News reports surfaced in early November that King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, a think tank based in Riyadh, was conducting a study on what it would mean if OPEC dissolved. Kapsarc, headed by former US EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski, are considering what the end of OPEC would mean to world oil markets and to Saudi Arabias role in those markets. This article was originally published on Oilprice.com Egypts general prosecution is investigating the murder of two Copts by a police sergeant who was guarding a church in Upper Egypts Minya this week. In a statement, the prosecution a father and his adult son, identified as Emad Kamal and David Emad Kamal, were both shot by a police sergeant assigned to guard the Church of Nahdet El-Qadasa. The statement said the Kamals were killed due to a verbal altercation. The prosecutions statement is the first acknowledgement of the killings by the state since Archbishop Makarios of Minya released a statement on Wednesday. According to the statement by the vocal head of the local diocese, police sergeant Rabie Mostafa Khalifa killed the Kamals, who were removing debris next to the church, due to a conflict. In a series of tweets that followed, he called for an intervention by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, describing the incident as one which is more dangerous than [that of] Saint Samuel Monastery, referencing a terrorist attack in which armed men killed seven Copts on their way back from the monastery in November. Saint Samuel.was carried out by enemies of all of us. Yesterdays attack was one carried out by a member of the interior ministrysomeone who is assigned to guard people and institutions, he wrote. Coptic Christians make up around 10 to 15 percent of Egypt's 104 million-strong population. Coptic churches and other targets have been the target of deadly terrorist attacks in recent years, leaving dozens dead. Search Keywords: Short link: A little over a year ago, one of my friends started a WhatsApp group chat for gratitudes. Gratitude is the only thing we are allowed to write in that thread. Nothing else. This same group of friends has another thread... Kantar TNS Promotes for Myanmar MD Role Kantar TNS has promoted Rowena Guerin to the position of Managing Director of its office in Myanmar. She will replace Jason Copeland, who is returning home to Australia at the end of the year. The firm opened the office in 2013, claiming to be the first international consumer insights consultancy to secure a licence to officially conduct business in the country, which is also known as Burma. Guerin (pictured) was part of the senior leadership team which set up and helped establish the company in Myanmar, and most recently served as Director of Research. Prior to this, she ran her own London-based consultancy; was an AD at Nielsen in Indonesia; worked for Roy Morgan Research in Australia as Account Service Director; and was a Business Analyst at BT Syntegra in the UK. Guerin will take up her position in January, and will report to Anne Rayner, Regional Chief Solutions Officer and CEO Myanmar and Cambodia. Adrian Gonzalez, CEO of North Asia, Southeast Asia and Pacific, comments: 'Rowena has been an integral part of the team that established Kantar TNS in the country, and has been an invaluable advisor to our clients there for five years now. I'd also like to thank Jason for his leadership and impact on the business in Myanmar. His passion and enthusiasm has helped shape the company and employees, and his expertise has built a strong reputation for Kantar TNS as marketers seek insights into this fascinating emerging market'. Web site: www.tnsglobal.com . Egyptian prosecutors have ordered the release on bail of two people suspected of aiding a Danish couple who posed nude at the top of one of the Giza Pyramids. The suspects were released on Friday on bails of EGP 5,000. Danish photographer Andreas Hvid shared a video last week showing him scaling the 4,500-year-old Pyramid of Khufu on the outskirts of Cairo at night with an unidentified woman. On Thursday, the Egyptian interior ministry said in a statement that 46-year-old man who works at the Giza site assisted the couple in climbing the pyramids in return for EGP 4,000 (approximately $223). A woman who knew the couple from the internet helped mediate the deal. Both have been arrested and were referred to prosecutors for investigation. The ministry said the incident took place on 29 November, but the video was only shared by Hvid on YouTube on 8 December. It has since amassed over 4.5 million views. According to the investigations the Danish couple posted the video after their visit to Cairo, which started on 19 November and ended on 4 December. Search Keywords: Short link: International Afghan assault killed at least 20 insurgents KABUL, Dec 15 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 12/15/2018 12:32:51 PM IST An Afghan official says an assault on Taliban positions in northeastern Afghanistans Kunar province, which included US air strikes, killed at least 20 insurgents, contradicting Taliban claims of civilian casualties. In southern Helmand province, a US drone strike killed four suspected insurgents. Sakhi Mushwani, a Parliamentarian from Kunar province, said several civilians were injured in the attack late on Thursday. US military spokesman Sgt. 1st class Debra Richardson said U.S. strikes were requested by the Afghan National Security Forces, who led the Kunar offensive. They were accompanied by a handful of US soldiers acting in an advisory capacity. Taliban said 60 civilians were killed in the airstrike but they often exaggerate their claims. Richardson said both incidents are being investigated, adding that all claims of civilian casualties are taken seriously. By Brenda Erickson Erika Osterberg has served as the assistant manager of visitor services at the Colorado State Capitol since 2014. After growing up in Colorado, Osterberg lived in New York City for 10 years, where she completed her degree in art history at SUNY Empire State College, and entered the field of visitor services. She first worked at the American Museum of Natural History and then at the Museum of Modern Art, where she spent six years as a visitor services manager overseeing as many as 50 temporary and full-time staff members. In her time at MoMA, Osterberg helped guide her team through several record-setting blockbuster exhibits, including Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night, Tim Burton and Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present. With daily attendance of up to 15,000 visitors, these exhibits taught Osterberg that even during the most stressful times, kindness, courtesy, and patience are of paramount importance when working with the public and in building a strong and trusting team. Upon returning home to Colorado, Osterberg worked briefly at the Denver Art Museum before coming to the Capitol in 2014. Osterberg feels very grateful to work alongside such an exceptional team and to do such meaningful work. She is very proud to have contributed to the development of a successful visitor services program at the Capitol, where her responsibilities include volunteer management; internal and external communications and publications; daily operations and tour logistics; and special event planning. Osterberg and her husband are the parents of two sons. They spend their free time exploring the Rocky Mountains, visiting museums and historic sites, taking lots of pictures, and enjoying life as active Coloradans. What would people be surprised to know about you? My first professional job was at the Little Stevens Underground Garage biweekly radio show. The show had recently launched when I stumbled across a listing for an internship there. My first job was watching old B-movies, from beach party movies to sci-fi to film noir, to transcribing fun clips that were played between songs. We must have watched 200 movies in the first couple months! From there, I moved up the ladder and loved the two years I spent learning about rock and roll history from an actual icon in the field! While Little Steven [Steven Van Zandt] was not often in the office, his dedication and deep love for the subject was contagious and his work ethic was incredible. While on a world tour with the E Street Band and performing every night, he still oversaw all facets of his show, which he wrote, researched and recorded himself. I learned that there are no limits to achievement when you love what you do. And I got to see the E Street Band at Giants Stadium three nights in a row! How did you get into this field? I studied art history and always dreamed of working in a museum, though a curatorial path or a career in teaching was not of much interest to me. I didnt know anything about the field of visitor services until I happened upon a part-time VS position at the American Museum of Natural History, selling tickets and ushering for the IMAX and space shows, while I was still in college. I fell in love with the job right away. Id always been somewhat shy, but I was surprised at how comfortable I was and how much I loved engaging with the public in my role. I felt so honored to be a representative of such an important institution and found that even minor interactions carry a lot of weight in a visitors experience. What gives you a great sense of achievement? Seeing the success of our staff is so satisfying. A nice compliment from a visitor, a glowing review on a travel website, or the beautiful thank-you drawings we receive from our many field trippers means we are doing our job. There is no greater reward. Brenda Erickson is a policy principal in NCSLs Legislative Staff Services Program and serves as a co-liaison to the National Legislative Services and Security Association (NLSSA). NLSSA is one of nine professional staff associations at NCSL. Email Brenda By UNI HYDERABAD: Oppo India Vice President and R&D Head Tasleem Arif on Saturday said that the company will launch 5G Smartphones and enter into the Smartwatch and Internet of Things (IoT) markets in 2019. Speaking to newsmen on the occasion of launching its India's maiden R&D Center here, Mr Tasleem said that OPPO has launched its fourth R&D Center globally and first in India. The Hyderabad R&D center which is the largest outside China would contribute towards bringing exciting innovation and advanced technologies to the country. ALSO READ | OPPO unveils first-ever PUBG-themed store in Bengaluru Mr Tasleem said at present OPPO has four R& D centers--three in China and one in India. It also having six Research Institutions--four in China and one each in USA and Japan. The Hyderabad R&D centre would focus its efforts on the development and implementation on software localization for Indian consumers as well as device quality, he said. He said that Oppo, the technological leader has introduced firstly launched Rotating, AI cameras and Super Chargers by supporting 15 watts charging in India. Mr Tasleem said that the company has also tested 5G network smartphone two weeks back. The 5G smartphones would be introduced once telecom operators are ready to start the 5G network in India. He said that the OPPO's present R&D head count was 3000 plus. In Hyderabad R & D concerned, the company is planning to recruit 50 people in product development side and the same number would be inducted in quality testing side. The head count would be increased to 500 during the next 2-5 years depending on the market requirement. The technologists would be recruited from Indian Institute of Technology (IITs). Mr Tasleem said that the company has increased its focus on innovation and R&D and recently announced a global investment of RMB 10 billion towards the R&D space for 2019. With this, OPPO would integrate its supply chain and build on its technical expertise to enhance the company's technological capabilities, as well as develop a range of smart devices, including smart watches and smart home technologies, to explore and meet the increasingly rigid demands of consumers in the age of the Internet of Things (IoT). Earlier, Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT and Communications who inaugurated the R&D centre in the presence of OPPO Global Vice President Andy and Global Assistant Vice President Donny expressed his happiness for choosing Telangana in India to launch its first R&D center. Assuring to extend all possible help from the government side, Mr Ranjan asked the OPPO authorizes to come up with innovation ideas to help the government. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Metro services are likely to remain suspended between MG Road Station and Indiranagar stations on December 22 and 23 to carry out the corrective works on Trinity Metro pier number 155, which had caused service disruption on Wednesday morning. To avoid inconvenience to commuters, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) plans to run feeder services in the absence of trains, at their own cost.BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth told reporters on Friday We will carry out repairs in the night from midnight to 5 am. However, this time will not be enough and we will need a couple of days to fix the problem entirely. We have chosen a weekend to suspend services, so as to reduce the inconvenience to commuters. It will most likely be December 22 and 23. During this time, BMTC feeders will be run from MG Road to Indiranagar Metro station and back. Commuters can avail these services for free. Structures safe BMRCL also tried to allay fears among commuters about the safety of the Metro structure. We want to remove all doubts from the mind of the public. Safety of commuters is our top-most priority. The Metro structures, including pillars and viaducts, are perfectly safe. Gaps between the viaduct spans are part of the design, he said. We are preparing an action plan with experts, which will be implemented after a couple of days. Ultrasonic tests of the beams were done. It is a part of the cross beam where the honeycomb was observed, during our routine inspections. Honeycomb refers to holes or gaps in the concrete when air gets trapped inside. It will take ten days to work on filling the gaps in concrete. Honeycombs are not unusual in buildings and become visible over a period of time, Seth added. BMRCL found issues on the surface of the same pillar in 2012, although the problem was not of honeycomb. BMRCL authorities said although temporary support is provided as a precautionary measure now, it does not mean the structure is unsafe. Experts from Delhi Metro being Consulted The speed of Metro trains running from Trinity to Baiyappanahalli has been dropped to 10 kmph, as opposed to the 35 kmph while going from Baiyappanahalli to Trinity. Seth emphasised that construction methodology has improved in Phase-2, with casting of structures done in the yard instead of on the site, as was the case with Phase-1. The officials said that the solution would be a permanent and long-lasting one. Experts from Delhi Metro Rail are being consulted to repair the pier. No significant dip in ridership As per statistics provided by the department, the ridership did not take a significant hit in the last two days. On the day when the issue was noticed, that is Wednesday, there were 3.8 lakh riders while on Thursday there were 3.1 lakh riders. Commuters will be informed about curtailment of services well in advance. Temporary barricades have been put up on the spot near the pier at Trinity Station, due to which road width will be reduced until the repairs are completed. By Express News Service CHENNAI : Ever wondered what life is like in Japan? Thought about what people eat, how their cities and streets look, the temples they pray in, how they dress, the festivals they celebrate, the superstitions they hold dear or even the modes of transport they use to get around? If visiting Japan seems like an impossible dream, visit the stunning photo exhibition at ABK AOTS DOSOKAI, Tamil Nadu Centre on Nelson Manikam Road for an opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese culture. The exhibition showcases photographs by Indians who either live or have lived in Japan, or have even visited the country. It consists of 400 digital images on themes relating to Japan like Hanami (flower viewing), Matsuri (festival), Places and people, Bridges, Tokyo and Kyoto, Steam locomotive, Shinkansen (bullet train) and other topics. Most pictures are accompanied with descriptions and interesting nuggets of information. This reporter found herself awestruck by the breathtaking pictures of cherry blossom, the beautiful Yukatas (Japanese garment, a casual summer kimono), and the stunning Geishas. The exhibition was inaugurated on Thursday by Kojiro Uchiyama, the Consul-General of Japan in Chennai and a special address was given by M Swaminathan, the President of the Photographic Society of Madras. (The exhibition is free for all and is open to the public today. The timings are 10 am to 7 pm.) By Express News Service CHENNAI : TVS Motor Company on Friday announced the launch of three new products TVS Apache RR310, the 125cc scooter TVS NTORQ 125 and motor-cycle TVS Apache RTR 160 4V in Peru market. The company in partnership with its local distributors, Indian Motos, also announced the opening of a state-of-the-art showroom in Lima, said a company release. Indian Motos distributes the company products to over 170 sales points across Peru. R Dilip, companys Senior Vice President, International Business, said they are optimistic about strengthening their presence in Peru market with the help of its distributors. The TVS Apache RR 310 is a premium motor-cycle brand from the company. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Indian diplomatic circles are intrigued by Pakistans sudden and significant change of position on New Delhis role in Afghanistan. On Monday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the National Assembly that peace in Afghanistan was a shared responsibility of regional countries, including India, Iran, Tajikistan and China, and that since India is present in Afghanistan, its cooperation in this regard will also be required. So far, seeing it as an attempt at strategic encirclement, Pakistan has vehemently opposed any Indian involvement in Afghanistan. While the ministry of external affairs is yet to formally react to the apparent Pakistani U-turn, officials privately expressed scepticism over Pakistans motivations. The apparent change of heart was attributed to US pressure, Chinese pressure, an attempt to show Pakistans sincerity about wanting peace with India, or a combination of all three. Rana Banerjee, a former Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat known for his expertise on Pakistan, dismisses the possibility of Pakistan acting either under Chinese or US pressure. The Chinese may have their interests in a peaceful Afghanistan, and might even have launched a joint initiative with India to train Afghan diplomats, but they would never pressure Pakistan to act against its own interests, he asserts. And certainly no amount of US pressure could bring about such a change, he believes. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has sent his condolences to Ethiopia on the death of former president Girma Wolde-Giorgis, who passed away on Saturday morning. El-Sisi expressed his sincere condolences to the family of the late president and to the brotherly Ethiopian people, his spokesman Bassam Rady said in a brief statement. Wolde-Giorgis died on Saturday, two weeks short of his 95th birthday, Ethiopian state media reported. He was president of Ethiopia between 2001 and 2013. The cause of death was not reported, according to AFP. Search Keywords: Short link: By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In some good news for people in Mayur Vihar, an elevated six-lane corridor starting from East Delhi and ending at Mahamaya flyover on Noida-Greater Noida Expressway was cleared on Friday. Officials of the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC), an agency of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) which looks into developmental projects, have given an environmental nod to the project. Officials of the Noida Authority, the body which manages development work in the Noida portion of the National Capital Region (NCR) stated that work in this regard would start by next year. At an estimated cost of 650 crore the 5.5-km-long corridor would help ease traffic on the busy stretch. The feasibility study for the elevated structure, from Mayur Vihar flyover near Chilla to Mahamaya flyover, along the Shahdara drain was carried out in 2013 and was presented for approval in UTTIPEC but could not be cleared because a no-objection certificate had not been issued by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of Delhi, said a senior official. In the same meeting, another bridge on the Yamuna River was also cleared near Kalindi Kunj on Sarita Vihar side. The Noida Authority has proposed a six-lane road passing over the Shahadra Drain and Yamuna River connected with approach roads and underpasses. The project involves construction of a loop to pass the traffic coming from Noida to Jaitpur village via an Underpass towards Sarita Vihar. After completion of this project, traffic coming from Noida to Delhi will use this new six-lane road, while traffic moving in the opposite direction will use existing four lane road. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a relief to former youth Congress leader Sushil Kumar Sharma, serving a life term in the 1995 murder case of his wife Naina Sahni, the Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the city government as to why he has not been released after having undergone 29 years of incarceration. A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asked the Secretary, Home Department and Secretary of Law and Justice Department to be present before it on the next date of hearing, December 18, with original records of Sharmas application to the Sentence Review Board (SRB) for premature release and the reasons for rejecting it. Terming the issue as serious, the court issued a notice to the Delhi government and sought its stand on Sharmas habeas corpus plea seeking release from custody in the case on the grounds that he has been jailed for 29 years, including the period of remission, and his continued incarceration was illegal. The bench said that life and liberty of any individual is of paramount consideration and asked the Delhi government how someone can be kept in custody indefinitely. In his plea, Sharma, in prison since 1995, has contended that he has already undergone the maximum prescribed sentence as mandated under the SRB guidelines. According to his plea, the guidelines on premature release state that life convicts sentenced for a single offence are to be released after completion of 20 years of incarceration and those who had committed heinous crimes are to be granted the relief after 25 years. The petition has said even though Sharmas case falls in the first category, he has also undergone 29 years of incarceration, with remission, and 23 years and six months, without remission. Sharma had shot dead his wife in 1995 objecting to her alleged relationship with a male friend. He had then chopped her body into pieces and attempted to burn it in a restaurant oven. Tandoor murder The 1995 murder of Naina Sahni had caught national attention. Sushil Kumar had shot her because he suspected her of having an affair. He tried to dispose of her body by burning it in a tandoor. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: IN a first, a renowned private school has slashed its fees by more than 50 per cent from the next academic year. Before you consider it an act of philanthropy, it may be noted that in an ongoing case between the Forum Against Corruption and the school, Delhi Public School, Mahendra Hills was found guilty of charging exorbitant fees in an investigation by the State Education Department. Faced with the option of a three-year jail term for violation of norms, the school management decided to rethink its fees in lieu of having the case against them dropped. From charging Rs 1.22 lakh for pre-primary in 2017-18 the school will now levy Rs 57,000 for the section from 2019-20 academic year.Speaking to Express, District Education Officer of Hyderabad, B Venkata Narasamma, said that on the basis of a complaint they started their investigation in which it was found that management was not paying the salaries of the teachers as per the GO MS 1 and was charging a generalised tuition fee that includes other components also like fees for different extracurricular activities. This is a violation and accordingly we slapped them with a notice seeking a reply as to why action should not be taken against them. In response, the management has slashed the fees, explained the DEO. While this will be applicable only to the Mahendra Hills branch of DPS, the DEO admitted that they will have to scrutinise the audit books of other schools too as they could be more such cases. Interestingly, audit reports are submitted every year to the DEOs office but the office never found any lapses.Though the school has proposed to cut down its fee between 53-58 per cent, Vijay Gopal, founder of Forum Against Corruption said that by law anyone found guilty is liable for three years imprisonment. They also confessed that they had included other fees like skating fees and other optional fees. When cornered on the issue of donation they were left with no choice but to slash the fee, said Vijay Gopal. Aathira Haridas By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has only been two weeks since Italian Elisabeth Cagmi arrived in India. On Friday when she reached the Thiruvananthapuram Railway station, with a copy of the Lonely Planet travel guide of the land, she was aware that a strike was underway in the state. But she was hopeful that like in her country, an alternate mechanism would have been arranged. It really depends on the reason for which the strike is being called. People will have their reasons to hold the strike, to highlight their issue. I understand that this strike has some political issues, and that one was held previously this week. But there must be some alternate system in place to ensure that minimal infrastructure is provided to people who are caught unawares, says Elisabeth. The train is running, so the buses must too, right? she asks. Two hartals in one week have put the city through some very difficult times, hitting the economy bad and crippling daily life. Though some private vehicles and auto rickshaws plied, commutation was largely affected. Anger was writ large on the faces of those left stranded at the railway station and bus stand. The loss is for the people itself. We had observed a hartal to protest the hanging of Saddam Hussein. Where else will this happen? We have to understand that there is an agenda behind every hartal. We celebrate hartal, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the eve of a hartal resembles that of the Uthradapachil, says Sarvamdamanan, while waiting for his train at the railway station. ALSO READ | Hartal menace: Kerala tourism bodies to move contempt of court petition The sudden call for the hartal saw a large section of the people expressing their angst in social media. Like George K Thomas, who shared a video exhorting people to go about their daily lives and not to celebrate hartal. For people like George, a young entrepreneur, hartal costs dearly. These hartals, irrespective of the parties, leave a huge impact on the economy and affect people's productivity and development. Parties should come up with creative ways to express their protest. We have to stop celebrating hartals. It is a direct revenue loss, says George, CEO, 'Life Chefs'. George's video has gone viral and many people reached out to him, expressing how they decided on not celebrating hartal. Total number of hartals In 2018 (Stats by Say No to Hartal) (Local, district and state-wide) Total - 97 BJP and affiliated outfits - 31 UDF - 23 Left - 17 In 2017 Total - 120 BJP and affiliated outfits - 47 UDF - 32 Left - 21 By PTI JAIPUR: The 15th Rajasthan Assembly has at least 46 MLAs with criminal cases lodged against them compared to 36 MLAs elected in the state assembly elections in 2013. Out of the 199 members of legislative assembly (MLAs), 46 MLAs have declared criminal cases against themselves. ALSO READ: 158 of 199 Rajasthan MLAs are crorepatis Twenty-eight MLAs have declared 'serious' criminal cases against them, says the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report. In the 2013 assembly elections, 19 MLAs had declared 'serious' criminal cases against them. Parsadi Lal of Congress who contested from Lalsot constituency of Dausa district has declared one charge related to a murder. Four MLAs, all from Congress, have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC section 307). Comparing the candidates as per their political affiliation, 25 out of 99 MLAs from Congress, 12 out of 73 MLAs from BJP and two out of six MLAs from BSP among other regional political outfits have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits, the report said. Sixteen out of 99 MLAs from Congress, seven out of 73 MLAs from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two out of six MLAs from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have declared 'serious' criminal cases against them. Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: Sitting MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav of Bihars main Opposition party RJD was on Saturday convicted of raping a minor girl at his residence nearly three years ago. He is set to become the second sitting RJD legislator to be disqualified from the Assembly due to conviction in a court. A special court in Patna convicted Yadav, the MLA representing Nawada constituency, for the crime he committed at his residence on the night of February 6, 2016. Judge Parashuram Yadav found him guilty under various sections of the POCSO Act and IPC. Five other people four women and a man were also convicted in the case for facilitating the rape. The court, set up for trial of cases against MPs and MLAs, will pronounce the quantum of punishment in the case on December 21. Prosecution officials said the MLA, currently lodged in a jail in Nalanda district, is likely to get imprisonment for life. The school-going girl was taken to the MLAs house at Pathara English village by a woman close to him and put in his custody for the night. The girl said in her complaint, lodged with police three days later, that the woman, Sulekha Devi, actively facilitated the rape act and later offered to give her a good mobile phone in return for keeping silent about the incident. Devi, two of her daughters, a son-in-law and her mother were convicted for conspiracy. Raj Ballabh Yadav, who the victim had identified in a photograph, had evaded arrest and surrendered in court only after police started confiscating some of his properties. His crime and evasion of arrest for a month had become a major friction point between RJD and JD(U), which together ran Bihars Grand Alliance government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the time. RJD legislator Mohammad Ilyas Hussain, a former minister who represents the Dehri Assembly segment, was disqualified from the Assembly last month after a CBI court in Ranchi sentenced him to five years in jail in September in connection with the bitumen scam of the early 1990s when Lalu Prasad Yadav was undivided Bihars chief minister. By PTI NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath complaining about police inaction in the alleged gang rape of a woman in the state. Maliwal said the DCW received a complaint from a victim of gang rape and sexual assault and "the bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and the insensitivity of the state police to arrest the accused" has urged her to write the letter. She said the 21-year-old survivor was sold by her father to a 65-year-old private tutor for Rs 40,000 at the age of 12 and until the age of 17 she was raped in Chandpur (Bijnor). Later she was shifted to another place in Bijnor. Four men took turns to rape the girl. She tried to escape from their clutches a number of times, but got caught by her abductors each time. She was physically assaulted for her attempt to escape, followed by an act of extreme revengeful sexual abuse as a form of punishment, Maliwal said. The accused even abused and burnt the woman's minor daughter with cigarettes. In her FIR, the survivor has alleged that one of the accused is a serial rapist and has killed a 19-year-old woman when she tried to escape his brutality, Maliwal said. The woman underwent an unimaginable form of oppression and torture for a decade. Eventually, she somehow managed to escape and sought police assistance, but they refused to take her compliant. She submitted five written complaints at Chandpur police station but each time the police snubbed her and ignored her pleas. "In light of this extreme horrendous incident, the Delhi Commission for Women requests you to urgently look into the matter and take action immediately against the perpetrators and deliver justice to the survivor," Maliwal said. "You are also requested to ensure the urgent release of victim compensation as the woman does not hail from a financially sound background. Further, an inquiry should be conducted into the role of police in the matter and strictest action should be taken against those found guilty," she said in the letter to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Maliwal claimed that the DCW receives complaints from Uttar Pradesh every other day about atrocities against women and girls. "The Commission requests you to bring about immediate and effective change in the system to ensure that such dreadful crimes are not repeated," she added. Aishik Chanda By Express News Service KOLKATA: Four Trinamool Congress workers and leaders were killed in two separate shootouts in West Bengal over the last 36 hours. While three TMC workers were killed in a dramatic shootout in which around 15 gunmen surrounded an SUV, opened fire and lobbed bombs on the car from all sides at Jaynagar in South 24 Parganas on Thursday night, a local TMC leader was shot and killed from close range at a manned level crossing in Raghunathpur in Purulia district on Friday afternoon. The deceased in Jaynagar shootout have been identified as local strongman and Jaynagar block TMCs Jai Hind Vahini president Sarifuddin Khan and TMC workers Amin Ali Sardar and Salim Khan. The deceased in the Purulia shootout has been identified as local TMC leader Hamid Ansari. The bodies have been sent for autopsy. Jaynagar MLA Biswanath Das stopped at a local shop and got off the vehicle just before it was attacked by 15 bike-borne assailants near a petrol pump in Jaynagar on Thursday night. The MLA believes that he was target of the attack. However, preliminary investigation has revealed that the attack might be a result of old political rivalries between two TMC factions. Deceased Sarifuddin Khan, who was close to MLA Biswanath Das, was the main accused in the murder of strongman Khokhon, who is close to TMC leader Gour Sarkar, Dass rival. Police have learnt that Sarifuddin was engaged in a bitter feud with strongman Babua of the Gour Sarkar faction for the last couple of days. Faction feud behind Jaynagar killings Preliminary investigation into the Jaynagar incident has revealed that the attack might be a result of old political rivalries between two Trinamool Congress factions. By Express News Service CHENNAI: In an ongoing operation, a fleet of five Indian Coast Guard ships evacuated more than 400 tourists stranded in Havelock and Neil Islands (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), in the last two days, due to cyclonic weather since December 14, according to a Coast Guard spokesman. The spokesman told Express that 308 tourists from Havelock Island, including 80 foreign nationals, stranded due to cyclonic weather, were evacuated by Indian Coast Guard Ships - Aruna Asaf Ali, Rajshree and one interceptor boat. Similarly, around 100 stranded tourists evacuated from Neil Island, are heading to Port Blair on board two vessels. WATCH: Tourists stuck on Havelock Islands rescued by Indian Coast Guard Sources revealed that thousands of tourists have been stranded in both the Islands, as both private and government ships or ferries to Havelock and Neil Islands, could not ply on December 14 and 15 due to inclement weather. On receipt of request from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the Indian Coast Guard immediately sailed a fleet of five ships to both Islands, for evacuation of stranded tourists who were required to board flights to the mainland. The ship embarked additional divers, rescue boats, sea survival and safety equipment including medical teams, to meet any emergency situation. It is learnt that the Indian Coast Guard fleet will go back to the Islands to evacuate stranded tourists in the Island. The Coast Guard spokesman said airlines which will be flying back the tourists to Chennai and other destinations, will not be charging extra after flight schedule of many got affected. The Andaman and Nicobar administration had made suitable arrangements for flying back the tourists, the spokesman added. He said the evacuation measure is an ongoing process as the exact amount of stranded tourists is yet to be ascertained. By PTI NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel headed by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed "serious concern" over Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's "failure" to provide the required number of Tejas aircraft to the Air Force, adversely affecting its combat potential and posing a security threat. The Public Accounts Committee report on 'Design Development, Manufacture and Induction of Light Combat Aircraft', tabled in Lok Sabha on Friday, said there were huge delays in the development and induction of the supersonic fighter jet. This resulted in two LCA squadrons not materialising and the IAF having to upgrade several aircraft, including the MiG-BIS, MiG-29, Mirage-2000 and Jaguar aircraft at a cost of Rs 20,037 crore, the report said. Tejas is an indigenously developed single-engine light combat aircraft. The programme to design, develop and manufacture the LCA was sanctioned by the government in 1983. The phasing out of MiG-21s had to be revised and the IAF is operating with 35 squadrons as against 42 squadrons sanctioned. The MiG-21 and MiG-27 squadrons would be retired over the next 10 years, the committee, headed by Kharge, observed. The panel comprised 22 members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including from Trinamool Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Biju Janata Dal, Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party. "The committee is disappointed to note that the failure of HAL/ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Ministry of Defence to provide the required number of aircraft has adversely affected the combat potential of the IAF resulting in security threat to the country," the panel said. The report comes at a time the Congress has been sharpening its attack on the government for French company Dassault Aviation overlooking the state-run HAL while choosing an offset partner for making Rafale fighter jets. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had interacted with HAL employees in Bengaluru in October when he accused the Modi government of "destroying" the strategic asset HAL and told them that "Rafale is your right." The panel observed that the development of the LCA was aimed to arrest the falling number of fighter aircraft due to the "ageing and obsolete" MiG-21 and MiG-27 fleet to maintain the minimum squadron strength of the IAF. "However, the project was plagued with various technical issues resulting in timelines being extended due to which the government had issued Request for Information under the framework of the Defence Procedure 2016 to global vendors for procurement of other combat aircraft such as the American F-16, Globemaster C17, Russian Sukhoi Su-30 and Su-35, European Typhoon, Swedish Gripen-E, French Rafale etc," it added. The HAL, ADA and its workstations are miserably failing in its R&D to have much-needed technology in the aviation sector, the panel observed. "The committee notes with serious concern that due lack of R&D in the aviation sector, the country has to shell out of thousands of crores of rupees for procurement of both combat as well as civil aircraft from foreign countries. It is needless to mention that in times of war, it would be difficult for the nation to procure combat aircraft from unfriendly countries," the report said. As of July 2018, the IAF has only got nine out of its requirement of 200 fighters and 20 trainer aircraft envisaged in the Air Staff Requirements, the panel added. "The ADA/HAL have also not been able to provide IAF with even a single production standard trainer aircraft till date. Further, since HAL could not augment its capacity in line with the demand of the IAF, the IAF will have to depend on imported aircraft for a longer time, given its dwindling squadron strength," the panel said. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ordered on Saturday the establishment of a church in the new city of "Ahalina 2" in El-Salam city on the outskirts of Cairo. On Saturday, El-Sisi inspected the sites of a number of national projects including a wastewater treatment plant in Qalioubiya and several housing projects aimed at combating informal settlements. El-Sisi's comments were directed to Major General Emad Ahmed El-Ghazali, the Commander of the Central Military Region who was giving a presentation on the landscape of the newly constructed city. During the presentation, El-Sisi asked El-Ghazali whether there were any further plans to build another church in Ahalina 1, to which he answered: "No". "This is an order, it's a matter that we should not forget once more ... everyone shall worship," El-Sisi then replied. The commander said that a plan for a church in Ahalina 2 will be implemented though. El-Sisi said on several occasions that Egypt was determined to go ahead with plans to build churches in new neighbourhoods. Article 64 of the Egyptian constitution stipulates the freedom of religious practice and the right to build places of worship for the followers of the Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. In 2016, El-Sisi ratified a law that speeds up the licensing process for building churches. Prior to the 2016 law, the Egyptian Coptic Christians, who make up an estimated 10 percent of the country's 100 million population, had long struggled to obtain building permits for churches, with the process often taking years. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking correction in a paragraph in its judgement on Rafale fighter jet deal in which a reference has been made about the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). A law officer said that the application has been filed to convey to the court that there has been some misinterpretation on the issue of the documents placed in a sealed cover relating to the CAG and PAC. In the judgement on Friday, the apex court had noted that the pricing details have been shared with CAG, and the report of the CAG has been examined by the PAC. ALSO READ: Will ask PAC to call officials to know when was report tabled in Parliament The issue of CAG and PAC was mentioned in para 25 of the judgement of the top court which had held that there were no irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. The judgement had said that the material placed before it shows that the Centre did not disclose in Parliament the pricing details of the Rafale fighter jet, but revealed it to the Comptroller and Auditor General. ALSO READ: Rafale deal conflict explained After the SC verdict on Friday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who chairs the PAC, had said no such report had come to him. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court judgment on the Rafale fighter jet deal is a shot in the arm for the Indian Air Force, as it will strengthen its arsenal. The top court said the necessity to upgrade the strategic needs of the countrys armed forces was felt in the post-Kargil war days and it resulted in Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircrafts . READ | Rafale deal: SC verdict 'shocking', didn't address documented facts, say Yashwant, Shourie The delivery of the Rafale aircraft will begin next year with the first two Rafale jets set to fl into India in September. The rest will arrive by 2022. Thirty-six fully-weaponised Rafale jets are being imported in a flyway condition.The 36 jets will form two squadrons comprising 18 each with one being raised at Ambala, Punjab, and the other in Hasimara, West Bengal. While the Ambala Squadron will look after the Western Borders, the one in Hasimara will be committed for operations in Northern Borders. READ | Rafale deal: Empowerment of defence forces matter of vital importance, says SC Air Commodore Trilok Chand, Senior Fellow, Centre for Joint Warfare Studies said, Rafale jets are important. At present, the Air Force is down to 32 and a half squadrons against theapproved 42. Each IAF squadron consists of 16 to 18 aircraft. READ | Rahul Gandhi asks why CAG report on Rafale deal not tabled before PAC China is improving its infrastructure in the Tibetan Autonomous Region with the induction of modern JF 17s. Pakistan has also modernised it F-16s. But, the Indian Air Force still has the MiG aircraft, inducted in the 1960s. The modern fighters with the Air Force are the fourth generation SU 30 MKI. The other fighters are the Jaguars, Mirages, MiG 29s.IAF has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for additional 114 fighter aircraft which will be made in India with a strategic partner to be selected later. Indigenously developed Tejas is also being inducted into the force. By ANI NEW DELHI: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Mallikarjun Kharge should file an affidavit or review petition in court saying he did not receive the CAG report in regard with the Rafale deal and the committee has not examined it, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy on Saturday. Swamy made the statement soon after the Congress leader claimed that the Central Government lied in the Supreme Court about presenting the CAG report in the House and in the PAC. "Yes if he (Kharge) has not received, we have to take him at his word. He should file an affidavit in court saying he has not received it and the committee has not examined it. So what is there we don't know. They should file a review petition or an affidavit before court because he has been named so he has every right to file an affidavit and set the record straight," Swamy said. "I can't say whether it makes a material difference to the judgement or not. That only the judges can say. I do think that the record should be corrected," he added. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said, "The Supreme Court judgement says the decision is based on the basis of information they got from Government. The Government told them that CAG has studied it and Public Accounts Committee has also approved, those things are not correct." The statement from Kharge, came a day after the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions seeking probe in the 36-Rafale fighter jet deal. The apex court bench hearing the case yesterday remarked that perception of individuals cannot be the basis of fishing and roving inquiry by this court, especially in such matters. and refused to order a detailed scrutiny of Rafale deal. "Government lied in Supreme Court that the CAG report was presented in the House and in PAC and PAC has probed it. Government also stated that this report is in public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it ?."Government also stated that this report is in public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it ?," Kharge said. Kharge also underscored that he will escalate the matter with other members of the PAC. "Will soon summon Attorney General K. K. Venugopal and the CAG", Kharge said while addressing reporters here. On Friday, Supreme Court dismissed batch of petitions calling for a probe into the controversial Rafale Deal, by which the Centre procured 36 fighter jets for Rs. 58,000 crore from French company Dassault Aviation. "Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of fishing and roving inquiry by this court, especially in such matters," said a three-judge bench, while dismissing all the writ petitions which sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the deal. The court said it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favoritism to any party by the Government of India. The bench, also comprising Justices K. M. Joseph and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said the required process has been followed. By PTI PUNE: A court here Friday granted bail to three accused in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case as the CBI failed to file a charge sheet within the mandatory period. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) S M A Sayyad granted bail to Amit Degvekar, Amol Kale and Rajesh Bangera, currently in judicial custody in connection with journalist Gauri Lankesh murder case. Defence lawyer Dharmaraj Tandel, who had moved bail applications on behalf of all three accused on December 12, said the period for filing charge sheet had elapsed. "Bangera and Degvekar were first remanded in CBI custody on September 1 and Kale was remanded in CBI custody on September 6. As the 90 days' time to file the charge sheet got over, today all three accused were granted bail," he said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had invoked Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) under which the period of 90 days can be extended, but the agency did not request the court for more time to file charge sheet against these accused, he said. The CBI has already got an extension of 45 days to file charge sheet against two other accused -- Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar -- who allegedly shot Dabholkar dead on August 20, 2013 on Omkareshwar bridge in Pune. Advocate Tandel said that a CBI lawyer had approached the court Thursday, seeking an adjournment of hearing on bail pleas. "The judge kept the matter at 4 pm yesterday, but no CBI lawyer turned up," he said. The agency had earlier claimed that the conspirators in Dabholkar murder case were also involved in subsequent murders of politician Govind Pansare (February 2015), Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi (August 2015) and journalist Gauri Lankesh (September 2017). By PTI NEW DELHI: A day after the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal, Public Accounts Committee chairman Mallikarjun Kharge said Saturday he will request all members of the panel to summon the Attorney General and the CAG to ask them when was the public auditor's report tabled in Parliament. The senior Congress leader accused the government of "misleading" the Supreme Court by presenting wrong facts about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government should apologise for it. READ| Anil Ambani welcomes Supreme Court's order dismissing Rafale petitions Kharge also said they respect the Supreme Court, but it is not a probe agency and only a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) can investigate the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal. "I will request the PAC members to call the Attorney General (AG) and the Comptroller and Auditor General to ask them when was the CAG report on the Rafale deal tabled in Parliament," he told reporters. Kharge also cited the Supreme Court judgement that stated that the CAG report on Rafale pricing had been tabled in Parliament and discussed in the PAC. "When has the CAG discussed the PAC report. It has not been table so far. Wrong information is being feeded in the Supreme Court, it is a matter of shock. The government should apologise for misleading SC by presenting wrong facts on CAG report before Supreme Court," he said. By UNI PRATAPGARH: A youth who tried to show black flag to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has been arrested by the police. The CM had come to pay his tribute to State Rural Engineering Services minister Rajendra Pratap Singh aka Moti Singh's father Bharat Singh Gandhi. CM's helicopter landed on the police line and while his convoy was passing by the gate of the police line, a Samajwadi Party (SP) worker Arvind Yadav reportedly showed black flag to the CM. The youth was immediately arrested by the policemen but meanwhile, several cars including one of a local MLA hit each other which led to chaos for some time. The CM laid flowers on the portrait of Late Bharat Singh and paid his respects to him, while consoling his family. He prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace. Nagar Palika Parishad Bela Pratapgarh ex-chairman Mr Gandhi breathed his last at his residence on last Thursday. Mahesh M Goudar By Express News Service VIJAYAPURA/BAGALKOT: It is rightly said there is no age limit to when it comes to education and it is never too late to go back to college. An example to the saying, this 76-year-old man appeared for an exam for his fourth post-graduate degree, affiliated to Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Clad in a pink jubba and white dhoti with a patga on his head, Ningayya Wadeyar, a resident of Kelur village in Ilkal, is appearing for MA in Sociology examinations for the academic year 2018-19. He took admission with IGNOU in 2017 as an external student of the open university. He wrote his first paper earlier this month at BLDE Educational Institution. He will be writing his last paper on December 26.He sat for three hours in the examination centre with other students, most of them way younger than him. He chose to write exams in English medium though he studied in Kannada Medium during his school days. Interestingly, he is capable of writing with both his hands. He was right-handed earlier but as his right had lost strength due to age-related issues a few years ago, he has been practising with his left hand and writes without any hassles. Ningayya is a former employee of the Department of Health and Family Welfare. He worked as a clerk for 33 years and started receiving a pension in 2000. In 1967, he got his BA degree as a regular student. After 29 years, In 1996, he took admission as an external student for MA in Kannada at Karnataka University, Dharwad (KUD) and passed the exam successfully after a gap of almost 15 years, he got admission for MA English. Dhinesh Kallungal By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has reasons to cheer as we are just three short of a century. Ninety-seven not out. With two more weeks left in this year, the state has enough time to cross the milestone of two consecutive centuries in two years in a row. Dont think your favourite iconic stars Sachin or Veeru are at the crease. This is something more powerful and lethal. The three political fronts in Kerala - BJP, UDF and LDF - have called 97 hartals in the state in 2018, whereas it was 120 last year. For an average Keralite, it is only a matter of maths. But the tourism sector, the mainstay of Kerala economy, is bleeding from the impact of the unmindful hartals. Each hartal burns a Rs 200-crore hole in the economy of the state with the tourism sector coming to a grinding halt. READ | Over 2,500 foreign tourists likely to be stranded in Kochi, big blow to tourism Around 50,000 domestic and foreign tourists were trapped indoors on Thursday alone when the BJP called a state-wide shutdown. Around 2,500 foreign tourists, mostly from the UK and Germany who arrived in God's Own Country by a chartered flight and four cruise ships on Thursday, were left in the lurch when Kochi, the nerve centre of the state, blinked its eyes in the wake of the hartal. ALSO READ: Kerala BJP gets trolled for its fifth hartal Though the trade and tourism bodies swiftly acted by staying in touch with the state government and Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, the guests who reached here for a one-day visit were provided trip inside the city with police escort. However, they were deprived of a throbbing city life and its rich culture and shopping experience. READ | Near-total hartal throws life out of gear Total number of hartals In 2018 (Stats by Say No to Hartal) (Local, district and state-wide) Total - 97 BJP and affiliated outfits - 31 UDF - 23 Left - 17 In 2017 Total - 120 BJP and affiliated outfits - 47 UDF - 32 Left - 21 Shevlin Sebastian By Express News Service KOCHI: When the Luxembourg-based artist Sophia Medawar opened the newspaper on Friday morning at Fort Kochi, and read the news about a strike in Kerala, she could not help but go down memory lane. In August 2016, when she landed in Kochi, with her husband and daughter, they set out from the airport to a place near Haripad. As they cruised along on the highway, both could not help but notice how deserted it was. Sophies husband turned to her and said, Kerala is very quiet. Whats happened? Sophia was also equally puzzled. But when they reached their destination the people said, Oh you managed to come. We had a strike today. And that was when Sophia understood why their driver had pasted a notice in Malayalam on the windshield. She was told it read: Tourist transportation. Interestingly, Sophia has had her own experience of a strike. This was when she was studying in an art college in Paris. On her second day, when she stepped out on the street to go to college, she saw people shouting and walking past. Soon, the police fired teargas canisters. In response, the strikers also let off small explosions. This resulted in white, red, blue and green smoke. It created a fog and the police could no longer see the rioters properly, says Sophia. It was amazing. Thankfully, there was no violence and I was able to reach the college safely. Sophia pauses and says, The French are masters of the strike. And they are still at it. Although the riots in Paris today have become violent.For Sophia, that initial experience in Paris of a strike was a novel one. Thats because, in Luxembourg, there are no strikes at all. It is a very quiet country, she says. In fact, the last strike I remember was when I was 12 years old. A boy had been run over by a bus because there were no proper barriers near a school. So the people protested. We have never had a strike for political reasons, she says. Incidentally, the country has a population of only six lakh. That is the same number of visitors that are expected to arrive for this years Biennale. So, because of their small population, they can pass messages directly to their politicians. And there are swift responses from the powers-to-be. But having said this, in my travels, I have seen strikes in many parts of the world, says Sophia. Its a part of life for many people, not only for Malayalees. By Express News Service KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the state government to clarify whether the government employees and Asha, Anganwadi and Kudumbashree workers will be compelled to participate in the Women's wall scheduled to be held on January 1. The court also asked the state to explain if the government will initiate penal action in case they are not willing to participate. The government decided to organise the women wall to protect the values of social transformation, renaissance and gender equality. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar issued the interim order on the petition filed by George Vattakulam, president of Malayalavedi, Thrissur, seeking to quash the government order (GO). The petitioner submitted the order was compulsory in nature and thus illegal. READ | Kerala women's wall: Around five lakh women to participate in Kannur A clause in the order stated all government departments should involve themselves in organising and participating in the event. The department heads should request the participation of Asha workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, MGNREGS workers, public representatives, Kudumbashree members, women cooperative societies and public sector units. The government will compel the employees to participate in the formation of the wall, he submitted. However, the court observed it could not see any compulsive nature in the order. When the case came up for hearing, senior government pleader P Narayanan submitted there was no such compulsion as alleged by the petitioner in the case. The government has only made a request to all the employees and it was a policy decision. The court posted the case to Thursday. READ | Hindu organisations to form human wall against discrimination towards women Meanwhile, advocate D B Binu also filed a petition seeking a directive to restrain the government from using public funds for the proposed statewide campaign. The government is spending a huge amount at a time when the state is facing a financial crunch in the post-Ockhi and flood scenario. The reconstruction of the flood-devastated state is a herculean task. While the need of the hour is to undertake a campaign to provide relief to the victims, a strange effort is being made by the government to spend public funds for women's wall and campaign on renaissance and social reformation, he submitted. Fighting broke out on the outskirts of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah on Friday, residents said, a day after a ceasefire agreement was reached by the warring parties at U.N.-sponsored peace talks. The main port used to feed Yemen's 30 million people is held by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that also controls the capital Sanaa and has been battling against a Saudi-led Arab coalition seeking to restore a government ousted in 2014. Hodeidah has been the focus of fighting this year, raising global fears that a battle could cut off supply lines and lead to mass starvation. Yemeni forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition have massed on the city's outskirts. Despite the ceasefire, one resident told Reuters he could hear the sound of missiles and automatic gunfire in the direction of the eastern 7th July suburb. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said coalition warplanes had launched two strikes on Ras Isa city north of Hodeidah. The coalition did not immediately confirm the report. The warring sides agreed after a week of consultations in Sweden to cease fighting in Hodeidah and withdraw their troops as part of confidence-building measures to pave the way for a wider truce and political negotiations. It was the first significant breakthrough for U.N.-led peace efforts to end the nearly four-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. Envoy Martin Griffiths said at the end of the peace talks that both parties would withdraw "within days" from the port and then from the city. International monitors would be deployed and all armed forces would pull back completely within 21 days. A Redeployment Coordination Committee including both sides and chaired by the United Nations would oversee implementation. Both sides issued statements following the talks claiming they would ultimately control Hodeidah. Abdullah al-Alimi, a senior official in the office of the Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, tweeted on Friday the deal meant a Houthi withdrawal from the city and "the legitimate authority will fully control security and administration". The Houthis' media office tweeted that "occupying forces" would quit Hodeidah and "the current authority will be the official authority". Robust Monitoring Needed Griffiths told the U.N. Security Council on Friday that a robust monitoring regime was urgently needed in Hodeidah to oversee compliance with the truce. Such a monitoring mission needs a Security Council resolution, diplomats said. He said retired Dutch Major General Patrick Cammaert agreed to lead monitoring and could arrive in the region within days. "The process outlined on Hodeidah is one that's wracked with potential pitfalls -- the key will be ensuring an orderly withdrawal process in preventing spoilers from derailing the process," said Adam Baron of the European Council for Foreign Relations. The warring parties are due to hold another round of talks in January to discuss a framework for political negotiations. Search Keywords: Short link: By Online Desk Students of Madras Institute of Technology have developed a prototype of heli-drone (helicopter cum drone) that will help hospitals send life-saving medical supplies to the hinterland in Tamil Nadu. The students' team has recently finished runner-up at the UAV Medical Express Challenge in Australia. The first of its kind drone is able to fly at an altitude of more than 2000m, carry a load of 100 kg and fly continuously for more than three hours. The team of students, who developed the prototype of the drone, was working as per the advice of actor Ajith. The cinestar was keen on seeing his dream of having a heli-drone materialise after he realised the loss of scores of lives due to lack of medical supplies in the remote areas. Apart from helping the team in developing the heli-drone, actor Ajith has also visited Germany personally to meet with the employees of Vario, a helicopter firm and understand the feasibility of the project. Hospitals now have started approaching the team to make heli-drones for them. We have plans to bring out economically affordable unmanned helicopters, Senthil Kumar, Associate Professor, MIT told Time of India. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The elevation of Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao popularly known as KTR is neither unexpected nor it has come too early. Neither can the rise of the 42-year-old leader, to the status of working president of TRS, be attributed to the fact that he is the son of the party founder and president K Chandrasekhar Rao. KTR studied in St Georges Grammar School in Hyderabad and for his baccalaureate, he joined the Nizam College. He also holds two post-graduate degrees an MSc biotechnology and an MBA from the City University of New York. He worked in the USA between 2001 and 2006. His father K Chandrasekhar Rao had established the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, for achieving Statehood for the region, in 2001. The movement had gathered momentum by 2006 and Rama Rao felt the need to join his fathers cause. He applied for a long leave of three months, but his application was denied. Seeing no other way, he resigned and returned home. Three years later, Rama Rao contested the first elections of his life from Sircilla Assembly constituency. It was a hard-fought victory; he won by a wafer-thin margin of just 171 votes. Just ten months after the elections, he, like many other legislators in Telangana, resigned protesting the delay in State formation. In the ensuing by-elections in 2010, Rao won with a massive 68,000 margin this time. ALSO READ | After defeat in Telangana, BJP to focus on Parliamentary elections After a 13 year long movement, the dream of Telangana had finally come true. TRS got a comfortable majority in the Assembly elections that year and formed the government without any trouble. The first CM of the State chose to give his son KTR the important portfolios of Information Technology, Industries and Municipal Administration & Urban Development. He was widely appreciated for his work as IT Minister. Two years down the road, in 2016, Rama Rao was given the responsibility to run TRS campaign for the GHMC elections. His biggest test was, however, the recent Assembly elections. During the run-up to it, he was the man responsible to quell dissidence rising from ticket allocation. Source say Chandrasekhar Rao would ask leaders to meet his son first and come to him later if their issues still didnt get resolved.From joining the movement in 2006, when Statehood looked like a distant dream, to being named the partys working president, Rama Rao has had quite an eventful career. The Son always rises KT Rama Raos succession of his father K Chandrasekhar Rao is not an isolated case. From Tamil Nadus DMK to Andhra Pradeshs Telugu Desam Party,a look at other regional parties in India where sons have taken over the mantle... DMK DMK supremo M Karunanidhi designated his son MK Stalin as working president of the party in 2017. Karunanidhi also made Stalin Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the first ever in the State. After Karunanidhis death in August this year, Stalin has become president of the party. TELUGU DESAM PARTY TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently sent his son Nara Lokesh to the AP Legislative Council and even made an IT minister, not unlike KTR. SAMAJWADI PARTY Samajwadi Party had a major make-over in 2012, when party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav cleared the way for his son Akhilesh Yadav to become the Chief Minister, the youngest ever in the State. JANATA DAL (SECULAR) While former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda happens to be the president of Janata Dal(S), it is his son, current Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumara Swamy, who calls all the shots in the party. RASHTRIYA JANATA DAL Though Lalu Prasad Yadav is still the president of RJD in 1997, a party he founded, he ensured his son Tejashwi Yadav was made Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar in Nitish Kumars government. Yadav lost his position after Kumars Jantha Dal(United) and RJD parted ways. NATIONAL CONFERENCE National Conference was founded in 1932 by Sheikh Abdullah, who went to serve as Prime Minister, and later Chief Minister, of Jammu and Kashmir in independent India. Later, his son Farooq Abdullah led the party. Now, his grandson Omar Abdullah is running the party as vice president. SHIROMANI AKALI DAL After Prakash Singh Badal, his son Sukhbir Singh Badal took the reins of the party and also worked as Deputy Chief Minister. Sukhbir Singh Badals wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal was also active in politics and served as a Union Minister. INDIAN NATIONAL LOK DAL Choudhary Devi Lals son Om Prakash Chautala is now CM of Haryana. Chautalas son Ajay Singh is the party general secretary. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: In yet another incident that puts the State system to shame, mounting debts forced a cotton farmer to end his life in Vikarabad district. The farmer Shivagalla Chinna Balaiah, aged 53, was found hanging to a tree near his agricultural field on Friday. This is, perhaps, the first farmer suicide reported in the State after the TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao took charge as the Chief Minister for a second term. While announcing his plans to enter national politics, he made striking statements about extending economic support to every farmer in the State. He also stated that the Federal Front would extend the Rythu Bandhu benefit to farmers all over the country. The scheme has reportedly benefited around 57 lakh farmers all over the State, with a support `8,000 per acre each year. ALSO READ | Poor prices push two onion farmers to commit suicide in Maharashtra Chinna Balaiah, a native of Madaram village of Parigi mandal had owned 1.12 acres of agricultural land in his village. He had also been cultivating the four acres of land owned by his father. During this crop season, Balaiah had taken his relatives 2 acre land on lease to sow cotton. However, due to shortage of rainfall and irrigation facilities, the crops were obliterated. On top of incurring huge losses, Balaiah also had a lot of debt on his shoulders. His son Anjaneyulu said that Balaiah had confided in him with his troubles. But I assured him that we can work together and clear the debts. He was getting more depressed with each passing day. This could be why he took this extreme step, he said. Cotton crops decline compared to last year Adilabad: The arrival of the cotton crop in erstwhile Adilabad, when compared to figures from last year, have declined this month. Officials had expected a harvest of 60 lakh quintals of the crop, however not more than 23 lakh quintals has arrived at marketplaces till date. This is rather alarming as the area under cotton cultivation in the region increased by 64% compared to last years Kharif season By PTI LONDON: An Indian-origin woman who admitted to lying to her family and friends about suffering from terminal brain cancer to con them out of over 250,000 pounds was sentenced to four years of imprisonment by a UK court on Friday. In 2013, Jasmin Mistry told her then-husband, Vijay Katechia, that she had cancer, along with a supporting WhatsApp message what he thought was her doctor. Investigations later revealed that the message had been sent by her using a different SIM card. At the end of December 2014, she told her ex-husband that her severe brain cancer meant she had just six months to live, with further messages from another fictitious doctor suggesting that it could be treated in America - at a cost of around 500,000 pounds. Katechia, his family and members of the public went on to be conned out of money over a two-year period between 2015-2017 in the form of donations they thought she needed for life-saving treatments. Mistry's ex-husband became suspicious when a friend of his saw a picture of a brain scan she had said was taken at one of her consultations. The plot was finally unravelled after her ex-husband showed a "scan" to a doctor friend, who told him it had been lifted from Google. Katechia also discovered SIM cards Mistry used to send messages pretending to be other people, and when confronting her she admitted that she had lied. Police were contacted in November 2017, and Mistry was arrested. During interviews, she confirmed to officers that she was not terminally ill, and that she did not know why she had lied, according to Met Police reports. It was found that 20 members of her extended family and eight others were found to have given her money. The total fraud amount was calculated as 253,122 pounds. The 36-year-old had pleaded guilty to the crime after her arrest last year. Mistry, a medical secretary from Loughborough town in the Midlands region of England, was convicted of fraud by false representation and jailed for four years at Snaresbrook Crown Court this week. Mistry, described in court as a "pathological liar", created a fake online account of a fictitious doctor to message her husband and also posted "Stand up to cancer" messages on social media. "This is a terrible crime. To tell everybody you have cancer and take money from them. It's an awful situation," Judge Judith Hughes told Mistry in court. Investigators found that she had used money she was handed over for treatment by unsuspecting family members, including her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and others on fancy designer handbags. Mistry also defrauded a man she met through a dating website out of nearly 7,500 pounds, and two members of the public to whom she lied about being a trader who could invest their money, and who gave around 10,000 pounds. She was charged with one count of fraud by false representation on August 20 and pleaded guilty in October. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Updates by The Herald 1417: Revitalisation of rural areas must be uppermost in our endeavours, the days of slope sided development must be a thing of the past. Everyone must be onboard and noone must be left behind. The prosperity we seek to achieve by 2030 must be for all our people in every corner of the country, 1414: We shall now need more of our membership to attend this schoolthe resolutions of this conference will help us as |Government to be more focused guided by the will of the people. We value all the constructive contributions with regards to all the sectors of the economy. Im happily surprised by the quick understanding and adoption of the concept of devolution, 1411: The responsibility to improve the quality of life for our people must be on all of us. We should put behind us the culture of them and us and adopt the culture of us all. The Chitepo School of Ideology should inculcate the ethos and values borne of our liberation struggle, 1409: However being specific to the youth, you the youth will take the york of being the leaders of both the party and Governmentyouths should take up the good we do and desist from the bad we dowe are preachers of perseverance, 1405: We must ability to do tracking of progress, monitoring and evaluation the programmes of our people.the party will do its best to fulfil that which we are able to do. However, this conferences deliberations should make you stronger than you were before, 1404: I urge you all to always be mindful of your duties, obligations responsibilities towards the party and the people who put you in those positions. We are in the process of reforming our party, we have the duty and burden to explain these reforms to our people, 1403: Let us all trust the party, rely on it and follow its orders. We must individually and collectively safeguard the unity, peace and solidarity of the party, 1400: Each of us must conduct himself or herself honourably in your dealings with the public. We always guard against bringing the party into disrepute and ridicule as we are always obligated by our constitution. 1357: He says the spirit of unity, loyalty and cooperation must remain the pillars on which the party is built. 1350: President Mnangagwa is now on the podium. 1339: National Chair Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri requests VP Chiwenga to invite the President to close the conference. 1318: Government should develop irrigation infrastructure to ensure food security. That the Government should support the growing of drought resistant crops. That Government should implement recommendations of land commission. That Government should review tax system. The Government should deal with economic malpractices. Government should review allowances for village heads. District Development Fund should be capacited. Government should speed up implementation of ICTs in rural areas through setting up information centres. Government should promote the empowerment of youths and women. Government should consider construction of liberation war museums. 1314: That the party uphold unity through putting stiff measures to arrest factionalism, regionalism and tribalism. That the youth service be resumed in the first quarter of 2019, 1311: He says President Mnangagwa has been unanimously endorsed as Presidential candidate in 2023 1310: Advocate Jacob Mudenda now reading out the consolidated resolutions of the 17th Annual National Conference. He chairs the documentation and legal committee. 1239: Winner will get a fridge and second will go away with a four plate stove. Third will receive microwave oven. 1231: Mrs Mary Chiwenga takes to the podium as she will present prizes to the winners of the fashion show. Zanu-PF First Secretary and President Cde Mnangagwa is briefed by Secretary for Administration Cde Mpofu while Second Secretary Cde Chiwenga looks on 1228: Men should not abuse young girls. Environmental health is also important to avoid cholera. Lets eat food when its still warm. Let us maintain hygiene all the time, she says as she concludes her speech. 1227: She starts her speech by advocating for the early testing of cancer. Cancer is a silent killer and we urge women to get tested early. Cancer also affects men and we urge to go and get tested including for HIV 1225: First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa is the guest of honour in the fashion show session and is going to present gifts to winners shortly. 1156: Consumers have to be protected from arbitrary price hikes and must have access to basic commodities. Government should immediately have cost adjustments to all Civil Services. Have instruments to protect vulnerable groups and capacitate ministry responsible for social services. National documents should be given for free, 1148: Cde Christopher Mushowe speaks on Food Security and Nutrition Thematic Committee. Zimbabwe will return to be a breadbasket of Sadc. Rehab of water bodies and irrigation is vital. Committee resolved that Government should modernise and develop irrigation infrastructure. Prioritise water harvesting. Construct a dam in each district and complete pending ones. Government to ensure delivery of full package of inputs for farmers on time. Vulnarable communities to get inputs in a transparent manner. Government to take action to address lack of work culture by extension workers. Government to support with small grains growing in arid places. Government to downsize all underutilised farms. Adhere to one man, one farm policy. 1140: He says the government should continue supporting the industrialisation agenda under the SADC and COMESA programmes as well as the AU Agenda 2063 and UN sustainable development goals. Cde Mumbengegwi says the government should continue being an active member on the international stage in order to have a shared vision to achieve vision 2030 as well as attract foreign direct investment. He says government should continue with the engagement and re-engagement drive to strengthen relations with other countries and also improve the multilateral approach as opposed to the unilateral. 1133: Cde Mumbengegwi says the committee urges the government to further improve relations with the USA to remove the ZIDERA which continues to constrain the countrys economy. He says government should work tirelessly to market Zimbabwe as a destination of choice as well as to protect the environment. He says government should market the country as a safe tourist destination in order to attract forex. 1130: Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri now calls upon Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi to give a report on the external affairs. He says government should strengthen bilateral relations with the countries which stood by Zimbabwe urging the government to intensify its re-engagement efforts to normalise all aspects of the country. 1115: Cde Mathuthu says young people should be equipped with life skills in order to help build the countrys economy adding that the state should expedite the land audit to also allocate youths part of the land. He calls on the government to formalise the mining activities of youths adding that government should construct transport network to improve accessibility and penetration. He says government must establish centres of sporting excellence to encourage a health nation adding that the youth league will remain resolute to the party as he concludes his resolutions. 1105: Cde Lewis Mathuthu who is standing in for Cde Pupurai Togarepi is now on the podium to give resolutions on the thermatic committee of Youth Affairs. He says theres need to acknowledge the stewardship of President and First secretary of Zanu PF Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa. He says government must empower youths reduce unemployment. He says the Youth League strongly reaffirm the endorsement of President Mnangagwa as the sole presidential candidate of the 2023 elections. He calls for stern measures to curb corruption within the party and the country at large. He says government should revive the National Youth Policy. He says resources be availed to youths to participate in economic activities of the country and create employment. 1042: Cde Cain Mathema who is the chairman of the liberation and heritage says Chitepo Ideological College should be cascaded to the grassroots level. He says government should revive the National Youth Policy in line with the Constitution adding that liberation heroes should be well recognised. Cde Mathema says their committee has endorsed Cde Mnangagwa as the Zanu PF partys presidential candidate of the 2023 harmonised elections. Imposition of candidates should not be tolerated at all costs and those who form parallel structures be suspended from the party, says Cde Mutsvangwa. She says government should establish irrigation schemes in rural areas to eradicate poverty. She says government should improve roads network for ease access to remote places and other areas adding that all roads should be tarred and widened to curb carnages. 1039: She says women should be given special grants in mining and the fruit and veg industry. She says the age limit for presidential candidates be raised to 52 years. Government deals with fuel dealers and come up with stiff penalties to curb the activities for land barons. 1038: Cde Monica Mutsvangwa takes to the podium to give resolutions on the thermatic committee of womens affairs. She says theres need to acknowledging the pivotal role of women in consolidating the party. Cde Mutsvangwa says resources meant for women be channeled directly to the Womens League not through the main wing. She said there should be 50-50 representation in decision making processes. She says women should be capacitated in order to compete with the women and that primary elections be conducted in a manner that does not divide people. 1032: Proposes that Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan Provinces should have provincial councils. The establishment of provincial database is essential. Mining laws should be in the context of provincial development plan to benefit the locals. 1030: Cde July Moyo is now on the podium to give resolutions on the provincial economies. The partys 3 wings endorse Cde Mnangagwa as the president of the party for the 2023 elections. He says the chairman and minister of state to work together for the development of the province. No individual should hold multiple positions and the member should relinquish other positions. Party resources should be cascaded to district levels and a commission of inquiry be set to investigate why certain constituencies lose in elections. The annual peoples conference be held in August or September before the onset of the rains. 1025 Zanu PF elections commission to remain independent and be capacitated to ensure they carry out their duties diligently. Those who would be elevated should save the requisite period in the party structures. Chitepo Ideological College should be cascaded to the grassroots level. The party should amend the constitution that the presidential candidate should be 50 years or more. Government and Zanu PF party should adopt aero tolerance to corruption and there should be party clarity in all its aspects. 1020: The Zanu PF party to start preparing for the 2023 elections right now. Issuance of membership cards be decentralised to provinces and the party upholds the spirit of unity. The party starts to develop relevant strategies to encourage youths in the Youth League to affiliate with Zanu PF. To extend the term for womens parliamentary quota. Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri invites the chairmen from the six thematic groups to give out their resolutions. Cde Munyaradzi Machacha is the first presenter on the state of the party. Zanu PF national chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri takes to the podium and she observes all protocol. She gives a recap of what happened yesterday at the conference chief among them being the endorsement of President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the partys sole presidential candidate for the 2023 elections. 10:15Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri invites the chairmen from the six thematic groups to give out their resolutions. Cde Munyaradzi Machacha is the first presenter on the state of the party. Zanu PF national chairman Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri takes to the podium and she observes all protocol. She gives a recap of what happened yesterday at the conference chief among them being the endorsement of President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the partys sole presidential candidate for the 2023 elections. 1130: We are back for the second and final day of the Zanu-PF Annual National Peoples Conference being held in Esigodini, Matabeleland South. On Wednesday, Chitando told Reuters De Beers and Vast Resources would be allowed to mine, but could not comment on any changes to ownership rules. Those are the details that have to be thrashed out, he said. A military court in Ethiopia on Saturday jailed 66 soldiers for between five and 14 years for marching on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's palace in October, ruling they had broken military ethics, officials said. The 66 were among 200 soldiers in fatigues and red berets who descended, armed, on the compounds of Abiy's residence and office on Oct. 10 and met him in what the government initially said was a bid to press for a rise in pay. But Abiy, who was shown on state television that day doing push-ups with the soldiers, subsequently announced that leaders of the group had "nefarious aims" to stop reforms and unnamed members had "regretted missing out on the opportunity to kill him". On Saturday, Colonel Meshesha Areda, head of the military tribunals directorate, told reporters that a military court sentenced one defendant to 14 years in prison, while 65 others were slapped with sentences ranging from five to 13 years, for "violation of military ethics". "These sentences delivered today will serve as lessons," prosecutor Captain Hailemariam Mamo told reporters. There has been no word on legal action against other members of the 200-strong group. The defendants lawyer Desalegn Dana said he would lodge appeals for a few suspects. Since his appointment in April, 42-year old Abiy has presided over a raft of reforms in the Horn of Africa country, including the pardoning of dissidents long outlawed by the government. He has also acknowledged and condemned abuses by security forces, even likening them to state terrorism. But violence has plagued the nation of 100 million people, often pitting different ethnic groups against each other, remains a challenge. About 2.7 million people have been displaced this year, 2.2 million of which were forced to flee due to ethnic clashes. Search Keywords: Short link: The trial of former president Robert Mugabes son-in-law, Simba Chikore, on charges of unlawfully detaining an employee, which was supposed to commence yesterday, has been postponed to January 24. The State stated that they needed more time to prepare their case and that they will be ready on the said date. Chikore, who is being jointly charged with Simbarashe Mutimbe, unlawfully detained Bertha Zakeyo, a former Zimbabwe Airways employee and the reasons are unknown. (Newser) A vacation nightmare: A man on Friday went overboard from a cruise ship about 35 miles off the Florida Keys. The US Coast Guard was searching for the unidentified 26-year-old who plummeted from the Carnival Victory, using a plane, helicopter, and cutter, per CNN. "Sadly, all the facts surrounding this unfortunate incident indicate it was an intentional act," says a Carnival rep, per NBC. The cruise ship was heading back to Miami after a four-day cruise when the incident occurred. (This cruising couple found a camera in their cabin.) (Newser) To no one's surprise, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation Friday limiting the power of Gov-elect Tony Evers. But he did throw the world a curveball by explaining the new law with a uniquely reimagined Venn diagram, per the Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal. At a Green Bay news conference, Walker displayed a diagram that seemed Venn at first glancewith one circle showing his powers, another Evers', and the overlapping part for powers they share. Yet his powers and Evers' are listed as exactly the same (with items like "appointment authority," "budget authority," "veto authority"), while the overlapping part reads "Both Administrations: Same Powers." Twitter erupted: story continues below One tweeter writes the hashtag "#WIPowergrab" over his own drawing of two circles that don't overlap: One reads "Informative Venn Diagrams," the other "Venn Diagrams Scott Walker uses." "I will give $100 to the first journalist who asks Walker if he was too intimidated to announce this in Madison," tweets another. "$200 if you also ask him to define what a Venn diagram is." "As a math teacher I would like to thank you for creating a real-world example on how NOT to construct a Venn diagram," quips another. "We get that Walker is trying to downplay the changes that were made," writes Philip Bump at the Washington Post, "but, by leaving out things that separate his powers from Evers, he ends up making the Venn diagram format particularly useless." Bump helpfully redesigns Walker's diagram by placing "More control of WEDC [Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation]," "Broader control of work requirement rules," "Broader ability to enact new rules," and "More ability to change benefits programs" in Walker's circle. Inside Evers': "Not named 'Scott.'" Walker was also booed at a tree-lighting ceremony . (Read more Wisconsin stories.) (Newser) "I don't make a lot of public posts, but right now I'm shaking with anger." So begins a Facebook post that has stirred public indignation and pushed the luxury brand Prada to pull products from its shelves, CNN reports. Chinyere Ezie, a civil rights attorney, says she was stunned to see images resembling blackface displayed at Prada's store in Manhattan. After "a very emotional visit" to the Smithsonian's African American history museum, "I walked past Prada's Soho storefront only to be confronted with the very same racist and denigrating #blackface imagery," writes Ezie. "I entered the store with a coworker, only to be assaulted with more and more bewildering examples of their Sambo like imagery." story continues below Inside, she was told that "a black employee had previously complained about blackface at Prada, but he didn't work there anymore." Shared nearly 7,000 times as of this writing, the post has prompted Prada to pull products from its Pradamalia line, which are promoted by images of monkey-like creatures with big red lips and black faces. Prada says they're "imaginary creatures not intended to have any reference to the real world" and insists the company abhors "all forms of racism and racist imagery"but didn't actually apologize. Danielle Belton, The Root's editor in chief, puts the images in context: "Blackface has been historically used to dehumanize black people," she tells CBS News. "It's mystifying how no one along the chain said there was anything wrong with it." (Read more blackface stories.) (Newser) What's up with New York lawyers? Months after one was caught on video spewing anti-immigrant rhetoric in a restaurant, another flung racist insults on the subway and apparently assaulted a woman of Asian descent. Anna Lushchinskaya, 40, shouted profanities at a 24-year-old Tuesday after bumping into her on the northbound D trainthen is seen assaulting her with keys and an umbrella, CNN reports. Lushchinskaya unleashed an obscenity meant to denigrate Asians, per the South China Morning Post, then fired off an anti-Middle Eastern insult at a man who intervened. "What?" he responds. "...I'm Dominican!" story continues below A good Samaritan who intervened got scratched up, while the female victim walked away with facial lacerations: "I'm lucky that she didn't have anything like weapons on herlike knife, gunbecause it could have got a lot worse," she tells WABC-TV. "I'm lucky that people were on the train who were helping me, especially the first Asian guy who stood in front of me right away because he wasn't recording." As for Lushchinskaya, she was arrested and charged with five misdemeanors, including attempted assault and menacing with a weapon other than a gun, Law.com reports. See videos of the incident here and here, but be warned, it's ugly. (See how New Yorkers dealt with the first ranting lawyer.) (Newser) The Incredible Hulk was feeling pumped up this weekbut with IV fluid, not testosterone-induced rage. On Wednesday night, Lou Ferrigno posted on social media a picture of himself wearing a green hospital gown (naturally) and hooked up to an IV in a medical center in Santa Monica, Calif., noting he "went in for a pneumonia shot and landed up here with fluid in my bicep." The 67-year-old actor implied someone administered the shot (apparently a vaccine, USA Today notes) the wrong way, warning others to "keep an eye on who's giving the shot and make sure they not only swab the spot correctly but that you watch the needle come out of the package." story continues below Although Ferrigno didn't say what shot he received, People notes that, per the CDC, there are two types of pneumonia vaccines, both suggested for older adults and one of which can produce swelling at the site where the shot was given. All appears to be well now with the star: On Friday morning, he tweeted a picture of himself hanging out with Rocky actor Dolph Lundgren and others at an MMA event the night before in Los Angeles. (Ferrigno's wife was one of many who lobbed accusations against Bill Cosby.) (Newser) Maison Hullibarger's suicide was painful enoughthen his parents heard the priest's homily. "We wanted him to celebrate how Maison lived, not how he died," his mother Linda tells the Detroit Free Press. Hullibarger, who had five siblings and studied criminal justice at the University of Toledo, was 18 when he killed himself on Dec. 4. His parents, both Catholic, talked to their parish priest ahead of time to discuss his sermon, and were stunned when he focused on suicide during the service. Father Don LaCuesta mentioned it six times: "He was calling our son a sinner," father Jeffrey tells ClickonDetroit. "He wondered if there was enough repentance on our son's part so that he would make it into heaven." Jeffrey even told the priest to stop, but LaCuesta continued and was banned by family from the gravesite burial. story continues below Now the Hullibargers want LaCuesta booted from his post in Monroe County, near Detroitbut the Archdiocese of Detroit is only banning him from funeral sermons "for the foreseeable future." An archdiocese spokeswoman says LaCuesta is "willing to accept the assistance he needs in order to become a more effective minister in these difficult situations." But the family fears he will hurt other families in the future: "It's not OK," Jeffrey tells the Toledo Blade. "He needs to be held accountable." The conflict highlights the Catholic Church's long struggle with suicide; only after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s did the Church go easier on suicide victims, notes the Washington Post. Yet "there are still some priests who view suicide as a mortal sin," says a reverend. "That has been categorically denied by church leadership." (Read more suicide stories.) (Newser) Gigantic gemstones don't typically emerge out of Canadian mines like they do in South Africa, but a big find in the Northwest Territories has just smashed that stereotype. Bloomberg reports a 552-carat yellow diamond the size of a chicken egg (picture here) was found there in October, and it's now said to be the largest diamond ever unearthed in North America. The "astonishing gemstone" was discovered at the Diavik mine, owned by the Rio Tinto Group and Dominion Diamond Mines, about 135 miles south of the Arctic Circle, per a press release. In addition to its North American honors, the diamond, which measures 33.74mm by 54.56mm, would rank among the 30 biggest stones ever discovered, per Bloomberg estimates, as well as the seventh largest this century. story continues below The scratches on the diamond indicate it had a "difficult journey," and that it remained intact during the recovery process is "remarkable," the release notes. Also noteworthy is the fact that it came out of a mine in Canada, which is known for having tough terrain to penetrate due to the sub-Arctic conditions and dearth of access. "It's very unusual for a diamond of this size in this part of the world," Dominion Chief Executive Officer Shane Durgin tells Bloomberg. He adds that it's hard to say yet how much the diamond will ultimately be worth; it needs to be seen how it ends up once it's cut. Dominion will select a partner to do that job, and polish the stone to finish it off, in the next few weeks. (A 163-carat white diamond went for $33.7M last year at auction.) (Newser) Late last month, Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva penned an op-ed asking Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to step down from his post due to a swirl of "scandals and nepotism." It looks like Grijalva is getting his wish: Per Bloomberg, sources reported that Zinke told the White House he's out, and that his formal announcement on his departure would come Wednesday. However, the Bloomberg report was confirmed just a few minutes after it broke Saturday morning by President Trump himself, who tweeted that "Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation." The president added that a new interior secretary would be announced sometime next week. Trump didn't indicate whether Zinke had resigned or been fired, though Bloomberg's sources say Zinke "quit." story continues below Zinke threw in the towel partly due to the "scrutiny and legal costs on the horizon" related to the various federal investigations into his travel, possible conflicts of interest, and political doings, those sources say. The site names as Zinke's "likely successor" David Bernhardt, the Interior Department's second in command. Other names being bandied about to take Zinke's place: Wisconsin's soon-to-be-former governor, Scott Walker; exiting Nevada Sen. Dean Heller; Cynthia Lummis, who served as a Wyoming congresswoman; Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes; Nevada AG Adam Laxalt; and CL "Butch" Otter, the governor of Idaho. (The announcement of Zinke's departure comes one day after Trump filled another empty slot by choosing budget chief Mick Mulvaney as his acting chief of staff.) (Newser) Talk about redacted: The FBI released Friday a limited version of a contentious memo about President Trump's possible Russia connections, Politico reports. Former FBI Director James Comey used the memonow known as the "Trump dossier"to brief Trump on the issue. "An FBI source ... volunteered highly politically sensitive information ... on Russian influence efforts aimed at the US presidential election," reads the two-page document. Gathered by former British agent Christopher Steele, the memo has triggered several rounds of political fisticuffs over Russia's influence on the 2016 election. "The source is an executive of a private business intelligence firm and a former employee of a friendly intelligence service who has been compensated for previous reporting over the past three years," the document goes on, without naming Steele. story continues below "The source maintains and collects information from a layered network of identified and unidentified subsources, some of which has been corroborated in the past," per the memo. "The source collected this information on behalf of private clients and was not compensated for it by the FBI." And that, folks, is all we get to see. However redacted, the memo may well spark another debate over who funded the dossier (a research firm hired by Hillary Clinton's campaign) and whether it played too big a role in a FISA surveillance warrant on ex-Trump adviser Carter Page, says CNN. Politico and a public records advocacy group called the James Madison Project had sued for the memo's release. (The FBI also released its top-secret wiretapping request in the Russia probe.) Seven civilians were killed as Indian troops fired on protesters Saturday after a gunfight left three armed rebels and a soldier dead in the disputed region of Kashmir, police and hospital officials said. The fighting erupted soon after troops laid siege to a house in the southern Pulwama area in Indian-administered Kashmir where the militants were hiding, a police officer said. Three armed militants -- including a former soldier who had joined the rebels -- then jumped out of the house into an orchard to fight the soldiers and were killed. The fighting also left a soldier of the Indian army dead, senior police officer Swayam Prakash Pani told AFP. While the gunfight was in progress, hundreds of villagers poured out on to the streets in freezing cold and marched towards the orchard, shouting slogans in support of the militants and throwing stones at the troops, witnesses said. "It was mayhem. Six protesters died in the ensuing firing by soldiers," a police officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Hospital officials said a seventh man died later of gunshot wounds. Dozens of protestors were also injured in the clashes with government forces, another police officer said. Authorities suspended mobile internet services in many areas of the restive territory, including in the main city of Srinagar. A large number of students also held protests against the killings. Protests spread to the old quarters of Srinagar and the northwestern town of Sopore. Saturday's bloodshed capped the deadliest year in the region since 2009, with nearly 550 killed so far including some 150 civilians, according to a monitoring group. Support for rebels on rise Security officials say some 230 militants have been killed this year, most of them locals from the Kashmir valley, but rebel groups have recruited new members at a matching pace. Popular support for the rebels and their cause has increased since the killing of a charismatic militant leader in 2016. Villagers, sometimes in their thousands, have been swarming sites of gun battles with government forces to help militants escape from military cordons. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule over the subcontinent in 1947. Both claim the disputed Himalayan territory in full. Rebel groups have fought for decades about 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the territory New Delhi controls, seeking Kashmir's independence or its merger with Pakistan. More than 70,000 people have died in the fighting since 1989, mostly civilians. New Delhi regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training rebels to launch attacks on Indian forces, an allegation Islamabad denies saying it only provides political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris fighting for the right to self-determination. Separatists opposed to Indian rule of Kashmir called for a three-day general strike to protest Saturday's killings and announced a march on Monday to the military headquarters in Srinagar. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior member of the unified Joint Resistance Leadership group, took to Twitter to vent anger at government action, saying the Indian forces should "kill all of us at one time rather than killing us daily". Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) Alarmed by the growing popularity of rap among Russian youth, President Vladimir Putin wants cultural leaders to devise a means of controlling, rather than banning, the popular music, the AP reports. Putin says "if it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it." But Putin said at a St. Petersburg meeting with cultural advisers Saturday that attempts to ban artists from performing will have an adverse effect and bolster their popularity. Putin noted that "rap is based on three pillars: sex, drugs, and protest." But he is particularly concerned with drug themes prevalent in rap, saying "this is a path to the degradation of the nation." He said "drug propaganda" is worse than cursing. story continues below Putin's comments come amid a crackdown on contemporary music that evoked Soviet-era censorship of the arts. Last month, a rapper known as Husky, whose videos have garnered more than 6 million views on YouTube, was arrested after he staged an impromptu performance when his show was shut down in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. On Nov. 30, rapper Gone.Fludd announced two concert cancellations, citing pressure from "every police agency you can imagine," while the popular hip hop artist Allj cancelled his show in the Arctic city of Yakutsk after receiving threats of violence. Other artists have been affected as wellpop sensation Monetochka and punk band Friendzona were among those who had their concerts shut down by the authorities last month. (Read more Russia stories.) Many events have been lined up by all ministries, government bodies and private sector companies as the Kingdom marks its National Day tomorrow and December 17. The National Day commemorates the establishment of the modern Bahrain state as an Arab and Muslim country founded by Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783, the 47th anniversary of its full membership in the United Nations, and the 19th anniversary of HM the Kings Accession to the Throne. The Ministry of Labour held a special ceremony marking the beginning of the National Day celebrations, which was attended by Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan. The celebration featured recreational activities for the ministrys staff, flag-raising, national songs, folklore songs, competitions and prize-distribution. Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi attended a ceremony organised by the ministry marking the National Day. Addressing the ceremony which was held at the ministrys headquarters in Isa Town, Dr Al Nuaimi stressed Bahrains landmark development strides, particularly in the sector of education. Streets across the Kingdom have been decorated with Bahrain flags and lighting. Meanwhile, the Director-General of Traffic, Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa announced yesterday that special measures had been taken for the National Day celebrations, including the implementation of a traffic plan for all roads to avoid traffic jams that might occur near the sites of events and activities. Peace talks between the Yemeni government and Houthis militias opened yesterday in Stockholm, Sweden which is slated to last for one week. Opening the talks at a castle in Rimbo, a town north of Stockholm, Swedens foreign minister, Margot Wallstrom, wished the Yemen adversaries strength to find compromise and courage as they embark on the difficult task ahead. Now it is up to you, the Yemeni parties, she said. You have the command of your future. The UN envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said the coming days were a milestone and urged the parties not to waver... let us work in good faith ... to deliver a message of peace. There is a way we can resolve the conflict, Griffiths said, adding that the Security Council was united in its support for a resolution to the conflict. Griffiths added that he is grateful for the role that Saudi Arabia played in supporting the Yemeni peace talks. Im also pleased to announce the signing of an agreement on the exchange of prisoners, detainees, the missing, the forcibly detained and individuals placed under house arrest, Griffiths said. It will allow thousands of families to be reunited, and it is the product of very effective, active work from both delegations. The government and Huthis on Tuesday said they agreed to a prisoner swap, to be overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross, after the Sweden talks. The UN envoy stressed the fact that the peace talks will also discuss several aspects of the Yemeni peoples situation including ensuring aid deliverance. Griffiths added that the possibility of direct meetings between the government and Houthi militias are still being looked into. Regarding Sanaas airport, the UN envoy said that they have a proposal to discuss with the conflicting parties of Yemen. Griffiths also spoke about the priority UN goal being easing the tension in Yemen and then reach a political solution. Griffiths plans to host talks in Geneva in September collapsed on the opening day after the rebels refused to leave the Yemeni capital. Church bells seized from the Philippines by US troops as war trophies over a century ago were returned on Tuesday, in a bid to turn the page on a difficult chapter between the historical allies. Giving back the three socalled Balangiga bells meets a decades-old demand from the former US colony at a time when the two nations ties have been rattled by President Rodrigo Dutertes pivot to China. Returning these bells is the right thing to do, US Ambassador Sung Kim said at a sober handover ceremony on a Manila airfield, where a cheer went up when the bells were pulled from wooden crates. It is my great honour to be here at the closing of a painful chapter in our history, he told the crowd that included people who had lobbied for years to bring the bells home. The bells will be sent back later this week to the church in the central town of Balangiga where they were looted by US soldiers avenging a surprise attack that killed 48 of their comrades on September 28, 1901. In reprisal, the US commander Jacob Smith ordered the surrounding island of Samar be turned into a howling wilderness, resulting in the slaughter of thousands of Filipinos and Balangigas razing. The return of the bronze bells has been divisive with some US veterans and lawmakers, who see them as a tribute to fallen American troops, while the Philippines hails them as a symbol of its struggle for independence. Two of the bells had been on display in the US state of Wyoming and the other in South Korea until being restored and flown to a Manila air base Tuesday aboard an American military cargo plane. Ring again after 117 years It is time for healing. It is time for closure. It is a time to look ahead as two nations should with shared history and as allies, Philippine secretary of defence Delfin Lorenzana said. After 117 years the sound of the bells will once again ring, he added. Manilas push for the bells repatriation began in the 1990s and has had backing from Philippine presidents as well as from the Catholic Church and historians, but also supporters in the US. Groups of defiant "yellow vest" demonstrators faced off with tens of thousands of police around France on Saturday, but the protest movement appeared to have lost momentum on a fifth and decisive weekend. President Emmanuel Macron, facing the biggest crisis of his presidency, announced a series of concessions on Monday to defuse the explosive "yellow vest" crisis, which swelled up from rural and small-town France last month. The package of tax and minimum wage measures for low-income workers, coupled with bitter winter weather this weekend, appeared to have helped bring calm to the country after more than a month of clashes and disruption. France was also hit by a fresh deadly terror attack on Tuesday night when a gunman opened fire at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, leading the government to urge people to stay at home to spare the stretched security forces. "It's a bit of a failure because the state is stopping us from being able to demonstrate properly," Marie, a 35-year-old domestic helper, told AFP in Paris after travelling her home around 50 kilometres south of the capital. An estimated 66,000 people took to the streets across France, according to figures from the interior ministry at 6:00 pm, 1700 GMT, half the level of a week ago. "It's a bit disappointing. We expected there to be more people, but the movement won't end," Francis Nicolas, a 49-year-old labourer, told AFP from a small crowd who gathered in the southeastern city of Lyon. In Paris, the more than 8,000 police on duty easily outnumbered the 2,200 protesters who were counted on the streets of the capital by local authorities in the early afternoon. There had been 168 arrests by 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), far down on the roughly 1,000 of last Saturday. Tear gas was occasionally fired, but a fraction of the amount was used compared with the weekends of December 8 or December 1 when graffiti was daubed on the Arc de Triomphe in scenes that shocked France. "The turnout was lower, which was necessary from my point of view," parliament speaker Richard Ferrand, a close ally of Macron, told the Cnews channel on Saturday evening. "It's not a time for combat, but debate," he added. Minor clashes in the cities of Toulouse, Nantes and Bordeaux were reported, while protesters snarled traffic on motorways in the south of the country and on the A16 near the port of Calais in the north. Until this week, a clear majority of French people had backed the protests, which sprung up initially over high taxes before snowballing into a wider opposition to Macron's pro-business agenda and style of governing. But two polls published on Tuesday -- in the wake of Macron's concessions -- suggested the country was now broadly 50-50 on whether the protests should continue. In a bid to end the standoff, a visibly contrite Macron announced a package of measures on Monday in a televised address, estimated by economists to cost up to 15 billion euros ($17 billion). The 40-year-old former investment banker acknowledged widespread animosity towards him and came close to apologising for a series of verbal gaffes seen as dismissive of the poor or jobless. He cancelled planned fuel tax hikes for 2019, offered a rise in the minimum wage of 100 euros a month next year, as well as tax relief for many pensioners and tax-free overtime. Some senior figures in the "yellow vest" movement, which has no official leaders and dozens of separate demands, had urged protesters to continue to press home their advantage. "It's really the time to keep going," one of them, Eric Drouet, said in a video posted on Facebook. "What Macron did on Monday, was a call to carry on because he has started to give ground, which is unusual for him." Many protesters appeared to have switched their focus from the core issue of the protests so far -- taxes and spending power -- to other demands such as the greater use of referendums to decide government policy. "Last time, we were here for taxes," a 28-year-old "yellow vest" called Jeremy told AFP as he arrived on the Champs-Elysees in the freezing cold on Saturday morning. "This is for the institutions: we want more direct democracy," he said, adding that people needed to "shout to make themselves heard". Authorities reported the seventh death linked to the demonstrations in a fatal road accident Friday evening near the France-Belgium border caused by a blockade. More than 1,400 people have been injured since the protests began on November 17. Around 69,000 security forces were mobilised across France, down from 89,000 last Saturday when 2,000 people were detained. On Thursday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux had called on protesters to stay at home on what is normally a busy shopping weekend ahead of Christmas. He was speaking in the wake of the attack on Tuesday in the eastern city of Strasbourg, which left four dead and 12 wounded. Search Keywords: Short link: Hanukkah the Jewish Festival of Lights is often dismissed as a minor celebration, artificially magnified by its proximity in the calendar to Christmas. The Jewish holiday is indeed not mentioned in the Torah, as the event it celebrates took place long after biblical times. Minor, though, it is not. On a superficial level, the Jewish winter holiday celebrates a Jewish rebel armys routing of the Greek-Syrian Seleucid Empires forces, nearly two centuries before the Common Era. It wasnt just an army, though, that was vanquished. Repelled no less significantly was a worldview, a way of understanding the human condition. To the Talmud-era rabbis who established Hanukkah, an even greater enemy than the fleshand-blood soldiers who had defiled the temple was some Jews adoption of Hellenistic ideals, a fundamental part of which was what we today call materialism. No, not the luxuriating in physical pleasures, though that, too, was part of the ancient Greek world. The words cynic, epicurean and hedonist, after all, are rooted in Greek philosophical schools. But rather the more rarefied philosophical concept called materialism, which contends that everything can be reduced to the physical, that there is no real entity called a soul. Dualism, by contrast, is the belief that we humans are both physical and something more. Many contemporary scientists, delighted by their advances in understanding how the brain functions, have embraced a modern version of materialism. The conviction that we have souls, they patiently explain to lesser folks, is nothing in the end but a misleading product of the electrical activity within our craniums. Our every thought and action, moreover, is predetermined. Just as other physical processes can be predicted on the basis of the array of circumstances at their origin, if we had sufficient knowledge about any individuals brain, we could predict his or her every action. Free will, to a materialist, is just a persistent illusion. The qualities of mental life that we associate with souls are purely corporeal, Prof Paul Bloom of Yale, for example, has averred. They emerge from biochemical processes in the brain. A Harvard professor, Steven Pinker, advises us to set aside childlike intuitions and traditional dogmas and recognise that what we conceive of as the soul is nothing more than the activity of the brain. Nothing but brain cells are evident, after all, in a brain. But finding no evidence of the soul in a brain is like finding no trace of Yo-Yo Ma in a stereo speaker and concluding that the cello concerto that just ended, and Ma for that matter, are only imaginary. To dualists, though, our brains are conduits for consciousness and necessary for contemplating our souls, but not identical with them. The materialism/dualism debate was carried on by philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, championing the former view, and Rene Descartes, who embraced a form of the latter one. The issue is more than academic. If we humans are nothing more than our physical cells, and the innate human awareness of our souls and sense of free will are mere illusions, we have no ultimate value beyond that of any insect. And no compulsion, beyond an ultimately meaningless utilitarian social contract, to bind ourselves to any ethical or moral system. A society that denies the soul idea is, in fact, in the words deepest sense soulless. The ancient Greeks were brilliant analysers of the physical world. They developed the sciences, calculated the earths circumference, proposed a heliocentric theory of the solar system and focused attention on the workings of human beings. But only as physical specimens. To be sure, the ancient Hellenist philosophers spoke of the soul, but they referred only to what we would call the personality or intellect. The idea of what we call a soul, an entity that can be sublimated or polluted by the conscious exercise of free will, was indigestible to the Greek worldview. As indispensable as that idea always was and remains to the Jewish worldview, which insists that humans are unique, that we possess not only physical bodies but a spiritual component, that our actions are not predetermined but freely chosen, that what we do is not predetermined, and makes a difference. And so, celebrating as it does, a victory, if a temporary one, over the materialistic worldview, Hanukkah is a truly profound holiday. Its eight days eight being the number associated in Jewish texts with that which is beyond perceptible nature are marked with the lighting of candles and the custom of giving children gifts. The greatest of the holidays gifts, though, is its vital lesson for all humankind. A court on Friday sentenced a 26-year-old man to 18 years in prison for a highway road rage incident last year in which a couple died and their two teenage daughters were injured. Kazuho Ishibashi was convicted of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury after he overtook the familyas vehicle on the Tomei Expressway in Kanagawa Prefecture on June 5, 2017, and forced it to stop in the passing lane where they were hit from behind by a truck. Prosecutors had demanded a 23-year prison term while the defendant had pleaded not guilty in the trial at the Yokohama District Court. Presiding Judge Shigeyuki Fukasawa recognized a causal link between the defendantas road rage and the fatal accident, saying, aMaking (the deceased coupleas) car stop after blocking its way four times was an act inseparable (from the accident). The death and injury were the consequences of his driving.a According to the ruling, Ishibashi became enraged after being warned by Yoshihisa Hagiyama, 45, about the way he parked his car at an expressway parking area just before the incident. Ishibashi chased Hagiyama, who was traveling with his wife, Yuka, 39, and their two daughters. aThe defendantas persistent actions were based on a strong intent, and the consequence was serious. The sorrow of the people who were suddenly deprived of their lives is beyond all imagination,a said Fukasawa, adding that the court concluded the defendant is not sincerely reflecting on his actions. The focal point of the trial was whether the charge of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury, normally applied to actions taken while behind the wheel, could be brought against Ishibashi who was no longer driving when the couple died. Ishibashi was threatening to drag Hagiyama out of the vehicle when it was rammed by the truck. The court noted, however, that the case did not meet all criteria for dangerous driving because the incident occurred when the defendantas vehicle was not in motion. Japan's central government is pushing ahead with a controversial plan to relocate an American military base within the southern prefecture of Okinawa. They've started full-scale land reclamation work despite strong local opposition. Crews have begun pouring sand and dirt into the coastal area of Henoko so the base can be moved there. The reclamation had been suspended due to legal battles between the central and local governments. The US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station currently sits in a densely populated area and poses a safety concern because of the volume of military air traffic. Both Tokyo and Washington maintain the planned move is the only solution. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, "With the security environment surrounding Japan becoming increasingly serious, we want to maintain deterrence under the Japan-US alliance. And bearing in mind we also need to eliminate the risks posed by the Futenma base, relocating to Henoko is the only viable option." Tokyo's move drew an angry response from Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. He was elected in September and wants the base moved out of the prefecture altogether, just as his predecessor did. Tamaki said, "By proceeding with the construction quickly, the central government is trying hard to make it a foregone conclusion and get the people of Okinawa to give up. But in fact, such moves will only invite strong opposition from people here. So the central government needs to understand that the more they push ahead with the work, the more they will add fuel to the burning anger of the people in Okinawa." Dozens of protestors gathered near the site on Friday morning to voice their disapproval. Many in Okinawa feel they bear an unfair burden. The prefecture hosts about 70 percent of US military facilities in Japan. Discussions over the relocation started between Washington and Tokyo more than 20 years ago. The Okinawa government plans to hold a non-binding referendum on the issue in February. Japanese education companies are expanding their language offerings overseas, seeing business opportunities in meeting growing demand for Japanese-speaking foreign manpower as the nation opens its doors to workers from overseas. As of October 2017, there were about 1.28 million foreign workers in Japan, including interns and student part-timers, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The numbers have grown 90% in six years, hitting record highs, due to the worsening labor shortage and an increase in foreign students. The government has revised the immigration control and refugee recognition act to allow new visas for unskilled foreign workers. Japanese schools are betting that demand for Japanese-language education will increase, because foreign nationals are required to have a certain level of Japanese language proficiency to get a job. Japanese education and recruiting company Human Holdings provides Japanese lessons at universities overseas for a fee through its Human Academy unit. Although the company now partners with a few schools, "we aim to contract with 100 schools over the next 12 months and win about 1,000 students a year," a company representative said. The company has informally gotten green lights from several universities about providing Japanese lessons, the official said. Human operates Japanese-language schools in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Most students come to Japan as interns or students at universities. Enrollment at its school in Indonesia has doubled from the previous year. An Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved tomb belonging to a Fifth Dynasty royal priest at Saqqara, the antiquities ministry has said. The mission at the Sacred Animal Necropolis in Saqqara discovered the tomb of a royal purification priest named Wahtye from the reign of King Nefer Ir-Ka-Re, Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Enany announced. A large number of foreign and Arab ambassadors and members of Egypts parliament attended an event announcing the new discovery. El-Enany said that the tomb is exceptionally well-preserved and painted, with walls decorated with colourful scenes depicting the owner of the tomb with his mother, wife and family as well as a number of niches with large coloured statues of the deceased and his family. El-Enany describes it as the most beautiful tomb found this year. Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the head of the excavation mission, said that the mission was able to reach the facade of the tomb during its second excavation season in November, but was not able to enter it then as the doors were sealed. Excavations continued, and after removing the debris from the tombs facade, a lintel on top of the tombs door was revealed, inscribed with three hieroglyphic lines: the name and different titles of the owner, who was the royal purification priest, the supervisor of King Nefer-Ir-Ka-Re and the inspector of the holy boat. Waziri added the tombs walls have several coloured inscriptions showing the name of the wife of the tombs owner (Weret Ptah), and many scenes featuring the deceased with his mother (Merit Meen) and his family, as well as scenes depicting the fabrication of pottery and wine, making religious offering, musical performances, boats ailing, the manufacturing of the funerary furniture, and hunting. Egypt Inside the tomb there are 18 niches displaying 24 large coloured statues carved in rock and depicting the owner of the tomb and his family. Meanwhile, the lower part of the tomb contains 26 small niches with 31 statues of a yet unidentified person standing, or in the seated scribe position. This statue might be of the deceased or a member of his family, Waziri said. Sabry Farag, the general director of the Saqqara archaeological site, said that the tomb consists of a rectangular hall about 10 metres long from north to south, 3 metres wide from east to west, and about 3 metres high, with a basement at the end of the tomb. Waziri said that the tomb contains five burial shafts, all of which will be excavated, in addition to two false doors, one belonging to the deceased and the second to his mother. Search Keywords: Short link: The announcement of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) no longer shocks Nigerian, owing to the fact th... The announcement of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) no longer shocks Nigerian, owing to the fact that it has become a recurring incident. The present edition of the strike action began on November 14 and according to Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU president, it is indefinite and comprehensive. According to data made available by the National University Commission (NUC), Nigeria has 43 federal universities, 47 state universities and 75 private universities. The 2017 Universities Statistical Digest confirms that there are 1.9 million students in Nigerian universities. Checks showed that the union has gone on strike not less than 15 times since 1999 when Nigeria moved to democratic rule and in total, the strike actions have lasted for 37 months, a little over three years. Here is a timeline of the strikes since 1999: 1999 150 days 2001 90 days 2002 14 days. 2003 180 days (ended in 2004) 2005 -3 days 2006- 7 days 2007 90 days 2008 -7 days 2009- 120 days 2010- 157 days 201190 days, started in December and ended in 2012 2013- 150 days and seventeen days 2014- None 2015-None 2016- 7 days 2017- 35 days 2018- 19 days and counting What is the bone of contention? To improve the state of education in the country, the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with the union in 2009 and signed another in 2013. The 2013 MoU stipulated that public varsities would need the sum of N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation. The fund was to be paid in tranches of N20 billion in 2013 and N220 billion between 2014 and 2018. The five-year arrangement has not been implemented to date. Some of the demands been made by ASUU are funding for revitalisation of public universities, the release of the forensic audit report on earned academic allowances (EAA), payments of all arrears of shortfall in salaries to all universities that have met the verification requirements of the presidential initiative on continuum audit (PICA) , release of university pension fund operational. ASUU: If not for strikes, Nigerian educational sector would have collapsed In an interview with TheCable CamPulse, Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU chairman, said the strike action has helped the educational sector. He said: You need to look so far over years what the strike has achieved for the Nigerian education sector and compare it to what is happening in other sub-sectors of the educational system. If not for ASUU, the public universities, in fact, public tertiary education would have collapsed totally beyond recovery. So you can best appreciate that when you compare and contrast what is happening as a result of ASUU struggle and what is not happening as a result of lack of struggle at the level of primary and secondary education of the country. According to Ogunyemi, Nigerians should be grateful for the strike actions because politicians have shown little concern for public education. They are not concerned with the plight of the poor. All you see now is how to fit their children into positions of advantage to the disadvantage of the children of the poor, he said. The best way to do it is to ensure that their children receive the best of education while the children of the poor are subjected to substandard and low-quality education. NUT cannot do what ASUU is doing now because the government will seize their salary, they have underpaid them, they have not given them the right to ventilate their anger. And because of that, they have become disillusioned in places where they are working. You will even see primary school teachers who cannot see take their own children to the school they are teaching. Im saying these just to illustrate the fact that public primary and public secondary education system have been collapsed. If not for ASUU the same would have happened. So Nigerians should actually be thanking ASUU, for the wake-up calls we always give the Nigerian government. And let me tell you as far back as 1992, each time we went for an action, we refer government to inject funds so that public universities will not go on the same place with primary and secondary schools. In 1992, its as a result of ASUU struggle that government introduced TETFUND. The Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday said that the foreign policy of the All Progressives Party(APC) would remain the economy and security.Osinbajo, at the Vice Presidential candidates debates in Abuja, said that the government was working on improving the trade process of the naton.He said that a lot of agreements had been entered into between Nigeria and other nations to better the economy of the nation.We just set up a trade office and this accounts for some of the work we have been doing.Also, some economic partnerships are being entered into with the European Union and we are looking at policies that will benefit Nigeria.This is because we are looking at the economic interest of Nigeria in the partnership.Osinbajo said that one of the points was that the government would cooperate with Nigerias neighbours and that was currently going on to secure the ntions borders.He said that a multinational joint task force was in place with the nations neighbours to combat insurgency, to allow for free trade and other beneficial activities.Mr Peter Obi, Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that Nigeria had a lot to offer Africa, thus the party would create a policy to achieve that.Obi said that the party would enter into an international relationship that would be beneficial to the nation and add value to its economy.He said that this would in turn boost the nations economy and create jobs .So a policy that will be a win win situation for Nigeria where we will stop borrowing but go and learn about how other countries do it so we can replicate it.Mrs Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya ,Vice Presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), promised to secure nigerias borders.Abdullahi-Iya said that this was imperative to know who comes and goes out of the nation for security purposes.Mr Ganiyu Galadima,Vice presidential candidate, Allied Congress of Nigeria (ACPN), said that Nigeria would partner other nations to leaverage on thier expertise on security.Galadima said that the party would combat terrorism and create a secured nation where commerce would thrive.Mrs Umma Getso, vice presidential candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP), said that the party would boost the economy and make it attractive to investors.Getso said that the investors would key into the partys local content policy to boost local industries.She said that way, jobs would be created for the youth. An extra- ordinary meeting of Heads of State and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC including President Muhammadu Buhar... An extra- ordinary meeting of Heads of State and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC including President Muhammadu Buhari , his Chadian counterpart, Idris Deby Itno and others is currently ongoing in Abuja to adopt a report on the Boko Haram insurgency. The meeting which is a follow up to a similar meeting held in Ndjamena, the Chadian capital last month was convened for the adoption of a report of the LCBC security and defence committee on the Boko Haram insurgency. Other African leaders attending the crucial meeting are President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, and Prime Minister of Cameroon, Philemon Yang, who represented President Paul Biya. In his remark during the opening ceremony, President Buhari who is the chairman of the LCBC, said the adoption of the report of the committee would bring a dynamism into the fight against the insurgents. Insisting that the Boko Haram war must be won,he said the time has come for evil of the Boko Haram to be brought to a definite end. President Buhari told his colleagues and security chiefs at the event, that this, is a fight to the finish. The African leaders have gone into a closed session after the opening ceremony. The closed session is expected to last for five hours . At the end of the meeting today, a communique would be issued on the new strategy to be adopted in the fight against Boko Haram. To keep politicians accountable at the vice-presidential and presidential debate, news medium, TheCable was live-checking the supposed... To keep politicians accountable at the vice-presidential and presidential debate, news medium, TheCable was live-checking the supposed facts and figures being bandied by those seeking the highest offices in the land. The participating parties are; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP). Peter Obi of the PDP, and APCs Yemi Osinbajo are debating alongside Ganiyu Galadima of ACPN, Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya of ANN and Umma Abdullahi-Getso of YPP. OBI: There are about two million vehicles in Nigeria. : There are about two million vehicles in Nigeria. CHECKED: False. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria has a total vehicle population of about 11,547,236 as at the third quarter of 2017. OSINBAJO: Lagos-Ibadan expressway was practically abandoned for 16 years under PDP. : Lagos-Ibadan expressway was practically abandoned for 16 years under PDP. CHECKED: False. The Goodluck Jonathan administration made many interventions on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, awarding a multi-billion naira contract to Julius Berger and RCC. The administration fixed the Ibadan to Ogere section of the road. OSINBAJO: A bag of fertiliser now sells for N6,000 to N7,000. A bag of fertiliser now sells for N6,000 to N7,000. CHECKED: Largely correct. Price of fertiliser has experienced a drastic drop following the Nigeria-Morocco fertiliser deal. Current prices are between N5,500 and N6,500. As at 2016, a bag of fertiliser sold above N10,000. OBI: Nigeria has fallen on the global competitive index from 124 to 127. Nigeria has fallen on the global competitive index from 124 to 127. Nigeria rose on the index by 10 places. Obis claim was true in 2016. CHECKED: False. According to the latest (2018) World Economic Forum report,. Obis claim was true in 2016. OBI: Total loans from the banks in Nigeria is N19trn and only 0.5% goes to SMEs Total loans from the banks in Nigeria is N19trn and only 0.5% goes to SMEs CHECKED: Yet to be verified. OSINBAJO: There is a tax threshold for SMEs, SMEs get to a level before they pay taxes. : There is a tax threshold for SMEs, SMEs get to a level before they pay taxes. CHECKED: True. There is a lower tax rate of 20% applicable to small companies in manufacturing, agriculture and mining within their first five years of business. The problem with the law is that the turnover threshold to qualify is only N1 million which is not in tune with current realities. OBI: Nigerias foreign direct investment for 2015 was $21bn, while it fell to $12bn in 2017. Nigerias foreign direct investment for 2015 was $21bn, while it fell to $12bn in 2017. CHECKED: False. According to NBS capital importation reports, Nigerias total imported capital stood at $9.6 billion in 2015, and $12.3 billion in 2017. Perhaps Obi meant 2014, when Nigerias total capital imported stood at $20.7 billion. OBI: African trade today is less than 9 percent. African trade today is less than 9 percent. CHECKED: False. According to Afriexim Bank, Intra-Africa trade is around 15 percent. In 2016, intra-African exports made up 18 percent of total exports according to Brookings Institution. OSINBAJO: Nigeria went down by 64 places under PDP, but has risen by 24 places under APC : Nigeria went down by 64 places under PDP, but has risen by 24 places under APC CHECKED: Partly False. Nigeria went down from 120 to 170 between 2008 and 2015, under PDP rule. Under the APC, ease of doing business has risen from 170 in 2015 to 146 in 2018, according to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business report. OBI: Oil gives you 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil gives you 80% of foreign exchange earnings. CHECKED: Point valid, figures near accurate. As at 2017 NBS figures showed that Nigerias foreign exchange earnings from oil the oil sector stood above 90%. OBI: To bring out goods from Apapa cost more than it takes to bring goods from Europe To bring out goods from Apapa cost more than it takes to bring goods from Europe CHECKED: Unverified GALADIMA: We have four refineries in Nigeria, and none is working. We have four refineries in Nigeria, and none is working. CHECKED: The refineries according to NNPC reports are working at sub-optimal levels. Not totally dysfunctional. UMMA GESTO: Nigerian Airways was one of the largest in the world. Nigerian Airways was one of the largest in the world. CHECKED: Unverified. OBI: The federal government spends only N5 on the health of each Nigerian citizen per day. : The federal government spends only N5 on the health of each Nigerian citizen per day. CHECKED: True. Based on budgetary and population calculations done, the federal government allocates N4.7 to every Nigerians health per day. OBI: Apple Incs market cap is bigger than the economies of Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt. Apple Incs market cap is bigger than the economies of Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt. CHECKED: Apples market cap today is $788.57 billion. The economies of these three countries are bigger than Apple. When Apple was $1 trillion a few months ago, it was bigger in dollar terms. OSINBAJO: Nigeria producing 90% of the rice we consume. : Nigeria producing 90% of the rice we consume. CHECKED: Dicey. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the countrys rice import has dropped drastically with a surge in local production. The CBN estimates that Nigeria has legally imported less than 25,000 tonnes of rice in 2018 validating Osinbajos claims. Africa Rice Centre says Nigeria produces 75% of its rice consumption, adding that rice smuggling is a big problem in Nigeria. Nobody tracks the amount of rice smuggled into the country. According to the Thailand Rice Exporters Association, the rice exported to Nigeria between January and October 2018 was 6,121 tonnes, representing a drastic drop when compared to 2016 when all-year import stood at 58,260 metric tonnes. But the rice exported to Benin Republic, where most of Nigerias smuggled rice comes from, has increased from 805,765 metric tonnes in 2015 to 1,214,568 metric tonnes as at October 2018. The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to strengthening national security architecture and addressing unemployment challenges bedevilling the country.The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen Abdurrahman Dambazau, made this known at the passing-out parade of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) graduates Cadets of 43rd Superintendent Basic course in Kano on Saturday.Dambazau was represented by at the occasion by the ACG of Immigration, Ado Jafar retired.He said the passing out of the 652 graduates cadets from the Immigration Training School, Kano was a clear demonstration of the Federal Governments commitment to not only strengthen our national security but also to provide gainful employment to the teeming youths of the country.Danbazau said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) would remain committed to staff training and discipline so as to ensure effective service delivery.He said the ministry and indeed the civil defence, fire, Immigration and prisons services board would continue to maintain absolute zero tolerance for misconduct from any personnel under its supervision.He, therefore, urged those graduating to ensure that they are always guided by the trainings they received as well as by the agencys rules of engagement in their conduct.As the supervising ministry, we shall continue to ensure that we attend to the genuine needs of all the services under our purview including NIS, for enhanced service delivery, he said.In his remark, the Comptroller-General of the NISS, Muhammad Babandede, tasked the graduating cadets on discipline and professional lifestyle.Babandede said the 43rd Superintendent Basic course was the first set of cadets with first degrees.We are proud to state that this new NIS training curriculum is one of the best document for any training institution in Nigeria.It is important to inform you that you are coming into an IT-driven service that puts high premium on systems automation and professionalism, he said.He warned the officers to avoid what he described as presentation of high profile notes or calls for special postings or favours saying that anybody who engaged in such acts the document will be recorded in his/her secret registry file.The consequence of such lobby for any favour may mar your career progression in the service in future.Also speaking, the commandant of the training school, Mr R.A. Adegoke called for the urgent rehabilitation of the school Indoor shooting range and the access road leading to the school.He also called for the construction of additional senior and junior staff quarters in addition to hostel accommodation for cadets. Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he cannot wait for the 2019 presidential debate. At... I watched with pride as @PeterObi laid out our vision to get Nigeria working again. Cant wait for the presidential debate. #2019Debate December 14, 2018 Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he cannot wait for the 2019 presidential debate.Atiku said this shortly after his running mate took on Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the debate organised by the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).The PDP candidate commended Obi for laying out our vision to get Nigeria working again.I watched with pride as @PeterObi laid out our vision to get Nigeria working again. Cant wait for the presidential debate, he tweeted.Five parties participated in the vice-presidential debate. They are Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).The presidential debate is scheduled for January 19.Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore under the aegis of Take it Back Movement, on Friday evening stormed the Congress Hall of Trancorp Hilton in Abuja and staged a protest against his exclusion from the debate. The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has said it was better that the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, A... The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has said it was better that the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu imposed the party governorship flagbearer in the 2019 election, Adebayo Adelabu, on him than the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, who he described as an Igbo man, to impose someone on Oyo people. Ajimobi, however, said it was actually God who told him to make Adelabu the next Governor. Ajimobi said the opposition partys flagbearer, making the insinuation, should be more worried about a non-Yoruba in the person of Secondus who according to him, chooses and determines the partys choice for the election. This was part of the Governors speech at flag-off of the governorship campaign rally at an event which held at the Oke Ado state party secretariat, Ibadan. He said, Before I said Adelabu would be the governor, God spoke to me. And some people said it was Tinubu who told me. Please is Tinubu living in Ibadan with us? Even if Tinubu had even told me, is it not better than Secondus, who is an Igbo man, to tell them who should be their flagbearer? You all should know that with all these that we are doing, God is really with us because when we started, what we asked God was that if we will do well, God should help us to get there and if we wont do well, he shouldnt allow us to get there. How many politicians can say that? It is almost eight years and you all can see how well we have done. Before we came into power, when they tell you someone is an NURTW member, do you stay close to him? How well do you pass through Iwo road and other places around town? Is it not in fear and anxiety? But the story has changed. There is peace and even the NURTW members are now peaceful and gentle people. God sees my heart. It is God who made us choose Adelabu. All those who aspired for the ticket, there was nobody among them who was not qualified. We had people with first class and second class in various fields, but the scripture must be fulfilled. Among all those who contested for the ticket, God told me that I should pick the youngest person in age and when you look at the bible for the story of David, you will understand better. Please, the remaining of you that you contested for the post, I beg you to forgive me. Adelabu did not put himself there, God put him there. He only used us to get there and I assure you, he will not misuse it. Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State says federal government requires the support of state governments to effectively prosecute the proliferation of fake news and hate speech.He has called for a total overhaul of the extant laws to enable state governments thoroughly prosecute the offenders.The Governor made the remarks in Kaduna when he received the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on a courtesy visit, on the sidelines of the ongoing 47th National Council on Information, with the theme Tackling Fake News and Hate Speech to Enhance Peace and National Unity.He said because of the challenges posed by fake news and hate speech, state governments and state high courts need to be given jurisdiction to try these cases because federal government cannot do it alone.What we need is to give state governments and state high courts jurisdiction to try these cases because the federal government cannot do it alone. What we are thinking in Kaduna state is to enact our own legislation against fake news and hate speech.Right now, we have enough in the Penal Code to try people that do that but we need a stronger framework that will recognise technologies and processes that are used now for more than ever. It is a big problem, particularly in a state like Kaduna where everything, even if you invite 10 people to a launching it acquires ethnic or religious coloration.I commend the Council for taking up this serious matter. I strongly recommend that not only the federal government and its agencies should be at the forefront of this war against fake news and hate speech but I think the state governments and state courts should be given broader jurisdiction to respond to this.We know the dangers of these kinds of careless statements and what is most unfortunate is that the guiltiest people are people that are assumed to be more responsible, the pastors, Imams and important people in the society.It is not only the President that was said to be cloned, I was also summoned from Mali, that someone went to Madiki in place Bamako Mali to change my birth place, the day El-Rufai died when he went on exile on 2009.We have a serious problem. Those who are running away from the need to have legislative framework to deal with this subject are putting this country in danger because it is not weapons that kills, it is words that kill. 800,000 people in Rwanda were killed in two weeks because of radio and if we continue to play with this, one day this country will go up in flames.The Governor who attributed the recent crisis in the State to fake news said the launching of the campaign against fake news and hate speech by federal government was quite commendable and should be sustained. At the ripe age of 16, Kylie Jenner had her very first lip injection, which helped spawn an entire Jenneration of young women seeking to plump their lips (and perhaps invest in one of Kylie's own insanely successful Lip Kits). It's become a marker of today's Instagram influencers, backed by statistics that show a dramatic increase in the use of fillers within the U.S. According to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number increased from 1.8 million in 2010 to 2.6 million in 2016. And while Kylie has since deflated her lips, the impact is still present a mirror to our image-obsessed, selfie society that collage artist Mat Maitland is spotlighting in his new, ongoing series. Maitland, who's famous for creating Michael Jackson's posthumous Xscape album art, looked to Hollywood starlets of yore, and reimagined them using contemporary beauty ideals. He took late icons like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, and enlarged their lips as if they were a part of today's Jenneration. The result is at once hilarious and unsettling, echoing an era when plastic surgery has become a casual lunch time hobby. But for Maitland, this isn't a critique, but an observation on a phenomenon he finds deeply fascinating. "I started to imagine some of the most idolized stars embracing cosmetic procedures and trends if they were still alive today." "Some people might look at this series and believe that I am making a hard commentary on cosmetic procedures. This isn't the case at all," Maitland told PAPER. "I've always been fascinated by people who push beauty to the extreme. One of my heroes, Michael Jackson, explored the idea of transformation early on in his career. Cosmetic approaches to beauty were previously restricted to celebrities and the mega wealthy but these have now become more attainable. Everywhere you look there is evidence of these contemporary ideals of beauty. You can observe the new normal across the world. This is what made me think about identity in our contemporary world. I started to imagine some of the most idolized stars embracing cosmetic procedures and trends if they were still alive today. Celebrities of the past altering their iconic looks to fit in with today's more clone-like ideals." Check out Mat Maitland's updated icons, below, and follow him on Instagram. Princess Diana, 2018 News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. The Mankralo, or clan head, of the Prampram Traditional Area, Nene Atsure Benta III, has been gunned down by some unknown assailants at Apollonia, in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality of Greater Accra. The deceased, who was also the acting President of the Prampram Traditional Council was killed Thursday afternoon at about 4:40 pm [December 13, 2018] whilst returning from a meeting in Dodowa in the Shai-Osudoku District. Police sources tell Graphic Online that the Mankralo was ambushed and shot along the way. The Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP Edward Johnson Akrofi-Oyirifi who confirmed the incident told Graphic Online that policemen from the Dodowa District Command are at the scene of the incident to convey the body to the police hospital mortuary. He said investigations are underway. Nene Benta has been acting over the past decade as regent for the community following the absence of a substantive chief. There was a move by the Sentse (Stool Father) of Prampram on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, to destool him over allegations that he [Mankralo] had taken money from one person, who is claiming and want to be enstooled as a Paramount Chief of Prampram. Nene Benta is said to have assured the person, after taking his money, that, he would ensure that he was enstooled as the Paramount Chief for the area. The Police Commander indicated the stool father was said to have visited the palace to perform some rituals in relation to the purported destoolment. Presently, my men are at the scene conducting a site investigation and to also convey the body to the police hospital mortuary so as to inform our next line of action, DCOP Akrofi-Oyirifi stated. Source: Graphic Online Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A group of UK schoolgirls who were sexually assaulted at gunpoint in Ghana are receiving support, police say. They were attacked on a visit to the west African country last Friday and returned to the UK on Sunday. A British police force which asked not to be identified to help safeguard the girls anonymity is assisting an investigation in Ghana. Police said they would do everything possible to ensure the offenders were brought to justice. The police statement said the group were held at gunpoint after a number of armed men entered their accommodation. A Ghanaian security guard was shot and the female victims were subjected to serious sexual assaults. Some of their possessions were also stolen. The victims are now being given support from specially trained police officers, their school and other agencies, police added. The statement continued: We are aware that the public will wish to show their support for the victims in this case but it is vital that their anonymity is maintained. This includes discussion of their names, ages, addresses, school or any other information which could lead to their identification. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghana lost in excess of GH 2.7 million in Agribusiness investments to malaria infections in 2016, a joint research conducted by the National Malaria Control Programme and School of Public Health of the University of Ghana, has revealed. The study, which covered 62 businesses in the Northern, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Western and Central Regions, showed that about 80 percent of the total cost was spent on malaria treatment. Mr Richard Kpabitey, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager of the Private Sector Malaria Prevention (PSMP) announced this at a stakeholders advocacy forum on malaria prevention held in Cape Coast He said there was 14 percent lost in productivity due to malaria illness, which resulted in absenteeism of employees. The engagement, organised by the PMSP, formed part of its three-year advocacy project of the United States John Hopkins Centre for Communication Programme. The United Kingdoms Department for International Development (DFID) is funding the programme, being implemented in the country to whip up private sector engagement and support towards malaria control. Mr Kpabitey noted that the impact of malaria on farm and agri-business could be devastating as it could strike farming communities at critical planting, weeding and harvesting times, leading to low productivity. Malaria endemic regions could experience malaria episodes up to five times in a year, and he said, this could be averted if farmers adhered to malaria prevention tips including sleeping under insecticide treated nets. He praised the government for the implementation of the One Village, One Dam, and Planting for Food and Jobs Programme but called for a more aggressive approach to malaria prevention. At the end of the meeting, stakeholders urged proper disposal of waste, increased public education on malaria prevention, training and capacity building of farmers. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications, has said the National Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Project switch-over would commence in the first quarter of next year. She said the Ministry had completed the provision of dedicated power to 37 DTT transmission sites in eight regions, namely Eastern, Central, Western, Volta, Northern, Brong Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West. She said a team of NEDCO engineers and the suppliers, NET Limited, were currently provisioning the dedicated electricity power into the transmitters to ensure the availability of digital broadcasting signals in the northern part of the country. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, announced this at the Meet-the-Press series in Accra when the Communications Ministry took its turn. All other sites have dedicated power and testing is ongoing and the switchover is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of next year, she said Government is implementing the road map to migrate the country from analogue to digital television transmission. The As-Built DTT platform has two multiplexes with a full capacity of 40 Standard Definition (SD) channels. This capacity has been fully exhausted by existing analogue broadcasters, and that, new broadcasters had been authorised by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to operate. According to the Minister, there were pending applications for digital terrestrial television broadcasting authorisations in existing regions and the new regions to be created, which would also require localized channels on the platform. She said adequate capacity has to be provided to accommodate broadcasters that had secured premium content rights (i.e. pay-per-view events) and wanted to transmit through the platform. Additionally, international broadcast companies such as France24, CNN, and others had also expressed interest in localizing their content on the DTT platform when capacity is available, she said. In recognition of those challenges, the Minister stated that, an audit of the DTT infrastructure was conducted and expansion of the infrastructure to include disaster recovery sites and additional 60 channels with a mix of High Definition and Standard Definition Channels was recommended. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a year end interview with The Canadian Press on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Trudeau is blaming pockets of resistance to the legalization of marijuana for a cannabis supply shortage that has slowed the dissemination of legal weed in parts of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The closest call was when Peter Lugaro tried to pass an Amish buggy on Route 896, a hilly road that he drove from Lancaster to West Grove. His Jeep Cherokees transmission failed while alongside the horse-drawn carriage, losing power as an oncoming car approached. Unable to accelerate, he thankfully had enough momentum to climb a steep hill, coast around the buggy, and pull over into safety, barely avoiding an accident. Lugaros 2014 Cherokee, which for a moment had less horsepower than a one-horse carriage, is one of hundreds of thousands of cars that manufacturer Fiat Chrysler recalled in 2016 for faulty transmissions that unexpectedly shifted into neutral. The vehicles are part of a nationwide class-action case in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. Plaintiffs lawyers and consumer advocates now warn that a proposed settlement to the case would be a bad deal for car owners, who could potentially earn much more money by bringing individual claims. They say the settlement would effectively wipe out a host of lemon law cases at a minimal cost to the manufacturer. These sorts of settlements create an informal precedent for depriving consumers who have been sold a defective vehicle their full measure of compensation, said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a Washington-based pro-consumer group founded by Ralph Nader. He said his group typically supports auto class actions, but finds this proposed settlement to be particularly lacking." The settlement, which could receive final court approval as soon as February, would award qualifying consumers up to $2,000 cash or $4,000 toward a trade-in, depending on how many transmission complaints a consumer can document. It would also extend a warranty for the troublesome transmissions by one year, to six years or 100,000 miles. But Lugaros wife, Lindsay, did better when she pursued her own case against Fiat Chrysler over their Jeep Cherokees transmission. She won $10,000 cash plus attorneys fees in arbitration, pending an appeal, according to the July award. She had four documented repair attempts, her complaint said. That could have earned her $800 cash or $2,000 toward a trade-in under the proposed settlement. Whoever is proceeding with this [class-action] case is more concerned with what theyre going to make for themselves instead of their clients, Peter Lugaro, 37, of Lancaster, said last week. Lawyers representing class members Jordan Lurie and Tarek Zohdy of Los Angeles-based Capstone Law and Howard Gutman of Mount Olive, Morris County did not return requests for comment. They will ask the court to award them up to $1.26 million in attorneys fees and costs, according to court filings. In a statement, Fiat Chrysler noted the settlement was preliminarily approved by a judge as fair and reasonable." The company also accused the law firm representing Lugaro Ambler-based Kimmel & Silverman of being motivated by money in urging consumers to opt out of the settlement. The court noted that the settlement was adequate and that the parties acted in good faith, the statement said. This effort seems to be motivated more by the plaintiffs firms interest in enriching itself than helping our customers. The proposed settlement would affect anyone who bought or leased a new 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee, 2015 Jeep Renegade, 2015 Chrysler 200, and 2015 ProMaster City. Class members have until Jan. 2 to opt out or object to the settlement. Those who dont opt out will lose their rights to sue Fiat Chrysler over the issue. To opt out, consumers must send a letter by U.S. mail including their full name and current address; the vehicles model, year, and vehicle identification number; and approximate date of purchase or lease. Exclusion requests must be mailed to Granillo v. FCA US Exclusions c/o Dahl Administration at P.O. Box 3614 in Minneapolis. Under Pennsylvania and New Jersey lemon laws, consumers can win full refunds or replacement vehicles if manufacturers cant fix new cars after a reasonable number of repair attempts, usually considered at least three tries. Thats similar to the threshold needed to qualify for money under the proposed Fiat Chrysler settlement. Consumers must document at least three transmission-related complaints to receive the minimum benefits: $400 cash or a $1,000 trade-in voucher. Four to five complaints would get consumers $800 cash or $2,000 toward a trade-in, while six or more complaints would produce the maximum payout of $2,000 cash or $4,000 toward a trade-in. The documented complaints must have been made to a Fiat Chrysler dealer and be validated by the manufacturer. Kimmel & Silverman, the law firm representing Lindsay Lugaro, says it has won Cherokee owners much more money than whats being offered in the settlement, with victims getting anywhere from $3,500 to a full repurchase of the vehicle. Lawyer Robert Silverman said the proposed settlement is among other recent auto class actions that produced little benefit for consumers, but earned attorneys hundreds of thousands of dollars. He pointed to a 2016 settlement with Subaru over excessive oil consumption, a deal that gave consumers an extended warranty and reimbursements for oil changes and related costs. But he said this deal is worse because Fiat Chrysler wont have to buy back cars with potentially dangerous defects, as state legislatures intended when passing lemon laws. Those statutes also prevent manufacturers from reselling the cars unless they disclose to consumers that the vehicles were bought back under lemon laws. The lemon law is designed for two purposes. Not just to compensate consumers and allow attorneys to make money, [but also] to title brand the vehicle and take the vehicle off the road, Silverman said. Thats never going to happen here. Unlike this proposal, a 2017 class-action settlement with Ford over transmission problems did provide an avenue for class members to get their cars bought back. That class was represented by Capstone Law, the same firm representing class members in this case. The Pennsylvania attorney general is investigating the shuttering this month of five Brightwood Career Institute schools across the state, which stranded 1,510 students without classes or diplomas. Brightwood Career, with two campuses in Philadelphia, as well as in Broomall, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, represents the largest for-profit school closing in Pennsylvania, the state agency said. Other for-profit closures include ITT Tech in 2016, with 1,252 students in Pennsylvania, and the Art Institute of Philadelphia this summer with 400 students. Attorney General Josh Shapiro said this week that so far 30 Brightwood students have contacted his office. We opened up an investigation, Shapiro said in an interview, in which he encouraged more students to call or email his office. Its deeply troubling. These are people who paid out-of-pocket or took out loans for school and may not receive a degree. Brightwood students nationwide owe millions of dollars in student loans, and much of it may not be forgiven. Former students also will hold degrees from an institution that no longer exists, while current students will have to transfer to another school to finish their degrees in computers and electrical and medical fields. Brightwood, owned by the Education Corp. of America in Birmingham, Ala., with 20,000 students nationwide, did not respond for comment. The company said on its website about whether it would pay licensing or certificate exams: ECA has gone out of business and therefore has no funds with which to pay for certification or licensure exams." This is not the outcome that we envisioned and is one that we recognize will have a dramatic effect on our students, employees and many partners, said Diane Worthington, a spokesperson for Education Corp. of America (ECA), in a statement about the closing last week. Several employees sued ECA in Delaware last week for closing and laying them off without proper notice. We hope to recover 60 days wages and benefits for the employees as required" by law, said attorney Charles A. Ercole of Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg in Philadelphia in a statement. Brightwoods closing has been attributed to regulatory pressures and dwindling enrollment. In October, the company sued the U.S. Education Department seeking to maintain its federal funding, which was jeopardized by its poor finances. A judge later dismissed the suit. Court documents filed by the company maintained that ECA owed $66 million at the time, and that its lagging revenue left it unable to make payments on its debt or rental fees, and that it faced eviction at several campuses, the Chicago Tribune reported. The five-year national default rate for Brightwood borrowers was 31.5 percent in 2016, according to an Inquirer analysis of Department of Education data for the five years ending in 2016. The Pennsylvania loan default rate was even higher, hitting 38 percent, according to the analysis. The nonprofit Center for American Progress obtained the data on student default rates for more than 4,000 for-profit and nonprofit institutions through a Freedom of Information Act request earlier this year and posted it online. An associates degree in computer networking technology would have cost $33,000 in tuition and fees at the Philadelphia Mills campus, Brightwoods website indicates. U.S. students at for-profit and nonprofit colleges such as Pennsylvania State University or Temple now owe $1.5 trillion, or more than the debt on credit cards, home-equity lines, or auto loans. Students at for-profit schools are defaulting at roughly double the rate of nonprofits, Eli Dvorkin, editorial director and co-author of Deeper In Debt: For-Profit Colleges Driving Loan Defaults from the nonprofit Center for an Urban Future, said on Wednesday. This is harming the very students who are struggling the hardest to get ahead, he added. For-profit technical institutes and colleges are closing because of state or federal enforcement action, financial mismanagement, or shrinking enrollment, Dvorkin said. For-profit enrollment soared after the Great Recession a decade ago when the jobless rate climbed. The attorney generals hotline is 1-800-441-2555 or students can email scams@attorneygeneral.gov. There also are complaint forms available online at: www.attorneygeneral.gov. Contacting your student loan servicer If you took out loans to attend Brightwood, you may be able to apply for a closed school loan discharge -- but theres no guarantee. Start by contacting the Department of Education. For more information, visit the website: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/education-corporation-america.pdf. Then contact your student loan servicer. To find out your loan servicer, log in to My Federal Student Aid at StudentAid.gov/login or call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-800-730-8913). Complete and return the closed school loan discharge application sent by your loan servicer or complete the closed school loan discharge application at StudentAid.gov/closedschoolform and return it to the loan servicer. Students must send Closed School Loan Discharge Applications to federal student loan servicers. Students are supposed to continue to make payments on loans while discharge applications are being processed. If students do not meet the criteria for a loan discharge, they will be informed by loan servicers and will need to continue making payments. Visit StudentAid.gov/closedschool for additional information about closed school loan discharges. Request a transcript If youre a student at Brightwood wanting to transfer your credits, the schools owner, Education Corp. of America, set up a website with some information: Currently, ECA recommends transferring to a list of schools in Pennsylvania that include Fortis Colleges & Institutes, Lincoln College of Technology, Pittsburgh Technical, and Triangle Technical. Or go online: www.ecacolleges.com/transfers. But its unclear whether ECA owns those schools as well. Democrat Lindsey Williams, winner of the November election in a Pittsburgh-area state Senate district, has come under fire from GOP Senate leaders who question her residency. Read more This fall, voters in a Pennsylvania state senate district that straddles Pittsburgh and its northern suburbs knew all about the questions that had been raised about the Democrat in the race, a labor lawyer and first-time candidate named Lindsey Williams. Anyone who picked up a newspaper could read Republican charges that Williams hadnt lived in the commonwealth long enough to meet a four-year residency rule, and also check out Williams' counter-argument that shed met the requirement, albeit just barely. On Nov. 6, the will of the people in western Pennsylvania was clearly to ignore the residency kerfuffle. Williams was narrowly elected, by a margin of roughly 800 votes, in the longtime Republican-held 38th Senate District -- part of a blue wave across the state that saw Democrats make meaningful gains in the GOP-controlled state legislature, especially in suburban districts. The response from those Republicans who still control the state Senate has been ... not so fast! In a move lacking any clear precedent, GOP Senate leaders have demanded that Sen.-elect Williams -- if we can still call her that -- submit extensive documentation to prove that the Pennsylvania native had indeed moved back to the Keystone State before the Nov. 6, 2014, cutoff date. And theyve threatened action to block her from taking office if they find her paperwork lacking. She needs to have the ability to come in and lay out that she does meet the requirements and, if she does, thatll be the end of it, the Republican Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman told the Associated Press last month. If she doesnt, then weve got an issue that we need to deal with. There has already been ample opportunity to deal with the issue of Williams' residency. Neither the GOP nor Williams' Democratic primary opponent challenged her when she filed her petitions last winter, during the legal window for doing so. When Republicans finally did go to court in October, a judge not only dismissed it as too late but said the non-residency allegations were barely colorable. The controversy clearly failed to convince voters that Williams was some kind of outsider. What the Republicans are threatening in Harrisburg is a pure power play -- a scheme to abuse their majority through that barely colorable technicality to overturn the results of an election. If this all sounds familiar, it should. Its one more salvo in a war against democracy thats been taking place this fall in statehouses in Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina, where sore loser Republicans are holding lame-duck sessions to limit the powers of Democratic governors, judges, or lawmakers before they take office in January. Its frustrating ... because the consensus in the 38th District was they knew about the issue, it was already dealt with in court and they still voted for me, Williams told me by phone Wednesday night. She argued that voters cared more about the issues she ran on -- expanding access to health care and education funding -- rather than whether she just made or just missed an arbitrary cut-off by a few days. Nonetheless, Williams has already submitted roughly 1,000 pages of paperwork to Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati in an effort to prove that shed already accepted her current job as a lawyer for the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers union and begun her move here before the 2014 deadline. The absurd part of this -- well, one of them, anyway -- is that Williams is as Pennsylvania as they come, a daughter of the coal country outside of Scranton. Her father was a union man, a lifelong member of the Operating Engineers, and she stayed in the state for Dickinson College and Duquesne University School of Law. She moved for a time to Maryland and worked in D.C. with the National Whistleblowers Center, where her fight to unionize her co-workers made national news. The dispute over her residency -- Williams has the email accepting her Pittsburgh job days before the cutoff, but her GOP critics noted she voted in Maryland that November and gave her Maryland address on a traffic ticket -- seems a bit silly. Having covered politics around these parts for more than two decades, I know judges to be generous to candidates when residency issues seems the least bit murky (the 1999 Philadelphia mayoral candidate Marty Weinberg was Exhibit A) and for good reason: They think voters should have a greater say in who represents them than some judge. And maybe its because Im a native New Yorker -- where politicians like Bobby Kennedy and Hillary Clinton waltzed in from Massachusetts or God knows where and got elected U.S. senator -- but four years seems an unduly restrictive deadline, aimed at protecting incumbents. But Corman, Scarnati, and the other GOP powerbrokers in Harrisburg arent working in a vacuum. The post-electoral assault on Williams' election is a miniature version of much grander power plays in Wisconsin -- where GOP lawmakers and just-defeated Gov. Scott Walker enacted a series of bills to weaken the incoming Democrat who defeated Walker. (One measure, for example, would limit the ability of Gov.-elect Tony Evers to fulfill his promise to withdraw from a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. ) Similar legislative moves that would limits what new governors or attorneys general (who just happen to be Democrats) can do are afoot in Michigan and North Carolina. The anti-democratic maneuvers come off as a way for the Republican Party to hold onto power thats slipping away at the ballot box, its base of white rural voters shrinking. For decades, the Republican Party prepared to keep power even as it represented a coalition that became the minority, Vann R. Newkirk II wrote recently in The Atlantic. Now, the plan is in full effect. In Wisconsin, some lawmakers have been very open about the notion that rural lawmakers represent the true will of the people" -- even if more actual votes come from cities with large populations of college kids or non-white voters. The Badger States Republican House speaker even claimed that if you took Madison and Milwaukee out of the state election formula, we would have a clear majority, In Pennsylvania, its hard not to imagine some rural Republicans with the same warped idea about Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or their increasingly Democratic suburbs. The presence of a Democratic governor in Tom Wolf -- who bucked a GOP national landslide when he was elected in 2014 -- has blocked the kind of extreme measures emerging in Madison or Lansing. But Wolf presumably couldnt defend Williams -- except in the court of public opinion -- if the Republican Senate majority refuses to accept her election. Harrisburg Republicans are working not from strength but from fear. The 2018 Democratic gains in suburbs like Delaware County that are in a state of resistance against the Trump presidency suggests real danger for GOP control in 2020 -- and a four-year Senate seat like Williams' could make the difference. You could argue that its hardball, or realpolitik -- the kind of nonsense Pennsylvanians should be numb to by now. But this feels different. Refusing to accept the results of an election -- either by refusing to seat the winner or by leaving booby traps when the other party wins -- is the stuff of banana republics, not the great American Experiment in government by the people. The intense tribalism -- the notion that members of the opposing party arent real Americans, or lack legitimacy -- isnt politics as usual. Its one more alarming warning sign of a nation increasingly ripped asunder. And now the political aspirations of Lindsey Williams are caught in that cross seam. She told me she ran because she thought she could make a difference in Harrisburg after watching lawmakers attack teachers and chip away at labor protections, that it got really frustrating fighting it as an outsider. Now she waits to see if the men who run Harrisburg will let her inside. Teacher Joanne Ruiz help students check out books at the new library at Stetser Elementary. Read more When Widener University senior Melissa Damiani entered Stetser Elementary in August for the first day of an intensive, semester-long student-teaching program at the Chester school, the 22-year-old was shocked by what she saw. Or, more accurately, what she didnt see. When I walked in, they dont have the supply closet, said Damiani, whod spent the summer working at a much-better-equipped middle school in New Jersey. They dont have a functional library. They dont even have a separate cafeteria where they can make warm meals for these kids. I thought, somethings got to give. So, Damiani turned to social media and made a plea to family and friends for school supplies that quickly went viral. Companies like Scholastic which donated 20 Yoobie boxes filled with pencils, glue and more hopped on. Then came the books, as one area school after another held a donation drive, until more than 3,000 had been dropped off. Little more than three months later, students at the elementary school in Delaware Countys most disadvantaged school district, Chester Upland, are enjoying Stetsers first library in years albeit a makeshift one comprising three overstuffed bookcases with so many books floating around that each student crafted a box to take up to five books home. Other than Chester High, its the only school in the district with its own library. The 300 pre-K through sixth graders have already proclaimed library day when they line up at the bookshelves next to Stetsers all-purpose room and pick out a new book to take home as their favorite day of the week. At the end of the line, Jesdriel Dominques, 6, already had a book, Junie B. Jones, First Grader, and was reading while he walked. I read it all by myself, he said. But the birth of the pop-up library at Stetser is more than just another viral success story. Its also a high point for a unique effort Wideners Center for Educations Community Engaged Teacher Education Program that aims to give future teachers like Damiani a better understanding of challenges in urban education by immersing them in not just the school, but the broader community. You need to know your children and where your children come from in order to make a good relationship and select materials meaningful to them, said Widener education professor Nadine McHenry, who has run the program since it was launched three years ago. The Widener students who take part in the program dont just spend time in a classroom, they also meet the kids families, attend cultural events, take their academic courses in a local church, and talk regularly with a council of 10 elders from Chesters black community. McHenry said the program seeks to change the perspective of middle-class students who go into urban environments and see only deficits, not the assets that exist. That said, it was a deficit the lack of books and other school supplies that really jumped out at Damiani when she arrived at Stetser a week ahead of the first-grade class, in whose room she now spends 2 hours a day as a student teacher. It was a really important thing for me, growing up, to go out and check out a book, said Damiani, who is from Washington Township in South Jersey and is majoring in elementary and special education. If were not having kids read ... their fluency and comprehension is not as good. Especially at a young age. The lack of basic supplies with teachers often dipping into their own pockets to the tune of hundreds of dollars is a long-running story in Chester Upland, which has struggled for more than a decade with large deficits, massive budget cuts, and shrinking enrollment that led to a state takeover of the district. Educators at Stetser which sits across East 17th Street from Wideners Chester campus on property owned by the university said libraries have disappeared from most schools as books grew old and outdated, and a series of building closures and consolidations put space at a premium. Stetsers principal, Janet Baldwin, said that when she arrived at the building nine years ago, the books were piled up in a room at the end of a hall, and then even that was dismantled for space reasons. When we were reorganizing the books, they were all 15 to 20 years old, she recalled. The fiction books were OK, but worn by then. Nonfiction were totally outdated. Joanne Ruiz, the teacher in the first-grade classroom where Damiani is assigned, said that in over 21 years she has taught in three Chester Upland public schools and seen the library vanish from each. Its very important, Ruiz said of the library project, saying her students love the excitement of going and selecting a book. They [Widener students] put together a variety of books, lots of genres. At the recent library day, kids lined up with books titled Lego, Curious George, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and more. Journe Young, 7, held ballerina Debbie Allens book, In the Wings. She said she would like to be a ballerina too someday. As the books piled up, Allison Reuter, another of the 17 Widener students in the program this semester, enlisted her dad to construct the three large bookshelves. To Wideners McHenry, building shelves isnt as important as the long-range goals of building better ties between the university and Chester, and creating a new generation of teachers who understand the challenges of modern city schools. The takeaway, she said, is, if you make relationships with your students and find out whats important to them, it may not be the same thing that is important to you but you have to understand that. A replica of the stained glass Nipper greets residents and guests at the Victor Building apartments. Read more Developer Carl Dranoff asked a New Jersey judge on Thursday to toss a lawsuit filed by Camden over his Victor Building apartment project, accusing the South Jersey city of pursuing an unjust vendetta against him with a legal action that stands in violation of state law. In a brief accompanying Dranoffs motion to dismiss the lawsuit alleging $9 million in dodged taxes from the Victor apartments, which was filed in Camden County Superior Court, lawyers for the developer portray Camdens complaint as an attempted end-run around a suit he had filed against the city months earlier. Camdens rush to file this lawsuit in this court when there is another lawsuit pending in federal court involving the same contracts and transaction is proof positive that its motives are purely nefarious, Dranoffs lawyers wrote in the brief. If Camden was sincere in its purported belief that [Dranoff] had somehow failed to pay his fair share of taxes and was not actually pursuing a vendetta against [him], it would not have filed this lawsuit. Dranoff declined to comment on the motion, saying the brief speaks for itself. A Camden city spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Superior Court Judge Steven J. Polansky wrote in a Friday filing that Dranoffs motion will be decided Jan. 11. Dranoff and Camden struck a 2002 deal part of the citys urban-revitalization efforts that exempted the developer from property taxes on the 349-unit apartment Victor Building project for 30 years in exchange for an agreement to pay a much-reduced service charge." Dranoff alleged in a complaint filed in federal court in June that Camden officials were in breach of a contractual obligation to transfer the tax break as part of a since-lapsed purchase agreement this year between the developer and Denver-based Apartment Investment & Management Co., or Aimco. Judge Noel L. Hillman of U.S. District Court in Camden is reviewing motions filed as part of that suit. Camden followed up on Monday with a suit of its own that accused Dranoff of scheming to avoid paying what it described as excess profit payments owed under the terms of the 2002 deal. Dranoff called the allegations false and malicious" in a statement earlier this week. In filings this week, Dranoffs lawyers cast the citys lawsuit as violating the states entire controversy doctrine, a legal principle holding that disputes should be handled one court case at a time, since it overlaps with his earlier-filed litigation. Camden is attempting to make an end-run around the federal lawsuit in violation of long-standing New Jersey law, the lawyers wrote. Besides smearing a well-respected and dedicated developers good name and punishing him despite all that he has done, Camdens lawsuit has also served to waste the parties and the courts time and resources. Senator-elect Lindsey Williams, a Democrat, settles in to her district office in Glenshaw, Allegheny County, earlier this week. Read more HARRISBURG Top leaders in the Pennsylvania Senate received identical piles of documents this week pertaining to the residency of Lindsey Williams, the Democrat who won a fierce battle for a Senate seat in Pittsburgh. But they seem to be approaching two different conclusions about whether Williams meets the requirements to rightfully take her seat next month alongside other new members. While Democrats say there is no doubt in our minds she meets the criteria, one top Republican staffer believes some of the material provided candidly, cuts against her. Republican senators, who control the chamber, are expected to discuss privately in the coming days whether they want to attempt to block Williams from taking her seat. If they do, they will likely find themselves in uncommon political and legal territory, and the consequences of their action could reverberate across the state. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny) said he has never ... not in all my years in the legislature seen a situation like this one. The package submitted earlier this week included a letter from Williams' lawyer, Charles Pascal Jr., and about 30 documents. The debate over whether to seat Williams is unfolding at a time when Republicans are reeling from a series of bruising election losses. The GOP lost five Senate seats four outside Philadelphia and one to Williams. If Williams takes her seat, there will be 29 Republicans and 21 Democrats in the Senate at the beginning of the session. If the Republicans lose five seats in 2020, they will forfeit control of the chamber just before state officials draw new legislative lines that will impact a decades worth of elections. Some Democrats see a connection and view Republicans questioning of Williams residency as part of a larger effort to chip away at Democratic power across the country. The attacks against Senator-elect Williams are only happening because the Pennsylvania Republican Party, like their counterparts across the country, are sore losers, Sincere Harris, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said in a statement. From Wisconsin to Michigan to North Carolina, and now Pennsylvania, the Republican Party has stooped to trying to subvert the will of the people and attempting to flout the democratic process as a last resort when they cannot win elections. A top Republican Senate staffer disputes that notion. This isnt some sort of political mission, said Drew Crompton, the Senates top attorney and chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson). He added later, This is not some sort of charade and not some sort of vendetta. He pitches it as something else: an effort to ensure that all state senators meet each of the few requirements for office outlined in the state constitution. They must be 25 or older. They must not have certain criminal convictions. And they must have lived in Pennsylvania for four years. Even some of the states most seasoned political observers are reluctant to guess which side will ultimately prevail. Its a tough issue, said political pollster and analyst G. Terry Madonna of Franklin & Marshall College. Trying to figure out how its going to turn out is anybodys guess. State officials and judges who decide legal arguments about a candidates residency consider a variety of factors when they are trying to determine if someone meets the requirements. They consider things like a persons drivers license, when and where they registered to vote, what addresses were listed on their utility bills, where they physically stayed, and where they stored their belongings, among other things. There is no single act or omission which can establish or disprove residency, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees elections, said in a statement earlier this year. Rather, the people deciding these disputes often consider the circumstances as a whole. No one interviewed for this story could point to a prior residency case that perfectly matches Williams situation. To meet the residency requirements, people who are taking office in the new term must have lived in Pennsylvania beginning no later than Nov. 6, 2014, according to common interpretations of case law. Williams, a Luzerne County native, went to law school in Pittsburgh and worked in the Washington, D.C., area afterward. She has said she received a job offer from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers on Oct. 30, 2014, and traveled to Luzerne County that day to get some belongings from her parents. She said she drove to Pittsburgh on Nov. 6, 2014, with some of her belongings and stayed with friends there until she moved into her West View apartment (except for one period of time when she was on a business trip and another trip to Maryland to get some more of her belongings). Republicans note that she voted in Maryland in the November 2014 election, had a Maryland address listed when she paid a speeding ticket on the 10th of the month, and signed her lease in West View, a Pittsburgh suburb, only midmonth. She changed her drivers license and voter registration in December 2014. I dont know if the arguments resolvable on when she actually had residency, said Madonna, the political analyst. Thats the problem. Residency challenges are typically filed early in the election cycle, usually within a week of the deadline for filing the nominating petitions each candidate must submit to appear on the ballot. No one challenged Williams petitions within that deadline. Weeks before the November election, two residents in Williams district, with support from Republicans, filed a lawsuit seeking to have her kicked off the ballot on the grounds that they had just learned that she did not meet the residency requirements. A judge tossed the suit on a technicality. He did not rule on the merits of her residency. There have, in the past, been efforts to block state legislators from taking their seats or to remove them after they have taken office. But many of those cases involve people who were convicted of crimes or elected amid allegations of voter fraud neither of which applies here. If Republicans decide not to seat Williams, that could, in theory, trigger a special election. Both Republicans and Democrats say they expect there would be a legal challenge if the Senate refuses to seat Williams. Williams and her attorney are preparing for various scenarios. In the interim, shes been hiring staffers, moving into her district office, and attending new-member orientation. All I can do is focus on the job that the voters wanted me to do, and thats what Im going to do, she said. If a special election is held, Williams said she will absolutely run. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staff writer Julian Routh contributed to this report. Johnny Bobbitt Jr., jailed since last month on fraud, conspiracy, and theft charges in a $400,000 GoFundMe scheme, was ordered released Friday to await trial. New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mark Tarantino told Bobbitt he could go free from the Burlington County jail as long as he complies with a series of conditions. Among them is a requirement that Bobbitt, 35, attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings three times a week and stay drug-free. He must also submit to drug testing and avoid contact with his co-defendants, Kate McClure and Mark DAmico. The three are accused of setting up a fradulent GoFundMe campaign in November 2017 by concocting a false story to prey on the sympathies of donors who believed the money would be used to help Bobbitt get off the streets. Bobbitt, along with McClure and DAmico, are accused of duping more than 14,000 donors when the story they told went viral. Prosecutors say the three lied when they said Bobbitt had spent his last $20 to buy gasoline for McClure when she ran out last November while alone, at night, on an I-95 off ramp in Philadelphia, where Bobbitt was panhandling. The Good Samaritan tale spread when the three appeared on national television. They told donors the funds they raised would be used to buy Bobbitt a house and ensure his financial future. Prosecutors say McClure and DAmico squandered most of the money on vacations, gambling, and designer handbags. Bobbitt received about $75,000, authorities say, and spent some of that money on drugs. He later sued the couple and accused them of stealing the money that donors intended to go to him. That got the attention of law enforcement and led to the criminal charges. McClure, 28, and DAmico, 39, who have since split up, are out on bail and are expected to have their first hearing in a Burlington County courtroom on Dec. 24. The couple previously lived together in Florence, N.J. After Bobbitts court hearing Friday in Mount Holly, his attorney, Burlington County Deputy Public Defender John Keesler, said his client was expected to return to the apartment where he had been living before his arrest. Bobbitt told a judge last month he was living in Fishtown. Keesler declined to provide details on whether Bobbitt is living alone or with others. Hes happy to be out, Keesler said. In court Friday, Bobbitt was upbeat. Yes, sir, Bobbitt said when the judge asked whether he understood that if he violates any of the conditions he could again be imprisoned. I want you be successful with the terms that have been imposed, the judge said. Keesler said he would seek to have Bobbitts case diverted to Drug Court, an alternative court process for drug addicts. To do that, Keesler said, Bobbitt would have to plead guilty to one or more charges and would have to get the prosecutors approval. Assistant Burlington County Prosecutor Saurabh Singal confirmed the prosecutor is reviewing the Drug Court application. It depends on a legal and clinical analysis that would determine whether Bobbitt is eligible, he said. Unless Bobbitt is approved for Drug Court, his next court appearance will be Feb. 6. The DistrictBuilder mapping tool allows Pennsylvanians to redraw congressional district lines for cash prizes up to $5,000. Read more Antoinette Lobello didnt think twice about party affiliations while drawing congressional district lines. She didnt try anything fancy, resisting suggestions from other people in her group. All she considered was Pennsylvanias population density and distribution, and got to work from there. Lobello, a sophomore biological sciences major at Drexel University, drew a map with six of her classmates for their political science course. And her class assignment could win her group up to $5,000 in a statewide competition sponsored by the political watchdog group Committee of Seventy. Draw the Lines PA is a civic education and engagement initiative that invites Pennsylvania residents to redraw the states congressional district lines. The program is supported by Philadelphia and Pittsburgh nonprofits, including a $500,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation. The deadline for submissions for the first round is Friday at 11:59 p.m. Regional winners in Western, Central, and Eastern Pennsylvania take home a $500 prize. Statewide winners in each category high school, college, or adult could win up to $4,500 for their mapping masterpieces. Panels of judges will choose the winners through quantitative metrics such as compactness and equal population, along with the maps personal statement. Since states usually decide behind closed doors, we only concerned ourselves with population, Lobello said. We didnt look where certain party members lie. We didnt actually pay attention to that at all, so it could be as unbiased as possible." Earlier this year the state Supreme Court ruled that the states congressional map constituted an illegal gerrymander in favor of the GOP and ordered the lines redrawn before the November election. Under law, the lines will be redrawn again in 2021, after the 2020 Census. The Draw the Lines PA competition will continue every six months through 2021, said David Thornburgh, the president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy. In future rounds, contestants likely will take on state Senate and House district lines for a state that has the second-largest legislature, with 253 members total. This is sort of to whet the appetite of folks, Thornburgh said. Its like when you try to learn how to do puzzles, you start with a the 20-piece version then you move onto the 5,000-piece one. This competition is meant to give people a hands-on understanding of how to draw political maps, in the hopes they will engage heir lawmakers in conversation about their redistricting goals and priorities, he said. Thornburgh was chosen last month to chair Gov. Tom Wolfs redistricting commission. The 15-member commission will recommend ways to remedy gerrymandering in the state. He said hell be bringing to the table the maps Pennsylvanians submit. Kate Doyle, head of Fair District PAs southeastern chapter and member of the Draw the Lines PA steering commission, said the initiative gives residents exposure to the process. And if Pennsylvania ever creates an independent commission to draw the lines, it might have some experienced hands to draw upon. Some legislators have questioned whether a non-legislator would be able to draw a map. This initiative shows it is possible and its a viable option to have folks that are not legislators draw these lines," she said. This summer, the state Senate passed a bill creating an independent commission to draw the lines but it fell victicof Pennsylvanians tasked to draw state Senate and House district lines. But the bill fell to a poison pill by Senate Republicans to include judicial districts, and later died under more than 700 amendments in the House. Maps are drawn on the DistrictBuilder tool, created by Philadelphia tech company Azavea. Committee of Seventy and its dozens of partners have hosted more than 60 map-building events since the competition began in September. Statewide winners will be announced in the Capitol Rotunda at the end of January 2019. Following the May shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas, freshman Caitlyn Girouard (center) hugged a friend as students and parents waited to reunited. Read more The past year has seen 93 gun-related incidents in K-12 schools across the United States, the highest number since recording began in 1970 and more than double the number of shootings in 2017. The previous record was 59 incidents, set in 2006, according to data from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Naval Postgraduate School. The data counts any time a gun is brandished, is fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason. It includes shootings where there was no victim. A running tally kept by Education Week counted 113 people killed or injured in school shootings in 2018, with 23 shootings leading to injuries or deaths. The latest in the report was a Nov. 20 incident in Virginia in which one parent was wounded after a gun in another parents pocket accidentally discharged. In February, 17 were killed by a shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and in May, 10 were killed at Santa Fe (Texas) High School. The Parkland shooting was highly publicized, and surviving students spoke, toured, and marched to put the issue in the national spotlight. Three months later, one detail of the Santa Fe shooting captured public attention: When interviewed in the aftermath, a student said she was not surprised a shooting had happened at her school. Its been happening everywhere, she said. Ive always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here, too. As scrutiny on mass shootings and school violence increased, 2018 also saw myriad proposals for protecting students being made in state legislatures and individual school districts, ranging from arming teachers to stocking classrooms with objects to throw at a shooter and legalizing carrying firearms on school campuses. Several states passed laws expanding the ability to carry guns to types of venues that have been targeted in shootings, including schools and places of worship. Also this week, a draft report was released in Florida that detailed some confusion during the Parkland shooting, saying that the county sheriffs office was not adequately trained and that some officers did not respond properly to the reports of gunshots. And last week, new details about the shooter who killed 26 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012 emerged after the Hartford Courant obtained records detailing the mans life and mental state. Friday will mark the sixth anniversary of that shooting, considered by many an early turning point in the modern gun-control movement. Since 1970, the three most-populous states have seen the highest number of gun-related incidents in schools -- California, 157; Texas, 131; and Florida, 87 -- according to the data. Pennsylvania has had 51 recorded incidents, and New Jersey, 9. In total, there have been 1,300 school shooting incidents since 1970, according to the center. In the vast majority, the shooter was a male high school student acting alone. In most, the perpetrator targeted specific victims. The top reasons for shootings were disputes, gang-related, or accidental. Just over 9 percent were suicides or attempted suicides, and 2 percent murder-suicides. Only four shootings were in self-defense. Amnon Shashua, founder and chief technology officer of Israeli camera company Mobileye, at the vanguard of self-driving cars. MobileEye sold to Intel for $15 billion. (Hebrew University) Read more Amnon Shashua, cofounder and chief technology officer of the Israeli company Mobileye, lives and works at the vanguard of self-driving cars. Autonomous vehicles are really just a platform for artificial intelligence, he told a rapt audience at an event hosted by the American Friends of Hebrew University in Center City. Thats essentially a computer that can perceive risks and make split-second driving decisions. Say what? Thats right. Shashaus not like the rest of us hes an inventor, a teacher, and a prophet about the future were all going to be living. Shashua still teaches full-time as well at Hebrew University in Israel, despite the fact that the company he helped found, Mobileye, was sold to Intel for $15.3 billion in 2017. Mobileye cameras are embedded in 15 million cars around the world, providing a feature thats now standard technology on most new cars, known as assisted driving. What the professor means by cars as an AI platform is that the artificial intelligence needed to create a safe, self-driving car is such a leap forward in technology that it will be used in other spin-off inventions. Cars are the ideal platform for AI requiring intelligence, perception, decision-making. Very much like playing chess," he explained. In addition, imagine a world where a family only needs one self-driving car. It can drop your kids off at school, then you at work, then go pick up your groceries at the store by itself. Investors want to know: Which companies will be the winners and losers in self-driving car space? Among players in autonomous vehicles are Uber, Alphabet, Apple, Ford, GM, Waymo, BMW, and Volkswagen. Uber is aiming to return to the self-driving road after Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) launched the first U.S. commercial robo-taxi service, called Waymo One, in Arizona. Uber briefly suspended operations after one of its autonomous cars hit and killed a woman crossing a street in March in Tempe, Ariz. It now plans to run vehicles on a mile loop between its offices in Pittsburgh, not exceeding a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Apple (AAPL) has been highly secretive about what theyre doing, Shashua said. Its very hard to pick winners at this point. Traffic deaths are the concept killer and carmakers are trying to solve the problem. Thats the biggest challenge, how to guarantee safety, Shashua said. There are 40,000 driving-related fatalities a year in the U.S. But those are committed by humans. If 40,000 people were killed by self-driving cars, which are just machines, every year, society wouldnt accept that, he added. We wouldnt accept 10,000 deaths a year by computer-driven cars, even though thats an improvement. We need absolutely foolproof technology, he said. When does he see fully driverless cars arriving commercially? In urban centers, such as Philadelphia, not for many years, he said. And it will likely take even longer in rural areas, where digital maps required for autonomous vehicles are less accurate. The soonest a self-driving vehicle might launch is 2021, he estimates. And that will be a car that can drive only in good weather. Well need another two to four years for cars that can drive themselves in bad weather. Just a few weeks ago, Shashua and Volkswagen created a joint venture to commercialize VW autonomous vehicles in Tel Aviv, Israel. Until 2021, well just be investing. Were in development stage only. There are no profits yet" in the self-driving car space, nor does he predict profits anytime soon. What about decades into the future? Once all cars are autonomous, say, in 50 years, we dont need street lights anymore. We may not need parking lots. Shashua wouldnt be drawn into saying which companies would come out ahead first. And he admits there will be social implications. What happens to all the cab drivers and truck drivers? The concept of vehicle ownership will change. Its more economical not to own a car in many cities, so you and your neighbor in the future might share a driverless car. Even Uber admits the drivers represent 50 percent of the cost of its business, he said. Thus, its in Ubers interest to push for self-driving cars. Legacy American automakers such as GM and Ford are excited about this disruption, even though they may sell fewer cars. They realize the market is changing to a mobility market, rather than a car market. What does an innovator like Shashua like to read? I used to read novels, until about 10 years ago. I had to stop because all I read now is technical and scientific journals. Shashua spoke for about an hour at the invitation of local businessman Herb Sachs, who endowed the professors chair at Hebrew University. Its Israels oldest and largest university. The campus is no stranger to genius: One of Hebrew Universitys earliest founders was Albert Einstein. New Kitchen Chinese, where two masked gunman shot and killed a man early Saturday morning. Read more Two masked gunmen chased a man into a Germantown restaurant Saturday morning, where they shot him dead in front of a customer. The shooting took place at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday inside the New Kitchen Chinese take-out on the 4900 block of Wayne Avenue, police told 6ABC, and both men fled the scene. The victim, whom police did not identify, was 24 and died at Temple University Hospital. The customer was not injured. The shooting was captured on surveillance. Philadelphia police could not immediately be reached for comment for an update. As of Dec. 13, the city had seen 326 homicides, up 9 percent from last year and the highest total since 2007, when 378 people were killed in Philadelphia. Mourners viewing funeral procession after the Tree-of-Life Synagogue shootings. A Pittsburgh lawmakers wants the state to make it easier for local government to create gun laws. Read more HARRISBURG Six weeks after 11 people died in a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Democratic State Rep. Dan Frankel is seeking cosponsors for legislation that would allow municipalities or counties to more easily create their own gun laws. Frankel, whose district includes the synagogue, is pitching two bills that would seek to remove preemption language from either state law or the Allegheny County Code. Pennsylvania courts have ruled that such language prohibits cities from enacting gun laws that differ substantially from state law, striking down, for example, bans on assault weapons in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. What Im trying to do is, basically, change those laws, and remove the preemption for local governments and allow them to move forward in light of the fact that the state has been unable or unwilling to address the issues, Frankel said. Gun bills are often a heavy lift in the Republican-controlled legislature, and few have passed in recent years. Proponents of the preemption language have argued that it saves gun owners from accidentally running afoul of a patchwork set of firearms laws that could vary across municipal boundaries. Critics have said it prohibits local governments from enacting measures sought by their residents. Frankel began circulating on Wednesday a memo seeking support for the legislation. His efforts come as Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is urging mayors across the country to introduce their own local gun bills. Also on Wednesday, Frankel and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny) announced that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has awarded a $1 million grant to help the Center for Victims hire additional counselors to work with people impacted by the Tree of Life shooting. Anyone seeking additional information about the counseling can call the centers hotline at 866-644-2882. Linda Lelii Of Elkins Park (left) and Dianne Chambless of Philadelphia leave the Womens March on Philadelphia on January 20, 2018. Read more Emily Cooper Morse stood on stage last year alongside her daughter in front of thousands of women, telling the demonstrators, We are fighting for womens rights, especially in communities that are marginalized the most. But Cooper Morse, who founded the organization that put on the Womens March on Philadelphia for the last two years, wont be attending its planned march on Jan. 19, 2019. That organization, called Philly Women Rally, has ripped apart at the seams, with its remaining board members ousting Cooper Morse and accusing her not only of making racist and transphobic statements, but of removing $19,000 in donations from the groups bank account, charges Cooper Morse says are categorically untrue. Meanwhile, the leadership of the national Womens March group the organization behind the anti-Trump demonstration that was likely the largest single-day protest in American history is facing its own scrutiny over allegations of anti-Semitism in its ranks. In Philadelphia, though, the march(es) will go on. Both Philly Women Rally and an affiliate of the national Womens March organization have obtained permits for demonstrations on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the same day. Heres an explanation of how that will work, and what led to the confusion: There will be a Womens March on Philadelphia on Jan. 19 maybe two Philly Women Rally, which is being run by six women who sat on its board ahead of last years event, has a permit to march on the Parkway on Jan. 19, the day sister marches are taking place across the country. For the last two years, demonstrators marched from Logan Square to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where a stage was set up for speakers and programming. This years permit is for the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps and apron, Eakins Oval and the Parkway between 22nd and 24th streets. Deja Lynn Alvarez, who said shes one of the presidents of Philly Women Rally, said the group hopes to have the same setup this year, but may not have enough cash for a sound system. We will get out there with bullhorns, she said. Its important women have a place to gather where they can feel camaraderie and the power of what happens when we come together in that kind of numbers. Womens March Pennsylvania which is affiliated with the national Womens March organization also has a permit to demonstrate on the Parkway on that day, but its permit is for LOVE Park and the surrounding area. More than 8,000 people marked themselves as interested in attending on Facebook. City spokeswoman Sarah Reyes said the administration, which approved both permits, supports everyones right to protest and therefore tries to approve as many applications as possible within city rules. In this instance, she said, the two parties were notified that there will be demonstrations occurring simultaneously, and that the city will take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of all participants. Whats Womens March Pennsylvania? This group has existed since the 2017 march that took place the day after President Trumps inauguration, according to Shawna Knipper, the groups leader, but it is not affiliated with the womens marches held in Philadelphia during the last two years. It held smaller rallies and protests in towns across the state. She said Womens March Pennsylvania organized transportation to the first Womens March on Washington and is this year planning at least 10 sister marches across Pennsylvania, all under the branding of the national Womens March organization. We felt it was very important for Womens March to lead the march in our name and highlight the work thats been done, said Knipper, of Allentown. Why dont the two groups work together? Alvarez said local leaders never heard from anyone affiliated with the national organization before Womens March Pennsylvania applied for a demonstration permit and put up an event page on Facebook. (City officials said Womens March Pennsylvania applied for its permit on Oct. 1 and Philly Women Rally applied for one on Nov. 5. Those applications were approved 30 days after submission.) The nationals have been going around the entire country, going to the cities that have put on successful marches, and decided that they own them, she said. National is going around doing what every man has ever done. Knipper said that moving forward, Womens March Pennsylvania is more than willing to have a conversation around ways we can all kind of come together." So whats going on with the national leadership? Womens March leadership has been under fire for months, which worsened after one of its cochairs, Tamika Mallory, attended a February speech in Chicago by Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, who reiterated anti-Semitic sentiments that hes espoused for years. This week, Tablet Magazine reported that while Mallory and cochair Carmen Perez have attempted to distance themselves from his anti-Semitism, the two asserted Farrakhans talking points at the first meeting of Womens March leadership, including that Jews have exploited black and brown people and were responsible for the American slave trade. Some local chapters have already broken with the national organization, including those from Houston, Rhode Island and Florida, and the founder of Womens March has called on the cochairs to step down. But not Pennsylvania? Knipper said the group stands with the leadership, but said Womens March rejects the hate speech and anti-Semitism of Louis Farrakhan in all its forms. So what happened with the group that planned the march last year? Board members say the group has faced internal strife for the last two years as leaders disagreed about the future of the march. Alvarez and her allies voted earlier this year to oust founder Cooper Morse, saying she exhibited bullying behavior. Cooper Morse said that Alvarez was volatile and that she became concerned about peoples motives for involvement when another board member, Beth Finn, announced a run for City Council. This week, the remaining six women on the board (including Alvarez and Finn) put out a news release vowing to move forward with a march and accusing Cooper Morse of making racist, transphobic, and other bigoted comments as well as stealing $19,000 worth of the organizations funds and hacking the organizations Facebook page in order to delete the 2019 Womens March on Philadelphia Facebook event page. That caused confusion among hundreds of women whod planned on attending the march; some believed the event had been canceled. Cooper Morse said she deleted the event because she was informed that Womens March Pennsylvania had already obtained a permit for a demonstration and saw no need for two competing marches. Wheres that $19,000? Once the board voted to oust her, Cooper Morse said she was removed from the groups checking account. In October, she and an ally filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State to remove the other women from the board. Cooper Morse said she presented the bank with that paperwork and then removed the remaining funds from the account, made out as a check to Philly Women Rally. I was concerned they were going to mismanage funds, she said, citing Finns run for Council and noting thatother members have overtly pushed their self-interests when it comes to the group and using it to advance their careers. Cooper Morse is still in possession of the money, which she says is being safeguarded by attorneys until the state determines the makeup of Philly Women Rally and who owns the money. Each side accused the other of filing fraudulent paperwork with the state in order to remove each others names from the groups corporation registration. Alvarez said police have been notified as well. Maryjane Smith Gardner, 91, formerly of Medford Lakes and Mount Laurel, a teacher and lifelong learner who was the first graduate of Burlington County College in 1970, died Wednesday, Dec. 5, of pneumonia at a hospice in Arlington, Va. She had lived at Greenspring, a retirement community in Springfield, Va., for a decade. Born in Philadelphia, Mrs. Gardner graduated from St. Hubert High School in Northeast Philadelphia. As a young adult, her passion became educating children, and she worked to hone her teaching skills throughout her life. She attended classes at Immaculata College until meeting John Clifford Gardner. The two married in 1947 and had six children. Mrs. Gardner worked as a bookkeeper while taking an active role in her childrens education. It was her interest in their schoolwork that turned Mrs. Gardner back into a student, she told the Burlington County Times. When the two eldest children entered college, she knew she had to pursue a career. They are growing up so fast that I need to prepare myself for the time when I will no longer be actively involved with their lives, she was quoted as saying. One step she took in 1965 was becoming a volunteer member of the Medford Lakes Board of Education, and she continued in that role for five years. Another step was in 1969, when Mrs. Gardner enrolled in the newly created BCC. She had enough credits from Immaculata to complete the coursework in a single year. In May 1970, she became the colleges first graduate, with an associate of arts degree. In September 1970, Mrs. Gardner entered what was then Glassboro State University as a junior. She graduated in 1972 with a bachelors degree in secondary education. In the fall of 1972, Mrs. Gardner fulfilled her dream of working with adolescents at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly. She began with U.S. History I and II. With a little bit of interpretation, history can be a dynamic subject, she told the Willingboro newspaper. While teaching history and social studies from 1972 to 1980, Mrs. Gardner earned dual masters degrees in social studies and library science from Rutgers University. In 1984, she was elected to Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for leading women educators. Starting in 1980, Mrs. Gardner served for two years as a staff member to U.S. Rep. C. W. Burgener (R., Calif.) in Washington. It was a grand experience, she said. I had taught and studied American government, but now I had the opportunity to view the workings of government up close. Mrs. Gardner returned to teaching at Burlington City High School until 1984. She worked as the library media specialist at Shawnee High School from 1984 to 1985, and then as the librarian at Mount Laurels Countryside Elementary School from 1985 until her retirement in 1993. She was a member of the Sierra Club/Outdoor Club of New Jersey, and a supporter of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the World Affairs Council. Mrs. Gardner and her husband divorced in the early 1970s. He died in 2001. She is survived by children John Clifford Jr., Gary, Brian, Dennis, Mary Kay Gardner Brownell, and Joseph; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at St. James Catholic Church, 905 Park Ave., Falls Church, Va. Burial is private. Protecting campus open expression is key to maintaining American democracy, but the threats to campus speech are different than what you may have heard. A few years ago, concerns about snowflake students were all the rage. Pundits and columnists lambasted students for shouting down or protesting speakers they disagreed with from Berkeley to Middlebury, and some claimed that free speech was under threat as a result of students hyper-sensitivity. Students motives and actions continue to be questioned, but now that most students have found more effective ways to express their often-justified concerns about speakers and events including using humor, raising tough questions at the event, or protesting visibly but without shutting down speakers the public debate has moved on to focus on faculty what they can say in class, on social media, in public talks, and whether they are brainwashing their students with their political beliefs. Locally, you may recall the 2017 incident involving University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax, who lamented the decline of 1950s values in a widely read Inquirer op-ed, and followed up with statements that many heard as racist. There was also a flap involving Drexel University professor George Ciccariello-Maher, who left his job last year after being repeatedly threatened over a controversial tweet in which he ironically called for white genocide. More recently, Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill was thrust into this spotlight, after a statement he made at the United Nations drew fire from critics who believed that his criticism of Israel included a rallying cry for its destruction. He lost his job as a CNN contributor, and some called for his firing from the university. Temple has rightly not punished Hill, despite calls from its board chairman to fire or otherwise reprimand him. These calls should concern those who are committed to campus free speech. I am not only a Penn professor and author of the book Free Speech on Campus, but also a Jewish immigrant from Israel, and I support the continued existence of the state (though I remain critical of many of its policies). But even before Hills expression of remorse, I did not see his U.N. statement as reason for workplace retaliation, and especially so when the workplace is a university. Free-speech issues on college campuses are exacerbated when those outside campus politicians with their own agendas, members of the media, provocateurs fail to recognize how speech operates on campus, and treat campuses as if they are just another corner of the public square, or worse: as part of the artificial point-counterpoint structure common on network TV. College campuses are professional spaces where ideas are tested and disseminated. At their best, they are committed to fostering open debate and free expression, training students to consider their views and focus on truth and evidence. Public scrutiny fails to recognize that open expression is a key aspect of everyday life on campus, from classrooms to student events, and that campuses are easy flash points for free-speech debates precisely because they are open when it comes to inviting diverse and challenging views. In fact, there are no other institutions in the American public sphere today that are as keen on protecting and promoting free speech. Private employers can fire employees on a whim; the boundaries of speech online are tested every day by users of private platforms (like Twitter, YouTube, and others) and by the platforms themselves; traditional media and journalists are often under attack. All the while, campuses around the country continue to negotiate and push the boundaries of speech. The problem is that these institutions, protective of free speech as they tend to be, are beholden to outside stakeholders who do not always understand the role that open expression plays on campus and how it is used to promote the broader mission of higher education. We see this in Philadelphia-area institutions as well as around the country a chancellor in Wisconsin reprimanded by his superiors for inviting an adult film actress to speak; a professor fired and reinstated by the court at the University of Kentucky for expressing critical political views, and at Moreno Valley College in California after challenging students views; in Canada, the provincial government in Ontario has declared a free-speech crisis and set a new list of requirements for the provinces colleges and universities. Recognizing the importance of campus independence means that free-speech advocates should push back against legislative efforts to prohibit student protest, such as the ERIC-sponsored legislation in Wisconsin and bills elsewhere that threaten protesting students with expulsion. Protest is a protected form of speech and an important aspect of learning to organize, and to develop and express ones views. Supporting that students have a right to protest is one way to promote campus free speech. So is supporting professors right to express their political views outside of class. Those who worry about threats to the First Amendment on campus should call on trustees and board members to refrain from trying to silence professors for views they dont share. They should pressure administrators to expand the realm of open expression on campus, rather than call for an artificial balancing of views. They should push back against efforts by the federal government to censor speech, as they do when they lump together all criticism of the State of Israel as anti-Semitic and require that such speech be censored or punished. Clearly universities and colleges play a public role, and need to remain accountable and responsive to the public through students, parents, alums, legislatures, and regulators. But to allow students to learn, and professors to research and to prepare students for civic life, campus should be recognized for its unique position in supporting the First Amendment rather than treated as a pawn in the culture wars. Sigal Ben-Porath is professor of education, political science, and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of Free Speech on Campus (Penn Press, 2017). Pennsylvania has been a leader in bipartisan criminal justice reform, having enacted Clean Slate legislation this year that will seal certain types of criminal records for those who have served their time and proved they are making the most of their second chance. Now its time for the commonwealths senators to show that same kind of leadership in Washington. Overwhelmingly popular prison and sentencing reform legislation is hanging by a thread in the U.S. Senate. As Congress races toward wrapping up business for the year, the First Step Act should be a priority. And Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey can help make that happen. From finding a job to rebuilding their families, formerly incarcerated men and women face countless obstacles to successful reentry. The legislation would create programs that give them the tools they need to contribute to their communities our communities upon release. The measure would allow offenders who participate successfully in job training and substance abuse programs, and who arent a threat to public safety, to earn credit toward pre-release custody at non-prison facilities such as halfway houses or home confinement. Earned time is just that earned and those with credits continue to serve their sentences in alternative settings. Most federal prisoners and there are more than 10,000 housed in Pennsylvania could earn up to 54 days of credit per year only if they display exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations." The most serious and violent offenses bar inmates from participating. And the final call rests with the people in charge of the prisons. Among those who should know is Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, president of the Association of State Correctional Administrators and a strong supporter of the bill. So, the very people who are running our prisons are arguing that the proven reforms in the First Step Act would reduce crime, save taxpayers money, and provide second chances to those who have paid their debt to society. Pie-in-the-sky thinking? Anything but. We know because the federal legislation incorporates many of the reforms that have already been successful in several states, including Pennsylvania. Reams of research coupled with real-world examples prove that these kinds of educational programs, vocational training, and mental health and substance abuse treatment can significantly reduce recidivism rates. Pennsylvania adopted similar evidence-based reforms in 2012, and we have seen both crime and incarceration rates fall, making us safer and saving us money at the same time. More than two million people are behind bars in the American criminal justice system. Almost all of them will eventually be freed. It is in no ones interest that they are ill-equipped to deal with that freedom when it comes. The American people understand this. Thats why an estimated 70 percent of them support reforming the system to focus on rehabilitation. In addition to Wetzel, a wide array of law enforcement groups have united behind the bill. The Fraternal Order of Police called it a bill that will make our streets and neighborhoods safer. Groups including the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Due Process Institute have called it a significant step to advance justice." The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by a wide margin in May. President Trump has endorsed it. But, as the days dwindle down to a precious few, the Senate has yet to act. Sens. Toomey and Casey should shine Pennsylvanias light on Congress. It is unconscionable that we must go another day wasting so much human potential and throwing away taxpayer dollars on a status quo, revolving-door system that offers no hope to those in it or paying for it. Beth Anne Mumford is Pennsylvania state director of Americans for Prosperity. GA, a mural by Mark Chu, on a building off Atlantic Avenue, near North Carolina Ave., is one of the new art works in Atlantic City, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. Read more ATLANTIC CITY Theyve heard about art saving Atlantic City once before: the mostly failed multimillion-dollar, casino-tax funded Art Park conceived but indifferently received and later returned to its roots as a vacant lot by Lance Fung, a world-renowned curator. This time, an Atlantic City art scene is being birthed by less renowned people: longtime community activists, returned locals, old high school friends, and artist/entrepreneurs like Loryn Lyn Simonsen, 34, fresh from Astoria, Queens, who has moved back to the Atlantic City area with a new art evangelism, a mission scaled way down from the Art Park fiasco. This one involves street murals on obscure retail corners, pop-up installations inside empty buildings, and an old artists' staple: really strong coffee. I think its like any city, said Simonsen, program manager for the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, which this month opened its sixth Arteriors exhibition in a vacant building, this time at 153 South New York Ave., open to the public on weekends through Dec. 16. "It has potential to be a lot of things," she said. "What we've seen in Atlantic City, it's been one thing for a long time." Simonsen and others have scoured the city for possible wall space for murals, mostly painted during the twice-yearly 48 Blocks art festivals; in this town, once you start looking, the possibilities are endless. We seek out available spaces and place an artist at that space, Simonsen said. Murals have been placed on the sides of liquor stores, beauty salons, restaurants, and a lone house across from Ocean Resort Casino, the old Revel. The vantage points can be striking. We Call It Home, by the artist Air Rat, depicts the home owned by Vera Coking, who famously fought off then-casino-owner Donald Trumps attempts to take her home to add to the Trump Plaza porte cochere, and squares off against the looming glass of Ocean Resort. The familiar Monopoly board on a building on Pacific Avenue is given a distinctive sprouting of flowers and police caution tape by Shari Tobias. As for the coffee, that can be found at the city's first independent coffee shop, Hayday, where Simonsen is a co-owner, on Tennessee Avenue, a gritty stretch of beach block Simonsen and partners Evan Sanchez and Zenith Shah are trying to transform. Nearby is MADE, a new chocolate shop and bar, and the newly opened Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall. A block away on New York Avenue is a New Orleans-themed restaurant, Bourre, the first of a series of new projects by noted Asbury Park developer Pat Fasano, who has joined the Tennessee Avenue crowd and tagged the two blocks, along with St. James Avenue in between, the Orange Loop, after the old Monopoly board that people sometimes forget is set in Atlantic City. Also tucked into those streets is the old multi-turning side street of Westminster Avenue, known as Snake Alley, where the ghosts of A.C.'s once-vibrant gay bar scene surely stand ready for a revival. And may even still live in town. Simonsen was lured back to Atlantic City she grew up in nearby Absecon by the possibilities of a town where so many people visit, a town vivid in peoples imaginations, but a town lacking for things other places take for granted. It was around the time the Leadership Studio was about to open, she said, referring to the yoga studio that pioneered the new investment on Tennessee Avenue. She had left her job working for an ad tech company. Something just told me to come back. Hayday is still the only independent coffee shop in Atlantic City. The fact that we are right now is pretty wild, Simonsen said. "Now, in 2018, to say, Oh I left my job in New York and moved back home to open a coffee shop in a place that didnt have one. But no, its not the middle of nowhere, its not suburbia or a desert, its a city. A city that people actively live in, work in, and visit. " A tour of the citys new murals, most painted during the citywide 48 Blocks festivals that brought artists like graffiti artist 4 Sakn, to Atlantic Citys many bare walls, reveals a range of mural art, most less literal or historical than is common in the Philly mural scene, some plays on A.C. themes, and an oversize chicken GA on the side of an Atlantic City Vietnamese restaurant called Com Ga Ninh Kieu. A full map of murals and other art projects undertaken during the foundations annual 48 Blocks arts festival can be found here, on the Atlantic City Arts Foundation website. People saw the art being produced and felt like it meant they were being valued as people living and working in Atlantic City, Simonsen said. Something about seeing someone taking the time. This time, government is following the artists, not dictating the art. The state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is now seeking grants to pay for streetscape improvements on Tennessee Avenue, better lighting, some trash cans for the block. The businesses that showed up at the CRDA meeting included owners of the older Tennessee Avenue businesses, like Amina African Hair Braiding, in addition to the familiar new entrepreneurs. On Tennessee Avenue, a man walking by the Find Your Way mural by Bernie McCabe, a fully solvable maze of winding arrows and paths on the front of a building owned by San Francisco-based developers, says hes not a big fan of the mural, and wonders about other issues like opioid addiction and the fallout from an FBI raid on the mayors home. Simonsen says art can find a footing in a town with all of Atlantic City's problems. "That's why we're doing what we're doing," she said. "The arts is a major part of it. It gets people talking and engaging, whether they like the art or not, It's bigger than that." "I'm not going to stand here and say all we need to do is paint murals and all will be fine," she said. Still, Atlantic City is the kind of place where just looking at things a little differently, even just imagining the place as a city, not a seaside casino town, can feel liberating. Thats how Simonsen sees the lighthearted shark-themed mural on the side of the generically named A.C. Convenience Store on the corner of Dover and Ventnor Avenues. Its a typical Atlantic City retail shop, in its own way as thriving as any trendy poke bowl place (A.C. finally has one) or coffee shop. Artist Christian Correa, 38, who grew up in Brigantine, returned to Atlantic City from Los Angeles two years ago. Hes working as a bartender at Bourre and as a recovery yoga instructor at the Leadership Studio. His piece inside Arteriors, done with Charles Barbin, is called "The Grotto, a cardboard cave of stalactites and jeweled lighting, which he says illustrates the cavernous movement inspiring the new artists whove found community in Atlantic City. Hes also painted two murals, one on the side of Bourre, the other on the side of the Little Water Distillery, which depicts The Spirit of Atlantic City, featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Atlantic Citys old Club Harlem band leader Chris Colombo, and the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. "In that place of silence and darkness is where the good stuff happens," he says. "Everything coming out of Atlantic City was casinos closing, Hurricane Sandy. I knew there were good people down here doing good things. Those are equally as relevant as the people being punched in the park by a homeless man." Special counsel Robert Mueller is setting a curious pattern as he squeezes cooperation and guilty pleas out of suspects in his investigation, one that suggests he may be nearing the end of his work. When President Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced in federal court in New York on Wednesday, he became the latest Mueller target to be accused of a crime, flip and provide evidence against others, and then be sentenced before having to testify in court. In the cases of Cohen, former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Mueller has proceeded to the sentencing of each without first making them testify at trial against others. Thats at odds with the common practice of prosecutors which is to hold the stick of a tougher prison sentence over defendants until they have completed all of their cooperation, particularly any public testimony. While the recent legal action has led to speculation that prosecutors are narrowing in on the president in anticipation of more criminal charges, Muellers sentencing timeline, to some legal experts, suggests a different outcome that the accounts of those cooperating witnesses will appear in a written report, not in court. Cooperators "usually go last," said Robert Ray, a former independent counsel on the Whitewater investigation. The sentencing of those Mueller defendants "suggests to me that whatever those individuals have done for the special counsel investigation, there is no further use for them," Ray said. "If there were any contemplation of using them at trial, you would sentence them later. And the only conclusion I can draw from all that is that we are nearing the end." Ray said he expects Mueller to deliver a report on his findings in the first three months of 2019. Mueller may also be willing to proceed quickly to sentencing cooperators in part because he expects to present more information in a report than at any trials. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Only one of the known criminal cooperators in Mueller's cases has been handled in the more traditional manner: Rick Gates. Gates pleaded guilty to financial crimes, testified at trial against his former boss Manafort and is awaiting sentencing. That approach can leave a valuable witness waiting for many years to receive their sentence. One of the most famous examples is Jamal al-Fadl, a former aide to Osama bin Laden who turned government witness and testified against al-Qaida. He pleaded guilty in 1997, and although court records indicate a sentencing was scheduled in 2014, there's no record it actually occurred. Different factors can weigh on sentencing decisions, and Cohens case was arguably the most complex that Mueller has handled, because it involves two separate cases prosecuted by two offices - Muellers and the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan. Yet even there, potential witnesses were given their sentence before they had to speak at a trial against anyone else. Cohen got three years in prison for financial crimes, including hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign to keep quiet women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump. That sentencing incorporated the guilty plea Cohen struck with Mueller for lying to Congress about attempts during the 2016 presidential campaign to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. After his sentencing, the New York prosecutors also announced that they had reached a deferred prosecution agreement with AMI, the parent company of the National Enquirer tabloid, for buying the silence of one of those women. Once again, prosecutors had taken away the threat of a possible prison sentence. "That is in contrast with how it's normally done," said Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice in Chicago. "In most large investigations, the way you do it is you make deals with whomever you're going to make a deal with, they plead guilty, but then their sentencing is delayed until the investigation and trial are over, and they get their big fish, and the cooperator testifies or doesn't. That is the very prevalent model." Prosecutors do it that way for a simple reason, Cotter said. Without the fear of a possible long sentence, a criminal "may lose his enthusiasm and flip back, and say he doesn't remember things he already testified to." In the Mueller probe, that's not just a hypothetical scenario. There are plenty of indications that, if called to testify, some of Mueller's cooperators could retract what they have already admitted about themselves and said about others. After pleading guilty to lying to the FBI, Papadopoulos, who recently completed his two-week jail sentence, has repeatedly suggested he was railroaded or framed. Flynn is awaiting sentencing next week, and his supporters have argued that he, too, was tricked into pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States in late 2016. After being convicted at one trial, Manafort struck a cooperation deal to avoid trial on a second set of charges. Mueller now says Manafort broke the terms of the deal by repeatedly lying to them about key details in his case. Even the definition of cooperation has at times become strangely flexible in the Mueller probe. At Cohen's sentencing Tuesday, prosecutor Jeannie Rhee said Cohen had provided "credible and reliable information about core Russia-related issues under investigation." Yet the New York prosecutors who investigated Cohen's finances were far harsher, saying Cohen had refused to provide full cooperation and was holding back. Further complicating the issue, Cohen's lawyer Guy Petrillo said his client was still willing to cooperate even after he goes to prison - and suggested Cohen has been more honest than others caught in Mueller's crosshairs. "His action stands in profound contrast to the decision of some others not to cooperate and allegedly to double deal while pretending to cooperate," Petrillo said, in an apparent reference to Manafort. Ultimately, U.S. District Judge William Pauley sentenced Cohen to three years in prison, finding that Cohen's decision to volunteer some information to prosecutors but not all of what he knew "does not wipe the slate clean." Sometimes a prosecutor will move ahead with sentencing cooperators because "the big fish got away," said Cotter, although he doesn't believe that is the reasoning in Mueller's case. Cotter said Mueller's decisions show he is confident that Manafort, Flynn, or Papadopoulos would stick to their story if they are ever called to testify at a criminal trial. He also suggested Mueller may have another, more subtle reason for his approach - to send a message to other potential witnesses. In that formulation, Mueller is providing an object lesson for the value of cooperation: Flynn, who cooperated early, is likely to get no prison time. Cohen, who cooperated somewhat, got several years in prison. Manafort, who didn't cooperate, is likely headed to prison for at least 10 years. "Now, its very credible to go to the next guy and say, You can be a Flynn, you can be a Cohen, or you can be a Manafort. Which is it going to be? " said Cotter. For a prosecutor, thats a very powerful piece of advertising. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis arrives to give House members a classified security briefing, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, not shown, on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Read more WASHINGTON (AP) Senators voted Thursday to recommend that the United States end its assistance to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen and put the blame for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi squarely on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a direct challenge to both the longtime Middle East ally and President Trumps handling of the relationship. The succession of bipartisan votes came two months after the Saudi journalist's slaying at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and after Trump persistently equivocated over who was responsible. U.S. intelligence officials concluded that bin Salman must have at least known of the plot, but Trump has repeatedly praised the kingdom. Senators made clear where they put the blame. The resolution, passed by unanimous agreement, says the Senate believes the crown prince is "responsible for the murder" and calls for the Saudi Arabian government to "ensure appropriate accountability." Senators voted 56-41 to recommend that the United States stop supporting the war in Yemen, a direct affront to the administrations war powers abilities. Frustration with the crown prince and the White House prompted several Republicans to support the Yemen resolution as a way to rebuke the longtime ally. Others already had concerns about the war, which human rights groups say is wreaking havoc on the country and subjecting civilians, many of them children, to deadly disease and indiscriminate bombing. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who cosponsored the Yemen resolution with Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, called the vote a historic moment. Sanders said by acting, the Senate was making clear "that the constitutional responsibility for making war rests with the United States Congress." The resolution condemning Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's slaying was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Both Republicans voted against the Yemen resolution. McConnell said senators have grave concerns about Khashoggi's killing, but "we also want to preserve a 70-year partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and we want to ensure it continues to serve American interests and stabilizes a dangerous and critical region." McConnell urged senators to vote for the measure, which he said "does a good job capturing bipartisan concerns about both the war in Yemen and the behavior of our Saudi partners more broadly." The resolution also calls the war in Yemen a "humanitarian crisis" and demands that all parties seek an immediate cease-fire. It appears unlikely that the House would be willing to consider the Yemen resolution. House leaders added a provision to an unrelated House rule that would make it more difficult for lawmakers there to call it up. CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed House leaders on the Khashoggi slaying on Wednesday, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis briefed the full House on Thursday. Pompeo and Mattis briefed the Senate last month and told senators there was "no direct reporting" or "smoking gun" to connect the crown prince to Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate. But a smaller group of senators leaving a separate briefing with Haspel days later said there was "zero chance" the crown prince wasn't involved. House Republicans were less eager than their Senate counterparts to criticize Saudi Arabia and the Trump administration. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) said after Thursdays briefing that he was waiting to see the outcome of the administrations ongoing investigation. Scalise said there had been "discussions" about action before the end of the year but wouldn't say if GOP leaders would consider Corker's resolution. Khashoggi, who had lived in the United States and wrote for the Washington Post, had been critical of the Saudi regime. He was killed in what U.S. officials have described as an elaborate plot as he visited the consulate for marriage paperwork. Saudi prosecutors have said a 15-man team sent to Istanbul killed Khashoggi with tranquilizers and then dismembered his body, which has not been found. Those findings came after Saudi authorities spent weeks denying Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate. Pressed on a response to the slaying, Trump has been reluctant to condemn the crown prince. He said the United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of the country, touted Saudi arms deals worth billions of dollars to the United States, and thanked the Saudis for plunging oil prices. The Senate debate came as the United Nations secretary general on Thursday announced that Yemen's warring sides have agreed to a province-wide cease-fire and withdrawal of troops in Hodeida, a contested Red Sea port city. The agreement came during peace talks in Sweden. The brutal four-year-old civil war pits the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran-backed rebels known as Houthis. Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.), who voted for the Yemen resolution, said he is absolutely convinced the Senates action is applying pressure on the Saudis. He said that without it theres a real possibility that there wouldnt be negotiations going on right now in Sweden. BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan will hold their 10th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs from Dec. 17 to 18 in Wuzhen of east China's Zhejiang Province, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday. Officials from authorities of foreign affairs, defense, maritime law enforcement and maritime management of both countries will attend the talks, Lu Kang told a routine press briefing. China expects to fully exchange views with Japan on maritime issues of common concern to strengthen mutual understanding and trust, Lu said. The China-Japan high-level consultations on maritime affairs were established in 2012. The previous round of consultations was held in Sendai, Japan in April this year. KAMPALA The agricultural research system in Uganda is challenged by the need for effective contribution to the socio-economic transformation of the people to tackle issues of food security within the population. Research contribution needs to increasingly be visibly evident at grass-root level through effective knowledge, innovations and products development. The national agricultural research system, especially National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and other partners like Makerere Universitys Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences(CAES), College of Veterinary medicine, Animal resources have generated a number of technologies which need to be exposed to intended users that include policymakers, extension agents, producers, processors and consumers for uptake and utilization. It is against this background that research work done in the agricultural sector is geared towards addressing food security in the country. Dr Andrew Kiggundu, the Director of the Biotechnology Research Centre at National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), notes that all ongoing research activities at Naro research institutes are geared towards improving food security in the country. This is in terms of breeding crop varieties which are tolerant to drought, resistant to pests and diseases and varieties which are high yielding. The aim is for farmers to grow these varieties following the right agronomy practices in order to obtain quality and improved yields to earn better income and to provide enough food for the population. Dr Kiggundu notes that every research activity ranging from crop breeding, postharvest handling, soil fertility analysis and use of mechanized farm practices is geared towards achieving sustainable food security. A case in point is that researchers at NARL have bred highbred banana varieties which farmers have adopted for improved yields. In Namulonge, scientists have bred varieties of Maize referred to as drought TEGO which are resistant to drought plus a series of other Longe varieties which are tolerant to pests and diseases and NABE bean varieties which are resistant to pests and diseases and high yielding. Others are cassava varieties which have been developed over the years which are tolerant to Cassava Brown Streak Virus, Serenut ground varieties with high oil content and sorghum varieties which are high yielding and mature in shorter period. To Dr Kiggundu, Uganda will be food secure as long as farmers embrace new technologies such as application of fertilizer to boost farm yields, following good agronomy practices and embracing good practices of post-harvest handling like use of threshers for rice, maize shelling to avoid loss during harvesting processing. He, however, notes that farmers in Uganda have a tendency of not having storage facilities to store food which could be used in times of scarcity. As a country, there is also no initiative for government to own national silos for storing food which is a challenge in addressing food security. It is the reason there is always change in food prices in terms of scarcity yet if food was kept in silos, such price fluctuations would not exist. The Director of Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MbZARDI), Dr Halid Kirunda, notes that in general research work involving crops, animals, poultry, fisheries is aimed at contributing to food security. To him there are crop varieties which have been released to farmer which are early maturing to address the issue of climate change effects. Banana bacterial wilt which is a big challenge to farmers is being addressed through research to come up with varieties which are resistant to the disease. In the animal sector, Dr Kirunda notes that while carrying out research work, things to consider include provision of water for animals in times of drought and adequate forage to keep the animals healthy. There are technologies developed by researchers to predict outbreak of diseases especially during dry season and early warning systems are implemented to alert the farmers to keep the situation in control. This is done by developing diagnostic tools for detecting diseases before it attacks the animals. Measures like developing vaccines to immunize the animals are done to avoid outbreaks and killing of the animals. Researchers also develop technologies to animal products to stay for a longer period to ensure availability of beef in times of starvation. One of the technologies is adding bacteria that can allow milk to stay longer periods without getting spoilt, drying of beef for longer preservation including adding preservatives like sodium benzoate which can preserve beef for a longer period. There are also pasture varieties like Napier grass, Calliandra and others which researchers have developed for farmers to feed their animals. They enable animals to contain beef with lactic acid which enriches animal beef with food nutrient Technologies for preserving pasture to be given to animals during dry season are also an initiative to provide food security because one cannot ensure food security if there is no feed for the animals. To him as long as farmers and other stakeholders including government adopt the technologies developed by research institutes, the country will be food secure especially is storage of food to cater for offseason is implemented there will be no food shortage. Related If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Rantoul, IL (61866) Today Some clouds. Low 31F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 31F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. General Motors Co (GM) on Friday said it has a plan for the majority of employees currently working at Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Oshawa, Canada facilities that will be without product allocation beyond 2019. The news comes as GM files layoff notices with federal regulators. GM said it has 2,700 job openings at U.S. manufacturing plants in several states, including Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas. It will also be providing training and tuition assistance for affected employees. The company noted that about 1,100 General Motors employees have already volunteered to transfer from plants where the automaker is cutting jobs to other GM factories, while 1,200 are eligible to retire. The automaker said 2,800 hourly active U.S. workers at four American plants that will end production next year are eligible for new jobs at other plants. GM said salaried workers who are losing their jobs are receiving out-placement services including job search assistance, career counseling, resume writing and interview skills. "Strong U.S. and Canadian economies enable us to provide these opportunities now as we position General Motors for long-term success," GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. "Our focus remains on providing interested employees options to transition including job opportunities at other GM plants. We remain committed to working with local government officials, our unions and each individual to find appropriate opportunities for them." In November, The U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut electric-vehicle and other subsidies that have benefited General Motors Co. (GM), escalating tensions with the Detroit auto maker a day after it released plans to close three assembly plants by the end of 2019, including Detroit-Hamtramck, Lordstown in Ohio and Oshawa in Ontario. The closure was expected to reduce salaried and salaried contract staff by 15 percent, about 5,600 jobs, i.e. roughly 1,500 in Hamtramck; 1,600 in Lordstown; and about 2,500 in Oshawa. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Consultations results are positive step paving way toward Yemeni people hopes: President [16/December/2018] SANAA, Dec. 16 (Saba) President Mahdi al-Mashat on Saturday said that what has been achieved during Yemeni consultations held in Sweden was a positive step paving way to achieving the hopes of the Yemeni people. During a meeting with members of the National Delegation to Peace Talks in Sweden, the president affirmed that the delegation was at the level of confidence and responsibility entrusted to it. He thanked the UN Secretary-General and his envoy to Yemen and all brotherly and friendly countries for preparations which helped to achieving the success of the consultations. He hailed the role of the Kingdom of Sweden in hosting the consultations, expressing the appreciation of Yemens government and people for the efforts exerted by the international and humanitarian organizations to bring peace to Yemen. AA Saba A top Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of instigating violence in Kerala. State CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, while speaking to the media in Delhi, lashed out at Modi for interacting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres in the state via a video call on Friday. "Through supporting shutdowns, Modi is instigating violence and that's what he did. All this is being done to unsettle the state government here," he said. Modi interacted with his party cadres when the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party was observing a statewide shutdown after a 50-year-old man set himself on fire at a BJP protest venue on Thursday and later succumbed to his injuries. The BJP state unit has been protesting ever since the Kerala government has been trying to implement the Supreme Court order of opening the Sabarimala temple to women of all ages. "The BJP in Kerala is trying to enter the Guinness with the record of holding shutdowns for anything and everything. Shutdown protests are called only in extreme cases," added Balakrishnan, who is in Delhi to attend the central committee meeting of CPI-M. In the wake of defeat by the Congress in Assembly elections in the Hindi heartland, with agrarian crisis as a major poll plank against his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of paying only "lip service" to farmers while ignoring their welfare. Video-interacting with booth workers from Tamil Nadu, Modi also hit out at the Congress for treating national security and defence sector as "a punching bag or a funding source". "If you ask me, what is among the most satisfying things of being in government, I would say it is to work for our hardworking farmers. After all, it is the farmers who are our 'annadatas' (food providers). "We are not like the Congress, which will only pay lip service to farmers but ignore their well-being. Wherever the Congress is in power, farmers suffer," said Modi interacting with booth workers from Kanyakumari, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Namakkal and Salem. "Four years ago, farmers asked for urea, but all they got was stick. Farmers asked for higher minimum support prices (MSP), but all they got was empty promises. Farmers asked for increased incomes, but all they got was insensitivity," alleged Modi. Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) losing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan to the Congress which promised waiving farm loans in all the three states within 10 days of coming to power. Crediting his government for boosting the morale of the armed forces, Modi also targeted the Congress which has been relentless in attacking him over alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the Rafale fighter jets deal with France. "Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source," he said. " Congress leaders call the Army chief names and mock the (2016) surgical strike, on one hand. "On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the Jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors scam in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others," he said, adding: "All they see is the way to make money even if it means that the morale of our forces is affected." "The surgical strikes show how capable our forces are to give a strong answer to those who attack us," added Modi. The private sector is calling on all business people in Samoa to increase their commitment to stop the harassment of women in the workplace. Workplace harassment includes any unwanted, unwelcome or inappropriate behaviour, whether sexual or otherwise. Leading the call is Samoa Stationery and Books (SSAB.) that has long committed to addressing gender-based violence in the workplace with awareness campaigns, both publicly and for its staff, supported by its SSAB Domestic Violence Policy for all staff. SSABs Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai is the keynote speaker at an event today, called Safer Workplaces for a Safer Samoa: How the Private Sector Can Contribute, being held at the US Embassy residence in Apia, linking with 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and hosted by Samoa Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the United States Embassy Samoa and UN Women. There is a growing awareness that harassment of women in the workplace or anyone takes many forms, from offensive behaviour to sexual harassment, and it is an unacceptable form of violence against women, said Papalii Mele Maualaivao, UN Women Country Programme Coordinator for Samoa. Along with this awareness has come recognition of the need for proactive strategies to facilitate employees safety at work and to reduce employers economic losses associated with employees experience with gender-based violence. Tony Greubel, Charge dAffaires, US Embassy Samoa said, preventing violence against women and girls is everybodys business. When gender-based violence occurs, both within and outside of the workplace, the detrimental effects are substantial and so, as businesses and individuals within our communities, we need to recognize the need to contribute to the prevention of gender-based violence and to improve our ability to support survivors. This is the first time Samoa Chamber of Commerce has partnered with UN Women to address violence in the workplace and initiate the discussions of how the private sector can contribute to ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG). Lemauga Hobart Vaai, Chief Executive Officer for the Samoa Chamber of Commerce, said it is promising to see such high levels of locally driven support to end sexual harassment in the workplace. We are proud SSAB has truly been a leader in creating a work environment where survivors are nurtured and supported. We hope that many other businesses will also take a lead role in stopping workplace harassment and to ensure the workplace is a safe and supportive place for survivors of violence against women and girls. The event is linked to the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence that started on the 25 November and concluded on 10 December to mark Human Rights Day. Dear Editor, As the year draws to an end perhaps it would be remiss not to extend a token of appreciation to all the local businesses in the Private-sector that have endeavored against all odds throughout the year. By this we are referring to especially those businesses that have invested in adding value to locally sourced raw materials towards enhancing the quality and value of the products for both local consumers and export markets in the region and internationally. Running a business is similar to peddling a bicycle with passengers on the carrier. The business owner has to endure sleepless nights in most instances figuring out how to generate profits for the products he is offering on the market. They also have to figure out how to pay rents, salaries, utility costs and of course taxes which are essential in sustaining a condusive business environment for them. For those on the carrier of the bicycle such as the employees in most instances these challenges may not be so clearly visible because if they were, they would view the business as a crucial entity from which they derive their bread. Irrespective of which season the employer has to pay wages even if it means having to pool that off an existing loan arrangement with a financing entity. Eitherway he has to continue peddling the bicycle up the hill down the hill, through valleys storms e.t.c.The ones on the carrier as they enjoy the ride may either appreciate this sacrifice and even offer to jump off and push the bicycle when its gets to a hill or simply opt to complain that the one ridding the bicycle isnot peddling hard enough. Perhaps a similar scenario exists for those in responsible positions in Government considering they have to figure out inroads and solutions essential for creating a conducive business environment for all players in different sectors. What that could involve could in for instance negotiations with foreign target markets having to be on the receiving end of any riddicle that may be lashed out at their country if their export products dont meet the international benchmarks to enter into markets of those target foreign markets. In most instances they have to eat humble pie as they explain measures in the pipeline to enable exports meet the quality expectations of the target foreign markets. This of course may not register well with some of their counterparts in the Private-sector in some instances but the peddling must continue for the common national good. The challenges of exporting from Samoa to anywhere in the world considering the distant geographic location to markets are very visible. But despite this, the critical importance of strengthening the export sector for the benefit economy is very essential considering all business players in Samoa are persistently battling for an economic breakthrough for their products everyday while in the hope of generating income for the economy and creating employment opportunities other citizens. They continue in this endevaour perharps because they are aware that the more Samoa continues to solely rely on imports without exporting much means Samoa is contributing and or donating her financial capital to purchase of products manufactured elsewhere hence contributing to the sustainability of the companies in those economies producing and supplying those products and sustaining their employment opportunities for citizens of those nations. This has both its pros and cons considering Samoa isnot capable of producing everything. Perhaps what keeps popping up in the mind of the Private sector peddler as he approaches a hill of an export market is a clear balance needs to be struck to ensure economic return for his business. The Government peddler on the other hand could perharps be thinking of the economic benefit for the citizens in terms of employment created and increased foreign capital that will accrue to circulate within the economy once a new market is opened. It is very essential to have foreign investors especially those that will focus on value addition to local products and services because this way perhaps more revenue would flow more towards Samoa from sales in foreign countries. Its also very essential to consume locally considering this ensures that revenue circulates within the economy as opposed to when it flows out because of consumer preferences which ofcourse are a right. An ideal situation could perhaps be focusing any purchases s that are in return providing access to employment opportunities to Samoan citizens in productive or related sectors or supporting service sector development. Perhaps it wouldnt be such a bad idea in the peddling exercise to advocate for a bicycle design that enables enhanced shared partnership in the peddling exercise as opposed to old models where only the one at the front endured the peddling. Wishing all a Merry xmas to all as you peddle along into 2019. Stephen Musubire Vaitele The Samoa Law Society is yet to respond to a call from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi for it to crack down on lawyers who were de-registered overseas for professional misconduct. The Prime Minister made the appeal in a speech at a function to mark the 10 years anniversary of the Samoa Law Reform Commission. There are lawyers practicing in Samoa who have been de-registered overseas and not allowed to practice there as a result of serious offenses and even severe professional misconduct, he said. The Prime Minister did not mention any names when he made the charge. The Samoa Law Society president, Leiataualesa Komisi Koria, is yet to respond to questions from the Samoa Observer in relation to the comments by the Prime Minister. According to Tuilaepa, there were lawyers in Samoa who mislead the public and went ahead with litigation targeting the Government, despite being aware that they will loose. Ironically, according to my information, the same lawyers have made it a habit to mislead members of the public to sue the government with full knowledge that its a lost cause. And in the end, the lawyers walk away as winners pocketing thousands of tala in legal fees. But here is the catch and even more disturbing is the fact that its your taxes paying for their legal fees because in many cases, the legal aid assistance funded by Government is paying for attorney fees to represent clients who cannot afford legal services and representation. Now I ask the Samoa Law Society if there is any justice in that. What happened to integrity and honesty? And at the same time, I challenge the Society to do what is right and lawful, he said and added that such lawyers should not be allowed to practice in the country. Members of the Samoa Solidarity International Group held a peaceful protest march yesterday to call on Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and his Government to repeal the Land Titles Registration Act 2008. They also used the occasion to commemorate Black Saturday, a dark day in Samoan and New Zealand historywhen New Zealand military police fired on Mau independence demonstrators in Apia on December 29, 1929killing 11 Samoans, including the independence leader Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III. Over a 100 people gathered early yesterday morning in Apia to show opposition to the controversial law as well as to remember those who played key roles to push for Samoas independence. March organizer, Unasa Iuni Sapolu, said their protest march is peaceful and they were there to also remember the work of their forefathers. Our forefathers fought to achieve freedom and independence from colonial rule and was led by the leader of Samoas non-violent Mau a Tumua ma Pule Movement, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi, who was shot by New Zealand police as he was leading a peaceful demonstration in downtown Apia. It was the blackest day in Samoa then and it still is today. We lost 10 people and numerous were injured on that day and born from it was Samoas freedom from colonial rule." Hence the importance of this march to repeal the Land Titles Registration Act 2008, which they claimed could alienate customary lands." The same customary lands they fought and died to protect will not be ours if the Land Titles Registration Act is not repealed, Unasa said. Yesterdays march was the fourth one to be organised by the Samoa Solidarity International Group, and did not attract a lot of supporters like in previous protest marches. Unasa blamed timing for the low attendance at yesterdays protest. The Police granted the license from 7am to 8am and it was because the police have other obligations and yet they must escort the peaceful protest." I told the group that next time we will negotiate the time, we have a lot of people from Savaii that wanted to attend, but it was too early for them." We also have some people from overseas who have travelled all the way to participate as they understand the cause behind the peaceful protest is all in protecting of Samoas customary lands, she added. Yesterdays protest attracted men, women and children. The Samoa Solidarity International Group has taken the Government to Court over the legislation. The Ah Liki Wholesale and Chef Choice Tuna have announced the winners of their Christmas promotion. The promotion attracted over 30,000 entries from around the nation with 16 winners announced yesterday. The pricesvalued at over $20,000included BBG grills, Stihl weed eaters, outdoor lounge suite sets and outdoor dining sets. There were also consolation prizes for participants. The two lounge suiteswhich are a four-piece setwas won by six-year-old Jean Tarra Fanene and Fealofani Reupena. Jeans father Matolu Fanene said Jean went to the shop with her aunt Sula Fanene to buy canned tuna, and entered the draw for the top prize. We were just so surprised when Ah Liki called to tell us that we had won the draw. We are grateful to the companies Ah Liki Wholesale and Chef Choice Tuna for the lounge suites, but most importantly to my daughter for putting her name in the draw, he said. The five-piece dining set was won by Ellanoa Komiti from Fusi Safata and Misiolo Junior Italia from Alamagoto. The three BBQ sets were presented to Kurene Endermann, Yvonne Lino and Sweetheart Ifale while the five Stihl lawn mowers went to Tuna Lautua, Hesed Maua, Dyxon Hansell and Minna Petersen. Yvonne LIno and her son Timothy Lino were both very happy to have won the prize. We won the prizes simply from purchasing the canned tunas to make the childrens lunch. It was my son Timothy, who reminded me that there was an entry for purchasing two canned tunas. So we had 12 entries which was 24 cans of tuna we purchased in all. Just like the other winners, we are just grateful for these gifts. They will be of great use in our family, for gatherings and cook outs. We love it and will continue to participate in other promotions, she said. The Christmas promotion is Chef Choice Tunas third and its bid to market Samoas favorite Tuna. Ah Liki Wholesale has assured its customers that the promotion will become an annual event, as they continue to reward their customers. Ah Liki Wholesale management and staff thanked customers for their support and wished everyone a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. The Asia Development Banks latest Pacific Economic Report says Samoas first marginal fiscal surplus since 2009 shows its on its way to achieving higher development outcomes. While debts rose this year due to the tala depreciating against the loan currencies, removing some tax concessions and raising other taxes has contributed to the result. The report states the more internal revenue gathering there is the fewer loans there need to be for development purposes. These efforts have resulted in improvements in operating balances for the past 3 years and allowed the government to use domestic resources for development expenditures. Overall the report appears positive on Samoas financial situation. It said the current debt stock reflects the impacts of the global economic crisis of 2008 and two natural disasters in the years following. Consolidating loans in the last three years have begun reversing the high debt levels those issues caused. This reflects that strong government commitment, combined with ongoing development partner support, can rebuild fiscal buffers while, at the same time, the countrys development objectives are met. But it cant end here. The report emphasises the debt consolidation needs to continue to recreate fiscal buffers. It also reiterated the points made by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank debt sustainability analysis, which urged Samoa to reduce the debt-to-G.D.P ratio by 10 per cent over the long term. Introducing a lower public debt-to-G.D.P target of 45 percent in the medium term and 40 percent over the longer term would increase fiscal space available to respond to a natural disaster. Public debts are currently 50.3 per cent of G.D.P, which breaches the sustainability threshold after including the cost of natural disasters. Alongside Tonga and Tuvalu, Samoa has a high risk debt distress assessment, with debts to seven external agencies. This months Pacific Economic Report focused on debt sustainability across the region. Although debt financing can play an important role in responding to substantial infrastructure needs in the Pacific, strong project due diligence and debt monitoring frameworks are needed to safeguard against future repayment concerns, the report states. The chapter on Samoa was written by lead researcher Shiu Raj Singh. The Australian High Commission has donated books and education resources valued at $15,000 to the Pata Falelatai Study Centre. Acting Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Amanda Jewell, made the donation on Friday in a bid to support the centres aim to achieve higher education goals. Parish Pastor, Rev Tusiupu Maota Tevaga and his wife Sarona Tevaga hosted the handover ceremony and led the traditional Samoan ceremony as a gesture to thank the Australian government and the Acting Australian High Commissioner for the generosity. We are so humbled and enormously grateful to be a recipient by Direct Aid Programme to receive funds to help in our growing study center. The funds have provided computers for students to do research and books for different age groups and subject to improve students academics, said Rev Tusiupu Maota. The Australian government-funded Direct Aid Program has provided funding assistance for small-scale development activities in the areas of health and education. The Pata Falelatai Study Centre is opened to students from the entire village who are interested in improving their education. We have more than 100 kids participating in our study center and you can imagine how happy and grateful that makes us to be able to provide the means necessary to support the center, Sarona explained. Ms. Jewell said that although the Direct Aid Programme maybe a small grant, the lives that it impacts in the communities makes it worthwhile as it is making a difference. She thanked the church committee for their vision and commitment to establish a study center. I sincerely hope the reading and educational resources will be well used and maintained as symbol of friendship between Australia and Samoa, she added. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge signed off Friday on Sears request to pay up to $25.3 million in bonuses to top executives and other high-ranking employees even as the company reported losing nearly $1.9 billion in the first three quarters this year. Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp., which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, said it needs to able to offer the extra cash to encourage key employees to stick with the company as it attempts to restructure, according to court filings. The companys proposal offers bonuses totaling up to $8.4 million to 19 executives if the company achieves certain financial targets over the next six months. Those employees also would be eligible for bonuses if the company is on track to hit those targets when its sold, an attorney for Sears said at the hearing. The retailer also got permission to set aside up to $16.9 million in retention bonuses for a separate group of 315 senior employees. Each could receive a cash award equivalent to 30 to 40 percent of his or her salary, split into quarterly payments over the next year. Advertisement Since filing for bankruptcy, the company already raised base salaries for certain executives, including three tapped to form the Office of the Chief Executive after former CEO Edward Lampert stepped down. Lampert remains the companys chairman, and his hedge fund, ESL Investments, has offered to buy many of the retailers remaining assets for $4.6 billion. Under these circumstances, it would be understandable if many key employees are asking themselves whether they should be seeking other opportunities, Sears said in a court filing last month. However, the retailer cannot afford this uncertainty however understandable it may be, according to the filing. The company has already suffered significant employee attrition in the past month, including the departure of the chief operating officer of its Sears Home Services business and five other employees who would have been eligible for bonuses, Sears said in a separate court filing this week. Bonuses at companies in bankruptcy are getting more scrutiny than in years past due to concerns about executives receiving extra compensation for just for doing their jobs at the expense of a companys unsecured creditors, said Craig Barbarosh, a partner at law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman. But as long as a company can show it has a good reason for incentives and is at risk of losing key employees, its become fairly typical, he said. At a Friday hearing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Robert Drain said he believed the targets Sears set for earning the bonuses were not a layup. Just one day prior, Sears reported racking up nearly $1.9 billion in losses during the nine months ending Nov. 3. More than half of those losses came during the final three months, during which Sears filed for bankruptcy protection, according to a quarterly financial report filed Thursday. The company did report a 4.3 percent rise in sales during the last quarter at its Sears and Kmart stores that had been open at least a year. But even that apparently positive sign was driven by liquidation sales in the stores that were announced for closure, Sears said in a regulatory filing. lzumbach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @laurenzumbach MORE COVERAGE Sears on Black Friday: Stocked shelves and sentimental customers Two Chicago-area Sears stores: One shows run-down present, the other debuts scaled-down future Sears to close last store in Chicago, the city that helped launch its growth into a major retail presence Johnson & Johnson is forcefully denying a media report that it knew for decades about the existence of trace amounts of asbestos in its baby powder. The report Friday by the Reuters news service sent company shares into a tailspin, suffering their worst sell-off in 16 years. The stock price finished down 10%, at $132.86. That wiped out more than $45 billion of market value. Reuters is citing documents released as part of a lawsuit by plaintiffs claiming that the product can be linked to ovarian cancer. The New Brunswick, N.J., company has battled in court against such claims and on Friday called the Reuters report one-sided, false and inflammatory. In the report, Reuters points out that documents show consulting labs as early as 1957 and 1958 found asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talc. Further reports by the company and outside labs showed similar findings through the early 2000s. Advertisement In its statement Friday, Johnson & Johnson said thousands of independent tests by regulators and the worlds leading labs prove our baby powder has never contained asbestos. In July, a jury ordered the company to pay $4.69 billion to women who claimed asbestos in the products caused them to develop ovarian cancer. PHOTO: The Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos served nearly 40 families, including 110 children, during Adopt-A-Family, an annual gift exchange to help families celebrate the holidays. Adopt-A-Family was made possible thanks to the support from local businesses and community members. From left: Rachel Peyton, from Brookfield Residential, one of the event donors, with husband, Jeremy Peyton, and daughter, Brooklyn, getting ready to give out gifts. Visit boysgirlsclubsm.org. Community events, news in North County CARLSBAD Gift of Giving storytime at library Advertisement A Gift of Giving Storytime and Craft for grades K-3 is set for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Georgina Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive. Children will hear stories that celebrate the spirit of giving and make a craft as a gift for someone. Visit carlsbadlibrary.org. Womens Club hosts holiday market Tuesday The Womens Club of Carlsbad hosts a Holiday Market featuring handmade gift items and holiday carolers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at The Island, 5806-5814 Van Allen Way. Gift sales will support the clubs community programs such as funding for school scholarships and funds for Canine Companions. Carolers from Carlsbad High School will stroll through The Island fountain courtyard from 12 to 12:30 p.m. singing Christmas favorites. The Island is making a donation to the Carlsbad High School Choir. Visit theislandatcarlsbad.com. Restaurant puts on annual Christmas party Senor Grubbys at 377 Carlsbad Village Drive presents its seventh annual Community Christmas Party and Food Drive fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday to benefit Got Your Back San Diego, a nonprofit weekend food assistance for children. The event will feature Santa Claus, snowfall, free dessert from BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse Carlsbad, face painting, a photo booth, bounce house, raffles and giveaways. Bring shelf stable milk, individual sized cereals and oatmeal. Call (760) 729-6040. Legoland features tree, holiday shows Legoland California Resort features a 30-foot Christmas tree made out of 245,000 forest-green Duplo bricks, 400 Lego ornaments and 11,000 LED lights. The tree will sparkle each night through Dec. 31 and holiday shows will be featured, including a holiday light show. Visit legoland.com. Talk on what Google knows about you The Carlsbad Senior Center will host a free talk, Download and View (Mostly) Everything Google Knows About You, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the center, 799 Pine Ave. Find out what Google knows about you, and how searching leaves trails that are used for commercial purposes. The presentation will look at information collected and will demonstrate how to download a copy of related personal information. Also covered will be learning what alternatives exist for less invasive Internet searching. The presentation is led by Dr. Sherman E. DeForest, chairman of the Carlsbad Technology Users Group. Call (760) 602-4650. ENCINITAS Vineyard seeks volunteers Sundays The Coastal Roots Farm opens its vineyard to community volunteers ages 14 and older from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays at 800 Ecke Ranch Road. Wear closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle and sunhat. Visit bit.ly/2LEpanK. ESCONDIDO Church presents Christmas concert Community Lutheran Church presents A Christmas Concert, featuring choirs, orchestra and handbells at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the churchs Escondido campus, 3575 E. Valley Parkway. Admission is free. Visit clcfamily.org. FALLBROOK Blood donors receive free holiday T-shirt Albertsons will host a Mobile Blood Drive with the San Diego Blood Bank from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at 1133 S. Mission Road in the parking lot. Donors will receive a limited edition holiday T-shirt, while supplies last. Donors must be ages 17 and older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in a good health. Photo identification is required. Walk in or make an appointment at (800) 469-7322 or visit sandiegobloodbank.org. NORTH COUNTY Volunteers sought for tax preparation Interfaith Community Services is looking for volunteers to help needy community members prepare taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program runs at community centers in Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido. Training is offered. An orientation session is at 6 p.m. Monday at the Interfaith Community Services Center, 550 W. Washington St., Escondido. Email dsullivan@interfaithservices.org. Groups collecting can, bottle donations The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Rincon del Diablo Chapter has partnered with The Pegasus Rising Projects equine-assisted therapy for U.S. service members, and is raising money by collecting California CRV aluminum cans and plastic bottle donations. To make a donation or volunteer, call (760) 994-0024 or email gadler@pegasusrising.org. OCEANSIDE Blood drive features free holiday T-shirts Frazier Farms Market will host a Mobile Blood Drive with the San Diego Blood Bank from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at 1820 Oceanside Blvd. in the parking lot. Donors will receive a limited edition holiday T-shirt, while supplies last. Donors must be ages 17 and older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in a good health. Photo identification is required. Walk in or make an appointment at (800) 469-7322 or visit sandiegobloodbank.org. SAN MARCOS Boys & Girls Club president to speak The Kiwanis Club of Lake San Marcos hosts Tish Murry, president of the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for a presentation on current and future activities of the club. The Kiwanis Club is a community-focused club sponsoring several community projects, including Meals on Wheels. It meets weekly on Tuesdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Clubhouse, 1750 San Pablo Drive, Lake San Marcos. Cost of lunch is $17. Visitors are welcome. Call (925) 348-3834. Call for artists to show work at centers gallery The San Marcos Parks & Recreation Department is looking for artists and photographers to show their works at the Rotating Gallery in the San Marcos Community Center. There is no cost to participate and each show runs for 60 days. Art must have a wire across the back and be family friendly. Free viewing for the public is from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the center, 3 Civic Center Drive. Visit www.san-marcos.net/arts. VALLEY CENTER Historic winery subject of exhibit An exhibit at the Valley Center History Museum showcases Valley Center as home to San Diego Countys first commercial winery and features a rare huge copper vat that was used to crush grapes at the Vineyard Ranch in 1852 along with photos of the historic winery and a copy of A History of Wines & Wineries in San Diego County. The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at 29200 Cole Grade Road. Admission is free. Visit vchistory.org or call (760) 749-2993. VISTA Senior center hosts Bingo for Prizes The Gloria McClellan Center offers Bingo for Prizes at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday at 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. There will be free games and lunch at noon. Lunch reservations are required to play bingo. Suggested contribution of $4 per meal for those 60 and older; those younger than 60 pay $8. Reserve by 1 p.m. Monday at (760) 643-5288. Nominees sought for annual award The Boys & Girls Club of Vista is seeking nominations for its Have a Heart for Kids Award. The annual award recognizes a community member who exemplifies Outstanding Service to the Youth of Vista. Recent winners include Jason Omundson, Debbie Medrano and Sue McLeod. The winner will be honored at the Boys & Girls Club of Vistas Youth of the Year event on Jan. 31. Submit nominations by Jan. 11 to Boys & Girls Club of Vista c/o Matt Koumaras, 410 W. California Ave., Vista, CA 92083 or email matt@bgcvista.com. To request a nomination form, email ellen@bgcvista.com. Vista school trustees tabled a decision to revise enrollment policies for the districts magnet schools after community members called for more discussion on the proposed changes. The board voted 5-0 to continue the matter until next year. They wanted to get more community input and possibly come back again next year, said Lisa Contreras, spokeswoman for Vista Unified School District. They wanted to study it more. The school board was slated to vote Thursday on a measure to streamline the application process and eliminate most categories for priority enrollment. The new rules were intended to increase demographic diversity at the districts five magnet campuses, and allow more neighborhood students to attend those schools, Superintendent Linda Kimble said. Advertisement Parents of magnet school students, however, said proposed changes would disrupt a system that has worked well, and are unfair to students who enrolled in magnets in lower grades, with plans to continue that path through high school. They complained the community didnt have the chance to weigh in on the policy change before the board considered it. The changes this time were so quick, with zero oversight, zero two-way discussion, said parent Dolly Goulart. So making a decision on such a complex matter on such a short period of time is troubling. The district operates five magnet schools, including two elementary campuses, two middle schools and one high school. Out of about 20,000 students enrolled in Vista Unified, about 4,500 attend magnets. Under current rules, students enrolled in an elementary school magnet are assigned priority for admission to middle and high school magnet programs. Siblings of current students also get priority, along with children from military families and foster and homeless youth. The admission process also reserves 10 percent of spaces for inter-district transfers students who live in another district but choose to attend a magnet school in Vista. The remainder of seats are assigned by lottery. The proposed rules would have eliminated most of those categories except for siblings of existing magnet students, and some limited enrollment priorities for military families. Contreras said district staff will set up opportunities for public feedback on potential changes to magnet enrollment, and return to the school board late next year. What I hope will come out of it at the highest of levels is open communication, transparency and trust within the district between parents and the superintendent, Goulart said. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan The Vista Unified School District will consider revising how students are admitted to its magnet schools, with a change that would increase access for some students, but eliminate automatic enrollment for others. The school board on Thursday will vote on a measure to streamline the application process and eliminate most categories for priority enrollment. The new rules are intended to increase demographic diversity at the districts five magnet campuses, and allow more neighborhood students to attend those schools, Superintendent Linda Kimble said. We want to make sure students on any block in Vista have equal access as anyone else, she said. Critics say the proposed change upends a system that has worked well, and could exclude some students who have attended magnets in lower grades, and planned to continue that path through high school. Advertisement The people who are going to be affected are the people who entered the magnet program with the expectation that they would follow the magnet program through high school, said Keith Rice, whose daughter has attended magnet schools in Vista since fourth grade. The district operates five magnet schools, starting in elementary grades with Casita Center for Science, Technology and Math, and Vista Academy of Visual & Performing Arts. Two magnet middle schools, Vista Magnet Middle School of Math, Science, and Technology and Vista Innovation and Design Academy, both offer specialized programs for sixth- through eighth-graders. Mission Vista High School is an arts, communication, science and technology magnet. Out of about 20,000 students enrolled in Vista Unified, about 4,500 attend those magnet campuses, according to district enrollment figures. Under current rules, students enrolled in an elementary school magnet are assigned priority for admission to middle and high school magnet programs. Siblings of current students also get priority, along with children from military families and foster and homeless youth. The admission process also reserves 10 percent of spaces for inter-district transfers students who live in another district but choose to attend a magnet school in Vista. The remainder of students are assigned by lottery. The proposed rules would eliminate all those categories except for siblings of existing magnet students, and some limited enrollment priorities for military families. Inter-district students could be admitted only after all applicants from within the district are offered seats. As a result, more spaces would be opened to lottery, Kimble said. There are so many students taking up the pipeline, that there is no spaces for students in the community trying to get in, she said. Kimble started with the district in January, and said that in her first weeks on the job she grew concerned about students who walked several miles each way to class. In some cases, they walked past magnet schools in their own neighborhood to farther campuses. The numerous priority categories hindered these kids chances to get seats in magnet programs near their homes, Kimble said. As a result, she said, magnets have lower numbers of special education students, English learners, Latino students and those whose parents arent college graduates, than other schools in the district. In other words, educated, white parents of higher-performing kids were better at navigating the admission process than other groups. Some really motivated parents are getting into the system really early, and then theyre good forever, Kimble said. Now the kids who live down the block might be walking their entire school career. So, the bottom line is we have an equity issue. Kimble proposed a system of enrollment through a simple lottery, with exceptions for siblings of magnet students, and specific conditions for military families who recently transferred to the district after the lottery deadline. Parents whose children are already in the magnet system cried foul, however, saying it undermines the implied promise that students who enroll in magnets will continue on that course. Once you start on this pathway, up until now, you have priority to move to middle and to move to high school, said parent Dolly Goulart. Thats been understood, its been part of the marketing material, the spiel when you apply to a magnet. Kimble said, however, that the specialized focuses of the magnet schools arent true academic pathways. Only the International Baccalaureate program offered at several Vista campuses is a continual pathway and the schools where its offered arent all magnets. Shiloh Strawbridge, the parent of a student at Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, noted that her school has a higher percentage of Latino students, English learners and special education students than the district as a whole. The new rules could jeopardize that diversity, particularly as those students move into middle school, she said. Instead of eliminating priorities for existing magnet students, she thinks the district should simplify the application system and reach out to more families. What theyre doing is taking a wrecking ball before they even see what structure they should be demolishing, she said. Theyre destroying a magnet pathway before changing the application process. Goulart argued that there hasnt been enough community feedback on the enrollment changes. She wants the board to vote no on the proposed changes, and create a committee to study the matter and make recommendations. She would like to focus on the successes of magnet schools, and use them as models for neighborhood campuses. Your magnet program is working, she said. Take whats working with the magnets and use that as an incubator to help your other schools lift up. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan About a dozen border security activists held a press conference in the San Ysidro Port of Entry Friday urging elected officials to avoid a government shutdown by approving $5 billion for a border wall. I have a very simple message, said Ben Bergquam, one of the organizers. Build the wall or shut it down. Its time that we protect American citizens. The press conference featured four Angel Mothers, women whose children have either been murdered by unauthorized immigrants or died in accidents involving people who were in the country illegally. The mothers, who drove to San Diego from as far as Colorado, said a border wall would prevent more people from illegally entering the United States and therefore protect American citizens from being potentially harmed by unauthorized immigrants. Advertisement If we do not do something now, how much further is this going to go, said Katheryn Hall, 50, from Colorado Springs. My daughter was 18. She had dreams, she had a life. Halls daughter, Hailey Hall, died after a hit-and-run vehicle collision in 2016. The driver who struck Halls daughter was in the country illegally. The group decided to hold a press conference this week after seeing President Donald Trump argue about the border wall with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. During the argument, Trump said hed shoulder the blame for a government shut down if Congress did not approve the $5 billion for the border wall. Friday mornings press conference had a sharp partisan tone as organizers blamed Democrats for illegal immigration. Several Angel Mothers said Democratic politicians ignore their concerns and Bergquam called Democrats domestic enemies of the American people. They raised their hand, they swore an oath to protect this country from enemies both foreign and domestic and they have become the very domestic enemies they swore an oath to protect us from, he said. Activists wore hats and shirts with President Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan. One of the mothers, Angie Morfin-Vargas, shared a story of meeting then-candidate Trump along the campaign trail. He held my hand and he told me that everything was going to be OK and I believe him, she said. I believe everything that he told me that day and I know that he is here to fight for the American people. Morfin-Vargas 13-year-old son Ruben was shot and killed by a gang member in 1990. The shooter fled to Mexico and was eventually caught. Organizers held the press conference at San Ysidro, the countys busiest port of entry where on Nov. 25 hundreds of migrants from a Central American caravan rushed the border fence. Border Patrol agents shot tear gas at the migrants, some of whom threw rocks at the agents, only a few yards away from where the activists stood Friday. Amy Sutton, of the pro-border security organization San Diego Patriots, said she is worried about more caravan members crossing the border illegally. We need to fund the border wall, she said. Sutton said she and other members of San Diego Patriots have visited the El Barretal migrant shelter in Tijuana. They said they have have seen migrants gambling and drinking excessively. She also saw a video of migrants having a dance party Tuesday night, the same day a group of them asked the U.S. for money to go back home. It was literally turned into a club, she said. But activists stressed that border security does not stop with the caravan. Illegal immigration happened before the caravan arrived to Tijuana and it will continue to happen once they leave, Bergquam said. Its more than just the caravan, he said. Its a much bigger issue than just the caravan. Some of the activists from Fridays press conference planned to attend an America First Rally near the San Ysidro Port of Entry at 11 a.m. Saturday. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter A retired two-star admiral and former Trump Administration nominee repeatedly solicited and accepted gifts from military contractor Leonard Glenn Fat Leonard Francis and used his position as the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15 to benefit Francis company, according to a letter of censure released Friday. The letter, signed by Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, details events from 2007 to 2009 when Rear Adm. Mark C. Montgomery accepted meals and hotel stays for himself and his family while providing Francis with information about ship movements and the names of other officers he could invite to his lavish dinners. He also lied to Navy investigators in January when he submitted a written statement denying his involvement with Francis, the letter says. In June, Montgomery was nominated by President Trump for an administrative position at the U.S. Agency for International Development. That nomination was withdrawn just before the Navy announced his censure. Advertisement Although announced in November, the details of Montgomerys graft were only made public on Friday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The San Diego Union-Tribune and other media organizations. According to Navy investigators cited in the letter, Montgomery accepted gifts of meals and hotel stays in excess of $6,000 and helped Francis plan a lavish $32,000 dinner at the Pierre II restaurant in Hong Kong. Montgomery even signed a menu commemorating the event, the Navy says. During the summer of 2007, Montgomery intervened on behalf of Francis company and had two Navy vessels accept fuel from Francis company that they had originally declined. Minutes after the company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, was notified of Montgomerys action, someone from the company, whose name was redacted from the letter perhaps Francis said of him in a comment Top shelf friendship!! Ha Ha!! That October, Montgomery provided Francis with advance notice that a Navy ship would be visiting Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, a port Francis controlled. In exchange, he asked Francis to put his family up in a Hong Kong hotel the next month. Francis arranged for an upgraded room, for which GDMA paid $2,609. In the spring of 2008, Francis and GDMA paid almost $2,000 for Montgomerys stay at the Hong Kong Grand Hyatt, the letter says. Just before his hotel stay, Montgomery gave Francis five-months notice of the Navys plans to visit Cambodia and Vietnam, the document states. In December of 2008, Francis and GDMA again paid for a hotel upgrade for Montgomery and his family, this time in Singapore. When offered the $1,600 upgrade, Montgomery said he would be thrilled to take it, Spencers letter says. Francis, also known as Fat Leonard because of his size, was a Malaysian defense contractor who provided husbanding services for Navy ships in the western Pacific for more than 20 years. His criminal enterprise ensnared dozens of naval officers. As many as 200 were investigated by the Navy. Beginning with his arrest in a San Diego hotel room in 2013, the Justice Department began unraveling Francis web, one string at a time. Among those in thrall to Francis was John Beliveau II, an Navy Criminal Investigative Service agent who served as the contractors mole, helping him keep one step ahead of authorities. In 2016, Beliveau was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Other officers, accused of less serious offenses, received significantly lighter sentences. Those whose actions did not rise to the level of federal prosecution were turned over to the Navy for potential prosecution under military law. Montgomerys censure is unlikely to quell the critique that the Navy has gone easy on its own. A Navy spokesman declined to comment on the Navys decision not to prosecute Montgomery under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Justice Department could not be reached for comment late Friday to discuss its decision not to pursue criminal charges against Montgomery. Francis tactic was to cozy up to naval officers as a friend, find out their weaknesses and then exploit them. He plied officers with cash, fine dining, travel and high-dollar prostitutes across Asia. In a deposition in a military courtroom this summer, Francis said the investment was worthwhile. Officers would provide him with information about ship movements and information about other officers he might be able to target for his conspiracy. Others would provide proprietary information from his competitors in the region, allowing him to tailor his bids for lucrative husbanding contracts. He was also able to corrupt those in charge of approving those contracts. Francis would then overcharge Navy ships for services in port by inflating the amount of sewage his company removed from ships, for instance, or having his employees produce fake invoices from non-existent sub-contractors all in an effort to squeeze the Navy for millions of dollars in overcharges. Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to bilking the Navy for $35 million. He is cooperating with prosecutors while he awaits sentencing. He is battling stage four cancer and living under house arrest somewhere in San Diego County. Montgomery, who is retired, will not face any further consequences for his graft, save the stain on his record and the revocation of his end of tour award from his time as the commander of Destroyer Squadron 15. A slew of officers from the Navys Seventh Fleet await trial in San Diego. In total, 33 people have been charged in the conspiracy, with 22 pleading guilty. Navy Captain Jeffrey Breslau, the former lead public affairs officer for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, was the latest. He pleaded guilty last month. Montgomery was the sixth admiral to be censured by the Navy. Two others were charged with crimes. Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau was sentenced in 2017 to 18 months in prison. He was released last month. The other, Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, is among the Seventh Fleet officers awaiting trial. Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. December 15, 1961 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. Friday, December 15, 1961 In 1961, two thousand tons of earth slipped loose on the side of Mount Soledad, destroying eight luxury houses under construction in La Jolla. Another serious landslide occurred in the same area in October 2007, injuring no one but forcing the evacuation of dozens of houses. The 2007 landslide took out a huge chunk of Soledad Mountain Road, destroyed three homes outright and left eight others uninhabitable. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: Slides Destroy 8 New Houses In La Jolla By Michael O Connor Seven homes in the Mt. Soledad area of La Jolla were flattened early yesterday by a 2,000 ton earth slide. Another home slipped 60 feet down an embankment on Soledad Mountain Road and was destroyed. All the home were in various stages of construction and priced to sell at more than $30,000. No one was injured. CHECK MADE Late yesterday, Baylor Brooks, associate professor of geology at San Diego State said the slide was caused by a weakened plane of natural earth which dipped at a 45-degree angle from Soledad Mountain Road. Brooks made preliminary checks of the slide yesterday at request of the city. E.W. Blom, assistant city manager, authorized hiring a soil engineering firm to begin investigation while the slide was fresh. The city called in Benton Engineering, Inc., a local firm, to investigate. SITE INSPECTED Blom, City Engineer E.F. Gabrielson and Verne Parker, city public works director, personally inspected the damage. The slide, which occurred about 3 a.m., gouged out a 600-foot section of the home property and sidewalks on Soledad Mountain Road. A $33,000 home at 5671 Soledad Mountain Road slipped 60 feet down the embankment, was tipped backwards but remained intact. Earth under a corner of an adjoining home was undercut leaving a section of it hanging precariously over the hillside. LAST IN UNIT The Soledad Mountain Road homes were the last in the 42-unit La Jolla Crest subdivision being built by Drogin Construction Co. The earth cascaded into the seven dwellings on Desert View Drive, crumbling them like houses of cards. Wooden studs were folded like toothpicks, sending roofs straight down in one piece. 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. California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said Friday she dropped her Republican Party registration after watching the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. I was greatly disturbed by the hearing itself and the process, the states top jurist and head of the Judicial Branch said in a telephone interview. I say that not as a chief justice but as a female and a mother of two young women. Kavanaugh was accused of sexual misconduct, including what one woman described as an attempted rape in high school. Republican leadership moved swiftly to confirm him after a brief investigation into the accusations. Cantil-Sakauyes decision to register as no party preference, first reported by CALMatters, came after years of considering the move, she said. Advertisement Republican governors appointed her to all her judicial positions, from a trial court jurist to a court of appeal justice and finally, in 2010, to the top of the states highest court. She began her legal career as a prosecutor. She has criticized the Trump administration in the past for stalking courthouses to find people who entered the country without authorization and Trump for attacking judges. In the interview Friday, she noted that public discourse has become polarized and acrimonious and that she, as a woman and ethnic minority, had benefited from inclusive attitudes. I feel like I am a product of tremendous opportunity, and that came from inclusion, said Cantil-Sakauye, 59. Asked why she did not switch to the Democratic Party, she said, I didnt want to be labeled one way. My values are more centrist. In other matters, Cantil-Sakauye said the court would do whatever possible to quickly review Gov. Jerry Browns final clemency requests even if he asks for commutations for all death row prisoners. Six former governors of other states called on Brown in an op-ed in the New York Times on Thursday to follow their examples and empty death row. Few expect Brown to heed that call. The California Constitution requires a majority of the California Supreme Court to consent to clemency requests for twice-convicted felons. Brown has not yet submitted any requests for commutation of condemned inmates, and he leaves office early next month. California has about 740 inmates on death row, the largest in the nation. Cantil-Sakauye said reviewing clemency requests for 740 inmates by Jan. 7 would be a heavy lift though she did not say it would be impossible. The state high court established a more deferential standard this year for reviewing governors clemency recommendations. Under the new standard, the court will consent to clemency requests unless it believes they involve an abuse of power. Even with that lax standard, the court has rejected at least three of Browns requests. Cantil-Sakauye also said she expects that Joshua Groban, Browns choice to to fill a vacancy on the California Supreme Court, will be an interesting addition. He brings executive-branch experience and a whole wealth of history and knowledge background information for understanding some of the new laws we grapple with, she said. Groban, 45, a senior adviser to Brown who vetted judicial candidates, is expected to win unanimous approval next week by a three-member state commission headed by Cantil-Sakauye. His appointment will give Democrats a majority on the state high court for the first time in decades. maura.dolan@latimes.com Twitter: @mauradolan Directors at Southern Californias commuter rail agency on Friday hired a new chief executive officer the first woman and the first African American to hold the position in Metrolinks 26-year history. Stephanie Wiggins, 49, has worked at three of the transportation agencies that fund and govern Metrolink. She most recently was the deputy chief executive officer at Los Angeles Countys Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a position she has held since 2015. Previously, she worked in the transportation field in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. I look forward to having a laser focus on enhancing the customer experience for current and future riders, Wiggins said in a statement. She replaces Arthur Leahy, who announced his retirement in October. Wiggins joins Metrolink at a critical period for Southern California transportation, as driving continues to increase and as officials work to draw commuters off the regions congested freeways and onto public transportation ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. Advertisement The agency, with a budget of $251 million, operates trains on 512 miles of tracks and serves about 39,000 riders every weekday. Trains run through Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. Wiggins will earn a base salary of $349,000, according to her contract. She starts Jan. 2. In an interview, Wiggins said she would focus on rolling out and finding additional funding for an ambitious $10-billion plan to improve commuter rail service, adding reliability in an effort to reduce driving and better serve visitors during the Olympics. The plan already has about $1.1 billion in funding, including an $875-million grant awarded by California officials earlier this year that will jump-start the upgrades, including grade separations and new stretches of track. People want more frequency, they want more choices, they want to have a link to the greater Southern California region, Wiggins said. Trains will run more frequently when the business model is ready to support it. She also will oversee Metrolinks ongoing efforts to replace its aging diesel-powered engines with clean-air locomotives. So far, seven of the agencys 40 engines have been replaced with so-called Tier 4 locomotives, which are designed to emit up to 85% less pollution than the older models. In addition, Wiggins will oversee an effort to consolidate three separate contracts for train operations, track maintenance and signal maintenance into one mega contract. The process will take about two years, Metrolink Chairman Andrew Kotyuk said. Multiple contractors working on the rail system sometimes led to conflicts over who was responsible for problems, but with one contractor, he said, theres not going to be finger-pointing. At Metro, Wiggins led several high-profile projects, including the creation of Los Angeles Countys first toll lanes on the 110 Freeway and, more recently, the creation of a transportation boarding school that will serve at-risk youth. She has been a tremendous asset to Metro and will be a fantastic CEO, Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said in a statement. We look forward to continuing to work with her and the Metrolink team to deliver great mobility options for our region. laura.nelson@latimes.com For more transportation news, follow @laura_nelson on Twitter. A Seattle man accused of trying to run over two Jewish men outside a Los Angeles synagogue has been found competent to stand trial, prosecutors said. Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, 32, was arrested in late November after police say he shouted anti-Semitic slurs at worshipers exiting Congregation Bais Yehuda in Hancock Park and then allegedly tried to run the two men down with his car before speeding away and crashing. A public defender had questioned whether Mohamed, who was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, was competent to stand trial. The Times previously reported that Mohamed was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2015 and has been treated at mental health facilities in the Seattle area at least twice in recent years. Advertisement Mohamed was found competent during a hearing Friday morning, said Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Ceballos. He is due in court again on Monday to schedule a preliminary hearing. Authorities have said they have no evidence of links between Mohamed and any known terror or hate groups. marisa.gerber@latimes.com paloma.esquivel@latimes.com Tom DeLonge would be the first to tell you that Strange Times are, indeed, happening. The former Blink-182 members fascination with UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence has blossomed into a second career. He runs a To The Stars book store and boutique in Encinitas. Now, Variety reports that the graphic science fiction novel, Strange Times, that DeLonge penned nearly four years ago, will be turned into an animated series for TBS. It follows the adventures of five irreverent teen skateboarders who attempt to solve paranormal mysteries while eluding Deep State government agents in a whirlwind of kickflips, ollies and grinds. The musician confided to Variety that the lead characters are loosely based on the tribe of degenerate skateboarders he grew up with around the same time he co-founded Blink-182. He was living in Poway at the time. He noted that the punk rock song, Suburban Home would be his ideal choice for a theme song. Advertisement DeLonge is co-executive producer for the project with, among others, Aaron Karo, who is writing the script based on Strange Times. DeLonge describes the series as a science fiction Disney. In announcing the project, he made this telling statement: My love for all things paranormal and skateboarding are sometimes only superseded by my love for offensive humor. ...This series combines them all into one. His To the Stars store, along with merchandise, contains career memorabilia, including Angels & Airwaves, the band he formed in 2005 after departing from Blink-182. He appears to be masterful at merchandising as he is at music, offering Black Friday deals and special 12 Days of Christmas discounts. Rufus Hannah (left), who appeared in Bumfights videos, is with Barry Soper who give him a job at a San Carlos townhome complex he owns. They were photographed in 2010, the year they co-wrote the book, A Bum Deal. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) Bumfights resurface: Remember the public outcry over two homeless San Diego men becoming the unwitting stars of the degrading 2002 video Bumfights: A Cause for Concern? Rufus Hannah and Donnie Brennan were likable alcoholics and best friends who lived and slept on the streets of La Mesa. Then they were befriended by teenage filmmaker Ryen McPherson who gave them alcohol, cigarettes and sometimes a little cash, and encouraged them to attempt dangerous stunts of the MTV Jackass series ilk for his documentaries. McPherson soon joined with others to create Indecline Films, producing a series of Bumfights films. After irate public and media reaction (60 Minutes ran an expose in 2006), criminal misdemeanor charges and a civil lawsuit filed against the producers, Hannah and Brennan collected a settlement enabling them to turn their lives around. Hannah became sober, married his former girlfriend, spoke out on behalf of the homeless and returned to Georgia to live near family members. Sadly, though, he was killed late last year when a car in which he was riding was T-boned by a truck. A 2002 photo of Donnie Brennan, right, with a BUMFIGHT tattoo on his forehead, sitting with his homeless friends in La Mesa behind a Mobile station at Fletcher Parkway at Jackson Drive. Brennan was one of several featured in the Bumfights videos. (Sean M. Haffey / San Diego Union-Tribune) Brennan, who has vacillated between rehab and relapse, still lives in San Diego County. (When I tried to reach him the other day, he was residing in a sober living center.) A lengthy update was published online recently by Rolling Stone. It included McPhersons assertion that he had a friendly relationship with the two transients, especially Hannah, providing them food, places to sleep and occasionally a few helpful dollars. To this day, McPherson, who relocated to Las Vegas, where he still produces edgy documentaries and films, maintains that he and his film partners were doing the homeless men a favor. San Diego attorney Barry Soper, who had befriended the two men, provided them jobs at a housing complex he owns in San Carlos. He also encouraged their sobriety and collaborated with Hannah to write a book, A Bum Deal (2010), about their Bumfights exploitation. Soper has a far different view of McPhersons motivation. While delighted that Hannahs story of redemption was told, Soper condemned the Rolling Stone articles portrayal of McPherson as far too sympathetic, giving a distorted picture of his cruelty and lack of caring. Because of those alcohol-fueled video stunts, Hannah sustained permanent head trauma and double vision which meant he could no longer drive a car, Soper said. Brennan became crippled and now uses a wheelchair. Yet McPherson and his buddies still believe that they helped Rufus and Donnie get off the streets, Soper added. They have expressed absolutely no remorse for their actions... Meanwhile, the transients story may once again be in the spotlight. Soper says a movie version of A Bum Deal is in pre-production. Ive reviewed the script, and I love it. Judy Shepard, left, and her husband Dennis Shepard, right, spoke at a law enforcement roundtable discussing hate crimes on Oct. 29, 2018. Their son, Matthew Shepard, was brutally murdered in 1998 and has come to symbolize the plight of the LGBTQ community in America. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP) Shepards invited to San Diego: Longtime LGBTQ allies Judy and Dennis Shepard, whose 21-year-old son Matthew was brutally tortured and murdered in a gay hate crime in Wyoming 20 years ago, will be honored in a 7 p.m. ceremony Sunday at the Courtyard by Marriott in Liberty Station. Nicole Murray-Ramirez, a gay community activist and member of the city human relations commission, announced the couple will receive the Imperial Court de San Diegos highest annual humanitarian award named for assassinated San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. It recognizes the foundation they established to promote student tolerance of diversity. Matthew Shepards ashes were interred last October next to Helen Keller in the Washington National Cathedral where his resting place can be safeguarded from vandalism. The San Diego History Center and KPBS each will get civil rights awards named for the late gay activist Harvey Milk for their gay history exhibit and documentary work. diane.bell@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1518 Twitter: @dianebellSD Facebook: dianebell.news A federal judge in San Diego sentenced an Illinois man to more than 11 years in prison on Friday for his part in a cocaine trafficking ring that moved drugs from Guatemala and Mexico through San Diego and ultimately to Chicago. Juan Angel Pavo Mexicano, 33, pleaded guilty in July in San Diego to a federal cocaine conspiracy charge, admitting in a plea agreement that he kept a cache of drugs, money and high-powered guns in suburban Chicago stash houses and storage units. Prosecutors said that among the weapons and other items discovered at Mexicanos stash houses were two hand grenades, a grenade launcher, five .50 caliber weapons, 26 assault-style weapons including a submachine gun and six bullet-proof vests. Mexicano also admitted to storing roughly 330 pounds of cocaine in a stash house near Chicago, federal prosecutors said. He told investigators the drugs came from a Mexican-based trafficker identified in court documents as El 99. Advertisement He was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison, though hell be credited for 15 months of time served in state custody. He also faces sentencing next month in Illinois on state charges related to the weapons stockpile. Mexicanos prison sentence is the longest so far in the case, which has seen a total of five defendants plead guilty. Four have been sentenced. According to prosecutors, Walter Rovidio 40 Rounds Ipina, 40, of Victorville, admitted to using a big rig from his family-owned trucking business to move cocaine provided by El 99 from Mexico to the U.S. through the San Ysidro port of entry. In September 2016, he was stopped by law enforcement agents who discovered roughly 70 pounds of cocaine in his semi-truck. Ipina was sentenced in August to four years and two months in prison. David Pelon Castaneda-Solis, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced in October to five years and 10 months in prison for laundering drug money for the group. Prosecutors say he was caught with $154,000 bound for Mexico inside a hidden compartment of his SUV. Jacob Negro Castillo-Lopez, 48, of Guatemala, also pleaded guilty to laundering drug money and was sentenced last month to a little under three years in prison. Anaheim resident Zachary Cholo Vasquez, 27, admitted to coordinating at least four shipments of cocaine, totaling between 275 and 330 pounds, through the San Ysidro port of entry. Hes scheduled to be sentenced next year. The names of at least three other defendants believed to part of the drug trafficking conspiracy were redacted from the federal indictment. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com A Carlsbad priest accused of groping a seminary students groin twice in a restroom stall during a night of heavy drinking testified Friday that he was merely trying to put pressure on the mans stomach to help with vomiting. The Rev. Juan Garica Castillos testimony came during the third day of his misdemeanor sexual battery trial in Vista Superior Court. The jury spent an hour deliberating Friday afternoon and is expected to continue Monday. He faces up to six months in jail if convicted. Taking the witness stand for the entire morning, Castillo, 35, testified that he did touch the 33-year-old vomiting student from behind in the bathroom, but it was in no way sexual. Advertisement He said he put one hand on the students back. I tried to put my other hand on his stomach, Castillo said. He explained why: My mom always put pressure on my stomach to calm down, stop the vomiting. Thats what I was taught as a kid. The student testified otherwise, saying Castillos hand found his groin, where he massaged and pulled on his genitals in a clear move to get him aroused. He asked the priest to go away twice. This was no mistake. He was trying to get me going, the student testified. The Union-Tribune does not name the victims of sex crimes. When asked if Castillo might have accidentally touched the students genitals, Castillo replied: I dont remember. It might have happened accidentally as he was bending over. The trial was striking in that except for the sexual battery allegation there was little dispute in the testimony about what happened the night of Feb. 3 and into the early morning hours of Feb. 4. The trial instead focused on perceptions, or, the defense argued, misperceptions. We have a difference of recollection that is inches, argued Castillos attorney, Victor Pippins, during closing arguments. He added: I dont think (the student) is lying. I think he is mistaken, and there is not a large margin of error. Deputy District Attorney Joshua Brisbane countered: This wasnt some rubbing of a belly. It was sexual battery. The alleged victim a Navy lawyer who left his career to join the priesthood first met Castillo earlier that day at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Carlsbad, where Castillo was an associate pastor. The accuser and his seminary classmate were there to announce an event for males considering seminary. Castillo invited the two students out for drinks following the evening mass he led. The priest immediately ordered a round of Long Island iced teas for the trio. Both students said they would have ordered different drinks, but they deferred to Castillo. The conversation was flowing well, as the three bonded over shared experiences of seminary studies and the pressures of the priesthood. Castillo made sure the Long Islands kept flowing, as well. The priest admitted hed been pushy with the drinks, but he said that was part of his nature. I do that with my friends when Im drinking. Its part of my personality to be friendly, be pushy. Castillo also wasnt shy about reaching over and touching the accuser during conversation, messing with his hair and taking hold of his hand at times. That was also natural behavior, the priest said. By nature, as a Latino, Im a very touchy person, Castillo told the jury. I use my hands a lot, especially when Im drinking. The differences between Castillo and the two students became more marked as the night wore on. Castillo saw them as naive, moralistic, rigid in doctrine and conservative rule-followers. The students found Castillo to have questionable interpretations of Catholic teachings. They balked at many of the priests statements, including advice to befriend rich parishioners to get gifts and that fornication was less of a sin than masturbation. Castillo said the meaning of the comments was misunderstood. He said he did at times accept gifts from parishioners and clarified that he never told the students it was OK to fornicate. In text messages to the student after the bathroom incident, Castillo offered several apologies, although never clearly stated what he was apologizing for. In his testimony, Castillo said he was apologizing for pushing the drinks on them all night, causing the victim to get sick. Brisbane argued the apologies were clearly written in the context of the students sexual accusation. He said the best demonstration of that is one of the students texts: Dude, I wont sexually come on to seminarians. Im sorry, Castillo responded in the next text. Im so sorry. The Rev. Juan Garcia Castillo (Courtesy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego) kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Time is getting tight for the city to make a decision about where to relocate the bridge shelter tent operated by Father Joes Villages in downtown San Diego. Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of the nonprofit, said he is confident a site for the shelter will be found before its taken down in March, but he also acknowledges a decision is needed soon. I can most definitely say there is no sense of desperation, he said. Is there a sense of urgency? Absolutely. Also yet to be announced is a plan to temporarily house people in the shelter who will be displaced during the several weeks it will take to relocate the tent. Vargas said he is confident that those people will not be sent back to the streets. Advertisement The tent is one of three bridge shelters the city of San Diego erected about a year ago. Intended as a bridge between life on the street and permanent housing, the shelters hold about 700 people in all, with 150 in the Father Joes tent. Father Joes Villages agreed to provide services for one tent and to allow it to be built on its property at 14th and Commercial streets, but the agreement was always temporary because that charity plans to build a 16-story, 407-unit housing project on the site. The land has to be vacated in March to make way for the June groundbreaking of the building. While that may seem like a comfortable amount of time, Vargas estimates it may take two or three months to dismantle, haul and rebuild the large metal and canvas structure. Its also going to be costly. The San Diego City Council recently agreed to spend $1.6 million to cover the cost of relocating the tent. The money was part of $14.1 million it received from the states Homeless Emergency Aid Program. Keely Halsey, chief of homelessness strategies and housing liaison in Mayor Kevin Faulconers office, said progress is being made, but she couldnt discuss details yet. The city is making considerable progress on finalizing the new location for the shelter and on the plan to provide temporary placement so that all occupants remain sheltered during the relocation, she wrote in an email. Due to the status of various negotiations underway to accomplish that, Im not able to share those details with you at this time. Finding sites for large tents that each hold more than 100 homeless people was never an easy task. The city spent months searching for locations last year before announcing the three sites, including the Father Joes property that could be used for only about a year. The temporary site was picked last year during a hepatitis A outbreak that hit the homeless community hard, hospitalizing hundreds and leaving 20 dead. Once a site for a new tent location is selected, the city still must find a place to temporarily house 150 people while it is being moved. The shelter includes 100 beds for families and 50 for single women. Vargas said Father Joes has begun preparing for the move by no longer accepting people who are bridge shelter clients, meaning they are working with housing navigators to find permanent homes. Instead, people who leave the bridge shelter are being replaced by women and families who are part of Father Joes emergency shelter program. Vargas said he believes the number of bridge shelter clients will continue to drop as March approaches. To date, 45 percent of families and 30 percent of women in the bridge shelter have successfully exited to housing, he said. Were going to get it done, he said about finding a temporary shelter. We still have time to be able to do this and transition well. Im pretty tenacious. Were on it. The city has several options for sites that can hold the displaced 150 people. When a Dec. 6 downpour flooded a similar tent shelter operated downtown by the Alpha Project, the city relocated 260 people to a makeshift shelter at SDCCU Stadium in Mission Valley within hours. In October 2017, the city also set up individual tents for about 200 people in a maintenance yard near Balboa Park in anticipation of the opening of the three large tents. Besides the stadium, other city-owned properties that have been discussed as possible sites for homeless people include Golden Hall, the former Chargers headquarters and the old central library. Looking ahead, Vargas said he is hopeful the next few years will see more permanent solutions to house homeless people. Father Joes Villages launched its Turning the Key initiative in March 2017 to create 2,000 affordable housing units with new construction or by refurbishing old motels. Besides the 407-unit project planned for the 14th and Commercial streets, the nonprofit is in escrow for an 85-unit motel conversion and it recently announced plans to construct a 207-unit building at Broadway and 13th Street, which he said should break ground in the middle of 2020. 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 A federal judge in Texas declared the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional on Friday, issuing a blockbuster ruling that threatens to throw insurance markets into chaos and strip health coverage from tens of millions of patients nationwide. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor hands a victory to 20 Republican governors and state attorneys general who sued to wipe out the 2010 healthcare law, widely known as Obamacare. But it could create a massive political headache for Republicans in Congress, who lost control of the House in November in large part because Democrats accused them of seeking to undermine the law. OConnor, a conservative judge appointed by President George W. Bush, had been widely expected to rule against the law, at least in part. His ruling, however, swept more broadly than many had expected, striking down the entirety of the healthcare law, including its provisions that have allowed California and 31 other states to expand Medicaid to some 15 million Americans and the subsidies that keep insurance affordable for millions of others who do not get healthcare coverage through their jobs. The judge did not issue an injunction ordering the government to stop carrying out the law, however, meaning that its provisions will remain in effect pending further action. Advertisement The Trump administration had partially backed the suit by the conservative states, not endorsing their request to declare the entire law invalid. Instead, the administration had declined to defend the healthcare law and asked the judge to eliminate its guarantee of coverage for people with preexisting health conditions. A group of left-leaning states led by California that have stepped in to defend the healthcare law quickly said they would appeal OConnors ruling. Todays ruling is an assault on 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the A.C.A.s consumer protections for health care, on Americas faithful progress toward affordable health care for all Americans, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said in a statement. President Trump praised the judges ruling. But healthcare groups denounced it. The American Medical Assn. said it would back an appeal, warning that the judges ruling would move the U.S. back toward the days when 20% of the population lacked insurance. The states likely will appeal to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Eventually, the case could wind up back at the Supreme Court, which has twice ruled in favor of the law. The foundation of the case brought by conservative-leaning states led by Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton was a provision in last years mammoth tax bill. The tax law eliminated the penalty on Americans who dont have health insurance, although it preserved the technical requirement that people have coverage. In 2012, when the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, it ruled that Congress had the authority to adopt the requirement that people have insurance the so-called individual mandate as an exercise of its power to levy taxes. In the current case, OConnor said that with the tax penalty now repealed, the coverage mandate can no longer be sustained as an exercise of Congresss tax power. Going one step further, he ruled that Congress would not have approved the rest of the law without the mandate. Therefore, he said, the entire law must be struck down as unconstitutional. That ruling adopted the argument made by Wisconsin Solicitor General Misha Tseytlin, representing the conservative states, who told the judge in September when the case came up for a hearing that the entire ACA should fall because the coverage requirement could no longer be sustained. Attorneys for California had urged OConnor to instead focus on the intent of the lawmakers who wrote the 2017 tax law. During the extensive debate on the tax law, lawmakers never suggested that they were quietly repealing the healthcare law, they noted. Moreover, the tax law specifically elected to preserve the healthcare laws consumer protections even as it eliminated the individual mandate penalty. The California attorneys also warned of the widespread disruptions that could ensue if those protections are rolled back. Republicans had feared that OConnor would rule before the election, which would have made the healthcare law even more of an issue for voters. As it was, healthcare topped the list of major issues that voters said they were considering in choosing candidates in November. Throughout the campaign, Republicans, who tried unsuccessfully to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017, desperately tried to fend off Democratic charges that they wanted to take away health protections from Americans. Once the election was over, the Trump administration asked OConnor not to rule until the end of this years open enrollment period in order not to disrupt the enrollment process. Open enrollment in most states closes Saturday evening. Although the mandate that individuals have insurance or pay a penalty was widely disliked, many other parts of the 2010 law have become popular. Three-quarters of Americans in one recent nationwide poll said they believed it was very important to preserve the guarantee that people who are sick can get coverage. The judges ruling would also eliminate hundreds of billions of dollars in federal assistance that has made it possible to extend coverage to some 20 million previously uninsured Americans through expansions to state Medicaid programs and through subsidies available to low- and middle-income Americans who buy coverage on insurance marketplaces around the country. Scores of patient advocates, physicians and hospital groups and other healthcare experts have warned that such a retrenchment would be catastrophic. Invalidating the guaranteed-issue and community rating provisions or the entire ACA would have a devastating impact on doctors, patients and the American healthcare system as a whole, noted a coalition of physician groups that included the American Medical Assn., the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Also opposing the lawsuit were leading national groups representing patients, including the American Diabetes Assn., the American Lung Assn., the American Heart Assn., the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society. Although the administration opposes the healthcare law, officials issued statements Friday night emphasizing that the law remains in effect while the case moves through the courts. We will continue with open enrollment. There is no impact to current coverage or coverage in a 2019 plan, Seema Verma, the administrations top official overseeing the law, said in a statement. noam.levey@latimes.com Twitter: @noamlevey San Diego is trying to boost tax revenue from the citys dozen legal marijuana dispensaries by auditing them and tightening restrictions on sales to medical cannabis patients, which are tax-exempt. The audits, which are expected to conclude this month, aim to ensure the dispensaries are complying with a 5 percent tax on all cannabis sales that city voters approved in 2016. The tax, which will increase to 8 percent on July 1, is expected to generate more than $6 million in revenue for the city during the ongoing budget year. Its a gross receipts tax, so it covers all revenue generated by a marijuana business. Another goal of the audits is revealing the names of distributors supplying marijuana and edible products to the dispensaries, helping the city ensure none of those businesses are skirting the cannabis tax. Advertisement The city treasurer also plans to begin forcing dispensaries to require medical cannabis customers to present a state-issued Medical Marijuana Identification Card in order to be exempt from the citys cannabis tax. Since the city tax took effect last January, medical cannabis customers have been able to avoid paying the city tax by simply showing dispensary employees a physicians recommendation. Owners of the citys dispensaries, who lobby jointly through an organization called the United Medical Marijuana Coalition, have raised no objections to the audits. Our organization supports this, and our members volunteered to be audited to ensure they were accounting for and remitting taxes properly because they want to avoid mistakes that would amount to costly surprises if discovered later, said coalition spokeswoman Rachel Laing. While some dispensaries may have made honest mistakes in calculating the taxes they owe the city, Laing said the audits should not be characterized as a crackdown. The audits are less about suspicions by the city that dispensaries are non-compliant, and more about the city wanting to understand and be reassured theyre collecting adequately, she said. Its in dispensaries best interest that they ensure theyre remitting properly and correct any mistakes early. Jessica McElfresh, an attorney who represents multiple dispensaries, agreed with Laing and said the citys efforts have been nothing like a stereotypical audit by the Internal Revenue Service. It was more like a general check-up, McElfresh said. Licensed businesses are audited. I havent heard a lot of complaining. McElfresh, however, said she has some concerns about the new verification requirements for medical cannabis customers. First, she questioned whether the city can legally begin requiring the state identification cards when the citys cannabis tax initiative, Measure N, said medical sales were exempt and didnt specify how that would be verified. It doesnt say someone needs to have a medical identification card to be exempt from this tax, said McElfresh, adding that shes unsure how the measure could be amended. It may be something the City Council can do, but I think they may have to go back to the ballot box. McElfresh also said tighter restrictions will be a burden on medical cannabis patients, estimating that only about 10 percent have state identification cards. The cards, which are issued by county officials, cost $100 per year and typically require medical cannabis users to spend several hours at a county facility, she said. Laing, the dispensary coalition spokeswoman, estimated that 20 percent of customers at the citys legal dispensaries declare themselves medical patients and dont pay taxes. While 19 dispensaries have received city approval to open, only 13 have actually begun operations. The audit covered 12 of those. The audit and tougher restriction on medical sales come just before revenue from the city cannabis tax is expected to sharply increase thanks to the opening soon of 40 marijuana production facilities indoor pot farms and edible factories. The city agreed last year to allow 40 such business to open in San Diego to create a local supply chain for the dispensaries, and more than two dozen have gotten through the citys lengthy approval process this fall. The city collected $2.7 million in cannabis tax revenue between January and June of this year. But officials said they expect revenue to climb well above $6 million during the ongoing budget year, which ends June 30. The spike is expected because additional dispensaries are expected to open, the first wave of marijuana production facilities will open, and because of the audit and tougher restrictions on medical sales. Business has sharply increased at the citys legal dispensaries since the state began in January to allow sales of recreational marijuana, which California voters approved in December 2016. In addition to paying the citys cannabis tax, dispensaries must charge recreational marijuana customers state sales tax. Medical cannabis customers with a state identification card dont have to pay sales tax. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A former security guard at Valley Center High School was charged this week with possessing and sharing child pornography online, authorities said Friday. Steven L. Duncan, 65, remained jailed Friday in lieu of $500,00 bail, four days after members of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested him on suspicion of online sexual victimization of children. Among the charges he faces are possession and distribution of child pornography. According to the criminal complaint, Duncan is accused of possessing more than 600 images and more than nine images of children under age 12. According to the complaint, he is accused of possessing and distributing child pornography dating back to March 2016. Advertisement He is also accused of sending harmful matter with the intent of seducing a minor, according to the complaint. He faces seven charges in all: five felonies and two misdemeanors. Duncan has pleaded not guilty. It was not clear Friday how much time in custody Duncan could face if convicted. The prosecutor did not immediately respond to an email request for comment, and Duncans attorney declined comment. The San Diego task force said Duncan communicated with and received images from underage children. We have identified victims from across the United States and other countries. San Diego police Sgt. Dale Flamand said authorities have identified two alleged victims, and are working to identify others. As far as investigators are aware, none of the victims are from Valley Center High School. He said the time frame of alleged communications could go back more than 10 years, and that the alleged victims were in their early teens or perhaps younger. This is a complex and technical ongoing investigation, Flamand said in an email. Duncan had worked as a security guard at Valley Center High School from 2003 until he retired in 2014, according to Superintendent Ron McCowan of the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District. McCowan issued a statement following the announcement of Duncans arrest. At this time, we have been informed that none of his identified victims are from our community, McCowan said. We would like to emphasize that this individual has not been associated with our district for the past 4 years. McCowan said the school district is cooperating with authorities as they continue to investigate Duncan. The school district and task force advised parents to be aware of their childs online activity. Authorities asked anyone with information related to the online sexual victimization of students to contact the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force office at (858) 715-7100. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT A freeway pedestrian who was fatally struck in an apparent hit-and-run crash earlier this month was identified Friday as a 57-year-old San Diego resident. Shawn Gilbert Priddy was walking on westbound state Route 54 near Interstate 805 in National City about 10:20 p.m. on Dec. 2 when he was struck by an SUV, according to officials from the California Highway Patrol and San Diego County Medical Examiners Office. A 32-year-old Chula Vista man was later arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, CHP Officer Jake Sanchez said the day after the crash. A relative of the driver called 911 to report the crash, saying the Ford Explorer involved was parked in Chula Vista on Fourth Avenue near D Street, Sanchez said. The initial call came in as a property-damage crash, but when officers inspected the SUV, they realized it was a more serious incident. Advertisement Around 11:40 p.m., officers located Priddys body on SR-54 west of I-805, authorities said. He died of multiple blunt force injuries. It was not known why Priddy was walking on the freeway, although a transient camp is located nearby, Sanchez said. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com The special counsels office pushed back Friday at the suggestion that the FBI acted improperly in its interview of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying he chose to make false statements and did not need a warning that it was against the law to do so. The filing from special counsel Robert Mueller comes four days before Flynn gets sentenced on a charge of lying to the FBI about his conversations with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States. It responds to a sentencing memorandum filed earlier this week by Flynns lawyers that suggested there were irregularities in how he was interviewed. The back-and-forth between prosecutors and defense lawyers has created an unusual rupture in an otherwise harmonious relationship as prosecutors had praised Flynn as a model cooperator and recommended that he receive no prison time at his sentencing. The disagreement is unlikely to affect Flynns chances for probation, but its attracted the attention of President Donald Trump, who said this week that Flynn did not lie despite having fired him nearly two years ago for just that reason. The matter may also become a point of debate at next Tuesdays hearing, especially since the judge, Emmet Sullivan, has asked prosecutors to produce documents related to Flynns interview. Advertisement They did so Friday as they said nothing about the way the interview the way was arranged or conducted caused the defendant to make false statements to the FBI. Prosecutors said Flynn had committed to a false story weeks before the Jan. 24, 2017, interview with the FBI, having lied several times already to White House officials about his dialogue with ambassador Sergey Kislyak and then repeating those falsehoods to federal agents. Trump ousted him weeks after the FBI interview. White House officials said he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about his discussions on sanctions with Kislyak. Prosecutors said Friday that Flynn voluntarily agreed to meet with the FBI without a lawyer present and had enough experience in government to understand the consequences of lying and the importance of accurate information to decision making in areas of national security. A sitting National Security Advisor, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents, Muellers prosecutors wrote. He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth. Flynns lawyers had earlier cast doubt on the process by saying the agents who questioned Flynn never told him it was against the law to lie. They also suggested that then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe appeared to discourage Flynn from having a lawyer present by saying the Justice Department would have to be involved if the national security adviser wanted an attorney. Though Flynns supporters have seized on the fact that the FBI agents who questioned him did not detect signs of deception during the interview, prosecutors say that doesnt change the fact that he was indeed lying, and knowingly made false statements to FBI agents in a national security investigation. Muellers office also released redacted memos and interviews of two FBI officials involved in the interview process - McCabe and former counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok. The notes paint a portrait of a strikingly relaxed and informal conversation, with Strzok in his interview noting how he had walked past Trump and some movers discussing where to place artwork in the White House. Flynn was so talkative, and had so much time for them, that Strzok wondered if the National Security Adviser did not have more important things to do than have such a relaxed, non-pertinent discussion with them, according to notes from the interview. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III urged a federal judge Friday to dismiss arguments by President Trumps former national security advisor Michael Flynn seeking to minimize the seriousness of his lies to federal agents. In court papers, prosecutors for Mueller wrote that the retired three-star Army general should be held accountable for making false statements about his communications with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition. Mueller did not change his earlier recommendations that Flynn serve no prison time because of his extensive cooperation with investigators probing Russias interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. Flynn, who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, was forced out as national security advisor in February 2017 after less than a month in the job. He is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in Washington. Advertisement Muellers filing Friday challenged Flynns argument in court papers this week that prosecutors characterized as seeking to minimize his conduct. Defense lawyers raised questions about how FBI agents first interviewed him at the White House on Jan. 24, 2017, four days after Trump took office. Flynn recognizes his actions were wrong and he accepts full responsibility, his lawyers wrote, but they said Sullivan should consider the circumstances of the interview in imposing sentence. Trump allies and conservative pundits have suggested Flynn was tricked into lying by the agents. But legal experts say there is no legal requirement to warn suspects that lying to FBI agents is against the law and it appears the agents were following standard procedures. Mueller noted in his filing that Flynn lied to FBI agents after making false statements about his contacts with the Russian envoy, Sergey Kislyak, to Vice President-elect Mike Pence and other members of the transition team. Muellers filing provides numerous new details about Flynns interactions with Kislyak shortly after the 2016 election. Court-approved eavesdropping on Kislyaks phone calls revealed that he and Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions that President Obama had imposed on Moscow in December 2016 in response to a Kremlin-backed operation that hacked and released Democratic Party emails and spread disinformation on social media during the presidential race. After the conversations were revealed in the news media, Flynn denied the reports to incoming White House officials, including Pence. Following the FBI interview, Justice Department officials warned the White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians for lying to Pence. Then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and Flynn spoke by phone at 12:35 p.m. on Jan. 24, according to a report written by McCabe and included in Fridays court filing. Citing the media reports, McCabe said agents wanted to speak to Flynn about his contacts with Russian officials. Flynn asked if I was referring to his contacts with the Russian ambassador, and I indicated I was, McCabe wrote. He then stated I probably knew what was said, McCabe added a comment that suggests Flynn knew his calls had been recorded. Flynn agreed to speak to the FBI, prosecutors wrote, and two agents went to the White House that afternoon. One was Peter Strzok, an agent later removed from Muellers team after it was discovered he had sent anti-Trump texts during the campaign. Strzok was fired this summer. Flynn gave Strzok and the other agent a tour of the White House after they arrived. At one point, they bumped into Trump as he and workers were discussing where to place artwork, according to a redacted FBI interview of Strozk in July 2017 that was included in the court papers. The agents had agreed before the interview that if Flynn said he did not remember something, the agents would use his exact words from his call with the Russian diplomat to refresh his memory, the FBI report said. If Flynn would not confirm what he had said, the agents had agreed not to confront him. Flynn later admitted in court that he falsely denied to the agents that he told Kislyak that Russia should not retaliate for Obamas sanctions. When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would not retaliate, Kislyak called Flynn to say the decision was in response to his request, according to court documents. Strzok described Flynn as relaxed and jocular during the interview. Strzok also noted that he did not pick up signs that Flynn was lying to them, according to the FBI report. The agents impressions do not change the fact as the defendant has admitted in sworn testimony to this District Court that he was indeed lying, and knowingly made false statements, prosecutors wrote. Legal experts said Muellers filing probably was designed to alleviate any concerns by the judge that Flynn had been duped by agents. Sullivan this week ordered prosecutors to provide him with FBI reports documenting the interview. Steven Levin, a former federal prosecutor, said the documents made clear that Flynn knew agents wanted to talk to him about Kislyak, and that his lies were intentional and not simply off-the-cuff remarks. Frank Montoya, a former FBI counterintelligence agent, said the documents indicate the bureau followed standard procedures in interviewing Flynn. I would have made the approach to Mike Flynn in the same way, Montoya said. Flynn had a good working relationship with many of us at the FBI. One of Americas most successful exports is in trouble. For decades, the U.S. higher-education system has been the envy of the world. We sell much more education to other countries than we buy from them; nearly three times as many foreign students are currently studying here as we have abroad. In trade terms, this means we run a massive surplus in education about $34 billion in 2017, according to Commerce Department data. Our educational exports are about as big as our total exports of soybeans, coal and natural gas combined. But all that may be at risk. Advertisement A recent report from the Institute of International Education and the State Department found that new international student enrollments fell by 6.6 percent in the 2017-2018 school year, the second consecutive year of declines. A separate, more limited IIE survey of schools suggests that the declines continued this fall, too. To be sure, some of the forces behind these decreases are beyond our (or President Donald Trumps) control. Some foreign governments, such as Brazil and Saudi Arabia, have reduced the scholarships that previously sent significant numbers of students to the United States, according to Peggy Blumenthal, senior counselor to the president at IIE. China, whose students represent about a third of U.S. international student enrollment, has been improving its own domestic university system, too. But according to the schools that are now watching the trend, the biggest forces deterring international students are U.S. policy and U.S. culture. They see the headlines and they think that theyre no longer wanted in the United States, said Lawrence Schovanec, president of Texas Tech University, whose foreign student enrollment declined by 2 percent this year. Sixty percent of schools with declining international enrollment, in fact, said that the U.S. social and political environment was a contributing factor, according to the IIE survey. The most frequently cited issue, however, was visa application process or visa issues/delays. In the fall 2018 survey, 83 percent of schools named this as an issue, compared with 34 percent in fall 2016. Problems began but didnt end with Trumps Muslim ban. Schools have seen students trapped abroad and have since advised some students not to go home before graduation lest they get stuck trying to come back. Said Bennington College President Mariko Silver, Weve seen individual students who have contacted us with the desire to come and have pulled out of the process. Boo-hoo, Trump supporters might say. Whats the big deal if some foreigners stay home? Forget the feel-good explanations about how international students enrich the campus environment (which I dont dispute). The students who come here also spend cold, hard cash: on tuition, travel, books, food, housing. A lot of jobs depend on those students. American colleges and universities alone employed 3 million people in 2017. For context, that dwarfs the entire agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector. And contrary to perceptions that foreign students take spots that belong to Americans, at many schools theyre enabling more American students to get a degree. In the years after the financial crisis, as states slashed budgets for higher education, schools helped make up the shortfall by enrolling more out-of-state and international students. These students generally pay full tuition, and their higher fees are used to cross-subsidize lower, in-state tuition rates (and scholarships) of American classmates. No wonder that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recently paid $424,000 to insure itself against a significant drop in tuition revenue from Chinese students. More significantly, a continued drop-off in international students could cause serious pain beyond academia. Foreign students come here in part because theyre interested in staying after graduation and working here. They disproportionately study fields that U.S. employers demand, and that U.S. students avoid. Foreign students now represent a majority of computer science and engineering graduate programs at U.S. universities, for instance. That talent pipeline may be drying up. Foreigners are experiencing more visa issues not only when they apply to study but also when they apply to stay and work. That might be one reason more than half of the decline in total enrollment last year was due to fewer students from India in computer science and engineering grad programs. Our loss has become other countries gain. Were still the top destination for foreign students, but Australia and Canada have each seen their international enrollments rise by double-digit percentages in the past year. Theyre enticing students in word and in deed, with messages of welcome and expedited visas. Trump likes to say that our allies are taking advantage of us on trade. In this case, would you really blame them? Rampell can be reached at crampell@washpost.com or on her on Twitter, @crampell. In 2011, when the U.S. Census Bureau began publishing a measure of poverty that included the cost of living, the results made obvious a problem that was hiding in plain sight. Because of the extreme cost of housing, it turned out that California not Mississippi, not West Virginia, not New Mexico had the nations highest rate of poverty. Ever since then, the appreciation that theres an urgent need to add housing stock has slowly built to the point where housing is now the top issue in the state Capitol. Finally, theres broad recognition that state government needs to encourage home building not just subsidize affordable housing programs that amount to lotteries because they benefit a small percentage of those in need. To make it easier to add housing stock, there have been a series of efforts to reduce the control that NIMBYs have over the local planning process, and more are under way. But as big a challenge as this is, the newly retired director of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has done the state a service by pointing out the obvious: The record-setting wildfires of recent years show the urgent need for new thinking about where and how housing is built. In an interview with The Associated Press, former Director Ken Pimlott said that approving or rebuilding subdivisions in forested mountains or in fire-prone canyon areas is asking for trouble. If such projects are approved in fire zones, new standards are needed to make buildings much more fire-resistant not just for homes but for commercial and government structures that are likely to be used for shelter during fire emergencies. Pimlott also said that both government officials and the public need to recalibrate their views about fire risks. More areas should have automated phone warning systems and emergency sirens. New communities should only be built with easy evacuation routes. And, for their part, state residents must take red flag fire danger announcements much more seriously seeing them as ominous personal threats, not general warnings. Advertisement The reality of it is, California has a fire-prone climate and it will continue to burn, Pimlott told the AP. Fire is a way of life in California and we have to learn how to live with it, we have to learn how to have more resilient communities. Given that the Golden State already has among the strongest and most expensive construction standards in the world, Pimlotts call for even more sweeping rules is sure to alarm home builders. For one thing, it runs counter to the common view that one of the easiest ways to increase housing stock is by reducing regulations. But if local authorities continue to allow housing projects in risky areas such as the newly approved 19,000-home project in the remote Tejon Ranch area north of Los Angles public safety must be an elevated concern. With five of the states nine most destructive wildfires occurring since 2015, that is the only responsible position to take. There also shouldnt be an overreaction to Pimlotts call for tougher fire rules and increased public awareness. A 2016 McKinsey study of Californias housing crisis argues that its entirely possible the state could build the minimum of 180,000 new homes a year it needs if the political will existed to change laws not just to promote transit-oriented housing but to increase zoning density and encourage construction of granny flats in existing urban areas that are generally not fire risks. Unfortunately, thats a very big if. NIMBYs arent a lethal threat like wildfires. But theyre definitely a threat to the health of the state. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Here we go again: Broken sewage infrastructure in Tijuana early this week sent roughly 7 million gallons a day of sewage into the Tijuana River, leading to beach closures along the south San Diego coast. The cause was a ruptured collector pipe in a part of the sewage system that has already received millions of dollars in upgrades in recent years, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), a joint U.S.-Mexico agency that oversees binational water issues. Though authorities succeeded in reducing the amount of sewage that was released, the early week sewage tsunami amounted to a disgusting reminder that one of the regions most serious problems remains unresolved. Federal agencies, the White House, Congress and the Mexican government need to stop tolerating this public health nightmare. The San Diego City Council, with three new members, should take a stand by joining in the lawsuit filed in March by Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego accusing the IBWC of being responsible for massive violations of the Clean Water Act. San Diego County staffers defend their conciliatory approach of lobbying federal officials. Supervisor Greg Cox is supposed to meet soon with the Environmental Protection Agencys regional administrator in San Francisco to push for a $36.8 million grant for Tijuana sewer repairs. Perhaps a good cop-bad cop approach makes some sense, given that court fights can last years. However this mess is resolved, the recent years frequent spills reflect absolute government incompetence. As Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina said recently, Its like Groundhog Day or a Chronicle of a Death Foretold for sewage, its just a nightmare. Elected officials need to wake up. Advertisement Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion How much should taxpayers have to bear? Re The need for subsidized housing in San Diego is apparent (Dec. 12): Assembly member Todd Gloria righteously announced his financial answer to the housing crisis in California: If you want a home and cannot afford it, just go take it from the taxpayers. Enough said. It is the Democrats answer to everything: Let the taxpayers foot the bills. If California cannot afford it, get the rest of the countrys taxpayers to foot the bills. No problem. Why, in San Diego, are we going to hand out free wikiups and teepees to the homeless? The money for roads and taking down telephone poles will be used for these facilities. And on it goes, no handout too great for the taxpayers to shoulder, not in this city, not in this state. Charles Sanders Advertisement Bay Park Not everyone gets to live where they want Assemblyman Todd Glorias solution to the homeless problem: Build more subsidized housing? His thinking goes, with 10,000 homeless San Diegans, its obvious there is a tremendous need for more subsidized housing. Why? Where? When? And who decided that anyone and everyone should be able to live in San Diego? Does Gloria propose that a requirement for new subsidized housing include fees for infrastructure repair and maintenance, long-term water supply, more schools, more parks? More fire and safety personnel? Raising the housing costs for all to provide subsidized housing is like standing in a bucket and trying lift yourself up. Whats next? Subsidized fine dining at Mortons or Mr. As? Gary M. Boone Pauma Valley County cant just settle for any housing project Re County wants to build 10, 000 homes in areas regarded as fire-prone (Dec. 10): Thank you for questioning the wisdom of placing developments in severe fire risk areas of the county in your article. The Board of Supervisors has already approved housing that endangers lives. The county fire code requires multiple exits for a development to allow evacuation of residents and limits dead-end roads to a maximum of 800 feet. Harmony Grove Village South (approved in July 2018) will be built on one dead-end access road of approximately 1.7 miles (8,976 feet) for the farthest resident. This housing is also not going to be affordable or in particularly high demand, as can be seen by the slow sales of nearby Harmony Grove Village. One wonders what the motivations are for the Board of Supervisors to risk lives to build developments where the risk is high but the demand is low. Debra ONeill Harmony Grove Lets look at housing a different way Re The housing crisis needs new solutions (Dec. 5): New housing frequently meets local resistance and high price tags. Lets repurpose existing buildings into affordable apartments and shelters. E-commerce is driving brick and mortar retailers out of business. Lets task our schools of architecture to develop the most economical techniques to convert these buildings into dwellings. Pass a law that if a retail building cant find a tenant in two years, it can be purchased by the government for a fair price by eminent domain. Lets turn the blight of empty storefronts and homeless people into Home Sweet Home. Yale Kadesky Escondido Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Thursdays announcement that Apple plans to add 1,000 workers in San Diego over the next three years is welcome news for the region. Combined with Google leasing a 60,000-square-foot office here in 2016 and Amazon launching a 107,000-square-foot campus in 2017, this amounts to further confirmation from the tech giants of the world that San Diego is deeply attractive to employers, thanks to its outstanding work force and great quality of life. Analysts saw the move as part of Apples larger strategy of seeking to design more of the components used in its iPhones and other electronics. The company is sure to get plenty of resumes from the 1,500 local employees that Qualcomm has had to lay off this year, partly because Apple no longer buys cellular modems from the local tech giant. Heres hoping the two companies contentious relationship reflected in legal wars over patents and more doesnt divide the local tech community. For example, UC San Diegos Department of Computer Science and Engineering has a close relationship with Qualcomm. That shouldnt get in the way of the department also working closely with Apple. While the moves that Apple announced included expansions much bigger than whats planned for San Diego, theres an interesting intrastate angle to the Cupertino-based companys maneuvering. Thats the chance that it may foreshadow a brain drain of talent from extremely expensive Silicon Valley to merely super expensive San Diego County. In June, the Bay Area News Group reported on a stunning poll showing that 46 percent of the regions residents were likely to move from the region in coming years, primarily because of concerns that housing costs were hurting their quality of life. Thats up from 34 percent in 2016. The article featured Berkeley software engineer Travis Dobbs, who said he and his also well-paid wife had no hopes of being able to afford a home. Advertisement Hey, Dobbs family, come on down! Youll find that your familys income goes at lot further in Poway than Palo Alto. When more Silicon Valley tech workers figure this out, San Diegos work force could get stronger and its economic outlook even brighter. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/14/2018 -- Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Overview Bixa Orellana L. Annatto plant majorly grown in the tropical countries is the primary source of annatto in the form of dried seeds. Annatto has found major applications in the food industry. Annatto is used as a condiment and for food coloring (imparts red or orange color to food products and beverages). Annatto's characteristics such as good heat stability and water and oil solubility are increasing the adoption of annatto globally. Properties such as flexibility applicability of the annatto including spices, culinary food, dairy products, dyes, cosmetic products, etc., have made annatto one of the consumer preference among other natural color ingredients. The governments of various countries have imposed stringent regulations on the use of artificial or synthetic food colors, which is expected to propel the demand for annatto, a natural form of food color, globally. The countries in Latin America such as Peru and Brazil are the leading producers of annatto. A majority of the production is exported to North America, where the demand for annatto is estimated to be high. Get Free Exclusive Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1353 Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Dynamics The demand for processed food and beverage products is rising globally, creating a huge demand for food colors. Annatto is directly extracted from plants and thus does not contain any harmful chemical as that in the synthetic or artificial food colors. With the increasing preference for natural food colors in the food processing industry, government regulations towards consumption of artificial food colors is expected to drive the growth of the annatto market globally. With natural origin and coloring property, annatto has also found applications in the textile industry as a dyeing ingredient. However, annatto contains some residual proteins that may cause Ig-E mediated reaction, which is expected to restrain the growth of the global annatto market. Besides, availability of other natural food colors such as cochineal and turmeric are expected to hamper the demand for annatto globally. Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Segmentation The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of form as: Powder Liquid The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of solubility as: Norbixin or Water soluble Bixin or Liquid soluble The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of the end-user industry as: Food Culinary Bakery Dairy others Beverage Cosmetics Textile Pharmaceutical Others (floor wax, furniture polish, etc.) The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of the geographic region as: North America US Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile Peru Rest of Latin America Europe EU 4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) UK BENELUX (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg) NORDIC (Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden) Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Czech Rep., Etc.) Rest of Europe CIS & Russia Japan APEJ Greater China India South Korea ASEAN Countries Rest of APEJ Middle East & Africa GCC Countries Turkey Iran Israel South Africa Rest of MEA Request Brochure of this Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1353 Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Regional Outlook The U.S. annatto market is expected to account for high market share among all the countries in the world, majorly driven by high production of processed food in the country. The North America annatto market is followed by Western Europe. Latin America is the major producer of annatto, but majority of the annatto is exported to North America, the primary export destination. Eastern Europe, Latin America and MEA markets are estimated to show sluggish growth for annatto market over the forecast period. Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Key Players Examples of some of the key players in the global annatto market are: Wild Flavors FMC Corporation Amerilure, Inc. Monterey Bay Spice Co. Hansen Holding A/S Vinayak Ingredients (India) Pvt. Ltd. DDW The Colour House Kalsec Inc. AICA COLOR SAC Aarkay Food Products Ltd. Brief Approach to the Research Our analysis will follow a modeling-based approach and triangulation methodology to estimate the data covered in this report. A detailed market understanding and assessment of the applications, types, forms, and end users of the product segments covered in the study is followed by carrying out a demand-side approach to estimate the sales of target product segments, which is then cross-checked with the supply-side assessment of value generated over a pre-defined period. The statistics and data are collected at the regional level, consolidated and synthesized at a global level to estimate the overall market sizes. Ask For Customized Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=1353 Key Data Points Covered in the Report Some of the key data points covered in our report include: An overview of the vegetable carbon including background and evolution Macroeconomic factors affecting the vegetable carbon and its potential Market dynamics, such as drivers, challenges, and trends in the market Detailed value chain analysis of the market The cost structure of the products and segments covered in the study of the market In-depth pricing analysis, by key product segments, regions and by major market participants in the market Analysis of supply and demand, such as top producing and consuming geographies, imports/exports, and overall trade scenario Analysis of the market structure, including a tier-wise categorization of key market participants Competitive landscape of the market, including detailed profiles of the top players This analytical research study imparts an all-inclusive assessment on the market, while propounding historical intelligence, actionable insights, and industry-validated & statistically-upheld market forecast. Verified and suitable set of assumptions and methodology has been leveraged for developing this comprehensive study. Information and analysis on key market segments incorporated in the report has been delivered in weighted chapters. A thorough analysis has been offered by the report on Market Dynamics Market Size Market Segments Demand & Supply Trends Current Issues and Challenges Companies and Competitor Landscape Value Chain Technology Regional Segments Analyzed Include North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Mexico. Brazil) Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain) Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand) Japan Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa) Compilation of authentic and first-hand intelligence, insights offered in the report are based on quantitative and qualitative assessment by leading industry experts, and inputs from opinion leaders & industry participants around the value chain. Growth determinants, macroeconomic indicators, and parent market trends have been scrutinized and delivered, coupled with the market attractiveness for each market segment encompassed. Qualitative impact of growth influencers on the market segments across regions has also been mapped by the report. Highlights from the Report Elaborated scenario of the parent market Transformations in the market dynamics Detailed segmentation of the target market Historical, current and forecast market size based on value and volume Latest industry developments and trends Competition landscape Strategies adopted by the market players and product developments made Potential and niche segments, along with their regional analysis Unbiased analysis on performance of the market Up-to-date and must-have intelligence for the market players to enhance and sustain their competitiveness Report Overview at https://www.factmr.com/report/1353/global-annatto-bixinnorbixin-market About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports. Contact Us Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: www.factmr.com/ New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/15/2018 -- The France IT Cooling Systems market represented USD US$ 152.9 Mn in 2017 and will exhibit prospective CAGR of 2% amid forecast frame of 2017 to 2026. France IT Cooling Systems market research report includes the present situation and the advance estimations of the France IT Cooling Systems industry for forthcoming years 2017-2026. The France IT Cooling Systems business report covers data for the notable year 2016, the base year of evaluation is 2017. 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However, this process estimates detailed France IT Cooling Systems study regarding manufacturing cost which contains raw material, and different suppliers for industrial equipment. Enquire about our France IT Cooling Systems report with our industry specialist: https://marketresearch.biz/report/it-cooling-systems-market/#inquiry Importance of France IT Cooling Systems report? Our report substantially centers around actual research on every part and its general outcome on the France IT Cooling Systems market progress. The target group of viewers of the France IT Cooling Systems report assimilates new aspirants hoping to have a huge understanding of the business, specialists, financial foundations, major partners, productivity, France IT Cooling Systems wholesalers, and industry partnership. To get the research methodologies those are being collected by France IT Cooling Systems driving individual organizations. To have the apprehension without hurdles France IT Cooling Systems standpoint and a possibility for the market. Furthermore, France IT Cooling Systems market report is presumed as the keeping source for market profitability in the France IT Cooling Systems research, that will obviously raise the business potentials. In addition, the France IT Cooling Systems market report provides innovative strategies towards the SWOT study, conjectural examination of the industrial growth. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/14/2018 -- The recent report, Power Factor Controllers market fundamentally discovers insights that enable stakeholders, business owners and field marketing executives to make effective investment decisions driven by facts rather than guesswork. The study aims at listening, analyzing and delivering actionable data on the competitive landscape to meet the unique requirements of the companies and individuals operating in the Power Factor Controllers market for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025. Scope of the Report: The research methodologies used for evaluating the Power Factor Controllers market are inventive and also provides enough evidence on the demand and supply status, production capability, import and export, supply chain management and investment feasibility. The investigative approach applied for the extensive analysis of the sale, gross margin and profit generated by the industry are presented through resources including tables, charts, and graphic images. Importantly, these resources can be easily integrated or used for preparing business or corporate presentations. 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Industry experts calculate share by taking into account the product sales over a period and then dividing it by the overall sales of the Power Factor Controllers industry over a defined period. Subject matter experts further use this metric to offer a general idea of the share and size of a firm and its immediate rivals. By providing an in-depth knowledge of the position a company as well as an entrepreneur holds in the Power Factor Controllers market Market Segment by manufacturers, the report covers the following companies: Taiwan Semiconductor, TDK-Lambda, Linear Technology, Fairchild Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, EPCOS, Microchip Technology Inc., Eaton, DiodesZetex, Schneider Electric, Infineon, STMicroelectronics, ABB, ON Semiconductor, Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) Buy Power Factor Controllers Market Research Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/25969 Most important types of Power Factor Controllers products covered in this report are: - Active Power Factor Controllers - Passive Power Factor Controllers Major Regions play vital role in Power Factor Controllers market are: - Buildings - Mining Steel Industry - Pulp and Paper Major Regions play vital role in Power Factor Controllers market are: - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Middle East & Africa - India - South America - Others The market intelligence study for the Power Factor Controllers market further provides an inside-out overview of necessary aspects associated with the product classification, important definitions, major orders and other industry-centric parameters. An underlying part of the study also maps the important factors associated with the recent events such as mergers and acquisition, collaboration and new product launches. In addition, the research lays down a robust groundwork for obtaining a vast amount of information that potential customers can use to increase their profits and reduce costs. The inclusion of data on market segmentation by type, application, and geography offers clarity presents an analytical picture of, what manufacturers are aiming for. The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What is the estimated growth rate of the Power Factor Controllers market for the forecast period 2018 - 2025? What will be the market share and size of the industry during the estimated period? - What are prime factors expected to drive the Power Factor Controllers industry for the estimated period? - What are the major market leaders and what has been their winning strategy for success so far? - What are the significant trends shaping the growth prospects of the Power Factor Controllers market? - What are the key challenges expected to restrict the progress of the industry for the forecast period, 2018 - 2025? - What the opportunities product owners can bank on to generate high profits? There are 13 Chapters to deeply display the global Power Factor Controllers market. - 1 Power Factor Controllers Market Overview - 2 Global Power Factor Controllers Market Competition by Manufacturers - 3 Global Power Factor Controllers Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018) - 4 Global Power Factor Controllers Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018) - 5 Global Power Factor Controllers Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type - 6 Global Power Factor Controllers Market Analysis by Application - Continue Read More @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/power-factor-controllers-market Key Points from TOC 8 Competitive Landscape 8.1 Competitive Profile 8.2 Taiwan Semiconductor 8.2.1 Company Profiles 8.2.2 Power Factor Controllers Product Introduction 8.2.3 Taiwan Semiconductor Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E 8.2.4 Taiwan Semiconductor Market Share of Power Factor Controllers Segmented by Region in 2018 8.3 TDK-Lambda 8.3.1 Company Profiles 8.3.2 Power Factor Controllers Product Introduction 8.3.3 TDK-Lambda Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E 8.3.4 TDK-Lambda Market Share of Power Factor Controllers Segmented by Region in 2018 Continue About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com News: https://www.marketexpertz.com/market-news On Sunday, December 16, 2018, comet 46P/Wirtanen will make a close pass of Earth. The comet will be at its closest distance to our planet in over four centuries, and you may even be able to see it without a telescope. 46P/Wirtanen was discovered on January 17, 1948, by the American astronomer Carl Wirtanen. This comet is a member of the Jupiter family of comets their farthest point from the Sun being near the orbit of Jupiter. With a width of 0.7 miles (1.1 km), it orbits the Sun fairly quickly for a comet once every 5.4 years making it a short-period comet. Although the December 16 approach will be a distant 7.1 million miles (11.4 million km, or 30 lunar distances) from Earth, its still a fairly rare opportunity. At the time of the closest approach, the comet will appear to be located in the constellation Taurus close to the Pleiades. This will be the closest 46P/Wirtanen has come to Earth for centuries and the closest it will come to Earth for centuries, said Dr. Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Whats more, this could be one of the brightest comets in years, offering astronomers an important opportunity to study a comet up close with ground-based telescopes, both optical and radar. This comet has already been visible in larger amateur telescopes, and while the brightness of comets is notoriously difficult to predict, there is the possibility that during its close approach comet 46P/Wirtanen could be visible with binoculars or to the naked eye. An observation campaign is underway to take advantage of the close approach for detailed scientific study of the properties of this hyperactive comet, which emits more water than expected, given its relatively small nucleus. Led by University of Maryland astronomers, the campaign has worldwide participation across the professional and amateur astronomical communities. Press Release December 14, 2018 De Lima concerned over possible measles outbreak amid vaccine scares Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is concerned over the continued refusal of some parents to have their child vaccinated a year after the Dengvaxia controversy transpired, placing more children at high risk of acquiring deadly diseases, like measles. De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 966 seeking a Senate inquiry into the pandemic potential of measles that has caused deaths and infections in some parts of the Philippines while the people continue to be scared of the government's free vaccines. "It is incumbent upon the government to guarantee and uphold the general welfare of its people by ensuring that the Filipinos are rightly and adequately informed about the benefits of immunization from preventable diseases and be duly educated and aware about its importance especially to the Filipino youth," she said. As a result of the controversy brought about the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, the lady from Bicol noted that many people now refuse to avail of the government's free vaccines which resulted to a low vaccination coverage in most regions in the country. Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo reportedly confirmed that the Department of Health (DOH) has not reached its vaccination rate target of 85 to 90 percent because 60 percent of Filipino children are not getting their scheduled vaccines. "Unvaccinated individuals, especially the children and pregnant women, have the highest risk of acquiring measles which could result to long-term complications, and worse, death," De Lima noted. This year alone, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of 17,298 measles cases which constitutes 367 percent upsurge from 2017's measles cases report of 3,706. Last Nov. 29, the DOH has confirmed that it is monitoring a suspected outbreak in Sarangani after 18 Lumad children were reported to have possibly died from measles. Official figures showed that 84 other suspected measles cases have been recorded, with ages ranging from four months old to 40 years old, majority of whom are female. Prior to the reported measles outbreak in Sarangani, De Lima said it was likewise declared in Negros Oriental, Zamboanga City, Davao Region, Davao City and a barangay in Taguig City. De Lima said the DOH should institute measures to insulate the government's immunization program from the purported controversy surrounding the Dengvaxia program to prevent politically charged issues from affecting the health of the Filipinos. "In order to prepare for the threats and fatal effects of the possible pandemic impact of measles and other infectious diseases, the government must not only ensure that proper health care is delivered, but at the same time, relieve the general public from unwarranted fears of vaccination and lead them back into trusting government efforts in promoting and protecting the health of every Filipino," she said. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, vaccines "also make economic sense [because it] prevent illness, freeing up precious resources to invest in strong health system. Vaccination can also promote a stronger workforce and prevent losses in productivity." Press Release December 14, 2018 De Lima pushes for a comprehensive prison reform bill in the Senate Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has filed a measure establishing prison reform and restorative justice in the country's correctional system which seeks to make our prison system more effective in the administration of justice while at the same time preparing the inmates towards and effective reintegration with our society. Being true to her word, De Lima filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2130, also to be referred as "Prison Reform Act of 2018," to restore human dignity even if the offender is found guilty of committing a crime. According to her, the detention of individuals found guilty of committing a crime should provide opportunities for correction and reform to help them restore human dignity and reduce their tendencies to break the law anew. "This Act recognizes that imprisonment is not a lifetime chain that would eternally bind prisoners in the dark," she said. "[It will help] persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) prepare for their eventual release back in the society." Certain minimum rights for every PDL are underscored and guaranteed. The proposed measure seeks to establish a more responsive and effective correctional system by introducing rehabilitation and intervention programs based on a continuing assessment system of the inmates that will be formulated from internationally accepted methods, taking into consideration the factors that play vital roles that led the inmates to commit crimes and those that minimize the chances of them committing new ones, shifting from the present sentence-based classification. Institutional reforms - judicial facility and organizational - are sought to be introduced and institutionalized. These include, among others, an efficient system of automatic release of inmates due for release, an Infrastructure Plan mandating construction of at least one (1) penal facility per region, and an Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) to serve as central database for all PDLs. A Reception and Diagnostics Center shall be created within each penal facility tasked to set up a continuing assessment of inmates during their imprisonment and classify them based on their risks, needs or productivity. The former justice secretary explained that intervention programs created by an Intervention Office should be made available to detainees to help them gain skills that would be helpful in their eventual reintegration back into the community. These programs include those that are designed to give them basic and advance education or provide them with technical skills, utilize their existing skills and capabilities towards administration of the penal facility or community service, or provide them continuous counselling services to encourage self-improvement. "To reintegrate them efficiently and peacefully into the community where they once belonged, a system of rehabilitation is vital. Putting them under the hands of law after all, is not the end of their lives but a step towards the rebuilding of a better one, where they can be useful members thereof," she said. De Lima also proposed a creation of revenue generating programs for detainees by a Prison Revenue Office in every penal institution to encourage interested prisoners to participate in the Prisoner Employment Program (PEP). "Through the PEP, qualified prisoners will be provided with opportunities to engage in meaningful and sustainable paid employment, work experience and vocational training inside the penal institution," she said. De Lima also pushed for the establishment of a Job Assistance Office to handle the Post-Prison Employment Program that will raise awareness regarding available job opportunities which a prisoner may apply for upon release. The Senator from Bicol said her proposed measure also underscored the importance of strengthening capacities of those who work in correctional institutions to enhance their general welfare, commitment to service, and professionalism which could translate to how they fulfil their job. To this end, the bill pushes for the creation of a Philippine Correctional Academy and Training Institute. "As a first step towards the State's compliance with International Law obligations on respecting the human rights of prisoners and PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), organizational reforms shall be institutionalized, with the end in view of training the officials in whose hands and at whose mercy their rehabilitation and restoration would ultimately depend," she said. To address infractions of rules and law, the bill prescribes the creation of a Disciplinary Committee within each penal facility and sets forth the allowable in-prison disciplinary penalties. Last July, De Lima filed Senate Bill No. 1879 which seeks to integrate the management of the country's jails and prisons under one agency tasked to provide better treatment and rehabilitation programs for all detainees and prisoners. In August 2016, De Lima expressed concern over the worse subhuman conditions and congestion inside the country's jails and penitentiaries, prompting her to file Senate Resolution No. 97 calling for a Senate inquiry into the current state of jails and penitentiaries all over the country. Press Release December 14, 2018 Las Pinas Lantern Makers Showcase Excellent Craftsmanship in 13th Parol Festival RESIDENTS of Las Pinas City gathered on Friday to watch the parade of giant colorful lanterns made of recycled materials as part of this year's celebration of the 13th Las Pinas Parol Festival. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and representatives from the local government joined spectators as giant lanterns made by local residents were paraded in the city grounds. "A Filipino Christmas is not complete without a traditional parol hanging outside our homes. I am truly amazed by the creativity of the Las Pineros as they continue to come up with unique and creative designs that make Christmas in our city truly alive and colorful," Senator Villar said. The festival was launched by Senator Villar thirteen years ago to revive the city's parol-making industry. Villar helped organize the "Samahang Magpaparol ng Las Pinas" and later on set up the Las Pinas Parol Center which has since served as the training area for lantern makers. This year, the lanterns built by Las Pineros were used to adorn the facade of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, one of the popular landmarks in Metro Manila. "I am proud to say that our unique design ingenuity has caught to eye of both local and international markets as seen by the increasing demand of our parols" Villar added. Apart from the usual raw materials such as bamboo, parol makers also used recycled materials such as plastic, straw, pet bottles, cartons, cans, and shells like tahong and tulya, and indigenous materials like coconut husk, dried leaves, feathers and shells in their finished products. For this year, 18 parol makers submitted their striking lantern designs, which have been on display at the Villar SIPAG grounds since December 1. Lighting of the lanterns and judging was done on December 5. Participants in this year's lantern-making competition included Fercival Santos, Andrew Flores, Alicia Benicio, Bryan Flores, Luzviminda Gallardo, Girlie Santos, Merlito Menchero, Rogelio Apuli, Toefanes Bernal, Whelma Apuli, Leah Esguerra, Dolores Alifaro, Alma Tacsiat, Josefa Advincula, Glenda Mendoza, Francis Hernandez and Elena Casas. Parol maker Merlito Menchero took home the first prize pot of P20,000; while second prize of P15,000 was given to Rogelio Apuli and Dolores Alifaro took home the third prize award of P10,000. The colorful festival also featured a street dance competition participated in by elementary school students from the various Las Pinas schools. CAA Elementary School, CAA Elementary Annex and Gatchalian Elem. School won the grand prize of P50,000 cash.Almanza Elementary School Annex and Pilar Village Elementary School garnered the second prize of P30,000 cash and Manuyo Elementary School Daniel Fajardo, Ilaya and Las Pinas Central got the third prize of P20.000 cash. The rest of participants received a subsidy of P40,000 for their costumes, props and other equipment. Press Release December 14, 2018 Villar SIPAG honors 22 coops for poverty reduction accomplishments TWENTYTWO outstanding multi-purpose cooperatives were recognized this year by the Villar SIPAG Foundation for their significant contributions in poverty reduction and economic growth in their communities. The annual Villar SIPAG Awards on Poverty Reduction, an initiative of the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) Foundation, acknowledges and rewards the good practices of cooperatives and community enterprises nationwide that help bring down incidences of poverty and spur economic developments in their covered areas. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, a director of Villar SIPAG and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, stressed the important role played by peoples organizations in the government's continued fight against poverty. "Multipurpose cooperatives help bridge the gap between communities and the government. They fill in the many shortcomings of both the local government units and the national government and work directly with affected families to improve the quality of their lives," Villar said during the awarding ceremonies for the Top 20 multipurpose cooperatives in the country held at the Villar SIPAG offices in Las Pinas City. Sen. Villar, along with her husband former Senate President Manny Villar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Paolo and Camille Villar led the distribution of plagues of recognition and a P250,000 cash prize each to National Capital Region-based Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation Inc. and the Mission to Seafarers Philippines Family Network; and the Piwong Multipurpose Cooperative of Ifugao, Sarrat Namnama Multipurpose Cooperative of Ilocos Norte, San Fabian Pangasinan Council of Women Inc. Multipurpose Cooperative of Pangasinan, Magapuy Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Nueva Vizcaya, and Nueva Ecija Seed Grower Multipurpose Cooperative of Nueva Ecija - all from North AND Central Luzon. Also rewarded for their outstanding community services were the St. Jude Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Quezon Province, Kabalikat Para Sa Diyos at Bayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Romblon, Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Camarines Norte, Pavia Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Iloilo, Compostela Market Vendors fron Cebu, Santa Barbara Katilingbanong Credit Cooperative from Siquijor and the Maripipi Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Biliran. The Foundation likewise credited the good practices of the Aurora Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Zamboanga del Sur, Malinao Community Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Lanao del Norte, Pantukan Chess Club Cooperative from Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental Seed Producers from Davao, City Food Terminal Multi-Purpose Cooperative from General Santos City and Kankitap Consumers Cooperative from Sulu. Two community enterprises were likewise given Special Awards of P150,000 each for their poverty reduction initiatives, and these were the Bohol Dairy Cooperative and the Tarlac Okra Growers Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Press Release December 15, 2018 Legarda, National Museum Launch "Habol Panay" Textile Gallery in Region 6 Senator Loren Legarda invites citizens and tourists of Panay Island to visit the "Habol Panay" permanent textile gallery at the National Museum Western Visayas Regional Museum (Old Iloilo Provincial Jail), Capitol Grounds, in Iloilo City starting December 16, 2018. "Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas" is an offshoot of "Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles" at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila. Hibla is the first permanent textile gallery in the country that is the project of Senator Legarda. "Habol Panay presents the Panay traditions of weaving and embroidery, highlighting the works of masters of the different communities of Panay Island, particularly in Aklan, Iloilo and my home province of Antique, as tangible representations of craftsmanship passed on by our ancestors and continuously being embraced by our communities," said Legarda. The Habol Panay gallery illustrates how the weaving heritage of the Panay Island has evolved to what it is today, based on successive historical developments that connects and reconnects them to their neighboring islands within and outside Western Visayas by means of trade, partnerships, and use of indigenous and adopted materials, designs, patterns, and technology. The exhibition consists of three sections. The first section provides an overview of the exhibition through maps of fiber sources and weaving, embroidery and lace-making centers in Western Visayas, as well as abaca, cotton, pineapple, and mulberry herbaria collection and raw materials used for textile production. The second section focuses on historical and cultural contexts of habol. The term "habol" has been used by the early Visayans to refer to weaving, woven cloth, blanket or skirt, and loom for textile production. The last section features how weaving, embroidery, and lace-making heritage traditions have been consciously revived and sustained through the initiatives of local communities, concerned manufacturers, designers and government agencies. "The Hibla Gallery started with my vision to have our own permanent textile gallery that would showcase the rich weaving heritage of our country. Part of my vision is to have regional textile galleries that would highlight the weaving traditions of each region. I am happy that we now have our permanent textile gallery for the Western Visayas Region, where my home province of Antique is part," said Legarda. Background of Hibla Textile Gallery The Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila is the country's first permanent textile gallery. It is a project spearheaded by Senator Loren Legarda. During the soft opening of the gallery in March 2012, the National Museum also launched the Senator Loren Legarda Lecture Series on Philippine Traditional Textiles and Indigenous Knowledge, which explores the aesthetics, material culture and processes of ethnic identity along with skills and information-generation through fabric. It later evolved into interactive lectures and demonstrations featuring weavers and embroiderers from different parts of the country. In July 2017, the first Hibla regional gallery, the Hibla Iloko, was launched at the National Museum Ilocos Regional Museum Complex in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. In October 2017, the first Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Travelling Exhibition was held at the Philippine Embassy in London. The Hibla Travelling Exhibition has also been to Lisbon, Portugal; Madrid, Spain; Washington, D.C.; New York City; Hawai'i; and Frankfurt, Germany. "We will have more Hibla travelling exhibitions and many more Hibla regional galleries will soon rise in our country, and we hope that someday we will have not only galleries, but one whole Hibla Museum. Through these we hope to promote greater support for cultural enterprises and creative industries of our indigenous peoples and deeper appreciation of our heritage," said Legarda. Press Release December 15, 2018 Message of Senator Loren Legarda* Inauguration of "Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas" Textile Gallery 15 December 2018 |National Museum Western Visayas Regional Museum *Delivered by Ms. Tala Maralit, Chief of Staff, Office of Sen. Legarda Today, I am filled with pride in welcoming you to our own textile gallery in the Panay Island, the "Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas" permanent textile gallery. It has been my lifelong passion to explore the indigenous artistry of Filipinos told through traditional textiles. We have so much to show the world and I have proven this with the numerous visits I had to various weaving communities around the country. I even go to the remotest barangays if only to see the most skilled weaver of a town or province. No weaver has ever failed to amaze me yet. Their diligence, creativity and passion are truly remarkable. That is why I thought of establishing the country's first permanent textile gallery, Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles, at the National Museum of Anthropology in 2012. The gallery features the raw materials and looms used in weaving, the relevance of textiles in various communities, the different fabrics and styles of weaving, and various traditional textiles from ethno-linguistic communities, including the oldest existing textile in the Philippines, the Banton cloth. To further explore our weaving traditions, we also launched the Senator Loren Legarda Lecture Series on Philippine Traditional Textiles and Indigenous Knowledge, which explores the aesthetics, material culture and processes of ethnic identity along with skills and information-generation through fabric. It later evolved into interactive lectures and demonstrations featuring weavers and embroiderers from different parts of the country including the sinamay weavers from Arevalo, Iloilo; weavers of patadyong and its innovations from Indag-an Cooperative in Miag-ao, Iloilo; patadyong weavers from the Bagtason Loom Weavers Association in Bugasong, Antique; and the Panay Bukidnon who showed their panubok. Also part of my vision is to have regional textile galleries so that each region can showcase its unique weaving heritage. The first Hibla regional gallery, called Hibla Iloko, was launched in 2017 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Now that we have our own permanent textile gallery, our aim is not only to showcase the Panay traditions of weaving and embroidery but also to share this rich heritage to our kasimanwas and to ensure its preservation. I will make sure that we will also have weaving demonstrations in this gallery and maybe even invite other provinces so we can share weaving traditions and exchange knowledge on weaving processes. As we open the Habol Panay gallery, I invite you to take yourself in a journey, explore the similarity and diversity of our weaves, and be fascinated with the traditional skills that gave fruit to such artistic creations. Thank you.